The Fox Den

Heirloom Tomato Book

2010-04-16T11:35:00.001-07:00

This book is definitely on my To-Read List.

Yeasted Bread

2010-03-09T23:17:00.000-08:00

The kids and I discovered the wonders of baking our own bread--a great way to pass the time on a rainy day (which seems to be every weekend these days...). Izzy loved kneading and "thwumping" the dough, and she diligently monitored the rising process.

See Mollie Katzen's The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest cookbook for a great guide to baking yeasted breads...lots of illustrations and expert advice (+yummy recipes!)

Artichokes!

2010-03-09T23:02:00.001-08:00

(Sorry, too lazy to rotate the image!)

We have 4 artichoke plants, which have grown monstrously large this past month... I have been so concerned about the artichoke plants overcrowding my strawberries that I didn't think to look for artichoke blossoms (is that what they are?). We ate our first artichoke tonight, and have 2 more baby artichokes that will be ready to eat in about a week. Rigel and Izzy loved dipping the steamed leaves in Veganaise...Yum! Click here for some great ideas on artichokes from our local paper.

Snow day!

2010-02-27T23:39:00.000-08:00

We're making the most of this cold, rainy weather at Mountain High North Pole tubing park

From Tubing video

Click the above image to view the video

Only in Southern CA...

2009-12-05T14:04:00.001-08:00

Who ever heard of winter-time sunflowers and tomatoes? My spring tomatoes are invincible--they won't stop flowering, even in this colder weather!

Our peas are just beginning to produce. So far, they have a tasty sweet flavor.

Yum.

2009-11-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

When everyone is asleep and you have some down time, what could be better than some homemade candy and a good book? Click here for some delicious candy recipes.

photo credits: www.davidlebovitz.com

Thankfulness

2009-11-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

I don't take enough time to appreciate just how much of a gift Rigel and Iz are--it's a bit too easy to get caught up in life's routine. I'd like to get better at savoring each moment with these two treasures, and spend less time attempting to balance all our daily details. Beauty is in the details, right? We just have to allow ourselves to be distracted.

Easy Couscous Recipe

2009-11-12T17:44:00.000-08:00

We love visiting Shanna's house--the kids get to play with their pals Maz and Ava, and I get to witness Shanna's gifted hostess abilities. She can serve a kitchen full of people an impromptu meal and make it look easy! Maybe she should try opening up a restaurant... Oh, wait, she already did that. One particularly delicious dinner was a combination of leftovers from the night before, and it was so good that I have recreated it a few times since.

It is a blend of couscous, orzo, fava beans, salmon, fresh basil and tomatoes... yum!

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Shanna's Salmon & Couscous

1/2 bag Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend

1 pkg of Trader Joe's frozen marinated salmon (or non-marinated wild salmon)

fresh cherry and/or grape tomatoes, halved

fresh basil, coarsely chopped

lemon juice

1/2 pkg Trader Joe's Steamed Six Bean Medley or Fava Beans (refrigerator section)

olive oil

salt & pepper

Parmesan (Trader Joe's shaved grana padano parmesan is great!)

chicken broth

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Cook 1/2 pkg of harvest Grains blend according to instructions, substituting water with chicken broth.

Cook the salmon (either saute in olive oil, or broil).

Combine beans, tomatoes, basil and harvest grains, then season with olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Serve salmon on top, or mix in the salmon (in chunks). Garnish with parmesan.

Halloween Highlights

2009-11-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treating in University Heights

2009-10-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

Halloween is almost here, which in our neck of the woods means it's about time to venture a visit to our neighborly Norbert the Dragon...

photo credit: Norbert's Lair

Seedlings For the Fall

2009-10-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

Beans & Peas

Tomatoes

Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts...)

4 seed trays of 72 seedlings each equates to a lot of veggies... too many to fit into our garden. One entire tray is devoted to tomatoes: Cherokee Purple, Beefsteak, Black Krim, Sweetie (cherry), Garden Peach, Martian Giant, Black Plum Paste, Brandywine & Tigerella varieties. What to do with 72 tomato seedlings? Another tray is all legumes: Alaska, Progress #9, Wando, Green Arrow, & Mr. Big peas, as well as Kentucky Wonder, Contender, Blue Lake 274, and Romano beans. I love the names of all the different varieties, and can't wait to compare the results once they start to produce.

Coat Dress

2009-09-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

I sincerely regret having discovered Fashion Valley's Anthropologie... walking into that store was a lapse in judgement, as was trying on this Blustery Days Dress Jacket

( check out the"wine" color).

This store oozes sophisticated vintage charm with its selection of Country Living-style aprons,

antique reproduction cabinet hardware...

--better I stop there.

If you have a shoe-string budget and a sewing machine, you may want to click here for some fashionable alternatives (though not exactly Anthropologie, a few of these patterns are a worthy distraction).

...Pumpkin-Time is Around the Corner!

2009-09-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

The pumpkin patch at Bates Nut Farm opened up this weekend. Click here to view their event calender (scarecrow contests, Halloween costume contests, and craft fairs...).

Yummy...

2009-09-27T16:26:00.001-07:00

Ordering a plate of baby-back barbecued ribs from Stockdale's is on my To-Do list...

This restaurant serves fine southern cuisine (Alabama-style), and is located next to the Joan Kroc Center. Their simple menu includes sweet tea, okra, collard greens, smothered pork chops, seafood gumbo, and "famous fried shrimp." Though I didn't see any pot likker soup on that menu, it definitely sounds like an authentic soul food restaurant.

Also on my To-Do list is this Southern Living recipe for Easy Pork Grillades Over Panko-Crusted Grits Patties. Originally published in Glorious Grits: America's Favorite Comfort Food, just reading this recipe makes me hungry.

Back to School Jacket patterns

2009-09-19T22:56:00.000-07:00

So, I've never actually attempted sewing jackets from scratch for my kids, but if I were to be so bold, these Oliver+S patterns would be just the ticket.

...Maybe it's time to break out the sewing machine?

Enter the World of Podcasts

2009-09-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Just call me Jenny-Come-Lately...

Having only now discovered podcasts and how they enhance my iPod experience to the nth-degree, I'd like to share some tips with the rest of my behind-the-times kinfolk.

Rather than taking the responsibility of explaining what a podcast actually is, I am going to suggest all unenlightened readers to click here (wikipedia's definition).

If you own an iPod and have internet access via the iTunes Store, you've got all you need to get started...prepare to enter a whole new world once you select "podcasts" from the iTunes Store menu.

Suggestion: browse through the endless categories and select a feature from NPR. Opt to "view all podcasts" (on your right), and you will be introduced to NPR On Demand. There are 11+ categories to choose from in the left hand column, the "Arts" being one of my favorites. Within this category, you will find podcasts on topics such as books, food, & pop-culture. You have the option of either subscribing to podcasts (which will automatically download the most recent episode and all future episodes), or downloading selected episodes of your choice.

Once the podcasts have been fully downloaded, you can find them in your iTunes library (... if you wish to listen to the podcasts directly from your iPod, you may have to click and drag selected episodes from your library to your device).

click here to access podcasts from NPR's official website.

Some of my favorite podcasts so far: Bon Appetit's Podcasts, Epicurious: Food and Drink, Gardenfork Radio, B&N (Barnes & Noble) Meet the Writers, NPR Music Podcasts, NPR Live Concerts from All Songs Considered Podcast, Washington Post Book World Podcasts, CNN Complete Update... the list is soon-to-be endless.

Finding the time to listen to these podcasts is another matter all together.

(P.S. So far, all podcasts I have selected have been free to download &/or subscribe to... haven't figured out yet if all podcasts in general are free.)

Moms of Picky Eaters Get Creative

2009-09-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

If the Goodbyn lunchboxes (bento-style) struck your fancy, then click here to read creative culinary laments from a mother of a picky pre-schooler. This mama baits her child with art--and what child would turn down a meal of hands-on edible arts & crafts? This is even more inspiring than the Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious.

Feeling bento-inspired? Click here for lots of bento recipes (& don't forget to check out Moo Moo Foodie, the mom-blogger's site which addresses picky pre-school-aged eaters)...

photo credits: Bill Watterson & MooMoo Foodie

The Goodbyn™ lunchbox

2009-09-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Goodbyn™ lunchbox:

"A. easy-to-open ears
kid-tested intuitively-designed animal ears make for easy opening.
B. built-in handle
easy for both kids and parents to carry.

C. top container
perfect for leftovers, apples, oranges, even a banana!

D. bottom container
fits stacked sandwich halves, bagel, pasta salad, chips, yogurt or cereal.

E. side containers
great for dips, sauces, vegetables, crackers, nuts, berries, or dried fruit.

F. 8.5-ounce bottle
eliminates need for juice boxes.
G. sticker set
each goodbyn comes with three sheets of stickers so the kids can make each lunchbox their own!"

--cut & pasted from Goodbyn website

P.S. BPA & Phthalate-free, dishwasher-safe, recyclable, 6 separate air-tight compartments, & three sheets of hundreds of stickers...

Sushi Wallet

2009-09-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Check out more fun felted knitting patterns at Maggie Pace's Pick Up Sticks...

Photo credits: Maggie May's Pick Up Sticks

3 Quick Bathroom Updates

2009-09-12T15:19:00.001-07:00

I found some pages from an old Country Living Magazine issue stuffed under our couch cushions... Izzy must have been inspired enough to rip them out and put them somewhere safe (she likes to flip through her mom's magazines every now and then). I figured these pages must have been pretty important for her to take the time to so carefully rip them out and hide them... important enough to post, anyway!

terry cloth armchair cover

Sink Skirt

Display Shelves (constructed from an old wine crate & a gilded frame)

3 Quick Bathroom Updates
Click the link above for these easy how-to steps that will get your creative-nesting-instinct-juices flowing...

Posted using ShareThis

2009-09-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

I am loving my bicycle right now. The fall semester has commenced, and the community colleges are more crowded than ever--hence, parking has gotten even more horrendous. Bicycling to class from home has proven to be a rewarding solution... no more parking hassles, I get my aerobic work out for the day, and to top it all off...I get to feel the wind in my hair. Doesn't get much better.

In need of a tune-up after it was hauled out of storage, my bicycle was worked on by Thomas Bike Shop in South Park... what a great little shop!!! This business has been open since 1907, and is attached to a charming Queen Anne Victorian house. The drive through North Park and South Park alone is a nostalgic little treat--lots of vintage, artsy shops and eateries are clustered along Fern Street and 30th. The best part? On Fern Street (between Ivy & Hawthorne) there is a wholesale meat supply company that is called Rigel Meats, and then just a few doors up on the same block is a salon called Isabel... I must have taken a drive down Fern Street sometime before Rigel was born, and the rest was history, perhaps? Gotta love silly coincidences like this...

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-09-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

Starbucks has been providing recipe cards at the registers, and though I don't get in there too often, so far I have managed to collect a banana bread recipe and an oatmeal cookie recipe.

(Gotta love those freebies-- weekly iTunes downloads are another treat available at the registers. Check for new Starbucks iTunes cards every Tuesday.)

Their cookie recipe looked so delicious I couldn't wait to cook up a batch--except I had trouble bringing myself to add the raisins... I had to go for chocolate chips, instead. Why go to the trouble of making an "outrageous oatmeal cookie" if there is not going to be any chocolate involved?

If you happen to be an oatmeal cookie fan, check out this blog... margarita cookies, mojitio cookies, Fluffernutter cookies, savory Parmesan & black olive cookies--this guy has thought of everything, and loves to experiment with his ingredients.

Helpful tip: I don't know about you, but I love my cookies soft and chewy. Try putting your bowl of dough in the refrigerator between batches, in order to keep your butter and eggs cold. Warmer ingredients will spread more in the oven, but a colder dough will yield a thicker cookie.

Here's the official Starbucks "Outrageous Oatmeal Cookie" recipe, adapted to accommodate chocolate cravings (sans the raisins and cranberries; fruit substituted with lots of chocolate chips and some crushed pecans):

1 1/2 c old fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp butter, room temperature
1/2 c packed dk-brown sugar
1/4 c granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
semi-sweet chocolate chips
pecans (crushed or chopped)
(fruit lovers: 4 Tbsp each dark raisins and golden raisins for topping, 1/4 c each dark raisins and golden raisins to mix-in, and 1/4 c dried cranberries to mix in...omit chocolate chips and pecans...this follows the original recipe)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend together oats, flour (& raisins / cranberries if omitting chocolate), baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg, cinnamon and vanilla; beat until combined. Gradually add oat mixture; beat until combined. (Combine raisins for toppings in separate bowl and set aside, if omitting chocolate chips and pecans). Combine chocolate chips and pecans (use own preferred amount) into dough. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto two baking sheets. (Place 1 mounded teaspoon of raisins on top of dough, if omitting chocolate). Bake until cookies are golden brown but still soft, 12-16 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on sheets; transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Note: Original Starbucks recipe does not include chocolate or pecans.

photo credit: myrecipes.com,

recipe: Starbucks Coffee Company

the Creative License

2009-08-31T13:03:00.000-07:00

For anyone out there who has ever been inspired by life's little details, I recommend this book by Danny Gregory. He has a couple other great titles (see Everyday Matters), but The Creative License: Giving Yourself the Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are helps you see each day through a whole new set of lenses, and the possibilities begin to seem endless!

"[Danny Gregory] gently instructs us in the art of allowing ourselves to fail, giving up the expectation of perfection and opening our eyes to the beauty around us. The result is...a wild celebration of amateurism, full of humor, passion, and encouragement, sure to inspire every doodler, frustrated writer, wannabe musician, and midlife-crisising executive--in other words, the artist inside every one of us."--Hyperion Books
Excerpt from Everyday Matters:
"...Then one evening, I decided to teach myself to draw...I committed to drawing the things around me, sticking to studies of real things... my first efforts were horrible... But one quiet evening, ... Something about that drawing was different from anything I'd ever done before. I took my time, and then suddenly I zoned out. My mind went blank, my breathing slowed, and when I finally stopped to look at my page, I was amazed that I had managed to create anything so beautiful. At first, it seemed like a fluke... but then I drew the contents of our medicine cabinet (slowly, slowly), and again I saw something new...
What was different was not the drawing but the seeing. I caressed what I drew with my eyes, lingering over every curve and bump, gliding around contours and into shadows. No matter what I looked at in this way, I saw beauty and felt love. It was very weird but it happened again and again. When I slowed way down and let my mind go, I had the same incredibly sensual experience. It didn't matter what I drew. And then I discovered it didn't matter what the drawing was like. In fact, I could simply toss it away, like the skin of a banana. What mattered was the slow, careful gaze." --Danny Gregory, Everyday Matters
P.S. Click here to check out his blog
photo credit: Amazon.com

Summer Highlights

2009-08-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

Though autumn officially begins just shy of a month from now, I am ready-- ready for the cooler weather, fall planting and the fall semester of school (for the kids plus myself). Overall, this has been a satisfying summer... lots of family bonding and fun with friends.

Some lessons learned along the way these past few months:

The messier, the better (when the kids' entertainment is concerned, that is)...

There's always enough time to pull over and enjoy the view (& talk to a goat or two)...

You never know what you may come across on your travels (camels in CA?)...

Firefighters and fireworks are a dangerous combination...

You can never grow out of skinny dipping, pillow fights, or catching frogs, tadpoles & butterflies...

The best meals are improvised (and the more, the merrier!)...

Love knows no boundaries (just ask a preschooler)...

And, no matter how bumpy the road, the beauty's in the details.

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

--John Muir

...the last of our spring garden...

2009-08-29T03:44:00.000-07:00

"At the heart of every garden is the perennial cycle that I hesitate to name, 'it is so near to the heart,' of the death and rebirth. Mythologies and cottage wisdom have always linked the span of a human life, or incarnation, with the mysteries of seasons and the soil...my account of life lived on a particular farm is a response to the gesture of a sea breeze or the slap of a rough wind, a language more clearly voiced by catbird or redwing in the cedars, or by the miniature English robin, territorial and eloquent, who would settle on the hilt of my cliff shovel, tiny talons to steel. In that instant, a word appears, as natural as butterfly weed or nettle. And I hear the [ocean] strike sand particle and rock, part of the ground we share, eventual soil." --Scott Chaskey

From that:

To this:

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower. "
--Albert Camus

It's about time to clear out the spring vegetables and begin preparing the soil for the cool season crops of autumn. My first experience getting my hands in the dirt proved to be fulfilling to the soul and mind. Here are some tips I learned from trial, error and research:
Organic Vegetable Gardening 101
(according to the Fox Den's experiences this last spring)
Good dirt is essential. Loamy, nutrient-rich soil is the key ingredient to a successful garden (along with the basic essentials of fertilizer, compost, and mulch, there are some other optional soil amendments--such as lime, potash, gypsum, etc.--available as well to prepare your vegetable beds). You can purchase your soil, or you can prepare it yourself...just depends on how much money you want to spend.
Proper seed spacing is almost as important as proper soil--especially to root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, and beets. Click here for a glimpse of improperly spaced root vegetables grown in silty-clay soil (poor-draining soil).
Companion planting is both complicated and simple--it remains an experiment of balancing well-practiced methods of companion planting with your own.
Planting companion flowers within your vegetable garden is as aesthetically pleasing as it is beneficial to the success of your garden. Interweaving flowers such as marigolds, alyssum, yarrow, hyssop, borage, sunflowers and calendula into your vegetable beds is a multi-functional arrangement (which benefits the birds, bees, flowers, trees and you). Alyssum and chamomile are frequent re-seeders; they help break up the soil and add to the organic content. Chamomile activates the composting process, and encourages increased essential oil production for strong herbs such as lavender and rosemary. Hyssop, marigolds, and yarrow attract hoverflies, which eat aphids. Marigolds can be nematocytal if grown as a crop cover and tilled in before the plants get too large; they are also believed to deter pests.
Cucurbits (melons & squash) and legumes (beans, peas & sweet pea flowers) are susceptible to mold. Prevention includes removing all portions of the infected plant at first sign of mold growth, disposing of all moldy leaves and stems (do not recycle to mulch or compost). Spray tops and undersides of leaves, stems and soil with soapy solution (consult local nursery for best advice). Try not to water plants directly (water soil only). Click here to see a variety of environmentally-friendly pest control products.
Brassicas / cruciferous vegetables (i.e., cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts), leafy greens (ie., lettuce & spinach), and herbaceous perennials (i.e., strawberries & artichokes) are vulnerable to pests such as cutworms, armyworms, and cabbage loopers. These pests can be found on the undersides of leaves and hiding just below the surface soil at the plant base. Use a safe organic pesticide (consult local nursery), &/or apply microscopic nematodes to the soil &/or purchase biocontrol insects such as mini wasp pupae.
Poorly-drained soil &/or over-watered soil makes garden beds vulnerable to fungus gnats. These gnats thrive in moist environments, and can spread rapidly. The larval stage of fungal gnats can damage root systems and spread plant disease. Excess plant debris &/or newly added compost/mulch can attract fungus gnats, so keep beds free of excess debris (and use "older" well-broken down compost, supposedly). Combat with organic insecticides (consult local nursery) &/or biocontrol agents (such as rove beetles). Do not mulch beds with poorly-draining soil (i.e., silty clay) which is watered frequently.
Tomatoes are susceptible to yellow leaf curl virus. This disease can devastate your tomatoes! Prevent yellow leaf curl virus by planting tomatoes from seed, not using soil or beds which grew previously infected plants, controlling whitefly infestations with organic insecticide or biocontrol agents (whiteflies can contribute to spreading of the plant disease), never watering the leaves and stems of the tomato plants directly (this can contribute to spreading from plant to plant), and removing any infected portions of the plant and quarantining it from the rest of the garden. Also, spray a water & milk solution on the top and undersides of the tomato leaves, as well as directly into the soil regularly. Spray beneficial nematodes into the soil.
Ladybugs, hoverflies, praying mantis, lacewings, nematodes and bumblebees are just a small portion of the vast array of beneficial garden insects available for purchase online (and at some local nurseries / supply stores). Use of beneficial insects to combat garden pests is a green way to help keep your plants pest-free and aide crop pollination... Click here to find a very thorough resource on these biocontrol agents.
Tomatoes are host plants to hornworms (tobacco &/or tomato hornworms), which eat the leaves / stems of the tomato plants. Hornworms are the caterpillars which metamorphosize into sphinx moths (hawk moths). Sphinx moths scout out host plants on which to lay their eggs... learn how to identify sphinx moths, and remove them from your garden (transplant elsewhere? :) Sphinx moths are attracted to porch lights at night, and are often mistaken for hummingbirds during the day. Remove the sphinx moths from your garden, and you may not have to worry about picking hornworms off your tomato plants later... it's worked for me so far. (Confession: these large hummingbird-like moths are toys to cats, who will play with them until the moths eventually meet their doom.)
Composting can be addicting! How can a gardener not find appeal in creating one's own nutrient-rich plant medium from recycled kitchen scraps? Added bonus: vermicomposting (i.e., worm tea & worm castings).
Fertilizers are great for maximizing flavor, yeild and size of your vegetables. Click here for a great organic fertilizer. Work out a feeding schedule, and try and stick to it regularly. These liquid fertilizers applied with a folliar pump spray are my favorite: FoxFarm Big Bloom, Tiger Bloom and Grow Big.
Nothing compares to flowers freshly cut from your own garden supply... especially if they are your favorite variety. You can never have too many tomatoes, squash, beans and other good things... gardening is a great way to get to know your neighbors (...sharing is good)!
Try letting some of your flowers, herbs, and legumes go to seed, then clip / collect them when they are dried on the stems--this works especially well for sweet peas, cilantro, dill and beans. If seed pods are not entirely dry, clip and set out in a dry location (in the garage, near the window...) before hulling and storing (plastic baggies and recycled glass jars with lids work well for storage, as long as they are air-tight and dry). Seeds are supposed to last for at least a year, but productivity decreases with time.
Research, seek out, and explore gardening online as well as in the library... there are a lot of great resources out there (Online: You Grow Girl, Urban Homestead, The One Block Diet...Books: Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots, This Common Ground, The Backyard Homestead)

Too Many Tomatoes

2009-08-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

Our garden is overflowing with tomatoes... I planted 25 tomato seedlings into our raised beds, and every single one is flourishing. Now, why plant so many tomatoes? Because one teeny tiny tomato seed looks so harmless when it is first sewn. I had no idea just how big and productive those seeds would become!

The varieties growing in our garden this summer are all heirloom: Brandywine, Tigerella, Roma, Black Krim, Peach, and Red Calabash.

Giving the tomatoes away to neighbors only worked for so long, and then it was time to get creative (can't have salad, marinara, and salsa every day!).

This tomato pie turned out delicious:

1 package refrigerated pie crust (not deep dish)
Approx 5 large tomatoes (give or take), sliced thin
Kosher salt (coarse)
1 small-med sized leek
2 TB butter
1/2 C combined grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese
1/2 C grapeseed oil Veganaise
1 large egg, lightly beaten
fresh ground pepper

Pre-heat oven 375 degrees. Place tomato slices on paper-towel lined wire rack, and sprinkle with kosher salt. Let stand 20 minutes. Pat dry (dab top and bottom surfaces) with paper towels. Remove / discard root end and dark green top of leek. Cut in half lengthwise and rinse under running water to remove grit and sand. Thinly slice leek.
Saute leek in butter until tender (3-5 minutes). Layer leeks/butter on bottom of pie crusts. Layer tomatoes over the leeks, sprinkle with pepper.
Blend cheese, vegenaise and egg in bowl, then pour mixture over top of tomatoes.
Bake 375 degrees for 30 minutes (or until thoroughly heated and top is crusty golden color).
Makes 2 shallow pies.
(recipe adapted from Southern Living magazine)

Lovin' Jack Johnson

2009-08-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

I'm "jenny-come-lately" as far as pop culture is concerned... non-mainstream seems to be a more genuine fit. ...Why does non-mainstream seem inevitably to evolve into mainstream, anyway? Nevermind--cultural studies aside, I'm grateful to have stumbled upon Jack Johnson while browsing ITunes. This Hawaiian singer-songwriter is as entertaining telling a story as he is singing a song. His 2004 ITunes Originals album gets better each time I hear it... his commentary of each song exudes a uniquely intimate experience... I find myself feeling like the musician is in the room with me, sharing a drink, swapping stories.

foxworthy's playlist

playlist music videos lyrics

Gardenias are blooming...

2009-08-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

I remember going to my Japanese grandmother's house when I was little... rarely was she without gardenias in her home. She would cut the blossoms from her front yard, and float them in shallow black bowls of water. The following review is not exactly reminiscent of a trip to Grandma's house, but it left my nose detecting subtle hints of the delicious flower while reading this fan's take on a fragrance called Fracas:

"'Fracas' opens on a tart, fleshy gardenia note that has retained its buttery carnality, while having all sweetness removed. It's floral without the powder and deepens into something spicier as the fragrance unfurls. A slightly sweet, oily-rich jasmine enters, followed by a very naughty-smelling, rubbery tuberose. The tuberose is intense and hasn't been softened or powdered down by any gentle florals, so at times, 'Fracas' smells like exotic flower petals mashed onto hot flesh. It finally dries down into a velvety-smooth, subtle spiced and simmered fruit note, tempered by quiet woods. 'Fracas' has an over-ripe, very retro feel to it---but retro to a specific time and place: Late 40's - early 60's fashion. I can't imagine it existing before or being introduced after that time period. It reminds me of the kind of glamour that requires seeing a hairdresser once a week with no washings in-between or stockings, girdles and lipstick; chiffon house robes and negligee sets. It evokes worn-in makeup and undergarments--a very ripe, retro femininity--coiffed hair, cigarettes and scotch..."

Wow. Intense description... fragrances are fun to fantasize about.

Some more fragrances on my list to experience: Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Carnal Flower, Kai, Creed Tubereuse Indiana, and Voluspa Fleurs de Fete... all are gardenia scented fragrances

The List: celebrities and their fragrances... (I don't really care who's wearing what, but some people find it interesting)

Click here if you are cheap (like me) and would rather learn how to make your own gardenia fragrance from the garden

photo credit: Sephora

Crazy Uncle

2009-08-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Old-timer San Diegans may recall when the San Diego Union Tribune was two different newspapers: the San Diego Union and the San Diego Tribune. Before the two papers merged and became "the U-T," and before it's office building was located in Mission Valley, our San Diego newspaper building was located dowtown at 919 2nd Street. Thus, the "919 Gang" was formed, an email group consisting of most of the original reporters from the downtown building . My grandfather, Charlie Ross, was a founding member of the 919 Gang. He worked for the SD Union from 1956-1992. My Uncle Jerry also worked for the U-T, and here's an unauthorized excerpt from his contribution to the latest 919 Gang email message:

"It's appropriate that my first contribution to the 919 gang would involve Fred Kinne, as he hired me when I was jobless and broke.
I had quit AP-Sacramento in 1970, not wanting to cover the Unruh-Reagan election, and as the only single guy in the bureau I would have spent months with them, instead of with various girlfriends.
I hopped a British freighter, the Blue Star Line's Canadian Star, and sailed from Oakland to Liverpool, where I saw no sign of any beetles, and almost died from bad British food.
After a few months of spending all my money, I sailed back to New York on the Bremen, an ancient art-deco German liner, where I almost died from the bad German food. Fortunately, I encountered a boon drinking buddy, a hilarious guy with a moustache like the propeller on a Constellation. His name was Dali and he could drink as well as he painted. By the end of the night, we looked like figures out of one of his nightmare works.
I stayed at a Greenwich Village apartment with the late, great AP reporter John R. Morganthaler, looking for work. Turned down a stint on the Daily News copy desk but learned where the Editor & Publisher printing plant was, so I flew the press and answered an ad for an "enterprise" reporter on the San Diego Evening Tribune.
Got a quick response from a guy named Fred Kinne, followed by conversations with Dick Eby and Dick Sullivan, who I knew from his Sacramento sojourns when state government was covered by newspapers.
Fred hired me, which was useful as I arrived in LA with 7 cents in my pocket after a cross-country adventure aboard the wackiest Greyhound bus rolling.
I didn't know Fred from Brute Krulak, but without even meeting me Fred liked my clips, the fact "Sully" endorsed me and the AP training, and he took a flier on me. The thing I'll never forget is that he hired me despite my earned reputation as a union goon-troublemaker and public skepticism over the U-T editorial policies.
His decision changed my life. It was my first newspaper job, I worked mostly with real pros, loved working across from the Press Room and living on Coronado and met my eventual wife, Anne-Jeannette (Charlie Ross's kid).
I left two years later for Santa Barbara, much to the relief of U-T non-news management. But I have never worked with as nice a bunch of human beings again, people who personified simple human decency -- Mike Richmond, Dick Eby, Jerry Remmers, Neil Morgan, Frank Saldana, Jack Gregg, some copy kid named Preston Oregano or something, Don Coleman, Bob Dietrich, et al.
And among all these good guys, these inherently decent human beings, Fred Kinne stood out."

Refreshing Treats for the Kids

2009-07-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Coconut Mango Orange Juice

Yummy. Coconut juice supposedly has amazing re-hydrating qualities. Click here for online recipe, or try my variation:

Trader Joe's Orange Peach Mango juice (refrigerated section)

Coconut Juice with Lime (natural foods section near bottled juices in most grocery stores)

Chunky Monkey Pops

(chocolate or vanilla pudding and chopped bananas)

Click here for online recipe.

photo credits: Raleys

The Buzz (...on bees)

2009-07-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

The latest Sunset magazine issue (August 2009) featured an article called "Hive Minds," and it's worth a trip to the grocery store if you aren't already a subscriber. The article isn't accessible online, but here's "the gist:"

The Great Sunflower Project

"As honeybees around the world vanish, one Bay Area biologist is enlisting an army of backyard gardeners to help figure out why...the concept is simple: free 'Lemon Queen' sunflower seeds [are distributed] for people to plant in their yards. In return, once the flowers bloom, the recipients report back any bee-related activity. 'Sunflowers are easy to grow and wildly attractive to bees...You're basically handing over a thermometer that allows people to measure how their garden is doing.' [The Sunflower project] recently partnered with Cornell University on the Birds & Bees Challenge, which helps young people between the ages of 7 and 17 rediscover nature in their own neighborhoods, becoming amateur scientists, photographers, and artists."

Click here for more info.

Also, for avid gardeners and wannabe farmers, here's a blog worth following (it even includes more info on bees):

Sunset's

One Block Diet

"We're writing about how we've used our garden expertise to grow just about everything we need, in a plot actually much smaller than a block—more like what most of us have at home: a suburban back yard. Then we're using our produce to cook a series of seasonal feasts. Last summer, we had our first dinner. Right now we're working on a winter garden, with feast to follow.
We're not just growing plants, though. To make our dinners more interesting (and tasty), we're raising chickens (for eggs). We've made beer, and wine, and vinegar. We're making cheese (from 'imported' milk, but who knows, maybe a cow is in our future) and olive oil and honey. We've even made salt (from ocean brine), because how can you cook without seasoning? If you're a DIY kind of person, someone who thinks that dinner starts with the earth, the sea, and a few animals, this blog (and our accompanying how-to guides) can you help you put together your own made-from-scratch meals.
To follow the adventures of Teams Garden, Kitchen, Bee, Chicken, Beer, Cheese, Wine, Vinegar, Salt, and Olive, see the links under 'Categories' ... We'll probably be adding more projects as we move into different seasons."

And, for die-hard nature lovers, a "bee books" link for "those charmed by bees" (click here).

Adorably Green

2009-07-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

Hand-made and crafted of wool felt--doesn't get much cuter than this! Click here for more info.

Confused Carrots

2009-05-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Above is an example as to why good dirt is essential for a successful kitchen garden. Unfortunately the dirt in our garden consists mostly of silty clay.

When grown in ideally loamy soil, carrots don't turn out so... freakishly beautiful.

Nesting

2009-05-24T02:55:00.000-07:00

I've been fantasizing about wearing this necklace for over a year.

(I love Sudlow's jewelry--can't you tell?)

It reminds me of our Little Mockingbird,

which would make the kids smile.

Do I need it?

Absolutely not.

Nope.

photo credit: Etsy

Pests welcome!

2009-05-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

Attention all cabbage loopers, army worms, webworms, diamond back moths, grasshoppers, slugs, aphids, fungal gnats, and all other damaging insects! Available vacancy at The Fox Den Garden; dining accommodations included.

I don't know which got here first (us or them), but anything chewing up our garden will either be food for praying mantises and ladybugs, or disposed of organically. Also, my 4-year old son, Rigel, likes adding new caterpillars to his bug jar...he's got quite the collection of cabbage worms and loopers.

When I think about it, nearly each and every plant in our vegetable garden was selected by myself or the kids for its enticing seed packet, then nurtured, obsessed over and observed every day since. We deserve to be a bit overprotective, right?

In other words, bring it on, bugs and worms.

Exception: Monarch caterpillars. Ever since our milkweed has bloomed, we've been keeping an eye out for those tiny monarch caterpillar eggs found hidden on the bottom of of the leaves. We finally found a few this morning! Last year we raised about 15 monarchs from caterpillar to butterfly outside our kid's window, and it was fascinating.

Adult caterpillars left behind only the stems of each plant--I had to buy more milkweed just to accommodate their voracious appetite!

This year we'll just be observers

(and hope we planted enough milkweed).
The best part of the project was releasing the butterflies...after their wings dried out (and after Mommy put down the camera).

I tried not to pay attention to the lovely black swallowtail butterfly that was laying eggs in our carrot greens this month, but of course--our carrot bed has now become a swallowtail butterfly habitat. I've counted 2 caterpillars, so far.

P.S. check out this charming Monarch butterfly on Etsy... it's handmade wool felt and can be a pin or a hair clip. I'm trying hard not to buy it, but I don't know how long that's going to last.

photo of felt butterfly credit: Etsy

Iris season is ending...

2009-05-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

Superstition Iris Gardens in Cathey's Valley has been visited annually by my mom for a few years now, and now she's got me hooked. Rick and Roger own the gardens, and they've also created a few of their own iris varieties. They run a very welcoming business, with over 1,000 different live irises on display--all labeled and included on an alphabetized price list. Ask either Rick or Roger where any iris from the price list is located, and the approximate location (amongst the rows and rows of color) can be pointed out in seconds. These guys definitely know their irises! Click here to view their iris photos online.

Here's a couple of my favorites:

appropriately named: "Mariposa Skies"

Planning a trip to Yosemite National Park next spring? If so, be sure to stop by and visit Superstition Iris Gardens. It's located about an hour from Yosemite, and is open through early May.

(Sorry, San Diegans... you'll have to wait until next year--but it'll be worth the drive!)

Sweet Peas

2009-05-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am loving our sweet peas, especially our 'High Scent' variety, which smells divine. I thought gardenia was my favorite floral fragrance, but these intoxicating blooms have won me over. I'm definitely smitten with these creamy, lavender-tinged blossoms--wish I could bottle up their scent and wear it. Sweet Pea 'High Scent' (Lathyrus odoratus) seed packets are available here.

Another favorite sweet pea is the pink-and-purple-clad one (above right)--not the blossoms, but my baby girl! She's peeking through our flower tee pee while I'm admiring our 'Perfume Delight' variety sweet peas... lovely fragrance and colors, but 'High Scent' still takes the cake.

Speaking of sweet peas, I'm also loving my hand-made pea pod necklace... one pea for each of my kiddos. Choose pendants with one to seven peas in a variety of colors from Rachel Sudlow.

jewelry photo credit: Etsy

Radishes recipes, anyone?

2009-05-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

So, here we are with lots of radishes from our garden and not a clue as to what to do with them. Salads? Well, my kids aren't big on salads, and as far as I know, the only other thing radishes can be used for is a garnish. Ideas?

Heads up: we are soon to be harvesting daikon (Japanese radish) and turnip (which confuses me because my Japanese grandmother always called turnips "daikon")... more unfamiliar veggies for our family... sure would love to convince my kiddos of how yummy home-grown can be--if only I knew what to do with everything!

Stainless Steel Baby Bottle.

2009-05-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

My kids have been off bottles for a while now, but if I had a newborn and weren't able to breastfeed %100 of the time, I would definitely consider these stainless steel bottles. They are BPA, PVC and phthalate free (harmful chemical compounds found in plastic). Lots of different designs are available, and they are lightweight and non-leaching. I'm impressed, and maybe missing newborn motherhood a little bit. But, I have enough to smile about with my two little ones!

photo from: www.organickidz.ca

Mommy Daughter Aprons

2009-05-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

These reversible aprons have pockets on both sides, adjustable straps, adorable patterns (including organic fabric selections), and are available in Mommy as well as Tot sizes. An optional "Mommy apron" doubles as a nursing cover. Pretty darn cute. Created by a mother, these aprons are available from amusemebaby.com.

photo from amusemebaby

Catch the sun in a mason jar!

2009-05-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

At first when I came across this product, I thought it was charming idea, (though the reviews on Amazon.com were pretty disappointing). It's basically a genuine mason jar with an inner solar light. It holds a soft, sunny-colored glow at night (and charges in the sun during the day).

These would be great for outdoor summer evenings, so why not try and make them ourselves?

It's pretty easy--just purchase a mason jar with attached lid (ex: Ikea), some glass frosting spray, cheap solar garden light, and some Blue Tak. Click here for the tutorial.

Crack open this Mother's Day gift!

2009-05-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

"Crack open these ceramic eggs to reveal organic soil and ready-to-sprout seeds for wild strawberry, mint and petunia—a fitting surprise to discover inside the symbol of life. After they set down roots, the trio can be replanted outdoors, biodegradable shell and all."

Rather than the conventional Mother's Day flowers, I got my mom these Egglings, in spirit of her new baby chickens (all 5 of them!)... Mom's got 2 yellow chicks, 1 black chick, and 2 brown chicks that lay blue eggs. I don't remember the official names of the breeds she selected, but they sure are cute!

Seasons on an Organic Farm

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

This Common Ground: Seasons on an Organic Farm, by Scott Chaskey

"An elegy to the land and to the creatures who inhabit it...the book is also a gardener's bible." --Anne Raver, THE NEW YORK TIMES

Also, check out this interview of the author.

Where's the Ladybug?

2009-04-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

There's a ladybug in my broccoli... quick, take a picture!

Join the nationwide hunt for ladybugs... specifically, the elusive 9-spotted ladybug, which was once very common but has become extremely rare. In 2006, a 9-spotted ladybug was found in the North Eastern U.S--the first to be "spotted" in 14 years!

The National Science Foundation has granted Cornell University $2 million for the Lost Lady Bug Project, which encourages children and adults to go out and capture (or observe) ladybugs, photograph them, and then email the photos to Cornell University. Researchers will use these photos to help determine what species are still out there and how many are left. Quoting Cornell's Lost Ladybug Project website: "This is the ultimate summer science project for kids and adults! You can learn, have fun and help save these important species."

The Backyard Homestead

2009-04-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this awesome discovery by my mom (copied and pasted from the publisher's website):

The Backyard Homestead
Edited by Carleen Madigan

With just a quarter acre of land, you can feed a family of four with fresh, organic food year-round. This comprehensive guide to self-sufficiency gives you all the information you need to grow and preserve a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, and grains; raise chickens for eggs and meat; raise cows, sheep, and goats for meat or milk; raise pigs and rabbits; and keep honey bees. Simple instructions make it easy to enjoy canned, frozen, dried, and pickled produce all winter; use your own grains to make bread, pasta, and beer; turn fresh milk into delicious homemade yogurt, butter, and cheese; make your own wine, cordials, and herbal teas; and much, much more. It truly is possible to eat entirely from your backyard.

Cover photo and summary credit: Storey Publishing

Homemade Ice Cream

2009-04-29T21:30:00.001-07:00

This coconut avocado ice cream looked so yummy, I went out and bought a cheap ice cream maker after reading the "Avocados with Attitude" piece in this month's Sunset magazine (check out the avo fries). Tonight was our first impromptu ice cream making night, and wouldn't you know it? ...We forgot to stock up on avos. Oh well, the ice cream turned out great, anyway:

Since our family consumes about 2 gallons of fresh-squeezed OJ a week, we had enough in the 'fridge to accommodate this Orange Ice Cream recipe from Gourmet magazine... Except, we tweaked it just a bit by adding fresh chopped peaches and strawberries, vanilla extract, honey, double the OJ, half the sugar and substituted the milk for heavy whipping cream. Oh, and we didn't do all the extra-fancy "pour through fine mesh sieve... 175 degrees-and-don't-let-boil" stuff. When you've got two little ones for helpers, simple is delicious.

Addendum: Since originally writing this post, we've tried the coconut avo ice cream. Ummm, I feel compelled to ask anyone else who has attempted this recipe: Yum or Yuck?

Photo credits: Sreelus Tasty Travels & Sunset

Waldorf Salad (with chicken).

2009-04-25T11:48:00.001-07:00

I've been whipping up my Waldorf (chicken) Salad concoction a lot lately--it is delicious on bread as a sandwich, stuffed into a pita pocket, served over baby greens as a salad, or even eaten straight out of the bowl all by itself. I served it at Rigel's birthday party with pita pockets and bread as part of a sandwich bar, and it got some good reviews. Best of all, it's quick and easy to make.

Waldorf Chicken Salad

2 C apples (gala, fugi, or pink lady are great), cored and chopped

1/2-1 tsp raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 C red seedless grapes, halved (or quartered if large)

1 celery stalk, chopped fine

2 12.5 oz cans Chicken Breast (Kirkland Signature brand preferred), drained and shredded

2 TB honey

1 C Grapeseed Oil Vegenaise

3/4 C walnut pieces

Place apples in large mixing bowl, toss with cider vinegar until coated (drain excess liquid). Mix in grapes, celery, and chicken breast. In separate bowl, combine vegenaise and honey (add honey to taste), mix well. Add vegenaise and honey mixture to large bowl of chicken and fruit, mix well, adding walnuts until completely combined. Refrigerate until served. Makes 4 servings (approximately).

photo credit: Distinctly Waldorf

Felt Owl

2009-04-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

This was supposed to be an owlet, but it turned out looking a bit like a scrawny chick. No matter-- it's still a baby owl to Izzy, who loves that it's pink and purple. I purchased a rainbow of wool felt yesterday, and hand-stitched this little chicken owl by book-light last night while the kids fell asleep next to me. It took longer than I expected, but it was fun... ironically a lot less stressful than pulling out my sewing machine.

Love these toys...

2009-04-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

The best toys are the ones that are in someone else's hands, room, toybox, etc., or those that have been stored away long enough to have been forgotten. At least, that seems to be the case with my kids, who had a blast today at Maz and Ava's house. Playdates at another family's house means Mom gets to test new toys out for upcoming birthdays and holidays. Here's some of the toys we love at Maz and Ava's house:

This portable fort (called a fortamajig) is the equivalent to a set of huge fabric blocks: you can build and rebuild forts of all shapes and sizes in just about any space

These magnetic shapes are great for all aspiring engineers and architects--check out Maziar's impressive design!

TAG is a great toy company, with lots of hands-on educational wood toys. Pull the lever on the number toy below, and the pegs roll out the bottom (like a register, almost). The rainbow gear puzzle is re-arrangeable and stack-able, with a removable lever that turns all the gears on the puzzle.

We didn't get to test this one out at Maz and Ava's house, but it looks fun: kids can trace each letter with its attached moving knob thing-y.

photo credits: TAG, Magna-Tiles, & The Happy Kid Company

Mom's Night Out

2009-04-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

One more thing I love about our neighborhood playgroup is our Mom's Night Out. Though it doesn't seem to happen often enough, we occasionally all get together for some fun (off the clock--kiddos stay home with our S.O.s). Last week, we all met at Shanna's newly opened wine bar...a big hit. I'm looking forward to visiting it again with Dan on a Date Night (which, according to the following book, is one of the essential ways to prioritize your relationship post-babies, as is a little weekly time for mommy--all to her selfish self).

Click here to read more on Mom's Night Out.

Strawberry Fields Forever

2009-04-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

So... our strawberry patch is producing its first bounty of berries, and though we've found some blossoms and actual strawberries (three berries, to be exact)--it's not exactly picking season for us, yet. But, the U-pick strawberry patch in Carlsbad is open to the public as of last week, and it provides a perfect alternative for impatient little gardeners who are eager to harvest their crops.

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2009-04-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

Our neighborhood had our third annual Easter Egg Hunt in Marie and Steve's backyard, potluck-style: that means homemade quiche, strata and coffee cakes with mimosas and coffee...

It doesn't get much better than this--a neighborhood full of families who come together to share the holidays!

(Moms-and-daughters shot courtesy of Cinthia)

Naturally Convenient

2009-04-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

Currently, I dispose of all my kitchen scraps in a covered ceramic bowl, but this bamboo compost pail looks a lot more convenient. It comes with charcoal filters to eliminate odors, and there is an inner liner that is removable and dishwasher-safe.

P.S. Bamboo is a sustainable resource (and can grow up to 4 feet per day!)

photo courtesy of amazon.com

Laundry List

2009-04-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

photo credit: positively feminine

Being that I'm a stay-at-home-mom, it would seem that I have tons of time on my hands and should be ready and willing to take on all domestic responsibilities. BUT....if I could take one thing off my daily "To Do" list, it would be laundry. It's time consuming and never ending, and maybe if the clocks were turned back to the fifties and clotheslines were still relied upon (and if we had a sprawling lawn with lots of trees like the above sunshine-y picture), laundry wouldn't be so bad. Or, maybe I'm just a tad lazy and should face the facts: laundry is the bane of my existence and it is not going to go away!

Now, of course there are more worldly concerns than this mommy's laundry woes: our weak economy... water shortages... global warming... BUT, lets just say I could spoil myself every now and then... here's what I would do (hint, hint): hire this local home laundry service to pick up our family's laundry any time I felt a break was in order, or if, say, Mother's Day was approaching. Said service picks up your laundry, inspects each individual garment for stains, cleans it with Eco-friendly detergents and softeners, professionally folds it, then delivers it all to your door step within 24 hours of pick up (click here for pricing, which is pretty good, if you ask me). So, doesn't it make sense for all interested parties to unite and support our local businesses, conserve water (sort of), and go green by hiring this local home laundry service?

2009-04-07T02:07:00.000-07:00

Rigel and Iz are keeping an eye on our "strawberry patch"; they know exactly where our first two baby green strawberries are ripening. Therefore, how could this cute little pouch necklace not catch my eye?

The wings are a pouch, and the doll is a removable caterpillar... too cute.

doll necklace photos from Etsy

"Never enough thyme..."

2009-04-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

I never would have thought that I'd be so passionate about gardening, yet here I am feeling like the sun goes down each day before I'm done fussing over our new vegetable garden. Except it's not strictly a vegetable garden, since we've got melons, strawberries, blueberries, artichokes, asparagus, herbs and spring bulbs mixed in with it all. Yesterday we added a nectarine tree to our "orchard." It'll be a couple years or more before we'll be harvesting any fruit from our trees, but when we do I'm planning on mastering nectarine pie (is there such a thing?). There's also something about growing most of the garden from seed--the nurturing and anticipation of it all explains how easily gardening can become more than just a hobby.

P.S. I love this soil (not because of the name, even though it's cool)...it's "super-dirt" for your plants. Earth-worm castings, bat guano, and a lot of other nitty gritty ingredients make this brand's soil my favorite. Their dry mix organic fertilizers are great, too.

Get a Can-O-Worms

2009-04-07T01:09:00.000-07:00

I am loving our worm farm. Stumbled upon at the Mission Hills nursery, this contraption can hold up to 20,000 worms. Nutrient-rich "worm tea" pours out a spigot at the bottom after filtering through 3 levels of worm castings. It's a neat-and-clean-hands-free method of worm farming. Old paper, kitchen scraps and coffee grinds get recycled into "vermicompost" by redworms (similar to earthworms). The sole purpose of these worms is to eat, poop, and reproduce whilst compost and worm tea is harvested from this container. I dispose of my vegetable and fruit scraps into a covered ceramic pot on my kitchen counter, which I dump into the Can-O-Worms at the end of each day. Some people keep this worm farm inside (yuck!)--in their kitchens (double yuck!)--but our worms are doing just fine outside, thank you.

Cute.

2009-04-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

My kids have developed a fascination for fairies. The presence of this moss terrarium in our house would induce endless stories and discussion on the fairies that live in our garden. I love how innocently gullible kids are at this age; we grown-ups can spin tales of Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and so on-- all to the delight of our little ones' imaginations. For partly selfish reasons, I say lets encourage this sense of wonder in our children for as long as possible. As it is, life passes us by fast enough.

terrarium habitat and photos found on Etsy

Loved the Circus

2009-04-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants was excellent. It pulled me in from the very first chapter, and I found my mind wandering back into the pages of her novel as I went about my day.

Who brought the cake?

2009-04-06T00:19:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Rigel's 4th birthday this last weekend, and as usual went a bit overboard on all the details... our kids aren't going to stay little for long, and pretty soon they'll be dictating how best to plan their birthdays. Until then, I love coordinating all the fun. This year, we picnic'ed at the Train Park. There was a pinata, rides on a locomotive steam engine, and...wait--no cake and ice cream?

In the morning rush to get the car loaded up with party supplies and kiddos, I forgot the train cupcakes at home... all 35 of them. Four batches of coating the cake pan's teeny grooves and crevices with a paintbrush dipped in shortening, dusting the pan with Wondra flour, filling up each well with just the right amount of batter, then praying the cakes would release from the pan intact before cooling on the rack, and then rewashing the pan (and starting this process over again three more times). This was supposed to be Rigel's "main event," the details of which he had been checking in with me on for over a week. He had a steam engine and a tender reserved to decorate at the party with icing, cookie wheels, and pretzels for tracks.

Luckily, there's a restaurant at the park that serves mini ice cream sundaes, so we all sang "happy birthday" to him before digging in to heaping tablespoon-sized desserts. Though Rigel is never one to turn down an ice cream, he couldn't forget his train cakes. As we were leaving the park, he asked, "Mommy, is the park closing?" I told him that yep, everyone is going home. He then replied, "but we didn't decorate the train cakes yet!"

Happy Birthday, Little Dude!

Anita Shreve Addict

2009-03-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

I am loving the novelist Anita Shreve, and have been reading her books every night while the kids fall asleep. I started with Body Surfing, and haven't stopped yet--so far, only one of five has disappointed (Wedding in December... too loosely connected until the last few chapters).

Light on Snow, A Pilot's Wife, and Sea Glass were my favorites. Next up: Weight of Water. Shreve interweaves a touch of everything into her stories. It has been a while since I have found a writer I've enjoyed this much without getting bored with the writing style.

There's just something about her characters and their stories... I can't figure out exactly what it is I love about them, except that I feel as though something a bit comforting can be drawn from each book.

Our first garden

2009-03-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

This is our first attempt at a vegetable garden, and so far it has been a lot of fun. We've got a raised planter box built (with an upper and lower bed), a "flower teepee," and two new trees. So far, our seedlings are nestled in eight seed trays --that's 72 seedlings per tray! I don't even want to do the math. Just going to keep my fingers crossed that we'll have enough room for it all.

Costly slipper...

2009-02-28T18:03:00.000-08:00

I finally broke out my sewing machine... and produced a tiny Soleful Slipper for Izzy.

Will I attempt to complete the pair? Maybe after both kids are attending preschool...

Before slipper:

After slipper:

(Yep, that's the same room in both shots.)

Cold Feet

2009-02-19T14:49:00.001-08:00

Now that it finally feels like winter, the hardwood floors throughout our house make for icy feet in the mornings and evenings. Slippers don't stay on my kids' feet for long, but these cozy moccasin-style socks outlast many laps around the bedrooms and kitchen. (Plus, there are a lot of different colors and patterns to choose from.)

photo credit: http://www.nowali.com/default.asp

Valentine's Day Fun

2009-02-19T14:29:00.003-08:00

We had an adventurous Valentine's Day lunch at the Torrey Pines Glider Port. The wind was perfect, the sandwiches were delicious, and the hike down to the beach was...well, lets just say there's a great view.

P.S. Since we couldn't find the sign alerting beachgoers to the following detail, let us fill you in just in case: there are a lot of nudists on the beach below the glider port... common knowledge to everyone but us.

One of these days...

2009-02-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

...I'd really love to learn how to make something like this.

(It would be just another excuse to check out Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.)

Photo credit: http://accentyourself.blogspot.com/

Fun @ the New Children's Museum

2009-02-12T02:37:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of family friendly hang-outs in San Diego... here's one of them:

Life-long friendship

2009-02-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Will they outgrow holding eachother's hands? Probably--at least during school years. Yet, I hope that despite their age and differences, Rigel and Izzy will always be there for each other, supporting and loving each other even through adult-hood. Best friends for life.

I dream of libraries...

2009-02-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

I've always loved my grandmother's (I know I mention her a lot) floor-to-ceiling library in her dining room...One of these days, I'd love to have a wall lined with bookshelves, complete with shelves protruding out from over and around door frames and such. Space is limited for us right now, so why not wall paper? Though we could recreate the visual, it just wouldn't be the same without that "old book" smell.

If we ever get around to installing real shelves, it'll be time to make things official: emboss all the "keeper" books (you know, the ones you want to re-read or pass on to your kids) with a subtle, yet permanent, inkless stamp. And, what would our stamp say? ..."from the library of The Fox Den," of course.

Photo credits: Expressionary.com and Deborahbowness.com

Great novel.

2009-02-07T12:26:00.000-08:00

I loved this novel. The author, David Wroblewski, is an excellent story-teller. This novel stayed with me a while after I had completed it, and I still find myself thinking about it from time to time. Though it is a bit difficult to get into at first, it's worth the initial struggle. I won't be surprised if this novel goes to the big screen.

Chula Vista Nature Center

2009-02-03T02:35:00.000-08:00

This is one of those places that provides a new and unexpected experience each time we visit... lets hope it stays open for another 25+ years (it has been recommended for complete closure by the Chula Vista City Council due to lack of community funding... Click here for info on the center's uncertain future...)

We've experienced everything from close encounters with raptors (as seen above) to discovering a hummingbird nest in the brush surrounding the building:

We love Sea World on a school day...

2009-02-03T02:20:00.000-08:00

...especially when we get summer weather in the winter! (Not to say we don't miss sweater weather.)

First Family Garden

2009-01-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

This spring the Fox Den will attempt to grow our first garden--complete with fruits, veggies, herbs and... (drum roll, please) a tent. We've got the bamboo stakes, the climbing vines, seed packets, and organic soil. We are planting our seeds in biodegradable egg cartons we've been hoarding over the last few months. Next up: digging up a corner of our lawn (renting a roto-tiller sure sounds tempting) to replace it with compost, manure and whatever else the local nursery advises. I'm also nudging Chief Fox to get a compost container set up (his reluctance on this is due to his fear of attracting roaches... should that be a concern?).

Sledding

2009-01-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

Since half of San Diego hits the malls for those after-Christmas-day sales, we decided to go sledding that day instead. Pine Valley has a great little diner we like to visit every now and then for malts and melts called Major's...and Mt. Laguna is where we found all the snow--as well as the other half of San Diego. The sledding traffic was so thick that it felt and sounded like we were at a stadium event!
Play the video below for a glimpse of Rigel surfing the snow...

Holiday Slideshow

2009-01-03T12:04:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolution

2009-01-03T10:15:00.000-08:00

For the year 2009, I will:

1. plant a garden

2. Maintain a budget

Balloon Parade

2009-01-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

A bunch of us found ourselves at the Balloon Parade the Monday before New Year's...

According to the website: "As always, this exciting family event brings together world-class marching bands, magnificent floats, entertaining drill teams, and a procession of enormous balloons-more than any other parade! Over 100,000 street-side spectators will enjoy the parade along with a nationwide television audience. Parade festivities will begin... with the finals of the 13th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals and the Bumble Bee Foods 5K."

We loved the balloons, but missed the wiener dog races... next year, perhaps?

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

Our family usually celebrates the New Year with a traditional meal, as I'm sure many other families do as well. This year, we are going to my grandmother's house for dinner, where pork, greens, and black eyed peas will be served--a southern tradition for many generations. Pork for good health, greens for "greenbacks all year," and black-eyed peas for good luck. I'm bringing noodles "for long life" (out of respect for my Japanese descent--my dad's mom was full Japanese).

Any leftover pork will be cooked into Senate Bean Soup, a recipe obtained by my grandfather during his years as a political writer for the San Diego Union. He covered the presidential elections (Johnson, Reagan, Nixon, and Bobby Kennedy), following the candidates to Washington D.C. Ever since, he was in charge of cooking this delicious bean soup.

... For anyone who is interested in the soupy historical details, here's a tidbit from Time Life's 1968 publishing of The District of Columbia: "...Every day on the menu of every restaurant in the Capitol Building can be found Senate Bean Soup...there is no record of the origin of this practice, but according to one story it originated not in the Senate but in the House, with a Representative who insisted that bean soup be served daily. Today, however the soup is especially popular in the private dining quarters in the Capitol's Senate wing, two adjoining rooms, one for Democrats and one for Republicans. The Senators' fondness for the soup does not make them gourmets. The maitre d'hotel says, 'if they don't choose Senate Bean Soup, they invariably ask for a hamburger.' " My mom has adapted this recipe into a version that is even tastier, in my opinion.

Above, top: Granddad and colleague in a SD Union article, August of 1968. Above, bottom: Governor Reagan and Grandma, 1968

Click here for Mom's Senate Bean Soup recipe.

Memories on Paper

2008-12-17T17:57:00.000-08:00

My kids (age 3 and 2) are toilet papering the house whilst I write this post, so I'll get to the point (quickly).

During the holiday season when I was a little girl, my grandfather took me to see my first theater performance: Babes in Toyland. I'll always remember how special I felt to be all dressed up and fancy, going on a "date" with Granddad. The years following he took me to see The Christmas Carol; both were performed at the Horton Plaza theater (the Lyceum). These annual excursions with Granddad always included a trip to a bookstore (our favorite was Wahrenbrock's Book House, a 3-story used bookstore), and dinner downtown. (I have vague memories of eating turtle soup at the Grant Hotel, sharing roasted chestnuts with Granddad on a sidewalk, and entering the Panda Inn as if it were a 5-star restaurant.)

Nostalgic holiday memories aside, I'm currently reading this book to my children at bedtime:

Inside, there's an inscription from my Granddad:

"For Jennifer--When you were seven and we went to see 'the Christmas Carol;' Remember? Granddad...Dec 22, 1986"

My grandmother recently gave me some of Granddad's books (he passed away 6 years ago), and one of them was a copy of Dicken's The Christmas Carol.

It had been a gift from his grandchildren:

There's an inscription from my brother and my father, but to be honest, it was mine that made me smile: "Granddad, I remember when you took me to see 'A Christmas Carol' at Horton Plaza's theatre. It's a memory I'll always treasure come the holidays. It's one of the many reminders of wonderful things you have introduced me to and taught me to appreciate. Love, Jennifer...Christmas '97"

In Memory of:

Charles

(my Granddad)

P.S. That took the length of 2 1/2 rolls of toilet paper to write.

Paper Doll Nostalgia

2008-12-17T01:30:00.000-08:00

Paper doll art by Mary Englebreit, published in the Home Companion Magazine

I love going to my grandmother's house for a lot of reasons, but one of them is pretty simple: her magazines. She always has the current issue of at least 7 or 8 home and garden magazines on her living room end tables, which is where I get my fix. One of my favorite magazines to flip through is The Home Companion, the source of the above paper doll inserts.

My grandmother saves each and every paper doll insert and sets it aside for when Izzy gets older (Izzy's my 2 year old daughter). Isn't that sweet?

The simple fun of paper dolls is enticing... definitely an activity I look forward to introducing to the kids (once they are dexterous enough to "cut along the dotted line," and can be trusted not to tear or eat the paper).

The above 6 dolls were drawn by Rae Owings, and were published February 1965 in Jack and Jill magazine (which I think is still in print today).

Butterflies for the Holidays

2008-12-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

We brought our milkweed "habitat" inside during the rainstorm, and 4 butterflies emerged from their cocoons (chrysalis). Rather than set them loose out in the rain and cold, we kept them indoors while we decorated the Christmas tree. The next morning, Rigel, Izzy, and Maz let them go in our front yard. The excited squeals of delight erupting from the kids (as their fingers got tickled by the "scratchy butterfly legs") was the best part of this whole experience.

Tidepooling!

2008-12-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

Below: Shanna, Ava, & Maz (lft to rt)

Below: Izzy, Maz, & Rigel (lft to rt)

The tides were low during mid-day hours for the first time in over 3 months, so we headed out to Point Loma with some friends. Lucky for us, Dan was able to join us as well. Armed with buckets, we happened upon sea anemones, hermit crabs, lots of different kinds of sea weed, sea snails, and clusters of goose-necked barnacles. Rigel declared it was time to go home on account of there not being any sea stars, but we stuck it out and picnic'ed on the rocks.

(For info on the tides, go to http://www.tidelinesonline.com/)

Fairy Fun

2008-12-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

Felt fairies and fairy houses

Aren't these cute? Now, I'm not sure I would have played with them when I was a girl, but something tells me my daughter would love them. She's always carrying a doll around while talking in what Dan refers to as a "Minnie Mouse" voice. Plus, she and her brother just discovered the new Disney movie Tinkerbell. I'm not a big fan of kids and TV, but every now and then we allow a movie. Tinkerbell is very imaginative, and best of all, there are no villainous "bad guys." Just innocent fairies providing "nauture-ly" assistance... like painting the spots on ladybugs and pollinating flowers.

photos courtesy of imaginechildhood.com

Great Job, Rookies!

2008-12-09T03:27:00.000-08:00

Rigel's very first round of Tball lessons has recently come to an end. Overall, it was an entertaining experience--imagine trying to orgainize a Tball game for 3 year-olds...it was a wee-bit challenging at times. It didn't take much to stir up some enthusiastic parental support; wild cheering and applause could be heard when one of the kids even made it to the correct base, or hit the ball off the tee without trying to then chase down the ball. Still, it was a fun team and we all learned a lot.

Above photo taken by Tball Mom Kristen

(I had a difficult time downloading the rest of her pics, so I'll update this post with them soon.)

For more Tball pics: Click below (or cut and paste the link below into your browser) for more pictures (taken by Laura, another Tball Mom):

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=scv7b6p.9syq8k7d&x=0&h=1&y=iqndbo&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_button

"Green Card" for the Holidays

2008-12-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Last year's Christmas cards are still sitting on a shelf in our bedroom (stamped, addressed, and unsealed)... one more task I never got around to completing. This year, I decided to take the easier, "greener" route by sending our holiday cards out via email (versus snail mail).

...Presenting our family's first Holiday email / video:

Holiday Performance

2008-12-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

Izzy is our little performer. To entertain herself, she sings and dances. Some of the songs she sings are familiar, and some are in her own language. The first time she was on stage was at the Del Mar Fair in June of this year, and she blew us away. I recently found a great video of that day from my grandmother's camera (the quality was much better than my original recording) and I played with it a little (see below).

This month is pretty crazy--her dance studio has all the students performing every weekend this month for the holidays! Today she danced her number ("Up on the Housetop") at a local retirement home. The parents were ushered to the back, so we really didn't get a good view of the kids and the audience's response. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile experience.

Stay tuned for upcoming performances!

Mmmmm...Cookies...

2008-12-06T17:06:00.000-08:00

We set this plate of warm cookies down on the table at 8:29PM, and by 8:36PM last night the plate was empty. They were that good. (Thanks, Jill, for mentioning these on your blog. I'm glad we tried them). Here's the recipe:

OUTRAGEOUS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

from allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla and egg until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter just until moistened. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Drop by tablespoonfuls on to lightly greased cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges start to brown. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Thanksgiving with Grandparents

2008-12-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

Grandma & Grandpa

(& Katie and Smokey)

All the siblings (almost)...plus kids and spouses

Dan and the kids

We had a great Thanksgiving up in Mariposa. We had lots of family in one place: all of the siblings (minus one, who is out-of-state) and their other halves (plus kids). I will post some more pictures soon. Meanwhile, check out the pictures from my sister Cortleigh's family blog.

On My Own Two Feet:

2008-12-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

... a great "business/finance" book by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar.

Now, I don't speak Math. Admittedly, I've never learned the basics of personal finance, and though I've made a few attempts at budgeting, I have yet to maintain a budget. This book is an easy, fast read, and it is so very informative. Though it is a woman's guide to personal finance, it can easily be applied to both genders. Basically, it teaches how to "save and invest wisely...and acheive financial security" (covering everything from college funds to retirement funds). I am definetly saving a copy of this book for my daughter (and maybe even one for my son).

Finger Food.

2008-12-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

Isn't this brilliant? Check it out here.

photo courtesy of buliding a little house by the big woods

Butterfly Window

2008-12-02T11:29:00.001-08:00

We had 7 monarch cocoons (chrysalis) waiting for us when we got back from our Thanksgiving trip up north... there were still a couple "late bloomers" (see below) and a whole bunch more babies that had hatched.

This is one of the kids' windows, and has proven to be a perfect "butterfly raising" location. After a few mistakes, I've found the best way to raise your own monarchs is outside. Keeping the pots inside a larger storage bin corrals all the escapees (numerous caterpillars dropped off the milkweed until I figured this part out). Also, when placed right outside the window, it allows the kids to have some eye-level observation time without the hands-on worries (just close the window). It won't be long until we see some butterflies!

(Click here for more info on raising monarch caterpillars, and here for postings on Gulf Fritillary butterflies)

Holiday Bulbs

2008-12-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

Rigel and Izzy enjoy peering into this bulb jar, and teaching Daddy how "the green part will grow taller and taller, and then there will be flowers...the bobes need water and sunshine...there's their wrooots!" I love this jar--this will be the 3rd year it has been taken out of the garage for display. It has a raised plastic "frog" plate on the bottom, so the growth of a bulb can be observed from the roots to the tips of the flowers...I'm pretty sure these are still available at Costco (fully loaded with flowering blooms).

P.S. It's not too late to get around to planting all spring-flowering bulbs... and amaryllis bulbs can bloom for the holidays if they get in the ground today (or tomorrow or the next day).

Squeaky Green

2008-12-01T23:30:00.000-08:00

(I may be the last mom to have discovered this kid's line from Method, yet I still felt it worthy of a blog posting.)

Until now, I've never really been satisfied with the wide assortment of bath and body products available for kids. Either there were too many chemicals (i.e., methyl / ethyl / propyl parabens, sodium laureth sulfates/-ites, etc.) or too many organic extracts (i.e., lavender or tea tree extract/oil which are up for debate as possible endocrine disruptors)... This 3-in-one body wash, shampoo & conditioner for kids is great--smells and feels soft. The best part: ... 99% natural ingredients and affordable...part of Method Baby & Kids Squeaky Green hair & body line. I've also been pleased with the baby lotion and the bubble bath...Now, why am I using my precious late-night down time to blog about this? Because as a mom, this is the kind of stuff that raises an eyebrow (or two).

Christmas on the brain...

2008-11-26T23:27:00.000-08:00

...and we've yet to carve the turkey!

Subconsciously, I'm always looking for more excuses to buy toys for my kids, which is why I love Christmas. I sneak purchases year-long, telling the kids to ask Santa for that train or that dolly rather than giving it to them on the spot. I can't wait until Christmas day, when a lot of those toys we caught Rigel and Izzy drooling over in the store will at last be taken out of hiding and emerge from wrapping paper and ribbons into plain view. From where does this materialistic desire to spoil come? I catch myself rationalizing that maybe next year we'll throttle back on the gifts and focus on the intangible values of Christmas... but do I posses that degree of will power? Can we pull off a simple Christmas , in which each child receives only 4 gifts: "something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read," as Jill from (building) a little house by the big woods describes? It sounds like the perfect solution for an over-indulgent parent like me, but (yes, there's a "but") I am going to give us at least a year longer of sneaking purchases into the top shelves of our closets while we get used to the idea. Meanwhile, here are some items I have my eye on:

Izzy is always getting into my purse--I have to be sure to keep it out of her reach, or else I'll blink and she'll have lipstick everywhere but on her lips. She is fascinated with make-up, and is always studying me if I so much as put a moisturizer on my face. "Ont some, Mommy! Izzy, too!" I love watching how carefully she pretends to paint her lips...3 years old and she's already a pro. I never was too girly--didn't really even play with Barbie dolls, and didn't get a mani/pedicure until my early twenties... That's probably why I get a kick out of Izzy's "all girl" personality. This wood lipstick by Erzi would probably travel everywhere with Izzy. (It is available separately or included in a set of wood "beauty supply products.")

Erzi also carries an adorable shaving kit--Rigel worships his daddy, and I can just picture him standing so purposefully next to Dan as he participates in the morning shave routine.

The kids could have a lot of fun with this toaster from Plan Toys--it has a timer knob and a handle that pops out the play toast... a fun accessory for their pretend kitchen.

Kids love hide-outs, and this room tent from Haba looks fun. Both Izzy and Rigel's imaginations would be stimulated in this "green oasis." (And, perhaps our couch cushions would be spared from endless fort building attempts.)

...What would I do without these guys?

2008-11-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

ATTENTION: Major "ick-factor" applies to the following post; proceed with caution!

Little did I know the first time I tried this product, it was to permanently partner up with me in one of the nitty gritty details of motherhood: Diaper changing. (There's not a whole lot to explain about this subject which isn't already obvious, except to all non-parents--F.Y.I., dirty diapers often catch parents off guard--especially as you are walking out the door or right after bath time). This spray-on diaper area "wash" is excellent, especially for girls with all their folds and creases (though I would have loved to have used it with Rigel had I known it existed). Its gentle herbal concoction sooths skin easily irritated by dirty diapers, and also sooths nerves with the knowledge that my child has gotten a thorough cleaning that wouldn't have been possible merely using wipees. Now, I realize this is a yucky topic, but I have used this product nearly 3 times a day or more since Izzy was a newborn, and I don't know what I would have done without it. When I am feeling particularly cheap, rather than replace an empty bottle with a new one, I simply mix water and a few drops of calendula oil into an empty spray bottle. It's not quite the same, but it gets the job done.

Which brings me to my next favorite product:

Organic EO Hand Sanitizer (Lavender Scented)... It comes in a pump and in a travel-sized spray bottle... perfect for your hands after those on-the-go diaper changes when no sink is available, as well as in moderation for little dirty germ-y fingers (coming home from the park, etc.).

Another excellent read...

2008-11-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Never mind that it can be a struggle at times to keep up with the daily demands of running a household and parenting two small kids, I still found the time to read this book in less than 3 sittings (feet a-dragging the following morning, laundry piling up...). Sue Monk Kidd is a gifted storyteller, possessing the rare ability to pull her readers into the preexisting world of her novel--in all its depth and clarity. Fictional, yet still powerfully real, I was irresistibly consumed by the lives of her characters, and completed the last half in one night. It was worth staying up until wee hours of morning to experience this story--not sure it would have been quite as enjoyable otherwise.

Kid Quotes #5

2008-11-17T22:10:00.000-08:00

I have been keeping a journal of our kids' amusing quotes. Though I wish that I am able to record more of the cute things they say throughout the day, here are a few from this last week.

"Spank that fly, Mamma. Whap him on his itty bitty little bottom!" Rigel's response to my pulling out the fly swatter a couple mornings ago.

"Daddy, you got to make a decision. Either you stay home, or you go on a walk with us. You decide...It's up to you, Daddy." Rigel addressing Daddy regarding...well, staying or going.

"Oh, my goodness! Daddy--cookies! Right there, Daddy. That's right. Good job." Izzy alerting Daddy to the cookies in the grocery store, then commending him on placing them in the cart.

"Izzy, you're a sandwich master!" Rigel commending Izzy on her sandwich making abilities while the two of them helped me make lunch.

"No get me all wet. Understand?" Izzy telling me not to turn the garden hose on her--except the last part sounded more like "uhn-ah-stah?"

"I have a idea! I'll go get a wipee. It'll be half the speed! (Rigel disappears into the bathroom to retrieve wipee, then returns) Here I am with a wipee!" Rigel assisting me on clean up patrol.

"I gotta tell Izzy ! I'm gonna go wake her up." Rigel running to share a moment with Izzy.

"Let's go get it to Washdown!" Rigel takes charge of a messy situation--influenced by Thomas the Train vocabulary.

"I okay!!! Mama, Izzy okay!!! Izzy proudly celebrates the moment with smiles after an intense crying session.

"I love my dump truck. He loves being inside." Rigel's declaration of love for a newly discovered toy that had been forgotten about in the yard.

"Shoe chocolates! Mama, look--shoe chocolates!" Izzy's description of her brown colored ballet-flat shoes. They must have struck her fancy for her to compare them to her favorite food.

"If you say two pleases, then my underwear will go on." Rigel explaining how it's all going to go down as I plead with him to get his clothes on in the morning. And, no, I don't comply.

"No kiss my eyeball. Okay, Mama?" Izzy's solemn request of her overly-affectionate mother... I can't help the endless kisses, she's so adorable!

"Because my brain was thinking about it. Because my brain was telling me to do it when I was thinking about it." Rigel's response to my inquiry as to why he walked around the house dragging a crayon across the walls.

Painting is to Journaling is to Blogging

2008-11-15T01:39:00.000-08:00

Journaling: (a.ka. blogging, sketching, painting, writing); to turn blank pages into inspiring expressions of our everyday lives...

I've always loved the idea of journaling as an outlet, and this blog (called Paper and Threads) is a delight to scroll through. I've scribbled and sketched in a few journals, myself--the contents of which I too would display on a blog if I had half as much talent as the elusive Paper and Threads.

This talented blogger is a painter and a traveler. I got lost and very inspired in this artist's water-colored commentary (I would include more specific info, but this blog doesn't include a profile--only an impressively detailed journal of experiences, along with challenges aimed toward artistic skills).

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

All images courtesy of http://www.paperandthreads.com/

Thirsty Moms On the Go

2008-11-14T23:54:00.000-08:00

Between the weekly dance, swim and karate classes (not to mention playgroup and t-ball), my kids keep me on-the-go quite often. Okay, perhaps I'm the one keeping them busy, right? I am pretty picky about what I feed my kids, and thus tend to pack them the necessary on-the-go snacks and drinks. Nevertheless, it is often tempting to utilize the strategically located Starbucks drive-thrus for myself ("ahem: one Starbuck's sweetened venti Passion Iced Tea, please..."), since my motherly instincts seem not to include the ability to nurture myself. I am trying to leave the house each morning well-prepared and therefore less likely to detour into these convenient drive-thru pit stops that pop up into my periphery during my weak moments of the day ("...and a Turkey Pesto sandwich, please... thank you!"). Here's one of my remedies for thirsty Moms on the go:

Check out these ice cube trays from Ikea--

These floppy rubber molds come in several different shapes, but I like these 6" long "sticks" best...

Imagine freezing some fresh-squeezed juice from some of these:

...with a single julienned piece of this:

...and perhaps a crushed sprig of this:

...Add one of those ice "sticks" to water inside this on your way out the door:

...and viola! You've got water on-the-go (green*ly contained), worthy of serving at a day spa.

(And, more health-conscious than your average bottle of water. Click here for more info).

Photos courtesy of Google.com

Excellent Novel

2008-11-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan, is an excellent historical novel. Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiasts will love the architectural details, as well as the provided insight into the historical figure's personal life. The story is told from the fictional perspective of his true-to-life mistress, and though this story is filled with period detail and a behind-the-scenes view of F.L. Wright's creative process, it also reveals a small glimpse of what life may be like living with someone who experiences bouts of hypomania (and/or bipolar disorder). Developed from more than 7 years of research and creative insight, this novel left me feeling curiously intrigued about Wright's architectural career.

Excerpted from the book: "You can't have a conversation with Frank about architecture without it turning toward nature. He says nature is the body of God, and it's the closest we're going to get to the Creator in this life...Some of his houses look more like trees than boxes. He cantilevers the roof so it spreads its eaves wide like sheltering branches. He even cantilevers terraces out from the house in the same way, if you can picture it. His walls are bands of windows and doors, the most gorgeous stained-glass designs of abstract prairie flowers. All that glass gives you the sense that you're living free in nature, rather than cut off from it... He likes to hide the doorway so you have to find it. He leads you in, then surprises you. He calls it 'the path of discovery.' "

Click here for more info on F.L.Wright's work, as well as pictures of the structures described in Horan's novel.

Click here to see my previous reading list (personal commentary included).