Before and After: May 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

SUNDAY POETRY: "OCTOPUS FLOATING"

Octopus, Victor Hugo. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Octopus floating
in earth’s ink-ore core
whose arms extend
up here as trees
may your branches squirt
their black across
my pages please

UPDATE: Not long after I posted this poem I heard from Bill Knott with a heads-up that all his books of poetry can be downloaded free via his blog. Awesome. Thanks, Bill.

THE SECRET OF BUOYANCY

Wonderfully interesting news out of science this week about the buoyancy control of the travelling octopuses known as argonauts, or paper nautiluses. Aristotle himself wondered about their talents—and no one since then has deciphered just how these little bobbers move through the water column... Until now. Here's the abstract of the findings from a new paper in Proceedings of the Royal Society B:

Argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) are a group of rarely encountered open-ocean pelagic octopuses with benthic ancestry. Female argonauts inhabit a brittle ‘paper nautilus’ shell, the role of which has puzzled naturalists for millennia. The primary role attributed to the shell has been as a receptacle for egg deposition and brooding. Our observations of wild argonauts have revealed that the thin calcareous shell also functions as a hydrostatic structure, employed by the female argonaut to precisely control buoyancy at varying depths. Female argonauts use the shell to ‘gulp’ a measured volume of air at the sea surface, seal off the captured gas using flanged arms and forcefully dive to a depth where the compressed gas buoyancy counteracts body weight. This process allows the female argonaut to attain neutral buoyancy at depth and potentially adjust buoyancy to counter the increased (and significant) weight of eggs during reproductive periods. Evolution of this air-capture strategy enables this negatively buoyant octopus to survive free of the sea floor. This major shift in life mode from benthic to pelagic shows strong evolutionary parallels with the origins of all cephalopods, which attained gas-mediated buoyancy via the closed-chambered shells of the true nautiluses and their relatives.

Illustration from Discover.

I wrote about my own encounter with an argonaut during a magical morning in the lagoon surrounding the island of Mo'orea in French Polynesia. From The Fragile Edge, an excerpt:

From afar, she looks like one of those ubiquitous pieces of oceangoing flotsam washed from shore or ship and plying the ocean with indestructible endurance. I paddle towards her, bent on litter collection, only to discover that she is not a styrofoam cup or a plastic sandal but a living creature roaming inside her own home—an argonaut, or paper nautilus, probably of the species Argonauta argo. She is a member of a genus of octopus that long ago abandoned life on the seafloor in favor of roaming the open seas. Unlike her namesake, the chambered nautilus, her delicately coiled shell is not an external skeleton that she is attached to as we are to our fingernails, but a mobile home that she can come and go from like a hermit crab.

Illustration from here.

I have never seen an argonaut alive in the sea before, and with fumbling hands I don mask, snorkel, and fins and slip over the side, dragging the va’a canoe by the float so as not to lose it. She is a timid creature and this may be the only opportunity that ever comes my way to see her in the wild. The thought going through my mind as I waft my fins is that I must approach as softly as a ripple.

It doesn’t matter though. She is engaged in one of those acts of violence that nearly preclude thoughts of personal safety. She is half out her shell, pulsing in bright red and yellow, the colors literally tumbling through her like reflections from flashing police lights. Her colors are so strong they bleed beneath the skin of her paper-thin shell, bruising it. She is administering the coup de grâce to a pteropod, a sea butterfly. Her eight arms are flared open, an umbrella turned inside-out, exposing the parrotlike beak. The pteropod is flapping its transparent wings in hopes of escape but the argonaut is reeling it in on the sucker disks of her arms, biting it, then tucking it under her bell, and rolling herself back into her translucent shell, where the flames of her hunting colors soften to pink.

Quietly now, her big eyes innocently wide, she floats a foot below the surface, arms wrapped over her head, the tips of them tucked daintily into her shell, leaving most of her sucker discs exposed. She observes me from a safe distance, one orange eye watching as she feints towards shore, the other watching as she tacks towards her home in the open sea.

Lithograph of Argonauta nodosa, The Tuberculated Argonaut, or Paper-Nautilus, Argonauta oryzata; Artist: Arthur Bartholomew (1870s). Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Every morning, my husband has a special time with one of our children individually. There’s never been a complaint at being woken up earlier than the rest. They each look forward to their special morning of the week with Daddy.

The meeting place is the kitchen table and they talk over coffee and hot cocoa. It doesn’t take anything fancy to connect with a child... just time and attention. And lots of it. They’ve had this tradition now going on 8 years, and I’m betting it will continue into adulthood.

A few years ago I started my own little one-on-one tradition and established lunch dates on Saturdays. The children take turns going out for a slice of pizza with me. Today’s lunch date was with my big boy Gavin.

It’s always amazing to me how few words are necessary (on my part) for Gavin to feel he’s had a terrific time with Mom. He really, really likes to talk. So I listen. And funny enough, what he talks about is mostly over my head, which these days revolves 99% around computer programming.

I'm convinced he didn’t inherit a single thing from me except maybe the blond hair. He takes after my husband all the way. I enjoy watching him grow and engage in the things he’s passionate about.

He’s been working a lot lately with his daddy, and together they created his first marketable software program. On today’s lunch date, I promised him a plug on my blog. So here’s the plug…

Before our children ever started a formal math program, we had them learn their math facts backwards and forwards. It’s proven very helpful, and it inspired my husband and son to create a math flashcard software program.

It has features we haven’t been able to find in other programs, and we think it will be useful to other children and schools besides our own.

Have your children try out the free 7-day trial and let us know how you like it. Gavin’s just an email away should you have questions about the program. He’d love to answer them. Remember, he loves to talk. :)

For a link to the 7-day free trial click here.

Magic Spray

Today I lined up the dining chairs outside in a sunny spot...

and tried out (for the first time ever) a fabric protector spray that promises to:

repel stains
spills
and water.

Afterwards, I baked up some blueberry muffins with the girls.

And enjoyed munching them out on the porch... waiting for the spray to work its magic...

with the hope that one day, blueberries and white upholstery will peacefully coexist.

Homemade Apple Crisp

Last week, I celebrated my 26th birthday!!!! I had a great day just hanging out with my kids. That is my favorite thing to do in the whole world!

I wanted to share my favorite dessert with you- Apple Crisp!!! I love it and this recipe was my moms that her mom gave to her and it is EXCELLENT! Yummy! I am pretty sure that my mom made this for me on most of my birthdays because it is my fav!!!!

Apple Crisp

Topping

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup softened butter

Pre Heat oven to 350 degrees

Cut up 2 pounds of apples (about 6 medium)

Place in a buttered 8x8 dish

Sprinkle the topping on the apples

Bake for about 40 minutes

*TIP*

I LOVE to double to topping and eat my apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. I know it is not as healthy that way but it is soooo good!

Do you have a special birthday recipe?

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Have a great day,

Bonnie

The phytoplankton are blooming again in the North Atlantic. These iridescent swirls—captured by NASA's Terra satellite on May 22, 2010—are arcing across hundreds of miles of ocean between Ireland and the Bay of Biscay.

Phytoplankton need nutrients to reproduce, and blooms are often tied to events that bring nutrients to the ocean surface, such as dust plumes.

Volcanic ash can also contribute needed nutrients. The 2008 eruption of the Kasotochi Volcano in the Aleutian Islands generated a massive phytoplankton bloom in the Northeast Pacific. Iron-rich ash falling on nutrient-poor waters created conditions for phytoplankton to thrive.

This year's North Atlantic bloom may be fueled in part by the eruptions from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull Volcano.

Thanks to the Earth Observatory.

Tips for a Safe and Happy Summer

Summer's back—and so is fun in the sun! But before you hit the beach or stage a friendly water gun fight in your backyard, keep in mind that ultraviolet rays from the sun can do a number on your skin; in fact, they are the most common cause of premature aging. Here are some simple ways you can protect yourself—and your loved ones—and still have fun in the sun.

Reduce Sun Eposure During Peak Hours
UV rays are strongest and most dangerous between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so the less time you spend outdoors during these hours, the better. That doesn't mean you have to ditch out on all the fun. For instance, instead of heading out to the pool at 2 p.m., wait a few hours and go at 5 p.m. The sun will still be up and there'll be plenty of light out. And don't be fooled on an overcast day—you can still get burned because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can penetrate through the clouds. If you can, stay in the shade.

Cover Up
Be fashionably smart. Wear protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible. Remember to cover your hair and head with a wide-brimmed hat. You might even consider carrying an umbrella for shade. The more protection you have the better off your skin will be.

Protect Your Eyes Always wear sunglasses. Not only are they great for complementing your wardrobe, they also deflect harmful UV rays that reflect off of water, sand, and other surfaces. This helps reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions. And, you won't have to squint!

Apply Sunscreen Generously
Don't be shy. Apply a liberal amount of sunscreen evenly on all areas of the skin—and don't forget your lips, nose, ears, neck, hands, feet, and head (if necessary). Do so at least 20 minutes prior to sun exposure and remember to re-apply every two hours, especially after swimming.

And Arm Yourself with Antioxidants!
What's the big deal? Environmental assaults such as sunlight, pollution, stress, and even normal metabolism produce free radicals in our bodies, that can damage cells, alter DNA, and cause skin to age prematurely. Phytonutrients such as carotenoids and flavonoids—antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and plants—combat these free radicals and protect your body against cellular damage. So be sure to include lots of antioxidants in your diet. Your skin—and your overall health—will thank you.

Shaklee Products Can Help You All Summer Long
In addition to providing broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, clinically proven Enfuselle® sunscreens contain triple-patented Vital Repair+ ® complex—a synergistic blend of seven targeted antioxidants that produces results much greater than the sum of each ingredient alone. In other words, it protects against premature older-looking skin. Plus, all Enfuselle products are paraben-free. Keep these at home and in your beach bag:

Time Repair A.M.® SPF 15
Feel good every morning with this five-in-one clinically proven formula that meets all your skin's daytime needs for renewal, recovery, moisture, nourishment, and protection. Nonirritating and hypoallergenic, Time Repair A.M. SPF 15 also contains botanical photo-brighteners to improve skin color. I use this everyday!

Enfuselle® SPF 30
This clinically proven sensitive-skin formula filters out the sun's harsh UVA and UVB rays to protect against sun damage. The triple-patented Vital Repair+ complex adds extra protection against prematurely older-looking skin by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Oil free and easy to apply. This is the only sunscreen that I have ever used on my kids!

Lip Treatment SPF 15
Drenched with vitamins C and E, as well as calendula extract and moisturizing plant oil, this nourishing lip treatment softens vulnerable and dry lips, smoothes the appearance of vertical lines, and prevents peeling and chapping. The broad-spectrum SPF protects against UV-induced collagen breakdown. I love this stuff!!! I have tried some many different brands and this do not even compare!

Supplement Wisely—Be Sure to Get Your Daily Serving of Antioxidants

People usually consume only a fraction of the phytonutrients they should on a daily basis. Many potent phytonutrients are found in parts of the plants that we commonly discard, such as peels and seeds. Shaklee FlavoMax® and CarotoMax®;contain 12 of the most beneficial phytonutrients—six carotenoids and six flavonoids—to help promote optimal health.*

They help support*:

CarotoMax and FlavoMax contain the phytonutrient power of more fruits and vegetables than you could possibly eat in one day – delivered in a convenient and potent supplement form. 100%guaranteed for purity, potency and efficacy

I hope that you will have a great, happy and safe summer!!!

Bonnie :)

Please visit my online Shaklee site.

Colors and Paint Cans

Paint colors. I've gotten lots of emails about them. Two of my colors have names. The others are custom, so I have pictures of my paint cans. It's the best I can do!

The first color with a name is "China Moon". It's from Valspar's "Seaside Retreat" line from Lowes. To me, it's a lovely neutral. Not too brown and not too gray. I have it in my kitchen, dining area, living room, and our little master bedroom (above the wainscoting). I probably would have put it in every room of the house had I found it sooner. It contrasts nicely with all my whites, browns, and grays. It's the color on the walls to the left of the bed below.

image courtesy Lowes.com

This next one is on the walls in the girls, boys, and playroom/office rooms. Many people have asked me about this color, and I thought it was a custom color and I didn't have a name for it. Lo and behold I looked at the paint can this morning and realized I have been wrong all along. It's actually another color from the Seaside Retreat line from Lowes. It's called "Stonecastle". It's the beigy color below.

However, I must tell you this color can be tricky. Depending on the light in the room, it can go all the way from looking green to gray to beige. So, definitely do a test spot on your wall in the room you're wanting to paint, and watch how it changes throughout the day.

You've probably noticed by now all of the beadboard and wainscoting throughout our house. It's a custom white from Home Depot (below):

Last but not least is the most requested paint color in my house (below):

This color is on our island and gutter bookshelves. I've not only had people from my blog request this color, but also people in real life who come to my house. It is a really pretty color.

Some of you will be sad to know that the turquoise color in the sneak peaks of my laundry room did not stay! Some were asking the color. That room was painted when we moved in, so I haven't a name or a paint can for it. I do like it, but for my laundry room, I wanted something more subdued. So I chose a soft gray color, which I love. I'll be sharing that paint color once I reveal the laundry room in its entirety.

I apologize for not getting back to many people who have asked about my paint colors. And if it's not to late in coming, happy painting!

Get Clean Testimonial from a Stay-at-home Mom and 10 WINNERS announced!

Happy Wednesday!!!

I can’t believe that it is already midweek! Do you notice anything different today? I changed my header! How do you like it? I have been wanting to change it for a long time now. I also want to add drop boxes. I just need to make time to actually do it.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who linked up to my Twice Owned party yesterday. If you haven’t checked out the links yet, go here.

I thought that I would share a short testimonial from a stay-at-home mother, named Kristen, with you…..

Since becoming a Mom in October of 2005, I've become extremely aware of the items I
have in my home. We're told to protect our children from choking hazards, stairways
and so on, but are we ever told to protect them from the chemicals we bring into our
home through household cleaning and laundry products? I always thought if I bought
the fragrance free laundry items it would be fine and I also thought my child isn’t at risk
because it doesn’t matter what I’m cleaning with, just as long as he doesn’t get into it.
The fact of the matter is not only is he at risk, I’m also at risk.

As a stay-at-home Mom I learned an interesting fact that made me think about the
cleaners I have. This fact made me get rid of all the toxic cleaners I had in my
home. I found out about a study done at the Univ. of Oregon where women who work at
home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home.
This study from the U of Oregon, concluded that this was a direct result of the increased
exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which were found in common household products.
I work at home as a homemaker; I fit in that job description.

I have been a Shaklee user my entire life (started in the womb with my Mother) and it
has taken me to be a Mom to really step back and think about what I’m doing in my
world to make a difference for my family and the environment. With the Get Clean
products, I can feel safe and happy knowing that my family and I are not at risk to be
exposed to toxic cleaners. They are non-toxic, free of harsh chemicals and fumes,
biodegradable, hypoallergenic, Earth friendly, not tested on animal and the containers
are recyclable as well as the dryer sheets.

What makes me comfortable is that I can clean a bathtub and know that my son is safe
from any harsh chemicals left behind. I can do laundry with the confidence that it’s okay
for him to suck on his blanket or roll around on his crib sheets. Because I know he is
safe from invisible coatings or fumes left behind. I’m passionate about these products
because not only are they safe for my family, but they are making a difference in the
environment.

My girlfriend, whom was a skeptic, tried the sample bottle of Basic H2 and has since
then changed her mind and has given it her own name. She calls it "magic spray". She
uses it on everything, including the grime left on the back of her leather car seat from her
sons tennis shoes. Everything else she tried didn't get it off, but her "magic spray" did!
"Get Clean" cleaner and laundry products are a solution for so many things, your family,
your wallet, and the environment. Every household should be using the Get Clean
products. Every time someone purchases a Get Clean starter kit they do the equivalent
of planting 10 trees, among other great things. Oxygen is good!

Kristin G

Thank you so much Kristin for writing this :)

And…….

The 10 WINNERS my random to the BASIC H samples giveaway are………..

stephylou said...

I'm a follower and recently bought the scour off I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS PRODUCT!

Lynn said...

I am still oogling over the scour off paste and may just have to purchase that this week!

Marie said...

Hello sweet Bonnie - I would love to be entered in your giveaway! Would really like to try the basic H2. I am a busy Mama of 4 taking care of my home. This would be a great treat!
I'm a happy new follower!
Blessings,
Marie
marie@waltercom.com
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Gleenda said...

I'm a follower and that list was pretty scary!

Raquel said...

I'm a blog follower on bloglines and I'm learning so much! Thank you!
Raquel
scrappindaisy at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to try the Basic H2 cleaning wipes. Everything looks awesome though!
Robyn
emtysmom@yahoo.com

To The Moon and Back said...

I would love to try the laundry detergent!

Mom. Nonstop. said...

I don't know what my favorite product would be as I have never used them personally, but your before and afters look amazing! I'd saw wipes are always awesome though!

Melissa said...

I would really like to try the Scour Off.

Eurogirl said...

I just ordered some stuff from you the other day, but would love to have some more. :)
Love your blog! It's fun to find another Catholic mom to follow online!
Amy in AZ (formerly of Illinois!)

Thank you everyone who entered.

Please email me at donahuewellness@hotmail.com before next week with your address.

Please put WINNER in the subject line.

To learn more about my products please go to my website.

To buy the GET CLEAN KIT now click below.

Have a great day!!!

Bonnie :)

My Houzz

So have you ever visited Houzz.com ? I've been spending some time there recently. After decorating magazines and blogs, it's the next best thing. You can create your own "idea books", which are basically a collection of home design images that appeal to you. And you might surprise yourself! Here is one image I chose for my idea book. There's just something I like about this:

eclectic kitchen design by other metros showroom Jeanne Connolly

Contrast that one with this, which is also in my idea book:

eclectic kitchen design by other metros interior designer Tracery Interiors

I think I'm having some decor schizophrenia going on. This idea book is just beginning, and I look forward to adding to it more in the future. I also created my own page there which is basically a cliff notes version of my blog here.

I hope you'll visit and create some books of your own. I'd love to see your houzzes!

My Decorating Niche

Everyone has a decorating “niche.” I think that mine is “plants/flowers” because I just noticed that I have like a billion around the house. I have at least one flower or greenery arrangement in almost every room of my house. I find it very relaxing and fresh! And I am ALWAYS changing them out with the seasons!!!! I thought that I would go room to room and take pictures of all my plants/flowers to show you.

I will show you my front porch first.

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