Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Farmer George

This is the most recent delivery of our winter CSA (community supported agriculture) from Farmer George.  What a gorgeous color palette, right?  I feel so fortunate to live in a place where I know the farmer who grows our vegetables and delivers them weekly right to our front door.  You never know what you're going to get and it's been a great lesson in learning to eat what is in season, as well as help support a small, humble, multi-faceted farmer.  Farmer George will be taking a seasonal break and we will miss the weekly deliveries of root vegetables, sun-dried heirloom tomatoes and garlic-starts smuggled in from France (in his underpants, no less!).  Ah, Sonoma County.

Touches of Xmas

::  San Francisco Xmas tree growing out of G's head
::  We finally have a use for our Jesus Action Figure
::  The gift of the butterscotch fudge should only come once a year

:: Our thrifted Nutcracker made his holiday debut

:: This year's letter to Old St. Nick and treats for him, his reindeer and, of course, Santa Mouse

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Sunday in San Francisco




Charley Harper Love


I checked out a few Charley Harper books at the mobile library the week before winter break.  What a perfect fit for my nature-loving kidlet.  The illustrations are amazingly simple when you dissect them, but so gorgeous when viewed as a whole.  Simple shapes and clear, precise drawings unfold in Charley Harper's Birds & Words.  This book was first released in 1972 and is a remarkable collection of Harper's silk-screened imagery.  His style of art is called "minimal realism" and he distilled his subjects down to their most core forms, never including anything extra.  He used his longtime muse, the bird kingdom, to pull this book together.

Grady drew immediate inspiration and helped decorate wrapping paper for a few of our packages going down to Southern California.  He even asked for one of our Bare Books to keep track of all the different birds he wanted to draw.  However, due to the perfection and simplicity of Harper's birds, Grady became hesitant to resume drawing the next day.  He feared they wouldn't be "perfect" and my heart sank.  I explained to him that he should just draw what he feels and/or sees and that his birds will be his own work of art.  He tried again, but seemed deflated.

Later that same day, I overheard him talking to a friend:  "Artists take their time.  I'm a real artist.  I took my time making this."  He then displayed his bird drawing.  What a proud mama moment.  My little man claiming his title and explaining his method of making his very own masterpiece.  Seems like a metaphor to me.  Kids take their time.  I have a real kid.  I will slow down and take my time to notice this.  

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Renegade Craft Fair



We're heading to the city to stay at Hotel Vitale on Saturday.  The plan is to enjoy the sites, drink my first Irish Coffee at Buena Vista, let G take in all the Christmas cheer San Francisco has to offer AND attend the Renegade Craft Fair at Fort Mason.  Woo-hoo!

Friday, December 11, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #11


Today was the PTA Holiday Bazaar at G's school.  The PTA sponsors this event and it is the sweetest thing you've ever seen.  Kids bring a list of up to 10 people and can "buy" things for 50 cents each.  They shop and we have elves that can assist them, as well as a bevy of holiday wrappers who wrap it, tag it and bag it all up for the little ones to take home.

Last year I received a hot pink, sequined necklace and Steve received a hot pink and black race car.  I can't wait to see what we get this year.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #10




We played hooky from school today and went to the California Academy of Science with G's friend and his mom.  So worth skipping school.  The boys bounced through the Academy and were so eager to see all of the exhibits, 3-D movie about Bugs!, rain forest exploration and the oh-so-cool albino alligator.

We ended the day at the de Young Museum's sculpture garden and grabbed some grasshopper ice cream (aka: mint chip) at a sweet new shop called Lala's Creamery in Petaluma.

If you're going to play hooky, then go big.  We did just that.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #9



Hans Christian Andersen's play:  The Nightingale, was performed by the 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Tomales Middle School.  It was a lovely family evening with parents, teachers and students filling the school gym for an evening performance.  I can't seem to get the lead song out of my head...have you seen the nightingale?  lovely little nightingale.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #8



I had the honor to serve as a volunteer today with the Rural Food Program through Catholic Charities in Occidental.  It was a humbling, informative, eye-opening, exhilarating experience and I feel better for having shown up and done the work.  Second Tuesday of every month.  I'm in.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Mother Nature's Arms: Part II

Treehugging:  A process, not an event

The 12 Days of December - Day #7


Grady took his second private art class in Tomales and absolutely loved it.  The teacher is a children's book illustrator named Kathy Bishop and I've worked with her at various PTA functions (where she volunteers to paint the faces of little ones) and lives near the school.  He had previously taken a self-portrait class and was one of two kids signed up for it.  The teacher said she could teach him directly out of her home and have more supplies readily available.  This week's class was "Sweet Dreams" and we were supposed to talk about dreams Grady would like to have at night and bring along a few plain pillow cases.

I chatted with the teacher, left Grady there for 45 minutes and when I returned he was BEAMING!  Of course, his creations had dogs on them and that's really no surprise to me (or anyone else for that matter, as my boy has a real dog fetish).
He immediately asked if he could take more classes and it was music to my ears.  I have been so hesitant to schedule Grady and enroll him in classes and sports.  I know there is much to be gained from being on a team, so I gave in with the T-ball, but really feel the need to slow down and learn from what's around us.  Nature, music, self-guided art, cooking and imagination play in his own surroundings.  Also, being a good bit from town adds to my hesitance because sitting in a car or parking lot just is NOT what for him after school or on the weekends.  School has enough structure and rigidity for my liking and after school time is really another extension of learning, but in a much looser and more comfortable setting.

So art class it is.  He fell asleep last night on his pillows and when he woke up in the morning he told me he had sweet dreams.  What a nice way to wake up to this world.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #6



The Valley Ford Crab Feed benefits the Valley Ford Volunteer Fire Department (where Steve is a newly elected board member).  This event is an all-you-can-eat-free-for-all (at $40 a person) and you eat until you no longer look at a crab without grimacing!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #5 (Part 2)

We ended this marathon day in Guerneville to watch the Rangel girls sing with their choir group and celebrate Isabella's 8th birthday.  Somehow we managed to walk down main street and participate in this mega-parade with the Jewish Community Center and throw candy to the thousands of people flanking Highway 116!  What a way to end the best. day. ever.

The 12 Days of December - Day #5 (Part 1)

We spent the first part of our day in Petaluma at the community Shop & Crawl, sponsored by Go Local.  It was an event to get consumers to commit to buying 80% of holiday gifts from locally-owned stores.  This could not have been more up my alley.  We attended the McNear Craft Fair, had a quick lunch at Della Fattoria, enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown and browsed a few of my favorite shops.  We did find many items for people on our list and it felt so good to be outside, walking the streets, enjoying cookies from each store and tea service offered at multiple locations up and down the main drag.
Heebee Jeebee's is one of my favorite shops to find kitsch.  This year proved to be no exception.  Who doesn't think this purple Jesus is fantastic?
This wreath is made from repurposed music sheets and was handmade by two girls in Petaluma.  They didn't have a business card or website just yet, but they had the most beautiful items.  Buying directly from an artist is a really lovely thing to do (when you can).  Knowing they received 100% of the profit for their hard work was a nice reality check.  Buy local, buy handmade, buy recycled - all three accomplished in one fell swoop.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Winter Wonderland





The 12 Days of December - Day #4


Steve's dad (aka - Popo) was here for the weekend and it is always a treat to see the three generations of Hecht men together under one roof.  They played many games of Rummikub, BBQ'd, made plenty of adult beverages (a la Bulldog) and watched a fair amount of football.  Grady loves his Popo so dang much and it melts a mother's heart watching them get to know each other better.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #3


Tonight we served as Ambassadors on behalf of Dine Out for Life at Rocker Oysterfeller's in Valley Ford.  All proceeds benefited Food for Thought in Forestville, our local non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to meeting the needs of all persons living with HIV/AIDS in Sonoma County.  Grady helped pass out the donation envelopes, as well as meet and greet the diners and get his groove on when the band started.  Donating our time was such a worthwhile experience and we look forward to serving again next year.    

Thoughts Before Shopping

your own family of 6 - custom hand painted family
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"Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection."
- Pindar

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The 12 Days of December - Day #2


I attended a PTA training in Bodega Bay today, along with the current PTA Board from Tomales Elementary School and learned so much.  It was really inspiring and a joy to spend an afternoon with like-minded parents/teachers and understand the PTA roll in advancing causes for our children.  I've committed to holding the two-year term in office as President of Tomales Elementary School PTA and feel so honored to serve the children from this school.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Santa Smackdown

Well, Santa Claus is crushing dreams once again out here in Sonoma County.  Every year I hope Santa Claus will be this jovial, loving kind of fella and every year I am more disappointed than the last.  This year was no exception.

As we approached, I thought that maybe he was on a break.  Possible signs of this were his laid back posture in the small folding chair, his fake black boots only half-covering his black tennis-shoes, the loose red velvet toy sack containing broken candy canes laying beside him, his fake beard sliding down his face and a toy catalog clutched in his hand.  The only thing he was missing was an open beer can and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
G showered, put on his special cowboy outfit and grabbed the book he has been writing and illustrating called "My Favorite Things".  He was going to tell Santa exactly what he wanted for Christmas.  Considering the fact that G is on the verge of not believing in Santa, I didn't want this guy to be the dream killer.  When confronted with the lackadaisical Santa, G froze.  He clammed up.  He cautiously approached and kept a safe distance and preserved his own personal space.  From a distance, he slowly opened his book to start letting the Big Guy know what was in his heart and mind for this holiday season (a horse and a baby foal, as well as a cheetah and a baby cub cheetah).  Santa couldn't hear him very well and didn't even let him finish what he was saying!  The so-called Santa shoved a toy catalog in front of G and pointed at some random toy and asked if he wanted that for Christmas.  I mean, c'mon!  Santa should know better.  He knows when you're sleeping, good or bad - but he apparently doesn't understand how this little slice of kid heaven should go down?

Good thing I know what's in Grady's book of favorite things, complete with colored pencil interpretations:

1.  Rabbit pelt (electric blue and dead, not alive);
2.  Rabbit cage & rabbit family (toy - not real);
3.  Legos (plain 'ole Legos);
4.  Three different pairs of slippers (rabbit lined, adorned with wool penguins or wool unicorns); and
5.  The aforementioned toy horses and cheetahs.

Somehow, I think Mrs. Claus will deliver.  She always does.

The 12 Days of December - Day #1

Today I worked at Gourmet au Bay and the day started out sunny and bright, but then the fog rolled over Bodega Head and our typical winter weather arrived.  How timely.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sunday Funday

We recently watched the documentary Rivers & Tides by Andy Goldsworthy and were so inspired.  He creates art from nature and it is BA-NA-NAS.  Below are a few of his pictures from Flickr, but watching his process is a lesson in patience that I've never known.
andy_goldsworthy.jpg
We ended our Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday at Secret Beach and tried our hands and creating something with sticks and smooth river rocks.  Not as easy as you might think, as there are so many factors to consider (i.e., wind, the right size materials, sunlight and trying to keep up with the family as they traipsed down the beach).  


Christmas cards have never been my strong suit, but a New Year's card seems so hopeful.  This might become a postcard.

The light was behind the rocks and really needed to be on the other side.  Trial and error is the key, but time is of the essence too and it was a big lesson in patience, solitude and keeping your focus.  All things that are not my strongest qualities.

I have many other ideas floating in my head for this postcard project and you will be seeing them in the very near future.

Peace out.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Sunrise in the Country


This is the light that has been bathing our home in the wee morning hours the last few weeks.  It's so beautiful and I love getting up, starting the coffee, checking my email and shuffling around the house before the guys get up.

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