light through color

I can't wait!

I get chills hearing the first three notes from the movie trailer!!!

I can't believe I have to wait until November.

And when did they get so grown-up and cool, all brit-fashion and
hair-do's.

What incredible lives these kids/actors have had so far.
But really I prefer to think of them as
Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Wrapping my head around the enormity of this disaster...

Check out this comparison map .
It helped me to see how big this thing is.
But the craziest part is to imagine it doubling
itself in every direction over time, and then
again with any kind of storm...

I can't imagine what it must be like to look
out at the sea for all those people now.
And all those animals...for who knows how
long.

What's going to happen???

School Garden Art

The shed was painted on Art Night by anyone and eveyone that stopped by, Daleth and I watching over the proceedings...the beautiful garden sign was written by the 3rd graders in Emmett's class and painted by Michelle (Sean's mom!) , and the "Tree of Life" was painted by CJ Hawke and I asked her to make me one! ;)

Megan, Crys, Music and the Love of Learning New Things!

Papa and Mac lucked out yesterday when they found a resonably priced Epiphone Hummingbird for Mac. Mac decided to give Megan her old guitar because her hands out grew the baby Martin big time and Megan has mini hands, just right for it. So there was musical happiness all around...perfect
for our Sunday music gatherings with Meg and Crys when everyone crams into the "music room". This is becoming a tradition. And I must say Meg and Crys are two of the happiest and most adventurous people we know along with you know who...(click <---- )
So, I decided, with Megan's encouragement in the form of a dare, to learn to play a song or two on the ukulele.
This snippet is after my first 1/2 hour with Matt. As you can see, I need a little practice ;)


But Emmett thought we should get some video of it...so when I am awesome we can look back
at my humble beginnings....
"What a lovely day and a dreamy night!"

The Russian in Him

Matt has some Russian blood and is always going on and on about the food. He heard from a friend at work that we should check out this great place..."Pectopah Pomegranite".
So, yesterday we decided to take Mac and Emmett on a culinary adventure...
a completely Russian restaurant with a good bit of vegetarian food to offer.
(Silas was at babysitting co-op, the second generation...)
From the moment we walked in we knew it was authentic because it was completely empty (it was only 6:00) and the guy berated us in heavy accent for not having a reservation and said we could only stay if we were out by 8:30...wha????????? But by 7:00 it was a full house.
It was awesome. I will admit when Matt first said this was where he wanted to go I was less than excited.
Cabbage and bulgar and beets...that was all I could think of. And frankly I am not fond of any of those. But this was an incredible meal complete with
5 kinds of russian salad, borscht, potato pie and baked apples and cherries. It also looked a little like Liam's room with writing all over the wall and had a piano covered in candles in the middle of it all. A shot of vodka for me to top it off (rare, but true) and hilarious conversation with our awesome kids!!
I recommend it highly! Mac and Emmett really liked it too! Enlarge to check out the menu.

Energy, then and now!

I wonder where he gets it!?

The Dance

Happy Birthday Camalama!

we couldn't resist
birthday flowering you up
(haiku-ing you too)

because

we

LOVE YOU!!!!

Big Birthday Love for YOU Finley Joyous!!!!

Hi DAD!!! Yes, YOU!!!

It was good talking to you this morning while Silas threw his humongous fit about using the coffee frother, which he can't quite say so it sounded more like "froffa".
He has recovered thanks to Nana and her superior skills. Now she and all three kids are off to Wild Animal Park and I am off to the studio.
I love you.
Welcome to the blogosphere.
Next thing you know you'll have a facebook
account.
Hug Patty and say hi to my brother and sister and nephew when you go to visit THIS WEEK!!;)

TOBY THE PEOPLE RESCUER!!!

By: Mac
Toby laid an egg at approx. 7:30 in the morning on May 20th 2010 It is the same pinkish-brownish color as Tuesdays egg and when we got it out of the coop it was still warm!


Look at the difference between Toby's egg and a store bought egg! But they get bigger as the chicken gets older! She sat in the nest box all morning untill she made a big BA-CAWK! And I got Emmett and Silas to go and check with me.

Wow!

check it out here.
You have to go on a field trip there for me!!

Look at My Neice ...

She is so cute and feisty and delicious in this picture!!
And reminds me of Mac so so much.
xoxoxoxoxoxo

EGG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We think Toby the People Rescuer is responsible for this perfect little light pinkish-brown egg. She is the only chicken seen separate from the others and hanging in the nesting box and she let out a loud "bA-CAUCKKKKKKK" that sent me outside to check. The only other possibility is Butterfly because the other two have different colored eggs.
I can't wait for Mac and Emmett to discover it! Shhhhhhh!

POE-TAY- TOE

my favorite vegetable to harvest. fo sho.

This is funny

Click on this link

-Matt

Why does this kind of thing make me so happy?

Is it the colors, the food inspiration, the uber organization? All of the above.
This is my favorite way to deal with my least favorite parenting activity...
getting up at the crack of dawn to make 3 individualized lunches. This helps.
Check out more bento lunchboxes.

I can't wait to see it!

(Caline, have you seen it yet??)

Feee's Rose....

...to go with Mac's orange one, Emmett's yellow one and Silas' red rose.


And guess what color it is...PINK!!!


It is small but packed full of petals and it goes from hot pink
to soft pink with a touch of salmony pink in there too. Perfect.
We love you.

Playing Politics Again

Frivolous spending!!!! Outrageous!! Something Must Be Done!!! Now!!!
Here's a funny article about how the absolutely outraged politicians in the GOP
plan to change things...

Morning Cute with Sunflowers

End of an Era

Saturday was the last night of the Original Babysitting Co-op for us Dreyers.
Six years (is that right? can it be?) We had an amazing run.

Look at those faces!
Love you guys!
(Lauren, best idea ever!)

evolution

I am so happy to see our lawn disappearing and food and flowers in its place!!!





































Building out the Left Side of our Yard in 2009/2010 has been so much fun and work, my favorite combination. And now doing the right side is even better because I know just what I want and how to do it!
Here it is (below)!
This is my gardeners dream come true.
I spent many hours planting with Mac and Emmett...seeds and all sorts of california natives and vegetables. Matt got the path he wanted and more artichokes. Nana wanted some of her beautiful roses rescued from the back yard so we moved them to a location where they will get the sun they need. This was a mothers day weekend I won't forget!

emmett says...

"sure apes are our relatives...but they never write or call."

Leftovers = the best homemade "veggie burgers"

the bulk: leftover rice, beans, breadcrumbs, quinoa, polenta, couscous etc etc
just mix 2 cups any of the above OR a mixture of the above with...
+
the flavor: 1/2 cup sauteed anything (tiny cut up onion, kale, brocolli, carrots, garlic etc)
+
the glue: add 1 or two eggs OR 1/2 cup silken tofu (depending on how quichey you want it to taste... and....
+
the yum (and kid pleaser): a cup of parmesan or swiss or cheddar or whatever ( I suppose soy cheese would work also.)
+
the spice: a cup of herbs (parley and cilantro, or oregano and basil, or even leftover tabouli)
+
the cooking: form into patties and saute with heated olive oil on medium for 5 minutes one side, then 3 minutes other side

the seasoning: salt and lots of fresh ground pepper
+
the choices: serve on a bun, over rice or with pasta or alongside a salad
=
unlimited options for deliciousness

Meg and Crys come to Jam with the Fam!!

School Garden, Beautiful and Productive!

full of food and flowers




organized

rain watered

The Girls and their Adventures

They have known eachother since almost-birth and now they are 12.



And tomorrow Mac is going with Isabel and her seventh grade class
for a 3 night/4day camping trip to Joshua Tree.
What an adventure. Although it looks a little prickly to me....



Have Fun!

Nana's Birthday Celebration

You never know what to expect around here. The best plans can be waylayed by just about anything lately ...craziness of all sorts...
But this little birthday party was very simple and sweet and peaceful.
Happy Birthday My Mama. We love you!

Multiple Sarcasms

One of my students has a son that wrote and directed this movie.
So lets all check it out and support it! The trailer looks great!
I think it's in NY now but should be all over soon.

(and thanks for all the movie recommends...you know they
immediatley made it to my netflix queue!)