Still Summer

We have had so much fun after the PI ended. Me especially, not having to worry about figuring out how to finish my homework and arrange childcare. After a week of getting organized and recovering, we jumped on a plane to the east coast and got to play at the beach in Cape Cod. What unbelievable weather, and water, and fun sand and family! Rowan and Milo got to hang out with Gino, their cousin, and we got to see the grandparents without jetlag! It's been four days since we returned, and the first time both boys are sleeping at the same time. You wouldn't think this is such a big deal, but it makes such a difference in a day.

On Monday, after dinner, George and the boys were sitting in the front yard and I ran inside to get the phone, when we heard all of this crackling. Half of our crabapple tree in back fell down on the fence, and remarkably, very little damage was done... except of course to the tree! That event called for a little Monday evening chainsaw excitement after that, with George donning the traditional carhartt bib overalls, etc. and now we've got a nice little stash of apple wood to burn in the chiminea this winter. I am pushing for a second garden bed (when the rest of the tree dies) so that I can rotate our compost from bed to bed, and rotate the few crops we have, but George stubbornly doesn't want any more work. I just don't know what to do with him sometimes!!

We knew the tree was dying, but as they say, hope springs eternal, and so we just keep waiting for it to stop dying and return to its former glory. I think eventually we will get a peach tree or two, and another garden bed, especially if I promise to always let one go dormant. :)

I am just thrilled with the produce from our CSA, and we got a special treat to swing by Chubby Bunny farm (in CT) on the way to Cape Cod, and pick up a weeks worth of veg (as Tracy says) to feed our family. We even got a half gallon of milk from Patches, their cow!!! Talk about lucky. I'm not sure there is anything more earth mother than seeing Tracy (pregnant) milking (by hand) her very own cow!!
Of course, Rowan was thrilled to see the pigs, and he and Bea got to hide in the corn, which he thought was so fun. Truth be told, it's all amazing to us too. In their barn was vast quanitities of Garlic drying (or I'm not sure if you call it curing, or what) and all the food, it just feels so revolutionary to know someone who grows the food you eat. We never get to stay there long enough. We have seen approximately 7 minutes of Dan, the life of a farmer is no life of leisure folks, in case you didn't already know this.
Our vacations are too short. This is a national problem, for sure, but certainly we should be able to do something about it! George left work here, and just relaxed. It was nice to see him do that and the last two vacations for him mostly consist of submit-to-what-Rowan-wants-to-do time, and that usually involves sand, dirt, water or soccer balls. In other words, not too bad of a life!

i'm going to upload some pics, then I need to get back to making dinner.

Remembering one

Remembering back to when Rowan turned one, here's what it looked like. My parents, G's parents, us, all..... watching everything that Rowan was doing. We blew out the candle for him, and so is it really any different that he blew out Milo's? nope.

ahem, it's over now, so much for a weekly update

Here is a photo from Milo's birthday. Milo wasn't too sure about the whipping cream that I put as frosting on his zucchini cake (yay Monroe). Rowan was able to help him out by sticking his finger in it, shoving it in m's mouth, and showing him how tasty it was. That was all it took. I sometimes worry about Milo not getting his own gig, but truth be told, it was a much more joyous and fun occasion with Rowan there to spice it up, and bring his little bro up to speed. Not so many adults watching this single one year old. I also had the benefit of experience to recharge the camera batteries which I DIDN'T do for Rowan, and the camera died as the candle was lit on his first birthday... ah well.

Funnily enough, I haven't had another minute to post since the beginning of the course! To sum it up in a sentence or so... Tons of information on my favorite industry.

The sense I got was that all people know that books will change, they're not sure exactly how, but that the "end of the book" has been repeatedly been threatened and hasn't happened yet. I'm not really sure how I see it all, except that I predict that there will be some sort of split in the types of books..... Books that help with research or provide information are much more natural in digital format. As for cuddling up with a Kindle, or the future generation of the ebook, when reading some good tasty fiction-- I don't know that it's going to be a transition like that.

In other news... (I could write about the Dpi for days, but I will spare you all.) Milo is WALKING! I have never seen a cuter child besides my Rowan. Can you tell who the mom is? Seriously, what amazingly cute boys we have.

AND there's three more adorable babies in our life. Welcome Emerson (born on Milo's bday) and Mason, Aug 4 and Michelle sharing that day too! It will be so fun to watch them grow and change. Our mom's group is a total crazy miracle of babies and siblings now. It'll be so fun by next year this time-can our houses handle all these guys?!

I am finally actually sending out our Solstice (ahem, only 8 months late) cards with our picture, so now maybe we'll make it to your fridge if you forgive us for being so tardy. I'm amazed that it happened at all, but it was my single goal this summer besides the pi.

Summer here has been really toasty warm. Tonight though, it's about 60 degrees, and steadily pouring rain... for more than an HOUR. This barely happens here! It is a huge blessing, and feels so cleansing.

We can't wait to get to the coast to be with the Messinas in a couple of weeks. George is beside himself waiting. I hope I can actually post some pics from it because we have come back from really fun trips or had great visits with friends, and then I realize that there's no record here.

For example, we got to visit Tracy and Dan at Chubby Bunny Farm (their CSA) and I never wrote about it, or posted the adorable pics of Rowan and Bea playing-- and that was in April!

And I also drug(dragged?) the kids to Kansas with me and we descended upon Kim and Blake in Manhattan, it was so fun, and I hardly took a picture there! They survived the nights with us, Milo doing an extra spectacular show for them. (sorry sorry sorry again)

And then the following week we got to actually see Jimmy and Marianne and their beautiful girls, got to bunk in their snazzy house far from them so that Milo wouldn't keep them awake, and lo and behold, he slept all night. *sigh* I am almost completely terrible at predicting what these boys will do. They constantly keep me guessing.

I can't wait for Saturday, I get to go meet Mason, and visit Megan and Scott. G is going to hold down the fort with the boys. Today my celebration began though, for the end of the Pi, because we got to go to the zoo with Cindie and the girls. What fun, to traipse around all morning. They were holding mock interviews, and tomorrow, the real ones for the pub industry, and I am in the peculiar place of actually wanting to get a job in the field, but having it be totally unrealistic!!!

School and boys 24/7 is enough right now. oh yeah, and my other four projects/responsibilities on the side.

I'll talk about them some day, maybe. I can't imagine you want to hear/read it.

:) Happy August. Does anyone have hope for the election this fall? Oh yeah, the DNC is here in a couple of weeks. I'll have to post a blog about it, or I'll be the only one who doesn't!!!

Publishing Institute, week 1

I'm almost a full week into the publishing institute, and for the first time today I wasn't sprinting out the door or anxiously (and compulsively) looking at my phone to see if there were any text messages. *big sigh* I never doubted that we would make it, I know it'll be fine, but it is a really big shift in my days.
Considering I almost never stop moving, from when I wake up until well past 9 pm, sitting still in a lecture seat for hours on end is proving to be a big adjustment itself. I have found out about some amazing people in this industry, and wish that I could work with them.
While I love many things in the library world, and enjoy library school, I wouldn't mind getting to meet the most dynamic, innovative people in the field and see if I could work for/with them!!! That's what the publishing institute is all about.
The owner and founder of Sourcebooks delivered the keynote on Monday and in addition to being utterly amazing, she turned me on to some of the coolest books... One "poetry speaks to children" and also the original adult version "Poetry Speaks" please go find these books and buy them. I want them to be in your life, and to support such an amazing person.
And since I'm doing shout-outs.... Ani Difranco did an interview with mindful mama magazine, and you should check this out as well as the mag. Did you see her interview in Mothering too? When I went to Oregon last year, Scott had a copy of this random architectural/design magazine and lo and behold...........! Ani! She is cooler at every turn.
I can't say that I can name quickly many living heroes/heroines in my life, but Ani Difranco jumps quickly from my tongue. And now Dominique Raccah has joined her. Along with the Head honcho lady at the Penrose Library, Nancy... um better find out her last name. She delivered an energizing and provocative speech last year at my orientation. I'd better thank her for that.
Three women! I know I can make a longer list. and this doesn't include my closer friends and family.
In biggest news of all, my baby is ONE!!!! Milo's birthday on July 14th was really celebrated over the weekend. I tell you, I felt so gleeful and happy and nostalgic and proud to have this baby boy. He is a real joy and we think he's going to be a big joker too. I could feel his birthday as a milestone in a way it didn't hit me with Rowan's first birthday, and I'm not sure I can explain why the difference. They are both just treasures, what a lucky mommy I am.

Adventures with the Chariot

To the slightly scary motorcycle guy who brought our flatted chariot, my bike, and the boys home with me in that pickup truck:

Thank you so much, I appreciate your kindness, and your willingness to leave your duties at the shop. I tried to fix the flat, after removing the large piece of glass from the tire. I would have replaced the tube, but I had the wrong replacement size, (for the stroller) and when I arrived home, we discovered about fifteen other slices in the tube, next to my one nice little patch.

I do however, disagree with one of your bumper stickers, which actually scared me much more than you did. The one that said: "Anti-war = Pro-terrorist"

I am decidedly anti-war, for many reasons, but in particular because I am a mother and cannot stand the thought of losing my children, as women all over our strife-ridden planet are, in large part because of war.

I don't think this makes me pro-terrorist. That's the problem with bumper stickers, they aren't open for conversation though. I did put one on our car though, with a decidedly more positive message.

SUMMER

For once, I have been busy having fun, and ignoring most of the things I "should" be doing. Summer arrived here well before the solstice did, and we have been eating it up. Me and the boys drove to Manhattan Kansas to visit our friends the Belangers and had a grand old time there, doing all the proper summer things... catching fireflies, swimming at the pool, going to see live music outside, checking out the garden (we even saw a train go by--literally next to the gardens) and of course, eating eating eating. preparing to eat, cleaning up from eating, planning to eat some more.

My child is hungry almost all of the time right now. It's always been pretty bad, but we go through these periods where he says he's hungry oh... three hundred times a day or so. And the only reason that Milo isn't saying it is because he can't talk yet.

Today we were eating peas from our garden !!!! :) and Rowan said. " I really love peas. They're delicious!" YES! I said, you're right, they are. He sits and opens up the pods, exclaiming with flourish how cute they are... and then eat them like candy. They are absolutely delicious, that's for sure. We also got a small bag from our first (FINALLY) pickup from our CSA. Now, he knows where our farmers live, and that this food was growing out there... and our coveted eggs from there too. yum, they are worth it all by themselves.

He also just figured out his nose. These are the kinds of things you don't normally notice, but on Tuesday, he blew out of his nose for the first time (on purpose) and was so excited about it. Now however, it's been days and he won't leave his nose alone! Including with the PEAS!!! if you know what I mean.

Milo has decided he is no longer a baby, and will eat sandwiches just like his big bro. Today he took the spoon from me, and fed himself. This was rare anyway, because mostly he just gets mad if I try to feed him with a spoon. He also is free standing now and then, trying it out, and i suppose my days are numbered before he is sprinting away from me.

I think Milo is going to be so funny, he may be the sense of humor in our family. He laughs easily and lets most things roll off of his back, including his brothers foot in his face, or any of the other things Rowan subjects him to. It's just that pesky hunger thing that will turn all of the males in our family into evil monsters.

I will try and get a pic or two up before my next class, wish me luck.

And since we're on the topic

Did I mention that I have a problem about food? Today, because I wasn't thinking clearly, I went on an outing without a single snack. Now, this was normal in my pre-child life but no longer. Usually I have a few things almost literally stuck up my sleeves or something because in addition to my darling husband who can lose it slightly upon being seized suddenly by hunger, now I have a three year old who does the three year old version of losing it when (frequently) being seized suddenly by hunger.
Soooo I went to Atlanta Bread Company. Not fast food, right? Makes bread, right? Well, I order him the peanut butter and jelly, (Can't be too bad can it?) with whole wheat instead of "french bread" (read White) and the lady who was so helpful, offered to give him oranges instead of chips... Aw, how nice of her to get my drift.
So I go pick up the plate, and there is a sizeable bowl of (canned in corn syrup mandarin) oranges!!! THATs the ALTERNATIVE "healthy" food there.

Should I say anything more about our meal there, or should I just move right along?

I think I'll go to the other end of the spectrum, so that you don't think I'm a raving lunatic. (Who am I fooling? No one, right?) After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle I was convinced by the importance of Asparagus. This, being the first food to pop up in the spring, and ONLY in the spring, I signed up for a day at Monroe farms where they have exactly two pick yer own crops. I know this is different from other CSAs out there, but it is what it is, which is a full hour drive away.

I load up the boys, Milo had a fever, (yes I'm a bad mother too) and Rowan was a little under the weather. But dammit, three years at this CSA and I was going to make it out there to get my little penis shaped spears. I didn't even know what they looked like growing, but I remembered a carrying container, and the Ergo, so Milo would ride on my back.

Rowan brought his rain boots, wisely, and I unwisely brought my crocs, which fill immediately with dirt as soon as you step in it. And FYI, food is grown in dirt, even though the world of grocery stores would like you to forget that, and quick.

We got our assigned row after walking past the chickens that would be giving us eggs or becoming our dinner/stock soon, and Billy (yes, the Goat. har har). It stretched very far, and I looked down it, as Jacquie said, if you don't think you're going to pick the whole row, please go to the far end and pick this way. (Which is very wise with children anyway.) So we did, we sang and sang and I talked about my big strong boy who could walk ALLLL the way down there, and how it was a good thing he was three now, and was big enough to do this important work with me. (He wanted to see the piglets, they were the reward for finishing.)

So we did it, I bent and picked and Milo was a champ and Rowan was a champ and I was too, I picked that whole row and crowed to George (whose LEAST favorite food in the world... yup you guessed it-ASPARAGUS) Was going to come home in a big ol' laundry basket.

And then we went and saw the piggies. Who are so damn cute, I have to say. They run around and circle like puppies do, and their noses are adorable. very cute.

And then we came home, and I was so glad that Rowan met his farmer and saw this land and saw those animals, and if we can't do the growing ourselves then thank goodness that we can know the people who do.

But our peas are doing great, and there are flowers on the plants, so we're doing a bitty bit here in the backyard. And we have Radishes popping up, the easiest thing to do with kids, according to my friend kim and she is right, they came right up, very satisfying.

What do you have in your garden?