funny. and smart.

go watch this video.
i like john stewart so much and i also like, maybe partly because some people are so irrational and silly and vilifying towards him, president obama. despite my desire to keep my hope out of the political realm, i think he's smart and cares about people in this country. he's not trying to kill anyone's grandmother.

a review of sorts...

for the last couple of months i have been in a woman's group going through the book, "traveling with the turtle". i very much recommend joining a group doing this study to women who are interested in women's spirituality and peacemaking. the readings are phenonmenal and the exercises, while usually out of my comfort zone, have surprised me in their depth and relevance. in fact, the only criticism i have for this study is that, while it is written and compiled by two catholic women, is doesn't seem to have a lot of specifically christian content in it. i think there is enough about women's spirituality and women's issues in the scriptures, in other christian writings and in the life of jesus to be included. but i have loved going through this book! and i always love meeting with other women who care about god, justice, and peacemaking. so take a look.

melon salsa

i found this great recipe for cantaloupe salsa that i wanted to share... it's amazing! this picture doesn't do it justice - it's so bright and fresh looking. i used my wonderful thai chilies to kick it up a bit.


Makes about 2 cups of salsa

2 cups diced cantaloupe
1/4 cup diced (1/4 inch) sweet onion (such as Vidalia) or red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or cilantro
1 (2-inch-long) fresh hot red or green chile (skip the seeds if you want to dim the heat), minced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix everything and eat immediately.

...

can i just share with you how ridiculously gorgeous these 2 people are? and these are just their engagement photos... the wedding was beautiful!

congratulations amber and nate!

teapot.

chris is super proud of his newest creation and you know what, i am too. it's great and really shows how far he's come as a potter. so here it is (unglazed): teapot.


in other, related news, we had an arts event with some local artists in our home a couple of days ago. chris, and our friend ben, sold pottery, melissa sold thai goods from an initiative called "warm heart", and blew made and sold wonderful coffee drinks through her travelling coffee house, leotah's place. it was an experiment and it went really well. so, we'll do it again in the first few days of december and invite more people and maybe more artists as well. i'll keep you posted!

blew's coffee was amazing. some of the best i've had... and she can do the leaf thing with foam, you know what i mean.

home sweet home.

we're finally home and enjoying ourselves immensely. well, chris is throwing tons of pottery to make us some money and i've been complaining about the humidity. but we've also been spending time with our chickens (they love frozen watermelon and cooked spaghetti) and in the garden and we saw the newest harry potter movie, which i liked and the theater was a great respite from the heat.

i thought i'd share some photos from our garden and chickens... and one of our car carrying our big canoe. the canoe was my dad's and i have many memories of being on the rivers and lakes with him. i'm happy to have it.

i think when cucumbers turn yellow, that's usually bad. ?

thai chili peppers!

i love zinnias!

Color Of Change

Some of you may have heard about a news story in Philadelphia involving a public swimming pool canceling the membership of a summer camp made up of mostly black kids.

When the campers entered the pool, white parents took their kids out of the water, and the swimming club's staff asked the campers to leave. The next day, the club told the summer camp that their membership would be canceled and that they would refund their money. When asked why, the club's leader said the "kids would change the complexion ... and the atmosphere of the club."

This is outrageous and disgusting. If you feel the same way one small thing you can do is send a letter to the owners and staff at the pool through Color Of Change. I hope you'll consider it.

Thanks!