Brooke

Tips for streamlining in a season of clutter

I think I'm late to the game on this one.  The site and its author have been getting alot of buzz lately, but I just found it/her and just knowing she is out there on the internet turns my Obsessive Compulsive gene onto overdrive.  Organization makes me salivate.  It is sexy.  Knowing what do with shit that doesn't know what to be done with, that is bliss.  For some, it is dark chocolate.  Or a fine cuban cigar.  Others, it is a finely tuned machine that goes 0-90 in seconds flat.  (For men, this would have four wheels and be covered in a coat of red paint.  For women it would be intimately shaped and live in your bedside table.)  For others, a beautifully crafted poem or an intricate symphonic production...For me, as silly as it sounds, it is a clean and tidy refrigerator.  An orderly cupboard full of baking tins.  The kids drawers sorted by size and season and length of sleeve.  It is a car with a detailing brush in the glove compartment to sweep the dust from the dashboard. 

Me, I have always been in the camp of Useful.  Beautiful.  Sentimental.  Those are my criteria for sorting and discarding.  If it doesn't fit in one of those three categories, it is donated, recycled or trashed.  But as far as systems go, it is pretty simplistic.  I have high hopes that this new website will bring me many more sophisticated tips on refrigerator and panty organization, storing all the random ribbons and scraps of wrapping paper for birthdays year round, keeping the garage tidy enough so that the car actually fits inside, a systematic way to re-use glass jars for bulk buying at the natural food co-op, secrets for harnessing all the little dainties that go insided the underwear drawer...that sort of thing.

And if any of you have favorite organizing tips - send them my way!  I am a total dork about these things.  For example, my good friend Sheila used to clean houses for a living.  When she told me how she'd bring her vacuum and literally vacuum the entire place, bells went off for me.  Aha!  Forget dusting, sweeping AND vacuuming.  One tool does it all!

And I am not joking when I say I almost verge on obsessive about orderliness.  It's probably among the most irritating qualities that my loved ones are forced to endure.  I get cranky when things are out of place. 

Once, a few years ago at Whole Foods in Santa Rosa, CA, I was waiting in line at the deli counter.  This woman comes along, furtively peeking over her shoulder, looking sheepish.  Quickly, like a rattler striking, she reaches down with both hands a blur, and rearranges the entire prepared sushi section.  She glances up, smiles apologetically, and moves on to the end display of chocolate bars where she once again compulsively reorganizes.  I am not that bad.  But my heart ached for her.  There was something I could understand about her need even if I couldn't understand the degree.  I seem to stop somewhere near:  Orderliness preferred and enjoyed.  Not life threatening.  But if there is anyway for me to streamline and simplify, I love to know how. 

Scary.  But I do have redeeming qualities, areas in my life that are decidedly disorganized.  But order, lists, plans - it gives the rest of my life room to bloom with creativity. 

Anyway, back to my latest discovery - I think there is a book out by the author of this blog, something about uncluttering your life in one week...New Year's Resolutions are just around the corner.

Into the Holiday Season

Celebrations are a legacy for our children.  They are moments of magic, moments that teach, moments that connect us and help us grow into the families that we are.  And holidays are opportunities to create bonds of love, to create memories, to have fun together, to teach our children about being compassionate humans. 

In my family, I have been a longtime Christmas bah-humbug.  The pressure, the planning, the copious amounts of money spent, the obligations, the hurt feelings, the excess and the commercialism - all of it is such a turn off.  The rest of my family has the spirit.  They love decorating and christmas lights and baking and crafts.  Usually, I would let them do all of that while I planned Christmas dinner.  But now that we are far away from family and now that my children need an example to follow, I have been digging deep to find the place inside of me that wants to celebrate the season.  And, ways to celebrate the season that feel authentic, fun, sacred.  Celebrations that honor the hush of the advent and solstice season, not cave into frenzied buying and obligatory gift giving.

One of my lifelong interests is to understand and reinvent the pagan roots of traditional holidays, to dive into the mystery behind the tradition, to seek out essential meaning.  I want the seed, the sacred truth that inspires the motions we go through and the things we celebrate.  And obviously this is a lifelong process of learning which was inspired by my mother who never stopped the spiritual explorations of traditions she was born into.  She passed this on to me.

For me, the Christmas season includes St. Nicholas, the original 'santa.'  The santa before there were elves who produced any toy advertised on television.  St. Nick loved children and gave to the poor, leaving gold coins in the shoes of the hungry.  It is this spirit of unconditional generosity that I want my kids to understand, not the rampant greed and entitlement of children in developed countries believing that any gift, in fact a multitude of gifts, is theirs for the taking. 

In this spirit, the holiday season includes several opportunities for Satchel (and soon Temple) to experience giving to others.  Growing up, we would make a big pot of soup and bring it to a local park where we would serve anyone who was hungry.  We would gather up old blankets and leave them on cold nights for others to take.  My sister once gave away her husband's brand new pair of shoes to a homeless man who knocked on the door looking for work.  I want my children to know the joy of generosity, of giving from one's heart.  And while it is important to cultivate this feeling year round, the winter is a time of great hardship for people who must go without - what better time to share your inner warmth than when the whole world is turning cold?

I have also continued a wise tradition that my mother started - one of the traditions I am most proud of as a parent actually - which is that Christmas is not a consumer free for all.  Instead, each child gets one present from Santa, one present from mom & dad, and a Christmas stocking also from Santa.  That's it.  Two quality presents and a few goodies in the stocking mixed with candy and toothbrushes and pens, etc...I know that I was appreciative of what I received growing up and that those few presents were very special.  Children are overwhelmed by too much. You can see it at birthday parties or at the end of gift opening on Christmas morning. They literally melt down over the abundance and I think it teaches excess - which is not the message I want to send to my children.

Christmas in our house also includes advent, celebrated each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Traditionally, advent marks the preparation for the celebration of Jesus' birth.  In the Waldorf tradition, it also includes the celebration of our natural world - of stones and plants and animals and humans and the divine.  I like that this simple tradition of an evergreen wreath with 4 candles, a new candle lit each Sunday, roots the season in our natural world and evokes the season of inner light.

So obviously, winter solstice, the celebration of our internal light in this world, is also a big part of our holiday season.  To honor the tiny spark of light in our own hearts, in the midst of winter's darkness, is a special celebration that is acted out in many different cultures around the world.  I want my children to know that their inner light can carry them through any darkness.  It lives within them and it is the presence of their own divine nature.  Since children learn so aptly through physical experience, what better way to show them the power of their light than by blowing out all the candles in the room and then see what one tiny flame can do.

Not being formally religious, I have come to understand the story of Jesus as the archetypal Divine Child. A story which, when simply a mythical story and not religious dogma, resonates with all children.  This is true becaue the very nature of childhood puts them at the center of every story they hear - which is why fairytales and fables and myths are such powerful forms of expression and learning.  In the Jesus story, each child is the awaited, adored, perfect baby whose birthrite is to be loved.  And in this context, what a beautiful story it is.

This year, I was inspired to let the holiday season be guided by the small events that make these magical moments come true.  In order to fit it all in and to heighten Satchel's anticipation of the season's gifts, I decided to create my own 'Advent Calendar' that includes daily activities to awaken the spirit.  Tomorrow, Satchel will open the first of his advent envelopes, inside of which is written the days celebration.  There are 24 glittery envelopes* and each day holds something new...I have been working on my list for a week now and it has been evolving over time.  I'm sure it will continue to change.  But for now, here it is:

* for glitter envelope making event at MB's, go here

1  write letters to santa.  Hear the story of St. Nicholas.

2  have frosty the snowman pancakes for dinner.

3 pull out christmas box - holiday jammies, winter pillowcases with polar bears made by  Busha, seasonal books, felted nativity scene also made by Busha.

4 take photos with santa at the mall.

5 cut down our tree at a local tree farm.  Set out shoes for St. Nick.

6 Bob arrives; decorate our christmas tree and fireplace mantle.

7 cut out paper snowflakes for the windows.

8 have a candlelit bubble bath with hot cocoa.

9 make a paper chain for the tree.

10 buy a gift for someone in need through World Vision or Heifer International (chickens, water, school books, etc...)

11 watch a holiday movie and eat popcorn.

12 make ice suncatchers to hang in our yard.

13 prepare christmas packages for family in California and Chicago.

14 learn christmas carols.  sing.

15 choose one toy for donation to a local charity.

16 have candy cane ice cream for dessert.

17 drive around and look at lights in xmas jammies.  while on our drive, leave a blanket for someone who has to sleep outside. 

18 Guppie arrives; school vacation begins - invite friends over for hot cocoa and caroling.

19 go sledding or skiing.

20 go to the movies to see a holiday matinee.

21 celebrate Solstice with a candlelight dinner.

22 decorate christmas cookies.  share with our neighbors. 

23 family game night; christmas charades!

24 open one gift; leave cookies and carrots for santa and reindeer.

25 christmas morning.  Up early!

I sent this list to our family back home, just so they would know what the kids would be doing during this special time.  And my mom, who taught the spirit of the season, sent back her own advent list, playing along with us!  So my mom will be celebrating with us from Chicago with packages and mail to arrive at just the right moment. 

Her list looks like this:

1. An Elf Me from Busha

2.

3. I didn't get Temple's pillowcase made.  :(  I wish I had remembered sooner.  I'm so sorry.

4.

5.  Ornament craft projects for christmas tree. 

6.  St. Nicholas day.  Chocolate coin, tangerine, walnut.  The story of Saint Nicholas.

7.  snowflakes for your window.

8.  Pine and Noel votive candles.  Peppermint, frankinsence and myrrh bath salts for bubble bath night.

9.  Special Christmas paper for chain.

10. $1.00 that I mediatated over.

11. One Magic Christmas (shipped today, should have it Monday).  A trip to the post office.

12. This is hanukkah.  I got a dreidl and chocolate coins at Whole Foods last night so do your homework and figure out how to play!

13. Box labels and stickers for your christmas boxes

14  Bells and music for carols.

15. The story "Star Money"

16. Christmas sprinkles.

17. Story via email

18.  Cigar for Grampy.  Candy for everyone else.

19.  chapstick

20.  Junior mints

21.  beeswax star candle

22.  trays for cookies, spatula

23.  my personal charade characters...one for each of you (including grampy)

24  Flannel nighties

25.  My Christmas box to open!

Can you see why I can't fight the christmas spirit?  When you come from a family who plays, you can't help but join.

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What are your holiday traditions?  What envelopes would be hanging on your tree each morning?  How do you teach your children the spirit of giving?  I'd love to hear from you!

Quarter of Century

Happy 25th Birthday, Baby Brother!

Alexander William, Al Bill, Big Al, Uncle Oso:

We Love You!

Handsome Dude.

Wedding Singer.

Awesome Uncle.  World Traveller.

Gangsta.

Wish we were all doing this together tonight...

(Dear Readers:  And November Ends.  Final Event of the Most Eventful Month in our Family.  No more blog posts on birthdays, anniversaries, and family histories for a little while.)

 

 

Lucky Number Seven. A photo post.

Seven years ago today, Matt and I were saying our vows on a gorgeous Fall evening in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California.  We were married on our family's Dude Ranch (thank you Jacobsons!) and it couldn't have been a more magical day. 

Seven months pregnant with Satchel on our wedding day, we were already a family.

In honor of this anniversary, I thought I'd post a photo retrospect of our marriage.

A girl.

A boy.

A wedding.

A lovestory.

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 Matt's parents on their wedding day.

My parents, celebrating their wedding.  (Like mother, like daughter.  In this photo, my mom was 8 months pregnant with me.)

Ancient History:  Matt and I at the lake.  Dating.  And most likely drunk.  2001.

It happens.  We are getting hitched.  Our wedding invitation: 
 
 

At the altar.  Matt waits.

Outside the barn.  Brooke waits. 

Sealed with a kiss.

 

We did it!

Very, very pregnant, she tosses the bouquet.

 
 

It's official.  We are married.
 
 

The morning after.  Leaving for our honeymoon. 

Bless this...

First Anniversary.  2003.

Celebrated at Sea Ranch.  Satchel is 9 months old.  You can tell we are doting new parents.  Satchel eating the top tier of our wedding cake is the only photo we have our anniversary.

Second Anniversary.  2004

In our new home.
 

Fourth Anniversary.  2006.

Donner, California.  With family for Thanksgiving. 

Fifth Anniverary.

Sonoma, California.  6 months pregnant with Temple.

Sixth Anniversary.  Vancouver, BC.  2 kiddos now.

Seventh Annivesary.  2009. 

(Stole this photo from a friend, who took photos of us out last Saturday night...sorry it is so small.)

  
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Matt, my husband, my magician.  A man who pulls rabbits out of a hat by alligning himself with the elements in a concrete way, through hard work and sweat and diligence.  He is the balance of earth, air, fire and water – like the magician in the tarot deck who creates through concretes, through willing things to be so.  Matt provides and supports and upholds.  He sustains and perserveres and tells the truth.  He is devoted, loyal, true-blue.  He is stand-up husband and stick-around father.  He is funny man and shit disturber and crinkle-eyed-smiler.  He is a worker and planner and no-shades-of-grey kind of guy.  He makes me feel safe and happy and loved.  What more could I ask for?  Except for seven plus seven plus seven plus seven...more happy years together.
 
  

 

Another Goddess in our Midst

My friend, Julie, gave birth yesterday morning.  A long-awaited baby girl who has three older brothers to protect and love and eventually torture her the way all big brothers do. 

Baby Neela arrived in this world just before 10 am on Saturday, November 21st.  A scorpio girl with black hair and dimples.  She and her and mama were home before bedtime. 

Neela is divine.  Her hair smells like the ocean and her eyes look right into you, the intense and wonderous gaze of a newborn.  I love her already.

Congratulations Julie and Dave!!!! 

The world has just changed forever.

Banana Bread and Writer's Prompt

First things, first.  Banana Bread.  Who makes an irresistable, delicious one.  Preferably with chocolate chips included?  I need your recipe.  Ripe bananas have taken over our freezer.  And I need to make 10 of them for a bake sale on Saturday.  Help! 

Second, the past two weeks have been filled with living.  Writing has gone by the wayside.  Empty.  Vanished.  Until this morning when I read MaryBeth's blog.  She gave me a writer's prompt.  So I'm bitin' her style: 

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1. where is your cell phone?
In the front pocket of my diaper bag. Only half useful because I can't use it to call the States.

2. your hair?
Not washed in 3 days but freshly high-lighted.  Bright, creamy, pearly blonde.  After much mourning of my former hair stylist, John, of Festoon Salon in San Francisco and Berkeley, I finally found a new stylist, Christine, at Tao Salon in Vancouver.  She is like my younger, prettier, skinnier sister.  But I don't have a complex.  She gets blonde.  I love her.

3. your mother?
See previous post.   

4. your father?

Stogie smoker.  Leather worker.  Selfless.  Perfectionist.  Generous to a fault.  Made his life over.  Self-sufficient.  Camper.  Fisherman.  Loves to drive fast cars but chooses to own a 1967 VW bus.  Recovered addict.  Father of 4.  Grandfather to 4.  Son of an airforce pilot.  Pack rat.  Best guacamole and garlic bread maker.  Workshop man.  Home open to anyone, anytime.  Potion maker.  Contraption creator.  Awesome, loving dad.

 

5. your favorite food?
Anything made with potatoes.  Anything green.  Lemon meringue pie.  Depression Dinner and Gramma Tacos (don't ask).  Anything I haven't tried before.

6. your dream last night?
I wish I remembered.

7. your favorite drink?
Coffee the way my husband makes it.  Buttery, oaky chardonnay.  Fruity Pinot Noir.  Jack & Coke.  Lime flavored bubbly water.  Vodka with anything. 

8. your dream | goal?
Balance.  To have it all in equal measure.

9. the room you are in?
The ground floor room with radiant heat floors and french doors to the garden. 

10. hobbies?
Running, because it is a practice that forces my body into submission.  Dancing, dance party, dance clubs, dance class, So You Think You Can Dance.  Dance.  Cooking because it is nutritious and zen and adventurous and honest and gives immediate feedback and it nourishes.  Reading long novels on rainy afternoons. 

11. what is your fear?
Dying in a plane crash.

12. where were you last night?
Sitting with my husband, in the dark, with wine, hashing out our future.

13. something you are not?
Regretful.  (apologetic?  Yes.  Regretful?  No.)

14. muffins:
My "meal in a muffin" muffins.  Whole grains: walnuts: shredded apple, carrot, zucchini; raisins; coconut; banana; blueberries; maple syrup, brown rice syrup or agave.  Blueberry muffins with crunchy, sugary tops.

25. wish list items:
above the knee boots.  a job writing.  dance lessons with my husband.  a vacation in the caribbean.  botox.

26. where did you grow up?
The San Francisco Bay Area.

17. last thing you did?
Nursed Temple to sleep, gave Satchel a bath and tucked him in bed, poured myself a glass of wine.

18. what are you wearing?
An american apparel tank top with worn out pajama bottoms I bought last winter at Walmart.  A grey cashmere cardigan.  Red nail polish on my toes.

19. your TV:
Yes.  Survivor Samoa is on. 

20. your pets?
None.  All gone 'up to the roof' according to Satchel.  We think that means heaven.

21. your friends:
how did I get so lucky???

22. your life:
Is blessed.

23. your mood?
A roller coaster:  Hopeful.  Depressed.  Anxious.  Excited.  Elated.  Curious.  Despairing.  Grateful.  Full of joy.

24. missing someone?
my girls.

25. vehicle:
I don't tell.  I'll get wrath.

26. something you’re not wearing:
Lipstick.

27. your favorite store?
Anyone that will extend personal credit right now.

28. your favorite color?
Black patent.  Metallics.  Snakeskin.  Flashes of red. 

29. the time you last laughed?

Really hard?  Last night in bed with my husband.

30. the time you last cried?
This afternoon when I found out Satchel wouldn't surgery to correct his jaw.  A simple retainer will do.

31. your best friend:
Keep adding up.  What can I say?  I'm lucky.  And once a best friend, always a best friend.  They don't go away. 

32. one place you go over and over?
Self criticism and doubt.

33. guilty pleasure?
It used to be a housekeeper.  Now I am her. 

34. favorite place to eat?
Anywhere someone will make me a home made meal.  Real food always beats a restaurant.

35. where do you want to be in six years?
That means I will be 45.  I better be somewhere absolutely amazing.

Happy Birthday, Mom

My mom, holding me, almost 39 years ago.

She was 17.

 

My mom, a few months ago, on Vashon Island. 

Magical mama, funny lady, compassionate soul, beautiful woman, sparkly-eyed, humble hearted, package-sender, artist who can make-something-out-of-everything-and-out-of-nothing, silly and crazy, unafraid to be the fool, honest, hippy to her core, spiritual seeker, cozy corner lover, black licorice eater, radiant smile, lifetime adventurer, determined, lets the wind fly in and stir up her life.

Mother to 5, grandmother to 4, teacher to dozens, inspiration to many.

We love you Mom.  Busha.  Marianne Julie.
 
 Happy Birthday.

What I Can't Get Enough Of Right Now

Apple chips.  Bio-dynamically farmed Canadian apples, sliced and dried (and probably prayed over) in an old barn by a group of Menonite senior citizens.  I can feel the moonlight and cow-horn manure and heartfelt religious devotion in each and every crunchy slice.  I buy them by the bagful, $10 each, from the back of a farmer's truck in the parking lot of Satchel's school.

Fresh honeycrisp apples too.

Temple, saying blessing before dinner each night.  Her tiny paw reaches out for a hand, to her left and to her right, and she says, "Ina, Ina, Ina" as a request for us to start our blessing.  She's got the cadence even if she doesn't have the words.

A new spectrum of hair products including Eli Manuel My Everything Glaze, Davines Momo Shampoo and Alchemic Conditioner in Argent, and Kevin Murphey Anti.Gravity Volumiser. 

Novels: Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver and The Angel's Game, the latest release by Carlos Luis Zafon.

The TV series, Criminal Minds.

Outings with my friend Deana, who happens to be a newspaper editor and food writer, which usually involve good food, creative endeavors or an invitation-only literary event. 

Daddy Bloggers.  My favorites:  Matt Logelin and Pacing the Panic Room.

Food Blog 101 Cookbooks by Heidi Swanson of my much-missed city, San Francisco.

So You Think You Can Dance.  The US version and the Canadian version.  The dancing makes me cry.

Cheesy, awesome songs that make me wanna get my slackness on:  Hot Girl by Belly and Snoop, I Know You Want Me by Pit Bull and Fire Burning by Sean Kingston.  Old and pathetic of me, I know.  But it's true.

Suriving Disaster.  That TV show is a creepy hook.  How to survive a nuclear attack, a flood, a terrorist attack, a fire in an office building.  It appeals to the scaredy cat in me and the mother who wants to be able to save her babies no matter what happens.  If you haven't seen it, don't even turn it on.

Italian roasted pumpkin - sliced like cantaloupe with olive oil, garlic and italian herbs, roasted for one hour at 325.  Eat off the rind.

Mail and phone calls from my family at home.

Long runs each weekend with my new running crew.

Julie, my best friend in Canada, even when she is miserable and pissed off at 9 months pregnant.  She still makes me laugh.

Frequent trips to Bellingham, for MaryBeth and Trader Joes.

Satchel, crawling into our bed at 5 in the morning for cuddles. 

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What can you not get enough of right now?

18.

My little 18 month old girlie.

Chatterbox.

Swerving drunk.

Eyelash swashbuckler.

Super Pooper.

Sturdy.

Hugger.

Dollie kisser.

All Night Sleeper.

Happy Girl.

Daughter, mine.

A life in retrospect:

Temple, One Week Old.  (April, 2008)

Three Months. (July, 2008.)

Six Months.  (October, 2008.)

Nine Months.  (January, 2009.)

One Year.  With cake. (April, 2009.)

15 Months.  (July, 2009.)

Today, at 18 months.

She loves her hat.  And boots.  (October, 2009.)
 

Nine months in.  Nine months out.   Nine months more...

Happy 18 months, Temple Lova Tiger-Lily.

When life hands you...

...a refrigerator full of miscellaneous produce, a carton of half-used chicken broth and a pantry of odds & ends, what do you do? 

Me?  I make 'Must-Go Soup,' the result of all the leftovers that need to be put to use.  I learned this from my mother who learned it from her Busha, our Polish (great) grandmother, and I must say, I am always surprised at how inspired and tasty this meal turns out.

Tonight it was:

One half carton of free-range chicken broth opened last weekend for braised vegetables.

One quarter of a head of red cabbage that was chopped down to a compromised purple chunk.

Three brilliant carrots with tops on and dirt from the garden still attached.

The remnants of a frozen bag of organic mixed vegetables from Trader Joes: peas, corn, carrots, grean beans.

One third bag of pesto tortellini from an Italian grocer here in Vancouver, Bosa Foods, that has been sitting in my pantry for 2 months.

20 leaves of lacinato, otherwise known as black kale, Tuscan kale  or - Satchel's favorite - dinosaur kale.

A yellow onion, slivered.

Four cloves of garlic, crushed.

One late-season, juicy tomato from a friend's garden, peeled and diced.

Three sundried tomatoes packed in olive oil, minced.

A yukon gold potato beginning to go green at the skin, chopped.

Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

Water & boullion cubes for more broth.

On top of this we piled freshly grated Reggiano parmesan for all and crushed red chili flakes for the adults. 

The beauty of 'Must Go Soup' is the innovation, the surprise, the alchemy of unknown tastes.  After this one creation, you will never, ever eat this exact soup again.  Something similar perhaps, but not this particular soup.  It makes me think of old-fashioned porridge that consisted of a cast iron kettle hanging over the fire that was home to grains and meat scraps, bones, odds & ends like turnip tops, potato skins and cabbage trimmings.  The pot was never emptied, only augmented with daily additions, an evolving meal that was always familiar, warm in the belly, ready to nourish. 

I have always been a soup lover, a stew lover, a champion of one-dish meals of all kinds:  tagines, casseroles, stews, soups, chilis, braises, roasts.  And here, in Vancouver, with the rain and the damp and the coziness we need, I am even more of a die-hard fan.  Combine this with our current frugality - the awareness of most these days that nothing should be wasted, budgets should be tightened, resources valued - Must Go Soup is a staple, a beloved recipe that never goes wrong.

So tell me, do you have your own version of Must Go Soup (or casserole or braise or crockpot or roast?)  If so, I want to know.  I need your recipe, your innovation, your inspiration.  Send it in so we can all do a recipe swap of sorts.