Back Door is always open

2009 resolutions.

I've told you the WHYs of my yearly self-inflicted challenges to myself, but the telling took so long I never did get to the WHATs. At least not directly. If you've followed my blog the past week or so and are exceptionally clever, you might have realized that I've alluded to *some* of my goals already. The Book List reveals my value of literature and my hope to further myself BY it in the coming year. The list was created with the hope of staying motivated and with the intention to reevaluate next year. I've also shared how I long for my tongue to be more an instrument and less a weapon, and have written verses that I do hope will encourage me in the coming year, to become more sanctified in that area.

There are several more things that I have prepared for and begun working towards this coming year. Many of them will be highlighted here in the very near future. One of which I will share now. Anyone who checks my Mattie's (more sporatically published) blog might know what is coming.

One of our goals for the coming year is to become more...prepared. And by doing so, less DEPENDENT. "Prepared for what?" you ask. WHATEVER. A large snowstorm. A month without very much cashflow. An economic collapse. You name it. Whatever the reason and for whatever length of time, we realize we are ill-prepared in any (and every) way to deal with poor circumstances appropriately.

I've just finished reading a bunch of Dave Ramsey books (the Christian financial guru) and even HE suggests being prepared in the cash realm with a $1,000.00 emergency fund. I agree...and would expound on that notion to include other areas of life also.

Our goal in 2009 (which, in effect, is MY responsibility) is to get necessities stored and a pantry stockpiled; Matt calls it "food insurance". The idea is to be PREPARED so we don't depend on (or burden others by the need for) charity or kindnesses of others if/when it really matters. No, I'm not suggesting you get together five years worth of food and hoard it in your basement. Not at all. While it would be wonderfully handy for an emergency situation like power outtages and so forth, stocking a cupboard makes sense for a number of other reasons to.

1) Unexpected company. We are called to be hospitable and charitable and I fear a lack of preparedness has, in the past, hindered me from fulfilling that duty. How many times have I opted not to invite people over because the grocery budget was too tight that week? That would be far less likely, if you have a running supply.

2) Stockpiling allows you to spend money on sale items ONCE and then not worry about them for a while. (Read: stock up on things when they are on sale) I have already found this to encourage real savings in the food department. For example: a few weeks ago Walmart had Chex cereal for $1.66 a box. I had a ton of Chex coupons for $1.00 off a box. I stocked up on tons of cereal and didn't have to pay full price for cereal for a LONG time! I saved myself money as I was able to not purchase cereal until it was on sale again.

3) It also gives you peace of mind-knowing that your family is cared for in times of crisis. I know how many people are losing their jobs these days. I read in December alone it was 500,000! That's alot of people. I don't want to take Matt's job for granted and I don't want to be panicked and afraid if something like that happens to us too. It is just WISE to plan and prepare for meeting the needs of your household-in good times and bad. The Proverbs 31 woman was not afraid for her household when the snow came , and neither shall I be.

Not knowing where to begin, or the first thing about stockpiling food, I went blog-scouting (something I try to avoid at all costs because I just can't afford to find any more wonderful blogs to follow!) and found a few that I have found very helpful. And yes. I now follow them. These two blogs: Safely Gathered In and Preparedness Brings Peace have both been incredibly helpful to me. Both, I believe, are written from Seventh Day Adventists which I certainly do not ascribe to, but they offer a wealth of information on food storage. That is, after all, their name of the game. I think it would be imprudent to disregard the good that can be learned from them, just because of their beliefs. After all, no matter what your religious background or denomination~yours is not perfect and we all have differing gifts. It is WISE for us to learn from the gifts of others so that we too, might grow in those areas that do not come naturally to ourselves.

Anyway. This is a tremendously long post-bunny trailed it, I guess.

Basically, what I am saying is this:

One of my goals for the coming year, is to start a PANTRY.

To that end, I have been on the lookout for some opportunities to stockpile while not breaking the bank. Coincidentally, I've found after-Christmas to be the perfect time! Hickory Farms, producer of those delicious meat smoked sausage logs that sell at Christmas~ happened to be packing up the week I went to the mall to use up a giftcard. Their meat rolls were 80% off. Perfectly wonderful summer sausage marked down to under $2.00 a roll! They are good for almost a YEAR. So, I stockpiled. And let me tell you: $14.00 bought me a LOT of delicious summer sausage! I don't know about the electricity going out or food shortages-but I DO know that those will be some welcome treats sometime in the future!

I have also found that stockpiling has required some creativity. Thinking outside of the box. Prime example---yesterday.

I was doing my CVS routine when I noticed all the Christmas items were 90% off. 90%!!!! I swooned. Nearly fainted with my good fortune! There, up on the top shelf, were these brown Santa MONSTROSITIES made from Hollow Chocolate marked $5.99. I crossed my eyes and imaged a foot long chocolate Santa being given to me. Then I imagined sending $6.00 on a foot long chocolate Santa. But I couldn't. I couldn't even IMAGINE it. People actually BUY this stuff?!?! Frankly, my kids might fly to the moon if they consumed so much chocolate. And I would never spend $6.00 bucks on CHOCOLATE for heavens sake.

BUT THEN!

90% off?!?!

Gears started turning. Smoke poured from my ears. (Almost.) Then a light flickered above my head and I promptly loaded the cart with as many as would fit. Five. WHY?!

What in the WORLD was I going to do with FIVE chocolate Santas as large as a ruler?



Why, I was going to let the children smash them to smithereens, of course!!!


Not intending, for FINGERS to also be a part of that equation...

And who knew--I'd actually capture it (or the quick Panda reaction TO it) on a photo?!?

Meanwhile, Little Miss pounds away, totally oblivious to the finger smashing the had given.


Okay. Bunny trail again. Point is~ because I was thinking "outside the box", I figured a way to get five quart-sized bags of chocolate chunks for just .59 cents a piece. And those quart-sized bags have WAY more chunks then the Hershey's Chocolate Chunks bags that sell for over $2.00 a piece thankyouverymuch.

It's turning out, that this pantry business is not only "not as hard as I thought" but also, kind of FUN.

It's impossible not to

A first

Yesterday was a big day for our Adele.

The long awaited, much anticipated "REAL" smile!

And after waiting a month and a half, I can say with great enthusiasm:

What a JOY it is!

Choice Silver and Apples of Gold

Mouth opens in haste; words uttered without care, without thought. "I'm RIGHT. They need to understand!" Pride. Self-defense. Anger.

How easy it is to become angry when unkindness is directed at you! How easy it is to form rebuttals of mind and have them spill from you in the heat of the moment. To pay evil for evil. To fight for your honor in haste, so that it might not be lost. Only to realize deep regret afterward?

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

How many times this past year did I feel the anguish of a tongue ill-used? Countless. How many prayers were offered up that my tongue might be reigned in and gentleness flow from it? How many times did I ache with my own utter inability? My own enslavement.

Be STILL.

Listen to HIM and the heart words He gives you.



What are the motives behind a hasty retort?

To protect your honor? To HIM be all the glory and honor.

To return evil for evil? The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

To have the last word? In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Because you are so wise? The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.



Slow.



Quiet your heart so that you might hear.

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Be sure that your words are not self-gratifying, but God-glorifying.

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord; but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

And then, after the quiet study of your own intentions and the prayerful seeking of a god-glorifying response, you must discern how best to convey the message.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

A soft answer turneth away wrath:but grievous words stir up anger.

Perhaps so many recent opportunities have arisen in my life that require type to be lived out in life not simply on computer screen because the Lord wants me to practice up.

To bridle my tongue and polish my heart.

So that one day, I will find joy in unexpected places. Places where it has never before been found. My mouth.

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in season, how good it is!

My Book List~ 2009

So often I find or hear about books worth reading and make a mental note of them, only to forget about them when it counts! Enough already! I've learned from my mistakes~and so, I've decided to write all the books I discover and hope to read this year in ONE particular spot. I'll post a link to this blog in my sidebar, for easy access.

And while I'm at it, I'll record what books I have read. Since I've never done anything like this before, I wonder how many books I'll get through by years end?

PS. Obviously this will not include the hundreds of childrens' books I go through a month... :-)

~ . ~ . ~ . ~

Books I've read thus far:

January~

• The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

• Financial Peace, Revisited by Dave Ramsey (though these two were technically read in December, I'm counting them!)

• More than Enough by Dave Ramsey

• Proverbs for Parenting by Barbara Decker

• On The Way Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder

February~

• The Great Depression Dennis Nichi, Book Editor

• The self-sufficient life and how to live it : the complete back-to-basics guide by John Seymour
  

• L'Abri by Edith Schaeffer

• The encyclopedia of country living by Carla Emery (not word for word)
  

March~~~

• Root cellaring : natural cold storage of fruits & vegetables by Mike Bubel **
• The How and Why of Homeschooling by Ray Ballmann
• The Vegetable Gardener's Handbook by Edward C. Smith **
  
• From the Potting Shed by Stephanie Donaldson
• The Summer Book by Susan Branch
• Lois Burpee's Gardener's Companion and Cookbook by Lois Burpee **
  
• Carrots love Tomatoes and Roses love Garlic byLouise Riotte
  

APRIL~~

• Amy Butler's little stitches for little ones : 20 keepsake sewing projects for baby and mom by Butler, Amy.

• The Barefoot Contessa cookbook by Ina Garten

• American country living : canning and preserving : techniques, recipes, uses, and more by Linda Ferrari
• The Seasonal Hearth by Hechtlinger, Adelaide
• Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol

MAY~~~

• Mrs. Dunwoody's excellent instructions for homekeeping : timeless wisdom and practical advice by Mrs. Dunwoody
• Simple Gifts to Stitch: 30 Elegant and Easy Projects (Paperback)
  by Jocelyn Worrall
• Baby Gifts: Simple Heirlooms to Make and Give by Ethel Brennan and Laurie Frankel
  

***June***

• Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish

• Sew Pretty Homestyle by Tone Finnanger

*Oops. I forgot to update during July, August, and September (though I didn't read much because of all the gardening/canning chores.) Here are a few that I recall:

• Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Gui... by Gail Damerow

• Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth
  

• Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing by Anna Maria Horner

• The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art & the Comforts of Home by Jane Brocket

• Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: by Gail Damerow

• Easy Homeschooling Companion: Exhortation, Encouragement and More Easy Ideas by Lorraine Curry

***October***

• Teach Anyone to Read: The No-nonsense Guide by Ph.D. Lillie Pope (this had helpful charts in the back)

• Get Ready to Read: A Practical Guide for Teaching Young Children at Home and in School by Toni S. Gould and Jo Fahrenkopf (I didn't find this helpful at all.)

***November***

• Mommy, Teach Me to Read by Barbara Curtis *
  
• The New Answers Book by Ken Ham *
  
• A Different Kind of Teacher by John Taylor Gatto *
  
• Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle (*pretty berets)
  

• Stitched in time : memory-keeping projects to sew and share from the creator of Posie gets cozy by Paulson, Alicia.

• Sew darn cute : 30 sweet & simple projects to sew & embellish by Ryan, Jenny

**December**

• The New Answers Book by Ken Ham
  
• The Moment it Clicks by Joe McNally
• Last Minute Christmas Gifts by Carol Taylor
  

Books I'd like to read (in 2009 and beyond!)

Bread & Butter Journey by Ann Colver
A different Kind of Teacher by John Taylor Gatto
The Spirit of Loveliness by Emilie Barnes
Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places by L. L. Barkat
The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer
Rad­i­cal Wom­an­hood: Fem­i­nine Faith in a Fem­i­nist World by Car­olyn McCulley
Home-making by J. R. Miller
The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children by Sally Clarkson
For the Family's Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone's Life by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Autobiography of George Muller by, you guessed it: George Muller
Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges
Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs
Blessed Are the Hungry by Peter J. Leithart
Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning by Douglas Wilson
Paedofaith by Rich Lusk
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois
BALL Complete Book of Home Preserving by Judi Kingry
No Ordinary Home: The Uncommon Art of Christ-Centered Homemaking by Carol Brazo
The Family by J. R. Miller
So Much More by Anna Sofia Botkin; Elizabeth Botkin
Keeping Good Company: A Season-by-Season Collection of Recipes, with Entertaining and Homemaking Ideas by Roxie kelley and friends and Shelly Reeves Smith
The Orchard: A Memoir by Adele Crockett Robertson
The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book: A Guide to Whole-Grain Breadmaking by Laurel Robertson
Emergency Food Storage in a Nutshell by Leslie Probert and Lisa Harkness
My Mother's Garden by Penelope Hobhouse
No Ordinary Home: The Uncommon Art of Christ Centered Homemaking by Carol Brazzo.

Buried Treasure

Bits of creation

Traveling ocean

Hunted treasures shared

all wrapped and tucked carefully within each other

so that we too, might experience the vastness and majesty of it all.

Michelle~ a bonafide letter is forthcoming but I had to thank you for shared treasures. Ironically, we've been studying underwater creatures and only the day before our mailbox burst, we sat enthralled, watching the movie DEEP BLUE.

Not a single one broke with your delicate wrapping and each one unwrapped brought gasps of delight.

And now, we enjoy our piece of summertime through snow covered glass

and we remember our dear friends though many miles separate us.

bits of glory

Too Good to be True

I got tired of looking at the government MUMBO JUMBO that graced my blog...so while I ought to be waking this little munchkin up to feed her, I am instead wasting time posting pictures of her.

She is a darling and a dear and, just happens to be the easiest baby in all the world. Brace yourselves, people...I have a confession to make:

Ready?

Are you braced?

I hope so, because...

This little girl has been sleeping through the night since FOUR DAYS old. And by sleeping through the night I mean: from 9-6:30/7ish.

Yeah. You have a right to hate me. You do. You do.

My other two slept through the night by 3/4 weeks but, my goodness~ dreams really DO come true. At least with little Sleepallday Adele.

She has had approximately four days since birth that I would declare her "fussy" and ironically, it was always with company~ so maybe they have a different view. But, I can honestly say, she is the easy-peasiest, sweetest little gremlin I've ever had the pleasure to nuzzle.

PS. If you are not candied-out during this post-Christmas weighdown, by all means, head over to Kitchen Riches for some wonderful holiday goodies. Or~ wait until NEXT Christmas. They'll be there for ya.

Of course, there IS a recipe there if you are looking to use up some candycane stragglers.... just so you know.

I have no words

Guess my hunting, acknowledging, and thanking for the GOOD just got a little bit more necessary....

CPSIA Law Bans Sale of Used Children's Items

The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned
By Heather Idoni
---

Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming,
almost Orwellian, reality.

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of
all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and
under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior
to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in
production are required to include a "lead-free" certification
and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.

What does this mean to the homeschooling family?

Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will be
cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply
with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be
destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books!
Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have to
close their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.

Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in the
ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process
anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child...

Full article including links to full information can be viewed at The Homeschooler's Notebook.

ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at
888-531-9070.

Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
Or email

2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact informa-
tion, just enter your zip code.

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in
each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.

4) Sign the petition.

5) Spread the word!

Forward this article.
Send an email.
Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and
encourage them to do the same.

Edited to Add: Thanks to Devildogwife, I hear the law has been clarified... A bit.

For little victories, I am grateful.

Still, I would encourage anyone and everyone to continue to make their voices heard. Perhaps more *little* victories could be made...

Looking toward the light

It's been an unusually B.A.D. day here today.

The kids aren't particularly naughty.
The house is actually cleaner than it has been in months.
And believe it or not, my to-do list isn't all THAT unmanageable.

Sound like a bad day to you? Well-it HAS been. For me.

The B.A.D. comes in the form of a girl who takes two hours to complete very simple math work that, if focused could be done in twenty minutes flat.

The bad comes in having grocery day come and go WITHOUT buying groceries for four days now~after a week of entertaining THREE times (which means using more food than normal). Today was supposed to be the day to restock. I didn't want to sacrifice schooling so I opted for after rest...but since MATH took so long to complete this morning, after rest will have to be devoted to reading. One MORE opportunity to get groceries bites the dust. And dust is what we will be biting soon too, if a grocery trip doesn't happen ONE of these days.

The BAD comes while a Mama walks away from the scene, frustrated beyond belief after spitting sharp words meant to draw the child into focus. Frustrated with her own impatience. Frustrated with the childs' lack of focus. Frustrated at the impossible feelings of inadequacy.

Today is just NOT my day.

Corynn's problem is not that it is too hard. It is that her head is in the clouds and I am truly at a loss as to HOW to teach a child FOCUS. Isn't that something that a person just has...naturally? I know children don't have attention spans as long as adults. I don't expect her to.

Oftentimes on this blog I share my own revelations and by some of the comments I've received, the sharing of them has helped others out too. But today, I come here with no revelations at all. Only my own sheer inadequacy and desperation. Today is one of those "I can't do it" days.

If I can't teach ONE kindergartener without her and I both being frustrated to tears-how will I school ALL my children...especially at the same time?

If I can't finish school in time enough to get necessary household tasks done (like grocery shopping) for just a few simple subjects like math and reading, how will I cope when I am teaching history, science, latin, grammar, art, etc?

No. I have nothing profound to say. Nothing of note to encourage myself or others with. In fact, I am kinda sorta hoping you all will help me out~ I sure could use some.

While I am at an utter loss and frustrated beyond belief I will do what I often do when I don't know WHAT ELSE to do (say that five times fast) and that is:

Find some good. SOMEWHERE. Look for it. Seek it out. HUNT it. Acknowledge it. Be thankful for it. Find contentment in it.

Call it a diversionary tactic. It is. But it helps.

So~ while I wait for all the pearls of wisdom to find their way to the comments section....here goes....



At lunch time Corynn petitioned God in an interesting way: " Lord, please help me not to become a ragamuffin." I assume by that, she was praying not become poor? Because the only time I have used the term ragamuffin was when her clothing was all mismatched and her hair unkempt. I have no idea what her thought process was, but I nearly laughed outloud when I heard it.

~~~~~



Day three of big boy undies. Day TWO of keeping them dry.

And YES. Chocolate chip rewards ARE helping.

~~~~~~

Andrew praying for our house in GREAT detail: "Dank you for da doors. Da updairs badwoom. Da downdairs badwoom. Dank you for da wooddove. The wood for da wooddove. The updairs woodstove (I assume he meant the oven...). My woom. For da barns and da cows for da barns and da hay." The prayer lasted a GOOD five minutes.

~~~~~~

While making cookies the other day a "funny" occurred:

To set the scene: Corynn was plopping cookie dough on the cookie sheets while Andrew waited his turn.

Me: "Corynn, you have to space the cookies out a bit more so they don't run into each other as they bake."

Andrew, in his funny "arguing voice": "MAMA! Cookies don't WUN~ dey don't have wegs!"

~~~~~~

After watching the move DEEP BLUE, a library trip that provided lots of books on whales, sea creatures, and-the latest obsession-jellyfish. Corynn saying, after finishing perusing the tower-like pile of library books outside the kitchen doorway while I was cooking dinner: "Mama! Why didn't you get MORE books about the ocean for us from the library?"

~~~~~~

An itty-bitty who MIGHT be the one to share my blue eyes? Maybe, maybe?!? The verdict is still out...

THERE. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I just had to look for it.

The present

Well, Papa kept his word. He said when Corynn was old enough to ask for ears pierced, then she could get them.

And then she was old enough to ask (beg, plead AND hope) and he wanted to take it all back.

But he didn't go back on his word. No sirree.

That was the gift that lit up the world of Little Miss this Christmas.

When I took her to get them done, I warned her it may hurt. Though she assured me "I don't care!" I waited for Miss Drama Queen to hoot and hollar when her ears were shot through-but she popped in her chair in surprise and then~ started laughing.

Crazy kid.

She loves them.

She loves too, that she picked them out herself-and picked her birthstone to boot. She never knew about birthstones.

PS. The dress that I thought would have to wait until 8??
Turns out, she's worn it so many times I think it will be worn through by the time it actually fits her well. It's her favorite-and you know that makes ME happy.

PS~ This is what Corynn did when I said "I want to take a picture of your dress. Act natural."

That's natural alright.

My sentiments exactly

Countless times I've sat down at this computer o' mine with intention to write on my blog about something that has increasingly become more bothersome to me~ but the fact is, I have been so positively livid at the situation I couldn't possibly fashion my thoughts in a coherent way.

Then, with expected company over the weekend and unexpected company yesterday, I was given the gift of DISTRACTION. Diversion from the thoughts that are pervading my moments of every day.

But here I sit, once again, seething.

I can categorize the blogs I read into four different genres.

FAMILY/FRIENDS blogs
CRAFT/SEWING blogs
PHOTOGRAPHY blogs
FRUGAL blogs

The greater percent of blogs in ALL categories are written by homeschooling moms~so, I guess that could be considered a category too.

The last few weeks, the crafting community has been up in arms about the new "Big Brother" regulation on kid toys. (A more explanatory blog post here) This upset me with empathy toward all the ETSY moms who create, in my opinion, products WAY better than could be found in the stores or the products created by very talented entrepreneurs in other arenas. The cost to test their supplies would be too great for a VERY large percentage of them to continue. I was angry with the intrusion of government and even more angry that people were actually believing it was for THEIR benefit (or in this case, the benefit of their children). Anyone who puts MERCURY in vaccines and says it's okay clearly does not have our best interest in mind. But THAT my friends, is for another day. Better yet, I better not.)

Well~ the law has become increasingly expasive and more all-encompassing. It then was revealed that THRIFT stores would not be exempt from the testing. So. No SECONDHAND toys, either. All of the sudden~ the FRUGAL blog community became involved. But still. The imposing of the government angered me-but... toys are toys. Superfluous. Fluff. Unnecessary. It didn't really affect me because TOYS are not usually in my budget anyway. Frankly, children don't NEED toys to be entertained and quite possibly, with their lack might become more imaginative (by creating and making due), healthy (by playing OUT of doors) and even establishing closer bonds with one another (because, let's face it: entertaining each OTHER is more relational than playing with a videogame.)

Ah. But NOW.

Only yesterday was it revealed just how inclusive (and bothersome) this law is. Not only TOYS (the unnecessary) but CLOTHING. Big stores, little stores, creators and stitchers of kids clothing and accessories, AND thrift stores are all required to toss in the landfill anything worn by ANYONE 12 years old and under (just another question mark in my mind on their supposed concern for our children. What about the children that are 13 years old? Does their health not matter to anyone?) and put up the cost of extensive testing on future products sold. Period. No exceptions.

And right there is where the suckerpunch gets me. And hits HARD.

My family is clothed primarily by thrift stores or yardsales. About 5% of purchases are "brand new"~and everything besides undies and socks better be 75% off or MORE off of original price. Yes. I am a stickler. Yes. I am a cheapskate. And yes- I am DEPENDENT upon secondhand clothing. And I would not classify us as poor. Think of all the truly poor people that are going to be affected, who depend solely upon thrifted clothing. Think of all the truly poor children who are not going to have clothing, because the government is "looking out for their wellbeing".

So right now I am frantic at the thought of clothing my children in the future-without the help of secondhand stores-thanks to pesky "Big Brother" I know how to sew (and enjoy it)-but even disregarding time restraints, the fabric alone is often more cost-prohibitive than simply using gently worn clothing.

I hate talking about unpleasant things on my blog. Hate it. Loathe it. Despise it. But for those of you who are not aware:

Please DO NOT donate used clothing or toys to thrift stores. Starting February 10th, they will be the newest layers of padding to the landfill. (oh-and weren't we supposed to be trying to SAVE the earth?!?)

Rather~ save them. Give them directly to those who need them. Share them. Or sell them at yardsales.

There is only ONE beneficiary to this law and it is NOT our children.

Toy testing

An aunt who knows a thing or two about raising country children tucked some sleds under the tree. We rang in the New Year toy testing.

Corynn has a love for speed, methinks~ and just a tadbit of daredevil in her.

She only put up with Papa on the first run~ then she was off on her own.

And my did she love it.

Just look at that face!

But THESE two faces really say it all. She's got determination, this girl.

She's gonna fly.

(and not just on a sled)

Definitely not polar

The bear, on the other hand, took a bit longer to get warmed up to the idea of flying down a hill solo.

He liked his rides with Papa first.




Then he got his groove on...

and soon enough, he was slip sliding with the best of them.

Single solitary

This is the first Christmas in SIX (count 'em..SIX) years that I have only made ONE crafty gift. I made my bil a pan of cinnamon rolls and several family members homemade peppermint schnapps~ and lots of sweets, mind you, but only ONE single solitary gift from a place other than the kitchen.
Why?

Um. Bunkin.

oh yeah-and my sewing machine bonked out on me after the move. My only Christmas gift request was to get it looked at...and it still hasn't happened YET-but VERY soon, me hopes. (and prays. and pleads. and begs. and pines after.)

So-even though I wanted SO badly to get some crafting done, I guess God thought it for my own good that I was given a hiatus. So be it.

The one gift I DID make, was fittingly for my beloved. He had mentioned wanting a beanie hat, coveting especially hard upon the slew of gorgeous winter hats the children recently received.

So, I crocheted him one. And it felt really good!

Now, he can't ever say I never made him anything! ;-)