Do you doodle?

My grandkids doodle all the time. They didn't take after me in the art department and, therefore, are very talented.

We have been having requests for larger t-shirts. We added Youth Organic Tees in Natural and White. They are from the same company of our toddler's tees and the same high quality.

I wanted to create a specialty line in the youth tees also. I asked Alex to come up with some of her "doodles" around some well known song titles. I loved what she designed. They're actually what I had in my mind. Just something fun to wear.

We currently have four designs and are working on more.

Cole has his favorite on. I couldn't talk him into "Girls just want to have fun!"

http://www.rubij.com/

What a Merry, Merry Christmas!!

These are my kids on Christmas. Christmas this year was Saturday, December 26. Christmas is whenever we are together. We were all snowed in on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; but we were safe; nobody on the roads or traveling. We had our Christmas with the Kramers and brother, Curt. What a blessing.

My Christmas prayer to all of you - take time to review your life. If you have someone to care about, whether family or friend, you are blessed. It doesn't either matter if you were alone this holiday; if at one time in your life, you loved; you are blessed. Hold on to that memory.

Happy holidays from the Ronfeldts.

Seahorses

At http://www.rubij.com/, the current special is the Animal Tails girls long-sleeved organic tee with the Seahorse original design.

Here's what the hang tag that comes with the t-shirt says:
"People ask 'what is love?' Well seahorses have the answer: we are ultra romantic. Every morning we start the day with a dance. We change into different colours to keep the romance alive. The dance lasts ten minutes, then we separate for the rest of the day so as not to risk getting on each others nerves. We remain partners for life.

What's great about being a female seahorse is we don't have the babies, ha ha yes the men have them not one or two, but about 1000 a year. That may sound a lot but we are now endangered. We like to hang out in the same place, so when fishermen find us we are an easy catch. We are too pretty for our own good as we look fabulous in aquariums. We are also caught in large numbers for use in herbal medicines for fertility treatment"

I don't know about you, but the male seahorse seems like my kind of man. Monogamous, mate for life, takes you dancing every day, doesn't get under foot for the rest of your time and has your babies for you. What more could a woman want?

On a more serious note, several species of these magical creatures are endangered. How sad.

(Photograph by George Grall)

My Christmas gift to you.

I have thought long and hard and came across the perfect gift to give you. You'll love it. It will  last forever. What could this wonderful package be?

I'm giving you the opportunity to change a human life.

What is this magic you say? Please, let me know the secret.

Simple. A book.  Not just any book; but a book that is one's own. No one else. No second hand. My own book. 

Oh Oh, I feel your disappointment. You thought a present to hold. Well, it is a present to hold; in your heart. You that know me, know how important it is to open the world to children through books.  You also know as a child of poverty, the unprivileged children of the world are my soul mates. That's the reason the First Book Foundation is Rubi J's main charities.

Here's one of their stories:
"We are driven to reach every child because once you meet these kids and see the light in their eyes when they receive books of their own, you can never forget them. One little boy at a book distribution asked for a book on carpentry and we had one that suited him perfectly. Before leaving, he came up to return the book. We told him it was his to keep and watched as his eyes grew big and he tucked the book under his arm and left the room, looking back every few steps to be sure we weren't kidding!"

In 2009 First Book celebrated their 17th year and 65,000,000 book distributed.

Now; here comes the exciting news. Randon House for Children Books has pledged to match book for each book donated through December 31, 2009, to First Book. Double your donation; double your gifts.

Can you find it in your heart to give $5.00 to open the world to a child. You might be the one who saves him or her. What a gift!!!!

Go to http://www.firstbook.org/ to receive your gift of giving.

To bamboo or not bamboo.

I've been researching bamboo clothing to add to the Rubi J Store. Bamboo doesn't have to be certified organic. It just is. Bamboo grows without pesticides or fertilizers added. It's recognized as a green material by several organizations.
Bamboo Facts I have learned:

• Produces up to 35% more oxygen than trees.
• Absorbs four times as much carbon than trees.
• Has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
• Matures for harvest in less than 4 years.
• Regenerates itself without replanting.

Exciting news, isn't it? But wait. Here's the rest of the story. The harvesting and processing of bamboo into the incredibly soft fabric is more complicated. 

There are two different ways to process bamboo into fabric - mechanically or chemical. Mechanically is a longer and much more expensive process, but does not use harmful chemicals. Chemically process bamboo is much cheaper and faster. You can probably quess what system most manufacturers use.

You may have seen where some bamboo products carry the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification. This is a good sign. Oeko-Tex is an independent organization that looks for toxicity in the processing of fabric. To receive the Oeko-Tex100 certification, the fabric tested must not have any substances that are prohibited by law, carcinogenic or suspected of being harmful to health. If does not mean harmful chemicals to the body or environment have not been used; only none is left in the fabric.

There is also Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 certification. This certifies that the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly and at least 30% of their production is certified with their Standard 100.

Neither one of these certifications address fair labour practices.

So, would I buy bamboo clothing for myself? Probably. Would I sell bamboo clothing for babies and children? Not yet.

For more information, go to http://www.oeko-tex.com/.

Fly like an eagle.

The golden eagle is another one of Animal Tails endangered species organic t-shirts. Here's what the hang tag says that accompany each tee:
"I am call a Golden Eagle because I have a striking golden crown and nape. I'm sacred in some cultures and my feathers are central to many religious and spiritual customs, expecially amongst Native Americans. Mexico even made me their national bird.
There are only 420 pairs of us in Great Britain. We like mountains so live in the Scottish Highlands. A pair of Golden Eagles remains together for life. Our nests are eyries and we build a few in our territory, which can be up to 160 sq miles. I need this space for hunting. I have very good eye sight and can spot prey from a long distance. I swoop down and kill my dinner with my talons. I can kill a fox outright. My population is getting smaller because I sometimes eat livestock, so people poison and shoot me, but I'm only being a hungry Golden Eagle."

In America the main diet are rodents, rabbits, birds and reptiles. But in the 1950's ranchers perceived the eagle as a threat to their livestock. An estimated 50,000 eagles were destroyed by them. Thank heaven the Golden Eagle has been protected since 1963. The bald eagle has returned to enough numbers to remove them from the endangered list, although they are still protected. Hopefully, the Golden will have the same successful route.

It's no wonder there are many, many legends and lore about the eagle. There is something magical about all birds of prey.

The Golden Eagle is our current "Special" at http://www.rubij.com/.

Nothing to do on Thankgiving but to give thanks

Okay. It's a few days from Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Everyone is thinking about Christmas shopping. I'm usually thinking about the Thanksgiviving meal I will prepare and serve to my loved ones. I've had the menu made out weeks ago and the shopping all done. But not this year. Husband Ron told me to take a break for once.

It's daughter Stef's turn to host the Kramer side of her family for Thanksgiving day and mother-in-law Shirley invited us out for that day. I was planning on having Thanksgiving on the following Sunday but Ron said I don't have to work every holiday, one meal is enough. At the time I agreed. Why should I work every holiday.

Now that is a few days away, I realize it doesn't seem like a holiday. I miss it. I miss getting up early and sweating over the stove and counter all morning to serve my family. What's wrong with me?

I know. I feel blessed to have such a loving family sitting around the table enjoying each other company with the food I prepared for them. (Maybe it's an ego trip.) I never really enjoy the meal, just the company.

I should quit whining and enjoy the holiday for remembering our blessings, and I have many.

Take this day of the year and be thankful. I am.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!