The Dragon Biographer

July 5, 2012July 6, 2012 ~ Kana Smith ~ 29 Comments

Our son Christian (age 11) was feeling rather expansive yesterday evening about the firework-making job of his invisible dragon (descriptively named "Dragon"---Christian's companion since he was 2 years old), and the use of fireworks in Dragon culture. As soon as I realized he was on a roll, I grabbed for the keyboard and began typing … Continue reading The Dragon Biographer

We now PAWS to bring you this Public Service Reminder

July 4, 2012July 4, 2012 ~ Kana Smith ~ 18 Comments

Fourth of July, U.S. Independence Day... Our guest this afternoon has been a frisky and friendly German Shepherd, who arrived in our yard trailing a broken leash. Given that the leash was attached to a choke collar with metal prongs, he must have really wanted to get away. We figured it had been a frightened-by-fireworks … Continue reading We now PAWS to bring you this Public Service Reminder

Kitchen Chemistry #3: PEOPLE-Cleaners

June 30, 2012January 4, 2013 ~ Kana Smith ~ 23 Comments

Well, here we are with the third installment of Kitchen-Chemistry do-it-yourself cleaners---doing positive things for both our wallet and our well-being! If you're just joining, the previous installment covered household cleaners made from kitchen ingredients... They're doing a great job of cleaning the house, they cost next-to-nothing to make, and we know they're better for … Continue reading Kitchen Chemistry #3: PEOPLE-Cleaners

Barter ECOnomics & the Much-Maligned Art of Packrat-ism

June 29, 2012January 4, 2013 ~ Kana Smith ~ 26 Comments

I'm a little embarrassed. One of the lovely side-effects of living below the poverty-line is the realization that most money-saving behaviors are thoroughly environmentally friendly. I'm embarrassed because it shouldn't have taken a detour into destitution for us to put this type of lifestyle into practice. A matter of putting my money where my mouth … Continue reading Barter ECOnomics & the Much-Maligned Art of Packrat-ism

Shakespeare with a Pre-Teen (& a dab of Kitchen Chemistry)

June 20, 2012July 26, 2012 ~ Kana Smith ~ 20 Comments

The warm-up "Green Show" before last night's production of Romeo & Juliet let slip a spoiler about the ending: Romeo & Juliet end up dead. "Oops," the Fool-Squad fool exclaimed. "If there's anyone here who didn't pass ninth grade English, we just ruined the surprise." I had a laugh at that, given that I was … Continue reading Shakespeare with a Pre-Teen (& a dab of Kitchen Chemistry)

Home to Roost

June 18, 2012January 4, 2013 ~ Kana Smith ~ 24 Comments

Never mind the "Secret Lives of Bees"--I'm intrigued by the Secret Lives of Kids. I would never guess what's going on in my own kids' heads if I didn't chatter and play with them. Case in point: our 11-year-old son, Christian, has been harboring a long-standing wish to own chickens. I had no idea. He … Continue reading Home to Roost

Something to Prove (or… “MOMMY can change a tire!”)

June 16, 2012July 8, 2012 ~ Kana Smith ~ 20 Comments

My hubby and I were having a thought-provoking conversation the other day, about the (sometimes) delicate balance between care-taking and independence. He knows me well enough to understand that I have a sort of fierce pride in the knowledge that I can take care of myself. In the year that I was single, I bought … Continue reading Something to Prove (or… “MOMMY can change a tire!”)