kitchen work

it is always nice to go away and it is equally as nice to come home. arriving at the front door with a sigh. home is good.

today was one of those perfect days where the kids got along sweetly, i was in a good frame of mind, and the sun was shining brightly. we used the day to catch up on chores and kitchen work. undertaking a nourishing traditions kind of diet requires plenty of food preparation. we started out the day riding our bikes to the grocery store as our poor cupboards were bare. rounding up all our necessary ingredients for the week we returned home and while mateo napped, what seemed forever, pilar and i set to work. the fruits of our labor today abound us with delicious chicken stock for black beans & rice i will make tomorrow. soaked & dehydrated walnuts & almonds, granola (not quite done as it is a 2 day process), whey & cream cheese, cultured veggies (they'll be ready on thursday), homemade mayo, and we even made homemade rapadura marshmallows for our upcoming weekend camping trip-- this was somewhat of an experiment and was so much fun. there is something about kitchen work that really is gratifying-- to look in the refrigerator and see it full of homemade, non-processed food is totally satisfying. and best of all, pilar is enjoying this process too. if i can help to foster a healthy, grateful relationship with food for my children i will feel a tremendous amount of success. living in a time where food is "convenient" i think it is invaluable to understand that food is, at the very core, our means to survival. and taking pleasure in its' preparation i am finding the most nourishing of all.

a week in ashland

the kids and i spent last week in ashland while david and tim went to the city to work. we had a lovely time hanging out with noni & babu. pilar spent a special day with noni working in her shop (the entire day!). this gave mateo and i some time to check out the story time at the library-- i have not been in there since i was a kid myself- it was sweet to be in there with my little boy who somewhat paid attention but had more fun running through the isles of books. not so surprising. we spent a sweet afternoon swimming in uncle mike's pool. enjoyed an evening at the band concert in the park including a sushi dinner (pilar's favorite). and a lovely celebration of tio's 30th birthday. hard to imagine my little brother just turned 30! pilar kept busy all week with a number of projects-- sewing bunnies, making corn husk dolls, sculpting with fimo, playing farm with maryann and sam, and endless other creative manifestations. mateo kept busy making messes of all sorts and falling madly in love with britt, tio's sweetheart (tio approves of his adoring lust). i enjoyed a few days off of major meal preparation, sleeping in, and being in the comfort of my childhood home which feels so safe and nurturing.

the kids then went on an overnight camping adventure with noni & babu, allowing david and i to spend a night together alone in ashland. it was good therapy for us- dinner with conversation and a movie with no interruptions- it really is the simple things that matter the most. meanwhile, the kids had an amazing time out in the woods getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, swimming in the lake and frolicking in the meadow. it is my hope that these memories will be burned in my children's minds for the rest of their days so that they might understand how truly fortunate they are-- they are certainly etched in mine.

thanks noni & babu for absolutely everything-- i do know how truly fortunate i am.

little boy tay tay...

...go blow your horn. yes, we have taken to calling him "tay tay". i am not sure it is a nick name i want to stick, but for now, as a toddler, it is pretty darn cute and so is he. with each day he uncovers just a little more of his personality for us to see. we are tickled by his silly and babbling nature, in awe of his ability to climb- really high and precarious situations, and only just a little concerned about his true little boy instinct.

how sweet is your love

mateo is fighting a little bug. the last two nights have been rough going for that little peanut. both nights i have had to bring him in to bed with us to snuggle a bit-- not that it really is that much of a sacrifice! and last night i brought him in, laid with him for a bit and then went off to brush my teeth and whatnot and i came back to find little mateo with his arm wrapped around his big sister's neck. talk about making your heart melt. their relationship seems to get stronger each day. mateo adores pilar and pilar teases him with loving affection to no end. i have a feeling that mateo might someday say what tio has said in the past-- that he feels like he has two mother's at times. but i think i have gotten better at not mothering my brother over the years and i am sure pilar will learn to do the same. especially if she has her own children to mother some day. but it is true that there is nothing quite like the love of a sibling-- it is irresistibly sweet.

"zappa zappa zappa..."

this is mateo's favorite word right now and he says it with such enthusiasm about most everything. i wish i knew exactly what it meant but regardless, it is adorable and we have all taken to saying it which delights him even more! ah the 18 month old, such a spark of willingness and curiosity. such a force of energy!