A Soft Landing Blog

Cha Cha Cha Cha Changes....

2011-11-02T15:40:00.001-07:00

The Baby Gear portion of A Soft Landing is officially closed...

For similar products please check out Mothers' Melody Market on 3rd Avenue South. They are carrying many more options in cloth diapering along with a huge selection of products and services to help you give your baby the best start. Thanks to the many of you who made A Soft Landing part of your Saturday morning routine while we were in the market.

Diane will be teaching Lamaze classes and making every effort to finish this Midwifery degree before I'm completely gray. Will be blogging at Mama Goose and will keep you posted.

Fruitluck?

2011-08-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

I've hit that point in my health. I will make my way to the "grown up" midwife stage sometime in the next year or two and I realize with every doula birth I attend right now that the knees have it. When I am engaged in a birth, every sense I have is awake. To witness something this incredible, we must have our eyes wide open... unless everyone else in the room is asleep at which time I always take a little snooze. At Maizie's birth, I was taught how to sleep like a midwife and will never forget that little gift. Either way, I find that I don't ever seem to feel pain in the birth, whether it's 8, 18 or 48 hours. I feel it after though and while I know some birthy's probably go for a run after a birth... I just go for a shower and a sleep.

I was invited to a "Fruitluck" yesterday and the day just didn't allow for it. It isn't that I think it's cooky to go raw or eat fruit. I love fruit and I'm a little bit of a "nut" I am told! Actually, I didn't go partly because I know that if I have the info I need, then I have no excuses to choose dim sum over a bowl of peaches... right? And partly I have been hopeless about keeping up with my assignments since my return from Ghana so when I get into a groove of schoolwork, I hardly want to leave my nest. So, I blew it off. I took a break long enough to pick EmBem up from the dentist and then as I was about to meet the lovely Susan, ran into Maizie's parents, who are due soon. I love the fact that there are repeats (I lovingly refer to them as "second offenders" :) ~ this is a highlight and such an honor.

I digress again... My daughter invited us to go see a flick at The Broadway after all. So it meant I had to move out of my zone. The flick, www.forksoverknives.com spoke to me ~ So whether I chased it or not, I was met twice with the reality that my diet is going to have to get seriously better. I am not at my best in terms of my health these days. Several factors and food being a significant part of it. My knees tell me with every crack that the time has come. Glad I went. Time to re~think my food choices.

My soul sister took this at the market last week... and we ate peaches!

For the Girl, Mama & Nana in us all...

2011-03-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

There's something special about a fourth

2011-03-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

Little girl turned 15 on the weekend and I am again reminded that parenting doesn't necessarily get easier just because they are growing up. Where one child might demand nothing for their Birthday, another might wish for the moon. Heather is proof that we must not limit ourselves by the thoughts of others or by what we think we can do. She is proof that, as a wise, young woman in my life reminds me; time is not limited, we are limited. When Heather came along, her Dad was still in university and because of this, we felt limited by all kinds of things. I was in a phase of my life where I felt that our decision to have another child would be questioned and perhaps judged because of our limitations. But I knew in my heart that this baby knew me already, that "he" (by declaration of an ultrasound) was meant to be our last child and that I better take extra special care of myself. One way that I did this was by not engaging the ideas of others in the process. This meant that I became very private about my pregnancy. I didn't share it with very many people and I made a point of moving and eating well. I was very healthy for this baby. Of course, having 3 others under the age of 6 kept me busy and I worked through a Life Skills Contract while carrying her, not to mention she was born just before the end of a semester so her Dad was also pretty busy. Either way, when I think back I often wonder how we did it.

The results - an amazing, lovely girl? Another girl meant a name other than the one we had chosen (Levi after her Grandfather). It was so close to St. Patrick's Day that I thought a good, Irish name was needed. Heather's birth was my most gentle and calm birth but it took some effort to maintain gentle and calm while my body was behaving like a warrior. Truly a mix of strength and weakness was needed to bring this little (big) girl into the world. We went home with our little Kaighley and by noon realized that she was just too soft to carry that hard K around. Being spring in Vancouver, there was Heather growing outside and this name just fit her. This child attached to me in a way that I hadn't expected and has been my shadow her whole life. There is just something so precious about you as a person my girl. Welcome to another year of being wonderful you!

Lovely Baby Links!

2011-03-03T06:40:00.001-08:00

Looking for the perfect gift or need just the right diaper? Can't find what you're looking for locally? Check out the links on our home page and find yourself shopping in your p.j's.

Look to our fine Affiliates - You won't be disappointed

Tea Collection

Cub turns 17!

2011-02-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

This is my son - it's been true for me that son's are less emotionally demanding in terms of their drama. But the emotions that I have experienced with this boy certainly run the same gamut as the girls. Starting with the additional 14 days he stayed past what I thought was enough. When my OB expressed concern I was at least empowered enough to ask some questions. This baby was a planned VBAC after two C-Sections and it was my heart's desire to do everything I could to make it happen. I had a wonderful Doula (Anne Leibau), who went on to become a Midwife. I think of her every year as I look through the photos she took and think of the demands I put on her during Sean's birth. (Of course I'm looking through a different lens and know that she was just a wonderful Doula, doing what she needed to do to help me get through it). Still, if we think of active labor as beginning around the time we are 4cm, it was a measurable 36 plus hours after that, after every intervention in the book (minus the C-section), that this big guy made his appearance... OP, meaning face up, meaning back labor and lots of pain and effort. Either way, born at 5:30 am and home by noon. I felt like a Warrior Princess of Birth! Emotions ran deep over this guy. I would never be the same person after this.

When there started to be medical issues, I struggled through the muddy waters of denial and waited past the safe mark to get the help I needed for my boy. The emotions that came with having to admit I was worried, allow surgery, SUPPLEMENT! Really challenging times, that we came through quite nicely. My boy will never be like all the other boys - he is defined only by the power of Sean! If you know him, you know what I mean. His 17th Birthday was actually yesterday but I didn't have time to write. By the end of the day, he had over 100 wall posts on his Facebook Page. If key people were missing the boat on wishing him a happy birthday, he would gently remind them through a personal message. Today, we are already talking about next year's birthday and discussing how many wall posts he might have then. With the rapid changes to Social Media, will there even still be Facebook this time next year? That being said, he's marking his calendar already and knows which day of the week all of his birthdays past and future fall on :)

There's just something precious about this kid and he brings people through all the emotions of life, just by being himself!

Regrets? None ~ We get what we need and because I believe in God, I believe that Sean was chosen for this family and we for him. I for his mother and he for my son... Just like my girls, only easier to reason with.

Happy Birthday a day late Sean! Mom Loves You Very Much!!!

Make Like a Hen & Get Zen... with Buddha

2011-02-06T07:40:00.000-08:00

...And Beans

Mr. Applebee ~ Midwife Guy

2011-02-04T04:26:00.000-08:00

My first experience of a Midwife took the form of an older gentleman who lived in my neighborhood in the tiny town of Wingham, Ontario - Mr. Applebee was his name. One day I was out in the hood, walking my caterpillar collection (quart sealers with tiny fork holes in the lid so they could breath). I was 5 by the way so I thought caterpillars were "pets" who needed care. Mr. Applebee came outside to the road to say hi. He had been working in his garden in the front yard. This was the only town I ever lived in where gardens were typically in the front of the house. I told him I was trying to keep the caterpillars away from my Mom because she thought I should let them all go. Suddenly, I was stung by a bee and began to howl.

Mr. Applebee ever so quietly went to his garden and wet some dirt. He gently placed a mud pack on my sting and I felt immediate relief. Somehow he got the stinger out and I continued on my way, happy as a clam. There was a feeling of safety that came with the way he immediately moved on with me. He told me the physics of why it worked because I asked the question. Mr. Applebee allowed me to stand in my power and feel strong and happy. He didn't need me to rave on about how wonderful he was or go to a place of weakness. It was okay when I needed him and it was okay when I didn't.

Did this make him a midwife? Maybe not but there was something very healing and gentle about him. I want to be that kind of Midwife ~ One who you just feel safe with, quiet and attentive and only doing what is needed when needed.

Welcome Bill

2011-01-28T05:09:00.000-08:00

Back to Saskatoon! We're glad you're here and can't wait to hear you light up our community tonight! Thanks for being my peace loving friend!

Bill Bourne

Nana Taggart...

2011-01-28T05:05:00.000-08:00

...graduated from nursing school when she was on the younger side of 60. Who does that? Who goes back to school as an adult and bothers to finish up? Why would you bother? As my dream and the dream of some of my peers, Eileen, Lisa, Janice, Robin, etc, etc to become a Midwife draw closer to reality; I am often faced with the question of "how in the h... are we supposed to balance families and work and school?" I'd rather to have waited until I know who and what I am before putting myself out there. As I witness my beautiful children growing into such amazing people, I am so glad I had them first and waited to do this now. I Thank God for this life!

~ We are baby catchers ~ We catch babies ~ if we aren't quite at the catching point, we can see ourselves catching ~ We are strong, capable women who help strong, capable women in the moments when they are brought to their knees by birth ~ We are baby catchers ~ We catch babies and their Mamas ~

"Grace"

2011-01-16T06:43:00.000-08:00

My Friend, Emily is one of my favorite human beings. We have the kind of relationship where it doesn't matter how much time goes by, we are just friends who can connect as if our last meeting were just yesterday. Now don't get me wrong, we have passionate debates and we even get cranky with each other in the moment. It's like there is so much to catch up on and talk about, we are both fighting for air time. We often come to the same point and agree, only to continue to argue just because it feels so good to have that safety to yell and swear when so much of the time, our lives don't allow for that. She a minister and me an aspiring midwife. I try to keep my passion under wraps when I enter a birth... (except for those moments of positive passion that are only appropriate at a birth). One time, in conversation with Emily I was in a low place and I asked her to tell me what feeling I could choose, to replace anguish and she, little pearl of wisdom that she is said "Diane!" which she often pronounces DIIIIAAAANNNE! "Grateful! It's that simple! Be Grateful because you have aLOT to be grateful for; and you can't be in anguish if you're grateful" I re-framed my sadness and chose grateful. It's true and has proven true for me over and over again.

The song here is Bill Bourne playing "Grace." He is coming to Saskatoon on the 28th of January. Call The Refinery Box Office at 653-5191 or McNally Robinson @ 955-3599 for tickets. There is a facebook event too in case you're more savvy to that. This morning I am filled with Gratitude for what has past and for this moment and for whatever lies ahead. And if we have gratitude, grace can't be far away.

Gone in the Morning

2011-01-14T03:58:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been finding that by 8 or 9pm, I'm so bagged I cannot even hold my head up. As much as I'd like to fight it, I just can't. I'm 40 I guess and my body and mind are starting to surprise me sometimes. I used to tease my parents about eating at 3pm and being in bed by 8pm but now that I'm there (some of the time), I take it back. My Dad used to get up around Midnight and we'd often find him asleep in "his chair" early in the morning. He didn't always do it but usually there would be snacks involved.

This morning Arthur barked at 3am because he doesn't think people should be walking outside at that time of night (or day). I got up and hushed him and try as I might, couldn't go back to sleep. Oddly, when I have to wake up to be somewhere early, I have a really hard time without my coffee and yet, phone me at 2am and tell me you think labor may be starting and I'm wide awake. I'd rather hear the phone ring than the dog bark :) So, as I wander around in the wee hours with no interest in late night or early morning TV, I find myself pondering the meaning of life starting with birth. When I wake up this early sometimes I get sad and anxious about all the areas of my life that are not working perfectly well. I sometimes wish I was on a warm island with nothing to eat but pineapple, mangos and coconuts. I pull up homework or blog or check facebook. I try not to eat, even though I'm hungry; because one of my morning thoughts is "you really need to lose this weight so you can attend births without postpartum back pain."

My journey to Africa is getting closer, now into the OMG this is really happening stage. I'm really going to be a Midwife (some say I became a midwife the moment I felt the spiritual call). I seem to be feeling some anxiety. All the 'what if's' are creeping up. I'm struggling to get my brain wrapped around which homeopathic's to take along? How many shampoo bars should I take? Maybe I should take all that I have and give them as gifts from Canada? And the most challenging question, How? How did I get here? How did I get lucky enough to figure out who and what I am before my knees give out? How am I going to get healthier so I can stand up for 24 hours at a time and still be useful? How am I going to pay for all this and pay my bills? How can I possibly maintain my existing relationships when my head is reeling? How can I keep my cynical feelings from creeping into my current reality? How, how, how???

I want my Mom... and my Dad. At least with them I could say the words "I'm having a cynical morning" and know that they would let me sleep as a reward for my stellar use of the dictionary.

Back to 2011 - Soon I will see my bedraggled little, curly headed charmer as she slowly wakes up and I will know that I must stay the cold weather and only go away if it involves catching babies and finishing university. Heather is my fourth child, now a teeny bopper. I call her GF (grand finale), my power birth, HFM (short for Heatherfeathermerryweather), Pickle and her least favorite, "Heath." As I parent young adults and teenagers, I am consistently reminded of my "Reality," even while they sleep.

This song is probably about a lover who is "gone in the morning" but for me it's an expression of those mornings when I'm climbing into bed after a night of Blessed Birth and of times I just wish for warmth and fruit and clarity of thought and no responsibilities to take me out into the snow.

Footling Breech Stands Up To Birth!

2011-01-14T03:36:00.000-08:00

My first born is 22 years old today. And while she is probably sick of hearing it, I love telling about her birth... While waiting for 1989 to arrive, I found myself nesting in my little 1 bedroom apartment in Edmonton; wondering if I was really going to be able to do any of the required parts of birth. I'd done nothing to educate myself about birth but somehow had the idea that the we would be just fine. I was still young enough to think I was invincible and that nothing was impossible. I felt contractions as a mild inconvenience and didn't think much of them but knew that something was different. Not knowing any better, I went into the hospital about 2 hours after I started feeling the contractions. Not being very empowered and feeling admittedly scared by this time, I took the first shot I was offered and drifted off to sleep. By this time on January 1st, I was back in active labor and was feeling as close to ready as I would feel before hearing the words "dangling footling breech something something something... emergency C-section!" I was so naive, I had no idea what any of this meant and no one was taking a moment to explain anything to me. I don't remember the rest of the birth. But... The real birth was hours later, when I was given my daughter. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her and knew that I would lay my life down for her. It was like I was born too. I know lots of women say that. We say it because it's true. My baby knew that she was mine and ate like a trooper within seconds of arriving in my tired arms. My whole body woke up and I began to live in a different way than ever before. Began living for another human being. The journey of parenting has brought so many challenges and joys. And now as I watch other Mom's be born, I see them learning and reading everything they can get their hands on. The advice I wish I'd been given when I began this journey would have been to trust my body to know what to do and to follow the baby where ever she decides to take me.

Needless to say, she was ravenous after that many hours of separation and was not out of my sight for the rest of our stay. She had the cutest little cry and sometimes when I really miss her presence, I play the cassette tape I have of her first laughter. Aryn, as you return from Ghana for the second time, please enjoy your Birthday. While you adjust to life back in Canada keep your feet under you as you make your way home ~ Mom Loves you!

Post Christmas Food & Long Live Ireland! Part II

2011-01-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

By noon today I had received an email from my Aunt Pat, who is a beautiful mix of all the best women in the world. As I said in my earlier entry, Aunt Pat is about the only link I have to the Truth of Taggart history. So, when she tells me something, I take it as fact. If she doesn't know something, she's the first to admit it and I value that. I told her I would make the corrections and this is best done by re-counting our dialogue. This further illustrates the reality bending of Taggart history that I grew up with.

Begin forwarded message:
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011 11:18 am Subject: Family geneology

"Hey Diane, Enjoyed your version of my family history. Just a few corrections. The picture you showed as the Taggart Family
is really a picture of the William and Rachel Bowyer family. The oldest in the back of the picture is Ora Bowyer Reid. Your Great Grandmother on your mother's side. Also your Grandfather Roy Taggart was born in Fargo, Ontario Canada [a village outside of Chatham Ontario that was a railroad town]. His Father, William was born in Kansas USA. This is where the story of the wagon comes in. His Father William with his wife Mary Glascow went to Kansas on a covered wagon.I couldn't find where William Taggart the 1st was born. So they were a fifth generation Canadian. My Dad said they were originally from Ireland but were driven out as sheep stealers and went to Scotland. But I have no proof of that other than the stories told. My search for Taggart history was frustrating to me as there was not much recorded. My cousin from a sister of my Dad, Winifred, is the only one still alive and she wasn't able to give me much. Where as Mom's side there was lots of documenting done. My Uncle Bob's daughter[ Nana Taggart's brother] is now doing Reid history but she didn't find much more than I had."

Aunt Pat

I replied with Thanks and asked her to clear up the lies I had told early this morning. It would seem that I was really off the mark when I said the kid in the front was my Grandfather...
Her response is as follows:

Begin forwarded message:
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011 11:26 am Subject: Family geneology

"Centre back is Ora - Left to right Brant and Owen. Rachel and William Bowyer (your grandma's parents). They lived in Norfolk county until they died. On Rachels lap is Rex Clayton is on the floor." (the only name I recognized was that of my Great, Great Grandparents, William and Rachel and I was shocked I even knew those names). She goes on to say "There is a picture of Popa is when he was about 4 years old. He is wearing a dress. Look in you group of pictures. You may have it . If not let me know and I will get it copied and send. Story goes that his sister Win saved her milk money from school and bought him that red taffetas dress for Xmas." Aunt Pat

Now, please don't get me wrong. I'm going to continue to try to convince my offspring that they come from a long line of Irish "Mafia" who helped St. Patrick drive all the snakes out of Ireland. I will keep the story of the Irish Anise Seed alive and will keep a journal of the photos that Aunt Pat can label for me; with the REAL identities of real relatives they will never know. The oral tradition of bent reality will live on! So my kids will have something to talk about to their kids.

Meanwhile, here is the latest addition to part of our family that I know for sure! Little Raymond, my Great Nephew on my side. My sister's daughter Rolanda and her husband Richard are the proud parents. I promise to know you Baby Ray! To be in your life and tell you as many truths as I can about your family, your roots. But I also plan to tell you some of the urban legends about your great, great grandfather who stood to be 7 feet tall and could take down a tree with one hand and who knew how to cook ostrich to perfection :)

Love, Aunty Diane

Post Christmas Food & Long Live Ireland!

2011-01-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

Goal for this morning: Finish cooking the yumminess that I started 2 hours ago, eat the first piece and shower up before I have to go to work. My teenagers sleep in now which makes up for all the rest of the time when they are more demanding than an hourly nursing infant. I love the quiet morning with a good cup of java and a clear plan for the day. This morning I woke up thinking of the unsuspecting mixture of meaty lovely pork and beef sitting in the fridge half mixed... waiting for me to complete it. My brother, Dwaine has been waiting since Christmas Day for me to get it together and make a second batch just for him. But of course I can't just tell you the recipe, I need to tell the story that goes with it. BRB! I have to go get a piece and eat it while I type...

K, I'm back :) mmmmm - So 2010 has been a year of so many changes, some small and some profoundly huge. With changes come lessons and I believe if I am open to the lesson I have a better shot at making permanent, positive change happen. These in combination make us wiser... I think. One of the changes that I opted to make this year was the way in which I reflect on my childhood and the family that I was tossed into. We all have issues about our upbringing and if we say we don't, lucky us for having denial that allows us to think we had it perfect. This year I had the opportunity to reconnect with the Scott side of my family by attending the first family reunion in many years. What a mix of humanity we've all turned out to be. The fear I had about being surrounded by my extended family was quickly settled by the knowledge that we are part of each other and that we were blessed enough to get together and celebrate our blood lines, even if some of the lines were clogged with issues that are really not ours to worry about. Since that weekend, I have added and been added by most of my cousins on that side and we are navigating family relationships by choice rather than by default. It is a fun and nerve wracking ride since I have worked so hard to build a life with or without those family ties. Many of my friends have stood in as family when I've needed them. But this summer, I felt connected and I liked it.

Now onto the other side of the fam ~ The Taggart Clan ~ The history of this group runs deep with Irish blood and faith and whiskey and irish soda bread placed at the Wake with the guest of honor. I knew so much about this side growing up. The pride of those Irish lines - Here are some facts that I was taught about my Taggart family. Our Papa Taggart was 14lbs at birth and was the second last baby. His Mother broke her hips birthing him in a wagon on a journey through Dublin. He was fed potato water in addition to his milk because he was so big. He grew to be 6 ft 8" and spoke 14 languages. He was one of the most heroic members of the Ontario Provincial Police and was posted in Germany in WW11, coming back wounded, etc. The only evidence I have of his stature is in the picture here (the one sitting in the front of his poor mother). My Mother told me he was only 2 years old here. I've no doubt he was a big fellow but fortunately, my Aunt Pat who is the matriarch of our generation has been able to clear up some of the other bits for me. Note the fact that there is a 5th child in the photo, indicating that Ora's hips may have been okay after the birth of Roy Joseph.

My father had a deep love of my Papa who was my Mother's Dad and they shared a love of food and cooking odd things and feeding their families with them. I bring you Anise Seed Sausage or The Taggart/Scott Brunch. Legend is that this sausage was an irish food along with the blood sausage, bacon, fried potatoes, head cheese, fried green tomatoes and eggs. Coffee being the main course. For the first several years of my adult life, I tried to carry on this Christmas Eve Brunch tradition and invited everyone I knew to come to my house and eat my Irish food. And then Reverend Jo Ponic came into my life. "Diane, I'm pretty sure that anise seed is a middle eastern spice used in italian foods, etc. I've never heard of it as irish before." and the lovely Doris Taylor, may she rest in peace; born in Ireland tells me that blood sausage was borrowed from the English and that head cheese is just "so disgusting that no one should have to eat it." (remind me to tell you my headcheese story). Enter google - http://www.aniseeds.com/ I have been free of the Christmas Eve brunch for the past 2 years and I must say, I have alot more energy on Christmas Day now. I start the day with making anise seed sausage. I make it take 3 hours and tell my kids my own story about how the Irish saved the country by growing and harvesting anise seed. I know they will figure it out sooner than I did but until they decide they want the truth, I'm going to let a few of these little myths remain part of our oral tradition. Long live the Irish!

Recipe, prepare a mixture of ground beef and ground pork as you would if you were making hamburgers. Add some spices and a large amount of anise seed to make it taste Irish. Cook as you would meatballs or bugers. Let the mixture sit for a couple of hours so that you can say it took 3 hours to make :) Very impressive!

Now, off to work... and reality.

Yog "hurt"

2010-11-10T04:57:00.000-08:00

My Mother, bless and rest her soul would often comment on my ability to follow a recipe (or lack thereof). One of her favorite comments was "if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing right." She tried both patiently and impatiently to teach me to create some of what I used to call her “hippy foods.” The only time I was ever successful with any of this was when she would walk me through each part and then ever so gently fix my errors. So, until this experience, I would have told you that I know how to make both yogurt and sourdough.

For this assignment, I tried my hand at both foods and failed miserably at each attempt. I tried yogurt twice and video taped as two of my dear friends watched in disbelief as I poured the results down the sink. My Mother wouldn’t approve as she would have diligently found a use for what was left of the milk product. I thought of that too late. Char & Tammy were much more gentle with me citing the "age of the starter and the temperature in the pot during the process." But I know that if Helen had been in the room, all three of them would have ganged up and teased me unmercifully... and I would have loved every minute of it.

My sourdough was a close second... It grew hair and met with the garbage can. If I'm honest, I'll tell you that my family's idea of sourdough had a masculine name and took the form of a "Friendship Bread." (Herman was his name as my sister, Donna tells it). All these years later I think it was all a trick. If these were really friends then why would they give you a sour cream container with fermenting "dough starter." When I think about some of the things my generation were fed, I realize that maybe our parents were just trying to build up our immune systems.

It isn’t that I won’t try again. I will be more careful to follow the recipe in the book, which has been an extremely good resource. I am certainly motivated to get it right. However, I am planning to take a class in which I will have a chance to re-learn how in a hands on environment.

Mama

2010-10-31T05:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Annie Lennox,

These lyrics speak to how we are all born, regardless of our birth plan. We can re-birth ourselves and each other if we treat each other with kindness.

Thanks for making this song :)

Love, Mama

I was watching the woman that was walking down my street
Walking with grace, so beautifully, carefully
She's a big and pretty mother, big and pretty mother
Swinging her hand-bag back and forth so joyfully
She's drawing circles with her breasts in her jumper

Give me a big mother
Huge and loving one
I can crawl upon
And cling to

She's a large woman...
Warm and cuddly...
Wet lady...
Strong mother...

She's walking down the street in front of my window
Whistling funky tunes in the ears of my neighbours

Give me a big mother
One that will always want me
Hot, embracing mother
I can crawl upon
And cling to

Can't be safer, can't be more secure
Than with a breast in each palm
Than with a breast in each palm
That is the way that I was born
And that is the way that I want to die

Give me a big mother
Yes, a soft and wet one
That would caress me
In all those special places

Where's a strong mother
One that squeezes me
One that I can crawl upon

So Grown Up

2010-10-31T03:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Neve!

I know you know how much you were wanted and how very much you are loved. The people in your life cannot help but adore you. I think you are a light and a blessing to everyone.

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby!

Love,

Di Nan

Sauerkraut!

2010-10-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Make a fermented fruit or veggie...

I remember being mortified by the stench in the house when my Mom would make Sauerkraut. She used a wooden barrel and left it outside for what seemed like the whole summer. In early October she would open that barrel up for the last time, pull out the first scuzzy looking layer and set it on our plates with a bit of farmer’s sausage and a perogi. We were stricken with fear of what would kill us first, the smell or the taste. Mom would give us the stern look and state the usual “waste not want not.” Translation = “you’ll eat it for breakfast if you don’t eat it now.” It wouldn’t have mattered...it would have been the same experience. And again, deep down I secretly loved it. Loved the super sour taste and the odd freshness about it. I loved the way my stomach would feel full and happy afterward. Thanks Mom :) Sorry I fussed so much... it was just for show.

Diane's Recipe - Get out an ice cream bucket with a loose fitting lid and fill it half way with vinegar, add some sea salt and shredded cabbage. Place it on the fridge and forget about it. Two weeks later, open and serve with farmer’s sausage and a perogi. Know that the kids will fuss and even gag as they choke back the sweet sourness of this German rooted treat.

Remember how I was inspired by the Nutrition for Midwives class? While I may be done the class, I'm not done with the content. I want to continue to learn about this subject. In fact one of the Midwives in Utah spent nearly an hour with one couple JUSTon the topic of healthy eating in pregnancy. One of the texts for the class is called "Nourishing Traditions - Challenging Politically Correct Nutrition." by Sally Fallon. After I finished the class I shelved the book only to pull it out a couple of days later to look something up. If you want to really know the serious reasons why fermentation is truly good for your health, I recommend having a look through this little treasure.

This is the house in Simcoe, Ontario that my Mom was raised in. I'm not sure if my Nana made fermented cabbage but I suspect she may have. Most of my memories of this house are of the "early childhood" variety. Mostly, me getting in trouble for being such a little rotter. My siblings and cousins have more memories than I do, but I have anchors of smells and images in my head of the kitchen. There was a door off the kitchen that took you out to the backyard where you could just play safely for hours. I don't have any bad memories of this place and as long as it exists, I feel connected to my family and have a sense of roots

I was back to this house a couple of years ago to lay my Mother's ashes to rest in the family plot. I spent some time in the back yard and realized that this place really was as beautiful as I thought; only now I am old enough to appreciate it more. Another thought I had was "wouldn't this make a fabulous birth house?"

Broth

2010-10-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of year is and has always been fall. My favorite memories of my childhood includes the beautiful aroma of hot soup. While many of my classmates were lucky if a can of campbell’s were opened, I would rush home on the cool fall days taking the occasional kick at the orange and red piles of leaves. Like clockwork I would enter the house of aroma and turn on The Flintstones! Of course at the time I can remember pretending to hate it and would complain that I wanted what everyone else had. But deep down I loved it and it made me feel really special because it was something she did for her children out of a wish to make and keep us healthy.

This is a skill that I did pick up willingly and which seemed to come far more naturally than say knitting or making yogurt. And my children take it in stride. Even as young adults, they gobble up the soups as often as possible.

Diane's Favorite Soup

My soup begins with broth. Depending on the protein source I will cook it for half a day. Some would argue that cooking it too much takes away too many of the nutrients. However, upon the initial cooking the nutrients from the bones make their way into the broth. Nutrients are added back in when you add the most important part, the veggies. For this project I made my favorite base... Chicken! Farm raised (by me), cage free and well cared for, my stock begins with the eating of the initial meal... chicken with mashed potatoes and taber corn. As supper is consumed, the roasting of the remaining meat continues. During the cleanup, the boiling down begins and continues until bedtime. The next morning, the meat is removed and the bones are boiled bare to make the liquid base as calcium rich as possible.

Soup is something I can always rely on doing a good job with. And, it keeps me connected to a very special lady... Mom.

Introducing The Food File

2010-10-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

The food file is dedicated to my folks, Helen & Duncan Scott known to each other ever so lovingly as "Leencha & Dunc."

Okay let's get personal... a few of my friends have told me that I should reveal a little more about my life through the blog. While I can't see how that could be terribly exciting, I have been inspired recently by my trip down south. As a student midwife, studying through a Utah based college and living in Canada, I find that there are lots of challenges to gaining the clinical experience needed to complete the program. As do most of my Canadian peers in Midwifery. So I was recently blessed enough to be able to haul off to Utah by myself in order to immerse myself in what I love more than I can describe... birth.

While off on this magical journey, I was able to get lots of schoolwork done and learn practical skills that would have been really difficult to get here at home. One of my favorite classes was a Holistic Health class taught by the lovely Marilyn Skousken (MCU's teacher of the year). I had carried this class around for the full year we are allowed and the last chunk of the class required that we "try" some whole foods skills for ourselves. After all, I can't suggest that a pregnant Mama eat home made yogurt unless I'm willing to teach her how to make it. (I'm too embarrassed yet to share with you my yogurt story.)

I really enjoyed writing about the experience of trying these recipes and techniques. The act connected me to my Mom in a way that has left me melancholy and aching for her. Fall was always our best time of year. I wish I'd known how short her life was going to be so I could have appreciated her more when she was with us. I hope you will enjoy reading about my escapades with food. Please feel free to post links to foody sites you love. I'd love to learn more about how others feel about the subject.

Mom was a graduate of what they used to call the "diamond ring" course at the University of Guelph (I think the idea was that a young lady could marry a dentist or a vet) but Helen married a starving musician instead, Duncan - An amazing drummer man who would often work 2 or 3 day jobs to "support his music habit." When I was 6, our family underwent a major life change and Dad went off to George Brown College in Toronto in order that he might become a famous chef and support us all in a way we would have liked to become accustomed. I never knew until recently, how much of a long term impact their food stylings would have on me... or my kids. When my kids would reject my food in front of my folks, my Dad would just nod and smile "ain't payback a stinker?"

Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Coming this Fall

2010-09-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

Christine Flynn-James has been instructing yoga for the past year. Currently offering classes at Lakewood Civic Centre and the North Park Richmond Heights Community Association, she is excited to be expanding

Christine’s first experience with yoga was shortly after her second child was stillborn. The benefits of yoga on the physical body as well as the emotional wellbeing of an individual were made known and a true appreciation for the practice of yoga was developed. After the birth of her third child Christine began her Registered Yoga Instructor training in Saskatoon through Kathleen’s Yoga Studio which teaches Hatha Yoga.

In addition to instructing Fitness Yoga Christine has delivered Gentle Yoga, Beginner’s Yoga, and Chair Yoga classes; aiming to make yoga accessible to everyone. Her classes are offered Fridays and Sundays in the classroom at A Soft Landing.

She can be contacted for more information at 291-8823.

What Babies Want Film Festival and Dinner

2010-09-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Thank You for your support of the The Prairie Birth Collective presentation of the film, "What Babies Want." And a special Thank You to our vendors and Gooseberry http://www.gooseberryphotography.com/ for the use of the beautiful photo for our poster.

Beginning in October 2010 the collective will be offering a four-part childbirth education series at your local public library.

Please call Robyn Cuthbert-Adair at 934-4553 for more information or to register for these sessions.

ICAN of Saskatoon's September Meeting

2010-08-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m., ICAN of Saskatoon will be holding its monthly meeting. The meeting is for all women interested in the ICAN mission of preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean.

The meeting is at Augustana Lutheran Church on the corner of Broadway Avenue and 7th Street. (Please use the 7th Street entrance.)

This meeting will be a support for sharing birth stories, and talking about breastfeeding after a cesarean. Some refreshments will be provided. Babies are always welcome and there are some toys available for toddlers and preschool aged children.

If you have any questions about meetings or future events, please contact Nicole by e-mail or by phone at 934-0962. More information is also available through the ICAN web site or through the ICAN Facebook group.

Bradley Birth Classes Beginning at A Soft Landing

2010-08-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

Dr. Chantel Serack will be leading Bradley Birth Method classes at A Soft Landing on Thursdays, beginning tonight. The Bradley Method views birth as a natural process and teaches natural childbirth techniques.

The Bradley Method encourages mothers to trust their bodies using natural breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise and education. It is a simple method of increasing self-awareness, teaching a woman how to deal with the stress of labor by tuning in to her own body.

With the necessary preparation, the vast majority of women can experience the health benefits and personal satisfaction of natural childbirth. More than 86 percent of Bradley couples give birth without pain medications, which studies have shown leads to increased rates of breastfeeding, better infant-maternal bonding and a strong sense from the mother of "being present" and experiencing the birth.

Started by Robert Bradley in the 1960s, the Bradley Method encourages couples to advocate for themselves and train them to become sophisticated consumers of their own obstetric services. The classes provide training to partners for their valuable and active role in helping the birthing mother. Partners learn a series of relaxation techniques and effective labour and birth positions.

Couples are taught how they can work with their bodies to reduce pain and make labours more efficient. They also will learn about nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, introductory information about labour and birth, advanced techniques for labour and birth, medications in birth and potential complications that may occur during birth. The classes also touch on postpartum care, breastfeeding and caring for a new baby.

Dr. Serack is a local chiropractor and has been a Bradley instructor since 2007. While this first round of classes at A Soft Landing booked up before we could even announce them, Dr. Serack will be leading more sessions in the future.

Click here to contact Dr. Serack, or click here to contact A Soft Landing.