Carrots for Boomer

Winter Wonderland

We made it! I had a great flight with the kids - thanks to a bag full of snacks and surprises. We are now hanging at the farm. Here are a couple of pictures from our day in the snow. Mina was delighted that Grandpa got out the big sleigh and took us for a ride. Miles enjoyed the sleighride so much that he felt asleep! It feels great to be back at my childhood home, and sharing it with my own children. The winter only adds an extra bit of magic to that experience.

Cat Power's Jukebox

If you want to preview Cat Power's new album, check it out: Rolling Stone link re: Cat Power.

Amazon's Seventh Generation Subscribe and Save 20% off deal!

Until January 31st, 2008 Amazon is offering 20% off Seventh Generation products when you purchase them through their "subscribe and save" program. Through this program you buy by the case and pick your interval of delivery.

I LOVE seventh generation products! We've been using a number of them for years with great pleasure and satisfaction. I also love it when our shopping dollars benefit the environment!

Given that the orders are by the case, and hopefully there is little additional packaging,  we aren't feeling as bad about "subscribe and save" as compared to Amazon Fresh. Plus this is motivating us away from Costco! Rich was against the requirement to pay for the privilege to shop at Costco. Membership fees are the number one line item on Costco's balance sheet.

Amazon's deal on Seventh Generation

The Hype Machine

We're Last.fm fans but have  just discovered another great music site called "The Hype Machine." This is pretty fun.  The HypeM searches the web for updated blogs with mp3 files and makes them all available and free for you.

Instead of the last.fm service where you listen to a "radio" of artists similar to the one you searched, you listen to only the artist-of-interest.  Just go on their page, type in an artist (i.e. Cat Power) and hit play!  Last. fm is a great way to get exposed to new bands but HypeM is a great way to discover more about bands you already love!

A weekend of self-care

Last week was tough. Mina brought home a nasty tummy bug from preschool. Miles was hit the hardest, and was completely out of sorts. Being sick is one thing but that added to teething, you have an almost inconsolable child. As my ears can attest, I've never heard him cry as much as he did Wednesday through Friday. He mastered the art of saying "up" with the most desperate look in his sweet face. Thankfully, he's now on the mend but at the start of the weekend , my body (back) and spirit were 100% rattled.

This weekend, to recover, i was drawn to yoga and quiet-time reading. I read "You Grow Girl" from cover to cover, and retreated for some extra TLC at my favourite Yoga Centers studio. I attend their classes weekly but felt drawn to an extra dose of opening and meditation.

My knight-in-shining-armour, Richard, made a special trip to Kirkland's Hoffman's Bakery. I **LOVE** their carrot cake. Mina was quick to note that the carrots on top were not real, and i was quick to take a savouring bite. 

A little bit of pampering is a really nice thing... I don't think that i want this weekend to end!

Edward Burtynsky

Pour yourself a cup of tea, and take a minute to flip through the website of Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky. WOW.

About a month ago, we also watched a film, Manufactured Landscapes, which documented his work. For that experience, brew up a whole pot of tea while you sip and stare. You'll see our world in a whole new view.

Sweet Life Cycles

This is Mina using her great grandmother's rolling pin. My Dad suspects that it was made by my grandfather.

Great Gobs of Goo Recipe

Ingredients:
8 ounces of non-toxic white glue
Non-toxic acrylic paint
Water
Borax laundry detergent
Airtight container

1. Combine the glue, 4-5 tablespoons of acrylic paint, and 3/4 cup of water.
2. In a separate bowl mix together 1 tablespoon borax and 1/4 cup of water.
3. Pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture and stir until a blobforms. Don't worry if the blob looks a little stringy; it will smooth out on its own.
4. Remove the blob from the mixture, press it into a ball, and placeit in the container.
5. Make another batch of the borax and water and pour it into theremaining glue mixture, forming another blob.
6. repeat this process until all of the glue mixture is gone.

This stuff is for playing with, not eating!!!!!!

Here is a similar recipe that uses food colouring,
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/trythis/try1.html

My friend Deb shared this stuff with me. I think it is the best thing ever! Mina has been baking up batches of goo muffins and cookies lately.

I LOVE WO' POP

This is what i'm listening to at the moment:

KEXP WO' POP

I can't think of anything better than a fire, glass of tea and this show playing in the background. Actually, wine would be a good alternate to tea. Richard is at my side, naturally.