Favorite Things

Have you heard?  Oprah ended her talk show this week.  Honestly, I never watched Oprah all that much-- but still, there was something about the ending of it, the completion of it, that got to me.  Admittedly, I tuned in for the final few episodes, and in this very unexpected way felt quite nostalgic for... I'm not really sure what.

Maybe it's that Oprah's show has just always sort of been there in the background my entire life-- as a kid I remember coming home from school and flipping past the Oprah show searching for cartoons.  In high school I watched her once in a while.  In college I definitely did NOT watch her (some sort of point I was making to myself and the world, I'm sure), and then in the past few years every once in a while I've tuned in for the novelty of it all at the end of a long day, mostly to see what her "favorite things" are every year.  

Most people I know have some sort of very strong opinion about her and her show.  It's either Of Course! they watch(ed) Oprah, or Definitely NOT EVER. 

Anyway, I thought today, just for fun, I would do a post about a few of my own personal Favorite Things!  Here's to you, Oprah!  

1) Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day   

I am in love with this brand.  I bought Tyler some of the Geranium Liquid Hand Soap four our 4th anniversary, just to be cute (geranium is the 4th anniversary flower), and, as it would turn out, we are both now looking for any excuse possible to wash our hands in the kitchen sink.
Since then I've also tried the Surface Scrub in our bathroom, which also is fabulous.  All their stuff is free of toxins, so I don't feel as though Violet is taking a chemical steam bath after I clean the shower. 

2) Challenge Butter

This butter is my favorite butter of all the butters that be.  And I like butter.  I like butter a lot.  Challenge Butter is especially creamy; very farm fresh tasting.  And, I love the foil wrapper.  I only buy it when it goes on sale, which is about twice a year-- and then I try to stock the freezer.      

3) Session Lager.  

This beer is delightful, comes in a fun short and squat bottle, and is made locally in Hood River, Oregon.  Tyler and I visited this brewery a few years ago, and then spent the night on a pear farm.  Good times.  

4) Natural Cheetos Puffs, White Cheddar

Ok, I could inhale an entire sack of these in one sitting if I gave myself the chance.  In fact, these paired with the Session Lager mention above, might be the perfect snack-attack.


5) Bean Boots 
I finally went for it this year, after we got home from India in March and my feet were freezing cold and missing the India sun, and there were tub-loads of rain coming down;  I bought a pair of these boots.  I have LOVED them.  They have kept my feet completely warm and dry through this Seattle "Spring".  They are also very Eastern-Shore Chic.  :)

6) Prismacolor Colorless Blender
This one is for all of my illustration buddies.  I just re-discovered this tool, and it is fabulous.  It seems to work really well on very smooth surfaces, like drafting film, and saves a lot of time giving the pencil work that "painterly" look.

7) Wissotzky Cherry Tea
I discovered this tea a few years ago in the Kosher section of my grocery store (so, if you can't find it in the normal tea area, check the kosher section; it might be hidden there).  This tea so wonderful because it is very cherry-like without being sweet.  It is light and just a tiny bit tart, and very pretty-in-pink.  Drink it in a turquoise colored mug for the ultimate lovely-effect.

8)  Kindle 
Ok, you guys.  My brother, Sam, gave me a Kindle for Christmas, and I really didn't think I would get much use out of it.  But, I swear, this little thing has been one of the greatest additions to my life since the birth of my child.  For some reason, reading on this thing is really really easy.  I only ever download the free books (of which there are thousands to choose from), but what that means is that in the past 5 months I have become extraordinarily well read in the old-timey 19th century novel genre.

9) Moonlight Path Bubble Bath 
The new packaging for this product is really kind of cheap and tacky looking, and honestly it probably isn't the highest of quality body products...  but man, this stuff is nice.  It smells like lavender and violets (what better scent!).  I love to take a bath with this stuff right before going to bed.

10)  Trader Joe's Chocolate Sunflower Seed Drops 

I couldn't find a link for these, so you'll just have to search for them in the store.  Ok, truthfully these aren't really that fantastic.  BUT, what is fantastic about them is that Violet thinks they are the greatest thing in the world.  If she has bonked her head, or needs a little cheering up for some reason, or if she's done something really great (like used the potty), I can give her one of these and it literally makes her day.  They really just are sunflower seeds covered in a tiny layer of candy-coated chocolate (like M&M's, but without so much sugar in each one).  She loves getting to pick what color she is going to eat, and she can have two or three or an entire handful without being sent into sugar oblivion.  

Potty Land

We have BREAKING NEWS:  Violet used the potty for the first time yesterday.  It may have been a fluke, or it may be the start of something big.  We'll keep you posted on the details as they unfold.

I have to say that honestly "potty training" has been one of my enormous dreads of parenthood.  It has seemed absolutely and completely intimidating.  Everything else so far in this mommy job has seemed pretty reasonable; but there is something about potty training that has struck a bit of fear in my heart.

When we were preparing to go to India last fall, and we were flipping out about various things (like whether or not we needed to bring three months of diapers with us because maybe they were not available in the town we were going to be living in...)  we started learning about the differences in potty training methods around the globe.  In many places, diapers aren't used at all.  And, in fact, when we were there, Yoshoda, The Help of the house (who also was a young mom of a young child) was a bit fascinated by my laundry lines full of cloth diapers and my shelf full of various creams and powders and wipes for Violet.  Her child didn't wear diapers.  When he had to go, he just kind of went (I guess), and feeling the immediate discomfort on his skin (that which a plush American diaper normally soaks up and away from the baby), the situation always demanded immediate attention.  She would whisk him away, change him into fresh clothes, and return--  good as new.
While I don't think this would work completely for our Seattle lifestyle from day one, I do think there is something to be learned from it.  Kids in India (as a stark generalization) are potty trained much earlier than kids in the good old USA--  many by 18 months (while the average age in the USA is 3 years old).  I think it has a lot to do with letting the baby feel the mess and discomfort they have made, and the parent providing a solution, rather than just masking it with a diaper.  Since Yoshoda has to constantly worry that her baby will mess himself while on the bus, at the market, on the living room couch, etc...  you can bet your bottom dollar she'll be looking for the natural signals babies give early on for communicating the need to to go (in America we ignore these signals)-- but they are there-- the same way that signals for food and comforting are there (those, we pay attention to).  When she sees these signals, she'll get him to the potty FAST.  

Anyway, what I'm trying to say, is that I think what I have slowly been learning about this process is that  it doesn't have to be this hard and rigid process for Violet (or for me).  Yesterday I let her run around in just underpants, no diaper, all day-- and there was only one accident (pretty good!).  She kept wanting to try to sit on the potty, and eventually the deed was done.
I think potty training is going to be a process of both Violet and me tuning into her natural signals that she has to go.  She was very excited to have done it-- but then didn't want to do again the rest of the evening.  We'll see how today goes.  She and Potato Guy (aka Mr. Potato Head), have already tried once this morning, but apparently neither one felt inspired to let the bowels flow.  

little friends

Violet ad Hazel, Age 2

Too busy to do much blogging lately.  The sun has been [mostly] shining, and little friends have much to share, lounging in the clover.  

How can we get used to this astonishing transition?  It's too beautiful I think to ever grow immune to.  This little person who we brought into this world, who never needed anyone but mom and dad, is suddenly exploring a whole new galaxy that is distinctly separate from us; finding, on her own, in a friend (sweet Hazel) a side of life that we could never as grownups, as parents, give to her. 

Seeing these two together never ceases to amaze me; it's a little like watching the sunrise.

Mom's Day

You already know that this little person we're raising means more to me than the sun.  And, I guess I could say something to the effect of how motherhood has been the greatest challenge/discovery/journey/[insert another cliche here] of my life.  And how, thank goodness, I had a day filled with pampering, gifts, brunch, etc.....
But I think I'm going to write about something just slightly to the side of all that---

I was sitting on the couch the other day, watching Violet draw the letter V over and over and over again on this piece of paper, and then she starts doing O after O after O, huge circles that span the entire diameter of the page.  And I started to feel incredibly grateful.
Giving credit where credit is due, I do think mother's day is an important day for everyone to stop and reflect on all the great things our mommies have done for us---
--but I also want to take this chance to tell Violet what she has done for me:


Violet,
Thank you for making sure that every pocket of every coat I own is always filled with your special findings.  I reach in, scrounging for meter change, and pull out dried dandelion fluff.

Thank you for keeping my 15 year old cat active and on his toes, and for throwing a party every time you hear him purr.  Thank you for not thinking it's weird when all I make for your dinner is a scrambled egg and peas, because it's been one hell of a day.  Thank you for challenging me to make up 80 songs a day about birds, dogs, toilets, wooden spoons, elephants, and cat food.  I would never think twice about the chickens on Densmore and 35th Ave. N, if it weren't for you.
Thank you for making something as simple as a walk around the block alone with my husband feel like a honeymoon again.  Thank you for giving me the motivation and urgency in my free moments to actually focus on what I want to happen with my artwork and career.  Thank you for bringing Greek Yogurt into my life.  I love it when you kiss me through the window glass when I leave to go to a meeting, and when you suddenly feel as though it is imperative that you count the buttons on my sweater.
Thank you, sweet child, for taking this life of mine out of the dredge of adulthood, and bringing me to a space where pencils, books, the garlic press and cheese grater get lined up in a parade every day; everything I thought I knew about my house, my belongings, my world, gets a bright new chance to be something else as you line them up and down our living room rug.
Mommyhood is a boisterous festivity; a great revelry set to the music of Danny Kaye.  My little elf, you are loved much. 

tequila shrimp pasta

Two posts in one day?  That's wild!  Do you know what else is wild?  Cinco de Mayo.  In honor of this very auspicious day, here is a recipe that I made the other day for lunch.  I had a half-used bag of frozen shrimpies in the freezer, and noticed that there was a recipe on the back for this pasta calling for vermouth.  But who has vermouth!  So I added a little tequila instead (a household staple)....  Please enjoy :)  

Tequila Shrimp Pasta 

1/2-1lb pasta(I used rotini because Violet thinks they're fun) 

2 tbs olive oil

1/2 cup diced white onion (a shallot would also be really good) 

1/4 cup tequila 

3/4 cup milk or cream

2 green onions, sliced 

1 tomato, chopped  

1/2 lb tiny shrimp (I used frozen, but fresh would be better!) 

1 tsp dried basil (or a few fresh sprigs would be good) 

salt and pepper to taste 

Cook pasta according to box.  

Heat olive oil, and cook white onions on medium heat until translucent, but not brown.  Add the tequila, and bring to high heat.  Stir continuously until tequila is about 2/3 reduced.  

Turn the heat down slightly, and add the milk.  Cook stirring for about 2 minutes.  

Add the shrimp, tomato, green onion, and basil.  Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until shrimp are heated through.  

Serve over pasta, and top with parmesan cheese (or, if you are Violet, eat with a good wallop of Greek yogurt :) 

artist update

So, we've been home just under two months now, and we are very much in the middle of our celebratory season--  somehow, in this expanse between the holidays and summer that normally is a bit blank and dreary for many people, Tyler and I have managed to fill up almost every week with some sort of celebration.  We got home, and immediately it was Violet's birthday,  which we celebrated for about two weeks.  Then came Easter.  Then came our anniversary.  Tomorrow is Tyler's birthday (happy birthday, love bug), and then in just a couple of short days is Mother's Day.  After that, quickly comes my birthday, and then Father's day.  And what do you know?  We suddenly then are welcoming in summer (which we all know fills up quickly.

In short, I have been sitting here this last week very much feeling as though the time is racing by, and June-August will be here k nocking before I know it.  I'm not sure about my other artist friends, but I always feel as though summer, for whatever reason, is a major deadline-time for me and my artwork.  I'm not talking about various little illustration projects that I have going on here and there with various organizations, but more of a deadline for myself to get my own personal stuff out there into cafes, artwalks, festivals, etc.  

Frankly, it's been a big stress lately.  In the midst of getting some grant application type stuff out, I was going over my artist CV, and I realized that I haven't really taken the time to produce a whole lot of new work since Violet was born that I am excited about.  There has been plenty to do;  work for the University, shoe painting, exhibits of past work for the Japanese Garden, producing prints and cards, etc......  But in the busy-ness of all this, while being a mommy, I haven't taken the time to really grow my personal portfolio.  

So, what does this mean?  Well......  I've decided to cancel the few shows that I have booked for the summer, and take this time to clear my head and busy my desk with some new projects.  I have some exciting stuff brewing;  I don't want to give too much away just yet (nothing like a good dash of superstition to keep an artist's mouth closed)... but can tell you that there will, of course, be many birdies, some of the Indian variety, and I am possibly going to be teaming with some exciting folks, and down one avenue there may be elephants involved.    

Volunteer Park

It was a beautiful day in Seattle today.  Violet and I have been a bit under the weather lately, and so with the sun shining this morning, I decided we were well overdue for a fun outing somewhere.  So I packed up some nose-wipes, and some cheerios, and we drove to Volunteer Park on Capital Hill.  I can't for the life of me figure out why I don't go there more often.  It was gorgeous, and fun, and there is tons of parking, and a pond filled with koi.  Also, the flower conservatory at the edge of the park is a lovely retreat-- as long as I keep Violet away from the cactus room.

Anniversary #4

What do you know; it's been four years.



So we took the day off on Thursday from our daily runaround, and packed ourselves and our little girl into the car and drove to West Seattle.  Logs and ducks, bits of shell, pebbles covered in dried seaweed; natural playmates for Violet, giving mom and dad the chance to sit together in the sand, watching the ferry boats float by.

What a lovely day; and what a lovely life.