Lukie-biotics

Bugs think Isadore is a tasty treat, and they always have. These bites at times get swollen and infected, but usually nothing a little ointment doesn't clear up. On one of last warm nights we had, we stupidly left the window open by her bed and the next morning she had a bunch of what looked like mosquito bites, two of which were on her hand and were causing some swelling. I spent the day icing it and using homeopathics and various ointments to no avail. that night she actually cried in pain unitl I finally gave her some ibuprofen to help her sleep. I though for sure a night of no scratching would cause the (assumed) allergic reaction to subside but nope, it looked awful. I brought her into the pediatrician that afternoon and the minute they saw it they exclaimed that it was not an allergic reaction but that her hand was infected. In addition to a course of antibiotics (they were worried about staph), she instucted me to do what I had to to keep her arm raised as much as possible. "Something you don't normally do...like let her watch some nature videos," the doctor said, which made me realize she must think we are uber-pure hippies with zero-tolerance for tv and media, which gave me an inner chuckle.

When I spoke to my sister (an ER nurse) later that day she told me that she frequently has to construct makeshift slings to keep peoples arms raised in cases like this. So I promptly got off the phone and looked around the house....I ended up using a camera tripod and an American Apparel scarf to hoist Lukies arm in the air. I plopped some puzzles and books in front of her and she patiently occupied herself until dinnertime. The swelling went down by the next morning and we'll be wrapping up the antibiotics next week.

Parenthood is such a trip, as these little experiences add themselves up, and we learn a little something each time. For one, I realized that I just sometimes really don't know if something is serious or not, because by the time I got to the ped's office I was sure I was wasting their time with a mere bug bite, but no, they had that medical "eye" and knew it was out of the realm of "normal." Second, it didn't occur to me that something as simple as building a sling out of common household items could be so helpful...once I knew there was a serious problem and my "alternative medicine" toolbox was cashed, I only saw the "big gun" medicines (over the counter drugs and antibiotics) which are so rarely used by our family. Finding a combination of different treatments is such a case by case balance.

You were a champ, Lukie-Lou!

what we read this summer

This summer we decided to cut back our cable and read more books. Blake and I both were readers once-upon-a-time but since we've been together (nearing 8 years) we've really only each read a handful of books. It was a wonderful experiment and a successful one at that. In classic Blake-style, he went at it in full-force...one of the many reasons I love this man is his determined and impassioned nature. I had to laugh when I saw the reoccurring theme of his final list--such an atheist! *chuckles and shakes head* Nearly half of his list are things he read in his late teens and early 20's that had profoundly influenced him and he very much enjoyed the greater depth the 2nd time around now that he is older (like the Miller stuff). I, myself, am proud of my own list which is well-rounded and done while caring for a newborn. Technically, I think we started reading in the spring and just finished our last book on the list a week ago. But whatevah.


B's books:
Tropic of Capricorn (Henry Miller)
Blackspring (Henry Miller)--possibly his fave H.M. book
Crazy Cock (Henry Miller)--not his favorite H.M book
The Will to Doubt (Bertrand Russel)
Why I Am Not a Christian (Bertrand Russel)
The Portable Atheist (Christopher Hitchens)
Me of Little Faith (Lewis Black)
Nothing Sacred (Lewis Black)
Beware of God (Shalom Auslander)--Blake's favorite new author, check out The Foreskin's Lament
Up Til Now (William Shatner)
Aku-Aku (Thor Heyerdahl)
Growing Up In New Guinea (Margaret Mead)
The Painted Bird (Jerzey Kosinski)--oy, Blake says, you should be forewarned for this one....VERY heavy--geezma jones....

Lou's books:
A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini)
The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)--best read of the summer for me, I am so unoriginal :)
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (Jessie and Susan Wise)
How to Grow More Vegetables (John Jeavons)
Animal Vegetable Mineral (Barbara Kingsolver)
Blink (Malcolm Gladwell)--author of The Tipping Point. A recommendation from Blake's dad.

Mayan's books:
The Tale of Despereaux (Kate Dicamillo)--we LOVED this, a tad intense, better for 6 and up. While googling this I found out that it is being made into a movie)
Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Silverstein)--Mayan first full poetry book
The Witches (Roald Dahl)--too freaky for Isadore


Did you have a favorite read this summer, bloggers?

things i'm into right now

I swore I had done a post like this before, but then realized it was on my mySpace blog.....*shudder* Go ahead and add mySpace to my "things I'm NOT into right now" list.


These are not just fun but also help practice my finding-images-on-the-web-and-adding-them-to-my-blog skills. Enjoy.



1) PG Tips. (Thanks, Allison.)


I've been hooked on black tea in the morning for a long time now (and mid-day...and sometimes late afternoon...) which can get spendy if you like the goood stuff like I do. Choice Organic is my favorite brand which runs for about $4-5 for a box of 25. Allison turned me on to PG Tips last week, which may not be organic but its "the #1 tea in England!" and those English know their tea. Each box is just $8 for 80 cute pyramid shaped bags!!! And for anyone taking notes, I like my tea black with a little sugar.



2)My glasses.

For some reason the last contact I put in was very uncomfortable, so I picked up my old glasses. I was temped to ask Blake to buy me a new pair, just because there are so many cute frames out there but you know I just couldn't bring myself to do it because these ones are really perfect in every way, from the shape to the size and color. Even the brand name is cute: Oliver Peoples.



3)Knitting.

Thanks to my knitting friend Joi, I finally took the plunge and picked up some needles. Not only does it feel good to be doing something productive and old school with my hands, but I can't tell you how much more zen-like I parent when I am working my needles and yarn. Also, when my friend Allison came to visit a few weeks ago she showed me some tricks which have greatly improved my knitting speed. Thanks, ladies!! Blake kept pointing out baskets when we were out thrifting and garage-saling, but I (again) scoffed at their old-ladiness, but yesterday he presented me with a VERY cute basket perfect for my knitting supplies--what a good man!



4)Craigslist

Things we are currently selling: organic diapers, unused inflatable birth tub, and the Mercedes. Things we are always searching for: older Mercedes wagon (in my dreams...), 10 foot plastic kid slide for the play structure, chickens, the perfect new kitchen table. Things we have recently bought through Craigslist: 1/2 of a cow, firewood...



5)Pashminas


I've been struck with a hint of modesty in the past few months, strangely enough. Suddenly the light shawls and wool pashminas that our relatives have gifted us from India the past years are now my cover-up of choice. Who knows--maybe its all the Russian babooshkas and Muslim women I see around now living in the city, but it predict it will become a staple in my fall wardrobe...plus its very convenient for nursing George. Although don't expect me to be rocking it over my head, hijab-style just yet!



6)Used kids book and homeschool workbooks.

Why buy new, I say (and who can afford it)? for the price I dish out on library late fees, books at thrift stores and garage sales are so effin' cheap! We've always been big readers to the kids, but after reading about classical education this summer, we just leapt huge into having around and reading books all the time. So I am filling up the shelves like crazy--and the best part is you never know what you'll find--by accident we've discovered some amazing books, like twists on fairy tales (James Marshall does some great ones), the author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, some storybooks about the amish and life in the old days, and the kids new favorite, A Bad Case of Stripes by the guy who did the How I Became a Pirate book, David Shannon. Today I scored a Charlotte Mason Grammar Lessons book for 10 cents!!!



7)IQ Teaser.

I got this in a bag of toys and games from Red, White, and Blue for A DOLLAR FIFTY (for this AND a wooden ring toss game, AND an alphabet game for Isadore AND an unopened Barrel of Monkeys). When I was growing up, some friends of ours had this in their living room and I loved to play whenever we visited. I handed it to Blake the other night and he obsessed for over an hour. Everytime he'd put it down, within 30 seconds he'd be at it again.



8)Boston Legal on DVD.

We are on Netflix again and our friend Nicole, knowing what a huge Shatner fan Blake is, suggested we check it out. We are only a few shows into it but we're both really enjoying it. I especially like getting the know the James Spader character who is one of those asses that you just can't hate, and even root for (kind of like Dr. Gregory House.)



9)Drying our own herbs.


We've got golden oregano like crazy so we're finally harvesting, drying, and putting them into shakers for gifts this year. It feels amazing to have fresh herbs and produce from your garden adorning the countertops. We also have sage, basil, lavendar and rosemary.



10) My gold flats.

Though they may reek to high-heaven, I just keep dumping baking soda in them everyday and slipping them on because, really, a gold flat is the perfect transitional footwear to go from summer to fall, and all the way through the holidays, is it not?


Dear readers, what are you really into right now??

homeschool days

On days when Mayan goes to work with her Papa, I have fun with my solo student Isadore. Among other things, she likes to hone her fine motor skills by writing and drawing pictures on her chalkboard. All the while, George-Ephraim plays himself right into a nap (see below: still gripping his Skwish toy, no less.)




Since studying a little about classical education this summer, we've developed a (flexible) weekday routine. Everyday each child spends a little time practicing handwriting (Isadore just one letter at a time and Mayan copying sentences from her favorite books), doing mathwork books, playing with puzzles and games, reading (Mayan quietly and also outloud to me and sister), listening to books on CD, and of course, storytime. A few times a week we do a casual science lesson or history lesson, and in general just continue to talk about the world around us and make connections. Right now, it's all about soaking it up and making connections....

Indian Summer RULES

I chose not to tend a garden this spring because I'd have a newborn and didn't feel up to it. I did grab a few tomato plants from the grocery store, more for ceremonial purposes, and thought "If they grow, they grow; if not, whatever." Then Blake was given a piddly little zucchini plant from a Lebanese couple who own the Mt. Scott plant nursery and I scoffed at it and told him it was compost. FOR SHAME. Blake planted it, tended it, all the while tying up the late-growing but heavy fruitful tomato plants....

The zucchini plant has yielded many, many pounds of heafty, glorious zucs, as well as the heirloom tomatoes. I shall never scoff at a scrawny, non-organic give-away starter plant AGAIN. That plant has been feeding us countless nights this last month, and also provided us ziploc bags full of green goodness for freezing and enjoying during the winter months. Blake has teased me merciliessly for my lack of faith, and as well he should! I love you, my green thumbed and determined B!!!!!!

The tomatoes are Moskovich and Purple Cherokee. Also shown here: our dried oregano and lavender (which is mixed with oat groats for stuffing little sleepy time pillows.)

Hey, this is to show SCALE, sickos, so get your mind out of the gutter.

I am sure many more of you out there are dealing with the onslaught of zucchinis so at the request of my neighbor-lovah here is the zucchini fritter recipe:


Zucchini Fritters (from Forever Summer by Nigella Lawson)

1 1/2 pound zucchini
5-6 scallions
9 oz feta cheese
small bunch parsley, chopped
small bunch fresh mint, chopped
1 Tablespoon dried mint
1 teaspoon paprika
scant 1 cup all-purpose flour
salt and pepper
3 eggs beaten
olive oil for frying
limes


Coursely grate the zucchini and spread on tea towels to absorb excess moisture.

Put chopped scallions in a bowl and add crumbled feta. Stir in the parsley and mint, and also dried mint and paprika. Add flour and season well with salt and pepper. Gradually add beaten egg and mix well before adding the grated zucchini.

Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large pan and drop heaped spoonfuls of the lumpy batter into to hot oil, flattening down the little cakes as you go. Cook for about 2 minutes each side until golden, then transfer to plates.

Serve with lime wedges and more chopped mint sprinkled on top. These are good at room temperature as well, and awesome for brunch or merely stuffing in your face straight from the fridge before running out of the door. Great non-messy kid car food, too.

Georgie Boy update

George continues to be a happy, and increasingly drooly, child. He has lost most of the hair on the sides and back of his head and now the long curly center hair remains--kind of a Kewpie doll slash military faux-hawk. He is a big, strong, healthy boy with lots of smiles to share with everyone.


Leave the girls alone with him for two minutes and look what happens. A little doomagotti playing sahdu....

Shoulder-tapping.....for EGGS!

True story. We eat a lot of eggs.


That is not the story. We get our eggs from a lady down the street who has 5 acres and a bunch of chickens. They are delicious and I am really picky about my eggs. Something about the yolk color..if they are too yellow they make me sick and dizzy, but if they are nice and orange I could eat them all day long. We easily dust 3 to 4 dozen a week, between breakfasts and baking--more if we have guests. (My brownie recipe calls for 6 eggs so I can only make them when I have an abundance.) Ideally, I would at all times have a large supply of eggs, 6 dozen or so would make me feel peaceful. They last a month and are a rocking source of protein. Remember that "I love eggs" jingle from tv...it's running through my head right now.

Anywho, for some freakish, unexplainable reason egg production took a huge drop this last month. Not just our source but all farms I know of that have chickens are getting a sad percentage of eggs. We had recently worked out a deal with our egg-connection to just leave 3 dozen out in her pickup box every Wednesday at 9am...but lately there would only be 1 or 2...then last week she said there were none! (Can you hear the tragic drama in my voice?) She suggested that we just come by the Farmers Market that Sunday and buy them there when she'd upped her supply. Fine, I said, fine. I ate bacon and oatmeal the rest of the week (cha!)

Sunday morning rolls around--I am up at the butt crack (8am, which for anyone that knows me is REALLY early for me) ready to hit that Market as soon as the tent poles dug into the dirt. I nursed the baby and passed him over to Papa who handed me enough cash to by all the eggs I could get my hands on. I got to the market right on time, with my old lady/homeless person metal cart on wheels and approached the egg booth with a sunny smile on my face and greeted Bonnie with a hearty "Good morning!" I was greeted kindly in return, but then I just cut to the chase.

"So how many eggs you got?"

Bonnie replies, "Well, I can give you two dozen..."

Inside, I am a combination of shocked and crushed, as I see her reach into her cooler and take out 2 dozen from the many many more dozens I see! My face only shows a portion of this, and there is a severe lack of "sunniness" in my tone when I ask "Only two?"

"Yup....but I am really hoping things will pickup next week," she offers. Like somehow that will make me want to punch her less. I know, I know, that reaction might be a little harsh, and really aren't I being a bit selfish to want all the eggs for my own family? I mean she does have other regular customers to keep happy...but that reasoning came later after I had my breakfast scramble. Back to the face-punching.

"Well, that will last us about a half of a week..." I moped, all signs of sunny disposition gone. I was taking the 4 year-old-approach now. I took my eggs and sat them in the bottom of my sad little cart and rolled around the market buying other non-egg things, like melons and tomatoes.

When I finally headed to the car to unload, I happened to notice all the other SE Portlander walking toward the market and I hit me. Why should I leave here with only 2 dozen when I could possibly leave with FOUR dozen! I looked around, scanning for the perfect patsy. Many familes didn't speak English so that was a no-go. After a few minutes I saw him: some local hungover dude stumbling solo toward the market.

"Excuse me, sir," I started. "Are you planning on buying any eggs at the market today?"

He looked at me, slightly confused. "Well....I hadn't really thought about that just yet...why are you selling them?"

I laughed and began "Well, no...and this is going to sound crazy but.." and I started in on my story. At first he looked ready to walk but then (instead of playing the nursing-mother card which I considered but would have worked better on a family) I threw in a "Hey, its not like its BOOZE or anything." He laughed and said okay.

I waited by the car like a nervous, awkward criminal, arranging and rearranging the fresh cut flowers I had bought before. Finally, but not before I began to suspect she was on to me, he comes bumbling around the corner with a bag.

"She'd only sell me one!" he reported as he got near. Better than nothing, I told myself, and thanked my accomplice who then wandered down the street to meet up with some friends, and didn't even go to the market. Weird. But, of course, not as weird as ME, who had just shoulder-tapped for FARM EGGS.


Apparently, from what I can figure, she was only selling 2 dozen to her regulars, and 1 dozen to non-regulars. And even later in the day, from what I gathered, she wasn't selling to anyone who wasn't a regular. How did I gather this, you ask? Because my mom came by our house later that day and I asked her to go get some eggs for me, too. Bonnie told my mom that she was out and my mom put the kibash on her and made Bonnie scare up a dozen. (Thanks, Mom!!!)

So there you have it. I love eggs so desperately that I will go to great lengths to get them. This whole situation has made it abundantly clear to me that I need to just get my own damn chickens. So this winter we will build our chicken tractor and/or coop and be ready to buy chicks this spring. Then I can hoard them all to myself. (insert evil laugh here.)