Believe.

This brought tears to my eyes. Such wisdom.



What do YOU believe?

vegged out

I haven't mentioned it here but I think it is worth a few words. During the middle of March Daddy-O suggested that we go vegetarian, "just to see". Mind you I was a vegetarian for several years prior to meeting him and have often thought about migrating back to that sort of diet- I like that it is good for the environment, I don't think many people realize just how much/many resources raising 'meat' takes. But it is hard to switch from a carnivorous diet when you have a meat and potato kinda guy in the house, so it just never happened.

We decided we would finish up all the meat in the freezer (we usually go to Costco and get a pile of chicken breasts, fish, ground turkey etc). We agreed that we weren't going to eat fish but dairy was still on the list. Good thing because I don't know if I could given up cheese or my morning latte. We also agreed that if we weren't home and were guests at someones house that we wouldn't get wigged out if there was meat being served - Easter ham, for example, was not passed up. once our 'rules' were established I started to sift thru all my old vegetarian cookbooks and on line for some new ideas.

It was really interesting how even though I had lived a vegetarian lifestyle for the last year of high school and most of my college years I had a hard time re-training my mind to think of meals without meat in them. How the heck were we going to get our protein? Would we feel 'full'? were we going to have a carb blow out eating too much pasta and rice and bread?

But now that we are about three weeks into it I am really liking how I feel. I am liking what we have been making. I found quite a few really good recipes over on the Better Homes and Gardens website and have adapted a few of our favorites to meatless. I think once a week or so I will share what we have really liked so far- partly so I have a little reference for the recipes and partly so that you, dear readers, have some new meals to try if you so wish.

The first recipe I will share is one I talked about in the backyard bliss post. After having a request for it from our weekend company I realized that the original recipe from the Orangette website had morphed into my own version, they have a way of doing that don't they? let me know if you have any questions, and if you change it up a bit let me know what you did- I might just like your version too!

Spicy Cabbage, Vanessa's version
Adapted from the recipe found on Orangette:

half a head of cabbage slices (so you have ribbons of cabbage) (you can do the whole head if you have more then 2 people eating and want left overs)

2 or 3 tbls oil, veg and sesame (I like the nutty flavor that this brings to the dish)

Sriracha to taste (if you like it spicy dump it on, if not then go easy and add until you are happy with the heat.

low sodium soy sauce- as Molly says, "a glug"

garlic 1 clove (I like to use the grater and grate it in)

ginger- I grate about a garlic clove sized piece into the mix

3 or 4 chopped carrots

Heat the oils in your pan, add in garlic and ginger and stir.
throw in the carrots let them hang in there for a couple of minutes stirring here and there. they take a little longer then the cabbage to get soft.
toss in the cabbage and stir here and there again.
Once the cabbage starts to wilt a bit add the soy sauce and sriracha.
I usually leave the whole mess in the pan for about 5 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally and letting the carrots get a bit softer and the cabbage get a little brown/caramelized on the edges.

throw in a bowl and eat.

This is a great side dish or just to have with brown rice. you can add in meat or tofu to the mix too.

Enjoy!

PS if you found me via Corner View, welcome- take a look around and say hi why don'tcha?

Corner View: transporation

For Jane's Corner View

random facts about me and transportation by bike.

1. when I was three my mom and I crashed the bike we were on and I fractured my skull. she still can't get on a bike.

2. I once participated in a "12 inch" bike race (ya know the kid bikes with 12 inch wheels??) I think I was 24 or 25. It was a down hill race on a trail meant for single track mountain bike rides. I only had pedal breaks. It was nuts. You had to gunshot a beer half way down the trail. let's just say I needed that beer in the worst way, so did my bloody knee.

3. I love my mountain bike and the rush I get when on a single track or when you ride thru a huge puddle and get a rooster tail. It has been a very, very long time since I have taken it on a ride though. Anyone want to go?

4. Daddy-O gets really nervous when I ride my bike (see #1 and add in the fact that this has not bee the only time I went over the handle bars)

5. I would much rather be on a trail then on the road. Drivers in Reno so don't share the road.

6. I used to ride my bmx bike 6 miles to the next town to swim in the summer time. it was flat but still, I was like 12.

backyard bliss

Besides bubbles, sun and all my favorite girlfriends, their menfolk and mini-mes, there was lots of good food too. You'll just have to believe me on that one.
We made cabbage and hot sauce (my new favorite thing to eat and make)paired with portobello mushrooms and green curry rice (with a little chicken breast thrown in) for dinner on Saturday night, and torta di carciofi for brunch this morning along with all sorts of other goodies including mimosas, bacon and breakfast casserole. (the next time I make the torta I will add in more goodies like garlic, onions, spinach, red pepper flakes,and deglaze the artichoke saute pan with white wine instead of just water, it was a little bland. But I loved the idea and it was easy to boot.)

happy earth day

trains and automobiles, no planes please

I think I have to have one of these before things are complete. I mean, look at it. always wanted one, always.


picked up my mom from the train station today. She rolled in from a week in Jersey visiting family. She doesn't fly, she just doesn't.
The boy and I played hookie from work and school today to hang out with her and catch up.
So glad she is home again.
I missed her!

monday monday

photo taken several years ago with my pentax slr. need to dust that old beauty off and use it again.

Spent most of the weekend outside. We did a few chores but mostly just took the two days to be mellow. We slept with the windows cracked open last night, it was nice. thank you spring for showing up on the days when I was off.

Had a moment on Saturday night as I sat with the hubbsters. The boy was in bed and we were snuggled on the new patio furniture out back with the two dogs on our laps. The outdoor fire going and there was the most perfect glow around the dogs ears and the blanket that covered us up. I wanted to wrap up the whole scene and keep it for ever. The stars were starting to pop out one by one and you could hear the chirp of the frogs and the snap of the fire. We just chatted and sat quiet too. I love those times when everything is just as it should be.

My mom gets home today from a two week trip back east to see family. I can hardly wait for her train to pull into town. I have missed her a ton.

Be well...

from last sunday

it was a lovely day and most of it was spent outside with the fam.
Perfect, just perfect.

sun?

here sunny, sunny, sunny.
come out, come out where ever you are.
It's SPRING for goodness sakes.

It went from 70s to snow/freezing in a matter of 24 hours.
Gah! crazy high-desert spring time.
It is supposed to warm right back up again though by Friday.
So there are rumblings of beers or margos (al fresco) with the girls then.
Boy am I excited about that.

sweeter then a cadburry egg

sorry for the wiggle-wobble camera work. I had to post this anyway. it just makes me smile ear to ear.

chocolate bunnies and jelly beans

Here's to re-birth, new beginnings, and all the symbolic goodness that goes with- eggs (beautifully died) , (chocolate) bunnies, yellow chicks, er peeps (mmm, especially when just a tad stale) and jelly beans (oh the jelly beans, too many already) which I always thought looked an awful lot like seeds ready to be planted- wouldn't that be fun to have a jelly bean plant?!

Mr. O is getting a kite (shhhhh, he has no idea. hee hee) in his basket this year. For some reason a kite seems to be one of the things I remember showing up in my Easter basket every year. That and sesame candies, which I didn't like (but mom did). Oh, and malt balls (think whoppers only from the health food bins)which I did like and where such a treat for a kid who didn't often get candy.

We will do an egg hunt with the cousins and dinner with the family on Sunday. I hope it warms/dries up a bit before then. Although the damp rain is feeling nice and I know the plants are soaking it all in and loving it.

Three Cups

It's a ways off (like 6 months from now), but I am so excited.
I just got tickets to see Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea. He will be speaking in October at Alpine Meadows. When I was reading the book last January I could hardly put it down, I was totally engrossed in the adventures, funny at times as well as quite scary in others- His is story, amazing. If you haven't read this book, it is worth it.

It truly is awesome what one person can do when they put their mind to it.

Seven

Holly Smokes. 7 months? really?



let's see here...
7 has brought us lots of things-

solids: bananas, avocado, pears, prunes, apples, squash, peas, carrots, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. We had to trick you at first to get you to open your mouth, so independent needing to use the spoon yourself. Those smart gals at the daycare figured out if they gave you cheerios or kixs that you would open up as well. it is hysterical watching you chase the Os around the table. you love it.

tooth: your first tooth has sprouted. bottom right hand side. its a sharp little bugger. you haven't bitten me yet so that's a plus! We realized that this was probably why we had several restless nights in a row two weeks ago nothing a little Tylenol before bedtime didn't help.



sitting: for the most part you are sitting up all on your own. You are even starting to launch forward a little bit to get toys that are out of your reach. you are changed kid with this new found independence. Watch out if you flop onto your back though, you can't get up and it really ticks you off! Being on your tummy still isn't your gig, but you can roll over if you really want to- sitting is where it's at these days though.

talking (babbling): you have always been a noisy one, but your babbling is great these days. For about a week all you would say was, "da, da, da" then it switched and you would only say, "ma, ma, ma" and then the next week we had moved on to, "ba-ba, baba". Now you just mix it up and jibber jabber all the time. The funniest is in the early morning when you practice in your crib - I love waking up to that sound.

ears: unfortunately you got an ear infection this month too. we had to put you on the dreaded pink stuff. wow did that bring childhood right back to me when I opened that bottle of antibiotics. Let's hope your ears are better then mine were!



travel: we took our first weekend out of town this month. Over the hill for a wedding. You were beyond amazing thru the whole thing. At dinner you sat and played, entertaining yourself while we ate and visited for just over an hour. Beyond any of our expectations.

as always it is amazing to watch you change and grow. we are so glad you are here!

Bonus video!

Don't Forget...

just a little weekend reminder.



happy Friday peeps.


Don't you just love how the C is a moon? And those little stars on there too?
right up my alley I tell you.

Drum Roll Please

Amy
Lisa
Julie (Vern)
Robin
Jules

If you gals could email me your address (nessad2000 AT yahoo DOT com) I will send out your prints in the next few weeks. If there is a particular photo that you have had your eye on over on flickr let me know, otherwise I will choose at random. Remember keep paying it forward!

Thanks again to all of you who played along and said hello.



It has been so fun to read all of your comments from the last post as well. I really do draw such inspiration from each and everyone one of you and so many others out here. Thank you!