Merry Christmas!
And Happy New Year 2011!
Made in Nature December 18, 2010
Friend KJ makes some pretty amazing t-shirts. She uses organic bamboo whenever possible, and environmentally friendly dyes.
We like the anglerfish, torrey pine, and the whale. She’s also at lots of farmer’s markets in La Jolla and Del Mar.
Here’s a link to the website:
HOA letter – I don’t want to be confrontational, but… December 18, 2010
Please appreciate the letter sent to me by our HOA’s president:
Dear Hallie,
As you are aware, the board over the last year or so has been trying diligently to cleanup and add value to our CVI community by (1) expending significant reserve funds to paint the entire community and (2) trying to impose a fine structure so that we can enforce our rules and regulations. We have done well with our painting of the community but have yet to make any substantial gains towards getting a fine structure in place. That being said, we as board members need to do other things to try to ensure that the rules and regulations of the community are upheld so that all residents can enjoy a quiet and beautiful community.
One way we can do this is by leading by example, which would mean that we as board members would abide by all the rules and regulations of the community. If we as board members do not follow the rules and regulations of the community, how can we expect renters and other homeowners to follow them? So, it is imperative that we set an example and follow the rules and regulations.
Thus, I am requesting that you please follow our rules and regulations and as soon as possible rectify your current violations or our rules and regulations and remove the following:
1. Having a planter pot on the edge of your balcony where you have your outside storage (This rule is there to ensure we keep the paint and structure of the balcony intact and to ensure safety of the community from the pot falling off the ledge)
2. Having more than two pots on your entry way to your home (This rule is there for aesthetics and to protect the coating that is on your entry way)
3. The two yellow tables that hold pots in your entry way (This is for uniformity and aesthetics)
4. The Christmas lights (While I hate asking this because I love Christmas, this rule is there to respect the religious views of others as well as ensure uniformity and aesthetics.
(The bird feeder on your front tree and the blue curtains in your window, I think are violations too, but, I would have to verify this in the rule book as it has been awhile since I reviewed it.)
I am sorry that I had to write this email as it seems somewhat confrontational, but, that is really not my intention. My intention of this email is to get my community looking great. We just spent over $150K to paint our community, and it would be nice if we could keep its aesthetic value for some time.
If for some reason, you do not have a rules and regulations book and are unaware of the rules and regulations, Co-Lee can get you a copy. This goes for all of us. We should all be following the rules and regulations, so, if anyone else on the board has violations, please consider the impact it has and the message it sends to your non-board member neighbors. Please rectify them asap as well. I know I tried to be the epitome of a rule follower when I lived there and I now ensure my renters follow the rules as I gave them my book and wrote it into my lease. I check up on them often as well to ensure they are keeping my community looking good.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this very important matter.
Sincerely,
XXXX
Ode to the holidays December 9, 2010
The holidays are here, there’s no escape
From piles of wrapping paper and tape,
Christmas cards and the dreaded letters
Detailing the Smith family’s every get-together;
Crowds flock to Walmart, Target and the mall
To find the right gift for big and small,
There is of course one stop necessary
To see the fat man so jolly and cheery,
On Santa’s knee children clamor
For a bike, bb gun, or toy hammer
With bearded wisdom he nods and winks
To let the good boys and girls know what he thinks,
Unfortunately not all who pass across his knee
Exhibit the same form of glee.
Poor poor Eleonor, who screamed and resisted
Despite her parents who grudgingly insisted,
She squirmed and she screamed and she let us all know
That she did not trust this man with the beard white as snow.
But despite Eleonor’s deep-seated Santa fear,
She still wishes you all the best for the new year.
Mojitos, grilling and sand between the toes June 24, 2010
The season is upon us. Summer. Backyard grills are being fired up, blenders are whirring with ice and tequila, and personal space at the beach is rapidly diminishing as crowds flock to enjoy a California summer. And it’s predicted to be a hot one too, thank you La Nina. So here’s a couple recipes to celebrate the arrival of summer.
MOJITOS
We made mojitos last night. Super easy cocktail, and super refreshing. Here’s what we did.
Start with fresh mint (easy to grow too), white sugar, and fresh squeezed lime juice. Using the handle end of a wooden spoon, crush it all together at the bottom of the glass.
Take a bag of ice cubes, wrap them in a dish towel and whack them on any hard surface to make your ice chips. Add the ice to the glass. Pour desired amount of rum and Perrier or any other sparkling water over ice cubes. Stir and enjoy.
SQUASH GRATIN
Making this tonight. Thinly slice yellow and green squash and fill baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and herbes de provence (rosemary, thyme, oregano). Mix. Sprinkle grated parmesan or asiago cheese on top. Bake at 375 for 30-60 minutes, depending if you like crunchier or softer veggies.
