Mishmashloveyou.

This past week of school felt like we reached a real turning point. We had our final exams and presentations for our Physical Assessment and Normal Prenatal classes, and generally wrapped things up for American thanksgiving (fakesgiving) break. That meant performing a full physical exam incl. pap smear in less than 20 min. as well as a written exam. It's a good feeling of accomplishment and I (we) feel as though we've gained a foothold as baby midwives.

The other day Andriana and I went on a night hike with a classmate's husband and his friend from Switzerland. These two said it would be a pretty short easy hike, and I believed them, not realizing that they had walked accross Europe together. The hike was a little rougher, windier and muddier than I had really bargained for (the hiking equivalent of a memorable bike-ride my sister and I once got suckered into.) but we climbed all the way up the other side of the mountain we live on and got a sweet view out of the deal, though it wasn't really clear enough for good stars....this calls for another time on a clearer night....
There's snow on the ground here, despite the unseasonably warm weather and it's going to be less hiking and more snowshoeing from here on out....some skiing, maybe some tobogganning. And the last day of hunting season is tomorrow, so we need no longer fear for our lives on a daily basis. It's those little things that make it all so rad.

Here's something P Demakos and I were talking about yesterday: social change happens most effectively when people work together to effect change. You all know the Margaret Mead quote about a small thoughtful group of citizens changing the world....Well, we seem to live in a culture of apathy in which many of the strong stories our children are taught and love are about heroes who are endowed with superpowers-- "chosen" or destined to fight evil.  Harry potter, sailor moon, optimus prime, ninja turtles, jesus ....
How is anyone supposed to grow up to observe and object to injustice, to choose to take action for change, when we're taught it's a special inborn capacity possessed by only a select minority?
Let's see some madeline in this piece.

The first sunday of advent today, for those of you who care about such things. I miss the singing. I might just make a point of going to church with people this month, just to feel like part of it all.
Rocks, Bones, Shining Stones....

This is where our dairy comes from. Happy Jersey cows.  Photo shamelessly purloined form Lauren's Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/larlar1286/

Melanya has a camera, woop woop!

Dinner last night, clockwise from bottom- Melanya's homemade sauerkraut, my homemade radish kimchi (made with daikon from a dumpster in Montreal), black naturally cured olive, kale, sweet potato and leek stirfry made on the wood stove topped with tahini dressing, sharp New York cheddar cheese, and a fingerling beet from Sianna who was our guest last week.

Melanya makes my bed look even more cozy.

Melanya, Andriana and I went for a little hike this morning by our creek. We wear those orange hats so we don't get shot by a hunter by accident. It is deer/turkey season right now....

Melanya thought the baby leggings I knit would make a good hat. She wore them all day and got compliments from people in town!

Yes, we went swimming. It was cold.

Some people believe it is good for pregnant ladies to swim in freezing cold water. I'm lucky Melanya is one of those people:)

GUEST /gɛst/ [gest] noun 1. a person who spends some time at another person's home in some social activity, as a visit, dinner, or party.

Since the camera kicked it (to my utter dismay) I haven't really been motivated to post....I mean words without pictures, what's that worth?
Worth more than nothing at all.

My housemate, Andriana and I have discovered that we like having guests. We have a floral guest comforter, royal purple guest sheet and a Betty Boop guest towel.  Come use them!

This past week we were graced with th epresence of friend Spencer who is train-hopping North America with his banjo and DIY tatoo kit, as well as new friend Sianna who came up from farm life in Mass. to attend a doula workshop at birthwise.
This coming week I'm eagerly anticipating a visit from dear friend Melanya, who is a pregnant sister-midwife from California.


Having guests is rad because:

1. We get to go out and have adventures we would otherwise be too homework-guilt-bound to do, like visit the farm where we get our raw dairy and go out for dinner.
   
2. They bring gifts of vegetables and bones.
3. They do the dishes, chop kindling and rake leaves.
   
4. They remind us how gorgeous this piece of maine is and how lucky we are to live on it. 
5. They sing and dance and play games with us!

Thanks friends!

And because I really do think pictures are a must, baby midwives on halloween:

Those of you who know my collection might recognise 4 out of 6 of these costumes....thanks to Lauren Romero for the picture:)