eat food. grow food.

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Have you read Michael Pollan’s new(ish) book Food Rules? I read it out loud in the car on the way back from Chicago and I can’t stop thinking about it. Although the critics say it’s just Pollan distilled down into bite-sized bits for the masses, that’s what I like about it and that’s exactly why I’m going to buy a few copies to give to friends for them to read. And pass on. And for them to pass on. And on. It’s one of those. And it’s only $5 through Amazon so I declare that you really can’t lose with this one.

The book pushed me even closer to placing my seed order for my ambitious raised bed garden that I’d like to have this year. Earlier this winter I looked through catalogs and then filed them away in my “to do in March” brain folder–still don’t have the office set up yet and my brain folders are getting full, but we really ARE working on it, thank you very much. Lo and behold, it IS March so here we go! I usually dislike March with its promise of spring and its reality of brownish winter, but somehow I’ve managed not to be down on it just yet. Give me a few more weeks… Maybe it’s April that’ll push me over the proverbial edge this year with its promise of spring and its reality of brownish winter. Why do we live in northern Michigan again? For me, it’s because of mid-May through snowy February, but I digress. Whew. Good thing I stopped that tangent early, eh?

Moving on.

A great kids book that pairs well with Food Rules is Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert. A friend told me about it and the very next day Wren received it as a gift from Aunt Becky. How very serendipitous was that?

I love the colorful illustrations of the plants (especially the ferns-very cool!) and of course, the story of growing a garden is timeless and timely. This is one of those books I will also order several of at a time and give to several friends. A must-have book in your kids book library if you don’t already own it!

Confessions.

  • Don’t try to kill me, but I was rooting for Canada in the Canada vs. USA hockey game. Go, Canada! Except those closing ceremonies were really cheesy. Huge inflatable beavers? Are you kidding me?
  • Still loving orange things, especially my new orange scarf.
  • Wren is getting feisty. She now realizes that there are things that she DOES NOT want to do and she lets us know. It’s pretty funny. Until she had a meltdown in the locker room after baby swim. Half-naked with a screaming baby is not really the best look for me I’ve decided.

best!

marquee comic relief.

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One of my favorite ways to enjoy the world (besides kicking chunks of snow off the car wheel wells) is to point and laugh at signs. Here’s one at our neighborhood watering hole that I had to share with you.

“Burg-Frys-Draft 5.99” a healthy choice? Now that’s my kind of health food! Also, free chips w/ sandwiches? I am THERE. Actually, the food is pretty decent here at Lil’ Bo’s except that Chris says they serve the world’s worst Carbonara. And if you clicked on the link, you would have discovered the world’s worst Web site too.

Go for the olive burger I always say. It’s a HEALTHY CHOICE.

Snuggle bags.

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Who doesn’t need something soft and cozy to snuggle up in? My three nieces and their matching American Girl dolls do! So I made them these fleece snuggle bags (three big, three little), which were *sew* easy and fun to make.

These are great for traveling or just lounging around the house. For simple directions on how to make these snuggle bags, click here. I also added a ribbon detail to the bottom of each so they could easily tidy them up a bit. Simply roll and tie!

****************************************************************************

My sweet Wren has her 9-month well visit this morning. We will find out just how big she’s gotten in the last few months. Gambling types, want to place a bet?

Best!

finally broken!

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Thanks for sending all the good anti-vicious cycle karma into the world for me. The vicious cycle has been broken. I am awake and happily working on making a batch of pecan rolls (from yesterday’s leftover pizza dough), cleaning up the house, getting organized and doing *work* for the outside world too. Oh, and here I sit, sneaking in a blog post…

I’m thrilled to report that after a long bout of teething-meets-the-wrath-of-the-virus, our sweet, funny, spirited little birdie is back. In a big way. Pizza night was a hit! Followed by a wild rumpus then the reading of Ezra Jack Keats The Snowy Day and what more can I ask for?

This is our nest’s new favorite book (thanks, Aunt Becky). The illustrations are fantastic (love the gouache meets collage technique, don’t you?) and what a great story of snowy exploration. To top it off, I am in love with the name Ezra. For a boy or girl, no?

Don’t you just love Peter? I just want to put him in my pocket – he’s just so darn cute. In fact, I suppose you could put this version of Peter in your pocket:

Dear readers, I hope you have a super hump day. It’s my birdie’s 9 month birthday today. She’s just about been out of the womb as long as she was in it. It’s bittersweet, isn’t it? How the time does indeed fly by. Before you know it, she’ll be in Brownies and I’ll be asking you if you’d like to buy any Thin Mint cookies. Sigh.

vicious cycle.

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I’ve got myself all caught up in a vicious cycle. Here goes…

Up with Wren about four times every night for a bit (yep, Little Miss Fussy Pants is still visiting…) Between 4 and 5 a.m., I am wide awake, thinking to myself, “You should just get up so you have some time to yourself. Get some much-needed work done. Get some much-needed exercise. Get some much-needed cleaning done.” Then I go back to bed and wake up when Wren and Chris get up. By then I’m more tired than I was at 4 a.m. Arrghh. Me-time? Lost. Except for a few moments here and there and of course, right now when the little birdie is taking a nap. Then I get a wee bit grumpier over the course of the day, but am too tired after putting Wren to bed to do my much-needed items. Plus I want to spend time with Chris so we can enjoy some much-needed time together–just the two of us. And the cycle begins again. I DID sneak in a shower today so I’ve got that going for me.

And I’m wearing my new orange scarf so I’ve got that to be cheerful about too. Thanks, Carolyn!

And there’s some new white stuff coming down out there and things are looking pretty again. Yeah!

Dear readers, any thoughts on breaking the cycle?

Confessions.

  • Finally was able to watch some of the Olympics. Funny how it makes me equal parts inspired and dejected at the same time. Those people work really hard! For a really long time! I don’t think I’ve ever worked that hard at one thing in my whole life.
  • Enjoyed watching some of Westminster last week too. Those dogs make me smile. Those trainer ladies do not. Well, they do, but that’s just me being mean. Schadenfreude. Can’t help it!
  • We’re headed to Chicago this coming weekend. So very excited to see family and friends and get out of our nest a bit. Can you say Cabin Fever?

best!

mid-winter lovelies

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I don’t know what it’s like where you are, but it’s still decidedly mid-winter in northern Michigan. Although the bikinis are out in full force at Target, I’m still bundling my little birdie up and hoping for another solid month of skiing. Check out these hand knit lovelies for the wee ones in our lives… So cute!

I also had to share this cool snow sculpture of winter love birds that was erected in downtown Traverse City last weekend. One more reason to love living here! Thankfully, we do not take ourselves too seriously in the blustery north country.

After a rough week in our nest, we’ll all be back together again tonight. Healthy and happy. Yahoo!

What will you be doing in your nest this weekend? I hope to be cooking, baking, skiing, working on the craft room and snuggling up with my family. Have a great one!

deep thought.

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It’s been a bit rough in our nest this week so I’ll be posting lightly until life gets back on track around here. How goes it in your nest, dear readers? I hope everyone is happy and healthy and not too edgy from your Lenten fasting.

So here’s my deep thought for the day that I had to share with you.

It just hit me today as Wren and I were sitting on the couch together, munching on oyster crackers, that I have said countless times in my life something like, “don’t act like such a baby,” or “she is acting like such a baby.” I think this meant that someone was being whiny and annoying or super emotional and needy. WHAT?! No more! I like babies too much. I had no idea I liked them so much, but I do. They’re awfully needy (duh.), but pretty damn amazing too. I will no longer denigrate babies to describe an adult’s behavior. Isn’t it like someone saying, “this assignment is so gay!?” I remember trying to explain this idea at least several times a week to my students. Crazy teenagers! No, it is not homosexual and furthermore, homosexuals are not bad. And wait, this assignment isn’t either! Sigh.

Anyway. The baby phrase never made me stop in my tracks until now. Go babies! Thank you for another day of sleep-deprived enlightenment. Good night!