Made in China

It isn't that I am anti-China (is that a word?) but I find it alarming that so many more products and foodstuffs we consume are imported from and created in China. I understand about the cheap labor but believe me, I would be more than willing to pay ten times the amount I normally pay for sidewalk chalk if I could be assured that it doesn't have asbestos, lead, or any other dangerous chemical in it.

The other day while doing my weekly grocery shopping, I found these

http://www.ausometreats.com/home.php

and thought hmmmm.... thats not bad, 66% fruit ingredients ... not bad for a 'gummie'. No geletin, no artificial colors or preservatives, not even any HFCS. It even claims, right on the front, "Made from American Grown Fruit". I was attracted to that. It isn't like I'm all woo-hoo Gotta buy American, but I do believe that the USA does tend to be a tad more stringent on testing for safety when it comes to food.

And then, buried on the back, it says "Made responsibly in China". Booooo. I'm sure China is capable of making some products responsibly but geesh, they don't really have a superb track record nor are they forthcoming to owning up to their 'mistakes' when caught and evidence is presented against them.

A company (and country) that is willing to knowingly put lead into a child's trinket toy, or harmful chemicals in their milk forumla, or a mystery ingredient (yet to be identified) in flouride added to 40 Massachusetts community wells doesn't win any points in my book. I will still try to choose products Not Made in China and continue to advocate and write to companies who do. Sometimes, there just aren't other choices readily available to consumers but perhaps if more Americans are willing to be slightly inconvenienced and pay more for a safe product, some changes might happen.

Neighbors and Cookies

We are fortunate to live in a quiet neighborhood full of children. Isaiah is the youngest, but there are 3 other boys within 1.5 years of his age. A walk down the street often reveals plenty of playmates to tandem play with.

I have a new appreciation for thumb-print cookies. Much more labor intensive than I had planned on, these are well worth the effort, even if it is just once a year. Recipe to the right...

Warning: These are not for diet watchers.

Spring 2010

What a relief. What a gift of sunshine and warmth after local flooding (not our house) followed by more rains. I don't think I have ever seen the lawn raked so early in the season. Angus showed Isaiah how to look for bugs in rotted wood and under rocks, so now the little man runs from stick to rock, peering in and under to find "Buh Buh Buh"

We spend a LOT of time collecting sticks, rocks, pinecones, and acorns. I only recently discovered that the back of his trike has a dumping feature. Isaiah can't quite manage unlocking the mechanism yet, but he will soon...

Here at the Hauser Household, we like to start chores at an early age. When we rake, so does Isaiah.

New Business!

In the middle of a snowstorm, Declan hand delivered flyers to all our neighbors, advertising his new business "Walkway Shoveling". Any size walkway, any size snowfall for a mere $6. He made nearly $30 in two days! How awesome is that?!?

Hearts Aplenty

Valentine's day is approaching. Angus and I made stain-glass hearts that hang in the windows, filtering light.

We took crayon shavings (red, blue, purple, green, yellow, pink) and sandwiched them between two pieces of wax paper. A quick application of iron melted the wax, creating a stain-glass effect. Quick cut outs gave us these pretty hearts that wave when the heat comes on.

Declan and I made heart-shaped cookies tonight. Yummmmm.

Mushrooms Anyone?

Wowza. The mushroom kit that Gramma gave Angus for Christmas is producing like crazy. I got to tell you, I was a little concerned about keeping a box of manure and spores nice and cozy in the house. But now it looks like we'll be eating them every day for quite some time!

Busy Busy Busy

These are hectic times and I haven't feel very inspired to write. The news of McKinley's suicide rocked me in a way I don't like. Death ... most deaths ... is a natural thing. It is part of the process of life. People die in all sorts of ways and there is a natural mourning process we go through when we lose someone close.

But suicide... that is a different monster. I was not prepared to deal with these waves of anger, guilt, relief (and then guilt for feeling relief), an improper sense of responsibility, all the while sadness rolled through constantly. I feel a tremendous sense of loss and a lack of closure. I suppose that is natural when we lose someone unexpectedly. I'll keep working through it.

The rest of Life, however, is busy as all get out.

The 7th grade play is in full swing with practices

after school (for Declan) and I am busy with the ticket and publicity committees, trying to settle on a logo and means for getting the word out.

So mark your calendars now:

March 11th 3:30 pm

March 12th: 7:00 pm

March 13th: 7:00 pm

Declan will be a Munchkin, a Flying Monkey, and a

member of the Emerald City Ensemble. :)

Both boys are involved in the Chinese New Year festival this year. Declan will be performing on stage while Angus works the lighting system.

Basketball season for Declan is winding down. As point guard he has improved tremendously this season and I think he might just continue playing even after the season ends.

The Library's Pot Luck supper is this weekend and we are starting to think ahead to the used book sale which will be the last Saturday in June again this year (I believe).

I put this on FaceBook but for you, mom, here is your youngest grandson playing with Miss Maggie this morning.