Bread baking

I went today to a bread baking class the local slow food group sponsored. It was fine fun, and most of the folks also bought some of my BeadforLife offerings. I also had good time with a good friend of mine, an altogether good time. How can I be so blessed when so many others are not?

We are thawing our frostfree fridge, which had an amazing unauthorized ice buildup on the coils. I have never before taking apart a fridge this way. The emptying of the freezer went quite easily, since we did this just one month ago (apparently we didn't get to the root of the problem, though). And it's still clean from last month so that's one other thing we didn't have to tend to.

Thanks to God for portable hair dryers/freezer defrosters.

Peace, y'all

Molly

Not much to say

Does anyone read me? I sometimes wonder. I am having a bead for life party and have raised $850 so far. Visit BeadForLife.org and see for yourself. I am so enjoying this! I like the beads, I like modeling them, selling them, succeeeding in selling them, plus I'm doing GOOD! I am raising money to help lift 3000 Ugandans out of abject poverty. It's wonderful

Peace, y'll

Molly

More on the Ruby Ridge fired workers

Yesterday, through a translator, I learned more about the plight of the fired workers from one of those workers. He said that Ruby Bingen, who owns Ruby Ridge dairy, is denying he ever worked there so he cannot collect unemployment, and says bad things about him when potential new employees call to verify previous employment.

These workers all have families. How can they provide for their families with the Bingens persecuting them?

I learned that things are still bad for workers stil at the dairy. There, 2 workers must milk 1700 cows daily, and 6 workers handle the other 400 cows. The 2 with the impossible workload are the ones in the union.

The workers must provide their own equipment-gloves, aprons, safety items--the Bingens provide only the cows. After the expenses are considered, the workers make less than minimum wage. Is this legal?

Also, the Bingens force the workers there to sign a pledge that they won't join a union as a condition of continued employment. Is this even legal?

Bingens sell their milk to Darigold. I've heard Darigold is giving legal support to the Bingens for their defense in the suit the workers have filed. IF this is so, Darigold is as guilty as the Bingens.

I don't know how those people can look at themselves in the mirror.

Eating together

This is a path to peacemaking I really relate to. That's why my husband and I agreed to bring dinner and an activity to the local youth center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queers, straight kids. Gliberty-Qs.

It was very satisfying for me to accept so much appreciation for the food. I still feel a purr coming on when I recall their declarations and their gusto for the grub.

It also was a stretch for me this time, because each youth--every single one--was plugged into his or her or zer phone or PC, or both. They were not fully present. Part of me thinks - these kids have enough challenges, maybe their phone is all they have going for them. Then I think -- we cooked for 3 hours, brought good food to BE with you kids, can't you give us common courtesy?

Yin and Yang, Salt and Pepper, Day and Night, good and bad, it's all there. I realize I must relax my rigidness and be more open to building relationships. And work a little harder at remembering preferred pronouns.

Maybe next time I'll bring a movie so if the kids want to tune out with their electronics it won't be as big a deal as in the game we were playing.

Anyway, eating together is a good peacemaking thing to do

update on the Ruby Ridge workers

Darigold is trying to resolve the issues of the fired workers from the Ruby Ridge dairy,(the Darigold Dozen), who were fired after trying to form a union. The workers have a suit for violation of state rules for employment and federal laws against discrimination. Hooray for Darigold for trying to find resolution.

Darigold is in this because Ruby Ridge dairy is a Darigold coop member. I don't know what happens at other dairies in my area but think I will find out, and share. I hope dairy users will buy from dairies whose workers and cows are treated with respect and care.

The fired Ruby Ridge workers are anxious and need your moral and financial support.

peace, y'all

Molly

Here is a gem I try to recite each a.m. to great the new day. It is a gift from e.e. cummings.

i thank you God for most this amazing day;for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and of love and
wings;and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifed from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened.)

Lacking much inspiration of my own today, I cheerfully share mr. cummings'

I am having a marvelous little day. I took some great pictures of my cats, had a lovely walk and breakfast with my daughter, and we did a little purging today. So her shelves are emptier of stuff and fuller of potential.

Through the lens of peace, I suppose I'm reaping the dividends today. And feeling suitably appreciative.

Peace, y'all

Molly

Have I really not posted since last Sunday? Dear me!

This week I learned if I google Ruby Ridge dairy, I find my own blog posts pretty quick. Also the web is full of news about the workers I now call the Darigold Dozen.

The VP of Darigold is on the brink of meeting with the supporters of the workers. This is good news. On Monday I will talk to a group of local citizens seeking to make our community better, and will brainstorm ways we mere folk can help those workers.

Working to help the Darigold Dozen meets several of the 12 steps to peacemaking I keep in my mind and my assistant brain, the PDA:
1. Pray for Peace and one another - check!
2. See faces -- check!
3. Learn names and stories -- yup!
4. Take the first step -- oh well
5. Reach out and touch --- ???
6. Find common ground -- yes, and I think I can find more to do in this area
7. Make relationships concrete -- lots of potential
8. Give peace offerings -- check
9. Learn languages -- un poco
10 Eat together -- check
11 Celebrate together -- check
12 Stand with those in danger -- check, sort of

So I see I have more work in finding common ground, and the more I do, the better. I also see I can use this work to build and foster alliances and this lays the groundwork for the next social issue.

Praying, writing, and talking about the Ruby Ridge dairy workers are not my only activities for peace this week. But it's enuf for now.

Peace, y'all

Molly