Birthday Boy

Just in case you were sad that maybe there weren't going to be reasons soon for Fifi (aka Stephanie, my talented sister) to make cupcakes -- you don't need to be sad any longer. Cole had his 13th b-day recently and you know what, Steph made camouflage cupcakes for his special day.

But more importantly, we got the boy a MOTORCYCLE for his 13th birthday. It's a tiny motorcycle albeit, but it is a motorcycle. It's a 50cc trail bike (and if you know about bikes, this one is a replica of the Honda 50cc trail bike that hasn't been in production since the 70's. We found this 2004 version for sale on Craig's List).This bike is so much fun, I even take my turn riding it. Our favorite places to ride are up on my parent's property in Meadow Vista (the bike fits in the back of my car) and on a dirt track behind our neighborhood. The boys are schooling me on shifting. Although this bike is called an automatic, it has three gears, but no clutch. I guess that's what makes it an automatic. It's been at least 27 years since I've driven a motorcycle. It comes back fast, however, like riding a bike!So far, Cole is being very responsible with his bike and it seems to be feeding his budding masculine soul well. I am keeping the medicine chest stocked with bandages however.Now, in case you need more cupcake photos, you may have to wait a while because I am sugared out and hoping for no more reasons for cupcakes. Although, does one ever need a reason for cupcakes? I think not. I'm off to ride now!

Solitude

"Can't see the forest for the trees" is an idiom that means one is paying too much attention to the details and can not understand the big picture. Here's the big picture of a forest that had burned down many years ago. I can't remember when.Looking up at a burned tree.Looking way up.

Turning the camera on myself.
Unflattering self-portrait lying in the snow, taken at the Yuba Gab exit, a couple miles hiked in the middle of nowhere, all by myself, California, USA.

Be Mine, Cupcake

My talented sister, Stephanie, made us Valentine's Day Cupcakes. She's quite the cupcake maker! I would love to see her open a trendy cupcakery in town . . . (I don't think "cupcake maker" and "cupcakery" are real words, but they sure are mmmmm, delicious sounding).

More photos of snowboarding:

I hate to do this to you (I guess I don't or else I wouldn't), but I took more photos at Hannah's practice this last Saturday.You Go Girl! Hannah, cutting close to the gate.

I hiked up the mountain and parked myself in an incognito spot behind two skinny pine trees and spied on the team with my camera.I felt like I was in a 007 movie with an all out attack of snowboarders descending on my secret lair (click on photo to check out the madness, and the boarder who is in a sitting position with scissor arms). . .. . . with Hannah's coach bringing up the pack.

Snowboard Meet

Below are some photos that I took at Hannah's meet on Monday at Squaw Valley, Calif.:

Below are some photos that Hannah took after the meet was over while riding around the park. Wowee Hannah!:

Nice job on the meet too, dear.

Good n' Muddy

It was a great ride this Sunday morning.

B's B-Day

Hannah turned 15. Happy B-Day B! 

(Her nickname became 'B' after Hannah became Hannah-Banana, which became Banana, which simply became 'B').

Hannah and I are exploring our new relationship to each other, with her being a full blown teenager and all. Whew!
I am hoping she stays as sweet as these fabulous cupcakes her Aunt Stephanie (most famously known as "Aunt Fifi") made for her party. I can see that Hannah is trying to find her place in the world right now, although her main concerns on the forefront seem to be friends and fun.
I don't blame her, friends and fun are very important. But there is a strange balance going on right now where sometimes she pulls at the tether that keeps us connected until it feels like it will break. Then other times she's reeled in as tight as she was when she was a toddler.
I suppose the best thing we can do is hold on steadily and enjoy all the sweetness we can find around us.

The Boys and the River

Yesterday after homework was done, I took the boys to the river.

I say "boys" because we have a new addition to our family.
Wes and Cole are friends, but they want to be brothers, so I told them they officially are.
They spend almost every day together and let me tell you, these boys have a lot of energy to work out. It takes a village. . .
and some great outdoors.

Winter Blooms

The sun finally shone this morning and shed the perfect light.

Thank you flowers for coming out in the cold.

Flowering Kale, a cabbage by any other name would look as beautiful.

Narcissist, you smell fantastic! But you already knew that.

Indonesian Curried Vegetable Soup

Mmm Mmm Good. I made this soup the other night, and it is yummy. The title of this dish states that it is curried, but I noticed the recipe did not call for "curry" at all. On research, I found out while there is such a thing as a "curry" leaf, the blend of the many spices in the recipe below are just some that make up "curry" (there are many variations of spices to make curry powder). You probably already knew that though. Below is the recipe for curried vegetable soup. I have a horrible time following recipes exactly and usually end up eyeballing instead of measuring -- and doubling or tripling. I suppose also that one could just add curry powder to the dish and not mess with all the other ingredients (probably much more cost effective than running out and buying which individual spice not already on hand like I did). But I have to say, there was some satisfaction in making my own curry spice.
(p.s. - the spice turmeric in the curry has been noted to"be useful in managing cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and liver conditions. It has also been speculated that Turmeric may play a role in slowing the spread of breast cancer. " Just FYI). Eat up!
Indonesian Curried Vegetable Soup

2 T olive oil

2 medium onions, finely diced

4 garlic cloves, minced or pressed

2 tsp. minced ginger (it comes in a jar too)

2 C. thinly sliced mushrooms (I did not have mushrooms, so I used carrots)
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
juice of 1 lemon
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 large boiling (waxy) potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
1½ cups green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
¼ cup finely diced red bell pepper
½ cup fine egg noodles or 1-inch pieces broken spaghetti

1. Warm oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, and ginger and sauté, stirring often, 10 minutes or until onions are soft and golden.

2. Add mushrooms and sauté 5 minutes. Sprinkle on coriander, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne and cook 2 minutes, stirring often.

3. Pour in the stock, coconut milk, and salt, and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Mix in the green beans, red pepper, and noodles, and cook at a lively simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables and noodles are tender. Stir in lemon juice.

Serves: 4–6
Time: 1 hour

More Artwork from Brent

He named these "Twisted Lands." Thank you Brent. View the clay sculpture he made last Spring.

A Lovely Parcel in the Post

I am so excited about the package I got in the mail today. A small packet sent by Royal Mail. I made myself wait an hour to open it after it arrived. And then. . .
this beautiful tile. I found the artist Robert Ryan on the Internet and fell in love with his artwork. (Check out his screen prints and commissioned work as well as his shop). So I ordered a tile. But the tile I wanted was not in stock any longer. Rob Ryan was such a gracious artist, that he offered me another tile, plus goodies to make up for my disappointment. That kind of graciousness is not found every day, very admirable. His beautiful sentiments are admirable too:

And this acrylic key (to my heart never doubts and never wavers):

And these very cool buttons:

I really like the message in this one:

And this one too:

I like them all:

Thank you Mister Rob:

Driving

out of Soda Springs ski resort, N. Calif.

First, man discovered fire.

There were a few discoveries in between, then man invented the internet, then the lap top, then the wireless connection.  Then he put them all together and celebrated thousands, maybe millions (depending on your belief system) of years and used his wireless laptop in front of a fire.

Gifts of Cake

I found this photo recently of a cake that my friend Amy Reed had made for me.  Five or six years ago, as an adult, I decided to return to college and at the end of a great experience (exceptionally great as far as impact on my life and personal outlook, but laborious and harrowing as well), my friends and family threw me a party.  A party to remember.  And Amy, a beautiful woman , made me a Frida Kahlo cake because she knew I admired Frida Kahlo's tenacity and passion, which translated to her artwork.  Frida Kahlo also had a unibrow, and if I didn't groom regularly, I could probably grow a unibrow.  I admire Frida also for saying to hell with plucking and sporting that unibrow.

Thanks again for the cake Amy!

Pizza Maestro

Brent is the conductor and the pizzas are his symphony.

He makes marinara/pesto, cheese/veggie pizzas on Trader Joe's garlic-herb pizza dough (comes in a ball in the refrigerator section). And he makes them in his super fantastic looking way.

He is nineteen now and has been making pizza since he was 13. He even received a baking stone from our friend Molly (have I mentioned her before?) as an 8th grade graduation gift. That's how long he has been makin' the pizza. And we appreciate him!