family fun

true blue

the secret garden

We have a sloped yard in front of our house, and to break it up a bit the former owners created a terraced garden area in the front with a retaining wall. We've been calling it the secret garden. When we first moved in, we had the grand idea of filling it in with dirt and building up the exterior wall, allowing for a much larger, flat yard in front. We envisioned football games (soccer) and perhaps a pool.


But now, I'm really loving the plants (do you see that rosemary? I chop it up fresh for dinner some nights!) in the garden and can't imagine ripping them out anymore. I'm no green thumb, but I've managed to keep most of the plants alive, and I love the flowers they produce. Plus, we have loads of butterflies! I promise we have more than 2, and they are all different colors, but those things will NOT SIT STILL FOR THE CAMARA!

The secret garden is also home to these guys.

It helps to have a secret garden helper.

chalkboard project

At that big craft shop I went to last weekend, I bought a tiny can of bright blue chalkboard paint. There were a bunch of things left behind in this house by the former owners, and this piece of wood was the easiest thing to start on. Now Luc has even more art supplies at his fingertips. Plus maybe I'll even use it to write our dinner menus on. At the moment, it might read something like this: "I got fresh tofu at the market this morning, but I don't think I can make it taste like beef". The chalkboard project might be complete, but the menus are a work in progress.

food politics in our house

I like making dinner every night. I like cooking healthy things for my family. But lately it's gotten hard to do. Keeping the balance between what I consider healthy and what Alex considers tasty is a fine line to walk.
My mom used to get frustrated at my picky eating habits as a child and used to say to me out of exasperation; "I hope you have a daughter who is as picky as you!" Which in turn I would reply, "well that'd be great because then she'd agree with me!" Of course my habits changed over the years from a no-squash policy to a vegetarian who eventually ate fish, who then sometimes added in chicken, and finally who dropped the ball completely when living in Madagascar. (due to culture, not food availability) And in that time I studied enough about nutrition to become pretty passionate about the subject.
These days, I haven't quite gotten over the whole meat thing. Maybe it's because I never learned how to cook it well enough, but I don't serve it every night and try to get a variety. Or, as much variety as possible with a husband who doesn't like fish or chicken. (I serve it anyways)
So it's funny now, (or annoying, depends on the day) to try to cook for my husband who would be happy eating beef every single night and where I don't want more than once a week. He was also raised in a culture where food is viewed in a completely different light. I could go on about the differences between American and French food culture, but really, I just want us to both like what we're eating. And I think the way to do that is if I get my little hands on this:

and this:

images from Amazon

I love cookbooks, have several in french already, but they don't really give more than just a recipe, whereas these 2 will give the background info necessary to "kick it up a notch!" or whatever annoying nonsense Emeril used to say. Right now, my cooking depends on the quality of the recipe. But I want to stop following so many recipes and just concentrate on the technique.
Do any of you have one or both of these books in kitchen?
If so, give me your opinion!
Thanks!

where we've been

We're still here. I've been feeling uninspired to blog in the recent past weeks. The Mada posts quickly lost steam, as I found that giving myself a deadline to post about certain things took all the fun and spontaneity out of blogging. Then things started getting all crazy-crazy in the world, and I didn't have the heart to comment on everyday things with so much chaos happening.
Today, a Monday, has proved itself as a fresh start. I'm not going to promise anymore posts about Mada things, and even if I do, hey, it's my blog and I reserve the right to change my mind. I still want to continue the Mada story, but this time without a deadline.
Putting my hands to creative use is also theraputic for getting out of this rut. I have a whole new list of things I want to make (but only so many hours of naptime a week!) without any deadline attached. This past weekend I was introduced to a gigantic craft shop by a friend, with whom I spent the entire morning browsing the store, and eventually buying some supplies for new projects. I was like a kid in a candy store. I wanted EVERYTHING!! Perhaps I should try to get a job there.
Hope you all are feeling energised and well-rested this Monday as well!

it's March 8th again!

Do you know what that means?!* It's international women's day!
To celebrate, I'll be posting over at One Cat Per Person where Angie has rounded up other ladies to share their Women's day stories and/or celebrations. Don't miss it! Go now!

Also, check out Madeleine Albright's TED speech/interview below on being a woman and a diplomat. It's fantastic!


*uhh, it's also the day before I turn one year older. It's scary how close to 30 I'm getting.*

PC Mada memories: my first glimpses of the big red island

Excitement, anticipation, fear.
I don't even remember being at the airport in Tana.

Driving through the streets of the capital to a small community an hour from the bustling big city, the new health volunteers for Madagascar arrive in September of 2006! Stopping first briefly at the Tana PC house (Meva) to sort through luggage and file papers, we also get to meet other PCVs who marvel at how squeaky clean we look. Secretly, I want to grow dreads.

Sambaina, our new home far, far away from home.
Each PCV is dropped off at the house of their prearranged host family.
It's just in time for dinner. I'm too excited to be hungry. I ate soup with stale bread and thought the world of my new host mom for serving it to me. We try to hash out ideas like family and where I come from in the states using a map and a few pictues I brought along.

This town has electricity! And buildings 2 stories high! It's located along a major road to the capital, and the road is paved!

The view off the balcony looks onto a huge rice field where I see people working everyday. Everyday.

50 years ago today....

....the Peace Corps was started by John F. Kennedy.
In honor of it, I'd like to share pictures and/or stories of my experience with you as Peace Corps month is celebrated.

There is a lot for me to share with you all. But at the same time, when I go back and look at some of the pictures I took, I can't help but think "oh, why didn't I take any pictures of us doing this or that", or some more everyday type of stuff. I suppose it's the same reason I don't take pictures of doing the laundry or dishes now (not that I would!); I don't think of it when it's happening, and besides my hands are full! I also kind of felt even more scrutiny (than the usual) whenever I pulled a camara out. Looking back on it, I wish I hadn't been so self-conscious.
That said, there are literally hundreds of photos for me to sift through, and though I can't show you all of them, I'll try to pick the best ones so you can imagine things a little more clearly.
I'll take the rest of this month to go through my years of service in Madagascar chronologically. Feel free to pop in with comments about stories I may have told you all through letters. I may end up going through all my old received letters later tonight. They were one of a few cherished bunches of things that I took when I left Madagascar.
I'm so excited to share all of these memories here!
Be back soon!