My Last Blog

This is going to be my last blog as the Adoption Blogger for Families.com. I’m looking forward to spending the summer with my kids, possibly working at their school, and taking on new writing projects. I may well guest blog occasionally for this or other Families blogs. It seems the Adoption Blog will continue, so I hope this blog, along with Families’ forums, can be a source of information and community for adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth parents. Yesterday I could think of a million things to say in my last few blogs and wondered how I would fit it … Continue reading

Oh Snap! Cold Snap that is…

We were feeling pretty proud of ourselves for having begun our gardening on time this year, since we usually get a bit of a late state. The end of March is supposed to be the optimum time to start planting in our area, according to most sources. We tilled, fertilized, tilled some more, smoothed, made rows, planted, watered, fenced, and then some. It was exhausting, but it was a good kind of tired and my husband and I were feeling quite productive. We also started a bunch of plants in containers with seeds that we had on hand and they … Continue reading

Not-So-Merry Christmas Traditions

According to my 7-year-old, the Grinch could take lessons from me on how to ruin Christmas. So, without further ado, here are just some ways to have an un-Merry Christmas: Lesson #1: No one in the house gets to open presents on Christmas morning until he/she eats at least a few bites of the special holiday breakfast Mommy lovingly prepares. Lesson #2: All family members must pose for at least one photo in front of the tree while wearing Christmas pajamas prior to ripping into holiday loot. Lesson #3: One (and only one) gift can be opened on Christmas Eve. … Continue reading

Creating a Stroller First-Aid Kit

When my kids were little, I took a lot of long walks with them in the stroller or double stroller. It got me out of the house, and it was good exercise. We also took the stroller out for practical reasons, such as when shopping, going to the park, attending a community even or having some family fun. At one point, it felt as though our stroller was another appendage attached to either my body or my husband’s. One thing I have learned from all of that stroller pushing is that the basket attached is essential. Of course, a diaper … Continue reading

Star Updates: Gisele Bundchen and Farrah Fawcett

It looks as though Gisele Bundchen may finally be getting her ultimate wish. Reports say that the supermodel is expecting her first child with husband Tom Brady. In other news, Bridget Moynahan is hoping that once Bundchen gives birth she will leave her 18-month-old son with Brady alone. I know a few people who’ll drink to that. You’ll recall that Brady dumped Moynahan right before she discovered she was pregnant with his child. The football star then hooked up with Bundchen, and the two recently got hitched twice-—once in California, and again, last month in Costa Rica. The Victoria’s Secret … Continue reading

When You Love Someone -Part 2

I’m back, continuing to tell you about our together day. While Mick and I were listening to the radio yesterday in the early evening, a caller rang in to pass on her Christmas message. She wanted to say Merry Christmas to her husband and said she ‘after 43 years married she loved him exactly as she did when she first met him.’ Later a man rang in. He’d been engaged 13 years. No, that’s not mistyped -13 years before he married his obviously patient woman. They’ve now been married 30 years. Then later a woman rang to say Merry Christmas … Continue reading

Autumn Recipes: U is for Udon

She may not know how to spell the word “delicious,” but my 4-year-old can differentiate between an udon noodle and a spaghetti noodle quicker than most adults. In fact, udon (pronounced oo-DOHN) was one of the first words my daughter learned how to say after spending time in Hawaii with my grandma. Udon is a thick, round Japanese noodle typically made with wheat flour and served in cold dishes (salads or chilled with soy sauce and topped with sesame seeds) during the summer months and in hot dishes (soups and broth) during the fall and winter. I grew up eating … Continue reading

Photography Week in Review April 28-May 2, 2008

May is National Photography Month and this week I provided a list of some of the most photogenic places in the world. But before that I provided Mother’s Day gift ideas for the snap happy mom in your life and wrote about an incredible photo project featuring terminally ill children and ways you can help their parents endure their darkest days. If you missed any of the aforementioned articles this Week in Review is designed especially for you. April 28th—–A New Camera for Mom. If you are looking to purchase mom a new camera for Mother’s Day this is the … Continue reading

Chaotic Cat Chronicles: The Spooky Shriek That Pierced the Night

I never know what I’m going to get around here when it comes time to turn in for the night. Sometimes I get a peaceful, uninterrupted slumber. Sometimes I don’t. A Good Night’s Sleep Most nights I have company –Murphy. He can almost always be found sleeping at the foot of the bed. But some nights Mr. Meow comes to snuggle for a bit, other nights Tabby does, and on the rare and lucky night all three of them will join me. These are usually good nights when sleep’s plentiful. A Not So Good Night’s Sleep But then some nights … Continue reading

Herb Gardening

I have always thought it would be great to have fresh herbs at hand whenever I want them. There are certain types that I use often and some can be rather expensive, besides the fact that some are just more flavorful when they’re fresh. When you buy them at the store, you really have no idea how long they may have been sitting on the shelf, or how long they have been sitting before they were packaged, and in time, they lose a lot of flavor. I have purchased parsley that barely had any flavor at all. So, this year … Continue reading