Thursday, November 25, 2010

Giving Thanks

This year we drove down to Southern California and visited with friends and family for the entire week of Thanksgiving.  We went camping near the 91 Freeway and were happily surprised by the beauty that was right under our noses and never noticed on our travels to and fro.  Here are just a few things I am thankful for this year:
 ::  Romeo, my dog-in-law in Alta Loma
 ::  My child's ability to draw and create art in the most unlikely of places
 ::  Watching three Hecht men make cookies
 ::  For my son who rallied after all the running, doing, going, seeing, visiting and schlepping that a trip like this required
 ::  For the 3 little boys that I love so much
 ::  Camping with the Christiansens & all of their gear
 ::  Definitely for deep-fried turkey
 ::  Having the men folk around to carve the bird
 ::  Kacy for organizing our menu and Alex & Ferge for doing all of the dishes
 ::  Late-night fireside chats with my best friend
 ::  Enjoying the natural world with our favorite people
 ::  Being together as a family (even with half of Steve's head missing in this picture!)
::  The gaggle of little boys with their bamboo swords, of course

A holiday to definitely remember.  I am grateful, thankful and ready for the coming season.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Art 101: Wax On - Wax Off

::  G & his art teacher, Kai
::  Steve as seen through his son's eyes
::  Me & my Picasso-sized ear
::  The artist's self-portrait

We were fortunate enough to attend an art opening at West County Design earlier this year and meet the artist, Kai Samuels-Davis.  We were invited to his studio to see his workspace and paintings-in-progress.  Kai asked if he could give Grady private art classes and I jumped at the chance.  Over the past three months, Grady has been working on an illustrated book of dogs (of course) and various techniques on shading, perspective and a road map of Tomales.  He loves using real artist-grade paper, pencils and paints.  

Our weekly visits are the highlight of his week and wishes he could go for "three hours a day".  I have so enjoyed seeing my little artist at work and look forward to his growth and exploration this year into what he loves to do.  

Kai has been wonderfully patient with Grady and is such an amazing artist.  We feel really fortunate to have him in our own backyard and imparting his knowledge and creative influence with our son.

After meeting Kai, Grady mentioned that he didn't know men could do art.  Wow.  I didn't realize how many female art instructors he's had.  I think this will be good for him.  

Men definitely make art and so can little boys.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Four Seasons & Me

Autumn.  I don't usually pay attention to Autumn.  
Winter.  Yes, I'm a fan.  I absolutely love spending my days on the beach at low tide and collecting sea glass, smooth river rocks and watching my son jump from big rocks, making grandiose proclamations as he catapults himself from a large log or craggy rock, writing our names in the sand with smooth driftwood and enjoying every last second of light until the large orange orb dips down into the great Pacific Ocean.  We then run to our car as fast as we can, empty the sand from our boots and turn up the seat warmers.  Yes, the beach in winter is my all-time favorite place to be.  I make resolutions to slow down.  I drink hot tea or red wine as my evening ritual.  I watch the storms from my living room window, perched on my couch and reporting out to locals that call to see if the road is flooded on Highway One in Valley Ford.  I make soup.  A lot of soup.  I get to wear my favorite silver Hunter boots for months at a time and feel like a strong gladiator woman on even the tiniest drives to school, as I chauffeur my little man to-and-fro. Yes, I'm looking forward to winter.
Spring.  I pay so much attention to the changing natural world during this time.  I stop along the side of the road to snap pictures of moss, photograph the farm animals all around me and notice flowers blooming.  It's sounds corny, but it's true.  I love seeing the world slowly wake up for spring.  I'm energized to get out in it.  Start planting seeds or plants around the garden.  We read books about farm life and urban farmers.  Spring seems hopeful and promising.  I like that about it.

Summer.  I think I like the freedom of summer.  I definitely enjoyed the sleeping in, loose schedules, talking about an adventure and then actually picking up and doing it.  The grey days of Northern California do get me down, but sunshine is always just over the hill in our neighboring towns.  Summer camps for the boy.  Our plastic thrifted mini-pool to soak my feet in while sipping a cool something to drink and reading a stack of magazines.  My boy, shirtless, playing with his world of animals on the front deck or living room floor for hours at a time.  Going to the farmer's market in Occidental.  Making homemade pizza.  Having friends pop by for the weekly sipping of Mick Unti's rosé (a-la-rosé-Wednesdays).  Hanging laundry.  BBQ's.  Weekly trips to the library and bi-weekly visits to the bookmobile.  Oh, I could go on and on.  Wait, I forgot to mention all of the plump, wild blackberries!  Oh, I think you get the picture.  Summer rocks around here.
Autumn.  Not so much.  I mean I was a little sad when school started, if I'm being honest.  I would miss our unstructured days and nights.  I did enjoy the miles and miles of roadside dill and Queen Anne's Lace blooming like mad on my drives to town.  Our apple trees finally produced for us and I spent days in the kitchen transforming them into apple sauce that I froze for future sack lunches and pork chop pairings.  That was all good, but mostly things are dying and the cycle in the garden is coming to an end.  I know it's a great metaphor for life and all, but it still brings me down.  Let's not forget to mention all of the snake sightings, too.  I am deathly afraid of snakes.  Big ones? Yep.  Little ones?  Oh, most definitely.  Any and all snakes make me jump out of my skin.  They totally freak me out.  The time changes and that bums me out, too.  I have enjoyed the morning sunrises and early sunsets, but hate the fact that it gets dark so soon.  I also know that this is all part of a bigger picture and because autumn occurs, then my winter can come.  I know it, but I still have a hard time adjusting to the change.
I guess I am settling into this seasonal change.  It's hard, but I feel myself slowly sinking in and paying attention to where I need to focus and change direction.  Paring down.  Releasing some responsibilities and social obligations.  I guess that I am feeling more like Autumn than I cared to imagine.  Out with the old.  Put it to rest.  Get ready for the downpour and re-emerge this Spring with a new perspective.  Ah, I get it now.  Autumn, you are a tricky season.  I think we will be friends eventually.  Maybe next year is our year?  We'll see.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Faux Thanksgiving

 ::  Small guests are coming to dinner
 ::  Squash as centerpiece
 ::  Trader Joe's pie crusts for Leek & Chanterelle Tart
 ::  Organic 14 lb. turkey basted w/ thyme butter (before)
 ::  Gorgeously browned bird (after)
 ::  A perfect plate, accompanied by bourbon yams, mashed potatoes with gingersnap gravy  & homemade cranberries
::  Molly & Grady feeling the tryptophan kick in

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving early with a few friends on a sunny Saturday afternoon.  It took the edge off of the holiday hostess stress that I normally suffer and I am definitely doing this again next year!  Everything turned out perfect.  I forgot to make the stuffing and dessert was homemade peanut butter balls.  The cleanup was a cinch and my post-hostess high went on for days.  

Now all I need is a dishwasher installed and I'd be so very thankful.  Perhaps Santa is the man I need to talk to about this?

Thursday, November 11, 2010

deYoung with the Young Ones

::  Three of the sweetest kids at the Post-Impressionist Masterpieces Exhibit at the deYoung, along with their sketchbooks
::  G & Sophia commented throughout the exhibit
::  While Isabella studiously scribbled the names of the artists and titles of their works, G sketched the work of arts that featured animals in them.  The dead cougar painting was one of his favorites.
::  Had to see this Dale Chihuly piece before we left the deYoung
::  The kids post-exhibit w/ their Fairy Godmother, Cheryl
::  The kids burning off some steam atop a sculpture in the garden
::  Posing w/ a french street scene mural inside the deYoung
::  Chocolate Cinnamon Paletos at Nopalito

The day was crystal clear, warm and the children's mood infectious.  They were armed with sketchbooks, shared discussions about sweet breads and frog legs, ran through the sculpture garden and policed all of the offending adults/kids who were "touching" the art and discussed the finer points of what they saw in the masterpieces they were viewing.  

Not out of character, Grady bonded with each masterpiece by locating and identifying each animal in the great works.  As he stood before the painting of Orpheus, he commented on the two tiny turtles in the lower right-hand corner - never mentioning the woman carrying the dismembered head.  I found that interesting.  

In life, it's all perspective, right?  

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Autumn Morning Musings

 ::  Sunrise from the deck
 ::  The only flowers (calendula) still blooming in my yard
 ::  My favorite jar of ribbons to inspire gift giving this season
 ::  Inspiration board in need of an overhaul
 ::  Early morning light through sheers that my husband sewed for me!  Yes, indeed he did.
 ::  My sleepy boy just before I wake him up for school
 ::  Alarm clock, NPR vessel & occasional dance machine
::  Daily lunch note for G & gentle reminder to myself

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