a peek into summer 2010

as far as i see it, even though summer really just got started, its already halfway over. here, family and friends, is what we've been doing with our time.

bikes (or scooters) on the street-- a daily affair

issy made him a bed in the hall, and he really used it!

my garden. really only going at 50% capacity this year. better than nothing, right?

our first time riding bikes with the public! sunday parkways is awesome!! google it if you don't know about this pdx event...

a visit from auntie naomi and uncle noah. short but sweet!! this is us at the farmer's market at OHSU

when you buy a bunch of live shrimp to cook on the bbq, the least you can do is save one and dress it up in a paper towel and electrical tape tuxedo, right??

the birthday girl requested swimming for her day so that is what she got.

making the world's best gluten-free, corn-free chocolate cake for sister EVAH!!!

karaoke at voicebox lounge was awesome!!!

could be singing george michael...or lady gaga...or no doubt...or the beatles...

we love auntie na-na!!

never under estimate an afternoon chillin' in the backyard.

a sigg bottle to reflect all personalties:

downtown adventure: waiting for the street car

downtown adventure: on the streetcar after a trip to finnegan's. these kids know the importance of staying hydrated on a 90 degree day!

downtown adventure: jamison fountains....ah, smell the chemically-treated water in the air!

what could August bring?? i'll try my best to blog it for you:)

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?

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.

Summer Bash Weekend '08

Saturday morning the whole family reunites with our sleepy guests who came in Friday after the kids were tucked in...Geo gives C a smile:Michael and Geo kick it on the round couch with Baby Nermie:
Thena and MG give humper some love:

Sunday before party, Auntie Na-Na and Uncle Noah show up (a suprise visit from LA--of course I was in on it but not the kids)

MG studies C's technique as they decorate for the party with sidewalk chalk. This was SO much cooler than traditional party decor:

Guests begin to arrive--big and small! Allison "introduces" her little Sweetpea to Zeke, canine lord of the manor. We all had a goooood laugh at this one:
Sweetpea nevertheless was a HIT with the little kids. Another homerun hit was the kitty ears that Joi made for Isadore:
Zeke still got some kid-tention, though, from Kaden mostly:
Sweet pile of goodies for the littles--homemade crafty goodness, thoughtful homeschool activites, or store-bought from small local businesses...we have AWESOME friends:
The crew listens to Jade read the next clue on the treasure hunt:
..and it leads to the fireplace! The final clue:
Nicole whips out her compass to help the kids figure out which way is west:
The booty!:
Root beer float time: the kids wait patiently (well, some more than others....):
Mayan's first RB float ever...she likes it!:

Kids in the playhouse (Is, MG, Kylin, and Max):

C and M brought these awesome Egyptian "action figures" for MG:

The old-skool San Diego crew: Daena, Blake, Nicole, and Chemynne together again after......MANY years:

She may never take either of these things off:

A cool B&W of C taken by a kid I'm sure:

B was taking most of the pictures all weekend so here he is enjoying some post-party and post-pizza relaxation:

Isadore and Thurston:

Siblings B and C and thier babies, George and Athena, respectively:

We were so stoked to have an extra bonus night with C and M and A:

Isadore not only is a great big sis, but a great cousin as well--making sure thena doesn't fall on her bum:

Monday night--grillin' with Naomi and Noah. Apparently, my blackberry gallette was a hit:

Telling spooky stories in the tree house:

Quality aunt and uncle time: