How to Build Community

Turn off your tv.
Leave your house.
Know your neighbors.
Look up when you are walking.
Greet people.
Sit on your stoop.
Plant flowers.
Use your library.
Play together.
Buy from local merchants.
Share what you have.
Help a dog.
Take children to the park.
Garden together.
Support neighborhood schools.
Fix it even if you didn't break it.
Have pot lucks.
Honor elders.
Pick up litter.
Read stories aloud.
Dance in the street.
Talk to the mail carrier.
Listen to the birds.
Put up a swing.
Help carry something heavy.
Barter for your goods.
Start a tradition.
Ask a question.
Hire young people for odd jobs.
Organize a block party.
Bake extra and share.
Ask for help when you need it.
Open your shades.
Sing together.
Share your skills.
Take back the night.
Turn up the music.
Turn down the music.
Listen before you react to anger.
Mediate a conflict.
Seek to understand.
Learn from new and uncomfortable angles.
Know that no one is silent, though many are not heard. Work to change this.

I found this while browsing this website. Please, add your ideas for building community in the comments!

the eyes have it

Go here and look at this person's photos. Make sure you take the time to click on each picture separately, and read the story.

What's that smell?

I was just dusting and vacuuming the family room. I set the duster down on top of a cabinet, and proceeded to vacuum around it. Accidently, I knocked the feather duster down and the vacuum tried to suck it up. Oh, the smell! Burning ostrich feathers! The vacuum started smoking! Oh, now the whole room is stinky! The trials and tribulations of a housekeeper!

Wordless Wednesday

mmm...

The chicken pot pie that I made last night was sooooooo good! It is definitely a keeper! Go put it on your menu for next week! I meant to take a photo of it to add to the recipe. Oh well, next time!

Today is pyjama day at my day care! The kids are so excited to show up in the jammies! We are having breakfast for lunch.

I have an interview on Thursday for a new day care child. Hopefully all goes well. This is to fill a vacancy that I will have in March.

Two Week Menu

I planned and shopped for two weeks, as there won't be time for shopping this weekend.

Visit Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie for more menu plan ideas.

Sunday - steak on the grill, onions, mushrooms, spanish rice
Monday - chicken pot pie, corn, mashed potatoes
Tuesday - meatloaf, rice, homemade bread, green beans
Wednesday -supper at church
Thursday - chicken cacciatore on egg noodles
Friday - island beef jerk on rice
Saturday - Grandma's 90th birthday celebration supper

Sunday - spaghetti... that old stand by

Monday - breaded pork chops, rice, veggie

Tuesday - cauliflower soup, cheese biscuits

Wednesday - supper at church

Thursday - chicken puttanesca

Friday - Baja beef and beans on rice

Thirteen Things I Said Today

Thirteen Things I Said Today 1. I am so proud of you! 2. No running allowed. 3. You must share the toys. 4. Who wants to paint? 5. It is not your turn yet. 6. Be patient, please. 7. I'm sorry. 8. Who wants another muffin? 9. Please take that toy out of your mouth. 10. Wow, what a great job you've done! 11. Why are you wiping your nose on the ottoman? 12. It's naptime! 13. See you tomorrow! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. ...my 2 cents 2. Incog & Nito 3. Christina 4. amy

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday

3 of 3 areas done

Go to 5MinutesForMom to see what others are tackling.

Menu Plan Monday

Visit Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie for more menu plan ideas.


Monday - ground beef/rice/corn/tomato sauce casserole - making this up as I go to use what I have on hand before I go grocery shopping tonight

Tuesday - crock pot Chicken Santa Fe

Wednesday - supper at church

Thursday - spaghetti - no brainer store bought sauce with ground beef added

Friday - Spicy Orange Pork Chops, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans

Saturday - steak on the grill, mushroom, onions, spanish rice

Bugs, anyone?

This is a product you can normally find in my refrigerator. Here is a list of the ingredients...

Skim milk, strawberry, concentrated skim milk, modified starches (corn, tapioca), natural & artificial flavours, milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, gelatin, active bacterial cultures, pectin, natural colour (carmine), locust bean gum, potassium sorbate, sucralose 16mg (Splenda®), calcium lactate, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3. Made with vitamin A & D fortified skim milk.

Sounds pretty good? I am happy to see that there is no artificial colour, only natural colour, but what the heck is carmine? Let's see...
carmine. Mmmm... ground red beetles in my yogurt! Yummy! Let's see what else in my food stores contains carmine. After an extensive search of food labels, I cannot find another product that says carmine. Although, there are many that say "natural colour". Carmine is most definitely natural colour. I believe that food companies should have to list what the natural colour is. Now, don't get me wrong. I would rather be eating bugs than artificial colourants, but as some folks are allergic to carmine, they need to have the food labels tell them precisely what they are eating.

On that same note, many candy labels will list confectioner's glaze as an ingredient. You know the stuff that makes Skittles shiny? Well, do some research on that product, and you will find
lac. Mmmm... more bugs in my food! Well, not bugs actually... but bug products. Kind of like honey I guess!

Joe Sorren

Here is a link to a very interesting artist. Joe Sorren
Check out the prints you can buy. I love the one called Glimmer. And Luna, and the one with the kids and the bugs! I'll take one of each!
Awesome stuff!

Kid Friendly Tuna Noodle

I have some very picky day care kids. If it isn't a grilled cheese sandwich or a hot dog, they do not want to eat it. Today I tried the following recipe for tuna noodle casserole, told everyone that it was a special macaroni and cheese treat and left the room. They devoured it! They asked for seconds! The pickiest eater said he couldn't get enough of it! Victory!

1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup miracle whip
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Mix the above ingredients together. Add...
1 tbsp minced onion (I used dried onion)
1 can tuna drained
1 cup frozen peas (I used canned)
8oz wise egg noodles cooked (I used macaroni noodles)

Pour it into baking dish and bake at 350F for 25 minutes.
I added grated cheese and buttered fine bread crumbs to the top.

Jordan is married!

My brother Jordan got married on Friday. Here is a photo of him and his new wife Lauren, and then his three sisters... from left to right... Jenna, me, and Shelley.
It was a nice wedding. Smallish, well done. The food was great. They have been together for seven years... since high school. I am really happy for them, and can't wait for nieces and nephews! I don't know if they are thinking of kids yet or not... I guess it would be wise for Lauren to finish her master's degree first.