whoa

I have been using iPhoto to publish photos to flickr fuhevah. Tonight, I discovered that I can easily and quickly publish videos to youtube with iMovie. sigh. Times like this make me hopeful that we really can make the world a better place. heh.

It's outta here!

stuff on its way out
Originally uploaded by anneke boudreau

It's high time to part ways with the 3 CRT monitors, 2 laptops, 2 headsets, 2 wifi boxes, 2 dsl modems, a bag of cds/dvds, and 2 boxes of cables that I've collected working from home for 10 years. For $38 it has all been recycled - yay!!

We also sent 3 bags of clothes to Good Will and put a suitcase of baby clothes and toys on consignment. We have one bag of adult clothes to sell to Crossroads and three bags to pass along to a couple expecting their first child next month.

Goooooodbye stuff!

(p.s., the cheerleading outfit in the picture has not left the building. It's mine from high school and it still fits! I wore it for Halloween - talk about a confidence booster!)

chef in training

testing (eggless) pancake batter
Originally uploaded by anneke boudreau

Last weekend, Z helped make pancakes. I see a future for him in quality assurance - he is a very thorough tester.

As for me, I am elevating my cooking game with new tools and techniques: canning, a new roasting pan, raw foods, green smoothies, braised garlic, stainless steel tongs, kitchen towels, borrowed cookbooks, and a subscription to "Cook's kitchen." I focused this year's holiday list on cooking-related items, including a Cooking Basics class at Culinary Communion.

This week I aim to cook my first Thanksgiving turkey - an organic, locally raised turkey through Pioneer Organics and have been testing z-ified versions of holiday standards. Hoping that folks won't miss the cream, butter, and all of that, but providing it on the side if desired.

Most of the recipes I'm using are vegan except I'm substituting meat for beans - a twist that I never thought possible. :)

zooooooo

leaves sticks sun
Originally uploaded by anneke boudreau

Sunday, Z had a big football day with dad and the guys, skipped his midday nap and went to sleep for the night at 4. Coupled with the end of daylight savings, on Monday, Z was awake at 4:30 then down for his midday nap at 11 am. When he woke at 1, I realized that I had a whole afternoon to spend with one happy, very awake toddler on one sunny, crisp fall day and decided to take advantage of our month-old zoo membership. When I said we were going to the zoo, Z ran for his jacket yelling "zoo! yaaaay!" with his little arms pumping in the air.

After seeing zebras, gazelles, lions, painted dogs, and elephants we saw a mom and son playing in a big pile of leaves under a tree. Z (in the stroller), turned to me, "down." As soon as his feet touched the grass, he was off. After a rousing leaf battle - where we were joined by another little boy and his father - Z hugged the tree. Actually, he kept hugging the tree throughout the battle. Yes, I am the very proud mother of a tree hugger.

More photos from our excursion are available.