Kids are Funny, Mommies are Silly

Last night for dinner we had Butternut Squash Soup and Greens (from our garden of course ... still kicking in spite of the snowfall last week) that I cooked the good ole' southern way, with ham hocks. It wasn't my family's favorite meal, but they ate up anyway. (I purchased 2 bushels of local butternut squash, so I'm currently playing a game with myself -- How to Cook Butternut Squash in 1,000 Different Ways). After our dinner, sitting down at the table with candles, conversation and even a back rubbing competition -- we started with the bedtime routine. Kids were tucked in and snoring away by 8pm.

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So, imagine my surprise when at 12:10am Benjamin (9) comes wandering into our room and says "Mommy, I'm hungry!" Groggy and stunned with disbelief I say "You've got to be kidding Benjamin, it's midnight." (Benjamin went through a stage where he'd wake up in the middle of the night and come into our room to make some obscure observation, which wouldn't be a huge deal, but sometimes I struggle to go back to sleep once my mind gets going.) "No, really. My stomach is hurting I'm so hungry." Finally it starts to register in my mind. We didn't have any meat, dairy or grains for dinner and Benjamin had swim team practice that afternoon. Poor guy. He was hungry. "Uhhh, (trying to think, while still half sleeping) let's see, how 'bout the crackers that are still on the kitchen counter." "OK" and Benjamin leaves.

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While I'm typing this, I can't help but be reminded that there are so many children and adults alike around the world and even in the United States, with the economic downturn we've been going through, who are going hungry. Now is certainly not the time to go overeating while others are going hungry and food banks are at all time lows -- when people need them the most. Save money with portion control (I recently switched to breakfast plates for dinners) and if you can, give to your local food bank. A lot of people actually buy something for the poor every time they go to the grocery store. Somehow, on a regular basis, I always forget until I walk by the food bank drop off near the exit of the grocery store. But, yesterday I remembered. I'm going to try to remember from now on. Really, it's an easy one. When we shop for food, we should be thankful that we can afford it, be good stewards of what's been given to us, and remember those who can't afford to eat three meals a day. For you local folks, Crossroads RI does a great job helping the homeless and the poor. There are all kinds of ways to help out -- and they are in need now, more than ever. Be well. Be thankful.

Free Christmas Decorations and other news

I love decorating for Christmas. To me, it creates a festive mood and reminds me what Christmas is all about. Now, most of you probably whip out the same things every year like I do. Well stored and taken care of, these things can last for generations. One thing that my mother taught me is to decorate with evergreen clippings from the yard. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where things such as pine trees, hollies and boxwood's grow -- PRESTO, you have free lovely Christmas decorations! Boxwood's and hollies in particular need to be trimmed from time to time, so wait until December to give them a "haircut".

Gather several different pieces of greens and tie them together with ribbon. Then, tie the ribbon around light fixtures (being careful to stay away from the light bulbs of course). Anytime I receive a gift with ribbon, I horde them and save them for decorations and presents. I put the "decor ribbons" back in my Christmas storage boxes and reuse over and over again. Some of the ribbons pictured here are over 15 years old!
Take some greens and put them into a vase with a ribbon around it.


Someone gave me this sleigh one year. So, every year I wheel it out and use it in some way. This year I decided to put some greens into it. In the background is a plate I made in school in 1974 (yes, I'm dating myself). The funniest thing about the picture is that if you look closely you'll see that Santa's mustache is actually above his nose! Judging from the picture you would never have guessed that I'd go on to be an art major -- would you?

This is a shot of the greens I tied to the light fixture in our 1/2 bathroom downstairs. As an aside, you can see that the walls of our bathroom are lined with pictures. Most of the pictures are framed collage Christmas cards that I've made over the years. So, it shows our family over the years. I love to look at them and so do our guests. One place we all have to visit is the "washroom".

We have a sliding glass door in the back of our house. It looks out to our backyard which is mostly woods. I filled this little planter with evergreens and threw a bow on it. Now when we look out of our window, we see a little bit of Christmas.

For all of you mom's with young children out there -- I just have to tell you about this great little learning tool I purchased from Up With Learning for Ripley's birthday. Although it's an exercise in vinyl and plastic, as a learning tool, it's terrific.

First, Ripley pics a card that has pictures and corresponding words written underneath them. Then, he pics out the vowels (red blocks) and consonants (blue blocks) to spell the word. Finally, he writes out the word for himself. What a great invention. You could certainly try to create your own version with word cards, scrabble pieces and good ole' lined paper. It is from Learning Resources and is called a Phonics Activity Set.

Thanks to Rhonda from Down to Earth for posting the recipe for this Orange Coconut Cake. The frosting (not pictured) didn't come out like hers, I messed it up somehow, but the cake was fabulous. So moist!! Get the recipe HERE.

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I'll leave you with this funny story. For our date night yesterday (an expense and investment I hope we will be able to continue to afford during these trying times) Victor and I decided to fly by the seat of our pants (rather than sticking to our old stand-bys) and head up "to the hill" or rather Federal Hill which is the Italian district here in Providence. Like Boston there is a main drag of restaurants that offer everything from Jamaican to Chinese to nouveau Italian to your traditional Italian cuisine. Mostly it's the later two that fill the main street, Atwells Ave. We were feeling indecisive because usually, I do a little research and know right where we are going. Finally, Victor pulled the car over and parked on a side street. Let me add here that it was pouring down rain. I, in my cute little date night outfit, begrudgingly schlepped (without umbrella) over to Atwells. We walked up and down a few times (with a quick stop at the Providence Oyster Bar for a glass of wine and a few oysters to think things over) and finally landed on one of the very traditional Italian restaurants. A relatively small restaurant, it was like walking into a gathering spot for the local mafia and their families. It was authentic. It was colorful. It was fabulous. You would never know that there was a recession going on and that Rhode Island is tied with Michigan for the highest unemployment rate in the country. The restaurants were jammed. We ended up sitting at the bar rather than wait for a table. Our bartender was this colorful, rather full bodied Italian woman with dark black dyed hair. Her persona borderlined on Seinfeld's Soup Nazi, but if you charmed her in just the right way she was like putty in your hands. The woman sitting next to us with her boyfriend reminded me of Reese Witherspoon and was at least as thin. Our waitress commented when "Reese" pushed aside the large bowl of dressing that came with her Cesar salad and requested olive oil, that it was no wonder she was so thin. (That's all that Reese ordered, by the way.) I, sized 2 woman that I am, ordered a braised Rabe appetizer with garlic, black olives and roasted red peppers AND the lasagna which turned out to be the size of most plates. Our bartendress commented that it was fabulous -- like you made it at home. And it was. I managed to eat all but a one square inch piece. Our ample bartendress commented "Wow! You ate all that?" Um, yes. It was incredible. Thank you. (blush)

Clean Coal Ad

Misleading? Note the clean coal tag at the end.

Clean Coal: This Is Reality

This IS the reality. Coal is dirty.

What is Clean Coal?

The term: "Clean Coal Technology" is misleading, that's what it is. Haven't you seen that commercial jamming the television air waves talking about the clean coal technology? The ACCCE "I believe" ad? Actor's representing all walks of American life flash on the screen stating "I believe we can protect the environment", "I believe in energy Independence", "I believe we can limit greenhouse gasses, and keep energy costs affordable" . . . When I saw these ad's of course I thought to myself "Amen"! The ACCCE organization, or Americans Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (a coalition of the top coal and electricity companies) produces these ads, and if they truly believed in saving the environment, that would be great. This is a big deal, because COAL is used to produce half of the electricity produced in the United States. And coal is one of the leading emitters of carbon dioxide. However, come to find out -- there currently is no such technology being used. Unlike, wind, solar and wave technology which has already been created and implemented -- "Clean Coal Technology" doesn't exist. And there is still a lot of debate about how to "make" coal "clean". If you watch the ads you are left with the impression that the "challenge" is how do we implement this technology on a large scale. But, "clean coal dreaming" isn't about figuring out how to tackle such a monumental implementation. No, clean coal doesn't even exist yet. Just like the car industry, coal and electricity companies use this "commitment" to the idea of clean coal technology to put off requirements to reduce carbon emissions. The frightening thing is the EPA under the Bush Administration seems to have been perfectly fine with encouraging this type of deception and delay. Currently there are no federal limits on CO2 emissions by any industry, and just last year the Supreme Court ruled that CO2 is a pollutant. Good grief. If you can't believe it -- read a USA today article HERE . How is this any different from the car industries debacle? Experts say that this technology is probably possible and could be implemented by the year 2030. Some say 2020. Now I'm all for pushing to get it done -- as we did when we decided to go to the moon. However, listening to Joe Lucas, vice president for communications for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, on NPR's OnPoint, I didn't get the impression that "getting it done, and fast" was on his organization's short list of what needs to be accomplished. Listen to NPR's OnPoint or read an excerpt here. More information from Greenpeace here. Below is the "I believe" ad put out by ACCCE among others, and the Alliance for Climate Protection's new counter ad. Bottom line: Chances are anytime you use your electricity you're are burning coal via your local power plant. Conserve energy. Save money. Save the environment. Stop the "Clean Coal" myth madness. *Footnote* This is not to say that there haven't been any improvements in coal technology. It's the term "clean" people are (in my opinion rightly) taking issue with. If you said your house was "clean" what percentage of it would be clean? 30%, 50%, how about 90%? 100% Good Luck. The standard for true "clean" coal is 90 percent. What do you think? What is clean?

ACCCE I Believe :60 Spot

Don't Believe it! Currently, "clean coal" doesn't exist.

Ye-Haw!

These are the last of our Florida pictures that I'll bore you with. The pictures are just too cute not to include. Here we all are at a hoedown on the beach. One of my favorite parts of the whole event was figuring out what all of us were going to wear. As you can see, Victor has again embraced our crazy tendency to "dress-up" in costume - and he's looking good, might I add.

Ripley (in the background) was having a camera shy moment.

Victor, Me (my outfit is a little more revealing here than it actually was -- it had to be said) and Benjamin.

Victor and Ripley

My dance partner Benjamin.

Ripley ridin' on a pony

Cousins Rosalie, Ripley, Benjamin and Reese (with toy walkie-talkie in tow, as it was the entire evening)

Rosalie and Moose tearing up the dance floor.

This has got to be the cutest picture ever. Here is my 3 month old nephew Spencer with Cowboy Hat. Don't you just love the toothless gums?

Tanya in her butterfly cowboy boots and Reese with his walkie-talkie.
Born and raised below the mason-dixon line -- my parents are lookin' at home in their hoedown duds.

Our First Snow!

Snow Covered Dill

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Yesterday we received our first snow of the season, totaling about 1 1/2 inches. Where we live, the warmer ocean water skirting around the Cape tend to limit our snowfall -- or turn it to rain and slush afterwards. This year, I'm hoping we get some snow that sticks for a few good sledding events! Even though our snow totals were less than 2 inches, we still managed to strap on the snow boots and pants, go for a little sled in the yard and build the obligatory snowman with carrot and coal. My cold frames are snug under the small layer of snow, which I'm planning on leaving in place through today because of very cold weather pushing through today. Eliot Coleman, author of Four Season Harvest, explains that snowfall can act as a great insulator when exceptionally cold weather is passing through. One of the nice things about living up north, is that we have a ready supply of holly, boxwood and pine boughs to decorate with.

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As we are all busy with festivities of the season and merely trying to keep our housekeeping respectable, I'm going to continue talking about the subject after the new year. In particular -- projects and scheduling! I'll also tell you where I landed with my cleaning calendar (I'm still working the bugs out.) The first of the year is a great time to think about all of the organizing and de-cluttering projects you want to tackle. Where are your rat's nests? I'll tell you about mine, come January.

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The winner of my first give-away ever was a friend of mine and fellow Community Covenant Church member "Amy". I delivered her orange earrings today. Congratulations Amy!

Snow covered Holly

Snow covered Leeks

Snugly snow covered Cold Frames

Scroll down for today's post

I had a post "drafted" yesterday, then posted it today -- so the post decided to locate itself two posts down. Good Grief. Make a note of it ... posts locate themselves on the day they are drafted. Got it.

Kids are funny ... and amazing!

Ripley says to me yesterday as we were driving home from school, "Why is Santa Clause so funny?" I reply, "What do you mean?" (I'm thinking Ripley is referring to the silly red suit, or the ho, ho, ho's.) Ripley explains, "Why does he have people sit next to him?" Trying to contain my laughter at this point, I say, "Oh! You mean like at the mall?!" "Yes." Ripley confirms simply. "Well," I add "because he is famous and people want to take their picture with him." (I was sort-of grasping at straws on that one ... why do people take pictures next to Santa for heaven's sake???) "Well," Ripley concludes "to me, he is funny."

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This morning before dropping Benjamin off at school, I stopped by the YMCA to see if I'd left my cell phone there. I've managed to misplace the silly thing. Unfortunately, it wasn't there. On our way out Benjamin notices two boxes of food for the local food pantry. In the boxes are your typical food stuffs but on the top is a big ole' box of Trix cereal. Benjamin says "TRIX Cereal!! Why would people give Trix cereal to poor people?! I think they would rather have a toothbrush!" I was so proud.

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Benjamin has a very mathematical mind. A good brain all the way around really. We usually have a few minutes to wait in the school parking lot before he can be dropped off. So, we just chat about all kinds of things, which is great. While we were waiting this morning, all of a sudden Benjamin says "427 - 95 = 332" I look at him and he is staring at the telephone pole. On it are two metal numbers nailed to it: 427 and 95. Benjamin made a math equation out of it. He did this the other day with the digital clock on the stove. "Look! It's 3:47 -- 3+4=7!!"

Now, let me just add that this type of brain activity is the furthest thing not only from my mind but also from my desire. That I have a son that loves to crunch numbers in his head is mind boggling to me. I don't know what to do with the kid. He gets this brain power from his father. I told my brother Scott recently (another big numbers, science and logic thinker) that he needed to start challenging Benjamin's brain with math and science gymnastics -- because that part of his brain is truly beyond me. To say that Home Schooling this child is out of the question is an understatement. Amazing. I am so proud.

Fun in the Florida Sun

Before we get to the fun in the sun portion, will you humor me while I lament?

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I cannot find my cell phone. I've looked everywhere. Now the battery is dead, so even if I found myself in the right location I wouldn't be able to hear it ring. (I've even been listening for the buzzing sound, just in case it's on "manner mode" -- but I don't think it is.) Verizon has been haggling me for years to replace it because it's getting quite old for a cell phone. But it works just fine. The thought of replacing all of those phone numbers!! Argh! To add insult to injury, we don't have long distance phone service. We use our cell phone for this to reduce costs. I've romped through the woods in case it fell out of my pocket. I've even dug through some yard compost to see if it dropped in there! Nothing. Lament. Lament.

*Happy Days are here again! I found my phone. Downstairs in the kid's craft area. Yipee.*

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Additionally, our family has been battling a cold for weeks. I thought for sure the Florida Sun would cure us (as it has for me in the past). But alas, we are still all sniffling. It's not that bad really, which is why no one's gone to the doctor -- it just wont EXIT STAGE LEFT!! I'm not big on antibiotics simply because I want them to be effective when I really need them, but I just may need to cave. OK, I'm done.

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Speaking of the Florida Sun, here are some more cute pictures (there are more, but my new fancy camera is giving me grief ... which is another whole subject!) My father has this little boat that has seating all the way around and a table in the middle. Over the boat, named The Bluebird II from Bert and I which he has been able to "perform" since childhood, is an adorable canopy. Really it's a cocktail cruiser. So, several times during our stay in Florida, we round up cheese, crackers, fruit, juice or milk for the kids and wine for the grown-ups and go for a little spin looking at the houses or the mangroves growing along the waterways. It's wonderful. A tradition has developed that all of the grandchildren have to take their turn at the helm and a ceremonial photo documents the event. See below.

Benjamin at the helm

Ripley at the helm
Benjamin and I on board the Bluebird II

Ripley enjoying the Gulf
Benjamin, "Uncle Moose" and Reese playing the "fight the tide" game

Mom at the local farmer's market

L-R: Benjamin, Rosalie, Reese, Scott aka: Moose, Victor and Ripley

Join in, Enter the Story

Here is the video

Join in, Enter the Story

I saw this video when getting my morning laughs from April Showers. This video isn't about laughs, but rather a challenge to join into a different way of thinking about This Season. We celebrate Christmas, however, thanks to commercialism and bad choices of Christians across this country (including myself over the years) -- even people from other faiths have jumped into the buying frenzy. Several Blogs I read have commented on the importance of recreating our Holiday Season experience. What if we were to focus on spending time with friends and family, creating memories together --- whatever happened to Christmas Caroling? Hand making small thoughtful gifts together, giving them to friends and family as a token of our love for one another rather than a replacement of it. What would happen?

Here is a Thanksgiving Memory we made that you can stow-away for next year or create a different version for Christmas. (I think I may have gotten this idea from Martha Stewart.) Two years ago we made an updated version of the traditional Thanksgiving craft where children trace their hand and make a turkey out of it. Except with our new version we used real feathers, a red pipe cleaner for wattle (I had to look that up), a construction paper beak (ours admittedly look more like a chicken's), then make a Sculpy stand for each one and PRESTO -- you have your own personalized place cards. Here is my beautiful niece Rosalie modeling them. Surrounded by brothers and boy cousins, she is truly the princess of our family. Isn't she lovely?

Gallery Night in the "Kids Room"

It all started here on the kitchen counter. Before breakfast, over their morning milk, Ripley, Benjamin, Rosalie and Reese started creating artwork. By our second day there, it was becoming part of their "routine". Then, Rosalie came up with the idea of putting their creations up around the bedroom four of them were sharing (for the first time) named appropriately "The Kid's Room". Benjamin (as oldest, President, of the Kid's Club) got permission from Grandmama to tape their artwork up around their room. As long as it was on the woodwork -- not on the walls -- they had permission. Well, before you knew it, they had a Gallery. So, Grandmama suggested a "Gallery Night". That was all they needed. Invitations were created and delivered to all bedrooms. Artwork was being created at lightening speed. On Thanksgiving Night they had their opening. It was certainly the most adorable thing ever and a great creative idea for friends, cousins and siblings gathering together during the holidays.

At the kitchen counter, where the creative process began.

L-R: Ripley, Benjamin, Rosalie and Reese

Their opening night.


Posing for cameras at the opening.


They served sparkling water in real glasses during their opening.
"Free" ... as the invitation explained.

Their artwork.

More artwork ... and a few fabulous close-ups.

Drawing by Rosalie of the 5 cousins: L-R Rosalie, Benjamin, Ripley, Reese and Spencer

Our Feast

We have just returned from a week long trip to Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with my parents along with my brother Scott and his wife Tanya and their three children Rosalie, Reese and Spencer. We had so many wonderful experiences and memories . . . I'll share several with you this week. I'll start with photos of our Thanksgiving Feast. At first a Thanksgiving Feast seemed extravagant and excessive. But the more I thought of it, I realized that feasts are almost as old as civilization. Feasts were given by God in the Old Testament to the Israelites as a way of remembering how He had blessed them. I've just finished reading Three Cups of Tea where when an honored guest would come to small poor villages in the mountains of Pakistan everyone would come together and celebrate with a feast. For our Thanksgiving Feast, we (the girls in particular) did a great job planning and managed to enjoy great conversation and create what we decided was our best Thanksgiving dishes ever! "The Boys" entertained the kids. We were blessed with incredible weather the whole week long. To start, see this beautiful shot of the Gulf of Mexico that I took one afternoon when we went to the beach.

Our Turkey

Gravy

Grandmom Wohler's Dinner Rolls

Ooooo .... Yum Yum Yum

Our Apple Pie

Green Beans with Shallots, Garlic and Lemon Zest
Spinach with Garlic and Bacon

Butternut Squash, Blue Cheese, Cranberries and Pecans

Red Potatoes, Milk, Cream, Butter, Salt, Pepper and a bit of Parmesan
Hand Smashed by me!

Rosalie decided on her own that they should create flower arrangements for the table. She and Benjamin worked together to create three beautiful arrangements from Mom and Dad's yard.

Aren't they lovely?