Change - One Step at a Time

I've done a bit of reading (on my Kobo) that's triggering a lot of thinking about ourselves and our environment and our way of life.
First up: "The Zero-Waste Lifestyle" by Amy Korst. Amy and her husband did an experiment one year in zero-waste living. The book tells the story as well as gives tips on how-to, from simple to radical. Is it possible? For many it is, but it involves a serious look at what we buy and how we get rid of the excess.  Did you know that your garbage will be mostly identifiable 50 years from now? Scary thought. Did you know that marine life is dying because of the ingestion of plastics which never ever biodegrades? Sobering. So what do YOU do with your garbage?
The second book I read is one by Gillian Deacon: "The Green Lifestyle". It's about what we're putting into our homes, chemically speaking, and goes well with a lifestyle of zero waste.
The third book I'm still getting through is: "There's Lead in Your Lipstick" by Gillian Deacon. I first became aware of this book when I was in the Rocky Mountain Soaps store in Banff, last summer. Great soaps by the way! I didn't buy it then because it was costlier than I wanted to pay for it. But after I read "The Green Lifestyle", and couldn't find this book in the library, I bit the bullet and bought it. Gillian has been doing a lot of ongoing research into what's in all those products that we (women AND men) put in our hair, on our faces and on our bodies. The skin is very absorbent - and it's absorbing thousands of hormone disrupters and cancer promoting chemicals - - daily.
So if you see repostings on FB from EWG thru me, that's where I'm coming from. The Environmental Working Group has also done tons and tons of research, and it's ongoing. They also have an online list of safety ratings of products. Go ahead, check them out!
As a result, and on top of last year's readings on living simply with less, I admit I'm in overload. That season of cancer has made me more aware of what has gone wrong with our natural world, and how it's affecting ME. Others may not care at all, others may say I'm going overboard, but illness and cancer is no fun. And some may say I'm too gullible - but hey! I have lived a long life of almost 62 years, and I've been reading good books and not-so-good books on healthy living and eating over those years. When one article confirms another, there's got to be some truth in it all.
The fourth book: "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. After seeing this name and his book referred to several times, I thought I should check this out. Michael is also into eating healthier foods, and with this book, he points out various ways that we are consuming 'non-foods'. Non-foods are those foods with ingredients that you can't pronounce, that you don't have in your pantry, and although they taste good, they have you go back for that unnecessary extra helping all the while helping you gain weight and disease. He also investigates how our meats get to our tables.
The last book I recently completed reading is: "Pocket Your Dollars" by Carrie Rocha. It is NOT a book about budgeting; it IS a book about what our five financial attitudes are and how they get us into the wrong places financially. Easy to read, it is basically the story of how Carrie and her husband climbed out of debt, with advice for others to follow. She also has a web-site, "pocketyourdollars.com", if you're interested.
These books were easy to get through - they have to be, for me! And because health and nutrition are so important, I encourage you to sample these readings as well. Ultimately, it's up to you, but given the sky-rocketing rates of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other health issues in the WESTERN world, it behooves us to pay attention to what these people have to say.
Problem is - we just don't want to accept the fact that we have a responsibility to take care of God's earth, and we're not doing it. We don't like listening to people naysaying our lifestyle. We would rather blame the military and the governments and the food and drug and chemical industries - and act helpless in the face of that.
We need to change - somehow - one step at a time. Eventually, the military and the government and the food and drug and chemical industries will listen. and if that's not good enough, take a look at the pictures Michael posted of the receding glacier. Listen to the stories of damaged wildlife. It's real, people.
Change, one step at a time!

Christmas Days, 2013

The Christmas season started early this year, when we took the four children to Delta to see the lights and to visit Santa. A snow-storm was in the fore-cast, but it was calm when we left the house. Not so when we arrived about 15 minutes later! It became quite blustery as we waited for the wagon rides to begin! The lights in the park were fun to look at, and the hot chocolate and doughnuts before the visit to Santa and Mrs.Claus were quite welcome. When the ride was over, we enjoyed the Festival of Carols in the church. It warmed my heart to hear all four sing along. 

Next day, Sunday, we were snowed in! Church at Dixon's was cancelled, so Naomi was off the hook to be there for her practice. So we played and coloured and did all kinds of stuff, and Elijah didn't miss the opportunity to help Opa towards the end of a session of snow-clearing!

The following days were filled with the usual December activities, but this year, we added choir practice - we sang a cantata on Christmas Eve!

Christmas Day was a quieter day than usual; I made fondue for the two of us (cheese, broth, and chocolate!) and we started working on a 1000-piece puzzle - which didn't get done until well after New Year's. It was a challenge! 

Boxing Day was spent in preparation for the arrival of our family. Cleaning and wrapping and baking and ...... while gazing out the kitchen window at one point, I saw this cardinal and snapped his picture. I did wish for a better zoom lens, but his spot of red is still a good shot.

 John decided that a skating rink would be a good idea, so he spent many hours preparing a surface, and even put up lights on a near-by tree!

Unfortunately, the weather was either too cold or too wet to do much skating. No fun.

Michael arrived on Friday, as well as David and Stephanie and their girls.

Saturday, we went to Chesterville for an afternoon with the Geertsema Family. This was the first time in many years that we were ALL there!

Stevin and Katrina and their kids came on Sunday afternoon, and we played games. Ticket to Ride has become a favourite.... 

In the next photos, Anneke and Kaelyn are showing off their new Sunday dresses. Pretty!

 

 Martin and Emily and their girls arrived on Monday afternoon just in time for tea and birthday #4 cake for Nicole, followed by our annual sjoelbak tournament, followed by our family dinner with gingerbread-boy biscuits made by Rachel!

Just a word about our sjoelbak tournament: we've been doing this every Christmas for the last few years, whether we're together or by Skype. David is our current champion.

Pandemonium followed dinner with gift sharing. I just love the photo of Moraine Lake from Michael! I had been planning to make an enlarged photo after my trip, but had not done it yet. Thank you - I am looking forward to next summer's trip!

Tuesday (New Year's Eve), was spent playing and making olieballen and playing some more.

Below is a photo of Nicole and her special vehicle - looks like a Dr. Zeus-mobile!

 Lauren and Oma ...

 Maria ...

That evening we had a really early supper so that we could attend a children's concert as part of the New Year's Gala Night in Brockville. The girls had so much fun!

And after a game of Ticket to Ride, we hugged in the new year - at midnight Nova Scotia time. ;)

Every day life calls towards the end of holidays, so David and Stephanie left Wednesday, Martin and Emily on Friday, and Michael on Saturday. The house became quiet gradually, but still felt empty without the extra people around.

In between departures, there was more time with games and play, but we had to do most inside as it became very cold! Wood did get cut, laundry done, and the guys attended a good Sens game while we girls, and one little boy, enjoyed pancakes with fruit and chocolate and bananas and syrup and whipping cream. :)

All in all, it was a good time - I feel blessed to have had everyone home this year. The family is growing - we're at 18 now! - and it's not easy to get everyone home at the same time.

We would like to wish each and all of you a very blessed new year. May God grace you with peace and contentment in all that you are and in all that you do.