A couple years ago, my new year’s resolution was cheese, jeans and killing…a year in which I would learn to make my own cheese, make my own jeans and learn how to kill a man with my bare hands. The resolution was as whimsical as it was unlikely of success, and none of it came to pass.
This year, having just recently put my somewhat unmanageable final internship in special education on hold for a year, I’ve put forward a more practical resolution: do the things that I like to do and do some things that I’ve been putting off. To that end, I made pasta with Rosa last week. Something I used to do every other week or so. I also made beer again this week (post coming), something that I did every week a couple years ago. I’ve also put some rims and spokes on order for some bicycle wheels that I’ve been meaning to make.
Making pasta is a lot of bang for your buck. It can be made with stuff that’s on hand (eggs and flour). And, nothing is more fun for a five year old than a pile of flour and a hunk of dough. No recipe necessary. A cup of flour for each egg. Some olive oil, some salt. Our eggs were small so we did 4 eggs to 3 cups and it was still very dry. Dry pasta dough is awkward to work with your hands and tough to start on the pasta machine, but it’s ultimately better because it’s easier to handle after it’s cut and separates out nicely.
Rosa worked her own dough through the machine and cut it with very little help. She did great. We had fun. The results tasted great. A little alfredo was the perfect, simple addition. It was not as exciting as killing someone with my bare hands, but it was satisfying. More pics and videos below… Read the rest of this article »
Rosa & May at the new Portland Public Library. It’s a great new building and a fun destination for the fam. It’s so different from the last iteration of the library that it’s hard not to stand in awe as you enter and think about how your town is changing around you. Also, if you’re into libraries, that google image link is from Library Thing, another noteworthy Portland, Maine library landmark.
We visited the Fairy Homes on Mackworth Island over the weekend. The two and the five year olds loved it (maybe not quite as much as the thirty-somethings).
Amy & the girls spent the week in Tenants Harbor, ME. It’s a beautiful place. It signals summer. It’s special to us. It’s where we got married. We’ve been climbing those rocks and jumping in the cold Atlantic and warming ourselves by that fire for 10 years.
I joined the ladies on the weekend, sneaking away to do two hours of homework each day at the Rockland Public Library. It’s an excellent place to work, beautiful both inside and out. Even when it was closed, outside on the grass amongst the well kept gardens and strong wireless, it served as an idyllic office.
I also commuted back to Portland on most weekdays to work (as in work-work, not home-work) and take a final. It’s under two hours and a pretty ride, but that kind of time in the car in the morning is draining. I have no idea how people working in major metropolitan areas do it every day. I declare all of you insane.
(Some of those pics are videos, click through to watch).
It’s been an awful while since I posted last (insert tree falls in woods comment here). I’ve been busy harried lately with full-time contract work, part time graduate work & student teaching. It’s actually been kind of fun, if exhausting, doing so much. Despite all that, we did manage to sneak out to a Maine Roller Derby event last weekend.
Rosa spent a special weekend with her Nana (thank you Nana) and we kicked it old school with just one kid for the weekend. It’s been a long time since we had only one in our charge, and I’ve got to admit the difference was striking. We grabbed some pizza and beer for lunch on Saturday at the brand new Siano’s in the old port (neighborhood pride dictated we check it out, since the original Siano’s is in our backyard), and chasing one versus two proved to be downright relaxing.
We then headed out to the Maine Roller Derby. It was our first time doing Maine Roller Derby and I simply can’t overstate what good entertainment it was and what a good time we had. The Calamity Janes handled the Petticoat Punishers with ease and grace and some clearly superior coordinated team defense. The quality of the sport was amazing and the atmosphere was fun and funny and family friendly. We had beers and fries and we had a great time, staying right through to the post bout (is that the right word?) awards ceremony. There was a great mix of people in attendance too, urban and rural, young and old. I don’t want to read too much into recreation, but the event was a great celebration of funkiness and girl-power and that’s definitely the kind of atmosphere I want my two young daughters to grow up in. Cheers Maine Roller Derby.
That first ride is the best ride. I pulled the drive train off the little green bike (the “magna”, thanks China) and Rosa tooled around without pedals for a few days. Balance. Then I popped ‘em back on and away she went. Well, first she rode a few cautious feet in the driveway (repeat 47 times). Then she took the show into the road where she melted down with desire and frustration to do it on her own. Then, we tried in front of our friend Josh’s house (who took the video, thanks Josh). As you can see the grade was perfect. She picked her feet up and went. The smile was big and the pride was priceless and she has not stopped pedaling since. Later that night she asked me, “what do you think about me riding on two wheels?” I think it’s about perfect.
