Market Time

Farmers markets are starting to bloom! Today at the Green Phone Booth, I'm writing about our family's love affair with farmers markets.

If you're interested, the Booth is also consierding a weekly market linkup. If you're interested please let us know!

When the rain, rain goes away

The last week or so, rains of varying degrees have hit our home. Morning drizzles. Afternoon showers. Nighttime thunderstorms.

After probably six inches or so of the precipitation I needed last fall to save my landscaping, I'm anxious for some sun. But I can't complain. Because in those instances when the rain does go away, I've been blessed with some magic moments.

Like stopping to watch a half dozen baby goslings struggle to hop up from the ditch into a flooded rainfield.

Or seeing the first "heart flowers," as my daughter calls them, of the spring, and seeing her pluck them lovingly off my plants to share with me.

Or taking a quiet walk - in the sun, no less! - at a retreat center on the way home from a funeral, the one non-rainy moment of the day.

Or taking a less quiet walk, getting splashed by my children, who have a knack of finding even the most miniscule of puddles.

Sure, I'd like the rain to stop. But sometimes, it's a reminder of the little moments that we otherwise take for granted.

Hot cross buns and other Easter plans

We're radically trying to change how we handle our holiday seasons, moving them more in line with what we'd initially hoped for our kids (more memories, less stuff). This is applying to Easter as well.

Instead of big baskets (which we'd never quite gotten to), the kids are each getting a bug box and magnifying glass. The in-laws have sent over candies from Russell Stovers in KC, and the Easter Bunny is largely sneaking in a few small candies and goldfish crackers for tomorrow's (likely indoors) hunt.

We're kicking up our Easter traditions in the kitchen, too. This year will be our first to dye eggs, and I have finally convinced my 5 year old that does not mean watercoloring broken eggshells after we've cooked! We also made for the first time Hot Cross Buns last night, a time-consuming project, though not as bad as making homemade cinnamon rolls. We deviated a bit from the original recipe, swapping dried cranberries for the currants. You could likely swap for raisins or any other dried fruit as well. You'd think my youngest had gone to heaven this morning at breakfast. Tomorrow, we're planning to make Resurrection Rolls, which hopefully can engage even the 3 year old for a few minutes.

But the biggest memory of this season? The grandparents are driving up. And that is the best thing any kid can wish for. Happy Easter!

Saving the world, one purchase at a time?

Earth Day has me a bit cynical, I have to admit. The last several years in particular, it's gotten just as commercial as every other holiday or event.

Free Starbucks in a reusable cup. Free green tags or grocery bags with the stores' name on it. And a hundred pitches from folks wanting you to promote their green business just because it's Earth Day.

Sorry, I don't buy that.

I don't see a need to mark Earth Day simply because I'm trying to make positive choices the other 364 days of the year as well.

Besides, there's a little something else going on Friday. Called Good Friday. Maybe instead of purchases, we need to get our priorities set.

Proud parenting moment #37

The other day I caught my daughter, of all things, burping on my bushes.

What in the world was she doing?

"I'm giving the plants carbon dioxide so they can grow," she said.

Glad she pays attention in school.