our urban farmhouse ♥

peace and love and letting go

2012-02-01T21:09:00.003-06:00

In celebration of this week's wondrous spring weather, I've carved just a few moments out of the past three days to take myself on a walk. In all the time I dedicate to doing, and being, and moving, I'm starting to realize that little of it has anything to do with nurturing myself -- as if my only sense of self is wrapped up in what I'm doing and what I'm accomplishing. I need to spend more time care for me as a physical and emotional being.

And so on my walk today, around the perimeter of our park, I tried to take time to listen to the universe, to hear what I needed to hear, to allow my own being to say what it needed to say. Around that whole block, like a pre-recorded public service announcement, three words echoed in my head, rang in my ears.

brad. let go. brad. let go. brad. let go. brad. let go.

As if it were that easy. As if I know how. As if I even want to. As if I can even afford to spend a few moments each week to myself let alone each day. But learning and striving are what I do best.

me, brad, and sara at mom and greg's wedding july 2009

peace and love and letting go

books > cobras

2012-02-01T19:24:00.000-06:00

I pre-ordered Jenny Lawson's "Let's Pretend This Never Happened" which is due to arrive in April, which I will promptly forget that I ordered, which will cause me to scream out loud to receive in the mail, much like her stuffed cobra/mongoose battle scene.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir)

$25.95

$16.43

Oh Wittle Wiza

2012-02-01T12:19:00.000-06:00

I must just say it now, you'd better prepare yourselves for a more constant stream of children-related posts in the coming months. There is much I want to share with you now and that is sure to grow. As you know, I currently nanny the most beautiful two-year-old little girl who is a true joy in my life, strong, and curious, and down right hilarious. Additionally, my very first niece Adeline was born last June and if that wasn't enough my adorable little sister, Sara, will birth our very first Wefenstette grandchild come July.

I think about peace in the home and fostering a secure and calm environment for little ones to grow. I also think about nurturing innate creativity and how to encourage imagination and inspiration on a daily basis so that it grows uninhibited throughout a person's life. Just over a year ago or so, I discovered Elizabeth Mitchell while reading SouleMama, a blog I've come to know and love. As it happens, Amanda wrote the forward on Elizabeth's latest cd. Last November, I ordered the album "You are My Flower" for Johannah for her birthday. I cannot tell you how these songs integrated into our days so seamlessly except that the itunes count for these songs are literally 60-70x more than any other songs I listen to. There may have been a bit of listening to them by myself as well :)

Well this past weekend, we were given the honor of seeing Elizabeth Mitchell live at the Old Town School of Folk Music. It was quite the group of us complete with Johannah and her mama, me and my mama, Adeline and her mama and her grandmother and a few of Johannah's friends and their mamas. I picked up all the rest of Elizabeth's albums and we've been listening nonstop ever since. As soon as I get to her house in the morning, J. asks for "Wittle Wiza Jane" and "Wittle Birdie song."

If you have little ones at home or know someone who does, I cannot tell you how utterly warming these songs are to the soul.

Walk, Strive, and Affirm

2012-01-31T16:55:00.000-06:00

photos from one of our walks in albany park

It is important to a generous ethical sensibility to come to terms in an affirmative way with much of what you have become through the checkered history of luck, circumstance, decision, habit, and fateful events.

Strive to overcome deep resentment of what or who you are so as to overcome the corollary disposition to rail against the parents, class, fate, past decisions, or world that brought you to this point.

Affirm the past, with the suffering that has taught this and that lesson, as a condition of future possibility.

Those who resent the world too much are eager to find others to hold responsible for their condition. They easily become punitive and exclusionary.

~ from my grad reading for this week, from "Identity/Different"

Hunger

2012-01-31T09:00:00.000-06:00

At points in our life, we will behold a sight so breathtaking that it causes our souls to pause for the briefest of moments. yes, indeed, yes. a piece of art, lyrics to a song, the rustle of an oak tree on a morning walk.

Early in November, I decided to treat myself to a print from Starshaped Press at the DIY Trunk Show as I'd been lusting over their farmers market print for more than a year. Cash in hand, I rushed over to her booth and stopped cold when I happened upon this print instead.

My heart. Our home.

It hangs in our dining room and serves as a reminder of who we are and those our hearts should hunger for.

a peaceful tune

2012-01-30T20:23:00.000-06:00

Jimmyred and I grabbed a few appetizers after work last week, sitting in oversized booths in one of my favorite Chicago restaurants. This song came over the speakers, transporting me into a tranquil place, followed by so many others we loved as kids in the early nineties that we joked it was XM radio on "Jimmy Station." Although that night has passed, this song as been on repeat all week never far from my ears.

It's peace and it's soul and it simply makes me feel good. Like, really really just really good.

on grief and chaos and peace

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

the places, the points in time in which we find ourselves can be so ironic sometimes like they were lost or discarded, cast aside to be picked up at a later point like an aging book, dust blown from the cover, pages creaked open, highlighted passages faded with forgetfulness yet expected to turn with the ease and grace of a freshly printed page.

every passing hour, an orchestrated dance and a drunken, fumbling, ill-timed cadence. life just moves, you guys, it just keeps on spinning madly past. caught up in the whirling moments, the frenetic winds, life pulsates and breathes and beats.

brad does not.

constantly, pressingly, urgently so is the consideration of how one might find peace within in a chaotic world and the universal balance of existing in a peaceful world with a chaotic interior. how might I slow down a writhing interior force, a wound ball of inner passion, outer pleasantries, and devastating loss that must be expressed in some way, but is accepted in none.

as I write these words I absentmindedly reach for my cup of tea of which there is none. a constant companion of late, of warmth, a soothing of ritualistic tears, dissolving heart in throat, calming panic and fear.

I'd be lying to say he's the only thing on my mind, days when work and class and business occupy every potential of thought, pushing aside a tiny bit of space for marriage and friendships and social interactions. at the risk of sounding something, an honest thought is this :: I am disappointed that the people I have met in this season of my life have met me at this season in my life. I have nothing to offer new relationships these days, hell -- old ones too, little strength to converse in a way that is fulfilling, inspiring, worth the time it takes to introduce myself. as if my ears are plugged with suffering, self pity. this will pass, yes? as if we all can hope.

my heart breaks for the future of those kids. young, young kids that can sit in a room and watch a young boy die, know there is serious trouble, react out of fear, and allow my baby brother to be swept from this world without so much as a call for help. I am simultaneously overcome daily with anger and sadness and pity, would I embrace them or the last moments of his life that they were given the privilege to witness, to sit by his side, of experiencing his escape, his transition into death, and no one reached for him, his hands remained clasped, no human contact to usher him in.

I'm so sorry you were alone.

over excitement

2012-01-24T20:56:00.002-06:00

perhaps ordering 5,000 business cards was a bit much?

Sharin' the Love and Inspiration

2012-01-24T13:47:00.001-06:00

Blog reading is a major ~~addiction~~ er hobby of mine and a source of inspiration in the way that I manage my household, grow my business, and live my life.

I am more than thrilled and appreciative that you meet me here in this space to catch up on all the happenings here at our lovey urban farmhouse. I get all sorts of giddy (and nervous and embarrassed) every time someone tells me they read my blog -- like, really? You find it interesting? But you do and it's more than exciting. So thank you for joining me.

Today, however, I'd love to share with you my regular reads -- the blogs I return to each and every day. Some are well known and you probably love them already. Some I've been reading for years, others just a few weeks. At any rate, I bet that you will more than fall in love with these ladies, their words, their inspirations just like I have. There is no better relaxation or break from the day than to curl up in our coziest chair and get lost in the world of beautiful women whom share my same life values.

Happy reading!

Ginny Sheller at Small Things

Amanda Blake Soule at SouleMama

Kate Maclean at Longest Acres

Heather at Beauty That Moves

Laura at Violet Bella

Logan Square ♥

2012-01-24T13:27:00.000-06:00

Farmers markets are one of the many reasons

I'm in love with this city ♥

Greening Your Home :: No 'Poo

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, jimmyredhed and I went out to lunch with my step-father. As we were animatedly chatting about our urban farmhouse, our chickens come spring, and our eco motivations, Greg just shook his head and said, "you're really getting out there, aren't ya?"

Perhaps we are "getting a little out there" and this post will only go to prove Greg right (though I won't admit that to him in person, Mom).

I stopped using shampoo about two months ago.

The reactions to my new personal grooming habits have been mixed. Most people are very interested in learning how they too can go "poo free" while others give me weird looks out of corner of their eyes. One of our roommates even declared, "when I start smelling patchouli, I'm out."

But here's the thing ... I still shower every day ... for now. I've just eliminated shampoo and conditioner.

Why did I stop using shampoo? We live intentional lives here at the urban farmhouse and I'm constantly striving to streamline the products we purchase and consume. Shampoo is really unnecessary in many regards. Your hair contains its own natural cleaning agents and needs no more than water to cleanse itself of dirt. Shampoo contains harsh chemicals, byproducts of crude oil, and comes in packaging that does the same. It's expensive, wasteful, and I'm not even convinced it really works. Additionally, I wash my hair nearly every day and my head still gets itchy and majorly greasy if I miss one day of washing it. I figure there has to be a better way, yes?

sources ::

baking soda, apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil

I now keep a mason jar and spoon in the shower along with a closed jar of baking soda, bottle of apple cider vinegar, and bottle of tea tree oil out of reach of the water. I begin by brushing my hair before getting in the shower to loosen dirt and tangles. I wet all my hair first. Then I put 1 teaspoon of baking soda into the jar, fill it about 1/3 full of water and mix. I massage this mixture onto my head. I did find that if you use too much baking powder, you will have a build up of whiteness in your hair that looks like dandruff! I leave it on for just a minute and then rinse.

Next I use a splash of apple cider vinegar (2 teaspoons are suggested) into the jar and fill the rest of the jar up with water. Pour rinse over my hair. I leave it on for as long as I would use conditioner and then rinse.

Lastly, I place 1-2 drops of tea tree oil in the jar and fill with water. It is an oil so it does make your hair more oily, but it is a natural antiseptic and combats dandruff and itchy scalps. I leave it on for 1-2 minutes and rinse.

I have found that my hair is more oily than normal, but not in a gross "look like I haven't showered" way. Because of the oil, it is actually easier to style and holds curl much better than usual. I'm also not losing much hair in the shower or when brushing. I actually read that tea tree oil can help stop hair loss. Instead of a fistful of hair in the shower drain, I find a few strands at most.

I'm interested in hearing your experience with "No Poo!"

*This article lends great discussion to "No Poo" shampooing methods.

How do you spell Bok Bawk Bock?

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

The Urban Farmhouse can't wait for spring!

Word on the Street ♥

2012-01-16T21:32:00.002-06:00

lots of press love today ♥

photo by Urban Folk Circuit

A Crafty Idea: Urban Folk Circuit Sells Handmade Items at The Grafton

by Patty Wetli, Center Square Journal

photo by Darlene Ostrowski

Indie Craft Fair: Urban Folk Circuit travels around Chicago

by Darlene Ostrowski, Indie Made

Herbs and Spices

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

A peek into our urban farmhouse kitchen ...

A major component of learning to cook has been learning to use spices. I don't know where I'd be in the world without curry, crushed red pepper, sage, cumin. We use a lot of spices and love to buy them in bulk. Our beloved fruit market carries a local brand out of Carol Stream in bulk which is super affordable. Have you even checked the price of McCormick's lately? Terrifyingly high! My mom and I also make a visit out to the Amish bakery each time I'm home and I load up on many spices, honey, agave nectar, molasses, and granola.

I even tried my hand at growing my own herbs this past summer and still have oregano and thyme going strong on our windowsill. I can't wait for our lavender and chocolate mint next summer!

A Weeklong Nap

2012-01-12T21:40:00.000-06:00

Apparently afflictions are running abundant this week. J. had a fever, my niece has bronchitis, and Jimmyred came home from work Monday to find that he has an aggravated disc in his lower back. He's off work until Tuesday when he starts physical therapy.

To say Killer is thrilled would be less than an understatement.

greenie bean goodbye

2012-01-11T18:53:00.001-06:00

fare you well, my honey, fare you well my only true one.

sunday morning as the boys gathered around the football game, I silently made my way through my craft show belongings for what is likely the last time.

greenie bean has been my baby, my most proud accomplishment, my life's driving force most days, but in this season, I'm settled. I'm ready to put down this business as I've known it, rest my bones, breathe life into new pursuits before releasing them from the palm of my hand into the world.

I've grown tired, weary, needing to settle into the comfort of home, turn inward before I can turn outward again. 2011 has been a challenging year all around for me, but especially for my business. I turned to nannying for the flexibility and extra time it would give me to grow my business and in the first year it did just that. I saw success that I had dreamed of that far. But in this year, the flexibility held true, but extra time did not. Basically, J. stopped napping as much as she did and I don't have the time that I did. In this year, I also chose to spend my free time with friends, at class, in our home, and in the garden. Whereas I would spend most every evening sewing, I cooked instead. I kept promising myself I'd get back to it, but around the time that Brad died, I lost the motivation and chose to heal rather than produce.

And so I'm here, at the beginning of a new year, on the verge of new pursuits, tucked away in our basement sorting through tote after tote of craft show belongings that hadn't been emptied in nearly half a decade. I put away rolls of tape, extension cords, ibuprofen. I hung the last of my farmers market totes, one by one, in seasoned order, empty hangers haunting remaining spaces.

so farewell for now, little greenie bean. we will meet again in a way that's best for both of us.

and for you faithful friends, the last handful of farmers market totes are sprinkled in my shop. use code FAREWELL for 50% off your purchase.

farmhouse inspiration

2012-01-10T18:21:00.000-06:00

what beautiful inspiration this would be to adorn our farmhouse walls.

homestead by beauchamping

kitchen humor

2012-01-10T13:15:00.001-06:00

It's just the way that I roll.

Rock Out With Your Crock Out - 8"x10" by Drunk Girl Designs

Sewing [Room] Notions:: A Fresh Space

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

Whenever I am lacking inspiration or motivation or just need to clear my head and start fresh, I change things up! I clean, rearrange, organize, and tidy up my space. It has absolutely never failed me and welcomes a flood of new ideas!

So I set out to "pretty" up the sewing room. I went through piles of fabric, moved all my supplies into the same space and cleaned away old projects so that I have room for new ones!

What a fresh and inviting space I have before me now! I have so many projects I can't wait to get started on!

2012 Business Goals

2012-01-09T16:37:00.000-06:00

in the quiet of this monday afternoon, I broke out the markers and easel pad to do some serious business brainstorming. in 2012, I have decided to ease away from greenie bean recycle for the time being to develop a more comprehensive business plan that incorporates writing, teaching, organizing, and making.

how inspiring it is to see your ideas enlarged and in color?!

I feel that 2012 will be my best year yet. A new website and business plan awaits me!

And I'm working on my resolution of learning to use my new camera!

In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu

2012-01-06T15:37:00.000-06:00

image sources :: lentil loaf, pita pizza, burgers, pasta

A glorious Friday afternoon is upon us. 50 degrees in January, a day filled with shining sun, and an early dismissal from work. A splendid transition into the weekend, with reason to celebrate. I returned to our kitchen this week for much needed sustenance after a holiday season filled with cookies and cocktails. I ate enough sugar to last me through 2012 and you may recall that reducing my sugar intake is one of my goals for this year along with taking better care of my teeth and drinking more water. I think they all go hand in hand!

I feel that I had great success in the foodie department this week. Not only was my only sweets a mug of hot chocolate and a bite of pumpkin roll, I cooked some delicious meals as well. The boys can attest!

1. I'll always note which meals the boys cooked.

2. All meals are made from scratch unless otherwise noted and use organic ingredients as much as possible.

3. I will not post recipes from printed cookbooks, but I'll include the books they're from and the links to online recipes.

Monday

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese -- Jimmy

Soup that I froze this summer!

Personal Pita Pizzas -- Alex

Tuesday

Mushroom and Cabbage Pie and Brussel Sprouts

sliced in thirds, sauteed in olive oil with green onion, pinch of sea salt

Wednesday

Black Bean Burgers and Brussel Sprouts

My burgers consist of two cans of beans or soaked equivalent (I supplement pinto or kidney if I only have one can of black), whatever veggies I have on hand (garlic, onion, celery, shredded carrots, shredded zucchini or squash, green onions), one egg or vegan equivalent, whatever spices I have on hand (black pepper, crushed red pepper, oregano and thyme), and bread crumbs until it gets to a moldable consistency. Then I mold into balls, cover with bread crumbs and fry in a skillet with olive oil, pressing them with a spatula like a regular burger. They're done once they're browned and crispy on all sides.

Pasta with Basil Pesto and Parmesan and Corn

Pesto I made and froze this summer!

Thursday

Homemade Croutons and Bread Crumbs

Vegan Lentil Loaf, Mashed Potatoes and Vegan Gravy, Steamed Broccoli

I got to test my spicy homemade ketchup I canned this spring on the lentil loaf. Yum!

Friday

Hearty Broccoli Soup and Tossed Salad

Wondering which cookbooks I use? I've discussed my favorites here.

Quick Life Update

2012-01-05T13:42:00.002-06:00

I'm working on a new website. I stopped using shampoo. I bought a new camera and left it at a friend's house the first day. I made my own dishwasher detergent and croutons.

Recently, when people tell me about the accomplishments or challenges they're facing at work, incompetent coworkers, or arguments with their bosses (beese?), my response (in my head) has been,

"Well, today, I drew a pretty mean giraffe."

Winterizing the Frontyard Homestead

2012-01-03T12:00:00.000-06:00

Jimmyredhed built us a new compost bin, we covered our full bin for the winter, and

shut down the frontyard homestead for the winter.

December's End and Brussel Sprouts

2012-01-03T09:00:00.001-06:00

Quite surreal it is to harvest our very last vegetables of the season at the very end of the year.

J. and I brought in the remainder of our kale and our brussel sprouts, pausing just briefly to steal a moment from the year, a bite from the stalk.

Grief, Birthdays, and Tattoos

2012-01-02T12:00:00.001-06:00

A whirlwind holiday celebration season slowly comes to a close as we usher in the new year. Going home, in and of itself, was weird in many ways. It's really the first time since Brad died that I've been around town and, quite honestly, the memories of him are overwhelming. It is nearly impossible to turn a corner without expecting to see Brad walking down the street.

We spent the afternoon of Jimmyred's birthday, Christmas Eve, in a tattoo shop back home, The Alternative. My brother's best friend Rodney gave Jimmy and I memorial tattoos. Sitting in Rodney's shop was a strange experience as well as the memory of Brad is so alive within those walls. He spent so many days in those chairs, pictures of him adorn the walls, his friends enter in constant stream. I felt more connected to him in that space than I have in years yet feel like I know him not at all.

Jimmyredhed was brave, tolerated the pain, and received his first tattoo. He had Rodney draw the Boston 'B' for Brad and got hatchetman (from ICP) on top. Brad had hatchetman tattooed on his hand.

Brad had a lotus flower on his left arm. My sister, mom, and I got the lotus in purple. I added the Trent Reznor lyrics "i am still right here" from "Hurt" in my own handwriting. It's deeply personal and representative of my brother's life and our relationship.

I actually love the Johnny Cash version the most.

A New Year

2012-01-02T08:57:00.000-06:00

As our holiday season and the last year of our lives wind to a close, I sit cozily in the sun room, snow blanketing our urban homestead in white, kitties lounging lazily on the couch, the boys still asleep on this last day of break.

When I attempt to reflect on the past year, I find myself at a loss for words. It was challenging, posed lots of questions. I find myself in uncomfortable transition at many points, wondering if I'm where I'm supposed to be, what the next step is, the big picture and, similarly, everyday life.

In 2011, we drove to Ohio, flew to New Mexico, camped in Indiana, celebrated my sister-in-law's wedding in Michigan, visited friends in St. Louis. I reconnected with many old friends, continued on in grad school, grew the Urban Folk Circuit, but halted greenie bean recycle. We welcomed the birth of our first niece, celebrated our sixth year together and third wedding anniversary. I "ran" a 5k, practiced homesteading skills, grew a garden, learned to make homemade noodles, jam, pickles, and participated in a CSA, meet a wonderful host of like-minded folks at the White Rose, joined a co-op. I became active in our neighborhood association. We hosted our first Urban Homesteading workshop. My little brother died, propelling a season of mourning that has yet to end. We huddled close to home for the remaining season of the year, reconnecting to ourselves, and healing in ways that only home can provide.

In 2012, I plan to still stick close to home weekly, but have some exciting travel plans. We plan to sneak away for a weekend in January, resting up at a family cabin in southern Illinois. Jimmy and I have separate spring breaks planned and a host of smaller trips sprinkled throughout the year.

I have new business plans that I hope to launch soon. A fancy new camera to update this little blog of mine. A focus to finish these remaining four semesters of grad school. A bathroom renovation looms on the horizon, small projects scattered throughout, grand plans for gardens and chickens come spring. What would a new year be without a coordinate list of goals though? And so, these are the resolutions that I plan to commit myself to.

Drink more water
Drastically reduce my sugar intake
Take better care of my teeth
Learn how to use my new DSLR
Launch a new business website

I have a quiet hope for this year, the even numbered year that it is, to join the ranks with 2008 and 2010 as the best years of my life. I'll usher it in quietly with this boy that I love in this house that we love in the most glorious city in the world. I can't wait to begin this conversation with you, have you gathered around my dining room table, conversing candidly on all the life, love, kindness, and passion.

Ponderings :: Depth

2011-12-20T13:46:00.005-06:00

“I must be a mermaid, Rango.

I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”

~ Anaïs Nin

source

Plants vs Gnats

2011-12-14T15:38:00.001-06:00

I feel pretty silly that in celebration of my 500th post, I'm writing in to tell you I still have gnats.

I still have gnats.

Let's recap shall we :: I stopped watering them, put them outside in October to kill off the gnats (which only succeeded in killing some of my plants). I segregated them to the bathroom, changed out the soil, put traps of red wine and white vinegar around the house (which killed many adults). I watered with a bit of dishsoap in the water which also worked ... for a while. You can read about my first attempts here.

Last weekend, I filled a spray bottle with one part peroxide to 10 parts water and sprayed them down. I've only watered them 1x/wk and I tore up little pieces of yellow construction paper as I read that gnats hate the color yellow.

Well, I still have gnats.

I guess I'm going to decide which ones to repot and which ones to throw out.

Any further suggestions?

a sunfilled corner of our home

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

a corner of our sunroom

where I read, write, dream and scheme

talk on the phone

have weekend conversations with my jimmyredhed

my most perfect space in our home ♥

handmade ryan gosling

2011-12-08T22:13:00.001-06:00

i have been all over feminist ryan gosling, librarian ryan gosling, typographer ryan gosling.

basically, i've been all over ryan gosling.

but a fellow crafter, Ashley, just created handmade ryan gosling.

yes, oh my lord, yes.

Our Living Room :: Family History

2011-12-08T16:54:00.001-06:00

Enter into our living room with me.

it isn't often that I share pictures of this space although it is one of my favorites and

the very first room we rehabbed upon moving in two Decembers ago.

our living room is our interior most space.

it has no windows yet four doorways.

we've celebrated all the original wood work and crystal doorknobs.

this space has been the most slowly decorated and continues to evolve.

over the weekend, jimmyredhed hung a couple shelves I had dreamed up.

constructed from reclaimed deck wood from our wood pile and new brackets from home depot,

I wanted the shelves to retain their unfinished nature so I did not sand or paint them.

family history is alive within this room.

my grandmother made the quilt for me a few christmases past.

the side table and chair on the left is a sewing machine Jimmy's aunt received in 1967 for her wedding shower.

my dearest piece of furniture in our entire house is our coffee table.

my grandfather built that table well before I was born and used it for filleting fish.

he died when I was eight, but I have very vivid memories of him sitting at this table in the yard,

jeans and a pocket tee shirt, an unfiltered cigarette dangling from his mouth.

as kids we'd run around the yard, eat tomatoes from his garden (unless he caught us!),

crawl under the fence into the field next door, and swing from his rope swing.

this table has served a most functional purpose in his life and in mine.

our jade lamp was thrifted, the TV table found in the alley,

our record box stolen from my mother, the oversized chair gifted from a sweet friend.

just over yonder, a peek into our dining room.

our christmas tree branch resides in that doorway year round,

but has joined the festivities with a pom pom garland I constructed last december.

our living room is lived in and loved.

you are most welcome here.

Ponderings :: A Perfect Life

2011-12-08T09:00:00.000-06:00

daisychic

we have both ♥

What Can I Compost?

2011-12-07T18:06:00.001-06:00

I've been composting for more than three years and I still find myself wondering whether or not certain items can go in our compost bin. I looked for a list of compostable items, something easy to print out and have on hand, but I couldn't find one. The information from Planet Green and paired with a handy "how-to" should be the perfect package needed to take the fear out of composting. It's amazing at how little waste we will actually generate when we're reusing, recycling, and composting everything we can!

The Green Cycler

Ponderings :: Be Alive

2011-12-07T13:47:00.001-06:00

If you're quiet, you're not living.

You've got to be noisy and colorful and lively ♥
~ mel brooks

hyacinth pillow and chevron quilt, hula hoop, saying

Living Off the Land

2011-12-06T22:13:00.001-06:00

from treehugger

How much land would you need to live off grid?

on Local, Co-ops vs Whole Foods

2011-12-06T14:22:00.000-06:00

a friend of mine recently sent me an email inquiring about the differences between a co-op and Whole foods. I set out to respond to her with a quick email and soon realized I had more to say than I thought.

There are many conflicting opinions regarding shopping locally, shopping organic, and shopping independently. I outlined some of my beliefs in this email and after I sent it off, I began to think that it may be helpful for others who are contemplating a switch from corporate grocery stores to more local options like farmers markets, community supported agriculture shares and co-ops.

I don't claim to be the most informed party on eating locally, but these are the guidelines that I consider when shopping for my family.

starshaped press are local Chicago artisans whom I adore!

Q:
I just watched the first 30 minutes of Food inc. and don't think I'll every be able to buy meat from a grocery store again. I remember you saying you joined a co-op, and I recently learned what that is. Can you tell me more about it and maybe the difference between joining that and shopping at whole foods?

A:

The primary thing to understand about Whole Foods is that while they sell all organic goods, they are a huge corporation and the products they sell are also owned and produced by huge corporations. For example, Dannon owns Stoneyfield Organic yogurt. Crest owns Toms of Maine. Now, I buy Stoneyfield and Tom's myself and prefer organic over other kinds of yogurt, but I still hesitate to pass my money over to these corporations which ultimately funds their other business that aren't environmentally-conscious and are using conventional farming methods that are harmful to the animals, the environment and the consumer. You're escaping from it a bit when you buy organic, but you're not completely getting away from it. I'm not too informed on this point yet, but Whole Foods also opened up to carrying genetically modified foods that are grown with Monsanto seed. There was a huge uproar with this, but Whole Foods didn't back down.

A co-op on the other hand, does not have an owner. Well, actually they have hundreds of owners, but that is us. The Dill Pickle Co-op in Logan Square was started by some people in the community who wanted access to buying local, organic food in bulk. They work directly with local farmers and producers for much of their stock and choose small, family businesses over corporate brands (you can still find some mainstream brands though). So it costs $250 to join the co-op (payable over five years) and that gives you a stake in the company. You can buy directly out of the grocery store or you can order in bulk (and get a 10% discount when doing so). I actually buy toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner in bulk there. Your money is supporting local farmers who are producing goods ethically and humanely, you are keeping money in the neighborhood (it's said that 80% of cash spent in the neighborhood stays in the neighborhood), supporting neighbors who work there, obtaining organic items for yourself, and at the end of the year, you get a return on your investment. As long as the co-op is in good financial standing, all members get a return on their investment. I look at it like even if I don't shop there, I'm investing in a business I believe in.

My thought on the process is this (understandingly, I don't eat meat, but I think it's applicable across the board) ::

1. I will buy organic directly from a farmer or local business person or the person who is producing the food.

2. If I can't buy organic from a farmer, I will buy non-organic from a farmer.

2. If I can't buy non-organic from a farmer, I will buy organic from a local, independent business.

3. If I can't buy organic from an independent business, I will buy non-organic from an independent business.

4. If I can't buy from an independent business, I will buy organic from a non-independent business.

5. If I can't buy organic from a non-independent business, I will go hungry (just kidding). I'll buy non-organic from a non-independent business.

Often times 2-4 change due to my proximity to a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

What are your thoughts on eating local vs eating organic vs shopping at corporate grocery stores?

Putting our Frontyard Homestead to Rest

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

As winter slowly and kindly emerges, our raised beds were put to rest.

We pulled (nearly) the last of the plants, put cardboard down over the barren spaces, and covered the soil with coffee chaff in a basic lasagna gardening method. In terms of composting, coffee chaff serves as brown matter. It protects the soil as a mulch over winter and will decompose by spring when we're ready to plant again. We've also mulched our walkways and our perennials with chaff.

We gather large bags of chaff from Metropolis Coffee a couple times per month as they graciously give it away for free. It is lightweight and works well though we have little puddles of coffee the morning after it sprinkles.

Our kale has stopped growing, but survives the frost and gets a bit sweeter as a result. Our brussel sprouts survive as well and are ready to be harvested. Our first permanent compost is filled to the top and Jimmyredhed's planning construction for our next bin. We plan to have four when we're finished.

A few final garden chores await us: covering our wood pile, draining and storing our hose, emptying and storing our deck boxes, and building the new compost bins. We hope to beat the snow, but sometimes, winter just gets to us first.

As I prepare for my final presentation of the semester, my body, mind, and spirit eagerly await a month-long break from class. I questioned the decision to take classes this semester in light of Brad's death, but ultimately decided that I need to keep my normal schedule. While this class has progressed just fine, I'm left a bit exhausted mentally. My only plans for break are to reread Farm City, peruse Keeping Chickens, and daydream about our spring crops with the Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener's Handbook.

Come early spring, we will begin preparing this little home for new inhabitants ♥

bury your burdens down

2011-12-05T15:32:00.001-06:00

this song has been my heart.

If you've got burdens, don't carry them

Just bury them in the ground

If you're hurting, don't worry

I'll try to be around

How long can the night time last?
How long can it be?
These sharp tooth creatures from the past
Gonna be the end of me

Ohhhh, let the sun come up
Feeling good wasn't good enough for us
And I bid farewell to this living hell

Some got it bad, some got it worse
Some just can't let go no matter how it hurts
But no one, no one can say
That we didn't do it the hard way

How long can the night time last
How long can it be
These sharp tooth creatures coming fast,

gonna be the death of me

Ohhhh, let the sun come up
Feeling good wasn't good enough, for us

You've got to bury your burdens down
You've got to bury your burdens down,
You've got to bury your burdens down, in the ground

Ponderings :: Vegetarianism

2011-12-05T10:24:00.001-06:00

funny and true from Cold Antler Farm.

An Urban Barn Raising

2011-12-04T20:52:00.001-06:00

Jimmy built a shed and he's pretty excited about it ♥

(our lawnmower, weed eater, bypass loppers, hoses, ladders, and garden supplies are excited as well).

A Damper on Our Evening

2011-12-03T09:00:00.000-06:00

Oh, the joys of homeownership!

Last weekend, Jimmyredhed and I sat cuddled together about to watch a movie when I casually glanced up at the living room ceiling and caught a glimpse of a slight brown circle. I instantly knew it was a water leak and Jimmy pointed out that it was, indeed, directly where the upstairs toilet sits.

Upon further inspection this week, he realized that there is no seal whatsoever under the toilet.

He's in the midst of fixing now!

Let the toilet puns commence!

Ponderings :: All the Things We Make

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000-06:00

All the things we use, all the things we make, everything we manipulate, everything we accumulate, derives from creation itself. If we learn to seek contentment as our great gain, we will take and shape less of the earth. We will demand less from the land. We will leave room for other creatures. We will responsibly exercise dominion over the earth and will preserve it. We will thus allow creation to heal itself and to perpetuate its fruitfulness, to the praise of its creator.

~Calvin B. DeWitt

a glimpse into my final canning frenzy in early November.

In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu

2011-12-02T07:28:00.000-06:00

photo sources :: lasagna, pancakes, chickpea patties, jam

Our holiday weekend was as lovely as we could ever imagine. Our house was filled with hearty breakfast and veggie lunches throughout our entire break. We spent beautiful days with Jimmyredhed's family, our friends in front out of town, and my dad. Our home served its truest potential by welcoming others in for nurturing through rest, fun, and food.

How was your Thanksgiving holiday?

Thursday

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

Friday

Pumpkin Bars

Chickpea "Sausage" Patties (based on Zucchini Sausages)

Sauteed Vegetables with Jalapeno and Corn Gravy

Scrambled Eggs

Toast with Homemade Jalapeno and Cranberry Jam

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna with Tossed Salad

Sunday

Eggless Pancakes

Scrambled Eggs

Toast

Tuesday

Bowtie Pasta with Homemade Alfredo (Kevin)

Wednesday

Confetti Kale with Walnuts and Couscous

Thursday
Hearty Oatmeal with cran-raspberries, almonds, and peanut butter

Wondering which cookbooks I use? I've discussed my favorites here.

Our Urban Farmhouse Turns 2!

2011-12-01T23:11:00.001-06:00

two glorious years ago today, we packed our one and a half years of marriage into many a mini van and headed west (in the city) to a big, red farmhouse in Portage Park. As of today we have rehabbed five rooms, built a deck, deconstructed our front yard, installed raised beds, and built a shed. Our home serves as my most inspiring place, providing refuge and rest. May all who enter our urban farmhouse be blessed.

This piece of land is our homestead now ♥

from The Year of Magical Thinking

2011-11-30T15:12:00.001-06:00

I have been using the majority of my down time over the past week to read The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. It was passed to me by a friend and has proven to be exactly what I've needed at this point in the mourning process. My excerpts describe exactly what I've been at a loss to describe.

from pages 188-189

Grief turns out to be a place none of us know until we reach it. We anticipate (we know) that someone close to us could die, but we do not look beyond the few days or weeks that immediately follow such an imagined death. We misconstrue the nature of even those few days or weeks. We might expect if the death is sudden to feel shock. We do not expect this shock to be obliterative, dislocating to both body and mind. We might expect that we will be prostrate, inconsolable, crazy with loss. We do not expect to be literally crazy, cool customers who believe that their husband is about to return and need his shoes.

In the version of grief we imagine, the model will be “healing.” A certain forward movement will prevail. The worst days will be the earliest days. We imagine that the moment to most severely test us will be the funeral, after which this hypothetical healing will take place.When we anticipate the funeral we wonder about failing to “get through it,” rise to the occasion, exhibit the “strength” that invariably gets mentioned as the correct response to death. We anticipate needing to steel ourselves for the moment: will I be able to greet people, will I be able to leave the scene, will I be able even to get dressed that day?

We have no way of knowing that this will not be the issue. We have no way of knowing that the funeral itself will be anodyne, a kind of narcotic regression in which we are wrapped in the care of others and the gravity and meaning of the occasion. Nor can we know ahead of the fact (and here lies the heart of the difference because grief as we imagine it and grief as it is) the unending absence that follows, the void, the very opposite of meaning, the relentless succession of moments during which we will confront the experience of meaninglessness itself.

A Birthday Hiding Place

2011-11-23T18:07:00.001-06:00

Today is the birthday celebration of my most favorite two-year-old.

This is J. around her birthday last year, November 2010.

I began nannying Johannah when she was just shy of three months old. She is the smartest, funniest, silliest little lady I've ever met and I just adore her. It goes without saying that one year makes such a significant difference. She speaks in sentences, remembers everyone's name, and yesterday told her music teacher that her favorite animal was a crocodile.
Her teacher expected kitty or doggy or bunny ... not crocodile!

Untitled from Kelli J on Vimeo.

Jimmy and I wanted to give her the perfect two-year-old gift, one that will be used frequently and inspires the use of imagination! Based on this model, we made her a tent!

Happiest birthday, Johannah! We think you're pretty rad!

**This was supposed to post yesterday, but there were technical difficulties. Happy birthday on November 23.

On Grief and Its Season

2011-11-21T21:33:00.001-06:00

I step out our front door each morning eagerly greeted by the chill of winter. Reluctant to accept her return, I burrow deeply into layers, into warmth, into myself. For protection, for preservation, for survival. It is needed, it is necessary, it is at times lonely, and yet a welcome opportunity to turn inward and work out the inner going-ons of my mind trying to make sense of my day's simplest doings not making sense.

Oh, this season, this glorious, beautiful, painful, challenging season. This autumn has been the deepest, soul-shaking, catastrophic daily life happening to happen and yet time continues on as it does. Day dwindles earlier as it should, our lives grow shorter as they must. Quietness has been welcomed into my home and heart as I find myself, at times, weary of the tangled thoughts, confused words that fall forward from my consciousness uninvited.

And so I just am.

I attempt to embrace this wholly unique, fragile season of my existence, to caress it carefully in the palm of my hand, appreciate its impact on my shape and role in this world.

For I am always changing, renewing, reawakening and will welcome the grace that comes from waiting, from having patience with myself as I transform,

to let this be just as it is, to let me be just as I am.

Ponderings :: Vegetarian

2011-11-20T07:53:00.001-06:00

I am humbled by this Post Secret. Beautiful ♥

In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

couscous, sloppy joes, cinnamon rolls, muffins

Saturday

Coconut Curry with Sauteed Veggies and Couscous

Sunday

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Scrambled Eggs

Zucchini Sausages

Monday
Hearty Broccoli Soup

Tuesday
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Wednesday
Vegan Sloppy Joes
Raisin and Carrot Muffins

Thursday
Coconut Curry with Sauteed Vegetables and Couscous

My version of coconut curry is a recipe I've created myself. I always start with onions and garlic, throw in potatoes, and then whatever vegetables I have on hand. This week I used summer squash, zucchini, broccoli, and bell peppers. I add in black pepper, crushed red pepper, a few table spoons of curry powder and coconut milk.

Visit my cookbook arsenal here.

In My Kitchen :: A Vegetarian Cookbook Extravaganza

2011-11-17T14:07:00.001-06:00

2011 has been such a year of food exploration for me and beautifully so. I've found myself in the kitchen on many a night trying out new recipes and enjoying intoxicating new vegetables. I'm so lucky to nanny as well. I have the space to cook delicious meals during the day and feel so fortunate to nurture J. in this way. Cooking has been a labor of love, but a journey of learning as well. I really began experimenting (quite literally) and learning to cook after I graduated college and moved into my first Chicago apartment in Uptown in 2007. I'd load a bag of farmers market veggies into my scooter basket and drive home thinking "What the eff am I to do with these."

In October 2008, I became vegetarian and my experimenting transitioned to all vegetables. I feel like most of us don't know how to use vegetables, how to cook them, or eat them. The first step for me was throwing in every vegetable we had in the house! We ate a lot of wraps and rice dishes that year! I also began making soups and hummus during our first year of marriage, living in Rogers Park. Is it strange that I remember each of our apartments by what I cooked most frequently there?

As we enter our third year of homeowning, I'd like to think that I've far progressed in my cooking skills and have begun to nurture myself, my spouse, a couple transient roommates (I joke!), and friends and other family members on occasion. I've become much more confident following recipes, trying new vegetables, and owning substitutions. But it has been a process and has taken a lot of practice. Having a CSA share aided in said practice because I received a box full of vegetables each week that I had to use or see perish.

As I get asked these questions all the time, I thought I'd share my favorite cookbooks with you. These have been instrumental in teaching me to cook, growing my confidence with vegetables, and aiding in the growth of my vegetarianism (yes, I too began by eating grilled cheese and cheese pizza every week).

The Real Dirt on Vegetables has been my go-to source for learning about vegetables, how to cook them, and how to store them. It was written by Farmer John who runs Angelic Organics where we get our CSA.

Simply in Season seriously has the best recipes I have ever tried. Everything I've made from this book has been simply divine. I've gotten rave reviews for all the dishes I've made. It's awesome because it's arranged by season so all autumn recipes call for everything you already have in the kitchen. It also has beautiful reflections at the end of each page.

I don't use Veganomicon all the time, but I love that it has the meatless versions for many favorite dish. It was extraordinarily useful as it has info in the front for which ingredients every vegetarian (vegan) household should keep in stock. There's nary a recipe I come across these days that I don't already have the ingredients at home. That can make cooking a breeze (and much more enjoyable).

These are pretty much the three cookbooks I use for everything and the internet for all the rest. Of course, I'm not getting paid to share these reviews; I just honestly love them!

If you're looking for meal ideas or recipes, I share my week's worth of cooking on Fridays, a series of posts called In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu. I also share vegetarian recipes from time to time.

I hope this post gives you some ideas for cooking, helps you "get in the kitchen", and starts you on your way to feeling confident cooking with vegetables. Let me know what you think and which vegetarian cookbooks you swear by!

Turtles in a Half Shell! Turtle Power!

2011-11-17T07:07:00.001-06:00

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are kind of a big deal in our house. We may or may not have been gifted a full-sized TMNTII arcade game for our wedding. Jimmyredhed once found a Turtles van in the alley and has attempted to turn it into a beverage holder on the side of the arcade. Last year (maybe the year before), we ordered handmade coozies from etsy in all four Turtles! There may even be four little TMNC running around next spring when we welcome our chickens!

So when I found these glasses on a quick trip to Marshall's this week, I snatched them right up! There are four of them, four of us, and now we each have our own Turtles glass!

It's the little things in life, right?!

Can you guess which glass belongs to who? I think it says a lot about one's personality :)

Jimmy = Michelangelo

Kevin = Leonardo

Alex = Donatello

Kelli = Raphael

A Heart-filled Harvest

2011-11-16T15:49:00.001-06:00

Today marks the end of harvest, of our first full-season (extended season!) community supported agriculture share. Last winter, we wrote a check to a small, organic farm located near Rockford, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes outside of the city. This season we reaped the fruits of the field each week, partnered with a passionate team and Mother Nature.

Come harvest time around the first of June, a box of abundant vegetables were delivered to Lincoln Square in the pick up nearest my work. And so a routine grew and developed. Each Wednesday morning, I'd drive through an alley, at first unknown, until it soon became familiar, it soon became a glorious pathway with hydrangea blooming along the fences, sunshined leaves littered in fall, a dainty green gate marking our bounty's arrival. Chickens pecked the ground in the quaint backyard, a hammock swung in summer splendor, a modest path lined in sage, lavender, mint.

Every Wednesday morning, just after getting her getting dressed and on occasion just before, J. and I selected each vegetable one at a time, admiring its shape, size, color, smell, taste. My heart swelled even today when upon plucking out a scalloped green bunch, she exclaimed, "KALE" before taking a big bite. Now normally we wash all our veggies prior to eating, but the gloriousness from farm to table, at times, must not be interrupted.

We believe strongly in organic food, fresh, edible plants grown with regard to the earth, consumed with regard to our bodies. We believe strongly in small, passionate, family-owned farms, worked with hands over machines, attention over pesticidal poisons. We believe strongly in supporting our local economy, our money lining the pockets of friends, families, individuals working ethically and compassionately, not huge corporations that profit at the expense of others, raping their workers and the land in the process.

As this initial seasons draws to a close, as I grow willfully anxious about returning to a grocery store, I am so thankful for my spiritual excursions, my Wednesday rituals, a box of dirty old vegetables that rooted me to earth, taught me how to cook, how to nourish those I love, and how soul-rewarding it can be to teach a toddler the difference between a cucumber and a zucchini, the Grateful Dead humming along behind us.

Grief and Birthdays

2011-11-15T21:49:00.001-06:00

Though this day is nearly done, I must not retire without sharing a few words. As I describe this process of grief, I know at times, it can be difficult to read. Read if you wish. I seek not your approval nor your sympathy. I carry on through each day and use this outlet for myself, a record of the feelings that I'm too numb to feel in this moment, an account that I can revisit in the years to come to remind me of this raw, wide open, insanely intense mourning that braids the connection of head to heart that refuses to spark otherwise.

A mess of anxious laughter and inconsolable tears, I find myself strangely here on this Tuesday morning. Strangely here yesterday evening when my car, pointed in the direction of class, drove me home instead. Strangely here as my brother turns 22, but isn't around to celebrate his own birthday.

I return to the chaotic cadence of my own thoughts on life, death, eternity, immortality. In all my years, death has been my greatest fear, my frenetic pace constantly echoing inside my mind, in the back of my thoughts, "I must complete all the things I want to get done. Time is short. Death so near. What will you have to show for yourself?" And yet Brad lives on, always 21, never aging, preserved in youth.

Separated, elevated, segregated, I watch my body turn on the hot water, step out of its clothes, rinse sleep from its trembling skin, all while my mind hits snooze again and again. I pinch myself once, twice, four times, witness to the redness spreading crimson across a pale forearm speckled in freckles. "How weird?" I tell this dangling me, "I can't even feel it."

In the most ironic of ironies, our beloved 15-year-old chihuahua, Buster, passed away this morning on my mom's lap en route to the vet. A birthday greeting to my baby brother, the years between them, few.

We expect our grandparents to die, in our souls' recesses, our parents too. We do not expect our childhoods to crumble down around us, pieces rattling, shaking, and falling to our feet. A longing, deep guilt, to revisit each year, celebrate each moment, acknowledge that you are a living, breathing spirit until you neither live nor breathe any longer.

And what to do, we pick up each piece, wrap it in a bow, present it as a gift for those who've ended their birth celebration. sit quietly and continue to watch it fall.

Nannying :: Forts

2011-11-11T13:57:00.001-06:00

building forts could, quite possibly, solve all the world's ills.

that and hugs from jimmyredhed ♥

In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu

2011-11-11T09:57:00.000-06:00

oatmeal and soup

Sunday

Pumpkin Bars ... and here we go again!

Monday

Oatmeal with brown sugar, cran-raspberries, almonds, and a dollop of peanut butter

Homegrown salsa with green tomatoes

Tuesday

Linguine with Carrot, Cauliflower, and Cheese Sauce
Confetti Tuna Salad ... for J.
Oatmeal ... I was craving it all day long!

Wednesday

Kale and Potato Soup

Thursday

Quesadillas

Friday
Winter Squash Bars

This week was fairly slow in the kitchen, but sometimes that just happens. Between meetings and family and a looming grad school paper, tiredness sets in and you're grabbing bits and pieces where you can, returning to trusty (quick) favorites to whip up quickly. What are some of the old standbys you cling to and throw out in a pinch?

Greening Your Home :: Gnats

2011-11-10T15:41:00.000-06:00

spider plant and coleus

I've been acquiring houseplants over the past year to beautify our indoor space as well as reap all the clean air benefits that a little greenery brings to our home. It's old news that house plants purify indoor air and remove toxins, but also decrease stress levels as well.

In my limited (semi-black thumb experience), cuttings received from others fare far better than plants purchased from Home Depot or the like. All my new plants have died while my hand-me-downs are bold and beautiful.

However, over the past month, I have been fighting a losing battle with fungus gnats. Basically, these disgusting little creatures burrow down into the soil and lay eggs. Their disgusting little babies fester in damp soil and eat plant roots. Adult gnats fly into your eyeballs and are annoying. So I've done a fair amount of research and have tried a myriad of different things to limited success.

First, I stopped watering my plants and gave their roots time to dry. I scraped out some of the infested soil too. I filled mason jars three-fourths of the way full with red wine and poked holes in the lid. That actually worked well. The adult gnats are drawn to the wine and then drown! Amen, suckers. After a week, I noticed a major decrease in the number gnats, but they were not eradicated. I switched out the red wine for white vinegar, but that hasn't worked as well. I also cut raw potatoes and placed them in the soil ... the suggestion being that adult gnats will lay their larvae on the potatoes and then you can discard the slices before they mature. Nope, didn't work.

In attempts to get rid of the last batch of these little pests, I segregated the two plants that are affected and have watered only 1x over the past three weeks (they do look a bit sad). I added a touch of dish soap to my watering can, agitated the water and then applied to the plants. Fingers-crossed that this will work!

What are your suggestions for maintaining healthy plants in a green way? I'd sure love to know if you've tried something else that works better than these!

#OccupyChicago

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

There's battle lines being drawn

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong

Young people speaking their minds

Getting so much resistance from behind

What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down ☮

do you know what's going on in Chicago, across our nation, the world?

I'd be lying to say I'm not inspired ♥

Nannying :: Yoga with Kids

2011-11-09T14:46:00.000-06:00

In attempts to work out the knots, bumps, and pain throughout my shoulders and back, relieve stress, relieve tension, and generally feel better, I've been including a bit of yoga and stretching every day. Honestly, I'm not very good and despite having the patience of a gnat, I am enjoying the opportunity to un-hunch my shoulders for a few minutes a day.

Sometimes, the best time to stretch is in the middle of the day with Johannah right beside me. And it never fails! Downward dog becomes a bridge! How exciting?! Child's pose includes a monkey on my back. I began wondering and researching poses that J. could do with me, along side me, that would make her feel good too. In addition to some favorites, I found these videos that definitely put a spin on regular old yoga and make it appropriate for partnering with children.

I can't wait to give these moves a try!

Silly to Calm Yoga

Yoga Kid ABC's

Childhood :: Movies and Nostalgia

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

Last night, I was curled up in bed with a kitty at my feet, "diligently" writing a grad school paper on "The Right to Housing." I had to type borrowers time and again and in true college-student fashion, my mind was looking for any chance to procrastinate.

Feeling a bit nostalgic, I thought of my Grandma Linda, the summers I would spend at her house and how every night before we'd go to sleep, me sharing her huge waterbed with her and at least one other cousin, we'd watch Nick at Night or a movie. My favorites was The Borrowers. We watched it together nearly every time I stayed.

Likewise, Bedknobs and Broomsticks will always remind me of my Grandma Donna. In fact, after watching it for the first time, my little sister and I raced home and twirled the knobs on our daybed to see if we, too, had a magical flying bed!

What are your most nostalgic childhood movies?

Greening Your Home :: Earth Scrub

2011-11-08T17:34:00.002-06:00

In summer of 2008, Jimmy and I were newly married and moved into our first apartment together. In August, an adorable little lady came to live with us, our darling Killer Queen. I remember those first weeks with our new kitten in the house. I'd scrub the white kitchen linoleum and she'd run around behind me licking the bleach off the floor! Uh . . . no! Instead of locking her in a bedroom on a regular basis, I decided instead to rid our apartment of harmful cleaning supplies and made the switch to homemade right away.

soft scrub image source

I use this earth scrub to clean our sinks, shower, bathtub, and stove. It works phenomenally on anything needing some grit or abrasive. You may use any liquid soap, but if we're going chemical-free here, I suggest an organic soap like Dr. Bronner's.

1/2 cup ... Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castille Soap peppermint

1 2/3 ... Baking Soda

1/2 cup ... Water

2 tbs ... Distille White Vinegar

Mix together in a bowl and transfer to a squirt bottle (an old ketchup bottle or dish soap bottle both work great). It works phenomenally on porcelain, bathtubs, sinks especially if you let it set for a bit before scrubbing and rinsing. Shake or mix your mixture frequently so that it doesn't separate or dry out.

Interested in greening your home further? Start with your laundry ... and throw those damn dryer sheets away!

Reflection :: If You Love

2011-11-08T09:00:00.000-06:00

soldier and peace sign

You might quiet the whole world for a second if you pray.

And if you love, if you really love,

our guns will wilt ♥

If You Love from Love Poems By God by Daniel Ladinsky

On Grief and Dichotomy

2011-11-07T21:48:00.000-06:00

Anxious motion, I do something, I do everything, I do nothing. Five nights in a row, I unlock the basement door, walk straight to bed leaving my belongings trailing in the dark, undress under layers of blankets as night progresses. A rare day alone, I pace from kitchen to couch, from shower to garden, sit and stare at my hands, willing my mind to remember to think. Conversations start and stop in clumsy syncopation. Chattering endlessly, I can't find words to make small talk. I am just ...

A racing mind, adrenaline, so awake that I lie in bed for an hour before sleep draws near, memories flood, the curve of his chin, the shift in cushions as he sits next to me on Christmas morning, nightly wracking sobs. I fall asleep, dream of him as a child, a night we're out to dinner, wake up every half an hour to remind myself he's gone. Alarm clock rings. Exhaustion.

Mood swings, intense, unmanageable. I'm angry, I'm not, I'm sorry, I'm not, I'm joyous, I can't. By nightfall I've lost all energy, ability to interact.
I don't.

Numb, hypersensitive, I can stare at his picture unblinking ... that's my brother, that's my brother, that's my brother. A few moments pass each day when I don't feel like he's gone, don't have to admit that he's gone. I can stare at his picture and not feel. Catching a gaze from the corner of my eye, a stranger on the bus, hearing "Brad" in any passing conversation and my skin burns, my eyes burn, my innerness enflames.
"What does your brother do now?"
Well nothing actually. He's dead.

at two and a half months of grief, I'm managing the worst dichotomy, straddling two worlds,
one I never chose.

Thrift Store Score

2011-11-07T09:00:00.000-06:00

oh, a thrift store score, little can do more for my soul than you.

I recently discovered this little gem of storefront thrift shop in Portage Park (and wrote a bit about it here) across from The Patio Theater.

Be still my heart.

I found a .99 canning funnel on my first trip. Their record collection is most beautiful and I picked up a CSNY album and a postage scale. I have such a crush on this place ♥

Have you found any wonderful treasures lately?

Reflection :: My Lucky Rock

2011-11-06T19:44:00.000-06:00

earth and earth

I said to a squirrel, "What is that you are carrying?"

and he said,

"It is my lucky rock; isn't it pretty?"

I held it and said, "Indeed."

I said to God,

"What is this earth?"

And God said, "It is my lucky rock;

Isn't it wondrous?"

Yes, indeed.

My Lucky Rock from Love Poems from God by Daniel Ladinsky

In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu

2011-11-04T11:18:00.000-05:00

pasta, veggies and rice, s'mores, hot chocolate

Saturday

Pumpkin Bars ... oh yes I did!

Monday

Pasta with Cheesy Carrot and Cauliflower Sauce

Tuesday

Sauteed Veggies with Brown Rice

Wednesday

Brussel Sprouts

Sweet Potato and Brussel Sprout Quesadillas

Thursday

Brussel Sprouts

Hearty Broccoli Soup

Smores ... Oh! Yes!

Friday

Pumpkin Bars

Do you sense a brussel sprout trend? Winter veggies are here and I've been diligently using up what I can. We have two weeks left in our CSA with Angelic Organics and I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with myself once it is over. Sorting our bounty, planning our meals, and preparing lunches has been my weekly Wednesday (and Thursday) schedule for the past nearly twenty-four weeks. Luckily, our farmers market has extended its season until November 22. AND as I typed that, I realized that it IS November ALREADY. What will I do in these winter months?!

aaaand it was the week of Halloween. There was plenty of chocolate in my weekly menu ♥

Ethical Consumerism ♥

2011-11-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

As a mindful buyer, I support ethical consumerism and pledge to "Shop Chicago for the Holidays." I value handmade gifts over mass produced products. This holiday season, I will support small business owners and buy directly from handmakers to keep my money in Chicago ♥

Take a Walk With Me

2011-11-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

Take a walk with me through our cozy front yard.

See what I see, touch, feel, grasp, and be renewed.

Find solace in the seeking, the walking, the quiet.

In this tiny patch of earth of ours, borrowed and adored, we embrace the sacred ♥

Inside the Urban Farmhouse :: A Well-Preserved Kitchen

2011-11-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

All is Well

2011-11-03T18:38:00.001-05:00

Death is nothing at all

I have only slipped away into the next room

I am I and you are you

Whatever we were to each other

That we are still

Call me by my old familiar name

Speak to me in the easy way you always used

Put no difference into your tone

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow

Laugh as we always laughed

At the little jokes we always enjoyed together

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was

Let it be spoken without effort

Without the ghost of a shadow in it

Life means all that it ever meant

It is the same as it ever was

There is absolute unbroken continuity

What is death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind

Because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you for an interval

Somewhere very near

Just around the corner

All is well.

Nothing is past; nothing is lost

One brief moment and all will be as it was before

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again ♥

~Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral

In My Kitchen :: Weekly Menu

2011-10-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

quesadillas, frappe, bars, soup

Monday

Sweet Potato and Brussel Sprout Quesadillas
Frappe with Almond Milk

Tuesday
Frappe with Almond Milk

Wednesday
Mashed Potatoes and Kohlrabi
Leek, Celeriac, and Beet Soup
Frappe with Almond Milk

Thursday
Hearty Broccoli Soup
Winter Squash Bars (pumpkin)

Friday
We're going to a potluck tonight.
I may or may not have made those pumpkin bars a second time!
Oops!

First of all, these bars are the most moist, non-sweet, delicious bars I've ever tried. Phenomenal! I may make them a third time this weekend yet!

Last summer, I posted instructions on how to make your own frappe. I've gotten lots of great feedback and it's still one my favorite drinks! But in the past year, I may have gotten a bit lazy, but I've adapted the recipe just a bit. Instead of replacing the instant iced coffee and carmel syrup when I ran out, I really just use what I have on hand. I've been using chocolate syrup and a packet of instant decaf. A beautiful substitution that I've discovered this week is Almond Milk. Just a silky smooth difference! I haven't even been putting ice cubes in it! I can make this drink in less than one minute and drink it on my way out the door! Delicious!

country roads

2011-10-27T14:16:00.001-05:00

the radio reminds me of my home far away

and drivin' down the road I get a feeling

that I should have been home yesterday

this song never fails to make me smile.

hoping you have a place to always call home ♥

vessy mink is a teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music and will hopefully play a future Urban Folk Circuit market.

Marriage

2011-10-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

one of the first pictures that exist of Jimmy and I.

we hadn't even begun dating ♥

Singing the Revolution

2011-10-26T13:16:00.001-05:00

you do know what is going on on Wall Street, yes? In Chicago? Across the United States and this whole damn planet?

I may or may not have bawled my eyes out watching this video.

peace to peacemakers ♥

2011-10-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

via pinterest

In My Kitchen :: Baking

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

A bit of fall baking ♥

Date Weekend in Portage Park ♥

2011-10-24T12:55:00.000-05:00

A date weekend, indeed. Jimmyredhed and I had our first weekend home, without plans in months. This typically only happens 3-4x per year. We work opposite schedules during the week so time together is rare, but time alone together is exceptionally rare.

No plans! was my rule for the weekend! We aren't going anywhere or doing anything! We enjoyed plenty of time to ourselves and with each other.

We hosted the Urban Folk Circuit's Fall Meet and Greet on Friday equipped with a bonfire and smores! After the last of the artisans went home, we started the Big Lebowski, but paused it half way through as I was falling asleep.

We slept in on Saturday and I sewed while Jimmy worked on the shed. We enjoyed a wonderful visit from his aunt and uncle and then went out around our neighborhood. Living in Portage Park can feel lonely at times, like there is nothing to do for young people. But there was so much to do! We hit up our tiny, local thrift shop Thrift and Thrive across from the Patio Theater. A delicious dinner at the newly opened Ruk Thai and Sushi on Milwaukee and Agatite followed by the St. Pascal's Haunted House (spooky!) and the end of The Big Lebowski.

We slept in on Sunday, I sewed and canned pasta sauce and Jimmy finished putting up the shed walls with his dad. We were so relaxed from Restorative Yoga at Bloom Yoga in Albany Park. And I may have enjoyed one too many cinnamon rolls at CiCi's Pizza (their pizza is yuck, but Jimmy loves it!).

love my redhead ♥

Hello, Yellow Morning

2011-10-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

It was one of those perfect autumnal days

which occur more frequently

in memory than in life ♥

~p.d. james

Listening :: A Perfect Space

2011-10-23T09:05:00.000-05:00

I wanna fit in to the perfect space,
feel natural and safe in a volatile place.
and I wanna grow old without the pain,
give my body back to the earth and not complain.

Will you understand when I am too old of a man?
and will you forget when we have paid our debt
who did we borrow from ♥

I'm the type of girl to find an album or a song and listen to it on repeat for weeks. Through the autumn chill of September and October, I've had this album on repeat with the likes of William Elliot Whitmore and The Grateful Dead.

Healing and reconnecting. Yes, indeed.

Apple Picking and Mindfulness

2011-10-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

Summer days as a child often found me sitting on the back porch with
Mom and siblings shelling peas or peeling apples.
Doing what we called BORING jobs.
We would try to liven up the time by holding contests --
who could shell the most peas in a minute,
who could cut an apple into exact quarters.
We tried anything to break the monotony of the job.

Now I crave times like those.
I love to sit on the porch and do "mindless" tasks.
It is as I sit shelling peas or stand picking blueberries that my soul
makes the long journey from my head to my heart
and I come home to myself.

~ Mary Beth Lind

photo sources here and here

In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu

2011-10-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

soup photo source

Kale and Potato Soup

Confetti Tuna Salad for Johannah

Brussel Sprouts with Leeks

Basil Coconut Curry made by Kevin

Rice Crispy Treats made by Kevin

Tomato Sauce
Egg salad

sharing my weekly menu has been inspired by bonnie at going home to roost

An Artist Feature :: High Hope Knits

2011-10-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Warmth has been my top priority as we venture toward October's end. It's speculated that this will be Chicago's coldest winter. I've been strategizing a plan to warm our home which includes lots of window caulk, plastic for unused windows, heavy curtains and large rugs.

In my scheming, I must not forget that I need to leave our cozy home to go to work each day! Oops! I've been keeping a mental inventory of clothing supplies I need to get me through snow, sleet, and Chicago's winter winds!

Julia's High Hope Knits are perfect partners for these next three (six?!) months. I picked up her lovely cable knit earwarmers last January as I need to protect my ears, but need to accommodate a ponytail (lame, I know!). I'm happy to report that they kept me toasty into March ... April ... May ... when did it stop snowing in Chicago!

Inside the Urban Farmhouse :: Winterizing and Not Freezing

2011-10-20T16:44:00.000-05:00

Oh, October and our dear little urban farmhouse. I am so cold. No, that's not entirely true. I'm freezing! I was cold when our thermostat dipped below 70 this fall. It's been hovering around 59-61 all week, but I'm not ready to turn on the heat. And I guess that's the thing with trying to live a mindful, conscience life. I can't just turn on the heat when I'm cold. I think of all ways I need to cozy up our home first and then I still feel bad when my blue fingers punch in those little buttons.

The cozying began today. Wielding a caulk gun, I ran around the dining room and living room trying to seal off any cracks or gaps along the window frame. While our stained glass window and sunroom are beautiful to enjoy, they sure are drafty! Jimmyredhed and I try really hard to maintain our home in a way that is efficient and sustainable. Those drafts have got to go! I have plans for draft dodgers and hanging a thick blanket over our back door that we rarely use.

Curtains came next! I have a love/hate relationship with curtains, but we're being practical here. While I dread the darkness of winter and how curtains add to that dreariness, they also block drafts and add another layer of warmth to the house. We've added blankets to all the couches, chairs, and our bed as well! Brrr!

Lastly, you must warm yourself! I took a hot shower and bundled up in sweatpants, a hooded sweatshirt, and thick socks. I even found Jimmyred sleeping in arm warmers a few nights ago (ok ... so he was sick). I love breaking out scarves for these cold days and nights.

In the near future, we're going to plastic off a few of the windows that rarely get used. This is especially helpful in our front bathroom!

What are you doing to winterize your home? I'm really interested to hear any tips you have!

And yes, I plan to turn on the heat! My goal is to take as many precautions as possible so our precious little heat molecules aren't pouring through the cracks into outerspace. In the meantime, this tomato sauce I'm cooking to can is doing its share to raise the temperature in this little farmhouse.

An Artist Feature :: Anna Todaro

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

So fortunate am I that as organizer of the Urban Folk Circuit, I'm allowed the unique opportunity to experience the gloriousness of craft and art on a daily basis. There is so much talent and heart poured into handmaking.

Anna Todaro's spirit is radical, a nostalgic use of color and folk, a sensational connection with nature. Anna says, "As an acrylic painter, I strive to create work which uplifts and inspires and at the same time is urban, sweet, and entertaining."

I bought one of Anna's headbands in March and have worn it nearly every day since. I actually picked up two more this past Saturday!

Nannying :: Lettuce Sing

2011-10-19T14:57:00.002-05:00

Oh, John the rabbit,

yes ma'am.

Had a mighty bad habit,

yes ma'am.

Of jumping in my garden,

yes ma'am.

Cuttin' down my cabbage,

yes ma'am.

My fresh tomatoes,

yes ma'am.

My sweet potatoes,

yes ma'am.

And if I live to see next fall, I ain't gonna have, no garden at all.

Noooooo ma'am.

from Elizabeth Mitchell's You Are My Flower

greenie bean recycle :: november re-emergence

2011-10-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

i have been away from greenie bean for much of 2011. I started off with a fervor, but soon needed time to devote to my home, my lovey, and my garden. I spent the summer with friends and cooking good food and traveling, learning about homesteading, simplicity, growth {spiritually, physically, emotionally}. and as I prepared to re-enter my sacred space, the end of august brought the death of my brother, the hibernation of my handmaking spirit.

yet october has been everything I've needed it to be. the temperature hovers, rises, and drops, providing sun when we need it, a gentle (or not so gentle) push indoors when it's time. this month has been healing, physical connections reattaching inside me, heart to hands, foot to pavement. grateful dead, avett brothers, william elliot whitmore, joni mitchell, neil young. lots of coffee shops, a little bit of silence, needed time alone, a bit of distance from the nagging emptiness that he's gone and time to allow myself to soak in his absence.

as november nears, I must reintroduce myself to joy once again. I have been preparing to sew again, my meditation, my practice. I filled my shop with some of my favorite totes and sold a couple within minutes. encouraging.

hand in hand, november and I will begin together.

visit greenie bean recycle for peace and handmade activism.

In My Kitchen :: A Weekly Menu

2011-10-17T14:16:00.000-05:00

photo source

Tuesday

Cranberry Jalapeno Jam

Tomato and Red Pepper Soup

Wednesday
Hearty Broccoli Soup

photo source

Friday
Chocolate Vegan Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Vanilla Vegan Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting

Last week got away from me somehow and I, not only, forgot to post my weekly menu, I forgot to keep track of it as well! A lovely autumn week, special it was to celebrate the first birthday of my beloved Urban Folk Circuit.

Sunday Afternoon

2011-10-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

even a messy house and an autumn cold can't stop sunday loveliness :: house breakfast, sewing totes, bob dylan on vinyl, sweatpants, kitties napping, red head wielding a power saw ♥

* new ironing board courtesy of chel domestics, red head building a shed, inside the urban farmhouse

Frontyard Homestead :: An Urban Barn Raising

2011-10-11T12:52:00.000-05:00

an urban barn raising and cranberry jalapeno jelly ♥