Birthday Beauty

It’s possible,
that on the day in 1921
when you were born,
they mistook you for the sun.
Radiant face shining under
A black cloud of curls,
The color of your eyes
Sent the seas and skies
Into a jealous whirl.
Impossible,
you grew more lovely still,
a charming little lady who found
her gift for keys and strings
in a heart that sings.
“An angel!” they’d say
when they heard you play.
Skirts a-twirl, bewitching girl.
Impossible,
but true: an ever more
gorgeous young woman, 1942.
Turning heads with a luminous smile,
your heart was destined all the while
For the man who loves you still.
Is it possible,
that such great love can flow
from just one heart?
All your gifts, so freely given:
so many souls touched
by your devotion, driven.
Impossible,
how much you are missed,

today of all days.

Your beauty still shines from within.

Always.

Sweet Peas

We've had pea shoots in our last three vegetable deliveries, but this week there was a surprise in the bunch: tiny lavender buds. Almost too beautiful to eat, really. As a delicacy, we've decided that the stalks of the pea shoots are a little too tough for our liking, and removing the leaves one at a time has proven rather tedious. The conundrum of what to do with these curly little vines is easily solved this time, though; artfully arranged in an old vase, they make a lovely centerpiece.

Where There's Fire, There's Wynham

When the new youth pastor at our church asked Wynham to burn the palm fronds that would create the ashes for use in Ash Wednesday services, I must admit I felt a certain dubiousness about how that might play out. Anyone who knows Wynham knows that it's wise to stand back, waaaay back, when he has matches, a lighter, or any other fire-provoking implement in his hands. There's just that particular gleam in his eyes...

Everything seemed to go smoothly until the flames were about three feet high -- that's when he decided to jump over the fire for everyone's amusement. "OKAY, that's eNOUGH!" said the rector. Talk about being in the hot seat!

Stylin'

You may or may not know that Isadora Duncan's untimely death was due to an unfortunate choice of accessories (she was strangled by her neckwear when it got caught in the rear wheel of her car somewhere along the Riviera), but that's never deterred me from a penchant for trailing scarves. I don't have a convertible, anyway.

Claire, though, is generally not one for frou-frous of any sort, practical gal that she is. So I feel a certain glee on the rare occasions when she goes in for something girly, like the long pink number I was wearing yesterday. She grabbed it off the counter, threw it around her shoulders, then started strutting and striking poses. I know she was just doing it to upstage Jack's floorshow, but still: Heidi Klum would be proud. You go, girl; walk that runway!

These Boots Are Made For Stompin'

Clomp, clomp, clompity, clomp. Ah, yes; I love the pitter-patter of little elephants stampeding through the kitchen... James bought a $15 pair of snowboots at REI's "used" gear sale (the only thing wrong with them was a slightly frayed lace), and they're already fully amortized as the perfect self-occupying toy. I can't get them off Jack's feet unless he falls asleep. The good news in all this is that I was finally able to get him out of the torn and dirty Spiderman costume he's been wearing nonstop since last Halloween. I wonder what it will take to distract him from this latest fixation... Are you ready boots? Start stompin'!

State of Grace

Over the weekend I spent several hours in the basement of Grace Cathedral attending various meetings with other members of our diocese. As you might imagine, it's a space with little personality and unbelievably uncomfortable chairs (most likely designed to keep people awake). During one brief break I decided to sneak off, clambering up the dark narrow stairs leading to the sanctuary. As I passed through the door at the top, I had an "Alice In Wonderland" sensation, the feeling that I was caught in a kaleidoscope. High. Light. It was the highlight of my day...

Think Spring

This tiny plum blossom caught me off guard -- a harbinger of Spring, despite the fact that the season is officially still a month away. It crept through the rails of the side porch, reaching for the sun and crying "Look at me!" in its whispering wabi-sabi way. It's refreshing to be brought back into focus by an unassuming, imperfect flower. To everything there is a season, and I'm willing to wait: just the promise of the fruit this budding tree will yield is enough to make me positively giddy.

Treasure Box

A remarkable transformation has recently taken place in our kitchen, brought about by a weekly delivery of organic fruits and vegetables from Farm Fresh To You. Lately, I've become more and more leery of feeding my children anything that comes in a box off the supermarket shelf. So when mice invaded our pantry a few weeks back, it gave me the opportunity to make a clean sweep. Participating in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program seemed like the next step in the right direction.

Frankly, I harbored doubts as to how thrilled anyone in my house would be about the wintertime offerings. I had visions of brussels sprouts ten ways. The first week, though, they ate collard green soup with no complaints. The second week, we were all adventurous enough to try sautéed pea shoots for the first time. True, there are some things I've never seen, much less eaten, but I love the challenge.

This week the kids crowded around the box in anticipation, waiting to see what was inside; the closer we get to spring, the more treasures the box holds. Claire and Jack sat down on the spot and ate an entire bunch of fresh Nantes carrots, with plans to plant the little green tops in the morning. They completely ignored the boxes of Valentine's chocolates sitting on the counter. Priceless!

The box we receive not only comes loaded with fresh organic delectables, it also contains an informational sheet that includes enticing recipes, and a heartwarming newsletter from Thaddeus, the farm manager. "The farm is cold and wet. Many of the fields lay fallow, waiting for the warmth of spring..." It's a love letter to the earth, really, and I am completely charmed. Here's to dirt under your fingernails, and kale on your table...

Here Comes the Rain Again

Finally, we've been blessed with some measurable rainfall. The changing weather can make for some beautiful and dramatic skies, and if you're paying attention, you can spot a rainbow here and there. We're still several inches short of where we should be for this time of year, but there's more water on the way. Bring it on!

This Is Not My Beautiful House

To tell the truth, I'm afraid to go out the front door. Every time I put the man of the house in charge so I can go to the grocery store, this is what I come back to -- not just in the bedrooms, mind you, but the living room, dining room, and kitchen, too. How anyone can manage to make a mess like that in less than an hour is one thing, how often this happens in a single day is another.

"What happened?!?" I ask, trying to keep the shrillness out of my voice, "It looks like a bomb went off in here..." By way of reply, man of the house counters with his own question: "How much would you pay for a good kitchen knife?" Huh? It's then that I notice, my arms laden with grocery bags, that he's perusing $500 handforged, beadblasted chefs knives on eBay. This is really funny, because man of the house only knows how to make eggs. But it doesn't explain the mess (or, maybe it does...).

Over time, I've learned that I'll never get an explanation as to how this happens. I keep asking, just for fun, to see if I'll ever get anything that resembles an actual answer. I do know that it will probably take me two hours to clean it all up, but only if everyone else is gone. Luckily, all the kids are out for the afternoon on a playdate roundup. Everything looks spotless when they get home.

Now for the confession: the featured photo was taken about half an hour after they returned to the domicile. This disaster of a mess was perpetrated right under my nose! I think I might as well give up...

Don't Eat Them All at Once!

My Funny Valentine

Credit goes to my old friend Michael Rosenthal for the tradition of sending Valentines to my friends every year instead of Christmas-Hannukah-Kwaanza cards. I can never get it together around the holidays anyway. Plus, I must admit, I'm a complete and total squishy-in-the-middle pushover for anything mushy. I love Valentine's Day, especially with all the kid stuff: candy hearts, goofy cards, red and pink and purple glitter. I've tried to make cards every year, first with Chloé and Wynham, and now with Claire and Jack. This year I ran out of cards and time; if you didn't get one, I'm really, really sorry. So please accept this virtual valentine, sealed with a kiss...

(top photo copyright Mesut Ilgim)

Sky's the Limit

It's astonishing to me that I can put 90 miles a day on my car when I almost never leave the five-mile radius around my house; occasionally, it's great to break past that barrier. Last week I had a chance to go into the City with my good friend Deb to see the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit at the De Young Museum. The new De Young is such an enticing space, inside and out. If you haven't visited it, you should.

After we toured the exhibit, we ended up with some time to spare (imagine!) and paid a visit the the Japanese Tea Garden next door. It was like stepping back in time, to my first visit as a little 9-year-old girl. On the way back, we made a detour by the Turrell Skyscape, a concrete dome with an opening to the sky. Calm. Quiet. Perspective. I could use some more of that.

More Than Words

It was a decade or so ago when I first discovered Jeanine Payer's gorgeous jewelry. I was interviewing a candidate for a writing position when her ring caught my eye. The ring was a simple, organic, sterling silver band, hand engraved with the words: "My fingers emit sparks of fire with expectation of my future labors - Blake." I was smitten. I had to have one. Who made it? Where did she get it? I gave that woman the job...

At the time, I was a single mother with two children to support and "discretionary income" was an oxymoron in my vocabulary. But I bought the ring in question, and it became my talisman for all good things to come. Since then, I've been lucky enough to add a few pieces to my collection and give a few special gifts, each one representing a rite of passage: marriage, an important birthday, babies, losing a loved one. These treasures are all the more precious because I know how much love and thought goes into each piece.

Payer's work inspired me to take a class in metalsmithing, and that experience gives me an even deeper appreciation for all the hard work that goes into crafting those tiny objects of art. I've toured her studio and met some of the great folks who work for her, and I can say that while her business has grown, her values haven't changed. Following her lovely blog, Glimpse, provides delightful behind-the-scenes insight.

She's just released her new collection -- stunning in its simplicity and heartfelt in its sentiments. Just in time for Valentine's Day! (James, you're off the hook...) I truly believe we have to support our local artists and do our patriotic part for the economy. And I promise you, a gift from Jeanine Payer will always be cherished. More than words can say.

(photos by Janet Kozawa, courtesy of Jeanine Payer)

Tagines and Tangerines

The other day I bought David Tanis' A Platter of Figs with the intention of cooking my way through the winter menus in this beautiful cookbook, starting with North African Comfort Food. It begins with Carrot and Coriander Salad, then Chicken Tagine with Pumpkin and Chickpeas, followed by Walnut Cigars for dessert. I was inspired by the smart and funny Tipsy Baker, who's currently cooking out of the same book.

After hours of chopping, boiling, toasting and baking, the results were remarkably bland and disappointing. I would have thought this was due to some gross error on my part, but Tipsy had the same results. How, we wondered, could this book get such rave reviews? Maybe the sycophants were cooking at a better time of year...

The author recommends "presenting tangerines in a well-worn earthen vessel" and that's about the only part of this meal that turned out as one would have expected. At least the Walnut Cigars were a hit, and elegant, but I don't know that I'd make them again. Now I'm just waiting to see what happens when the Tipsy Baker makes Tanis' Pig's Ear Salad on Wednesday...