covenant

Genesis 9:12-13¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

taken from our hotel room in victoria just last weekend

i was scared for a while. 

in russia, they appear to have passed a law that would make it illegal for adults to tell children that homosexuality exists. 

in the US, the fight to make DOMA unconstitutional continues. important battles have been won. but my little family is not recognized in all 55 states.

all over the world, my queer brothers and sisters continue to be persecuted for being who they are.

i admit it. the fear of rejectionabusehatredmisunderstandingandmuchmuchworse ebb and flow throughout the loveluckbliss of our days. 

but then i remember. i live in canada where it is my fundamental right as a citizen of this country to be who i am and marry whomever i choose.

i remember going to my very first pride parade. i was living in toronto. it was a very difficult time in my life. i had just moved out of my family home. i never thought i would speak to one of my best friends again. i wasn't out to anyone in my family -except for my mother (our relationship was very strained as a result). but it was watching that first parade, holding my love's hand, seeing parents and children out and about in celebration of sexuality that i remember feeling that i could find a way to be brave about accepting who i was. 

i remember the very day same-sex marriage was passed in ontario in 2003. i was walking somewhere in downtown toronto. i couldn't tell you where i was going but i remember that my eyes stung with hope. happiness. validation. strength. pride. i remember holding my head up higher than ever, knowing that the law of the land was on my side.

i remember witnessing my first gay marriage. my dear friends were getting legally married after sharing a life for over 30 years. together, they endured a moment in time when it was illegal to be gay. because the law to legalize gay marriage had just been passed, one of the grooms had to call themselves bride when they applied for their marriage certificate. it was a truly beautiful day. there was sun, a church ceremony, a civil ceremony, bubbles, rainbow balloons, bagpipes, dancing, and champagne. and the celebration was simply about love.

i remember that i am now married to the love of my life. i remember that we share two beautiful children - and that both our names appear on their birth certificates as 'parent.' i remember that the world is changing. i remember that we - my little family and i - are part of this change. 

i am grateful for my turn of events. i am grateful to the many, many pioneers before me - and those who are still fighting today - who suffer and do battle to make it possible for my family to exist as openly and as cheerfully as we do. 

i remember the friends and family (chosen and blood-related) who showed me love when i needed it the most.

yes it always boils down to the knitting.
yarn: knitpicks felici
pattern: how i make my socks

i was making this pair of socks for me but i am so proud and happy to gift them to my mom, instead. it wasn't until my son was born that she found a way to respect, accept, and support who i am and how i chose to make a family. 

in my own small way, i play the part of ambassador and diplomat every time i am out with my children, at every stranger interaction, at every school function, and in this space. i am grateful and proud to hold this position. i do not take the privilege for granted.

i remember that kindness, compassion, and understanding are two-way streets.

i remember that everyday is an incredible day to live in canada.

i remember to be so very grateful to call myself canadian. 

img src: CBC radio

happy canada day!

mothering sound byte: the good witch

we were just finishing a quick lunch on cook street after a lovely tour around beacon hill park. patio seating was at a premium, so i offered a woman two of our seats since we were about to pack up. she had shoulder-length curly red hair and a big smile. she wore a straw fedora and a vest. when she came closer to our table to accept the chairs with gratitude, the following conversation ensued:

the girl [wide-eyed and serious, to the woman]: are you the witch?  

the woman: i'm sorry, what?  

me [wide-eyed, wracking my brain for something, anything, that rhymes with witch that would actually be helpful, despite my horror. i had nothing.]: uh.... 

the woman: am i a witch? 

[the girl nods. still nothing came out of my mouth.] 

the woman: ... i'm a good witch! 

[i muffle my enormous sigh of relief] 

the girl: you're a good witch? 

the woman: yes i am!

[my mom and i laugh together as the woman walks away with the chairs, still smiling.]

best come back ever. the woman did look a bit like a middle-aged glinda, if she ever walked among us to coffee at starbucks.

later, she passed by again, as we regaled the wife with the story of the good witch. she gave the girl blessings for her whole life. 

and for the whole day, the girl repeated, "she's the good witch?" yes. yes, my sweet imaginative, inquisitive, incorrigible girl. you met a good witch.

phew.

postcards from our summer so far

i had not intended on being away so long. i meant to check in once or twice in the last couple of weeks. but the truth is, life has been rather full. and in the very best of ways.

our summer adventures are well under way. we've had friends come to visit. we celebrated the end of the boy's first complete school year. and we are just back from a long weekend in victoria with my parents, whose visits are always at least 10 days long but each one feels shorter and shorter because we enjoy them so. 

we're in for a break in july - a summer month with no real plans. so, i'm hoping for some time in the forest and the beach.

i also hope to be back here regularly, good and proper. there is always much to share. 

recipe: corn and spinach frittata with basil from the garden

in my last post, i shared a photo of a family favourite: corn and spinach frittata with basic from our garden.

i am obsessed with making frittatas. mainly because they're easy to prepare but mostly because the variations are endless. i often clean out my fridge by making a fritata, hide vegetables from my unsuspecting children - never mind the fact that i can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

my basic fritata formula:

• 8 eggs
• cheese (cheddar, parmesan, ricotta)
• leafy greens (herbs, spinach, kale)
• vegetables with texture (potatoes, broccoli, red pepper, tomatoes)
• onion or garlic (optional)

i know it sounds like a lot of eggs but i only have one cast iron pan and it's big. if you've got a smaller pan, by all means use less of everything. (and you don't actually really need a cast iron pan, any old oven-proof skillet type pan will do just fine.)


corn and spinach fritatta with basil from the garden

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp butter
half a medium onion, diced (or 2 taste)
1 1/2 cups corn
8 eggs
a big handful of basil, chiffonade or  1 tbsp good pesto (to taste)
1/2 cup or more cheddar
2 large handfuls baby spinach
salt and pepper to taste


preheat oven to 350 degrees.
in the cast iron skillet you're going to use, sautee the onions in the olive oil and butter until transluscent and add the corn. cook together and season while you prepare the egg mixture.
mix eggs, basil, cheddar, spinach, and season well in a large bowl. don't worry if the baby spinach looks unwieldy. they will settle nicely.
pour the egg mixture over the corn and onions in the cast iron and spread evenly. (sprinkle some more cheese of the top if you like.)
transfer the pan into your preheated oven and let it back for 30 minutes, give or take a few minutes. you're looking for the egg mixture to set well and the top of the frittata to brown nicely.
let the frittata cool for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving.

we often have our frittatas for lunch or brunch by itself, or with some bread and wedged cucumbers: my definition of comfort food.