Working at home

Again, I've found quite a few work at home businesses that are legit and require no startup cost. This one I applied for, was approved, and then decided I couldn't do it because my toddler insisted on shrieking whenever I would talk on the phone. But if you have some time uninterrupted, say, during nap time, Work at Home West takes incoming calls (no telemarketing) for different businesses and you can schedule appointments, etc, over the phone. I throughly researched them before I signed up, and they come back all clear.

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Avoiding Made in China this Christmas

Are you avoiding Made in China this Christmas? Because of lead paint? Well, we are, because of not only lead paint but also because of the poor working conditions of people there.

The Chinese government takes advantage of the people there in their workforce, providing them with unsafe working conditions, and even requiring children to work in industrial jobs. It is hard for us Americans to grasp, we are so removed from the situation.

Another place to avoid, but I didn't think of it until lately, is Thailand. They have a full-on industry involving children sex slaves. NOT something I want to report. Some links:

http://www.offshoringtimes.com/Pages/2006/offshore_news1233.html
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=26296

We're just sticking with simple hand made gifts this Christmas. No need for mass consumerism, we have more than enough with just eachother

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Friday Fuzzies

If you're looking for good blogs to read, especially in mommy-blog land, check out Friday Fuzzies! Stacey finds all sorts of great blogs, some of my new favorites!

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Associated content

In my never-ending quest to make ends meet while staying home with my little girl, not to mention avoiding spending my entire paycheck on the rising cost of fuel, I've tried all sorts of different gigs. One successful one was Associated Content, which I still write for on occasion. They are a legit company that pays per article, and you can choose your own topic. Minimum of 400 words, you can pump out an article on something you know about in 15 minutes or so. Not too bad! I've made over $200 here, and with their performance bonus I still make some money every month on stuff I've already written. Not a get-rich-quick scheme, but a great way for Mommy to make some money during Jr.'s nap time.

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The Pioneer Woman

Beautiful pictures, great writing, and she's a homeschooler too! The Pioneer Woman Blog is my favorite blog to read. Love her love story, and her 'give this photo a name' contest. And my sister-in-law recently showed me her article in Good Housekeeping. She's soon to be a household name!

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Google News

Google news is one of the many little-known parts of the Google empire. Most of us know about the Google search engine for the general web, but searching the news can be handy too. And why do it with anything less customer-appealing than Google.

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Contest- Movies and Popcorn

Over at 5 Minutes for Mom they are doing a contest for a year's worth of movies and popcorn, popcorn through Orville and movies through Netflix. We've had Netflix for years now, and it's been just perfect for us. They recently put in a facility in Butte, MT, and now we get new movies 3 days after we stick them in the mail box, opposed to the 5-6 days it took when they had to go all the way to Denver. Wahoo! I'm embarassed to admit, but we have the 5 at a time setup during the winter... Winters are long in Montana!

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Wordless Wednesday

On Tuesday ;) http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

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Tackle it Tuesday

To tackle today: The 4 loads of laundry that are yet again built up in my port a crib! Timeline: Before nap time today! :)

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Thinking about Christmas

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, one of the most holy days in the Christian's calendar, or is it?

Our family chooses not to celebrate the ever popular, even among non-Christians, Christmas for a few reasons. The first is because of the associated consumerism that is difficult to do in moderation. The second is because we believe that we should speak the truth, and the truth is that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th. And the third is because the Bible commands us to celebrate many holy days, but not Christ's birthday.

We have all see the displays of mass consumerism in relation to Christmas. Even in late September the major department stores have Christmas-related items out, all to condition consumers to do what they do best- to consume. To further the cause, they use tactics to suggest that buying buying buying from them is not only what you want to do, not only what your child wants you to do, but is also what Jesus Christ would want you to do. They play up, ever so slightly as to not offend those who do not believe in Christ, the 'joyous family memories' and 'traditions that will be passed down', all with the purchase from their company in the way of a special Hallmark card with matching Hallmark ornament, Pillsbury Slice-and-Bake cookie dough in holiday shapes, and the artificial dye and artificial flavor-filled candy. Parents are assured, through paid advertisements, that their children will love and cherish them into their old age if they just purchase the WII, the new Barbie, or the latest Dora and Bratz Dolls. This starts a vicious circle of giving, taking, and debt that we wish to avoid in our family.

" Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." Phillipians 4:8 NKJV

To me, Christmas is a false truth. Ask most Christian children when Jesus was born, they will say December 25th. Wrong again. Most biblical scholars agree that He was born in the spring, which is nowhere close to December 25th. The date for Christmas originally came from the pagan "Victory of the Sun-God" festival after winter solstice (Dec 21st) and did not start being celebrated among Christians until 300 years AD. Christmas was not celebrated in Jesus's time or in the early church.

Lastly, I am a Christian who believes God's word is truth, and that is found in the Bible. The Bible Old Testament, also called the Torah, commands different feasts and holy days to be celebrated. If we do not have the 'time' or motivation to celebrate what is actually in God's word (sukkot, passover, feast of trumpets...), what business do we have putting so much effort into a man-made mock 'holy' day? Do I think it is sin to celebrate Christmas? No, I do not. But I question whether it is 'true, noble, pure, and praiseworthy' for all involved.

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Helping Mom

Toddlers and babies just love to help, don't they? As soon as they realize what you're doing, they want to be right there, experiencing it as well.

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A family pet

We have had great rewards through having a family pet. My first pet was a rat, when I was 8. 'Ratso' taught me how to take care of something else, on a small scale. My dad and I bonded over making Ratso a 3 story 6 room cage complete with ladders, alcoves, and a kitchen. I learned responsibility because I had to remember to feed and water Ratso. Ratso lived for years, and during that time we have many fond memories of him. One time I left a tissue box too close to his cage, and he proceeded to fill his cage with tissues as they popped up. In the morning he was nestled well into a nest of blue Klenex. Another fond memory was when I placed him on my hoity-toity Aunt's shoulder. This was not a fond memory for her. Ratso prepared me to later be caretaker of dogs. I did foster care for Canine Companions, and got more lessons in responsibility as well as dog training and compassion, as we were training these dogs to work with disabled people. That has carried over to today, when our family now has three dogs. They are great for our daughter to be around, and they are well trained since I learned how to do that as a young girl.

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Etsy mini and favorites

My favorites on Etsy; natural family items, playsilks, dolls, cloth diapers, and more!

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Myspace and Facebook

Sometimes I'll cruise Myspace or Facebook as I'm nursing the babe late at night. Or early in the morning. Or waiting to add one last log of wood on the fire before going to bed..

It's funny to see *who* is on there. I've found it's mostly the 'popular' kids in high school. The prom queen from when I was a sophomore is the leader of our high school 'group' on facebook. I just find it ironic. Lots of cleavage-showing pictures, kissy faces, and tons of makeup. My profile pic is of me with Babe on my back ;)

And I can learn more about my lil bro (who hasn't seen me since we moved out of California to Montana!) via his girlfriend's myspace profile than anything else. I laugh and roll my eyes. He's still a good kid, I'm sure, but it's just amusing to see him there.

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Chickens

On my to-do list is butchering 3 or 4 roosters. Encouraging, isn't that? I've gotten specific instructions from my friend, Nicole, that I'll post, should any of you need that information. Waiting for a weekend when the temp is above freezing, then I'll go at it, I think. Having to feed 7 chickens, and only 3 of them actually laying eggs (due to the other 4 being male) isn't very cost effective. Hmm.

just hang them upside down and take a razor blade to the side of their neck while holding the skin of the neck tight towards the back. Hold the back of their head, tilt the head up and the will bleed out nicely. After they have stopped moving you can let the head go and do something else for a few minutes. (I put a bucket down to catch the blood and then pour it into the garden.) I do this instead of take the whole head clean off because the blood comes all out nicer this way, and the meat is nicer that way.

Then you dunk into hot (not boiling) water to loosen the feathers, pluck them off. (again in the compost pile or buried in the garden for nitrogen.) Then to the gutting. There are pictures online if you look up how to butcher a chicken. It is not difficult, Then you wrap the dressed chicken in plastic wrap or a gallon sized baggie and refrigerate for three days. This helps rigor mortis finish it's process so that the bird will be more tender and less stringy. They are tasty, and have a much nicer firm texture than store bought.

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