End of June

Well today one of my girls and I goofed off and took some more recent pics. I hadn't had any done in awhile. I'm actually happy with them for the most part too I think. Also we may be getting eggs from my future son in law's grandparents for Raven to sit on. (I really need to find a nice way to say thank you as they've done so much for us) Hopefully she is still feeling broody. I need to put another nest out for the other hens to lay in so they don't have to fight her for the main one. Will see how this works out. Soon my friends will be home from Washington. I am so anxious for that. I'm sure they will be very busy the next couple of months (and we always are too) but it will be nice to have them so close again. I got some drawing done today and plan on more tomorrow I hope. Anyway this will just be a short blog for now. 

Just when I thought I was done for the day...religious rant

Christian state funded school to debunk evolution using Nessie <        This is what I saw on yahoo news. The article is basically about a state funded christian school (first off why state funded?) that is going to teach the students about Nessie (yes the lochness monster) convince them it is real and then use it to debunk evolution.... Um kay. First off while there has been videos and photos of a possible Nessie creature that doesn't mean there is proof of the existance of said creature. Not that I don't think there is some possibility it would be cool to find. Alligators and Crocs are both hold overs from the time of the dinosaurs...but that does not mean that evolution is not possible. In fact it appears that a lot of the dinosaurs were where our modern day birds came from. I can totally see this. There have been a lot more recent examples of evolution in motion though. The fox is a good one. If you have time you can watch the video if not just look up Silver Fox Experiment. (please excuse the placement of the video it didn't want to go where I wanted it to.) On another note I'd love one of those foxes. There are many levels of belief in evolution but in the end it is all about adaptation. I am thinking this is just one more reason for me to prefer homeschooling. I find it sad that they are doing this.

Also I keep seeing posts lately about people saying God made you perfect and you shouldn't try to improve. I guess this has been a current lesson among the churches? I don't know but I am seeing it a lot and it drives me crazy. No one is perfect. I am sorry but I will always see room for improvement. I will always want to learn and grow and I do try to not just outright bash the religion but as time goes on it really does get a bit harder when the things I am seeing posted are just so .... gads I don't even have the words. There is a lot of self righteousness going on and the sad thing is the people doing it don't have a clue that they are doing it. I usually just keep my thoughts to myself and move on. That is what this blog is for though.... ;) ....anyway until I see something else I need to blog about....                                                

Hawt

 This always comes to mind on these hot days....that and this

Ahem....okay now that that is out of my system. It is 100 out and feels even hotter. I am not a fan of summer. I like spring and fall. We are doing our best to try and keep the animals cool (moving shade around for them and lots of water) Today we got the call telling us that they've reset an appt. for my oldest to figure out why she is having the stomach issues she is having. She has to go to Edmond for this. yay us. The first time they set it they had accidentally set her up with a surgeon but she doesn't need to see a surgeon. So they canceled that. There is apparently quite a waiting list for gastro's. My youngest had her well child check and is 100th percentile in height. She is 40" and 37lbs. She is almost chest height on me. (and just turned 3) ....yes I'm short. We realized in Sept. our son that we lost to Trisomy 18 would be 5. We have to pick up a stepping stone. We make one every year for him. I want to get a sunflower. Speaking of sunflowers I have some seeds for my 3 year old to plant and I would like to try out some plans I saw where you can plant them and then fix the tops together and have like a tunnel for them to play in. I've been kicking out blogs lately but I also realize I need to work on some artwork and jewelry crafting. Been trying to also clean and get ready for homeschooling. Too hot to mess with the shed at all though. :( 

Quick rant

One of my big pet peeves and yeah this may be partly to do with my PTSD (post traumatic) is I cannot stand when people throw fits around me. Or when they get pissed off at inanimate objects when they don't work right and wind up doing more damage to said object because they are pissed off than it had to start with. Or break shit in the process of being mad and slamming shit around. Like a bull swinging his balls just to show them off. ....also this does not just pertain to men. < sorry that is what always comes to mind and this just made me giggle with the image....I hate when anyone does that. I get jumpy and it literally is like nails on chalk board. I know I am not the only one I have a friend who has been through the same and hates it for the same reasons. It sets every nerve fiber in your body to electrify because if you have ever been with someone in the past who was so unpredictable that you couldn't tell what would set them off or what they would do to you (and they had everyone else thinking you were the nutty one or so you thought so you knew they could likely get away with most of it)                      That will scar you for life. It sets you in self defense (and protect people around you mode) Even if you are pretty sure the people around you are not mad at you and none of it is intended for you you are still afraid of being caught in the cross fire...which is especially frustrating when you feel at the same time that you are supposed to help so you are caught between helping and staying the fuck out of the way. You don't know if you will get inadvertently hurt without them meaning to or noticing. I forwarn people I am around (if I know them well enough or if they are prone to this type behavior) that I do have a problem with this and it usually doesn't really help. I have enough shit broken around my house and in my life without needing more. This is in general. I found out a long time ago to center myself and approach the situation with a bit of calm is a lot more productive than exploding and winding up with more things to fix than I started out with.  I just wish others could find that as well. Every now and then I will blow out of frustration but I try not to. To anyone if you want someone to help you ...Say something. Don't just assume that the other person all ready knows what you are doing or that they know what you want them to do. My dad also used to do that all the frigging time. I got hurt a lot. 

elections /economy

No chance expected in economy after presidential elections....No change ....to me this is a big DUH. Um did they think that people would believe that magically after the presidential elections things would suddenly change???? The things I'm more worried about are the laws they are changing which is happening more rapidly where women are losing rights. Though I am worried about the economy and I am watching that....which it resembles a slow motion train wreck to me....these types of laws against women and the middle/lower class and some that cover just basic freedoms are quickly resulting in the loss of freedoms and rights have the ability to affect us much more quickly. I don't think anything either presidential elect could do would fix anything economically any time soon...if anything though I think they need to be more worried about what either would do that might cause it to fall at a more rapid rate or into a more unfixable situation. (I may be talking in circles but I have a toddler who is going to the dr. later and keeps stripping out of all her clothes so I am going to have to redress her....plus she is antagonizing the cat so I am having to stop and go stop that. ) Anyway the domino effect is all ready spreading beyond Europe into China and other surrounding countries. I did see an article talking about why the gas prices here were so high compared to elsewhere....which kinda was laughable because while yes they were high they are not really higher than elsewhere. We never hit $4.00 and everyone else did it seems and some are still there. I have some friends coming back to Oklahoma from another state that they've had to stay in because of family obligations and it stayed closer to $5.00 there. Grocery prices though are continuing to rise. The other day I noted while on a shopping trip that chicken and pork were nearly $3.00 lb beef was higher running from $4.00 something a lb for cheaper stuff on up to $8.00 or $9.00 for steaks and such. This also includes hamburger. It is ridiculous. 
I actually saw a global plea earlier this month to conserve water. Basically because we are running out of  clean drinking water and because of the infrastructures degrading. This plea was not from some conservation group either. Electricity is also going up in areas. Texas power demand going up climate change is affecting us as well all over the world Canada one example of many We basically have a lot of different situations that reflect off each other. Anyway I am off for now. Got to dress my youngest again and I am not feeling too well myself today. Rough night. (may vent a bit later) and today it is all ready 95 and rising. I don't handle heat well. Supposed to hit 100 with a higher heat index. 

City Ordinances/self sufficiency

There is a story that came out about a woman in Tulsa who grew plants for medicinal purposes as well as food. The city came in and told her the plants were too tall and in the end cut them all down and trashed them without listening to her. She had over 100 varieties of the medicinal plants and were using them to treat diabetes and such and the food was the only food she had. She was low income. The court found her in the right and yet the city still demolished her gardens. City destroying woman's garden There were complaints from ghost neighbors on it etc and so far she has not been compensated for her loss. This is where you can sign a petition for her at Change.org sign petition They are finding more and more people are going through similar situations at a time when they really should be promoting home gardening and I'd say small farms. Self sufficiency.

We ran into a semi similar situation. Definitely not as bad as hers but I've been finding more like them. Ours was a gripe about our chickens. Which we could understand the rooster and we got rid of him willingly. Had been thinking about it anyway because he was too rough on our hens. (they are still growing feathers back and I had to buy chicken saddles to protect them when we had him) I was told one such complaint was from a city council member (if I understood right) and to me...shouldn't said council member have known they were allowed in town since they had only recently in the last year or two made the changes that allowed them?  I had to have them go double check and they found that they are in fact allowed. (I don't blame the code person by the way. Don't shoot the messenger they are just doing their job) We did move their run to fit within the rules of the ordinance. We did have a pool up and had to take it down because of lack of fencing and when we inquired about fencing were told it has to be 40 I think feet back from the road and if you live on a corner lot as we do you can't fence in the front yard. I'll have to pull out the paper we have to make sure I am stating that right but there are parts they told us that were not in the copy of the paper they gave us when I asked for one. Now that is where this next story comes in. We asked about building a wood pallet fence that would basically be the equivilant of a privacy fence. They looked a bit unsure about that one. There was a man whose story I found when looking up wood pallet fences (and how to build them) His dog had gotten out and was told to put a fence up to remedy the problem. He did by putting up a pallet fence. His story The neighbors complained before he was even finished saying it looked tacky. (There is a photo on the page and you can see on the half he has in front of the house that it really doesn't) He hadn't sanded or painted it yet. He was a low income person and didn't have the money for a more expensive fence and was trying to fix the problem using the only means he had and as well he pointed out that the wood is the same as you might find in a lumber yard. It is treated etc. (I have to attest some pallets do have some really good wood on them if you get the right ones) and it is free AND it is recycling. I think this nation needs to really look at their way of thinking of disposability and consumerism. We just toss shit out and replace it too quickly. We don't recycle in most places. I really had my eyes opened in Germany when you could see where the American bases and housing editions were by the shear amount of trash that was laying around the bins. The Germans had recycling bins set up and their actual trash that was hauled away was placed into a can the size of a kitchen trash can. They also had days set up where you set out your furniture or what not that was in decent shape and people would make a day of going around and picking up what they needed. (I think the beginning of freecycle and craigslist or their version of it) People here still kind of look down on that though it is gaining acceptance it is still seen as a bit low. What is wrong with building a pallet fence? What is wrong with having a garden and providing for yourself? What is wrong with self sufficiency? We need to rethink our way of life and I think they need to work on the acceptability of things like that. Of course if we were self sufficient we wouldn't be as dependent on the government for as much.... what a shame that would be wouldn't it? I am continuing to keep an eye on stories like these. I will also continue to be working on our own garden and self sufficiency as much as I can within the limits and wishing for land that was not in town. Town is not a self sufficient friendly place. Would love to have a community of friends who could all put in time with gardening and such. That would be awesome. 

Going backwards

I have a couple of things for today and I will do them in separate blogs. The first is an article I saw in the Shawnee News star. This seems to coincide with an article that ran in the Countywide that got a lot of negative replies but all in all I see a lot in the news that shows signs of us backsliding. 
Southern Babtists debate gays civil rights This is the article's content: NEW ORLEANS —

A day after electing their first African-American president, Southern Baptists are considering a resolution opposing the idea that gay rights are civil rights.

The resolution up for a vote Wednesday affirms Southern Baptists' beliefs that marriage is "the exclusive union of one man and one woman" and that "all sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful."

It acknowledges that gays and lesbians sometimes experience "unique struggles" but declares that they lack the "distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections."

"It is regrettable that homosexual rights activists and those who are promoting the recognition of 'same-sex marriage' have misappropriated the rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement," the resolution states

The article I saw in the Countywide I apparently missed and I tried to go back and find it but haven't yet but I am still looking. The idea I got from the content of the disgruntled letters though is that it was about a couple that one woman had breast cancer and the other was worried about the lack of rights she had because they were not married. The writers were complaining about everything from saying she would have just as many rights as someone who wasn't (I have to disagree there....having been through some experiences myself I can vouch that unless you are married or related by blood they do give you shit) Plus if the woman with cancer were to die her mate would be up against family when figuring out what to do with her estate. Even heterosexual couples that are together for long enough can be considered in some states as common law and yet they don't extend anything similar to lesbian or gay couples. Now we have the Southern Babtist church who just elected their first black official (step forward) and are now proclaiming they don't believe in the civil rights of BLGT. (Two steps back) ....so in other words led by someone whose ancestors had to fight their asses off is wanting to deny some of those same rights to others. 

On top of all of this I see the Catholic churches taking over hospitals (They recently took over our local one) and are denying procedures such as sterilizations, hysterectomies (which I am likely going to need eventually though I am putting it off due to too much other stuff going on and I've all ready had the tubal thankfully ....if I'd have waited much longer I'd have been denied that as well) and of course abortions which our hospital didn't do anyway...To me they almost seem to be trying to pull one over with that part of it. I hear a lot of if you don't like it go to another hospital....well I live in the Bible belt and there aren't a lot of non religious affiliated hospitals AND the ones that did all of this before are being taken over by the Catholic churches (a church with a lot of money to do this) They've been sticking their fingers in the political pots lately as well as other churches. 

Then they all proclaim this country is founded on Christian beliefs...erm actually no and guess what ...they weren't here first either. Though I've noticed more and more (thankfully) the tribes that were here first are starting to rise in strength and get more involved in politics and are being recognized. 

Anyway so now I'm also seeing a LOT of what appears to be Women's rights backsliding. I've even been hearing that they want to do away with our right to vote again...erm yeah I don't see that one happening but I've also seen weirder things. They recently had two representatives speaking out for the people they represent and were shushed due to the use of the word Vagina for the entire rest of the session. It's a medical term....you really don't want to piss the women off ...you will get that term and a whole list of a kazillion other ways to say it...oh wait you all ready have. :) 

It sickens me that like I said in my own local paper the public reamed them for even publishing an article on a lesbian couple. Saying it had no place in a small town like this and they were losing readers due to it and had fallen victim to the liberals...WTF are we really that backwards??!!!!! 

This is what I see when I see the Christians saying they are being persecuted...who is doing all the persecuting? I do have Christian friends that are not like that and I hate using it as a blanket term ...when I say this please understand I am talking about the ones that are saying we have to act under THEIR religion. That no one else has any rights. By the way another thing I see is that they are the only ones with morals...try again. Morals are not exclusive to Christians only. It seems as well that they only start quoting the bible to fit whatever point of view they personally want to get across. It gets skewed easily and twisted and I've seen that more and more. This is why I quit walking that path a long time ago. I didn't want to be part of the ones who look down their nose at everyone else while at the same time wanting recognition for doing service for others. There are some who genuinely want to do those services for the right reasons but there are all too many who only do it with hope of conversion or for the recognition. They will tell you they don't but they use it for advertisement of their church. (What is that be humble? Oh yeah we forgot that part) Anyways my rant for the day ...or one of them. I hate to feel that way but I see it constantly and it so irritates me. I think that is why I perceive that portion of the Christians no matter what church they hail from ..as fakes. Acceptance is low in that community.... just because someone is different doesn't mean you need to change them to fit your image of what is right or deny them the same rights you have.