treva dea

I've moved! Trevadea.wordpress.com

2011-04-10T09:10:00.002-05:00

Check out all the current newness in my wordpress blog-- trevadea.wordpress.com

This blog is history. Literally.

my second adolecence.

2011-01-21T10:17:00.002-06:00

My Darling Nick's second adolecence.

2011-01-20T08:13:00.004-06:00

Nick and Gabi

awesomeness

The truck looks happy too

Nick went away for a week on a surf trip.
It was super hard to live without him for many reasons. My life would be lacking in so many ways without him.
I am so thankful he is in my life, it helps me be me.

Astrid's first art show!

2011-01-18T13:21:00.002-06:00

at Revolucion del sueno

really? Tomorrow?

2011-01-10T00:06:00.001-06:00

back to school tomorrow.... wait. it's after midnight! how is this possibly going to work out?
oh my god...

new year

2011-01-03T17:56:00.004-06:00

it turned into another year the other day. Didn't really notice.
Astrid dyed her hair deep blue...
I spray painted the golf kart all black.
I see a golf kart and I want to paint it black...
and I got my new huge ass amp. I call her Big Betty....

Oil Paintings

2010-12-29T09:33:00.000-06:00

I put some new painting on my art site,
Treva Dea Oils

I'm pretty stoked on them....

Holidays

2010-12-28T12:58:00.005-06:00

Ahhhh the holidays. I had a great time this year. The art shows have made me deeply happy. The ability to get gifts for my family has made me happy. We have a new puppy, her name is Navi. She is very sweet and is Astrid's. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, responsibility and all that.

I was able to get my tattoo finished and I'm excited about it. It has the line, " I believe it because it is Absurd" in Latin across my abdomen. It is cut into my skin more as the Existentialist notion of Absurdism than a misquotation from Tertullian's De Carne Christi.

The other bit is "Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them" from Vigil's Aenid. Another bit about railing against the fates and taking a healthy positive view in the difficulties of our world.

It makes me happy to have completed the circle.

all in a days work

2010-12-15T17:54:00.002-06:00

So I sent out an announcement to day for next week's landscape art show... and my address was cut off. so if you lose the, "trevadea@blo" you end up with a sex toy website. who knew? now lots of people know.

Holidays start.... NOW!

2010-12-12T17:15:00.000-06:00

Art Show Tomorrow!

2010-12-09T15:18:00.001-06:00

New Band!

2010-11-27T20:55:00.000-06:00

Vegan Egg nog

2010-11-26T08:11:00.000-06:00

Serves 1:
1.5 oz reduced fat coconut milk
1.5 oz rice milk
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1/16 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp rum extract
good grating of fresh nutmeg

this looks great!

2010-11-25T08:12:00.002-06:00

I'm making a falafel turkey tonight for the thanksgiving festival-- this looks like a great recipe, no?

Falafel with coriander and carrots from the BBC

Ingredients

For the falafels

1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
2 x 400g/14oz cans chickpeas, drained
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1½ tsp baking powder
1 tbsp plain flour
100g/3½oz carrot, finely grated (moisture squeezed out)
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 lemon, zest only
vegetable oil, for frying
sesame seeds, to garnish

For the yoghurt dip

100ml/3½fl oz Greek yoghurt
1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 lime, juice only
1 tbsp tahini

Preparation method

For the falafels, toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a dry frying pan for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant. Grind the seeds in a pestle and mortar.
Blend the toasted spices together with the remaining falafel ingredients in food processor until well combined.
Shape spoonfuls of the falafel mixture into balls and set aside on a plate.
Meanwhile, heat 1cm/½in vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the falafels for 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove the falafel from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on kitchen paper. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
For the yoghurt dip, blend the Greek yoghurt, coriander, mint, lime and tahini in a food processor until smooth.
Serve the falafels with toasted pitta breads and the yoghurt dressing alongside.

This month's Artist

2010-11-24T08:11:00.000-06:00

The chicas

2010-11-23T07:42:00.004-06:00

Saba

It is like a zoo here

Wicked threads

Sayulita

This crab looks great with my nails!

Mark and Matzah

The Famdamly

Nick

Cami and Kari and Kari's boyfriend Mark visited us this last week and we had a great great time. Horrid to see them go. But I am going to throw myself into painting. Starting as soon as I get out of bed today. If someone brings me coffee.....

Tropical house!

2010-11-16T07:24:00.000-06:00

photo by donna day

The big race! I did it!

2010-11-07T14:33:00.005-06:00

Big race start up!

I was really worried I wouldn't be able to run this race as Friday I started to feel sicker and sicker... Sore throat, head ache, fever... I went over to my friend Donna's house and she fixed me up with some "thieves" and a menthol oil drink and rubbed my neck. I went home, went to sleep and the next morning felt pretty good. I took it easy and we drove into Puerto Vallarta and checked into our hotel. I took a nap as I was getting achy again, and nick and sassa hung by the pool with the other CVIS running club folks who were running in this race. I woke up andwe all went out to dinner. It was great--- we split up and some of went to a vegan buffet-- super yum, and some went to a fancy french place. Guess where Nick went? Pâté Foies gras and crème brûlée or seitan fajitas? Everyone was happy carbo loading! This morning we were out on the streets ready to go at 6:40am. Pretty awesome. I'm waiting for my results to be up loaded but I think I ran my fastest...27 minutes 5K! Pretty great for being so sick. Yay!

To celebrate we went back to the Vegan buffet and gorged on pancakes, chiliquiles, oatmeal and tofu steak. Then I slept for 5 hours. Whoo!

Proof --I did the "5K" run!

2010-10-24T15:31:00.003-05:00

Before

Starting off-- I went in the back --I'm not a "group" person, really. AND NO this is not the finish line!

After with CVIS running team members John and Ben

Stretch and pose, bend and snap!

check out my art too-- feeling pretty cocky!

Carbo loading

2010-10-23T13:06:00.002-05:00

So this run thing I'm doing tomorrow is looking a lot like pregnancy. ...And, just like those 9 months of bliss, I am eating like a mad woman! I just had my all time favorite dessert, espresso and ice cream! For lunch! Seriously, I can take something as simple as a fun run and make it into a awesome disco party of junk food. Oh yeah. Lets see what happens tomorrow!

Ahhhh- choooo!

2010-10-21T12:32:00.003-05:00

Can I be any more allergic to the air?

I have sneezed myself silly these past few days. It is dusty and dry again and I need to go on flonase.

I need a whole netty -pot full of flonase.

Check out my new art blog....HERE

I've been trying to post everyday.

You know, Sunday is a 5K. I have been training for it.....If I can just keep from sneezing and rolling up into a fetal position I just might have some thing to mark off my bucket list....

oooh yeah, you are so jealous!

The artist for the next month....

2010-10-19T09:44:00.001-05:00

Do you know who painted this masterpiece?

Day off

2010-10-19T09:42:00.001-05:00

Ahhh today is my day off of teaching.
I have so many things I want to cram in one day.
I also want to lay in bed and drink coffee-- I love days off!!!!!

art blog

2010-10-17T17:35:00.002-05:00

So I decided to start another blog just for my art.

It is HERE if you'd like to book mark it and see my new persona develop.

This is the painter Treva who will be emerging for, as I see it, about the next 10 years.

Jeweler Treva was, from Here to about Here , when traveler Treva happened.

So now lets see what his new person does.... hope there is a gallery involved.....

This month's artist

2010-10-03T21:09:00.001-05:00

Bruegel's Harvesters

Ready for a new month

2010-09-30T11:39:00.003-05:00

It didn't rain last night and i was able to use my classroom for school today. it really helped but me back in a loving frame of mind towards Sayulita. The kids were excited to be doing art and i had a few esoteric seconds this morning while looking out the porch and seeing a breath taking view of the misty mountains. I've been running a little to get fit to complete a 5k coming up in November. It is on my bucket list. Creepy, but okay.

Making happy faces

2010-09-27T13:10:00.002-05:00

We played tourists in Puerto Vallarta this weekend. It was really nice to get out of town and our own heads....

yummy lunch at the riverside n P.V.

Standing in the shade in the romantic zone

2010-09-23T13:19:00.003-05:00

Wee bit depressed today. I feel constrained by so much at the moment. Fears, sorrow, doubt, other people. I know this is the natural response to a disaster, but yeah, okay so?
1. I'm angry to feel constrained by those who fear any negativity and bad press about Sayulita will harm the tourist season. I don't want to care about the tourist season. I don't want to have to stifle myself and my expression out of concern for income. yuk. shut up go way.
2. I feel sickened by the kid who died of dengue while helping us in the relief efforts after the flood. He was buried today. I'm horrified at the suddenness of death. I'm quietly hysterical about our inevitable demise, and fearful of the loss of others.
3. I'm conflicted about my desire to live here. It is so much more difficult living in this 2nd world country than other places with their clean packaged distance from life. It is all so raw, and often shockingly harsh.
4. I need a fresh band-aid. I need to cover this all up and smile until I believe it will be all right again.

Tuesday September 21, 2010

2010-09-21T09:36:00.000-05:00

The biggest mistake you can make is to do nothing because you can only do a little.

Today, act on your impulses. Don’t second-guess yourself. Yehuda Berg

Independence Day in Sayulita

2010-09-18T16:44:00.001-05:00

We have more beach now!

photos by Donna Day

We really made a difference!

2010-09-18T16:37:00.002-05:00

Donna and I in clean up mode

Nick and Francisco deliver mattresses

Nick delivers mattresses

I feel so good about all the work we accomplished this last week. I'm sore and tired but really pretty confident Sayulita will bounce back better than ever....
and a message for the gods? "No more rain, please".

2010-09-17T14:49:00.001-05:00

Thank you everyone who donated.
You have made a huge difference.
Love, Treva

Day 3 of sayulita clean up

2010-09-14T18:05:00.003-05:00

Delivering bedding

Delivering food

Sayulita flood update Sunday, September 12

2010-09-12T22:08:00.005-05:00

9am

The CVIS teacher/ parent team worked from 9-4 today removing mud from the 4 foot high water level of this house. They will be able to move back in soon but they have no furniture, beds, bedding, towel and little clothing. It was so sad to throw out baby pictures, diplomas and all their precious books. Thank you all who are donating to help them out. Love to you all, treva

before

after

4 pm

My friend Nancy talking about the flooding

2010-09-12T17:59:00.001-05:00

Update

2010-09-12T17:54:00.004-05:00

The Tragedy.
Monday September 6th, the rain came down in sheets. School was canceled, roads were closed, the river filled up with brown muddy water - but the worst was yet to come. Tuesday night the town of Sayulita, and up and down the coast line of Bandaras Bay, saw rains continue to fall, and the full force of Mother Nature was unleashed. The river flooded over its banks, filling houses with many feet of water or taking them away all together. People fled on foot, leaving all of their personal belongings behind. Sayulita's bridge collapsed, shops and restaurants on the river fell, and Costa Verde International School could only watch as a house, then a road, then their retaining wall was taken by the now powerful river, threatening many of their classrooms.

A Community Responds.

In the following days - without electricity or running water - neighbors helped neighbors by taking them in, providing a hot meal, or filling sandbags. It was a town in crisis. Now, as tractors and people mobilize, we are able to assess the damage and the need - and it is great. Costa Verde International School, along with a group of volunteers, is now calling out to their international community for help.

Our plan.
Tamarindo and Mangal Neighborhoods: These were the areas of town most affected. We are organizing clean up crews to go door to door with buckets, mops, and shovels. Many neighborhoods are simply unlivable until the mud is cleared away and garbage is taken away. Once houses have been cleaned, we will assess and provided needed household supplies.

Beach: Cleaning crews will also be mobilized to clean up the beach, which was filled with garbage and debris washed down from the river. This will be an on going effort.

Public kindergarten school (next door to Costa Verde): Their building was badly damaged, so we will be helping them clean, providing them with laborers and building supplies so that they can rebuild, and will replace lost teaching supplies.

Costa Verde International School: With our retaining wall gone, Costa Verde school is on the edge (literally) of being taken by the river with the next rain. Thirty volunteers - teachers, parents, children and even a couple of tourists - laid 1,000 sandbags in the hopes of saving their school. But it is only a band-aid. It will take many generous donations to be able to rebuild the retaining wall and keep the river secure from future flooding.

Here is how YOU can help.

There are three simple things you can do: volunteer your time, provide supplies, give money.

Time:
If you are in the area, your donation of time is needed.

Here is a schedule of activities that Costa Verde is organizing:

Saturday September 11

9am at CVIS with Jessica to go into neighborhoods to help

9:30am at Don Pedros for a Sayulita beach cleanup

Monday September 13

9am at CVIS with Lina to go to the Kinder and into neighborhoods to help

Tuesday September 14

9am at CVIS with Lina to go into neighborhoods to help

Supplies:

These items can be dropped off at Costa Verde:

gloves/sunscreen/mosquito repellent

mops/brooms/squeegies

multi-purpose cleaning liquid

rags

trash bags

buckets

Money:

We understand many of you care deeply for the Costa Verde and Sayulita communities, but may not be able to physically be here. That does not prevent you from making a difference! One hundred percent of your generous tax deductable financial donations go directly to supporting the people of Sayulita and to rebuilding Costa Verde International School. Your money will support our clean up efforts, provide emergency supplies to families and local public schools, and to ensure Costa Verde's retaining wall is rebuilt. Please visit www.colegiocostaverde.com and click on "Donate" to make your gift today!

Thank you.

Simply, thank you. We literally could not do what is needed here without you. This blog will be updated daily, so please check back frequently for updated information and photos. Also, please share this blog with others. We know not many news organizations are not reporting on the flooding here, so please spread the word about our plight.

Check out full link here

Sayulita's flood

2010-09-10T16:27:00.004-05:00

Donation for flooded CVIS school

2010-09-08T16:18:00.004-05:00

Sayulita has been damaged by flooding, and our school needs help getting back on it's feet. Please help by sending a pay pal donation to:

http://www.colegiocostaverde.com/indexCVIS.html#

2010-09-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

Wednesday September 1, 2010

Our judgments of others serve us. They keep us separate, alone on our island, where no one can touch us. They keep us shielded from our pain.

Today, notice how you judge others - thinking you are better, smarter, richer, happier. Pay attention to how this keeps you separate, and safe. ------yehuda berg

2010-08-26T10:35:00.002-05:00

tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito

Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them

Virgil

The Aeneid (VI, 95)

(this is all well and fine until the dogs refuse to poo outside due to the rain.)

2010-08-25T12:33:00.001-05:00

credo quia absurdum est

I believe it because it is absurd

--Tertullian

Getting a treat soon....

2010-08-24T22:52:00.003-05:00

Check out the coolness of my friend Yaneth's spa-- and no she isn't just my friend because she has a spa.... but it helps ☺! heheh! kidding!!

http://www.lanisayulita.com/

First day back

2010-08-24T22:38:00.000-05:00

2010-08-22T11:31:00.002-05:00

"no agenda"

You can’t clean house if you don’t know what’s hiding under the furniture.

Yehuda Berg

2010-08-20T11:12:00.002-05:00

Friday August 20, 2010

It’s easy to see what’s wrong with people.

It’s not so easy to see what's right.

See into people's hearts today.

painting progress..

2010-08-15T15:33:00.000-05:00

Making the cakes, day 2

2010-08-13T14:58:00.003-05:00

Wow. There are many things I've never attempted that are included in the "yang"cake. Gelatine, for one. Like, ug. Okay, looking past that.... whipping egg whites and whipping cream and folding them together for the mousse.... I added some cream of tarter for insurance....

Luckily there is no baking on this cake. The other cake is in the oven, which is frustrated at me, I think for using every appliance in the house.... maybe they have a union.... and she (the oven) shot up to 500 then dropped to 300 just now. I don't even know how that is possible.... anyway, "wedding cake"

Mango Curd Mousse Cake

Crushed cookie crust

Suicidal Egg

Soft peaks, baby!

Waa--laaa, nude wedding Yang Cake

(Decorations tomorrow)

Crust

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 cups shortbread cookie crumbs (about 7 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Mousse

5 tablespoons water
4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin

6 large egg whites
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream

1.5 teaspoons cream of tarter

Lemon slices, cut into quarters (garnish)

For crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 8-inch-diameter springform pan with nonstick spray. Blend cookie crumbs and butter in small bowl. Press onto bottom of pan. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool.

For mousse:
Pour 5 tablespoons water into small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin evenly over. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, place 1 3/4 cups lemon curd in large bowl. Stir 3/4 cup curd in another small saucepan over medium-low heat until very warm.

Stir gelatin mixture over medium-low heat until dissolved and liquid is clear (do not boil). Whisk warm gelatin mixture into 3/4 cup warm curd. Gradually whisk gelatin-curd mixture into curd in large bowl.

Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar sifted with 1 teaspoon cream of tarter beating until whites are thick and glossy. Fold whites into curd mixture in 3 additions.

Beat cream in another medium bowl sifting in 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter until peaks form.

Fold into egg white-curd mixture in 3 additions.

Pour enough mousse over cooled crust to fill pan completely. Pour remaining mousse into small bowl and reserve.

Cover and chill mousse cake, reserved mousse, and remaining curd overnight. ( I'm here right now)

Using long thin knife, cut around cake to loosen. Remove pan sides. Gently spread 3/4 cup of remaining curd over cake. Transfer reserved mousse to pastry bag fitted with small star tip. Pipe rosettes of mousse around top edge of cake. Chill cake until ready to serve. (Can be made up to 8 hours ahead.)

Arrange lemon slices between rosettes. Cut cake into wedges.

Making the cakes, day 2 part 2

2010-08-13T13:14:00.004-05:00

Piloncillo

Holy crap people! What was I thinking? This s a lot of work. At least I have David Bowie and T.Rex heavy genius playlist going. I swear, otherwise I think I'd have a housewife sniper moment. Actually, the federales stormed town an hour ago and road block arrested the Zeta gang drugs sellers. And they had just started whistling at me. damn.

Okay, Yin Cake, Groom's Cake, Banana Chocolate Cake with the last min addition of peanut butter Cake, whatever you are calling it at the moment has fallen into itself thanks to the oven flux. It will still taste good.

Dry goods

Sliced Banana layer on Piloncillo sugar (you can use brown if you aren't in mexico)

Topping/ Bottoming

1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar or grated piloncillo
2 tablespoons water or butter (I used butter)
3 ripe, medium-sized bananas
Juice of 1/2 lime

For the cake:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
(or granulated moscovado sugar if you are,again,in Mexico)
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 large eggs
1 cup banana puree (2 medium bananas)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup peanut butter chips

1. To make the topping, mix the brown sugar and water together in an 8-inch square metal cake pan or cast iron skillet.

2. Heat the mixture until it begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer 45 seconds, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

3. When cool, slice the bananas into 1/4-inch thick slices. Arrange them in rows over the melted sugar in the pan, overlapping them slightly. Sprinkle the slices with the lemon juice.

4. To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

5. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon into a large bowl. Stir in the granulated sugar.

6. In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, eggs, banana puree, yogurt and vanilla.

7. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and stir in the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in the chocolate and peanut butter chips.

8. Carefully spread the batter over the bananas and bake for 40 minutes.

9. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cake from the pan and invert on a serving platter.

Making the cakes, day 1

2010-08-11T16:11:00.001-05:00

Vegan Mango Curd

The mangos and birthday nails

INGREDIENTS

3 mangoes, peeled and pitted and cut
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons lime juice
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup soy milk

DIRECTIONS

Puree mangoes and sugar in a food processor until smooth.
Whisk lime juice, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl.
Heat while stirrling mango puree over medium heat.
Whisk in lime mixture. Continue to stir until thickened about 5 min.
Take curd off heat and whisk in soy milk.
Cool and store in the fridge overnight

That's a fine mess '0 mango you got there...

Ready to chop with the new magic cusinart blade.....

curd-i- licious!

So that's the filling/ topping for the mousse cake.....

deciding on a birthday cake

2010-08-08T19:12:00.004-05:00

So, if you've ever met me you know I love cake. I'm a no wedding, but a big cake kinda girl. And this year I have the free time (and lack of cake shops) to make my own cake. I think the last time this happened was my 30th birthday, before Astrid was born. I made a triple layer coconut- lemon cake and a dark chocolate coffee ganache cake--- oh and when I say cake I mean the whole gestalt of a cake, the yin and yang of a cake-- two cakes as one type of "cake."

Right.

This year, my cakes for my birthday will be chocolate banana upside down cake and a mango-curd lime mousse cake. ahhhh. A wedding cake and a groom's cake-- because isn't that the best a birthday could be? I'll let you know how it goes...

hard to leave, good to come home....

2010-08-06T11:56:00.002-05:00

paradox.

Big day

2010-08-02T19:03:00.004-05:00

We had a great day, we went to the 1900s...

and had Olde Tyme Pictures taken in Eureka Springs

Ate lunch ( pecan cobbler) and watched the mill grind organic corn at War Eagle Mill

Then hiked around War Eagle Cavern.

so fun...

Ozark adventure

2010-07-31T10:14:00.003-05:00

today we are going to talking rocks caverns, I made my self sick on pie -- not actually sick, but almost.... no self restraint..oy vay...

Visiting The Ozarks!

2010-07-28T13:55:00.004-05:00

We are in the E.E.U.U. for 11 days! woooo hooooo! bring on the pie!

work in progress

2010-07-26T17:25:00.000-05:00

newest underwater painting stage .5

2010-07-25T17:24:00.001-05:00

2010-07-25T09:42:00.002-05:00

Sunday July 25, 2010

We can get energized and feel inspired during unexciting times by recognizing perfection in the norm. Taking our regular work, our day-to-day commitments and doing our best, is an even bigger win than climbing huge mountains.

Today, don’t let life be regular. Make it extraordinary. Your life isn’t measured by how you handle burning fires. It’s measured by how you do when there are no fires to extinguish – when there’s no drama.----- Yehuda Berg

camping

2010-07-24T16:42:00.003-05:00

Special

2010-07-22T16:23:00.004-05:00

My friend Heather 's awesome store Special

Soy milk pudding

2010-07-17T15:01:00.003-05:00

I adapted this recipe from allrecipes.com
Mexican Vegan Pudding
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup water
3 cups soy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup white sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon chili powder

Directions

In small bowl, combine cornstarch and water to form a paste. Sift cocoa into mixture and whisk out any lumps.

In large saucepan over medium heat, stir together soy milk, vanilla, sugar, and cornstarch/cocoa mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Continue to cook and stir until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Pudding will continue to thicken as it cools. Allow to cool five minutes, then chill in refrigerator until completely cool.

good but weird recipe

2010-07-11T18:00:00.004-05:00

Wheat free protein packed Brownies

1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed

and drained

3 eggs

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 pinch salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish.
2.	Combine the black beans, eggs, oil, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, sugar, in a blender; blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
3.	Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes.

2010-07-09T16:32:00.001-05:00

Friday July 9, 2010

People, please pace yourselves these next couple of weeks.

We’re in the midst of the toughest time of the year.

Lots of wrecks, firings and outbursts.

Spiritually, it’s as if there is no ozone layer, and we’re getting fried.

Today, find a way to release the steam that doesn’t involve

hitting your kids, your spouse or your furniture.

Unfortunately, I’m not joking. It’s easy to destroy now.

But if you work at understanding what’s driving you, and recognize

when you’re getting burnt and look underneath for the cause,

there will be a lot of healing of issues that have trailed you for lifetimes.

Yehuda Berg

My thoughts

2010-07-08T16:56:00.005-05:00

Feeling like an imperialist

drinking Earl Grey in the nude-

banana leaves sound like newspapers,

my new Mexico attitude.

The Spanish conversations

around me ebb and flow

I like all people better

when their language I do not know.

There is time to ruminate

the darkening shades of night

the insects trill sonorous songs

a stirring vespers rite.

So I still my angry soul

in a ragged dusty town--

in summer when it's quiet

and the fustian aren't around.

A quiet, sullen imperialist

who keeps it to myself--

why should I speak of greater things

and share with someone else?

so....What art is happening?

2010-07-04T14:50:00.000-05:00

"Astrid ignores the big bird."

current painting

2010-07-03T14:49:00.000-05:00

done!

2010-07-02T11:35:00.000-05:00

done? maybe so....

2010-07-01T14:46:00.000-05:00

current painting

2010-06-30T14:04:00.000-05:00

So....What art is happening?

2010-06-30T13:51:00.006-05:00

"scamper"
"through the bathroom window"
"what is under the sea 1"
"waves"

This is what I'm working on currently.....

...and tutoring English of course, and well, summer vacation involves painting the school every year-- and this year is no exception. We start next Monday, but this time I think all the other teachers are going to pitch in and help. They are all captive until the 9th but the students have all been sent home in the whole state of Nayarit. See? drug wars are good for something, no? Make Lemonada!

favorite drink recipe

2010-06-27T16:12:00.006-05:00

To make Chia lemonade--

1/2 Cup of Lemon/ Lime juice

3 Cups of water

3 Tablespoons sugar

and add to it

1-2 Tablespoon Chia Seed.

Let set for 15 min and add ice and enjoy.

ok, You tell me...

2010-06-21T18:46:00.003-05:00

which one of these is from "the nasty bits" and which is a nice piece of fruit?

So here's a question ( as my darling Astrid likes to say), how can you be adventurous in eating and be a vegetarian?

I only ask this as I just licked a piece of raw pork fat.

I dunnno, I thought maybe it was coconut or guyabano, or breadfruit-- it was in with fruit and milk products at the fruit mongers.

Why? why?

I went back later that day and asked her what it was, she said "oh why are you a vegetarian?" and after she finished laughing her head off at me she offered to exchange it...

but, you know, in the name of adventure

....and all....

pork...

damn it....

The cat came back!

2010-06-21T14:58:00.001-05:00

We'd thought she was, well... you know.... missing. But she showed back up as soon as the rains began!

2010-06-18T07:56:00.001-05:00

Friday, June 18

Whoever looks for a life without trouble,

and sits around waiting for whatever is comfortable,

will never find it.

However, whoever constantly works at doing what’s right,

without caring if they’ll be comfortable,

will always have an easier and better life.

Today, take the uncomfortable route to your work.

Yahuda Berg

Love and Passion and Peanut Butter

2010-06-13T17:11:00.004-05:00

Well I finally broke down.

It has been 17 years this August that Nick came into my life and I have given in at long last.

I purchased the missing Cuisinart Stainless Steel Blade.

Now Nick was the only man I'd dated who had kitchen appliances, so that was a huge stride in the right direction. This was 1994 mind you, metrosexuals were not yet "out." So this was HUGE!

And it was only many years later that I realized the impressive food processor was missing a blade at all.

I recently put two and two together and realized an immortalized story in our shared myth might be a causal element in the missing blade mystery.

It seems a very foolish woman broke my darlings oh, so, young heart 20 years or so ago, and he retaliated in part by blending her photographed image in the food processor.

The metal blade was then never seen again.

Fast forward to 2010, Mexico and the dire lack of non-sugared peanut butter.

I'm planning a week long trip to the states and am calculating the amount of Laura Scudders needed before our next state-side visitor.... and... wait.

I am going to do it.

I will buy that blade, as god is my witness!

I will not smuggle sugar free peanut butter again!

So I have done what I could have done long long ago, but what was needed then and what is needed now are so fluid and fickle.

I might even make almond butter.

so.....

2010-06-11T14:10:00.002-05:00

"pre-teen astrid"

"teen astrid"

......do you think this is what astrid will look like in 6 or 7 years?

2010-06-11T14:00:00.001-05:00

Friday, June 11

The concept of doubt is good when it applies to not following the herd.

Reality is more than our five senses and we need to keep checking and being skeptical of what we think we know in order to truly know.

Today, practice systematic skepticism. Demand to see the proof in your own life. This is how you can trust your inner Light.

cvis surf out

2010-06-06T22:22:00.004-05:00

sassa and jazz

thinking about long boarding

jade jazz and sauce ready to tear it up

sweet !

Why cats think dogs are stupid.

2010-05-29T09:08:00.001-05:00

Tag thing...

2010-05-27T23:13:00.006-05:00

1. What time did you get up this morning?
8:10am

2. How do you like your steak?
Vegan

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
"How to Train a Dragon" on 3D. And Spanish. Didn't get much out of it....

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Don't really have one.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
My suitcase

6. What did you have for breakfast?
Four fresh hot tortillas, an avocado, a red bell pepper, a lime and hot sauce washed down with two cups of great local coffee

7. Your favorite cuisine?
Thai

8. What foods do you dislike?
Meat. Chocolate and fruit mixed. ug.

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
home right now....

10. Favorite salad dressing?
blue cheese

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
a ever changing painted golf kart

12. What are your favorite clothes?
bra top dresses

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
just about anywhere

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
full, with cat hair in it

15. Where would you want to retire?
Sayulita Mexico

16. Favorite time of day?
now

17. Where did you live when you were little?
Alaska

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
none

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
I'm not ending this out

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
still not sending it

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
I SAID...

22. Bird watcher?
more of a bird glancer

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
early evening

24. Do you have any pets?
7 or 8.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
I wanted to be a spy. I still do.

27. What is your best childhood memory?
Ice skating with my Mom

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
dogs, but I have like, 5 cats?

29. Are you married?
13 years

30. Always wear your seat belt?
golf karts don't go that fast luckily

31. Been in a car accident?
ack! knock on wood! Oy! pfft pfft!

32. Any pet peeves?
People who interrupt and are obviously just waiting to talk, not listening to you at all!

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Jalapenos and pineapple

34. Favorite Flower?
orchids.

35. Favorite ice cream?
peanut butter and chocolate

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
do taco stands count?

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
none

38. From whom did you get your last email?
My sister,Jennifer

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Anthropology, but I feel guilty just thinking about it.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
Oh, yeah, hourly. Wish I thought things through more often actually.

41. Like your job?
Yea, kids are cool.

42. Broccoli?
yum

43. What was your favorite vacation?
We went to cape cod one year for a wedding. Friends and family just aligned, stress free and drama-less.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Nick, Sassa and Heather Houser Hoskins. We yelled at all the people we know from our table above the street ---while eating tacos and drinking horchata.

45. What are you listening to right now?
a quietly dripping fountain

46. What is your favorite color?
orange.

47. How many tattoos do you have?
5

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
none

49. What time did you finish this quiz?
11:35 pm

50. Do you drink coffee?
si. muy deliciouso

Banana Flower update

2010-05-26T20:08:00.000-05:00

Heather got some Mexi- cats!

2010-05-25T15:58:00.004-05:00

Winifred

Snorkle

Heather took a shine to a couple of homeless kittens on her trip. She found them at Sayulita Animals during

The Fixing of the Animals,

an ovary and testicle round up!

Okay, I made that name up.

She is bringing home babies! Yay!

Pancake pool party

2010-05-25T15:50:00.006-05:00

Gabi and Andrea and Maximo Lobo came over and we had a pancake pool party to celebrate Life and Heather and the heat and Carbs.

We ate:

Banana Cajeta Blintzes

Creamy Pesto Quiche

Sour Milk pancakes

Fresh minted fruit salad

Buttercream Strawberry cake

Banana Flower update

2010-05-23T10:29:00.001-05:00

My friend Heather is visiting...

2010-05-20T17:35:00.004-05:00

So I thought I'd cook up a feast. I've been a little overwhelmed lately and we've been eating out for 5 days in a row. So I thought I'd do us up tonight.

Appetizers

Homemade "He's a cracker, but he's my cracker" crackers

Passion flower goat cheese

"Little Tel Aviv" Hummus

Ate de Membrillo

I'm a green Goddess salad

Who you callin' Puttanesca? pasta

Keep your labels off my jello salad

2010-05-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

Sunday, May 16

We can get so caught up in our daily duties and distractions that we disappear. Has part of you disappeared?

Find yourself today. Slow down. Be present with people. Be present with your connections. Be present with yourself.

Yahuda Berg

Class Camping at Cerobuco

2010-05-15T17:31:00.007-05:00

The 1st annual CVIS over- night camping trip was a great success. We slept in a crater, hiked for 4 hours and saw plumes of steam from a bunch of fumaroles. GO TEAM LAVA!

Teacher Steve does his science thing

The crater and tents

"Team Lava" makes dinner

Astrid and Jazzy set up their tent

Sleepy Campers on the ride back home.

First Banana flower!

2010-05-15T17:24:00.003-05:00

Honey, there is a chicken in the bed...

2010-05-12T08:20:00.004-05:00

So this might be the world's stupidest morning already.

It is only 8am, but to quickly recap-- I managed to shoot the memory card from the camera into the full coffee cup, (a corn hole miracle) I sprayed allergy nose spray directly into my eyeball, ( I was thinking it was eye drops) I somehow erased Nick's Ipod ( not telling, I think he will love my playlists, right?) and I woke up to a 1/2 pint chicken being chased around my room.

Now, my bedroom is on the second floor and this little guy only had pin feathers so I can only guess he got a lift from a cat. But I couldn't find my glasses and the chirping brought 6 cat and three dogs into the fray. Fracking madness as Sassa put it. I finally picked up the little chicken and was able to bring him to the field next door with out the spying eyes of the sneaky gatos and perros.

I think the rainy season is starting

2010-05-10T08:27:00.003-05:00

The last two days have suddenly changed the vibe here in Sayulita. The ability to stand still and begin to sweat has returned. The stores and restaurants are changing to the low season hours or closing until August. The tourists are standing out from the locals, rather than the other way around. It is an interesting change.

I wonder what it is like for the people returning to their other homes, the part-timers who are all leaving in droves. They have two concurrent lives, and I am a bit jealous. I know every time we talk to someone we are reinventing our personas, but the addition of a whole different set of worldly possessions sort of ups the game. Sounds very productive, this two concurrent lives....

Lina's Lot

2010-05-02T10:50:00.001-05:00

My friend Lina has about 10 kittens.

And they all sleep in drawers. So you open her cabinet and it is full of kittens.

Kittens, kittens

All curled up around

each other like tribbles.

Aren't you full of envy? I am!

Mabe

2010-05-01T17:45:00.002-05:00

I've decided the oven feels like it has been hemmed in-- forced to conform to a role which is not it's choosing. And I'm okay with that. My oven, Mabe, has to express herself in ways other than consistent heating. And thats okay. Because while Nick thinks the oven might be more of an artistic soul, I have the distinct sense she is a scientific genius... a Steven Hawking of the appliance world. And who am I to argue with that.

but then again...

2010-04-27T18:05:00.002-05:00

this is what morning looks like for me. ... take the good with the bad, eh?

you know it kills me everyone leaves.

2010-04-26T20:19:00.003-05:00

It takes some getting used to... all this going away people do.

you know when you are "thinking outside the box"....

2010-04-26T11:02:00.005-05:00

and you realize you just needed to pull the little tab you didn't see and because of this just wasted a lot of time with intense meta- level extrapolation? Yeah, well... I just did that.

sleep thought

2010-04-26T10:48:00.001-05:00

You know how your body likes to wake up a a particular time? Irregardless of whatever? Mine is 11 am. Seriously. How am I supposed to make that work? sheesh.

Spaetzle!

2010-04-22T19:21:00.003-05:00

I went to La Penita yesterday with Lina and went into a place that caught my eye last time I was there-- a tiny German cafe! With take out! It was run by the most awesome couple, one German and one national, dressed nearly identically in cowpoke attire. I'm in love. I bought all the fresh spaetzle they had and surprised Nick. It was a totally out of context experience and I adored every minute. Yay life!

this week's artist

2010-04-22T18:50:00.000-05:00

Whats for dinner?

2010-04-13T23:11:00.007-05:00

Yes, it is so hot here I bake in a bikini.

I've been cooking a lot the last week or so-- I've been thinking about big city food, I guess.

...Like sushi and agadasi dofu...and NY cheesecake and naan and Sag Paneer...and Tom Yum Phug, and Bánh mì and... spicy wat and injera.... and .... anyway....

There is a dearth of anything other than Italian food, and of course Mexican, here. And I was thinking middle eastern again. So I made whole wheat pita bread on the open flame--and yummy falafel with fresh tzatziki, and homemade hummus for dinner tonight. and we topped it off with some chocolate chip nuez ice cream sandwiches....mmmm.. and now I feel like I'm in a thriving culinary metropolis!

Costa Verde International School

2010-04-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

Good to be home.

2010-04-12T09:50:00.002-05:00

Monday, April 12

Difficulties are part of a grand design to keep you growing and changing.
If you keep finding yourself in the same dramas, year after year (lifetime after lifetime) the reason is simple: you haven't yet learned the lesson life's teaching you.

Surrender to the lesson today.

Yehuda Berg