The Buzz

 

When I was pregnant with our third child, I would constantly run into acquaintances who would say things like, “You’re pregnant again. Are you crazy?” or “Haven’t you guys figured out what causes that yet?” or “Why doesn’t your husband just 'get it taken care of' like all of his friends?” Of course, the real questions behind the questions were, "Who in their right mind would choose to have so many children in this day and age?" and "Who wants a house full of red-faced, stinky, whiny little creatures who require more time and energy, not to mention money, than you even knew you had?"

At the time, I didn’t have a clever response to any of these questions so I would just explain that we were trying for a boy (we already had two adorable little girls). Now I realize that by having that third child, my husband and I suddenly, and unknowingly, became members of the Large Family Club. Anyone who wasn’t a member of the club simply couldn’t understand where we were coming from. Of course, the third child who secured our membership to the club was another precious girl! Note to non-club members: A mother who expects to be able to go to the bathroom on her own on any given day and a father who expects to be able to take a relaxing vacation anytime in the next 20 years should definitely not join the club.

When we were expecting our fourth child, people were no longer asking the questions. Instead, they were reacting in silent shock to our exciting news. I suppose we are in the minority of most American families. According to a Census analysis released in 2004, only 10 percent of U.S. households had five or more people. It is a well known fact that the average number of children in U.S. families has dropped significantly since the 1960s (although I haven't been able to find an exact statistic so far). Indeed, being a member of the Large Family Club in the 21st century puts families into a whole new category for practically EVERYTHING. For starters, the noise level in our house has, and will continue to, increase exponentially. I can hear it now - four little girls' high-pitched screams all at once.

After the fourth child, we had to upgrade our vehicle from a Ford Explorer to the biggest possible SUV on the market, a Chevy Suburban with three rows of seats! Forget about being able to take the whole family anywhere in our nice and comfy four door sedan. Afterall, you've got to have enough room for all the kids, the occasional friend (or two), and don't forget the necessary kid paraphernalia (aka "crap"). Actually, a minivan is the more customary vehicle for members of the Large Family Club, however, my husband and I just hadn't been able to bring ourselves to buy what we considered to be an un-cool set of wheels. Alas, with the price of fuel sky-rocketing as it has, we have no choice but to trade in our gas-guzzling Suburban for something more fuel-efficient. Looks like I may be joining all those minivan-driving soccer moms after all.

Speaking of paraphernalia, I think my husband last counted six strollers in our garage. As new parents who wanted the best of everything for their child, we started out with a high-end travel system which included the oh-so-convenient snap-in infant seat and a huge storage basket underneath. Then we went to a more compact version of the same thing (in the newest pattern, of course). Finally, there was the umbrella stoller to save space, the jogger for those rare strolls in the park, and even a trailer that attaches to a bicyle. The trailer was used a total of TWO times and still sits in the rafters of our garage. When the third baby came along we, of course, had to get a double stroller. I think you get my drift. The amount of "stuff" you accumulate with a large family is neverending. We haven't even begun to discuss the gazillion toys that constantly lay strewn all over the house. Not one room (even the bathroom) is without them! Even that is not so bad when you consider what life will be like in 5-10 years from now with FOUR daughers going through puberty. Ah, the fun that lies ahead. We'll save the discussion of the cost of four college educations and four weddings for another day!

Having a large family brings days of craziness that can sometimes be overwhelming and hectic. But those crazy days are met equally with those of pure delight, awe and amusement. Those are the moments we choose to focus on. Our four children bring us great joy and we feel lucky and blessed to have such a happy and healthy family. The heartwarming and hilarious moments well make up for the craziness. Catching one of the girls in a moment of carefree laughter and silliness is enough to make my day complete (plus maybe a nice glass of wine at the end of a long day when they're all finally in bed). Cheers to the members of the Large Family Club!!!!!

Spotlight on Auburn Businesses Part I: Carpe Vino is No Compromise

This is the first in a Series of blogs where I will be highlighting new and old businesses unique to Auburn. This is my way of supporting our town's "Think Auburn First" campaign, which I read about in the Sentinel and was reminded of more recently in Gary Moffat's column, "Don't Drive to Roseville; Think Auburn First", a few months ago.

In his article, Gary mentioned several reasons why so many of us head down the hill to shop instead of buying locally. He talked about the supposedly lower prices offered by the big box and chain stores and the fact that many of us want what we perceive to be better price/selection/value from the bigger stores. Being a Bay Area transplant myself, I must admit that I used to be one of those weekend mall-goers and monthly Costco shoppers. However, lately the trips down the hill are few and far between for several reasons.

1) The sky-rocketing price of gasoline nullifies the few pennies I might save by driving down the hill to the big box stores.

2) What used to be a "quick trip" is now a bloody nightmare since I must drag four whiney children along. Yes, the exponential growth of my family makes car trips something I avoid at all cost.

3) I simply did not know what shopping opportunities were available to me here in Auburn.

This is a point that Gary also made reference to in his article. "Many Auburn residents are simply unaware of what is available in this town."

Personally, I have found this to be very true. After having lived here for nearly five years, I started making some of my own local discoveries when the AuburnBuzz was launched last year. I was pleasantly surprised to find so many lovely and unique shops and restaurants that I never knew existed. The Longhorn Meat Company, Creative Endeavors, Wild Flower, Winston Smith Books, Ultimate Beauty Supply and La Fornaretta Restaurant to name a few. Over the last year, I have made it a point to cut down on my trips down the hill, and instead take the time to discover more local businesses that can be found in the nooks and crannies of our historic town. I choose to support our local small-business owners whenever possible and I have found it is also a great way of connecting with people and getting to know our community better.

After being so inspired by Gary Moffat's article, which was completely on target in my humble opinion, I would be remiss not to mention the wine bar and restaurant, Carpe Vino, which is owned and run by Gary and his son, Drew, at the top of the list . I just had my first opportunity to check it out a few months ago and was not disappointed. (Yes, I realize it has been open for several years, but pregnant patients and nursing mothers are generally not allowed to partake at the wine bar). The ambiance created by the interior brick walls, low lighting, and local artwork displayed on an impressive cabling system was more than I expected. That is not to mention the terrific selection of wine and the most friendly and knowledgable staff you could ask for. Not being a wine conisseur myself, I rely heavily on the recommendations of the experts behind the counter. I can't wait to go back and try some of the Amador County varieties Gary recently added to his selection. I have been told by many the food is par excellence, but will have to discover that for myself the next time around. As Gary would say, see you in the wine bar!

While I found the service at the wine bar to be excellent, I must say that 'lack of customer service' is one reason that Gary forgot to mention in his previously-mentioned article that drives many of us down the hill. Unfortunately, both my husband and I have experienced sub-par customer service more times than we would like to remember at local Auburn businesses. Without mentioning any specific names, there have been numerous occasions we have felt the customer service was severely lacking and perhaps the help didn't try harder because they thought theirs was the only or best option in town. Au contrare. There is ALWAYS another option. We may give the business a second chance (everyone has an off day, right?), but if the service is bad two times in a row, forget it. We won't go back and would rather drive a longer distance for a better experience. We try to patronize those businesses that seem to appreciate their customers the most. Let me add that we are not extreme picky people, but we do expect common curtesy, friendliness, and just the slightest aire of helpfulness. Cheers to the Auburn businesses that already have this figured out!!!!!!

We had a relative visiting from New Hampshire recently, and as good hosts do, we took her all around the area to see the sights. It was during this week-long adventure of daily excursions that I was reminded of what a plethora of wonderful natural sights and adventures Placer County and the surrounding area have to offer. All too often we get tied up in our busy lives and don't take the time to appreciate the beauty in nature all around us. There is truly so much to encounter just minutes from our doorsteps.

In one week's time, we were able to take in the wonder of the Foresthill Bridge along the Foresthill Divide and all the stunning canyon and river views, a closer look at the American River, Upper Lake Clementine and the amazing waterfall created by the dam, Overlook Park with a view to the canyon and dam site, another beautiful canyon view at Canyon View Overlook (off of Maidu), and a gorgeous Sunday drive along highway 49 where we stopped to check out the true heart of Gold Country, Sutter's Mill and Marshall Gold Discovery site. We also squeezed in a stroll in Old Town Auburn where we checked out several of the quaint shops and had a nice meal (along with beer for the men and cider for the ladies) at The Auburn Alehouse. Finally, we took a few hours to check out the museum in the Courthouse building where you can see the collection of Placer County's gold nuggets as well as lots of other items and books about the history of Gold Country.

Venturing outside of Placer County, we continued on 49 beyond Placerville where we eventually ended up in Amador county and (finally!) made it to Daffodil Hill (just outside Volcano, CA) to see the daffodils in full bloom. This was a somewhat long, windy drive to see a "quaint", but not neccesarily "breathtaking" sight. However, the discovery of a daylily flower farm/nursery and more importantly, a dozen or more wineries all nestled in a hilly area of Amador County, was worth the drive. I can only imagine the flower farm will be stunning when all the lilies are in full bloom and the nursery offered all sorts of flower and plant varieties that you don't find at your average box-store nursery. The wineries offer spendid views of vine-covered knolls, one after the other, and at least a day's worth of tasting!

Back in Auburn, we headed North on Highway 80 and up to Meadow Vista where we took a nice drive along Placer Hills Road and eventually down Plumtree Lane where the wonderful views of Bear River awaited us. Down in the canyon along the river, we were surrounded by Pine trees reaching up to the clouds. This is perhaps my favorite spot around here. It is a simple and serene surrounding. The crackling of the river over the rocks and the blue dragonflies dancing over the river always remind me that I am exactly where I want to be; home.

We also took the time to show our guest the lovely communities of Grass Valley and Nevada City. Both towns offer nice window-shopping opportunities. As a musician, I was especially excited about the World Instrument shop that we discovered in Nevada City as well as a neat little father-daughter art studio offering children's wall art, cards, bookmarks, etc.

After our week of discoveries, our visitor was most impressed by all the breathtaking views just minutes from our home in Christian Valley. She couldn't believe that some of these stops were just "side trips" along the way to a final destination.

If you haven't taken the time to find out about all the wonderful opportunities for outdoor adventure in our little paradise, you might be surprised to learn all that Placer County has to offer. According to the 2007 Placer County Citizens' Report, Placer County...

Has hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding

Has the largest concentration of world-class ski resorts in US

Has many lakes for boating, swimming, fishing and camping

Is home to the Tevis Cup 100-mile Hourse Endurance Race

Is home to the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run

Is in the heart of histroic Gold Rush country

Has 6 museums

In my estimation, everything described above is just a sampling of what the outdoors has to offer in our area . We didn't even make it up to the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe afterall, but that awe-inspiring trip will be reserved for the next visit!

The new Safeway (in the building that used to be Pak N Save) is shaping up into a very nice store. It is still under remodel but the Bakery & Deli departments had their grand opening today. The displays are very well-done as they invite you to select something scrumptious-looking. This makes for a pleasant shopping experience as long as you don't have two wiggley-whiney kids like I do. The presentation of all the cakes, cookies, pastries, salads, entertaining platters, cheeses, etc. is beautiful. There is a specialty olive kiosk including sicilian, kalamata and other varieties of marinated olives and mushrooms. There is also a huge Chinese food buffet (I was there at 8:30 a.m. so I didn't actually get to see how all the food looked). This seems to be a fairly high-end store carrying lots of gourmet cheeses and in-store baked breads.  The major bonus? There is a new Starbucks right inside the store (on the left-hand side as you walk in). There were only two negatives I noticed during my 1 hour shopping adventure. 1) They only had one check out line open that was not an express line. 2) In many cases the prices seemed extremely high unless an item was on sale. I was not a frequent shopper of Pak N Save, but I would be willing to bet Safeway's prices are significantly higher. Although the store is very nice, I'm not sure I will be going there too often for that reason. They are charging $5.68 for a half gallon of OJ. Ouch! At any rate, the store is a nice addition to our grocery shopping options in Auburn.  However, it still needs more time to ramp up the customer service.

Are you looking for something fun to do with your baby, toddler or preschooler this summer?  How about taking a music class together?  Did you know there is an internationally recognized children’s music program available right here in Auburn?   Music Together® is specially designed for babies, toddlers and preschoolers and the adults who love them!  The program supports the natural learning of the child as well as the participation of adults. Kids (and grown-ups) get the chance to explore all kinds of music through songs, chants, dancing and instrument play.  Even adults who feel they aren’t musical learn along with their child without even realizing it.   

Music Together does not only nurture children’s musical development, it also provides a relaxed environment for families to have fun together.  A Music Together class is a time for kids and parents to sing like kitty cats, dance with scarves, explore rhythms on drums and generally act silly together.

I started this program with two of my daughters two years ago and I loved it so much I became a Music Together teacher!  My only regret is that I didn’t find out about it sooner so that my older daughter could have attended when she was a toddler.  I am currently not teaching because I have since had one more little girl, but I still take my whole crew to classes each week.  (Most of the classes are mixed-age so I can take all of them with me.  The big kids watch the adults, and the little kids watch and learn from their old siblings.)  They all have tons of fun, and I love being able to spend time with my children doing something they enjoy so much.  And if that’s not enough, add to it that the children are developing a natural ability for music that will last a lifetime!

Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning.  The program also fosters musical development outside of class by including two CDs and a songbook with each session.  Each music compilation includes a wide range of music from traditional American folksongs to original jazz and blues tunes to words and rhythms of various languages and cultures. 

Auburn Music Together is currently accepting registrations for the summer session which begins on July 9^th.  For more information or to sign up for a class, visit the Auburn Music Together website www.auburnmusictogether.com.  Music Together is a very special program I wish every parent could share with their

Just tried a new recipe for ribs that was a huge hit, so I thought I would share since Father's Day is coming up soon. My husband raved about these ribs all night and I was happy because they were very easy to prepare (not a two-day marinade process like so many other recipes). If the way to a man's heart really is through his stomach, then I think these ribs would do the trick! The recipe says to put the ribs under the broiler as the last step, but we put them on the BBQ instead and they were fabulous.

Who Loves Ya Baby-Back?

Dry Rub:
8 tablespoons light brown sugar, tightly packed
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon jalapeno seasoning
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon rubbed thyme
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Braising Liquid:
1 cup white wine
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 cloves garlic, chopped

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix well. Place each slab of baby back ribs on a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side down. Sprinkle each side generously with the dry rub. Pat the dry rub into the meat. Refrigerate the ribs for a minimum of 1 hour. In a microwavable container, combine all ingredients for the braising liquid. Microwave on high for 1 minute.

Place the ribs on a baking sheet. Open one end of the foil on each slab and pour half of the braising liquid into each foil packet. Tilt the baking sheet in order to equally distribute the braising liquid. Braise the ribs in the oven for 2 1/2 hours.

Transfer the braising liquid into a medium saucepot. Bring the liquid to a simmer and reduce by half or until of a thick syrup consistency. Brush the glaze onto the ribs. Place under the broiler just until the glaze caramelizes lightly. Slice each slab into 2 rib bone portions. Place the remaining hot glaze into a bowl and toss the rib portions in the glaze.

*This recipe makes several batches of dry rub. If more rub is needed, it can be extended by any amount, as long as the ratio of 8:3:1:1 remains the same.