The other day when I picked up Mozart, he pointed out an owie on his arm. It looked worrisome. I don't know that it would have looked worrisome had his little friend, Goose, not come down with a staff infection earlier in the week. But Mme. Child sent me a photo and the owie looked suspiciously similar - angry red with a whitehead in the middle. I called the after hours line for the doctor and described it. Got the advice to put antibiotic cream on it and to make an appointment the next day.
Meanwhile what Mozart had been describing as his "bug bite" got promoted to his "dinosaur bit".
I just love this kid. He hears that we seem to be more concerned about something than his usual owie - generally bug bites, and so obviously, what he has must be something much more serious!
But then, fast forward to going to seen doctor the next day. He was very impressed with his band-aid (Elmo characters) all morning long, but when the doctor asked him why he came in he says, with a very serious tone, "I just got this cough from Kiki's."
Really? I mean, I did notice that he had been a little congested, but from the moment he said "dinosaur bite" all he talked about was going to the doctor to have it checked!
So I pointed out the owie, which did look better by then, and the doctor said that maybe it was and maybe it wasn't staff, but it was too early to tell. In the end, Mozart stayed home from Kiki's, the owie resolved itself with the OTC antibiotic cream and no script needed, and true to his prediction Mozart developed a little cough that turned into a bit of a bigger cough over the weekend.
He seems to be feeling better. I now seem to have acquired his little cough. So with that, I will turn in early and try mightily to kick this little cough to the curb.
The power of sleep.
Mozart wore me out. I am only now recovering after more than 24 hours.
He did not nap while at daycare on Tuesday. The plan HAD been to swoop in, pick him up, have dinner and head to the Y. There is free childcare on Tuesday nights, he loves it, and it give me some extra time at the gym for myself.
They say something about the best made plans... I don't think they had what followed in mind. I feel like what they had in mind would have been much more positive.
The daycare provider calls Mozart (and other kids) "ugly" when describing the behavior and nastiness that only toddlers can exhibit. Well, lemme tell ya, he was UGLY on Tuesday. It started when he wanted to stop by my office, which we do sometimes, but this was not in the schedule. The screaming commenced. And did not stop. It continued all the way home, into the house, through a time out, and even past the time TW got home. As I say, first it was the office NOW, then it was going to the Y NOW, certainly NOT going home for dinner, then it was having a snack NOW, with TV - and NOW! The kid was just coming apart at the seams. I decided, since the time out didn't work, we would try a time in. This sometimes works when a kid feels so out of sorts.
It didn't.
Thank-fully, TW did come home early and put together his dinner. By that time it was clear that he just needed to go to bed. Somehow we got him to be calm enough to sit at the table. And even got a laugh out of him every once in awhile - but the tantrum was constantly threatening.
I was frazzled, he was fragile, and we all needed a break. TW brought out some elderberry syrup for him. He was thrilled. He loves the stuff, and says, "I do need my medicine!" And so I asked him what kind of medicine he needs, thinking he's say something that referred to the syrup. Instead I got a blank stare, and so, well... I told him he needed a tranquilizer.* He repeated that very funny sounding word several times with some approximation to the proper pronunciation. I tell you, it's funny to hear a kid say, "I need my tranquilizer now."
After dinner he was brought up to bed and I got to get away to the gym for a bit. He slept very soundly and was in a much better space yesterday!
* Just a note that while we joke that he needs a tranquilizer (sometimes a bear tranquilizer), we have never and will never give him such a thing!
He did not nap while at daycare on Tuesday. The plan HAD been to swoop in, pick him up, have dinner and head to the Y. There is free childcare on Tuesday nights, he loves it, and it give me some extra time at the gym for myself.
They say something about the best made plans... I don't think they had what followed in mind. I feel like what they had in mind would have been much more positive.
The daycare provider calls Mozart (and other kids) "ugly" when describing the behavior and nastiness that only toddlers can exhibit. Well, lemme tell ya, he was UGLY on Tuesday. It started when he wanted to stop by my office, which we do sometimes, but this was not in the schedule. The screaming commenced. And did not stop. It continued all the way home, into the house, through a time out, and even past the time TW got home. As I say, first it was the office NOW, then it was going to the Y NOW, certainly NOT going home for dinner, then it was having a snack NOW, with TV - and NOW! The kid was just coming apart at the seams. I decided, since the time out didn't work, we would try a time in. This sometimes works when a kid feels so out of sorts.
It didn't.
Thank-fully, TW did come home early and put together his dinner. By that time it was clear that he just needed to go to bed. Somehow we got him to be calm enough to sit at the table. And even got a laugh out of him every once in awhile - but the tantrum was constantly threatening.
I was frazzled, he was fragile, and we all needed a break. TW brought out some elderberry syrup for him. He was thrilled. He loves the stuff, and says, "I do need my medicine!" And so I asked him what kind of medicine he needs, thinking he's say something that referred to the syrup. Instead I got a blank stare, and so, well... I told him he needed a tranquilizer.* He repeated that very funny sounding word several times with some approximation to the proper pronunciation. I tell you, it's funny to hear a kid say, "I need my tranquilizer now."
After dinner he was brought up to bed and I got to get away to the gym for a bit. He slept very soundly and was in a much better space yesterday!
* Just a note that while we joke that he needs a tranquilizer (sometimes a bear tranquilizer), we have never and will never give him such a thing!
Procurement, prepping and putting up - or tossing out *sigh*
What?! Are you kidding? The weekend is over?? But I didn't even digest the week yet!
Seriously, this working full time business is tiring. And much more tiring when one is attempting to manage a two year old and four CSA's. The food procurement, prepping and putting up is about doing me in. It was before my hours got bumped up, but now... I'm just trying not to let things rot or otherwise go to waste. At least it's going to the compost and not into a landfill, but still, not ideal. We have to rethink some of this business.
The fish went to waste last week. There was just too much. They made a mistake and had packaged the portions too small, so they gave us two packages of ... whatever it was last week, I think it was haddock. Very good, but just too much - even with having company over.
Today I put another 7 or so lbs of apples into the dehydrator - only lost three or so pounds to rot. Have another 10 lbs that we got on Wednesday. If I'm still standing at the end of the day tomorrow, I may make more sauce.
But the veggies. Oh, Lord, they are going to waste. Two eggplants, a squash, three tomatoes (the last of the season - oh, come on!), two heads of lettuce... the list goes on, I'm sure, with things haven't yet unearthed.
The meat, thank goodness, all comes frozen. And it does seem to be just about the right amount for what we use.
Seriously, this working full time business is tiring. And much more tiring when one is attempting to manage a two year old and four CSA's. The food procurement, prepping and putting up is about doing me in. It was before my hours got bumped up, but now... I'm just trying not to let things rot or otherwise go to waste. At least it's going to the compost and not into a landfill, but still, not ideal. We have to rethink some of this business.
The fish went to waste last week. There was just too much. They made a mistake and had packaged the portions too small, so they gave us two packages of ... whatever it was last week, I think it was haddock. Very good, but just too much - even with having company over.
Today I put another 7 or so lbs of apples into the dehydrator - only lost three or so pounds to rot. Have another 10 lbs that we got on Wednesday. If I'm still standing at the end of the day tomorrow, I may make more sauce.
But the veggies. Oh, Lord, they are going to waste. Two eggplants, a squash, three tomatoes (the last of the season - oh, come on!), two heads of lettuce... the list goes on, I'm sure, with things haven't yet unearthed.
The meat, thank goodness, all comes frozen. And it does seem to be just about the right amount for what we use.
The bright side for the week/end? I've gotten into the swing of things with my kefir production. So much so that I have frozen some grains and am drying some. Yesterday I learned how to make sauerkraut - if I can just get to that cabbage before it turns. I made mayonnaise today. And ranch dressing with that mayonnaise and kefir (in lieu of buttermilk).
I do not have the work I was supposed to get done for work done this weekend, but I feel a bit justified as I worked two and a half hours over on Friday and the task for this particular project was very late in the getting. So here I go. Off to another week. I've a feeling 5am will be coming all too soon...
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.
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.
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| 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. |
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| Just in the pan, one must not mess with them too much. |
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| They have shrunk down a bit with their lovely crispy edges. |
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| 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.
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:
- Always check side table (and couch) for any remnants from anyone's evening beverages or snacks upon coming down in the morning.
- Always put your own cup away immediately after you've decided you are down.
- Always be aware of the child's doings for you may be showered with unpleasantness if you are not.
- 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.
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
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.
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.
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