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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking (+Giveaway!!!)
171 comments:
- Colleen Vanderlinden said...
This book looks so good! I'm a fanatical gardener and compost-maker. I love baking, canning, and pickling. I also like cleaning, but with 4 kids my house is never neat for long ;-)
- April 27, 2011 at 11:09 AM
- Christine said...
You don't need to enter me in the contest, since I was lucky enough to meet Kate at an upstate NY book party and now have my own signed copy! I can attest to how awesome the book is and how awesome Kate is. The Hip Girl's Guide now perfectly complements my copy of Home Dairy and will soon be joined by the rest of the Homemade Living series :)
- April 27, 2011 at 11:10 AM
- Amanda said...
I love to be organized, but I'm an all or nothing kind of a girl. I have perfectly organized and neat kitchen cupboards, but dishes in the sink. I delve head first in to projects, but have a hard time keeping up with the basics. Thanks for the giveaway! I can use all the help I can get! You can read more about me here http://lacafetiere.blogspot.com/
- April 27, 2011 at 11:11 AM
- Grace said...
If I don't make my bed, I think about my grandmother's freezing disapproval all day. As you can guess, I make my bed every single day! But now I'm dying to know how to make it the RIGHT way. Do share, please. I clearly need something more to obssess about.
My best homemaking tip is, as always, the old saw "A place for everything and everything in its place." If you can manage to make that your ironclad home policy and keep everything picked up and put away as soon as it occurs, you almost never need to make huge, time-sucking, Herculean housecleaning efforts. It works, People, try it! - April 27, 2011 at 11:13 AM
- Annie Mac said...
I love using lots of color to make my apartment feel more personalized.
- April 27, 2011 at 11:15 AM
- Chris said...
I can't sleep if there are dirty dishes in the sink! I also like the bed made every. single. day.
On another note, I just made homemade yogurt and butter, inspired by Home Dairy! Next up is sour cream and cheese. - April 27, 2011 at 11:17 AM
- Melissa said...
My husband and I love to make our own furniture. I take designs from items I see in stores and we make something that is higher quality and better looking for a much lower price. I can't wait to start planning our next projects for when we move soon!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:20 AM
- Kate said...
I keep trying to get into new things. This week: repurposed raised garden container gardens, making homemade yogurt and I made scones for the first time!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:22 AM
- Katherine said...
This month is homemaking hell. Our basement apartment in a historic mill has been flooding all spring, and now the rats have moved in for the kill. I've been trying everything I hear about to scare them off (dryer sheets in their holes, jars for all our food staples) and dreaming of starting fresh in new digs next month.
- April 27, 2011 at 11:27 AM
we are revamping everything after becoming instant adoptive parents to 3 kiddos. it's crazy how much our tastes and styles have changed-and how things i never thought i'd care about, i totally do now. like, organizing and canning and clean sheets!:)
- April 27, 2011 at 11:32 AM
- Priscilla of Gardenmis said...
Oooh I haven't heard of this book before but it looks exciting! I love to rearrange my house ~ makes it hard to keep the troops in the know of where things go but fun all the same.
- April 27, 2011 at 11:34 AM
- cora mae said...
With no real background in anything vaguely domestic (grew up with a single working parent, then room after room in apartments that never really felt like home) it's only in the last few years that I'm really taking pride in the things i've made myself and the ways i make the small, modest half of a duplex i share with my fiance into a place we both love. i've taken up baking, knitting, gardening (indoors, we have no yard)... and despite my slow learning curve i am having a great time. he even claims i'm good at this whole cooking and cleaning thing (news to me!). we hope to move into a house of our own soon, with a real garden, and i can't wait for that day when we have a "real home" to cultivate.
- April 27, 2011 at 11:35 AM
- Ilona said...
I love learning new cooking and baking skills. Right now I am teaching myself how to make bread (the old way, without a Kitchen Aid). Making my place smell delicious is always a plus, too!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:39 AM
- Green Zebra Market Garden said...
I bought an almost 100-year old home a couple years ago. My parents and I spent the first weekend refinishing the hardwood floors by hand. The floors were coated with shellac, which can't be sanded off, so we had to strip the entire floor with paint scrapers!
Totally worth it! The floors look fantastic. - April 27, 2011 at 11:40 AM
- Gina said...
I would love to get my hands on this book! I've just started getting into canning and I really want to learn to make the "perfect" sandwich bread. The high altitude I live at has been working against me so far!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:41 AM
- Keri said...
I enjoy canning, freezing, and coming up with ways to use what I have on-hand to make tasty meals. This book sounds right up my alley!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:42 AM
- Stephanie Radcliffe said...
I've begrudgingly admitted that I'm a terrible gardener but I can make fantastic roast chicken & veg and challah without a recipe - and that's more than good enough for me and the boyfriend.
- April 27, 2011 at 11:43 AM
- Julia said...
this book looks amazing! this summer, i'm working on expanding my back and frontyard gardens (and balcony container garden too) and i'm going to start keeping bees. as far as inside my home- my new goal is to have at least one item handmade by me in every room- ideally a quilt!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:47 AM
- Lavigne Photography said...
I do not like washing windows or mopping floors but a clean house is very satisfying and I am very particular about how the laundry gets hung on the line. And nothing like laundry fresh off the clothesline!
:) - April 27, 2011 at 11:48 AM
- tamanna said...
I used to have zero interest in growing anything I couldn't eat or use in some domestic capacity (lavender for homemade linen spray? wonderful!) but I've lately gotten addicted to houseplants, so much so that my last little house felt like walking into a jungle - and I absolutely LOVED it! Just moved into a new place 2000 miles away, and working on filling my new home with lush, gorgeous plants, both edible and not.
- April 27, 2011 at 11:48 AM
- kate said...
I'm living with my parents after having my own place for years. Having saved up enough and deciding to take my life down an entirely unfamiliar path despite the economy, I'm about to move out again. This time around I'm starting from scratch - new bed, bedding, decor, the whole nine yards. I guess this will be my first real "home." Dishwasher is a must!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:50 AM
- jacqui said...
I grew up loving to clean my room and re-organize furniture and my closet all the time. When I had friends over I would purposely scatter a few clothes and objects around because their rooms were always such a mess and I must have thought mine would look to clean. I laugh thinking about it now! I've kept my love for cleaning, but now I don't make it look "fake" messy, ha! Looks like a great book!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:57 AM
- Sarah Rachel said...
Both sides of my family are from the (very) rural South, and so homemaking on a budget connects me to the matriarchs of my past. My mother hated chores and cooking--even sewing (forget knitting). But for some reason, the homemaker gene skipped a generation and found me. I love making my small apartment a home with hand-me-downs and homemade quilts and pillows. I even like washing dishes by hand. xoxo
- April 27, 2011 at 11:57 AM
- hippychick said...
I have started doing a lot, like canning, making homemade mixes, etc., but still have much to learn! I can't wait to read this book!
- April 27, 2011 at 11:59 AM
- Kathleen said...
Recently started making my own yogurt. Love to sweep, hate to mop. A little obsessive about a clean kitchen but I hate to clean bathrooms. Like lots of color and meaningful decorations. Two small boys keep me on my toes!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:04 PM
- The Q said...
I am newly-wed, and I feel like I suffer in this area. I think I just have high standards, though. We have a pretty large garden, and I cook and bake. I do feel like I am succeeding at homemaking when I can walk out to the garden to pick something for dinner.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:05 PM
- Wolfie and the Sneak said...
Thought I'd tell you a bit about where I literally hang my hat: The hat is an Annie Larson knit one with a giant pom pom on top. It hangs on an Eames Hang It All beside my garden apron, Moop diaper bag (with homemade butt spray as an essential), craft show bought purse with a Jill Bliss wallet tucked inside, thrift store found jacket beside my Mr's jacket and a Shriner hat that once belonged to a Briarhopper. Thought those items probably say a lot about who I am!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:05 PM
- Jane said...
I love sitting by the fireplace on a day like today. Rainy and blustery for this time of year, even a little snow in the air. I'm in my big comfy chair with a homemade quilt (mine) on my lap, a cup of coffee and a good book on Keeping Bees(yours). Split pea soup with Easter ham is on the stove. All of my senses are satistied, and I'm totally in love with my home today.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:07 PM
- Jane said...
I love sitting by the fireplace on a day like today. Rainy and blustery for this time of year, even a little snow in the air. I'm in my big comfy chair with a homemade quilt (mine) on my lap, a cup of coffee and a good book on Keeping Bees(yours). Split pea soup with Easter ham is on the stove. All of my senses are satistied, and I'm totally in love with my home today.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:07 PM
- Sharah said...
I would love to get my hands on this book!
My husband and I have been gardening for a few years now and we are currently saving up for a house of our own with some land so that we can have goats, chickens and bees :) - April 27, 2011 at 12:11 PM
- Bethany Nash said...
Confession time: I am a terrible housekeeper. But I dream of being better!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:12 PM
- Anna said...
I'm working on improving my homemaking skills. I mean, I have the basic skills down pat, but it's becoming more of a vocation for me lately, so I'm trying to be more systematic. I no longer have a 9-5 lifestyle, with a catch-as-catch-can chore list. This means I have more time to, say, try home-baked bread recipes, but it also means that I'm harsher on myself to improve, not just maintain the home.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:14 PM
- Susie (aka Three Boys Farm Mama) said...
I homeschool my three kids and oddly enough never seem to spend enough time at home. But it's the place I love best. My home (designed and built by DH and myself) is my nest and our kitchen is the heart of it all. This book looks fun! Love your blog!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:14 PM
- Michelle said...
Oh this book looks fantastic! I'm not at all organized (my husband keeps me and the house orderly). But I do love to cook, bake and make my own cleaning products. On Monday I made my own butter (thanks to your DS post) and added mint to it and tossed with grilled asparagus.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:16 PM
This book looks wonderful! I'm a dabbler -- I make jam, garden, do minor home repairs and other things. Over the years, I have learned to like cleaning -- especially after having to give up my cleaning service a few years ago when money got tight. Considering how much money I'm saving, cleaning doesn't seems so bad! (But my floors don't get mopped as often as they used to!)
- April 27, 2011 at 12:25 PM
- Melissa said...
I really love baking. And sewing!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:25 PM
- Unknown said...
I hope you choose me for this book. I am not the best-homemaker but I try to improve everyday. I would love the help of a "hip girl"! Thank you. I own, love and enjoy all of your books!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM
- Stephanie G. said...
This book is on my Amazon wishlist! As for a peek into my own domestic sphere, I abhor cleaning bathtubs and have organized my spices alphabetically and by brand. Nerd. I know...
Stephanie :) - April 27, 2011 at 12:27 PM
- Aimee said...
I'm new to homemaking so I'm not that good at it yet. However, I hate my closet not being color coded and my sleeve-d shirts CANNOT go on those hangers with the slot for tank tops in them, ha! I want to grow a garden, start canning, and make my own laundry soap soon, though!
email@example.com - April 27, 2011 at 12:31 PM
- Julie said...
laundry is my favorite housekeeping chore: it's so little effort (bring stuff to machine, add a cup of soap, turn machine on, walk away) and the return is so huge--a giant pile of clean stuff where once there was dirt!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:34 PM
I, too am very domestically inclined, but unfortunately mostly anything relating to the kitchen: cooking, organizing spices or recipes, cleaning out the fridge, etc. Even growing foodstuff outdoors. While I love decorating and organizing other areas of the home, I find cleaning to be more of a chore than a joy. I hope that someday, maybe when I have a home that I really love and am proud of, that may change.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:36 PM
- Jill Hathaway said...
I'm constantly reorganizing my kitchen cabinets and my closets. Typically I'm rearranging to find new ways to arrange things to make life easier, more beautiful, or just new and interesting! I also loathe vacuuming, and I'm thankful my husband will do it for me!! I also love anything that's both functional and beautiful. :)
- April 27, 2011 at 12:38 PM
- rachelfox said...
I feel that I'm always learning new ways to do things around my home. I love trying to re-purpose old things, and love to decorate my home from thrift stores. Something that hasn't changed through the years is that I always have a small herb garden; in pots for now, though when we do have a home, I can't wait for a real herb garden.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:39 PM
- Amy said...
I'm working at being a better homemaker, but finding it difficult. Tiny steps, it's what I keep telling myself!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:41 PM
- Alexandra said...
My husband and I are on a bar-kick; homemade liquors and syrups in repurposed whiskey bottles.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:45 PM
- iamredmeat said...
I am very particular about the way the bathroom is cleaned and how clean it has to be. In fact, I am the only one that cleans it.. even though I HATE doing it... must be done.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:47 PM
- MEG said...
I need this book! I am the queen of the kitchen and anything homemade but I need help with the "keeping house" resposibilities. I am not a super organized person and strugle with clutter. Will the book actually clean my hosue for me??
- April 27, 2011 at 12:49 PM
- Sarah said...
As much as I like to think I have some inclination towards homemaking, I'm afraid I'm just a big ole slob. I'm trying to create some method to keep the homeplace a wee bit tidier (because, aside from being lazy, I'm a bit OCD about clutter) while saving time and energy, but nothing seems to be doing the trick. Maybe I need a few pointers.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:50 PM
- Mamawolf said...
I am crazy about how the laundry is folded. Maybe how you are about bed sheets? I constantly refold things that my partner has folded. It irritates him to no end and I feel so bad, but it's a compulsion I just can't control. It has to be done just right!
Hmmm... not something I ever thought I'd share publicly. Oh well!
Thanks for the give-away! The book sounds lovely. - April 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM
- Suzanne said...
Okay, I am totally anal about a clean fridge:-) I simply can't function in the kitchen if my fridge isn't clean. I hear my Nana's mantra in my head, "the only food I want to see growing is in the garden, not my fridgidaire"! LOL!
Fingers crossed for the book, looks great! - April 27, 2011 at 12:56 PM
- Tru Vani said...
I wish I didn't mind dusting on a regular basis...but at least the dishes are done daily!
- April 27, 2011 at 12:57 PM
I seem to be unable to make decisions about PAPER, and so it piles up and up until I lose it and start shredding. I've just purchased a tiny scanner to streamline the process...my hope is to avoid the freak out stage! thank goodness we are all works in progress.
- April 27, 2011 at 12:59 PM
- nimble fingers and steady eyebrows said...
Looks like a fab book. I'm all about the laundry this week. All the sunshine means great drying weather so I'm finally getting to the bottom of the laundry basket. Laura x
- April 27, 2011 at 1:02 PM
- Adrielle said...
This book looks like a fun!
I am finally realizing that the more stuff you own the more home maintenance you have to do, so we're taking the opportunity of an upcoming move to really focus on purging useless stuff. It's taking a lot of effort, but I know it will make a difference in our new home. - April 27, 2011 at 1:12 PM
- 6512 and growing said...
Thanks for this giveaway!
I'm not much into decorating but I love kitchen alchemy. We're lucky to get raw cow milk and I've been making my own yogurt for years, and now am making cheese. I live at 6512 feet in Colorado with 2 kids, 7 chickens, a large garden and small orchard and many thousands of honeybees. - April 27, 2011 at 1:17 PM
- Stacielynn said...
I've been looking at this book on Amazon and put it on my "wish list" so it'd be nice to win it!
I love EVERYTHING homemaking too! One of my faves though is cooking. Trying out new things or sticking by the old grandmother faves, creating something yummy with my own hands is a magic I'll never tire of. My husband also approves (as does his little gut, which after his deployment I'll have to work on again). Thanks again for hosting the contest! - April 27, 2011 at 1:26 PM
- liz fehrenbach said...
i find dishwashing rather relaxing but wholeheartedly wish the darn laundry would fold itself! and i used to oversee a community garden but lately i've been killing all my houseplants. a bundle of contradictions, this one.
- April 27, 2011 at 1:31 PM
- Audra Bayette said...
This book is for my husband! He is about to leave his job and stay home to start our homestead, grow and raise the bulk of our food and be my househusband:) We can't wait!
- April 27, 2011 at 1:33 PM
- Melanie J. said...
When I clean the kitchen, my head gets clear...I like having things in a particular place. I can't wait to decorate a kitchen when we rent a house later this year, because I've so outgrown our current galley kitchen in our seriously cluttered and ugly apartment. The book sounds lovely; thanks for the opportunity, Ashley!
- April 27, 2011 at 1:36 PM
- Hollie said...
I love being at home and creating a wonderful place for my four sons to grow into men and for my husband to enjoy his family when he gets home from work. I LOVE books that are dedicated to homemaking! Thanks for the chance to win!
- April 27, 2011 at 1:36 PM
- Bridget said...
About homemaking: Although I miss my grown-up kids, the house stays much cleaner now that the nest is empty. So now I have more time for gardening and bees, pretty soon!
- April 27, 2011 at 1:40 PM
- Biblioholicbeth said...
I just learned that I can pressure can on my glass-top stove. I sincerely hope that is a long-term lesson and not a freak accident.
- April 27, 2011 at 1:45 PM
- City Girl said...
I love books about homemaking and think there should be more of them! Having a clean, happy, well-functioning and funky home makes such a difference in life! I work fulltime but have the priviledge of being married to a fulltime homemaker. As we always joke, I make a living and she makes life worth living! :-)
- April 27, 2011 at 1:53 PM
- The Talberts said...
My favorite home reference book is Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson, even though my style tends to be much more relaxed than hers. My idea of a great time is when my husband takes our four little ones outside and I have an hour to tend to the little things that go by the way-side here in our home: toilets and laundry and whatnot.
- April 27, 2011 at 2:00 PM
I love my label maker. Every once in a while, I go on a mad label-making spree - making new labels for all of my color-coded files. (not so good at filling the file folders regularly, but gosh darn it they are labeled). Lately, with Lucas in daycare, I get to label all of his snack bins and sippy cups and such. It makes me look organized, but really, I just like making labels.
- April 27, 2011 at 2:13 PM
- Petitevie said...
I love a clean floor. I have two toddlers who play on it at all time. I use hot water and white vinegar but hide the smell with a few drop of lavender essential oil.
- April 27, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Oh, this book looks like it will be so good! I am a throwback kind of girl - I love anything domestic - I garden, sew, bake, can etc.
- April 27, 2011 at 2:16 PM
- Heather MK said...
Oooh, I can't wait to read her blog & the book is bound to be amazing too!
I love to dream up new projects that make our home cozier and better-suited to who we are. Custom bookshelves here, shrubs over there, patio gardens, basement renovations, etc, etc! The list never ends & I love it! - April 27, 2011 at 2:16 PM
- Petitevie said...
I love a clean floor. Since I have young kids, I only use hot water and white vinegar but I add a few drops of lavender essential oil to hide the smell.
- April 27, 2011 at 2:16 PM
I found out about this book earlier today, and now I want it!!! As for homemaking - - - I just made my very first sourdough starter, and I am quite proud. :)
Kate in NY
firstname.lastname@example.com - April 27, 2011 at 2:16 PM
- Sara said...
I recently figured out how to successfully make yogurt without a yogurt maker (in part with help from your book) and I'm pretty excited about it. Even at 5$ a gallon for organic milk, that's $1.25 for 16oz of yogurt. Not bad. (And yummy).
- April 27, 2011 at 2:26 PM
- JizzleK said...
sign me up! I could use some ideas.
- April 27, 2011 at 2:57 PM
- Liz said...
I love making homemade stock (chicken, turkey, veggie) all year round - in the winter it's warm and homey, and in the spring I open the windows to let the steam escape, and throw in some leeks! I freeze it up in small batches, and am ready to make soup, bulgur, anything I want, all year long.
- April 27, 2011 at 2:58 PM
- Heidi said...
I'm moving next month after being in my current home for 10 years, so I'm looking forward to clearing out the clutter and starting fresh. It would be lovely to have a hip girl guide to help me do it right!
The two things that make my house feel clean are clean dishes and a made bed. Everything else is negotiable. - April 27, 2011 at 3:09 PM
I would love to see this book. I enjoy domestic endeavers, but I'm terribly disorganized and hate to clean. I'd rather make a mess on a project than clean it up.
- April 27, 2011 at 3:30 PM
- Angie said...
My husband and I both love to cook unfortunately doing dishes is about our least favorite chore of all time. A couple of years ago I put my foot down and said that for our next move, there had to be a dishwasher. And there is. It took some creative engineering, but it's there and it is quite possible the best investment we have made. Ever.
- April 27, 2011 at 3:32 PM
- Eli said...
Every time I think I've conquered the dishes...... they pile up and attack!
- April 27, 2011 at 3:46 PM
- Andrea said...
I love making things both in the kitchen (i.e., cooking, baking, making yogurt and cheese) and elsewhere (knitting, crocheting), but cleaning up after myself is just so tedious! Everything just seems to pile up before I get the motivation to go at it.
- April 27, 2011 at 3:58 PM
- Wendy said...
I avoid ironing and scrubbing the toilet. However, I do appreciate a clean, mostly uncluttered house. I'm constantly trying to find ways to better streamline my cleaning tasks so that I can spend more time sewing, knitting, or working in my garden.
- April 27, 2011 at 4:01 PM
- Stef said...
I wish I was more organized! I need help in that department, without a doubt. I live in Tampa, FL in a 3/3 apartment with my friend, my boyfriend, 3 cats, and a turtle. Recently aforementioned roomies bought me a mini-greenhouse for my plants outside, since the bugs were starting to attack them (we live near a pond, it's bound to happen). I've also been fortunate enough to use said roomies as guinea pigs and cheap labor when it comes to the many different projects I've decided to take on, canning in particular, and soon it'll be cheese making. I love all of your homemade living books and Kate's book looks equally fascinating and full of projects and tips! If I don't win the giveaway, I plan on buying her book anyway :)
- April 27, 2011 at 4:09 PM
- jen said...
I have embraced my inner homemaker in the last few years. I really love to bake bread and always prefer having a very tidy home. looks like a great book, love her blog.
- April 27, 2011 at 4:26 PM
- Terry said...
I'm a lousy housekeeper but would like to win this book to put into circulation in my library. Our patrons are desperately trying to make ends meet and are going back to basics. It's all good.
- April 27, 2011 at 4:58 PM
- Amanda said...
OH my gosh! I've been wishing forever that I lived in your area so that I can take your classes and such and now I am wishing again! Sounds like so much fun. And I've been drooling over this book as well!!!! ANYhow, I do try and work my homemaker magic - I don't have time for all of the things i WANT to do but like to make natural wholesome food for my family. I've dabbled in canning and we joined a csa for the first time this year so I'm really looking forward to tons of experimental new cooking and canning and finding ways to make use of our sweet veggie stash!
- April 27, 2011 at 5:17 PM
- Jenny said...
I'm a stay at home mom, and I love making things from scratch and getting my hands dirty. I just made my first batch ever of homemade jam yesterday, and I am working on my first feeble attempts at gardening.
- April 27, 2011 at 5:27 PM
I currently have my Fels-Naptha bar melting on the stove to make this year's supply of laundry detergent. I don't LOVE cleaning, but I love when I can clean with homegrown kid-friendly products! Ashley - my amazing coop is complete, please check it out on my blog. Maybe it can be in your NEXT book about chickens. :)
- April 27, 2011 at 5:33 PM
- Daisy Driver said...
I am not a fan of housework but someone has to do it! I do love cooking, canning, freezing meals and gardening! Can't wait to read the book.
- April 27, 2011 at 5:57 PM
- Unknown said...
I have to admit... I'm a magpie so clutter follows me wherever I go. Still, I delight in a well stocked pantry. A crocheted cozy around the teapot. A homemade quilt on the (sometimes made) bed.
- April 27, 2011 at 6:22 PM
- Amanda said...
Great giveaway! I am purchasing my first house (signing tomorrow- can't wait!!) and I am seriously stoked to be able to cook in, plant by, clean up, and sew/knit in my very own house!
- April 27, 2011 at 6:23 PM
- Claire said...
I have excellent homemaking intentions (I just moved into my first apartment a few months ago--so exciting!) but for the moment the most impressive thing about my housekeeping is my spice collection. I think it's pretty impressive for a 23-year-old AND it's alphabetized.
Thanks for doing the giveaway! - April 27, 2011 at 6:26 PM
- Heather said...
I'm not a cleaner, but I have been cleaning everything to procrastinate studying this week!
- April 27, 2011 at 6:37 PM
- melody said...
Looks like an awesome book! I wouldn't be able to live in house that didn't have a window with a view above the sink!
- April 27, 2011 at 6:38 PM
- Lisa Blair said...
I am with you on making the bed... I fold my bed sheets in a very specific manner so that they are perfectly straight when I am making up a bed.
I really hope to win this book! - April 27, 2011 at 6:51 PM
- Krystle said...
I also enjoy most all aspects of home-making! I currently am enjoying the challenge of gardening and keeping an organized home in a small apartment space.
- April 27, 2011 at 6:53 PM
- Anne Belk said...
I hate decorating my home. Partly, I can't stand nick-nacks. But even paintings, which I like, I hate to put up b/c it seems so final to put a hole in the wall.
- April 27, 2011 at 7:26 PM
- Jill said...
so happy that the derogatory connotation surrounding the word homemaking is dissolving away- because it is actually quite awesome! I love baking and cooking almost as much as I love eating :)
- April 27, 2011 at 7:30 PM
- kendall said...
I hate washing dishes even though I love to cook. Lucky for me, my husband doesn't mind it.
- April 27, 2011 at 8:04 PM
- Leanne Coppola said...
Love this title! Thanks for the chance.
- April 27, 2011 at 8:05 PM
- Josée said...
For the most part I enjoy homemaking but there are definitely things that I don't like doing... like washing the floors or washing out the trash bin.
- April 27, 2011 at 8:05 PM
- Kristina Mercedes said...
i wage a daily war against the dust bunnies that convene in all crevices of the house (plotting their coup against me), and really and truly love the gratification that comes from sucking them up with the vacuum :)
- April 27, 2011 at 8:09 PM
- Jessica said...
I *do* hate to do dishes, but I love everything else. Gardening, cooking, canning, knitting, keeping bees and chickens (well, I haven't yet... but I will someday!), and organizing anything that I can sort.
- April 27, 2011 at 8:25 PM
- Leigh said...
I must have a tidy and uncluttered house. It's easier to clean and you can think clearer! And it feels good to regularly pass along or toss things you don't need to hold onto. Children do make the "stuff" factor harder, however! :-)
- April 27, 2011 at 8:54 PM
- lisa said...
I have recently in the past year or two really begin to love homemaking. I love cooking, having a clean home that I can be proud of, and most importantly spending time with the people I love within it. I love gardening and growing food and am excited to start canning this summer - I LOVE being a modern homemaker!
- April 27, 2011 at 9:15 PM
- Rebecca said...
Though I knit my own dish clothes, when I need some extra scrubbing power I like the 3M scrubbing pads. To make them last longer I cut them into smaller squares. When they are no longer suitable for cleaning dishes, I cycle them into the bathroom clean supplies.
- April 27, 2011 at 9:46 PM
- Angela said...
Getting a juicer FINALLY got me to do my dishes everyday. You have to wash the juicer right after you use it and since I'm right there with wet hands and a soapy washcloth, I end up washing everything in the sink! Pre-juicer the dishes would sit for days and days...very stinky days. Plus, nourishing myself with veggie juices made me feel cleaner on the inside...another reason to keep my surroundings just as tidy.
- April 27, 2011 at 10:02 PM
- Anna said...
Both my husband and I like being in a clean space, but neither of us wants to actually be the one to clean it. Also, we moved into our first house a year ago and I feel like it's still devoid of personal touch or decor. Ever since having my first baby seven months ago, however, I have found myself wanting to make my home more comfortable and inviting for my family. I look forward to learning strategies to work towards my goal of making my home more homey.
- April 27, 2011 at 10:27 PM
- berriesforjam said...
Hi Ashley, I just found your blog about a month or so ago. I'm really enjoying your posts! Re. homemaking-I have a hard time leaving dishes in the sink at night no matter how late it is. I love (or rather I love the results of) a quick evening tidy-up. It all looks so good in the morning!
- April 28, 2011 at 12:57 AM
- Tivoli West said...
I dislike the chaos of my linen cupboard but can't seem to make it behave. I also really don't like to finish up doing the laundry by putting in all away. Isn't the dryer a storage unit?
- April 28, 2011 at 1:06 AM
- Maria said...
I homeschool my oldest child and work part-time, so I have little time (and inclination, to be truth) for doing things at home. But I like to dish and to have clean clothes (although I don't like to do laundry).
I'm always looking for inspiration with chores at home, and this book looks great.
Thank you. 1kiss. - April 28, 2011 at 3:05 AM
- Aimée Goggins said...
Sometimes living in an old Victorian flat seems to bring nothing more than a constant battle with dust, drafts (the curtains in the living room can literally blow when the windows are shut) and the bone chill of no central heating...but the flip side is big, sunny bay windows, fabulous wainscoting and high ceilings, all of which I love! Also, I confess all of my knicknacks might have something to do with the dust.
- April 28, 2011 at 3:54 AM
- { T G L } said...
Oh, this sounds fantastic and just the sort of thing I'd love! Hereby I enter the contest :)
Homemaking to me is not tied to gender at all, but rather to a commitment to beautify your livingspace. In today's rushed world, conscious and deliberate homemake can bring comfort and a sense of achievement.
My husband and I both 'keep home' equally but each has our specialism. One of my favorite things is cooking and baking. There is nothing like baking your own bread... deeply nourishing on both a body-and-soul level!
(See my blog for photos on my latest bread-related creation).
Thanks and blessings,
This Good Life - April 28, 2011 at 6:01 AM
- Molly said...
Every weekend, I block off a couple hours to give me time to de-clutter and clean. My apartment isn't that big (I live in NY), but it makes me feel so happy to have that time to make sure everything is ship-shape!
- April 28, 2011 at 7:50 AM
- Viviane said...
This book looks wonderful! Count me in please!!
- April 28, 2011 at 8:11 AM
- Meredith said...
As soon as the weather turns warm enough, my favorite thing to do is carry a freshly washed load of laundry out to the line. I always wear flip flops so I can feel the warm grass and hanging up those clothes makes me feel like I am part of something.
- April 28, 2011 at 8:13 AM
- Liz ~ A Natural Nester said...
I've had the challenge this year of managing a multi-generational household, after welcoming my parents into our abode. Our house is so ALIVE! We're growing food, composting, harboring worms and catepillars and tadpoles, canning, conserving, creating and learning to live simply within our means! With 7 mouths to keep fed and smiling, there's never a dull moment!
- April 28, 2011 at 9:21 AM
- Kim said...
I was created to be a homemaker just in the wrong century. I take great pride in having a clean, organized home. I live in rural West TN and love gardening and home food preservation. I long for rabbits, goats and chickens. I want more time to sew and bake from sratch. I would be so honored to recieve this book. Blessings.
- April 28, 2011 at 9:35 AM
- Allispin said...
Probably my favorite homemaking activity is cooking. I love to cook up a huge stew, chili, or lasagna with my boyfriend for a bunch of friends, and have everyone over for an impromptu dinner party!
- April 28, 2011 at 9:38 AM
- Helois said...
this book looks fab!!!!! I love being a "modern homemaker" I love to bake but hate to cook meals. I love to wash dishes by hand but I hate to put them away and I love love that my hubbs put up a close line for me I love to hang laundray up on the line though again I hate to put it away LOL.
- April 28, 2011 at 9:55 AM
- Rebecca said...
Hmmm.... Something about are home....
Well, there's children's artwork hung up everywhere-both framed and hastily taped up by a four year old. And it's, well, perfect!
Thanks both to you and the publisher for a great giveaway! - April 28, 2011 at 10:32 AM
- Jennifer said...
I always have moments of "enlightening" when I get really excited about homemaking. During those times I bake, sew, clean, and the whole nine yards. Unfortunately, those periods don't last very long and then I enter a slump where I don't want to do anything. I could use some guidance!
- April 28, 2011 at 1:04 PM
- Chppie said...
While I can get into the pattern of housekeeping I struggle with making cleaning a pleasure. It's nice to hear from those who enjoy those daily tasks. A new perspective can be so revitalizing.
Thanks for featuring the book. - April 28, 2011 at 2:11 PM
- Little Chicks Info said...
I have 6 kids and dream of the day when my kids are raised and my house stays clean all the time but I know that's wrong! I want to live in the "now" and be able to establish an orderly house AND spend time with my kids...I want it all! If you saw my basement you'd throw up! Christine @ http://www.thisandthatcreations.blogspot.com
- April 28, 2011 at 2:52 PM
- JRoberts said...
I love to be in the dirt. Gardening (but not weeding! :D) is a passion and I love to be in the soil with my bare hands. What a joy it is.
I also love to bake, can, sew, pretty much anything that takes us back to the basics of life. :) - April 28, 2011 at 3:01 PM
- folk city said...
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite household chores was ironing. Of course, in those days, my mum had lots of linens that were 100% cotton and needed ironing (sometimes even a little starch.) I still LOVE to iron and get quite nostalgic when I smell that lovely steam rising from a freshly line-dried set of cotton bedsheets!
-Heidi in Folk City - April 28, 2011 at 3:41 PM
- The Village Queen said...
I love washing dishes, comes from growing up with a dishwasher and summers at Grandmas who didnt, she taught me how with the boiling water final wash too. So even when Ive lived places with a dishwasher, I use it for pot storage and keep hand washing.
Hate to vacume though... - April 28, 2011 at 3:44 PM
- jord. said...
I love taking care of my home, but I find that with a full time job and a large garden, household chores fall by the wayside. How does anyone have time???
- April 28, 2011 at 5:37 PM
- Nina said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 28, 2011 at 7:41 PM
- Nina said...
Nothing makes me happier than spending an afternoon in the garden with my family, filling a basket full of home-grown vegetables and cooking them up for dinner. I can't wait for summer to come. Our family signed up for a farm share to supplement our own produce (we're doing our best with our modest Brooklyn backyard)so we can spend the season living as sustainably and locally as possible!
- April 28, 2011 at 7:43 PM
- mg said...
I love making bread for my family!
- April 28, 2011 at 8:41 PM
- Greta said...
Wow! Just found your blog as I searched for good references for raising backyard chickens. Ordered your book on Amazon and am hoping to put it all together soon. I'd love to read The Hip Girl's Guide as I'm always looking for ways to fine tune my homemaking skills. (As distinguished from housekeeping: It takes love and work to make a house a welcoming, restorative home.) But, I do wish I loved to vacuum as much as I love to garden and sew. Suggestions?
- April 28, 2011 at 9:29 PM
- angeline petalfoot said...
Every time I'm in a funk, I move furniture. It works! My house is always in flu, and I'll never have a need for antidepressants. :)
- April 28, 2011 at 10:07 PM
- A. Verzello said...
There is nothing, NOTHING, better than a loaf of freshly baked bread.
- April 29, 2011 at 12:01 AM
When I was younger, I hated the idea of homemaking. I wanted to be a big-city journalist seeking out the latest story. Of course, I was raised surrounded by people who loved the outdoors. I took, and still take, pleasure in gardening and its related activities. But life changes...
My mother was diagnosed with MS when I was 15, breast cancer a year later. I had to learn - and quickly! - how to manage the house, plus be a full-time high school student. My father worked 12-hour days as a postal supervisor.
I still help with my mother's care. I live at home and am a full-time assistant teacher. The irony? I love cooking, baking, and canning. Doing dishes, for me, is a form of meditation.
Now I just need to find someone who appreciates my odd blend of independent mind and Laura-Ingalls-Wilder ways...
red.oak.cottage (at) gmail.com - April 29, 2011 at 8:38 AM
- marshall p said...
I'm currently cleaning out a hoarder house. Homemaking gone tragically awry.
- April 29, 2011 at 10:08 AM
- Diana said...
Our new house needs some TLC. Just a big mess right now...
- April 29, 2011 at 10:38 AM
- kb said...
I get the nesting urge in spring, but it always fades after a few months. I need inspiration to keep me going all year round despite work+kids+etc!
- April 29, 2011 at 10:48 AM
- Ms. Hobby said...
I struggle to get excited about the cleaning and laundry bits of homemaking. I'm very envious of those that it seems to come naturally.
- April 29, 2011 at 12:04 PM
- NomNomNom said...
I absolutely can not wait to get a place of my own (buying a house one day) just so I can theme every single room! Paint paint paint, pretty shelves, and furniture galore!! AHHHH!! and then a garden in the back with FRUIT TREESS!!! yumyum XD
And ideally more shelves / drawers in my kitchen than I do now, so I can coordinate my dishes and pantry space a lot better than smushing them all in together O.o so sad so sad >.< ahahha - April 29, 2011 at 12:35 PM
- Sherrie said...
Hanging clean diapers on the clothesline is IT for me! Well, so is picking peas, barefoot, in the backyard. Yup, can't get any better than that.
- April 29, 2011 at 1:11 PM
- sueguzman said...
Ok..you asked for it! True confessions time. I love ironing. It's not only me but mother and brother as well! My Grandfather was a professional "presser" in NYC's garment district in the 1940's and 50's, so I'm suspecting there's some genetic component to it! :) While many find ironing the bane of their existence, I find ironing therapeutic and zenlike.
- April 29, 2011 at 1:20 PM
- Sarah C said...
I would love to read it!
I am moving twice in 2 months right now, so my perfectly organized life is in disaray. I can't wait until I'm settled to get back to beautifully labeling my canned goods. - April 29, 2011 at 2:27 PM
- Unknown said...
Homemaking is all about the kitchen for me. Feeding my husband and myself is fun! I love the prep work, the cooking, and even the dishes! Now that I'm gestating a little human inside, eating is even more important, right?
Cheers. - April 29, 2011 at 5:36 PM
- Mary B said...
I requested Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook for Christmas one year. It weighs like 10 pounds and contains loads of information that I don't expect to ever use, but I still read it for fun sometimes. And my friends mock me mercilessly when they see it on my bookshelf.
mberghaus(at)hotmail(dot)com - April 29, 2011 at 5:49 PM
I love using up leftovers! The half a bag of lentils or the one carrot, handful of sultanas and half a cup of sour cream. I love the challenge! As you can see, I hate throwing away good food.
Julia - April 29, 2011 at 8:12 PM
- Linda K. said...
I love keeping my home tidy and inspired--which includes hanging art everywhere. Thanks for the giveaway!
- April 29, 2011 at 10:22 PM
- amanda said...
hmmmmmmm~ homemaking......
*laundry on the line
*bread rising
*steeping cup o' tea and good tunes filling the air
*sweeping the floor
*clean countertops and an empty sink
yep, that sounds about right. about lovely.
thanks for your sweet blog~ - April 29, 2011 at 10:48 PM
- Kimberlie Ott said...
I live in a 100 year old craftsman home in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon...I adore all things domestic, trying to save money to boot :) Hanging laundry out in the sun is my favorite duty, and I find the whole ritual refreshing and wonderful. Thank you for the opportunity to read such a great sounding book!
- April 29, 2011 at 11:38 PM
- Unknown said...
i am a total home-body & love all things home-related. i've enjoyed attempting lots of new projects from plumbing to decorating to lots & lots of new kitchen projects - homemade yogurt, canning, new recipes. the kitchen has always been my favorite place to dream & create - thankfully i enjoy doing dishes, too - but it's fun to keep expanding my horizons. i'd LOOOOVE to win this giveaway to fuel the fire :o)
thank you ashley, kate & harper design for such a wonderful giveaway! - April 30, 2011 at 1:23 AM
- Trina-Lea said...
My home is my refuge...
It is a constant work in progress...just like me! I made a decision prior to our renovations that I would only allow things that really speak to me in my space.
Over the years I have even managed to turn those "everyday loathsome chores" into quiet meditations of reflection and appreciation. My one regret is it took me so long to figure this all out! :D - April 30, 2011 at 11:26 AM
- Samantha said...
I live in Portland, Or with my artist husband. We have two house rabbits, would love to have chickens but our yard is too small and hope to get a dog real soon. I started my love of gardening about 4 years ago and since then have taught myself to can. I'm thinking of picking up sewing again and making my own cheese. I've never been that interested in things like these, but for some reason, after I turned 35, my thought process and outlook on life started to change. I love to see my pantry filled with things that I made.....who knew.
- April 30, 2011 at 2:24 PM
- Baby By The Sea said...
I alphabetize our spice jars, make our own bread, fail to fold cloth hand towel and napkin drawer's contents and often let the laundry pile up. I make choices, mostly based on what yields the number of giggles. I just won an autographed copy of Home Dairy in an auction yesterday, so I'm giddy about adding to my book collection. I'm a small town, island gal surrounded by fresh salmon and joyful farms; I'm babybythesea.net
- April 30, 2011 at 7:54 PM
- lori at appelget farm said...
My husband and I enjoyed our kitchen garden so much that we started a small organically managed CSA. We enjoy cooking with ingrediants we grow ourselves and our homestead includes a mixed flock of half a dozen laying hens.
- April 30, 2011 at 9:44 PM
- Ginger said...
I learned on my just-over maternity leave that I'd rather do something crafty than practical with my time at home... so I may need a maid to clean them, but I'll have cute homemade curtains!
- May 1, 2011 at 12:32 AM
- Jessica said...
I looooove cooking but haaaate the dishes!
- May 1, 2011 at 12:49 AM
- Stacy said...
Two summers ago I completely revamped my entire house to reflect my growing passion for gardening and urban farming. I call it farm house chic. Everything got a nice coat of paint - bright whites and antiquey colors, I put bead board all around the dining room and kitchen, and hung up big, blown up portraits of all the beautiful vegetables that show up in my garden. I would love to own a copy of the book to help me continue this homemaking journey that I hope to some day share with a family.
- May 1, 2011 at 2:00 AM
Somedays I feel like a superhero because I can fold fitted sheets correctly and make really fantastic pastry. Other days I feel like a schlub because every room in my house has at least one unfinished project and I didn't start any plants from seed this year.
In my defense, though, I'm 9 months pregnant and need a broom and tongs to pick stuff up off the floor... - May 1, 2011 at 11:20 AM
- Kathryn said...
Ah, I love canning! It's my fav homemaking activity, along with preserving foods in other ways (drying, freezing, etc.) A lovely giveaway, thanks a bunch!
- May 1, 2011 at 4:01 PM
- Kasey said...
I hide all of my clutter in my closet. I torture my husband as I try to declutter my house, but if you look in my closet - it is all there.
Also, I like to make my own ketchup. - May 1, 2011 at 5:42 PM
- oukay said...
My homemaking has had its ups and downs. The cleaning is usually a lick and a promise. The laundry is a shared affair, but the garden is my responsibility. The food is the most fun. Also, my organizing tends to run in monthly cycles!
- May 1, 2011 at 8:05 PM
- Finding Roads to Take said...
Many people complain about doing laundry, but it's my favorite household chore. For some reason, I just find it very therapeutic. On the other hand, putting the clothes away is a different story. It's 2011, where's my robot who can do that for me?
- May 1, 2011 at 9:18 PM
At 18, I was an mechanical engineering major destined for great things. Financial problems completely derailed that and I joined the Natinoal guard as a helicopter mechanic. At 28, I'm a full-time nursing major and housewife. Raspberry sauce made from my homemade jam spooned over from scratch chocolate lava cake is one of the great things I made this week. I clean like a madwoman if company is coming or before I go on vacation. I asked for a pressure canner for my birthday. I am nowhere near where I thought I would be but I'm getting closer to where I want to be. Next step, growing a vegtable garden so I can use my pressure canner without raiding my mother-in-law's garden.
- May 1, 2011 at 9:28 PM
- Land of Lisa said...
I love to have an organized and clean home. It always seems like it is hard to find the time to do everything. It looks like this book has some good ideas to try!
- May 1, 2011 at 9:49 PM
- Mel said...
I have a small small obsession with kitchenware. I don't have a kitchen (still living at the parents house while I job hunt) but I know when I'll move out, I'll have a chopper, steamer, processer, roaster, dutch oven, tortilla press (please don't ask!), multiple barware glasses, pots and pans and a 7 setting set of china - as well as many many other items. I cannot stop by a garage sale, thrift store, kitchen store or anything else without finding something that I lust over. It's an addiction.
- May 1, 2011 at 10:03 PM
- Jolene said...
This sounds like a good book for me! I like the idea of being organized and on top of it, but could use a little help and inspiration to get there! I love to garden, can and bake bread. I also can not leave the house unless ALL beds are made.
- May 2, 2011 at 9:51 AM
- Kassandra Hinds said...
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for sharing your love and encouragement of sustainable living. I am a mother to three girls, aged 10 1/2, 6 and 3 1/2, two dogs and two cats and all keep me laughing and loving life. I find joy in gardening and cooking for my family and living simply. I love trolling the local farmers markets for the wondeful bounties of spring vegetables and incorporating my finds into tasty meals for the girls. With the down turn in the national economy, I have found myself drawn to the domesticity realm and found I quite enjoy it. Currently we are preparing for our adventures of raising chickens and loaned your book of 'keeping chickens' from our local library. It's a wonderful read & informative. We will soon be picking up six "lady" Australops (sp) from our local TSC...and very excited too, I must say. - May 2, 2011 at 10:30 AM
After a five year search for our little piece of heaven on earth, my husband myself and our two sons have recently moved to our "Om'stead on the Hill". Everyday is "beautiful chaos" (which we've learned always comes with homeschooling children!) with some kind of surprise around every corner! (As in last month, when we came home to a random package of 38 quail eggs asking to be hatched from the postal on our front porch!) My husband and I are currently eating through your chicken and bee books,(thank you for the lifesavers written in plain english!) in a desparate(albeit entertaining) attempt to look like we know what we're doing! We've always loved vegetable gardening, and take every opportunity to show our boys the absolute beauty in nature. I would love to add this book to my neverending (possibly obsessive)collection of books that I read..... In between the mudpies, treefrogs, my sons, baby chicks and quail all seeming to be endlessly hungry, and me....trying to reign in that "beautiful chaos" Much Love and Well Wishes ♥
- May 2, 2011 at 3:51 PM
After a five year search for our little piece of heaven on earth, my husband myself and our two sons have recently moved to our "Om'stead on the Hill". Everyday is "beautiful chaos" (which we've learned always comes with homeschooling children!) with some kind of surprise around every corner! (As in last month, when we came home to a random package of 38 quail eggs asking to be hatched from the postal on our front porch!) My husband and I are currently eating through your chicken and bee books,(thank you for the lifesavers written in plain english!) in a desparate(albeit entertaining) attempt to look like we know what we're doing! We've always loved vegetable gardening, and take every opportunity to show our boys the absolute beauty in nature. I would love to add this book to my neverending (possibly obsessive)collection of books that I read..... In between the mudpies, treefrogs, my sons, baby chicks and quail all seeming to be endlessly hungry, and me....trying to reign in that "beautiful chaos" Much Love and Well Wishes ♥
- May 2, 2011 at 3:54 PM
- Leanne Coppola said...
Really want to win this book! My favorite thing around my home is to gather up fresh summer veggies from the garden and make a fresh dinner for my family!
- May 2, 2011 at 5:00 PM
- Veronica M. said...
I adore looking around at the items in my home I've put love into. When you move in it's just a series of walls. Then one day it becomes home.
- May 2, 2011 at 8:16 PM
Looks like a great book.
- May 5, 2011 at 3:19 PM
- Me said...
I am just finding the joy in homemaking. For me it's been a slow process. I do love my new raised bed garden and working in it, but cleaning closets and dusting just don't have the appeal. :) But I do find that I really am happier when the work is done and the house is nice (presentable is a bit different when you have small ones).
- June 8, 2011 at 1:00 PM
- evie's garden said...
mom of 10 going on 12 here, trying desperately to figure out a new home management routine, because, in 9 weeks my brood is going to grow exponentially!!! i love making food from scratch, building, and would love to learn to have a green thumb...so far i start every spring with a bang and come back by mid summer, i exit with a whimper....perhaps it is the texas sun, or the rocks i have for a yard....but anyhow....i live for simplicity, and love the challenge of striving for it everyday!
- February 19, 2012 at 9:06 AM


text:
EQE is a portal featuring free and trustworthy translations of the meanings and exegeses of the noble Qur'an in many world languages. These renditions have been prepared by reliable translators under the careful supervision of specialized bodies. They are both accessible and shareable on social media.
The best and the most authentic translations and exegeses of the meanings of the Qur'an are compiled to give free access to them in all possible formats.
The selected translations of the meanings of the Qur'an are entered into the system. The texts are carefully converted and uploaded, so they can easily be saved, retrieved, and shared electronically. The translations will be continuously revised and corrected, Allah willing.
A large number of translations of the meanings and exegeses of the noble Qur'an are published on EQE portal, accessible on all systems, smart devices, and electronic networks.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
For the first time in two years, delegations from North and South Korea sat down for talks aimed at ratcheting down escalating tensions on the peninsula.
The meeting took place at the symbolically significant border village of Panmunjom, where nearly 60 years ago the two sides signed an armistice ending the Korean War.
As NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports, the discussions were focused on procedural issues in advance of a planned ministerial-level meeting, as well as discussions on reviving a joint industrial zone and facilitating reunions of families separated by the Korean War; both of these have been suspended amid growing unease between Seoul and Pyongyang.
A South Korean spokesman told reporters Saturday that the talks had gone smoothly, "without any agreement." South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the two sides would meet again Wednesday in Seoul.
As the BBC reports:
"Ties between the two Koreas deteriorated earlier this year in the wake of the North's nuclear test on 12 February.
Pyongyang withdrew its workers from the Kaesong joint commercial zone in April, apparently angered by tightened UN sanctions in the wake of the nuclear test and annual South Korea-US military drills.
The zone, seen as a symbol of North-South co-operation, had run successfully just inside North Korea for more than eight years.
Around 53,000 North Korean workers are employed at the Kaesong factory complex by more than 120 South Korean factories.
The zone is a key source of revenue for the North and the biggest contributor to inter-Korean trade."
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
It's cold and gloomy here which is perfect soup weather. Especially when that soup has a little heat of its own from some spicy jalapeno peppers. I'm not really ready for winter weather yet -- I held out as long as I could before having to turn the heat on but with temperatures getting down in the 30s and 40s, this week was the end. The beautiful fall weather is over; it's cold and dark before 6:00 at night, which means it's almost winter. Have I mentioned that I really don't like winter? I look forward to the holidays, my birthday, etc but after that, I pretty much look forward to spring. I could do without the snow and gloomy dark days. But anyway, you're here for the soup recipe not to listen to me complain about the weather.
I'm calling this chicken enchilada soup because the flavors remind me of the enchilada soup at Chili's. This one has a few extras in it though with some corn and black beans. I used two kinds of cheese, a grated pepperjack cheese which adds some extra heat and melts beautifully and some crumbled cotija cheese which has a very mild flavor but adds a delicious creaminess to the soup. I poached the chicken in chicken stock with some spices and then shredded the chicken and returned it to the soup later in the cooking process. You can use boneless or bone-in chicken for this just remove the skin before cooking.
Chicken Enchilada Soup
3 cups chicken stock
2 skinless, chicken breasts
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ancho chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
4-6 jalapeno peppers, minced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup tomato paste
8 oz cotija cheese, crumbled
8 oz pepperjack cheese, divided
1 cup cilantro, chopped
Tortilla chips
In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add chicken stock and heat over medium heat. Add chicken breasts, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Simmer about 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside. Add tomatoes, jalapenos, bell pepper, onion, and garlic to the pot. Simmer about 30 minutes, covered until tomatoes have begun to break down. Add black beans, corn, and tomato paste and stir to incorporate. Add cotija cheese and half of the pepperjack cheese and stir to melt. Return chicken to soup and cook about 20 more minutes until desired consistency.
If soup isn't as thick as desired, you can add strips of flour tortillas. They will dissolve into the soup to thicken the broth. Add cilantro, reserving some to top individual bowls if desired. Ladle into serving bowls and top with crushed tortilla chips, reserved pepperjack cheese and cilantro if desired.


text:
Two weeks after being embarrassed by the news that some of its yoga pants were waytoo sheer, there's word from Lululemon that chief product officer Sheree Waterson will be leaving the company April 15.
As The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets report, Waterson's departure wasn't tied directly to the problem with black "luon women's bottoms." The company said it's part of "a reorganization of our product organization." Lululemon CEO Christine Day said in a statement, "We appreciate the many contributions that Sheree made during her time with Lululemon, particularly in the area of design."
As for the problem with the pants, Lululemon says:
-- "After an evaluation of our previously disclosed black luon production issues we concluded that the current specification and testing protocols for the signature fabric luon that were developed in 2006 have not materially changed."
-- "The production of luon is a complex process with a number of different inputs. Fabric is the key factor and while the fabric involved may have met testing standards, it was on the low end of lululemon's tolerance scale and we have found that our testing protocols were incomplete for some of the variables in fabric characteristics."
-- "When combined with subtle style changes in pattern and differences, the resulting end product had an unacceptable level of sheerness."
The company also said Wednesday that it still believes its first-quarter sales took a hit because of the problem, and subsequent recall of the pants and refunds paid to customers. The impact: first-quarter sales of $333 million to $343 million, not the $350 million to $355 million that had been expected — making for a real blow to the bottom line.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
Find out more about the Farnham BoB club
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Three days of historic Supreme Court arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act started Monday in a case that could decide the fate of the controversial health-care law. A new CBS News/New York Times poll found that 47 percent of respondents opposed the law while 36 percent approved it.
President Obama was overheard on an open microphone during a security summit in South Korea telling Russian President Dmitri Medvedev that he would have "more flexibility" on missile-defense talks following the U.S. election, a moment that will undoubtedly be used by his Republican opponents to portray him as wobbly on security issues and a political cynic.
Rick Santorum's decisive win Saturday in Louisiana, which was expected, did little to change the dynamics of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Mitt Romney still holds a large delegate lead and Santorum still has no clear path to the nomination himself.
Santorum got somewhat salty with a New York Times reporter at a campaign stop in Wisconsin when the journalist asked Santorum to clarify a criticism of Romney. Santorum later used the moment to underscore his GOP bona fides. On Fox News he said: "If you haven't cursed out a New York Times reporter during the presidential campaign you aren't a real Republican,"
Former Vice President Dick Cheney received a heart transplant over the weekend. The transplant for the 71-year old whose history of cardiac problems goes back decades, raised questions because Cheney is significantly older than the typical heart-transplant patient.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Have you ever listened to Marvin Gaye singing The Lord's Prayer? The passion, the emotion…it stills a body in motion, literally makes you pause and listen…really listen.
Don't ask me why, but a bitch has been playing Marvin's version over and over in my mind…since 4 o'clock in the afternoon yesterday…when my sister C-Money called…a bitch has been playing it over and over...since finding out that my sister's 14 year old mentee is pregnant.
So, there you have it and there it is.
Over and over, yet paused in motion…tears heavy and ready to fall.
Where to start?
What to say?
A bitch would like to start with a question.
When folks gather in groups, in legislative sessions and committees, to discuss whether to include comprehensive sex education in public schools do they ever ask themselves what is at stake?
What is held in the balance...what are the outcomes, negative and positive, of their decisions?
When discussing sex education policy what is the definition of failure? Actually, we have one don't we…the standard of no child left behind, right? And No Child Left Behind, which is the national education policy, is all about establishing standards by which schools, teachers and students may be judged.
Our Father…
So, is anyone taking numbers…collecting data…checking to see if the current abstinence only agenda is working? It's really easy! A bitch thought about it last night…while lying in bed trying not to curl up into the depressed ball of dejected shit that every fiber of my being wanted to be.
Who Art in Heaven…
Just take a look at the sexually transmitted disease infection rates…the pregnancy rates…the cold hard figures!
Is it working?
Hallowed be thy name…
A child has been left behind.
Thy Kingdom Come…
She is 14 years old…she loves Sponge Bob and hates History class. She's shy, poor and pregnant.
Thy will be done…
And that is not to say that she is not responsible…it is complex…but we have failed her just as much as she has failed herself. There will be no joyous baby announcement…no happy phone calls…no registration at Babies-R-Us…none of that.
A 14 year old is pregnant and that is not cause for celebration in my world.
On earth as it is in Heaven…
Didn't we tell her to talk to us? Yes, yes…but, but...but. Didn't we discuss condoms and protection? Yes, yes…but she is 14 years old and knows all about that…sort of…kind of knows…didn't know enough and we didn't have enough time to teach her everything she wasn't taught before.
And there is the guilt...the what ifs and the should haves that a bitch witnessed my sister go through last night...that are unavoidable and painful and empty.
Give us this day our daily bread...
There are limits to mentoring…limits of time and contact…legal limits that make it hard to get real. That is why there need to be supplements…sex education in the schools, on television, in church, on the radio...in the home, for the love of all that is holy.
Because you can make a mistake at 14 years old that could threaten your life...which is why she will need to have an HIV/AIDS test. You can make a mistake at 14 years old that can scar you…which is why she will need to have the full range of STD tests.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…
And what of the burden to society…the conflict between fiscal conservative policy...the ritualistic slashing of social programs...and the cost of shoring up a flawed sex education policy that all but guarantees multiple generations of dependents?
And lead us not into temptation…
Do we hold the mother of this mentee accountable? The woman who gave birth to this mentee at 14 years old herself…who will be a grandmother at 29? When and where was she supposed to learn the ropes and gather the information to instruct her child? Why the hell isn't anyone asking these questions?
But deliver us from evil…
What of the father? The 17 year old high school drop out…the 'boyfriend' who was never mentioned until the pregnancy announcement...who will now slowly or swiftly disappear. Do we hold him responsible…does it even matter?
Does responsibility have weight when the one responsible has nothing?
For Thine is the kingdom…
Yes! Yes, yes, yes…the word just wants to leap out of my throat...YES!
Y'all are so right.
It is a child, not a choice…and she is 14 years old and choice-less.
She is 14 years old…just a baby, but soon to be a mother…soon to do at 14 years old what this bitch doesn't feel mature enough to do at 33.
And the power…
Please give my sister the strength to go on...to be as amazing in her mentee's life as she has been in my life.
And the Glory…
Give us the words to make people understand that behind this flawed policy are ever increasing numbers of women and children being born into abject poverty, violence, exploitation and misery.
Fill us with the wisdom to inspire others to get active and participate...to be a part of the solution...to give a damn...to work towards establishing a community instead of assuming someone else already has or probably will.
39 comments:
I share your feeling of loss, anger, saddness, frustration.
A friend's Little Sister, a girl she had mentored for five years, announced last month that she too is pregnant, at age 16. The boy, a drop out headed for the penal system, is also a teen.
Those of us who have known her through this connection, a bunch of women working at a feminist newspaper, all felt a personal sense of loss and failure.
Did they know about contraception. Yes. Did they try to use it. Yes.
But there are so many contrary messages in our society these days. So many religious beliefs masquerading as "truths." So little real, practicle advice.
Access to contraception for teens is also limited. Those who need it the most have the least access, especially to the forms that might work for them. - 11:16 AM
- Hammer said...
Hey ABB. Sorry to hear that news. I know how much work you put into trying to make sure shit like that doesn't happen.
Keep on keeping on. What you do does, in fact, make a difference. You just have to look at the bigger picture sometimes, ugh. How cliche.
Again, sorry to hear the news.
In peaceful struggle,
Hammer - 11:32 AM
- Shark-Fu said...
J.T. - shoot me an e-mail and let me know what newspaper. And thank you for the empathy, my sister.
Aarlene - ditto.
Hammer - yeah, this just hurts to the bone. But a bitch has given myself 24 hours to wallow and then the struggle goes on! - 11:37 AM
This is one of the best posts I have read to date and has brought me back in focus in such an excrutiating way, reminding me to reach out in love to ALL the young people who are experimenting with the feelings that happen in their young lives. This post shows that one person can make a difference. Somehow. Just by saying these things out loud.
- Vera said...
Well said as always ABB.
Our society is so willing to throw so many away. - 12:21 PM
- BarefootCajun said...
shit. shit. shit.
Another lost childhood. Another child having to become the grown up before her time to take of her child. Much more than another statistic.
How dare we as a society not take the blame for this?
My heart is with you and C-Money, ABB. She is going to need you guys more than ever now. - 12:30 PM
"She loves SpongeBob"
this is the line that made me weep. How would a child that still loves SpongeBob know what to do now? If she's going to go through with the pregnancy, then I hope someone makes sure she is well nourished throughout so that the baby is not born with low birth weight-low IQ-low everything that is a serious risk for early teen pregnancy. I hope someone is going to make sure that she can and does finish high school. I hope, I hope....knowing very well that the society won't help her with what she needs. I pray for her and am thankful that she has support and compassion in your family.
faraway66 via LiveJournal - 1:38 PM
- bluwhisper said...
No, No, No ... Yes, Yes, YES!: Abstinence Backfires
Sometimes I wonder if abstinence-only sex education is supposed to keep women ignorant about their own bodies so that they can't make choices about reproduction, so that they do get knocked up before they've finished high school, so that they either have to depend on the husbands that their family makes them marry or go on welfare, so that they stay trapped in their rural town or inner-city neighborhood, so that they make another generation that's as ignorant, isolated, and financially and politically powerless. - 1:57 PM
- Maven said...
As I sat reading this, but before it was revealed who it was about, I kept thinking, "Oh shit, don't let this be the mentee."
She's just a child herself!!
There just are not enough words to describe this.
Who can really pinpoint who dropped the ball? The mom? The school? The society as a whole? The over-sexualized media? I fear this will remain a mystery. - 2:02 PM
I'm sorry to hear about this situation. It makes me think of a speaker I recently heard. She was talking about how children learn the song "head shoulders knees toes", and how we don't learn about the rest of the body. Sex ed in junior high is too late, and abstinence programs don't work. Other countries have figured this out (see Sweden) and have lower teen pregancy and STD rates. What will it take for the government to realise this? What do we do now to change this, ABB? What can I do now?
Thank you for your post is was utterly amazing & painful and needed. Unfortunately 14 year olds are not getting pregnant and STD's due to lack of knowledge-I think it goes much deeper then that-we have failed to tell/show them their worth-when one is feeling unloved. unworthy the company of someone is better then being alone-not to mention the mythical belief that one can create a life-which in turn will love them-My heart breaks for this 14 year-old girl who no and forever will be callously marked as fast.
P.S. I am going to send you a manifesto I wrote and often use in my work with young gay/lesbian youth-however it is applicable to straight folks as well. - 2:53 PM
ABB, I am newly addicted to your blog, but already a blazing fan. This is the first time I've made a comment, and I'm worried it will be an unwelcome one, but in good conscience, I have to ask. MUST this child bear this child? There are options. I know your ass is generally very lefty, but I know several fellow lefties that can not stomach abortion, and perhaps you are one. Your thoughts?
DAMN! Was that NARAL counter ALWAYS there on your blog? I must have been too absorbed in the writing to notice it before. So that answers that question as far as your position on the topic in general, but what about the mentee in specific?
- leomange said...
that's tough, bitch. but c-money's mentee is lucky to have you and c-money in her corner at this crucial point in her life. whatever ya'll do will be hard, but, in the end, it'll be right.
there's lots wrong here, but at least this girl has a strong line of support. - 4:48 PM
My best wishes to your sister and this child. Your sister can still make a difference to how this child handles all of this and no doubt will do her darndest to
- Crystal-Lynn said...
She must bear this child in the state of Missouri. Her mother doesn't believe in abortion. And you must have parental consent to have an abortion under the age of 18 in the state of Missouri. If this outrages you, get involved.
C-Money - 6:17 PM
- Shark-Fu said...
Fat Dancing Bitch...
Fantabulous name, btw.
Yes, that NARAL counter has been there for a while and a bitch is pro-choice.
In this specific situation my state of residence is the primary issue. St. Louis is a border city...in a parental notification state. Across the river things are different, but in Missouri any woman under the age of 18 must receive parental consent.
And the woman in question is 14...her mother is anti-choice...and our hands are tied.
To anyone wondering what to do...visit www.ppslr.org and go to the political activism section, register and join the battle against restrictions that call a woman a child for 9 months of pregnancy and then an adult once the child is born.
To anyone who ever questioned the pro-choice fight, our efforts to battle abstinence only education, the need for comprehensive sex education and access to affordable reproductive options and the full protection of choice...drop me a line and this bitch will bring you up to speed real quick.
Frustrated doesn't begin to describe this... - 7:16 PM
- G Bitch said...
Makes me want to holler, too....
- GayProf said...
I wish I had something insightful to write. All I can offer, though, is my support and best thoughts. My greatest hope is that the young woman will not feel trapped and desperate. Instead, I hope she will prosper before and after the birth. - 10:43 PM
- leomange said...
oh. my. god.
it just gets worse. so the 14-year-old's mother... nay, the soon-to-be 29-year-old grandmother is anti-choice??? and so the girl whose body, mind and soul are first and foremost affected by this has no choice in the matter except... except... 'she shoulda kept her legs closed in the first place'???
oh. my. god.
that makes my heart drop into my stomach, and they both ache. in theory, parental notification laws are based on good intentions, but good intentions also pave the road to hell. be strong, bitch. if i were a praying man, you'd have my prayers, but you'll have to settle with my thoughts and hopes.
yep, beyond frustrating - 2:42 AM
Given that (1)I'm probably bringing up plans of action you've already considered and discarded and (2) my unfamiliarity with the laws of Missouri -- is it possible to go to court and ask the judge to emancipate this child in order to get around the parental-consent issue? Is it possible the mother's parental rights could be terminated and a guardian appointed who could/would then give consent? Besides the practical aspect, my heart weeps for all involved in this tragedy.
ABB, you inspire me in so many ways. And reading this post, about your anger and frustration in your efforts to just DO SOMETHING GOOD have truly inspired me. None of us are perfect and who can expect us to be? But there you are, out in the literal trenches, doing what work you can and effecting what change you can. You and your sister, C-Money. You have both inspired me. I have waffled long on what I have to offer as a big brother/mentor but I am going to do it. In fact, I'm going to look for programs to volunteer for right now. Thank you for your inspiration. And keep on fighting the good fight.
- emily said...
ABB - what a poignant and powerful reminder of the devastating impact our misguided social policies have on those who are hurt the most - our children.
I was a high school teacher in an urban school in Texas, and it broke my heart every time one of my best and brightest girls - once a nationally ranked athlete, another time the class valedictorian -both with full college scholarships, had their dreams derailed by an irresponsible choice.
I know the disappointment your sister must feel, and my heart goes out to both of you. I know the frustration that comes with dealing with parents who don't see more for their children in the way that you do. I can only hope that enough of us will keep pushing, keep giving our money, keep volunteering, until 14 year old girls looking for love and acceptance in the arms of their 17 year old boyfriends will at least have the means to easily protect themselves from more far-reaching consequences. - 8:59 AM
- Gwen said...
The good news is that teen pregnancy is declining. The bad news is that statistics say absolutely nothing about the ache and loss of each number on the page. I've taught in urban public schools for years, and it still breaks my heart every single time one of my students gets pg. Fourteen yr olds are still children, and every time the shit I see on MySpace wipes that thought clean, I am reminded of one of my sophomore students who spent 1/2 her time shakin' her groove thang and the other 1/2 wishing fervently for a Tickle Me Elmo for Christmas.
Peace to you, your sis and her mentee. - 10:05 AM
This post is going to haunt me for some time for so many reasons . . . I grew up in the St. Louis area and happened to go across the river to Illinois to get an abortion when I was 17, so my first thought was, "I'd drive there to take her across the river if she wanted" though I'm sure you know more about that than I do. I mean, even in a world where she could get an abortion, she'd probably be caste out by her family, right? That is choiceless; I didn't know Missouri required parental consent for abortions.
I just don't know what to say. Maybe it's time for me to do more than just sign Planned Parenthood petitions . . . - 10:08 AM
Yeah. That shit Eric said? Put me down for that too. I've been a Planned Parenthood member since forever, ditto Amnesty International, I get a box full of lefty pleas for money every day in the mail, and sometimes this bitch just wants to throw up her hands and say "GodDAMN it! How many years and dollars do I have to spend to convince people of plain good SENSE?" But Eric is right. I'm gonna go sign up to make a difference to ONE kid, even if she DOES get pregnant, hell, ESPECIALLY if she get's pregnant. Stay angry, ABB. You give a fresh shot in the arm to all us tired bitches.
- Shark-Fu said...
To all...thanks, a bitch needed all of that in a big way.
To Danielle and to clarify...this young woman is not blood family. My sister and this bitch are mentors, which is why the woman in question is called a mentee by me.
And to the question of what is his 14 year old's choice...she has none. She is allowed an opinion that is not enforced by state law, but she can not act on that opinion due to parental consent laws, so it really isn't a choice.
It's more like a wish, isn't it...when you have no legal options.
That is what pro-choice boils down to - the right to make medical decisions and choices for yourself legally. - 10:56 AM
This is a truly amazing post. I've linked to it from my blog, and I am wishing you all strength. I know there are closer places where abortion is legal, but if she wanted to come to Montana to exercise her choice, you would all have a place to stay. I hate that Missouri makes a difficult situation even moreso.
HEY! Prayers are all well and good, folks, but let's get to the point, here, after we're done gnashing our teeth. All of us want to do "something" - who says the Mentee can't be registered at BabysRUs? Can't have a shower thrown by family? Do you know how much kids cost these days? We are all children of God, people... let's lift up one of our own. Ms. Bitch, if you and Sister C-Money would be so good as to set up the Mentee at Target, or Wal-Mart, or where-ever-the-hell expecting mothers do these things and post it to the Blog, I would count it a privilege to send something. I think registrations can be set with everything sent automatically to a predetermined address... who's in with me for a stroller?
- Shark-Fu said...
You restore a bitch's faith...
...and this bitch will keep you posted.
In the mean time...strollers, diapers and all manner of items are always needed at local shelters for teen mothers too. - 2:10 PM
I am (un)lucky enough to travel for my job, and my local women's shelter always is happy to get those tiny toiletry kits, shampoos, and other "smell wells" hotels hand out and no one knows exactly what to do with once they're home... it's easy to forget that cleanliness may be next to godliness but it is also a luxury. I found out if you ask nicely, the cleaning staff will give you handfuls of the stuff!
- Joolya said...
Oh my ... ABB, my heart is going out to you, to your sister, and to your sister's mentee. Have you looked into adoption programs?
I can't think of the right words, so I am sending good vibes y'all's ways. - 4:56 PM
Childbirth is scary for these young kids, too. Even if they are attending routine prenatal visits, they don't have reliable experienced non-exaggerating women to consult (relatives are generally not too believable to many kids this age), and the kids get all sorts of wild notions about birth.
NancyP - 7:10 PM
She's having a baby, y'all. Culturally, she doesn't live in the world of drive-across-the-river or give-it-up-for-adoption. She lives in the world of I'm-pregnant-and-having-a-baby. The hardest part of being Pro Choice is accepting choices I wouldn't make myself. I understand wanting sex. I understand not believing in abortion. I understand keeping your baby. I understand not crossing your mama, your family, your community. It's why I don't understand not preventing pregnancy in the first place. I don't understand not asking for help when it's offered. I would have driven her to the clinic, bought the condoms. I felt like a safe sex pusher for God's sake. And it didn't work. This time. I'll try harder to help her avoid another one. Sistahs need to work with sistahs and too-young sistahs on this issue. I'll check out the virtual baby shower y'all seem to want to throw. Thanks.
C-Money - 3:35 PM
- Maven said...
I agree with Riley...
I'd be glad to buy something or crochet a baby blanket.
There by the Grace of God goes the mentee. I could have met a similar fate, what with my mother being the way she was and still IS. - 11:07 AM
I can't even imagine how awful it must be to have a baby so young. An abortion is SO called for in this situation. I would have done anything to spare my daughters such a nightmare. What is that mother: insane? Well,she says, I just don't believe in abortion, because I'm a good Christian woman. F her.
Sex education and wide open channels of communication. But sometimes even that is not enough. Young girls just don't understand the power of their own bodies. When one is so young, wrapping her head around the idea that her own body will produce a baby, is harder than grasping the concept that the universe is infinite. How do we get beyond that?
I've spent years working in social services in some capacity or another and IMO birth control and abortions aren't the answer. Abstinence only education isn't the answer only. I've handed out birth control and information like a Pez dispenser only to turn around and have those same girls come back pregnant. I live in Alabama, I've made countless 'runs to the border' with young girls in tow, only to have those same girls come back pregnant again a few months later.
There's a desperation, a daddy hunger for male attention that no amount of lecturing or time from another female will ever assuage. These girls are so desperate they're giving boys knobbers in the hallway at middle schools. Do you really think they're in a mindset to hear about safety and prevention of disease/pregnancy? When I worked at Job Corps staff had to constantly round up young girls doing the same out in public, even though they knew we had security cameras everywhere! These girls aren't having sex because they're horny. Good grief, who's any worse in bed than a teen boy? Most of them don't even have a clue as to what a clit is, and wouldn't give a damn if they did know. No, its about getting a boy, any boy, because they don't have a man at home.
As a dyed in the wool feminist, it makes me crazy to say this, but unless and until we get our out of wedlock birthrate under control we are going to continue to see these girls take crazy chances in order to be with a guy.
For too many years we've told ourselves that our children don't need daddies. That a woman could be both 'mother and father.' Its past time that we stop deluding ourselves. - 9:29 AM
I became pregnant when I was 17 and there weren't anyone writing beautiful blog postings about my situation, or others becoming inspired and checking out Big Sister websites, it was just me and my equally promiscuous and in some sense stupid friends trying to handle such a big thing on our own. By 17 I certainly wasn't the first of my "crew" to become pregnant, so it was a matter of finding where to go, getting the money from Patrick "whatever the hell his last name is" and making an appointment. At that time abortion was basically another form of contraception to us (And by us I mean every other high school girl in my home town). Everyone was doing it. Now that I'm older, and supposedly wiser, I would hope I could say that I see the error of my ways, but I still see myself doing the same things but just in a different way. I know there's a wake up call in this story somewhere, I'm just still looking for it.
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Please contact gallery for purchase information: www.weemsgallery.com
and other things.... This is my daily art blog. I'm artist Dee Sanchez and I live and work in Alameda, New Mexico - the land of blue skies, red hills, and three unique cultures. What a beautiful place to paint! Join me on my daily painting quest, my plein air adventures, my video logs, my "getting ready for a show" preparations, my painting tips, and I may even throw in an opinion or two...I also document my struggles with getting healthy and my crazy family life


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Much of the world is turning hotter and dryer these days, and it's opening new doors for a water-saving cereal that's been called "the camel of crops": sorghum. In an odd twist, this old-fashioned crop even seems to be catching on among consumers who are looking for "ancient grains" that have been relatively untouched by modern agriculture.
Sorghum isn't nearly as famous as the big three of global agriculture: corn, rice and wheat. But maybe it should be. It's a plant for tough times, and tough places.
Sorghum "originated in the northeastern quadrant of Africa," explains Gebisa Ejeta, a plant scientist from Ethiopia and professor at Purdue University. From there, it spread across Africa, India and even into China. "It's got a lot of characteristics that make it a favorite crop for the drylands of Africa and the semi-arid tropics."
It's an essential source of food in those regions, but it's not typically a big money crop. In Africa, it's grown by subsistence farmers. It's never gotten much attention from seed companies or investors.
But it is nutritious. It can grow in soils that other plants won't tolerate. Above all, it doesn't need much water. Compared with corn, for instance, it needs one-third less water, and it doesn't give up and wilt when rains don't come on time. It waits for moisture to arrive.
It probably arrived in North America aboard slave ships. That traditional sorghum looks like an overgrown corn plant, up to 10 feet tall, with a head of seeds on top.
Today, American farmers grow two kinds of sorghum. Sweet sorghum is tall; you can use it to make a sweet syrup or just feed the whole plant to animals.
But most sorghum in the U.S. is grown for feed grain. That version of the plant is short, with seeds that come in several different colors.
Steve Henry showed me some near Abilene, Kan., on our way to the farm where he grew up. Kansas is the biggest sorghum-growing state. Out here, they call milo.
"You've got white milo, red milo, yellow milo," says Henry, scanning the field. "Basically, you have the little berries, and they're filled with starch, like like corn is filled with starch, and the starch is what we're after."
Sorghum is used for the same things as corn: high-energy feed for pigs and chickens. It also gets turned into ethanol.
But corn is far more popular. Corn produces a bigger harvest, and farmers earn bigger profits with it — at least when there's plenty of water. In the U.S., the amount of land in sorghum has been steadily shrinking.
There are signs, though, of a sorghum revival on the high plains. The reason is water, or the lack of it. From Nebraska to western Texas, cornfields have been fed with rivers of water pumped from underground aquifers, and that water is starting to run low.
Some farmers, such as Mitchell Baalman of Hoxie, Kan., are looking for crops that aren't quite so thirsty. "We're learning a lot about milo," says Baalman. "You know, nobody wants to grow milo out here; it's kind of a forgotten crop. But I tell you what, there's where our money's going to be made this year. It'll be on grain sorghum."
Ejeta, who won the World Food Prize in 2009 for his work on sorghum, says that sorghum's renaissance may depend on the price that farmers pay for water. "If water is given its real value, and you limit irrigation, or people begin to pay for water, it would be economically smarter to grow sorghum in several areas of the United States," he says.
In the latest twist to the sorghum saga, it's actually becoming somewhat trendy among consumers who are looking for something a little different, and maybe a little more healthful.
"Sorghum is naturally gluten-free; it's an ancient grain," says Earl Roemer, who set up a company called Nu Life Market to sell sorghum flour to big food companies. Roemer's sorghum mill in Scott City, Kan., is busy. "Demand is exploding!" he says. "We're seeing 25 to 30 percent increase in demand, annually. We're doing all we can to increase production." His flour goes into gluten-free baked goods and is also used in breakfast cereals containing so-called ancient grains like quinoa, amaranth and spelt.
Every week, he says, visitors from food companies large and small make the trek to western Kansas to talk about new opportunities. Next week, he says, he's traveling to Taiwan to explore international markets.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Storm Packing Hurricane-Force Winds Hits Western Europe
What's being described as the worst storm in years hit Britain before moving across the English Channel to lash the Netherlands, France and Germany. It's claimed as many as 13 lives, The Associated Press reports, and has caused flooding as it whips the region with wind gusts of nearly 100 mph.
"BBC forecasters say the storm, which began overnight and saw heavy rain fall across many areas and wind speeds of more than 70 mph, moved out of the UK shortly after 12:00 GMT — leaving a 'broadly windy day.' "
"UK Power Networks officials said up to 270,000 homes were without power. Flood alerts were issued for many parts of southern England and emergency officials said hundreds of trees were knocked down by gusts. ...
"London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest, cancelled at least 130 flights and express trains between central London and Gatwick and Stansted airports were suspended. Huge waves prompted the major English port of Dover to close, cutting off ferry services to France."
Thousands of homes in France were also without power.
"Heavy winds also swept across the low-lying Netherlands, shutting down all train traffic to Amsterdam. Hurricane-force winds of more than 150 kph (93 mph) were recorded on one of the islands off the northern Dutch coast."


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Featured October 27th, 2011Us
RT @TheGlobalGoals: More than 2.5 billion girls and women around the world are affected by discriminatory laws and lack of legal protection…
@MetteGjerskov Så sejt. Håber vi skal spille mere @ggwcup bold sammen. Stort tillykke.
RT @redongdmad: 📺 ¡Lanzamos videos de Youtubers por la #Agenda2030! Gala y Fátima de @dragoneslvpies explican qué son los #ODS y os anuncia…
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