30
Jul
Ah, the irony
This stairway (2 flights, including a balcony over the stairwell) is at the Building Inspector’s office building.
Tags: idiocy
Archive for July, 2009
Due to missing a couple weeks of ordering from my food co-op, this morning we had to make a dreaded trip to the grocery store. The ridiculousness of our food habits and system is astounding. I was freshly irritated by the vast amounts of dye, preservatives and poisons like MSG and Splenda. Not to mention that there is high fructose corn syrup in everything.
I couldn’t even bring myself to buy most of the stuff that I had on my list.
Robb and I recently had the opportunity to watch the movie Food, Inc. in Ann Arbor. The subtitle is How Industrial Food Is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer - And what You Can Do About It.
I highly recommend this movie to everyone. If you are passionate about food and its effects on health, like I am, you will enjoy it. But those who really have no idea about where our foods come from and why it matters should especially watch this!
Just one aspect it explores is the horrific effect of cattle “farms” feeding cows corn instead of pasture and hay as they were designed. When E. coli levels go berserk in the cows from eating such garbage, it gets in the meat through contact with manure during the oh-so-safe government regulated slaughtering. Yum.
But instead of changing what they’re feeding the cows or even how animals are slaughtered, they come up with the grand idea of spraying meat with ammonia. To kill the E. coli of course.
Sounds like a solution to me.
One thing I disagreed with is how they brought out the cost aspect of eating healthy. They did such things as comparing the cost of broccoli to a hamburger, and commenting on how much medications cost for a family struggling financially.
While it’s true that you can get a hamburger for 99 cents, or a taco for 79 cents, what that person is not taking into consideration is the long term costs of choosing the “cheaper” foods. Obesity and the related health problems, along with heart disease, diabetes, etc are almost always food related. Eating crap and then complaining about the cost of medications to treat the consequences of eating that crap is pure idiocy.
Plus, those “cheap” foods just do not fill you up like whole foods do. So you end up eating more of them, more often. Which also means more money spent.
Long story short, I did not have much sympathy for the family they interviewed. The man who was struggling to pay for basic living expenses as well as his diabetes medication, ordered a Dr. Pepper to go with his meal. Um, why not water? So they filled up on cheap hamburgers because they “don’t have time to make it at home” and that’s “all they could afford”. Hmm.
How’s this for just one idea: Spend a couple hours one day and make enough homemade tortillas to store in the freezer. They’re just flour, water, oil and salt. Easy peasy. Then, buy a big bag of rice and a big bag of dry beans. They are so very cheap! Soak some beans, then put them in a crockpot overnight with some of the rice. Place some tortillas from the freezer into the fridge. In the morning, you just grab a couple tortillas, pile on some rice and beans, maybe some toppings like lettuce, cheese, salsa, etc., a fruit (apple, pear, banana, etc) and BAM a fast, healthy, CHEAP meal.
But, whatever. I kinda got off on a tangent.
My absolute favorite part was at the end of the movie, when it pointed out how much we actually control what kinds of foods are made available to us. Through our food purchases, we send a message to the companies making and supplying food.
We vote three times a day. What are you voting for?
Here’s the movie trailer.
For the most part, relationships are built or destroyed not by periodic big events, but through how we interact in everyday life.
Our connection with someone is affected mainly by our daily actions and seemingly insignificant comments.
A child notices the offhand remark their parent made about how they can’t wait until they’re back in school (and therefore out of their hair). They were impacted by the snarky mention of not wanting any more kids (brats!) or how their particular age is so annoying/frustrating.
A wife or husband internalizes the thoughtless but rude response their spouse had over a minor irritation. The belittling joke has repercussions. Being ignored or enduring a preoccupied spouse make an impression.
It’s not all bad though.
A child is also encouraged from a moment of praise. They are reassured by a quick hug. They respond to your smiles.
A spouse thrives on affection; verbal and physical. A quick note or an admiring remark can brighten an entire week. Doing even a simple chore for them is a surprise that stimulates endearment.
Little things can either chip away or reinforce devotion.
Use the little things everyday to build up the ones you love.
Some would ask, “Why would I pay $3 for a dozen eggs when I can get them for 79 cents?
If your most important issue is cost, then by all means it only makes sense to get the cheapest eggs possible. But if you’re also concerned with good nutrition, or preserving and supporting local farms, or kind treatment of animals, or wise stewardship, then the extra expense is not only justified, but gladly accepted.
A little bit further down that road and you may be faced with the question, “Why would I ever bother caring for hens when I can just buy my healthy eggs from a farm?”
Well, let’s put it this way.
In this day of incredible technology, where you can instantly and easily communicate with your friends through phone, email, and instant messaging, why would you ever bother getting together with them in person? Since you could multi-task while conversing and wouldn’t have to drive anywhere or buy a meal, communicating virtually could save time, money and energy.
It goes without saying that there is something irreplaceable about seeing your friend face to face. Enjoying a hug, seeing their smile and sharing eye contact are something we all long for. If it was simply about communication, we could toss out lingering over a meal or walking together. But we all know that those fulfilling experiences are what enhances friendship.
Likewise, there is something about enjoying the fruits of your labor that increases the value of something such as an egg. When you are blessed with an egg from a hen that you have fed, watered and tended to, it is more than the egg itself. It is the reward of the entire process. Hearing a hen’s soft clucks, the thrill of discovering an egg, reaching in to gently scoop it up… Those all add to the inherent value of a basic food.
All methods have their consequences. In a world driven by efficiency and individualistic gain, its good to remember that sometimes exceeding in those areas means you have drastically hindered or even destroyed another area of meaning.
Is it worth it?
Tags: farm, health, idiocy, presuppositions, worldview
24
Jul
photos of the fam
23
Jul
in other news..
Our internet service was interrupted yesterday, hence the lack of a blog post yesterday. It was cut during a landscaping project. And yes, I, Tamra, take all the blame. Thank you.
Callahan is walking all over now. It’s the infamous drunken sailor trying to get his sea legs walking, but it’s walking. He is so proud, and pauses often to clap for himself.
Yesterday morning was the second Rejuvenate! ladies gathering at my place. I’m thinking about making next month’s a bit more structured. The ideas are already flowing!
Monday we attended the funeral of a dear friend. In recognition of how those who are God’s children should view death, it was called a Homegoing Celebration. He was known as a loving father, husband and pastor to many. We knew him as a humble, giving man who truly lived for Christ. Along with his ability to consider another’s opinion, one of the most touching things we remember about him was his willingness to repent.
Early Tuesday morning, the Flint City Building Inspector visited our home. It came as no surprise that it was regarding the 8 chickens and 2 baby goats we keep here. I politely showed him around, and explained that every neighbor we had talked to had seemed fine, even happy, about our pets with perks. He said there would be no ticket at this time, but there would be if we didn’t have the animals gone within 2 weeks. He remarked with disgust that he was rarely ever out of his office, but that somehow this was considered important enough to merit immediate attention.
An hour later, 4 squad cars and several police officers came to the house. They were here to investigate an “animal violation”. I spoke briefly with the Sergeant, and then another officer issued a citation to appear in court. I laughingly showed them the chickens and goats, and wondered aloud if perhaps the number of policemen sent on such a call was a bit over the top. After several times of him saying “I’m not laughing” I remarked that I sure hoped he was saying that to mean that he believed the entire thing to be as ridiculous as I did and shared my frustration with how it was being handled. He agreed, and started to tell me how they were pulled off a far more important call before he stopped himself and sighed deeply, shaking his head.
We also have a couple honeybee colonies. Now, those are legal. *Pppbblllttt*
Yesterday, Cruiz remarked with a sigh, “It seems like everyone is having a birthday this year!”
21
Jul
Slug soup
A couple beds of broccoli and brussel sprouts are the victims of hungry slugs.
This is the damage they cause, before they eat the entire plant.
Skylar did some internet research to find natural ways to combat slugs, and made some traps to set in our gardens. She took shallow pans, filled them partway with beer, and set them in the dirt. A couple sites said to also sprinkle a little yeast over the beer. She prepared them that evening, since slugs come out during the night and early morning. We were eager to check the traps the next morning.
I would say that they worked.
Beer Slug Soup, anyone?
Tags: landscaping
17
Jul
What is education?
The word conjures up endless definitions, emotions and opinions.
I love the approach Charlotte Mason takes, which is what largely guides our home schooling methods.
You can summarize Charlotte’s approach to education in three words. (borrowed from Simply Charlotte Mason.com) Charlotte believed that “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”
By “atmosphere,” Charlotte spoke of the environment our children grow up in. She knew that the ideas that rule our lives, as parents, will have a profound impact on our children. “The child breathes the atmosphere emanating from his parents; that of the ideas which rule their own lives”.
By “discipline,” Charlotte emphasized the importance of training our children in good habits—habits that will serve them well as they grow. In fact, she likened good habits to railroad tracks that parents lay down and upon which the child may travel with ease into his adult life. Good habits are a powerful influence on our children and must play an important part in their education. “It rests with [the parent] to consider well the tracks over which the child should travel with profit and pleasure”.
By “life,” Charlotte wanted to remind us that “all the thought we offer to our children shall be living thought; no mere dry summaries of facts will do”. And the methods that Charlotte used presented each subject’s material as living ideas. Here is where the reading, writing, and arithmetic come in, along with all the other school subjects. But notice two important points: first, they are presented as living thoughts; and second, those school subjects occupy only one-third of the big picture of education.
Tags: homeschool
16
Jul
A new toy
Weeds don’t stand a chance.
Not with Robb’s new fire-breathing smoke-belching thingybob.
With our many stone paths and patios, weed control is a potential problem and it can be tempting to resort to harmful chemicals.
Now, weed control has never been so much fun.
Tags: house, landscaping
Some of you may remember a while back when we invited anyone and everyone to ask us any question at all, which we would then answer as a blog post. Submitters were welcome to be anonymous.
We’ve been considering opening that opportunity again.
Send us your question, in whichever form you choose (blog comment, facebook comment or message, or an email) and we may answer it. (didja notice that cute little disclaimer, “may” answer it?)
So fire away.