Rahn Family Blog

New Twitter box is up!

2009-07-26T21:12:00.001-07:00

Just in time for all those anonymous twitter stalkers, my new twitter box is now up. Yeah you thought you were the only one.... and you probably think this post is about you.

Watching yo gabba gabba at home!

2008-12-31T22:27:00.001-08:00

Ah kicking it...any questions? I am so very blessed to have so many wonderful supportive friends. You light my path in more way than one. Thank you and may you all know how appreciated you are. Happy new year!

2008-12-31T22:24:00.001-08:00

5 lesser known ways to trap a cat

2008-11-11T22:31:00.000-08:00

5 lesser known ways to trap a cat..at least one of my cats....

purely for entertainment purposes LOL!

5. Leave the closet door slightly ajar

4. Change the sheets and TRY to make the bed.

3. Let the bathroom facet drip.

2. Sit on the couch and completely ignore the cat.

1. Scoop out the box. What cat can resist a freshly scooped cat box?

Whatever you do... don't call the cat, look at the cat or put out expensive cat food.

The adjustment period...First Week in new house.

2008-11-10T22:17:00.000-08:00

Ok, so we have one whole week under our belt. Everyone is experiencing adjustments. The first night Shraddha was asking if she could go home. But we are all having comfort in each others presence. Heck, even the cats are all getting along and smooshing next to me. Dogs sleep and fart at my feet, and Shraddha is cuddling with me all night long. She laughs as I get ready for bed, she sings and teases... "I am on your side of the bed!"

Not really sure what to call this blog now... as we are not Woodland Foothill folks anymore. We are officially living in the suburbs. And it is nice. I am so glad that so many people pressured me to move even though I wasn't sure it was what I wanted to do. As a new found single mom. Yes officially posted as of now..... Life is much easier here in the City.

I am thankful for my sabbatical up in the foothills far from civilization. I had much meditation and time with nature and many conversations with the earth in which I learned so much about myself and grew stronger for it. Stronger emotionally and physically. It is quite jarring moving back into the real world. But I am ready and enjoying it. I love being closer to friends and that my commute has been cut from 60 min to 5 minutes. This has been much like a birthing process.... not easy...very painful... yet somehow all so worth it and I feel so much stronger knowing I made it through. So I hold on to my daughter and smile in our ability to be strong enough to make it through this process and flexible enough not to break when the heavy winds blow.

Many thanks to all my supportive friends and family! For you, I am forever grateful!

Remembering Baby Sai

2008-10-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

I was blessed with his presence for only a short while but thankful none the less. I rocked him and sang to him and told him stories with Madhava on my lap that was growing smaller and smaller. He kicked like a kung foo master and I could see his kicks and punches and flips amazingly bulging through my skin. For whatever reason the Universe had for him or for us, he wasn't supposed to stay here very long. He was born at almost 5 months gestation either because of incompetent cervix or from placental abruption. His little body was strong and perfect and he looked exactly like his little brother. We only held him for a moment watching his heart beat through his chest and watching him practice breathing before the cord was cut and he left.

We remember him during my favorite season. We remember him when we play in the leaves and wait for the pumpkins to ripen. When the summer finally cools off and we start preparing for the holidays. I do not remember him with sadness, I am thankful for the opportunity to be with him.

So for all my friends that also have Angel Babies and for all those sweet little Angel Babies....

Let the wind be behind you,

Angels dance with you

And your consciousness

Guide you to victory.

Let the Angels, The Great Souls, The Avatars,

And all Incarnations of God

Pray for you.

Walk tall and bless all,
In your innocence with your love,

For each one's peace

And prosperity.

Remember what time wants;

Serve the needs of the time and space.

You will be sacred, exalted,

Beautiful, bountiful and fulfilled

-Yogi Bhajan

The Eight Human Talents by Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa

Fresno Fair - It was a Blast!

2008-10-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun with Beckie and Fam today! We were at the Fair during education days with GAGY lol Gist Academy for Gifted Youngsters. Here is Shraddha after winning a ribbon for a bean bag toss and sporting her I love you Honey sticker. Something new I learned today, that almost all the honey bees/worker bees are female. Beckie and Danielle, after Danielle won a ribbon for the bean bag toss.
There was a great kids pavilion there this year with fabulous kaleidoscopes just ask Jack, he didn't ever want to leave them.

Shraddha's favorite was the Tree House and the Pirate Ship. It was scary and at time the optical illusion was overwhelming and she would scream and hold my hand. Funny thing is she INSISTED, begged and cried to go back. So we did, with less crying the second time, thankfully.

Police motorcycles are FUN! Shraddha in the mist.

OMG! are you SERIOUS? REALLY?

What are we up to?

2008-10-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

Well it seems it is 11:51 and I am still very much awake. Why would that be? Could it be the GINORMOUS Pepsi I had at 5:30 this evening? Yeah, I thought I was cutting out caffine from my diet? So besides that I am working and Tweeting and Stumbling and Mothering Miss Shraddha.

Seems she might be spending too much time at Beckie's house because on the drive home she insited that her last name was Gist. ****sigh**** She is sooooo funny. But look at how much fun she has been having! at TOT SCHOOL. She loves spending time with Beckie and family. She is so excited in the morning when she asks where are we going, and I say to Beckies!

Shraddha asks, "To see Jack?" yep "He is my friend."

"and Danielle?" Yes Baby and Danielle "YAYYYY!"

"and Dean?" Yes "He brings me rice and beans."

"And Beckie?" LOL yes, and Beckie, of course! "She loves me and I love her too"

I have to blog this as a Blessing because we are so blessed to be able to have such good friends to hang out with and to play with Shraddha when I am at work. The hardest thing in the world for me is to not be with her and have to be at work. It is so much easier for me knowing she loves to hang out with you Beckie.

I do very much love my job/career/calling as a physical therapist. I love helping people, but if not for financial reasons people... don't make me choose. Seriously, I almost walked away from my house because it is not worth more to me than time with her. Mortgage companies are nice right now though, helping me to modify my loan and have smaller payments. I may hang out here for a little while until I can sell. Still up in the air though.

It's nice having a house, way out here with a forest across the street and a waterfall and creek. Lots of place to play and have chickens and dogs. Tons of butterflies to catch and flowers to watch grow... Beautiful sunsets and sunrises all of which I can see from my dining room table while I have breakfast and dinner with the light in my life.

At the same time the drive, the maintence, the expense... just isnt what I planned on when I moved here. I never planned on needing to work more than 1-2 days a week and the plan was only for a little while.

Amaranth compared to other grains

2008-10-06T02:15:00.000-07:00

	Amaranth	Wheat	Corn	Rice	Oats
Protein (g)	19	12.8	9.4	5.6	15.8
Fiber (g)	5.6	2.3	3	.3	3
Fat (g)	6	1.7	4.7	.6	6.9
Carbs (g)	6	71	74	79.4	66
Calcium (mg)	250	29.4	7	9	54
Iron (mg)	15	4	2.7	4.4	5
Calories	414	334	365	360	389

For More complete info see the following sites:
Great Grains for Celiac Sprue / Glucose Intolerance - NetNutritionist.com
Goodbye wheat, hello amaranth, say consumers Alternative grains with higher fiber and protein move into the mainstream - MSNBC.com
Mexico's Grain of the Gods: Cooking with Amaranth - MexConnect.com
Popped Amaranth Cereal Recipe - MyRecipe.com

Jazz up your Oatmeal!

2008-10-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

We love oatmeal around here and it is so nutritious, but sometimes its easy to get bored of the same ol' thing. We can have plain oatmeal with a little brown sugar and soymilk for most days and love it ... then all of a sudden. Shraddha won't eat a single bite. So, I jazz it up!

Some of our classic favorites Oatmeal toppings are:

Brown sugar
Cinnomin
Sliced Almonds
Raisins and dried fruit (blueberries are YUM!)
Strawberry Jam
Maple Syrup

But even more fun is:

Spiced Oatmeal for two

1 cup of Old Fashioned Oatmeal
1/3 cup of raisins
1 tsp of Pumkin Pie Spice* (or to taste)
1 3/4 cup of water
Mix it all together in a microwave safe bowl. Cook for 5 minutes on 50% power. Sprinkle with some brown sugar and 1/4 cup of soy milk. ENJOY!

*Pumkin Pie Spice is a blend fo cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mace and cloves.

To sneak in some extra nutrition and make it even healthier try:

1/4 cup of ground flax - (keep in fridge) mix it in before cooking and add a little more water.
amaranth - the whole raw seed or ground (mix it in before cooking and water) or popped amaranth sprinkled on top after cooked. More info on why amaranth is so good for you.
Agave Nectar - by Madhava (not my Madhava LOL) - It is a natural sweetener made from the juice of the Agave plant. This sweetener is more healthy than sugar/honey because of it's low glycemic index. And it's great in tea and on pancakes!
Popped Amaranth Cereal Receipe - MyReceipe.com

Blogging Blessings

2008-09-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here's to a sure fire way to cheer up!
It's been a while. I have really searched long and hard for something useful or interesting to say. And whenever I have trouble with that .... it means it's time to start blogging my blessings. Give it a try, it works wonders.

I love The Oneness Center. I am just so appreciative of a place here in Fresno that is jam packed of people with the same amount of openness to spirituality and similar spiritual direction as me.

So happy as always for all my friends. IRL and in Twitter-ville. Twitter, it's a blessing no an addiction.... no a blessing LOL!

And of course, my daughter and the fact that her father and I can adjust to all the changes in our family and keep things amicable just for her.

Peace to you and yours,

Sure fire way to cheer up! - pass it on.

2008-09-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little blue? Here are 10 things you can do!

1. Go exercise. Get that blood flowing! Even if it is just for 15 minutes at first.

What do you like to do for exercise?

2. Get outside. Get some fresh air. Breathe it in and just appreciate that you can do that. Appreciate nature and just know that you are a part of a whole and not alone.

Where is your favorite place to renew? Or your favorite thing to do outside?

3. Blog your Blessings. Make a list of all the things in your life that you are thankful for. Fostering appreciation really does help change your mindset away from complaining. Did you ever find yourself more happy after complaining?

What do you do to remind you of your blessings?

4. Act happy. You do it at work. You do it for your kids. Even if you just have to pretend. What kinds of things do you do when you are happy? Go and do them.

5. Stay focused on what you would like in your life and pretend they are on their way or already here, waiting for you to discover them. Make a vision board. Make a collage out pictures and words of what you would like to have in your life and post it where you can look at it and focus on it everyday. Name one of your goals.

` 6. Meditate. Let go. Quiet yourself and just be. Let the thoughts float by and let them keep blowing away like clouds in the sky. Eventually you can learn to be in the here and now... and you can find a peaceful place to rest and reset your thought patterns.How do you change your mindset when you are stuck in complaining mode?

7. Volunteer. That's right focus on someone else. Or plan a party for someone.... focus on cheering someone else up.Where would you like to volunteer? or who would you like to help?

8. Go socialize. Go to church, hang out with friends, visit some family... or just get out of the house. What is your favorite way to socialize?

9. De-clutter. Clear some space for you. In your house, in your life. Try Flylady.net

What spot in your house/life feels so much better when you de-clutter?

10. Go on a spiritual journey. Whatever that might be for you. And remember you are a spiritual being experiencing a human journey. I love HayHouseRadio.com or HayHouse.com for inspiration from Louise Hay and other inspirational people.How do you fulfill your spiritual needs?

Copy and paste to your blog and pass it along.... after you answer the questions LOL!

What do you like to do for exercise?

Where is your favorite place to renew? Or your favorite thing to do outside?

What do you do to remind you of your blessings?

What kinds of things do you do when you are happy?

Name one of your goals.

How do you change your mindset when you are stuck in complaining mode?

Where would you like to volunteer? or who would you like to help?

What is your favorite way to socialize?

What spot in your house/life feels so much better when you de-clutter?

How do you fulfill your spiritual needs?

For ME?

2008-08-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Awesome! Thank you Beckie! you rock as always!

I pass this on to Kimmie Sue because she is brillantly funny and I love funny.

you are funny too Beckie! But you already have the award ;)

The obligatory silly questions about me..... here's your chance .... it rarely happens that actually answer...

A. attached or single? Attached to my 3 yr old baby girl!

B. best friend? BECKIE everyone should have a Beckie

C. cake or pie?today it would be white cake with sprinkles

D. day of choice? Tuesday and Thursday are Mommy-Baby days … all day!

E. essential item? My cell phone, my laptop, car keys!!

F. favorite color? purple

G. gummy bears or worms? Uh no bovine cartilage for me thanks

H. hometown? Squaw Valley, CA (no not THAT one … the one outside Fresno/Clovis)

I. favorite indulgence? Cheese cake! Any flavor but lima bean.

J. January or July? July! I love hot nights outside! January is too foggy

K. kids? Yep, 2 of them bipedal type and 4 fury quadrupeds

L. life isn't complete without? twitter.com

M. marriage date? October 12th

N. number of brothers & sisters? One younger brother, one half sister, 2 step brothers, and one adopted brother and sister.

O. oranges or apples? Oranges

P. phobias? I’m not beating that drum! But I will keep my space clear of rattle snakes. They have officially been invited to stay outta the yard.

Q. quotes? “Before you speak, THINK - Is it necessary? Is it true? Is it kind? Will it hurt anyone? Will it improve on the silence? Sathya Sai Baba

R. reasons to smile? CHICKENS especially when they run. Just try not to laugh!

S. season of choice? Fall! I love Halloween, it's my Christmas. Dashing thru the leaves on a one horse open pumpkin…

T. tag seven peeps!

U. unknown fact about me? Dr. House rocks the house (did I just rhyme house with house?) KNOWN fact about me..what a dork!

V. vegetable? Mushroom

W. worst habits? Running late.

X. x-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound as long as there is no probing!

Y. your favorite food? Mexican mmmm Burritos! No carne!

Z. zodiac sign? Scorpio on the cusp of Sagittarius

Shraddha Sings Silly Songs Sunday

2008-08-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

Mama isn't up to blogging just yet, still adjusting to changes in Rahn Family life. So here are some videos from Shraddha.

Happy BurDay (G)ramma!

Clafoutis: a fresh idea for cherries and berries

2008-07-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Cherry Claufoutis was originally made with whole cherries. The pit emits a nice almond flavor to the dish when cooked.

Looking for something new and different to do with the abundance of summer time fruit?

This recipe works great with fresh cherries and berries. Blueberry Clafoutis is my all time favorite, and I can't wait to try peach and berry clafoutis. Thawed frozen fruit will work and rinsed and drained canned fruit will also work in a pinch or the middle of winter.

Claufoutis (pronounced kla-foo-TEE ) is a traditional French pudding. It is great served with whipped cream, ice cream, half & half or just a dusting of powdered sugar. Traditionally it is more of a dessert, but I have found it to be a great breakfast food and it sets nicely in the fridge.

1tsp margarine or butter
1.25 lbs fresh cherries (pitted or whole), strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or peaches
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 TBS powdered sugar
7 TBS flour
1/8 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 F

Grease baking dish with margarine or butter.

Rinse and dry fresh fruit. ( for canned fruit: rinse and drain; defrost frozen fruit)

Whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla until smooth (in a large bowl).

Add powdered sugar 1 TBS at a time whisking until fully absorbed (reserve the last TBS for dusting before serving)

Add flour the same way, whisking until smooth, adding the salt in at the end. The batter is a bit runny like a cake batter.

Pour into dish and sprinkle fruit around evenly. Bake 50-60 minutes checking with a sharp knife the center to be cooked completely. The fruit may be very juicy and make it difficult to tell if it is cooked all the way. Another way to check is to cook until the center does not wiggle (like custard pie). Serves 6.

Pear Clafoutis

Chocolate Cherry Clafoutis

Fig and Raspberry Clafoutis

**Please note when searching for Claufoutis recipes be sure to check alternate spellings like Clafoutis and Claufuti

Blogging Blessings: Friends, Family, and Chickens

2008-07-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

1. Birthdays! Happy Birthday Tiffiny! Had a great time at that party, and especially loved how Seren guided every single guest, one at at time during the evening to take us on the tour of the balcony. She is so sweet! As was that Pink Champagne cake Whoo!

2. Spiral Scouts! We love having a spiritually eclectic group of friends all working on earthy projects together. Here is Shraddha with her first Firefly award and award ceremony...

Jack and Shraddha are just pooped out from all the clay play and running around like airplanes. Here they are just enjoying the clouds flying by.

4. Chickens. Yeah, they are counted as a blessing ... maybe not in the same way others count them as blessings.... They are friends not food! Anyway... they are funny! And anything that makes me laugh is a blessing LOL!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Meet Tiny, our feather footed friend. He just came out this week with his first crowing session! Congrats Tiny on being our FIFTH unexpected rooster LOL! And stay out of my grapes, man! Really seriously, ALL Y'ALL OUTTA MY GRAPES!

Watch Suki kitty try to casually slink by the chickens for a chance to roll in the Wisteria flower petals. We know who's yard it is now... and it isn't the dog yard.

Fun with Friends on Fourth of July

2008-07-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

Here comes Jack and Shraddha...

and there they go... and go and go and go...co-conspired to run away 3 times!

The water park was a blast! and so were the great times with great friends!

Blogging Blessings

2008-07-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

I am just loving all the spiritual support in this new transformation of sorts that my life, and my family's life seems to be going through. Just wanted to send out my appreciation and be sure to count my blessings.

Thank you Beckie for sending so much positive energy and help my direction. I love all the sites and posts that you send my way but most of all for telling me about co-creating and exposing it to me over and over until it finally sank in.

Thank you to Hope for being so connected with your own spiritual energy that you can create such meaningful and thought provoking posts. It just amazes me how you post on what I am thinking about and pondering at the moment.

And thank you to the Universe, GUS (Greater Universal Spirit), God, Goddess, My greater self, __________<----or enter the diety of your choice here.... for the enfolding miracles happening in my life and for all the supportive souls that you have placed in my path.

From Lessons From Womon Gathering by Lady Rose

"Just for today I’m going to rememberI have the power and the wisdom within meto deal with whatever the day brings.I will let go of stress, worry, and angerand let healing and love flow through me.Just for today, one moment to the next.~ Lady Rose
To take care and honor self first, this is essential for all of us so we can do what we were meant to do in life as well as what we want to do each day and in order to nurture our loved ones and the planetAll emotions are welcome and honored within sacred space.I am valued, useful and needed, regardless of age or physical ability.I can laugh and cry and be wholeI am a healerI am safe, loved, nourished and empowered to set my boundaries."

OHM SHANTI

Family Time on Father's Day!

2008-07-01T17:12:00.001-07:00

Catching up on posts!

Thank you for being our Daddy!

This is Madhava putting on the Madhava Show.

Shraddha giving hugs.

Hope you had a nice one!

Shraddha saying goodbye to Daddy's truck.... off to be recycled.

Just a couple of days later I was driving to work when I realized that the truck I had been following for miles, was filled to the brim with Daddy's chopped up truck! So weird!

It was fun having you around to play on!

Some Shraddha time!

2008-07-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! and Welcome!

It was early in the morning when Shraddha decided to start taking pics of Mama!

Time to go out and hold her babies! This little bantum chicken's name really is Baby.

No, she isnt being treated badly... actually she is in chicken heaven!

Baby loves when Shraddha holds her, even if on her back, not only will she put up with it...

she falls alseep there too!

I never realized how much fun we would have with chickens. We are always so excited to run out and feed them leftovers and they jump all over us in excitement whenever we come to visit...especially when leftover oatmeal is with us.

Working on a badge there somewhere for Spiral Scouts.... We are noticing and taking pics of all the wildlife that wanders in our yard (at least for those that wait around for us to take a picture!)
This white butterfly loves our lavendar spearmint flowers. I wonder if the nectur is minty?

And THIS cute little guy a juvenile cottentail finally hopped close enough for his props too!

Just one of the many beautiful sunsets we watch in the evening!

Eating Mindfully - Short Grain or Jasmine Brown Rice?

2008-06-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Wow I had the best question from HopeAlso from Hippie Dippie Bebe! In regard to my using Jasmine brown rice in one of my favorite recipes, Thai Spicy Eggplant and Veggies.

Unfortunately, I hadn't considered the nutritional difference between brown short grain rice and brown jasmine rice before but since I am working on the 100 Day Reality Challenge and eating more mindfully is one of my goals, this question comes at just the right time!

I always use brown rice now and was happy to see the Organic Brown Jasmine rice from Lundberg at our store. I also use the Organic Brown Short Grain from Lundberg too! Often I mix them as I like the stickiness of the short grain and the texture of the longer/medium grain.

It seems it is a toss up as to which is better nutrition wise. The short grain has 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein compared to Jasmine’s 2 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein. Jasmine has less carbs and a smidgen more iron. It may vary with different brands.

I love your articles Hope! It is just amazing to me how often we are pondering the same things at the same time. Thanks for the question!

Things that make the mommy laugh!

2008-06-22T00:40:00.000-07:00

5. Come on it's funny - first patty pan squash.

4. Blues rendition of three little pigs...

Madhava's kindergarden graduation was so cute! I can't believe kindergarden is over and that he is 6.5 yrs old. He is reading so well! I was holding back the tears ... being so happy for him and proud of him and just smiling at the same time because his performance was so fun!

3. Sweat pea scented diapers... Roger was wondering why I am hanging the diapers out on the gate when he made a perfectly good laundry line for me. Well, because I love the smell of the sweet peas that only live by the gate.

2. Do I have to eat ALL the cake on my plate? Madhava and Danielle at Shraddha's birthday party. Thank you Beckie for all the awesome ideas and making the party run so smoothly... you are THE Party Mama! Thanks Mom for financing the castle. And thanks to everyone for making Shraddha feel like the Birthday Princess!....

1. My daughter's favorite white hen, Shirley...crowing just like a rooster.

Thai spicy eggplant and veggies - from garden to table

2008-06-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite meals, inspired by Veggie Meals: Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals It's quick, it's almost a one pot meal, its healthy AND yummy! I love the sweet and the spicy especially with the basil!

Gather all the ingredients.

Its still early for my Japanese eggplants, I only had one, but quickly substituted broccoli, yellow and green zucchini. I even tossed in some tofu just because it was in the fridge.

1 cup of brown jasmine rice cooked as directed.

2 tsp of vegetable oil

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes - its hot!

1 Japanese eggplant, 2 medium yellow zucchini and 1 medium green zucchini, 1 small crown of broccoli - or any other veggie combo that sound good like mushroom, napa cabbage, bell pepper, onion, carrot....

1/2 package of firm tofu (optional)

4 cloves of garlic

2 tbs of rice wine vinegar (or white vinegar)

3 tbs of soy sauce

2 tbs of brown sugar or honey

20 leaves of basil

Prepare Rice and start to chop and cook.

Chop all veggies and tofu into bite size pieces.

Heat 1 tsp of oil in a deep skillet or stir fry pan over high heat. Add pepper flakes, cook for 10 sec. Add eggplant and tofu and 2 minced/crushed cloves of garlic and cook 3 minutes. Place in a dish while you stir fry the broccoli, and zucchini the same way for another 3 minutes. Combine all the veggies in the pan together. Pour vinegar and soy sauce and sprinkle with sugar or honey and toss. After 1 or 2 minutes, remove from heat, add basil and serve over hot rice. Serves 2-3.

A glance at the vegetarian life: a guide for first timers

2008-06-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine was thinking about taking the PETA 30 challenge and going veggie for 30 days. It can seem a bit time consuming when first thinking about meal planning with the goal of staying veggie (it did for me at first too), especially when you have a picky eater and kids. And it may take a little bit of time only because your mind is used to things being a certain way and you are accustomed and used to having the same meals your mom made for you. I happen to feel it is much easier to not have to worry about thawing out meat just the right way, cleaning up the juice and stuff to keep from getting sick, and making sure that it is cooked just right but not too overcooked. Once you have a few veggie ideas to work with, it really does become a no-brainer. To help get you started I made a menu of the foods that we eat.
I also try to include fresh whole grains, flax, and amaranth as well as a mixed green or spinach salad with lunch and/or dinner. I try to just avoid the meat substitutes for personal reasons as well as the fact that they just taste funny when you are used to the real thing.

	Breakfast	Snack	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Monday	Oatmeal with sliced almonds, raisins honey and soy milk	banana	Burrito with beans, rice and cheese and all the veggies	Salsa and baked tortilla chips	Pesto Pasta with veggies, zuc, mushroom, broccoli
Tuesday	French toast Fruit and OJ	Apple and peanut butter	Balsamic Tomato, basil, fresh mozzarella cheese sandwich	popcorn	Baked potato with broccoli and cheddar cheese
Wednesday	Cold cereal Banana	Cottage cheese and fruit	Hummus & tomato wrap with celery and carrots	Cheese and crackers	Stir fry or steamed veggies, tofu and brown rice
Thursday	Scrambled eggs and toast	Fruit popsicle	Egg salad sandwich with carrots, fruit	Pretzels and raisins	Pasta with veggie marinara
Friday	Plain yogurt with jam or honey and toast	Carrot & flax muffin	Lentil soup or Sambar	Grilled tomato with cheese	Garden burger sandwich with grilled veggies and fries
Saturday	Bagels and cream cheese fruit	Cereal fruit bar	Mac and cheese with carrots and peas		Veggie Omlette Spinach tomato and mushroom
Sunday	Pancakes and eggs	Fruit smoothy	Veggie lasagna	Cucumber, tomato, sprouts and cream cheese pitas	Homemade pizza with fresh tomatos and pineapples

What to eat when you are out?
Fast food: Wendy’s has a baked potato, BK has veggie patty, Taco bell burritos (the 7layer is yummy). Most fast food places will make the item you like without meat (and charge full price of course).

Sit down meals: Pasta, Pizza, Omelets, veggie burger substitute (my fav is Red robin’s mushroom burger) or Portabella burgers. Stir fry with tofu and rice or noodles, Eggplant Parmesan, Veggie or cheese enchiladas, grilled veggie fajitas, and all kinds of Indian and Thai and Mediterranean food.

Enjoy your veggie adventure!

Favorite veggie books:

Favorite veggie site:

TryVeg.com

Praying for caffinated rain.

2008-06-01T02:13:00.000-07:00

"God, please make mama drink coffee. I don't know how much more of this withdrawal I can take!"

-Shraddha praying for mama not to decrease caffine intake any further.

-Mama wishing it would rain caffine. Day 5 of no morning coffee just a cup of green tea. Slowly decreasing morning intake of caffine.

Found 70% pure cocoa organic dark chocolate bar. Wonder how much caffine there?

- First day of no headache in the morning YEAH!

I'm not sarcastic but i play a sarcasitic person on TV

2008-05-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

copied from...http://www.shof.msrcsites.co.uk/sarc.jpg. Thanks Beckie you always find the funnies!

Blueberries are here!

2008-05-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

The blueberries are getting blue! And there is just something about homegrown blueberry goodness. They have a kaleidoscope of fabulous flavor that you just can't get from the ones in the store and not even from the farmers market. These are Misty Blue. I am not sure exactly how big they can get because Shraddha loves them too much to wait... or share for that matter LOL!

We also found many beautiful red Pomegranate blossoms and almost ripe cherries! We know they are almost ripe because the birds haven't stolen all of them yet.

And is it just me or does it seem that animals follow Shraddha around like she is Snow White? If she could just get them to help out around here that would be FABULOUS!

This is Buffy and Puffy, they are Buff Orphington chicks. The other two New Hampshire Reds, are yet to be named and one of them is growing a comb. Highly suspicious of maybe not having the egg laying capability....

Those flowers lasted forever mom, thanks!

Spiritual Inspirations

2008-05-22T16:34:00.000-07:00

http://theknowledgelab.net/%28k%29now/Spirit/BuddhaDrankTequila.mp3

I love this!

Don't expect "perfection" from your teachers and rock stars. Allow
yourselves to relax enough so that you too can write, draw, play a musical
instrument and sing. Even Buddha and Jesus did things disapproved of by their
friends . "Imperfections" were part of their wisdom.
-Americ Azevedo
Lecturer: University of California, Berkeley.

Top 5 strangest things in our garden this week.

2008-05-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

5. Now this is also one of my favorites! Black Hollyhocks! Yeah they finally bloomed and I love them. They are striking and weird and gigantic at 8-10 ft tall! Only took almost 2 yrs to see so enjoy! I am already planning where and how many more for the next couple of years.

4. Check out this brown fuzzy hairy caterpillar! I figured out from http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/ that it is the larva to a ....

Giant Leopard or Tiger Moth as seen on BugGuide.net

I remember we had quite a few of these giant leopard moths....in November... here is the pic of one laying eggs on the side of my house on 11/04/07

3. Alligator Lizards! I thought this was a skink! but on closer look... it seems it is not. We do have skinks and blue belly lizards but I have never seen a lizard that big up on our house! This guy was huge at about 16 inches long. But all skinks and lizards are very welcome here!

more on Alligator lizards.

2. What the heck! Is it a spider? Is it like a potato bug? ugh! Whatever it was... it was crawling toward me while I was folding laundry....EWWWWW! But you can be relieved to know it wasn't squished. It was gently placed back into the garden.... for us to find again later I am sure.

Here is what we learned from WhatsThatBug.com:

"The Solpugid is not an insect, it is an arachnid. It is related to spiders and scorpions, hence its common names Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion. In some places they are called Sand Puppies, but they are not related to dogs. Unlike Spiders and Scorpions, Solpugids do not have venom. They are harmless unless you are small enough to be considered food, in which case gram per gram, they might be the fiercest predators on the planet. We are lucky they don't weigh 150 pounds. They will eat anything they can catch, which is a benefit in the desert. "

1. Top strangest thing found in our garden this week!!!! AHHHHH!

Opossum with a huge long nose and huge long tail...eating out of Sadie's dog dish in the middle of the night. That thing was almost as big as our 16 lb cat Chamois! Now we know who made a huge den at the edge of our play yard. This seems to be an unusually fat Opossum, with a HUGE head! Must have been munching in Sadie's bowl for the past couple of years! Would that make it our pet? EWWWW!

This is one I found in the front yard on 5/26/07 wonder if it is the same one? Here it is in my hat... i was just too chicken to hold it in my hands. It was so cute when it was tiny!

Chillin with our Peeps 2

2008-05-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

This is Betty (4/26/08 @ 2-3 wks old?) an Amerucana she and Rose will make blue/green eggs. They are our favorite most sweet and docile hens so far. (Wonder how I came up with Rose's name?)

This is Laverne, Shirley, and Ivanna. Figured out that Shirley is a White Leghorn - a good egglayer. They are about 5 weeks old and needed their own separte brooder because they pecked on the little ones. But with Shraddha, they think she is Mama and enjoy sitting with her and being held and kept warm.

To the left is baby a little golden seabright runt. Tiny (the one in the middle), as named by Danielle, has feathery feet. She might be a Mille Fleur, or another Amerucana. Either way she is very cute and friendly and it is funny to watch her walk (on eggshells LOL) with her feathery feet. Kinda like walking in scuba flippers!

Chillin with our Peeps

2008-05-11T17:06:00.001-07:00

So 4/13/08 is about the time that we got our first set of 3 chicks. Here is Shraddha bright and early in the morning getting into the brooder with Laverne, Shirley and Ivanna.

Shraddha holding Laverne. Here she is only a 3 wks old Barred Rock. Quite possibly a bantam. Very cuddly!

Barred Rock

Shirley is the little puffy yellow one.... Shraddha's Favorite... at least this week.

Ivanna is the one with the yellow head and she is a White Crested Black Polish. You can see a tiny little top hat in this pic...

On the left.... I included a pic of a full grown polish bantam.

Shraddha spent hours at a time with these little chicks and they think she is mama. Sometimes she would even refuse to eat because she wanted to be with the chicks!!!!

One week later....I think LOL we picked up NINE more chicks. Shaking my head in disbelief...

A bunch of cute puffy little Amerucanas. They lay blue green and pink eggs...

yes, this one is kicking back in Shraddha's hand... SEEE?

Go Green

2008-05-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about starting Spiral Scouts!

- and, no, I am not Pagan....yet. Well, not a practicing one...Of course that depends on the definition LOL! I don't think I could be pigeon holed into just one specific spiritual practice or belief. But wow I am shocked by the response to people when they saw the news coverage on our new scouting troup. Shock, anger, and blank quiet nonresponses - I'm guessing that one is fear? LOL! But that is why it is so important to me. I want my kids to have a scouting experience that doesn't involve one specific religion, and to expose more kids and adults to tolerance and respect of other spiritual practices.

So in my excitement to start scouting....I started trying harder to find ways to be more green...

How green is your routine? click the go green button to pick up some great tips!

I'm thinking maybe it would be very green of me to just stay home today and uhm save gas yeah! And think of ALL the gas I would save....all those patients would stay home too! I have to do my part!

Check us out on the news!

2008-05-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

We have tons to blog about and lots of catching up to do ... which I can easily do now that I have a FAST verizon anywhere access usb port thingy! Yeah!!! No more snails pace landline access.

So here is a quick preview.... stay tuned for more pics and info!

See what we have been doing with our friends at Spookiez Spot.
Check out a preview of a few of our new zoo.... uh em ... FAMILY members, that we are sharing with our friends.
Last but not least.... check us out on the NEWS!

Ok, off to clean the chickens and feed the kitchen....or something like that!

Ohm Shanti

Trippin and falling on my astral body

2008-03-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, so half of you are going to think I am nuts and fell off the deep end and the other 2 of you are just not going to know what to think.

So, today I was going through deleting tons of email that is clogging my account we are talking in the thousands here. This is a job I absolutely hate.... I must be feverishly working on it to avoid the dishes and laundry and toys and mail and ...... whatever other monotony my days off are consumed with...

I found a site sent to me about 9mo ago about Kundalini and mysteries of the Goddess. Maybe this is news to you but I have been known to read up on Kundalini every so often. The author, El Collie wrote some very interesting things about how thoughts manifest themselves and how people going through or are open to spiritual enlightenment tend to be more open to visitations from spirits. She spoke about how they can manifest themselves in a number of ways, sounds, changes in temperature, feelings, and especially animals and how to communicate with them or ask them to leave.

Right at that moment I was reading, the dog sleeping besides me, started running in her sleep. When I looked down at her I noticed 5 huge black wild turkeys taking a stroll through my backyard. I started cracking up. Not the "I've lost my mind" type of crack up mind you! The Oh my gosh its funny type of crack up. Thank goodness I live too far out in the hills for the men in white coats to find me. Not that I am paranoid or anything. he he he.

Some of our favorite things!

2008-01-29T14:26:00.000-08:00

This is our favorite sweater.... made by mama just for Shraddha!

I have another one on the needles in off-white. Shraddha is excited about it but keeps asking for me to make it pink.

Shraddha says, " I love my dog!" I enjoy fussing in the

garden and playing in the yard and my favorite thing there

is enjoying the flowers and avoiding the doggie land mines.

Shraddha loves fruit smoothies that we freeze into

"ice cream" pops. AKA "Apt tap" Shraddha can you say,

"I c e C r e a m?" ..... Uh huh..... "aaaapt taaaaap".

I love to see the bottem of my clean sink first thing in

the morning! With my cup of coffee right there next to it,

many thanks to Roger!!!! Then having some time for just

the two of us to visit while we watch the sunrise over the mountains.

BUBBLES with Bubbha and not needing to have her hair brushed on Saturday morning

- need I say more?

Mama loves sweet kisses from Shraddha ......

they are waaaaayyy better then the puppy and kitty licks she likes to share.

The stupidest things I said this week.

2007-11-24T23:09:00.001-08:00

I'm still not one that is big on Memes but this one just happened all on its own.

The top 5 stupidest things I have said this week....

5. "I'll just eat one Rice Krispies Treat." Fixed some yummy no gelatin RKTs after dinner today. So much for staying on track today.

4. Shraddha asks for her favorite Flinstone's vitamin at dinner time tonite, but we already had vitamins with breakfast. She insists over and over "I want a vitamin!". "Shraddha the vitamins are in your veggies!" Shraddha almost cries because she digs and digs in her veggies and can't find the vitamins.

3. "Ok, Shraddha, FINE. You can wear your nice shirt while you paint today, because the paints are washable." Can someone please tell me what they mean by washable? It sure doesn't mean stain free!

2. "Madhava, would you like to paint on the easel or the floor today?"
"Oh I like the floor!" Madhava says very eagerly.
"Great, I will be right back." I walk away to get his paper and come back to find Madhava painting the linoleum orange.
"You said I could paint on the floor!"

1. It's the day after Thanksgiving. I'm alone, the kids are with Daddy on the way home. There is a BIG sale, and a BIG coupon. I am really needing some Mommy time.... and I say to Roger,
"I'm just going to run into Michael's for a minute to get paint." What was I thinking?

TaDa List for today....

I could see the bottom of the sink all day!
Picked up all the toys.
Washed more laundry to add to the huge clean laundry pile.
Vacuumed, treated stains, and steam cleaned the entire front room.
Spent quality time doing arts and crafts with Shraddha.
Made a healthy dinner and Rice Krispies Treats for desert.

YAY Shraddha!

2007-11-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

Warning... the following post has content that might be too much for sensitive viewers. This blog post is made by the proud mother of a potty training toddler. Be appreciative that I don't post pictures.

Today Shraddha was having some Daddy time while I was at work. She told him that she was getting sleepy and it was time for a nap. He helped her over to the couch and she slept for 2 hrs! Then when she woke up she told him, "Come on Daddy, it's time to go potty!"

He took her to the public restroom. Without hesitation, Shraddha let Daddy put her on the BIG potty and she peed!

I just didn't believe it. I am always asking her to use the baby or the big potty at home and she ALWAYS says "no!" That must be the difference. He waits for her to ask and I ask too many times.

In disbelief, I asked if she wanted to go to the restroom with Mommy. And not only did she say yes but she very cooperatively sat alone on the potty! And for the greatest kicker.... she POOPED! Dry... Clean... Diaper alll day long!

Funniest things I heard this week..

2007-11-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

10. "I'll call you back just as soon as I am done cleaning house"

9. "Excuse me parents, my eye is sweating!" Madhava says after some dirt gets flicked into it.

8. Be healthy, Drink Pomegranate Sake!

7. "Angela, call and let me know what weekends you want to work" Allison - looking for Physical Therapist to cover weekend time at the hospital.

6. " I saw the picture you had of Daddy in his panties on the blog. That is just wrong!" Madhava

5. Shraddha telling me about the scenery on the way to town,

" The baby birdy eats the bugs."

"That is right Shraddha!" Mama says proudly.

"And the cow eats the ducks"

"Huh?" thinking I just didn't quite get the last word...

"Ducks Mama! You know..... quack quack!"

4. Shraddha passes gas quite loudly... looks around and says, "Mommy did it!"

3. "Fried cheese is the shiznits!", Kimmiesue on Twitter.com

2. "You need to put the new diaper on before he sticks his finger in his butt!" Beckie coaching her parental units on proper Jack-jack diapering.

1. Tiffiny says last night during desert, "I never eat the end of the Banana, that the Bananus!"

It looks slimy yet satisfying, but really it is a vegetarian roll. NO, its not made with real vegetarians!

Las Chicas

Happy Birthday Beckie!

Excuse me, my eye is sweating.

2007-11-20T12:18:00.000-08:00

"Excuse me parents, my eye is sweating." , Madhava says, after dirt flicked into his eye.

This morning for breakfast Daddy was serving up orange juice when Shraddha shouted, "NO, I WANT PINK OOOOOJUUU!" Good for Daddy for quickly avoiding a tantrum, saving the day and figuring out that I sometimes put my pomegranate juice in her orange juice. And good for Shraddha for figuring out a way to describe it since I never really told her what it was called!

Peek-a-Boo Shraddha! With her cuter then ever hairstyle! Sure, you sit still and leave the clips in for Beckie. Oh and by the way... she is just too cute to smile in this pic.

This is Shraddha's wreath that she so proudly showed me and then gave to Daddy! Her very cute pine cone turkey made it all of 5 minutes in the car before it became a pine cone rabbit! But Shraddha had fun crafting with the craftiest Mama ever, Beckie and sidekick, Danielle.

The kids had a great time wrestling and yelling in the office while Daddy was giving relaxing messages HA HA! Madhava did his best to entertain his rambunctious sister at Daddy's office while Mommy got to go....OUT! Nice sharing the Transformer camera Bubba!

Family Time!

2007-11-18T22:09:00.000-08:00

We are all still recovering from some sort of virus, so we had a lazy day. Except for me! See below for my TaDa list. No wonder I am so tired right now.

The kiddos had a movie marathon this morning sprinkled with building castles with the megablocks, playdough time, and Latin dancing with Daddy (Shraddha was enjoying a dance contest on TV).

After lunch we all took a break and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Not too hot, not too cold. Sadie even perfected her jumping thru the tire trick with Madhava swinging on top! Bubba shared the tire swing with Baby! And we even got Daddy to help prep a little place for us to plant some Daffodil bulbs. Madhava helped mix the dirt and mulch and Shraddha helped Bubba stick the bulbs in the dirt and cover them.

My Tada list for today!

I did some overdue spring cleaning in our bedroom, including steam cleaning the carpet and vaccumming the floor boards.
Also washed and folded laundry.

Washed 1/2 of the cat - the smelly half!

Changed the linens.

Picked the tomatos, zucchini, and eggplant. Watch out! I am armed with tons of zucchini!

Made Sunday dinner: Tortalini with homemade Creamy Basil Sauce and veggies.

Kept the bottom of the sink visable all day! - After Roger finished cleaning the last of the dishes from yesterday - THANK YOU HONEY!

Packed our lunches for tomorrow.

Shraddha's World

2007-11-17T14:37:00.000-08:00

The word of the day is.....

Tey-O

Could mean she is talking about the really silly appendage hanging off the back of her doggy friend. You know, the one that is hilariously funny to play with or pull?

"Sadie's tey-o hit Shraddha's eye!"

Could also mean she is talking about the thing from her toddler table set that is very convenient for pulling into the kitchen and climbing on to reach those items that were purposely put out of her reach. Also most awesome for sitting on and being a big girl at her little table.

"Shraddha helps Mama cook! Get my tey-o over there at the table!"

Shraddha do it! is another one of her favorite sayings. And be careful if you do not respect her wishes! Be sure to cover your ears, or be ready for a completely sad melt down.

She is doing a great job with being independent though. She is brushing her own teeth now with just a little bit of help from big brother or Daddy. Rarely will she let Mama help. She dresses herself, tips her head back so we can wash her hair without tears now! Climbs into her car seat or anyone else's seat other then her own as long as I am trying to catch her and put her in her seat.

Potty training is going well. She is more often then not, getting to the potty before any accidents as long as she is diaperless. There is the occasional leak, which she tells me about when she comes out of the restroom. "Swean it up Mama! Hear is a towel. Mama do it!" I walk over to her to figure out where. "Right der Mama. By your feet.... eeeewwwwww.... he he he he" as I take off my warm wet sock!

She loves to put lotion on herself and others. Especially loves Mama's lipstick/gloss, often rubbing the glitter from it on her hands nose and chin. Yesterday she kept turning off Bubba's movie so I had her put lotion on his feet to keep her occupied until the movie was over.

But her all time favorite activity at home....... Pestering Sadie dog. - Well, when Bubba is unavailable anyways!

Madhava has been being a great big brother. He helps her with washing her hands and getting her toothbrush ready. He has been doing a great job playing with her and sharing his toys even when he doesn't want to. Found him outside pushing her on the swing today! They were both so happy!

Shradda's movie review:

lets just say..... MORE SHOW WHITE!!!!! That would be Snow White. A bit scary in the beginning with the evil witch, but gets better as she gets to laugh at all the funny antics of the dwarfs. Thank you Beckie for that tape!

Can you name all 7 dwarfs?

Elmo's Blanket is also in the top five this week. Actually has been for the past 4 weeks in a row! More commonly known as Elmo in Grouchland but don't tell her that or the Grochketeer in her will rear its furry little head!

Ok.... well, I'm multislacking quite well at the moment, Off to clean house.

Word of the Day

2007-11-17T00:14:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh this is the funniest thing ever - Urban Dictionary
I don't usually blog on or about other sites because it isnt always relevant to our family blog.

But this is just so funny, and relevant anyway because it reflects the slang of the moment.
It also makes the mommy happy and that is a good thing.

bunched November 17
To be upset, or angry and to have one's panties in a bunch.
Sally's bunched because she doesn't have a date to the dance.
Tim's all bunched up because he didn't prepare for the board meeting.

pushing prize November 12
A gift for a new mother, typically an expensive piece of jewellery. "Pushing" refers to labour of childbirth.
So what did she get as a pushing prize?
She got a diamond ring, it's gorgeous!

Remembering summertime

2007-11-15T00:13:00.000-08:00

October 2007

Reminiscing about the lovely summer we had while we were off on our summer sabbatical. (Ok so I just didn’t get to blogging almost all summer!)

Lots of lazy summer days playing in the sprinklers and mud.
Tons of tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplant and watermelon were eaten.
Much more to come from the looks of the garden!

We even made some nice getaway day trips to the coast, and to Avocado Lake.
Enjoyed some festivities during 4th of July and played and played and played outside!
So many good times with our friends!

We stayed cool inside eating Basil tomato sandwiches and fresh fruit smoothies and drinking chocolate mint tea all from our garden. We tried to keep the watermelon eating to picnics in the shade but that is what got us in the whole watermelon gardening mess in the first place! Stray seeds landing in my flowerbeds, grew faster then the flowers and weeds!
They would probably grow right on the cement if we didn’t wash them off our walkways!

And Zucchini! Let’s just say…. Don’t leave your car unlocked or I will stuff a bag of monster sized zucs in your backseat!

One of my favorite memories was resting back on the driveway with Shraddha, watching the clouds passing by and enjoying the summer breezes. We didn’t even need to say a word other than, “wow!”,while we soaked in all the summer sensations. We could smell the flowers, feel the wind, hear the leaves in the trees blowing, and just watch all the beauty all around us up on the top of the hill….. pure bliss.

Family Time!

2007-05-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

I really need to vaccum and steam clean the carpet but everyone in the house is napping but me and the fish and I am not so sure they aren't napping too! So I am sitting down to post about Mother's Day.

But today was a blast! and I need to blog on that first!
We had a busy busy day today! Madhava painted ONE fence post before his arm was going to fall off (from pure boredom).Took longer to prep him to paint then it did for him to get tired of it LOL! Then he took on the job of entertaining Shraddha while Roger and I painted the fence posts. I still think entertaining Shraddha was a much harder job, but more fun. They were playing in the sprinklers and in the kiddie pool. Madhava was trying hard to keep his head above the 1 foot of water while Shraddha the Shark clobbered him. Then after they ate all the watermelon they could stand and were completely waterlogged they rode trikes. That was great fun until Shraddha got too frustrated and demanded Bubba push her around the property in her stroller. 4x4 hopping bumping stroller ride around our gofer holes and dog dirt mounds was screaming fun! The sprinklers that were forgotten were just too tempting for big brother and we ended our outside fun when Shraddha, self strapped into the stroller, was stuck out in the sprinklers. But I was very ready to be done painting fence posts anyway LOL!

Here is Shraddha waking Madhava up after naptime so they can go swing together with Daddy, notice her mouth is open wide so she can scream really loudly - just in case Bubba thought he could go back to sleep.

Mother's Day

2007-05-27T01:31:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day May 13th, 2007
I haven't had a chance to post about my Mother's Day until now. After a nice French Toast breakfast by Roger, we all went outside to play. Ok well, Roger went out to bring our property up to fire code by doing some bushwackin' while Shraddha and I picked wildflower bouquets.

The weeds were so high and thick that we couldn't get to the flowers until a path was cut down at least not without stepping on any snakes! Shraddha was so excited to see the flowers... there were so many that the surrounding hillsides looked purple.

She was even more excited to get a chance to cut the flowers herself.

We broke out the Playdough and our new Mr. Playdough Head parts. One of the best toys we have ever bought! This is serious playtime as you can see, it goes on for almost an hour! The novelty still hasn't worn out she plays with it everyday that we are home.

Shraddha had to try the nose on herself just to make sure it was going to be a good fit.

Mother's Day Orchids!

Playing Opossum

2007-05-27T00:41:00.000-07:00

Madhava was telling me yesterday that he would really like to see a opossum. I explained that they were sure to live out here but that I haven't seen even one. Then, of course, tonight I open my front door to see what the dog is barking at, to find a baby opossum hanging on the fence we put around our lilac tree.

Cutest little thing hissing at me and showing me his/her? 50 teeth when I got too close. But somehow decided it was ok to let me put it in my hat to bring in the house and show Madhava. I just now realized that those huge city sized rats that the dog/cat have been leaving at my front door were not really rats. It seems this opossum's siblings probably played possum and the dog/cat had their fun. This one here was the only one smart enough to climb UP!

Why was this little guy in my yard? I was thinking it was the dog food but since the first "rat" showed up we moved it. But our yard has a plethora of slugs, grasshoppers, frogs, lizards, mice and vegetation. A regular 'possum smorgasbord!

Here is the little marsupial in my hat and everyone but me the cat and dog are asleep. Check out that cute little prehensile tail.

Here are a couple other visitors that are not playing possum. A skink and blue belly lizard.

More posts to come.... Mother's Day pics, Mr. Play-dough Head, More on Potty training.

What am I doing today?

2007-05-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

Well, besides spending lots of playtime and cuddle time with Shraddha, I broke out the paints and started on a picture that has been developing for some time. Shraddha enjoyed watching and painting with me. She went on and on about "Mama paint, Baby paint...MORE PAINT!!!! sigh.... I am cleaning the kitchen, the bathrooms and I hope to get to vacuum and do some yoga oh and finish planting my strawberries and herbs in my strawberry pot... nice and safe from gofers HA! but not babies LOL! I had to turn the A/C on it is HOT in here at 6pm 82 degrees and the sun shinning right in! - usually if I can make it thru 8pm I just need to open the windows.

This week I plan on...

1. hitting the gym - I even have a list of yoga classes.

2. Returning those library books for the kids - would have been cheaper to buy them by this point LOL.

3. Finding some time to play with my yarn.

4. Last and certainly not least.... make sure I have some structured meditation time every day. I certainly am meditative and receive much intuitive info during those times but it isn't structured where I can go deeper into meditation.

Funny how relevant this is with some conversations I have been having lately.

Sai Baba thought of the day...

Evil qualities like desire, anger and hatred may arise in you at times but
they should not be allowed to take root in the mind. When someone comes to your doorstep with his baggage, if you receive him and start exchanging pleasantries, he will immediately enter and settle down in your house. On the other hand, if you ignore him completely, he will seek lodging elsewhere. Likewise, when evil thoughts arise, just ignore them. On the other hand, if you entertain them, they will rule over you. When you come across something evil, do not look at it, talk about it or listen to it; just ignore it. You should permit entry into your mind
only that which is sacred. Do not allow evil to enter. Only then can you attain peace. - Baba

Good Job Shraddha!

2007-05-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

Shraddha pooped in the potty! Whoo HOOOO! I will spare you the pictures on this one.
But if you could just see how proud she was and her beaming smile. Funny how poop can make a mom's day a little brighter!

I gave her a big hug and two stickers. Where did she stick the stickers? Right on her diaper of course.

Family Time!

2007-05-07T00:12:00.000-07:00

I just finally uploaded my pictures to the computer. I had this post saved as a draft since Monday!

Another Big Family Weekend!
May 5 & 6, 2007
Saturday:

Roger cleared out some high grass and made room to get the truck out and room to plant some trees! The grass was so thick and so high that you couldn't see if there were snakes. So it was totally inaccessable to us. And I have had enough of chopping up rattlesnakes for this month!

We purchased some trees that we have been wanting since we moved here!

Fuji Apple, Asian pear (Apple-Pear), Almond, Pomegranet, Cherry and Apricot. Redwood for the front yard.

I still have a bunch of herbs and strawberries to plant and even have some sunflowers starting to pop out of the dirt. I was just thinking it was getting late and I really wanted to get some basil planted when I noticed that all the little weeds where the basil was last year are actually basil seedlings YEAH! I have a TON!

We also went to a carnival for Centerville. I met a friend I haven't seen in 4 years! And remembered why it had been 4 years. Somthing about her husband being my ex's best friend. That is a little hard on a friendship. I think I was the one that just let it go. Plus she abruptly ended the conversation with a patronizing pat on my shoulder when she asked if I was working and I said that I was only working a few hours a week b/c I really wanted to be home with my baby. It is amazing to me how you can be so close to someone and have many of the same values and common interests - until you have children and go in opposite directions.

I am very lucky and happy to have the opportunity to surround myself with moms and friends that are supportive and that have the same parenting ideals that I have.

Sunday:

We went to play at a garden center and purchased some more plants and gofer bate. Blueberry Misty and Thompson seedless grapes YEAH! and chocolate mint YUM!

We decided we want a tree for shading the roof and the front yard but haven't picked it out yet.
Chinese Pistachio, Liquid amber? Ginko, Aspen? Silverdoller eucolyptus? maybe something that flowers? or a ornamental purple red plum? - ah maybe not by the front door. And we want a kumkwat tree and a meyer lemon! roses, jasmine, and gardinia.

I just could barely get the laundry clean and hung out to dry and all the meals (but breakfast) and all the dishes cleaned as well as watering the plants. between all that and babytime and time at the nursery.... I still didnt get the laundry folded. and I am stealing my sleeping time to get caught up on emails some peaceful time alone and blogging.

Ok, time to fly

2007-05-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

That's right, I'm going back to making lists. I've got lists for everything. Nothing seems to get done if it isn't on a list. And why create a list when one has already been made. So, Flylady, hear I come!

I'm also working on a time log so I can figure out where all my time goes. I feel like I bust booty all day sometimes just so see that it looks I did nothing all day.

And I absolutely need to get back to yoga, working out, a regular meditation time and knitting and crochet . It is absolutely amazing how much creativity comes back when your house is in order. (Now to just keep it that way) I keep thinking about getting back to painting and already have the picture in my head.

Oh and blogging. LOL I need to update this page - I still have a snowy pic up there. And believe me it is NOT snowy here right now. Had the A/C running this past week! Tons of wildflower pics and beautiful yellow hills. Have to upload those tomorrow.

Babyfest is over!

2007-04-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

Shraddha loved Gymboree and I was happy to steal some time away to play with her. Usually Daddy gets to take the kids to all the fun entertainment but this weekend he was in Indiana doing a seminar. Shraddha got to be in the Sling Fashion show but wasn't about to wave b/c she didn't want to drop her water!

WHEW! This year I was much more involved and somehow involved in many more projects! But it was a success! It was nice that we could reschedule the fest to this past warm sunny weekend. The weather had it in for us last weekend. We not only got rained out... we were full on WASHED OUT! We retained almost 70% of our vendors for the "re-do" and even had new ones sign up at the last minute! We even had our highest attendance ever with 1000 people.

Now I get to catch up with my house and my family. Roger says I was kidnapped by Babyfest!

Shraddha wasn't exactly selling T-shirts but she was wearing one! It was so warm she was sucking down Evian like crazy! She was even sweet enough to make sure I had some water too. "Mama wawa, Baby wawa"

To learn more about Babyfest see FresnoBabyFest.com

catching up and Shraddha Says

2007-03-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

I have tons of pics to post and tons to say but I am still catching up with my Fresno Babyfest job and the house. Last week I was very busy with work and this week I am really behind.

But I will take a micro moment here to talk about some funny things Shraddha says before I forget.

Yesterday someone said, "Hi cutie" to her and she looked up at the woman and said, "Hi pretty!"

She also calls things that she wants "shrieky". And at times refers to herself as "Shraddhie"

She also asks for Daddy and Bubba in the afternoon. And she looks at me to wait for an answer. Then is sooooo sad when I tell her that Bubba is with his other mommy.

Good news is that I have been able to leave Shraddha with Beckie now 2 or 3 times without all the crying and screaming for Mamma and Dadda!

Back to Babyfesting and Homekeeping.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

Mad Libs?

2007-03-17T00:03:00.000-07:00

Whatever happened to my last post - I will never know. It looks like Mad Libs or well it did till now. That used to be my favorite game... It always cracked me up, but I had not intended that on this blog LOL. Communication difficulty anyone? Problem? what communication problem.

I know I _________ the words but you just didn't ___________know what I mean?

Well, all is better now. LOL. at least the words are in place now... it may still need deciphering though, especially for those with less estrogen.

Here is my drive home. Can you believe there is still snow in the mountains when it is 88 degrees outside? There are actually tons of wildflowers now! Can't wait to get those pics up!

Family Time!

2007-03-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful weekend here again. Sunday was 80 degrees! How odd. It is supposed to still be cold and rainy with chances of snow LOL! It was so warm the kids were playing with the water-hose. watering the weeds, the mud, the house, the dog and eachother. We played with bubbles too but the hose was way more fun.

We went to Sunday service and started Madhava back in Buddhist Sunday School. Both kids enjoyed the Family Dharma Service and even Shraddha was singing along and participated in the sermon by demonstrating peek-a-boo with the speaker in front of the Sanga. Of course, she just looked at the speaker then hid her face in Daddy's chest.

Here is the Blue-tailed Skink that Madhava found. Unfortunately, the only picture that was in focus was the one after the little skink lost the last 2 inches of his cobalt blue tail!

Saturday we ventured across the street to look for the stream and waterfall that we hear all the time. We found a stream under the grass we were walking on. Madhava and Roger holding Shraddha slid down the side of a granite slab in a muddy slimy grassy water slide. A fallen tree stopped them from sliding the whole way down. Then Sadie went tromping up to them and slid down the slimy stream getting her head stuck under the tree. (I can still hear her "Scooby" feet trying to get traction LOL!) Her feet were slipping as she was trying to reverse out from under the tree and I was way back in a safe dry spot laughing at that goofy dog. I was laughing too much to snap the picture!

Then we found ourselves in a poison oak jungle! After we escaped that mess unscathed, we sat on the side of the hill picking flowers. What a fun adventure! We all slept for hours - well, everyone but Madhava he rested while watching hours of Scooby-doo! "Like that was fun! he he he he he he"

Shraddha is 21 months.

If you lay down with dogs....

2007-03-08T22:59:00.000-08:00

It was another beautiful day here. Mid 70's and just right for gardening while Shraddha was playing with the dog and the water hose.

I was clearing weeds to prep for planting seeds and getting some much needed exercise and sun. Shraddha was just having a blast with the cat and the dog and the dirt. I was thinking how wonderful it is that she has so much to explore outside and she is being entertained without me, yeah! Until I looked back and noticed the dog digging in the dirt to make a nice soft cool damp place to sleep and Shraddha doing the same thing! She was using her feet to dig then laid down next to the dog. The dog is socializing my baby? That can't be a good thing. Thank goodness for advantix!

Shraddha's World

2007-03-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

I found Shraddha busy nursing Elmo while watching Caillou and Rosie. I wasn't sure at first until she asked if he wanted the other side LOL!

She is on my lap nursing at the moment but let go to sing Elmo's world with her word for nurse. "me-me meme me-me meme Shraddha's world."

Here is the belt I crocheted for Shraddha in Gumdrop from Peaches & Cream

Ok, I think I'm done blogging today. Gotta eat, fold and wash, and other mommy and baby things to catch up on.

Adventures in Co-Sleeping with Shraddha

2007-03-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

After spending half the day with Daddy, little Shraddha was completely worn out. She had no nap all day and was fighting a cold. She fell asleep on the way home but woke up as soon as we took her out of her car seat and said, "movie, movie, movie!" Daddy obliged and Shraddha was happy, at least until the movies were over and it was 11pm! She was full from nursing and still not asleep.
We took her to bed anyways and she was happy with getting under the covers and getting warm. But just as we were about to fall asleep she jumps up and says, "movie, movie, movie". We tell her it is night-night time. We sing her a song. She rests for a minute then jumps on our heads and says, "MO-MO, MO-MO....da-da? mo-mo dada MO-MO" (mo-mo = Elmo)
Again we tell her time to go to sleep. You can watch more movies in the morning. She then jumps between us and starts singing "ba ba baba ba ba baba...." All of a sudden Roger and I start laughing realizing she is singing the tune to Elmo's World. We sing along with her.
She eventually falls asleep using my face as her pillow.

Shraddha teaches Daddy signs

2007-03-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

Shraddha got to spend the day with Daddy while I was at work for a few hours. She had a blast, and got to goto the park with Daddy. She used signs to tell Daddy that she wanted an apple and when he said, "Sorry Baby, but I don't know what that means."
She said, "apple" while twisting her fist to her cheek.
Daddy said "oh, apple"
Shraddha nods enthusiastically. After Daddy hands her the apple she taps the apple and says, "Dada, apple" as she signs it again and taps his hand.
Daddy makes the sign for apple and baby nods enthusiastically again and claps and says, "yeah, dada!"

About work: It is going ok. I enjoy helping people and certainly need the cash. But I hate being away from my baby especially on a day like today where she was sick and just needed Mama. She started crying as soon as she realized that I would be leaving for work and she would be staying with Daddy without me. UGH it kills me.

Big Bad Beautiful Storm

2007-03-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

Ok so we were told it would be a big storm with 55mph winds and 15 inches of snow at 3000 ft. It may have been impassable at 4K ft, but her in Squaw Valley, there wasn't much rain or snow. But the clouds were spectacular!

I was up late Monday

night doing who knows what LOL! and I heard it rain and hail a little then all of a sudden it was deathly quiet outside. I opened the front door and got blasted with a whole face full of snow. I felt like I was in a snow globe. It is just so weird how snow makes no noise.

Just before the storm... Can you spot the Thunderheads?

Here is how it looked after the storm in the early morning before the sun hit the mountains.

So tell me, after seeing this picture, do you still wonder why I want to get up early, or why I want to live WAAAY out here in Squaw Valley and drive so far to work?

Family Time!

2007-02-25T00:52:00.000-08:00

Sunday was Family Day again!
We were all ready to go to play in all the fresh new snow but Shraddha was too sniffely and feverish. So we stayed home and cleaned house. I even got a chance to steam clean the carpet.

Daddy made another yummy breakfast and we played outside for a little while between rain showers, until it got too cold. Brrrrr!

So we did lots of other rainy day things, like build with mega blocks, play with playdoh on Doh-Doh Island LOL! We also read some books, painted with watercolors and took a nap! A LONG NAP! Even Mommy got to catch a few winks while Shraddha was nursing and the cat was on both of us, purring and drooling.

Saturday was so much fun too!
After having a yummy French Toast breakfast from Daddy, Madhava and Shraddha played together and Madhava asked me to take this picture. Don't forget to include the new Bionicle toy from PopPop.

We packed up the car, including the dog and went to play with some friends at The Discovery Center and had Taco Bell there too. After which we went to Woodward Park and fed the geese and ducks our stale old bread.

Our picky little eater, Madhava, the one that doesn't really want to eat anything unless at least 50% of the calories come from SUGAR, was begging and begging for us to let him eat the old-nasty-frozen-for-6-months-heels! Funny how he is trying out all the different techniques for how to convince us to give him what he wants. He made the rounds at the park....almost calmly he would say, "I'm sorry but... I really want to do that!". Then there is getting mad and not taking another step until he gets it. Then there is....crying, I don't want to do anything, you guys are mean, I am the most neglected and abused child there ever was. Next comes getting grumpy and taking it out on sister or the dog with lots of little passive things. Until we tell him to stop asking and find a way to acknowledge him then distract him. That works, at least until he finds something else he can't do like swim with the ducks in the dirty, stinky duck pond! LOL! When it is 50 degrees outside! Ha ha ha that's a good one Madhava! "I'm sorry but I wasn't kidding...."

It snowed again!

2007-02-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

This time it snowed it was Thursday night at 3am after a bout of rain and hail. It was fun waking up Friday (2/23/07) to a couple inches of snow. It was even more fun having hot water for a shower - in the morning! No frozen pipes yeah! And even better yet.... the snow melted on the road before I had to be on it!

This pic is from Tuesday I was raking the sticker burr weeds I just pulled up and noticed Shraddha and Zoey were playing a game of cat and mouse. Apparently, Zoey got tired of being the mouse and ran for cover on the other side of the fence! What was she gonna do to the "mouse" with that bucket anyway?

Well, while I was tearing out all the weeds (furiously I might add) I was dreaming of what I will be planting in the Spring. Right about the time I had giant sunflowers, flax and amaranth and fragrant herbs on my mind I almost fell knee deep into a gofer den! All that snow we got, that super hard freeze we had that lasted a week or more and the gofers and the weeds just flourished! Well, maybe that means that we will have TONS of wild flowers! I can't kill those! at least as long as I am not taking care of them and as long as the gofers aren't interested in them LOL!

Happy Valentines Day!

2007-02-24T23:50:00.000-08:00

Ok so this is a late post. So sue me LOL! I forgot to put this pic up. Shraddha was very impressed with her outfit and especially loved her pink tights with hearts and flowers.

It was fun getting ready for the Valentines party Madhava went to at The Discovery Center. The whole family got to sit down at the table and be involved with making Valentines. Shraddha made it known that she was NOT being included enough at least not on anything as important. And was very happy to be handed a marker and a glue stick! I even made cupcakes with a frosting heart on top!

So is this the happiest little girl or what? She just loves her Bubba and was very happy to get a special hug from him for Valentines! Good thing Mama had the camera ;)

First big run of seminars...

2007-02-16T23:45:00.000-08:00

Roger is in Indiana! He just traveled all night long and then went to a school to get their students to sign up for a seminar. They did. He then drove another 2 hours before he got to visit with another school owner and then go to sleep.

We have been so busy planning and preparing for this. And we are just so excited to finally be following through with our seminar plans.

Bummer is that the checked bags are lost. Funny thing is that I busted my booty buying, returning and exchanging clothes for him for the trip. Iron all the shirts, packed all the ties....etc... and the bags are lost. Too funny. So instead, he wears his scrubs. But scrubs and staying up all night, and he still makes an awesome impression on everyone.

Today, Shraddha and I got to stay home and just be. It was nice. I was scheduled to work but Beckie and her kids are all too sick and Roger is out of town, so we stay home.

Shraddha sucked down the fruit and yogurt smoothie I made and inhaled all the french toast. Well, so I thought. I picked up her tray to find half of it stuffed under it. She was full after nursing that smoothie.

Many times today she pretended Daddy was coming in the door. She was also asking for Bubba. I try being honest with her but i hate seeing her so sad when I say they will be here in a few days. So we went outside and made the best sandcastles because the sand was still wet from the rain. It was so nice and warm and sunny. It felt like 70 degrees. And Roger is stuck in 6-19 degree weather, at least the blizzard left before he got there. We also watched movies and played with the mega blocks....one of her top favorite toys.

I have a toddler poncho on the needles in light pink with some frilly fun fur for Shraddha. I also have a hat on the loom for Roger. And a scarf on the needles for Madhava. I did not start all of this today but I figure if I blog about it then maybe I will find time to finish the items. I am the most excited about the poncho at the moment. I just figured out how I am going to make it! Might need more yarn though.

2007-02-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

Today Shraddha is 20 months old! She is doing better with me being at work today. Although, she isn't at all happy with it, she is making the best out of it with Daddy's and Bubba's help. And, of course Beckie somehow finds enough love and attention and fun time to go around. Pretty soon I bet Shraddha will let us remove her jacket while she is there! LOL.

Beckie's Sadie just loves Shraddha, and puppy's her LOL. She just loves to cuddle up to Shraddha for pets and hugs and kisses.

Beckie was telling me some of the funny things Madhava says to her..."You know...my Dad is a great spiritual teacher! (pause) and a monkey man!"
He also refers to Shraddha as "my baby". He recently decided to start speaking "Baby" and often forgets his "R" sounds just for fun. He says "I like to use my baby wo-ds for my baby".
- also explaining to me that he speaks like that so that "baby" can undastand him betta"

Shraddha is signing things like..."pretty colors", and "loud", she knows some of her colors. She signs and says "WUUUV EW' - for I love you. She loves Caillou but since she couldn't figure out how to say his name she said, "Rosie" (Caillou's baby sister). She also now says bee-bee for big bird, "AHM(taking a big bite out of the air) Yum-Yum for Cookie Monster. She also now requests, "me-may" for The Little Mermaid and "Shreik" Mooovie. She NEVER forgets to say, "Bye Saaaadie, Bye....See you!", whenever we drive away from home. She also always gives the kitties a big hug and kiss in the morning. Since the rain started she says and signs "wet and rain"....

Speaking of rain.... It just started pouring... I think the snow will be coming down to 5-6,000 ft tonite. Wow not just pouring... make that pounding! I'll log off now before I lose phone and electricity! Off to find candles!

Angela

Just let me finish this row!

2007-02-11T23:36:00.000-08:00

Ok so the title isn't original LOL! But I do love to knit and I would love to figure out a way to find more time to knit without experiencing knitus interuptus. At least not having to put down my work in the middle of a row or for heaven sake in the middle of a stitch and then to come back and find that the Dog/cat/baby/son, became as enthralled in my work as me.

There is something about knitting though. It isn't like photography, or painting or drawing. It really isn't that permanent. There is comfort in the fact that we can, if we so choose, rip it out cause it is hideous and start fresh. Where else in life can you have a mulligan or redo like that?

In order to combat the overwhelming amount of weed seedlings flooding our property (we are talking full on green property spam here!), we are considering getting a goat or a sheep. All I can think about is all the free wool yarn or angora goat yarn. Of course that would involve carding and cleaning and who am I kidding?

Where's the Sandman when I need him?

2007-02-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, so that is how she looks when she is sleeping? I seem to have forgotten, since it has been so long since she has actually slept!

It's 11pm and Mommy and Daddy are exhausted b/c last night Baby would wake up and cry - not wanting to be touched then fall back asleep every hour or so, and Bubba with his asthma was coughing almost all night long needing numerous medications and treatments.

Time to go to bed baby... "no"

Mama and Dada are going to turn off the lights and go to bed.....(baby turns off lights and crawls in bed and just as my head almost hits the pillow......"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Come on baby, let's have me-mes.... "no, MOVIE!"

"MOVIE MAMA MOVIE!!!"

Mama can't take anymore.... Mama puts on a short movie, hoping to fall asleep on the couch while baby falls asleep in the chair. Baby Einstein, she hasn't watched that in a while.

"MAMA! MAMA! MAMA!" Terrified little baby runs to me covering her face with a blanket and her hands on her ears. You'd think I put in Scooby Doo by mistake! Oh wait, THAT scarey show, she likes. Monsters, Inc.? nope, she loves that one too! It's definitely Baby Einstein, scaring the diapers off my baby. I'm totally perplexed here.

Makes me wonder how much she is NOT appreciating me going back to work - even if just for 8 hours. It means I am away from her for at least 5 hrs each day that I work. That just sucks!

This morning as we were getting ready I told her, "Today, Mommy is going to go to work..."

Before I could finish the sentence I get a really loud shrill "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

I wasn't really thinking she could understand what I was talking about. Then when I went to leave Beckie's she sticks out her lower lip and gives me a really sad face and refuses to look at me. Boy was she mad. I know she has a good time there with the kids and I know that Beckie and Danielle give her lots of attention. I just can't help feeling like I am really letting her down.

Ha! Five minutes of Signing Times video and she brings her blanket to me and asks for me-mes. Five more minutes of nursing and she sleeps while I blog.

Off to take my precious princess to bed...

Finally a full sized Blog

2007-02-03T12:08:00.000-08:00

Now I have one more thing to cross off my list of things to do this year! I just updated my template and now have a full sized Blog... YAHOO!

So watch out! that means more pics and bigger pics!
It also means what ever stupid thing I have to say will be spread out all over the screen. great.
I think I'll go replenish my blood sugar before I continue.

Besides I have to get back to dishes and diapers and laundry, while my little princess sleeps.

Back to work

2007-02-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

Just started back to work on Monday. I'm only working 8 hours or so a week. And Shraddha is enjoying her time with Beckie and playing with Danielle and Jack-Jack. She was giving Beckie hugs yesterday, and believe me.... not everyone gets hugs! She tries to say Danielle and Jack-jack.

The otherday I was at Beckie's house and Shraddha was asking "Mama? Mama? I want Danielle."

Work is kinda weird for me right now. I am trying to figure out what MY role is... or what will be important to me. In the past case management has been very important to me. I would even stay late to make sure everything was taken care of before I left. Now, Mothering my children is most important and I am leaving exactly on time.

I have very much enjoyed getting back intouch with a friend of mine. It seems I am replacing her as she is out on maternity. I really love her theory on being a per dium PT at a SNF. Usually (as case managers) we are pressured into seeing what the patient can do for us. No significant progress.... means no reimbursement... which means no further PT. But Kyndra's thoughts are, "What can I do for the patient?" That's IT! That is the exact reason I became a P.T. Not to be the intrument for the contracting company(AKA PT Pimps) or the SNF. I realized THAT is the very reason I have turned down so many other great paying jobs in this field. This is the theory that we use at our office but it feels good figuring how to apply it to inpatients too.

Momentary Mom Time

2007-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

What am I up to?

At this very moment I am taking a break from deleting old emails. Found a few important ones that got lost in all the junk. Why didn't my spam folder catch the junk? Oh that is easy, That is because I signed up for the junk or already answered the important stuff but didn't take the time to file it into another folder. Down to 905 from 1024! WHOO hoo!

Shraddha is sleeping nicely on the floor near my feet. She is all wrapped up in her fuzzy pink blanket and working on cutting a few more teeth. I found an eye tooth peeking thru today.

Yesterday when I was changing her diaper, she noticed that I dumped the solid contents of her diaper into the toilet and flushed. Shraddha says, "Bye-bye, bye-bye poo-poo. See you..."

LOL "see you?" like "see you later?" I really really hope not!

What I want to be doing?

Besides getting this house cleaned up, I want to work on the layout of this blog... but all that takes time. And since we are woodland folk, up in them thar hills... we have slow slow slow dial-up and that makes anything on the internet very very slow...

I would also just love to have some more time to knit or crochet. I can catch up on reading while nursing but other than that, my time is baby's time. And since I feel so blessed to have her, and since time seems to just fly by... I just want to play and sing and cuddle with her and enjoy the here and now.

Madhava's mini interview

2007-01-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

What is your favorite movie? Scooby Doo

What is your favorite toy? What my favorite toy is one of my Transformers
What do you like to do with your family? Go Outside and play and go to Target and play with toys.
What is your favorite color? Red
What is your favorite thing to do with Shraddha? Play in sandbox
What is your favorite thing to do with your dog Sadie ? Play fetch
What is your favorite book? Frosty the Snowman
If you could go anywhere in the whole world where would you go? Target, Disneyland and India.

The Journey

2007-01-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

There is no WAY to happiness.

Happiness is the WAY,

So treasure evey moment you have

and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special,

Special enough to spend your time with.

Remember time waits for no one.

Happiness is a journey not a destination.

Of course it always helps to surround yourself with Giggle Goddesses and Doodle Buddies and MONTY PYTHON!

The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama

Family Snow Day!

2007-01-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

It's Family Day again!

We still have small patches of snow! that is 14 days since the last snow day!
But not enough snow to really play in so this weekend we went up to 7000ft up by Kings Canyon and found a foot or two. That is just enough to go sledding! The sled is a perfect way to get the kids back up the mountain and back to the car too! Shraddha had a blast riding on Bubba's back while he held on the sled, all the way back to the car.

Shraddha is 19 months and LOVES to slide down the snow with Daddy. I am afraid that my screaming down the mountain isn't quite as fun for her. Madhava (5yrs) got to slide down all by himself this time! He even learned how to bale out to keep from crashing! And Sadie loves to run down along with us while all three of us slide. She has a blast in the snow. And of course we all sat and enjoyed a bit of a winter fresh snow cone including Sadie! Silly dawg was chasing snow balls but ate them while bringing them back to us.

We all went to bed early that day, but we plan on going up to the snow more often... as soon as we get more LOL!

More Frosty Fun!

2007-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

Swamini

2007-01-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

From an interview with Clea McDougall, Ascent magazine, Spring 2006:
Clea McDougall: You are the spiritual leader of your Ashram in Southern California. How did you become a teacher?

Swamini Turiyasangitananda:
It started with taking the sannyas. That was a total mystical experience. It was God's deliverance of His anointed mercy on me. I was told the night and time, and to be prepared, so I got ready and put on a white dress and all, and I noticed when the time came, the colors of orange were poured into the cloth of the dress. And I just watched it happen. I just watched as everything turned into the saffron color. And my name was given, of course, and the whole outline of the duty, the work and mission were also revealed.
One of the directives given to me was to start the Ashram. I felt I could serve in any way that God wished. If He wants you to do charity work or humanitarian work or however He wishes to utilize you, maybe just talking or giving musical concerts is fine. Many people have a musical ministry. Whatever was ordered, I would have been happy to receive.

http://www.alicecoltrane.org/index.html

Here are some samples from her recent album:
Hymn
Satya Sai Isha

"Alice Coltrane was the most humble, spiritually profound person I have ever known. She was my meditation teacher; and, for years I have prepared for this day. All I wanted was to have the spiritual clarity to continue in God's will after her leaving the physical plane (January 12, 2007); and, I have that now. For this I am eternally grateful. I love her with all my heart, my spiritual mother. And, my communication with her is not over. Om." - Roger

Holy Frozen Flurries Batman

2007-01-13T00:16:00.000-08:00

(This pic was taken the next morning AFTER the snow plow drove by!)

It is COLD! We had our first real snow. Over 2 inches and looking at the temp of 24-27 degrees at 8pm... the snow is likely to stay. The road was so frozen over that I couldn't get the car up over our hill and around the corner to our driveway. Something about the slippery slope into a rocky ravine really freaked me out. The nice icy slope up the measly little curb didn't make me feel much better either! I wanted to just walk the 600 ft but that was almost as bad. Ever tried walking up hill on ice? When Roger was placing the chains on his car (thank goodness he was right behind me), he leaned on his car to keep from slipping and the whole car slipped a bit! When I left home this morning it took a little while to melt the frost off the window. The frost was so thick the frost had frost. At 8am it was clear and sunny and appeared to be warming up. Tons of stars tonite and no clouds anywhere. I guess that is why they call it flurries LOL.

ok, taking my frosty self to bed.

Sleepless in Squaw Valley

2007-01-06T23:01:00.000-08:00

Shraddha was soooo tired when we got home last night and so was I so we went to bed relatively early. She was in a light sleep....THEN Daddy came home LOL. She got her second wind and in an attempt to compensate for how tired she was she went WACKO! Running around screaming and laughing. I was still in bed when I could hear Roger pleading with Shraddha to come to bed.

After 20 min or so of me being exhausted and Shraddha doing nursing aerobics and jumping back and forth over me to be with Daddy then to nurse(with Mommy LOL) then beat on Daddy then sleep on Mommy's head.... I gave up and gave in. "Hey Baby....You wanna watch Elmo?" It worked like a charm. She watched Elmo and Mommy slept. When it was over she came back to bed and went to sleep somewhere around midnight.

So I'm still tired and so is Roger. Only he is far more tired because he gave up at the same time I did and went to sleep in Madhava's room. And then Madhava woke up around 4:30 am. I have to laugh... this is like some sort of torcher test right?...like for the CIA? Is it passwords that you want? My cell phone # for telemarketers? Whatever it is I will give it up just let me SLEEEEEEEEP. I'm so weak LOL.

Tonite I was just thinking about watching a little bit of ANYTHING BUT ELMO before I went to bed. But how can I resist....Mama Mama? Mo-Mo Mo-Mo? PEEEEAAAASE? with her head cocked to the side and leaning forward looking into my eyes with the perfect pleading expression on her face? Where did she learn that? NO FAIR.....

La la la la La la la la Elmo's World....

Pics.... Madhava's Choice

2006-12-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Halloween Jamboree cookie eating contest with the twin spidies.

2% Sugar and spice and everything nice, 98% Breastfed! Shraddha 16 months.

This is ZOEY 2 years old, and this is MOUSEY 19 years old.
Madhava on top of the WORLD!
Shraddha bouldering on a mini boulder! 17 months

Blue Butterflies on the Basal and other "B" things from this fall.

2006-11-29T15:06:00.000-08:00

Our Basal plants (which almost froze last night) were full of bees and these little blue butterflies. They were so much fun to watch this summer and fall. Shraddha added bees and butterflies to her vocabulary.

Shraddha (16 months here) very much enjoys playing at the beach. She would have a blast playing just in the sand and not even notice the water! But once she did notice the water she made a B-line to it! And would stay in the water until her lips were blue!

BAD Sadie...
Many people this fall were raking up leaves, not me. I was busy raking up bits of foam from a cushion that Sadie enjoyed tearing up. There was so much foam that it filled up a 55 gallon trash can!

Began kindergarten!
This fall Madhava was selected from his preschool class to start kindergarten early. He is doing a great job learning to read and to say all kinds of colorful words.

Bouldering with Bubba! We love spending time climbing on and around the big boulders!

Birdie watching and chasing at the beach. This is one of Shraddha's signs for bird.

Pumpkins & Spiders!

2006-11-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

We have eight pumpkins the largest was about 7 inches high. And today is the very last day they could grow. It was the first official frost .... Make that a real freeze! Some of the littlest ones on the vine were pretty frozen and the vine and leaves were all crunchy...As well as the tomatoes. Anyone have any good fried green tomato recipes?

Here is a tarantula just passing through our front yard. Both the baby and the dog were quite uneasy about this little guy... (little HA HA HA) I put him in an old fish tank for the day until Madhava got a chance to take a look at him and let him go. I had to keep it in the garage (with a huge rock on top of it) to keep Shraddha from whining about it. Isn't it funny how naturally we are afraid of spiders?

Mindfulness Meditation and Mothering

2006-10-29T01:43:00.000-08:00

I study and practice mindfulness meditation and have needed to develop and expand my abilities to keep up with my two little spiritual teachers. I just wanted to share some of what I have learned. If you are not ready to learn about meditation

... then this is NOT the post to read.

It is quite difficult for me when I see so many people suffering from stress and anxiety when they have the choice. I want to reach out and help by helping them to learn that they have a choice. However, it seems, what they feel they need is just an empathetic ear and not a lecture. I can understand that, and have needed to borrow someones ear for a while. However it is not the talking about the problem that is the problem. The problem is the anxiety and stress and unhappiness that is overflowing all over the place. I certainly am not saying that I am perfect. They call meditation a practice and that is what you do with it. Practice over and over until it becomes part of you. Then there will be the challenges and tests… helping you to learn more about yourself and realize that the limitations you put on your abilities are just an illusion. Some tests are much harder than others and I have certainly allowed the rug to be pulled out from under me a number of times. Then there are the processes that we just need to go through whether or not you believe it is a teaching that you chose before this lifetime or karma or just a unfortunate event. And then there is the realization that life goes on no matter how you choose to respond to it.

Mindfulness Meditation is when you decide to be watchful and attentive to where your mind is going and to realize that you are the master of your thoughts. Thoughts can become actions and feelings if we so choose to allow that. Or thoughts can be like clouds floating in the sky above you. For example, a dark cloud can blow over you and say, “what if I don’t make rent this month?” You can point at it and say, “Hmm. Look at that thought. That’s interesting, but it is just a passing thought.” ,then let it keep floating away. Or you can sit and analyze it and stress and wonder about the rent and money. I am not saying that you shouldn’t think about your finances. I am just saying that your clouding your mind with it for hours or throughout the day is not helpful.

Your first meditation will involve many distractions. Thoughts will cloud your mind, your mind will try to take over and tell you that it is too noisy or too hot/cold or you are too sleepy/hungry/thirsty. Your mind will lead you to believe that you don’t have time or you are just not cut out for this. THAT is an illusion. That is your mind liking status quo because that is what it knows. That is your mind acknowledging and knowing that something has to change. You have to decide that this is what you are going to do. Instead of making excuses and apologies you need to acknowledge that it is an illusion and decide to meld meditation into your day and your being.

Once you decide to sit down and start practice, it helps to acknowledge the senses. “Oh look…there was another sound/thought/feeling.”, then let it pass like a cloud overhead. When this happens, know that you are not doing it wrong. This is normal. Soon, with practice, it will become easier.

If your mind is really racing you can start with focusing on something peaceful… a picture, a memory, a statue. At times I would focus on a candle or the stream of smoke coming from the incense stick and my breathing. There are more specific instructions that I won’t go into now. Oh by the way…sitting in the spa drinking beer while listening to jazz is not meditating…. It’s chillin’ LOL! It is certainly necessary to relax the body. But just because the body is relaxed and the mind is numbed… doesn’t mean you have found peace.

Centering…
You can start to apply this even before you master it.
You take your peaceful thought, your happy memory and when you feel that you are loosing your peace you stop and refocus on that thought. You experience all of it. You utilize all of your senses to remember it. Then you go on with your day. At first you will do this all the time. But after some practice you will stay centered longer.

Some practices that helped me were yoga and throwing clay. It seems for me, it is far too difficult to stay balanced in yoga or to center my clay when I wasn’t centered or balanced, and I was letting stress or thoughts overrun my mind. Being healthy in all other areas of my life also helped tremendously. Exercise, sleep and eating healthy all help with your practice and give you the best opportunity to find your peace.

You can be physically busy, watching your children, cleaning your house or getting ready to walk out the door, but your mind doesn’t need to be moving as quickly as you. Your mind can be peaceful and you can allow your shoulders to relax and the tension to drain out of you. Life will happen. There will be traffic, there will be flat tires, there will be bumps in the road. That is just normal. That is just life and you need to allow yourself the realization that you can choose how you will respond to those bumps.

If you choose to routinely respond with stress, anxiety, worry, anger, frustration…. Then that is how you will feel. That is how your friends will view you and that is what your children will feel from you. It will spill out all over everyone you know. Even if you think you are keeping it to yourself. You can put on a happy face but you can’t fool your spiritual teachers. Children are intuitive in ways we can hardly comprehend.

Practice and be open to new ways to allow the clouds to fly by. Ohm Shanti.

TV Time

2006-10-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Madhava 4 1/2 yrs., Shraddha (was 15 months in pic NOW 16 months!) Watching Baby Einstien.

Ok, since this blog is meant to be a type of journal/scrapbook of our family it is fitting to discuss the stuff that just seems so silly to me right now....TV. I know years from now it will be interesting stuff but it is just really silly to me now. First off we USED to have cable (digital even!) Oh how wonderful that was when I was on bedrest with Shraddha and I had an on-screen TV/cable guide and could just click on the shows I wanted to watch!

No, cable for us woodland folks. The techs actually laugh when you ask when it will be available. Apparently, we are lucky the phone and electricity work most of the time. That is... it works when the woodpeckers and squirrels and snowfall and lightening don't interrupt the service LOL!

Anyways.... back to the shows we watch.
Not much really these days. We only have a few channels so I end up watching things I wouldn't normally have. However, this only happens when I am nursing Shraddha to sleep or making dinner.

Game shows.... Deal or no Deal. This is really quite boring, yet I can't seem to turn away.
There is a new one I was just watching not sure of the name but they say "do you want the money or the mob?" Now that was good. It is kind of like the "Do you want to be a millionaire show".

The amazing race, I do tend to miss this one alot. I like the traveling but I just don't like the reality tv arguing/drama/stategy thing. But it is on my list to watch tomorrow night....Sunday 8pm CBS ch47

Studio60 It is a docu-drama show simulating the filming of SNL and full of dry humor. Wow just found out I can download Ghost Hunters from that site! LOVE that show! We like House too, but it is either on too late or the reception is not very good.

So that brings me to the shows I miss from not having cable.... Ghost Hunters, anything DIY, National geographic, and other Discovery/history/Nature Chanels or shows. But between BlockBuster and Netflix.com we are set.

Netflix.com rocks by the way. I can rent many of the shows that I don't get anymore only no commercials and I have pause and fast forward. (by the way, I'm sticking out my tongue to those of you with DVRs/Tivo you know who you are! I am so jealous!). We are getting caught up on House, Ghost Hunters, and now get to start watching Kratt's, Be the Creature. As well as watching music documentaries. JAZZ, Blues, and Rock&Roll.
Roger just rented this wonderful movie about a woman musician that was deaf but could hear sounds by vibration and is a world renown percussionist. Do I remember her name or the name of the movie...NO! gotta look that one up. Touch the Sound: A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie (2005). This is a definate must see - both Madhava and Shraddha loved it.

Almost forgot to mention football. NFL. 49ers Fan here but I also like to follow the Raiders, Broncos, and Chargers (not that I really have time to 'follow' them LOL!) Just about any professional football game is fun for us, sometimes basketball. You won't find me watching baseball unless it is little league!

Our all time favorite shows to watch are American Idol and Rock Star (You have to see their site!). The kids even get into watching those shows.

Counting baby pumpkins

2006-10-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Counting pumpkins…..
Are these little baby pumpkins?
Wow! This little plant is taking off!
6 little ones all together

And an unexpected little bloom! Of course the plants that I didn't plant will grow beautifully! - Well, I had high hopes for that little weed I was watering. LOL!
I believe this is a purple aster. Ok time to get my aster back to folding clothes!

Our Anniversary

2006-10-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to US! Three whole years woo-hoo! Time to head back to Yosemite! Wow, how beautiful was that day? It was one of my favorite memories. We even had a coyote come to the ceremony.

Ok… lost in lovely memories …. More blogging later.

Pumpkins are winning!

2006-10-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

Well, at least the varmits haven't found them yet or the pumpkins grow faster then the gophers can eat them. These 3 plants shown here were only planted about a month ago! The leaves are bigger than 2 of Shraddha's heads! These are called Sweetie Pies - cooking pumpkins. But the leaves are different on each plant. One is all green, one is varigated and one is almost white.

Today we have some enormous pumpkin flowers and a little bee buzzing away inside the flower.

Ahh, nice sleeping baby.

Blogging baby pic and blast from the past

2006-10-10T23:01:00.000-07:00

Shraddha insists on blogging with me tonight. I have been trying to wait for her to fall asleep but so far it isn't happening before I am too exhausted. I got this cute pic and now I wish I had taken it in a higher resolution because it is such a good pic!

She was so upset when I wasn't home after tucking Madhava into bed and singing night-night songs. Roger says she went to the door and cried Mama Mama Mama for a while before she settled down to watch TV with Daddy. Apparently she was just fine when they all went to Red Robin for dinner. Wonder if she got to have her own bowl of mac & cheese or if she was eating her brother's instead? Last week Madhava was having to share his macaroni and cheese and was sad watching Baby eat it all....., "Oh, I hope she leaves some for me!"

I was having fun rocking out on the drive home. My ears are still ringing from blasting, "Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)" by Offspring. You know this song was released 12 years ago?! Man, seems like yesterday I was just blasting this in my dorm room. Way back when WWW didn't really exist and I was typing on a word processor, not a computer. When I was really buff and would roll my eyes at guys asking if I needed help carrying my bike up 3 flights of steps, "Do I look like I need help?" Yes, my bike slept in my dorm-room with me. Way back when I was exhausted trying to keep up with all my reading and homework.... dreaming of the day when there was no more homework. HA HA HA HA!

Now, I'm blogging while nursing my baby, surrounded by piles of homework. At least this isn't the kind of homework that someone else gets credit for after all my hard research. Now I would LOVE if someone noticed that I needed help and offered to help me. My baby sleeps next to me instead of the bike and I enjoy shopping for cloth diapers online. If anyone ever tried to tell me that this is what my life would be like I would have laughed. And I still laugh now knowing that I wouldn't want it any other way.

ahhhh silence

2006-09-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

Sleep deprived and oh so tired but not as tortured as Tina is now or Tyren for that matter (poor baby). Way too tired to sleep. Just awake enough to jot some incoherent thoughts down until my mind catches up with the rest of my body and goes to sleep.

But who could sleep when Halloween and autumn (my favorite time of the year) are so near? There is so much to do.

Shraddha and Madhava both slept for 4 hrs today... the exact same 4 hrs! Is this the Twilight Zone? No no no... this must be a dream LOL!

I have so much to post but not tonight. Just a bunch of complete nothingness. I seem to all of a sudden become enormously busy. Scouts, Communication Seminar, Halloween Party, and I am sure there is something Babyfest that I could/should be working on. Oh I forgot that I was gonna drop the should's. Usborne is also on the list. Nothing immediate happening with that but it continues to take up RAM in my brain.

My house is demonstrating the state of my mind at the moment. Of course it doesn't help that Shraddha prefers to throw all the clean laundry out of the basket (folded or not) onto the floor. What is it with the books? Leave all of her 40 books on the floor and there they stay where she left them..... for days even. But if I dare to put them neatly back in the bookcase.... they only stay there for mere moments.

Ok all systems seem to be equalizing now.... off to bed.

Before you speak, THINK
Is it necessary?
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Will it hurt anyone?
Will it improve on the silence?
Sathya Sai Baba

I have to laugh because I am sure glad this post wasn't taking up precious silence.

I did however very much enjoy all the great laughs at the communication class. Thanks Beckie you crack me up!

ugh! blog issues

2006-09-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

After my last post my sidebar didn't line up anymore. Apparently my pictures were too wide or something wierd happened so I am going to redo that post - working on that now. I may need to repost for Sept 10th too. Wish me luck... I am still learning Html.

----------------------------------------------
Ok,the last post is fixed....
I ran out of new posting time today...gotta go tackle the laundry pile.

Upcoming posts will include some of the following topics...
- The creatures that share our property with us
- I found some interesting factoids on blue bellies
- Garden update - will those pumpkin plants grow or will the gophers get to them first? Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Come on now... I could be posting about how to get the stains out of the diapers!

Blue Lizard Tree Ranch (revised)

2006-09-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, here are some more pics of our property at Ryan's request (that's my brother). He hasn't had the chance to get up here to visit because of his tour bus company in San Diego, Epic Limo.
This is Blue Lizard Tree Ranch. I'm trying to see if this name will stick. It was named after the huge Oak tree above where a number of Blue Belly Lizards live. I have some pics of one of the cobalt blue jeweled Blue Bellies that Zoey found for us... but I will post that later.

These are the BEFORE pics. The AFTER pics will come when the AFTER finally gets here. What I am trying to say is that we have a ton of landscaping to work on. Our plans consist of a nice grassy play yard, an aloe vera, herb and rock garden in the front yard. Gotta love rock gardens...those rocks are great for novice gardeners and the gophers seem to leave them alone. We also plan on making a vegetable garden and planting fruit and nut trees. We had millions of wild flowers in the spring , now we have nice golden hills.

Shraddha's first hair cut

2006-09-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Mama went wacko with the scissors and chopped my bangs. Good thing I have curly hair! I'm 15 months old and I am glad that I can see now without my hair poking into my eyes. - Shraddha's thoughts.

I got to catch a couple of extra zzzzz's this morning after I plugged Shraddha into the TV. But now I can't seem to get Barney's voice out of my head LOL! "A circle shape is round, a circle shape is round. A circle shape is like a wheel that is round and goes rolling on the ground." UGH! Barney! Who is more annoying Barney or Elmo? I have to say they are both like music to my ears compared to whining and screaming --- ha ha ha.

Varmits and fall planting!

2006-09-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ok so I started my late summer planting a little more towards early fall. But next year I will be more with it. I am excited though! We finally have the invisible fence up to keep Sadie dog out of the planting beds. She thinks we are making fun digging and sleeping beds for her!

We planted pumpkin seeds a few weeks ago and now have some decent size plants... they might actually make it....IF the varmits don't get them. GOPHERS why don't they eat the weeds? Why do they want to eat my plants? Well, we have great drainage in our play yard, thanks to the myriad of holes.

I found a great site to buy seeds from gardenguides.com and they listed all types of flowers for late summer planting. AND there is free s/h. I can't wait! I ordered...

Basil Custom Blend
Amaranth Burgundy
Blue Flax Seeds
Delphinium Pacific Giant Mix
Verbena bonariensis

Ok back to folding clothes.... Note the pics of Madhava watering the pumpkin seeds in his shorts, baseball cap and yes..... cowboy boots ( squaw valley style LOL!). Shraddha watering the Sweet Basil plants between sips of water for herself. It WAS hot when we took these photos a couple of weeks ago, but now we have nice cool weather....ahhhh finally!

Madhava's favorite family picture

2006-09-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

Madhava says,

"I love this picture because, it is funny how we can see Sadie's behind. She is also has a lovely smile while she is looking at the camera. It is also a picture of our whole family."

"Today I had fun swinging on the tire swing. Uhm, I really had fun watching Daddy smash up a hard drive and pushing him on the tire swing."

"Hey look Mommy, I can see the word "the". That is very fascinating!"

YAY! I am back online!

2006-09-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

I am so happy that I can be back online posting again! So, I will get right to it.

Summer is over and I am ready for cooler weather. It's a nice 67 degrees out now (but then it is also fairly late at night.) I will take whatever I can get for now LOL!

I saw the first tarantula a couple of days ago. It was crawing back into its nest only 5 feet from my back door. I also found a 4 ft long garter or racer snake. It noticed me LONG before I notice him. Needless to say, I am no longer walking around the property in the evening or at night to toss the trash or hang/get laundry. I get the creepy crawlies whenever I think about it... it isn't even October yet! I think I will be ok if they just not come in the house like the scorpians do. Haven't found any scorpions under the sheets for a while but I won't climb into bed until I check everything...even under the pillow. But I always wonder, if they climb in there when we aren't there.... then what keeps them out when we are in the bed?

Madhava started kindergarten this week at 4.5 yrs old. He is starting a year earlier than we planned and it may just be for fun for now. He is just loving it though. His favorite thing is share day, when everyone gets to bring in a favorite toy to share with each other. I want to get some pictures up but can't figure out how to upload them from the camera right now. I will try again tomorrow.

Right now he is very into robots. He loves to watch movies but Jumungi and Zathura are his favorites right now. I still think they are just too scary for him but he keeps asking his dad if he can watch it again and again. He can write his name when we give him an example. He can spell his name when asked. And he can write almost the whole alphabet as well as come up with words for the different sounds. I just started working on site words with him and "the" is the first one we are working on. He finds it on signs when we are out and about. He is still working on understanding the time of day, and past and future tense. I spent quite a bit of time explaining what yesterday and tomorrow means. He still thinks it is morning time when he wakes up from his nap ~ but if I slept for 4 or 5 hours in the middle of the day, I would be a bit disoriented too. I'm just happy to be sleeping that long without being woken up at night. He also just loves playing with Sadie and Shraddha. It is so fun to see Shraddha screaming with glee while Madhava runs around saying ,"You can't get me, baby!"

Shraddha, now 14 months is learning ASL along with the rest of us. She knows: eat, dada, thirsty, drink, water, bath, diaper, banana, mama, nurse, car, bird, tree, elephant, cat, dog, duck, flower, dirty, cracker, cheese, peach, ball, book, more, music, hat, shoes, bread, apple, cereal, bed, toothbrush, hot, cold, all done, down, cow, night, moon, stars, fan. 42 signs. She is a sponge... asking me "what's dat ?!!" and watching to see if I will teach her the sign for what ever she just noticed She is also making up her own signs. She saw a picture of a pterodactyl and signed elephant-bird.

Her speech is coming along too. She says, mama, dadda, daddy, bubba, Elmo, meme, mooo, book, up p p p , dadoo for thank you, adie for sadie, itty for kitty, mmmmm for yummy and flower while she signs flower, iaper for diaper, apple. She is also demonstrating great understanding. I will tell her to go give daddy a kiss and off she goes to plant a big hug and kiss on daddy. She understands brush your teeth, feed the kitty, where is...., go outside, time to go to sleep/bed, watch a movie.

Shraddha loves watching her Signing Times and Baby Einstein and Elmo movies. She also loves to pull out anything new she can find in the cupboards, LOVES reading books and just can't get enough of that. SCREAMING for fun, especially to chase the cat or bubba. Our cats and dog get plenty of hugs and kisses from Shraddha. She also loves watering the plants, smelling the flowers, looking for birds and of course.... waking bubba up from his nap.

So much for getting caught up on dishes, laundry, and sleep LOL! I don't even know what that is like. Does that ever happen? If it wasn't for Roger's help, I don't think I would ever see the bottom of my sink.

Madhava - I'm the big brother

2006-06-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

And I am 4.5 yrs old.

Shraddha crawling in the meadow

2006-06-08T23:47:00.000-07:00

April 24, 2006 10 months
Shraddha is entertaining herself while mama hunts for wildflowers. It's funny how long I spend searching for the best wildflower when the most beautiful one of all is crawling at my feet.

Squaw Valley, Backyard Views in Spring

2006-06-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

Brodiaea in bloom in our wildflower meadows. Bear Mountain is in the background.