A Very Violet Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Christmas Cookies with the Princess Violet

Today we baked our Christmas Cookies ...I had the most adorable little helpers...

Doesn't she just match my kitchen perfectly??

Oneida "Coronation" Community Plate Silverware ~who knew??

About 1848 John Humphrey Noyes and a little association of men began an experiment in communal living at Oneida Creek.  Founded in 1848, and in operation for just over three decades, the Oneida Community was ahead of its time, paving the way for advances in women’s and workers’ rights. At the commune headquarters on the Oneida River in upstate New York, women cut their hair short, got rid of their corsets, and did the same work as the men. Everyone worked four to six hours a day, and no one had the need for any material possessions—not furniture, not fine clothing, and most of all... not silverware. Most scandalously, commune members engaged in a system of “complex marriage,” believing that loving, open sexual relationships could bring them closer to God. They believed the liquid electricity of Jesus Christ’s spirit flowed through words and touch, and that a chain of sexual intercourse would create a spiritual battery so charged with God’s energy that the community would transcend into immortality, creating heaven on earth. Who knew this silverware had such a scandalous history???Wow...surely not I... In 1877 the Oneida Community began the manufacture of tableware. The production of iron spoons called "Lily" and "Oval" manufactured by the Wallingford branch was the direct ancestor of the Community Plate line.  The original poly amorous religious commune broke up in 1880 and reorganized its assets into a corporation. In 1880 the activity was incorporated in New York as Oneida Community Limited and the factory was moved to Niagara Falls. The first flatware Design Patterns were obtained by the company in 1881, but its production couldn't compete with higher quality silver made by other companies.  In the 1890's, Oneida Community, Limited, started to drop its other products to focus on the cutlery market. For roughly 100 years, the silverware corporation—which was eventually renamed Oneida Limited—thrived under the leadership of the Community’s descendants. Oneida decided to turn out to higher quality and better designed lined and the new pattern "Avalon" was exhibited at the 1901 Buffalo Exposition. In 1902 the new line of Community Plate was introduced. The success was not immediate, but an innovative campaign of advertising in high-priced, large-circulation magazines proved greatly effective for the sales of Oneida silver and had a profound effect in the whole American advertising business. In 1912-1914 the production plant moved from Niagara Falls to Sherrill, New York. In 1926 a plant was opened in the UK (Kenwood Silver Company, Sheffield). In 1929 were bought Wm. A. Rogers Ltd   In 1935 the company changed its name to Oneida Ltd continuing the production of silver plate and sterling silverware in Sherrill, Oneida and Niagara Falls.  In 1936 Oneida introduced a pattern named Coronation in its line of Community silver plate. The Coronation pattern was introduced to commemorate the crowning of King Edward VIII in England (which never did happen). The flatware was also marketed in Canada and Great Britain, where it is known by the name Hampton Court. The  carved fruit and floral shapes were inspired by the carvings of Grinling Gibbons at Hampton Court, you can see the Art Deco influence in the design of the handles. These old patterns are getting more and more difficult to find in sets and will only become rarer as time goes on.I just could not pass them up at 25 cents a piece!!

Mammograms (why my first was my last)

For years and years they told me,
Be careful of your breasts.
Don't ever squeeze or bruise them.
And give them monthly tests.

So I heeded all their warnings,
And protected them by law.
Guarded them very carefully,
And I always wore my bra.

After 30 years of astute care,
My gyno, Dr. Pruitt,
Said I should get a Mammogram.
"O.K," I said, "let's do it."

"Stand up here real close" she said,
(She got my boob in line,)
"And tell me when it hurts," she said,
"Ah yes! Right there, that's fine.
"
She stepped upon a pedal,
I could not believe my eyes!
A plastic plate came slamming down,
My hooter's in a vice!

My skin was stretched and mangled,
From underneath my chin.
My poor boob was being squashed,
To Swedish Pancake thin.

Excruciating pain I felt,
Within it's vice-like grip.
A prisoner in this vicious thing,
My poor defenseless tit!

"Take a deep breath" she said to me,
Who does she think she's kidding?!?
My chest is mashed in her machine,
And woozy I am getting.

"There, that's good," I heard her say,
(The room was slowly swaying.)
"Now, let's have a go at the other one."
Have mercy, I was praying.

It squeezed me from both up and down,
It squeezed me from both sides.
I'll bet SHE'S never had this done,
To HER tender little hide.

Next time that they make me do this,
I will request a blindfold.
I have no wish to see again,
My knockers getting steamrolled.

If I had no problem when I came in,
I surely have one now.
If there had been a cyst in there,
It would have gone "ker-pow!"

This machine was created by a man,
Of this, I have no doubt.
I'd like to stick his balls in there,
And see how THEY come out.

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion, and I am not suggesting anyone follow suit. I’m simply sharing what is right for me and why.

When I told my nurse practitioner I don’t want to do colonoscopy, she didn’t push. A stool exam will suffice. But when I said I didn’t want to do mammograms, she pushed and pushed (she’s seen lives saved, there’s less false positives now) and scare tactics (surgery! radiation! chemo! death!!) mind you I was there for a routine exam.

I felt bullied and pushed into screening, and treated like I was stupid  because I know the facts and refusing to be railroaded.

Finally I said "Yes... Radiate my boobs, won’t you?, I have very high expectations of that being a solution"...Not trying to be rude, but….I wonder how many men would end up with testicular cancer if their testies were subjected to the ‘smashing’ we have to endure to our breasts.

They had so much trouble getting a good picture, the tech would retake it again and again.The pressure that the mammogram machine puts on each breast when it's being compressed is equivalent to putting a 50-pound weight on your breast. After multiple tries, I became agitated. I mean didn't these people go to school for this stuff?? In my mind this should be a breeze for her with the amount of women filing thru this room in the short time I was there. 

Finally she knew by my evil stare, I was done with this barbaric  procedure and refused any more radiation. She called in another lady who assured me she was a pro and  just one more picture would be it. I couldn't help but think "Where the %$@# were you 15 minutes ago, and who is this other lady, and why does she suck so bad at her job?" 

So then the pro lady left after taking that one last picture, and the sucky lady says "Just so you know about 95% of the first time mammograms get a call back that they have to come in for more pictures."..My eyes saw red...I assured her I would NEVER be back for any reason...I was done.. don't waste your time on that call...lose my number...

Screw that ... the next morning I had bruised double D's...I still received a call from the hospital and a letter to reschedule, I decided it stops here. I’m not having any further tests. I know I’m healthy.

I’ve always found it concerning that women are just expected to file in as directed like ignorant sheep and many women are even coerced into this testing, and now I was just pissed I succumb to it...

After receiving a call from the hospital and a letter to reschedule, I decided it stops here. I’m not having any further tests. I know I’m healthy.

Seems to me counter-intuitive to Xray repeatedly to prevent cancer.

Few doctors take the time to mention the risks of mammography.

We're exposed to small doses of ionizing radiation from natural sources all the time — in particular, cosmic radiation, mainly from the sun, and radon, a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, water, and building materials.

~Mammograms expose you to low-dose radiation

~Mammograms aren't always accurate

~Having a mammogram may lead to additional testing

~Screening mammography can't detect all cancers

~Not all of the tumors found by mammography can be cured

~Mammography can also help spread existing cancer cells     due to the considerable pressure placed on the woman’s   breast during the procedure

The Swiss Medical Board now advises against routine mammogram screening for most women. Still, many earlier studies found that screening for breast cancer does prevent death from the disease in some people—making the topic controversial to discuss and confusing for women. The Swiss Council’s proposal is that there should be no systematic mammography programs and a time limit for the existing programs. In addition, they said that the quality of all mammograms should be assessed and clear information should be given to women about the advantages and disadvantages of mammography. I sure wish the US would do the same ..

I understand that mammography has been the gold standard for years. Doctors use this test, and many believe that a mammogram is the best test for detecting breast cancer early. But it's not. Studies show that a thermogram identifies precancerous or cancerous cells earlier--and it doesn't hurt the body. Isn't this what women really want?

In the future I will opt for thermography

There is no squeezing, just three photos, plunge your hands in a bag of ice water (no water touches you, just the cold), followed by three more photos.

Research indicates that thermography can find potential cancer spots 8 years before conventional mammography does. It is true that insurance doesn’t pay for it …. yet

 I don't want to be told I "have something" and then be told that no one knows whether it will become "something more" and then be forced to make a decision about whether to "live knowing it's there" or "submit to drastic treatments." I would rather be happy and not be told anything and not be forced to make that decision.....  
I will take my chances and be happy.

*Please note this is only my opinion. Do your own research, play devil's advocate and get as much information as you can. Then make that educated decision about what is best for your own personal health. Remember no one knows your body better than you.