Monday Morning Blab

Ginger Kitty continues to grow. She's gotten quite bold, wandering the neighborhood in search of play mates. The poodle next door (not a standard one, a smaller one, yet not mini) is her new obsession. Misty is her name. She's not exactly fond of Ginger, she's not even all that tolerant of her. But they have had a couple of play dates - yes, doggy play dates. Ginger was put in place yesterday to give Misty (who has grown thick in the middle) a little work out in her very own front yard. It was amusing to watch, neither was sure of the other, yet so compelled to pursue the other. I'm hoping she grows to be at least 40 pounds. I'm a big dog type, and 40 is my minimum. We'll see, she's got big dog attitude, so I suppose I'll just have to be happy with that should she be smaller.


Coleman and Max played in the yard with their squirt guns yesterday. Coleman suited up in camo to be as subtle as possible. Here he is having a tea break with me in the yard. Looks pretty happy, eh? I'm sure he was making a rhyme using the word poop or b-u-t-t, which gets spelled-out here.


Rose requested a picture of Chris and I recently; here you go, Mum. Coleman shot this one. It was a sunny, chilly day. Above us is the maple tree which is just now beginning to fill in with leaves. Our Apple trees have sooooo many blossoms on them, the pear tree already has tiny pears on it! Today our neighbor, Ryland is going to pop over with a bobcat and pile up some soil to start the BMX track! Oh so exciting. Pictures to follow...

Reading to Daddy

As I type Coleman is reading to Chris. He's been reading a chapter book to him for the past hour. And I just heard a surprised and excited "oh! this is the last page!" from the other room. Coleman has become an amazing reader in short order, it seems. He said "Daddy, you know how I feel when I'm finishing a book late at night? I get a very special feeling, I can't explain it, but it feels like I'm in the airport going to Nana's house - I'm so excited."

Ducky Derby

This Saturday the family took a trip to Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz for the annual Ducky Derby. A local fraternity puts on a fund raiser for local education. The kids had a blast in the short hour and a quarter we were there. We ran into at least two people Max knew from school, which was really neat. The boys won squirt guns and were so delighted about that they are already talking about going again next year. We brought the pup with us and she was quite the attraction herself. She enjoyed the wee hands of many a delighted child. "She's so cute" was the most popular quote of the day. She didn't even bite anyone. :) I didn't even have to wonder when people asked me "what's her name" I responded straight away with "Ginger". And Coleman would say "or Kitty". It was a lovely sunny day - though barely 60 degrees.

Morning Home from School!

This morning, rather than going to school first thing, the boys and I made mono prints. It took me a long 20 minutes or more (more) to clear the table and get the plastic on it and the paints and brushes set up etc. But it was worth the morning spent creating and loving each other. Coleman woke up with a powerful head ache and his tummy was upset. After a couple eggs his stomach was right and a tylenol did the trick for his head ache.

The wee pup is wee no more. Well, she's small, but growing ever so fast. She's taken to running away to go to the cul de sac one house down. There are three large dogs on this short block she loves to play with. The are almost always out and off leash hanging in their own yards. Ginger Kitty loves to visit her neighbors. There are even more dogs on that street locked in their yards, it's a dog rich neighborhood and we're happy to have joined the ranks. Below is a shot of Mack and Ginger Kitty in our yard. Mack appears to be ignoring her, but really he's ready for a defensive move at any moment.


This is a shot of the back yard before it was mostly cleared of debris and unwanted brambles. I'm in the throws of planning the garden and we've just recruited a neighbor with a bobcat to help build the BMX track back there. There will always be a place to ride! It would be nice if Coleman got along better with the boy next door then he'd have a riding partner. Max seems to get along fine with him, but he and Coleman just butt heads. Maybe time will bring civility, but for now it usually erupts into something I'd rather not deal with. Which brings me to the next exciting bit of news about the yard/house. We're getting a fence down the middle of our shared driveway. Our side will have a gate to keep the pup in, and perhaps the next door neighbor children will not so freely invade the yard. I know this sounds particularly anti social. As much as I have this vision of unity and community, I really do love my space. And Coleman has taken to staying inside in order to avoid the people in his back yard. For those of you who haven't been to our home, it is hard to explain why this happens so naturally. Our driveway is also our neighbor's driveway and their garage door is almost level with our own, so their front yard is our shared driveway which basically spills into our rather spacious back yard. There is a trampoline back there, a climbing tree, a swing and lots of toys and usually an art project or two happening. It's easy to see why this is a tempting place to be. Plus, the dogs enjoy playing with one another and when Mac is in our yard, Ginger Kitty doesn't wander around the neighborhood. Well. That was a long story to tell you the simple fact that I'm happy we're getting a fence and gate for the yard. I'm mostly happy that I will know where the dog is - as long as I can get the kids to keep the gate closed.



While working in the yard Chris found some friends. Don't know what kind of a lizard that is, but the snake is a California Garter Snake.

To The Max

Max is so MAX in all that he does. His volume, his velocity, he just doesn't stop. Doesn't stop to listen, to finish his breakfast, lunch or dinner, doesn't stop unless he physically runs into something. And when that happens, look out. I've recently decided that I have to help him pause. I'd like to guide him towards calmness and, if not contemplation, then at least the ability to slow down long enough to process what someone is saying to him. He's easy to anger, yet also readily laughs and smiles. Loves potty talk, nothing could make him laugh harder than a good poop joke.

Our Easter guest, Phillipa recommended readingeggs.com for him. It's an online Australian reading program that is geared towards what motivates boys to learn. It's very clever, and Max is enjoying doing his lessons each morning. He knows he's learning how to read and he's very proud of himself. It goes against my nature to pressure the boys into learning before they are ready, but Max is curious about letters and spelling, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Here are some shots of Max in action over the past few weeks:

Happy Easter

Around 6:45, Sunday morning I heard a joyful "It's Easter!" from the boy's bedroom. It was Max trying to wake his big brother. He must have said it ten times. He popped out of bed wide eyed and ready to tear into his Easter basket. Coleman sort of flopped out of bed, also excited, but less alert. He just has a harder time waking in the morning.

We had company for Easter dinner Sunday. David, Phillipa, Holly, Toby and Lulu. Chris worked with David at SAP. David and his family just moved to the area in September from Singapore. Phillipa is Tazmanian, David is Australian. Holly was born in Australia and the two younger ones were born in Singapore. A truly delightful crew. It is rare that kids just walk in and mesh with our kids, this was one of those times though. We invited them for dinner at 2:00. We ate at nearly 6:00. The kids had their meal almost on time. It was the grown ups who had to wait. Chris made an amazing Moroccan chicken tagine with apricots and cashews. Wish I had a shot of that. Oh my goodness. I've posted it on recipezaar.com if you're interested. Clearly it was a lot more time consuming than he expected - but it may have been the kitchen which also serves as the hallway in and out of the backyard. And only has about two feet of counter space.

The boys enjoy the spoils of Easter.

On Saturday morning we went up to Kennolyn Camp in the hills of Soquel. We looked at a house walking distance to this camp. What an amazing place it is. We were there for an egg hunt. We also decorated cookies and Coleman made a cute rock alien bunny.





Hopefully you all had a good Easter Sunday. I missed my family this year, deeply. It is a beautiful part of the world we live in, here in Soquel. Perfect in so many ways. But lacking in one thing. My family lives 3145 miles away. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone this summer.

April Vacation - Ginger Kitty

Here's a shot of Coleman enjoying a meditative moment. Ah, if it were only true.


Our sweet little pup has a name, not the default "Kitty" name I gave her. Ginger. We all just agreed. A rare moment it was, one that simply made it so. Chris has tried to change it to Suffi, which I happen to love, but the boys want no part of the whirling dervish Suffi. She's getting big. And has a new pal, Mac. He's our next door neighbor's golden retriever, a lovely dog. He's teaching her how to play fetch. She's got the go and get it part, she's still working on the bringing it back part.

You won't believe this. My kitchen was clean today, sparkling clean. Nary a dirty dish in site. Even the floor was clean. Wish I had taken a picture because it only lasted 10 minutes or less. But, I tell you it was clean. I've had a hard time getting motivated to tidy and cook and do other domestic tasks. I don't have anything else I'd rather be doing. Well, so I pruned the overgrown apple trees and raked the yard and played with the kids and the pup. How did my mother manage all this? She even had a full time job in addition to all the work she did around the house - and she actually played with us. This will always bend my mind - how did she do it?

The rain has been falling here. This is good for us, as we've been in a drought here for nearly three years. Maybe longer, we only arrived three and a half years ago. Everything is green and growing. And Blooming. I purchased seeds to sow but haven't sown a thing. Next week I've hired someone to come and clear the debris out of the back so I can plant my veggies and maybe a few more fruiting trees. I hear Bear's Limes grow well in this climate. I'm also considering a new pear tree or two and an orange tree and perhaps we'll plant a strawberry patch too. Once the space is cleared I'll be able to plan it. Chickens and food are the only things I have in my mind at the moment. How it all fits together, I'll have to figure out as I go.

Max and I have been enjoying making lemon aid with lemons from our lemon tree. We even like to make Lemon pops when we're feeling really crazy! Anything sweet for Max. He's a bit of a sugar hound. This worries me, but when I think about how much sugar I ate and craved as a kid, his consumption pales in comparison. Oh, the soda, the chocolate, the hostess cupcakes! Oh my!




Oh is that tart.

Bagels! And Spring Cleaning

This morning I made bagels. The were pretty good, if I do say so myself. I have this new found deep affection for my Kitchenaid mixer. Nana Rose gave us this mixer over a decade ago and I think this is the most regular use it has seen. I make pizza dough at least once a week, okay maybe more like three times. Scones were happening there a few days in a row. Last night I made a vegan chocolate cake and today bagels. We're eating our way through twenty pounds of organic flour I bought a couple weeks ago at Costco. I've only got about 8 pounds left - by next week it will be gone if I keep up the pace. Anyone have any good recipes they would like to share? Good bread? Good muffins, cookies, pie, anything?


This morning the sun was shining, the sea breeze a blowin'. It was fine day in Soquel. I feel as though, and this may be fantasy, I'm slowly making progress on things. In my own special ADD sort of way. A little yard work here, a little garage cleaning there, a little laundry as I pass by, a few dishes, a meal. You know how it is, right? I'm on my way to put away the yard waste barrel and realize I have yard waste to put into it, so I do. Then I realize, as I step through the back door that my laundry is ready to go into the dryer. Then I realize I'm thirsty which makes me realize I need to wash a few dishes, so I do. That makes me realize I haven't fed the kids, so I chase them around and make food and have them sit down and eat it. Which makes Max realize it's been too long since I've drawn a picture for him. Which makes me realize how many papers are out of place, so I place them in their place. Then I find myself in the bathroom wiping someone's bottom, which makes me realize not only do I have to pee, I really need to clean the bathroom and Max really needs to have a bath. . . That happens to all of you, too, right?

I am contemplating taking pictures of the inside of my house. Shooting the reality of the 900 square foot living situation on a random day. And then working on fixing the situation and taking pictures of the fix. I have avoided inviting people over for dinner or drinks because I find the thought of straightening up overwhelming. I don't mean cleaning and having a pristine home to show off. I mean finding a place to hide my laundry. It is overflowing. You can find laundry in almost every nook and cranny of my house. I feel like throwing it all away. Which is what I've begun to do. I find myself throwing things out when I don't know where they go, or if they don't have a home. I don't feel like sharing my home with this stuff anymore. I'm in the mood to take back my space. Anyone want a couple of kids? Maybe just for a few weeks.


The figs are back! I'm pleased to say. I never knew I liked them, but they are so very yummy. If they traveled well I'd send them to all my east coast friends and family. This fall I sent MB an egg carton filled and they were moldy when they arrived. So - you'll all just have to come here to taste them.



This shot captures the Possum in our little Kitty - Chris has taken to calling her Possum. Our neighbors don't know what to call her anymore. We've got a new name every day. But she comes when you call "KITTY". :)


Ah, Max playing with Kitty, see those teeth? She takes one look at Max and she's ready for a battle. As Nana says, he's a Rufiano.

Ciao for now.

Fairwell to the Glass Bead Shed

And Hello Yard! Who knew it would feel so much better without it. Okay, so I thought it would make a good chicken coop. But, really, our yard is a skinny thing and it was too big for 10 chickens, way too big. And we had a few trees in the yard blocking the way...Chris moved it for me halfway through the yard before I fessed up that I wanted to get rid of it. It took days, really for Chris to dig under it, shore it up on bricks, put some wood under it to scoot it around, hitch it up to the car, push it pull it, drag it. When he puts his mind to something, he doesn't mess around. This morning we dragged it to the end of our driveway and this afternoon, our neighbor Rick hooked it up to his pickup and sped off down the road with it. Ah.

Recipe of the week

These couldn't be more easy. And everyone Loves them. Go ahead, make a batch!

Payallup Fair Scones

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour (the original recipe calls for Fisher Blend Flour)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder (make sure your baking powder is still active!)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons shortening
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup raisins (if you are omitting the raisins, add another 2 Tablespoons of milk)

Directions

1. Sift and measure the flour.

2. Re-sift with other dry ingredients.

3. Work shortening into dry ingredients with the fingers.

4. Add rasinins to flour-fat mixture and mix thoroughly (you may omit raisins).

5. Add milk to mixture. (If you are omitting the raisins, add another 2 Tablespoons of milk).

6. Turn out on to a floured board and divide into two equal pieces.

7. Roll or pat each into a round and to the thickness of biscuits (3/4 inch to a full inch).

8. Cut into wedge shaped pieces like a pie and bake about 15 minutes at 450 degrees on an ungreased baking sheet.

9. To serve like they do at the fair; split open but do not cut clear through. Fill with jam and close.

10. Eat and enjoy!