A Place Like This......

I Can Write My Name

 

This sign was made for me by my father when I was 8 years old and learning how to write in cursive. I wasn't really sure how I was going to get all of the curly ques going in my name. The other reason that I got a sign for my bedroom door was because of all those little trinket key chains, bike license plates etc which have children's names on them but never had mine and if they did it was always spelled wrong or at least not they way I spell my name. Dad made me this sign so that I could properly identify myself with my very own sign.

All these years and all over the world, I've carried this sign with me. Now it takes a humble place on a shelf in my office but it's always a reminder of that special time.

The last few months have had me thinking about where I am in my life and more importantly how I can make a positive impact on the planet and the people who live in it. After I read the book Half the Sky, I realized that it didn't take much to make a great difference in another's life. I have been blessed with a wonderful music writing career which pays some royalties. I decided to take my royalities and sponsor as many women as I could with Women for Women.

Over the holidays, envelopes started arriving with the names and short bios of the women I have sponsored. Two are from Africa, 3 are from Afghanistan, and one is from Bosnia. As I read through their stories all have endured great hardship and have many children. I was amazed that the greatest luxury in their lives is having well water for their communities. The most shocking piece of news is out of the 6 women who I now call sisters only one can write her name.

These women do not know what their name looks like written down. They can not write their names. This question keeps coming at me, How do you prove you exist if you can't read or write your name? Though these women come from different countries on different continents, they have one thing in common and that is they are muslims and have muslim names. In Islam, they use the Arabic language regardless of nationality.

For 23 years, I've been married to "This man from Lebanon". Early on we decided that we wanted our children to be fluent in Arabic and not to feel like strangers in their own family. So I learned Arabic along with the children. Life uses our gifts in interesting ways. Maybe I really learned Arabic so that I could write these brave women's names.

On this very snowy day I am pulling out my embroidery thread and will write their names on a little banner or maybe I will make them a little purse and send it to them via Women for Women. I haven't decided how I will design this project. I do know that along with the education my donation is giving them I want them to know and see their names, and to know that I see them and that they exist.

To be continued.........

Much of the US is in snow today. So I wish you a happy snow day or just a happy day wherever you are.

A roasted pumpkin seed sort of weekend

After all of the events of last week I decided to have a kick back weekend. The weather absolutely cooperated with me and was dreary and rainy the whole weekend. Not a moment of sun. Many blanket forts were built, books were read, and everywhere we went we brought these yummy pumpkin seeds with us. Oh...I almost forgot to mention that I'm the guest blogger over at Eileen's Little Acorn Learning. After you've made some pumpkin seeds come play along with us.

• 1/2 pound of hulled pumpkin seeds, about 11/2 cups
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 tablesppon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teasppon kosher salt

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
2. Add the pumpkin seeds in your bowl.
3. Coat with the olive oil and Worcestershire sauce.
4. Have a little helper stir constantly and slowly while you add the spices, slat, and pepper. Constant sitrring will cut down on the clumping spices which burn in the oven.
5. Place your nut mixture onto a foil covered sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. Take the pan out every 8 minutes or so and stir or shake them.
6. Remove from oven and when they have cooled a little bit give them a taste to see if they have enough salt. Let cool completely.
7. Store in an air tight container. They store up to 10 days. They would never make that time limit around here.

Enjoy!!!!

  

Happy Friday: Tree on the Cabin

Today is Friday and that means it's time for the Next Chapter Book Club hosted by the ever lovely Jaime Ridler. There were many happy moments this week but the one I will share with you today is the one that stands out as the happiest moment of this week and that would be when 6 huge pine trees fell on my little red cabin.

I know what you're thinking. If this is her happiest moment what does the worst moment look like? Well it was really bad and because it's happy friday I will share it with you another time. For now you'll just have to take my word for it.

Starting last Friday we recieved some ice and snow. Knoxville got a lot. Maryville a little less and I didn't think anything more of it. Until Sunday when my phone rang and it was an unknown neighbor up on top of the world letting me know that there seemed to be some trees on my little red cabin better known as "the stuga". It's swedish for "little red cabin" or sort of.

I was told that it was a land of snow and ice. Over 7 inches in all. The roads were completely iced over and it was too dangerous to come up. I called the ever talented handy-man Marshal and asked if we could go up on Monday to see my little house. A little later the phone rang again ...it was Marshall. The man is the family hero now. He went up directly,through ice and snow, breaking branches and frozen lakes. "There's a lot down Val. I can't tell if there's damage or how much damage because you have some trees on your roof."

 

By Monday we had a plan. As Marshal and Mike went up to start cutting trees many people of the mountain community came by to help. Not only did they help but they kept a watchful eye out for things. I'm so very thankful to all who helped. In all there wre two trees on the house and shed and 4 big trees in our entry road. I'm thankful for Russ who made the effort to search out our phone number so we would know about the trees. I'm thankful for Richard who came from Texas to appraise the damage. I'm so very happy to report that we will be building a new shed but the little red house is just fine.

My little stuga is my happy place on this earth. If something happened to it then we would have to deal with it but I'm so glad it's ok. Concerning the scope of important things in life it's not but what was important was that a little mountain community thought it was important and they wanted to let us know that we have a place there. Thank you so very much and may all that wood keep you warm.

Journey North

17 years ago when the girls were still small, I connected with an on-line group called Journey North. Twice a year we would watch the migration of the monarch butterflies,robins,gray whales, tulips, and wolves. Oftentimes, I will be watching two or three migrations at a time but the one which has always been consistent is that of the monarch butterfly.

Today opens the migration season. Every Thursday ,new videos and field data are posted from Mexico and then moving northwards until the monarchs have returned to the U.S.

 

Journey North started as a citizen's science project to engage children in observing the seasonal changes all around them and the world. Watching the migration patterns the interconnectedness of our planet.

It's such a wonder to watch the monarchs in their cocoons in the mountains of Mexico. There are millions of them. We watch and watch and watch and then finally they hatch. When they fly away the sky becomes monarched colored. It is just a thrill. It's so much fun to watch spring make it's way North. Daily getting updates from fellow observers until one day you see a monarch and it's your turn to give a field report. It never gets old.

Video and migration maps are live. Also included in each migration are authentic field observations from citizen scientists, photos of the week, and other great Journey North lessons and links. It's really a living migration experience.

Journey North is free and everyone is welcome. Happy Migration Season!!!!

Meet n'Greet Little Acorn Learning

Sometimes life hands you something so wonderful and unexpected that you just have to share it. That's how I feel about Eileen. I first met Eileen, via blogland, when we both had summited articles for Rhythm of the Home. As I read through the e-magazine I was thrilled with all of the great writing, projects, and reflections to a conscious/creative life.

Eileen is a bright light in this world. Not only does she have her own daycare/preschool but she has created a program for childcare providers,home schoolers,co-ops,parents,daycare centers,schools and teachers called, "Little Acorn Learning".

Embracing the rhythm of each day Little Acorn Learning, gently guides the nurturing adult and child through a holistic and whole life program.

In her monthly guides, Eileen has every day planned out to reach the goal of reconnecting children to nature while supporting the caregiver. Inside each issue are stories for children,celebrations of seasons and festivals, crafting, handwork, children's activities, seasonal menus, cooking, baking and recipes. Also included in each e-book are book recommendations, morning talk suggestions, and teacher classroom work.

These 3 or 5 day programs are so imaginative,genuine, and creative. My first thought was WOW what a great way to create a community and continue the connection of sharing this planet. Everyday is an experience at Little Acorn Learning.  

So when Eileen contacted me a few weeks after the Rhythm of the Home came out I was utterly thrilled. In her kinds words she asked if I would write an article for her e-newsletter. Happily I agreed and this week the newsletter came out. The newsletter itself is a full experience of February. Complete with songs,quotes, stories,art, the celebration of Candle-mas and a jump into a book called "The Blizzard Robe", you could not enjoy a month more than February. Please be sure to sign-up for her newsletter so that you will not miss out on any month of the year. Each is an exciting adventure into what the month holds.

One Small Change: Meet What You Eat

It's time for One Small Change. Every month until Earth Day my family will be making One Small Change that will have a positive impact on the planet. Last month I started bringing my very own bags to the grocery store. This has become a habit which has had a positive effect because I no longer have the dreaded hanging bags on my kitchen cupboards. This week I'll be sewing bags for my children so they can leave them in their cars to use when they go to the store.

I had planned something totally different for this month's small change and then friday night happened. Something so out of the ordinary that I knew I had to jump on and stay for the ride. Friday it started snowing. Little brother went to spend the night at a friends, dad was working late with surgeries,and that left my 17 year old Mimi and I alone. In our solitude emerged and incredible game of Yahtzee and the most incredible conversation. Mimi, it seems, is very inspired by her college Biology teacher. Last week they watched the movie Food Inc and the rose colored glasses came off of Mimi who asked me this question, "Mom, do you know where the food we eat comes from ?" "Yes Mimi , I do." Don't just say "Yes" mom. "Most people are eating plastic, anti-biotics, genetically engineered food etc. Mom don't just say "Yes". Really answer the question, "Do you know where our food comes from?" and again I answered "Yes, Mimi, I do."

After this simple answer the interrogation lamp came out and I was grilled about our dairy,eggs, meat, poultry, vegetables,fruits, jams, peanut butter, grain, and then it hit me that I assumed our children knew that we eat sustainable and local. I thought the huge garden would have been a significant clue. The pantry stocked with jams,jellies,pickles of all varieties, the freezer stocked with tomatoes and blueberries would have been a dead give away but I guess that alluded her. I put my shock at her not knowing where our food came from under the table and completely embraced her moment of discovery as if I had never done all of those above mentioned things.I'm trying to see it from her side and rediscover why I love living this way.

 It's the way I was raised. We didn't have any grand discussions about it we just lived and ate local. My husband was also raised that way in Lebanon, so when our daughter started asking these questions it was such a shock to discover that she didn't know. Can you tell I'm in shock? She has never questioned where her food came from and how we eat consciously local. Mimi is having a bit of a paradigm shift and that's when I realized this month's small change is going to be to introduce my children to their food source.

I invite you friends to come along with my family and I as we meet the people that consciously make our food, the places we buy or exchange it , and the choice to pass on the idea of conscious sustainable living to my little family. This month's small change is "Meet what you Eat."

If you know your food you are more likely to eat food that has been raised ethically and uses less resources such as water. There are many other reasons as well which I will take one at a time as we journey into our food source.Over the weekend I went through my book stacks and pulled out the Michael Pollan books "The Omnivore's Dilemma, "In Defense of Food" and "Food Rules". Michael has a new Young Reader's edition out of Omnivore's Dilemma . So Mimi is off with her arm load of books.  More later.......carrot anyone?