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Revista de Ciências Agrárias

versão impressa ISSN 0871-018X

Rev. de Ciências Agrárias vol.38 no.3 Lisboa set. 2015

Sustainability of crop and livestock dominant dryland systems of Alentejo region: differences in economic returns and environmental consequences

Sustentabilidade dos sistemas dominantes de produção agrícola e pecuária em sequeiro na região Alentejo: diferenças nos resultados económicos e efeitos ambientais

Maurícia Rosado*1, Carlos Marques2 e Rui Fragoso2

1,* University of Évora, Department of Animal Science, ICAAM, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal. E-mail:, author for correspondence

2 University of Évora, Department of Management, CEFAGE-UE, Apartado 94, 7000 Évora, Portugal. E-mails:;

This paper  presents a case study with two traditional Mediterranean-type farming systems: cropping dominant and grazing or livestock dominant. Traditional farming systems from the Mediterranean area in the Alentejo, southern region of Portugal, are compared in terms of economic returns, environmental impacts and trade-offs. A linear programming model that considers the economic and environmental issues for each farming system was developed. The models maximize farm profit subject to managerial, resource and environmental constraints. Environmental impacts were evaluated from cradle-to-grave and assessed following an input-output (I/O) analysis of environmental accounts and a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Results are used for economic evaluation and environmental impacts of farming systems. Results show that livestock predominant farming has larger environmental impact and lower net farm income than the crop farming system. Shadow prices of environmental constraints are compared for both systems to evaluate cost and efficiency of policies that constrains environmental consequences and promote sustainability. Costs required to compensate farmers for reductions of environmental impacts are lower for livestock predominant farming than for crop farms. Therefore, policy priorities should be targeted firstly to livestock predominant farming system effects. Subsidies represent a substantial part of the net farm income in both cases. Hence, in both cases, but particularly with the livestock predominant farming, there is considerable margin to improve policy effectiveness to control environmental impacts.

Keywords: economic returns, environmental impacts, farming systems, LP models, tradeoffs.

Este artigo apresenta um estudo de caso com dois sistemas agrícolas tradicionais característicos da área Mediterrânea, no Alentejo, região sul de Portugal. Um sistema agrícola tradicional dominante na produção de culturas e, um segundo sistema agrícola tradicional vocacionado para a produção de pastagens e forragens dominante em produção animal. Para cada sistema de produção foi desenvolvido um modelo de programação linear que considera os aspetos económicos e ambientais. Os modelos maximizam o lucro da exploração sujeito a restrições de recursos, de implementação das rotações e restrições ambientais. Estes sistemas tradicionais da área Mediterrânea, foram comparados em termos de resultados económicos, impactes ambientais e “trade-offs”. Os impactes ambientais foram avaliados do “berço ao túmulo” seguindo uma análise de input-output (I/O) do azoto e da energia utilizada e uma metodologia do ciclo de vida (ACV) para os gases de efeito de estufa, acidificação, eutrofização e um indicador agregado de impacte ecológico. Os resultados mostram que o sistema predominante em pecuária tem impacte ambiental maior e rendimento líquido mais baixo do que o sistema predominante em culturas. Os preços sombra das restrições ambientais foram comparados em ambos os sistemas para avaliar os potenciais custos e eficiências de políticas ambientais que promovem a sua sustentabilidade. Os custos requeridos para compensar os agricultores por reduções de impacte ambiental são mais baixos para o sistema predominante em animais que para o de culturas. Por isso as prioridades políticas deverão ser dirigidas mais para o sistema predominante de animais do que para o de culturas. Os subsídios representam uma parte substancial do rendimento líquido em ambos os casos. Assim, em ambos os casos, mas particularmente em explorações predominantes de animais há uma margem considerável para melhorar a eficácia das políticas de redução dos impactes ambientais.

Palavras-chave: resultados económicos, impactes ambientais, sistemas agro-pecuários, programação linear, custo-benefício

The concept of sustainable development emerged in the late nineteenth century, when fossil fuel energy demand exceeded its ecological limits and society looked for a concept that reconcile ecological, economic and social objectives of the present with those of future generations. Managing the present and future in a sustainable way is a task that will accompany humanity into the future (Schlör et al., 2013).

To address this challenge in a global and interconnected world, world's agriculture must be competitive but also sustainable. There is evidence and public concern about the environmental issues, namely regarding loss of biodiversity, climatic change and air, soil and water degradation, and the recognition that farmers, due to the specific characteristics of their activity and connection with environment and natural resources, play an important role for producing public goods and services that markets undersupply (Cooper et al., 2009; Marques, 2014). Public policies, such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the European Union (EU), must deal with this challenge and provide guidance.

The introduction of sustainability objectives requires the redefinition of reference values for agricultural activities, which must be based not only on the recognition of the multifunctional land use but also on the complex role that agriculture plays in society (Gomiero et al., 2006). CAP has extended its first and main objective of agriculture as that of supplying food to include policies relating to environmental effects and concerns, namely by decoupling, promoting agro-environmental policy measures and adopting ecological cross compliance requirements. Thus, it is expected that support and orientation for farmers may be closely tied to the environmental performance of their predominant farming systems, which requires an effective integrated economic and environmental evaluation (Pacini et al., 2004; Van Ittersum et al., 2008). Indeed, in the current CAP reform, part of the farm support payments already includes a required greening to implement this orientation.

The environmental component of sustainable development is usually addressed in a very general way and the variety of impacts is rarely considered. However, it is essential to consider the full range of impacts for an accurate and transparent environmental assessment (Joumard, 2011). To meet this challenge, evaluation of the sustainability of the agricultural systems and methods to determine those with greater yields relative to their resource use and environmental degradation have been proposed (Martin et al., 2006). To provide effective guidance and deliver public results, policies must be based in real and appropriated evaluation of farmer actions and their environmental contribution.

Facing this challenge, this paper presents the case study of the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, for which a comparison between two traditional Mediterranean dryland agricultural systems is based on an integrated economic and environmental analysis. Thus, it is intended in this article to analyze two Mediterranean farming systems, one crop predominant and other livestock predominant, from the point of view of their environmental and economic performance. The aim is to discuss the relationship between the economy and the environment of these systems and their relationship with the policy instruments applied in such a way that the results can be used to guide the CAP measures.

Material and methods

The traditional dry land crop farming system is based on a typical farm of 250 hectares, of arable land without trees, with clay soils, in the Beja district (Rosado, 2009). This farming system is based on a crop rotation of four years (sunflower – durum wheat1 – green pea – durum wheat2) in which cereal alternates with sunflower and pea. The crop rotation is established to achieve high production levels of cereal, namely durum wheat, which used to have specific subsidies till changes in agricultural support policy towards decoupling. For soil preparation deep plough is followed by two harrowing soil mobilization, during winter, and one before sunflower seeding, in March, which begins the crop rotation. Sunflower does not receive fertilization or herbicide treatment. The soil for durum wheat1 is prepared with chisel plough followed by harrow and a seed density of 200 kg per hectare and a fertilization level of 300 kg per hectare (N-P-K respectively 20-20-0) was used. A chemical weeding followed by nitrogen fertilization with 150 kg per hectare (N 27%) was done. For the green pea a harrow and two chisel plough operations are done for soil preparation and the seeding was 150 kg per hectare. Weeding and fertilization treatments were not used in green pea. The durum wheat2 ends the crop farming rotation with the same annual calendar and technology used for durum wheat1.

The second system studied is a dryland traditional Mediterranean grassland-based agro-pastoral system that integrates crop and livestock, where animals use dryland extensive pasture system, fodder crop and more fibrous resources as feed,  transforming raw material efficiently and directly into useful goods for humans and so contributing to enhance sustainability of the system (Bocquier and González-Garcia, 2010). This livestock predominant farming system is also carried out in a typical farm of 250 ha, with Mediterranean soils. Five annual crops in rotation (wheat - oat x vetch – oat - durum wheat - ryegrass) occupy 68% of the total farm area. Natural grassland occupies 22% of the total farm area (ha) under dispersed tree cover of corkoak and holmoak “montado”, the typical Mediterranean forest. This natural grassland consist of annual grasses and some leguminous. The remaining 10% of the total farm area is dedicated to natural pasture improved with fertilizer.

Natural grassland and improved natural pasture is directly grazed by farm animals. Vetch x oat as well as ryegrass is used for hay production for animal feeding. Oat grains and cereals straws and stubbles are also used for animal feeding. The wheat and durum wheat grain is marketed as well as part (77.3%) of the durum wheat straw produced. The livestock is based on beef cattle in extensive systems to address the weaknesses of the soil, as well as nature conservation which seem to be increasingly valued by landowners (Menezes et al., 2010).

For soft wheat, soil conventional preparation is made with two disc harrowing soil mobilizations, followed by one soil mobilization with a double cultivator. Seeding with a drill lines and a roller coupled, use a seeding density of 180 kg per hectare and fertilization levels of 250 kg per hectare (N-P-K respectively 18-46-0). A weed spraying and a covering fertilization using 190 kg per hectare (Urey 46%) is made. The production technology used for the durum wheat is identical to the one used in the soft wheat with the exception of the seeding density, which is 200 kg per hectare in the former and 180 kg per hectare in the later.

Soil conventional preparation for the oat is made with disc harrowing and two crossed soil mobilizations, followed by seeding, with a drill lines and a roller coupled and using 150 Kg per hectare of oat seed and 190 kg fertilizer per hectare (N:P:K respectively 7-14-14). Cover fertilization is done with 100 kg of fertilizer per hectare (Urey 46%).

Oat x vetch soil preparation is done with harrowing mobilization followed by cultivator. Seeding is made with a drill lines and a roller coupled using 140 kg of seed per hectare (80 kg oat and 60 kg of vetch), simultaneously is carried out a fertilization using 150 kg of fertilizer (N-P-K respectively 18-46-0). A fertilization is made with 100 kg of fertilizer per hectare (N: 27%) using a centrifugal distributor. The forage is cut using a mower conditioner and, two days later, a gleaner turns the cut material towards a faster drying of the green material. After drying, the hay is balled, collected and stored for animal feed.

Soil preparation for ryegrass sowing is done with a double cross harrowing, followed by seeding with a drill lines to which it is coupled a roller. The seeding density is 25 kg per hectare and fertilizer application is of 130 kg of fertilizer (N-P-K respectively 15-15-15) per hectare. In the 2nd half of December the animals (beef cattle) graze this ryegrass (cutting teeth), after which it is done a fertilization with 110 kg of fertilizer (N: 27%) using a centrifugal distributor. The forage is cut, in May, using a mower conditioner. In the following days the forage is turned with a gleaner in order to be sufficiently dried to be baled.

Natural grassland improvement is done using 220 kg of superphosphate fertilizer per hectare. The natural pasture availability varies throughout the year, as well as, the chemical composition and nutritive value. Hence, it was considered five periods with different quantities produced and nutritional value through the year (Rosado, 2009).

Livestock activity is based on the production of beef cattle in extensive system. The breeding stock includes crossbred cows, replacement heifers and two bulls (one Charolaise and other Limousin). The mating is concentrated between November and December and during this time the bulls accompany the cows grazing. For the reproductive parameters it was considered a fertility rate of 90% and a mortality rate up to calves weaning of 3%. Annually all the male calves born and part of female calves born are sold after weaning, with an average live weight of 245 kg and 220 kg, respectively. The replacement of the males is done with animals purchased outside the farm.

The food requirements of different categories of animals on the farm were calculated based on tables from INRA (Soltner, 2004), depending on the weight of the animal and his physiological state.

Analytical systems and methodologies for obtaining quantitative descriptions of the trade-offs between different objectives, such as gross margin, greenhouse gases emissions and the energy input use in farm, have been used from the literature (Ten Berge et al., 2000). Linear programming models applied at farm level are one of the least complex and most extensively used methodologies that allows to integrate economic, production and environmental issues based on microeconomic budgeting accounting data and technical knowledge of farming systems (Marques, 2012). Economic indicators for the two considered production systems include total production costs, gross and net margins and are estimated through budget accounting of different production activities of each system.

Among the agro-environmental issues and respective indicators that have been proposed to evaluate environmental effects of production system technologies at farm level, nitrogen balance (Simon et al., 2000; Bassanino et al., 2007), pesticide use (Padovane et al., 2004), energy input (Pervanchon et al., 2002; Koga, 2008), soil organic matter (Ernest and Siri-Prieto, 2009), soil preparation and sowing (Borin et al., 1997; López-Fando and Pardo, 2009) and biodiversity (Manhoudt et al., 2005) are used and reported in the literature.

The agro-indicators selection depends upon project objectives, data availability, policy options and scenarios. Rosado et al. (2012) present a critical review of methods and different evaluations reported in scientific literature for crops under different systems and conditions, including prior evaluations for the different Portuguese systems and regional conditions, namely for Alentejo crop activities, such as wheat and sunflower (Teixeira et al., 2008), as well as for similar conditions in regions of Spain (Hernánz et al., 1995).

Selected indicators in this study include nutrient balance for nitrogen, input level for energy and life cycle assessment (LCA) approach for greenhouse gases emissions, acidification, eutrophication effects and a composite eco-indicator impact factor calculated with SimaPro 6.0 software.

The nitrogen indicator evaluation is based on the work of Simon et al. (2000), with inputs coming from fertilizer contents, biological incorporation of nitrogen by legume crop and atmospheric deposition, and outputs calculated from crop production quantities and nitrogen content tables (Soltner, 2004). The energy input analysis includes the use of direct and indirect energy (Hülsbergen et al., 2001). Direct energy is related to the consumption of fossil fuels and lubricants in cropping operations (Audsley, 2000). The indirect energy includes the energy associated with seeds (Sauvenier et al., 2005), fertilizers (Hülsbergen et al., 2001), pesticides (Green, 1987) and machinery (Rosado, 2009). Total absolute values for greenhouse gases emissions, acidification, eutrophication and composite eco-indicator (Eco95) were based in coefficient unit values of SimaPro 6.0 software package of the Life Cycle Analysis. Eco95 is a composite weighted and normalized single value indicator of global environmental effect of eleven environmental indicators.

A linear programming model was developed for each one of the two farming systems in order to analyze the economic returns, environmental impacts and trade-offs. The model maximizes farm profit in the long term (net margin), subject to the total land availability and maximum crop areas of the rotation. The environmental analysis is integrated considering in the model counter equations that model environmental coefficients of production activities. Therefore, the model assumes that the farmer’s decision is based on farming system profits, and technical coefficients for each environmental indicator permit to assess the environmental impact of the alternative systems. With this model structure it is possible to have a shadow price for each environmental indicator, which represents the trade-off between economic profit and environmental impact.

The mathematical structure of the linear programming model developed to the traditional dryland crop dominant farming system is as follows:

Subject to

substitute xj0 by Eimax

where, Xj is the decision variable regarding the area of crop j and pj is the net margin of crop j; s and xj0 are the exogenous parameters of available land and maximal crop area in the rotation, respectively; finally, eij is the technical coefficient that measures the unitary environmental impact of crop j regarding indicator i and Eimax is the maximum level of environmental of indicator i set at marginal terms.

Equation (1) is the objective function and corresponds to maximizing the farm net margin. Equation (2) represents the land constraint in the model. Equations (3) and (4) relate to crop sheets in rotations and input-output relations between production and environment, respectively.

In the case of the traditional livestock dominant farming system, the farming model presented before was transformed in order to consider livestock production and their complementarities with forage crops and pastures, namely to model the livestock feed mix problem. The mathematical structure of the linear programming model developed for this farming system is as follows:

Subject to

idem to last model

where, indexes k, l and f respect to selling crops, pastures and forage crops, respectively; Y is the decision variable corresponding to the level of livestock activity; Wft is an endogenous activity that measures the consumption of forage f in the year period t; nlt ou nft are the unitary nutritional coefficient parameters of pasture l or forage f, respectively, in the period t; rt are the livestock nutritional requirements in each period t; and y0 is the up boundary of livestock activity Y.

Relatively to the former model, this has as main changes the addition of livestock activity profits in the objective function (5) and the new Equations (9), (10) and (11). The first respects to feed balance for each period of the year considered indicating that nutrients available of pastures plus nutrients consumed of forages must meet minimum livestock nutritional requirements. The second assures that livestock nutrients from forage consumption divided by the unitary nutritional coefficient parameter per hectare of forage doesn’t exceed the forage production area. The last one bounds livestock activity to the observed levels in the farm.

Environmental effects for crop dominant and grazing dominant farming systems are presented in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively. Overall the level of the environmental indicators of the two farming system studied are below average of values reported in the literature. Globally, results show that cereals originate higher environmental impacts than forage for all environmental indicators, except for nitrogen balance in green pea in the crop dominant system.

Environmental impacts for all type of indicators of the livestock dominant system are larger than for the crop dominant system. In relative terms this magnitude is 2.4 times larger for nitrogen balance and energy input and between 1.30 and 1.54 for greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication, respectively. The eco-indicator, a weighted average of the latter environmental effects, indicates that the livestock dominant system environmental impact is estimated to be 1.33 times larger the crop dominant system.

Economic and environmental results for the crop system farm model are presented in Table 3. Farm economic returns reflect a substantial contribution of subsidies in farm income, making up almost 73 in a total net return of 81 thousand Euros, representing 89 percent of farm net return. Total area of 250 hectares is fully used with the four crops rotation imposed by the rotational restriction which indicates that sunflower and green peas use each 62.5 hectares and durum wheat 125 hectares.

Global environmental impacts obtained in absolute values are 4.2 tons of nitrogen, 1.6 thousand Gj of energy, 333.2 tons of CO2 eq., 4.4 tons of SO2 eq., 1.4 tons of PO4 eq. and an overall eco-indicator impact of 1 308 points. These total absolute estimates are particularly important for comparing impacts and trade-offs of different crops, production technologies and farming systems and hence for indicating potential reductions of environmental impacts. Shadow prices for rotation implementation lines indicate losses of 169, 28 and 157 Euros per hectare for different crops relatively to highest crop net income return due to rotational requirements imposed for technical reasons.

Dual prices of each environmental indicator represent marginal costs of environmental effects and indicate trade-offs between economic and each environmental criteria. For instance, farm total greenhouse gas emissions is estimated to be around 333 tons CO2eq. To reduce this value by a ton of CO2eq., a 0.3 % reduction on the farm emission level, requires a cost in farm return of 244 Euros. The same applies to each agro-environmental indicator selected. In aggregate terms of these effects, to reduce ecological farm impact (Eco 95 indicator) by one point, a 0.0076 percent decrease (because farm score is 1307.5 points), requires a cost of 62.21 Euros/Pt.Another way to compare results for alternative environmental effects is to compute the environmental effects for the same reduction in income, i.e., eventually policy costs to compensate farmers. For example, with one euro reduction in the costs the greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 4.1 Kg CO2eq.and the acidification by 0.05 Kg SO2eq.

Results of the farm model for the extensive mixed farming system are presented in Table 4.

All the land available is used with the crops in rotation (soft wheat- oats- oats x vetch-durum wheat- ryegrass) and with natural grassland and improved natural pasture mainly to feed livestock the predominant production of the farming system. Feedstuff produced under this rotation is able to meet nutritional requirements of a herd of 118 breeding cows. Total net farm income under this farming system is approximately 42.8 thousand Euros, almost half (52.6%) of the return of the farm under the crop farming system. However, subsidies received to cereals and to cows are almost 64 thousand euros, value above net farm income, indicating that farm social return is negative and that without heavy policy support this livestock farming system without adjustments is not sustainable. Global environmental impacts obtained in absolute values are 8 tons of nitrogen, almost twice the value of the crop farming system (192.1%), 1.8 thousand Gj of energy (109.6%), 395.6 tons of CO2 eq. (118.7%), 4.6 tons of SO2 eq. (102.8%), 1.7 tons of PO4 eq. (119.8%) and an overall eco-indicator impact of 1 379 points (105.4%).

Dual prices of environmental effects indicate trade-offs between economic and each environmental criteria. Values vary from 0.11 €/KgCO2eq to 24.62 euros per kg of PO4eq. In aggregate terms costs with these effects are evaluated by Eco 95 indicator. To reduce ecological farm impacts (Eco 95 indicator) by one point, a 0.0073 percent decrease (because the farm score is 1378.6 points), requires a cost of 31.05 Euros.

The economic and environmental evaluation of dryland crop and livestock dominant farming systems of the Alentejo agriculture was performed using economic and agro-environmental indicators and the trade-offs between economic and environment criteria were explored. These systems are rotationally based so the contribution of the different included crops to sell and to feed livestock was also evaluated. Economic results for the crop system farm show the importance of cereals in the rotation. This is also due to subsidies that benefit this crop system since they represent 89 per cent of farm net income that were particularly coupled to durum wheat. Durum wheat has net profits two to three times higher than sunflower and green peas. Hence, they have, in relative terms, a negative impact in the average economic results of the crop system. However, in environmental terms these crops have a substantial positive effect in average environmental impact. Environmental estimates indicate that sunflower and green pea effects are 4.5 and 4.9 times lower than the durum wheat’s and they reduce the magnitude of the environmental impact of the crop system by almost 40 per cent. Farm economic and environmental effects and trade-offs were estimated for composite eco-indicator and for each environmental issue. Composite ecological impact reduction by one unit requires a 62 Euros decrease of farmer profit. To have a relative evaluation of the different environmental issues, trade-offs results should be compared with their weights in the composite ecological indicator. Unit costs for each environmental issue vary from 244 Euros for a ton of CO2eq. of greenhouse gas emissions to 56 thousand Euros for a ton of PO4eq. in terms of eutrophication.

Net farm income of livestock dominant system is half of the total net return of the crop system farm. Economic results for livestock dominant system indicate that subsidies are even more important in relative terms in livestock production system farming because of high levels set for breeding cows. In total they represent 150 percent of farm net returns hence indicating that farm social net returns are negative. Relatively to crop system farm subsidies for livestock dominant system represent 88 percent. Although an extensive production technology is adopted for breeding cows including grassland and improved natural pasture areas complemented with hay and straw forage crops, environmental total impact of the livestock dominant system is higher than of the crop system farm in all items, varying from 102 to 192 percent for acidification to nitrogen balance, respectively, and in aggregated terms, with an overall ecological indicator score 5.4 percent higher. However, livestock dominant system costs to reduce environmental impact are lower than for crop system farm, since they relate with returns sacrifice that are lower for this farm, ranging from 27 to 52 percent for nitrogen balance and acidification, respectively, and 50 percent lower in aggregated ecological terms.

Economic and environmental results presented in this paper for these two system farms in Alentejo may be very helpful to calibrate the effectiveness of environmental policies since they are trade-offs that indicate farmer costs with environmental reduction per item and in aggregated terms. Results also suggest that the relative importance of past subsidies to support these dry land system farms can be more effectively used in future agricultural policy to play an important role combining economic and environmental concerns and promoting these systems farm sustainability.

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Simon, J-C.; Grignani, C.; Jacquet, A.; Le Corre, L. and Pagés, J. (2000) - Typologie des bilans d’azote de divers types d’exploitation agricole: recherche d’indicateurs de fonctionnement. Agronomie, vol.20, n. 2, p. 175-195.

Schlӧr, H.; Fischer, W. and Hake, J-F. (2013) - Methods of measuring sustainable development of the German energy sector. Applied Energy, vol. 101, , p. 172-181.         [ Links ]

Soltner, D. (2004) - Tables de Rationnement des Bovins, des Ovins et Caprins, des Cheveuxs e de Porcs – Collection Sciences et Techniques Agricoles. 27ª Ed. Angers. 96p.

Teixeira, R.; Simões, A.; Rodrigues, O. and Domingos, T. (2008) - Environmental Optimization of Animal Feed for Finishing Beef Calves in Portugal, In: 6th International Conference on LCA in the Agri-Food Sector. Zurich, Switzerland, p. 120-121.         [ Links ]

Ten Berge, H.F.M.; Van Ittersum, M.K.; Rossing, W.A.H.; Van de Ven, G.W.J.; Schans, J. and Van de Sanden, P. (2000) - Farming options for The Netherlands explored by multi-objective modelling. European Journal of Agronomy, vol. 13, n. 2-3, p. 263–277.

Van Ittersum, M.; Ewert, F.; Heckelei, T.; Wery, J.; Olsson, J.; Andersen, E.; Beslepkina, I.; Brouwer, F.; Donatelli, M.; Flichman, G.; Olsson, L.; Rizzoli, A.; Van der Wal, T.; Wien, J. and Wolf, J. (2008) - Integrated assessment of agricultural systems – A component-based framework for the European Union (SEAMLESS). Agricultural Systems, vol. 96, n. 1-3, p. 150-165.

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Iron Sky (quickie)

Next up in our recommendation series, we have Iron Sky which happened to be suggested nearly simultaneously by the great Daniel Spicer as well as my friend Andrew, so a big thank you to them. I'm so glad they brought this movie to my attention because it's exactly where my head's been at recently. This is a comedy science fiction from Finland, and, to be frank, it is very, very silly. I wasn't confident I would like this going in since the genre combination was sort of too good to be true, the trailer made it look like it was trying too hard, and, well, you can never really trust the Finnish, can you? But Iron Sky had me giggling to myself before the credits even began. If you were unaware, the movie is about Nazis who traveled to the moon at the end of World War II and who have been living there ever since, planning their invasion of Earth. Yep. Moon Nazis. But it's more than just a hilarious premise, there's political satire throughout (mainly aimed at the United States) which works rather well with more parallels than differences between the Americans and the Nazis.

The biggest problem I had with Iron Sky beyond the occasional mediocre acting was the ending. After over an hour of playful caricature, the tone shifts from lighthearted and fun to gloomy and judgmental. After so much parody the filmmakers felt like their message still had somehow not gotten through. You don't need a serious tone to send the audience a message. Dr. Strangelove, probably the greatest political satire of all time, has an incredibly bleak ending (spoiler alert: everyone dies) but manages to deliver the apocalypse on a silver platter. Now I'm not saying every politically minded comedy has to live up to Dr. Strangelove (I would constantly be disappointed), but the preachy finale cast a shadow over the otherwise successful humor in the rest of the movie.

Final Notes
 - Knowing that the movie was made in Finland is actually important for one of the jokes. There's a scene in some sort of United Nations-type building where everyone admits to illegally arming their satellites except Finland. Boom.
 - The people working in the editing room seem to have come from the Zack Snyder School of Making Your Movie Look Like a Graphic Novel. I don't know what they're doing in post-production, but it does end up looking pretty cool.
 - The reason I was giggling before the credits started.

  1. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you like that kind of Airplane/Top Secret!/Scary Movie type of craziness and vibe, you'll love it. I predicted I would be put off as well - I remember being in the cinema and wondering why the movie was being funny (I thought it would be straight sci-fi). I was simply grateful for it being released at my cinema. As you may know, it's fan-funded, I believe. Also, I am great, aren't I? Thought so. Thanks for reviewing this film!

    1. Hahaha yeah thanks for the recommendation! Would've been cool to see in theaters...

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Tips for Eating Clean While Eating Out

Hey, it’s ok to interrogate your wait staff.

It’s your food, your health and your money…so do it without shame.

I say that because one of the biggest challenges for people on a weight loss plan, is where to dine and maintain a devotion to clean eating during their weight loss journey.

Here are some  simple ways to stay true to your mission and enjoy a great dining experience at the same time.

  • Identify Specific Types of Restaurants:  I always instruct my clients who travel for work, to always check out what healthy restaurant selections are available in the city they’re about to visit.  It can be vegetarian, juice bars, gyms with nutrition bars or traditional restaurants with “healthy options.”   This simple practice applies to your home town.  For example, in my smart phone, I have a list of restaurants for most neighborhoods in Pittsburgh where I know I can get good food without sacrificing my devotion to clean eating.
  • Interrogate the Wait Staff:  sometimes, you have to go where your business partners choose or where there is a gathering of friends.  Let’s say you don’t get a chance to fix your own meal before you arrive and you absolutely must eat something at the place where you’re gathered.  No problem!  This is the fun part.  Simply look for the side dishes and see what vegetables are offered.  Pick something you like.  Let’s say you want chicken, but don’t like how it’s prepared on the menu.  Ask the wait staff and chef to prepare it the way you want.  If you like a meat selection but the side items are not working, ask to swap out.  Take rice for example, if they’re serving white rice, ask to swap it out for brown rice.  Keep swapping, switching and deleting until you have an entree you know fits your eating plan.  The bottom line is that most restaurants can accommodate you and want to accommodate you because they want you to come back.
  • Tell Them How to Cook:  I visited a very popular sports bar in Atlanta to watch some football.  I checked out their side dishes and ordered mushrooms and broccoli with some sautéed shrimp.  The problem is that the veggies were cooked in butter so I sent it back and asked if they could cook it in olive oil.  They said yes and I was happy.  When I visit one of my favorite Thai restaurants, I always instruct them to lightly cook my vegetables and not over cook them.  They do it and I’m happy.

So take the time to scout out uniquely good places to eat or be prepared to take the time to work with your wait staff to come up with combinations that work for you.  Eating out can be just as rewarding as your homemade meals.

5 Wellness Theories to Avoid

The breathing is heavy, sweat running down her face, her expression carries the look of fierce determination, her workout gear drenched.

This is her routine, this is her world, it’s what she loves.

However, there’s only one part of this world she hates and wants deleted.

It’s that extra 20 pounds that sticks to her like glue, no matter how hard she works out.

She shares with me, how much she’s bothered by the excess weight that hangs around, regardless of her intense beast mode workouts.

So I ask, ‘how are your eating habits?’

She confesses, “not good”; in fact, they’re pretty bad.

I ask, ‘why do you workout?’  She responds, “so I can eat what I want.”

I conducted a workshop for a major healthcare provider and engaged in Q & A with members of the audience.

A woman shared with us her displeasure with a long-running dependency on blood pressure medication; not only that, but her doctor wanted to increase her dosages but could not provide answers on how to correct her condition.

I provided the answers, based on nutrition.

I often share those types of solutions to health conditions haunting people’s lives daily.

Here’s the kicker:  they sometimes say, let me check with my doctor first.

Those are just some of the theories and habits we adopt with health and wellness that prevent people from getting well.

Here are 5 wellness theories and habits to avoid

They hold people back from getting well and experiencing the best optimal health their bodies deserve.

  1. “I Workout to Eat Whatever I Want”:  you may be fit but are you healthy?  The notion that good health and optimal wellness is gained primarily by working out in the gym, running, cycling or any other fitness activity is just flat out wrong.  The first form of wellness is cellular nutrition.  Why?  Because each of us is made up of more than 100-million cells and they need to be fed properly.  So busting your tail in the gym while eating poorly will just keep that extra weight right where it is.  Most importantly, you may have an “eye candy” physique or figure but internally, you could be all jacked up.  Ever hear of workout fanatics dying young due to chronic illnesses or cancer?  If you ignore nutrition, you’re ignoring true wellness.
  2. Consult with Doctor About a Wellness Plan:  doctors have a supremely valuable place in society, especially when it comes to acute care to repair injuries.  However, the truth is that doctors know very little or next to nothing about healing the body with sound nutrition.  The problem is when it comes to dealing with a chronic illness, a doctor will prolong your stay on pharmaceutical meds rather than fix you up with a solid eating plan to heal your condition.  Food is medicine, just ask my clients who’ve scaled back on their medications after changing their eating habits.
  3. Counting Calories:  when it comes to diets, this method is seriously ancient, ineffective and unsustainable.  More than 100 diet theories are floating out there, leaving people confused.  Many focus on simply minimizing the amount of bad food you eat, therefore, count the calories of those foods so you don’t surpass your daily limit.  That’s nuts!  Here’s the truth:  if you’re eating sound, whole, living, sprouted foods that work with your body, you don’t have to count calories.  My clients don’t count calories, they eat some seriously good food.  You eat as much as you want.  I can drink a breakfast smoothie that carries 400 calories of whole foods and be much better off than someone eating a 300 calorie meal comprised of a traditional breakfast.
  4. Everything in Moderation:  I laugh whenever I hear this phrase.  It’s actually true, but what humors me is that people use that notion as a green light to eat poorly, so it goes from moderation to a daily habit of bad eating.   That phrase relates to eating clean 80 or 90 percent of the time.  When clean eating is embedded in your lifestyle as a culture, chances are, “everything in moderation” is pretty cool.  Why?  It’s not a habit, it’s a diversion.
  5. Fat Free – Sugar Free:  whenever a product promotes fat free and sugar free, just stay clear.  It’s wise to stay away from all processed products and pre-packaged meals.  Our bodies need fat (especially omega 3 fatty acids).  Even some forms of saturated fat is needed for energy.  Sugar is needed by our cells for energy.  The problem is that our commercial food source is saturated with the wrong types of fats and processed sugar.  It’s so bad, they’re making people sick.  It’s all about being selective about your food source to insure the proper forms of sugar and fat and the right amount.


text:
MINDSCAPES is a 2-year programme of co-operation and co-production between cultural institutions in The Netherlands and Manchester.

Working with artists and arts organisations spanning performance, visual arts and digital media, the project explores the impact that our environment has on our mental wellbeing. It will consider how artists might make interventions into different types of environment, in ways that can have a profound and lasting impact on mental health. How might artists from different practices influence, shape and inhabit urban spaces in ways combat social alienation, anxiety and depression?

Supported by Dutch Culture in partnership with the Dutch Embassy, MINDSCAPES provides a unique space for cross-sectoral thinking and reflection, where a range of perspectives from the Greater Manchester and Netherlands can come together and consider the most effective ways to deploy cultural activity for a social benefit.

Projects commissioned through MINDSCAPES will be presented in Spring 2021.

More information about the commissions will be added shortly.


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Archive | September, 2016

All new Teplobak, Accumulator and Buffer tanks

We are please to announce our new partnership with Ukrainian  accumulator company Teplobak. Teplobak offer some unique products, like their all new powder vacuum insulated Accumulator, that can be installed outside with no detrimental effect on water temperature. This unique heat accumulator the VTA/V-1 consists of two tanks with different dimensions, the smaller one is […]

Continue Reading

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Mobile phone Security Choices – 5 various Tips to Look after Your Mobile phone

Mobile security, in any other case known as portable device cover, has gradually grown in importance in the current mobile computing universe. In particular, this is of utmost matter that of most mobile devices, cell phones are the most frequently stolen types, as well as the most regularly used by bad guys to steal personal and organization data from them.

With thievery of mobile phones becoming more frequent, the need for cellular security in smartphones is usually becoming more prevalent. There are several ways to safeguard your smartphone from thievery and to guarantee your data is secure. Here are a few guidelines that may be helpful for you to ensure the smartphone is usually protected.

The first of these kinds of is portable security systems. These units can be expensive, but they can work very well, and may protect your smartphone in numerous ways. One of these is by encrypting all of your info from simply being accessed in plain sight by people who do not have permission to. As well, this can stop people who might be out there looking for a way with your phone of stealing your data.

Subsequently, you can give protection to your touch screen phone with a security password. Most users choose all their passwords with great care and pick a password that may be both hard to think and which will cannot be replicated and pasted from elsewhere. If someone does indeed manage to imagine your password, they will not obtain access to your telephone. Additionally , this password could be changed any time should you choose to change your smartphone. This means that even if someone handles to acquire the hands on your password, they can not change it immediately.

You can also use mobile security devices to keep track of your GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM location. These devices usually come plus a GPS recipient, which allows you to track where your mobile device is at a moment. They will show you the exact location of the device, and also the location of any satellites it may be orbiting around.

Thirdly, make sure that your smartphone’s display is normally protected simply by an anti-glare protection, which uses a great LED display to filter light when it is not in use. Which means that it is dark when you need to learn something, yet bright in the next not. so that it is much easier to access what you want you just read without having to squint your eyes.

Fourthly, consider protecting the screen of your smartphone which has a screen protector, which makes it problematic for someone in order to in to your screen and take photos of your smartphone without your knowledge. This is particularly important if you are using your smart phone while driving a vehicle. When you have the phone in your pocket, you sometimes take the eyes off the road to take images and texts, which make the device much easier to acquire. If an individual is able to get your phone without you understanding, this means that they will may steal photographs that may be personal or personal.

Lastly, consider using a number of anti-virus programs to patrol your smart phone from disease attacks and spyware disorders. While most computer protection computer software works, it is a good idea to obtain a program that is specifically designed to avoid viruses and spyware moves from compromising your equipment, especially as your phone is typically one of the most utilized parts of your system. Not only are viruses a pain in the ass, they are also costly to fix and can cause more harm than you could think.

Finally, consider getting rid of all applications from your smartphone’s memory, that can prevent other people from getting access to the data that you have taken out. Unfortunately, various applications usually are not deleted through the user’s random access memory but rather stored in a temporary folder. If you do not erase your data after a license request has been installed, it can cause your device becoming extremely vulnerable to moves from malware and other destructive software.

Cell security will not have to be a chore. Through the use of these tips, you’ll certainly be well soon on your way preventing robbers, hackers, and in some cases telemarketers coming from mobile antivirus reviews being able to view your private information or perhaps stealing your valuable items. Guarding your mobile phone is also ways to safeguard your self from the problems of the world with you.

The internet is usually flooded with websites that provide mobile security options. Take advantage of the vast amount info that is available and find the correct one for your particular situation, whether it be to keep your smart phone secure or to prevent your smartphone from being stolen.

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www.sourceforge.net favicon sourceforge.net (visit site)

Sourceforge.net is a website that acts as a source code repository. Using the site, you can manage the development of your own software. The site offers its services for free for anyone developing free software or open source software, which allows people who have it to alter and improve it, then send it out. In addition to being able to create your own software on the site, you can also download software that other people have made and posted on the site. The site also features news about recently finished projects that you can look at, as well as a project of the month, one of the best projects completed on the site within that month. The community section lets you talk with other people who use the site, as well as check out news about how the site is doing and what will be happening in the future on the site.

Sourceforge.net is a useful source for anyone looking to create their own software. It is also useful for anyone looking for new and different kinds of free/open source software to download. The site is visited by a primarily male, young adult and older crowd, and people who view the site also often go to other computer software sites, technology sites, and gaming sites.

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Saturday, December 25, 2010

The Best Gift

It was unanimous…the family’s favorite gift this year came as a hand-me-down T-shirt on Christmas day to Cienna from Cousin Katie…

Cienna will be getting lots of use out of this shirt over the next 6 months as we await the arrival of Baby #6…due around July 10.

At 13 weeks, I’m feeling the usual pregnancy fatigue and mild nausea, but the kids keep me going every day. We can’t wait to see who is coming next. This new baby is already very loved and will receive lots of tender hugs, kisses, and care!

Merry Christmas to all Family and Friends!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Memories 2010

We drove to Arizona for Christmas and for Brent’s youngest brother’s wedding to be on Dec. 28.

The drive took 26.5 hours. And because Brent is such a marathon driver, we drove straight threw in our trusty (but very mocked by siblings) 1995 Toyota Previa, which upon arriving in Mesa, has officially been driven by our family from Coast to Coast (in random order: San Jose to Provo; Provo to Mesa; Mesa to Chicago; and Chicago to NYC).  Dec 2010 084And I, who normally struggle with more than an hour of monotonous freeway driving, was determined to make my husband proud this trip by taking the wheel for the critical 2-6 a.m. shift of driving through Oklahoma. The kids slept a great deal and listened to music/ebooks. And we only had one incident of car-sickness with Allison…poor Brent…that was the only other time I was driving.

Due to our big trip, we celebrated Christmas early in IL. We gathered the family on my grandmother’s 89th birthday for a dual party. She’s an amazing lady whom Kenny says looks only 70 and acts only 20 because she still cooks great meals and drives all over the place (but he probably meant she acts more like 50 because I don’t know too many 20-year-olds who cook great meals…Brent and I were eating mac-n-cheese and the really disgusting microwave burritos under our college budget and my 20-year-old cooking). Dec 2010 051 The girls received doll furniture and beautiful dresses with matching doll dresses (dresses from Grandma and Grandpa), Kenny wanted an electric tooth-brush and an mp3 player, and Diggy was most excited about getting a wooden model ship to build.

Papa pictures Dec 2010 097

Kirsti, Kirsten (the doll), Allison, and Cienna. The other two girls have non-American Girl dolls that fit very nicely into matching dresses, too, but just aren’t pictured.

My personal favorite part of the gift exchange is watching the kids pick out (primarily from dollar sections), buy with their own money, wrap, try not to tell, give hints, usually tell, and then still anticipate with full excitement the opening of each other’s gifts. A few highlights include: Kirsti picked out Hello Kitty socks for Allison; Diggy bought Kenny a compass for drawing; Cienna helped wrap up some doll shoes for Kirsti and Allison; and Diggy knew about the 12” Christmas tree from Kirsti for his pet giraffe, Gerry, early enough to go out and buy a few mini ornaments for himself in prep for decorating it immediately after the grand opening.

Dec  22010 003Gerry and his Christmas Tree

We also dug out the chimes again this Christmas. With another year of musical experience under our belts, practices went more smoothly than ever. “Angels We Have Heard on High” was the song of choice as we rehearsed for our first public debut at the Ward Christmas party. Cienna helped Dad hit his notes, and Allison knew right when her low “Ri-Ah” notes fit in on the chorus, which turned into a big crowd pleaser. We’re planning to rehash it for the Extended-Family Nativity tonight.

Kirsti was in elf in the 1st grade Christmas show called “Santa Goes Green.” We had the pleasure of hearing clever lyrics all season long  about powering the sleigh with windmills, how to detect a green house effect, and recycling grandma’s fruitcake. Dec 2010 058

The kids took turns exhibiting the persistence of  Sam-I-Am in order to convince Cienna that a visit from Santa Clause is a good thing. They talked excitedly about how he comes at night…with reindeer…on Christmas Eve…and comes down our chimney…when everyone’s asleep…and brings us presents!  And because she’s not familiar enough with presents to accept them as a reasonable reward for having a stranger creep into her comfort zone, with every new detail, Cienna insisted, “I not like Santa. I not like Santa.” I even saw her swallow hard when she saw Santa’s picture on a magazine. The Santa debate when on for days until Allison said, “He brings us prinkles!” (which interpreted means Pringles—equivalent to the Christmas Orange at the Smith house).  And thinking she heard ‘sprinkles’ (which I’m not sure she really likes that much, but it was at least something she recognized), Cienna finally began chanting, “I like Santa! I like Santa!”

She ultimately decided that as long as Mom was holding her and she didn’t actually have to see him, the benefits of Santa coming (especially to Nana’a house instead of her house) should outweigh the costs.   His visit is now much-anticipated tonight…even though the kids know he can’t bring anything that doesn’t fit in their backpacks for the trip home. And I have to say, because of Santa’s down-sized visit, much excitement (but definitely not all)has been shifted to giving away all the home-made gifts they’ve made for extended relatives this year.

Dec 2010 030   Cienna adding her hand to an apron.

We have LOVED returning to Arizona for the first time in 3 1/2 years. We left a White Christmas, but have hardly had time to mourn because we’ve been outside every day playing in short sleeves and flip flops. And being around Brent’s ENTIRE family is such a treat!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!Papa pictures Dec 2010 086Ken, Allison, Brent, Kirsti, Amy, Cienna, and Diggy

Stay tuned ‘til tomorrow for what I think will be the whole family’s favorite present this year…

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Teaching Moments

I awoke suddenly at 3:30 a.m. the other night (which isn’t unusual with young children around), and I heard a low voice talking somewhere in the house (which was unusual enough that I rapidly became more alert).

And after surveying the room with ears perked, I realized Brent’s spot next to me was empty, and the floor space on the other side of me was occupied by someone who must have had a bad dream…and had come searching for a “safe” place to sleep. (I can still remember the comfort of retreating to my parents’ bedroom floor when I was a kid because I had dreamed that ants were crawling on me or that a tornado was right outside my window…)

I listened to the low voice in the other room for a few minutes…and also heard a soft child’s voice sharing the dialogue.

Then I smiled.

For several minutes I couldn’t pin-point which child Brent was off comforting in the middle of the night. I could only hear bits and pieces of bad-dream-discussions and empathy and advice on various subjects and more empathy.

And when Brent didn’t return, I realized he’d happily taken the vacant bed of the child on our floor, giving company to the now lonely child in the other room, who also happened to be plagued with a bad cold, and thus was up most of the night.

At one point I heard the low voice say, “That’s why it’s so important to be honest…then people can trust you. I’m glad you’re honest.”

I learned in the morning that the conversation had lasted nearly 30 minutes.

My heart felt warm and fuzzy inside…when our child was lonely or afraid in the middle of the night and came searching for comfort, my amazing husband, the father of my children, didn’t send the child away comfortless (or to my side of the bed). Instead, my husband lost sleep… And gained a powerful, peaceful bonding moment….which so often turns into a teaching moment.

My children know from many experiences that they will get a loving response from their father—even in the middle of the night. I think that’s why they are so quick to listen to him and work alongside him during the day. He inspires them with his love.

And as we sacrifice on behalf of our children in attempt to provide simple teaching moments 24/7, we’re learning that our children are really giving us many opportunities to learn the truth to this scripture taught by Christ: Matthew 16:25

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Halloween Happenings

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For kids who are frequently spotted (indoors and outdoors) dressed up in random costumes throughout the year, Halloween is just another day to pretend (with bonuses like pumpkin carving and candy). Deciding which costume to wear became a down-to-the-wire decision…and even changed based on various parties/events we attended. (I don’t even have pictures of all of them.)

Ken (I keep forgetting to call him Ken, but when he reads these, he reminds me): Had planned on being a football player for several weeks, but just a few days before parties started, he followed his heart and rehashed his favorite character, whom he plays so well, English accent and all. (He was a football player for a trunk-or-treat we attended Sat. night.)

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This is Ken in the school costume parade. As part-timers, the kids still get to enjoy perks like school parties. We live near such a GREAT public school!

Diggy: Last year when the whole family dressed as Harry Potter characters, Diggy was quoted saying with a deep sigh, “I can’t believe Kenny is going to be into something else next year.” He was relenting the thought of having to change side-kick roles…what could be better than being Ron?! BUT, this year, Diggy decided to be a ninja long before Ken started re-reading HP again a couple of weeks ago. And despite major pressure to be Ron in Hogwarts robes, Diggy also followed his heart and was Ron dressed in a Ninja suit.

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Kirsten: Had a cheer-leading costume ready when Ken was planning his football costume. And happily unleashed her Hermoine garb last-minute when she was needed as someone else. She dressed as an angel for the trunk-or-treat…very fitting.

Allison: Was a witch a few weeks ago until she discovered the Unicorn costume at the bottom of the box. She loved wearing this bright pink costume and was so excited to go trick-or-treating (during family council, the kids had voted against going out on Sunday, the 31st, but we still went to local businesses Friday night and to a city near my parents’ house named Zion (also very fitting), who held their trick-or-treating on Saturday afternoon) …but Allison was sick with a fever the whole weekend. : (

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This is just before the fever started.

Cienna: For someone who is genuinely frightened by most costumes (she clung to me while we watched the kids’ school parade and kept repeating, “I not yike the wolf” for several hours afterwards), Cienna wanted nothing to do with dressing up (smart girl). She could choose from a ladybug, a bumblebee, Cheer Bear, a puppy dog, or her Hedwig suit from last year. But they all looked to much like, well, costumes…so “Nope” was the repeated answer. (And I wasn’t going to force her into a costume, because her memory is WAY too good for that…perhaps I’ll share examples another time.) Finally, in desperation as we were getting ready to go out, I grabbed a pretty church dress and wand…and she said, “YES! I’m a princess!” And she was adorable.

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And finally…You Know You Are Home-schooled IF---

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Your Halloween decorations double as anatomy visual aids.

I love having family, fun, and education all wrapped up together…and the kids love it, too.

Friday, October 29, 2010

The Passing of the Bow

After watching out the window (or waiting while perched on the front steps) for the “package truck” to come for DAAAAYS…he finally came!!! And he was greeted by children who spotted him around the corner and ran out to snatch the odd-shaped package from his hands while he was also delivering something to Harry’s house across the street.

The package was ripped open…

Oct 2010 043 This is what happened to the box.

And once the 1/4 size violin was carefully unwrapped, Kirsten officially passed her 1/8 size violin (with bow included) on to Allison.

Kirsten’s pre-school now includes violin lessons. (And did I mention we get FREE pre-school here at the Smith house??!!)Oct 2010 046

The first lesson went well…

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…Not forgetting the all-important “Bow-to-the-Teacher” at the end…Allison is a wise student.

And we now have a quartet! (Diggy has inherited Ken’s smaller cello and prefers/enjoys exploring his new instrument informally. Kirsten and Ken have been taking formal lessons for about a year….and love it!) It’s quite entertaining to listen to them “practice” together. Oct 2010 039

And Cienna anxiously waits for someone’s bow to get officially passed on to her…whose bow will she get??Sept 2010 006 Oct 2010 042

Friday, October 8, 2010

Colonel Krusteaz

I wish I could remember who gave us these two bowls as wedding gifts so many years ago…I would like to thank them both.

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They are both nice bowls intended for use in making pancakes or waffles. One even contains the name brand of pancakes the manufacturer suggests we buy…how convenient.

But we didn’t need two pancake bowls…so one bowl sat unused for the first several years of our marriage. I’m glad we were poor college students back then and not yet in the mode of getting rid of things we didn’t use. We saved the unused bowl, having faith that we’d find a good use for it…someday.

And once we had children, it didn’t take very many vomiting episodes (especially the night-time ones) to realize that we needed the perfect bowl…a big bowl because throw-up tends to spray all over…but a short bowl that can fit under our bed for quick and easy access in the middle of the night…plus a plastic, non-breakable, lightweight bowl for ease in transportation…and one with a pouring spout, so transfer to the toilet is smooth and effortless.

Which bowl would you use??

For us, Colonel Krusteaz (doesn’t the name sound fitting?) has served our family’s vomiting needs for 9 years and has thus been nick-named The Throw-up Bowl. (Occasionally, we have to bring in a back-up bowl (but NOT the other pancake bowl, because once throw-up has been in it, we simply can’t use it for anything else) to help out when multiple children have the stomach flu at the same time…but surprisingly, The Throw-up Bowl handles most jobs alone. It does have to work long hours, because for example, we’ve had the stomach flu pass through twice in the last 2 months…that’s about 250 hours of on-call time (the boys and I narrowly escaped this most recent episode).)Oct 2010 019

While our children may not have fond memories of this beloved bowl, Brent and I will always treasure it as a fellow front-line trooper in the defense against virus and bacteria invaders. Colonel Krusteaz has aided us in winning many battles (and when he’s MIA, it’s NOT a pretty sight!).

Brad Pitt once told Oprah about how parenting has changed him…(and I’m paraphrasing): I’m now a man of steel. I used to cringe whenever I saw or smelled pee-pee or poo-poo or snot or throw-up. But after having (and taking care-of) children, I can handle anything!

I agree with this statement. Nurturing my children (with natural bodily functions and all) has made me stronger, too.

Kudos to all the parents out there who are also busy fighting battles day and night. The sacrifice is never in vain.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Our Cups Are Full

When a major spill occurs at nearly every meal (and often in between), it is hard to decide during typical daily life if our cups are half-full or half-empty. But after General Conference weekend (first weekend in Oct. and April), we don’t have to worry about that decision…our cups are all FULL.

Perhaps our cups filled up again because for the last 6 years, we have had the tradition of “pitching our tents” on Friday night as a fun introduction to listening to inspiring leaders during Conference Weekend. Tents are magical for kids…When I was playing in the tent with Allison Saturday morning, she kept saying, “Let’s stay in here forever!” And she really meant it.

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Or perhaps we’re overflowing because we opened up the hide-a-bed and crowded around the TV together and watched a whole 8 hours of inspirational speakers in one weekend (which is about how many hours the TV is normally on for an entire month at our house). Brent and I soaked up as many words as we could hear (over the arguments of “She’s in my spot!”/ “He touched me!”). Here are two talks that especially filled me up…about using time wisely and caring for children.

Or maybe we’re full because the kids enjoyed searching for Auntie Karen in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (She’s not really in the choir, but a few years ago one of the kids thought for sure he spotted her, so yet another Conference tradition was born. Now we’ve expanded the search…we found Papa, Aunt Debbie, our Bishop, and Kirsti’s first grade teacher this year. And Grandma was playing the organ in the last session!) It’s quite entertaining to hear Cienna’s enthusiastic, believing voice proclaim, “There’s Auntie Karen!” repeated at least 100 hundred times.

The General Conference activity packet that we printed Saturday morning filled some cups, too…especially the younger cups. Their young minds were engaged in doing word searches, playing bingo and coloring the ties of the speakers they saw on TV as they listened to church leaders speak about very grown-up topics. (Kenny, however, proclaimed quite early on, “I don’t think I’ll need this next time…Because I just like listening.” And he did listen…to all four 2-hr sessions. And FYI: he also wants to be called “Ken” now.)

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Allison predicted that everyone would be wearing orange or blue ties within the first five minutes of the first session.

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Diggy’s favorite is the Bingo game. He doesn’t let any key words slip by undetected. In fact, he finished in record time this Conference, thus freeing his mind all day Sunday to think of more creative ways to enjoy listening…as a Nephite (more on this later).

I think cups were filled when Brent pretended to be the Big Bad Wolf blowing the house down as he was putting the tent away Saturday afternoon. The little pigs happily squealed inside (except for Cienna who chose to stay away from the Big Bad Wolf, so her cup wouldn’t run dry).

General Conference Oct 2010 043 Do you see the hand sticking out of there? Proof that the Four Little Pigs didn’t make it to the House Made of Bricks before the Big Bad Wolf blew their flimsy house down this time.

Perhaps we’re full now because we made cinnamon rolls on Saturday night and enjoyed them alongside the family-favorite Orange Julius treat on Sunday morning.

General Conference Oct 2010 050We can pretend to get exhausted toiling in the kitchen together, but the flour on our faces actually filled us up some more. General Conference Oct 2010 056 General Conference Oct 2010 057 General Conference Oct 2010 059

Some of the kids even filled their cups by making giant cushion thrones to sit on or by throwing arrows with suction cups at the TV (apparently pretending to be a Nephite aiming for Samuel the Lamanite…and purposely missing).

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Last week when we told the kids Conference Weekend was coming again, there was a unanimous shout for joy.

And regardless of how everyone in the family filled their cups up this weekend, one thing is certain: We had a great weekend together, and we’re ALL more ready to face the world this week because of it.

I LOVE listening to church leaders speak about inspiring topics, and particularly about faith in Christ. If I can teach anything to my children before they go out into the world some day, I hope I can teach them and show them that Christ is the only TRUE source of filling our cups.

I think tents, cinnamon rolls, and coloring pages at Conference-time will all have their place in connecting our children to Christ.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

A Happy Birthday for Cienna

We celebrated Cienna’s 2nd birthday a couple of days ago. As the fifth child, she is frequently showered with love on a daily basis…but she received extra-special attention on her birthday.

Allison gave Cienna her favorite doll. It’s a very well-used doll that Allison had received for her birthday not too long ago. The doll has pen marks all over her head and arms because apparently she felt left out when Allison and Cienna were drawing on themselves a few weeks ago. The excitement in wrapping this special gift up for Cienna was genuine. This doll is a true symbol of sisterly love…and may need to be given back to Allison come Christmas.

Kirsti made Cienna an elephant out of tape she had purchased with her own money not too long ago. She also gave away 25 cents and two pieces of her gum (Cienna passed the gum-chewing test recently and was very thrilled with Kirsti’s gift).

Diggy wrapped up his small Woody doll (which is another generous give-away considering he may ask Santa for the matching Bulls-eye horse in a few months). Later he made her a giraffe out of K-Nex and giraffe-looking fabric that, yes, he’d purchased with his own money a few weeks ago to make himself a pet giraffe.

Kenny, as a big brother of a much younger sister, couldn’t find any exciting give-aways in his stash (he’s already given away most of his “stuff” to younger siblings), so instead, he read books to Cienna, played “Happy Birthday” on his cello for her, made her cupcakes for the evening’s festivities, and sang a nice harmony to “Happy Birthday” just before she blew out her candles (which she did with great success, I might add).

Brent lingered longer at home that morning, enabling Cienna’s siblings enough time to convince her to let them open her presents for her before he left. AND he came home a bit early, enabling Cienna’s dream of riding bikes to the park to come true. Brent pulled her in the bike trailer, pushed her in a swing, walked her across a stream, and held her in his arms as only a father can do.

I awoke near Cienna and fed her that morning like I always do (yes…she is the only nursing two-year-old I’ve ever had). She loves being held on my lap. I carried Cienna around a lot and did all my chores with her like I always do. She loves being my partner. I prepared her favorite meal with black beans and avocados. The other kids were hoping for pizza, but that’s her second favorite. And I pondered and told Cienna how much I love her and how glad I am that she is part of our family…like I always do.

Life wouldn’t be the same without Cienna. She brings great joy to all of us. Our constant hope, but especially on her birthday, is to bring great joy to her, too!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful little girl!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

FREE Preschool!

For the past 4 weeks (with more consistency than my shower routine), Kirsten marches with Allison (and occasionally Cienna) down to the basement every day right after morning devotional to start Preschool. She has a colorful table set up next to a bookcase full of school supplies.  (After a few days of sensing her seriousness, and after she cleaned the toys off of the nearby shelves herself, I happily handed over most of the family puzzles, letter games, coloring books, crayons, etc. and assisted Miss Smith in organizing her new classroom shelves to her liking.)Sept 2010 180

And for at least an hour, I hear my daughters singing songs, reviewing letter sounds, counting, and playing games together. The other day I saw Miss Smith take her class outside for a field trip to collect leaves in the backyard. Then they sat on the trampoline with their clipboards and colored leaf books, giggled, jumped, played duck-duck-goose, and giggled some more.   Sept 2010 107Sept 2010 123Sept 2010 122

And at the end of every day of preschool, Allison marches back up the basement stairs, announces, “I’m home from pre-cool!” and shows me the sticker her teacher gave her that day (and sometimes a coloring page or two). And even though Cienna bounces between me (who plays teacher with the boys while all of this is going on) and the preschool festivities throughout the morning, she always manages to be in on the action when stickers are passed out.

Twice I have received written progress reports on how my girls are doing. Miss Smith wrote, “Allison is a gud stoodent. Cienna is a gud stoodent too.” And the next day, “Allison and Cienna wer olsoe good in this dae too. I love hou thae liket the games.”

And during the formal sit-down parent/teacher conference with Miss Smith, I was informed that Allison knows all of her letters and sounds quite well…except for “y” and sometimes “w,” she’s learning to sound out 3-letter words, and she can count up to 100, but needs significant help after she gets past 13. Miss Smith is a little concerned about Allison’s occasional goofy behavior, which only improves if Miss Smith promises to play “The Betsy Game” (a pretend game that lasts another hour with Mother (Kirsti), Sister (Allison), Baby Betsy (doll), and Lacy (a toy dog)) after preschool is over.

Miss Smith said Cienna knows some shapes and colors, loves to sing “Wheels on the Bus,” and can repeat any letter or number, but can’t count on her own yet…I should assist her in lengthening her attention span and encourage more consistent attendance if I want to see improvement in math.

I’ve heard Kirsten say that she’d like to be a teacher some day. (I think she’ll have 12 years experience before going to college.)Sept 2010 181

I’ve heard Allison proudly tell many random people, “I go to Pre-cool, and Kirssi is my teacher.” Sept 2010 194

And, yes, Pajama Day comes around quite often at this school.

I’ve seen Cienna perched in a chair at the colorful table vigorously coloring away, only glancing up to ensure she’s still accurately mimicking her fellow classmates. Sept 2010 195

And I’ve also heard Kirsten proclaim more than once and in a very serious tone, “Even though preschool is down in the basement where we play some of our other games, it’s not a game. It’s for REAL.”

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And it’s all FREE!!

It seems to be a winning educational experience for all parties involved.

I’ve heard President Obama talk about the need for educational reform…I wonder if there are any other first-graders and preschoolers out there who would like to band together with Miss Smith and take this revolutionary preschool idea to Washington.

I would back them up.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

To the EAST and To the WEST

Hello again!

Though we've had a long drought in posting updates, please be assured that besides a rare summer stomach flu (which managed to hit all 7 of us and may have been related to the salmonilla outbreak a few weeks ago) we have NOT dropped off the face of the earth, but have instead enjoyed a summer full of swimming, playing, Six Flags Great America-ing, visiting with friends and relatives, and traveling nearly coast to coast (via mini-van without DVD player).

Here are the brief stats of our summer adventures...
Total miles driven: 5546.38 miles
Number of hours in the car: 87 hours, 48 minutes
Number of states visited: 17 States + Ontario, Canada
Total $$ in parking tickets issued (all in NYC): $200 ($90 was refuted by the accused)
Approx. $$ spent on tolls (all East of the Mississippi....hmmm): $60
Number of family and friends visited: We lost track...over 100

Number of hours spent in swim suits: 40 (except for Cienna who spent more like 1000 hours in her swim suit because it was one of the obsessions that come as part of the "Nearly-2-Virus")

Favorite new rides at GA this summer: Brent: Superman; Amy: Raging Bull; Kenny: Raging Bull, front row; Diggy: Giant Drop; Kirsti: The Whizzer; Allison: Dorothy's Rosie Teacups; Cienna: Yogi's Yahoo River (aka long as the song "Move it, Move It" was playing in the background)

And the pics...

To The EAST: In May, we explored several Eastern states en route to a fabulous LDS home-school conference in Virginia.

First Stop: Kirtland, Ohio. My little history buffs and I loved seeing and feeling the spirit of the early pioneers.

We LOVED Newel K. Whitney's store where Joseph and Emma Smith lived for a short time.

Second Stop: Niagra Falls, NY and (after walking across the connecting bridge) Canada.

Brent took the older kids on the Maid of the Mist.

Third Stop: The Sacred Grove in Palmyra, NY.

On a peaceful spring Sunday morning before church, we found beauty all around filled our insides, too.

Fourth Stop: NYC, NY.

Our stroll through Central Park with Kirsten's namesake (my BYU roommate, Kirsten) was quite a contrast from the Sacred Grove...but yet another place to observe millions of God's Creations. Kenny even left his watch in Central Park overnight and it was STILL THERE the next morning! (But we would've traded the $200 in parking tickets for a stolen watch any day...except for the fact that a happy 9-year-old is priceless.)

We visited the World Trade Center site and rode the ferry past the Statue of Liberty.

I wonder what the man going up the escalator is thinking...his expression is representative of the MANY looks we received upon arriving in the Big Apple...a big place with lots of LITTLE spaces, most of which a family of 7 with a BIG double stroller barely fit (like our hotel elevator where we had to fold the stroller up in order to close the door...and half the family had to wait for another elevator).

Whose children are running through the fountain in their clothes?? So many crazy things happen in NYC!

Fifth Stop: Wilmington, DE.

We rested. We played with second cousins. We ate ice cream. The girls played with doll houses. The boys caught a skunk. We all watched Adam carefully, and oh so bravely, release the skunk.

Kirsten and Olivia.

Sixth Stop: Washington, D.C.

By the time we made it to Washington, D.C. (which was the hottest day of the May trip), even the White House wasn't as exciting as the sprinklers that happened to come on as we were resting our sore feet and deciding which monumental attractions to skip because we just couldn't walk another site-seeing step. DC will have to be the first stop next time. :)

Seventh Stop: Buena Vista, Virginia

At the end of the East Coast Trip, we met Cody and Utahna Albright (who drove up to VA from Mississippi with their 3 kids) at the LDS home-school conference on the Southern Virginia Campus. Brent and Cody (childhood BFFs) played for 2 days with the 8 kids while Utahna and I attended classes all day and swapped notes into the night.
The men and the kids visited a drive-through safari, which seemed like a great opportunity for a family of animal lovers to get up-close and personal with a variety of beasts. But when the "wild" animals, who are conditioned to charge at every vehicle window in search of buckets full of food, started licking the windows, the great adventure turned into a living nightmare for the majority of the Smith kids. No wonder Cienna was VERY scared of Bugs Bunny at Great America a few weeks later.

After a 10-day trip and saying good-bye to dear friends...we drove straight home.

And to the WEST:

I have my mother to thank for the success of this trip. She accompanied me as the driver of the mini-van trek across I-80. Due to work constraints, Brent flew in for just a few days for his brother's wedding in Salt Lake City.

My Mom and I had a great time chatting, visiting several of her siblings along the way in Iowa and Colorado (who fed us and gave us warm beds to sleep in), listening to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," feeding the kids suckers (the only reason Allison and Cienna were counting down until "The Long Car Ride"), examining liscense plates, and tolerating the kids' discovery that truck drivers enjoy honking at children who excitedly pump their arms up and down up against their windows.

A Utah trip also means we get to visit with my brother, Brian, and his wife Ashley. And the kids get to play with cousin Kylie!

Kylie has the perfect huge bean bags in her basement for playing "Belly Flops."

Brent's brother, Kevin (and new wife Brigette), got married on Aug. 3 in the Salt Lake City, UT Temple. It was a privilege to witness their true love and happiness. Congrats to the newlweds!

Kirsten admired Brigette's dress while Kenny and Diggy admired Kevin's taste in picking a beautiful bride.

Cienna and her Daddy outside the Salt Lake Temple

A Thousand Thanks to all who housed us and fed us!!