End of the Harvest

The garden, which was ridiculously productive this year, is giving up its last fruits. Of course, my husband and I are terribly lazy gardeners, so I think half of the production of the garden was in spite of us, not because of us. Either way, we did get an insane amount of vegetables this year, and even now, with the 100+ degree heat over, the tomatoes and peppers are roaring abck to life for a bit.

Right now it's 49 degrees outside, so I suspect this is short-lived.

But a few days ago, this is what I gathered from our small growing area...
A basketful of green, red and yellow bell peppers, and a few green tomatoes. I was surprised by how many peppers there were, and in such great shape, but what really struck me was the colors! LOOK at those gorgeous, gorgeous reds and greens and yellows!
This deep crimson red has to be one of my most very favorite colors. It's so vibrant and feels so alive to me. My car is just about this color, and I love to wear this color.

This past Saturday, I closed out our CSA share for the year by indulging in a large bouquet of flowers from our CSA farm.
The past few days have been sunny and cooler, and with the recent rain, I am sure we will see the trees changing soon, too. Somehow, this change in seasons is always so vibrant in terms of color...as though the summer forces out one last ostentatious show before turning off the lights and closing up shop for the winter. I love the reminder of how bright everything can be, right before the bleak days of winter.

Reflections and Plans

I had such a fantastic time last weekend at the art retreat I attended! There's really nothing like being in the company of many other creative souls, and spending the day working, learning and sharing. This is what I wish I could do more of....although my best creative friends in the art jewelry world all live someplace other than here. :(

Travis just got back from being out of town overnight to a work-related meeting. I suspect he didn't enjoy the traveling and overnight hotel experience as much as I did, though. I wish he did; it's nice to get away for a while, even if it *is* for work. I'm trying not to feel guilty about enjoying it ; I'm very very lucky that I get to do these things at all, and I can do them because I have the support of my husband. I guess we're both lucky that neither of us travel for work like our friends do.

My next trip to going to be a longer (slightly) and much further excursion. My friend Kitty and I are traveling to upstate NY, to the Corning Museum of Glass. She's never been there, and we are both really excited about attending a few of the lectures in the Annual Glass Seminar, which is all about medieval glass and its influences.....no, not at ALL up our alley, is it? ;) Anyway, I'll be gone three or four days, and truthfully, I am very much looking forward to it. Not only for the lectures and the trip to NY, but also for the serious hangout time with a good friend I haven't seen much lately, and for the chance to see some of my family and old friends. I've already planned a stop in Geneseo to visit my alma mater, and a quick trip up to Rochester to see my grandmother and some other family members. I'm hoping to reconnect with an old college friend, and also to have margaritas with a new friend. It's going to be great! I really, really miss New York sometimes.

Travelin' On

I've been anticipating today for at least a couple of months. Today I am heading up to Northern VA, to attend my very first art retreat. It's ArtBliss, run by two extremely talented ladies, Cindy Wimmer and Jeanette Blix Ryan. I'm taking a class tomorrow on metalsmithing and enameling -- in particular, how to make enameled copper beads out of sheet copper and some hand tools. Neat, huh? I can't wait. Among other exciting things happening this weekend is my ability to FINALLY meet a friend and fellow jewelry/glass artist, Kerry Bogert, whose work I have admired for years. I am thrilled beyond measure that things finally fell into place for us to be in the same location!

Originally I had planned to drive up to the workshop on Saturday morning. It would make for a long day, but the budget is tight, and I didn't think I wanted to stay overnight someplace that is only 2 hours from my house. Really. BUT, I was persuaded to spring for the hotel room and stay overnight so I could attend the reception for the instructors and participants that is being held tonight. I am glad now that I decided to do that, although today has been an interesting day inside my head.

I haven't traveled much over the last 3 or 4 years for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is money, and my very young children. I think the last time I went anywhere was sometime after Wren was born and I attended an out of town SCA event with some friends, or took my daughter's Girl Scout troop camping.

I've never spent the night away from Noah.

Now, lest you think I'm about to get all mushy over going out of town for about 36 hours, I will tell you that THAT is not what causes all the mulling over and contemplation. Traveling -- the act of planning even a short, small trip -- seems like such an *adult* thing to do. Making hotel reservations, deciding what to pack, getting in the car and actually going to the destination....these all seem like such grown-up tasks. Never mind that I *am* a grown-up, and I do terribly adult things all day every day -- raise kids, work professionally, cook dinner, organize, clean, be responsible. It's different somehow.

I never was in a position, with the career I chose, to travel professionally on business trips. Maybe that's why it seems so grown-up to me. REAL adults go away on business. I have plenty of friends who probably detest the whole airport/hotel/meals out/business meetings routine by now, but I have never experienced it. Leaving this afternoon seems like a big deal. I know *how* to travel, and I know how to take care of myself alone and out in the world, so to speak, but I have never had to do it repeatedly, nor manage my family AND do it, like my IT and statistician and sales friends do. It's this sort of thing that has been running around in my brain all day.

I feel like a grown-up today. In addition to getting my act together for this trip, I also made hotel reservations for a much longer, much more distant trip for next month. I'll be joined by a friend of mine for a fun few days to glass-geek in Corning, NY. That's going to be a fun trip, too, and one I am so looking forward to.

I feel like I am about to press a giant 'reset' button on my life. I know that when I come home from these two trips, I will be refreshed, in mind and in soul. I know that I will have new skills and new knowledge that is going to help me advance the art I make, and maybe, just maaaaybe, help me get turned in the direction my soul really wants me to go in. It's been so hard to be still and listen to what I am sure the universe is probably shouting at me by now.

My family will be in the extremely capable hands of my ever-loving and wonderful husband, and I have no worries about him managing our brood, our house and home, and whatever else comes up, while I am not here. It's all good.

My 'soupcase' (as Noah so beautifully calls it) is packed and in the car. I packed more than I will need for an overnight trip, and this is because even though I *am* an adult, I barely know how to dress myself. I am so far from girly most of the time that I realize I don't even know what to do to cover up the deep, dark circles under my eyes. I never wear makeup, unless I am going someplace really dressed up, and I don't have any sort of skin-care routine or knowledge of particular fashion trends. It figures. I get the chance to go someplace by myself and dress up a little (sort of, I mean, we are going to be making art), and I don't know what to do! Heh. I'll survive. And at least people tell me I in no way appear my actual age (which is 40, for those playing along at home), so there's a bonus. I just hope I look my best. I want to look my best, even though I will be among friends and have absolutely no agenda and no need or desire to impress anyone.

I will be me, and that will not only be enough, but will be perfectly enough. In twenty minutes, my oldest child gets off the middle-school bus, and I am. On. The. Road.

Travelin' ON!

Summer 2010

*Kira got "most improved in math for the 6th grade" * We adopted a new kitty* I rode my scooter to the farmer's markets * we celebrated a fantastic Father's Day * Our garden grew (and grew and grew!) * We ate chicken wings at our favorite place, Quaker Steak & Lube! * Flowers! * Fun in the fountains at Stony Point * Fun in the pool! * Fun on the playgrounds * We went roller skating! * There was a whole lot of grass-cutting * We studied hawks in our backyard * We threw a party on the 4th of July * Sparklers! * Noah got a big-boy bed * Tomatoes and more tomatoes (and cucumbers!) * We visited Hollywood Cemetery * Played in the sprinkler * Mommy and Daddy managed to have lunch ALONE one day * there were some BIG summer storms! * Our dogs were happy * I got my first piece of jewelry published * We baked and decorated cupcakes * We built lots of forts * And played in the pool * And watched the birds * And celebrated Kira's 12th birthday * And cheered for Kira getting her first belt in martial arts!*

We've had a terrific summer!

It was unbelievably hot this year, and that really limited some things, but all in all, we had a great time, spent lots of time together, and are looking forward to a fun fall season.

I can't believe how big all the kids are getting. Time definitely marches on.

Public Service Announcement -- for Richmond, VA readers

My children attend a wonderful preschool program on Richmond's southside. I am on the Preschool Committee and we are currently looking to hire teachers and teaching assistants for the upcoming school year (2010-2011).

The school is small, very family-oriented, and focuses on developmental preschool education and Christian values. All teaching positions are part-time. This is a fantastic opportunity to teach young children in a culturally and linguistically diverse environment, within a welcoming and supportive Methodist church.

Please leave a comment if you or anyone you know might be interested in applying.

Thanks for your time!

What's Up, Cupcake?

When the kids are home during the summer, and they don't have preschool, I really try to have a loosely-organized plan for each day. Otherwise, we descend into the madness that is too much TV, sibling rivalry, boredom, and general crankiness. This summer has been INSANELY HOT, so much so that I don't even let the kids go out to play very much. Both of them are fairly susceptible to the heat, and frankly, I don't like sitting outside with them, roasting. So, some days we plan indoor activities. I've also been trying to plan many, many FREE activities, as the ol' cash flow just ain't what she used to be, now that I'm not working full-time.

On today's agenda, we had a trip to the local Barnes and Noble for storytime. I hadn't done that with them yet, mostly because they really could not handle it until now. In addition to the storytime plan, Wren had been begging me to bake a cake so she could decorate it. Today was a perfect day for that, too, so we spent the morning after breakfast whipping up a recipe of my mom's Wacky Cake, and baking it into two dozen cupcakes.

The Wacky Cake was a Loria family staple for years and years. A good chocolate cake, so named because it uses baking soda and vinegar for leavening. No eggs, no milk, either. I remember my mom making this cake for my dad's birthday and my brother's birthday, although never for mine. I was allergic to chocolate as a young child. Horrible, I know, but I outgrew it.
We baked the cupcakes, licked the batter bowl and beaters, made some easy chocolate frosting, then headed out into the tropical jungle weather to go to the bookstore. Wren sat beautifully for two stories, and Noah did fine, although he was far more interested in the train table. After that, we browsed the bookshelves, then endured Noah's screaming fit about leaving when it was time to come home. Not even the promise of frosting his own cupcake would assuage the grief and pain of not getting to read that 100,465th Cars book he wanted.

ANYWAY!

We got home and commenced frosting. Oh....that frosting! It's an economy recipe, using only one stick of butter, some cocoa and a little milk and confectioner's sugar, but it's heavenly! Soft, so pretty easy for just frosting, but not really stiff enough to decorate with. The kids each frosted two cupcakes and covered them in sprinkles, and I frosted a few more, and put the remaining naked cupcakes in the freezer for later. The kids ate lunch, ate a cupcake, then they swept the kitchen floor and played for a while.

Now it's naptime, and I have a few minutes' peace to eat a gorgeous cupcake and surf the internet.

I'll work later on, and then maybe make some art, and hopefully go to bed early. I bagged on exercising today -- something is wrong with my left hip/butt and it might be sciatica. Or a hamstring issue.

Oh! I almost forgot! The recipes:

Wacky Cake

3 cups of flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp salt
2 cups sugar

3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 TB vinegar (cider or white)
2 cups cold water

For a 9x13 cake, place all the dry ingredients in a 9x13 pan and mix well together. Make three wells in the mixture, and pour oil in one, vanilla in one, and vinegar in one. Pour the water over all and mix completely.

For cupcakes, mix dry ingredients together with a whisk until combined. Add wet ingredients and mix by hand or with a hand mixer on low until completely combined. Pour into two 12-cup cupcake pans.

Bake at 350 degreesF for 30 minutes (for 9x13 cake), or 22 minutes (for cupcakes).

Makes a 9x13 cake in the pan, or 24-26 cupcakes.

The Frosting

1 stick of softened unsalted butter
3 cups confectioner's sugar
6 to 8 TB unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
3-6 TB milk (depends on how you like your frosting)

In a large bowl, cream the butter and vanilla with a hand mixer til softened. Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the dry mix to the butter mix a little at a time, alternating with spoonfuls of milk. Mix constantly til you get the dry ingredients completely incorporated, and the frosting is a consistency you like. I prefer to chill mine for an hour or so before frosting COMPLETELY COOLED cupcakes (or a cake!). :)
Lick your fingers and the beaters and bowl, but don't lick the spreading knife til you're all done!
This makes enough to frost about 18 cupcakes, or one 9x13 cake.

YUM.

Consolidating

So, for a long time, I have had a personal blog over at Typepad, called Adventures In Living. I decided that, since all the rest of my blogs were hosted over here on Blogger, I would go ahead and switch Adventures over to Blogger as well.

Why?

Well, I like the templates better. For one thing.

Blogger is free, for another, and I had a paid Typepad account.

I also think it's easier for me to see who is reading, following and playing along on this little linguistic adventure. (Ha!)

Besides, it was time for a change anyway. Hope you like the new template design!