Air Pollution From Freeway Extends 1.5 Miles Away

Air Pollution From Freeway Extends 1.5 Miles Away

Posted using ShareThis

Our Edible Garden

By growing an edible garden, Tennessee and California are learning how to be sustainable in a consumer-based society. My hope is to one day have a garden large enough that will yield fruits and vegetables to share with the poor and disadvantaged. Right now, we only have enough to share with the birds and squirrels...they love us for it though.

Tomatoes (picked off the vine this morning by California)



Grapes (Cabernet)



Blueberries (pic taken in the Spring...notice the hummingbird)



Everything in our garden is 100% organic. Edible gardens lower the carbon footprint of food and provides an interconnectedness within the community by uniting family, friends and neighbors around a common cause. Be a part of a common cause! Grow an edible garden in your yard, on your deck/patio/balcony.

El Nino is Baaaack

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), El Nino is back and ready to change things up a bit across the United States. Although El Ninos are usually associated with chaotic weather patterns, the truth is that there are pros and cons to El Ninos.

PROS

Much needed rain is brought to arid regions of the Southwest which is has been going through a drought for years. This drought has caused a water shortage across the Southwest and Southern California.

The likelihood of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean decreases, which means that the United States will most likely experience a "light" hurricane season.

More rain in Southern California this Winter, which means I will finally have a reason to buy super cute raincoats, boots and umbrellas for the kids...and they will have puddles to jump in! I have my eye on this raincoat for California (see below).



CONS

Southern and Central California may have more fierce storms during the Winter months, bringing high winds and heavy rain.

Flooding in the Midwest portion of the United States

More tornados throughout the Southern United States and Southern portions of the Midwest.

Here are some links to learn more about El Nino:

El Nino to Return

NOAA

El Nino for Kids

Losing Teeth

Well, Tennessee lost another tooth!



So, I thought I would take the opportunity to promote his and his brother's dentist. We have been to three pediatric dentists in L.A. and Dr. Reem is BY FAR the best. She is compassionate, thorough in her explanations, extremely KIND and makes an effort to really get to know her patients and make them happy. To top it off, her office is completely paperless which is wonderful for the environment. There is parking behind the building and on the street in front of the building.

Here is a link to SMILES PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Tel: (310) - 837-6453
Fax: (310) - 837-6405

L.A. Mama's Date Night

We went to dinner at La Bruscetta in Westwood located at 1621 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles CA. They have scrumptious food as well as an "old world" work ethic. The staff treat each customer with diginity and respect and make an effort to go the extra mile. The owners, Angelo and Suzanne, are the most authentic people that one would ever have the pleasure of meeting. They have a way of making each and every customer feel like family. Bruschetta is served as a complimentary appetizer and it is the best! Call 310-477-1052 to make a reservation!



After dinner we went to the Crest Theatre to see a movie called "The Informers". Click HERE to read about the history of this theatre which dates back to 1941 and HERE to read about the turmoil has surrounded this theatre lately.



I wish I could say that I could give the movie that we saw four stars...but I can't even give it one. "The Informers" could have been a great movie if there was an ending...unfortunately, we were left wondering what happened to every single character in the movie. There was no closure whatsoever. This movie was originally a book that was written by the same author who wrote "Less Than Zero" and "American Paycho"...

Science & Math & Art OH MY

As noted in our 'about us' section, we homeschool here at Raising California. Today was a day of amazing discoveries and meaningful, hands on learning. We began by reading A Seed Is Sleepy,with such wonderful illustrations and poetic delivery that made the life of a seed seem like a fairytale. Then we went out to the garden and planted our own seeds(see slideshow below). We talked about the elements that seeds need to grow into strong, beautiful pants and inspected the stems, leaves and flowers of the plants already growing in our garden.

Later on in the day, California incorporated Math with Art. Go to Raising California Homeschool to read more about this!!!

Meet Each Need with Dignity

There are many reasons why we love L.A., but the fact that we have the first gourmet soup kitchen in the United States is one of the reasons why this city continues to tug at our heartstrings. Watch the video clip below to find out more about L.A.'s gourmet soup kitchen, the chef who has a heart of gold and the community that appreciates his random act of kindness.

This is what the world needs more of...pay it forward.



The chef who prepares these gourmet meals volunteers his time with a non-profit group called Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND). Click MEND to learn more about this organization and/or to get involved. Namaste.

What is your "walk score"?

Are you planning to move any time soon? If you live in a large metropolitan area like Los Angeles, you should consider the walkability of your future neighborhood. Why?

1. Less time sitting in traffic & searching for a parking space, more time to live life to the fullest. Choose a neighborhood that has a few restaurants, a grocery store, a coffee shop and a convenience store within walking distance. My neighborhood (Santa Monica 90404) is so walkable that I have all those things and more, including TWO vets, a liquor store, a pharmacy, two major hospitals, two parks, an elementary school...

2. It is better for the environment. Living in a walkable neighborhood cuts down on gasoline consuption, emissions and all of that icky stuff that is bad for the Earth. Remember to carry reusable shopping bags with you...

3. You get to know your neighborhood. This is very important. A neighborhood that has residents who are aware of their surroundings and observant of daily activity has less crime. Getting to know your neighborhood also instills a sense of belonging, which is a necessary component for ultimate happiness.

4. Exercise! Need I say more?

Click HERE to get your walk score.

President Obama is coming to L.A.

(a pic of Obama in L.A. taken on 2/20/07)

The big news is that President Obama will be visiting Los Angeles this week. He will be here Wednesday and Thursday. He will hold a town hall meeting in Orange County on Wednesday and another town hall meeting in Los Angeles on Thursday. He will also appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" while he is in town on Thursday.

Go to WhiteHouse.gov to enter in a random selection to recieve a ticket to see President Obama in L.A. Please Note: The event location and further details will be given only to those individuals who are selected to pick-up tickets.

Spring is in the Air

I went out to water the garden today and was delighted to see the first signs of Spring! It is as if it happened overnight. Here is what I saw:

The bouganvilla has started to bloom...

The grapevine is getting leaves again...

Blueberries are growing...

Orange blossoms...

Flowering Jasmine...

Lilacs...

and one single red rose bud :)

It Never Rains in Southern California

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the song "It Never Rains in Southern California". I actually never heard of it until I was in an elevator at the doctor's office one day. Anyway, I had been saying the same thing for a few years now. Apparently, Southern California has been in a drought for about three years, even though it seems more like seven years (read about California's Declared Drought Emergency HERE). Therefore, when it rains --- it is like magic liquid that falls from the sky...it is something that is not often experienced. Have you ever wondered how kids in Southern California react to rain? The pictures below speak volumes.

Since we have been in a drought for three years...most of California's life has been sunny. He has not experienced rain often in his three years of existence.

California is unsure about his environment in this pic.



Now he is warming up to the idea of water coming from the sky.



Tennessee spies a snail race and invites California to watch.



Tennessee has to catch a raindrop in his mouth. Umbrellas? Who needs 'em! Just pull the collar up on your shirt :)