Monthly Archives: July 2008

Painting the Town

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Take a nap on a giant Lily pad, flutter with the butterflies, stroll gently on the Japanese garden path, chat with the animals and take a break for lunch…all in a days worth of adventure filled with endless possibilities at Como Zoo and Conservatory in Saint Paul.

This zoo and conservatory shouts “PICNIC LUNCH” but if you’re short on time the Zöbota Café is a great alternative. This indoor café, located in the Visitor Center, features chef specials, hand-tossed salads, unique grilled sandwiches, Muddy Paws Cheesecake and Caribou Coffee. Zöbota Café also offers a free wireless Internet connection to their customers. We enjoyed the black bean vegetarian burger.

Auntie Kelly took Nishad on the Merry-Go-Round; Which he always looks forward to going on when we visit Como. This was the first time he sat on his own horse, without me holding on to him. He did great! Kelly and I had fun breaking out in song from the instrumental music that played on the Merry-Go-Round. “Rain Drops Keep Fallin‘ on My Head” and “Down-town.” Now, that’s good Merry-Go-Round music!

Our visit to the zoo and conservatory was part two of our birthday celebration for Auntie Kelly! Though her birthday was in May, we wanted to celebrate her trip around the sun in person. Our morning began with a visit to The French Meadow Bakery and Cafe in Minneapolis. Auntie Kelly and I had the vegetarian breakfast burrito and Nishad had the organic (vegetarian fed) scrambled eggs and toast, made from bread without yeast in it.

After we were fueled up, we had a slight detour. A Chicago native, I have issues with all the numbers associated with the freeways in Minnesota. Can’t we just give them all names? Maybe I should start naming them? It would be so much easier!

Green Carpet Sore-dom

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After contemplating buying a goat (so we would haven’t to mow our lawn as often as we do), I realized that we would rack up way more expenses in caring for the goat. While mowing the lawn, I felt the ache in my legs from walking up and down the side slopes of our house. Sometimes I just can’t fathom all my legs use to dance. Seventeen hours a week teaching, plus school and my personal dance classes…I recall how I would come home from teaching all wired and dance some more! With one eye on the mower and the other eye on the kids, I prided myself in straight rows of carpeted green- trying to divert my attention from my aching feet. I’m sure the weight that I’m having difficulty with doesn’t help the situation. I’m sure the ice cream I ate today doesn’t help either.

Roots and Wings

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The two most important things you give your children; roots and wings (Jonas Salk). I came across that quote and it has been an inspiration to me as a mother. So much, that it was the theme of my latest garden adventure.

Why roots and wings? The two almost appear to contradict one another. However, without roots, one can not take flight. Like the gardner, we learn patience, trusting the natural process. We strive to give our children roots- stability, a strong sense of belonging and nourishment (body and spirit). We prepare them to take flight to one day leave our ‘nest’, giving them responsibilities early on, confidence and encouragement. Thus, “Roots and Wings.”

My wonderful husband received a phone call while I was in route on my way back from the store, with a bird bath in tow, complete with butterflies etched on it. Along with the bird bath- flowers of course. Deep shades of purple day lily’s and corn flowers representative of the richness the boys bring to our lives and the roots we so hope to give them.

I admit though, I’m struggling with the idea of ‘wings’ lately- Or maybe the idea that my babies are growing faster than I prepared myself for. I know that they have to grow to evolve and in order to grow, we need to give them room to fly. However, this sometimes overly protective Mommy sees all that could harm her precious babies. In many ways, the boys are teaching Ashish and I how to fly.

Despite our ‘spat’ that he knew nothing of my plan or idea for our newest weekend project for the yard, we made up, became one with the soil and did what we do best- collaborate.

Imprints: While growing up in ‘Chicagoland’ my mother’s garden had a seahorse bird bath. Purple Phlox surrounded it. I would love to import that cement bird bath up here, and appreciate it as it should be. On my last visit to my childhood home of 28-years, the garden that I maintained and cultivated after my Mother’s passing in 1992, was no more. Though, despite the weeds that have spread everywhere, tulips that she planted when I was about 9 or 10 years old, still continue to thrive. There has to be a moral in that.

Duluth

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Off to Duluth for some Haute and Ashbury type culture on the lake shore. We stayed at the Inn on Lake Superior while in Duluth on Canal Park. We had a fantastic room- the manager that booked our room didn’t disappoint! Our room was a main level suite, lake view, with a door that lead out to a patio and we could come and go as we pleased from our own hotel door. Every night at 8PM the hotel had bonfires complete with all the fixins’ for S’Mores- complementary. In the morning, they had a complementary breakfast of champions. Tiger (aka Arun) made sure we didn’t miss those beautiful views of the sunrise either! He and I took a walk at 5:30AM on Canal Park. I’m glad too… There are two pools at the hotel as well. A roof top pool that is kept at 82-degrees year round. It was actually too hot for us to swim in, believe it or not! Duluth is not for it’s warm weather. We were right in the middle of a ton of restaurants and shops. We didn’t drive the car the entire time we were their, which was perfect! Especially when you have kids! We took the boys to the most amazing Railway Museum we’ve been to yet that included tickets to the Duluth Children’s Museum. We purchased tickets for a 90-minute train ride to Lester River. We sat in the open car on the train- beautiful. Nishad *loved* the museum and the ride. The Boys enjoyed watching international ships come to port and the famous Duluth bridge lift. I really look forward to returning to Duluth and this hotel. Next time, perhaps we’ll stay a day or two more! Duluth reminds me so much of Morro Bay, California. I could live in Duluth, if they didn’t have the winters they do!

Commissioner Beverly

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I’m proud to be a P & R commissioner. The Park and Recreation Commission acts as a liaison between the community and city government. We advise the council on maintenance, improvements, developing parks, programing, regulations and hold three free events per year (Pumpkin Patch, Santa Day and Egg Hunt) that we coordinate and run. Recreation rocks- as my Aunt Bev once said to me (yes, my namesake commented), who works for parks and recreation…albeit, another state. I have made a few good friends on P & R as well…Which really made Minnesota feel like ‘home’.

Park and Rec. is just as important as community schools- You’re city is only as good as the schools that are there and the community within. Parks encourage and bring a sense of community. Schools are always the hub when tragedy occurs or issues arise. Though our boys will probably never attend the school district here, Ashish and I still support it. As a matter of fact, last August I was asked to be a tri-chair for our last school campaign…which I was proud to be a part of.

We are fortunate to have a great view of one of our beautiful city parks from the comfort of our deck. We have a creek that runs through our property, and a pond on both views from our deck. Most days it’s like a bird sanctuary back there! We have fish in the creek, frogs, cranes, a loon and mink that love to play in the mornings.

I am also very fortunate that my husband values me and what I find important enough to volunteer for. Being that one of us are always with our children I consider my volunteering to be his volunteering as well.