ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

I have officially lost all sense of sensibility when it comes to designing our Dragonflies nursery. Consumed by thoughts of projects I wish to accomplish, the question remains…which to do first. It does seem, however, that I will have the time. The Haiti disaster (immediate and devastating) has unfortunately brought our current adoption stage to a shrieking halt. Our AP is overwhelmed with current adoptions for rescued Haitian children and the ministry has been delayed by the overflow of paperwork needed in order to process these children into forever families. This leaves our provincial ‘go ahead’ waiting in a limbo “priority file stack” and it could be months before our files are logged into the system. Falling shy of the cuckoo’s nest, admittedly, I’m frustrated. The idea of adding further delays (logical reasoning or not) aggravates me, but we are helpless to situation and must try to be understanding. This of course, is easier said
then done.

Keeping busy with nursery helps me cope and allows me to focus on something other than our lengthening timeline. I saw these images online and thought I would give them a try – try being the key word in this sentence.

Project #1: Fabric Stuffed Name

…AND YES, she has a name! I know I keep calling her ‘our little dragonfly’ but my husband and I have decided to keep it as a secret, at least for the time being.

Project #2: Mobile

In keeping with my “Birdies” theme, I thought I would attempt to make this fun mobile/art piece. I bought some cheap, yet fun material at Fabricland, printed out the free template I found and attempted bird number one last night. The instructions said to sew it on a machine, but I did mine by hand. It’s not perfect, but it’s ok for a first try. One bird down, 10 to go!

IT'S FOR THE BIRDS

OnShop Hunting.
My newly thought up term; defined of course by “looking online for stores with hidden little gems, but not buying”. Strangely, it leaves you feeling quite satisfied and… the bank account remains intact (sometimes). Obviously, the hunt itself is the best part. I love looking for “creativity at its best” type items. You know the ones, they make you feel warm and happy inside when you see them, liked Grandma-made wool mittens.

Here is my favourite little thing that I found on today’s prowl.

Bird Tee

Shirin Roubeni's line of simple nature-inspired pictures on organic cotton tops are edgy - but not too edgy. The leopards, butterflies, dragonflies hand created by Roubeni and hand screened by her haven't lost their nobility when brought down to little kid sizes, but the ruffles on this bird give it just enough to take it into the little girl realm. Here miniature couture is funky, fun, but definitely still couture. Find it here at: Shirin NYC

CHICKY NURSERY 101

Ah, the fun of planning a nursery bedroom for a child I have yet to meet or know the age of. Lately, I have been skimming the net and stores to see if I would find anything I really liked out there in the “commercially made” world of retail but alas, I dislike all that I’ve seen. Ok – so maybe the word “dislike” is a bit harsh, but none of them feel right. I know, I know – why be so picky? My response, why not? Why not indulge in this moment – there are so few times in life to do so and I really want it to be special. After viewing all of the available pre-themed styles, I have decided not to follow any of them. Big surprise eh! The creative designer within is just unable to surcome to buying “Winnie the Poo” or “Dora the Explorer”. I just can’t!

So, that being said, after much procrastination, I finally have it…a vision that is! I have selected my colours and made some purchases so there’s no going back now. Here it is - my attempt at a classically original, high end looking, low cost spending, colourful and funky sleeping quarter for our little dragonfly…simply titled, BIRDIES!

I want it to fell like we are walking through a garden; a warm sun, pretty flowers and lots of colourful birds in all corners! Here’s the concept:

What I got so far:

• The paint is a custom mixed in a soft light grey, purchased from BMR.

• The accent colours are a creamy white, various blues, a vibrant yellow and black.

• The wall decal was purchased from a store called DeSerres. This pattern is called ‘Birds on Wires’. It’s black in colour -like a silhouette, is non-toxic and easily removable. I’m going to place this horizontally along the bed wall.

• I’ve never been one for rocking chairs, so I picked up this cheap, neutral chair at Ikea. It’s called the ‘Ektorp Tullsta Armchair’ and comes with a light taupe washable slipcover with cream coloured piping. It’s small, but cozy.

• The little round blue rug is also from Ikea. It is very rich in colour and ties in nice with the Embroidery on the bedcover. This was a great “under $20” buy.

• I bought a white floating shelf which is leaning up against the far wall. I will be installing this but I want to wait until all my major furniture items are in the room (like a crib, if we need) so I can place it according to height, etc.

• Two cute little bird prints. Now I just have to find frames for them.

• My Nana, now passed, had given me a beautiful antique single bed about 6 years back or so. It is a beautiful piece that I have kept in storage until now. Since we have no idea what age our little one will be, I’m going to set the room up with a space for a crib and this bed.

• My crafty carpenter father had made me a lovely pine hope chest when I was younger. It is still in mint condition, and I have decided to recycle it, reusing it as a toy box at the end of the bed.

• I found some great yellow sofa material for sale at Ikea in the ‘as is’ section, so my plan is to buy some dense foam and cover it with a slipcover which will be placed on top of the toy box for comfy seating. I’m also going to make a cover for the body pillow at the head of bed and if I have leftovers, I’ll make some matching pillow shams.

• The plush giraffe on the chair and the little bunny on the bed is super soft and were purchased from a store that I can’t for the life of me remember the name of. It was one of those “had no purpose, but had to purchase” purchases. I know what your thinking – how does a giraffe fit into my ‘Garden of Birds’ theme. Well frankly, it doesn’t. There was absolutely no logic in buying this item and although it looks completely out of place, it was just too cute to resist! Here's what the room looks like so far:

What I want to do next:

• An antique looking crystal chandelier – similar to the picture shown to the left. I love how girly and regal it looks, and it will provide a nice soft glow throughout.

• Bedside Table

• Lamp

• Maybe a small bookcase, if there’s room

• More artwork for walls

CRACKING OPEN A NEW EGG

Happy 2010! Over the holidays, we formally announced our adoption plans to our extended family and friends through a  custom Christmas card I designed. Everyone really liked the design and idea so I thought I would include it.

I have been receiving a wonderful response to this blog and the support shown has been overwhelmingly amazing. Many people have sent messages requesting more detail into the process, and to post more pictures and information on VN, so I am going to try to do so to the best of my ability – which is limited as I am still trying to figure it all out.

THE ADOPTION PROCESS [information solely reflects
our agency]

CHILD AVAILABILITY
Both infant boys and girls are available, as are toddlers, sibling groups and special needs children. Parents may specify preferred sex but will be required to somewhat validate reasoning. To be adopted, the child must be under 15 years old and if over 9 years old, must give his/her own consent to the adoption. Boys and girls are generally available in equal numbers. For those that request infants, the babies tend to be about 3-4 months old at referral and approximately 5-6 months old when the parents travel to receive the child.

SIBLINGS & SPECIAL NEEDS
While there is a backlog of families waiting for single healthy infants, it is often difficult to find homes for siblings and those with special needs. As such, our agency will accept dossiers (translated mount of legal paperwork) of parents right away who are willing to adopt siblings or a special needs child. They are not subject to the usual wait list.

PARENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Any adult having reached the age of majority is eligible. Parents must be 20 years older than the child. Single females are eligible. Couples must be married more than 2 years. Unfortunately, same sex or common law marriages are not recognized by the country of Vietnam and therefore, are not eligible.

WHY CHILDREN ARE AVAILABLE
As mentioned in a previous post, VN does not approve of single parenthood, and poverty is extremely high.

FAMILY BACKGROUND
If birth family information is known it will be provided with the child's documentation. This is unavailable if child has been abandoned.

MEDICAL INFORMATION
Children are taken to an international medical clinic for examination and testing, as appropriate to the child's age. Information provided in referral typically includes general health status, length/height, weight, head circumference, and tests completed for all major diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Infants in VN are thankfully now immunized against hepatitis A, which is a tremendous reassurance.

INTER-COUNTRY TIME REQUIRED
One trip to Vietnam is mandatory. Legal guardianship of child is granted to adoptive parents in a VN court authorized building. It is called the “Giving and Receiving Ceremony”. Average length of stay is 2-3 weeks.

CITIZENSHIP
Upon entering Canada, the child will have Permanent Resident status. Canadian citizenship is not automatic and must be applied for by the parents. The child retains his/her Vietnamese citizenship.

POST ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS
Vietnam requires a legal commitment to submit two reports annually for the first three years, then one annual report until child reaches 18 years.


VIETNAM, THE COUNTRY

LAND & SEA
Although many North Americans still imagine Vietnam through the lens of war, it is in reality a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life. Its highlands and rainforest regions, far from being devastated, continue to yield new species and team with exotic wildlife. Its islands and beaches are among the finest in all of Southeast Asia, and its cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find. Over two decades have passed since Vietnam was officially united, and in that time it has done a remarkable job of healing its wounds. Today, this gracious and graceful country is an outstanding travel destination. Shaped like an elongated S, Vietnam stretches the length of the Indochinese Peninsula and covers a surface area of 128,000 square miles--making it roughly the size of Italy. China lies to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east.

Topographically, Vietnam is a verdant tapestry of soaring mountains, fertile deltas, primeval forests inhabited by exotic fauna, sinuous rivers, mysterious caves, otherworldly rock formations, and heavenly waterfalls and beaches. Beyond nature, the curious and open-minded visitor will find in Vietnam a feast of culture and history.

POPULATION & PEOPLE
VN is a country with 76,000,000 residents, of which more than half are children under 15. It is organized into some 55 provinces, each directed by a People’s Committee, the supreme authority, and each with one or more state-run orphanages. Eighty percent of these are ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than fifty separate ethnic groups. About seven million of these ethnic minorities are members of the hill tribes or montagnards (French for mountain people), making their homes and livelihoods in the spectacular mountains of the north and central highlands. Among the many languages spoken in VN are Vietnamese, Chinese, English and French. Although it is a country with an extremely high literacy rate, the average income is still about $30 US per day.

VN can be thought of as comprising three unique areas: north, central, and south.

The North is known for its alpine peaks, the Red River Delta, the plains of Cao Bang and Vinh Yen, enchanting Halong Bay which the Vietnamese consider a wonder of the world.

This tranquil, magical bay is filled with more than a thousand limestone islands, which rise from the water in dramatic rock formations and harbour extensive grottos and caves. There is also the beautiful and historic Hanoi – the capital of VN. It is the second largest city and retains its French colonial ambiance. It is dotted with lakes and lovely parks.

Central VN is home to many ethnic minorities. It is rich in volcanic soil and has spectacular beaches, dunes, and lagoons. It is also the location of the ancient imperial city of Hue.

In the South, visitors encounter modern life in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and the fertile alluvial delta of the Mekong River. HCMC is Vietnam's largest city. Inside this dense, teeming metropolis are countless links to the past, including a number of notable shrines and temples.

CULTURE
The richness of Vietnam's origins is evident throughout its culture. Spiritual life in Vietnam is a grand panoply of belief systems, including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Tam Giao (which is a blend of Taoism, popular Chinese beliefs, and ancient Vietnamese animism)

The most important festival of the year is Tet, a week-long event in late January or early February that brings in and celebrates the new lunar year and the advent of spring. Celebration consists of both raucous festivity (fireworks, drums, gongs) and quiet meditation.

STRUCTURAL ART
Vietnamese architecture expresses the natural balance and harmony that is evident in any of the country's vast numbers of historic temples and monasteries. The pre-eminent architectural form is the pagoda (a tower comprised of a series of stepped pyramidal structures) The pagoda form symbolizes the human desire to bridge the gap between the constraints of earthly existence and the perfection of heavenly forces. Pagodas are found in every province of VN.

NATIVE TONGUE
As a language, Vietnamese is exceptionally flexible and lyrical, and poetry plays a strong role in both literature and the performing arts. Folk art has experienced a resurgence in beautiful woodcuts, village painting, and block printing and Vietnamese lacquer art is another traditional medium and is of the most sophisticated in the world. Music, dance, and puppetry, including the uniquely Vietnamese water puppetry, are also mainstays of the
country's culture.

FOOD
Although rice is the foundation of the Vietnamese diet, the country's cuisine is anything but bland. Deeply influenced by the national cuisines of France, China, and Thailand, Vietnamese cooking is highly innovative and makes extensive use of fresh herbs, including lemon grass, basil, coriander, parsley, lime, and chili. Soup is served at almost every meal, and snacks include spring rolls and rice pancakes. The national condiment is nuoc mam (a piquant fermented fish sauce) served with every meal. Indigenous tropical fruits include bananas, pineapples, coconuts, lychees, melons, mandarin oranges, grapes, and exotic varieties like the three-seeded cherry and the green dragon fruit.