North Park Schools

January 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment
north park schools tasting radishes at thomas jefferson elementry school garden

Radish tasting at Thomas Jefferson elementary school, North Park

North Park Schools

North Park has 3 public schools Thomas Jefferson, Mckinley and Garfield. Do you see the presidential theme going? A little like North Parks wacky streets named by State.  So we have Garfield on Oregon and Thomas Jefferson on Utah.  Mckinley changes it up by being on Felton.  States and presidents that’s North Park, except some of the times they change the street names. With a 100 years of history lots of name changes happen. Click here to see the  school boundaries for the North Park schools.

Like most historic neighborhoods North Park schools have had their challenges. It takes time for the schools to catch up with the demographics. North Park is bright chic and full of energy….the schools not so much.

That’s changing Mckinley does the wildly popular Soho chili fest.  Thomas Jefferson does a monthly fund raiser: on the second Tuesday, at Waypoint public, with a free movie for the kids. The parents enjoy great food, local beer and conversation. Its all arranged by friends of Thomas Jefferson elementary

This post really came about because of an amazing article by Andy Hinds in the uptown news, about choice and local schools. I. think it is a must read, I love his views of schools. It’s changing,  it is all about the community.  For an older take on North Park schools read this article on North Park Schools from Voice of San Diego What a difference a few years and some great parents.

Dedicated parents are making the schools as great as the community. I teach gardening class on Wednesdays to the kindergarteners and first graders at Thomas Jefferson. We have a range from neighborhood parents who eat very healthy diets to looks of kids who have never eaten a radish or broccoli until we grew it in the garden.

 

school gardens and fresh food, from one of North Parks elementary schools.

trying fresh radish from the Jefferson school garden, one of North Parks local schools.

Filed Under: North Park, Uncategorized

January Craftsman Buffet Storage

January 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment
craftsman buffet,craftsman built-in
1920 craftsman buffet

 Storage

Everyone has New Year’s resolutions, common wisdom is it takes about 3 to 4 weeks for most people to give  them up.  Common New Year’s resolutions concern diet, exercise, finance and organization.  I believe organization is a direct response to viewing your living room filled with all the Christmas presents knowing you figure out where to put your loot away.

For Condos that come with  click here.

 I think 2015 is going to be my year of organization.  At least I hope so. Lucky for me Craftsman houses usually come with lots of nice built-ins. You usually get a nice buffet in the dining room and a couple of cabinets flanking the fireplace.

Click here for homes with 

My built ins were a mess. It started with looking for the cooking sherry (still MIA) I ended up with everything on the floor but managed to actually do some great organization in my craftsman buffet. A drawer for platters, paper napkins together and best of all I put wine glass holders in the bottom cabinets so that you can find the bar wear. I have a small drawer for corkscrews,, wine savers and mixing spoons.

craftsman house storage,craftsman buffet

Getting ready to organize craftsman buffet

using the buffet built ins for the modern age, wine glass storage on top and more glasses in boxes.

using the buffet built ins for the modern age, wine glass storage on top and more glasses in boxes.

craftsman built-in desk

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: North Park

North Park San Diego Carols, Christmas and Pizzelles

January 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment
North Park San Diego Craftsman Cokies

Lucy’s Pizzelles in my North Park Craftsman kitchen

 North Park San Diego Carols, Christmas and Pizzelles

December 21st, in the northern hemisphere, the longest night of the year, the winter solstice.  In the spirit of Christmas  random neighbors in North Park gather to celebrate with Christmas carols.  Extremely out of tune the ragtag group of neighbors marched down Thorn st, past the brewery, singing away.

A young couple emerged from their craftsman house. The perfect young North Park couple, she is holding a orange tabby in her arms while her husband/partner stands with a medium sized dog.  Everyone is enthusiastic….so North Park.

Something about Craftsman houses and lights it just makes the season better.  Christmas is starting to seem real.  It has been a slow year too much time learning code to work on the website,  not enough fun events.  Chatting with a new friend/North Park condo neighbor. We decide to carry on the night with pizzelle, an Italian holiday tradition.  We baked until midnight: check out the results. Here is the recipe

Lucy’s Pizzelle

  • Beat 6 eggs
  • add 1 cup oil
  • 1 & 1/2 cups sugar
  • Then, mix together 2 & 1/2 cups flour
  • 5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 t. salt and 2 t. anise seeds
  • Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and mix well with an electric beater.  Drop by a little less than a teaspoon on hot iron (and pray they don’t stick!).  The first ones always stick, but it gets easier as you go.  Recipe makes about 7 dozen.

Merry Christmas to everyone

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