Onion

This is not a post about the fake news outlet, The Onion. Also, I know I should be blogging about this pregnancy already, but this post is about to take precedence. Trust me. So, on NYE, a friend of a friend mentioned some FB reading she had recently done on onions and two divergent thoughts.

1) Leaving a cut onion in a bowl will help if you have a cold (because allegedly, it draws toxins from the air and absorbs them, so it takes the "sick" out of your body). Evidently, this was done throughout history when the flu or the plague came around and people would put out bowls of cut onion in each room or on the window sill, etc. I haven't done enough research to back all the historical justifications up, but maybe I will.

2) When you do cut a raw onion, you should cook it or eat it right away, not store it, because (allegedly) it will also absorb the toxins from your refrigerator or the plastic container you store them in. The thought being that you should not eat that onion that has been stored because it now holds toxins. (This is the part that seemed mighty snopes-worthy...and was).

So, my personal cold, sniffles, coughing, sneezing recent history. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it was the worst. I had a runny nose, sore throat, cough, etc. So did Cece. Not what either of us hoped Santa would deliver for Christmas. I tried two Pinterest natural health remedies which were both effective but temporary fixes at best.

Eucalyptus Oil on Feet
The "Good" Stuff
And lots and lots of Marshmallows

Also, Jeff was amazing at helping out with Cece so I could get plenty of the one thing I needed most: rest.

Fast forward to a week later. Through NYE (because it's a holiday, so why wouldn't I get sick again - ugh) my nose started getting congested, so basically the opposite of what I had experienced before. Not runny, stuffy. To the not breathing through your nose extent that really impedes with sleeping and you end up with a really dry mouth and...you get the idea. Sinus headaches ensued. I went back to school on Wednesday and was losing my voice...again. Oh, and I had decided the Neti pot would help. Did that Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. With no success. The most annoying thing for a Neti pot user is to stand there with it pressed to your nostril with no progress. No flow, no clearing. That's when you know it's clogged up in there. So, Wednesday night, I made a recipe for dinner that necessitated half of an onion. And I looked at the other half and I thought.

I already had placed very little stock in #2 above. I found it unlikely that eating cut, stored onions would do me harm, so I was not trying to avoid storing the onion. I also am pretty willing to try any natural remedies, and the idea that #1 COULD work or do anything was very enticing to me. At least it couldn't hurt, right?

So, I left the cut onion out and did some research. I can't seem to find the original story, though I'd imagine it's the same one originally referenced on Snopes with a factory tour and a chemist. If anyone has the original and could post it in the comments, that would be great. What I did find were a bunch of myth-busting, hoax-slaying, Snopes websites that busted that story up. So, just so you all know. But there were still references to the historical use of cut onions around the house during or to prevent sickness. So, I went with that part. I removed the peel entirely, and cut the onion into smaller chunks figuring more exposed area would be better. The original suggestion had been to put it by the bed overnight. Oh, and another part said it would turn black "proving" that it had absorbed all those toxins from your body. It did not.

I wasn't quite at bedtime yet, so I walked around the house with my bowl of cut up onions. Figured that couldn't hurt. Forget holding your head over a steaming pot, hold your head over a bowl of onion. So, I do not know how effective this would be with an already runny nose, but for a stuffy nose. Magic. You know how a cut onion makes your eyes water and your nose run? Voila. Forward motion with my nose, loosening, clearing. Instantly. Seriously. I used the Neti pot before I started carrying my onion around and...nothing. Two hours later after sucking in some onion fumes, Niagra Falls. Straight shot. Clear through. No pressure. When I did go to bed, I kept the onion by our bed. If I started to feel stuffy, I held my head over the bowl and inhaled deeply. Since Cece loves sleeping with us, she generally joins the party halfway through the night. She's still had a cough, especially aggravated when horizontal in bed. She slept through the rest of the night with NO coughing. People. This is crazy. In the morning, I was reluctant to ditch our onion. It's the only one in the house right now. I was also reluctant to take it away from my sleeping baby's side. So, I split the chunks in half and put half in a container and left half by the bedside. I'm bringing my half to school. Apologies in advance that I, (and possibly after today the library) smell of onion. But trust me, it's good stuff. Quite frankly, I'm frightened that my nose will stuff right back up. I'm an onion addict. We also clearly need to stock up on more onions. Clearly.

Happy Holidays

Our Holiday Card

Dear Daughter 2012

Dear Daughter,

           Today, you turned three and your daddy and I couldn’t be more proud of you.  Your personality has really shone through this year, though you’ve never been a shrinking violet.  You will often squinch up one, if not both, eyes when asking a particularly philosophical question.  You will run your fingers through your long flowing locks (ahem) when you are flustered and stand with a hand on your hip when taking a stand.  

You’ve been known to stomp when you really want to make your point but with the gift of an ever growing vocabulary, you are able to fluently and clearly communicate your every wish and desire.  I’ve been known to explain that you don’t always get what you want, but still, you do let us know what you want and for that I admire you.  In your third year, you continue to be petrified of Santa Claus as well as ANY other large costumed character.  You seem (wisely) mistrustful of them, skeptical and wanting to keep your distance.  Unfortunately for you, I am your mother, and I still feel that the BEST Santa pictures are ones where the child (you) are screaming.  And you always deliver.  One day, this fear will fade, but until then I will document that moment in time. 

            You went through a strong skirt/dress phase this year and have shown your preference for all shoes high heeled.  Again, unfortunately for you, I am your mother, and your selection of high heeled dress up shoes is rather limited, but you found and wore every pair.  I would often come home from work to find all my shoes splayed out on the closet/bedroom floor with a trail leading into the living room. 

            One of the phrases I’ve now heard you utter often made my heart soar.  “That happens sometimes.”  I’m sure daddy and I both said it often, cementing it in your brain for when something unfortunate would happen.  And it did.  At a Phillies game in the late spring, you insisted on sitting on your own seat and at one point tried to get down from your seat.  Picture the scene.  We are literally in the last/highest row of the stadium with our backs to the chain link fence.  It has just begun to pour heavily.  You caught one foot on the seat and tipped forward and caught your mouth on the seat in front of you.  My heart in my throat, I scooped you up as you screamed bloody murder and, for that matter, spat blood.  I couldn’t breathe.  Being the determined, independent, and all the same at that moment, embarrassed young woman that you are, you refused to let me look in your mouth and my thoughts raced through all of the worst case scenarios (something I don’t often do with you): broken teeth or biting your tongue or some other eventuality that happens to people who don’t stop often enough to count their blessings.  As it was, you had a bump inside your lip and that was it, but I had to wait until you were asleep at home in your bed to check.  The next morning, when you described to daddy that you had fallen (you saw a scrape on your knee, also a result of the fall) you said, “That happens sometimes.”  I was so proud of your resilience.  Mostly because one year old Cece used to wail and faint away at the sight of a cut on her knee, each and every time she spied it.  You used to ask us to put pants or dresses on long enough to cover any scrapes.  But this time, “That happens sometimes.”  That was a big step in growing up.  But you can stop now…with all this growing up.  Sometimes I want to freeze you right where you are, but I’m also curious to know who you will grow up to be.  As you would say, “Cecelia Ann Zschunke.”

            Though your vocabulary is growing every day, you still sometimes say things grammatically wrong.  Some people correct you.  I do not.  I like it.  It won’t last forever, these nuances in speech.  I mean to document them with a sound or video recorder and then another day is over.  Well spent, running through the sprinkler, playing at the pool, conducting epic tea parties, playing with friends, making new friends, going to the playground/park/store/library, visiting with family and friends and going to “another” place.  In those moments, daddy says you are my daughter.  Always trying to squeeze in just one more place into the day.

            You’re very independent, wanting to do it yourself.  There are whole shows dedicated to DIY-ers like yourself.  This is when having us as parents comes in handy.  Because whenever possible, we DO let you do it yourself.  You break eggs into the bowl (sometimes with some hand over hand help), stir ingredients, mix batter, load and unload the dishwasher, put clothes into and take them out of (with the help of a stepstool) the washer and dryer, put on clothes, take off clothes, go to the potty by yourself, spread cream cheese/peanut butter/butter yourself, cut your hot dog into pieces (by yourself).  Are you getting the idea here?

            For as much as you like to do things by yourself, you still like mommy and daddy to carry you, to be close to us and snuggle.  One of your phrases that I don’t correct is “Cally (sounds like carry) me” with arms outstretched up.  One thing you don’t like to do by yourself lately is go to bed.  You’ve been through a tricky transition to a new house and we can chalk it up to that, but you love some mommy time at bedtime and at any point throughout the night that you deem company necessary.  I know that all these moments will be fleeting and I’ll look back unable to remember all the details.  So I try to treasure our night time rendezvous, but sometimes that can be hard.

            At the tail end of your third year, we semi-successfully sold our home, a 2 bedroom condo where you came home to from the hospital.  We have so many happy memories in that home and loved it, but it was time to move on to our next adventure.  Which is in mom-mom’s house!  You have loved having more time with mom-mom and I think mom-mom has liked it a little too.  You often have tea parties and snuggle up to enjoy a movie with mom-mom.  She taught you all about Goldilocks and loves to walk you out to the mailbox.  We are lucky to have such a generous mom-mom who has welcomed us to share her roof.

            Big girl, today you are three.  Which you will tell anyone who will listen as you hold up three fingers, though not the traditional three.  You extend your pinkie, ring finger, and middle finger while you hold your pointer finger and thumb together.  You will also break into the Happy Birthday song on command.  Today, we celebrate with friends.  You’ve recently expressed a real love for art or “aaatt” and thoroughly enjoy crafting.  Today, you have an “arty party”.  But the party for you is every day.  You wake up with excitement for what is to come whether it is your birthday or…a Tuesday.  It’s all the same to you. 

          You have become such a caring and thoughtful friend to others.  I love to see you hug, kiss, and hold hands with friends.  You are gentle with babies and you share with peers...for the most part.  You get SO excited to see friends and spend time doing just about anything with them - swimming, going to the park, playing in a box, it doesn't matter.

  

          This year, you start preschool and you have been excited to begin for many months now.  We registered in February and you were ready to take the bus (which you won’t be doing) with your backpack (which you’re not allowed to take to preschool) the very next day.  We’re happy that you’re happy and I hope that in your fourth year as you enter preschool in September that every day is one filled with wonder.

We love you, Cece!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

May

How fitting that I read this in the month of May. This one line is from a poem called "May" and found in the book "White Pine". It is one line from a longer poem about a snake and fear and the letting go of fear.

I hope to see everything in this world before I die.

~Mary Oliver

Life

#11 from "In Backwater Woods" as found in the book: "White Pine"

Each moment has been so slow and so full
and so drenched in sweetness and my life
has gone by so fast

~Mary Oliver

National Poetry Month

WAS in April but I've been inspired in May to read some poetry. After reading Kelle Hampton's book, "Bloom", she makes reference to discovering the work of poet, Mary Oliver, through a blogging friend and the quote that begins the books is from a poem by Mary Oliver. So, I requested some of Oliver's books of poetry from the library. And did some discovering of my own. I will share some of my favorite bits and pieces as I come across them.

"Bloom" where you're planted

I recently finished reading Kelle Hampton's book, "Bloom." And it was/is beautiful. I read it upon a friend's recommendation without any idea what it was about. And so, I'm not planning to tell you either. I will tell you a little about how I got it. It was not available from the public library, my first line of book reading defense. Yet. If they are smart, they will invest in a copy. I looked it up on a website designed to purchase books online but also benefit an independent bookstore. My favorite indie bookstore is Doylestown Bookstore. But, I also get a monthly coupon there and couldn't use it if I purchased online. So, I called the store, they ordered the book and called me when it was in and I had an excuse to go to Doylestown that evening too. I've been trying to do a lot more local shopping. I already try to eat local through my CSA, but like so many people, I've fallen into the convenience over the years of going to Target, or the mall to purchase items. Likewise, I am a fan of a consignment sale that is held in nearby Bryn Athyn twice a year. I like the opportunity to re-use and recycle items that might have otherwise been thrown away and to make those purchases at a fraction of the normal cost. So, more recently when I'm on the hunt for an item, I'll check a thrift store or a consignment store first. You might not always find what you're looking for, but there are hidden treasures as well. For example, Second Fiddle, a kids consignment store on York Road in Hatboro has brand new, still packaged "Melissa and Doug" items at a lower cost than you would find them in other stores. As well as tons of super cute stuff. Replay Toys on Street Road in Warminster is packed with great stuff. So, I've realized instead of waiting for a twice a year consignment sale, I can do this year round on an a needed basis. I'm also trying to make local choices when eating out and supporting locally owned small restaurants like (my #1 all time favorite) Bryn and Dane's on Horsham Road in Horsham, Basically Burgers and (brand new) Sweet Spot on Main Street in Doylestown. So, while the title of this post refers to a book with an incredible an affirming journey, I would venture to encourage others to do a little new blooming by staying put. Shop close to home. Invest in your local economy by purchasing from a neighbor instead of a huge corporation. You'll save some gas too!