Hey, week 2 of school.
It is truly amazing watching this little girl grow. She continues to amaze me on a daily basis with what she learns and what she does.
I have attached a video this time. In the morning, it takes her a little while to get talking so the video is kinda quiet ...
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Here is the cake that I did yesterday. I am pretty happy with it. She gave me a piece of fabric that they were using as tablerunners and wanted me to make it like that...so, this was my interpretation. She only wanted the paisley on every other tier but I think I may have liked it better if it were on every tier...can't decide if that would be too much or not. What's cool about this cake is that it is totally my style but just done with different ingredients. I guess you would have to see the rest of my cakes to know what I am talking about. Anyways, we're off to pick plums for jam. I got my mom and brother excited about canning again. Last weekend was peach, this weekend it's plum and 2 weeks from now, it will be tuna! YUM.

I take pictures of Madeline every morning before we leave for school....and by every morning I mean just the last four days. She really likes to sit there, it's funny....she's funny. She could be totally upset but when we take her outside and set her there, she just smiles and squeals at the cats.


It is our first Friday off from school. Not a bad first week for me considering. The fun teachers are gone. There still are fun kids but I can't exactly hang out and drink beers with them on Fridays. Well I could but I probably would lose my job pretty quickly if that got around! I at least still have Frank and Errin there but other than them, it's pretty dull. Everyone is new and it just feels so different. I pretty much stick to my room and hang out with Madeline and the daycare ladies and that's about it. I know, I need to get over it but whatever. I'm more focused this year, I can honestly say that. I have big ideas but I really don't like the first couple of weeks. It's just too much figuring things out and figuring the kids out and figuring routines out. I just long to be in the groove and working with them! Not spewing this boring crap about how to properly measure flour. Come next Friday when we do our first lunch, things will be moving right along.
I know it doesn't sound like it but I really am excited for this year. Last year I saw what we are capable of and it just makes me excited for this year. We are planning another trip to NYC. Two of the kids went last year but I have 12 people total in my class and they all want to go. It could be a much bigger group this year. I will probably still take 4 chaperones, especially with the bigger group. Hank? :) Well, I better get off and get to work. I have a wedding cake to do for Sunday. It is going to be an interesting but fun one. I will post pictures of it later.

I have found a new fabulous band called Rogue Wave. Okay, maybe they aren't new but I have just heard of them. And Spoon too. They are both great.

WE'VE GOT A WALKER!

So, yes, Madeline has started walking as of last week! It's hard to believe but true. I think that she actually already knew how to walk and was practicing when we were not looking...she's crafty that way. She just stood up at Grandma's house and walked across the kitchen. It's funny though, when she wakes up, she doesn't really remember that she can do it. Then around mid afternoon, she remembers and starts truckin' around all over again. She is hesitant to walk at our house just because we have like the most unsafe house for a baby apparently. Tile and hardwood floors don't feel very good when you fall down. Tonight she actually did fall and got a bloody lip...that did not go over well with Madeline!

School started yesterday. I have full classes and it seems like a pretty good group of kids so far. Hard to know too much on the second day but nobody really stands out as a distraction just yet so that is a definite plus. I have one class with all returning students. That is the first time that has happened. This is my sixth year teaching...I never would have imagined that I would be on this path. Never.
Madeline is fitting right back in at school. All of her little buddies are growing up now too. It's fun to watch them all play together. They are finally at the age where they interact with each other on purpose. There is one kid there that is a little heavy handed. He likes to hit other kids with hard toys and he pushes and pulls a bit. Apparently this is normal behavior. I wish he would go have his normal behavior somewhere else. I'm kinda tired of seeing him manhandle Madeline. It's just a matter of time though before she just pushes him back...that sounds awful, I know, but the kids are going to learn how to tell him no in a way that he understands all on their own.
Every morning and evening, she just likes to sit on our porch while we are loading or unloading the car. Van Gogh is a nice cat and rubs on her thank goodness. The other two just run when they see her. She loves to sit there and squeal at Van Gogh and she just LOVES being outside. She is such a funny little thing! She is always so happy.

Before school started, we took one last trip down to Santa Rosa. This is a picture of Mike and Madeline outside of one of the wineries that we went to. She was such a trooper! We went over to Glen Ellen and did a little bit of wine tasting. It is SO cute over there, I had never been before. And if you ever make it to Rohnert Park, you have to try the restaurant Hana. It was the most amazing Japanese restaurant that I think I have ever eaten in. Everything was so tasty and SO decadent. It's making my mouth water right now just thinking about it.

Madeline has officially grown out of her baby bathtub. We find ourselves in a pickle because she's too young for a shower on her own and to big for her tub! We don't have a big bathtub in our house...so, we decided to get really backwoods and hillbilly and get her a new tub! She now has her own little galvanized tub that will sit in front of the wood stove. Here is a picture of her enjoying her new tub.


Okay, I should definitely be going to bed. I have to get up early to make copies for those lovely kids tomorrow.
I will try and blog at least once a week. It's really hard right now because of school and because I have a job every weekend up through the first week of October!

Oh, and I know this is totally corny and all but if you want a good book to read that will totally suck you in read Twilight. Seriously. I am embarrassed to admit it because it's a teenage book about teenagers but for some reason, it SUCKS YOU IN! So, if you want to read it, let me know, I have it...and the second one and the third one...

The hardest part of raising a child is teaching them to ride bicycles. A shaky child on a bicycle for the first time needs both support and freedom. The realization that this is what the child will always need can hit hard. ~Sloan Wilson

Little Bandits.

So, all I did was accidentally leave my driver side window slightly down overnight. What do you think I saw when I went out this morning? I saw that some creature let itself into my car and opened the ashtray looking for something to snack on. They made themselves at home looking around with their little muddy foot prints and made their way to the way back. Madeline's diaper bag was in the back. In her bag, that was totally zipped closed, there was a plastic bag with a banana. Those little jerks managed to unzip the bag, pull out her Motrin, luckily they didn't find that to be to tasty and squished the banana everywhere. Yum. So, I am dusting off the ol' BB gun and I'm going to perch myself on the deck as soon as the sun goes down. And I am going to aim to make mad, (you can't really aim to kill them with a bb). They have also been messing with Van Gogh's food at night and getting into scuffles with her. I did learn an important lesson though, don't leave the stinkin' window open!

Madeline has begun using a fork. She is pretty good with it too. She stabs food and even sometimes makes it into her mouth. She is beginning to get picky about her food. No more setting down an array of cubed colors in front of her. No, she likes things mixed together now. She enjoys her bean, cheese and rice burritos a lot. I also made lasagna for her and she really enjoyed digging into that. Every morning she has half an egg scrambled with tofu sausage and cheese. She also eats this with a fork. The one thing that she will still eat no matter how much time has passed or how full she is, is her raspberries. Thank God for Costco's $8 flat. We thought, "there is no way we can make it through six of these before they go bad!" But we were oh so wrong. She can go through one a day if we let her! I forgot, she also drinks from a mini glass...a.k.a. a shot glass. It's her size and she is getting used to taking drinks from it. She likes to chug though and ends up coughing most of the time! She'll get it soon enough though. She for some reason though likes to drink from it but then take her food and put it in the cup. She thinks that's real funny. She is quite a character.

So, in reading Tricia's blog I was inspired. When she told me she was going to do cloth diapers I remember hearing a lot of people say, maybe even myself to a degree, "oh just wait! She'll never be able to keep up with it! Especially with twins!" So, she has proven ALL of us wrong! I sat back and read one of her latest blog entries and feel a little guilty. I mean, if she can do it with twins and with such enthusiasm, why can't I with one baby especially during summer break?! So, I made a compromise. I am using gdiapers. They are flushable and totally biodegradable. They are pricey (Costco's are .18 each and gdiapers are roughly .44 each.) So, to continue buying the inserts I think is great and all but what I need to find is maybe a nice cloth insert that will fit the gdiaper liner. The hunt is on. I am committed. I never did feel good about contributing to a nasty landfill especially with smelly, poopy diapers. I will keep you updated. I know, not that interesting of a topic but you know, it's summer time, this is what I fill my time up with!Today is the end of the 3rd week of our fit/strength camp. I feel good, I feel sore and I feel like I am getting stronger. What I hate about working out is that once you start building muscle, you start gaining weight...I know it is in numbers only but it is still a little disheartening because I am working really hard there and not holding back, at least in my opinion. So hopefully soon it will pay off in numbers if ya know what I mean. Anywho, wish me luck!
PS...that is not Madeline in the gdiaper above but this is a picture of me...impressive huh? Just imagine me three weeks from now!

KDawg....ex student. Cool girl.
Can't wait to see what she chooses to do with her life (no pressure). Whatever it is, she'll do it well. I'm proud to know her.

She says:

Describe my ideal last meal........well I guess it would consist of a shot glass full of grape juice and stale saltine crackers

thats a knee slapper i know

But really-

it would not include pizza or sausage or peeps

if my grandma could make her Southern Arkansas bbq ribs that i remember as a child i would go for that w/o a doubt

otherwise...

my mind is kind blank this will be an odd list

-Iced Tea

Salad with tomatoes, pickled beets, craisins, sunflower seeds and blue cheese dressing

Grapes must be involved somewhere

Green Curry made with Chicken and Veggies or the ribs

Rum Cake - Pecan to be exact

No longer afraid of the tunnel. Ugh, growing up sooo fast.

What Would Yours Be?


For those of you that know me well, you have probably heard me say things like, 'that was the best ever!'. I say that about a lot of things in my life but probably most often about food I have had. For me, enjoying a good meal is right up there with playing with my daughter and playing frisbee at the beach with my husband. In my opinion, there are a few things that go into making it 'the best meal ever'. To name a few and this probably goes for a lot of people, where I am and who I am with are what make a great meal or maybe not such a great meal.

Last Saturday, Hank and I were looking at this new book. The basic idea of the book is for these talented chefs to describe their ideal last meal. I of course love thinking about things like this but right now I'm frustrated because I can't figure it out. So, for the time being, I will just ask everyone else and hear what they have to say.


Here is what Addie says:
Gnocchi with half gorgonzola cream sauce and half Bolognese
Caesar salad with crisp lettuce and a anchovy rubbed bowl
red wine
blackberry cobbler


What I do know is that I definitely need to keep sampling before I make a big decision like this...

You Are What You Eat
#1



Name: Mike

Occupation: Teacher of many things but paid for World History/Geography/Drivers Ed/Health

Located: The Redwood Forest

What did you eat today? BBQ Beef Sandwich from Hole in the Wall and drank a Hopsicle. Yum.

What do you make a point never to eat? Out of season tomatoes

What can always be found in your fridge? Sambal and hot peppers

What is your favorite kitchen utensil: A rubber spatula

Where do you eat out most often? Either Fiesta Cafe or Hey Juans

So, the world is going to end tomorrow, what would you want your last meal to be? Manicotti

Eating Well, baby sleeping...ahhh, life is good....


Mike has been amazing. Since I always seem to have a little one attached to me I can't cook as much as I used to. I miss it terribly but also LOVE the food that he has been making! He has now started doing our dinner in courses. It's usually 3-4 courses (small) and they are so great. He has also started making a new vinaigrette every night. He has done a lemon verbena/dill vin, a raspberry vin and a toasted sesame vin just to name a few. Tonight we had 4 small fabulous courses...It started off with a Capri Salad, tomatoes are so great right now. Next we had Clams in a white wine/tomato/basil broth with toasted baguette. 3rd course was a little mound of pasta with a prosciutto chevre sauce...ummm, am I lucky or what? Then last was a salad with local greens and a raspberry vin. OH, I guess it was 5 courses cause then he brought out a slice of melon with a little chunk of cambazola cheese on the side. Holy smokes, just reading this back I can't believe that this is how we eat!! He's great.

Last weekend I bought some giant figs at the farmer's market and we already had prosciutto and goat cheese so this picture is what we whipped up...Grilled prosciutto wrapped, chevre stuffed figs with balsamic vinegar drizzle. HEAVEN...pure and simple.

Yeah, he even garnishes our plates...he's having a lot of fun. That is a horseradish leaf from our garden and also borage which I was finally able to get to bloom.

Our next party is going to be a Dim Sum potluck...so all of you that are interested please let us know when you are available so we can plan it out. It just sounds good to us and I love appetizers!! And I have a bunch of things that I have been wanting to make so it should be pretty fun.

Also, I want to have a taste off. Anyone interested? Blindfolded...how does that sound? Just like on Hell's Kitchen. I want to know if I have a crappy palate or not. I kinda think I do.

Alrightie then, I better go check on the little girl. She has been sleeping in her crib for 1 hour and get this....45 minutes! We feel like we aren't needed anymore...she's an amazing baby.

Later!

1 1/2 hours baby!!

That's right! Yesterday she slept for 1 1/2 hours on her own...without me even checking on her! Mike was gone and I had stuff to do. I was so excited! She didn't fuss at all. She's such a good baby!

She is really using her hands now. She has finally realized that they are hers. She is also so good at holding her head up! I bet she crawls early because of how she kicks her legs and moves her self around when we hold her...we'll see though, that could just be normal behavior.

We also have started taking her in the shower and she loves it! Crazy...She just smiles and curls up into you. It's just so warm and comfy for her.

Mike is catering Blues on the Bay this weekend! Lets wish him luck and hope for a little bit of leftover meat! Yum...

Madeline Bea

Isn't she adorable...I think so...

Here it is...pretty much done and pretty cute too.
The board there is what they made for me at my shower, it turned out so cute, I love it.
Now all we need is a baby! Not long now...yikes...

Am I the only one that this bothers?? The answer is yes, I think so...

Okay, so, I am already being tested. I am trying to stay really positive but it is really hard. I love my town and I feel like it should be me in that building down there with the line out the door...not this other guy with a funny name.
So, the pastries are good. The croissants are tasty. The morning buns...loaded with super chunky sugar are good but I'm not such a fan. The scones are huge and quite a deal but it's like eating a giant biscuit...not much goin' on but has lots o' potential. The cappaucino was a mini latte but whatever, I guess that's what American's expect right...even though I ordered it dry, the coffee itself is good and they brew it ONE CUP AT A TIME! But seriously, do I need to be this much of an asshole??
What is really bothering me is that this man is slapping us in the face...well, me in the face. They are charging city prices and 3/4's of the menu is COPIED from Tartine! I mean, not just like an 'idea' here and there, but their items, their descriptions word for word in some cases and their presentation! (The most appalling one to me for some reason is their "little side salad"...I mean, who calls it that and how weird to copy that name word for word.
I guess that I am so bummed because here he is doing EXACTLY what I want, I mean exactly...wine bar, simple lunches and 'great' pastries and yet it isn't even out of his own head, it's copied. I have really good ideas and can do better stuff and it would mean more to me but the one part that is missing is money. He has tons and I have none and I have no idea how to get some...Now I just feel like there is no place for me. I don't fit in as a teacher regardless of what people tell me, I know it's a good job, I know I do it well, I know kids need it, BUT, I don't fit it...I don't fit in in my own town because this guy is here now in a prime location with his pretentious attitude (I know him from before, this isn't just a recent opinion of his personality) and well, that's really all there is for me... I either teach or what? How depressing.
Don't worry, I won't be this down on myself for long but it's really hard to be the one that has to fight so hard for what I want and to make people believe that I can do it but I do need help! I am not afraid to say that but some people think that means I'm not strong enough...That is a bunch of crap.
Anyways, I am going to go finish making MY version of a Frangipane tart and My version of a Fresh Fruit Tart and maybe that will make me feel better.
later.......................

A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved. Kurt Vonnegut

I love this...this is my new motto. Life is too short to feel any other way. If we have learned anything from Tim and Brian, it is that life can be short and you never know what's around the next corner...
So why then do we waste so much time being all closed up and judgemental? I am going to try my damnedest to be open to everyone. It's gonna be hard because there is a side of me that does just love to point out certain things about certain people but I am going to try and not be that way. I would say that I have won half the battle right there with the effort.
Read this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/opinion/13fierstein.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
That's really all I have to say for now...I will write more later. I am going to go down and see if this new BRIO Cafe is really all it's cracked up to be...I hope they have a killer croissant!