Hard Core

Or something like that.  They don't actually have cores anymore!

See, that's what TW said when I presented her with a dinner plate.  Nothing special: chicken salad sandwich,  bread and butter pickles, and a couple dried apple rings.  As I left (she was in the bedroom with dim light due to a migraine), I pointed out that I'd made the chicken salad, the pickles were made by a friend, and not only did I dehydrate the apples, but that they are the very apples that we picked last weekend.


On Sunday evening I peeled, cut and froze enough for two pies.  By the end of it my hands were cramping and I still had about 20 lbs left...

Enter two very handy tools.  I took to Amazon and ordered a dehydrator and ran off to Wilson's (our local department store - the oldest continually running one in the country) to get the apple peeler/corer/slicer.

I'm in the middle of my second batch of tasty treats now.  Mozart loves them.

But I'll definitely need to package up the rest of that 20 lbs, because it keeps on growing.  Seriously, picking up a bag or two of fruit every week...

Now that's hard core.

The Golden Trumpet

We're talking mushrooms here folks.  My uncle, who doesn't use the Internet, and so will likely never see this post, has just made my WEEK!  This is what I received in the mail today:


 That is a nearly 5 pound box of chanterelle mushrooms.  A mother-load!  Freshly picked on Friday at the base of Mt. Hood in Oregon, and priority mailed to me for arrival today.  This stuff is like gold.  I covet these.  I buy them every year or so, but at $25-40/lbs, they are not a luxury I can often afford.

I immediately sorted them and made myself a side dish to go with the leftover kale salad of yesterday and Cajun ocean perch that was baking.

I first used any of the mushrooms that seems to be on the verge of going - a bit too moist for my liking, and cut any yuck off.  Thyme, garlic, and lemon at the ready, with my new cast-iron pan heating up.

Just in the pan, one must not mess with them too much.

They have shrunk down a bit with their lovely crispy edges.

As usual, the looks of the finished product is lacking due to poor lighting in our kitchen and a less than adequate camera.  But OooooOooooh, this was GOOOOOD!

Eat more kale, they say. A follow-up.

We are on the upswing with kale at our CSA again.  Awhile back, I wrote about a new-to-me way to prepare kale.  In salads, but massaged, or tenderized.  I tried this several times, and the best recipe I've found so far is as follows, with a few tweaks of my own.  I printed this out some time ago, and panicked this afternoon when I couldn't find it.  I did, finally, so I figure I'll share it and then also have it at my fingertips anytime I want instead of having to search for a piece of paper (I suppose, I could put it on a recipe card and file it, but this is more fun).

So this recipe is attributed to Kathy Gusnst.  I did not print out anything saying anything more about her, so I can't tell you who she is, really.  Only that she makes an excellent kale salad.

Kathy's Kale Salad

Ingredients:
3 Cups raw Kale, cored and cut into thin slices or ribbons
Sea Salt and pepper, to taste
About 1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 Tablespoons of vinegar (I used apple cider)
1/3 cup of raisins
1/3 cup of pine nuts or walnuts (I doubled this)

Toss all ingredients but nuts and let sit for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving.  Kathy notes that the salt and vinegar will tenderize the kale and soften in.  I do massage it a bit for good measure as well.  She mixed the nuts right in for the sitting period, but I roast them and then serve on top of the salad after it has tenderized.

Yum.

Coffee time.

It was my fault this time.  Sort of.  

Mozart slept better last night.  And, therefore, so did I.  At the beautiful hour of 7am (as opposed to the ungodly hour of 5am), He woke up and requested breakfast downstairs.  I obliged and then made myself coffee.  While Mozart got on with his morning, I drank my coffee on the couch while catching up with Facebook.  I was down to my last dregs, which I usually leave, and so had put my cup on the side table.  Mozart was playing nearby.  

And then it happened.  Again.

This time I got a coffee shower.  It was unintentional on his part, and it wasn't near the quantity of beer I was showered with yesterday.  I screeched anyway, but I've got no one to blame but myself.  And thankfully, coffee is a much more tolerable smell than beer.

Lessons learned this week:  

1. Always check side table (and couch) for any remnants from anyone's evening beverages or snacks upon coming down in the morning.
2. Always put your own cup away immediately after you've decided you are down.
3. Always be aware of the child's doings for you may be showered with unpleasantness if you are not.
4. Do these things even if you are tired.  

Oh, Come On!!

I mentioned a couple posts ago that I was so very, very tired.  Since that time, I've yet to get a truly restful night's sleep.  Mozart has been sick in a variety of ways ~ tummy trouble, fever, congestion, and now what may very well be hand, foot and mouth disease as evidenced by the sores in his mouth and the screaming that follows attempting to swallow anything but milk or yogurt.  So last night, instead of staying up and watching a show with TW, I went to bed and fell asleep before I even got done with one page in my book.

You can imagine that I was less than thrilled that he woke up at 5am.  And that he wanted to be up for the day at that point.  My overly tired brain could not take the screaming that ensued when I suggested he try, just try, to go back to sleep.  He wasn't having it.  Wanted to come downstairs and have breakfast.  I relented by half.  I made him ask me in a less screamy voice, but we did go downstairs.  Not to have breakfast, which I explained would absolutely not happen until it is light out, but to snuggle.

I did not turn on any lights. He said he was scared of the dark, but I said he had the choice of snuggling/resting with me down in the dark or he could go back up to his room.  He chose to stay with me.   We felt our way over to the couch and sat down.  As I felt around for the blanket I knew was there, I put my hand on a slimy, sticky thing.  I yelped a bit, which caused Mozart to snuggle closer as I realized the thing my hand was on was the lid for a Ben and Jerry's ice cream.  Somewhat irritated, I muttered to myself about cleaning up after oneself, moved the offending object to the coffee table, and proceeded to snuggle in with Mozart.  He did very well for some time, probably close to an hour, and he rested laying on top of me.  Every once in awhile he'd get restless, I'd ask him if he wanted to go back upstairs, and he'd settle down again.

And then it happened.

I heard a small, "What this, Mama?"  And was immediately showered with a deluge of cold liquid.  I screamed outright in shock.  My neck, hair and sweatshirt, as well as the couch behind, were saturated.  With beer!?!  Seriously?!?  Now I am, well, howling in dismay.  Mozart is joining in the howling because he doesn't know what is going on and if the dark is scary, I'm sure having your mother freak out in the dark for heaven knows what reason, is even scarier.

We howl our way upstairs, and I unceremoniously deposit Mozart in our bedroom, with a sleeping TW, and announced that I need to take a shower because my dear wife has left what must have been full beer to be poured on top of me and I now smell like a brewery.

I am showered now, and much more collected.  TW calmed Mozart down and I even got an apology from the little guy. TW has gone back to bed and so the leaving-out-of-drinks will need to be addressed later.  As my previous plans of getting to the gym early and then showering have been rearranged, we'll now be off to the Dairy Farm for milk, the Veggie Farm for veggies and flowers, and then the Farmer's Market for anything that didn't come in our CSA this week.  I'll hit the gym later.

Toddler Times

I've been trying to make a concerted effort of to not load Mozart up with carbs for his snacks.  This is hard as he prefers carb: Biscuits, cookies, crackers, popcorn, bread, dry cereal, the list goes on...  Tonight we stopped at the store on the way home for a couple of things.  The garbage disposal broke, so TW asked me to pick something up for dinner.  Mozart overheard this and suggested pizza.  I was game.  Still had to go to the store, but pizza it is (we are waiting).  When we got home, though, Mozart said he needed a snack.  I cut up pears.  This was not his idea of a snack, and he let me know by wailing, "NO, I need bunny crack!!!"

We, of course, do not give our child crack of any kind.  Not even the bunny kind.**  And let's be clear if we were going to drug him, it would be of the tranquilizing nature. Not that we would ever think of that.  Not even now, as he continues to wail about having his crack.  Not even as he methodically takes his bowl of pears to the sink and dumped them in.  And not even as he throws himself on the floor, lamenting toddler-style, about how unfair life is and then bangs his head on the coffee table, making the screams all the more pleasant.

Sigh.



**The bunny crack he is referring too is Annie's Cheddar Bunnies 

Bone Tired.

My Folks are here, and for this I am grateful, but I have to say that I am beyond tired.  I didn't sleep well - for no good reason - several days before they arrived, and then one thing or another has prevented sleep since there arrival.  We have had a very good time.  Mozart is beside himself with glee at their presence.  But he is also overly tired (he and his being sick are part of the reason I am not slept) and has been somewhat of a challenge to my patience.  It makes feel feel less than a great mom. And less than a great daughter, as my lack of patience, I fear, may be coming out in simple interactions as well.

I hope to be going to bed very soon - in say, less than twelve minutes, and be much more rested and able to reflect on  our visit and perhaps share some photos.  But right  now I will sleep, God willing, and think of nothing else 'til morning.

Kisses, Knives, and Pixie Dust

Isn't it amazing how a kiss can cure all?  Well, when you're two anyway.  Mozart was messing around this morning ~ running, falling on purpose, and doing it all over again.  He thought it hysterical.  Until he accidentally on purpose fell on his face.  It was tragic.  Real pain, as evidenced by a real cry, not the fake one that he pulls out for attention.  I gave it a minute (I find that if I give it just a little time before I kiss it better, the physical pain has dissipated enough to allow the psychological healing to take over) and asked him does he need a kiss.  A teary, "I do," and he ran over to be mended.  Three kisses on his chin and bottom lip and he says, "Thank-you Mama," and is off playing again.

I recently read an article where a woman listed off a bunch of moms admissions of failures, or rather, near-misses with their children.  Most of them had to do with car seat mishaps - either they forgot to buckle the kid in, or it wasn't clicked into the base, etc.  And all I could think of was The Knife Incident.

So Mozart didn't crawl properly, really, until after he started walking.  At first I think it was difficult for him then perhaps he was just lazy about getting his belly off the ground, but by the time he had actually learned to crawl with his bum up, he'd figured out that he could get from point A to point B with a toy or two if he had his hands free - and so he Commando Crawled.  Having been through Basic Training and the inevitable Obstacle Course, I can truly say that it takes, much, MUCH more effort to do this than to hike yourself up to your knees and be on your way.  Nonetheless.  That is what he did.

So picture this now. At about 10 months old, we are relaxing after we all got home.  TW and I were both on the couch, and Mozart playing on the floor next to us in the kid-safe space.  We were each in our own little world for a bit before the next flurry of dinner-making and evening routine started.  I don't know what I was doing in my own little world, but when I noticed he moved from my sight I checked to see all was well.  He was playing with a collection of cloth grocery bags and nothing else was around, so all was good.  Then, two minutes later, I see the child making his way across the floor, Commando Style with a STEAK KNIFE in hand!!!  

He was fine, amazingly, as he was holding the knife by the blade.  Apparently TW's lunch bag was with the grocery bags - Heaven only knows why - with the flatware she brings back and forth to work, and he was such a clever little devil that he un-Velcro'd it to access the goods.

I think I will forever have that image of him seared into my mind.

There have been a couple incidences like this.  I'm sure there are with most kids.  And when they are over we look back and thank whatever magic was responsible for keeping them safe!  Did I mention a couple weeks ago that Mozart started asking for pixie dust?  Sometimes he would ask, but sometimes he would demand.  We had no idea what he was talking about.  Seriously. No clue.  Then he started referring to watching pixie dust, so I figured it was a cartoon or something that he'd been exposed to at daycare.   We could not figure it out.  Until yesterday. Pixie Dust is apparently Teletubbies.  I did the happy dance because he was no longer distraught (he did have to pull out his Big Boy Voice in order to actually watch the video).  I still don't know what magic protects him from parenting mistakes and bodily injury, but for now the mystery of the pixie dust is solved.

More photos...

I'd intended on getting this next batch out later on the same day as the last batch~ oh, good intentions!  The weekend was chalk-full of projects and business, and it seems that these days, Saturday mornings are the only days I feel it ok to sit and veg out (when I have enough brain left to type anything comprehensible).  So on top of the usual running around to get the most out of our CSA's, last weekend I re-caulked the bathtub, organized the kitchen cabinets. The caulking job turned out serviceable.  Though certainly not professionally done, it looks so, sooo much better than it did.  And I am still exceedingly pleased with the outcome of the kitchen - we still have a couple cupboards to do, but in general, I don't think it's ever been so neat and serviceable!

Because the weekend was stretched another day long, my work week was stretched a day short, but of course the same amount of work needed to be done ~ and in fact this week was was busier than most due to some unexpected happenings.  Usually I have moments in my day when I can make a phone call or do something for myself, but this week I barely had time for lunch!  Eeeep!  Then after work, somehow, was even busier than the usual even though we didn't pick up the CSA's (break from some, Mme. Child picked up others for us) as we filled the evenings up with haircuts, dinner with friends, marching in parades and going to the county fair ~ Whew!  At the bottom, I've got a couple photos from the fair, but now onto the photos I promised...

Mozart is STILL, a full month later, remembering his good time at vacation.
He often brings up going to the beach and staying at the vacation cabin.

When I saw this sign I thought it comical.
But it was no joke.

They stalked our camps at the beach, and if anyone dare be absent for more than a couple minutes. 

Mozart's castle's weren't quite as elaborate as this, but someone has a great imagination.

And who says that the beach is only for kids?
This man. In his full on adulthood. Sat in this spot, enjoying the waves and playing in the sand, for at least an hour. When I walked by, he looked up at me, with absolute joy and beamed, "This is great! Just like being a kid again!" You go sir! 

It's always a little sad to leave the beach, even if you've been there since early morning.

Coloring at Spanky's Clam Shack

Mozart got to ride a Pirate Ship with Mommy.  He had a blast and "Argh'ed" his way through the next couple days!

Still glowing after the Pirate Ship ride.

Mr. Independent will push his own stroller, thankyouverymuch.

That was a good vacation!

And now, barreling into Fall, I can hardly believe it is fair time already!  We marched in the kick-off parade with my work, and Mozart had a blast.  I did as well, though I was utterly exhausted by the time we arrived.  But not so much so that we skipped the sights.  And the pig racing.  I did not know they did pig racing, but it was pretty funny.

He didn't actually want to ride on any of them, but he loved the lights.

Crazy oddities, "With the head of a human, but no arm and no legs, she crawls on her belly!  She's alive, she's alive, she's alive!"

And more oddities. I missed the creepy call for this one - was distracted by fire-eating man...

Racing pigs. Starring such celebrities as Rush Limphog and Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Too bad my phone couldn't capture their amazing-ness - those blurs are the stars.

*I give up on formatting the spacing between photos ~ it is maddening.  Truly.