lady cordelia

the women in my life.

Firstly, thank you so much for all the sweet comments.  I read and love every one.  I am always amazed at how much understanding there is.  I love that I have made friends who I will probobly never meet.  And, I love how when one of them is planning to sell their house and move to another State possibly, I don't mind at all.  Why?  Because I know I can "see" her several times a week and travel with her on her journeys.  How great is that?

Anyway: down to business. Chix n' stuff.

I wanted to properly introduce you to the gang, since I don't know if I ever have.  They are part of my everyday life and you really should take the time to get to know them a little bit.  Even if you don't really want to. Here are our women:

This is Puffy Cheeks.  She's kind of sketched out.  A nice woman though.  Lays well.

Meet Lil (short for Lily.)  Lil is a great pal.  See the slate blue legs? Lays blue eggs.  Sometimes. Tends to have shells that are thin.  She lays for weeks on end and if we get the eggs from the coop quickly enough, great.  If not, they break when another chicken lays on them.  Then coop gets ants.  Then I get irritated. Cause I am the only one who deals with all the chicken and duck stuff.  Even though everyone else eats the eggs every freaking day.  (Oh. Hi Brad.) Anyway.  She often does not lay at all.  It's really too bad because having a chicken that lays blue eggs makes me feel kind of...show-offy.  Kind of cool.  But, not in a way you would really understand unless you were into having chickens.  So.  Anyway.  Lil eats an oyster shell suppliment, if you must know, to boost her calcium.  It helps.  Kind of.  Not really though. Not at all.

  This is Fatty.  She looks thin in this pic but she really has a huge a**.   She is a very nice woman though and has a lot of good things going for her.   We don't call her Fatty to her face.  Well, I don't.  The Brad does.  Men can be so insensitive that way.  

Haven't named this one yet.  She was one that was raised from an egg that Snow White laid on.  Remember that story? She is really very pretty and will start laying early next year along with one other hen we kept from the same set of eggs.  If you have a good name, send it along. 

 This is Snow White when the chicks first hatched.  She looks about the same now, only a little less haggard.  I didn't look good the first few days after I gave birth either.  I was pale and bloated for weeks.  Not glowy and all that stuff.  Then I was happy cause the breast-feeding burned off most of the weight and I had big "D" size you- know-whats.  Now I am back to a size A.  Dang it!

This is Koko eating duck crap and trying not to look guilty afterwards. I know I've shared this reality with you before.  It happens a lot.  So.  There you go.

This is Lucy May.  She has fleas.  And yes we have done a million things about it. She's a good lady though.  The girls looooooooooove the cat.  I mean loooooooooove the cat.  I think she's fair to midlin.

This is Moonie.  Or could be Sally.  Can't tell them apart.  Very cute.  Funny.  Lay BIG eggs.  How such a little thing could lay such a big egg I have no idea.  They lay early in the a.m. and always at the same time.  By 5 p.m. they waddle around and you can see this protrusion, the next day's egg, in their belly.  Kind of cute.  At least I think so. 

Well, that's the gang.  Minus one dog (male) and a chicken or two. I love you, but I really can't invest more time trying to get quality shots of my chickens.   Off to re-fill the duck pool.  Someone's gotta do it.

greens, books and yarn

I thought it was bath season.  It was cold the other day and so cold in the house this morning.  Went outside.  85 degrees.  Kind of bothers me, the tease, the fluctuation, the lack of dependability.  Reminds me of old boyfriends.  Ew.

I did have to pull out the tomatoes, and that reminds me of the end of Summer.  My toms were on their last legs.  Now it's time for kale and collards and chard.  What you see above is my little plot for growing veg. My back is a little sore today, so it's more than enough space.  I wanted several acres.  Still do.  But not today.  Fudge it.

Been committed to knitting again.  This pattern (that I showed you last blog) is easy.  Mostly stockinette.  So I can do it and not pay (much) attention.  Even watched True Grit last night (the re-make, wanna see the original) and knitted my way through.  See: I need more opportunities to pay less attention to things.   I do not need a knitting project to kick my a** at the end of the day when I'm just sitting down for the first time. Know what I mean?  Here's a checklist I made to illustrate my point further.

Tired at end of day?  Check.
Good at knitting?  No check.
Likes glass of wine with dinner?  Check. 
Wants to be yelling at knitting project and not even making it to dinner table because knitting project is all  fudged up? No check. 

Everyday you learn a little more about me.  Sigh.

And, finally: An indepth book review by Lady Cordelia

Raising Children Who Think For Themselves by Elisa Medhus

Sure. Read it.  It's okay.  I dig where she is coming from.  Live (and love) her main points.  Though, perhaps it could have been written in 2 or 3 chapters.  Just a thought.  Plus: she seems a little harsh on teen punishment.  But.  I am not living with unruly teens, so what do I know. 

Happy Wednesday.  Happy to be participating in Yarn Along today! 

full on weekending

 
Some know Fall is here because of the change in the air, the falling leaves and so forth.  I know Fall is here because I find myself running a hot bath at once a day.  Or thrice, if I'm particularly chilly.   More clothes and the heat turned up just won't do it.  And so that is how I am ending this long, wonderful weekend. 

I began the weekend with a trip to LA to begin the process of recording a few new songs.  Very fun and exciting.  It has been many years since I have properly been in a studio recording for me (and not a music library.)  Of course I will share when all is finished.  These things take a while.

Saturday took us to my parents to celebrate my moms 71st birthday.  In the afternoon we went to see an acrobatic show; contortionists, trapeze and the like.  Very fun.  Girls loved it.  In the evening we had dinner and cake and a surprise performance from my mom who had learned some beginning tap dancing on youtube.  My dad MC'd the show.  It was amazing!  I only hope when I am her age I will be up to such things.  She is a fine inspiration.  Everyone should be so lucky to have such a mommy.   And daddy.  He is turning 80 a week after I turn 40 (sooner than later.)  I love them. Big.

I also got started on a new knitting project this weekend with a spontaneous (and not inexpensive) trip to a KS.  (KS is shorthand for Knitting Store.  I found this out the other day on someones blog.  I thought it was ridiculously silly. )  I spent way too much money on the yarn.  This was a total accident.  Should not have happened.  Please don't tell The Brad.  Thanks.

Have a wonderul Monday!

Linking with my super wonderful pal Amanda for weekending.

How I appear.

I was inspired reading another blog today, a fave of mine, in which the writer was questioning if we are really as we appear on our blogs.

It's easy to formulate a personality out here in the world wide web. But...

I think I'm pretty much how I appear.

This picture tells a lot: I have a cute cat, dirty windows and usually there is an uncoiled hose lying out. Someone inevitably trips on it.

Knitting projects move around from place to place without actually being knitted on. 

I badly need a pedicure.  I need to sweep up under the doormat.

Have a fondness for wire chickens that cost $1.

I like fresh eggs, and I care about the layers, so I spend time out at the chicken/duck coop making their home nice.  It is a job. It is a very long coop.  If you ever find yourself in need of a place to stay, there is room for you.

 
Furniture is most often second-hand.  Often has pen stains..  Is shredded from cute cat. 

I have lots of "things" here and there.  Found or made minutia. Perhaps, I should get rid of some.  Can't get rid of any.  Oh well. 

Can not seem to throw out any of my kids artwork. It's all over the place.  My desk is covered in it.  It's taking over the house.  I figure it's better than hoarding live animals like you see people do on those weird tv shows.  I can't stand that people do that to animals.  It makes me really freaking upset.

My Children Mean Everything To Me. 
(and see the hose behind them?  Not rolled up.  Of course. Very me.)

Good hearted.  Honest.  No bullshit.  Doesn't roll up the hose.  Me.

What is Homeschooling.

Here's the thing. Despite loving parents, I did not like school.  I started school in the 70's.  I was a sensitive kid.  There was just not the same awareness, back then, in the education field, as there is now.   And by that I partially mean: there were fewer choices.  Kids went to school, it seemed, no matter what.  Dry your eyes.  You'll be fine. What other choices were there?

I seriously thought about homeschooling our older girl when it came kindergarten time this year. And, I seriously thought about it because I had such a hard time in school myself.  I just didn't want to go.  My eyes were wet, I was one of those.

But my girl, she did want to go.  And I have never seen such a happy little school-goer. (Nor such a sweet little school.)  Still, no matter what anyone ever tells me, I will always be taking it day by day as far as school goes.  Unlike a marriage, I take no vow here.  If my child is happy and thriving and learning, then I like school.  If not, I will stick my nose in.  I will investigate, in my (usually) non-intense way.  I am the mama bear.  And that is that. 

After much thought, I suppose I look at school as a fine way to introduce a child to the social world at large.   I think down the line that someone will teach my child 4th grade math far better than I ever could, and for that I am relieved.  My girl has a sweet, sweet teacher who knew her students all by name by day 2.  I notice that this teacher hugs them when they need hugs.  She is firm in a loving way.  And that is ever so important. 

But.

I know we, the parents, are our child's most important teachers.  I plan to be front and center on what my girls are learning academically.  And, hopefully be one step ahead at all times.

On the emotional and psychological front, I want my children to think for themselves and not feel the urge to run with a pack because they need the approval.  (Huge.)  And this is the education that really matters. Don't you think?  Self-worth. Inner Strength.  The ability to do the right thing because that ever-so-essential piece of self-love is snugly and securely in place. The ability to be one's own self, follow one's own heart, unabashedly. You just can't learn that in school. 

My 5 year old loves going to school.  And she'll be the first one to tell  you.  And for that I'm thankful. Little does she know, even though she is in public school, she is still being home-schooled.  Yes, she is. And she will continue to be, for many years to come.

I love living like this ~ a weekend.

As most of you well know by now, it started out simply enough.  It was about 4 months ago.  The Brad, our chef, was working the weekend as usual and I was crying at the kitchen table.  Why?  I couldn't cook.  Or wouldn't.  Had no desire, so to speak, or inspiration.  Even though I was a self-proclaimed "organic health nut" when it came to food, I had no interest in preparing it. 

I made a pact with myself on that night.  I would be able to cook healthy inspired meals for my beautiful children.  Come heck or high water, (or "hell," if you don't mind swear words) I would find a way to get inspired.

I had already been very brightened by Amanda Soule's cooking style through the years, but it had never been enough to actually get me started.  I looked through her blog soon after my breakdown and found the few cookbooks she loved most.  Baking books too. 

And that was that.  I set out on my journey.

Baking has been much easier for me to love than, say, cooking dinner.  I do eat meat, but I often find I don't enjoy it very much. I eat little portions of hormone-free chicken, and less occasionally beef, when it is served to me by The Brad or someone else.  I'm much more happy with an extra-large serving of greens, most usually.  I guess, now that I think about it, I flat-out don't like to cook meat.  It often makes me sad and takes my appetite away.  So, I've found one great vegetarian cookbook that I love. (But I don't think I can actually say the title again because I've said it on this blog about a hundred times already, practically every day for the last month.  I don't want anyone to think (find out?) I'm clinically insane.)   I am open to other great vegetarian cookbooks if anyone would like to share their favorites, perhaps? Please do!

Anyhoo: Here is what I offered my sweet little girls this Sunday morning:

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice (This town is made of orange orchards.  Oranges are for sale by the bag on every other block.)

Homemade Millet Muffins (from that cookbook.  the one I've mentioned a million times.)

Homemade Blackberry Compote (also from the above cookbook- and guess what...berries were picked by moi from a secret blackberry bramble that is on an abandoned lot!)

I know, it's a little sugary for breakfast- even though it's all organic.  In an hour they'll have a fresh egg.  Ok?  Ok!

Lookie what I maaaaade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (If I can do it, anyone can.)

And then, just as the weekend was slowing down, my mama bought me fresh strawberries and peaches from the farmers market.  And so, I made strawberry-peach compote to freeze for those cold and gloomy winter days.   Did not know you could actually freeze sunshine in a Mason jar  But 'cha can. Yep.  Ya can.

linking with my pal Amanda for weekending.

Joy Moments

Here are a handful of Joy Moments from the week:

The constant appreciation for fresh chicken and duck eggs. Now that I've broken down and starting buying the organic feed I can say we have organic eggs.  (I figure if you're gonna come this far with fresh eggs, you might as well go all the way.)

Millet Muffins (made with big, fat duck eggs of course.)  From, yes, again, the cookbook in my sidebar.  I haven't fogotten to update my book sidebar.  I'm still all over this cookbook. (Swanson's Super Natural Everyday.)

Again, the wonder and joy of watching my 5-year-old LOVE kindergarten! She is so social.  I love watching her go the rounds to say goodbye to every friend inidivually when I come to pick her up. (So not me!)

I know it's not good when kids swear.  But I did have a secret joy moment when my 3-year-old announced the other day from her carseat: "I don't want any crap in this world."  This statement resonates with me deeply.

Have a wonderful weekend.  See you Monday!

linking with soulemama and joy pockets

 

 

 

 

$40 bed frame and other important items of the day.

On Monday we purchased a "big girl" twin bed frame for our five-year-old.  We got it on Craigslist.  Of course.  This sweet frame (headboard and footboard) is not fully dissimilar to a cute white metal frame from, say, Pottery Barn or Land of Nod.  It is darling and perfect for our girl. And, at the wonderful price of $40.

Sure, we had to drive to a nearby yucky town, in rushhour traffic, and get lost about 5 times.  Sure, we had to almost lose our marraige over putting it together, because even though it just has 8 screws holding it together, it came with no directions. Sure, The Brad lost about 6 hours of work and the lot of his patience putting it together.  And taking it apart.  And putting it together. 

And so, that is the price you pay when you buy things on Craigslist.  You get a $40 bedframe, but you lose  hundreds of dollars in self-employeed work time putting it together.  You also, inadvertently, teach your children new swear words that no adult should ever be caught saying. 

Still.  $40.   Good deal.

(When the mattress and bedding arrives, I'll be sure to take a pic.)

:::::::::   ::::::::::

Other than that?  I'm in songwriting mode as I will be in the studio later this month.  An old musician/engineer/producer friend is recording three songs of mine "on spec." This is a good thing.  And, since I haven't done any "serious" writing for myself in many years (just songs that I sell to the music company that puts my songs in Taiwanese commercials -as per last blog entry, and by the way, I did inquire and I WILL get royalties!  Maybe I'll be rich off this commercial!  YAY!  Doubt it.  But still, oh happy day.  ) Anyway- back to original point: I am not used to the lack of SILENCE while trying to write.  In other words, the last time I wrote songs the house was quiet because I had no family.  This time, I have children coming into my room every 5 minutes saying:  "She hit me", "I'm thirsty", "Can I watch a video?," "I'm hungry" and so forth.
Often though, they just dance around and say.."Mama, I love that song!"  So, I can't complain much.

Other than THAT, I'm just doin' stuff like dressing up our 10 year old lab in a shirt that translates as "Made in Mexico."  It's cool.  It's fun. As you can see, our lab likes Bert. They often go everywhere together.  Bert does not smell good at this point.

Have a great rest of your week.

XO

Weekending

This weekend was another stay at home weekend.  My favorite.  The kind we almost always have.
Friday we had a few friends over.  The house ranged with kids aged from 3-11 and they all got along so sweetly.  I made stuffed tomatoes, and they were good, but did pale in comparison to my friends salad. Her name is EE. This is her salad:

EE's Salad
Organic spinach & arugula
Honey goat cheese
Toasted pecans
Orange soaked cranberries (dried.)
Corn

There.  Simple.  All these fine things you can get at Trader Joes!

Dressing
locally sold fig vinegar and lemon olive oil. (you can do your own favorite vinegar and olive oil)
some minced shallots and garlic
mustard
salt and pepper

Sorry- don't know the exact amounts.  Just do it all to taste.
Wow.  Best. Salad. Ever. I am driving the 30 minutes to Trader's today so I can have it again tonight.

Saturday: An estate sale. Wow. I did something I never do and purchased a furniture piece.  I replaced the two weathered garage-sale shelf units for all my kitchen mixing bowls and such and got a vintage shelving unit.  I know.  Hard to imagine it without a pic.  And if my kitchen had light in it, you would not have to imagine it.  Blame it on my kitchen. And the fact that I won't use a flash. 

Also this: a tiny vintage flour sifter.  This I could drag into the light of the window.

And: had to share a weekend art piece from the 5-year-old.  Complete with shells I got in a $3 bag from the estate sale. (We have lots more, if you want to come and craft with little shiny shells.)  She is really into mermaids.  I always dreamed I would have a little girl who drew mermaids.  I love it when dreams come true.

Last but not least: my mom emailed me this link this morning with the subject: "Are you getting paid for this?"  This is what happens when your songs are licensed by a corporation.  You never know that your music was used in a Taiwanese tissue commercial (unless your mom randomly finds out for you.)

Hmmm...what else do I now know about?  As long as it shows up on my royalty check, frankly dear, I don't give a damn.

linking with Amanda for weekending!

Joy Moments

True Moment of Joy taking my younger one to her first ballet class.  She has been by my side for pretty much every single moment of her three years.  So sweet to watch her from the sidelines.

Other Joy Pockets:

~ Watching in astonished amazement as my 5-year-old bounds out of bed excited to go to school in the same way I would get excited about christmas morning. 

~ Finding out I was using the wrong kind of yeast for a certain bread the last months.  Now that I've made it with the RIGHT one, I have the most amazing loaves of bread ever!

~ Choosing a walk with a friend over cleaning the house this morning.  Progress!

~Plans for a fun dinner tonight with friends in which I will tackle stuffed tomatoes for the first time.

Enjoy your weekend!

Linking with soulemama for this moment and bohemian twilight for joy pockets today.