I finally did it!

Read Harry Potter that is. 

After much pressure from Matthew, I finally succumbed and read the first book. 

 I was pleasantly surprised.  It is indeed well written and a good storyline.  The real pressure came because he wants to watch the movie.  We plan to on Friday night. 

Now I am off to start book #2.

Maybe it would be good to read the whole book before committing to its practices.

Yeah I'm still not done reading it and while not a whole lot would be different I might have been better prepared. Or Drew would have been. Or we could have prepared the other kids better. But heh, I am pleased to say that the little guy went down very nicely this evening. I would have been very surprised if he had the stamina to last long given he didn't really have an afternoon nap or an early evening catnap but as I said, he did go down well. And we are praying it is the beginning of a new routine. Even if it is not, I am thankful. And I will read the whole book next time. First.

Oh the book I am referring to? The Baby Whisperer (shhhhh the baby is sleeping!)

The Omnivore's Dilemma

I finally finished the book The Omnivore's Dilemma (young readers edition). It was really thought provoking. I earmarked a few pages and these were the things that I wanted to think more about:

• p35 - Regarding corn and how the price of corn (paid to farmers) is kept low by government policies and how in turn, in order to stay in business, most farmers receive subsidies from the government. The price paid for corn is below what it costs to grow it and yet it is the most in demand. Cyclical event that doesn't make sense.


• p56 - possible ingredients in cattle feed - yuck!!! and how cows are not designed to eat corn and yet are forced to. Hmmm.


• p83 - cheap fat - it is cheaper for the average person to purchase foods with empty calories rather then foods with nutritious calories ie potatoe chips and cookies versus carrots and other whole vegetables. Again the US government helps pay farmers to grow corn and soybeans but not the other fruits and vegetables we need. It discusses how one part of the government promotes the food pyramid and then another part makes it impossible for some to follow it. Hmmm.


• p105 - shows the marked increase in childhood obesity and the increase in the average number of calories consumed of HFCS daily


• p128 - how a chicken lives it's life before it gets to our table


• Polyface farms - I'd love to check it out some day! (egg yolks should be bright orange in colour if they have been given a grass diet)

Some resources to check out:

http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/

http://www.100milediet.org/

http://www.eatwellguide.com/

http://www.localharvest.com/

http://www.westonaprice.org/

Videos: Nourish; Fresh by Ana Jones; Food Inc.; What's on Your Plate; King Corn

What do I want to take from this book? (Btw I read the young readers version because the other one wasn't available from the library and I had started to read this one before I realized there was another version)

It is definitly thought provoking and good for conversation. I have been wanted to try to eat more locally and certainly more grass fed meat for a number of reasons. I need to research these ideas more (they are also part of my 101 things to do in 1001 days (LOL! - maybe I will get some of it accomplished!) and actually figure out how to do it.

A number of years ago Drew and I did purchase wholesome organic meats from a company. We haven't really been able to afford it again. Or rather, we haven't really chosen to afford it again since then. Nor has our freezer been ready for it. We did get very good meat. Drew has mixed feeling on it - i think we had a lot of good friends over and shared it and it may not have lasted as long as we had planned. I know there are some local farms that sell meat that I would like to check out.

I would also like to check out a few of the fresh produce/CSA farms. Or maybe even the Good Food Box system again. I have been buying more locally grown foods through our supermarket but I need to get to the farmer's market too. I haven't really needed to buy anything there lately but I would like to be choosing their produce over the supermarket.

That being said, I know that I will still want to buy bananas, pineapple, and navel oranges to name a few fruits that will never grow around here.

Above all, no, this does not mean that I am going to become a vegetarian. Or a no-junk food person. I do not have that kind of will power. But I have been thinking of the need to make better choices regarding our food and this book only confirms what I have known in my heart; the industrial food chain is not a great one. There is something to be said about eating and buying local and I hope to do more.

BTW there are some interesting reviews here on the full version.

The Pioneer Woman

My sister recommended reading this site when I got around to it. Her name has been coming up more and more in some of the other blogs I read so I finally took a look the other day. I went into her archives to read Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - and I was hooked. A few days later? What a great read (and she's right,

"Grab a cup of coffee. Curl up with a blanket. Have a box of kleenex and a fan handy. Here's the complete saga (to date) of the rip-roaring true story of how I met my husband, Marlboro Man, and how I went from spoiled city girl to domestic ranch wife in the blink of an eye").

I'm counting this as a book in my monthly recap!

A long drive with The Shack

On Sunday we found ourselves on our way to Thunder bay to celebrate the Life and Resurrection of my Grandpa Smith. He passed away on Thursday and after our committments and arrangements we started travelling on Sunday for the day and half drive.

Here is an example of my bone-headedness. We got The Shack on my ipod and decided to listen to it on the way up to Thunder Bay. It was working really well – I used the splitter so that both Drew and I could listen at the same time and it didn’t disturb the kids. We were about 17 chapters into it and well, we were both a little confused. I didn’t know anything about the story – the only thing I had heard was that “It gets a little strange in the middle but stick through til the end – it all works out”. “A different view of the God figure”. And it certainly did seem to be jumping around a lot. A few times I stopped it and asked Drew for clarification – to be sure I was following it right. Then all of a sudden it hit me. My ipod was on shuffle!!!! A chapter here a chapter there - or rather 1/2 chapter here and 1/2 a chapter there (the audio version is spilt into 54 "chapters", where the actual book has about 21? So we started over at the beginning and I have to say – it seems to be making a whole lot more sense this way!

An Amazing Day!

Wow - an amazing day! First of all the sun was shining - it has seemed a little grey the last while but it was so crisp and clear today! Loved setting off for school this way.


Second of all I got to spend the whole morning skiing! This was my first time sort of going on my own (without family). One of Matt's friends moms has been asking me to go and I was finally free. We got 13 runs in - the lines were awesome and we just had a nice time chatting. My toes even got cold at the same time so it was perfect for a break.


Thirdly - Immediately after skiing (a bit of a rush to get there) I was able to volunteer with Matt's class at the local skating rink. We had so much fun! I forgot to take off my skate guard so I pretty much wiped out getting on the rink - woops! Matt is no where near the level of skating as a number of his friends but he was so full of laughs! He spent just as much time on the ground as he did skating but it was so much fun! And LOTS of volunteers! I love that about our school - a lot of parent participation. I'd say it was even today between moms and dads! I then headed home and was actually choked up with thanks that I was able to help out! I am so thankful that I am able to get to know the kids friends and be able to stay at home for this time. It truly is a blessing! I pulled up to the house as C was trying to get in. Thank goodness they didn't head back to the school!






Matt wanted a picture of his bottom!


Fourthly - I was reading my book and they talked about their grandparents - and I was immediately moved to call Grandma. I've meant to so many times over the last week but it has always been inconvenient - usually too late! I'm so glad I did. Grandpa slept right through their visit today and I can tell that she was really down. She is also in a lot of pain from her fall which is just really hard. I do wish that we were closer geographically! It would be so neat to have them at the retirement home around the corner!


Fifthly - Matt and Marlee were picked up after school by J for their weekly date so C and I could go to her eye appointment. All is well there too - no changes - and so much easier without the kids with us.


And Sixthly? C's 1:1 worker called in sick and wasn't able to take her to WEB today so I decided to take her - and it was snow tubing night! We did 5 runs for $10 before we came in for snacks. What fun - again VERY brisk but so worth it!

Oh and - I finished my book!


It was a great read - pretty quick and a little unexpected. I love the show but was much more impressed with them as a couple after reading the book. Kate was quite honest and heartfelt and their love for the Lord is totally evident. So many times I have likened our relationship to theirs- lots of banter and bickering but such a deep love. It was nice to hear her side of it.

I've been getting my LOAD pages done - (still trying to figure out how to have a separate "album" within the blog - haven't read about it yet)!

SOOOO - all in all a great day but I am ready for bed!