The Krazy Kyles

A device that is sewn either into a diaper or underpants for young children. This device uses dissimilar metal wires of a small diameter woven into the material in such a way that they do not contact the skin but when the cloth they are sewn into becomes damp, they will produce a small amount of power that will alert the parent using a light or more likely a low power buzzer.

A second way to accomplish this would be using a small battery that attempts to push a current through similar wires as above to activate a buzzer.

A third way would be using a special stitch that would cause wires to either come together or separate due to the expansion of the diaper as it absorbs liquid.

The whole point of this would be to alert the parent that the diaper is ready for changing. Any additional delay will probably moisten the clothing.

As a fun Sabbath project, I've been trying to photograph and identify various plants along the nature trail behind our housing development. Obviously many of the plants aren't all that exciting. In fact this could probably be relabeled, "Common Weeds of College Place". But I'm learning fun things about plants in the process.

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
	Tall 5' to 6' in height. Produces velvety leaves and yellow flowers. Prefers sunny areas.

---

Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
	Tall 5' to 6' in height. Each plant produces multiple purple flowers. These flowers are unique due to long spines that grow up around the flower. Prefers sunny areas.

---

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
	Large bush with small bluish white berries.

---

Cleavers (Galium aparine)
	Rapidly spreading vine with sticky leaves and seed pods. Produces small white flowers. One of the inspirations for the creation of Velcro.

---

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
	Tall plant with small white flowers and roughly triangular divided leaves. Very Poisonous, leave this plant alone!

---

Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
	Upright plant, with purple shooting star type flowers. Mid to late summer Red and Green berries grow. Berries are attached to the stem by a five pointed star shaped sepal. Not as poisonous as Deadly Nightshade, but it is still wise to avoid ingesting any part of this plant.

---

Mint (Mentha)
	Toothed leaves, growing in groups of two that may also be combined with two flowering stalks. Square stem with small white flowers. Each flower has 2 fused lobes on top and 3 fused lobes on the bottom. Leaf smells decidedly "minty" when crushed. Appearance is very similar to stinging nettle, which does not smell minty and has small spines on the stalk and undersides of the leaves.

---

Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta)
	Rounded leaves with seed pods that resemble buttons or cheeses. These seed pods are edible containing a relatively large amount of protein and fat

---

Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
	Native to North America. This plant has been used as a traditional remedy for Poison Ivy. It produces pods that, when ripe, explode at the slightest touch. This gives them another nick-name, Touch-Me-Not.

This morning I asked Laura what makes the two's so terrible. She told me it might be because they walk around the house repeating "Why?" over and over again. But, she did this with in ear shot of Peter. About a minute later we hear Peter roaming the kitchen saying "Why?, why" Why?" Oops!

Merry Christmas everybody!

If you would like to hear our Christmas Card Podcast, here you go!

I've been looking at various ideas for Christmas Traditions. Here are some good ones I've found so far.

We take the children to a nursing home with cookies and songs to share.

Our family sets up the manger scene on December 1st, but we place the wise men on the other side of the house. Every day as Christmas approaches, our children move the wise men closer to the manger. It's fun to see where the wise men appear each day as Christmas draws closer. I've found them staring back at me in the shower, on the way down the stairs, and in the flour canister!

Every night select a Christmas Card and pray together for the family that sent it.

Of course, Christmas would not be complete without a good Christmas story:
I remember this story as read by Paul Harvey. I believe that Grandpa Kyle sent a tape recording to our family in Alaska when we were little.