Sunday, January 17, 2010

Annie

We are getting used to a household of five. And to calling our little no-name girl by her name, or nickname, if you will, of Annie. Annie short for Anza.

Trent and I took our goats to the fair with a girl named Anza, lo those many years ago in our 4H days. I wondered what became of our goat-girl and thought of her some these past nine months when naming a little girl came to be a priority. But today I found out some clues courtesy of google, and now have a pending facebook contact which may reveal more about what one Anza thinks of another. Bonnie and I are just tickled about finding the perfect name.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Reading, Veganism, Gestation

What a fine time I had with the family over the past couple weeks here in Baton Rouge.

I have a problem with writing things these days. I suppose the biggest report is that Orry is a little reader these days. He sounds out words like a champ, and likes to read and write a little each day. Also he types, picking out the letters and the sound. He typed these:

orry
hat
sad
hot
kld

As you can see, he is not the most advanced yet. Also, the other day, when we asked him to read "top" he read it from right to left. He'll do that, and he'll write a word backwards as in mirror, and sometimes, I think, even backwards with the letters oriented frontwards. Anyway, that's fine, because we're tickled he likes to do those sorts of things instead of drawing crayon on the newly painted walls.

As far as me, I am pretty convinced about veganism for optimum health. I'm not a non-meateater myself, but sure recognize a plant based diet as a treatment and cure for obesity and some cancers and other pathologies. I guess most of this comes from reading The China Study and its critiques. Actually, it all comes from that. I've always leaned towards vegatarianism owing to the killing of animals and the unnecessary energy going into feeding animals to feed us. On top of that, there is the "big industry" meat production and egg and dairy production and I've frowned at all that. But then, there is the appreciation of animal life and flesh and the smaller scale animal farming which I've got behind in my day. But reading The China Study and about the argument more has tipped me over the edge. Now, like I said, I'm not vegan myself, but I did convince Bonnie to change our menus more in that direction and we're having good fun with all that.

We discovered quinoa, for example.

We also cooked mirlitons, finally.

And now, I will go get Isaac out of the bath. He is fine, and so is Bonnie, although she is in quite an uncomfortable time of her gestation.