Monday, June 28, 2010

Houston... We Have A Tomato

It's always so exciting to see 
the first tomato of the season..
This is a 'New Girl'  and we're so proud!
We are also growing cherry tomatoes,
Roma, San Marzano and a 'Black' Heirloom-
noted for it's dark red fruit and for being one of the 
sweetest tomatoes in it's class.
 We started in April and it was a 
little rough - what with a chilly and rather wet Spring. 
But, now that the Summer is taking on
the hot character they love,
the plants are in full bloom...
if not, a bit out of control and we are 
loving it!
Yes, there are issues such as 
whiteflies and various other little 
buggers (which I have no problem 
chasing off with my bare hands), and the constant
need to reassess the staking but it's all so much 
fun and with determination and dedication
we should enjoy all kinds of tomato
dishes all summer (and we've got a long one here!).

Friday, June 25, 2010

Human Rights

It's the 40th Pride weekend here in San Francisco,
it always coincides with my birthday-
that's cool -I'm always guaranteed 
an air of festivity!
You know, surprisingly, choice for all 
is something not everyone agrees on.
But, choice just seems like a Human Right to me,
the right to be who you are
and true to your self.
The ability to be proud of who you are 
and the freedom to live and love out loud is,
  I think, something every single person deserves.
 Right? 
xo

Thursday, June 24, 2010

It's Really Summer...

When I wake up early in the morning

Lift my head, I'm still yawning
When I'm in the middle of a dream
Stay in bed, float up stream (float up stream)

Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Leave me where I am - I'm only sleeping

Everybody seems to think I'm lazy
I don't mind, I think they're crazy
Running everywhere at such a speed
Till they find there's no need (there's no need)

Please, don't spoil my day, I'm miles away
And after all I'm only sleeping

Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time

Lying there and staring at the ceiling
Waiting for a sleepy feeling...

Please, don't spoil my day, I'm miles away
And after all I'm only sleeping

Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time

When I wake up early in the morning
Lift my head, I'm still yawning
When I'm in the middle of a dream
Stay in bed, float up stream (float up stream)

Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Leave me where I am - I'm only sleeping

XO

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Summer Reflections



Yesteray, my son and I ran into the principal
from my children's elementary school and recently,
 my daughter and I ran into 
their first and sixth grade teachers.
How lucky I feel, as I look back 
with such fond memories-
from kindergarten through sixth grade.
Those years are so magical (for any child) 
and so much of that is due to the heart and soul
that dedicated teachers and administrators 
bring to their work, their world everyday.
Of course, there is so much, much  more more than
pencils, reading logs and times tables,
but for now... thank you to all 
who are there for our children everyday.

Cheers, to a well earned vacation!
xo

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Operation Summer Projects


It finally feels like Summer
is here- kids staying up late
and playing in the neighborhood,
outside gatherings with friends,
 good food via the garden and bbq,
sipping wine and watching the stars.
Summer to me is also, 
Project season, you know-
the big and little projects you know you
 want done, can do- but haven't done?
Here is my plan- I found this great little jar
and it is going to be my inspiration
in getting projects started  and completed.
I've decided one project a week (minimum).
Ideally, reach in on Sunday night and 
(depending on prep time) start
on Monday /Tuesday .
Having an open week? Feeling ambitious?
Reach in and take on another one!
Here is a sampling of what I'll find inside...
Re lay stone borders and walkways
Power wash outside furniture
Clean out fridge/detail shelves etc
Write a letter
Reorganize Freezers
Clean window tracks
Reorganize Pantry
Detail baseboards and touch up paint
Clean out / organize bathroom cupboards
Reorganize yard supplies
Go through fall clothes- keep /not keep
Clean out garage 
Bag up non perishables for homeless
Organize photos on computer
Complete alterations
and that= is just the beginning.
OH, BTW- why limit this to myself...
how about husband and and kids?

The possibilities are endless...

Cheers to summer vacation and projects!
xo
  

Friday, June 4, 2010



Given the fact that I love
all things NYC+ Art
this totally deserves reprinting...

Miranda July Makes Art That Requires People
2:17 pm Wednesday Jun 2, 2010 by Paul Hiebert


It’s summertime in New York City, and instead of sitting in cramped apartments or crowded coffee shops, people are once again congregating in parks. In light of this fact, multi-talented artist Miranda July decided it was the perfect time to set up a public art installation in the city’s Union Square. The project is called Eleven Heavy Things, and consists primarily of gray pedestals with text written on them by July herself, encouraging people to stand on and interact with its components. The installation — which originally appeared at the Venice Biennale — is available for all to see and fool around with until October 3, 2010.
ARTINFO met up with July to ask her some questions about her latest work. After the jump, read some of what July had to say and sample more pieces from her art installation.
On finding the right location: “Washington Square in New York was first discussed. Which, actually, has a graveyard underneath it. You can’t dig very easily. There are bones. A number of other parks were presented and this seemed clearly like the best one. The great fear is that you’re going to make a park worse. A park’s pretty good to begin with — you don’t want to mess it up. Luckily, I think the installation is pretty delicate. It doesn’t overtake the park.”
On what the sculptures are exactly: “I kind of appreciate that they’re coming off almost like play equipment or something. For kids they totally are; that’s all they are. I mean, there’s so much, however you’re approaching them. They’re definitely sculptures too — they were made for the Biennial — they’re that. You know my background. I think when I was invited to be in that show I took it very literally. ‘Now I’m going to make some ART.’ Almost like in a cartoon, what art would be. And yeah, of course I had to figure out how to do that in my own way. The fact that I had to make heavy objects that had to be shipped — it’s like, I can’t believe I did that, with all the other options I had.”
On the significance of the number 11: “I had more than eleven ideas, and it was an editing process. I made all these little drawings. I had them laid out on the floor at one point. I remember going through with my now-husband [filmmaker and artist Mike Mills] — us haggling, getting down to ‘What would just be trite?’ It’s easy with something short to end up being oddly trite.”

For the full interview, read ARTINFO’s
All photographs by Brian Paul Lamotte, 
courtesy of the artist and Suzanne Geiss LLC.
Make the most of your weekend.
Cheers!

The Thrill of it All

Given that I love all things NYC + Art
this totally bears repeating...

Miranda July Makes Art That Requires People
2:17 pm Wednesday Jun 2, 2010 by Paul Hiebert
It’s summertime in New York City, and instead of sitting in cramped apartments or crowded coffee shops, people are once again congregating in parks. In light of this fact, multi-talented artist Miranda July decided it was the perfect time to set up a public art installation in the city’s Union Square. The project is called Eleven Heavy Things, and consists primarily of gray pedestals with text written on them by July herself, encouraging people to stand on and interact with its components. The installation — which originally appeared at the Venice Biennale — is available for all to see and fool around with until October 3, 2010.
ARTINFO met up with July to ask her some questions about her latest work. After the jump, read some of what July had to say and sample more pieces from her art installation.
On finding the right location: “Washington Square in New York was first discussed. Which, actually, has a graveyard underneath it. You can’t dig very easily. There are bones. A number of other parks were presented and this seemed clearly like the best one. The great fear is that you’re going to make a park worse. A park’s pretty good to begin with — you don’t want to mess it up. Luckily, I think the installation is pretty delicate. It doesn’t overtake the park.”
 
On what the sculptures are exactly: “I kind of appreciate that they’re coming off almost like play equipment or something. For kids they totally are; that’s all they are. I mean, there’s so much, however you’re approaching them. They’re definitely sculptures too — they were made for the Biennial — they’re that. You know my background. I think when I was invited to be in that show I took it very literally. ‘Now I’m going to make some ART.’ Almost like in a cartoon, what art would be. And yeah, of course I had to figure out how to do that in my own way. The fact that I had to make heavy objects that had to be shipped — it’s like, I can’t believe I did that, with all the other options I had.”
 
On the significance of the number 11: “I had more than eleven ideas, and it was an editing process. I made all these little drawings. I had them laid out on the floor at one point. I remember going through with my now-husband [filmmaker and artist Mike Mills] — us haggling, getting down to ‘What would just be trite?’ It’s easy with something short to end up being oddly trite.”
For the full interview, read ARTINFO’s “Please Do Touch: A Q&A with Miranda July.”
All photographs by Brian Paul Lamotte, courtesy of the artist and Suzanne Geiss LLC.
Make the most of your weekend.
Cheers!

Quote of the Day


Happiness is living by inner 
purpose, not by outer pressures.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Squash Blossoms and Pizza

It is always such a beautiful surprise
when the first open squash blossoms
present themselves. 
So delicate and vulnerable, with it's
thin, ruffled petals- yet it's largeness
seems look up and say, 'bring it on' and 
'wait til you see what else I can do'!

I always check the garden/potager in the morning 
but I went straight to the zucchini plant today
after perusing an older (March 2010*) 
issue of Saveur magazine over  coffee.

On the cover? 

Pizzeria Mozza of Los Angeles.
This photo is  the cover shot for the issue
and I loved the colors and the textures
from the moment I saw it. 
With the gift of our own blossoms today
I think it is a lovely right of passage to give 
them a beautiful stage such as this.
I love the colorful  rustic, simplicity
of this recipe (link above). 
If you don't have blossoms in your own yard, 
find some at the market (store or farmer's) or even 
substitute maybe with some chard.
But for sure, try it with the 
Burata, we all deserve some creamy
richness every now and then, right?

Oh, and btw- the whole issue* is
 centered around the LA food scene-
my latest obsession!

Cheers! 

Quote of the Day


No price is set on the lavish summer;
June may be had by the poorest corner.
James Russell Lowell

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Quote of the Day


The roses make the world so sweet,
The bees, the birds have such a tune, 
There's such a light and such a 
heat
And such a joy in June.
George MacDonald

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Cycling With a Cause

You remember 
our good friend and neighbor, 


well, he is still busy- riding and training with 
Team In Training. As you probably know, TNT
is brought forth by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,
encouraging and challenging ordinary people 
to do extraordinary things.

"Over the past 20 years, more than 420,000 Team In Training® (TNT)
 participants have raised $1 billion for lifesaving blood cancer research.
TNT provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons 
or participate in hiking adventures, triathlons and cycle events."

The interesting thing about Ken, 
is that he had a major heart attack about 3 years ago,

 yet know for the second year in a row he has 
been participating in a grueling 
daily training program and  riding up to 125 miles 
on any given weekend morning.

This year his team will be participating in the 
"Death Ride" Tour of the California Alps
7/10/2010
129 miles / 15,000' of climbing
yes, really.
Ken is having a blast and even though the training
is so hard, he and his team understand...





 'the individuals fighting blood cancer, are the real heroes'
and they need our support to cross the
ultimate finish line - a cure!

I invite you to visit
Ken's page here to learn more
about Team In Training and support Ken 
in his efforts and help him to meet his goal!