Challenge

Do you know what the CPSIA is? Its a bill, consumer product safety improvment act. Its a bill that will shut down small businesses all over America. Its a bill that is going to stomp on the American dream for many and is going to add to the numbing sensation you dont realize you have. That feeling that you will realize later is inside of you that says you dont get to make many decisions. That feeling that you will later wish you could have done something about.

I have talked to a lot of people about this. I have had many reactions, I have the "this is good for children because we are trying to keep them safe." I have had the "this is absolutely horrible and its killing our freedom, AGAIN! Like many of the laws, rules and bills we now live with." I have been told more than once that because I am a woman, I am overemotional. I have been told that this is for the greater good, you know what? I am the greater good, so are you, so are your offspring.

This bill will make businesses that sell goods for children under the age of 12 have to meet new testing requirements. Testing requirements that are near impossible, even for big businesses. We have to test our baby gowns, our books, our wooden toys, our cloth diapers, anything for a child under the age of 12. We cannot just have component testing, certifications showing that each part of the product is lead and pthalate free, we have to have unit testing. Which of course destroys the unit. Unit testing for every size and color offered, and each part must be tested and yes you pay for each part. Not the unit.

I sell these goods, cloth diapers, baby clothes, baby accessories. The things that I sell very likely dont include lead. They probably dont include any chemicals that are going to kill or injure a baby or child. Its very unlikely. On the off chance, I wouldnt mind component testing. I am not trying to be difficult. But this bill makes it impossible for a small business to afford the testing required.

There are people working to acheive exceptions. I am not trying to be negative, but its pretty unlikely. There is hope, but then thats because people need hope. Hope that their democratic government wont really make a move that kills even more of our struggling economy.

If they do? Forget about handmade, one of a kind items. Give up etsy and hyena cart. Know that there are many mamas and papas who are now struggling even more than before. The individuals who make up the greater good are struggling already. Add this to the list, and make it big. Because it is. Remember that numbing sensation? Can you feel it yet? Dont worry. You will.

Tads pictures

I needed to take some pictures of my milking stand for my friend in Ca to see. I forgot to carry down the camera, 2 mornings in a row... yesterday I said I needed to run back down to take these pics. Tad says, "I can do it mommy, I can take pictures carefully." I thought about this. Who would send their 8 yr old who likes to stand on his hands without warning across 3 acres with 2 huge goats to bump into with a 500$ camera? Well me. He only took 2, then somehow he decided the battery died which it didnt but he did fine! You can see pepsi standing at the back window.


He was trying to get the bolts at the bottom so we can show Amanda how Frank attached the head portion for the goats while they eat grain and I milk.
The camera bag is on the stand, he had to carry down the camera in the bag and upon opening the bag, put the camera strap around his neck before taking it out of the bag. He has used my camera before, both children have, but this time it wasnt with me. He probably did better! He did take one of the milk shed roof, neither he or the goat can explain the point in that one.

Christmas present

This isnt a wonderful picture but it is a picture of what Frank sent to me for christmas. Mom took the picture after telling me to "look nicer." Apparently I wasnt smiling nicely enough... I miss my husband more today than yesterday, I talked to a friend and her husband and he is home from Iraq and it made me miss Frank so much. Her husband was gone for 15 months, I am grateful our deployment isnt as long.
Even from Iraq, my wonderful husband bought me things I wanted the most. This is an australian bush hat and he bought it from Australia! He says it is made of kangaroo leather. It is supposed to be able to be folded up and shoved into a pocket and pop back out proper! I havent tried this yet...
This hat doesnt guarantee that the children and are will stop wearing his hat, as a matter of fact, I am sure we will still wear his hat and then put it back in the same spot he left it at the day he left. On top of the TV speaker. When a visiting child wore this hat a wk after he left, my children panicked. The childs mother asked her to replace it, when frank was home she wore his hat. I am sure my children will become comfortable sharing it again, or maybe not. At any rate, they love for it to hang where he left it and now they wear MINE around the house as I wear it outside.
I know I will miss him desperately every second that he is gone and count down the days until he returns, and then loathe the knowledge that he will leave again. But even while I miss him, he continues to show me what I have to miss.

Joli's Art

more pictures

These pictures are out of sync, this one should have come 3rd in this row. I have the sunset and the moon in the picture and at bottom right (your right) is Tad in shadow.


This picture and the next happened within moments of each other. First the sky turns pastel colors and then orange and fiery and last it turns the color of lava or coals. The whole event takes a few minutes and its easy to miss.

The color on this one isnt as good as it is when looking at it. This is a beautiful place to live! The sky is amazing in the morning, it wakes me up as I dont bother with curtains. We live in the country and my bedroom is 2nd floor anyways. The sun is burning through my windows by 7 (yes I can roll over and go back to sleep) and will stay shining in my bedroom through 9-10 every morning warming the bed, thus the cats favorite spot.

In the evening, the sun sets out our front windows and its amazing to see! mom and I froze several evenings as we had to witness this event from the lawn rather than the couch indoors.

Moms pictures

More of moms pictures, I took some beautiful sunset pictures myself this wk as well but these were moms. She is always camera ready and took some nice fixer upper ks home pictures that I will post later.


Our skies are beautiful here, they get more bright and beautiful through the sunset which lasts about 30 minutes.



A picture that Tad doesnt like, he was so upset about being close to Nathalie that she snuck up close to him a second before mom snapped the picture. Mom says that Tad doesnt match, camo pants and horse print western shirt but when do my children match? I made his pants and my mom made the western shirt for my brother Grayson when he was 9. He is now 23, nearly 24 and is 6 ft tall... This shirt doesnt look as if it could have fit him!

Nana

This is my mom and my son, mom in my hat and Tad in Franks hat. I think Nathalie took this picture and the next one.


Mom giving Tad corner eyes, yes I know I look just like her and I cant tell you how nice it is to know I may look that good when I am 50!



Mom and Nathalie on the front fence, Tad took this picture.




Nathalie doing an impressive handstand, with the sunset behind her.


Tads handstand, note that he has the majority of his weight on his left hand. He is getting better at one handed handstands!