New England Mamas

Eat Your Greens (and Reds, Yellows, Purples and Whites)

I'm ready for them. 

The bok choy, kale bundles, radishes (yes, even the radishes), the tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and the leeks.  This year, I will not be intimidated.  I will even figure out what to do with the daikon, the funny twisted eggplant, the tomatillos and the fennel.

I have a great cookbook, a vacuum sealer and a second freezer.  And a mission.

The mission is to share my CSA experience with you all this season.  Every Saturday (well, most Saturdays), I will post a photo of the week's pick-up along with comments about what I did with the food since I picked it up on the previous Tuesday.   Thankfully, you will not have to relive the Great Pickled Daikon Debacle of 2007. 

And, hopefully there will not be too many posts that include the words, "everything is still sitting in the refrigerator".

It's Apartment Sale Season

One of the best things about living in the Boston area this time of year is that so many of the graduate students return to their native lands (like New Jersey!) and sell off all their stuff. They don't want to move it, so they either have apartment or yard sales, and the bargains are unreal. I look forward to this time of year mostly to replenish my supplies of kitchen tools and appliances, and to upgrade my furniture. But sometimes I just plain luck out and find something I've always wanted/needed but never had the money to spend for sale at a 10th the actual retail price!

The graduate students from Harvard and MIT appear to be the ones that have the best deals. Especially if they are foreign students returning to their home countries. They want to get rid of everything. Because it's late spring, nobody really needs their winter stuff, so snowboards and skis are often free for the asking. It's how we got three pairs of good ski in great condition absolutely free! Winter clothing is also priced to move. An LL Bean down jacket for $5 isn't out of the ordinary!

Furniture is also best bought right about now. I find bookshelves to be the cheapest, and because I'm one of those readers that can't seem to get rid of hardback books, my need for a large bookshelf every year isn't out of the question. Last year we got a wall-sized bookshelf AND a matching desk for $45. Now I'm in the market for yet another bookshelf.  Desks and chairs are a hot commodity, as are futon sofas. So many grad students buy futon sofas thinking they're a great investment, but actually they're hard to get rid of, so they go for a song. I think they're great in a playroom basement, or for a guest room, but in a living room, they're just not that comfy.

Rugs are also available for a lot less than you would pay in any store. Even Ikea. I got a real Afghanistani rug from a woman returning to Kabul for $25 that a rug deal would sell for several hundred. Sometimes people throw in a rug if you're buying a big piece of furniture. They just want to get the stuff out of their apartments.

If you're in the market for porch furniture, papasan chairs are a dime a dozen. I think they must be a requirement in graduate student housing because everyone is selling them. Televisions are also going for a song this year, especially since most aren't HDTV and won't be worth much come next year anyhow.

Living so close to so many universities does have its downside. Traffic, rowdy neighbors, lots of bars, etc. But when it's June and the students flee the city, the sales they hold to get rid of everything they own.... just fabulous!

Day Tripping in Western Connecticut

Looking for a great day trip? Do you love quaint small towns, leisurely bike rides, and ice cream cones? Well load your bikes onto the car and begin your journey with a scenic drive that leads you through the meandering roads of Connecticut's Litchfield County. 

Just a stone's throw past the town of Sharon on Connecticut's western edge sits the Harlem Valley River Trail, a paved bike trail that was constructed on abandoned rail beds.  The trail has grown incrementally since it first opened in 1996 and now boasts 15 miles of flat, paved trail bordered by fragrant wild honeysuckle, low bogs, farmland, and forest.

Simply beautiful, and a treat for all ages and abilities.

Follow up your bike adventures with a stop in Millerton, NY, one of the "coolest small towns" around. Of course, if you're so fortunate as to take an easterly route back home, you should detour through the lovely town of Cornwall, CT.

Drive across the historic West Cornwall bridge, grab an outside table at the cool and casual Wandering Moose Cafe, and soak it all in: the fly fishermen casting their lines, the gardens at nearby homes, the sights and sounds of all things New England.

This is why we live here.  Enjoy!

The Bicycle Queen

(with thanks to Cari Best...author of our favorite book of the year)

When the Impling was one year old, we didn't strap her on the back of our bikes. For one, we have no place to store bikes. For another, the idea of peddling around the outskirts of Boston on a bike with a toddler attached filled me with terror. So no bikes.

When the Impling turned two, she was big enough for the tough little trikes we saw tooling around the playground, but truth be told, the Impling was more interested, at that point, in climbing up the ratlines of the play fort, and pretending to be a dread pirate. Also, we still had the stroller hogging up space in our apartment. So the whole trike thing...never happened.

Then, the Impling turned three. We go to the library every Wednesday, and on one of our visits, the Impling picked out what became one of her favorite books ever. Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen. This was the sign. The Impling was ready.

Do you remember your first bike? Mine was a wonderful royal blue, just my size. We had a huge sloping backyard perfect for coasting. After about an hour of wobbling around with the training wheels, my older brother helped me take them off. Away I went, down the gentle hill, with soft landings when I didn't quite make it. A far cry from my brother's falls on the coral path at my Grandparent's place in the Keys.

But parts of these experiences were lost. When we brought the Impling to International Bike to look around, it all came back. The excitement of the new...the strange; of being astride a beast, of sorts, with it's own ideas of how it would move; of climbing up, and down, poking prodding, touching turning the different parts; of spinning the pedals; of struggling with those pedals, trying to get them up over the top to push them down and forward; of the sudden jerking stops when I pushed backwards and discovered how to brake; of looking down at my feet going in circles, forgetting that I actually had to look where I was going. It was a microcosm of life.

But once you learn, you never forget. It may be years in between rides, but you'll always find your balance again, and go flying off down the road, off to adventure. With a sore backside come morning, but hey, the more you ride, the less it hurts.

Crossposted at Rock the Cradle

I'm (Diaper) Free and Lovin Every Minute of It!

I AM DONE CHANGING DIAPERS! (Notice the Seinfeld reference in the title?  Well, right now I'm doing the Elaine dance.)

Baby became fully potty-trained in a matter of days. I swear it, you guys.

Get this though: I have had been changing diapers for over 6-1/2 years.

That's oh...approximately 2,400 days.  (Yep, I'm a dork and I added it up.)  In a row.

And, in 2004, when Middle was born, both Eldest and Middle were in diapers that summer.  Then, a year later, in the summer of '05 when Baby was born, both Middle and Baby were in diapers.

Of course, I'm not so naive to think that we will actually see any savings now that we are a diaper-free Trenches.  Oh no.

It's called PRESCHOOL PAYMENTS.  And FOOD.  *sigh*

So what's your number?  How many days/years--in a row--have you changed diapers? Anyone ever have, dare I ask, 3 in diapers at once?  (Bless your soul.)

Cross-posted at In the Trenches of Mommyhood

Tis the Season

As it gets lighter and I start to think about warm days, beaches, parks and cookouts, a darker thought enters my mind:  school will be out soon.  The school year is almost over and won't resume until the middle of September.  While honestly part of me is looking forward to having unstructured time and being able to spend the whole day with both of my kids, another part of me really enjoys that three days for three hours, that I only have one child to take with on errands and to entertain.  Thankfully there's a wonderful solution to all of this:  camp. 

After talking to a bunch of moms, I decided to enroll my 4.5 year old in camp.  Yes, last year he did go to camp, but that was basically a continuation of his two day preschool for part of the summer.  I'm not even sure he fully understood that the camp wasn't part of the school year, although he had different teachers in a different classroom.  This year, though at his request we decided to go with a separate camp.  It seemed like most of the camps for his age group schedule sessions by the week.  While I was originally annoyed that the sessions weren't arranged in two week blocks, further consultation with more experienced moms helped me to understand the benefit of one-week sessions:  you can stagger them.  My older son will now be attending morning camp for three weeks, but those weeks are spread throughout the summer.  We will see how it goes.

Too bad there isn't some sort of coffee club camp for parents to attend.  Maybe that will be my million dollar idea...

Score One for the Seacoast Growers Association

HE SAYS:  I have the whole summer off.  I want to start a garden in the back yard.  We should eat more vegetables, and they'd be organic, local, you know.  Trendy.  And cheaper than the grocery store, right?

SHE THINKS:  Oh, you silly man.  You have no idea how much work a garden is.  Simply getting the ground broken and tilled and ready is a big project, not to mention measured out and somehow fenced or otherwise protected from the small creatures that inhabit the yard - and that's just the children.  We don't even know what kinds of animals are in the neighborhood, except for cats.  And cats are bad in gardens, because they like to deposit cat droppings therein, which are not nicely compostable and helpful like, say, cow droppings.  We'd have to start from plants, not seeds, because of how far into the season we already are, which will be much more expensive and high-maintenance.  And we're traveling or having company every weekend but two this year.  When will we have time to do the silly things like watering, weeding, thinning out?  By the way, we're planning to move next summer.  The back yard is already not very large, and adding a garden plot could make it seem smaller, not to mention being a lot of work for something we'll only use for one season.  There's space for a vegetable garden near my dream house, I just know it.  And a good, healthy blackberry bramble.   Here, we don't have the space for storing canned goods, so we'll waste untold quantities of zucchini and the lettuce will be wasted on you anti-salad savages, anyway. 

SHE SAYS:  Good idea.  Or we could just make a habit of going to the farmer's market once a week instead.

HE SAYS:  Hmm.  OK.

BlogHer Boston or Bust

BlogHer Boston is coming! Yee haw!

I've been waiting for registration to open on this for months! And finally - it is!

Too bad I don't currently have a job. Oh, I have a decent severance package. And I presume I'll be gainfully employed before my finances completely run dry. But there are no guarantees.

Not that the registration fee is all that much. Actually, I think it's rather reasonable. Especially because I don't need any overnight accommodations. I can just make one long day of it, then head on home.

I can do this! I've been planning to do this! I will register!

But,...uh....I'll just wait a bit longer. Let's see how that second interview I've got on Thursday goes before I spend all my severance pay on other things, m'kay?

Wish me luck! And hope to see you all at BlogHer Boston.

October 11th, girls! See you then!

10 things to do this summer in Rhode Island

With summer ("unofficially") upon us, it's time to start rolling out the summer plans.

Even in the tiny state of Rhode Island, there is plenty to do... either for a day trip, a weekend trip or a full-on vacation stay.

If you are planning on visiting our nation's tiniest state this summer, here are the top 10 must-dos:

1) Explore Newport. This seaside city has endless opportunities for summer fun, from the beaches (Easton's beach - or "First Beach" to the locals - is great for families with its carousel, children's playground and skateboard park) to the Cliff Walk (3.5 miles of architectural, coastal and wildlife beauty) to the  Newport Mansions (tour 11 of the historic properties that have helped define America's heritage, located on 80 acres of gardens and parks). Don't forget to stroll down Thames Street and stop for a bite to eat at The Red Parrot or  Salas'. A short walk from Thames St. will bring you to The Black Pearl for award-winning clam chowder and an elegant atmosphere. And for the best buffet in town, plus a fabulous theater/cabaret production, don't miss the Newport Playhouse.

2) Go to the Roger Williams Park Zoo. There are always fun events, exhibits and more going on at the zoo, located on the grounds of Roger Williams Park, which also offers a carousel, boat rides and greenhouses.

3) Watch a PawSox game. The Pawtucket Red Sox are the Triple-A Affiliate team of the Boston Red Sox, and their home turf, McCoy Stadium, is right here in Pawtucket, RI. Enjoy a family-friendly, wallet-friendly experience, watching the future household names of baseball fine tune their skills. Sometimes you'll even catch a current Boston Red Sox star playing at McCoy as he rehabs following an injury.

4) Experience WaterFire. This summertime tradition is an experience not to be missed. It lights the night with 100 sparkling bonfires along the three rivers of downtown Providence. Thousands gather to watch the beauty of WaterFire take in its musical and cultural accompaniments. Don't miss it! (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the  2008 summer schedule.)

5) See the Narragansett Towers.  These much photographed historic Towers are located on a beautiful and scenic stretch of road along Narragansett Beach. Live music and dancing, and other public events, are held at the Towers throughout the summer.  But it's worth a visit, even  if only to take photographs of the architecture.

6) Ride your bike. Rhode Island has so much natural beauty, and one way to experience much of it is by riding on the state's many bike paths. The paths will take you along the riverways, through beautiful towns and into parks.

7) Visit Block Island. The laid-back atmosphere on Block Island is just perfect. Go for the music festival, unleash your adventurous side and go kiteboarding - or just spend the day traversing the island by bicycle.

8 ) Pick Blueberries. July and August are the best months to go blueberry picking around here. When you pick them right from the bush, blueberries are so ripe, fresh and delicious! My favorite place is Rocky Point Farm. You can find detailed information about where to pick other fruits and vegetables around Rhode Island here.

9) Spend the day at the park. For such a small state, there are plenty of wonderful parks in Rhode Island. My favorite two are Colt State Park in Bristol and Goddard Park in Warwick. Pack a picnic basket, a Frisbee and some Wiffle Ball equipment, and you're good to go. Both parks offer walking trails and small beach areas. And you can go on horseback rides at Goddard Park.

10) Kayak on the bay. You're never far from the water when you're in Rhode Island (we are the Ocean State, after all). Take a tour on kayak with The Kayak Centre in Wickford or Ocean State Adventures in Bristol.
 

Old Friends Are The Best Friends

My best friend and her family just headed home after a overnight visit.  It may sound strange that we haven't seen each other for a good part of the year, nor talked or even e-mailed much, and yet I call her my best friend.  She and her family live in Boston, and we are only an hour away, but our lives are such that we don't get a chance to see each other often.  Family, work, finances, stress - they all get in the way of getting together.  Yes, I realize what a damn shame that is.

She and I met 20+ years ago, as volunteers in a program to teach school in Africa.  I loved her dry humor and no-bullshit attitude, and of all the things I experienced during my time in Africa, her friendship is one of the things I have treasured ever since.  Well, her friendship and her snarkiness.  I appreciate that in a person.

Our early 20's were spent in Boston, working, dating, hanging out.  When Dr. V. and I married, she was a bridesmaid.  When she told me, long-distance, about how she looked forward to her computer crashing because that meant the cute IT guy would have to come fix it, I hoped  he was as nice as he was cute.  And I was so happy when that turned out to be the case.

Then we moved back to Boston 10 years ago, and we got to hang out some more, and she got pregnant.  She didn't have the easiest pregnancy, and I was so honored when she and her husband asked me to be at the birth of their daughter.  And it was the most amazing thing I'd ever experienced, and I still get shivers when I remember that moment when their daughter was born.

In the last decade, I had my daughter, and then we moved back to New England, and I had my son.  Her mom died, and my dad got sick, and my sister got divorced and her brother got married.  She's been through a lot, up and down and all around, and so have I - and I have no doubt we will go through more crazy times in the future.

What I love about our friendship is that even though we don't see each other enough these days, I know from our history that there will be more adventures for us.  When our kids are older, I fully expect there will be time to hang out, to travel, to talk.  To drag her across the country in a rented R.V. or make her drive up to Montreal with me and practice badly accented-French.  To disgust her with my trashy reading tastes and get more excellent book recommendations from she and her husband.  To be a bad influence and talk her into a hangover and laugh so hard our old-lady pelvic floors give out.

Her friendship is one of the things I'm counting on still having when I'm older. 

Waistline? Gone.
Youthful innocence?  Long gone.
My best friend?  Still around, thank God.