Baking and Blogging

Part 2 of 2 in a series titled "Hobbies" from my

blog group Homesteaders and Homeschoolers

What is a hobby?

It's defined as...

• : a pursuit outside one's 
• regular occupation 
• engaged in especially 
• for relaxation. 
• 
  

My current occupation, one I've had since 2005, is child rearer/household president/pet caretaker/payer of the bills. 

I enjoy my position. 

It can become a bit monotonous at times, but overall it's been a good run.

In 2010 another job title was handed to me. 

I became a momcologist. 

The job description is as follows: mother of a child with cancer who does research into drugs and their effects, who becomes a pharmacist, nurse, physical therapist, homeschooler at times, 2am chauffeur to the hospital, advocate, all while still pouring chocolate milk into little cups, planning birthday parties, and potty training. 

On top of all of my responsibilities, I have tried to keep myself intact.

To not fold under pressure. 

And to keep my mind off of the gloom that can surround you when cancer comes into the daily going-ons of life. 

So I bake.

And I blog. 

I prefer to bake over cooking because cooking can be too lenient sometimes. 

I need structure.

I need lists. 

I need precision when things around me are shaky. 

I need exact measurements and 90% of the time the end product will be just as I had planned. 

I can tweak it here and there. 

I do adore putting chocolate chips into almost everything even if the recipe doesn't call for it. 

I make pies. 

Cookies. 

Sweet tasting breads. 

Brownies. 

Muffins. 

As well as pizza dough. 

Pot pie topping. 

Savory breads. 

And I blog. 

It was the summer of 2010 and I thought, I'll try this blogging thing. 

It can't be too hard. 

I'll share what's going on in my life, at the farm. 

I'll showcase my kids, who were 5 and 1 1/2 years old at the time. 

I'll share my story, whatever that was. 

Our hopes and dreams for our daughters.

Then leukemia came.

And my writing focus changed.

I've been able to share the turmoil cancer has brought to our family. 

It's cathartic in a way. 

But, I'll tell you one thing...I haven't said MOST of what it's like to have a child go through cancer treatments. 

I'm not going to let the horrors that flow through my daughter's life become a front page story. 

I have never shown the pictures of her after surgery. 

Or seconds before she gets radiation to her brain. 

I've never written about the questions she asked us about life and death or what we had to tell her in order for her to take the medicine the doctor sent home with her. 

No parent should have to say what we had to say. 

I've never written fully about the pain that sits deep down in my gut, in my whole being. 

But I do write about her life. 

And how happy we are that she still has hers. 

Hopes and dreams continue in my writing. 

I still wonder if anyone but my mom is reading, though. 

Then I go eat a brownie...

Shutter Love

Part 1 of 2 in a series titled "Hobbies" from my

blog group Homesteaders and Homeschoolers

 

 

Snapping pictures with a camera is something I've always enjoyed doing.

I love the look of unposed shots. 

Snippets of life happening in the here and now to be loved later and then forever.

I also love taking pictures of my kids in unique areas. 

In a tunnel, a tree, a hole dug in the sand.

I can stay outside forever chasing bugs, birds, animals, and foliage blowing in the breeze to get a unique image. 

I've learned a few things in my life about taking pictures...

*take lots of shots of the same thing because only one will be "the one" and the rest will be crap. 

*be aware of your background. No one wants to see the pile of papers on your kitchen table or the garbage can to the right of your subject. 

*lay down on the ground, get on a ladder, stay very still and be very quiet. Doing these things will get you a great shot if you are patient and able to bend or stretch. 

I dig all of the photo modifying doohickeys that are available now. 

There used to be nothing to help a great shot become even greater. 

I've had all sorts of cameras. 

I still yearn for a great and uber expensive zoom lens, though. 

Sigh. 

I once won a photography contest in Chicago. 

Our neighborhood of East Rogers Park held a contest in three different subjects.

The top photos were on display for a month at the coffee shop on the corner of Lunt and Sheridan. 

I submitted a picture in the abstract category and won a $100 prize!

Here's the backstory...

the beach that fall was covered in ladybugs. 

Everywhere you turned, they were in your hair, on your clothes, on your Starbucks latte cup. 

I snuggled myself down into the sand and snapped away.

I won in my category and someone bought the print in a silent auction. 

I hope they still have it and are enjoying it.

This copy is old and fuzzy and doesn't do it justice at all.  

Here are some shots of nature I've taken...

My dogs...

My kid and dog...

The scene in front of me...

I like shots that aren't centered. 

A lot. 

Random visions of adoration... 

And fun in motion...

Ordinary days...

Followed by frightening days captured forever in case we forget...

Close ups... 

And a day at the beach...

I know where every single picture was taken. 

I have the memory etched deep into my heart and head for each moment I've preserved.  

Photography. 

I hobby I could never live without. 

Ever. 

Traditional Trips

Post 2 of 2 in a series titled "Traditions" from my
blog group Homesteaders and Homeschoolers.

 

 

 

Traditions are a part of our family vacations. 

Not in that we travel to the same place year after year (but that would be super fun!). 

But in what we do when we go on a vacation. 

Now, if you know me well, you know my family loves animals. 

Exotic animals. 

Farm animals. 

Sea animals. 

Reptiles. 

Bugs. 

Birds. 

We dig it all. 

So, when we travel, we always go to a zoo. 

Even before we had kids, Chad and I would visit a zoo whenever we traveled. 

We've been to the zoo in...

Portland, Oregon

Fort Worth, Texas

Paris, France

San Diego

Los Angeles 

The National Zoo in D.C.

St. Louis, Missouri

Columbus, Ohio

Chicago (of course!)

Houston, Texas

There are so many more for us to visit. 

Each city gives us a new opportunity to have an animal experience. 

Yet at one zoo, we have the same experience. 

Whenever we go to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, tradition stands that Chad and the girls will pose in front of the lion grotto and I'll snap a picture. 

These are just a few in our arsenal.

There's always a way to get up close and personal with creatures. 

We love to pet and feed anything we can get our hands on. 

We all get giddy with excitement if we can pet an emu or feed a giraffe. 

Giraffes are always popular. 

So friendly no matter where we encounter them. 

Sometimes we do stay local and visit our hometown zoo which is awesome. 

We've met up with cousins and friends at zoos in different states.  

And we've watched our children grow up with wonder and respect for the world at their level. 

They've learned about conservation, extinction, and nachos. 

They understand the difference between a monkey and an ape. 

And the difference between an Icee and a snow cone. 

They've seen sea lions, okapi, elephants, rhinos, tortoises, constrictors, meerkats, eagles, millipedes, crocs, koala bears, and every other animal. 

Except one. 

Panda Bears are on the list, yet to be seen by these two animal enthusiasts. 

Learning to love all creatures on this expansive planet is a big tradition of ours. 

A tradition of teaching our children that we are all a part of this thing we call life. 

Visiting a zoo on a vacation is a family tradition of ours. 

I can't wait for them to see those pandas!

Tradition

Part 1of 2 in a series titled "Traditions" from my
blog group Homesteaders and Homeschoolers. 

Tradition:
noun
1 a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior.

• 2 : the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.

 

When most people think of traditions they immediately think of holiday traditions. 

Christmas trees, turkeys, Easter egg hunts, firework displays. 

But traditions can mean everyday events as well. 

Eating dinner together at the table every night. 

Friday night movies. 

Making perogies from scratch with dad. 

And in our house, it means celebrating birthdays. 

Our children's birthdays. 

I don't really need a birthday celebration anymore. 

I don't want to be reminded of my age. 

But my kids, now that's a whole different story. 

Birthdays are meant to be celebrated with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

A joyful day to remember that this child came into the world and we celebrate each new year of her life. 

As my daughters have gotten older and made friends we have ventured into parties with peers. 

Gigi will be having her first "girl friends" party this Saturday. 

I don't mind spending money to have a party for my kids to spend the day giggling and cavorting with their buddies. 

Money well spent I say.

It's not a burden.
It's a reason to celebrate this beautiful child's existence.
Everyone should be made to feel special once a year.
To know that they are loved and that others care for them.
It's a basic human feeling.
And having a party to celebrate your life is a perk you shouldn't withhold from your child.

 

It's a real life event to behold. 

The moment our children are born.

I remember both of my kid's births as if it were yesterday. 
 

And I mean to continue celebrating their lives each year on the day they arrived. 
I may become an embarrassment to them as they get older, but that's what a mom is for, right? 

When Zoe was diagnosed with cancer it stopped time for a bit. 

Would she have any more birthdays to celebrate?

Would we be able to see her grow into a young woman?

Into an adult?

I can't predict her future, but of course I'm overly hopeful. 

Birthdays are a reminder that our daughters are alive and they have breath to blow out their candles each year.

A tradition I will continue until I'm no longer able to breathe...