Despite it’s humble reputation, Oxnard is not such a bad place to spend a Friday evening.
Archive for September, 2009
I love my box
24
Sep
Last spring, my mom and I decided that we would try joining a Community Supported Agriculture program for the summer and share the weekly boxes of organic fruits, veggies and flowers. It was a great experience, so I have joined back up for the fall – it is a lot of food, so I am again sharing the membership, this time with my coworker Nancy.
Getting my share every other week is always a highlight. Nancy compared it to Christmas and she is right – a culinary Christmas. Since we first started getting the box we have learned that we love to eat beets and butternut squash. They are a couple of vegetables that we had never really tried and wouldn’t have expected to like. Now I have said, “Yea! Candy strip beets! My favorite!” more than once. Ali found a favorite from the box too. She loves the summer squash, and if it is on the table for dinner, she pretty much ignores everything else and chows down on zucchini and yellow crook-neck.
As of last week they have pumpkins at the farm and in the box, and I think these little ones are so cute. Hopefully there will be sugar pumpkins this fall too!
I don’t know much about McGrath Family Farms or CSAs in general, but I know I love my box!
Amy
Ali’s new hat
08
Sep
The other night, Ali was sporting a new, pink cowboy hat in the bathtub.
She tried some ever-popular tongue out poses
Howdy, partner!
And then went for the ususal cheese that we know and love so well.
If you haven’t recognized it yet, this is a very special pink cowboy hat.
It doubles as the basin for her froggy potty.
Don’t be grossed out – the froggy potty has not been used for it’s manufactured purpose yet. I think we still have a few good months of hat wearing before we have to put a stop to that for sanitary reasons.
Amy
Toddler Time
07
Sep
This is the second year that Hannah, Michelle, Ali and I have done the Toddler Time class at the Ventura Aquatic Center together. Even though we waited until the warmest part of the summer, the class wasn’t until 4:30 in the afternoon and it is still tough to keep a pair of toddlers in the pool for more than about 40 minutes at that time of day because of those cool afternoon breezes.
I know, poor us, the weather is so comfortable that you don’t need to be in the pool to cool off – it does have it’s down side.
Despite the fact that we had to cut the lesson a little short each time due to chattering teeth, we still had a great time!
Matt got to come to the last class, so I hopped out to take some pictures.
Ali has been a little fish this summer and would like to demonstrate one of her many accomplishments.
Going under water……..
And coming out still smiling!
Glub….
Amy
Dog days of summer
06
Sep
My cold water, beach babies are finding ways to deal with the heat. Actually one way………they lounge. Nala starts things out, sprawling and snoozing wherever she thinks she can find peace, and when Ali finds her she shouts, “Lala, nap” and ever so gently lays down with her.
OK, the gently part was a lie. Ali thinks cuddling with, hugging, and body slamming Nala are the best things ever. Nala is very patient and submits to being a canine pillow/punching bag.
But I don’t think she loves it quite as much as Ali does. She may put up with it because Ali has become a very important person in her life recently. I was shocked with the vet told me last week that Nala was fat. She has so much energy and runs all the time (that is when she is not lounging around the house)……..how could she be fat? So now, Nala gets two measly cups of kibble from us each day and carrots for snacks. Lucky for her, she still has a constant source of peanut butter sandwiches, crackers, cheese and even meat from Ali.
Hmmm, could that be why she is fat in the first place?
Amy
Aye, Aye Cap’n
05
Sep
Last weekend Ruthie and Charlie came up and joined us for a weekend that was the grand finale of my parents’ two months here this summer. One of the big events of the weekend was an afternoon cruise around Channel Islands Harbor in an electric boat rental.
Thanks guys for coming and being photogenic!
At first Ali was not happy about having to wear a life vest.
I was happy she was wearing it though. I had to hold onto it because she kept trying to climb over the side of the boat. That strap that goes between the kids legs is very handy! I just held onto that and she was our captive.
She became much happier when her Gigi let her help pilot the boat.
Get outta’ my way! Coming through!
Ahoy there!
Amy