daily journaling

Today my little Marlowe-y turns two.

We had a little party with a couple of his toddler friends this afternoon. I got Elmo plates and napkins...and juice (thanks, Earth's Best--also thanks for those Cookie Monster waffles for breakfast). It was very low-key. We ate lunch, played in the sandbox, and ate cupcakes. And then naps were needed and goodbyes said. I just wanted to do a little something for Marlowe.

Last night we gave him his presents. I can't believe I bought this. I NEVER, ever, ever, ever allow toys that make noise. I hate them. We have maybe two toys that make noise, and one of them is a car. I also really don't like plastic toys. But I got one of those fridge phonics things. Marlowe adores it. Groan. Sigh. His cute little dance to the music won out over my reason. And it's educational. I also got him bathtime ABC's, the kind that stick to the bath when wet. But don't go thinking I've lost my standards. No more toys that make noise!

Marlowe totally got that it was his birthday. He went around singing "happy 'daaaay!" When we came out with candles and cake singing, he just laughed with joy, in all his twinkly cuteness.

Marlowe is my big boy who is still a baby. He can do so much. He can almost put on his shoes by himself. He gets what's going on around him. He adores cooking with an infatuation that is almost scary. I think if I handed him an egg, he could totally scramble it by himself. (Kidding...sort of) He really likes to mix and pour. Sure, all two-year-olds do, but Marlowe reeeeally does.

He's still nursing quite happily. A few weeks ago I thought I couldn't take it any longer. Then my mom took him for a couple of nights, which may sound a little cruel to a little guy who wakes up in the night looking for milkies. But my mental health was at stake, and I ain't kidding. He did great for her, so when I picked him up on Saturday, I decided to just nightwean him. I haven't had the guts to do it, because I don't have daddy's night time help. But tonight is Night 4, and it's going okay. It's just more exhausting than just rolling over and letting him nurse. I think if I can nightwean him, I'll be happy going longer. He only nurses a couple of times during the day anyway. He's so busy and active, I think it helps ground him.

Marlowe has the funniest sense of humor. He loves to play little games and tricks. One of the first ones was putting a random object on his head and saying "hat? noooo." Sometimes he'll do something tricky to something of Ellis's and then take off running before Ellis finds out. How'd he learn to do that? He loves tickle games. Somtimes he'll grab at my shirt like he wants to nurse and I'll say "no" (we have set times), and he goes "tickle!" Like Psych!! You thought I was goign to nurse but I was really going to tickle! Cracks me up.

He's talking quite a bit, though all his girlfriends are ahead of him there. ha! And he's signing quite a bit, too. He's recently started using his name sign to refer to himself.

Is it bad that I'm a little scared of Marlowe? ha! He's got a lot of strength and passion and twinkle. It'll be interesting to see how he grows.

(thanks to my friend, Jenn, who took the pics. can we say I need a better camera!?)

So one month ago we were this:

And I had a list of questions. To revisit where I am at the moment:

* Grass.
We decided to forego the headache of a tiny bit of grass. Couldn't even imagine keeping kids off of it. A big sandbox suits everyone quite nicely. Chris built this for the boys just last Saturday, and they are thrilled, to say the least.

* Upside-down tomato plants. Still think they're cool. Leaning towards not doing it, though. I'm just not comfortable with tomatoes on my front porch. I just don't want to go to all the work to have someone mess them up. Plus there's the watering issue. I don't have an easy way to water hanging pots like that, and that seems to be the number one most comment upon issue.

* Rain barrels. i think my dad is going to make me one when he makes some for them.

*green roof. Still a big question mark.

* Compost. I decided not to do worms for now.
I just made a little compost house with cinder blocks and scrap boards from the vacant courtyard behind our house. It's kind of cute. And we haven't had any trouble with animals. Today, I found a gate someone was throwing away. It used to be a baby gate they had around their fireplace, and then their daughter had painted it. It was cute. And gave me a little extra boundary around the compost house. Because i was worried about a little mouse-y named Marlowe who was getting into climbing all over the thing.

After spending more time outside, I've gotten a chance to see the way the sun hits. We get a fair amount of sun. Not full sun for the full day, but enough, I think. At least enough to try to have a vegetable bed in the back. Chris built me a raised bed when he built the sandbox. I filled with a bunch of leaf compost that I could get for free at this place near the arboretum. I've made a couple of trips so far. I also had bought some bags of top soil and garden soil from Home Depot, but I don't think they're any nicer than this awesome leaf compost I got for free. Did I mention that it was FREE?! As in back up your car and fill 'er up. (Locals, here's a map)

I think I'm going to have check out Square Foot Gardening that so many of you all have read. Because I'm having a hard time planning out this space. It's not much. It's kind of funny. I feel like I've gardened and worked with plants all my life, but I've never had to really plan out a vegetable garden all by myself before.

I'm trying to maximize the space I have by using some vertical gardening techniques. The rain gutter planters are my personal favorite at the moment. (Inspired by this gardener, who everyone has linked to!) I got a 10ft rain gutter from Home Depot for about $6. Using metal cutters, I cut it into three parts. Unfortunately I kind of mangled the edges as I cut them, so when I tried to put the end caps on, they didn't fit so well, and I ended up with the rather unelegant solution of duct tape. So far it seems to be holding fine. I punched holes in the bottom for drainage. I have red and green lettuce, spinach, and cilantro growing in them.

Before I go on to blog about other things, I must post the Easter pics. My friend Chandra brought her camera to church to catch these cuties. She is a fabulous photographer, and I love letting her practice on my kids. I'm so magnanimous that way. Ha!

A few days before Easter my friend and her little girl were over, and we realized that we had gotten coordinating Easter outfits at the Children's Place. So Marlowe and Kezzie were all matchy and totally adorable. They have a lot of fun together. M calls her "chi-chi." He thought it was the most fun ever to run around hand-in-hand. We were all dying with the cuteness.

So, remember last year when we had a freak wave in April, so my friend and I went to the beach. It all felt so odd. But then it happened again now. Is it freak, or the new normal?

We had so much fun last year, that when I saw the forecast spiking up to 90 degrees, I said to Al, "you wanna go to the beach again?" She was game and we dragged another friend from church in with our folly.
The traffic was bad this time. It felt like we spent forever in the car. The water was so cold it made me feet hurt just to touch it. The kids had a blast. Ellis kept skimming through surf, filling buckets of water and sand, and coming up to me to tell me how much fun he was having.

The two girls are just a few months younger than Marlowe. They dug and dug in the sand. They have a lot of fun together.

Last Saturday was my birthday, or National 'Nette Day, as it is known in these parts. It was heralded early on in the week by a cold that by the weekend left me feeling exhausted in a tunnel. I still feel that way, as a matter of fact. So it was hard to really be present in the day. But I did get nice presents. haha.

I have a no cooking policy on my bday. So I made sure that Chris had all the ingredients to make me breakfast. Frozen waffles and strawberries. Ellis seemed to think that it was his bday too and that he should have breakfast in bed with mommy, too. He was being so cute and snuggly that I let him.

My mom took the boys and me to Longwood Gardens. There was a time in my life that I went there weekly. A loooong time ago. Um, more than twenty years ago actually. Because I was around 10, and I just turned 32. I hadn't been back since 2000, I think. We went the Christmas we were engaged, and I believe that is the last time I was there. So it was nice to revisit the old stomping grounds. And it's beautiful, as usual. The day was sunny and warm.

I came home and took a nap with Marlowe, then went to my ILs for supper before our Easter concert. The concert was fun; I really enjoyed the repertoire--some good Renaissance pieces, which always make me happy.

And that was National 'Nette Day 2010. But of course, I justify every superfluous expense in April as "for my birthday." Like coffee today. It was yummy, too.

I should say something about the weather, too, 'cause it's crazy. I always have daffodils for my birthday. This year, daffodils were going strong well before my bday. And the flowering trees are at least a month ahead of schedule. And the maple tree outback is already getting tiny leaves. Crazy!!

Okay, so this is the plan. As of October, we are city dwellers in a Philadelphia rowhouse. Our outdoor space is a teeny, tiny backyard (but, hey, we have one!) and a front porch. We could probably spill out onto the sidewalk some, but anything there is fair game for stealing or vandalism. Well, basically anything is, but being on the sidewalk would make it all the more vulnerable. There is also the roof of the porch which the front bedroom windows look out onto.

So the plan: green it up!!!

When we moved in, the backyard was waist high in weeds. It was scary. Remember? the boys wouldn't leave the step. I pulled all the weeds in the fall. Now it's space that is plain packed down dirt. And broken glass and debris bits. Right now, I'm trying to turn over the soil, which actually isn't too bad, picking the bits of glass as best I can. I imagine the glass will be a perpetual problem. I want to plant grass seed. The yard is just big enough that some grass would be nice instead of a layer of mulch. The yard is also mostly shade. Part of gets full morning sun.

the front is the only place to get enough sun to seriously support vegetable growing. we do have a good front porch. I'm thinking of doing upside down tomato plants. anyone do this with success? suggestions? I do appreciate comments some of you left on my FB. that was helpful. i'm getting excited about trying this. I think it will also prevent my vines from getting vandalized, too. I'm getting excited about this! The main issue will be watering. Because everything I've read so far says they need to be watered daily.

rainbarrels. We have no hose hookups. I don't want to buy a major rain collection system. But I'm going to need to something both in hte front and the back. How do I keep the standing water from getting yucky? If there's no way to really DIY this, I'm willing to consider buying something. But I'd rather not. We'll just really need to depend on rain collection.

compost. the more I read about compost. the more I'm convinced that if I'm seriously going to compost, then I need to get worms. I'm just a little eww about that. Can I just have a rubbermaid bin in the mudroom? anyone have success with worms? tips? will my indoor compost smell? Still trying to decide if I can do this.

green roof--experiences? We have the porch roof right off of our bedroom window. Great place to take advantage of some full sun growing space. I'd also like plants there to diffuse some of the heat bouncing off the roof into the house. Maybe I'll grow the lettuce there. ha! Could I grow watermelons up there? That would be awesome!! And cukes! Yum!!

It feels good to write it all out. Less bouncing around in my brain. I really would appreciate hearing of anyone's experience with any of this.

Oh, have we ever earned spring this year. Today was up to 60. And sunny. I took the kids to the arboretum, so we could soak in the sunshine and fresh air.

We always have fun in their tree adventure area.

For awhile I couldn't find them, as there were these two little birdies hopping around me.

Ellis and I scrambled around the hammock area, but Marlowe looked on from his vista.

And there were snowdrops, crocuses, and fragrant witch hazel blooming.

With the trees so bare still, we could so much more of our surroundings, including the patches of snow reminding us so much that winter is still on his way out. It is supposed to rain this weekend. Perhaps that will melt the last bits away.

I can't wait for daffodils and cherry blossoms.

Spring is just around the corner. The ten-day forecast has days, like today, in the 50's and rain instead of snow. I know we're not in the clear yet. But the weather is starting to turn.

I took the boys to the playground for the first time this season. Wearing boots was a good move considering the hefty patches of snow still on the ground, and the areas of meltage were covered in mud.

Ever since my friend Keri kept mentioning making bagels and how they are so yummy and how she will never buy bagels again, because they are so yummy, the thought of making bagels has been nagging in the back of my head.

With snow and disappointment punctuating my day yesterday, I needed a project to keep me from moping around, a purpose for the day. So I scoured the internet for bagel recipes, and after reading about a dozen different recipes, I settled on this one, which I kind of made up after reading so many. I know, I can't believe I do this: change a recipe before I even make it for the first time. But I do this kind of thing all the time, change a recipe, change a pattern. Let's say, I barely passed "Takes directions well" in Kindergarten.

So the bagels were delicious! And not too hard.

Here's my recipe:

makes a dozen

4 1/2 c flour
2 TB sugar (the recipe I was going off of said 3, wh. seems exorbitant to me, next time I think I'll just do 1)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 package (or generous TB) yeast
1 2/3 c warm water
2 TB oil
1 egg (which I added; next time I might try two)

* dissolve yeast into the warm water, add sugar, salt, oil, egg. mix. Gradually add flour.
* When it's thoroughly mixed, dump dough on counter and begin kneading. Dust with flour enough to keep from sticking to the counter. Knead constantly for a good 10 mins. this is important to get the gluten working.
* let rise in a warm place for 15 mins.
* divide the dough into 12 pieces. roll the pieces into a ball and poke a hole in the middle. let rise while bringing a pot of water to boil.

* while the water is getting hot dissolve a pinch of sugar and a pinch of salt into the water.
* when it is boiling, drop the bagels in. The increase in size a lot, so don't overcrowd them.
* Boil for 3 mins on one side, flip boil for 2 mins on the other. Then take them out and let them dry on a kitchen towel.

* Brush the tops with egg white. My mom and I had a lot of fun putting different toppings on them: sesame seeds, garlic powder, caraway seeds, grated cheese. And, yes, we left some plain for my picky kids.
* Bake at 425F for 20-25mins.

And, yes, they were so good!!!!!!!

ETA: I divided these once more to make two dozen mini bagels. I should've reduced the boiling time, too. I would suggest a minute on each side.

I've also made cinnamon raisin bagels. But I didn't want a whole dozen. So after the dough is mixed and before kneading, divide in half. Take one half and stretch out a little and sprinkle a bunch of cinnamon on it. It will get worked into the dough as you knead, when you're a little over half way done kneading, do the same and add the raisins. If you add the raisins at the beginning they will start to get pulverized by the end.

Just a few more tricks I've learned along the way.

It's really been hard to blog anything, because for the past several weeks, it's basically been about one thing: snow.

I'm getting tired of it. I think we've had well over 80 inches total snow fall this season, which is beyond record-breaking for our region. So it's a bother. Roads aren't cleared well. People just don't know how to handle this much snow. Not to mention being in the city and not really having anywhere to put it.

This past weekend I was supposed to go to Boston for a little conference. I was really looking forward to the fellowship of some good friends, as well as getting to go somewhere by myself over (one) night for the first time since becoming a mother almost five years ago. But, wouldn't ya know, we got a nor'easter. It snowed without accumulating all day on Thurs, blew terribly and accumulated on Friday. Perhaps it wasn't as bad for us as predicted, but still, more snow. (and Amtrak was prohibitively expensive, don't think I didn't check that option!) So I was pretty disappointed. Majorly disappointed, actually. My mom, who was going to come help with the kids while I was gone, came anyway. It was nice to have the company. Maybe I was a little less mopey.

Our previous residence was basically on a state park, so when it snowed we had a wonderland all to ourselves complete with hill for sledding. Now we're city dwellers. We've spent some time on the front sidewalk, while the parent shovels. But yesterday we ventured out to the backyard, which is a postage stamp. I've been reticent to go out there with Marlowe, because every time it snows we seem to get multiple feet, and you know, M is a little guy. At first, M couldn't leave the bottom step, but eventually, the snow got packed down enough, that we were all able to have a really good play time out there, and M could walk around.

Ellis enjoyed jumping off the steps into the snow, and Marlowe basically ate snow the whole time we were out there.

CHEESE!

The backyard worked out great. And I got some time to sit and look at it, and mentally scheme about spring. (We don't have good windows looking out on it, so I don't have the opportunity to gaze out into the backyard much.)