Paper Pie

Grateful

Today, I am grateful for:

* all of the fun, learning and creativity that can happen with the simplest of materials.

* an updated look with larger photos on this here blog. I am still working on it and I have more changes in the works, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.


* the late afternoon sunshine an how it glistens on my baby's newly sprouted hair and beckons me to kiss those soft flaxen locks.

* the abundance of amazing flea markets in this great big city (or cities.)

* the discovery of a new bakery that sells nothing but mini cheesecakes. They have over 120 flavors, even savory ones like cheddar sun dried tomato basil, um, yum.

* a very special friend that offers me companionship, lunch, and conversation again and again.

* a baby that is full of wonder and is growing and changing every minute. I could never dull of expressing my gratitude for the precious experience of motherhood.

* helpful neighbors that let us know that a swarm of bees has taken up residence in our backyard fuse box. I have a call in with these folks and am hopeful they will come and offer their assistance.

* A toy closet (with a door.)

* Sneaking in our February Soul Weekend at the very last opportunity.

* New cowboy boots for our pony ride during said weekend.

* the gloomy clouds in the sky this afternoon promising rain. And I even heard rumors of a thunderstorm (what?)

* an increase in appetite for the above mentioned growing toddler. It does a mama's heart good.

What is making your heart sing lately?

Hello From Sunday

What did you do today?

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Amanda Soule

On President's Day

A day that Ryan has off work is always a special occasion. I love the easy and relaxed holidays that the first few months of the year grant to us. It is as if we are given a few extra days off because the months are so long and mid-winter is slow going. President's Day is just that sort of day. A day to go out for breakfast and hit up a museum, which is just what we did on Monday. This particular President's Day was extra special because it was a cloudy and gray day, which is a rare treat around these parts. After our breakfast, we headed to the LACMA for some music, art, and fun. We three loved the super lively, interactive drumming experience that is Rhythm Child.

This ceramic tile mural by Henri Matisse was commissioned in the 50s by a local family for their garden wall. Can you imagine?

Rylie ran into this room shouting ba ba ba and wanted to touch the sculpture in the worst way. We quickly distracted her with all of the Picassos in the next room, which she dug and we had her saying Picasso before we left. However, her favorite part of the whole day was the giant spaghetti installation outside the main entrance. This interactive display of plastic tubular noodles collects sunlight all day and glows in the dark at night. She loved running through, touching every strand, collecting a whole armful of noodles and letting them fly. She was enthralled for at least a half an hour and I thought this would be a great place to return on days when the going gets tough.





This reminds me that I have blogged about another installation in this same spot a few years back. Remember this?

When we were walking back from the museum to our car, I noticed the way the vibrant green of the first growth of spring was contrasting against the pale sky. The trees looked as if they were glowing and I felt incredibly grateful to be strolling along with my honey and my baby on a Monday afternoon. It brought my heart a bit of joy to experience live music with Ryan and Rylie together and I felt energized after witnessing the pure bliss and spirit of so many kids that filled the courtyard and the museum that day. Each little heart, mind and body was filled with giddy movement, laughs and screams, running, skipping and truly living in the present moment. It was a beautiful day indeed.

Simple Food: Oven Roasted Broccoli

I spend a lot of my day in the kitchen, some days it feels like I've been in there the whole day. And I love it. I find myself deliberately moving slower, breathing deeper and thoroughly enjoying myself. Not washing dishes or cleaning up my messes of course, but I love to prepare food. I relish in time spent making, chopping, washing, mixing, smelling and imagining how it will all come together. Lately it seems I have found myself cooking the same things again and again in very simple ways. I try to focus on a few nutritious, whole foods put together in irresistable ways. I would like to share some of these with you here for the next little while in a series I'm calling Simple Food. I like the idea of documenting this here as a refernce of sorts so I can remember some of my favorte things if I should forget and transition to something else which tends to happens. I am not a food loyalist, as I like most everything and I am always interested in trying new things. Please do share your favorite foods and preparations in the comments or leave a link to your blog, I would love to share information.

Since we started receiving all of the fresh and delicious vegetables that show up in our CSA box, I have gratefully accepted the challenge of figuring out ways to prepare it all. It is so much fun when I know that the box is waiting for me, I can hardly wait to bring it inside and dig in. I ooh and ahh and start concocting recipes in my head as I pull out each savory bit. There is usually a little something inside to throw me a curve ball, something interesting that I have never cooked with before. For instance, this week there was romanesco. I still haven't figured that one out, but will definitely let you know what I do with it and how it tastes.

I grin from ear to ear when I open the box and see broccoli looking back at me. With all of its health benefits, I will gladly eat the whole bunch in one sitting and this preparation is especially delicious. Incidentally, my friend and fellow meal swappie, Maya, told me that you can save the big broccoli stalk and cut it up into small pieces and use as you would a carrot. For instance, you could put them in soup or sauté in coconut oil and serve with your eggs in the morning. I like the philosophy of using the whole plant, like nose to tail eating.

* Preheat oven to 425


* Cut a head of broccoli into florets and mince 2 cloves of garlic

* Toss broccoli and garlic with a bit of olive oil

* Put 1/3 cup of plain bread crumbs in a baking pan and place in oven for a few minutes until toasted

* Remove breadcrumbs and toss to combine with broccoli and garlic

* Return the mixture to the pan and roast for 20 minutes

* Add 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese and serve

I love this simple and delicious preparation and will eat every bit of it for lunch at least once a week. Please do tell me what you are cooking?

Hello From Sunday

What did you do today?

Links To Share

I hope you find something new here!

* Ryan's friend produced this very compelling movie

* The Bulldog With The Piglets

* A beautiful vintage shop on Etsy

* I suspect we may need more than our Brita

* The House On The Hill

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Amanda Soule 

A Morning With The Ducks

I do a lot of reading about being fully open to the present moment and responding appropriately, but I often get caught up in the practice and what that means in real life. One chilly morning last week, Rylie awoke and I knew immediately it would be one of those days. My baby, bless her heart, was not interested in anything I had offered her for breakfast. She didn't want her diaper changed nor her pajamas off. She didn't want to play with her toys, or to draw, or to sing and dance. Ride her bike? No way (as she says.) She resisted all of our go to activities. As she made her discontent known, I remembered all of the ducks at a nearby park. Ryan and I decided to rearrange our morning and bring those little duckies some bread instead.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a paddling of opportunistic ducks swimming across the lake to come and see what we had for them. It was early, before the world was awake, before the park was flooded with people on what was sure to be a sunny Saturday. I love to be out at that time of day and it felt extra special to have that big park to ourselves in such a densely populated city. The sky was steely gray and made the water look black. It was muddy, cold and wet. I had anticipatd the cold and brought my mug of hot tea, but I was not anticipating the mud as Rylie was wearing white pants, but no bother.


Rylie was delighted, we were relieved and the ducks were extraordinary. There were big and small, black and white, male and female, brazen and timid. I had no idea there was such a diverse group of them living there in the park. I can't wait to go back in the springtime when there are sure to be ducklings. Their chorus of unique voices rang out to let us know just what they were looking for.


I brought three slices of bread, sure that would be plenty, but I underestimated just how many ducks lived at this lake and just how voracious their appetites. Rylie tore a piece of bread in half and quickly threw it into the water. The mass of ducks leapt excitedly for the prize. The lucky duck that got ahold of it, dashed across the water and a large excited gang followed him, demanding that he share his generous bounty. The ones that stayed with us were eating the bread right from Ryan's outstretched hand. We also had to keep a watchful eye behind us for the very forward squirrels that would sneak up on us, surely formulating plans of their own.

We took a walk up the hill and explored this big green park that is so close to home. A lovely memory shared and a whole little world of experiences that may have been missed had we remained inflexible to the challenges of the moment. As it turns out, Ryan and I still accomplished all that we needed to that day, probably much more efficiently too.

Cookies With Friends

Oh dear, you must forgive me for my absence here. On Monday, I came down with the most awful flu-like symptoms and spent the entire day in bed reading stories to Rylie. Yesterday I felt tons better but may have pushed myself too hard because we had a pretty busy day with hearts and flowers and chocolate and all. So here I am today, chomping at the bit to tell you about a little Valentine cookie decorating party we had last week. Fauna brought over a whole bag of heart shaped sugar cookies and we whipped up some icing and got busy. Not before all three of us donned an apron of course. Once in aprons, Rylie showed Fauna all of her dance moves and Fauna delighted by mimicking each one.

After the dance party we got straight to the cookie party.


They would drizzle a bit of frosting on a cookie, then yell: prinkles! prinkles! reaching for the can of sprinkles and shake a few on top, and then down the hatch they went. After a  while Fauna gave up on the cookies all together and went straight for the good stuff. Sharp girl, this one.


Yes, it seems that the eating of cookies outranks the decorating of cookies when you are a toddler (and an adult, too!) Being 18 months and 2 and half they are very busy these days. When they are together it is a nonstop adventure of eating, pottying, diapering, playing, drawing, rearranging, loud voices, giggles, tears, all of that. They are just beginning to really socialize and work together on projects and activities. It is quite fun to watch when they are deeply concentrating on the task at hand without a care in the world. The littlest ones know no other way than to be completely and truly absorbed in the moment. I follow them around and try to learn all I can from the purity and authenticity that they bring to everything they do.

Though our cookie party did not last long that day, we were able to save three cookies to give to daddy when he got home from work that night. When I gave Rylie the plate to bring to him she couldn't help but snatch one more for herself. This girl knows what she likes, if it were up to her we would have a cookie party everyday.