Day #29--S.A.D.

Not that I am particularly sad, mind you. I'm talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder. And computer links that direct you to tips that can help you overcome that little problem. You know, when it's only 62 and mostly sunny in Santa Barbara in the Bleak Midwinter. Good grief.



I am feeling remarkably good, pregnancy-wise, for someone who is as far along as the ultrasound says I am (37.5 weeks). Which means that really, I'm probably only as far along as I think I am (36).

Tomorrow is my last day of Spanish. Sad, and yet not sad. I'll be back in there in a couple of months. Next week is the last week of the College's semester. NOT SAD! Whatever music J is playing right now? Sad.

Me, in our house with Southern exposure and sunny days? Not S.A.D.

Me, thinking about Cuatro's arrival, and the fact that no crib is set up, no clothes are washed and set out, and no boy name settled on? A little overwhelmed. I think it might be exciting and invigorating if I weren't quite so sleepy. I'll get to it...and soon.

Come on, Cuatro!...but not just yet.

I ate lunch outside at the picnic table today,
H

Day #28--Something That Stresses You Out

I am straight up stealing today's topic from my sister's 30-day list. She has a pretty good one for today--getting robbed, which she was this morning. I'm so sorry, Guff, and so glad you're OK!

And a little confused that no-one noticed someone(s) walking out of your apartment with arms and L.L. Bean bags loaded with electronic equipment. I think you should put up huge, neon REWARD signs all over your apartment complex and see what happens. At least the perps might be a little afraid (something your darling dogs don't seem to have accomplished).

I just said, "perps."

Anyway, so glad my sister is OK and doesn't have to sleep one more night in the apartment. Congratulations on your new house tomorrow!

As stressful as robbers and other maleantes may be, they are not what is setting off my personal stressometer today.

Those of you who know my personal phobias, get ready with your jokes:



I know, I'm paranoid. However, we got this message warning today from public safety:

"The Public Safety Department has been made aware of a mountain lion sighting that occurred within the last week. When the occupant of a home at [XXXX] Coyote Drive opened his kitchen door to an outdoor patio, he came face to face with what he described as a "very large" mountain lion. When the animal saw the neighbor it casually walked through the front yard and down the driveway.

Mountain lion encounters of this type are not common but they do happen on occasion in our community. The California Department of Fish and Game has prepared an excellent brochure called Staying Safe in Mountain Lion Country. It can be viewed at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/docs/lionbrochure.pdf . Please take a few minutes and read the brochure. I appreciate this contribution of your time to enhance your personal safety."

How close is Coyote Drive? I can see houses on Coyote from our back yard. When Coyote Drive residents were evacuated during the Jesusita Fire, we could hear and understand what the police car loudspeakers were communicating (and think, so why aren't they over here??). It is close.

So, it's not just paranoia anymore, folks! I have JUSTIFICATION for my bizarre behavior! Looks like I'll have to go around carrying rocks again.

I love the "causally walked through the front yard..."

Someone send me a stun gun,
H

Day #27--Music

We had music at Thanksgiving. It was great. Boppy led the kids (and grown-ups) in singing with his guitar, and it is wonderful.

At some point, Pixie--at least, I think it was Pixie and not Bud--lobbied for me to get out my flute and play along. This was both exciting and embarrassing.

Exciting because I've just started to pull it out again over the past year--and embarrassing because, having done so, I know just how pitchy I currently am, and how shot my embouchure is. Ew! Fuzzy sounds! Low endurance!

But exciting won, and it was really fun. Even when I terrorized "Jingle Bells" within an inch of its life.

And then M got on the piano, and there were trios and duets. So FUN!

Side note to my mother: Yes, I will admit that as much as I wanted to play the drums, the flute was really a more practical choice for me. "Something with a melody" means I can play and enjoy it even by myself. I can flip open the hymnal to look for a friendly key signature, or turn on the iPod and play along with something. Also, there's no way I would have hauled a drums set through all of our moves and apartments, which I could do with the flute, even though it lay dormant for many years.

Today is the first day of Advent. I took a lo--oooong nap this afternoon. After I emerged from our room, I found that J had been playing his trumpet for the kids. A quick google search (after discovering that I couldn't transpose "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" on the fly) and we have four or five pieces to work on together this season. I am so excited! Carol of the Bells, anyone?

Tonight J and I have taken a few minutes to jam. It's been very fun. Reminds me a little of...pre-child days. Only now there are children enjoying the music with us!...or tolerating it, depending on how we're doing. But mostly enjoying, I think.

We've had hot cider, and there are white lights on the porch...an Advent wreath on the table...and warm coziness. The weather has even cooperated and cooled off a bit, making coziness seem really yummy. J is reading aloud. Happy Advent!

Day #26--Shuffle

For once, my sister and mother and I will all be in sync. Sort of. Even though I'm a day late, I'll chalk it up to being on Left Coast Time and fashionably on time and all that. Plus, I don't have time to think through a blog post--not today--LOOK AT THIS:



And THAT is counting today. Last night J and I did a lot of Christmas present wrapping. We're not done, but we're well on our way. And I still have six gifts I get to buy today--it's mostly a matter of committing. And an advent wreath and an elf to pull out, on top of normal Saturday work things. Before all of that, our traditional Saturday morning breakfast (J usually does Sundays). Ah, I love the the hedonism of weekends! (reference? anyone?)

Anyway, here are the first ten songs to come up when I put our iPod on shuffle:

1. Trip Through Your Wires U2
2. I've Got to Use My Imagination Gladys Night and the Pips
3. Common as the Rain David Wilcox
4. Bound By a Spell C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair
5. A Man After God's Own Heart Timothy J. Keller
6. The First Noel Canadian Brass
7. Christ, Our Life Timothy J. Keller
8. Nevada Sky The Basics
9. Alternative Girlfriend Barenaked Ladies
10. Deck the Halls Canadian Brass

At least, that's pretty much it. I have to confess I was trying to figure out what came after "Gladys Knight and the P" and I lost that list and had to start over...I don't know that I've ever set the iPod to shuffle...and the next three lists all began with chapters from children's books, which I refused to use to start off. But this is close enough.

Day #25--Thanksgiving, Part 2

Today, I wanted to share a few photos from our day yesterday. It was great!

For some reason, we have almost no photos of the grown-ups. I assure you, we were there, too!

Here's one of the kid tables.


The day was full of friends...



And food... (Look! Adults! Don't blink)


And illustrations of things we're grateful for (Here is Pixie's place)...


And poetry recitations...



And music...



...And the saddest little French Silk Pie. EVER.


I have no pictures, but it was also full of the best. turkey. EVER. J put that 23-lb. baby in the smoker at 2:15am, underneath the ham (which basted it nicely) and stuffed with yummy things like apples and onions and I don't know what else. It was amazing.

And for supper, we had Happy Thanksgiving AGAIN! YUM!

And I have three more Christmas presents to chase down. By tomorrow. What's your count?

Day #24--Happy Thanksgiving, Part I

We had a great day, and I hope y'all did, too. There was good food, fun music, family, friends-like-family, crayons, messes, stresses, candles, singing, and yumminess. I hope to post some photos and tales tomorrow...there's yet a bit of clean-up to do. :)

'Sta Manana!


PS This isn't where we live, but it looks a lot like it. And is much more Thanksgiving appropriate than SB. Any guesses...? ;)

Day #23--Adventures in the Kitchen

Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake.

Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake.

Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake.

Say it three times, really fast.

Now:

“Let me ask you a question. Everyone at this table. Did he just say the word pumpkin to me?”
(Tracy Jordan, 30 Rock pilot episode)

But I digress.

Today, in order to get a jump start on tomorrow, for which I am actually doing very little cooking, I went ahead and made a Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake. No one else at our Thanksgiving likes pumpkin pie, but it seems like there should be something pumpkin-y on the table.

(Did he just say the word pumpkin to me?")

I also made a crust for the French Silk pie I'll be attempting tomorrow. Hope that works out.

Back to the CPGC. I have a few extra tips for you, should you wish to try it. For example, when the recipe calls for softened cream cheese, it actually means softened...not just that you wish it was softened because you're pretty sure your microwave is on the cusp of melting it. Softened does not mean that you can stick a finger in it. You can actually do that to un-softened cream cheese. Should you rush the softening process, you'll likely end up with this:


A big glob of cream cheese thwapping around the side of the bowl as it mixes. And two pounds of thwapping is a lot. However, as my friend M. explained just last week, something about mechanical something speeding up chemical something (science smart paid attention in science .)

So I knew from that little lesson about ice melting (which she gave to our daughters) that if I just let 'er rip it would eventually soften. Which it did.


However, this is not what it is supposed to look like when it comes out of the oven:


This is what Brinsons back in the day would have called a "3-pointer."

Does that look like any cheesecake you've ever seen? This vision means cheesecake batter all over the bottom of the oven and smokiness drifting through the house. Ech. Apparently I was overzealous about the "light and fluffy" part of "beat until light and fluffy," and made a POOFY Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake.

(Did he just say the word pumpkin to me??!?")

I really must recommend watching the first half of the 30 Rock pilot if you haven't seen it. If for no other reason, it'll open worlds of funny quotables packed with meaning:

"Isn't he...crazy?"
"I am a Jedi!" and
"Nor should it be," come to mind.

The pumpkin question, on the other hand, is random...if subtle.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day #22--Recreation

Tonight, after the kids went to bed, J challenged his parents to a foosball game. That is, he and his mom vs. his dad and yours truly.

It was epic, and hilarious, and competitive...in a weird sort of way.

Let's just say that own-goals ruled the night, along with J's quote: "It's... good to have goals."

Also, he made up the word "spinzies."

We laughed and laughed and laughed.

Pixie got up to get some water and had all of her suspicions confirmed re: what grown-ups do after kids go to bed.

And now I am off to bed. I have a cold. Boo. I also had a doctor's appointment today, but not for the cold--we have only 4 or 5 weeks left until Cuatro arrives!

And 4 or 5 days until Advent. Depending on how you count. Help. I need help.

I want to quote Pioneer Woman here, but I'm not sure which sign-off to steal:

I want my mommy,

or

Goodbye forever,
H

Day #21--Two-minute Drill

As football season is winding toward a close--for those of us who don't have January bowl games to look forward to--some of us may find our attention drawn to other sorts of contests.

Perhaps you remember my challenge from back on Day #2. Well, having gone through all of those brussels sprouts, and having not been able to find them at Trader Joe's for a while, I happened upon them again last week.


And unlike J., I bought TWO stalks! One for having when we feel like it, and one for Thanksgiving. Mmm--mmm good. And I'll think of some other vegetable for the children to eat. It is a holiday, after all.

Except for Wombles. He likes brussels sprouts, and artichokes, and asparagus.

Anyway, it was great fun breaking off all of the sprouts. And then we were left with the two stalks. As J went to go put them in the green bin, he paused and asked, "How much fun do you think the boys would have playing with these?"

We decided to leave them out, wondering how long it would take them to decide to use them as some kind of medieval weapon.

The next morning, one of the kids saw them out the sliding glass door and asked what they were. "Brussels Sprout stalks."

Later, when it was time for them to go outside for recess, I set my stopwatch. I wanted to know just how long, exactly, it would take someone to find them and use them as a club or sword or something.

The answer: Just less than two minutes.

Wombles was the first to capitalize on new technology. Suddenly, Bud's Nerf gun didn't seem quite the thing.



So then Bud, of course, went and found the other one.


They were able to parry for a short while before Pixie saw what was going on and capitalized on the opportunity to write, stage and direct a new script. She was the princess in the tower (naturally).



Bud was her defender, and Wombles was the "bad guy."


As executive producer, I eventually stepped in and reworked it so there were two knights fighting against another enemy... and things went very well for our heroes (not so well for the dragons).

If only we could say the same for our gridiron heroes!

Day #20--Recent Video

I mentioned yesterday that Boppy and Grandma were here for a Thanksgiving visit. Hooray! The three amigos have been shrieking with glee in anticipation of their arrival for some time, and have not been disappointed.

It's fun the even Wombles can remember enough details from their last visit (in June) to look forward to doing some of the same things again. I have been surprised by how vividly he remembers.

Their memories have been jogged somewhat by the arrival of the kids' album, Wake and See. It's been nearly a year since we all convened up at Camp Covington to record the kids' tracks, and we've been looking forward to hearing the final version. Since we got our copy in the mail, Pixie and Bud have had a blast singing along with Boppy, their cousins, and themselves on several of the tracks--and learning the songs that are new to them. Pixie will listen to "Fiddle Box" over and over again, giggling at the bits she recognizes from the Little House books and asking about the bits are from books in the series which she's hasn't yet read. We've had a great time!

Recently at recess, the kids performed bits of a song that is new to them. I don't think they'll get the theological statement for some time yet (you won't either, from this clip) but maybe the point will go ahead and sink in!

Anyway, Happy Sunday Video!

Day #19--36 Weeks, Cuatro and School

I just have the number 36 on the brain today...

According to the perinatologist's special machine, Cuatro and I are today 36 weeks along on this stage of our journey together. I am now supposed to stay close to home--within an hour of the hospital.

As one of our friends joked, "Does that include the time it takes to get childcare set up for the other three, or not?" If the answer were yes, I wonder whether our house would be close enough!

I'm not actually worried about making it to hospital, not as long as I'm nearby. We live in a great community and I'm not worried about finding somewhere for the kids to go. One of my friends--she of no-gravy-on-my-sandwich and the pinking shears--even once said she hoped Cuatro would come on Christmas Day (my personal nightmare), because "then we'd have your kids on Christmas, and that would be fun!" I think she's crazy, but it's an incredibly generous sentiment.

In any case, I don't think I'm actually at week 36. I respectfully disagree with that number, putting myself 10-12 days back.

But I can't help it--now that we're close, I think it would be pretty fun for Cuatro to go ahead and come along. For one thing, this is the first time we've waited to find out the gender of our child--and the SUSPENSE IS REALLY SOMETHING.

Also, we have a girl name but no boy name yet. I just added that little line-item to the "Baby-Welcoming" list in my special little notebook. Can you imagine? "Well, Cuatro, I've got your furniture arranged and I've got clothes ready for you, but I forgot to write "Choose a Name" on the list. If you had been a girl we wouldn't have had this little snafu, but I was living by the list back then (it was before Advent, you see) and really--we'll get to it just as soon as we can."

36 Weeks is also the standard length of time for a school year. We are 12 weeks into the year--I can't believe Bud is one-third of the way through Kindergarten!

Planning, preparing and executing homeschool takes up a great deal of time, and I still don't think I'm very good at it. I keep wondering whether there's some magical time-saving device that I'm overlooking...I think maybe it's Sonlight, but I'm hoping for something a little less pricey.

At any rate, "36 weeks" has been a magic schooltime number ever since I started teaching Spanish back in Fall 2001. Working two "half-time" positions meant that I was pulling 14-hour days and trying not to resent J., who had started a Ph.D. program and was earning as much from his stipend and fellowship as I was teaching. ("And our Hearts Forever, Love thee Notre Dame!). I remember getting through week four and thinking, "One ninth of the way there!" and so on, and so on... nothing has been quite so hard since then. But I still count down the weeks during the year.

I actually think that's all I have for 36. I'm not 36 yet, and I haven't yet gained 36 pounds yet, although I could eat 36 miniature candy bars. Like, right now.

OK, this has been random--but we have Boppy and Grandma in town, and I want to get out of here! Happy Saturday night!

Day #18--Loose Ends

###If you are linking to here from November 2011, go on and scroll down to Bud's drawing. That's what I directed you here for.###

My brain is at loose ends today, something that happens from time to time. I have had a couple of windows in the last 24 hours--mostly while doing dishes--where I've had time to begin chasing down thoughts and ideas beyond the initial "oh! That's something I'd like to think/learn/talk about!".

The reflective life is not one I feel the luxury of having at present, but it has been fun to peek at the things simmering in there. The crock pot of thinking is at least plugged in (children's fiction reference? anyone?) and I'll get around to having dinner sooner or later. Meanwhile, it smells kinda nice.

When you have untangled the metaphors, please let me know.

Given the schedule of the rest of my day, I'm resisting the urge to dive into deeper thought here. I think I need Tylenol and a nap more just at present. But I'll note down some of the bullet points, so I don't forget to hit them up later:

Black Moods
Counting Crows
Psychological v. Biblical understanding of Personhood
Scripture Memorization
Binge/Comfort Eating
How the Church identifies, encourages & utilizes the gifts of people
Corelli's concerti grossi
Carbohydrates
Gratefulness for the church we're worshiping with


They ARE all related...isn't it obvious?

Since I'm not going to get into how right now, I'll tie up another loose end: my earlier post on "When You Grow Up." I wanted to show a photo of Pixie taken around the age when she was cheering on Bud:



And to show a picture drawn by Bud at church recently. The kids (and adults) were talking about God's mission, what it is and how we can participate. The kids each drew a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up: "I can serve God's mission as a..." and then, whatever they wanted to be.

Bud drew a picture of what he wants to be: "Someone who gives money to poor people."


That's him taking money out of his pockets and handing it to someone whose pockets are empty.

Love that Bud.

Day #17 --What are your holiday plans?

I recently got my hair cut. Yes, "once a year whether I need it or not." Despite the fact that I've only sat under her scissors three times, I really like how Samantha cuts my hair. The first time I went I bullied her into cutting it the way I thought it should be cut in order to get the results I wanted. I kept asking her to "make it a little shorter there."

So, three months later it looked the way I wanted it to. You know, about the time that part grew back out to where she had cut it originally. Ever since then I've just told her what I wanted and submitted meekly.

Which leaves a lot of time for talking. I'm not very good at small talk. I'm not really great at any kind of talking; and although I'm fairly good at snarky cut-downs, I'm trying to cut back, thanks. So sitting in Samantha's chair for an hour or so gave me a good chance to practice, and learn from someone for whom small talk comes with the job.

It does not come with my job.

It was perfect timing--November 6th. After we had talked about Halloween and children activities, traditions, and costumes, there was a lull. Bring on Thanksgiving! And after that--Christmas! With attendant visiting, traditions, travels, family, locations, etc. there was, amazingly, a nice stream of chit-chat... which was all surface.

For example, Samantha knows our generic Thanksgiving plans; but not the zesty little details like covering the table with paper, giving everyone crayons, and having them draw at their places things they're grateful for.

Or how I keep overlooking Thanksgiving as a holiday, coming as it does a few days before the start of Advent, which didn't come up in my conversation with Samantha at all but has been looming rather large on my personal landscape. Following the example set two years ago by my friend Margie back in Wheaton, this year I decided to aim for a peaceful, worshipful Advent season. For me, I thought that would look like doing a couple of different things...and doing them all before Advent begins:

(1) Planning for and preparing a few Advent traditions
(2) Doing the same for Christmas;
(3) Finishing all gift shopping before Advent
(4) Wrapping all presents which need to be wrapped
(5) Getting things ready for Cuatro (who will arrive either during Advent or Christmas)
(6) Being as intentional about traditions and ways of worshiping and celebrating during Advent and Christmas as I am about shopping.

I got out a little notebook and started making lists (Love the lists). The Gift-Giving section is toward the back, behind Decorating, Letter-Writing, Baby-Welcoming, Celebrating Advent, and Celebrating Christmas but before the sections on 12 Days of Christmas and Epiphany.

True, I am now spending a lot of time shopping on Amazon.com. But I've already spent a lot of time on other websites, researching old traditions for different days of the 12 days of Christmas, and tracking down Advent hymns; I have even made a table cover and used lovely purple fabric to make a base for our Advent wreath. I don't sew--but M. lets me borrow her pinking shears. And for this year, that is quite enough.

One of the websites I perused recommended only adding one new tradition in any given year, and that is helping me keep things under control.

And the whiteboard pictured above? We've been counting down for at least 24 days. It's really helped nudge me along toward a feeling of longing and expectation.

I'm working on skipping the snarky comment every time I open eBay and see their countdown--which stands at 37 today.

Day #16--Tell a Funny Joke

Can I pass along a spin on an oldie? You know the one--

Texas was mad when Alaska joined the Union, because then it wouldn't be the biggest state anymore. And the Alaska said, "Be quiet, or I'll cut myself in half and then you'll only be the THIRD biggest state."

Last weekend, J and I were talking football, and he said, "You know, the SEC kinda reminds me of that Alaska/Texas joke." In response to my questioning look, he answered, "You know. 'Quit complainin', or we'll cut ourselves in half and then we'll be the TWO best conferences.' "

What reason are we on? #5, 427. Love that man! He gets it.

It doesn't hurt that his team is an Independent, leaving any conference loyalties up for grabs (or not). Which also means that whenever I look at the rankings and invariably count how many SEC teams are the top 25, and gloat, and (historically, anyway) go off on the PAC-10, he assents.

Again, it helps my case that the loathsome USC (West Coast variety) is in the PAC-10.

This is not to say that I love all the SEC teams, of course. Don't even get me started. But you get it, right?

Day #15--When You Grow Up

There are times when I feel old. OK, not really that often--only when questions like, "Do you realize that on our next birthday we'll be __?!?" Make us stare at one another with open mouths. And then we laugh. I'm laughing because I'm essentially the same person on the inside that I was when I was eight. At least, I FEEL the same.

Pixie's almost eight. Yikes.

So, I'm not really sure what I'm going to be when I grow up. It is fun to hear all of the different ideas about their own futures from the kids, though. Recently Pixie told me she was goin to be a singer, and was going to college to major in singing. She has, at other points, planned professions as Cowgirl and Pharmacist. Those two in conjunction, actually.

This morning during recess, Bud decided that he was in training for his profession (newly chosen today): clown. Here is what the training involved:



And there's Pixie, coaching and encouraging Bud as usual. You may have seen this post where she cheers him on. I don't think I've posted this video, taken the day (actually the instance) that Bud first rolled over from tummy to back. I just love it.



So, I think like to think that among other things, Pixie will grow up and continue to encourage Bud and others.

Even clowns.

Day #14--What's Cooking in the Kitchen?

Steak. Blue Steak.

And Lavender Fried Chicken Drumsticks.



And some crazy ice cream.


And one of my favorite chefs!

Day #13--Find a Happy Place

Balloons are muy popular at our house.




Happy Sunday!

Day #12--Happy Anniversary...

Two years ago today, on our street


It's been two years since the Tea Fire. I think we are all okay with that. It doesn't come up very often. No children have nightmares involving fire trucks. The hills behind us are lovely and green again.

So why am I weeping at the computer as I am going through the old pictures? I'm totally surprised with myself.

And how can I smell that distinct, acrid smoke smell--like no cozy fireplace you've ever curled up in front of--when I see this shot?


It IS such a Happy Anniversary, though! And one of the ways I know? The neighbors who lived in this house:


--are now in their rebuilt one...and came to borrow the lawnmower this morning.


That may not mean anything to those of you who live where the grass is always green, nor where you get rain on a regular basis. But green, growing grass is the opposite (for us) of what you see in these pictures. And it also means that the rebuilt homes have been around long enough for a little landscaping. Whoo-hoo! (It's the first time they've borrowed the mower, to give you an idea of timelines).

We have had really windy evenings the past week or so--it's that time of year. Our incredibly wet October means that the sound of them every night doesn't bring fear along with it. And for that, too, we are grateful.

Happy Saturday!

Day #11--Don't Let it Happen to You

Today, a friend was over for lunch. By the way, I love having a friend who can come to lunch unplanned. And I love that with this friend we tend to decide where to go based on who has better leftovers at the moment.

It's very non-stressful that way. Until you decide to put gravy on YOUR turkey sandwich (she doesn't) and you spend all of lunch with turkey sliding around everywhere. I felt like a 2-year-old using chopsticks to eat a Big Mac.

But that's NOT what you shouldn't let happen to you!

Don't be wooed by the beautiful sunshine out of doors to eat your lunch (although that is good for the Big sloppy turkey Mac). Don't think that if all three boys under age five are playing happily inside, you should leave well enough alone.

But if you do, then later (to quote Ace Ventura, Pet Detective): "Do NOT go in there!!"


There was even a strange electrical smell in the air...presumably from the tiny motor powering the inflatable pirate ship. It had been left on for a long, long time.



I don't even want to know.

Day #10--What's a Recent Whoops?

Oh, easy breezy Parcheesi.

Tuesday, I offered to make dinner and take it to a friend. Then I came home and defrosted a huge package of pork loin chops. I studied up on The Pioneer Woman and read up in Alice Waters' The Art of Simple Food. I. Was. Ready.

So, it's going to take 51 minutes to defrost all of those pork chops? No problem-o. I'm thinking ahead. I have time.

So, 51 minutes isn't actually enough time to defrost them? Well, OK then. Okey-Dokey.

I have corn bread. And a friend is willing to pick up a bagged salad for me. I have insider knowledge from Alice Waters. This is going to be great!

And then I suddenly have a sinking feeling that my friend maybe can't eat pork. Really? Quick phone call to check. Confirmed. OK, well, no-problem-e-o. It just so happens that I have a back-up plan (that involves my family eating pork chops for the next four days). But I maybe hadn't planned on making two entirely separate dinners that night.

My salad friend calls to ask if I need anything from the store, while I am in the middle of trying to pry two frozen pork chops apart. I am so grateful. She picks up the things I need for dinner #2, which is actually dinner #1, since it will be made first.

And it gets made and delivered. And then I start frying pork chops. And you know what? They are good. They are actually GOOD! So what if my shirt is ruined from splattering oil? SO WHAT if J has to put the little blue towels (Mom and Guff, you know what I'm talking about) down on the floor so we don't track oil all over the house with our FEET? J is happily eating a dinner he didn't cook (for once--the "didn't cook" part, not the happily part) and the kids are chowing down with no complaints and Bud is saying, "Mom, thanks for this dinner. It is SO delicious!"

Thank you, Alice Waters!!

And thanks for the tip I used on that last pork chop, too. The really big fat one that really couldn't be successfully pan-fried. You just pop it in the oven at 375 after it's browned! And in my new birthday huge cast-iron skillet, that's a piece of cake! Yesss!!

I really don't think it was Alice's fault that I completely forgot about that chop in the oven until about an hour later, when I was cleaning up. There was a funny smell, you see.


Whoops.

Day #9--A New Kid in Town

Her name is Molly. Molly McIntyre.

She has been around for a while, gifted under extraordinary circumstances. But it has only been in the past few weeks that she has come into her own. Pixie has reached that age, and it's sweet. But also a little sad.

Bittersweet?

I think it's just possible that Molly may begin edging out Nite-Nite from his 7.5-year reign as The Object Of Affection. For example, Pixie no longer takes Mollys clothes to dress Nite-Nite...she actually uses them to dress Molly. Also, Molly has been the friend she brought to school . Where she duly sympathizes with Pixie over the difficulty of the "8s" multiplication table.

However, during every spelling test, I am asked to make every sentence containing a spelling word be somehow about Nite-Nite. Which is a pretty fun activity for me, actually. So Nite-Nite isn't off the map yet!

Day #8--A Rose By Any Other Name

I like roses. Tea hoses, hybrids, floribunda. Spray roses.

Delicate peach roses handed over in an airport.

And then carried in a wedding bouquet.

And now going nuts on a large bush outside of our bedroom window.

I also like roses with more complex color patterns; I've been a fan ever since my mom bought home the "forty-niner" variety when I was young.

I loved my engagement-anniversary roses. Boy, did I ever.

And I love my birthday roses, too:

The colors are getting even better as they open, which is really fun. It's also very fun that store-bought roses are actually opening.

That wasn't my only bouquet this week, though:


Courtesy of Wombles. Yes, these rare varieties only bloom in the part of the kingdom that he's not allowed to enter without escort...but it's difficult to be hard on him when his quest included the flowers. Held out in two little, almost-still-chubby fists. Just as sweet.

Day #7--Something You're Glad You Did This Week

My birthday was last week. Taking the boys on a field trip for school, frittering a lot of time on Thrones, Dominations, and eating a lot of extremely yummy food were not the only unusual things that I did.

After music classes, it was so hot that I got out the kiddie pool. And I let Wombles hold the hose while it was being filled. Glee.


Then, instead of breathing a sigh of relief that the boys had somewhere safe to burn off some energy and running inside to hide in relative coolness, I pulled a chair over to the shade afforded by the playset and sat down to watch.


It was therapeutic and an unlooked-for gift. I cannot believe how restorative it was to be sitting and enjoying my children--and not doing anything else. I remember thinking, I should go in and... but then their infectious laughter (combined with their delight that I was watching them race and do cannonballs into the pool) made me think, No, this is a good thing. I am not wasting my time. Then I thought, I should call someone and catch up if I'm just sitting here.

Nope. I should sit here and enjoy the zany delight of a kiddie pool, two brothers, and their mom on a 100-degree day.

I got a lot of great gifts on my birthday. But I think the best one was the combo gift of an awareness of the incredible richness of my life, and a deep sense of gratefulness for it. And delight in it!

Wombles' face captures it pretty well:

Day #6--What Are You Reading?

I often have several books going at the same time. One fun book, one need-to-read book, etc. Lately, however, I've been running pretty dry. Which is just as well. JUST AS WELL, I SAY, IF NOT BETTER.

And that's because I've gotten VERY LITTLE DONE in the past few days, since I came splashing out of my dry spell.

This is primarily responsible:


(You can't actually click to see inside from here, by the way). It is not Sayers, but it is riveting. It is my fun book. I think it's good to not have fun books very often at this stage of life. I lack the self-control to put them down for long enough, and it'll be something of a relief to finish this one off.

Here's another one I'm in right now:


It's going more slowly, and is primarily a Sunday-afternoon-in-the-sun book. We thought we might use it for a small-group book study, but are going in a different direction instead. I think it's potentially really helpful and exciting.

This one I got for my birthday, and is A-ma-zing:

Have you ever read George Herbert? I had never even heard of him before last Thanksgiving. I printed up "Gratefulness, " one of the poems, and had it printed out. I've since memorized it. Once I got this book in my hands and saw the richness, I was so excited...and will be delving in more after I finish that book at the top. You know, the one "they add special chemicals to it that make you crave it [fortnightly]." This one was a birthday treat. Thank you, Boppy and Grandma!

Which brings me to another birthday treat book. When I was a little girl, I loved reading my mom's copy of Emily Post. What a great way to learn how to set the table, what to do when your neighbor's dog chews up your furniture, and that you should never wear white to a wedding! This year, I got my own new copy twice (it must be horribly bad manners to say so, though).



For the past few years, ever since we saw Cold Comfort Farm, my in-laws have occasionally called me "Emily Post's Child." So this was a perfect gift from them. Pixie gave it to me, too. Yay!

Now, if you haven't seen Cold Comfort Farm, then you probably should. Or, maybe not. It really depends on your sense of humor. But at least you would then get the joke about Emily Post's Child.

Also, you should check this book out of the library and then keep renewing it (or buy it!):


It IS Sayers, and it is delicious.

Happy Sunday!