Maylee Beezir

The Garden

2009-10-03T10:22:00.008-05:00

We planted a garden this year, our first in a while. We did a 4 x 8 raised bed, added some nutrient rich soil to some plain vanilla soil and planted mostly seeds along with a few plants. We purchased bean, carrot, zinnia and sunflower seeds. We bought basil, cilantro, green pepper, and tomato plants. We planted the cherry tomato seeds given to Buttons by her teachers. We added sugar snap pea plants given to us by friends. Buttons was ecstatic and we were out planting, watering, waiting and singing.

Well, we took a 10 day trip and came home to find that our garden had become a jungle. It was out of control. One tomato plant yielded dozens of tomatoes, the beans were happy, the cherry tomatoes were popping and the zinnias were giving the bees plenty of pollen. Then there were the sunflowers. They grew over our daughter, and then over our fence, then us and we were pretty certain we could write a story called "Buttons and the Sunflower Stalk". They were huge. Were they 12 feet? 14 feet? They were huge. The bees flocked to their sweet nectar, the birds found refuge in their stalks and the neighbors wondered what crazy stuff we added to our soil. We delighted in watching them grow and grow and grow.

We ate our beans with lemon and butter. We gobbled tomato sandwiches, tomato pie, sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper. We gave people our tomatoes. We made veggie sausage with onions and green peppers from our garden. We had fresh zinnias for our house and to share with others. We had a few snap peas and carrots to enjoy and we peppered our dishes with basil and cilantro.

We loved our garden.

Then it turned cooler and the sunflowers drooped and it was time to take them down. Summer had ended, school had started and Buttons received some difficult news. Her teacher from last year and one she would have had this year died along with her husband in a bad car accident while attending a funeral. We told Buttons on a sunny Saturday morning, took down the sunflowers and while harvesting the seeds we discussed her teacher, death, the color of the seeds and stink bugs. This garden was bountiful and gave us the chance to get into a deep and difficult discussion while keeping our hands busy. We will plant some of the seeds next year and we will give some of the seeds away. For her teacher, Ms. M, we will plant some purple hyacinth bulbs to remember her in the spring, a time for rebirth.

Garden, you gave us another reason to love the summer and a chance to get ready for the fall by tilling the garden and reminiscing about watching you grow. In the deep frosty winter we will make our plans for the first signs of spring by ordering some seeds. Thank you, garden.

The Play's the Thing

2009-08-27T08:03:00.002-05:00

Well, if any of you are still out there, I thought I'd share what's been keeping me busy lately. I was cast in Neil Simon's Rumors in June. I have the role of Chris Gorman and it's my first "leading" role. It's very much an ensemble piece, but I have the most lines and stage time I've ever had.

Buttons is doing well and is excited/nervous as the new school year approaches. She's in her last year of pre-school and I just can't believe how time is flying.

Ok, we're off to the library, but I had to touch base since it had been so long.

Reused and recycled, but is it worth it?

2009-07-06T10:33:00.005-05:00

Every year I get a new page-a-day knitting calender. I have enjoyed them, although I'm not sure I have actually knit any of the patterns. About 1/3 of them I imagine knitting just like I dream about making many of the recipes in my cookbooks, but who knows when that will happen. The rest of the patterns fall into 3 categories: ugly, too complicated/not worth the effort and why would anyone knit that. I peeked at tomorrow's pattern (since today was a continuation from the last 2 days and fit into the ugly category) and decided that a knitted plastic bag holder seemed to fit into the "why would anyone knit that" category. So, I went on line to look for a picture of it to share on the blog. In my search, I found this, and I'm a little intrigued. I'm not sure if I want to knit plastic, but I might try it someday kind of like I might make that recipe I have for garlic ice cream. It sounds interesting, but I don't know if I want to go to the effort just to hate it. Next I found this, which is so much prettier than the one in my calender and looks like a quick knit. And you know what? Etsy even sells crocheted holders. So, perhaps I've misjudged the plastic bag holders. It seems to be something that at least a few people are knitting. However, some of them could still go into the ugly category, such as this one.

Missing Person Update

2009-06-26T08:32:00.003-05:00

Although I don't know all of the details, the missing person post I did the other day had a happy ending. I don't know the details, but Teresa is home safely.

Missing...Please Take a Look

2009-06-24T16:02:00.003-05:00

A friend of a friend has been missing for almost 24 hours. If you're reading this, would you please click here and see if you've seen her? Her name is Teresa Maxson and she was last seen in Lansing, Michigan.

Thanks.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T08:44:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Sock it to me!

2009-06-22T23:35:00.002-05:00

I have finished a sock!!! Did it make it on the 6 o'clock news in your area? Yeah, not here either, but it feels like it should have. Although I started knitting a pair of toe-up socks a while ago, this is my first finished sock. What's different? Well, I concentrated on one sock at a time, I did cuff-down and my friend Marsha made some really easy kick-ass note-cards to follow. I must say if you're trying to figure out the Kitchener Stitch, this is the place to go. Thank you, Knit Witch.

Now, I'm itching to get my toe-up socks done, too. I'm stuck and need some help from my knitting buds, who can get me through any knitting emergency. One of my pals gave our group a class in toe-up socks and put together the pattern and suggested we do two socks at a time so we wouldn't just make one. They were very good ideas, but I think perhaps I just needed to see one through and figure out the guts and anatomy of the sock.

Pattern: Socks from Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
Yarn: Regia #5342
Needles: Addi Turbo 12"circular size 2
Clover size 2 dpn's (short)

Ok, it's now either time for bed or time to cast on sock #2!

Hi, my name is Katie and I'm a slacker.

2009-06-15T08:41:00.003-05:00

Ok, it's been over a month since I last blogged. However, writing (and especially reading) about that is pretty boring, so let's just get on with at least slightly more interesting stuff.

Home: We started a raised bed garden...late. Partly my fault, partly the fault of the company where I ordered the brackets for the garden. It's not clear whether we'll be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor to the full extent, but we're having fun looking every day to see the progress of our tomatoes, carrots, snap peas, beans, sunflowers, zinnias, cilantro, sage, basil and our pepper plant.

We're also in the process of moving Buttons from her small room and her toddler bed (yes, the bed was way too small) into a larger room and a double bed. She's very excited and luckily likes the color of her new room. The"new" bed belonged to her great-grandma and namesake, so that's very sweet as well. Of course, this move has set off the "we have too much crap cleaning extravaganza".

Social: The parties are in full summer swing! We seem to have at least one every weekend and it's fun. We're planning a trip back to Michigan to visit family and perhaps some mini-trips over the summer, but mostly we're hanging out together around home with friends.

Theater: Woot! I auditioned for the show Rumors and I'm going to play Chris. I'm really excited about it, but it's also the biggest part I've had so far. That will definitely keep me busy this summer as well.

Photos: I've been having fun with shutterbuggin' and I promise to post some next time.

Knitting: I'm trying to finish the toe-up socks I started 2 years ago and I'm at a point where I don't know what to do next. So, I started cuff-down socks and, well, I'm at a point where I think I have more salvage stitches than I should have, but....grrrr.....I'm a bit annoyed with socks right now. Perhaps I'll finish the beautiful Malabrigo scarf I was knitting and then start on a Wallaby for Hubby.

So, pictures to come soon, but right now I need to go play with Buttons.
Happy Monday everyone!

Sakura Sunday

2009-04-30T17:09:00.007-05:00

There is something magical that happens when the sun shines and you can finally (!) take off your jacket in the spring. Add a Cherry Blossom Festival with friends and you have what feels like a fresh new start. It's like the dregs of winter just melt away as you feel the sun burn into your skin. I had been in a funk of a mood for a while and our trek to Fairmount Park in Philadelphia was just the trick to snap me out of it.

Cherry Blossoms

Buttons' first face painting.

Buttons and one of her best buddies S had a wonderful time together.

Buttons and S enjoyed finding dropped blossoms to hold and I just love this picture.

This is approximately my sixth try for this post, so let me know if it works please.

Wristers!

2009-04-23T15:33:00.003-05:00

You may be wondering what I've been doing since seemingly falling out of the blogosphere. Well, besides Facebook and psuedo-thespianism, I've actually been knitting. I've finished several things and I'll takes pics and share soon.

Buttons was in heaven today when I finished her "Superpower Wristers". Yeah, just in time for 87 degree weather this weekend! Oh well, I knit year around so I had to make something and since I'm not excited about knitting summer clothing, I will continue to knit things for the other 9 months of the year. These wristers include the magic three qualities of knitting for me: fun, easy and quick to make. I used about 3/4 of a skein of Moda Dea Cartwheel leftover from the vest I made for Buttons. I also did it on two needles instead of three, but think I should have added 2 or 4 stitches for that for a seaming allowance. I think I have enough to make a hat and scarf for her as well with the same yarn. However, you think she might get sick of the yarn? Maybe I'll make some matching wristers for me instead...

*Update: I am thinking about making this for Buttons for the summer.

Easter

2009-04-12T20:45:00.005-05:00

Buttons is a smart cookie and she asks an enormous amount of questions. I want for her to believe in the same magical things that i believed in as a kid, but I also don't want to lie to her if she asks me outright. It's a tough line to toe. She wondered if the Easter Bunny was a girl or a boy and she decided maybe there was one of each. When the day came and she searched for eggs (outside and inside) she was thrilled. I can see why parents continue with the traditions of their youth. I hope I was as fun for my parents as Buttons is for us.

I also want to share our fun with eggs. Buttons can crack eggs now and the joyful beep that follows once the shell has broken is so much fun to hear I feel like making eggs all the time. However, she only broke through a couple of eggs on dyeing day due to zealous crayon use.

She counted all the drops for each of the 8(!) colors...

...drew various designs with crayons...

...dipped...

...and voila...one of 24 Easter eggs!

Doesn't she look like she's so much older?

Spring!

2009-03-18T19:38:00.002-05:00

No, it doesn't officially start until Saturday, but look at the bottom of Buttons' feet. We had a wonderful afternoon in the sun and she just had to take off her shoes. Who can blame her? Spring is coming...

Things my daughter says....

2009-02-27T00:57:00.005-05:00

Buttons has always amused me with the way her mind works.
Here are a few things that have tickled me lately...

"But Mom, look at my legs. They are really long. I'm grown up enough to go."
(I was going to the memorial service of a friend and tried to explain why she couldn't go.)

"Mom, (they're singing about ) Nick and Jessica!"
(This is in a song from a brand new musical and they're referring to Lachey and Simpson, however Buttons is thinking of Mr. and Mrs. Claus.)

"Mom, how do they make marshmallows?"

(This was the first thing she asked at 7am one morning.)

"Monkeys come and make knots in my hair in the middle of the night. They live in our basement." (When asked how her hair gets so tangled during the night.)

"Mom, did Johnny Cash die because he fell into a burning ring of fire?"

I also have a new character I've been doing called the sock monster who likes to "eat" socks that aren't on feet. This is wonderful when I'm trying to get her to put on her socks and she squeals with joy when I'm in sock monster mode. However, I took it too far one day and pretended (apparently very realistically) to eat her socks. She started to cry and that was the end of the sock monster for a while. It is a good reminder that she does have a good sense of humor and obviously a great imagination but she can get so immersed in something that the line between fiction and reality is a bit blurry. (Which means it's going to be a while before I take her to see Coraline which was a wonderful film about a strong girl, but with very scary elements.)

I'm off to bed now...can't wait to hear the gems tomorrow.

Hello again.

2009-02-17T20:13:00.001-05:00

I'm still here.
Life is busy right now and my thoughts don't seem to be running in any blog-worthy directions.
So, I just thought I'd say hello and leave you with a picture from the playground.
We're ready for spring now.

6 More Weeks

2009-02-02T12:03:00.005-05:00

It's Groundhog Day and unfortunately Phil predicted more winter. So, bundle up and enjoy the videos, one for the kids (with Steve from Blues Clues) and a couple for the adults. Have you seen the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray? No? Rent it now! It's funny and it's an annual event for us. It has also become a big holiday with my knitting buds. We're getting together to watch the movie, do some knitting and eat some groundhog cookies. (Beth has a wonderful assortment of cookie cutters and has 2(!!!) groundhog cookie cutters and a love for this holiday.)

This is also my grandpa's birthday who died last month, so I'm thinking of him today.

RFK the Soothsayer

2009-01-26T00:24:00.000-05:00

If we miss church, we often turn on CBS Sunday Morning and watch an hour and a half of interesting stories and usually there are at least a few that are good for the whole family. Well, this morning I learned that Robert F. Kennedy predicted the future when back in 1968 he told the world that he believed that a black man could be president in forty years. So whether he was able to see the future or if by saying it, he planted the message in the minds of people and it became part of our fabric, I don't know. It's amazing to me now though. Thanks RFK.

Happy Birthday R!

2009-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

I don't post birthdays here for everyone I know, but for our Belgium family it's a great way to send birthday greetings. R. may wind up being a comedian someday. He'll do just about anything for a laugh and perhaps you can tell that from the picture.

Knitting Update

2009-01-22T15:56:00.005-05:00

I've been knitting quite a bit lately. I've been going through my stash and trying to decide what to keep, what to give away, sell and (gasp!) pitch. My UFO's are under control for the most part, but I need to organize and decide if I want to frog any of them so that they're not hanging over my head as I turn to other, new projects. Of course, I never feel guilty about working on new projects if they will be gifts. Fancy how I work my way around that, huh?

My first project of the year is this hat and booties for my nephew J., born today! I used the baby hat pattern from The Knit Knack Kit with this Elann's Adara for the stripe and Mission Falls Cotton for the body. I used a free Bernat pattern using Elann's Adara for the baby booties. These were fun and quick and I can't wait to see them on him!

The other gift I've been working on is from a wondeful skein of alpaca that I've had in my stash for a while and just waiting for the right time to knit it. Wow, was it fabulous to knit (so soft). (Buttons is napping right now, so I'll have to update this post to give you the exact yarn information.) I used my standard hat pattern from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, which if you don't have you should really think about it. I know that if I have yarn with a gauge of 3 to 8 or 9 inches, I can go to this book and figure out approximately how much I will need and will give me a pattern for sized newborn to adult for hats, socks, sweaters, vests, mittens, etc.
This gift is for a courageous friend who is going through a difficult time right now. I'm hoping this brings her some warmth.

Well, I need to get these gifts packed and ready to take to the post office tomorrow. Currently, I'm finishing a vest for Buttons and working on a beautiful scarf (for me!) using 2 different colors of Patons SWS yarn with this pattern. I'd like to make matching mittens and a hat, so I'll be ordering more very soon. Buttons would also like a set as well. Time to teach her to knit!

Ice Skating

2009-01-21T13:10:00.003-05:00

One of my hubby's favorite memories was when his dad would take a hose to their backyard and make an ice rink. So, he's been itching to get his daughter on the ice. Buttons had her first chance this weekend and she rocked it.

O Happy Day!

2009-01-20T11:31:00.006-05:00

Welcome home Barack, Michele, Malia and Sasha.
What a wonderful day in the history of America.

Passages

2009-01-16T12:28:00.003-05:00

"When you go owling
you don't need words
or warm
or anything but hope.
That's what Pa says.
The kind of hope
that flies
on silent wings
under a shining
Owl Moon."

-Jane Yolen
Owl Moon

On January 13th, my grandpa's life ended in a peaceful way. In his life he had many losses, but he always kept above water in times when I wonder if I might have drowned. He spent his life in service, first in the military helping set up a blood bank along with a radar system in World War II. In civilian life, he dedicated his time to helping people as a city manager for 3 different cities.

His goal was to learn to do something new every year. I remember shortly after Grandma K. died he filled his house with macrame. After making a trip out west with Grandma M. he took up painting and like Georgia O'Keefe, was inspired by this trip. He and Grandma M. flew to Australia and I wouldn't doubt it if someone told me he wrestled an alligator there.

He made wine and you only needed one glass to get a really decent buzz and while strong, most of it was pretty good. Heaven help you if you had the dandelion vino though. He baked bread and made elderberry wine and jam to go with it. He was a fierce gardener and always fed the birds and watched them with such joy. (I often thought that if it was a choice to feed himself or the birds, his feathered friends would have made out like bandits.)

Grandma K. died when I was 5 and I don't think I went to her funeral. Grandma M. died almost exactly 1 year ago and neither she or Grandpa wanted a funeral service, so I'm trying to do a little closure for both of them. I'm hoping that at least our family can get together and remember my Grandpa and honor his life with stories, tears, food and a lot of wine.

Maybe I'll even learn to macrame this year, Grandpa.
I will miss your silliness, your laughter, you zest for life and your beautiful blue eyes.
Thank you for the gift of your daughter as my mom.

Whim Soup, Take 1 (Vegetarian)

2009-01-15T22:38:00.006-05:00

Growing up, I preferred Campbell's soup to my mom's homemade. Luckily, I've outgrown that. I started enjoying homemade soups because they tasted better and had less salt. My mom makes great soup and I'll happily choose it over any can any day. However, I thought soup was hard to make, so until about a year ago all I ever tried to make was chicken noodle soup whenever we became sick.

Then, my friend Linda gave me the recipe for what I now refer to as Whim Soup. In your crockpot, you add broth, some veggies (frozen, canned, fresh or a combination) and add a handful of herbs (most often Herbs de Provence) and cook. Easy peasy and delicious.

While we lived in Belgium, I rarely followed a recipe and soup became my go to meal. I faked it using products like this spice "boullion" and this handy gizmo. Buttons thinks I'm the greatest soup maker in the world and so I desire to make more soup. (I've also been making bread, so she's thinking I'm some sort of June Cleaver. However, I'm not vacumming in pearls...or...er...vacuuming.)

So, the point is I made a soup we liked a couple of nights ago and I thought I'd share, just in case you wanted to try it and now I have an actual recipe for it!

Whim Soup, Take 1 (Vegetarian)
32 oz organic vegetable broth
30 oz (approximately) chopped tomatoes (with juice)
15 oz undrained canned garbanzo beans
15 oz drained canned corn
1 frozen package of spinach
1 small handful (3 tablespoons?) Herbs de Provence
3 teaspoons of garlic (Button's request)
1 1/2 cups of small alphabet pasta

Combine broth and tomatoes, puree in crockpot.
Add everything else EXCEPT pasta.
Cook on low or high depending on when you want it done.
Make sure you cook it long enough for the spices to soften.
Cook pasta, drain, add to soup and serve,
preferably with homemade bread while wearing pearls.

(Wish I had a picture, but we ate it too fast.)

The Year of the Ox (aka The Year of the Dance)

2009-01-14T23:06:00.004-05:00

I had a better post to go with this video, but I lost it after having to change the URL for the video. The gist of it was it's been a while. I have much to say, but thought I'd come back to the blogosphere with Buttons dancing at a CNY celebration. (She's in the green.) Her legs were so tired the next day she walked around quite gingerly for a while.
"Xin [sing] Nian [nee-an] Kuai [kwai] Le [ler]"
(Happy New Year in Mandarin.)

Happy Birthday C!

2009-01-06T23:32:00.001-05:00

As many of you know, we spent 2 months last year in Belgium. We stayed in an apartment above the most wonderful hosts. Luckily, we have wonderful ways (like Skype) to stay in touch. Unfortunately, the time difference makes it a little difficult to keep in contact. We've done pretty well, but I'd love ot hear how y'all stay in touch with the people who are far away.

Anyway, C. had a wonderful birthday party and sent us pictures of the party held in her home for 42 costumed guests and included a DJ. Now in August we'll be flying back to go to the wedding of their son and I am sooo looking forward to that party.

Happy Birthday C! We miss you!

Happy Birthday J!

2008-12-27T23:59:00.000-05:00

J was one of our hosts when we lived in Belgium earlier this year. He (along with his wife C) was so helpful and made our stay there fun. He gave us so much help with anything we needed from directions to language lessons to grocery shopping to making sure we had tried at least half of the hundreds of beer varieties available in Belgium. J knows how to have fun and make sure other people have fun too. Happy Birthday J!