Happy New Year 2011!

Enjoy!

Photo via Times. 1907. rad.

Black Eyed Peas!

Southern lore has it that you eat Black Eyed Peas on New Year's Day you'll have luck the whole year. Who can't use a little more luck! I will be soaking those beans tonight and slow cookin' them tomorrow for our lucky dish.

Also called Hoppin John, there are recipes here, a healthy version here, and (slow cooked) here.

Happy New Year, Y'all!!!

& 'til next year, Christmas tree!

Custom Flash Cards

I've been looking for cute, spunky flash cards for bambino for quite some time. Although there are several cute ones by traditional companies, I wanted something a little... more. Something custom.

I made these (above) around Eastertime. It was great - I had an old baby catalog that had his exact furniture in it, so I could cut and paste a picture of his crib or his high chair and it was the actual one for him to recognize! I have looked for the last six months, and have decided to just add to the collection as we go. Custom flash cards, here we come!

Just pick up some paint sample cards at your local hardware store, grab scissors and a glue stick, old magazines and scissors and rock it out. Punch a hole, and secure with a metal o-clasp ring. We'll be going through old magazines this weekend for more photos. And maybe holiday cards for relatives' photos. Happy flash cards all!

Snow Day Project

It's a snow day - outside it's dumping! - and I'm dreaming of a nice, hot bath. It's a great time to put together a little pampering kit - Easy, peasy, warm & cozy bath salts!

Steps: Get a good, clean jar. I like to use my old jam jars, with the pretty lid. But for my bath salts, I needed something larger. Measure 2 cups epsom salts (or any salts - I like Epsom for magnesium) and add 1 1/2 tsp. of your favorite essential oil (I used a mix). Shake very very well, tie a bow, and you're done! A great treat for yourself anytime.

Crafty Simplicity

Hello All!

Hope you are having a fabulous end-of-year holiday season. As inspiration for the New Year, I have decided that before buying anything new for 2011, I will ask -can I borrow it? rent it? or make it? - Instead. I stumbled across a few simplicity blogs - the 100 Thing Challenge. Can you live with only 100 things? It would simplify things, no?

Inspired by Martha's new furniture craft line - above - (who my friend Sue insists that she lives to make you feel inadequate), I have created my own craft station:

As in making everything utilitarian (another thing decided this year - to not buy something unless it has more than one use), this is also the downstairs baby changing station/ slash/ cocktail server for parties. As with much of our furniture, it was given to us by friends who moved to Denver.

So, we are slowly organizing and finding much we had lost, and much that was donated to us this year from friends and family members who moved/cleaned/organized.

This week's objective - to completely clean and organize each room for the new year! Sunday was laundry & the cellar; Monday was the kitchen, walls, cabinets & appliances; Tuesday was the living room, dining room and bathroom (spilled over to today); Today/Wednesday is closets upstairs - keep/mend/donate; Thursday is floors and back porch; and Friday is stairs and decorations. I just hate taking down our Christmas tree!

Downstairs will now host our miscellaneous "in case of moving" boxes and a whole stack of a someday garage sale - free box - toy exchange.

Packaged up all nice and purdy...

So, another Christmas has come and gone, and after reveling in all the presents, mistletoe and friends, we ask: what to do with all those leftovers!!!

Solution: On the suggestion of my dear Auntie M, I separately weighed, measured and packaged individual dinners for the fridge and freezer. 3-4 oz of turkey, 1/2 cup each of mashed tatoes and stuffing, some green beans, sweet potatoes, and A's gravy, and we're set! A likes it because he doesn't have to take out a million bowls to assemble a plate. I like it because we eliminated large containers in favor of individual "plates" (washed and reused take-away containers from our favorite Thai place) and there's more room.

We actually still had another 9x13 left of stuffing - A was really ambitious this year. I placed portions in a 12 cupcake/muffin pan (with two cupcakes of mashed tatoes & gravy), froze, and then popped out and double bagged the stuffing muffins. Now we have individually-sized stuffing portions for the future. AKA No cooking in January! Awesome!

Post-Modern Gingerbread!

We sat down last night and put together our gingerbread homes! I cut out most of the prep work by purchasing the limited-edition Gingerbread-flavored Graham Crackers. Simply pop apart, mix mortar (1 1/3 c powdered sugar and scant 2 tsp water - this is glue!), apply and go for it!

Note A's architecturally-significant gingy house, complete with lemon gumdrop "uplighting". I also made gingerbread cookies, with a yummy lemon-sugar glaze. The lemon really cuts it from being a sugary-sweet cookie to a delicacy.

Advent One and All!

To invent our advent calendar (inspired by Motherload's Advent Calendar), we came up with a list of family activities to attempt the month of December! Hopefully we can make them all, but if not - no worries. Some are duplicates, because in our tiny town, it seems many things happen on one day and then nothing for a week! We've no formal advent calendar, but I am inspired by the downloadable free one at Mibo Studios, the home-sewn one by Homemade by Jill, and the dual treat-and-giving calendars by Girl Con Queso. Maybe next year.

Here is our list of December activities:

1. Light a fire in the fireplace & decorate the house/Attend Noel Night/Pix with Santa

2. Watch "How the Grinch stole Christmas"

3. Write a letter to Santa

4. Decorate the tree, String Popcorn

5. Ski together

6. Write Christmas Cards & mail, with packages

7. Read "The Night before Christmas"

8. Pick out holiday books at the Library & read. [Update: This year's picks: Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner, Merry Christmas Mom & Dad by Mercer Mayer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss and, to mix it up, Seuss' There's a Wocket in my Pocket]

9. Listen to local carolers

10. Color a Christmas Scene

11. Watch Tree Lighting in the sawuare

12. Make a gingerbread house

13. Make snowflakes

14. Read a holiday book

15. Roast chestnuts [update: couldn't find anywhere!]

16. Kiddo bubble bath with holiday music

17. Host holiday get-together and/or go to holiday party

18. Make a Snowman & Snow Angels

19. Drive to see holiday lights

20. Bake cookies- sugar, gingerbread, bourbon balls & rice krispies

21. Deliver cookies to neighbors, local service people

22. Sing carols together

23. Light luminarias

24. Christmas Eve mass, Open 1 gift, cookies for Santa & carrots for reindeer

25. Celebrate Christmas!

26. Watch a family movie

27. Build a sled course in the backyard

28. Drink hot cocoa

29. Make NYE banner & decorate

30. Snowball fight

31. Celebrate NYE, watch torchlight parade down ski mountain!

Best Slow-Cooker Cauliflower and Potatoes

Being Mid-November, it's a lazy Saturday here in the mountains, and with the chill in the air, I made some waffles and decided to pull out the slow cooker to make Spiced Cauliflower for dinner. Seems I didn't read the recipe and it called for a 3 hour cooking time. Hello, lunch!

Spiced Cauliflower and Potatoes

Serves: 4-6

1 large cauliflower head, washed and cut into 1-inch pieces

4 large potatoes, peeled and diced

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium tomato, diced

2-inch piece of ginger (mine was frozen), peeled and grated

3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped/smushed

3 to 4 chilies, torn and thrown in, seeds removed

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp - 1 Tbsp red chili powder

1 Tbsp garam masala

1 Tbsp salt (I would reduce for next time)

1 tsp turmeric

3 Tbsp veg or canola oil

Sprigs of cilantro for garnish

Combine all in 4 to 5 quart slow cooker. Mix well. Cook on low for 4 hours (to thoroughly cook the potatoes), mixing when you remember. Enjoy!

We served this with our "scratch" naan (I scratched the label off the package before I served it). Healthy and satisfying. Our neighbor stopped by to drop off some stuffed animals for the baby, and said how great everything smelled. Verdict: Success!

Adapted from Anapy Singla's "The Indian Slow Cooker"

FYI! Fisher Price recalls up to 10 million toys

Update! Fisher-Price recalls a lot of toys - for more information, check out US Consumer Product and Safety Commission's recall notice. I yi yi! Little Z loved chewing on the ball on that aquarium crawl toy - the exact thing that poses the choking hazard!

Organic Play-Dough

Earlier I reported a quick and easy way to make play dough in the crockpot.

Click here and here for organic (non-toxic) play dough recipes!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!
Are you grillin' or chillin'?

LOVE these Helvetica (font) Cards - Eurostyle meets poker. Mmm!

Summer Pops!

And what's a girl to do with all the lovely organic produce available this summer - and not enough time to eat it up yum? Go over to frozen pops!

- How about Martha's Strawberry pops?

- Check out Erin Cooks for some Root Beer Float pops:

- And Eating out Loud's Watermelon Mint pops:

Interior Design Inspirations - Toys!

LOVE these mobiles from Puka Puka! Modern chic meets nursery. What could be better!

More nursery (toy organization and storage) design inspirations from:

• Toy organization beyond chests at The Land of Nod - So cute!:

• Or perhaps Ikea's Expedit shelves:

• Or Target's Itso System:

• How about refurbishing old milk crates? I think we have a few lying around!:

Or I'd love to redo an old armoire for both toy storage and bookshelves. And a rocking chair. If you can only find the right ones!

Art is in the Everyday

Image via Cannelle et Vanille - beautiful gourmet photography!

I simply adore anything that elevates the everyday into art. Not to make beautiful in a complex way, but in a serene and simple way. What. Makes. Sense. In that vein, here are a few things I'm love, love, lovin' of late:

- This article on food preparation. Covers Pollan's Food Inc and the Women in God's Kitchen. Switching our consumption focus to that of nourishment (bodily, spiritual, mental), thankfully received, with grace.

- Biggie's Lunch in a (bento) box - for kids and adults alike! Something is simply scrumptious about small portions. What a great idea for picnics too. It's full of thoughtful preparation and presentation. See her cute ideas below:

- And Ashley Ann Photography's Boy's Bedroom, with simple colors repeating - and adore the hanging candle full of bright orange No. 2 Pencils:

The Magical Qualities of a Wooden Spoon

In our house, we adore the wooden spoon. It's magical qualities transcend the making of risotto, chocolate chip cookies, and more - truly, it's the best secret ingredient - to the teething of little bambino. How beautiful are these wooden spoons by artist (and artisan) Nic Webb?

Summer Bug Repellent Guide

As a follow up to the sunscreen guide, I have been searching for a while for a good insect repellent. After a rather swarthy experience camping at Silver Jack two years ago, with only my herbal insect repellent (time effective: I'd say about 5 minutes), I realized you need the hard-core stuff. Or at least herbal repellents that actually work!

Consumer Reports has once again come out with recommendations. From the CBS Early Show, they recommend:

• Off Products (Deep Woods & Smooth and Dry), but they contain DEET
• For more natural remedies, WebMD recommends soy-based Bite Blocker for Kids. Watch out - don't use oil of lemon eucalyptus on kiddos under 3

Summer Suncreen Guide

Memorial Day is Monday, which means.... Summer is Here! And now that we are spending more time outdoors and in the sun, and those of us with the little ones, we are more concerned than ever with exposures to all sorts of things. Though I'd love to be at a beach, relaxing in the sun, with a waiter coming over every time I flip the little flag on the back of the chair (sigh) I will have to wait on that one. In the meantime let's learn a little about sunscreen.

As with everything, moderation is key: Vitamin D is good for you - you get the most from the sun - but 20 minutes is all that is needed. For more time outside than that, look for a good sunscreen. Preferably one that is PABA-free, has UVA and UVB protection (which can enter through windows, by the way). And apply liberally.

But with the dizzying array of choices, how do you pick? First try a stop over at the Environmental Working Group's Sunscreen Guide. LOVE this site. Gives you picks, tells you what ingredients are in which product and what the potential concerns are. Second, check out Consumer Report's guide - they recommend Target's Up and Up Sport Continuous and Walgreen's Sport Continuous.

Now go out there and enjoy the sun!

Knit K-Now!

The weather is warming up. The sun is shining, grass is growing, birds are chirping.

That means it is time to start thinking about knitting again.

So that I have time to actually make hats before cold weather comes again. (Side note: why can I crochet lightening fast but knitting takes me forever and a day!?) The yarn I have for bambino's baby blanket is *still* sitting in the bag. Perhaps I can make him a blanket, say, by the time he graduates high school. Or college.

New project: Baby Space Invaders Hat. If only my Atari 800 were still around.

Find instructions at Instructibles.com, here. I'll post an update when I complete it!

Freezer Paper Stenciling

One of the projects I've had on my to-do list is freezer paper stenciling. It is like silkscreening, only totally easier and with considerably less mess. (The only thing is, if you want to do a lot of the same thing, silkscreening would be easier).

How to:

To stencil your own stuff, buy a roll of freezer paper at your local grocery store (or try to ask mr. nice meat department dude for some). Print out a design and lay it over or under the piece of freezer paper (or draw your own design on it). Carefully, with an x-acto blade, cut out your image. I picked a character from Efon Fonts:

Then, iron the paper (shiny-side down) onto the fabric you are using, choosing the iron setting corresponding to your fabric. Iron a solid piece of freezer paper under the fabric so that the paint doesn't bleed through. When cool, take a foam brush and apply fabric paint on the cut-away areas (I used a standard textile paint from the craft store). Let the paint dry - Then slowly peel the paper away to reveal your image.

Follow the wash instructions on the paint bottle. Easy Peasy!

Memory Minute... wait, what?

It is said that for every new skill you learn (say, a new language, or hobby), you will help your mind retain its memory and perhaps stave off dementia. Do you find words escaping you? As of late, I certainly do.

Some of the top picks for maintaining your memory:

* Learn a new language (do you have any suggestions for good online courses? or does your local library offer courses?)

* Learn a new hobby, game or activity

* Try crosswords

* Proper nutrition (i.e., power up with brain foods at breakfast!)

We have decided, in our household, to whip out A's old guitar and try to learn how to play. A remembers a lot of chords, I am having problems "toughening up" my fingers to play. I have, however, found some great resources online for learning guitar:

- Guitar Chords, with display - so necessary for me to figure out how to position my fingers! Just click the chord you need and it shows you the finger configuration.

- Elizabeth Mitchell's "You Are My Flower" songbook

- And my new favorite, Ultimate Guitar's Tabs, especially 1234 by the Plain White Ts.

Financial Wellbeing

I am always interested in getting things organized. Starting with the house, and some spring cleaning; then moving on to finances, and what makes sense; and then moving on to your mind. Or tackling whichever, whenever you can.

Lately there are tons of offers out for a myriad of financial benefits and services. They can be confusing. We recently signed up for a cell phone plan and with all the hidden costs and charges, it put both of us in a mood for a few days. A and I certainly discuss all the costs and benefits involved with financial promotions and planning. So far we agree on a bunch of things:

* Savings and IRAs/SEPs as a priority. Dave Ramsey has a simple structure to follow for baby steps towards financial peace. See where you fall on the ladder.

* Better Alternatives to those so-called deals being tossed around lately

* Most of the ideas presented in Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich. The more you know, the more you realize to trust yourself among all others. Why pay for others to gamble with your money!?

* The tips presented in Suze Orman's the Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life - especially as to the life lessons as well!

De-Clutter Your Life, De-Clutter Your Mind

Lately I've been on a kick to de-clutter the house. Only to find within two days that it's back to it's normal status. Perhaps something to do with a one year old, the other perhaps to do with the fact that winter keeps returning every week. We have a spot of sunny, 60 degree days, so I put all the jackets and gloves and shearlings away, only to have a successive weekend of 35 degree days and snow overnight. Nothing seems to be ever put away.

Living with constant transition can be a challenge - or we can accept it as part of life. I am learning that the chaos seems to be the only thing that is constant, and trying to accept that fact whole-heartedly in my life. We can't control what others do or say, so why try? Why try to teach others how to treat people fairly? Instead focus on yourself, what you can change within yourself (your mind, your body, your attitude), and instead strive for excellence in your own life.

I came across an old magazine listing Peter Walsh's book "Enough Already! Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You." It seems to fall in line with what I'm experiencing. Instead of returning to thoughts or experiences that drag you down, instead, ask yourself "Does this item or thought or response move me closer to my vision for my best life?" If it does, great. If it doesn't, eliminate it promptly. There is no room for it in your life.

He also talks about the "cycle" of clutter - that physical (or I would also add, mental) clutter is stealthy. You clean the house, and it's messy two days later. You are fine, and then a thought pops in your head you can't seem to get rid of. Complete the cycle - for physical, if you use it, put it away (my sister has a post on her fridge - golden rules for the household). Or, learn to live with physical chaos. That in itself can be liberating.

For mental clutter, I would say, meditate - and constantly remind yourself that you are on the track to your best life, the best vision of yourself, your dedication to excellence. And then put the thought away that doesn't fit. Keep that vision for your best life and orient your path towards that vision. That mindset, also, is liberating.

Gardening for the Ambitious and Uninformed

Photo: Our indoor propagation system for basil, tomatoes and (hopefully) flowers.

So, despite my earlier blog and childlike delving into all that was Organic Gardening, I am finding that gardening, organic or otherwise, at high altitude isn't all that it was supposedly cracked up to be.

The sustainable, green-oriented community, and the local County offices, have politely informed me that (1) I would need a soil test done, (2) that costs upwards of $50, (3) to tell me the soil can't really support anything, but the local lumber store could recommend compost/ manure/ fertilizer and (4) nothing grows here but flowers. Plus, the growing season is about, 8 weeks long - max. One of my neighbors said she spent months tending to a tomato plant to have one grow and the rest freeze in an early-August temperature drop. Well, let me save time and effort and switch my ideas now.

Thus, the garden plan is now shifting from a grow-your-own, teach-the-baby-where-food-comes-from, to a patch of hardy nasturtiums. Instead, I will have a small container garden on our sunny, warm deck, so that I can bring in the tender tomato plants at night if necessary. Containers? Courtesy of our local grocery store's flower department. They gave us some leftover rose buckets gratis. And lovely A drilled some holes for drainage.

For more inspiration, and a reality check on planning and planting a veggie garden, read Petit Elefant's post here or Jason's Guide to Indoor Gardening of Tomatoes here. In the meantime, enjoy my sprouting seedlings courtesy of our egg carton. The sunflower is sprouting, alongside some peas. The lid shows what I planted where.

Better Lotions and Potions

I am constantly finding new ways to come up with healthy, homemade personal care items.

My favorites to date?

- Peppermint Body Scrub:

* 2 cups of fine-grade, dry sea salt

* 4 oz of oil (safflower, sunflower, soy or almond oil)

* 2 Tbsp of dried peppermint leaves (i.e., the contents of 2 peppermint tea bags)

* 1/2 tsp essential oil of peppermint

Stir, mix, spoon into a jar.

- Baby Oil

* 1 cup oil (sunflower, olive or almond)

* 2-3 capfuls vitamin E (pierce and squeeze into carrier oil)

Place in squeeze bottle and shake.

- Oatmeal bath

* 1 cup oatmeal, processed in food processor until powder.

Sprinkle into bath and swirl around.

For more baby products, including creams and wipes, visit Natural Homemade. For more body scrub ideas with essential oils, try Martha Stewart.

Toxin Free Toys

Oh, the never-ending quest to protect ourselves from that which we thought was harmless...

Following up on an interesting discussion with a friend, take eco one step further and look at your baby toys: are they plastic? Do they contain phtalates, PVC or bPa (bisphenol-A)? We always prefer toys that are more "natural" for the baby - wood, metal, classic.

We strive to choose ones that are simple, safe and smart. I am trying to educate myself on the phtalates and bPa that is now found in most baby products. I know all about baby bottles, and choose silicone nipples instead of latex (due to my allergy). Now I look for the "safe for 3+" years of age sign on most toys - that means that either there are small parts, or that the plastic item contains phtalates, PVC (to make it flexible) or bPa and is unsafe for developing infants. For example, if your rubber ducky says "3+" on it, or, for example, a pail I got for Easter had that label, neither of which had small parts - that means there is either phtalates or bPa, and is unsafe for bambino to put in his mouth.

Of course babies will try to put everything in their mouths - this is the nature of exploration. So now I try to swap with a different toy, or (in practicality), let it go every once in a while. For more information, check out the San Francisco Chronicle's report, or to learn more about toxins, check out Rick Smith's "The Danger of Everyday Things".

For safer toys, check out Wee Organics, or just take a close look at the packaging.

So True!

Eco Living - Spring Cleaning in Snow!

Here we are trying to spring clean, despite an inch or so of freshly fallen snow. To celebrate winter's return, I made the lovely Zucchini Tarte - perfectly summery.

Easy ways to eco clean your house:

- My window/countertop cleaner. No harsh chemicals, and cleans like a whiz!

- For freshening up stainless steel, try white vinegar.

- To disinfect, try diluted bleach, or for fume-free, hydrogen peroxide.

- To scrub, good old-fashioned baking soda.

- Furniture/wood polish: 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice.

- Replace your shower curtain with one that is PVC free. Ours is a PEVA, available through Target home.

Teething, Anyone?

Because bambino is teething, nothing is safe - including the rail on his crib. I don't mind the marks on the crib so much as I am worried that he is ingesting some not-too-safe products (lead paint or varnish or what not). I looked around and didn't really like the plastic covers, and I am not adept at sewing, so I came up with a solution for a rail guard/protector.

Just take a blanket (we used one that came with the layette that was more decorative than practical), fold in half lengthwise, and sew the ends together. Then, sew a ribbon on each end. Sew the corresponding other half of the ribbon where you folded the blanket in half, tie the ribbons together - and voila! - you have a rail guard. No muss, no fuss!

Took the baby a little while to figure out how to climb up with the blanket, but figured it out (of course) in no time at all.

Happy Mother's Day!

It cracks me up how the press lauds Mothers Day as the time to "luxuriate in bed with coffee" or indulge in "Breakfast in Bed." With a young one, you are either up at 2 or 4 am, or up at 6am. There's no indulgence involved!

Even if you get an hour to yourself, a moment to yourself, I find that on this Mother's Day it is important to remember these feelings - that we are able to extend these moments of "indulgence" to everyday. Define what is indulgent to you, and do that EVERY DAY. Invest your time, your talent, your energy into that which feeds you, and you will feel indulgent, indeed. Extend the celebration beyond the one day that honors mothers, to every day honoring yourself.

As we know, if we don't treat ourselves well, who will?

In the meantime, enjoy these thought-provoking articles:

- Martha Beck's "10 Life Lessons You Should Unlearn"

- Ladies Home Journal "Why It's Healthy to Put Yourself First"

- Be Truthful about who you are (reflected in the choices you make). Shift your perspective: it's not about what you had, but what you have. (Both from Suze Orman's Laws of Money, Lessons of Life, excerpt here).

- Connect with spirit to shift your perspective and elevate your mood. Become connected, and strive to stay connected, with this spirit, this energy within.

EcoChic

-LOVE these new tops from BTC Elements, a/k/a, Hey, Does Anyone Remember the 80s? Instead of offering up $180 plus for these EcoChic fashions, why not take a pair of scissors to that old -shirt you have in the back of the closet (or better yet, your husband's / boyfriend's / significant other's). It's sure to make your day.

LOVE Readymade's wooden caterpillar pull toy - a DIY for sure!

Also check out Helping Little Hands' Double-Dino Tee. Again, if only I could sew!

In the meantime, I am trying to get into the CSU Extensions' Organic Gardening program (the Master's course is too long - but there are helpful items on Mountain Gardening Basics and Composting yard waste - as to not attract our neighbor bears!). Although my friends tell me the growing season here is *so* short that it's worthwhile only to plant flowers. And hardy ones at that. Well, I'll do half and half - half transplanted into our garden, the others in containers that we can bring in from the potting shed, if necessary, at night (case in point, tomatoes). Otherwise, hello Farmer's Market!

Summer Garden

I am inspired by the Crochet Dude's garden layout. I may borrow the ideas for our garden up here this summer. Provided it works at high altitude. We'll see!

Here are some inexpensive ideas I've learned so far:

• Staking Tomatoes: I remember watching Martha Stewart stake her tomatoes to bamboo dowels with an "old pair of nylons, Donna Karan" (who doesn't have $20 nylons!). I have used plain wooden dowels and cheap nylons and they work the same. I plan to do the same this summer.
• Aphids: Use 2-3 Tbsp dishwashing liquid per gallon of water, spray.
• Mulching: I will be using shredded, decomposable newspaper as mulch.
• Organic Matter: I haven't gotten around to starting a mini compost bin (or even super mini), so I'll have to think of something new to prep the gardening bed. Learn how to compost here and here. It seems best idea is to have one outside/in the "greenhouse" and keep kitchen scraps in a 5-gallon drum with lid or coffee can until ready.
• Sprouting: Start seedlings inside (click here for high altitude seeds - or better yet, dry your favorite tomato, zucchini, pumpkin seeds. You'll have to buy the lettuce, onion, etc!). Reuse old egg cartons (be sure to water those more often) or mini-yogurt containers that come in 6 packs to start the seedlings.
• Sprouting Micro-greens: If you prefer micro-greens, start in an old "clam shell" container (that lettuce comes in), poke holes in bottom, add organic soil and seeds and you're off! Remove the lid after they poke their heads up (so they don't rot) and use as the water catcher on the bottom. Click here for a microgreen mini-tutorial.
• Propagation: Some seedlings can be propagated once in the ground. You will have to research this. We have taken basil, cut below the branches, stuck in a glass of water, and they shoot roots within a week.
• Seed storage: Take leftover dry seedlings and freeze in their packets in a ziploc bag, to keep for the next year.
• Potting Table: I am using my old drafting table in our new revamped "potting shed" in our little enclosed area out back (new use for old space). Super warm during the day and enclosed, it's the perfect spot for the table, still covered in plastic wrap from moving. Hey, that protects the wood! Click here for other "upcycled" projects.

Other, more general gardening tips:

• Find your zone at USDA hardiness zones via zip code (mine is 5). High altitude instructions may be found here.
• Plan well. Especially at high altitudes, create microclimates to help more sun get to the garden.
• Check out Craftzine for other inexpensive ideas, including keeping animals away and reusing coffee grounds and banana peels, and using recycled materials for bedding, drip-irrigation and mini-greenhouses.

Yum Yum!

- Recipes: I am dying to try this lovely Zucchini Tarte. I love me some zucchini!

And, bizarrely enough, I want to try Gimme Some Ovens! Red Hot Jello, just for the sake of using red hots in classic jello. If you get to it before I do, let me know how it goes.

What's Old is New Again

After the trip back east, and talking with friends who are starting up a new business in taking reclaimed wood and making new, hand-created pieces from it (blog link to follow), I know I really like finding ways to make something considered trash into something new. Or close enough.

Such as:

- Kids: Instead of fancy diaper containers, we took and old wipe container. They contain up to three day's worth of diapers in a compact package, right at your fingertips. And fits nicely in the top of the changing table (which was a hand-me-down, repainted with one small paint can to match the crib - looking like a matched set. we didn't even sand it, and it looks great).

- Diapers: On the subject of diapers, we use disposable. Being in the hospital with a preemie, and then coming home on oxygen, going cloth diapers was the last thing on my mind. Besides, I couldn't due to the size of the diapers. Now my friend who is an engineer did a comparison study of cloth vs. disposables when her first daughter was born. The result? She found that using a diaper service (delivery and pickup) used the same amount of petroleum as disposable diapers. In other words, they were equally bad for the environment.

If you have the time and the inclination, and are not using a service, check out bumkins or other diaper systems on amazon or even craigslist.

- Cleaning: Instead of a fancy glass cleaner, I take an empty gallon jug, fill it with 2-oz of baby shampoo, 1 bottle of isopropyl alcohol, and the rest with water. Shake, shake, shake and refill your spray bottle. If appearances matter, then add a few drops blue food coloring. The clear stuff is really eco-friendly, inexpensive and lasts a long time. Especially the way I clean.

- Organizing: Use old coffee cans - as yarn holders (see above courtesy of do stuff!) . Or utensil organizers.

Do you have any tips? I hope to post more as I figure them out.

Design, Cincinnati-Style

- A week at Easter with the most glorious weather around, we headed towards Findlay's Market. Oh, I wish we had one up here in the mountains! Including the beloved Busken Bakery, Meat stands, fresh produce, seafood, and more, it's a treasure in the area known as Over-the-Rhine. The spice collections alone are worth the trip.

Then we headed for Ohio Bookstore. New, old, used, rare. 4 stories high. Drat, it closed at 4:45. Next time. Besides the normal restaurants, including Skyline Chili (the Greek Salad is amazing); and Graeter's Ice cream (thankfully now nationally distributed via Kroger/City Market!) we enjoyed Maribelle's on Riverside Drive, and the yummy Bangkok Bistro - so much bang for your buck.

Gaze at the amazing Cincinnati Public Library (downtown) - it's crazy to find little gems of architecture (either old or new) in the "Queen City". I look forward to checking out more of the sights, whether the Gwynne Building or the Union Terminal.

For other things to do, try BuyCincy for weekend events.

Slow down, you move too fast

"You do not need to leave your room.

Remain sitting at your table and listen.

Do not even listen, simply wait.

Be quiet, still and solitary.

The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked,

it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."

Franz Kafka

With all the changes as of late, I am now trying to savor all that life has to offer - and to relax in the process. For the past year, I have been juggling work and a preemie and it was one difficult road. A "marathon" as our pediatrician says. Unless you've been through it yourself, it is hard to comprehend and even empathize.

And slowing down offers multiple benefits: you start having real connections again - with people, with events, with time. Your focus can change from what you fear, to what you want in your life. From gossip to love. From tearing down to support.

I was mired in "just getting by", angry and exhausted. I felt as if I had no choice in the matter, I was making do as best as I could. I was amazed that people quote-unquote close to you would offer to help you and then when you'd say okay, tell you they were too busy. But then a stranger would snowplow my sidewalk or driveway, or ask how I was doing and really listen. I now realize that I can only see who the close friends are by their actions (not words) over time - who will really support you in tough situations and who won't.

The one thing I've learned over time is that who you truly are doesn't change. And life throws circumstances your way (why, I do not know) and sometimes we are destined to repeat them. But once we work to switch from regret and anger to acceptance then celebration, we are on our way to true freedom. The latter, I am still trying to incorporate.

In the upcoming weeks I will try to focus on what is true and real, be it spending more time with family, nurturing true friendships, acceptance of what is, contemplating what can be, or health and happiness. I'll be taking a lot of time. Not answering phone calls. Or the door. Maybe you won't hear from me. A big unplugging. The true definition of "quality" time. I blinked, and my life shifted from quality to quantity sometime in the last four years. I suppose now is an opportunity to set things straight. To fully dive in to what is going on here, and now. To be still, quiet. To let life unfold and let love meet me where it will.

More information:

- Downshifting and new priorities

- "Slow" parenting

- Slow Love by Dominique Browning. (her blog)

- Ten tips on how to slow down now (especially tip #10)