I had some help this evening from a few sources, Les my husband hung out and gave me moral support and Delilah added commedy to the evening by crawling into the bag that had the pet toys in it– that need to be wrapped. Yes I bought all the fur babies a gift. I believe those are the only things I have left to wrapped–I started to but Les reminded me that the pets were in the room and didn’t want them to see their toys. Ok that makes me look not so furbaby crazy. Thanks for taking some heat off me hun xo.

It’s too bad my Man has to work 12hr day shifts over the holidays we were going to try to arrange it so he would be here when the kids celebrate. The thought though of the kids not being able to wake up Christmas morning and not being able to open their presents till 7pm that evening was not very practical. Tomorrow morning they can open some presents and then in the eve they will put out their stockings and milk and cookies for Santa. I’ll be there in the morning taking tons of pictures. I think what I’ll do is keep one big present for each them back so they can open that when Dad gets home.

We went to church today but forgot to light the advent candle tonight. Some how though with Les working it all seem off kilter and un seasonal. Plus my teenager is not up till the 27th which also makes it seem a bit un Christmas like.

We bought Evamae a beautiful new dress she’ll wear to church Christmas evening. It’s a beautiful light blue and very fancy–she loves it!

Max and Dancer were long over do for a good grooming, I had to drive them out to Valley View where Linda met us and took the dogs to her home on 5 acres in Barnhartvale where she grooms dogs from her home. They jumped right in the kennels no problem, we kennel them occasionally so they had no fear of that.

Poor Linda when she tried to take them out Maxie pulled a fit and she couldn’t even put her hands on the kennel door for fear of being bit, she used a broom handle to open the kennel door. When she did that Maxie just sat there for a min wondering what to do, when he jumped and and walked around a bit she grabbed his leash and he was totally fine with her after that.

He’s weary of strangers Maxie since he was abused as a puppy. I asked Linda if she would take them again and she said she would I think next time though I’ll put a muzzel on him for the trip from Vally view to her house that way she will be able to open that kennel. That transition was hard for him and scary for her.

The beginning of July Henry and Evamae went to a Dance school for a week. It was four hours a day for the five days. They loved it and at the end of the week they had a little recital it was so cute. Evamae was the youngest in the class being 3 yrs all the other kids were four to six years old.

So needless to say the older girls were helping Evamae to find her postions at the beginning of each new dance routine. Poor Henry was the only boy he didn’t seem to mind too much though and still enjoyed it.

A lot of the time the kids were so focused on us they where not following along I love this picture Evame looks so drama. Notice the kids looking at us and not really doing the routine. That just makes me giggle.

  Ths was the last dance Henry was not getting bored but he was very tired. The night before I think he was up till 11pm he’s having a hard time sleeping with it being so light out. It was so cute at the end of the recital the kids friend Bailey handed out flowers to all the dancers so cute I should of thought of that.

 My dear friend Natalie sent me this article it’s interesting so I thought I would share it.

—-Source
A New Suit By Farmers Against the DEA Illustrates Why The War on Drugs Should Not Include a War on Hemp
By JAMISON COLBURN
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Tuesday, Jun. 19, 2007

Yesterday, two farmers filed suit in the federal district court of North Dakota. They are seeking a declaratory judgment against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that would allow them to cultivate hemp, a profitable crop with many legal uses.

The DEA, however, is likely to strongly defend the suit. After all, ever since its very inception, the DEA has feared that if it allows “industrial” hemp to be produced, the result will be to seriously undermine its war on drugs, including marijuana. As I will explain, its position has led to a bizarre and, some argue, utterly irrational situation: It makes little sense for the War on Drugs to also include a War on Hemp.

A case decided last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit illustrates some of this irrationality, but doesn’t give the full picture. In this column, I’ll provide a chronology of the DEA’s war on this plant and its champions; discuss a set of legal questions that, in my view, complicates the agency’s war plans; and finally, offer a prediction of hemp’s regulatory future.

The Cannabis Conundrum: A Controlled Substance with Highly Beneficial Applications

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) prohibits the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, or possession of any listed “controlled substance,” except as authorized by the CSA or the DEA. Marijuana is included, and even its medicinal use remains flatly prohibited. In 2006, the Supreme Court entertained a Commerce Clause challenge to that latter prohibition, in Gonzales v. Raich, but the challengers lost.

This unbending legal regime is a great shame, because the marijuana plant is a botanical superstar. It generates a portfolio of raw materials for products like rope and canvas (which reportedly covered the Conestoga wagons of the Nineteenth Century West), oil, paper, and cellulose.

This is no small matter today: Compared to most tree species, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has acknowledged, hemp is several times more efficient for producing paper and fiber, is much less dependent upon pesticides and herbicides than crops like cotton, and creates a seed oil high in essential fatty acids. The oil alone has countless applications. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture even ordered cannabis production during World War II in its “Hemp for Victory” program.

So if you’re looking for an “assault on reason,” a flat ban on this plant–given its multitude of beneficial uses, most of which are fossil fuel-reducing and organic in every sense–certainly fits the bill.

Column continues below ↓

Cannabis’s Early History: The 1937 Act

Of course, the issue with cannabis sativa is that some of its varieties are grown to maximize the creation of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC). THC is a psychoactive compound, and, unfortunately, the THC producer is the same genus and species as the botanical wunderkind. They are just different parts of the same plant or, in some instances, different varietals. Unfortunately, throughout American history, the U.S. government has too often acted as if these two features of the plant are inseparable – and that has led to some absurd results.

The cannabis plant was among the first drugs the U.S. Government tried to eradicate in this country, beginning in 1937 with the Marihuana Tax Act. The 1937 law was preceded only by the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914, which taxed opiates and cocaine, and, of course, the Eighteenth Amendment, imposing Prohibition.

While the 1937 law was formally a tax, it might as well have been a ban, for it made the cost of the plant prohibitively high, and thus effectively prohibited the growing of varieties and foliage to maximize THC (“pot”). Nevertheless, the growing of “hemp”–which has THC concentrations too low to move the needle–was taxed hardly at all.

A Senate Report on the bill made this point quite clear:

“The testimony before the committee showed definitely that neither the mature stalk of the hemp plant nor the fiber produced therefrom contains any drug, narcotic, or harmful property whatsoever and because of that fact the fiber and mature stalk have been exempted from the operation of the law.”

Accordingly, the Act specifically excluded “the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination.” Put another way, it excludes hemp even as it sweeps in marijuana.

The Rockefeller Era and After: New Laws Continue the Hemp Exception

Fast-forward to the Rockefeller era – when the CSA and other drug laws were enacted. Notably, these laws all adopted the 1937 Act’s definition of “marihuana,” Which, again, was drafted to exclude hemp. Thus, for a time, hemp production continued unabated. But then, complications arose.

The CSA and other laws of the 1960s and ’70s had to cope with the synthetic production of C₂₁ H₃₀ O₂ (THC). THC and THC-containing products were thus added to “Schedule I” of prohibited drugs, first by a regulation from the DEA’s predecessor, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and then via the 1970 Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act (CDAPCA).

Meanwhile, “marihuana” (with that same original statutory definition from the 1937 Act) remained on the same list, as well – notwithstanding the obvious fact that it was the original source of THC. Thus, like the CSA, the CDAPCA while prohibiting cannabis sativa, retained the original, broad exception for hemp fiber, “stalks,” “seeds,” and any “manufacture” therefrom.

The Advent of the DEA – and the Start of the War on Hemp

Then came the DEA – and the first offensives in what would become the war on hemp.

It turns out that what Congress thought was “definite” in 1937 is actually a little complicated: The whole cannabis plant contains THC: it occurs in at least trace levels throughout the organism. Thus, even if the THC in hemp seed oil is so low that it cannot possibly induce psychotropic effects, technically, the person who ingests hemp seed oil is still ingesting THC – which Schedule I prohibited. Moreover, the DEA is fond of arguing, to get to the “mature” stage where its productivity is realized, hemp must first sprout through a high-THC (pot) phase – and in that phase, the DEA suggests, it could be poached or simply sold.

During the same era, the pharmaceutical industry found several applications for THC. It developed and marketed a synthetic form under the name Marinol to control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and stimulate appetite in AIDS patients. (Marinol was rescheduled in 1999 and placed in Schedule III of the CSA, where it may be used by prescription.)

Several inquiries from the public in the late 1990s alerted DEA to the fact that some interpreted the drug laws to exempt “hemp” as such. DEA then tried to “clarify” the CSA, CDAPCA, and its regulations with an “interpretive” rule and a follow-up “legislative” rule asserting that the “THC” entry on Schedule I included both natural and synthetic THC alike. The upshot was that, while the DEA would allow imported, nonedible hemp products to remain in commerce, all edible hemp was prohibited, as was all domestic cultivation of cannabis sativa, even if it was intended for “industrial” uses.

Yet, in a series of administrative law twists and turns, the Ninth Circuit eventually invalidated those rules. The result was to leave the CSA and CDAPCA as the only laws in effect on the matter.

Today’s DEA’s View: It’s the THC Stupid!

In the wake of those cases, Justice Department and DEA lawyers maintain that the CDAPCA prohibits everything containing THC–whether synthetic or organic–including all parts of the cannabis plant. However, it’s highly debatable whether that’s true: The federal courts of appeal have divided over the question whether all parts of the cannabis plant are Schedule I controlled substances.

Unfortunately, despite the legal ambiguity, the DEA has dug in its heels, acting as if the law were clear, and as if every use of cannabis were created equal.

One case decided in 2006 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, United States v. White Plume, is especially unfortunate.

The case arose because in 1998, the Oglala Sioux Tribe amended its tribal law to allow cultivation of “industrial hemp” on tribal lands, and some of its members did so. Rather than prosecute, the government twice destroyed the crop, and then sought a declaratory judgment against White Plume.

The district court obliged, as did the Eighth Circuit, which deferred to the DEA’s construction of the drug laws and held that all THC-containing articles – including cannabis plants – are Schedule I-prohibited.

What accounts for a decision that prohibited a Native American tribe from growing and selling hemp for harmless industrial purposes? The short answer is that courts are generally inclined to defer to agencies’ interpretations of the statutes they are charged with enforcing – in this case, the CDAPCA and CSA.

However, the suit filed yesterday in North Dakota may showcase the consequences of the agency’s rigidity on this point. Given such a short growing season, competitors in Canada who are making money on the crop in our globalized agricultural economy, and so many possibilities for this plant, DEA should have to answer for its interpretation of the law in this respect, at least: Isn’t there some other kind of trouble we can borrow?

Will Congress change the agency’s mind about hemp, or will the courts? The prospect of either happening seems bleak, and that underscores how perverse our drug laws have become. In a time when it is so important to be “green,” hemp is one of the “greenest” things around.

I was getting all these annoying invites to join Facebook so I finally sucked it up and joined. I already had a little community of friends and family that were on there and what I really like is that almost all my nieces are on there as well as my teenage son. It’s nice to be connected even if from a distance because I find out more from their facebooks then I do their parents.

It’s great to keep a bit of contact. A nice feature there is, is only people you allow see your whole page can do so, without your permission all they see is a contact card. So it’s nice being able to put up photos of the kids and know that only family and friends are viewing.

I put a link to this blog there so now I guess I will be writing a bit more. (She says hopefully)

I took the kids to Stake Lake today Les had to work so Father’s Day was kind of bust. I phoned my Dad but he’s in Nerivia I think. But it was an ok day. At least we got out and had some exercise the poor dogs came with us but I could not let them off the leash there were way to many people there so having to control 170lbs worth of dog was a lot of exercise for me. The kid had fun walking though the puddles.

I was visiting my Mom recently and she gave me this recipe I’ve not had time to make it yet but thought I would share it, it sounds soooo good.

1 can chick peas

1 bunch parsley

12 walnuts shelled

1/2 grapefruit (or more if the grapefruit is stiff)

some crushed garlic, add rosemary, tarragon to 3 tbs of grapeseed oil. Heat the spice on low in the microwave.

Use a blender to mix everything together.

You can also add avacado or mango to the chickpeas and parsley as well.

Doesn’t that sound yummi?

Serves 5

2 large potatoes

1 turnip

1 onion

2 large carrots

1 cube of frozen basil (I’m sure a tsp of fresh would taste better)

1 C cream

3 C water

1 vegetable bullion cube

salt to taste

Cut and cube potatoes, turnip, carrots and onion. In a large frying pan fry carrots and turnips in about 1/8 C of vegetable oil over med- med/high heat. Let them brown a bit then let them soften you will want to cover them up so that the steam can help soften them faster. When they are tender you can add the potatoes and onion. Keep stirring while the mixture is cooking.

Place the vegetable bullion in two cups of boiling water and let it dissolve add to the mixture. Add basil, salt to taste, cover mixture and let it cook over a medium heat for about 30 mins check every 10 mins and stir. Add the rest of the water and stir.

Add the 1 C cream stir in slowly once it is in if it needs to thicken you can sieve and add a tbsp of flour to thicken the soup.

Let the soup cook on low heat for about 10-15 mins and then it should be ready to serve.

I’ve been so busy lately working inside and outside of the home it’s hard to strike a balance. I took the kids and our three dogs out for a walk today.

I sounded like quit the drill Sergeant, “come, sit, stay, stay……Henry wait up, Eva hurry up, Maxie Dancer Whistle come”.

Phew walking was not the hardest part of that exercise it was keeping everyone together and the dogs out of our neighbors yards and out of trouble.

There was a lovely sunset though. I’m excited about the up coming equinox I have to think of some way for us to celebrate it.

xo peace

Here is Eva’s creation.

Just in case you can’t tell she told me it’s a bunny rabbit.

Henry loves to put his other toys into is play doh, he’s very multi media.

More pictures of kids having fun.

It was a great day with the kids yesterday everyone was so mellow and pleasant. We are going to the park today, I’m going to take more pictures.

Henry had an amazing time in Enderby despite the pettiness of some hockey parents. My husband grew up playing hockey and foot ball and says I should get used to it. *Sighs* after all he’s only four. But really it’s best just to let these stupid things roll off your back, I’m there so my son can have fun and he does so that’s all that matters.

He got to play goal for the first time the coach was just letting who ever wanted to play goal play goal for awhile, I thought that was great and Henry loved it.

We have knee pads but they only fit the biggest kids on the team. I guess we should try and get a smaller set. MMM maybe that might be a nice gift to the team.

Henry loves it when his big brother and Grandparents are there cheering him on it was fun to watch the games in between ours.

For the awards ceremony all the kids got t-shirts saying I survived the North Okanogan Knights Tournament 2007. The kids seem enthusiastic about that. They also had some programs with pictures of all the teams. Kelowna, Salmon Arm, Armstrong and Enderby where there. We had only played Salmon Arm before. Our kids did not win any games but they played well and the matches where good. But half of our team is five year olds but even so only two of the young ones Henry and another girl are playing the first time so we did pretty well all considered.