| Come on Over |
Hi, the private blog is not longer private - so if you were too shy to ask me to invite you or if I didn't invite you cause you drowned in my inbox and I lost you, well no problem.
follow the link:
hummingbirdsong1.blogspot.com
Welcome. |
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| You're Invited |
to the new blog. I'm switching over. Please email me - aimeeodegard(at)gmail(dot)com (oh, and I don't really know why I did the "at" and "dot' that way, but I've seen other computer savvy people do it, and thought maybe it has to do with spam, and I don't want spam) to let me know if you want to keep reading - of course if you've already responded to the invitation earlier then you're good to go. If you have emailed me and didn't get your official invite, please try again, I'm not the most organized person and probably lost you in the inbox. It is important that you don't just respond in the comments because I need your email address to send you the invite. So come on over! www.hummingbirdsong1.blogspot.com --okay, okay I know, not original at all. When I set it up I thought I'd change it later, but now it's set, so oh well.
See you there.
Aimee |
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| gather up the fragments |
I've been inspired by all the entries Mama Squirrel (Dewey's Treehouse) makes about using what you have in your pantry. Looking ahead to our move (which is coming towards us on the calendar at breakneck speed) I have been trying to use up what we have. The breakfast cookies, which I made another variation of today, are great for using up ends of dry good - today I added a multigrain oatmeal type cereal and they tasted great. I am also trying to get better at using up leftover food. Lance is not a fan of leftovers, so sometimes I'll eat the same thing for three/four meals in a row. But, if I can reinvent the leftovers they go down a lot easier for everyone.
Last week Odegards and McHan's came over and we had some delicious roasted (BBQed) potatoes with red peppers and carrots. There were a lot leftover so the next night (having recently got this idea from linking to a blog through Merchant Ships) I made a frittata. It was delicious - actually the best I've made, and no recipe needed.
Last night we had what I jokingly called "Steak scrap Fajitas" - which is really what they were. I had saved steak from nights where we couldn't polish it all off, frozen it, and was waiting for a brainwave for how to use it. So fajitas it was. Now we have more leftovers, I had panfried peppers, onions and the steak, so now I have this veggie/meat mixture...so tonight, frittata again!
Lots more to write, but naptime is approaching, and we ALL need it.
aimee |
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| connectedness |
“I’ve come to believe that the consumer culture is like a virus- it enters where the bonds of community have been broken. Needs are perceived as reasons to consume rather than as reasons to connect with others. Money becomes the glue holding together a society that has lost its integrity. Assumptions of solidarity, equity and cooperation are becoming as quaint as the horse and buggy. Material downshifting, then, can make room for “upshifting” connectedness. Frugality isn’t the end goal, it’s the means. One by-product of simplifying is having the time to engage in the arts of caring- communication, meals together, touch, having good parties, remembering birthdays, clearing up misunderstandings, empathy, patience, and on and on- and this is the biggest antidote to overspending. So consciously building nourishing relationships… is a way to unwind the ropes that entangle you in debt, insecurity, job boredom and fear of the economy.”
from the preface of “Your Money Or Your Life,” by Joe Dominguez & Vicki Robin
This quote was recently discussed on Frugal Hacks. I think the authors are really on to something. Check out the Frugal Hacks post for practical ways to emphasize connection over consuming.
What are your thoughts? Any other ways to connect rather than consume? |
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| warm cookies |
right now I'm enjoying a fresh from the oven "Breakfast Cookie". I adapted a Canadian living recipe that Mama Squirrel at Dewey's Treehouse also adapted. Delicious. I used Apple Juice concentrate instead of honey. Less fruit - just dates and raisins. Almonds instead of walnuts. Considered adding pumpkin seeds, but upon tasting them it was clear they have lingered in my pantry far too long. Same goes for the Muslix cereal I thought would go well in these cookies...yuck, not a long shelf life there, must mean not many preservatives, that's good, I'll remember for next time. Also we only had multigrain Cheerios so the cookies are a little sweeter because of it - a treat for me.
Lance and I just enjoyed the film - "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". It's French with subtitles. It's stunningly beautiful. Extremely creative. Humorous, honest and hopeful. Based on a memoir written by a man with "locked-in" syndrome. Only able to blink one eye, yet completely coherent and intelligent. You can search for reviews if you'd like, just know it comes highly recommended from us.
Packing has begun and we alternate between thinking the job is not too big and wondering how we'll get it done.
Haven't got the pictures off the camera yet so birthday posts will wait.
Potty training is going REALLY well. Yesterday Eva wore the same panties ALL DAY! She even asked to go potty a couple times and waited till we made it there before going. I think she is catching on. I still find it stressful to be on guard watching for signs of pre-peeing and constantly (it seems) asking her to come to the potty. Elijah has sat on the potty a couple times, nothing yet, and we're not planning on starting with him in earnest any time soon. But if he wants to sit now and again that's fine.
Well I have a little girl who is looking at me saying, "You all done? You all done." So I think I better go.
Hope you are all well.
Aimee
ps. I have granola in the oven. This is a big day for me. I have been needing to restock the granola supply for a week and wanting to make the cookies for even longer. Thanks to Franklin and his animated friends I had some time to finally get these recipes made today. |
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| Thanks |
Hey guys, thanks for all the advice and kind thoughts and prayers. I really appreciate. Quick update, I'm on my way to have a nap (after cleaning up a little girl who likes to strip). We tried the inside out sleeper and I was all ready to report that it was a success. Until I found her naked this morning. Shoot. Will probably keep trying that since it did seem to slow her down. Also trying overalls. Yeah, doesn't really sound comfy, but she doesn't seem bothered. Potty training is going good I guess. There are lots of times she says "Potty" while simultaneously peeing, but I consider that hopefully. Today she said potty and then sat on the potty for quite awhile before pooping and peeing - too much detail for you? I was very excited as it seems that she is learning what it feels like BEFORE she pees/poops. I am finding it stressful though. Hoping it won't be a super long process, actually hoping it will be super short!
We are coming off a week of intense socialization. I think we've had some sort of gathering 6 out of 8 nights and sometimes things during the days too. It has all been good, but I think a little too concentrated. We are trying to reclaim our home (not to mention PACKING!) I have mountains of laundry - both clean and dirty - to deal with.
Rain. It has been raining and thundershowering for days. And we had a wild hailstorm on Saturday. My perennial garden is ravaged. Pictures of the hail and my husband in it to follow.
Birthdays. Mine - details to come. Twins - details to come. In short both were great. Good friends, good food, special gifts.
Baby. This is one wiggly baby. I am enjoying feeling this little one's movements.
That's all for now. goodnight.
aimee |
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| Wit's Beginning? Wit's start? |
Is there such a thing? I've spent so long at the end that I can't remember there being a beginning.
There are FIVE crib sheets, one mattress pad and multiple blankets in the washing machine right now. To make do in the meantime a twin sheet has been wrapped around Eva's crib mattress and a thick blanket laid overtop Elijah's wet sheet from last night (he keeps his diaper on, but wets so heavily that it leaks). Have I mentioned how much I hate changing sheets? I would rather wash toilets... well I did that today too and it's not much better.
I couldn't find the duct tape to keep that diaper on. So I'm just gonna leave her and she can remove it at will, could she have any more pee left? I need a rest. Already cleaned up a pooped on sheet this morning...hoping she's out of that too.
There will be a post to come about the fact that it is Elijah and Eva's second birthday today. And though there have been many lovely parts of today already - and more to come - I'm not exactly in that space right now. And today I'm not laughing about it either.
Prayers appreciated. aimee |
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posted by Aimee at