My Bit of Earth

Wednseday Poll: Halloween Edition

As no one should be answering serious questions or thinking deep thoughts on this most mischievous of days, for this week's poll:

What was your favorite Halloween costume as a child?  Your favorite candy?  Your least favorite candy?  Any other good Halloween stories?

Comment and discuss.

A Happy Halloween T'Ye Matey! Argh!

Happy Halloween from me and Captain Moe! 

(Porter was being a typical tween-ager this year--or a stubborn old lady depending on if you're counting in human years or dog--and refused to sit still in order to be properly photographed.)

Wild Books!

I know exactly who is responsible for my junkie-like book reading habit--my mom and my first grade teacher, Mrs. Marshall--but what I can't pin down is who planted the idea in my head that it's wrong to throw books away.  Ever.  No matter what.  We're talking deadly sin.

Nonetheless, like many bits of childhood religion that linger, to this day I have a lot of trouble resigning books to the trash can.  I donate them where I can, pass them on somehow if possible, but pretty much they just stay on my ever more overflowing shelves.  And although I've mostly made peace with that, I was still very intrigued when a friend introduced me to a website called Book Crossing.

The Heartland Harvest Hunt

Our first frost was glittering on the ground early this morning, as Moe and I headed out for the Heartland Working Jack Russell Terrier Club's "Heartland Harvest Hunt".  We've only been to this trial twice now, but both times it's really been very nice.  As the only Welshie for miles Moe is pretty recognizable, but several of the club members remembered my name too and I'm incredibly more nondescript!

We started the day with a little racing.  Last year Moe raced in the novice class, and--due to his lovely long legged-ness--won pretty decidedly.  This year he was bumped up to the regular adult class and didn't have such an easy time.  He stayed with the pack well enough to come in fourth in both the flat race and the hurdles, but in comparison to the front runners it looked like Moe was moving in slow motion.  (I was a little glad.  Don't get me wrong, I like to win, but it's better when it's a little more hard fought.)

Next we did some go-to-ground.  Moe had a try at the super go-to-ground (which is an extra complicated go-to-ground maze) but couldn't quite figure it out.  He busted through the regular tunnel though--it took him 6.6 seconds to get to the rats, which was a good enough time to earn first place in the open adult class.

All in all it was a lovely day, more pictures here.  Stay tuned for the conclusion of Moe's 2007 earthdog season next weekend in Iowa!

Moe is UNLEASHED!

There was a little package waiting next to my mailbox when I got home today, and when I saw the label I'm sure my reaction led my neighbors to believe I might be a little insane.

It was Moe's book!!!

About a year ago, I got an email from Lisa Wogan--a contributing editor at the Bark magazine, among other things--saying she had seen this video of Moe playing in the sprinkler on YouTube.  She wondered if I would let her include him in a book she was writing about dogs who play in non-traditional ways--i.e. not organized dog sports, just stuff for fun.  A few months later she interviewed me, Moe had a little photo shoot, and--voila--now we have the book!

And he looks so great!  I hadn't seen the pictures before today, but they turned out so well!  And he's on the very first page! 

The book doesn't officially go on sale until next Wednesday, but if you'd like a copy you can order it here. And, even if you just flip through it in the book store, leave a comment and let me know--I'm excited to see how far and wide Moe is going to spread!

Wednesday Poll: Bury Me Not On the Lone Prairie

I have a--some would say morbid--little fascination with alternatives to traditional burial.

I think its roots go back many years to the times I visited my grandmother's grave with my mom.  She would always notice the older, broken down headstones in the cemetery, and say how sad it was that no one remembered them or cared about them anymore. 

Then, a few years later, when someone told me what embalming actually entails...(ick!)....I decided then and there that I wanted no part of it!

And it seems like the rest of the world is finally catching up with me, at least in theory--for example, this article on MSN discussing natural burial (i.e. no embalming, no casket, etc.); this article about at home funerals; an article in Popular Science (that I blogged about way back here) discussing promesion (basically a good, quick way to become tree food); the LifeGem company (where they can make you into pretty, pretty jewelry).  But I say "in theory" because, despite the many options out there, I haven't been to a funeral--and I can't think of anyone else I know who has been to a funeral--where the deceased wasn't traditionally embalmed and buried.  I'm not sure if I even know someone who has been cremated.

So, for this week's poll:

Have you been to a funeral where the deceased person's body was taken care of in some way other than being embalmed, buried in a casket, and so forth?  What did you think of it?  Would you consider being buried (or otherwise) in a non-traditional way?

Comment and discuss.

The Pumpkin Patch

I don't ever remember going to the pumpkin patch when I was small.  Holidays have become a bigger production since then so it wouldn't surprise me if they just weren't as prevalent.  Nonetheless, we've taken one of my favorite kiddos or the other for the past three years, and I have to say it's probably my favorite Fall tradition, despite its relative newness. 

This year was a special treat--I got to go with both my girls (being Nice Sister and Cutie Niece).  We played in the corn crib, took a hay rack ride, made our way through the hay bale maze, and, of course, picked out a few pumpkins to take home.  More pictures here.

Would This Dog Be Better Off In a Shelter?

I'm sure at this point most of you have read about Ellen Degeneres and the dog.  (If not, here's the news story.) 

Aside from agreeing whole-heartedly with the many comments that have been made about how silly it is to take a dog out of a perfectly good home when so many are dying in shelters (see this post from Pet Connection); and the discussion of what a huge disservice rescue groups do to themselves and the animals they serve by creating arbitrary rules about who they will and won't adopt to (see an earlier post from Pet Connection, as well as a post from Stacy, and while you're at it read "Redemption" by Nathan Winograd); I have a personal story.

You see, our sweet Porterhouse was not always our dog.  She was originally adopted from a shelter by a friend, along with another puppy named Feta.  Three years later my friend graduated from college and had to move for grad school.  After a very thorough search, she could only find an apartment that would allow one dog.  She had bonded pretty hard and fast with Feta, I had a lingering affection for Porter, and the rest is history.

Years later, I was cleaning out my files and came across the adoption paperwork and vet records my friend had given me.  By then a law student, I read the adoption contract carefully and noticed it had a clause similar to the one in Degeneres's case; essentially "If you ever can't keep the dog for any reason you have to bring it back to us."  I remember chuckling to Sweet Husband that I was glad they'd never checked.

And while I'm very sure the shelter Porter came from would never check back (I believe they're currently under a distemper quarantine, and so, obviously have bigger fish to fry), I have to wonder, "What if?"

Wednesday Poll: A Dillar, A Dollar

This past weekend Sweet Husband and I sat down and did a huge overhaul to our budgeting system.  We'd reached a point with the old system where, while we weren't getting into more debt, our level of debt was not decreasing either.  Which is not so good for the savings-thing, or the wanna-be-house-buying-thing, or a lot of other grown-up-y things. 

So we plugged some holes, looked at where we can cut back, and I think hammered out a new in-flow/out-flow that will make us a little more accountable. 

And because all this has me thinking about the subject, for this week's Wednesday poll:

How does your budgeting system work?  What's your favorite tip for cutting back?  What's your worst splurge?

Comment and discuss.

Candy Filled Broomsticks

I made these a few weeks ago--because I'm one of those people who are crazy and start celebrating holidays way too early--however I've held off posting them 'till now because, well, I realize not everyone appreciates my jump-the-gun tendencies.

It's another Martha idea.  I often find her crafts to be ludicrously complicated (or stuff you can buy cheaper and better than you can make it)--not so with these guys.  I bought small lunch sacks at the craft store rather than the full-size ones the directions suggest, and I sanded down the sticks a bit so they wouldn't inadvertently stab a young trick-or-treater.  I also made sure to pick out wrapped candy (Reese's peanut butter cups, rather than candy corn) so that the sticks (which were definitely not sterile, although I did rinse them off) wouldn't come into contact with the eatables. 

Trick-or threat anyone?

Nathan Winograd and "Redemption"

Last night we popped over to Kansas City to see Nathan Winograd, author of "Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America".  He spoke for about an hour and a half, predictably hitting many of the high points in the book, but also introducing some new twists and more recent statistics.  I was very impressed with him--his logic builds perfectly on itself like little Lego blocks, and at the same time he was very engaging.  Even Sweet Husband (who is all about saving animals, but mostly went to humor me) came away both informed and entertained. 

I discussed the book at length a week ago, so I won't rehash.  However, if you haven't read it yet, you should; and if Winograd is coming to a city near you on his book tour, it's definitely worth your evening to go.

In the Ground After All

Despite the less than optimistic forecasts, this morning was sunny and cool.  The wind yesterday afternoon had dried out the ground so that it was not too soggy to work, but still damp enough to make digging easy.  In short, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect morning to clean up the Burrow garden and plant my garlic.

I started by giving everything a good dig-over and rake to get rid of the weeds that had taken up residence.  My little rosemary bush got some TLC, and then I started plunking in garlic cloves.  They ended up taking more space than I thought they would--about a third of my plot for next year is now already planted--but from watching other people garden this year, I think I'm going to plant more intensively next year anyway.  The nice paths I left this year only ended up being a place for weeds, whereas the people who just planted their entire plot not only still have plants making fruit, they still don't have any weeds at all.  I think that's the way to go.

And now the Burrow garden is all tucked in for the winter...and ready to go for the Spring.

Pretty, Pretty Garlic With No Place To Go

The garlic I ordered from Seed Savers arrived this week, on schedule and as promised.  I intended to go tuck them all into my garden first thing this morning, but a nasty thunderstorm rolled in last night and isn't scheduled to leave until next Thursday or so. 

Ahh, the weather.

So instead I just pulled them all out to look at...the shiny, papery skin; the tiny, brown insect holes; the blotchy, purple stripes; the curvy, fat cloves....I could think of worse ways to spend a rainy Saturday morning, of course, but at the same time I'm a little afraid if I don't get these guys in the ground soon colder weather is going to catch up with me.

Converting A Carnivore

When Sweet Husband and I first moved in together, he was convinced he didn't like most vegetables. 

I've spent the past four years in a subtle campaign to convince him otherwise. 

I started with broccoli, or a little asparagus in the Spring when it looked nice.  Then gradually we branched out into more controversial territory, like cabbage and squash.  And while I haven't won the war--I'm still looking for that irresistible cauliflower recipe--last night was a pivotal battle.  Last night we enjoyed a bowl of brussels sprouts.

Wednesday Poll: Breast Fest

Although you may not yet know it, at 10 a.m. today several bloggers and moms will be taking part in the Great Virtual Breast Fest, posting pictures and videos on the web of themselves breastfeeding.  The Fest was organized by two "mama vigilantes" after it became known that Facebook is deleting pictures of nursing mothers--this despite the fact that Facebook apparently has actual harmful fish to fry, such as pro-anorexia groups and pedophiles using their service to seek victims.  (See more info here, an article from the Sydney Herald here, and the original deleted picture that seems to have started it all--which doesn't show any breast as far as I can see--here.)

I have (many) thoughts and theories, but in the grand Wednesday Poll tradition I'm going to shut-up and give you all a chance first.

For this week's poll:

Should Facebook be deleting pictures of breastfeeding mothers?  Is a breast always a sexual body part regardless of the context?  Any thoughts on breastfeeding in public in general?  And lastly (especially if you think the pictures are OK) would you post a picture on the internet of yourself breastfeeding?

Comment and discuss.

Shy Chicken

Round Seedpod

Long Seedpod

I Milked a Goat Today

This afternoon Sweet Husband and I went on the Kaw Valley Farm Tour.  The farm tour is held every year about this time, and is basically a sort of open house weekend at all of the local farms, dairies, vineyards, etc.  We only had one day, so there was no way we could see everything, but we still made it to quite a few of the farms.

Our first stop was "Screamin' Oaks Farm".  And as you can see from the picture at right, there I milked a goat.  Sort of.

It was actually kind of funny.  The Nice Goat's owner showed us (call it three 20-to-30-ish ladies and one 9-year-old girl) all how to draw the milk down from the udder; then she let us have a go.  Trying to be polite, we grown-ups let the little girl go first. 

She was a natural milkmaid!  She had milk streaming out like a pro on the very first squeeze, and she eventually even got a little rhythm going.  Then one by one, the grown-ups stepped up to the bucket...and failed miserably!  I managed a few good squirts, but for the most part all I could get were little drops.  It really is harder than it looks!

In Which Moe Eats a Tennis Ball

A Sign?

Wednesday Poll: Censored?

In honor of banned books week....

The other day I was talking with a few friends about the adult "classic" books we read at what now seem like shockingly young ages--Wuthering Heights at 9, The Catcher in the Rye at 8.  The conversation predictably turned to whether kids should be reading such books, and then to broader topics of censorship of books in general. 

For three girls Midwestern girls, our experiences were surprisingly different.  Nice Friend One remembered actual school sponsored book burnings.  Nice Friend Two joked that she had watched an episode of "Family Ties" where a book one of the kids wanted to read was banned by their school, "so it was sort of like it happened" to her.  My own experiences (which I will share after allowing you all to comment a bit) were somewhere in between.

So for this week's poll:

What are your experiences with censorship, of books or otherwise?  And if you feel comfortable saying (since I noted it above) what general area of the country are you in?  For a bonus point, check out the most frequently challenged books of 2006 or the most challenged books between 1990 and 2000--which one surprises you most? 

Comment and discuss.

Attention Pet Lovers, Read This Book

Last week, roughly four of the five pet blogs and columns that I read were all talking about the same thing--a new book called "Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America" written by Nathan Winograd.  It's rare that anything--aside from mass food recalls, of course--makes such a splash, and when I saw that the author was planning a book signing and discussion near me soon as well, I quickly went out and bought the book so as to be properly prepared. 

Martha's Orgasmic Beef Bourguignon

That Martha lady--there's a reason she's both a domestic goddess and a gazillionaire.  Because, although they are certainly not of the 30-minute or just-toss-it-in-the-microwave variety, many of her recipes instantly invoke the head tilted back, eyes closed, throaty moan that usually only makes an appearance when...umm, yup, her beef bourguignon is really good.

I made the beef part (as well as the roasted mushrooms and pearl onions) yesterday afternoon, and then made the potatoes with parsley tonight after work as the beef was reheating.  I halved the amount of meat and wine, but used the full amount of everything else (which made plenty for dinner for two, as well as a few lunches worth of leftovers).  It was sweet and tender; nice enough to be worth getting out the good china, but comfy as a hug from Mom.

I could really get used to this pre-cooking-Monday-dinner-on-Sunday-afternoon thing.  A lovely meal...in less than a half an hour...on a Monday night..."it's a good thing!"

Dizzying Acrobatics