traveling

Visiting California for the next ten days. Blog hiatus, random notes... all is unknown ;)

Essence

The song Essence by Lucinda Williams has been a recent constant. She practically growls:

Baby, sweet baby
whisper my name
...

I am waiting here for more
I am waiting by your door
...

I am waiting for your essence

The note in her voice reminds me of the intensity of new relationship, the frisson of excitement and longing for connection.

When I first met Andy, I was drawn to him with that intensity. Now we move in a slow, comfortable dance (or is it a mildly tired, sleep deprived dance?). I wouldn't trade positions, but the memory brings a smile.

Top Model

"Please Don't Feed the Models" was the logo on the T wore by the 'weights and measures' man on this show. Only saw 10 minutes tonight, and was so disheartened. The photographers were alternately "loving" their faves, or ripping on the poses of those they didn't like.

This show is a set up for an eating disorder. Tall, thin, beautiful enough to make the final 14 of America's Top Model, and the feeding frenzy on body and soul commences.

Baking is my solace.

Today was a **very** hard day, and cooking dinner was only adding to my brain's lack of enjoyment. I am not a natural cook. I've no idea what to make, have a very limited repertoire of recipes that work (for me), and worry about straying too far because if it is inedible I have to start again immediately from scratch.

Dessert is so much easier. If the cookies are a little hard, dunk them in milk. If they rise perfectly into little chocolate chip puffs, well, that's a good day.

My evening stress shifted when I was suddenly inspired to bake from scratch. I saw a recipe for lemon bars, and was off.

I made a short bread for the first time -- what a delightfully easy recipe: blend 1/2 pound butter, 1/2 c powdered sugar, and 2 c flour. I blended by hand, but would be even easier in a food processor. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes (40 if only making shortbread).

Whisk 4 eggs with 2c granulated sugar, grate a little lemon rind, add 6 T lemon juice and 1 tsp baking powder. Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar.

Hopefully will turn out, but what feels amazing to me is the simple act of baking has placed a smile on my face. I am actually grinning. I need to figure out how to do that with cooking.

Help me find culinary excitement. Make me the Martha of my block. Link me to your favorite recipe, and I'll post my results ;)

Urban hiking

Jennifer and I took our toddlers out on the town. We went downtown to hear an amazing woman speak, and thought it would be fun, and a great political statement, to bring our children as well. (She had spoken of the marginalization of children while being interviewed that day).

We drove downtown, found amazing parking **right by the venue**. Our little ones were so excited to be holding our hands and walking to the show... and it was sold out.

Alexa and S. were quite amped by the new experience and were not (at all) interested in waiting in front with the other devotees. They wanted to keep exploring. As we weren't in the safest place to wander, we bundled back in the car (Alexa ~ major car seat protest, disappointment at the short excursion), and drove to a mellower place to visit and let the children explore.

The first coffee shop was crowded, and walking to the car we realized that this area was perfect for Toddler Urban Hiking. They ran up and down little paths, and climbed stairs, and walked up and down ramps. They had a blast. They also found a little rockery area. Alexa is obsessed with rock climbing. A little goat, she is a climber, and when she sees a small boulder is adamant she reach the top.

When we actually found a little coffee shop (only two blocks, and an hour of toddler hiking from the first), Jennifer and I were tired. It was fun to get out of our zone, though, and Alexa slept quite soundly when we got home.

I realized that this was the first "non-family visit" evening adventure I had gone on with Alexa. Andy and I do not go out in the evening with our toddler. In some ways, it's a lot of work to go to public places with children, but it's not undo-able, particularly with only one.

I also think a little work can go a long way. A. learns community by experiencing life, culture and community... or so goes the thought...

I've been loving the blog question format, so this is mine. What is the most memorable place you remember visiting as a child, or taking your own child to? Or, in deeper thought, do you feel children are marginalized?

a visit from the Tree pruner

Yesterday was a high water mark between the tree and I. A woman answered my plea for pruning advice, and came with shears in hand. She was wearing a marvelous felted yellow hat (I think all gardeners should wear wonderful hats), and opened by asking if it would be okay if she stood and "felt" the tree a little before we started. As I recently visited with the tree in a dream, "feeling" the tree is entirely within the realm of rational.

I was given a lesson in pruning, and found I was (actually) being a little to lenient on the new growth. We marked branches with different colored ribbons: green for a definite cut, and red or white for possible cuts (cutting all of one of the colors chosen). All in all, it was a wonderful experience.