Valley Girls and Giants

Last night I went to visit a good friend of mine(Vanessa). We had some great discussions about how to stimulate certain parts of your brain... Like this for instance:

Sensory Deprivation Tanks

I am definitely going to do this one day. Vanessa found one in our area and had her first "floating"experience recently.

Then we discussed this restaurant http://sf.darkdining.com/. Seriously, who wouldn't want to try this place out? Well I am sure many people wouldn't find this great but as for me...it gives me chills to think about how amazing this experience would be. Mental note for a possible birthday gift next year!!

So our senses were a bit heightened and then this happened

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/nc/71671056/us/index.html

I have never in my life experienced an earthquake and had this one been any longer or stronger it would not have been so effin' cool!! Thankfully no one was hurt even where the epicenter was. It scaled at a 4.7, so we most likely felt it around a 2.something.

Vanessa lives in an old victorian so her house was definitely rumbling and creaking. It lasted at least 5 minutes a few seconds. Once it was over we looked at each other and I whispered "Was that an earthquake?" She, who is the calmest person ever said (again in a whisper,because apparently earthquakes have ears) "I think it was, and it's going to be OK" because I am sure I had a look of terror on my face.

The hilarious part was that during the few seconds of the quake both of us came up with our own interpretation of what was going on and they were both very similar stories. My interpretation was that there was a very large man who had been hiding in her bedroom with plans to attack us and at that very moment he was running through her house coming after us. Her interpretation was that there was again a very large man who was running up her back porch (she has a basement, one of my biggest phobias by the way) into the house. She even went as far to wonder IF this GIANT man can fit through her house windows.

Once I got home I woke my husband up and couldn't quit talking about it. He then empathized with me by sharing his experience here:

YES! I completely forgot he was at the 1989 World Series Baseball game. He was only 10. He shared of his fear in the anticipation of the many aftershocks (he grew up in San Jose). He also told me about how his house was completely ransacked. Then he asked "You've never experienced an earthquake before?"
"I said "no". He then replied teasingly "Oh, that's right...your a valley girl!" my response "Oh...whatever! I'm gonna go watch T.V.... you show off!" Jokingly of course.


While this doesn't compare to the massive quakes it was still quite the experience. One I definitely do NOT want to experience again and my heart and prayers goes out to those families that have been affected by natural disasters. I used this as a learning experience and had a great conversation with my daughter and I am now thinking that I really should be more prepared in case The Big One were to hit our area.

Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Did you know what it was while it was happening? Any stories you'd like to share? I'm all ears :))

XO Your Valley Girl,
Tracy

Meet the "6 Chicks"

Our girls: 

From top to bottom: 

D.Victoria (Buff Orpington) named by my mom, because it's blonde like her BFF whom I am sure would be  thrilled to know this!

Rintoo (Barred Rock) named and claimed by Dominic.

Rosie (Americauna or Easter Egger) named and claimed by Desiree. 

Roxy (Leghorn) She is mine by default.

Cozy (Buff Orpington) named and claimed by Alexander.

Tilly (Silver Laced Wyandotte) named and claimed by Richard

Chickens were a no-no here in our city up until recently where a new ordinance has been passed and will be in effect on Nov 1st. I attended the meeting along with Desiree.

Us, along with our babies and "CLUCK" stickers after the successful meeting. Where one council member specifically directed her attention to Desiree and said "She was passing this ordinance for the little girl in the 2nd row...for her generation".  

 My daughter is a farm girl living in the city. Her first beloved animal was a horse...at 2 she adored horses. She loves country music. She comes alive where there's room to run and be free. So she pushed for these chickens, and Richard and I finally bit the bullet.  Richard was on board as long as he wasn't left to all the hard work. ex: cleaning up the poop!

The first time my daughter had to refill the food and water, it was morning and she was outside in her slippers and nightgown and she said "Mommy, this feels like a real farm." I asked her if she was happy and she said "Yes, I love my chickens."

So it's been a little over two months and they are currently in a brooder that he built and we are in the process of designing our coop which will be a variation of this http://pluckandfeather.com/noisy-hens.html in the end.

We will most likely never have a farm, but the fact that we can provide a bit of the simple life and self sufficiency here feels right to me. Dominic has learned what "Gentle" means, because chicks "scream" when squeezed...no bueno! This has also helped Alexander search for his inner kid and he loves his "chick" :) he said he will take her to college with him and he will be the only kid who has a hen as a pet.

I enjoy doing the dishes and/or cooking and seeing the hens run back and forth. We all spend much more time outside and they've inspired a new "Native California" backyard theme for us. I am so thankful that my husband and I listened and chose to try something new for our kids.Yes, I had a few weeks of  worrying about the "what if's"  but it's completely worth it.

I know this is a growing trend and I'd love to read about your chickens if you have them.

XO,
Tracy 

Here's to the Freakin' Weekend!

This week has been great. My little guy started preschool, I have a blessed 2 hours and 45 minutes EVERYDAY! to create brain space. I love it. It's amazing! He loves school, too. I also love his reaction when I pick him up. "MOMMY!!!!!" huge smiles and hug so powerful I have to brace myself. Completely priceless :)

We got our CSA box - Always a highlight. Nothing like a giant box of gorgeous organic veggies delivered right to your doorstep. May as well say "Happy Birthday!!!" or whatever... Yeah, I am bit of a foodie. Will travel miles up and down Cali (literally) for food. 

Tonight I dropped my little people off with my mother-in-law for the weekend. My husband is sailing/fishing with his friend in San Francisco for the weekend. (on this boat, I'm trying real hard not to be jelly ) 

So it's just me and my man-boy for the next two days. So he's currently taking up the whole couch playing Gears of War 3 (why is it, teens make relaxing look like defacement? Seriously...why can't there be cushions on the couch WHILE you sit on it?)

and I'm blogging all the while thinking that I should be mopping. 

My to do list this weekend consists of things to do solo (because he needs time to play Gears) and things with him, because he's cool like that.

Tentative to do list: 

Have lunch with a friend while my boy attends his club car wash fundraiser

Go hang out downtown tomorrow night with my boy

Go to the Cemetery - Solo

Listen to a sermon by my favorite bay area pastor - Solo

Bake cookies for our neighbors  - hmmm....he may join in just for the dough

Go to my favorite nursery and purchase a California Native plant AND actually get it in the ground before it dies  - this one's iffy...

Watch this documentary with my boy  http://www.pelada-movie.com/

and we may just scratch all these plans and go wherever the winds blows. Any big plans for ya'll this weekend? It's kinda the first real Fall weekend here, seems to be lots of stuff going on! May it be blessed and carefree. 

Peace Out! 

Tracy