Day 34

I managed to get up early and row and make enough juice for the day before heading off to volunteer this morning. I was humming and hawing last night about whether I ought to continue with this volunteer position in the new year, especially since I would then have 5 different organizations I volunteer for (not including donating blood), and that seemed like a lot. But this morning, my co-leader was so awesome, listening to my concerns and she has offered to step up her end of organizing the meetings and taking on some of the administrative duties which were getting me down, so I feel like now I can continue... for the time being. ;) I was so glad she was understanding of where I was at.

The juice feast is going great - it's so hard to believe it's been over a month. Days are just flying by and I could easily go 90 days, I think. One day or 90, it doesn't really matter much at this point. Having said that, I will be ending it at 45/46 days - Dec 1st, breaking the feast on the 2nd and then taking at least a week to ease myself back onto solid food and slowly decrease the juice intake. I want to be back to eating meals by Christmas time. ;) But I can definitely see myself doing a feast of 30 days or even longer at some point in 2009, if it all worked out.

Took our van in to get its windshield repaired and then had to bus (and cab) it back to where our car was parked, with a carseat and two kids in tow. Hmmmm. It wasn't a big deal, but it took over an hour in the rain (& $12.55) to go what would have been a 5 minute drive in the car, so I am feeling very grateful for the car and the ease of transportation it provides. VERY grateful. Did I mention the new car has heated seats (and mirrors) and I am just so thankful for both of those features? The heated seats alone... how did I ever live without that?! LOL

Hoping you have a wonderful day. I'm now going to try and upload kiddie pics onto dropshots.
~namaste~

World Breastfeeding Week: Oct 1-7

I have volunteered as a local La Leche League Leader for 4 years now. Over this time, I have been able to offer information and support to more than 5 dozen local families as they begin their parenting journeys. LLL offers mother-to-mother breastfeeding support. Locally, we offer home visits and telephone support, as well as monthly meetings.

October 1-7 is celebrated in Canada as World Breastfeeding Week. Despite the World Health Organization's recommendation that infants be breastfed exclusively for 6 months and then, with food being introduced, continued breastfeeding to 2 yrs and beyond, it often doesn't happen. In Canada initial breastfeeding rates are over 90%, yet by 6 months, they've dropped below 30%. In my opinion, we do not live in a society that supports breastfeeding.

La Leche League Canada - Sooke (http://groups.lllc.ca/view.php?area=British+Columbia%2FYukon&group=Sooke) is celebrating WBW with two local events. First is the Annual Walk to Support Breastfeeding, which will be held Oct 2nd, 10 a.m. at Ed MacGregor Park. Please consider making a donation; contact me for more information (post a comment).

Our second event is to participate in the Global Breastfeeding Challenge. More information is available here: http://www.babyfriendly.ca/challenge/index.php More than 194 sites globally have been registered. At 10:45 on Oct 11th, at the Reading Room Cafe in Sooke, we hope to have mothers and babes arrive. At 11, they will latch on simultaneously, along with other mothers and babes across the globe.

Please consider supporting La Leche League Canada. It is a registered charity and can give tax receipts for donations $10 or more from Canadians. More information is available at www.lllc.ca

Shirley Day

Today is our community's annual event, Shirley Day - always the second Sunday in August. It starts with a 4 km family fun run/walk down to the lighthouse and back up (gravel road), followed by a pancake breakfast. The run was my idea last year (I'm on the organizing committee for Shirley Day) to give people in our community an active, fun event to participate in - it's all about healthy living. At 10 a.m., the crafters and vendors are set up in the park adjacent to our community hall and the kids' games are ready to be played. There was a tai chi demo, and music throughout the day (a classical trio, bluegrass band, and chamber vocal ensemble) - all local talent. In celebration of B.C.'s 150th anniversary, a historical display was set up by the local regional museum inside the community hall, along with a pioneer family's collectibles. There were t-shirts for sale with a print of the community hall (last year we had a photo of the lighthouse on the t-shirts which were very popular). One of the community members was giving 15 minute chair shiatsu massages; all proceeds were donated to the community association. A silent auction inside and a concession, featuring burgers, samosas, spanakopita, reportedly-delicious cheesecakes.... There was free watermelon in the afternoon and the kids LOVED the barbie dunk tank and face painting. The afternoon culminated with a salmon barbeque and free birthday cake for B.C.'s 150th, both of which were well-received by the community (our first time having a salmon bbq to end the day). The weather, despite having rained HEAVILY yesterday, was great all day - a little overcast, but the sun did peak out in the afternoon and warm things up. All in all, a very successful event.

And a *huge* round of applause to all the volunteers who make community events like this happen; goodness knows this event is no exception. Every last detail was handled by volunteers - some of whom put in untold hours. This is my definition of COMMUNITY SPIRIT. And it makes me darned proud to live in Shirley.

Now if only I could convince the other committee members to have at least *some* raw food on the menu. It was monumental that they had veggie dogs. So we have a long way to go in that regard.

Paperwork!!!!

Do you ever have those days where you suddenly become infused with energy towards sorting through all the incomplete paperwork type tasks you've been postponing and dreading doing?

Probably one day a month I have a day like that, where I just jump in and get some things done. All day today I've been saying, I'm going to get outside and get some yardwork done, and here it is, after 4:00 already, and I've only set foot outside to feed the dog.

The worst part is, it is a beautiful, gorgeous sunny summer day, and here I am, wading through paperwork. To my credit, I did get a lot done. One volunteer job I have requires quarterly bookkeeping, so I buckled down and did it all in 2 1/2 hours today. Another volunteer position is organizing an upcoming local event, so I got a lot done in that regard today as well - including a press release emailed to all the local media outlets. So it's not like I haven't DONE anything, I just really really want to get out in the brilliant sunshine. So enough talking about it already, here I go...

See me? I'm outside, basking in the glorious sunshine. You should try it. It's heavenly.

Namaste,
~n~

Toot Toot Tooting my own horn

hey, that's what blogs are for, right? Tooting one's own horn? :p

I was reading the Compost Education Centre's quarterly newsletter when I came across this "Volunteer Spotlight" section and was surprised to find my name in there! Check it out... AND, not only did I get a certificate that says I am now a "Master Composter", I also received $85 of my $100 deposit back from the course I took in March! Fantastico!


Volunteer Spotlight!

We have been delighted by all of our awesome volunteers this season! New volunteers, Tim T and Nicole G completed their CEP practicum in record time!

Tim has contributed to the site, and his building of worm stands has enabled countless school groups to start composting in their classrooms. Tim has lent his height and computer skills to the functioning of the centre also. Thanks Tim!

Nicole has been a stellar addition to our team. She has helped composting around town by attending the Spring Home Show, phoning members for the AGM, leading the Beaveree and assisting in the office. Nicole’s independence and competence are priceless. Thanks Nicole!