My seven year old daughter, Lia, wants to change the world just as Dr. Martin Luther King jr. did. But she said she’s afraid that if she tries to do something good that something bad will happen to her. Like so many other people in history, Martin Luther king died doing something he believed in. I told lia that in his short life, he did more and lived more than most people who live to be 100 years old. He made a contribution to this world, and left his foot prints for others to follow. He was a soldier fighting a war and he won. I dont think he would have changed a thing about his fight. Lia, never let fear stop you from doing good in this world.
Category Archives: home
The Carpenterettes
The other day Amir prepared a bird house project for the girls. They always see him doing work around the house, whether its building a shed from scratch, or building a bunk bed, or putting in new floors the girls always like watching the process and ask what can they do. This past Christmas Lia asked for her own tool kit so she could be like dad. So, since the girls have such an interest he figured he’d come up with a project that they could build from start to finish. He took lia to home depot with him and selected the wood, then with lia by his side he cut enough pieces to build three bird houses. He then had each girl step by step put each piece of their own house together. They each got a turn using the drill and they had so much fun. The building part was with dad and painting the houses was with me. They’re so big now that I barely have to do anything. I dont even get to decide on the color that they use. Basically, it’s not my project anymore. I had to hold back on trying to pick out the colors I liked when we were shopping for the paint. I’m so glad I didnt influence they’re choices, they put together great color schemes. As they get older I can definatley see them doing more projects with dad. They love to build things, even better if they get to use real tools.
I can’t wait to hang these in our yard and meet our new furry neighbors.
Hush, little baby
When our oldest daughter was born, my husband and I made up our own lyrics to the well known childrens lullaby hush little baby. I made up a mother’s version and he made up a father’s version. Many nights were spent rocking our children to sleep to that song and tonight when I laid down with lia on her bunk bed I sang her my version.
Hush, little baby don’t you cry, mamas going to catch you a butterfly. And if that butterfly flutters by, mamas going to bake you an apple pie. And if that apple pie ain’t warm, mamas going to make you a cobb of corn. And if that corn ain’t sweet and ripe, mamas going to teach you to read and write. And once you’ve learned your abc’s mamas, going to teach you your 123’s. So hush little baby don’t you cry, mamas going to always be by your side.
Happy Almost 2019
Can’t believe the holidays are almost over. It feels like we just went out to look for the perfect tree and now the days are quickly approaching where it’s time to put it all away. We have had a blessed, happy, healthy, fulfilling 2018. Nothing big happened (maybe something in 2019) but every day had it’s own special moment with lots of little celebrations in between and little personal accomplishments here and there. Our chickens were the biggest addition to our family and the excitement of finding an egg in the coop never gets old. We’ve been in our new home for a year and half now and we love it more and more each day. The kids have adjusted well and we look forward to making lots of memories here. I’m excited for the new year to begin. I love a fresh start, an excuse to reinvent myself and things around me. I’m hoping to find more time for creativity and to write in this space right here. Happy 2019!
When I grow up
A few months ago I asked Lia what she wanted to be when she grew up and she quickly responded “I want to be happy.” What a wise little girl! I can’t imagine a better answer. All I want is for all of my children to grow up and be happy. Whatever they choose to do or be, happiness is the top requirement.
Farm fresh egg in the morning!
Our little ladies have begun to lay eggs (an egg)! Not these little ladies!
These little ladies!
We think it was Minnie, lias chicken, the biggest of all four girls. She’s been acting strange after she roosts herself for the evening, sitting at the edge of the front door of the coop. Usually she’s tucked all the way in the corner, but these past three days she’s been sitting with her body half in the coop and her head out almost like she’s on the lookout for something. My husband said that he thought she was getting ready to lay her first egg and he was right.
Waiting for the hens to lay an egg was almost like waiting for the arrival of my own children, it felt like it was never going to happen! The feeling of opening up the coop and finding that egg was so exciting! I wanted to share it with the entire world and I did share it with all of my friends and family, like a birth announcement! Reaction was a little different than announcing a newborn baby! Everyone started telling me how they liked their egg cooked!
when I noticed the egg I quickly ran into the house and told the girls “we got an egg!” I let Lia have the honors of taking the egg out because we all agree it’s from her girl! There was another cracked egg in the coop which we believe could have been from yesterday. So technically she must have laid her first egg yesterday! 
Sick Days
See you later summer
Another great summer is coming to an end. That’s just the cycle of life, everything comes to an end and then we hope and wait for it to begin all over again. I can’t believe how much these little ladies are growing, I think to myself, next summer they’ll be so different, bigger, wiser, will they still play with their little barbies and be obsessed with their little LOL dolls? Will their cute little summer clothes fit them next year? Will they still follow me around the house like three little ducks? Everything is a cycle, and yes, summer will come again but there will be change too. I’m saying goodbye to summer knowing that it will come again but these little girls will have shed some skin and have grown in personality and awareness. Of course change is good too but I’m hoping that they will not change too much too fast!
In a world of constant change I’m grateful for the seasons, for the predictability that they give my heart. As I put their bathing suits away I am sad to say good by to the girls of summer 2017 but I know summer will make its appearance again, and that gives me comfort. Their bathing suit size and interests might change, but I know we have many summers to look forward to together.
The Holidays Are Here!
The holidays are already here it seems. This is an exciting one for me! The girls are bigger and their excitement radiates throughout my home. These lucky gals get to celebrate Hanukah and Christmas all on the same week! I’m trying hard to come up with fun crafts and projects for both holidays.
Tomato Sauce Making Season
It is my favorite time of year at my mom’s house. It’s a scene that has played itself out for generations in my family – from Sicily, to Brooklyn, to Long Island. The intoxicating aroma of tomato’s cooking with a handful of basil fills the air with pure bliss. Jars waiting to be filled…table cloths covered with hundreds of tomatoes drying in the afternoon sun…my little girls in the aprons that Nonna made wait excitedly in anticipation of getting their little hands involved in every bit of the sauce making process.
This year is very different as my dad is not here to oversee the process with his watchful eye, but this tradition keeps him alive in my heart. I can still see him cleaning and chopping the tomatoes, getting them ready to add to the giant pot that sits outside on a burner. His distinguished white hair, soft Sicilian kissed skin, standing under the large umbrella looking over the long table filled with luscious, ripe tomatoes. He’s calm, taking his time, treating each tomato as though it’s the only one as my mom runs around chaotically preparing everything else that goes into making a delicious jar of sauce. With everything he did in his life, he always enjoyed the journey, never rushing to get to the destination. He made the best of every moment of his almost 95 years. Last year was the final time my dad would be here during this wonderful sauce making tradition, but it was different too. He was already beginning his 8 month journey to heaven. Lucky for him, the bed that he laid in was positioned directly under the window where the boiling pot of tomato’s sit just outside his room. I’d go in and out of the house asking him if he could smell the delicious aroma. He’d smile and say “yes, bahhhhhhh…so wonderful.” I know my dad was able to close his eyes and be right there with us, making the sauce together outside. He didn’t show any sadness. To me it seemed as though he had his fill of enjoying the process and now it was my turn.
This is a family tradition for us. My parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews all look forward to this day every year. My girls have been part of the sauce making festivities since they were weee little babies. In the past they were on my hip or taking a nice summer nap in their stroller. As they grew older they would help clean the tomatoes while playing with them. This year though, they were all hands on. At one point there was nothing for me to do as my kids had completely taken over the process. While I missed doing some of the steps, it was quite satisfying just sitting back and watching my own kids go through the process – yet another generation adopting the old world traditions kept alive by my parents, and their parents before them.
We don’t jar 1 or 2 bottles! We make the tomato sauce on a large scale, some years canning over 200 jars of tomato sauce but this can certainly be done on a smaller scale with fresh grown tomato from your own yard if you choose.
Here’s the process:
- We use plum tomatoes (usually between 5 and 6 bushels) purchased from our local farm stands.
- Usually the end of August or beginning of September is when the tomatoes are ready for saucing.
- The mason jars need to be thoroughly washed and dried completely.
- Wash and dry the tomato’s (we wash them outside in big plastic tubs and then lay them out in the hot sun to dry).
- Using a small knife, cut the tomatoes into fours and then squash them in a large pot with your hands (my kids love this part).
- Add chopped onions.
- Bring to a boil (if your using an enormous outdoor pot like ours this process can take up to 2 hours).
- Pass tomatoes through Electric Tomato Strainer (This machine helps separate the tomato’s skin and seeds from the juice and pulp quickly)
- Return pureed sauce back to pot.
- Bring to a boil once again.
- Add basil and salt to taste.
- Scoop sauce into mason jars using a funnel to help the process along.
- Lid the jars and store at room temperature until ready to be eaten.
This year, I think we did my father proud! He wasn’t here in person, but his memory was stirred up by every red tomato we cut, every single stir of the sauce, every jar we filled, and every lid we turned. He was here.
