leaves

This is what was picked this evening, winter lettuce. Leah picked some yummy radishes for me last week. The peppers and tomatoes are in. The carrots and onions look like carrots and onions. The peas are as tall as the fence. That's my garden update.

Almost forgot. Plant your tomato plants when the oak tree puts out its leaves. Oaks don't like frost, so they are the last tree to leaf. Tomatoes don't like frost either. Our oak got its leaves on April 15. Jess waited a week to plant the tomatoes. He trusted the weather people more than the tree. It did get cold, but did not frost. The tree was right.

I can...

hold my head up and blow bubbles.

finished growing

I woke this morning to discover a published post. "Who did this?" Jesse soon confessed. But I wasn't done! So, here is the rest.

The spring lettuce is 4" tall. There are turnips in front of it with greens a foot high. They were planted in the fall and began to go to flower. Jess harvested some turnips today. They of course were nothing like this, but still tasty in soup.

Also in the ground is mint, carrots, over two dozen strawberry plants, radishes, more turnips and our peas. The mint and strawberries are transplants and look like something. The peas are doing splendidly - 5" tall and sturdy. Everything else is two little leaves popping up out of the soil.

In the sun room are tomatoes, basil and thyme. They aren't ready for the outdoors yet. In the plans are peppers, cucumbers, summer squash, pumpkin and watermelon.

There, now you know what is going on in our garden. Go get digging! (Unless you are Lydia. ;)

How does your garden grow?

1/3 of last year's garden

winter lettuce

spring lettuce

Numerous friends have asked how and when we garden. First, I don't. Well, I guess you could say I am the planner, not the planter. I have a say on what goes into the ground and where. Jesse and the kids do all the rest. I have bragging rights too. =) He uses Square Foot Gardening, (but the 1981 version) The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, (again, the old one is on our shelf) and his love for the earth/experience growing up. Now this is being passed on to our children, and I love it.

The spring lettuce went into the ground the beginning of March. It had the cold frame around it for the first few weeks. Now it is frame free and tall.

the sky is falling

no. really. I got up this morning to find part of the kitchen ceiling on the floor. The ceiling does not belong on the floor. However, a square foot of it fell onto a chair and shattered. Pieces were everywhere. I heard it in the night, like someone rattling a door with glass in it, but I told myself it was the wind blowing branches against a window so I did not have to get up and check the doors. Nope. It was the ceiling falling.

And I knew it was coming. Not exactly, but Jess and I wondered what would happen this time. He is in Chicago right now, attending the MPSA conference. He's gone for the last nine years, except for when we had a two day old baby, (David). Every year, something happens, something odd, something out of the ordinary, something that takes us by surprise. The first year, I went with him. I was four weeks pregnant with Sarah and did not feel well. We stayed with cousins twice removed. On our drive we kept noticing ants in the car. Odd. As I straightened our room the first morning, I kept killing ants. Surprising. I traced them - to Jesse's computer. I ran it out to the patio and sat and stared in amazement as an entire colony of ants moved out of Jesse's computer to find a new life in the suburbs of Chicago. Another year our cottage was infested with swarming termites, looking for a new place to call home. Hundreds of thousands of termites flying in your living room is out of the ordinary. Then there was our salivating dog. At the time we had Kasey, our Golden. She came in drooling like mad. The poor thing kept pawing at her mouth as her head lay in a pool of saliva. The not so smart emergency vet thought maybe she was stung by a bee and gave me motion sickness pills for her. The knowledgeable nurse said she'd heard of this happening to dogs when catching toads. Both out of the ordinary and scary. The only other time I went with Jesse we stayed at a not so many starts hotel and David and Sarah were with us. I again was tired and VERY cranky (or bitchy, whichever you prefer). We discovered a month later that I was almost three months pregnant with Leah. Surprise! Poison ivy, illnesses, driving on donuts, and now the ceiling. What's next?

walk (and poop)

So, if you happened to be driving through Larchmont this evening and saw this:

crazy mama walking down the sidewalk, two children springing and racing ahead of her, one child lagging behind her, yet another child in a sling, (Yes, they are all mine. WHEN will people stop asking that?? That and that my hands are full. Never an offer to help. Just a reminder, in case I forgot. My response is, "Yes, full of love." and we continue on our merry way. Sorry. I did not intend for my two least favorite comments to come out in the middle of this. Where was I? oh...) and a sweet Sheltie on a leash who is convinced that since he was not walked last night a myriad of dogs must have walked HIS route and he needs to sniff them all out and therefore be dragged or rather coaxed along, all trying to race the rain home and getting damp in the process

then you saw me. But the dog pooped by a kind, elderly man's tree, (nightly ritual he's had for forever - go poop on a night walk - the dog, not the man.) Not on the rug in the kids' room, so it was all worth it.

There, I posted. It feels good, great actually. There is so much I want to get up here, but Anna just pooped, so I gotta' go.

I love...

Baby Toes

photo credit to Sarah

Wednesdays

We're tired.

Teaching on Tuesday is going well, very well. Anna hangs out in the Hotsling. Everyone enjoys their engaging classes and the enriching company. But come Wednesday, we're just tired. We don't go anywhere. We don't get dressed. If I'm lucky, we get half our school lessons complete, and I end the day with a hot shower.

Jesse took the picture this morning. Although I'd just gotten out of bed, I almost fell back to sleep. I love how our arms are in almost the same position.

First Bath

Confession: Cleanliness of the body is not the highest priority here. Or rather it's not an obsession here as it has become in our current culture. Children are soaped up once a week. Dirty summer feet are rinsed at night. And our baby was not bathed until she was 3 weeks old.


Everyone is healthy. =)

I Spy

something yellow

It's Spring!

(and Anna, of course)

credit for the first three photographs goes to Sarah

Anna on March 10

What everyone has to say...

Copy this note, ask your kid(s) the questions and write them down exactly how they respond.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
s: We'll work on it.
d: It's time to do math.
l: okay
a: hello, Anna

2. What makes mom happy?
s: when I take care of my brother and sister
d: when I say please
l: helping her
a: when I latch properly

3. What makes mom sad?
s: when I hurt my brother and sister
d: when I hurt someone
l: not helping her
a: when I forget to latch properly

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
s: by tickling me!
d: She tickles you.
l: by telling silly jokes
a: I don't laugh yet

5. What was your mom like as a child?
s: She had alot of allergies.
d: I can't remember.
l: being a good child
a: ohh

6. How old is your mom?
s: 29
d: I don't know.
l: I do not know how old you are.
a: 10 months

7. How tall is your mom?
s: no idea, all I know is that she's taller than me
d: I don't know.
l: really tall
a: tall

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
s: She likes to sit down and listen to me read to her.
d: nurse baby sister
l: play and take care of the baby
a: sleep

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
s: I have no idea.
d: She takes care of baby sister.
l: (after much thought, whispered) I do not know
a: but she's always around

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
s: her teaching
d: babysitting
l: dancing
a: babies

11. What is your mom really good at?
s: taking care of children
d: nursing baby sister
l: taking care of the baby
a: I defer to my siblings.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
s: not much
d: I can't think of anything.
l: playing with Moe
a: no response

13. What does your mom do for her job?
s: teaches!
d: She teaches at co-op.
l: take care of the baby
a: nurse

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
s: healthy food
d: red lentils
l: carrot soup
a: jello

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
s: She can handle four children.
d: I don't really know.
l: helping her take care of the baby
a: we nurse

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
s: She'd be a homeschool mom.
d: Enchanted, the one who goes back to the fairy land at the end and brings her cell phone and she throws it on the ground, but she used to be in the real world
l: a princess, since princesses are really tall
a: that cow goddess

17. What do you and your mom do together?
s: do school
d: We do math.
l: take care of the baby
a: nurse, sleep

18. How are you and your mom the same?
s: We both have brown hair and we are both girls.
d: I know how to cook sausages, and my mom knows how to cook sausages.
l: because we are both people
a: we ARE the same

19. How are you and your mom different?
s: I have more energy.
d: My mom can cook red lentil soup and I can't.
l: because we don't do the same things
a: but we ARE the same

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
s: I just know it.
d: She says, "I love you."
l: because she says that
a: we nurse

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
s: to her mommy friends' houses
d: to yoga
l: to the playground, because then her children can play
a: to bed

Introducing...

Anna Claire

Mama's Darling

Daddy's Delight

Doted on by all!!

Welcome!

Baby Names

Baby Sister arrived yesterday at 3:42pm!
She was born at home (planned) in a doorway (not planned.)
She weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz.
Leah says, "Now it's time to write her names! Her name is Cute Baby. Her middle name is Milk. Button is her nickname because she's as cute as a button."

Ah, Baby Sister does not have a name yet. Mommy has to work on that, along with sleeping and cuddling.

Friday's Favorite recipes

Here are a few of our tried and true, most frequently requested recipes.

First, what I made for dinner tonight, Chick Pea Patties.
Put 2 15 oz. cans of chickpeas in the food processor, after draining and rinsing lightly.
Transfer to mixing bowl.
Add 1/4 c. rice flour, 1 T. soy sauce, (I use Amino Braggs.) 1/4 t. garlic powder and 1 t. paprika.
Adjust the spices to your liking. I always add MORE garlic and a bit more paprika.
Depending on the brand of chickpeas you buy, you may need to add some water. Your goal is to have a moist mixture that will hold its shape when you form it. The most cooperative brand I've found so far is Trader Joe's.
Heat a non-stick pan with oil. (My favorite for this is sunflower. My least favorite is corn. When using a pan without a coating, you will need more oil, a lot more.)
From a small handful of chickpea mixture, make first a ball, then a patty.
Fry these in the oil.
They are ready to flip when they do not fall apart.
Add more oil after flipping.
They should come out golden brown.
We like salad dressing on ours, served with beets and a fresh salad.

Next, my ever popular Banana Muffins.
This recipe is a tad confusing, from my tweaking over the years. Good Luck! =)
Preheat oven to 400*. Line muffin tin with paper liners.
Mash 2 RIPE bananas in a mixing bowl.
Add 1/2 c. sugar (I always use demerara or turbonado.) and 1/2 c. oil plus almost 1/2 of 1/2 c. (That could also be read as "plus 3 T. oil", but then it wouldn't be what I do.)
Add 1/2 c. water plus a little bit. (My twist on 9 T.)
Sift in 2 c. rice flour and 1 T. baking powder.
Mix.
Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes.
Make Banana Bread by putting it in a greased and floured 9x12" pan. Bake 45 minutes. A 1/2 c. of sunflower seeds is good in the Bread too.

Last, the most delicious, addictive, yummy, Pumpkin Cake.
Preheat oven to 350*. Lightly oil and flour 9x12" pan or 2 9" round pans. (With how baking powder reacts in gluten free baking, it is important to not mix anything too much and get it in the oven ASAP. Having the pan set to go helps.)
Mix the wet ingredients together. 2 c. honey or 1 1/2 c. maple syrup, (I LOVE using the latter.) 2 c. cooked, mashed pumpkin, 3/4 c. oil, 4 T. apricot baby food, 3 t. vanilla extract. If you use canned pumpkin, you'll have to add a bit of water at the end.
In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. 2 1/2 c. rice flour, 1/2 c. amaranth flour, 4 t. cinnamon, 5 t. baking powder, 3 t. arrowroot, 2 t. sea salt.
Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.
Batter should be slightly thick, but pourable.
Fold in an optional 1 c. raisins.
Bake 45 min or until cake is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean.
Hide half for yourself, because this one goes fast!