QUIET * On being Beige & Blue * a workbook photo album

Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara

Mesa Shore, Santa Barbara

Hendry's Beach, Santa Barbara

In food we can trust ? [part 2]

Follow this great link  for a Thumb Up program called Pure Food Kids Workshops.
I wish they would do something like this in France ! Or maybe they do...?
If some of you  French reader s have some info, don't hesitate to email me!

Le lien suivant est une des reponses possibles a mon post  precedent du meme nom.
Si vous connaissez un programme/atelier similaire fait pour les enfants en France, je vous serais reconnaissante de me le faire connaitre via e-mail ! D'avance je vous en remercie!

In food we trust?

I got this book today at our local bookstore.

I liked the simplicity of it.

Simple veggies, simple recipes.


J'ai trouve ce livre de recettes et de conseils pour petits jardiniers en herbe dans une librairie locale en Californie. J'ai tout de suite aime la simplicite des photos, textes et recettes. J'aime particulierement que cela s'adresse aux enfants.

Then I heard yesterday about this movie. 

I have not seen it yet. But I am planning on doing it this week. 

I watched similar French ones [ Nos enfants nous accuseront (here in english) + Solutions locales pour un probleme global.].

At home, we are doing all we can to teach our two girls the importance of food. Where it comes from, how it grows, teaching them about reading what is on the labels and not paying too much attention to the cute drawing/picture/logo misleading them completly.
Teaching them about the importance of supporting organic farmers {grown locally and in season} and by visiting our local farmer's market. The problem is by all means the school "cantine" and eating outside. I found this issue less of a problem here in California as many vegan & organic restaurant/supermarkets are easy to go to. 

But somehow, sometimes I am afraid that hammering it too hard with our little girls will have the opposite effect over time... ( i am thinking teenage years..) 
I need to learn to teach them with a lighter tone... I find this difficult. 

Any thoughts or tips on this ? 

I would love to hear from you!

* * *

Une amie de Californie m'a parle de ce film, sorti depuis en DVD. Je souhaite le louer d'ici peu via iTunes. Cela semble etre de la meme veine que les documentaires de Coline Serreau ou de Jean Paul Jaud

Il est primordial dans notre famille d'apprendre a nos deux petites filles l'importance de la provenance de la nourriture que nous mangeons. D'ou vient elle?  Comment pousse-t-elle? L'importance de manger de saison, local de biologique de preference. 
Cependant, je crains  qu'a vouloir faire "trop" bien, la reaction de mes enfants sur le long terme soit dans l'extreme inverse (adolescence quand tu viendras...s'il te plait...sois sympa avec moi...!). Le probleme actuellement est celui de la cantine et lorsque l'on doit manger en dehors de la maison...


Si certain(e)s d'entre vous ont trouve une formule equilibree pour expliquer et faire respecter le choix de nos nourritures terrestres sur le long terme, un grand merci par avance de bien vouloir partager vos experiences!

California dreamin' (part 2)

It feels so right to be back what used to be "home"  for so many years.

• It is sunny but not blasting hot 
• June gloom is a "bad word" around here. Well, let me tell you about Parisian never ending winter with heavy rains.
• I can finally have good use of my flip flops collection that was being retired at the bottom of my closet for 2 years.
• People do greet each other at the coffee-shops, stores, parks, on the side walks.
• Trees and ferns are giant. It is green all around us. 
• Flowers and hummingbirds are everywhere
• I can almost find my way around here with my eyes closed (I said almost). After several years in Paris I am happy to have a "map" widget on my cell to find my way...
• Tessa-Calista learned very quickly the word "smoothie". It ranks among the top ten of her favorite words (before or after "doudou" (her pacifier...., I know still at age 4...) "no", "me first", "calin" (hug!) and bisous (kiss)

Tessa-Calista, now 4 years old (we left SB when she was barely one), walked on the beach for the first five minutes, pinching her nose because the "sea smell" was too strong for her to handle ! But as soon as she got pulled into collecting sea shells, rocks and bits of things with her Big sister (who lived her first  4 years here by the beach...), being by ocean seems pretty natural to her, don't you think ?

We 

LOVE  

it 

here.