A rare fall day....

On a rare weekend day about two weeks ago, the following things happened:

1) Ger, Matt and I were all in the house at the same time.
2) The weather was sunny.
3) It was daytime and not Matt's nap-time.
4) The last of the leaves had fallen.

We went to the diner to meet with our neighbor's for a quick brunch, then crunched through some leaves. Matt had a blast, as you can see...

Matt and The Muffin

This Muffin that Matt is eating has:

1) Flax
2) Bran
3) Carrots
4) Apples

I feel like such a good mom (and those moments are rare!)

Home Organization - The Dining Room Hutch

Well, we are finally getting truly settled in our house. Ger and I have been married for over 6 years and for most of that time our wedding china has been in boxes. Recently however, we were able to find some dining room furniture and I went about the task of opening up presents that I hadn't seen for over 6 years.



Emily opening the boxes! So fun! (except when I realized the price tags were on for 6 years and and I had to get them all off).




Of course now, Ger moved the hutch into the room, and his one request was that we display the star wars plates. Now how can a girl say no to that?

There is still a lot more to do before the dining room is set - but hey Rome wasn't built in a day. Baby steps!

Matt and the Hay Maze

I took Matt to the Children's Hay Maze at the Woodmere Art Musuem in Chestnut Hill. Now, I was really surprised that Matt figured out how to get to the center in about 10.5 seconds. At first I thought, well that was the most expensive 10 seconds ever (it was $8 to use the maze) but then I was like, well it was worth it to spend $8 to see Matt figure out the maze so quickly! Ha Ha!

These pics were taken with the brand new Iphone 4S - so hopefully I have no excuse not to take pictures - and video! There is a short test of this below. Also, I need to learn to post from the phone, as that will make all the difference.




Matt at the center of the Hay Maze.




The Woodmere is a lovely building. They have a children's gallery that is very inspiring.

Fall 2011- In the Kitchen

All this running around you wouldn't think I would neglect my time in the kitchen right? Well yes, kind of. But this is the season to get back into the swing of things...

First off, canning class. Thank you so much Marta, for hooking this up. (Marta used to help run a CSA serving CHOP and needless to say is totally hooked up).

Thank god for the Iphone camera, otherwise I'd have no pictures.

The class took place at the Long View Center for Agriculture. All the produce we used came from the farm. When we started roasting up the tomatoes for canning, I was really worried there would be none to can cause it smelled so freakin' good.

These beets were just so *alive*.

Here is the finished product. I think I feel ready now to tackle canning my chutney....

I've also been doing a vat of soup a week, making it as veggie packed as possible. This one is vegan! (Just for fun, really).

Finally, baking! I wasn't going to let Matt's Birthday go by without celebrating right? He turned 3 - so I made Elmo.

Matt, when he saw it said, " Where's Grover?". Go figure.

Pennsylvannia Hospital

Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital built in the US, and part of the Penn Medicine system. While the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvannia gets most of the hoop-la, because it is one of the best hosptials in the US, really my favorite is Pennsy. It's small, in the center of things and kinda scrappy - just like me ha ha! They are also in a perfect position to be a petri dish of experimentation, which health care really needs.

One afternoon, I had a presentation to make, but then snuck out afterwards to do a little tour. This is the first operating theater built in the US. Clearly it is no longer in use, but the wood work is amazing.

"Relax, I'm a doctor's wife and have heard so much about this over BBQs I'm sure I can operate..." HA HA.

Really the pictures don't do it justice. The old medical library is equally as detailed in the woodwork. The books were just gorgeous, even though you could only gaze at them behind the glass. The room is mainly used now for meetings, though it is open to tourists.

Always fun to see something off the beaten track at work!

Maine in August...

Hello - Okay, So I am very behind on posting. In late august (ahem, I know, it's oct as I write this) we took a much needed weekend trip up to Maine. It was so good to get away and see our friends from Dartmouth.

I do have to point out that it was relatively clear driving through NJ, NY and ME but just as we were approaching the CT - MA border what was before but like a massive traffic jam. It was like that state's way of saying, "and stay out!"

Ha ha. Now, I was crushed when we got to ME and realized we forgot the camera! So pictures of Ben's rope bridge and Jen's perfect house - yeah sorry don't have them to share. With the Iphone camera though I did take a few shots. First off here's Noah, James and Matt sitting to lunch.

Aren't they so cute? Matt actually sat down to lunch which was huge but he only ate blueberries. He played so nicely with Noah and James, and it was so good to see Jen. Really Jen, no one that pregnant should have a house that clean.

I also snapped a picture of Ben and Alexis as we settled down to eat our sushi feast.

Just like old times, aye?

We just got an Iphone 4, and so hopefully that will help me take more pictures.