Don't Pee on the Bee

Birds and Bees

And I love Kiwi magazine.  Their byline?  Growing families the natural and organic way.  They've always got fabulous ideas in here.  My one problem is that their website does not always have links to their articles.  And while I completely understand that--they need people to buy their magazine!--it is frustrating, too, when I want to link you to something.

So without basically rewriting their article We Love Science, I'll just share with you some of the websites that they think are great, that are free, and that will help you and your family become citizen scientists!

Project BudBurst      www.budburst.org

Your kids will monitor a flower, shrub or tree and then report online as the plant changes during the seasons.  This data helps researchers track the timing of spring.

The Great Sunflower Project     www.greatsunflower.org

You plant a sunflower and then twice a month for 15 minutes count the number of bees that visit.  Super important to track as the bee population is declining.

NestWatch     www.nestwatch.org

Find a nest or set out a nest box and report your observations.  This project seems better suited for older children s ince you will need to be very careful around a nest.

Nature's Notebook       www.usanpn.org

Check out the site to find what animal or plant species in your area can be observed.  Then follow the program's guide for observing the area.  This helps scientists know how plants and animals are responding to environmental changes.

If you decide to do one of these this summer, please let me know!  I would love to see what you and your family are doing!

Blissology

So I read about this guy, Eoin Finn, in the June 2011 issue of O.  He is a yoga teacher who had an aha moment in a hammock.  He was so blissed out while laying in his hammock, and he had a notion that if everyone did this, the world would be a better place.  (I remember thinking that after getting a really good massage once!)  So he went back to Vancouver where he lives and set up am"spontaneous relaxation" zone where he invites people passing by to take a break and hang out for a few minutes in a hammock.  Naturally, he met with some resistance at first, but then when people actually stopped and did it, they were much more relaxed when they got up and went on their way.

I think it's a great idea.  Sad to say, though, that I might be one of those people who keeps cruising on by.  Maybe not, though.  I guess it would depend on the day and my mood.  But he's got an entire movement going now.  Check out www.blissology.com if you're interested.

And in hindsight, I probably would keep walking past his hammocks!  Just ask my husband.  I am one of those people who fell out of a hammock, trying to get into one--on my honeymoon, no less!  Oh well. 

Genes in the (Dish)washer

I don't even know where to start this post, but I am in love with it already!  (Weirdo!)  It's just that it feels so good to get some validation about a few things in my life!  But before we get there, there will be a few twists and turns in the story, so please bear with me. 

Remember my post I'm Just Helping?  In it, I admitted to rearranging the dishwasher when my husband loads it.  (And I guess since I am admitting things, I might as well just say that I really don't let anyone load my dishwasher!  Suffice it to say that if you come to my house and any kind of cups, plates or utensils are involved, you will not be allowed to help clean up the kitchen.  Just ask my mother-in-law.  She finally stopped asking and just goes out in the living room and plays with the kids!  Good Grannie!)

Well, my mom happens to read my blog, and a few days after that post, she called me and said, "Check your mail!  I sent you something, and it is going to make you laugh!"  So a few days later, there it is . . . an envelope from my mom.  Now I think I've already said this numerous times, but for those of you who haven't paid attention, I'll say it again--My mom loves to cut articles out of the paper and send them to people.  (But I think she sends the majority of them to me!  I don't think anyone else would actually read all the stuff she sends!)  And guess what?  My grandma used to do it to her!  So I have a feeling that Sarah will be getting envelopes stuffed with important information that I think will interest her.  Although by the time she's old enough to start getting these envelopes, (a) I might be too old and feeble to write, or (b) there will be no such thing as envelopes, stamps and the postal service!  But I digress . . .

In the envelope was 2 articles and a note.

Your blog reminded me of years ago.  Linda and you were here.  Linda said to you that I rearranged the dishwasher after she had loaded it!  Your comment was "Don't feel bad.  Mom does that to me all the time."  Like mother, like daughter!

Now honestly, I don't even remember when that was, and I don't remember my mom being a dishwasher freak either, but apparently it may run in the family!  But that really wasn't very funny, was it?  So I kept perusing . . .

The first piece of newspaper I picked up and read (with a handwritten Laughed out loud! at the top of the piece) was by Jon Carroll, a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle.  It was dated May 6, 2011, and was titled The Art of Dishwasher Management.  Oooooh, yeah.  It made me laugh!

I am the chief dishwasher in this house, and I like to have some control over my territory  I like things in a certain order because (a) it's possible to get more stuff in the washer per load if Certain Rules are followed and (b) it's possible to unload the dishwasher more quickly if like objects are grouped together.

I can't really explain this to people as fully as I'd like because I'd look like some uptight kitchen Nazi . . .    

I am already completely in love with this man!  I completely agree with both (a) and (b) and have made these statements repeatedly to those who will (not!) listen--ahem, J.R.!  And I just love the capitalized Certain Rules.  It just makes things so much easier when Certain Rules are followed, right?   And feeling like an uptight kitchen Nazi?  Oh, thank you, man, for putting words to the feeling!

If you are one of us--and I know there are at least a few of you out there because you emailed me or called me!--you have got to read his column.  And if you just need a good laugh, read it.  The story about the non-English-speaking grandmother and the dishwasher debate is pretty funny too!

But let me quote Mr. Carroll one more time . . .

And spatulas.  Don't get me started on spatulas. 

Amen, brother!  Where's the support group?





 

 

 

The Crafty Update

Therapy session Holiday update Part 2 here!  Less psychology, more crafty!

So besides coming away with a psychological shift, I also came away from this Christmas season with a more crafty sense of self as well!  And for those of you who know me personally, you will know that this might be even bigger than the whole psych thing!  Although they really are related.  The story picks up here . . .

The adults in my family no longer exchange gifts.  Once in awhile, we do a white elephant exchange, but for some reason, they don't always go over very well!  But in the spirit of Hundred Dollar Holiday, I wanted to try one again but with handmade gifts.  I told everyone they didn't need to be made by their hands, just so that some of the pressure might be alleviated!  My one brother's comment about not wanting "to build a castle out of toothpicks" still cracks me up!  That's how I frequently feel about "crafts" too!  But I digress . . .

The response to the white elephant idea?  Nope.  Huh?  Yeah.  Nope.  Alrighty then.  More fuming and sputtering.  A few "Om's."  A couple of "Please God, help me!"  Probably a few cuss words too.  And then?  Ah, that peaceful feeling.  You know who you are and what you want to do.  Just do it.  So it was then up to me to come up with 8 gifts. 

Gulp.  Slight panic.  Look around the house.  Remember what Bill McKibben said.  "Think about what you do well."  Not crafting, that's for sure!  OK then.  Hmmmm . . . Cooking.  Ah ha!  I can work with that.  Pull out my recipe books.   Hey, there's that recipe for Mexican Mocha Walnuts that I wanted to try.  Oh and there's that delicious cinnamon bread I made.  Well, now, this might not be so bad!  Turns out that I bought 2 jars of homemade jam and some delicious local wildflower honey.  Made the walnuts and bread.  Threw in some persimmon bread that someone gave us.  And I also made the cutest set of "Christmas countdown blocks" ever!  In a previous post, I shared about my experience making them the first time.  They turned out OK, but I would never have given them to someone.  But with a little know-how and some help from a seriously fabulous crafter, I elevated these blocks to something gift-worthy!  (Funny, but I can't remember what the 8th present was!)  Anyway, although no one jumped up and down and told me what a fabulous cook or crafter I was, everyone got a gift made with love, and I got the satisfaction of knowing that I did it!  I was crafty, and I infused the celebration with what was important to me.  But really, the most satisfying part of this was knowing that I really can make something with my own hands that is meaningful and appreciated!  Just ask my mom how the bread was!

P.S.  I swear that I blogged about making these blocks, but I can't "find" it anywhere.  Definitely worth checking out the link.  Scroll down to #6 for the blocks that I made.  I'll keep looking for that post too!

Who We Already Are

  

It is through our ordinariness, our being completely and utterly who we already are, that we can shift the world's negative energy.
~The Holy Teaching of the Vimalakirti

(Highlighted by Geri Larkin in "The Weight of Goodness," Jan-Feb issue of Spirituality & Health magazine)

And thanks to Spirituality & Health's Spirit Booster's blog for this quote.  You can sign up and get a (usually!) daily quote.  I love it because the quotes' sources are so broad.  And I particularly loved this one as it just gets to the heart of my reflections on my holidays.  But more of that to come later.  For now, I hope you have a fabulous day and can just be who you already are. 

Post script:  I wasn't planning on putting a picture of me in this post.  My ego is not that outsized today!  But Sarah came in, picked up the camera and started taking pictures.  She took this one, and in a way, it seemed to be the right picture to post.  Me, ordinary, trying to be me in what I write, hoping to do something positive.  Thank you, my sweet girl!

A Simple Thanks

After enthusing so much about our local Veterans' Day parade, I definitely need to share this website, Let's Say Thanks, sponsored by Xerox and in support of our troops.  All you have to do is click on the website, choose a free card design, and then add a message.  Xerox will print the cards and send them to our troops.  The cards are really diverse and were all drawn by young people across the nation.  It really was fun and quick to choose one and send it.  I hope you try it!  It made me feel good!

One of Those Days

I dreamed of sitting down today and blogging to my heart's content.  Not happening.  Not even later tonight.  So I'll have to make do with sending you to Mary Jane's Farm with a nifty recipe for a safe homemade hand sanitizer.  I wish I had time to test it out before blogging about it, but if I waited to do all those things, nothing would ever happen--as I'm sure many of you can relate to!

So if you are a fabulous organizer and have the time to try this, please be sure and let us know!