Craft and bake sale

Incredibly aromatic (soothing and energizing) bath salts.

Incredibly delicious Paleo carrot soup.  I was hesitant because I am not a fan of carrots, but this soup was out-of-this-world good.

Incredibly beautiful paper-crafting artform which dates back to the Renaissance.

Incredibly cool blow torched lemon brûlée cookies.

Incredibly beloved semi-annual event which was born from the mind and heart of a dear friend (performing original songs here) when she was seven.

It was another wonderful day nestled amongst loving old trees, hanging out with friends, connecting with our community.

Peace.

P.S.  The wares featured above were all conceived and executed in large and larger parts by our amazing kids.

Weekend

There was time with grandparents.  There was a Baba dinner: steaks (beef and salmon), potatoes, broccoli and rice.  There was a football game.  There was a massage.

There was time in the pool.  There was a serious workout due to being the only kid present.  There was backstroke, breast stroke, butterfly, freestyle, diving and practicing flip turns.

There was Comic Con.  There was catching up with a favorite artist (who was impressed with the depth of Sag's knowledge of his oeuvre).  There was a trip to Kinokuniya.  There was a late lunch of Carnegie Deli.

There was homework.  There was too much homework and not enough time.  There was pouting.

There was a birthday breakfast out.  There was catching up, good coffee and Sunrise Quesadilla.

There was a drawing throwdown.  There was a really nice camaraderie and respect fest between birthday buddies (born 36 years apart).

There was time with a dear friend.  There was catching up and the jolt of realization that this friendship was born in 1989.  (There was a smile for a photograph!!!)

There was a long awaited, hotly anticipated release of two Pokemon video games.  There was leaving the house at 8:40 to get to the early opening at Gamestop.  There was hours of playing.  There was much joy.

There was coffee on Donna's front steps.  There was sweet, sweet Daisy.  There was drenching sun and long conversation.

There was more...it was a weekend full to the brim.  

(Cap lost his keys Saturday and, thankfully, I found them on Monday.  Turns out replacing Prius keys costs an arm and a leg.)

(I got to tour Tiina's in-the-midst-of-renovation house.)

(I drove Gem and myself into Manhattan.  It went well, but I hate driving on highways and the anticipatory anxiety was an ass.)

(The Red Sox lost a nail biter Friday night and won a nail biter Saturday night.)

(I have not been able to settle into the first of my three library books.)

(I have a ton of tv piling up in the DVR.)

Peace and love.

Whoosh

Wow.  Today flew.

I/we've been sleeping later into the morning as we combat the cold virus in our midst which has not gotten bad, but is hovering.  This accounts for some of that "lost time" feeling for me.

A chunk of the day was spent across from Gem has he grappled with mathematics.  This shot is from a pee break.  It was a tough afternoon for him.  I realized he was not working as independently as I thought he was...and he is beginning to realize the pains of truly hunkering down and paying attention to details...all the details.

I took Sag to Vinny's with me today.  One of his gymnastics classmates sat on his hand, hard, this week, accidentally, and I wanted to nip any damage in the bud.  Here I was waiting for him to get out of the car, he was very nearly at the end of a chapter and wanted to finish.

"our house" all-purpose flour mix

1 cup brown rice flour

1 cup blanched almond flour

1/3 cup potato starch

1/3 cup tapioca starch

1/3 cup arrowroot starch

I am feeling ridiculously pleased with myself for "figuring out" a new all-purpose flour blend for our household.  This works well for pizza crust, so far.  As soon as our order of sweet rice flour hits the front porch, I will sub that in for the brown rice flour.  I'll let you know how it goes with various recipes as I make them.

Peace and love.

Quiet hump day

Older boy is under the weather. A quiet day today, methinks.

I am feeling a bit sensitive. Did manage to control myself with public enemy #1 to my sensory system this morning, but it has taken a toll.

Good thing I have a scrumptious (CSA) spinach and (Trader Joe's) sun-dried tomato and (Anthony's) pastured eggs frittata to fortify me. I think restaurant frittatas are forever ruined for me.

Off to the kitchen for some CSA therapy...but before I go, here is a shot of this morning's classroom. 

Peace, love and breath. Deep, deep breath.

The week

We've been taking walks and it got hot.

Cooking up carrot-tofu scramble for Gem.

Our meat guy at the farmer's market has had Brussels sprouts for the last few weeks.  Not organic, but so fresh and lovely.

Love noticing the plates we are still using from my childhood.  I remember these plates coming out of the Mikasa box and being so thrilled.  (The steak, a rare boneless rib-eye, was delish.)

Fantastic book.  Loved it.  Gonna buy it.  (This was a library read.)  I'm a wannabe physics geek, but do believe this would appeal to folks from various walks of life.

My body/energy/hormones have been nutty.  Think slog.  Vinny put three of these little pressure things on my right ear to help me this week.

The heat in the atmosphere, the heat gathering in my body, particularly rising to my head...all roads lead to iced coffee!

Lists have been helpful this week to pull my sh*t together.  The universe's gift to ADDishness.

The change in weather has also meant: pesto.

Moments like this serve as a reminder: I am so, so lucky.  And grateful.  This time with my kids...I am so blessed.

Special treat: Grace went to Hawaii and brought back chocolate to sell in the store.  She knows freaks like me will plunk down $10 for a unique bar.

It was worth it.  Fruity and floral, flavorful and bouncy.  Once in a lifetime bar.

This book is a revelation.  Quietly disquieting.  It's making me gawk and making me laugh.  It's breaking my heart.

He has had these Spider-Man pajamas since he was around five.  He loves them and still squeezes into them.

The weather is in transition.  Cold and wet today.

Heard this lovely Roberta Flack cover of a Bee Gees song on The Americans this week.  It was an emotional scene and the song heightened the gorgeousness of the visuals wonderfully.

Peace and love.

Out like a lamb

Sheesh.  Nearly a week since my last post.  Clearly, something has got to give.  Stay tuned?

Many of these photos are from walks I've taken with Gem or time spent with Leo.  With the usual suspects of food, drink and home thrown in.  And my new old glasses.

We have a holiday weekend upon us.  If you are/will be celebrating, wishing you lots of love and joy.  Actually, I wish you that whether you are celebrating or not.

I'll be back.  Not to terminate, if you get that reference.

Peace.