Old Bessie Comes Home!

The big exciting news this week is that OLD BESSIE CAME HOME! Michael has been working hard for the last year and half on creating an all electric car. We bought 'Old Bessie' as she was dubbed in June of 2008. We had such fun rumbling around in her for about a month before she was taken to a garage and her engine pulled.



So, in between all the traveling, household chores, being a super dad and super husband, my "Mr. Greenjeans" has been working very hard on this creation. The coolest thing about this car (aside from that it is convertible and totally retro) is that it makes NO SOUND. I didn't even hear Michael bring her home the other day. It's the stealth car.

Of course it is chilly and raining off and on. So, without a proper leak-proof top, we can drive her on those fair days. We bundle up in hats and coats and gloves and cruise off to school and errands. In fact, the other day I drove her to school so that I could totally brag about what my husband created. I said to a mom, "Well, I drove our electric car here!" She responded, "Oh, did you get a Prius?" I relished saying, "A PRIUS?? That's not electric. I drove our homemade electric car here. Want to see it?"

It's true. I'm a bit of a snot.

Here's a picture of the engine. How clean is this??



Michael and I even took her out on "date night" last night. We were going to have dinner and a movie. Well, we got dinner. We suffered through a few of those "previews" at the theater before being told we had to evacuate. I guess you're really not allowed to yell "fire" in a crowded theater. But, apparently the popcorn machine blew up. They say they'll give us a rain check. Like it's so easy for us to get out of the house. Michael said they should reimburse us the sitter too.

We are starting to sound like the cranky old couple who just took the horse and buggy out through the driving snow. Must be that "Fit Forever" class rubbing off on me.



In other news, I'm always pleased to see my kids sitting and reading. Of course, I don't know how I feel about the fact that they've taken to reading the parent manual. I mean, what kid reads "How to talk so kids will listen and How to listen so kids will talk"? Seriously?




And while I was pulling pix off the camera I found out that those varmints have been taking my camera and having a photo shoot with themselves. Looks like this was before the haircuts.






Speaking of hair cuts, Eily came over again the other day. No hair cuts! Eily whispered something in Amira's ear at one point and Amira said, "No. I'm not allowed to. My mom doesn't trust me any more."




Valerie has been socializing with friends from her new school and her old school. Natalie and Valerie enjoyed some homemade hot cocoa with fresh whipped cream. Yup, I went all Martha Stewart on those kids. I'm sure they didn't notice the difference between this and a cup of Swiss Miss.



Here you see Valerie and her friend Hannah posing at ninjas or something. Actually, this is one of the cloaks I made. The fact that it hasn't fallen apart yet makes me totally happy.



Speaking of not falling apart, I made another trip to Forever Fit this week followed by a pilates class today. I'm off to have Zumba tomorrow. Then I think the rest of the week I will spend in a wine and turkey coma.

How Hard Could It Be?

It has been a humbling week. I'm not saying the week hasn't been enjoyable. I'm saying that I learned a lot about myself in a short period of time. The tip that I'm about to learn a lesson usually starts with this phrase, "How hard could it be?" (I uttered this phrase before falling down a mountain on a snowboard, destroying a sewing pattern for an apron, deciding to keep chickens, choosing to have three children, getting a teaching credential, etc.)

On Saturday afternoon I picked up the phone to hear a child's voice that I didn't immediately recognize. "Do you want a turkey?" the voice asked. So many things ran through my mind. Is this a baby turkey that is looking for a home? Is it a full grown turkey looking for a home? Is it a Thanksgiving turkey that needs to go in the freezer?

Before I could go through all the scenarios in my head, I blurted out, "I'd love a turkey! Uh, who is this?" Well, it was my son's friend, Wyatt. Wyatt's dad is a hunter. In fact, we'd just gotten three duck breasts from him the week before. Wyatt informed us he'd be right over with his dad and the turkey.

Moments later a truck pulls up in front of the house full of men and boys wearing camouflage and three turkeys in the back of the truck. To be sure, these were very dead. Yes, ex-turkeys, if you will. After a quick photo shoot with kids holding up turkey tail feathers and posturing with the floppy, dead birds, we were offered some advice on how to quickly "breast out" the turkey.

I looked at the bird and thought it seemed like a shame just to split out its breast and throw the rest away. This bird gave its life so that we could live. (Okay, I know that's a bit over the top ... but it's really how I felt at the time). I said that I wanted to roast the whole thing. My naivete was met with chuckles and guffaws. I was told how there was no fat on these birds. They're working birds. They're dry and tough and gamy. I was even given a recipe for what sounded like wild turkey breast McNuggets.

How hard could it be? I'd just pluck it, have Michael clean it and roast that thing up and call it dinner.

So, like the white trash mom I am, I sat in the front yard plucking turkey feathers for quite a long time. I was amazed at how the body was still warm. This was fresh. As it started to cool down, I realized I forgot to "bleed" it. One thing I learned from reading Farm City was, you gotta bleed your game!




Yes, we strung that bird up, cut it's head off and it sort of bled into the bucket while I continued to pluck.

Fast forward to having gotten it all clean, washed out, stuffed with garlic, sage, rosemary and time and coated with olive oil, it looked like, well, TURKEY!

We stuffed about a stick of butter beneath the skin and doused it with red wine and vegetable stock. I also tented it with parchment paper.

Can I just say that it was amazingly delicious. Amira devoured an entire drumstick. I had a wing. We were told these extremities would be no good for eating. They were delicious. And I made a fine soup out of the rest of it.

We have to lay off for a few days as I'm pretty sure we'll be eating a more domesticated version next Thursday.

In other news, I've been continuing my Sunrise yoga and thoroughly enjoying everything but getting up while it's still dark out. Of course, this isn't really doing much to improve my bone density. So, I broke down and decided to try out a class at the gym.

By the way, the picture seen here was just too funny. I found it on the web while looking for yoga pix. Here is your basic Indian yoga and your basic Irish yoga:




Now, I am not known for my strength ... especially my upper body strength. So, I decided to take a "Forever Fit" class. This is a work out/strength/cardio training class for senior citizens. I figured I'd blow doors on it. I mean, how hard could it be?




OH MY GOODNESS!!! Now that was a humbling experience. These women who were clearly 20 or 30 years my senior (aside from being incredibly territorial about their mat space) could totally pump iron while keeping in step to this aerobic activity. I looked like a marching band reject (well, shhh! Don't tell anyone that I actually am!) That's right, I was out of step and having a hard time lifting that weight repeatedly. Lucky nobody got a concussion.

All those women have probably shot, plucked and cleaned their own holiday turkeys too. Well, they look like they could have.

Where I have been all these years? Some kind of fantasy land!

Well, off to my next caper: I'm going to sew some cloaks for the girls. I mean, how hard could it be?

Wahooo! Fall Is Here!!!

Truly, this must be the best time of year!



Amira is a leaf fairy


Jackson, Amira, Rex & Wyatt enjoy the "fall" of autumn

Sibling Support

I receive some very encouraging e-mails from those of you who follow the blog. Sometimes your messages really make me laugh. I have to share this one that came from my brother ... and since he had me as a sibling, he is wise in the ways siblings!

He can trade stories with Valerie when she grows up.


"Well...

When I need a good dialog to make me laugh at the beginning of the day, I go to your blog.

Thanks for the narration. Yes, words to live by, it doesn't hurt (ear piercing), I need a toilet, and why are my underwear in your purse. I am sure at Valerie's age the moment was over when the caper was figured out. However, the lessen learned is that you and your sister will be sharing clothes and sometimes you will not like what they do them (or leave in them); maliciously or not!

Yes, what a laugh... "... mommy, slow down you are walking too fast". Obviously not walking fast enough. I am sure if Valery knew whose underwear she was wearing, she would have been shouting "... hurry up mommy, faster ... faster!".

your brother...

scott"

Beauty School Drop Out

October has finally finished and I am so relieved! Way too many festivals, soccer games, parent meetings and fun, fun, fun. Poor kids. I felt like I was constantly leaving one party early to attend another party. Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Here are pictures of Valerie & Amira from soccer (before Edward Scissor Hands took over).







Amira has taken to a self taught cosmotology course. One morning she showed up at breakfast with freshly shorn bangs. I tried not to overreact. I simply said, "Honey, please don't cut your own hair. If you need a hair cut, let me know and I will take you out to get your hair cut."

Later that day Amira shows up at dinner with ALL HER HAIR missing from the front. Naturally, this is the point where she got a reaction out of me. I confiscated scissors and told her I wanted her to find the pile of hair and dispose of it. Absolutely no more home haircuts! Scissors are for cutting paper only and you must check them out from me when you want to use them.

Incidentally, that pile of hair showed up under the couch a couple of days later. Looked like a dead animal.

Well, the day after Halloween Amira has a little friend over. She and Eily are playing in the bounce house (still left over from the big party the night before). Then they disappear up the hall to play in her room for a while. Suddenly Rex is tattling, "Mommy!!! Amira cut her hair again!"

What? Are you kidding me??

Amira runs up the hall with even more of her hair missing. She shakes her head and tells me, "Nooooo! I didn't cut it! Eily cut it!" Then Eily comes up the hall right behind Amira as she continues, "I didn't cut my hair. I cut Eily's."



Needless to say, I had to re-confiscate scissors and had some explaining to do when Eily's dad came to pick her up.

Once Eily went home, it was time to take Valerie to get her ears pierced. I told her that when she was 8 years old she could get her ears pierced. She was so excited.

Here's her ear before the piercing:


And here's the ear after the first piercing and Valerie's classic "doesn't hurt a bit" face during the second:



And Dame Edna came to watch her sister get pierced:





In other news, Halloween was pretty tame. As usual, it got us to clean up our yard! We complained and complained (like we do every year) that this is a big pain and we are never doing it again. But, everyone actually had a great time and we decided we are definitely on for next year.

Here are some party pix below. I guess we were too busy partying and didn't take half the pictures we should have! Lots more people were there ... we just didn't get them!

Cleetus & Fatima (hosts of party):

Fancy Pants/Dirty Pants Hotels

Well, we had another weekend worth noting. Of course, I'm the kind of mom who doesn't bring a camera to an action packed weekend. That's right, I bring a cattle prod. I need one in order to get the kids from one activity to the next on our overscheduled weekends. I really must slow down. Really.

Saturday was the Harvest Festival at the girls' school. Of course it was also the wedding reception of Valerie's former teacher. We were honored to be invited. But then I got it in my head to take the kids to San Francisco to visit Michael for the night.

So, up we got cracking on Saturday morning. (I took the liberty of canceling soccer games since we were already overbooked). We packed up all our gear, including our own soup bowls, spoons and napkins. The Harvest Festival is a "green" event. It was pretty cool to sample all these homemade soups (I helped make the bean and bacon one!) in our own bowls and shop the homemade crafts. There were games for the kids, live music, food, nature crafts, more henna tattoos and a wonderful ambiance. I love that school.

Of course, we could only stay a couple of hours because we had to show our faces at the wedding reception. I was a little sorry we couldn't stay longer. However, with the kids, it's always good to leave on a high note! So, we popped in and wished everyone well and congratulations. The kids loaded up on juicy drinks (just to ensure that I would have to pull over several times during our would-be three hour drive).

Flash forward to making the hillbilly entrance at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco. Michael had a room overlooking California Street, so he could see us pull in and unload pillows, sleeping bags, trash from the trip and forget to tip the valet. (I went back later and tipped!) You know, some day my kids are going to stay at a Motel 6 and not know what to make of it.




We took the kids out for sushi for dinner. We thought this would give Valerie a chance to practice her Japanese. You know, we thought she'd throw out a, "こんにちは " or something. Or at least a, "ありがとう". I think she needs to learn how to say "tempura ice cream" if she wants to eat it. Maybe that will be some incentive.

Anyhow, Michael was working. So, he spent the evening with us and had to take off early Sunday morning. My plan was to take the kids out for croissants and hot chocolate and then to Chinatown and perhaps the park. After a sugar load at the Illy Cafe at the bottom of the Fairmont Hotel we scooted down the hill to Chinatown. Of course it looked nothing like this on Sunday morning. It was more of a ghost town.




So, we went to a little park in Chinatown. The kids were playing together so nicely and I found a patch of sun in the fog from where I could watch the old guys doing Tai Chi. Suddenly Amira runs up to me, "Mommy! I gotta go to the bathroom!!!! It's an emergency. And it's not #1!!!"



This was a disaster. San Francisco is not known for being a public restroom friendly town. But it is even less so when everything is shuttered up on a Sunday morning. I grabbed Amira's hand and asked her to hold it as best she could as we bounded up the hill as fast as we could. Rex and Valerie trudged behind us complaining that we needed to wait up.

We ran up hill for about 2 blocks and came to the lovely Ritz Carlton.



I dragged Amira through their lush lobby and past the fancy pants porter into the extremely lush women's room. I stuffed Amira into her own private stall and went over to check out the sink and the individual cloth hand towels. Ooooo la laaaa!

Well, flash forward a few minutes and I'm pulling the kids out of the Ritz and back up to the Mark Hopkins (which is seriously at the TOP of the gigantic hill). Valerie begins to complain that we are not going back down to the park when she notices something, "Mommy, why are my underwear in your purse?"

Before I could respond Amira proudly states, "BECAUSE I POOPED IN THEM, VALERIE!"

Moral of that story, if there is one, would be: If you are going to have an accident, have it in someone else's undies. Oh, also, if you've gotta go, you should check out the Ritz. Nice potties.

Donna Reed Weekend

This was a wonderful, completely do-able weekend (for a change). I feel like I accomplished a ton. Also, the kids had a great time -- all three of them. Michael, on the other hand, is working extremely hard (on the other side of the country) just so we can enjoy such a good life.



Saturday morning we all had to get up early. Michael got up the earliest so he could catch his flight to the East Coast. Then I woke the kids and got them all out the door to respective obligations. Valerie was all packed up and ready to go to a "Hoes Down" at Full Belly Farm. Since 3rd Grade focuses on farming, it was recommended the kids go enjoy and learn. Of course, I couldn't make it. So, Valerie was dropped off at her BF's house with the camping gear and some cash. Valerie was off to see goats, grind grain, get lost in hay mazes and camp under the fat moon with the hound dogs baying outside the tent. Apparently she was quite cold but managed to have a fantastic time. She came home today with a big old smile slapped across her farm happy face.

Amira, Rex and I trudged off to another soccer match. Although Amira's team didn't win today, Amira's goal saved them from another shut out. Grampa Alligator was able to come be a sports spectator with us. Immediately following the match we stopped by the Saturday Farmers Market. That place is just a year round festive way to shop. And honestly, everyone from the girls' school seems to be there. So, it was quite social. We bought tons of apples, a few peaches, some grapes, eggs (yes, my chickens are molting and not paying rent at the moment) and picked up some freshly milled spelt flour from Miller's Bake House.

Then Rex and Amira talked me into buying some tamales and eating them on the sidewalk. This is the point where we realized a mom from Amira's school was selling henna tattoos. So, Amira got a beautiful henna tattoo on her hand. It's really intricate and quite impressive.


When we came home we pulled out the apple-pealer-corer-slicer and proceeded to whip up a pie with a spelt crust. Mmmmm-mmmm! Amira and Rex played well together all afternoon. Then Rex's friend, Wyatt, came over for a sleep-over. Everyone one was so polite and played so well together. And I got the lawn mowed. It was like a dream.

This morning, because I was still excited about that freshly ground spelt, I whipped up some yogurt-pancakes. The kids went crazy for them (especially the ones with blueberries). Then I pulled out the Tassajara Bread Book to get ideas. I'm presently pulling together a veggie-lentil soup and baking flower shaped rolls for dinner. I'm also putting together some nice cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I haven't told the kids the flour is spelt. We're on a "don't ask: don't tell" policy with regard to that. They're just excited to have something that's not almond flour or gluten free.


Well, I'm gonna go put on my pumps and pearls so I can finish up that laundry and vacuum the living room.

Soccer Updates

Of course in the last post I mention how Amira's team was smeared across the field by the other "under 6" team. Apparently they have a mini-Mia Hamm on their team, or rumor has it.



By the third game, Amira's team was really getting into it. They finally understood the whole idea of getting the ball into the goal net of the other team. Field positions? Well, not so much.

Michael and I were sitting on the sidelines (like we usually do) during Amira's last game prepared to cheer and be supportive. What we weren't prepare for was that as soon as the whistle blew for kick off, Amira elbowed her way through all the girls, snagged the ball, took it to the other end of the field and scored a goal. Then, of course, she gave herself a big round of applause. This was wildly entertaining.

Then, the whistle blew again. Some poor player on the other team had no idea what she was in for as Amira barreled her way through the players to take the ball down the field again for another goal.

There were a few frustrating moments for poor Amira when she just couldn't get to the ball. Well, she wasn't going to let any player stand in her way - not even a player on her own team.




The referee actually pulled her aside to give her a talk. We thought for sure she was going to get a card thrown on her. But maybe they don't do that in the under 6 league?



Although she turned into less of a bulldozer after the chat with the ref, she wasn't deterred from getting all the glory. I think she scored a total of 3 goals for her team and might have gotten credit for "an assist".

All in all, it was an entertaining game. And so unexpected! Hopefully we can pour some good sportsmanship into our mini-Mia.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

We're on a moving train whether we like it or not. I think everyone is having lots of fun but also have little bags under their eyes. I've got big bags under mine.

Last weekend there was no rest for the weary. We were down at the soccer field for Amira's first ever soccer game. Apparently it was also the first soccer game ever for everyone on her team. The other team, on the other hand, seemed to have a bunch of seasoned five year old players. As soon as the whistle blew and the ball was kicked off, the other team took that ball straight down the field and into the goal. This sequence was repeated several times. It was funny to watch Amira's very kind hearted coach stand out there and point to the opposite end of the field, "That way, girls! That way! Take the ball that way!" Our girls ran screaming after the ball and kicked it every chance they got, but in no particular direction.

After an embarrassing number of points had been scored against our team, Amira managed to get a hold of the ball and take it down the field for our one and only goal that game. "Did you see that? I kicked the ball in there! Do I get a trophy now?" The other team kept taking players off the field to give Amira's team a bit of a power play and more of a chance, but it didn't work. At one point they had a mere two players on the field held back in defensive position for the kick off, allowing our girls to take the ball all the way to the end of the field. Once there, the other team (both girls) took that ball back and ran down the other end of the field and scored another goal.

Now, they don't keep score at this level of soccer ... but if I had to guess what the score would have been, I'd say about 18 to 1. Our girls had a blast though. They just loved wearing their new uniforms and running after the ball screaming and kicking. I don't think they realized they were smeared by the other team.

I have a feeling that practice this week will be a lot different from past practices.

Of course, we had to trot back down to the field later that afternoon for Valerie's game. Valerie is in her 6th or so season of playing soccer - and it shows. Watching her game was exciting. It was a very close game. The other team scored one goal. Valerie's team had several shots on goal, but didn't quite get it in. The skill at this level was impressive and exciting.

There was another exciting element to the day at the field. Now, usually I make it a point to not drink too much coffee or tea while at the soccer field. On one end of the field there are some port-a-potties. On the other end of the field are public bathrooms ... where the meth-heads like to hang out. Unfortunately I finished off a big glass of tea during Valerie's game and decided I really had to visit the closest bathroom which, in this case, was the public restroom known to be a meth-head hangout.

As I approached the bathrooms I said some prayers and made some wishes that I wouldn't find any tweakers in there. I bumped one of the two stalls open with my elbow and put myself into one of those incredible balancing poses learned at yoga (because I really didn't want to touch anything in there). This of course gave me a view under the wall into the next stall. I saw a woman face down on the filthy cement floor. I looked away pretending that I didn't see that. But then my conscience made me look back. "Are you okay? Do you need help?" I asked. A concrete muffled, "Yes" came back to me.




"Ummm, yes you're okay or yes you need help?" There was no answer. So, I had to say to myself that she must need help or she wouldn't be laying face down on the nasty public bathroom floor. I am not good in an emergency situation. The little voice in my head says, "Don't panic, go get help." But then the rest of me runs out of the bathroom announcing to all the parents on the sideline, "Hey! There's a woman face down on the disgusting bathroom floor in there. I think she needs help!"

A quick thinking mom dialed 911 on her cell phone and followed me back in the bathroom with her husband and Michael. Michael is always a boy scout. That guy is so calm in an emergency and never panics. He asked her what her name was, if she was hurt, what's the last thing she remembered. While he was doing that the other mom was talking to the 911 dispatcher. I was looking at the floor of the bathroom where the woman was laying next to two cigarette lighters and a crumpled up $20 bill smelling the stench of alcohol trying to figure out what would drive someone to this state.



Well, a couple of the sideline parents were EMT's it turned out. So, they stayed with the woman until the ambulance and fire department showed up. And when they did show up, it turned out they were checking on a few other people passed out in the field around us. I had no idea there were so many people in that condition all around us that day. It was a little alarming.

So, really, only two months worth of Saturday soccer games to endure at that beautiful location. Note to self: No liquids before and during the games!

This weekend was also a big trip for Valerie & Amira with scouts to the Water Works park in Redding. Although it had been incredibly hot the week before, it was about 64 degrees the morning we showed up at the water park. It did eventually heat up to almost 80 degrees. But those girls were blue lipped and exhausted on the way home.

Here's "No Fear" Amira.



Here's Valerie with her friend Natalie:


Of course, we had to get the girls a good night rest Sunday because they each had their first day of school Monday morning. Miraculously the school came together. The classrooms were gorgeous and a great (but exhausting) day was had by all. Valerie had her first Spanish lesson too. I think she realized how much Spanish she doesn't know. But it is still exciting. Valerie went on and on about how different this school is from her old school ... in every way! If I were a kid again, I'd want to go to this school. Heck, as an adult I want to go to this school!



Hopefully in a week or so we will be back into a groove. The train will keep chugging along but not at such a quick clip. And I'm headed toward the sleeping car!

Dead Cat!

It's Labor Day weekend. True to its name, there has been much labor around. First, friends of ours delivered twins the other day (yay!) And now the girls' school is finally preparing for students.

Officially, school will start September 14th for the girls. And I am very excited. I hope they are too. Because the entire school is moving into a new facility, there is so much work to be done. Michael went over to help Amira's soon-to-be-kindergarten-teacher with her room. He wound up helping her tape the room so that she could paint. He also moved a bunch of little tables and chairs to the hall just outside the room. I came over yesterday to see if I could help. The room was already painted a beautiful peachy-pink with a rag texture. There was a large square of carpet in one corner and the bones of a loft laying on the floor. My job wound being to clean all the little pieces of furniture and prime book shelves so they could be painted to match the walls.

I was so impressed with all the little high quality pieces of furniture. They're all made of solid wood. The toys for the classroom are wooden. The teacher is planning on cooking with the kids (bread, cinnamon rolls. oatmeal, etc.) It has such a homey feel to the room. Instead of trodding off to school each day with a back pack with 29 other students, doing work sheets and getting used to the concept of homework, Amira will be experiencing play and fairy tales and cooking with 19 other students.

Now, some people might have anxiety about the lack of work sheets and site words at the new kindergarten. But, honestly, I am thrilled that she is going to gain another year of her childhood. And when she crosses over to first grade, she'll get math, writing, art, recorder, knitting, Spanish, Japanese, etc. How cool is that?

I have high hopes that this school will mellow me out. Ultimately. But for now, I see that I need to come down and help tape, paint, clean, move and anything else that will help those teachers get school started September 14th. It's hard to believe that the school will be entirely transformed within a week. But, I tell you, just getting colors on those walls changes the drab once-upon-an-insurance building into a warm and welcoming school.

Anyhow, upon returning home from the school-in-progress, I found three kids with pink hair and a soaking wet unidentifiable charred lump of something in the driveway and Michael at his wits end. What started out as a "Happy Un-Father's Day" where the kids created a special breakfast for Michael and built him a "thrown" of cushions on the living room floor ended kids covered with nail polish, colored hair spray and our buckwheat cat bursting into flames in the microwave.



Kids are no longer allowed to use the microwave.



In fact, each time I heat up something in there, the house is infused with the unmistakable aroma of charred cat.

We don't really need any more holiday weekends. We need these kids to get back into the groove of school.