A Walk in the (Ohio) Woods

I live on a hundred acres, in the middle of nowhere. There are dozens of hummingbirds that come to the garden everyday... We can go hunt for mushrooms, salamanders, whatever! You should bring your family out sometime!



It was that easy. An invitation, from a prolific writer (with four NEW books coming out this next month), who I had just met a day before.  Michael is an easy guy to meet. No ego, no agent, no fluff. He means what he says, as we quickly found out when we found ourselves driving up the gravel road, meandering through the wooded hills of south eastern Ohio.



Nor was he making up the mushroom, salamander, and the hummingbird bit. Accompanied by some four legged friends around a small pond, we slowly made our way through the woods, finding fungi, and critters, and a very scary looking tree.



Michael is knowledgeable about mushrooms: which one is good for eating, and which ones will kill you. We found several oyster mushrooms, puff-balls, and chicken-of-the-woods, among others. The host promised a sample of our find during what was turning into quite a late summer's feast.


Thorny Honeylocust



And a feast we had: alfresco, multiple courses, with a few hummingbirds buzzing about.



Thanks again, Michael, for a fabulous time on the hundred acre woods. We didn't see Pooh, or Piglet, or any of their friends. But we did have two very happy children who are already looking forward to their next visit to the enchanted forest full of discoveries.

Chick and Garden Update: Sept 13

Where did time go? When I looked up at the beautiful full Harvest moon rising to the East of Columbus, I was reminded that summer is departing us soon (now that we live in a real four-season place). And wasn't it just yesterday that I was so worried about the baby tomato plants not making it out in the real world?



The garden is doing okay, for the most part. We have had enough tomatoes to store away for winter, and many peppers to spice up things and share with neighbors. We have also had plenty of basil for pesto (for now and later), and one healthy Italian parsley plant seems to be just right for our family.



Then there are carrots. The poor carrots. I am not the only impatient customer around here... I have two other parters in crime. We like to 'check' or sometimes we call in 'thinning'. Next thing I know, half of the (immature) carrots are pulled up and eaten before one can say Mississippi!



The chickens are doing well... clucking away, and loving to explore the territory. They peck on anything they could lay their beaks on...including Cinnamon the bunny. No eggs yet... That, for sure, is testing our patience (and there is not much we can do about it, thankfully!).

Alum Creek

Living in Ohio, there are occasions when the absence of a large body of water nearby is painstakingly palpable. After all, this is the first time that I have lived away from a coast.



It must have been something I took for granted. I would not call myself a 'water' person by any means. Apparently, I don't need to be IN the water, but I valued an access to it. And as I am getting older, the presence of water to me means a lot more than just the water itself.



The coast, whether it's by an ocean, or a big lake, brings with it a certain culture. It draws certain people, certain minds, and aspirations. It provides a narrative that is uniquely coastal. It inspires and touches different senses and values. It gives a sense of freedom.



Water also plays such an unrivaled entertainment for children. Our little boy has been fascinated by it, and what he can find in it, since he was a baby. In fact, his Thai name is water. I would not be surprised if water and the living organisms therein someday become the focus of his life.

Not too far from where we live is a small body of running water called Alum Creek. On a sunny day after the rain, it can be quite a sanctuary, and a wonderful natural playground. We spent sometime there today; he collected crayfish while I read in the peace and quiet of the soft flowing water.

It was just enough to fulfill my craving for now. As they say, little can go a long way.

Another Year

I was hanging on to 35 a little more than I had expected.



Although 36 is a nice, round, even number. The third cycle (12-year Chinese cycle) of life completed. I once again face the year of the Rabbit - the same zodiac sign I was born under, 3 cycles ago.



The day was celebrated in multiple days, multiple ways (thanks to my sweet family). It started with a journey to a new destination. The country roads and the green hills and the farm itself were all rejuvenating. Even the weather changed abruptly. Summer went away in a blink of an eye (it had been 97 degrees the day before), leaving us with a cooler, autumn chill in the air.



And so, a good camp-fire style cooking (in the backyard) was in order with a salad of our very own tomatoes and basil, and nothing more.



The sight of this ripening pumpkin (the only one we got out of so many plants!) was also a treat.



And these patties cooking on real charcoals... mine would be the lone portobello to the right.



The ladies even joined us.



And a 'hobo' pie was attempted in a new campfire cast iron pot.



Birthdays used to be about the fun and the excitement of adding one more to your previous age. Now it seems like it's more about self-reflection and an addition of grey hair on ones' head.



It's also about being thankful for what I have, and learning to live the moment.  Because at the end of the day, nothing else matters but what is happening right now. It did take almost three cycles of the Rabbit to knock that into my head.



And it may take many more cycles for me to finally live it. But at least, I will give it a good try this time around.

My Dog!

It's not every day that we get to participate in a video production for a new publication. Especially one involving two large friendly, slobbery Bernese Mountain dogs.



Michael Rosen, author of the latest book: My Dog!, graciously invited the kids to be some of the models for his upcoming videos that will accompany the book. Well, actually it was a proposal that we could have easily decline. But...why would we?



The kids had no experience with this kind of thing (nor did the parents!), but they were up for it. The recent talk (obsession) about adopting some canine friends made it even more appropriate for them to spend an hour or so with these very sweet pups.



Michael, and his film crew, had the skills to work with perhaps two of the most difficult subjects (kids AND dogs)! Good thing we didn't have babies in the mix, too. But it seemed as if they were able to achieve what they had hoped for. Or so we hope.



Be on the look out for MY DOG! and if you ever get a chance to meet Michael in person (he will be on a book tour shortly), don't think twice. If he can write as well as direct children AND dogs at the same time, you know he's a person worth meeting.

A photo essay: the Eastern Sierra

San Joaquin River heading West toward San Francisco

For ten days, we were in the middle of the Eastern Sierra Nevada. For ten days, we saw nothing but crystal clear blue sky during the day, and millions of stars against the deep black velvet canvas during the night. For ten days, we devoured the pine-scented mountain air, soaked in natural hot springs, lived and slept under the big California sky.



Those were some pretty good ten days! (Someone did lose a toe nail, and is recovering from a small fracture. The law of balance made itself known here, as usual).



You would think that during our decade as Californians, we would have frequented this part of the state more often. The truth is, it was pretty far away from the coast. The coast was where we lived and explored and used as our playground. We heard about people and friends who would venture into the steep Eastern Sierra mountains in the winter time with their skis and boards and whatever other winter toys they had. Us? We were quite happy frolicking in tide pools and apple orchards and strawberry fields.


Paddle Boarding in Lake Tahoe

Little did we know what we were missing.



The grandeur of those mountains and everything that came with it!


Mono Lake and its Tufas

Grover Hot Springs, on the other hand, was a place we had discovered and enjoyed for the past few years. It's not too far from the southern part of Lake Tahoe, and very family-friendly with the hot/ cool pools, gentle hiking paths, evening ranger programs fun enough for adults as well as children.



There was, of course, some good camp-eating to be had, right on top of the campfire!



We were happy that the 2,000 miles that now separates Grover Hot Springs and Ohio did not deter us from returning to our favorite campsite this summer.


Bristle Pine cone

More than the mountains and the streams and the waterfalls, we were able to learn and see some interesting places on this trip as well. One of them was Bodie National Historical Park. A "Ghost Town", as it is known. Over 10,000 people lived in Bodie during the gold rush days of the late 1800s. A very pretty ghost town, I'd say.


Bodie National Historical Park

We also hiked in the Bristle Pine Cone forest housing the oldest living organisms on earth (some of the trees are over 4,000 years old and still going). We enjoyed and explored the wonderful salt water of Mono Lake (with more brine shrimp floating about more than you would like to know).

We came back to Ohio, our current home state (which by the way has its own unique beauty as well), full of the beauty that is California.


Bristle Cone Pine Forest

There is so much to see in the world, but I would not be surprised if we find ourselves back there next year, to do it all over again.

Postcards: From The Eastern Sierra Nevada

Greetings all! Just a couple of images from the beginning of our 10-day stay in the Eastern part of the Sierra Nevada. Boy, it's beautiful here!



We have swam in the clear blue lakes that reflect the same color as the big open sky. We have hiked in the ancient forests of the Bristle Cone Pines that if they could talk, would have more than 4,000 years of history to share.



We are still to visit some more sites, and spend some more time in the wilderness. I will come back with more proper stories, and photographs once we have soaked it all in.

Harvest Before Take Off

For the next 10 days, we will be away from our garden. We will miss some ripening of more tomatoes, beans, zucchinis greens, herbs and more. However, it appears that we have had frequent visitors around here who do get to enjoy the bounty for us. To our dismay, naturally.



They are not picky either. They will happily chow on a large green heirloom tomato, or a ripe one...you know...according to their culinary taste at that time. So, we have to not wait for these to ripen on the plants anymore...hence the partly ripe-looking fruits. Oh well.

They are going to have a wonderful feast, these little (bushy tailed rats) beasts! I can only bid them, Bon Appetit!

Simple Pleasures: growing sweet potato vines

Sometimes, it just takes a sweet potato to make one happy. Make that a sweet potato, a few toothpicks, a jar, and some water.



One day last winter during a first-grade drop-off, I saw a meandering green vine at one of the activity tables (I took notice of this, of course, since we had been enduring months of grey, lifelessness of winter). I followed the vine, and found that it ended in a jar filled with water and a forest of tiny white roots.



The kids' class had started it during one of their projects. How simple, I thought, to grow something so beautiful. If the potato were to be planted underground, it would not have quite the same result. Sure it would produce more potatoes, good for the tummy. But to be able to see the roots and the shoots together – the whole plant growing – gives an entirely different benefit.

Seeing this plant gave me inexplicable joy. I left the classroom a bit fuller, happier, and made a note to self that I would start one at home, too.

Simply, what that plant did for me was it fed my soul. And sometimes, that is what one needs more than anything else.

Making Sauerkraut

Between farmers markets and CSA shares, we recently ended up with three heads of cabbage in the kitchen. Cabbage is one of those cruciferous vegetables that is rather versatile, but you've got to plan a bit ahead of time (since most cabbages are rather large heads of tightly folded leaves). A commitment of sort, actually.



I find cabbages quite beautiful to look at and I am always amazed that one tiny seed can become a work of art with patterns and spirals and different shades of green and purple. The best thing about it is that after admiring it, and photographing it, one can eat and benefit from its multitude of nutrients! My kind of vegetable!



We had been dreaming about making our own sauerkraut for a while now, since our exposure to some amazing homemade sauerkraut back at our old farmers market in California. We asked what went into their classic plain kraut and were impressed that the answer was: cabbage and salt.



We went ahead, with a bit of guideline from here, and chopped up our three heads of cabbage. A little sea salt and resting time later, we packaged our first ever sauerkraut jars. They are now living (and growing probiotics) in our basement. Results are to be determined and tested in a couple of weeks. Now... if we can do this, kimchi can't be too far fetched!