Hanging By a Thread

99 Years {A Life Well Lived}

What would you do with your life if you knew you’d live 99 years? That’s a great many years; a great number of years past the average life expectancy.

Well, I can tell you what one man did. He lived a rich, full life. He built a large family; a family who has always enjoyed being together; he built traditions through family and work; he built a family business that grew and prospered for many years; he built a legacy through giving to a local school and church and to a large university and many other causes.

This man was my husband's grandfather; Lawrence August Berend; LA to those who knew him. And he died yesterday at the age of 99 years old; just 7 months shy of 100.

I don't profess to have known Grandpa as well as many of his large family did, but I knew him for 19 years, and I liked him.

He worked hard, alongside his brother, for a good many years to build their family business; a business that supported their offspring and grandchildren. He and Grandma raised 6 kids in a 3 bedroom house; the same 3 bedroom house that he and Grandma still lived in. Grandpa stayed active every day of his life, even in retirement; swimming, dancing, playing dominoes, socializing with his friends and family and attending mass. Grandpa was well-known and well respected and well liked. What more can you ask for?

On Thursday, Grandpa left his home and walked out to his car to go play dominoes with friends. When he didn't arrive, the friends called one of Grandpa's sons. Grandpa was found out by his garage.

While his quick wit and humor will be missed, I can tell you this, when Grandpa arrived at those pearly gates, he had a sly, slightly irritated grin on his face and I'll bet you his first words to St. Peter were as follows: "It's about time....I've been waiting a while, you know?" Because one thing a Berend is not is patient! And for a while Grandpa had wondered why he was still on this earth. Why had so many of his friends and family passed on years before and he continued on year after year in good health.

Well, we can't know the answer to that, but Grandpa would have liked the way he went; quick and to the point, without any fuss; the Berend way.

So, if you knew you had 99 years, what would you fill them with? Work, travel, reflection, family, friends? Would you squander a year or two just because you knew you could spare a few? Would you take more risks? Or would you take fewer risks? Would you take better care of yourself so your 99 years would be good, healthy years? Would you change some things or nothing at all?

For some 99 years isn't enough time to do all we've set out to do and for others, 99 years is far too many to fill.

I think Grandpa did it right. He danced and played and told stories and sweated and stood strong and worked hard and sacrificed and presided over many marriages and baptisms and first communions and family reunions and wasn't intimidated and told it how he saw it. He was as tough and hard and as soft and giving as old leather boots.

If in the end you have no regrets or unfulfilled dreams and you know where you stand and who you are, I'd say that's a life well lived. Here's to Grandpa Berend and here's to life, perhaps 99 or more years of life... Over and out...

Anna

Photo Op {A Sign of Spring}

I couldn't wait until Friday for this photo. Spotted: chives pushing up through the snow and dirt in the old, crumbling pot it's been in for years. This has got to be a good sign; a sign of spring! 

Gut Feeling {A Gluten Free Update}

Clear Answers

"If it wasn't so easy, this would be hard." Sounds like a Yogism, doesn't it? But it's not. Nope. I said it. And Will laughed. But I meant what I said.

Three months ago, we, as a family, went gluten free. It was a trial. Would it make a difference with the increasingly bothersome symptoms? Would it be too difficult to give up the gluten-laden foods? Would we have trouble sticking to a limited diet? We now have answers to those questions.

It has made a remarkable difference. It has not been hard at all. We don't feel as if we are giving up anything. And if I'd known I'd feel this good and it would be this easy, I'd have gone gluten free years ago.

One of the best and most unexpected results is no more migraines, which I've experienced since I was a teen. A few other added bonuses; I've dropped a pants size and I'm not always craving food. But the reason it became necessary to try a gluten free diet was the joint pain, the painful skin rash and the painful bloating after every meal; that's a lot of pain.

Gluten Free Trends

Interestingly, I have begun to see articles online, in parenting magazines and in news magazines discussing the pros and cons of being gluten free. Many of the articles I've read are clearly written by people who have not experienced distressing medical issues and found relief by eliminating gluten from their diets. Some of the articles seem to think that going gluten free means withholding all whole grains; which is unhealthy. Many of the articles are written in the tone that I used to have about the idea of gluten free; that is, slightly hostile.

The hostility stems from a feeling of "Do you think you're better than I am since you aren't eating gluten?" "I mean we all have some digestive issues, aches and pains, skin conditions, etc., but that doesn't mean I have to stop eating baguettes and croissants and pasta and pastries full of gluten-based flour." "You do whatever you want, but I'm just as healthy as you are with my gluten!" "And really, is that kind of diet even healthy – whole wheat is healthy!"

I know this because these are the hostile, defensive feelings and thoughts I had about a gluten free diet for several years prior to throwing in the towel when my health issues continued and intensified.

The truth is that our diet has actually improved since giving gluten the old heave ho. While we always avoided artificial colors and flavors and processed foods and ate fresh veggies and fruits and whole grains and limited meat, we had become stuck in a rut with meals and snacks.

We now eat even more fresh and varied (and mostly organic) fruits and veggies, and we eat other types of nutritious whole grains. We read labels with renewed vigilance. We eat flavorful and delicious foods. We have given up only ill effects caused by gluten.

Another common thread in these articles is that there are so few choices at the grocery store that it will mean giving up whole grains or making everything from scratch with a complicated blend of non-gluten flours. Here's the truth: there are a plethora of gluten free choices out there.

I do live in a large metropolis with lots of grocery store and restaurant options, including a variety of natural food co-ops, Whole Foods and Trader Joes which all offer lots of choices, but more and more companies are offering gluten free options. I can get my hands on muffins, breads, cookies, pizza, pasta, bars, cakes, basically anything my gluten free heart desires. There are flour blends and mixes and pre-made options galore.

Many of those pre-made gluten free "junk" food choices are expensive and not necessary for a healthy diet. So, we opt for fresh and from scratch most of the time and splurge every so often, just as we would if we were eating foods with gluten.

A Lesson in Gluten

I'm certainly not advocating for everyone to go gluten free, but if you are experiencing digestive issues, unexplained aches and pains in the joints or skin conditions, even migraines, problems focusing, then you may want to talk to a doctor and/or try ditching the gluten. There are even some articles citing studies that show that going gluten free may also help those who have ADHD/ADD or autism.

Now the thing is that with gluten free you either go big or go home! There is no wiggle room; no just taking one bite here and there; no cheating for one night; even a little can wreak havoc on your sensitive system. It can take several months for your gut to heal. So, give it a fair trial of 3 to 6 months and DON'T even think about cheating! But my guess is if gluten is your problem, after a few weeks you'll feel so much better that you won't want to cheat; it won't be worth it!

So, what is gluten? Where do you find it? What symptoms might tip you off that you should give this a try? What should you avoid? What is gluten sensitivity? What is celiac disease? What's the difference? Check out these sites:

http://www.celiac.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free-diet/my01140

The Scoop

So, if it wasn't so easy, this would be difficult! I do wonder what kind of difference it would have made if I would have tried this several years ago, but the simple fact is I wasn't ready then. In January, in the throes of my influenza induced fevers I had a gut feeling. I was ready to give it go. And I'm so glad I did.

What does your gut tell you? Over and out...

Anna

Photo Op {Spring Comes in Many Shades}

A few weeks ago, spring looked like this. All the snow and ice had finally melted. There were bits of green grass emerging in the lawns. And the boys were playing catch at the neighbor's house.

Today spring looks like this. It's blustery and wet and messy. This morning we woke to a beautiful white Spring wonderland. And try as I may, I can't hate it. It's simply too magnificent. Early this morning Darling 2 and Violet the Saint were out bounding through the yard enjoying the scene.

One day soon, the white will be gone for good, or at least for a good 6 months or so, and it will be filled with shades of green and pink and white and purple as our lawns and trees and flowers finally bud and bloom and grow.

Enjoy the weekend! Over and out....

Anna

5 Things You Should Know {How to Pretend Spring is Here or Trick Yourself into Believing it’s Actually a Mild January}

Here in Minnesota my calendar reads mid-April, but when I look out the window I see a cold, wet, blustery, often snowy landscape more reminiscent of early March or late November. It's been a long winter and while snow frequently makes its appearance here in April, it's also not uncommon to have a few sunny days that hit 65 degrees sprinkled through late March and April.

Not this year. No, this year the tail end of winter lingers, the sun hides behind a thick, bland curtain of clouds that often opens only to reveal more snow and sleet. And now, we have yet another winter storm taking aim at us.

Well, it's getting to me the same way that early winter gets to me. It drags me down and makes me sleepy and irritable and sluggish, but I have decided to fight back.

Here are 5 things you should know about how to pretend Spring is here or trick yourself into believing it's actually a mild January:

1. Dress for the season you want it to be, regardless of what the thermometer reads. I tried this on Tuesday, and I was a bit chilly, but I flatly refused to wear my coat or gloves. And later in the afternoon the sun came out and felt so nice!
2. On the worst of the faux spring days {perhaps today would be a good day for this one} claim a mental health day; stay in your jammies all day; drink hot chocolate and watch movies; and just get all your dreary moping done in that day. The next day move on and be cheerful knowing that spring has to be very near, if not summer.
3. Find a photo of the sun or a beach or plants budding out and tape it to the window you most frequently look out during the day. Focus on that photo instead. Maybe you can trick your mind into thinking it's real.
4. Roll your calendar back to January. When you do look outside, you will be pleasantly surprised by how little snow there is for "January."
5. Put shorts and a t-shirt on, layer on sweats and boots and a coat; stick sandals in a bag and high tail it over to Como Conservatory. Strip down to your shorts and tee, slip on the sandals and find a warm, humid spot to sit, whether among the palms or gazing at the beautiful blooms or near an exotic plant and stay there until you've convinced yourself that you're sitting outside.

Oh, and one more thing, avoid all Facebook friends who live in warm places or have traveled to warm destinations and feel the need to share photos of their sunny escapades! You are only risking severe depression if you indulge in such unhealthy temptations, especially for the next several days! Over and out....

Anna

Ramblings {Strung on the Wall with Pink Ribbon}

The first rule of blogging....write only when you have something to say. This is something far too many refuse to adhere to.

But what if you have so much to say that the words get caught up and mixed in and come out all jumbled and twisted? What then?

Wait....Wait until each individual story comes together, stringing one word after another, neatly and orderly, as if each letter is attached to the next by smooth pink satin ribbon; a banner strung from nails in the wall, announcing something important; something special.

With sleep and thought and quiet, the stories will march forth from my heart, through my head and out from my fingertips. And those stories will be read and thought on and disagreed with and embraced and forgotten and dwelled upon.

And there will be more stories to follow. There will always be more stories. Each strung up like portraits in an art gallery to be viewed by the spectators; each one subject to acclaim and ridicule and misinterpretation; each one wholly mine; each one completely self-determining.

But have I broken the first rule of blogging here? Never mind. I rarely ever follow the rules... Over and out...

Anna

The Killing Fields {Out of the Mouths of Babes}

Why are We so Stupid?

My six year-old loves honeybees and everything to do with them. When I mentioned to him that many were dying or getting sick and weak and explained why this was happening this was his response.

"Don't people know that we need the earth to survive? I mean, it's the only planet we have to live on. So, if we are doing things to destroy our earth, we are basically destroying ourselves. Why do people do things like that?"

Man, I love this kid. He is so witty, so smart and so perceptive on issues so far beyond his 6 years on this earth! And he's right; it's that simple....if we are doing things that destroy our earth and the living, growing, working organisms on our earth, we are destroying ourselves.

The Need for Bees

In the last few years, I have read several articles on our dwindling population of honeybees and the concern over this issue. In the last few months, I have read and seen a continual flow of articles on this topic.

The concern is growing. Some say this may be the worst year on record for honey production, but honey is not the only issue. Honeybees are needed to pollinate over 95 different fruits and vegetables crops, including almonds, berries, avocados, apples, pumpkins and pears, to name just a few.

Since 2006, honeybee numbers have been closely watched, with beekeepers losing approximately 30 % of their bees a year; however, this winter keepers are reporting a 70 to 90 percent loss. This spells trouble for all of us who eat food.

The Killing Fields

So, what is sickening our honeybees? Well, the buzz word, if you'll pardon the pun, is pesticide, and not just any pesticides, but a certain class.

Scientists have linked this Colony Collapse Disorder to neonicotinoids. Included in this class are clothiandin, thiamethoxam, imidicloprid and sulfoxaflor, which are currently under consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"Neonicotinoids are applied before planting to coat seeds. The pesticide is then taken up through the vascular system of the plant and expressed through the pollen and nectar, which bees rely on for food," according to Paul Towers of the Pesticide Action Network (PAN). Apparently, these pesticides linger in the soil affecting the next crop, as well.

Consider this, "In the United States, such neonicotinoids are routinely used on more than 100 million acres of corn, wheat, soy and cotton and are in some home gardening products." Thomson Reuters

It's not just bee populations being destroyed; it's also bats, birds, butterflies, beetles and other small mammals. They too, play a large role in pollinating our plants. According, to North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, some species have seen a 90 percent decline in their numbers just in the past decade.

Taking Action

A couple of weeks ago, four professional beekeepers and five environmental and consumer groups filed a lawsuit in federal court against the EPA. In the lawsuit, the groups claim , "the U.S. environmental regulators are failing to protect honeybees and their role in pollinating important food crops, and should immediately suspend use of some toxic insecticides tied to the widespread deaths of the bees." science.ncbnews.com

"Despite our best efforts to warn the agency about the problems posed by neonicotinoids, the EPA continued to ignore the clear warning signs of an ag system in trouble," says Paul Tower of PAN. It's also worth noting that in Europe, the European Commission has proposed a ban on neonicotinoids because the European Food Safety Authority found that there is a high risk to the health of the honeybees when this class of pesticide is used.

The Scoop

We all eat food. If our crops fail here and/or abroad because there are no honeybees to pollinate them, then prices go up, food is scarce and we are all adversely affected.

There is an ever mounting pile of crap that leads to companies like Monsanto, Syngenta and Bayer and other companies manufacturing pesticides and manipulating seeds and plants. Believe it or not, it was just a few years ago that such pesticides from the neonicotinoids class began being used widespread to grow stronger, disease/pest resistant crops. Unfortunately, this was done at the expense of health of humans and animals. I believe we are only starting to see the repercussions of the use of such strong and harmful chemicals.

So, why should we care about this issue? Because it matters to all of us; that is, all of us who eat food. More to come on this and other food issues. Over and out...

Anna

5 Things You Should Know {Current Events}

I have been strapped to my computer for weeks now working on my projects for which I get paid; and every once in a while I would reward myself with surfing Facebook or news sites for stories to read. I bookmarked quite a few for future posts, but I thought I'd share a few that make me think, shake my head or put a smile on my face.

Here are 5 such headlines:

1. This one got to me because I can see myself in these parents' shoes. I tried to think what should they have done differently? What would I have done differently? But I think what they did was reasonable and something I could have done myself: Captain Diverted Plane because Parents Make Complaint about In-flight Movie.
2. Although I'm not personally touched by autism, I am fascinated by the research and treatment regarding autism. This is an important piece of legislation to watch if you are in Georgia or any of the other 17 states that don't provide that insurance must cover treatment for autism. Plus the treatments described in this article are encouraging and the stories uplifting: Mothers Fight to Pass Ava's Law for Autism Coverage.
3. I'm OK with this trend. I'm not a fan of tobacco. It stinks; it's unhealthy; and I'm sorry if that is offensive to you, but this is my opinion, and I wouldn't hire someone who smelled like cigarettes if put in such a position: Smoking Harmful to Your Employment.
4. I love A Farmgirl's Dabbles. Brenda's recipes and photos are amazing. I always pause and click when I see Brenda post a recipe link on Facebook. And when I came across this recipe. Ohhhhhh, my mouth watered... I may have even drooled a bit. I will be making this: Sweet-and-Salty Honey- Cheese Spread!
5. Lastly, I found this article interesting considering how often I see these henna tattoo vendors at local fairs and festivals and other events. This temporary body art can be quite beautiful and the lines are usually long and full of children. But beware and think twice before you or your child gets in this line: Temporary Black Henna Tattoos Could Leave Permanent Scarring.

Have a wonderful weekend! Over and out...

Anna

Nanny Files {A Public Advert}

We're looking for a part-time nanny to start ASAP! We have failed to find a good fit since our beloved Katrina left the country to teach school! So, I thought long and hard, and this is what I came up with. Here's my description of the perfect {or nearly so} candidate for this position in our home:

Please don't apply unless you fit the following points:

1. MOST IMPORTANT! Must adore – and I stress ADORE – dogs, cats and boys!!
2. In college with 2 afternoons available (give or take a bit, noon to 5) and some evenings on the rather rare occasion that the Dear Husband and I get to have a date night;
3. Should be kinder and more patient than I am;
4. Enjoy playing at the park or in the yard, weather permitting;
5. Know the difference between Captain America and Captain Rex;
6. Enjoy sports;
7. Understand boys and the rough parts and tender parts;
8. Understand me and get along with me, the mom {not difficult at all if you are the right one for this job};
9. Realize that chaos and order can both reside simultaneously in one small home;
10. Not freak out about a little {or a lot} of Saint Bernard slime on your clothes; it happens...frequently. Relax, we have towels;
11. Really and truly like our family;
12. Have a sense of humor and a sharp wit and a knack for sarcasm;
13. Understand the 5 food groups and preparing a balanced meal/snack;
14. Have a vehicle of your own!
15. NOT text/talk/use for any purpose your phone while operating a vehicle – or at least be willing to adhere to this strict rule when any member of my family is in the vehicle or within viewing distance of you;
16. Understand the importance of picking up....toys, crumbs, crayons, bits of paper, dishes, etc;
17. NOT smoke;
18. Not show up earlier than your scheduled start time.

Am I asking too much? Is this list much too Mary Poppinsish? Perhaps, but maybe, just maybe there's another Katrina out there for our family!

If this sounds like you, then we just might be the family for you! Please email me (acberend@gmail.com) ASAP for more information about this position! I look forward to chatting with you!

Dear local readers, if you know of anyone who fits this description, please do forward this to that person!

Thanks,

Anna

Photo Op {A New Series}

It's been a while since I tried anything new here. So, here goes. This week I've had my nose to the grindstone working towards a work deadline, and I haven't had a chance to write at all! {I hate weeks like that.} What I do have are lots of photos that I really love for various reasons. And so, I decided that on Fridays I will post a photo from my files.

I may or may not explain them. This photo is from this past summer outside of Amarillo, TX. We had spent a day of exploring with my mom and my cousin's son. This is from Cadillac Ranch. I love all the colors!