Affording Kids- MamaBaig On The Air

I started my own internet radio show called "MamaBaig On The Air." Today I interviewed Cindy, mother of 11 children.

Listen to internet radio with Susan FierroXBaig on Blog Talk Radio

A Bit of Politics

I got into a discussion on Facebook about Hannity. Most of my friends like him. I can't stand him. Here's some of what I said:

It's more than not liking his persona. There are so many words that I can use to describe him and one is redundant. And yes, he's rude, talks over people, but more than that I just don't see any depth to him. I feel like he is all fake and just spinning, spewing.

And I just don't like many of his views/ politics. Of course, I don't agree with all of Obama's either.

Susannah, I am glad you stopped listening to Rush (because of the way he talks about the poor!) I wish that you would get annoyed by Hannity's way of calling everyone who agrees with him a good American and all those who disagree are dubbed unpatriotic.

I have expressed to you how I hate politics. There isn't any politician that I agree enough with to say that I really like anyone right now. But I do know the people that I DON'T like. I searched the web to try to find others who shared my thoughts about Hannity because I stopped listening to him long ago and couldn't really think of the exact things that he has said that I disagree with or specific instances.

The following viewpoint is one that expresses some of the conclusions I have about Hannity:
http://www.therationalradical.com/talk_shows/sean-hannity.htm

I found the following article that I pretty well agree with (I even agree with the point about Gingrich):

http://blog.nj.com/njv_robert_a_hayzer/2008/10/sean_hannity_metroarea_conserv.html

I think I would like to try listening to Michael Medved and see how much I can agree with him.


It amazes me that I disagree strongly with my dearest friends. I wonder how this can be? I am also stumped by couples like Shriver and Shwartzeneger or Carville and Matalin. How can they manage? I mean how you can love someone and not love their politics/values/beliefs? I REALLY don't like most republican politicians. Yet, I don't completely agree with Dems, maybe I just seem to agree with them more? Maybe I should actually tally which side I agree with the most? Maybe I disagree with both equally?

It's interesting to me that if you take Fox and CNN I wouldn't say that I completely agree with either, but I definitely feel more comfortable with CNN.

I read an article about a Dem. woman who started dating a Rep. man. I thought this was funny: "What's preferable—someone who is a complete ass or someone who votes for a complete ass?"

I took this quiz http://politicalquiz.net/ It said I am a social moderate, moderate capatilist, and a pacifist.

I like this explanation of a moderate:
http://www.moderate-america.com/?p=6

And this is really good too (I like #2 most):
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moderate

Roger Ebert's Defining Words

I read this Esquire article about Roger Ebert and was touched to the core. I was so moved by the rawness of life and once again reminded how every moment here on earth is to be treasured despite all the crap, unfairness, pain, suffering, harsh realities. There were a few lines that Ebert said that really touched me. First of all he spoke about not being afraid to die. It really hit me because I am afraid to die.

I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear, he writes in a journal entry titled "Go Gently into That Good Night." I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can't say it wasn't interesting. My lifetime's memories are what I have brought home from the trip.

I am afraid to die. I wish I could just absorb Ebert's thoughts deep into every cell and alter my DNA permanently so I'd never forget it and always live it.

I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.

I resolve to try harder to contribute joy to the world.

My Thoughts on the Proposed Lower Manhattan Mosque

For years I have sat in church and listened to many lessons on forgiveness. During nearly every lesson each teacher has illustrated their lesson by recounting the story of the forgiving Amish community whose children were shot to death by an "English," or non-Amish, gunman.

Indeed, the prompt forgiveness extended to the man who murdered the innocent Amish children has been set as an exemplar for other Christians to follow. A book and movie have even been made in order for all to learn more of their capacity to forgive.

This week in the news there has been much discussion about the proposed establishment of a Muslim mosque in Lower Manhattan near the cite of the Twin Tower bombings. Many people have spoken in outrage and disgust over this. One woman stated in an interview that she spat on the ground in the location of the proposed Mosque. Many politicians have said they oppose it, while in the same breath embracing the 14th amendment which guarantees Americans the right to religious freedom.

I was disappointed that even Mike Huckabee, whose viewpoint I often agree with, spoke out harshly against the mosque.

Listening to the news broadcasts today brought the example of forgiveness that the Amish have set to my mind. You see, what has been lauded most about their story is that the extent of their forgiveness enabled their community to not only not hate the man who shot their children, but to reach out to his family, taking his widow food, hugs and gifts. They even went so far as to contribute to a fund for the shooters family.

One writer shared his thoughts in the article entitled, Why the Amish Forgive So Quickly. He stated:

In mainstream society, retribution is a taken-for-granted right. Around the world, names of deities are often invoked to fuel cycles of revenge generation after generation.

In refreshing contrast, rather than using religion to bless and legitimize revenge, the Amish believe that God smiles on acts of grace that open doors for reconciliation.

I wondered today just how many Christians, whom admire the Amish for their willingness to forgive, may find the capacity within themselves to forgive Muslims for the Twin Tower bombings?

It seems to me, by the hostile reactions to this proposed mosque, that forgiveness has not been extended to all of the Muslims in our country and around the world who had nothing to due with the terrorist attack. Rather, there is much hate, anger and retaliation being aimed at those of their faith.

If Christian Americans were to follow the example of the Amish, they would reach out to their fellow Muslim citizens and extend an olive branch, and offerings that would breach the painful act of terror and reconcile two communities.

With this spirit, Lower Manhattan could become a place where Americans of different faiths could come together to learn about tolerance, forgiveness, grace, and charity, instead of it becoming a symbol and site of religious retribution.

My baby is now 2 1/2 and potty trained! My husband oversaw the training. He was so eager to save money by not having to buy diapers that he spent a whole day sitting next to the toilet with our son.

The next day I went out and bought him some Spiderman underwear. I was disappointed that I couldn't find any training pants, the old fashioned kind of underwear that are padded. I guess these days they have been replaced with "Pullups."

Personally, I detest Pullups and have never used them on my 7 children. I believe that they defeat the purpose, and it seems to me that most toddlers would rather soil their Pullup than spend the effort to go on the toilet.

And boy does potty training take effort on the part of parents, siblings, and the child! I am so glad that our toddler caught on quickly and he now takes his underwear off himself, gets on the toilet, or stands at the toilet, flushes it, gets dressed and even washes his hands on his own (most of the time!!)

He did have some accidents at first, however. And he also went through some emotional or psychological mourning over losing his diaper and departing with his waste. The first two days wearing underwear were great for him. By the third day he wanted his diaper back. He didn't soil it, he just wanted to wear it. He even undid the velcro fasteners when it was time to go to the bathroom. Fortunately, he is back in the underwear during the day and just to be safe, I put a diaper on him at bed time.

Now if he'd just stop messing with his wee most of the day things would be perfect! I guess in underwear he is more aware of a certain part of his body than when he is wearing a diaper. I guess in time this too shall pass ;)

A Plea to All of My Freedom Loving Republican Friends

Just when we were nearly convinced that all Republicans are either racist, blinded by fear (just like the citizens baited by Hitler,) or very short-sighted, Connie Mack gives us a ray of hope:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/13/AR2010051304351.html

For months I have sat back and listened to my friends, who all happen to be white Republicans, speak out against Obamacare and the attack on our constitution. I've heard them say how we need to fight the tide of socialism, fight for our country's freedom.

All the while I have watched the news footage of Tea Party members carrying monkeys and holding up signs telling Obama to go back to Kenya. I've listened to stories of racism: a mural of a Latino child that Republicans wanted "whitenized;" a story of a Latino man who served his country in the armed forces and when he went to a Tea Party rally he was told to "go home."

(His country is America, by-the-way.)

I watched the footage of Shirley Sherrod and nearly cried as I listened to her story and the racism perpetuated against her, her family and her people 45 years ago. I was saddened to think of such suffering in the past, long ago when things were different than today, in modern America, 2010.

But then it hit me, maybe things aren't so different. Maybe the pendulum is swinging back and the types of atrocities that happened in Shirley Sherrod's day will happen again. Maybe even the types of things that happened to the Japanese after World War II or the types of things that happened when Hitler ruled Germany.

For months I have been arguing with myself, in defense of the Republican party. After all, almost all of my friends are Republicans. I have argued that my friends couldn't be racist since they are my friends. If they aren't racist, then how can they be so zealous about the Arizona Law? The Arizona law allows police to arrest people that they suspect aren't citizens.

I keep hearing those in favor of the law say that the law won't cause racial profiling. Well, I wonder how that is so? I mean the law was instigated by Mexicans crossing the border illegally and supposedly overtaking American's jobs and it was instigated by the fear that jihadist Muslims are infiltrating the country via the Mexican border. So tell me, please, who are the police going to suspect aren't citizens? My guess is they will suspect people who look like me.

The Arizona Law scares me. It doesn't scare any of my Republican friends. But then again, they are all white and I am not. My children are brown and look "foreign." Their children are white and look "American."

Now, how did that happen? Weren't the original Americans brown-skinned and the immigrants from other countries all white? Boy times have changed haven't they?

So all of my dear friends don't have to be concerned for their freedoms or their children's freedom when it comes to the Arizona law. But what about mine? If they were truly my friends, and truly not biased when it comes to race, then wouldn't their fight for the constitution include the fight against the Arizona law?

I have to wonder why when it comes to Obamacare they sure get heated up about our freedom but when it comes to the Arizona Law they are all for it! Maybe my friends, whom I've always considered deep thinkers, are being duped by the propagandists just as surely many of the 60% of Americans who support the law are.

I watched my kids walking down the street a couple of months ago. They were walking with some other Hispanic teen age boys. As I watched this group of 5 brown-skinned boys walking down the street laughing, carrying no proof of citizenship, it hit me that if they were in Arizona a police officer could ask for their papers and if they didn't have any on them they could be arrested. If Republicans have their way every state may end up with the same law.

That scares me!

Over the months I have reasoned on behalf of my friends and my fellow citizens that not all white Republicans are racist. Many white folks fought for people of color's rights during the Civil Rights movement. Many fought against slavery.

But there were many who stood by and did nothing. Who were satisfied that they had their freedom. Who turned a blind eye and lived quite contentedly.

Indeed, I recall that many people were convinced by Hitler that the Jews needed to be eradicated because they were a threat to the Germans. Fear caused the average German citizen to elect Hitler and stand by while their neighbors were given stars to wear on their arms to signify that they were of a different race.

No, our government isn't passing out stars... yet.

I thought this sign was a relic of the past. I hope it is not a symbol of the future.


As hate mongers like Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Bill O'reilly, Sean Hannity and the rest of them, are spewing their propaganda and laws like the Arizona Law are being passed, racists are feeling emboldened and crimes against Hispanics are on the rise.

Not only are crimes on the rise against Hispanics, disdain is, too. These types of things are drawing the ire of one race against all others. As I have protested on behalf of my Republican friends, I have experienced that ire and disdain.

My husband and I have a baking business. We take our baked goods to several stores. Every delivery includes different goods based on what I feel like baking. A few months ago I decided to make one of my personal favorite treats, Mexican Sweet Bread. My husband warned me not to as we live in middle America, where it is predominantly white. I assured him that the people in this area were tolerant people who appreciated diversity.

Imagine my surprise when one of the stores requested that we not bring the Mexican Sweet Bread again. It wasn't because they had tried and didn't like it. None of the breads that I took to that store were bought.

Would they have protested Irish bread, or Swedish bread, or Amish bread? I doubt it. Their refusal to sell Mexican Sweet Bread was based on the political correctness of racism pervading America, today, in 2010.

How depressing that Republicans are allowing this to happen. And they are allowing it. Let me give you an example. When Connie Crowley interviewed Republican Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnel, she asked him if the posters at the Tea Party rallies made him uncomfortable.

His response floored me. He chuckled! He chuckled and said that all sorts of things make him uncomfortable on the right and the left. He didn't take a stand and condemn the behavior that a supposed "minority" of Tea Party members exhibited. He didn't take the opportunity to stand up against this kind of race based b.s.

Thankfully, just as my husband and I were really feeling saddened by the current status of race relations in America, Connie Mack made our day! Finally, a Republican who searched his heart and is willing to speak out and state what is plainly evident:

The latest issue freedom-loving conservatives should be concerned about is the Arizona immigration law.

This law clearly challenges citizens' freedoms, and it does so by putting some Americans at risk of losing their freedoms while others stand little or no chance of being affected.

To all of my Republican friends I plead you to apply all your zeal for freedom and protecting the constitution to the fight against the Arizona law and others like it that are being passed across America. Please help preserve my rights, my husband's rights, my children's rights, and all of the other brown-skinned citizens, who like us, love America.

My husband has warned me that I shouldn't post this. He's afraid I'll lose my friends. I tell him that I'm confident my friends can handle hearing my opinion. I guess we'll see if he's right or not.

Migrant Mother Photos by Dorthea Lange

Anytime I start to get down about our house not being finished or by all the work I need to do in caring for my seven children, I just need to recall this photo of a migrant farm working mother taken by Dorthea Lange.

I found this photo while looking through Lange's photos available online. What a blessing to have these images at our fingertips. I was amazed to realize that Lange took one of her most famous photos (pictured below) in Nipomo, California, which is a town in the area where I grew up. It is especially meaningful as my family were migrant farm workers also.



Though there are many photos of Lange's that I love, I think this one of this mother nursing her baby is my favorite. Isn't is amazing?



To see more of Lange's photos, google her name or follow this link.

Chiggers

We moved to Missouri in the winter. It was a mild winter and we were pleased with it. Then spring came and I was in love with the countryside and couldn't be happier. Even early summer was wonderful as we didn't find the humidity all that daunting as we were warned we would. But then, around mid-July everything changed as the chiggers came out of dormancy. I learned then that the chiggers are what puts the Misery in Missouri.











Photo: Unscratched chigger bite. It is different than other bites because it can be blister like.

Never heard of a chigger? Well I can tell you about them. They are so small that you can't even see them. Whenever you go outside you'll like pick some up. They crawl on you, unbeknownst to you of course, and usually make their way to areas that the sun don't shine on. They generally like to burrow and lay their eggs in your skin under anything that is tight fitting like socks, underwear, your bra, or watch. But not always. They'll deposit their little babies just about anywhere they can on your body. And they itch like crazy for days until the little larvae hatch and exit your skin. LOVELY!

Chiggers and ticks have made it so I don't want to garden late summer. And that's one of the main reasons we moved to the country!

The frustrating thing about them is that even people who douse themselves with bug spray containing Deet claim that chiggers aren't always repelled. Since I prefer not to use such chemicals I've been trying to use Avon's Skin-So-Soft. It seems to be helping but maybe it's just been luck since my daughter lathered herself with some before going out to plant flowers and she ended up with many bites all over her tummy.

In order to try to combat the little buggers we've been trying to make it a habit to shower after returning from the outdoors. This does seem to help. Unfortunately, for my 1 year old son (after one of his outdoor excursions) I put him in the tub and washed his whole body except his face. I just didn't think of the chiggers biting him there and that's what ended up happening. Three new chigger bites on his cheek!

The worst off this summer has been our 14 year old son who is earning money by doing yard work. His feet have been assaulted by irritating chigger bites!

There are soo many bugs here in the countryside that frogs plant themselves on our windows at night in order to hunt. In my opinion the chiggers, which frogs and chickens don't help with, are the worst!

Dealing With A Mite Infestation

One of the downsides of country living is the multitudes of bugs. As if dealing with ticks, chiggers, a wide variety of spiders, gnats, flies, horse flies, mosquitos, flying cockroaches, Asian beetles, wasps, cicadas, stink bugs, and more isn't enough, we recently dealt with an infestation of mites in the girls' room.

Since we were remodeling our bedroom, and since we practice co-sleeping, the baby and I had been sleeping in the girls' room. Our eldest daughter sleeps on a queen size bed and the baby and I were sharing it with her. We also had all three girls clothes, as well as mine and the babies in that room.

For months there had been birds nesting in the wall by the window. I had informed my husband about it and he wasn't in a rush to try to get the birds out. Besides being annoying every morning we thought they were pretty harmless. Although I was concerned about their droppings accumulating and attracting bugs.

One night as my daughter and I were preparing to go to sleep, I thought I felt a bug crawlign on my face. I asked my daughter if I had a tick or something and she said she didn't see anything. So we went to sleep. I had a fitful sleep that night as it was blazing hot and I felt like I had bugs crawling on me. I thought it was my imagination!

Finally, I thought there is no way I am imagining. So I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror and saw nothing on my face even though I felt something crawling. I wiped my face and a minute later I felt it again. I was wondering if I was going nuts for a second. Then I thought to lean real close to the mirror and look closer. Sure enough there was the tiniest critter crawling across my forehead!

I freaked out and ran to investigate the bed. Sure enough the pillows, sheets and wall by the window was crawling with thousands of tiny mites! I immediately woke all three girls, grabbed the baby, and awoke the boys in the room across from them. I had everyone bathe and put on clean clothes. Fortunately, there were plenty of clean clothes in the laundry area for all of us to change into.

I went back up stairs to investigate some more and I saw that they were heavily concentrated on the window trim and only covering the wall by the window and the beds that butt up to that side, as well the desk, book case and toys. They weren't on the other walls though, nor in the hall or boys room. (Thank heavens!)

Then I got on the internet to try to figure out what they were. I was shocked to learn that birds nests located on roofs, in gutters, attics, etc. can cause mite infestations. When the birds leave the nest the mites do too in order to find a new host. Bird mites can bite humans but we did not get any bites at all so we aren't sure if they were bird mites. When my husband went outside the next day to investigate he found that the tree outside the girls room, which brushed against the wall and window, was full of birds and mites. So we aren't sure whether we had bird mites or tree mites.

Upon going to Home Depot to get a mite fogger my husband learned that many people were dealing the same issue as the small foggers were sold out and there was only large packs available. This was confirmed by one of the employees who said that all the moisture we've been having is causing infestations.

After fogging the room a laundry saga began. After a month and a half I FINALLY got all caught up with the laundry generated by our mite fiasco. It took me weeks of multiple (like 3,4,5!) loads of laundry every day to wash every blanket, pillow, piece of clothing from drawers and the closet as well as stuffed animals, and even back packs, in addition to our regular laundry!

Thank god the leaking washer held up even though the laundry room constantly had standing water!!

The one good thing that came out of it all was an opportunity to look at every piece of clothing and ask myself and my eldest daughter, "Do you love it?" We got rid of a lot of clothes!

It took me about as long to do the laundry as it did for my husband to complete most of the remodeling of our room! Happily the house is now back in order. Until he takes the drop kitchen ceiling apart and replaces it with drywall that is!

Making Pizza With Summer Squash

One of the neat things about living out in the country is that in addition to growing your own produce other people may generously bestow you with some of their own bounty from either their garden or the local produce auction.

The other day this happened to me. An acquaintance brought me cases of cucumbers, summer squash and some onions that she bought at auction. She said she got a really good deal on the price and the quantity was far too much for her.

Of course the children devoured the cucumbers. I gave away some bunches of onions and squash to friends. This left me with a couple of onion bunches and boxes of squash which I didn't know what to do with. With the heat and no room in the fridge for all of them many went bad. I gave these to our chickens and they loved them.

I had used a few squash in stir fries, but then I was out of ideas on how to prepare the squash. When I was down to having only enough to fill the produce compartment of my fridge I figured out a great way to use up a large quantity: On Pizza! (The next time I get a ton of squash I think I'll blanche it and freeze for pizza topping!)

I was recently given a recipe for pizza crust and I had been eager to try it. My husband asked me to make a vegetable pizza and I thought I'd try the squash as a topping. It turned out deliciously beyond our expectations. Both the pizza crust and the veggies really pleased us! So I'd like to share them with you.

Pizza Toppings:

I cut the onions and squash then sauteed them in butter until soft. I spiced them with black pepper, onion powder, garlic salt, salt, and Italian seasoning. I didn't measure but this is how I season my food. I sprinkle enough of each spice until the top layer is pretty well covered. Not heavily covered though! We like to use crushed pineapple for a final topping on our pizzas.

Cost: $7.00 for two 16 oz. blocks of cheese. $2 for Ragu Spaghetti sauce. $1.33 x 3= $3.99 for crushed pineapple. This was enough to make this recipe 3 times. I would estimate that for 3 pizzas it probably cost $3 in additional ingredients of flour, yeast, etc. and the electricity to make the pizzas. This equals $16 for all 3 pizzas. Compare that to a large Dominos Veggie pizza that costs $12.99 x3 = $38.97! Cha-ching!

Pizza Crust:

1 1/2 c. warm H2O
1 1/2 pkg yeast or roughly 3 1/4 tsp.
1 1/2 T sugar

Let stand for 5 minutes in a lg. bowl.

Add:
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 3/4 c. white flour
1 c. wheat flour

Knead lightly.
Press into pizza pan. (I rolled the dough out onto a cookie sheet [since I don't have a pizza pan] using an empty salsa jar which is my favorite roller.)
Let raise 10-30 minutes depending on how thick you want the crust.
Then once it has risen add the sauce.

I used a jar of Ragu Spaghetti sauce, but here are ingredients for a sauce.

Sauce:
Tomato sauce, oregano, It. seasoning, Parmesean and garlic paste

Assembling the Pizza:

After the dough was done rising for 1/2 hour I spread the spaghetti sauce over the dough. Then I took the 2squash and 2 onions that I had sauteed and spread them over the top of the dough evenly. The veggies were covered with Mozarrella cheese and also some Colby Jack cheese. (The next night I made another pizza with only Mozarella cheese. After spreading the cheese I covered the whole pizza with crushed pineapple.) I like to sprinkle hot red peppers on my pizza, btw.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is very melted. As I said we were very pleased with the results. However next time I am going to try not spreading the sauce or toppings all the way to the edge in order to let the outer edge of the crust harden.

My husband and I are so excited to be able to make our own pizza. Just think of all the money we have wasted over the years buying pizzas! This pizza is fresh, healthy, wholesome, nutritious and filling!!

Enjoy! I would love to see photos of your final product from this recipe.