Grow Garden, Grow!

My two little diggers (and avid worm collectors) and I have been busy getting our first official vegetable garden going. I think that we are finished planting because we are out of space. I would take a picture, but there isn't so much to see yet. Here is what we have going:

Mesculan Mix lettuce
Basil
Thyme
Rosemary
Sage
Cilantro
Italian Parsley
Arugula
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes (grape and big boy)
Green and Red Peppers
Habanero Peppers
Carrots (just starting to pop up from seed -- but looking promising)
Zucchini (still waiting for these to show some sign of . . . something)

Surely some of that will work out, don't you think? Happy weekend all.

A Morning with the Mommy Bloggers

Thanks to my real-life mommy blogging friend, I had the opportunity to attend a panel and breakfast hosted by Maria Bailey (I know that you don't know who she is but trust me, the mommy bloggers do). Maria is at the forefront of helping companies access the "Mom Market." And she has brilliant ideas.

This most interesting panel was an opportunity for marketing and public relations folks to connect with mommy bloggers. I am definitely mulling over some of the discussion points. Right now, I don't review too many products (other than the occasional book) or do give-aways on my blog. Even though I receive a fair amount of pitches, very few of them seem to be a good fit for me. I am hesitant to use this space, which I intended to be about my time with my two little ones, to sing the praises of swim diapers in a way that would hardly be genuine. This blog has been a gateway to some great opportunities for me (more on my latest project coming soon!) and I am certainly open to all sorts other possibilities. I definitely recognize that there are lots of new opportunities for mamas like me that didn't exist even as recently as two or three years ago. So who knows? Exciting possibilities may await.

The best part of the morning was the rare chance to be in the company of some like-minded mamas. I don't know too many people who blog. Many, many of the people I do actually know think that my blogging is quite odd. Sometimes I even have a hard time articulating why I blog .

Listening to some other eloquent, thoughtful, and smart women talk about why they blog had me nodding my head in agreement. Blogging is a creative outlet, a social networking tool, and a therapy session all in one. Most importantly, blogging gives me a connected feeling -- an "I know and I understand" feeling. I felt lucky to be in the company of other mamas who "know and understand."

Speaking of lucky, I always seem to come away a winner at these mommy blogger events! At the Chicago Moms Blog Party in December, I walked out with a brand new Graco Swing. This time, I won a signed copy of Maria's new book (and it looks like an interesting read).

The Green City Market! The Green City Market!

This morning after dropping Ms. Eleanor at school, Brendan and I made our first trip of the season to my beloved Green City Market. And boy, did it deliver! Here is a little run down on how we spent our market time:

(1) We got Brendan registered as a member of the Sprouts Club, where he can taste a new food each week. When he gets eight punches on his membership card, he wins an apron. We got off to a rocky start when he threw his sample watercress on the ground and passed his cheese sample off to Mama (it was delicious). Better luck next week.

(2) Next, we purchased a habanero pepper plant for our vegetable garden. David has declared that all food would taste better if we added just a little bit of chilies or peppers so hopefully he will enjoy this surprise. This purchase officially qualifies me to join the (no doubt) quite small group of Chicagoans who are trying to grow things like swiss chard and habaneros in little city gardens. Certainly experimental.

(3) Crepe time. Brendan and I split a butter and sugar buckwheat crepe. I am considering asking for a crepe griddle for my birthday so I can get a crepe operation going for weekend breakfasts. I am confident that Brendan would definitely agree that it was worth the five minute wait where he stood next to the griddle, fork in hand, saying "cepe, cepe, cepe" over and over.

(4) We purchased the makings of an entirely "spring market" dinner: sunflower spouts, and french radishes to be combined with chives and baby lettuce from our own garden for a salad (with some gorgonzola or feta sprinkled on top). Plus, some Russian banana potatoes to roast and toss with butter and parsley. And we picked up a baguette from Bleeding Heart Bakery to serve warm alongside the salad. Doesn't that sound lovely and light?

An excellent first market of the summer.

A Good Day

Today was such a good day. Well, not for David who is at work on a Sunday morning, preparing for a trial.

But while he toils away, Ellie, Brendan and I had a lovely morning at the Museum of Science and Industry. Brendan loved the trains. Hell . . . I loved the trains. Ellie's favorite was the circus exhibit and she talked the whole way home about, "When Uncle Sam and Aunt Meg took me to the circus and Brendan wasn't invited . . . . blah, blah, blah."

The whole excursion was just pleasant from start to finish. I didn't bring a stroller so they were both on the loose -- but they stayed close to me and didn't have tantrums when it was time to leave. We sat together and ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then we were off, big-eyed, to see more.

While visiting the "Main Street" exhibit, Ellie sauntered into the photo booth, grabbed the red hat and boa, and I couldn't say no to an over-priced, but-oh-so-cute picture. Here they are in their stage coach.

Making Our Summer List

Ellie and I started making a list of all of the things we want to do together this summer. Here is what we have so far.

Ellie's List:
(1) Practice somersaults
(2) Go on nature hikes to "hunt" birds and butterflies
(3) Eat dinner at Aunt Meg's house and throw a ball to Penny the dog after dessert

Mama's List:
(1) Pick strawberries from a farm on Father's Day
(2) Catch a concert on the lawn at Millennium Park
(3) Lots and lots of picnic lunches

Certainly more to come on both lists.

Her New Project

Inspired by this lovely book (which deserves its own post entirely) and Grandma's beautiful needlepoint work, Ellie has started an embroidery project. It is coming along nicely, don't you think?

The Artist

I love these pictures of Eleanor working on Mother's Day birdhouses for her grandmamas. She works with such focus and purpose. Her creations are always made with a recipient in mind (I think this one went to Nana).