I have a favorite child.
A favorite daughter and a favorite son.
But do I love one of them more than the other?
Funny, how topics collide. I had just bought I Love You the Purplest, a children's book about sibling rivalry and mother love by the author of our favorite Mama, Do You Love Me?. And then, I read a blog on the NYTimes about the topic, recently re-addressed by netmums in England. And the woman ends her post by mentioning the same children's book on her shelf.
Like the aforementioned blogger, I love both of my children equally and infinitely, but for different reasons at different times. And sometimes, I don't like their behavior very much, even if I still love them (and aren't we, as moms, required to always add that "I love them" part at the end? I once read a great essay about that, how ridiculous it is that we feel like we have to add that, but I can't remember now where I saw it). I wouldn't want them to misunderstand that dislike of behavior for lack of love. But at 3, I think that is a difficult concept, which is probably why there are several books out there that touch upon it, including Runaway Rabbit; I Love You, Stinky Face; and, of course, Mama, Do You Love Me? I think that is why, when the kids are in timeout, we always end with a hug and a simple re-integration into activity, no grudges, no cold shoulder, and never "I'm disappointed."
Of course, regardless, children will always think you like or love the other one more. Older siblings feel like the younger one is coddled by lenient (tired? experienced?) parents, younger children feel like . . .well, I'm not a younger child, so I'm not sure what the beef is there--more freedom/independence/responsibility, or just the grating knowledge that we got there first? (For the record, I actually don't believe Aunt Banana had childhood "easier.") Sibling rivalry has been (is it still?) pretty thick in my family, though my mom has made it clear that she loves us both. Does she like one or the other of us better? Sure, at different points, for different reasons. And no doubt not the ways that we suspect or believe. I contemplated making a list here of ways I think my mom enjoys my sister more but everything I started to write sounded hollow. And I also thought of listing all the ways and reasons I love Bud and Sis, so later on they would read it and see, but then I didn't want them to compare and judge their respective lists . . .
That's the trick, isn't it? There is no truth or reality about "like" or "favorite," just a lot of perception and assumption. And that's dangerous for any relationship. Look at the trouble sibling rivalry has caused in history; it's a very powerful concept. That's just like children, really, that they don't realize a mom's love is infinite and grows to embrace them all, until long past the damage is done when they are grown up and parents themselves. But still, my kids will wonder, will feel, will firmly believe that I love them or the other one best at any given time. Even if I read and memorize every line of Siblings Without Rivalry and practice its approaches. I think it comes with the territory of having a sibling. As long as my kids really understand (especially after childhood, because they won't believe it during, for sure) that there is no preference overall. That I love them both the same amount, if not for the same reasons.
That sounds so wishy-washy, but don't we often love others in relation to how similiar to or different from us they are, either for positive or negative (i.e. I can love Mama because we have the same political views about equality and justice but also love Mama because we approach challenges totally differently and thus learn from one another? And she can drive me nuts when she does things I do that I don't like about myself, or does things I would never do . . . ) And so, depending on which characteristics are most dominant at a given time, we like people or . . . not so much, even if we still love them. Which means two people cannot be liked for all the same reasons because no two people are exactly alike, even twins, even if they are loved as much?
I think I'm confusing myself.
Now, do I love my kids more than Mama? For the most famous, recent, troublemaking discussion of that topic, see Ayelet Waldman.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
No-Restaurant Week
And it begins.
Starting today, we are not eating out.
But there is a small alteration to our originally-declared plans: Starbucks is exempt. I just can't give it up right now, if only because I love sipping a latte after my physical therapy workout while reading my latest book (still The Ladies by Doris Grumbach, about the two ladies of Llangollen) during preschool hours.
Otherwise, we are not eating out. No stops at restaurants after preschool, no take-out on week nights, no dining after church on Sunday. We're cooking at home.
Which means I need to go to the grocery store.
And buy a few more cookbooks! Which I can read at Starbucks . . .
Starting today, we are not eating out.
But there is a small alteration to our originally-declared plans: Starbucks is exempt. I just can't give it up right now, if only because I love sipping a latte after my physical therapy workout while reading my latest book (still The Ladies by Doris Grumbach, about the two ladies of Llangollen) during preschool hours.
Otherwise, we are not eating out. No stops at restaurants after preschool, no take-out on week nights, no dining after church on Sunday. We're cooking at home.
Which means I need to go to the grocery store.
And buy a few more cookbooks! Which I can read at Starbucks . . .
To Scrap Scrapping
I am not a scrapbooker.
I have two big boxes of things to scrap--ticket stubs, flyers, maps, pamphlets, mostly from the last three years with children-- but I have not done it. I can't get excited about it.
Sure, I go to "craft camp" and buy lots of neat rubber stamps, but not for scrapbooking. I buy stamps to make cards for people who need cheering up or celebrating or consoling or inspiration.
And we take lots of pictures to record all the fun things we do. But I never think scrapbookers put enough pictures on those fancy pages. And I would want lots of pictures.
Which is a photo album, not a scrapbook.
But why have two memory books? Why split your visual memory in twain? That seems strange to me.
But I've felt guilty. Most of my friends scrap. They are marathon 8-hour a weekend scrappers. They buy craft supplies, shop at special stores, attend workshops, share ideas. And create amazingly intricate pages with borders and frames and decorative brads. I'm just not that detailed, patient, organized. I think if I were into it, like my friends, I would have done the last three years by now, instead of treating it like a required OB/GYN visit (btw, it is breast cancer month--get that mammogram now. I'm making my annual appt tomorrow). I did make a few scrapbooks in high school, traditional marker and glue and construction paper affairs, not the fancy things they make today. But I was capturing a very specific era. And besides, I didn't have my own photo album then; my mom kept the family pictures (not complaining, just noting that I wanted my own thing).
Of course, I'll do the baby books, which are in desperate need of attention. And I have birthday books for each one. And they'll each get an All About Me book by Dr. Seuss to fill out, a most treasured possession from my childhood that I frequently give as a gift. And then there are our photo albums, which we are behind in as well; there is not a single album since the kids were born, with literally tens of thousands of pictures saved, organized, and backed up on various computers (thank heavens Mama is in IT). That's actually how I started thinking about it--scrapbook vs. photo albums--which would I rather do?
Are my kids missing out? Will they feel deprived if I don't have yearly scrapbooks for them to peruse? And it hit me today in the store--another epiphany--my mom didn't scrapbook. There are no ticket stubs, flyers, maps, pamphlets, that survive from my childhood. And I don't care. And there are not scrapbooks from Mama's childhood. And she doesn't care. I still have great memories, and lots of pictures, from all the important and mundane events of my life.
I had plans for us all to scrapbook together, once the kids were old enough. I think we can still scrapbook important family vacations; we might even do the wedding trip to Texas in its own album. But I just don't need to save the map and schedule for every single visit to Sturbridge and Mystic (of which, in the last three years, there have probably been at least a dozen each--that's 24 scrapbook pages on the exact same location!).
Which means I can clean out a few boxes, save not-yet-spent money on scrapbooks and supplies, use that time for something else I'm more interested in, and alleviate the guilt I have not being like the other moms.
Just one more way to simplify.
I have two big boxes of things to scrap--ticket stubs, flyers, maps, pamphlets, mostly from the last three years with children-- but I have not done it. I can't get excited about it.
Sure, I go to "craft camp" and buy lots of neat rubber stamps, but not for scrapbooking. I buy stamps to make cards for people who need cheering up or celebrating or consoling or inspiration.
And we take lots of pictures to record all the fun things we do. But I never think scrapbookers put enough pictures on those fancy pages. And I would want lots of pictures.
Which is a photo album, not a scrapbook.
But why have two memory books? Why split your visual memory in twain? That seems strange to me.
But I've felt guilty. Most of my friends scrap. They are marathon 8-hour a weekend scrappers. They buy craft supplies, shop at special stores, attend workshops, share ideas. And create amazingly intricate pages with borders and frames and decorative brads. I'm just not that detailed, patient, organized. I think if I were into it, like my friends, I would have done the last three years by now, instead of treating it like a required OB/GYN visit (btw, it is breast cancer month--get that mammogram now. I'm making my annual appt tomorrow). I did make a few scrapbooks in high school, traditional marker and glue and construction paper affairs, not the fancy things they make today. But I was capturing a very specific era. And besides, I didn't have my own photo album then; my mom kept the family pictures (not complaining, just noting that I wanted my own thing).
Of course, I'll do the baby books, which are in desperate need of attention. And I have birthday books for each one. And they'll each get an All About Me book by Dr. Seuss to fill out, a most treasured possession from my childhood that I frequently give as a gift. And then there are our photo albums, which we are behind in as well; there is not a single album since the kids were born, with literally tens of thousands of pictures saved, organized, and backed up on various computers (thank heavens Mama is in IT). That's actually how I started thinking about it--scrapbook vs. photo albums--which would I rather do?
Are my kids missing out? Will they feel deprived if I don't have yearly scrapbooks for them to peruse? And it hit me today in the store--another epiphany--my mom didn't scrapbook. There are no ticket stubs, flyers, maps, pamphlets, that survive from my childhood. And I don't care. And there are not scrapbooks from Mama's childhood. And she doesn't care. I still have great memories, and lots of pictures, from all the important and mundane events of my life.
I had plans for us all to scrapbook together, once the kids were old enough. I think we can still scrapbook important family vacations; we might even do the wedding trip to Texas in its own album. But I just don't need to save the map and schedule for every single visit to Sturbridge and Mystic (of which, in the last three years, there have probably been at least a dozen each--that's 24 scrapbook pages on the exact same location!).
Which means I can clean out a few boxes, save not-yet-spent money on scrapbooks and supplies, use that time for something else I'm more interested in, and alleviate the guilt I have not being like the other moms.
Just one more way to simplify.
School Days
I had another epiphany today while talking to a teacher at the kiddos' school, who is in school herself (hi! since you said you sometimes read my blog . . . ):
School.
I should think about taking a class. Not for a degree, heaven knows I don't want another one of those. But for personal edification and enrichment. I've been wanting something to challenge my mind, something beyond reading the NYTimes everyday (not all of it, but lots of it). Something interesting, broad and/or deep, with other like-minded people (or even just bored undergraduates). Maybe intermediate ASL. Or an art history class way outside my specialty (Asian, anyone? African? Byzantine?). Or maybe a visual art like weaving or pottery.
I'm not talking about 10 week continuing ed classes at the local rec center, but a real class at a local community or 4-year college. Not the big one, though. It's fees for a language class are apparently $4K a semester. Perhaps 2-3x a week during preschool, starting in the spring or next fall.
I really should have thought of it earlier. I loved school all the way through (well, there were some trying semesters there at the very end). Spent some 30+ years in class, was 3 hours short of two bachelor's degrees, have 4 graduate degrees (okay, that's bragging, because, I mean, can you really count an M.Phil?). And for me, I definitely think it is better than a part-time/freelance job (like those exist for me right now), even if it costs us a bit in fees and books.
Stayed tuned, I might have a whole new subject to talk about soon! (And then, Mrs. Teacher, we can wave at each other at Starbucks!)
School.
I should think about taking a class. Not for a degree, heaven knows I don't want another one of those. But for personal edification and enrichment. I've been wanting something to challenge my mind, something beyond reading the NYTimes everyday (not all of it, but lots of it). Something interesting, broad and/or deep, with other like-minded people (or even just bored undergraduates). Maybe intermediate ASL. Or an art history class way outside my specialty (Asian, anyone? African? Byzantine?). Or maybe a visual art like weaving or pottery.
I'm not talking about 10 week continuing ed classes at the local rec center, but a real class at a local community or 4-year college. Not the big one, though. It's fees for a language class are apparently $4K a semester. Perhaps 2-3x a week during preschool, starting in the spring or next fall.
I really should have thought of it earlier. I loved school all the way through (well, there were some trying semesters there at the very end). Spent some 30+ years in class, was 3 hours short of two bachelor's degrees, have 4 graduate degrees (okay, that's bragging, because, I mean, can you really count an M.Phil?). And for me, I definitely think it is better than a part-time/freelance job (like those exist for me right now), even if it costs us a bit in fees and books.
Stayed tuned, I might have a whole new subject to talk about soon! (And then, Mrs. Teacher, we can wave at each other at Starbucks!)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Fall Foods
We had a fall food festival yesterday after our Monday trip to the pumpkin farm and farmer's market. Everything was delicious, though the kids didn't try any of it (no surprise). But at least they had the opportunity.
We tried doing roasted beets but left them in the oven too long, then forgot about them (with the oven off, mind you), and found them again this morning. I don't include that recipe here!
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Baked Yellow Squash
2-3 yellow squash
olive oil or butter
salt, pepper
Preheat oven to 350. Cut squash in half or in even thinner slices, depending on thickness of squash (but not too thin). Spread evenly in pan. Drizzle with oil or dot with pats of butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 30+ minutes until tender.
Mom
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Pepitas
1 pumpkin
oil
salt
pepper
Gut one pumpkin, saving the seeds. Save the pumpkin for jack o'lantern carving. Wash and dry the seeds.
Heat oil in skillet. Pan roast the seeds until brown. Spread on paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
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Spaghetti Squash
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet. Pour approximately 1 cup water around squash and bake 30-60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
Scrape squash and mix with butter/salt/pepper, herbs, or butter/cinnamon/spices, as desired.
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Butternut Cider Bisque
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced
1/2 large carrot, diced (I left this out)
1 stalk celery, diced
1 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced
5 cups chicken stock or canned chicken broth
2 cups apple cider
2 cups heavy cream (MUST be heavy cream; anything else curdles in the acidic cider!)
pinch of nutmeg
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Heat the oil in a large pot and saute the onion, carrot, and celery until the carrot and celery are soft and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and saute until all of the vegetables are coated with oil, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and the 2 cups of cider and simmer until the squash is very soft, about 30 minutes.
Remove from heat. Puree the mixture, in small batches, in a blender on medium speed until smooth and well blended. Place the pureed mixture into another pot and stir in cream to achieve the desired consistency. Add the nutmeg and brown sugar. Heat gently and serve.
Red Lion Inn Cookbook plus my changes
We tried doing roasted beets but left them in the oven too long, then forgot about them (with the oven off, mind you), and found them again this morning. I don't include that recipe here!
-=-=-=-=-
Baked Yellow Squash
2-3 yellow squash
olive oil or butter
salt, pepper
Preheat oven to 350. Cut squash in half or in even thinner slices, depending on thickness of squash (but not too thin). Spread evenly in pan. Drizzle with oil or dot with pats of butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 30+ minutes until tender.
Mom
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Pepitas
1 pumpkin
oil
salt
pepper
Gut one pumpkin, saving the seeds. Save the pumpkin for jack o'lantern carving. Wash and dry the seeds.
Heat oil in skillet. Pan roast the seeds until brown. Spread on paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Spaghetti Squash
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet. Pour approximately 1 cup water around squash and bake 30-60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
Scrape squash and mix with butter/salt/pepper, herbs, or butter/cinnamon/spices, as desired.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Butternut Cider Bisque
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced
1/2 large carrot, diced (I left this out)
1 stalk celery, diced
1 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced
5 cups chicken stock or canned chicken broth
2 cups apple cider
2 cups heavy cream (MUST be heavy cream; anything else curdles in the acidic cider!)
pinch of nutmeg
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Heat the oil in a large pot and saute the onion, carrot, and celery until the carrot and celery are soft and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and saute until all of the vegetables are coated with oil, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and the 2 cups of cider and simmer until the squash is very soft, about 30 minutes.
Remove from heat. Puree the mixture, in small batches, in a blender on medium speed until smooth and well blended. Place the pureed mixture into another pot and stir in cream to achieve the desired consistency. Add the nutmeg and brown sugar. Heat gently and serve.
Red Lion Inn Cookbook plus my changes
Gommie has Left the Building
Gommie left this morning. We're going to try to get through the day without being too upset. It seems that Sis is as upset that I become sad as anything else. She's mentioned is several times when we told her Gommie would be leaving.
"And you'll be sad," she said.
"Yes."
"And Gommie will come back for Christmas and then you'll be happy."
Yes, sweetie, but before then, too. Even right now, as you and your brother make cards for everyone you know with your foamie letters, numbers, stars, flowers, and hearts.
Gommie, you might even get one, if I remember to get envelopes. But know that, even if the cards don't get in the mail, we love you and had a wonderful visit. Thank you.
"And you'll be sad," she said.
"Yes."
"And Gommie will come back for Christmas and then you'll be happy."
Yes, sweetie, but before then, too. Even right now, as you and your brother make cards for everyone you know with your foamie letters, numbers, stars, flowers, and hearts.
Gommie, you might even get one, if I remember to get envelopes. But know that, even if the cards don't get in the mail, we love you and had a wonderful visit. Thank you.
Differences
Yesterday, the kiddos started making paper jack o'lanterns at school. The teachers explained to them that they would paint a paper plate one day and then paint a face on it the next time. Sis, I am told, meticulously painted every crevice of her paper plate orange, making sure there was not a sliver of white left. Bud, on the other hand, apparently walked in, decided the two-step process was not necessary, and immediately painted a face in orange on his paper plate. Done. You can raise them the same, but they just aren't!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Winging It and a Prayer
Sis wanted to buy a book at our little store today. It had cutesy pictures of animals all over and sweet illustrations inside. Of course our animal-loving child would want it. It was a book of nighttime prayers.
And why was I bothered? We buy books about people with a mommy and a daddy, which isn't our situation; we buy books featuring African Americans and Native Americans, neither of which is our cultural heritage; why did I feel weird buying a book that mentions God, who is not a part of our spiritual belief system?
And I'm not even sure it was primarily the God part that bothered me. I would just change that to spirit or universe. But how do I explain away "in Jesus's name I pray?" Sis is three and wouldn't get my academic differentiation of Jesus as prophet/messiah and Jesus as human teacher. Especially if we're praying--something we don't do--to him. But we do happy thoughts at night, which is like praying, and we are grateful for the world and the animals and our family. And we like to expose the kids to the "other."
It's just that the "other" isn't usually Jesus.
I bought the book, not wanting to be close-minded about the whole God/Jesus thing and especially because she was so enamored of the pictures. But it's a good thing that Sis can't read yet, because I made up most of it as I went along, though I kept to the themes of gratitude and love.
I can explain Christianity later.
And why was I bothered? We buy books about people with a mommy and a daddy, which isn't our situation; we buy books featuring African Americans and Native Americans, neither of which is our cultural heritage; why did I feel weird buying a book that mentions God, who is not a part of our spiritual belief system?
And I'm not even sure it was primarily the God part that bothered me. I would just change that to spirit or universe. But how do I explain away "in Jesus's name I pray?" Sis is three and wouldn't get my academic differentiation of Jesus as prophet/messiah and Jesus as human teacher. Especially if we're praying--something we don't do--to him. But we do happy thoughts at night, which is like praying, and we are grateful for the world and the animals and our family. And we like to expose the kids to the "other."
It's just that the "other" isn't usually Jesus.
I bought the book, not wanting to be close-minded about the whole God/Jesus thing and especially because she was so enamored of the pictures. But it's a good thing that Sis can't read yet, because I made up most of it as I went along, though I kept to the themes of gratitude and love.
I can explain Christianity later.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Applepalooza Recipes
Here they are (except the sour cream apple pie, forthcoming):
Apple Enchilada Dessert
1-21 oz can apple pie filling
6-8" flour tortillas
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup water (some suggest reducing to 1/3 cup)
Preheat oven to 350. Spoon fruit evenly onto all tortillas, sprinkle with cinnamon. Rollup tortillas and place seam-side down on lightly greased 8x8 pan. Bring margarine, sugars, and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Pour sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with extra cinnamon on top, if desired. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes (some suggest adding an extra 10 minutes baking time or broiling for 5 minutes at the end).
Makes 6 large enchiladas. May be cut in half to serve 12.
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SOUR CREAM AND CINNAMON FRUIT DIP
8 oz. carton (1 c.) dairy sour cream2 tbsp. brown sugar1 tsp. cinnamon
Combine in a small bowl. Cover. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours to blend flavors. Serve with fresh fruit (1 cup).
cooks.com
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Apple Muffins
1 large egg
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, melted
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups apples, chopped
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
In a bowl, combine egg, melted shortening, and 1/2 cup sugar, stirring well. Add apples and mix well. In smaller bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add to the egg mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Combine 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes. Makes 1 dozen muffins.
Mama Teacher
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Apple-Cranberry Pie
premade crust
For the filling, combine the following:
6-8 medium apples
1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
pinch ground ginger
Dot with 2 tablespoons butter
For the topping, combine:
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Spread egg, butter, or water wash on top crust. Sprinkle with topping.
Bake 350F for 1 hour or until you see filling bubbling through the vents.
Cool and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar (optional).
Church Miss L
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Here's the Apple Gingerbread recipe:
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 large apples, sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup hot tea
Melt 1/4 cup butter in 9" square pan (in oven as it heats up). Slice apples over the butter and sprinkle with 1/4 cup brown sugar. Combine butter, sugars, molasses and egg in large bowl. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with tea. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes and turn out onto platter. Excellent served warm.
Miss M from Church
Apple Enchilada Dessert
1-21 oz can apple pie filling
6-8" flour tortillas
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup water (some suggest reducing to 1/3 cup)
Preheat oven to 350. Spoon fruit evenly onto all tortillas, sprinkle with cinnamon. Rollup tortillas and place seam-side down on lightly greased 8x8 pan. Bring margarine, sugars, and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Pour sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with extra cinnamon on top, if desired. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes (some suggest adding an extra 10 minutes baking time or broiling for 5 minutes at the end).
Makes 6 large enchiladas. May be cut in half to serve 12.
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SOUR CREAM AND CINNAMON FRUIT DIP
8 oz. carton (1 c.) dairy sour cream2 tbsp. brown sugar1 tsp. cinnamon
Combine in a small bowl. Cover. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours to blend flavors. Serve with fresh fruit (1 cup).
cooks.com
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Apple Muffins
1 large egg
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, melted
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups apples, chopped
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
In a bowl, combine egg, melted shortening, and 1/2 cup sugar, stirring well. Add apples and mix well. In smaller bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add to the egg mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Combine 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes. Makes 1 dozen muffins.
Mama Teacher
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Apple-Cranberry Pie
premade crust
For the filling, combine the following:
6-8 medium apples
1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
pinch ground ginger
Dot with 2 tablespoons butter
For the topping, combine:
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Spread egg, butter, or water wash on top crust. Sprinkle with topping.
Bake 350F for 1 hour or until you see filling bubbling through the vents.
Cool and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar (optional).
Church Miss L
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Here's the Apple Gingerbread recipe:
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 large apples, sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup hot tea
Melt 1/4 cup butter in 9" square pan (in oven as it heats up). Slice apples over the butter and sprinkle with 1/4 cup brown sugar. Combine butter, sugars, molasses and egg in large bowl. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with tea. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes and turn out onto platter. Excellent served warm.
Miss M from Church
Quips and Quotes
Under the heading of "we must be geeks," the kids screamed with delight when we told them where we were going to Old Sturbridge Village. And when we said they'd get to hear the pipe organ, they danced around singing "We're get to see the pipe organ! We get to see the pipe organ!" Brainiacs, geeks, whatever you want to call us, it's true.
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At OSV, we spent a long time in the children's section. At one point, Sis walked towards Gommie and I just beaming. She was carrying a single cup of tea. Ah, whom would she pick? Grandma or mother? Neither. She passed us and headed straight for the giant pig near the pretend barn!
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Gommie bought Sis some makeup, the girlie glamous stuff with lots of glitter. Bud wanted to play too and painted his nails and dusted his body with glitter, until he decided he wanted to help me with the apple games for Applepalooza. Quoth he "Let's take off this lipstick and think!" Note to Governor Palin: even children get it.
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"Bud likes to share," she said when Gommie asked her for a bite of her cookie/muffin/candy/cake/who remembers because they've had so much since Gommie came. But Bud didn't have a cookie. And Gommie wanted some of Sis's. Finally Sis pointed to her napkin, "You can have the crumbs."
That's all she wrote, folks.
-=-=-=-=-
At OSV, we spent a long time in the children's section. At one point, Sis walked towards Gommie and I just beaming. She was carrying a single cup of tea. Ah, whom would she pick? Grandma or mother? Neither. She passed us and headed straight for the giant pig near the pretend barn!
-=-=-=-=-
Gommie bought Sis some makeup, the girlie glamous stuff with lots of glitter. Bud wanted to play too and painted his nails and dusted his body with glitter, until he decided he wanted to help me with the apple games for Applepalooza. Quoth he "Let's take off this lipstick and think!" Note to Governor Palin: even children get it.
-=-=-=-=-
"Bud likes to share," she said when Gommie asked her for a bite of her cookie/muffin/candy/cake/who remembers because they've had so much since Gommie came. But Bud didn't have a cookie. And Gommie wanted some of Sis's. Finally Sis pointed to her napkin, "You can have the crumbs."
That's all she wrote, folks.
Fall Fun
We have been packing in the fall activities while Gommie is in town to give the Texan a little taste of New England. First, we hosted our first annual Applepalooza Apple Festival on Saturday, inviting friends over for apple food, crafts, games, and fun. It was a beautiful day, which is good because the party was outside. We had painted an apple tree and jack o'lantern on our patio doors as well as made an apple-shaped welcome sign. There were pictures to color and connect-the-dots, paper worms to play "pin the worm on the apple", little apple nametags for people to put their names on our tree (next year, it's going to be "pin your nametag apple on the apple tree!"). Plus food, glorious apple food: apple enchiladas, apple sour cream dip, apple muffins, apple spice cake, apple sour cream pie, apple cranberry pie, apple doughnuts, apple sundaes with caramel and toppings, apple cider (served with cream and rum, too). And lots of our friends from playgroup, church, and around, including one who came in all the way from the city! Everybody needs a little taste of fall in New England. We'll be doing it again next year, perhaps with apple-bobbing this time! I just couldn't face the moms of a bunch of wet three-year olds this year!
On Sunday, we headed to Sturbridge Village for a day of old-time fun. We loved the guest musician Jeff Warner, who played on the banjo, concertina, guitar, bones, spoons, and Jew's harp, while telling stories of the development of folk music ("we think of all the old songs as Appalachian, but that's just where they hung on the longest" and "I think all folk music probably started out as a dance tune until someone put words to it.") And he played the limberjack, or dancing wooden doll, which was the most amazing feat. He was rather like the Garrison Keillor of New England folk music. Bud and Gommie were fascinated, and at least Sis stood still. And then we listened to the pipe organ in the meetinghouse. Sis liked it more, I think, if only because it was big and novel. While the musician played the 1810s organ, Bud danced his fingers in the air as if he were playing too. And we talked about how our church once had an organ and that the pipes are in a sculpture outside. Of course, the Count on Sesame Street plays an organ, too. Sis liked the stage coach best, of course, horses being at the top of her nightly happy thoughts list. She declared the bumpity-bump of the stagecoach to be much better than that of her stroller. Bud's head met the door frame on one of those bumps so he was less enamored of the ride, but still had a good time. Gommie, of course, was interested in how fast it travelled, how long it would take to get places, how it must have been to be a passenger. Typical history-loving Gommie questions. Which returned when we visited the cider press and heard all about making apple pumice, pressing the apples, and letting them ferment. All the while wasps circled our heads. We had lunch, pretended to weave and spin, played in the children's section--Bud loved drawing water from the well--and napped on the way home.
Today we hit two fall highlights: pumpkin picking and farmer's markets. We took a hayride to the pumpkin patch, where Sis and Bud each chose a small one for decorating (either with decoupage or markers). Then we played around the farm, chose some squash for eating, and bought a decorative bale of hay. We snacked on cookies and cider, too. Then we headed to the farmer's market for some beets--we'd seen them roasting some at OSV and wanted to try it--more squash, and the last of the late summer raspberries for Bud.
And then we rested. There's a lot of cooking to be done, including all those squashes, the beets, some roasted pumpkin seeds, and a batch of Amish Friendship Bread. Then there is school, cards to make for family back home, and just lots of fun with Gommie before she leaves on Wednesday. It's been a great trip . . . and it's not quite over yet.
On Sunday, we headed to Sturbridge Village for a day of old-time fun. We loved the guest musician Jeff Warner, who played on the banjo, concertina, guitar, bones, spoons, and Jew's harp, while telling stories of the development of folk music ("we think of all the old songs as Appalachian, but that's just where they hung on the longest" and "I think all folk music probably started out as a dance tune until someone put words to it.") And he played the limberjack, or dancing wooden doll, which was the most amazing feat. He was rather like the Garrison Keillor of New England folk music. Bud and Gommie were fascinated, and at least Sis stood still. And then we listened to the pipe organ in the meetinghouse. Sis liked it more, I think, if only because it was big and novel. While the musician played the 1810s organ, Bud danced his fingers in the air as if he were playing too. And we talked about how our church once had an organ and that the pipes are in a sculpture outside. Of course, the Count on Sesame Street plays an organ, too. Sis liked the stage coach best, of course, horses being at the top of her nightly happy thoughts list. She declared the bumpity-bump of the stagecoach to be much better than that of her stroller. Bud's head met the door frame on one of those bumps so he was less enamored of the ride, but still had a good time. Gommie, of course, was interested in how fast it travelled, how long it would take to get places, how it must have been to be a passenger. Typical history-loving Gommie questions. Which returned when we visited the cider press and heard all about making apple pumice, pressing the apples, and letting them ferment. All the while wasps circled our heads. We had lunch, pretended to weave and spin, played in the children's section--Bud loved drawing water from the well--and napped on the way home.
Today we hit two fall highlights: pumpkin picking and farmer's markets. We took a hayride to the pumpkin patch, where Sis and Bud each chose a small one for decorating (either with decoupage or markers). Then we played around the farm, chose some squash for eating, and bought a decorative bale of hay. We snacked on cookies and cider, too. Then we headed to the farmer's market for some beets--we'd seen them roasting some at OSV and wanted to try it--more squash, and the last of the late summer raspberries for Bud.
And then we rested. There's a lot of cooking to be done, including all those squashes, the beets, some roasted pumpkin seeds, and a batch of Amish Friendship Bread. Then there is school, cards to make for family back home, and just lots of fun with Gommie before she leaves on Wednesday. It's been a great trip . . . and it's not quite over yet.
Gravy
I have found my weakness as a vegetarian: gravy.
My mom is in town and so we've been cooking meat and lots of it, mainly because there was a third person in the house to help us finish it. Last Thursday, she made a baked chicken. With gravy. Today we made her rump roast. With gravy.
I could pass up the meat, no problem. But chicken gravy on rice? Roast gravy on mashed potatoes? No way.
My mom's gravy is superb and, while I've become a good gravy maker, nothing beats Mom's. Even if I'm a vegetarian.
So, do I have to turn in my membership card? I'm sure some would say so. But I don't care, I'm eating gravy while she's here.
And maybe even after she's gone, like on Thanksgiving. Real gravy on tofurkey. I couldn't be happier.
-=-=-=-=-
Gravy
Heat 3 tablespoons grease from meat or cooking oil in pot. Add 3 tablespoons of flour. Brown til copper-colored. Stir in 3 cups drippings and/or water. Add chicken/beef bouillon and salt and pepper to taste.
You can also microwave the grease/oil and flour mixture. Start at 3 minutes, then stir. Then two minutes, and stir. Then 1 minute, and stir. Should be approximately the right color. Continue as described.
Mom
My mom is in town and so we've been cooking meat and lots of it, mainly because there was a third person in the house to help us finish it. Last Thursday, she made a baked chicken. With gravy. Today we made her rump roast. With gravy.
I could pass up the meat, no problem. But chicken gravy on rice? Roast gravy on mashed potatoes? No way.
My mom's gravy is superb and, while I've become a good gravy maker, nothing beats Mom's. Even if I'm a vegetarian.
So, do I have to turn in my membership card? I'm sure some would say so. But I don't care, I'm eating gravy while she's here.
And maybe even after she's gone, like on Thanksgiving. Real gravy on tofurkey. I couldn't be happier.
-=-=-=-=-
Gravy
Heat 3 tablespoons grease from meat or cooking oil in pot. Add 3 tablespoons of flour. Brown til copper-colored. Stir in 3 cups drippings and/or water. Add chicken/beef bouillon and salt and pepper to taste.
You can also microwave the grease/oil and flour mixture. Start at 3 minutes, then stir. Then two minutes, and stir. Then 1 minute, and stir. Should be approximately the right color. Continue as described.
Mom
Monday Morning
It's almost 8 a.m. and I'm not quite up yet. Gommie is downstairs with the kids, having made them pancakes and now playing with them. Yippee! I won't post long but I wanted to say hi. We're having a great visit, very busy, lots of fun. We had our apple party on Saturday which was a fantastic fall festival (I hope!)--lots of friends, food, more food, fun. And then yesterday we headed to Sturbridge, where we heard some traditional folk music, rode the stagecoach, watched them press cider, and heard the church pipe organ.
Oops, my battery is going and I don't want to go downstairs to get the adapter.
More later!!
Oops, my battery is going and I don't want to go downstairs to get the adapter.
More later!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Am I Getting Married in the Morning?
Today, the CT Supreme Court rules on civil marriage for same-sex couples. The decision is expected around 11:30 a.m.
Which means, our three-year old civil union might become grandfathered (grandmothered?) in as a marriage today. Or not.
It's rather a strange feeling being so disconnected from an event that so many people call "the happiest day of my life."
But then, my real happiest day was 11 years ago, not three.
And the government had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Which means, our three-year old civil union might become grandfathered (grandmothered?) in as a marriage today. Or not.
It's rather a strange feeling being so disconnected from an event that so many people call "the happiest day of my life."
But then, my real happiest day was 11 years ago, not three.
And the government had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Quickie
We've had our first Chinese class.
Gommie is here.
Today Mama and I celebrate our third anniversary of legal union.
The weather is warmer and should be good for our Applepalooza on Saturday.
More eventually.
Gommie is here.
Today Mama and I celebrate our third anniversary of legal union.
The weather is warmer and should be good for our Applepalooza on Saturday.
More eventually.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Our New Faith
It was something our minister said recently, that she has to have faith that throwing away something will not ruin her happiness.
Mama and I are very sentimental (read "pack rats"), instant gratification-seeking (read "I want it now") kind of people. We find throwing things away very, very difficult. Just ask my mom, who will tell you that I kept plates and napkins from birthday parties (and ask me how she must have stealthily snuck in to cull my collection often!). Our approach has been not to bring stuff into the house, so we don't have to decide to throw it out. But, with kids and Christmas, and our own natural tendencies, this approach isn't working.
We've been cleaning out our basement and throwing out a lot of things, giving away a lot of things. And each item is hard, some harder than others. Recently, we got rid of several side tables and two stuffed animals. This was gut-wrenching. One of the little tables, Mama had had before me, and I had taken a fancy to it and we'd used it for years, pre-kids. But it had gotten relegated to the basement because it wasn't practical or sturdy and, for awhile, I've known it wasn't the kind of table we'd ever put back upstairs. And we'd even found, at some point, side tables that matched it. A whole set (for those of you who haven't seen our house, nothing matches so to have matching furniture was a big deal). But just not us anymore, I thought. And so we decided to give it away. And then decided to wait. And then to take it. They finally all went on Sunday.
Along with a gigantic stuffed purple teddy bear named "Astro Grape Jelly the Purple Cosmic Bear" that I had won at Astroworld in 1988, when I was in high school on a visit with friends. I won it in one of those bean bag tic tac toe games and was so proud. It went everywhere with us that day, and has travelled around the country to my various abodes since. But it was showing its age and was, no doubt, made of materials that are no longer considered kid-friendly. Several times in the last several years, I'd gotten it as far as the car to take it away, but it always came back. Sis had considered getting attached to it when Bud claimed our giant "Mr Big Pengy" for himself, and this made us both nervous. We really didn't want her playing with this big, dirty, old bear, however much it held a sentimental place in both of our hearts (Mama has lugged this bear around the country with me). And so, taking one last picture of it, it went on Sunday, too. And no doubt, in 30 years, Sis will blog about how I got rid of her bear. And I did, I gave it away, but, honey, it was for your own good. And mine.
Our kids, of course, are quite an impetus in de-cluttering our house, but in their own way they have created so much of the clutter. There are boxes and boxes of their sweet little clothes and shoes in the basement, plus boxes and boxes of their baby toys. If we cleaned those up, pared it down even by half, we'd have so much more room. And we've told ourselves that our reward for doing so will be to finish half the basement, which we both desperately want. We're a long way from that reward, which is good because we have a roof to pay off first.
Why this attachment to stuff, we mused while moving it around the basement this weekend. Misplaced love? Overdeveloped sentimentality? Fear? And so we keep going back to what our minister, who is also a pack rat, said: we need to have faith that giving away the tables and the teddy bear and all the other things, even if they aren't broken and just because we don't use them and probably won't and especially if we don't even like them anymore, won't in the end dramatically affect our happiness. We won't miss them or decide down the road that we should have kept them. Even if we do decide that we made a mistake and should have kept something, it's just a thing, in the end. Our worlds won't collapse, nothing will end. It helps that we know, in many cases, that other people can use these things. And it keeps us from acquiring more. Because we've learned that keeping these things does affect us--we worry about space, we fret about clutter, we are concerned about being neurotic, we're tired of moving it all around and cleaning it all up. We have better things to do. Though, we both know, this is a lifelong challenge for us and we'll have to keep fighting the urge to keep.
So, we have a sleeper sofa in good condition--you can have it for free if you come and get it.
Mama and I are very sentimental (read "pack rats"), instant gratification-seeking (read "I want it now") kind of people. We find throwing things away very, very difficult. Just ask my mom, who will tell you that I kept plates and napkins from birthday parties (and ask me how she must have stealthily snuck in to cull my collection often!). Our approach has been not to bring stuff into the house, so we don't have to decide to throw it out. But, with kids and Christmas, and our own natural tendencies, this approach isn't working.
We've been cleaning out our basement and throwing out a lot of things, giving away a lot of things. And each item is hard, some harder than others. Recently, we got rid of several side tables and two stuffed animals. This was gut-wrenching. One of the little tables, Mama had had before me, and I had taken a fancy to it and we'd used it for years, pre-kids. But it had gotten relegated to the basement because it wasn't practical or sturdy and, for awhile, I've known it wasn't the kind of table we'd ever put back upstairs. And we'd even found, at some point, side tables that matched it. A whole set (for those of you who haven't seen our house, nothing matches so to have matching furniture was a big deal). But just not us anymore, I thought. And so we decided to give it away. And then decided to wait. And then to take it. They finally all went on Sunday.
Along with a gigantic stuffed purple teddy bear named "Astro Grape Jelly the Purple Cosmic Bear" that I had won at Astroworld in 1988, when I was in high school on a visit with friends. I won it in one of those bean bag tic tac toe games and was so proud. It went everywhere with us that day, and has travelled around the country to my various abodes since. But it was showing its age and was, no doubt, made of materials that are no longer considered kid-friendly. Several times in the last several years, I'd gotten it as far as the car to take it away, but it always came back. Sis had considered getting attached to it when Bud claimed our giant "Mr Big Pengy" for himself, and this made us both nervous. We really didn't want her playing with this big, dirty, old bear, however much it held a sentimental place in both of our hearts (Mama has lugged this bear around the country with me). And so, taking one last picture of it, it went on Sunday, too. And no doubt, in 30 years, Sis will blog about how I got rid of her bear. And I did, I gave it away, but, honey, it was for your own good. And mine.
Our kids, of course, are quite an impetus in de-cluttering our house, but in their own way they have created so much of the clutter. There are boxes and boxes of their sweet little clothes and shoes in the basement, plus boxes and boxes of their baby toys. If we cleaned those up, pared it down even by half, we'd have so much more room. And we've told ourselves that our reward for doing so will be to finish half the basement, which we both desperately want. We're a long way from that reward, which is good because we have a roof to pay off first.
Why this attachment to stuff, we mused while moving it around the basement this weekend. Misplaced love? Overdeveloped sentimentality? Fear? And so we keep going back to what our minister, who is also a pack rat, said: we need to have faith that giving away the tables and the teddy bear and all the other things, even if they aren't broken and just because we don't use them and probably won't and especially if we don't even like them anymore, won't in the end dramatically affect our happiness. We won't miss them or decide down the road that we should have kept them. Even if we do decide that we made a mistake and should have kept something, it's just a thing, in the end. Our worlds won't collapse, nothing will end. It helps that we know, in many cases, that other people can use these things. And it keeps us from acquiring more. Because we've learned that keeping these things does affect us--we worry about space, we fret about clutter, we are concerned about being neurotic, we're tired of moving it all around and cleaning it all up. We have better things to do. Though, we both know, this is a lifelong challenge for us and we'll have to keep fighting the urge to keep.
So, we have a sleeper sofa in good condition--you can have it for free if you come and get it.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Not the Kind of People
Last week, I was talking to a neighbor's mom about the newly opened deli in town and she said, "We're not restaurant people or fast food people. We eat at home." This honesty and clarity of this statement really struck me. She wasn't being granola-righteous about it, or judgmental about people who do eat out, or taking a stance on fast food, processed food, or the like. She was telling it like it was for her family: she and her husband are Italian immigrants who raised their family in the Bronx in the 1970s, just when jarred spaghetti sauce was hitting the shelves. I get the sense there wasn't much money, or any need (I just know she is a great cook), to eat out.
Of course, Mama and I are both restaurant and fast food people. In fact, we were trying to decide if, in the 11+ years we have been together, there has been a SINGLE week that has gone by that we haven't eaten out or taken in or stopped for a snack or picked up a bite or gotten some coffee. I don't think so. She can't remember either. I could give all sorts of rationales: we were both working and found cooking nightly meals or organizing sack lunches too challenging; restaurants are one of our major forms of entertainment (in the same breath, I would say that, in 11+ years, we've seen only 4 films in the theater together: Titanic, 2 Harry Potters, and the last LOTR); we travel a lot on weekends. But in the end, we know it's excessive, from a financial and health standpoint.
And so, we have a new goal--once my mom leaves, mind you--we're not going to eat out at all for one whole week: no lunches from the deli with the kids, no coffee from Starbucks, no restaurant meals on weekend outings. Then, maybe we can stretch it to two. Three weeks is a habit, they say. No, we're not trying to eliminate eating out completely--we still find great value in restaurant meals when they're good, interesting, different--but fast and convenient are no longer justifications for us, for the most part (bearing in mind, we still have one working mom and two preschoolers).
I'm not aiming to be my neighbor's quintessential Italian mama cooking three meals a day, but even a little of her approach to eating would go a long way. It's all part of our new eco-parenting, family-centric, pared down, tv-less, "simple" living. I'm just going to have to become a better cook.
Now, if we could survive on baked goods three times a day, we'd be set!
Of course, Mama and I are both restaurant and fast food people. In fact, we were trying to decide if, in the 11+ years we have been together, there has been a SINGLE week that has gone by that we haven't eaten out or taken in or stopped for a snack or picked up a bite or gotten some coffee. I don't think so. She can't remember either. I could give all sorts of rationales: we were both working and found cooking nightly meals or organizing sack lunches too challenging; restaurants are one of our major forms of entertainment (in the same breath, I would say that, in 11+ years, we've seen only 4 films in the theater together: Titanic, 2 Harry Potters, and the last LOTR); we travel a lot on weekends. But in the end, we know it's excessive, from a financial and health standpoint.
And so, we have a new goal--once my mom leaves, mind you--we're not going to eat out at all for one whole week: no lunches from the deli with the kids, no coffee from Starbucks, no restaurant meals on weekend outings. Then, maybe we can stretch it to two. Three weeks is a habit, they say. No, we're not trying to eliminate eating out completely--we still find great value in restaurant meals when they're good, interesting, different--but fast and convenient are no longer justifications for us, for the most part (bearing in mind, we still have one working mom and two preschoolers).
I'm not aiming to be my neighbor's quintessential Italian mama cooking three meals a day, but even a little of her approach to eating would go a long way. It's all part of our new eco-parenting, family-centric, pared down, tv-less, "simple" living. I'm just going to have to become a better cook.
Now, if we could survive on baked goods three times a day, we'd be set!
Slow Down
There is going to be a post slow down over the next week. My mom is coming to town. The cleaning and shopping have already begun in earnest and will continue until her arrival on Wednesday afternoon, which leaves little time or thought for posts.
But I know I will have more of both afterwards!
But I know I will have more of both afterwards!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Kitchen Soup
I have been craving soup since the weather turned cold. But I hadn't gotten my act together early enough in the last few days to start a good bean soup from scratch, with dry beans. I threw caution to the wind today and started soup at 4 pm, but with canned beans.
Bud helped drain and rinse cans of small red, dark red, and cannellini beans and then watched me saute onions, celery, and garlic in oil. We added stock, the beans, seasoning (Penzey's Tuscan), and then one can each of stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Later, I boiled some pasta ("finger noodles" at our house, or rigatoni, because Sis especially likes to put them on each of her fingers and eat them off that way).
And it was soup. Eventually. But in the meantime, the kids painted on paper spread out on the floor. What started as an experiment with small Dixie cups as applicators morphed into a whole soup-making game, with Bud fetching pots and spoons, while Sis poured the paint water into various Dixie cups and other containers. Soon, there was colorful soup all over them and the kitchen floor. No matter. They cleaned it all up--themselves, the floor, and the detritus. And I think my floor is cleaner now.
Plus, there was soup, topped with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, for dinner.
Bud helped drain and rinse cans of small red, dark red, and cannellini beans and then watched me saute onions, celery, and garlic in oil. We added stock, the beans, seasoning (Penzey's Tuscan), and then one can each of stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Later, I boiled some pasta ("finger noodles" at our house, or rigatoni, because Sis especially likes to put them on each of her fingers and eat them off that way).
And it was soup. Eventually. But in the meantime, the kids painted on paper spread out on the floor. What started as an experiment with small Dixie cups as applicators morphed into a whole soup-making game, with Bud fetching pots and spoons, while Sis poured the paint water into various Dixie cups and other containers. Soon, there was colorful soup all over them and the kitchen floor. No matter. They cleaned it all up--themselves, the floor, and the detritus. And I think my floor is cleaner now.
Plus, there was soup, topped with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, for dinner.
Huzzah, Part Deux
"I never met a king before," Sis said when introduced to the king at the Renaissance Festival yesterday.
Indeed.
And they'd never met pirates, fairies, queens, knights, ladies, or wenches before either.
Though, they'd been to the Ren Faire as babes in stroller, they couldn't remember having gone and so yesterday was a whole new world. And, at first, it was rather strange and intimidating. Big, costumed, accented people kept greeting and accosting us as we entered. Fun for us as adults used to the Ren Faire banter, but a little overwhelming to a child. It all reminded me of when my sis Aunt Banana was totally freaked out by a witch at the TX Ren Faire and how upset my mom got at the woman for harrassing Banana. But we made it through the crowds and found some music at a distant stage, which was perfect for Bud. We listened to the Brigands sing bawdy songs that fortunately Bud could not decipher beyond identifying the concertina, drums, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar. He calmed down soon enough and eventually settled into the festivities and had a good time.
Meanwhile, Sis and Mama headed to the children's section, where they found the sheepdog demo area and "Bunnyville." We were soon all there marvelling at the Border Collie pup, the sheep, ducks, and different rabbits. Later in the day, we actually saw a herding demonstration where the dogs corralled the ducks as well as the sheep. Sis kept asking when the "bunny show" was. But, then, she is very partial to her own stuffed critter, a white bunny named Amy (with sisters named Meg, Jo, and Beth. I wonder when she'll figure that out.).
The kids also loved the toy vendor who wisely sets up a low table and puts out all his figurines and toys and lets all the kids play as long as they want. Two years ago, Bud and Sis had a blast at this booth, even though they weren't even cruising yet and had to be propped up against the table to see, with us nearby to keep them from falling backwards. Bud choose a jousting knight, Sis got a horse, as Mama said they could each choose one. Later, they managed to complete their sets, with Bud getting a horse and Sis getting a knight.
Just in time for the jousting. Again, they didn't understand much of the ribald banter, but they liked watching the people on horseback catch rings on long poles, slice cabbage in half, and throw spears at targets. Indeed, they would have been happy with no talk as long as the people kept riding around. But at least it gave them a better sense of what their little figurines were doing.
It's not the best festival we've been to--Texas and Bristol, WI, and Sterling Forest, NY are bigger, more elaborate, more entertaining--but it's ours now, and their first. No doubt we'll be back every year, to play with the toys, listen to the music, and watch some jousting. Maybe we'll even dress up. And sooner or later, the kiddos won't think it's strange at all.
Indeed.
And they'd never met pirates, fairies, queens, knights, ladies, or wenches before either.
Though, they'd been to the Ren Faire as babes in stroller, they couldn't remember having gone and so yesterday was a whole new world. And, at first, it was rather strange and intimidating. Big, costumed, accented people kept greeting and accosting us as we entered. Fun for us as adults used to the Ren Faire banter, but a little overwhelming to a child. It all reminded me of when my sis Aunt Banana was totally freaked out by a witch at the TX Ren Faire and how upset my mom got at the woman for harrassing Banana. But we made it through the crowds and found some music at a distant stage, which was perfect for Bud. We listened to the Brigands sing bawdy songs that fortunately Bud could not decipher beyond identifying the concertina, drums, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar. He calmed down soon enough and eventually settled into the festivities and had a good time.
Meanwhile, Sis and Mama headed to the children's section, where they found the sheepdog demo area and "Bunnyville." We were soon all there marvelling at the Border Collie pup, the sheep, ducks, and different rabbits. Later in the day, we actually saw a herding demonstration where the dogs corralled the ducks as well as the sheep. Sis kept asking when the "bunny show" was. But, then, she is very partial to her own stuffed critter, a white bunny named Amy (with sisters named Meg, Jo, and Beth. I wonder when she'll figure that out.).
The kids also loved the toy vendor who wisely sets up a low table and puts out all his figurines and toys and lets all the kids play as long as they want. Two years ago, Bud and Sis had a blast at this booth, even though they weren't even cruising yet and had to be propped up against the table to see, with us nearby to keep them from falling backwards. Bud choose a jousting knight, Sis got a horse, as Mama said they could each choose one. Later, they managed to complete their sets, with Bud getting a horse and Sis getting a knight.
Just in time for the jousting. Again, they didn't understand much of the ribald banter, but they liked watching the people on horseback catch rings on long poles, slice cabbage in half, and throw spears at targets. Indeed, they would have been happy with no talk as long as the people kept riding around. But at least it gave them a better sense of what their little figurines were doing.
It's not the best festival we've been to--Texas and Bristol, WI, and Sterling Forest, NY are bigger, more elaborate, more entertaining--but it's ours now, and their first. No doubt we'll be back every year, to play with the toys, listen to the music, and watch some jousting. Maybe we'll even dress up. And sooner or later, the kiddos won't think it's strange at all.
Bacon Day
Mama has been teasing me since my post on baking.
Because she thought I said "bacon" day when I told her about it. Which was confusing, of course, because we don't eat bacon anymore.
Now the kids are confused about baking/bacon.
Which is not the same at all.
Except how I pronounce them . . .
Because she thought I said "bacon" day when I told her about it. Which was confusing, of course, because we don't eat bacon anymore.
Now the kids are confused about baking/bacon.
Which is not the same at all.
Except how I pronounce them . . .
Quintessential Fall Weekend
It's the perfect fall weekend.
Yesterday was cool and crisp and bright and blue-skyed.
Today is gray and damp and overcast and chilly.
I love fall. And I love both kinds of days.
Yesterday was cool and crisp and bright and blue-skyed.
Today is gray and damp and overcast and chilly.
I love fall. And I love both kinds of days.
Bermuda Corner
I've lost something.
Well, it's not even a thing, but I've lost it.
Somewhere in the last two weeks or so, I came across a recipe using cannellini beans, of which I have several cans. I made a note to get the other ingredients but now I can't find the original recipe. And can't even recall what else I bought to go in the dish.
Bother.
I hate it when I can't find something. Both my mom and Mama will tell you that once I lose something (say, a baby blanket, for the most recent, infuriating, but happily-resolved example), I obsess and look until I find it again. Luckily, this is usually fairly fast, but in some instances, it is painfully slow.
Right now, in addition to the cannellini bean recipe, I can't find Bud's yellow paddle from his train book set that allows him to mix and match color paddles to make other colors. I've looked and looked.
And I'm a good looker, so to speak. Mama is always misplacing her keys or wallet or phone, or Sis's Shirt or the like, and I always find them, usually very quickly in very obvious places (today, Mama, the missing Shirt was smack dab in the middle of the coffee table.). So, it's not that I can't find things.
But these things I can't find.
And it's driving me nuts.
I'm going to go look again . . .
Well, it's not even a thing, but I've lost it.
Somewhere in the last two weeks or so, I came across a recipe using cannellini beans, of which I have several cans. I made a note to get the other ingredients but now I can't find the original recipe. And can't even recall what else I bought to go in the dish.
Bother.
I hate it when I can't find something. Both my mom and Mama will tell you that once I lose something (say, a baby blanket, for the most recent, infuriating, but happily-resolved example), I obsess and look until I find it again. Luckily, this is usually fairly fast, but in some instances, it is painfully slow.
Right now, in addition to the cannellini bean recipe, I can't find Bud's yellow paddle from his train book set that allows him to mix and match color paddles to make other colors. I've looked and looked.
And I'm a good looker, so to speak. Mama is always misplacing her keys or wallet or phone, or Sis's Shirt or the like, and I always find them, usually very quickly in very obvious places (today, Mama, the missing Shirt was smack dab in the middle of the coffee table.). So, it's not that I can't find things.
But these things I can't find.
And it's driving me nuts.
I'm going to go look again . . .
Friday, October 3, 2008
Where are We Going?
Eurostar.
Bud is obsessed. There is a picture of the Eurostar in his train book that he has taken a fancy to recently. Yesterday, he actually wanted to know where the Eurostar was, so we got out his landmark world map puzzle and found Europe. We explained that the train went from London to Paris through the Chunnel but there were no city identifications on the map. And he likes the sound of "euro" instead. And so he's shown everyone who will listen where it goes.
Now he's made us promise that he can ride on the Eurostar.
Absolutely.
Bud is obsessed. There is a picture of the Eurostar in his train book that he has taken a fancy to recently. Yesterday, he actually wanted to know where the Eurostar was, so we got out his landmark world map puzzle and found Europe. We explained that the train went from London to Paris through the Chunnel but there were no city identifications on the map. And he likes the sound of "euro" instead. And so he's shown everyone who will listen where it goes.
Now he's made us promise that he can ride on the Eurostar.
Absolutely.
Baking Day
Today is our second "baking day" of Amish Friendship Bread. Last week, we made regular-sized chocolate chunk bread loaves and cinnamon vanilla mini-loaves. Bud liked the former, Sis the latter. Today we made chocolate bread sans chunks and cinnamon vanilla bread cum dried cherries. This time, the vanilla is in the big loaf pans and the chocolate is in the mini-loaf and our new jumbo muffin pan.
Not to worry, we won't eat all that bread. Some loaves are for church, some for our "teacher" last year, some for our teachers this year. Oh, well, and maybe a bit for ourselves. Gotta taste it!
It actually saved our morning. The kids have been at each other's throats all morning. But they wouldn't separate. It was as if their feet were tied together so they couldn't avoid fighting each other to the death. And so, instead of turning on the tv--and for the first time in two weeks, I wished I hadn't consigned it to storage--and instead of separating them upstairs and downstairs (which is almost impossible), I decided we needed to do something . . . together.
And it worked. By cooperating to make bread, taking turns to pour in ingredients and stir, and then cooperating again to make the second batch, and then asking to make a batch of chocolate pudding and finally eating it altogether (all together?? Both.), they actually are getting along much better. Is this reverse psychology? Luck? Exhaustion? Desperation?
But as I type, they are playing Mr/Ms Potato Head together in the other room.
Give me this day, my daily bread baking . . .
Not to worry, we won't eat all that bread. Some loaves are for church, some for our "teacher" last year, some for our teachers this year. Oh, well, and maybe a bit for ourselves. Gotta taste it!
It actually saved our morning. The kids have been at each other's throats all morning. But they wouldn't separate. It was as if their feet were tied together so they couldn't avoid fighting each other to the death. And so, instead of turning on the tv--and for the first time in two weeks, I wished I hadn't consigned it to storage--and instead of separating them upstairs and downstairs (which is almost impossible), I decided we needed to do something . . . together.
And it worked. By cooperating to make bread, taking turns to pour in ingredients and stir, and then cooperating again to make the second batch, and then asking to make a batch of chocolate pudding and finally eating it altogether (all together?? Both.), they actually are getting along much better. Is this reverse psychology? Luck? Exhaustion? Desperation?
But as I type, they are playing Mr/Ms Potato Head together in the other room.
Give me this day, my daily bread baking . . .
Thursday, October 2, 2008
They're Here!!!!
The books came in today!!!! I love book order day. Just walking in the school and seeing bags of books in cubbies made my heart sing.
But I didn't give them to the kiddos immediately. Which was good, because we came home and spent 2 1/2 hours outside having a picnic, delivering the last invitations to Applepalooza, and playing in the yard with a neighbor boy from down the street.
When we came inside, it was book time. We spread out all over my bed upstairs and read through our pile. Sis loved the handled box her set of 12 Diego phonics books came in. She gingerly removed and replaced the books repeatedly. Bud liked the translucent color paddles that came with his book Freight Train and kept making the world around him blue, yellow, or red. We read several of these, even after our playdate with Mama Teacher started.
We read through more of the books at bedtime, including others I had just bought from the book store and ones from the church book sale. There was a sweet book about Owly who asked questions like "How many stars are in the sky?" and "How deep is the ocean?" And a wonderful story about a stray Wish Come True Cat who finds a home. As well as Happy Halloween, Stinky Face, the third in Mama's favorite series about a boy asking crazy questions of his mom. We also have a new read aloud poetry book. And, from our dear friend Miss T, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, the newest one in the series by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond.
And there are already more books on the way!!!
See, who needs tv?
But I didn't give them to the kiddos immediately. Which was good, because we came home and spent 2 1/2 hours outside having a picnic, delivering the last invitations to Applepalooza, and playing in the yard with a neighbor boy from down the street.
When we came inside, it was book time. We spread out all over my bed upstairs and read through our pile. Sis loved the handled box her set of 12 Diego phonics books came in. She gingerly removed and replaced the books repeatedly. Bud liked the translucent color paddles that came with his book Freight Train and kept making the world around him blue, yellow, or red. We read several of these, even after our playdate with Mama Teacher started.
We read through more of the books at bedtime, including others I had just bought from the book store and ones from the church book sale. There was a sweet book about Owly who asked questions like "How many stars are in the sky?" and "How deep is the ocean?" And a wonderful story about a stray Wish Come True Cat who finds a home. As well as Happy Halloween, Stinky Face, the third in Mama's favorite series about a boy asking crazy questions of his mom. We also have a new read aloud poetry book. And, from our dear friend Miss T, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, the newest one in the series by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond.
And there are already more books on the way!!!
See, who needs tv?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Good News
The sun is even shining. It's a beautiful day, even though it wasn't supposed to be.
The roof is done, the dryer is fixed, and Gommie is coming for a visit next week. She finally got power back this weekend, after two whole weeks without (though she was living in their beach house that had power). What did she do first? Book a ticket to Connecticut! She'll even be here for our Applepalooza.
With the roofers' dumpster still in the driveway, we cleaned out several big items in the basement and garage. I've made several trips to donate other, still-useful things. I wouldn't say it's neat or clean down there, but it's getting there. Maybe we'll have it cleaned up enough to "finish" by the time the kiddos are in college!
Even the negatives have a positive: the exterminator is coming today to get rid of the yellow jackets that the roofers uncovered in the back wall. And, even though we didn't have Rosh Hashanah "off" yesterday, the kids enjoyed school and have been playing really well together at home.
All in all, it's pretty good right now.
The roof is done, the dryer is fixed, and Gommie is coming for a visit next week. She finally got power back this weekend, after two whole weeks without (though she was living in their beach house that had power). What did she do first? Book a ticket to Connecticut! She'll even be here for our Applepalooza.
With the roofers' dumpster still in the driveway, we cleaned out several big items in the basement and garage. I've made several trips to donate other, still-useful things. I wouldn't say it's neat or clean down there, but it's getting there. Maybe we'll have it cleaned up enough to "finish" by the time the kiddos are in college!
Even the negatives have a positive: the exterminator is coming today to get rid of the yellow jackets that the roofers uncovered in the back wall. And, even though we didn't have Rosh Hashanah "off" yesterday, the kids enjoyed school and have been playing really well together at home.
All in all, it's pretty good right now.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Health and Safety
When the kiddos question us about something like car seats or standing on furniture, we always say, "Mommies are in charge of health and safety." We've covered both in fun ways in the last week.
Safety
This weekend, we went to a local firefighter open house. Despite the rainy weather, the kids had a blast. Of course, climbing in the engines was their favorite activity, followed by seeing the firefighters cut open a car in a mock extrication. Of course, there were free plastic red fire hats and lots of coloring pages, plus informational packets (including a free children's DNA kit for your freezer--ugh, don't even want to think on needing that) for parents. It was even exciting to use the firehouse bathroom, past the room with all their gear. The firefighter in full gear and actually breathing oxygen through a mask was frightening but at least now is familiar (kids apparently and understandably freak out and then hide when fully-dressed firefighters enter their rooms. I guess it's good that there are not hiding places in Bud and Sis's room.) And they got to practice dialing 9-1-1 on a telephone during an emergency. I can just see Sis calling 9-1-1 if Bud takes a toy or vice versa.
But the most memorable part was the mock fire. They had a truck fitted out like a small house that you could enter. After a brief introduction it filled with smoke, the alarms went off, and you exited. It was designed to introduce people to what it might be like (minus the noxious fumes and heat, but complete with inability to see and fear). The only down-side: they split up the parents and the kids. I know this would be true life--if the alarm here goes off in the night (which studies show, kids almost never hear), we'll be in different rooms--but it was unsettling to all of us. Sis listened closely to the kids' presentation on "get low and go" and was proud to be the second person out the little window, where we were waiting (adults got to go out the door, thank goodness), but Bud got separated from her and pushed to the back of the pack, where it was the smokiest. He was a little rattled, but came out the window by himself. He repeatedly said he didn't like the smoky room, but we reassured him that now he knew what to do. He's been fine since. And we'll re-visit it all when we set off our house alarm and practice our drill next weekend (we would've done it last weekend but never got to it).
Health
We met the tooth fairy this week. She came to our library, fully dressed in a pink gown with little white applique molars all over. Her wings were even molar-shaped! She talked about good brushing habits with her puppet friend Oscar (who "spit" on the children and was put in time out--Sis's favorite part), thumb sucking with Silly Sally (don't suck on it, sit on it--Bud like the sitting on his thumb part. Sis called Sally "the sucker"), what it's like at the dentist's office with masks and gloves and tools and "Mr. Thirsty", and how her tooth fairy castle is completely made of teeth. She even had two real teeth to show the kiddos, one healthy and one with a cavity (collective ewwwwhhhh here).
And what did the kids remember most from this visit? A video about a giraffe with a new tooth who dreams of a scary "King Cavity" and then helps him get good dental care (all made by Crest, of course). This really unnerved Bud, who has had a close call with "King Cavity" and had to have some cracked baby enamel in two teeth (genetic? grinding? accident of birth?) repaired at the dentist a few weeks ago to prevent cavities. The tooth fairy kept blaming cavities on the kids' brushing and eating habits, which I thought was unfair and not entirely true, in Bud's case anyway. But I kept telling him it was okay. And also that he could still have his loveys since it wasn't the same as thumbsucking (he rarely actually sucks on them). In the end, at least, they seemed to remember, in addition to the scary video, that brushing your tongue prevents bad breath and that you shouldn't share toothbrushes.
Gotta be healthy and safe, you know.
Safety
This weekend, we went to a local firefighter open house. Despite the rainy weather, the kids had a blast. Of course, climbing in the engines was their favorite activity, followed by seeing the firefighters cut open a car in a mock extrication. Of course, there were free plastic red fire hats and lots of coloring pages, plus informational packets (including a free children's DNA kit for your freezer--ugh, don't even want to think on needing that) for parents. It was even exciting to use the firehouse bathroom, past the room with all their gear. The firefighter in full gear and actually breathing oxygen through a mask was frightening but at least now is familiar (kids apparently and understandably freak out and then hide when fully-dressed firefighters enter their rooms. I guess it's good that there are not hiding places in Bud and Sis's room.) And they got to practice dialing 9-1-1 on a telephone during an emergency. I can just see Sis calling 9-1-1 if Bud takes a toy or vice versa.
But the most memorable part was the mock fire. They had a truck fitted out like a small house that you could enter. After a brief introduction it filled with smoke, the alarms went off, and you exited. It was designed to introduce people to what it might be like (minus the noxious fumes and heat, but complete with inability to see and fear). The only down-side: they split up the parents and the kids. I know this would be true life--if the alarm here goes off in the night (which studies show, kids almost never hear), we'll be in different rooms--but it was unsettling to all of us. Sis listened closely to the kids' presentation on "get low and go" and was proud to be the second person out the little window, where we were waiting (adults got to go out the door, thank goodness), but Bud got separated from her and pushed to the back of the pack, where it was the smokiest. He was a little rattled, but came out the window by himself. He repeatedly said he didn't like the smoky room, but we reassured him that now he knew what to do. He's been fine since. And we'll re-visit it all when we set off our house alarm and practice our drill next weekend (we would've done it last weekend but never got to it).
Health
We met the tooth fairy this week. She came to our library, fully dressed in a pink gown with little white applique molars all over. Her wings were even molar-shaped! She talked about good brushing habits with her puppet friend Oscar (who "spit" on the children and was put in time out--Sis's favorite part), thumb sucking with Silly Sally (don't suck on it, sit on it--Bud like the sitting on his thumb part. Sis called Sally "the sucker"), what it's like at the dentist's office with masks and gloves and tools and "Mr. Thirsty", and how her tooth fairy castle is completely made of teeth. She even had two real teeth to show the kiddos, one healthy and one with a cavity (collective ewwwwhhhh here).
And what did the kids remember most from this visit? A video about a giraffe with a new tooth who dreams of a scary "King Cavity" and then helps him get good dental care (all made by Crest, of course). This really unnerved Bud, who has had a close call with "King Cavity" and had to have some cracked baby enamel in two teeth (genetic? grinding? accident of birth?) repaired at the dentist a few weeks ago to prevent cavities. The tooth fairy kept blaming cavities on the kids' brushing and eating habits, which I thought was unfair and not entirely true, in Bud's case anyway. But I kept telling him it was okay. And also that he could still have his loveys since it wasn't the same as thumbsucking (he rarely actually sucks on them). In the end, at least, they seemed to remember, in addition to the scary video, that brushing your tongue prevents bad breath and that you shouldn't share toothbrushes.
Gotta be healthy and safe, you know.
Thinking of Her
Our thoughts go out to Miss T whose Omi passed away on Sunday. She heads north for the funeral this weekend.
We're thinking of you and wishing you well.
We're thinking of you and wishing you well.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Roof Over Our Heads
There is pounding and thumping and scraping overhead. A team of roofers is ripping off three-quarters of a century of roofing on this house. It will take a few days to the whole week, depending, I'm sure on how many (not if) quirky challenges they find.
I'll keep you posted.
I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Of Pickles, Prizes, and Prayers
We spent the whole day at our church's festival today, praying for no rain (well, we're UUs, so I can't really be sure if there were actual prayers said, just wishes, hopes, vibes, tidings, but I'm not sure about prayers). It didn't rain and we had a great day. (Hmmm, so what does that say about prayer or the lack of it? I mean, Falwell thought the gays caused Hurricane Andrew. Has anyone wondered why Houston got hit by Ike? Too much attention to Mammon? I digress). I was there early to set up the baked goods table, complete with cookbook, and the kiddos and Mama arrived when the fair opened to the public.
We played lots of games and won lots of little trinkets: there was duck toss and fishing and egg hunt and bean bag toss, all of which I think they actually remembered from last year. And, like last year, the kind coordinators of the booth let the kids have several turns playing each game without requiring tickets (though we did also buy at least $10 in tickets to play too). There was a new trinkets table--the church email announcing it said to bring all your junky little toys from fast food meals and the like and so I had intended to steer away from this completely because we don't need anymore of those--where Bud purchased a rocket ship (and not a cheap meal toy at all) for 25 cents much to his continued delight (and to that of the adults around us at lunch when he asked me "to put the rocket in my pocket."). Sis won a Pet Shop game with little pet figurines and also a stuffed Siamese cat at the Nothing But Nets fundraising booth for malaria nets--that and the kettle corn were her favorite parts. Bud loved the music--the techno sampler, the folk strings, the acoustic singalong, anything with a fiddle/violin. They also had their hands painted with spiders (Bud) and cats (Sis), but insisted on washing them off the moment we got home. Mama and I bought some books--a vegetarian cookbook for me and lots of kids books--and found a few tag sale treasures, including some really cheap but solid dollhouse furniture (most likely for Sis eventually) and a wooden plaque with a cat (the hobo sign for "a kind-hearted woman lives here), that we have intended to buy from Signals or Wireless or Paragon or whatever that catalog is for years. We saw several good friends--thank you, thank you, oh good-natured ladies who bought the cookbook (and to Mama Teacher who baked dozens of muffins to sell!)--and also a couple of people we haven't seen in ages. It was a really wonderful day.
The only downsides: I don't think we sold many cookbooks. And I saw our kiddos' carseats for sale at the tag sale--offered up with our knowledge and approval by the person we'd passed them to--but still kinda bittersweet to come across, since Harvest Festival was their very first outdoor outing in those very carseats 3 years ago, when they were only about 2 months old. Oh, they were cute in these little white and yellow sleepers with matching hats; we have pictures. Time flies. But I think I'm glad we have these annual traditions and rituals to help us mark it as it goes.
But what will the kids remember most? Something a new congregant taught them at the end of the day:
"Give me five,
On the side,
Cut the pickle,
Tickle, tickle!"
Oh, this was exceedingly hilarious and too fun not to share with everyone, especially Mama, me, and each other. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. If you see us during the week, definitely ask them about the "pickle thing."
Just make sure I'm nowhere nearby.
We played lots of games and won lots of little trinkets: there was duck toss and fishing and egg hunt and bean bag toss, all of which I think they actually remembered from last year. And, like last year, the kind coordinators of the booth let the kids have several turns playing each game without requiring tickets (though we did also buy at least $10 in tickets to play too). There was a new trinkets table--the church email announcing it said to bring all your junky little toys from fast food meals and the like and so I had intended to steer away from this completely because we don't need anymore of those--where Bud purchased a rocket ship (and not a cheap meal toy at all) for 25 cents much to his continued delight (and to that of the adults around us at lunch when he asked me "to put the rocket in my pocket."). Sis won a Pet Shop game with little pet figurines and also a stuffed Siamese cat at the Nothing But Nets fundraising booth for malaria nets--that and the kettle corn were her favorite parts. Bud loved the music--the techno sampler, the folk strings, the acoustic singalong, anything with a fiddle/violin. They also had their hands painted with spiders (Bud) and cats (Sis), but insisted on washing them off the moment we got home. Mama and I bought some books--a vegetarian cookbook for me and lots of kids books--and found a few tag sale treasures, including some really cheap but solid dollhouse furniture (most likely for Sis eventually) and a wooden plaque with a cat (the hobo sign for "a kind-hearted woman lives here), that we have intended to buy from Signals or Wireless or Paragon or whatever that catalog is for years. We saw several good friends--thank you, thank you, oh good-natured ladies who bought the cookbook (and to Mama Teacher who baked dozens of muffins to sell!)--and also a couple of people we haven't seen in ages. It was a really wonderful day.
The only downsides: I don't think we sold many cookbooks. And I saw our kiddos' carseats for sale at the tag sale--offered up with our knowledge and approval by the person we'd passed them to--but still kinda bittersweet to come across, since Harvest Festival was their very first outdoor outing in those very carseats 3 years ago, when they were only about 2 months old. Oh, they were cute in these little white and yellow sleepers with matching hats; we have pictures. Time flies. But I think I'm glad we have these annual traditions and rituals to help us mark it as it goes.
But what will the kids remember most? Something a new congregant taught them at the end of the day:
"Give me five,
On the side,
Cut the pickle,
Tickle, tickle!"
Oh, this was exceedingly hilarious and too fun not to share with everyone, especially Mama, me, and each other. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. If you see us during the week, definitely ask them about the "pickle thing."
Just make sure I'm nowhere nearby.
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Week of Changes
So, it's been a week of change: first, the tv ended up in the basement; then we cut up our credit cards (except one each for emergencies, to be kept NOT in my purse, just another way to cut spending in these uncertain financial times); we have been substantially cutting down on laundry because our dryer is still broken and Sears won't be here until next week (it's under warranty, luckily); and I have a new plan--one dish per person and you must wash your own! I read about it in a magazine. Some lady with 8 kids always had a pile of dishes in the sink and a fight on her hands to get someone to do it. So they each got one bowl-like plate that they decorated with their names and each is in charge of washing his or her own. I'm not going to take it quite that far but I did have the kiddos wash their own plates along with their hands today. And they loved it!! I think we might have something here. Maybe I'll invest in a fun sponge with the soap in the handle--this will also save soap. They've always loved playing in the water in the sink. Time to turn fun into usefulness. Getting older sucks, right? Yeah, but already being older and figuring these things out is great!
Self-Awareness
Sis just turned to me, "We're sick."
"Yes, you are."
"We'll have to stay home from school."
School isn't for 5 days so I assured her we were going to do everything we could to get both Bud and Sis over the sniffles by then. But it was touching and bittersweet to see her little face register that she was, indeed, under the weather. I'm not sure they've ever put a name to being sick before, even though they've had enough colds.
Let's hope it's a rare occurrence. And not just because I want them to go to school, but because they want to go to school.
"Yes, you are."
"We'll have to stay home from school."
School isn't for 5 days so I assured her we were going to do everything we could to get both Bud and Sis over the sniffles by then. But it was touching and bittersweet to see her little face register that she was, indeed, under the weather. I'm not sure they've ever put a name to being sick before, even though they've had enough colds.
Let's hope it's a rare occurrence. And not just because I want them to go to school, but because they want to go to school.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Like Mothers, Like Children
So, we were examining the book order form today, trying to decide what to get.
Bud spotted Zen Shorts and wanted that. But we already have a copy upstairs. It's one of our favorite nighttime books.
He replied, "So, we need one for upstairs and one for downstairs."
Bud spotted Zen Shorts and wanted that. But we already have a copy upstairs. It's one of our favorite nighttime books.
He replied, "So, we need one for upstairs and one for downstairs."
My Car is Home
My minivan came home tonight, after almost 7 weeks in the shop.
It has a new hood, a totally new paint job, new driver door, new bumpers, and I think new front bummer and headlights.
And I'm devastated.
I don't know if it's because seeing it brought back all the stress of the storm and the days following, or if it's because I missed the car (which I never would have guessed because I am not a car person), or because the paint job seems darker, or because all my bumper stickers are gone, or because there are shards of glass and metal in all the little crevices despite an obviously good interior vacuum, or because there are smudgy, greasy handprints in odd places on the roof upholstery.
The kids jumped right in and were driving and having a happy time until I shooed their little barefoot selves out of the car. They went in to bathe and I went back out and sat in the driver's seat and wept.
Mom, I know you're not online right now because your part of Houston still doesn't have power, but is this how you felt after the burglary? after the fire? after the various floods at Dad's shop? after his Suburban was carjacked with you right there? right now, after Hurricane Ike? Just a little violated, a little unsure, a little overwhelmed, a little depressed? I know in the long run, or even in the short term, that everything is okay. It's just a car. And the car is still just fine. And we're all okay. But it doesn't feel like ours again yet.
Even if, in the end, my UU chalice medallion that hangs from my rearview mirror is intact, unscathed, and still in place, despite all the damage and clean-up. Surely, that's a sign.
It has a new hood, a totally new paint job, new driver door, new bumpers, and I think new front bummer and headlights.
And I'm devastated.
I don't know if it's because seeing it brought back all the stress of the storm and the days following, or if it's because I missed the car (which I never would have guessed because I am not a car person), or because the paint job seems darker, or because all my bumper stickers are gone, or because there are shards of glass and metal in all the little crevices despite an obviously good interior vacuum, or because there are smudgy, greasy handprints in odd places on the roof upholstery.
The kids jumped right in and were driving and having a happy time until I shooed their little barefoot selves out of the car. They went in to bathe and I went back out and sat in the driver's seat and wept.
Mom, I know you're not online right now because your part of Houston still doesn't have power, but is this how you felt after the burglary? after the fire? after the various floods at Dad's shop? after his Suburban was carjacked with you right there? right now, after Hurricane Ike? Just a little violated, a little unsure, a little overwhelmed, a little depressed? I know in the long run, or even in the short term, that everything is okay. It's just a car. And the car is still just fine. And we're all okay. But it doesn't feel like ours again yet.
Even if, in the end, my UU chalice medallion that hangs from my rearview mirror is intact, unscathed, and still in place, despite all the damage and clean-up. Surely, that's a sign.
A New Book Order
We have another book order sheet!!
Bud wants the trains book. Sis chose a bunny book. I like the "If You Give a . . . " books. No telling what Mama will want. We each get one selection.
Oh, and Mommy Goose, Little Prince Treats Mama--I'm bringing the book order to playdate tomorrow, so have your checkbooks ready!!!
Bud wants the trains book. Sis chose a bunny book. I like the "If You Give a . . . " books. No telling what Mama will want. We each get one selection.
Oh, and Mommy Goose, Little Prince Treats Mama--I'm bringing the book order to playdate tomorrow, so have your checkbooks ready!!!
Vegetarian Agita
Okay, I've tried and tried to write a post about a recent opposing opinions piece in Brain, Child, and I can't coherently or logically say what I want to say, mainly to enumerate why the piece made me crazy. The question was, "Should vegetarians raise their children as vegetarians?"
The pro-omnivorous children article seemed wishy-washy in its support of personal choice, which is, I think, the linchpin in the decision. I was disappointed because in no way did this piece stand up against the other piece (though of course, neither author would have seen the other opinion)--it gave no real answer to the question, nothing that clarifies the position.
But the pro-vegetarian children article was outrageous. It equated letting children eat meat with letting children eat lead (I should note that the author explains that his father died young of a heart attack). My goodness, that is hyberbolic. Were I a non-veg, I would be turned off from the whole idea of vegetarianism for myself much less my kids just by his unyielding, adamant tone. His accusatory tone reminds me of why I don't particularly like rabid vegetarians. I think he needs to read up on risk management, on probability and impact. The probability that an omnivore diet will be the main cause of death is impossible to determine independently--sure, heart disease is a killer, but there are mitigating factors such as exercise and genetics and even the kinds and frequency of meat (broiled fish vs. fried, grilled chicken vs. fried, prime rib . . you get it) consumed. Of course, the impact of dying of an omnivore-diet is high. But in comparison the probability of lead-ingestion leading to illness or death is high and, of course, the impact is high. While vegetarian diets can be healthy, they can also be unhealthy--with a focus on fats, carbs, refined sugars, to the exclusion of actual vegetables and fruits. Similarly, an omnivore diet can be either healthy or unhealthy. Everything in moderation. Especially attitude and judgment. Mercy, I can't imagine being one of his children, vegetarian or goddess-forbid omnivore, with his rigid, intolerant, judgemental attitude. Good grief.
See, not logical, coherent, or calm. Plus, very judgmental.
The pro-omnivorous children article seemed wishy-washy in its support of personal choice, which is, I think, the linchpin in the decision. I was disappointed because in no way did this piece stand up against the other piece (though of course, neither author would have seen the other opinion)--it gave no real answer to the question, nothing that clarifies the position.
But the pro-vegetarian children article was outrageous. It equated letting children eat meat with letting children eat lead (I should note that the author explains that his father died young of a heart attack). My goodness, that is hyberbolic. Were I a non-veg, I would be turned off from the whole idea of vegetarianism for myself much less my kids just by his unyielding, adamant tone. His accusatory tone reminds me of why I don't particularly like rabid vegetarians. I think he needs to read up on risk management, on probability and impact. The probability that an omnivore diet will be the main cause of death is impossible to determine independently--sure, heart disease is a killer, but there are mitigating factors such as exercise and genetics and even the kinds and frequency of meat (broiled fish vs. fried, grilled chicken vs. fried, prime rib . . you get it) consumed. Of course, the impact of dying of an omnivore-diet is high. But in comparison the probability of lead-ingestion leading to illness or death is high and, of course, the impact is high. While vegetarian diets can be healthy, they can also be unhealthy--with a focus on fats, carbs, refined sugars, to the exclusion of actual vegetables and fruits. Similarly, an omnivore diet can be either healthy or unhealthy. Everything in moderation. Especially attitude and judgment. Mercy, I can't imagine being one of his children, vegetarian or goddess-forbid omnivore, with his rigid, intolerant, judgemental attitude. Good grief.
See, not logical, coherent, or calm. Plus, very judgmental.
Tidbits
Sis has an eyebrow thing. She stares and then raises and lowers her eyebrows with no other change in expression when she is curious, surprised, or interested in something. I have yet to decide if multiple up-and-downs mean anything in particular.
-=-=-=-=-
Bud has several new favorite phrases and turns of phrase, including:
Sis is insistent that she turn off her own water when she'd done washing her hands and buckles the top buckle of her car seat. If you forget and do it for her, she'll ask to do it herself. Big girl.
-=-=-=-=-
Buddy has learned to pee standing up. Goodbye, clean bathrooms.
-=-=-=-=-
Bud has several new favorite phrases and turns of phrase, including:
- "That startled me." This began at the model train museum where I think he must have heard someone say it. It is now a part of his daily repetoire.
- "Stop copying me." Usually when you are talking when he is talking, even if you aren't parroting him.
- "Sure."
- "----, it is!" Such as "Toast, it is!" or "Crayons, it is!"
- Similarly, "----, alright!" such as, "It's hot, alright" or "That's blue, alright."
- "That's not a good idea."
Sis is insistent that she turn off her own water when she'd done washing her hands and buckles the top buckle of her car seat. If you forget and do it for her, she'll ask to do it herself. Big girl.
-=-=-=-=-
Buddy has learned to pee standing up. Goodbye, clean bathrooms.
It's Official
My mom thinks I'm weird.
This in itself is nothing new, but I think even she is surprised that we took out our tv.
You would think I announced that we were going back to the land to raise sheep, grow our own food, spin our own yarn to make our own clothes, all without power, water, or plumbing.
Mom, we're not Amish.
And this isn't "Extreme Makeover--Old Sturbridge Village Edition."
We're just trying to make tv less central to our daily lives.
And, for the record, we are upstairs doing rest time with "Fireman Sam" on tv, because, of course, there is value in many kinds of shows, kids and otherwise. And some watching is okay. Especially when the kids are so obviously exhausted as they are today, after a full morning of school and a "First Day of Fall" picnic and hopscotch tournament in our yard afterwards.
Don't worry, we're not crazy. Yet.
Though, we do talk about homeschooling, or actually, "unschooling" a lot. All the good granola liberals up here do it
(That'll get her!)
This in itself is nothing new, but I think even she is surprised that we took out our tv.
You would think I announced that we were going back to the land to raise sheep, grow our own food, spin our own yarn to make our own clothes, all without power, water, or plumbing.
Mom, we're not Amish.
And this isn't "Extreme Makeover--Old Sturbridge Village Edition."
We're just trying to make tv less central to our daily lives.
And, for the record, we are upstairs doing rest time with "Fireman Sam" on tv, because, of course, there is value in many kinds of shows, kids and otherwise. And some watching is okay. Especially when the kids are so obviously exhausted as they are today, after a full morning of school and a "First Day of Fall" picnic and hopscotch tournament in our yard afterwards.
Don't worry, we're not crazy. Yet.
Though, we do talk about homeschooling, or actually, "unschooling" a lot. All the good granola liberals up here do it
(That'll get her!)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Lessons Learned
Since the Democratic National Convention, I've been thinking about Michelle Obama's speech. Not the general points about her roots or how great a man her husband is, but what she said about lessons:
"And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: like, you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond; that you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them and even if you don't agree with them. And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values and to pass them onto the next generation, because we want our children -- and all children in this nation -- to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them."
It started me thinking: what values was I taught, either explicitly or implicitly? what values do I want to pass on to the kids? And so, in typical fashion, I started a list of things I'd learned (or, at the least, been taught!):
- How to be a good guest and a good hostess (this is important because hospitality is key).
- How to listen and to communicate.
- Generosity, don't sweat the small change, or "don't talk about money with friends"
- Mom's "Bohemian work ethic": work before pleasure (and, by extension, "do it while you're thinking about it" which is why we'd catch her cleaning the fridge if she gone to get a soda to take in the car!)
- Dad's work ethic, said to me repeatedly since the kids were born (and I paraphrase): "Suck it up." Which I'll take to mean, do what you have to do and don't complain (or as Mom would put it, "Don't tell me about the labor, just show me the baby.")
- You have to love yourself before you can love others.
- Try anything once, or try new things.
- Live and let live.
- Fight fair (or, Mom's favorite active-listening technique, "send 'I-messages'").
- Friends and family are very important--let them know you love them.
- History is important (from family stories and genealogy to local, regional, national history).
Thanks, Mom and Dad.
A Kitchen of One's Own
Mama is working late tonight and the kiddos are in bed.
I have the house to myself.
And, with no tv and a bake sale coming up, I decided to spend the evening baking. I love to bake and don't get much time to do it a capella. Mind you, baking with the kids is great because we are creating something together and I'm passing on a favorite hobby and skill, but I've been ready to try some more complicated recipes. It has been at times frustrating, exhilarating, and rejuvenating. While I'll do lots of bake-sale baking with the kids--we made Jumbo M&M Cookies today--I wanted to do some on my own. I chose a recipe with liquor and a recipe with nuts, neither of which I would let the kiddos sample: Joe Frogger Cookies and Chocolate-Almond Biscottini.
The Froggers--an old molasses cookie with several spices and rum (think slavery-era food)--are chilling in the refrigerator, both spicier and saltier than the version I've had at Sturbridge. But the recipe is from several websites, many of them famed New England B&Bs, so we'll see. I'm going to add an OSV touch to them and sprinkle them with raw sugar.
Meanwhile, the biscottini--a small biscotti (or, probably, normal size, but not the huge ones you get here in the US covered in chocolate and about a foot long)--are having their first bake in the oven. They'll cool, then be cut crosswise, and baked on each side in batches. This recipe comes from our friend in Chicago who made biscotti often. I can't tell what book she got the recipes from--and she gave me 4 or 5 of them--but if this is successful, I'm going to track it down.
I know my baking project will keep me in the kitchen long past Mama's return later tonight, but I'm having such a good time. And she's out tomorrow night too. I wonder what cookies I'll make then?
-=-=-=-=-
Jumbo M&M Cookies
Nestle's Chocolate Chip Pan Cookie Recipe
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 oz M&M candies
Preheat oven to 375F. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, both sugars and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir in M&Ms (do not use mixer, as they will break). Drop by 1/4 cup measure onto cookie sheet, spacing several inches apart (usually 6 per cookie sheet). Bake 10-14 minutes or until golden.
adapted from the back of Nestle Chocolate Chips bag
-=-=-=-=-
Joe Frogger Cookies
A Colonial ginger cookie loved by generations of New Englanders, these were originally made by Black Joe Brown and Aunt Crese of Gingerbread Hill. Seamen took them on long voyages as they kept well.
3 ½ cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon allspice
1 cup molasses
½ cup vegetable shortening
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dark rum
1/3 cup hot water
Instructions:
Mix flour, salt, ginger, baking soda,cloves, nutmeg and allspice in a medium bowl. In a large mixmaster bowl, beat together the molasses, shortening and brown sugar. Combine hot water and rum.
To the sugar-molasses mixture, add alternately the dry ingredients and the diluted rum. (If the dough is dry, add an additional tablespoon or two of water, one at a time.)
Roll out the dough between two sheets of waxed paper until ¼ inch thick. Refrigerate for at least two hours. (If desired, refrigerated dough may then be put into freezer bags and frozen for later use).
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets.
Cut the dough into 3-inch cookies with a cookie cutter (or coffee can for the traditional larger size). Place them on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 10 -12 minutes. Cookies should be dark around the edges and firm in centers. Set baking sheet on a rack to cool for 3 minutes. Then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
-=-=-=-=-
Chocolate-Almond Biscottini
3/4 cup natural whole almonds
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder (I didn't have this so just added a tad more cocoa)
2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 egg white, lightly beaten
Adjust oven rack to center of oven; preheat to 350F. Place almonds on small cookie sheet and toast until the skins are a deep golden color, about 9 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, cool slightly, chop coarsely, and set aside. Leave oven on.
Line a 14 x 17" cookie sheet with parchment paer; set aside.
Place flour, sugar, cocoa, coffee powder, and baking powder in bowl of electric mixer. Run machine on low speed to combine, about 40 seconds.
In a small bowl, whisk together whole eggs, 2 egg whites, and vanilla extract. Add to flour mixture and beat on low speed until dough starts to come together in a crumbly mass, about 30 seconds. Stir in almonds. Turn dough onto a well-floured work surface (dough will be soft and sticky). With well-floured hands, gently knead 2-3 times until dough begins to hold together in a sticky mass; divide dough into thirds. Shape into 3 ropes, each approximately 11" long. Place ropes 3" apart on lined pan. With fingertips, lightly flatten each into a log 1/2" high, 2 1/2" wide, and 13" long. Brush logs with lightly beaten egg white.
Bake in preheated oven until logs are firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Place cookie sheet on wire rack and cool for 5 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 325F. Transfer logs to cutting board. Leave parchment on baking sheet. With a serrated knife, cut logs crosswise at a slight diagonal into 1/2"-thick slices. Place half of the slices cut side down on pan, spacing them 1/2" apart. Return to oven and bake until surfaces are dry to the touch, about 7 minutes on each side. Transfer biscotti to wire rack and cool completely. Reline pan with fresh parchment and repeat with remaining slices. Biscotti can be stored in a tin lined with wax paper for 3 weeks.
My hints: I used my silicon baking sheet. Also, when arranging once-baked slices on cookie sheet, put them all the the same direction (i.e. flat side towards you, or vice versa) so that when you flip them, you can tell which ones you've done.
Our Chicago friend
I have the house to myself.
And, with no tv and a bake sale coming up, I decided to spend the evening baking. I love to bake and don't get much time to do it a capella. Mind you, baking with the kids is great because we are creating something together and I'm passing on a favorite hobby and skill, but I've been ready to try some more complicated recipes. It has been at times frustrating, exhilarating, and rejuvenating. While I'll do lots of bake-sale baking with the kids--we made Jumbo M&M Cookies today--I wanted to do some on my own. I chose a recipe with liquor and a recipe with nuts, neither of which I would let the kiddos sample: Joe Frogger Cookies and Chocolate-Almond Biscottini.
The Froggers--an old molasses cookie with several spices and rum (think slavery-era food)--are chilling in the refrigerator, both spicier and saltier than the version I've had at Sturbridge. But the recipe is from several websites, many of them famed New England B&Bs, so we'll see. I'm going to add an OSV touch to them and sprinkle them with raw sugar.
Meanwhile, the biscottini--a small biscotti (or, probably, normal size, but not the huge ones you get here in the US covered in chocolate and about a foot long)--are having their first bake in the oven. They'll cool, then be cut crosswise, and baked on each side in batches. This recipe comes from our friend in Chicago who made biscotti often. I can't tell what book she got the recipes from--and she gave me 4 or 5 of them--but if this is successful, I'm going to track it down.
I know my baking project will keep me in the kitchen long past Mama's return later tonight, but I'm having such a good time. And she's out tomorrow night too. I wonder what cookies I'll make then?
-=-=-=-=-
Jumbo M&M Cookies
Nestle's Chocolate Chip Pan Cookie Recipe
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 oz M&M candies
Preheat oven to 375F. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, both sugars and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir in M&Ms (do not use mixer, as they will break). Drop by 1/4 cup measure onto cookie sheet, spacing several inches apart (usually 6 per cookie sheet). Bake 10-14 minutes or until golden.
adapted from the back of Nestle Chocolate Chips bag
-=-=-=-=-
Joe Frogger Cookies
A Colonial ginger cookie loved by generations of New Englanders, these were originally made by Black Joe Brown and Aunt Crese of Gingerbread Hill. Seamen took them on long voyages as they kept well.
3 ½ cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon allspice
1 cup molasses
½ cup vegetable shortening
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dark rum
1/3 cup hot water
Instructions:
Mix flour, salt, ginger, baking soda,cloves, nutmeg and allspice in a medium bowl. In a large mixmaster bowl, beat together the molasses, shortening and brown sugar. Combine hot water and rum.
To the sugar-molasses mixture, add alternately the dry ingredients and the diluted rum. (If the dough is dry, add an additional tablespoon or two of water, one at a time.)
Roll out the dough between two sheets of waxed paper until ¼ inch thick. Refrigerate for at least two hours. (If desired, refrigerated dough may then be put into freezer bags and frozen for later use).
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets.
Cut the dough into 3-inch cookies with a cookie cutter (or coffee can for the traditional larger size). Place them on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 10 -12 minutes. Cookies should be dark around the edges and firm in centers. Set baking sheet on a rack to cool for 3 minutes. Then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
-=-=-=-=-
Chocolate-Almond Biscottini
3/4 cup natural whole almonds
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder (I didn't have this so just added a tad more cocoa)
2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 egg white, lightly beaten
Adjust oven rack to center of oven; preheat to 350F. Place almonds on small cookie sheet and toast until the skins are a deep golden color, about 9 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, cool slightly, chop coarsely, and set aside. Leave oven on.
Line a 14 x 17" cookie sheet with parchment paer; set aside.
Place flour, sugar, cocoa, coffee powder, and baking powder in bowl of electric mixer. Run machine on low speed to combine, about 40 seconds.
In a small bowl, whisk together whole eggs, 2 egg whites, and vanilla extract. Add to flour mixture and beat on low speed until dough starts to come together in a crumbly mass, about 30 seconds. Stir in almonds. Turn dough onto a well-floured work surface (dough will be soft and sticky). With well-floured hands, gently knead 2-3 times until dough begins to hold together in a sticky mass; divide dough into thirds. Shape into 3 ropes, each approximately 11" long. Place ropes 3" apart on lined pan. With fingertips, lightly flatten each into a log 1/2" high, 2 1/2" wide, and 13" long. Brush logs with lightly beaten egg white.
Bake in preheated oven until logs are firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Place cookie sheet on wire rack and cool for 5 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 325F. Transfer logs to cutting board. Leave parchment on baking sheet. With a serrated knife, cut logs crosswise at a slight diagonal into 1/2"-thick slices. Place half of the slices cut side down on pan, spacing them 1/2" apart. Return to oven and bake until surfaces are dry to the touch, about 7 minutes on each side. Transfer biscotti to wire rack and cool completely. Reline pan with fresh parchment and repeat with remaining slices. Biscotti can be stored in a tin lined with wax paper for 3 weeks.
My hints: I used my silicon baking sheet. Also, when arranging once-baked slices on cookie sheet, put them all the the same direction (i.e. flat side towards you, or vice versa) so that when you flip them, you can tell which ones you've done.
Our Chicago friend
A New Look
For a new look at Babar, see today's NYTimes containing a review of a new exhibition at the Morgan.
There's even a tidbit about Curious George at the end--did you know his creators took their manuscript with them as they escaped Paris and the Nazis?
I'm not a big fan of either character but find the discussion of colonialism fascinating.
There's even a tidbit about Curious George at the end--did you know his creators took their manuscript with them as they escaped Paris and the Nazis?
I'm not a big fan of either character but find the discussion of colonialism fascinating.
A Family Meeting
When we have important family issues to discuss, we have family meetings. Sometimes, it's lighthearted--do we want to go to Mystic Seaport or Sturbridge--but sometimes it's more difficult, like when we held our little family memorial for our friend in Chicago.
We had another meeting yesterday afternoon.
Because we were getting rid of our television.
That's right. We don't have a tv downstairs anymore.
We told the kids it was going to the basement. To questions of why, we answered because we don't need it, because there are other things we can do. We explained that there is still a tv in our room, for special times. And that was it. Mama dismantled all the components, took the tv, vcr, and dvd player downstairs; the cabinet is on the porch to give away.
There were a few more questions and a little panic in the afternoon. We had decided to tell them so we could deal with these as it was happening, also, so they didn't think parts of their world just disappeared overnight. For the most part, nobody missed it. Even after the kids were in bed, we were fine too.
"Why?" you ask, just like the kids.
Because we don't need it.
Recently, I have read different articles that have really affected me. The first was on "co-rumination," or the repeated discussion of problems or issues with another person, almost to the exclusion of solving the problem. You know, like teenage girls discussing why a boy doesn't like her, or why another girl was mean, or any of the myriad of dramas of adolescence. Or young adulthood. Or even marriage and motherhood. Experts have noticed that, while close friendship with discussion and sharing are important, too much discussion, or co-rumination is detrimental. In other words, too much sitting on the pot, not enough . . . you understand. Mama and I, as co-dependent lesbians, are experts at co-rumination. We can talk and talk and talk about the same problems and issues and drama for hours, days, even years, without making significant or permanent change.
Change. Yesterday, our minister gave a sermon on change and its inevitability. She talked about "loss aversion," or the fear of giving up what you have, even if it isn't great, and thereby not taking the risk on something greater. The best line of the sermon, which I will paraphrase, was along the lines of "don't be so scared of the risk of change that you don't risk change."
Which leads me to "eco-housewifery," from an article in Brain,Child about a woman who focuses on housekeeping in an almost 19th-century sense. She lives on a farm, grows and processes her family's food, and soap and no doubt clothes, etc., putting her family at the center of her endeavors. But, she says such an approach can be adapted to suburban, even urban, families. The goal is to put the family at the center of activity--not just the children, but everyone--and put taking care of the world at the center of the activity of the family, through "green" measures, charity, simple living. How is that different that SAHMing, she was asked. For SAHMs, the central activity is a consumer one--purchasing the right clothes, home furnishings, toys, and even more broadly, the right schools, extracurriculars, experiences. This leaves the SAHM at the mercy of marketers and materialism. There is more to life, to family, than that.
And so we got rid of our tv. Mama and I had talked--for months, if not years--about how we didn't want the kids to watch too much tv, to be fully engaged in the consumer culture aimed at kids, but also how we often wasted evenings watching things that didn't really entertain, inform, or even really interest us, just because it was there. And so we made a change. I had thought it up several times but was more inspired this time and brought it up last week. She was hesitant at first. Not because she cares much about tv--I watch more than she does--but she didn't want me to make trouble for myself, especially with the kids' rest time. How would I get them to take a break, thereby giving one to myself? And hadn't I said I didn't want them to grow up so outside popular culture that they would be freaks? She realized, though, that we should just embrace the change, which is not irreversible--I didn't take a sledgehammer to the tv after all--and see how it works. That, and we still have a tiny (12" 10 year old tv, I think) tv in our room for illness or special occasions like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Or for rest time, in an "emergency."
So far, so good. The kids woke up early and are already crabby--both want to lead, no one wants to share, they don't want to play together, then it changes again, with lots of tears and near-misses. But there is no tv to turn on so they are coping with the ebb and flow of their emotions and interactions, while I sit nearby and watch and type (and only occasionally need to instruct, encourage, threaten, or console). And more than ending co-rumination, or embracing change, or putting the family at the center of our lives, learning to get along is one of the best lessons I can teach them right now.
We had another meeting yesterday afternoon.
Because we were getting rid of our television.
That's right. We don't have a tv downstairs anymore.
We told the kids it was going to the basement. To questions of why, we answered because we don't need it, because there are other things we can do. We explained that there is still a tv in our room, for special times. And that was it. Mama dismantled all the components, took the tv, vcr, and dvd player downstairs; the cabinet is on the porch to give away.
There were a few more questions and a little panic in the afternoon. We had decided to tell them so we could deal with these as it was happening, also, so they didn't think parts of their world just disappeared overnight. For the most part, nobody missed it. Even after the kids were in bed, we were fine too.
"Why?" you ask, just like the kids.
Because we don't need it.
Recently, I have read different articles that have really affected me. The first was on "co-rumination," or the repeated discussion of problems or issues with another person, almost to the exclusion of solving the problem. You know, like teenage girls discussing why a boy doesn't like her, or why another girl was mean, or any of the myriad of dramas of adolescence. Or young adulthood. Or even marriage and motherhood. Experts have noticed that, while close friendship with discussion and sharing are important, too much discussion, or co-rumination is detrimental. In other words, too much sitting on the pot, not enough . . . you understand. Mama and I, as co-dependent lesbians, are experts at co-rumination. We can talk and talk and talk about the same problems and issues and drama for hours, days, even years, without making significant or permanent change.
Change. Yesterday, our minister gave a sermon on change and its inevitability. She talked about "loss aversion," or the fear of giving up what you have, even if it isn't great, and thereby not taking the risk on something greater. The best line of the sermon, which I will paraphrase, was along the lines of "don't be so scared of the risk of change that you don't risk change."
Which leads me to "eco-housewifery," from an article in Brain,Child about a woman who focuses on housekeeping in an almost 19th-century sense. She lives on a farm, grows and processes her family's food, and soap and no doubt clothes, etc., putting her family at the center of her endeavors. But, she says such an approach can be adapted to suburban, even urban, families. The goal is to put the family at the center of activity--not just the children, but everyone--and put taking care of the world at the center of the activity of the family, through "green" measures, charity, simple living. How is that different that SAHMing, she was asked. For SAHMs, the central activity is a consumer one--purchasing the right clothes, home furnishings, toys, and even more broadly, the right schools, extracurriculars, experiences. This leaves the SAHM at the mercy of marketers and materialism. There is more to life, to family, than that.
And so we got rid of our tv. Mama and I had talked--for months, if not years--about how we didn't want the kids to watch too much tv, to be fully engaged in the consumer culture aimed at kids, but also how we often wasted evenings watching things that didn't really entertain, inform, or even really interest us, just because it was there. And so we made a change. I had thought it up several times but was more inspired this time and brought it up last week. She was hesitant at first. Not because she cares much about tv--I watch more than she does--but she didn't want me to make trouble for myself, especially with the kids' rest time. How would I get them to take a break, thereby giving one to myself? And hadn't I said I didn't want them to grow up so outside popular culture that they would be freaks? She realized, though, that we should just embrace the change, which is not irreversible--I didn't take a sledgehammer to the tv after all--and see how it works. That, and we still have a tiny (12" 10 year old tv, I think) tv in our room for illness or special occasions like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Or for rest time, in an "emergency."
So far, so good. The kids woke up early and are already crabby--both want to lead, no one wants to share, they don't want to play together, then it changes again, with lots of tears and near-misses. But there is no tv to turn on so they are coping with the ebb and flow of their emotions and interactions, while I sit nearby and watch and type (and only occasionally need to instruct, encourage, threaten, or console). And more than ending co-rumination, or embracing change, or putting the family at the center of our lives, learning to get along is one of the best lessons I can teach them right now.
Shorts
My parents are still without power in Houston and thus are still staying at their bayhouse on the coast. The electric company hopes to restore power by Thursday, almost 2 weeks after the storm.
A man from the bayhouse community, the man who has the brain tumor, is back in the hospital with more bleeding and possibly more surgery. Our thoughts are with him and his family and friends.
A man from the bayhouse community, the man who has the brain tumor, is back in the hospital with more bleeding and possibly more surgery. Our thoughts are with him and his family and friends.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
New Places
Our neighborhood store reopened!!!!
After weeks of remodeling during which the kids almost daily asked about the store, its owners, when it would open, would they have Skittles, the store put out its open sign yesterday. And so today after school, we went. Sis and Bud practically danced and sang in their car seats when I told them it was finally open.
Ooooh, it's fancy. So much cleaner and nicer and roomier than the old one. The food counter had more and better choices. There were more people making it all faster. And some of them were the same, which was good.
The kids couldn't be happier. They got their half meat sandwiches on a roll, plus Skittles and an M&M cookie (because there were no Hershey bars). With water, there being no juice boxes. I got a delightful panini and a Snapple. All of which we devoured outside. A nice little picnic. A great addition--re-addition??--to the neighborhood. I know we'll be back.
Another new place, or actually, new to me, place, that I've been recently is a nearby farmer's market. There weren't too many booths (I always think of the Greenmarkets in the city) but what they did have was delightful, fresh, local, and reasonable. Unprepared for a big spree, I bought a few eggplants, which we had in a pasta bake last night. Delicious! I'll be back, though, for more fruits and veggies, plus other little treats, probably with the kids in tow. I think they'll like it.
After weeks of remodeling during which the kids almost daily asked about the store, its owners, when it would open, would they have Skittles, the store put out its open sign yesterday. And so today after school, we went. Sis and Bud practically danced and sang in their car seats when I told them it was finally open.
Ooooh, it's fancy. So much cleaner and nicer and roomier than the old one. The food counter had more and better choices. There were more people making it all faster. And some of them were the same, which was good.
The kids couldn't be happier. They got their half meat sandwiches on a roll, plus Skittles and an M&M cookie (because there were no Hershey bars). With water, there being no juice boxes. I got a delightful panini and a Snapple. All of which we devoured outside. A nice little picnic. A great addition--re-addition??--to the neighborhood. I know we'll be back.
Another new place, or actually, new to me, place, that I've been recently is a nearby farmer's market. There weren't too many booths (I always think of the Greenmarkets in the city) but what they did have was delightful, fresh, local, and reasonable. Unprepared for a big spree, I bought a few eggplants, which we had in a pasta bake last night. Delicious! I'll be back, though, for more fruits and veggies, plus other little treats, probably with the kids in tow. I think they'll like it.
It's a Miracle
I ate a raw tomato.
Not a whole one, just 1/4 of a slice.
But it was a tomato and it was uncooked. See, I don't like raw tomatoes. Ketchup, fine; sauce, great; salsa, even better (not sure why, but it's ok). But plain old sliced tomatoes? No way. Not for 35+ years.
And yet, earlier this week, the green tomatoes we had picked had ripened into big red tomatoes. And the kids, especially Sis, were so excited. I sliced them up, salted and peppered them (trying to make it more edible because even then I sensed I was going to have some).
But no takers. So, I had a bit. And chewed and swallowed without making a face. It wasn't terrible, but still not my favorite by a long shot (raw tomatoes, along with cucumbers, anything licorice-y, cilantro, and most seafood are on my list of no-way). But I won't be so rigid in their avoidance in the future, as long as they are on other things and not straight up.
And the kids? They were nonplussed by my sacrifice and didn't even try them. Can't say I don't understand completely.
Not a whole one, just 1/4 of a slice.
But it was a tomato and it was uncooked. See, I don't like raw tomatoes. Ketchup, fine; sauce, great; salsa, even better (not sure why, but it's ok). But plain old sliced tomatoes? No way. Not for 35+ years.
And yet, earlier this week, the green tomatoes we had picked had ripened into big red tomatoes. And the kids, especially Sis, were so excited. I sliced them up, salted and peppered them (trying to make it more edible because even then I sensed I was going to have some).
But no takers. So, I had a bit. And chewed and swallowed without making a face. It wasn't terrible, but still not my favorite by a long shot (raw tomatoes, along with cucumbers, anything licorice-y, cilantro, and most seafood are on my list of no-way). But I won't be so rigid in their avoidance in the future, as long as they are on other things and not straight up.
And the kids? They were nonplussed by my sacrifice and didn't even try them. Can't say I don't understand completely.
Empty Nest
My friend Lambeth has named my malaise--I have empty nest syndrome, even though my nest is only empty about 6 hours a week. Of course, I recognized that I was at a loss without them but hadn't put that familiar name to it. "Empty nest" is something parents of college students experience as the parents exit the full-time parenting part of their lives. He's right, though. I have mini-empty nest.
Today's NYTimes has an article about parents experiencing college empty nest, but many of the themes hit home. One woman comments, " I’m terribly lonely and a little bit cranky . . . . I’ve been pouring so much love and attention into the boys for so long, it just feels horrible not to have somebody to pour out love on anymore.” That's not exactly my case, but for three years, my day-to-day-world--previously filled with Mama, cat, career, grad school--was the kiddos.
I think I'm coping okay now. The article mentions that planning is key. Having passed the first day of preschool and moving into a rhythm, the plans I had made for my 6 hours are in effect (yep, I went to wellness workout this morning). And I'm sure pretty soon I'll be longing for 3 days a week or even full day school--or, dare I say it, college--to come. I just better start working on my plan.
Today's NYTimes has an article about parents experiencing college empty nest, but many of the themes hit home. One woman comments, " I’m terribly lonely and a little bit cranky . . . . I’ve been pouring so much love and attention into the boys for so long, it just feels horrible not to have somebody to pour out love on anymore.” That's not exactly my case, but for three years, my day-to-day-world--previously filled with Mama, cat, career, grad school--was the kiddos.
I think I'm coping okay now. The article mentions that planning is key. Having passed the first day of preschool and moving into a rhythm, the plans I had made for my 6 hours are in effect (yep, I went to wellness workout this morning). And I'm sure pretty soon I'll be longing for 3 days a week or even full day school--or, dare I say it, college--to come. I just better start working on my plan.
It's Like Christmas in September
I just waded through three huge bags of hand-me-downs for Buddy, having gone through two bags for Sis about a week ago. It's like Santa left his huge gift sack at the house. Now, as you know, I'm not much of a clothes horse, either for me or the kids, but I really LOVE getting bags of clothes because a). I LOVE not having to shop b). it's always such cute stuff and usable too c). it's very green to reduce our purchases and reuse still-wearable stuff. And we're the recipients of lots of it because they're smaller than most of their friends and, with one of each gender, I can use anything.
We've given away clothes, bags and bags of boys and girls things, to the point that we have almost nothing in the basement now for all the little babies and toddlers behind us. But, come 3T-4T, I'll have tons of things for them. That is, if they don't pass us in size before we can pass it along! (This happened to one of our earlier clothes Santas--her daughter is small, though older, and Sis caught up). Gotta pay it forward. I do have some reserves in the basement, not for a future member of the family, but to keep memories of their babyhood with us. But, I think even our very generous clothes Santas have these stashes.
So, thank you very much to the clothes Santas in our lives! The kids will look great this fall (and spring and even summer) because of you. You'll see.
We've given away clothes, bags and bags of boys and girls things, to the point that we have almost nothing in the basement now for all the little babies and toddlers behind us. But, come 3T-4T, I'll have tons of things for them. That is, if they don't pass us in size before we can pass it along! (This happened to one of our earlier clothes Santas--her daughter is small, though older, and Sis caught up). Gotta pay it forward. I do have some reserves in the basement, not for a future member of the family, but to keep memories of their babyhood with us. But, I think even our very generous clothes Santas have these stashes.
So, thank you very much to the clothes Santas in our lives! The kids will look great this fall (and spring and even summer) because of you. You'll see.
Of Biscotti and Amish Friendship Bread
It's bake sale time! I'm gearing up to bake several times in the next few weeks for our annual church festival. And, this weekend when my good friend from junior high visited, we had a long talk about quick breads and Amish Friendship Bread. I had totally forgotten about my obsession, just a year ago, with that goo. You'll remember that I tried to burden most of my friends with starter, but few takers took, and none managed to bake. Well, the kids can eat flour this year and can help me feed the pet (um, I mean starter) and bake with it. I think we can get a loaf off before the festival. I'm going to buy yeast today. My friend even recommended Vanilla Cinnamon Bread, with vanilla pudding and cinnamon. She also likes it with butterscotch--I wouldn't, but the kids will. And there's always chocolate! Fun, fun, fun.
We'll also be making my friend M's biscotti. She was from a big Italian family and loved to make biscotti--so easy, so impressive (just like her rainbow jello, which she sold every year at the annual December fair. It took 7 days to layer all the colors in little see-through cups). I found her biscotti recipes, complete with a note from her, this weekend and am going to make them in her honor, now and for Christmas, the first since her death.
Also on our list are Joe Frogger cookies, a traditional New England molasses cookie made in large "lily pad" sizes; chocolate chip bar cookies; and most like our standby Oatmeal Scotchies. I'll post the recipes as we do them.
We'll also be making my friend M's biscotti. She was from a big Italian family and loved to make biscotti--so easy, so impressive (just like her rainbow jello, which she sold every year at the annual December fair. It took 7 days to layer all the colors in little see-through cups). I found her biscotti recipes, complete with a note from her, this weekend and am going to make them in her honor, now and for Christmas, the first since her death.
Also on our list are Joe Frogger cookies, a traditional New England molasses cookie made in large "lily pad" sizes; chocolate chip bar cookies; and most like our standby Oatmeal Scotchies. I'll post the recipes as we do them.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
And Back Again
My parents have returned to their part of the Texas coast (outside the area of devastation). Their house in Houston has no power and Dad's business has only intermittent power. Lines for gasoline are 30-50 cars long which is intimidating (they worry about running out themselves).
And they are about 70 miles from Galveston!
And they are about 70 miles from Galveston!
Sing a Song
They are singing songs I don't know.
All during snack and then outdoor play, they sang, "Join hands and sing a happy song/Join hands and sing a happy song/Join hands and sing a happy song. We're thankful for the food we eat. We're thankful for the people we meet. We're one family." I can't quite tell the tune and I'm not sure I have all the lyrics, but they have sung it in various forms over and over and over again.
They've also been singing the call to circle time, or "Come Sit on a Star"--"come and sit down, come and sit down, come and sit down on a star, a star." I know the tune but not the name; I think it might be a polka or some dance tune. Mama can't identify it at all.
Apparently, there is also a clean-up song that is not the one we sing at home and a go-to-the-bathroom song. And an apple tree finger play about "two little apples smiling at me." I at least found this one when I googled it: "Two little apples hanging on a tree. Two little apples smiling at me. I shook that tree as hard as I could. Down came the apples. Mmmm were they good!" But I'm at a loss with the other ones.
At church, they've been singing a song about lighting the chalice but I haven't caught the words yet.
Of course, for any and all of these, I can check with the teacher if I'm desperate to know the song and sing along (and Bud did ask how to play the circle song on the piano, so I probably will ask for the sheet music, which I know they have). But for now, I'm letting it be their thing, their songs, something they can teach to me. It's not about my knowing everything they are learning. I want them to have the pride of teaching me, of knowing something I don't know. They are doing this on their own, even if I'm helping.
And, we're all learning.
All during snack and then outdoor play, they sang, "Join hands and sing a happy song/Join hands and sing a happy song/Join hands and sing a happy song. We're thankful for the food we eat. We're thankful for the people we meet. We're one family." I can't quite tell the tune and I'm not sure I have all the lyrics, but they have sung it in various forms over and over and over again.
They've also been singing the call to circle time, or "Come Sit on a Star"--"come and sit down, come and sit down, come and sit down on a star, a star." I know the tune but not the name; I think it might be a polka or some dance tune. Mama can't identify it at all.
Apparently, there is also a clean-up song that is not the one we sing at home and a go-to-the-bathroom song. And an apple tree finger play about "two little apples smiling at me." I at least found this one when I googled it: "Two little apples hanging on a tree. Two little apples smiling at me. I shook that tree as hard as I could. Down came the apples. Mmmm were they good!" But I'm at a loss with the other ones.
At church, they've been singing a song about lighting the chalice but I haven't caught the words yet.
Of course, for any and all of these, I can check with the teacher if I'm desperate to know the song and sing along (and Bud did ask how to play the circle song on the piano, so I probably will ask for the sheet music, which I know they have). But for now, I'm letting it be their thing, their songs, something they can teach to me. It's not about my knowing everything they are learning. I want them to have the pride of teaching me, of knowing something I don't know. They are doing this on their own, even if I'm helping.
And, we're all learning.
Universal Convergence
I seem to be getting signals from the universe that it is time to purge, organize, and clean my house. First, of course, I just got a lot of extra time to do it in--about 4 more hours a week, not including the time for my workout and driving back and forth for preschool. Secondly, well, I spent a very tense hour or so in my basement as a storm raged outside not only scared of the tree that fell on us but on the stuff that surrounded us floor to ceiling. Then on Sunday, my minister spoke on acts of faith and ethical wills. One of the things she said was life is not about the stuff we leave our kids but the lessons we've taught them (hmmm, a la Randy Pausch's Last Lecture). And I don't want my kids to be materialistic and disorganized (or have to sort through all of this when we're gone). And then today, the NYTimes ran an article on personal organization and the consultants who can help you. I think my favorite tip was "In September, designate a box for each child’s artwork and school papers. Then go through them the next summer, when you are not so attached to them." I already have a full tub of artwork, mainly because Sis creates in series. Right now we're in her divisionist, or pointilist, period, when she likes to put single colored circles on a sheet of paper. (There was actually a more psychologically-penetrating article on hoarding--real, pathological (or is it neurotic?) hoarding in NYC apartments--a year or so back that was equally inspiring, though not as practical.)
Anyway, we just had company, my friend from high school (well, 7th grade), and that always makes you see your house with new eyes. Now, my hospitality skills are fine, if I might say so--I had a guest basket with towels, lotion, water bottle, and snack ready for her, tried to organize activities and meals based on her preferences, oh, and kept the kids quiet before 8:30 a.m.!!!! But I did notice piles of things I hadn't in awhile.
We have been doing much better and have cleared and sorted and purged quite a bit in the last two months, but it is an ongoing process. With Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity's Restore nearby, plus a used bookstore, as well as a fall rummage sale for church coming up (another prod from the universe?), we have several places that will take our stuff. We just have to go through it.
So, best get off the computer and get back to the cleaning, because, well, when the universe talks, I listen.
Anyway, we just had company, my friend from high school (well, 7th grade), and that always makes you see your house with new eyes. Now, my hospitality skills are fine, if I might say so--I had a guest basket with towels, lotion, water bottle, and snack ready for her, tried to organize activities and meals based on her preferences, oh, and kept the kids quiet before 8:30 a.m.!!!! But I did notice piles of things I hadn't in awhile.
We have been doing much better and have cleared and sorted and purged quite a bit in the last two months, but it is an ongoing process. With Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity's Restore nearby, plus a used bookstore, as well as a fall rummage sale for church coming up (another prod from the universe?), we have several places that will take our stuff. We just have to go through it.
So, best get off the computer and get back to the cleaning, because, well, when the universe talks, I listen.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Moonstruck
Happy Moon Festival to you all!
This is the second most important holiday in Chinese observance, that of the harvest on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. We celebrated today by making lanterns (you know, the typical paper lantern with vertical slits and a handle) and eating mooncakes (small embossed cakes filled with either sweet lotus paste or a sweet mixture of nuts and candied fruits). The kiddos weren't up to see the moonrise, the brightest moon of the year, according to Ar-Ma. It was beautiful, though.
La bella luna!
This is the second most important holiday in Chinese observance, that of the harvest on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. We celebrated today by making lanterns (you know, the typical paper lantern with vertical slits and a handle) and eating mooncakes (small embossed cakes filled with either sweet lotus paste or a sweet mixture of nuts and candied fruits). The kiddos weren't up to see the moonrise, the brightest moon of the year, according to Ar-Ma. It was beautiful, though.
La bella luna!
School Supplies, or, Fun With Magnets
My favorite part of getting ready for school as a child was school supplies. Clothes shopping always meant a fight with my mom about clothes (or, at least that is how I remember it now, though, I can't imagine we fought about clothes when I was in, say, second grade). But, what's to argue about a new box of crayons and a lunchbox? Oh, the smell of a new box of crayons, or freshly-sharpened pencils. The feel of a new package of notebook paper or a new stack of folders and spirals. I always got a new lunchbox, couldn't even tell you now who was on them (Charlie's Angels, one year??) But they were always metal with a plastic thermos, complete with little plastic cup. And a new pencil box! Not a plastic one, but a cardboard one. Oh, how I loved those cardboard pencil boxes. It was later in my school life that Trapper Keepers and fancy notebooks were invented, so my earliest and best memories are of simpler supplies.
Shopping for school supplies with Sis and Bud had me contemplating a new backpack, one with a cupcake on it, which I totally didn't need (and didn't buy). Instead, I bought a package of sheet protectors and a package of business card magnets. With those, I'm making magic. I've put 2-3 of those little square magnets on the back of those clear plastic pockets and now use them to hold important school papers. But I also outlined two of them with construction paper--voila, a reusable artwork frame! Sis and Bud were thrilled to have a fancy place to display their art. I've also then made picture magnets from our leftover stash of wallet-sized pics so that there are images of them and other family members adorning our chalkboard wall. And today, I had the best idea yet: cut up those baseball cards Bud got in his schultute and put them on magnets to make a team for a chalk baseball field.
Well, both Mama and my visiting childhood friend were appalled that I would consider cutting up a baseball card. Oh, well. I'll have to think of more uses for the other 85 magnet backs I have. Any ideas? You might be getting magnets of the twins for Christmas this year . . .
Shopping for school supplies with Sis and Bud had me contemplating a new backpack, one with a cupcake on it, which I totally didn't need (and didn't buy). Instead, I bought a package of sheet protectors and a package of business card magnets. With those, I'm making magic. I've put 2-3 of those little square magnets on the back of those clear plastic pockets and now use them to hold important school papers. But I also outlined two of them with construction paper--voila, a reusable artwork frame! Sis and Bud were thrilled to have a fancy place to display their art. I've also then made picture magnets from our leftover stash of wallet-sized pics so that there are images of them and other family members adorning our chalkboard wall. And today, I had the best idea yet: cut up those baseball cards Bud got in his schultute and put them on magnets to make a team for a chalk baseball field.
Well, both Mama and my visiting childhood friend were appalled that I would consider cutting up a baseball card. Oh, well. I'll have to think of more uses for the other 85 magnet backs I have. Any ideas? You might be getting magnets of the twins for Christmas this year . . .
Friend from the Past
A friend of mine for junior high is here for the weekend, to visit and to see a Yankees game.
Posts will be few and far between until Tuesday night.
Posts will be few and far between until Tuesday night.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Out of Harm's Way
My parents have headed down to the bay, near Port O'Connor (pronounced porta-conner). There is power there, and other family.
That is, if there is a clear road to get there. But my dad knows all the backroads. He's a one man GPS.
So, as far as I know, all of our family and friends are safe. We're just waiting word on how other Texans fared.
That is, if there is a clear road to get there. But my dad knows all the backroads. He's a one man GPS.
So, as far as I know, all of our family and friends are safe. We're just waiting word on how other Texans fared.
Another Update
I spoke to my parents at 7 a.m. They had survived the storm so far but were still getting rain and wind. No power or cell phones, but land line phones. And their fence had partially blown down. The radar seems to indicate that they are still getting buffeted but not as badly as before, hopefully.
They're in for an uncomfortable several days with no power but are at least safe now.
They're in for an uncomfortable several days with no power but are at least safe now.
Hopes
Hurricane Ike made landfall at 2:10 CST a little southwest of Houston and is tracking northwest with 110 mph winds.
I hope my folks are okay. My grandparents, who stayed in Galveston for Alicia, said it was one of the worst nights of their lives and that the wouldn't want to withstand a hurricane again. I imagine my folks are having a rough night right now too.
The whole metro area of Houston is having a rough night, something like 5 million people, many of them survivors of Katrina who relocated from New Orleans to Texas. Having been through a storm, a tiny one in comparison (about 45 mph less), and short too (no more than an hour or so of the awful stuff), but with a tree that fell on us, I can't imagine staying through a hurricane.
I'm watching tv and reading the papers but can't get a good idea of what has happened. Darkness really hampers knowledge, both philosophically and practically. I'll write again later, but I hope I don't have to post the eulogy to Galveston that I've been working on in my head.
I hope my folks are okay. My grandparents, who stayed in Galveston for Alicia, said it was one of the worst nights of their lives and that the wouldn't want to withstand a hurricane again. I imagine my folks are having a rough night right now too.
The whole metro area of Houston is having a rough night, something like 5 million people, many of them survivors of Katrina who relocated from New Orleans to Texas. Having been through a storm, a tiny one in comparison (about 45 mph less), and short too (no more than an hour or so of the awful stuff), but with a tree that fell on us, I can't imagine staying through a hurricane.
I'm watching tv and reading the papers but can't get a good idea of what has happened. Darkness really hampers knowledge, both philosophically and practically. I'll write again later, but I hope I don't have to post the eulogy to Galveston that I've been working on in my head.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Updates
With everything going on, I'm edgy.
Here's the latest, as I know it:
Here's the latest, as I know it:
- Ar-Gong's angiogram went as well as possible. He has one arterial spasm (not the medical term) and two minor blockages (so minor that stents won't work--too big a hole??). So, he has to rest there a few more hours and then go home, with some prescriptions. We're glad things went well.
- Our little friend, as far as I know, is still in the hospital, mainly because he can't keep anything down.
- My parents are hunkering down for the hurricane which looks terrible. The National Hurricane Center warned residents of Galveston (my parents are far away in NW Houston, near the airport) that if they stay they will die. That's a pretty incredible warning, but then 8,000 people died in Galveston in the 1900 storm. They're predicting storm surge of 15-20', which is over the tops of most coastal houses.
Baking Experiments
As Ike threatens, a little friend is still in the hospital, and my FIL undergoes an angiogram, we decided to make some fun for breakfast this morning. Three variations, three different results.
Biscuit Apple Pies
Mama got this original recipe on some site for kids' activities.
1 package refrigerator biscuits
1-2 apples, chopped
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven according to biscuit package.
Combine chopped apples with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Separate biscuits and flatten each. Place apple mixture on half of biscuit rounds. Top with remaining biscuits. Pinch edges. Prick tops with a fork.
Bake according to the biscuit package (but be prepared to increase time).
Our suggestions: Perhaps use 1 round per "pie" and fold it over more like a pasty. This would increase the apple to dough ratio, which is Bud's preference. Also, the biscuits might cook more evenly. Or you could make a depression in the top of a single biscuit round and make an open-faced pie. And you'll have more of them!! We had extra apple mixture so we made these . .
Another Apple Pie
1 package crescent rolls (I had these because I couldn't remember if the above recipe called for rolls or biscuits!)
leftover mixture from recipe above
Preheat oven according to roll package.
Separate rolls. Place apple mixture in wide part of dough and roll towards small end.
Bake according to roll package.
Our note: Not a lot of apples fit in these but they are a lot less messy. I also like the dough better (we used reduced fat). Then we ran out of apples for 8 rolls, so we made these . . .
Pan au chocolat
1 package crescent rolls
chocolate chips (we had milk chocolate; semi-sweet would be better)
Preheat oven according to roll package.
Separate rolls. Place approximately 1-2 teaspoons chocolate chips in wide part of dough and roll towards small end.
Bake according to roll package.
Our note: These were my favorites, of course.
For any of these, you could use various fillings--mmmm, nutella comes to mind. Or marzipan/almond paste. Or apples and walnuts. Or, cheese--mmmm, ricotta with fruit, or cream cheese (reminds me of a kolache I get with cottage cheese, sugar, and shredded coconut!). With broccoli (the biscuit would be better for a mini-pot pie), for dinner. At that point, the combinations are endless.
Biscuit Apple Pies
Mama got this original recipe on some site for kids' activities.
1 package refrigerator biscuits
1-2 apples, chopped
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven according to biscuit package.
Combine chopped apples with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Separate biscuits and flatten each. Place apple mixture on half of biscuit rounds. Top with remaining biscuits. Pinch edges. Prick tops with a fork.
Bake according to the biscuit package (but be prepared to increase time).
Our suggestions: Perhaps use 1 round per "pie" and fold it over more like a pasty. This would increase the apple to dough ratio, which is Bud's preference. Also, the biscuits might cook more evenly. Or you could make a depression in the top of a single biscuit round and make an open-faced pie. And you'll have more of them!! We had extra apple mixture so we made these . .
Another Apple Pie
1 package crescent rolls (I had these because I couldn't remember if the above recipe called for rolls or biscuits!)
leftover mixture from recipe above
Preheat oven according to roll package.
Separate rolls. Place apple mixture in wide part of dough and roll towards small end.
Bake according to roll package.
Our note: Not a lot of apples fit in these but they are a lot less messy. I also like the dough better (we used reduced fat). Then we ran out of apples for 8 rolls, so we made these . . .
Pan au chocolat
1 package crescent rolls
chocolate chips (we had milk chocolate; semi-sweet would be better)
Preheat oven according to roll package.
Separate rolls. Place approximately 1-2 teaspoons chocolate chips in wide part of dough and roll towards small end.
Bake according to roll package.
Our note: These were my favorites, of course.
For any of these, you could use various fillings--mmmm, nutella comes to mind. Or marzipan/almond paste. Or apples and walnuts. Or, cheese--mmmm, ricotta with fruit, or cream cheese (reminds me of a kolache I get with cottage cheese, sugar, and shredded coconut!). With broccoli (the biscuit would be better for a mini-pot pie), for dinner. At that point, the combinations are endless.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Time Flies
I've been alone for about 2 hours. The house is quiet.
Well, no. I have music blaring as loud as my little stereo can handle. Remember, this was one of the things I've missed since having kids.
So, what did I do during my furlough?
I went to my wellness workout, then got a coffee. I sat in there a bit, reading my "new" book, The Ladies by Doris Grumbach, about a lesbian (yes, I know, they wouldn't have used that term) couple in 18th-century Ireland. Then I came home, after dropping off Goodwill and the dry cleaning, answered a phone call, wrote a few emails, vacuumed and swept the downstairs, sorted/purged kids books (to make space for all those new book order purchases!!!), went to the bathroom by myself (another thing I miss), am now blogging . . .
. . . and now the timer is telling me it's time to go get the munchkins.
Not bad for a first day by myself: no tears.
I could get used to this!
Well, no. I have music blaring as loud as my little stereo can handle. Remember, this was one of the things I've missed since having kids.
So, what did I do during my furlough?
I went to my wellness workout, then got a coffee. I sat in there a bit, reading my "new" book, The Ladies by Doris Grumbach, about a lesbian (yes, I know, they wouldn't have used that term) couple in 18th-century Ireland. Then I came home, after dropping off Goodwill and the dry cleaning, answered a phone call, wrote a few emails, vacuumed and swept the downstairs, sorted/purged kids books (to make space for all those new book order purchases!!!), went to the bathroom by myself (another thing I miss), am now blogging . . .
. . . and now the timer is telling me it's time to go get the munchkins.
Not bad for a first day by myself: no tears.
I could get used to this!
Get Well Wishes
Our thoughts go out to another Buddy (for those of you who can't figure that out, he has an older sister whose name begins with the same letter) in our playgroup who has a stomach virus that has put him in the hospital with dehydration. We'll be thinking of you and hoping you get well soon.
Remembering
Song for the Lonely (Cher)
When you're standing on the edge of no where
There's only one way up so your hearts got to go there
Through the darkest nights
You see the light shine bright
When heroes fall in love or war they live forever
(chorus)
This is a song for the lonely, can you hear me tonight?
For the broken-hearted, battle scarred
I'll be by your side
And this is a song for the lonely
When your dreams wont come true
Can you hear this prayer
Because someones there for you
Seven years ago this morning, I was listening to the radio while starting to work on my dissertation on a crisp, beautiful September morning. Mama had gone to work. We were in the city.
Today, I'm getting two preschoolers ready for their second full day of preschool, the first day to do this by myself. Mama has gone to work.
We're not in the city anymore, but we remember today. And honor both the lives lost and still living.
Don't give up, so let it find you
Just hold on, wherever you may go
Anywhere, I'm right beside you
You don't have to look no more
You don't have to look no more
-=-=-=-=-
I like this Irish saying that Bloomberg read at today's commemoration: “Death leaves a heartache that nothing can heal. Love leaves a memory that no one can steal.”
When you're standing on the edge of no where
There's only one way up so your hearts got to go there
Through the darkest nights
You see the light shine bright
When heroes fall in love or war they live forever
(chorus)
This is a song for the lonely, can you hear me tonight?
For the broken-hearted, battle scarred
I'll be by your side
And this is a song for the lonely
When your dreams wont come true
Can you hear this prayer
Because someones there for you
Seven years ago this morning, I was listening to the radio while starting to work on my dissertation on a crisp, beautiful September morning. Mama had gone to work. We were in the city.
Today, I'm getting two preschoolers ready for their second full day of preschool, the first day to do this by myself. Mama has gone to work.
We're not in the city anymore, but we remember today. And honor both the lives lost and still living.
Don't give up, so let it find you
Just hold on, wherever you may go
Anywhere, I'm right beside you
You don't have to look no more
You don't have to look no more
-=-=-=-=-
I like this Irish saying that Bloomberg read at today's commemoration: “Death leaves a heartache that nothing can heal. Love leaves a memory that no one can steal.”
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