A Suggestion From a Man

John M was reading our rabid ramblings last night, and commented "How the heck are you supposed to know who wrote what?" I told him that I knew who wrote each post, you just have to know the Elaine Society (Waynesburg Chapter) members! He thought we should label our posts in some way. I told him I would inform the other members of the issue, but would make no promises!

A Blessing

"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you will live deep in your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people and the earth.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer so you will reach out your hands to comfort them and change their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so you will do the things which others say cannot be done."

-Author Unknown

Don't know Jack

Sometimes I feel I am a jack of all trades and master ( mistress?) of none. As I wander around the house UFO (UnFinished Objects) sightings are frequent and too numerous to list. Uncompleted knitting...abandoned scrapbooks...half painted living room...etc. It's easy to blame it on children. "I don't have any energy left." "There's no time." But, perhaps it is just my lack of enthusiasm or the winter doldrums. So I piddle. Do a little of this. A little of that. Then sit to have a cup of tea before naptime has run its course.

Hate to Be a Bore But

Warning: wildly boring question to follow.

So one of my favorite pots bit the dust--unfortunately I find bits of nonstick substance in my mixtures (Alheizmer's, anyone?)--so it's time for the trash for this "workhorse." That pot was a Caphalon, but they don't make 3 1/2 quarts anymore. Please help me make up my mind--the first sleeker, has a glass lid, and is oven-proof to 500 (and 10 dollars cheaper), but the handles get super hot. The second is probably almost exactly like my last pot, and comes less highly recommended (2 compared to 22 reviews) but is only ovensafe to 350. It's more expensive but it's probably what I was initially looking for. Now, here's my question: how many of you actually cook from the stove into your oven? How often?

Circulon 80486 10.5-Inch/4-Quart Covered Tapered Sauteuse-

or

Circulon 2 Hard-Anodized Aluminum 3-1/2-Quart Nonstick Saucepot with Lid-

Thanks for your imput on this earth-shattering matter.

PS. Merry just brushed Elspeth's teeth and read her bedtime books. What a girl, and what good timing especially after E's challenging day today--NAUGHTY.

Easy-To-Do Winter Inactivities

I tried several times to make this larger & easier to read, without success.

On my computer, at least, when I click on the image, I can view a larger one.

Any suggestions, Kim?

Soricomorpha Talpidae or Moles in the Basement

I'm sorry to have to report of the demise of our fellow Austen aficionado Sunday night at approximately 11:15 PM EST. The BIG mystery is: how did the little fellow get in there anyway?

Thank you all for coming...I had a fun night. Thank you Nancy, for the yummy banana-berry smoothie. Thank you Sally, for the lovely flower - a promise that green, flowered things will indeed return to my yard. Thank you Kim, for the delicious applesauce, caramel cake.



And now, I must go untie shoelaces that Lauren has been very busily tying, and re-roll half a roll of toilet paper that she pulled out before moving on to the shoes.



Have a wonderful week!

One Way I Survive

I EAT.

I eat Dutch chocolate ice-cream with peanuts. I eat Ghiardelli squares in shiny red packets and multiple clementines. I eat corn chips. I eat bowls of cereal. I eat bowls of dreamsicle ice-cream.

I EAT HEALTHY FOOD, UNHEALTHY FOOD, AND FOOD I CONVINCE MYSELF IS HEALTHY.

I eat endless snacks. I drink endless cups of tea. I eat when no one is watching, and I eat when everyone is watching. I eat between meals. I eat at meals and late at night. I eat as I walk through the kitchen and I eat behind my childrens' backs.

Dark chocolate is a major food group. I blame my appetite on the baby inutero. I blame it on low blood sugar. I often give no excuse.

I see, I salivate, I consume.

Turkey sandwiches that belong to my husband. Orange slices that belong to my children.

How do I survive?

I EAT.

Happy Burns Night

Happy Burns night, all! I know that some of you are enjoying spaghetti with meat sauce and pumpkin pie rather than the traditional haggis, but I hope you won't forget to toast all present, read Burns, and sing "Auld Lang Syne."


P.S. The child who has been sick is markedly better today (no signs of illness and only a few complaints after lunch), and we hope that the recovery will persist this time, rather than the illness.

One Way I Survive

I read.

I read garden catalogs.

Johnny's, Bountiful Gardens, Seeds of Change.

I read garden catalogs and blogs.

Pioneerwoman (a hoot), Fatfreevegan (my dietstyle), sewmamasew (fun sewing creativity), wazoofarm (my dear friend, good writing), elainesociety (support, friendship, good writing), and fatherstephen.wordpress (challenging philosophically and Orthodoxically)

I read garden catalogs, blogs, and books.

books about homeschooling, education and special education, my dietstyle, children's books, novels, and what John brings home from the library.

I read garden catalogs, blogs, books, and magazines.

Mother Earth News, Books and Culture, Aunt Mary Jane's CT before I give it to her (unless I get disgusted first), Smithsonian, Atlantic (sometimes), Touchstone.

I read garden catalogs, blogs, books, and magazines in the sun.

Bra Burning

What is it about the approaching end to the work week that causes all hell to break loose in my home? Things break, children and pets get sick, and harried mothers dream of escaping to somewhere quiet with lots of coffee and books.

I am not a certified bra-burning feminist, but I am grateful for the opportunities I've had for education and individualization (is that a word?) in this male-centric country. In fact, in the 5 years I've been a stay-at-home-mom, I've pretty much shed all the girl-stuff to be reduced to showering occasionally and hardly ever wearing anything that even resembles a dress. I cut my hair in front of the bathroom mirror. I wear the same pair of jeans everyday with a T-shirt because its comfortable. Some times I actually think about getting dressed up, putting on make-up, fixing my hair...but it's just too much trouble.

Of course it only takes your pre-schooler coming home and announcing "R has a pretty Mommy" to see all the inadequacies I demonstrate as a woman. That's when I think about taking the advice a friend gave me several years ago. She told me that every woman really should get fitted for a bra. She said once you have a good, well fitting bra, you'll feel better about yourself, and never go back. Could this be true? Could changing my underwear change my attitude about myself? Would it make the ends of the weeks calm and peaceful instead of crazy?

So, some Friday, I'm going to escape. I'm going to go to Victoria's Secret and get fitted for a bra. Anyone game?

Bits of Trifling Trifles

Hello, all members--

Had a hard time finding inner motivation this morning--something to do with awakening with a middling headache, after Elspeth slept on my chest at five a.m., and then cranked up the radio (country station, "It's All Right to be Little Bitty!" a song Martin describes as "discouraging.") Realized I had not showered since Saturday night. ICKY.

(I showered.)

My mother left this morning, and I found inner motivation hard to locate (where WAS it hiding?), especially with ice caking the front stairs. Luckily Sally called and invited me to find she and Ben at the library, which I had not patronized in eons. I had a lovely time (there's a funky little dog in the kid's section who will bite if tantalized) and brought home fresh Shirley Hughes books. So thanks, Sally, for giving my inner guts a kick in the ribs.

Mom and I watched "Northanger Abbey" last night--fun--what did you women think? I have a copy, Nancy, to pass on to you, thanks to Sal the gal. Looking forward to Sunday. Any news on what sort of cake we should eat? Is chocolate it?

Does anyone want to go to the mall Thursday/Friday morning? I have to hit Children's Place, which, by all reports, [was]/is full of sales--found we were squeezing poor Merry into itty-bitty underoos and must do the right thing and buy more. I'm not a mall walker by habit but it might be a rather nice outing given company. Does Motown have C's P? They have a play place. . .anyone up for it?

Do I need to be medicated?

Last week I had a really bad day. The kind where one unpleasant thing after another transpires and is enough to drive any semi-sane person off the deep end. My husband happened to call while I was in the midst of a childish tirade, and during all of my tears, he asked "Do you need to be medicated again?"

Let me back up. I have a history of depression, in fact the mental illness gene seems to be pervasive in my family. I have been on several different anti-depressants in the past, with varying levels of success and side effects. The last time I was taking something was before my 5 year old daughter was born. Yes, it is true. Lately I have been feeling lonely and worth the most as the caretaker of my family, not as an individual.

So, after vehemently denying the need for medication to my husband, I thought long and hard about that possibility for the rest of the day. I have always had a very short temper, and to my dismay, I yell at my children more than I should. Recently this seems to be a trait that I can not control...it just happens. For this reason, the children's book by Mem Fox, called Harriet, You'll Drive me Wild! has been a special favorite of mine. (Read it...it is both convicting and forgiving!) Does this mean that medication may help me?

I still, after several days of pondering, haven't decided one way or another. I also haven't made an appointment with my Doctor to discuss it with her. I have, however, spent time with some of my friends. It seems to be amazingly therapeutic! Of course, with friends that will write such wonderful things about a person (see previous post), how could friendship fail to be helpful in such situations? In addition, my parents came to visit, and my mother baked me the most delicious ooey, gooey chocolate desert in lieu of birthday cake. We all know that chocolate cures any number of conditions!

Do I need to be medicated? Well, I've filed the possibility a little closer to the front of my motherhood-addled brain, but for now I plan to take the dark, cold winter one day at a time and remember that such impossible days will teach me something about myself.

Happy Birthday to Tonya

For this first post, I'd like to congratulate Tonya on the occasion of her birthday. No, a birthday is indeed not just another day. I know this because I have birthed two children. Your mama had to earn your birthday, girl, and now we get to celebrate it.

Of course, in the manner of all things that should be celebrated on that day, we'll have to postpone the actual party, but here's a promisary note from the Waynesburg chapter of the Elaine Society, 2008:

Tonya's Birthday will be Celebrated

With: Pomp and Splendor

Without: Children
With: Fellow Energetic Members
Possibility: Amazing Food/Incredible Conversation/Entertainment (perhaps Sally will tapdance? Nancy will sing opera? I, Kim, will juggle?)

Here are just a few things I appreciate about Tonya:

I am amazed at her resourcefulness: if I ever have a question (how to can artichokes; how to glean seeds from pumpkins? how to peel four bushels of apples?) I would e-mail Tonya.

Tonya is kind and generous; she is open with her life and home and full of good ideas and hidden talents (i.e., sews up special purses for her daughters, builds scarecrow and names her, constructs a 'kid wash').

Tonya is a good cook and a good mother and a good cleaner and a good organizer and a good seamstress and a good gardener and a good canner and a good professional. . .hmm. . .and manages to keep her daughters' hair brushed and done up. These are things most of us only hope to touch the outside seam of.

So congratulations, Tonya, on the occasion of your birthday, from all the Elaines. May your day proceed with alacrity, your children be kind, your husband be dashing, and may all the cold winter sky smile warmly upon you tomorrow!