On bread, beads, and my fridge

The official "living room" bead party was last night and turned out well. I had 7 guests, which was quite a surprise to me (I feared far fewer). It was really enjoyable for me, and others I am quite sure. The take was good, but I must be jaded because it disappointed me any way.

My sales are up to $2330, which is really very good. I am happy to know the benefit of my effort will help so many in Uganda.

Now on to bread. I have yet to bake it but I still plan to. Tomorrow I think will be the big day. Or maybe Sunday==this is process, not an event, and I must plan.

Bread, the staff of life. Lenin promised "land, peace, bread." basic things. Learning to make basic bread while selling beads to help our Ugandan sisters buy food and shelter. We are all so linked.

Now the fridge... needs defrosting AGAIN!! I think this really means it's time to get a new fridge. Quelle bummer. But a newer fridge will be more efficient, and that's a very good thing.

The women in my party -- Shall I name names?
Kathy, who I've know for more than 20 years, who is the only person to consistently beat me in Scrabble. Kathy wants to be a crew member on the Enterprise, and explore space. She loves to fly, but aims instead for the heavens. Or to be a Sandhill Crane.
Marilyn - daughter of pioneers, great customer for my parties, a very very good person, stalwart member of League of Women Voters and dutiful caregiver. I admire her goodness. She'd be a river otter.
Kim - another isolated Quaker in our area, who I relate to so well I don't understand why we remain isolated from each other. Another river otter wannabe.
Laura - she's so beautiful in spirit and appearance. She helps people heal. I wish I had her quiet grace, and her amazing red hair.
Victoria - a playful girl in a woman's body, fun, smart, living fully. She taught me to knit.
Dana - Taurus, mom of three, of whom two are autistic. She deals. She leads an autism advocacy group and sells Mary Kay.
Nina - Briefly an Oasis mom, a regular at our library, a kind and smart soul.

How does this lead me to peace? Hmmmm.

Connecting to others is a step in peacemaking. And with each woman I shared the story of our sisters in Uganda, and to some of them I shared the need of the Darigold Dozen.

My bead party must end soon. I think I will mail what remains next Saturday or Sunday. There won't be too much!

Peace, y'all

Molly

More on food

What is a more basic need than food? Only one--water. Food is essential, as is "of essence." It's vital, as in our lives depend on it. How fortunate are most Americans that they think about what to eat, and how much, rather than IF they can eat.

Some of the 300 members of BeadforLife are HIV-positive. The meds for the HIV are free, but they stimulate appetite, so before BeadforLife came around, they would not take the meds because they couldn't feed their appetites. OMG.

Defrosting the frostfree freezer requires emptying it. Now a full freezer is more efficient than an empty one, but it distressed me to see how many "freezer mysteries" persist. These are generally good meals I make too much of, so I freeze the rest before it goes bad. I always intend to have "freezer mysteries" on the week's menu but we can't get ahead of it.

Freezer mysteries will be on our menu at least twice a week until I start thinking my freeze is too empty. This will also keep me out of the grocery store, and save me that time and gasoline and money, and exposure to the marketing mania that is retail food.

Also on the food theme, I'm on track to bake my first ever loaf of sourbread. I fed the starter today. Thursday I'll feed it in the a.m, mix the dough in the p.m. (and feed it once more) and prep, then Friday, I'll actuallly bake. I'm excited and hopeful. If this succeeds I will have a new way to eat healthier.

BeadForLife proceeds so far: $995! Oh so close to a nice round number. I hope to surpass another round number by this time next week (after sales at work, at my Quaker gathering, and with my friends who can't come to the LR party. I love giving parties like this and I really love raising money for our sisters in Uganda.

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