tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37414032012-01-30T18:15:22.078-08:00The Vegetarian Accountant's GardenHome Economy: food, exercise, and chores.Rudynoreply@blogger.comBlogger3101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-2308420248728321432012-01-29T19:39:00.000-08:002012-01-29T19:49:34.704-08:00Starting this week, we're on to Lucky for our grocery shopping. I may need to incorporate more fish into our meal plan, as the vegetarian "roasts" will probably not be available for purchase at Lucky grocery stores. They do, however, carry some of the other vegetarian items that I use.
True to the experiment, I will be using the same monthly menu plan that I used last month. I have an even Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-19289334787664357752012-01-28T18:13:00.000-08:002012-01-28T21:50:24.601-08:00Running: it's a blessing and a curse. It helps so much to release tension and anxiety, but it also causes stress on the body. I tried too much this past week. Having a 2 mile run and a 3 mile hike on the same day was a bit too much, so I opted out of the five-mile hike on Friday and went to Dailey Method instead. I finished my "long" run of 4 miles this morning, in good time, but it was tough. Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-55184441843306670722012-01-27T20:40:00.000-08:002012-01-27T20:40:54.689-08:00My final trip to Whole Foods for this part of the experiment (sniffle)... and I spent $47.77 on bread, milk, eggs, and snacks. Oh, and I stocked up on Yves' Veggie Bologna because I know I can't find it at Safeway or Lucky. So, the total for this week is $161.22.
For all four weeks, the grand total comes to $674. That's less than $200 a week to feed a family of four (more or less - the baby Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-52825725798029411842012-01-23T19:38:00.000-08:002012-01-23T19:38:15.566-08:00Week #4: $105.95 and I still ended up with three bags of groceries (plus two gallon jugs of milk). We also spent $7.50 at the farmer's market on broccoli and apples.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-35627695890138364942012-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:002012-01-22T08:00:07.940-08:00For some reason, I had more recipes than days this week. I guess that may be because we had one pizza night and one night where we ate the leftover vegetable ziti gratin. This actually works out well, as I'm not so fond of the last week of recipes on the recipe planner. My improvised list is as follows:
Pan roasted tuna with herbed green beans and brown rice
Spaghetti & meatballs with a green Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-3972337959228824162012-01-20T18:38:00.000-08:002012-01-20T18:40:53.927-08:00Another late week trip to Whole Foods for milk, bread, bananas and snacks. I only spent $35, though, which brings this week's total to about $170. Not bad for a family of four (I'm not counting the baby, although he does eat his share of the bananas and milk). I think the key to not spending too much is to (a) have a meal plan, (b) write a shopping list, and (c) stick to the list (if it's not on Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-18206734379646796532012-01-18T17:58:00.000-08:002012-01-18T17:58:17.161-08:00Another week -- another trip to the grocery store. This week's trip came to $135. Since I was out of town this weekend, I had to purchase all my produce at the grocery, not at the farmer's market.
Another thought that occurred to me was this: some of the purchases I am making now will be ingredients used in consecutive months, so I hope that these initial purchases won't weigh too heavily on my Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-17843982335270928002012-01-15T05:48:00.000-08:002012-01-15T05:48:00.232-08:00I'll be away this weekend, so I'm post-dating my meal planning post.
Vegetarian roast with roasted potatoes and broccoli
Pan roasted salmon and sweet onions with peas and brown rice
Southeast Asian soup with spinach salad and french bread
Chili & cornbread with cabbage slaw
Curried chicken with mashed potatoes and carrots
Spicy winter ragout and spaghetti tossed with olive oil and parmesan
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-27796486898062612482012-01-14T07:46:00.000-08:002012-01-14T07:46:18.531-08:00It felt good to stay on track with exercise this week. I actually fit in a couple extra hikes, which proved more challenging than I thought. My total mileage for the week was about 18 miles, 8 of which were running miles. Coming up this week:
Monday: strengthen & stretch & run 2 miles (fast?)
Tuesday: Dailey Method
Wednesday: run 2.5 miles (& 3 mile walk)
Thursday: hike
Friday Dailey Method & 3 Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-13126274960080043722012-01-11T20:29:00.000-08:002012-01-11T20:29:03.467-08:00Food spending update: I needed to make another trip to the grocery store, to fill up on milk and bread. Meanwhile, I bought most of the ingredients for Sunday's dinner and more apples (for lunches), since I will be away for Sunday & Monday of this coming weekend. I ended up spending $53.20! That brings this week's total to $186.92.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-88344080494375822182012-01-08T20:01:00.000-08:002012-01-09T06:44:00.860-08:00Our farmer's market results -- $21.50.
Our grocery total from Whole Foods for this upcoming week is $112.22, so far. That's about the same as last week, except that I had already spent the aforementioned $21.50 on produce. But, it does also cover one extra day. We'll see. I can already tell that the spending trap at Whole Foods is located in the novelty items it sells; and they are good at Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-60615228214997713882012-01-07T20:09:00.000-08:002012-01-08T12:02:30.584-08:00I did need to return to the grocery store mid-week, adding $31.76 to my grocery expense, and, Rudy went for more sandwich items on Saturday (another $13.65). The grand total for week 1 at Whole Foods was $156.
This week, I will be able to visit our Farmer's Market to buy our produce. I'll report on that later.
This week's menu:
Roast chicken with mashed potatoes and peas
Pan roasted fish and Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-16894579296978926912012-01-07T08:03:00.000-08:002012-01-07T08:03:51.321-08:00I'm getting into running again. After a long bout with a recurring injury, I finally determined that the injury was caused and worsened by running or jogging with the stroller. I just can't do long runs with the extra weight of the stroller any more.
I thought my running days were over, but I have found that if I run without that extra weight, I am mostly pain-free. My joints do still hurt afterBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-64170576335880460482012-01-02T20:52:00.000-08:002012-01-02T20:52:34.997-08:00It's a new year! And I have a food-and-budget-related challenge. Actually, it's more like an experiment. I am curious to see whether it really matters, budget-wise, about where you shop. I have a monthly menu plan, which I adapted from Real Simple magazine. And I am interested to see how my monthly grocery bill adds up when I shop at various markets: Whole Foods, Lucky/Safeway, Piedmont Grocery,Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-75150830847515930112011-12-09T07:11:00.000-08:002011-12-09T07:11:32.463-08:00It's that time of year: the time to add even more to your to-do list!
I've really been dragging my feet this year, too. I did manage to send off the overseas gifts, but I am shocked that we're a couple weeks away from Christmas and I haven't sent out any cards, wrapped any presents (I have procured a few), or done any decorating. So, in order to get this rolling, I have a schedule for myself -- Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-90316690326898678302011-12-01T13:46:00.000-08:002011-12-01T13:46:28.003-08:00More about chores and kids...
We're at the tender age of pulling everything out of the cabinets and getting into every dangerous item in the house. Well, John is at that age. It is nearly impossible to do anything in the house with him awake in the house, and even if I'm just concentrating on him, he is still doing the dangerous and messy.
But what to do about keeping up the house? I have to Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-13127303649857399352011-10-04T19:13:00.000-07:002011-10-04T19:13:07.694-07:00It's been a battle with the deer, but our pumpkin plant finally produced. We started several seeds back in February, but after transplant and some cooler than anticipated weather, only two plants survived. One is a Connecticut Pumpkin - great for Jack O' Lanterns - and our other is a Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin). Total yield = two large orange pumpkins and one kabocha.
Most of the damage done by Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-9819186356286818522011-08-28T07:23:00.000-07:002011-08-28T07:23:18.912-07:00It's a foggy, late summer Sunday morning here. We finished up our first week of school without any major trauma and have started attending the regular barrage of weekend birthday parties. It's a nice pattern to resume. I've always loved this part of the year, and I think it has something to do with me returning to friends after the long summers away that I enjoyed as a child. I think my children Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-59877161960042036212011-07-04T15:52:00.000-07:002011-07-04T15:52:59.039-07:00Happy Independence Day! Here we are at the Piedmont 4th of July Parade, where the girls collect candy and the Balloon Platoon stopped by to shake hands. It was a nice parade this year with lots of music, classic cars and all the regular troops of small town associations and businesses.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-84077827536574855392011-06-23T06:31:00.000-07:002011-06-23T06:31:09.733-07:00I read once that you should limit yourself to trying to accomplish only five tasks per day. I often wonder, is that in addition to a standard job or does that include work. And then I forget that I do work (not for pay), caring for three young children. You know, we stay-at-home mothers would have to hire two or three people to replace us, should we just evaporate. (Nanny, cook, housekeeper and Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-51727115955615443912011-05-08T19:52:00.000-07:002011-05-08T19:52:57.662-07:00 Ah, Mother's Day... again. Only this year, I have three little people who are trying to say "thanks for taking care of us... every day... all the time." Oh, and let me pull your hair a bit and scratch your eye. All before 7 AM, folks. I really didn't expect to sleep in or get breakfast in bed.
I couldn't have asked for a nicer day, though. Although it's cool and breezy, it is amazingly clear. Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-57739056648248219842011-04-19T16:25:00.000-07:002011-04-19T16:25:20.162-07:00More iris are starting to bloom. This is "Jessee's Song" from my Grandmother's garden. Many more are about to open, and the garden should be popping with color very soon. Sunny is waiting patiently in the iris bed on the patio.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-19033345807136053342011-04-07T17:57:00.000-07:002011-04-07T17:57:21.739-07:00 New yard (above) versus old yard (below). SO exciting!!!!!!
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-55597895350058883442011-04-05T20:42:00.000-07:002011-04-05T20:42:05.436-07:00Our first blooming iris for this year! I'm having trouble identifying this particular variety... any ideas? It's a nice placatta (sp?), maybe one that my grandmother made herself.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-91433127822687394542011-04-02T17:49:00.000-07:002011-04-02T17:49:01.157-07:00Anticipation:
My iris, just replanted in the fall, are sending up their bloom stocks. We are still waiting for the new lawn, but excited that the yard is in such nice shape.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-42652838308822378262011-03-23T09:49:00.000-07:002011-03-27T07:11:49.675-07:00We've had long stretches of very wet weather here this month, so not much progress has been made in the garden. It clears for a day or two - enough time to get out and pick up all the debris knocked down by the most recent storm - then everything is soaked again with next storm. So, the only thing really happening with the garden is our indoor seedlings, which are looking pretty good so far. Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-10227303947896453982011-02-26T11:36:00.000-08:002011-02-26T11:36:18.263-08:00I've been on a baking binge this week. Thursday was my birthday, so the girls and I made cupcakes. Green cupcakes with blue frosting and many, many sprinkles.
Then Friday, it was supposed to be super cold and stormy - maybe even snowing! - so I made Tuscan peasant soup (with a bean bag from Sierra Soups) and half-whole-wheat bread. Instead of chicken, I added veggie sausages at the end. The Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-38605996238850105422011-02-19T19:05:00.000-08:002011-02-19T19:05:13.312-08:00This week's waffle experiment: Cornmeal Waffles
This is adapted from a recipe for Cornmeal Pancakes. Apparently, the way to convert a pancake recipe to a waffle-iron friendly version is to add a few more tablespoons of oil. These turned out great, by the way, and the recipe credit goes to Lindsay Miller's "The Apartment Vegetarian Cookbook."
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-42222012754417758602011-02-15T18:20:00.000-08:002011-02-15T18:20:54.609-08:00Breakfast: Chocolate Waffles
This week, we added 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to the standard waffle recipe. I used all-purpose flour (instead of whole wheat) and they turned out nicely. The batter was a bit runny, which made for some holes, so perhaps less milk or whole wheat flour next time. Either way, they were delicious, the only improvement would be having some chocolate syrup on Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-40330260049181243002011-02-05T14:53:00.000-08:002011-02-05T14:53:25.026-08:00Waffles are my newest experiment. I've had a waffle iron for a couple of years and it's a favorite with the kids. Since my last post about the basic muffin, in which you merely add ingredients to the mix, I've been thinking about trying this with waffles. These above are oatmeal cinnamon and they turned out pretty well.
So, basic waffles are (approximately) 2 cups flour, 1.5 cups milk, .5 cups Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-75575120324117352742011-02-02T10:57:00.000-08:002011-02-02T10:57:49.510-08:00And now, a word on budgeting.
Being an accountant, I can (and usually do) make very complex budgets. I have done this for several years for us, and yet, I still feel like we are not as in control as I would like. We are fortunate to have good salaries and frugal tastes, so it has worked out. This year, I am trying something different.
I have allocated a monthly stipend to use for household Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-28749290085313791682011-02-01T06:50:00.000-08:002011-02-01T07:09:41.376-08:00I have to say that yesterday was rather peaceful. I alternated every hour, between chores and doing things with the kids or for myself. Since there was a large amount of laundry, some of it is still unfolded and another bit of it is in the dryer, but worse things could have happened.
What's more important is that I really felt like I engaged with the kids all day. No one got on my nerves by Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-70289157807989962412011-01-31T12:41:00.000-08:002011-01-31T12:41:03.268-08:00Last week's chore schedule worked out pretty well. We did have to run a load of laundry on Thursday or Friday for John, but that's what happens when you have babies... they make themselves messy most of the time. Today, we are back to laundry. The girls have the day off from school for semester break, so we spend one hour working on the chores and one hour doing fun things: reading, playing, Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-12559340091695328502011-01-29T14:53:00.000-08:002011-01-29T14:53:29.412-08:00Cookie Day: Chocolate Heart Cookies
I found this recipe in LHJ which I rarely, if ever, read. I was down on the couch, though, last weekend and this looked good. The girls cut out the shapes and decorated with icing pens. We only made half the recipe, which is as follows:
2.25 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-7139931411719343052011-01-26T07:53:00.000-08:002011-01-26T07:53:04.681-08:00Year-end Payroll
Every year, an old client of mine calls up and asks me to in to come in and complete his 1099s and W-2s. Now, most companies, big and small, use a payroll service. This particular client, for whatever reason, refuses to do so. This was fine when there were only five of us (and I was a contractor); alas, he continues to use the same Excel worksheet that I created seven (!) years Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-32453488186277809262011-01-25T12:10:00.000-08:002011-01-25T12:10:49.887-08:00Chores and Children.
Children and chores (and allowance). If you have little ones, especially more than one, it is best to give them the opportunity to help you. This has been made abundantly clear to me with my recent surgery and downtime. Kids actually like to help and it helps the feel good about themselves. It's also a great way to interact with them without letting the house fall apart.
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-78704615585376306942011-01-24T07:00:00.000-08:002011-01-24T07:00:59.133-08:00Time for a new rotation of chores, exercise, and meals. The four-day pattern was nice, but it was getting too tedious. Plus, I wasn't too happy about the chores on weekends. I'll have to start very slowly on all of this--in fact, I'll only be walking as part of this week's exercise--but I think it's a better combination.
Monday:
Laundry
Grocery store
BBC (strength & cardio)
Pasta
Tuesday:
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-28652988790626493672011-01-22T13:47:00.000-08:002011-01-22T13:47:47.596-08:00Recovery from hernia repair has been tougher than I imagined. It's my second day since and I'm still feeling pretty weak. The incision site is sore and my belly is still inflated (I guess) from the laproscopic element of the surgery. I'm sure the effects are more noticeable to me than anyone else, and even more apparent because I'm pretty thin.
I do want to note, though, some neat stats prior toBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-50759850370839335622011-01-20T10:36:00.000-08:002011-01-20T10:36:25.165-08:00Wow, this week has gone by quickly! It's already Thursday and time for this week's big event... hernia repair. It's a small surgery, but a big deal when you have three little ones running around. I'm counting on E to help a lot. For the next week or so no strenuous exercise, and no heavy lifting or housework, probably. I'm sure I'll feel up to cooking in a few days, but for now, I'll let Rudy Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-40702503377989892762011-01-18T06:37:00.000-08:002011-01-18T06:38:44.171-08:00I was way too optimistic yesterday about what I could get done. I didn't do any of the things on my chore list, but I did have a nice bike ride, went miniature golfing with the family, and made (and ate) lots of great food.
For today, I am going to do a little of everything so that something gets done. I have two days before minor surgery, and then I'm off for at least four days. That being saidBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-35338742064453860482011-01-17T14:21:00.000-08:002011-01-17T14:21:36.051-08:00Today's Food: Dried Cuttlefish
That's right, I said cuttlefish. Rudy loves this as a snack, and since we were hungry when we hit the 99 Ranch Market, this is what he picked out. Apparently, he isn't the only one with a taste for dried, salted cephalopod.
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-44707147294611748812011-01-17T07:28:00.000-08:002011-01-17T07:28:54.320-08:00It's a holiday! This changes everything for me on a Monday. It means no school for the kids and no work for the husband, but chores still need to happen, especially since I'll be out of commission after Thursday afternoon.
Work
Pay the bills and finish writing thank you cards. Do one load of laundry. Visit the grocery store.
Exercise
My chart says "high-impact" but my shins are saying no way. Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-13462667140416409412011-01-16T08:56:00.000-08:002011-01-16T11:20:05.505-08:00Basic Muffins
Muffins are an easy breakfast item to make, the kids can help, and they make terrific snacks for later on. You can add on to basic muffins to make a variety of different flavors; these are made with mandarin oranges and spiced with cinnamon and ginger (Helen's choices). Other options are blueberry-lemon, apple-cinnamon, and cranberry-orange. Or, you can place a teaspoon of preservesBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-43661832051993062012011-01-15T07:51:00.000-08:002011-01-15T07:51:08.246-08:00The four-day rotation is a bit tiring. I'm not sure if I'm trying to get too much done, or what, but I'm just exhausted by the end of the day. And I don't get everything on my to-do list done. Perhaps I need to be more realistic about how much time I really have to spend on chores and what I can get done in that time. Yesterday was supposed to be "project day" but I spent absolutely no time on myBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-71147633335813843902011-01-13T16:34:00.000-08:002011-01-13T16:34:25.780-08:00Work
It's laundry day, which isn't very interesting in itself. However, while waiting for the clothes to wash and dry, my goal is to accomplish several administrative tasks. The most interesting of these is figuring out how to report my grandfather's sharecrop income from the orchard that he leased out this year. It's an interesting problem, as the income goes to him, then to the lessee.
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-19691523260314027102011-01-12T09:51:00.000-08:002011-01-12T09:51:26.513-08:00Work
It's cleaning day. I've created a three-tiered cleaning plan to move me through the priority chores, then move on to the more time-consuming and less-important tasks. I've also decided to implement the 15-minute rule, so that I don't get so caught up in cleaning (does anyone else have this problem?) and end up feeling like I neglected other parts of my life.
Exercise
I'm pretty sore after Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-58201296401265577242011-01-11T07:26:00.000-08:002011-01-11T14:08:07.821-08:00Work: Part I
It's gardening day, if the weather cooperates. Actually, since showers are predicted later today, it's the perfect time for a necessary gardening chore: fertilizing. A light rain helps the nutrients dissolve into the soil, better reaching the plants. I'm also going to tackle weeds, both in back and in front. I have a new weeder and another pair of gloves, so therefore, no Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-29489244438885102322011-01-10T06:22:00.000-08:002011-01-10T07:31:47.006-08:00I'm back to project day again. Since I only got about halfway through my to-do list in John's room, I'll just keep working on that. Spaghetti and salad for dinner and a walk this morning, and my day is planned out. Very simple.I signed up for the Dailey Method and I'm really excited about it. I love Baby Boot Camp, but sometimes I find the repetitions to numerous or the exercises too hard on my Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-49093119083624355822011-01-09T12:36:00.000-08:002011-01-09T12:45:31.739-08:00"Sunday drivers." Where does this term come from? We speculated in the car this morning, that it perhaps referred to people who only drove once a week, to and from church. On the way home, I asserted that perhaps people drive poorly on Sunday because they feel more like they will be pardoned for this bad behavior. Or is it because we should be slower and in less of a rush, as Sunday is meant to Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-37523499913894576202011-01-09T07:30:00.000-08:002011-01-09T09:18:09.574-08:00Back to Day 1 of the four-day-rotation. I'm going to try this for a month and see how the household is doing then.Day 1: Japanese food; run & strength train; laundry & administrative tasks. This is also the best day to go to the grocery store.Day 2: Pasta; walk/bike/swim & yoga; household project.Day 3: Meat & potatoes; run & strength train; gardening.Day 4: Soup or stew; walk/bike/swim & yoga; Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-50976219924563317622011-01-08T16:35:00.000-08:002011-01-08T20:01:22.246-08:00Everyday Cassoulet(adapted from Betty Crocker's New Cookbook)Step 1: Open wine and set aside 1/2 cup for cooking.Step 1a: Check wine for quality.Step 2: Assemble these ingredients...(onion, carrots, garlic, sausage, beans, red wine, brown sugar, and thyme)Step 3: Heat oven to 375 F.Step 4: Mix ingredients together in ungreased, 3-quart casserole.Results: Everyone, even the kids ate it. I can't Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-10010645171849190662011-01-08T06:50:00.001-08:002011-01-08T20:03:58.087-08:00Day 4: Cleaning. Bike and/or swim. Soup or Stew.It's a weekend, so I suggest taking the chores down a notch. I'm going to stick with what I consider Level 1 cleaning:Kitchen: wipe down counters and appliance fronts/tops.Bathrooms: speed sanitize and empty the trash.Common areas: pick up clutter and replace throws and couch cushions (you may not need to do this as much if you don't have small Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-90752644614743195802011-01-07T06:36:00.000-08:002011-01-08T20:02:29.361-08:00Day 3: Gardening. Walking. Meat & Potatoes.Yesterday's project went okay. We had a baby power nap in the first part of the day and a play date in the second part of the day. Not everything got done, but some of the more important aspects were finished. I patched nail holes, rearranged the furniture, and cleared the drawers/closet space that John will be able to get into soon. I still need to Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-29417871085279063202011-01-06T11:28:00.000-08:002011-01-06T11:38:50.596-08:00Day 2 of the 4-day rotation: that means that it's project day! My project room today is John's room. Interestingly, he is taking a very long nap this morning, which has stunted the progress, but at least we're thinking in the right direction. My task list for John's room is to tackle the closet and drawers, patch the walls, clean up any scuff marks, and re-hang the artwork. I may move the Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-63001520422056733462011-01-05T11:56:00.000-08:002011-01-05T12:03:38.946-08:00I'm rethinking some of my daily routines, as there seems so much to do and it just isn't getting done. This ends up being a feeling of failure, or at least incompleteness. I like the 4-day rotation that I'm using for meals. Today, we're back to Japanese; a good day to go grocery shopping, since you end up with the freshest ingredients. The avocados were green, though, and the fish was not high Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-86609072879443357472011-01-04T17:36:00.000-08:002011-01-04T17:42:30.028-08:00Lentil Soup!Tonight is soup or stew night, according to my new 4-night meal plan. The rotation is Japanese-Pasta/Italian-Meat & Potatoes-Soup or Stew. The ingredients are simple and easy: onion, celery, carrots (chopped up in the bag*), lentils, barley or brown rice, olive oil and bay leaves. Optional add-ins are garlic, boullion, and sausage (veggie sausage for me). Saute the veggies, add 6-8 Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-19517049572754586042011-01-04T07:02:00.000-08:002011-01-04T07:40:16.693-08:00Did I say I would post at the end of the day? Well, that was an unrealistic expectation! The end of the day is a whirlwind of activity around here, which often ends with my computer in the hands of my husband (even though he has his own).Anyhow, results from yesterday: All got done except (1) gardening and (2) administrative hours. I blame this on the fact that the Costco trip took up three hoursBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-56991439351987404322011-01-03T06:03:00.000-08:002011-01-03T06:13:23.832-08:00It's the first Monday of the new year! Hooray! Sort of...So it's time to put into practice this new idea of simplicity. Unfortunately, the true test comes tomorrow when the kids actually return to school (my school district decided on an extra Monday off for the holiday break), but we should be able to run this through today anyhow.We're going to break today roughly into 1 hour segments. They Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-58412060245536283092011-01-02T14:41:00.000-08:002011-01-02T14:52:51.198-08:00It's the second Sunday after Christmas, which is not the usual progression in the Christian calendar. We were reminded today in services to take this extra time to remember the gift of the Messiah to us - and also - that this gift is given freely, through God's grace, and not something that we earn.This message reminded me that so much of what we have, what we count as our blessings, are gifts Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-58287065039252716032011-01-01T08:13:00.000-08:002011-01-01T08:33:59.867-08:00First Day of 2011A new year starts today, bright and shiny, without any blemishes or missteps. Thinking about resolutions, I had milling around several ideas for a couple of weeks. They involved complex strategies and plans, lists and systems, and all those neurotic details that I love to consume myself with. Then I started feeling overwhelmed and returning to my avid dislike of the "New Year's Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-65022568690402001522010-12-29T06:42:00.000-08:002010-12-29T06:48:35.805-08:00I'm thinking about the new year ahead and starting to develop a plan for what I would like life to be like in 2011. I'm pretty organized now, but there are just a few things that I would like to have in better order. I also don't want to place too many expectations upon myself, otherwise the result will be a feeling of failure, not a feeling of control over my environment.Some quick notes about Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-21677170490259066532010-12-17T08:33:00.000-08:002010-12-17T10:38:30.245-08:00It' a rainy Friday in December, with both girls home on the first day of the holiday recess. The week was filled with recitals and parties, and everyone is ready for some downtime, I think. Additionally, my oldest daughter is having some tummy troubles.So, today, we will do things in 20-minute increments. You can do more in 20 minutes than you think. I have to stop every so often to feed or Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-50808795630307383682010-10-11T09:02:00.000-07:002010-10-15T06:23:29.021-07:00The new plants are in! That big greyish patch in the middle is where the new lawn will go, but for now, we are working on ridding the yard of unwanted grass and weed species. The plants and bark went in last week, and last weekend I replanted most of the iris. Elizabeth and Helen helped.All of the plants are small right now, but should grow big over the next couple years. We have English Laurel Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-35418963084807839722010-10-03T08:48:00.000-07:002010-10-03T20:11:27.594-07:00Our yard renovation started this week, and we're all very excited. It's way more exciting than doing it ourselves, as there's a lot of work going on back there with big machines and picks and axes. Last week, or maybe week before last, I spent a few hours digging up Grammy's iris - three bags full after they were all trimmed and split.After 1 Day: Lawn cleared and soil conditioners Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-73485067571052947912010-09-26T12:00:00.000-07:002010-10-03T12:06:44.980-07:00Our yard - Before yard renovation:Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-20176556188751343872010-08-28T16:04:00.000-07:002010-08-28T16:07:56.046-07:00As always, it's been a busy week here. This week, though, we spent lots of time (and money) on repairs. The central vacuum needed servicing, but now it works wonderfully. The trees got trimmed. The kitchen faucet started leaking, and we now have a new one. The girls were home all week with me, so we spent some time cleaning up their rooms: sorting toys and going through clothes. Many Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-76044135270836460122010-07-26T15:25:00.000-07:002010-07-26T15:33:29.451-07:00Week #4 with Three Kids...Today, I finally had to just put the baby in his little bed and explain that it was time to take a nap. Poor little guy... not only is he baby #3, but he has the disadvantage of not having as loud a cry as his predecessor, baby Helen. So, yes, he fussed a bit, but he is now asleep. He's sleeping soundly and well in his little bed, so apparently he really did need to takeBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-7483104700516278602010-05-20T08:38:00.000-07:002010-05-20T08:41:21.302-07:00Meet our newest family member: Sunny, the cat. As you can see, he is very tolerant of the girls and the girls are quite taken with him. He was an abandoned cat, cared for by my friend for a few years, and now adopted by us. He gets daily brushing from the girls, and sometimes from me, and he's been all checked out and vaccinated by our local VCA.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-51495086315196140532010-04-01T18:50:00.000-07:002010-04-01T18:54:35.309-07:00I've decided that there are definitely two types of people: people who really like to cook and people that like to eat food, but cook because they have to. I'm sure the people who really like to cook really like to eat, too, but this is mostly about the creation of food. You know what, I really do not like to cook. And I am finally okay with that. It's not because I'm a bad cook (usually), it's Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-41092908824243426862010-03-20T07:25:00.000-07:002010-03-20T07:44:57.825-07:0027 Weeks: Down the homestretch!Yes, we finally have arrived at the last trimester. I'm still trying to decide about exercise and staying in good mental shape. So far, so good, but the weather has been perfect and we've been outside gardening and swimming. I miss boot camp, though.This week, we checked off a lot of items on my "To-Do Before Baby Arrives" checklist. Most were in the back yard, withBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-49924678008355737332010-03-11T15:51:00.000-08:002010-03-11T16:01:56.201-08:00I was reading some really old posts last night, dating from before the birth of my first daughter. I'm sure that my blogging has decreased in correspondence with my increase in tweeting. Funny, right?Three months to go until Baby Winnacker #3 arrives, and I am getting out of my regular routine now. Exercise is just not happening any more. I'm not really sure how other women keep up really Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-84329870975956349402010-02-12T11:03:00.000-08:002010-02-12T11:18:05.699-08:00When I started this blog, it was entitled "Mr. Slinky's Gardening Blog" as the cat pretty much owned whatever he was around. This morning, my friend Mister Slinky, passed away. When I say "my friend" I truly mean that. He was mine and I was his; from the moment we met. He was a friend in the truest sense of the word, being my protector and comrade for our nearly eleven years together.I adopted MrBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-82313721929588530052009-12-29T08:33:00.000-08:002009-12-29T08:39:18.775-08:00Banana-Molasses Muffins(from the Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook by Cathe Olsen)1 cup rolled oats1/4 cup almonds (I used slivered almonds)1 cup whole wheat flour1/2 t. baking soda1/2 t. baking powder1/2 t. cinnamon2-3 bananas, mashed1/4 cup raisins1 egg1/3 cup oil3 T. blackstrap molasses1/4 cup plain yogurtThe recipe calls for grinding the almonds and oats in a food processor, but I missed that stepBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-22731867333767071232009-12-07T15:53:00.000-08:002009-12-07T15:55:49.223-08:00Above are some of the output from this year's cookie baking activity: gingerbread cookies with lemon glaze icing (completely vegan, BTW).Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-1611893475553865032009-09-01T06:17:00.001-07:002009-09-01T06:40:16.586-07:00Although not technically Autumn, late August starts reminding me that the year is winding down. Most wildflowers and bulbs are bloomed out and the leaves begin to change color on the Liquidambers. The only miracle in the yard is the appearance of what my grandmother calls "naked ladies." They are amaryllis, I think, which begin their annual cycle by sending up flower stalks in late summer. Their Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-39640608280498449322009-06-04T08:14:00.000-07:002009-06-04T08:15:22.927-07:00So many weeds! Somewhere in this picture, there is a lemon tree, Japanese iris, and Nasturium.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-27852716049428990822009-04-16T08:16:00.000-07:002009-04-16T08:19:51.454-07:00The Dutch Iris are doing exceptionally well this year, despite the weed infestation in the back yard. We've been trying especially hard to keep them out of the iris beds, but it's difficult this time of year. The weeds grow so quickly!We have lots of wildflowers mixed in with the weeds and grasses. I continue to work on removing the weeds and hoping to keep the wildflowers going throughout the Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-70387970631290861412009-03-31T09:43:00.000-07:002009-03-31T09:49:16.636-07:00Wildflowers are starting to bloom on the hill and the iris are all starting to bloom in the circle flower bed. I'll try to get better close up photos later. I love Spring!Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-5696161268220114682009-03-27T19:04:00.000-07:002009-03-27T19:10:10.682-07:00Hiking at Castle Rock Recreational Area:This was a fun hike this time of year, because the creeks are still running, causing many places to be crossed with care. It would have been easier if I had remembered to bring the baby back pack, but we made a good go of it with the jogging stroller (even though my shoes got quite wet).Helen was the only one with me today, but had a great time watching theBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-19667407545114725272009-03-05T06:39:00.000-08:002009-03-05T06:42:25.619-08:00I will not run today. I will not run today. I will run tomorrow, but I will not run today.Oh, and I think that I will not make any more exercise-related posts here because (1) I think I am the only one who cares and (2) it probably imposes some sort of legal liability on me because no one should follow the stated routines without a doctor's consent and a bunch of other knowledge. I have another (Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-31710393184771742732009-03-04T17:55:00.000-08:002009-03-04T18:05:56.571-08:00Baby Boot Camp: 75 minute classRunning (lots today): close to 2 milesStrength training: quads, glutes, calves, biceps, triceps, chest, shoulders, abs & obliques.Tomorrow, I am taking the day off.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-3931511327873050522009-03-03T18:32:00.000-08:002009-03-03T19:03:53.311-08:00Baby Boot Camp: 55 minute classApproximately 1.5 miles of runningCalf raises; lunge combination: skater lunge->curtsy lunge->add plie squat; at the fence - squats with bridge; bicep curls->rotater cuff ->w-bicep curls; push-ups and tricep dips (regular 1st set, then 4-count push-ups); shoulder/back presses with resistance band; tabletop crunches->double crunches->alternating oblique tabletop Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-10003197219664299402009-03-03T06:37:00.000-08:002009-03-03T06:42:21.496-08:00I read recently that one should take at least two days off every week from exercising, to let the muscles rest and revive. I totally agree and was forced to take Sunday off because of the rain.Monday, March 2, it was still raining. Without success, I attempted to go to Baby Boot Camp, but class was canceled. I did run approximately 1 mile around Lake Temescal and got thoroughly soaked. I came Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-21941495212089642102009-03-01T08:27:00.000-08:002009-03-01T08:35:42.325-08:00Berry-Walnut Muffins1/2 cup sliced walnuts2 cups flour1.5 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. baking soda.5 tsp. salt2 eggs.75 cups buttermilk.75 cups packed brown sugar.5 cups butter, melted1 tsp. vanilla1 cup raspberries, blackberries or blueberriesMix wet ingredients. Incorporate dry ingredients (except walnuts and fruit). Stir in nuts & fruit. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake at 350 degrees for 25 Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-24061068355192792182009-02-28T08:40:00.000-08:002009-02-28T15:02:52.148-08:00Baby Boot Camp: 75 minute classRunning: 1/8 mile, 1/8 mile, 1/8 mile, 3/8 mile w/walking squats (16 each side), 1/16 mile, 1/16 mile, 1/4 mile up hill & down, 1/4 mile, 1/8 mile, 1/8 mileStrength exercises: calf raises (16-16-16); front lunges->side lunges->reverse lunges (16 each left & right, run, right: front, side, and reverse lunges (try to keep foot off ground in between - 16) then hold & Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-89287461521386530712009-02-27T16:48:00.000-08:002009-02-27T16:52:08.923-08:00I recently read that a way to motivate yourself to exercise was to post on your blog about your day's exercise "accomplishments." Neat.Running: 2.0 miles to school with Elizabeth and Helen in strollerRunning: 2.0 miles home with Helen in strollerHiking: Approx. 4 miles with Helen in backpackStrength: 3 sets of 25 squats (2 with resistance bands) plus 10 squats at end with 2 second Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-4377691072141160442009-02-10T20:09:00.000-08:002009-02-10T21:01:52.363-08:00Another "Bird Walk" - this time at the Martinez Regional Shoreline. This is an easy walk, with flat, gravel-paved trails through marsh and along the shoreline of the Carquinez Strait. We didn't see a huge amount of birds, but there were a few. One of the interesting points on this walk was the decomposing hull of the schooner Forester.This wasn't too interesting for the girls, but it made for a Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-11799868009711735772009-02-01T16:50:00.000-08:002009-02-10T20:59:54.248-08:00The Sunday Chef makes...Vegetarian Lasagne with ground beef substitute and spinach. I make four at a time, using bread pans to hold about 2.5 servings - just the right amount for our family. Here's what you need:1 package no boil lasagne2 jars marinara sauce1 7-ounce container ricotta cheese1 8-ounce brick of mozzarella cheese (or one 8-ounce package of shredded mozzarella)1 10-ounce package of Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-1738636734741677422009-01-30T17:36:00.000-08:002009-01-30T17:55:46.223-08:00At last, today was Friday and that meant another hike with East Bay Moms. I just had Helen with me today, in the backpack, but that didn't make this hike a walk in the park. The weather was gorgeous though, and I do love this often-overlooked park in the Oakland hills.We did a 4-mile loop, starting at the main entrance to the park, marked prominently by signs for the Woodminster Amphitheater. TheBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-80265758101751915572009-01-27T14:38:00.000-08:002009-01-27T16:56:47.702-08:00Although still technically winter, here in California the weather has been quite warm (and unfortunately, quite dry). This must be confusing the plants because I have some early bloomers. Above, one of the Bearded Iris has decided to open about 4 months early and even more bizarre, below, I have one Gladiola blooming!Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-80236784346483174262009-01-18T19:22:00.000-08:002009-01-18T19:49:48.063-08:00Ever since spending summers with my grandparents as a little girl, I have harbored a secret love of birds. I love finding them. So today, in addition to starting up East Bay Regional Park's 2009 Trail Challenge, the girls and I walked around the San Leandro Bay and did a fair amount of bird watching. Or, well, bird-sighting, I would call it.Today's featured hike starts at the Northeast corner of Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-52956768423121083692008-12-01T21:18:00.000-08:002008-12-01T21:20:00.866-08:00Let the Christmas cookie baking begin! Here are the first try for the season -- raspberry pinwheels. Quite good, but I need to work on my jellying and rolling technique.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-23873154836449760942008-09-15T06:23:00.000-07:002008-09-15T06:27:42.170-07:00More summertime fun...Hand in hand at the Oakland Zoo (June 30):At the straw house of the "Three Little Pigs" at Oakland's Fairyland (July):Visiting Grandma's house, and her cat, Shadow (July 19):A day at the beach in the Marin Headlands with East Bay Mom leader Lee (July 25):Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-55891805417797562972008-09-15T06:07:00.000-07:002008-09-15T06:13:28.715-07:00So... I still have many photos from over the summer from the camera phone to publish. Since it involves both girls, I guess I will use my blog (that way I can avoid describing how horrid my back yard looks right now). These particular photo are from May 20 and were taken at the preschool playground at Hampton Field near our house.Elizabeth and Helen both love playing in the sand. And they both Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-32606367184249434542008-07-28T20:31:00.000-07:002008-08-06T20:25:50.721-07:00Our patio garden is doing exceptionally well this year, thanks to my little garden helpers. In addition to the front landscaping project, we are trying to grow more of our own produce at home. I wish I could say that it was more productive, but at least the girls are getting a lesson in farming.Elizabeth helped me grow from seed: tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, winter squash, lettuce, corn, Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-79057206227989896042008-07-25T20:52:00.000-07:002008-07-25T21:19:38.902-07:00What have I been doing with my time?!?!One project this summer was to remove the lawn in the front of the house. There were several reasons behind this decision. First, we are being asked to conserve water. Second, we have had an unending problem with dog owners using our front strip of vegetation as a dog toilet. Third, it seemed like a lot of money to pay our "gardeners" - and I use that term Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-48482132663616652332008-06-12T11:56:00.000-07:002008-06-12T12:16:15.169-07:00More photographs from our recent day trip to Yosemite National Park:As you can probably tell, all of these shots were taken from the valley floor. We didn't do any adventurous hikes up to half-dome or bridalveil, as that seems darn near impossible with two little ones in tow, but we did walk all around the valley floor on the wonderful paved bicycle paths.Elizabeth stayed awake for the duration Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-37995615390040762222008-06-09T21:11:00.000-07:002008-06-09T21:13:24.464-07:00Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-85107547032047809222008-05-11T08:24:00.000-07:002008-05-11T08:31:17.577-07:00I love Springtime. And I love the proliferation of large, perennial wildflowers in the back yard. I am still struggling to fight off the weeds and blackberries, but their presence is offset by a tremendous sea of poppies and daisies. I was astounded at the re-blooming of my foxglove, as I thought that they were bi-annual bloomers.The cats love the yard, especially prowling about in the tall Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741403.post-83104038245193060892008-04-20T19:59:00.000-07:002008-04-20T20:00:27.098-07:00It wouldn't feel like Spring around here without the prolific iris blooms in the back yard. This is the best time of year for the yard, and these are my favorite flowers.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552080976281609584noreply@blogger.com0