Canine Candy

Today was all about baking, package design & checking the names of dogs we love off of our xmas list.

I got this super simple recipe from a friend and have made them for the last two years.

Canine Candy (aka: Dog Treats)

2 C. wheat flour

1/4 C. cornmeal

1/2 C. parmesan cheese

1 egg

1 C. water

Yields:  48 small treats

Mix all.  Knead a bit.  Roll out and cut with cookie cutter (I use lid of a spice jar).  Bake at 350 degrees for abut 40 minutes.  Flip halfway through.  When done, turn off oven and leave in to dry out.

Grady quickly designed this packaging and renamed the dog treats Canine Candy.  It has a nice ring to it, right?  My dog-loving boy cannot wait to deliver these to all of the wonderful dogs in his life, including one package for our very own Molly Gray the Wonder Dog.

Upcycled Garland

Hi.  My name is Tammi and I'm a paint-sample-holic.  Yes, it's true.  I cruise the aisles of hardwares stores and grab fistfuls of paper paint samples while no one is looking.  It's hard to resist the rainbow of colors and let us not forget the lovely card stock they are printed on.

I like to use my handy-dandy Smith-Corona to type up thank you notes on the larger samples, as well as quick notes on the smaller strips and use them as hang tags on gifts.  Some of the paint colors have the cutest names:  margarita green, bull's eye red, baby pink and pumpkin seed orange.  I just love me a paint sample.  But they were piling up in my desk drawer and I wasn't using them quite fast enough.  How was I going to keep my habit fresh and alive, if I couldn't use them in all of their color glory?  Yes, part of the addiction is looking at them and seeing their array of color goodness staring up at me every time I opened the drawer of paper love, but something had to be done to lighten this color swatch load.

So I decided to cut out hundreds of ovals with scalloped edges to use for a garland project, as well as using them as hang tags on our xmas gifts this year.  The scalloped punching mechanism that I found on sale at a craft store was like magic and transformed my once humble paint samples into things of beauty.  I even gathered posters, postcards and heavy magazine covers and punched away.

The irony of all of this is the color covering about 80% of the walls in my home is Ralph Lauren's Sand.  Yes, like the sand on the beach.  My mother calls it boring beige.  While I don't want my walls screaming at me, I do love color sprinkled throughout and let's not forget my love of all things shiny.  I don't think Mr. Lauren would endorse the renaming of his paint to boring beige, as he has some pretty cool names to sell that color spectrum to you like Sisal, Muslin, Raffia & Parchment.

I opted to string these punched lovelies onto silver metallic wire edge ribbon that I picked up for 50 cents at the Legacy Thrift Store in Sebastopol for 20 yards!  Since I was putting two pieces of card stock on the garland back-to-back (you don't want the white/gray texted side showing on the back of the paint sample - or maybe you do?), the wire edge on the ribbon gave them structure when they were hung.

Marrying my love of silver, color, paint samples and hole-punching was a really great way to upcycle all of them into a useful project and was a really nice way to come clean on my addiction to all of you!

My name is Tammi and it's been five days since my last visit to the paint store.

The Magic of Xmas

Magical Inspiration found here

TES PTA Board post-holiday bazaar

This week was just full of holiday fun.  Looking back on it has brought a huge grin to my face and made me think about the xmas' of my very own childhood.  There is a magic in the air this time of year and while keeping it mostly in check, it feels good to see the little ones bask in all its glory (and the adults, too!).

Our PTA shopping mall in the TES gym

The annual PTA holiday bazaar is a thing of beauty.  We ask for gently used items to be donated by the parents and supplement with a few hundred items we shop for prior to the big day. In total we have over 1,200 items in our make-shift mall.  The kindergartners through fifth graders get to "shop" our store and then our happy team of volunteers wraps each present for them (10 item maximum). We have seasoned parent volunteers, as well as a few staff members from the school and friends/family members pitching in to help.  I definitely was floating on a post-holiday bazaar high when it was all said, done & cleaned up.  Celebrating over bottles of bubbly with my friends topped off the whole she-bang.  Oh, I can't wait until next year!

Dear friend and neighbor donating her day to help wrap for the kids

You hear the sweetest things from the young shoppers and see the unlikeliest of items chosen for their loved ones.  One year Steve received a hot pink race car from Grady.  Every year I receive a hot pink bedazzled necklace from my son, so we'll see if the tradition continues.  He did share with me that it was in the jewelry family, so chances are high in that regard.

We rounded off the week with a birthday celebration for our good friend over oysters, cracked crab, artisan cheeses, jumbo butter lettuce salad and lots of sparkling wine and a flourless chocolate cake with créme fraiche whipped cream.  Yummy.  Our friends are wonderful hosts and make it all look so very easy-breezy when they entertain.

Sitting around the fire and talking about holiday traditions next to their decked out tree was another reminder of the past.  We shared memories of special care packages coming from distant relatives and the happy coincidence that almost all of us opened pajamas on xmas eve.  Gathering over good food, friends, music and laughter is truly the spirit I've been trying to seek out this season.

Gathering with this set of friends was a beautiful way to end this week of hustle and bustle.  Also, seeing the magic of xmas on the children's faces made the work that went into this week totally worth it and a gift in its own rite.

Grady modifying the Jesus Action Figure by adding height to him atop his wallet made me laugh out loud.  The irony of this picture.  How many shopping days until Jesus' birthday?

Boxes of trinkets from the holiday bazaar proudly lined up and displayed under the tree.

Mistletoe decor made at G's first 4-H Club meeting

So, my glittering eyes are wide open and I've clumsily stumbled upon the hidden magic.  It was here all along, just waiting for me to find it and unlock its secrets for me and my family this holiday season.

Here's to hoping you find the magic of this season, too.

Handmade Holiday

I was reading this really great post from Door Sixteen and wanted to share.  Aside from a few little items from a recent shopping trip to Anthropologie, this holiday season will be either handmade by me or someone else, thrifted, purchased at a local independent store or cooked in my kitchen.  To learn more, visit BuyHandmade.org.


Here are a few links to some of my recent favorites:
Sweet little t-shirts handmade in Montana.  
Fine art prints from local artist Kai Samuels-Davis. 
A twofer sale on prints over at Victoria's etsy shop. 
One-of-a-kind fingerprint jewelry from this lady.
Beautiful custom silhouette pillows
This clever handmade lamp that pays homage to my love of land maps!
Great deals on sparkling wine at the best little wine shop on the Sonoma Coast.
Lasercut jewelry from Molly M. now being sold at this shop in Valley Ford.
The most awesome duvet cover for little ones that love both nature and animals.
Local jams and preserves from this small business neighbor.
Sonoma Coast scenery captured by this local photographer, with prints hanging at this coffee shop in Bodega.
Speaking of coffee, the Holiday Blend has been released by this independent roaster.  Get it while you can.

Color of the Day: Green

As I looked at my list of errands today, I realized that quite a few of them could be considered "green".  Now I know that term is overused, but it fit my mood today.  I was returning all of our wire hangers to the organic dry cleaner and dropping off used plastic bread bags, dead batteries and wine corks to the receptacles in front of Whole Foods.  I also made my weekly pilgrimage to the thrift store for no reason in particular, other than my car veers off in that direction if I happen to pass by it.  You must understand.  I also hit the Legacy craft thrift store for jars of glitter to make homemade snow globes and yards upon yards of donated ribbon.  Prior to any of this happening, I walked out of my office door where I work in rural Sebastopol and was taken aback by all of the natural green beauty that surrounded me.  This is the green that truly inspired me today.

Surfaces are covered with blankets of lush and velvety moss.

 The citrus fruit are taking their sweet time ripening on the branches.

The lichen are abundant on all of the old trees that line my drive up the lane to work.

This carpet of moss is slowly creeping up a massive tree trunk and I have a weird inclination to run my hands across it.  Kind of like when I shave Grady's head every year!

The ferns are so in their element today.  It hasn't stopped raining today.  Not even for a minute.

The paint store was my last stop and I was collecting numerous paint samples to upcycle into gift tags.  As penance for my stack of free samples, I will definitely be back to buy some new low-VOC paint for future home projects that are on the horizon in 2011.

What was Oscar the Grouch talking about?  It is easy being green.  Especially if you live in Sonoma County.

Poetry & Parenthood

I'm learning to skate on the ice,

It really is quite nice.

It's only a dream, a great big dream,

I'm learning to skate on the ice.

Tammi Salas, circa 1980

Today we went ice skating for my Goddaughter's ninth birthday party.  It's no secret that I am not a fan of children's birthday parties.  I know, I know.  I sound like a real big Debbie Downer, but I just get anxiety at events that involve unruly children and parents going over-the-top and indulging them, as well as goodie bags containing all sorts of unnecessary stuff Made in China.  I'd like for it to be different, but it's just how it is.  However, in the spirit of trying to take it all in and quit being a nay-sayer, I dove in head first today and tried to enjoy this momentous occasion.  I'm so glad I did.

My son loves a dog.  That is NO secret to the people who know and love him.  Snoopy and Charlie Brown are all the rage these days in the graphic novel section of the library, so this was a day to go down in the memory bank of childhood memories for my guy.  This party could not have been a more perfect fit for my little man (and it wasn't even his birthday!).  Charles Schulz was a genius and the mellow marketing of his brand is something that even I can fully get behind.  Sure, there was a gift store - but it was unattached from the museum and skating rink.  We did buy a "hot dog" and it was served in a paper dog bowl, but I actually thought that was clever and not too over-the-top.  The kids watched the Snoopy on Ice performance and then skated their hot laps for almost two solid hours until their ankles wore out.  I even joined in the fun and enjoyed the unbridled joy and frivolity that ice skating unleashed.  Wow.  Who knew that gliding on ice on a rainy Sunday would make me so melancholy and sentimental?

The above poem was written when I was in the fifth grade.  It's the only poem I have ever written and saved.  As I read it tonight, it reminded me that it could be interpreted as a metaphor for parenting.

I'm learning to skate on the ice,

It really is quite nice.

It's only a dream, a great big dream,

I'm learning to skate on the ice.

Menagerie

The Jesus Action Figure is under the tree, along with his unlikely gang consisting of Old Saint Nick dressed in all white with glitter like he's going to P. Diddy's White Party in the Hamptons, Rudolph with a serious identity crisis (if the truth be told, he's really a she named Bambi...shhhh...don't ask, don't tell) and an albino ceramic reindeer.  Enough said?

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.

Blur

Well, the month of December is already a soft blur.  The days are filled with school plays, holiday bazaar and the necessary work schedules.  The nights are booking up with charity events, cocktail parties, birthday celebrations, a book club gathering and the requisite tree-trimming and decking-of-our-halls.

These images are from last year's holiday season and I felt so depleted when it was all said and done.  I vowed that this year would be different.  Does everyone make this same vow?

Only committing to the things we can do with intention and not just to add another social obligation to the merry-go-round that is normally our holiday season.

This year's blur on the outset is slowly coming into focus.  I can see the fun and festivities we have planned and look forward with sincere appreciation for all of the friends, family and community that we get to share this month with.  It is, after all, a gentle reminder of why we chose to live here and raise our son on this beautiful Sonoma Coast.

This might be the last year my little man "believes" and I hope to make it the most magical winter holiday on record.  He's already seen the local Santa and opened up a few of the tiny envelopes on the Advent tree.  Tonight we break out the silver aluminum vintage tree and bedazzle our home with all things shiny, sparkly & sentimental.

Here's wishing you a peaceful December and less of the blur that can carry us away from the true spirit of this season.

Color of the Day: Orange

I woke up a little before seven today and was greeted by this amazing sunrise.  And while my polaroid application on my iPhone never quite captures the beauty as seen with the naked eye, the colors of this sunrise spurred me into action regarding another large, orange spectacle that has been gracing my kitchen since before Halloween.

This 18-pound Cinderella Pumpkin 'Rouge Vif d'Etampes' is a beautiful French heirloom pumpkin.  It first became available in the U.S. in 1883.  It is a deep orange pumpkin with pronounced ribs and is quite flat and squatty.  I think Cinderella had a good eye when picking her coach for the ball, don't you?  I purchased this lovely gourd from a farmer gal I know here in Valley Ford.  She had several types for sale, but this one spoke to me.

Before I can get down to winter business, I must first clear the house of fall gourds, leaf art and all thinks autumnal.  So you see, I had to dispense of this massive pumpkin and put it to good use.  First order of business was roasting half of it and making a lovely soup.  I would love to share the recipe with you, with a few tweaks and suggestions at the end of the recipe.  Here goes:

Curry Pumpkin and Apple Soup

Adapted from Lisa Hemenway of Fresh in Santa Rosa

Makes 6 to 10 servings

1 T. olive oil

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 apples, peeled and chopped

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

1 rib celery, chopped

1 small, fresh pumpkin, roasted, with skin & seeds removed

1 T. curry powder

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 cup honey

4 cups chicken stock

1 can coconut milk

1 T apple cider vinegar

Salt and white pepper, to taste

Créme fraiche (optional)

Toasted almonds, for garnish

Sauté apples, onions, carrots and celery in olive oil, then add roasted pumpkin, curry, nutmeg and honey.  Add stock and simmer for 45 minutes on low.

Puree the mixture and add the coconut milk.  Season with salt and pepper and finish with the apple cider vinegar.  Drizzle with créme fraiche and garnish with toasted almonds, serve warm.

A friend suggested adding some fresh ginger and I think it would make a nice addition and should probably be added when sautéing the first few ingredients.  Do not use curry paste as a substitute for curry powder (learned the hard way).  Follow the rest of the recipe exactly, as the vinegar and toasted almonds really add a nice finishing touch.  I went easy on the honey, as I didn't want it to be too sweet (and that was a good call).

The other half of this pumpkin went to the chickens, along with the slimy orange innards.  As you can see, they were very pleased.  Maybe you can't tell from the above picture and I'm just the crazy chicken lady in Valley Ford.  Yep.  Probably the latter, but these girls deserved a treat after all the great egg-laying they did earlier this year.  The egg production is slowing down now for winter and I'm hoping to get six more chicks come spring to help up the egg count next year.  The death toll for my hens this last year was heartbreaking.  Lots of tiny grave markers in our bird cemetery.  Wow, did I just bring this post down or what?  Sorry friends.

On a happier note, I successfully dried and saved my very first seeds for next year's garden from this voluptuous pumpkin.  I've never done this before and hope it actually works when I plant them next year for a small pumpkin patch in our lower garden.  I have plenty of seeds leftover and have packaged them up for a giveaway.  If you'd like a small envelope of these heirloom seeds, please leave a comment or email me your address.  I'd just love an excuse to visit the perkiest Postmistress in all the land here in Valley Ford.

The notion that the seeds will live on in a garden somewhere other than mine brings a big smile to my face.  Giving.  Receiving.  Growing.  Sharing.  It's definitely in the air and the when the sky opened up this morning it glowed orange for only a few minutes, but it sparked a list of things for me to work on throughout this day.  Beautiful inspiration.

It feels humbling and gratifying, at the same time, to take my cues from nature.  I have definitely paid closer attention to my surroundings the longer I have lived here at the top of the lane in Valley Ford.  And even though I don't have a pumpkin-shaped coach, I do feel a little like Cinderella (minus the high-heeled glass slippers & adding the lucky rainboots!) living in the country, surrounded by friends, community, the natural world, animals and my sweet, sweet family.

Advent Love

Over coffee with a good friend yesterday, we discussed our love of the Advent calendar.  Now, I assure you that I didn't truly know the meaning behind the calendar - but my love of holiday traditions and a daily treat spurred me into action.

 ad·vent  (dvnt)

n.

1. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important: the advent of the computer.

2. Advent

a. The liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in Western churches on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and observed by many Christians as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence.

b. Christianity The coming of Jesus at the Incarnation.

c. Christianity See Second Coming.

Well, clearly, our Advent calendar would have to do with definition number one (above)!  The extremely important aspect being time with family & friends, good food, laughter, music, make believe, giving, being neighborly, showing appreciation, baking, sharing, eating, decorating, shiny things, celebrating the change in the season & love.  Lots of love.

I channeled my inner-Martha Stewart and set out to make an Advent tree out of Papersource mini envelopes, hand-stamped numbers and vintage ribbon from the Alameda Flea Market.

I had grand plans of cutting down some natural branches, spray painting them silver and sticking them in a vase.  Rather ambitious, given the late hour last night and total darkness outside.  I settled on this black iron tree that I use for other seasonal ornaments throughout the year.

Grady was delighted and oh so happy to get out of bed this morning and open his "ONE" envelope.  I put four quarters in this envelope for a symbolic $1 on this first day of December.   The other envelopes have a tiny candy, smooth river rocks with tiny words written on them, loose change, tattoos & bread ties (my son loves him a good plastic bread tie closure!).

It is now officially the season in our household.  I look forward to the coming days and remembering what is truly important about this season (according to our household) and keeping it all in perspective.