Backyard Salad for ’09

About a year ago we bought a couple of galvanized containers from Seeds of Change, and they've been great for growing a small salad supply. They're so compact and portable that they can easily be moved around to get more or less sun, as needed.
Salad greens (and reds), fall through spring, have been our most successful, cost-effective and rewarding minicrop, as they're easy to grow, taste a ton better than anything store bought, and are available at a moment's notice.

Faster Than You

And me.
This is Andrew, an old friend and coworker from my days at Mountain Biker magazine. Back then I was fortunate to work, and mountain bike, with a bunch of talented riders and good people. It was a fast group, and I never was quite able to keep up, but I learned a lot.
This photo was taken during the last day of the SoCal Cross series a couple of weeks ago in Woodland Hills.

Greetings From the Kid and Us

"I Want to Be Left Here"

That's what the kid said as she and I were touring the restaurant after finishing our meal. Between a friendly and helpful waiter, an actual train (trolley car, really) inside the restaurant, mere feet from our table, and a colorful cup with a bendy straw, she decided the Old Spaghetti Factory, Duarte, was where she wanted to spend the rest of her life.
Do you remember thinking that way?
I'm still reeling.

The Old Spaghetti Factory, Duarte

We happened upon the Old Spaghetti Factory in Duarte on our way home after some fun in the snow at Mt. Baldy. Have you been to the Old Spaghetti Factory lately? If the last time you were there was 15 years ago, you wouldn't have any trouble recognizing the more-is-more faux Victorian eye-numbing splendor and unsubtly flavorful flavors. I can't say my food was very good, but it was great eating there, particularly with the spumoni ice cream finale.
Worth a drive to Duarte, unless you're coming from St. Louis, in which case, you should just visit the location in St. Louis, which I'm guessing looks exactly the same as the one in Duarte.

First Snow

Edible Tomorrowland

Frontierland would seem a more likely candidate for edible landscaping, but it works just fine in Tomorrowland, too.
They grow food in Disneyland, and it looks great. Do cast members get fresh produce as a portion of their pay? If you know where the food goes please tell us. Asking the woman at the nearby churro cart didn't get us very far.
And yes, we did see Eeyore, bless his gentle soul.

Ditty Bop Velostyle

We saw Amanda—one half of the Ditty Bops and recently married (CONGRATS!) to the other half, Abby—while at the No on 8 demonstration last month. We could point to their marriage as yet another overwhelming argument against hateful laws, but I'd rather take this opportunity to commend Amanda's rare achievement of being car-free in L.A. (so I've heard), and yet so damn stylish while getting around by bike.
Take notes, kids.

Raised Perspective

Here's another view of the bed in which we're growing the majority of our sugar snap peas this year. Also (clockwise from top), oregano, golden chard, sage, broccoli, thyme, a bean of uncertain origin, the peas, more thyme and eight Russian kale plants.

Focus