200th post

Well, I suppose it was inevitable. I mean, with two months of more posts-than-days-in-the-month...yeah, I've reached 200 posts. The 100th post passed in the night and I didn't even realize I'd written it until after the fact. A lot of folks do something special for their milestone posts...listing 100 things about themselves or holding a giveaway of some sort... I was debating about that, but ya know, I don't know that I can think of that many interesting things about myself...and even if I could, I doubt you'd want to read them all. So how about we divide by 10, and for my 200th post I'll just tell you 20 interesting things about me?!

Or at least 20 things...

1. My favorite color is pink. Has been since high school. I particularly like hot pink.
2. I prefer to wear blue or turquoise, because it brings out my eyes better.
3. I love earrings, but I almost never change them, so I refuse to buy more, no matter how cute they are.
4. I like hot cocoa, but not (cold) chocolate milk.
5. I hate marshmallows.
6. I love chocolate, but I don't think it's worth it unless it's GOOD chocolate. Hershey's tastes like wax. Oh wait, it IS wax.
7. I like my ice cream in a bowl, not on a cone.
8. I generally prefer vanilla ice cream, but my favorite flavor ever was grapefruit, which I got in Italy.
9. Grapefruit is one of my favorite things on earth--I love to eat it, and I love the scent too.
10. I live in a salmon fishing mecca...and I don't really like salmon.
11. I love sewing, but it just frustrated me as a kid. I spent more time picking stitches out than sewing them in. I never dreamed I would make an income from it.
12. I was painfully shy as a child and teen. I wouldn't even look a stranger in the eye. I utterly refused ANY form of public speaking. I wouldn't even say a family prayer over dinner if we had guests.
13. Then I went on to be a theatre/education major in college. I don't know what happened in between!
14. I do not like the colors burnt orange or puce. Both remind me of vomit. Even the name 'puce' reminds me of vomit. Who wants a vomit-colored crayon anyway?!
15. I love to talk. A lot. Oh wait, that's not very interesting...and you already knew it, didn't you?!
16. I am really really really opinionated about most stuff. I am always up for a discussion or debate with people who agree or disagree...I can respect a choice that is different from my own, so long as it is based in *research. I reserve the right to NOT respect any decision which is NOT based on *research.
17. I enjoy over-intellectualizing things. This probably began when my father taught me to sing nursery rhymes about "A Trio of Obnoxious Rodents" rather than "Three Blind Mice..."
18. I am about halfway through reading the complete works of William Shakespeare.
19. I also taught English, and cannot turn off my teacher's eye when reading...spelling and grammar errors always jump out at me. No, I don't really judge people on them (at least I try not to--I know I make mistakes too), but I confess that if there are a lot of them, I usually stop reading from that writer because it makes me crazy.
20. I love dogs, and our dog is quite literally one of the children. A sub-human child (always bottom on the totem pole), but still a child. That's why I made her a birthday cake.

*when I say 'research' I mean studying the issue, not that it always has to be a scientific matter. Pondering, praying, reviewing, talking to people, etc all constitute 'research' to me. Blindly following something somebody said, just because 'they should know' is what I cannot respect.

Banished to the Island

My Hubby posted about this, and I thought it was kinda fun, and I have been blogging longer (and have a wider readership) so I thought I'd post it here, and link back to his post (and increase his traffic), and, yeah. ☺

It works like this: say you have an island, somewhere in the middle of nowhere (like *Chichagof? Naw, more nowhere than that!) You can choose three things to banish to that island--once banished, those three things will no longer exist in the rest of the world.
Hubby's friend chose funny things (you'll have to go read about them!) Hubby chose more serious things--things I might choose myself. But I think this question deserves some serious thought, so while I could be content to duplicate his answers, I won't.
Here are my three things to banish:

1. Indifference. If people just cared about each other and our planet then the world would be a much nicer place. Everyone would vote, everyone would recycle, everyone would smile when they passed people in the street, everyone would stop to help, everyone would adopt stray dogs and spay and neuter their pets. Nobody would assume that everything was somebody elses problem.
2. Lying. Everything from perjury to little white lies. All gone. If everyone was honest, the no one would ask your opinion unless they ACTUALLY wanted it. No 'does this make me look fat' or 'how are you' when all they want to hear is 'fine thanks.' I think it would be very freeing if we were all more honest with each other. No, I'm not fine, I'm tired and frustrated and stressed... Seriously, I am so sick of having people ask me questions when they don't really want the answer.
3. And, well, I'd like to get rid of the color orange. I have just never liked it. (If I hadn't said that, I would have gone with money...I hate money...)

*Chichagof is the island where I live

The Tide Waits for No Man...or Dog...

Playing on the tide flats is all good fun...unless you forget to come in....

Koira heeded our calls when it lapped at her ankles.
Sisu stayed until the water hit her chin.

(thanks to KnittingFisher for the picture!)

Birth Story Carnival!

Somebody is holding a birth story carnival!! I'm not about to take the time to go read every story (and actually only read about half of hers...although I read the ones posted by my friends!)...but I think it's fun to go back and put my links on the Mr Linky...so if you've got a birth story (whether previously written or still waiting for words) go add your link to the list! C'mon, birthy vibes are fun!

So, for those of you who weren't around and reading this blog when Bear (formerly known as S) was born, here is the story of his birth. For those who don't remember the more recently told story of how Wolf (W) came to be 'born in my heart' well, you can read that here.

Easter Morn

This week I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting today (Easter Sunday). I felt prompted to use this hymn as my starting point. I had heard it many times, but this week the real depth of it has moved me. (click the title to hear it)

That Easter Morn
hymn 198
To be sung with dignity

1. That Easter morn, a grave that burst
Proclaimed to man that “Last and First”
Had ris’n again
And conquered pain.

2. This morn renews for us that day
When Jesus cast the bonds away,
Took living breath
And conquered death.

3. Thus we in gratitude recall
And give our love and pledge our all,
Shed grateful tear
And conquer fear.

Text: Marion D. Hanks, b. 1921. © 1975 IRI
Music: Robert Cundick, b. 1926. © 1975 IRI


I believe that we as Christians spend a lot of time focused on how Christ conquered death, but we should remember that He conquered the pains and fears of life as well. I am forever grateful for His sacrifice for us.

I'm Baaack!

Well, it has certainly been a most productive week! I have spent some time online doing things to promote my store, but mostly I've been sewing sewing sewing...and knitting.

Here is the tally of what I finished:

9 wetbags

3 diapers

5 sets of menstrual pads

1 hand-knit stranded hat (which was a custom order and is already sold)

I also got about 10 more pad sets cut out (and a couple are half sewn), and designed an all-in-one (AIO) pad, which is a new item for me!

I listed 11 new items and sold 3. I also re-did my shop banner and announcement, updated several of the listings, and made linky buttons for my blog here--see, you can just click the button and go straight to my store! Or straight to visit one of my street teams! (and keep an eye on that cloth diapering one...we're planning a LARGE promotion in the next few weeks...we don't have all the details hammered out yet, but it will almost certainly involve free diapers!)

Get Fit!

The President's Challenge starts on March 20 (next week). Alaska's governer has encouraged all Alaskans to participate, and I'm doing it, and encourage all my readers to do it as well! To participate in the program, each adult commits to 30 min of activity, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. (Children under 18 commit to 60 min of activity, and adults who are already active can commit to higher levels if they choose.) You can go here to sign up and track your progress! This program is in the USA, but the website is set up so that people from any country can use it to track their fitness.
Once you've signed up, join the group I made: "Getting off my duff" #69184, password "brightonwoman" Then we can see what everyone else is doing (I promise, all I really do is walk the dog!) and we can encourage and harrass each other as applicable!
C'mon, I did it! I'm getting out there at least an hour a day (usually more) and walking with my doggie. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, but you know you should get off your duff and get moving, so here ya go! I'm giving you your own personal nudge in the right direction!!!

Songs of Comfort

A friend of mine recently miscarried...
As always happens to me when I hear of this happening to a friend, I think back to my own miscarriages, and how I felt, and what comforted me.
Something that has comforted me every time is hymns. I mentioned this before, and promised to share them sometime, so now I am. Two hymns in particular have been my solace.

Be Still My Soul (#124)
(my eternal thanks to Mae, for introducing me to this song in the first place!)

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697;trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
Music: "Finlandia"--which is copywrited, so is not available online



I Believe in Christ (#134)
(I have only written out the portions that particularly helped me, click here to hear it and see the full text)

I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard "Ye shall obtain."

I believe in Christ, so come what may,
With him I'll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

Text: apostle Bruce R McConkie (this song is his testimony of Christ)
Music: John Longhurst

Flat Stanley meets Patience the classroom Hedgehog

Going Green

In honor of the title of this post, I've changed my text to green. :-)

I got inspired by BabyAmore over at My Little Drummer Boys to post about this...

OK, so I know it's 'in' right now to 'go green' because of global warming and carbon footprints and all that...there is also a lot of controversy over it. I want to explain my position, and why I am an environmentalist.
1--Climate change is part of the cycle of Earth's history. Frankly, I don't see proof that humans are changing the temperature of the earth. I DO see that the temperature is changing, I just am not convinced that it is human-caused rather than part of the natural cycle of things...
2--I DO believe that pollution is a problem.
3--I believe that humans were given dominion over the earth (as per Genesis), and told to be good stewards over it. Being a good steward would mean taking care of Earth and its creatures, supporting life and beauty and nature rather than destroying them.
4--I believe that all living things have spirits (trees, animals, etc) and that the Earth also has a spirit. I therefore take it very seriously to show respect to all these things.

So you see, I'm not about reducing carbon footprints for the sake of reducing global warming...I don't even know if they are really related. BUT, I do strongly believe in being responsible with our world.

So, without further ado, here are some ways to be a good steward, save the world, and go a little greener! (no, I don't do all of them, but I do most of them!)

1. Replace your light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs (the little twisty looking ones). They last far longer and use 1/10 the energy. They are a little pricey to switch all at once, but we started by just buying one package per month, thus replacing about 2 bulbs a month...
2. Breastfeed
3. If you need to buy a new appliance, consider an energystar one.
4. A front-loading washing machine not only uses less energy and less water (about 2 gal per load), it also uses 1/4 the soap. (more laundry tips)
   
5. Unless it is a super-grubby load, use half measures of soap in your regular laundry (in a regular washing machine)
6. Consider a water softener/filter if you live in an area with hard water. It will allow you to use pure soaps and less of them. (Did you know that most soaps/detergents are 3/4 cleaning agents meant to clean the water, and only 1/4 to actually clean your body/hair/hands/dishes/clothes?!)
7. Use cloth diapers
8. Use cloth menstrual pads or a menstrual cup
9. Use cloth wipes--for baby bottoms, for runny noses, for cleaning house...
10. Use rechargeable batteries, or non-battery items!
11. Use fabric shopping bags. You can even get super lightweight produce bags (which won't upset the weight scale making you pay for the bag as well as the produce) from places like this
12. Try fabric gift bags
13. Use a bento box or fabric lunch bag for taking meals to work/school or on picnics
14. Buy organic (fewer pesticides in the ground, water, and animals)
15. Buy hormone-free meat, eggs, and dairy (let the animals grow normally!)
16. Buy locally (shipping things all over the place makes a lot of pollution! If I had to choose, I would buy local before organic)
17. Plant a tree
18. Raise a garden--your own fresh food will taste better and be cheaper than anything you can buy, and it will be healthier, AND it is the epitome of "local!"
    
19. Reduce the amount of stuff you have around...
20. Reuse things--old towels can be cut up for cleaning rags, old jeans make great camping blankets, old toothbrushes are great for scrubbing little corners It's like the old pioneer mantra "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without."
21. Recycle aluminum, plastic, glass, metal cans, paper, and cardboard
22. Repair things whenever practical. After all, my son doesn't mind a big patch on his jeans. He's just going to bust through the other knee in a few months, so might as well get the extra life out of them!
23. Compost--all fruit/vegetable waste (peelings, cores, seeds, etc), plus eggshells, coffee grounds, etc can be composted.
24. Grow a garden! Use your own compost, and do away with the pollution that comes from shipping!
25. Try to purchase items with minimal packaging, and/or recyclable packaging
26. Use a washable water bottle like this or this instead of buying and tossing (or even recycling) plastic bottles...those plastic bottles should not be re-used by the way, as they accumulate bacteria, and if heated (say, in a hot car) toxins from the plastic can leech into the water
27. Install skylights in your roof (so you won't need to turn on the lights as often)
28. Try to buy things that will last longer, rather than things which will wear out and have to be replaced... (wooden toys and kitchen utensils rather than plastic, that kind of thing)
29. Walk, bike, or use public transportation
30. Drive a car with good milage (even a hybrid) if you can.
    
31. Have good driving habits, including gentle acceleration and braking, using cruise control, and driving in the proper gear for your speed
32. Clean your house with baking soda, salt, lemon juice, and vinegar. I'm not kidding--it works really really well. Here is a post with some specific uses
33. Buy products with minimal packaging, so that you won't produce so much garbage.
34. Re-use packaging, for mailing, storing, or gifting.
    
35. Combine errands and do everything at once, rather than making multiple trips.
    
36. Do lots of little things, even if you can't do big things, because the little things do add up!
    

Please, if you have other ideas, share them in your comments (I'll add them to the list!)