Cabin Fever

Everyone should rent a cabin on a lake, if not for the serenity, for the opportunity it offers your children to fulfill your desires for them. This past week my kids caught frogs where the cat tails grow, went fishing, swung on a rope swing in an idyllic pond, drove a boat (with help), saw a lightening storm, rode on 4-wheelers a.k.a quads, rode in a tractor that had satellite radio, saw a sky so filled with stars that it was hard to find the big dipper, blew marshmallow shooters, made s'mores by campfire, swatted mosquitoes, jumped on a trampoline, found a lightening bug and put it in a jar next to their bed (freed the next day), ate hot dish and corn, drove the town garbage truck (just one), hit up an indoor water park, walked the sculpture garden, witnessed the indoor amusement park at the Mall of America, and finally, shot off a rocket that went almost 1000 feet up into the sky.
It was glorious! Thank you dear family for having such a wonderful, adventure-filled, down home vacation. Can't wait to do it again next year.

Seriously J Crew?

Okay, I know that the Eighties are back and they are probably as exciting for today's generation as they were for my generation, but PUH-LEASE! Seriously? The neon anklet with heels? Why did you have to go there? Madonna already went there aeons ago and there is no reason to re-visit. None. I could go on about the day-glo checkered, hunter-plaid flannel shirts (not featured at J Crew, YET!) but I'll stop short and just focus on those dang anklets. If any of you spot me on the street wearing a pair of those, will you smack me across the face with a dead fish? Thank you.
I'm done now.

Photo credit: courtesy of J Crew peeps

Check out my friend's Blog

My dear friend (and Michael's publisher) RuthAnn Thorn has just created a blog that is about being a first time mom over 40.
She is one dynamic woman! In addition to raising her child Isabella, she runs a very successful publishing company Crown Thorn Publishing and several galleries, Exclusive Collections Fine Art, with her husband here in San Diego. I know several women that were first time moms (or raising toddlers) at 40 and balancing their careers and family life at the same time. It is a full plate. So cheers to RuthAnn and you should all check out her blog and encourage her to write more entries.


Photo Credit: Photo by Rian DeLane of Sunday's Child Photography

Oh, if we could all do this for a change...

(Photo of me and Evs taken by Peta Maze, courtesy of http://www.debsphotographs.com/photoblog/)

On Parenting

I came across the following excerpt today and it really touched my heart. I found it on the GOOP blog. Read on...

"I don’t know if I’m pulling rank here: I’m speaking now as a grandmother, not an active-duty mom. But my four grandkids have given me a second chance to learn the lessons that I missed the first time around. Or maybe it’s simply that the passage of time lets one see the forest, not just the trees.

The single most important thing is to take time to LISTEN to your children – as fellow human beings, not just as your charges or pet projects. There’s a wise little human soul in there, ageless in heart even while young in time. Follow her lead. Listen to what she says and DOESN’T say. Don’t just manage her, but allow the things she’s interested in to open and energize your own heart. That’s the secret of eternal youth."

Here is my favorite part...

"Second, don’t be afraid to be real with your children. I’m not speaking so much here about being honest with your feelings (that’s generally good, but don’t forget that as a parent you have a primary responsibility to hold a safe space for your kids, and your self-expression should never overwhelm or frighten them); rather, I’m talking about being transparent about what you truly love. For eighteen years my own mother managed, scolded, imposed manners, dragged us kids off to Sunday school, arranged lessons in necessary social graces, chaperoned parties and supervised homework. And yet, for all that gray blur of duty, the one day I truly remember from my childhood was the day she simply gathered up her beloved oil paints and marched us off to a local arboretum. As my brother and I explored the gardens, I watched her a short distance away, poised before her easel, golden sunlight streaming down her face, completely entranced in what she was doing. How I loved her in that moment! And the unspoken lesson on following your bliss has remained with me for nearly six decades."

-Cynthia Bourgeault

Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, writer and retreat leader. She is founding director of the Aspen Wisdom School in Colorado and principal visiting teacher for the Contemplative Society in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Photo of Evs by Michael Flohr

Best Game Ever

Sidetracking from my normal babbling and sticking with the bragging I have a little news to share; Michael Flohr had the best golf game ever and I was there to witness! We played golf with our dear friend/adopted family member Steve Long and Corey Johnson yesterday at Balboa Park 18-hole. (Corey's wife, the lovely Adriana is my cupcake baking business partner and friend.) It was Steve's birthday and we all got up at the butt crack of dawn to play. Steve likes to play eeeeaaaarly.

Let's skip to the chase shall we?
Michael Flohr scored a 77!
Best game of his life and he played it with me.
It felt so good to see him so happy and I felt good because, although half of my game was in the toilet, the other half wasn't bad!
Not a bad way to celebrate Steve being born. Even though it was a looooooooooooooooonnng time ago. (hee hee).

In other news, I have been making a conscious effort to do more for myself and less for others. Okay, okay, kidding about the less for others part, but very much serious on the me part. Hope I can keep it up. I'll need your encouragement, so if I can get a "hell yeah!" every now and then, it would be appreciated. I need ideas. How do you carve out some "me" time for yourself when you've got a family to manage?

Blank Canvas

Well, I'm about to do a little braggin'. Get ready and settle in. My Hubs, a.k.a the very talented artist Michael Flohr just got back home from a whirlwind show schedule. He had a remarkable show here in San Diego this past weekend and then two days later flew to Breckenridge, Colorado for another very successful show. (Enter the bragging). Whilst at the Breck gallery, he set up a half-painted canvas to be completed by the end of the two day show. He finished it faster than he had anticipated. It sold. So the next day he set up a blank 16x20 white canvas on his easel. He turned around after setting up his palette and there was a red dot placed upon it. Red dots in the art world mean SOLD. We are all about the red dot.

So Michael Flohr sold a painting before paint ever touched the canvas.
For approx. $8500.

(Applause)

Way to go honey, I'm so proud of you and your amazing talent.
I am also certain that I am not the only one who feels this way.

Searching

I feel it in my throat, my gut and it has been occupying my mind for some time. I'm searching. Trying to identify what the hole is that I need to fill. (alright you dirty minds, move onward) Sigh. So many good things in my life. I should be full. Why am I restless? Do I already know the answer? Am I scared to face it, scared to try? Hmmph, will keep you posted.

Now on to something really juicy.

Tomatoes.
My homegrown lovelies. Check out the first of the crop.



I ate it right after I snapped the picture.

And yes, it was warm and vibrant, it's sweet, pungent, lingering fragrance was like silk against my tongue.
The perfect flavor of summer.
Can't wait for the purple cherokees and the brandywines to come in next.

( Pictured L to R: Sweet 100's, Brandywine, Purple Cherokee, Stupice (the one I devoured), Seeds of Change Basil in foreground)

Late Night Tweets

No, I'm not talking about Twitter. Lately around these So. Cal. parts the birds have been singing at night. It happens every summer that I've lived here in my little 1912 craftsman bungalow. Tonight I'm up past midnight, post knit night bliss, and had so much fun with the gals that I'm not quite ready to go to sleep. Apparently, I'm not alone. Who are these happy little night birds who chirp into the early a.m.? Their soundtrack leading me to my dreams. Chirp, chirp, chirp. So friendly and sweet. I am reminded of the afternoon naps I'd take as a young girl in Texas while visiting my Grandparent's house. I'd fall to sleep listening to the song of the Whippoorwill bird.

I think my next post will feature my first crop of the season, my tomatoes! Juicy and simply delicious. If you are a tomato lover, drool on...

Adorable!

Just spotted this adorable knit lobster on PetitePurls.com via Soulemama. I have knit a couple of toys animals for my boys (two dinosaurs, a pink bunny and a cupcake). I think a lobster or two should be next on the list! I have a knit night coming up this week and this could be just the thing to start on while gossiping, guzzling wine (or beer in my case. lately wine has been making me horribly nauseous. boo.) and laughing my a** off.

Knit night is great. Once a month I get together with a bunch of really cool ladies of varied ages. This group of women, we might not have even befriended each other if it weren't for knitting, and they are the COOLEST group of ladies! We are all of varied backgrounds, life-choices, ages and we have such a great time together. The kicker is the Hubs thinks its just a harmless bunch of old folks that get together and knit.

If you are a knitter or aspire to learn, there are many established knitting groups out there. To find one in your area just go to Ravelry.com and sign up. Or locally, there is a "knit up" the first and third Sundays 3p.m. at the Whistlestop Bar in SouthPark. A great place to go and get Knit-Faced!