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Daniel and I were blessed by his grandpa with a lovely dinning room table. Grandpa didn't need it anymore and it was still in beautiful condition, so we were so glad to be able to have it. The only thing it needed was new fabric on the chairs. I had been looking for fabric for a few weeks, and just couldn't find anything i liked. Until i was at my moms and she had me go through her boxes of fabrics. Got to love families that share! hehe!
Well i found some beautiful fabric that i love and my mom let me have it. So i just had to get it home and work on those chairs. All we needed to buy was a new box of staples. So here we go, dinning room table (FREE), fabric (FREE), and staples for staple gun ($5). Total for a lovely dinning room set $5! I am just beside myself excited. The table and chairs look so good and fit in our dinning room so nice and to think we barly had to spend any money, makes it even more AWESOME! Thank you so much Grandpa and Mom!
It was easy to recover the chairs. Just unscrew the seats wrap fabric around the cushion and staple in place, then put back on chair. Sienna even helped, she loved the hammer. She would help me find staples that needed a little more help with going all the way through to the wood. I was so pleased with how the chairs looked i covered two stools that i had in my living room. Now it feels like i have all new furniture. This was such and easy and fun project, i think you should try it. It only took Sienna and I about an hour and a half to do six chairs and two stools. Fast and easy! Why spend the money on brand new stuff, when you can just pretty up what you have?
It's a struggle to get these thoughts out. I convinced myself I needed to write to get me going again. Since Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I've been feeling as if I've been in a daze. As if my body and mind has reached it's highest level of excitement and activity that it can't do anymore...at least not at this time. Still I have four more papers to complete before the close the of the semester, plus some editing and writing duties for the publication that is officially launching.. err ummm this week!!! (EEK!)
I didn't realize how busy and how truly drained I have been since August. From writing two to three papers just about every week, to writing creatively for Medina's class and even throwing in some journalism duties PLUS coming home to take care of whatever issues there, I should be half out my mind. Still I'm in tact. A long time ago this would have drowned me. I would have given in to defeat and sat on the sidelines, again prolonging my "college career." But a force stronger than me has kept me afloat. I've just lived up to my end as far as the work goes.
This year I didn't formulate any real thoughts on Thanksgiving. I was just thankful for the second year in a row that the "Ides of November" wasn't looming - death, depression, sickness, over blown drama - and I was able to spend Thanksgiving with the ones I love. The day after met me with an incredible body crash. I managed to get up early with the Snickerdoodle and give her breakfast and watch her favorite shows with her. However, for the most part I stayed on the couch with one eye on the Snickerdoodle as she played and another trying to talk me into a full fledge sleep. Stayed away from my computer and for the most part my Blackberry; though I did send and received a couple of text messages. I did get a couple of cat naps in, but once the Snickerdoodle was in bed for the night, I wasn't far behind.
I slept a deep, dreamless sleep. The best.
Saturday met me with such energy. I knew I still had work to complete, but the computer just didn't appeal to me. I didn't fret over it at all. I spent the day helping my father dig out Christmas decorations and few other items from the storage shed. I did find a few goodies that once belonged to me as a kid that I'm now giving to the Snickerdoodle.
So this red chair was wrapped up and towards the back of the storage shed. Apparently my grandfather gave this to me when I was about 2 or 3 years old. Of course I looked it and said the Snickerdoodle had to have this. She saw it and couldn't wait to sit in it.
Then there was my "Dressy Bessy" doll; the doll that helps you understand how to zip, button, snap and tie. I think this was my favorite find for the Snickerdoodle. After I gave Bessy a good spin around the washing machine, to brighten her up, the Snickerdoodle hasn't been able to put her down. She loves this, which is a bit of shock to me. Usually the Snickerdoodle doesn't play with dolls at her. She's more for toys with actions and that makes noise. Then again, with Bessy there is action as you zip, snap, tie and button.
By the end of the day I was tired. My whole body ached. Energy was gone. I took a bubble bath and headed straight for the bed. I was nearing my deep sleep when the Snickerdoodle awoke in the middle of the night. For whatever reason she wasn't trying to go back to sleep. She wasn't ill, but I knew she too was tired having a long day playing outside. Still she fought sleep and made space in my bed for her, her blankie, and Bessy. I made several attempts for her to go back to sleep, but none was working.
Soooooo.
We had an impromptu slumber party as we watched a couple of movies on OnDemand Shrek and Sesame Street's Follow That Bird (a classic from my generation when I was like... 5) The Snickerdoodle stayed up and watched both movies and still fought to go back to sleep. Nevertheless by 4:30 am she was too tired to fight and my body felt like it wanted to slap the crap out of me for not sleeping. Once I knew for sure the Snickerdoodle was sleep (in her own bed), I collapsed back into my bed, falling into a deep repose until the house phone rang around 8 am. Then my cell phone rang no later than that.
I hit ignore for both calls and went back to sleep.
My body and mind had grown just that tired. Even now.. as it's only inching towards 3:30 in the afternoon, my bed seems to be calling. Just one more day of sleep and I'll be ready to finish out the last week of classes and the next week of a final exam, plus the last two papers that are due.
Just in time for Thanksgiving here is a perfectly yummy dessert that will impress your friends and family. Try it and let me know what you think of this little twist on a traditional apple pie.
Sienna and I were in a baking mood again, you know what that means,
right? Reading cook books and coming up with our own recipes. Sienna
loved helping me. As i made the pie dough I made sure to make extra
so she could play with some. She loved it and spent hours playing with
her special "real" dough. Too Cute. The pie is delicious and was pretty
easy to make. I was able to bring it over to my in laws who loved it as
well. So all around a keeper of a recipe.
Crust
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cold butter
1 tsp. salt
2 to 3 tsp. ice water
(or buy a pie crust, which ever works for you)
Filling
6c. sliced, peeled Granny Smith apples (about 6 apples)
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla
Crumble Topping
1/3 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 c. flour
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make pie dough in food processor. Combine flour, salt and butter until butter is the size of peas. Then slowly at ice water, until the dough makes a ball. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. In large bowl, combine sugar and flour. Mix together with apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Roll out pie dough and place in pie pan. Trim edges and crimp. Take left over dough and put back in food processor and add one tablespoon of flour and mix. You should have small crumbs, sprinkle crumbs on the bottom of pie crust, do NOT press them into the crust. This will help keep your crust from getting soggy. I saw this on food network and it really works.
layer in apple mixture into pie. I think you get a much better result when you layer the apples in the pie, you get less air pockets and more apples. It might take you an extra minute put it really does make a difference. Make French Crumb Topping by mixing 1/3 cup butter and sugars together. Cut in 3/4 cup flour. Sprinkle topping over apples in pie plate. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until topping is golden and apples are tender.
Let cool for at least an hour. Serve warm with ice cream or whip topping.
Are you looking for an interactive, fun and educational game for your kids this Christmas? If so, check out LEGO Rock Band out this Friday 26th November http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzvibXuMnV0.
To preorder now please visit HMV - http://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&primaryID=0&simpleSearchString=lego+rock+band&btnSubmitSearch.x=19&btnSubmitSearch.y=8
"Motherhood: the only life sentence without chance at parole you can receive without committing a crime".
I read that quote in recent blog post, Motherhood In America, over at RH Reality Check. The author, Anat Shenker, points out that Motherhood is a tough gig, and even more so for single parents. She discusses the reality of motherhood in America today. She discusses the reality of mothering without enough money, support or regard. She talks about the Stupak Amendment. Whilst those of us who do not live in the US may brush aside the US Health Reforms and the Stupak Amendment as 'not our problem' I think we need to wake up and take a look in our own countries and ask what does motherhood look like for women in my country?
I am shocked by how few women seem to know about 'women's rights', the process they were gained through (and who fought those fights), the process which have been used to maintain those rights, and the somewhat terrifying suggestion that in the year 2009 we (women) are actually losing rights and freedoms rather than gaining or improving upon them. I won't get into the fact that these days, 'feminism' really is a bad word, no joke ....
and that many young women today (and middle aged and older ones too) seem to take their rights for granted, or be unaware that actually the fight for rights is far from over. There's not a lot of discussion about the fact that even if we have a 'right' - without the means to enact it (think money) a right is worth nothing at all. There is a socially constructed suggestion that women's rights and fighting for them is somehow passe, unnecessary, unladylike and according to this Feminism is Evil website, unchristian and akin to witchcraft. Far too often, women are the ones building the pyres and lighting the fires to burn other women.
Not enough women are aware of things like; maternity rights (do you have them in your country?) and benefits, job security after child bearing (will you keep your job and relative status/salary after children?), reproductive rights (do you know for sure if abortion is legal and accessible in your community?). Women don't discuss the lack of wage parity between men and women (have we just accepted this is the status quo? Do you know the ratio of 'woman dollar to man dollar" in your country?) and how much time do you spend thinking, discussing or supporting women in leadership roles, politically or otherwise in your neck of the woods? How are young girls faring in the education system in your corner of the world? It's not looking good in mine.
We educate ourselves about the physical realities of pregnancy and childbirth but spend very little time thinking about what will come next. For instance, I bet none of those 'pregnancy and parenting' books we have available in my local bookstore, discuss that Australia’s child poverty rate falls in the middle of the international rankings. In 2007, UNICEF’s report on child poverty in OECD countries revealed that Australia had the 14th highest child poverty rate.
Oh Ouch.
Do pregnancy and new parenting books mention that according to Australian Bureau of Statistics, every third marriage in Australia ends in divorce? Do they encourage women to have a PLAN B to support themselves and their children knowing that there is a very high chance they will, at some point in their mother career, be doing it solo? I've never met a woman who planned her divorce out before getting married and having a child, and I have never met a woman who didn't think if she was unfortunate enough to end up divorced that her partner wouldn't step up to the plate and maintain his parental responsibilities. The wake up call for most, is very harsh.
I'm raising stats for my adopted country, Australia - but my birth country, Canada, hasn't got it right either... and before you get all swollen with national pride, I can guarantee you that your country ain't got an A+ report card either.
It was pointed out to me that the average woman really doesn't give a good god damn about feminism or women's rights, until they, or someone they know, becomes a 'victim of statistics'; domestic (or other) violence, divorce, poverty, single parenting etc. I have often wondered if feminists are made through circumstances, not through logic and reason and its a worry to me that women may well be the harshest judges of other women; blaming their 'sisters' for their relationship crises, divorces, trials and tribulations as sole parents and poverty. Even if women are 'lucky' enough to stay married, there are no guarantees they will be mothering in material comfort, no guarantees that they will be mothering with the support of extended family or community. No guarantees they will be mothering in a relationship that is safe, equitable and supportive. We don't see baby shower or birth arrival cards that say,
Congratulations Mum on your new arrival, may neither of you become a statistic!
So what's this got to do with Stupak? Anat Shenker spelled it out pretty clearly:
As our lawmakers now shamefully consider shifting from a voluntary service for this task of national importance to conscripting women to serve at their will -- can’t we at least demand the provisions they need to do the job?
If governments will not give women the choice to determine whether they can responsibly bring a child into the world and care for it - shouldn't governments have to ensure women will be given the supports and resources to care for all the inevitably unplanned and unwanted children? Also, at what point will governments mandate absolute equitable responsibility from fathers - for the physical, emotional, spiritual, educational and financial support of their children? If Stupak, then shouldn't equitable fathering be the logical and natural, 'next step'?
I'm going to go out on the feminist limb here, and saw an old saw; I heartily believe if men were were the ones getting pregnant, giving birth and retaining the role of primary parent throughout their childrens' lives - Stupak wouldn't even have been a thought, let alone an amendment to the US national health care reform.
Dear fellow social workers, women and other important people,
I am writing this post today because I find myself bombarded with US (and other) media about the recent health care reform in America. I must begin this by saying, I am a Canadian chick, who is living in Australia. I am not American. American politics are not mine and I will not be impacted in the same way the American people will be, by the US health reform. However, it is unquestionable that US politics have a 'dribble' effect on the rest of the world, and very often, other countries, (Canada, and Australia, the two that are near and dear to me) are impacted in a sort of precedence setting way.
I belong to a number of social work groups (I am a social worker and clinical therapist by profession) as well as a number of women's groups (I am a woman) and in each of these groups I am being asked to ponder and comment on the health care reform and whether or not I think it serves the interests of social justice and women.
I don't feel able to truly debate American political initiatives. I am not American. Nor do I have the power of voice or vote, so my views have little direct relevance. I do have some brief thoughts however, that I will share. Any health care reform which provides health care as a basic human right to all people, would get my vote. The right to quality healthcare should be universal in my opinion, rich people are not more worthy of health and no one should ever die for lack of money.
Perhaps the US health reform has taken some positive steps in this direction, and if so, I look forward to seeing how that works for the American public.
Where the health reform is woefully falling, in my non-American, female, opinion, is with the Stupak Amendment. I think people need to really investigate the implications this amendment will have for women, children, families. I think we need to carefully consider how any loss of reproductive choice and freedom is a terrifying leap backwards, not just for women, but for all people.
As found in Wikipedia:
Control over reproduction is a basic need and a basic right for all women. Linked as it is to women's health and social status, as well as the powerful social structures of religion, state control and administrative inertia, and private profit, it is from the perspective of poor women that this right can best be understood and affirmed. Women know that childbearing is a social, not a purely personal, phenomenon; nor do we deny that world population trends are likely to exert considerable pressure on resources and institutions by the end of this century. But our bodies have become a pawn in the struggles among states, religions, male heads of households, and private corporations. Programs that do not take the interests of women into account are unlikely to succeed...
I believe we must consider the Stupak Amendment from a reproductive justice position, marrying women's reproductive rights and freedoms with social justice. As a social worker, advocate and woman, I heartily support the following statement, also found in Wikipedia under Reproductive Justice:
For reproductive justice activists, the primary difference between the reproductive rights and health frameworks and the reproductive justice framework is that the rights and health frameworks focus on protecting individual rights and choices, while the reproductive justice framework focuses on broader socioeconomic conditions and bringing about structural change.
From this position, I will and do concern myself with the American Health Reform and will speak to the Stupak Amendment. What is at stake here are not only the individual reproductive rights and freedoms of American women, but also the broader implications it may have on health care, reproductive rights and freedoms, and indeed, social justice - across the world. It is from this place I believe people, women in particular, need to wake up, stand up and get active. It's not okay to say, 'oh well, at least we got some health care reform'. Its not ok to say, 'oh well, we lost reproductive rights and freedoms, we'll just work to get them back'. Women worked their collective asses off to buy us those rights and freedoms. It didn't take them a few decades to get it together - it took CENTURIES. Fighting to prevent the loss of those rights and freedoms, is far more sensible (and timely) than is fighting to have them restored after the fact.
I encourage people to look at and read the RH Reality Check news blog or some of the other feminist blogs doing great work on reporting and covering these issues such as Feminists for Choice.
So what's the Stupak Amendment got to do with me?
My fear is the reverberations from Stupak, will rock my world, all the way over here in Australia.
I wait with fingers crossed and bated breath that America will not allow the essential human rights of women to fall. Because if they can fail in America - they can fail anywhere.
Please Stupak, don't rock my world.
Sienna LOVED playing with the "snow". She spent three hours filling cups, throwing it and making snow angels. We had so much fun together at one point Sienna runs to me and wraps her arms around my neck and said, "Momma, you are so much fun!". I almost cried. She was delighted to just be playing with paper and me. No expensive toys or high tech gagets, just confetti.
You only get to be little once, so why not let them have some fun. Try this and I promise your kids will think you are a rock star. Just make sure you have a good vacuum! hehe :)
This year I decided to do a Thankful tree for the month of November. I've done this in years past with my youth group, but never as a family. So just useing a little construction paper i put up a tree and cut out leaves. Each night at dinner time we each say what we thank God for and write it on a leaf and stick it to the tree. We have also had guests over who particapated. This has been a great way to talk to Sienna about praising the Lord in all things. At first she really didn't understand, but now she gets it and can't wait to tell us what she is thankful for. Also many nights Sienna wants to do more then one leaf, because she can't wait until tomorrow.
This project has also been a blessing for Daniel in I. In our fast paced busy world we don't stop and thank God enough. And it has really lead to some great conversations at dinner time and also made us truly thankful for all that we have.
So put up a thankful tree it's not too late! I promise you and your kids will be blessed by it.
What you will need:
Paper (any colors you wish)
Tape (like painters tape or masking tape)
Glue stick
ribbon
Sienna helped me trace her hands on the paper and I cut them all out. The we laid them out the way we liked them and taped the outer row together on the back side. Then we glued the inner layer of hands to the outer layer. Then i made a bow and glued it on, i needed to use a clothes pin to hold it until it dried. The placed on last hand in the middle of the bow.
It took us about two hours and we had a lot of fun doing it. Sienna is so proud to show people her Hand Wreath when ever they come over. So take the time to do this fun project with your kids!
New To VOX aloha!
