look what the kids dragged in

The kids came home from school on Friday with this little fella. The story I got was something along the lines of:
-We saw a free kitten sign and we just had to stop and see!
-The other kids found him but, their Mom said they couldn't keep him...
-And they said we can't bring him back!
-I also got, "We tried to call you, over and over, but we couldn't get through..." (yeah, right...)
I think it was more like- ask for forgiveness instead of permission- that was the conclusion they came to. How can you say no to the tiniest, skinniest (under the fluffy coat) little homeless kitten? It's true, our other cat "Ivan the Terrible" went to kitty heaven in the spring after 13 ornery years. We knew that someday we'd get another cat, I guess that someday is now.

After trying on many names, I think it's going to be Pierre (that's right Ziebarths- were bringing it back because it's such a great cat name). Pierre has got two really great things going for him, his precise and unfailing use of the litter box (so far) and a wonderfully calm, patient temperment as seen pictured above. Unfortunately, Ivan (may she rest in peace) did not have this quality. We are all very excited about the prospect of a cat we can actually pick up, carry around and treat like a infant.
Hiding from Izzy, the dog, in the bushes. Izzy just can't keep her paws off of Pierre- literally. Soon, little Pierre will be a more even match for Izzy (she is only 20 lbs.) but for now we've got to keep a close eye on the two of them when they are together.

could there be a more perfect SNL skit?

I must admit I did not see this one coming...
Oh Tina Fey and Amy Poehler you two are the best, as a die hard Saturday Night Live fan I have always admired these two ladies comic abilities. (for some reason most female comedians usually try so hard and are so not funny- at least to me) But, these ladies rock, and this skit is hilarious, perfect in content and look-alikeability. I sure wish McCain had chosen Tina Fey as VP instead of Sarah Palin, she might even be better qualified for the job.

Another absolutely perfect SNL skit that had me rollin' in the aisle...Andy Samberg as Diablo Cody at the Oscars

overheard

I was making lunches for the kids to take to school today when I asked my 8 year old daughter which kind of cookies she would like in her lunch.
She pointed to the Rainbow Chip bag and replied enthusiastically, "Oh, this kind please, I had them in my lunch yesterday and they were delightful... -pause-... they changed my life!"

a must read book

This brave, inspiring memoir is a excellent read for anyone who wants to gain more insight on the Muslim faith. I picked up this book (actually, the audio recording) on a recommendation from my friend Val, to which I owe a huge thank you.
FYI: the audio recording was especially enjoyable because it was read by the author- so names, places, and Arabic phrases I would have never been able to read correctly rolled off her tongue smoothly with her beautiful voice and accent.

It is an absolutely amazing tale of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's life growing up in Somalia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia where she endured violence and female circumcision, but was lucky enough to be educated unlike most young African girls. She escaped from an arranged marriage and took political asylum in Holland. In the Netherlands she worked hard to learn Dutch, graduated from Leiden University, became a member of Dutch Parliament, a spokeswoman against radical Islam and advocate for women's rights.

This book was inspiring and insightful, I felt like I gained such a greater understanding of so many things including the political situation in Africa, and the unbelievable repression of women within Islam. I feel so grateful for my education, and the freedom and privileges I enjoy everyday living in the West.
I am almost the same age as Ayaan, It was hard to believe that the barbaric and backward fanaticism against women she endured in her life was taking place also simultaneously with my life and not decades earlier- and, even worst, continues today.
Every human being, male or female, deserves inalienable human rights- the right to an education and to chose for yourself how to live your life. I respect Ayaan immensely and her ability to speak out denouncing Islam, enduring death threats and alienation from her family and clan, and working to make this world a better place for everyone. Women with guts make the world go around.

wrap-around skirts

There is a new skirt in town... In all of my free time, usually from 10 pm to 1 am, I have been making some new skirts for the little ladies. I really like the way they are turning out- the reversibility and the colorful fabrics I've been finding. I've got some available on etsy and- you may even find one if you take a peek in Utah Valley Magazine back to school section this month.
Soon, with just a bit more organization and some more time management on my part, I will have some adult wrap-arounds available. But, I'll for sure have adult sizes at the Beehive Bazaar this December. Can't wait.

Camp Yuba Triathlon

Race day finally came. I feel like I've been training forever. This was my very first Olympic distance triathlon (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run), it was so fun, and went so well. I loved the swim and the bike- even though the road was very bumpy and there were some long climbs. It was the run that killed me- for the last mile or so I wanted to stop and walk or puke. But I did neither and finished with a time of 3:02:28. (My goal was around 3 hours) Phew! thank goodness it's behind me now, I can cut back on work outs and get busy with the list of "to-do's" that have been piling up at my house. For race results look here. (Pictured L to R: Kanani, Noelle, Stephanie, Matt, Colett, Val, Shawn)
Here are my ladies Stephanie and Kanani after the race, I am soo proud of these hotties (Colett- you too)! It was their very first triathlon. They have been working hard training all summer long and and they did awesome!

one final hurrah

We've been looking forward to spending Labor Day weekend at Lake Powell for weeks and weeks. The most fabulous lake did not disappoint. The water was about 80 degrees and perfect for swimming all day. Here is a view of our tiny campsite in Slickrock Canyon with the main channel in the background. This picture was taken from atop a crazy difficult climb up a sandy, prickery hill.

One of the most amazing things to witness in the desert is a thunderstorm/rainstorm. One night- there was a crazy thunderstorm with tons of thunder and lightening at dusk and on into the night, followed by quite a bit of rain. Luckily, we were pretty cozy all sleeping in the boat and Steve O and I just got our toes a bit wet, the kids stayed dry in the cuddy cabin. The next day- another storm rolled in, it rained hard and then the moment we had all been waiting for... this waterfall started pouring off the cliff next to our camp. The cliff was so high (hundreds of feet- my best guess) that when the water finally made it to the rocks below it was just a misty spray.

This little chump (the squirrel, not my son) had been trying to break into our food all weekend. He chewed the plastic tubs until his little squirrel mouth bled (gross). Finally, he caught a break and sniffed out some goldfish crackers left in the pocket of this chair. He'd either been around people a lot on this particular beach where we were camping and been somewhat tamed throughout the summer or he really loved goldfish crackers and didn't care if he was being petted at the same time. When I got my turn, I could have picked him up- but I figured that might be pushing my luck.


On our last trip in June, we camped in a canyon with amazing acoustics and listened with delight when our neighbors played guitar and ukulele. This time, my eldest remembered her violin and we were treated to the concert of a lifetime, complete with written program, intermission, and assigned seats thanks to her little sister/manager. It was a wonderful and proud moment for the parents.

We experienced some boat problems with our '77 Sea Ray- like we couldn't get it started and were "stranded" the whole weekend until our camping neighbor, a diesel mechanic, came over and helped fix it. When they finally got it running, (without neutral or reverse) we counted ourselves extremely lucky that we didn't have to call a very expensive mechanic or beg someone for a tow back to the marina. We quickly packed it up and hightailed back to Bullfrog Marina with our fingers crossed. Needless to say, we didn't get to explore the lake like we usually do. But, we were glad to have the kayaks and Pack Cats (pontoon boats) for little trips around Slickrock Canyon where we camped.

some new skirts on etsy

I've been working my little tail off, mostly trying to get my house clean, decluttered and ready to sell, but- I've also been making a few new skirts. I've just put them up on Etsy, and when we get back from Lake Powell next week (after one final salute to summer), I'll be adding my new super, darling wrap-around skirts that I've just started making. Stayed tuned. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

sport or silliness?

Last night when we should have been heading off to bed, Steve O and I were instead looking at the Newsweek website with all of their amazing still pictures of the Olympics. Scrolling through the images I disappointedly realized I completely missed the syncronized swimming section of the recently concluded 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Thankfully, I was able to get my fill of this intriguing sport at the NBC Olympic website.
I'm not sure why I find syncronized swimming so magical. I think it's because it's one of those sports where fashion and sport collide, kind of like ballroom dancing and figure skating. Sure you have to be a great athlete and be able to hold your breath for a really, really long time but just as crucial when going for the gold- are your outfit, hair and makeup, even your smile in the face of difficulty (like lots of water up your nose).
Steve O thinks it's 100% silly.
Go ahead and give some of the synchronized moved a try the next time you are at the pool with your friends... I dare you.

my attempt to quilt without a pattern

My mother-in-law Jan made the original quilt. She can't find the pattern, so I am attempting to remake it for my Mom and her bed and breakfast, Slot Canyons Inn- without the pattern. This is my first finished square. I like the way this little indian maiden turned out, and the turn under applique method went faster than I thought it would. Now I just need to add some beads to the bottom of her skirt... and make 8 more squares. It a good thing I like hand sewing, ever since I can remember hand stitching has a relaxing and calming effect to me. It's like my little treat. Kind of weird huh?
Here is the whole darn quilt. It's kind of tiny, about 2 1/2' by 3 1/2'. I have seen it hanging at my in-laws for years and always loved it. It's kind of fun to be trying to recreate it.

real estate in Springville Utah

After 10 years in our fabulous home and couldn't-ask-for-a-better neighborhood, we are looking to find something just a bit roomier. So, if you are looking for a house in south Utah County that is chocked full of funky upgrades and is so dang cute in Springville Utah -look no further. mls #826072


Just one of the many bonus features... a Cassandra Barney painted metal fence in the backyard by the garden. The garden in full to the brim this year. All of our hard work weeding, watering and waiting has finally paid off. I love having to only go as far as the backyard for a snack-a-licious handful of grape tomatoes or to harvest up some green beans or spaghetti squash for dinner.

back to school

School officially started today, at least for 2 of my kids- but not the Jr high, they started yesterday (7th) but not today (8th and 9th), I think they all go tomorrow, but start at two completely different times, and we have an early out day in our district now, I think that will be on Wednesdays...
I wish I had cute, clean fresh-scrubbed-faces and brand-new-shoes pictures of the kids this morning. But to tell you the truth- I don't even know if they ate breakfast. I got back from my swim/run just in time to throw together some lunches, sign some paperwork and watch them run out the door. The triathlon training is going to have to take a back seat, either that or I get up at 5. Luckily, the Yuba tri is just a few weeks away, Sept 6th and then I can throw all fitness endeavors to the wind.

So, now the over-scheduled, back to school children don't have time to get crazy with the camcorder- (maybe I will?! doubtful). Take a deep breath and sit back and enjoy our new favorite music video. Drew Danburry (in yellow), congrats on getting married and thanks for entertaining us with your triple threat dance moves and other shenanigans.

a new bag

...been doin' a little bit of sewing. This purse is actually for a friend- custom made as a diaper bag. I hope she likes it.
It was fun to get back into the sewing room and do some design work.
It seems nearly impossible to get anything sewn during the summer- just keeping the house and yard tidy seems to be all consuming.
A few weeks ago I was dreading the end of summer; the end of unscheduled days, freedom and all of that. Now, I can't wait for my little cherubs to go back to school. I think they sense the end of summer days- they are getting restless and making me crazy.

yesterday evening

wildlife

We have just been to Escalante and Torrey for the past week or so visiting grandparents. The big themes of the trip... wildlife and water. It is always fun and educational for all to have some critter encounters from time to time.
This is Chub-Chub the frog. He came out every night to the porch light to get his fill of bugs. Every night we caught him and played with him. Here is Q about to find out if he is really a handsome prince under a spell.


This moth was a big as a hummingbird. My Mom and I finally got it to stop flying around long enough to snap a few pictures. Bugs shouldn't be able to get that big.





I walked right past this baby rattlesnake, it was my 4 year old who pointed it out. We ended up killing it (not me, I was too freaked out) it had made his house under the steps at my parents house.






My folks have 29 chickens now. They are very cute in their little coop my brother Adam built. The kids loved feeding them, and when they realized they could... catching them.



I don't know the official name for this breed of chicken. We just called them "the fro-bros" even though they are ladies. (gotta love the Chicklet teeth)

water

We have been in Southern Utah this past week or so- hanging with the grandma's and grandpa's in Torrey then Escalante. The other theme of the trip- water. It's too stinkin' hot this time of year and to be in the desert without water -to drink or play in. So we went from one watering hole to the next and had lots of fun. Here is C with a found fishing pole at the Waterfall- just off the highway in Capital Reef National Park.


The Waterfall, I don't think there is an official name for this hot spot. The kids jumped from various points, about 50 times each, all day long. They had fun showing off to all the nervous tourists who, on occasion, got up the courage to jump too. Actually being cautious wasn't a bad idea, the water is only about 6 feet deep. As luck would have it- no injuries. (What kind of mother am I?)





We hiked Sulfur Creek in Capital Reef National Park with the Hulme family. Building butt dams along the way became very popular. It was amazing how much water could be stopped with a row of butts.


One of the waterfalls along the trail. About a 5 mile hike through Capital Reef, ending at the Visitor Center. The perfect summertime hike, especially for kids. More photos here.

a beautiful moment

First of all, there is nothing like a bike ride around town on a hot summer night.
This particular night was the Fourth of July, a few weeks back. A pack of us, friends and family were all on bikes on our way to watch the fireworks. The mood was festive, everyone in good spirits, then we came across this guy- putting a smile on everyone's face and capping off the happy silliness.
He rode with us for bit- Steve O shot this clip from the bike, I only wish it was a little longer.
I want a boom box on the front of my cruiser too.

what the world needs now

Nobody knows more about bicycles than Brent Hulme.
Lucky for all of us, after something like 20 years of working tirelessly in the cycling industry (for Gary Fisher and Trek) and dreaming about a shop of his own, Brent has finally done it. Salt Lake City Bicycles is located downtown in a beautiful old building on the corner of 200 East and 200 South, Salt Lake.
Brent knows all that is good and lovely, sparkly and fantastic about bicycles and it shows. I was so happy to see Swobo goods and bikes on the floor- a few of my favorite wool jerseys from over the years are Swobo. I know, I know wool sound pretty crazy in the middle of the summer but come fall you may change your mind and cozy right up.
Whatever your cycling interests may be- Salt Lake City Bicycles has got it covered. Get back in shape, save some gas money, or just toodle around the neighborhood... get out and ride your bike, you'll be a happier, not to mention healthier person because of it.
And what does our world needs now, I mean really need right now??... more bicycles!

Don't miss the grand opening party September 13th. Stay tuned to http://slcb.blogspot.com for more info.

the danish poet

This short film will make you smile, it's a great story with wonderful animation.

a special gift

Thank you so much to my friend Kanani for this box of patterns. It may seem like an unlikely or boring gift to most people out there, but I couldn't be more excited. There are some fabulous possibilities in this box. I haven't made very many items of clothing for myself in the last few years so maybe it's time to try.


Here are a few of my favorite patterns from the box. I love these dresses. But then I wonder if the reason I love them so much is because they look so "Barbie" with their 13 inch waists. Would these dresses really look as cute on me?


I think, with the right fabric this scalloped neck dress could be darling. Maybe I'll make it in the Fall- when I'm more motivated to actually get something done. It's summertime and I'm all about relaxing... while I can.

Happy Birthday

My oldest turned 12 on Friday- can she really be that old? Because that means... lots of things, including- but not limited to- me being really old too. Her party was super fun. We barbecued, made t-shirts, played night games and ate too much cake.
As a host and a parent of the guest I get so tired of the useless party take home gift that gets tossed aside or thrown away as soon as the partygoer gets home. I like t-shirts as a take home gift, it's nice to send friends home with something that can actually be put to good use after the party is over.
I have been working on this idea of jazzing up plain t-shirts. The cheapest shirt I could find were at Walmart, white or in various of other colors. I was thinking: a little paint, some iron-on applique, then machine stitching over the top, maybe even a few jewels to top it all off. Well, when it came right down to it-I couldn't find my roll of two-sided interfacing (I think I ran out last winter and forgot to pick up a new roll- or it's just lost in my messy sewing room) and then the though of lots of little girls using my sewing machine made me a little nervous, so we simplified the project down to just spray painting the shirts, using handmade stencils.


The shirts turned out really good. Steve O was getting all kinds of crazy making stencils and lots of guests got personalized stencils, special request pictures or their names made up. We washed the shirts in with some crappy towels first just to make sure the spray paint didn't bleed onto other clothes in the same load- but the paint stayed put and washed up just fine. We mostly just used whatever spray paint we had laying around the garage, some just household, others enamel- all kinds worked just fine. The metallic paints looked really good adding a subtle sparkle to the design.

Ohh the cake... this is what happens when you don't really have a plan going into the decorating- you throw all caution to the wind and just go for it. I think it's a flower that looks a little like a sun. In any case it was a bugger to frost with all the pointy bits, but tasted delicious with the thick layer of buttercream frosting trying so hard to cover the whole cake with all it's nooks and cranies.

stroke improvement

Here is a great video of very fast man, an excellent visual tool for all of you triathletes out there training your guts out for this summer's line up of races. All of the announcing is in French making it just a little bit more fun to watch.

holiday fun

The day in pictures- Happy Independence Day

shock + waterproof

The Olympus Stylus 790 SW- our new camera. I think Steve O had been dying to get his hands on one of these. My old camera was falling apart after too many days spent being knocked around in the bottom of my purse. It was fixable but I got this special present anyway.


It's a good thing the camera is digital because you find yourself snapping shot after shot trying to get it just right... you can always delete later. The picture of the little lady friends cracks me up. Adding a whole new level of silliness to summer fun.


We took little camera to the workout in the morning and 150 pictures later- ended up not getting much of a workout. Quite a tool for stroke improvement (as you can see I need here) it can take underwater videos as well.

Underwater pictures are so funny. I don't generally think about our kids in terms of "Oh, she looks just like her Dad..." or "He has your nose..." But looking through all of the pictures of underwater Steve O underwater and I can see family resemblances. What does that say? I'm not quite sure.

in the jardin

Here is how the garden is looking just over a month after planting. We've been mandating weeding time from the kids each morning and so this is probably the most successfully tended/weeded garden we've ever had. It's in a tucked away corner of the yard, easy to forget about if you want to- but we're on top of it this year. We didn't plant a garden last summer (2 months in Europe) so I think we're all extra excited to get our hands dirty and have some fresh veggies in time.
Morning weeding after working out is one of my favorite times of the day (thanks in part to the umbrella), it's a good time to get a little personal chit-chat time with the kids too- they usually wander out after a bowl of cereal, generally willing to help out and get their hands dirty.
I have vivid memories weeding as a child- mostly positive. Except the one time I came face to face with a big fat tomato worm at very close range... I think that might be one of the reasons I despised tomatoes for so long.

Ahhh... the basil, (and dill and cilantro behind that, then the onions, peppers and bush beans in the back...). I've been babying these plants because there is nothing in the world better than fresh basil when it comes to summer cooking. Pesto is perhaps my kids favorite food flavor. They get very upset when I try to pass off store bought pesto in the winter. Every fall- forced by the impending frost, I spend a day in the kitchen using every last sprig of basil I can find from my garden and madly make batch after batch of pesto. I freeze it in ice cube trays, so handy to pop out 3 or 4 cubes at a time, for delicious fresh summer flavor all winter. As well as a pasta sauce, pesto is so delicious as a rub for salmon or mahi mahi (any fish or chicken really) on the BBQ.

Pesto Sauce:
1 cup fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
2 cloves garlic
Coarse or rock salt
2 tablespoons pine nuts (get a giant bag at Costco)
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons freshly grated pecorino cheese, or 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

Place basil, garlic, salt and pine nuts in a blender or food processor. Whirl until finely chopped.
With motor running, add oil in a thin stream. Scrape down sides to make sure all solids are well mixed. Continue to blend until you attain a smooth sauce.
Add cheeses and give the machine one short burst to blend ingredients well.
Makes about 2 cups.



We were so happy to find this tiny praying mantis wandering about the garden this morning, it was about an inch long and doing all the funny little praying mantis moves- the head tilt, boxing hands, and praying, of course. I wish I could have gotten a perfectly focused shot but I was too impatient and the subject wasn't really very cooperative.


Flowers in one of the pots on my front porch, I couldn't help but snap off a bunch of close up flower shots this morning. This is one of my favorite pics. I love the dark pink flowers, I can't remember what the are called, some kind of verbena perhaps?