Happy Birthday Eileen!

Bay Cruise

During a short bout of warm weather recently, my friend Kat and I decided to play tourists in San Francisco. After meeting at the Ferry Building and walking down the Embarcadero toward Fisherman's Wharf, we bought tickets for the 3 pm departure of a bay cruise. This wasn't one of those giant, packed to the gills boats you may see on the Bay. This was more of a back alley boat cruise. Part of me doesn't want to let this secret out, but it's too good not to share. It's so secret that I can't find any information about it online to share so I'll keep you updated when I find out more! This boat was much smaller than the massive tourist trap boats so you have much more of a private experience with the very entertaining boat captains. More importantly, a ticket costs $15 as opposed to $25 on one of the big guys. So we spent an a lovely afternoon on the Bay sipping the wine we brought aboard (duh) and listening to Jimmy Buffet's "Escape" and the like. Here are some highlights from our adventure.

Marin Headlands



The Marin Headlands seen in this photo are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This is a wonderful spot to hike, hang at the beach, or bike. However, the Headlands are famous for the stunning views of San Francisco that can be found here. 2010 marked the beginning of some major revamping of the Headlands. The goal of the $8.7M project is to improve trail access, create more parking lots, and increase wildlife protection. This 3 year project means some major road and park closures.
Check out www.projectheadlands.gov for more information about changes and closures.

Fort Baker



The area directly to the right of the GG Bridge is called Fort Baker and is also part of the Headlands (therefore the big project, too). The former army post with amazing views of SF now consists of a first-class hotel and learning institute. There is an awesome restaurant and bar onsite. I have only visited Fort Baker once but it made quite an impression on me. I want to get married there. Seriously, I was never one to plan a dream wedding until I came here. What could be better than getting married under the GG bridge and all the guests get to stay in former officers' residences? Stay tuned for an update on my wedding plans in 10-20 years.
Check out the hotel at: http://www.cavallopoint.com
Go here for more info on Fort Baker: "http://www.fortbaker.net>
Alcatraz



Pretty self-explanatory. And Creepy.



Hope you enjoyed some of the highlights from my booze, oops, I mean bay cruise. We ended our lovely day with the sunset on the roof of our friend Giulia's house in Russian Hill.

Book Report

My family knows this about me - but I am a voracious reader. This year Santa brought me a Kindle. I have been coveting one of these since their debut. I have to say, it is fabulous for travel. And for the one click ordering. For those of you who do most of your book shopping online and will buy a new book ... the kindle will probably work great. If you travel frequently and like to have a selection of reading material at your fingertips, this is also a major bonus. I took the Kindle to Hawaii with us and I can't tell you how impressed and fantastic it was -from someone who previously would purchase 3-5 books for a 10 day vacation and then lug them on the airplane along with the myriad of other 'traveling with children' supplies, the Kindle is amazing.

www.amazon.com

For my reading at home - I have found that I still prefer to check books out from the library. For starters, going to the local library is an outing that we do as a family once a week. It is a great way to give kids freedom to pick out whatever they are interested in at the time - spiders, wakeboarding, loose teeth ... not to mention the stacks and stacks of fun childrens fiction. And DVD's. It is maybe one of the top 5 best, totally free, activities that you can do with your children.

The Santa Monica Public library is huge and beautiful. And right across the street from the YMCA, where we take basketball and swim lessons. Perfect.

But I digress - my reading habits are that I like to have 5-10 books on my nightstand. Stacked and overflowing. Almost falling off the nightstand. I will be reading 2-3 books at once. Usually one selection for book club, one non-fiction and then a fiction.

I keep my lists on Amazon, on goodreads.com and on scraps of paper in my purse.
I plan my reading by ordering the books online at the library (it is like free shopping!). My library emails to tell me that the books are in - and I just waltz in and pick up my exciting choices.

Last week, I picked up the following books:

Open, by Andre Agassi
This was a great read. Andre is a likeable guy and he had a fantastic ghostwriter - probably one of the best out there. It was well written and and really analyzes his tennis game, many of his matches and his training regimine. It gave me a better picture of what it is like to be high performing athlete. I really enjoyed reading this.

Too Much Money, by Dominick Dunne
I love to read Vanity Fair magazine. The in depth articles are thorough and always dramatic. Dominick Dunne had written for them for years - and I always loved his work. He lived the celebrity life and wrote about the celebrity life. This was his last book, published last year, before dying. A glimpse into high society in New York City. The Very, Very rich. The way soem people live that most of us will never understand. And it is interesting. Last year I read Mrs. Astor Regrets, by Meryl Gordon - one fantastic biography detailing her life and the end of her life, her fortune and family. Very well done. I thought the Dunne book really worked well Mrs. Astor Regrets. I can't say that I will be shopping for another Dunne novel right away - but it is an interesting view into another lifestyle.

The Best of Times, by Penny Vincenzi
Penny Vincenzi is one of the great current romance / drama writers right now. I started with the Lytton Family Trilogy and really haven't looked back. Her books are sappy, romantic, dramatic and all set in England (primarily). I intersperse my other reading with these lighthearted fantasy books and it works. All the women are terribly thin, enormously rich and very much in love with ... well, someone. That is the story. But Danielle Steele, this is not. There is nothing to be embarassed about when you pass these along to your grandmother. Or vice versa -which incidentally is how I got started reading ...

Last Night in Twisted River, by John Irving
One of my favorite authors, haven't cracked this book yet but I can't wait. Stay tuned.

For book club last month we read:

The Kids are All Right, A Memoir. By Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch and Dan Welch. Okay, this is a great book. For those who loved A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by David Eggers and Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells, this is a great read. The kids are growing up in late 70's, early 80's - coming of age. They are orphaned - the memoir describes how they process this and what happens to them as they see the childhood they used to have and what happens when their parents die. We read this for book club and then one of our amazing members was able to go on their website (www.thekidsareallrightbook.com) and had a Skype in conference call with Amanda, the eldest sister. It was fantastic! (okay, honestly, Jim had to work late that night and I missed the meeting - but I got a full blow by blow the next day!). Fun book.

This month we are reading: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, by Steig Larsson. I have read this and it is a fun, intriguing, hard to put down mystery novel. Great for vacation, airplane ride, car ride. Even more interesting since the author has since died under mysterious circumstances. I have heard the sequel is even better ... and yes, it is on my wish list at the library.

And finally - the books that are always on my nightstand - even when the others are finished and returned to the library:

Simple Abundance - by Sarah Ban Breathnach. A daily reader for women on the joys of slowing down. A great book that I really enjoy.

Your Two Year Old
Your Four Year Old
And Your Six Year Old ... all by Louise Bates Ames. A great quick reference guide for where your child/children are developmentally, some good activity and game suggestions for them. This is not current pop kid psychology - these were written in the 70's and suggest things like- give your 4 year old a carboard box to play with (totally works). Give your two year old a bucket of water and some measuring cups (outside). Again, so much more fun that any of the birthday presents they got!

Okay - now that I have completed this post - stay tuned for my monthly update. Or - for more current book updates - check out: www.goodreads.com and find me ... I will friend you and we can share reading lists!

Happy Monday!

K

Vermont

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be able to visit my brother, sis-in-law (fellow blogger Ang), and their amazing son, Birch, in Vermont. My Mom, Dad, and I did the 3.5 hour drive to Brattleboro from NYC. Despite being born in New Canaan, Connecticut, I haven't spent too much time on the East Coast so the drive to Vermont was really exciting for me. Plus it was fun spending hours in the car with my parents and dog Ella after not seeing them for a few months. Seriously. We spent a great couple of days on the farm with RichyAngyBirch and their roommates. On the way up, my parents had told me that I was seeing Vermont at its worst because it was during that awkward time when the snow melts and becomes mud. Well I hope I get to go to Vermont again because even "at its worst," it was beautiful. Especially the farm.



We took several walks around the property and down to the river nearby.



Rich y Ang and their farmmates utilize their property to grow seasonal vegetables and fruits but make sure they take advantage of each season and don't waste a drop of deliciousness by canning and freezing EVERYTHING! I was blown away and totally inspired by the amount that they freeze and then use throughout the seasons. The two kids (Birch and Levi) who live there are pretty lucky guys.





They get organic fruit everyday from apples and berries and more that their parents have grown then frozen. I definitely try to freeze things (i.e. making a big batch of soup then freezing it for a rainy day), but this was totally beyond that. So cool. I think my freezer is going to run out of space after being so inspired.
I was also able to see the town of Brattleboro where I had a delicious soy maple syrup latte at Mocha Joe's Coffee Shop and perused wool socks and the like at the awesome Sam's Outdoor Outfitters. In addition, my Mom and Dad and I took a short trip to New Hampshire, just so I could say I have been there. Actually, more importantly, to buy some cheap booze. Thank you New Hampshire!
The best times, however, were spent just hanging out at the farm watching Birch explore the outdoors.



It was so cool to be a part of one of Birch's first days walking around without snow on the ground. He had recently discovered puddles so we watched him looking so excited but also unsure as he splashed through the water and mud. Every once and a while he would look up at Rich or Ang for reassurance, as if making sure if was okay to be getting his boots and (super cute) overalls dirty.





It was so great to spend time with the Birchfields and experience their life in Vermont. They are doing some amazing things in their community and they are definitely an inspiration to us all. I took about 100 pictures but luckily for you all, only included a few of the best ones in this post.

Trick ... or treat?

Table for ... six?

Baby #4 is due ... October 31!

A Halloween special. We are all excited!

Love,
Katie

Monday again

It has been a long while since I've posted. This will be quick because Birch is due to get up from a nap soon, but I wanted to say HI! on this lovely Monday. The photo above is of the group of women that I've been sharing this wonderful experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood with. We started meeting back in the fall of 2008. It is now spring 2010 and our babies are all 1 year old. Great to have their support, advice, and friendship.

What's new? Well, I got a MacBook. Love it. LOVE IT! That's right, never looking back.

Tonight is our night to cook for supper club. There are four families in supper club - 8 adults and 2 babies (with another on the way - due in the next week). Each family cooks and cleans one night a week. We usually cook on Mondays. I am making corn chowder - from the last of our garden corn in the freezer. Fried tempeh. Salad with greens from our greenhouse - goat cheese, dried cherries (from Mich!), and pecans. And rhubarb, strawberry crisp for dessert - gotta finish up the fruit in the freezer from last summer before all the new stuff comes. Gonna be delicious. Supper club is awesome.

We split and stacked 4 cords of wood yesterday. That is about half of what we need to heat our house for the winter.

And Birch and Levi continue to keep us entertained. Check out this pre-bedtime disco mania