Odds & Ends: Soup, Grant's Farm, Real Estate

This post is about a lot of random things. I'm writing it while finishing up this amazing Potato Leek Soup I made last night. Healthy? Probably not. Delicious? Ridiculously so. This is the fourth batch of soup I've made in a week. Last weekend for an impromptu dinner party I made vegan Creamy Cashew Butternut Squash Soup and cobbled together a ham, bean, and kale soup from several different recipes. Last night was the potato soup and chili for a couple from the neighborhood. Winter. Soup. It's what I do.

Saturday I attended a presentation for Grantwood Village residents by Dr. Jeffrey P. Bonner, President and CEO of the St. Louis Zoo. It was a standing room only crowd, probably 100 in attendance. He talked about the zoo's vision for Grant's Farm should the current litigation favor those from the Busch family who want to sell to the zoo. Trudy Busch Valentine gave a heartfelt message at the end. The overall tone of those in attendance seemed to support the zoo proposal with an overwhelming caveat that very close attention be given to traffic, parking, and attendance numbers. It really seems like the best option for keeping the original intent and spirit of Grant's Farm while providing needed improvements. I'm hopeful and excited.

I haven't talked a lot on my blog about my new job, which I started in August. I am now an Operations & Marketing Manager for a small real estate team with a local boutique real estate firm. I am loving every minute of it. I'm learning all kinds of new things, it satisfies the house-geek in me, I'm directly involved in building something really cool, and my teammates are progressive, smart, and fun people to be around. I am looking forward to 2016 with this crew. 

Moving On

Tuesday was my last day at a company where I had spent 16 years. I know. Unheard of these days. I worked there for six years, took a three year hiatus (freelancing), and then returned. I had worked there ten years before deciding to resign. My team (above) made my last week memorable by bringing treats in each day, hanging streamers in my office, taking me to lunch and basically--just being their typical awesome. Building this team over the last couple of years was truly satisfying. Through a combination of intuition and luck, we found the perfect mix of personalities and talent. They were not just colleagues but real friends who will be missed.  

One reason I stayed so long was because I liked working for my (female) boss. She understood how important flexibility is for working people (not just women). When I came back the second time, I negotiated for a flex-schedule and for the last ten years have worked 30-40 hours over 3-4 days a week. Plus, I had awesome health and vacation benefits and when you are starting a family that stuff makes a huge difference. It goes without saying that I believe more companies should offer real flex-time options and those who don't are missing out on a lot of great talent.

I am moving on to a job where I will be able to work from home more. It too will have a flexible schedule and I'll be able to pick my kid up from school and spend more time with her. That is a priority for me. I'm excited about learning a new industry and working with another super cool female boss, Dawn Griffin. She was the realtor who sold our last house and I know I'm going to learn boatloads plus bring a lot to the team. I'm nuts about houses and still look at real estate online all the time, even though we have no intention of moving. So, it's a match. I'm ready.

A lot of changes ahead. Looking forward to having more time for exercise and more time for writing. See you here more, I hope.   

Wrapping The Week

In a few weeks I'm going to start participating in an online drawing class with a few friends. I'm excited about the format and making creative a daily habit. Even if it is just taking more photos and journaling. I'm always going, doing, planning and don't make the time to re-group and I am a person who needs this kind of inward quiet time. When I don't have it, I become completely unmoored. So...here's to more quiet. More creative.

Going to a photography show tonight and taking Audrey to the symphony on Sunday. Excited about both. Here are some links that have excited me this week.

Bukowski on inspiration

PostItPeople

Paintings by Dave Gray

Chairs by Lucia Dill

Aging is a goddamned privilege

Paycheck to Paycheck

xoa

Wrapping The Week?

I finally cleaned all the photos off my phone from the last year. Only a handful of selfies. It sure was easy to pick out the ones from when my mom was sick. Looking at these was a big hand smack to the head that I have to do a better job of taking care of myself. I am so run down right now. Not spending enough time on creative...on reflection...on moving forward. But the sun is shining and spring is at my doorstep. Joy!

This tumblr is so brilliant, I can hardly stand it.

Best children's books of 2013 

Alec Baldwin's Preschool Report Card

Gorgeous photos

Our girl

Mrs. Potato Head to the rescue

Now is the time to try something new.

Over the last several weeks I've been dreaming of horses. Wild horses running over open prairies. In one dream, I was even riding a horse and felt an immense sense of freedom. Then on Friday, I dreamt of sitting at a table in an open desert watching some cows drag an ailing horse to a berm where a cowboy of some sort proceeded to douse it with gasoline and set it on fire.

On Saturday, my fortune cookie advised me that now is the time to try something new.

I hear you universe. You are trying to tell me something. I get it. I'm ready for profound change I just don't know what it looks like. And I'm scared.

Trying to define the fears and face them.
Once again, February is trying to kick my ass.
But this isn't my first rodeo.

Looking forward to whatever comes next. 

February, You Stink

Yesterday on the way to the car, Audrey asked me, "Mom, when is February over?" I didn't have the heart to tell her we are only six days in.

My collection of links today is a little on the sad side. But that is what February does. Almost every thought I have these days bores me. I've tried baking my way out of the doldrums, but that sort of makes things worse. Planning our summer vacation is offering some respite. And there is always my little doodle bug. Asking me funny questions and telling me she loves me as big as the universe.

How are you?

More projects like this.

I don't watch this show, but I found this piece on poverty interesting. 

I've been on a Breaking Bad binge over the last couple of weeks. That, along with Philip Seymour Hoffman's death, makes this photo essay all the more mesmerizing and depressing. 

St. Louis Beauty

Snow!

 

Kind of the perfect snow day. Wet. Heavy. Not too cold. I even got Audrey to go down a hill on the sled with me a couple of times. One conclusion, mama needs a real pair of snow boots. Later today, a Girl Scout Christmas party, and tomorrow, birthday party!

Summer Schedule

As you may have noticed, I'm taking a little breather from the blog. Summer has us busy and more than once in the last couple of weeks Audrey has said how much she likes to play with me but I always have work to do. I thought about how many times during a week I tell her, "I'll be there in just a minute. First let me ________________{fill in the blank}."

To her ears, loading the dishwasher, throwing clothes in the laundry, and looking up recipes are more important than her. Sure, she can't be first all the time. But I need to take a serious chill pill and put the chores and getting this house "in order" on the back burner. This is the last summer before she starts school and I want to savor this time with her. So, I'm off all week and we are having a staycation with friends coming over for play dates, a trip to the Magic House, a craft project day, and she wants to write a book about her favorite thing, frogs. So, I'm going to focus more on her and less on writing, documenting, etc.

I can't believe how many amazing things she does in a week. She is so observant and has such a keen memory. Out of nowhere, she says to me things like, "Mommy, I love you because of your big smile and how kind you are."  On one had she is so loving, yet she has no qualms about disturbing a colony of ants just to observe and study the chaos, or burying a lighting bug just to see if he lights up the ground. She still maintains that her super power is "Everything. I can run fast. I'm strong. And I never ever give up."

I. love. that. kid.

So, enjoy your summer, kiddos or not.
Wide blue skies dotted with clouds.
Warm sun on your face.
Music.
Water.
Love.

xoa

The Power Of Love

Above is of course, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Someone at work who I admire, sent me the following ten quotes from Martin Luther King. It was a kind of quiet reminder to me of the importance of following your convictions and what you know to be right. At a time when I've really been preoccupied with the small stuff, this was a good to read.

1. ON THE POWER OF LOVE
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

2. ON TOGETHERNESS
 "We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

3. ON THE MEANING OF PEACE
 "True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."

4. ON LEADERSHIP
"Ultimately a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus."

5. ON HARMONY
"But life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony."

6. ON DOING WHAT’S RIGHT
"The time is always right to do what’s right."

7. ON REAL VALUE
"What doth it profit a man to gain the whole world of means - airplanes, televisions, electric lights -and lose the end: the soul?"

8. ON POWER
"I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good."

9. ON LOVING YOUR ENEMIES
"It is love that will save our world and our civilization, love even for enemies."

10. ON BROTHERHOOD
"The beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold."

Lately

Weekend Bits & Pieces

I haven't been able to find the batteries for my camera until this morning, which means I've only been taking photos with my phone for the last couple of weeks. Saturday we worked in the basement, Katy came over for a short visit, and we made a major drop at the Goodwill and scored a $45 dresser for Audrey. On Sunday, it snowed probably 10 inches. Big fat flakes of heavy snow. We hunkered down and alternated playing and working in the basement most of the day. Audrey helped me bake cookies. She has a snow day today and Lindsey is working from home. The snow is gorgeous and when I look out Audrey's window and up the winding street at the trees and limbs blanketed, it is truly like a Christmas card. But it is March and I'm ready for some GD sunshine. Cozy and itchy.

View from our backyard

Our evergreen

Cookies

Future Astronaut

Ready For Spring

Ready for the cold and rain and clouds to lift.
Ready to try new things.
Ready to let go of perfection.
Ready to stop.
Ready to relax.
Ready to breathe.
Ready to meet neighbors.
Ready for a drink on a patio.
Ready for cherry blossoms.
Ready for a road trip.
Ready for a date.
Spring. I'm ready.

Still Moving

Well I'm pretty preoccupied with the house so most of my blogging is being done over at Sweet Street STL. We have the upstairs manageable and liveable but I wouldn't call it cozy. (Oh, how I miss my bookshelves!). My office and the basement are still pretty terrible and our bedroom is depressing...except for the view out the window, which I love. The garage makes my stomach hurt every time I have to venture through it. I need to come up with a better unpacking strategy. But I can't manufacture time.

Received gorgeous flowers from my in-laws as belated birthday and housewarming. Perfect timing--they really perked up the place. Having a girlfriend and her daughter over Friday night so they can check out our new (disaster) pad. But we are here. And I'm happy.

Home

Moved in and we sign away Magnolia tomorrow morning. My computer is up but I have had no time to do anything other than unpack. My first priority was getting Audrey's room setup and the kitchen unpacked. She was thrilled with her room and seems to be adjusting just fine. I'm back at work. Exhausted. Happy. Brain dead. We will settle in and I'll post more soon.

Sweetest

Audrey tagged me with all kinds of hearts and post-it with "mom" written on it because, "you the sweetest mom ever," she said. We've been running ragged getting ready for our big move. The last two nights we've collapsed in front of the tv to watch bits of the Westminster Dog Show. And we aren't even dog fans. Audrey is loving her new babysitter/nanny. They've gone on some great little outings. I can't wait to be in the new house. This process seems endless. I haven't been posting much, and expect it to be spotty through the end of the month. More in March. Scattered. Love.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Lone Elk Park. Mutant strawberries. French lentil and kale stew. Making toad in the hole Sunday morning while Audrey played her toy trumpet with Chet Baker. The three of us met with the potential nanny later Sunday afternoon and it went great--in fact, it couldn't have gone any better. Sunday night at dinner Audrey even asked if she could have a play date with Kristy. Now, if we can just come to terms on the scheduling and logistics...I will be able to breathe again.

Wrapping The Week

We had five showings in three days on the house and there are three more scheduled for tomorrow. That is more action than we saw in the fall for sure. So we're hopeful. We're going to a penny carnival tomorrow at Audrey's preschool and on Sunday meet with a new potential nanny. Fingers crossed. Audrey told me at least thirty times today she loved me. She is the sweetest kid in the universe. I have no doubt about that. Being her mom is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I've had a lot of good friends any my family reaching out to me this week and it has meant the world. Love to you. Here are some things I found this week that made me happy and made me think.

Frida's Closet

Sarah's Guns

Van Gogh's Photo

Children Smoking

More Polkas

Strong Women

xoa

Where We Are

I am trying to open up my arms and welcome 2013. I really am. But it is kind of kicking my ass. Not feeling 100% physically and on Friday our relationship with Audrey's long-time caregiver ended under less than rosy circumstances. I'm still grappling to understand what happened. But things unfold in weird and unexpected ways sometimes. I think the universe wants to change things up for me (even more). It is challenging me and showing me how strong I can be and need to be. Maybe that is one of the lessons in all this. So for now, I'm embracing change, looking at it as a gift, and concentrating on the future. And on making sure Audrey is ok through it all.

Last weekend we bowled with friends. It was Audrey's first time and it took her a while to acclimate to the noise but she finally got into it. She especially loved the cosmic bowl and was dancing by the end of the night. The roll of Oreos from the vending machine could have contributed to that burst of energy.

Meanwhile progress on the new house has been slower than I'd like, but our house hit the market today. Yeah, there's a lot going on. But life is good. Where we are. 

Wrapping The Week

This week, my baby turned five. I contemplated this as she enjoyed a three hour play date with her little friend Sydney and I assembled two apple crumb pies for the freezer. All my best thinking is done while I'm cooking. Perhaps too often, I ask myself, "How did I get so lucky?" And then I start to experience some anxiety - thinking how fleeting it all is - how everything that makes me feel most secure, most happy in this world could be gone in an instant. Will be gone in an instant. Every relationship I have is a gift. And all I can do is love as fully as possible while I'm here. Nine Eleven really rocked me. But that was before I was married and had a child. Sandy Hook at Christmas time. The world spins. And so do I. Praying for peace, civility, common sense, and compassion - for all of us. I'm unplugging from this blog through the end of the year and meditating. Love to you and yours this season.

Gun 'Control' is Not Enough

In Defense of Children

Brady Center to End Gun Violence

In a Dark Time: Roethke & Rothko

{Mark Rothko - No. 12 (Black on Dark Sienna on Purple), 1960}

In a Dark Time

In a dark time, the eye begins to see,
I meet my shadow in the deepening shade;
I hear my echo in the echoing wood--
A lord of nature weeping to a tree,
I live between the heron and the wren,
Beasts of the hill and serpents of the den.
What's madness but nobility of soul
At odds with circumstance? The day's on fire!
I know the purity of pure despair,
My shadow pinned against a sweating wall,
That place among the rocks--is it a cave,
Or winding path? The edge is what I have.

A steady storm of correspondences!
A night flowing with birds, a ragged moon,
And in broad day the midnight come again!
A man goes far to find out what he is--
Death of the self in a long, tearless night,
All natural shapes blazing unnatural light.

Dark,dark my light, and darker my desire.
My soul, like some heat-maddened summer fly,
Keeps buzzing at the sill. Which I is I?
A fallen man, I climb out of my fear.
The mind enters itself, and God the mind,
And one is One, free in the tearing wind.

-Theodore Roethke