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It’s Magical Monarch Caterpillar Time!

A monarch caterpillar on milkweed

One of my family’s favorite things about spring in Texas is catching monarch caterpillars, feeding them milkweed, watching them grow, turn into a chrysalis, and then pop out, transformed into a butterfly. If you want to do this, you better go out now!

How to care for your monarch caterpillars

Just three or four days ago, we noticed the caterpillars on the abundant milkweed in our neighborhood. So we brought some home. It’s important to put the stem end of the milkweed into a little vessel of water so that the milkweed stays juicy and fresh for the caterpillars. Apparently they eat their body weight in milkweed everyday! You’ll still need to change out the milkweed for some fresh stems with leaves everyday. Milkweed is their host plant and the caterpillars need to remain on it at all times. If you notice that a caterpillar has lost its way and has started up the side of your terrarium like in the photo below, gently help it onto the milkweed. (I use a live oak leaf.) Otherwise, it will die.

It all happens so fast! It’s only four days later, and the caterpillars are now huge. Once they get to be about the size of your pinky finger, it won’t be long before they start the next phase of their transformation. Put some good sized sticks into your terrarium diagonally from the ground up to the side, so that the caterpillars have a place to climb up and attach themselves with room to pupate or hang upside down and turn into a chrysalis. Here are some great photos and more detail. It takes about 10 days or so for the butterfly to form and pop out of the chrysalis. Be sure to let the butterflies go as soon as they hatch. They’re hungry for both freedom and flower nectar after all that work.

Our terrarium with sticks, milkweed, and caterpillars

The magic of metamorphosis

My children and I love watching and taking part in the magic that the butterfly has to teach. As the little caterpillar goes about his business, then takes his magical nap, we don’t think he knows that he’s about to fly. And even crazier, he’s probably going to fly all the way to Central Mexico to be with millions of his kind. Caterpillar and Butterfly teach us to be patient with our own transformation. Sometimes we don’t even know it’s happening. Change is good. Without it, we’d have no butterflies.

Lucas Miller’s Monarch song

Austin’s own children’s musician, Lucas Miller completely rocks. If your children and you like monarchs, you will also love this song!

 

 

Rand Paul is my kind of leader – here is his plan

I agree entirely with the following letter I received. I am so in agreement with Rand Paul’s movement to do what must be done right now, that I want to share it with you. It is a relief to me to know that there is going to be at least one voice of reason in Washington come 2013. Of course, I’d love to join him. Like Ron Paul, Rand Paul might not represent you geographically, but if you are a patriot who loves the Constitution and our country, he represents you in Washington. Thank you Senator Paul. This is the kind of leadership we need; it is what I aspire to be. Please sign his petition to really balance the budget – the Balanced Budget Act of 2012. And forward this to people who get it. If you missed my song about how bad it’s gotten, here’s the link again:

http://votebetsy.com/called-to-serve/called-to-serve/ - click on the red “Called to Serve” to listen.

 

Campaign for Liberty
Dear Betsy,Our deficits are soaring out of control. President Obama has proposed a “budget” that will still allow a 1.3 trillion-dollar deficit. And Republicans are hardly better, with their budget never, ever balancing.The threats to our prosperity and freedom aren’t hard to see – just look all around us, every day, at the news coming from Washington. Bailouts, trillion-dollar “stimulus” schemes, huge new debt burdens for our children, higher taxes, skyrocketing gas prices, high unemployment, inflation – I could go on and on.You and I both know this has to end.The good news is, there is a way to fight back. And that fight starts today, by supporting a plan to actually balance the federal budget, cut spending, shrink the size of government, and bring our debt under control once and for all.Please read the email below from my friend Matt Hawes of Campaign for Liberty to learn more about this battle to finally put an end to the out-of-control spending in Washington.For Liberty,Campaign for Liberty
Senator Rand Paul


Campaign for Liberty
Dear Betsy,All you have to do is turn on the TV, pick up a newspaper, or click through a few of your favorite websites to realize something is dreadfully WRONG.Bank failures.  Bailouts.  Failed “stimulus” packages. A surging federal deficit.European-style high unemployment.  Sky-high gas prices.  Inflation growing as incomes and retirement accounts stagnate.And what does the White House give us now?  Yet another budget with trillion-dollar deficits.  This is the first White House to have four straight years of trillion-dollar deficits – ever.”[W]e have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt,” as Vice President Joe Biden put it a while back.These people have no shame.The 2012 budget is even worse than the last.  A $1.3 trillion deficit in year one.  ELEVEN TRILLION in new debt.  And they managed to somehow do that while RAISING your taxes nearly $2 trillion.

If that scares you as much as it scares me, I hope you’ll complete the petition urging your representative to support – and your senators to cosponsor and seek roll-call votes on The PAUL BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 2012 introduced this month by Senator Rand Paul.

Senator Paul’s budget does something no other budget in Washington has done in years – it actually balances.  It cuts the deficit in half in year one, and it balances in year five.

You can almost hear the bureaucrats’ cries even now.  “Too radical.” “Draconian.”  The big spending establishment of both parties will wail and gnash their teeth.

But they will act – if the American people, led by patriots like you, make them.

You see, this is an election year.  And even the tax-and-spend crowd in Washington is starting to get nervous.

They KNOW the American people are FED UP!

Click to sign

Our country’s deficit is increasing at a rate of nearly FOUR BILLION dollars a day.

The average American family is on the hook for nearly $800,000!

And now, news reports are saying the bailouts over the past few years cost taxpayers as much as $13.7 TRILLION on top of all that!

Like an alcoholic on a binge, the politicians simply can’t be counted on to stop themselves.

Someone has to step in and bring this circus to an end.

Campaign for Liberty is doing just that – leading the fight to stop Big Government in its tracks by launching a nationwide campaign to support Senator Rand Paul’s budget.

It’s been decades since any serious cutting of government spending and waste has even been attempted.

But with recent events, I’m convinced the time is right to finally make a permanent change in the way Washington works – a change that will empower the people and take power from politicians.

But more than that, it’s a battle we MUST fight.

That’s why it’s vital you act TODAY!

You see, I’d love to tell you that there’s no reason to worry – that the politicians in Washington are “experts” who are working hard to “get everything under control.”

I’d love to tell you that the politicians understand that unless they not only stop – but actually CUT – spending, the entire U.S. economy could end up nose-diving off a cliff.

And I’d love more than anything to tell you the politicians would never saddle our kids and grandkids with debts they can never repay – and that the nightmare of debt, disorder, and broken hope that is Greece today couldn’t be America’s future.

But I can’t say that.  It just isn’t true.

Senator Paul’s budget is unlike any other seen in Washington – a REAL plan to make REAL change.

Among the highlights of this Balanced Budget:
***  Serious cuts in spending in year one, an immediate 50 percent reduction in the deficit in year one, and full balance, with a surplus, in year five;

***  In years 6-10, it begins to pay off our debt, paying off nearly $4 trillion of our national debt for the first time in history;

***  Closes five cabinet agencies permanently, including the unconstitutional Department of Education;

***  Focuses our military on strengthening America’s defenses instead of nation-building or funding dictators and anti-American regimes;

***  Fixes the deficit in Social Security and Medicare for 75 years, without cuts to current enrollees;

***  Cuts and block grants back to the states Medicaid and all federal welfare programs;

***  Rescinds funds for the indefinite detention of American citizens;

***  Privatizes the TSA.

As you can see, this is an ambitious bill that would bring historic change to our country.

Will you stand with Senator Paul and Campaign for liberty today?

Click to sign

If so, it’s vital you act immediately by filling out the petition to your representative and senators.

This is no time for half measures.

You see, when a mad dog is running loose, terrorizing a neighborhood, you lock him down.

You chain him up.

And that’s what the Paul Balanced Budget Act would do to Big Government.

This is a battle worth fighting – win or lose this year.

If we succeed, it would be a MAJOR step toward restoring American prosperity.

But even if we are set back this year, we can make sure the tax-and-spend politicians PAY THE PRICE!

You see, they have to come back to us, the voters, and seek our support for reelection.

So even if they don’t pass the PAUL BALANCED BUDGET ACT right away, if you and I can put the ENTIRE Congress on record, any politician who votes against us will have hell to pay at the ballot box.

Can you imagine the lame excuses?

What GOOD excuse is there for VOTING AGAINST being fiscally responsible?

There is none.  Period.

That’s why your action today is so vital

Now, before I go any further, I want you to know that forcing our tax-and-spend Congress to stop their out-of-control spending isn’t going to be easy.

The politicians in both parties are going to fight you and me tooth-and-nail.

But if we can turn up enough heat – if we can FORCE Congress to heed the will of the American people – I’m confident we can put Congress on record… and on notice.

Click to sign

Here’s how Campaign for Liberty plans to force action – hopefully, with your help.

First, we’re already busy contacting up to five million activists nationwide through mail, phones, and email to generate petitions to the U.S. Congress demanding action on the Paul Balanced Budget Act.

And that’s just the beginning.

With your help, we’ll work the blogs and write guest editorials.

We’ll brief influential writers and columnists who will be sympathetic to our efforts.

We’ll work the talk radio stations and grant local media interviews to further turn up the pressure on Congress.

And we’re going to do what few groups do anymore.

We’re going to have our grassroots volunteers go door-to-door encouraging their neighbors to join us.

That’s a political army of committed liberty-loving folks making a difference the most effective way – one-on-one.

And finally, if we have the resources, we’d also like to run powerful targeted radio, TV, and newspaper ads.

This entire program is designed to send this one, CLEAR message to Congress – any politician who votes against the Paul Balanced Budget should look for another job.

But such a massive effort won’t be easy – or cheap.

So, in addition to your completed petition, I also hope you’ll agree to chip in a contribution of $50, $25, $10 -or whatever you can afford – to Campaign for Liberty.

I know times are hard, but this fight is absolutely critical.

Can I count on you to join the fight by filling out the petition and by chipping in a contribution of $50, $25, $10 – or whatever you can afford – to Campaign for Liberty?

In Liberty,

Campaign for Liberty

Matt Hawes
Vice President

P.S. Despite the current economic crisis, the politicians in both parties in Washington seem intent on spending us into total and complete collapse.

You and I must stop them!

Please fill out your petition urging your representative to support – and your senators to cosponsor and seek roll-call votes on the Paul Balanced Budget Act of 2012  immediately!

And, along with your signed petitions, please chip in a contribution of $50, $25, $10 – or whatever you can afford – to Campaign for Liberty TODAY!

Click to sign


My Battle Cry to Patriots

Dear Patriots,
I am running as a Libertarian to represent Texas District 25 in the U.S. House of Representatives. I want to represent ALL Americans who are not satisfied with our government, who are self-reliant, who know that welfare creates poverty, who champion our rights to free speech, due process of law, the right to bear arms, and every provision in the Bill of Rights. I believe that Americans are strong, resolute people who don’t need politicians to tell us how to live our lives. I’m tired of wasteful government over-spending. We borrow $.42 of every dollar we spend. I want to end this absurdity. I want to preserve the free America that countless men and women have died to attain.

I am going to be completely honest with you. If you love freedom, your representation needs your support; my campaign needs your money. Please contribute here.

Carrying the same torch as Ron Paul, I am a Constitutionalist, a mother, and a businesswoman. These are my intentions:

I am a true Libertarian and I believe in small government, individual freedoms and personal responsibility. I would not only represent my district here in Texas, I would represent freedom lovers from all over the country. Ron Paul has represented me better in Congress than any of my own elected Washington officials have, and I would be honored to continue as a voice of reason in Congress.

Libertarians believe that the government should play the smallest possible role in our lives. This means being fiscally conservative (we know better what to do with our money than politicians do) and socially liberal (we know better what to do with our lives than politicians do). The left/right paradigm is dying. Liberty is catching on. It’s a revival of our founding values – skepticism of government, freedom from tyranny, and championing the Constitution.

I believe that the main purpose of our federal government is to provide a strong national defense, the best in the world indeed. I do not believe, however, that the executive branch can overstep her bounds and spend trillions on undeclared war, wreaking havoc on the lives of our precious soldiers, the economy, and the world’s environment. My campaign needs contributions if I am going to reach people. I am not in this for me. These are OUR issues. I’m in this for the freedom of my grandchildren. I want a prosperous, free-market America for future generations. I am in it for all Americans. The more my voice is heard, the more Libertarians will get elected. Just imagine a Libertarian in the white house and a Libertarian majority in Congress! Goodbye debt! Goodbye undeclared war! Goodbye Obamacare, government mandates, entitlements, and escalating poverty! Goodbye self-serving politicians! Hello Freedom, true National Defense, and welcome back Constitution and Bill of Rights!

Betsy-Dewey-Libertarian-for-Congress

I am asking for contributions from freedom lovers in every state.  If I can win my district here in Texas, I will be representing all Americans in Congress. I will vote against spending and debt increases. I will do everything I can to CUT spending.

I will be the voice of reason in Congress. If all you can donate is $5, do it anyway. If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito.  Click here to donate right now. I certainly can’t do it alone.

Please visit: www.votebetsy.com and “like”http://www.facebook.com/VoteBetsy on Facebook.

Please forward this email to everyone you know, or to at least 10 people who understand what Liberty means. Your grandchildren will thank you. So will your wallet, your private parts when you’re at the airport, unemployed people when the free-market provides jobs again, citizens who are wrongly suspected and “detained”, and infinite other unforeseeable souls who will benefit from a free society that honors her just laws. Click here to make a donation. Thanks a million.

Sincerely,
Betsy Dewey

I’m officially on the ballot and on the radio.

The Libertarian Conventions were held today, and I officially won the nomination to be the Libertarian candidate for District 25. I am also thrilled to introduce the candidate for District 21 – John Henry Liberty, folks. Yes, that is his real name. And yes, I am jealous. If you live in Austin and you aren’t in my district, you are likely in his. Here is the map again, so you can zoom in to your house and find out:  http://gis1.tlc.state.tx.us/?PlanHeader=PLANc235 Both of our districts include parts of North, South, East, and West Austin. We both need all the help we can muster to get to Washington, so please step forward! We need people to drive around and find all of the Ron Paul supporters out there and get them to start campaigning for us. We need money for road signs! Please donate as generously as possible. John Henry Liberty and I are both committed to shrinking the size of our government, its spending, and to personal sovereignty. How about two replacements for Ron Paul in Congress? How about Texas starting a new Libertarian trend?

I’m live on the radio tomorrow (Sunday 3/25) 9pm

Gary Johnson is the host of “Live and Let Live”. The program is live on the Logos Radio Network, also known as the Rule of Law Radio Network. It can be heard on http://www.logosradionetwork.com/ and on affiliate stations, including 90.1 FM in Austin. The episode will be archived on http://archive.logosradionetwork.com/category/live-and-let-live/ . The public can call in at 512-646-1984. Call me!

Bumper Stickers, yard signs and t-shirts are now ordered!

Come to the fund raiser April 15th from 1-5 at Stunt Ranch to buy them or see ordering instructions below.

Bumper stickers (magnetic, pictured above) are $5   Yard signs are $5

T-shirts are $12 – the shirts are all navy blue with the above graphic in white

Ladies’ spaghetti strap camis are $15

If you’d like to place an order, send a check and a note specifying what you want and what size to:

Betsy Dewey for Congress

PO Box 92502 Austin Tx  78709

Please add $2.50 shipping for bumper stickers, $3.50 for a yard sign, and $3.50 for a t-shirt. That ought to cover it. I suppose you could just make your check for any large amount and the rest would go to the campaign. I really need road signs! Until I can order them in bulk, they cost about $100 each! If anyone would like a 2ft x 4ft vinyl banner, I can order them.  They cost about $35 each. Thanks everyone. I want to represent us in Washington very much. Does anyone know how I can raise $1,000,000? I’d love to know.

 

Betsy Dewey 2012 needs raffle prizes!

The campaign is looking for prizes for the upcoming raffle fundraiser scheduled for April 15th at Stunt Ranch. From gift certificates to big prizes, any donation will make the raffle more fun. If you know of any liberty loving business owners who might be willing to donate, that would be great. If you have something valuable sitting in your attic, now would be a great time to donate it to the cause of something you love and want to preserve: minimum government and maximum freedom. Pass the word.

The Philosophy of Liberty

The Philosophy of Liberty

Do you own yourself? Let’s join together folks. This is a powerful video. I am not apathetic. This full-time mom will represent the Philosophy of Liberty in Congress. I need your vote and your financial support. Click on the link and watch the video. Then share it. Blessings on all of humanity.

2012 Texas Congressional District Map – Interactive and zoomable

Well, here it is: http://gis1.tlc.state.tx.us/?PlanHeader=PLANc235

Lloyd Doggett is going to run in District 35 due to all of the gerrymandering. It’s too bad I’m not going to go head to head with this big spender, but I want to represent my own district. I’ll be sticking with District 25. There’s no incumbent, so I think I’ve got a good chance to win.

You can zoom all the way in to your street and see which district you’ll be voting in. If you’re in District 25, then you can vote for Betsy Dewey! Towns in my district include Henly, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, Lakeway, Driftwood, San Marcos, Lago Vista, Cedar Park, Marble Falls, Burnet, Bertram, Lampasas, Copperas Cove, Killeen, Gatesville, Hamilton, Fairy, Glen Rose, Meridian, Hillsboro, Cleburne, Bynum, Grandview, and various parts of Austin. If you’re in any other district, you can still donate to my campaign because I’ll be representing you in Congress if you want to cut government spending drastically, if you are a Libertarian, or if you want your civil liberties back.

What do yall think of this bumper sticker? How many of you would like a magnetic one?

Also, here is a link to the best article I’ve read in weeks – a must-read in my opinion. http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/03/m-we_are_all_libertarians_now.html

Thanks to everyone who has been contributing to the campaign. It is an honor to represent you.

BIRTHRIGHT review and giveaway!

Birthright got a great review from Charise over at www.IthoughtIknewmama.com . For my readers who love my site for the natural pregnancy, birth and parenting aspects, you are going to love Charise too! She and I are cut off the same cloth. It’s no wonder she likes BIRTHRIGHT! – she is also giving away a copy! Click here and make sure rafflecopter is running to enter her giveaway. I believe you have until March 26th to enter. Check out her site while you’re there!

Here is an excerpt from her review:

Birthright Book Review & Giveaway: Empower Your Pregnancy!

“I have been reading a lot of pregnancy and birth preparation books over the past few months since Baby #2 is due in May, so I honestly did not expect to find anything too exciting or different by the time I read Birthright by Betsy Dewey at the beginning of third trimester. Once I began readingBirthright, I was very happy to find out I was wrong, as this book is a refreshing change from all of the others I have read.

Betsy Dewey’s writing is direct and to the point. This makes Birthright a quick and easy read where every morsel of information seems relevant and useful.

Here’s the best part: Betsy was lucky enough to have one of those mythical midwives who seems to have collected all of the best natural approaches to pregnancy and birth since the beginning of time, and Betsy does a great favor to women everywhere by sharing her midwife’s wisdom in the pages of Birthright. I probably highlighted about three quarters of her midwife’s sage advice!”

Click here to read the rest of her post.

Thanks Charise, for enjoying my book and for spreading the word. Pregnant women love this book. Click here to order a copy on Amazon. If you know a pregnant woman, BIRTHRIGHT makes a fabulous gift! Thanks for getting the word out. Babies and mommies everywhere will thank you.

Please “like” Birthright on Facebook here!

Why we love our Libertarian leaders

A Guest Post by Steve Wolf

There’s a way that we Libertarians are different from other voters.  We are not enamored of the men and women we support, although we certainly appreciate them.  We are enamored with the principals our candidates espouse.  We are in love with freedom, with autonomy, with personal responsibility, and prone to distrust those who claim to know better than we how best to manage our lives.  Libertarian leaders are loved not for who they are, but for what they protect. We feel about them as we feel about those who show kindness to our children.  When Libertarian leaders speak publicly, they have succeeded, because their purpose is not simply to gain office, but to spread the word of freedom to a generation that has never tasted it.  When a Libertarian leader causes the veil of paternal government to be lifted as a citizen awakens to discover his inherent right to freedom, he has been successful.  Gaining office is simply a means by which the message of freedom begets policies of freedom.  But the message, like bamboo, takes root wherever it lands.  The purpose of Libertarian leaders is to bring home to Americans the freedoms we purportedly export to nations whose citizens seek democracy.

Thanks, Steve! That’s some beautiful prose.

If others would like to contribute to this blog on votebetsy.com please email me your posts. This is a place for all freedom lovers.

Subscribe to VoteBetsy.com & click “donate now”

As most of you know, I’ve been busy with my new Libertarian congressional campaign website: www.votebetsy.com.

If you are interested in my campaign or in my political views, please subscribe to this new website. 

Here are some links to my three most recent posts on votebetsy.com :

1. Called to Serve

This is a recording of the song I wrote about a week after I stepped up to run for Congress.

http://votebetsy.com/called-to-serve/

2. My First Radio Interview

This is a link to my interview last Friday night on exis10tial.com.

http://votebetsy.com/my-first-radio-interview-exis10tial-com/

3. Walter Williams: Compassion Versus Reality

This is a link to an article by one of my heroes that I was given permission to republish.

http://votebetsy.com/my-heroes-walter-williams-on-taxes-and-rights/

Looking for Guest Posts and Donations

Now that I have two websites to lovingly keep up, I invite those of you who take to the pen to help me keep my readers abreast of the latest thinking – whether it be about natural living, homebirth, homeschool, parenting, or politics. I love the idea that my websites are a forum for creative, new, timeless or deep thinking. The mainstream media is becoming more narrowly biased everyday. We constantly need to seek alternative sources and share the nuggets we find. I would suggest getting your news from sources such as Drudge, Global Research, Russia TodayBoortz, Williams, Sowell. And remember, “Believe half of what you read, and none of what you hear. The problem is knowing which half.” – my father.

I also found out the price of those political road signs you see everywhere. If you like the idea of minimum government and maximum freedom, please consider donating to my campaign, which mainly exists to proliferate this idea. You can donate here.

Thanks yall. I’m going to need all the help I can get.

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