Flower fix

Good friends always have good advice. They can help you sort out your thoughts and see the light at the end of tunnel. And if the light is pretty far off, you can count on your friends to find ways to cheer you up. I was having lunch with some girlfriends the other day, sharing some issues and thankful for their attentive listening ears.  Afterwords, my good friend gave me a hug and said, "Go get yourself some flowers to put around the house, they will brighten your day."

She was right. And I did. As simple as it may sound, surrounding yourself with the beauty of nature truly does wonders for your outlook on life. No matter how bad you feel, the vivid colors of flowers and the beauty they add to your environment can make you feel a little less agitated and more hopeful about the outcome of the day.

So why not try and keep yourself a little box of happiness and hope at your house? Pick up a couple bouquets of flowers, or maybe even a few flowering gems for your yard. You'll be amazed at the quick fix flowers can bring.

Got me a Streptocarpus - no, not a sickness, a beautiful plant closely related to the African violet.  It's one of my favorite flowering houseplants. Learn how to care for it here.

Picture Perfect Vacation

BRECKENRIDGE ROCKS.

We had barely arrived and my little man just had to make his very first snowman, whom we appropriately named "Slumpy"

(and yes, I knit both of those hats, thank you very much!)

The view from our deck was awesome, and so were the slopes!

To say Jaden loved the snow is an understatement.

Jaden was a natural on skis, and pretty independent. I only had to dig him out of the trees once...

We had an amazing time, and have already mades plans to go back next year.  

Can't wait.

Spring, sweet spring

Today I'm packing for our ski trip: jackets, sweaters, scarves, hats and mittens galore.
I'm headed to a winter wonderland, but Spring is outside my door.

Our fruit trees are in bloom, scenting the air with their sweet fragrance.
No need to play music outside, the birds are handling that.
My garden spade winks at me,
anxious for the chance to do some serious work.
It's been a long, cold winter here,
and I can't wait to dig in.

Spring is on its way.
Take some time to really see it.  Like so many things in life,
blink and you'll miss it.

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,

Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring

Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo

The palm and may make country houses gay

Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day

And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit
In every street these tunes our ears do greet
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!

From Summer's Last Will and Testament by Thomas Nashe

A Red-Letter Day

By definition, a red-letter day is any day of special significance. Some people might not consider chaperoning a kindergarten field trip to the zoo a red-letter day, but for me it was. Simply stated, it was a great mom day. There were no raised voices; no arguments or conflicts, and although I was still tired at the end of the day, it was a good tired.

I'm always grateful for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom during these early, quickly passing years. But today I felt especially grateful for the blessing of being a mom. Wandering around the zoo with my child and his kindergarten class made me truly thankful for the chance to experience mommyhood.

In the days leading up to this trip, I think I was just as excited as my son. I couldn't wait to see him in his school environment, and he got to ride ‘the big yellow school bus” for the first time, which is kind of a big deal. This morning at breakfast, he excitedly reminded me of just that. While I was driving down to the zoo, I couldn’t help but picture him on the bus and wonder what he was thinking, and if it was as cool as he expected it to be.

Sunny, crystal blue skies with temperatures in the mid 60’s made for an absolutely perfect day to stroll around the zoo. I was thrilled when my son’s teacher informed me I would have a small group of three, two girls and my son, to spend the day with. My little six-year old was the perfect gentleman, holding doors open for “the goils” and agreeing to see what they wanted first, saving his coveted reptile hut for last. I reveled in watching him interact with his classmates and seeing their eyes widen at all the sites, simply amazed and astonished by all the zoo had to offer. 

Amidst all the mom duties and the trying times, it's so refreshing to have a simply fun day. A chance to cherish each moment with your child while making memories that will carry you through the more difficult days. Before ending our time together at the zoo, our little group took a small time out to talk about what we liked best. I think my son summed it up well: "This day was just nothing but fun." Yes it was, and how cool is that.   

Avocado Poetry

(this one's for you, girls. and you know who you are...)

Here's what I know about the avocado.

Good ones come from California and sometimes Mexico.

Hass are the best by far and bar none.

You can forget all the rest, I've tried them, I'm done.

Not a veggie, but actually a fruit.

They taste devine and are nutritious to boot.

The fat isn't bad, they call it a MUFA.

Won't add cellulite to your bod, so you can put away the loofa.

The fruit hangs heavy in pairs on a tree.

I heard it's named after something from the male anatomy!

Some ancient cultures regarded them as holy.

You can make a lot with them, but my fave is guacamole.

Actually, the way I like to eat avocados the most

is mashed, smashed and spread on toast (rye, that is. the darker the better).

Leftovers in disguise

Great White Hunter is pretty easy to please when it comes to food. I can cook up just about anything and he'll eat it. With one exception: leftovers. He does not like leftovers. Period. I normally don't cross that line with him, but there are exceptions to every rule.

Since we've had house guests FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS STRAIGHT (I'm fine with it, really), I've been preparing larger meals. The other night I made enough meatloaf to feed 5,000 (wait...that was Jesus with the bread and fish...) 10 people, so needless to say we had leftovers. I am the kind of person who hates to waste, plus I'm always up for an excuse to get out of cooking, so I crossed the leftovers line. Sort of.

"What are we having for dinner?" he asks. "Grilled burger subs with caramelized onions, potato wedges and a salad," I replied (not a lie, just a tiny twist of the truth). He gobbled it up, complimented my effort and was none the wiser about my trick. Or maybe he was and didn't feel the need to call my hand. Whatever. He ate it, and it was good.

Make this: thinly slice one sweet onion and caramelize. Slice leftover meatloaf and grill in fry pan. Spread spicy mustard on whole wheat sub rolls, add grilled meatloaf, top with onions and sliced cheese (I used smoked provolone). Place, open face, under broiler until cheese melts. Add ketchup if desired. Serve under alias of your choice.

The more things change

My sweet boy is growing up, changing right before my eyes and it's an incredible process to watch. Sometimes, emphasis on some, I have these truly lucid moments with him where I'm able to absorb everything that's happening. Like this morning, when out of the blue he asked me to sing him one of the "mommy songs" I used to sing him to sleep with. So, as we waited for the morning carpool, there we sat, him on my lap, his head on my shoulder while I sang to him (one our favorites, Lullaby by The Dixie Chicks). I was completely in the moment, one of those I feel are becoming few and far between. Well, moment over as soon as my neighbor arrived to take him to school. He hopped off my lap, grabbed his backpack and lunch box, and said, "see ya later, mom." Mom...what happened to Mommy?

As I was cleaning his room later this morning, it hit me. The more things change, they don't stay the same. His bookshelf, which once held brightly colored stacking blocks, ABC books, and one of those wooden pull ducks, now houses dinosaurs, die cast airplanes, and books on bugs. He doesn't even need his "blankie" anymore, a recent decision he came to all on his own (I couldn't believe it was that easy). While it's wonderous to watch them grow, it's bittersweet too. Oh well, I guess as long as he needs me in his life I'll be OK. And I'll strive for more lucid moments with him so I can capture all the memories safely in my mind. I'll need them one day.