free roaming.

Today, even though the ground was still soggy from last night's rain, the sun lit the sky brilliantly and filtered amazing dapples of light through our now blooming fruit trees. The aloocha tree has tiny green fruits, the cherry has flowered, the sour Georgian purple plums are forming and the grape vines are shooting out new leaves daily. Our vegetable garden is mostly planted (we'll add some more plants once the seedlings gain a bit of strength and also throw in some direct sow seeds soon).

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, our two free roaming turtles have been plowing through the grass and the flowers-- filling their bellies after awakening from their winter hibernation. So, when the beans, carrots and tomato seedlings went into the ground, the free roaming turtles gained a new habitat. They now reside in a low-fenced space just outside of our kitchen window. We knew they'd need some extra care, with servings of greens provided daily. But, what I didn't realize is how persistent they'd be in trying to escape their new space. They ram their shells against the fence. They desperately attempt to hoist themselves over the barrier. They stick their necks out as far as they will stretch. Desperately hoping to regain their beloved independence. And, today, sometime during the hour it took for me to drive to my son's school, pick him up and return home, the turtles managed to finally escape and tear through our bean plants with a vengeance. Suffice it to say that come harvest time, the bean yield from our yard will be significantly lower than planned.

But, as I write this, the turtles are once again corralled. The kids are all home, laughing and caked in mud as they helped to wrangle the turtles back into their newly secure home. Jeans, torn open during the turtle hunt, have been patched and mended. Trees have been climbed and we're now settling into the evening hours. The clay has come out and my son is creating a caged turtle, while my daughter creates a free roaming version. I'm cooking pasta, topped with lemon and parmesan for tonight's dinner and the setting sun is bouncing a warm rosy light off our back garden's concrete walls. Everyone is happy and cosy in their home-- including the turtles who adventured beyond their still new walls today.

giant cycle, built for two (street art installation), Tbilisi. 11 o'clock.

easter cake.

The week following Orthodox Easter is a celebratory one in Georgia. The scent of lilacs is heavy in the air, the sun is steady and the produce stands start to carry more than cabbage, onions, potatoes (and the fermented versions of each). Every shop with an oven is selling the traditional Georgian Easter cake--which is suspiciously like Italian Panettone, but with far fewer raisins. And by far fewer, I mean that I've tried three different loaves and not a single one has had more than maybe six raisins for the entire loaf.

The warmth expressed towards us from our Georgian neighbors continues to shine brightly. Today, the woman who owns the Katchapuri stand across the street gave us her version of the Easter cake, studded with cardamom, and a huge bouquet of flowers from her yard. Then, the children next door yelled through the fence to invite my son and daughter over to play. They all enjoyed a rousing game of basketball followed by an offer to stay for a dinner party the family was hosting. Much to the dismay of our neighbors, my kids needed to get ready for bed (at a time a Georgian parent would consider ridiculously early).

Happy Spring. Our family seems to have finally made it to the other side of our first winter in Eastern Europe.

Ho Hey.

One of my husband's talents is finding great music. If he wasn't passionate about his already established career path, he would make a pretty amazing talent scout.

We don't always have the same taste. He could listen for hours to screaming rockers whose words are unintelligible. I get a headache. But likewise, I could listen to moody, raspy voiced songwriters for days. He retreats to his headphones certainly thinking 'enough is enough.' But, even with these difference,s we both share a musical library with a lot of overlapping tastes.

When we were sitting in our living room late one recent night. he played his latest discovery for me. Ho Hey by The Lumineers was only the beginning. The whole album is full of springy, upbeat charisma-- the kind of stuff that fits my mood in early Spring-- with just enough raspy, moody singer songwriter-ness thrown in to have me playing it for hours on end.

WARNING: In the spirit of full disclosure, this is an ear worm of a song. I've been singing Ho Hey repeatedly and dare you to not break into the words 'you're my sweetheart' at random moments for the next week after watching the video. In fact, you won't even be able to read the words 'you're my sweetheart' without adding the happily bouncy way sweetheart is sung. I wish you happy ear worming! HO HEY, HO HEY!

for consideration.

Source:Surfrider Foundation

On an early trip to our city's largest grocery store I was stopped by the security guards standing at the entrance. Apparently, my reusable grocery sacks tucked under my arm were a major problem. Through the language barrier I was strictly told to leave my sacks at the lockers provided. I tried to explain that I didn't want to use the bundle of plastic bags it would take to get my groceries home. Understanding my point, two older gentlemen came to my aide and argued passionately, in Georgian, with the security guard (who had now been surrounded by a group of his teammates, coming to his aide). After much disgust expressed on both sides (and me quietly watching in fascination and a bit of fear!) I was permitted to enter the store with one bag, stuffed into my handbag, and the other six stored in the lockers.

On a subsequent trip, my husband was permitted to carry our cloth bags into the store but he returned home with them bagged into the store's plastic bags! We live in a country without a recycling program. We try to go about our business being as environmentally aware as possible, but (like many other things that one experiences while raising a family abroad) our foreign notions are still considered very foreign locally. On my next holiday to the States, I'll be stocking up on these reusable bags that roll into a tiny ball. I figure I can get at least ten of them by the grocery's security guards undetected in one of my favorite large handbags!

In honor of Earth Day, I offer you a 20 day challenge. A challenge to make your life easier and your world a little bit better in the process. Check out and consider these ideas, one per day.

1. Appreciate nature. Go for a walk. Stop. Look at a tree, the ocean or the mountain nearest you.
2. Throw a reusable cup in your bag. Use it. 
3. Gather up a pile of cloth rags-- cut up an old towel, purchase some inexpensive wash clothes, gather up some shammies-- and put them in a container in your kitchen. Every time you would usually grab for a paper towel, instead use one of your cloth rags. (Place a small rubbish bin next to your usual garbage bin and use this to collect your used rags for easy washing.)
4. Get take out for dinner and bring your own reusable containers to be filled. 
5. Want to buy something cool? How about these stainless steel straws?
6. Plant something! (Aren't these tomatoes cool?!)
7. Clean out your closet (donate gently used items) and reinvent some of your favorite pieces. Mend tears, rework a hem, pair a favorite piece with several different outfits to get your creative juices flowing.
8. Find the children's book You're Aboard Spaceship Earth by Patricia Lauber from your local library or your favorite bookstore. The information contained is a simple, straightforward approach on what it means to care for a global community. Who cares if you are 5 or 85-- the 10 minutes it takes you to read the book will be time well spent.
9. Place a lidded container near your sink. Collect all vegetable scraps used during the day.
10. Place the scraps collected yesterday into your garden (container garden or in-ground garden) and cover with a bit of dirt or other organic matter. If you want to commit to composting for more than the day, here is an attractive small kitchen option.
11. Research some people doing amazing things to reinvigorate our passion for living on this Earth-- visit the Surfrider Foundation, read Barbara Kingsolver's nonfiction book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and the newly launched Taproot magazine.
12. Is there a baby in the family? Use cloth diapers and you don't have to stress about late night store runs when you discover there's only one disposable left. Plus, I swear to you from experience-- cloth diapering is really easy (and there's a million great ways to do it-- favorite ideas are here, here and here!).
13. Make one meal per week meatless and heatless. Come up with a 'go-to' meal and throw it into rotation. Our family loves a meal that we call our french spread (which originated when my husband and I ate this french-style picnic regularly in our Paris walk-up-- throw in a bottle of wine, throw open the french doors and I'm back in my Rue Charbon neighborhood). We grab a big beautiful tray and spread out sliced cheeses, fresh fruits, baguette slices, veggies and usually some olives, cornichons and a favorite mustard. Delicious and easy.
14. Switch to cloth napkins-- way prettier than paper. I have my eye on these.
15. Make your own cleaning supplies--- easy and they work great. (plus, add your own essential oils and your home will smell the way you want it to.) My favorite recipe for all-purpose spray is: Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/2 gallon of water and a few drops of essential oil or a bay leaf. Shake, pour into a spray bottle and store.
16. Don't upgrade yet. Do you really want your mobile phone company to tell you when you need a new phone?! Just because your contract says 'you can' doesn't mean you need to chuck your current one if it's getting the job done.
17. Use matches instead of lighters. Who needs more plastic in their life? Plus, lighting that match ignites fabulous memories of camping and fireplaces.
18. Skip the promotional gift. Skipping the free gift at the store is way easier than figuring out where to put that key chain, logo-ed glass or free pen once you arrive home with it.
19. Host a fair trade party! Choose a favorite treat and have guests sample and discuss/score their favorite tea, coffee or chocolates. (Here is one of my favorite chocolates-- fig, fennel and almond dark chocolate!-- from the first organic, fair trade, bean to bar factory in the U.S.)
20. The next time you need a pair of great shoes to go with a party dress, look at these! (Designed by Rebecca Mink, these open toe raffia wedge and ankle strap is made of 100% animal-free materials.)

istanbul. in snapshots.

Simply stated-- Istanbul is amazing. Our family spent the last week climbing the city's hills, eating kebabs and Turkish delight, shopping the spice market and viewing mind-blowing landmarks like Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower and The Blue Mosque.

Row 1, from left to right:
1. One of many Turkish Delight shops along Istiklal Caddesi (The shop named Koska was my favorite)
2. The trolley running from Taksim Square
3. A side street filled with Turkish delis, produce stands, spices, dolmades, olives (aka home to many of the ingredients for our dinner meals!)
4. The floor in our third floor walk-up apartment. We rented for the week, made ourselves at home and lived a bit like locals (which was fun as we prepped dinner meals to the sounds of the call to prayer that echoed over the rooftops of the city and not so fun as we experienced a serious lack of heat during our cool, rainy stay in the city!)
5. Turkish flags strung overhead on one of our blue sky days

Row 2:
1. One of many (many, many...) Donner Kebabs purchased from street vendors during the week
2. A stormy day at the Spice Market (I returned home with a big box of fresh saffron, a spice grinder, some Turkish coffee pots and freshly made string cheese.)
3. The flag of Turkey, illuminated in The Grand Bazaar
4. Traditional lanterns for sale
5. Inside The Grand Bazaar

Row 3:
1. Local spices for sale at an open air market
2. Piles upon piles of olives for sale at the same market
3. Turkish coffee
4. Dolmades, wrapped and ready for early morning market shoppers
5. My five-year-old enjoying the stretchy, crazy dessert that is Turkish Ice Cream

Row 4:
1. Hagia Sophia
2 and 3. Inside the dome of Hagia Sophia
4. A view from the upper level of Hagia Sophia towards The Blue Mosque
5. Inside the Blue Mosque

Row 5:
1. View on a rainy day while walking across the Bosphorus Straight
2. Halfway across the Bosphorus Bridge, where we paused many times and admired the Straight and The Golden Horn
3. A view of the fish boats rocking on the Bosphorus (The waves rock these little 'kitchens' like mad as the chefs grill fresh fish, place it on a crusty french type roll, top it with lettuce and lemon juice and pass it off to those willing to part with five Turkish Lira to taste its yumminess--- aka me!)
4 and 5. Views of the park surrounding Topkapi Palace. Fun fact: The Turks were the first to cultivate the tulip, 1000 AD)


Row 6:
1. The Galata Tower (Impressively, I actually made it a bit of the way around the observation deck, even though it was 67 meters up in the air and only wide enough for two people to barely slide past one another. Yes, I was plastered to the wall and silently praying my eight-year-old would want to turn back. My sanity was kept intact, and my fear of heights kept hidden from her view, when she said 'Okay I've seen enough. It's cold out here.')
2 and 3. The streets surrounding Galata Tower
4. Blue tiles (on the upper exteriors), lanterns (hanging from the awnings) and the ever present glass Evil Eye (at the far left of the photo).
5. The impressive Istanbul Museum of Modern Art (The baby loved blowing on the digital trees that seemed to sway in an imaginary wind. My son was enthralled with an exhibit that allowed him to view a movie after crawling along the ground and into a giant red balloon. I had that familiar electric charge that runs through my veins when at a modern art museum.)

ahead.

Steady
ahead.
Grasses appear like patches on a mangy mutt,
hinting that fullness is ahead.
But, for now, hibernation still
as some sleep a bit longer before the stretch.

Crocus, or something that looks like,
peers out of the soil
wondering if it's safe to jump forth.
Until then, few dried globes of pomegranate
hang on as if decorations left on a Christmas tree
far past its prime.

Concrete walls still visible
awaiting climbing vines and shrubs to once again
sequester them in secrecy.
The bright bulb seems to shine longer,
brighter,
steady ahead.

Spring. what I want to wear.

In my area of the world the sun is shining a bit more often, but the temperatures still require a bit of bundling. So while I continue to hide my dry winter skin under basic black layers and snuggle under a slouchy knit hat, I can't help but to let my mind wander to some bright, colorful bursts of spring fashion. Here's what I'm looking forward to:

1. I love this red hair so much. My strawberry blond might need to make its way to deeper shades eventually. Knowing me, I'll stare at this picture all season and eventually just go blonder!
2. Stacked dainty rings.
3. I love a citrus punch on the foot. To avoid looking too hippy chic, I'd pair these (from heels.com) with a sharp pedicure in the bright purple polish in the bottom right. 
4. Jeans, wedges, a ruffly crisp white blouse and a romantic key necklace to lay atop your heart. (featured on Polyvore)
5. Saddle shoes- absolutely cute with everything. (from LL Bean)
6. A fantastic bright green trench with 3/4 sleeves. (from Old Navy)
7. A sour lemon gauzy scarf. (from tobi)
8. A simple gold toned heart pendant to wear daily. (from designer Beth Coller, Of Matter)
9. I love the color, the simple shape and the graphic pattern creeping from the hem of this mod tunic dress. (from anthropologie)
10. A color-blocked hemline topped with white denim. (from Old Navy) After seeing this dress, I'm toying with the idea of DIYing a color blocked hem on a sundress I already own.
11. This cuff is an incredible work of art. Incredible. (from Doloris Petunia by Courtney Prince)
12. Again with the deep red hair! But, seriously, that feather headdress is so pretty.
13. A perfect pink lipstick. One that looks like your lips--only better. (color: Coral Reef by Sleek)
14. That messy knot looks easy, effortless and would keep my hair from being whipped to death in this Eastern European, early Spring wind.
15. Chevron stripes? Yellow, black and white? A really flattering cut? A perfect all occasion dress in my book. (from Dorothy Perkins)
16. That purple polish. I know pastels are supposedly the thing right now, but I think this shade of purple looks great on everyone in Spring's light. (color: Dream On by Sinful Colors)

*And, by the way, these are a few personal favorites I wanted to share (i.e. none of these businesses are paying me to display their products!). Find more of the Spring styles I love here.

what I'm listening to.

I'm packing for a Spring Break holiday and grooving along to:

• Let's Get Lost, Beck and Bat for Lashes
• This is Nowhere, The Airborne Toxic Event
• A Little Piece, The Jezebels
• Setting Forth, Eddie Vedder
• The World I Know, Collective Soul
• Song Away, Hockey
• Soul Meets Body, Death Cab for Cutie
• Say Hey (I Love You), Michael Franti

(Listen along with me by clicking here or on the cassette tape above.)

out of hibernation.

Spring of 2008. That was the last true Spring my family remembers. Since that year, we've spent every subsequent year in the tropics. In fact, my oldest son was still one during our last true Spring and he has no memory of what the season 'feels' like.

And now, in our Tbilisi home, my son is experiencing a rebirth of sorts. He's completely enamored by the opening of April, reporting daily after preschool about the butterflies he saw, the buds dotting the shrubs, the cucumber seeds he and his friends started. 

His cheeks are flushed with a healthy rosy pink and a 'little boy in the wilderness' scent clings to him these days-- a mix of fresh air, sweat and sweet grass. He and his sister beg me to let them stay in the back garden 'just a little bit longer' when I call them inside for dinner. It's a welcome change from the months of what was a harsh winter hibernation. 

There's so much to look forward to-- a new veggie garden that is just days away from being installed, a now cleaned pond in the back garden waiting to be stocked with fish, a Spring break holiday just around the corner, longer stretches of sunny outside time, the return of the family road trip to yet unexplored places throughout our host country. 

And, a sure sign that Spring in our Tbilisi yard has arrived? Just today I was standing near our garden door and I heard a familiar rustling of leaves. FINALLY-- one of our turtles has emerged from her winter hibernation. My daughter raced out to greet her after plucking a carrot from our fridge. In a fit of exuberance, the carrot (intended for turtle food) slipped from my daughter's hand and pelted the turtle's shell. How's that for a wake up from a long winter's nap?!

easter sunday.

Whether you celebrate Easter this weekend, as we do in the States, or next weekend, as we do in the Republic of Georgia, may it be a wonderful day of togetherness and peace in your home... wherever in the world you are.

egg seedlings.

Earlier in the year, the kids were really into harvesting fruit and vegetable seeds. There's something about a harsh winter that will get young and old, alike, dreaming of Spring's fertile planting ground! So, after splitting open a sweet red pepper (capsicum), we set the seeds out to dry on coffee filters. Once completely dry, we packaged them up and labeled them. Today, they came out of their storage and were sewn into these pretty metallic egg shells. A long, thin, white tray, lined with table salt provides a nice home as the seeds are looked after.

Here's how we did this simple craft, perfect for the season.

1. Mix food coloring (vary amount based on intensity desired) with 1/8 cup of water and a 1/2 tablespoon of white glue.
2. Blow out eggs and gently remove the top third of each egg. Rinse and dry.
3. Using plastic gloves, add a few drops of your coloring mixture over the entire egg.
4. Set aside and allow to dry just until tacky to the touch. Then, apply a sheet of silver leaf and rub randomly with the back of a wooden spoon. Pull off the silver leaf, leaving trace metallic pieces on the egg.
5. Fill each egg halfway with potting soil.
6. Add seeds and top with more soil.
7. Water lightly and set on a tray lined with salt, indoors, in a bright location.
8. Once seedlings form, plant the entire egg into your veggie garden.

nature eggs.

My daughter is just finishing up a study unit on natural resources. Here is a project we've been playing with in our house related to nature and the upcoming Easter holiday.

Natural Materials Egg Dying:

Have your child collect fresh items from nature (flowers, grasses, leaves, etc.). Place the materials around a raw, white colored egg. Enclose entirely in onion skins and slip into a piece of nylon stocking. Tie closed and place gently into a saucepan. Cover with water and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain and allow to cool. Remove the layers of nylon, onion skins and natural materials.

This entry is linked to the post party at Blue Cricket Designs.

anniversary.

The day we met I'm certain the Earth shifted a bit.

A slight tilt of what was once--sliding past, opening new doors.

Turning on its side and righting again in a new unknown direction.

A dream of hallways, 

peacock blue followed by rows of doors. 

Choice. Choose one. Open up to sunlight, speckled by raindrops. 

Standing and listening-- with you.

This path continuing to lay down, 

anew with each step made confidently, together.

You. Of whom I rarely tell here.

For good reason, but greatly deserving me to proclaim.

My love. Forever. Step.