Pura Vida

Saturday Morn

2010-04-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

The weather has been perfect lately. Spring rains and sunshine. I woke up this morning inspired to make some white sangria to sip with friends tomorrow. Then I gathered some lilacs and tulips from my backyard and made this spring bouquet to give Aaron's mom Bonnie later today. We're going to Hiawatha to visit her and Grandma. Aaron is making pizza dough for dinner with them tonight, multi tasking by making mix tapes of Washington Phillips to give Grandma. A good start to the weekend.

For the Birds...

2010-04-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

This winter seemed to last FOREVER! 2010 has had its share of loss and disappointment too so when my niece Haley said she wanted to spend spring break with us, I jumped at the chance to welcome her bright spirit into our scene! I arranged to meet my parents in Des Moines as thats the half way point for all of us. They suggested the Des Moines Botanical Center which sounded great. It was a welcome blast of early spring color and cheer. Little did we know that they were also hosting a BIRD SHOW that weekend. From the minute Haley and I were reunited, she was begging I mean B-E-G-G-I-N-G for a bird. Grandpa and Grandma said no, but that was easy for them, as they bid farewell and left me in charge. What's an aunt to do? I mean, Haley does want to be a veterinarian when she grows up, so the way I see it; she needs all the pet experiences she can collect between now and later. The next thing i knew, we both had bird fever....it was so much fun looking at all these beautiful feathered friends. So an hour later we were on our way back to Lawrence for the week with a cage containing a SOCIETY FINCH chirping in the backseat of my car! We were giggling uncontrollably because we had both egged each other on....I mean, she didn't have permission from her dad, and as she pointed out, I didn't have permission from Aaron to keep it either. We figured one of the two situations would pan out. We promptly went to the library when we got home and checked out some books about finches to prove to her dad how responsible she is and how very much she wanted this new pet! Well, of course she got her way (thankfully!) She called me just the other day to tell me that she and her dad had just gotten home from the pet store where they got FlapJack the finch a new (much bigger) cage and a millet seed stick. I'm certain that the next call will be to tell me they got him a cage mate...

Have Your Cake & Eat It Too.

2010-02-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was sorting through photos and found this documentation of two cakes I made this past year. In August, my friend Christina called and asked if she could hire me to make her husband John's birthday cake. Having just returned from the berry patch, John got a chocolate blackberry cake with blackberry earl grey buttercream icing. As they are both architects I knew they would appreciate the statue of Jefferson perched in the center. In December, John returned the gesture by putting me to work on a cake for Christina. As it was cold and dreary, my agenda was to create the most cheerful, bright vision of birthday celebration. I made a lemon coconut cake layered with tart lemon curd and coconut cream, adorned with edible snapdragons and rose petals. I have always been enthusiastic about birthday celebrations. I'm glad others are too!

Winter Blues

2010-02-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Hope your hearts are warmer than the weather! The bitter cold windy day has me feeling grateful to be in a warm apartment, listening to records and drinking coffee with the NY Times. We catered a brunch recently where we served these beautiful saffron & vanilla poached red anjou pears. Tonight, fresh sardines with lemon & olive oil, homemade pizza and baking brownies with madadamia nuts and toasted pecans. Its Valentines Day....of course there is a bit of indulging in sugar, flour, coffee and red wine......MMMMMMMMMM why does being bad taste so good?

2010

2010-01-26T18:44:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! I'm not sure I have any faithful readers after neglecting this blog for MONTHS! I have been writing more in my journals/sketchbooks and also writing lots of letters to keep the mailman/woman in work but still these are lame excuses. Lots happening around here...art shows have come and gone, the holidays, and sadly the passing of my Gram earlier this month. A lot to process. Death forces me to look into the eyes of LIFE. I am going to make it a goal to post something AT LEAST once a month. I swear. I'm really gonna try!

BREAKFAST: A Morning Ritual

2009-10-06T12:50:00.001-07:00

I've got a new show of photos up at Milton's on Massachusetts St. This small body of work is more about documentation than photography per se, and I am happy to have made this series happen. My favorite photo is this one, which I blew up larger than life. I love Gram's dishes. We used to eat off these at her and Grandpa's farm. If you live around town please check it out!

Loot

2009-09-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here's Aaron standing next to a super cool O-L-D juke box at Gold Rush. It did not come home with us, but here's all the stuff that did. Our carnival chalkware collection is growing. Adding Snow White inspired us to procure The Lone Ranger which we found in Iowa on our way back to Kansas. Good junk is GOOD.

Doggy Paddle

2009-09-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

We went up to MN for a quick visit a few weekends ago. We timed it with our FAVORITE junking opportunity....a big antique/flea market extravaganza called Gold Rush. It was great to see my family, collect more treasures, hang out with our friends the Onofrios, play dominos with Grandma and swim in my parents pond. Aaron and Mom shared the view of the sunset from a rock that overlooks their gorgeous gardens. Osa learned how to "surf.". Pretty awsome. She was like a little kid...she did NOT want to get out of the water.

Summer Summary

2009-09-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

I recognize that most all of my blog entries are retro. Meaning, it takes me generally a month or two to process whats happening and then get my photos organized and reflect. I'm determined to move into fall without dragging summer with me. That said, I have some updates to do before its officially a new season. Its important to pause and summarize some of summer's finest moments. Here are some snapshots of my high school best friend's sufi wedding we went to in NYC. It was a beautiful celebration. We all sat on soft, white sheepskins among hundreds of pink roses. pipi and Mustafa shared vows and a goblet of milk and honey with rosewater. Aaron and I fell in love with the city and vowed to visit more often.

Hungry Cellar 6-13-09

2009-08-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

I know, its been almost 2 months since Hungry Cellar happened, but better late than never, right? We held it on my birthday. Our friends Stan and Deanna hosted it out on their property north of town. It was a gorgeous evening...one of the last cool ones where we wanted long sleeves. We had a bonfire after dinner. It was a fantastic night, and a perfect way to celebrate my new year. Alex and Dri played some lovely tunes among the lilies. Chloe Jones made some terrific thoughtful toasts. We had such an array of local produce to choose from. Aaron and I were up the night before until 5am making the homemade pasta for the green lasagnas. Not sure if we'll do that again....our apartment looked like a pasta factory. Grandma Violet would have been proud...she's my Italian granny who called boughten lasagna noodles "rubber straps". Our efforts were appreciated. Down to the last crumb of the just-churned-butter-milk birthday cake with wild gooseberry sauce, zabaglione, and the 2 black raspberries on each plate I procured the minute the farmer's market opened. At 7am. With barely 2 hours of sleep under my belt.

March into April into May

2009-05-13T20:38:00.001-07:00

My friend Leslie AND my dad have now gotten "on my case" about needing to blog more. They are both right. Not only do I need to blog more, I need to write more in general. I do stop by the mailbox on my walk to work to send correspondence off at least once a week, its just that I used to write ALL THE TIME. I've been snapping pics at least, so I've got evidence of living.....a full, busy GOOD life. These are pictures taken in March, April and May of the garden. I audibly gasped yesterday when I went out there are saw how gorgeous the arugula and lettuce was. I picked a bunch as well as some cilantro and beet greens and made a delicious tossed salad and ate it with some very French peasant inspired radish sandwiches. perfect.

A Year Ago

2009-03-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

Exactly a year ago Aaron, Osa and I spent the afternoon at the beach. I was looking at these photos I took last March 12 in California and couldn't help but long for the vibrancy of spring color. So I bundled up and took a field trip to Sunrise Garden Center and Howard Pine's Greehouse. Perfect fix. Coming soon....photos of March 12 in Kansas.

Plotting and Planning

2009-03-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

Today all the seeds I ordered arrived in the mail. I am EXCITED. We are going to have a decent sized garden out in the country at our friend's place. I ordered everything from this great seed supplier in missouri that specialize in heirloom seeds. Looking at all these seed packets gives me the same feeling I get when I'm in the bulk spice section at the grocery store or at a market buying trinkets in a foreign country. I see the potential of the purchase extending beyond what is in my hands. I feel rich because I have the ability to transform this material into something else which has value that extends beyond what I paid for. We're going to get a truckload of compost and manure. I remember when my parents were first putting in our garden at home and my mom was obsessed with enriching the soil with any and all kinds of animal poop. We had chickens, rabbits, goats, a cow, a horse, etc. but the ultimate was when she convinced my dad to get some elephant and tiger shit from the circus that came to town. At the time I thought she was crazy. Now I see she was smart.

Hey Ladies

2009-02-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

Tonight I talked to my best lady Kjirsten on the phone. It made me miss her and her lil' family. I could hear Ezra and Ivan playing the electric piano in the background. Is it possible Ivan is teething and crawling? Ezra is WAY into (um, obsessed) with the alphabet and the complexities of not only cellphones but their manuals. This is enjoyable reading material for him. He is three! Almost four. Kjirsten and I got caught up for the most part on the ins and outs of our lives of late. Tho 1600 miles apart, we remain connected in a fierce way and seem to always be going through similar stuff.
Then I got a "Facebook" message from one of the few friends I made in Santa Cruz.... Edith. She has a top notch custom specialty cake baking business. Her cakes are elegant and gorgeous and so is she. Her and her husband have a lovely yard and they were very generous and allowed us to stop by and pick as many Meyer lemons as we wanted even when they weren't home. We are still eating the preserved lemons we made and brought back to Kansas in Mason jars.
These two "conversations" across the distance have me feeling happy yet slightly melancholy. I am very aware of the fact that I can only be in one place at a time and I can't have it all. Usually this is okay, but tonight I wish to be right there with Kiki, James and the boys to hear the piano concert in person. Then I would like to stop by Edith's for a piece of her Meyer lemon poppy seed cake and catch up.

Ports of Call

2009-01-31T20:33:00.000-08:00

My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past October. We all went on a family vacation last week to commemorate this accomplishment of sustained love. We went on a Carnival Cruise of the Mexican Riviera. It was wonderful to be in the sun and tho we stopped at super touristy ports, I absolutely love Mexico and any chance I can get to practice my Spanish. We all had a relaxing and fun time. I can't believe that a week ago I was laying on the beach with my whole family. It was a rude awakening to come back to a freezing cold winter. BUT today it was 70 degrees here (crazy!). Today was also my grandma's 90th birthday. It is amazing to think she was born in 1919. Time is absolutely baffling to me. Happy Birthday Gram!

The last bite of fruitcake

2009-01-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

The holidays may be over but we still have our tree up. Its a dead branch we found down by the river, painted it white and hung beautiful ornaments from. One of these days I will be compelled to take it down, pack each little glass bird and acorn in paper and wrap up the wooden snowflakes. I have to admit that it was just this evening that I finished off the fruitcake my mom sent. Delicious. Its my grandma's recipe. If you aren't a fan of fruitcake you won't understand. So because I'm literally and figuratively still digesting the holidays, here are some images from the season.

Dulce y Guapo

2009-01-06T21:44:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over I am going to catch my breath and catch up my blog. These are pics of the Bourgeois Pig installation that Aaron and I did in November. The paintings brightened up the joint and transformed the space. The opening was a good time...thanks to all who showed up. We always feel so supported by our patrons and pals.

Happy Holidays

2008-11-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

The open-house at the boutique where I work BoMo...(short for Bohemian Modern) was my official kickoff to the holiday season.
Getting out the glitter and garland put me in the spirit as did dipping dozens of cherries in chocolate. I invented a new appetizer that everyone was into.... Curry Carrot Cashew with Endive. I'll work on the name... I made a couple dozen ornaments to decorate with as well as filled old jars and bottles with this gorgeous glitter that i acquired a few years ago. I have 3 big barrels of the stuff and its been used for many projects and art shows....my MFA exhibit, etc. Tomorrow is the opening reception for our painting show DULCE y GUAPO and then we are going up to MN on Tuesday for Thanksgiving with my family. I've spent Thanksgiving with Aaron's family for the past 7 years so we are looking forward to sharing the table with my peeps. Its just crazy to think that this time last year we were in Costa Rica starting this blog...and eating a roast chicken in the jungle and later catching a scorpion. wow. a lot has happened since then.

Why I haven't been blogging...

2008-11-18T21:52:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been writing blogs in my head and not sitting down to type. Lately I feel like I am running in too many directions and multi-tasking all along the way. Its all GOOD STUFF that I'm up to, its just A LOT. Multiple upcoming Holiday art/craft sales, decorating for an open house at work, catering the open house, yoga, canning pickles, taking Osa on long walks, baking at the Casbah market, endless laundry, etc. meanwhile Aaron and I have an art show that opens on Sunday that we are finishing working on and gearing up to cater as well.
He and I just decided that maybe in 2009 we can have evenings that are free. When we lived in California we didn't really know anyone so our nights were always all ours. I'm not really complaining. I just want to read a book and chill out. Soon, right?

Hungry Cellar 10-25-08

2008-10-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

A very special evening. Its thrilling to see the reward of days of planning, shopping, cooking, shlepping tables & chairs, ironing tablecloths, etc. take place before your very eyes. I love the way food and wine open up new possibilities for conversation, connection and resonance. Becca's words were thoughtful, provoking and revealing. Suzannah's music.....well, it sorta breaks my heart how beautiful it is. really. thanks for everyone's support. We've got a good thing going.

Recent Shooting: A photography exhibition

2008-10-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend my photo show opened at the Percolator Gallery in Lawrence. I take photographs all the time but don't ever really consider it one of my mediums when I describe who I am/what I make. So it was great to team up with 2 other photographers and hang some pics on the wall. The opening was a festive event....lots of people showed up to share art, beer and conversation. Taking photos is a way to document existence. Shooting visual reminders of ordinary moments is my way to focus on the beauty that surrounds me and holds me up even when life snaps its scary jaws.

mi familia

2008-10-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago my parents and Haley came to visit. I love how much my parents and my niece are real pals. They really do get along famously. I had a big catering gig but they had agreed prior to their arrival that they would gladly pitch in and help out. I couldn't have done it without them. Well, of course i COULD have, but it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun or stress-free. Mom helped with all kinds of tasks...peeling pears, baking cookies, flower arranging, and most appreciated was the washing of numerous sinkfuls of dirty dishes. Dad trimmed and chopped vegetables, and ran errands to pick up rental stuff, bread, etc. Aaron filled in all the gaps. Haley DJ'd the entire operation. It was a great success.

Hungry Cellar 9-13-08

2008-09-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

A clandestine evening that began with a double rainbow over Massachusetts Street. Candelabras and conversation. A super-special-secret-supperclub. For those that were there, here is one of the three miniature panna cotta that survived the mishap in the walk-in. What a wonderful night.

Fall is Falling

2008-09-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

Lately the weather has been making me feel so happy. I love when I can wear knee-high smartwool socks and sweatshirts. It may not be quite that cool yet, but we're getting close. Time for red wine and bonfires. Sleeping with the windows open is lovely. Even Osa seems happier and extra snuggly. Just pausing to acknowledge the small, good things around me. Falling leaves, a full moon, and a happy home.

Settling In

2008-08-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

We moved into our new apartment at 916 Kentucky St. Apt. #2 the first weekend in August. Needless to say, it was really hot. We had the moving truck rented for 4 hours, and with the help of our dear friends Spinny and Cory we did it! Its equally daunting
and encouraging to know that everything you own (save for my blue piano) fits into a 15 foot moving truck. We're still unpacking boxes but that part is actually enjoyable. We love our new space, we both have studios and lots of natural light. We looked at this spot over 6 years ago but it was in horrible condition and since has been completely renovated. It underlines the fact that we need to trust in the timing of things and that everything eventually comes full circle.

Peaches

2008-07-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

My friend Jen is a producer for Hallmark magazine. She just returned from the central coast of California where the magazine did a shoot at Mas Masumoto's peach farm. There was a celebration for the 40th birthday of the Sun Crest peach which is a variety that we in the midwest don't ever see, as they are tree ripened and do not travel this far. Jen came back full of stories and inspiration. She also came back with a box of peaches. Words do not describe these beautiful delicious gems. They taste like pure, sweet, sunshine. Ah, California.

A Day of Cake

2008-07-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

On the 4th of July one of my best friend's father and his twin brother celebrated their 70th birthday. I was asked to make a cake for the party. I made a coconut cream cake with lemon lime curd between the 3 layers, "frosted" it with lemony whipped cream, covered it with toasted coconut and decorated it with citrus colored zinnias from the Farmer's Market and fresh basil from the garden. While I was in the kitchen, Aaron was in the basement making his own cake....out of cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls which he painted. It barely fit in the car. Sparklers gave it a birthday candle effect and it was really awesome! Happy Birthday Twins and Happy Birthday America!!!

Climbing the Ladder

2008-07-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

After a move across the country, there are pieces to fit back together in order to determine the new shape of our lives. We are thrilled to be back in Lawrence and although it is familiar and comfortable in many ways, we are commited to creating new challenges, habits and patterns. We didn't travel this far to land right in the spot we left. As we search for jobs and opportunities to set the pace and flow of funds, I have to face head on the reality that the only ladder I'm meant to climb is the one right here in front of me. Its an imaginary ladder of sorts but its all about me setting new standards for my art, and seeking ways to sustain a lifestyle built on integrity and expression of spirit and soul. The universe is pushing me to walk my talk and TRUST that when you are doing what you really need to be doing, opportunity knocks.

the whole truth

2008-07-03T10:09:00.001-07:00

Okay everybody, now that we've been back home for a couple weeks its time to tell the truth about WHY. Yes, we missed our families and friends. Yes, we want to contribute to the art community in the place we are from instead of being expats on the coast. Yes, we hope to actually stop renting in a year or so and buy a house which probably couldn't happen in California. Its true we almost didn't come back on account of the chiggers and the humidity. But the clincher? The icing on this cake? The midwest is the BEST place for pack rat junk collectors such as me. I've already gone to a handfull of flea markets and auctions and I am thrilled to be back at it. Keep in mind we haven't even moved into our place yet, so I've totally held back. Remember that phase I went through... wanting to be minimal? Was that really me? These pics are misleading....it LOOKS like a treasure chest. We came across this joint in Oregon, and well......we walked away with nothing more than dirty hands from digging around. I swear.

clouds

2008-06-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

Weather is a big obsession for my family in Minnesota. Conversations often begin with "I hope it rains today." Or, "I hope it doesn't rain today." There are many variations such as "I hope it rains today....a nice gentle rain". And on and on. I've been paying attention to the clouds lately. Maybe my cloud gazing is the residual after-effects of being the daughter of a woman who (according to my dad) has a crush on the automated weatherman robot on the radio. Being with my family this summer reinforced that my parents are obsessed with what falls from the sky. Here are some of my cloud pictures I took while on the road from the west to the midwest.

We're back where we began... yet beyond...

2008-06-23T14:10:00.001-07:00

So, its been awhile since we tapped out any stories. There have been many adventures since our last posting in April so here's the condensed version... Our dear friends Mel and Jen came to visit from Lawrence for a long weekend. In between picnicking on crab legs and cold white wine in the forest and cruising in a '66 Bonneville convertible to the coast, we had some heart to heart conversations that led to clarity. After much careful consideration and dissecting of options, Aaron and I decided we wanted to move back to the midwest. The nutshell answer or WHY? is that our families and community in Lawrence mean more to us than the jaw-dropping beauty and energy of the Golden State. So on May 2 we pulled away from our cottage in the woods and headed north. We camped out and had such a terrific journey from CA to OR. We got to Portland where we were thrilled to meet Ivan Lee Arthur Winters....all of six days old. Our friends Kjirsten and James are the proud new parents. We got to spend some special, quality time with our friends there...B&B, Matt & Britta, Jessie, etc. Aaron turned 30 and we celebrated with an over-the-top deliciously inspired feast at Toro Bravo. We came soooo close to just stopping the journey there and calling Portland home....but......we headed east and spent another week on the road. We hit hotsprings in Idaho and Montana, explored Yellowstone National Park, The Badlands, reconnected with an old friend from highschool, made perfect omelettes over the campfire in the cast iron skillet, visited vineyards, saw the most incredible double rainbow against a backdrop of mountains, spent one night camping on the side of the interstate after the Chinook's battery exploded, and on and on.......essentially we had a fantastic trip. We stopped for some 5 cent coffee and a lame piece of pie at Wall Drug, were mystified and bewildered by the Corn Palace in South Dakota, and surprised my parents in Minnesota right around dinner time. We stayed with them for 3 weeks, helping out with lots of gardening, front step building, tree trimming, planting, etc. We transplanted thousands of native prairie plants for my brother Kyle and got to spend some quality time with him and his lady Crystal. We also got to connect with my aunt and uncle, cousins, grandma, and some of my old minnesota friends. We had 2 sleepovers with my niece Haley and spent a little time with Lindsey and Will. All in all a good time. We arrived in Lawrence just in time to celebrate my 36th birthday and reconnect with many friends that night, as there were a couple of art openings happening downtown and it felt great to just jump into the stream of Lawrence life. We went to Hiawatha for a few days after that to visit Aaron's family which was wonderful...got to meet our new niece Willow Ann. So, things are taking shape & moving in new directions with more intention, ambition and inspiration than we've felt in awhile. This is beginning to feel like an annual holiday letter so before I delete it, I'm shooting it into the internet ether....more soon.

Around the Town

2008-04-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

There are arguments you can make for posh places of leisure. You feel important as you lean into the marble topped bar to request a manhattan with sazurac. You surmise you look good as you glance in the mirror and notice the finacially stable inhabitants( you do not count yourself) of this swank place also looking good. You feign relaxation. You laugh and sip your fine cocktail and when the tab comes, you behave like everything is normal and you won't have to pawn your guitar in the morning before the bank opens. I have enjoyed a couple of drinks in the Chateau Marmont or the Standard rooftop because we all love to feel glamorous even if we know its a sucker's paradise.
Then there are the inspired spots in your neighborhood that feel like mother's milk. Comfortable as oatmeal and real as a BLT. We came across a couple of these nooks as we ran around Berkeley and Oakland this weekend. The first place aptly titled "The Pub" was a converted house filled with odds and ends of furniture that served inspired draft beer from around the area along with a couple of English classics to justify the pub thing. Common enough for a bar to serve beer, I know. However, they also sold antique, carved smoking pipes, cigarettte holders, cases, and other smoking ephemera from finer times-all under an old jewelry store counter. The kicker is you can buy single cigarettes that you roll yourself with a choice from several glass jars full of loose leaf tobacco ranging from turkey,england, amsterdam, and us. Say what you will about not smoking in a bar and I will agree with you most of the time, but being able to buy good tobacco and smoke it outside with your pint is part of a tradition I will not interfer with...
Mama Buzz is a lived- in, lightfilled 2 room cafe withmismatched tables and good art on the walls. There is a back covered patio and a counter with swivel stools, which goes a long way in my book, squeezed into the room opening to the street. The barkeep had a showing of quiet, sexy drawings of women from the soft glow seventies,which we loved. It's located amongst the slew of galleries that make up the downtown oakland scene so ya know it's jammin with sweaty beauties and freaky street people just following the crowd on certain evenings. We had passionfruit iced tea. What will you have?

Taqueria Tremors

2008-04-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

A city is like a vacuum cleaner attached to your wallet. If they could figure out how to charge you for breathing the air of the streets, the city planners would initiate oxygen maids making sure you had your ticket to breathe. no ticket. no air. no exceptions...Having said this, eating in an urban area can be easier on the bank book than say, putting gas in your car. This holds especially true in small, ethnic eateries. We found this little joint nestled next to the Triple Base Gallery in the Mission district. The music and smells wafting out the door hooked us like little puppies. It was then we saw the $1.50 tacos sign and we fell apart completely. This guy had a wheel shaped grill that was sectioned off for the various meats( pork, beef, chorizo) and the hub in the middle was a griddle for tortillas. Our man worked fast and before we could say," gracias, amigo," we had a paper plate filled with dripping street food... and sliced radishes to boot, for those of ya in the know. Bottled coca cola is a necessary companion in these scenarios. Places like these always feel a bit tattered and comfortable and jumping with happy eaters stuffing their faces and talking while chewing.Guilty as charged. Kendra even folded her plated in half and guided the left over salsa directly down her throat. I cannot think of a higher compliment.

Lemons

2008-04-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

Some of you know this about me: I have a list that I have kept since I was young that is a wish list of sorts. I update it from time to time but it consists of things I want to have, or things I want to do, as well as things I want to learn. Well one thing that never changes on the list is that I want to have a lemon tree. I love lemons. In fact, when my grandparents used to visit us from Arizona they would bring us boxes of lemons and I would take them quartered and sliced in a plastic bag to eat at lunch. Sour.
So I may not yet have my own lemon tree but I am getting close. We made some new friends last week and they invited us over to pick as many lemons as we need, whenever we need. We picked 98 meyer lemons the other day and have since made lemon cookies, rosemary lemonade, lemon sorbet, gin cocktails with lemons, preserved lemons and tonight I secured a recipe from my friend Jen for Limoncello. Italian style.
I love lemons.

Spring has sprung

2008-04-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air. Last night we walked around a really pretty neighborhood in Santa Cruz before going to an art opening. There were so many incredible flowering trees and shrubs and gorgeous blooms. The air smells positively sweet and we are anxiously awaiting the opening of thousands of fragrant jasmine buds that cover an area of our yard.
This morning we ate breakfast at our friends Maureen & Eddie's house and walked down to Pleasure Point to watch a surfing competition. Pretty amazing. I'm impressed....the waves are HUGE!!! We saw a pod of porpoise as well as sea lions. Its all still surreal. Then we went to a plant nursery not to far from our house...a farm called "Love Apple Farm". It was inspiring...so many things growing and ready to transplant, as well as things fully mature in the garden plots. HAPPY SPRING!

Family Ties

2008-04-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

My parents and my 9 year old niece came out to visit. It was Haley's spring break and she and I were co-conspirators in making this trip happen. Even tho Aaron & I would be excited to have ANY friends and family visit us, for some reason my nieces above everyone else are who I really want to see out here. They left yesterday, and needless to say I really really really miss my family. SO, I decided to post a blog about our time together, not only to share a synopsis, but to lure our other loved ones to come out and share in the beauty. It was so AWESOME to be the ones to introduce Haley to the ocean for the first time. And she met the wondrous sea with enthusiasm. Tho it was only 47 degrees in the water, she convinced my dad and Aaron both to get wet. I took my shoes and socks off, but there was no way I was going deeper. Mom cheered us all on.
I put a lot of thought into how to construct our week together and I gotta say, it was all executed with good cheer and fun. From hikes in 2 of our favorite state parks to a boat ride around the Bay and under the Golden Gate bridge to a vegan meal at a secret cafe in Berkeley, I feel like our time was really solid. I gotta just say that Aaron makes such a stellar uncle. He painted a little mural on the ceiling for the sleep-outs in the Chinook, and helped Haley win 29 plastic jumping frogs at the arcade on the Santa Cruz boardwalk.
We feel so lucky to have had this time together...never before have I gotten to explore tidal pools with my parents, eat picnics in the redwood forest and on the beach, stop by roadside farm stands and buy artichokes and strawberries, stay in a great roadhouse inn within spitting distance of the ocean and all around have a truly memorable time. I feel grateful.

sour-dough, french, multi-grain or rye?

2008-03-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

I quit my job. I was working at a great natural foods market called New Leaf in a tiny mountain town near where we live. I was working in the delicatessen, doing prep work for the cooks as well as making sandwiches. I had high hopes for things going a certain way, a different way than they did. I mean I have so much experience making food....doing freelance catering, personal chef work etc. Not to mention my artistic ideas for creating cool signage, and making an overall positive contribution in whatever way I could. BUT needless to say this job did not turn out to be too rewarding other than a paycheck and the free food that I scored out of the compost and culls. I'll just sum it up by saying POOR MANAGEMENT. LOW MORALE. I left work feeling exhausted and drained. I cannot tell you how sick I am of making sandwiches. My last day someone ordered this disgusting combo: egg salad AND tuna salad mixed together with pepper jack cheese on a sweet roll. But I cheerfully assembled the order, wrapped it in white paper, cut it in half, wrapped it again in brown paper and handed it over with a smile and an "ENJOY".
Pictured here are some of the scrap papers with sandwich orders scrawled on them. We all had our own codes and abbreviations for writing down the orders. At the end of the day there would be a pile of these in a basket. The other picture is of all the plastic ties from the bread bags. I saved them the entire time I worked there. Each one stands for a loaf of bread that I parceled out into an array of sandwiches....the variety so individualized it is sort of maddening. I mean, really. But in certain ways I found it quite revealing. I swear, its a certain type that orders tuna salad with extra mayo, another type that orders BBQ beef with extra pepperoncini. And of course there are the "Fakin' Bacon" people who always want vegan aioli instead of mayo, lots of sprouts and invariably want something "on the side".
There was a guy who came in almost every day and would stare at the sandwich board and act indecisive but always end up with the same turkey pastrami and swiss on sprouted wheat, no onions, but everything else. For now I'm investing my time into my art and looking for some more inspiring options to make money. Now I can add "sandwich artist" to my resume.

Chris Johanson Opening

2008-03-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

We still feel new enough to the bay area that when we hear or read of something cool happening in San Francisco we think to ourselves,"if we were closer...." Well, it turns out, we are close. Close enough that if we didn't go to the said thing we really, really wanted to see or hear because we had to work in the morning or were just plain lazy, we would be those old people we swear we aren't becoming. So, upon finding out there would be a Chris Johanson opening downtown at the Jack Hanley Gallery( a mere hour and a half drive from door to door if the traffic's with you), we shook our sugar trees and made it happen. The art world was our oyster as I made a semi aggressive move onto a downtown street like any other urban trafficker enacts multiple times daily. Wrong! Johny Traffic Copper was there to make me pay for such an obviously violent act while the rest of the city waited calmly and obediently for lights to change, paychecks to come in, and class disparity to be resolved. So, ticket in hand, we rolled into a very hip happening. The crowd spilling out onto the sidewalk looked several years younger and a few degrees cooler than these two country bumpkins. Once inside, the smell of fresh interior wall paint and street sweat hit the olfactories hard enough to cause a shared glance amongst ourselves. Chris's work was hung up in the most intentionally frustrating way I've ever seen an art show hung. In what amounted to an elaborate but roughly hewn cattle loading shoot, the paintings and drawings were put up too close to get back from and-in the jammin' situation-there was little room to linger or turn back and you can forget about an untied shoelace. In certain places 2x4s ran their length at chest level and one had to duck under the drawings attached to these pieces of poorly painted wood and pop up on the other side to see a couple of drawings one had no hope of seeing very well. Johanson comes from the Beautiful Losers school which spawned Barry Mcgee and Margaret Kilgallen, so in this scene our man is a star. a celebrity. a VIP. a somebody. His work is that of an outsider's insider and full of dead on existentialism gleaned from skating and living amongst the daily grind of poverty and anonymity that used to define the urban art experience. It's as though he took all the mad ramblings of dudes you sit next to on the bus or avoid eye contact with on the street and whittled it all down to the bone. the funny bone. Then put it on paper in the simplest, most naive, most irreverent, most truthful manner. All of which is fine until you start selling wrinkled pieces of paper sack with five minute paintings on them for seven thouand dollars. Then and only then do I get confused about what matters and what's authentic and what's exploitation. Mostly, though, it made us consider the fragile equation of where you live affecting how you make your art about who or what you make your art for who comes to see your art and why both you or they bother with any of it... then, we walked down the block to Mi Lindo Yucatan and comforted our questions with brazos de reina and salbutes and negra modelos. We toasted to our bafflement with the art establishment and some soon to come clarity. this hole in the wall was so cool, the waitress didn't even let those high heeled, soy latte drinkin', couture wearin' marin county art groupie broads who are so used to getting their way in to pee in their bathroom. we drank to that, too.

Headlands

2008-02-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

There are few places left in the world that have avoided the inevitable. Surely, the potential developer thinks, this should be a Home Depot parking lot or an overpriced, contemporary apartment complex with "green" features and a built-in california vegan bistro for the conscientious, young money makers-all with a stunning panoramic ocean view... The Marin Headlands is one of these places which has remained intact. Situated on a bare, shrubbed, and hilly outcropping of land between the Pacific and the San Fransisco Bay, this place has a humbling scale that makes one feel they might be the last folks on earth as they pass through it. If you've crossed the Golden Gate Bridge heading north, you've driven by them. Seperated by a couple of mountains from the rest of the Bay area's massive sprawl, John Muir, legendary environmental activist (along with some sorcery, surely) kept the Marin Headlands preserved and free of our consumer needs. However, it does harbor the Headlands Center for the Arts, which is a jewel amongst art residencies. Kendra, Osa, and I took a little field trip to explore what is happening in this quiet place which is churning out loud and potent and funny and thoughtful art by people from all over the world. What we found affirmed our notions that this is a special place. The bathrooms are kept bare boned and institutional yet they have video performance pieces set up in the corners and toilet installation art that would have made Duchamp himself envious. Much of the original integrity of the buildings (formerly a fort) has been left intact and therefore has a worn, layered effect where one can imagine the shoe soles striking the stairs and the countless hands pushing doors to studios open- all of which exposes layer after layer of it's history. The kitchen was designed by Ann Hamilton. There are two light filled galleries across the hall from one another. These galleries support the work of the resident artists. Some of our favorites included an ariel view of a few blocks in San Fransisco made out of jello built atop a light table which made all the colors of jello buildings glow and edges soften in the warmth. There was also a trio of life size deer made entirely out of irish spring soap, bringing to mind certain gardeners' solutions for keeping deer out of their flora. This large rainbow on the floor is the result of the artist's and friends' gatherings from one day on a beach nearby.
So much of art becomes product for sale. It is refreshing (and intimidating) to see art that is made without consideration of compensation. Instead, making something simply to communicate, which at the end of the day is the point often missed.

gray day

2008-02-27T00:14:00.000-08:00

I am in my infancy of understanding the coastal weather. Living by an ocean brings new problems in meteorology. We set out for a nice little jaunt around our neck of the woods because, hey, its a fine day.Sun and all. Five miles later the light is blue grey, and the wipers are on. The thing is...you don't really mind because the air still smells like the ocean and a chilly, wind-blown beach is still a beach. These shots were taken during a return trip from berkeley along highway one. There was a trio of eleven year old girls at this beach who were swimsuited and screaming in ridiculous abandon that comes only in childhood while sitting down and letting waves bowl you over. It was fifty degrees out there. It is not the meek who inherit the kingdom. It's the brave.
We came across this dairy that stole us back to the midwest. It was located in a small town built off the side of a road which was designated as a tsunami escape route.
Speaking of escape routes,
A lot of love is being sent to Fern and John Wolney of Hiawatha, Ks. We wish for John to be blessed with a speedy recovery.

typewriters writing

2008-02-18T19:48:00.000-08:00

This is the only typewriter repair shop I have ever come across. I've often considered where I might go for parts should our trusty Olympia come up missing some letters in its alphabet. Now ,thanks to this little hole in the wall in Berkeley, I know. There's a lot of dust and a strong sense of cult in such places.
While we're on the topic of text, I will take this moment to gush uncontrollably about Raymond Carver's short stories. I feel seven years late to the prom on this one, but so glad to have finally found the shoes I needed to get through the night. I understand that his stories are filled with daily grit and down on their luck characters, but the writing is so lovingly trimmed of fat and so casually surprising that it fills this reader with a joy previously unknown in fiction. Peacocks at dinner parties, unlucky birthday boys, blind men "seeing", champagne and donuts for breakfast...if gabriel garcia marquez created magical realism then raymond carver should get credit for gutteral magnetism. Skip breakfast or dessert and read his collection of short stories called" Cathedral." Do it. Do it now.

Hansel & Gretel

2008-02-15T17:14:00.000-08:00

I've actually been writing this blog installment in my head for awhile and I'm finally sitting down to type.So a couple weeks ago we went to the beach. On our way home we saw this truck with the strawberry sign parked outside a small building. I thought it was strange that it said "open" when I knew it couldn't quite be strawberry season. We investigated....walked through the door to find a simple yet inviting space. There were counters holding trays of pies, cakes and scones. Jars of strawberry jams with little biscuits to sample. Glass cases full of macaroons, truffles and tarts. A cooler with a glass pitcher of strawberry lemonade. Boxes of organic kiwi, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and other winter produce next to a scale. On top of the counter was a cash drawer with a sign that said to help yourself and leave the money in the box. Also, another sign that said if you arrived on a bicycle to take 10% off. We felt like Hansel and Gretel except that no wicked witch emerged to shove us in the oven. It was such a magical wonderful discovery. As we drove away with bags of veggies and chocolate treats we felt a sense of true gratitude for having discovered this place. Being open to discovery is paramount at this point. What a gift.

beach party

2008-02-09T19:57:00.001-08:00

This is the beach that is 15 minutes from our house. To get here we drive a curvy forest road that passes a winery. We learned the hard way that the monstrous black birds that lurk all around the area love to eat fresh baked pecan sandies that are left unattended. damn...
The mussels pictured completely cover some of the rocks and the tide pools atop those same rocks are teaming with life that usually goes unnoticed by the likes of us.
There's a berry farm 2 miles down the road from here that I know Kendra is dying to write about...

thoreau revisited

2008-02-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Osa and I went for a walk. A walk in Henry Cowell Redwood State Park to be exact. It is about 5 miles from our home, and I'm trying to get a grasp on our stompin' groups. Besides, yesterday was absolutely beautiful...sunny and 62. Sorry to our midwestern friends. I am truly not trying to rub it in as ya'll sit under inches of snow.anyway...
The sound of the wind moving through these giants sounded like the white noise of the ocean. The wind and the sounds of birds was all that was heard in hours with the exceptions of me talking aimlessly to our dog about the mysteries of man and beast while she rode shotgun in my Love Garden satchel. Osa got her first taste of mountain spring water and I got my first taste of the California backcountry. There were areas with white sand, blazing sunlight, and Ponderosa Pines which would quickly transition into dark, damp forest with a humus floor created from all the redwood droppings. Tremendous shards of afternoon light split though the branches while we stopped for a snack of oranges and peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I have found peanut butter to be for pups what catnip for felines or crack for the disillusioned must be like.
Even in the throws of it's winter sleep, I could hear growth at work-reaching toward the warmth of spring and it's high sun- beneath the floor of last seasons remnants. Thoreau walked.I walk. Thought through movement. What's next? Civil Disobedience?

FARMER'S MARKET MADNESS

2008-02-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

While the arrow of winter is striking the midwest, Santa Cruz farmers respond to the rain and chill with color and enough vigor to seduce one into giving the shirt off their back for some meyer lemons or fresh cut asparagus. Since it's technically winter here too, we're told we are dealing with a scaled down version of the market. This fact does not stop us from behaving like giddy schoolchildren as we run from one booth to the other trying to one up each other in the quest for most unbelievable. The farmer's market each Wednesday is to us how the true believer must feel about church on the sabbath. We all need to find our reasons to believe the world isn't populated solely by money grabbers and climate controlled fat asses. The Santa Cruz Farmer's Market is ours. Today's finds go as follows: broccoli, oranges, cauliflower, garlic, shallots, radicchio, parsnips, cabbage, narcissus flowers (that filled the air in the market with such an intoxicating scent that one could see people following their noses like puppies to the source), lemons, leeks, chard, locally made tofu,dates (Barhi-a variety that came to cali in 1913 from Iraq has become my favorite and one I've seen nowhere else) and last but not least, a pound of walnuts. The fact that everything is certified organic and costs roughly half of what we were paying for similar food in Kansas makes us feel like yes, we have yet another reason to believe we needed to make this move.
The hot food vendors are devastating as well. Each item was split between us:an Indian samosa with cilantro chutney, a true chalupa-taco bell should feel shame- with fresh ground corn shell and spicy chicken, and lastly naan bread made in a wood fired portable oven which we smeared spinach and eggplant across and then washed down with a darjeeling chai tea. Needless to say, Wednesdays we eat out at the farmer's market. Next week: we hit the oyster bar. No kidding...

Ponyboy

2008-02-06T00:48:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder.

Home is where the art is

2008-02-06T00:18:00.000-08:00

The home. The abode. The domicile. The dwelling. Our place is a quarter of the size of our Rhode Island joint, but since we have about a quarter of our possessions it feels just right. We are learning the advantages of minimalism. This is quite noteworthy for those of you who know our collecting tendencies. As for the studio...I'm convinced if it weren't for Kendra and Osa I could live out there with a cot and space heater. For food I could run out and grab the unconcious squirrels who've just fallen the 200 feet down from the redwoods in the yard. They would be battered and pan fried on my hot plate(one final luxury) before they ever knew they had hit the ground...or I could just stay in our cozy home where Kendra cooks up inspiration in each attempt. Far, far away from those squirrels.

OSA THE WIENER DOG

2008-02-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, so let me just boast a little about our lil' pup Osa. We became proud parents on New Year's Day. "OSA" is short for MIMOSA, the classic New Year's Day beverage. She's also named after Osa Johnson the admirable Kansan who was a stylish young pioneer who explored the wilds of Africa and beyond in the early part of the 20th century with her wildlife filmmaker husband Martin. Other "Osa" references are the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica which is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet, and of course "Osa" in spanish means female bear.
Osa turns 3 months this week, so she's still growing and changing and learning a lot. She's getting longer and more hot dog like. We've got her potty trained. She rings a string of bells hanging from the doorknob when she needs to go out. Now we need to figure out how to determine whether or not she really needs to go out to do her thing or to just gnaw on branches, sniff around and explore outside. Not that she shouldn't do those things, but she needs all her shots before we can relax about that a little more.
We took her to the vet today for a shot and heartworm pill, the vet runs his office out of a biodiesel fueled bus next to a solar powered biodiesel refuel station. Only in California. So we've been bit by puppy love...it's crazy. Having a puppy is one of the most demanding yet rewarding things ever. Now I'm even more in awe of people with children. And parents with dogs? wow.

P.O. Box 504 Brookdale, CA 95007

2008-02-04T23:59:00.002-08:00

Living in the Redwood forests of California changes one's sense of scale. You start to become used to living in the shadows of these giants. You even begin to get used to the amount of rainfall they require to exist. The dwarfing of all man(and woman) related things becomes common. Brookdale has a haunted lodge harboring irritable spirits thanks to a recent remodeling. There's a stream running through an old barroom. There's a mysterious neighborhood called Huckleberry Island that isn't really an island but rather a peninsula, and you can go to a little Italian restaurant down the way and the owner will work the dining crowd in platforms and the waitresses drop everything for song and dance. The mountain roads are windy and only the experienced and the brave ride their bikes along shoulders the width of a thigh bone. vegan terminal degrees who practice yoga and drink herbal teas mix with speed poppin' leather clad 4x4 drivin' freedom aint free chainsaw wieldin' types to create a sentiment that's pulled in two very different directions.
However, the overriding theme seems to be something along the lines of "Let me do my thing. whatever it is..."
Each morning we take a walk with osa around our fair village. We take pictures. We meet neighbors. Some of whom give us eggs from their chickens. There's a whole network of canine owners fraternizing around here that we have been given access to thanks to our wiener dog. Californians are given a bad rep, but everyone we've come into contact with has been generous and welcomed us with gusto to their state. Rain, rain go away. come again some other day...

wigwam warmth

2008-02-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

"Have you stayed in a wigwam lately?" was what the sign read. My sorry answer to myself was "no" followed by a quick "and why not?" The most obvious reason being because I've never been to Holbrook, AZ. And to be honest had I not missed the first exit because of yapping to my brother on the phone, I would never have truly known a night's pleasure in a concrete teepee. This place was unbelievable. The fading neon signs and old lodge-like feel to the front lobby followed by the sweetest owner, Carol, reminiscing about robert redford staying across the way while a movie was being shot on the very grounds we were about to sleep on. Junked out '57 chevys , classic station wagons, and worn tow trucks were strategically placed around the gravel parking lot. The rooms were octagonal and still furnished(thankfully) with the same objects that were placed in them at their conception. All was well for the road ragged trio(don't forget our pup, osa) as we sipped from a bottle of belgium brew and watched the most psychedelic musical I've ever seen staring james cagney and a slew of dancers and synchronized swimmers all being choreographed to make us feel a bit beside ourselves. the little heater ticked away as the temperature outside dipped to near zero and a crew of photographers and models prepared for a german magazine shoot on the cold grounds the following day.

Rain and Redwoods

2008-02-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

Aaaaaah. We've finally landed. 2,200 miles later, we are unpacking and settling into our new little nest in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains. We totally lucked out. I was at a coffeeshop poring over Craigslist rentals while Aaron and Osa went to get stamps. Our puppy Osa is a magnet and she attracted the attention of a woman in the post office whom coincidentally happened to have a place she wanted to rent. Long story short, we seriously scored an amazing place. Its a one bedroom cottage in the redwoods, tons of trees as well as gardens, patio and landscaping. A separate art studio just 15 steps out the front door with an orange tree in front of it. We are sinking our teeth into art making and its so exciting to feel the new inspiration of this place. The town we live in, Brookdale is tiny. Its 10 miles north of Santa Cruz and about 70 miles south of San Francisco. There are lots of quirky things to explore as well as the NATURAL BEAUTY....it is overwhelming how these trees make me feel. The air is so fresh and wet and it is just GREEN everywhere you turn. We went to the beach the other day and had a terrific little picnic on the sand. It was cold and windy but we had to celebrate our arrival to the western edge of the continent.

Monarch Mountain

2008-01-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Well we are heading WEST! We left Lawrence on Saturday and got to Aaron's brother Levi's place in Salida, Colorado 14 hours later. The 1979 Toyota Chinook is loaded down as is the "Bruiser" so we averaged about 50 miles an hour. Plus, we've got a new family member.....an awesome new puppy "OSA". Our friends gave her to us on New Year's Day, pretty unexpected tho we had "put in our order" for one of Lucy's puppies when we left for Costa Rica....never expecting we would be so lucky. She is truly a great traveller, and tho we need to stop more often to stretch our legs and take bathroom breaks we are having a wonderful trip! We all went snow shoeing with Levi on Monarch Mountain which was such a stunning experience. Aaron carried Osa along in a pack and we all had a blast. We've been having such a good time with Levi and tho we are tempted to just move in with him we're sharing a cup of coffee right now and about to say adios. We'll try to keep you all posted but may not check in again until we get to California.

HAPPY 2008

2008-01-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Minnesota. We've been visiting Kendra's family up here after a week spent in Hiawatha Kansas with Aaron's family. It has been really nice to be home with our family and friends spending some quality time with them all. Had sleepovers with all the nieces and an awesome time sledding with relatives on Sunday after a big dinner. Our tans are fading away, our skin is so dry after months of being in humidity, and we feel our Spanish going out the window too. We are heading back to Lawrence today to go through our stuff (its all stored in our friend Mel's basement)...we're packing up our two vehicles and moving west. We are heading towards the Santa Cruz area to begin a new chapter of art making and cooking. The ocean and the redwoods are calling us. Once we get settled we'll fill you all in on the details but wanted to shout out and say HAPPY NEW YEAR. We wish you all a very happy, healthy, inspired year of growth and prosperity.

sun enough to melt the ice

2007-12-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

Surfing. The word conjures up glorious rides on long, gently breaking waves sparkling and curling over the head of any surfer gutsy enough to hang out in the tube. They carve languid lines along the wave and tear up the curl with the greatest of ease. When they are done they make their triumphant exit from the water, beautiful beach babes scented with coconut and ylang-ylang greet them with back rubs and pina coladas. the reality of this kansas boy varies a bit from this version. My surfing (although improving each time) consists of burning up the shoulder muscles attempting to get through the primary breakers near the beach. Simply getting to the calm of the swell just beyond the break for a chance to relax and feel the ocean roll beneath me (not to mention the pelicans gliding by) feels like a victory. From here, it's a matter of seeing a wave I might have a chance with. Then paddling like mad. If the timing is good, the wave picks up the board up and for that moment I'm moving as quickly as a bootlegger and as lightly as the air around me. Next, stand up quick and for the next few moments yours truly feels like the golden god of surfing. This feeling is soon followed by a fall from heaven into the massive water that is crashing over my head and salt water cleaning out the sinuses and an underwater disorientation that can only be solved by following the leash up to the (thankfully) bouyant surfboard while another wave crashes on my nearly drowned cabeza. Although there is no gaggle of senoritas waiting ashore, there is one senora bonita who squeezes my hand and tells me how proud she is proud of my attempts-no matter how feeble. Tuanis, mai!
Laying on the beach or floating in the pool overlooking the ocean with the sun on her skin and a book in her hand is Kendra's speed. The surfing is to be tolerated not attempted. We are soaking up these last few days of sunshine before we depart for the cold Midwest. Just wanted to prove it, so here we are, truly enjoying pura vida. Ken finished her pina colada before the picture was snapped.

mi casa es su casa

2007-12-15T13:05:00.001-08:00

Some of you faithful readers have asked about the house we live in here. Our friends Jake and Julia who split their time between Ojochal and Kansas built it. They just finished it and it is now on the market. If any of you are looking for a sweet second home in Costa Rica or just want to skip outta the states and settle in sunny Central America, let us know. This house sits on a beautiful piece of land with mature coconut, avocado, mango, lime, banana and plantain trees. Sugar cane too. The mural upstairs is an orginal by “LOS MARABLES”. This way the hibiscus bloom all year ‘round both inside and out. The toucans, hummingbirds, and ocean view add the icing on the cake.

food for thought

2007-12-15T12:57:00.000-08:00

We just finished our last painting project. We made this sign for the Mennonites that sell baked goods, goat milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. in our village every Friday. We traded them the sign for their goods and everyone was happy. George and Joel beamed when they saw the sign and said “This really means a lot.” Over the last 9 weeks we’ve used our art making abilities to bridge cultural gaps, create beauty and inspiration where it didn’t exist before and instigate conversation and connection.We now see our painting as a skill worthy of bartering and trading. Painting has rewarded us with overnight beachside stays, cafeteria meals, cinnamon rolls, beer, and respect in our community. In fact, tonight we are dining in a sweet little french joint because the woman who runs it saw a little drawing in our sketchbook and was willing to trade a meal for it. All proof that not all artists starve.

animal crackers

2007-12-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

Our nephew Will was excited to see the picture of the scorpion so we thought we better take it up a few notches and keep him impressed. He’s only 3, but we want to keep our cool reputations. Here are some more animal pictures. These were all taken on our last big adventure around the country. The monkeys were super tame, we fed them bananas and plantains. It was thrilling. Its really impressive how they swing with such ease from branch to branch by their tails and long arms. Their little hands were unbelievably human. FIVE FINGERS! The crocodiles were under a bridge we drove over. Eerie. They look so prehistoric. There were about a dozen of them, basking in the murky water to catch some sun. And possibly waiting to catch something/someone else? The iguana was so photogenic, we wondered how many other people have shot his portrait? And last but not least, the giant beetle was caught in our house last night by Uncle Aaron. He heard the buzzing of the wings from upstairs and went down to investigate. He choose to use the coffee pot over the usual “creature trap” for optimal viewing. Now who’s impressed?

Canela Lee Zuleta Harper

2007-12-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

We were so thrilled to see our dear friend Erica Harper in San Jose and meet her partner Marco and their new baby Canela. Canela is Spanish for CINNAMON. What a sweetheart. She was born at their home on Nov. 12th. We are in awe of Erica for having her baby at home...not to mention she did it standing up! Gravity and sound vibration should not be taken for granted!
It was really inspiring and grounding to see how they are living their lives. Erica and Marco are both artists and make a living doing street theater-circus performances. Think unicycles and juggling fire. Their performances are complete with costumes and social commentary. They also sell crafts and jewelry that they make. Beautiful. Stellar examples of living with creativity and integrity.

sawdust

2007-12-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

Many things have been dismissed as unnessessary in these parts.These folks get by just fine in their seemingly primitive approaches to taking care of business. The same holds true for milling. No hulking buildings with their steel teeth and hydro electrics chomping away at the jungle. Instead, a couple of young men take petite nibbles on our surrrounding trees. Using only an extended chainsaw fixed with a jig, these dudes slowly but steadily (and neatly) mill los arboles of our area. The planks are mostly used for concrete forming in all the building done here. The operators of these saws are all lean, incredibly strong, and evidently deaf as ear protection seems to be a thing for the weak. ouch. The younger helper pictured here was last seen helping us out with the mural at his school. We were a bit surprised to see him sweating so hard on an early saturday morning. So much for Saturday cartoons!

Frutas y Queso

2007-12-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

While we were staying at Zancudo Beach, we did some sign painting in trade for a couple free nights at the cabina we were staying in. There was a produce truck that rumbled through this one road town selling fruit, vegetables, cheese, homemade rum, etc. People hang signs out by the road to signal they want "Willy" to stop. Here are a couple of our favorites.

miles and miles

2007-12-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

We've been out of the blog loop as we were travelling around the country for a week without the computer. Our friend Chris Kuhlman from L.A. met up with us here and we rented a car and made some tracks. We were so impressed by the diversity of the landscape. Being 'down south' in Ojochal for 6 weeks in the humidity and warmth has been great, but the mountain air of Monteverde was WONDERFUL. We finally got to wear long sleeves and cuddle under a quilt just like all our friends and family back home. Our adventures were numerous. Here is just a tiny glimpse of the landscapes we travelled across... we saw agricultural expanse, coffee plantations, cloud forests and even two active volcanoes. Looking through the binoculars from the base of Volcan Arenal we could see boulders rolling down the hillside, spewed from within...the sound was like a grumbling and rumbling we've never experienced before.

Thanksgiving in the Tropics

2007-11-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

This was the first time in 6 years that we didn't spend Thanksgiving with Aaron's family. When we talked to Grandma Gladhart she said there had been snow flurries and ice in Kansas. It was 80 degrees here and we were barefoot. We roasted a chicken we had gotten from this really inspiring, beautiful farm here. It is a bio-dynamic farm, which is a method of organic farming that integrates and emphasizes the relationships between soil, plants, and animals. This chicken was the best we have EVER eaten!

Our meal was very simple yet delicious...roasted chicken with garlic and rosemary, sweet potatoes, and a new recipe I call "Costa Rican Ensalada" which is just chopped tomato, avodado and cucumber with lime juice and "Chilero" our new favorite hot sauce. The food was completely local with the exception of our Chilean and French wine. Did we miss the traditional feast? Not really, though I did make up some devilled eggs in honor of Grandma Gladhart to keep that tradition alive.

We spent the afternoon playing cards, painting, and putting on a shadow puppet show. It was nice to spend the day alone but we did have one visitor. This scorpion! It was about 4 inches long, not including the tail. Its one thing to see these enshrined in a cast resin belt buckle or bolo tie, but ON THE WALL?!?!? Aaron calmly got out the "creature trap" which is an empty plastic bowl and the cardboard backing from a notebook. To date, he has extracted giant grasshoppers, roaches, spiders, centipedes, bats and scorpions with it. Just because we aren't scraping ice doesn't mean we don't have our own issues...

1 cerveza. 2 cerveza.

2007-11-21T23:23:00.000-08:00

Living in Costa Rica has freed me from the paralysis we experience in the U.S. that can come from having too many choices. We feel it is our right to get to decide between 20 kinds of peanut butter or 3 aisles dedicated to morning cereals. Not in costa rica... and i mean right down to our beer. There are basically 2 choices: Imperial or Pilsen with Bavaria(strangely, this Germanic sounding cerveza is brewed right here) coming in a distant 3rd. Seriously. 2...Every cafe, bar, and convenience store in the country has a Pilsen or Imperial sign hanging out front, lit up like a beacon in an otherwise black jungle night.
You could do worse. I know I have at the Replay simply with a Pabst. These beers are refreshing and usually ice cold no matter where you get them. They are the beer you reach for following an afternoon full of mowing in July. Ken and I have gotten into a little habit after finishing up a day's work of painting at the school. We move on down to the neighborhood mercado for the goods. Then, we slowly make our way up our winding, axel- breaking road home sipping on Pilsens and munching on bags of locally made plantain chips(our favorite new food group.)
Sooo... the next time any of you beauties tip back an Oatmeal Stout or Boulevard pale take one attentive gulp for your poor, deprived friends in the tropics. salut!

Mosquito Coast

2007-11-21T20:46:00.000-08:00

Last week we went to Zancudo Beach for a couple days. For those who don’t speak Spanish, ZANCUDO=MOSQUITO. Thats why our legs now look like we have chicken pox even tho we don’t. HOWEVER, our time at the beach was really sublime.

Zancudo is a very remote village. In order to reach it, a ferry ride across a river on the most ramshackle jalopy of a ferry is required. It was wonderful...driving onto this rusty steel float with no choice but to trust we would slowly float to the other side. We made the voyage with one other passenger; an older white haired Costa Rican man and the barefoot ferry “captain” who steadily poured quarts of oil into the sputtering motor. White egrets flew by our side.

Passing by hundreds of rows of palm, banana and coconut trees, we navigated long muddy roads full of potholes and occasional oxen.

We rented a cabina that had originally housed banana farmers near the border. It was perfect... living right on the beach. Our quarters included a lovely mosquito net around the bed which made sleeping extra dreamy, an indoor and outdoor shower, equipped kitchen, hammock on the porch, and more.

The Golfo Dulce “Sweet Gulf” rolled us gentle waves and it was really ideal for swimming, as well as sea shell collecting, sunbathing, walking and bike riding on the sand. At night we could see the phosphorescent glowing of creatures in the sea and beautiful moonlight reflecting on the water.

We collected lots of driftwood to paint on. Old oars, pieces of boats, soles of shoes, etc. We ended up getting work painting a bunch of signage for the fruit & vegetable delivery truck which we did for trade...we got a couple nights stay free at the cabina. A great deal for everyone.

One night we ate at a tiny authentic Italian joint “PUERTA NEGRA” with with our new friends Edwin & Maureen. The owner/chef “Alberto” had just spent a month renovating after returning from 2 months in Italy to find Mother Nature had moved into the restaurant. Because everything is so open to the elements here, its not hard to imagine this happening. But obviously he did not forsee the bamboo growing several feet and strangling out other vegetation; nor did he expect to find dozens of bats, numerous scorpions, and FOUR BOA CONSTRICTORS living inside his place.

Our time at the beach was really rejuvenating and reinvigorating. So much so that we returned to Ojochal and said "yes" to another job at the school. We’ll proably need another get-away after this...

ACADEMIC ANARCHY

2007-11-13T16:33:00.000-08:00

We finished painting the murals at the escuela today. Its amazing how just one week at a place can give you so much insight that you feel like you could possibly write a pilot episode for a new sitcom. This one would be called “Academic Anarchy” and it would be based on the antics and behavior of the children and teachers at Tortuga Escuela; the elementary school in the village of Ojochal.
The atmosphere of this school is pure mayhem. Think about that Michelle Pfiefer movie, Dangerous Minds in terms of the level of disrespect for the teacher, but without the threat of violence. The length of each lesson taught ranges from 1-5 minutes on average. A few times a week it seemed the teachers were feeling quite energetic and would indulge in an approximately 8 minute long-winded sermon of knowledge. Perhaps sermon paints the wrong image. These children don’t sit still. These children never shut their mouths. Truly. Their mouths are open for shouting, screaming, talking loudly, or to receive the endless stream of candy, suckers, gum, chips, etc. they eat DURING CLASS. Before you imagine their brownbags or lunchpails stuffed with such riches, I’ll tell you exactly where they get them. Across and down the road from the school about 50 yards sits a “Pulperia” a tiny convenience store for food, water, beer, etc. These kids wander endlessly in and out of their classrooms ALL DAY and buy snacks. They holler answers out which are strangled by suckers. Yesterday “Alexis” was eating an ICE CREAM CONE during math! But of COURSE the kids do this... SO DO THE TEACHERS! Its a sight for us to see such feasting...we who were only allowed to even chew gum in class on special days...As we paint right outside the classrooms, the artificial fruit breeze wafts into our expectant yet chaste noses.

The woman who cleans the school at the end of the day sweeps up dustpans FULL of wrappers and debris. The kids DO NOT use the trash cans. Wrappers are strewn upon the grass and collect along the chainlink fence in the schoolyard.

As a result of this steady sugar intake, you can imagine the high voltage energy (and the resulting crash and emotional turmoil their parents get to live with later.) Think back to the classroom climate of those days in elementary when there was a substitute teacher. Conjure up the most unruly, smart-ass misbehaved kids. Now think about the energy level of the last day of school before christmas break. Add to that the high pitched fervor of the last day of school for the year. Multiply that by 10. Add in the fragrance of artificial tropical fruit flavor. hmmm. this really BARELY begins to explain.

Yesterday, after FIREWORKS were lit off IN THE CLASS I thought what a shame it was my parents weren’t cognizant of this fine educational system...my brother the pyrotechnic could have flourished here. He would have never had to drop out of 10th grade! When the ping pong games began and balls were bouncing on the floors, we sorta began to lose it. We were yelling cusswords, (they don’t understand English) singing super loud, and laughing maniacally. No one noticed.

The kids were our audience while we painted. They watched us for six-and-a-half DAYS. They watched while we painted the Costa Rican "coat of arms", the flag, and the village emblem. They watched us paint the bathroom doors. They watched us paint two 12' long walls. At first we felt guilty for being such a distraction. HA. Now that cracks us up. We were so self centered to think the teachers were giving the kids permission to watch us for hours. The truth is, the teachers LOVED that we were were there to distract. That meant more freedom for them. I mean, those short lessons really wear a guy out. So, with us providing hours of entertainment there was time to walk to the Pulperpia for snacks, to socialize.... friends walking by need not keep walking,.....come on in! What’s happening? Pura vida...... We witnessed many many lengthy conversations conducted between passersby and the teachers...sometimes the teachers were mid-lesson and would see a friend walk by, and stop to shout out, halting class for a quick chat.

Perhaps our sweetest memory of one of the teachers is when he asked some of the boys to wash his motorcycle. During class. During a rainy afternoon. This is the same teacher who would chat it UP on his CELL PHONE during "class".

As we paint the last stripes of the Costa Rican flag on this fine establishment, we salute each and every student and teacher. Thank you for granting us access to your walls, your customs, your sugar coated school...

living the dream

2007-11-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Last night I was visited by a strange dream in which there were 5 huge birds... in my mind they were Quetzals the sacred Mexican bird known for its colorful plumage and powerful presence in Mayan mythology. In the dream they each had one peacock feather on their backs. Very colorful. This morning, Aaron and I were driving down the road to leave our village for the day and a very colorful bird almost flew into the truck window. We pulled over to the side and got out... there were FIVE BEAUTIFUL TOUCANS perched in a tree-top!

mural madness

2007-11-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

This is our neighborhood equivalent to 7-11. no big gulps but they've got ken's favorite new beverage, rompopo. it's akin to eggnog and comes in individual size drink boxes that (if you were lucky) you got to take on field trips in elementary school. sometimes they have rum in them, so that's a bit different than my elementary years. this place also carries necessities like t.p., strong smelling laundry detergent (to fight mildew), chips and candy of all kinds that kids constantly chow on, cans of tuna, refried beans, and tomato paste. there's a small, somewhat questionable shelf with produce like pineapples, garlic, avocado, yucca, and chayote. these are all a bit limp but you take what you can get. propane tanks are also available. if you're feeling lucky there's a pinball gambling device that participants can win some colones from. completing the kwik shop experience...a form of lottery ticket.
young and old from around the neighborhood can be found here at all hours of operation, lazily going through the motions of conversation... but mostly just quietly munching on snacks from within while chillin' at this little table under the covered front.
the kids watched in amazement as we painted this mural and would shout out the names of items as soon as they were identifiable on the wall. the parents and adults mostly nodded in approval with knowing grins. The owner was so happy that we had chosen his place of business as a canvas. He kept beaming and saying "mucho mucho mucho lindo". Very, very, very pretty.
Today we began painting at the elementary school where we have been asked to make various improvements to existing paintings as well as new murals. What an incredible day. We're not sure if the kids got to hang out with us all day because it was a "learning experience" for them, or if they always get to run amok on the playground and in the road, but we got to share some really amazing hours with the kids. The school is paying us as well as feeding us breakfast and lunch. rice and beans. rice and beans. It goes without saying that their "cafeteria" is NOTHING like the one you or I ate in at school. It is so primitive and raw that it really makes us aware of things in the States that are underappreciated as well as wasted. Ah, the importance of getting out into the wide open world from time to time to experience what is beyond our comfort zones.

fruta y hormigas.

2007-11-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

Fruit and ants. Beyond the coconuts, pineapples, mangoes and bananas are many varieties of fruit that remain nameless to us. The unfamiliar become familiar and we now eat granadilla, cas, pejibaye, and more. We buy these mysterious gems at roadside stands and carefully slice into them, investigating their interiors. The beauties pictured here did not taste as good as they look. They served their purpose as a still life subject for a little sketchbook watercolor painting. The ants aren't quite as discerning and quickly covered them as they posed. The ants come from these crazy little towers and eat anything and everything sweet. And I really do mean anything and everything sweet.

deep blue sea

2007-11-03T07:05:00.000-07:00

So I may be from Minnesota the land of how many...16,000 lakes? But I've never REALLY gone fishing. I think I had my nose in a book or was content to sunbathe while my uncles, cousins & grandpa were out baiting hooks. So I was truly initiated into this patience provoking past time last week. We went out on a boat, into the ocean blue with our friends Jake, Julia, their friend Eduardo, his girlfriend and son. We were out on the water for hours. We saw a sailfish, which really does "sail" across the water with impressive speed. We saw flying fish fly, manta rays leaping and bouncing into the air, playful elegant dolphins who surrounded our boat with an intriguing attitude, and HUMPBACK WHALES!!! We got within about 20 meters of the whales....to see water sprayed out of their blowholes was awesome....and then to see their backs break the water's surface and their tails flip above and back under. What a gift. So back to the fishing.... we used fresh sardines to bait the hooks, and whole shrimp. I gotta say, these are much more appetizing than nightcrawlers or worms. But not appetizing enough for the fish i was trolling for....as our friends pulled in red snapper & mahi mahi, I pulled in nada. nothing. zilch. The only bite i got was one enormous yank on the line that chomped off both my hooks AND my sinker. Dang. As my friend's fish piled up in the ice cooler, I consoled myself with knowing that we had just discovered this r-e-a-l-l-y great little fish market...

fountain of youth

2007-11-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

ken was telling me about this man, who lived to be 117 years old. everyday up til the bucket got kicked, he went skinny dipping in the nile river(that's in egypt for those who struggle with geography.) the same guy got remarried at 99... to what i'm sure was a spicy honeymoon. point is these falls, which are a short walk from our house are my nile. everyday, naked in the spring water is the restoration the spirit needs to face another day of pura vida. i might even settle for seein' 115. this little spot is eden. moss growing over stones under a constant mist and calm pools to relax in away from current... here's to tan lines.

pipa for you. pipa for me

2007-10-31T21:43:00.000-07:00

the coconut tree is my new favorite invention of god's. not only are they beautiful as they wrap the beaches, but i can walk up to any tree, anywhere down here and, with my trusty machete, whack a little pipa(young coconut) or three off for my beloved and myself.my machete technique improves daily. i have promised ken to keep both my thumbs. i'm tellin' ya'll this stuff's almost as good as a route 44 cherry limeade... its meat, juice, and milk are chock full of electrolytes, minerals, and other life givers. pacific islanders call it the treee of life. not only does this little tree feed and provide income for a 1/3 of the world population, it also contains healing qualities in its oil.oh, yeah...it's self propogating.that's right, a coconut hits the ground and without much effort sends roots down and sprouts up. how else do you reproduce all alone on those deserted islands? people, this technique is wasted on us. still takes two to tango.

birds in paradise

2007-10-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

There are so many beautiful birds here! Ticos (locals) keep parakeets and parrots as pets in the yard. Hummingbirds seem practically common, as they flit around from flower to flower in the yard. Unfortunately it is also common for the birds to fly straight into the glass windows, as they see the reflection of the jungle and think there is wide open flight space. Yesterday this little green bird lay stunned on the ground for awhile and it eventually hopped to its feet and onto this flower I extended towards it. Eventually it flew off. Last night we saw a flock of parrots flying from tree to tree, looking for the perfect perch for the night. Aaron saw a toucan a couple of days ago, and we are looking forward to more sightings, as our new rule is "Don't leave the house without the binoculars".

futbol frenzy

2007-10-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

costa ricans, like most countries south of the border are nutty for soccer. its on little junked out televisions with any kind of rabbit ears coming out the top that will provide enough reception to yell for their favorite team. our little village, ojochal, is no different in its enthusiasm. the second evening of our living here brought us across a night game between ojochal and a neighboring community. although, the town has sporatic electricity through out most of it, the field was lit up with cheap lights on telephone poles. there is also a smaller covered field, so practice can still happen despite the rain...another testament to their love of the game. so we yelled for ojochal along with the drunks under the shelter that's set up between the field and the town grocery. this seems to be most hoppin' joint in town. at any hour after sundown, you will see a steady stream of jovial men(only men) moving between the grocery store buying pilsen or imperial(the only two beers that exist in costa rica- for they are costa rican beers) and the rain shelter. bikes, motorcycles, 4wheelers, trucks, and rubber boots are pulled up beside this odd little social mecca, rain or shine.
after our ojochal's noble loss, we were headed up the winding,muddy, hole- filled road that leads to our house. our head lights came upon a place in the road that was extra messy and a hand came up followed, weakly, by a head. luckily the condition of the roads are so poor you are forced to move slowly because there was no other way of seeing this man lying inthe mud in the dark. through jake's spanish and both of our support, we surmised this dude had broken his ankle inthe dark and was waiting inthe middle of the road for his friend's to return. he was mad with pain as we got him off to the side. a truck load of partying soccerplayers came by and tried to help only to be pushed away(rudely i thought) by this guy's "friends" who had shown up. they quickly loaded him in and drove off into the night. we followed soon after. the hill is now affectionately called hill of the broken leg. another night in the life.

Immersion into the New

2007-10-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

Shouting out to all our friends and family over the sound of pouring rain on the roof. We're living the good life in Costa Rica. We've been here since October 12th and have had some incredible adventures already. We flew into San Jose, C.R. and immersed ourselves in the city for a couple of days until our friends Jake and Julia met up with us. The Central Market was our favorite place.
Pungent, fragrant, flavor, noise, crowded, dirt floor, raw meat, chicken feet, spices in every earthern hue, leather shoes, piles of fruit, spray painted blue flora next to vibrant ginger blossoms and cascading birds of paradise...chihuahuas in cages...the stench of piss....the freshness of cold blood sausage... aluminum cups adorned with roses...blocks of cheese....cones of sugar...heaps of empty straw Christmas mangers...open armed virgen Mary....wide eyed wise men...bundled chamomile...herbs and potions bottled and hanging in rainbows...clatter and clamor of the lunch crowd...cacaphony of conversations...synching with the blink of christmas lights...reflecting in mirrors...the energy and pulse conjuring the magic and madness of a carnival...
Our awe, amazement & curiosity propelled us down narrow crowded corridors, around in circles...our appreciation for this scene saturating and blurring our senses.