Yuck

In case anyone needs a little dollop of gross "celebrity news" - and I use those last two words very loosely.

"Okay, everybody! Listen to me! Everybody!"

Here, Maggie is explaining everything that she will be doing before going to bed - in detail, in sequential order and with feeling. (Although they are out of the photo, I believe there's a good chance she is actually counting off tasks on her fingers as she goes through the list.) This is the face she wears when she is talking to people as if they have the comprehension level of newborn fleas. In the background, Ellie may be rubbing her eyes because she is tired or because she is sitting very near to a smoky fire. More likely, she is just rubbing at her head in frustration and thinking, "Maggie, PLEASE SHUT UP."

Well, we love her - and I actually like when she explains herself instead of making us run around like fools trying to understand her world view.

Looking Forward to 6 Hours Alone

I am flying east next week and have already started looking forward to 6 hours of alone time on the plane. I've thought through the magazines I'll buy, the food I'll eat... Will I check a bag? Bring the little DVD player? Load some new songs on my iPod? Maybe I will just sit quietly and play with the wax in my ears. Why? Because nobody will tell me not to. Nobody will tell me that they want me to play with the wax in their ears instead. I won't have to take anyone to the bathroom, carry 16 spare diapers in my carry-on or use up my precious carry-on space toting stuffed animals and special blankies. It will be as refreshing as a weekend at a spa in Sedona, I am sure.

Laurie Berkner

Here's what we're rockin' out to in the car this month.

We were given this CD by Maggie's KinderCare teacher because Mags loves it so much. Now we all do. Here's her website.

It can be kinda difficult to find kids' music that doesn't drive parents crazy - but it's good to let the kids know that Julie Andrews is not the only person in the world who sings.

S'mores

Steve and Julianne came over with their brood for a cookout yesterday that was specifically planned to end with a feast of s'mores. The weather agreed, pretty much - It was sunny and clear all the way through dinner. By the time we lit the fire, we could see the lightning and hear the thunder off to the east. As we started to toast marshmallows, a giant rainbow appeared and then the first plump drops fell. As we went into full-on s'more mode, the heavens opened up, and we had to move the fixin's into the gazebo and run out periodically to cook one up over the fire - but that just made it feel more like we were actually camping in the great Pacific Northwest.

The Menu:

Julianne's Stuff:

Baked Beans with Bacon, Molasses and Maple Syrup

Cabbage Salad

Salmon with Fresh Parsley Pesto



My Stuff:

Green Bean and Almond Salad with Ginger, Green Onions and Cilantro (Cook 1 pound of green beans in boiling water for 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water. Add a handful each of: thinly sliced green onion and chopped cilantro. For dressing, mix 1 1/2T each of rice vinegar and vegetable oil, 1-2t minced fresh ginger, 1-2 minced garlic cloves, 1T soy sauce, S&P. Toss with dressing. Before serving, top with a handful of chopped tamari almonds - I buy them in bulk at the grocery store - or use 3T of soy sauce and cook up some almonds in a frying pan with it until they absorb the soy sauce, then chop them up.)

Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Dijon Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

White Bean Dip with Crusty Bread - (Blend together one can of rinsed cannelini beans, 2 cloves garlic, 1T each of fresh rosemary and thyme, a little pepper, 1 1/2T olive oil)

Marinated Flank Steak

Dogwood Tree

Our little dogwood in front of the house is showing off her stuff. The plant world seems to be willing the weather to change for the long haul, but the weather gods are having none of it. This holiday weekend is pretty cold and wet, although last night we were able to get in most of a cookout before the downpour started.

Because who has time to nurture stuff?

Here is our insta-garden direct from Fred Meyer. Last weekend when the weather was sunny and hot, I decided we really did need a little garden, so I bought one: tomatoes, basil, green beans, cucumbers, thyme, chives, strawberries and spaghetti squash. We may still buy broccoli somewhere. I remember back in the olden days when the garden used to be a source of pride for us - Just for proof, here are a few pictures from August 2003.




I'm sure that someday we'll raise it back up from the ashes. I think next year we'll give the girls a bed or two and see what happens.

Of course, now that we tilled up a bed and planted everything, it's rainy and cold again. At least we haven't had to remember to water.