lovn' summer shelling beans

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

first day of school

We'll we're off and running now. Sleepy, excited Eva came in to the kitchen first this morning followed by VERY sleepy crabby Eli that needed to begin his day with a long hug. I put the goods in their baskets, fed them strawberries, eggs and toast, tea and left them to eat while I got ready. We'd have to leave extra early today with all the goings-on at school. The team was dressed and ready to go at 7:30ish. We had our traditional photo session on the side walk that holds most of our holiday card images then loaded in to the Mazda. It was not a rushed morning and it felt pretty good to be heading across town to a familiar place.

As we found a parking space near Alta Plaza I saw Karen, Jackson and Ruby. Just the sight of them made me weepy as Karen in my fellow cryer at ceremony time. I passed this on to her as she passed and we gave a quick hug for fortification. We approached the school seeing so many familiar faces, smiles and greetings abound. Dagmar, Eli's teacher opened the door to the school with a wide smile on her face, I handed off the jar of grapefruit marmalade and her smile got wider. We barely got Eli settled in to class when I saw Eva heading off with Tomaso to her new classroom. I ran out to join her. It was odd walking in to this new classroom, full of desks. The children all sit at double desks, we look around and quickly found Eva's desk and guess what, Jackson was her desk partner. My fear came true, Eva is towards the back of the room but I understand they move the children around throughout the year according to their needs, talking etc. Eva settled in and I let her be just be for a while. I then went to her when she got a funny look on her face, she was overwhelmed how loud it was with all the student and parents in the small room. Perfectly timed, Art arrived and spend a quiet moment with her. We left her there and went back to join Eli and see all the new faces in his class which are quite a lot. It'll take while to get so meet all the new families. I looked out the window and saw the first graders heading to the ceremony site escorted by their parent so Art and I scooted to be with Eva. She wanted nothing to do with us as she was with her friend Beatrice. Leslie, Bea's mom and laughed at how independent our girls were. We found a place in the circle with our child on our lap. I held her and snuck my nose in her hair over and over. She was so big on my lap, heavy, limbs almost reaching my own extension. The teacher, Ms Fendell introduced the handwork, Spanish, music, and other teachers to us and the children. She then told a story about a child being born and how parents planted a tree a the same time, how the child first did things that were not always good like breaking things, needing help etc. and how the tree was always quiet and growing. It's funny but I so wanted to be in the moment that I lost the story line as I sat there with Eva on my lap. I tuned back in when Ms. Fendell told how the child grew and soon was helping without being asked, how the tree had deep roots that made it strong and the sun to help it grow and then some comparison to the child having the sun it it's heart. She told of the parent being the first teacher and how it was time for the child to grow and find a teacher that will help this sun in their heart grow. At this point she had the children stand take a red rose and give it to us to keep with us to remind us of our chilren. Then she had the chilren hold hands, parent hold hands and let the children know that all parents were their support at which time the children sang a song about an apple tree and spiraled out the door through a bridge made by two parents at the door. It may sound corny at this reading but my eyes were filled to brim many times throughout the 20 minutes together.

I then ran off to a meeting of the kingergarten gardening parents and then back to the rose ceremony. At this time the entire grade school welcomes the first graders. The class teachers tell a story that gives an image of what their grade will be learning for the year, examples include about St Francis of Assis and other do-gooders, Michelangelo, the story of Genisis and beginning of time, etc.....the ceremony ends with the each eighth grader giving a rose to an individual first grader and escorting them in to a circle. Eva was proud. When I asked Eva about it later she said that she did it instead of running out the door, which is what she wanted to do. She was embarassed to stand there in front of all the older students. I was secretly relieved when I found out the older kids were making rude remarks during the ceremony, alas there is reality in all of this preciousness.

When I got Eli he complained that he was still tired. I asked him what his favorite part of the day was, he confessed that it was seeing Eva in the yard during recess. I sensed that during the 1 1/2 hour wait for Eva's dismissal he is lonely for her in class. He said he does not know how to be a second year kindergartener yet. On the car ride home, Eva talked with Eli saying that she realized that he must miss her but that it'd be okay. Eli is not conviced of this yet, it'll take while to be on his own.

On the way home we picked up my 40 lbs of tomatoes for canning and elderberries for jam and peppers for roasting. I'm a bit tired but pleased with the day.

last day of summer

I've really not prepared for school, the fact is that I am nervous about returning to the rush of keeping to schedules, making lunches, and waking up early. I can't say that we've had the most exciting summer but it's been relaxed, thoughtful and sometimes boring which is what I needed. I realized last night that I had not gotten the a few items needed for school, some required and some more of a ritual. I hatched a plan to get us in to the mood by going to the Ferry Building. The Waldorf school has some rituals of their own that are worthy of an eye roll when I say them out-loud, there is the basket they carry their lunch in filled with healthy food, napkin, and dinner-wear. This said, they are a part of the childrens day, they enjoy their lunch time, eat good food and are a part of the process. Anyway, back to our prep day. The children and I took a nice walk to Glen Park, the little village near our home that has the closest BART station. The children enjoyed going through the turn-style themselves and I was surprised at how much easier it was than earlier trips to the station. We easily exited except for the "flat" Eli gave the heal of Eva's shoe which caused her to lean down and fix the situation so that every person coming off the escalator has to walk over her in order not to run her over. We passed a homeless man asking donations for little flowers he makes out of reeds. The children liked them so I let them run back and put a dollar each in to his jar and they came back with little bouquets, they were so happy they skipped away. We first went to Sur la Table where we looked for a ceramic cup for Eva to leave in the classroom to drink her tea and I thought it'd be nice to have new napkins. The children each picked out two napkins per child. Eli found a nice white cup that was inexpensive, a requirement put forth early, and they chose red and white checked napkins. Eli fell in love with a great potato masher, he was so cute but I was not going to fork over the $15 but told him I'd love it for my birthday. I ended up getting the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market Cook Book which was perfectly matched to what I get in my box seasonally.

After a time watching the lobsters and crabs and debating their inevitable end, we went outside to nibble on some breadsticks and watch the ferries load and depart while we waited for Art. We ended up seeing Jayden from Eli's grade and Nikko from Eva's class with his mom Tony, we had a nice chat in the sun. After a round-about debate on lunch, which lead us from Out the Door, to Mexican finished with us sitting outside at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant the Slanted Door.

Art and I began our meal with a ginger/limeade cocktail - decadent and delicious. Our menu included chick in clay pot, green papaya salad, grilled corn sauteed with mushrooms, and noodles, it was divine. I ran in to a woman from I knew from mommy classes when Eva was a babe who now waited tables there.

We stopped at Rainbow Co-op for water bottles and bamboo-wear (roll eyes!). The day rolled on to bed time with packing lunches, laying out clothes, dinner and bed. Whew. tomorrow is the big day.

marmalade at Sea Ranch

The children and I went with and met 4 mamas + children at Sea Ranch the final week before beginning school for last hooray. The first morning I baked ginger walnut scones and was taking them to the beach for a mid-morning snack. I'm glad I took this photos because moments later I missed my step on to a stone and did a face-plant in to the sand, with my body being broken by the basket of goodies. The scones were squished and full of sand. This did not keep us all from picking through the remains and pouring the marmalade on to every bite.

grapefruit marmalade

Could not wait to try my hand at the grapefruit marmalade from my canning class. I peeled, julienned the peel, sectioned, boiled all the incredients including the membranes/seeds to make pectin and processed the ingredients in a hot water bath. I was skeptical that the natural pectin would work but alas the marmalade began to thicken as it cooled and continued to do as for the next day on the counter. I knew I had a decent product when the empty pan went missing and found Eva scraping the leftovers with a spoon out in the hallway. Leon, Naomi, Enula and Marcel stopped by, all the children took turns licking the pan - thumbs up.

crafing for girls

Eva and I hosted our good friend Chloe for a long-over due visit. After the girls played at home, they wanted to go to my space. We barged in on Ro who was just finishing-up a rehearsal with Carol for their Landescape production. I put the girls to work painting quietly in the hall while I readied to finish my quota of counting bags for the first grade. The girls then came back in to work on embroidery. Eva and Eli are working on tags for a letter envelope, I got from Amanda Blake Soule's A Handmade Home , where they can store their letters, cards and sundries. They'll be able to tote their collection to a quiet corner and SOMEDAY read them at their leasure, of course this is after they learn to read in second grade! Until then they'll just be their trophy.

an exceptionally good saturday

while Art was home slaving over a hot stove and 14lbs of tomatoes, I was off sewing my heart out. When entering first grade at the SF Waldorf school, the teacher has a wish-list of items for the parents. A group of mothers and I, plus out children for a mass play-date, tackled the 35 counting bags needed for each student in Eva's class (these are used to hold treasure the children use to learn math.) It was quite a production line of scissors, patterns, machines and needles. There is nothing like the sound of a machine to bring a group of children to attention. I'm pretty certain they will be done by school.

tomatoe sauce

I was inspired by my canning class last week which meant work for Art this week. I took the children for the day to sew for Eva's class, leaving Art with 14 lbs of Early Girl tomatoes I purchased from the farmer's market this morning. Before we left, Eli and Eva helped Art blanch the tomatoes and Eli took this photo from his point of view. There is not as much sauce as I thought there would be but boy oh boy am I looking forward to going to the shelf and grabbing fresh sauce in the winter. I'll can Monday afternoon.

aqua fresca

Today the children and I were at the local grocery at the bottom of the hill, when I saw packaged tamarind pulp for sale. I asked the clerk how you prepare it, I'm interested in recreating a drink from the Legion of Honor Museum we sampled in the Spring. we just winged it, boiling the tamarind, should have kept it in longer, adding pineapple/coconut juice and a few cubes of crystalized ginger + water in to the blender. The tamarind still had too many solids so we had fun straining it three times. A refreshind after a warm day at the park - wish could have joined us Nance!

can can

I'm feeling a bit sheepish how much Jan-time I've had this week. Yesterday was another Jan day, Eva went to a birthday party, Eli and Art to the Academy of Science and I to a canning class as part of their Self-Sufficient Kitchen courses offered this summer at the Studio for Urban Projects. Nicole Lobue was an energetic ambitious teacher with a background as an accomplished chef/caterer/herbalist that made the process easy. Her recipes chosen were so creative. There were approx. 20 of us, 4 burners, pots o'plenty and the smells to entice anyone in to the space from the street. Nicole picked up the freshest, best ingredients in town that morning at the Ferry Building farmers market. The list of projects, some completed and some still on the burner, literally, included poached/pickled purple cauliflower/red onion/herbs/vinegar
(say that one three times quickly), preserved blackberries in red wine syrup infused with rose-geranium, preserved strawberries in sherry, blackberry jam, whole tomatoes, grapefruit/sweet lime marmalade, nectarine/caramelized onion/smoked ancho chile chutney. Our hand were working, pot boiling, jars sterilizing and conversation flowing. I left loving this city, ready to can.

A room of her own

An idea kept re-emerging as a theme back in the Spring, what I'm missing is a space of my own here in this 1,400 sq ft apartment. At first I considered reconfiguring our living room to accommodate a work space so I don't have to put every project away at the end of day to eat dinner. I realized this also went hand-in-hand with the fact that I've been longing for a place to go during the day while children are at school where I can sew, organize my photo film, scan the slides I've had of Susan Bender's for over a year or just craft my heart out, or the more important - do nothing. Virginia Wolf never got hers and look what happened. Art heard the plea and was supportive and I started bringing up the idea around friends. Well, Rowena was also looking for a space to dance. Two days before leaving for Va I went and checked out a space available downtown, the location was all wrong but the price if we had a third and the space itself was fine for the 6 months it'd be available. It's in one of the last true artists spaces left downtown, which is for sale, being cleaned=up as I write ready to hike up rents. Anyway, with much back and forth while I was in VA it worked out that we got it. Rowena said it right as I went from a room of my own, passed hers and mine, straight to three's company.

Thursday was the day - I moved in with the hopes of setting up. Art and the children helped me move a load in and drove off for a day together, it was my first day on my own in 7 weeks. I started putting the Ikea furniture together that we'd bought for the kitchen but never used. I put in on Craigslist to sell several times and every time I could not get ride of it hoping I'd have a reason to set up shop. The last person who wanted to buy it was a woman who was crafting and setting up her space, that did it, I could not let it go.

Fortuitously I forgot a box of essential parts and could not put it together, instead I pulled out the little bed roll and read my Twyla Tharp self-help book and journaled all day. It was amazing, luxurious, spoiling and altogether the best day I'd had in years. I got a new book mid-morning from Chronicle books down the street on the crafting industry and now I'm inspired to get my craft on and organize some mama crafter mornings at the space or evenings. I've also been thinking how to process the recent move out of my childhood home, set a project in motion to help me through it all. I felt so alive and tingly all day. I ended my time alone by going to a yoga class before heading back to the homestead. I've felt patience re-enter my day, I cherish more moments with my children instead of snapping out of the blue.

school shopping

sI'm not sure what happens over the summer but my children grow inches daily, I start to fret while away about having to replace all the clothes. I am lucky in that both my children do not mind high-water pants, sleeves that are too short and stains on their chests. Yesterday I took on the childrens' closet, another entry altogether, and weeded out the extremes, it left our shelves pretty low. I always shop by myself, except for the occasional thrift store run, and present the stash to the children. Today, I had to pick up the new key TO MY NEW STUDIO, also worthy of an entry. I took E+E with me and headed to H&M in the downtown Westfield Mall. This is the only store I go to in the Mall, I love the prices and mostly the boys clothes. I was so pleased how the entire exprience went. The children were so excited to be there, especially Eva. I told her this was her first mall, she said, no we go to see Santa every year but we just don't shop." This was so funny to me in that there could not be two malls more different than this fancy pants establishment and the grade d mall of my youth in Staunton where I did most of my shopping at Sears. She loved looking at the offerings, not expecting everything, taking my suggestions, and willing to forgo something for another mama-suggestion. It sound silly to say I was proud of how my daughter shopped but it was just how she conducted herself in general and it was one of those childhood moments - back-to-school shopping. Eva came home, thanked her daddy, adding that, "mommy made me say it." We got a fashion show and off she went to bed, commanding to to wash her clothes. They would not settle down tonight and I blew the romance of the day by pulling out of thin air, "this is the last time I'm coming back here tonight, your new clothes are going on a shelf until the first day of school." The words came out and alas I have to live up to it.

so much old to catch up on

Summer is winding down and I left off way back at the beginning of our trip to Virginia. I did not blog as I'd hoped, too much visiting and too little DSL. I will go back and make observations, remembering the fabulous time romping around the home-state that I love. I now bring my pulse-rate down a few notches thinking about my favorite aspect of my journey back, driving. Here in SF driving is the bane of my life here, driving through traffic, the resting at the 33 stop signs to school every morning, circling for parking. I just love driving through the country side of the Shennendoah and the Piedmont of Charlottesville. The drive at the top of my list is from Susan Bender's to my parents. I leave Susan's property and drive to the end of Old Lynchburg Road passing the simple homes, junkyard collections and old country church, ending at the old toll house now owned by the fiddle player for the Dave Matthew's Band. Plank road is strech of farms large and small, simple white clapboard houses lining the road and stretches of larger estates. We love to see if the cows have found hole in the fence, reaching their necks out to get the juicy grass at the edge of the road. Crossing 29, we're on Batesville Road, the geography is a bit different, the trees are bigger, estates get grander and the road a bit less traveled, barring the slow tractor or truck I seem to always find when I'm expected at either one relative's or another. Batesville is over in a blink of an eye but make sure you do not blink when the speed signs change from 45 to 25. I remember driving East bound on this road with my dad once and him remarking on this, "watch out or the constible will get you." At the end of Albemarle County you see get the most perfect view of the Blue Ridge before the asent. You can peek views of the the county through the trees as you climb. Once up on top, the view is of home. It's just as rewarding on the way home.

weekend with friends

Ed took care of our laudromat empire while we were in VA, and let's just say that it was much more time-consuming than he expected. He did an amazing job and allowed us to really get away from the SFWash life. Anyway, he suggested that maybe we could take care of Skyla and Julias one weekend and we leapt at the chance to spend time with our buddies. So July 30 - August 1 we were a family of 6. I can honestly say that I would never have a relationship with my children if we were that many, I was too busy keeping then fed, in clothes and in fun. We spent Saturday out at at Lake Lagunitas hiking around the lake and spending hours playing in the creek. The hightlight of the day was Eva catching a newt. "Newtie" provided over and hour of enjoyment for the children, we hope he did not suffer and long-term ailments from so much love from our crew. I must say the dinner table is so quiet now we are back to being only 4.

We're back and making galettes

I was so happy to be back in my kitchen after our travels to VA we had a big family dinner the first Saturday back in town. We made tomato/pesto galettes and a plum galette from the Italian plums left on our tree. It is sad that we miss the plum season here in SF while in VA, especially this year, being the big year of production. Leslie said that there were hundreds of plums this year. We had fun making the dough. It's nice being a family again. Special note: the glass pink dish was my maternal great grandmother's, I just brought it back with me on this visit.

packing light backfire

So I forgot to mention that when we left Arlington that Art left our bag of dirty laundry behind, leaving the children with half their clothes. There's been a lot of laundry here in North Garden. Shu Shu gave Eli a box of Art's old T-shirts as he was left without a single one, he's been walking around in UVA Basketball shirts from '81, Parks 'n Rec shirts, old elementary school gym shirts.

tubing down the mighty James River

Yesterday we took an epic trip tubing down the James River. We did not go until 11:00 which put us under the mid-day sun and had me a little crazed when I realized that our suntan lotion is only "water resistant." No surprise to me, Eva took right to the event, she swam most of the way, at least 2.5 of the 4 mile trip (the water was 4 feet at most points but was shallow enough to stand along the way.) She could not be stopped. At one point she left our family and swam so far ahead of us that she joined the Park 'n Rec team. They gave her a ride until I urged Art to retrieve her.

At first, Eli was like putting a cat in the sink for a bath, straddling the inner tube ensuring he'd not get wet. He was not off in his judgment as it was cloudy and the water was a refreshing temperature. My little optimist kept saying, "I think the sky is gong to blue-up soon." He was right, by the end of the second mile, we were under blue, warm skies.

I started out in a pissy mood. I've yet to sleep more than 5 hours this trip for many different reasons, most recently going to bed too late and missing my window to sleep. I was definitely the wet-rag on the trip. My citiness came out when we pulled up to a log to lunch upon and I was freaked by two LARGE wood bugs, caught in a snuggle, by a large brown spider who came up, wrapped his furry brown arms around their bodies and bit them. I was squimish and urged the party to another spot. This would not have happened in my early, river youth. I decided to keep my mouth closed most of the trip and let the river wash the sour mood off me. By the end, I was gazing at the beautiful trees lining the river, staring eye to eye with dragon flies, and contemplating the abstract patterns of grass and rock rolling underneath me.

Dial-up woes

Every day there are stories and photos that I would love to share but I've been using the dail-up service as an excuse. I think I'm really just having such a relaxed time in North Garden I just don't want to pause to be at the computer. My cell phone is now AWALL.

tomatoes

Two nights ago, Eva went with Shu Shu to gather arugula flowers for our salad and told her grandmother all about the conversation/pep-talk she gave her plants before we left. Evidently Eva let the plants know that they needed to hang-0n until Daddy got home from Virginia and then he would be there to water them, they did not need to produce tomatoes until she got back which was not going to be for six weeks. My fingers are crossed that those little plants are haning in there.

watching the clouds roll by

This afternoon while the children were swimming in the lake, I just laid there on the towel, hat propped on my head, watching the big billowing clouds roll by. I felt at home.

finished first leg of our tour

Here it is Monday morning and our time in Arlington is winding down. While there is low energy from the late nights and early mornings, there is still a flutter of activity, Eli working on the rain forest puzzle, Sarah and Eva wrapping gifts for Shu Shu, Art lying on the small sofa, having just read yet another book to Eli. It's a lovely morning here, crisp in the shade warm in the sun, I just came in from sitting on the front porch listening to and watching the trees blowing in the breeze, all some-kinda-of-beautiful. Sam is off to Pokemon Camp, Jacqui, old au pair, to her final plans before returning to Germany tonight and Miriam, new au pair, dizzily driving with Penelope around her new homeland for the next 18 months, Bob jogging across the bridge to work, we've all found our rhythm together. We've had a full visit in a full house. We arrived the night Bob returned from Ethiopia, the new au pair from Germany and the old au pair full of good-bye plans. There's not a spot in the house untouched by a sleeping Bender. Yesterday was operation Good-bye Jacqui, centered around baking, cooking, cleaning, preparing for an au pair BBQ. The spread of food was an eye-full and the results a belly-full. I'm sticking to tea for most of the day after such a feast.

Saturday we headed to D.C. and were able to eek out a full-filling visit with the Simpson-Bonney clan amongst the hoards of cost-conscious vacationers, like us, visiting the free museums on the Mall. Our first hugs were with raindrops dripping down our necks but found shelter amongst the dinosaurs, gems, butterflies and sea creatures in the Natural History Museum, Jack's interested driving us forward. As soon as the adults started feeling agoraphobic we were saved by the children's empty belly's. Our soggy attitudes were warmed right up by our primo dining under the umbrellas of the pavilion in the sculpture garden. The food was tasty but merely fuel to get the children up dancing to the blaring Cuban salsa music and a raucous game of Monster. Granted every child emerged from the game wet from head-to-toe and a little muddy but with beaming smiles. The sun came out for the rest of the hot, humid D.C. day. Anna joined us at the Air and Space Museum, carousel, and American History Museum. She is taking D.C. by storm herself. Working at Booz Allen this summer seems to suit her and is entertaining thoughts of working here after graduation. A satisfying picture of the day was Anna holding her two little cousins hands, they would have followed her anywhere she wanted to lead them. After good-bye at the Metro, our family journeyed on to meet up again with the clan at their hotel. We decided to move on for dinner and drinks after being asked to keep it down by a friendly security guard, my guess, someone wanted to nap below us. Yummy Indian food and tasty fruity drinks were a reward for a day well lived. I'd have paid a bundle to be transported to Arlington via a magic carpet but alas, it was the Metro for us.

I'm ready to head south now.

Photos to come when I have access to wireless - tomorrow maybe

happy to be traveling light

I did it, I'm still shocked as I write this how much economy I used in packing. I realize this is a boring subject but when one takes on a challenge publicly on a blog, it becomes a topic all unto itself. On Thursday morning when readying to leave, I started to get the nervous tick I alway experience when leaving home, I began pacing around the house, snapping at the children and wishing I had not made plans to leave for the summer. I ususally calm myself down by adding all the extras I think will help me out of all the unforeseen binds on my travels, thus becoming the burden I kick myself for in the first place. This time I walked out the door and ran one last errand. Our freedom came in many forms, we took BART to the airport, checked only two bags, and simplified the morning dressing routine as there really is not much to choose from. The downside is yesterday when greeted with a rainstorm we had to go buy 2 $10 umbrellas as I did not pack them this year but hey, thus far it's worth it.

it's here already

I really can't believe it's time to go. By this time in the year, I'm usually longing to go. A few weeks ago this feeling hit me, the urban was getting on my nerves and the VA spring was calling. I'm pleased to say that I this year I've been busy and full-filled up to the point of departure. Certainly I feel that much of this comfort comes from knowing I get to go back there. Helen, Rowena and I went to see Goodbye Solo the other night. Throughout the entire film my heart was tempted by the JR Reynolds factories, peanut cafe, southern accents with a twist of the immigrant story. The final scene takes place in Boone, N.C., as the car with the protagonists wends towards the Blue Ridge, my heart was a flutter, it began to ache as the first patch of color burst on the trees and the familiar low stone guardrail of the Parkway emerges. I almost had to hold back a tear but instead I leaned over and whispered in to Ro's ear, "I grew up near those mountains," and I heard my echo as she passed my declaration on to Helen. It felt good to say it and even better that I knew I was leaving in 4 days to become part of the life of those mountains.

I hope to keep posts coming, though more sporadic as I'll be in the land of dial-up part of the time. My list of projects is a bit unrealistic - sewing a shirt and shorts for Eva, pants for Eli, interview parents, drive to Blackstone, VA to visit the historical society to see what information I can find on my grandparent's property and life of Ft. Pickett, run, yoga (solo), family portraiture, blog so on and so forth, all while parenting my children in other people's homes and doing all the activities like swimming in lakes, tubing down a river, picking peaches and visiting with a long list of folks. Hmmmm not sure how it'll work but here I go.

all I want to do is sew again....

I think I'm starting to see a trend. Here I go again, the house is a wreck from top to bottom, I'm leaving in less than two days for a 5 week journey to VA and all I want to do is sew a top for Eva. I'm sorting through my material to see which I want to take with me and I'm matching patterns, thinking to myself, "It wouldn't take me that long..." I have to resist this urge and focus on my task here to get the 4 of us across the country with clean underwear, swimwear, sandals, and hats.

I've been a bit harried today running all over the city but I'm so proud that I stuck to my guns and did not think of trip-prep while friends were in town. I enjoyed their company, cooked good meals, and played at being a tourist in this fair city. Now the race is on, it's time.

I'm a consummate over-packer, I will layout clothes and all the things I need and for some reason, I seem to add 30% more to my luggage just before walking out the door. Can I rise the challenge I've posed for myself? Can I put to rest the "what if's" really only bring two pair of sandals and running shoes for myself or will the fabulous green and red ones I purchased for a large sum of money postpartum scream out to me,"this is why you purchased me, to wear in the hot weather of VA." I just got an itch on my neck thinking of it. I was talking with my mom this afternoon and dad offered the background, "remember you're not going to Africa, you'll be in civilized place where you can get what you need."

Good night diversion, I need to fold some laundry, lay out some clothes, make my list for tomorrow.

Desert Discovery Box

My friend Pat Quest tempted me last week with news that she may make it to SF for visit. She asked what kind of toy my children would like. I immediately said a rock from the desert would do. Pat's creative mind started spinning. When I got the news she would not make it for the visit, she was determined to get the children their discovery box before we departed. This morning we opened the box. Inside were two magnificent boxes with decorated tops and insides filled with treasures from the desert: rattle snake tail, buffalo teeth, petrified fish gills, stones, feathers, dried gourds. It is amazing. She also scanned the pieces and uploaded corresponding references to what the item is. The best part, for me, was the dedication:

Sonoran Desert Discovery for Eva and Eli Dedicated to your mother Jan for loving my children and me. Created by Pat Quest June 2009 so that I could share my love of the Sonoran Desert with two special young people Eva and Eli who also like rocks. And possibly you will love the beauty and wonder of the bones too. Hope you enjoy your treasures (and they do.)

mission cupcake complete

whew, my lovely friend Nina asked me to make the cupcakes for her husband's birthday. It was not the best time to take on this mission as its the last week of school, pending 5 week trip to VA, house-guests just left, and I was out to midnight last night on a triple couples yoga/dinner date -- but for Nina, anything. She was like a little girl at Art's birthday when she saw and then tasted the caramel cupcakes. She too is from the South and has memories of this delicacy. Thanks to Sydney, I can bake. I've never had a luck with cakes, she turned me on to The Cake Doctor using an organic white cake mix, doctoring it up, adding a homemade caramel icing and voila.

But boy was I draggn' my sorry self through the kitchen today and this evening. I had mixed them up while the children took on another felting project. Eva turned out to be such a help, she filled many of the tiny cups for me. At the end of the process, I was getting crabby and thought I'd loose it when I saw that the batter was all over the pan....these were after all for a party. I snapped out of it and in-turn became very appreciative of her help. After they were in bed, I made the icing and dipped 70 cupcakes, wrapped 'um up and I'm off to watch a movie or read my M.F.K Fischer.

I wish I wasn't even born yet

Eva just said, "I wish I wasn't even born yet." I asked her why? She said, "It was so much more fun before I was born." I asked what did you do when you were a baby? She responded, "I was already an adult in heaven. Well, you really get to be pretty up there, you get a pretty home, you get free vegetables and you get the same job you get as a child on earth."

Eva makes a convincing story.

mmmmm Sidewalk Juice

Imagine this in a cup: almond butter, almond milk, almond extract, bananas, frozen yogurt. It's got its hooks in us. About a month ago, Art and I met one afternoon while the children were in school and had our first. It's not uncommon now for me to say once a week, "I have a confession, I went to Sidewalk Juice today." I'll look at Art as he responds, "so did I." I'm just glad it's broken his McDonald's shake cravings.

Today I took the children for their first experience after the last day of school. I started telling the woman behind the counter the story from above, she asked what their dad looks like, she guessed like them with blue eyes, Eva piped-in, "No he has black hair, brown eyes." She looked at me and said that she never recalled seeing me with anyone. I had my camera, showed her a picture and she exclaimed, "I know him!" Eli asked me how many of smoothies the woman gets to eat, Eva boldly inquired for her brother to find out she can eat the remainder of any smoothie she makes - what a job.

finished dress on last day of school

sewing wins

so, my own blog motivated me. I finished reading a chapter of Misty of Chincoteague to the children, walked down the hall strewn with clothes, towels, shoes, passing through the kitchen piled high with a full day of dishes to the sewing machine. I made the right decision. I was able to make the second dress in one night, not repeating any of the mistakes I made (making a few different) and go to bed with another dress waiting for Eva when she awoke. this dress speaks to me. I'll post a photo soon, she's wearing it on the last day of school tomorrow.

I can't believe the school year is over. E + E will never be in the same class again. it's been lovely seeing how Eva takes care of her little brother, well of course that come with some torture as well. Eli completely looks up to his sister. they share the same friends, work side-by-side on the same projects. when they retell the story Dagmar has filled their heads with they can speak in unison and when one drops a word the other fills-in. there is an ease to it all.

it is time however for them to part. Eva has moment of not connecting to the 5 year old in Eli. She wants MORE. she's ready to sit and learn at a desk. I've loved Eva as a kindergartener, look forward to seeing the first-grader she is to become.

Dagmar said that Eli was the perfect dreamy kindergartener. He listens, is completely creative but is under his sisiter's spell. she reaffirms it is time for him to be on his own and looks forward to it greatly.

how did I digress from sewing? this happens to me always.

crafting quandry

Argh, I've got dishes piling up, most rooms have slowly fallen apart in the last 12 hours, a shrinking larder, house guests arriving in two days and all I want to do is sew the next dress for Eva while all the mistakes and corrections are still fresh in my mind.

wet felting

The children found the felting wool in the craft cabinet and started designing a piece on Saturday. Today after school, they asked to be set up to finish the piece. I boiled the water , added soap and they waited until the water cooled and then started felting.

apricots - arranged by children

dress

This morning I came out finding Eva trying on the almost complete dress. She asked me to take her to the mirror, she was so excited to see her dress. This afternoon we completed it. I made it big so she can wear it for two years. It's certainly not perfect but wearable for sure.

I'm so happy I can make her dresses now. I've always purchased her summer dresses from Target, H&M, and maybe a Gap. Now that she's out of the toddler size I've had to move up the "Girls" and I'm so disappointed with styles, she still a little girl and the clothes are the same as for teens.

weekend sewing indeed

Instead of tackling the aforementioned list of to-do's I sewed Saturday afternoon, evening and a little this evening. Eva picked out some material for me for Mother's Day. It is not my style, polyester, purple with flowers. She immediately asked me to make her something. The only clothes I've sewed was her Halloween costume. I looked through all my new sewing books and decided to make the Flower Girl Dress from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. I kept delaying the project, realizing that the material was the problem, not mention it'd be too hot to even wear this summer in humid Virginia. I took the children to Discount Fabric a few weeks ago and I got some cute Heather Baily fabric on clearance (great coordinating polka dot and striped.) I told Eva on Friday that was what I was going to make her dress out of, unlike her, she did not question me. The pattern from the book only went up to a size 4 and Eva is a 6/7 at least. I took tracing paper and decided to just enlarge it, knowing this is not recommended for beginner sewers but I did not want to pay for a new pattern when I had this one here. It took a few iterations to get what I thought to be the right size. When I held the Baily fabric in my hand, I realized, discounted or not, I'm not going to cut in to this when I do not know if the pattern will work. So, Eva is getting two dresses, the first one made from the purple material. The material posed many of the challenges and I made several errors reading the pattern but here is the dress for me to fit the straps and hem on Eva tomorrow, and indeed it was a weekend project, even for a beginner. Hopefully I'll get the other one together quickly for our trip in less then two weeks.

dig in

one of those mornings

I'm writing as a batch of ginger, walnut scones are in the oven (adapted from the New Joy of Cooking, Oatmeal Date - I use whole wheat pastry flour, oats, crystallized ginger + walnuts. Easy peasy since they use melted butter and are drop-scones.) Naomi, Leon and Marcel are coming over for breakfast soon so it felt like one of those mornings for scones. I'm a bit hazy from a bout of insomnia last night so I put some coffee on, well decaf, but that's enough for me. It must be time for breakfast as the quiet children I woke up to are more animated. I just heard Eva singing, "I had a beer for breakfast..." - thanks Johnny Cash. Top of the morning.

To do list

I really want to start Eva's dress project but I really need to think about what it's going to take to get me out of here for over five weeks back in my homeland - Virginia. We have guests staying off and on for a week, menus to plan, packing to do, cleaning the garage for Leslie to sell her apartment...the list is endless. Ah, maybe I'll at least trace the pattern tomorrow night!