Not a Bigger House, just a Better one...

I set out this weekend to create a room just for Elizabeth. So, the space I started with was the other half of this room. You may find this hard to believe, but this room is much nicer than it was when I first moved in! I painted this a year ago but it still need ceiling boards put on. This is our back entrance. The boxy thing you see is the furnace and furnace fan. Our coats are hanging on the wall.

It took me one day to clear the other half of the room and clean it. It took me one more day to paint. Then, Heidi came over and helped me move furniture around. I framed in the interior wall, painted it "lavender rose" which is light purple to most of us, and here is what you get:

This is my Ellie ready for bed the first night in her own room. She slept very very well, from 8 pm until 7:30 am !

We may have a little house. We may even have a very imperfect house, but guess what? It's ours and I am really happy I thought of this idea.

The boys room is next on my list for a makeover. Hmm. I was thinking, red and blue stripes on the walls....

Lets Sort This Out...

social value group
characteristics


self actualisers
focused on people and relationships, individualistic and creative, enthusiastically exploring change, 'in a framework of non-prescriptive consideration for others'


innovators
self-confident risk-takers, seeking new and different things, setting their own targets to achieve


esteem seekers
acquisitive and materialistic, aspiring to what they see are symbols of success, including things and experiences


strivers
attaching importance to image and status, as a means of enabling acceptance by their peer group, at the same time holding onto traditional values


contented conformers
wanting to be 'normal', so follow the herd, accepting of their circumstances, they are contented and comfortable in the security of their own making


traditionalists
averse to risk, guided by traditional behaviours and values, quiet and reserved, hanging back and blending in with the crowd


disconnected
detached and resentful, embittered and apathetic, tending to live in the 'ever-present now'



(taken from ACORN, research done in the UK in 2004)



Isn't this interesting? For more on demographics, Maslow, and related topics check out: http://www.businessballs.com/

Making Changes are we?

the five stages of innovation

1 People deny that the innovation is required.
2 People deny that the innovation is effective.
3 People deny that the innovation is important.
4 People deny that the innovation will justify the effort required to adopt it.
5 People accept and adopt the innovation, enjoy its benefits, attribute it to people other than the innovator, and deny the existence of stages 1 to 4.

©AC 2005. Inspired by Alexander von Humboldt's 'Three Stages Of Scientific Discovery', as referenced by Bill Bryson in his book, 'A Short History Of Nearly Everything'.

Not applicable of course to courageous early adopters of innovation everywhere.
Early adoption of innovation might not be natural to everyone - but it is an option worth considering, especially if you have a feeling that the present situation can be improved.

Et's a Yok...

If a leopard could cook would he change his pots?
Har Har Har!!! get it?? My odd sense of humor at work! Har Har Ha ha ha!

Love Song

Perhaps love is like a resting place
A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort
It is there to keep you warm
And in those times of trouble
When you are most alone
The memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window
Perhaps an open door
It invites you to come closer
It wants to show you more
And even if you lose yourself
And don't know what to do
The memory of love will see you through

Oh, love to some is like a cloud
To some as strong as steel
For some a way of living
For some a way to feel

And some say love is holding on
And some say letting go
And some say love is everything
And some say they don't know

Perhaps love is like the ocean
Full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when it's cold outside
Or thunder when it rains
If i should live forever
And all my dreams come true
My memories of love will be of you

Words and music by John Denver

Ang Pow Packets

For those of you who wouldn't know, an Ang Pow or red packet is a little red, decorated envelope. It is a Chinese custom, used to give gifts of money, big or small, on special occassions. It may be for Chinese New Year, a wedding, a birth, or any other event (see the slide show at right. BTW, I have no idea who the people in the pics are. I pulled those off the web!) Ang Pow can be plain or very decorated, usually red but sometimes gold or also can simply be pale pink. Elders give gifts to younger and those not yet married. Once married you have to give to the younger ones. Children enjoy collecting as many as possible at CNY or birthdays. They can be a little as two dollars but sometimes a much more substantial gift for a big occassion or from an especially good friend or close family member.
My good friend is sending some in the mail to decorate with this year. In M'sia, they are given out free from the shops and banks, so it is easy to get a good supply for that year. The designs change each year to match that year. Don't mistakenly give out last years design if it is too obvious! hehe. I went to several Asian food stores, thinking I could probably buy a set of ang pow packets-but they didn't have any! Not that they were willing to give up, anyway. I didn't know it would be so hard to get this item in the US! When the packets arrive from my friend, I will save three back for my children, three to give to my nephews and niece and use the rest to decorate our home.
Maybe I should try to grow an orange tree like in the picture! Isn't it cute?

Welcome to This Morning

Usually, on school days, we have to get up about 5:45 or 6 am to get ready for school, and catch the bus. So, I happen to be getting my breakfast and morning coffee about sun up time. This is what it looks like out of my kitchen window on winter mornings. This is slightly after 7 am.

Sick....again.....

Oh me, I have a sinus infection. Major Headache Time. Ha! It is January! It is cold! What did I even expect? Well the good news is after four doses of Nyquil I think I have it under control. I think judging from how I feel, I escaped Pneumonia this time. I was scared there for a day or two. Feeling better now. Seems I get sick every winter. :(

Language...I wonder....

Dear friends,
Please do correct my wild stab at Malay if you can. I am not sure correct or not.....(see on the right)
Supposed to be, if in english something like:

I have
A little Black Pepper,
A little Carrot Stick,
and a Big Pumpkin!

Welcome to our house....

If you could visit us, you would be welcome in our living room and kitchen. Welcome to our house-but lets go outside! Kids playing in the garden...

Agent Muffin, Chief of Vermin Extermination Efforts

Happy little Boy Henry and his even Happier Dog Hawkeye...

Ok, ok...these pics are from the summer. But aren't they cute!

Crooked Creek Valley

A picture from my hometown-notice the lack of, well, town. This is the valley just below the hills I call home. :) There really is a little town (a few houses, church, and a bar) but you can't see it in this photo. I think I took this in late summer, say, September or something. Maybe if I can I will go back to the same spot and get a winter picture for you! By the way, I live behind the hill in the distance there.

New Year, like this...

New Year at Lamperts

5:45 am-1/1/09-Checked the calf, it pulled it's feet away, so it is going to
be just fine. Let the birthing continue as normal.
6:00 am-Coffee, hot. Ready to begin milking. Milking went fine.
8:00 am-Checked the cow, calf did not pull it's feet away. Something
seems wrong. Must pull the calf.
8:05 am-Tied string around the feet to pull calf. Something seems wrong.
Advanced calf, no gag reflex. SOS!
8:07 am-Used the comealong to jack the calf. Calf was born dead at 8:07.
8:08 am-Tried to force a breath but the calf was fully dead.
9:00 am-Cow cleaned easily. Took dead calf outside in the sunlight, and
saw that the problem was the umbilical cord wrapped around a
forfoot. Therefore, dead calf. Really a beauty-all white heifer
calf with a little black on the legs.

I really don't believe in luck. However this was not a happy way to start the new year.