Changing lives one stove at a time.

This winter, Onset resident Caroline Carton will devote her time, money and resources to help improve the quality of life for families living in the Guatemalan village of San Pedro de la Laguna by building masonry wood burning stoves.  Here are the details:

What may seem like a simple commodity in America is a necessary tool for survival in the remote lakeside village. Since the late 1980’s, hundreds of San Pedro residents, including many children, have suffered from severe respiratory illness caused by the way they cook with an indoor fire pit.  In fact, according to the World Health Organization, the problem is so severe it is the leading cause of death in Guatemalan children under the age of five.

My goal is to spend January in the village to build at least 20 new stoves. However, I cannot do it without raising the necessary funds.

$100 is all it takes to build one stove, but any donation, even $1, would help.

I don’t want to say the Mayan people are destitute or poor, because that is generally associated with money. You leave there and you think, ‘what is poor’? . These people have other things that money can’t buy, family, community, and love of the earth. What they don’t have is financial resources to make their quality of life healthier.

Donations can be sent to Caroline Carton directly at P.O. Box 1598, Onset, MA, 02558.

For a tax-deductible donation, checks can be made out to Xi Delta Nu, a national non-profit organization sponsoring me.

For more information contact me directly at  carcarton@gmail.com.

Hi again. Sorry it took so long for me to get back here and update. Life has been busy to say the least.

The pearl parties are going well - if anyone is interested in hosting a party please do not hesitate to talk with me - I do all the work including sending out the invitations (in fact everything but supplying some simple refreshments if desired), and you get to enjoy the party with your friends AND get some fabulous free pearl jewelry!

 Okay, commercial is done, back to other subjects, giggle. 

John and I have not gotten out on the motorcycle for awhile now, and probably won't until spring now that the weather is changing.  His shoulder and arm got hurt awhile back, and they are still bothering him.  His ankle has also been affecting things.  Thanks Karina for cutting the grass this weekend, it has really bugged Dad that he could not do that right now and the lawn was getting a bit high. 

Halloween was wonderful. The staff dressed up at work. Our department chose a hippies theme. We staged a 'sit-in' as part of the staff contest (no, we didn't win, the department that chose to be Elvis in all his eras got the honor this time).  It was fun getting some of my old stuff out of basement storage and get to go back to dressing like I did for a few years again though... home-made bell bottoms before they were the 'in' thing to buy at stores (yes, we did have them in the 60's regardless of the stylists calling it a 70's fashion), batik/tie-dye shawls, ponchos and shirts, fringed leather vests and purses, sandals, headbands with feathers, shells and beads, cool jewelry with flowers and peace symbols, plus peace symbols and flowers painted on faces.  I even made some hair extensions from some of my own hair that was cut off years ago - I would have sent it to locks of love with the newer hair had I remembered it was packed away.  It was still soft and shiny, like it was just shampooed and cut.  I sewed them on the sewing machine and bobbie pinned them on.  We brought pot-luck items (giggle, pot-luck, but no pot) for lunch.  We had a GROOVY time! 

When I got home, it was time to hand out the treats to the neighborhood kiddos.  I had whistles, plastic bugs and reptiles, and several kinds of candy to choose from.  We had about 30 trick-or-treaters this year, down from years before as the teens grow out of the treats stage and into the party going stage.  It will pick back up in a year or two though, as there are lots of toddlers and babies in the neighborhood again.   

We also had some special visitors.  Karina and Frank brought Keegan (Buzz Lightyear) over to walk around the subdivision, and then Marty and Joan came by with Clayton (Batman) and Chris (monkey for the 2nd year - same costume and it is a bit small, but that is what Chris wanted to be).  My sister JoAnn and niece Amy showed up next as they wanted to see the boys, and then my nephew Tom and his wife Jenny brought Mason (tiger) over too.  Jenny announced that she is pregnant again, and due May 15th.  (Congratulations!)  We all sang happy birthday to Karina (28 on Oct 29th), and had some great cake with strawberries and whipped cream from MacArthur's bakery accompanied by ice cream.  mmmm!  It was a fabulous day and evening.

My diabetes seems to be staying in check for now.  I get another 3-month bloodwork on Tuesday morning, and then I will really know if I am doing as well as I think I am.  I lost almost 20 pounds total, and then have hit a plateau for now.  No matter, it will start back up again.

Karina and Frank were in Ohio about a week ago for a few days. Frank's grandpa has cancer and they wanted to visit with him awhile.  I hope he continues to keep a positive outlook on life, as that is one of his most precious traits.  It will be difficult, but even cancer can not keep a smile away if a person is strong enough - my mom succumbed to it in 1982, but she still carried that smile no matter how bad the rest of things got.  It may have gotten tiny at times, but it was still there.  Regardless of cancer taking her body, it never got her spirit.  I hope I am half as strong with my diabetes and asthma and what ever else comes along within the years I have left to enjoy.

Well, time to finish up and get ready for bed. 

I hope everyone remembered to turn the clock back an hour Sunday morning at 2 am!  Have a great week and hope to see you again soon.