Cheater!

I'm a cheater. Instead of writing a blog post today, I'm sending you over to Show My Face, where Call Me Cate let me write a guest post for her while she's in Europe. (Yes, readers, I'm jealous too!)

So hop on over and read C. Beth Tries to Change My Mind. It's a post about sci-fi. Because sci-fi rocks. Even though Cate doesn't realize it yet.

The failure of Dr. Google

Last month when we went to visit The Engineer's parents, Strange Mamma (who blogs at Strangers in a normal land) wrote a very sweet guest post about her super-adorable son. Today I returned the favor.

So today instead of writing a post here, I'm sending you there.... Be sure to check out my guest post, The Failure of Dr. Google!

Guest blogger: Chigger Hill Cottage!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today's guest blogger, Chigger Hill Cottage, has made a couple of Chickie's adorable outfits. I'll let her introduce herself!

***

Hi, I'm Chigger Hill Cottage and I love making little girls clothing. I offered to do a guest blog to help out a fellow blogger while on vacation. Why the name Chigger Hill Cottage? Old timers used to call the area I live in Chigger Hill, because when the first church was built here, the children got chiggers from the temporary log benches set up before the building was complete! In 1997 when I started a children's clothing business, I wanted a unique and nostalgic (because I love history!) name for my home based business. I named it Chigger Hill Cottage Industry. Another nostalgic term, "cottage industry" -look it up! Upon recently reinventing my business, have dropped the "industry" part. Hence the name Chigger Hill Cottage. Please visit my boutique at www.ChiggerHillCottage.etsy.com.

***

Believe it or not, most of the retail repeat clothing designs you see in stores were first born of an individual sewer’s hands. Yes, a seamstress/sewer/sewist was hired to construct the first “sample garment” to insure a pattern would fit thousands and thousands of consumers who bought the designer’s line of clothing. The pattern is then sent to an assembly line where anywhere from 10 to 50 workers perform one to three steps in the construction of a single design line all day long. My grandmother was proud to say she used to sew the double line of the right side of the finished zipper in jeans. Later she was moved to pocket insertion. What a boring and not so creative part in the making of a garment she had!

Who makes the samples (the one original garment finished from beginning to end by usually a single sewer-and sometimes very expensive to purchase, if at all available) and why is a sample maker (seamstress/sewer/sewist) so important in the clothing industry? You will have to read someone else’s blog for the answer to that question, there are people more qualified than me to answer! Just wanted to get you thinking!

I am not writing this blog to debate the sample makers and their role in the garment industry, nor am I trying to discourage shopping from retail department clothing. I am trying to arouse your curiosity, even slightly, to better appreciate the quality and value of handmade original designed clothing versus assembly line retail repeats. I can’t compete with the popular retail giants, and I don’t try. Sure, I buy from these companies, but if I am looking for an article of clothing that I would place real value, where would I consider shopping for that special dress or outfit?

Bear in mind, this is not a question looking for competitive answers, nor am I looking for debate, and when I say real value, it doesn’t necessarily mean it costs more, is made of the most expensive fabrics, or is embellished with diamonds or boasts gold buttons. Value, in this case and in retrospect to children’s clothing design, would more or less be in the eye and heart of the consumer. If you needed a special dress for a pageant, Confirmation, fancy birthday or tea party, Easter, Christmas, flower girl, or some other special occasion or event, what do you consider when making your choice? An outfit for a portrait, recital, church event, wedding, reunion, picnic, parties, etc…you understand what I’m getting at, right? Personally, I want an outfit or dress constructed in the best quality fabric affordable, unique, well made, and something no one else has; an original design. That is where I place real value.

One of kind handmade designs are priceless, especially if you are a renowned designer who constructs the garment as well. Those kinds of designers ask thousands for a single garment! Have you seen the popular design show on TV where they compete for a clothing design challenge”? I would rather choose a garment designed and sewn from beginning to end by a single experienced creative sewist, than to pick from thousands of patterns born of one design hanging in department stores, especially when shopping for that special outfit and for that special little girl in my life. My daughter makes nearly everything in my little granddaughter’s wardrobe simply because she enjoys the fact that her clothing is not duplicated!

Why is it that in today’s society we still view handmade as being less than valuable? And why do some still view the seamstress as the lowly little lady peddling the foot of an old fashioned treadle machine and making clothing for her babes out of flower sacks? If you commissioned an artist to paint a portrait, after it was completed which would you choose, the original or a copy? Which is more valuable, the original or the copy? There again, the value is in the heart and in the eye of the consumer.

****

Thank you for sharing your passion for handmade clothes, Ms. Chigger Hill! Be sure to visit Chigger Bytes, the blog.

Guest blogger: Lyndsay!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Lyndsay, a fantastic blogger I'm privileged to also consider a friend. I'll let her tell you more about how we "met."

****

Years ago, I remember hearing about people who “met” people online. For me, the whole concept was riddled with paranoia and doubt. I mean, only really creepy people hung out on the internet, right? Fast forward a number of years, and I find myself part of an online community for expecting mothers. As part of that community, I find myself meeting people online. Wait. I’m not really all that creepy, am I? Perhaps boring, ordinary, people also have access to the world wide web. Is it possible that those deemed strange for participating in such an activity years ago weren’t really all that different, they just had it figured out long before we did?

Our fast-paced lives are infiltrated with electronic communication and internet applications. The hectic schedules that so many of us have reduce the leisure time available, making friendships an unthinkable luxury. A stay-at-home mom utilizes the internet to reach out and make connections with others throughout their day. A working mom reaches out to other moms, forging friendships that might not otherwise be possible. In these online forums and blogging communities, questions are answered, fears are calmed, accomplishments are celebrated, and support is abundant. Sometimes just knowing your kid isn’t the only kid who has managed to lodge an inanimate object in their nose multiple times is priceless.

When I became part of this online community for the first time, I met a fantastic person. That person is known to you as the lovely Beth of C. Beth Blog. Upon sitting down to write this post, I had to do some math in my head (always a difficult endeavor) to figure out how long it has been since I first met Beth. I was astounded to realize that it has been over three and a half years. Over three and a half years of friendship that grew from participating in an online community, to figuring out the blogging world together, and communicating via email on myriad of topics. We’ve discussed the ailments of our children and of ourselves. We’ve exchanged Christmas cards. Beth has been an incredible support to me during some of the most challenging moments of motherhood, parenting, and marriage. Beth has provided insight and has been a sounding board as I’ve grappled with and grown in my faith. I’m fortunate to have such a great friend. Amazingly enough, Beth and I have never met in person; we are separated by a plethora of state lines and at least one time-zone.

If that isn’t a true testament to the power of the internet, I am not sure what is.

****

Lyndsay, I'm touched by this post! Thank you so much! Readers, Lyndsay's blog is one of the funniest I regularly read, so be sure to check it out here: I Used To Be Witty.

Guest blogger: Crazy Mo!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Crazy Mo. Now, admit it, did you decide to read this post just because of her name? I love that name! I also love the ideas and stories in this post, and I hope you will too. Be sure to check out Crazy Mo's blog, Those Voices in my Head.

****

I am often inspired by The One-Minute Writer. I was especially inspired by the Positive post. The prompt was to write something positive about someone who annoys you.

I immediately thought of my Dad.

Not that my Dad annoys me. He doesn't. Not in the least. I absolutely adore him. The reason I thought of my Dad is because he made a point of ensuring my brother and I grew up with a positive attitude. He would say "It can always be worse". Which may sound negative but, in fact, is actually quite positive.

I remember waking up one morning, the day of the big school dance. I looked in the mirror and a huge pimple was looking back at me. Just sitting there, on the end of my nose, winking. I was mortified. And hysterical. I just KNEW that everyone would point and stare and laugh. My Dad pointed out that there were probably kids in the school who had acne and pimples all over their faces and it was even harder for them to hide, but they would probably be at the dance anyway. And he was right.

He always managed to point out that no matter how bad things seemed, somebody else probably had it worse. And I started to see the world in a different light.

And I still do.

I may have a mortgage to pay, but it means I have a roof over my head and a loving home. I may have to get up early every morning and go to work, but it means I have a job and money to support my family. I may have aches and pains, but I am alive and have lived to see another glorious day.

No matter what the situation is, I always try to put a positive spin on it. It makes my day brighter, my load lighter and everyone else around me happier. Give it a try and see what I mean. You'll thank me for it ... or, rather, you'll thank my Dad.

****

Crazy Mo, this is fantastic. Thank you so much for the inspiration!

Guest blogger: Sandra!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Sandra, who is one of those blogging friends I really want to meet in real life...some day! I bet it would be a meeting full of laughter, with a good hug at the beginning and the end. Be sure to check out Sandra's blog, which is linked below.

****

Hi, my name is Sandra and I write a blog at Add Humor and Faith...Mix Well.

Something wonderful and unexpected has happened during the almost two years I have been blogging, and that is that I have “met” many wonderful bloggers, with Beth, who writes this blog, being one of my very favorites. And today Beth has honored me by asking me to write a guest post.

So, here is an old favorite of mine that I hope you enjoy.

****

At the beginning of 2007, Hubby and I decided that this, our first year of retirement, would be our “Year to Get Healthy.”

One of our first steps on that course was to join a gym, and we think we’ve found the perfect one for us. We like it for several very good reasons — we are two of the youngest people there — there are very few mirrors — and the only spandex you see is if some younger person happens in. Those spandex people usually don’t return too many times — I think us old folks are probably depressing to them — AND they probably miss having mirrors in which to admire their buff selves. This gym is actually owned by one of the hospitals and is used for rehabilitation, so my impression of the trainers is that their attitude is more about health than about “pipes.” One good sign is tht not one of the trainers is named Buffy or Rock. So, we love this gym and try to go several times a week.

When I do the treadmill, I spend a lot of my time with my eyes closed because I can think about things without the distraction of the TV’s and the activity going on around me. (I did figure out very quickly, though, that if you are going to walk on it with your eyes closed — you’d better hold on!) The first time Hubby walked past and noticed I had my eyes closed, he stopped in front of me and waited for me to open my eyes. When he realized this wasn’t just a loooong blink, he said (rather loudly), “I hope you’re praying and not sleeping!” He scared the begebbers out of me! I had been deep in thought, and certainly not sleeping, thank you very much. (Although, I probably COULD have been sleeping — I’m a pretty good sleeper, no matter what the circumstance.)

Well, one day that I wasn’t sleeping/thinking/praying on the treadmill, I happened to notice a very trim woman, about my age, on the elliptical trainer right in front of me with sweatpants on that said “ANEL” across the butt. Having nothing better to do, I pondered on what those letters might represent. Probably not her initials, since most of us just use three of those; maybe they stood for an organization to which she belonged.

While I was thnking about that, she completed her time on the machine and stepped off. Her sweatpants repositioned themselves and i realized what was printed on her sweats was, “ANGEL.” Hard to believe that on someone that slim a whole “G” could disappear into an exercise-induced wedgie! I have seen her wear those pants since then, and I always think that I wish I knew her so that I could tell her what is sometimes happening to her “G,” but that certainly doesn’t seem like something a stranger would just start a conversation about out of the blue!

So, the lesson I take away from this experience is this. If Miss Slim and Trim can have a problem like that, it boggles the mind to think of what similar case of inadvertent editing could happen to someone with more “acreage.” I can imagine that by wearing sweat pants with, say, the Gettsyburg Address across the rear (and, yes, I believe there would be room for the whole Address on my derriere), I could possibly revise the sentences and meanings in that famous speech in some really profound ways that just wouldn’t be respectful. So, I have decided against printing the Gettysburg Address or anything else across the rear of my pants. And, no matter how slim you are, I hope you too will take heed of this cautionary tale and think long and hard before YOU have something printed there!

Happy, healthy exercising in GENERIC rear-view sweats.

Guest blogger: Jailer!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Jailer, a pastor I "met" through my dad's blog. Jailer's blog is called The Philippian Jailer. In this blog post, Jailer shares an important lesson he's learning as a pastor.

Because the readers of my blog come from a wide range of belief systems, I'd like to give a heads-up that this post is very specifically Christian in nature.

****

The Brokenhearted: “You’re Going To Need Some Empathy”

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps 34:18)

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve received notes from two old friends and readers of my blog who’ve been “crushed in spirit.” Both have been abandoned by their spouses in recent years, and have since held on tightly and forlornly to the hope that patient waiting will yet bring their sweethearts home. Shelly writes of the pain:

I am trying to cope with life without Bill. I was hoping he would need me again but that's not the case. I'm praying God will show me what's next. I am waiting for His answers.

Steve’s note is even more heartbreaking, and more personal. His wife Kelli suddenly left him, as well as her son Jimmy, and even her elderly mother Lucy. His letter is both a cry of the heart and a gentle rebuke:

If you are going to pastor your flock, you are going to need some empathy. [Mrs. Jailer] will never leave you after twenty years of marriage, like Kelli left me (and right when I needed her the most). I can read the posts, and I can hear what you guys are saying, but I can't respond because every day I become a little more numb. The very first thing I ever asked God for—and apart from His salvation, my most precious gift from Him—is gone. I cannot go to church, because I cannot bear to sit there alone after [I sat for] so many Sundays with her next to me. When Jimmy leaves me, it will also be time for Lucy to go, and then I will be alone. She will not give up. I too, will not give up, because I know God hates divorce, and I know He brought us together. So I just wait for her to come home. This has been a very cruel four years.

Steve’s words cut me to the core … something has indeed happened to me over the years to rob me of the sincerity of heart with which I used to “mourn with those who mourn.” It’s difficult to express in words more plainly than I said to Steve, so I will simply share them with you:

My dear brokenhearted friend,

You are right when you suggest I lack empathy. To be truthful, I have been observing that I also have grown increasingly numb over the years. Perhaps for me it has been the burden of responsibility or the seduction of ease rather than the pain of a broken heart, yet it is real nonetheless. Please forgive my callousness....

My God and my Savior, I entrust to you my brother Steve, who loves you and whom you have held in the palm of your hand these many years … in whom you take joy beyond our comprehension, and whose tears you have shared … whose broken and contrite heart you have promised to bind up and be close to, and whose crushed spirit you will save....

I ask that you would make me a better friend to him, and that I may again feel my heart break with his pain....

I ask you knowing that you have promised to hear and answer.

Amen

I ask you also, dear readers, to join me in prayer for Shelly and Bill, and for the healing of their families (I’ve changed their names, but trust that God knows them). Pray also for me … that God in His mercy would restore to me the empathy and depth of feeling I used to have and share so freely.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (Ps 27:13)

The Philippian Jailer
http://philippianjailer.blogspot.com/

****

Thank you, Jailer, for sharing your heart with us!

Guest blogger: Faith!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Faith, a "cyber friend" I met because Chickie is the same age as one of her kids. I'll let her introduce herself in her own words:

Hi, I'm Faith. I'm a homeschooling mother of four. Sprightly is 7 next week; Eager is 4; Tank is 3 & a very important HALF, and Peaceful is 20 mos. I blog at faithofallcrafts.blogspot.com. I'm an avid crafter who makes lots of mistakes because I'm an amateur. I am also an amateur parent, and parenting is what my post will be on today.

****

What a very exciting thing to get to post on Beth's blog! Thanks Beth for allowing me to fill in while you're roaming with your little ones.

Today I'd like to talk about tattling. Anyone who has more than one kid has experienced tattling. If not, well, then I guess this post isn't for you. For the rest of you people out there with normal* children, read on...

I used to hate tattling. I didn't like it when one of my other children tried to get one of the other children into trouble. Then I had an epiphany. What if they're not trying to get the other one into trouble? What if, instead of a kiddo telling me something so that one of her siblings will be punished or reprimanded, she's just looking for empathy. Sometimes one just needs to be told that the world isn't fair, & that Mommy cares that they are feeling down about something.

My children don't always need me to fix things. They're telling something to me because they want to know that I care. Instead of dealing with the problem, trying to fix it or reprimanding the offending party, I have decided to instead offer a hug & a "there there now". Do you know that the tattling in my house has been cut in HALF since I implemented this plan? HALF!

When my children found I am listening & care, they showed me that "fixing it" wasn't quite so important as I had originally believed. Sometimes we all just need to know someone out there understands.

*I use the adjective "normal" about tattling children to make myself feel better

Guest blogger: Heather!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Heather, who is just awesome and unique--I wish I could meet her in real life! Her son is about the same age as Zoodle, and two-toothed Zoodle is totally jealous of all the teeth in Asher's mouth! (See photo below!) Be sure to check out Heather's blog, Strangers in a normal land.

****

When Beth asked for help on her blog (and wouldn't let us roll our eyes knowingly) I was very excited at the idea of being a 'guest poster' on one of the very first blogs I started following almost 9 months ago when this whole blogging thing began for me. I have so much enjoyed getting to know Beth and her family a little through these snapshots we share with each other. I especially cannot get enough of Zoodle. He is only a couple weeks older than my little man and they both have these great big infectious grins that I just love. I am in tears over some of the conversations with Chickie. I find myself both excited and mildly terrified of the conversations I will someday soon be having with my son.

Okay, I know, you know all this. After all, if you're here, it's likely because you follow Beth. This is merely to set up the inspiration for my post today. I often get so caught up in my day, I forget to take the time to just stop and look at my little man and really soak him in. Beth's blog often reminds me of the importance of soaking it all in. The other day, I was suddenly struck by how in awe I am of my guy:

Sometimes the industriousness of my son enthralls me. He does something as simple as taking each and every one of his toys out of his basket and putting them on the coffee table with such seriousness, such intent. He curls his lip to take a bite out of my table, catches me watching him and slyly puts a toy in that gaping maw instead. He accidently pulls a kitchen towel off its rack and spends the next half hour trying to put it back, never once getting upset or frustrated that it's not working, just trying different ways of getting it to stick. Finally he decides it just doesn't want to be there anymore, leaves it to its new home on the floor, and goes after his original target, my pots and pans. He holds up his red socks to me with such pride in what he's accomplished (I still don't know exactly what it was, but he was very proud of it). He goes from trying to clap his own hands one minute (with limited success) to taking his bear and making him clap his hands (with quite a bit of success) the next minute. How does he do it? How does he grow so much, not just in a year but in a week, a day, a nap. I'm just in awe, not of who he is becoming, but of who he is. Every day I get to discover more of what's in there.



****

I love this, Heather! Beautiful post. (And beautiful kiddo!!)

Guest blogger: Tia!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Tia, who is super sweet and has an adorable daughter, Ellie. Be sure to check out Tia's blog, my life as I know it.

****

My bloggy friend Beth recently asked for some help to keep her blog going when she was on vacation. I was immediately interested because it is one of my favorites to read. And, more selfishly, I wanted her to be a guest blogger on my blog, because, well, she's so cool!

I hemmed and hawed on what topic to cover. Should I be funny? Should I be serious? Should I be witty? Then I realized that all the guest blogging might bring new readers and I wanted to let them know what is so good about this blog. I graduated from the same college as Dave Letterman, so in honor of that, I am going to do a


(wait for it.....)



"TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD READ C. BETH BLOG!!"

10. She has lots of great give-aways!
9. I have spit coffee on my computer screen on more than one occasion with her stories.
8. She has lots of other cool blogs on her sidebar that will totally suck you in.
7. Her podcasts are great!
6. The blog covers lots of topics, you never know what you're gonna get.
5. She leaves great comments!
4. She posts awesome recipes.
3. She is always spot on with her observations.
2. When you read the blog, you are convinced that she is your long lost best friend.
1. You get to see pics of 2 of the cutest kids around!

So keep reading! It is so worth it!

Thanks Beth, for letting me be a guest blogger. I loved it!

****

And thank you, Tia, for such a sweet post!!

Guest blogger: Kris!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Kris, who is such an encouraging mama--she's one of my newer blogging friends, and she's fantastic! Be sure to check out Kris' blogs, which are linked below.

****

Hey Y'all! My name is Kristen (but most people just call me Kris) and I'll be filling in for Beth today. Isn't she just like that ray of sunshine coming through your window in the morning...making your whole day seem a little better and brighter? I'm not exactly a ray of sunshine...but I'll do my very best to temporarily fill her shoes.

I'll tell you a little bit about myself and then I'll get down to business. I'm a stay-at-home mom of four. Two boys, Two girls. The eldest is almost 10, the youngest is right at 4 months old. I didn't technically birth the eldest but he's still "mine". I live in SC way back in the woods and 30-45 minutes away from the nearest Wally World. Shoot, our town just got their second stoplight not too long ago. Yes, I live in "the sticks". I blog over at Hands, House, and Heart Full and another blog that I use mostly for my little mini-revelations (so to speak), Like A Child. I post all kinds of things on my blog...photos, stories about my kids and husband, rants about things people do, some tips and tricks for blogging, cleaning, cooking...it's all just kind of randomly mixed in over there...but then again, I'm pretty random sometimes.

Any-who. Let's get on down to business. You're not here to read about me. You're here to see something interesting! I sure hope I can deliver.

Ten things parenthood does that you never would have dreamed of before becoming a parent:

1) For women after you have children nothing is ever the same again. Nothing. Your hips tend to get wider, your waist larger...and gravity starts to take its hold on you. Things you didn't even know could sag will begin to sag. Like for instance...your belly button. Many of us will retain a permanent "pooch". Those of us who don't somehow manage to work out in addition to everything else required of us...and a select few will have liposuction.

2) For men--your wife will no longer be that woman who just "lets loose" and "takes it easy". She'll be too worried about what the members of the PTA would say if they saw her in Wal-Mart playing on the tricycles. She won't even relax at night...she will impulsively get up to check and make sure that the children are breathing or clean that "one last thing". By the way, there is never just "one last thing". While she's doing that she will inevitably find something else that needs to be done.

3) Your child(ren) will inevitably share some bodily fluid with you against your will. Whether you like it or not you will eventually probably wind up getting pooped, peed and vomited on. While it definitely won't be the highlight of your day you'll probably just clean it up and go on about your business.

4) You will always think that your children are better looking than everyone else's children. It doesn't matter if your child has crossed eyes, buck teeth and one nostril. He or she will still look better than your neighbor's kid.

5) Your children will eventually pay you back for everything you did to your parents--and then some. You will think you are wiser than your parents and "know all the tricks" but there are new "tricks" developing every day... or you will lose the ability to think that your child is anything but an angel.

6) You will do things that you think are silly/funny/cool that your children will find utterly embarrassing and shameful. They will say things in the middle of your totally awesome air guitar solo like "Mom, that is SO not cool. How old ARE YOU?" (which by the way has NEVER happened to me. )

7) You will stare at other people's children in disbelief when they throw a tantrum and wonder why they aren't spanking their child all the way to the car but when it comes to your own children you will do everything in the book to avoid punishing them. Instead of just counting to 3 you'll count like this. 1, 2..................2.............................., "Do you want me to go to three?"...............................2.....................................3. Then proceed to tell them "Just wait until your father gets home."

8) You will become more like your mother/father than you ever intended. Reasons they did things will suddenly become clear. You'll do one of two things. Either go back and apologize to your parents and say that you understand now....or completely deny that you are "turning into your mother" (or father).

9) You will sacrifice anything and everything you have to so that your children will not only have what they need, but also a few things they want. You'll do things like dying your hair at home instead of in a salon so that you have the extra money to sign them up for soccer...and you won't hold it against them...you'll do it with a smile on your face knowing the joy it will bring them.

10) Complete strangers will come up to you while you're pregnant and touch your belly, tickle it, talk to it, rub it, and even kiss it--and for the most part you'll just smile and answer their questions...even though you've already done it 10 times that day.


I hope that y'all have enjoyed my little "blippit" in Beth's world; I also hope that you will come visit over at one (or both) of my blogs. Mostly I hope that Beth has fun on her vacation and comes back refreshed and ready to tell us about everything. She truly is a wonderful bloggy buddy with an awesome talent for writing. Maybe y'all could leave some of your thoughts about parenting for her to read when she returns...I know she always makes me smile, maybe we could do the same for her!



****

This is great, Kris! And HOW did you KNOW that my kids are the best kids in the neighborhood?! Thanks so much for the entertaining post!

Guest blogger: Fannyfanackapan!

I'm out of town this week and some fantastic guest bloggers are stepping in for me! Today is Frances--a.k.a. Fannyfanckapan--a lovely Twitter/blog friend I have who lives "across the pond." Be sure to check out Frances' blog, which is linked at the bottom of the post.

****

Hi, my name is Frances and I am honoured to be your guest blogger for today. Those of you who have visited my blog or follow on Twitter will know me as Fannyfanackapan. I always get asked 'Why Fannyfanackapan, where does that come from?'. Well, in Victorian times, Fanny was an accepted short version of Frances and Fannyfanackapan was an extension of that used as a term both of endearment and chastisement. I adopted it because it was what my Father often called me as a child and I loved it when he did as it made me feel really special, although I never understood why.

But enough about me, I am here to guest blog and guest blog I shall. I would point out to all readers before they start correcting my spelling that I am blogging to you from the jolly old British Isles, United Kingdom, England, Blighty (you choose, your preference) and will be using the British spelling for words where our two languages diverge. So no specialization for me, we shall specialise (if the need arises) and if I decide to add colour to my prose it will be with a U inserted, and so on.

Which brings me, in a roundabout way, to subject of this post. Recipes.

What, I hear you cry, do recipes have to do with spelling for goodness sake. Well, quite a lot actually. It is all about cultural differences. I recently purchased a CrockPot slow cooker and was keen to find lots of interesting recipes that I could try out in it. Many of the cook books only have a few recipes which are easy, chuck every thing in and leave it for a few hours types of meal. They then fill the book with recipes for special dinner party, fiddley, I will never try it out, types of dishes. Why will I never try them, because lovely husband is a truly excellent cook and therefore ALL dinner parties are catered by him. I just clear up afterwards. So of course, I started to look on line for recipes and as slow cooking is much more popular in the USA than the UK, a lot of the stuff I found and liked, were American recipes. (I have said recipes too many times in this paragraph but stick with it). Which brings me nicely around to C.Beth's Slow Cooker Granola which she blogged about on July 30th. (If I were sticking to my insistence on being British I would have said 30th July, but I will allow some concessions). It sounded delicious and as I too make my own yoghurt, I really wanted to try it, but there were a few problems:-

1. I have no idea what granola is (but it sounds nice).
2. How do I convert quarts to litres. My slow cooker is a 3.5 litre is that big or small?
3. How big is a cup????? I have lots of cups, they are all different sizes.
4. Milled or ground flax seed (I though flax was made to stuff seat cushions in olden times)
5. Canola Oil (oh come on now, I think you're making stuff up just to confuse me)

I could go on, but I think you get the idea by now.

Please let me know which cup to use.



I need help. I really want to make granola, whatever the hell it is.

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings and if you would like to read more, please do visit me at http://fannyfanackapan.blogspot.com/

****

Frances, this post was hilarious! Thanks for starting off the guest posting on such a great note!

I'm a (lazy) guest poster!

A couple of months ago, ElleBee wrote a fun guest post for this blog. I've returned the favor and written one for her. I'm busy preparing to leave tomorrow for our family vacation (visiting The Engineer's parents.) So today I'm going to be lazy--instead of writing a post, I'm encouraging you to mosey on over to ElleBee's blog to read what I wrote for her readers. Just click here!

Guest post: Stuck on you

Several weeks ago, I was supposed to go on vacation, and several awesome readers of this blog volunteered to write guest posts for me to use while I was gone. Well, due to a family emergency (not in my family), the vacation was cancelled, but I was left with these fantastic guest posts! I'm digging one out for today, since I'm busy preparing for my parents to come spend a few days with us. I hope you enjoy ElleBee's post!

*****

Hello all you wonderful C.Beth readers!

In the blogosphere, I go by ElleBee. I author two blogs: "Musings of a Working Diva" and "Enthusiastically ElleBee". IRL, I'm married with two boys, Sweet Son #1 and The Manimal. I work full-time outside the home and in my nearly non-existent spare time, I'm very involved with our church.

C.Beth writes a lot about her little ones, as so many bloggers do. Anyone with children could probably rattle off a list of things they've learned from parenting. In my very first "real" blog post, I wrote about a discovery I'd made--an affliction shared by all male humans, regardless of age: Male Pattern Blindness. Simply put, Male Pattern Blindness is the inability of males to see something unless it is right in front of their eyes.

Recently, a friend of mine, Carolyn, reminded me of another syndrome, this one associated with all children of particular ages. Boys and girls alike, most often affecting older infants, certain toddlers, and even some in the 'tween stage.

She calls it "Human Velcro", and defines it as the desire for children to be no further than two inches from their maternal parental figure at all times.


My youngest nephew, Baby Bean, is 18 months old and is thoroughly infected with Human Velcro Syndrome (HVS). Diva Nana and Diva Papa took Sweet Son #1 to Texas to visit over Spring break. My older nephews, Tex (age 6) and Sir Falls-a-Lot (age 5) were THRILLED to see their grandparents and cousin. Baby Bean, on the other hand was thrilled as well.

From a distance.

Any time he was approached by an adult other than mom, he was, well...let's just say he was LESS than thrilled.

Both of my boys went through it. Sweet Son #1 went through a few days where he would scream "Mommmeeee!" at the top of his lungs if I went out of his sight, for even a minute or two. When The Manimal realized that he wasn't physically attached to me, and I could actually separate my body from his, he started saying "Hold you!", which he still says to this day when he wants me to hold him.

Lately, though, I've started wondering if this syndrome isn't contagious. Princess the Wonder Dog has recently begun following me around the house. I can't turn around too quickly or without checking the floor first, because I'm liable to trip over a fur child.

Perhaps we've discovered a rare case of Canine Velcro Syndrome.

Guest post: Dan Felstead: Puzzle Solver

I'm supposed to be in Boston this week, and several of you very kindly wrote fantastic guest posts to be used while I was gone. Because that trip has been postponed, I'll be using those posts occasionally, instead of all in one week.

Today I think you'll enjoy a post by Dan Felstead. Dan is also a photographer and blogger, and it's worth your time to check out his blog, Wood and Pixel Narratives. Thank you, Dan, for taking the time to write this guest post!

And now, in Dan's own words....

*******

To the hardcore visitors of Beth's blog....

This is a great opportunity to step out on a limb and try to solve a puzzle that has been bugging me for months. In Beth's post about her leaving for Boston...she unwittingly gave me the final clue I needed to make the connection and finally be at peace.

Here is the puzzle:

Does Beth have a sister? Is this her cousin? It this her twin? It is Beth in incognito? What is the deal here???

Here is the answer:

Ever since I have had the pleasure to enjoy all of Beth's blogs and podcasts, I like so many others... read the comments and have made some great friends by interacting. As I often read the comments, I noticed a person posting now and then by the name of "Beckiwithani". When I first saw the avatar...I thought it was Beth but not quite??? Something was different...not much...but enough to know that nope...it's not Beth. Every time I saw the Avatar, I thought Wow...the likeness is amazing.

Hallelujah! When I saw Beth was going to Boston to visit her sister BECKI...I quickly went to Beckiwithani's profile and there it was....one of Beckiwithani's partners was none other than C.Beth and one of her blogs were about "Twins" and she is from MASSACHUSETTS! Oh yeah, I got it...I clicked blog about twins and lo and behold...it was for "Invited visitors only". I was never so happy to be turned down on visiting a blog in my life because it all came into focus.

Beckiwithani is C. Beth's twin sister and with so many folks following the One minute writer et al....she just needs some privacy now and then. Mystery solved.

TA DA! Oh, I feel like such a paparazzi!

Dan