the postives of being positive! x0x

October 24, 2023 in family

at the beginning of the month i had another bout with covid. this time felt very different than when i had it two years ago…rather than being almost delirious with a horrendous sore throat and feeling like i might die for well over a week, i was headachey, nauseous and had a bit of a sore throat for a day and a half. i thought maybe it was the twenty-nine hour flu. at first i was flat - the kind where you contemplate getting a glass of water for like half an hour before you actually make it to the sink. and then i felt MUCH better. this was super exciting because i couldn’t go out, i couldn’t take meetings, i couldn’t run errands but i was actually pretty functional. you can get out of ANYTHING when you have covid. my first husband was making market and pharmacy runs, my meetings were all pushed and i didn’t have to cook because no one wanted to eat any food i prepared, including me. i only had lucy (and hank) with me because she’d had covid recently and we thought she’d still be full of antibodies. so i was in this funny little time cocoon where i was stuck in my house but i could do whatever i wanted. and to top it off, people were dropping off lovely get well treats! it was kind of awesome.

UPDATE on BIG MAMA

October 17, 2023 in family

BIG MAMA is getting ever more brutal. she had a guest arrive a few days ago… i thought she might be a niece or a younger cousin (she was quite a bit smaller than BIG MAMA) who came to check out CU and our darling coach prime - did you see how he squeaked past arizona state just when you thought he wouldn’t? I LOVE HIM!! anyway, the niece or cousin was mostly hanging out on the upper deck sunning herself as college age kids are apt to do and then all of sudden she was wrapped up in a ball of BIG MAMA’s web, sucked DRY! i’m pretty sure this is cannibalism… familial cannibalism even, which feels worse. i am really disturbed by BIG MAMA now. i don’t do well when creatures eat their guests or roommates. years ago, we had two goldfish: nemo and blemo. one day i saw that blemo was just floating on the top and his fins looked all tatty and frayed. i tried to convince myself that he had gotten caught up in the filter, even though he did look a little eaten. after the funeral in the backyard, i procured a new roommate for nemo. and a few days later that blemo was floating at the top as well. at that point i figured nemo had had plenty to eat so i just stopped sprinkling fish flakes in the tank. eventually he was a floater too and that was the end of our goldfish. nemo was unceremoniously flushed down the toilet, NOT buried properly like the two blemos he ate.

tune up

October 10, 2023 in family, hank

(here is my mother checking under the hood of her friend’s car in college)

periodically, everything needs a tune-up… your car needs the oil changed, the filters need to be replaced on your HVAC, the dryer vents need to be flushed out, you are due for a bikini wax… our nervous systems also need check ups and repair. the summer after my divorce i went to a retreat at the chopra center to work on restoring my psyche, which was pretty much a mess. i learned LOTS of helpful things like how to meditate (who is better equipped to teach that than deepak?), the benefits of green smoothies, yoga and gratitude and how detrimental refined sugar is, possibly worse than crack!

i still BELIEVE in PRIME! x0x

September 26, 2023 in family

i am a super loyal fan. i grew up in the bay area so my teams have always been the cal bears, the niners, the warriors and the A’s (billy ball!) back before the TV networks determined the times of the games and scheduled them for all different crazy times, the cal game was always saturday at one. fall saturdays were spent cheering for the bears (GRRRR - RAH! GRRRR - RAH!) in the “family section” of the stadium. you didn’t have to sit anywhere particular once you were in so it felt like an extension of high school where we roved around and chatted about the party from the night before. we didn’t have to pay too much attention to the game because the bears were never very good (save a few glorious moments like THE PLAY when we beat stanford - i WAS present for this unbelievable touchdown but didn’t understand what was happening until i heard the cannon go off, indicating that cal had scored.) sundays were frequently spent at candlestick cheering for the niners… they WERE good, so good that they brought home FOUR superbowls under joe montana. he still makes my heart flutter (i seriously considered becoming a flight attendant after i read that he met his wife, jennifer in the air!) we were always dressed properly (blue and gold for cal, red for the niners) except for one unfortunate saturday when my dad mixed up his gear and sported a red niners shirt at the cal game. he had to endure hollers of “TAKE OFF THAT RED SHIRT” (stanford’s color) for the entirety of the game. so fierce was my loyalty that i was stunned when a dear friend of mine decided to attend stanford. never mind that it was and is one of the BEST schools in the country, i just couldn’t wrap my head around how she could cheer for a team whose mascot is a walking tree after a lifetime of growling for the bears. she managed… in fact she LOVED it, but did admit recently that she never felt comfortable wearing any stanford stuff when she was home in berkeley… not even a hat.

REPOST: yom kippur, the day of atonement, is coming!

September 21, 2023 in family, holiday, recipe

(hank thinking about his transgressions during the year)

* i am reposting my story about yom kippur as it is approaching… l’shana tova! x0x

this week is yom kippur, the day of atonement in the jewish religion. while i never converted, i am raising my children in the faith of their father (with santa and the bunny thrown in) and i have spent more time in temple than i have in any other religious setting. i have hosted loads of seders, rosh hashana dinners and break fasts (i can cook all of the holiday food, except brisket - my brisket is TERRIBLE - so we have roast chicken instead), i know a fair bit of the prayers, or at least the tunes and i have a general understanding of the fundamentals of the religion.

happy, happy new year! x0x

September 19, 2023 in family, holiday

(hank sharing his sweet rosh apples)

when we moved to boulder we did not join a temple straight away… first we collected a group of jewish (or half jewish) families that we have been celebrating shabbat, rosh hashana, yom kippur, hanukkah and passover with for over a dozen years. this special group has made us feel grounded and connected and has been such an important aspect of our lives in boulder. also, several people in the circle know how to make a proper, delicious brisket, which is my achilles heel, so my kids have been able to ENJOY that signature dish, rather than dread it.

REPOST: fifteen

September 12, 2023 in family, hank, travel

we moved to amsterdam from san francisco when i was pregnant with my first baby. we stayed there for nearly the first five years of his life and the very beginning of my daughter’s. traveling with babies is not easy… particularly on eleven hour international flights. and then when you arrive there is the horrendous jet lag that kicks in (there’s a NINE hour time difference between california and the netherlands.) so i only brought my children home once a year, but we would stay for at least a month to stabilize and enjoy the visit before heading back. now that we live in colorado we have continued this summer tradition. the kids LOVE their camp in berkeley (kee tov) and i get to spend time with my family and all my growing up friends.

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my darling dad! x0x0x

September 03, 2023 in family, holiday

wishing my very handsome father the happiest of birthdays! so excited to celebrate with you! i LOVE you higher than the sky is high and deeper than the ocean is deep! x0x0x

to read more about my dad click here or here

theo's LAST first day of school...

August 22, 2023 in family, hank

(theo on the first day of kindergarten… obviously he couldn’t read yet as he agreed to wear that shirt)

i am a crier. i cry about happy things, i cry about sad things, i cry when things change, i ALWAYS cry on the first day of school. (i do NOT cry when people get hurt, even my own children… then i laugh, VERY inappropriately, which has caused a fair bit of upset.

REPOST: plum cake

August 08, 2023 in family, garden, hank, holiday, pet, recipe, travel

* i am reposting this story because it includes the recipe for plum cake… a few summers ago the plum tree at our cottage went bananas with fruit. early each morning i went out to harvest (i DO have farming roots) enough to make plum cake. sometimes i gave it to someone, but most days we ate it. they are so DELICOUS! unfortunately, i totally over plum caked lucy and i don’t think she will ever eat one again. that is truly unfortunate. (i also did that to her with scrambled eggs - a big bummer both because i make AMAZING scrambles and because i think they are such a healthy way to breakfast.) today when i popped over to my parents’ house the yummiest smell was wafting around… mom was having her quilt friends over for lunch and had made the coveted cake. i was beside myself so, of course, i stayed for lunch! ENJOY! x0x

the power of THE WAVE! x0xx

July 18, 2023 in family

(the literal QUEEN of the wave!)

when my kids were in elementary school there was a grandma on the “i” street who was almost always sitting in her front window as we drove to school. we started waving to her and after a bit she began waving back. we were beside ourselves. when the pandemic hit and school was closed we incorporated the “i” street into our dog walks (hank wasn’t best pleased about this as we live between the “c” and “d” streets and FIVE blocks is quite a haul for him!) we got so much JOY out of this wave exchange with the little grandma we never formally met, especially in the midst of all the stress and worry of the corona.

my dad has always been a big waver (his is really more of a salute.) he waves at drivers coming toward him or at people who happen to be on his route when walking rosie. he takes that extra beat to connect. three months ago he had a tough fall and was first in the hospital and then in a rehab facility. a lot of the other clients in rehab were non verbal (some were REALLY verbal) so when we took walks through the halls with dad he waved and waved and waved at the people in their rooms. i started waving too. it seems like such a small thing, but then i happened upon an interview where the guest was a scientist who studies the benefits of “weak/casual interactions”… turns out that each of these waves sends a surge of serotonin (the feel good stuff) right through you.

dad is home from rehab now. he likes to sit in the sun on the front porch and WAVE at the various people walking by, raising the serotonin levels of all his neighbors! x0x

stay sweet by chris chandler x0xx

June 27, 2023 in family

i am so PROUD of my girlfriend, chris chandler, for writing this WONDERFUL book: stay sweet, tales of quirky southern love. it is a collection of charming, hilarious, heartwarming stories from her childhood in georgia that introduces you to a whole cast of delightful characters: her grandmothers, a GREAT grandmother (my favorite!), some grandpas, her parents and lots of aunties and uncles. some of these stories i have heard in our weekly writing group (and i’ve made her tell them over and over), but so many were new and surprising… all of them make you wish you could meet these southern grandmas. CONGRATULATIONS chris on this incredible accomplishment! stay sweet is available here! x00xx

winter park mountain home x0xx

June 22, 2023 in art, dining room, family, family room, living room, office, residential interior

(the cartier chiefess by kelly degnan)

the “beaver den” is a new build set under the james peak mountains along the fraser river in the scenic mountain town of winter park, colorado. this four bedroom family home was designed for relaxation and entertaining in all seasons of the year and easily accommodates lots of guests. the convenient location allows for easy access to skiing in winter and hiking and horseback riding during the milder months.

all the all time dream cars... x0x

June 13, 2023 in family

throughout my childhood, my dad frequently spoke about his “all time dream car”… i would share it with you but it was an ever shifting parade of beautifully designed automobiles that my dad described with great reverence (also, i can’t remember what they were called, as i am not really a car person, but i can picture them perfectly.)

memorial day blues

June 06, 2023 in family, hank, holiday, pet

(the boulder creek fest)

every memorial day weekend in boulder there is the “creek fest” which features lots of food trucks, bouncy castles, bungee jumping, henna, face painting, artsy vendors and “bossy” vendors who give nutritional, political, environmental, parental, etc advice. every year i think i like the idea of a festival and every year i forget how fucking HOT it gets. this year we were obligated to go because lucy’s awesome dance troop, streetside, was performing.

holding on! x0x

May 30, 2023 in family, holiday

(theo celebrating his third birthday with a chocolate cupcake)

my son turned seventeen a few months ago. while i am no longer planning big themed parties with magicians or puppet shows or the olympics or pajamas i do still decorate the house, make his favorite breakfast (poofy pancakes) and plan SOMETHING. i love doing this and get super excited at the approach of these celebrations, even though he only begrudgingly poses in a birthday hat for photos now. but this year i was bummed in the same way i get when one of my own “big birthdays” arrives (40, 50, 60 - sixty hasn’t come yet, PRAISE JESUS! but i am already dreading it.) it hit me that next year will be his last birthday at home before he goes off to university and i just felt gutted.

i LOVE my dad! x0x

May 16, 2023 in family

(my dad in the early 60s)

* i am reposting this story about my dad that i wrote for his 80th birthday… i LOVE my dad. i love his wild humor, his naughtiness, his creativity with words, the crazy faces he makes, his immense confidence, his VERY quirky habits and his ENORMOUS heart. i love that he has told me, “i love you higher than the sky is high and deeper than the ocean is deep” my entire life.

recently, my father had a fall AND came down with covid… the illness probably triggered the fall. he is currently in rehab rebuilding his strength, making faces at the nurses and charming everyone. his popularity is topped only by ROSIE who comes to visit every day… she just curls up in her donut on his bed and naps with him when he is tired from all of the physical therapy. i am so PROUD (but not surprised) of my father for facing this challenge with his typical grace, determination and humor. please send him your best healing wishes! x0x0x

i might be the client i don't want

April 25, 2023 in family, living room, residential interior, sofa

(this bedroom is from a project that was SUPER fun to work on!)

i am generally a very efficient person. i hate to waste time (unless i am watching tv and then i can do it endlessly.) i set the table as i’m unloading the dishwasher (even if the next meal is HOURS away) because i never want to put dishes away that just have to come right back out. if i am making a green smoothie in the morning, i also make a veggie plate for dinner since i am already chopping stuff up. i frequently get on my tread in my jams because they already need to be washed. i put things on the stairs that have to go up so i can do it on my next trip. i stack my meetings or source fabric or tile or whatever for multiple clients at a go if i am already at the upholsterer or the tile shop. i read once that chefs are trained to make their movements as minimal as possible because they are typically working in small spaces and want to conserve the energy they expend while working. i think about those chefs all the time as i am planning my days.

REPOST: my amazon coat

April 13, 2023 in family, hank

* lucy’s bat mitzvah festivities kick off tomorrow… while the lead up has not been without some unfortunate situations (hank had to have BACK SURGERY and lucy’s face blew up from an allergic reaction to all the crazy products she learns about on tik tok, my house and my car are intact [KNOCK WOOD!] and the tailor [elegant tailor right next to village coffee shop] did an impeccable job altering our dresses… we did NOT go to the one who destroyed theo’s pants.) i am reposting this story about what was going on just before theo’s bar mitzvah with much gratitude that we’ve had an easier time this go. PRAISE MOSES!

in early december i got an email from my girlfriend in LA with the subject line, “have you heard about this coat?” she attached an article from the strategist that detailed the popularity of the orolay amazon coat among moms at pick up on the upper west side. it was sold out, of course, because it is the coziest, most comfortable, best priced coat in the world. i stalked amazon until it came back on offer and it was well worth the wait. i LOVE my amazon coat! it has tons of pockets that are straight up and down so that stuff doesn’t slip out of them AND they all have zippers, just in case you are carrying around something super special. the hood is lined with fuzzy, warm stuff and the inside is a bright, cheery orange. you can get it in black, navy and army green (putty too, but that colorway is not nice.) i was so delighted with my coat that i planned all my christmas travel outfits around it (no dresses, just boots and jeans because the amazon coat is too casual for a party dress.) i had to wear it on the plane because it is too bulky to put in a suitcase, but i pulled that snuggly hood up and had the best airplane nap of all time, despite the fact that i was sitting between my two children. the hood also seems to be noise cancelling. so i thoroughly enjoyed the holidays with my amazon coat and then my life became a series of shit fuck events that snowballed into my nearly falling completely apart… but praise jesus, i had my amazon coat. i just crawled into that coat and added my pizzeria pom pom hat and i have hardly taken them off (even indoors) for the last three weeks. because overlaying all of these horrendous events has been planning my son’s bar mitzvah. i am so PROUD of my son for his dedication and earnest commitment to learning, but planning a bar mitzvah (especially for a shiksa mama) is no small endeavor and despite all of my hyper-organized lists and spreadsheets, i still felt desperately behind three weeks out. following are the events that sent me diving into the safety of my amazon coat:

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY my darling babela bu! x00xxx

April 11, 2023 in family, hank, holiday

my dearest, darling lucy is THIRTEEN today! she has been full of surprises ever since our doctor called with the news of my very much desired but completely unanticipated pregnancy. she arrived with a bang and has been upending our lives and our thinking and our hearts ever since. lucy - i cannot begin to tell you how proud and GRATEFUL i am to be your mama. wishing you a thirteenth year full of joy, adventure, SLEEP, snuggles, GOOD BOOKS and loads of LOVE! i love you higher than the sky is high and deeper than the ocean is deep! x00xx