Life's Random Walk

Far Too Long

2011-11-01T20:44:00.001-07:00

Never mind the time I've been away from this blog. A birthday, a new year, and the proverbial new leaf--prompted by NaBloPoMo--are all reasons to return to a writing practice. So here we are....happy November!

Earth Day!

2009-04-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

I love the concept of Earth Day. One year ago, I wrote about efforts to "go green." The good news is that we have made and continue to make progress.

It's been easy to:

Change to CFL bulbs throughout the house (and change light bulbs less, too!).
Use microfiber cloths for everything from cleaning furniture to computer keyboards.
Recycle like maniacs.
Pack zero-waste lunches with the fantastic lunchboxes from Obentec.
Use cold water to do laundry.

We're planning a great garden for this summer and trying to eat closer to the earth and lower on the food chain.

I just cleaned up my husband's and my bicycles so we can start using more of our own energy to get around. The kids will be ecstatic.

What are you doing to live more lightly on the Earth?

Spring Musing

2009-03-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Kids in short sleeved shirts
Pushing boundaries of spring
Shorts and new sneakers

No better way to welcome a new month and a new season than with a bit of haiku.

"To Sparkle on the Surface . . ."

2009-02-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

Henry David Thoreau is one of my heroes. He's a fantastic writer, able naturalist, and all-around resourceful guy. I've read and re-read Walden, Civil Disobedience, Self Reliance, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers and the Maine Woods.

My thanks go to the fine individual has chosen to make Thoreau's journals into a blog. This daily window to the great man's thoughts across time and a nation never fail to give me pause for reflection.

Today, Thoreau's words herald spring and challenge us to be filled with joy and hope: "If rivers come out of their icy prison thus bright and immortal, shall not I too resume my spring life with joy and hope? Have I no hopes to sparkle on the surface of life’s current?"

Let's get back to sparkling, shall we?

Five Rainbows

2009-02-23T10:05:00.001-08:00

This morning in Northern California, rain clouds are playing hide-and-seek with the sun. One moment, the light is glorious, the next skies are overcast are a bit menacing.

For two kids on their way to school, the shifting skies promised only one thing: rainbows. Indeed, we spotted not one or two but three rainbows in the five minute drive this morning.

Having had both hands on the wheel and being driven by the tyranny of the clock, I did not have the gear or time for photographs. I'll regret that, I know.

The kids personalities showed through loud and clear in the rainbow spotting. G, my Zen-ish second grader, took each sighting as a singular moment of delight. L, my left-brain Kindergartener, was keeping accounts. "I've seen FIVE rainbows since my birthday [on February 17th]. This is going to be a lucky year for me. FIVE rainbows."

January Reading: IV

2009-02-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

I discovered Amanda Hesser, now New York Times Food Magazine editor, via her book Cooking for Mr. Latte. The story of her courtship through food captivated me; the saga of being a young New Yorker took me me on a journey of reminiscence to my post-college years in the Big Apple. I really do miss New York.

As a Hesser fan, I couldn't wait to get my hands on her latest effort: Eat, Memory: Great Writers at the Table. As the title suggests, this is a collection of food-related essays by an impressive list of contemporary authors. Hesser has collected these essays over a period of years at the New York Times and given them homes in chapters titled "Illusions," "Discovery," "Struggles," "Loss," and "Coming Home."

Without question, Hesser has an all-start group of authors assembled here. My favorites, based on author and topic, included Chang-Rae Lee on the food his mother cooked, Heidi Julavitz on Japan, poet Billy Collins on fish, Kirin Desai on bringing Western food to an Indian family, and Pico Iyer on Japanese convenience stores.

The book is a straightforward read with its bite-sized essays but has a bit of a dark shadow hanging over it. Many of the essays have a persistent note of sadness or even gloom to them. Perhaps I should have anticipated this from the section titles.

Overall, editor Hesser didn't deliver the experience that I enjoyed with author Hesser and it made the collection less satisfying to me. That said, there is still good reading here. I will also be checking the Eat, Memory column in the New York Times to look for gems and see if the tone of the essays changes over time.

January Reading: III

2009-02-16T10:20:00.000-08:00

The second photography book I tackled in January is Annie Griffiths Belt's A Camera, Two Kids and a Camel: My Journey in Photographs. Belt was one of the first women hired by National Geographic and, for me, her story had greater significance because of it.

She recounts her early days in photography, falling in love with light as a college student. She decides to photograph a tree bathed in morning light on a golf course. Veterans of the course whisper behind her prone form on the grass. When the sprinklers turn on and drench her, she realizes just what they were whispering about. Drenched but undaunted, she pushes forward with her photography.

Belt got her start at National Geographic when an editor called asking if she had photos of a Minnesota blizzard. She did and the rest seems to be history as she became a regular photographer for the legendary magazine. So much of "luck" is hard work; Belt was willing to venture into the cold, forbidding Minnesota weather to satisfy her own vision first and foremost.

Without question, Belt's photos are excellent. They range from natural landscapes to insider views of Ramadan celebrations, never before photographed. Belt's work is technically sound and photographs with a storyteller's instinct.

What made this book special to me is how Belt managed to be a great photographer and a great mom, hauling her family along on photo expeditions. She writes about needing to step away from her family for intensely full days of work. Still, traveling the world with her kids and husband brought them closer together and implanted the lifelong love of travel in her kids. On a personal level, I hope my husband and I can sow those same seeds of interest in experiencing the world in our kids.

Belt's book is a joy for the eye and for the heart. Her photos made a grey January much brighter for me and pushed me to think about how my own family could benefit from time together on the road.

January Reading: II

2009-02-13T09:05:00.001-08:00

Amarcord: Marcella Remembers is the autobiography of Italian cooking diva Marcella Hazan. I'm a big fan of her cookbooks and it was fascinating to learn how the woman who studied to be a scientist ended up introducing America to the wonders of Italian food. Her memoir addresses the full chronology of her life: early childhood in Egypt, struggling through World War II and growing into adulthood in Cesenatico in Italy, falling in love and marrying Victor Hazan, and ping-ponging between America and Italy as her culinary life developed. Her descriptions of living in Venice are lovely.

Once Hazan begins to write about her success in teaching and writing, the reader definitely gets the sense that she is a tough woman. She admits to having the reputation of being difficult with her students. Hazan provides an unvarnished account of her conflicts and falling-out with her editor and spares no ones' feelings in the process.

Without question, Hazan has consistently displayed great creativity, resourcefulness and bravura, long accompanied and supported by Victor. However, in the final analysis, she just doesn't seem happy. That lack is not explicit in her writing but the final chapters of the book left me wishing she could find more joy in reflecting on a life well lived.

January Reading: I

2009-02-12T15:36:00.000-08:00

Tracking the books I read is, thus far, an enjoyable and not-too-onerous exercise. Looking back at January, the key themes for the month were clearly photography and food. To help me remember a year's worth of words, I'm going to post brief commentary on the books as regularly as possible. The right-hand column reflects a running list of what I've read.

I started the year reading Annie Liebovitz's At Work. Liebovitz's book essentially provides the words behind her photographs: how she developed the ideas for the photos and made the pictures, strung together like beads on the necklace of time. When I picked up the book, I expected to read more of her personal journey; what I found, but was not disappointed by, was a much stronger focus on the work. Her tone is fairly cool and dispassionate but provides great texture to her amazing photographs.

Liebovitz begins with the story of climbing Mount Fuji with her first camera, reaching the summit at dawn and realizing she only has a couple of shots left on her roll of film. Her planning gets better from there. Her experiences with the Rolling Stones, of Nixon leaving the White House, photographing Queeen Elizabeth, and making the last picture of John Lennon and Yoko Ono together provide the jaw-dropping, star-power facets of the book. Equally interesting are the stories of her photographing her parents, Susan Sontag, her children and what those pictures mean to her. Liebovitz's book is a well-crafted view into how a photographer developed her vision and the passion that continues to motivate her.

The Inauguration of our 44th President

2009-01-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to figure out just what to write about the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President. Candidly, I'm (still) caught up in the emotion and momentum of that historic occasion. In the spirit of "better late than never," I want to share the following thoughts.

The news media and, perhaps more importantly, experts in language have parsed Obama's speech closely. On a personal note, I was struck how he gave historical context to the day, his own place at the podium, and the formidable tasks that lay ahead of this country. A CNN commentator called Obama "Educator in Chief." I hope we see more context-giving with his initiatives and echoes from the powerful voice of history. Obama's words are sending me scurrying to shelves, seeking to learn more about and experience directly the words of Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. As I track what I read in 2009, I'm expecting America's leaders, and some from other shores as well, will figure prominently.

For me, language was a significant part of this Inauguration. Obama's speech seemed infused with poetry. The prayers soared to poetic heights. Rev. Joseph Lowery brought smiles and nods with his rhythm-infused benediction. I was particularly struck by Rev. Gene Robinson, perhaps the most inclusive of the celebrants, who spoke of "God of my understanding," enabled all to find a voice and asked for us to be blessed with challenges. There is beauty and significance in having a poet share her words at the Inauguration. Elizabeth Alexander's Praise Song for the Day was simply inspired.

I was also struck how music informed the celebration. Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, simply rocked it. She looked regal, sounded great, and gave a brilliant performance. The quartet, with their variation on "Simple Gifts," reflected the many faces of America--a cellist of Chinese heritage, a Jewish violinist, an African Amerian clarinet player, and a female pianist--and the harmony to which we aspire.

On a more quotidian issue, I was intrigued by the menu for the Inaugural luncheon--and the attention it received. My next roast duck may just need the sour cherry chutney that the Washington power set enjoyed. Hey, the recipes are there for the making--why not?

In retrospect, I can only say that it was a glorious day for America. Heaven knows we've needed such a day for quite some time. I have confidence that this great nation will now get about the hard work ahead and make the kind of progress that has sustained us through the last two centuries.

Projects in 2009 . . . A First Step

2009-01-15T12:41:00.000-08:00

I've always been curious (consumed?) with the idea of "projects." There's something romantic, purposeful, and simply appealing about working on something beyond yourself. The web--and blogs--abound with creative types who seem to spawn projects. I've decided it's time to join the game.

For my first project, I'm going to track what I'm reading in 2009. I'm a pretty heavy reader and would like to see just what and how much I manage to digest in a year. I'll also try to offer a brief review wherever possible to perhaps motivate you to pick up a new book, or not, as the case may be. My only struggle here is whether to include books I'm reading aloud to the kids. If I go that path--and it really is reading, after all--I'll make sure to note the content appropriately.

I'm fishing around for a photographic project. The classic approaches seem to be a photo-a-day or week. There's also the 12 x 12 approach (12 photos in 12 months). We're in the process of creating photo books of the kids (first seven years, first five years) right now and it's delightful. If these turn out well, we'll make books of our travels, ancestors, and anything else that fits. The bottom line is that I need to pick up the camera more to keep that flow of images and ideas fresh.

There's also the crafty stuff. I love reading about what folks are creating and find myself wanting to do the same. As usual, I find myself overthinking things: is this a commitment? should I do this with/without the kids? what if I'm a really bad crafter? Ah . . . so I'll try some stuff and we'll see what develops.

Last but not least is food. Cooking (and eating) is one of my passions. I want to say more here about what I'm making, where I'm finding it, and if anyone is eating and enjoying it.

So here goes . . . finally a leap into the New Year and some great new activities.

A Sweet New Year

2009-01-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Happy 2009! Change has been a long time coming and it has been a pleasure to welcome this new year.

I'm a big believer in making the first taste of the new year a sweet one. Following a Japanese tradition, that means sake spiced with otoso. According to Wikipedia, otoso has its origins in China:

"The tososan mixture is said to have originated as a prescription of the famous Chinese physician Hua Tuo during the Three Kingdoms period. . . . It is typically made from Japanese pepper, asiasari radix, apiaceae, cinnamon, dried ginger, atractylodes Japonica, Chinese bellflower and rhubarb."

I find otoso in Japanese markets and only at the New Year. The bag of spices comes beautifully wrapped in washi. You need merely to drop the bag into a quantity of sake and let it steep as you would a tea-bag. The result is a golden liquid, fragrant and somewhat sweet. A sip (or a few) are all that's needed to make the beginning of a new year a bit of ritual.

Here and Happy

2008-12-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

NaBloPoMo clearly must have consumed every word in me because December, thus far, has been a month of radio silence. This did not happen by intention but rather a lack thereof.

Right now, I'm cocooned in that magical space between holidays (well, almost, as Hanukkah continues), enjoying family time and filling my head with words, thoughts and plans for the New Year.

Much more to come as 2008 draws to a deliciously slow close.

NaBloPoMo: Did It!

2008-11-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

I am delighted to complete NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). Yes, as November draws to a close I can proudly say that I have posted every single day to this blog. Whoo-hooo! Seriously, this marks the most committed writing practice I've ever done.

I posted a few days ago that I wanted to be a maker. I did indeed deliver on that goal as well. My daughter is carrying around a stuffed felt mouse that we sewed together (photo forthcoming). It's not exactly what I had in mind when I declared my desire to create but at least I did it . . . and she loves it. Chocolate chip cookies also grace the kitchen courtesy of me; perhaps this is also the mark of the maker.

Tomorrow December begins. Here's to a wonderful month. And, looking back, here's to a pretty terrific November.

I Love This Idea: Food + Community

2008-11-29T18:14:00.000-08:00

San Franciscan Marco Flavio is an avowed foodie and man of action. His blog, Cook Here and Now, is replete with weekly farmer's market reports, recipe suggestions, and general enthusiasm about great food.

He's also been running a very successful series of open dinners. The idea is simple and the execution brilliant. He posts a monthly theme, interested people visit his blog and sign up to prepare various courses, and everyone cooks and eats together. Travel and Leisure, Food and Wine, and Lonely Planet have all written about Marco and his magnificent meals.

I've seen the posts for dinners and thought "I'd like to do that." I would then have a crisis of confidence, either in my cooking, creativity, or bravado to join cool people in San Francisco. Today, Marco posted photos from his most recent dinner. What an amazingly diverse group of people thisese events attract. The guy cooking the andouille sausage got it from Dittmer's in Mountain View. I know that place. I can do this. Attending one of Marco's dinner's is on my list for 2009.

If you're interested, he's written a post on how to host your own communal dinners. Let me know if you try!

A Random Friday

2008-11-28T19:51:00.000-08:00

Today has been one of those random kinds of days. My husband is painting various rooms in the house. I played many, many games with the kids. My son went off with a friends' family to see his basketball coach play in a local high school game. My daughter and I are making a stuffed mousie for her, complete with signature pink scarf. We kept the cooking light, the snuggling long. And yes, I even made it to the gym. It turned out to be a good day overall.

Thankful

2008-11-27T13:20:00.000-08:00

I am truly thankful--today and, frankly, pretty much every day. A smile or hug from my kids, a nuzzle from the dogs, or a shoulder rub from my husband are daily reminders of my blessings. I could go on about my gratitude for many people and many things in my life but I'll keep it short and simple: I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Preparations are Underway

2008-11-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving preparation is in full swing. We're dining with cousins and we'll be bringing the turkey, oyster stuffing, and a fennel apple salad.

We're roasting the turkey on the rotisserie this year. Our Gaggenau oven delights us with perfect birds . . . crispy outside, juicy inside. We'll see if it's up for a larger fowl tomorrow. There is no turkey "formula" for us. We've roasted, fried, tucked butter and herbs under skin, and filled cavities. Thus far, we haven't found a cooking or seasoning technique that dominates all others.

The oyster stuffing is a proven favorite. My grandmother's recipe provides a well proportioned foundation and I've contributed the foodie embellishments--double the amount of oysters, fresh herbs, and artisanal bread. I hesitate (actually I do not) try variations on this theme. Departures from my mainstay recipe become stand-alone dishes.

The fennel apple salad is an attempt to provide a light, fresh taste in what is typically a heavy meal. The recipe is Charlie Trotter's, is posted on Epicurious and extremely simple. With my trusty mandoline and a lemon from the backyard, this should be fast, easy and delicious.

Looking forward to a fun and delicious day tomorrow!

I Want to Be a Maker

2008-11-25T21:28:00.000-08:00

I have the urge to create. The only problem is I'm not sure just what to create. I love Craft and I have books like Making Stuff. Still, I don't quite know what to make.

I admit being jealous of my husband who has projects just pop into his head. The other week, he removed keys from an old, unusable typewriter, drilled holes in the bases of the letters, looped wire through and came up with great wine glass charms. He just did it. Wow.

With the long weekend stretching ahead, I'm determined to make something. I have a feeling it will be surprise to all of us.

Gearing Up for a Week

2008-11-24T20:15:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving week begins. The kids are home from school. All week. We've already had highs . . . the kids reading together, snuggled into a single chair. . . and lows . . . tears and near blows over a game of Sorry!. My son was rescued by a play date this afternoon.

As an antidote (or maybe prophylactic) to the week ahead, we trooped to the library this afternoon. Audio books, DVDs, and yes, good old fashioned printed books all accompanied us home. Here's hoping for a week of engagement and entertainment for the kiddos.

How did we survive before this multimedia world?

In Your Own Backyard

2008-11-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

Shutter Sisters has a terrific post today about finding beauty right where you live. As much as I love the message in the post, the comments are amazing. Women have shared photos from their daily lives and immediate surroundings; I am staggered by how beautiful this work is. Who knew a turkey sandwich could be a kaleidoscope of color and texture.

Another Day Without Words

2008-11-22T16:45:00.000-08:00

So this picture will have to suffice. It's amazing what you can see when you walk slowly and look closely.

Toward Fitness . . . Part II

2008-11-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

I happily took the second step toward getting in shape today and established a weightlifting program. Getting everything set up--seat position, reps, form, actual weight--was time consuming but put me solidly in starting blocks. Thank you Rico for making sure everything is all set for me.

I do want to comment on how technology is changing the face of the gym. My local Y has a program called Fitlinxx. All of your data, including all machine settings, is entered into the system. At the beginning of a workout, you log in and it moves you from exercise to exercise with all the information you need. It even tracks you minimum and maximum movement to ensure you're working at the proper speed (slow!) and getting the greatest benefit from the exercise. All of your data is available at the gym, at partner gyms, or online; if you're doing exercise that isn't wired directly, you can enter the data manually. Pretty impressive.

The tools are all in place. Now I just need to do the work.

Toward Fitness

2008-11-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

Today marks the day I got back to the gym.

Robert Maynard Hutchins, famed President of the University of Chicago (and my alma mater twice over), once said "when I have the urge to exercise, I lie down and hope it passes." Thus far, Hutchins' mantra could well be mine.

But today, I tied on the sneakers, strapped on the heart monitor, and went about the business of cardio. One small step . . . to be followed by many more on the road to fitness and good health.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with iron: the weight training regimen begins. Keep your fingers crossed for me (and remember to exhale on exertion and inhale on recovery!).

Worth It?

2008-11-19T20:48:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we saw Chrisopher Kimball on America's Test Kitchen extoll the virtues of prepping a steak in the oven prior to hitting the grill or pan to finish. 250 - 275 degrees for 20 minutes, seasoned with salt and pepper came the advice. After that, 2 -3 minutes per side to medium rare goodness. Kimball showed steaks that came directly from pan to plate and (the admittedly thin) layer of more cooked meat that encased the steak. The oven-prepped steak had more uniform color and texture and, frankly, looked compelling.

Since we consume only a steak per family, we didn't conduct our own side-by-side comparison but we did cook a ribeye to America's Test Kitchen specs. The result, in our humble opinion, was good but not appreciably better than our traditional method: onto the coals or into the pan, straightaway. The interior of the steak was uniformily pink and juicy. We're just not sure it delivered anything superior to the way we usually cook steak. And it took significantly longer.

It's worth disclosing that we cooked a bone-in, organic ribeye steak weighing about a pound.

Don't get me wrong, the steak was good. Very good, indeed. It just wasn't better than we've been muddling through on our own. And it took longer.

Honestly, I don't think it was us/the meat/the grill. I'm not sure this technique overdelivers a superior tasting steak for the time required. America's Test Kitchen's won't agree but that's the Delman household verdict.

At least we tried.

NaBloPoMo

2008-11-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

I'll come clean. What has spurred the daily writing this month is NaBloPoMo--National Blog Posting Month. The idea hatched as a method to get people writing. NaBloPoMo parallels NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing Month--but doesn't have the 50,000 (!) word requirement.

The challenge here is a daily post. I'm not yet halfway through the month but I am satisfied with my progress so far. A Stanford writing professor recently remarked that a blog counts as a writing practice. Getting the words out is exercise we need.

ITunes U: A Different Mix

2008-11-17T15:52:00.000-08:00

ITunes has been steadily expanding iTunes U, a collection of great, substantive content (often) from the world's great universities. I noticed that Oxford is now in the mix with a series of philosophy and fine art lectures. If you haven't explored iTunes U, get thee there. History, humanities, education, science and technology, literature, mathematics, social science and more are waiting for your click.

Treat your brain as well as your ears. And please share your favorites!

The Tale of Crab

2008-11-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I found myself making crab cakes for the family. It's straightforward and, frankly, delicious. Key to our happiness is a crab cake that is comprised of crab . . . and nothing else. Tonight's dinner becomes lunchbox fare and a special dinner treat (again).

The best recipe, in my humble opinion, is Mark Bittman's Crabby Crab Cakes. It emphasizes the good stuff and nothing but.

My advice? Go for Bittman's reco. You won't regret it.

We Are Having Technical Difficulties

2008-11-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

I sincerely apologize for this. However, I feel completely out of control on this particular topic. I can't seem to get a photo to upload nor can I get my feed aggregator to work. Whether this is my issue or a greater system issue, I cannot say.

What I can say is "I'm sorry." And I sincrely hope a new day brings restored functionality to this tiny corner of the universe.

The Joy of . . . Kale

2008-11-14T14:39:00.001-08:00

I love autumn, I love Fridays and yes, I love kale. This morning, Mark Bittman's blog, Bitten, featured an article on this healthiest of vegetables and some fine recipes for it as well. My favorite variety is lacinato or dinaosaur kale; the dark green leaves hold great flavor and cook relatively quickly.

My go-to recipe for kale is Arthur Schwartz's White Bean & Kale soup found in his book, Soup Suppers. The first step is boiling the kale for five minutes or so, cooling and chopping it. You then saute a couple of anchovies, rosemary and garlic in olive oil, add the chopped kale, toss in white beans (cannellini or navy or whatever is on hand). Add four cups of chicken stock to the pot, bring it the boil and add a cup of your favorite small pasta shape; ditalini rules in our house. After the pasta is cooked, the soup is done. I drizzle a bit of olive oil on each dish and grate Parmesan to guild the lily. This easy recipe is an uncontested favorite with my family, especially the kids.

It's autumn and time for hearty flavors. Get thee to a farmer's market (or your supermarket), grab the kale and make some soup or check out the recipes on Bitten. You won't regret it.

Leave Me Alone . . . I'm Reading

2008-11-13T14:35:00.001-08:00

The title of this post is the title of a book--a fantastic book--by Maureen Corrigan, the book critic for NPR's Fresh Air. She writes a wonderful memoir of reading, tracing her love of books back to childhood (with some ambivalence on her upbringing) and on through university and adult life. In her choices and interactions, it sometimes seems Corrigan prefers books to people; what's wrong with that, I ask?

Biographical oddities aside, Corrigan's book conveys the deep passion of a reader. I especially appreciate her commentary on mysteries and female adventurers. Corrigan's book has sent me scrambling for pen and paper to ensure I don't miss a great read.

For what it's worth, this is my second tour of duty through Leave Me Alone . . . I'm Reading. I read the book when it was first released and spied the audio book on a recent trip to the library. I'm glad I grabbed Corrigan's book for a second time and, hearing her read, a different experience.

In Lieu of Words

2008-11-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

A day of small, random thoughts and actions. When words fail, there are always pictures. This one seems apropos to the season.

The Omnivore's 100 and Me

2008-11-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

This meme has been floating around the blogosphere for a while. I first saw it on one of my favorite food blogs, Becks & Posh. Very Good Taste seems to be the point of origin. I consider myself an adventurous eater so I thought I would see just how far I may have gone and what possibilities remain.

With a score of 85/100 my conclusion is that I've eaten broadly and often well. Travel, a desire to explore various ethnic cuisines, and family heritage have definitely pushed the boundaries on what I have consumed. I realize I've been too timid about just "going for it," as was the case with insects (grasshopper in Japan). It's just a question of pushing the edge, whether it's a new flavor of ice cream (pistachio) or a super-hot Indian curry (phaal).

Here are the details:

How the Omnivore's 100 Works:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions

2) Bold all the things you've ever eaten

3) ~~Cross out~~ any items that you would never consider eating.

4) Optional: Post a comment at Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

85/100 My Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison [both cooked and raw]

2. Nettle tea [hmm, need to check this out]

3. Huevos rancheros

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile [it may have been alligator]

6. Black pudding [one of those things I keep trying thinking I'll like it THIS time]

7. Cheese fondue

8. Carp

9. Borscht

10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart [but I prefer Papaya King]

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream [I have no idea why not. Next time I'm at Ricks . . . .]

21. Heirloom tomatoes

22. Fresh wild berries

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans

25. Brawn or head cheese [not a favorite but I've eaten it. You cannot come from Polish or German ancestry and not have tasted head cheese.]

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper

27. Dulce de leche

28. Oysters [My favorite food!]

29. Baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl [definitely clam chowder and I'm pretty sure in a sourdough bowl]

33. Salted lassi [no but I want to!]

34. Sauerkraut

35. Root beer float

36. Cognac with a fat cigar [in NYC with great colleagues]

37. Clotted Cream Tea

38. Vodka Jelly/Jell-O [I have no idea why this is on the list nor why I have tried it but I'm not feeling regrets, either]

39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat [I'm pretty sure I've eaten curried goat. I have also done roasted goat at home and the whole family ate it!]

42. Whole insects [Had a chance in Japan and decided not to. Shame on me.]

43. Phaal [The hottest Indian curry? Can't say that I have but I'd like to try]

44. Goat's milk

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more

46. Fugu [See #46. Had a chance in Japan and didn't. Shame on me. It's the whole miserable death scenario that put me off.]

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin [One of my favorites]

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi [I love these. So deliciously salty and sour.]

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. MacDonald's Big Mac Meal

56. Spaetzle

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV

59. Poutine [Need to spend more time in Canada.]

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores

62. Sweetbreads

63. kaolin [Not knowingly unless it was the base for a medicine I took]

64. Currywurst [I guess the German heritage thing that afforded me head cheese and sauerkraut missed this one]

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings or andouillette

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar and blini

73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost or brunost [thanks to Swedish friends]

75. Roadkill [I grew up in the rural Midwest. Dad would often bring home various things to share that the guys at work shared with him. Accordingly, I believe I have eaten both racoon and squirrel that met their ends roadside. Both, by the way, were in some sort of barbeque sauce.]

76. Baijiu [If I had it on a trip to Beijing, I don't remember it.]

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail

79. Lapsang Souchong

80. Bellini

81. Tom Yum

82. Eggs Benedict

83. Pocky

84. 3 Michelin Star Tasting Menu [This is on the list. Definitely on the list.]

85. Kobe beef [Raw and cooked]

86. Hare

87. Goulash

88. Flowers

89. Horse [Cooked (somewhat sweet) and raw (in Japan, called sakura nikku (cherry meat)]

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab

93. Rose harissa [Regular harissa yes. Rose no. Where do I find this stuff?]

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake [Same time as the alligator/crocodile and also accompanied by Rocky Mountain Oysters. Not a stellar food evening.]

Day of Firsts . . . Reprise

2008-11-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, I referenced two firsts for my son: the violin recital and his first necktie.

The violin recital went very well. Graham did not seem nervous prior to performance, although he did refuse to take his violin out of the case for a picture once he had finished practicing earlier in the afternoon. The picture above shows a hint of the black violin case. When his time in the program came, he strode confidently to the music stand, took his bow and waited for the pianists' cue. He played flawlessly. After another bow and cue from the pianist, he completed his second piece, again with excellence. Another bow, a big grin, and he was back to his seat.

One of the most delightful parts of the evening occured during the reception when Graham and a friend slipped away, took out their violins and began to play one of his pieces. Everyone seemed delighted at the spontaneity of the moment. The little guy seems to have a true love of music. He is also quite comfortable and poised in front of a crowd. It's a wonderful thing to see and experience his confidence and joy.

The necktie was a big hit. After a surprising number of calls, Nordstrom's delivered and with a wide selection. He loved the tie and remarked it was very much like one of Dad's. Appropriately, after the recital, he loosened it for a bit of informal play.

Best Laid Plans . . .

2008-11-09T20:32:00.001-08:00

Sometimes life just likes to throw a few curve balls. Today was one of those days. One of the day's challenges was my son's 102.5 fever. And my daughter's simultaneous need for extra attention.

I keep reminding myself that tomorrow is a new day.

Brevity

2008-11-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

Today's firsts: son's violin recital and son's necktie.

Pictures tomorrow.

Friday Miscellany

2008-11-07T13:50:00.000-08:00

NPR has been my constant companion today.

I was impressed that Science Friday has a Twitter address. Not only can you call or email your comments and questions, you can now Tweet them. Based on Ira Flatow's commentary, the Tweeting exceeded expectations.

Obama's press conference proved interesting. I think we have come to expect clear, direct and succinct communication from Obama and he delivered once again. He left some distance between the current economic crisis and his transition to power, saying "Amerian only has one President at a time . . . ." He also had a crew of esteemed economic advisers standing with him at the press conference, offering silent hope that we do have great minds and proven talent working on the issues.

I was struck by the fact that Obama was running about half an hour late for the event. He didn't apologize for the late start, either. I'd like not to believe that's how he values others' time.

Finally, a reporter predictably asked a question about the promised White House dog. He addressed the puppy question with the same seriousness and intensity that he addressed everything else. The commentary, you ask? Malia is allergic to dogs so the dog needs to be hypo-allergenic (his words, not mine). His preference is for a mutt from a shelter but he isn't confident that they'll be able to find a hypo-allergenic mutt. He got a big laugh for saying he preferred "a mutt like me [Obama]." I'll bet every animal shelter around is searching their charges for a hypo-allergenic dog.

Rocks, Screws, and Stray Socks

2008-11-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

Today I've been playing archeologist, excavating my son's room. He can maintain a space (well, not quite actually) but having him around for the heavy lifting just doesn't work. The games are all organized on shelves, the off-season clothes boxed up, his desk neat and ready for work. I have one smallish box of "stuff" including the aforementioned rocks, screws and stray socks to sort and the mission will be complete.

I cleared space on his bookshelf and replaced the batteries in his reading light for late night adventures in words. I'm up for anything we can do to deepen his engagement with books.

The books which he has left behind moved his to his sister's room, my "dig" for tomorrow.

As hard as it can be for me to let go of things, it's brings me joy to see clear surfaces and space on the shelves. I just need to take it step by step.

Yes, We Can!

2008-11-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

And we did! I have never been more proud to be an American. We have made history. We have taken a huge step toward reclaiming our future as a great nation with freedom and justice for all. Congratulations President (elect) Obama and Vice President (elect) Biden!

The road ahead may not be easy but it is full of promise and hope. I look forward to Barack Obama's leadership. May his tenure as President be a blessing to our nation and the world.

Get Out and Vote!

2008-11-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

I want to add my voice to the many, many out there encouraging everyone to vote. It's the single thing that needs to be on every American's "to do" list today.

No excuses.

Let your voice be heard.

(Why are you still reading? Get out there!)

Parent Teacher Conferences: Mission Accomplished and New Practices

2008-11-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year. The leaves are turning, skies are cloudy and grey and parent teacher conferences ensue. With two kids in elementary school, we've now completed both sets of conferences.

I need to say how much I respect teachers. They do an amazing job of moving kids forward. My husband and I are always ready and willing to help on the journey but they drive the process and do so with great effectiveness.

We're blessed with capable students (at least at this level) but there are a few things we're going to try to move from good to great. First, we're instituting family reading time. My husband and I are avid readers. My son, who is reading well, doesn't turn to a book as his first source of entertainment. My daughter is an emerging reader who could always use the practice. Thus, family reading time is born: 15 - 20 minutes of dedicated reading time, family discussion to follow. We may not do it every night but we will do it the majority of the week. Second, we need to incorporate a greater sense of gratitude and community in our lives. Kindergartners are about themselves. Second graders have a slightly wider sphere. Our kids demonstrate the foundational elements of empathy but we're choosing to push for more. Dinner time conversation (and maybe journal time) will focus on that for which we are grateful and how we can help others. We want to push the edges of that sphere of self outward, a bit at a time.

Feedback is a wonderful thing. As much as we enjoy the praise, it's always good to ask how we can get better. Those magicians of the classroom always have ideas, the one additional thing that can make the difference. I find these conferences energizing. And I want to hug their magnificent teachers.

Good Food . . . For the Ears

2008-11-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

Last month, I started thinking about my "go to" podcasts, the ones I dash to the computer to sync and enjoy on a weekly basis. Today, I wanted to highlight KCRW's Good Food with Evan Kleiman.

The show is LA-based BUT . . . . (as a Northern Californian, there's always that moment of qualification when connecting to something in the southern region). It's a wonderful hour for foodies, highlighting not only what's fresh at the market (I need to confess to the Northern California region lag) but also just great food experiences and encounters. Whether I make it to the specific dining spots highlighted is less important than my understanding a new aspect of Thai food or a newly discovered Mexican delicacy that I can seek out on my own.

Evan Kleiman hosts the show. She's the chef/owner of Angeli Cafe and a smart, wise food guide. She bring folks like Jonathan Gold, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer to the show as well as eclectic characters like Eddie Lin, the "Deep End Diner" for (even) more adventurous fare. KCRW's show is focused on L.A. and Southern California but the content is so very, very good that I find it relevant to my own life a bit further north.

Check out Good Food and I promise: you won't be disappointed.

Music in the House

2008-11-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

On this rainy, grey California afternoon, I'm listening to my son play his violin. He's been taking lessons for six months and loving it.

We are a week from his first recital and he seems very ready. In fact, tonight we have rehearsal with his accompanist in preparation for the big event. It boggles my mind that a seven year old requires a pianist for "Bessie the Cow" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" but it really does add a different dimension to the work.

I am staggered by how challenging the violin can be. I never understood how physical it is to play the violin. Indeed, his first month of lessons seemed primarily focused on just getting the violin to meet his body in an acceptable and comfortable way.

I am also in awe that my son has learned to do something of his own motivation and wholly apart from me. He speaks of open strings and various fingerings with a fluency that sends me dashing for his music books. He practices (mostly) of his own volition, working through lessons and memorizing pieces. I watch him play, from a respectful distance, as often as possible. The concentration that furrows his brow, the tiny foot tapping out rhythm, and those mutterings of "rest, rest" under his breath speak to his complete engagement.

Keep up the good work, kiddo. Bravo!

Resuming the Conversation

2008-10-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

It's been far too long since I last posted. However, it's a new month, for some a new year, and a chance to start with the proverbial clean slate.

The last conversation I was having was about "go to" podcasts . . . the words that make me run to sync the iPod on a regular basis.

Today, I need to share KCRW's Good Food. Hosted by Evan Kleiman, Good Food brings great conversation about interesting food on a weekly basis. The Market Report is very much specific to Southern California; being a resident of California's North, I tend to fast forward through that segment unless Russ Parsons is speaking on anything vegetal. What happens next on Good Food could be a trip to an ethnic restaurant, a conversation with a leading Slow Food advocate, chef, or innovator.

The bottom line is that KRCW's Good Food never fails to engage me. Evan's voice is distinctive and keeps me coming back for more.

Now if only I can find taco trucks in the Bay Area that rival what can be found on the streets of L.A. . . . .

Ear Candy: The Splendid Table

2008-07-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

I'm an avid podcast listener and thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorites here. (Not to mention this is an accessible topic for this all too infrequent blogger.)

The podcast that I run to sync weekly is Lynne Rosetto Kasper's The Splendid Table. This is simply a superlative food podcast. Kasper attracts authors, chefs, and interesting food people of greater and lesser note. She regular features Jane and Michael Stern of Road Food fame and the acerbic Christopher Kimball of Cook's Illustrated joins her for a "what would I cook from what's in your house" guest segment that is always amusing. Kasper's call-in dialogue is witty and smart. She's a trained chef and unabashedly in love with Italy but manages to share her fascination with food regardless of borders.

Kasper and her colleague at The Splendid Table, Sally Swift, have just published a book called How to Eat Supper. The book features the same tidbits and treats you can hear on The Splendid Table. I'm just starting to cook from it but am jazzed by the range of recipes and its focus on the weeknight table.

If you love food or just the idea of food, let Lynne Rosetto Kasper take you on a weekly journey where you'll travel on your stomach and taste with your mind and heart.

Back In the Saddle

2008-06-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Today marks Day One of Stanford's online continuing education class on writing poetry.

I feel like a little kid on the first day of school . . . nervous, full of wonder, excited by possibility. I've done a few of these classes over the past four years and loved them. I need the discipline of a class (with deadlines) to engage in a writing practice. Stanford's Writer's Workshop classes give me the framework and structure to write along with the freedom to do it on my own time.

Every time I undertake one of these classes I grow as a writer. Thus far, each step has been visible primarily to me. Maybe this session marks will mark taking that more public step and sharing with a broader audience.

Longer term goals aside, today is the beginning of a new journey. I'm excited to be back on the path.

Home as a Theme . . . Mine, Specifically

2008-06-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) has gone monthly (versus annually). The theme this month is home. The requirements are a daily post, tied to the theme or not.

To kick off the month then, I'm sharing reflections on my current (physical) home. 10,000 square feet of land in Palo Alto. About 1800 square feet of house on aforementioned land. Yes, this is a 1950's sized space and, indeed, our Eichler is a mid-century modern structure.

We came to this house with favorite things. Our modern furniture (B&B Italia, Ligne Roset) fits well. The artwork is all contemporary and complements the space. The back of the house is all glass. It's strikingly beautiful and simple.

Not surprisingly, we lack storage space. I often miss a basement, attic and large closets. We're slowly downsizing and shedding to fit the house. I have refused to part with our many, many books. Our garage is part library.

Storage aside, the smallish, single-floor space is definitely liveable. Two kids, two dogs, two parents all fit snugly and, generally, happily.

Home is, for us, less about the structure and more about the life in it. More in the coming days and weeks on those aspects of our existence.

Where There's Smoke . . .

2008-05-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

We woke up this morning to hazy skies and a pronounced smoky smell. The wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains that have already consumed 3000 acres are still burning. Only 15% of the fire was contained as of this morning. Nature in Northern California truly is a force to be reckoned with.

Good Brain Mojo

2008-05-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure what happened in my house this afternoon but I'd like to welcome it again and again. My son read a stack of books from school, showing good comprehension and fluency. My daughter kept asking for words to spell; she'd doing simple three letter consonant-vowel-consonant words but she's getting it right. Both kids enjoyed their Brain Quest cards that I picked up on a Costco run (for $6.79, who could resist?).

With all these brainwaves bouncing around, I'm motivated to pick up a more challenging book or do a crossword puzzle.

Just Ask

2008-05-07T20:16:00.001-07:00

I am on a business trip to Chicago and, by chance, ended up in the front seat of the taxi returning from dinner. The taxi driver was listening to the radio as we drove, visibly moved by a contralto's aria pouring from his speakers. We began to discuss how strong and beautiful the music was and what a rich, majestic voice the soloist had.

His English was heavily accented and I asked where he was from. He hesitantly answered "Iran" and I offered that his understanding of music, especially Western music, seemed extensive. "I am a musician," he responded simply. That lead us to a discussion of his instrument of choice, the Persian setar. He explained a bit about Persian stringed instruments, the origins of the words to describe these strings, and urged me to visit YouTube to explore the sounds of the Persian oud, setar, and tar. I emerged from the taxi both far richer and more curious for the experience.

My lesson learned today is that engaging in conversation and truly listening can open the door to new and different worlds. My regret is that I did not note this patient musician's name. He deserves my thanks for sharing his passion for music and his culture.

One Single Impression: Change

2008-03-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

Sadly, a great source for haiku prompts, One Deep Breath, is closing. Happily, One Single Impression is beginning to fill the void. Appropriately, One Single Impression's prompt this very first week is "change."

Since Northern California seems to have leapt from winter to spring in a single bound, I'm focusing on that change in my haiku:

Buds burst with color
Sun caresses rain-soaked earth
Welcome again Spring

Photo Walk

2008-02-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

A very wise man and former Kodak colleague, Bob LaPerle, convinced me of the value of putting cameras into kids' hands and letting them express their vision. Bob isn't the only person to believe this. Wendy Ewald wrote about the concept in I Wanna Take Me a Picture.

Now that you can get a decent digital camera for under $50 on eBay, both of my kids, aged nearly 5 and 6 1/2, have their own cameras and are making known their own visions of the world.

We've started taking "photo walks," little excursions around the neighborhood where the kids can shoot photos and Mom can too. I'm impressed by how much they shoot and how uninhibited they are (especially versus . . . um . . . me). They will stroll up to a house to catch a detail or crawl through a bush to get close to their desired object. Both kids are deeply attracted to color. Neither shies away from cropping close with the camera. I've always considered myself a decent photographer but my little ones sometimes blow me away with what and how they see.

A sample of Graham's handiwork is shown above.

Now if I can just keep up with the flow of images to the computer . . . .

Time Flies

2008-01-27T17:55:00.000-08:00

This month has flown. I think about writing every day but sometimes the words just aren't there. Allow me to share a somewhat random collection of what this month has held . . . .

We continue to make the house more functional and more beautiful each week; there are miles to go but our efforts consistently greater progress and promise.

Graham lost his second tooth within a week of losing the first on January 5. I think we've worked out our Tooth Fairy etiquette. A new permanent tooth is showing itself.

Lauren is officially registered for Kindergarten this fall. She'll follow her brother to Ohlone and into his K/1 classroom. What a stressless transition! She knows the teacher, some of the students who will be "olders" when she arrives, and some of the classroom routine. Only immunizations and time stand between her and the big move to Kindergarten.

The cold, rainy weather is motivating me to cook. I am definitely on the hunt for new tastes. Recently, I've become a big fan of Saveur's Carribean Crispy Roast Pork. The kids beg for white bean and kale soup weekly; in a rare departure from the common meal, Mark and I enjoyed Caldo Verde with a healthy kick of spice from the chorizo. Tonight, I'm cracking open the Wagamama cookbook for a homemade ramen with chicken. Graham is running a fever so we're keeping everything simple, accessible and comforting. I'll be stretching the culinary envelope later this week with Dons Tomas' scallops with butternut squash, chilies, and onion. I also found a cool heirloom bean--Calypso Beans--at Whole Foods that I'll make into rice and beans later this week.

On the reading front, I've devoured Cara Black's Aimee Leduc mysteries. This is a well written, suspenseful series set in Paris. Simply put, I'm hooked. I've also been indulging in Ayelet Waldman's "mommy tracked" series of mysteries. They're less exotic but well written and engaging. "Serious" reading has been less appealing to me of late, for no good reason. I have been working through Liz Dalby's East Wind Melts the Ice, a kind of personal reflection on the unique Asian calendar. I must say that great, thoughtful writing shines through; Dalby's prose is first class.

Ah well, there's a full week to redeem myself for January. I'm taking pictures and putting my thoughts together slowly but surely.

Major Milestone: First Tooth Lost

2008-01-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

Today Graham lost his first tooth. He said his tooth felt loose. It was indeed. The little beast (the tooth) was rimmed with blood. A wee bit of wiggling later, Graham announced "I've got it." Indeed, he had. His first baby tooth, lower front right, came away in his hand.

We're scrambling to figure out Tooth Fairy protocol. The situation is more complex since his younger sister helped wiggle said tooth free. Do tooth fairies acknowledge helpers? Methinks so.

In any case, this is a major milestone. We will celebrate Graham's first baby tooth out to the best of our abilities. Huzzah, little guy. This is the first step on the road to growing up.

(Photos of the perfect little tooth gap to follow.)

California . . . Stormin' (Part 2)

2008-01-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

I now understand the power a Pacific storm can wield. We're among the lucky ones; we have power. The winds were significant this morning; hemlocks and redwoods bowing in the wind are not a comforting sight.

Rain pounded Palo Alto this morning. At 7 a.m. this morning the creek behind our house stood at 2.3 feet; no worries, eh? Not so fast. Before noon, Adobe Creek, which has an eight foot depth was up to 5.7 feet and rising. Yes, we live in a flood zone, as does most (all?) of Palo Alto. I monitored the creek via the web as it rose . . . and thankfully subsided, leaving us safe and dry.

We are prepared for emergencies. We have food, water, medication, and emergency radio and charger, hygiene essentials, and dog food safely stashed. Still, I started to worry. Could or should we sandbag? What exactly does that accomplish? We have established a family meeting place if we're separated but if driven out of our house, where would we go? The answer may be as simple as "a hotel" but it's worth thinking through exactly where.

Today, we're safe and sound. The dogs are wet, the floors a bit schmutzy, but we're safe and sound. It's still raining but the creek is back to pre-storm levels. I've managed through weather before but Pacific storms need respect and preparation.

California . . . Stormin'

2008-01-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

We're expecting a big storm here in Northern California. By tomorrow, we should be in the throes of receiving up to six inches of rain with gale force winds up to 55 m.p.h.

What I've noticed so far today is much more wind than usual and planes flying lower. What I've noticed on the blogosphere is near panic about the coming storm. I'm wondering whether I should be worried but opting not to be right now.

I'm a child of the Midwest, growing up with ice storms, power outages, blizzards, and tornadoes. I lived in NYC during a major hurricane and walked up Third Avenue in the wind and rain. Time in the Windy City saw driving rain, snow, ice, and umbrellas masquerading as projectiles in the howling wind. Rochester, NY showed me more snow than I'd imagined possible and more than one night camped out in a hotel as our house was without power.

I don't want to take the impending Northern California weather lightly. Gale force winds and the risk of flooding are serious, period. Still, I feel a bit like I've been there, done (and survived) that. We have a good supply of food (and wine) on hand, both for us and for the dogs (okay, no wine for the hounds). We have an emergency radio. I can't do much about the walls of glass in the house. We'll snuggle in tonight and deal with tomorrow's weather as it comes.

Small Changes

2008-01-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a year of progress. We're making small changes around the house that add up to greater beauty and a more positive frame of mind.

We live in an Eichler, a mid-century modern ranch-style home, in the San Francisco Bay area. Apparently one either loves or hates these houses. We display both attitudes, depending on the day. We would dearly love to just renovate this place, top to bottom, but that's not an option right now. Last year, we took the first step and installed bamboo floors throughout the house. It was a good start.

So far this year, we're making friends with paint, embracing color, and updating fixtures. It's amazing how changing out an old fashioned light switch to a smooth Lutron one can please the eye and the hand. The same holds for casting off the old bathroom light, scratched mirror and plastic (!) towel racks; welcome, brushed stainless steel accessories and energy saving lights. And color, too. The kids/common bath is now yellow, a happy color indeed. There's a new floor there too. The master bath area is now a serene celadon (if you know Eichlers, you'll smile at just how modest "master" can be) . The living room will soon be sporting a stunning red wall. There's still more to come.

It helps to have an incredibly handy husband around to make these changes happen (see photo above). I am a willing set of hands but am continually surprised and delighted with how he can solve problems and tackle new challenges without hesitation. It should be a satisfying 2008 as we improve our little piece of Palo Alto.

A New Year Tradition

2008-01-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

We welcomed the New Year this morning with sake sipped from masu. I love the simple wooden box, the detail of the dovetail joints, and the scent the wood imparts to the sake. The masu elevates a simple drink to ritual. The spice mixture that flavored the sake overnight is a traditional Japanese blend that lends a gentle warmth to the brew. The first taste of the new year should be sweet and indeed, it was.

Turn, Turn, Turn

2007-12-31T10:26:00.000-08:00

The new year is upon us. The turn of the year always offers a time for reflection, resolve and planning. I love the "blank slate" feeling of entering a new year.

My head is in the clouds today and I feel a bit like Janus, simultaneously looking forward and back. I am making a concerted effort to live 2008 with more intent, more presence and am trying to determine the specific ways I might accomplish that.

I've been reading blogs, literally from around the world, this morning. To my delight, everyone seems to be able to find original words and original ways to usher in the new year. My words are by no means original but I'm holding "peace" and "joy" in my heart today.

What words are you holding close as we enter a new year?

Hooks

2007-12-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

Since when are ornaments sold without the little hooks to attach them to the tree?

Yesterday I excavated lights, trees skirt, and garland from the garage. I couldn't find ornaments in the right color; we've had several waves of tree themes over the years.

Today, I ran out and purchased a few boxes of simple silver orbs to finish the tree. No issue with the ornaments themselves. However, there were no little wire hooks in any of the boxes. I checked my old ornaments and found, to my dismay, no little wire hooks. What am I missing here?

It was a challenge to get the ornaments into a stable place on the tree. Do people no longer use little wire hooks to hang ornaments? Aaargh!

Haiku: Container

2007-12-07T10:26:00.000-08:00

One Deep Breath's prompt this week is "Container." Container? It took me a while to connect to the prompt but this morning's rainy, windy Northern California weather showed the way.

Hands wrapped around mug
Hot coffee fragrances the
Windy, rainy morn

Haiku: Boulders, Rocks, Stone & Pebbles

2007-11-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

One Deep Breath's prompt for the week is "boulders, rocks, stone & pebbles." Hmm. Here's the haiku that showed up for me:

Pocket full of stones
Treasure gathered from the earth
By tiny fingers

A Fine Read

2007-11-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Judith Jones' The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food. Jones is a fine author but made her mark as editor par excellence at Knopf. She was responsible for bringing The Diary of Anne Frank into print. That alone would seem to be the accomplishment of a lifetime. However, Jones also discovered and published Julia Child, Claudia Rosen, Marcella Hazan, Madhur Jaffrey and Irene Kuo, to name a few.

The Tenth Muse treats Jones' life from privileged childhood through Paris sojourn, where she meets the man of her dreams, and back to create a life in New York and Vermont. The book provides an engaging portrait of a young woman's coming of age after World War II and moves through the joys and challenges of her professional and personal life. However, let's be clear; this isn't an exhaustive autobiography. Jones falls in love with a married man and waits for his divorce; she treats them always a couple but his children and his ex-wife are not really addressed. Two adopted children appear and then are rarely mentioned again. Authors move in and out of the narrative as situations and story lines allow. I wouldn't call this a comprehensive portrait but rather a series of linked sketches. Still, the book works and is a compelling read.

There are two important things about this book. First and most directly, The Tenth Muse provides a great window in the burgeoning food culture in the United States in the last half of the 20th century. This is the time that America literally learned to cook and Jones was very much a part of that scene. It's worth noting that the scene is very much East Coast centric, New York specifically; luminaries such as Alice Waters seem not have intersected Jones' life or at least didn't make the final edit. Nevertheless, her firsthand experiences, insights into, and shaping of the leading culinary influences of the day prove to be a fascinating read.

What I appreciate most of all about Jones' book is the joy of the amateur made good. She journeys to Paris and stays with nothing more with a desire to develop her taste and a need to work. This is the classic liberal arts student (literally) tasting success. She develops as a person and a professional but conveys a curiosity, desire and spirit that make me long for a seemingly freer age, where opportunity seems to be at arm's reach.

If food is a passion or you wonder how many of our leading culinary influences found the light of broad public acceptance, give The Tenth Muse a read. I think you'll be delighted with Judith Jones. I am still marveling at her independence, boldness, and gifts with words and food.

Black Friday

2007-11-23T20:30:00.001-08:00

Today is the biggest shopping day of the year. I didn't. I find the idea of Buy Nothing Day increasingly appealing. And, let's face it, I don't have a clue yet as to the shape of my holiday gift giving. Today, I did not contribute to the consumer economy. In the next couple of weeks, I will contribute but hopefully in a thoughtful and rational way.

Work in Progress

2007-11-21T18:19:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving dinner prep is underway. The turkey is taking its bath in brine. We have completed roasting chestnuts. The maple pumpkin pot de creme are complete, wonderfully fragrant, and chilling in the refrigerator.

Tomorrow morning begins the marathon of stuffings and roasting squash prior to the bird taking center stage . . . and oven.

More to come.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Thanksgiving Menu

2007-11-20T14:50:00.000-08:00

The die is cast. I've finally settled on the menu for our Thanksgiving dinner. I am now ready to cook!

Our turkey arrived today from the good folks at Whirlie Bird in Sonoma; organic and free range are promising. I'll also be brining the beast beginning tomorrow afternoon, using Alton Brown's recipe.

In my family, oyster stuffing (we say dressing) is a tradition. I'll jazz mine up with double the bivalves, fresh herbs, and bakery fresh (but allowed to dry out) bread.

My husband found a great variety of chestnuts this year, so we'll be adding chestnut stuffing to the list.

Tom Colicchio's potato puree sounds wonderful.

Fennel salad with olives and oranges should add color to the table, as should roasted butternut squash with thyme and either Gorgonzola or Roquefort cheese. We'll do an uncooked cranberry relish with orange, too.

Dessert will be maple pumpkin pot de creme. Light, prepared ahead but still wonderfully seasonal.

Our holiday guests, my cousins, don't eat meat or poultry. We'll fire up the grill and share alder-smoked salmon with them.

I'm off to hunt down a good Pinot Noir to accompany the meal.

Haiku: Adventure

2007-11-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here's a haiku inspired by One Deep Breath's prompt of adventure.

The first image that came to mind was that of my Labradors and their exuberance at the daily walk. For we humans, it's a chore; for them, it's a daily adventure.

Tugging at the leash
Nostrils flaring, bent to ground
Walk as adventure

A Good Day Swimming

2007-11-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

The kiddos swim. Every Saturday they're in the pool, learning how to move from point A to point B. Today marked a couple of milestones.

Lauren, at 4 1/2, informed her teacher that she wanted to swim without the float belt. And she did it. Forward crawl, floating, jumping in . . . all without the float belt. Go Lauren!

Graham, at 6, is a Minnow in the YMCA pantheon. The smallest little fish in the class. Today was a very different swim lesson. Lessons are in the lap pool, seven feet deep and about ten degrees colder than the instructional pool. The teacher does not actually get in the water but coaches the kids from the (dry, warm) side. I watched Graham navigate across 25 yards of water at a stretch, treading water to catch his breath. I hoped beyond hope he wouldn't disappear in all that blue water. At the end of class, his teacher said he was a strong swimmer. We just need to work on that breaststroke kick. Huzzah! Go Graham!

It's important to me and to the kids (although they don't really know it yet) to have a go-to physical activity. Today, the Delman kids confirmed that they are swimmers, tired but happy water sprites.

The Joy of Audio Books

2007-11-16T20:08:00.000-08:00

If you haven't picked up on it yet, this blogger is an avid reader. I have two to three books going at any given time. I always have a book at my side. Enough said.

As much as I love to read, I also love to listen. I can't get enough of audio books. It's reading with the ears. In some ways, listening to books can be more satisfying than reading them the traditional way. Nothing beats Sherlock Holmes with the right accent. The sound of detective V.I. Warshawski's voice, from author Sara Paretsky, will forever be linked to my listening to (as well as reading) the books. Reading the great "cozy" mysteries of Elizabeth Peters is one thing; hearing the Egyptian and Arabic words properly pronounced is a gift.

Right now, I'm ripping John Krakauer's Into the Wild to my iPod. I look forward to the audio adventure.

I encourage everyone to add a new dimension to reading and listen to books. Audible.com, your library, whatever the source . . . open your ears to your "reading" and you'll never experience a book the same way.

One of those Moments . . .

2007-11-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

Or why I love the web. Let me explain.

Tonight my son is obsessed with leeches. I cannot say why this occured or what triggered this particular interest. I do know that the boy has questions. In the old days, we would pull out an encyclopedia . . . . if there happened to be one in the house. Now we check it out on the web. There are pictures of leeches, stories of leeches, more leech information than we could ever use. Say what you will, I am grateful for and somewhat addicted to the immediacy of information we have. I wonder how information on demand will continue to change as my little guy grows up . . . .

Just Closed the Cover On . . .

2007-11-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

. . . Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co by Jeremy Mercer.

I love books and bookstores. Jeremy Mercer has shared a fascinating portrait of life inside the famous Paris bookstore, Shakespeare & Co. It's a charming memoir about his time living there. Yes, people--many, actually--reside at Shakespeare & Co. Proprietor George Whitman (no relation to Walt, despite the portrait outside) welcomes strays into his shop for bed, food, and esprit de corps.

What amazed me as I read this book is that Mercer writes about his time at Shakespeare & Co beginning in 1999. If I didn't keep that in mind, I would have read this as a chronicle of the '60s or '70s, a much more freewheeling and experimental era.

Mercer does a great job developing his characters, most notably friends Kurt and owner George. Mercer chronicles his own challenges, fears, and ultimate triumph and paints a sweet, though eccentric, picture of life there. We see relationships forming and unraveling, scavenging for food, and bathing in public spaces. Underneath it all is the joy and power of books.

Mercer's book is a delightful read for the bookishly inclined. It'a amazing that a place like Shakespeare and Co exists, indeed thrives.

Haiku on Belonging

2007-11-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

Another One Deep Breath prompt: Belonging

And the haiku based on it:

His rough hand and mine
Grasp their smooth, slender fingers
We are family

At His Request

2007-11-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

My son just asked me to write out two pages of math problems . . . single and double digit addition. He completed them with great spirit and joy. The reason, I believe, he did this stems from the fact he attends a progressive school, part of the Palo Alto public school system. The only reason the Ohlone School kids have homework is if they don't finish their work during the day. That leaves evenings and parent time open for exploration . . . reading, talking, and yes, math.

The concept is that he will ultimately drive his own learning and be responsible for it. I admit to thinking "yeah, right" and "what's the downside of trying." What I see is a curious child who genuinely want to learn, to test his knowledge and increase it. He's aware of his level among his peers in math and reading. He's comfortable with it. He'll say "I'm not at that level yet." And he'll ask to practice math.

I have no idea whether Graham's curiosity and spirit will continue for four more years at Ohlone and beyond. I hope and pray it will. There's a bit of magic starting to happen now. The spark of learning and the journey to mastery are evident. I'm thrilled to be along for the ride.

Just Finished Reading . . .

2007-11-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Catherine Goldhammer's Still Life with Chickens. It is very gentle and pleasant read. We enter the story at the point of Goldhammer's divorce and purchase of chickens for her daughter. She chronicles her departure from upscale "Hearts-Are-Cold" to a smaller, ramshackle beach community where her bank account runs low but not dry as she renovates her house. A year of raising the chickens sets the story line and pacing as we witness Goldhammer re-build her life. In the end, her house has become a beautiful home, the chickens and the people have truly found their place.

Goldhammer's book is worth picking up to appreciate her eye for detail and the way she moves between mundane and higher themes. You'll learn more than a bit about chickens along the way, too.

N.B. As you can tell from the giant "Search Inside" banner, I picked up the above photo from Amazon.com.

Cocktail Satisfaction

2007-11-10T15:30:00.000-08:00

I love a good martini. Let me say upfront that I am a martini purist. The ingredients are simple--gin or vodka, a wee bit of vermouth, olive or lemon twist--shaken with ice and ushered into the glass. Period.

My dear husband just mixed a wonderful martini with a gin called Hendricks; it has stolen our hearts. The gin comes in a squat, black bottle, seemingly a throwback to ages past. What makes Hendricks special for me is its subtle cucumber finish. In a radical departure of martini purism, we will occasionally garnish a Hendricks martini with a cucumber slice to heighten that finish. Published information on Hendricks indicates there is a note of rose there too but I find that challenging to detect.

Cheers!

How Have I Missed This?

2007-11-09T20:04:00.000-08:00

Today I volunteered in my son's kindergarten/first grade classroom. His excellent teacher was reading to the class from James and the Giant Peach by Road Dahl. How did I miss this book? I got myself to a bookstore, pronto, and picked up a copy. Now, we'll be reading at home in parallel. Road Dahl can be a bit dark but definitely appeals to the kiddos.

Television for All?

2007-11-08T20:07:00.000-08:00

We're not big television watchers, as individuals or as a family. When the tube is on, the kids tend to steer the proverbial ship. With Graham at 6 and Lauren at 4 1/2 we're beyond the little kids programs and (thankfully) not yet into High School Musical and American Idol.

Our family viewing these days revolves around Avatar and The Secret Show, both Nickelodon shows. Avatar is the story of a young boy who will come to master the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. As he makes his mythical quest, he fights the evil Fire Nation and allies himself with a brother/sister team from the Water Tribe. The Secret Show is a secret agent show gone weird, stealing airtime from Floppy Bunnies and battling the evil Doctor Doctor. Professor Professor provides wise and friendly advice and advantages.

Every family needs their downtime. This is our primetime distraction. If you've looked at the broadcast line-up of late, you know it could be much, much worse.

Haiku on Fog

2007-11-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

NaBloPoMo is certainly a demanding mistress. I find myself thinking "and what will I write about today?"

One always-good answer is haiku. Today, I was struck by the fog that enveloped Palo Alto, making everything a bit more damp and feeling of fall.

Without further ado, today's haiku:

Fog blankets the house
Water droplets everywhere
Walking through grey clouds

Meatball Hero

2007-11-06T20:09:00.001-08:00

As a follow up to yesterday's post, I am pleased to report that Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, has won universal acclaim with her spaghetti and meatballs . . . at least in my household. My husband returned from a business trip and came home to the scent of meatballs sauteeing in olive oil. A mere thirty minutes later and dinner was on the table; he was saying "this is delicious" as he tucked into the pasta, sauce and meatballs. Graham particularly enjoyed the red sauce, given body by Chianti. Lauren took such pride in having made meatballs, she ate two. The ultimate test of acceptance included both kids saying "I want this in my lunch tomorrow."

As mom and chef tonight, I say "huzzah!"

Putting the Best Foot Forward

2007-11-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

We try to cook as a family most nights and have become masters of the 30 minute meal. With a six year old and a four and a half year old, we try to make mealtime as much of a calm, welcoming, if sometimes adventurous, event as possible.

This week my son had a special request: spaghetti and meatballs. Believe it or not, we've never made spaghetti and meatballs. I think he may have found his culinary inspiration in Judi and Ron Barrett's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I'm encouraged that what we read about can find its way to the dinner table, and vice versa. I want his first experience to set the benchmark.

I found this recipe from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, and laid in the supplies today. Tomorrow will find us shaping meatballs and making the simple but delicious red sauce to grace the pasta. It's not a quick meal but I am hoping it's one to remember. Stay tuned and I'll let you know if we hit a family culinary high note!

Haiku, Loneliness Theme

2007-11-04T20:15:00.000-08:00

Skeleton tracings
Branches shiver against sky
Above leaves' carpet

A Few Minutes' Diversion

2007-11-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

Please check out Freerice.com. You demonstrate your vocabulary prowess by correctly defining words (multiple choice) and Freerice donates grains of rice to those in need based on your correct answers. You clear your head, exercise your mind and others eat. Sounds like a fine arrangement to me. I've made it vocabulary level 45 before beginning to make mistakes.

I learned of Free Rice via Michael Leddy's very excellent blog, Orange Crate Art. Visit to read his writing and gain his perspective on the world.

Morning Person

2007-11-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

I love to start my day with a strong cup of coffee and pages from a good book. The bed is still warm under the duvet, the air deliciously cool. For a while, the boundaries of my world are defined by the pool of light from my bedside lamp.

With husband, children and dogs asleep, the house is exquisitely still. The heavy grey clouds of northern California mornings act like a giant comforter, keeping everyone and everything snugly tucked in dim light a bit longer.

Joy swells my heart as the family begins to wake, stumbling and stretching, seeking hugs and snuggles or a scratch behind the ears (for the dogs). There is room now for softly spoken words or a gentle backrub.

I sip the hot, milky coffee and am conscious of my breathing. In moments, the day will burst upon us all.

An Eater of Words

2007-11-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have become an eater of words. They nourish and sustain me.

I've always been a bookworm, reading any chance I have. It's been that way since childhood. I have never been more than an arm's reach from a book. Magazines are part of the diet: food, home, culture, business, photography, art, and literature. Add to that nearly 350 RSS feeds of blogs. Audiobooks and podcasts emanate from my ever-present slender white square, filling drives, chores, and otherwise lost time with words.

The challenge for me is to balance the taking in with the putting out. I may consume words but I write less than I'd like. One of the compelling aspects of November is this drive to put words out, online, on paper, however. I'm taking in great material; the opportunity is to put out equally great stuff.

November (Already)

2007-11-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

Statement of the obvious: today is November 1. Another SOO: It has been far too long since I've written here. The great news is that any day can represent a new beginning.

For some, today marks the firing of the virtual starter gun for NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month. One month. 50,000 words. One novel. For the past two years, I've been thinking about it. And that's as far as I've taken it. November 1 sneaks up and catches me unawares, finding me not having thought about plot, characters, or much beyond a core idea. Ah well, there's always 2008 for a dash-to-the-finish novel effort.

In the meantime, November 1 also heralds the launch of NaBloPoMo: National Blog Posting Month. One month. One blog post a day. Last year may have not seen profundity on a daily basis from me but my writing habit increased. Indeed, my technical sophistication did too, as I made my first moblog post in this month last year.

Here's to new beginnings, for this blog and for a more regular writing practice. Watch out world, there might be pictures too.

Awareness

2007-08-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Around the corner stands a small Russian Orthodox church: Protection of the Holy Virgin Church. It is a tiny building but its blue onion domes help it stand out in this neighborhood of low-slung Eichler homes.

Something else makes it stand out: at 10:00 (ish) every Sunday morning, Protection of the Holy Virgin Church's bell tolls. It's not the deep, throaty toll I remember from St. Johns when I was growing up. This bell sounds more like the bells I heard at Buddhist temples in Kyoto. When I first heard the slightly tinny, high pitched ring, I assumed a neighbor had some sort of bell or gong. This is California, after all. One day, I was passing by the church and heard the bell. I'd found the source of my Sunday morning call to be present. I just heard again a few moments ago and wanted to share.

The Dog Days of Summer

2007-08-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been filled with tinkering. I have been reading and writing. I've been cooking, drawing and picking up the camera more, too. This is all good progress but the words and images seem to stop in the physical world, not quite making the jump to the web.

I attribute this desultory wandering among topics and activities to the dog days of summer. I've never been a big summer fan. I remember long, sunny days curled up on the patio of our Midwestern home, endlessly reading books and sipping iced tea from a dewy glass. Those were happy days, indeed, but I'm happier still when I have a purpose.

August just doesn't lend itself to purpose. The month feels betwixt and between. The hot weather slows me down. The kids have completed their summer reading programs. We're down to a final week of day camp.

The beginning of the academic year always shakes out the cobwebs. It's the kids that are in school now but the turn of the year brings new energy for me. I relish mapping out the calendar, choosing activities, making sure shoes fit and ensuring that everyone has a warm sweater for the cooler fall mornings. The coming of fall brings new energy to my personal projects as well as renews my professional perspective. Soon, very soon, it will be time to get in gear again.

Just writing this and thinking of fall quickens my heart. I think I'll kindle that spark of energy and see if I can't cheat the season a bit, muscling through the next couple of weeks so I'm very ready for my favorite season. One of my summer goals was to live more in the moment. I've made good progress at that. I'm just feeling that familiar tug of fall, of future purpose and energy, and I cannot resist.

Reading . . .

2007-07-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

I've recently finished Peter Tremayne's Master of Souls, the latest in the Sister Fidelma series of mysteries. This book is deep in the series (number 16 to be exact) featuring Fidelma of Cashel, sister to the King of Muman (Ireland), advocate of the Brehon law courts, and a religieuse in the Celtic Church. As you can tell, this is a series about an accomplished woman in times where such women are few and far between. The series provides great and accurate insight into the Celtic past; Peter Tremayne is a pseudonym for Peter Berresford Ellis, a noted scholar of Celtic history.

This particular book features Fidelma and her husband, Eadulf, solving the mystery of the disappearance of a group of religieuse. The abbess leading the group is murdered and warring clans need to set politics aside to enable a solution to the murder. Fidelma also finds bloodshed at the abbey she uses as a temporary residence; this murder links to those gone missing on pilgrimage.

The final reveal of the murderous culprit hearkens back to Fidelma and Eadulf's earlier adventures, making this a good read but, with prior volumes under one's belt, an even more satisfying and complex tale.

Lessons From My LIttle Ones

2007-07-08T11:43:00.001-07:00

Hanging out with Graham and Lauren this weekend, I see two key behaviors that I could benefit from applying to my adult life. Following the little ones' lead could result in a pretty joyous time.

First, the kids create like crazy. They are constantly building, drawing, painting, collaging, making me bookmarks, asking to write poems and stories. Yes, they can be couch potatoes too, but their first and primary orientation is to make stuff and express themselves. They do this with whatever is on hand and are not bound by materials or any other constraint.

(The question that follows from the above activity is "what do you do with all that stuff once it's "made."" However, I won't trouble myself about that right now.)

Secondly, the kids are always learning. It's Graham practicing his lower case letters, Lauren doggedly trying to write her name, both of them seeing what new colors come from mixing paint. When we read, they're always asking "why" and "what does that word mean." The kids are continually taking it all in, processing it, and trying their best to use it. None of this is a chore but rather a simple joy. They reach for learning as easily as they reach for a pencil.

My resolutions: a) focus on creating more . . . more stuff, more freely, with a greater sense of play b) pay attention to what I can be learning at any time, embrace it, and use it!

Alice Waters & Chez Panisse

2007-07-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

For summer reading, I've had the pleasure of spending a several hours with Thomas MacNamee's book
Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Utterly Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution. This is a suprisingly candid, arguably unsparing, portrait of Alice Waters and the legendary restaurant Chez Panisse.

MacNamee chronicles Waters' growing fascination and delight in all things French. He covers the early years in Berkeley when Chez Panisse operated like a dining club for Water's friends. Growing pains, profit pains, a parade of chefs and stories of key staff are currents that wind and flow through the book. MacNamee brings the Water's activities up to date, including her sustainable, organic farming and Edible Schoolyard projects.

I found two key themes recurring throughout the book. First, Alice Waters has powerful vision. In spite of a variety of challenges--personal, financial, political--Waters has stayed true to this vision and willed things to be so; it has worked to an astounding degree. Secondly, the right people seem to show up at the exact moment they're needed, serendipitously, in the life of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. Whether is was chefs, staff, funding, or inspiration, the right people walk through Water's door. This is somehow, I'm sure, a byproduct of her rock-solid vision and commitment but it is still uncanny.

MacNamee is balanced in his profile and his assessments of Waters and her circle; strengths and shortcomings, moments of triumph and failure appear in equal measure. This book is a great window to food history, life in Berkeley from the 60s on, and a terrific profile of both the lady and the food legend she has created.

Amazing Blueberries

2007-07-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

The most amazingly delicious blueberries I've ever tasted are from Sorensen's Triple Delight Blueberries. The Fresno farm produces multiple varieties of blueberries and the larger ones this season have been extraordinary . . . sweet but not overly so, heavy with juice, and rich with fragrance. We've enjoyed them in and on everything and just out of hand. My son devours a container in a single sitting. Look for the Sorensens at the Palo Alto Farmer's Market (Hamilton Avenue) and enjoy!

Purpose

2007-06-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this blog a great deal of late. The question I've been tossing about concerns what this space becomes. Do I focus on food, books, family, projects, inspiration, or commentary? Do I need to spin off topics into separate blogs?

The blog is more aptly named than I had first imagined. Life is a random walk, filled with bits and pieces. Sometimes those pieces are cohesive and sometimes the center does not hold. In the end, that crazy, mixed-up world nurtures a life. I can separate things out into neat piles but that doesn't quite reflect who I am and how I live.

So what for this space? First and foremost, more consistent writing. My writing teacher suggests that this effort really is a writing practice for me. Practice I must and post I shall. I'm also going to be more diligent about tags for topics; this should enable a bit less of the crazy, mixed-up posting if you or I want to find something specific. I would love to include more photos and images here and that will require more time with a camera in hand--hooray! I love a challenge. Making this space more robust promises to be satisfying.

Birdsong

2007-05-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

I awoke to the sound of birds singing this morning. I cannot imagine a more glorious beginning to the day. Yesterday was hot here on the Penninsula and last night we kept the windows open wide. Before light, birdsong made its way into my consciousness. The air was deliciously cool. Soon, the warbling, burbling, and cheeping rose in intensity with the pink-tinged dawn. Nature's morning music proved a pleasant beginning and effective motivation to rise and embrace the day.

Earth Day 2007

2007-04-22T18:53:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day. The Google logo appeared watery and blue to celebrate. Interestingly, kids seem to feel Earth Day in their little bones. My kids know more about the environment and caring for it than I certainly did at their age. The little people also motivate our family to act. We recycle more now than ever before. "You don't want to hurt the earth," says my son. My daughter currently keeps earthworms and has learned about composting. I'm now aware that I have a carbon footprint and am trying to reduce it. I've written about small steps toward greening our household. My mother in Decatur, Illinois (!) has taken to using microfiber cloths to dust furniture. She trumps my unbleached paper towel habit. This weekend, I unwrapped the microfiber cloths. This represents another steps toward my goal of "six green acts in 2007."

The bottom line is that every bit helps: a microfiber cloth, a flourescent bulb, recycling, composting. Do what you can and we all benefit. Push a little harder and we benefit all the more. I may be taking small steps but I am taking them steadily. What steps can you take to live lightly on our beautiful, watery blue sphere?

Something Green

2007-03-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

When I listed my goals for the year back in January, I committed to doing six "green" things this year. I'm making progress on this goal and wanted to document the progress.

First up, we've installed bamboo floors. I feel great about having floors that come from a sustainable source. They are beautiful and remind me every day to be sensitive to the environment.

Second, we've converted our Eichler lighting (original to the house) over to flourescent lighting. 150 watts of brightness per bulb for 30 watts of energy. This is a good deal. Our foyer and kitchen are brighter for the effort. Scandinavian nations have legislated the use of these flourescent bulbs. I'm not a huge fan of government intervention but could go there for such a simple change and a big environmental impact.

Third, we're ramping up the recycling. Moving to California, I thought I could not recycle more. I was wrong. Paying simple attention to what can be recycled (and trying to reduce waste in the first place) can be very productive. We've even gotten the kids in on the action. "Do nothing that hurts the earth," my son proclaims. I cannot echo his sentiments enough.

The Saga Doesn't End

2007-03-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

Huzzah, the bamboo floors are in! They are beautiful and do change the gestalt of the house. WIthout the fireplace, the common areas have a more loft-like feel. The place feels lighter and more spacious. Somehow it feels we're living more lightly in this place.

Make no mistake, it has been a long and dusty journey. The family had to decamp. Dust is still settling. A number of our posessions are still in boxes. Art is propped against walls, not yet hanging. Like childbirth, I'm told I'll forget the pain in about four weeks. I hope the same applies to my dear husband, who endured the mess with the kids while I flew off to Europe for a week long business trip.

The saga isn't over yet. One change begets another. Now we need new closet doors. Mark wants to give the study a fresh coat of paint. Spring has sprung and we should tend to bits of landscaping. I guess these are the inevitable steps to making this house truly our home.

Dust and Destruction

2007-03-03T16:31:00.000-08:00

We're renovating. It's taken a fair amount to get my head wrapped around the concept. We live in a mid-century modern home in Palo Alto, California. Mid-century modern is a nice way to say it. The reality is that we have decent sized lot (for Palo Alto) with a ranch-style house built by Joseph Eichler. The best features of the house are the post and beam construction (read open space) and the walls of glass. Less attractive features of the house include the greenish carpet, faux tile, and cinderblock fireplace.

Right now, the last three things mentioned are gone. Beautiful blonde bamboo flooring awaits. Between the current state and the serene bamboo state stands a few more days of dust, adhesive removal, concrete and leveling compound pouring and drying, and (yes!) floor laying.

We started with "let's replace the floors." That lead to a rather ominious phone call from my husband saying "we need pour concrete." This was followed by "if we're going to take out the fireplace, we need to do it now." Men came. Dust covered every imaginable surface. Today, my dear husband had a brainstorm to move a piece of kitchen cabinetry so we could experiment with a new (and arguably better) layout. Of course, we have to do this before we lay the flooring. So now it's done.

We're living in the bedrooms, bathrooms and study. We're sleeping together as family, piled into available beds. Soon the men will come down the hall and we'll live in that big, open, loftlike space while they disrupt our bedrooms and study. The kids are watching DVDs; we can't get to the TV. The good news is that we're reading books. But dust is still everwhere.

Despite the dust and chaos, we remain optmistic. This is certainly the biggest step we've taken toward making this place--or any place for that matter--truly our own. I am confident we will endure and, indeed, prevail. I'm trying to be an optimist here, even as I feel the dust on my keyboard. Aargh!

Good Mystery Series

2007-02-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe it's already the end of February. The new year is already flying by and I often feel mired in quicksand. One consolation is discovering a terrific mystery series by Dana Cameron. The series features a female protagonist, Emma Fielding, who is an East Coast professor and anthropologist with a strong sideline interest in forensics. No matter where she goes, the bodies turn up in due course. The characters, relationships and dialog are smart and engaging. Get thee to the bookstore!

Sardines: The Latest for Kids

2007-02-19T20:00:00.000-08:00

I love the Gastrokid blog. Why not, I say? I have kids and I love food. Sometimes, they love food too. When they do, life is truly an adventure.

This post on sardines for kids touched me (just click the title here to go there). I loved sardines as a kid and I love them today. However, I have not shared the fishy little morsels with my offspring. The Gastrokid guys give me inspiration. The penguin angle (eat the whole fish!) just might work.

Uber-List

2007-01-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

I can't figure out how to do umlauts on my keyboard for a properly presented "uber-list" but the intention is there. Mama Says Om, a mommy blog site I follow, presented the uber-list concept for 2007 resolutions/goals--call them what you will. I was inspired by what I read there. Without further ado, here is my "uber-list" for 2007:

1. CRAFT: Experiment with crafting . . . felt stuffed animals, maybe knitting, maybe cooking differently
2. CRAFT: When I figure out what it is that I can and want to do, do it--at least monthly
3. CRAFT: Read more about crafting and creating
4: CREATIVITY: Read six books on creativity over the next year
5. CREATIVITY: Keep a paper journal (Moleskine) to facilitate the creative journey
6. CREATIVITY: Make everyday life a bit more creative and inspiring
7. CREATIVITY: Take more photographs
8. CREATIVITY: Take a drawing class
9. CREATIVITY: Add more music to my life
10. FAMILY: Play more
11. FAMILY: Listen better
12. FAMILY: Raise my voice less
13. FAMILY: Celebrate more
14. FOOD: One new recipe per week
15. FOOD: Six great restaurants per year
16. FOOD: Six new regional cuisine explorations
17. FOOD: Cook with the kids more
18. FOOD: Read at least six food books this year
19. FOOD: Shop farmer's markets at least once a month (as available)
20. FOOD: Introduce new artisanal products to the family
21. FOOD: Build personal favorite lists . . . olive oil, oysters, cheeses
22. FRIENDS: Re-connect with old ones--one a month minimum
23. FRIENDS: Make new ones--one a month minimum
24. HEALTH: Get caught up with doctor visits
25. HEALTH: Get caught up with dentist visits
26. HEALTH: Drop weight
27. HEALTH: Find an exercise form I like and get to it
28. HOME: Maintain clean, organized common closets
29. HOME: Quarterly donations of old/unused stuff
30. HOME: Monthly progress toward at clearing clutter
31. HOME: Introduce touchstones of comfort
32. HOME: Introduce six green habits over the year
33. HOME: Grow stuff . . . herbs, vegetables, fruit
34. HOME: Improve and enjoy outdoor spaces
35. HOME: Paint as appropriate
36. HOME: Organize kids closets
37. HOME: Find a solution for incoming mail
38. HOME: Bills, documents . . . on time, all the time
39. LOVE: Surprise hubby with insightful gifts
40. LOVE: Date night on a to-be-established frequency.
41. MIND: Take a writing class
42. MIND: Chronicle books read this year
43. MIND: Ensure mix of topics in reading
44. MIND: Take a poetry class
45. MIND: Make progress reading the great books series
46. MIND: Include notes on reading and learning in journal
47. MIND: Make progress learning Latin
48. MIND: Make progress learning one other language
49. MIND: Establish calendar and attend lectures
50. MIND: Actively view art (galleries, museums)
51. PROJECTS: Identify six projects for the next year
52. PROJECTS: Record progress on projects
53. PROJECTS: Do something with scrapbooking/memory recording
54. PROJECTS: Make progress on CLSC readings
55. TRAVEL: One major vacation
56. TRAVEL: Explore the Bay Area (home)
57. TRAVEL: Add creativity/adventure to business travel
58: TRAVEL: Continue armchair travel (reading)
59. WRITING: Blog weekly
60. WRITING: Take a writing class
61. WRITING: Send at least one piece out for publication
62. WRITING: Send at least one letter per month to an author
63. WRITING: Work with the kids on storytelling and book making
64. WRITING: Start and keep a paper journal
65. WRITING: Write poetry

Okay. Sixty-five seems like a good number. I probably have about half as many items again on the professional side of my life. As the next few days and weeks go by, I assume more items will show up since I am now actively thinking about what I want to do in the next year. I will add them to the "uber-list" and also find a way to track and post progress. This exercise has been fun and gotten me pretty excited about the year ahead. If I'm successful, I will end the year with a very different set of experiences and learning.