sf mama journal

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2011-03-01T11:23:00.001-08:00

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Where to start

2010-06-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

Oh it has been so long ....and I freeze under the pressure of making a post. I thought this would be a fine place to start. Summer vacation is here, I've breezed through another Spring of activities without documentation. I felt okay with this under-the-radar existence until I logged on to this site and realized how much I love seeing the past appear in front of me, a record of what I do, the childrens' growth, our place in the world. So as far as I'm concerned, it's time to get-bloggn'.

I will make an attempt to catch up with photos of life with the Hammock Benders.

Think what I will do is go back and post photos which will jog my memory of stories-past. This is the most logical...so keep posted my dearest friends.

Desert Road Trip 2010

2010-04-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

Living in SF these soon-to-be 15 years there is an isolation to the Bay Area that really bugs me, yes even with these 800,000 people I share a city with. Being a part of the megalopolis of the Eastern seaboard for most of my life I always felt connected to friends and family via an automobile. In three hours I could drive and be somewhere in Virginia eating at the table of friends, five hours another state and on ward I could dream to go. Out here in SF, there is nothing/no one for 5-6 hours. No one loves a road-trip more than me, I have subjected E+E to mini versions since there were infants during summer holidays as I hit Wake, Fredericksburg, Washington, DC, Philidelphia, Bucks County, NYC...Anyway, my friend Pat came to visit us late last summer and when I realized she drove here in two days from Southern Arizona, I had a destination, I felt freedom enter my psyche. Some time this winter it hit me that we were due for a road trip. I've really not seen the desert except for my cross-country adventure moving west but event that was at 85 miles an hour towing a car behind my U-Haul. The children quickly joined my plan with enthusiasm.

My trip-planning took many forms but ended up with a solid, ambitious but doable journey for team mama, Eva + Eli. We departed SFO (yes the airplane portion was a last-minute addition) on March 27th ,were in Venice Beach by 9:30 am, joining the Nadal/Zarrow clan for a family brunch at James Beach, followed by henna tattoos for the children, fun on the boardwalk, a dinner of Israeli food and bed in Calabasas. Sunday was a long day with a two hour drive to see the poppies at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve and back on the road through the San Bernadina Valley Mountain for hours of driving on I-10 until 5pm where I could not go any further. I was very sick from a new cold and within an hour of being on the 10, I was toast. My wing-man from his seat at his desk in SF, Art booked us in to a roadside hotel in Blythe, CA, the last stop before NOWHERE, where we enjoyed some time by the pool before bed. The next day was a long journey through the Arizona desert to 1.5 hours south of Tucson, a town called Aravaca, where my friend Pat lives. Three days living off-grid with Pat, rising to her newly crowing rooster Rue, collecting an egg from a timid layer, Mira, re-potting herbs and selling them at market, splashing amongst the cottonwood trees in Aravaca Creek, sleeping in our adorable trailer Rosie and sipping tea/coffee in Marigold (which hosted the heater!) and sneak-view at what it'd be like to work at a CSA (community supported agriculture.) Art joined us for some resort time in Arizona, dinner with Uncle John and Aunt Jane, a quick trip through Joshua Tree National Park and a luxurious 24 hours at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs.

Egg time

2010-03-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

Last year I got the best book in the bargain bin at a local used book shop, The Egg Tree. E+E love the story and I love the illustrations. This year we got a bunch of Easter-themed books out the of the library and have fallen for The Birds Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story. I picked up a Ukrainian egg kit a while back and brought it out today remembering we won't be here next week and this may be our last chance to decorate eggs. Before reading the directions I had Eli blow out an egg only to realize we'd decorate raw eggs but it was worth seeing a mini-Dizzy in action, don't you agree? He wanted nothing to do with the long involved process but Eva stuck right with it for almost three hours. I still need to get an image of the final egg but the process is almost as interesting.

Shu Shu's late birthday gift

2010-03-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by this gift idea on inchmark and thought it perfect for the grandma who's entire house is covered with photos of her grandchildren. I thought about it months ago but of course by the time I got around to ordering the photos and sleeve, I'm was over a week late for the actual day, alas. Two days ago, I filled the sleeves with photos of the children from over the last year and had e+e make the numbers. The last minute, Eva wanted to fill in the five little squares. In 15 minutes she designed the quickest and most meticulous Easter images I've ever seen. The idea of this gift is to provide a count-down for Shu Shu's visit to us on April 11th, the thought being on March 29th Shu Shu will remove two numbers per day until she depart to see us in person. I'm going to two-day mail it tomorrow before we head on our road trip to Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Tucson and Palm Springs. Nothing like pressure to make me perform.

Pallea for eleven

2010-03-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Twice a month I do not have to answer the question, "what's for dinner tonight?" thanks to my new dinner co-op. For years now, Naomi and I have said why don't we double our recipes once a week and share. I look fondly back on those hazy daze we would eat at either our house or theirs once a week and the rule was that the guest did not touch a dish nor pick up a toy that our wild ones spread across the house. I remember sitting at their table in a stooper of sleep deprivation, not moving an inch for a couple of hours while being fed amazing pasta dishes, chicken paprika, chopped radish salads...but we never did follow-up on our plan to cook/share. I was on a walk with a new kindergarten parent in Eli's class that lives five blocks away and she mentioned wanting to start a food co-op with me and Naomi. What do you know, a few days later Nina shows up with an amazing green soup that we paired with a salad and some bread. It was so tasty, served with lemon and olive oil for the parents and heavy cream for the children. Last night I made paella from this month's Savour Magazine. As I was prepping the dinner I lamented the loss of dinner with the Goldner/Katzs since starting this co-op. Moments later Naomi called and gladly accepted our invitation to dine at our house instead of picking up the goods, it was a quick meal with friends. Over Spring break we'll have a pot luck with Nina/Chris/Ella, bringing a social element to our co-op and to meet my goal of HAVING MORE POT LUCKS in 2010. Last night I also pulled out my leftover raw beet salad doctored with feta and pinenuts and a yummy new cold lentil salad I made for two nights with left-over Japanese sweet potatoes, parsley, red peppers with a vinegrette...yummy.

has it really been that long?

2010-03-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

I love my fans - all three of you. It was great hearing from all of you that you missed my blog this week. So here I am with promise to back-blog what I've been up to in my absence. I can partly blame this hiatus on two things #1 -Robert, my acupuncturist extraordinaire. He stripped me a bit of my hyper-state that I've lived with for most of my adult life and placed me in a new truly mellow state. The first few visits had me taking a break from a lot and done so with a nonchalance that I'm not used to. The first three days after an appointment all my obsessive behaviors are gone, I walk past the dirty kitchen riddled with dishes, napkins and crusty silverware, step over the socks and clothes strewn along the hallway, crawl in to my unmade bed at night, all this as happy as a clam. Usually this state of my house would haunt me, make me wonder if I can indeed fall asleep with such disarray and wake up crabby at the mere site of this unrest. Well I'm just as happy to report I'm even more balanced after two months of Robert, my house is back in order but done without a frenetic frenziness and I'm getting things done around here so you just wait and see what I've been up to!

#2 a new guilty pleasure. B.R. (before Robert) I have been suffering insomnia off and on, more on than off, over the last 7 years, since my darling bebes entered my life. I never recovered from the sleep deprivation I suffered after two consecutive years of infants in the house and Eli not sleeping through the night until he was 4. Look back on my early entries and they were all about sleep. A few months ago in the middle of the night I found a show on Netflix: Watch Instantly (since we do not have T.V. anymore) that could help me fall asleep because it was so bad, McLeods Daughters. After a few weeks of this sleep-inducing boredom, my heart-rate would no longer slow-down but on the contrary, speed-up when I would hear the theme music. All my evenings have been filled with watching these Australian jilleroos run their farm Drovers Run next door to their beefy male neighbors. I've been obsessed with these new friends of mine, sometime I catch myself and my thoughts have an Australian accent. I've only confessed this to a few people until now. At moments watching the show I'd think I'd want to shout my love for this show from a mountain-top, tell all my friends about the great discovery and then an episode would take a turn for the embarrassing and I could not dare confess the time I waste on this show. A few weeks ago I had an epiphany that put this in to perspective for me, I think it's the alternate life I'd like to live, no not in the Australian outback, but in Virginia, on a farm, with good friends. I love my life here in San Francisco, so many days I need to pinch myself to realize I'm not dreaming this good life in this beautiful city but at night I need to escape to the cows escaping the paddock, mucking the stalls, sitting around a farmhouse table with great girlfriends that I've known for a long time.

Pumpkin photo shoot

2010-01-29T16:11:00.000-08:00

At the request of my college friends back East, Sydney + Kara, I got some photos of pumpkin + me, not in action but you'll get the gist. Today, I was riding down Valencia Street on the way to school, the first of the 5 miles, and I heard, " JAN!" and who did I see but my honey waiting for a friend outside of Big Mouth Burger, though I had to remind him we're having hamburgers tonight for dinner. Lucky meeting, as I'd just had a thought as the blue sky was drifting away behind the clouds that I had no rain gear for Eli who is already skeptical of our rides. Art gallantly offered his coat, sweet guy huh? I had him snap the first photo. Later when I got to school I naively offered for Eli to ride with Leon/Naomi thinking he'd not want to but he did, and yes my feelings were hurt. After some back and forth we decided he'd ride part-way to Duboce Street Cafe, we'd meet, have a steamed milk/biscotti treat and then I'd scoop up the little guy. I beat the car by a good 6 minutes probably on the parking curve. Anyway, while enjoying our treat, we thought it'd be fun in the future for Naomi meet me at 15th/Valencia for me to take both boys home on the bike path while she has a student, something to work up to. p.s. the sky was blue the entire ride home though it is storming right now! These photos bring a smile to my face just looking at them, they're a bit ridiculous but boy is it fun! I just had to include the final photo for contrast of my and Eli's face.

A wee space of ones own.

2010-01-28T20:42:00.000-08:00

I declared it and got it (see posting for my space, under categories.) Eli wanted one too. Last week he pulled down all his toys from the corner of the dining room, after the little table which he promptly set it up next to the original art table, declaring his own space. Now we all have our own space.

What I learned observing their spaces today:

Eli is learning to whittle, he uses the pencil case, still loves birds, adding beetles and bugs to the list of interest, has a rubber band collection and has quite an eye for finding them all around the city where papers are delivered to homes, he loves his picture drawn for him by the after-school teacher Katherine.

Eva's space is more, of everything. She loves making those little paper hand contraptions that you choose a number or color and lift the flap for a secret, is engaged in her new Charlie Harper coloring book, storing my postcards of the Blue Ridge Mountains, also loves her bug from Pat, decorates her table with a table cloth, of course.

Eli's Viewmaster

2010-01-28T20:26:00.000-08:00

There is secret behind this Viewmaster that I'm not willing to divulge but you may look at Neema's blog to guess on your own. I finally gave Eli his belated birthday gift yesterday, as I had the VM but just got discs this week from ebay. As well, I'm hoping that these dips in to popular culture will not make him such a nerd as he's blocked from viewing the moving images for a few more years, Art rolled his eyes and laughed at me at the thought of THIS having any help in that department. Saturday our friend Leon was telling him about Donald Duck and Toy story, well here you go Eli, you now have visuals to go along with the stories.

ps - Love you Neema! It was worth it just so I can think of you every time I see him with it.

first signs of flowers

2010-01-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

It's been such a treat to watch as our bulbs bloom. We've seen some casualties of some of the shoots but what a rewarding process. I'm addicted, more bulbs next for us.

busy times around here

2010-01-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

Our dining room has been the central dumping ground + major hub of creative energy = mess, mess on top of mess. I've been avoiding this room for weeks. Today was the day, with me on coffee to boot (Art calls me Jan-squared in this state.) In the four hours I was home I was all over the place, one minute weeding the toy corner, next researching felt to make baskets, photographing the chidren's art tables, sewing kercheifs, making and installing new hangings for Eva's bedroom wall (inspired by Amanda Soule), cleaning off my desk, sewing a holder for Eli's View-master reels, gazing at the snowflake shadows that were visiblein our kitchen on our first day of sunshine, setting up a mushroom still-life with Eva's new beeswax sculpture, sweeping and all while having bursts of new ideas filling my head. It felt good. I'm a little shakey from the coffee this evening but I just love a day like this, and anyone who knows me knows I need these adrenolin rushes to keep me going.

I'm in the mood for Valentine's Day

2010-01-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

I pulled out the box of Valentine's decorations today. I love setting up on the mantle the old Valentines cards my maternal grandmother Edna left me, she knew I was the sentimental one in the family. I could not find two post cards from my grandfather Edward Elias to my grandmother. He had to leave Maryland during the Depression and went to work in Idaho on a farm. He sent her a Valentine's card and then posted one the next day, one was not enough. I placed the beautiful cards we made at Susan and Stella's last year below on the hearth, I love seeing the new and old together. Over Christmas, there was yet another opportunity to go through the stuff at my parents house. Each time I go home, I think this it, I'm willing to part with the garage full of items that filled my home as a child. However, each time there is a new opportunity to review the items, and of course one previously overlooked will stand out. This time I could not live without an old vase that used to be stored under the counter of the laundry room where I used to hide and play. It must have come from a Valentine's bouquet sent to my parents long before I was born. It looked so inviting to me on the garage shelf, I just had to stow it in my suitcase.

new game

2010-01-22T19:40:00.000-08:00

Eli invented a new game with the pulley. I'm not privy to the rules but he tied it to the trapeze and he stands down the all and launches it back to home base. Eva came home and he was able to fit in to the sequence. Over the course the afernoon there were rules, a system of scoring and loads of laughs.

beef stew weather

2010-01-21T16:13:00.000-08:00

I've never craved beef stew but this weather, week after week of rain-drops dripping down our windows and the back of our necks, has me thinking of nothing else. I picked up some grass-fed beef from Bi-Rite and made the most delicious and new variety of beef stew. I tried the recipe from the The San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market Cookbook , I think I've only made it once and it was a traditional stew made with carrots, beef, potatoes, braised with flour for thickner, you get the picture, like mom made. This particular recipe is beef stew with carrots based on a french version called boeuf aux carrottes, and I chose to serve it over boiled potatoes.

With the oven preheated to 325 degrees, I seasoned the beef with salt and pepper, braised each piece until browned on each side, set it aside. Once the beef is set aside nicely browned, I added a cup of red wine and cooked over medium heat. Now the recipe later asked to add one more cup and reduced to half, I think next time I will reduce the 2 cups of wine at once as we all felt a little drunk after this dinner (the alcohol in the second cup was trapped with the lid on), the children were asleep at 7:15 on the dot! I added 2 bunches of carrots, a quart of homemade chicken broth, a nice strip of orange rind peeled with a peeler, onions, a bouquet of garni (what I had from our C.S.A. - rosemary and sage), put lid on the enameled pot and let cook for an hour and half. It was delicious.

follow-up note: So I started this posting two weeks ago and a note: I asked the chidren last night if they wanted beef stew and they both said NO! maybe not a hit with the under 5 feet set, although their bowls were mighty empty. No wonder I never ask them what they want - they just get what I make.

just like my 5th birthday....NOT

2010-01-20T18:43:00.000-08:00

We were fortunate to attend a fabulous birthday party for a litte friend in Eli's class, Nithan. Nat and Jib, his parents own Corriander, a Thai restaurant in the Bloomingsdale mall. Their business partners and best friends own a chain of amazing restaurants called Osha Thai, where they hosted the party. Let's just say we all went hungary as instructed and were greeted with an endless buffet of the most scrumptious dishes including my favorite pumpkin curry, the best children's magic show I've ever seen and the favorite parents. This was one cozy event on a chilly SF day. Both my children want their next birthday to be at Osha.

Permaculture looming...

2010-01-19T21:51:00.001-08:00

I went to a lecture tonight given by a local organization called Kitchen Table Talk on Urban Homesteading. There were some very inspirational speakers that have 3,000 foot gardens in their yard, have lived in a tent in San Francisco for years, capture rainwater, have greywater solutions, or own 2 goats and 6 chicken in the Excelcior District. Alas, it was inspiring but a little overwhelming to imagine taking any of this on. It did get my wheels spinning, allowing myself to dream just exiting the space I thought I want 1) bees 2) a worm bin, not in that order and 3) a nice container garden 4) make yogurt, cheese, and kombucha and finally 5) host more pot-lucks. I'm frustrated with the limitations the condo situation poses on us but I've been challenged to not be shunned from moving on my own path. What will happen next?

Bike + Byrne

2010-01-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

I've always loved the Talking Heads and was so pleased to get up-close-and-personal with David Byrne's Journal. He is so cool, taking his collapsible bike around the world with him on his year-long tour. I think I'm going to have to get his book Bicycle Diaries out of the library, keeps me motivated to get on Pumpkin as much as possible.

Last week I was able to ride her to Golden Gate Park, meet a friend for a walk, spend an hour at the Amish Quilt Exhibit at the de Young Museum, ride to school and home with Eva on the back. I was a bit neurotic taking Pumpkin to the Park as our friends had two bike stollen there on Saturday at the Sciene Museum bike rack. The guard tole them that someone walks up, sprays liquid nitrogen on the lock and ride away minutes later. I took both my locks that came with the bike, one weighing at least 7 lbs. With the locks and 56 lb girl in tow, I got plenty of a workout. Not realizing how exhausted I was when I got home, I promptly fell asleep on the sofa and was in bed for the night at 8:30 p.m.

carefree clothes for Eva

2010-01-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

As soon as I'd read about Carefree Clothes for Girls, I put it on my Amazon Wishlist. When I made the big Christmas gift order, I left it on the order as a gift to myself. I love this book translated from Japanese pattern designer, Junko Okawa. Even though the patterns do not go up to Eva's size, I figured, in my naivety that I could just add a few inches here and there. My hubris served me well for the first attempt, making the adorable apron that is shown on the cover. I used a Japanese fabric I purchased at the Senior Center yard sale. Good thing I got to much of it as I made several mistakes cutting out the pieces but soon enough Eva was sporting the apron that matches the kerchief I made her months ago, from this book also, just in time for lice to hit first grade. Eva is never without her kerchief.

hot water bottle addiction

2010-01-17T17:23:00.000-08:00

The children go through meloncholic phases that come in cycles and emerge at bed-time, this booboo hurts, my tummy aches, my back is soar...you can imagine the contestants on the list of maladies. SOMETIMEs, I do not have the patience to tend to every bump and bruise, especially when they cut in to my evening. I hit on the cure when each child snuggles up to their own hot water bottle. They settle down and are quiet in minutes and off to sleep soon there after. We're in an addictive phase right now.

my space upgraded

2010-01-16T20:59:00.000-08:00

I found at the end of December that our lease on our space was extended and the rent was not going up. You'd have thought I'd been elated to keep the room of my own (+2) but I'd convinced myself that it was not working for me...too far from school, which is true, and mostly it was a pain having to put all of my projects away before leaving, cutting in to my working time which as only an hour often, not to mention the stress thinking I'd left a pin behind on the floor for poor Rowena, a dancer, to step on. Rowena had an idea for us to meet last week and be in the space together. When I arrived, she had coffee in the pot, tasty cheese and crackers and I added a juicy pomelo to the mix and we had honest to goodness girl time. We sat and just chatted, brainstormed and eventually just did our own thing in the space. Before leaving Ro came up with the BEST idea, she cleaned off a rolling table of Cheryl's, the original inhabitor of the spaces, for me to use as a cutting table. When I arrived on Saturday to work while Art took the children swimming, there the table was rolled over to my corner, it is the perfect solution, demarcating my space while clearing room for Rowena to move. I immediately put some material that I'd got at S.C.R.A.P. around it, hiding all the storage items and went to town working...it's heaven, I cut on the table, use it for ironing and leave my projects out while not there. I go throughout my day now secretly scheming on how I can escape to my space, mid-drive to church, before breakfast...any time I can. .

Post-church stroll at LandsEnd with hot chocolate

2010-01-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

Church had become our Sunday ritual. Having the buddy system helps, Ed (of Row, Julias, Skyla) usually texts Art either Saturday night or Sunday morning. I'm not sure what they say but I imagine something along the line of CHURCH BOUND? with us2 following. The only complaint I have is that it takes over the day with lunch out and before you know it, it's time to head home with restless children to begin our weekly prep. In December we had a great solution, riding out bikes to Boogaloos for breakfast (1 mile) before church. This Sunday we decided to go hiking at Landsend directly after church which was facilitated by the fact they provide sandwiches to honor the volunteers of the Rececession Food Pantry (Art helped out a few times.) One probem, Art did not text Team-Fraunheim before so they turned up with only church clothes. Luckily the archeological layers of coat + hats in my car were enough to go around. It was a nippy, breezy day but the hike is so beautiful you'd never know were still in San Francisco proper. Art + Ed threw a football to quicken the pace, only pauseing above surfers far below the cliffs and to gather fennel seeds to nibble. The promise of a hot chocolate at Louis' kept the momentum forward. We were hoping for a tradition to emerge, no such luck yet but there's still plenty of time for that.

first eye roll

2010-01-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday we were driving to church and I was being silly and animated, I turned around and Eva have me a good ole fashioned eye roll. I busted her and started laughing. Art asked for a repeat performance and she could not do it. Looks like it's up to me to embarass her enough to get one out of her. I thought we were year away from this reaction from my chilren but alas, we're here already.

redirecting energies to food - KALE

2010-01-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

During the holidays I was too busy sewing, baking, celebrating for cooking. every day I'd kind of moan inside when I realized it was time to come up with another meal. after eating holiday food for a month I've been inspired to get out the cookbooks and fill our bellies with more nutrients and less sugar. my friend Suzanne told me about a recipe for a raw kale salad during our Christmas day hike. she promptly emailed me the recipe, she's so good at this. I had a bag of mixed greens (red russian kale and baby collards).I only had sprouted grain Alvarado bread to make bread crumbs but they were fine (I food-process them and toast in a pan with olive oil until brown). It was incredible, I'm not sure if it was because my body was in kale deprivation or what, but I'm in love with this salad. Eva ate three helpings and asked for me to make it for dinner tonight, so guess what's in the fridge right now, washed and ready?

Suzanne has used arugala instead of kale, I used feta as we served it with rocatta ravioli. I can just see the possibilities with this salad; served with meat, adding dried fruit and other nuts, maybe a roasted vegetable.

Kale Salad

(Recipe was passed on from a mom at school,not sure her source,my apologies for not giving credit.)

1LB dino kale discard stems, cut chiffonade style.

1 cup bread crumbs

3TBS toasted pine nuts

1 cup crumbled feta or ricotta salata

dressing:

2TBS finely chopped shallot

1 1/2 TBS lemon juice

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

4 1/2 TBS olive oil

toss all together.

Suzanne has used kale, I used feta as we served it with rocatta ravioli. I can just see the possibilities with this salad; served with meat, adding dried fruit and other nuts, maybe a roasted vegetable.

Chocolate, Pumpkin, Bi-Rite therapy

2010-01-08T17:18:00.000-08:00

Re-entry is always tough for me;I miss the holiday, sort of, I miss the children, really, I miss Virginia, why not, and then I come back sick, ready to clean/unpack alone. After my two-day marathon of house-readiness, really I mean it was not even at a functioning level, I was blue on Friday, not too bad but a fact. Things took a turn for the better when Naomi called and she came over for a quick cup of chocolate. This was not just hot chocolate but the most amazingly, creamy batch of goodness that she gave us for Christmas, Mariebelle from New York. I then hatched a plan all high on caffine that what I needed was time on Pumpkin, even with a cold. How did I know? It all came together the minute I turned out of the garage on to Randall Street, even as a few rain drops started falling, I could not be stopped. After a nice grocery shop at an uncrowded Bi-Rite grocery, I rode home with contents to make beef stew in tow. Good bye blues.

new to our shelves

2010-01-07T17:17:00.000-08:00

good bye christmas hello "winter"

2010-01-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

I was not ready to say good bye to our tree before we left so I was faced with a very crispy specimen to tend with this week. Integrating the new gifts in to our 1400 sq ft apartment is also a challenge that comes post holiday/birthday. Two days later, one tree out the window/on to the curb, ornaments safely in the garage, books on the shelves, we continue our life in 2010. I always think I'll miss the decorations but the empty spaces left behind always seem soothing to my eye. Ahh now we can think of winter theme and valentines day approaching.

friends and family in Virginia

2010-01-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

New Year in Virginia

2010-01-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

I got a fun fish-eye lens on clearance, it's a help since my big/wide lense was frozen last New Years. The lense helped document our whirlwind vacation in Virginia just about how I felt,a bit distorted. It was a bit surreal at times, Eva throwing-up every 40 minutes on the plane ride/car ride, being displaced out of my brother's home so he wouldn't get sick, staying in my old house that is staged for sale thinking I'd never spend another Christmas there, oh too quick family visits, sneaking in a quick glance at friends, snow/freezing weather. I loved it all. Happy New Year everyone

which holiday will it be?

2009-12-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

I did a photo shoot days before leaving for a holiday card, someday we'll all find out which holiday I'm referring to?

Merry Merry indeed

2009-12-25T19:14:00.000-08:00

Blurrrr of a day...waiting in bed with Eva, supposively for Eli to wake, only to find the presents ruffled and a little Pinecone jumping out of the covers on the sofa, Eli claiming Eva's sewing machine as his own but later loving his marble run, echanging gifts, ransacking stockings, munching on marzapan, brunching on sausage strata, Panettone, frozen whipping cream salad requested by Eva to remember Grammy's breakfast by, coloring with new pencils, hiking with Peter, Suzanne, Chloe, slicing Eli's finger with his new knife followed by a quick detour to the drugstore, devouring yummy soup by Suzanne accompanied by salad and roasted beets, cheer and tired bones falling in to bed. It was a happy day indeed. we did it, our first Christmas in San Francisco.

First Christmas Eva in San Francisco

2009-12-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

This was our first Christmas in San Francisco as a family. After Mom + Dad moved out of their home to Summit Square, going back toVA was looking different for me but I was willing to give it a try.After our visit this past summer Eva declared when we got home that she wanted to celebrate in SF this year. I was not sure but let it sit for the fall. I'm not ready to give up winter visits so we'd go after New Years. Our house is busy, like everyone's from Halloween through the new year, adding E+E's birthdays in there has me stepping up to "create" a new vision for every occasion, yes, I know that's my own fault. I could scale it down but would that be fun? I want to provide memories of the feeling, the sounds, the homemade love, not so much the presents but the thoughtfulness of the holiday. I tried this year to keep it in check, not letting it all take over which meant a few long nights of sewing instead of dragging it on and on. Art is a trooper but I know he tires of the sound of the machine long in to the night. I also missed just sitting around the tree sipping cider. Next year.

This year we took off on the 24th on B.A.R.T. to the Embarcadero to see the snow villages in the Hilton, see the ice skaters, shop for food at the Ferry Building Marketplace and a few bits of last minute shoppping. This was our second year at the Hilton, the lobby is so festive with the gigantic miniature village covering the same square footage of our house. The mood in the Bender family was a bit more subdubed, I wonder how long this will remain a tradition. I'm thinking we'll keep going for a few more years at least, if not to at least ride the elevator up and down to the 11th floor, I even love this.

After a quick cold picnic outside with tasty salami sandwiches, we headed past the ice skating rink to the Ferry Plaza. As we passed, a woman gave the children a candy and invited them to see Santa. They each got a card and off we went. I made a comment to Art about the sign asking for donations to have photo taken with Santa. I did not hear this but evidently Eva wanted to know what I was saying, Art told her about the man wanting money. Poor sweet Eva, she went hysterical and started saying, "I want to go home." Once in the Ferry Building, I finally got it out of her that she was embarrassed because she'd told that man pretending to be Santa what she wanted for Christmas, she was looking around the room so distrusting of the people.I was so sad for her. I hugged her over and over and told her he could have been the real santa, I was not sure and just to look around us and see all the people happy to be celebrating Christmas together. She remained in the long line with me as I got the mussles for our dinner, she finally calmed down. I was heart broken as her innocence was shattered. I'm not certain it was for keeps, she picked up later and became enthusiastic,especially after her macaroon from Miette Bakery. We got bread from Acme, 24 oysters and were ready to head home.

I'm not up to telling another key event from this day,another posting. I will share that Uncle Randy arrived from L.A. David, Naomi, Leon and Marcel came for our dinner of raw oysters with Champagne-Vinegar Mingnonette, steamed mussels with orange fennel and garlic, and two delicious varieties of ravioli (ricotta/spinach, pumpkin) from a local shop. After some stories around the Christmas tree, E + E were ready for bed after a long day, they were asleep by 7:30.

Santa finished wrapping and installing by 10:30 much to my surprise.

December 23rd and quilted pencil bags are finished

2009-12-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

I started this project as an exercise, oh so long ago, as learning process for quilting seeing how I'd match color/pattern of fabric, read instructions, measure/cut properly (not my skill), and crossed my fingers hoping the children would like the final product. I also made the little bag for the block crayons as Eva chides me that the few that we have are limiting her practice work for school. Last week I asked Eva if there was anything she really wanted for Christmas and she said she had a pencil bag at school but not at home - HOORAY - I was on the right track. I took the children to Discount Fabric and let them choose their own chording, not knowing what it was for, they'll be able to identify their own bag. This will be a whole assortment including big drawing boards from Flax,watercolor pencils to share and the block crayons to share.

now the little elves are asleep more work begins....

2009-12-21T22:58:00.000-08:00

blanket for my dad made from wool samples I found at S.C.R.A.P. (http://www.scrap-sf.org/) with Neema - just sewed on the beautiful felted wool trim I purchased and now need to add the red blanket wool to the back - NEXT WEEK, I need to make a move on the SF presents...
finally got the outside material for the pencil case, I've really dragged my heels on this one. I got a beautiful dark/oatmeal linen from Peapod Frabrics. Neema and I considered black linen. I left the chording at the studio so I'll pick it up tomorrow.
making a little bag following a drawstring jewelry bag I own, this will hold the children's block crayons to complete their ART EXTRAVAGANZA from us.

good night...I'm not sewing tomorrow night, will be caroling with the neighbors. we'll see if I get inspired post-eggnog.

the elves are in high gear now....

2009-12-21T18:51:00.000-08:00

Dicken's Fair converts

2009-12-19T18:51:00.000-08:00

Eva has been begging to go the Dicken's Fair for three years, I truly had no interest in taking two small children to the Cow Palace with 100's of people. This year the Dicken's fever is rampant amongst the first grade girls. Many girls came back after Thanksgiving weekend with hairdos and Eva was ready to shed her short locks for the chance to get her hair done. so Eva's birthday became the the turning point of my bending. As posted before she got the vintage red cape, pantaloons, and a dress that never arrived. The day before the event, we found a red dress someone found at a thrift store last year for us and with a little crinoline it was perfect. Our house was a flutter before the event, Eva dressing before the rest of us were out of bed, Eli wetting down his hair drying his pants in the dryer, Art looking through various closets to find his wedding vest and I pulling out every item that may pass as Victorian.

All said and done we were there from 11:00 - 7 pm with a total of 5 families from school, we watched performances, played the lemon game, rode the carousel, ate fish 'n chips, and danced for hours. It was completely enchanting (if you could get over the crowds + hot buttered rum helped!), good wholesome fun for the family. the actors were polite, engaging and highly entertaining. I think we're going to get a season pass next year! oh no, does that mean the Renaissance Fair is next????

highlights: Eva getting a telegram from friends announced at the big Fezziwigs party including a note and a rose in a porcelain holder, getting her hair done in braids with adornments, being free to dance with her friends and the actors. Eli was mostly an observer until the very end. A woman came up and asked if he's like to dance and off he went, she asked if he could skip and told them they were doing the Polka, most children are excorted to the center to dance away from the massive moving crowds. evidently Eli just took off skipping and swinging is partner all around the floor, avoiding hitting other dancers and keeping up the pace for the entire dance. she asked if I could send her photos I did and this is what she wrote back..."

Thank you so much for sending these.  He's a real sweetheart and was a 
highlight of the day with his energy.  He's gonna break some hearts in a 
few years...  ;-)
   -Suzi

7 it is

2009-12-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

After a short night for mama, Eva was ready to see what was in store for her at 6 am. She and Eli immidiately sat in their chairs, gazing at the stage. I asked Eva if she was cold, trying to prompt her to opening a very special present (a red vintage velvet cape + muff I got on ebay as a present for her outfit for the Dicken's Fair, more on that later.) I had to prompt her several times, finally I said, "Eva aren't you cold?" she answered a bit stunned, "I'm too excited to be cold, mama." I gave her the box and with a big grin wipped across her face immediately donned the cape. I performed the play and the day was off to a rapid clip from this point. We had dadda's waffles for breakfast, carried the little ginger bread petit fours to school for her class while wearing her cape, made the requested pasta with bolognese (almost as good as Helen's), was offered Leon's cake from Channakuh party (thanks Naomi!) that I reshaped and iced with a Martha Stewart eggwhite frosting and candy cane sprinkles, entertained two friends with crafting a soft christmas tree stuffie, dinner, cake (complete with Eva's new technique of licking the bottowm of the candle while still lit),and sweet dreams.

Eve of Eva's 7th birthday

2009-12-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

I'd been planning Eva's birthday present for months I envisioned a "stage" between the living room/dining room complete with curtains with a lower curtain as a puppet theater option. With Thanksgiving and guests I was muchly delayed on getting started on the curtains, even purchasing the material. Finally less than a week before the big day I went to a thrift store on Valencia Street where I'd seen velvet curtains in the window, I mean every stage needs velvet curtains right? Well as it turns out there were no set of curtains only vintage single curtains sold by the pound, when I took three panels up it was going to be $78! so I mixed it up a bit, got a few pretty damask panels and one velvet panel that I'd cut in to strips and make them a patchwork. It was fun to work on them the next day with Ro in the studio, she offered solid advice and I went to town cutting strips, sewing, ripping, resewing only to rip out yet again.

Here it is on the eve of my girls birthday I had so much to do, plan the craft for her two friends, finish the curtains, sew the "girl" portion of her banner like the one for Eli's, finish the little ginger bread petit fours for her class, and decorate the table in birthday fashion. As I tucked Eva into bed, she looked at me, biting her nails, saying," I hope you're making a set-up for me because I'll be very disappointed if you don't, I'm nervous that you won't." I reassured her that of course I would. The moment I left my head was spinning with oh no, she's going to be so disappointed when she comes out and only sees a curtain, I have no props for her. I mean we are so much a like that Eva's love of flare and drama matched my desire to perform and create a mood, giving me license to go over the top!I went to work on her curtains and banner, finishing around 11pm. The curtains are of a crude construction but will serve her and help secure the space for guests in the future with a bit of privacy. As I mediated on my girl, it came to me, I went back to an email by a story-teller, found her winter story and designed a Waldorf-type puppet show around the theme of the blue slippers with silver stars, complete with little slippers I needle felted. I set up chairs and had the performance space ready. So here at 1:00am I think of my girl.

Dear Eva,

I hope you are not disappointed tomorrow. I love your vision, your enthusiasm and your strong voice. As I sit and think of you I can hardly lament on the little girl I've left behind because in front of me I see the girl that will be with me for the rest of my life, grateful, strong, enthusiastic, determined, polite, helpful....how did we get here so soon?

I love you in first grade. There is no more pressure to find someone to play with, you are part of a large group and you are working through things harmoniously. Seeing you immerced in letters is a blessing, from writing then on your back, to hearing you sound out the alphabet, I know the words will soon come in to focus for you and look forward experiencing your journey.

I love my sweet dooby doo. Happy 7!

Love,

mama

child born of rain

2009-12-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday before Eva's birthday I had to run some errands, there is nothing worse than running Saturday errands except running them in the rain; the parking, the poor driving, the sour attitudes. I got a sparkle in my eye when I pulled Pumpkin in to my vision of commuting around our part of the city. I pulled out my snow pants and found a raincoat and was ready to head off when Eva asked if she could join me. Why of course, no one loves rain more than my girl. The first rain storm of the year found her sitting down in the largest puddle on the playyard, wicking the water under her rain suit, leaving her wet up to her neck. Here are examples of my girl in rain one in Virginia at Graves Mt. Lodge and the other at friend's place in Novaro...(.the next time I looked out, she was naked on the tramplene, outlasting the three boys.) We headed out in a torrent of drops, the pitter patter on the helmet sounded like that on a standing seam roof. We took our time, stopping for lunch and a quick visit at a Holiday Bazaar of some Mission artistist - if I'd only had money. We returned home satisfied with our time out and about.

ode to jillian - advent + soft trees

2009-12-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

it's so nice to have a crafty mama to talk with at school and that's my friend Jillian. thanks to her my holiday has some new additions, some better executed than others. the first one is our advent calendar. she showed me an image on her iphone from http://littlebirds.typepad.com. I already had the Ikea frame, went with Shu Shu to Flax and picked up some paper, cute little envelopes and some snowflakes stickers. the concept was the children would open an envelope each day and we'd hang the snowflakes in the door frames. someone suggested I use these glue dots as an adhesive, well they did not work, by the first morning half the envelopes were on the floor and each morning I have to reattache a few, tape helps. I think this concept works better for older children, my little munchkins need to open something and still have it there in front of them. Jillian, if you're reading this, Cole and Seb would love this!

the stuffed tree project came from little birds as well. I used them for Eva's birthday craft, using a nice canvas top and some holiday print Eva picked out with green, yellow, white buttons. I love the fuzzy trees on the website and would love to try some next year.

Here's to you Jillian - crafter-mama

ps - plus use wool stuffing, the polly does not shape and they are a little topsey turvy.

it's beginning to look less like thanksgiving...

2009-12-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

I had such a hard time make the swich from Thanksgiving/Autumn to the holiday season. with Shu Shu's support, I just did it one morning, the wheat got wrapped in plastic, teepees tucked away, and the pumpkins composted. for two hours I made wreathes, stuck greenery on every surface, put candles about. Eva's been wondering when we'll ever make the switch, finally we're here.

christmas tree 2009

2009-12-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

Rancho Siempre Verde

a walk on billy goat hill after school

2009-12-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

garden of light

2009-12-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

the childrens's school celebrates the garden of light ceremony today, a very reverent, festival that celebrates the inner light that we all carry within us through the darkest half of the year. the children all come in to the room in silence, they come up one by one, given an apple with a candle in it, walk through the spiral to the center where they light their candle and place it in the spiral. this is my third year and it was just as moving to see all the little ones find such pride as they take this walk in the dark. the even would have been almost sickeing sweet if it was not balanced by the accompaniment of the 8th grade orchestra, we were lulled by the screeching violens, the unharmonic wind instrument but nothing compared to the trumpets that should have stayed home that day. I have one word of advice PRACTICE! I sat through two different ceremonies, one for the kindergarteners and then the first/second grade. surprisingly enough the older children were way more wiggly than the little ones who just sat there spell bound for the 45 minutes it took to get through the group. the olde children on the other hand were talking and wiggilng in their chairs. i was so proud of Eva, she was so poised during her walk and as she sat in her seat, well most of the time, until she dug for at least 5 minutes for a booger, I sat their snickering to myself. p.s. this photo is contraband, we are not allowed to take photos/video of the ceremony but as soon they left I snapped a photo.

bulbs in before Dec 1!

2009-12-01T19:19:00.000-08:00

finally, I got the children out to plant the bulbs I got 8 weeks ago from Sloat Garden Center. from what I remember I got 3-4 variteties of tulips, snowdrops, and my favorite grape hyacinths. when I was little I'd meander home from elementary school, taking my ole sweet time. there was a corner property on North Gate that had wild hyacinths growing all over the emabankment. I'd often pick a little nosegay for my mom, not sure how many actually made them home. last year I walked in to Bloomers, a florist across from the children's school. I picked up a familiar bunch only to find out they were $30, I laughed, shared my story and trotted promptly out of there empty-handed. I hope mine come up in the spring. i refigerated all the bulbs and now worry that only the tulips required the forced frost, time will tell.

so Thankful

2009-11-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

A day to be grateful for, dear friends from Vancouver merge with our current life so seamlessly, a second annual walk to Glen Park Canyon, a frenetic cooking session made fun by Neema, a bike ride to Thanksgiving dinner down Valencia Street with Eva on the back, a flurry of garden games with children and a feast tasting even better in fresh air.

Menu: turkey cooked to prefection by Ed + his family stuffing with sausage, Art's sweet potato pie

(mashed veggies with marshmellows), roasted pumpkin with roasted vegetables, salad with pomegranted seeds + persimons, roasted squash, brussel sprouts with pancetta, rustic apple tart, chocolate cream pie, pumpkin pie.

holiday bowling + burgers

2009-11-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

Burger Joint

Tico

2009-11-23T19:05:00.000-08:00

We've been debating about animals for a year now, I was becoming used to the idea of getting a dog, though I'm not a dog person per se. I watch them at Crissy Field, interview people about their pets but I could not resolve the steps backwards I'd be taking when I just emerged from those infant years. last month I woke in the middle of the night and it came to me clear as day, we'd get Eli a bird for his birthday and Eva something in the rodent family (have since decided it'll be a guinea pig). that morning over breakfast Eli asked me if he could have a bird for his birthday, he's always doing this kind of thing with me. i overheard him asking Shu Shu for a bird a few weeks later. so the Saturday after his birthday, we surprised him with a visit to the bird store we visited on his second birthday and told him we'd be getting a bird. he, after many discussions with the owner and staff, on a lineolated parakeet, a little bird with a big bird personality. Eli immediately named him Tico after the bird in the Leo Leoni story that we love. ever day or so we'd go and hold him, he's 4 1/2 months old and had not been hand-trained too well so we felt it worth the wait, and now that he's home, he definately was. it's not unusual to see Eva sitting around knitting with Tico on her head or Eli talking to him through his cage. he's a fine addition to the family.

cobra

2009-11-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

we got some new Kapla blocks to add to the collection from Shu Shu. the other morning while I was making breakfast in the kitchen I heard the children doing a nice job on collaborating on a creation with the blocks, not the usual mode for them a battle usually ensues. this is what greeted me when called in to see the cobra for myself.

Dagmar's tee pee

2009-11-18T18:41:00.000-08:00

over halloween weekend the kindergarten teachers at the children's school transform their classrooms in to Indian villiages, it's a sight to behold. eli is always proud to celebrate his birthday during this time. it's a tradition to give an Ostheimer figure to the kindergarten teachers, this year Dagmar requested a Native American figure from the cataloge, only to find out they are no longer carrying them. I was able to get the last "mother" in the city. I decided to sew a mini-tee pee like Eli's to give to her as well. this little gift put a smile from ear-to-ear on her face. we'll miss being immersed in this experience next year!

what a treat

2009-11-17T19:30:00.000-08:00

Neema + Tim just made dinner tonight, how amazing to eat a lovely dinner in our home prepared by such great cooks. the menu included steelhead trout with lemon and herbs, couscous with mint, julianned zuccini with sauteed almonds slivers in butter.....it was delicious. they can stay FOREVER! another treat was when they walked to the market to get groceries Sameer opted to stay at Auntie Jan's. I love having a toddler in the house, hearing the chitter chatter as he pushes trains along the floor, clapping and laughing on command, watching him adore the big kids....I'll keep this one.

Pumpkin makes her maiden voyage to school

2009-11-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

last Friday, I took my maiden voyage across town to school. I'd gotten the first good night sleep in weeks and woke up ready. I also found Neema to be a good cheerleader getting me on the bike. I was so nervous I paced the house a while before leaving and left an hour and half in case I needed to stop several times along the way. I just have to say Pumpkin was wonderful. that being said, when I got part way down Valencia Street in the bike lane, my legs were already feeling it and my mind started racing, "can I do this? I'll be coming back with child in tow!" i quickly switched gears remembering I ran a 1/2 marathon in June and had learned you can't let your mind race forward and if I can run 13.2 miles I can do this (4.5 miles) and I did without stopping. I got there with 45 minutes to spare. I invited Susan Brandabur to meet Pumpkin and she did all the propper ooohing and ahhhing. the biggest treat was when Eli came out I handed him his helmut and gestured down the sidewalk, her ran to greet her with enthusiasm. Dagmar, his teacher looked over with a big smile asking if this was Eli's birthday present, I said it was an anniversary present for the entire familhy. she came over and kept saying how beautiful and how nice it was and had a grin the likes I've never seen on her face. our ride home was smooth, we walked up the one big hill I prepared Eli we'd do but the rest was coasting along. i've asked the chilren to stay as still as possible while mama is getting used to the bike with passenger. when we got 3/4 of the way home Eli blurted out, "not looking around means I'm watching your butt wiggle the whole time." I nearly fell off the bike with laughter. I'm looking forward to the next jouruney.

tis feudal times....

2009-11-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

from Eva's point of view, November 12th is a tough one. she was so excited about the big day she went to sleep hours after her bed time and woke up at 4:50! yes yes yes. when Eli finally woke up, she was already an expert on his Indian Villiage, leaving nare a surprise for him to uncover. this did not seem to phase him, he did not whine nor fuss but slowly he made his claim on all the items. luckily I'd purchased two guords for each to have but the two baskets of rocks Eli would not part with, leaving his sister in a bawling mess on the floor. I finally got her back to her papa who read a chapter of Castle Corona to her and snuggled with her until she felt better. the new banner, too was too much, all for her little brother. as we were leaving for our special day at school, eva looked up at me begrudgingly and muttered, " you treat me like a peasant child..."

Pinecone's big day

2009-11-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

what a birthday! teepee, Dutch Baby breakfast with special guests Neema + Sameer, amazing celebration at school including a white cape and crown with Eli's story shared with all his friends in class, a day spent in the forrest at the Presidio, a playdate with Silas at home playing, making sail boats, followed by Naomi, Leon, Marcel visit to help us eat mini pinecone cakes and Gialina pizza. Eli was feted to no end. when I woke him the next day with, "how's the birthday boy?" he replied, "I'm not the birthday boy, my birthday is over." there you go, it's over.

on the eve of Pinecones sixth birthday...

2009-11-11T22:52:00.000-08:00

so much excitement in the air, and it's all mine. I was a mad flurry moving through my day, preparing for Eli's day and the arrival of Neema + Sameer. thanks to Peter drilling holes in the bamboo, I finished the tee pee, and to Suzanne for the little baskets/acorns and directing me to Coast for dried gourds for the set-up and Peter's wood scraps for the boat project for E + friend tomorrow. The Indian settlement is up and waiting for the boy to wake up and discover. Eva crept out while I was showing Neema the tee pee and nearly scared us both to death, you'd have thought it was our mother catching us with a beer bottle. Eva is on the secret now and I know she'll keep it, unlike in years past. I also finished the two banners: BIRTHDAY + BOY, this ought to surprise Eli who's been critical of Art's birthday garland. as I sewed the stitches I thought of my boy the entire time, there was no sense of urgency, just time to ponder this sweet boy of mine.

Eli,
I've been thinking about you and your little boyness as it's slipping away from me, here are some of the things I love and'll miss:

you won't always...

want to run into my arms and be twirled just because they were open and waiting for you
say milozine instead of limosine
listen to the birds instead of my voice
give me your special leg/night-time hug
call "MAMA" first thing in the morning and want to be carried to the table announcing, "special delivery"
want to be a gnome for halloween
sing so sweetly
call Eva, Sis
ask for the keys, run ahead, lock me out only to let me in as soon as I arrive because it's our deal
need your special blue blanket to sleep
need me to hand you a towel when you get soap in your eyes washing your hair
stop at a stream of water heading to the gutter to float a leaf
climb to the top of the tree to ponder

I love you Branch Elias Pinecone Bender.

L.A. Venice Beach weekend

2009-11-10T19:55:00.000-08:00

The Erwin Hotel, Venice Beach

I love this photo because ...

2009-11-09T21:21:00.000-08:00

...it was the first image I took that made me realize my camera was not broken

why am I bloggin? I've got so much to do....

2009-11-09T19:32:00.000-08:00

This is hands-down avoidance, procrastination taken to the limits. we just returned from a swell family trip to Venice Beach, will blog about this later, and I am clearly avoiding the to-list that is waiting for me. Neema + Sameer and later Tim, will be staying Leslie's apartment downstairs for about two weeks, I've already broken the news my home-improvement list will not happen. I need to grocery shop, cook, unpack our bags, ready the lunches for school, pick up the odd piles of collected "life objects" around the apartment but I can't do it. Eli's birthday is now only just over 2 days away, I need to get on his tee pee, finish the birthday banner, shop for present from my mom, think about cake ....alas, here I sit with you. well the least I can do is the evenings dishes and then get to work cutting out the panels for the tee pee, funny how just writing it down get's me motivated to move on. oh, I'm going to put on my fabulous new slippers that were waiting for me today from Sydney. Thank you!!!

my obsession realized

2009-11-09T18:55:00.000-08:00

when I get hot on a topic I'm hard to disuade. I'm so tired of being in my car all the time, it's the bain of my uban existance commuting across town to school. I look longingly at the parents who arrive with their children upon their bikes, for the most part they have one child with the exception of Denis who first brought Etta and Oliver in a Dutch delivery bike with a big wooden boat-like structure all last year and up-graded this year to a triple tandem. after cruising the city looking at family bike options, I decided that the cargo bike with some tweaking would be a welcomed addition in my life. I cornered Dave, a parent + bike shop owner, at stella/violet's party pumping him for info, read every blog covering the types of bikes, dragged my family to Marin to test ride the Xtracycle/Radish and finally to Santa Clara to tryout and home victorious with the sweetest bike ever, a Kona Ute. we've names her pumpkin due to the orange color. I had a fella at Freewheel Bikes help me design and install a handle bar to the back for a child to hold on to, feel comfortable with one passenger and hope to add another child some day to the spacious back. I have big dreams of riding to school the 4 + miles up and down SF hills (making children walk up!) but it'll take me a while to get there. Today we rode to ballet class in Noe with Eli riding next to me and Eva on the back, bringing home two bags of groceries. it is so liberating being out of the car. I heed the warnings of how dangerous this is, play it safe and slow and pray that we stay out of harms way. I'll let you know when I make it beyond Noe with passengers! will post photos soon too.

happy birthday stella + violet

2009-11-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

a wonderful day at Slide Ranch celebrating with friends....

halloween later....

2009-11-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

when my second camera broke days before Halloween, I had to switch to film for a week so it'll take me a while to get these images up on the page.

happy anniversary honey

2009-10-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

10 years ago I walked down that green lawn, amongst friends to join Art for life. ah, what a day it was and what a 10 years it's been. we celebrated A+J style. On the eve of the big day we got a treat from Ed + Ro, babysitting from Ed and their reservation at Mission Street Food. Nicole was the guest chef. we too a brisk walk to the mission to sit down to a fun, community spirited dinner. our menu included nachos with brussel sprouts, bacon, figs, blue and brie cheese, black cod with greens and pumpkin, moracan lamb shoulder, pumpkin soup with creme fresh, almond cake with corriander whipping cream. we forgot our special bottle of wine so we drank a bit too much of the Lillet we purchased, ouch the head followed the next day. It'd been while since we'd had an evening date, so glad we did.

the celebration continued the weekend during our get-away to Inverness Valley Inn with hiking at Abbots Cove with beautiful views, carcasses of seals, a wooden see saw. we had an evening at the Inn at Inverness with dinner and a gas fireplace, so happy to gaze at Art + Eva + Eli.

up to what

2009-10-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Ah the autumn has brought with it the seasonal flurry mixed with a dash of anxiety to get projects done but the annual spaciness that keeps me from accomplishing anything. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels most days. I need to be kind to myself for in this confussion I've spun up the to-do lists for Eli's birthday (two 1/2 weeks), Thanksgiving (four weeks), Eva's birthday (six weeks), and beginning Christmas plans. I've managed to whip-up a witches and gnome costume, carved our first two pumpkins, toasted seeds, made head-way on the pencil bags for Christmas, started a birthday banner, ordered teepee pattern for Eli's gift, wrapped anniversary gift, all while cooking healty meals and getting those children to school daily washed, fed and dressed. There I put it down and let it lift the funky cloud that has descended upon me.

son like father

2009-10-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

Eva's visions

2009-10-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

Eva is so lovely these days, happy to be a first grader, confident in her social life, engaged in her new learning and feet firmly on the ground. This morning she was telling me of her dreams that she was an animal. While putting breakfast on the table she was looking a bit spacey, sitting in front of her egg sandwich. "mama I see such beautiful things mama." I asked her when she sees these things, "all the time." Do you dream while in school?" I ask worried that this state was taking over her learning, "yes I do, all the time but I still listen and learn everything the teacher says." What a state to be in. she could not be happier with her inner life.

poetry + sewing

2009-10-17T02:26:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw the most beautiful movie, Bright Star, about the three year romance between the poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. Jane Campion took me on the visual journey of my life, I was gone at the opening scene of the needle going through the cloth, a close-up with fuzzy focus, hand working, I was giddy. The clothes, the poetry, everything was lovely and if this were not enough the melancholic subject sent me realing - oooo my heart is racing as I write. Today Naomi and I carried through on a long-planned date, we met at my studio, I to sew and she to work on her school work. Midway through the morning I realized I was living my 19th century dream, sort of, replace the English, country home, for my loud urban studio virtually wrapped by the entrance ramp on to the bay bridge, and the linen ruff/colar in the making with a clunky gnome costume lacking in precision and not a tidy stitch to be found, but skip right to the romance as Naomi serinaded me with one of her recent prose poems, and some poignant works by a Venezuanlain poet and some fellow student works. My mind wondered often to a future summer of communal family living with the Katz-Goldner's in a country paradise, recreating this moment.

from Memphis BBQ to Dahl

2009-10-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

I love VA but my diet goes SOUTH while in the Old Dominion. This trip was not the exception: fried chicken, raised rolls, BBQ, crab cakes, an amazing bombe by my sister and the list goes on. Tonight my pallet and larder lead me to a quick meal as colorful as it was tasty. On the table was a magenta, raw beet salad, red tomatoes (from our garden) with mozzarella + shallot vinaigrette, and yellow dahl. I'd say this was a culturally mismatched meal but it was on hand and met all my dietary needs.

Recipe for raw beet salad adapted from Ro passed on to her by Nicole Lobue (see my website suggestions for a link to her site.)

Eva's face and fingers are a fine work of pink art right now in the bath, she can not even use a fork for this tasty salad

Take a beet, tonight mine was a standard red beet but I use the pink/white and the yellow variety mostly, grate the beet in to a bowl, squeeze an entire lemon, add a handful of Italian parsley and some salt.

Recipe for dahl adapted from many a fine pots of steaming goodness prepared by David! I'm waiting for Padma's (Neema's mom) recipe!!!! We discussed this on my last visit to Vancouver but if I do not have pen in hand or am actually watching the preparation, I'll never remember. Bring it down in November Neema.

I began with onion sauteed in oil, when starting to soften I add a 1/2 a cinnemon stick, and three shakes of Turmeric, and pinch of salt/pepper, saute for a few minutes longer, until you smell all the spices release their flavor. Add a cup or a cup and 1/2 of dried chana (split garbanzo beans), cover with water, simmer with lid slightly open. Check now and again to see if you need to add more water. I like mine when the beans are soft but keep their shape, you can cook them until they are like a restaurant, more of a mushy consistancy - we'll eat them anyway. This is a family standard, I can not wait to try a variation. Eli has known to eat multiple bowls of this beautiful yellow dish.

feeding my soul in Virginia

2009-10-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

for Sydney + Sean + Jack + Cable + Quinn

2009-10-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

Here is your clue....I was thinking of you while at Sherando Lake. Send photos and I'll post your hunt! I have a photo of me in the act I will post later. Have a glorious time camping. On Sunday you should return home via the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Pioneer Village had music and activities. I can give you a short-cut from the lake.

if any one is lost, here is Sydney's comment on previous post:

Sydney said...: Jan, we're going on a camping trip to Sherando Lake next weekend, Oct. 17 & 18. Will you please leave me a hidden note somewhere there? And a clue where to find it? I'm not kidding; it would make me so happy to walk into the beautiful, old CCC shelter from 1936 and find a message from you. Ooo! Ooo! Take a picture of the hiding spot and let that be the clue!

off to Virginia tomorrow

2009-10-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm procrastinating packing by up-dating the blog. I leave on a 7:30 am flight to DC then catch a flight to the Shenendoah 2.5 hours later. Me, alone on a plane, visiting my parents and family, how luxurious. I've packed video camera, film body, new digi point n shoot but not a lick of clothing yet. My sister and father both told me today that the leaves are turning, I am so excited. I don't expect the peak blaze of glory but any color will be send me in to a fit of joy. I'll take the parents out to Sherando Lake to see the colors. I won't write while away but will catch up with you next week. Happy Columbus Day weekend.

I wont' see the children tomorrow or for the next 4 days. I gave them the cutest little hedgehog stuffy tonight they were thrilled with their new woodland friends. I will also place a wooden Native Indian figure in their nature setup by their beds to surprise them. I'm not one to give my children toys and gifts out of season but I just had to spoil them as I leave for my journey. They're going to have fun with their Dadda this weekend.

UPDATE: I did not pack any BLACK! My suitcase is an autumnal explosion of yellow, brown and orange,well one safety grey outfit....ooooo fun, except, Eva is still up, too excited to sleep, listening to my goings-on.

another update: I have no sock, I finally found a pair of Art's that match, sorry honey, they're mine. I must go to Target in VA.

final update and note to self - DO NOT CUT BANGS AT 9:30 pm before trip!

2009-10-07T19:48:00.001-07:00

last images taken from my camera below....

I quickly purchased a point and shoot today for my trip. I will have this for when I do not want to take my big camera that I hope to purchase soon, in to danger. I also fortunitiously got an email this afternoon reinviting me to shoot a new lingerie line coming out so this new camera is almost mine.

sad day

2009-10-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

My first round of sad news came when I confirmed that my SLR Nikon D80 is broken. Yesterday I had my camera at church during world communion Sunday, as they children sang a lovely song, there was processing, children fidgeting for seats and when I was asked to "move over" while I had Eva on my lap, I promptly sat on my camera - lens up. I was hoping it was only the lens only but today when I my 85 mm lens did not work either, I got it. It is worth a try to get a quote on a repair, I've been a little sick to my stomach most of the day I know it is just a camera and I should not have such reaction over an object but it has been a real companion to me and my eyes to the world for two and half years. I'd saved my "coffee" money for 9 months to purchase the $1200 package, the zoom lens froze in Philadelphia this past winter break and I was saving to buy a new one. I'm also sad not have it for my trip to see my Dad on Thursday, I wanted to document my time with my parents. I'll just fork over some $$ and take film + I may purchase a cheap Polaroid for the instant gratification I've come so used to.

The second sad news is that Gourmet is going out business. Art just sent this article to me. Before I had a chance to read it, he first lovingly held my hand when I emerged from my bathtub after reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg, and broke the news. I've not been getting the magazine for long, so I can only imagine how hard-chore fans must be feeling, but I love this magazine. I got both this and Bon Appetite for a year and there was no comparison in the layout, the quality of images, the fabulous "Quick Recipe" section and the je ne sais quoi. The latter just is all spread out and I never find myself sitting down to devour an issue from cover-to-cover like Gourmet. Ever month I can not wait to go down to the garage and see the plactic wrapped issue waiting for me. I'm alway excited when I made something recently that was featured this month, like when I made my Dutch Baby only to have it featured in the March issue and now in Molly's book. I would bring the book up to my room and wait until I had the time to scan and possibly read it from cover to cover in one sitting, first removing all the inserts that get in the way of me folding back each page. Alas, I'll just have to enjoy what I got and keep living like it's 2009 in my kitchen for the rest of my life.

e + e in their world communion costumes

2009-10-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

Eva decked out in my lovely shawl Neema brougt me back from India and an old skirt of mine. Eli interpreted his "people from around the world" as a cowboy from Cheyenne.

Dutch Baby

2009-10-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

We love Ducth Babies in our house. I first woke up back in March wanting to recreate a breakfast made by a wife of an old work friend. She called it a German pancake. I made one that was thick and custardy, Eva turned up her nose but Eli ate 7 helping, albeit small slivers. I made several since from the April, Gourmet (highlighted as a dessert option.) It was one of those pride moments when you realized you beat the trend. This recipe was a little too dry and thin for my taste. I finally found the right recipe in A Homemade Life. I used my cast iron pans, one 9 inch and the 11 inch, a consitancy for all the family. You will see that one of the pans is no longer seasoned after being scrubbed with an abrassive brush (it killed me, our housekeeper, yes I'm spoiled every other week, took 20 years of seaoning off.)

Saturday apple picking at Gabriel Family Farm

2009-10-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

hello autumn?

2009-10-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

This morning, October 2 was a had my mood turned upside-down. I was talking with Art this morning about how disconnected I feel from the autumn season. This has always been my favorite time of year and for the last 14 years California has me stumped, I can see the suttle changes of light and air and I follow along with the seasonal activities but I am programed for a big switch that is a clear break from summer. I was looking at the photos on soulemama blog of the leaves, apples and woolens after having an inside-intensive week, albeit my choosing, and and even crazier week in the car. I could rant on about the crazy drivers I encounterd but will only mention that in one day, less than two hours apart, I saw two people almost hit in cross walks right in front of me, one a pregnant lady. Anyway, I was weepy this morning and my sweet husband did his best to console me, mostly by reminding my I'd be in Virginia NEXT week, ooo I need to write an entry about this. I did what always lights a fire under my feet, I started cleaning the house, and beginning in the children's room. I was inspired all of a sudden to make a nature table on top of their little drawer cabinet Santa gave them last year for their treasures. I used to have a big one over their book case but was tired of how it grew and thought this contained spaces would be perfect. I cleared off their random treasures on the top and did the Waldorf method of placing a seasonal colored cloth as the "stage" - Eli's orange and Eva's yellow. I picked apples from our tree, which made me feel better, and cut some leaves from felt. I scattered some small leaves but plan to gradually add more as the season progresses. Who need real leaves? I was inspired to make a make-shift tee pee from a dead branch from two Easters ago I've yet to remove from our deck. All of a sudden I was in a flurry making these mini tee pees. If I'd known how cute they'd turn out, I would have taken my time, instead I was radomly cutting crazy-shaped triangles from the cloth, quickly stitching the sides. Anyway, the children were both pleased with their seasonal space and I felt a calm come over me, the kitchen remained a mess but who cares, NOT ME.

drying fabric

2009-10-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Because I do not know how to quilt (and am planning on doing so soon for The Project) I decided to make each of the children a pencil case from Last-minute Patchwork + Quilting. The concept is to take a 24 piece colored pencil set and match a hue of the color in the fabric to the pencil. I went to through all of my fabrics (remnants + two great pieces I got at the dump last week that are basically unfinished dresses) and had fun going to Discount Fabric to choose inexpensive others. There were a few nice selections but no Heather Baily, Heather Ross, I like working with what I have. After my failed errand to Pea Pod Fabrics which is NEVER opened when the children are in school, I thought discount sounded GOOD. I was surprised when I go the cutting table and they would not cut below a 1/2 a yard. I quickly weeded out 4 fabrics and pretty much doubled my bill (sorry Art) since I was used to another shop that will cut 1/8 a yard. Anyway, here they are drying, a beautiful site. I love that I now a a prism of color in my stash.

I've started cutting the strips and am not sure how well my selections are going to work together. This entire process is great practice for a quilt. It's more fun doing this on a budget, it'd be so much easier to go out and purchase the BEST fabrics. I was tempted but good sense got hold of me. Kind of funny, I've not even purchased the pencil sets yet, I need to do this before I finalize my design.

good bye summer, con't

2009-09-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

We had Italian Vegetable Stew for dinner tonight, from a recipe in this month's Gourmet. The recipe matched the ingredients I had on hand and it seemed quick and easy. The bonus was how yummy it was. It may be the simplicity of the whole thing and the freshness of the end of summer veggies - don't know but I must have said yum too many times during dinner.

Ingredients:

3 carrots, cut lengthwise and 1/4 inch slice

3 zucchini prepared the same
one or two red peppers
2 onions
garlic
24 oz tomatoes (was so lucky to use some the tomatoes from my canning gone wrong experiment - so yummy
heaping handful of green beans
3 boiling potatoes
1/2 c chicken broth

oops I wrote out the directions but did not save - if you want them, ask me!

I also took a lead from Bi-Rite and served this with Serrano Ham and Procuto wrapped figs....

good bye summer

2009-09-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

We are a little delayed here in SF. We don't actually get much of a summer but you are as likely to find that summer day in Autumn, or even Winter. I've been here for 14 years and still find myself wandering around the seasonal calendar confused. Yesterday, I decided to say good bye to summer by purchasing a few items I won't put in my shopping cart until next year. I got three quarts of strawberries and some black mission figs, and a bunch zucinni (well these will not go away for us all fall.) After school we brought home Avalon for a playdate and we all sat down to a strawberry short cake, which I must admit I did not make all summer. The strawberries were a little disappointing - lesson learned, leave them behind after Labor Day. I adapt a scone recipe from The New Joy of Cooking, it's actually always marked by the red ribbon that is attached to the binding. Oatmeal Scones. We make these all the time, the melted butter makes them easy for breakfast or afternoon treat. I did not have any whipping cream so Avalon's mom donated Devenshire cream - a little bit much!

Oven at 450, ungreased baking sheet
Whisk together:
1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup sugar, or less
1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt
Stir in:
1 1/4 cup rolled oats
(they make with Raisins or Dates. We usually add candied ginger and walnuts but today they were plain)
Whisk together, then add all at once:
1 large egg
10 tablespoons warm melted unsalted butter
1/2 cup of milk

Drop scones: makes 6 LARGE scones.

Eli's crab

2009-09-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

standard fare

2009-09-27T09:16:00.001-07:00

blackboard

2009-09-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I painted the spice cabinet door with blackboard paint. It's quite dark but I like the idea of having a place for children to draw and for me to make grocery listst. Eli is skeptical of the dark door, but he's never liked change.

eva's haircut

2009-09-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

Eva's been longing to get a haircut. We cut 6 inches off the week before school but she was ready for a short cut. All week she's been begging for me to cut her hair as long as Eli's hair. I applaud the fact that she could care less what she looks like, and I mean she truly doesn't. She wants to climb trees without hair in her eyes, who can blamer her, and she's tired of hair brushing and pinching braids. I told her I had short hair for 5 years as a little girl and I loved the freedom but did not like being called a boy all the time. This did not disuade her. I was feeling a little funny yesterday after a near panic attack after being caught in Saturday traffic, no less than 25 bad driving incidents and frutile errand running. When we sat down to play a round of Pass the Pigs, I realized it was perfect time to cut hair as Eli was at a birthday party. So I did it, once I made the first cut to the nape of her neck my stomach lurched. I also had to face something inside of me that I'm not completely proud of, that I loved her long hair, I loved seeing her big smile and her hair whipping around as she moved about the world. Anyway, I cut and cut and cut and finally it was done. After I made a mental adjustment I could not take my eyes off my lovely girl. We went to see chamber music and I wanted to nibble her neck as it was do delicious looking on view. May I present the new Eva Gray.

serendipity

2009-09-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking for a while about making Eva a kerchief/headband. I went through my fabulous stash of new sewing books and score, discovered a cute headband in Weekend Sewing I did a quick catch-up on soulemama.com and she was featuring a new Japanese sewing book called Carefree Clothes for Girls and when I followed the link they featured directions for a kerchief. Today I did a little mix-match on the ideas, I took the kerchief idea and blended it with the elastic under strap thinking about how difficult it would be for Eva to tie herself or at least how annoying. I did make it today - will post photo soon.

finished letter sachels

2009-09-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

A Handmade Home by Amanda Soule

bay bridge

2009-09-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

we don't cross over the Bay Bridge too often but the construction is a highlight of any visit. yesterday we got to go over the new temporary section from treasure island, this spured many conversations of the new vrs old brigde. as we were leaving the bridge Eva was looking out the window dreamily, she said, "I'm going to to miss the old bridge when it is gone, it's like an old friend that is dying." I let her be in that moment for while then asked her if she'd like to throw flowers in to the water when it's gone, she quickly said no that she wanted just to remember it. later when we were getting ready for bed she said she'd like to find a metal box, since the bridge is metal, and put something in it to throw in the water.

inspiration

2009-09-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

Last-Minute Patchwork Quiltingn by Joelle Hoverson

kid friendly

2009-09-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

I hatched a new plan to spend more time with the children in the space. I find at home I'm always distracted with the socks on the floor, dishes on the table, ingredients in the fridge in need of preparation. Eli gets out of school at 1:00 and Eva at 2:30. Today I went with Eli and my friend Jillian and her daughter Violet to the space. Cardboard was the big draw today, literally and figuratively. Violet took home a lovely layered pastel piece and Eli left behind the beginning of a city. Jillian helped me as I worked on the focus of my camera, still unpredictable but I feel I have a little more control over the settings. After our friends departed Eli and I had an hour to just hang while Eva had a playdate across the street with Luca, so much for hanging with mom, she got cookies.

view from the studio - call if you need an update on bay bridge traffic

2009-09-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

taking stock of the larder

2009-09-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

here's what I get out of my canning, minus the one jar of tomato sauce I knocked off the pyramid.

eva the neighborly neighbor

2009-09-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

this afternoon, Eva + Eli went in to the back yard to frolic, I'm pretty sure at the request of a parent as they were running and screaming through the house. i was surfing the web luxuriously on my bed over-hearing snip-its of conversations. after a few times, I realized Eva was chit-chatting with people that were attending an open-house for our neighbors selling their upstairs flat. one conversation went something like this, eva, "so do you like the house?" child replies, "we don't live here." eva, "I know but do you like it? I do." she kept speaking to children off and on. i chuckled to myself when I thought back 10 year ago when we looked this place, one reason I loved it so was when I saw two young girls, about eva's age now chasing around a big lemon tree. anyway, soon eva sounded different to me, I looked out the window and she was up on the top deck of the apartment with the family she liked. I heard her telling them she'd gone through the garage, into the neighbor's yard, over their fence and up the stairs. I told eva not to return this way as the fence was looking a little creaky so i went and retreived her around the block. we ended up chatting with the family who loves the flat and the neigbhor's selling their place, I think Eva has a furture in Real Estate.

quilting connection

2009-09-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago I was searching for a quilting/fabric shop in town. I saw that there appears to be a great little one out in the Sunset District called Peapod Fabrics . While searching their pages, I saw a woman from my church, Heather, photographed wearing an apron she'd just finished. (see heather: http://peapodsf.exblog.jp/i5/) Today I saw her at church and we had the best conversations about quilts. she confirmed the store is an amazing source. the proprietor had helped her figure out what to do with some heirloom quilting pieces that her mother and grandmother had, some dating back to the 1800's. when I told her of my family quilt she got so excited and insisted I MUST finish the quilt and it dawned on me, of course, I'm part of the family and just the one to carry on the process. I even got weepy telling Heather my project idea. She's going to invite me to join her at one of her crafting nights. I love this process. She kept saying, "listen to you, you're a quilter just by the way you're thinking of the project." How much better does this get.

checking in with beloved blogs

2009-09-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

After a rough day of sewing on Eli's little letter envelope that included tearing label after sewing, melting the acrylic Chinese material, shaky stitching altogether (see post Tuesday, August 18, 2009, crafting for girls), I checked in with a beloved blog,soulemama to see that she is at the final stages of a quilt. I know quilting is in, I know I'm jumping in to a trend but did I have to see one in it's final stages today? I have much to learn over this year about sewing, the craft of quilting and what's going to keep me on course are comments like this one from Eli as he looked over her very flawed letter envelope, "oh that (pointing to the place where the too hot iron melted the fabric) will remind of this day we made the bag." if he could always be in my fan club. I'm not going to be stopped by this day. Eva's reward for being second to get her bag sewn is that keeps telling Eli, "Mine will be better since mama will know how to sew better next time."

my corner of the world

2009-09-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

I was obsessed with my old Polaroid Landcamera I got for $5, 14 years ago from a yard sale. Some of my favorite photos were taken in Art and my early days in SF. Seeing the images on the blog Orangette, I was inspired to get mine out again. Of course the batteries were corroded. Yesterday I sat down at my space and cleaned it out lovingly with a baking powder solution, purchased a packet of color film and after an adjustment, tah dah, I have a the beloved blurry images I love, so expect to see more.

lovn' summer shelling beans

2009-09-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

I go to the best grocery stores in the City, by my opinion, Bi-Rite, Canyon Market and of course Rainbow Coop. I fall in to a rut, I buy the same things over and over, granted they are in season. I get stretched by our CSA box that will throw out a new vegetable and start a new love affair, like the watermelon radish, don't get me started. Gourmet's Bevy of Beans and Basil just did it for me. I tried to get a variety of bean for a salad and this one said summer shelling beans and what do you know, there they were right there next to all the other standards I reach for every week. These were cranberry beans, I par-boiled them added them to the Italian flat bean and standard greens beans - fun texture and went well with the grilled pork chops and figs.

Eat-in a day of action

2009-09-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by the Eat-in that was part of the Slow Food Nation last Labor Day weekend. I drove past Dolores park to see a 50 yard table spread with white table clothes with folks dining together. I made an attempt to gather a 15 + group for our own Eat-in at the urging of Slow Food to send a message to our Congress regarding the Child Nutrition Act which comes up for review every and only 5 years. It ended up being three families and I registered it with Slow Food as an official site. Here are a few images and check us out on the site. Ours was tiny but we got out there and ate in style. http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch-detail/san_francisco_ca_crissy_field_eat_in/

Here are images from the national celebration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/timeforlunch/

can I can?

2009-09-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

My hubris was up after my initial success with the tomato sauce and grapefruit marmalade. I ordered 40 lbs of Early Girl tomatoes from a farmer with an overrun, joyfully picked them up on Wednesday from her parking spot on Folsom Street. I had wanted to get them the next week knowing how the busy first week of school might go and the long weekend with little plans scattered on the schedule but felt confident I could do it, overly so, without really coming up with a plan of action. Long story short, 3 hours of pealing 1/2 the tomatoes on Friday a.m., tried a combo of 3 quarts and 3 pints only to have the pints leak (should have re-canned but I went to to make more mistakes,) pealed more tomatoes and foolishly left them on the counter, they soured (mostly the top), discarded those, made sauce out the rest, tasted funny, kept adding sugar, yikes now have too much sweat/soured tomato sauce. Alas, I was shaken on Saturday but had to save face on Sunday by making 3 jars of yummy elderberry jam, 2 jars pickled spiced carrots, three jars of pickled peperoncini peppers and roasting and saving 10 red peppers. Sorry only have photos from the process on Friday, I was not in the mood to capture the chaos of Saturday. I must have some pride about me.

I don't know how to quilt

2009-09-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

I realize I need to sign up for a quilting class. I hope a quilt store has a short class. Last year City College offered a class but I'm not ready for a semester commitment.

new favorite breakfast

2009-09-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

i've enjoyed that last peaches of the season and thanks to the Ferry Plaza Cookbook, we've been enjoying a suggestion from the owners of Frog Hollow Farms (peaches!) I toast good crusty bread, brush with good olive oil and then use what cheese I have, feta or ricotta and add peeled sliced peaches.

hours in my space

2009-09-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

The second day of school found me fleeing to my space. I'd have three hours to myself. I reviewed notes from my big day at the space and was ready for some preliminary research. My inspiration started with some photos taken over Christmas on the last few moments I was in my parents home which ended up being my last time there while my parents resided at 1344 Chatham Road. I had my F100, a roll of BW film and only 15 minutes before I was due to leave and join Art and the children at his mom's. When I looked through my lens at the rooms, they seemed so empty to me, why would I want a photo of a room, it seemed almost creepy. I started snapping photos of little reminders of home, the door knobs that can evoke the sound of someone entering a room, the screen door from the garage that only was in place in the summer but was banged 40 times a day as I went about my summer play, the contents of my dad's dresser top as I'd look at it during quiet moments while just "being" in my parent's room. The idea sounded great but when I saw the scans of the images I'd hoped they'd inspire a larger project for me but I was underwhelmed with their visual impact. As I spent my indulging day, I ended with the idea of making a quilt. As I've mourned my loss of a home to return to, I realized that it's not just the physical place I'll miss but the security that I felt when I was little and that my parents provided, the sound of them in the house, the place to take my children back to visit. I feel that a quilt will represent the feeling of safety and warmth I have for going home. I am in possession of our "family" quilt, albeit unfinished, that was made sometime in the late 1700's. The flax was grown on my dad's family property and family clothing used for the pattern. It was not until this was in my possession that I realized the weight of passing on a family heirloom.

Back to the specifics of the quilt ideas. That first day I dreamed of somehow incorporating the the photos in to the quilt by maybe a phototransfer method or printing the images on to material. Anyway, last week I left the space to spend some time at Borders looking at books. I looked through every crafting, sewing, quilting book they had to offer. I ended up purchasing two books: Last Minute Patchwook + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson and Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin. The latter of the two really does not have anything to do with this project unless I end up making some of my own fabric. As I looked through all the books I would think if the pattern were appropriate for photos integration. I was specifically inspired by a quilt by Joelle that is a solid fabric with a pattern running along the botton with little squares, maybe I could have the images peaking through, as a foundation. More to think about. I also got an inspiration about the stitching but this will just have to wait.