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Menu for a Blustery Solstice
We missed the lunar eclipse, hunkered, as we were, against a storm that included/includes 90 km/hr winds. I was up battening hatches at 4 o’clock this morning. This will continue for at least the next two days, apparently. There will be no white Christmas here. Hopefully our missing flock member will manage to make his…
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Christmas Present Traps
I am facing the challenge of living up to my claims of simplicity. Also, to my desire not to break the budget. It is ssssssooooooo easy to fall into the “Oh! But I don’t have enough!” trap. It is particularly challenging when you spent a significant portion of the budget on bed construction three weeks…
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Traditions: Does Rebellion Count?
Welcome to the December Carnival of Natural Parenting: Let’s Talk Traditions This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants. *** Our approach to traditions has been…
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Can Knitting Save the World?
I said to my husband one night, “Do you know why I started knitting?” He allowed as how he didn’t. I said, “Because everybody else was doing it.” He (understandably) expressed some surprise. Usually I have much better reasons for my activities. At the time (some months ago) I wasn’t even convinced that I actually…
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Remembering Montreal
Hélène Colgan, 23; Nathalie Croteau, 23; Barbara Daigneault, 22; Anne-Marie Edward, 21; Maud Haviernick, 29; Barbara Maria Klucznik, 31; Maryse Leclair, 23; Annie St.-Arneault, 23; Michèle Richard, 21; Maryse Laganière, 25; Anne-Marie Lemay, 22; Sonia Pelletier, 28; and Annie Turcotte, aged 21. In 1989, on December 6, a gunman executed 14 female engineering students at…
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Mama Wants a Table Saw
On Friday, I built my son a new bed. Mostly. This is the semi-room that we refer to as “The Nook”. It is a 7’2″ by 7’3″ alcove off the main hallway. We suspect that it held a TV at some point before we lived here, since there is still a co-axial cable running through…
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Better Music for the Kids!
I am not getting paid for this, I just like fellow musical parents to have some better options. Let’s be honest here. Most music sold to children sucks. I have begged and pleaded with my parents not to purchase “music” that doesn’t have an actual performer, or claims a corporation as its writer. (Yes, I’m…
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Book Review: Modern Top-Down Knitting
I love, I love, I love this book. I covet everything in it. The descriptions of the techniques are detailed, the patterns are gorgeous, and the clothes are up-to-the-minute and stylin’. Also, her sizes go from XS to XXL, and my 40″ bust puts me somewhere in the middle, so these are going to work…
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My Day of Not-Writing
Wednesdays are supposed to be writing days, but this week went differently. Today, instead of writing, I took my partner to be discharged from the oncologist because he’s been cancer-free for two years (yay!) Best doctor ever, BTW, and not just because of the good news. It’s been an odd journey, because I’ve felt like…
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I Would Never Have the Patience
I am easily bored. And distracted. And… oh, sorry. What was I saying? I think a cat wandered by the window. Anyway, I think of myself as a person without much patience, tending to want instant results, unwilling to put in the time. I suspect that some of you who have known me for a…