images

Silas and Emmett are sickish and sleeping so I am avoiding bills by blogging these
dreamy pictures. A pretty corner of the house, colorful new baby miniature pots, Matt Umanov Guitars in NYC (an image sent today by Cami, thinking of Matt and Mac...)and this picture taken of me I am not sure when, I just found it in my IPhoto and liked it, which is always a shocker.
OK, now I must do something productive...

The Best Speech I Have Ever Heard

Obama's inaugural speech...here's just an excerpt so I can look back and have a record in this computer diary we call a blog...because WOW ...and so I will never forget...watching this on TV with Megan while Silas put crayons in large numbers down my shirt which was a-ok with me so I could hear...
here's some of the meat of the speech, incredibly concise and inspiring...

"What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it."

TWO INSPIRING HUMAN BEINGS...
...SINGING A REALLY INSPIRING SONG!





THIS LAND
IS YOUR
LAND!!!!!!!!<-----click
here

Mac's NEW GUITAR!!!!!

One of the great moments of my fatherhood! I have played guitar for 32 years so this one was extra special for me. Mac is going to be a great guitar player and she is the most awesomest eleven year old ever!
Matt

Eleven! Wow!

Happy Birthday to our most precious daughter.

All of us


love you


. . . <------this much-----> . . .


Here she is this morning for her
birthday stats...4'9" and bright as
sunshine!!

Requests: sleepover, dinner of choice...chili, baked potatoes and Hansen's raspberry soda, and in the morning a "waffle buffet".




Eleven! Wow!

Banner Changing Obsession

Chinese liniments

When you climb mountains with all this stuff (80 lbs)
you'll need these....

From L to R: Po Sum On can and bottle- rub on chest like Vicks for breathing etc
Zheng Gu-analgesic liniment, good for muscle sprains
Dit Dat Jow (recipe #2 /10 years old/brewed in my garage)-HEALS ANYTHING!
and Tiger's Balm-Chinese Ben-Gay.

There is no need for a Doctor! Just rub some Jow on it!

Matt

a quick something I just don't want to forget...

If Emmett had 4 sons he would name them...
ARLO, LUIGI, BLAZE and FLOYD
Come on.



:)
p.s. I'd be curious to hear the names of Pablo's
future sons...he, too, has a way with names.

Hitchcock Rocks

Had a great date night with Matt and Hitchcock.

We watched "Rebecca" with Lawrence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.

Even though I have a miserable cold (day 1) it was really fun to drink tea and hang out at home.

My husband is the greatest person. He made it really fun and took care of me...(he is sitting behind me, dictating...) He's the best most handsomest, no, ruggedly handsomest hunk of man in the universe,

bar none.

the bowls...

Here are the black clay bowls I made a while back and blogged about...in their final form. Actually I always imagine their final form being in someone hands with food in them but...

...These might work well with coconut sesame rice with scallions?

or maybe creme freche and berries?

or sweet potatoes and stuffing?

(this is one of my favorite games...match the food to the pot.)

My Mom and her New Apron!

For as long as I can remember my mom

has worn aprons like this one...this style anyway....with big pockets for kleenex.

If she's working in the kitchen she is 

wearing an apron and I love that about 

her... So I decided this Christmas she 

needed a new one....

So, who to call on but Amy, the apron master!!

This apron is just perfect in every way for my 

mom.  Great fit, pretty fabric 

and my mom loves it.

(And it goes with our kitchen!! :)

DO YOU KNOW WHY THIS PICTURE IS BLURRY?

BECAUSE WERE ON A F#$%#gG HELICOPTER

I can't believe he can do this.

Craig, does this sound familiar? ca-clack, ca-clack!

give me an "FIN" give me a "LE" give me a "Y"....

...and what does that spell????? FINLEY !!!



Love the t-shirts. Much cheering and running around gleefully happened after this package was delivered tonight....and then, much sleeping in snuggly sleep shirts.
"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah Finley!!!" What a great way to think of that little sweetie!
"THANKS AUNT CAMI AND PADRINO" say these three.

(Silas still prefers Baby Feee!!! but I think he really thinks he is saying Finley because when he says "Chili" it sounds like Cheee!!!)

three good things...

These "healthy lifestyle" items have entered our household and we all really like them!
#1 We've been making popcorn the good old fashioned way, meaning without a microwave, with coconut oil (one tsp oil, 1/2 cup kernels, pot with lid, shake until done popping, sea salt) and its so good it doesn't need butter, or "As much butter as it used to." Emmett says. I guess there are a lot of reasons to cook with coconut oil...something about Omega 3's. It makes me feel like I am giving everyone a healthy snack now when I succumb to my addiction!

#2 Blue Agave!!!!!! I have been trying to replace sugar in our house with this....as much as it possible. It is twice as sweet as sugar so you use less...and it's alot better for you...you'll have to look into why it's better because I forget but it's all good.
The only place I haven't tried it is in coffee but its great in tea, cereal, fruit shakes, in anything you bake (not that I bake) etc. LOVE IT. And it has the Mac stamp of approval. Wow.



#3 Next is Aloe Vera juice. Just a shot in smoothies or orange juice takes care of the many digestion problems that seem to plague the Dreyer brood. And it really, truly doesn't taste bad...kind of citrus like .



So that's it. Just thought I'd share!

First Day of Pre-School for Our Baby

Today is the day. He's in the system now (boohoo) and very excited about it (hurray).Here he is all ready to go...Lunchbox, flowers for the teachers, Emmett's old flannel shirt and the same sneakers Emmett wore on his first day of preschool as well as mismatched socks, as is the Dreyer children way. He's only going 2 half days a week to start but it sure feels like he's embarking on a new chapter in his little/BIG life.

He hugged us at the hugging door and went off to play without a backward glance. Wow.
I called a few minutes ago to check in and I guess he had a moment where he said it was time for lunch because that's when mama comes ...cried a bit, moved on...then during circle time he actually SAT and when kids told a bit about their holiday, he took a turn. He talked about snow and throwing rocks and "rough house". After picking him up, I learned that he had a hard time that last hour...kept saying that it was "nappy time" now. Poor guy. But his report to me was very thorough...the good stuff and the bad. All in all, he liked it. We'll see how he feels about it when he figures out he has to go again, and again.

What a day, what a boy.

He is an energetic, independent, sweet boy who said the other day when I wanted to hold his hand walking down the street, "No, I've got it." ...and he held his hands together. "I am holding my own hand mama."
Love him.

New Years in Idyllwild

 

We had lots of fun over the holiday. We went sledding, had snowball fights, ate beef stew, drank hot cocoa, read books, took a hike in Garner Valley, made animal sounds and got struck in the face by a semi-buried pine tree.

Matt

Our friend Marco

Our friend Marco makes great records.  I (Matt) used to play with him in a folk duo "way back when".  Marco has gotten better over the years.  Check out his website, http://marcojoachim.com, and buy his record! (Annie here...I especially like the "cuckoo" song...you can listen to it on his website!)