Living @ 970

Meet Me in Beirut

2009-10-24T13:24:00.000-05:00

Hi. We've moved to Beirut, Lebanon.

#970 is officially in the hands of renters. Keep your fingers crossed that they'll be good to our house while we're gone.

As for this blog . . . we'll I'm not living @ 970, am I? I'm in Lebanon. But you can still find me and see what's going on my corner of the Middle East. See you there.

The Answer is YES

2009-09-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

Over the past month, I have personally lived out one of the secret realities of blogging. I'm going to tell you what it is. Ready for it? Ok, here goes. There is an inverse relationship between blogable content and actual blog posting. In other words, the more you have going on the less you blog.

To prove it, I've included a transcript of what I've been doing to prepare to move, leave our lovely 970 in the hands of strangers (I mean renters, obviously), and show up at my brother's wedding (tomorrow!) looking like I knew I was going to a wedding that day.

Sep 7 cleaned out kids' craft cupboard & my paper collection. Useful stuff slated for donation to an underfunded preschool. Useless stuff, recycled/junked.

Sep 8 cleaned bedroom, delivered fabric & 2 bikes to International Institute, 2
bags clothes to Goodwill

Sep 9 cleaned out dress up stuff, sorted for donation. I've been patching the broken plaster in the dining room and bedroom, and today I applied the final coat. I also moved the marble fountain downstairs into the basement coal room.

Sep 10 sorted toy box and prepped most of it for donation. I also went through all the kids' clothes--the out of season stuff and their stuff from when they were little. Prepped most of that for donation too.

Sep 11 changed the locks on the house so that we now only need two keys instead of four. I recycled a drawer full of plastic bags that had built up despite my efforts by taking them to the bins at Walmart.

Sep 12 Continued to assemble things to donate to the underfunded preschool--including rolling up a the huge vinyl play mat. We had a final dinner with Katherine & Paul.

Sep 13 sorted all my books into categories of 'keep', 'store indefinitely', and 'donate', with donation books separated by subject area. Also sorted the kids books. Joe and Katy came over and we loaded all of the kid donations into
katys car and filled it up. I sanded the plaster patches, and they are beautiful and ready for paint.

Sep 14 bought screwdriver, since all my phillips-heads are stripped. Weeks ago I bought a bunch of fancy clothes at Dillard's for my mom to try out for the wedding. Today I returned most of that stuff, and then I folded origami roses. Later that night I sorted out all of my kids' art, prepared it for transport or storage.

Sep 15 installed a different light in the dining room light. The old one had shorted out. I also finally fixed one of our porch lights, which needed an extra length of wire. I also started wiring up the girls closet light. They've survived without one, but the closet will be much more functional lit. I also called our insurance company to try and pin down our prescription drug benefits.

Sep 16 finished electrical work for girls closet. I spent some time in the basement and sorted out all my hardware and construction junk on the work bench. Matthew posted our old Lebanese propane powered space heater and oven on Craigslist, and today I managed the sale of both. He also listed our black office chairs and they sold too.

Sep 17 Today I listed our red chairs, shoe storage and kids cubbies for sale on Craigslist. I sifted through my collection of cook books, prepped more stuff for garbage day. The almonds arrived (a week ago I ordered 10 lbs of them for the wedding favors) and I assembled 80 roses w/ candy inside.

Sep 18 got garbage out to the curb, picked up all the medicine I will take with me to Lebanon, sold cubbies & shoe storage. I sorted through our entire collection of DVDs and kitchen plastic items. Thankfully kitchen ware and DVD cases can be recycled. Terra took a stack of donation books to the local library. I Assembled 40 more roses w/ candy.

Sep 19 delivered couches to mom, some canned goods, bunk bed, porch chairs. Went to Joe's where I cut & routed drawer fronts for my closet project. I got a final headcount from Katy and finished the origami roses. I also bought additional plastic tubs for storage.

Sep 20 finally got rid of large wardrobe. I sold it on craigslist ages ago (as in August) and the lady finally sent for it TODAY. I took down all our art/photos, brought first wave of long-term storage items up out of basement, crated books, carpets, decor. Later that day I installed drawer fronts. They look great.

Sep 21 managed the recycling, kids pediatrician visit for updated immunizations, donated all of our language books (German, French, Arabic, Chinese) to the local High School library. I took a huge stack of shoe boxes to my daughter's preschool where they will be used for crafts. Brought all remaining storage out of basement,
and began patching dining room woodwork in preparation to paint.

Sep 22 more filler work in dining room, helped mom w/rehearsal dinner plans. Packed up all less-than-totally necessary kitchen items for storage. looked in too many stores for shoes to wear to the wedding. No luck.

Sep 23 processed huge amounts of laundry in advance of not doing laundry in this house anymore. Found more DVDs and sorted them accordingly. Went shopping for shoes again, still nothing. I'm going to wear the boringest shoes in the world to my brother's wedding and there's nothing to be done about it.

Sep 24 Craigslisted basement cabinets, kitchenaid, super glam retro punch bowl, a utility table that we had in the basement, black desk accessories, Christmas tree, storage shelves, wrapping paper storage box, plastic patio chairs, vanity w/mirror, tons of household stuff, got rid of dryer and all the basement cabinets possible. Made a huge batch of macaroni and cheese, helped set up for the rehearsal dinner. Dashed to pick up my kids, dashed again to attended rehearsal and dinner.

Sep 25 put a ton of garbage out at the curb for pickup, cleaned out garage, sold my kichenaid and plastic chairs. Disassembled our hammock and packed that up, removed all storage items from garage. Took the girls for haircuts.

And with that, are we current? Yes, we are.

Flu Shots

2009-09-11T08:49:00.002-05:00

Last night, on a lark, we all went out for flu shots. This is the first year we've done this and since my kids have never had this kind of immunization they'll have to go back for boosters in a few weeks.

The girls were very tough in there. No crying at all. But tears or not, we still would have bought ice cream afterward. It's a tradition, practically.

About 20 minutes after I took this picture, my arm was hurting so much that I took a double dose of ibuprofen and went to bed. Even with the drugs my arm hurt all night. Early this morning, around 5 maybe, I went and had another double dose. I've never had a shot hurt that much.

First Lady Guns

2009-09-09T21:18:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to a friend's house to meet her soon-to-be husband and to help her move. I just about burst out laughing when he called my arms "guns" and asked if I work out. I jog, I said, but couldn't stop thinking about that term, "guns". There's something so funny about it. It makes me chuckle every time. Guns.

Then today, First Lady Guns turned up on a blog I read. I don't read a whole lot of blogs--which is to say, compared with people who read lots of blogs my reading list is a short one. Pretty much a blog has to be written by someone I know or written about something I wish I was writing about or I won't read it.

Art is one of those things I wish I was writing about, so I read a fair number of blogs about art. Modern Art Notes, the ultimate art-blog, is always excellent, contemporary, and (to me anyway) relevant. Today's post, about the depiction of women's musculature, reminded me why I like that blog so much. The article is worth reading and it will only take a minute.

Read Out Loud

2009-09-02T22:08:00.000-05:00

It may be that you could explain the whole thing by attacking my credibility as a sane person, but I have always loved to read stories aloud to others. Long ago, Roald Dahl's Matilda was my book of choice, and I jumped at the chance to read it to anyone who would listen and a fair number who wouldn't. I couldn't be stopped, heaven only knows why.

It's no different today, except that Dahl is so yesteryear. These days, I drag the kids (kicking and screaming, of course) to our library to get Junie B. Jones books. It started back in July. That’s when I finally read out the Junie B. Jones books Star's cousin gave her for her birthday. We were all hooked. Even Dandelion (who is only 4) sits and listens from start to finish every time.

As of today, we have finished all of the books where Junie B. is in Kindergarten. This one, where she really wants to be a "beauty shop guy", was one of my favorites.

Junie B. is outrageous, hilarious, creative, imaginative, smart, dramatic, loving, and most of all, she's engaging. My kids understand the dilemmas, frustrations, missteps, and worries that Junie B. has and they really love getting to the end of the story to see how things are resolved. As for me, I love how Barbara Park sets up her stories, develops the plot or conflict or central theme, fills each page with funny stuff and does it all through the first person narrative of a kindergartener.

Since it takes a good 30-45 minutes to read each book out to them, it's a good thing I like Junie B. as much as the kids do.

Do you have a book (or series) that you are happy to read out loud?

The Rose

2009-09-01T21:19:00.003-05:00

Look what's still going strong . . . somehow I didn't recall that the rose kept on blooming into late summer.

Oh, and the sedum is just about to bloom too. I've been watching it, waiting for it all summer.

Leaving 970 & Local Charity Advise Please!

2009-08-31T22:31:00.000-05:00

We are leaving #970, it's official. It’ll take about another month and a half for us to wrap up the state-side side of our lives and then we’ll be off. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to #970, not to mention all the junk we’ve stuffed into it’s nooks and crannies. But luckily, I have found two very good charities, ones that will get most of what we are not taking with us. Since I have so much stuff please, please, if you know of a good, reputable charity in St. Louis that accepts donations of household items tell me about them (other than the Salvation army, Good will, Am Vets, etc. Not that they're not reputable, just that I already know about those guys). Thanks!

While we wind down our US lives, Matthew is getting things going for us in Beirut, Lebanon—our destination. No, I’m not involved in this on anything other than a conceptual level. He’s managing all of it—the car situation, apartment, everything (until I show up, that is). I’m really looking forward to going back. There’s so much to do and see and this time I get to do and see it without two children in diapers.

It isn't clear how long we will stay, and Matthew and I have decided that we're fine with an undefined period of residence over there.

Beirut is where Dandelion was born, where Star learned to talk (in French and Arabic before English, actually) so it isn't like we don't know what to expect or what we're getting into. We do, or at least we know a whole lot more than the first time we arrived back in 2004. And guess what? We did not fail out of Lebanon 101.

What You Need

2009-08-29T23:12:00.000-05:00

Except for the fact that the drill isn't in the picture, this is a pretty good collection of the stuff you will need to install two new 220 volt receptacles at my house. That's what I did today. The stuff slowly assembled on top of my washing machine while I worked.

My washing machine and dryer and refrigerator all run on 220 power--they were purchased overseas several years ago. The 220 thing; not that big a deal, actually. Electric dryers in the US are usually 220, so we already had two breakers set to 220 and a receptacle for the dryer in the basement. With the help of an extension cord/power strip, it has delivered power to the washer and dryer and a whole host of smaller appliances since we first moved in.

So, Friday Craigslist helped us get rid of the rather ancient and energy sucking refrigerator that was in our house when we bought it. With it out of the way, I knew I was going to have to install a 220 receptacle in the kitchen to power the (much newer, nicer, more efficient) 220 refrigerator-from-abroad. Since I was going to be messing with the 220 line anyway, I figured I should relocate the basement receptacle so that it is nearer the washing machine's drain line. That way, we won't have to keep on using extension cords downstairs.

The whole project went off without a hitch. This morning I bought new receptacles at Lowes, and the nice man there helped me find the right kind of cable. This afternoon, I was able to start and complete the project exactly as I had imagined it. All of it went according to plan. This is unusual for me in the area of home improvement.

Given that there weren't any major hiccups in the installation of the new receptacles, I was really shocked how long it took and how hard it was. What I thought would only be a little bit of work took me four hours. How can that be? We're only talking about two receptacles. Plus, that 10 gauge wire did a number on my delicate fingers. No lie.

God Bless Craigslist

2009-08-28T22:17:00.000-05:00

Over the past week, I have gotten rid of the horrible old refrigerator that came with our house when we bought it, two enormous wardrobes, and a bag full of ink cartridges that date back to two printers ago. The refrigerator was gargantuan and wasteful and ugly. We've replaced it with our trusty LG, the one that we brought from Lebanon, and it is superior in every respect. The wardrobes had outlived their usefulness and are off to be useful to other people. The printer ink I parted with for free. After all, it might have gone bad after so many years on the shelf. I wouldn't sleep well wondering if I had just traded garbage for money.

All of this was made possible by Craigslist. I've declared my love of Craigslist on this site before. We have an enduring relationship.

There's more to come of course. I'll be Craigslisting like a maniac. There's just so much here that I don't need to keep. There's something very wonderful and liberating about having fewer things. Honestly, I think it helps me sleep better at night.

Words Fall Apart

2009-08-25T20:37:00.001-05:00

Feed Me

2009-08-24T22:48:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, my cousin Katherine helped us find the carnivorous plants at the Botanical Garden.

I've probably walked past these little predetors a dozen or more times and failed to notice them. Or maybe I did notice them and then I forgot that I had? The trouble with the Botanical Garden (and I'm not entirely sure such a thing can even be called 'trouble') is that you can't possibly notice everything. There's simply too much for that. It's an unimaginable luxury, really.

Kids had a great time. They always do. Here they are in the Japanese garden, looking every bit as happy as they actually were.

We had a lovely time.

Helping Out

2009-08-22T21:41:00.002-05:00

The girls recently helped Matthew wash the car.

It was evening and they were already wearing their pajamas which I guess made it all even more fun for them.

Mad Art

2009-08-22T07:44:00.000-05:00

Last night Matthew and I went to the Mad Art Gallery. It's a really fun building to be in--very nicely kept and lots of separate spaces to explore. You can watch a little movie about the gallery and the history of the building here.

We were there for the St. Louis Showcase. Here's a picture of their poster.

And here's Matthew in the Jail Cell Listening Room.

And here's a shot of one act on stage.

Those with good eyes will make out a cellist on stage. She's been teaching Matthew to play for the past year, and she's the best.

Wolf Child

2009-08-19T22:10:00.000-05:00

Not too long ago (and likely at my child's insistance), Aunt Terra made Dandelion a wolf suit.

It is commonly believed that children who wear wolf suits are likely to make mischief.

But to do that, they have to have energy for it. School has resumed and already it has started to really curtail my kids' energy. Today they came home happy and tired, a combination I can't complain about.

Happily Ever After

2009-08-18T21:05:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time there was a miserable old driveway. All the other driveways on the block were better off than the miserable old driveway. They all belonged to people who loved them more and took better care of them. The miserable old driveway was ashamed and sometimes cried when no one else was looking, which was all the time. No one ever notices a miserable old driveway.

Then one day, just when the miserable old driveway had given up all hope of ever being as well-cared for as the other driveways on the block, a miracle happened. The lady the miserable old driveway beloged to got out there and cleaned and weeded and cleaned and weeded some more. Then, two strangers came and poured black smelly goop all over the miserable old driveway. That goop stank like you wouldn't believe and the miserable old driveway and the people it belonged to wondered if the smell would ever go away.

But of course it did. The miserable old driveway is still miserable and old, but beneath all that goop, no one will notice. The driveway is used to not getting noticed, so that part worked out just fine.

If They Follow Me Home, Can I Keep Them?

2009-08-17T21:58:00.002-05:00

Jeffrey Campbell's Cuff Heel

At City Museum

2009-08-17T21:47:00.002-05:00

City Museum had been on our minds for a while, and this past weekend, we decided it was time to make a day of it.

Here we all are, on a rebar-encased airplane wing, suspended three stories up in the air.

It's one of a precious few photos of all of us.

Earlier Today

2009-08-12T22:46:00.000-05:00

Blueberry Pinwheels

2009-08-12T22:34:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I made a blueberry cobbler that turned out so-so. Oh well. At least the pictures turned out well.

I wish the cobbler had turned out crazy delicious, but it didn’t. This is the second time that I've made this recipe. Last time, it was way too sweet, and there weren't nearly enough blueberries. This time, I more than doubled the amount of blueberries, taking the recipe from 2 to 5 cups. I didn't increase the sugar, and thought that I had probably created the perfect cobbler. But no. It didn’t have the effect I had hoped for. Even at 5 cups, the recipe still doesn't have enough blueberries in it. I'm thinking about trying it again with further modifications, but the trouble is, I don’t know if I can keep on dedicating my limited supply of blueberries to tinkering around with a recipe that might just be hopeless.

I'll get that all figured out eventually. If I end up perfecting this recipe, this is exactly where you'll find it.

Aphids on Bindweed

2009-08-10T21:34:00.001-05:00

So, usually when I post about my yard it's to brag about what's growing, blooming, or making me smile 'round here. This isn't one of those times.

Those are aphids on bindweed, double blighting my garden.

The good news is that the aphids don't seem to be interested in any of the other plants in the yard. They cling to and coat the bindweed exclusively. You'd think that such a pest might give the bindweed a run for it's money. I only wish that it could. No, bindweed holds its own very well against the aphids' assault.

All the same, it's kind of convenient that the aphids all live on bindweed. It's easy to just pluck the weed, toss it in the compost bag, and have done with two problems in one.

Beneath the Tall, Tall Oak

2009-08-09T19:37:00.000-05:00

We mostly stayed indoors today because it was crazy-hot. Toward evening the temperature dropped enough for outside activities. I decided to tackle the spent day lilies. Only three blossoms remain and after they bloom they're done for the year.

I was about half done with that little project when Matthew took the girls around the corner to the park. When I finished, I joined them beneath a tall, tall oak. While the girls built houses and walls out of the dirt, I noticed many tiny acorns sprinkled all around.

Quite taken with them, I gathered a small handful.

Dandelion's Necklace

2009-08-09T19:25:00.001-05:00

You have to agree, the kid's got style.

Mary Ann, in the Basement, With the Drill

2009-08-08T21:52:00.003-05:00

I started building these drawers a long, long time ago. But today is the day I finished. Feels pretty good to make progress. The next step is to install them.

My St. Louis

2009-08-06T22:24:00.001-05:00

My parents moved our family to St. Louis when I was almost six. Actually, they moved us to the outskirts of West County (from Kensington, MD). They still live in the house where I grew up, about 30 minutes west of where I live now. I left home two months after I turned 17. Leaving home took me all over the place; out west, Europe, the Middle East. I came back to the US, to the St. Louis area about two years ago.

During those years away from here, I told people all the time that I grew up in St. Louis. Of course, That's really only the truth if you don't know anything about St. Louis, and at the time, I guess I didn't. But then the people I met usually didn't know anything about St. Louis either. Except one guy in the Army post office in Germany dropped his jaw when I told him I was from St. Louis. A nice girl like you?, he asked me. Really? St. Louis is tough, isn't it?

Well, out in the suburbs . . . all the way up until two or three years ago, I thought that I had been raised in the suburbs of St. Louis. But no, I wasn't. Now that I live in the suburbs of St. Louis, I realize that I actually grew up in the suburbs of the suburbs of St. Louis.

Because I grew up so far from the city, I often get the feeling that I could have grown up in any suburbs ANYWHERE in America and it would have been pretty much the same. You can't say that about cities and you can't say that about small towns either. Both have a sense of themselves as entities with their own history, character, and culture. Small town Illinois isn't the same as small town Georgia, just as Chicago definitely isn't Atlanta. But I bet you their suburbs are too similar to tell apart.

When I was a kid, downtown St. Louis was a foreign place. We went into the city on rare occasions only. Mom infrequently went to Soulard's Farmers Market, and there was a sheet-music shop not far from the market where she bought etude books for me and Joe and Suz. Add to those destinations a baseball game or two, and that would be a fair summary of my childhood exposure to the city of St. Louis. Everyone out in the suburbs believed the city was a dive, and either they were all wrong or they were all right. I might never know the answer to that particular mystery.

The city didn't start to become a place of interest for me until I was a teenager, but then I left at 17 before getting to know the city at all. One of the best things about coming back to St. Louis has been getting to know it and really feeling at home here. I'm really glad that I've had the chance. For me, St. Louis will always occupy a favored spot among all the places I have lived in the big world beyond the suburbs of it's suburbs.

Evasive Maneuvers

2009-08-05T22:49:00.002-05:00

That's me, playing chase with the kids last weekend at Tower Grove Park.

I'm kind of a camera hog, so normally, I would have been holding the camera and Matthew would have been running around with the kids.

I think I might just add this picture to the small collection I have of myself with my kids. A keeper if ever there was one.

Flavor of the Week

2009-08-04T22:58:00.004-05:00

Earlier today we went to the dentist. Afterward, to reward ourselves for yet another cavity-free visit, we stopped off for some Tropical Moose.

Which is to say, snow cones, served up out of a little shack at one end of the Kirkwood Farmers Market. Star chose Pink Lemonade, Dandelion had Watermelon (but only after fuzzy peach and kiwi strawberry had already crossed her mind).

I had the Flavor of the Week, which happened to be a mash up of Raspberry-Lemon and Wedding Cake. Mostly it just tasted like sugar--which given that it was a snow cone was exactly what I was (if not they were) going for.

If you go, get a mini. Only costs a dollar and is plenty big enough.

After it Rained

2009-08-03T23:07:00.002-05:00

I found out what a bumble bee looks like all soaking wet.

Gelateria Del Leone & Pho Grand

2009-08-02T21:30:00.001-05:00

Suz was in town today. Her visit with us was brief. She'll be leaving for California soon. It isn't every day that one's sister comes for a final visit ahead of a cross-country move, so we decided to make an occasion of it and meet for lunch.

That took us down to South Grand, where we chose to try out Gelateria Del Leone.

It was very nice. Sometimes it hits me how many things my children see, do, or experience that were not part of my childhood. Gelato is on that list. I had my first in Rome (of all places!) when I was 19. It felt a little like Italy in the Gelateria--the portions were just right and the flavors were bright.

Matthew and I didn't order anything but the girls were happy to share. They had Mexican chocolate and three different berry flavors. Yummy.

After that it was off to lunch with Suz, Joe & Katy at Pho Grand (literally next-door to the Gelateria). We've been there more than a few times over the past two years and it's a favorite. It's my habit to order something I've never tasted before when I go there; easy to pull off considering their extensive menu and my general inexperience with Vietnamese food. Is it luck or just a sign of quality that I've enjoyed everything I've ever had there?

The Gang

2009-07-31T22:06:00.002-05:00

I'm totally in love with this picture of my mother sitting on the front porch with her siblings. She's the younger girl in the picture. To the left, her older sister. The two boys in stripes are her two brothers.

The third boy, the one with the gun . . . honestly, mom has no idea who he is.

There Will Be Bows

2009-07-30T16:26:00.000-05:00

Today I got out a little bag of ribbon and barrettes and finished five new bows for my girls. Last year, (and it's an odd coincidence that it was exactly today a year ago) I made a pile of them:

School was starting and I wanted the girls to have bows to put in their hair because (despite my gender-neutral brainwashing) they like that kind of thing.

I think the bill came to $7.50 for all 12 that you see in the picture. It was something like $2 for a 12 pack of hair clips and a total of $5.50 for all the ribbons to make the bows. I'm quite sure that I was able to start and finish this project (meaning all 12 bows) in a single afternoon. Frugalein definitely and happily approved.

Bolt

2009-07-29T16:24:00.000-05:00

While we were out of town back in June, temperatures 'round here went way up and the cilantro bolted (which it will do when the soil reaches 75˚ F). I knew there was really nothing to be done, which explains why nothing is exactly what I did.

Then, last week while we were yet again out of town, I read a very cheeky NYT food-blog article which contained the following fascinating statement:

Cilantro is . . . the first to bolt, and once in the throes its leaves turn wispy and scant, leaving you wanting. You can cut the flowers back a couple times (and eat them) but the plant will never produce much foliage again. Instead cilantro re-bolts quickly a couple times before suddenly deciding to shrivel up and die. I just let the cilantro do its thing, then eat the precious seeds; when still green, their citrus grassiness is better than the leaves ever were.

The very first day we were back I pulled a few little herb-buds off our bolted cilantro. They were delicious, yes, in very deed rivaling the tastiness of the plant's leaves.

But of course, such deliciousness is short-lived. Don't even think about using them unless they're really still quite green. If you can't get them early you might as well let them continue on their way toward coriander-hood. The in-between stage is sadly bitter and unpleasant.

Dandelion and Hibiscus

2009-07-27T20:22:00.002-05:00

She didn't like the way the weedy-grass felt on her toes. That's why she's standing on moss covered bricks.

Summer's Lease

2009-07-26T10:57:00.003-05:00

It's my favorite line from a sonnet that I otherwise don't much care for:

summer's lease hath all too short a date

And it's true. We're back from the last big trip we will make this season. Daylilies are nearly spent. Sunflowers, zinnia, and the gigantic hibiscus are all in bloom. School starts up again in three weeks. I feel as if fall is rushing toward us.

That's no tragedy, of course. I love fall. It's my favorite season of all of them, actually. But this summer has been something else. There have been fantastic day trips, lazy pool-side afternoons, never a dull moment in the garden, and all-around good friends & family time. I honestly don't want it to end.

Horseback

2009-07-24T19:04:00.000-05:00

Today we went on a trail ride. Here's part of our group, ready to depart.

I had never been on a horse before. I had only ever touched one once and that was 10 years ago. It completely terrified me. I'm not given to terror or anything, so it now seems strange to me that on that occasion I felt so afraid.

Matthew's only fear was that Dandelion wouldn't make it more than a minute on the horse, but she did fine. All of us, I think, enjoyed the ride quite a lot and we got to give the horses treats in the end.

And nobody got their fingers bitten off, so that's so much the better.

Down By the Harbor

2009-07-23T18:52:00.001-05:00

I guess if I were to imagine a bunch of guys gutting fish down by the waterfront, I probably wouldn't imagine much more than a pocket knife. That, and an overturned bucket to sit on. But today we ambled by the harbor to watched the boats come and go. There we found a crowd watching this guy fillet his catch of the day.

Take a look at that setup! He's got a chest freezer, stainless steel workspace with a sink and a hardwood chopping block. You can see a bunch of spray-bottle cleaners there, bottled water and a big cooler too. It's all so sanitary, or at least those spray-bottles make me think it must be. All in all, it's the grandest gutting station I've ever seen.

The Trouble With the Beach is the Beach

2009-07-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

Recently, we have enjoyed daily excursions to the beach. Matthew has a 2-person boat that's proven itself lake (if not sea) worthy on trips to and from the lighthouse on the pier. We've built our share of castles and dug out plenty of tide pools in which to watch the lake water swirl. Typical beach fun. We would be all set to have more fun just like it, except for one little hiccup.

Dandelion can't help getting coated in sand each time we go down to the shore . . . not that I mind. I mean sure, there's some pretty intense clean up called for there, but if she was fine with it, I would be too. Trouble is, she isn't fine with it.

The sand on her legs in the picture is so thick it makes her look like she's wearing those thick Miss America swimsuit competition pantyhose. Not the best look, but if she didn't care, neither would I. Trouble is, she does care.

This is how she gets herself into such a state: Dandelion can't resist the water, but the lake is too cold for her to last in there for very long. Freezing cold and soaking wet, she retreats to the sun-warmed sand a little way from the water. There she'll lie down, roll around a little, make sand angels, whatever it takes to speed up the warming process.

And now it is time for some math.

wet kid + sand = sand-coated kid
sand-coated + Dandelion = Irreconcilable Differences

She told me today that from now on she only wants to go to beaches without sand (whatever those are). I'd like to see Dandelion work things out. This is just a rough patch, after all. She'll get over it. She's too young to swear off beaches forever.

Berry Pickin'

2009-07-20T16:43:00.000-05:00

Today we picked blueberries at Stephenson's Farm.

Ripe berries practically fall off the bush when touched. Because the ripe ones fall off easily, you really have to have your hands free and use both of them to gather the berries that taste best. That's why they encourage you to tie the berry bucket around your waist like this:

There were 18 people in our group today, and we picked in excess of 75 lbs of berries. Oh the treats we will make.

If anyone has a favorite blueberry recipe, I'd love to hear about it.

Tripple Birthday

2009-07-19T09:33:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a really big day . . . three birthdays in one.

Joe is my brother, a house-renovating, code-crunching, treat-baking, ball-playing, wise-cracking super guy--and he's the marrying kind, too.

Sam is my nephew. He's Star's age and loves sports and rockets and paper air planes and anything that's fun (and a few things that aren't) (don't ask me what that means).

For little Anna, this is birthday number one. She's such a lovely little girl.

Flight

2009-07-17T22:30:00.000-05:00

Last week I met a mom at the park. This happens to me a lot, actually.

She and I chatted about mom stuff. Then she got stung by a bee. It was down in the clover under her feet, flitting from one clover to the next. Then, probably, she nearly stepped on it and it got scared and it stung her.

Yesterday, in the same clover field where that mom-from-last-week got stung, I saw a chubby little guy get stung on the foot too. He was tossing a ball around with a friend, but the bee sting shut that right down.

Today I saw the mom who got stung at the park again. I asked about her bee sting, and you know what? She said that not two days after the bee sting at the park the same thing happened again in her own back yard.

I've got bees in my yard too. See?

Mostly, I plain forget that these little fuzzy pollinators hurt people because I'm too busy trying to take a picture of them. But, anyway, respect the bee, people! Bee stings hurt like holy hell (and that's a quote).

She Made Me Breakfast

2009-07-16T23:17:00.001-05:00

The other day, too early for anybody's business, I heard Star crashing and banging around in the kitchen. I was still in bed and that was the point.

Star's all of six years old. Already she deeply believes that the way to someone's heart is through their stomach, so long as that stomach is still in bed. She's a real sweetheart.

And she's all of six. No matter how unbelievably thoughtful it is to make mommy breakfast in bed for no special reason whatsoever, still the fact remained that Star was in there without any adult supervision. I got out of bed, hugged my sweet girl and suggested that we have a breakfast picnic on the porch instead.

Maybe some of you will wonder why I shut down such a lovely gesture. So, if you have one of those inquiring minds my guess is that:

1. there's someone else cleaning up after you
2. you've never actually tried breakfast in bed

or

3. you have a radically higher tolerance for messes than I do

She was disappointed at first, but she took it well and in the end she pulled it off nicely I thought.

It's a good thing we opted for the porch. Two minutes after I took this picture, breakfast took a turn that was so messy I had to give myself a gold star for a successful intervention and redirection. Yeah. I'd take a front porch picnic over breakfast in bed any day. No contest.

Linda's Mystery

2009-07-15T19:21:00.001-05:00

My neighbor is a fantastic gardener. She seems to know everything about plants and seeds and weeds and all-around lawn care.

But . . . she doesn't know the name of this plant.

And of course, neither do I. Do you? Until I can figure out what they're called, I've named them Linda's Mystery.

She gave me the seeds for it last fall, and here they are growing in my yard where there was nothing but weeds last year.

Spice it Up

2009-07-14T21:03:00.002-05:00

Quite by accident, after living on my own and "cooking" for myself for three years, I bumbled my way into one of the most basic and obvious herbal combinations imaginable: garlic and oregano. It was like magic in my mouth. My taste buds did a little dance, not unlike what cavemen must have done around their primordial fires. After that first discovery there was really no turning back.

The best thing about spices is what they can do for a dish that isn't much of anything without them. An example? Split-pea soup. Here's a variation on Mark Bittman's recipe from How to Cook Everything. The result isn't soupy unless you add a whole lot more water.

Split Peas with Mixed Spices

1.5 c green split peas
4+ c water (or stock of one kind or another)
1/4 t cayenne
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground cardamom
1/2 t ground coriander
1/2 t ground cumin
1/2 t black pepper
salt to taste

1 T minced ginger
1 T minced garlic

Put everything except the ginger and garlic in a large enough pot and bring to a boil. Cover and cook, keeping the water level high enough so that it doesn't burn or stick. This will take the better part of 45 minutes. When the lentils are nearly done add in ginger and garlic. Serve over basmati rice.

That's Neighborly

2009-07-13T20:06:00.001-05:00

I found this note taped to my door early this spring. The rear license plate had been dangling from the right hand bolt back there for weeks for one very simple reason. The left hand bolt was made of plastic and had broken off. It attached from the inside and seemed impossible to remove or replace. For months the plate had stayed in place just fine because I found an ill-fitting nut and used acrylic glue to keep it stuck to the broken bolt. Problem solved . . . until it got so cold that the glue cracked.

I waited for a nice, temperate day early in the spring and glued it again. It's been fine ever since.

But it sure was nice of Linda to offer a solution. Good neighbors are one of the great things about #970.

In der Heidelberger Hauptstrasse

2009-07-12T22:09:00.001-05:00

March, 2002. I was living in Heidelberg, Germany and my younger sisters came for a visit. We went to lots of nearby places, and one day we decided to visit the Hauptstrasse--the pedestrian shopping zone in the center of town.

Suz stopped to have her picture taken with the statue of Herr Bunsen, of bunsen burner fame. No, seriously.

Barb was highly impressed by these donation kiosks, which were all over the place. So convenient. This one is for clothing and shoes. Just drop your old things off.

We were also impressed by the elephant.

Yes, an elephant.

Bye bye, elephant.

Kraus House

2009-07-11T22:13:00.001-05:00

Look where I went today . . .

In my neighborhood (it took us all of 10 minutes to get there - wouldn' ta taken that long but I took a wrong turn) there is an amazing Frank Loyd Wright house, which he designed in 1951 for Russell and Ruth Kraus at Ebsworth Park.

Here's the floor plan.

The Kraus's wanted a Usonian house--these were designs Wright intended to be affordable, accessible works of art for middle class people to live in. Though the Usonians were rarely affordable (this one being no exception) the Kraus House is certainly a work of art--Russell and Ruth saw to that. They insisted on following Wright's design with meticulous accuracy. If a change was thought necessary, they first had it approved in writing by Wright. Because they had no children, the Kraus House was only ever gently used and it's owners were able to leave it to the County.

The house is an excellent showcase of Wright's late aesthetic. The intersecting parallelograms in the design, the cantilevered roof, seemingly unsupported glass corners, open living space, as well as the building's horizontality and harmonious situation within the landscape are all typical of Wright's designs. Walking through that house is like walking through a pictorial summary of major developments of Wright's career.

Although Matthew and I were properly fascinated by all of this, Dandelion was not. Because she was too bored to bare it any longer, we ducked out of the brief video of the house's history so that she could run around. Here she is, playing on the steps behind the tool shed.

I was also able to persuade her to go stand by the other end of the house by the master bedroom, which she obligingly did until it began to rain.

The tour of the interior was excellent and informative. We were permitted to walk the surrounding grounds and to go into every room in the house. Our guide seemed to have a story for every nook and cranny in the place. I enjoyed every bit of it.

To see the house you have to make an appointment and it costs $10 for grown ups, half that for kids under 12. They have all kinds of events coming up. See for yourself at their site.

Carousel

2009-07-09T21:28:00.000-05:00

In the fall, it will be three years since the girls and I took a brief trip to London. While we were there, I took this picture, riding the carousel in the London Zoo.

Since I rode with them and the carousel was in motion the background blurred nicely. I was really happy with how the picture turned out. Whenever possible, this is the way I prefer to take pictures of carousel rides. Since our kids are, well, kids, there will always be another chance. Here they are, on a much more recent carousel ride at Grant's Farm.

Relax

2009-07-08T20:46:00.002-05:00

It's been a long day, so why don't you take a seat? The porch is cool and I have lemonade inside. There's another chair for me. I'll sit with you and we can have a nice long chat.

The chairs are comfy too. You'll like them. I bought the set months ago at that little shop down the road--Recycled Rose. That's the one. But they had no cushions. I looked for some that fit right, but couldn't find any so I made these. It took me a while to finish them, but I'm so glad I did. I used the fabric from my bus stop friend and I'm really happy with them. So tell me, how have you been?

Pie and Serendipity

2009-07-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

I made apple pie on the fourth of July, which means that we didn't get to actually eat apple pie until the fifth. My recipe is definitely better a day later.

And then, a day after the day after the fourth, I decided it was time to go to Serendipity, an ice creamery not far from our house. I noticed recently that Serendipity will be participating in the Art of Food event coming up this month on the 25th. We'll be out of town then, but we're not out of town now! With the thrill of the possible alive in my mind, I loaded the kids into the car.

Turns out their ice cream is wonderful, homemade, and creative. Star & Dandelion both got sprinkles on their scoops. They had Blow Pop (bubble gum flavored with crushed lollipop in it) and Cookie Monster (a fruity blue ice cream with cookie dough mixed in). Aunt Terra got chocolate peanut butter but passed on the sprinkles. As for me, Ginger caught my eye. Could it be, I thought, could it really be ginger? I asked to try some--I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to a whole scoop. But that one taste was perfect. It had all the complexity of the hot/spicy/sweet root herb that I have come to love in savory dishes. Blended with ice cream, it was nothing short of divine.

I've since learned that a lot of ice cream makers have this flavor. I didn't know, and discovering it for myself was nothing short of serendipity.

A Variation on My Aunt's Apple Pie Recipe:

Filling
3 lbs Granny Smith apples; peeled, cored, sliced
1-1.5 c sugar (depending on tartness of the apples)
1 t cinnamon

Mix all this together. Let it sit for an hour before it goes into the pie crust

Crust
3 c flour
1 t salt
3/4 c canola oil
6 T water

Preheat oven 350˚ F. Mix crust ingredients together until uniformly combined and it forms dough that can be rolled out. Add more flour or water/oil if needed to achieve the right consistency. Divide into two balls and roll out between sheets of wax paper. Transfer the first to the pie pan. (I always bake mine in a rather large round cake pan because I don't own a pie pan, believe it or not). Add the apples & all juices from the cinnamon and sugar. Cover with the second rolled-out half of the crust recipe. Make it pretty if you know how and feel like doing it, though it will taste just as good without embellishment. Place pie onto a cookie sheet and bake ~ 90 minutes (should any juices overflow, the cookie sheet will save you a horrific amount of clean up). If the top begins to brown excessively you can cover it with foil, but I never have had this happen.

Remove from oven, wait a full day, and then . . . at long last . . . enjoy.

Sitting on Art

2009-07-06T22:18:00.005-05:00

While doing my daily check-in on the blogs I follow, I read Joe's post about Citygarden, a new sculpture park in the heart of downtown. His post has it all--video, pictures, and this closing line "Citygarden had the magical affect of making me look up and admire the city's skyline - something I actually can't remember doing on Market Street before."

That is the stuff envy is made of, at least if you're me. For it's part, envy is the stuff plans are made of. I took a quick peek at a map, got the girls into their swimsuits, packed a picnic lunch, and we were off.

The kids got right into the fountains and stayed there for most of our visit. Eventually, Star needed to refuel. Here she is sitting on Jonathan Clarke's 2006 Lifestyle.

Later, we moved on to Tom Claassen's 2004 Untitled (Two Rabbits).

The whole experience was fantastic for the kids, who explored Citygarden in the most tactile way possible--splashing in the pools and fountains and climbing all over the art--none of which was in any way discouraged.

And of course, it was profoundly pleasant for me. I went there with one Sister-in-Law in tow and ran into another soon-to-be while we were there. We sat in the shade together talking while the girls paddled about making friends in a nearby pool.

Often, envy ruins it's objects--spoils them because the envied thing can't live up to the anticipation or the desiring of it. Not so with Citygarden. Maybe it was running into Katy, having grown-ups to talk to, or the nice weather. Or, maybe it was just Citygarden. Being there was wonderful--far and away better than I had imagined it would be.

Recently, At the Reptile House

2009-07-05T21:12:00.001-05:00

We spent a very rainy 4th of July morning at the St. Louis Zoo, scurrying from one covered spot to the next.

We took shelter in the Reptile House for a good deal of time that morning. Here's Matthew, making the exhibit come alive for the girls.

From where I was sitting, watching my family I had a nice view of the atrium.

As a work of architecture, I really like the Reptile House. It's one of the oldest buildings at the zoo. I wanted to find out more about it's history so I checked the zoo's website. Turns out that the Reptile House is exactly as old as #970. Both were built in 1927.

The zoo structures built during this period incorporated animal figures into the low-relief sculptures ornamenting the building's facade. Creepy, perhaps, but also didactic in a charming sort of way.

It's a Race

2009-07-03T23:03:00.000-05:00

Matthew and Dandelion, racing behind our push-mower.

A little more than a year ago, Frugalein and Grünelein clasped hands in teary-eyed delight when we purchased that push-mower. Here's why:

1. A push-mower costs a whole lot less than a gas-powered mower. Frugalein loved the price tag. Grünelein felt smug that (at least when it comes to lawn care), polluters had to pay for their wastefulness.

2. A push-mower consumes no fuel, emits no waste. Frugalein loved that she wouldn't have to spend yet more money to operate it. Grünelein loved that it had no carbon footprint whatsoever.

3. Although we could have bought a bagging attachment, we decided against it. Frugalein loves not buying things. And if time is money, then Frugalein thought not spending time bagging was cool. For her part, Grünelein was elated. Bagging lawn clippings is an environmental no-no for more reasons than I care to reiterate.

Our neighbors thought we were crazy with our little rotary blade mower, and watched with some interest for the first few weeks we had it. At about this time last year, one of them asked if he could give it a try. He agreed that it was surprisingly easy to push--seeing as they weigh less because they are mechanically simpler (and aren't filled with gasoline).

Frugalein and Grünelein can say what they like about the mower, but for what it's worth, here's my take:

1. I love that it doesn't make our yard smell like a gas station.
2. I love that it doesn't vibrate crazy-like while in use. It simply is not fun to hold the handle of a gas-powered lawn mower while it's running.
3. Motorized mowers are way too loud. The push mower is nearly silent.
4. I love that I never have to go buy gas to put in the tank.
5. Motorized mowers produce grass dust that coats you while you work. The push mower doesn't even come close, not even if you run behind it like Matthew does.

Daylilies, Doing Their Thing

2009-07-02T21:43:00.001-05:00

Princesses

2009-07-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

My cousin's wife, Kris, is amazing. She made these lovely tiaras for my girls, and since I don't do anything remotely like this, it knocks my socks clean off. She also teaches hula-hoop fitness, runs, gardens, bakes, and (phew!) that's just the stuff she blogs about.

Anyway, Thanks Kris, we love the tiaras.

Insiders

2009-07-01T21:47:00.001-05:00

We have lived here for nearly two years, professing to love art all the while, and yet today was our first trip to Laumeier Sculpture Park. Our original purpose was to see if we could find the inspiration for a project Star made in Art class at school.

Find it indeed. It's enormous. How could anyone miss it?

We made our way through most of the park, which appears to ramble on forever. It's well cared for, too (a tough combination). The girls had a fun time with this one, Alpha by Beverly Pepper.

Here are Star and Dandelion on the inside.

At Papa's Office

2009-06-30T19:49:00.002-05:00

Recently the girls went on a trip to papa's office.

They wrote a bunch of important stuff on the wipe-board walls.

Then they hung out in the break room.

After that, it was time to go out for Japanese.

It was a rough day.

Improvisational Cooking With Kids

2009-06-29T21:43:00.001-05:00

Our last library trip yielded, among other things, a cooking-with-kids recipe book. The recipes in it are simple, very well illustrated, and generally campy so as to appeal to children. Today we settled on the least campy one.

The kiddos and I set about making the recipe. Star cracked eggs. Dandelion switched the mixer on and off. It was fun. But not nearly as much fun as it was when I decided to change the recipe.

One brick of cream cheese and some cinnamon/sugar were the only add-ins we needed. The cheese chunks that they are so merrily sugar-coating are twelfths of a regular brick of cream cheese (because the recipe make 12 cupcakes). Here are the girls, obviously delighted to coat chunks of cream cheese in cinnamon 'n sugar. They were excellent kitchen helpers.

I took the coated lumps of cream cheese and plopped them on top of the batter, already in each (well greased because who knew we were out of cupcake papers?) cupcake well. Then I took all the left over cinnamon and sugar and parceled it out over each mess of sugar-coated cheese 'n batter. This is how they looked like when they went into the oven.

And this is how they looked about 20 minutes later.

The girls were very pleased . . . with themselves and the cupcakes.

Once is Never Enough

2009-06-28T22:16:00.000-05:00

On the actual day of my Mom's birthday we met at a restaurant for dinner and UP, which was really great. But that didn't include cake or ice cream so we had to get together again. And really, who would turn down another opportunity to celebrate?

Little did we know that the party would include a Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, thanks to Joe, who I think will likely be asked to bring cake again. Soon.

In the picture with Dandelion, Grandma was laughing because of something Dandelion had done--can't remember what it was, but from the look on her face. . . .

In the other picture showing my parents together, you'll notice the red egg they're admiring. My sister-in-law makes those by hand, using a technique not too different from that employed by the ancient Greeks to decorate urns. The patterns she paints onto the egg are intricate, and that she manages it freehand on such limited surface area knocks my socks right off.

Back Yard Flower, Front Yard Weed

2009-06-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

Lovely Queen Anne's Lace, in our back yard.

The patch in the back yard grows majestic along the fence line. It's taller than Star is, and we know that she's a full 52 inches because of the roller coaster height-requirements in Florida. This year there are several lovely blossoms. Last summer I remember a far scragglier, scrubbier plant than what's growing out there this year. I like it. It looks like it belongs over by our fence.

Of course, weedy wild flowers grow wherever they can, and this summer they screamed a triumphant "Can!" from every crack and seam in the front walk way. Queen Anne's Lace growing dignified and proud along a backyard fence is one thing. Queen Anne's lace erupting all over the low-growing Hosta and Stella D'oro, elbowing it's way between bricks, and shooting up, up, up from around the driveway . . . there's no other word for it than ugly.

There are no pictures of the Queen Anne's Lace from the front walk for one very good reason: I've been ripping all of it out. I've gotten to almost all of it, but you won't find photographic evidence that any of it remains.

Even Cockroaches Love Their Babies

2009-06-26T09:18:00.000-05:00

No, this post isn't about more creepy-crawlies.

The title of this post is what a friend told me, years ago. At the time, I had a beautiful newborn, and my friend probably said this to me in response to my totally-typical-of-new-parents comments about how beautiful my baby was.

And she was beautiful, awe-inspiringly so. Complete strangers stopped us in the street to tell us. That this happened while we lived in Germany where you do not talk to strangers and children are (or ought to be) invisible proves the point all the more.

Looking back on it, I don't know how my friend managed to deliver that line about cockroaches without getting a knuckle sandwich in return. He said it with such detachment, so completely lacking in malice or dismissive intent. He said it like the truism that it is. Still, that was probably my one chance to punch him in the gut and get away with it. I regret that I didn't do it.

Of course, parents see beauty in their children and if they don't they'd better not let on. For me it goes one step further. I'm totally in love with the pictures my children draw.

These are some of Star's drawings. That one in the top right is a family picture, one of dozens she has made that capture us better than a photo ever could. I have always loved how much expressive detail she manages to pack into even the simplest figures.

I'll post some of Dandelion's work soon.

My Friends are Awesome

2009-06-25T19:38:00.001-05:00

My friend Ellabella Ellabella recently submitted a photograph to National Geographic's Daily Dozen. They selected it this week, and that means, among other things, that you can see her picture in National Geographic's online memory game.

Congratulations, Ellabella!

And, so far, this is the best score I've been able to get.

If you try the game, let us all know how you did.

It's That Time of Year Again

2009-06-24T16:01:00.000-05:00

Last night, in honor of my mom's birthday, we all met for dinner before settling in for a second in-theater viewing of UP in 3D ('cause we're sentimental ninnies who can't help ourselves). It was late as we made our way home, and as we completed the final turns through our neighborhood we noticed big billowing clouds of whatever fumigant they spray to deplete mosquito populations at this time of year.

Matthew instinctively turned off the car's outside-air-venting apparatus as we entered the fog. Great plumes of whatever-that-stuff-is are unsettling, but not nearly as unsettling as their target audience.

Blood_Sucking_Monsters. Not long ago, this one landed on me in my own house so I smacked it Obama style. It fell to the floor, but after lying there for about half a minute it righted itself. It got up.

I paused long enough to take the picture and then I finished the job. Russel (the kid in UP) wouldn't allow me to be a Wilderness Explorer after that display of animal cruelty, but Mr. Frederickson (the old man) would have understood.

Poppies are Blooming

2009-06-22T21:41:00.000-05:00

One of the first post-vacation tasks I set for myself was to check on the plants. While we were gone, the cilantro bolted, the sunflowers verily doubled in height, and the very first of the poppies bloomed.

I was excited to see our poppies since I had never grown them before and I didn't really know what to expect. Here's one little poppy blossom. If the crazy-heat doesn't kill all the rest of them this week, there will be more.

While I was out taking pictures of the blossoms, I noticed this tiny bug clinging to an as-yet-unpopped-poppy:

In a snap, the bug jumped off the poppy bud, and with my socks charmed right off, I kept on clicking.

Water Fun

2009-06-21T20:04:00.002-05:00

Father's day coincided with the first day of summer this year. We celebrated both with the help of the garden hose in the back yard.

Vacationing in Florida was really nice, but so is being back. Home sweet home.

Ok, So I Did Watch TV

2009-06-19T19:50:00.006-05:00

Last night the girls and I watched Iron Chef in our resort on vacation. It didn't really keep their interest or mine until I realized that Isaac Mizrahi was one of their judges that night. As a kid I guess I got swept away by Isaac Mizrahi when I saw Unzipped, the documentary of the creation of his fall 1994 collection. Ever since I've been delighted every time I come across more news of him. He's become a sort of happy angel that flits in and out of my world. And so there he was on TV, a judge on Iron Chef.

I'd heard him interviewed on Splendid Table a while ago, so I wasn't really suprised to see him in the food genre. Mizrahi does everything. He has written comic books about would-be fashion model, done a little acting, hosts a talk show, etc. But now, just NOW I read that he is also going to be designing Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music at Opera Theater of St. Louis. In his spare time he's coaching the singers and planning spring galas. Gosh. Isaac Mizrahi is the best.

Vacations Aren't Supposed to Be Like This

2009-06-18T12:37:00.001-05:00

It's Wednesday, and that means we are midway through our Florida vacation. Star woke up vommitting at 3:45 this morning. By 8:30 when it was time to leave for the day's adventure, she had thrown up six times. She was too sick to go. Right now, she and I are at the resort. Everyone else is gone. It's now afternoon and she is sleeping.

And I am bored. At home I'd have a million things to do or avoid doing (a bigger job thay you might think). But here, I just don't have many resources to ammuse myself. Tools at my disposal for this task are:
1. a web connection
2. origami paper
3. TV

TV is really shockingly boring, so let's just skip that and go right to the origami paper and the web connection. I decided I would use Star's recovery nap to figure out how to fold a "magic box" that unfurls into a rose. You can see the transformation from box to rose in this youtube video.

And you can see the videos (part 1 and part 2) that I watched to see how to do it. And look! I did it.

Also in the picture are 2 examples of another decorative box I tried recently. They're nice of course, but the rose . . . it wins.

At Least a Week

2009-06-12T22:25:00.001-05:00

Last summer when the Hydrangea bloomed, the billowy, fat blossoms were so heavy that I had to pull the branches up with string. I had completely forgotten about that, about having to add supports, and consequently got to it way too late this year. Some of the branches snapped as I tried to hoist them up, so I ended up with lots of cuttings.

But I would have taken cuttings anyway just for the pure pleasure of it.

Shortly after I took that picture of my handiwork, I noticed a stow away.

For those of you who don't know, Hydrangeas don't smell like anything, really. Since people can be very sensitive to smells, I say it's scentlessness is an advantage. Another advantage? Hydrangea cuttings last gorgeously for at least a week.

This post might have to last that long too. In the morning we're off for a vacation and who knows how frequently I'll be able to post while we're away. But when we get back, the Hydrangeas (and the whole rest of our lives) will be right where we left them. Have a great week everyone!

Frugalein has a Frenemy

2009-06-11T12:33:00.002-05:00

Some of you may have missed my introduction of Frugalein into this blog. Since then I've mentioned her off and on. She's the frugal part of me, the part that lives to save money; to use it up, wear it out, make do AND do without, preferably all at the same time.

Well, wouldn't you know, Frugalein isn't the only voice in my head. She's got company and company's name is Grünelein. Grünelein loves to save the earth the way Frugalein loves to save money. Sometimes they get along, singing to me in two part harmony when I hang my clothes up to dry, bake my own (damn!) cookies, switch off the AC, or think up clever ways to use less plastic. They pat me on the head as I shop second-hand, ride my bike instead of driving the car, and wash my clothes in cold rather than hot water.

But Grünelein and Frugalein don't always get along. Frugalein knows it saves not one dime to compost my kitchen and yard waste. She knows that I'm not doing her any favors at all when I sort the trash, ensuring that every recyclable thing in our lives ends up in the right trash can. Last month when I bought an antique watering can, Frugalein shook her head in disgust. I could have bought 3 new ones for what I paid for the beat-up old one.

Meanwhile, Grünelein suffers under an extreme lack of funding. She wishes we had rain barrels, but Frugalein won't pay for them. She wishes we had better insulation so that we would use less power to heat and cool, but again, Frugalein isn't convinced that the investment would pay for itself in enough time for us to break even on it. Grünelein wants tankless water heaters, but Frugalein said the (ancient, inefficient, wasteful) one we have has to break first.

You see how delicate a situation this is, I am sure.

Earlier today Grünelein got very excited when she saw this article about a "zero net energy and zero wastewater building" out in Eureka (about 40 minutes west of St. Louis on HW 44). It will house Washington University's Tyson Living Learning Center, where students conduct environmental research. One of the architects described the structure itself as a teaching tool--it was built to meet the requirements to be designated a "living" building. Think local materials, sustainability, rainwater, solar power, etc. It is off the grid (needs no municipal electric), runs entirely on recycled rainwater, and has no sewer. Waste (of all kinds) is composted. This building has it all. The builders reported that the Tyson Living Learning Center is the first "living" building in the US.

Although Grünelein was practially glowing with happy-pride for this greeny-progressive building, Frugalein's lips were pursed, arms folded, foot tapping impatiently. She was waiting for it, and yes. There it was. In there with all the descriptions of the trouble they endured to ensure that they met these standards was this small detail: it probably costs three to four times as much to build this way. Ah, yes. Frugalein knows all too well how much green-dreams cost and she doesn't hold with any of that.

Frugalein mocks Grünelein's starry-eyed wonderment of all things eco-chic however impractical and money-pit-ish, while Grünelein derides Frugalein's maddening thrift-first mentality.

I think I had better go bake cookies and hang wet laundry. I so much prefer to keep their voices in harmony.

Swim Lessons

2009-06-10T22:06:00.003-05:00

My kids' swim lessons will conclude tomorrow. I tried to take pictures of the lessons in progress, but Dandelion wasn't really in the mood for pictures.

Here she is, poolside, waiting for the next activity.

Here's Star's group. She's the one with the teal pool-noodle.

The funny thing about these lessons is that there are far more girls enrolled than boys in all of the age/skill levels that I have observed. I wonder why this would be. It seems strange. Surely, boys need swimming skills as much as girls do, and it isn't as though boys don't like to swim . . . odd. Maybe it just came down to a scheduling conflict. Who knows.

Twelve Dumpling Dinners

2009-06-09T22:23:00.003-05:00

On a somewhat routine basis, Matthew drops in at our neighborhood international market on the way home from work to pick up a few bags of the world's best frozen pot-stickers (or as my kids call them, dumplings). One bag feeds the whole family and costs about $4. Star LOVES dumpling dinners, but that's not all she loves.

Not too long ago, Star drew me this picture:

Here, she said. This place. I want to go to this place.

The bus on the roof was a dead giveaway. Star had captured the essential features of the City Museum.

We've been twice, but those visits were more than a year ago. Star's memory bowls me over, though the City Museum is not the kind of thing that she would easily forget. It's an engaging place to be no matter how old you are. Kids enjoy the tactile aspect, climbing, sliding, swooping, exploring their way through the interior and exterior. Adults can do all that too, but they'll likely also notice that whimsy and artistry pervade the entire structure. It's just cool. And they had a circus. No wonder Star wanted to go back.

Of course, she wanted to go now right now! Can we please? But it was late in the day. Maybe around 4 pm. So, really, with entry tickets at $12 a piece, no. No, we won't go to the City Museum that late in the day. Star, I said, for all of us to go, we would have to spend as much as 12 dumpling dinners, and we wouldn't get to play very long because it is so late.

Once I converted the currency from Dollars to Dumplings, I was talking Star's language. For most kids, money doesn't make any sense at all so I think I'm on to something with this.

It Goes With The Territory

2009-06-08T16:55:00.001-05:00

Here's another picture of me with the kids, part of the 'me as a mom' series that I mentioned a while ago.

It was taken October 2006 in the Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve. We had just returned to Lebanon after Israel pummeled it that summer.

Today, I put most of the clothes that the girls are wearing in this picture on the front step for one charity or another to pick up. I left two enormous bags filled with toddler clothes out there for them, but that wasn't the half of it. Down in the basement there are at least four more big plastic tubs, all full of baby clothes, blankets, toys, etc. I don't think of myself as a sentimental person, but I simply didn't have it in me to say goodbye to all of it at once.

I couldnt' even say goodbye to all their clothes. I kept the little jeans that Dandelion's wearing in the picture, and I kept the red shoe--I have only one of them. The other got lost somewhere between here and Beirut two years ago.

They've Outdone Themselves This Time

2009-06-07T21:41:00.000-05:00

and without any help from me. I knew they'd someday appreciate our huge dress-up collection.

Cheesy Hands and Feet

2009-06-06T16:34:00.003-05:00

Although the results have always been mixed, I am forever trying to cook with my children. I'm quite sure they are as ambivalent about these bouts of quality time as I am. They'd rather be in front of the television, I'm sure. Never the less, I keep a watchful eye for recipes that the kids might actually want to make, so when Nigella Lawson, author of How to Be a Domestic Goddess, promised (on NPR, of course) that kids (generally) would love making Cheesy Feet, I decided it was time to drag my kids (specifically) into the kitchen once more.

The kids were great kitchen helpers, and thanks to a crazy-easy recipe the Cheesy feet (and hands!) came out much as anticipated. The result is something like a slightly cake-like goldfish cracker.

Look! Disgusting? Cute?

Here's how you can make your own (modified from the original at NPR):

4 oz. Cheddar cheese, grated
1.5 T butter
1/3 c flour
1/4 t baking powder

Put all of the ingredients into a food processor and blitz until the dough comes together (it eventually will become quite like play dough). When it does, form into a fat disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. When the dough has chilled long enough, preheat the oven to 400˚ F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. While oven heats, roll out the dough between sheets of wax paper to roughly 1/8-inch in thickness, and cut out hands and feet with cookie cutters. Re-roll the dough to continue cutting out hands and feet until it is all used up. Put cut-outs onto lined baking sheet and cook in the oven for 10 minutes. Give them a few minutes to cool, then serve.

Eat it Up

2009-06-05T22:28:00.004-05:00

Much to our mutual consternation, Matthew has been the kids' favorite parent for as long as we have been parents. That's never been easy for either of us. Matthew is under the constant weight of their demands, whereas I becoming invisible the minute he walks through the door. Just about everyone we know has promised us that someday it will be my turn, but no. Star's six. If there was going to be a nobody-but-mommy phase it would have come by now.

For at least the past two years, Matthew has done occasional daddy-daughter dates with the girls. They love the one-on-one time with him. Invariably the date will include a restaurant and they love that too. They love it at least as much and maybe even more than the one-on-one time. . . .

Clearly, dates with daddy fall beyond Frugalein's jurisdiction. Generally her reign over our wallets goes largely uncontested and that results in infrequent restaurant outings for our kids. What a waste of money, she tells me. If I hear, "Mom, can we go to a restaurant?", Frugalein will spit out the word "No," delivered in the most knee-jerk and automatic fashion you can imagine before I've even registered the question.

Ok, so mommy doesn't know how to say yes to questions like that, but what would happen if the question was different? What if she were asked for a mommy-daughter date? Shrewd little Dandelion came up to me not long ago and asked in her nicest voice for this very thing. Because I really love you, she said.

Hmmmmm. What will I do? Do I want to be wanted so badly that I'll pretend I don't know that my kid is really just after the ice cream? Do I want happy-fun-time with my daughter (getting a treat just the two of us) so much that I'll silence Frugalein (the old killjoy) to get it?

Is anyone honestly wondering?

The picture was taken on our date to an old soda fountain shop, Dr. Jazz, where the sundaes were made to order, exactly the way we like them.

Just Because It's June

2009-06-04T18:54:00.003-05:00

Here's what's blooming now.

Weather-wise

2009-06-03T22:29:00.001-05:00

Today was cold and wet. It started that way, and now it is ending that way. It was cold and wet in the middle too.

A cold wet summer day isn't the same as a cold wet winter day for two big reasons. The first, I would imagine is somewhat universal. Summer plans usually require summer weather, like the girls' swimming lessons. (They're doing great by the way, absolutely love it and their classes are at their level and I'm so glad that they're learning to swim!) Cold wet summer days submarine hot dry summer plans. Fooey. We were really looking forward to their classes and they got canceled today.

Such a downer, but let's not forget the second distinction held by a cold wet summer day. It's such a big deal for me. During the summer last year I all but quit baking. It was just too hot for that. I didn't see it coming at all last year. This year I made a feeble attempt to put up baked goods for the summer. A few weeks ago I made a double batch of my lemon cardamom cookies and put them in the freezer. They're still there (what's left of them, anyway) waiting in the wings for those desperately hot months when I can bear neither the thought nor the reality of an oven set to 350˚ F. The cold wet days of summer are the perfect reprieve from the culinary restrictions we experience when the calender and climate demand a baking moratorium.

Our cold wet day menu? The kiddos helped me to make a chocolate chip bar cookie during the time they would have spent in their swimming lessons. Not adventuresome, I know, but certainly satisfactory. Later, we were back in the kitchen baking cheese pizza for dinner. We relished in the fact of a comfortably cool kitchen even while the pizza baked. Now that the baking itch has been scratched, I think I'll begin planning a menu (an interesting one, this time) for the next cold wet summer day.

Dressed Up Out There

2009-06-02T22:39:00.001-05:00

Mr. Ugly

2009-06-01T22:00:00.005-05:00

A little while ago, Matthew and I made a date of a late evening stroll through the old-timey main street of a neighborhood not too far from our own. Everything was closed, so we were actually, literally window shopping. It reminded me of Germany and Lebanon at the same time, because we did that in both places. Not much reminds me of both places at once. Yeah, it's pretty much just babies and window shopping.

Anyway, we stopped to look in the window at Plowsharing Crafts. Like other shops nearby, their window display was attractive. I noticed, tucked in at the corners, clay pots. They were nice and big, pretty colors too, and perfect for being indoors or out. And since Frugalein must be satisfied about this kind of thing, I also noticed the price tags. Reasonable prices. Not a dime more (actually, several dozen dimes less because you don't have to pay tax at Plowsharing) than what I'd have to pay for the same product somewhere else. I made a mental note, because Mr. Ugly needed to be repotted and taken out for the summer.

Who is Mr. Ugly, you ask? Well, actually, his real name is Herr Häβlich, but Häβlich isn't the easiest thing for my kids to pronounce plus they sadly have no idea what all those sounds mean, so we anglicized it. This is a picture of my Mr. Ugly that I took back in February. He was overwintering in the dining room and has grown quite a lot since then.

Late last summer, my neighbor invited us to come see her Night Blooming Cereus open up on a still and cool summer evening. A few weeks passed, and then she brought over a mason jar with cuttings from the plant. They rooted well and I planted them in the only unused pot I had and kept it in the dining room. Not more than a week later I had my parents over for dinner. When my mom walked in and saw the plant she instantly (and delightedly) declared that I had a Mr. Ugly plant.

Apparently, years ago, she had a plant like this. One of us named it Herr Häβlich (we all had German in High School, so it's anyone's guess where that name came from) and the name stuck. Mom had no idea that it was a night bloomer, though. Her Mr. Ugly stayed in the house year-round, so he never got the chance.

Earlier today I went back to Plowsharing shortly after they opened, selected a large pot, and brought it home. While I was there I found out that the store is run entirely by volunteers, they're a non-profit, that they have been in St. Louis for nearly three decades. To me, that's almost as impressive as the help they have provided to people who need it. Fair trade allows artisans throughout the world to benefit from the sale of their products in wealthy markets like the one down the street from me. From now on, when I need a gift for someone in town, Plowsharing will be my first stop.

This evening (I had to wait for sundown. I just can't take the brightness or the heat or the skin-burning.) I repotted Mr. Ugly into the Plowsharing pot and found a place for it outside where he will get just the right amount of sun.

Wild Strawberries

2009-05-31T20:44:00.001-05:00

This morning my dad took the kids exploring in his neighborhood. They came back with wild strawberries the size of pencil erasers. Paltry, I though, and gladly boasted that the strawberry weeds in my yard grow much bigger that that.

See?

Later on we had fun picking wild weed berries together. The girls asked if they could try them--take a taste. Sure, I said, but I reminded them that wild strawberries don't taste like much. They kind of taste like water. But the girls would not be dissuaded and after sampling our crop declared that they really liked them. Maybe it was the novelty of being able to eat something right out of the back yard or maybe they actually did like them.

Mint beats Lambs Ear

2009-05-30T16:25:00.000-05:00

Earlier in the spring I took a lot of pictures of the thriving lambs ear.

I wanted to capture how very furry it is, and that was when I realized how hard it is to take a crisp image of an inherently fuzzy object.

Last year our back flowerbed was overgrown with mint. In a sneaky land-grab maneuver, the mint had claimed territory from the rose, cone flower, lambs ear, and another plant that I don't know the name of. Here's a picture of the nameless thing.

Let me know if you recognize it. In case it helps you identify it; the leaves are thick and leathery, a paler green than the grass. I believe it will have pinkish blossoms later in the summer. This year the plant has grown into a mound about 2' high and wide. That's a lot bigger than it got last year when the mint was choking it and everything else.

While the mint maintained its stranglehold on the back flowerbed, all of its neighbors suffered. You'd expect nothing else of the rose and cone flower. They just lie down and take it. But lambs ear? It too is known to be invasive and tenacious. It can get out of hand and take over a garden, but lambs ear doesn't hold a candle to mint. Nope. It didn't stand a chance.

But ultimately the mint didn't stand a chance either. It had to contend against me. At about this time last year I decimated our mint crop. Three healthy patches of mint survived my pruning.

It was too late in the year for this measure to make a meaningful difference for the other plants. But this year my imposed restriction of the mint's territory has made a world of difference. Everything is blooming bigger and better, and I keep a watchful eye lest the mint revive its dreams of unchecked expansion.

Too Many to Count

2009-05-29T22:20:00.003-05:00

It's been a really nice, really full day. It started with guacamole, homemade by me, because I felt like having it for breakfast. Here's how I did it:

1 ripe avacado, seeded and mashed
1 t. lemon juice, though lime's better if you've got it
1 T hot salsa
2 T fresh cilantro, cut up into tiny bits.

Blend it all together and serve with chips--package and send some with your husband who doesn't hold with early-morning guacamole.

Next up; a trip to the Botanical Garden. The purpose for this particular visit was to find a suitably "spring"-like present for the girls' cousin. We did, and we also wandered around and took a lot of pictures while we were there. Here's one:

So much was blooming. In the Climatron we saw, among other things, limes budding on a lime tree and a (pink!) pineapple growing like nobody's business. The roses were spectacular. Star happily wandered the hedge maze in the Victorian garden while Dandelion refused to be photographed. They both adored the tiny frogs swimming merrily in the pool where the Angel Musicians danced overhead.

Our plan was to go from the Garden to the Airport, where Aunt Terra would catch a flight to NC for the weekend. We had a few extra minutes, so we ducked into Sweet Art for cupcakes.

I'd been curious about this little shop for ages. The proprietors are a couple. She bakes, he paints. Sweet. Art. Lovely. The cupcakes were good and the art was lyrical. Their savory menu looked marvelous, so I'll have to go back some time when I'm thinking "meal" and not "child-appropriate snack".

The rest of the day didn't photograph quite so well. We dashed to the airport and then dashed back to the house where I threw together a sack lunch for Star to take to her school picnic. I took the kids to their schools for the last time--summer break is setting in. Got home and worked a bit on the back-yard fire pit. Tried to cleaned the gutters but realized I really am too chicken to clean the ones on the back of the house (where there's no porch to catch me if I fall). Went shopping and bought blackout fabric for curtains in the girls' room, a birthday present for a party Dandelion's going to tomorrow, and a swim cover up for me. Picked the kids up (from school and the bus stop) for the last time--it's officially summer break. Took them to the pool. Dandelion went down the slide! Came home. Made dinner. Got the kids to bed.

And that brings us to me, sitting here typing this. Hopefully, in the next few days, I'll sink into a rhythm for the summer. Maybe, even though the kids will be with me all day every day, I'll finish some of the things that I'm in the middle of (too many to count, actually) and when I do I'll share pictures of it with you.

One Purple Iris

2009-05-27T21:57:00.002-05:00

By now, all the irises have faded. But before we leave them to the land of late-spring memory, I have to tell a story. Last year, we had yellow irises. This year, in the garden, one purple iris bloomed and next year there will be more.

How is it that I have purple? Well, last fall I got a knock on the door. I answered and found on my front porch an older, bearded man. He looked like Santa Clause, but introduced himself as a neighbor of mine two streets over. Last spring, he said, he noticed that I had really great yellow irises. Would I trade him some of my yellow ones, he asked, for some of the purple ones that grow in his yard?

I said yes. A few weeks later, my neighbor delivered a bag with 10 rhizomes in it. They look a little like ginger root with a green fan of blades at one end, just in case you were wondering

Of course I had to reciprocate, and I eventually got to it a few days later. Partly to make way for the purple irises, and partly to prune, I dug up no fewer than 30 of my yellow iris rhizomes, but probably more. Before we moved in, the yard had been neglected for at least a few years, and the irises had become quite overgrown. In fact, even after all I pruned away, the iris patch might still be too crowded. Anyway, I selected the 10 best looking ones and sent them over to our neighbor.

This spring, one of the 10 purple irises flowered. I wasn't expecting to see any blooms at all for the first year. What a pleasure. And next spring, when more of them blossom, it will be even better.

A Little Afternoon Habitat Distruction

2009-05-26T21:26:00.001-05:00

Dandelion likes to maroon her bike -- the back wheel suspended over a rut, bike held up by the training wheels -- to turn it into an exercise bike. If you look closely, you can see that her back wheel and her legs are the only things moving in this picture.

She was 'exercising' while Matthew tinkered with a problem that has greatly impeded Star's bike-riding enjoyment. He's a pretty resourceful bike repairman.

While those two were busy, I tackled another outside issue:

That's a pile of landscape timber that, once upon a time, made it much much harder to maintain our lawn. I removed them (and the 2' stakes keeping them in place) earlier this spring, and then piled them up the way you see them in the picture.

Don't confuse this with the first batch of timbers I dug up earlier in the year. Those are well and truly gone. These are the second wave of useless landscape timber that I have disencumbered from our garden.

Anyway, slowly, steadily, it became clear just how bad an idea it is to have a pile of wood right next to the house. Oh, I'm sure it isn't THAT big a deal, you just wouldn't want to have that situation long term. So I moved them, and hopefully, in a few days, I'll have disposed of them.

You'll never believe what was living under those timbers, though.

I just had to show the kids, even though the toad was hard to see under all those leaves. Dandelion named him 'toady boady' almost as quickly as I decided he was a boy, and she then declared him to be "so cutie" and ran back to her exercise bike.

Now that the timbers are gone, I have no idea where toady boady will live. There are lots of other shady spots in the garden, but none that will protect him from the neighbors' cat quite so well as a huge pile of timber.

Frugalein Doesn't Always Win

2009-05-25T23:08:00.002-05:00

Today I ordered this lovely pot. Mikasa claims this is a coffee pot, but it won't be in our house.

No. It will be the central piece for tea parties. I have daughters who are delighted by tea parties, and they have a mother who is delighted by slowly adding to her collection of china. This pot (when it arrives in 2 weeks) will be the first addition to my china stash since 2004 when my mother single-handedly more than doubled my inventory.

I did have a coupon, but Frugalein wasn't satisfied nor will she let me forget this affront to her sensibilities any time soon.

Musical Listen-and-Learn with Zimbabwe Nkenya

2009-05-24T22:49:00.003-05:00

Here's a picture of Matthew, Terra, and the kids (seated dead center) enjoying the Mbira music of Zimbabwe Nkenya at the St. Louis Art Museum.

The performance was done in conjunction with the museum's African Arts Festival, and was a pure delight. Prior to the performance the kids were invited to make hand-held shakers, like maracas without handles. Of course they still had them in their hands when the performance began, and Nkenya was visibly pleased when his performance was punctuated with enthusiastic shake-a shakes from the kids surrounding him.

You can see one very simple Mbira that Matthew bought in Nairobi in this post from my old Beirut blog--it's shown in the picture; number 2.

Chop

2009-05-24T10:08:00.001-05:00

Dandelion has a new hair cut.

Daisy Weed

2009-05-22T23:51:00.000-05:00

I have a huge amount of this weed growing in my yard. Anyone know what it is? Just in case it helps anyone identify it: mid-March it put up clusters of fuzzy leaves. They looked like furry lettuce. Then, from the center, a tall stalk shots up and multiple little daisy-like blossoms appear, late April-ish.

Not knowing what else to call them, I'll refer to them daisy weeds (in my head anyway). I'm not wild about having this weed overrun my grass, so earlier in the week (or was it late last week? Oh, now I remember. It was on Sunday) I gathered this big bouquet of daisy weeds--partially so that when they go to seed they don't do it near the grass, and partially because they're cute. They've been indoors in this vase ever since, and delightfully, they have not wilted a bit.

Vintage Vita Mix

2009-05-21T16:02:00.002-05:00

For most of the years of my childhood, my mother had a Vita Mix. I think we got it as a hand-me-down from Mom's brother, but I could be wrong about that. Back then, we mostly used it to make milk shakes. The ingredients were usually limited to cookies, ice cream, and milk (except when it was fruit, ice cream, and milk), and they were completely delicious.

Well, one day (back in the day) it quit working. Years passed. The Vita Mix sat. Children grew, left home, came back again, and that was when Mom bought a new one.

Apparently when you buy a new Vita Mix, you get a manufacturer-issued voucher. Return the voucher with your old mixer and get $75, at least that's how I think it's supposed to go. Anyway, Mom was about to return her old one when someone suggested that she set the old one upside down over night. "Then try it in the morning", this unknown someone said to her. Well, she did, and magically the next morning, it was again functional. Why, she asked herself, why not give it to Mary Ann?

And that is how, last year in September, I came into possession of my mother's ancient Vita Mix.

It's so charming.

Matthew uses it for his breakfast nearly every day. He has also used it to perfect his hummus recipe. Not me, though. I really haven't used it much. But the other day I saw a recipe for chocolate pudding that I just had to try--a pudding that had to be made in a blender. I tried it. Matthew tried it. Matthew wants more of it. I, on the other hand, think the recipe needs work before I'd call it a success. And a recipe that needs work means a Mary Ann spending more time with the Vintage Vita Mix.

American Summer, Lebanese Fall

2009-05-20T14:19:00.001-05:00

We're coming up on Memorial day weekend. Maybe later today, I'll retrieve the suite of American Flags my Mom gave me last year and reinstall them in the front yard. I won't be alone. Most of the neighbors will hang flags too. Some of these flags will be taken down again after all the barbecues have ended, but there's one house, down on the corner, that will keep their flags out all summer long.

Although one risks appearing lazy rather than patriotic, leaving the flags out all summer long isn't without justification. Summertime is the most flag-wavingest season in America. Memorial Day in May is followed by Flag Day in June (which in fairness is rivaled only by May Day in underratedness), and the Fourth of July precedes the comparatively un-festive month of August. But lest our patriotic spirit waver, Labor Day offers one last flag-flying hurrah on the first Monday of September. Soak it in. It's good to be an American in the Summer.

Just as I associate summer with America, I associate fall with Lebanon. That's when their independence day is. And since Lebanese summers were iffy (security-wise) while we lived there, fall brings with it great relief. Winter? I can't think of a better time to be Russian than in the dead of winter. Sure, the cold is rough, but that's a kind of badge of honor. I can only imagine that the Russians take great pride in knowing that nobody but nobody can survive their winter like they can. That's when Spring rolls around and brings us to Japan. I don't know of a culture that celebrates spring like the Japanese do. One day, I would love to be there when the cherry blossoms open in a Japanese springtime.

Maybe some day I will. But what's more likely is that the next springtime I observe will be in Lebanon. We're very likely to go back in the fall.

I thought I'd share this funny little scan that I made in 2007 of my favorite blooms of a Lebanese spring. These nearly covered parts of the path I took four times daily to Star's school to drop her off and pick her up. They are among the most cheerful blossoms I have ever seen. Completely charming.

Me, as a Mom

2009-05-19T20:56:00.004-05:00

About a year ago I began to create a collection of pictures of me with one or both of my kids.

This one is without a doubt my very favorite.

Sometimes I Forget

2009-05-18T17:25:00.002-05:00

Dandelion's school offers a wide range of services for kids with special needs, and therefore employs occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and probably other professionals that I just haven't heard of yet. Back when I slip-covered the little couch in my daughter's classroom, word got out that I sew. Twice since then, I've gotten requests like this one:

It's funny to me to look at how the OT prepared these wrist bands--intended to help children exercise specific finger or thumb muscles by holding others in place. She certainly got the job done--the black magic marker, the paper clip, these are good instructions. And though all of this was effective, there are methods that anyone who sews would know about that do all of this with the same effectiveness but far greater finesse. It made me realize that I often forget just how much I know about sewing. I also tend to forget that other people don't necessarily know what I do.

An unflatteringly long time ago the OT asked me to make two weight vests for the ADD/ADHD kids--she prescribes 20 minutes or so a day in these vests to give kids with too much energy some resistance to push against. She could have bought vests like this online, but they are needlessly and unjustifiably expensive. By making them for the school I knew I would be saving them a ton of money (because I volunteer my time and my fabric, when I have it). Since they are simple to make I agreed. Since the request was made, I have had a lot of other things going on (just check my archives!) and days steadily turned into weeks and into months. But, today I finished the second one. It feels good to be finished and to know that I won't have to reprimand myself for forgetting that project anymore.

At the Flea Market

2009-05-16T22:40:00.001-05:00

In the past I've complained about the freebie-newspapers that land unbidden and unwanted in my yard--particularly the problematic plastic bags they arrive in--but perhaps I shouldn't complain. They have a great community calendar in there that lists more fascinating events than we know what to do with. And this week, in their classified section, there was something that caught my eye: an add for a flea market to be held at one of those neat boutiquey-antiquey shops in my neighborhood. The girls and I went early this morning to check it out.

The shop is called Recycled Rose. Even though it's in my neighborhood and not at all out of the way, I've only gone in a handful of times. Still, it's a charming shop filled with beautiful things. Most of what you'll find at Recycled Rose is just a touch too romantic or eclectic (or both) for me to seriously consider making a purchase, but wandering through the shop is like wandering through a daydream -- and I like daydreaming.

In February I bought some lawn furniture I found there. It needs some work before we can use it. Now that the whether is getting nicer I'll probably prioritize the work these pieces need to be put to use.

Back to the flea market: it was set up (mostly) behind the store in a kind of wild meadow. It was picturesque, actually. The girls wanted to buy everything they laid eyes on, but were great shopping buddies all the same. And when I found a vendor selling antique (functional!) watering cans, I bought one. I've needed one for months, and now, I have one.

What Would You Do If It Happened To You?

2009-05-15T14:49:00.003-05:00

Aunt Terra is here to visit, and it's so nice. We are going to have so much fun, especially considering that in two short weeks the school year will be over for my kids. Looking into my crystal ball, I can see a lot of trips to the pool in our future.

Anyway, months ago, a friend of mine (acutally, she's the other mom at my kid's bus stop. I wish we were friends, but during the whole school year we've never gotten together anywhere but the bus stop and now that school is ending, I bet I won't see her anymore) told me about a project she was in the middle of. She had started a quilt but as she studied the fabrics she chose, carefully cutting squares and rectangles, she realized that the colors and style of it all wasn't quite . . . . well, she didn't want it any more. I had told her that I sew, and so she asked, very tentatively in a way that made it clear how much she did not want to foist this on me, if I would maybe like her woulda-been-a-quilt fabric?

I have never met a cotton that I didn't think needed a home in my collection, so I said yes.

A few days later, she brought me a white garbage bag full of this:

That, for those of you who aren't yet in tears, is Heather Bailey fabric. Go to her site or search for Heather Bailey on Etsy, and you'll understand why the first thing I did was to ask her if she was serious about giving it to me. To be fair, the first time I looked into the bag I had no idea what brand the fabric was, but after nearly 24 years of sewing (yeah, you read that right) I know a good fabric when I see one. This is expensive fabric and sought-after too. I can pay you, I said, or I can help you sell it on e-bay--I felt obligated to make these offers in as sincere a voice as I could. But my friend wouldn't hear of it--she just wanted to be sure it would get used and that someone would love having it.

I do. I've pieced the blocks she cut into 22" squares for a project I'm working on. Sorry, no pictures until it's done. And I can think of a million other things to make too. But today, what I really want to know is, what would you do if you were given a whole lot of really nice fabric? I know there are crafters out there. What would you do if this fabric just fell into your lap?

K. Hall Designs

2009-05-13T15:14:00.005-05:00

I was out running errands today and a shop caught my eye that I hadn't noticed before. K. Hall Designs, and in big letters under that, APOTHECARY. After living in Germany and Lebanon, my sense of what an apothecary might be is quite broad. I mean, really. They could have anything from fizzy vitamin tablets to dehydrated lizards and I swear it would not surprise me.

But K. Hall did surprise me. They're tucked into a rather unfashionable block of Manchester Road in Brentwood--across the street is a garden shop and just down the road there's a place to rent heavy equipment. There are a few vacant storefronts to the right and left of them. It just isn't the kind of block where you'd expect to open a door into a magical boutique where everything looks and smells perfect.

The shop was full of beautiful furniture and furnishings. There were gorgeous linens and glassware. They had clothing for children and adults, an array of bath products, and everything smelled so lovely. Being in that store was simply wonderful, so I bought a candle to remind me of it.

They make all the candles and bath products on location (lotion, soaps, scrubs). Hooray for local businesses!

update: they have a website.

At the table

2009-05-12T21:29:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I wonder why we have a living room at all. When I think back over today (or any day, really) almost all of our time was spent here, at the table.

The kind of Mom I want to be

2009-05-10T21:58:00.004-05:00

Not long ago, I found this list online: 40 things you can do to raise a moral child. I'm posting it today, on Mother's Day, because being a mom is a huge part of my daily life and raising moral kids is a huge part of what being a mom means to me. What I hope for, I guess, is that someday when my kids are grown up they'll read through this list and think to themselves, yeah, my mom was like that. So, Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, and enjoy the list.

1. Tune in to your child's feelings.
2. Talk about how you think others may be feeling.
3. Comment on your own emotions.
4. Sing to and hold your child.
5. Read imaginative stories to your child.
6. Give reasons why you approve or disapprove of your child's behavior.
7. Provide reasons for rules you want your child to follow.
8. Encourage your child to play with children of various ages.
9. Engage your child in reflective discussions by asking open-ended questions.
10. Promote independent thinking.
11. Treat your child with respect.
12. Express interest in your child's activities, projects, and dreams.
13. Help set goals and encourage your child to see them through.
14. Praise a task well done.
15. Give your child emotional and verbal support to stand against the crowd when necessary.
16. Be flexible - not arbitrary - in your discipline.
17. Don't use intimidation, never use ridicule.
18. The severity of the punishment should be related to the severity of the wrongdoing.
19. Discipline with explanations.
20. Criticize in private.
21. Provide opportunities for your child to help others.
22. Give positive verbal and nonverbal feedback for being a good person.
23. Work with your child in community and volunteer service.
24. Expect and encourage good deeds from your child.
25. Help your child keep promises.
26. Examine your own biases.
27. Provide examples that counteract society's prejudices.
28. Don't allow biased or bigoted comments to go unchallenged.
29. Give your child books that show different kinds of people playing, working, and living together.
30. Talk about differences between people, but talk about them neutrally.
31. Tell your child about the people you admire and why.
32. Live your life as you want your children to lead theirs.
33. Show the importance of protecting the vulnerable.
34. Comment on compassionate behavior - let your child know that caring is an important value.
35. Let your child know what you value and why you value it.
36. Supervise your child's television viewing.
37. Get involved with your child's education.
38. Make family meals important and regular occasions.
39. Make time for your child.
40. Take an interest in the world outside your home.

Fancy Pants

2009-05-09T18:08:00.003-05:00

My sister is the kind of person who just has it all together. For the girls' birthdays, she made them pajama pants.

And they're so fancy.

The Darling Buds of May

2009-05-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

At the Green House Sale

2009-05-07T22:35:00.001-05:00

Vote!

2009-05-06T22:19:00.004-05:00

I'm building drawers for my closet, and I need to find pulls for them. These two are in the running. The reason I'm considering this at all is that the handle is hinged, and when the handle is hinged it's called a "bail pull" for reasons unknown to me. I want a bail pull because it will be flat, a space-saving feature that will be useful in the location where these will be used.

The problem is, I'm not crazy about either one. Oh, there are pretty ones that are terribly expensive and even more ugly expensive ones. Since I'll probably need at least 13 of them, they can't cost $20 each. About a tenth of that would actually be more like it.

So, what do you think? Anyone have a better suggestion? Send me a link if you do . . .

Black-eyed Pea Salad/alsa

2009-05-05T09:34:00.005-05:00

One of the blogs I read is called Life at Quail Hollow. The site features, among other things, distinctly Southern recipes. Recently one of the recipes caught my eye, a recipe for Black-eyed Pea Salad. Any leftovers, the recipe claimed, could be served like Salsa. Since all my past experience with Black-eyed peas resulted in dishes served hot with spices distinctly Indian, I was happy to try a new direction.

If you want to see the original recipe, here it is. In the original, the first ingredient is a gallon-size can of Black-eyed peas and the recipe serves 40+. I always improvise a bit when I cook. What you'll find here is a derivation from the Quail Hollow salad, but the result is still yummy and works well whether as a salad or (take Matthew's word for it) as a salsa.

Black-eyed Pea Salad/alsa

1 lb dry black-eyed peas

Soak overnight if you can, but pre-soaked or not, put them in a pot, cover with water and boil until they are soft. When they're done drain and rinse well, toss them with the following things (which you can prepare while the peas cook):

1 11oz. can vacuum packed corn kernels
2 14oz. cans petite diced tomatoes
4 ribs celery, chopped
2 c. chopped red onion
1 t garlic powder
1 4oz. can diced green chiles
2 T lemon juice

In a small bowl, wisk together the following ingredients:
1/4 c. white vinegar
1 t ground mustard
1/4 c. canola oil
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Pour this over the pea/vegetable/chile mixture, toss well. Chill 8-12 hours to allow flavors to bloom. I don't know how many servings this makes, but it filled a big stew pot at my house. 12? 15 maybe?