Bag Lady

Christian and I often feel that Lake City is a little too homogenous to suit us. There is little to none ethnic, cultural, linguistic, economic, racial diversity. ....except that one bi-racial guy, who by the way, we brought to town from West Virginia! and...that one girl with dreads, who happens to be my good friend, ...and two Italians, one Mexican, two Germans, and one Irishman, who is married to that gal with the dreads. 

Well, we're not going to be eating at a Sushi place or an Ethiopian restaurant anytime soon, but I am happy to report that Lake City has at least one bag lady. I saw her on my alley today, all wrapped up in her winter clothes, pushing her treasures around. She had a pet chicken.

One

One year ago on May 16, Levi was born. I had eaten a huge yummy meal, drank a little wine, debated about calling the midwife, decided I should, crawled into the tub, and an hour or so after that had a nine pound sweet boy. He has been a constant joy to all of us. 

The night of his birthday, he started sleeping through the night. (Some of you are thinking doesn't that happen at 8 weeks? But, my others were closer to 16 months). The next day, he started really walking AND cut his first tooth. He's been using the potty since 11 months, but is now going every time I put him on! I'm sleeping more and washing less diapers and carrying him a little less. Yeah, for ONE!

***Yes, the last photo looks more like a picture from a 21st birthday than a 1st, but I had to share the "cake drunk" look with you.

We go together like...

I have many events about which to post: our trip to Alabama, our growing flock of chickens, Levi's first birthday. However, I'll put those off a few more days. Tonight I'm in the mood for a food post. Christian and I recently watched Julie and Julia, which I found to be an entertaining and thoughtful movie that also induced a serious case of the munchies! 

I was struck by the line Julia spoke to her husband, "You're the butter to my bread."

Now, I don't eat bread (I've discovered my body doesn't happily metabolize refined carbs) and very seldom eat butter, but I immediately thought of other food combinations that characterize marital intimacy. And, I also wondered what food combos you might relish (we're talking food pairs...one, two, period.)

Here is what I might say instead, "You are the chocolate to my coffee; the cheese to my eggs; the brie to my blackberries; and the basil to my tomatoes (please note I mean only homegrown basil and tomatoes); the olive oil to my garlic..."

I made a cake for Levi's birthday tonight that was layered: one vanilla layer, one chocolate, with cinnamon cream cheese icing and a cinnamon stencil on top. (Priya "assisted" me.) So, I'll have to add chocolate and cinnamon to my list of favorite combos. 

So, how about you? What two food items do you think can't live without one another?

Jeepers creepers

Where'd you get them peepers?

Five days in the Life of...

Friday: 

I went to aerobics class which is normally a cross training/ boot camp sort of deal on Fridays, but we ended up running instead. We ran a big loop around Camp Redcloud. I took the kids to the park and played and ate a picnic. The, back to camp for uphill wind sprints. (Thank you, Jess, this is a wonderful idea...note sarcasm). Christian and I enjoyed a thought-provoking date night during which we watched Food, Inc.

Saturday: Christian headed to Montrose to pick up some plants for our greenhouse. I took the kids back out to camp to watch a horse show. Silas and Priya both rode a horse for the first time. Another mom took photos...I'll post them soon. Then, we scrambled home for a much needed nap. Just as Christian arrived home with plants and baby CHICKS (!!), I remembered a one-year-old's birthday party I was planning to attend. I jumped on the bike and rode down to Crystal and baby Stella's to join most of the babies who were born last year and their mommas. There, I remembered the BBQ party that Amy Jo was throwing in her yard, which 1/2 the town attended. I jetted back home, made some food, defrosted some elk and venison and headed to Amy Jo's (1/2 a block away). Then, to cap off a great Saturday, went up Henson creek to sweat some in the sauna with three other ladies. Back home to check on chicks...sleep.

Sunday: Church, lunch, 8 mile bike ride up Henson. Then, I planted the greenhouse.

Monday: Aerobics class...then rode the bike back from camp (10 miles). Gorgeous morning around Lake San Cristobal. Went for a great walk with the kids. Had my hair cut shorter than it has been for a while (see chicken photo).

Today: maybe Gunnison shopping, Community volleyball tonight. 

No wonder the laundry piles up and the kids are cranky. I'm looking forward to some time in Alabama next week. Sitting on the porch...kids in the yard. (And, yes, Levi has been using the potty some! and styling his own hair) 

putting the A-R-T in HARTMAN

I used to paint some, quilt, sew, photograph, and write. As of late, I am mastering the culinary and domestic arts, but my kiddos seem interested in creating lovely masterpieces. (To be fair to myself, I do own a weaving business that provides some creative outlet. But, I probably spend more creative energy trying to get all the dishes packed into the dishwasher,)

Silas made a very careful study of the top of a head with hair using the medium of play-doh (recipe to follow).

Levi dumped out a mostly empty bag of Kix that he stumbled upon and scrawled in the dust, quite proud of himself indeed.

Priya has been experimenting with fashion design. (Most of the time she ends up looking like a bag lady...lots of hats, scarfs, mittens, Mardi Gras beads.) However, she snapped this photo of me while using a camera for the first time. I hardly ever make an appearance on the blog, but now that there are other qualified photographers in the family, maybe you'll see me saying cheese more often.

She also took this mystery shot. It took me about 15 minutes to figure out what in the world she had captured. We have an enlarged 1950s photo of Times Square in our kitchen that she caught the corner of.

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 cup salt
• food coloring

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.

 Noelle, mine has not molded yet, perhaps because it is cooked? You never know what kids are adding when they play, however.

He is Risen

We had a wonderful celebration with our family and our community this past weekend. Here are the few photos that I managed to get everyone still and facing one direction (for the most part).

On a related note, we went hiking today, just me and the three munchkins. The wind was at about 30 mph, the mud about six inches deep, the snow about four inches over that...we hiked about three miles. At one point, Priya said, "Momma, I have rocks in my pocket. They're making music. When I walk, they make music. They're singing 'Praise the Lord, Alleluia'." 

I was, of course, reminded of the scripture in Luke 19:

³⁶As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

 ³⁷When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 
 ³⁸"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" 
      "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

 ³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

 ⁴⁰"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

I love that the rocks in Priya's pocket were singing praises today as we slugged through the mud and wind.