Chard

After a very long stint producing leaves, I pulled this chard. I still have two strong plants growing. Still incredibly yummy. The young greens are delicious with fresh squeezed lemon, olive oil and a bit of sea salt and cracked pepper.

Summer Road Trip One of Two: Part II Alcatraz

Davenport Jail

The boys and I left Davenport, CA, bright and early to visit a current family obsession: Alcatraz Island.

Alcatraz main cellhouse

Alcatraz operated as a federal penitentiary for only 29 years (1934-1963) but remains notorious for housing the most dangerous criminals of the time on the island in the middle of the frigid Bay. The natural conditions of the isolated penitentiary made escape highly unlikely. Fourteen prisoners attempted escape, three remain unfound. The story of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers is part of the reason why my family is so curious about Alcatraz.

Alcatraz library

The most popular books in the library were philosophy books: Schopenhauer, Kant and the classics.

interior cellblock

The cellblock made quite an impression on the boys. They wouldn't enter inside any of the open cells.

The short cruise back to the City is a delight with the skyline so vivid, the Bay speckled with sailboats racing in the strong wind.

After we docked, we discovered in the few hours we were on the island, steps away Pier 29 had burned terribly. I wondered if the spark was slowly burning when we drove past it early in the morning or if the fire source, a frayed wire, acetone soaked rags near a heater or whatever, was in place as we passed it when this old building was still solid. Strange how quickly dramatic change occurs, how something small can erupt into something so large.

Summer Road Trip One of Two: Part I

Cuyucos pier

Back in March or so, I was hit with the notion of a summer road trip with the boys. My idea was to leave immediately after school got out and head to northern California to see friends, take in some sights and enjoy the adventure of a road trip. I planned to head out alone with the boys for the bulk of the trip, Eric would join us for a few days in Berkeley.

I love California. It is such a beautiful state and I'm grateful to call it home. The send off from LA caught us in traffic, so we snailed out way through the southeastern part of the Valley, broke out on the other side and didn't look back until we were facing the other way to come home.

We spent a night in Davenport on our way to San Francisco. I've always loved this small town on a quiet part of the Pacific Coast Highway.

The boys and I enjoyed a walk around the town, taking in the community garden, the sound of the Pacific crashing against the bluffs and the two cell jail, now shuttered, and used only once when it was active.

Kid Jam Business

While I was tucking my youngest into bed one evening, he informed me he was going into the strawberry jam business with details about how he would make it and what he would do with his earnings which includes taking over the duties of buying groceries. He informed me I need only make a list, he'd take care of the rest. The next morning, he showed me the recipe he would use that he found in his High Five Highlights magazine.

We dove into the project. I assisted with the grown up things (reading, lifting heavy pots, etc.), but this guy lead the entire project from the hulling and mashing of the strawberries...

to the stirring of the jam...

to the filling of the jars and preparing them for the final water bath. He's already made two sales. His first to his oldest brother. We made a second batch, strawberries hand picked at Underwood Farms, before we headed out on a road trip of northern California.

Safety Razor Shaving Update

It's been a while since I've posted anything here but its been an especially long time since I've posted an update about shaving with a safety razor. That's partly due to the fact that nothing has really changed since I last posted, until now. My last useable blade from the purchase I described in May 2009 is in my razor now and is almost too dull to use. I say useable because I was only able to endure 2 or 3 shaves with the Dorco blades and will likely throw the rest away.

So that's 40 blades over 3 years? It sounds hard to believe but I haven't shaved with anything else except on business trips or vacation when I use the remaining cartridges from my old razor. I do that because they are easier to fly with (no bag checks) and because I still have some left over from before I got my Merkur razor kit. When those cartridges are gone I'm not sure what I'll do.

At this rate it looks like I'm going through about 12 blades a year. I only shave between one to three times a week and I have a pretty light beard so that helps.  I am about to buy 100 Feather blades from West Coast Shaving for $40.00.  When I started shaving the Feathers were too sharp for me but now I have the touch and have found them to give the best shave and to last the longest. It looks like I won't be buying more blades for about 8 years or so.


Related Posts:
Father's Day Gift Idea: Traditional Double Edge Razor
Shaving in Style with the Merkur Safty Razor
Razor Blade Sharpener
Wet Shaving Update
More Blades Arrive
Shaving Update

Post School Wrap Up

The end of school is marked with beekeeping presentations at the preschool and elementary school. This year, I did a solo presentation at the elementary school due to Eric's busy schedule. I always love watching him talk about the bees.

My oldest son's class grew a beautiful edible garden thanks to the guidance and efforts of fellow parent Julie Desmond. At the end of the year, she and the kids harvested the fruits of their labor and together we made soup over a camp stove behind the classroom.

And chamomile tea, grown and harvested by the kids, so delicious they might be able to go into business with this.

Sometimes a Great Dog

Moxie, Joshua Tree, April 2006

A great dog can change your life. You meet on the street in a sketchy Los Angeles neighborhood blocks from the now shuttered Rampart Police Station. Life on the street isn't easy for anyone, human or young dog just beyond the edge of puppy. But a great dog can make an introduction, can overcome her intense fear of people and allow you to clean her wounds. I remember what I said to her the evening she followed me home. "I can't tell you how this will turn out, but I can guarantee it's a lot better than what you've got going on right now."

She looked at me with her brown soulful eyes, spoke in low howls and took a chance on me.

Little did I know, she would introduce me to the man who became my partner in life. Eric adopted Moxie shortly after I took her in off the street. Moxie and Eric feel in love immediately. She was an intense dog and her street instincts she picked up in her early life never completely left her. But she also had a gentle side (never shown to possums or skunks).

She was the toughest being I ever knew. So strong. Her body aged faster than her spirit, although she lived a long life.

May 2012

A salute to a great dog. I miss you, your sweet welcoming howls as I approach the gate to home, your bad habits too. Sometimes a great dog comes into your life and your life changes, you change and become better person. Thank you, Moxie.

A great dog and wonderful friend: birth date unknown-6/1/12.

Annals of Play

The armada readies for sail to friends and family. Senior son's creation.

Marble track. Free-for-all general marble bedlam in the interior, the sound of glass crisply colliding, the ping of the marble meeting metal. Picked up one by one and lined up like a precision acrobatic team to orbit the rim, spinning round, then gracefully descending to the concrete. A slight push sends them around again with the red, green, yellow swirls in the center fluttering like tiny flags. Youngest son's creation.

And the reason why I've been away. My sweet mother's day gift. The house dirties. Dog hair swirls in tufted eddies under the couch. Suppers are pulled like a miracle from quickly assembled foods. In the evening, the kitchen is tidied. Dishes cleaned. I sit down and play, go to bed too late, and wake up in the morning with my body hazy from lack of sleep to start the cycle over again. I am in love.

Mother's Day Benefits

Thanks to our generous friends the Oclaray's, we enjoyed a Dodger's baseball game on Mother's Day weekend. Great seats. A Dodger's win. Our friend's gave us their tickets for the Friday night game as they were busy. Busy with the arrival of their newborn daughter. Although baseball is a great way to celebrate Mother's Day, having a baby is even better. Congratulations Oclaray family! And thank you.

Into Plein Air

On the way to preschool early in the morning, my son and I rode next to the San Gabriel mountains near Eaton Canyon. Sage speckled the hillsides with blooming purple spires. Orange poppies fluttered like tethered butterflies with wings splayed open surrounded by the pervasive yellow dots of mustard blossoms. My youngest son asked to pull over immediately, hike a path and paint. I explained we weren't prepared for a painting hike today but we could do it tomorrow. "With snacks?" he asked.

Absolutely. We dropped his big brother at school the following day and headed straight to the area around Eaton Canyon that spoke so clearly to his imagination the previous day. A four year old with a paint brush is a beautiful thing. He paints with such intention yet filled with freedom. A lesson to all.

Painting has it's pleasures and rewards, but really, it's all about the snacks, the open air and adventure.

May this notebook (and many more) be filled with the celebrations and commemorations of being out in the places that call to you mixed with the calm complexity of all that is within.

Mother's Day

The boys and I made hand dipped candles at my oldest son's suggestion as presents for our mothers/grandmothers. Wax from our bees.

 

Homegrown bouquets plucked and arranged by my oldest boy adorned the table. Gathered around were mothers, family, great company, with the sounds of music and the steady hum of conversations and stories shared as we sat before plates full of delicious food.

One of the fine kids who opened the door to the amazing journey of motherhood. I am so grateful for the love and wisdom my sons share with me.

And my very own beeswax candle, hand made with plenty of love, presented to me first thing in the morning with the greeting, "You are cool, clever and awesome." A salute to all the mothers along the road.

In the Yard

Carpenteria californica aka Bush Anemone ready to explode 

Carpenteria californica aka Bush Anemone 

Hordeum murinum aka Foxtail or Wall Barley

Newest Ramshackler

Our dog Trudy told us about this development long ago. She would camp out underneath the olive tree, hackles raised, barking like mad. I would peer up and search but see nothing. Perhaps a squirrel? Not likely. Not with Trudy's raised hackles.

On Sunday, we all became acquainted with Trudy's nemesis...eyeball to eyeball on the front porch. This raccoon is one of three to claim Camp Ramshackle as home.

Hand Sewn Doll

In preparation for the preschool's Carnival on May 5th, I also made a hand sewn doll for the hand made fundraising booth. When my youngest was about two, I made him a doll completely by hand only to be stymied by the hair. How to attach it? For my son's doll, I painstakingly sewed on each strand directly to the head and knotted the yarn. Not recommended. It took a really long time.

I bought the book Sewing Dolls by Karin Neuschutz after my son's doll was complete in hopes of learning more about the construction of hand sewn dolls in the Waldorf style. For this doll, I sewed the yarn flat onto the head like a yarn toupee, then added rows of yarn hair on top of that to give more depth to the hair style.

The early sewing was very quick.

Including sewing the face. However, that yarn hair still undoes me. I think this doll may be the last one I ever make. And it can be yours, if you come to Sierra Madre Community Nursery School's Carnival on May 5, 2012, and saunter to the hand made booth and buy it. Your support is appreciated.

Garden Work

The end of school nears. The sunny weekend bears the promise of summer around the corner. I find myself in the yard pulling weeds, day dreaming, planning summer trips and preparing for the preschool's school's end carnival. This year, I finally got it together to plant some seed starts and replant many succulents to sell at the garden booth of the preschool fundraiser. Each family is required to donate a plant, but I've always wanted to bring a few more. There's no added cost, it's just a matter of planning and a push from good intentions to action.

A few weeks ago, I posted a query for terra cotta pots on freecycle. A fellow poster cleaned out her reserves and left them in neat stacks on her front porch. I picked them up & put them to use with clippings from my garden. I hope these pups will find a good new home. Perhaps you? Carnival is May 5, 2012, 10AM-4PM at Sierra Vista Park in Sierra Madre.

First Newt of the Season

Our after school canyon adventure with classmates marked the first catch (and release) of a newt this season.

Other wildlife sightings: juncos, one raven swooping low through the canyon & many squirrels. None held.

From fellow adventurer Julie Desmond on the newt (thanks, Julie!):

It was a California newt. They go through a terrestrial phase (non-breeding, where their skin is all bumpy) and an aquatic phase (breeding, where their skin becomes smooth and they develop a swollen 'vent' (what we were noticing on its underside) and rough 'nuptial pads' on their hands each year once they reach maturity (after 2-3 years). They tend to return to the same breeding spot every year, sometimes traversing miles over land to get there (they're often seen in large numbers after spring rains heading to breeding spots). Their skin secretes tetrodotoxin, 'a potent neurotoxin which can cause death in many animals if eaten in sufficient quantity' (but note that the poison can also be ingested through a mucous membrane or a cut in the skin, so care should always be taken when handling them). Tetrodotoxin is the same toxin that pufferfish produce.

Replanting•Planting

volunteer succulents given new home

the unseen magic of the seed: basil, cilantro & dill