Tuesday, September 30, 2008

This post is in response to this.

Hello Gillian,
I was recently made aware that WestJet has a policy of providing nursing mothers with blankets if they choose to nurse while flying. I am concerned because this policy is not in accordance with breastfeeding laws in both the United States and Canada. A woman has the right to feed her child wherever she is allowed to be. The forceful proffering of a blanket by a hostess is nerve-wracking and anxiety provoking, which is overwhelming when combined with the stresses of flying with a child. It is my understanding that the flight attendants are there to help insure that the flight is as comfortable as possible for passengers. As a woman, it is important for me to know that your airline will make any flights I choose to make with you as comfortable as possible.

I would ask that the current policy be changed so that blankets are made available to nursing mothers only when requested by the nursing mother.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Jocelyn Duesler Rebisz

I also included my contact information.

Please feel free to use this letter as a base for your own.

Send to: gbentley@westjet.com

Because the babies like it.


XOXO
Joce

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

Just few quick thoughts since it is Monday and that means I am supposed to be attending to things on my list.
1. I was baking cookies the other day. Cade paid me the highest compliment to their Chewy Gooey goodness by...wait for it....licking the oven window when I put the next batch in. (Recipe note: reduce almond extract down to 1/2 teaspoon)
2. Today, Brilyn mentioned liking "that movie about the little mousies." I said, "Oh! You liked the Chipmunks movie." And she said, "Pssshhht! That's for sure."
3. I got a free trial magazine- Mary Jane's Farm They have clubs for big girls...it's like 4-H! I love 4-H!
Anyway, crying baby seems to be all done with his lunch. Actually I just typed "all one with his lunch" and that is accurate too, and funny to me.
XOXO
Joce

Friday, September 12, 2008


I didn't write this, but it reflects what I am thinking and, it took a lot less time than writing it myself. So I saved time, and time is money, and a penny saved is a penny earned, so I just made myself some money.
Anyway, Joe and I have embraced a similar philosophy to this couple and we are working on people's Christmas presents as I write. (Really, these preserves on my stove will end up in some family members stocking come December.)
Here's the article-

A Simple Christmas: Learning something new by buying nothing new.
by Amy Ard

In the past, the bulk of my Christmas shopping has usually been done between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. There’s something about waking up on the day before Christmas in a sheer panic that propels me straight into the open arms of every electronics, sporting goods, and department store within a 10-mile radius. While my family spends the morning sipping coffee, making red velvet cake, and cutting intricate little gift tags, I’ve spent the day with folks I’ve come to recognize as my extended family—a dysfunctional, wild-eyed bunch with a procrastination problem.

This year, however, will be different. Last January my husband and I embarked on an adventure inspired by newspaper coverage of the Buy-Nothing-New Year covenant groups forming across the country. Together with a few friends from work, we agreed to spend an entire year living more simply by not buying anything new, with exceptions made for consumables (food, toilet paper, etc.), replacement parts such as water filters, and intangible services such as a night at the theater. We’ve found the best thrift stores, traded items with friends, and managed to give birth to our first child without ever stepping foot in a Babies “R” Us.

I’ve never been particularly good at sticking to spiritual disciplines, but I’ve come to recognize this year of living simply as a kind of living prayer. When I toss the catalogs that inevitably appear in my mailbox into the recycle bin, I feel spiritually liberated. I’ve come to cherish the feeling of having enough, of not needing or wanting more stuff.

But my spiritual journey met a serious roadblock when it came time to think about what other people might expect from me at Christmas. Just because I had stopped buying new things didn’t mean that the rest of my friends and family would be thrilled to receive thrift-store hand-me-downs. In the back of my mind, December loomed large.

IN MARCH I really started to worry. If I was going to take up a craft, like knitting, I needed to learn pretty fast in order to make everyone a sweater in time. But I’ve never been a very artsy person. So in September, two hours into a 10-hour road trip, I told my husband we needed to get serious about the Christmas gift situation. Without the safety net of department stores and their aisles of over-packaged goods, I was at a total loss for how to manage.

We spent the next few hours making our way through the list of people close to us. We talked about the things they like to do in their spare time: My brother loves going to see plays in Atlanta; Michael’s sister is an avid underwater photographer. These conversations led us to talk about the kind of people they are. For example, I love my brother’s comedic timing and his ability to create characters that entertain us all. As Christa’s photographs reflect, she is passionate about animals and protecting their environment. I was shocked at how easy it was to think of gifts for everyone—theater tickets, yoga classes, antique photographs, gift certificates to a local farmers’ market—gifts that actually fit their interests and personalities, without requiring a trip to any big-box store.

My gifts this year won’t be extravagant. For the first time in many years, however, they will be purchased used (or traded, made, or cooked) before Dec. 24. I hope that each one will reflect the time I’ve spent thinking about each person and the qualities in them that are so inspiring. On Christmas Eve I’ll wake up, sip some coffee with my baby on my knee, and say a little prayer for my extended “family” out panicking at the malls. Later that evening, as I stand and sing “silent night, holy night,” I’ll be free from the distraction of gifts still to wrap—and the words “all is calm” will take on a whole new meaning.

Amy Ard, a former Sojourners organizer, lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her 5-month-old daughter and husband.

And now for what I have to say:
Because we all have enough stuff. And sometimes when I am in WalMart, I feel like Charlie Brown, that it is all a big commercial racket. And, "I have to spend at least $XOXO.OO dollars because that's what they usually spend on us" is a really stupid thing to think about. So, we are trying something new and buying nothing new. And, we don't expect anything new either. Like I said, we all have more than enough stuff. So, to quote the darling little Linus, (and umm, Luke):

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes; lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavnly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And that is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

XOXOX Joce

CANCELLED! One super duper party tomorrow. (Due to inclement weather)
Rescheduled! For October 4th!
XOXO
Joce

Friday, September 05, 2008

Pictures for the day:
Brilyn swims in Lake Ontario
Cade eats rocks at Hamlin Beach

Consider this your official invitation:

Tillaboro Orchard 1st Annual Corn Roast
You are cordially invited to attend our
1st Annual Corn Roast
on Saturday September 13th, 2008 at @ 5:00 p.m.

Things to do:
• Camping
• Hay rides
• Bag-O Tournament
• Cider Pressing
• Bobbing for apples
• Apple Recipe Judging
• Bonfire
• Square Dancing
• Wiffle Ball
What to bring:
• Snack to pass
• Your best apple confection for Apple Recipe Judging
• Tent or camper
• BYOB
• Your favorite yard game


Fresh roasted corn, apple cider, mulled cider, mulled cider as an adult beverage, wine, and contest prizes will be provided.
R.S.V.P. via comments on my blog here. Or, if you know my phone number, you can call me.


And now, for something funny said by Brilyn:
B: "Mommy, why is the pizza on the counter?"
M: "It's just the box, the pizza is in the fridge."
B: "Oh, so it's just chillin'?"
M: "Yeah, babe." (smiling)
B: "Like a villain?"

Chillin like a villain. Cute.

And, now, a joke I read via email:

"So, I was talking to this little girl Catherine, the daughter of some
friends, and she said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her
parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there with us - and I asked
Catherine - 'If you were President what would be the first thing you
would do?'

Catherine replied - 'I would give houses to all the homeless
people.'

'Wow - what a worthy goal you have there, Catherine.' I told
her,'You don't have to wait until you're President to help the homeless,
you can come over to my house and clean up all the dog poop in my back
yard and I will pay you $5 dollars. Then we can go over to the grocery store
where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $5 dollars to
use toward a new house.'

Catherine (who was about 5) thought that over for a second, and replied, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and clean up the dog poop, and you can just pay him the $5 dollars?'

And I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party'."

Wednesday, September 03, 2008


Okay well I thought of a funny thing to say, but it was inappropriate so I didn't write it. Sorry. You'll have to call me and ask, but by then it won't be funny, so I guess, don't bother.
Anyway. So I was just folding some diapers/canning some beets/cooking supper when Cade starts harassing me to change his diaper. So I get down on the floor, take a sopping wet diaper off the poor neglected child, and say "There you go Cade, go be free."
And Brilyn says from the background, "Mom! Cade's not free, he's one!"
So, umm, I am going to talk to her about homophones, which maybe sort of applies in this case.
Yep.
And here's a good way to eat apples:
Take a package of cream cheese, add some maple syrup, a drop of vanilla extract, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and beat it till smooth. Dip apples in it. YUM!
XOXOXO
Joce

About Me

About Me
I love Jesus, my hubby, my 6 kiddos, my farm, good books and good food.