Your Vote, My Vote - Every single vote is critical

Your vote... your single, solitary vote... is so critical in this year's Presidential Election. One voice, one vote. Don't you dare let other people make this decision for you!!! And don't you DARE let the Media tell you who's already won the election before you even vote!!! I think a lot of us are struggling this year, not 100% happy with either candidate. The word "change" is being bandied about by both sides, though I've come to a recent realization that neither can truly create serious change without the vote of the Senate and the House. It doesn't matter what they promise -- what matters is what they can get done once they get into office. I admit - I voted for Bush in the last election. Yet today, I'm one of the voices for "Change". Things must change -- that's just evident from the roller-coaster activity of the stock market in the past weeks. It's evident in the cost of a gallon of gas. It's evident every time I go to the grocery store and my grocery bill goes up by 10%, despite my best efforts to economize. Both candidates are riding the "change" bandwagon. They know we're unhappy right now. They're responding in their own way for Americans' call for change. That's a good thing. I ask one thing. When you step into that voting booth and you put your finger on the button to vote for "change" think about this... Are you voting for someone you truly believe has the knowledge and ability to bring about change, or are you voting for someone in retribution to Bush's mishandling of our country for the past several years? Are you voting for a candidate because he's actually the best candidate, or are you voting to show your dislike of Bush? This is not Bush vs. Obama. Just make sure your vote isn't based on your dislike of Bush. All Republicans are not alike. Ronald Reagan, in my book, created more fiscally responsible changes beneficial to the average American than any other President in recent memory. His economic changes were directly responsible for a better life for my family, for more affordable housing, and for rallying Americans to have hope and pride in our country again. Please don't vote for Obama simply to show Bush how much you dislike what he's done (of course, with the help of the Democratic Congress since 2006!!) to our country. That's the wrong reason to vote. And besides, honestly, Bush won't "get it" anyway. He closed his eyes to the plight of middle America long ago. He's too busy scouting out what's going on overseas than to turn around and look out his own window to see what's going on in America. But that doesn't make Obama right for our country. Those changes he's vowing to make are going to cost us big bucks.. OUR bucks... those same dollars we're so mad at Bush for spending so freely. The money must come from somewhere! Just because he says "this will change" or "that will change" or "I'll change this", doesn't mean it won't cost you and I and all taxpayers more money!

"The bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Obama's programs would add $281 billion to the deficit at the end of his first term. The analysis includes Obama's proposals for saving money." -- The Associated Press

I'm not trying to tell you who to vote for, truly. All I'm asking is that when you step into that voting booth, make sure you're not casting your vote simply as a vote against Bush. This is NOT Bush vs Obama! Make sure you know which candidate can truly affect change in our country without causing the federal deficit to spiral out of control. All the changes in the world aren't going to make a better life for you and I IF the YOU AND I can't afford to pay for them.

Toddler Tuesday Follow-up

Brayden and I made bird feeders today, and I have to say, though neither activity took very long (about 10 - 15 minutes each at the most), he enjoyed them! Here are photos to show you the fun. Rolling the peanut-butter covered TP roll was his favorite: His "part" in the egg-container bird feeder was to use a spoon and fill up each cup: Taking the bird feeders outside to hang them. Brayden thought he should carry it like a purse! (You can tell by his eyes, it's almost nap time!) If you click on the picture below for a larger version, you can see that I stuck half a wooden skewer through the bottom of the "bird feeder" for a place for the birds to sit while they eat! On Friday, we'll be making pumpkin masks and possibly egg carton spiders. I'll tell you more next Tuesday!

Friday Declutter Challenge

I love joining Declutter Challenges because it keeps me honest. Although I like to think I'm organized and fairly clutter-free (I'm not a minimalist, however, and SOME clutter is what gives a home that homey feeling!), I join these challenges and always find things to get rid of! Marcia at The Organising Queen blog is having a Friday Declutter Challenge -- you go to her site on Friday and either leave a link to your blog or a comment on what decluttering you got done during the week. I'm in! How about you?

Toddler Tuesday is for the BIRDS!

It's Toddler Tuesday! Time to share ideas of activities for Toddlers -- ages 2 to 4 years old. Whether you're a babysitter, grandma (like me), parent, sibling, daycare provider, aunt or nice neighbor, I hope you'll find some good ideas in this weekly post. If you have ideas to share, please post the idea on your blog, then leave a comment here. You're welcome to cut and paste the Toddler Tuesday banner to put on your blog. Fall Weather is fast approaching, so winter can't be far off. I thought this week Brayden and I might make some bird feeders, which we can enjoy throughout the winter months. This idea comes from the website of Albert Egg Producers in Canada.

Birdfeeder
Tools & supplies required: Egg carton bottom, scissors, string, birdfeed.
Poke holes in the four corners of the egg carton. Cut 4 pieces of string (about 45 cm or 1.5 feet each) and knot each at one end. Pull a string through each carton hole. Gather strings in middle, and knot. Fill each egg section with birdseed. Hang on a tree and watch the birds feast!

From the great blog Adventures in PreSchool comes this great idea for making a bird feeder from a toilet paper roll. This is a great craft for Toddlers, but messy! ROLLED BIRD FEEDER 1 empty toilet paper roll 2 paper plates 1 "glob" of peanut butter Birdseed Craft or popsicle stick Yarn or string for hanger Simply punch two holes in opposite sides of the top of the TP roll, and put yarn through the holes to later tie up the bird feeder. Put a "glob" of peanut butter on a paper plate, and have the child roll the TP roll in the peanut butter. (She gave disposable knives to the kids to help spread the peanut butter, but for toddlers, I suggest using a popsicle or craft stick.) Once the peanut butter is spread, give each child a second paper plate with bird seed, and let them roll their peanut butter covered TP roll in the seed. That's it! Hang up on the nearest tree and enjoy! Don't forget the Birds! I know Brayden, now a whopping 31 months old, loves anything to do with glue. I have found a picture of birds in a magazine, and will have him glue it to a piece of construction paper, and then help me cut it out. We will then glue the bird to a popsicle stick... I can already picture him running through the house, waving the bird through the air to make it fly! OR - print of this coloring page of a bird and have your child color it whatever color he/she wishes! Cut it out, glue it to a sturdy paper (cereal box cardboard might last longer than construction paper), and attach it to a craft stick. That's what Brayden and I will be doing this week! Hope you'll share a fun activity you do with your Toddler! See you next Tuesday!

Just a thought...

I found this poem on one of my new favorite blogs, The Simple Woman Hope you enjoy it! A Prayer for Womanhood God, give each true good woman Her own small house to keep, No heart should ache with longing, No hurt should go too deep..... Grant her age-old desire: A house to love and sweep. Give her a man beside her, A kind man, and a true, And let them work together And love, a lifetime through, And let her mother children As gentle women do. Give her a shelf for dishes, And a shining box for bread, A white cloth for her table, And a white spread for her bed, A shaded lamp at nightfall, And a row of books much read. God, let her work with laughter, And let her rest with sleep. No life can truly offer A peace more sure and deep.... God, give each true woman Her own small house to keep ~Grace Noll Crowell~ ~~~~~~1934~~~~~~

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my Window... red begonias and yellows mums flowering - in my neighbor's garden! I am thinking... of how I can get laundry and paperwork done today, and still find some time to sew. I am thankful for... My house is clean, there's fresh linens on our bed, and the cat has not bitten me for almost a week. Life is good. From the kitchen... pork roast thawing for tonight's dinner. I am wearing... light gray capris, orange 3/4 sleeve t-shirt, no shoes, no socks. Temps in the 80's today! I am reading... "A Book of One's Own: People and Their Diaries" by Thomas Mallon. Fascinating! Also Jimmy Buffett's new book, "Swine Not" - surprised at how much I'm enjoying it (listening to the audio book). I am hoping... to really get motivated on doing some new home dec projects I have in my head. I am creating... a folder of home dec ideas I've seen in magazines that I know I can make myself. I am hearing... Water bubbling in the aquarium, "KidStuff" channel from Sirius radio, even though there's no kid here today! Around the house... Because of my two big days of housework last week, I don't have a large to do list today! Yay! Need to make up the guest bed and do some laundry. One of my favorite things... when my husband WANTS peanut butter and jelly in his lunch. How easy is that! A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Sale shopping and lunch with Lynne on Tuesday, babysitting on Wednesday and Friday, trip to the library, and a whole bunch of sewing. Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... 'Nuff said...

Menu Planning Monday - Easy Baked Sweet Potatoes Recipe

After taking advantage of some sales on meats in the past two weeks, I didn't buy any meat this week when grocery shopping, so meals this week are planned around what is already in the freezer. On Wednesday and Friday I babysit for my 2 yr old grandson. He leaves around 5:30pm, and meals on those days need to be quick and easy, so I can have time to collapse in my chair for awhile! (Yes, he wears me out!) In an effort to cut down on our grocery budget, I've recently incorporated one meatless meal each week.

Monday Boneless Pork Roast w/garlic and rosemary Baked Sweet Potatoes* Steamed green beans Tuesday Pork and grilled vegetables fajitas Green salad black beans and corn salsa Wednesday DiGiorno's Garlic Bread Pizza Thursday Meatloaf (in freezer, ready to cook) Mashed potatoes Corn Friday Soup (canned) Grilled cheese sandwiches Saturday - Meatless Meal Baked Ziti Green salad Sunday - Breakfast for Dinner Sausage Biscuits (homemade) Scrambled Eggs Fruit Salad

*Baked Sweet Potatoes Recipe 1 large sweet potato - serves two Butter cinnamon/sugar Thoroughly scrub sweet potato. Preheat oven at 350. Place sweet potato on rack of oven for one hour. (Open up top of foil and poke with fork to make sure potato is soft all the way through.) Cut potato in half, and slit lengthwise. Top with pat of butter and generous sprinkling of cinnamon sugar, re-wrap in foil and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

This week...

Just a quick update (Brayden is upstairs with Umpa "shaving"). Yes, I got my downstairs cleaned yesterday, and despite how tired I was last night, it felt great! Tomorrow Jeff and I will get the upstairs done. Brayden and I did the "Race Car Painting" mentioned in this week's Toddler Tuesday. He had a GREAT time and it kept him busy for about 90 minutes! Here's photos of the artist at work and his resulting art work.