Cleaning out the fridge

I just cleaned out my refrigerator and filled up a 13 gallon trash bag, which makes it hard to carry out to the garbage can. Cleaning it and keeping it organized has never been a priority of mine. I usually have good intentions by having the family fridge stocked, but it quickly degenerates into not really knowing what is in there and then I double buy (cream cheese, sour cream, hummus, lettuce)

And speaking of lettuce, I am probaby responsible for wasting more lettuce than anyone I know. I buy it and don't get around to using it all.

I found two half-used containers of Pavillions Tomato-Basil soup, which is so delicious, but I should not be buying in the first place. I think it has about 20 grams of fat.

As I put the spoiled remains of my fridge into the garbage can, such a load was lifted, because I can now see what is left. It is somewhat organized.

Thanksgiving is three days away and the fridge will be overflowing again soon, but at least I'll know it's all fresh.

I love to tell myself, when I am on the verge of being appalled at what I see when I open that refrigerator door, "the most interesting people I know have crammed fridges" and it usually means "good cook" and "foodie". Why just settle on peanut butter (I buy REAL peanut butter-that has to be refrigerated) when you can have almond butter and pumpkin seed butter. How can I limit myself to just one choice?

Clearly having a picture perfect fridge is not a possiblity for me. I could never own one of those awesome glass fronted beauties. Today I am thankful for a cleanish refrigerator and a solid door that hides many of my flaws.

The Horror

I live in Orange County, CA, named for the abundance of the juicy fruit. Even in Riverside, where my mom lives, you drive by groves of oranges.

California is home of the oldest, largest, and tallest trees; home of the Central Valley where agriculture is king, because of the mild climate and long growing seasons. I live in the salad bowl state, lots of floura and fauna.

So imagine my horror when I am checking out at the grocery store and notice the "South Africa" sticker on the oranges I am buying. I had to get clarification from the cashier "Is this a type of orange or where it comes from?" She assured me this is where it was imported from.

I bought them in a state of shock. The idea of buying oranges in Southern California grown in South Africa is so disturbing I actually can only laugh at how crazy it is, for so many reasons.

I guess I am going to buy oranges at my local Farmers Market since the grocery stores can't figure out how wasteful they are. You can't just run to the FM anytime you want though, but maybe planning ahead would be a responsible thing for me to do.

We're hanging in there!

It's Halloween season again and quite frankly I am ready for it to be over. Gone are the days when Trick or Treating was the celebration, now it is a season: Parties, pumpkin patches, homes decorated like Christmas, school carnavals, and this year Trunk or Treat ( legit since it's on Sunday this year).

We have been invited to pumpkin carving parties, bring a pot of chili pot lucks, and don't forget to wear a costume.

While I might sound like a scrooge, I think the excitement of the actual Halloween Day is diluted by too many celebrations. A party here and there is great, especially for my older kids since they don't really trick or treat, but Madeline's been to two costume parties already and the Halloween weekend starts tomorrow.

I am sure this is just a case of "girl raised in the 70s adapting to the 2000s", but simple was fine for me.

Sometimes

I like to celebrate the day by being outside

and being with friends.

Other times I like to be alone inside,

maybe baking some bread.

As I sent my children off to school with umbrellas in hand, I knew today would be the latter kind of day.

I awoke to a Lightning show and Thunder clapping, a day that needed celebrating inside.

I went out to check on the birds to see how they fared the storm. I wondered if they appreciated the roof over their heads during the deluge.

As I walked back into the house I noticed some more peppers and tomatoes were ready to be picked. I might go back out and pick them today or maybe not. Sometimes a day is just like that.

I want to know:

-Will all the Chilean miners make it to safety?

-Did my neighbor view his "nanny-cam" to see who has been stealing his avocadoes?

-Where have 90% of my beach towels disappeared to in the last two weeks?

...and now, Rain

Just a week after the heat wave, we get rain, which I love! It is still unusual though, last week was warmer than normal (by a lot) and now it's cooler than normal. So what, what's normal any way?

True to form, Grace went to bed in her summer nightgown.

Heat Wave...Laguna's Indian Summer

I've lived in Laguna Beach for 15 years now. Every year there are a couple of days that I wish I had an air conditioner. I've felt that way most of this week, especially Monday, 99 degrees 52% humidity.

It doesn't sound so bad unless you are in my reverse floor-plan home starting to feel like you've got jungle fever. I had to give a long leisurely visit to Pavillions grocery store to get my sanity back.

Ford has been snorkling most of the week. He brings the underwater camera with him every time.

I keep waiting for some pictures underwater that have some sea life or humans. Most of them don't, but this is one of the rare ones that features some kind of fish. It's not exactly the Carribean, but it'll do.

I took a weekend trip with some of my fun and fabulous girlfriends out to Palm Desert the weekend before school started. The weather had been 105 degrees all week, until the day we arrived, when it spiked to 112. I couldn't complain too much since Laguna did not have a summer in the summer so any heat and sun was nice.

This child of mine is weather confused. All week she has tried to go to bed in long sleeved and legged pajamas, wear long sleeves and layers to school. When it was cooler a couple of weeks ago she was trying to wear summer nightgowns and leave in tank tops to school without a sweater. Derik and I can't figure out what causes this mix up, but she has been doing it her whole self-dressing life. Every day is opposite day!