Big beautiful dollhouse....

An actual post to my neighborhood homeschool group list serv:

We got this dollhouse passed to us via another neighborhood family. Ziggy knocked it over this morning and decreed that it was time “to give it to another child.”

Not one to blink at purging, I’ve given it a good hose off and it awaits new ownership.

Want it? Come get it. It’s on my front lawn (next to the play-mat that was hosed off due to the copious dumping of black pepper, pink grapefruit juice and yogurt…. It’s fairly tattered, but we’re keeping it. For now!)

Where I'm Barefoot....

Hey y’all!!

In preparation for my official launch on May 1, please peruse my new site, and start making out a list of books or other wonderful goods to order. I’ll do one VERY large order all at once--just prior to May 1, it looks like-- and hand deliver or mail your choices. (If you know what you want straight away, email me!) You’ll be hearing more details very soon, including how you can host home parties for friends and family where you’ll earn Barefoot Books and other Barefoot gifts for opening your home for a Ms. Booty Homemaker’s Barefoot Books adventure (I’ll even bring a snack—it’s ALL about the snacks, you know)!!

(If you can’t possibly wait until the group order, or you live far away and want books NOW(!) you CAN order through the website; I'll get credit!)

Please feel free to pass the word along. I aim to be YOUR go-to Mama for sustainably produced high quality children’s literature and other lovelies like puppets, puzzles, and Putumayo…. There are choices for all occasions, and all budgets. Let me know if I can make recommendations for age group or interest.

I genuinely appreciate your support of me and my new (ad)venture.

With all good wishes,

Paige La Grone Babcock, of Ms. Booty Homemaker’s Barefoot Books

Seeking freelance projects!

Dear friends and colleagues,

As a result of tightening resources and narrowing strategies, my position with Mothers Acting Up is being dissolved. My tenure as National Outreach Coordinator closes out by June 1, though I will take on some freelance projects as they come up for MAU and continue to organize the local community in part. It’s a great mission, and a wonderful organization.

I am officially launching my Barefoot Books stallholder business May 1 and will be in touch with many of you about how you can help support that effort. If you *do* want to be kept abreast of my Barefoot business, please let me know. I’m building my website and mailing list now.

In the meantime, as of mid to late May, I’m looking to take on freelance writing, content provision, editing and other projects that will allow me to principally remain at home to raise and homeschool my son, as well as provide for my family’s financial needs. Please keep me in mind for projects as they emerge.

Thank you so much.

Ms. Booty Homemaker

Looking at my boy incredulously this morning....

Ms. Booty Homemaker: How ever did I get so lucky to be your Mommy?

Ziggy: You got to be my Mommy because you love me!!

MBH: I really really do.



After awhile....


MBH: And how did you get to be my son?

Ziggy: Because I am friendly!

Ms. Booty goes Barefoot!

I'm so pleased to share that I'm starting a brand new business as a Barefoot Books stallholder! I'll soon have lots of details to share, and ways in which YOU can help me launch my business and get high quality, gorgeously green children's literature, art, music and other goodies to share with family and friends.

Stay tuned to hear more and shoot me an email if you want to be on my Barefoot Books e-news list!!

Save the Date: 3rd Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade.

Nashville’s 3^rd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade

Hosted by Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community

Sunday May 11

2-4 PM @ Dragon Park

• Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic lunch or supper, come early, stay late.
• Children’s activities! Music! FREE CAKE and other refreshment! Mamas on stilts, belly dancing, and hooping!!....
• Wagon, stroller, and tricycle decorating supplies provided.
• Bring drums / harmonicas / penny whistles and finger cymbals, hula hoops, signs / flags and banners with peaceful messaging, bubbles, and joyful spirits.
• Costumes and festive hats highly encouraged.

Known and beloved to many in greater Nashville, Sherry Knott -- mother, active Nashville and Bells Bend community member, and Director of Abintra Montessori School-- will be honored by Nashville MAU and presented with the 2008 Julia Ward Howe Award at the Mother’s Day Parade! Come out and support Sherry and join with us in celebrating exemplary mother leadership right here in our home city!!

The Mother’s Day Parade is fun for the whole ding-dang family.

Nashville MAU casts a wide net: if you aren’t a mother, you HAVE one.

When mothers lead, generations follow!

For more info, contact paige@mothersactingup.org

Mothers Acting Up exists to inspire and mobilize mothers* to advocate on behalf of the world’s children.

*mothers and others who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Pie. For everyone!

We love quiche at our house, but I don’t keep frozen pie shells on hand, and don’t always want to mess with rolling a crust out. (I'm a lousy baker, not caring much for measuring in exacts.)

I’m working on variations on the below simple recipe, found online. A version of this, cutting the sugar and using slightly less flour and oil, baked up nicely in two pans this morning, and now I’ve got two quiches baking in the oven (w/ thawed leftover Easter ham in small cubes, grated cheddar, diced onion and thawed frozen chopped broccoli)—in other words, whatever was on hand and need to be used up and keep us within our monthly frugal budget. Smells wonderful!

Next time I think I’ll opt for olive oil and press in some herbs. I imagine that whole wheat or half and half flour would work nicely, too.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Place all ingredients in 9 inch pie pan. Stir together with fork. Pat mixture into bottom and up the sides of the pan. Poke holes in bottom and side of crust.
3. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown. Use as directed in favorite pie recipe.