Happy Sustainable Birthday!

February is birthday month here at the Wilhelm house. We celebrated Michael's 42nd birthday on the 8th. And we will celebrate Amira's 5th birthday on the 18th.


Michael and I have been scratching our heads trying to find ways to make our lifestyle a bit simpler and more sustainable looking into the future. We're trying to be kind to ourselves and take babysteps. I'm sure I'm the biggest offender as I hop into the minivan daily for my errands. So, my big goal is to be better about riding that bike around town. (Which is much easier to do when the temperatures fall into the 70s. I'm such a creature of comfort that if it is too hot or too cold ... well, let's just say I wouldn't survive in the wild long).

Anyhow, I was out looking for a gift for Amira today. She is in love with beautiful dresses that make her look like a princess. She also has an Emelda Marcos sort of fascination with shoes, but that is another topic for another day.

Rather than drive down to Target or some big box and grab a new, cheaply made dress, we decided to try the ARC and Salvation Army stores first. Unfortunately, I think lots of other people have had that idea first and probably for years before I ever did. They were tapped out. Michael suggested looking into the Baby Boutique close to our house. Although I thought it was a stretch, I popped in anyhow.

Wow! That place rocks. If I had a new born, I would do all of my shopping there. The store is all "elite repeat" wear and eco friendly and locally made goods. Lots of Moby Wraps and Klean Kanteens and stuff. Most of the clothing would be better suited to somone under the age of 4. But I told the owner my dilemma. She went into the back room and pulled out the most beautiful dress (not pictured here because it is hiding in a box!) It had belonged to her daughter as an Easter dress years ago. Her daughter is now 8 and was happy to relinquish the dress for all of $12. What a deal!

And while I was there I found something most moms would love to know about: straws! Why do you care about straws? Well, kids love to drink from straws. I just hate the waste of buying plastic straws and throwing them away. They have sets of bamboo straws (pictured here).



They are Fair Trade and totally reusable. To santize simply place in bath of water and vinegar and boil for 20 mins. How cool is that? No more smoothie guilt on my part.

It's the little things a little at a time that I am hoping will make a difference.

Good Samaritans?

And the dialogue goes a little something like this:

Rex: Mommy, can we go around the neighborhood and do work for people?

Valerie: Yeah. We'll only go to people we know.

Mom: Are you doing this for money or for free to help people?

Rex: Oh, we're doing it for free to help people.

Mom: Okay. Have fun.

Rex: Come on Valerie and Amira. Help me tip this wagon up so we can put the tools in it.

Amira: IS THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT ALL THE MONEY?!$

Valerie: No. We're doing it for free.

Amira: Oh.

Check out these mits!

Hey, I finally did it. I completed a project! Of course that was at the expense of so many others. Not only did I knit these fantastic hand warmers, (looking totally homespun in that one is slightly larger than the other) but I also knitted a pair of slippers for Valerie (not shown here) in the same fashion. That is to say that one slipper is slightly larger than the other!

But now I'm on to my next project. I'm pouring over my websites and books from the library about gardening, permaculture, companion planting, etc. I can look forward to other incomplete or not quite "as pictured" projects. Last year I had visions of the most insanely lush garden only to have my dreams repeatedly thwarted by a gopher. This year we're putting up gopher wire and traps. I will go totally medieval on any one of those varmints that dares to eat our produce this year.


Anyhow, while on the subject of gardening, I found a great idea that I absolutely love. A sunflower house! That's right, take and 8 x 8' square plot and sow seeds around the perimeter (leaving a spot open for a door) with giant sunflower seeds and morning glories. As the sun flowers grow, the morning glories will climb the stocks. When they reach their peak, draw twine across the tops so that the morning glories will trail across the twine creating a roof. How cool would this be for the kids? I looked around the internet for some images to show you. I found this one (sans the morning glories but you get the idea). There are many different designs for this. All I need to do is find the space and protect the space from the chickens and rabbit.

Speaking of chickens, the kids let them in the house again this morning! Doh!!! I spent a while cleaning up muddy chicken prints from the hardwood floor in the living room. Could I get more white trash if I tried?

Fantastically Delish Thai Inspired Salad

Okay, a food photographer I'm not. Well, let's face it, I'm not any sort of photographer. In fact, I have to work on my "plating" skills too if I'm going to be sharing recipes with you. But in spite of all that, this salad was fantastic. I made it up for lunch today because I just needed some veggies. I also needed to satisfy my craving for sweet/salt/spice.

I'll share with you:


Salad:

cilantro (chopped)

basil (chopped)

mint (chopped)

green onion (sliced)

romaine or mixed greens

carrot (matchstick slices)

rutabegah (matchsticked)

red bell pepper (thinly sliced)


Dressing:

1/4 cup tamari soy sauce

juice from 1/2 lemon

2 Tbsp cider vinegar

1 Tbsp agave nectar

1" piece of fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic

2 1/2 Tbsp curry powder

1/4 cup raw cashews



Combine all dressing ingredients in blender until creamy. Pour over salad, toss and enjoy!

Tragic accident meets Barbie in hallway!

Barbie met with a tragic accident recently in the hallway. As she lay unconscious and unable to move, a giant rabbit apparently mauled her legs. The suspect is pictured here.


She was rushed to the trauma unit in Rex's E.R. where they quickly applied bandages to the wounds and ordered this custom made Lego wheelchair. Sadly, the scarring will be permanent. Fortunately Migraine Mindy, Ken and other members of her family remain to provide a support system ... and push her wheelchair.

What's for dinner?

Weeks like this don't happen often, thank goodness. But when there is an unexpected event (someone has surgery, an appliance breaks, the universe conspires to see us squirm) the first thing that flies out the window for me is meal planning. I immediate reach for chocolate, caffeine, cheese, salty popcorn or something to fill the knots in my stomach. Of course when life sails along in a somewhat controlled way, I find myself planning meals out a week in advance and having the fridge stocked with fresh fruits, veggies, dinners, snacks, etc.

Well, this week I fell off the organized wagon into a pit of chocolate, coffee and popcorn (so much for my super healthy "raw by day" with a sensible dinner at night plan!) I just didn't have the extra time to play in the kitchen. I love to play in the kitchen.

I often scan the web for sites for recipes or meal planning or ideas to make my life easier. And I swing like a pendulum. I have recipes without meat, without wheat, without dairy, without fat, etc. It's just too much to think.

Now that Michael can start eating with a clean slate again, I began re-thinking how nice it would be to have a "month at a glance" menu. I just didn't have the imagination or brainpower to think it up today. Then I stumbled on this site. I couldn't be more excited! There are templates for creating seasonal monthly menus. There are shopping lists to print out. There are "dinner games" for the family to play. (What kind of a sick mind gets excited about organizational templates you ask? That's right... ME!)

I thought I'd share the site in case any of you are in need of such inspiration. If I ever get together a month at a glance menu that I'd actually cook, I'll be sure to post it. Tonight we're having spanikopita (Greek spinach pie). I like the veggies and the kids dig the filo dough. What's not to love.

I don't know what's for dinner tomorrow. I'd better jump on that template!

Hey kids! Surgery can be fun!

Who says surgery can't be fun? Look at Michael here just moments ... well, hours, it turned out, before getting his gallbladder removed! We and our nurse were officially "shushed" by other hospital personnel. No laughing allowed in surgery prep area!

The good news is that Michael can actually eat the fruit now and is on the mend. Well, he can't actually eat the fruit pictured here. I took it out in the hall soon after this photo and snarfed it down. Just because Michael wasn't supposed to have food or liquids since midnight the night before didn't mean I had to follow suit.
He's officially on the mend and out walking the block as I write this. Hooray!