Don’t freak out, but once again I am using this blog for good. I have a friend (Erin Schmidt) who has started a business with her husband and I offered to promote it a little.
They have a great website for you to check out, but here’s the gist of it in co-owner Erin Schmidt’s own words:
“We’re starting a full-service vegetable and herb gardening business, installing and maintaining organic gardens for individuals, families, communities and businesses. This concept has become extremely popular on the West Coast and we're going to give it a try here in Kansas City.
We're calling the venture Produce Partners, because we really want it to be a partnership between us and our customers to create something really wonderful. It's a way of re-connecting with our food source, making productive use of our land, improving our diet with organic produce and building community at the same time.
It’s about getting gardens in people’s yards again – over the past 30 years there’s been a steady decline in the number of people that grow their own food, and we’d like to change that. Even people who don’t have a “green thumb” deserve to have fresh organic vegetables from their own garden. That’s where we can help.
For those of you familiar with CSA (community supported agriculture) programs, what we provide is similar in that we grow organic produce for you. The additional benefits of a backyard garden are:
-- You choose what you want grown in your vegetable & herb garden – It's like having your very own farmer's market in your back yard
-- We deliver to your doorstep (or you can pick the produce whenever you want) – This is convenience at its best
-- Talk about local – when the distance your food travels to your dining room table is measured in feet rather than miles, we are helping reduce your carbon footprint
-- No yard space or no sun?...no worries. Ask your neighbors to see if they are interested – if so perhaps they could provide the garden space and you can split the cost & the bounty of the garden.
We want to use these winter months to plan the gardens with our customers so when spring arrives we can get to work gardening. In other words, please don’t wait until spring to contact us…
We have developed a website that provides information about our services (www.producepartners-kc.com) and we encourage you to check that out. We’re currently taking customers for the 2009 season – for this first year we’re limiting our customer base so we can do a really great job from day one.
Happy New Year! And Erin, just put a link to my blog on your web site and I'll consider your advertising bill paid in full!!! Just kidding!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
On Death and Dying
When my dad would turn left in front of oncoming traffic, my mom would say, “Ahhhhh! I’m in the death seat!”
Aron made a little stool for Callie, but the base isn’t wide enough or something. The kids get on it and fall off or almost smack their faces on counters, etc. I call it the “death stool.” As in: “Get off the death stool! I don’t have time to go to the ER today.”
Earlier this year Aron’s cousin and his wife had a baby who only lived a few hours after she was born. The Visitation was probably the saddest thing I have ever personally witnessed (Shannon’s memorial service was a close second). The tiny baby girl was in an open casket for everyone to see. I didn’t want the kids to witness such a sad thing, but then God reminded me that I’m not in control. I went to change my own baby girl’s diaper and came back to see Aron and the kids in front of the baby’s casket, discussing the situation.
I think it’s important to talk about death with kids and with each other. To make light of it. To bring humor to it, when appropriate. The kids were not freaked out by the sight of the baby. You of course know what Crybaby (me) did. I wasn’t sad for the baby, who I absolutely believe is in a wonderful place. I was sad for the people who would not get to physically hold her on a daily basis. I was sad for what could have been.
I guess everything is as it is supposed to be, bad or good, right or wrong. Think about this: If Adam Walsh had not died, would his dad have gone on to start an organization that has helped capture so many criminals? If I hadn’t been married before to Shrek’s mean twin brother, would I have appreciated being married now to the man of my dreams? If I hadn’t lost my own baby so long ago, would I disgustingly smother my children with love these days? If my parents had had more children, would be as close as we are? I’m still trying to figure out why Shannon died, but I’m confident it will all be revealed someday.
Anybody have any good death jokes? Jeez, tough crowd out there today.
How about this one: tell me your favorite Christmas gift you received … either yesterday or ever.
Aron made a little stool for Callie, but the base isn’t wide enough or something. The kids get on it and fall off or almost smack their faces on counters, etc. I call it the “death stool.” As in: “Get off the death stool! I don’t have time to go to the ER today.”
Earlier this year Aron’s cousin and his wife had a baby who only lived a few hours after she was born. The Visitation was probably the saddest thing I have ever personally witnessed (Shannon’s memorial service was a close second). The tiny baby girl was in an open casket for everyone to see. I didn’t want the kids to witness such a sad thing, but then God reminded me that I’m not in control. I went to change my own baby girl’s diaper and came back to see Aron and the kids in front of the baby’s casket, discussing the situation.
I think it’s important to talk about death with kids and with each other. To make light of it. To bring humor to it, when appropriate. The kids were not freaked out by the sight of the baby. You of course know what Crybaby (me) did. I wasn’t sad for the baby, who I absolutely believe is in a wonderful place. I was sad for the people who would not get to physically hold her on a daily basis. I was sad for what could have been.
I guess everything is as it is supposed to be, bad or good, right or wrong. Think about this: If Adam Walsh had not died, would his dad have gone on to start an organization that has helped capture so many criminals? If I hadn’t been married before to Shrek’s mean twin brother, would I have appreciated being married now to the man of my dreams? If I hadn’t lost my own baby so long ago, would I disgustingly smother my children with love these days? If my parents had had more children, would be as close as we are? I’m still trying to figure out why Shannon died, but I’m confident it will all be revealed someday.
Anybody have any good death jokes? Jeez, tough crowd out there today.
How about this one: tell me your favorite Christmas gift you received … either yesterday or ever.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Duggars
When I think of the Duggar Family, a Pink Floyd song comes to mind and I change it to say, “Hey. People. Leave them Duggars alone.”
They are not in debt. They are not on welfare. They are not on food stamps. We are not paying for their health insurance or their daycare with our taxes. They are not taking tuition assistance to send their kids to a private school.
They seem to be raising some pretty cool kids who know the value of a dollar, who aren’t ashamed to shop at a thrift store whether they have a ton of money or not, who value human beings over STUFF.
So instead of bitching about these amazing people, why not gripe about the able-bodied people who are sucking on the government boob full-time? The people who are neglecting their kids: the 4-year-old girl I came across at the park ALONE. And this happens often in my world.
Do you have any idea how many kids I could have right now if I made off with all the ones I came across who are neglected (don’t get me started on people who have to be on cell phones and laptops instead of playing with their ONE measly kid at the McDonald’s Playland)? I could fill a mansion.
So get off my Duggars!
They are not in debt. They are not on welfare. They are not on food stamps. We are not paying for their health insurance or their daycare with our taxes. They are not taking tuition assistance to send their kids to a private school.
They seem to be raising some pretty cool kids who know the value of a dollar, who aren’t ashamed to shop at a thrift store whether they have a ton of money or not, who value human beings over STUFF.
So instead of bitching about these amazing people, why not gripe about the able-bodied people who are sucking on the government boob full-time? The people who are neglecting their kids: the 4-year-old girl I came across at the park ALONE. And this happens often in my world.
Do you have any idea how many kids I could have right now if I made off with all the ones I came across who are neglected (don’t get me started on people who have to be on cell phones and laptops instead of playing with their ONE measly kid at the McDonald’s Playland)? I could fill a mansion.
So get off my Duggars!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
My Nightmare: Alone Time
I recently had a dream. Aron was going on a fishing trip and was taking all the kids. Even the one-year-old, still-breastfeeding, can’t-get-to-sleep-unless-she’s-on-her-mama Eva.
My rational friend Ellen and a couple of her friends were telling me to calm the hell down, that it’s no big deal and to enjoy my Alone Time.
And I’m yelling at her, “How can I enjoy my alone time when my breasts are going to be so full of milk they’re exploding and I’m having to pump several times a day and I can’t sleep because I’m worried about how my baby is getting to sleep and they didn’t even take bottles because we don’t really own any?”
So I tried calling Aron’s cell phone and even my own cell phone in case he took that, but neither phone was answered. And instead of scrapbooking or going to the community center to work out or going to a movie with my mom and Cathy or working on my novel, I AM FREAKING OUT.
Then Aron comes back and there is my precious baby (not sure where the other kids were at this point, but clearly I worry about them less since they are more “self-sufficient”!)and I tell him, “You are NOT taking her.” And he goes, “Yeah, I know.”
Aron thinks it’s hilarious that my nightmare is Alone Time.
My rational friend Ellen and a couple of her friends were telling me to calm the hell down, that it’s no big deal and to enjoy my Alone Time.
And I’m yelling at her, “How can I enjoy my alone time when my breasts are going to be so full of milk they’re exploding and I’m having to pump several times a day and I can’t sleep because I’m worried about how my baby is getting to sleep and they didn’t even take bottles because we don’t really own any?”
So I tried calling Aron’s cell phone and even my own cell phone in case he took that, but neither phone was answered. And instead of scrapbooking or going to the community center to work out or going to a movie with my mom and Cathy or working on my novel, I AM FREAKING OUT.
Then Aron comes back and there is my precious baby (not sure where the other kids were at this point, but clearly I worry about them less since they are more “self-sufficient”!)and I tell him, “You are NOT taking her.” And he goes, “Yeah, I know.”
Aron thinks it’s hilarious that my nightmare is Alone Time.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Scrapbooking Projects
1. Regular chronological albums. These started when Joel was born and there are already so many I’ve done and I can honestly see having about 100 of these by the time my kids are grown. These are the ones that are easy to tote around and work on when I’m visiting and the kids are playing.
2. Baby books. I’m done with Michael’s and Callie’s. Joel’s isn’t like the others, so I’m making him one like theirs, which will be a negative-finding, reprint-ordering nightmare, but I like a challenge.
3. Special albums. I’ve made one for our wedding (and the fun leading up to it), our honeymoon and one for our 2000 trip to New England.
4. ABC albums. I started these little 7x7 albums for the boys and put doubles and stickers on each page to correspond with a letter of the alphabet. Ask me how many times they look at them and if Callie’s is anywhere near done.
5. Tutu album. My mom bought a couple of albums from me when I was a Creative Memories consultant and now I’m filling them with pictures of her and her grandchildren. I should have the first one ready for her by her 97th birthday (she’s 58 now).
6. My favorites album. This came about when a friend gave me a top-loading album, which I don’t normally use. I didn’t want to waste it, and I had too many doubles that were too great to make into squares, so I tediously went through all my doubles and picked out my favorites. The challenge comes again with the advent of the digital camera in our house … now when I get things printed through CVS or Winkflash or whoever, I have to keep in mind: do I need an extra of this for the Tutu album? Eva’s baby album? For my dad’s fridge?
Yeah, I know, how many hours am I spending on something that could so easily go up in flames or be destroyed by a flood or that my kids may someday accidentally throw out of a moving car window. But I love looking back at these albums even if they don’t care much about it. But as I get caught up, I see them wanting to know when things happened, and I can show them not only the pictures but also journaling of things we said and how we felt at the time the pictures were taken. Not only am I LIVING life to the fullest and making memories worthy of lots of photos, but I’m carving out moments here and there to put them into albums I can enjoy for years to come (that’s the plan, anyway).
PLEASE comment … do you love scrapbooking? What projects are you working on? How far behind are you? If you are all caught up, know that I hate you, Bree Van de Kamp Hodge.
Or … do you despise scrapbooking? Dismiss it as a waste of time? Prefer to spend time LIVING life and MAKING memories rather than pasting them down and adding captions?
Anyone out there besides Sarah in England scrapbook?
2. Baby books. I’m done with Michael’s and Callie’s. Joel’s isn’t like the others, so I’m making him one like theirs, which will be a negative-finding, reprint-ordering nightmare, but I like a challenge.
3. Special albums. I’ve made one for our wedding (and the fun leading up to it), our honeymoon and one for our 2000 trip to New England.
4. ABC albums. I started these little 7x7 albums for the boys and put doubles and stickers on each page to correspond with a letter of the alphabet. Ask me how many times they look at them and if Callie’s is anywhere near done.
5. Tutu album. My mom bought a couple of albums from me when I was a Creative Memories consultant and now I’m filling them with pictures of her and her grandchildren. I should have the first one ready for her by her 97th birthday (she’s 58 now).
6. My favorites album. This came about when a friend gave me a top-loading album, which I don’t normally use. I didn’t want to waste it, and I had too many doubles that were too great to make into squares, so I tediously went through all my doubles and picked out my favorites. The challenge comes again with the advent of the digital camera in our house … now when I get things printed through CVS or Winkflash or whoever, I have to keep in mind: do I need an extra of this for the Tutu album? Eva’s baby album? For my dad’s fridge?
Yeah, I know, how many hours am I spending on something that could so easily go up in flames or be destroyed by a flood or that my kids may someday accidentally throw out of a moving car window. But I love looking back at these albums even if they don’t care much about it. But as I get caught up, I see them wanting to know when things happened, and I can show them not only the pictures but also journaling of things we said and how we felt at the time the pictures were taken. Not only am I LIVING life to the fullest and making memories worthy of lots of photos, but I’m carving out moments here and there to put them into albums I can enjoy for years to come (that’s the plan, anyway).
PLEASE comment … do you love scrapbooking? What projects are you working on? How far behind are you? If you are all caught up, know that I hate you, Bree Van de Kamp Hodge.
Or … do you despise scrapbooking? Dismiss it as a waste of time? Prefer to spend time LIVING life and MAKING memories rather than pasting them down and adding captions?
Anyone out there besides Sarah in England scrapbook?
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