We cannot get service from the local cable company.  We are too far away from the end of their existing fiber optic cables.  So, for now we shall remain with cheap-o dialup (and Verizon “service” on our ‘phones).  Someday maybe we’ll go with satellite, but right now the $500 (!) setup is a bit out of our price range.

Hey, wait a minute.  I just noticed when I went to the site, to link it here,  that the installation is now free.  So it’s “only” $250 to get set up.

Filed under: Personal and Blog News by Rachel
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The following suggestions were taken from a comment I left on the Frugal Upstate blog.  A reader had asked how to save money on scrapbooking supplies.  To read Jenn’s suggestions, see her original post (the one on which I left my comment).

1. Use 8.5×11″ scrapbooks.  8.5×11″ paper is less expensive than 12″ (and the 12″ can be cut down), and archival-quality page protectors are easy to find and buy in bulk in this size.  All of my scrapbook pages are built on solid 8.5×11″ cardstock, inserted in these sheet protectors, and put in regular binders.  (Clear-view binders let you make covers.)  This alone saves a good deal of money because it avoids the need for a lot of “specialty” supplies.  (If you want “real” photo album covers, these are generally available in standard 3-ring binder styles, too.)

2. Learn good design principles so you can get away with minimal embellishments on most of your pages.  Many of my pages use no embellishments at all.  I can still go “whole hog” on some pages when I just want to have some fun with it or try new techniques, but I can build my albums and get my photos scrapped without a large investment in embellishments.

3. Use paper.  A lot.  Just plain paper can be used to embellish things in a number of ways – fun mats, “die cuts,” (actual die cuts or shapes you cut yourself), punchies, strips of paper, etc.

4. Capitalize on non-consumables.  I invest as much of my scrapbooking funds as possible in tools I can reuse – rubber stamps, punches, etc. – rather than in consumable embellishments – stickers, fibers, etc.

5. Share the cost.  There are some things that I will never need a whole package of in a single color/pattern.  If a few friends can split the cost, it can make the purchase more reasonable.  For example, ten people can split the cost of a $2, 10-yard spool of ribbon, and each end up with a yard of ribbon.  Or host a ribbon swap, and they can each purchase a <i>different</i> spool of ribbon, with everyone ending up with a yard each of ten different ribbons.

(The links in this numbered list are to a couple of my personal favorite sources.)

Filed under: Crafts & Creativity, Frugality & Economics by Rachel
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#8 of my 101 Things in 1001 Days is, “Learn a new hymn.” I chose “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” and I learned it this month. I like that it focuses on God’s awesomeness, and the fact that everything exists in Him. Cyberhymnal (from which these lyrics are taken, along with the MIDI file) was a tremendous help. Even on really great speakers – like Bose headphones or something – a little MIDI file doesn’t compare to “real” music, but I couldn’t find the main tune for this hymn on any of our CD’s. (The song is sung to several different tunes.) Since I really like this main tune, I wanted to learn it, rather than the alternate tune that’s on the CD I own. Enter Cyberhymnal, and the following MIDI file.

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
[or I sing th’almighty power of God…]
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.

Edited to add: Hmmm…the MIDI console doesn’t seem to be working. I will have to see if I can figure out how to properly embed music in a post.

Filed under: Personal and Blog News, Spiritual Journal, Theology & Spiritual Growth by Rachel
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One of the things that Weston Price noticed was that there was little, if any, crime in the primitive groups he studied.  He investigated homes for juvenile delinquents and found the same physical evidences of nutritional deficiencies that he found in places where physical ill health was manifested.  He came to the conclusion that bad nutrition, in large part, causes delinquency.  Others have made similar observations.  Adelle Davis noted several studies that showed that high percentages of those in drug treatment programs or in jail had similar nutritional deficiencies.

Now, I am not suggesting that nutritional deficiencies are the root cause of crime.  Sin is the root cause of crime.  But might it not behoove us to include pointed nutritional support to our addiction treatment programs?  And to add solid nutrition – and perhaps nutrition education – to our attempts at criminal rehabilitation?  Or perhaps we wouldn’t have such huge problems with these in the first place if low-income families and those on welfare were given real nutritional training, and instruction in the preparation of healthful foods.

For that matter, just access to nutritious foods would help.  I know the program varies from state to state but, here in Virginia – last I knew – WIC really didn’t provide nutritious versions of most of the included foods.  For example, it provides peanut butter.  But it won’t provide the natural peanut butter that consists of peanuts and a little salt, thus providing all the nutrition of the peanuts.  No, it will only provide the “regular” peanut butter that’s chock-full of sugar and hydrogenated oils, both of which destroy health.  Meanwhile, the government is systematically outlawing the sale of real foods.  We can’t buy raw milk.  Or raw almonds.  The small family farms are being legislated right out of business by the ridiculous requirements put on them, making it nearly impossible for citizens of average income to get good-quality meats.  And so it goes…

Filed under: Health & Safety, Politics/Current Events by Rachel
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I am so excited!  (This is a little thing, but I’m still excited. )  I have be mildly disappointed that I haven’t been able to find dresses for Sophia, because no one seems to sell cotton dresses that small – except sundresses.  Well, I just pulled out the bins last night to swap out her clothes for the next size up, and she is finally able to fit into all of our pretty little-girly things from Ariel!  All those teeny-tiny dresses.  It’s hard to imagine that Ariel was once tiny enough to wear those, but I remember her in many of the dresses I pulled from the box.  (One or two are “new” ones I’ve thrifted since then, and added to the box.)

Filed under: Personal and Blog News by Rachel
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