Easy Bathroom Drawer Organization

During March and April I'm doing the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge. Throughout the challenge, I'm also trying to create more orderly and efficient spaces within the home.

Two areas that pose an on-going challenge is the dental drawer and make-up drawer. As I was looking at Pinterest, I came across a pin that led to My Home Look Book that suggested using silverware dividers to separate each person's toothbrushes and paste.

The drawers in the bathroom are not wide enough to do that, so I put toothbrushes in one divider; and floss, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental tools in the other divider. In the back are some extra mouthwashes and dental floss picks for children.

    

Before and after pictures of the dental drawer.

One suggestion I was given on the 40 Bags in 40 Days Facebook page 

was to cap each of the toothbrushes to prevent the spread of germs and infections.

The other drawer that needed organizing was the make-up drawer. I first went through the drawer and tossed any items that were outdated; and any items that could go into the medicine cabinet (e.g., unopened toothbrushes).

Then I sorted the items based on what I use each day and what I use periodically. The items I use daily are in the left container and the ones used less frequently are in the right container. Now, when I get ready in the morning, I just need to pull out the left bin and all the items I need are right there.

   

Before and after pictures of the make-up drawer. 

Items that I use daily are in the left-hand bin; and 

items used less frequently are in the right-hand bin.

Why I never did this before today is beyond me. This was such a quick and easy way to organize two drawers.

Something Beginning with L - P52 and 52 Week Photo Challenge 2014 - Week 14

This week the photography theme was "Something Beginning with L." As I looked back on photos I had taken, I came across quite a few from the Macy's Flower Show in Minneapolis. This year's theme was "The Secret Garden."

As we did last year, Sophia, Olivia, and I took my mom to see the show. There are so many landscaping ideas as one looks at the wide variety of flowers, shrubs, trees, topiaries, and hardscapes. For my mom, who is in a wheelchair and blind at this point in her life, the smell of the flowers along with a verbal description is what made the show so delightful for her. 

One of the many landscapes at the flower show.

This one was the "English Cottage" display.

I particularly liked the English cottage garden where there was a wooden wheelbarrow, hat, gloves, and hoe among the planted flowers. It looked like someone was taking a break from planting the yellow tulips, and would be returning soon.

The horse head topiary was another feature that we all liked. It would be interesting to see if we could create garden sculptures like that at our farm.  

One of many bright, colorful flowers at the flower show.

The variety of flowers within each themed garden was delightful. The overwhelming smell of spring was invigorating and mood-lifting. After such a long, difficult winter with over 135 days below zero, smelling the scent of spring - especially the hyacinths - was needed and enjoyed. 

Posted on: 

52 Week Photo Challenge 2014 and  

DIY Hand Sanitizer

In an effort to gradually move away from products that have lots of chemicals in them, I found instructions about how to make your own hand sanitizer.

One of the reasons I don't use hand sanitizer is that it reeks of alcohol and chemicals. I wanted to find something that would be easy to use - rather than soap and water - yet would be natural and safe to use.

Ingredients to make homemade hand sanitizer...

without all the chemicals. 

On Pinterest, there was a pin that led to Baby Step to Essential Oils where there was a recipe for Homemade Thieves Hand Sanitizer.

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons aloe vera gel
4 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil
8-10 drops Thieves oil. (I used the homemade version of Thieves oil which is a combination of 5 essential oils. If using the homemade version, simply blend the essential oils and do not add a carrier oil. I placed the homemade Thieves oil in an empty essential oil bottle so that I could use the dropper)
Small Squeeze Container (I used a small pump container)

Directions:

In a bowl combine aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil. Add 8-10 drops of Thieves oil to the aloe vera mixture.

Add water and mix well to combine. Add more or less water depending on the consistency you want.

Pour or scoop the mixture into the container. Put your homemade hand sanitizer in your bathroom, kitchen, office, bag, or car for an effective, alcohol-free hand sanitizer.

The finished hand sanitizer.

Benefits to Using Natural Hand Sanitizer

According to Conscious Life News, there are three main ingredients in commercially-purchased hand sanitizer that people should avoid:

=> Parabens - these chemicals are used to prevent microbe growth in products. Linked to cancer, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and skin irritation, parabens should be avoided.

=> Triclosan - has been foundby the FDA to be a pointless chemical with no health benefits. Even though it kills bacteria, it may contribute to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. In other words, it helps create super bacteria.

=> Fragrances - have been associated with respiratory distress, allergies, dermatitis, and potential effects on the reproductive system. As with parabens and triclosan, chemical fragrances should be avoided.

Notes:

This mixture is a thick liquid/gel. It absorbs quickly into one's skin and leaves it feeling soft and moisturized. The scent is much more pleasant than commercially-purchased hand sanitizers that are filled with alcohol. I will definitely make this again.

The ingredients are a more expensive than what a store-bought hand sanitizer cost. Yet, I would rather use something natural and safe - and that smells good - than use something that has the chemicals mentioned above.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 15

This week I read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams for the Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge. The 216-page book was one of least engaging pieces of "literature" that I have read this year. I stuck with reading this book because I kept hoping that the next page...the next chapter...any part of it would have some redeeming quality. It just wasn't apparent to me.

Basically the book begins by focusing on a man named Arthur Dent who is having a bad day. He learns that his friend is an alien with advanced knowledge of Earth's impending destruction. Seconds before Earth explodes to make room for a new hyperspace motorway, Arthur is transported off Earth.

Together, Arthur and his friend begin a journey through space meeting other travelers along the way. The names of characters - as are many descriptions and names of planets and other items Arthur encounters - are a lot of nonsensical words:

=>  Zaphod Beeblebrox a two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and absent-minded president of the galaxy;

=> Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party on Earth; and

=> Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Towards the end of the book, Arthur is able to see the creation of Earth II and understand that humans were not the most intelligent animals on Earth when it existed.

Some people absolutely love this book and have read it multiple times, finding it quite humorous. The humor was clearly lost on me. I simply didn't get it or find it funny. I was happy to see the book come to an end.

Homemade Natural Facial Cleanser

I've been wanting to try this homemade facial cleanser for awhile now after seeing a pin for it that led to Green Boot Living.

Ingredients for making homemade facial cleanser

along with a pump bottle from the co-op.

It's a simple recipe that uses only a few ingredients:

1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1/2 cup rose water
1 1/2 tsp of apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, or olive oil
7-10 drops of essential oil

The original recipe used 7-10 drops of rose hip seed oil. I chose to do a blend of essential oils:

2 drops rose essential oil
2 drops jasmine essential oil
6 drops ylang ylang essential oil

To make the cleanser, simply mix the ingredients together, and pour the cleanser into a small pump bottle.

Adding the castile soap to the dispenser.

Although the cleanser is a bit more watery than what I'm used to, it does not require a lot to wash one's face. There are some suds from the castile soap, but not an excessive amount.

The finished soap before I put it on my face.

The scent is very mild. Even with the rose water and 10 drops of essential oils, there isn't a strong scent. I may double the drops of essential oils if it I can't smell the scent as much as I would like to tomorrow morning.

This was an easy cleanser to make and my face does feel very clean after using it. It will be nice to have a natural, homemade cleanser that's gentle on my skin.

Shower Organization

Over the past couple of days I've been trying to organize areas in the home that seem to be challenging to keep in order.

After looking on Pinterest, I found a pin that showed how to organize a bath/shower area. In that case, the purpose was to organize bath toys.

I wanted something that would separate bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and bath gels. The solution: place a shower curtain rod against the back wall and hang three baskets to keep the products separated.

I used natural color yarn to hang the baskets from the sides to the rod so that half the basket is behind the rod and half is in front. This provides a sense of balance so the baskets don't tip and drop all the items.

The Pinterest picture shows wire baskets flat against the wall which may prevent the baskets from moving which I'll try today. Perhaps that would give more stability to the baskets.

One thing to do with these type of baskets that have the solid base is to drill small holes in them so that water can drain out. If using wire baskets, this step would not have to be taken.

Monthly Journal for Tweens and Teens

Each month this year I am having Sophia and Olivia do a different monthly journal. There are so many interesting formats and ideas to recording one's thoughts. As I looked at Pinterest, I can across a pin for one that focused on gratitude. The pin itself doesn't lead to anything.

Luckily, though, it had the blog listed at the bottom of the image so I was able to trace it back to Second Chance to Dream which provided a link to the downloadable sheet.

Olivia's March journal entry.

I liked that this activity focused on things that the girls could be grateful for:

=> Relationships I am grateful for
=> 3 strengths
=> One overlooked blessing
=> Financial strengths
=> Spiritually I'm grateful for
=> People who've helped me
=> Activities I enjoy

Sophia's March journal entry.

The Good Life of Helen K. Nearing - Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 14

This week I read The Good Life of Helen K. Nearing by Margaret O. Killinger for the Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge. I was hoping to read more about Helen's life (as well as her husband, Scott's life) that focused on organic gardening, vegetarianism, pacifism, and hard work as primary components of their 'good life.'

The book ended up revealing more than what I truly needed to know about Helen and Scott's personal life; and some of their decisions that had a negative impact on one another. There were several sections in the book that honestly are not that essential to what I want to know about how they conducted their lives in terms of simple living, organic gardening, and a healthy diet.

Granted, they are part of Helen's life, yet Killinger's inclusion in the book made it awkward - at times - for me to read the information. It was too much information...and not the kind that I wanted to read.

At any rate, there were many things mentioned about how they chose to live their lives which is what did - and still - that I find interesting. Below are some of the points that stood out for me:

=> "They proposed an ethic of simple living based upon production rather than consumption, allowing nature rather than the market economy to set the terms for their choices."

=> Their primary vegan diet, often eaten with wooden chopsticks and out of wooden bowls, became central to their life together.

=> They "touted their organic diet, deeming processed foods such as bleached flour ,white sugar, and polished rice 'poisons' and eschewing 'habit-forming drugs' such as caffeine, cola nut extract, nicotine, and alcohol."

=> Sometimes they followed a mono-diet where they would only eat one item such as apples throughout the day. They also fasted regularly or drank a liquid, fruit juice diet in order to rest their digestive systems.

=> What I liked was reading the description of a typical meal when Helen traveled: "Oranges for breakfast. For lunch ripe olives, nut cheese, whole wheat bread, honey, and apples. Tonight I shall have some oranges and dates."

=> They practiced "wellness" based upon this vegetarian diet in combination with physical fitness and productive professional work.

=> "Nature and this rural aesthetic offered spiritual renewal, as well as home-based moral and social reform. The city was the antithesis of this idyllic world; nature was sacred...around which daily life could be ordered."

=> They avoided debt, bartered when they could, and sought cooperative ventures.

=> They had clearly-defined work schedules - four hours a day devoted to bread labor or basic work, four hours to professional interests, and four hours to responsibilities as citizens.

=> They used simple, second-hand tools, which Nearing meticulously maintained, and they avoided the use of domesticated animals.

=> They were extraordinarily austere and frugal. I liked their philosophy of believing that "a rural lie of voluntary simplicity promised not only self-sufficiency and a reduction of one's economic needs through a spiritual commitment to 'enoughness,' but also a way of life that would be environmentally sensitive and sustainable.

=> Helen kept her mind and spirit active by reading about a range of topics - from world politics to vegetarianism to UFOs.

=> She expressed her spiritual connection to the natural world through yoga, astrology, meditation, Ouija board sessions, and contemplation in their wooden yurts.

=> She believed that heart-shaped rocks had mystical powers. She enjoyed giving children wishing stones.

=> One of the things that I liked was that she published a book called Wise Words on the Good Life: An Anthology of Quotations in 1980. She compiled hundreds of quotations that she had collected. She organized them into chapters on country life, labor, gardening, simple living, solitude, health, building, and old age.

=> Her husband, Scott, said: "Do the thing you believe in. DO it with all your might. And keep at it no matter what. The life we have been living is so far away from the really worthwhile goals of life that we've got to stop fooling around and move toward a new way of living."

As I finished reading the book, I was left with a feeling of wanting to know more about their life in Maine as was briefly described in the book: "...cellar shelves teeming with jarred goods, an outdoor table for shared meals, hand plows, a lush herb garden, meticulous wood piles, and a sun-filled greenhouse."

As a friend of both Helen and Scott, Nancy Berkowitz said in an interview, "There's a whole thing about Helen and Scott. And there is a myth, there's a mythical Helen and Scott, and there's who they really were. And I think people have to figure that out themselves, what part of the myth they're going to take on and what they can read between the lies and see how it really was."

Ultimately it comes down to what Helen wanted she and Scott to be remembered as: "That they tried their best in the circumstances in which they were. They weren't perfect, but they tried to do their best." Do the best that you can [in the place where you are], and be kind."

Mixed Media - LEGO Quest #12

For the twelfth LEGO Quest challenge, the focus is on mixed media. Mixed media means to combine one or more other objects or art mediums with a LEGO creation. The creation can be subject.

Here is a list of some items that can be combined with a LEGO creation: beads, cardboard, clay, drawings, edible materials, found objects, fabric, glue, ice, jewels, marbles, metal, paintings, paper, plastic, sand, stone, wax, wire, and wood.

For Olivia's creation, she chose to make a walking bridge over a river.

The non-LEGO items she added included stone-carved animals, a shell, and rocks.

 She put the rocks in or near the river.

The turtle and duck were in the river, while the little animal near the bridge was on the grass by the flowers.

This was the first time that Olivia combined non-LEGO items with a LEGO creation. It was definitely a stretch for her and challenged her to think out of the box in terms of creating a scene.

Composer Study - Stephen Foster

Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864), known as the "father of American music," was an American songwriter primarily known for his minstrel and parlor music.

Photo Source

Foster wrote over 200 songs; among his best-known are "Camptown Races," "Oh! Susanna," "Old Folks at Home,"  "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," "My Old Kentucky Home," and "Beautiful Dreamer." Many of his songs remain popular more than 150 years after he wrote them.

Sophia and Olivia listened to six of Foster's songs by listening to two CDs from the library:
- Beautiful Days - The Songs of Stephen Foster. 
- American Dreamers - Songs of Stephen Foster. Thomas Hampson was the vocalist on this CD.

We also found a version of Oh! Susanna on YouTube since the one featured on Beautiful Days was too slow of a rendition of it. It didn't sound like the version we had heard before, so we found one that was more high-spirited and fun to listen to for that song.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (4:17)

According to Wikipedia, "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair is a parlor song that was published by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York in 1854. Foster wrote the song with his wife Jane McDowell in mind.

According to Wikipedia, "Jeanie was a notorious beneficiary of the ASCAP boycott of 1941. During this period, most modern music could not be played by the major radio broadcasters due to a dispute over licensing fees. The broadcasters used public-domain songs during this period, and according to a 1941 article in Time magazine, "So often had BMI's Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair been played that she was widely reported to have turned grey."

Sophia thought - It seems like it would be a song that you would hear in an opera...or maybe something you'd hear at a fancy dinner. I probably wouldn't listen to this on a daily basis. It's too old-fashioned. I liked the music, but not the singing.

Olivia thought - It sounds kind of sad. [Someone starts singing:] That was startling and different. I kind of understood what he understood at some points. I liked the music...I just didn't like the singing.

Dancing on the River (4:25)

Sophia thought: I like this one because it's something you'd hear at a party that Laura Ingalls Wilder might have gone to. It sounds like something they would have danced to in Laura's time. [A new percussion instrument is playing:] Are those castanets? 

Olivia - I like this one. It sounds like something you'd hear at a very lively party out west. [A new percussion instrument is playing:] It sounds like a horse clopping around on a hard surface - like bricks - or a person is tap dancing.

Beautiful Dreamer (3:53)

This is a parlor song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864). It was published after Foster's death in March 1864 by Wm. A. Pond & Co. of New York. The first edition states on its title page that it is "the last song ever written by Stephen C. Foster. Composed but a few days prior to his death."

Sophia thought: It sounds like something you'd heard on a mid-summer nights dream. [A guy starts singing:] I don't like it!! I take what I said back. I think it's a good song but I could have done without the singing of that particular guy. I liked the lyrics about the "beautiful dreamer" part.

Olivia thought: The beginning of it before the man starting singing of relaxing music that a person would be playing while sitting on the deck or porch. I think I like it too, but without the singing. It was a relaxing song. 

Campton Races (2:40)

"Gwine to Run All Night, or De Camptown Races" (popularly known as "Camptown Races") is a minstrel song that was published by F. D. Benteen of Baltimore, Maryland, in February 1850.

In one of the most widely-familiar uses of "Camptown Races" in popular culture, the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoon character Foghorn J. Leghorn sings the "Dooh Dah" refrain repeatedly in most of the 26 cartoons the character appears in between 1946 and 1963. But while the character sings other parts of the song's melody, he does not sing any other lyrics.

Sophia thought:I like that one. It was better than the other ones that I've heard so far. It had a nice rhythm and I liked the singer's voice. 

Olivia thought: I like this song because it's something you'd hear on the radio. I liked the singer's voice and the instruments that they used.

Note: The girls liked this song so much they listened to it again. I think they also needed a "pick me up" song after listening to Swanee River.

Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) (3:38)

This is a minstrel song written by Stephen Foster in 1851. It is the official state song of Florida.

Sophia thought:I don't really like this song. It's slow. It just seems quiet and sluggish.

Olivia thought: I think Tia has sang this song before. I liked the music - it would be music that you'd listen to calm yourself down. It sounded like they used the piano a lot in this song.

Oh! Susanna (3:56)

"Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song that was first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written.

In 1846, Foster moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and became a bookkeeper with his brother's steamship company. While in Cincinnati, Foster wrote "Oh! Susanna,"possibly for his men's social club.

The song blends a variety of musical traditions. The opening line mentions "a banjo on my knee," which refers to a musical instrument with African origins. The song takes its beat from the polka, which had just reached America from Europe.

The lyrics are basically nonsense, as characterized by lines such as "It rain'd all night the day I left, The weather it was dry, The sun so hot I froze to death..." and "I shut my eyes to hold my breath..." (second verse).


Sophia thought: [First version we listened to on CD:] They murdered this song. I don't like it.~~~[New version:] It was certainly interesting because he jumped up on a telegraph pole and might have been electrocuted in the version we listened to. I liked the bango - it was definitely country. 

Olivia thought: [First version we listened to on CD:] It's different. It's slow. I don't like this version of it. ~~~ [New version:] I like this version better. It's more lively. It's quicker. It had some strange lyrics. I liked the banjo music.

Sara Teasdale - Poetry/Poet Study

Sara Teasdale, who was born on August 8, 1884, in St. Louis, Missouri, had such poor health during her childhood that it was only at age 14 that she was well enough to begin school. She started at Mary Institute in 1898, but switched to Hosmer Hall in 1899, graduating in 1903.

Photo Source

Teasdale's first poem was published in a local newspaper, Reedy's Mirror, in 1907. Her first collection of poems, Sonnets to Duse and Other Poems, was published that same year.

Teasdale's second collection, Helen of Troy and Other Poems, was published in 1911.  Critics praised this collection of poems noting their romantic subject matter and lyrical mastery.

From 1911 to 1914, Teasdale was courted by several men, including the poet Vachel Lindsay who was truly in love with her but did not feel that he could provide enough money or stability to keep her satisfied. She chose to marry Ernst Filsinger, a longtime admirer of her poetry, on December 19, 1914.

Teasdale's third poetry collection, Rivers to the Sea, was published in 1915. In 1916 she and Filsinger moved to New York City, where they lived in an Upper West Side apartment on Central Park West.

In 1918 she won a Pulitzer Prize for her 1917 poetry collection Love Songs.

Teasdale died on January 29, 1933, when she was 48 years old.

Below are six poems that Sophia and Olivia listened to and shared what they thought about them.

Wishes (from Sonnets to Duse, 1907)

I wish for such a lot of things
That never will come true -
And yet I want them all so much
I think they might, don't you?

I want a little kitty-cat
That's soft and tame and sweet,
And every day I watch and hope
I'll find one in the street.

But nursie says, "Come, walk along,
"Don't stand and stare like that" -
I'm only looking hard and hard
To try to find my cat.

And then I want a blue balloon
That tries to fly away,
I thought if I wished hard enough
That it would come some day.

One time when I was in the park
I knew that it would be
Beside the big old clock at home
A-waiting there for me -

And soon as we got home again,
I hurried thro' the hall,
And looked beside the big old clock -
It wasn't there at all.

I think I'll never wish again -
But then, what shall I do?
The wishes are a lot of fun
Altho' they don't come true.

Sophia thought: It's a certainly interesting and strange. It seems like not a lot of the little girl's wishes are going to come true. I think she feels disappointed and sad, but she'll keep wishing because it's so much fun. The part that stands out for me the most was when she was looking for a kitty cat.

Olivia thought: It was okay. I think I liked the kitty part the most because it was kind of cute. I thought it was cute because she might end up getting a cat. She felt sad that the balloon wasn't by the big clock.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Snow Song (from Helen of Troy And Other Poems, 1911)

Fairy snow, fairy snow,
Blowing, blowing everywhere,
Would that I
Too, could fly
Lightly, lightly through the air.

Sophia thought:I liked this one a lot because of the way she starts it. It sounds like something like a child would say. When you're reading this I could imagine snowflakes against a dark blue sky with fairies sitting on them.

Olivia thought: I liked this one because it is kind of like when we have small blizzards here. The snowflakes are sometimes really big, and that reminds me of fairies.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Twilight (from Helen of Troy And Other Poems, 1911)

Dreamily over the roofs
The cold spring rain is falling,
Out in the lonely tree
A bird is calling, calling.

Slowly over the earth
The wings of night are falling;
My heart like the bird in the tree
Is calling, calling, calling.

Sophia thought:It sounded kind of melancholy because it had that kind of sadness to it...I don't know how to describe it. I liked the first half of the poem better than the second half because it sounds a bit more cheerful. 

Olivia thought: It reminds me of a really sad movie or if someone was killed really painfully. I liked the beginning - the first two lines - because it sounded like it was going okay. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grandfather's Love (from Helen of Troy And Other Poems, 1911)

They said he sent his love to me,
They wouldn't put it in my hand,
And when I asked them where it was
They said I couldn't understand.

I thought they must have hidden it,
I hunted for it all the day,
And when I told them so at night
They smiled and turned their heads away.

They say that love is something kind,
That I can never see or touch.
I wish he'd sent me something else,
I like his cough-drops twice as much.

Sophia thought: That's a funny one, especially the part about the cough drops. It seems like this girl needs a bit more encouragement about finding the gift that her grandfather sent. I think it could have been a little bit longer because I would have liked to know if she found the love or gift...or understood it.

Olivia thought: I think it's a good poem. I think it's my favorite one because it's funny. I don't think the person really understands about love or what's going on. I know that because she is looking for love, but she doesn't know that she already has it. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

April (from Rivers to the Sea, 1915)

The roofs are shining from the rain,
The sparrows twitter as they fly,
And with a windy April grace
The little clouds go by.

Yet the back yards are bare and brown
With only one unchanging tree-
I could not be so sure of Spring
Save that it sings in me.

Sophia thought: I liked the first line or two because it's cheerful. But, I don't really see how it sounds like April. It sounds like it's more like March. I think I would have liked it if it were a paragraph or two longer. It seemed a little short for what she wanted to say. 

Olivia thought: It sounds like the poem is set in August or September because it sounds really dreary - the clouds going by and the rain. The unchanging tree sounds like a pine tree. I didn't picture anything when I heard the poem.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

May Night (from Rivers to the Sea, 1915)

The spring is fresh and fearless
And every leaf is new,
The world is brimmed with moonlight,
The lilac brimmed with dew.

Here in the moving shadows
I catch my breath and sing
My heart is fresh and fearless
And over-brimmed with spring.

Sophia thought: I like how this poem rhymes and how the grass is new. Although this year I'm hoping that all the snow is gone. Look outside: it's cold and there's a lot of snow still on the ground. I felt like spring should be here...which it is not. 

Olivia thought: It kind of made me think of a really grassy place and nothing would change. Everything would stay the same. I like this one because it reminds me of one of the Easters that we had here, and there wasn't snow. I think the moonlight part was nice.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Looking Down - P52 and 52 Week Photo Challenge 2014 - Week 13

We had the opportunity to visit Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm with the 4-H club in which Sophia and Olivia are members. Although we were hoping to feed the baby goats, they had already been fed for the evening.

Nonetheless, when we visited the kids (as the baby goats are called), and looked down in the many big white bins, we were greeted with adorable little ones...eager to be pet and get some extra attention.

Many were hoping we came with bottles, yet - even though we were not bearing food - they still enthusiastically clamored up the sides of the bins to get close to us.

I remember my dad telling me when I moved to the farm to never get goats. He said they eat absolutely anything they can find. We got to see this happen: some of the babies like to nibble on Olivia's and Sophia's hair.

We had a lot of fun seeing not only these goats, but the many dairy goats that are used for producing goat milk, cheese, and soap. The meat goats are kept in a different barn that we didn't visit.

The girls now want to have goats...though I think they are more fascinated with the tiny ones they were looking down at in the bins. The bigger ones weren't as captivating as the babies.

After the tour of the barns, we were able to sample some of Poplar Hill's goat milk and cheese. Sophia and Olivia both enjoyed the milk and cheese, and we ended up buying a quart of milk. Within a couple of days, the milk was gone. Clearly it was a hit!

Posted on: 

52 Week Photo Challenge 2014 and  

Gathering Blue - Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 13

This week I read Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry for the Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge. Many years ago I read Lowry's book The Giver which I enjoyed. Gathering Blue is equally as intriguing and thought-provoking.

Gathering Blue is a social-science fiction book. (According to Wikipedia, "This is a sub-genre of science fiction concerned less with technology and space; and more with sociological speculation about human society. In other words, it 'absorbs and discusses anthropology,' and speculates about human behavior and interactions".)

This book also is a dystopian novel. (Dystopia is defined as a society characterized by a focus on mass squalor, suffering, poverty, or oppression, that society has often times brought upon itself.)

The story centers around Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, who lives in a world where the weak, injured, and physically-handicapped are cast aside.

After her father is killed "by beasts" in the forest when he went hunting and her mother died, Kira fears for her future after a fellow villager and her group of women followers have burned the home that once belonged to Kira and her mother.

She is spared by the Council of Guardians; and is provided a room in a large building along with two other children who are artists who have special gifts. In Kira's case, she is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. Thomas, another youth who lives on the same floor as she does, is a talented carver. A third child, no older than a toddler, lives on the floor below them; and is a gifted singer.

The children are content in some respects - they have better places to live, better tools than they did before, and good food. These are all things that people in the community struggle to secure (adequate jobs, food, and shelter).

Yet, despite these positive improvements to their lives, there is a sense of discontent among all the children. What troubles each one is that they are told what to create rather than allowing them to creatively express themselves in the way they feel comfortable. This is highly frustrating for these youth who all have creative talents that are not allowed to be fully expressed.

In addition, there are quite a few secrets and lack of forthright communication between the adults and these artist-children. Mysteriously, all of the parents of the children who have been brought to the large building have passed away.

With answered questions, Thomas, Kira, and Kira's friend Matt soon find themselves in a world filled with mysteries and secrets. All that they have come to believe is challenged the more they ask questions and find answers from unexpected people who come into their lives.

Late in the book, Matt discovers a parallel community where "broken people live." The people in this community help each others. Those who can see, guide those who cannot. Those who can't walk are carried. Those who have no hands are helped by those who have hands.

The "broken people" marry one another and have healthy children who grow up and choose to stay because they want to share in that way of life. There are gardens, homes, and families. There is no arguing, and people share what they have and help one another. Babies rarely cry, and children are cherished. This community is in stark contrast to the one in which Kira and her friends live.

This 215-page book was one that I finished reading in two days. Once I started, I didn't want to put the book down. Lowry's writing is suspenseful and engaging. She also has another book, Messenger that I would like to read this year.

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken

We're in the middle of a reconstruction project because of an ice dam. Much of my time recently has been spent packaging up items and putting them in other rooms while three rooms are being worked on.

Because my time is limited, I took a look at a pin on Pinterest for Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken. I needed something that I thought everyone would enjoy eating and that was quick and easy to make. This recipe met both requirements.

It was so simple just to put the ingredients in the crock pot and let it cook for me while I did other things. Everyone liked the taste of this recipe and would definitely eat it again!

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken that I made.

Ingredients

6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I used 3 chicken breasts)
1/2 cup diced onion (I used a whole medium-size onion)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I didn't include these)
3 tablespoons cornstarch mixed in 3/4 cup water
sesame seeds for garnish
sliced scallions for garnish
rice

Directions

Place chicken in bottom of crock pot and season lightly with salt and pepper. In a small bowl mix onions, garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oil; and red pepper flakes. Pour over chicken cook for 3-4 hours on low or 2 hours on high. Do not over cook as chicken will dry out.

Remove chicken to a cutting board and shred. Mix corn starch and water, stir into sauce. Cover and cook on high for 10 minutes or until thickened.

Serve rice, topped with chicken and drizzled with sauce. Garnish with sesame seed and scallions.

Looking Up - P52 and 52 Week Photo Challenge 2014 - Week 12

For this week's theme of P52 and the 52 Week Photo Challenge, the theme is "Looking Up." At first I was thinking literally: the sky, sun, moon, clouds, constellations...the list could go on. 

But then I thought, as I was looking back at the pictures I took this week, about the one I took of the flock of robins that visited our tree with the bright red berries next to the driveway.

There are five robins that landed within seconds of one another in the tree. 

Four are facing the house and one is facing the driveway. 

Seeing so many robins flying between this tree and the crab apple tree was such a day-brightener.

Given the long, cold winter when I saw these beautiful robins I thought, "Spring is finally coming. Things are looking up!" Before long the snow will be melted and there will be buds on the trees. Flowers will be emerging from the soil...and the gardens will be planted.

I'm hoping this happens sooner than it did last year. (We had a big snowfall on May 6th.) I'm eager to get outside and start mowing the grass, planting flowers, and maybe even plant a few new trees this year!

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52 Week Photo Challenge 2014 and