Any volunteers? Anyone? Anyone?

I have never commented online about any social issue-I think. I hope this qualifies.





Mother's milk in ice cream? Ben & Jerry's isn't so sure
PETA says it would reduce the suffering of cows and produce a healthier product.


ASSOCIATED PRESS Friday, September 26, 2008
WATERBURY, Vt. — Mooove over, Holsteins. PETA wants Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream to tap nursing moms, rather than cows, for the milk used in its ice cream.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking the ice cream maker to begin using breast milk in its products instead of cow's milk, saying it would reduce the suffering of cows and produce a healthier product.
The idea got a cool reception Thursday from Ben & Jerry's officials, the company's customers and even La Leche League International, the world's oldest breast-feeding support group.
PETA wrote a letter to company founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield on Tuesday, telling them cow's milk is hazardous and that milking them is cruel.
Ashley Byrne, a campaign coordinator for PETA, acknowledged the implausibility of substituting breast milk for cow's milk, but said it's no stranger than humans consuming the milk of another species.
At the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, consumers gave a collective "Ewww" to the idea. "I think it's a little nutty," said the Rev. Roger Wooton of Malden, Mass.
Jen Wahlbrink of Phoenix said she wouldn't touch ice cream made from mother's milk. She remembers her nursing days — and not that fondly. "The (breast) pumps just weren't that much fun. You really do feel like a cow," she said.



I read this article Friday in the newspaper. I thought that it was a joke but apparently not.


You know, I'm having a really hard time putting myself in the place of the cow. I'm thinking too hard here. On second thought, commenting on social issues is too stressful.

Breakfast, Saturday morning

On Mike's first day off in 2 weeks, we built a fire in the firepit at 7:30 a.m., roasted wieners and ate hot dogs for breakfast. Nothing is better than sitting in the cool air, in front of a fire and roasting hot dogs.

Sunrise after the storm

Ike, before and after

BEFORE:
Mike took some old tin and covered up our sunroom windows before Hurricane Ike struck land. We have had a huge limb crash through one of the windows in the past-and we didn't need that again. If Ike had hit 10 miles more west, we would have really been glad we had the protection. AFTER:
The Red Cross served our town several meals while the electricity was out. I helped serve one of the hot meals and was amazed at the amount of hot food. It was much appreciated and none went to waste. They also handed out MRE's.-already prepared meals that you heat up with a special bag that comes with the packet (like soldiers in the field eat). I was really impressed by how well thought out this packet was and how much food it contained. This meal was a chili and macaroni meal. It contained the main dish, instant coffee with creamer and sugar, a huge oatmeal cookie, jalapeno cheese and crackers, a wet wipe, napkins, matches, a heat pack, gum, and salsa, I think. All that in a 1ox10 package. I saw about 6 varieties including chicken breasts, fajitas, jambalaya, potroast etc. Some had flavored coffee and some had apple cider. Some had candy and some had Ranger bars. They also last 3-5 years. You can't beat that!

Hurricane Ike

We missed hurricane force winds by about 10 miles. We had brief, hard gusts of wind and 3 1/2 inches of rain. We were so fortunate! My prayers go out to those who were affected by the full force of this huge storm. What did hurt us was missing our niece's wedding. We had to stay here because Mike is one of the authorities who oversee the evacuation routes and, on top of that, we thought our home would be directly in the path-and it almost was.

The day after Ike, the sun came out and a cool front blew in. It is so beautiful where I live, but nine miles away, the town is without electricity-possibly for weeks. The authorities handed out water and ice yesterday, and today food. The schools are closed and the jail is running on a generator. Even with that problem, there was no structural damage, just a lack of electricity due to Entergy from Houston being damaged.

Nothing felt better than than the sun, and knowing the physical danger had passed.

Amos' nurse

Amos has gone through some health challenges recently and I have been his nurse. He wouldn't put his weight on his front left paw, so I examined it. I couldn't see anything wrong and he didn't yelp when I touched it or moved it. He sat with me and got his paw iced down. He likes ice and tried to lick it through the bag. After a few minutes he was ready to get up so I held a cube in my hand for him to lick and it kept him still for a few more minutes. I never did find out what was wrong.

He went through "surgical alteration" and is now fixed. He spent the night in the hospital and was so glad to come home. I boiled some beef bones and gave him one because he was only supposed to have small meals and chewing on this would occupy him for a while. You can tell he looks tired but is still able to keep possession of this bone with one paw. I am supposed to keep him calm and confined with no jumping (impossible) and limit his meals. I tried to be a good nurse but he was as fiesty as ever the next day. I had just sat down with a bowl of soup and cornbread when my nephew drove up and offered me a ride on his new motorcycle (fun but so, so terrifying!). I sat my soup down and went for about a 5 minute ride. I came back and sat down to finish my soup but Amos had eaten the whole bowl while I was gone. That meant that he had jumped up on the chair, ate a large meal, and jumped back down. After that jumping exercise and filling his stomach, he sure slept well that afternoon. I am not such a great nurse-don't tell.

Architect, Carpenter, Farmer, Provider, Father

My favorite piece of artwork was created when my daughter decided to try to compete in the Houston Livestock Show. Her high school art teacher had them take or find a photograph that represented something appropriate for the Livestock show, and then make a piece of artwork. She had her daddy pose around the yard and came up with a photo of him standing by the pumphouse. He built everything he is standing by and the handplow is an antique piece of farm equipment. The gate is the entrance to my little garden spot.. She took the photo and cropped it to use for this painting. She won a gold medal but didn't make it to the auction. I think this is fantastic for a first oil painting.

Here is the original photo and I think she has a talent for photography as well.

Painted Rose

This rose painting was created in about 30 minutes one day when my daughter was just messing around. If I'm not mistaken, it is painted on a scrap of cardboard.

Sunflower Mosiac

I consider my daughter an artist. She won the art award at the Senior Awards Banquet in May, and I hope she always studies and practices different techniques.I want to share some of her art with you. This is a paper mosaic she made out of pieces of magazines. White glue and paper-how simple! It really turned into something beautiful.