Capital, Hays, Mountains, Home, whew!

I apologize for the lack of posting (basically the entire month of July). Know that this was not my intention. I had planned on posting the remaining photos from our trip to D.C (Capital), send photos from our trip to Colorado and update things when I got home. None of these happened. So, here is a one month recap.

1. The Capital. We took a Sunday drive to Annapolis to see the US Naval Academy. This was a great idea, in my head. How was I to know that the new plebes report to school on July 1st and that Annapolis may be one of the busiest places in the world (for it's relative size) on the weekend of July 4th? Yikes! We spent more time parking and walking to and from our parking spot than we did touring the Academy.



It was also our intention to eat an authentic Maryland Crab dinner while in Annapolis. This did not happen either. When traveling with children, it is important to remember they must eat every two hours. The wait was longer than that at this popular crab place and by 4:00 in the afternoon we had not eaten since breakfast! Just imagine our lovely children's temperaments.

The highlight of the day was a comment Davis made to his dad about attending the Naval Academy. Dave and I had been talking up the merits of a Naval Academy education (mostly, we are trying to get all our kids to college for free). Davis was thinking this might be really cool. Until, after seeing several plebes walking in formation he asked his dad why they all had such short hair. Dave informed him that they were required to shave their heads when they got to school. Davis, "Well, then, I am not going here." I will say, he does have one of the most lovely heads of hair of any 5th grader I know. So, maybe we will try and find a free acting school - can you say "Patrick Dempsey."

We then spent the 4th of July attending "A Capital 4th" from the lawn of the capital. The music was incredible, and the fireworks, though slightly hidden from view by a tree, were amazing. No wonder we are at our debt ceiling - quite a show. The highlight of the entire trip for me was seeing Steve Martin. He now plays banjo, as if being a great actor and comedian weren't enough, and is darn good. I almost fainted when I saw him in his ivory suit, light blue shirt, red tie and black glasses. I know he is a little old for me, but hey, I like older guys. Check out his band, The Steep Canyon Rangers.

2. Hays, Kansas. After spending two days at home unpacking, doing laundry and packing, we were off to the mountains for two weeks. Anyone who knows us is keenly aware of our unfortunate luck when driving I-70 West. We have had puking kids and flat tires. We have been stranded in a blizzard and slept in our truck. So, we took every appropriate measure we could to be prepared for our trip. We checked the oil, spare tire, washer fluid, coolant, packed a cooler of ice with snacks, a cooler of water. We were ready.

At 9:00 in the morning on Saturday, we left. As relaxed and calm as we have ever been on a road trip. We stopped for lunch in Salina, then hit the highway. Just outside Russell, Kansas, I heard a strange sound coming from the driver side front tire. I turned to Dave, and said, "I think I should pull over, I think we have a flat tire." I am sure he thought I was crazy or delusional, but we pulled over. He got out, checked, got back in the car and announced, "Yes, a flat." Oh Crap! Why Us?

Now, one thing our kids have learned about traveling with Dave and I, is that flat tires can be fun. Clara's first comment, with her arms raised high over head in a cheer was, "Woo-hoo, do we get to sleep in the car tonight?" God, I hope not. It was 2:00 in the afternoon and 100 degrees, 110 on the highway in the sun. Eden's first comment, "Look mom, a dead animal skeleton right outside the car," It really sucked!



We called Triple AAA, even though, Dave was already diligently working (sweating his ass off) on the tire. I figured we could use the help. They informed us after an hour, that they couldn't find anyone to come help us (they should be getting the letter I wrote them about this right about now) At this point, we are realizing our spare tire is so old, that we can't lower it from below the truck. Great. Add to that, our truck is now overheating and we can no longer enjoy the benefit of air conditioning.

Dave and I were getting a little concerned at this point. Our kids? Not so much. Busy playing with ice in the car. Finally, we enlist the help of a highway patrolman who is able to help Dave get the tire down and on. Off we went. At this point, I am just thankful our truck started.

We drove about 20 minutes down I-70 to Hays, Kansas. We knew we needed to get the 10-year old spare replaced and a new spare tire. We pulled into Wal-mart to check on buying some new tires. They had a tire they could sell us, but it would be a two hour wait. We had no choice. It was 4:45 in the afternoon at this point.

Now here comes the part that sounds really crazy. First, a little history. For the last few months I have been researching new cars. We knew our truck was living on borrowed time (10 years, 170,000 miles.) But, I was trying to hold out a little while longer. I knew the car I wanted. It would be a new Ford Explorer and I was planning on ordering a 2012 sometime later in the fall, because there were not any 2011s in the KC area at the time, that were not totally tricked out. I am a firm believer that the point of a car is to get you from A to B - so I don't need all the bells and whistles.

After taking a bathroom break at Wal-mart, I got on my trusty iPhone and pulled up the inventory of the Ford dealership directly across the street from Wal-mart. Well, what do you know? They just happen to have the car we were going to order. So, like any good American family, we hopped in our trusty, gas-guzzling SUV, drove across the street, and to make a long story shorter, bought a new car, moved all our belongings out of the old truck into the new one and off we went. We arrived in the mountains at 2:00 in the morning on Sunday and did not have to sleep in our car. Who does that? We do. Now, our kids will think that a flat tire means you sleep in your car overnight in a blizzard, or you just buy a new car! Gotta love living in suburban Johnson County.





Thankfully, the rest of our trip was extremely less eventful. We enjoyed two beautiful weeks of hiking, mountain biking, rafting and just being outside. We did not watch TV at all and my brother joined us for a few days.



We met up with some good friends of ours for hiking, swimming and some dinner. It was a sad day when we left and I am secretly (well, not so secretly now, job-searching for something in Denver.) What would be really great is if Colorado would secede from the Union and become it's own country, then I could live somewhere really great and not have to listen to all this crap about a bogus debt ceiling deadline.




Now, we are home. And it feels good. We have three weeks until school starts and a lot of things to cross of our summer fun list. We shall see.

Washington D.C. - Part One

Day One of our Washington D.C. trip started with a long run for Dave and I along the Mount Vernon Trail from Alexandria. If you have not had the opportunity to run in the D.C. area, it really is something great. Not only are there miles of trails, but it is a great way to see all of the monuments, without the lines.



After breakfast/lunch, we headed to the Natural History Museum and the Newseum. Two great choices. The Natural History Museum has a butterfly exhibit with more than 400 live butterflies. Eden and Clara love the concept of butterflies, but in reality, they are terrified of them. It was all I could do to keep them from swatting at them and killing them, or seriously injuring them. They are very fragile (the butterflies, not Eden and Clara.)



We also saw the Hope Diamond. It is set in a Harry Winston diamond necklace. It really wasn't as large as I thought it would be - but I would take it. Wait, I already own it. According to the plaque under the diamond, this diamond is the property of the people of the United States of America. Maybe that is why our country is in the midst of such bad luck. We should give it to another country and maybe our economy will turn around.

The gem and mineral exhibit is truly beautiful. The museum was so busy, Saturday, a holiday weekend and it is free. So we only stayed for a while then headed over to the Newseum. It was considerably less crowded, probably has something to do with the $21.95 per person price tag. But, well worth it.



(This is the view from the upstairs balcony of the Newseum - now that would be a great place for a party.)

They have a 9/11 exhibit that is very moving. Davis, though I am sure does not remember the day, was really intrigued. I however, liked the Tim Russert exhibit. I have always been a fan.

Especially loved this coffee cup on his desk. Dave and I try really hard to spend any extra money we have on trips with our kids. We do not buy them alot of "things", but sometimes I worry that we are not doing enough - this really hit home.



In case you can't read the photo - "You can shower a child with presents or money, but what do they really mean, compared to the most valuable gift of all - your time? Vacations and special events are nice, but so often the best moments are the spontaneous ones. Being there. Every moment you spend with your child could be the one that really matters."

We rode the Metro back to Alexandria in time for burgers on the grill and a great evening eating ice cream and watching fireworks in Old Town Alexandria - not bad for day one!

Fun-producers vs. Fun-users?

What are you? Okay, maybe you have not heard this term before. In fact, I am not sure where I first heard it. I think one of Dave's friends used the term "fun-producer." You know the person. Everywhere he/she goes laughter, good times, craziness and parties follow. He/she creates fun. I think this is a positive thing.

I have two fun-producers in my house. There names are Eden and Clara and wherever they go, they produce fun. In fact, I actually had a teacher of theirs use this term to describe them also.

Now granted, having your best friend live with you 24 hours a day makes it easier to be this type of person. These two are NEVER bored.

What are you? Me? Totally a fun user.

Have a Happy 4th of July. Baxyard is headed to Washington D.C. We are hoping to get in a few sights and museums, a trip to Annapolis and fireworks at the capital. Enjoy!

Because these cuties don't care...

how much I weigh.

I have a habit. Every morning I get up, weigh myself, drink two glasses of water and then get dressed for the gym or to run or swim or bike or some kind of fitness. The weighing myself everyday routine began several years ago when Dave wanted a body fat scale and I obliged and got him one for Christmas. I knew I would become obsessed and I did. Some days getting on that scale feels great. Some days (usually the days where I am two pounds heavier) are awful. It is a vicious cycle as some would say.

I am breaking this habit, at least the weighing myself habit. I am finding that my mental attitude is so tied to what the scale says that day. For the next eight weeks, I have decided to only weigh myself once a week, on Fridays. I am tired of seeing the daily fluctuations, and trying to explain away the ups and downs knowing the amount of calories I take in and expend in any given day. Generally, I am a very healthy eater and I religiously work out. So, I decided that I will use Friday as my gage. As long as every Friday is the same, or close, I am good.

Do you have any idea how liberating this feels?

I am loving this. We will see if I love this as much on Friday - I will let you know.

Boys will be Boys

I spent some time in a car this week with six 10-year old boys. One was my son, the others, friends of my son. Being 10, I was not ready to send my son away to a week of basketball camp at KU. I decided day camp was still the best option. I am thinking next year we will make the transition.

Things I learned this week...

1. Boys think farting, talking about farting and smelling farts is funny. I do not.

2. Ten-year old boys like rap music. I became the coolest mom when I informed them Run DMC was around when I was in high-school. But quickly lost my status when they saw I had the Zac Brown Band album loaded on my iPhone.

3. I am convinced noise canceling head phones were invented for mother's driving six ten-year old boys to basketball camp.

4. A box of Chips Ahoy, box of Vanilla Wafers, Twizzlers, Peanut M&Ms and a bag of Fritos are no match for six boys who just spent 12 hours playing basketball.

But, for all I learned, I am sure they learned much more. And I don't think I want to know what that is.

Lions, Tigers and Louisburg

Looking for something fun to do with your kids over the weekend?

Head south. And not South Africa. Just to Louisburg.

A few Saturdays back we drove to the Cedar Cove Feline Conservation Park & Education Center in Louisburg, Kansas. It is just about 20 minutes from our house - probably about 45 minutes from downtown Kansas City - just down 69 highway.

You really won't believe this place. They have seven bengal tigers, beautiful cats. Two lions. And numerous other "wild" cats. On Saturdays, check the hours before you go, you will be assigned a very knowledgeable guide who can answer all your questions about these large cats.

Did you know that in the next 10 - 15 years they expect Tigers to be extinct? Hard to imagine that my kids' kids may never see a tiger.

So make a trip. Check out their website here for hours, etc.

I had a dream...

and it was not about world peace, equal rights or universal health care.

I woke up on Monday morning (I know today is Tuesday) and had this crazy dream that Dave and I drove an hour south of Kansas City to a hunting lodge that I would compare to 5-star private home in Aspen where we were greeted by four other couples, a private chef and an unlimited supply of wine, food and fun.

We sat by an outdoor firepit on 500 acres until the wee hours of the morning (a time I have not seen since I was waking up in the middle of the night to feed Eden and Clara). Every minute of it was absolute heaven.

The best part of the dream...when I realized it was in fact, not a dream.

Go Outside - National Trails Day

Are you ready for National Trails Day®? Did you know the United States celebrates such an event? Well, we do! Since 1993, the first Saturday of every June is known as National Trails Day, inspiring the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out, discover, learn about, and celebrate America's trail system. And this Saturday, June 4th, marks the 18th annual National Trails Day!

National Trails Day evolved from the 1987 report of President Ronald Reagan's President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. The report recommended that Americans should be able to walk out their front doors and within 15 minutes, be on trails that take them through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing any steps. The recommendation, also known as Trails for All Americans, inevitably motivated several public and private parties to join the American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993.

Kansas City's North Face Store is sponsoring a hike through the Parkville Nature Sanctuary from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., tomorrow, June 4th.

The Baxyard is going to drive north and see what this is all about. Very excited. I didn't know a Nature Sanctuary existed in Parkville.

See you outdoors!

The Old Gray Hair

This is not a post about a rabbit.

This is not a post about an old horse.

This is a post about my gray hair and Dave, who finally, after almost fourteen years of marriage and at least, the last six, of which I have been coloring my gray hair, actually noticed how gray/white it really was. Yesterday, we were walking into the gym, I had my hair pulled back into a ponytail with a headband on and there it was, he saw it. He tried to be nice. Hoping to not offend me says, "Is that how white your hair would be if you didn't color it?"

"Yes, it would."

"Wow," he replied. I wasn't sure how to take that. I have been trying to decide lately if I should cut it really short, go away for six months, and just come back with white hair. I ran that idea by him. Mostly thinking about how nice a six-month vacation would be. He didn't object, especially when I told him how much it cost to color my hair every five weeks.

This is a post about that point in your life when you decide that no matter how ridiculous you look in a hat, you will wear one anyway.



Six days until the next hair appointment.

CSA

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported or Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief...

Advantages for farmers:

1. Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
2. Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
3. Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

1. Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
2. Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
3. Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
4. Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
5. Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown


CSAs aren't confined to produce. Some farmers include the option for shareholders to buy shares of eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers or other farm products along with their veggies. Sometimes several farmers will offer their products together, to offer the widest variety to their members. For example, a produce farmer might create a partnership with a neighbor to deliver chickens to the CSA drop off point, so that the CSA members can purchase farm-fresh chickens when they come to get their CSA baskets. Other farmers are creating standalone CSAs for meat, flowers, eggs, and preserved farm products. In some parts of the country, non-farming third parties are setting up CSA-like businesses, where they act as middle men and sell boxes of local (and sometimes non-local) food for their members.

There is an important concept woven into the CSA model that takes the arrangement beyond the usual commercial transaction. That is the notion of shared risk. When originally conceived, the CSA was set up differently than it is now. A group of people pooled their money, bought a farm, hired a farmer, and each took a share of whatever the farm produced for the year. If the farm had a tomato bonanza, everyone put some up for winter. If a plague of locusts ate all the greens, people ate cheese sandwiches. Very few such CSAs exist today, and for most farmers, the CSA is just one of the ways their produce is marketed. They may also go to the farmers market, do some wholesale, sell to restaurants, etc. Still, the idea that "we're in this together" remains. On some farms it is stronger than others, and CSA members may be asked to sign a policy form indicating that they agree to accept without complaint whatever the farm can produce. Many times, the idea of shared risk is part of what creates a sense of community among members, and between members and the farmers. If a hailstorm takes out all the peppers, everyone is disappointed together, and together cheer on the winter squash and broccoli. Most CSA farmers feel a great sense of responsibility to their members, and when certain crops are scarce, they make sure the CSA gets served first. Still, it is worth noting that very occasionally things go wrong on a farm – like they do in any kind of business – and the expected is not delivered, and members feel shortchanged.

This is the first year the Baxyard is participating in a CSA. We have purchased shares in Heritage Acres Farm located in Fort Scott, Kansas. We are all very excited to see what we get each week. Last week was our first "harvest" and it was really fun. We received some farm fresh eggs, lots of spinach and lettuce, japanese turnips, green onions and turnips.



Mostly I am looking forward to challenging myself to create some fun new recipes with all our "new" produce. Because, you get what you get. I hope to include some new recipes ... here is the first ... and so easy.

Japanese Turnips (I will be honest I had not even heard of these until last Saturday.)

Just grab a few of these. Cut off ends and dice like potatoes. I sauteed them in butter and a little brown sugar. At the last minute I added some pine nuts and golden raisins and then served them warm for breakfast. It was a real treat. And I really hope I get some more this week. Next time you see these bad boys in the store - pick up a few.

To find your own CSA, visit Local Harvest and enter your zip code. Don't forget about all the great farmer's markets in the area also.