Monday, October 10, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Look who followed us home...
On Sunday we were walking home from Ben's studio, when this cat decided to join us.
Arlo LOVES cats. He meows at them, he meows when he sees a picture of one, he cries when he has to leave the room if there's a kitty there. Getting him to take naps and go to bed at night was a major chore when we visited his grandparents!
So on Sunday when this very friendly cat started following us, taking him home just seemed like the right thing to do. He is very skinny, was very hungry, and very dirty, but seems to be in pretty good health. We are taking him to the vet at the end of the week. We've posted online about finding him and will check for a microchip at the vet, because it would be very sad if he somehow lost his collar while escaping from a loving home. But considering the large number of stray and feral cats in this area, I find it unlikely he really has a home to go to.
He is fitting in very nicely with us and sleeping a lot. It must be hard to be a cat on your own in the city.
Arlo was meowing in his sleep last night. It was the cutest thing. And he meowed first thing when he woke up this morning. I think Mr. Kitty Cat (unnamed as of yet) has found a good home with us.
Arlo LOVES cats. He meows at them, he meows when he sees a picture of one, he cries when he has to leave the room if there's a kitty there. Getting him to take naps and go to bed at night was a major chore when we visited his grandparents!
So on Sunday when this very friendly cat started following us, taking him home just seemed like the right thing to do. He is very skinny, was very hungry, and very dirty, but seems to be in pretty good health. We are taking him to the vet at the end of the week. We've posted online about finding him and will check for a microchip at the vet, because it would be very sad if he somehow lost his collar while escaping from a loving home. But considering the large number of stray and feral cats in this area, I find it unlikely he really has a home to go to.
He is fitting in very nicely with us and sleeping a lot. It must be hard to be a cat on your own in the city.
Arlo was meowing in his sleep last night. It was the cutest thing. And he meowed first thing when he woke up this morning. I think Mr. Kitty Cat (unnamed as of yet) has found a good home with us.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Compost
One of my main goals right now is to reduce my family's impact on the environment and to try and make our lives a little more sustainable. We recycle, we don't buy plastic bottles unless absolutely necessary and we try to buy used items when it makes sense. The next step is composting!
According to GrowNYC, 17% of NYC's waste is food scraps, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Food also isn't easily able to break down in a landfill. I realized that our garbage output would be greatly reduced if we started composting. If I had a backyard, it would be fairly easy to figure out. But in the city, living in an apartment building, composting takes a little more planning.
I decided that a worm bin isn't right for us (sounds like a messy plan with a toddler--and where would we keep it?). Our apartment building tried a compost bin last year, but it was misused, and thus short lived. So our only option is composting off site. For now we're holding our food and plant scraps in the freezer and bringing them to the Green Market once a week. It's not the most convenient plan though, so I'm looking into joining a local garden, someplace we can bring our compost whenever we wish, rather than on the once a week schedule for the Green Market.
If you're wondering what food items are okay to compost, or want more info about composting, please look at the list below and check out the GrowNYC website.
WHAT TO COMPOST:
YES: fruit and vegetable scraps, non-greasy food scraps (rice, pasta, bread, cereal, etc.), coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, egg and nut shells, pits, cut or dried flowers, houseplants, potting soil
NO: meat, fish, bones, greasy food scraps, fat, oil, dairy, dog or cat waste, kitty litter, coal or charcoal, coconuts, diseased and/or insect-infested houseplants / soil or biodegradable / compostable plastics
According to GrowNYC, 17% of NYC's waste is food scraps, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Food also isn't easily able to break down in a landfill. I realized that our garbage output would be greatly reduced if we started composting. If I had a backyard, it would be fairly easy to figure out. But in the city, living in an apartment building, composting takes a little more planning.
I decided that a worm bin isn't right for us (sounds like a messy plan with a toddler--and where would we keep it?). Our apartment building tried a compost bin last year, but it was misused, and thus short lived. So our only option is composting off site. For now we're holding our food and plant scraps in the freezer and bringing them to the Green Market once a week. It's not the most convenient plan though, so I'm looking into joining a local garden, someplace we can bring our compost whenever we wish, rather than on the once a week schedule for the Green Market.
If you're wondering what food items are okay to compost, or want more info about composting, please look at the list below and check out the GrowNYC website.
WHAT TO COMPOST:
YES: fruit and vegetable scraps, non-greasy food scraps (rice, pasta, bread, cereal, etc.), coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, egg and nut shells, pits, cut or dried flowers, houseplants, potting soil
NO: meat, fish, bones, greasy food scraps, fat, oil, dairy, dog or cat waste, kitty litter, coal or charcoal, coconuts, diseased and/or insect-infested houseplants / soil or biodegradable / compostable plastics
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Vacation!!
Sometimes when life gets hectic I end up cutting some corners here or there.
Sometimes my eating habits suffer, I don't do enough yoga or get enough sleep (or all three!).
Sometimes I sound like a broken record, but working from home truly is both a blessing and a curse.
It's been absolutely amazing being able to be home with Arlo and watch him grow and change, being able to take care of him and be there through everything, while still having an income. One of the major downsides, though, is that since I can work from home, I can work from anywhere. I've worked from California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and even Hawaii. Every one of those trips has been wonderful, but I haven't had a work-free vacation since August 2008.
So our trip to Montréal this past week was absolute heaven. It wasn't until a few days into our trip, when we went to our friends' cottage on a lake in the mountains (no internet), that I really finally let go, unwound and realized just how much I was carrying with me. And once I got to that point, it was bliss. I know that being a mother is going to be a balancing act--juggling work, marriage, the needs of my boy, and my own needs too. And this incredible vacation was exactly what I needed!
I haven't felt so calm, so settled, so determined in a really long time. It was nice to come back to the city with new resolve. You can bet it won't be three more years before I leave that work phone behind and take another real vacation!
Sometimes my eating habits suffer, I don't do enough yoga or get enough sleep (or all three!).
Sometimes I sound like a broken record, but working from home truly is both a blessing and a curse.
It's been absolutely amazing being able to be home with Arlo and watch him grow and change, being able to take care of him and be there through everything, while still having an income. One of the major downsides, though, is that since I can work from home, I can work from anywhere. I've worked from California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and even Hawaii. Every one of those trips has been wonderful, but I haven't had a work-free vacation since August 2008.
So our trip to Montréal this past week was absolute heaven. It wasn't until a few days into our trip, when we went to our friends' cottage on a lake in the mountains (no internet), that I really finally let go, unwound and realized just how much I was carrying with me. And once I got to that point, it was bliss. I know that being a mother is going to be a balancing act--juggling work, marriage, the needs of my boy, and my own needs too. And this incredible vacation was exactly what I needed!
I haven't felt so calm, so settled, so determined in a really long time. It was nice to come back to the city with new resolve. You can bet it won't be three more years before I leave that work phone behind and take another real vacation!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Irene
It's kind of funny that my last post was about those fast moving Midwestern storms. At that point I didn't know that Hurricane Irene was on her way! We were driving back from the Midwest when we first heard of the potential severity of Hurricane Irene.
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| Image via ABC News |
Being a mother has made me more cautious. At another point in our lives, Ben and I might have rushed home before the storm. But with Arlo to consider, we decided to spend the weekend in Hershey, Pennsylvania, swimming in the hotel pool, going to the zoo, etc.
There was no major damage where we live. The roof of our building had some minor leaks, so we'll have some scraping, plastering, painting to do, and the building will repair the roof. Water leaked in around our air conditioners and pooled on the windowsills, so some repairs will have to happen there as well. But all in all, we were extremely lucky. It's all just a little eerie after all those days obsessively watching CNN's hurricane coverage. It's good to be home, and to have a safe and sound home to come back to.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Storm
There's nothing quite like a fast moving Midwestern storm coming in. You can feel it in the air before you can see it. It's exciting and beautiful and scary.
This picture doesn't do it justice. The wind was incredible. The clouds rolled in so quickly. Seconds later the rain started. Just a quick summer storm--perfectly exhilarating.
This picture doesn't do it justice. The wind was incredible. The clouds rolled in so quickly. Seconds later the rain started. Just a quick summer storm--perfectly exhilarating.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Summertime country time
A few days ago we left NYC, making a break for the country. We drove 785 miles to Ben's parents' home in Indiana. August in New York is hot and humid. The city boils. The garbage on the streets (no alleyways in nyc) is more noticeably fragrant. We have flexibility right now with our jobs, so it seemed the perfect time to take off.
Driving 785 miles with a 2 year old isn't high on my list of things to do again soon, although Arlo was in good spirits most of the way. But being here is great, being here in the house Ben and I got married in. It's nice to think about all the adventures we've had since then, and how many more we're slated for.
Plus it's just beautiful here. Trees, open sky full of stars at night. A yard for Arlo to run around in...
But as much as I love being here and enjoying the open space, I think for now it just helps solidify what we're doing in the city, and that's the right place for us right now. Someday we'll break free. But no rush. Not yet.
Driving 785 miles with a 2 year old isn't high on my list of things to do again soon, although Arlo was in good spirits most of the way. But being here is great, being here in the house Ben and I got married in. It's nice to think about all the adventures we've had since then, and how many more we're slated for.
Plus it's just beautiful here. Trees, open sky full of stars at night. A yard for Arlo to run around in...
But as much as I love being here and enjoying the open space, I think for now it just helps solidify what we're doing in the city, and that's the right place for us right now. Someday we'll break free. But no rush. Not yet.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Summer's bounty
At this time two years ago I was in early labor. I was preparing to transition my sweet Arlo to the outside world. Two years later I find myself so profoundly affected by this amazing little person. I am so very very lucky that he and I managed to somehow find each other across space and time, and choose each other for this journey.
Ben and Arlo went to the park this morning so that I could do yoga and get some work done. This is our new routine, and I think it's divine! Arlo came home and napped, and I had the most beautiful lunch, inspired by fresh baby lettuce and perfectly sweet tomatoes from our CSA share. It was nourishing in every way, and I spent the greater part of my day reflecting on how truly blessed I am.
I have taken Arlo's birthday off from work (and plan to every year) and we have plans to make a run for nature in the morning. I want to commune with the earth on this important day, the anniversary of his birth. In the future Arlo can tell us what he wants to do for his birthday, but for now we're feeling the draw of the mountains and the trees and the dirt and the water.
Mon petit ange, my little rapscallion prince, with great spirit, with great heart. So many adventures await. For now I treasure your kisses, your smiles, your snuggles, your expressions, your words, and sometimes even your tantrums. For this too shall pass.
Ben and Arlo went to the park this morning so that I could do yoga and get some work done. This is our new routine, and I think it's divine! Arlo came home and napped, and I had the most beautiful lunch, inspired by fresh baby lettuce and perfectly sweet tomatoes from our CSA share. It was nourishing in every way, and I spent the greater part of my day reflecting on how truly blessed I am.
I have taken Arlo's birthday off from work (and plan to every year) and we have plans to make a run for nature in the morning. I want to commune with the earth on this important day, the anniversary of his birth. In the future Arlo can tell us what he wants to do for his birthday, but for now we're feeling the draw of the mountains and the trees and the dirt and the water.
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| Bday present from Gramma and Grandpa Lieber |
Mon petit ange, my little rapscallion prince, with great spirit, with great heart. So many adventures await. For now I treasure your kisses, your smiles, your snuggles, your expressions, your words, and sometimes even your tantrums. For this too shall pass.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Snowclones
After an Arlo inspired hiatus I am making art again! And it's a wonderful thing!
I recently was given the opportunity to show some artwork in an exhibition called Snowclones. It's a really exciting show and has been a lot of fun.
I recently was given the opportunity to show some artwork in an exhibition called Snowclones. It's a really exciting show and has been a lot of fun.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
And now
It's been awhile since I updated. So much has happened! Yoga, art, love, apartment renovations...! Months have passed, and I wasn't really sure what to post after we lost Moon. We were very sad and everything was so crazy with renovations, that nothing seemed important enough to post as a follow up. But now so much has changed that it's finally time to start anew. We still really miss Moon a lot. I often think how cruel it is that our furry friends don't stay around as long as we might like.
That said, my sweet skinned, 2 legged, beloved Arlo is growing and becoming more and more interesting every single day!! He is soaking up the world around him, and Ben and I are learning to watch our language! ;) My little yogi will go right into downward facing dog if one of us calls it out. He understands so much of what we say and what is going on around him.
Our 2 month long apartment renovations were long and arduous, despite the fact that we weren't physically doing the majority of the work. It was painfully difficult working from home, trying to take care of a toddler, and having strangers in our home making loud noises all the time!
But life starts anew (thank goodness!) and time ticks by whether we're ready for it or not.
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| Image via http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/dv/CrackedMud1.html |
That said, my sweet skinned, 2 legged, beloved Arlo is growing and becoming more and more interesting every single day!! He is soaking up the world around him, and Ben and I are learning to watch our language! ;) My little yogi will go right into downward facing dog if one of us calls it out. He understands so much of what we say and what is going on around him.
Our 2 month long apartment renovations were long and arduous, despite the fact that we weren't physically doing the majority of the work. It was painfully difficult working from home, trying to take care of a toddler, and having strangers in our home making loud noises all the time!
So here we are today, reconciled with the time that's past, enjoying the moments as they go by (even more so now that the heatwave has subsided) and looking forward, but not rushing it.
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