Missing Mom Friends

I just got an email from one of the mom's groups here saying that my application to join was declined. She said it's because she wants to keep the group "small" at over 70 people. In fact, I believe it is because I questioned the group guidelines.

"I've read the guidelines, and am comfortable with almost everything. My only question is: do you not offer "maybe" as an option for attending? The reason I ask is because my son isn't consistent with either a wake-up time or nap time. It has happened, in our other meet-up group, that I've missed a play date through the meet-up because of his needs. I'm not one to RSVP and bail out, but with a toddler, some flexibility is wanted and needed.

As far as providing meals to a new mom, hosting an event, or set-up/clean-up during the year, I'm totally on board with that. I want to contribute!"

Her response stated that the don't offer "Maybe" as an option. I didn't respond back. I just didn't feel right about a group that broadcasts all the way you can get kicked out before you even meet them.

I miss my Oakland area mom friends: Angie, Liz, Melissa, Sara, Kathy, Vicki, Rhonda, Laurie, and Kelly. I haven't met a single mom that I jive with here. It's feeling a little lonely here right now.

My Work Space

Since we arrived in Bend I've been falling asleep early, with Tristan. I still have my client work, so I've been getting up early, or staying up late to meet my responsibilities with them. This day, August 24, and today I woke up and logged into my computer before 4am.

I love having my own space downstairs, away from the sleeping quarters, where I can work and my music, fingers tapping on the keyboard, printer noise, and light don't disturb D&T. That's not all I love. I love having plenty of room for my stuff. I love having a door I can close to my space. I love that I can paint it any color and make it really feel like mine.

Local eggs are bountiful, being offered by several farms. I bought these at the local health food store. We can also get them from the farms or buy through the CSA. Aren't these beautiful?! Notice the blue eggs in the back. We were eating these as other people were swearing off eggs because of the recall. We haven't made it to the farm(s) yet. Tristan and I tried, unsuccessfully to find them last week. He's excited to see the chickens.

This milk is local and pasteurized, not homogenized, at the farm. It's the old fashioned milk that you have to shake because cream collects at the top. Another thing I love about the CSA here: they re-use a lot of things that people throw away. You can bring egg cartons, strawberry cartons, paper bags, and your milk bottles back for re-use by the farmers. It cuts down on their costs and our landfill waste. Such a great feeling to be part of that synergy.
Shown here: Chard, beets, red leaf lettuce, kale, and yellow squash (hidden). This was all picked the day before we received it.
Also from our first CSA pick-up: crook neck squash, potatoes, cucumber, and potatoes.
Strawberries from our CSA: the most delicious I've ever had. Tristan ate almost all of them the first night.
Chard in process.

Our first Bend CSA meal. Shrimp, quinoa, and chard. Delicious!!

I'm Actually Beginning to Really Like It Here

From an email I sent a friend today...

I'm actually beginning to really like it here. Of course, I miss you and my other friends and family. But this place is so much more in line with my personality. I realized that yesterday when I was invited by the second farmer in two weeks to go and visit his farm. You can go and dig up your own potatoes if you like. (Fun for the kids.) When I left the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) pick-up point yesterday I had a bounty of veggies (kale, summer squash, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, onions) and fruit (strawberries and apples) plus local honey and pastured meat (pork & beef) and pastured eggs and fresh, locally produced and pasturized (not homogenized) milk in glass jugs. I LOVE this part of Bend. We can drive 4 miles to a farm here, while still enjoying the convenience of suburbia. Of course, MOMA and The Academy of Sciences and the Zoo are hours away. But for day-to-day living, it's nice to be somewhere where people are so damn friendly to each other.

I really want(ed) to post photos of the local goods, but I just got the photos loaded and now Tristan is awake. Soon friends. Soon.