Concert Cough

Sis has what we're calling "concert cough." She just had too much fun yelling and screaming and singing at the Imagination Movers concert on Saturday. So much so that she woke up Saturday night coughing and hoarse. She's not sick, as far as we can tell (and we're getting very good at telling); it's just strain. It's actually kinda cute, especially because she is still insisting on singing all her favorite concert songs!

10-Digit Delay

Connecticut has gone to 10-digit dialing. Without the 1-prefix. Even in your own area code. We had plenty of warning but couldn't practice. Everytime I added the area code before the new dialing started on Saturday, I was told I didn't need it and had to start all over again. So suddenly we're to 10 digits. Which would be fine except all our phones need to be reprogrammed. And you can't just insert the area code. You have to delete the whole number and start over again. Which for me means writing it down somewhere and then typing it back in; I don't trust just memorizing it because all I need to do is be off one number and then not only do I harass some stranger but I have to find the original number and do it all over again (trust me, I did it. Once). And then, when I synched the 3 phones and base at home, they kept the old numbers too! So I have to go back and delete those. On every set.

So, if you're in Connecticut and you don't hear from me for awhile, you know why.

Warp Speed: Off the Loom

Mama's scarf is off the loom! After adding about 12 picks in my warp color and hemstitching it in same, my teacher helped me cut the scarf loose from the remaining warp waste. It still has the earlier sample attached while I decide what to do about tassle length, but otherwise, it's a scarf! And it looks great! I did find one major pattern error; I can't believe I didn't catch it earlier and unweave it, but c'est la vie. In fact, it is said that Navajo weavers intentionally leave a flaw in their work, which weavers usually leave in the same place, to allow evil spirits trapped in the rug to get out. Similarly, rugs woven in Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia, often include a flaw to express the humility of the weaver not wanting to compete with the perfection of God. My flaw wasn't intentional or discreet, but it's in good company.

Back to tassles. I have to decided about tassles. Mama doesn't want chunky or frilly tassles and is tempted to have me leave the fringe untwisted. My teacher suggested, and these are her words, "a less femme-y fringe" by making it very thin. Which will take forever. Mama has a few days to decide because our last class, when we'll discuss drafting and such, is next week. And it takes awhile to do tassles--she actually helped me last time.

Then I wash the scarf, which apparently brings the warp and the weft all together as well as brings out the sheen in the silk (it's a silk-wood blend), and iron it and it's ready to wear. I can't wait to see her wear it (though I still don't wear the one I made two years ago, too precious for that)! Of course, it's no surprise as a Christmas present, but she's okay with that.

Pinecone Treats

Going, going, gone . . . .

A Life-Affirming Day

Despite rainy weather all day, which I tend to like this time of year actually, it was a sunshine-in-the-soul kind of day. Art, music, family, food, fun. And a funeral. The kind of smile-through-tears-day that makes you hug your kids tighter at bedtime and give your sweetie an extra kiss goodnight.

• Lunch at Claire's Corner Copia: We had lunch in New Haven at the local vegetarian hangout that is kid-friendly. Bud loved the blueberry pancakes; Sis preferred the homemade rolls. They both liked talking about the coffee-cup-headed figures in paintings on the wall (is he walking on a cloud? on snow on a mountain? is that brick wall supposed to be the restaurant?) and playing follow-the-maze in the brickwork next to our table. Mama and I liked the eggplant cum salsa and, as always, the Russian Fruit Tea.
• Yale Center for British Art: With half an hour to go before the doors opened at our concert, we headed to the museum. We'd spied the brochure with the golden armor on the cover and wanted to see the knight. And we all enjoyed the exhibition on Horace Walpole's Strawberry Hill estate. The kids played "I Spy," looking for the real objects depicted in the original drawings of the house. Sis questioned why his couch--a settee, she discovered--didn't look like our couch. They marveled at the portrait miniatures as we compared them to the snapshots in my wallet. They also wanted to talk about the naked people in the Education of Jupiter by the workshop of Poussin. I did my best to explain that there are always naked people in pictures of Greece and Rome, even if those people actually wore clothes, because both the ancients and the artists who painted pictures of them loved the human body. "But, Mom, they're showing their privates!" Let's just move on. The suit of armor was the showstopper, especially because there were gauntlets, a lance, and a head piece for a horse. But Mama's and my favorite? The real red cardinal hat of the famous Cardinal Woolsey. Wow.
• "LIVE FROM THE IDEA WAREHOUSE, IT'S THE IMAGINATION MOVERS!!!!!!" This was the whole raison d'etre for our foray out into the messy weather today. We'd bought the tickets months ago and luckily their interest in the Movers hadn't waned at all. They were so excited. Upon entering the theater, they immediately got in line for their promised souvenirs--a "Dave hat" for Sis and a "Smitty hat" for Bud--which they wore proudly the rest of the day. As we killed time in the lobby before the auditorium opened, they admired the Broadway show posters, curious about Cats. They liked the dancers in the eyes. Then it was time to find our (good) seats, where they sat stockstill for the next 30 minutes watching various Disney promos that we always fast-forward at home. Then, with the lights darkened, the show started. And what a show it was! Constant energy, engaging narrative, humorous 80s references for the adults (like Ralph Macchio and Van Halen and retiring baseball jersey 23), upbeat music, continuous movement; it's the best kids' concert we've seen and, frankly, one of the better concerts I've seen, period. Our kids loved it. Sis did all the calls and responses, all the hand motions, standing and dancing for at least the whole second half, absorbing everything she saw (Dave took his hat off! Dave jumped the highest! Guess who is her Mover?). Bud even danced in the aisles, where he actually got to high-five Rich!!! Sis was very disappointed she didn't get a high-five, not having gotten to the aisle fast enough as he went by, and then later afterwards, she and Mama just missed making it to the stage to see him and get VIP passes; they ran out just as they got there. She cried some tears on the way to the car later, but then she saw her bunny Amy and gave her the "Dave hat" and told her about the concert, which helped her remember all the fun she'd had. It's too bad really because I think it meant more to her than to him.
• Ice cream at Ashley's: it was a good idea, in theory, but a disappointment. We drove out to the shop with the parking and found it dirty and indifferently staffed. Luckily, the kids don't notice such things and really enjoyed the rather good ice cream--strawberry and chocolate of course. I liked the oreo-coffee flavor, while Mama struggled through a poorly made coffee float. I might even write to complain, considering they're so proud of being one of Connecticut's best. We won't be going back, though maybe the shop in New Haven proper would be better. We did chuckle over the sculpture in the plaza parking lot, which the kids thought looked like empty ice cream cones trying to scoop up ice cream!
• Movers in Concert at Home: The concert moved to our home venue. The kids set up all their critters as the audience and donned their hats and instruments. They even announced themselves just like at the theater. And Sis remembered most of the set list, which they recreated, jumping the whole time and high-fiving their critters. It's absolutely why we do these kinds of things.
• Wake: I listened to the Movers all the way to the funeral home, trying to preserve the good cheer of the day, to hold onto youth and happiness and love and innocence in the wake of suicide, as if somehow creating days like today would buffer my children against such darkness in their lives. My friend cried on my shoulder and then we went back to her house to prepare for the post-wake reception. There, some of the kids were upset and I heard a poignant explanation of loss and grief to a child. She took a little boy in her arms and told him through his tears and hers that only the body goes away, that everything you love stays with you in your heart and that won't ever leave. And even though you're sad now, you won't always be sad when you remember him.

Which is exactly why I cherish days like today, and even, and perhaps even more so, mundane ones. It just doesn't get much better than this. And I want to know that without needing a funeral to remind me.

Going Ape S***

They have until I come back downstairs.

If the house is not neater than it was when I left, their igloos are going away.

She had tripped. He had broken something. Within five minutes of each other.

I offered to help and he kept playing. I gave instructions and she intentionally stepped on stuff for fun.

Enough. I'm tired of all the toys everywhere.

I see the value of the individual toys--and we weed them out periodically, but they play with the remaining ones regularly, in rotation--but as a conglomerate they oppress me. So many pieces, all jumbled together in different games, all at the same time, between 3 different floors, organized in dramatic play that continues for days. Sure, creativity, imagination, fun. Oh, yeah, I'm the coolest mom with the funnest house.

And sometimes I'm good with that, recognizing the impermanence, realizing that in 5 years I will gladly trade annoying electronic game systems and cell phones and the like for a good Lincoln Log set, even if it is scattered across the floor. But that doesn't always help my mindset. See, I'm a fairly neat person, not always spic-n-span clean, but I do put everything back where it goes the majority of the time. And, I work here. And live here. So having stuff all over drives me nuts after awhile.

And getting them to clean up is worse than pulling teeth.

It's not like there is nowhere to put the toys--we have tons of storage, labeled, sorted. Clear as day where the musical instruments and costumes and fake food go. And I've cleaned up with them a zillion times. I've broken it into smaller tasks, assigned areas, suggested counting, or even stood back and let them do it their way, either after each session, before dinner, at the end of the week. Nothing works.

It always comes to the ultimatum: clean it up or I will, with a garbage bag for good. I don't think they totally get it, or believe me--I'm not sure I believe me.

So, please, those of you who buy gifts for the kids, keep the little pieces to a minimum. Because they might all just end up in the trash.

I've heard cleaning noises and they've just called me down. Wish us all luck.

-----

Update: Well, no toys have been trashed nor igloos dismantled, but their notion of clean is different than mine. For now, it will do.

Thanksgiving: Jello Search

I'm on another strawberry jello salad search for Bud. It's his favorite part of the meal now for the third year running (see strawberry jello squares and crown jewel jello and, once with additional bananas, a cranberry-jello salad). I'm sure I should just make jello and put strawberries in it, as Mama suggests every year, but I try to gussy it up some, unnecessarily.

I just asked about the following recipe, with a pretzel crust, and Bud sounded interested--he loves honey wheat pretzels. I'm not sure, though, how he'll like it with his jello. I think I'll make it but reserve some of the jello in a separate pan so that if he doesn't like it, he can just have jello. That's what pretty much happens with these fancy jello recipes anyway--he picks out everything and eats the jello.

Maybe I should take the hint.

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Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad

2 c. crushed pretzel sticks

3/4 c. melted butter

3 tbsp. sugar

8 oz. cream cheese

1 c. sugar

8 oz. Cool Whip

1 (6 oz.) pkg. strawberry banana Jello

2 c. boiling water

2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen strawberries, partially thawed

Mix first three ingredients and press in bottom of a 9"x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees (metal pan) or 325 degrees (glass pan) 8 minutes. Let cool completely. Beat 1 cup sugar and cream cheese. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over pretzels. Mix Jello and water until dissolved. Add strawberries. Stir into Jello, then set aside for 10 minutes. Pour over cheese mixture. Chill.

from Cooks.com

Aftermath

I've never really known anyone who has committed suicide. And while I barely knew the man who took his own life on Tuesday, I know his best friends well and am watching the painful aftermath of his death. From informing friends to making funeral arrangements to going through his belongings, all while beginning their own grieving, they are devastated and struggling, as are their kids, who called the man "uncle." The banana bread and casserole I will take over and the phone calls when I listen to tears and questions and anger hardly touch the pain; they aren't really meant to fix anything, only to help support the grieving as they navigate between the realms of life and death. And the worst is yet to come, once all the family and friends go home and the formal rituals are over, but the sadness has just started, made even more painful because this death was chosen.

Tidbits

Bud and Sis love to pet our cats but realize that the cats are often hesitant or indifferent to their attentions. But the other day, as we entered the house, both cats approached, letting the kids pet them. Shocked, Bud said, "Albus has turned into a petting cat!" Alas, it was only temporary. But it was a good start.

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Sis eyed the SweetTarts from her friendly warily, knowing that they weren't chocolate and thus not worth her eating. "I'm going to give this to the soldiers." I'd say that''s making a virtue out of a necessity!

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"I left the lid off the sandbox because I was angry that you were making us come inside," she told me this morning when I noticed the lid was still off.

Ouch.

I'm in trouble, no?

No Farm Today

I'm kinda bummed that there is no farm pick-up today. For close to 5 months, our Friday routine has been to drive out to the farm (ironically, sometimes with happy meals in tow, if it were after school and thus lunchtime), pick up our box, and shop at the farmstand. Not today. While I'm glad in several ways to save us the hour-long outing, I'm going to miss the box. Luckily, I have Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and butternut squash in the house, so I won't be completely bereft.

And kudos to Cousin S for trying those Brussel sprouts! But tell me, how do you make a bread dipping sauce?

Warp Speed: Almost There

I have almost finished Mama's scarf!!!!! I finished the pattern in plum today, adding something like 8 inches yesterday and almost 13 inches today!! I had a few mis-weaves that I had to go back and fix as well as some brake trouble (it's an old loom and not in the best repair; that's next). I only need to add about 12 picks of indigo plainweave, then hemstitch, cut it from the loom, and do the tassles. So, still a few hours of work (tassles take a long time), but essentially the scarf is done!!!! And it turned out so much prettier than I expected. I chose great colors and Mama chose a great pattern. I can't wait to see it off-loom! Merry Christmas, Mama!

Honoring Veteran's Day

Like the woman in the guest post at Motherlode today, I didn't have any connections to or understanding of the military until I was well into my 30s. Now, thanks to my dear friend Miss T, and her husband who has just been deployed to Iraq, I have a much better sense of the military and the military life, particularly their courage, sacrifice, and dedication. Here's to you and all our military and their families.

Thinking of You

My thoughts go out to our church friends who have lost a dear friend to depression. Our thoughts are with you and your friend's family.

Two Great Dishes

I pulled dinner out of my hat last night, not having any real plans but remembering at the last-minute that I had hoped to make these dishes the week before when Sis got sick and then didn't eat. So, I threw two new recipes together, spur of the moment. And it was a success.

But not at first. Both kids objected heartily to the goulash, because of the red peppers (which is odd because Bud likes red peppers). I insisted they have a no-thank you bite before I'd get cold cereal--and they both liked it. True, I dished out their servings without much of the sauce or any of the peppers, but they ate the meat and noodles (some of which I'd thrown into the goulash at the last moment to soak up the extra sauce). And then tonight, Bud had several more helpings of it! Sis loved the carrots--I couldn't taste the maple, but she and Mama could--she ate half the batch last night and the rest this evening. Pretty good for last minute! But I don't think I'll do that every night . . . .

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Maple-Roasted Carrots

1 bag baby carrots
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon olive oil
pinch of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425F.

Combine all ingredients. Arrange on baking sheet. Bake, stirring gently every few minutes, until carrots are tender and browned, about 20 minutes.

Nava Atlas, The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet

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Goulash with Macaroni
I think this dish would be great as a vegetarian lentil stew, very reminiscent of the Galician lentils I make, but without the time sink of the crockpot.

salt
1 lb macaroni (I had whole wheat penne)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 lbs ground meat (she suggests a combo; I had ground turkey)
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
black pepper
bay leaf (I actually forgot this)
1 cup shredded carrots, chopped into small bites (*Note A)
1 onion, finely chopped (*A)
2 celery ribs, finely chopped (*A)
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
15 oz tomato sauce
2 cups stock
1/2 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons dill (*Note B)
parsley, finely chopped (*B)
3 tablespoons freshly snipped chives (*B)
4 radishes, finely chopped for garnish (*B)
1/2 cup chopped cornichons or baby gherkin pickles, for garnish (*B)

Note A: I used, instead, about a cup of frozen mixed vegetables.
Note B: I didn't use any of these seasonings or garnishes; kids didn't need it.

Brown meat in olive oil. Add paprika and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes until browned and crumbly. Add red pepper and cook until tender. Add bay leaf, tomato sauce, and stock. Cook another 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Add sour cream. Serve over noodles.

adapted from Rachael Ray's Yum-O! The Family Cookbook

Thank You!!!

Thanks to Mommy Goose for watching the kids during my babysitter gap today, allowing me to have my dental work done immediately. Best part was that we actually got to have lunch and a chat before I had to go. Thanks so much, especially because I understand that you had to put a toy in time out (sorry about that). I owe you one and hope you'll collect . . . in about 15 weeks!

I Survived

Yep, my dental work went well today. The new painkiller, Septacaine (or something like that), worked miracles and I didn't feel the dentist hit a nerve once, unlike last time. Sure, the sound and smell are nasty but I can bear that. And the impression, for a new and bigger nightguard, went well because we just deadened my throat beforehand. Whew. I'm tired, more from the emotional buildup than the actual procedure, but I'm glad I spoke up for myself and got the new drug and the throat deadener again. I almost like my dentist! And we do always talk about art and history and the South . . . .

Reading Magic: "The Magic Bunk Bed"

There is something inherently magical about playing outside in the backyard after dark, expanding your imagination in the waning light while testing your bravery against the boundaries of the light cast by the deck light. And so we have spent twilight and the first hour of darkness the last several days playing happily in the yard in unseasonable warm weather.

Their favorite game right now? Magic Bunk Bed, inspired by the chapter books we read in the Magic Tree House series. The so-called bunk bed is actually the fort in their swingset; I'm not sure where they got the idea to call it a bunk bed. But they climb up into the fort, spin the captain's wheel, and wish themselves where they want to go (when I'm invited to come, I sit on the bottom of the slide for a ride!). They've been to China, Australia, both poles, and Scotland. The poles are their favorites, north for the polar bears, south for the penguins. They gather big handfuls of leaves and feed the animals. A big second is Scotland, where they've decided the faeries live; they go there to build more faerie houses. Upcoming in their travel plans? Outer space and Texas, maybe dinosaurs or Egypt. With their imaginations, they can go anywhere . . . .

Warp Speed: Unweaving

I had about 20 minutes of weaving time this morning and about 4" to go to my next scarf pattern change, with no real intention of getting there today. But I must have been in the zone because I got very close. Then I realize that I had made a minor mistake--I'd started my warp-faced stripe without finishing my weft-faced stripe (I think those are the right terms). So I had to unweave three rows, which doesn't sound like a lot, but a). I couldn't quite tell which three rows I had done and needed to do some trial and error to figure it out and b). I was disappointed to realize, having gotten closer than I expected, that I wouldn't get to the next section--I know it shouldn't matter but these little milestones are important. Except that I did. I was closer than I thought, but also had misread the clock by a few minutes. So, after carefully unweaving (and getting on the right side of that hanging selvage), I did about 12 picks and was done! That leaves about 21" left to go! YAY!

Spring Planting, Or Getting an Early Start

It's been beautiful up here in CT, almost too beautiful for November. In the 60s yesterday and almost as high today, with full sunshine, no real wind, and blue skies. Leaves are everywhere, except those still stuck to two of our trees, our miniature Japanese maple in front and our gigantic silver maple in back. With thousands of leaves yet to fall, we haven't bothered cleaning up all those on the ground already. Besides, leaves in bags are neither a). pretty nor b). fun.

But today, we cleared a patch of leaves near my favorite big sitting rock and proceeded to plant 60 crocus bulbs. My understanding is that squirrels won't eat crocus the way they eat other bulbs; at least that's the theory. We had great fun digging up the dirt, finding a huge worm, planting the bulbs, covering them up, and then watering them. Only about 5-6 months until the blooms will start!

Thanksgiving: Trying Out a New Butternut Squash Recipe

Usually when I have butternut squash, I make soup. But I have so many this year that I tried something new--mashed squash with marmalade! And it was very good! Probably too good for regular eating, considering the butter and half-and-half--especially since only 2 of us are here to eat it, the kids refusing all offers to try it--but it's perfect for Thanksgiving. So, I've frozen most of it to serve in two weeks.

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Pureed Butternut Squash with Orange

2 medium butternut squash (about 4 lbs), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 1/2" chunks
1/4 cup half-and-half
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons orange marmalade

Cut off ends of squash, peel skin with vegetable peeler, and seed. Cut into 1 1/2" chunks. Place chunks in large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high until tender and easily pierced with fork, 15-20 minutes. Stir halfway through.

Carefully remove plastic wrap and drain squash in colander. Return to bowl, add half-and-half, butter, sugar, and marmalade and blend with handheld mixer (you could also use a food processor). Serve.

And it freezes, too!

Cook's Illustrated