CAPTIVATED BY MANDIE - the blog -

September is the happenin' month!

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:01:00 +0000

There is so much to do in September, I can barely keep up. My calendar is filling quickly.

Most importantly, my nephew Terry is coming home from Iraq on September 15th! Wooooo!

BIRTH is being performed in Greensboro on September 6th and 7th. BIRTH is a play by Karen Brody, and there is reportedly a terrific local cast and director. Tickets are available at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/40910

Although we call my dad pawpaw, the festival with the same name in Ohio is not in his honor. The pawpaw is a fruit (somewhat similar to a mango, but harvested and celebrated in the Appalachian regions of Ohio, WV, etc) that I grew up hearing about, but never tasting. Now all that must change. The Pawpaw Festival is being held in Albany on September 13th and 14th.

"This year, the Pawpaw Festival has added a new component called Ohio Country
Fair. The Ohio Country Fair will consist of various workshops, panels, and
exhibits, all with a focus on the art of self-sustainable living. The hour long
sessions will be lead by local individuals who have a wealth of knowledge to
share with our community."

I'm particularly excited about the Birth, Back to Nature class. And Composting, and Permaculture, and Living Foods, and Maple Tapping... okay, so it's the whole thing. I want to do it all. But I have to go to Ohio for the weekend. So be it.

My sister's farm, Rose Mountain Farm, is hosting the Slow Food Boone chapter for a potluck dinner on September 28th. As a(n absent) member of Slow Food Piedmont, I'm so proud that my sister is working with our sister chapter! What is slow food? It's an international movement to eat locally, in season, and all the surrounding benefits, both health, social, economic, etc. Good stuff, folks. It's all about what you eat. More info at http://www.slowfoodboone.wordpress.com/

And, leading us into October, Oak Island beckons us every year to come enjoy the off-season. Now if I can just get off work for this stuff...

We're finally getting settled...

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:54:00 +0000

The kitchen is huge, and I love the side screened-in porch. We have a carport full of yard sale stuff and things that need to be put in the basement... instead of me sitting here blogging.

*side note - I desperately need to update all my websites - I am years behind, which is sad.*

Family portrate

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:09:00 +0000

DSC_7015
Originally uploaded by Sara (SAY-ruh)

Sara was kind enough to travel with me to the family gathering place in Statesville to photograph the "surprise" Gail had cooked up. Destiny sat on the porch with Danielle on her lap hiding her. Surprise! She had flown the redeye from the far left coast just to spend the 4th with the fam. Too bad she was sick.

Sara took some guhreat photos. You should see them: http://www.flickr.com/photos/parkesgirls/sets/72157606023418279/

Hope you had a great 4th! Tata!

I made a difference today! What did YOU do?

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:23:00 +0000

Mom, Logan, and I traveled to Raleigh today and made a difference! We personally made two people aware of the need to license Certified Professional Midwives in the state of NC. I connected with several men and women of like mind, who came out to show their support of midwives in our General Assembly. I loved meeting everyone, and I feel accomplished. I think it only takes one person at a time, and today I was one.

What have YOU done today? :-)

A contest and tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:25:00 +0000

Some of you may know, our household has started the South Beach diet. We're having a great time with it, not cheating (that often) and actually preparing our meals from scratch. My sister has quite a bit to do with our fresh vegetable supply, but the store is there when we need it. So far, so good! And the food is YUM-O! Last night we had a mushroom pizza - fresh basil, garlic, onions, tomatoes, cheese on a shiitake mushroom from the farm! Oooh, it was so good. You're jealous, I know. :-)

Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Raleigh for the last days of the legislative session to support NCFOM or NC Friends of Midwives. If you're in Raleigh, come on by, we'll be in the Quad with bells, buttons, posters, and babies in tow!

Also, in the meantime, check out this neat link! I l.o.v.e. Bum Genius diapers!
Win a Bum Genius 3.0 Starter Kit from Nature's Child - Wholesome Goods for Mothers and Babies

You coming with?

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:46:00 +0000

Independence Birth Day

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm

Legislative Building - Raleigh, North Carolina

This is the last scheduled week of this legislative session. We need to make a BIG impression especially in light of the AMA resolutions (205 and 239). Our voices need to be heard about the importance of the CPM being licensed in North Carolina, and this needs to occur long before the AMA proposes legislation outlawing homebirth.

Please bring your voice, your spirit, and your children to this event; as the decisions that the lawmakers make at present will most definitely affect our children's birthrights and freedoms in the future! Support your freedom of choice, and your right to birth in peace, privacy, and safety. The AMA has declared war on mothers and babies (as well as on families); and we will not allow them to push us around with their scalpels and their threats. We will win this battle with LOVE, COMPASSION, and FAITH - fear and anger is not welcome here! Join together and be a part of history this Independence Day! The Constitution belongs to the people and is FOR the people! Reclaim your rights! Freedom for all!

We will be giving out information and snacks. We need lots of people to show up. Please come for as long or as short a time as you can. Please complete the poll that you'll be receiving shortly in your inbox.

Location of NCFOM Table in Legislative Building
Directions to Legislative Building
Parking

A note from Cher Durham, coordinator of this event:

The July 2 event is not going to be like the study committee meetings or even like the visits to the legislator's offices (stuffy, at times!).
This event is going to be fun. When I've seen tables set up in the lobby by other organizations (i.e. the Zoo, Carolina Raptor Center, American Red Cross, etc); the participants were relaxed and we're having a good time. I think our group is going to have a "blast" for 2 very specific reasons:

(1) It is going to be like one "big homebirth reunion" right around Independence Day, in the place where laws are made (oh, how poetic....haha! )
(2) When the legislators and lawmakers see how many people show up for this and we "flood" the hallways and corridors with our children and baskets of goodies; they are going to be "floored", literally! (Most other groups have anywhere from 3-15 people total, at most). I don't think that they will be prepared for what we're about to do.

The closet thing to this is a march (that others groups have done, and the news is always there). We, however, are "infiltrating" the inner offices and are going to be "blowing" some minds for real!

I think that being ourselves and "showing off" our homebirth babies is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO ON JULY 2!

So have a blast with it, it's our "Day in the Sun!"

If you have not joined the NCFOM Yahoo group, please do so today. Check into www.ncfom.org for updates about this event. For other midwife-related events happening in NC, check out the NCFOM calendar.

Some highlights of the trip

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Some of you know I happen to be on my first real trip west of the Mississippi - way west, actually. I'm visiting my niece in California. San Diego, California.

We flew out of Greensboro with a connection in Minneapolis. Besides a weird tram and a delayed flight, the ride was long, but smooth. The baby slept much of the way, and he was good while he was awake.

* the pilot didn't know which Great Lake we were flying over
* to be specific, he didn't know we'd flown OVER a Great Lake
* neither did the stewardess
* scary, indeed. Who was flying the plane?

Des and her friend Chili met us at the airport and showed us a bit of downtown. Everything anyone could ever dream up in their entire lives is within walking distance. Krispy Kreme, auto parts store, grocery store, liquor store, comic book store, laundromat, fabric shop, sporting goods store, sushi, mattress store, dollar store, doctor's office, post office, interstate... you get the picture.

The first day out we just vegged out in front of the TV until time for bed - besides a trip to Walmart and Target for diapers, baby food, etc.

Thursday, Destiny worked, so we wandered around the apartment chasing the baby. I did my best to rid her computer of spyware and viruses. Mom and I both used Terry's truck for a trip to WalMart. We went to Mr. Wasabi for dinner and had some so-so sushi and chicken.

Friday, we went to the Flying Leathernecks museum next to the Miramar base and looked at all the old Marine planes. Then we went on base, and then we went to La Jolla beach (so what it's pronouced La Hoi-ya? I'm not spanish) and watched the seals play in the water and sand.

* seals are cool
* Logan loved the seals
* got some great shots of my first time at the Pacific Ocean (wanna see?)
* Jim Lee's studio (Wildstorm Productions) looks out on the water
* I'd be a great artist too if I had a corner office there
* La Jolla is a rich, posh neighborhood, but the people seemed pretty nice
* The grass, however, is so fake.
* People in California like to build on cliffs instead of land
* Watch that first step, it's a woo-woo!
* There are no such things as ridge laws here - everyone wants to be on the top of the hill, not the side
* The weather forecast out here for San Diego county includes 4 different zones: the beach, the mountains, the desert, and the city.

* We went on base to see where Destiny and Terry worked.
* Marines are hot
* especially when they're greasy and in big helicopters
* Terry's unit is deployed to Iraq, but some of the units in their hanger were still working.
* Bought some stuff at the PX
* ate lunch at Sky Burgers
* had lots of fun exploring the vastness of a military base.

Saturday, we drove up in the mountains to Julian. It's a cute town founded during the Gold Rush that has been preserved and restored.

* I had to pee behind a bush on the interstate because Destiny kept passing all the bathrooms in town
* There happened to be many bushes and boulders on those crazy looking mountains
* When I got back in the car, I realized I brought back about half of the rosemary bush I peed behind in my hair
* wait, does that make sense?
* Rosemary, the natural deodorizer.
* I spent way too much money
* Bought post cards, knives, candy, and a tooth fairy pillow at the craft sale.
* ate the best desserts of my life at the Candy Apple. Des had the triple berry cheesecake, and I had the vanilla custard tart with strawberries and chocolate and a rum ball and a caramel apple.
* The rum ball made me drunk. My. Word.
* I would have had more, but I was nearly sick from eating a huge meal at the Rongbranch across the street just minutes before.
* In Julian, you pay to use the toilet.
* Each trip costs a quarter, so hold it until you can't anymore.
* They have a super cool cemetary on the side of the mountain.
* We drove back down the Pacific Ocean highway.
* I love California. Just sayin'.
* We stopped at a beach and stuck our toes in the water.
* The beach is covered in sand and big river rocks and seaweed.
* We beat the parking fee.

Sunday we took a trip to the San Diego Bay. The Harbor tour was great, but man ALIVE the asians really took over. I couldn't take photos on the boat because there were so many standing up around the edge. The captain had to come yell at them to sit down so people in the middle could see, too. Luckily, on the second half, we switched boats and they didn't come with us. There were only about 15 of us on that boat.

* Sea Lions run a close second to seals on the cool-o-meter.
* Sea Lions have it figured out
* Sun on top of the bait nets. Feels great, smells like lunch.
* Don't mind the F-5s flying overhead. They live here.
* Logan got sunburned from walking all over the boat.
* Yes, I put sunscreen on him. The sun is hotter here, though.
* Des is such a good mom. She's really taken up with Logan and has cleaned up after him as much as I do.
* Bobby and Pawpaw got to see us last night thanks to webcam technology.
* trying to keep a webcam focused on Logan is similar to video taping a balloon that's been pricked

I made dinner last night. We planned on going to Victorville today, but we didn't get started early enough. So we're here, getting things ready to come back home. I did walk down the street to the comic book store, ComicKaze, but they were closed, so I bought more postcard stamps next door and mailed them.

There were a few things we wanted to do that were too expensive, even with a military discount, but we'll do those when we come back in February for Des and Terry's reception.

Once I'm home, the stress of finding another place to live and packing up the incredible amount of crap we have will be weighing on my mind once again. But I'm not home yet. Yes, palm trees and sun and no humidity and 70 degree highs and happy little trees... wait, what? Oh yeah. I like Cali. See ya soon!

Hey from California!

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:50:00 +0000

Daily trials

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:15:00 +0000

So, yes, it's been 4 months since I last posted. Let me catch you up.

*Baby became toddler
*Bobby became faster at work
*Mandie became re-employed after 2 month hiatus and is happier at new work
*Mandie cooks, cleans, moderates finances, works at both jobs, organizes, does taxes as volunteer, reads audio books, eats her weight in chocolate, does more laundry than ever imagined, takes a few photographs, hosts/attends a few birthday parties, shakes off the oppresiveness of winter, finds homes for 3 of 4 new kittens, welcomes 5 (4) more in their place (with more on the way), picks up baby toys, shops for groceries, fixes little things around the house, moves new furniture in, old furniture to the shed, has a few friends over, takes care of Dad, celebrates holidays, forgets about blogging, welcomes Mom's pending retirement...

Okay, so you get the point.

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm the proud momma of 5 new feather-footed biddies, great-great grandma of 4 new kitties (I had solid white quadruplets and a gray one, but one of the multiples died the first night), an upset momma to Ginger - who insists on pulling out the contents of the trash can all over the floor every.time.I.leave., and reluctantly proud momma of a growingwaytoofast baby boy. Scratch that. Toddler. *sob*

I'm making green bean casserole and steak for lunch. Ooop - gotta go, Logan's up from his nap.

It's been another uber productive day(s)...

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:52:00 +0000

It started out with a phone call. One of those few mornings when the baby let me sleep past 6:50, the phone rang me out of a complete snooze. After breakfast at Dad's, we...

took a trip to the bank
fed the baby and put him to bed
grabbed the chainsaw
dug up a few bushes
cut down/pulled down a few trees in the front yard
swept leaves off the back porch
filed and oiled the chainsaw
cut down a few more trees
which got stuck like a see-saw in the fork of another tree
so we had to rope it and pull it back and forth to get it down
which the neighbor thought was hilarious
but he came to help anyway
played lookout for Dad while he illegally shot the mistletoe out of the maple tree
(he's inside the city limits now, so shooting, which was commonplace before, is taboo)
arranged and transplanted the bushes into the front porch plant beds
moved all the mums to the steps
watered each one
woke the baby up and fed him
jumped into the van to run by work
came back to finish working
coiled the water hose
picked up all the trash in the back yard
which there was a lot of
cleaned the trash off the back porch
put all 6 trash cans (32-55 gal) at the back porch step
chipped the ice from the chest freezer walls
put up christmas tree lights
typed a blog while eating Oreos
which were bought by my best friend forever
played with a baby that has found a 'spin wildly in place' gear

Which followed a day where I

mowed/mulched the leaves in the front yard
dishes
laundry
picked up the trash the dog left all over the kitchen as retribution for not letting her go on a ride in the van
worked for money for a few hours cleaning tools out of a garage
nursed the old man back to health
used the telephone to straighten out all those nagging things that have been piling up
played with a baby that has learned to give a zerbie

Primitive christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:27:00 +0000

I thought having a child would bring back the excitement of the holidays. I thought it would be magical.

Boy, was I wrong.

More than anything, it makes me realize how incredibly commercialized the entire winter has become. No more cabin fever, snow fights, or icy nights snuggled together by the fire. No, since OCTOBER we've been bombarded with buy, buy, buy.

I mean, why be together in the cold in the dark when you could be out shopping for things you don't need from Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Mexico, or the Phillipines from your local Wal-mart? Why teach your children how wonderful family is when the times get tough when you can instead, set them in front of the television and rot their brains slowly and quietly?

This is one of the reasons I've decided that this year will be a primitive holiday season. We didn't celebrate the holidays until they actually arrived. *gasp* We didn't start decorating for Christmas until... December. I know. Strange, yes?

And when we decorate this year, it will be with family decorations. We've cut our cedar tree out of our yard. We are stringing popcorn and cranberries for garland. I made gingerbread cookies with icing for ornaments. (so who has a problem with edible ornaments? not me!) We're making the presents we give. We're reusing boxes and bags that we've collected since last year. We're tying bows with yarn. And maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to recapture that Christmas spirit - that family magic that keeps us going through the winter cold.

Goodies galore!

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:08:00 +0000

The water was cold.

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:38:00 +0000

A straight horizon really weirds me out.

I think the world really is flat.

I.LOVE.DOVE.

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:03:00 +0000

Pointless.

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:39:00 +0000

That is all.

Two more hours

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:12:00 +0000

color flower
Originally uploaded by -Mandie-

And hopefully I'll be posting the results of all the work Sara and I have done over the past year. It's 9:10. I'll take photos (if I can) and let you guys see what happens (If it's good news) once I get back.

Can't WAIT!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:44:00 +0000

Heya!
Originally uploaded by -Mandie-

12 hours to go. If I can just sleep some of them, I'll be happy. No, no, I won't. I won't be happy until I get there and figure out if any of them placed. And Sara's, too. Of course.

Today, I had to keep busy. I knew they were judging. Staring down their noses at hundreds of perfectly matted, beautiful photographs that were all quite lovely, making relative decisions, rating one against another. So I showered. Straightened up the bedroom. Went to the dentist. Ate some sushi while Bobby and baby had the car aligned in Wilkesboro. Mowed Mom and Dad's acreage. Fed the baby. Wiped puke off me a few dozen time. Watched the new TV shows. (Remind me to tell you what I thought about the premiere of Big Shots.) Blogged.

It's way past my bedtime. The baby has been asleep for over an hour. Maybe, just maybe, I can clear my head long enough to get some sleep. Ah, heck, it's worth a try, right?

Now it begins

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:17:00 +0000

color seascape
Originally uploaded by -Mandie-

The photos have been dropped off at the fairgrounds. Today at 10 AM began the most anxiety-ridden 49 hours of my year. I was in a baking frenzy for the rest of the day, trying to get my other entries delivered by 6 PM, but it was not meant to be. As in years past, I pace in my mind, wondering the outcome, if I have any ribbons, what the competition is like, if I'll make my money back... The what-ifs really get me.

I guess that's because I really care too much about my performance. That I'm sure goes back to my parents, but it became really clear in school. I had to make A's. I wanted the praise and admiration of my teachers, my parents, anyone in authority. I wanted to be noticed because I was good. I like positive attention. I hated being in trouble, so I avoided it at all costs. I didn't talk out of turn. I did all my homework. I ate all my dinner. I acceled at all I tried, because if I was going to try it, I wanted that reward at the end - be it an A, a ribbon, a badge, or a treat. Pour instance: My mom swore me to secrecy about the speeding ticket she got on the way to Ohio. I told Dad on the way to school a few days later that I had a secret. He said, "I'll buy you an ice cream cone." I folded within a millisecond - "Momma got a ticket!!". He reinforced my behavior with a double-scoop, and I knew right then that I was reward-driven. I wanted all the gold stars. I read all the directions so there wouldn't be any mistakes, because that's about as embarrased as I get. I put forth my best effort. But this year, despite a spontaneous trip to the beach, and then to the mountains, I feel a little rushed, and unsure of my end product. So this year, unlike the rest, my confidence is shaky. I used to mock Sara for staying up late the night before the drop-off, cutting foam core and spraying haphazard craft glue. Last night, that person was me. Except I tried being a little less messy - I bought pre-cut core and used Modge Podge, but I was up late last night nonetheless, picking up my prints from the Photo Lab and pasting them by overhead dinner table light. I missed Nicholas Sparks autograph signing by a few minutes, but that's another story.

Tomorrow is the judging.

I'm trying not to go insane. But be sure - I'll be one of the first at the gate on Friday morning at 11 AM - and I'll be making a bee line to the photos. Wish me luck.

Sit a spell

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:55:00 +0000

color landscape
Originally uploaded by -Mandie-

Take a break. That's all.

Shhh...

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:30:00 +0000

Don't tell, but the muscadines and scuppernongs are getting ripe - so tomorrow, I make jelly. Mmmmm - fresh jelly.

After Logan's 6 month doctor visit, that is. I can't believe it's been six. months. Wowza.

Not one, but two!

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:15:00 +0000

Logan leaped over a developmental milestone yesterday, and in true over-acheiving fashion, managed to cut BOTH bottom teeth at the same time! His buddy Christian, who is two weeks younger, has had his bottom teeth in for a while now, and is cutting the top ones. But he, like Logan, wanted to get it over with fast, so he cut both at the same time, too! Pictures will have to wait until I can figure out a way to get his hand out of his mouth and his tongue out of the way long enough to snap one.

Speaking of which, my camera is still broke. I really need to take it to the shop, but I am the ultimate procrastinator. Besides, Sara has been oh so kind to let me borrow her little Nikon until which time I really will go an get my jumbo Olympus repaired. Everything is fine except for the trigger. The remote needs a battery, so I can't tell if it's the shutter or the trigger for sure, but I think it's the trigger. I really hope so, anyway.

I hate being sick, and I'm usually not. Today is the exception. After a week at the post office, eating nothing but granola bars and Gatorade, my system was so weakened that this head cold has hit me like a brick wall. Tolerable to Excrutiating only took a matter of minutes. Fever, headache, congestion, stuffy nose, sore throat, throbbing eardrums - you name it. All at once. And don't forget the vomiting. Sadly, I can't take anything but vitamins since I'm nursing, but I can't hold the vitamins down right now. The cycle begins again tonight. Pray. Please.

This week is set aside for vehicle repair and cleaning. That way, the closer the time for our beach trip, the more money we will have to spend on silly stuff, like a sun umbrella and a boogie board. Oooh, and canolis. MMmmmm... Have you ever been to La Rosa's deli in Southport? Man oh MAN! The subs are made fresh in front of you, the desserts will make you faint. Do try it next time you're down that way.

To bed, go, I must. May the force be with you.

Kitchen work

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:58:00 +0000

I've been in the kitchen ALLLL day doing the Suzy Homemaker thing - and this is the almost final result:

1 loaf wheat bread
1 loaf oatmeal applesauce bread
1 pone of maple cornbread
28 whole wheat banana chocolate chip muffins (not quite that many now)
5 pints of muscadine jelly
2 pints of cherry freezer jam
1 pint of marinara sauce
1 quart of tomato juice

Fudge and peanut butter fudge on the way.
Zucchini bread still to come - but I'm out of eggs.

Photo courtesy of Sara's insanely cool dang camera.

Saturday Snickers

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 22:46:00 +0000

I like the rain.

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 03:09:00 +0000

You know in the movie Men in Black 2, how when Rosario Dawson was sad, it would rain? I think it's a copyright violation. But I welcome the rain - it cleanses my thoughts, my emotions. It makes the world smell better, fresher, cleaner. It makes the frogs sing, and the grass wet between my toes. Best of all, it drowns the fleas.

Sunday Snickers

noreply@blogger.com (Mandie) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:52:00 +0000

Dad caught the only fish of the day last Wednesday. It was a fish-without-a-license day, a ploy by the Fish & Game Commission to get more people out in the wild on July 4th. Not that it matters for Dad - he has a lifetime license now that's he's 70+. It was Bobby that needed the freebee, see - his license ran out in April. Unfortunately, none of it mattered, because no one caught anything big enough to keep in the old New River.