A Year of Simple Living

Aulani Christmas

2011-12-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

Profile of a Second Grader

2011-09-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

Age: 7
Height: 51.5"
Weight: 79 lbs
What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Scientist that works in an Antarctic base"
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Salted Carmel from Lovely's Fifty Fifty
Favorite Holiday: Christmas and My Birthday
Favorite Movie or TV show: Phineas & Ferb
Favorite Dinner: Pesto Pizza

Favorite Animal: Black Panther

Favorite Color: Sky Blue

Favorite Author: Bill Peet

Favorite Place: New York City
Where would you like to go on your next vacation? Hawaii
When and where were you the happiest? Disneyland

Henry's 7th Birthday

2011-05-31T19:17:00.001-07:00

Hood River Ride

2011-05-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

Halloween Party

2010-10-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

Phew... That was a lot of work. Homemade pumpkin cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese frosting. It was really hard to get the chocolate frosting right... The cocoa powder made it light brown -- very unattractive. I ended up melting a bag of chocolate chips and adding it in. It worked. The decorations are a bit over the top, but isn't that what six year olds love?
Happy Halloween!

Go Ducks!

2010-10-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed another super-fun, fall weekend in Eugene. The Ducks played a great game against Stanford (and won!). ESPN's Game Day crew came to town. We stayed at a hotel with a great pool and had a little pool party with friends. We rode our bikes around town and ate lots and lots of our favorite Eugene treats... Newman's fish & chips and VooDoo Doughnuts. Looks like we will all be on a diet this week ;-)

Profile of a First Grader

2010-09-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

Age: 6
Height: 49"
Weight: 66 lbs
Loose Teeth: YES... 2 (Top Center)
Lost Teeth: YES... 2 (Bottom Center)
What do you want to be when you grow up?
"worker/astronaut... my workshop will be in space or under the sea"
Best Friend: Peter and Jack
Girl Friend: Nadia and Zia
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Licorice and Vanilla
Favorite Sport: Running and Biking
Favorite Team: The Ducks
Favorite Holiday: Christmas and Halloween
Favorite Instrument: no
Favorite Movie or TV show: Dr. Seuss
Favorite Dinner: Ravioli with Pesto and Pizza
Where would you like to go on your next vacation? Italy
You did a lot of fun things this summer and had many great accomplishments. What are you most proud of? "Going down the slide at Sellwood Pool and learning to swim under water"

Favorite Places

2010-08-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of my favorite places and the things I love to eat there...
ApizzaScholls (half with onion and sausage and half with pepperoni with olive)
Ken's Artisan Pizza (Soppressata Pizza with olives and arugula)
Screen Door (Fried Chicken and Waffle)
Broder (Aebleskivers, baked eggs, potato pancake, walnut bread, and bacon)
¿Por Que No? (guacamole, sangria, fish flautas, fish taco, simple salad)
Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe (Chocolate Milkshake)
Justa Pasta (Rigatoni, Butternut Squash Ravioli, Alfredo sauce, meatballs, spinach salad, German Chocolate Cake)
Mio Gelato (Yoggi, Pistachio, or dulce de latte)
Lovely's Fifty-Fifty (Salted Caramel ice cream in a homemade waffle cone)
Laughing Planet (Popeye Quesadilla, Ninkasi IPA)
Hot Lips Pizza (Slice of Cheese, Pepperoni or Tomatoes, corn, feta, + cilantro pesto)

Ninkasi Brewing, Eugene, OR (Total Domination IPA)

We have been on a bit on a diet this month... I'm missing these places.

Trip to New York -- June 2010

2010-06-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

What a glorious day... We spent the day on the Hudson River with a ride on the John J. Harvey, a historic fireboat. If you carefully watch this clip, you can see the three of us on the front of the fireboat 1:28 minutes into the video. It was a another fun day in the city. I'll post more pictures when I return.

Swim Lessons

2009-09-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

Goldfish 2007

Goldfish 2008

Penguin 2009

It has been a glorious summer. Henry completed four weeks of swim lessons. This year he moved into the Penguin level (after 4 sessions of Goldfish). He is much more confident in the water and tolerates much more water in his face. He is not willing to deliberately submerge, but he has "enjoyed" many accidental dunks.

Heartwood Preschool 2007-2009

2009-08-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

Jam Session (2009 & 2007)

2009-08-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

Not quite hot enough to fry an egg... But close!

2009-07-28T20:26:00.001-07:00

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The high temperature reached 106 degrees Tuesday, making it the hottest day in decades in Portland.
Blazing summer heat is the rule up and down Western Oregon as record highs were set for the second consecutive day. More heat is on the way, too; meteorologists expect Wednesday to be just as hot as Tuesday and possibly break Portland's all-time high of 107 degrees.

Young Philanthropists in the News!

2009-07-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

Kids Take a Stand for Nature

Two five year-olds hope to save nature, one glass of lemonade at a time.

On a warm spring day in Oregon, young friends Henry Welt and Nadia Schwartz, both 5 years-old, set up a lemonade stand. Charging 25 cents for each big red cup, they decided to donate proceeds to The Nature Conservancy. Within a couple hours, they had $17.25 in a jar. Nadia was in charge of taking the money.

It was a warm day, remember. And when Henry filled the first cool cup for a customer he couldn’t help taking a nice big gulp from the glass before handing it over for a quarter. (He’s since learned to have his own glass.)

During lemonade lulls the two took to running up and down the street ringing a bell. And they even drew a sidewalk chalk lemonade trail to woo potential thirsty passers-by.

Henry always tells his mother that “we need more nature” sodonating proceeds to the Conservancy seemed like a natural fit for the young entrepreneurs, she said. Following the fundraising effort, his mother, Kecia Welt, took Henry to the Conservancy’s Cascade Head Preserve on the Oregon coast. He declared it the most beautiful place he’d ever seen.

“I explained that the land is owned and protected by The Nature Conservancy and the money he and Nadia raised with their lemonade stand will help protect that and other land all around the world. Even though, they are only five, I think they are capable of understanding the value and purpose of the Conservancy,” Kecia said.

To a round of applause in a crowded conference room, the two suddenly-shy kids presented their jar of earnings to the Oregon Conservancy at a recent staff meeting. They then filled out membership forms in careful, crooked handwriting before skipping outside.

More lemonade stands may be planned throughout the summer, too, they said.

Our Trip to the East Coast

2009-06-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

Camp Westwind... The ultimate summer camp!

2009-06-14T21:38:00.001-07:00

A Trip to the Farmer's Market

2009-06-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Holy Moly!!! I've recorded a new record... $7 for a dozen eggs!!! Where will it end?

A Day at the Farm

2009-06-03T16:10:00.001-07:00

Lemonade for Sale!

2009-06-01T14:08:00.001-07:00

May Faire

2009-05-02T19:47:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months I have developed a deep affection for Waldorf Education. As we searched for Kindergarten options for our son we made several visits to both The Portland Waldorf School and Cedarwood Waldorf School. I made a point to attend this year's MAY FAIRE CELEBRATION and I'm so glad I did... It was a charming and glorious afternoon filled with crafts, games, food and activities. Initially, the weather cooperated and we enjoyed warm sunshine for the first two hours. Henry loved playing with paper boats and nets in the Spring Creek. He attended a puppet-show and then we enjoyed a brief picnic before the rain returned. Of course, Portlanders - especially Waldorf(ers) - wouldn't let the rain dampen the fun. We briefly gathered in the auditorium to watch traditional folk dancing, and then we returned outside for a cake walk (We won an Amish Friendship Loaf with a starter kit), bubble wand making, garland making, and some more time at the creek. Everything was decorated so beautifully with flowers, festive flags, handmade signs and ribbons. I will mark my calendar for next year!

Our day was jam-packed... We left the house at 9 AM for a trip to the Original Pancake House for a Dutch Baby and then we headed off to the Capitol Hill Library for a special food art program. We continued on to the May Faire for several hours, and then ended our day with a brief trip to the Belmont Library to make a rain stick.

What a day!

Easter Weekend

2009-04-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Easter Weekend 2009

Spring has finally arrived!

2009-04-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love best about living in Oregon is the springtime. Growing up on the East coast, I had no idea what spring really was. Winter would linger deep into April and then suddenly warm summer weather would arrive as early as May.

Once I moved to Oregon, I was astounded by the glorious layers of spring that sometimes begin as early as January with the first sunny day, after weeks of rain. By February Camillas are in bloom, followed by crocuses, daffodils, pretty pink blossoms on the pear and cherry tress. By mid-March, spring is normally fully underway. Not so this year... we have had to wait until April. Normally our first trip to Jamison Fountain occurs in March, this year the fountain wasn't even turned on until April 4!

The weather finally warmed up this weekend and now spring has exploded all around us. It is delightful and everyone is so happy! Henry was thrilled to wear shorts and a t-shirt to school today. I can't believe how grown up he looks!

Manzanita 2009

2009-03-24T19:59:00.001-07:00

www.flickr.com

Spring Break

2009-03-24T19:53:00.001-07:00

Manzanita 2009, originally uploaded by thewelts.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewelts/

Last year we spent three nights in Manzanita with our good friends... three families, six adults and five children. We had the best time. We decided to kick off spring break by getting together again. The weather could have been warmer (and sunnier), but the camaraderie was better than ever.

This is pretty funny!

2009-02-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

FDA Approves Depressant Drug For The Annoyingly Cheerful

5 days down... 10 to go!

2009-02-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

What would we do without friends? On Monday, Kelly and Trevor came over for dinner. Kelly picked up Thai food and I made the boys corn dogs and mac & cheese. On Tuesday, the Murray Family had us over for a yummy dinner -- Sheperd's Pie. This morning, Henry had a jam-packed playdate with Nadia that included a trip to Saint Cupcake and the climbing gym! This afternoon Henry received a fabulous care-package from his dad that included Magic Treehouse books, a Curious George DVD and a new pirate game! Tonight we stayed home for "hair washing night" and an early bedtime - 7 PM. We finished reading Maybelle in the Soup.

What would we do without Meghan?!

2009-02-22T18:27:00.001-08:00

Thank God for our babysitter Meghan! Meghan and Henry enjoyed a fun morning at OMSI where they finally got to tour the USS Blueback, the U.S. Navy's last non-nuclear, fast-attack submarine. They have been trying to go for weeks, but it is usually sold out. I had a lovely walk to Sellwood to meet my friend Rachel for breakfast at Grand Central Bakery. After breakfast, Rachel and I took another 3+ mile walk. I returned home around 1 PM and headed out to run grocery errands while Meghan and Henry hung out at home.

After briefly checking out "The Red Carpet", Henry and I headed out for a special dinner at Tastebud. We played a fun game while we drank our grape-juice based drinks and then shared a cheese pizza with arugula on the side.

Henry complained that the pizza was too "burned" for his taste. I mentioned this to our server and she explained that is how they make their pizza there. Hhmm...

13 more days...

Fifteen Days!

2009-02-21T06:09:00.000-08:00

I just sent my husband off for a two week trip to Boston. Tyler is participating in an executive education program at Harvard Business School. The Program for Leadership Development is a six month distance learning program that requires two 2-week trips to Cambridge. Tyler will even celebrate his 37th birthday on March 6th while he is away. Henry and I have been busy booking playdates and other activities to help pass the time -- and keep me sane. The countdown begins!

Ladybug Nature Walks

2009-02-13T12:32:00.001-08:00

Portland Parks Environmental Education Ladybug Nature Walk program kicked-off their 2009 season this morning with a chilly hike through the Hoyt Arboretum. This is a lovely program where kids age 2-5 join a trained naturalist for a walk though various parks throughout the city. The kids strap on a ladybug backpack filled with nature tools, such as bug catchers and magnifying glasses, to explore the dirt, bugs and flowers in the park. Rain or shine -- 10:00 AM -- the cost is only $2! Henry warmed up with some hot chocolate after the walk.

Next week Henry will participate in the Nuts About Nature preschool program.

Important note: You can help to protect these programs!

The City of Portland is in the process of preparing the 2009 – 2010 budget. Portland Parks & Recreation has submitted a requested budget that includes $2 million in cuts due to the economic forecast for next fiscal year. One of the programs identified in the cuts is PP&R's Environmental Education program.

Last year, Parks Environmental Education provided activities for over 9,000 children, 1,000 teens, and 6,000 adults in classrooms and parklands throughout the city. We offered Ladybug Walks and Nuts about Nature experiences for preschool-aged children. Elementary school aged students attended field trips and nature monitoring activities at Hoyt Arboretum, Forest Park, Powell Butte, Mt. Tabor, Laurelhurst Park, Oaks Bottom, and many other parks. Approximately 700 students attended Nature Day Camp - a week long nature experience offered for 10 weeks during the summer. Although the 2009 revenue from camp was $98,000, over 250 youngsters (36% of campers) received full or partial scholarships to the program. Adults and families learned about wildlife, plants, geology, and stewardship in Portland's parks at the GreenWalks, Bird Festival, Arbor Day, Earth Day, and many other free events for the public. Our GRUNT (Greenspaces Restoration and Urban Naturalist Team) teen program attracted 18 culturally diverse teens who were trained to take leadership roles in environmental education. These youngsters through the multitude of their contacts are continuing to be spokespeople for urban nature in their communities.

For a City that proclaims itself as a "green city", the action to eliminate a program that promotes green practices through knowledge and stewardship to all its citizens is a backward movement. If you care to make comments, here are some suggestions.

· Send this letter on to friends, family and co-workers who care about environmental education in our beautiful city.
· Community Budget Forums will be held:
Feb. 19 at St. Johns Community Center, 8427 N. Central St., 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Feb. 21 at Floyd Light Middle School, 10800 SE Washington St., 9:30 - Noon
Feb. 24 at Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capital Hwy, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
· Letters, email, or phone calls to:
Mayor Sam Adams
sam.adams@ci.portland.or.us

Commissioner Nick Fish
nick.fish@ci.portland.or.us

Thank you for the support that you have given to our urban natural environment.

Neighborhood Clean-up!

2009-02-07T15:37:00.000-08:00

Further inspired by President Obama's Day of Service, we decided to organize a neighborhood clean-up. We used barackobama.com to create our event. We e-mailed neighbors within six square blocks of our house. The turn-out wasn't huge, but the results were great. We collected six bags of trash!
We rewarded ourselves with yummy donuts from Staccato Gelato!

National Day of Service Food Drive!

2009-01-19T20:05:00.000-08:00

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and in response to President-Elect Obama's call for a day of National Service, we joined over 100 families for a morning of collecting food for the Oregon Food Bank.

It was a great way to kick of the Inaugural festivities!

White, Wheat or Rye?

2009-01-18T20:11:00.001-08:00

We are trying to instill independence and responsibility in Henry by assigning him simple jobs. He recently expressed in interest in making snacks, so we told him that he should be in charge of making toast in our family. We have always made our toast in the oven, using the broiler. We decided that wasn't very kid-friendly, so we took him to Fred Meyer this weekend to select a toaster. Henry decided on a red toaster with a bagel option. We stocked up on different breads (white, wheat, rye and bagels) and toppings (butter, cream cheese, peanut butter, jam). Henry has been making toast all weekend. Yesterday we had a visitor and Henry was quick to offer toast to our guest. Come over soon and have Henry prepare you some hot, buttery toast!

Little Rippers!

2009-01-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

We kicked off 2009 with a fun family adventure... We rented a house in Sunriver with two other families and enrolled the kiddos in Mount Bachelor's Little Ripper's Ski School. We enjoyed a glorious, sunny day on the mountain and the kids loved their ski lesson with their instructor Shaun. This was Henry's first ski experience. He really loved it. It was especially fun with friends!

Hanukkah Snow Storm!

2008-12-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

Hanukkah Snow Storm

What an amazing storm... Portland has seen record snow fall - the most in 40 years! Our original Hanukkah guests were not able to make it over to our house, but our neighbors and nearby friends were happy to fill in!

Snow Day!

2008-12-15T14:23:00.001-08:00

Friendship!

2008-12-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

I discovered Kelly Corrigan last year during my breast cancer scare. If I have learned anything over the past year, it has been to value my friendships and relationships. We are all stretched and pressed for time and too often we let days, weeks, months and years go by without keeping in touch. Let's all try to slow down in 2009 and make phone calls, write letters, have coffee, whatever it takes to keep in touch and support each other.

Author Kelly Corrigan wrote this moving essay about women's remarkable capacity to suport each other, to laugh together, and to endure. The full text is available in the paperback edition of her memoir, The Middle Place, on sale December 23, 2008.

Going offline

2008-10-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

It seems that everyone around us is struggling to simplify their lives, yet we are all busier and more stressed than ever. What is with that?!

Tyler and I have decided that it has something to do with the computer.

It is a bold experiment but effective immediately, we are going offline. We will not be logging into the computer at home. It is going to be difficult. Who knows if it is even possible.

Call us or better yet swing by for a visit.

Friday Finds under $5: GoGo Squeez

2008-10-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to find Materne GoGo Squeeze Applesauce on the go at Fred Meyer today for $3.99 (package of 4). As many of you know we were fortunate enough to spend three weeks in France this summer. While we were in Paris, Henry attended a summer camp at the Bilingual Montessori school. I had to pack him a lunch every day. Clearly he ate a lot of baguette and he also was a huge fan of this applesauce in a tube. He has asked for this product several times since we have been home and I haven't been able to find anything other than yogurt in a tube. I have never been a fan of yogurt in a tube... It is not allowed at my son's preschool and honestly it seems like it would make a terrible mess. These tubes of applesauce have a little plastic valve and cap. There is no mess.

Friday Finds under $5: ¿Por Qué No?

2008-10-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

The truth is $5 doesn't buy you much these days...
Last night I had dinner with a friend at one of my favorite restaurants. ¿Por Qué No? recently opened a second location on SE Hawthorne and 46th (In addition to their N. Mississippi location). This place is funky and fun. The food is mighty tasty and very affordable.
Their menu has many items under $5. You can even get a delightful sangria for $5 or small margarita for $4.50 during their happy hour (3-6) or all evening on Tuesdays. There are 9 delicious soft shell tacos that cost between $2.25 and $5. What are you waiting for? Go there... "Why not?"

Boot Camp - Don't make me do this alone!

2008-10-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Seriously... come do this with me. I need you.
I start on Monday at 5:30 AM (sharp)
4 mornings a week (M-TH) for 4 weeks.
Here are the details.... Power Outdoor Fitness.
Come on... It will be fun. Really!

L'Shana Tovah (A good new year)

2008-09-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Rosh Hashanah I thought I would share this important (and funny!) video message from Sarah Silverman.

The Great Schlep

Wipe-out!

2008-09-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

Henry is loves his new Kettler balance bike. We spent the weekend practicing stunts at Foothills Park in Lake Oswego. He was pretty proud of this video.

Friday Finds: Some of my favorite things that cost less than $5

2008-09-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

My new favorite dessert!
$5 will buy you the most delicious and adorable chocolate cream pie at Baker & Spice Bakery. This little pie is a gem with rich chocolate pudding, whipped cream that is very lightly sweetened, and the yummiest chocolate shortbread crust that has the perfect touch of salt. If you haven't been yet, be sure to visit Baker & Spice Bakery in Hillsdale. You will find many treats for under $5.

Baker & Spice
6330 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, Oregon 97239

Thrifty Tuesday: A shiny clean car

2008-09-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

This morning I took a risk. For a year I have been driving by this abandoned building located at N Fremont and N Vancouver. It is located about a half mile from my office. There is a small, hand written sign that says, "hand wash". There are usually a few guys hanging around and not more than one car. As I drive by I see some hoses, buckets and sponges around the back. I always think, "I wonder if that place is any good", but it really looks too suspicious to try without a strong recommendation.

This morning I was desperate. My car was embarrassingly dirty. Once you have a child, your car is always filled with crumbs, sand and dirt. I decided that I was going to give that place a try. I was greeted by a kind man with a thick African accent. I asked if I could leave the car and return at noon. He said that would be fine and I gave him my car keys. That was it... no receipt... No business name... no telephone number... I wondered if I would ever see my car again. I wondered if I had done something really foolish.

I walked back at noon, and from a block away I saw my shiny red car safely parked in the parking lot. The same man greeted me and was pleased to show me the car. It was thoroughly cleaned inside and out. Every crumb had been vacuumed, the surfaces had been dusted, the windows were cleaned, the wheels were polished and the car was shiny and clean.

I was very relieved and thrilled that I found a wonderful new car wash. The best part is it only cost $20! I was told that it is usually $14 (when the inside is not so dirty).

If you live in Portland, be brave (or foolish) and give them a try!

Sunday Splurges: Historic Columbia River Highway

2008-09-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

I originally envisioned Sunday Splurge posts to focus on things that cost a lot, but are well worth it. Last Sunday our family splurged on driving time instead of dollars. We packed up our bikes and drove over 60 miles East on I-84 to the Columbia River Gorge to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. This five mile paved trail is located between Hood River and Mosier. It sits about 500 feet above the river with basalt bluffs and signature wooden guardrails. It is a bit indulgent to pack up and drive over an hour for a short ten mile roundtrip bike ride, but the views are breathtaking. It was a lovely afternoon.

Therapeutic Sport Riding

2008-09-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

This fall we are offering our son a new experience to strengthen his gross & fine motor skills and increase his stamina and self esteem. Yesterday Henry participated in his first class at Forward Stride, a therapeutic equestrian center. Henry was really nervous at first, but then quickly adjusted once he got on his horse, Blesie. He learned to instruct the horse to move, "WALK ON" and to tell the horse to stop, "WHOA". He was able to ride around the arena holding a ball over his head and he also played catch while sitting on Blesie's back. He did a great job and really enjoyed it. He will now be placed in a small group class and attend a weekly lesson.

Nature Hikes With Alex

2008-09-19T11:21:00.001-07:00

Over the past month, Henry has made a great new friend with our neighbor, Alex. They have enjoyed fabulous adventures throughout Portland. It is sweet to see the way Henry looks up to Alex. Alex makes him feel like a cool kid. We have been working with Henry to increase his endurance and strengthen his body. I can see that he really pushes himself around Alex. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Alex this weekend, as he is returning to college. We will look forward to him coming home over the holidays. Thanks Alex for some fun adventures!

Friday Finds: Some of my favorite things that cost less than $5

2008-09-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Have your tried Plugra yet?
Plugra (pronounced PLOO GRA), is a European style butter lower in moisture and higher in butterfat than conventional butters. Once you get hooked on it, you will not want to ever eat conventional butter again. It costs about $4 for an 8 oz. bar. It is so worth it.

Splurge a little and buy a salted block for your butter dish today!

Friday Finds: Some of my favorite things that cost less than $5

2008-09-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired to revamp my blog. I am pleased to introduce...

Friday Finds (under $5): Here I will share some of my favorite little pleasures that won't break the bank.
Sunday Splurges: Things that may cost a lot, but are well worth it.
Thrifty Tuesdays: My thoughts about money saving tips or ideas.

With that I must tell you about my favorite new gelato flavor for 2008. Last spring Mio Gelato introduced a new flavor, Yoggi, Italian-style yogurt gelato.
I know... you are probably thinking, "frozen yogurt... been there, done that... not interested". NO... trust me. Yogurt gelato is nothing like any frozen yogurt you had in the past. It is so creamy and rich, yet it has a delightful tart and tangy flavor. It turns out this flavor is also wildly popular in France. I enjoyed this fabulous combination of yogurt gelato with mango sorbetto when we were in Paris this summer. Fruit gelato is the perfect compliment to this flavor.

Seriouly... go and try it. It is so good. You can easily get a double scoop for well under $5. Enjoy!

Goodbye Burley... Hello Trailer Bike!

2008-09-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

Last week we sold our Burley. I'm pleased to report that we were able to get $300 for it on Craig's list. We thought it was time to give our son a more active role during our bike adventures so we purchased a trailer bike. We have been out on three rides now. Last week we rode down to Sellwood - about 20 miles RT. We indulged in yummy treats at Grand Central Bakery and played in Sellwood Park. Henry loves his new bike. He looks very confident and strong when he rides.

Multnomah Falls

2008-09-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

We have lived in Portland for over 9 years now and we have never been to Multnomah Falls. For months now, Henry has expressed an interest in visiting the falls. Last week we finally made the short 45-minute drive. Henry was determined to hike to the top of the falls. The hike was a moderate, 2.2-mile hike with 700 feet of elevation gain to the top. This was a great accomplishment for our 4-year old. We had a great time and look forward to going back to the gorge and exploring some of the other hikes and falls in the area.

The Final Chapter

2008-09-04T19:48:00.001-07:00

They did it! My husband and son are reading the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It has taken three weeks to get through 17 chapters, but clearly they both enjoyed it. Henry has really taken to chapter books this summer. In addition to James and The Giant Peach, We have also read the first four books of the Magic Tree House Series. Tomorrow they are planning to begin Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The Last Days of Summer

2008-08-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

Technically there are 30 days left to summer, but as far as I'm concerned there are only 9 days left. Once September arrives, Labor Day passes, Duck Football kicks-off and the new school year begins you can't ignore that autumn is upon us. Somehow this summer really got away from us. We made this list and hope to squeeze in these activities before we launch into the lovely season of fall leaves, pumpkins, and Halloween!

1. Go to Jamison Fountain
2. Take bike rides on the Springwater Corridor Trail
3. Visit Oaks Park
4. Go to the Wilson Pool
5. Go blackberry picking and make homemade blackberry ice cream

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2008-08-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

It has been months since Tyler and I had a normal Sunday night date. Last night we finally got out for dinner and a movie. Woody Allen's newest movie is fantastic! It was so much fun... I felt like I spent two hours in Barcelona. We topped off the evening with tapas at Andina and gelato at Mio Gelato. It was a much needed retreat!

Summer Reading!

2008-08-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

One of the unique pleasures of Tyler's sabbatical has been finding the time to read and enjoy books. Over the past few months he has read the following:
THE HOBBIT
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
BEL CANTO
THE MONKEY WRENCH GANG
A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES
FIERCE INVALIDS HOME FROM HOT CLIMATES
PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT
THE OTHER

Sadly, my list is much shorter...
UNACCUSTOMED EARTH

Henry's list is way too long to attempt. We usually read at least three books a day. His recent highlight is JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.
It is very exciting to successfully read long chapter books that extend over many nights. He is really enjoying this!

Henry's 1st "driveway moment"

2008-08-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

As we were driving home from swim lessons tonight, we were listening to Fresh Air on OPB. Terry Gross was interviewing Paul Anka about writing the song MY WAY for Frank Sinatra. Henry was absolutely consumed. As we were pulling into the driveway Henry insisted that we keep the radio on. He was absolutely silent as we listened to Frank Sinatra sing MY WAY and he asked that we play the next song. We finally talked him into coming upstairs and we played an old Sinatra Duets CD and danced around the living room. I guess the boys loves Sinatra!

NW Trek

2008-07-27T21:13:00.001-07:00

We did it! We had our first family camping adventure.
We went to S'mores & Snores at NW Trek, a 750 acre wildlife park between Olympia and Mount Rainier in Washington State. We rented gear from REI and ventured off into the "wilderness". It was a bit of a nightmare and a bit of fun. On the whole we decided that we need to get out for at least one camping adventure every summer. It will certainly take a bit of practice and getting used to. Henry did great! Mom and dad have a way to go.

Easy Rider

2008-07-22T21:45:00.001-07:00

My sweetie is coming home tomorrow... I can't wait!
As part of Tyler's sabbatical he planned a 10-day trip to Montana to do a motorcycle ride with his dad and spend time with reminiscing with his high school buddies in Butte, MT. Tyler and his dad rode 1,000 miles in three days. His brother and sister-in-law also flew to Missoula to spend some time with him. It sounds like it has been a fun and relaxing getaway.

As for me... I have been surviving (barely!). I am not cut out for single parenting. Henry has been busy with his summer preschool program and I have been working. Henry and I spent the weekend in Pacific City at my friend's parent's beach house. It was a lovely getaway, but the two 4-year old boys were a handful. They terrorized each other (and especially their moms!). Next time we need to coordinate a sitter.

It has been a journey

2008-07-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

Seven months ago, my routine 40-year old mammogram revealed an irregular mass. Since then I have had 5 mammograms, a sterotactic core-needle biopsy, a MRI, a PEM scan and ultimately a lumpectomy in my left breast.
It has been scary.
It has been stressful.
It has been concerning.

In the end, I have been lucky. Today I learned today the mass is not cancer.
I have learned much through the process.
Life is fragile and it can change too quickly... unfairly...

Today, I escaped, but many have not. This journey has introduced me to some very inspiring people, like Kelly Corrigan. I just learned that Kelly will be in Portland in August and I am working to put an event together. I hope to post more details soon.

Shaun the Sheep and other BBC favorites

2008-07-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

The BBC has a fabulous children's network called CBeebies. The programming is so much more clever than U.S. programs.
We were turned on to a fabulous Nick Park (of Wallace and Gromit fame) program called Shaun the Sheep.

Charlie and Lola is another popular program. We love this show. There is a U.S. site where you can purchase (U.S. compatible) DVDs.

Our final favorite is Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies. This show airs on PBS on Saturday mornings. It is such a great show. I wish we could see more of it.

Postcard From London: Wrapping Up

2008-07-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe our trip is over. We will take a taxi to Heathrow at 8 AM in the morning. This is an expensive splurge, but we can't bear the thought of lugging all our stuff (and the kid) again. The transitions are really exhausting! We are willing to pay any price to not have to haul our bags down another street or through another subway station.

We arrived in London on Friday evening (July 4). We are staying at a great hotel in Tralfalgar Square. London is dramatically different than Paris. This is a party town... It reminds me of a Boston. Bar crowds pour into the streets and alcohol is consumed massively. It's like a big frat party. People are dressed more casually... t-shirts, shorts and jeans. The people are fatter and louder (It seems like there are a lot of Americans here).

It feels really nice to stay at a hotel for a change. Once we got settled into our room we went across the street to a traditional English pub for dinner (Sherlock Holmes). It was wild chaos! We managed to get some beer and fish & chips. This morning we signed up for a tour program. It was probably our best opportunity to see the city in one day with a 4-year old. We also took a river cruise on the Thames and took a ride on the London Eye. Henry needed a long nap, so we spend a few hours at the hotel. We wrapped up the evening at a fun, kid-friendly restaurant called Giraffe.

See you in Portland!

Postcard From France - Thank you Brooke!

2008-07-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

Our friend Brooke lives in Paris with her husband and son Felix (age 15 months). Brooke is the daughter of our good friends Helen & Dennis in Eugene. Brooke and Dave moved to Paris two years ago for Dave's work (astrophysicist). Brooke has been a god-send with kid-friendly planning in Paris. She has a great network of English-speaking moms living in Paris. Brooke was so helpful in helping us to decide on the best neighborhoods to stay in, the best kid-friendly activities, the best parks, she introduced us to Henry's summer camp, she lent us her pousette (stroller) and has even shared her babysitter Pierre. Pierre will come over and watch Henry for our last night in Paris. Thank you Brooke for helping to make our trip so easy!

Paris is a very intimidating and overwhelming city. We are grateful that we had Brooke to "hold our hands" through many of the rough spots. Today Brooke and Felix joined us for an afternoon of champagne and treats from the Le Grand Epicerie (The Whole Foods/ Dean & Deluca of Paris). It was our first rainy day, so it was nice to spend time in our apartment and do some entertaining.

It is hard to believe that we will be back in Portland in a few days (Sunday night). We leave Paris on Friday afternoon. We will take the train to London and spend two nights in there before flying home on Sunday morning.

Postcard From France - Parisian Life

2008-07-01T00:42:00.000-07:00

We are settling into Parisian life. Paris is much like New York City. It is thrilling and exhilirating, yet it is busy, stressful and exhausting. You come to a big city for excitement and adventure - not rest and relaxation. Big cities and young children are a challenging mix. We have to remind ourselves constantly to keep our plans simple, allow for a lot of extra time and be mentally prepared to spend a lot of money.

With that said, we are making the most of Paris. On Sunday we went to the Jardin des Plantes where they have a charming zoo. Later we met Henry's pediatritan, Dr. Gopal, and her family. At Henry's recent 4-year old appointment we learned that our trips would overlap. They decided to spend 5 nights in Paris on their way to India. I was impressed with how much they were able to do traveling with 2 girls (ages 11 and 8) and a 7-month old INFANT! They made it to practically every site and museum! We met at the famous Berthillon ice cream shop. Again, I sampled "salted butter caramel."

Yesterday, we raced to get out of the apartment by 8:30 AM. We have been on "vacation time" so that was no easy task. We rode a bus to Henry's school (Bilingual Montessori School of Paris). He is attending a summer program for 3-6 year olds for one week. He seemed to enjoy it. On Friday he will take a field trip to the Centre de la Mer et des Eaux (Aquarium).

Yesterday we ventured to the other side of Paris to visit a special boulangerie and Parc des Butte Chaumont. It was a glorious sunny day... Henry rode the carousel (the French love carousels... they are EVERYWHERE!) and he played a fun carnival-type game where he caught moving plastic fish for a toy prize.

Postcard From France - Back in Paris

2008-06-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

On Friday we returned to Paris. Transitioning through train stations and subways with all our gear was not easy. We are in a different apartment - 106 Rue d'Assas - on the other side of Luxembourg Gardens, in the 6th. It is nicer than we expected. We went to the grocery store and stocked up on some essentials for the week. We made a simple dinner at home and settled into our comfy beds. The French seem to really have a wonderful appreciation of fine bedding and wonderful quality linens.

On Saturday we ventured out toward the Eiffel Tower. We spent some time in the Champs-de-Mar and Henry got to ride a pedal-powered go-cart and ride a donkey at the base of the Eiffel Tower. I have been using CLOTILDE'S EDIBLE ADVENTURES IN PARIS as my food bible of places to go. I was excited to finally try some "salted butter caramel" ice cream at Martine Lambert. Meghan was wonderful enough to offer to babysit Henry on her last night in Paris. We are very sad to see her go. Our trip would not have been a vacation without her. Thank you Meghan. We love you more than you can imagine!

Postcard from Burgundy VI: Our last day in Beaune

2008-06-28T23:04:00.000-07:00

We wanted to do something special for our bike and walking guide Florent Leroux. We learned that he was celebrating his 40th birthday so we asked if he would have a glass of wine with us. It was clear that Florent is no stranger to the best wine and food and Burgundy so we wanted to get something really special. We strolled through Beaune looking for the perfect bottle. We finally came upon a shop with a very helpful English speaker. He was quick to point out a very rare and special bottle of port from 1968 - Florent's birth year. Wow... How can we beat that?! Florent joined us at the apartment and we celebrated over this very unique 40-year old wine. Later Abby and Meghan joined us for Kir Royals - my new favorite apertif!

Postcard from Burgundy V: Burgundy on foot

2008-06-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Tyler and I returned from our 3-night "on foot" adventure yesterday. On the whole it was great. The walking was very beautiful. It was much more challenging than we anticipated. It was HOT and the sun was mighty intense. We didn't realize how heavy our packs would be... we didn't realize we would go over so many hills and travel on narrow footpaths... we didn't think about missing trail markers and getting a bit lost.... Mostly, we thought every village would have at least a small store and restaurant. We were wrong!

Day #1 Beaune to Puligny-Montrachet

Splurge night at La Maison d'Olivier LeFlaive

We walked about 10 miles... flat and easy. The challenge was time. We didn't leave Beaune until 4:30 PM. We arrived by 8 PM. We had a shower and then indulged in the special tapas menu.

Day #2 Puligny-Montrachet to Saint Romain

This was a very challenging day. We walked about 12 miles through steep hills and rugged little footpaths. It took us 5-6 hours before we finally arrived in Saint Romain. We were hot, thirsty and exhausted. We were shocked and horrified to learn that the one restaurant in town was CLOSED (on Mondays and Tuesdays). There was no store, no bar, no bakery... NOTHING!

We found our B&B Domain Corgette. The owner had left a note that she had an emergency and had to leave until 6 PM. She left the key so we were able to get into our room. I raided the house looking for a cold drink... ANYTHING! All I could find was milk, butter, yogurt, and confiture (jam). By amazing luck, we passed a school on the way to the B&B. We saw a teacher and children playing in the schoolyard. We called the teacher over to ask if he knew of any place for us to get a cold drink. Fortunately he spoke English. He was able to see that we were in a bad situation. He told us to come back to the school at 7 PM. He said that the kids were doing a special little concert and there would be beer. Our inn keeper returned around 6 PM and informed us that we didn't have any options other than taking a taxi to Beaune for dinner, so we went to the concert... hoping. Sure enough it was a charming evening. Elementary-aged children from three villages played the drums and sang sweet little French songs. At 7:30 there was an intermission and cold refreshments were served. We bought SEVEN beers (one for the kind teacher who invited us). It still didn't look like we would be able to get any dinner. The kind and generous teacher Ivan told us that we should stay until the end of the concert. He explained that all of the families have brought food (and wine) for a "potluck" (not his word). We are so glad that we did. Word started to spread among the French families as to who we were and why we were there. There was an outpouring of kindness and generosity. Most of the families did not speak English, but we tried our best to communicate. People were filling our plates and pouring wine in our glass. We finally met a lovely mom named Sophie. Her English was great and she took us under her wing. We ended up having the best evening on our trip. We stayed until after 11 and walked home rather full and intoxicated. It was an evening that we won't forget.

Day #3 Saint-Romain to Meloisey

This was our shortest walk... maybe only 3-4 miles, but we still had a few good climbs. We were happy to get into Meloisey by 1 PM... We were ready to rest and relax at our B&B Marie Calou. As you might have noticed from the link, everything is in French. Our lovely host, Marie Helene, did not speak any English. Really... NOTHING!!. We tried our best to speak some French to her and NOTHING... she didn't seem to understand us. We had a complete communication failure. Our concern was Meloisey also had no restaurant, store or bakery. We needed Marie Calou to make us dinner and we couldn't seem to understand if she would. She was kind enough to wash our very stinky clothes... Finally at 4 PM I mustered up the courage to tell her that we were thirsty (J'ai soif) and we would like a cold drink (Je voudrais boissson froid). Hooray... she understood and gave me a coke and an orangina. She gave us glasses, but no ice. I wasn't about to try and ask for that. I don't know the word for "ice". We were thrilled to have these cool drinks by the pool. Oh yes... her property was delightful with a really nice pool. At 7 PM we went into the dining room. She continued to try and explain something. We finally realized that she was telling us that she had other dinner plans. She offered us wine, bread, cheese and a charcuterie platter. We had not eaten since breakfast. We were so hungry. It was all wonderful.

Day #4 Meloisey to Beaune

This would have been probably the longest and most difficult walk. We decided that we were not up for it. We were eager to return to Beaune by noon, so we managed to get a ride from Marie Calou. Perhaps our communication improved slightly, but we still had no idea what she was saying. It was very kind of her to drive us to town.

Postcard from Burgundy IV: Multiply by Four

2008-06-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we rented a car and toured around the countryside. We rode on a great little steam engine. It was the real thing... coal, water, fireman, flagger. The Thomas stories came to life!

I feel like by blog posts seem a bit biased about how wonderful this place is. I really don't want to sugar-coat our trip too much. Believe me... it is really incredible, but traveling with a 4-year old has its moments. Each of us melts down at least once a day. We move at a snails pace... for each hour, we should allow four hours. The other downside is cost. This country is EXPENSIVE. We are burning through Euros at an incredible pace. Again, for every dollar we budgeted for, we are probably spending 4! Meghan and Abby will return this afternoon from Nice and Tyler and I will set out on foot for a 3-night adventure to the south of Beaune. I'll post again in a few days.

Postcard from Burgundy III: Speedo Required

2008-06-21T14:41:00.001-07:00

It was a warm and sunny day, so we ventured to the Beaune swimming pool. We learned a funny thing about French public pools... Bermuda-style swim trunks are not allowed. Boys and men can only swim in Speedo-style swim trunks. They actually have a vending machine with speedos! It was a great pool and a fun afternoon. It will be interesting to see if Tyler and Henry continue to sport their new swimsuits in Portland! Here are some more photos from today.

Postcard from Burgundy II: Saturday Market

2008-06-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect sunny morning. I woke up at 7:30 AM and snuck out while Tyler and Henry were still asleep. I walked into the village and had a cafe au lait. I continued on to the center of town to explore the fabulous Beaune Saturday Market. It was so much fun to take my time and slowly explore every nook. There were all kinds of plants, spices, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, olives, roasted chickens, linens, clothing, toys... you name it. It was a cross between a green market and NYC street fair. I purchased a perfect market basket and some goods for our apartment. Tonight we had a fabulous dinner of Dijon rubbed chicken, roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus and a salad of cucumber and cherry tomato. Of course, we enjoyed a local Burgundy with it! For lunch we had olives, goat cheese, melon and baguette. The French are quite passionate about food. I can see why!

Postcard from Burgundy I

2008-06-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday we took the train from Paris to Beaune. Beaune is a charming village in the Cote d'Or wine country. Beaune is much larger than we expected (pop. 25,000). It is a propserous and popular resort town. There are tons of charming shops and restaurants, a fabulous park, wonderful stone walls and paths and ancient buildings. I really love it here! The apartment really exceeded our expectations. It is so pretty and comfortable. Henry seems very happy and is adjusting well to this new environment. Tyler and I just returned from a 2-night bike tour through the vineyards north of Beaune. We were lucky enough to find the best bike shop in Beaune. Florent (the owner) was AMAZING!!! He set us up with two great bikes, helmets, locks, bike bags, and a perfect itinerary. He also told us to go to the store, buy this specific kind of cheese, and he arranged for us to have a special wine tasting and picnic on our journey. He also arranged our lodging in a castle-like B&B where we were welcomed by a 91 year-old countess. She was delightful, with wonderful stories to share. We enjoyed our first Kir Royale (Creme de Cassis with Brut Sparkling Wine). It was a mightly tasty cocktail! Cassis (black current) is a prized product of this region. We also rode our bikes to a hilltop strawberry field where we were able to pick strawberries for our picnic. We returned to Beaune today and Meghan and her sister, Abby, set off on a 3-night trip to Nice in the South of France. Tyler and I will enjoy Beaune with Henry while they are away. It is really wonderful here (Did I mention that?). It feels much more like a vacation than Paris. Here is a link to some more photos.

Postcard From Paris

2008-06-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

It has taken seven years of dreaming, over 300,000 frequent flyer miles, booking our airline tickets eleven months ago, and many months of research and planning. We are really here!
Our Friday the 13th flight was smooth and uneventful. Henry was a fantastic traveller. Henry and I were absolutely indulged and pampered in first class. Wow... How can I ever go back to coach?! Henry told me, "I have never flown first class before". I tried to explain that it was a very special thing and we were very lucky. On the flight to Paris we were offered champagne, warm nuts, wine, many dinner options, hot fudge sundaes, after dinner cocktails, chocolates, etc. It was pretty extraordinary. It got even better when we were provided with Bose noise-canceling headsets. Did I mention that our seats fully reclined flat into beds?!
Wow... It was quite nice!
I must admit, even with all that pampering it was hard to be on a plane for 10 hours. We finally arrived at Charles DeGalle around 10 AM Paris time (1 AM in PDX). Getting through customs and through the airport was a bit overwhelming to our travel-weary bodies. We managed to purchase tickets for the train to Paris and finally arrived at our apartment shortly after Noon. In total it was about 17 hours of travel and we only had a few hours of sleep. As you might imagine we spent most of the day trying to nap and recover.
The weather has been a pleasant mix of Sun and clouds with comfortable temperatures. Our apartment is quite lovely. We are speaking some French, but it does not come easily.
Henry slept until 1 PM on Sunday. Our babysitter Meghan and her sister Abby found a lovely studio apartment in the Latin Quarter. They have been having fun enjoying the city. Today they spent the afternoon with Henry and I escorted Tyler across town for a special Father's Day massage at Holistic Paris. We had a wonderful long walk through Montmartre and across the city. We walked for nearly 5 hours. We had amazing gelato to keep us going. I had yogurt and mango flavors and Tyler had white chocolate. It was really good! Since Henry slept until 1 PM we decided to keep him out until 10 PM. We took an evening river cruise on the Seine. Amazingly it doesn't get dark until 10:30 so we didn't get to enjoy the city lit up.
Overall we are well and happy. I hope to post some nice photos soon. So far I haven't taken any winners.

A Magical Portland Night!

2008-06-06T22:41:00.001-07:00

Tonight was one of those magical Portland nights. As a birthday present and celebration of my husband's official sabbatical kick-off, we purchased tickets to the patron reception for FundFest 2008 at the Crystal Ballroom. We walked downtown and enjoyed lovely pink martini cocktails while Thomas Lauderdale (of Pink Martini) performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue. I was blown away. What an amazing piece of music. If you don't know it, take a moment to listen to this video clip with Leonard Bernstein at the piano.

Who's in Rabbit's House?

2008-06-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

My son made his theatrical debut today in his preschool's production of Who's in Rabbit's House? A Masai tale in which the frog gets the job of getting a monster out of the rabbit's house after the leopard, elephant, and rhino bungle the job.

Our son played the monster "the long one" (along with several other classmates). His lines were:
I AM THE LONG ONE
I EAT TREES AND
I TRAMPLE ON ELEPHANTS
GO AWAY OR I WILL TRAMPLE ON YOU!

It was a delightful production and the kids were fantastic!

Happy Birthday!

2008-06-02T11:04:00.001-07:00

Henry's 4th Birthday, originally uploaded by thewelts.

It has been a week of various festivities and celebrations for my son's 4th birthday. It all culminated with a fun party at Kruger's Farm on Sauvie Island. Friends joined us for a tractor ride and visit to the strawberry patch. This year my son told me that he did not want cupcakes. He told me that he wanted a cake ("shaped like a truck, with real wheels, and it can drive").

I found a pan that fit perfectly in the dumper. I iced the cake with chocolate "mud" frosting and topped it off with brownie "dirt" chunks. The gummy worms were a huge hit. I think I pulled it off!

Oregon Walk and Bike to School

2008-05-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

For weeks I have been trying to figure out how my son and I could participate in the Walk & Bike Challenge.
We live a good six miles from my son's school and it is not a bike-friendly route. My office is three miles from my son's school and the public transit options are limited.
The real challenge for me is TIME... I need to be in the office for at least 7 hours. I have to drop my son off at school after 8:45 and he needs to be picked up by 5 PM. This barely gives me enough time when I'm driving!

Yesterday, I found the perfect solution. I met a friend for dinner and a sustainable budget workshop. I was able to schedule my husband to pick up my son so there was no rush to leave my office by 4:30. My friend agreed to meet me at Toro Bravo (across the street from my office). We could then ride to the workshop together and ride home together.

It was an inspiring day for sustainability. So what did I learn? The true secret of a sustainable lifestyle is finding inspiration - lots of it! Sustainable choices are often sacrifices and they are not usually easy. You have to really want it. You need motivation and determination. You will not be successful if your changes if they feel like a burden or a chore. It is best to keep educating yourself and trying things that work for your family. The ultimate goal is contentment... knowing that you are making decisions that will benefit yourself, your family, your community and the earth.

Now what about that awful (Made in China plastic) toy that my son wants for his birthday?!

Clinton vs. Obama for a 4 Year-Old

2008-05-15T15:18:00.001-07:00

My son and I often listen to NPR when we drive in the car. He will often ask, "what are they talking about?". I take a moment and turn off the radio to give a brief and age-appropriate description, then I turn the radio back on so we can listen together. We have talked about all sorts of topics including the upcoming presidential election.

Last week, they were talking about Hillary Clinton. I explained to my son that she is running for President and it is exciting because a woman has never been President before.

Over the past few days, my son has been calling me "mama bama". I asked him if he liked Barak Obama. He asked, "who is that?". I went on to explain that he is a man that is running for President. I asked if he wanted to vote for Barak Obama and he replied, "I want the gew-irl"!

Spindrift

2008-05-07T14:02:00.001-07:00

We spent the weekend at the beach with friends.
What could be better than sunshine, friends, kids playing, fabulous food, yummy cocktails, bonfires with s'mores and many games of Mexican Train Dominoes?
We will treasure these memories for years to come!

Conflicted (part III)

2008-04-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

I am continually inspired to "try" by those like Michael Pollan. In Sunday's New York Times article he writes:
"If you do bother, you will set an example for other people. If enough other people bother, each one influencing yet another in a chain reaction of behavioral change, markets for all manner of green products and alternative technologies will prosper and expand. (Just look at the market for hybrid cars.) Consciousness will be raised, perhaps even changed: new moral imperatives and new taboos might take root in the culture. Driving an S.U.V. or eating a 24-ounce steak or illuminating your McMansion like an airport runway at night might come to be regarded as outrages to human conscience. Not having things might become cooler than having them. And those who did change the way they live would acquire the moral standing to demand changes in behavior from others — from other people, other corporations, even other countries."
Related to my "true cost" mission, I found this fabulous documentary abut the company Icebreaker. It helped me to understand and justify their prices. I love this company. I love their products. The question is can I afford it?

I have observed skyrocketing food prices over the past few years, but I didn't think others were noticing. Finally it has captured media attention and everyone seems to be feeling the sting. I have become seriously concerned about our economy. The gallon of milk that I buy has increased from $3.00 a gallon to $4.50 a gallon in the past year. Eco-friendly products have me paying $12 for a box of laundry detergent. In 2004 gas reached a record high of $2 per gallon, today we are facing the possibility of $4 per gallon by summer.

I make about 60% less than I made in 2004, as I work part-time now to be with our son. Our household income remains lower than it did in 2004, yet we are faced with new expenses every day. I started this blog almost a year ago as my husband and I observed our spending was exceeding our income. We decided to move to a cash payment system. For a while we successfully lived on our alloted weekly cash stipend of $400 for food, gas, toiletries, haircuts, gifts, toys, clothes, dry cleaning, entertainment, etc. (home-related expenses, utilities, insurance premiums and childcare were not included). I'd like to tell you that it is working, but I would be lying. We are constantly being confronted with exceptions and special cases, but we continue to "try".

So how do we do it? How do we pay the "true cost" of sustainable goods and feel good about it? How do we know this is the best way to "invest" our money? Clearly it comes down to consuming less, but that isn't the easiest thing to do. Is it?

Happy Earth Day!

Conflicted (Part II)

2008-04-19T17:37:00.001-07:00

Okay... did you watch The Story of Stuff video? I'd like to discuss the part where she talks about "true cost" (The $4.99 radio at Radio Shack). I understand this concept and try my best to support local agriculture, support businesses with sustainable practices, etc. I can tell you it is REALLY EXPENSIVE... thus my conflicted feelings.

One of the things I enjoy doing is shopping at the local farmer's market. Isn't it a lovely notion to think that you can develop a relationship with the people who grow your food?! On Saturday mornings my son and I will often walk over to Portland State to enjoy the market. We enjoy people watching, the entertainment and the yummy treats. Of course, I also try to support the vendors and make a few purchases. Unfortunately my last two experiences have left me feeling a bit bitter. Here are the stories of my last two farmer's market purchases.

Last November my son was making "stone soup" at his preschool. My son needed to bring in potatoes as his contribution to the soup. "Lovely", I thought to myself... we will go to the farmer's market and buy directly from the farmer. We ventured out on a very cold and rainy Saturday. I spot a man in a tent with a pile of dirty potatoes on a table. This man had dirty overalls and looked like he collected the potatoes that very morning. I had images of him driving his old pick-up truck into a muddy field and loading up with this crop of potatoes. These were not fancy potatoes. They were not displayed beautifully like some of the other farm stands. I had my son select 4 potatoes and we handed them to the farmer to be weighed. He responded, "eight dollars". I silently thought, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME... 8 DOLLARS for 4 potatoes? How? Why?". I wanted to walk away, but it would have been very difficult to explain this to my 3 year old son. I paid the man the $8, but I didn't feel good about. I felt rather exploited.

Winter passed and so did my potato related frustration. I was excited to go to the opening market in April. Farm fresh eggs were on my list. I immediately spied a lovely egg vendor with a clever name, Square Peg Farm. "Perfect", I thought... I approached the woman and asked for one dozen eggs. She replied, "That will be $5.50." HOW CAN THIS BE? Since when has shopping at a farmer's market become exclusive and elite? It used to be about cutting out the middle-man and buying direct from the farmer. It used to be about buying what is plentiful and in season (for a great price). Not anymore! Yes... I am ashamed to admit that I actually paid $5.50 for a dozen eggs. Am I stupid or a good steward and supporter of local agriculture?

As you can tell, I am feeling very conflicted about this. I understand that we have to pay more for sustainable practices. I really want to, but too often, I feel like a chump.

Conflicted (Part I)

2008-04-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

Many countries around the world will celebrate Earth Day (April 22) this week. Earth day was started to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It is a time when we are educated or reminded about recycling, sustainability, clean energy, pesticides, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife etc. A friend just e-mailed me an online video presentation entitled, The Story of Stuff. He thought I would like it as it reflects the values of my blog. I encourage you to watch it. It is 20 minutes long, so make sure you have time to watch the entire presentation. There is a lot that I would like to discuss.

Chipper's Skate Party at Oaks Park

2008-04-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

What a morning!
Henry and I ventured to Oaks Park for the preschool skate party.
What a blast! Henry was a great skater. I even ventured out on skates! We participated in a free 15-minute lesson, followed by cookies and milk in the snack bar.

The excitement really got started when we went over to the ICEBREAKER store in the Pearl for their Earth Day promotion. I learned that a seamstress would be there at 11 AM to transform our old t-shirts into a reusable shopping bag on the spot (free). Not only is this service FREE, they also give you a coupon for $10 off a purchase. We brought Henry's Summer Reading shirt. FOX had a camera crew there and they loved getting footage of Henry and the seamstress working on his tiny t-shirt. We may be on TV tonight! Henry even got a free shirt for being so cooperative with the media... Woo-Hoo!!

It is not too late for you... The seamstress will also be in the store from 1-3 PM on Saturday, April 19 & 26.

A (very lucky) SUNBREAK!

2008-04-04T19:42:00.001-07:00

Tulip Festival 2008, originally uploaded by thewelts.

What fortuitous timing...
After yesterday's glorious sunny and 60+ degree weather, we thought a trip to the Tulip Festival was a brilliant idea. Not so...
We woke up to clouds, quickly followed by sprinkles, followed by rain, following by an all-out downpour as we made our way down the I-5 corridor to Woodburn for the annual Tulip Fest. The weather was hideous!
It was a miracle... As we were approaching Woodburn, I thought I saw some blue skies on the horizon. It was very difficult to see through the pouring rain. We got off the highway and continued driving in the rain, but oddly, I kept seeing a reflection on blue skies in my rear-view mirror. We arrived at the farm and parked. The rain stopped and the sky to the East was glorious, bright and clear.
We spent the next two hours jumping in mud puddles, visiting the farm's four steam tractors, taking photos and enjoying the farm.
It sure pays to persevere in the PNW!

Literary Bliss

2008-04-04T05:48:00.000-07:00

It was a proud day...
I love working for Multnomah County Library!
Yesterday, all the libraries in Multnomah County closed so all 550 employees could attend an all day retreat.
We learned all kinds of interesting things, we learned about emerging technology and listened to interesting authors.
The day culminated with this inspiring video. I was moved to tears!
I feel so lucky and grateful to work for an organization that does so much for our community.

To top it off, after our staff day event, I met some friends for dinner downtown followed by a Literary Arts benefit event featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, acclaimed author of Eat, Pray, Love. Gilbert was delightful, charming and very funny.

I'm feeling quite inspired...

Go, Dog. Go!

2008-04-02T19:55:00.001-07:00

Spring 2008, originally uploaded by thewelts.

Henry's preschool took a field trip today to see the play Go, Dog. Go! at the Northwest Children's Theater. It was a delightful, sunny morning. Henry and I decided to walk to the theater. It took about 45 minutes.
The show was a lot of fun... just about right for his age (almost 4). Henry laughed and laughed! It went a bit long... the performance was an hour and a half with a brief intermission.
We spent the sunny afternoon strolling around NW Portland and returned home in time to make Tyler a lovely "welcome home" dinner (he was away since Monday).

Parle-vous francais?

2008-04-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

We have spent many years planning for this sabbatical trip. It is hard to imagine that we leave in 10 weeks. We saved over 325,000 frequent flier miles. We booked our reservations 330 days in advance.
The planning continues:
Every week I spend hours researching and planning for this adventure. We will spend 3-nights in Paris, 10-nights in Burgundy, 7-nights in Paris and then 2-nights in London before returning home. It is all beginning to seem real and we are getting more and more excited! We have found wonderful picture books about Paris and France for our son. For us, we signed up for a FRENCH FOR TRAVELERS class at PCC.
Last night I spent two hours at Lincoln HS where I endured the awkwardness and tension of forced conversations with strangers in a language that feels very unnatural. Of course my brain kept sending me the Spanish words that I have also struggled to learn. Hopefully it will pay off and we will be able to communicate the essentials... Enough to warm the French people up and have them take pity on us for trying.

Pizza Party

2008-03-29T14:07:00.001-07:00

Henry is a great little chef. He made us this delicious pepperoni, mushroom and olive pizza before we heading off to see Bruce Springsteen. It was a fabulous evening. We were able to walk to the Rose Garden from our house. Our seats were FANTASTIC... First row of the 100 level... Bruce was probably 50 feet away with no obstructions! The show was really great. They had huge screens that displayed the detail and sincerity of his face. He was passionate, fun and energetic. Most of the music was from their new album MAGIC, so I wasn't as familiar with many of the songs. He certainly played a fair share of classics. Here is the set list:
March 28, 2008
Portland, Oregon
The Rose Garden

Night { lyrics }
Radio Nowhere { lyrics }
Lonesome Day { lyrics }
Gypsy Biker { lyrics }
Magic { lyrics }
Reason To Believe { lyrics }
Candy's Room { lyrics }
Prove It All Night { lyrics }
She's The One { lyrics }
Livin' In The Future { lyrics }
The Promised Land { lyrics }
For You { lyrics }
Lost In The Flood { lyrics }
Devil's Arcade { lyrics }
The Rising { lyrics }
Last To Die { lyrics }
Long Walk Home { lyrics }
Badlands { lyrics }

Girls In Their Summer Clothes { lyrics }
Jungleland { lyrics }
Born To Run { lyrics }
Dancing In The Dark { lyrics }
American Land { lyrics }

A Jersey Girl's Dream!

2008-03-27T20:18:00.001-07:00

Bruce Springsteen History Begins Here, originally uploaded by 94 Aug.

Yes... It is official. I am going to see BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN tomorrow night!!!
I remember when the state of NJ considering making BORN TO RUN the official state song. I remember getting my first Springsteen Album in 1980. I was 13 years old. I really wanted THE RIVER, but it was sold out and hard to come by, so I got BORN TO RUN instead.
In 1984 all hell broke loose with the release of BORN IN THE USA and my chances of seeing Springsteen in concert became impossible.
I've been waiting patiently... finally 28 years later my Bruce dream will be fulfilled.

THE MIDDLE PLACE by Kelly Corrigan

2008-03-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

This video says it all...
I couldn't put this book down!

Sal's Famous Italian Kitchen

2008-03-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Tyler had a work event tonight, so Henry and I were on our own for dinner. Last night Henry insisted that he wanted spaghetti and meatballs. I didn't have any to offer. As you may recall, I make a traditional pot of "gravy" and meatballs only 2 or 3 times a year.

Usually, we go to Justa Pasta for our dinner dates, but meatballs aren't on the current menu. We decided to give Sal's Famous Italian Kitchen a try (they are a sister restaurant to Pizzicato).

It was perfect. It was kid-friendly (kid menu, crayons and coloring sheets). Henry had spaghetti and meatballs for $4.50 and I had fabulous chicken parmigiana with sauted spinach.

Where have I been?

2008-03-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed that I have not been blogging much lately. 2008 had a rocky start in our home. I've been trying to get my mojo back.

Here are a few things we have been keeping busy with lately.

I hope to blog about them in greater detail over the coming weeks.

1. Dieting

Tyler and I are seriously trying to shed a few pounds. I was inspired by the book, FRENCH WOMEN DON'T GET FAT. I realized it was time to take a break from pasta and pizza (and those other yummy carbs that I love so much... cookies, scones, ice cream, bread, etc.). Our diet will continue through March or until I lose 8 pounds.

2. Planning a trip to France

As you may know, we are going to France for three weeks in June. I have been eagerly looking for the perfect apartment in Paris. I hope to share the details of our final itinerary soon.

3. Spending way too much money

KaBOOM... We have just been bombarded with large (VERY LARGE) expenses over the past month. We look forward to getting back to our financial diet. My blog budget has been blown out of the water!

4. Deciding what to do about the high risk lesion in my breast

To excise or not excise... that is the question. Most recently I have been given an opportunity to have a breast MRI and perhaps a PET/CT. I have been researching and trying to decide. decisions... decisions!

5. Working

My program, Every Family Reads, kicked off on March 1. Last week we hosted 10 performances of the play TOMAS & THE LIBRARY LADY for over 4,000 students, teachers and parents. I'm ready for a massage!

Other than that, it has just been the usual... some nice work-outs, some great walks, some new parenting techniques, cooking, shopping, cleaning, eating, sleeping, reading and dreaming.

Happy Birthday Tyler!

2008-03-06T21:39:00.001-08:00

Cannon Beach, originally uploaded by thewelts.

My sweetie turned 36 today.
We celebrated with dinner at Ken's Artisan Pizza and banana cream pie at 3 Doors Down... YUM!!!
Tyler had the day off... He went on a 10 mile run, ate a sushi lunch, had a massage and then dinner with me.
Sounds like a pretty nice day!
Happy Birthday Sweetie

A weekend at our favorite beach house

2008-03-05T20:33:00.001-08:00

Cannon Beach, originally uploaded by thewelts.

For the second year, we rented the most amazing beach house in Cannon Beach. This house is so cool and so much fun... a gourmet kitchen, a game table with lots of games, puzzles, and ping-pong in the garage, tons of books, movies and DVDs, a wonderful deck, backyard and fire pit, and the coolest kid's suite featuring 3 sets of bunk beds!
We spent our weekend feasting on halibut, scallops and radicchio lasagna. We drank MANY bottles of wine and consumed a fair share of cocktails. We even managed to take a 5 miles beach hike and bask in the sun!

Evidence of SPRING!

2008-03-03T19:44:00.001-08:00

Spring 2008, originally uploaded by thewelts.

I love living in the Pacific Northwest...
Without fail, every February we get an unmistakeable taste of SPRING.
The days suddenly seem longer....
The sun reappears after two months of rain
Buds begin to emerge on the trees,
Daphne bushes spread a fabulous fragrance through the air,
Crocus and daffodils emerge from the ground and quickly bloom.
I love spring!

I'm behind on my posts... this should have been posted last week!

Baking Valentine's Day Cookies with Chico

2008-02-10T21:17:00.003-08:00

Baking Valentine's Day Cookies with chico, originally uploaded by thewelts.

Chico was visiting this weekend from my son's preschool. Chico travels with a journal and visits every child for a few days. We documented his visit with lots of photos and fun activities.

Getting back to normal

2008-02-10T20:39:00.001-08:00

It was thrilling to finally see the sun this weekend!

As many of you know the past few months have been pretty sucky...

Tons of rain, cold weather, health scares, family conflicts, etc.

Things started to turn around this weekend. We enjoyed lots of fresh air and exercise.

Tyler ran 10 miles on Saturday morning and I took a 90 minute spin class.

We went out to breakfast and went for a ride on the tram.

We took a long walk through downtown and met our friends at Grand Central Bowling.

It has probably been 10 years since I last bowled.

It was our friend Drew's birthday. We celebrated at Iorio on SE Hawthorne.

On Sunday, the warm and dry weather continued so we took a long walk to the Irvington Neighborhood to have brunch with friends. It was a delightful morning!

Tyler spent the afternoon doing more cleaning projects as we have been trying to get the smoke smell out of our house (We had a small fire last week... long story).

I did some shopping and then Henry and I had a playdate in the neighborhood.

It was a busy weekend.

It was so nice to enjoy the lovely weather.

Spring is clearly around the corner... I can't wait!

Superbowl Sunday

2008-02-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

Making Super Nachos

Eating Cocktail Franks

Hooray Giants!!!
Seems like I am not popular rooting for the Giants.

Everyone, I mean EVERYONE, was rooting for New England.

What can I say... I am a NJ native.

I remember when Giant Stadium was built.

Truth be told, I don't really care about football.

My husband zingged me when he asked, "Can you name one person who plays for the Giants?"

I could not!

It was just nice to be home together.

Wishing for snow!

2008-01-28T20:01:00.000-08:00

We were so close...

We had it and we let it go!

We spent the weekend in Eugene. We woke up Sunday morning to a glorious snow storm. Unfortunately we were not prepared for snow. We decided to hurry home so we can go sledding and build a snowman. When we left Eugene there were about 4 inches of snow on the ground and it was dumping snow. The drive home was treacherous until 18 miles south of Salem. Suddenly the snow disappeared. We arrived in Portland and there was no trace of snow.

We went to bed last night wishing and hoping.

I woke up around 12:30 AM and was very happy to see snow quietly falling. The street, roofs and cars had just a light dusting. "Oh goody", I thought. If this keeps up we will certainly have a snow day.

Sadly, it didn't keep up... We ended up with only a dusting and a delayed opening.

We want to play in the snow!

Ready to Travel!

2008-01-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

It arrived...

The boy has a passport and he is ready to travel.

We finally worked through our country's crazy bureaucratic system of getting a child a passport.

France here we come!

Feelin' the LOVE!

2008-01-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

I always think my house looks a bit empty and boring once we take down our holiday decorations. This year I had a plan... I coordinated a fused glass class at Jennifer Wells Studio on NE Alberta. I made these fun window ornaments for Valentine's Day.

I really enjoy these classes. It is the best way to escape parenting, motherhood and the various other things that stress me out these days. I'm looking forward to getting back for another class soon. Let me know if you would like to join me!

I'm a very lucky girl!

2008-01-10T20:47:00.000-08:00

Hooray...

It is confirmed.

My pathology report found no cancer.

You can't imagine how relieved we are. You can't imagine how scared we were.

I still have to jump through a few hoops before I can close this chapter (entitled, "The scariest month of my life").

I will meet with a surgeon at the OHSU breast cancer clinic next week to discuss and schedule an excisional biopsy.

A radial scar is considered a high risk lesion and it is strongly recommended that I have the entire area removed.

The area is the size of a walnut - about 2 cm round.

I'm nervous about scars, breast distortion and recovery.

There is also a slight chance that some cancer can be found when the entire lesion is sent to pathology.

The radiologist felt confident that she was able to obtain good samples, and seemed to indicate that everything should be fine.

It has been a very emotional and draining few weeks. Thank you again for your love and support. It really meant a lot to me.

I am a very lucky girl!