Doodah

Losing consciousness*

apple, banana, stripe, and orange, originally uploaded by fumipeli.

This morning Felix woke up at 7 am. He has been sleeping super late since we returned from the states but it seems like he might be getting back to normal...that's a good thing and a bad thing.

It was a bad thing this morning because it was my turn to get up with him and I stayed up way too late. Well, actually, I went to bed late and then couldn't fall asleep for a very long time. I am not a good sleeper. Even though my eyes were dropping as I wrote a late night e-mail, the minute my head hit the pillow my brain went into overtime.

Thoughts race through my head. The repetitive thoughts are the worst. I try to come to terms with some of the things I am thinking about in order to settle myself down but the same concerns keep repeating themselves over and over again. I find myself thinking "shut upalready! we already discussed this issue. just go to sleep!"

Some of last night's thought were related to the local versus organic versus fossil fuels versus global impact issue that I have been wrestling with. Thanks to some great articles (here, here, and here) linked to me by Riana and Andie I have had to rethink my concerns in connecting what we eat so heavily to the distance it travels. Miles (or kilometers) are not a fair indicator of the amount of energy that is used to produce a food and it is possible that something produced far away might actually be more energy efficient then something produced around the corner. And our food choices are already going a long ways towards reducing energy consumption because we eat very few processed foods. I am pretty sure that the process of producing processed foods has got to suck more energy than organic bananas grown in the Dominican Republic then shipped over here. (Although if you have an article on the subject...send it my way...).

I still think that it is important to have an awareness and connection to your local food. I like the challenge of trying to eat local and I have always felt strongly about supporting small, local businesses. We are still working out the details (what items can't we live without, etc.) but I think we are going to try to be as local as possible for the month of September. I would like to try to cook one local meal a week. I really have no idea what items I can get completely locally. And what does local mean anyway?


* Thanks go to Riana for the title...

A Slow Year: Local Spinach

I know, I know...three posts in one day but let's just go with the flow here. I happen to have some time on my hands and I am managing my time well. I love being on top of things.

I also love eating locally. For the past year and half we have been getting our weekly baskets from Le Campanier. It has been great. Really interesting and delicious organic fruits and vegetables. But one thing has been bothering me - the distance. Bananas from the Dominican Republic? Not exactly local. Not that we can find bananas locally but if I truly want to reduce my use of fossil fuels (which is one of my goals for A Slow Year) then being conscious of the distance my food travels is important.

This whole locavore thing is really trendy right now and I think that it is just great. These are the kinds of trends I like to see. But it ain't easy and I am not sure that I can actually commit to a 100-mile-diet. I am up for slowly but surely getting closer and closer to that but no exotic fruit makes for a long winter of apples and pears in France. (Luckily we have a ton of frozen cherries and raspberries from our backyard in our freezer.)

Tibo is really attached to Le Campanier but I want to propose that we give our stand of local vegetable producers a try for awhile. Are they organic? No, but I am leaning towards local over organic since there isn't another option for us unless we want to drive. Yesterday, I popped down there without a plan and just picked up whatever vegetables looked yummy. Green beans, leeks, and spinach. Lots of yummy shades of green. (This combined with the tomatoes, zucchinis, and swiss chard from our garden makes for some healthy eatin'.)

So, while I ponder local vs. organic and how far I am willing to go with that, here is the recipe for what I am going to make tonight.

spinach provencale
found in the Vegetarian Epicureby anna thomas

2 lb. fresh spinach
1 large onion
1 clove garlic
olive oil
butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup fresh-grated Parmesan cheese
salt and fresh-ground black pepper

Wash the spinach leaves carefully and the hard work is over. Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a very large kettle and saute the onion and garlic in it for a few minutes. When the onion is transparent, add the spinach and cover tightly. In about 2 minutes the spinach leaves will be reduced to a fraction of their former bulk, and you can stir them in with the oil and onions. Cook a few minutes longer and remove from the heat.

Butter a medium-size baking dish. When the spinach has cooled slightly, stir in 2 beaten eggs and 1/2 cup of the grated Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and pour the mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top and dot with butter.

Bake the spinach in a 375-degree oven for about 10 to 15 minutes and serve steaming hot.

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Tags: locavore, local spinach, eat locally!, 100-mile diet, france, market, yum, recipe, vegetarian, doodah

Today I Appreciate

Oh the practicality. This is exactly what I need right now. Something easy that makes me feel good. One week later and I am still loving the haircut.

And see that in the background?

Sun!

That is also exactly what I need right now...

A few more meals outside eating delicious foods from our garden.

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Tags: outside, sun, cheznous, backyard, haircut, me

Thinking about two year olds...

I've been reading a lot of mommy blogs lately.

I keep coming across these stories of toddlers turned terrors overnight - many of these transitions occurring near the second birthday. We've had such an easy time so far. Perhaps, too easy. Now I am getting a little worried.

We've had a few tastes of what this two-year old beast could look like in the last few days. Jet-lag can bring out the worst in anyone. There have been moments when we just could not figure out what he wanted:

"The airplane?"

"Pas!"

"The train?"

"Pas!"

"The moto?!"

"Oui!"

I can't say he has had a temper tantrum. At least not the kind that involved yelling, or kicking, or inconsolability. He is still very easily distracted; forgetting what upset him in the first place. The source of most of his outbursts is frustration. Wanting to turn the door knob but lacking just a few motor skills to get it figured out. But don't try and offer help. He wants to be autonomous. He wants to do it himself.

I find this position difficult to be in. Scaffolding does help a lot in this situation but as parents we are searching for a delicate balance between letting our children achieve something on their own and stepping in to give them just the little nudge they need. I'm not always sure when I should step in and Felix is often very sure of when I shouldn't step in.

And as long as things are safe, I let him decide. Part of life is getting over obstacles. Self-confidence is a belief that you CAN do things. But ya know, those things don't always come the first, or second, or even third time. Failure is ok and learning to deal with failure is key to success.

I know that I give up way to easily. Once things start to even appear challenging, I feel overwhelmed and I am ready to throw in the towel. The thing is, Felix is always there. So I can't give up after that first attempt or second or even the third - I just have to keep trying over and over again until I get it right. I take some comfort in this commitment that has been put on me. This contract with no end. This obligation to think more and more creatively so that I can make this world work for both me and Felix and all three of us together.

And we will. Temper tantrums (if they come...) and all...

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Tags: parenting, self-reflection, mommy, doodah, creative thinking,

Dude...I love it.

I loved watching the hair fall to the floor today. It was like a weight was lifted from me. The stylist said I looked younger. I felt younger. Why did I have that horrible, long, boring hair for so long? I mean it is just hair, right? Now, I am not so sure. It was something more. Some weird lack of love for myself. But, let me tell you, no more.

Still now...hours later...after taking a nap with my babe, playing some pretty awesome guitar rock, and running my hand through it a million times...it still feels so good.

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Tags: hair, haircut, me, loveit, hairstyle, good, happy, love

Shopping and Not Shopping

I've been chatting with some friends about Riana's "A Slow Year" in which she aims to reduce spending (except for a few necessities) to a bare minimum. Instead of buying, look around and see how you can re-make or re-use. Instead of using money, look for ways to barter. While Riana is trying to not even thrift, I think I could see thrifting and buying used as part of my "slow year."

It is hard to break that reflex to buy. Besides being easier, we have been brainwashed to associate pleasure with shopping too. When I sit down and compare the pleasure of spending time in a store, handing over a credit card, and walking out with my plastic bag to brainstorming a design, experimenting with different techniques, and creating my own finished product, well, there really is no comparison. One helps you (and your family) grow and develop creative thinking skills and the other produces cookie cutter zombies. (Perhaps a bit extreme, but you get it, right?)

Does that mean I can't window shop for inspiration though?



We think Felix is going to be ready to move out of his crib soon. (On a side note, he has been sleeping in a portable crib for quite a few months now because he...um...fell out of his old bed.) We have been searching around for a crib that transitions to a toddler bed but they just aren't as common in France as they are in the states. Unfortunately, I think we might have to buy this item new although I am keeping my eye out on Ebay.

Anyway, when I came across this "boy bedding" at Cookie magazine I couldn't help but imagine them in his room. But at $240 for the sheet and duvet set, it is a bit out of our price range. Plus, I'm not spending money on them!

Replicating something with details as intricate as this might be hard. I could look around for some cool fabric. Perhaps just plain bright colored sheets might do? Or what about getting some white sheets and trying to make something original? Any ideas?

It would be fun to involve Felix so one idea was spreading white sheets out in the backyard and using some appropriate paint or dye (I don't know what that is though) we could "water color" paint them. Big streaks of different colors. Sort of like he is doing in this photo only on a bigger scale:

Any other ideas?

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Tags: creativity, kidsroom, boybedding, design, "a slow year, doodah

A Home Office Gets Organized

I really want to re-do my office space. I would post a photo of it but I am in the states right now. Actually, I wouldn't post a photo of it because it is just one big mess. My desk is the catchall for everything that is connected, even if it is loosely, to me. It accumulates pile after pile of paper, newspapers, magazines, bills, arts and crafts supplies, toys, teaching materials, books, and more. Under the desk you can find boxes of yarn. Next to the desk is an ugly storage bookshelf where I store everything from my school books to my underwear.

This article, A Home Office Gets Organized, from Real Simple breaks the reorganization down into 4 simple rules.

Separate personal from professional. This is a hard one but I can definitely see the need. I really like how the photo above (from Real Simple) used different colored boxes to separate the categories of materials. All of my paperwork is mixed up so when I am in the middle of trying to plan class, I will start thinking about an assignment of my own because the information is there staring me in the face. Everything needs to have its place and it needs to be easy to find and use.

Clear the desktop. Oh.so.important.for.me. I cannot work with a messy desktop so often I just don't work. Instead I find myself browsing the internet (like I am now...hmm) or just walking away. When my desk is clear, my mind is clear and I am ready to work.

Create a station for incoming and outgoing. I love this one. In the photo you can see that they used something mounted on the wall. I think that would work really well for me. Not only does it give things a place but it also get them off of the desk!

Consolidate, consolidate, consolidate. Here is where you need a photo. I just have piles everywhere. I need more storage and I love the ones above. I want to get things off of the floor, out from under my feet, away from the sides of my desk where I am constantly tripping over them.

But like the spontaneous creativity I struggle with when I am trying to entertain Felix, I also have trouble doing projects like this. Once again, from afar it seems so easy to do but when I get there, in front of my desk, I just feel overwhelmed. Then I end up doing nothing.

If only I were rich and I could pay someone to come in and clean all of the nonsense out of my house and redo all of my spaces that need work. But, I'm not so I need to figure out some way to get motivated. Help! What do you do to get motivated?

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Tags: renovation, realsimple, homeoffice, lazy, diy, organization, ideas, motivation

Felix Books

Getting back to the no TV thing...we read a lot of books. Felix loves to read. Right now, he likes to read himself. What this means is that he gives you a book and then chooses a book for himself and then you both read your books at the same time. While we love the independence he is expressing we are hoping he will get back to enjoying books together some time soon!

Here are some of the top hits in our household lately:

If you have a toddler or preschooler in your house you have to pick up a few Bing Bunny Books. They have just the right amount of goofy cuteness to amuse both children and adults. I love the silly twists that make these books different than other books aimed at this age group. The illustrations are fun and characters are super lovable. Another bonus is that the author Ted Dewan runs a Bing Blog where parents can share their and their children's love of Bing Bunny. Even better, he gives you all sorts of downloadable images so that you can make your Bing Bunny accessories. His site is great fun too.

I love pop-up books. But I hate it when pop-up books get destroyed. So, I tend to keep these books way up high where they can't be reached by little hands without my help. At the same time, they are books and they are meant to be enjoyed and I shouldn't be so attached to possessions anyhow. This pop-up version of the Wheels on the Bus was given to us when Felix was just a few months old. It has been one of our favorites since then. It is very well designed and has mostly held up to small grabbing infant hands. The pop-up movements are fun and Felix is just beginning to be able to do them by himself. I love the funny sub-stories that go on in the background. Look for the women on the motorcycle looking for her dog or the boy with his kittens who are present on almost every page. The very last page of the book is filled with small pop-ups and I gave Felix the right to play with these ones early on. Amazingly they are all still in place! Again the illustrator's website is really fun too - Paul O. Zelinsky - complete with an animated version of the Wheels on the Bus!

Baby videos inhibit development « Musings from Sumigirl

We don't have a television but we do watch some YouTube. Lately, I have grabbed a few minutes here and there by plopping Felix down in front of my computer while I cleaned up my desk or the pile of clothes on the floor. His interest in television only lasts about three minutes so Le Petit Ours Brun clips are perfect. I actually would be willing to let him watch more media if he was at all interested in it.


Baby videos inhibit development « Musings from Sumigirl

But then I read this post over at Sumigirl's blog and was reminded of why we decided a long time ago not to get a television. After listening to the NPR podcast the first thought that came to my mind was, well duh!

It is so easy for me to lose perspective and feel overwhelmed by things. In the podcast, the host states that many parents feel that they can't follow the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations of no television or video before the age of two because otherwise they would never get anything done. Yet, as the researcher reminds us, many mothers had meals to prepare long before television came along.

It seems like I am always coming back to my goal of being a more divergent thinker. Sitting here right now I can think of several different ways that I could occupy Felix while I prepare dinner such as having a special basket on top of the refrigerator that I pull out only when I need it. I can keep changing up its contents so it is always interesting to him. The basket could contain books, stickers, small cars, some art supplies or other various items that would seem new and exciting because they are reserved for the moments that I really need them. We have also set up a small corner of our kitchen with a small wooden kitchen for Felix so I can get him involved in cooking at the same time as me. And there is always the classic bottom drawer full of pots, pans, and wooden spoons. Throw on some Dan Zanes and we've got a dance party in the kitchen.

Instead of trying to distract him while I put away the pile of clean clothes, I can get him to help me by handing him his own clothes to take care of. We keep all of Felix's clothes in big open baskets so it is easy for him to stuff his clothes in. He is also getting pretty good at identifying different pieces of clothing so I could ask him to go to the basket and bring me all of the socks and grab another few minutes of folding time.

So much about parenting is just plain old creativity but sometimes in the moment I feel like my brain is blocked. We get stuck in ruts playing the same games or using the same old tricks over and over again.  I tend to feel rushed and try to accomplish too much in too little time. For some people, creative parenting comes naturally and easily. I think I have a lot of great ideas but they don't always appear at the right moment which means that I just need more practice. And to stop and breathe every once in a while. And perhaps more sleep. Either way, I don't think we will be bringing a television in to our house anytime soon and YouTube will remain our after hours treat for a few more years.

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Tags: babyeinstein, sumigirl, television, toddlers, babies, development, NPR, killyourtelevision

Links along the way...

My summer semester is almost over so I am reaching the moment of writing final essays. While doing some research for my American Politics class I came across a few links that I thought might be interesting to share:

Forget Third Parties – It Ain’t Gonna Happen: Hijack The Democrats Instead - CommonDreams.org 

While I don't agree with much of what the article says, the comment sections are great. Apparently, the comments are what you should read at CommonDreams.

American Democracy as a Legitimating Device

Here are bunch of excerpts from the book The Democratic Facade by Daniel Hellinger and Dennis R. Judd Brooks. There is a lot of great stuff here.

Hope and Memory 1801-2004

An overview of US interventions overseas put together by Adbusters. Excellent flash presentation.

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