The Old Battle Axe

Bloggy Blogs

2012-01-19T21:57:00.001-08:00

I have been following a different set of blogs these days. With my new iphone4 I have an awesome RSS feeder that updates all of my blog subscriptions. For those of you who don’t know. I had the first version of the iphone and the oldest Mac around so I couldn’t sinc my phone and it was sssslllllllloooooow and because it was so dang slow – both the computer and the phone – I just stopped reading blogs.

anyways – so currently this lady is killing me with her honesty. She gives me a good chuckle.

This blog inspires me to sew daily…or at least start cutting fabric so that one day I can sew…one day when the little parasites are completely occupied and can give me a minute.

The lovely mother daughter set here keep us interested with the different voices and articles on daily life of being a mother of many.

Have fun and I hope you like them as much as I do!

Another Day…

2011-12-12T13:39:00.001-08:00

Has it close to 11 months since I posted on this thing? Geeze I need to get into gear.

So I am deciding whether or not to change my blog name…trying to decide if I should put it under my Etsy account name…What say you?

Third Child Syndrome or the Labor that Kept on Stopping.

2011-01-30T04:51:00.000-08:00

When's my third baby due? Oh right Feb 3 - the Chinese New Year... I have to keep reminding myself because if I don't I'll go crazy. This has been my hardest pregnancy yet and I hear that it is common for third pregnancies to be harder and more emotional than the first two. I also heard that your first labor is long (mine wasn't that long - but it was also induced. Making it only 11 hours), the second labor is fast (3 hours start to finish), and the third...well it started last Wednesday the 26th of January and it is now Saturday the 29th of January.

Wednesday night, after putting our munchkins to bed, my husband and I relax on the couch and have dessert and watch a movie. I am tired from nesting all day so my husband jumps up to clean the kitchen. I start having light contractions.

Wednesday 26th

7:30 PM : I feel light contractions coming pretty regularly

8:30 PM: I decide to call my midwife because my contractions are 3-4 minutes apart and are on average 45 seconds. Erring on the side of caution, my midwife comes because my last labor was so speedy.

9:20 PM: My midwife arrives with her assistant close behind her. Contractions are a little lighter. I am pacing around the house because they start to get strong enough that I can't stand still any more.

Thursday 27th

12:30AM: my husband decides to go to sleep and the midwives stand close by. Contractions haven't changed but are still coming on strong and still 3-4 minutes apart.

1:30 AM: My midwives nap close to me as I watch movies and relax through my contractions. They are just frequent enough and painful enough that I can't sleep.

6:00 AM: I'm rocking on my birthing ball. The contractions have slowed down a bit and have spaced out a little further. Everyone starts waking up - midwives, kids, and husband. The commotion threw me back into stronger contractions so I send my son to grandma's and let my daughter, who is 3.5, stay home because she wants to be close to me and catch the baby.

9:00 AM: I'm checked and only 4 cm. My contractions slow again and my midwife, Des, tells me to take a brisk walk to get it going again. I do and climb about 9 stories worth of stairs. I come home and take a shower with my husband to jump start contractions. They start again and are harder than before.

12:30 PM: My contractions start to slow again. Almost to a stop. Another walk and another 9 flights of stairs. A shower with my husband and contractions are getting intense. My daughter goes down for a nap and I relax through my contractions focusing on having this baby. The midwives leave my husband and I alone. Retreating to the nearby Starbuck's to see if I need privacy. Contractions slow and speed up alternating for a couple hours driving me crazy. Another shower with my husband. Contractions pick up.

2:30 PM: My daughter wakes and has a freaky crying episode that completely stops my labor AGAIN. My daughter gets sent to Grandma's to give me peace. I'm wondering if I'm really pregnant or if I am just having a bad dream....

4:00 PM: Midwives come back and check me. I'm at 7 cm and I have a cervix that is definitely in labor. The midwives decide not to leave and I start bleeding heavily after a good stretch of the cervix. Labor kicks into gear. I am fully focused and moaning. The pool is ready so I jump in and have some pretty intense contractions.

6:00 PM: Labor stops.

6:01 PM: I laugh and think - this has to be a freaking dream.

6:30 PM: I get checked again. Still 7 cm but nothing moving. My midwife, another midwife, and an assistant camp out again in my living room.

7:30 PM: kids come home and we put them to bed. Midwives go out to eat and my husband and I order out. What the crap is going on?

8:30 PM: I go to bed hoping to wake to contractions.

11:30 PM: I wake to......nothing! I go downstairs because I want to get my labor started. My midwives give me black and blue cohosh to take alternately every 30 minutes for the rest of the night.

Friday 28th

5:00 AM: Nothing.

5:30 AM: I am checked again and my cervix went back to a stretchy 5 cm.

5:31 AM: deep sighs.

6:00 AM: midwives leave

Am I ever going to have this baby? My midwife calls me to see how I am doing. She said it is text book Third Child Syndrome - completely unpredictable and unlike the first two labors I've had. All in all, I remain light hearted about it. I have to. I have to tell myself - The baby will come when the baby is ready. God's time - not my own.

Saturday 29th

Still nothing. Light Braxton Hicks and a little back pain but nothing. Oh and I am pretty darn emotional. He said even Hallmark is getting embarrassed. My husband thinks it is because birth is closer than I think but I think it's because my hormones are crazy and can't decided whether or not it wants to go into labor again.

We'll see. I'll keep you posted...

Pilot Caps

2011-01-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

Since my newest little one will be arriving very soon and it is still pretty cold outside I went to Hanna Andersson's to buy some pilot caps that were on-sale. But after arriving home and doing some research I found this wonderful blog called Sew Liberated. If you get a chance check it out - I love love love it. Here is the direct link to the Sweet Pea Pilot Caps. The seem pretty easy to make with a regular machine so I am going to try it...one of these days.

Aprons

2011-01-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

I am really big into aprons right now. Not that I can truly wear them with my belly being as big as it is but I dream of wearing them daily. When the babe is born I will have to wear a half apron because of nursing but I am more of a fan of the whole. Here are a few that I plan on making sometime in the near future...

A New Book On My List~

2011-01-21T19:28:00.000-08:00

After reading Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior on the WSJ, I thought it would be fun to read Chua's book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Not because I agree with all of Chua's parenting style but because it rang true to how my mother raised me and my siblings. Chua was more strict than my own mother but there are so many similarities that I can't help but want to read the book and look back at the days when I lived at home. When I told my older sister, the one who got the most lecturing in academics, about the article, she laughed and was interested in reading it also - a book that lets us know we were not alone.

Children of Asian mothers are linked in a peculiar way that only we can really appreciate. Some people - read mostly Westerners - find it horrible to be constantly compared to siblings or friends who "do" better. "Why can't you be like your older sister?" was something I heard daily. My older sister, who I have a fantastic relationship with by the way and is now a lawyer who has her own share of Tiger Mother memories, studied constantly and stayed in her room most of the time. While I was made to clean house and tend to my father and brother because I was "too dumb to do anything but be a pretty face."

Much to my mothers disapproval, I chose to become a housewife and tend to my family. I left a great career as a boat captain, something she was simultaneously shocked by and loved, to raise my children. She still comments that it's not too late for me to go become a doctor, what she always slated for me to do until she discovered I was "too dumb," or start my job again driving boats and throw my kids in daycare.

I find that many of my Western friends, who have so much trouble with their own moms, had it easy compared to me. I think one friend was called fat once or twice - ok maybe even five times - and she still has issues with her mother to this day! I was shocked. My mother, like Chua, withheld food from me constantly because I was too fat. She would take me to the gym to sweat off my fat after running 6 miles - Maybe it was because I had a job modeling most of my high school life and my mom thought this would be my meal ticket so she pushed me the way Tiger Mothers do.

I can say that my mom and I have a wonderful relationship now. She is a fantastic grandmother who is more tender than I thought she would be and nags at me for being too harsh with my own children. It took a bit of growing for each of us and now I would die without her.

What am I trying to say? I think I will buy this book so I can read it while I am nursing in the wee hours of the night and get a laugh. I will let you know what I think!

Another Failed Attempt!

2011-01-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

Ha! I laugh at myself as I write this...I am trying to come back to the blogging world but find no time. Do I make another attempt or just shut the site down? It seems that this posting comes near the birth of my third child so once again I will have no time to write.

I am writing now because I have folded my laundry and done what I needed to do as I wait for my dearest children to fall asleep. My computer is upstairs and they like for me to sit near their rooms as they doze off. Sometimes it is 10 minutes - sometimes more.

I will say this.....I will TRY to write more. Make a better attempt at it - every time I have to sit and wait for them to fall asleep - I will post something. Even if it is a picture of me sitting at the computer...

Time will tell...

Why no one invades Switzerland

2010-04-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

We should learn from the Swiss.

Why no one invades Switzerland

Coming back to the blog front

2010-04-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

...is anyone out there?

After a long and much needed rest from blogging...not that i did it much anyway. I think I am ready to start blogging about my life. We now have two kids and, God willing, will have more.

So far in my life - two kids. My daughter, who is 2.5, and my son, who is 7 months. They take over most of my life but in the mean time I am going to school 3/4 time, trying to grow all our own veggies this year, and we are really considering getting some rabbits to feed ourselves meat. I plan on canning and freezing much of our veggies that we can't eat at the moment and whatever we can't eat - I am going to plop it into our worm composting bin. I figure whoever is out there reading me can go along in my adventures with me.

We are a small Catholic family trying to be self sustainable, trying to make my small sub-urban home into a homestead. I will try to post crafty stuff online also. I feel the urge to sew, make, bake, and whittle. Ok maybe not whittle but I am definitely in love with tools - chain saw, table saw, hack saw, router, - you name it - I want it. I have all these plans to build and make all of my own furniture. So stay tuned and you can find out how I do.

Next on the list is putting in my own fence. Trying to keep the animals in and the strangers out. Hopefully I will remember to take pictures so I can blog about it.

till next time...

Free Ice Cream

2008-09-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hey don't forget to go to Cold Stone tomorrow and get your free 3 oz. cup of ice cream. Be sure to check your local Cold Stone to make sure they are participating before lugging the kids over there.

Cold Stone is hosting the 7th Annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Social. On September 25th from 5:00 - 8:00PM, all donations will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Make It Yourself Monday!

2008-09-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

I am currently making these for my daughter. I am saving half for myself and cutting the other half for my monkey.

Baby Banana Bread Sticks

10 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon butter
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups cake flour
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted, chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease a 9 1/4 by 5 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan with 1 teaspoon of the butter.

Puree the bananas, sour cream, eggs and vanilla in a food processor.

Sift the cake flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fixed with a whisk attachment. Add the remaining 10 tablespoons butter and mix on medium-low speed until blended, about 30 seconds. Add the banana mixture in 3 batches, scraping the sides of the bowl and mixing on medium speed between each addition. Fold in the nuts.

Pour into the loaf pan. Bake until lightly browned and bread bounces back to the touch, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, cut into sticks. Spread sticks out on a cookie sheet and bake at 150 degrees F for 1 hour or longer until the sticks are hard and crunchy. Store in a tightly covered container.

Birthday Bash

2008-09-22T13:28:00.001-07:00

I am trying to recover from my daughter's first birthday bash. It was so much fun to watch my little monkey play and laugh with her family. Here are a few pictures.

The cake table:

The cake I baked and decorated for the party.
The tutu I made for her.

Trying to reach the controls of my new car but my tutu is getting in the way.

She really didn't take to eating cake and ended up eating pickles. :)

Already learning to play the piano!

All tuckered out and resting in my new bean bag chair after such a wonderful day~

My Nephew

2008-09-18T11:06:00.001-07:00

Ok because I can't resist. I must show you a picture of my nephew J. He is the cutest little Yoda for Halloween. My sister is beautiful isn't she - I mean, come on, look at that skin. Are you serious? How are people born with that kind of skin? It just kills me.

Oh and I hope my sister doesn't get mad at me for posting these. So you better take a look before I am forced to take them down!

My Little Monkey

2008-09-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my little Mon-Chi Chi. We are trying to get ready for her first birthday party this Saturday. I made her a tutu for her party so there is a picture of me fixing a stitch with A being very patient. While I am not doing a ballerina theme, I just wanted her to have a tutu after seeing it in Baby Talk. Of course I am going to put a shirt on her for the big day. It was enough of a struggle to get the tutu on. My little girl likes to run around in the buff.

Doesn't she look like she's dancing here?

I just can't believe that she is going to be one! This year has flown by so fast.

Free Yogi Tea Sample

2008-09-15T15:56:00.001-07:00

Get your free Yogi Tea sample while you can. My sister loves their Nursing Mom Tea. Here's a chance to taste others for free! Enjoy your cup on the back porch while the kids are sleeping and just take a deep breath of fresh air before the little munchkins start screaming and need your attention.

Make It Yourself Monday

2008-09-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

Ahhh another week. Today is a fresh new day and I feel like making some bread. My favorite bread to make is Challah (pronounced Hallah) bread. Here is a recipe yo try this week!

Bistro Challah Bread

Recipe Courtesy of Caprial Pence
Show:	Cooking Live
Episode:	Caprial Pence

4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup warm water (about 110 degrees)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 eggs
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt

Place the yeast, sugar and warm water in a mixing bowl. Stir and let stand for about 10 minutes, until creamy and foamy. Add the melted butter and eggs and mix well.Combine the flour with the salt. Add it to the yeast mixture, 1 or 2 cups at a time, until it forms a soft dough. Place the dough on a well-floured board and knead until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in a large, well-greased bowl, then flip the dough over to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and let stand in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Punch the dough down, form it into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Bake for about 1 hour, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Let cool before slicing.

I myself like to bread the Challah bread. It comes out looking beautiful. While I haven't done the 5 strade bread - I usually do the 3. Next time, with the help of this video, I will do the five strand. I also combine one egg white with 3 tablespoons of water and brush the top of the bread before I put it into the over to get a beautiful crust on top.

9/11

2008-09-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

The day is here again - seven years ago the twin towers were hit and broke hearts all across America and beyond. Today let us just pray for the faithful departed and those who were affected by this tragedy.

Can you remember what you were doing that day? I lived in Washington state and didn't have a t.v. that worked so I didn't hear anything about it until I got to work and saw it on the big screen at 6:00am. I can remember sitting there with everyone in shock.

My co-worker, Nathan Bruckenthal was going nuts because he has family that lived in New York. We had worked together for almost 2.5 years at the same isolated duty station in Neah Bay. He took leave and went to NY to help with the clean up. You could see the pride beaming off of him when he came home in his NYFD t-shirt.

Nathan, later was transferred to a security team and went on tour to Iraq twice. Bruckenthal, or DC3 as we called him, was severely wounded while defending the Iraqi terminal. DC3 was the first Coast Guardsman killed in combat since the Vietnam War. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal in April 2004. He left behind his wife Patty, who was pregnant with their first child. Patty is also the sister of my brother's fiance. So DC3 would have been semi-related to me he had lived.

DC3 wasn't killed on 9-11 but was killed because of our actions after it. So on this day I try to remember him and the family he left behind. God have Mercy on your soul Nate.

Now Entering Momville Giveaway

2008-09-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Now Entering Momville is having a Blue Mama giveaway. Blue Mama has a cool little shop where you can get clothing items made into jewelry. Do you have anything in your closet you want made into something special?

I know of a shirt in my closet that I would love to have made into a necklace - a shirt that is full of holes and worn through but very dear to my heart. Check out her site and enter. Maybe you'll get lucky.

Thank you Denver!

2008-09-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

My dearest friend has posted this on his blog. You should check out his other stuff for a mental workout.

A letter issued today, "Public Servants and Moral Reasoning", from the office of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput:

A notice to the Catholic community in northern Colorado

To Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver:

When Catholics serve on the national stage, their actions and words impact the faith of Catholics around the country. As a result, they open themselves to legitimate scrutiny by local Catholics and local bishops on matters of Catholic belief. In 2008, although NBC probably didn't intend it, Meet the Press has become a national window on the flawed moral reasoning of some Catholic public servants. On August 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, describing herself as an ardent, practicing Catholic, misrepresented the overwhelming body of Catholic teaching against abortion to the show's nationwide audience, while defending her "pro-choice" abortion views. On September 7, Sen. Joseph Biden compounded the problem to the same Meet the Press audience.

Sen. Biden is a man of distinguished public service. That doesn't excuse poor logic or bad facts. Asked when life begins, Sen. Biden said that, "it's a personal and private issue." But in reality, modern biology knows exactly when human life begins: at the moment of conception. Religion has nothing to do with it. People might argue when human "personhood" begins - though that leads public policy in very dangerous directions - but no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion.

Sen. Biden also confused the nature of pluralism. Real pluralism thrives on healthy, non-violent disagreement; it requires an environment where people of conviction will struggle respectfully but vigorously to advance their beliefs. In his interview, the senator observed that other people with strong religious views disagree with the Catholic approach to abortion. It's certainly true that we need to acknowledge the views of other people and compromise whenever possible - but not at the expense of a developing child's right to life. Abortion is a foundational issue; it is not an issue like housing policy or the price of foreign oil. It always involves the intentional killing of an innocent life, and it is always, grievously wrong. If, as Sen. Biden said, "I'm prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception," then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there.

As the senator said in his interview, he has opposed public funding for abortions. To his great credit, he also backed a successful ban on partial-birth abortions. But his strong support for the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and the false "right" to abortion it enshrines, can't be excused by any serious Catholic. Support for Roe and the "right to choose" an abortion simply masks what abortion is, and what abortion does. Roe is bad law. As long as it stands, it prevents returning the abortion issue to the states where it belongs, so that the American people can decide its future through fair debate and legislation.

In his Meet the Press interview, Sen. Biden used a morally exhausted argument that American Catholics have been hearing for 40 years: i.e., that Catholics can't "impose" their religiously based views on the rest of the country. But resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion. And the senator knows very well as a lawmaker that all law involves the imposition of some people's convictions on everyone else. That is the nature of the law. American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year. Other people have imposed their "pro-choice" beliefs on American society without any remorse for decades.

Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

Archbishop of Denver

Make It Yourself Monday!

2008-09-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen it is Monday again and we are going to make something new. Since I have had to cut my tomatoes before they were ripe due to wind damage and rotting, we shall eat Fried Green Tomatoes. I found this recipe on Food Network.com
It seems to be mighty tasty doesn't it?

I have always wanted to cook this since I saw the movie Fried Green Tomatoes with Mary Loiuse Parker and Kathy Bates. So I am finally doing it - more than 10 years late but better late than never. Did you like that movie? I can't remember if that movie was any good or not. Guess I will have to watch it again.

Again Sorry I have been out of the loop for so long. I am back now and can't wait to make this recipe. Let me know if you try it and what you think. I will post my thoughts tomorrow.

Crunchy Fried Green Tomatoes with Fresh Tomato Salsa

2 pounds green (unripe) tomatoes (about 4 medium)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk
5 cups cornflakes (about 6 ounces)
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Accompaniment: fresh tomato salsa, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut tomatoes into 12 (1/2-inch thick) slices. In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, salt, sugar, and cayenne. In another shallow bowl, whisk together egg and milk. In a third shallow bowl, coarsely crush corn flakes with hands. Working with 1 tomato slice at a time, dredge in flour, shaking off excess, and dip in egg, letting excess drip off. Coat slices with corn flakes, pressing them to adhere, and arrange slices in 1 layer on a baking sheet.

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil over moderate heat until foam subsides and fry 3 tomato slices until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. (Be careful not to let coating burn.) Transfer tomatoes to paper towels to drain. Fry remaining tomato slices in remaining butter and oil in same manner. On another baking sheet arrange drained tomato slices in 1 layer. Bake tomatoes in middle of oven until tender and hot, about 4 minutes.

Serve tomatoes topped with salsa.

Updating my Blog

2008-09-04T12:00:00.001-07:00

Sorry I have been out of touch this week. I am trying to update my template before I go any further. The Blogger Guide has been really helpful. Anytime I had a question, I posted a comment and he got back to me quickly. So I hope he can be as helpful to you as he was to me. It is still a work in progress and it should be finished by tomorrow.

Next week I will resume my usual bloggings. Starting with Make it Yourself Monday and so on. As you might know - I usually don't write on the weekends because I try to enjoy every moment with my family.

So have a lovely weekend. Here in Portland it will be a great weekend so we just might go to the zoo and see all the caged animals...and point...take pictures..and laugh. Little A will enjoy it a ton. She loves animals and has never been to the zoo.

Have fun!

Now Entering Momville's Giveaway

2008-08-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Now Entering Momville is having a fun giveaway from Freeverse Games. Mac compatible (thank you!) and there are a ton of games. The word is you can download it right to your computer or get a disk shipped to you. Now Entering Momville will be selecting at random one person who gets a game of your choice up to $50 .

I like the Brain Games but my Beau would probably like the Commander - Europe at War. Search the site, see what you like, let Now Entering Momville know by posting a comment, and if you blog about it you can get a second entry. Have fun.

Life and Its Beginnings

2008-08-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

I usually don't rant about political issues but this one strikes a cord in my heart. I wasn't always pro-life. Before I never took the time to think about what "the right to choose" meant and when I did it changed my life. So you get to read what I have been thinking.

Here are quotations from an article I found on Catholic Online.

Bishops Correct Speaker Nancy Pelosi: 'On the Separation of Sense and State'

"...Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is a gifted public servant of strong convictions and many professional skills. Regrettably, knowledge of Catholic history and teaching does not seem to be one of them.

Interviewed on Meet the Press August 24, Speaker Pelosi was asked when human life begins. She said the following:

"I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time.And what I know is over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition . . . St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know. The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose." "

Ok if these quotations are correct. Nancy Pelosi is telling me that it doesn't matter if the unborn are human babies - we should give women the right to commit murder. "We" don't know so instead of erring on the side of caution let's just throw caution to the wind and err on the side of murder. How ridiculous does that sound to you? I mean, come on we are talking about life and death. Nancy Pelosi how can you be pro-abortion and Catholic? Isn't that just contradictory?

The article goes on to quote Jesuit John Connery's Abortion: The Development of the Roman Catholic Perspective (Loyola, 1977).

"The Christian tradition from the earliest days reveals a firm antiabortion attitude . . . The condemnation of abortion did not depend on and was not limited in any way by theories regarding the time of fetal animation. Even during the many centuries when Church penal and penitential practice was based on the theory of delayed animation, the condemnation of abortion was never affected by it.

"Whatever one would want to hold about the time of animation, or when the fetus became a human being in the strict sense of the term, abortion from the time of conception was considered wrong, and the time of animation was never looked on as a moral dividing line between permissible and impermissible abortion."

This is not or at least should not be an "issue" for Catholics. This is black and white. Catholics are pro-life.

A great article by Denver's Archbishop Charles J. Chaput: On Separation of Sense and State . (Great Title!)

The Midwife

2008-08-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

I would love to have my next child at home with this midwife. We just can't seem to get this kind of help here in America without forking over some major cash. I will, by the grace of God, have my next child at home in a pool of water.

Watch this video and be amazed ladies.

Make It Yourself Monday -

2008-08-25T08:21:00.001-07:00

Here we are again - another Monday. I hope the weekend went well for everyone. At our house we were catching up on some much needed sleep and trying to veg out as much as possible.

So on to Make It Yourself Monday. Since we did a recipe last Monday today we will try something crafty. I stumbled upon Craftbits.com. It is a great source for home-made projects that anyone can do. Today I am pulling off of their list and we are going to make Dammit Dolls. Since I don't have pictures of the dolls I have made and given away to someone in need - we will use theirs.

What you will need:

Calico or felt
Wool or doll hair
Toy filling or rice
Sewing machine or hand sew
Felt pens or embroidery thread

These dolls are great fun and a funny gift. They will help relieve the stress of your loved ones and put a smile back on their face in no time. You can squeeze, throw, or hit the doll to relieve all your worries.

1. Take your felt and draw a doll shape onto it - you can use the shape below. It doesn't have to be perfect. Now cut that shape out.

2. Hand sew or sew with a sewing machine the two pieces together. If you want to use rice - it would be best if you used a sewing machine so you don't have pieces of rice flying around. Leave a two inch opening somewhere so you can turn the doll inside out ( use a dull pencil or the end of scissors to get all the edges out)- or if you like the look of the stitching - leave as is.

3. Through the opening fill with - cotton balls, rice, doll stuffing, or a mixture of two. Something to give the doll shape and form. If you would like to add some dried lavender flowers that would be great so when you or your loved one is whacking the doll on the desk puffs of lavender will come out to help aid in your relaxation.

4. Now hand stitch the opening closed using a back stitch to ensure nothing will come out. Add some facial features, hair with yarn, clothes, a bow, or whatever kind of decorations you can think of and viola! You have yourself a Dammit Doll.

Insanity

2008-08-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com ---- Tushie Saver?

2008-08-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

So I ran into Amazon.com again. I go there periodically and cruise books that my husband or I would like to buy and discovered the "Subscribe and Save" option. You get free shipping and an extra %15 off. Is this a good idea? Do you really save? Now I want to go to my regular stores Fred Meyer, Safeway, and Albertson's and see if I will really save.

I am a coupon clipper and I love to get things nearly, if not, free. But when I do this I am not always able to get the products that I like. I have to 'go with what's on sale'. They have some great products on Amazon - Gluten Free Baby Cereal - Did you hear that sis? All sorts of things. I believe this might be beneficial to people like my sister, who lives in a major metropolitan city and hardly has anytime to rent a car, slap the little bubba in, and go shopping.

Best of all - you can change your shipment date, rearrange your shopping list, or cancel at anytime. So you could do it every now and then when you just can't make it out of the house - like new moms. Don't be like me and call your mother, while sitting on the pot and my husband is taking care of our newborn, asking her to bring you some T.P. because you just ran out. She went to Costco and bought in bulk to ensure my tushie wouldn't have to endure the roughage of paper towels.

Should I try it? Let me know if you do and how you like the service.

Giveaway!

2008-08-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Three beanz...and a sprout is having a cute giveaway. It seems she makes adorable items for babies and toddlers. Make sure you check out her blog and give her support.

The crowns would go great in any dress up box for the little munchkins to play king and queen for the day. Speaking of dressing up. I have decided that I will let my little munchkins dress up in dress up clothes whenever they want. Wouldn't it be cute to see little frogs and bears running around?

I personally love these little clips. I think they would look great on my daughter - if I could get anything to stay in her hair. She has this knack for ripping anything off her head .

FREE Sample of Post-it® Super Sticky Recycled Notes

2008-08-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

Get a free sample of Post -it notes here! Ok so it's only 10 pages but it's free and you can figure out whether you like them or not.

Make It Yourself Monday - Chicken Buk Choy Soup

2008-08-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am starting a weekly project. Every Monday I will post something online that you viewers can make yourself. It could be food, crafts, soaps, lotions, anything. I will start out simple and try to post easy instructions and when I can, post pictures.

Today's Make It Yourself Monday is about food. The weather is a little dreary today and I am not feeling all that great so I am going to make Chicken Buk Choy Soup. It is my favorite Asian Chicken Soup so far. It warms be up and tantalizes my taste buds. The base of this recipe comes from the book The Chinese Kitchen by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo. I have adjusted only a few things here for my family. If you are looking for a great Chinese cook book- this is the book to buy.

For the Marinade:
2 tpsns Soy sauce - I like Dark soy
2 tspns Oyster sauce
1 tspn Grated ginger mixed with 2 tspns gin
1 tspn Sesame oil
1 1/4 tspn Suger
1 tspn Salt
pinch of Ground pepper
1 tblspn Cornstarch

3/4 Lean skinless boneless chicken breasts cut into 2 inch strips
5 Cups Chicken Broth
One 1 -inch think slice of ginger smashed to release flavor
1 Bunch Bok Choy cleaned separated and cut into 1/4 slices
2 Tblspns peanut oil

In a large bowl combine the marinade ingredients and all chicken. Let sit for at least 15 minutes or longer

Place broth and ginger in large pot, cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add Buk Choy stalks, stir, and return to a boil. Lower heat to medium and cook 5 minutes until stalks become tender. Turn heat back up to high and add the leaves, stir, and return to a boil, cook for 2 more minutes. Add chicken and marinade, stir to separate slices. Return to a boil, add gin, and stir well. Add peanut oil, stir. Turn off the heat and stir. Serves 6

Bounce Awakening Free Sample!

2008-08-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

P&G is giving away a free sample of the dryer sheets. Just go to this site and fill it out. Simple. Who doesn't love free things? I haven't tried this brand yet but hey if it's free~

Jack and Lilly Shoe Giveaway~

2008-08-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Now Entering Momville is having a wonderful giveaway from Jack and Lilly. This is a great store with the cutest shoes. This lady finds the best stores. I love cruising her site and seeing what she has to say or offer.

My daughter already likes cute shoes so I think my husband is in trouble. This is a free chance to get a pair of shoes so hurry!

Get a Fmaily Fun Magazine Subscription for 1 Year Free!

2008-08-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Go here and fill out the form to get your free one year subscription thanks to Mimi's Jewel Box Of Tips!

Mountains of the Moon Giveaway!

2008-08-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

Now Entering Momville is having another fantastic giveaway. Mountains of the Moon will be giving away $30 towards any purchase. This is my favorite T and dress, although I would probably wear it with Jeans or something because I am not brave enough to wear anything this short anymore! The colors are great and it is eco friendly.

Plus I love this girls boots! I have always wanted to buy cowboy boots but never could find the right pair. I would wear them all the time.

Make sure you check out Now Entering Momville to get in on this giveaway.

Nature Made Liquid Softgel Sample

2008-08-14T15:11:00.001-07:00

Nature Made is still giving out a free 14 day sample of their softgel vitamins. You can chose your favorite out of 6 so hurry while supplies last.

T-Shirt Giveaway

2008-08-14T08:09:00.001-07:00

Now Entering Momville is having a Promom Couture giveaway. These T-Shirts have been on Oprah and are pretty cool. She will be giving away these two t-shirts so make sure to sign up in her comments section.

This giveaway sign up is until 8.18.08 so don't delay or you might forget.

My Daughter's Quilt

2008-08-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

I made my daughter, A, a quilt before she was born. Hopefully it is the first of many. My husband and I didn't want to find out the sex of our child before she came so I was actually trying to make a neutral quilt. It came out a little more feminine than I hoped but I love it still. Eventually I will stitch on all the names of our children and their birth dates.

When she gets a little bigger I will make another one that is more girly to fit her big girl bed. I have dreams of being old and opening our blanket chest to look at all of the quilts I made for our children over the years. Then they will be able to pass them on to their children. Another dream is to take a quilt and lay out in the grass and have a picnic while my husband reads a book aloud with my head in his lap and the children either listening or playing nearby.

Now my sister is going to make a quilt for her little boy and I am on the look out for blogging websites and info for the both of us.
Any suggestions would be great and helpful in our quest.

Wedgies Free Wednesday!

2008-08-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hanes has a sweeps every Wednesday. Just go to their site and sign up by every Wednesday for a free pair of underwear. I have yet to win but I have heard from a ton of people that do win. Why not give it a shot once a week to put your name in for free panties?

Sherbet Blossom's Daily Giveaway

2008-08-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

Sherbet Blossom is having another great giveaway from Farmhouse Wares. She will be giving away Lavander Dish Soap. I would love to decorate my house house with the goods from this store if money weren't a problem and since I don't live in the country on a farm like I would like to - I will have to dream about it by going through this store and looking at all the pretty things. I hope you enjoy this store as much as a I do.

Free Medela BPA Free Bottle!

2008-08-12T11:13:00.001-07:00

An opportunity to receive a free Medela Bottle. Medela is giving out bottles promoting their BPA free bottles. This is a great opportunity especially if you have the Medela Breast Pump because these bottles attach to the pump directly and then can go in the fridge or directly to your baby!

I am a big fan of Medela. A friend gave me her old breast pump from 9 years ago and it still works like a champ. I have no worries about all the current and upcoming products because they all fit!

My latest Creation

2008-08-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Here is the elephant doll I made for A this weekend. It was pretty easy to put together - I just grabbed two socks out of my drawer and started sewing.

I plan to make a whole bunch of animals from socks and gloves. There will be a couple monkeys - some of you might remember sock monkeys - a couple of puppies, fish, a horse, a pig, and a few bunnies.

Now all I have to do is shop for cute socks and gloves to make these critters. Next time I will post the step by step process so you will be able to follow along and make your own!

John Edwards...

2008-08-08T12:37:00.001-07:00

Have you seen this? John Edwards admits to having an affair with Rielle Hunter but said that he did not love her. Does it matter? ....I think it is worse that he admitted to the public to not loving her. Why couldn't he have just said - I did it, I am sorry, it won't happen again. Now if he was truly madly deeply in love then it would be appropriate to say - I did it, I am sorry, but I am truly in love with this woman.

He is essentially admitting that he was succumbing to his most primitive and animalistic desire. If he can't control his loins why would we want him to control anything else?

Fish Pedicure

2008-08-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Guess what is happening in D.C.? Fish nibbling off the dead skin on your feet. Check this out if you live in the area. I have never heard of it and doubt I would pay the money to have it done but it seems a little interesting.

My Favorite T

2008-08-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

This was and still is my favorite t-shirt. It's just too bad I can't fit into it anymore. This shirt reminds me of romantic times with my hubby the day after we got engaged driving across country.

Ever since I had a baby I haven't been able to fit into it. My boobs jumped from a B-cup to a D-cup and not to mention the muffin top that I have been sporting for the last 10 months. I am not upset - I love having my daughter and God willing I will have many more children - I just miss wearing it and hate the thought of doing 100 crunches a day to be able to wear it again. I'm guessing my boobs will go down in size once I stop nursing but I heard that that info isn't a guarantee. Is there a way to expand this shirt without making it look cheesy or should I just put it in a chest and save it for my little girl to wear when she gets older and into my skinny clothes?

Music Play List

2008-08-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

I have just added a playlist to my blog. Now I know it is a jumble of songs but as this blog grows so will my playlist. These are only a few of what is in my music library.

The Drop Kick Murphy's 'I'm Shipping Up to Boston' reminds me of the adventures I took out on the open sea - there's nothing better than a fresh splash of salt water in the face in the morn.

If you don't feel like listening to the Murphy's you can just scroll to the bottom of the page and either change the song or turn it off.

Elliot Luca Purse Giveaway

2008-08-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Now Entering Momville is having a Elliot Luca giveaway. Make sure to check out her fresh and funky blog and try to get in to get this purse. Hurry because it ends tomorrow! You can click to her link in my Blog Roll!

Brideshead Revisited

2008-08-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

Brideshead Revisited, a wonderful book by Evelyn Waugh, was introduced to me about 3 or 4 years ago by dear friends who professed to reading the book at least once a year and every time they read it, they discovered something new about the book that they hadn't the previous year. I have read it twice and watched the series with Jeremy Irons. Now they are coming out with a new version of the movie with Emma Thompson - of whom I am a fan but my gut is telling me something about this 'new' movie. I don't think I want to see it. The producers will probably just sex the movie up and vomit it out for the rest of us to see and then we be able to make authoritative comments about the book as if we have read it.

If and when I get bored enough and have the opportunity to see the movie by using a free rental, I will then post my comments about how either right or wrong I was.

If you happen to see the movie please tell me if I should go out and see it.

Latin Links

2008-08-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am in love with anything Latin. SO I am always searching for different study aids to keep up with the Latin that I have learned. Here are some great links I have found . Enjoy!

Never Let Me Go

2008-08-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

Kazuo Ishiguro's brilliantly disturbing new book Never Let Me Go has blown me away. I can't stop thinking about this story and how our future, if we are not careful, could be. I don't want to reveal too much because that would ruin the story but this book brings up some major bio-ethical issues that just break my heart.

I would recommend this book to everyone - especially my older sis. It is a quick and easy read that captures your full attention and breaks your heart in the end. I pray to God - that this isn't happening already.

Give Away!

2008-08-06T09:36:00.001-07:00

Sherbet Blossom Studio is having the cutest give away. Make sure you check out her blog and sign up for the latest give away!

I thought about making something like this when my daughter was born. I have a ton of these ideas and never go with it. Maybe I should start and try to sell them through this blog. I am going to start hand making dolls - after I get one made. I will post a picture!

2008-07-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

The Saint Song

2008-07-29T20:13:00.001-07:00

Thrifty Finds

2008-07-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a treasure I found at a thrift store. Me loving all things Latin scooped it up for a mere $6! Now I have been told by a certain friend that this runs at around $100-$300 so I am really happy. If you click on the picture you will be able to see the picture close up. I really didn't want to take the picture down because it is pretty heavy.

I believe the title is Votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary. I took it to my Latin professor and we translated it awhile ago. I can, if requested, translate it for you.

Home Made

2008-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

I really want our family to make our Christmas presents for each other and not to buy them. I believe that making our presents will put a lot of heart felt thought and time into them and we can only do one thing for each person. So I made this for my husband last year and it is a wood burning picture with a Latin prayer underneath. My second shot at wood burning. It still is not finished - I have wanted to stain the picture but have been told by several people that I should leave it like it is. What do you think?

I am not sure what to make this year for my Beloved or my daughter. Any suggestions? I could use a few!

On the Play Ground

2008-07-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

My husband and daughter at our local play area. I just love to see her smile!

Posing

2008-07-29T08:54:00.001-07:00

My daughter about 4 months ago - I think she likes the camera.

Total Solar Eclipse to Occur on August 1, 2008

2008-07-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

Those who have been waiting two years for a total solar eclipse of the sun can rejoice when the next one occurs on August 1, 2008. The path of the moon's umbral shadow begins in Canada and extends across northern Greenland, the Arctic region, central Russia, Mongolia, and China. A partial eclipse will be seen within the broader path of the moon's penumbral (partially shaded outer region) shadow, which includes northeastern North America, most of Europe, the Middle East and western parts of Asia.

This illustration is not to scale and shows a general total solar eclipse, not the August 2008 eclipse.

The longest duration of the solar eclipse’s totality will occur in Russia and last for about two minutes and 27 seconds at about 10:22 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on this day. Total solar eclipses happen about once every 1.5 years. Shadow bands are often seen on the ground as totality approaches.

Traveling with the Solar Eclipse in August 2008

According to Philip Harrington, the author of Eclipse! The What, Where, When, Why & How Guide to Watching Solar and Lunar Eclipses, the total solar eclipse will begin in Canada and finish in north-central China. An umbra refers to the fully shaded inner region of a shadow, especially the area on the earth or moon experiencing totality in an eclipse. The moon’s umbra is first cast on earth in the far northern corner of the Northwest Territories in Canada. Though the central shadow narrowly misses Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island and Resolute on Cornwallis Island, its edge just nips the town of Alert on Ellesmere Island, giving residents 40 seconds of early morning totality.

Cross the Atlantic north, the eclipse’s path skips across Greenland’s northernmost coast and comes within about 720 kilometers (450 miles) of the North Pole before heading southward toward more moderate climes. Totality of the eclipse passes by Svalbard in Norway and touches Russia’s Franz Josef Land island group before cutting across Novaya Zemlya on its way to mainland Asia.

The umbra first touches the Russian coast of the Yamal Peninsula. The solar eclipse occurs closer to the inland, producing about two minutes and 27 seconds of totality and reaches near the town of Nadym, inland from the boot shaped Gulf of Obskaja. Continuing to hook towards the southeast, the central path passes near Novosibirsk where totality lasts about two minutes and 18 seconds. The path then enters western Mongolia, with the towns of Olgij and Bulgan seeing about two minutes of a total eclipse. A total eclipse then occurs in north-central China before leaving earth just north of the cities of Lanzhou and Xian. A partial eclipse will be seen throughout northeastern North America, most of Europe, the Middle East and western parts of Asia.

How Does a Total Solar Eclipse Work?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely covers the sun, as seen from earth. Total solar eclipses happen because the sun is near one of the nodes of the lunar orbit, and the moon is at perigee (the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth) at this node at the same time.

During totality the photosphere, a blindingly bright surface of the sun that is visible on a sunny day, is hidden and allows other normally invisible features of the sun to be seen. Surrounding the photosphere is a thin, deep red layer of the sun called the chromosphere. Measuring a few thousand kilometers thick, the chromosphere is seen for only a few seconds at the beginning and end of totality. Flame-like prominences from behind the moon’s silhouette stretch for thousands of kilometers into space. The white corona encircles the eclipsed sun and extends the sun’s diameter several times.

Timing and location are important to view a total solar eclipse. By the time it reaches earth, the moon’s umbra is about 270 kilometers (170 miles) across at its widest so a chance that the umbral shadow passes over at a particular spot is slim. A total solar eclipse at one given point on earth occurs on average only once in about 360 years.

The sun’s diameter is about 1,392,000 kilometers (844,900 miles) and the moon’s diameter is about 3476 kilometers (2160 miles) in comparison. This works out to be a ratio of approximately 400 to one – the sun is about 400 times larger in diameter than the moon. At the same time, the sun is about 149,600,000 kilometers (93,000,000 miles) from earth while the moon is 384,500 kilometers (240,000 miles) away. As a result, the moon and sun each appear the same size in the sky – about half a degree. When a solar eclipse occurs, the moon appears to cover the sun’s surface while exposing the sun’s normally invisible chromospheres. An eclipse’s duration is longer if the moon-to-sun ratio is greater.

Interesting Fact

Totality of a solar eclipse can last about seven minutes and 31 seconds but these eclipses are rare. It is predicted that totality during the solar eclipse will last for seven minutes and 14 seconds in the year 2150, which is longer than any total solar eclipse since the ninth century AD. A period of totality is normally shorter than five minutes.

Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber Kit

2008-07-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

If you collect the Smart Source coupons from Sunday papers you might have picked up the full rebate for the Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber Kit. Well - I did and I am going to use this coupon at the register to save even more. I've always wanted to try this but didn't want to spend the cash - here is my free chance. Hope you enjoy it.

Soy Foods Linked To Lower Sperm Count, Male Infertility

2008-07-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Yikes! No more tofu for my husband.

July 25, 2008

A new study published in the journal Human Reproductioin has shown that soy foods have been linked to a lower sperm count, and male infertility..Washington (ChattahBox) - A new study published in the journal Human Reproductioin has shown that soy foods have been linked to a lower sperm count, and male infertility.

The study was carried out at the Harvard School of Public Health, and looked at the diets of 99 men in total, with all attending a fertility clinic to have their sperm tested.

The men were split into four groups depending on the amount of soy foods they consumed. What they found was that there was a major difference in sperm concentration in regards to men who consumed high amounts of soy, to low amounts of soy.

This led to the conclusion that eating soy foods caused a reduced sperm count, and male infertility.

Scientisits believe that this effect was seen because of chemicals in soy known as isoflavones.

The beginnings of The Old Battle Axe

2008-07-25T10:46:00.001-07:00

So...I think I will start blogging about the goings on of an Old Battle Axe. What say you?