Just Marvelous

Wedded Bliss

2012-02-18T14:15:00.000-06:00

Eight years. Eight! WOW! Two thousand nine hundred and twenty days with my beloved. Three - and about to be four - military PCS moves and two children later, and I'm still just as in love with my Paul as I was the day I said "I DO". The small chapel on base at the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, GA is no longer (the school relocated to Rhode Island and the University of GA now owns the campus)...but the memories of our special wedding day on March 6, 2004 are fresh in my mind. Ah, sweet love.

Throwback Thursday

2012-02-16T14:48:00.001-06:00

Sarcastic enough?


Stars & Stripes Ball, Washington, D.C, 2005

In 2005, Paul and I were fortunate enough to attend George W. Bush's inauguration and one of the many "balls" held downtown. Today's "throwback" photo is one that I'll cherish forever :)).

The weather was bone-chilling that day. We watched the ceremony from the comfort of the Senate office building...Agriculture committee room...with coffee and Krispy Cremes. On a bathroom break, I found runner-up (LOL) Sen. John Kerry's office door and had to take this photo. Paul snapped the shot, and not two seconds later, we heard two people bickering down the hallway. Guess who? John and Teresa Heinz Kerry. She was dressed head to toe in fur and was reading him the riot act over something or other. We just moved quickly past them...and waited to bust out laughing once we turned into the next corridor. Can we say "awkward"?!? Best memory ever. Well, maybe that memory can only be topped by the incredible best-macaroni-and-cheese ever that I enjoyed during a lunch break in the Senate cafeteria.

A fabulous trip all around :).

Marvelous Makes: A Gift for Yuika

2012-02-14T14:05:00.000-06:00

Does this fabric look familiar?

Left with just a few odds and ends from my churn dash quilt, I decided to quickly piece a baby quilt/play mat for my friend Haruka's new daughter, Yuika. She and her family live in Hokkaido, Japan - and I became great friends with Haruka and her mother Yoko when we spent two years living just southwest of Tokyo in Yokosuka. To me...the Hironakas are an extension of my natural family, and I am so blessed to have been able to share those special two years with them as my best friends and neighbors. Paul's ship was deployed about 80% of the time we spent in Japan, and there were many nights and weekends that I spent with their family doing typical "family" activities. Cooking dinner, sipping tea, grocery shopping, talking about life and love. They have a special part of my heart.

Haruka is just a bit younger than I am, and we were fortunate enough to have been able to attend her wedding to her sweet husband Kazuto...who serves in Japan's Self-Defense Force as a search & rescue pilot. They welcomed their first child Haruto just after our Russell was born in 2009...and now, their newest addition, baby Yuika. She is absolutely adorable!

This scrappy quilt is backed in purple & cream striped flannel - perfect for play or sleep. I can't wait to ship it overseas...it will be a complete surprise :). I wish I could deliver the quilt myself, since I miss their family so much!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Love,
Sarah

Marvelous Makes: Churn Dash Update

2012-02-14T13:53:00.001-06:00

Corner Details

Backing

Done...done...and done. Well, almost :). The quilt top & backing are completely finished, and I have already purchased the batting. I will admit at this point that I am majorly procrastinating on the "quilting" part of the project! Still left...I need to clear the kitchen floor completely (ie: move the table & chairs) in order to spread out my backing, tape it to the tile, layer the batting and quilt top, and baste with quilting pins to prep for the machine. I also need to finish sketching my quilting plan before getting started. OH - and a quilt label. Must craft a fantastic quilt label.

I am definitely in love with the bold colors and simplicity of the Amish-inspired pattern. Final dimensions will be 80 x 80 - perfect as a coverlet for our master bed. Now...if I can just get motivated to start pinning...

-Sarah

Marvelous Reads: John Greenleaf Whittier

2012-02-10T13:48:00.000-06:00

The Little People

A dreary place would be this earth

Were there no little people in it;

The Song of Life would lose its mirth,

Were there no children to begin it.

No little form, like buds to grow,

And make the admiring heart surrender

No little hands on breast and brow,

To keep the thrilling love-chords tender.

The sterner souls would grow more stern,

Unfeeling nature more inhuman,

And man to stoic coldness turn,

And Woman would be less than woman.

Life's song, indeed, would lose its charm,

Were there no babies to begin it:

A doleful place this world would be,

Were there no little people in it.

-John Greenleaf Whittier

Silhouettes

2012-02-10T13:23:00.000-06:00

For the past 3-4 years, I have been "auditioning" magazines. Cycling through subscriptions in an effort to nail down a few favorites to keep for future years. Better Homes and Gardens (too many ads...not enough substance)...Yoga Journal (have had a love/hate with YJ...they need much more Yoga, much less self-help spirituality nonsense)...Whole Living (seriously like)...Food Network Magazine (snooze fest)...and the list goes on. One of my favorite new additions - Banjo Newsletter - is folky and fun and includes tab notation for a few new songs each edition. I'm fascinated by the Colonial Williamsburg Journal we receive quarterly, as its vintage photos and historical articles transport me to my favorite place on Earth.

After all of my magazine-hopping...I've decided that I seriously miss Southern Living. Even though I stopped my subscription two years ago in favor of experimenting with something new...I continued gifting my Mom with her own monthly copy. We spent a few days in Atlanta last week, and I had a ball catching up on her back issues of SL.

Can I just say, I was so inspired by several things...but my absolute favorite was a December gift-guide suggestion of custom silhouettes. How supremely Southern, familial, and just plain fabulous. In no time, I found a great Etsy shop - Tailored Takes - offering custom silhouettes (1 print + .jpg file included) for $15! Super sweet. Love Etsy. Love. Love. Love.

Here are Russell and Sam in all of their silhouetted glory. Oh, and as soon as I returned to Memphis, I started a new subscription to Southern Living, best magazine of all time. Hoping it serves as a good reminder of my beloved South while living in far-away Italy!

Don't you just love the baby mullet?!


My favorite...she captured his "thinking spot" AKA - crazy tuft of hair on top that he twirls while sleeping.

Three Years Old

2012-02-06T13:18:00.000-06:00

Thank you to family and friends for your sweet well-wishes for Russell's birthday. He loved opening the cards and gifts! His THIRD birthday was definitely a special occasion.

Some of the highlights: Menchie's yogurt, a trip to the Atlanta Children's Museum/Imagine It, golf with Dad and Poppy, endless rounds of "Don't Wake the Dragon" (an original favorite game from my childhood that Mom had stored in the basement!), Dreamland BBQ, and lots and lots of laughter and smiles.

Here are a few snapshots from his birthday week:

Wall Art at the Atlanta Children's Museum

Fire Chief!

Jello Birthday Surprise "Cake" - thanks to Mom's retro Jello recipe book (circa 1960s?)

One Special 3 Year Old enjoying a plate of Dreamland BBQ

Trouble Shot of the Week

2012-02-06T08:20:00.001-06:00


Searching for culinary inspiration...

Samuel definitely keeps me on my toes! He moves at the speed of light...a mini tornado of curiosity. As I type this, he's currently inspecting my stack of piano music in the living room. I usually spend a good 15 minutes straightening up after he goes down for his long afternoon nap - finding a home for everything he moved, carried, dismantled, or scattered around the first floor.

The joys of pre-toddler exploration!

Our Eldest

2012-01-24T13:50:00.001-06:00

Russell Nels Melvey...
...my little man.

I'm finding it more and more difficult to believe he's approaching his THIRD birthday! What a marvelous three years we have experienced along with our eldest son. And isn't this the most fascinating age? For Mom and Dad, the days are an equal balance of challenging and exuberant. More and more, I see how he reflects my good (and sometimes not-so-good) qualities and quirks...mostly, I suppose, because he spends the majority of his time at home with me. He definitely has his own trademark characteristics. Just a few:

He is a golf whiz. Serious prodigy. Like, I'm a bit in denial over how good he is at his young age. My sincere hope is that he continues to enjoy this sport - or anything else God leads him do to - with as much enthusiasm as he does currently. After breakfast, he insists on a good 30 minutes of "inside golf" time with his plastic set. On a sunny day, it's the only activity he wants to do outside...practicing with his "wedgie", "Lee Trevino" (an old wooden driver Paul cut down), "3 wood" (cut down hybrid), and putter. He's a lefty, and he hits a mean bump & run. Can name just about any golfer pictured in Golf Digest, and spends 15 minutes after dinner each night watching replays on PGA.com with Daddy. I have no idea how this started...other than, I showed him how to grip & swing a club properly at 18 months after watching him try to swing his baseball bat like a golf club. It's now his Favorite. Thing. Ever.
He is a touchy child. I have absolutely NO idea where this comes from (as I point to myself and wince). Shy with strangers and introverted. When he was a baby, he was seriously bothered by loud, noisy places or booming voices. Now, not so much...though I have seen him run from the TV when watching a golf tourney with Dad...when a busy commercial comes on screen. The downside...touchiness tends to lead to whiny-ness...something we're trying to nip in the bud. Such is toddlerhood, though. Plus side to his introverted nature - he ponders, examines, watches, waits, and is extremely cautions. Translation = definitely not a climber, jumper, or otherwise wild child. Trust me, I thank my lucky stars each and every day ~~and pray that I can deal with Sam's wild crazies~~.
His love language is quality time and physical reassurance. He loves to cuddle and read before bedtime, and his mood is definitely affected by the amount of one-on-one time he receives throughout the day.
He absolutely LOVES his Daddy. I wish I could bottle the excitement he emotes when he hears Dad's car in the evenings. True love. The first words out of his mouth in the morning are always, "where's Daddy?"...and he immediately jumps out of bed to find him. There was a time in the not-so-distant-past that I took this personally (think: post-pregnancy hormonal time), but not so much now. Just a sweet love for his Dad - and I totally get it.
He is a fantastic big brother. Enough said. I also wish I could bottle up the squeals from Sam when he sees his brother. He just loves him to pieces, as I do.

And now...for posterity's sake...the most adorable picture of Russell doing his most favorite thing ever.

Fargo Country Club, August 2011

Marvelous Makes: Weeknight Cooking

2012-01-22T13:00:00.000-06:00

Unlike my husband's incredibly wonderful (*newly acquired) gift-giving skills (see previous post on my new banjo...), my thoughtfulness quotient took a nosedive this holiday season. But, I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself. Who wouldn't love a new cookbook?! Seriously?!?

I have major love for How To Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman. Maybe some of you are familiar with his annoying antics on PBS's Spain: On the Road Again...or have read his articles in the New York Times..or have even seen him live on the Today show. He's not a trained chef - just a home cook with major chops. Kudos for putting together a cook book with 2000+ recipes, all of which are interesting, moderately challenging. Specifically, we needed some major inspiration for weeknight cooking...fast, delicious, healthy, interesting. He is a major proponent of "Meatless Mondays" - or even staying meat-free before dinnertime as a way to amp up the healthy quotient of each day's meals.

Both Paul and I enjoy cooking, and I thought this would be a way to kick us out of the food doldrums of 2011. As many of you know....it is even that more challenging once kids enter the picture to devote time and brain power to cooking thoughtful meals. No more elaborate week night dinners; leave that for the weekend...maybe.

I was supremely pleased with our first few selections from the book. Nothing crazy...simply practical and perfect for this point in our lives. Cauliflower Couscous with Almonds (pg. 479) on one occasion...Eggplant Parmesan (pg. 297) on another. For our typical Tuesday night taco fare, we tried his "Black Beans with Orange", and they fit the bill for yet another tasty variation on meatless taco filling. Definitely better the next day as leftovers. Here's the recipe:

Black Beans with Orange
Mark Bittman, How to Cook Everything, pg. 419
3 cups cooked or canned black beans, with about 1 cup of their liquid
1TBS ground cumin
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 navel orange, well washed
2TBS extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, preferably red or yellow, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 or 2 fresh chilies, like New Mexico or habanero, seeded and chopped, or 1 or 2 dried chilies, like chile de arbol or pequin, soaked, cleaned, and chopped
1TBS minced garlic
1/2 C dry red wine or freshly squeezed orange juice
Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley leaves for garnish

1. Put the beans and their liquid in a large pot over medium heat; add the cumin and a good pinch of salt and pepper, bring to a boil, and adjust the heat so the mixture simmers.
2. Halve the orange. Peel one half and add the peel to the beans, the divide the segments and set aside. Squeeze the juice from the other half and set aside.
3. Put the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, the bell pepper, and the chilies if you're using them and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers soften, 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add this mixture to the beans.
4. Turn the heat under the skillet up to high and add the wine. Cook for about 5 minutes, then add to the bean along with the reserved orange juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve with rice, garnished with the reserved orange sections and cilantro, or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheat before serving, garnishing at the last minute.

Cruising

2012-01-19T15:05:00.002-06:00

Busy days? This photo says it all. He thinks he owns the place...imagine that :).

Aside from splashing in Scarlett's water dish, using the lazy susan as a jungle gym is his favorite activity these days. T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Marvelous Makes: Churn Dash Update

2012-01-17T13:53:00.000-06:00


A Work In Progress...

If my sewing machine could speak, it would kindly ask me to, "BACK OFF, Lady!" See - I have this definite deadline for finished my Amish-inspired Churn Dash. March 20...the day the movers come to pack up our household goods for shipment to Sicily. This means all patchwork, quilting, binding, DONE in time for the pack-out. Pressure's on! As of today...I have 12 of 16 blocks completed...and hope to have the additional 4 done as soon as tomorrow.

From the layout above, you can see the basic color scheme...minus the 4th block color, a medium green/navy. The checkerboard sashing will join the tiny floral backing fabric for visual interest. Not pictured is a medium blue solid I'm using for large borders on the front, as well as another multicolored sashing strip. In keeping with the Amish tradition, the quilt top will be done in solids. The fabulous floral (would you believe my 2 1/2 year old picked out this backing fabric?! Incredible!) will give my own twist of crazy color on the back. Still unsure about binding material...will ponder for a week or so. When completed, the quilt should measure about 84 x 84 - a perfect coverlet for our master bed.

As if that's not enough...my crazy mind latched on to yet another project that I also need to have completed by mid-March :). More about it later...though I can say that it's a Bargello-style quilt design that I'm developing into a table runner for our dining room. A random project that's evolving daily.

More soon!

-Sarah

Weekend Hijinx

2012-01-17T13:35:00.004-06:00

Three-day weekend? Marvelous! Our clan had a wonderful long weekend together. Lots of family activity and plenty of rest time, as well. Although...*ahem*...a certain someone desperately needs to finish cutting the current round of teeth. Can we say, "early morning wake-ups are no good for anyone?!?".

Little Sam-Sam is so proud of his new clapping skills. Just to add to the sappy cuteness factor, here's a quick story. This morning, when I went into his room to wake him for the day, as soon as I picked him up he patted me on the shoulder (his way of saying "hi") and started clapping and grinning. Thank you, sweet boy, for greeting me so sweetly this morning. It definitely makes those early wake-ups a little more bearable.

In a little over a month, we are shipping our largest vehicle to Sicily! We will be Italy-bound so soon. Loving it!

Gratitude

2012-01-12T13:49:00.005-06:00

Just recently, I subscribed to daily emails from the Henri Nouwen Society. Our previous church often had different devotional books/meditations available throughout the Easter & Advent seasons...and I enjoyed reading them. Most of the daily emails are a little "out there" and I don't always agree with the theology...but I found this one to be particularly appropriate for my life as of late.

Honestly - my life is fairly stress-free. A BIG praise for that. Occasionally (as in, a few days this week and over the past couple of months), I have a day or two that are emotionally draining - mainly due to the fact that I take my kids' behavior WAAAAY to personally :). We've been working diligently with our almost-three-year-old on an important moral lesson - obedience with a happy heart. Standing my ground when it comes to talk-back, push-back, and the like. The biggest challenge? The fact that it is in a toddler's nature to be disobedient, push boundaries, and challenge authority :). Childish curiosity + independent spirit = lots of deep, cleansing breaths for Mom.

Every day is a new learning experience for both of us. Most importantly, I have started to examine the ways in which I am not "obedient" to God - especially obedient with happy heart. How many times have I responded to a particular call (the main one right now for me is getting up earlier to do quiet Scripture time in the morning) by dragging my feet, whining, and flat-out saying "NO!"? More times than I care to admit. My heart, as well as my toddler's heart, is getting one heck of a makeover.

This brings me to the Nouwen devotion from this morning. Gratitude. In the midst of dealing with tantrums, spit-up on the carpet, cleaning the breakfast dishes, keeping the baby out of the dog's water dish, and general bodily fatigue...I aim to be grateful in all circumstances (1 Th. 5:16-18). I'm not always thankful for the occasional rough day, but I need to learn to see the blessing in those as well. Maybe this devotion will speak to you in the way it spoke to me!

-Sarah

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The Spiritual Work of Gratitude

To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives-the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections-that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for.

Let's not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.

The Most Thoughtful Gift

2012-01-09T14:16:00.005-06:00

I love my husband.

He hasn't always had the best track record when it comes to gift-giving...but that's OK, my "love language" is definitely not material things. But, that's another post altogether.

Gift-giving Hall of Shame Inductee Examples include:

-A sports bra...for my birthday.
-A set of two Swivel Sweepers...for Valentine's Day. His response, "well, they're red (for UGA) and it was buy-one-get-one-free, so for the price of one you now have one for each level of the house."

BUT...this year, ladies and gentlemen, he scored BIG TIME:

Yes, a banjo. I have been talking (albeit in a half-joking-but-not-really kind of way) about banjos for a while. It would have taken an ice scraper to peel my eyes off of the TV while watching Steve Martin narrate, "Give Me a Banjo" on PBS recently. I'm not sure what it is exactly about Bluegrass, but a good banjo solo gives me goosebumps. I suppose that makes me a closet wannabe banjo picker.

What is so incredible about this gift is really the motivation of the giver...and what makes him so wonderfully special. He took the time to listen to what I thought was a secret, frivolous, and unattainable dream and dared to encourage me toward making it a reality. Best friends do that and more for each other. I just love that man of mine.

Found a couple of banjo method books that have proven helpful - including the classic Pete Seeger manual, "How to Play the 5-String Banjo". Crazy politics aside, he's definitely a fixture in the folk/bluegrass landscape, and his manual has been in print since the 50s. The other book focuses mostly on the Earl Scruggs' 3-finger picking method characteristic of bluegrass banjo.

I am so excited to see where God leads me with this one! Who only knows...

-Sarah

Just when...

2012-01-09T13:07:00.003-06:00

Just when I figure out how to keep up with a crawling baby, look what he's up to now! More Motrin, please...

Naptime

2012-01-05T13:40:00.002-06:00

Nap Time

Time to forget about the crazy morning,
the tantrums, the time-outs,
the lavender dryer sachet that baby dissected in the hallway while I implemented aforementioned time-outs.

Time to dream about the cuddles and kisses,
music class with our favorite teacher,
snacks and sing-alongs on the car ride home,
hitting golf balls in the yard,
and our next meal together.

Time for me to sip a cup of mint tea and pop a Motrin.
To thank God for four precious gifts...
...my loving husband, my two sons,
and His Redeeming Grace.

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to serve you through parenting.
Thank you for the ability to stay home with my little ones.
Thank you for weaving our hearts together as a family team and pointing our eyes toward You.

Thank you for nap time...for waking, stretching, and having a fresh start in the afternoon.

Marvelous Makes: Homemade Play Dough

2012-01-04T14:28:00.006-06:00

Why buy "play dough" when you can make your own! This fabulous project took less than 30 minutes...and we're still playing with the same batch of dough 2 months later. Thought I would share the recipe - in case anyone else is brave enough to provide their toddler with their very container of play dough!

A perfect learning activity for a rainy, cold, or otherwise home-bound morning.

Enjoy!

________________________________________________________________

Homemade Play Dough

1/2 C Salt
1 C boiling water
2 TBS cream of tartar
1 TBS oil
Food Coloring

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Boil water, add desired food coloring + oil, and slowly incorporate into dry ingredients.

Add add'l flour if too moist...easily accomplished by kneading on lightly floured surface. I found it's necessary to knead several times in order to produce smoothest texture. Store in a zip-lock bag. Enjoy cleaning up random bits of play dough for the next several months :).

Christmas, Part 2

2012-01-03T13:14:00.003-06:00

Hot off the press...our family photo taken on Christmas morning at our home church, Christ the King Lutheran in Memphis. A parishioner offered to take complimentary family portraits after the morning service. We are so pleased with the results! Russell even managed a smile, and Sam was cute, as always. After yesterday's Outback Bowl, Paul's not so sure about the UGA vest... :).

This photo captured our Merry Christmas moods perfectly.

Happy New Year, y'all!

-Sarah

Christmas

2012-01-02T08:04:00.003-06:00

Christmas! What a sweet holiday this year. Russell was excited about Jesus' Birthday Party, Santa's visit, and just spending time at home with Mom AND Dad. Sam's favorite part...the wrapping paper and packaging. Unlike holidays past...I scaled back on menu planning, going for tried & true and easy recipes that we all love. Simple was definitely better.

We skipped Christmas Eve candlelight service this year and headed to church on Christmas morning instead. Enjoyed a festive meal of spaghetti and baked parmesan meatballs (see messy photo of Sam above!), fresh fruit, sparkling cider for the toddler, and Prosecco for the adults. We each opened one gift...and mine was so marvelous, it's getting its own post later :).

After Santa's elves finished working, we all enjoyed a full night of sleep (PRAISE!). Before heading to 10AM service, we had wonderful family time opening even more presents.

All in all, a fabulous day. And...while I thoroughly enjoyed our last American Christmas for a few years...I am seriously looking forward to next year's "Buon Natale" celebration in Italy!! Leaving in 3 short months!!

Marvelous Makes: St. Louis Style Pizza

2011-12-21T14:02:00.004-06:00

So. Thin Crust Pizza. My husband professes his love for thin crust pizza constantly...and now I can actually "deliver" thanks to the genius folks at America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Country.

The only thing holding me back from making absolutely *PERFECT* thin crust pizza at this point is my inability to roll it paper-thin. Will definitely work on that :). This recipe - courtesy of Cook's Country - is delightfully easy. Delicious pizza in less than 30 minutes. And...two crusts, at that! We had one for dinner on Sunday night and another today for lunch. Make sure to check out their suggestions for adding toppings. Turkey pepperoni is one
of our family favorites...along with green olives.

This photo is courtesy of Cook's Country. By the time I thought about snapping a photo of our lunch pizza, it was G-O-N-E. Even baby was beside himself with joy.

Happy Eating!

Joy

2011-12-20T14:06:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas to all!

This is, by far, my most favorite time of the year. Having a family of your own makes it even more special, since the little ones (well, the oldest little one) is sensing the excitement of the season.

After what I'm aptly naming "the Great Christmas Catastrophe of 2011" - involving some creepy crawlies - we decided to go with a 4" prelit artificial tree. It's perched in our front window...and being elevated on the coffee table makes it look like at least an 8" tree from outside :). I can't even tell you how relieved I am to have a table-top tree, especially since Sam is practicing his army crawl all over the house.

Presents have been purchased. Small and simple - the Melvey minimalist way, of course :). Being military, we travel light...a side benefit of moving every 2-3 years. This is the year of "Thomas the Train", as Russell asked Santa for a few of his "friends" - Cranky, Salty, and Spencer. Santa may or may not have found a few "Little People" for Samuel. Fresh Market was the perfect place to shop for unique candies for each stocking. Bubble bath is a must...and can't forget new underwear!

Before Russell was born, I picked up a few kids' Advent materials from our church in Williamsburg,VA. This year, I was so pleased to be able to read through one of the books, "Which Way Is Christmas" with Russell. Along with Scripture for each day, we loved spending time doing the colorful picture-finds on each page. Sprinkle in a few printable coloring activities, a homemade advent wreath, and lots of Christmas carols on the piano....and we've had just an awesome Advent season.

Christmas Blessings to you and yours!!

Wishing you a marvelous holiday season :).

-Sarah

Marvelous Reads: Feathers From My Nest

2011-12-14T14:16:00.004-06:00

This week, I added Beth Moore's Feathers From My Nest to my reading list. Can I just say...I needed a Kleenex after just 5 pages. A little embarrassing...but yet, I'm the one who cries in church every time I hear a favorite hymn. That would be most of them :). For those moments, I just pray that I can dig a handkerchief out of my Mom-purse. I've even resorted to using baby bibs and burp cloths. Usually, these moments are preceded by hearty renditions of "As the Deer", "A Mighty Fortress", "It is Well With My Soul", or "Be Thou My Vision". All turn me into a puddle of mush. Hopefully my boys won't inherit my weepiness. They most certainly won't be getting any of that from their father.

My Marvelous Reads list is a little slim at the moment, so I should be able to finish this book fairly soon. Will be sure to update with a mini-review!

Marvelous Makes: Churn Dash

2011-12-12T14:43:00.004-06:00

One down...29 to go! Not too shabby.

Marvelous Makes

2011-12-08T14:37:00.007-06:00

This summer, once Sam's really got into a groove with his eat/play/sleep routine and had long, regular, afternoon naps...I decided to jump into a new hobby. Quilting. Why not? I love using my sewing machine - yet hate making clothes. Growing up, my father quilted and made beautiful keepsakes for special family events...anniversaries, confirmations, etc. I stumbled upon a website by Mary K. Fons called "Quilty" - a free weekly tutorial show for newbie quilters. Young-ish newbie quilters. There seems to be this stereotype out there (well, maybe I was the only one holding this stereotype...shame on me!) that quilters = old church ladies. Not so. Not sure if it has something to do with the lousy economy causing the home-crafting thing to explode - but quilting seems to be everywhere. It's timeless...takes tons of patience...and (the best part!) it's a way for you to use all of that seemingly-useless Geometry knowledge you've had stored in your brain since Freshman year!

Let's just say, I'm hooked. I love how I can use my kids' nap times to decompress. Since making my first quilt, I've noticed definite improvement...that's a good thing, eh? I'm slightly worried that my move overseas is going to cramp my fabric-buying style...I'll just have to wing it and shop for fabric online.

Introducing my two beginner projects: the first is a throw quilt for the eldest's bed...the second is a lap quilt. Both were machine-pieced and machine quilted - free motion and straight line. There are glaring mistakes in both, but I can just appreciate them more now that I'm slightly better ;).

Now...on to the next project - a simple Churn Dash. Going for an Amish color scheme...dark solids. Twelve-inch blocks that may or may not have borders/sashing. The finished product will be a throw quilt for our Queen-sized bed, to give you a visual on size. Love. Love. Quilts.

Hold That Thought...

2011-12-08T14:07:00.005-06:00

Dear Mother Nature:

Please keep us in mind on December 24th & 25th...we would love to have a white Christmas in Millington. Doubtful we'll see any snow in Catania for the next three years. Yesterday's example was just perfect :).

Sincerely,

Just Marvelous

Going Postal

2011-12-06T13:38:00.004-06:00

The thought crossed my mind this morning as I bundled up all of our Christmas mailings...

...we are SUCH a Military Family. At the holidays, we send mail all over the globe - a testament to the far-reaching footprint we leave behind after each permanent change of station. Friends and family scattered all over the US, friends abroad. We get so used to having to track down our military friends' addresses every couple of years, since they change so often! Thank goodness for Facebook and WhitePages.com!

My 2011 postal send-off contained the following:

- A package of goodies for my adoptive Japanese family...including Montreal Steak and Chicken seasoning (don't ask...they love it), a sling for sweet new baby Yuika, Christmas chocolates, Pirouline cookies, handmade casserole totes, and various other American randomness.
-Two cards to Korea - one to Pusan and one to Seoul
-50+ other Christmas cards reaching almost all 50 states...and particularly Ohio, Minnesota, North Dakota, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas.

I would love to create a map plotting all of the zip codes from our Christmas cards! Great in theory...don't really have the time ;).

Either way, this photo captures it all. I am SO relieved to have everything in the mail! My dining room table is clear, and so is my mind.

This Marvelous Life

2011-12-06T13:32:00.004-06:00

The camera captured a few precious memories recently...

We are definitely feeling the love this Advent season!

Ciao!

2011-12-06T13:17:00.004-06:00

SO…the real reason for resurrecting this blog? The Just Marvelous family is gearing up for a three year stint in Catania, Sicily! We’re within the 4-month window of moving…and starting to get excited about the whole thing. Paul is a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy Supply Corps, and his next orders have us relocating to Naval Air Station Sigonella for three years of shore duty. There is so much to look forward to – yet so much to miss, namely our wonderful extended family. But, if it’s at all like our experience living in Japan for two years, I’ll be lucky enough to be the hostess-with-the-mostess at our own Italian B&B. May even have to come up with a catchy Italian name for our new digs. We’ll see. We most definitely will not be affiliated with the mafia. Just sayin’.

Anyway, I want to get into the swing of things again…documenting our adventures…so that I can easily update friends and family. Much easier than cramming it all into a Skype convo :).

Not familiar with the geography of Sicily? Here’s a map for a little help:

We’ll live in the outskirts of Catania, on the Eastern side of Sicily. Mt. Etna will be our closest neighbor. Spewing hot lava? No sweat! In our nearly eight years together, the Navy has stationed us in areas with earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and rabid UGA fans (GO DAWGS!). Who am I to worry about a stinkin’ volcano?

Lots to do before our move in early April. Since we’ve done the whole “overseas move” thing, it’s not nearly as stressful this time around. We have a wonderful sponsor family who has given us loads of information about the area – and we can’t wait to live off-base again! Now…I just need to get working on my Italian skills…

-S

New Beginnings

2011-12-05T14:55:00.009-06:00

Time to start again? I think so!

I can hardly remember where I left off...somewhere in mid-2010...and now, here we are about to wrap-up 2011! Where did the time go?

From my previous post to now, it is obvious that LOTS has changed in the Melvey household. Most anyone who will actually take the time to read this already knows about the welcome addition of SAMUEL AARON MELVEY. Our precious baby boy entered this world in a whirlwind on March 7, 2011 - and he has been keeping us on our toes ever since.

Samuel definitely arrived on his own timetable. Since this was my second pregnancy, I had a very different outlook where due-date was concerned. Basically, I wasn't concerned at all about my due date. Didn't really know it...didn't really care. Just wanted to make sure my OB allowed me plenty of time to get there on my own - with no induction this time around. WELL. When Sam was ready, he was ready. Here is one of my favorite pictures from his birthday:

This is Russell enjoying his favorite food - Memphis BBQ. You may or may not be able to make out my leg in the background to the right. While Dad was keeping our eldest occupied with lunch, I was busy laboring, draped over our sofa, waiting for my ride to Baptist Women's Hospital in Memphis :). An absolutely dear friend and labor coach drove me to the hospital...while Paul stayed at home with Russell during his nap time. Paul intended to join me at the hospital later in the afternoon to help with labor. Sam planned otherwise!

Kate and I checked into the hospital at 1:40 pm. Sam arrived at 2:07 :).

After weeks of pre-labor, I just assumed my backache that morning was the usual pregnancy annoyance. I took Russell for his 2-year well checkup, where the nurses made me swear I wouldn't deliver the baby in their office because, "they couldn't remember what to do". Afterward, I came home to play in the yard with Russell...and promptly decided to cut the grass instead. Who does this?? A crazy, in-labor Mama - that's who. Silly me.

Thankfully, Dad works 3 minutes away and was able to dash home to help out when things really starting going.

Now, nine months later...we're busy chasing around a CRAWLING baby boy!

Welcome to the Melvey Family, Sam!

Why worry?

2010-08-06T19:30:00.002-05:00

So, here we are. Russell's eighteen month check-up. The dreaded question: "How many words does your child use on a regular basis?". The dreaded answer: "One, maybe two."

How is it possible to go through your first couple of years as a new parent without being tempted to measure your child's success against others'? I vowed - swore to myself - that I would just let it go and not worry about every little detail. Easier said than done, I'm afraid :).

Don't get me wrong...Russell, I believe, is kicking butt in the growth/development arena. He's walking now - after a cautious start - and even running most of the time. His hand/eye coordination is incredible. He can tell the difference between letter "E" and letter "F"...and his favorite letter so far is "G" for Georgia (printed all over those UGA Tervis Tumblers we use daily!). When reading, he can identify all sorts of animals...and can even identify his colors...just, not vocally. Pointing. Pointing at EVERYTHING. Lots and lots of pointing :). His Dad and I do all of the recommended things while reading. We ask him to repeat, we even ask yes or no questions at times. All we usually get in return is a blank stare or a grunt that I can recognize means "yes". No attempt to imitate...no real motivation to verbalize.

I wasn't concerned until his pediatrician asked the same question at his last checkup, a few months back. She wasn't worried at the time - but simply asked us to watch him over the next couple of months and notice any improvements. It breaks my heart to say that I haven't seen any increase in word usage. I know he understands everything we say - I just wish I could have some reassurance that he wants to speak. Just one "Mama" or "Dada" would be awesome :).

Next week, a representative from the State of Tennessee's "Early Intervention" program will come to our house for an evaluation. While I am totally nervous about a stranger coming into our house and taking notes on our activities...I welcome any and all input. I know many kids start speaking later...we just want to make sure there isn't an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. At times, I feel partly to blame because I haven't created enough opportunities for him to socialize with other kids his age. How is it possible to balance my own introverted nature with parenting? Maybe I just need to step out of my comfort zone for Russell's sake.

We are looking forward to his first "Mother's Day Out" in a couple of weeks. Maybe that's just the ticket to kick-start his verbal skills. Until then - I am open to any advice :).

-Sarah

For the love of food...

2010-08-04T12:44:00.005-05:00

Would it be fair to say that I just "devoured" Tony Bourdain's new book, Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and The People Who Cook? Fan-freaking-tastic. So many thoughts blowing through my mind after reading the final page...so I'll do my best to summarize.

Let me start of by stating how DIFFICULT it was for me to make it through the first few chapters while struggling with severe morning sickness. The fact that I even attempted to begin should indicate my level of anticipation. Nausea be damned. I stifled every queasy urge while soaking up his descriptions of food memories...best meals ever...and worldly travels. I felt pangs of possessiveness as he described the magic of Japanese yakitori-ya. Having lived in Japan for two brief years, I still feel some sort of emotion - which I can best describe as possessive - whenever I read of others' adventures in the Far East. As if I want to keep Japan and its culinary delights all to myself.

Any comments of review that I write here just can't simply do the book justice. I am by no means as eloquent as a professional book-reviewer. BUT, I do have to share what I found to be most poignant in Bourdain's work. I absolutely loved the chapters he devoted to his new life and new family - a wife and daughter. What a departure from the "old Tony" that Kitchen Confidential or Cook's Tour brings to mind. His point exactly - to explain to his readers and fans how this crazy success has changed him...and having a family has changed him for the better, in my opinion. Parenthood and love have softened some of the razor-sharp edges...in a way that I can relate to personally, as someone who previously vowed to never, ever have children. Thank goodness for change. Fullness of life would have been completely elusive without the blessings of my Paul and Russell.

I just want to give the guy a hug. For quitting smoking...for telling readers it's really OK to eat restaurant fish on Mondays (just not at that TGI-place). For sharing his technique of keeping his child out of the Golden Arches and other not-so-fabulous fast food joints. For giving me a glimpse into a tasting menu at The French Laundry. For crafting an eloquent and thoughtful apologia for his past behavior - and even his attitude while writing Kitchen Confidential. For showing the world that sometimes it takes 44 years to overcome poverty and poor decision-making in order to achieve your dreams.

MOST of all, I want to give him a hug for the absolutely laugh-tastic description of Sandra Lee, her Kwanzaa-cake episode (which I am SO going to find on You Tube), and enlightening me to the fact that she's dating Andrew Cuomo. Double yuck.

In all seriousness...now that my morning sickness is starting to subside...I feel much more inspired to broaden my culinary expertise (which I feel is about 'nil'). Thank you for the inspiration, Tony.

-Sarah

We're having a......PUMPKIN!

2010-07-28T12:12:00.004-05:00

Over the past couple of months, our garden has gone through its own share of dramatic changes. Being our first backyard garden...I expected some level of experimentation. We started off so hopeful - and still are - even though the 4x4 square looks nothing like it did in the beginning!

Radishes - came and went without success. Decided we planted these too late in the season - which was limited by our ridiculously hot weather and non-existent Spring. Had we been so lucky to have had 70* weather for a couple of weeks in April...maybe the radishes would have worked out. We're planning to give them another try in a few months for the Fall growing season.

Beans. Originally planting 4-5 bush bean seeds...we had a very good early season for beans. Early May...the bushes (though on the small side) thrived in the moderate weather. By the 2nd and 3rd weeks of may, they were starting to look haggard. Many blooms dropped, leading to low production. Also, fought a hard battle with inchworms and some tiny leaf jumpers that just LOVED eating holes in the leaves a la "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book that Russell loves so much :). Mid-season, we opted to plant a few pole beans. They are looking great so far and finally have flowers. Next year, we're definitely skipping the bush beans and going with pole beans.

Yellow Squash. A success in my books. With only one plant, we managed to have at least a dozen squash - which Russell and I enjoyed at dinnertime. Paul doesn't like squash or zucchini, so more for the 2 of us. The only downside (and I list this as a major downside because who likes bugs?!?)...SQUASH BEETLES. EWWWWWW! They look like the bug version of an army Hum-V. Nasty brown bugs who procreate like mad, leave eggs on the leaves of your squash and pumpkin plants, and cause leaf wilt.

Battling these buggers brings me to my most exciting news of the day....our pumpkin.

Yes, when I saw a solitary pumpkin growing on our forlorn pumpkin vine, I decided to sacrifice our Yellow Squash in the name of squash bugs. Since they were attacking both plants...I thought it would be wise to get rid of the squash in order to protect the pumpkin :). So far, so good. Only a few squash bugs left...and I make their day lovely by spraying the tar out of them with Liquid Sevin. By gosh....we are GOING to have a pumpkin for Halloween if its the last thing I do! Since we're not eating the pumpkin...all bets are off for organic gardening. I will do and spray whatever necessary to ensure a successful harvest come October :).

I have to admit...a couple of months ago, I pulled a 2nd pumpkin vine out of our garden and was on the way to the trash can with it when Paul convinced me to give it a second try in our front flower bed. Now, it's growing like crazy and looks WAYYY healthier than our garden version...though no pumpkins yet. One of the reasons it's doing great...it's surrounded by mint plants, and apparently squash bugs hate mint! Go figure :).

Here's to Halloween pumpkins - a Blue Moon pumpkin, to be exact!

More Summer...

2010-07-14T13:38:00.002-05:00

I am VERY behind...with this blog, with laundry, with...well...everything these days :). Isn't that what summer is all about? Taking time to enjoy doing nothing during every free moment. My life as been a lot of that lately.

This weekend, Gigi and Poppy drove from Alpharetta to Millington to spend a few days with our crazy bunch. We treated them to a morning of sightseeing at Graceland, as well as an excellent trip to the Memphis Zoo. Here are a few photos from our adventures.

Nothing else noteworthy to report except.......Russell is finally taking a few steps on his own! At 17 months old, he definitely is taking his time :). Practice makes perfect, I guess!

As for me....my reading list just exploded (thanks to Amazon :). Can I tell you how thrilled I am to dive into the new Anthony Bourdain book, Medium Raw? PSYCHED to say the least. Add to that our neighborhood book club monthly selection (something about Angry Women and Bon-Bons...hmm) and the Agatha Christie books loaned by a friend, and my free time is now booked solid. I am forcing myself to finish my current book (The Mirror Crack'd) before tearing open the Bourdain selection, but folks...it's mighty difficult to be patient with his scruffy face staring at my from my bedside table :). Will definitely post my thoughts on Medium Raw once I've finished.

Ciao,

Sarah

Typical Summer Weekend

2010-06-28T14:02:00.004-05:00

Is it Monday already? Give me some more of that weekend, please :).

Another wonderful two days Chez Melvey - with lots of time spent in and around the house, in the "pool" (or, I should call it an "-ool", since Russell wades sans daiper...). Naps, grilling, reading, movie-watching - it just doesn't get any better than this!

Our new - somewhat hilarious - development is that Russell is quickly learning all of his body parts' names and locations. He's a master "pointer" - ask him to point to his head, ears, nose, etc., and he's right on it. Well...as I suppose usually happens with little boys...he's curious about his little boy "parts". So...our diaper changing routine/litany now goes something like the following:

R: "Uh dat?"
Me: "That's your nose"
R: "Uh dat"
Me: "That's Mama's nose"
R: "Uh dat?"
Me: "That's Russell's hair"
R: "Uh dat?"
Me: "That's Mama's hair"
R: "Uh dat?"
Me: "That's your...uh...wee-wee"
R: "Uh dat?"
Me: "Mama doesn't have a wee-wee, Russell".

Wee-wee? Where did I come up with that?!? Funny the things you do or say as a parent in the heat of the moment...when all brain function fails...and you feel completely unprepared. I really should have come up with a better word. Wee wee. *Sigh*.

Sarah Time

2010-06-24T14:42:00.004-05:00

Wow – I am SO behind on this blog! I honestly don't know what happened to the last three weeks. Somewhere between Paul's back-to-back work trips, a toddler cold, weather over 100*, and various other things I won't bore you with here...the past few weeks were a blur. While Paul was gone, Russell and I had lots and lots and LOTS of time together – especially considering our weather was insanely hot and we spent most days inside. Really struggled to find things to do that would occupy a 30-second attention span. Somehow, we made it through! All I know is...Paul won a 1 hour full body massage gift certificate at a recent charity golf outing, and I took FULL advantage of that!! Woohoo for massages. Much needed after toting 23 lbs of toddler around the house for a week and a half on my own.

Not that I didn't miss Paul...but I savored my empty evenings by putting Netflix and Red Box to work. A sad testimony to my lack of creativity today, I'm going to fill this blog entry with a list of movies I managed to squeeze in during my “Sarah Time”.

The Business of Being Born (2007): A friend mentioned this film on Facebook, and I suddenly remembered that I had been meaning to check it out. While I'm not exactly keen on having any future children at home, I was definitely moved by the discussion in this movie. Several “AHA Moments” (oooooh, I hate that term...thank you, Oprah) - and I even recollected a few things from my own hospital experience with Russell that I had forgotten completely. Things that scare me a bit and make me want to seriously consider having some sort of advocate/doula with me should we be so blessed with baby #2. Definitely makes me want to do extra research that I didn't do the 1^st time around...
He's Just Not That Into You (2009: OK. So, why did I watch this movie? Because I was alone and I NEVER get to watch brainless chick flicks with the hubby around. Well, maybe a few...but I'll never live those down. Like – the time I made him go to the theater to watch “13 going on 30”. Yeah, he spent most of the movie in line for popcorn OR in the restroom. It was THAT GOOD. Let me tell you...I laughed my butt off at this film. It was PAINFUL reflecting on my own horrible dating career and putting myself in Gigi's shoes. We've all been there, and it's not pretty. Even though it was cliché and predictable -and even though Jennifer Aniston was dating Ben Affleck - I still enjoyed this one.
Up in the Air (2009): LOVED IT. Enough said. Watched it again with Paul – and I even cried the 2^nd time. I am a cry baby, though. In an eerie way, Clooney's character reminded me of Paul when we first met. AND, I couldn't help but cringe at the whole "backpack" idea. One-Bag-Travel anyone?!? Eeeeek.
Nine (2009): Completely didn't understand this one. Musicals just aren't my thing...at least I tried, though! I'll even admit - I turned the darn thing off after an hour.

Wow – exciting stuff, eh?!? Hopefully I'll get a bit more motivated and actually download the pictures sitting on my camera from Father's Day. Wish me luck!

-Sarah

Memorial Day Joy

2010-06-04T12:32:00.004-05:00

The Melvey Memorial Day Stay-cation was a success!

Lots of down time...playing in the yard...lounging in our "pool" (well, maybe the toddler was the only one lounging in our redneck blowup pool with neon green 80's motif)...and adopting a D-O-G. I am now seriously aware of the lack of minutes in my day :). But hey - Scarlett is worth it. A sweet little terrier mix who acts like an old lady in retirement. The folks at "Real Good Dog Rescue" in Memphis swore they thought she was about 4 years old...but I have my doubts. Needless to say, she better live a while because Paul has already made me promise we'd do things "His Way" (ie: no more dogs for a mandatory 6 year period) once Scarlett departs this Earth for a better place.

It just goes to show how people who did not grow up around pets are very, very different from those who did. They just don't get it. There is no hope for changing them - not even calling them a crusty curmudgeon seems to help. Tried it -doesn't work :). The fact that Paul and I have a 15-year age difference between us gives me the right on occasion to use this term :)). Hehehehe. I felt a teeny-weeny bit sorry for him when he had to clean litter boxes for 9 months during my pregnancy. Cursing that darn 'toxoplasmosis' under his breath as he filled leftover newspaper bags. Ah, the glamorous side of cat ownership that we all wish we could do without.

All kidding aside, I can definitely report that he is getting along fabulously with the new furry family member. His only complaint now - she has no idea how to play 'fetch'. We have 6 weeks to work through Patricia McConnell's "Family Friendly Dog Training" course (the former host of Calling All Pets on Wisconsin Public Radio/NPR)...and supposedly she will get with the program. We'll see!

Here are a few pics of Scarlett and the rest of our Memorial Day Weekend joy...

-Sarah

POW!

2010-05-22T09:33:00.004-05:00

*And, just like that...it was Mother's Day!

Hard to believe I have already enjoyed TWO very special Mother's Days as Russell's one-and-only. Last year, I was barely making it through the day on only a few hours of sleep...praying to the Lord above that my darling son would go longer than 3 hours between feedings...and squinting to see that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel that everyone kept promising. Not long after that - SCORE! - Russell started sleeping through the night. Well, it took a few weeks of "Baby Boot Camp" and serious work thanks to the Baby Whisperer book series. Paul and I owe our sanity and good looks (hey, beauty sleep people!) to Tracy Hogg, the original Baby Whisperer. Sadly...she is no longer on the Earth (passed away a few years ago from melanoma)...but I used to joke with Paul that while I was in Russell's room listening to him scream his adorable little head off, I imagined she was there in spirit cheering me on. She was right! We got through it...and ever since the 4 month mark, Russell has been a 12-hour-per-night sleeper. Down at 7pm, up at 7pm. Most days, he's down to one nap (around lunchtime) - but some weeks he just needs some extra rest. I'm thinking he's in the middle of a growth spurt...but this week, he needed 2 naps most days. Ok with me b/c it means he's well rested and ready to learn and play with Mama!

I do love my little Russell :). How best to describe his blossoming personality? Pensive, studious, cautious. Wary of strangers at first until he can figure out their intentions. Slight perfectionist...showing major concern if there happens to be a crumb or dot of milk on his hands, the table, the floor. Sweet and calm, not terribly cuddly unless he's tired. Very, very independent. Frustrated easily when things don't work the way he wants them to. Sound familiar? Yup...he's like a little mirror.

This year, Mother's Day was such a treat! Enjoyed a wonderful morning at church, followed by the most restful Sabbath of the year so far :). As a family, we're really trying to embrace the 7th day rest...this is much more of a challenge for me than it is for Paul or Russell. I have to really try to make the Sabbath more restful by getting housework done earlier in the week...and practice RESTING, for gosh sakes! I find comfort in being busy.

Here are a few pics from the weekend. Better late than never! The photo of Russell with the green Jello - his first experience with this marvelous food group. He absolutely refused to eat it, despite our pleas. Much more fun to squish and chase around the table :).

Thank Heaven For Little Boys - and Mother's Day!

-Sarah

Adventures in juicing...

2010-05-10T12:54:00.003-05:00

So...if what I read on www.GOOP.com this weekend is correct, drinking this magic potion will make me look like Gwyneth Paltrow. Or Pepper Potts from Iron Man. One step closer to fabulous, baby!

This green potion is actually delicious :). I decided to give the recipe a try, mainly because I've never used a juicer...and furthermore, I have never understood people's obsession with "juicing". Now I think I get it. SO fresh, so tasty and energizing...hard to believe this tiny glass contains almost an entire bunch of kale. Yes, you heard me right. Kale!

From the GOOP website - here's the recipe:

1 bunch of kale - stems removed
Juice from 1-2 small lemons
1-2 tbs honey (she uses agave nectar...I prefer honey)
1/2 C cold water

The result - surprisingly awesome. Lemony, sweet, grassy, refreshing. Like most leafy greens, kale provides lots of those good-for-you antioxidents...as well as calcium.

My only complaint is that our (well, Paul's) juicer takes forever to clean. It's worth it!

A Meager Harvest?

2010-05-08T19:18:00.006-05:00

So....a few days before the storm-of-a-lifetime, I proudly marched out to the garden to harvest our first veggies. Take a look at the photo. Cute radishes, eh? All four of them? You're looking at our ENTIRE CROP of radishes. I know, I shouldn't be so down about it...but I'm a little irked that I planted 4 units of the darn things and only ended up with four stinkin' radishes!

What gives?

I even diversified by planting two varieties, and it looks like the traditional ones worked best in our garden. No luck for the white radishes with red centers...maybe this Fall.

Maybe someone has some advice re: radishes? The majority of our seedlings matured wonderfully, but when I harvested them I discovered that they failed to produce an actual 'radish'. The leaves were beautiful, though. So sad...

We treasured all four of these little beauties. In fact, we enjoyed them sliced thinly on a bed of leafy green lettuce...also harvested from our little four-square garden :). The lettuce seeds kicked butt! They were Paul's pet project...and he is making sure to trim the plants before the weather becomes too hot for them.

After pulling the last of the under-producing radish plants, I decided to try out a few pea plant seeds. They sprouted a few days ago and look great so far. Our bush beans are going strong...the Black Krim heirloom tomatoes have tons of flowers...and the pumpkin and squash are huge. Still have a bunch of lettuce to trim...and then we'll start enjoying the spinach!

I feel very proud of our newbie farming endeavor :).

-Sarah

Water, Water Everywhere...

2010-05-06T09:21:00.006-05:00

What a weekend!

First off...let me say how sad I feel for the families on our military base displaced by the flooding last Saturday. In case you haven't heard...Tennessee experienced CRAZY storms last weekend, bringing a barrage of rain (over 12" in Memphis), a series of tornadoes, and monumental flooding. The rain came quickly to Millington, causing several tributaries to flood and the havoc that ensued was just devastating. About 95% of our base was flooded under several feet of water, including the enlisting housing areas to the south of the installation. A levee/wall built about 20 years ago after the last "great flood" in the area was breached by rushing waters in Big Creek River...and many families had to be rescued by boat. Pets left behind...treasured items...everything. Something about leaving behind pets hits a serious nerve with me, because I view cats and dogs as members of the family. Helpless members depending upon us to take care of them. Creatures who don't understand flooding or other emergencies. It makes me choke up just thinking about it...

By some freak chance, our small neighborhood of new homes was constructed on slightly higher ground at the far North corner of the base. Flooding came in a South-North pattern, and we were spared. Because I don't regularly check the base Facebook page, I had no idea the levee had even been breached until I woke up from an afternoon nap (not much else you can do when the power is out!) to see that our nearby park had turned into a lake.

In a panic, Paul and I decided we needed to head to Wal-Mart for supplies for Russell. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't take the storm warnings seriously a few days prior...and we had no emergency kit together. It wouldn't be that big of a deal, but Russell can't drink regular milk...and we were running low on Soymilk...so I started to freak out. By the time we headed back to the base, the main road in front of the gate was impassible. We weren't even sure if we could make it back home - and of course that sent me into another panic. Thankfully, we ventured north through streets we had never been on before to find an alternate route. By the time dusk fell, police officers drove through our neighborhood blasting a "mandatory evacuation" warning...and I immediately called the local Hampton Inn. Scored the last room, Praise God. Left the cats on the 2nd floor in our bedroom with lots of food and water and promises to rescue them if necessary (well, I did the promising...Paul's not much of a pet person :)).

By Monday evening, we received word that we could return to our homes. NO flooding in our neighborhood! About 50 families on nearby streets could return to the base. Sadly, a few hundred families whose homes flooded are still in temporary housing/hotels. A crisis center was established nearby, and all affected families have been ministered to by Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, the private housing partner, and lots and lots of volunteers. I feel a little helpless because we haven't helped anyone directly...but I did feel called to donate items as best we could (baby items in particular). As of today, families are now gaining access to their homes to either re-occupy or remove necessary items. Long-term housing solutions are in the works for many...and an incredible volunteer effort is underway. It's awesome to see how everyone is pulling together!

Here are a few photos we took the morning of the big storm....

As you can see, Elmo did a great job rallying the troops :).

Savor

2010-04-26T13:55:00.003-05:00

Long, luxurious showers

Extended nap time

Quiet cats curled in yoga poses in front of the fireplace

A perfectly steeped cup of Piccolo tea from L'Upicia

Kamakura during cherry blossom, plum, or hydrangea season

Arizona sunshine...breathes new life into cold, damp bones

Waking early to watch a meteor shower just because it's your husband's favorite adventure

Table for two in a bustling dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong,
eating enough for a table of six,
cherishing every steaming spoonful.

Ma Po Tofu.

Crowding around Yoko's kitchen table to share a family meal and an Asahi.

Sailors manning the rails as the ship pulls in from deployment.

Seeing Mt. Fuji clearly from the street in front of your earthquake-proof house.

DePalma's Penne Charmaine and a glass of Salice.

Home, wherever it may be for the moment.

A buttery bass line...raspy vocals.

Intoxicating cookbooks with few photos, forcing you to imagine the dishes one by one.

Evening, half light, exhausted child cradled in your arms, singing old church songs as lullabies.

Life, its memories and what-ifs...
and present, perfect realities.

Soup for the Soul

2010-04-23T13:05:00.004-05:00

With allergy season at its peak, we Melveys have been a sniffling, sneezing, and coughing bunch. The worst of the pollen seems to be over, thank goodness. The only downside to the wonderful season of Spring - that darn yellow stuff!

One night this week, I decided to make a healing soup for dinner. It was just "one of those days"...and Immune Booster Soup is the perfect antidote for a less-than-comfortable day. Shall I say it's a family tradition in our household? Why sure! When I'm in the throes of a horrible cold, headache, or even heartache, this soup is a lifesaver. If Paul is under the weather, all I have to hear is "PLEEEEEEEASE????", and the next thing I know I'm chopping shitake mushrooms and carrots.

I first came across this recipe in the December 2006 edition of "Yoga Journal". The recipe is so beloved...the magazine opens to the proper page every time. How's that for foodie love?

Try it on a cold day, a sad day, or whenever your immune system needs a swift kick in the pants!

Immune Booster Soup

4 cups mushroom or chicken broth
1 small onion, chopped
4-10 garlic cloves, to taste, crushed and chopped
1 carrot, grated
4-8 fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced
1-3 tablespoons grated ginger, to taste
1 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
*Optional: I often add a dash of soy sauce or tamari, plus a tablespoon of mirin. Feel free - it adds an extra element of Asian flavor that compliments the ginger and garlic.

Directions:

1. Bring the broth, onion, garlic, carrot, mushrooms and ginger to a slow boil.

2. Reduce the heat and simmer on low, covered, for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.

3. Remove from heat; add the lemon juice and parsley. Cover and steep for 5 minutes. Serve with crusty bread.

All I do is sit around and bake cakes.

2010-04-17T19:33:00.002-05:00

Kidding...just a twist on a line from the "boring kids" article I mentioned in the last post :).

Please don't judge...it's not that I find Russell to be boring, it's just the "mom stuff" that makes me feel like I'm having brain atrophy minute by minute. Funny story...a few months ago, I responded to one of those Delta notices concerning my unused miles and cashed some in for a subscription to The Economist. What, surprised?!? My favorite class in college was Global Economy...and for some strange reason, it's relaxing for me to sit down and pour over a brainy magazine. But - have you ever READ an edition of The Economist? Nowadays, it takes me about a month to get through the darn thing...and it comes every week!!! Anyway, this is how I try to resurrect my brain cells after a mind-numbing day of preparing finger food and changing diapers. Sorry Russell....one day you'll appreciate the fact that your Mommy exercised her brain when I'm whipping your butt in Scrabble. Just sayin'.

When I'm not trying to feed my brain, I'm in the kitchen :). Here's yet another success adapted from Gen's Guiltless Gourmet - my source for vegan recipes that kick butt. Made these on Easter Sunday, and they seemed to be a hit. Either that, or everyone kept their opinions to themselves and tried to be nice to me because it was Easter Sunday. All Russell says these days is "uh dah" and "dada", so maybe he was trying to tell me "these taste like cardboard" when I thought he was raving. Oh well.

VEGAN COCONUT CAKE

INGREDIENTS

3 cups Organic Flour

1 TBS Baking Powder

3/4 tsp Salt

1 1/3 cups Organic Cane Sugar

1/2 cup Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Margarine

1 TBS Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Coconut Extract

1 cup Soy Milk

1 cup low-fat Coconut Milk

1/2 cup fresh shredded Coconut

PREPARATION

In a mixing bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Sift three times.

In a separate large mixing bowl beat the margarine, cane sugar, vanilla and coconut extracts until fluffy. Add one half of the flour mixture and the soymilk to the margarine mixture and blend well. Add the remaining flour and coconut milk. Mix until combined. Beat on high speed for an additional 2 minutes. Fold in the fresh shredded coconut. Pour into cupcake tins lined with paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Depending on what shape pan or forms you use the baking time will differ: 20-25 minutes for a 9-inch round or individual forms. 35-40 minutes for a bundt or loaf pan. When done the top of the cake will spring back when touched or a toothpick inserted will come out clean.

COCONUT “BAKERY” FROSTING

Traditional frostings are loaded with cholesterol and hydrogenated fats from butter and shortening. Although mine is not a reduced calorie recipe, I have removed the dairy, the cholesterol and hydrogenated fats.

*Vegan/Vegetarian

*Cholesterol Free

INGREDIENTS

1 pkg Tofu Cream Cheese

1/4 cup non-hydrogenated Vegetable Margarine

1/4 cup non-hydrogenated Vegetable Shortening

3 cups Vegan Powdered Sugar (sifted)

1 tsp Coconut Extract

Fresh Shredded Coconut for Garnish.

NOTE: To make this a sugar free recipe you can use the sugar substitute of your choice.

PREPARATION

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese, margarine, shortening and coconut extract. Mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time until the desired sweetness has been reached.

I like to put the frosting in a pastry bag and pipe on to the cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with shredded coconut.

NOTES: You can also use low fat cream cheese (however the recipe will no longer be Vegan). Non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening is available in health food stores, read your labels carefully!

Ennui

2010-04-17T09:50:00.003-05:00

I have always been enthralled with an article published in London by Helen Kirwan-Taylor in 2006 entitled "Sorry, but my children bore me to death" (click HERE to view the article in its entirety).

The essay was so controversial, that it landed Ms. Kirwan-Taylor in the hot seat on the Oprah Winfrey Show...to discuss whether or not the public/Oprah-phytes viewed her as a "selfish Mom". This was before I had Russell, and I was definitely one of her loudest supporters. While the title of the article may seem shocking, I felt so strongly that she was correct. Child-centric parenting is not healthy. I saw it regularly on our Navy base in Yokosuka. It screams to you from the pages of magazines, from The Learning Channel, from every direction - that darn cult of mommyhood.

Paul and I swore off children. In fact, this was topic of conversation on our first date - and a joint agreement that attracted us to each other. No children. We wanted to be DINKs. Double income - no kids.

For whatever it's worth, the Big Man had other plans for us. I'd say it worked out in our favor, n'est ce pas?

Anyhoo...this article has always been in the back of my mind as a reality check. It's also serious validation for what I've felt all along - that it's possible to be an excellent parent while not succumbing to the pressures of attachment parenthood. I am acutely aware that Russell is not something we "created" - like a pet project of sorts. Also, Paul and I are both of the understanding that it is our responsibility to give him boundaries and not hover over his every move. We owe it to him to teach him independence. Like our Melvey version of "No Child Left Behind". As in..."No Child Left Behind Living At Home After 18 Years of Age". Seriously :).

So, back to this article about mothering being "boring". It Is. There are lots of very crucial things that other moms don't share with you before you join the club. For me, this is one of them. In the beginning, I thought there was something wrong with me - as in, I'm a horrible mother because I don't coo and gaa gaa and fuss over my baby's every movement. Puleez. There were times that I just couldn't WAIT for him to fall asleep so I could catch up on current events (ie: Drudge Report :). Don't get me wrong, I L-O-V-E my son with all of my heart. I'm just not the mothering type, per se. After 14 months, I finally understand that this doesn't make me a bad person or a horrible mother. I'm just different from a lot of moms in that respect. There are days that I SOOOO wish I could clone myself so I could go back to work and have normal, adult conversations that don't involve diapers or finger food. I would if I could.

Read the article if you have time. Yes, she's a rich mom. Yes, she lives in Notting Hill and has a nanny. So what. The underlying idea is one that I carry with me every day - that my child's future success does not depend upon whether I carry him in a sling, co-sleep, or do his homework for him. He likes his independent time as much as I crave mine, and it's better for us that way :)

How does your garden grow?

2010-04-15T12:40:00.002-05:00

And...like magic, we're farmers!! Real live veggies growing on our backyard...radishes, beans, pumpkin, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and a big beautiful geranium to top it all off. We're officially on week 3 of the Square Foot Gardening project, and so far so good. I am still so impressed that it took, like, NO time to put this garden together...and the best part...no digging! It's all on top of our grass, so we're technically not breaking any base housing rules by creating a new flower bed in the existing yard. Gotta love finding loopholes :).

We just returned from our trip to Arizona to visit Paul's parents for a few days. It was wonderful visiting with them - we don't get to see them enough :). Russell had a blast crawling all round Grandpa's pristine backyard - with grass that feels like carpet under your feet. The weather was all-around perfect. The actual trip itself was a doozy, though. We experienced our first trip to the ER with Russell (croup...*sigh*), and both grandparents caught a nasty stomach bug. Paul ended up with Russell's cold...and now I'm the only one not ill (I'm seriously knocking on the wooden table right about now). Illness is exhausting - taking care of sick people is even more exhausting. The light at the end of the tunnel is knowing that colds only last so long, and in a few days everything will be back to normal.

I have to give major kudos out the people at the Banner Del Webb hospital in Sun City West. We hardly had to wait to see the doctor, and get this - he even called us on our cell phone a few days later to make sure Russell was improving! Whaaaa? How's that for service?!?! Unfortunately, at the moment he called...we were sitting in the Phoenix airport at our gate watching Russell barf in his stroller. Seriously. I just wanted to get home and bathe in hand sanitizer.

Let me give you all some background here. Ever since I was young, I have had a serious phobia of vomiting. I'm not talking "fear"...I mean SERIOUS.PHOBIA. It all stems from one horrible incident when I was in kindergarten when a child sitting next to me in a car became sick and it happened to travel in my general direction. We were coming back from a field trip, and my teacher (who was driving at the time) had to stop the car to keep me from climbing out of the window. Anyway, the only person besides my husband who truly understands my phobia is Lacy Eichenberger. Lacy, if you're reading this...I'm sure you're laughing your butt off remembering that fateful night at your house way back when. I still have nightmares.

Anyway, the end result of my phobia is that I have panic attacks if anyone around me is ill. If strangers cough loudly in public places, my heart races. I suppose having a child in the house should serve as some sort of "immersion therapy"...but it's not working yet. Sadly...once Russell tossed his cookies at the airport, it took all of my emotional strength to even sit next to him on the airplane (yes, we're talking about my own child here) or even hold him until I was sure he wasn't going to do it again. Pathetic, really. Even thinking about it now is making my pulse race.

Sigh...on to happier things.

Spring is in full tilt in Millington. The next few weeks, we plan on driving out to the Memphis Farmer's Market for fresh greens...having a few picnics...and spending time outside.

Loving the warm weather :).

More photos soon of our blossoming garden.

Until then -

-Sarah

Soapbox

2010-04-02T11:03:00.002-05:00

Okay, my last post for today. I would be remiss if I didn't use this public forum to lambaste the judges of American Idol for how CRAPPY and uninspiring this season's top 10 have proven to be! Shame on you for choosing unwisely during "Hollywood Week".

That's all I have to say about that :)

2010-04-02T11:00:00.005-05:00

So sue me, I'm not a perfect Mom. Notice in this photo that my child has a re-usable grocery bag instead of a cutesy-wootsy Easter basket. Ooooops.

Welcome Spring?

2010-04-02T10:42:00.003-05:00

Feels like Summer around here! Not a complaint, just an observation :).

Last weekend, we enjoyed our first Easter Egg hunt with baby-chan at church...and it was a success! That is - if you consider pine mulch and rocks Easter booty instead of candy and eggs. Classic moment of the day...watching a 2 year old instantly burst into tears when the Easter bunny approached her stroller. Russell wasn't too concerned with the Easter Bunny (rather, Pastor N. in a crazy costume). Instead, he giggled and pulled his ears...giving us a "is this guy for real?" look. My son is the E*trade baby. Seriously. Watch out, or he'll try to sell you an annuity. And you know what we say about annuities in this household - JUST SAY NO, people.

Easter is just a few days away...then after that, we're making a quick trip out West to visit the in-laws. Grandma and Grandpa Melvey are really looking forward to our visit, because it has been almost 8 months since they last saw Russell. Maybe he'll be a real kiss-up and take his first steps in Arizona...

It's hard to believe we've been in Millington almost 5 months. We have 3 year orders...but it looks like we maaaaay (I say that ever so tentatively) be out of here earlier. If that's the case, I'm going to You Tube myself doing the Melvey happy dance :).

Until then...I'm not holding my breath! Must get out and enjoy this awesome weather and integrate myself a little more. This hermit lifestyle isn't very becoming!

-Sarah
A.k.A....Gardener extraordinaire. You should SEE our sprouts!!!! Week one and almost all of the seeds in our garden have popped out. I can almost taste the summer tomatoes. Tomato sauce. Tomato sandwiches. Tomato everything.

Square Foot Gardening Newbies

2010-03-27T09:14:00.002-05:00

The Garden is in!

As of yesterday afternoon, we are "Square Foot Gardening Newbies". A year or so ago, Paul and I stumbled across an article in the Daily Press - Hampton Roads' daily newspaper - about this magical technique championed by gardener Mel Bartholomew (www.squarefootgardening.com). The idea....that anyone with a sunny, 4'x4' space can grow just about anything using a gardening-by-the-square-foot approach. The 4x4 size allows the grower to tend to plantings with ease...no stepping on the soil or walking through rows of crops. Each square foot contains a different crop - from 1-16 seedlings depending upon the size of the selected plants (ex: 1 pumpkin/ft vs. 16 spinach/ft). Once a square foot is harvested, another plant is added to maintain continual growth. The MOST important factor here is the planting mix: the author suggests "Mel's Mix", which contains 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss. The mix is self-fertilizing! SO....no need to add Miracle Grow or any other fertilizer during the growing season. Simply add extra compost when planting new seeds.

I am so very excited about our first vegetable garden venture! We chose radishes (two varieties), bush beans, yellow squash, black krim tomatoes (heirloom variety), leaf lettuce, and spinach. Plus...a freakishly blue variety of pumpkin - Blue Moon :). Once the squash and pumpkin start to take off, they will be supported vertically with a trellis. We may use throwback ideas from the Colonial Williamsburg gardeners...making our own trellis with kindling wood. Sounds novel now, but we'll see what the summer brings :).

Here are a few pics from our adventure yesterday! The hardest part was scavenging all of the planting mix elements! Had to order a 4 cu. ft. bag of vermiculite online...purchase compost at Whole Foods...and make a couple of trips to Lowe's for non-treated wood and hardware. Paul's cordless drill decided to die at the start of the project, so we resorted to hammer/nail instead. Russell supervised. A fun time was had by all!

-Sarah

To Grandmother's House We Go!

2010-03-15T12:58:00.002-05:00

Spring...where are you?

You gave us a preview last week, though it wasn't long enough :(. We Melveys are SO looking forward to warmer weather!

As I type this, I am in full-on procrastination mode. Must. Get. Packing. We're off tomorrow bright and early for a 6.5 hr drive to Atlanta to spend a few days with my parents. Paul has to go to Athens for work...so Russell and I will hang with Gigi and Poppy in Alpharetta. I really need to start organizing my things for the trip - I just can't muster the energy to actually do it! Laundry, cleaning, it can all wait. Procrastination rules.

I'm also listening to Russell sputter and cough as he tries to take a nap upstairs. Poor little man has his 2nd cold of the season. Thankfully, this one is far better than the first go-round...but it just breaks my heart to hear him whimper when his hacking wakes him up. Perfect timing - right before our trip! Argh.

When we return from Atlanta, I'm jumping full force into "Square Foot Gardening" mode. What is square foot gardening, you may ask? Check out my new favorite website: www.squarefootgardening.com . We will build a 4x4 box...add a grid overlay dividing it into 16 1'x1' squares...and plant 16 different types of veggies. Using some great info from the University of Tennessee Extension Service website, we whittled the seed list down - to include the usual suspects (beans, squash, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers) plus a few interesting veggies to make for a memorable garden. I'll document our progress here for anyone interested! The idea behind "Square Foot Gardening" is that anyone can do it - whether you live in an apartment or house - using a grid format. For those who don't have a patio or yard...the website offers fantastic ideas for vertical gardening and table-top gardening.

OK - my suitcase is calling. That, and the laundry. Must get moving!

-Sarah

Mom, Metal, and More

2010-03-05T09:43:00.003-06:00

This past weekend, we flew my Mom to Memphis so we could: a) spend quality time together, and b) have the best babysitter in the world for our night out at the Supply Corps Birthday Dinner @ Equestria in Germantown. I know, I know....we should find someone closer and stop relying on family to bail us out when we have a special event to attend! BUT - in our defense, this is only the 2nd time in the past year that we've called in a special favor to "Gigi". I'm sure she hated it! Hahaha.

Our night out was just a fraction of our enjoyable weekend together. The remainder was spent showing Gigi around town. Of ALL the places we could have explored in this "3rd most miserable city to live in in America" (thank you, Forbes magazine for downloading the contents of my unspoken mind)...we ventured out to the National Ornamental Metal Museum south of town.

WHY? You might ask...
...I agreed to this for purely selfish reasons. Let's just say that my dear husband has suggested the Ornamental Metal Museum every single weekend since we moved here. I have no idea why. Maybe because it just sounds fun when he says it? It sounds fairly tortuous to me. After hearing about it for weeks, I decided that enough was enough. Forget Beale Street, Civil Rights Museum, or even the darn mall...we're going to the Metal Museum so I don't have to hear about it any more! (I love you, Paul :))

I was pleasantly surprised. The museum is located on a beautiful bluff overlooking the Big Muddy...and the buildings once housed a Merchant Marine hospital and Reserve Center. We toured a temporary exhibit of local metal workers' jewelry and sculpture...and then spent a few minutes in the blacksmith's shop watching a (townie) blacksmith work on a custom wrought iron banister for a customer's new home.

Thanks to a surprise snow storm in Atlanta, my Mom was able to stay an extra night :). We watched American Idol...played "Bananagrams" (my new favorite game), and enjoyed a little play time with Russell. I was sad to drop her off at the airport...but I'll be in Atlanta in a couple of weeks to spend a long weekend while Paul attends to some business in Athens at the Supply Corps School. Russell will then be spoiled by both Gigi AND Poppy!

-Sarah

Rose-colored glasses

2010-02-22T10:17:00.003-06:00

Not to complain, but I'm suffering from a bit of culture shock since moving to Millington at the beginning of November.

I'm really trying to make the most of it! After all, it's only a few years. A few years?? A few years.

A few could turn into a couple...and that would be darn right OK with me :).

To keep the culture shock from rocking my innermost being and sucking the life out of me (kidding), my joke as of late is that I have a special pair of imaginary glasses that I put on before leaving our neighborhood/base. Instead of bleak surroundings, they show me beautiful landscapes and houses...nothing but happiness and lollipops. Maybe I got the idea from watching too many episodes of "Medium" lately...and one particular show in which Allison, the main character can see secret numbers on people's foreheads while wearing a special pair of retro sunglasses.

Thank goodness for imagination.

Living here these past couple of months has taught me one very important lesson...I have been very spoiled by the fact that I have always lived in affluent, "attractive" towns. This is so far separated from my hometown of Alpharetta, GA...with its country clubs and gated communities. I'm struggling with exactly how I'm supposed to bloom-where-planted.

My resolution....to turn this discomfort into action. Volunteer? Involve myself with church outreach? We'll see what the future brings...

Happy Birthday, Baby-chan!

2010-02-22T09:46:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the world of toddlerhood, Russell!

This post is WAY overdue - celebrating the 1st birthday of our little guy! Almost 2 weeks ago, we celebrated his big day in style...with lots of presents (thanks to our loving extended family!) and, of course, the obligatory cupcakes. His first dessert experience came courtesy of Tyler Florence - and a recipe I saw him make on "The View" several months back. "Red Velvet Cupcakes" - with the signature red color "supposedly" coming from the secret healthy ingredient...beets. WE LOVE BEETS in this household. LOVE LOVE LOVE them.

I put "supposed" in quotes because I sadly discovered a major flaw in this recipe....after baking the cupcakes, the deliciously red batter turns a sad shade of brown. His finished product on TV looked so red! Now I know he must have included a TBS or two of red food coloring. Next time I'll add a bit...a few tablespoons are much better than an entire bottle, which I've heard some people put into red velvet cake. That's a whole lotta' nasty red dye.

The other twist on the recipe was converting it to vegan - no eggs, no milk. Soy milk seems to do the trick every time...and my favorite egg substitute for cakes:

1 egg = 1-2TBS lukewarm water + 1 packet unflavored gelatin

It's amazing how this works!

Anyhoo....here's the recipe (*copied from THE VIEW's website):

Red Velvet Beet Cake

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, to grease baking pans
1 1/4 cups finely chopped red beets
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
a pinch of kosher salt

2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
3/4 cups dark brown sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Begin by lightly greasing tins with butter (oven proof ramekins or cocotte dishes work well). Peel beets and cut into pieces so they can fit comfortably in a food processor.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. In a separate bowl, mix molasses, eggs, buttermilk, oil and sugar together. Now mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients and then fold in the processed beets.

Place cake tins on a roasting tray. Divide batter amongst tins and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until they have puffed up and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool and then frost with cream cheese frosting, layering the cakes on top of each other.

I'm melting...melting...

2010-02-02T10:55:00.005-06:00

That's what I imagine our winter wonderland is saying right now...as the 24 hours-worth of sleet and snow are turning into liquid. Friday and Saturday, the Melveys hibernated through Ice Storm 2010...staying warm inside our house, drinking hot tea, and getting on each other's nerves :). Kidding. I only say that because I probably got on everyone's nerves...won't elaborate, but let's just chalk it up to crashing hormones.

Factoid #728 that no one warns you about before having a child: weaning bites. I'm not emotional over it, in fact I'm SO ready for this to be over with. It's just that I wasn't prepared for the intense PMS-to-the-millionth-degree feeling I've been experiencing lately. I guess it's just my body's way of getting back to normal, I just WISH it would hurry up and fix itself, darnit...before my husband and child decide to pack up the wagon and do the skedaddle (had to borrow a line from "The Glass Castle" for that one).

I'm just sayin. No one prepares you for these things beforehand. If they did, we'd have a low birthrate crisis on our hands.

Amidst the insanity, we managed to have fun in our own little icecapade after the storm moved through. Here are some pics! We decided to walk over to the Navy Exchange for the boys' haircuts...Russell's 1st professional cut. When talking about the NEX Barber Shop, "professional" is loosely used. This time, I was pleasantly surprised :). We picked a winner, as you can see!

Got to run...time to catch the crazy train.

Sarah

I think the official term is "Chillax'in"

2010-01-27T14:01:00.004-06:00

I LOVE this photo of baby-chan. Taken on Christmas morning...legs propped up, examining other people's presents, and loving life.

When we run errands, he sits like this in his stroller...with one or both feet in what is supposed to be the snack tray. Good to know he feels so comfortable! Unlike his mom...who tends to be uptight no matter the environment (I know, I know. Something I need to work on.)

Just going through my photos from the holidays...finally...and this one made me chuckle.

Our week was relatively calm. Russell started classes at "The Little Gym" and so far, so good :). The class size is small...and the gym is HUGE...so lots of opportunity to run and play with other kids. He loves the parachute, bubble machine, and hanging from the parallel bars. Twice now, his Dad has made a point to remind him - "you may be going to gymnastics class, but you may not become a gymnast". What the heck is that supposed to mean? Maybe Paul is still a little touchy because someone referred to Russell as a girl last week. It didn't help that the only blanket I could find to put in his stroller just HAPPENED to be pink with flowers. *Oops.

I will try to remember to charge our camera before next week's class. Grandparents need photos of little man on the bars!

As for me...I've been sentimental lately about Russell's upcoming birthday. Seems like just yesterday I was a week overdue, cranky, and obsessively doing Sudoku puzzles in preparation for his arrival. Oh, did I remember CRANKY? I put PMS to shame. Still feel sorry for my Mom that she had to endure my crankiness. Sorry Mom - LOVE ya :). Paul was on the other side of the world - Antarctica - so my Mom came to town to help out. He didn't miss much....just a lot of crankiness!!!

One year later - and I have decided I need some new hobbies. Pondering...will get back to you on that.

Sarah

WeeLicious

2010-01-19T14:36:00.002-06:00

SO - this weekend, I stumbled upon what could easily become my newest favorite website.

WEELICIOUS is a fantastically eclectic mix of recipes for baby, toddler, and the whole family alike. I LOVE the fact that she uses international ingredients...and many of the recipes bring me back to our time in Japan (aaaaaah, food memories!).

I only wish I had found this site when I first started making baby purees! Her "Roasted Pear and Banana" recipe looks divine.

-Sarah

Weekend Warriors

2010-01-19T14:21:00.004-06:00

What a niiiiiiiiiice 3-day weekend we just had! About halfway through church on Sunday, I remembered that Paul didn't have to work on Monday! Awesome :)

In addition to the extra family day together, the weather was perfect. Like an early Spring present! Temps in the 60s made for perfect walking weather. Thank goodness, because after Arctic Blast 2010 we experienced a couple of weeks ago, I was SO ready to get outside and move. We have a huge park behind our neighborhood, complete with a walking track, open field, and several playgrounds. Somehow, Paul convinced me it was OK to send Russell down the slide...and I totally wish I had had my camera on hand b/c the baby was laughing hysterically! He loved it.

On Sunday, we officially became new members at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Memphis. We were sad to say "goodbye" to our church in Williamsburg, VA...but after some soul searching, we decided to leave the ELCA for now and join a Missouri Synod congregation. Don't want to get into the details here - or get on my soapbox, for that matter - but basically it boils down to the fact that we totally disagree with the recent ELCA vote...and we felt we had better put our money where our mouth is, so to speak, and make a change. Looking forward to getting involved in our new church community...and even enrolling Russell in preschool in a year or so :).

Here is a photo of Russell's newest show-and-tell...his shoes!

CIAO :)

Sarah

Mindfulness

2010-01-14T09:52:00.006-06:00

I subscribe to an email newsletter from GOOP - a website created by Gwyneth Paltrow sharing a random collection of recipes, travel tips, book lists, etc. "Nourish the Inner Aspect" is her catch-phrase...and this week's newsletter calls to mind this theme with a commentary on meditation.

Like many people, I usually start the new year with a course list of resolutions. This year, I have decided that I'm in desperate need of time management skills! But beneath my struggle to find time to tick off everything on my "to-do" list is a stagnant prayer life crying out for resurrection, so to speak. I resolve to focus a few minutes each day, at a minimum, to silent meditation/prayer as a way to 'nourish the inner aspect', whatever that means :).

Click here to read this week's GOOP newsletter on mediation.

The second essay in this newsletter speaks to me in many ways. Even though the writer talks about Eastern meditation philosophy, I can directly relate these concepts to my own Christian faith and Jesus' commands to pray for our friends, enemies, and the entire world. Here's the mediation method in a nutshell:

The method is simple: sit down in a quiet, comfortable spot, either on the floor or in a chair. Take a few slow breaths, inhaling and exhaling calmly and smoothly. Then, begin repeating the following formula to yourself:

May I be happy.
May I be free from fear.
May I be free from sorrow.
May I be free from suffering.

Repeat this three times. Then, repeat the same, replacing the ‘I’ with the name of someone you love or who is dear to you. Next, use the name of someone you feel is an enemy, or someone you are having difficulty with, then someone who has the same feelings of enmity towards you. Lastly, extend the meditation towards all beings, and the whole world (Stern, Eddie. GOOP: DO Mediation. 2010).

I have a sinking feeling that the key to my time management dilemma is not, in fact, having more time to get things done...but calling on God through prayer to free my mind of unnecessary clutter so I can move about my day in peace. Mental clutter for me is negative thoughts that creep in when I'm feeling less than confident as a wife, mother, Christian. I need to check in with God daily and pray for healing - for myself, my enemies, and the entire world at large.

So - while I spend a few moments each day reconnecting...take time to check out GOOP. Just keep in mind that celebrities live in a completely different reality than most...and her travel/restaurant recommendations are WAY out of consideration for this family on a Navy budget :).

I DO, however, highly suggest her recipe for roasted chicken with potatoes!

Sarah

Christmas 2009 - Graceland and Santa

2010-01-08T19:24:00.002-06:00

Dairy-Free Cake Recipe

2010-01-08T14:54:00.002-06:00

Are we Kosher? Vegan? I don't know what to call it, but it sure is a hoot looking through hippie-esque websites for milk-free recipes to calm my insane sweet tooth. Good thing Russell has no idea what he's missing out on - the wonders of dairy!

Here's an awesome recipe from Gen's Guiltless Gourmet, an interesting watch on PBS. The host is so treacly that you just want to casually set her apron on fire. Oops, did I say that? Anyway, it's worse than Sandra Lee, Ms. Matchy-Matchy.

Again, did I just say that? So much for my New Year's resolution.

*Vegan
*Egg Free
*Dairy Free
*Reduced Fat and Cholesterol

Note: if you are allergic to soy then you can substitute almond or rice milk.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup non-hydrogenated Vegetable Margarine (room temperature)
1-1/3 cups Organic Cane Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
3 cups Organic Unbleached Flour
1TBS Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
2 cups Soymilk

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl beat the margarine, vanilla and cane sugar until fluffy.

In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Sift three times.

Add one half of the flour mixture and half of the soymilk to the margarine mixture and blend well. Add the remaining flour and soymilk. Blend at medium speed for about 2 minute.

Pour into a prepared cake pan or one that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Remove the cake from the oven and let cool.

...And the cow says "mooooo"

2010-01-08T14:29:00.003-06:00

As of two weeks ago, we are officially a cow's milk-free family! Well...just Aka-chan (my Japanese pet name for Russell) and I are avoiding milk/cheese for now - at least until he's totally done nursing.

During his early months, R showed a few signs of milk allergy....raging red blotches on his face and around his mouth after having the occasional bottle of formula. Once, he broke out after my Dad gave him a sloppy kiss after drinking a yogurt smoothie. No life-threatening reactions...but this worrisome mom was...well, just plain worried nonetheless. I brought it up with his pediatrician (I would insert a snotty remark about military doctors here, but I'll refrain because my main New Year's resolution is to be less judgmental)...and the DR didn't see an issue. I specifically asked if I should limit dairy in my own diet b/c of breastfeeding, and two doctors emphatically said "NO". Well...right before we left Williamsburg, Paul and I were thrilled when the DR asked to do a blood test to confirm milk allergy. We were shocked when it came back positive for milk...peanut and egg. Whaaa? He hadn't even eaten eggs or peanuts!

We finally got our referral to a civilian pediatric allergist in Germantown. A darn fine one, if you ask me. His first questions to me:

"Are you breastfeeding?"

"Yes".

"Are you eating dairy?"

"Yes".

"Well, then your child is exposed to dairy."

Seriously, military doctors. Do your research. I am so peeved that I didn't go with my gut instinct on this one, because I just KNEW he was having daily reactions to my coffee creamer, grilled cheese sandwiches, and ice cream. I should have known that's why his nose was so runny all of the time. Oh, and the peanut/egg thing? Just a fluke reaction to, AHEM, the peanuts and egg in my own diet. Not a small enough reaction to warrant concern. We'll just keep an eye on things as his diet expands.

After a simple scratch test, the DR confirmed the milk allergy. He's fairly reactive...so we are now avoiding all milk/whey/casein ingredients in foods. The good news - most children outgrow the allergy by 2-3 years of age, so we'll come back next year for a retest. We are now the proud carriers of an Epi-pen, JR. Oh, and Russell needs his own instruction manual if we leave him with a babysitter :). The FUNNIEST thing the allergist told us on our way out of his office, "Beware of Grandparents". As in - grandparents have a bad reputation of ignoring parents' warnings of food allergies...like it's no big deal.

SO....Poppy, Gigi, Grandma, and Grandpa....we're keeping an eye on you :)).

Catching Up...

2009-12-30T14:16:00.004-06:00

Earth to Sarah...

OH - right, I'm here. A few months ago, I would have said "just barely" - but life is feeling much more balanced these days.

For anyone wondering - YES, we pulled-off the remainder of our summer/fall travels without a hitch! That includes one fantastic return trip to Yokosuka, Japan (Russell had to meet his extended "family" - the Hironakas), a post-Thanksgiving trek to Key West, and a permanent move to Millington TN. This photo was taken outside of the Hakata View Hotel in Nagano Prefecture...Yoko, Miho, Haruka, Haruto, and yours truly. Many happy memories for me - but sad that Russell will have to relive them through photos! He was a trooper...sleeping the majority of the 13 hours home on the airplane, much to my delight. We LOVED using the Kidco "Pea Pod" - his sleep tent - for the trip. Not much room to spare in Yoko's teeny-tiny apartment (maybe 400 square feet with 4 adults and 2 babies?). As much as we enjoyed the trip, we were both glad to be back home.

Not to skip over the last couple of months like they never happened...but to keep a long story short...fast-forward to January 2010 and our new home in Millington, TN. Hubby's back to work after 50 days of leave (I feel guilty even writing this! let's just say he hasn't taken leave at all the past 4 years...and that includes paternity leave. So there....he deserved it.) R and I are getting into our new routine.

More to come as we branch out and explore the area.

Hoping to get back into the "blogging" swing of things because it's a great outlet for my whirly-twirly brain.

Until then...ciao!

Greece & Turkey

2009-10-02T12:16:00.006-05:00

Ahhhh...the San Marco Hotel in Mykonos, Greece - what paradise!

After a whirlwind 12 hour flight from Newport News, VA...through Atlanta (meeting my Mom), and on to Athens...Russell and I arrived jet-lagged and ecstatic about our 1 1/2 week Greek odyssey!! Baby was PERFECT...and I meant PERFECT on the flight over. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. The only thing I would have changed...we requested a bassinet/bulkhead seat, and the biggest problem with it was that EVERYONE wanted to talk to Russell (unfortunately, this included nap time). Also, the bassinet was right under the ginormous TV screen, so he was completely wired by the time we arrived in Athens. My recommendation here - double-check the size/type of plane before choosing a bassinet seat, making sure you're not going to be in front of a huge screen. Many planes have smaller screens or personal screens at each seat...this would be preferable. I was also overstimulated by having a 4x4 screen 12 inches in front of my face. Can't even imagine how Russell felt!

LOUIS CRUISES/Mykonos: The next day, we boarded Louis Cruise Lines' Aquamarine for a 1/2 day voyage to Mykonos...where we stayed for 4 days/3 nights at the WONDERFUL San Marco Hotel (note photo above!). Lena, Omar, and Stefano - world's most attentive hotel staff - made our stay unforgettable! As we quickly learned...Greeks love children. Russell was a celebrity! Paparazzi were EVERYWHERE! Mykonos was quaint...filled with twisting, turning alley ways and the Cycladian white-on-cerulean architecture. Mom made a day trip to Delos, which is an uninhabited island filled with excavated ruins of temples, houses, and other mystical sights affiliated with the cult of Apollo. Said to be his birthplace, the island is very auspicious. Unfortunately, I had to pass on this excursion b/c it was just too difficult to hike around with Russell. Didn't want to trip, fall, or be dangerous in any way :). Not the place to end up in a hospital!!

LOUIS CRUISES/Patmos; Kusadasi, Turkey; Rhodes; Crete; Santorini: After our relaxing stay in Mykonos, we boarded the Aquamarine again for a 4 night cruise to several ports of call in Greece and Turkey. My overall opinion of Louis Cruises...Food: D, Service: A, itinerary: A+. Really, the only downside for me was the quality of the food...but then again, I think about food all of the time (or so I've been told!). The itinerary was very fast-paced, especially for my Mom who signed up for shore excursions in nearly every port. Most days, we stopped at one locale from 7AM-11:30AM...then another from 4/5:00PM-9PM. Evenings were dicey for Russell and me, mainly because of the fact that he goes to bed regularly at 7pm. In both Patmos and Santorini, I chose not to take him out & about in the evening. Instead...we did extensive walking tours of Rhodes, Kusadasi, and Heraklion...and I was SO proud of the fact that I was able to see quite a bit while pushing the stroller. Poor stroller. It is seriously on its last leg....or wheel, I should say.

SANTORINI - WORD TO THE WISE: IF your cruise ship makes a port visit to Santorini, BEWARE of the insanely chaotic cable car lines!! Our ship arrived at the same time as 3 others, and everyone made a beeline to the cable cars (one of two ways to get to the top of Santorini). Mom, Russell, and I braved these lines for a few minutes...until the cigarette smoke, pushing, and pushy people got the best of us. The other option was to ride a donkey to Fira, at the top of the cliffs...another very smelly option and impossible with Russell. We threw in the towel and decided to return to the ship to pack for the next day's departure. GOOD idea! While I'm disappointed I wasn't able to see the sunset from atop Fira, I'm looking forward to sharing that experience with Paul when we visit Greece together (some day soon, I hope!).

ONE BAG PACKING: By golly, I was able to survive my 1 1/2 week trip to Greece living out of one carry-on-sized bag!!! I have to admit, though....by the end of the trip, I had about one clean shirt to wear, and the entire laundry bag of clothes was VERY, very baby-smelling. Not pleasant. SO tired of hand washing clothes in the sink...especially my knits, which ended up disfigured and frumpy looking. Even had to buy an outfit for Russell in Turkey :). Well, I didn't HAVE to, it was just adorable :). Attempting the one-bag method again next week when I head to Japan - though this time, I'm staying at a friend's house, so I'll be able to do laundry on demand. Simple pleasures!!

Seems like I just returned from Greece...now I'm off to Yokosuka, Japan! THEN - two weeks after returning - we're moving to Memphis :). Lots going on these days! Lovin' it...

Here are our pics from the Greece trip.

Ciao!

Summer Vacation

2009-08-12T07:07:00.004-05:00

Funny picture, eh? This child's meltdown reminds me of my own angelic son yesterday on AirTran Flight 222 from Atlanta to Newport News. Yes, I was the proverbial "lady with a screaming baby". Despite feeding him during takeoff to help his ears adjust to the pressure change, Russell screamed in discomfort for the first and last 20 minutes of the 1 1/2 hour flight. My poor seat neighbors! They were both very understanding when I apologized profusely...but I know inside they were cringing. Ahhhh....such is life. Poor Russell :(.

We returned yesterday evening from a wonderful weekend visiting my parents in Atlanta. It's always nice to visit my "hometown" (whatever that means now that I'm married to the Navy!)...though each time I return, I find Atlanta just way too large. As the years go by...I am increasingly drawn to small-town life. Williamsburg is even bordering on too big for my taste. So, I suppose that means I'm becoming more and more boring. Debatable.

My parents are now fostering a fluffy Maine coon kitty named "Faith" - my brother's pet. A few weeks ago, he took a new job in Texas...and it was just too difficult to move with a cat given his housing arrangements. Along with their Shih-tzu "Happi"...Russell was amazed by all of the animal activity! I'm sure in his baby mind, the two critters were just animated stuffed-animals. Anyway, it made for a few interesting moments!

Visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden's "Moore in America" exhibition on Sunday after church. A little far-out for me (again, I am starting to feel like I'm officially the most boring person in the universe)...given the fact that Henry Moore's sculptures are abstract and surreal (will someone please explain the difference?!?) and make me feel slightly uncomfortable. My brain just doesn't do surreal. It was like..."Look at the pretty flowers.....EEEGADS, what the heck is that sculpture?!". Sorry to offend the surreal artists out there. Give me realism and impressionism anytime...I'd much rather look at art and be able to discern what it is in one glance, instead of twisting my brain into a knot. On the other hand...I thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the garden. It is always inspiring and serene to walk through such a beautiful garden setting.

With two trips down, and three more to go...my One Bag packing has been a success! It was awesome not having to check a suitcase for either of the trips...something I hope to accomplish for our next BIG trip to Greece in September. May have to check the bag on the return leg of the trip, after doing lots of shopping. May decide to ship items home instead (hello, Greek olive oil!).

Other updates.........I finally started making time in my crazy schedule for a summer reading list. Last week, I finished White Oleander, by Janet Fitch. Moving on to A Live Coal in the Sea, by Madeleine L'Engle. White Oleander is very different from most stories I typically enjoy - focusing on a young woman's experience within the foster care system, after her mother is sent to prison for murdering her boyfriend in a fit of jealousy. Though each new foster home brings its own set of challenges and experiences for the main character, Astrid...I felt that this book was mostly about the ugliness of addiction and withdrawal...as Astrid sorts through her confusing and tumultuous relationship with her mother, to whom she is inevitably addicted. I was disappointed with the ending to this story...but again, being the "most boring person in the universe", I suppose I wasn't open-minded enough :).

Off to enjoy another week in the Melvey household! Paul returns this evening from Germany (with our new cuckoo clock, no less!)...so I have a few things to accomplish before the end of the day.

Until next time....

Ciao!

Onward, ho!

2009-08-03T09:04:00.003-05:00

Our son is growing up...
...and I can't be happier for him!

When I go into his room in the morning and peek into his crib to discover that he sprouted new tufts of hair overnight...I do a little happy dance.

When I see the white tops of two teeth painfully pushing their way out of his little gums...I smile to myself.

When he opens his mouth like a little bird begging for more pureed sweet potatoes...I am filled with love and expectation.

I write this because lately, it seems, I keep hearing comments from people like "wouldn't it be wonderful if he could stay 6 months old forever" or "just wait until he's walking...you'll wish he would remain a stationary lump-of-a-newborn instead". Or - my favorite - "why are you giving him solid food...he's just going to GROW UP for gosh sakes?".

That's right, I want him to grow up. I don't want him to remain an infant forever. Am I strange for feeling this way??

Russell is in the middle of a huge growth spurt - physically and intellectually. He hits the six-month mark tomorrow, and he already measures 19 1/2 lbs...27" long...with two teeth eager to bite into my fingers and new solid foods. His once-bald head is filled with soft auburn hair (I keep praying that he doesn't end up with my coarse mess of dark brown Brillo). He is rolling everywhere his little body will take him, even making his first attempts at scooting. Go, Russell, GO!

All of this growth and development - and not a single, wistful moment of sadness from his parents. We are, after all, his personal cheering squad. The way I see it, God has HUGE plans for all of us - Russell included. As parents, Paul and I are tasked with nourishing him (physically, emotionally, and intellectually)...giving him boundaries and discipline to keep him safe...and teaching him about his Christian faith. Something would be wrong if we wanted to keep him small forever...as if we were getting in the way of his finding God's path for his life. We want to cheer him toward his calling...and unfortunately, he needs to be able to walk and eat solid food to make it in the mission field!

I know, I know...I'm lost in a philosophical (or mothering hormone-induced) cloud.

This was also brought on by our little nest of house finches perched outside of our front door. Last week, I reported four new babies screaming every 15 minutes for food. As of this morning...all four are gone. We watched with excitement this week as - one by one - each bird disappeared from the nest. Off to test their wings! The runt of the four remained alone for the last day, until sometime between breakfast and lunchtime...when he headed off for the wild blue yonder.

Are the new bird parents sad? Mourning the empty nest and the fact that their babies have grown into mature birds? Instead of a 9-month pregnancy and 18 months of child-rearing...this house finch mother sat on her eggs for two weeks, and the baby birds remained in the nest for a mere two weeks after hatching. One month - birth to flight - and I don't see her shedding any tears!

Instead, this makes me treasure the 18 years I have to look forward to...with Russell growing and developing daily...in the safety of our home.

So, keep it up kiddo! Don't let us hold you back. Keep enjoying that butternut squash.

The Birds and the Bees

2009-07-26T13:17:00.002-05:00

We returned home from our trip to four new baby house finches in the nest outside of our front door. Such a sweet sight, especially after watching the mom sit on the nest patiently for 3 weeks. The last nest blew away in a strong thunderstorm a month or so ago...so we had our doubts. I have no idea why any bird would want to build a teeny nest on an overhang just millimeters from the edge...sit on it for three weeks...and pray that it doesn't fall off in a stiff breeze. It's amazing the babies made it to this point!

I like to refer to this picture as "FEED ME, WOMAN!". Reminds me of Russell's earlier days...

The funny thing is, Papa Bird has been doing most of the feeding :). A sight to see!

Mission: Accomplished!

2009-07-26T12:45:00.002-05:00

We survived our "One Bag" challenge -- for this trip, at least! Minimalists that we are, Russell and I were able to last one week in Fargo using only one carry-on-sized backpack :). Paul had his own - for his extensive wardrobe, of course (which includes one pair of khaki shorts and a gazillion golf shirts...guys have it so easy).

Our trip was a whirlwind tour of Fargo, ND - Paul's hometown. Russell met his Grandma and Grandpa Melvey for the first time (we jokingly referred to them as the "computer people", since Russell has only seen them on Skype thus far!). Also, he spent time with his aunts, uncles, and cousins - even the "fur" variety (Marco!). Paul's best friends live in town, so no visit is complete without a BBQ with the Duras and Brooks. Good times, for sure (or is it 'you betcha'?).

This southern girl was WAY out of her element in the wild Mid-West. My first dose of reality...I tried to order a sweet tea at Grandpa Glenn's birthday luncheon and was met with a quizzical..."Hmmmm...okay, I'll bring you the box of tea so you can select a flavor". No, not hot tea...sweet tea. Never mind, unsweetened is fine...I'll just add sugar at the table. Unsweetened tea = sacrilege.

I'm sure I confused many with my absent-minded additions of "y'all" or "all y'all".

Seriously, though...I find the people in Paul's home state to be extremely welcoming, friendly, and sincere - more so than Southerners who can be faux-sincere, as I like to say. There is a genuine care for others that makes any out-of-towner feel like just another part of the crowd! Now, if you just didn't have -40* temps in the winter I might even consider relocating.....though my husband might not agree! When he retires from the Navy, there's no way we'll end up in an area with more than 2" of snow per year. Sorry, Fargo.

Here are a few photos from our trip. Please don't fret...I didn't let Russell drink my HUGE beer at Mexican Village...he prefers stout, anyway. Also...the two pics of him in tears were taken right after he saw his cousin Blake. Overwhelmed with love, I say!

In case you all are wondering...they really do talk that way in Fargo. There is even a life-sized wood carving of Marge at the Fargo Theater.

Seriously.

With that said, I'd go back any time - especially to see our friends and family, who remind me of the most important things in life :).

One Bag: The Challenge

2009-07-15T08:35:00.003-05:00

A month or so ago, I had an all-out epiphany that morphed into a personal challenge. The last of our suitcases (purchased while living in Japan...on a brief trip to Osan, Korea...from a mama-san and papa-san desperately willing to bargain) bit the dust, thanks to an overzealous luggage carousel. Paul and I were shopping online for luggage, and we couldn't come to an agreement on quantity. I mean, we have a BABY now (this was my opinion!). Russell has stuff! Lots of stuff!! We definitely need to invest in an entire set of luggage, otherwise our trips will not be a success. I was appalled when the Hubs showed me the suitcase of his dreams - and it was a CARRY-ON! No way, Jose. Russell's "stuff" will never fit - let alone my "stuff". I just chalked it up to the fact that Paul was out of touch with reality. Actually, I even said that out loud :).

Oh, how things can change....

I remembered a website that Paul enthusiastically showed me a while back - called "One Bag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light" (www.onebag.com). The site is filled with advice on the "One Bag" travel philosophy...essentially how to pack everything you need for a trip (no matter the duration) in a carry-on-sized bag. Seems impossible, eh? I laughed hysterically at the site's packing lists...thinking, "this will never work with an infant". My laughter gave way to "what if" daydreaming...and thus a personal challenge emerged. I mean...who wants to lug a ton of suitcases around the world? Not I! Could my husband actually be RIGHT?!?!?**
**He's right about most things, I've discovered. Usually takes me a while to catch on...

The Goal: Five trips with the baby - Fargo, ND....Atlanta, GA...Greek Isles...Japan...Key West - packing just ONE carry-on bag (Russell and I will share!). I will bring the stroller (a necessary convenience), which has a small diaper bag attached, one carry-on backpack, and the car seat (all except the Greece trip).

The Gear: After LOTS of searching online, reading review after review...I settled on the Rick Steves Convertible Backpack from E-Bags. While the huge "Rick Steves" logo at the bottom is a little annoying, I figured I can always cover it up with a University of Georgia patch at some point (GO DAWGS!). The bag cost about $80....and I couldn't be happier with the quality. I compared bags with/without solid frames, wheels, etc....and this seemed to be the best option based on quality and weight. I did not want to start out with an 8 lb bag before packing! Too much to carry around. The backpack's convertible option indicates the shoulder straps conveniently zip away, turning it into a hand-held suitcase. I'll just use it as a backpack. The size - 9" x 21" x 14" - also expanding from 2500 cubic inches to 3000 if needed (this size would require it to be checked as luggage). The weight - only 3 lbs. This convertible carry on can also be found on Rick Steves' website for a slightly higher price. In addition, I ordered a set of packing cubes specifically designed for this bag - three mesh cubes that will enable me to efficiently and neatly pack my clothes & Russell's clothes without making a disastrous mess.

Tomorrow, we depart for the first of our summer trips - to Fargo, North Dakota. As a Georgia girl, I lovingly refer to Fargo as "that land way up North". I mean, who LIVES in Fargo besides ice fishermen and Norwegian bachelor farmers? Kidding! It's the land of Lake Wobegon...and this time of year, lots and lots of mosquitoes. Will I have room in my one bag for bug spray?

This will serve as packing practice for my more challenging international trips. Photos to come soon....

Until then - Bon Voyage!

Virtual Insanity

2009-07-15T08:25:00.002-05:00

I must be crazy.

Why else would I plan 5 trips within a 5 month period...two of them international...plus one military relocation?

All of this, no less, with a bouncing baby boy currently 5 months of age?

It's all about the fives!

This virtual insanity is the impetus behind my desire to start blogging. Before our sweet Russell arrived, my husband and I promised ourselves that we would continue our traveling adventures as a family...sharing our love for adventure with our first born. This is easier said than done...and now I have the perfect opportunity to prove to myself that it can be accomplished! Throughout the next few months...I'll chronicle the good, bad, and the ugly...and share any helpful advice generated from my adventures or misadventures. For my family and friends reading this journal - please feel free to laugh! This could very well be my most interesting summer yet...

Just Marvelous

Wedded Bliss

Throwback Thursday

Marvelous Makes: A Gift for Yuika

Marvelous Makes: Churn Dash Update

Marvelous Reads: John Greenleaf Whittier

Silhouettes

Three Years Old

Trouble Shot of the Week

Our Eldest

Marvelous Makes: Weeknight Cooking

Cruising

Marvelous Makes: Churn Dash Update

Weekend Hijinx

Gratitude

The Most Thoughtful Gift

Just when...

Naptime

Marvelous Makes: Homemade Play Dough

Christmas, Part 2

Christmas

Marvelous Makes: St. Louis Style Pizza

Joy

Marvelous Reads: Feathers From My Nest

Marvelous Makes: Churn Dash

Marvelous Makes

Hold That Thought...

Going Postal

This Marvelous Life

Ciao!

New Beginnings

Why worry?

For the love of food...

We're having a......PUMPKIN!

More Summer...

Typical Summer Weekend

Sarah Time

Memorial Day Joy

POW!

Adventures in juicing...

A Meager Harvest?

Water, Water Everywhere...

Savor

Soup for the Soul

*Immune Booster Soup*

Directions:

All I do is sit around and bake cakes.

Ennui

How does your garden grow?

Soapbox

Welcome Spring?

Square Foot Gardening Newbies

To Grandmother's House We Go!

Mom, Metal, and More

Rose-colored glasses

Happy Birthday, Baby-chan!

I'm melting...melting...

I think the official term is "Chillax'in"

WeeLicious

Weekend Warriors

Mindfulness

Christmas 2009 - Graceland and Santa

Dairy-Free Cake Recipe

...And the cow says "mooooo"

Catching Up...

Greece & Turkey

Summer Vacation

Onward, ho!

The Birds and the Bees

Mission: Accomplished!

One Bag: The Challenge

Virtual Insanity

Immune Booster Soup