Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
How does your garden grow?
Happy day! I just ordered some raised garden beds from The Backyard Pantry. I met the owners, John and Karen, at the Pepper Place Market on Saturday and was immediately won over by their genuine passion for equipping others with everything they need for their gardening journey.
Riley and Brady are thrilled about our new project. Over the last couple of years they have "worked the land" at their schools, but now we'll get to enjoy gardening together without too much angst on my part. (Hopefully.) The beds come filled with good soil and John and Karen are glad to guide us along the way, so I think we might actually be able to see some fruits of our labor.
Even though they have received several orders recently, our beds should be delivered in the next two weeks. Apparently it's not too late to start a garden here in Birmingham. These are some of our options:
Beans
Field peas
Rutabagas
Turnips
Cabbage
Broccoli
Collards
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Celery
If anyone has any tips, please share. Maybe I'll repay you by having you over for some of this.
Wish us luck!
Read more...
Riley and Brady are thrilled about our new project. Over the last couple of years they have "worked the land" at their schools, but now we'll get to enjoy gardening together without too much angst on my part. (Hopefully.) The beds come filled with good soil and John and Karen are glad to guide us along the way, so I think we might actually be able to see some fruits of our labor.
Even though they have received several orders recently, our beds should be delivered in the next two weeks. Apparently it's not too late to start a garden here in Birmingham. These are some of our options:
Beans
Field peas
Rutabagas
Turnips
Cabbage
Broccoli
Collards
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Celery
If anyone has any tips, please share. Maybe I'll repay you by having you over for some of this.
Wish us luck!
Read more...
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Firsts
My daughter has a new blog post about her first few days of first grade at Cornerstone.
She and I are enjoying a restful morning of writing and talking in our jammies while waiting for Tim and Brady to return with doughnuts.
Life is good.
Read more...
She and I are enjoying a restful morning of writing and talking in our jammies while waiting for Tim and Brady to return with doughnuts.
Life is good.
Read more...
Thursday, August 6, 2009
HICA at Pepper Place Market this Saturday!
One of my clients, The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, has an exciting day planned on Saturday (August 8th) as they gear up for Alma Latina next Thursday. If you're in Birmingham, be sure to join us for all of the upcoming festivities!
Read more...
Sunday, July 26, 2009
My Work
It might be a little premature of me to make this statement since I re-entered the paid workforce only a couple of months ago. But, it's true and I'm pretty sure it will continue to be true, so here it is...
I. love. my. job.
Through my work with the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama and the Birmingham Art Collective I have had opportunities to meet some wonderful people, learn about various great things happening in Birmingham, and use my gifts for the benefit of our community. I feel like I am more of who I was created to be. That's a good thing.
I'm looking forward to sharing details about current projects, as well as some ideas for the future. The "new home" for all of my work and passions, www.charlottedonlon.com, will be up and running in the next few weeks. Once Riley and Brady start school I will have more time to write and further explore a few things that are on the radar. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy these last few weeks of summer with my babies, tie up loose ends for ¡ALMA LATINA!, and hang on for this fabulous ride. Read more...
I. love. my. job.
Through my work with the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama and the Birmingham Art Collective I have had opportunities to meet some wonderful people, learn about various great things happening in Birmingham, and use my gifts for the benefit of our community. I feel like I am more of who I was created to be. That's a good thing.
I'm looking forward to sharing details about current projects, as well as some ideas for the future. The "new home" for all of my work and passions, www.charlottedonlon.com, will be up and running in the next few weeks. Once Riley and Brady start school I will have more time to write and further explore a few things that are on the radar. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy these last few weeks of summer with my babies, tie up loose ends for ¡ALMA LATINA!, and hang on for this fabulous ride. Read more...
Sunday, July 19, 2009
New Adventures
Yesterday morning Tim, Riley, Brady, and I walked to Cornerstone, our new school. Some people from our community were there painting and doing repairs and we thought we might be able to jump in and help out for a little while. Soon after arriving, Tim and I realized we needed to get our children away from those wielding power tools so we headed to the library to see if they could use our assistance.
When we walked in I met a fellow new Cornerstone mom whose family lives very close to ours. She and her three sons (sixth grade, second grade, and K-4) were checking out books and getting information on the accelerated reading program. We immediately hit it off. In addition to basic introductions, we went below the surface and discussed how our excitement about Cornerstone is mixed with sadness and a little fear. Like our family, their family is leaving schools that they love in order to attend Cornerstone. She and I can't help but worry about this new chapter in our lives, but we encouraged each other and agreed to touch base this week. It might be helpful for all of us if our families can spend some time together before school starts.
Later on in our conversation, the topic of music lessons came up and she mentioned that her oldest son has participated in Scrollworks in the past and that he would begin again in the fall. I vaguely recalled reading this article in the Birmingham News, but until I got home yesterday and Googled it, I didn't know very much about the program. Well, now I know about it, and thanks to Twitter, I've found out that even though Riley is 5 months shy of being 7-years-old, she can go ahead and start taking music lessons. She has been wanting to play the piano, guitar, and violin for years, and now she can try out all three. What a gift! And, the vision and goals of the organization are very much in line with my beliefs and hopes for our city. Here's a quote from their website:
"Scrollworks brings together youth from a broad cross-section of society to demonstrate our belief that those who play music together begin to live the experience of community. Scrollworks is an atypical community music school designed to provide intensive music instruction to anyone and everyone, including disadvantaged children who otherwise would not have access to quality instruction. Stop by, pick out an instrument, and get a free lesson... it's that simple!
Scrollworks gives back to the community. As students skills progress, each is invited to join MYO's ensembles and orchestras. The ensembles travel outside the greater metro area to all of Alabama and beyond. Local musicians are invited to join us in rehearsal and performance in order for all participants to grow and develop. Our students serve the community by performing in a wide variety of venues."
How great is that? It looks like we'll be heading to Riley's first music lesson tomorrow morning. She's going to be beside herself.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet other members of the Cornerstone family, and I'm looking forward to the new friendships that will develop over the next several months. If one thirty-minute conversation with another Cornerstone mom can help me feel encouraged about entering this new phase of our journey and can lead us to the work and gift of Scrollworks, there's no telling what awaits us in the future.
Read more...
When we walked in I met a fellow new Cornerstone mom whose family lives very close to ours. She and her three sons (sixth grade, second grade, and K-4) were checking out books and getting information on the accelerated reading program. We immediately hit it off. In addition to basic introductions, we went below the surface and discussed how our excitement about Cornerstone is mixed with sadness and a little fear. Like our family, their family is leaving schools that they love in order to attend Cornerstone. She and I can't help but worry about this new chapter in our lives, but we encouraged each other and agreed to touch base this week. It might be helpful for all of us if our families can spend some time together before school starts.
Later on in our conversation, the topic of music lessons came up and she mentioned that her oldest son has participated in Scrollworks in the past and that he would begin again in the fall. I vaguely recalled reading this article in the Birmingham News, but until I got home yesterday and Googled it, I didn't know very much about the program. Well, now I know about it, and thanks to Twitter, I've found out that even though Riley is 5 months shy of being 7-years-old, she can go ahead and start taking music lessons. She has been wanting to play the piano, guitar, and violin for years, and now she can try out all three. What a gift! And, the vision and goals of the organization are very much in line with my beliefs and hopes for our city. Here's a quote from their website:
"Scrollworks brings together youth from a broad cross-section of society to demonstrate our belief that those who play music together begin to live the experience of community. Scrollworks is an atypical community music school designed to provide intensive music instruction to anyone and everyone, including disadvantaged children who otherwise would not have access to quality instruction. Stop by, pick out an instrument, and get a free lesson... it's that simple!
Scrollworks gives back to the community. As students skills progress, each is invited to join MYO's ensembles and orchestras. The ensembles travel outside the greater metro area to all of Alabama and beyond. Local musicians are invited to join us in rehearsal and performance in order for all participants to grow and develop. Our students serve the community by performing in a wide variety of venues."
How great is that? It looks like we'll be heading to Riley's first music lesson tomorrow morning. She's going to be beside herself.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet other members of the Cornerstone family, and I'm looking forward to the new friendships that will develop over the next several months. If one thirty-minute conversation with another Cornerstone mom can help me feel encouraged about entering this new phase of our journey and can lead us to the work and gift of Scrollworks, there's no telling what awaits us in the future.
Read more...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Our New School
My friend recently posted some thoughts on her blog about her and her husband's decision to send their daughter to Cornerstone School.
In March I wrote a bit here about education and how Tim and I were mostly sure we would be sending Riley and Brady to Cornerstone for the upcoming school year. It became official somewhere along the way and we are now in the process of ordering school uniforms, obtaining immunization records from our pediatrician, and wondering about all that is in store for us in the next several weeks and months. I am thrilled about our new school and am grateful that our family is entering into this part of our journey with Kristen, Michael, and their children.
Riley and Brady are looking forward to being at Cornerstone, but they definitely have some sadness in leaving the schools they have been at the past two years. Throughout their lives, they have been blessed with loving teachers and nurturing learning environments. I am thankful that they will continue to be cared for by wonderful teachers who want them to have a real love for learning along with love for God and love for their neighbors.
Tim and I are excited to be a part of the work of Cornerstone. Since we met 12-ish years ago we have talked about our hopes for the city of Birmingham, and our children attending this school is a partial realization of those hopes. God is good.
Read more...
In March I wrote a bit here about education and how Tim and I were mostly sure we would be sending Riley and Brady to Cornerstone for the upcoming school year. It became official somewhere along the way and we are now in the process of ordering school uniforms, obtaining immunization records from our pediatrician, and wondering about all that is in store for us in the next several weeks and months. I am thrilled about our new school and am grateful that our family is entering into this part of our journey with Kristen, Michael, and their children.
Riley and Brady are looking forward to being at Cornerstone, but they definitely have some sadness in leaving the schools they have been at the past two years. Throughout their lives, they have been blessed with loving teachers and nurturing learning environments. I am thankful that they will continue to be cared for by wonderful teachers who want them to have a real love for learning along with love for God and love for their neighbors.
Tim and I are excited to be a part of the work of Cornerstone. Since we met 12-ish years ago we have talked about our hopes for the city of Birmingham, and our children attending this school is a partial realization of those hopes. God is good.
Read more...
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Beer Love
Good beer, seeing people pursue their passions, and the city of Birmingham are on the list of things that gladden my heart. Since The J. Clyde embodies all of these elements, there has been a special place in my heart since it opened in Southside a couple of years ago. Now that I've heard about some changes that will be taking place over the next few weeks, I feel even better about spreading the beer love.
After a few conversations with friends about "The Clyde," I attempted to get some scoop from a legitimate source. I requested a conversation with a real live person via an email address on their website and within an hour, I was on the phone with the owner, Jerry Hartley. I was won over by his story and his hopes for his bar/restaurant. It sounds like business is great and some good things are coming soon. He explained that they are in dire need of fancier technological capabilities and in the very near future will be upgrading their computer system and doubling the number of terminals available for servers to process their customers' orders. All of these improvements will keep things moving along for the servers and bartenders while positively impacting their customer experience. Since the Free the Hops legislation passed in May, even more people have become aware of this local restaurant/bar and Jerry is thrilled to see others enjoying learning about all they have to offer.
At times it's easier to think about the negative aspects of Birmingham. I'm going to try to do a better job of focusing on the positive, and the work of Jerry Hartley and his staff fits the bill. I'm grateful for Jerry's commitment to Birmingham and his willingness to share his passion for great beer and food with our community. I'm also looking forward to all the changes that will be implemented in the next couple of months. If you're around this weekend, make sure you go by to experience their special cask of Good People Brewing Company's Brown Ale. My husband and I also recommend are the selections from Yazoo Brewing Company and the Good People Snakehandler. While you're there experiencing the beer love, you might as well have a little something to eat. A couple of my favorites are the Southern Style Caprese Stack and the Spanish Potato Omelet. De. Lish.
Please join me in sharing the love. What are some of your favorite beer and food selections offered at The Clyde? I'd love to hear what I ought to try next time I'm over that way. Read more...
After a few conversations with friends about "The Clyde," I attempted to get some scoop from a legitimate source. I requested a conversation with a real live person via an email address on their website and within an hour, I was on the phone with the owner, Jerry Hartley. I was won over by his story and his hopes for his bar/restaurant. It sounds like business is great and some good things are coming soon. He explained that they are in dire need of fancier technological capabilities and in the very near future will be upgrading their computer system and doubling the number of terminals available for servers to process their customers' orders. All of these improvements will keep things moving along for the servers and bartenders while positively impacting their customer experience. Since the Free the Hops legislation passed in May, even more people have become aware of this local restaurant/bar and Jerry is thrilled to see others enjoying learning about all they have to offer.
At times it's easier to think about the negative aspects of Birmingham. I'm going to try to do a better job of focusing on the positive, and the work of Jerry Hartley and his staff fits the bill. I'm grateful for Jerry's commitment to Birmingham and his willingness to share his passion for great beer and food with our community. I'm also looking forward to all the changes that will be implemented in the next couple of months. If you're around this weekend, make sure you go by to experience their special cask of Good People Brewing Company's Brown Ale. My husband and I also recommend are the selections from Yazoo Brewing Company and the Good People Snakehandler. While you're there experiencing the beer love, you might as well have a little something to eat. A couple of my favorites are the Southern Style Caprese Stack and the Spanish Potato Omelet. De. Lish.
Please join me in sharing the love. What are some of your favorite beer and food selections offered at The Clyde? I'd love to hear what I ought to try next time I'm over that way. Read more...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
"A Life Not My Own"
By Bonnie Thurston
National Catholic Reporter, 6/20/2003
In rare moments
when I am home to myself,
my heart is still,
my pulse a psalm
I know obscurely
I receive my life
from a power beyond me,
live by a life not my own.
This morsel of life
its ephemeral beauty
its searing sorrow
is on loan,
marginal to a greater agency
that always, all ways
engages the darkness,
brings life from death.
My own gratuitousness
itself is gift,
liberating me
to live in this moment,
to be at peace in a world
that, like me, is passing away,
to love it fiercely,
to let it go.
Read more...
National Catholic Reporter, 6/20/2003
In rare moments
when I am home to myself,
my heart is still,
my pulse a psalm
I know obscurely
I receive my life
from a power beyond me,
live by a life not my own.
This morsel of life
its ephemeral beauty
its searing sorrow
is on loan,
marginal to a greater agency
that always, all ways
engages the darkness,
brings life from death.
My own gratuitousness
itself is gift,
liberating me
to live in this moment,
to be at peace in a world
that, like me, is passing away,
to love it fiercely,
to let it go.
Read more...
Friday, June 26, 2009
7 Quick Takes Friday (vol 23)
The "I've-managed-to-get-by-without-the-following-and-will-most-likely-continue-to-do-so" version:
1) Diaper Genie
2) Minivan
3) Cruising
4) Twilight
5) KitchenAid Mixer
6) Lost
7) Fully-stocked bar
For others' quick takes go here. If you feel so inclined.
Read more...
1) Diaper Genie
2) Minivan
3) Cruising
4) Twilight
5) KitchenAid Mixer
6) Lost
7) Fully-stocked bar
For others' quick takes go here. If you feel so inclined.
Read more...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)