Adventures accessible from SE Michigan

We’re getting so many hits on this list that it seemed worth a serious revamp, so here it is, Adventures Accessible from SE Michigan, sorted by region and topic! Please be aware that this is research based and not experiential. If I have specific remarks about a place I'll add them, but I recommend that you do some research of your own before heading out. If the website is still up, I assume the place is still there, but that won't always be the case and I can't get to every place at once.

If you know of a cool place that *isn't* on the list, please let me know -- we're always on the lookout and we know there’s a lot missing!

We add anything new we find to our list, so check back when you're in the planning mood! (I am slowly, slowly going in and adding URLS to make planning easier.)

Oh, and if you;d be so kind as to know how you find this lisr, we'd be tickled! Thanks!!

Region 1 Washtenaw

Art

University of Michigan - Museum of Art
525 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI
The Museum of Art houses a rich permanent collection with holdings from both the western and Asian traditions. Highlights include paintings by Picasso, Whistler, Monet, photographs by Ansel Adams to name just a few. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum offers a changing series of special exhibitions, family programs, chamber concerts, a full compliment of interpretive programs.

Washtenaw Community College Gallery One

4800 East Huron River Drive , Ann Arbor, MI
Gallery One is dedicated to developing and presenting exhibitions that are enjoyable as well as educational and challenging. Free and open to the public, the exhibitions are developed to be aesthetically appealing, informative, and thought provoking, while helping to make art accessible by relating it to different aspects of life. Almost all of the exhibitions are accompanied by related workshops and lectures from artists and qualified experts.

Ann Arbor Art Association

117 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI

One of Michigan’s oldest and most respected arts organizations is committed to engaging the community in education, exhibition, and exploration of the visual arts. The Art Center offers youth classes year-round for ages 3 - 17 in a creative learning environment meant to introduce art media, build skills and awaken the young artist within. From My 1st Art Class to Young Masters to Introduction to Pottery for Teens, they provide an array of diverse and fun-filled courses with something for every age and skill level.

Food Supply

Tours of the Zingerman's Bakery

3711 Plaza Dr. Ann Arbor, MI

Ever wonder what a 50 Lb. block of butter looks like? Come for a tour of the Bakehouse! See the hands behind the baked goods as we walk you through the bakery.
To book a private group tour please contact Amy Emberling at 734-761-7255. $50 per group of up to 20 people. 2 hours. For their safety, no children under 6 please.

Classes available for older kids and adults.

Tours of the Zingerman's Creamery

3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Cheesemaker and managing partner John Loomis leads the whey and gives the inside scoop on how we make artisan cheeses and old-fashioned gelato (that's Italian ice cream)!

Every Sunday, beginning at 2pm for $5
Give us a call at 734.929.0500 and we'll save you a place! Classes also available for older kids and adults.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens

1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Ann Arbor, MI

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum are about connecting people with nature. We're about sustaining the earth. We're about caring for our natural heritage. We're about sharing knowledge and promoting learning. Take a nature hike, explore the trpoical conservatory, take a class, volunteer.

Jiffy Mix

201 W. North Street, Chelsea, MI
Tours are available Mon through Fri by reservation. Tours will last about 1 1/2 hours and consists of a slide presentation, a refreshment period, and a walk through our packaging plant. For safety reasons children under 6 are not allowed into the plant, but there will be a designated place in the tour center where one adult can stay with the younger children.

History

Cobblestone Farm, Living Farm Museum

2781 Packard St., Ann Arbor, MI
Living history museum in the restored 1845 cobblestone Classical Revival two-family home of Dr. Benajah Ticknor (U.S. Naval Surgeon) and Heman Ticknor (farmer and Whig politician). Guided tours and special events portray rural lifestyle of the 1845-1860 era.

Michigan Fire House Museum

110 West Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI
The Michigan Firehouse Museum encompasses an original historic firehouse and a new, modern 10,000 square foot addition. The original firehouse, constructed in 1898, complete with horse drawn vehicles and an original brass pole, offers visitors a glimpse of life in a firehouse circa 1900. The new 10,000 square foot addition, built in 2002, houses a changing exhibition of fire fighting vehicles and equipment.

Science

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI

50 acres of fields, prairie, woods, and pond, the Leslie Science and Nature Center provides natural science and environmental education programs for youth and their families. Stroll along the trails, meander past the outdoor enclosure of our new Resident Raptors, or join us for an education program. The Center is an amazing place where children and families revel in the exploration of the natural world. Affiliated with National Wildlife Federation.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
220 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, MI
Inspire young people to discover the wonder of science, math and technology. Ignite your imagination as you explore nine unique galleries containing more than 250 interactive exhibits. With subjects ranging from physics to health to nature to mathematics and beyond, learning is made fun for all ages in an informal environment where hands-on experience is the best teacher.

Exhibit Museum of Natural History

1109 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI
Exhibits include displays on prehistoric life with the most extensive dinosaur exhibits in the state of Michigan, Michigan wildlife, Native American culture, anthropology, geology, and a Planetarium. The Exhibit Museum is open seven days a week, 357 days a year.

Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum & Miller Motors Hudson

100 E. Cross, Ypsilanti, MI
The Museum is also home to the world's last Hudson Dealer. With its records dating to 1927 a priceless part of Ypsilanti automotive history is now preserved. See original Hudson dealer memorabilia and transportation technology displayed.

Theater

Dreamland theater

26 N. Washington St. ~ Ypsilanti ~ MI 48197 (734-657-2337)

Puppet shows. Make sure to check out the show before you bring children. The humor is definitely not appealing to more traditional families.

Region 2A Wayne

Science

Children's Museum of Detroit

6134 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI

It is the third oldest childrens museum in the nation. Detroit Children's Museum has developed into a unique educational and cultural institution. The galleries at the Children's Museum feature various exhibits, which explore the sciences, history, world cultures and the arts.

The New Detroit Science Center

5020 John R. Street, Detroit, MI
The New Detroit Science Center -- where creative exploration is the key to discovering the wonders of science and technology. The From Michigan's only IMAX® Dome Theatre to the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium, family programs to field trips, live science demonstrations to hands-on exhibit laboratories, the Science Center has something for kids ages 2 to 92. Check the website for a list of family programs.

Heritage Park Petting Farm
12803 Pardee Rd., Taylor, MI
The Farm offers a hands on experience for the young or just young at heart in a unique park atmosphere. Meet Sonora the cow who likes to give kisses. See and touch the soft fuzzy baby chicks and a wide variety of bunny rabbits. Walk around the stalls of the goats, sheep and piglets.

Art

Detroit Institute of Arts

5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI
Founded in 1885, the Detroit Institute of Arts has been a beacon of culture for the Detroit area for well over a century. The DIA is a world-class museum with a variety of permanent and traveling exhibits, and is the fifth-largest fine arts museum in the country; offers over 100 galleries with art from ancient to modern times.

Center Galleries

301 Frederick Douglass, Detroit, MI

Center Galleries displays the work of the students of The College of Creative Studies, you can view and purchase the artwork displayed, the gallery is located in the Center Area, right across the street from the Institute of Arts Museum, and near the Detroit Science Center.

Pewabic Pottery
10125 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI
Pewabic Pottery is a living treasure that offers visitors an exciting glimpse of a little known part of American history. Founded in 1903 during the Arts & Crafts Movement, Pewabic is nationally renowned for its tile and pottery in unique glazes. Today it is a non profit ceramic art education center which welcomes 70,000 visitors annually.

Your Heritage House Fine Arts Museum for Youth
110 East Ferry Street, Detroit, MI
Museum and school for youth, with workshops, classes, arts camp; exhibition space for one-person and group shows; collection of children’s books by African-Americans; historical African and African-American artifacts, documents, and objects.

History

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

315 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI

The world’s largest institution dedicated to the African American experience, the museum provides exhibitions and programs exploring the diversity of African American history & culture. The Museum houses over 30,000 artifacts & archival materials and is home to the Blanche Caggin Underground Railroad Collection, Harriet Tubman Museum Collection, and much more.

Greenfield Village
20900 Oakwood Boulevard PO Box 1970, Dearborn, MI
The Henry Ford is the history destination that brings the American Experience to life. Five distinct attractions captivate and inspire visitors of all ages. Encounter ideas that change the world, travel through America's past, embark on America's greatest factory tour and more. It all comes together at The Henry Ford, America's greatest history attraction.

Detroit Historical Museum

5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI
Cobblestone streets, 19th century stores, an auto assembly line, toy trains, and a fur trading post from the 1700s are only a few of the wonders to see at the Detroit Historical Museum. For more than 75 years, the Museum has chronicled the life and times of the region, safeguarding its rich history.

Historic Fort Wayne

6325 Jefferson Detroit, MI 48209

The Fort is open for visitors every Saturday and Sunday from May 27 through September 3 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. on Sunday. There is no charge for self-guided tours. Visitors are provided with a brochure upon entering the park which has the self-guided tour map. Guided tours are available both days at 12 p.m and 2 p.m. Tours typically last between 1 and 1 1⁄2 hours and cost $3.00 per person. The National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen is also housed at Historic Fort Wayne. Their hours are by appointment. To schedule a tour of their museum while you visit Historic Fort Wayne, call 313-833-8849.Secured, on-site parking is available for $5.00.

Yankee Air Museum - Willow Run Airport

2041 A Street, Belleville, MI
Willow Run Airport was built by the Ford Motor Company in 1941 to serve as an airfield for their B-24 Bomber Plant. This was the first aircraft manufacturing plant to use Ford's automotive mass production techniques, a leading technological innovation of the time. Ford Motor Company built 8,685 B-24s from 1942 until the end of World War II. At its peak, the Willow Run plant employed over 42,000 people and produced one B-24 every 59 minutes. The last bomber to roll off the assembly line was named the "Henry Ford." When the war was over the airport became the hub for passenger flights and air freight in the Detroit Metropolitan area.

Belleville Area Museum

405 Main Street, Belleville, MI
The Belleville Area Museum features small-scale replicas of historical buildings which once stood in Belleville, Sumpter, and Van Buren Townships. With visitors regularly promenading its “Main Street”, the Museum became a popular attraction. The Belleville Area Museum preserves the history of the community through exhibit of historical artifacts and the presentation of historical programs and events.

The Plymouth Historical Museum (Dunning Memorial Building)

155 South Main Street, Plymouth, MI
The Plymouth Historical Society seeks to promote education by historical study and research; to collect, preserve and exhibit historical materials connected with the Plymouth Community; and to maintain the Dunning Memorial Building as the Plymouth Historical Museum, providing those who enter with "Knowledge of our forefathers, enjoyment of our heritage, encouragement toward preservation, and inspiration to continue progress." - Margaret Dunning

Nankin Mills Interpretive Center

33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland, MI
Nankin Mills in Westland, Michigan dates from 1842. Once a grist mill, it now serves as an interpretive center and tells the area's cultural and natural history. The building was onced owned by Henry Ford who used the mill to manufacture automotive parts.

Greenmead Historical Park

20501 Newburgh Rd., Livonia, MI
The 95 acre park site was the 1820's homestead of Michigan pioneer, Joshua Simmons. It includes the original farm complex, the Livonia Historical Village, picnic facilities and recreational areas. The farm complex features an 1841 Greek Revival farmhouse with nine of the original eleven outbuildings still intact.

The Henry Ford Estate at Fair Lane

4901 Evergreen Road , Dearborn, MI

A museum rich in history of first auto maker Henry T. Ford. Showcases the mansion where Henry and Clara Ford lived.

Arab American National Museum

13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI
Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the Arab American National Museum is the first museum in the world devoted to bringing the voices and faces of Arab Americans to mainstream audiences. Learn about their economic, political and cultural contributions. The Museum pays tribute to the diversity of our nation by bringing to light the shared experiences of our immigrants and ethnic groups.

Automotive Hall of Fame

21400 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI
The Automotive Hall of Fame is both a visitor attraction and an educational resource for inspiring others to higher levels of achievement in their own work and lives. Visitors will experience automotive history through visual and interactive exhibits, automobiles and authentic artifacts. Induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame is considered the highest honor in the motor vehicle industry.

Model T Automotive Heritage Complex, Inc.

411 Piquette Avenue, Detroit, MI
Detroit's Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is the birthplace of the Model T. It is the only example of an early Detroit auto factory open to visitors. See where Henry Ford designed the Model T and built the first 12,000 "Tin Lizzies." Learn about transportation technology and the colorful personalities who set the world's record for car production, making Ford the world's largest manufacturer of autos in less than four years.

MotorCities National Heritage Area

200 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI

Located in Southeastern and Central Michigan and one of twenty-three designed national heritage areas, our MotorCities tours allow visitors to discover Michigan's rich automotive heritage. Each tour takes visitors to such attractions as The Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, GM World, Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan International Speedway, Automotive Hall of Fame, Yankee Air Museum and the River Rouge Plant Factory Tour. We’ve developed theme tours and Tour packages to make the planning easy so you can have more fun.

Food supply

Art/ History

Art House Tours and Lectures

59 Alfred Street, Detroit, MI
Art House is an 1872 Gothic Revival home located in an historic neighborhood in downtown Detroit. Its original interiors have been preserved, and since 1981 it has served as a center for art and architectural study and a tour destination for those wanting to relive an era of graciousness that once was found in the city of Detroit when it was known as the "Paris of the Midwest." Tours, Classes and Events.

Edsel & Eleanore Ford House

1100 Lake Shore Road , Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
Since opening to the public in 1978, hundreds of thousands of guests have visited Edsel & Eleanor Ford House to marvel at the extraordinary home and collection of original antiques and art; to stroll the 87-acres of beautiful, lakefront grounds; and to attend special events.

Winter Hours: January — March: Tuesday — Sunday -- 11:30 a.m.— 6 p.m.

Music

Motown Historical Museum

2648 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI
Motown Historical Museum is one of Detroit's most popular tourist destinations. Its mission is to preserve the legacy of Motown Record Corporation and to educate and motivate people, especially youth, through exhibitions and programs that promote the values of vision, creativity and entrepreneurship. The exhibitions include a fascinating collection of historical photographs, artwork, music, costumes and other memorabilia from this booming musical era.

Region 2A Ingham

Art

Kresge Art Museum

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Kresge Art Museum, founded in 1959, houses Michigan State University's collection of over 7,000 works of art. Portions of the collection are on continuous display, offering a rich diversity of style, technique and media. Objects on view span 5,000 years of human history and include representative examples of works of art from ancient Cycladic figures to contemporary mixed media installations.

History

Michigan State Capitol building

Michigan Ave, Lansing

Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame

213 West Main Street, Lansing, MI
Our museum recognizes the achievements of Michigan women, past and present. It houses the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame gallery and the Belen art gallery, which displays the work of Michigan women artists and photographers. The center is located next to Cooley Gardens, an outstanding botanical garden.

Michigan Historical Museum

702 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI
The flagship of the Michigan Historical Museum System, the Michigan Historical Museum offers you Michigan's rich past, from the time of the state's earliest peoples to the late 20th century.

Science

Impression 5 Science Center

200 Museum Drive, Lansing, MI
Impression 5 is a hands-on learning environment that challenges its visitors to experience, discover, and explore the physical and natural world in which they live. Impression 5 achieves this by producing hands-on exhibits and participatory programs engaging all five senses.

Potter Park Zoological Gardens

1301 S Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing, MI
The Potter Park Zoo is home to over 100 species of animals, many of which are threatened or endangered, including Siberian Tigers, Black Rhinos, Red Pandas, Bali Minah Birds, Snow Leopards, Tamarin Monkeys, Bongos, Aldabra Tortoises, and many more. It is a great way to spend time with your family and reconnect with nature.

Minibeast Zooseum and Education Center

6907 West Grand River Avenue, Lansing , MI

This unique learning center is devoted to minibeasts—everything from worms to insects—with all the best attributes of a zoo, museum, interpretive center, science store and outdoor classroom. Enjoy exciting displays, hand-on activities, programs and outdoor exploration.

R. E. Olds Transportation Museum

240 Museum Drive, Lansing, MI
At the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum, you'll not only find the oldest Oldsmobile, but the fastest. You can see rare vehicles like REO, Star, Durant, and Viking. See buggies, bicycles, trucks, engines, and more! Come take an exciting tour. :::: Don't miss the museum rated one of "The Ten Best Automobile Museums in the United States"

Region 2A Oakland

Art

Cranbrook Art Museum
39221 N. Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, MI

This museum offers exceptional exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, architecture and design in all media. Collection highlights include works by Dubuffet, Eames, Lichtenstein, Saarinen, Stella and Warhol, along with a wealth of objects from the Arts and Crafts-era to the present. The museum offers exhibitions throughout the year, including work by leading national and international artists.

History

Meadow Brook Hall

Oakland University, Rochester, MI
Meadow Brook Hall is the fourth largest historic house museum in the United States. Built between 1926 and 1929 , the 110-room, 88,000-square-foot, Tudor-revival style mansion is complete with vast collections of original art and furnishings. Meadow Brook Hall strives to preserve and interpret its architecture, landscape, and fine art so visitors may be educated and inspired by history.

Governor Warner Mansion

33805 Grand River Avenue, Farmington, MI
The Governor Warner Museum is a Victorian Italianate structure built in 1867 by P. D. Warner, the Governor’s father, and is furnished in late Victorian style. Sitting on almost three acres, the house is surrounded by gardens lovingly tended by the Museum Garden auxiliary.

Birmingham Historical Museum & Park

556 West Maple Road, Birmingham, MI
The Birmingham Historical Museum & Park features the 1822 John West Hunter House and the 1928 Allen House. These historic buildings sit side-by-side in the beautiful John West Hunter Historic Park near downtown.

Shalom Street

6600 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
Shalome Street welcomes all to engage in a unique interactive experience in an exciting 4,500 square-foot facility. More than 30 exhibits enhanced by dramatic programming are designed to inspire a sense of wonder and exhilaration. Key themes of the major exhibit areas include Jewish traditions and values such as Tikkun Olam (repairing the world through volunteerism and philanthropy), our relationship with and responsibility to nature, Jewish arts, and the diversity of our people.

Botany/History

Cranbrook House & Gardens

380 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Cranbrook House and Gardens stands as a centerpiece of Cranbrook's 319-acre National Historic Landmark campus. From May through October, visitors can experience the grandeur of both the House and the Gardens with guided and self-guided tours.

Science

Detroit Zoological Park

8450 West Ten Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI
The Detroit Zoo is a natural habitat for more than 3,000 animals and 700 varieties of trees, shrubbery and flowering plants. Of the 340 species at the Zoo, 64 are officially listed as endangered or threatened and two are extinct in the wild. Major exhibits include the Arctic Ring of Life, the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery, Great Apes of Harambee, Penguinarium, free-flight aviary, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles, the National Amphibian Conservation Center, giraffes, Siberian tigers, African lions, Asian elephants, Grevy's zebras, Bactrian camels, snow monkeys and the prairie dog exhibit, just to name a few. In 2001 the Detroit Zoo opened the world’s largest polar bear exhibit, the Arctic Ring of Life. The Arctic Ring of Life features the Polar Passage, a 70-ft long clear tunnel in which visitors can get breathtaking views of diving and swimming polar bears and seals. Guests can experience the tundra, open sea and pack ice of the Arctic environment, and the animals that are distinctively adapted to life there.

Cranbrook Institute of Science

P.O. Box 801, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Cranbrook Institute of Science, a great place to explore science, technology and natural history. Join 200,000+ visitors who every year appreciate the Institute's fascinating exhibits, hands-on activities, and planetarium shows.

Belle Isle Nature Zoo

8450 West Ten Mile Road , Royal Oak, MI
Open daily 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. 362 days a year. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Offering family nature programs on the weekend and nature-based (Michigan flora and fauna) education programs to schools and community groups during the week.

Hermelin ORT Resource Center

6600 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
This resource center offers technology training and media facilities for the benefit of the general public. Classes are offered on a variety of computer and photography topics, and Windows laptops, Macintosh graphics workstations, color printers, and wireless network— are all available for nominal fees. JCC and ORT members receive reduced rates for classes.

Walter P. Chrysler Museum
One Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, MI
Plan a visit to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum where automotive history is learned and explored. Take an hour, or spend the day to experience the history of Chrysler vehicles, learn from interactive kiosk stations, or enjoy educational films in our movie theater.

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
1516 S. Cranbrook Road, Birmingham, MI

The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center offers over 500 classes and has students age 3 through adulthood. The Center has four exhibition galleries-each with its own focus. Local, regional and national artists, community, school, BBAC faculty and students all exhibit. Exhibitions are free. The Gallery Shop has constantly changing, affordable, unique artistic gifts including home decor.

Region 2A Macomb

Food supply

Morley Candy Makers Factory tours

23770 Hall Road (M-59), Clinton Township, MI
Come observe the Morley Candy Makers in action! Arrange a tour for your group today. Our tour director will take you back to 1919 where it all began. Can't arrange a tour time? Just stop in between 9 am and 3 p.m., Mon. through Fri., and take a self guided tour by walking down our 70 ft. glass observation hallway.

History

Loren Andrus Octagon House

57500 Van Dyke, Washington, MI
Built at the beginning of the Civil War, the Octagon House is said to have been on the route of the Underground Railroad leading to Canada. The eight sided house with the beautiful spiral center staircase crowned by the cupola made the Octagon House the gem of the community.

Science

Michigan Transit Museum

200 Grand Ave., Mt. Clemens, MI
Michigan Transit Museum was established in 1973 as a non-profit corporation to compile and record historical data on mass transportation systems and equipment, and to collect, preserve, display and operate such equipment.

Selfridge Military Air Museum

27333 C Street, Bldg 1011, Selfridge, MI
The Selfridge Military Air Museum and Air Park is the final resting spot for over thirty vintage aircraft that served the nation in times of peace and war. Climb into the cockpit of a F-16 fighter jet. View photos, newspapers, artifacts and memorabilia of aviation history from World War I through Desert Storm. Children and adults alike will love this hands-on and close-up view of aviation history.

Lionel Trains

26750 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield, MI
The Lionel Tour is free and lasts about 45 minutes. You will see a 14x40-foot operating layout with ten trains running simultaneously and accessories that visitors can operate by pushbutton. The Center houses a 52-foot-long display of artifacts tracing Lionel's history since its founding in 1900. The Center also features a 6x8-foot children's layout where kids get to run the trains themselves!

Region 2A Monroe

Food Supply

Calder Dairy Farm & Country Ice Cream Store

9334 Finzel Rd, Carleton, MI (734) 654-2622
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Calder Dairy was originally established in 1956 by William Graham Stewart Calder. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your group out to see a REAL WORKING DAIRY FARM! Feel free to bring your lunches and picnic next to the pond at the Farm.

You are welcome to just stop by with your kids anytime we are open. There are no entry fee's at all. Farm tours are available by appointment for larger groups of 15 people or more for a nominal fee. After you make your booking, a confirmation will be sent to you by mail or fax. Be sure to let the farm know if your group numbers change, if you are running late or need to reschedule.

q Milk a Cow by hand!

q Give a Calf her bottle of milk!

q Feed the Ducks and Geese by the Pond!

q Go on a Hay Ride!

Region 2A Lenawee

Science

Hidden Lake Gardens

6214 Monroe Road (M-50), Tipton, MI
The gardens offer beautiful scenery including the lake and pond, natural woodlands, and open fields that are accessible via hiking trails and paved auto roads. A wide variety of plants are displayed in a tropical conservatory, dwarf conifer collection, hillside and perennial garden. The Visitor Center includes educational displays, classrooms, auditorium and gift shop.

Region 2A Jackson

History/Art

Ella Sharp Museum

3225 4th Street, Jackson, MI

A charming art and Jackson history museum inside beautiful Ella Sharp Park. The museum opened in 1965 in the 19th century home of Ella Merriman Sharp. In addition to touring the elegantly furnished Victorian home, visitors to the museum may visit a one-room school, an exhibition of carriages, woodworking shop and peer into several other historic buildings used for educational purposes

Science

Indian Brook Farms

5883 W. Michigan Avenue, Jackson, MI
Fun filled environment that also educates kids about aquaculture and agriculture. You will see a trout pond, petting zoo, gift shop, snack bar and a huge display of pumpkins in the fall. A free wagon ride takes kids (and adults) through 120 acres of agricultural experiences including wet lands, vegetable and flower gardening, natural untouched plant growth and one of the biggest pumpkin patches around.

Region 3A Lucas, Ohio

Art

Toledo Museum of Art

2445 Monroe Street Toledo, OH
The Toledo Museum of Art continues to grow in its facilities, its collection, and its relations with the Toledo community. The Museum offers a variety of tours for both children & adults. Most are free, some have a modest charge. The Museum maintains its own program of art classes for adults & children.

History

Oak Grove School House at Wildwood Preserve

5100 W Central Ave, Toledo, OH
In 1893, the average schoolhouse was little bigger than a typical classroom in a modern school. Students worked their family farm for several hours both before and after attending the school. Teachers not only taught, but scrubbed the floors and repaired the roofs. Oak Grove School is typical of schools from its era. Visit this old schoolhouse for free.

The S.S. Willis B. Boyer Museum Ship

International Park, Toledo, OH
The S. S. Willis B. Boyer (formerly the Col. James M. Schoonmaker) was built in 1911 and “retired” in 1980 after 69 years of service. For many of these years it ruled as “queen of the lake freighters.” But today, the S. S. Willis B. Boyer is polished, repaired, and safe for visitors — thousands of them since the boat was opened to the public in July of 1987. Free Parking.

Whitehouse Historical Society

6925 Providence Street, Whitehouse, OH
A circa 1840 log house covered with siding was discovered and moved to town property in 1969 by the Whitehouse Businessmen. They and other interested people formed the Whitehouse Historical Society in 1970 to continue the restoration project. The house was restored and furnished with furniture of the 1840's period. The first floor gives an inviting homelike appearance. The second floor has been turned into a museum for memorabilia depicting history of Whitehouse and the Maumee Valley.

Wolcott House Museum Complex

1031 River Road, Maumee, OH
A trip to the Wolcott Museum Complex can be an extremely rewarding learning experience for students. Tour the grounds and experience life in the 19th century! The grounds include the 1836 Federal style home, along with a log cabin, and 1840s saltbox farmhouse, a 19th century church and the Toledo and Grand Rapids Railroad depot. See the "Teacher Tour Activities" section of the website before visiting.

Science

Fossil Park

8250 Mayberry Square, Sylvania, OH

May to October only! Fossil Park is rich in brachiopods, coral, and over 200 species of prehistoric life. These fossils tend to be large and whole. Visitors will have rare exposure to fossil hunting in an actual rock quarry with an abundant fossil content. It's up to you to dig up these buried treasures and the best part is that you get to keep what you find!

Toledo Zoological Gardens

PO Box 140130, Toledo, OH
The Toledo Zoo is dedicated to promoting wildlife and its conservation in an enjoyable, recreational and family-oriented environment. The Toledo Zoo is home to over 4,800 animals representing over 700 species, as well as the largest collection of WPA-era buildings in the country. Toledo zoo is the perfect place to explore, learn and just have fun any time of the year.

Toledo Botanical Garden

5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, OH
Enriching lives through gardens, the arts and nature, Toledo Botanical Garden is a center for horticulture and the arts. The only botanical garden in the region open free to the public (excluding some special events). Visited by more than 120,000 people

A unique & valuable community resource!

Wildwood Manor House

5100 W. Central Avenue , Toledo, OH
The Wildwood Manor House is a Toledo icon and the centerpiece of the beautiful estate grounds now known as Wildwood Preserve Metropark. The 500-plus-acre Metropark includes 300 forested acres carpeted with wildflowers and ferns, and inhabited by small mammals, whitetail deer, fox and a variety of birds. The natural features are best enjoyed from the extensive network of walking and all-purpose trails.

Region 3A Erie, Ohio

History

Merry-go-round Museum

301 Jackson St , Sandusky, OH
Enjoy a fun and relaxed atmosphere while you tour the Merry-Go-Round Museum and learn about the history and art of the carousel. Watch carvers bring neglected carousel pieces back to their full beauty. Visitors young and old will thrill to memories of the past, and create new memories to last a lifetime. A carousel ride is included with museum admission. It's fun for the whole family!

Milan Historical Museum

10 Edison Drive, Milan, OH
Experience close-up the occupations, chores, and hobbies of everyday life in the 1800's, when American life shifted gradually from the farms to the factories. The Milan Historical Museum in Milan, Ohio, the birthplace of Thomas Edison, gives a one hour tour through the Galpin House which is the main museum building, the Doll & Toy House, the Carriage Shed, the Blacksmith Shop and the General Store.

Edison Birthplace Museum

9 Edison Drive , Milan, OH
Thomas Alva Edison, inventor of the phonograph, the incandescent light bulb, and many other devices that make our lives fuller and simpler, was born in Milan, Ohio, in 1847. The Edison Birthplace Museum features a collection of rare Edisonia, including examples of many of Edison's early inventions, documents, and family mementos.

Inland Seas Maritime Museum

480 Main Street, Vermilion, OH
Experience the history of the Great Lakes through interactive and hands-on exhibits and artifacts including ship models, maritime art, and an authentic 1910 steamship pilothouse. Interactive diving experiences explore Great Lakes shipwrecks, and original Fresnel lighthouse lenses. The two-story museum also anchors the Great Lakes Historical Society.

Region 3A Fulton, Ohio

History

Sauder Village

22611 State Route 2, Archbold, OH
Come and experience history at Sauder Village. You'll chat with costumed guides about how families lived over 100 years ago. You'll marvel at craftsmen blending skill & creativity in glass, metals, fabric, plus more. Enjoy scrumptious homemade goodies & the warmth of genuine, old-fashioned hospitality. Experiencing the past at Sauder Village is just plain FUN for every member of the family!

Region 3A Ottawa, Ohio

Science

African Safari Wildlife Park

267 Lightner Road, Port Clinton, OH
See more than 50 different species of the world's most beautiful and exotic animals roaming free in their natural habitat. Each group is provided with educational information as they are escorted through the Drive-Thru and the Walk-Thru portions of the park. Educational information is also brought to the public by signs, naturalistic exhibit displays, and a fun and exciting Educational Animal Show.

Region 3B Calhoun

Kids 'N' Stuff: An Interactive Experience for Kids

301 S. Superior, Albion, MI
Kids 'N Stuff: An Interactive Experience for Kids will enhance the educational opportunities for children and their families by providing a creative and enriching experience through interactive exhibits and programs in the arts, humanities, sciences and technology. An Interactive Experience for Kids, unlike other area museums, will focus on youth ages 10 months to 12 years old.

Region 3C Genesee

Art

Flint Institute of Arts

1120 East Kearsley St., Flint, MI
Established in 1928 as a museum and art school, this facility has recently undergone extensive renovations and currently houses a rich collection of over 6,500 works of art, from 16th century renaissance paintings to modern abstract sculpture. Classes offered year round for students from 2 1/2 years to adult. Look for exhibitions, art classes, films & videos, to lectures, concerts, tours and more.

History

Crossroads Village

5045 Stanley Road, Flint, MI

Stroll around our 51-acre Village where friendly folks in period attire welcome you to the homes, mills and shops dating back to the 1800's. Visit the blacksmith at his forge, a doctor dispensing herbal remedies, and a printer at his press! Visit the early mills, where the power of water turns grain into flour, saws logs into lumber and presses apples into cool, sweet cider.

Whaley Historical House Museum

624 East Kearsley Street, Flint, MI
One simple decision, the results of which are still evident today. Robert Whaley, the longest serving President of Citizens Bank, authorized the $2,000 loan to William "Billy" Durant, which eventually enabled him to form General Motors Corporation in 1908. Come see the original loan booklet.:::: :::: Asided from legendary auto history, the Whaley House itself is sure to spark your curiosity. Built in 1859, the house has been restored to its original splendor, complete with period furnishings, family heirlooms and Flint community artifacts.

Science

The Flint Children's Museum

1602 W. Third Ave , Flint, MI

Explore the Flint Children's Museum. Hands-on educational exhibits are tucked in every corner. Each visit is a new experience with special programs every month. It's a great destination for a scouting or class field trip. Plan your birthday party with us and share the experience with all your friends.

Alfred P. Sloan Museum

1221 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, MI
Regional history, historic automobiles and hands-on science are major features of the Sloan Museum. The Science Discovery Center allows children and adults to explore principles of chemistry and physics through exhibit and staff presentations. We also offer seasonal exibits & lectures, historical heritage programs, and Michigan & American history programs. Check out our website for the latest information.

Robert T Longway Planetarium

1310 East Kearsley Street, Flint, MI
The Robert T. Longway Planetarium was dedicated on June 26, 1958. Featuring 285 seats under an impressive 60-foot dome, the Longway Planetarium is Michigan’s largest planetarium. The Longway Planetarium’s Learning Center provides opportunities for fascinating new learning experiences. These may include hands-on science demonstrations, astronomy classes or telescope workshops.

Theatre

The Whiting and Flint Youth Theatre
1241 E. Kearsley St., Flint, MI
The James H. Whiting Auditorium was dedicated and officially opened in October 1967. Each year, this 2,043 seat theater hosts the Flint Symphony Orchestra, performances presented by Flint Youth Theatre, New York's Joffrey Ballet School Midwest Workshop and the Spotlight Series, featuring Broadway hits, touring musical and dance groups and guest artists from around the world.

Region 3C Clinton

Food supply

Andy T's Farm

3131 S. Business US 27, Saint Johns, MI
A family fun farm with a fresh fruit and vegetable market, flowers, nursery stock, u-pick, hayrides, holiday trees, a farm fresh bakery, 6 acre corn maze, petting farm, straw maze and make your own caramel apples. Stop by for locally grown produce and lots of weekend activities. We give tours of this mint farm! Open April through December.

Region 3C Saginaw

Science

Wilderness Trails Zoo

11721 Gera Rd., Birch Run, MI

Wilderness Trails Zoo offers a unique zoo experience as our mile long trail winds past trees, ponds and over 50 different species of animals. Exhibits are constructed so guests may see the animals much closer than at a typical zoo, while maintaining as much of Michigan's natural beauty as possible.

Grandpa Tiny's Farm

7775 Weiss St., Frankenmuth, MI
Step back in time at this working Historical Farm. Visit the Petting Farm and hold cuddly baby bunnies & chicks; watch playful lambs and goats and play with other farm animals. Your tour also includes a horse-drawn wagon ride!

Region 3C Shiawassee

Science

Steam Railroading Institute

405 S. Washington, Owosso, MI

Come and see the actual engine from the movie The Polar Express along with other train transportation technology. The Steam Railroading Institute programs are implemented through a group of dedicated volunteers who enjoy working "back in time" to see and feel what their ancestors saw as a part of everyday life. The volunteers and SRI staff share their hands-on experiences with the public at our 7-acre facility in Owosso.

Region 3D St Clair

Food supply

Ruby Farms of Michigan

6567 Imlay City Road, Ruby, MI
Come choose-&-cut your own real Christmas tree. In the fall, you can pick your favorite pumpkin, go on a hayride, enjoy a real fire truck ride, give the kids a real treat with an old time carousel ride, enjoy the great outdoors with an orchard tour, purchase fresh homemade baked goods, visit our cider mill and museum and enjoy the animals in our petting zoo. Also see the antique store.

I think I have figured out who I look like...

This woman is, I believe, my paternal great grandmother, Maryann Ryan, with her granddaughters, my aunts, Margaret and Theresa. I don't have any younger photos of her, but as I near the age she was in this photo, am beginning to see a resemblance.

Jack's Chunky Chocolate Almond Cookies

We've mentioned that Jack loves to bake cookies! Well, ok, what little kid doesn't like to bake cookies -- especially once they figure out that they then get to eat them!

Last night, when I was about ready to call it a night, Jack really wanted to bake cookies. He'd been very helpful all day, so we did.

We tried a variant on his usual favorite recipe --this one turned out really nice, too, if you like this sort of thing.

Jack's Chunky Chocolate Almond Cookies

These cookies and a glass of milk make a decent breakfast -- they are coarse and crumbly and very filling. YUM!

2 sticks soft butter
1 cup Sucanat (Jaggery would work, too, I expect)
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla

3/4 cup whole grain pastry flour (we prefer white wheat because it's sweeter)
3 cups coarse oat flour
3/4 cup coarse raw almond meal
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 cup bakers cocoa

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, chunks, or shavings

***

Heat the oven to 350

Cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a large bowl bowl

In a small bowl, blend the dry ingredients

Mash the dry ingredients into the wet, 1/2 cup at a time. When the dry ingredients are all thoroughly moistened and the mass is taking shape, mix in the chocolate chunks.

Make small (1 Tablespoon) balls and flatten them slightly.

Bake for 12 minutes.

Cool on the sheet for 2 or 3 minutes and then move to a cooling rack.

The rest of what we did today

Thanks to our friend John, who not only helped put the garden to bed, but then was sweet enough to record the leaf raking for posterity!

Noticing some more...

Jack was eager to get out this morning to notice some more. This morning, he wanted t switch his focus from leaves to bark...

We packed a 'noticing kit', and off we went.
Outdoors, we got up close to the bark we wanted to really notice. We took a photo, and then we described the bark carefully in words, while Dad took notes.

Finally, we did a rubbing to try to capture the texture of the bark. We'll try to share that a bit later -- even with the spare hour, we're tired.

We visited each of the trees that Dad and Jack checked out yesterday, and we'll add these bark rubbings and notes to the same book.

Perhaps we'll start a noticing calendar for each of them to notice when each of the trees has a new response to its environment.

Being a good noticer

“…But listen: are you a good noticer?” Do you notice things well? I mean for instance, supposing you saw two cock starlings on an apple tree, and you only took one good look at them, would you be able to to tell one of them from the other is you saw them again the next day?"

"…that is what you call the powers of observation – noticing the small things about birds and animals: the way they walk and move their heads and twitch their whiskers and wiggle their tails. You have to notice all those little things if you want to learn animal language.”

Hugh Lofting: The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, part 1 chapter VIII.

In the afternoons, Rod and Jack have been reading the Voyages of Dr DoLittle by Hugh Lofting. The above is a quote, spoken by Polynesia, the good Doctor's companion parrot.

***

Yesterday, I was washing laundry, tidying the kitchen and preparing to head out to Flint to scrapbook with a witchy friend, Erin, who teaches at a local craft shop (you know, doing the "Mom" thing).

I became aware that my two beautiful Smiffy boys were scurrying about collecting an array of equipment -- a notebook, a camera, a sound recorder, and a collection bag.

"What's up?" I asked.

"We're going out 'noticing'", says Jack

"Noticing?"

"You have to be a good noticer to be a naturalist" explains Dad

"Ahh, I see" I said, in wonder.

Off they went. They spent several hours watching birds and trying to tape their songs, taking pictures and observing which trees each type of bird seemed to prefer.

When they ran out of birds, they started photographing the trees in our front yard and collecting fallen leaves to catalog them. They wanted to be able to notice, on future forays, which type of animal and bird like what kind of tree best.

Then they came in and we made leaf rubbings from each of the leaves and labeled them, while Dad uploaded the sound and photo files to begin a new online journal called "Jack's Noticing Page". (Not started yet, as far as I've heard.)

We then make a book of the pages, so Jack can easily keep track of what he has noticed.

While we were working, we noticed that red and yellow maples have slightly different shapes. We tried rubbing them in black so that the colours wouldn't be distracting.

Sure enough -- the yellow maple has much deeper lobes -- they *are* different!

And that is how literature acts as the core of an education -- painlessly begins our nature study and the beginning of scientific inquiry.

Such fun!!

Dancin Fool!

Have I mentioned that our man, Jack, loves to dance??

This was his reaction to a bluegrass kids album he chose at the library this week...

But now, it's time for us to go make two more Yule cards for his "list".

Good night all!

Very strange ...

..or maybe not.

Somehow the template I had been using became corrupted at the source. The only fix I could find was to pick a new one...

I like the old one better, but only if it works.

My views on Halloween

Every October 31, we make our annual pilgrimage to Tony Packos in Toledo.

You remember Tony Packos? In the M.A.S.H. television series, Corporal Klinger mentioned it often. It's a Hungarian restaurant, and Klinger waxed eloquent about their hot-dogs. We stopped in the first time because we were in the neighborhood and we wondered whether it would live up to the hype. It didn't. It's OK -- pretty mediocre, but not outright bad. But it is an adult oriented restaurant.

So every October 31, we go there. Mostly because it's an hour away in Toledo, making it easier to be busy and out of the way of the "festivities" we don't want to expose ourselves to between 6pm and 9pm. We darken the house, close the gates for the only time all year, and drive for an hour, eat for an hour in a restauramt that blessedly seems to have fogotten what date it is, and then drive home for an hour, arriving home after the last of the revellers has gone home to bed or out to the bars.

Why all the effort? As witches, aren't we supposed to love Halloween?

Well, a lot of witches do love it, but frankly, Rod and I don't enjoy Halloween at all. I find the whole thing disturbing and somewhat offensive. I don't particularly mind that people who see it differently than I do want to celebrate, especially now that they've stopped trying to insist that I have to play, too. But I really want no part of it, myself.

Like so many other holidays, Halloween started out as a pre-Christian celebration. The Celts called it Samhain, and it was the celebration the final harvest and of death. When the Christian church entered the scene, they preferred to call the day All Saints Day or "Hallowed evening". But the the notion of dead folks wandering around wasn't so easy to quash, and the church had to find a way to deal with it. The combination of fear and misunderstanding between very different cultures left us with a mish-mash of ideas, none of which make a lot of sense when thrown together out of context.

The celebration of the final harvest and the honoring of the the dearly departed has morphed into a candy-fest featuring horrific images of death and highly fantasized images of magic and witchcraft.

Our major objection to Halloween as it's celebrated now start with the whole problem of the glorification of violence and the desecration of death's sacred nature. This time of year is indeed focused on death, just as spring is focused on birth. We honour the entire cycle of life, including death. Making one part of the cycle (birth) "sacred" and another (death) "scary" seems wrong. Add to that the "devils night" antics and the destruction of property that seems to have taken root in this time of year and the whole thing becomes pretty repulsive.

We also don't like the idea of children being fed on pounds and pounds of sugar. Yep, it's their parents call, and we honor that. But we don't want to poison your children and "healthy" treats will be thrown away, so we'll just opt out, thanks. (We have at least one friend who offers books to the children who come to her door -- and that is a great idea! If we ever get past our other objections, that's probably something we'll adopt.)

The idea of begging from strangers isn't a really great model to give kids, either. We prefer that our child be raised to be a contributor because in the end, that will make him much happier. If this was a once a year phenomenon it might pass muster, but name a single day of the year for which the children aren't conditioned to expect to be indulged ...

Then there's the commercialization problem -- people spend hundreds of dollars on this non-event every year! Hundreds of dollars for two hours of revelry on a holiday that has lost any real significance. It's insane!

What about the costumes? Those, I just don't understand. I think playing dress-up is great, but why limit it to once a year? And why focus on someone else's idea of a good costume, when there is a whole world of good ideas outside the costume shops? I have one friend whose children dress in costume on any day they wish -- now *that* is fun and imaginative! Jack hasn't shown any particular interest in costumes so far, but if he ever does, he won't be limited to this one day a year.

Rod adds to this list his objection to the appeasing of the spirit world with gifts, the trivializing of magic, and the typecasting of witchcraft and the supernatural as something perhaps frightening, or evil, but most definitely "other".

No we are not Disney Witches, nor even a Hogwarts graduates. This godawful trivialization, distortion, and commercialization of death and magic is something we just don't want to be a part of. So, we're going to enjoy our journey to Tony Packos.

See y'all tomorrow, when some semblance of sanity has returned.

The trouble with libraries (a whine)

I love the library. I have loved them since I discovered them at age 6. Imagine -- thousands of books to read and every one of them FREE!!

But libraries have changed since I was a child. At least, our local libraries have. Instead of focusing on books, they now sacrifice half or more of their space to non-book media. I guess I can understand that -- I don't mind that CDs and DVDs are available to check out and certainly, making computers available to people who couldn't otherwise afford them is a good thing. But toys? And do the computers and toys have to be more prominent than the books?

This wouldn't matter so much, if it was just me - but it's been a constant source of frustration in trying to take Jack to the library. When we go to a book store, Jack is riveted by the books. He picks up one book after another and falls headfirst into the stories.

At the library, though, there is so much competition for his attention that the books gets almost no attention. I have finally convinced him that the computers are a waste of time at the library because he has a computer at home. But the toys, well, he doesn't have *those* toys. And they're not bad toys, even.

But there I am, stuck in the children's section of the library for hours -- I can't get to the adult section to look at books I might like because I can't (and don't want to) leave him unattended and tearing him away isn't working. Getting 10 books to take home takes me 10 minutes. Getting Jack out of the toys takes another hour and a half of boredom.

I can't decide whether to just give up and go the the library alone and take him only to book stores or whether to try dragging him into the adult stacks first, so I can have something to read while he plays.

It would be so nice if libraries were set up for readers, like they used to be.

The end of the season

We had a hard frost Sunday night, so, in anticipation, we started putting the garden to bed on Sunday afternoon. We collected the last of the harvest, pulled out and composted the plants, and stared preparing the bed to receive the first of the season nutrients.

I'll be putting down manure, alfalfa, bone meal, blood meal, and rock dust then I'll cover it over with newsprint so that the decomposition will be well underway by planting time -- and there will be few or no weeds to deal with. I should only need to turn the soil when it's time to plant.

That's good because we have plenty to do in the spring -- like building tomato towers. The cages this year were completely useless and we lost the majority of the fruit to Mr. Groundhog, who as I have mentioned, is not terribly good at sharing. (He leaves us half of each ripe tomato. Ick.) With towers, we're hoping to keep enough of the harvest to do some canning next year.

We lost all the cabbages this year -- we didn't pick them in time and between bug damage and splitting, none of them were edible. Oh well, next year we'll know to pick them sooner.

We were delighted to find that we had some sweet potatoes. Rod roasted them up for dinner on Monday and they were tender and tasty. I think that's something we'll do again.

And we have a gazillion green tomatoes. Luckily, they mostly ripen OK in steel bowls in the sun. They don't look pretty for the table and they aren't as sweet as if they'd ripened on the vine,. but they're no worse than store tomatoes, so we use them in cooking.

We got a few more carrots, and that was about it for the final harvest. Not bad. I think we'll do a lot more carrot next year now that I know they work well for us.

Queensland Blue

I was driving home after work earlier this week and as I drove apst the local farm market, I was delighted to spot some Queensland Blue pumpkins on the edge of the market!

Of course, I had to buy one!

Of course, now we have to figure out what to do with this much pumpkin. A couple of hearvest puddings, a pie or two, roasted pumpkin...and perhaps it's time to learn to can pumpkin.

Rod wants to plant some next spring. It would be an excellent thing to know how to can them -- can you imagine finding a use for six of these a week?

This might be news to some...

My Liberal Identity:

You are a Social Justice Crusader, also known as a rights activist. You believe in equality, fairness, and preventing neo-Confederate conservative troglodytes from rolling back fifty years of civil rights gains.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

Who knew?

My Liberal Identity:

You are a Reality-Based Intellectualist, also known as the liberal elite. You are a proud member of what’s known as the reality-based community, where science, reason, and non-Jesus-based thought reign supreme.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

Reading pleasure

The time has come that Jack likes to read me a bedtime story before I read him a chapter from the latest chapter book.

It's bliss to have a child who loves to read as much as I do!

Just for a laugh ...

Here's wishing...

Signs of Autumn

I took this photo last night.

I absolutely love out beautiful sugar maple this time of year! Though by today, half of those beautiful red leaves are sitting on the ground waiting to be raked up and jumped into!

But notice, too, the bright orange flag in the grass...it has companions up and down the street and interesting blue and green paint marks to coordinate with it.

I have a very bad feeling about what it means for access to our driveway, but I have no idea when this will happen...

How shall we dress the children?

I came across an article a couple of weeks ago that still has me scratching my head.

Granted, it was on the MSNBC site, and that's the online equivalent of USA Today for it's depth and sophistication, so I am probably giving it way more thought than it deserves. But still... they posed a strange question.

Victoria Clayton of MSNBC asks us

"It seems more and more people are hopping on Frost’s bandwagon and marketing pint-sized versions of adult tastes. It’s down with Barney and up with the black CBGB onesies. Out with the primary colors and pastels and in with cool, contemporary children’s furniture.

But is it really cool for the kids? Are celebs and others just using offspring as the latest “in” accessory, instead of a big purse or a Chihuahua?

Face it. Kids much prefer a Dora the Explorer shirt than a Wilco or CBGB shirt"

Miss Clayton must be very young. (Actually, I suspect that Miss Clayton was more interested in creating a pretext for advertising the hip online kids retailer featured in her article than in any specific question she posed, but we'll grant her the assumption of journalistic integrity.)

Since we began wearing clothes, children have mostly dressed like small adults. At the time that childhood was "invented" in the 17th century, there were no special clothes, books, games, toys, or roles for children. Once infancy was over, children were seen as smaller, less experienced people. (Not unlike those of us in portly middle age view our thirty year old peers.)

By the Victorian era, three hundred years after childhood was first perceived as a distinct period of life, we saw the romanticising of childhood. Children were dressed in special clothes that were meant to evoke innocence. A few years later, in the era in which I grew up, the mother-daughter dresses were all the rage, and children were very often dressed like their parents.

I can see value in both of these approaches -- dressing children in children's clothing, evoking the innocence of childhood, is a charming way of reminding ourselves (as individuals, and especially as a culture) that we had these children to cherish them, and that they need our protection. Face it, there are harried, stressful days when we could use the reminder.

On the other hand, dressing children the way that we prefer to dress ourselves sends them (and us) the message that we are a team, that we expect that they will grow up to value the things we value.

There are two related trends in the way we as a culture dress our children that Miss Clayton doesn't address, and I think those trends are far more important to consider.

One is the trend to dress very young girls in a way that sexualizes them. The other is to dress our children as corporate shills. Both are alarming trends and both frighten me.

Do we seriously want to tell our sons and daughters that a girl's most important role is that of sexual object? Have women fought for the last 100 years only for us let our daughters be typecast and trivialized again?

And on the other hand, do we really want to send the message to our children that the role they should aspire to is "consumer"? When we pay for the "privilege" of advertising for a mega corporation on our clothing, we elevate the importance of that product in our minds and in the minds of our children. (And, yes, I include Dora, Thomas, and every other character that every kindergartner knows the name of in this.) We send a subtle message that we can be defined by the products we buy. That's exactly the impression that large corporations would like us to have, but how sad for us, how sad for our children, if we buy into that confining view of ourselves.

Is this what we have come to as a nation? Has corporate America not gone far enough in polluting our political system and undermining our national values? Should they now also own our children's backs as billboards?

No!

Bring on the the CBGB or Chicago Symphony Orchestra onesies and the t-shirts bearing political statements (of any persuasion), dress your child jeans, or overalls, or sweats, or gingham -- in whatever way coveys the lifestyle and political views you prefer -- but spare the children the sexy outfits and please, please lets keep the merchandising off our babies backs!

Thought on a gardening community

I find that community is a great help to us.

We belong to a children's clothing exchange, in which we gather twice a year to hand off the clothes out children have outgrown and collect clothes that out children can use for the coming season. It's saved us a fortune of clothes for Jack over the last 4.5 years -- we have had to buy very. very little clothing and so we could afford to spend money on higher quality -- and we were happy to do so, knowing that a dozen more children will use the clothes before they've lived out their natural lives.

We also belong to a children's book exchange, in which a tub (or two) of children's books comes to out house a couple times a year. We have discovered some wonderful books and have had a worthy place to dispose of really cool books that we don't need anymore. I like knowing that, again, a dozen children may enjoy the books I put in that tub.

I was pondering the excess of vegetables we had this year from our modest garden and wondering whether there are poeple out there who have the same expereince and who migh like to trade -- some of my tomatoes for some of their eggplant, or whatever. Sort of an organic gardeners vegetable exchange... ???

It sounds like it could be useful, but I'm not sure yet how it would work. It would be, by definition, more work than the book and clothes exchanges. Vegetables can't be held indefinitely. Then again, I know that Arborseeds sponsors a seed exchange and several herb and and other plant type swaps...

Dunno.

This might could work...

The Teaching of Australian History

For three or four years now, I have been hunting for resources to use in teaching Jack about Australia's history. There are some resources in US libraries, of course, but there's not much. I also preferred to find Aussie resources -- after all, I want him to have a sense of himself as an Australian as well and an American. If the books we use to teach him Australian history always view Australia as "them", that's going to skew how he sees things.

I haven't had a lot of luck finding materials. My sister-in-law found a series of books, not unlike the books Time-Life put out when I was a kid, but these books are clearly meant for much older children. I have found no equivalent to the biographies of great Americans for every age and political view that are so easy to find here.

At first, I was puzzled. It simply seemed to me that I was missing something. Not explaining it right...something like that. Then I wondered at a people that didn't tell it's children about their history.

As I have dug deeper and deeper, I have come to think that this tendency not to talk about history is a lot more complex than I could have imagined. It's not so much a lack of interest in teaching kids about the origins of their country -- it is instead a deep confusion about *what* to tell kids about it. Was Captain Cook an intrepid explorer or the scout of an invading fleet? Was Ned Kelly a hero or a rogue? And what of the Botany bay penal colony should small children know about? How do you teach little ones the decidedly un-PC origins of their land when you hope to raise them to be comfortable in a broadminded and multi-cultural world?

Of course, as an American, it doesn't seem all that confusing or difficult to me. Our real origins have their decidedly unglamourous moments, too. Those things can be dealt with later, we just cherry-pick the "child friendly" parts and get the kids started on recognizing names and faces and the broadest outlines on history. But how the Australian school child is to be educated is hardly a place where my opinion would be welcome.

Nonetheless, I am coming to think that I have three choices.

• I can teach US history without addressing the Australia equivalent.
• I can ignore both.
• I can create my own materials to teach the history of the two countries in parallel.

The first choice seems unwise to me. It gives Jack's maternal heritage far more weight than his paternal and might give him the idea that I think the US is more important to know about.

The second choice is simply unacceptable to me. History is important. Very important.

That leaves me with the third option. I am not uncomfortable with the writing, but my complete lack of artistic talent has me feelings pretty much at sea. How can I write a history book for a six year old with no pictures? I guess that I'll just have to steal them where I can find them. Since the books are for Jack's use, I guess it won't be a problem ... But it does leave me pretty much at the mercy of what I can find on the Internet. It also means that Jack's history education won't have a particularly "authentic" Aussie voice -- but I don't see much alternative right now.

Frustrating.

Especially because I know so little myself and their a good chance I will make a hash of at least some parts of it. Obviously I can lean on Rod and his family for input, but they mostly seem to think I'm being wierd about this.

Interesting fitness development

I am experiencing something delightful that I have never felt before...and it seems like a good development.

For some time (a week, perhaps) I have been waking up to realize that my arm and leg muscles are alternately tensing and releasing, increasing the circulation as I wake up. It feels really nice, and it seems to start just as I wake up (or at least, it hasn't wakened me before I wanted to get up yet) so I just noted it without worrying about it.

However this afternoon, about the time I would usually have started my walk, I noticed that my arms, legs, and back muscles were alternately tensing and relaxing, increasing circulation in a very pleasant way as i worked at my computer as if in preparation for my walk.

Today, because I went out to lunch, I didn't walk at 3 as I usually do, and I can feel my body "missing it". I have to say that reaching the point where regular exercise is something my body is actively enjoying is quite a treat -- I feel like I'm really on the right track as far as the type of exercise and the amount and frequency being about what my body needs right now.

I have some hand weights somewhere in the house. I have been looking for them, and once I find them I am planning to add a little weight training every few days. That made a big difference to me several years ago when I was working out in a gym regularly and I'd like to get that strong feeling back.

It's also about time to dig out the Richard Simmons video I bough early last spring and see what I can do about hooking the laptop up to the stereo so I can hear it well enough to play along. (It was too hot to dance over the summer, but gardening helped.)

(Yeah, I am feeling a LOT better than I was yesterday. I doubled up on my thyroid meds starting three days ago, so the symptoms are abating rapidly. It seems that slightly under my usual dose was causing trouble over time, so I'm stuck with slightly over that dose. I'll feel good for as long as the tablets last - and with any luck, I'll find a good doctor before they run out.)

Indications that my current thyroid treatment isn't working.

I complained some time ago about my last doctor taking a whimsy to halve my Synthroid dose. I *knew* that was a bad idea.

Anyway, she didn't halve it cleanly, and I had the choice between a little too much or a bit too little, so I have been alternating.

That is, evidently, not good enough. I knew it was a time-limited endeavor anyway, since even alternating like this, I am going to eventually run out of medication before I run out of month.

But in the last few weeks, these symptoms have started to appear:

• My hair has started to fall out in handfuls again, though not as badly as it did as on the generic medication
• My skin feels like sandpaper, even though I have stopped using soap on it and moisturize twice a day
• My legs are knotted and achy like they used to be before I was treated -- for that matter, my back and most of the rest of me feels that way
• There isn't enough sleep in all of time nor coffee in all the world
• My memory hasn't start going yet, but my energy and ambition are gone.
• I have gotten extremely moody -- grumpy and depressed all at once
  
• I can't keep up with the laundry -- it's Thursday and I haven't found the energy to get down there and start *last* weekend's laundry.
• I want to cry all the time -- partly in exhaustion and mainly in frustration.

Time I went on the great physician hunt again.

Surely, there is a HAES-friendly physician somewhere in SE Michigan who understands that he or she is a consultant and not a boss!! Ideally this person would also be covered by my insurance, but I am beginning to think that is asking too much.

TJ and Corey circa 1984-85
Båstad, Sweden

Jack solves the world's problems ...

Sunday:

Jack: "Mamma, are you Grandma's child?"

Me: "Yes, I am."

Jack: "And Dad is Mormor's child?"

Me: "Yes."

Jack: "And TJ and Corey are your babies and Mike and Joel are Dad's babies?"

Me: "Yes, that's right."

Jack: "Who is Auntie K's child?"

Me: "Auntie K doesn't have a child."

Jack: "Why not?"

<pause>

Me: Well ... sometimes life just works out that way. Not everyone has a child. Not everyone wants a child."

Jack: "It's sad that Auntie K doesn't have a child."

Me: "Yes, I guess it is. Auntie K would be a wonderful mother, wouldn't she, Jack?"

<long pause>

Jack: "I Know! Auntie K loves me very much. I'll be Auntie K's child!"

Parenting perfection

“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”

Robert Browning

The recent Venus retrograde (reexamining values) has resulted in a lot of people questioning the things that matter most to them.

In many of the blogs I read, I have read the concerns of conscientious parents beating themselves up for being human. It's better than some of the alternatives, I suppose. The papers are full of stories of parents who if nature were just, would have been barren. But it's so sad to see good, caring parents struggling with an image of perfection they think they have to emulate to be 'good enough'.

Having born my first child 34 years ago, I have had a lot of time to ask myself what parenting means and what makes a good (or good enough) parent.

In my 20s and 30, I think I suffered the twin errors of holding myself to too high a standard and the complete inability to see where I was really making a mess. That's not unusual, I think. In my late thirties and my forties, when TJ and Corey were teenagers and young adults, I had time and experience to really think about what I had tried to accomplish, where I thought it had gone well and where it had failed disastrously. I was very hard on myself for the things that had gone badly and blamed myself for their having such hard teen years. Some of it truly was the result of the way I parented them, some wasn't. In the end, I am extremely proud of the men they have grown into. They didn't make the choices I might have wished for them -- but they are good men, contributing to their communities and very caring of their children and elders.

A few years ago, of course, I had the unexpectedly luxury of Jack's arrival and a chance to try again. That set off all the questions about parenting and how I approach it again.

I've come to some conclusions that would have startled and maybe even angered my younger self. There are ideals I cherished deeply at the age of 20 that I have rethought. There are things I was adamant about with TJ and Corey that I am doing very differently with Jack and would do over again for my older boys if I could.

As an example, I wanted to believe that if we are gently raised and trusted and treated well,we will grow into gentle, conscientious, trustworthy people. In the end, that seems to have been true. But it made for some very, very hard years with ill-mannered children in between as the kids took their cues from other kids, since I wasn't providing much explicit guidance.

While I still believe that it is important for everyone to take responsibility for their actions rather than just following authority in sheep-like submission, I have come to have more respect for the important of teaching children manners and interpersonal respect and then expecting them to show good manners and respect. I still believe that respect is something that must be earned rather than being granted because we demand it -- but I have come to realize that young children don't have to experience with which to question authority. First they have to be taught how to show respect, then later, as they develop more intellectual sophistication and acquire more experience with which to judge whether or not someone has earned respect, they can be taught the importance of being responsible for their own actions, regardless of who told them to do what. Eventually they will understand not only that it is important to question authority when it's in conflict with their own sense of right and wrong, they will know why it is important. That's a subtle difference that was lost on my 21 year old self.

There is one thing I am, unfortunately, doing very much the same with Jack as I did with his older brothers. It's a flaw of mine that I am not proud of and I do my best to overcome it -- but unlike in my youth, I have decided not to beat myself up over it. Oddly, accepting it has made it somewhat easier to control; but so has the support of a good, strong partner.

I am cranky.

I try very hard to be patient and kind and tolerant, but some times that it is simply beyond me. I open my mouth and out comes something I instantly regret. Perhaps it's partly a matter of having grown up with parent who had six children in their first five years of marriage -- my parents were overwhelmed and they yelled. I don't blame them -- two children nearly drove me around the bend! I think they're heroes because they got us all to adulthood intact and we all turned out to be self-supporting and reasonably sane. (I was their close call, but I think I acquired a sufficient ability to pass for sane, anyway.)

But, I also grew up to be a yeller.

What's worse, I sometimes yell when it's not even really warranted. It's bizarre, really. Some days I can be patient in the face of great frustration and really naughty behavior. Other days, a minor oops will set me off. I don't really know what the difference is, and I strive to be patient and pleasant always...but the reality is, sometimes the best I can do is notice quickly that I'm being horrible and stop and apologize.

I used to blame it on the children's behavior -- and then one day I couldn't anymore. I began to see that my temper tantrums didn't have all that much to do with the children's behavior. Then I beat myself up and felt like a horrible mother. I did the best I could, and I tried always to stop and apologize when i caught myself...but the guilt was immense.

I guess it went ok. I think the older boys have survive my moodiness and still know how deeply I love them. Sadly, I see that my oldest has inherited the family moodiness and is also prone to being cranky with his children -- but they don't seem to doubt his love either, so I guess they'll survive.

And that brings me to a very important point. I say it a lot when discussing parenting.

The one quality every parent on the planet has in common is that we are all human. We have different flaws, but we all have flaws -- we are inherently incapable of perfection.

So ... we can't be perfect. We just can't. It can't be done. If we were capable of perfection, we wouldn't need to be here. We'd be wearing ethereal wings or (not?) experiencing nirvana or something.

Shouldn't we try? Well sure we should. (See the Browning quote in the title of this post.)

Even more important, we should realize that human children weren't meant to be raised by robots or saints. Sure, it models how to be a saint or a robot, and they get only the best modeling.

...or do they? (This one dawned on me after living with a couple of people who had elders who modeled something so far beyond their ability to attain that they gave up and didn't try to do anything -- fifty year olds who had never held a real job and had no goals.)

One of the things that spurs us on to greater heights is the strengths we learn from our parents. Another is the urge to do better at the things at which they weren't as successful. Which of us didn't get a charge the first time we beat Dad at chess, baked something Mom said was "too hard" and had it come out right, or in some other way went our parents one better? What if your kids didn't think they could do you one better at something worthwhile? What if your example was so unattainably perfect at every turn that they couldn't touch it in their wildest dreams? Would you really want to do that to your kids? Granted, none of us is in any real danger of perfection, so this isn't counsel to relax and stop trying, it's just another way of looking at the inevitable mistakes we make.

We can use them to model for our children how to cope with the flaws that they, too, will inevitably have. We can't work on what we daren't look at or admit to. When we screw up, perhaps we are actually teaching our children valuable lessons on humility, on persistence, and on forgiveness.

We have to be prepared to admit to our children that we make mistakes, we must be prepared to apologize to them, we must hear them when they have a complaint about the way we're behaving, because sometimes it will be whining, but sometimes their complaint will be warranted.

Oddly, children seem to take it a lot better to be told they're 'out of luck' when they're being whiny because life isn't fair if they also know that when we're wrong, we can admit it. They are also quicker to admit to having made a mistake if they've seen us model how to own up to a mistake and seen that the world doesn't end.

It's been very empowering to look at my flaws as yet another parenting tool. When I snap at Jack for being four, I haven't failed. I have been presented with another opportunity to model how to be a good person. Funny thing...Jack has started to hug me when I apologize and say "it's OK, Mamma". And he has started to apologize without being prompted when he does something naughty .

Now I wish I could go back and do it again -- TJ and Corey deserved a lot more than they got from me. I had a tool I didn't even know about.

Fitness Update

I think today may be a crucial, make ot break day for my walking routine. I only got 4 of my 10 miles in last week. I walked Monday, as usualy, but Tuesday, I was on the help desk phones and couldn't get away to walk. Wednesday, I went out to lunch and couldn't stay late, so there was no time to walk. Thursday and Friday, it was rainy and I was sick and just not up to walking.

Today I should walk, but I feel so tired at the thought. That probably means I really *need* to walk though.

Thirty minutes to psyche myself into it...can I do it?

Edited 4:15 to add: It took me closer to an hour to work up to it, and I only made a mile and a half rather than two miles, but I'm back on track. This distance matetrs less than getting out there.

Tomato Canning 2007

We spent yesterday evening canning tomatoes.

As always, Jack was an immense help. At this point, he is as much help as many adults - -though he still doesn't have the stamina to see how the whole job through. (He generally ends up laying on the floor watching us about halfway through the process.) But he's more and more help each year nd it's gotten to be almost quick and painless. Almost.

It was actually our second bushel for the year, bringing us to almost 50 jars of tomatoes for the year. Last year we ended up with 15, and that just wasn't enough. We ended up "saving them for a special occasion" since we could only treat ourselves to one jar a month -- which meant that we arrived at spring with half of them left. Now we can eat them with abandon -- YES!

We still have two bushels of apples to can. One will be apple sauce -- and we're thinking the other might be apple wedges for crisps and pies. Rod is thinking we'd be best off waiting a few more days to let them ripen further so we'll probably do that next weekend.

Fossil Park

We went to fossil park near Toledo last weekend, but I couldn't write about it then because, of course, our server was down more down than up.
.



But the technician, a very competent and pleasant young man, was here this morning and we're up and running again.

Fossil park is a public park near Toledo, in Sylvania, Ohio. Admission is free and the place has a ton of fossils to find.

Things to know if you decide to make the trip:

• Fossil park is basically an old quarry where trucks come and dump loads of shale every two weeks between May and October. The shale has tons of fossils, but you do have to work at finding them.
• The directions you'll get online don't take yopu to the park, they take you to the ice cream parlour. Once you've wandered around the shopping center for a bit, try crossing Centennial Street (the highway).
  
• As an old quarry, it can get *hot* in there. Wear your hat and cover your skin with something light. Also bring water to drink.
  
• As an old quarry, the "luxuries" are pretty sparse. There are some reasonably clean portable toilets up the hill from the quarry, and there is some suspiciously dark water for washing your fossils available in a tank in the center of the quarry. That's it.
• There is no food or drink available at the park, so if you plan to be there a while, you'll want to bring water and something easy to eat with filthy hands. There is, however, a nice Strohs ice cream parlour across the highway as you leave for the day -- YUM!
  

Jack and Connor had a blast -- but I don't think fossils came into it much -- they had fun running around, banging rocks together and playing in puddles. Even so, they did find a few small fossils. Neal, Connor's Dad, was far more persistent and found *two* gorgeous, complete specimens! It's worth a trip with older kids who grok and the smaller kids won't be too bored -- if only because of the amazement of watching adults playing in the dirt!

Quotes

The server is up for the moment...but I am running late so this will be quick:



Sunday:

Jack: "Mamma, do you love me?"
Me: "I love you very much, Jack!"
Jack: "Do you love your other children?"
Me: "Oh, yes, I do. I love them all very much."
(pause)
Jack: "Mamma, do you ever wonder who is coming next?"
(long pause)
Me: Well, yes, as a matter of fact I do wonder who is coming next!

Tuesday:

"Mamma, I'm a not a baby anymore. I'm a big boy! Soon I will grow up to be a big man like TJ and Mike! I don't know what I will look like when I am an adult, but Mamma, you can come and visit me and my children every day!"

Where do these things come from??? *laugh*



(Yes, the pants on the head was hilarious for several days...)

Silence

Sorry about the silence folks. Comcast has become extremely unreliable and so I don't have reliable access to the Internet at home. It's up for an hour or so from time to time, but not often when I am trying to log in. I will write as I can at home and publish through Google documents. It doesn't look as nice (no photos unless I can log in from home), but for the time being I can do it on breaks at work.

Living with diabetes

Living with diabetes is such a barrel of laughs.

You get to develop the discipline to stick your fingers a half dozen times day, and then to poke a needle into your belly several times day. You exercise a lot of will carefully choosing what to eat based on things other than what would taste yummy -- or opting for yummy and an extra injection. Turning every day, every meal into another grand science experiment on the biology of the endocrine system...

Conversely, you can ignore all of that, suffering deteriorating health and experiencing the reality that diabetes can be a gruesome way to die.

And of course, because there are no promises, turning your life into a grand science experiment can simply make you aware more quickly when things start to go wrong. As an example, I have worked hard to control my diabetes for 11 years now. I have balanced my meals to keep my blood sugar controlled, I have exercised to keep my insulin resistance under control ... and yet earlier this year I found myself restricting foods further and further in a vain attempt to bring my blood sugar down.

One day I had to admit that I was in trouble. A week on basically no carbohydrates had not lowered my blood sugar. Exercise, which used to bring my blood sugar down 50 points or so was having no effect -- and occasionally it was even raising my blood sugar.

Time for a consultation with a doctor...

Anyway, against this backdrop of constant effort for spotty results, you can imagine my frustration with the attitude some uninformed people take.

I had occasion recently to find myself at a luncheon table with several people I don't know. Because the options had been limited at the buffet, I had an odd looking lunch that consisted a slice each of three different types of cold cuts, two slices of fake cheese, and a half a bowl of powdered, reconstituted chicken broth. One of my companions comments on my "eating light", and I mentioned that I was simply trying to eat for my diabetes. (Never mind the HFCS in all the meats and in the broth, we do what we can.)

The conversation at the table quickly went to the subject of all the diabetics everyone knew who "weren't taking care of themselves". Comments about diabetics who "think they can get away with" eating like everyone else. I did my best to point out that high blood sugar makes one insanely hungry for good reason. That it's not so easy to live life ion a constant restricted diet, and that there is no moral credit for and no guarantee for living a life of deprivation.

I don't think anyone heard a word of it.

Worse, it was clear that these people had no clear idea about how to control diabetes themselves -- they hadn't bothered to inform themselves, they were just judging someone else for not living a life of virtuous deprivation. These people sat there eating refined breads, cookies, chips, and pop while trashing friends and relatives for eating exactly the same way!

The one who took the cake? The woman who, between bites of cookie told me "She has no right to eat like it's her birthday every day! I'm an only child and she's making herself a burden on *me*!" I dryly pointed out that if her mother was doing that poorly at caring for herself then her daughter had no reason to worry. Her mother wouldn't live long enough to make a burden of herself. I'm pretty sure she didn't hear me.

I suppose they might have thought that since I test my blood sugar (largely the people they were complaining about didn't - - or didn't admit it to their judges, anyway) and work hard to try to control my blood sugar, that made it OK to trash people who they don't deem 'to be doing a good job' in front of me.

It was hard to choke down my tasteless, nutrition-less lunch. I felt so sad for their relatives and friends...I know I have had friends and relatives who judge without knowing what I know. It makes a tough row even harder. I have to admit that it got to me in the usual way and I ended up eating cheap, nasty chocolate later in the day in a sick kind of rebellion against those who would, in full ignorance, judge. Yeah -- smart, eh?

If you have a friend or relative who is living with diabetes, please don't judge the way they choose to treat their diabetes (or not). Nagging isn't helpful. Want to help? Don't make assumptions that your ideas are really helpful, ask. And remember that no one deserves less freedom of choice because of their health. It may not be the choice you'd make, but in a free country the choice to join in the community of our loved ones by sharing the same foods as everyone else eats is a valid one.

Maybe the best help you could be would be to do some real research about how best to treat diabetes and then make yourself the first member of the community to join your loved one wholeheartedly in the lifestyle and food choices you deem best for them.

Is it too hard for you to make the adjustments you expect your friend or loved one to make? Why?

Hah!

It would seem that I am not the only loon who thinks this way!!!!

Veronica posted a challenge to her readers a few months ago to choose a book from a list of classic stories she provides all of which have been turned into movies.

It doesn’t matter what book or short story you choose, as long as it’s one you’ve never read before. I’ve linked the titles to Amazon if you prefer buying books, but most of these could be found at a public library or interlibrary-loaned.

Read the book and then post about it on Monday, August 20th.

I missed it -- but I ,love that she made the challenge and I intend to borrow her list!

A Revolution in Nutrition and Health

A Revolution in Nutrition and Health

I attended a conference put on by the Michigan chapters of the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) and it exceeded my expectations in many ways.

The first thing I noticed about the speakers list was the number of these people who are at the very top of their game at an international level in their chosen field. The second thing I noticed was how few of these people are specifically WAPF people.

This told me two things. The local chapters of the WAPF are more interested in nutrition than in evangelism. The conference was likely to be informative, if nothing else.

I can only comment on the lectures I attended, but here goes…

Kathleen Rafter from WAPF West Michigan gave the introductory presentation, outlining the principles of nutrition as promoted by Weston A. Price. She summed up her introduction with a moving testimonial about her own experience, restoring health to her adopted child who entered her care severely malnourished and barely functional. The child is now in great mental and physical health and much of the skeletal malformation has addressed itself.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Price approach to nutrition, it is basically summed up in the notion that highly processed foods of all varieties are the major contributing factors in the deteriorating health of humanity. Price’s research into native cultures (back in the1930’s when many cultures still existed that had not adopted western eating habits) determined that a variety of factors contributed to the optimal health of these people. He was able to determine this by looking at subsequent generations of the same people as they were introduced to modern western “convenience” foods, (all coming under the general classification of “de-natured foods”) while maintaining their lifestyle in other ways. Those who adopted de-natured food suffered from the same maladies as we suffer in the west, those who remained with their native diets did not. Price was also able to observe skeletal differences, which suggests that the de-natured food was causing systemic damage at a fundamental level.

Some of Price’s observations include:

• Native lifestyles include a lot of physical activity.
• No grains or legumes are consumed by native cultures that have not been fermented, either by acid treatment or by bacterial means.
• All native diets include some animal products, largely from pastured animals raised in natural conditions foraging on a diverse range of foods in mineral-rich soil.
• Native diets contain between 30 to 80 percent saturated fat, mostly from animal sources.

These findings are contrary to popular wisdom, but the case Price presents is compelling.

On to the next lecture…

“Don’t put that in your Mouth:…”- Jeffrey M. Smith

Jeffrey Smith is the author of “Seed of Deception”, and “X-Files” type book that exposes the political graft and industrial corruption that have contributed to the massive use of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) in the food supply without sufficient testing to determine their safety. More startling is the notion that, when objectively tested, GMO’s are consistently determined to be harmful.

Jeffrey opened his presentation with alarmist facts and great stories, then he changed gears mid-presentation to sound science, or should I say, to what little sound science there is that has been conducted on GMO’s.

The Cornerstone of Jeffery’s talk was the work of Arpad Puszai, the scientist believed to be the best qualified in Europe to determine the safety of GMO’s, who was fired from his position of 34 years and issued with a gag order on his research when he reached the conclusion that GMO’s should not be in the food supply. The subsequent release of his research 7 months later sparked the 180-degree turn-around in the EU about GMO foods.

Jeffrey's conclusion was, somewhat surprisingly, that we really don’t know about the relative safety of GMO’s, but that what little evidence exists at all, suggests that they should not be in the food supply.

I was surprised to hear that, because much of his talk was centered around the negative results of the tests that have been carried out and the apparently clumsy method by which GMO’s are produced. I had expected a conclusion like “there are no safe GMO’s” or something to that effect. The more moderate conclusion gave him greater credence in my view. I purchases his second book, which is called “Genetic Roulette” and outlines the 63 major concerns about GMO’s that arise from sound scientific research. It is a dense volume containing many studies, but has executive summaries for politicians and policy
makers.

The next day started with a discussion about Heart Disease from Doctor Natasha Campbell McBride from the UK.

She firstly dispelled the “diet-heart hypothesis”, which postulated in the 50’s that saturated animal fat was the cause of heart disease.

She explained that arterial plaque is caused by systemic inflammation, which can be directly related to environmental pollutants, toxic skin products, lack of exercise, and de-natured food (specifically refined carbohydrate, lot-fed meat, pasteurized dairy, and added preservatives).
I found McBride easy to listen to and very easy to understand. Her arguments are authoritative and compelling. She explained, among other things, the difference between the cholesterols LDL and HDL. LDL is basically the cholesterol sent out of the liver to treat arterial inflammation, HDL is the same cholesterol after it has done its job, which is repackaged and returned to the liver for reprocessing. She referred to them as “Good Ambulance” and “Bad Ambulance” to highlight the insanity of the “conventional wisdom” surrounding cholesterol. Cholesterol inhibiting drugs such as statins actually impede the body in the healing process. High cholesterol is a symptom of inflammatory disease; it is not the cause of anything.

She presented the best argument I have heard to date for returning saturated animal fat to the diet and making exercise a high priority.

The next speaker was Dr Rich Olree from Hillside Michigan.

Dr Orlee is pioneering research into DNA and its association with the mineral elements of the periodic table.

Orlee relates mineral deficiencies to many common ailments, Iodine, Selenium Magnesium, Boron being the most important to have in good measure. Selenium is only really useful in the form of Selenomethianine. (I hope I spelt that right).

He cites Vitamin B12 as the link between metal and non-metal elements in the body. B12 is among the most precious resources the body has.

Orlee’s synthesis of the periodic chart with DNA is a work of pure genius. His ability to relate mineral imbalance to various cancers and other debilitating maladies is impressive, and his explanations are in terms familiar to anyone with high-school chemistry.

His manner is somewhat eccentric, but his findings are profound in their implications for the future of disease treatment.

Mark McAfee, a raw milk producer in California, was the next speaker I heard, his discussion was enlightening.

Mark is an interesting speaker and makes many good points in favor of his product, and in favor of re-naturing the food supply in general.

• Raw milk from a bio-diverse environment is pathogen free.
• Raw dairymen need to be vigilant in both their cleaning and their testing if they are to maintain a clean product.
• Raw milk from a clean, bio-diverse environment contains life-giving enzymes and bacterial inhibitors.

Mark makes a slightly mischievous comparison between milk produced for human consumption and milk produced for pasteurization.
He asserts that Pasteurization makes dirty milk saleable.

• Pasteurized milk is never tested for pathogens.
• Pasteurization increases the histamine level in milk and denatures it significantly.
• Pasteurization destroys the bacterial inhibitors and enzymes present in milk, and reduces its vitamin levels.

His presentation was more entertaining than my dot-points suggest, but it did reinforce my family’s decision to go with raw milk and pastured meat.

The last presentation I heard was Pat Murphy, who presented his “Community Food Solution”.

I found Pat interesting, but less compelling in some ways. (I am sure there are many who will disagree with me about that, but I am very hard to please that way).

He combines Global Warming with Peak Oil and Population Explosion to present a doomsday scenario for the end of industrialized civilization.

The figures Pat presented appeared to be of the “Maximum impact, minimal substance” variety that is becoming commonplace in alternative movements of late.

Pat recounts Cuba’s 180 degree turn-around from an industrialized culture to an agrarian culture in the space of 10 years, when the Soviet Union collapsed, and left them without an oil supply. While the picture it paints is not rosy for industrialists, it offers real hope for humanity as a whole.

I like the direction Pat is going with his presentation, I agree with many of his premises, but I'd be more impressed if his data were more concrete.

I ran out of power in my laptop and in my i-pod during this presentation, so I don’t have much information to share.

All up, the convention was money well spent. The speakers were world-class, the food was high-end and great, and there were few logistical hitches.

Can’t ask for much more than that

Take Care

Rod