The Importance of Feet

The other night Hubby and I were talking, and the subject turned to a particular relative of ours whom I'll call Marge (because that is not her name). ☺ She's the spouse of one of his cousins, so we don't see her terribly often, but sometimes at extended family gatherings she's there. She has a daughter near Wolf's age, and a son just a couple of months older than Bear, and she seems to have concluded that she and I clearly have a lot in common.
The first time I met her was right before Bear was born, (when she had a newborn), she was asking me how the pregnancy was going, and I said it was great--because it was. She told me about she hated being pregnant but it was nice to have the kids, although she was definitely done because three was her MAX (here was me who had been praying to be able to have a baby at all but hey, she didn't know that), and then she concluded "I have just one thing to say about birth: drugs drugs DRUGS!"
Um, I don't feel that way. ☺
But it was one of those casual social situations and she was getting ready to go so I said nothing.
A few months later she was again present at the gathering when we announced that we were looking at taking a job in rural Alaska. She rolled her eyes at Hubby and then turned to me and said "you're ok with that? If my husband took a job like that he would be going alone!" Her tone left no doubt about the finality of her feeling.
This summer we saw her again. She asked how my etsy shop was going, and announced that she had a fabulous idea for a product I could sell "they're super easy to make and sell for, like, $20!" Suffice it to say that the item she described was something I can only define as 'froo-froo,' something I do not have (or want) the supplies for, something I would never use myself, and good grief why would I put it in my store, you know? Again, I smiled and nodded and said well, that's not really my thing and went to find someone else to talk to.
She-who-is-not-really-named-Marge is a very nice woman, but she just makes me a little crazy, you know? So it was this craziness that Hubby and I were discussing...
I said "I really have nothing in common with her," to which Hubby replied "sure you do, you both have feet."
Clearly, this is an important point upon which to base a friendship.

FOs (Finished Objects!)

Here are some things I've sewn and knitted over the last month or so (or, rather, things that I've FINISHED in the last while!)

A pair of fleece hats (given to a pair of little brothers via Holiday Helpers) Wolf assures me that both are 'very cool' designs.

Some knitted hats (for the daddy and baby sister of the aforementioned brothers)
Felted hat...it, um, came out kinda wide. I don't know where I went wrong in my figuring, but obviously I went very wrong... so I sliced the thing in half and made two hats with it (each just has a seam up the back). ☺


Hubby's bamboo velour pillowcase which I made for him for Christmas (seriously, you cannot fathom just how soft this stuff is unless you've felt it)
A couple of sweet new things for my etsy shop (guess who got a snap press for Christmas?!) ☺

And the item I'm most proud of: a sweater for the little Bear! (I'm already swatching for Wolf's sweater...)

Can you tell that he loves it! (He really loves the pocket!)

Bear Island

Last night on PBS Hubby and I saw a documentary called "Bear Island" which is, of course, about Chichagof Island. (That's the island we live on folks.) I knew this island had the highest population of costal brown bears (aka grizzly bears) per square mile of anywhere in North America. Well, now I can give you numbers.
Square miles on Chichagof: about 2000
People on Chichagof: 1100
Freakin Huge Bears on Chichagof: 1600
☺
Now see, don't you feel educated?
And aren't you glad that you don't have to wear a bear bell every time you go outside? (naw, we don't really do that either...just after dark, or outside of downtown, or if you didn't clip a bell to the dog, or if you didn't bring your rifle on the hike with you...)

I'm a Henna Head! (pic heavy)

I got henna for Christmas, and put it in my hair that evening...and how I have been trying for three weeks for decent sunlight so I could get the 'after' photo for this post...but I finally got it, so here is the photographic story of putting henna in my hair!

(very soon I'll do the post about why I put henna in my hair, but I didn't want to wait on the pictures!)

Along with my 'before' and 'after' pictures, I'm also showing the process.
Henna comes in a green powder (it's a ground root, after all). Mix it with really warm water until it's well dissolved into a thick paste (about the texture of pudding). Let it sit for around two hours before use.
Get your hair wet. Squeeze or pat (never wring) to get out excess moisture. Then start goomping the henna into your hair.
Yes, it looks like mud, but it has a wonderful fresh, wild, weedy scent.
Once it's all in, gently pile your hair up on top of your head--I just use a claw clip or two to hold it up, but some people recommend wrapping your hair in plastic wrap and then a warm towel...
Let it sit for a while (20-60 min) then take a shower and wash it all out, shampoo as normal, and voila!
Take care to not get henna on your skin, because it will dye your skin as well as your hair... I recommend wearing plastic gloves, or else wash your hands really well as soon as you're done. Henna won't hurt you, but it will turn you orange. Henna WILL stain your clothing too, so put an old towel around your collar, and wear a button-up shirt that you can take off without it touching your hair. As soon as you've got your henna in, take a damp cloth and wipe off any bits that got on your hairline/ears/arms. If you henna your eyebrows (which I did), I recommend a damp q-tip.
I'll have more details about how much to use and how long to let it sit in the other henna post.

Here are the indoor before and after pictures taken that night--you can sortof see that it's redder...the ends are not that different, but the top really is (my last henna treatment was Nov 2007, so I had 5-6inch roots...one of the great things about henna is that it doesn't change your hair color so much as enhance it, so there was never a harsh line between the colored and un-colored hair).

and finally (this is what you waited three weeks for) pictures of henna-head in sunlight.

(yes, I was on the phone with my sister--who has a birthday today. Happy Birthday K!)

And here are before and after pictures in direct morning sunlight (seriously, that is so hard to get here!) In the 'before' shot you can see some hints of the old henna...but obviously a fresh treatment brings a whole new glow!

before (sep 08) / after (jan 09)

Hubby is calling me "Red" again. ☺

Aww gee

One might have thought that a college grad could write at graduate level...
oh well!

Light into the World

This post is my first "Word-filled Wednesday"...one photo + the word of God.




We took this photo this past Christmas morning, right out our bedroom window. We may not get a lot of light here at this time of year, but when it does come it sure is glorious!


In case you can't read the small print on the photo...

And God said let there be light, and there was light. Genesis 1:3
♥ ♥ ♥
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46

(yes, I cheated, I did two verses. It seemed appropriate.)

Which eggnog were YOU drinking?!

Our family does not drink (religious prohibition), so while my 8yo son Wolf knows what alcohol is, he's not familiar with the difference between, say, a glass of wine after dinner and getting thoroughly drunk.
Enter the eggnog:

On Christmas Eve we joined most of the town for the annual party. It runs all afternoon with lots of food and chatting, and is a family-friendly event. We got there on the early side, and the hostess was just finishing up making the eggnog, so we helped her set it out in two huge bowls on separate tables--one batch with booze in it and one without. I made sure to let Wolf know which bowl he should get his eggnog from, and throughout the afternoon we periodically informed newcomers of which bowl was which. At one point, my sweet innocent son explained to someone "this is the plain eggnog, and that one is for alcoholics."

See more kids saying the darndest things at Tiny Talk Tuesday.

A Few Goals

This weekend I crunched all the numbers on my etsy shops--how much I spent on materials, and how much I brought in via sales. I'm thrilled to report that I netted nearly $500, so etsy is finally more than just a hobby! ☺ I bought a lot of materials in bulk this year, so I won't be needing to buy much at all in the coming months, which means the profits for the coming year should be better still. So, with that to inspire me, I have some goals for this year:

• List 2 new items per week (exceptions allowed for vacation/moving). Of course that means I'll also have to
  
• Sew at least 2 things per week...hopefully more, but I'm trying to set something that's easily achievable.
• Introduce at least 6 new products this year (I already have a few things in mind, but just need to bring them to fruition...)
  

I also have a few non-etsy goals:

• Pay off credit card
• Knit a sweater for Wolf (I just finished one for Bear--photos coming soon!)
• Get pregnant ☺
• Spend less time on the internet (this shouldn't be too hard, as I'll be spending more time sewing...but you, my adoring fans, may have to learn to cope with not-so-daily posting...can you handle it?)
• Get Bear night-weaned and sleeping through the night
• Be supportive of my Hubby in his goal by providing appropriate and helpful foods (and not too many unhelpful ones!)

OK, that is quite long enough for one year!

Mammograms

Self Breast Exam Day!!

A commenter asked me a couple of months ago about mammograms--many of you may be aware that there are mixed reviews about their effectiveness and safety. On the one hand mainstream medicine says that all women over a certain age should have annual mammograms; on the other hand some people are saying that the mammograms themselves are increasing the rates of breast cancer.
When I started googling around to see what I could learn, I quickly discovered two things: Everybody has a strong opinion on this, and there seems to be evidence on both sides. Rather than try to determine the 'truth' on this, I'm going to just provide you a lot of links. I am only including links to pages that had references--there were lots of pages that threw around numbers and statements but did not give references for them. I just can't take anybody seriously if they don't have stats to back up their 'facts.'
Also, while this post focuses specifically on mammograms (since they are the most common), it's also important to note that there are quite a few new screening methods on the horizon, including ultrasound and MRI scans. These new methods cost more, and are not yet widely available, but if you're worried about mammograms, they are worth looking into. Incidentally, current research indicates that these new options are far more effective than mammograms for correctly identifying breast tumors (fewer missed tumors, fewer false positives).
Breastcancer.org: benefits, risks, and what you should know about mammograms (they consider mammograms safe)
OurBodiesOurBlog: When to start routine mammograms (addresses the controversy over safety vs early diagnoses via screenings, includes lots of links--they recommend starting at a later age and having the mammograms less often if you are low risk) (personal note--this recommendation makes a lot of sense to me)
SafetyIssues Magazine: brings up some critical thoughts about what the data really means (for example: are women actually living longer, or just being diagnosed earlier?!) (personal note--I was not able to find resourses on this one, but read their articles on some topics that I know more about, and they seem to be accurate and objective)
Mercola.com is a health site which many of the naturopathic/homeopathic (ie, not allopathic) health folks prefer. Every article I found there was anti-mammogram.

"The fact is, most women detect their cancers themselves, in the shower or in the bedroom. Regular self-exams help women learn the landscapes of their own bodies so that they notice the slightest change. BSEs send women to the doctor, and thus help detect breast cancers that mammograms miss." [link]

Here is a first-timer's story of her experience of getting a mammogram "A Very Squishy Public Service Announcement." She reported that it's not actually all that bad. Sure you have to take your top off, but she said it was not painful and was over quite quickly. (And really, if you've given birth, well, it's all been hung out there anyway...what's 10 minutes without a top, right?)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, Happy New Year
May we all have a vision now and then
Of a world where every neighbor is a friend.
~~Abba "Happy New Year"

(click the image to see the world peace prayer society, it's a very cool site)

This morning I put together this peace treasury on my etsy blog, and I simply cannot think of a better message for a new year than that of peace. I have plenty of thoughts about the past year and the new one, but there will be other days for posting those. Today I choose to focus on peace.
There are several people who have written my sentiments for me, so rather than try to say it all myself, I will just quote them...

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace.

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

from "Imagine" by John Lennon
(this song has it's anti-religion flaws, but there are good messages in there too...)

~~~

Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley-folk below.
On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the stone,
And the valley-people swore
They'd have it for their very own.
. . .
So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold for which they'd kill.
Came an answer from the kingdom,
"With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there."
. . .
Now the valley cried with anger,
"Mount your horses! Draw your sword!"
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.


Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier rides away.

"One Tin Soldier" (I can't find the actual writer--a lot of people have sung this one. It looks like it first came out in a movie in 1971, and the one tin soldier may be referring to a character in that story...but there is also a book by CS Lewis which speaks of One Tin Soldier who is a representation of Christ...)
This song gave me chills the first time I heard it, and still does every time--even just now, just reading the words, I have chills.

~~~


How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.


How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.


How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

"Blowin in the Wind" by Bob Dylan
(although I prefer it as sung by Peter Paul & Mary)

~~~

Ev'rybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism
Isn't it the most
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talking about
Ministers, Sinisters, Banisters and canisters,
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Let me tell you now
Ev'rybody's talking about
Revolution, Evolution, Mastication, Flagelolation, Regulations.
Integrations, Meditations, United Nations, Congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Oh Let's stick to it
Ev'rybody's talking about
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary, Tommy smothers, Bob Dylan,
Tommy Cooper, Derek Tayor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

"Give Peace a Chance" by John Lennon

~~~