Life is definitely a learning experience, even for perfectionists like me who would so like to get it right the first time. Today I learned that the random contents of a refrigerator sometimes yield The Best Frittata Ever. This morning I threw together green garlic, leftover salmon, capers, and sour cream with some really incredible pastured eggs from Nightingale Farm. It was...uplifting. As I raved about it to Peter, he yelled back: "Don't talk about my salmon!". Ah, three-year-olds.
I have had two very important teachers in the last ten months. I'll save the best for last. Let's start with:
What I Learned From the Squirrels.
Actually, it can be summed up in two sentences:
Squirrels are smarter than we think they are.
Squirrels will do almost anything to get to food.
In the last few weeks, our bird feeders have been completely abandoned by the birds. I haven't seen a junco or a nuthatch in ages. Instead, we witness up to FOUR squirrels at a time frolicking in the seed, nibbling, spilling, hanging, and being generally amusing but still, I miss the birds. I received a beautiful bird book in the mail this week from my dear Aunt Brooke, and that was the last straw. I want my birds back.
A while back, I thought that maybe getting the squirrels their own, easy-to-access feeder would keep them away from the BIRD feeder that they do gravity-defying acrobatics to take advantage of. They pretty much ignored the new feeder, unless the regular bird feeder was empty. Squirrels: 1, Erika: 0.
Recently, I got serious about keeping them away from the bird feeder, and started with the most aesthetically pleasing approach. I selected an appropriately shaped object from our antique "rust collection" and affixed it to the bird feeder in such a way that I thought might deter the squirrels. They climbed right over it: "Nice antique! Thanks for the grub."
Next, I carefully cut a piece of screen to fit as a sort of baffle over the top of the feeder. It was a little spiky on the edges and acted as an umbrella over the main attraction. I was sure the squirrels couldn't get past it. They bent it down and resumed feeding: "What's this thing? Oh well, more tasty sunflower seeds!" Squirrels: 3, Erika: 0.
I've now given up on aesthetics. I crumpled the screen in such a way that it presents a spiky, hopefully annoying ball of wire on top of the feeder. In addition, I have cut a large yogurt container to fit around the main branch leading to the feeder. It looks like one of those giant collars that animals are forced by the vet to wear when they aren't supposed to lick or scratch some tender part of their body. Not so attractive, but I can't imagine how those little buggers will get past it. If they do, the Ball of Screen should stop them. We'll see. Stay tuned...
My most influential teacher since moving to Nevada City has not been the squirrels, it's been my new friend, Amy. Amy is too many good things to list here: thoughtful, smart, patient, curious, generous, and consistently positive, even when faced with a toddler who has put lotion "shampoo" all over her hair and a screaming infant. Simultaneously. She's that good. Here are the top five things I have learned from Amy:
1) Think positive. It is such a pleasure to be around someone who always looks at the bright side, even when things are pretty cloudy. Amy is cheerful even on 3 hours of sleep. I really don't know how she does it, but a it's a good goal to work towards.
2) You really don't need to carry as much as you think. Amy has two children under the age of three. And yet, whenever I see her, she is carrying...her car keys. That's it. Whereas I am lugging a huge bag packed with snacks, two water bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper mat, my wallet, my phone, my keys, and god knows what else. When you think about it, all you really need is the car keys. Everything else can stay...in the car! Brilliant. I haven't quite been able to give up my crutch of a purse, but I am thinking about it...
3) Focus on the other person in the conversation. When I first met Amy, she was hugely pregnant. We had talked about having dinner or a play date, and so one Sunday I called her to make plans. As it turns out, she had just given birth! Like, hours before. But instead of focusing on her baby, her birth story, the miracle of what had just happened and how her life had profoundly changed, she wanted to know all about how we were doing. ??? I was stunned. How did she even have the presence of mind to ask how I was doing? She is consistently curious about me and my life, and sometimes I am embarrassed to realize that I have been ranting about something for 20 minutes before I remember to include her in the conversation. She sure knows how to make people feel important and heard.
4) Accessorize! As I mentioned before, Amy has two small children, one of whom has only recently emerged from the larvae stage to the impossibly cute stage. Before Amy leaves the house, she has to make sure these kids are dressed, fed, and poop-free. For those of you who do not have children, this can be (and often is) a monumental task, even with just one child. But Amy always looks fresh and pulled together (again, even after only three hours of sleep). I have recently started scrutinizing her appearance, wondering how she does it. And I think I have discovered her secret -- accessories! Even a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt looks polished when you add earrings, a necklace, a scarf, and a pretty hair clip. Of course, it doesn't hurt if you are gorgeous to start with, as Amy is, but seriously -- accessories have the ability to transform, and they only take a moment to add. Try it.
5) Be on time. This one is simple, but it's another one that I have gotten worse and worse about. It is so easy to find excuses with a preschooler in tow. There was a last-minute blow out! We couldn't find his shoes! He threw his breakfast on the floor and it spread out to a radius of five feet in every direction! These are all commonplace occurrences with a baby or preschooler. But Amy is always on time. In fact, she is usually early. It's respectful to be on time. It's the right thing to do. If Amy can do it with two kids, I can do it with one. And hopefully with two as well. I'm going to try to be better about it.
Thanks, Amy, for showing me that another way is possible. You are an inspiration, and I am glad to know you!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
