Holiday dinner table conversations

Do you face questions about the environment from friends and family? Now that it's the holidays we could be around family we may or may not see on a regular basis. Who knows what conversations might arise — like the day I offered my Uncle Dave some organic raisins and he went on about how he'd never eat organic because he thinks they're fertilized with human...well you get the picture. Oy vey!

The Sierra Club is here to help us out. They call it "A Sierra Club Holiday Survival Guide: How to Win Arguments and Influence People." It's what they call ready responses to all the predictable dinner table arguments about the environment.

Enjoy!

Christmas party

The staff gathered at the home of Sister Maureen Freeman and Sister P.B. Bounk yesterday for our annual Christmas party.

The home was decorated beautifully for the season and we all tried to guess how many strands of lights adorned the brightly decorated Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. Lots! It was great!

Jeremy and Tristand kept adding logs to the fire that popped and cracked. There were amazing sights, sounds and smells of Christmas.

Elaine and Tristand were the winners of the two games of pass the "snowball." Then it was time for the gift exchange. There were handmade gifts like a beeswax candle and shopping bag and locally produced gifts such as a bottle of wine from Oliver Winery. It was fun to see what everyone gave and received.

By this time the vegetable lasagna from Market Bella Rosa in Terre Haute and the onion pie made by Sister Jean were heated and ready to eat.

Ten of us fit perfectly around the festive dining room table as we enjoyed the delicious meal. It was so good!

The goodness didn't stop there. For dessert we enjoyed chocolate stout cake make by Candace (complete with some of their homemade beer as leavening), homemade cookies from Chad and some sugar coated pecans I threw together.

The time spent together sitting around the table telling funny and interesting stories was priceless. It was a memorable time together.

We wish everyone memorable moments with family and friends this season.

Merry Christmas from the staff, volunteers and alpacas at White Violet Center!

(Caption: sitting in the center is Elaine Yaw, at left, and Sister Ruth Johnson; standing from left are, Sister Jean Fuqua, Sister Maureen Freeman, Candace Minster, Sister P.B. Bounk, Sister Jeanne Knoerle, Jeremy McKenzie, Chad Beck and Tristand Tucker.)

This time of year

It's a nice time of year to share our thoughts and give you a peek inside the doors of White Violet Center. We hope you enjoy this Note from the education coordinator.

Cap and Trade

At the climate change summit in Copenhagen next week (Dec. 7-18) world leaders will have a historic opportunity to commit to actions that protect us from the disastrous consequences of dangerous climate change.

Approximately 15,000 participants from 192 countries representing governments, the business community, and civil society are anticipated at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15).

From the event materials: "The world is facing a major challenge. We cannot continue using fossil fuels the way we do today. Scientists have laid out the risks we face and it has become clearer than ever that now is the time to take serious action on climate change. If we do not act today, the opportunity will not only slip out of our hands but it will also become much more expensive to carry out the necessary low-carbon transition in the future."

To better understand the effect of Cap and Trade on climate change check out this Free Range Studios video by Annie Leonard: http://storyofstuff.com/capandtrade/

Eco-friendly gift ideas

It's hard to believe Christmas is only three weeks away! Fortunately, the staff has pulled together a list of some favorite earth-friendly gift ideas to help us all avoid getting caught up in the commercialism of the holidays. Many of the suggestions can be found online. Click on the title of this blog to go to the Web page listing.

Towards the end of the Web page there is a list of items that can be purchased at White Violet Center. Maybe adopting an alpaca or beehive would make a loved one smile this Christmas.

If you're in the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. area we have some great stocking-stuffers: organic fair-trade coffees and teas, delicious fair-trade chocolate bars, hot cocoa and baking cocoa, handmade lip balm made with wax from our own bees, alpaca fiber Christmas ornaments, socks, gloves and more.

Enjoy time with family and friends this month!