mystery melons

Mom got me some melons from Cedros Gardens in Solana Beach and we are
going to attempt to trellis them with panty hose like this.
You absolutely have to click to enlarge...check out the cute hammocked melons.

yum.

delicious.

saute together
kale, mustard greens, collard greens...whatever...cut like coleslaw, thin
olive oil, garlic, onion , maybe mushroom if you've got it
maybe corn too
almonds or walnuts crushed up
dried orange soaked cranberries from trader joes (the key)
salt and pepper

especially delicious if you've got left over couscous or brown rice
to thow in.

p.s. I tried to take my own picture but it looked gross, then I found this
one with beans and mango and all sorts of goodness...I'll have to try it.

spring, can't you tell?!

the eggs...

the snow bunny...

fun...

... spring break in Idyllwild.

spring, can't you tell?!

we like this one.

"I am about to play 'Beethoven's Fish Symphony'."

(emmett)

This is The Tree.

We have played here many, many times.
This is a great tree.
It's low and spread out so it feels like it's
more than one tree, but it isn't.
Kind of like a pepper tree, but no pepper berries!?
There are cars around and you can see houses so it's not as isolated as we would like
but inside or underneath it, the world disappears.

And now we know that if we bring blankets it has a number of spots to make hammocks. Next time we will bring more rope for sure.

Tomorrow we are off to Idyllwild for a few days.
It's supposed to rain/snow so...that will be different.
After all this gardening and sunshine we will be doing some
snuggling and cocoa drinking. Sounds good too.
I love vacation.


Just look at that little face peeking out.
<------------------------------

Love Him.

I know I have passed this name on many times before...but we just love Odds Bodkin. <-------
Our family has started listening to his stories again and again.
Our favorites are "The Evergreens" "The Little Sheppard" "The Three Little Pigs" (in a way you have never heard before) and really every other story he's ever told. Mac and Emmett are into "The Odyssey" but for the whole family, the shorter stories are better. Silas is just starting to enjoy them.
At the online store you can download individual stories.
He's just amazing. He plays all the music and does all the sound effects in one take and performs all over the country at schools and festivals.
I think this guy has been a big influence on Mac...she loves to tell stories. His especially.

a poem

Natural History
(a letter to Katherine, from the King Edward Hotel, Toronto)

The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unwinds a thread of her devising:
A thin, premeditated rig
To use in rising.

And all the journey down through space,
In cool descent, and loyal-hearted,
She builds a ladder to the place
From which she started.

Thus I, gone forth, as spiders do,
In spider's web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken strand to you
For my returning.

E.B.White

(Annie here: Walked into a spiders web tonight on the way home from the studio. I am sure this web will reappear every day across the porch all spring long, so I will do the crazy lady arm dance to get in the house from now on. One of the things I love and don't so much love about spring. But this poem will forever be one of my favorites.)

A little Park trip and some sass...

I bought some cookies. We played soccer and frisbee.




Mac gave me some sass and then we went home.

Papa

just a bit of April Fool's Day Torture.

forest pansy redbud

The banner photo is our tree with the best name. Forest Pansy Redbud.
It's small still and not that noticable in our garden but I like to watch how it changes from day to day.
Starts as magenta buds, turns to orchid petals, then to maroon hearts and then dark purplish green leaves. Just crazy beautiful to me.
And I love this tree completely. So does Silas. We talk about it everyday. Here is the progression.
March is just the best month for this tree. I love March. In my next life I would like to be named Forest Pansy Redbud. Or Leaping Waters. Ok, not really but kinda.

garden blog from school...

check it out! HERE

lots of spring garden loveliness and deliciousness.

Sunday Morning with Nana

emmett New Yorker submission #2

"Oh citizens of America! Honor the God from Beijing...or read my grad school report!"

TODAY is Pop's Birthday!

Happy Birthday. We All Love You.
(We can see the kid in this face! Great smile!)

this lawn is your lawn

thanks Amy for this awesome video...and thanks Obama's for listening!!

This Lawn is Your Lawn from roger doiron on Vimeo.

Emmett and The New Yorker

Emmett's caption#1: "let the land be with you. so let it kill you quickly or you will get sold to the sushi guy down the street and die a more horrible death."

Emmett's caption #2: "I hope Poseidon doesn't find out about this."

He's been doing this for a while now. It is interesting and entertaining to watch the development of wit. (Shawn, this one's for you!)

two more good ones...

the new Madeleine Peyroux, her own songs, very good...



and My Morning Jacket (I just don't like the name...) many of the songs remind me of Fleet Foxes...though some a bit rowdier...

My last day at the unit

I didn't know it then but these are the last pics from the last day I served with my old outfit. I have "parted ways" and am returning to my original station. 4 years of fun in the mountains and on helicopters! Made some great friends and have awesome memories.
All things must pass.

calm moment...



NOT a calm moment...