tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948122519349895022024-03-13T13:48:55.127-07:00Source: SaraInformation generated by my lifeSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.comBlogger443125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-3962716068581663992014-04-26T19:21:00.002-07:002014-04-26T19:21:57.718-07:00New digsHi all,<br />
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I've moved over to <a href="http://sara.barnacle.org/">new digs</a> at tumblr. Come see me there and update your RSS feeds! I've got a giant new project in the works and hope to share my many adventures with you.<br />
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Sara<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-70810837557777609062014-03-06T21:48:00.000-08:002014-03-06T21:48:17.543-08:00Paper Purging<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got the cutest help with my piles!</td></tr>
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In October, I took on the commitment to get clear about our finances and get everything in order. Because after 17 years we hadn't exactly figured this out for ourselves, I hired a GREAT finance coach to help me find our way. Though I have been following <a href="http://www.seattlemoneycoach.com/">Mikelann Valterra's blog</a> for over a year, it took a friend<br />
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wondering if working with a coach might help me in my quest to prompt me to call and set up an appointment. Step by step, her knowledge and experience is moving us towards the understanding we want and need. <br />
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Last week, the exhilarating by-product of seeing where we are at included paperwork purging. I threw out 5 large bins of paper. We're now down to one file drawer, all our past taxes info in one place with a tidy folder waiting for Bill and me to take a first stab at this year's taxes. My favorite part? the complete elimination of paper avalanche potential!<br />
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Here is <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/5-steps-to-simpler-record-keeping-10000000688976/index.html">the article</a> Mikelann shared with me about what to keep and what/when to dump that started the cleaning frenzy. Maybe you'll find it inspiring, too.<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-73972791054300847682014-03-01T10:51:00.001-08:002014-03-01T10:51:42.742-08:00Why I am excited about grey hair and menopauseI love my grey hairs because for me each of them is a Badge of Courage. Each course hair testifies to one the many hard, sad, stressful or traumatic days and events I have survived. The resilience developed from scraping through those days and grieving the hard parts of life moves me towards the healthy, thriving woman I want to be. Woe to the hairdresser who suggests coloring them for a "younger" look!<br />
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A post of one of the new blogs I'm enjoying, <a href="http://www.paleoforwomen.com/">Paleo for Women</a>, explores why grandmothers are important to the health of the human species. It deeply resonated with my own thoughts on aging and community. "Why grandmothers kick ass" provides inspiring thoughts for those of us in our premenopausal age!<br />
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Give it a read here: http://www.paleoforwomen.com/if-reproduction-is-what-livings-all-about-why-does-it-stop/.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-74877081795907691302013-10-30T10:38:00.001-07:002013-10-30T10:38:23.586-07:00Paleo truthsOh, never a truer word was spoken:<br />
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http://whatshouldwecallpaleolife.tumblr.com/post/60364316712/true-confessions<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-76305188802702486812013-07-23T16:42:00.000-07:002013-07-23T16:42:14.266-07:00Passing of Glenn DomanThis spring the man originally responsible for my becoming a developmentalist passed away.<br />
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Glenn Doman was one of the pioneers of the neurodevelopmental model of treating children. Through his intensive courses I found answers for the questions no-one else would listen to. Through his passionate disciples I found support, programs and hope for my child who was hurt and stuck. Through his deep belief in mothers I found the drive to become the parent my children need.<br />
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Thanks, Mr. Doman, for your commitment and vision. It has forever changed my family's world for the better.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Remembering Glenn Doman</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Glenn
Doman often said that mothers are the best teachers the world has ever
seen, and the parents that he inspired and taught continue to prove that
each day. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Champion of every child on earth, he never gave up on any child, and his dream of better kids for a better world lives on.</span></div>
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<span>When Glenn founded
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in 1955, he was a
young physical therapist who, as an infantryman, had led his men
through World War II. He had seen men destroyed on the battlefield and
set about to save people. At this point, Glenn had begun to formulate
the groundbreaking concept that brain injury is in the brain-not the
arm, leg, or foot-and that brain growth and development is dynamic and
ever-changing, a concept broadly accepted today as neuroplasticity.</span></div>
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<span>Sitting on his
mother's lap, Glenn learned to read before he went to school. His
philosophy of learning was shaped by love and nurturing, and he always
remembered that mothers were the key to the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Gentle-Revolutionary---Remembering-Glenn.html?soid=1102207047418&aid=Ho_3OiFHomU">read the whole obituary here</a></span></span></div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-81651961706186713502013-06-10T14:32:00.002-07:002013-06-10T14:32:41.699-07:00Coming Up for AirWe're just back from a family trip to New York City. Meeting Bill at the end of a conference, we spent 5 days exploring the city and exposing the kids to his childhood world.<br />
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Highlights for the kids included both FAO Schwartz and Toys R Us, the huge toy stores. An exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum of El Anatsui's Gravity and Grace show intrigued and moved me. Bills says taking the kids to FAO Schwartz and walking across the Brooklyn Bridge rated high in his experiences.<br />
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Weirdly, in the middle of some crowded subway somewhere along the way, I was struck with the sudden knowledge that there was one thing I could do to make my family's life more smooth and comfortable: return to my habit of weekly meal planning. <br />
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For years meal planning grounded my week. I'd spend an hour Sunday writing down a menu and the associated shopping list, doubled checked against the family's schedule for the week. Monday, we'd trek to the grocery store, list in hand. I can't remember why I started making menus or when and why I stopped. What I do know is that the ease of checking the menu for the next day before heading to bed releases me from tons of stress - the need to figure out what to cook on the fly, the hassle of realizing the dish I figured I'd make on Wednesday can't work out because I forgot about soccer practice. It saves us money and time, many fewer last minute runs to the store, fewer wasted items that slink to the back of the fridge because they were purchased without a plan, and fewer excuses to order take out because no adult can figure out what to cook. And of course, healthier more balanced meals get consumed when my clear-thinking parts drew up the menu instead of just slapping something onto the table.<br />
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In the past, I've written up a full plan for 3 meals a day plus snacks. As I ease back into this and build up my muscles, I've started with just lunch and dinner as breakfasts are pretty standard around here and I just don't have it in me to figure out snacks. Maybe next week?<br />
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For lunches this week we'll be eating: kielbasa and kraut with sweet potato chips, smothered pork chops with kale chips, pork medallions with smashed sweet potatoes, left overs. I ran out of steam, so we'll see what the weekend holds.<br />
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For dinners: seared tuna, crockpot chicken tikka masala, fried chicken nuggets, cross rib roast with veggies, left over roast fajitas, roast salad.<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-12431354962180546692013-04-19T19:41:00.000-07:002013-04-19T19:41:00.484-07:00What's on the Coffee Table NowA quick glance at the coffee table entertained me for its sheer range this evening. Everyone's been on the couch read and then piling their books on the table when they head off for more.<br />
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Here they are starting from the one closest to my lazy, propped up feet:<br />
- <i>Toward The Fullness of Life: The Fullness of Love</i> by Arnaud Desjardins (spiritually, relationships - Sara)<br />
- <i>Gladiator: the Roman Fighter Unofficial Manual</i> by Philip Matyszak (history, Theo)<br />
- <i>Magic Zero: Dragon Secrets</i> by Thomas E. Sniegosky and Christopher Golden (fantasy, Theo)<br />
- <i>Mrs. Piggle Wiggle</i> by Betty MacDonald (fiction, Rosie and Theo)<br />
- <i>Agatha H and the Clockwork Princess</i> by Phil and Kaja Foglio (audio book, steampunk, Theo)<br />
- <i>The Art of War</i> by Sun Tzu (history, Theo)<br />
- <i>When Life Gives You OJ</i> by Erica S. Pearl (audiobook, fiction, Rosie)<br />
- Twenty Poems to Bless Your Marriage and One To Save It by Roger Housden (spirituality, relationships, poetry - Sara)Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-56946127156947112852013-04-16T19:28:00.000-07:002013-04-16T19:28:22.448-07:00Soccer MomPretty quiet over here in Sarablogland for the moment. However, I did write for the <a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/">Seattle Neufeld Community</a> blog this week. Let me know what you think.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Soccer Mom</span></b></div>
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My 12 year old son Theo can’t get enough soccer this year. He plays for a select team which practices twice a week, plus at least one game per weekend. Since September he’s also had weekly one-on-one lessons with a coach he admires and likes. Over the cold rainy winter, Theo participated in the local indoor soccer league to keep his foot in the game. </div>
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This spring break season, I find that I have agreed to thre<a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/gWD4IWMmXpeWjiGNIgLzn7iXXO8KElrXS9dXO_AJACM.jpeg" style="border: 0px; color: #f67941; font: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="gWD4IWMmXpeWjiGNIgLzn7iXXO8KElrXS9dXO_AJACM" class="size-medium wp-image-123281 alignleft" height="300" src="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/gWD4IWMmXpeWjiGNIgLzn7iXXO8KElrXS9dXO_AJACM-187x300.jpeg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-out; border: 1px solid rgb(223, 223, 223); float: left; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px 20px 15px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="187" /></a>e weeks of soccer camp in a row – one of the possibilities of being home schoolers is moving our school work to the afternoon to accommodate mornings of scrimmages, hilarious drills, and skill building games.</div>
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For all this time spent on the turf, Theo’s not a top player. He’s not at the bottom, just somewhere near the middle. Currently his visions for adult life start out as a professional soccer player. Once he gets “too old” to continue in pro soccer and is forced to retire, he plans to shift careers to work as an engineer and start a family.</div>
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Besides driving him all over town, paying for his various soccer pursuits and gear, and adding skills practice to his daily homeschool routine, I’ve watched his passion and wondered how else I can support him to become the player he dreams of. Standing on the sidelines during the final game of the spring season, I listened to some of the team’s best players talk while they waited their turn to go back on the field. I found myself surprised by unexpected insight into what was needed. <a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/2013/04/15/soccer-mom/" style="background-color: transparent;">Read the rest of the post here.</a></div>
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-27924302172383151162013-02-05T08:00:00.000-08:002013-02-05T08:00:06.782-08:00Mattering Most Means Frustrating Most<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi all,</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cross posted from <a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/">Seattle Neufeld Community</a> blog. I hope you like the post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We get most frustrated at the people we love the most because of course those are the ones we want to make it work with.” (Common Challenges, Session 5, 34:12)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the moment, I’m watching Neufeld’s Common Challenges course from the Power to Parent series. This quote about who frustrates us really caught my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gordon goes on to give this lovely example of validating and normalizing a child’s frustration with their parent. “That’s why mommies are the ones everyone gets frustrated with the most. They’re the ones that are supposed to be the answer to life. They fix everything.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/2013/01/21/mattering-most-means-frustrating-most/">read more...</a></div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-7114463432641472412013-02-04T09:00:00.000-08:002013-02-04T09:00:04.182-08:00Mason Monday: Party DogReally, we have a VERY nice dog. Give him a blinky ball and he'll boogie with the best of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpfYye7Q_Nq27WODKxoeQ7QAcWgHb_OmvGHGUE8Hi9XeXymOxLs-vGqSG6Cz-GrjgUZSm-S8Pu5Z3wonByeIRvg5K4DCXdKCTmK3XMzl_VleukJV0sWVYazEpV00qLX1erJbq51wJKVhN/s1600/IMG_3249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpfYye7Q_Nq27WODKxoeQ7QAcWgHb_OmvGHGUE8Hi9XeXymOxLs-vGqSG6Cz-GrjgUZSm-S8Pu5Z3wonByeIRvg5K4DCXdKCTmK3XMzl_VleukJV0sWVYazEpV00qLX1erJbq51wJKVhN/s320/IMG_3249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-54114908628900767332013-01-30T15:00:00.000-08:002013-01-30T14:57:32.957-08:00Fetching in the Rain is So Much Fun<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V9Q7x6PbkIIyT0L89Zx3ouKeTEKbdXyJ-Rkounrgnzu_imWoOYogNAAYYx4jgVCEmCeWSEqJBFCkYDYUg0lvlTRxwoDEvopDKqFv0RxBesE_FKpwiI-1GfLzGOowDFFxxAsJAy287VdC/s1600/IMG_3245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V9Q7x6PbkIIyT0L89Zx3ouKeTEKbdXyJ-Rkounrgnzu_imWoOYogNAAYYx4jgVCEmCeWSEqJBFCkYDYUg0lvlTRxwoDEvopDKqFv0RxBesE_FKpwiI-1GfLzGOowDFFxxAsJAy287VdC/s400/IMG_3245.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason, in all his glory</td></tr>
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Because mud just makes everything better.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-31485872776872774962013-01-29T10:10:00.000-08:002013-01-29T10:10:00.597-08:00Focus frustrationI've experienced huge amounts of frustration with my own blog writing recently. Posting here is a delightful way to share what I'm thinking and learning about, and it is a great way for me to see and track my own growth over the years.<br />
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However, what I learn and think most about is barely showing up in my writing here - developmental attachment and our growth to our full human potential. In pondering my frustration with myself, I've been watching what drives my writing and posts here. It turns out, I spend huge amounts of time elsewhere writing about what I know and am learning via the Neufeld paradigm. I think this means when I come here, I've essentually used up that part of my brain - I'm out of gas. The blog becomes a place to share all the other fun stuff in my day.<br />
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Knowing this hasn't given me any answers - I can't really stop writing there to write here, and I can't push myself to do more when I'm used up. It does have me thinking about my frustrations in a different light. I'm still in the process of seeing how I spend my time and energy, and I'm sure I'll come up with a solution that delights me - at some point.<br />
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In the meantime, thanks so much for sharing in my adventures.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-80499769591947199042013-01-27T09:57:00.000-08:002013-01-27T09:57:00.082-08:00I'm Elmo and I Know ItIn our early dating, one of the shared interests Bill and I discovered is our tendency to take songs and create our own words for them. This has become a family past time, and youtube is full of inspiration.<br />
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My favorite right now is a take-off on "I'm sexy and I know it." Check out Elmo!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/50loegMWhzM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-3365566620972890162013-01-26T09:46:00.000-08:002013-01-26T09:46:06.138-08:00Absurdist Quinoa<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whitemountainfarm.com/_borders/quinoa2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.whitemountainfarm.com/_borders/quinoa2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quinoa field image from whitemountainfarm.com</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My college years were spent at the University of Puget Sound earning a degree in French Language and Literature. During my senior year, I became fixated on the existential theories of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Paul_Sartre">Jean-Paul Sartre</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Camus">Albert Camus</a>. In particular, my 21 year old brain and life understanding was captured by the idea of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism">absurism</a>."<br />
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Absurdism, as I remember it 20+ years later, focused on the idea that the outcomes of our actions might have very little to do with our intentions. As a sort of morbid example - I might, hoping to make the world a better place one life at a time, hand a snack bar to a homeless person. Unknown to me they are illiterate and deathly allergic to peanuts. So my act of generosity and goodwill would kill the very person I was trying to help the moment they opened my gift.<br />
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Somewhere in my mid 20s, existentialism and absurdism lost its magnetic hold over me. I do find it popping into my thoughts from time to time as I'm sure the universe is laughing at my impotent human attempts to control the world around me.<br />
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Yesterday I came across a clear example of absurdism in everyday life. It turns out those of us enchanted by the wonderful properties and health benefits of quinoa have inadvertently been destroying the cultures that survived on it for so many years. The Guardian reports about it <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/vegans-stomach-unpalatable-truth-quinoa?CMP=twt_gu">here</a>.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-92042987057035606032013-01-16T10:28:00.000-08:002013-01-16T12:28:07.382-08:00In LOVE!Theo and I are in love with a new potential pet - miniature pigs!<br />
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Pocket pigs weight about 30 pounds, get to be about 12-16 inches tall, and are extremely clean and intelligent. They live 15-20 years<br />
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Here is possibly the cutest little piggie video ever. Meet Hamlet!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/H7leMctSTMc" width="420"></iframe><br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-55002978489661174582013-01-12T16:40:00.000-08:002013-01-12T16:40:10.266-08:00Busy Cindy weekend coming!Our Seattle Neufeld Community leadership team has been sooooo busy recently. Honestly, sooooo busy.<br />
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One of the exciting outcomes is a list of sure to be incredible events with <a href="http://www.oneskycindyleavitt.com/">Cindy Leavitt</a>, faculty member of the Neufeld Institute. We also now have a <a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/">beautiful new website</a> and a fancy and deeply useful registration tool.<br />
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Cindy is coming Valentine's Day weekend. Her presentations focus on our children's and our own hearts. In a world where keeping hearts safe is so underappriciated, I think her talks will be both refreshing and inspiring. <br />
Wed, February 13, 6:30pm - <a href="http://www.cvent.com/events/heart-matters-winning-safeguarding-and-strengthening-your-child-s-heart/event-summary-c8ec9ece988848c5a237ce212a1849a1.aspx">Heart Matters-Winning, Safeguarding, and Strengthening Your Child’s Heart</a><br />
Sat, February 16, 8:30am - <a href="http://www.cvent.com/events/growing-together-relationship-as-a-vehicle-for-transformation/custom-17-d657d542ca0646b69442df2a46e14934.aspx">Growing Together-Relationship as a Vehicle for Transformation</a><br />
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And because my fellow team members are so creative and brilliant, we're having a date night event! Music with both <a href="http://blacklabworld.com/">Paul Durham</a> and <a href="http://www.missroserhythm.com/">Miss Rose & Her Rhythm Percolators</a> while sipping drinks with friends and supporting our growing community - how fun is that?!<br />
Sat, February 16, 8pm - <a href="http://www.cvent.com/events/growing-together-relationship-as-a-vehicle-for-transformation/custom-17-d657d542ca0646b69442df2a46e14934.aspx">Date Night Fundraiser</a><br />
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Join us! Or if you live far away, humor me and click on the link to admire the glorious work that is blossoming here in Seattle!<br />
<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-19702334246076788082013-01-12T12:31:00.003-08:002013-01-12T12:31:45.457-08:00Scheduling Disaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRtpr9Rv6TI/AAAAAAAADJY/TWfuP7lQ-8g/House-of-cards_thumb%5B21%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRtpr9Rv6TI/AAAAAAAADJY/TWfuP7lQ-8g/House-of-cards_thumb%5B21%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" /></a></div>
Something I struggle with as a homeschooler, or maybe this is just a trick for parents in general these days, is managing our family's schedule.<br />
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When the kids were little our time was so simple. Mealtimes, naps and bedtime defined the structure of the day, we had to go to the grocery story once a week and maybe we'd throw some playtime with friends (aka Mommy's social time) into the week.<br />
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Now with older kids who can and want to do more, plus my taking on classes and business work, it all seems very complex. There is a whole stack of things we need and want to do. Homeschooling time, foundational classes and extra activities. Field trips and adventures. Time with friends. Family game night. Date time for all the various combinations and permutations of the members of our family so we all get one on one connection time. We still need to go the grocery store. Time to cook and enjoy meals as a family. Time to relax and get to know ourselves. Daddy work time, Mommy work time. Walks for the dog. CrossFit time for the mommy.<br />
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My iCal is a fantastic mosaic of colors and activities. I have separate calendars for Sara, Kids & Family, SNC work time, Bill's travel, birthdays. I'm also subscribed to calendars for US holidays, the Seattle Sounders and the Seattle Public Schools. In hopes of keeping everyone where they need to be and all the balls in the air, I even make sure to put in appointments for meals and bedtimes.<br />
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Getting everything onto the calendar and making sure I'm not committing to being 2 or even 3 places at the same time seems like building a house of cards. So many elements, I proceed slowly and delicately until I have a beautiful towering structure that is surprisingly solid and sound. For months or even entire quarters the structure functions beautifully and our household hums along peacefully.<br />
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And then, one day, some scheduling wind whips through my iCal and whole house comes fluttering down.<br />
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Yesterday that wind went by the name "Soccer Practice." In one small blow, something that happened on Tuesday and Thursdays for years moved to Monday and Wednesday. Suddenly, nothing works anymore - work time, choir practice, childcare time, board meetings, bill paying time, personal Sara time are all up in the air. I find myself now reluctanly staring at a game of 52 card pick-up. <br />
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I'm sure my creative parts will kick in again soon, and a new and even better iCal structure will arise from the pile. But for right now, I'm just going to mourn the loss of something that worked and the need to start over again.<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-59728569021117531112013-01-11T07:37:00.001-08:002013-01-11T07:37:18.046-08:00Writing time!This month I've signed my kids up for a writing class with <a href="http://www.bravewriter.com/">BraveWriter</a>. We'll be working on mini-reports.<br />
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Theo and I did a class with them last spring and I was beyond impressed. A friend recommended the cirriculum to me a few years ago and I cherry picked the parts I thought Theo needed and was ready for: copy work, dictations and reverse dictations. Once he got comfortable with those, we added in freewrites. As freewrites became easy, I realized I didn't know what to do next. The Kids Write Basic class was starting, so we tried it.<br />
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Funny, but the most important things I learned from the class weren't specific steps to take, but the posture I need to have to best coach my children in writing. Things like (in my Neufeld words) being warm, creating a huge invitation for their ideas, making lots of space for joy and frustration in the process and keeping in mind that writing is its own maturation process. <br />
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Julie, the founder, has such an amazing eye for our goals of raising children (homeschooling or not). Go check out her blog and sign up for her newsletter for regular breezes of delight and inspiration! http://www.bravewriter.com<br />
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Yesterday, Theo decided to write his report on an antique foosball table he played on in Ecuador. Rosie will be doing a report on animals in Ecudaor. I'm looking forward to learning a variety of formats for helping children record and integrate the material they learn on at least some of our amazing adventures being homeschoolers affords us.<br />
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Maybe I'll be able to post their finished work here next month.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-47115149386029114272012-12-26T16:08:00.001-08:002012-12-26T16:08:37.778-08:00Holly vanGulden on YouTubeMuch of my study time is spent working with material from <a href="http://neufeldinstitute.com/">Gordon Neufeld</a>. I truly love how his attachment-based developmental paradigm explains the world to me.<br />
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I have a second developmental attachment hero. <a href="http://www.danceofattachment.org/Meet%20Holly%20van%20Gulden.html">Holly van Gulden</a> lives in Minnesota and travels the world teaching about attachment and adoption. Where Gordon's theories make sense of the world in broad strokes, Holly (and her partner, <a href="http://www.danceofattachment.org/Meet%20Claude%20Riedel.html">Claude Riedel</a>) specializes in supporting adopted people and their families. <br />
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A friend recently emailed a YouTube search of bits of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Adoptionfostering/videos?query=holly+van+gulden">Holly's talks</a>. Holly explains permanence, the ability to take for granted that something exists even when it is out of sensory contact (like my son still exists even though I can't see him across the house in the living room), and constancy, the ability to take for granted that something is the same across various states (Mom is still my loving mommy even when she's mad that I wrote in sharpie all over the wall).<br />
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Permanence and constancy fascinate me. Once at a conference Holly gave us homework to come back the next morning with 5 popular songs that show each concept. The assignment wasn't hard - which tells me that while the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_permanence">object relations</a> academics put really difficult and fancy words to their model, holding onto who we and those we love are is something that we humans struggle with on a daily basis.<br />
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Here is a brilliant <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/dreamworks/thecroods/">bit of missing permanence</a> from the trailer for the new movie The Croods, watch at 1:59m. Alanis Morisette schools us in constancy in her song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8kiNMQIctg">I'm a Bitch, I'm a Lover</a>.<br />
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<br />Take a look at her videos. I'd love to hear your thoughts.<br />
<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-17175028747936833312012-12-20T14:16:00.000-08:002012-12-20T14:16:06.756-08:00Beautiful weeper post: "Love. Joy. Justice." <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.teaandcookiesblog.com/2012/12/love-joy-justice.html">This post</a> from <a href="http://www.teaandcookiesblog.com/">Tea&Cookies</a> made me cry like crazy.<br />
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December 9th is the day gay couples in Washington State were legally able to get married. Tea&Cookies post does such a lovely job of capturing the joy, beauty and the rightness of the day. And her pictures reflect all that. <br />
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I'm so grateful to live in the day this important step in human justice and equity became possible. I'm so grateful that all the people I love get to marry that one that they love. And so grateful to Tea&Cookies for noting it so beautifully.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-79828271499490005912012-12-18T14:03:00.002-08:002012-12-18T14:07:25.518-08:00Cross post: On Being Cared ForMy December blog post for the <a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/">Seattle Neufeld Community</a> published last night. Take a look and let me know what you think.<br />
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<a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/2012/12/17/on-being-cared-for/">On Being Cared For</a><br />
Gordon Neufeld’s integrated attachment-base developmental paradigm, and the many wonderful courses he created to share the knowledge within it, is geared to help us make sense of our children. His aim is to equip us as parents and caregivers with the the necessary insight to raise up children, bringing them to their full potential and maturity.<br />
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However, Neufeld’s paradigm is more broadly a story of human maturation and development. So as I look at my kiddos, I can’t help but notice a few bits about myself.<br />
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Nowhere do my personal weakness and lacks show up more clearly than in my marriage. There’s something about being in intimate relationship with someone and being seen and known day after day for 16 years by that same person that really shines the light on who I am being. And not being. <br />
<a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/2012/12/17/on-being-cared-for/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://seattleneufeldcommunity.org/2012/12/17/on-being-cared-for/">read the rest of the post here</a><br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-69855230030011618742012-12-17T17:07:00.001-08:002012-12-17T17:07:36.470-08:00Can't.stop.making.snowflakes<div style="text-align: left;">
I've developed a serious obession over here, making paper snow flakes. Here's my latest batch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjvj5jd6q9DGerRgpoNHagqQFX01uvHsYVoeJ4czjdKrZtQQ94iuyYPyYs50C4JbP6iscWyQPU7c-vR9wHJrZDCVYkU2WnICP8pxsZ56mgSPZKF3OKHZMhJ0-mn_MnwhtiE6TzWAKo-sc/s1600/IMG_3182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjvj5jd6q9DGerRgpoNHagqQFX01uvHsYVoeJ4czjdKrZtQQ94iuyYPyYs50C4JbP6iscWyQPU7c-vR9wHJrZDCVYkU2WnICP8pxsZ56mgSPZKF3OKHZMhJ0-mn_MnwhtiE6TzWAKo-sc/s320/IMG_3182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fortunately for my obsessed self, several people have asked recently for snow flake making tips. Let's start at the beginning, in case grade school was the last time you preformed this craft.</div>
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I like to start with an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHUjIBZFzaOnod6PEvNF9D2ZR4X_IhGqfphwRpvkmtsCq2DCy82TZ52gcm7HBfRkV7FdehvUAUJhM8U-dS-tTvZ4FbN_pZfPk0j-BphubSOmXqCuJVjdsMghXny7TwGx5qmGbSC9Cs7IE/s1600/IMG_3194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHUjIBZFzaOnod6PEvNF9D2ZR4X_IhGqfphwRpvkmtsCq2DCy82TZ52gcm7HBfRkV7FdehvUAUJhM8U-dS-tTvZ4FbN_pZfPk0j-BphubSOmXqCuJVjdsMghXny7TwGx5qmGbSC9Cs7IE/s320/IMG_3194.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Fold it in half. Make your folds really clean, I run my fingernail along each crease.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFX3O1lII9ubHEYG1tn82p8D5ftjeFhyphenhyphenIvN7PMudkrdM7G-GL6A3vxyT6dWJfcvCaeRmP4HmTNQsIQXGJJXafx1TyVopankrW4ewThYDGSQkocErAzApKW7UcWNRc5AvfhWRXL_jW77M7/s1600/IMG_3195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFX3O1lII9ubHEYG1tn82p8D5ftjeFhyphenhyphenIvN7PMudkrdM7G-GL6A3vxyT6dWJfcvCaeRmP4HmTNQsIQXGJJXafx1TyVopankrW4ewThYDGSQkocErAzApKW7UcWNRc5AvfhWRXL_jW77M7/s320/IMG_3195.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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And then in quarters.</div>
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Then fold the side with all the edges over to the single crease side. </div>
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Now trim off the excess, you know the bit where one part of the top of the paper is longer than the other. I like to make a snow cone shape, but just cutting it off square along the shorter piece makes for interesting shapes and designs, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oodvo1Qp00lbo2OF1cwu4r9yOwAv3WRzFuYs-JZ-reTMjLvaU17ZT_IzQGgp-Lad3xdcIhEVMRR_4zghc1FCxDuQyhXdC6jtKyKaCEgClt-1liB6vTm_YYMOZIGf0MvDa_6IsSD-uiin/s1600/IMG_3198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oodvo1Qp00lbo2OF1cwu4r9yOwAv3WRzFuYs-JZ-reTMjLvaU17ZT_IzQGgp-Lad3xdcIhEVMRR_4zghc1FCxDuQyhXdC6jtKyKaCEgClt-1liB6vTm_YYMOZIGf0MvDa_6IsSD-uiin/s320/IMG_3198.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Next comes cutting. But before you cut, you need to know that there is part you can't cut. I've highlighted the edges that need a tiny bit preserved so that your snowflake will keep it's shape. As long as a few tiny bits remain along the blue edges, you'll be fine. I've been daring myself to cut more and more away, with delightful results. </div>
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Sometimes I start cutting with a plan, sometimes I just follow my fancy. For special shapes, I find it helps to trace them in pencil first. If I cut 1/2 of a shape on the fold line, when I open the paper the whole shape will appear. See the 1/2 tree on the left and the 1/2 heart on the right?</div>
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Start cutting. Remeber about preserving a bit along your fold lines. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QDzQO-wtiseDVL0mLRQj1DHLakse5sGCiijjJfbywgLJDbgLY1BSGvX6r6tiDdEfhsaU19z6TIsG4aS9vFdS-yh7NqLPCvmic4Uav-8L8A791-jx8LLqRveefsvvnUn1WDBVKuEPwDaE/s1600/IMG_3201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QDzQO-wtiseDVL0mLRQj1DHLakse5sGCiijjJfbywgLJDbgLY1BSGvX6r6tiDdEfhsaU19z6TIsG4aS9vFdS-yh7NqLPCvmic4Uav-8L8A791-jx8LLqRveefsvvnUn1WDBVKuEPwDaE/s320/IMG_3201.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Cut out more. I find the more paper I take away, the fancy and more intricate the finished flake looks. There is also the exciting danger factor - cutting away more and more paper without accidentally clipping the whole project in half. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABU4uLGS6x2DC1kazJ8TO7fs3lP6AyFdu6mRfXoUKkewUnu-lSB7ghJqwDGaNIKFJtpiQVe4ggJ8ot6WSXsJ3lXo2QxuHr8cJhcEgOJh69jh8GVFeV3pkjZd8QAlRkmTGs-Ox8o6gmRDu/s1600/IMG_3202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABU4uLGS6x2DC1kazJ8TO7fs3lP6AyFdu6mRfXoUKkewUnu-lSB7ghJqwDGaNIKFJtpiQVe4ggJ8ot6WSXsJ3lXo2QxuHr8cJhcEgOJh69jh8GVFeV3pkjZd8QAlRkmTGs-Ox8o6gmRDu/s320/IMG_3202.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Think about the point of your fold. If you leave it un-clipped the center of the flake with be solid. Cut off a small bit or a large chunk for very different looks. And, if you cut at various angles diamonds or stars will appear. Again, notice the little bits of blue edge I still have showing to keep my flake together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKNRx6H9Zw9X-wouBJ0bOv2Bi7Naxlbs8G-a8gL-HF3F2yevqgxFjfLbOUOvtQTUy0STLFB_uF7THJKmPxFtNVYOuOHVyD88A5s9UTKDuI58IksETieVtnO6JonkvWBG-95QZLVcgegvH/s1600/IMG_3203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKNRx6H9Zw9X-wouBJ0bOv2Bi7Naxlbs8G-a8gL-HF3F2yevqgxFjfLbOUOvtQTUy0STLFB_uF7THJKmPxFtNVYOuOHVyD88A5s9UTKDuI58IksETieVtnO6JonkvWBG-95QZLVcgegvH/s320/IMG_3203.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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When you've cut off all you can bear, start unfolding. It can be a little tricky to find the opening after all that trimming and the layers can be pretty stuck together, so go carefully. Here's the first fold. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5Y1U45Chyphenhyphen75J9HCg9CyGh-4Avztm6NssvIhqaJI6_nmIA0W8iy4qEbvw78TDImY720x_0lBPgFAAekuEMF78_dX7y8lMShFlj4q9GOLZRhHNnGe66KaZJfA7T8dqrM9NwEod045ybHA0/s1600/IMG_3204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5Y1U45Chyphenhyphen75J9HCg9CyGh-4Avztm6NssvIhqaJI6_nmIA0W8iy4qEbvw78TDImY720x_0lBPgFAAekuEMF78_dX7y8lMShFlj4q9GOLZRhHNnGe66KaZJfA7T8dqrM9NwEod045ybHA0/s320/IMG_3204.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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I love the anticipation of seeing what I have created. Look at this 2nd fold!</div>
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And yay! The full unveiling! I love how delicate and intricate my busy little snippings can be. </div>
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I hope these instructions and hints are clear. Here's to the fun and delight of a simple project!</div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-25609077838868221412012-12-16T19:19:00.001-08:002012-12-16T19:19:49.855-08:00I haven't posted any cute animal videos in a while...Forwarded from my dad, who always loves a good chuckle. I'm thinking if we show the video to Mason enough, he'll figure out this stunt.<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/LAlzRl_wh8Y">Silly, cute, chilly Labrador</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
From <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/">Mark's Daily Apple</a><br />
<a href="http://whatshouldwecallpaleolife.tumblr.com/post/37830099769/trying-to-find-what-im-looking-for-in-the-chest-freezer">Trying To Find What I'm Looking for in the Chest Freezer </a><br />
The kids kept asking, is someone going to help him out of there. And I kept replying, no they are too busy laughing and taking a video.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-29334061342712577102012-12-15T11:58:00.000-08:002012-12-15T11:58:04.945-08:00Not this crazy....<a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/">Mark's Daily Apple</a> rates easily in my top 3 blogs that I'm following right now. I value the information he shares, I like his tone as he writes and I'm fascinated by all the little tidbits he throws in. I also really dig the personal testimony stories he runs each week.<br />
<br />
In my Google Reader today is a follow-up from a previous personal testimony person, Tim. Mark's introduction includes that Tim is a Shovelglove Master. Huh?? What the heck is Shovelglove? So of course, my curious parts lead me to click on the link and read a bit about Shovelglove. <br />
<br />
Shovelglove is, as best I can tell, an intense work out done by simply (and carefully) swinging a padded sledge hammer around. My first reaction - these people are weird and crazy. At least <a href="http://www.urbanprimalist.com/id5.html">I'm not that crazy</a>. <br />
<br />
And then a tiny part of me, that might have possibly been a little draw-in by the idea of whacking a tire with a sledge hammer, piped up and said....<br />
<br />
YET.<br />
<br />
All bets are off as to whether or not Shovelgloving will be my biggest obsession 5 years from now. If I've learned anything in my life its is that I should NEVER say never. It just dooms me to participation in said activity.<br />
<br />
But still, that's crazy.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694812251934989502.post-17461174212641197942012-12-14T14:14:00.003-08:002012-12-14T14:14:39.176-08:00Crying over spilt lotion<a href="http://sourcesara.blogspot.com/2009/04/crafty-smooth.html">Homemade lotion</a> has become a staple around here. I make a big batch every few months and the family uses it for both hair and skin. <br />
<br />
I've been planning for our annual trip to <a href="http://www.sleepinglady.com/">Sleeping Lady</a>. There can be serious chapping that results from the dry mountain air, all the snow play and soaking for probably way too long in the hot pool. So I thought to make more lotion today. In fact, I mixed up a triple batch - enough to get our family through the next 2 months plus some to share with our homeschool buddies that will meet us in the mountains.<br />
<br />
But disaster stuck! While the Kitchen Aid whipped the lotion to a fine silkiness, the spatula I had carefully balanced on the edge of the bowl slipped in. Theo howled with laughter as the spoon splashed waves of lotion around the room and I scampered around frantically trying to turn the machine off - of course flipping it to high for a final tsumani-like wave before managing to get to "off." When I picked the now extremely well-oiled machine up to clean the puddle of lotion from underneath it, I lost my grip and toppled the whole thing, spreading yet more oil around (to the tune of more tittering from the peanut gallery).<br />
<br />
At this point, about 1/3 of the lotion remains in the bowl, 1/3 is in the trash and the last 1/3 is in the dog who enthusiastically help with the 2nd round of clean up.<br />
<br />
After grumping and pouting around for about 30 minutes, I came back around to the project and added some peppermint oil for a seasonally-appropriate bright smell and feel. <br />
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Turns out this batch is smooth and silky, not too watery or too think. And the peppermint makes it truly delightful. I don't know whether to be delighted or even more grumpy that I wasted 2/3 of it on the floor and dog. Below are my notes for this batch. I'm hoping getting it into bottles goes extremely efficiently and cleanly.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Peppermint lotion</b></i> - normally makes about 48 oz<br />
1/3 c TBSP beeswax<br />
1/2 c grapeseed oil<br />
1/2 c jojoba oil<br />
6 TBSP coconut oil<br />
4 c olive oil<br />
2 c water<br />
36 drops peppermint oil (put only in the remaining 1/3 of the batch)<br />
<br />
<b>- </b>Heat the oils and beeswax over the stove until the beeswax melts and the oils are uniform. <br />
- Transfer hot mixture to Kitchen Aid and add the water (I boil the water so it mixes more easily).<br />
- Run the Kitchen Aid for about 5 minutes to mix oils and water thoroughly. Wait 30 minutes and run again. Do this a few times until the mixture has cooled. Color and texture is light colored and uniform.<br />
- Transfer cooled lotion into a large ziploc bag, snip a tiny corner off the bag and carefully pour lotion into bottles.<br />
<br />
<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258568148530013442noreply@blogger.com0