Two Horses and a Liar

I remember the first time I watched the "Black Stallion". Oh, how I loved Alec--and even more than that, how much he loved that horse. Hey, it will never be said that I wasn't a sucker for animal stories. This past week I read the "Black Stallion" by Walter Farley. It is an amazing book. It's not a Newbery winner or honor, but I needed some horse reference books for work and I hadn't ever read the book. Honestly, I'm surprised that it isn't in the Newbery family. I would absolutely recommend this book as a family read-aloud. I can't wait to read it to my kids. They are still a bit young to understand, but I think that they will both love it. In the meantime, I may go check out the movie from the library. I could use a little Mickey Rooney this week.

In complete contrast to "The Black," is "Black Beauty". Anna Sewell quite possibly may be the first animal rights author. Hey, I'm no fan of animal abuse, but this book almost killed me to finish. I reached the three-quarter mark and I really had to make a tough call about whether or not I had the endurance to even finish the book. I put my head down and powered through, but it was not a pleasant experience. As a general rule, the anthropomorphism of animals doesn't get to me, but this book was written entirely from "Beauty's" perspective and I just couldn't engage with the lifeless accounting. I will also mention that Sewell was a MAJOR proponent of prohibition at the time of her writing and so basically if you even smell liquor you will begin to "beat a horse swiftly about the head"-- makes me tired just thinking about this book.

And last, but not least, Lily's Crossing. I am a huge fan of the author. This is probably my least favorite of her works, but it is a Newbery winner and therefore, is obviously well-written. This book has a great moral of the story type of feel to it. It's also a good read for kids who struggle with honesty or who have a hard time seeing the effects of their seemingly innocent actions.

Miss Jenny's Happy-Time Preschool

Lachlan has been attending the speech preschool at River Heights Elementary for the past year. We have loved Miss Wendy so much. I honestly can't say enough good about the quality of the speech program. Last month, Lachlan had her "final exam" in speech. She passed. She scored average in all areas of ability. We have officially graduated from all state-assisted programs.

I'm just going to go off on a tangent for a moment and tell everyone about how grateful I am for these programs. Lately, there are so many people in this state and nation who literally gripe about social programs--how our tax dollars are wasted, the national debt is out of control, and that immigrants are using these programs...oh, how I could wax on, and on, and on...

I want my children to know that our family believes in social programs. The Up-to-3 program funded by your tax dollars was a Godsend. They swooped in, came to our home and literally taught Lachlan how to use her body, speak, run--she is an amazing child, but I couldn't have done it on my own. I am indebted to these folks. I have such deep and profound respect for the skills and love that they show each child. Until you have a child that is in desperate need of help, I don't think that you really understand what it is like to watch them struggle to live and communicate. EVERY child is entitled to that help. I don't care if you are plucked down from another planet. If you are in this country, I say go ahead, use all the tax dollars you want--get the help that you need. As a parent, to another parent--I get it. I would never ask another mother to watch her child struggle. I'm going on record to say that if you're wealthy enough to have cable television, you're wealthy enough to pay enough taxes for social programs.
And just look at the payoff. Here she is going to her first day of mainstream preschool--funded privately, of course.
She's an immigrant, too. Lest you forget. I've got a green card to prove it.
I hope she always stays this excited for the first day of school.
Even the baby is going to preschool--he's all ready to tell Miss Jenny that "he loves dinosaurs, dragons, monsters, volcanoes, castles, and knights" He was very concerned that she wouldn't understand how important those things are to him.
Waving good-bye and not turning to look back...

Drama Queen

Something happens to a kid when they get to be about three and a half...at least in our house. For Lachlan, she turned on the drama in the form of Kindergarten angst. Basically, at any given hour she can act like she's on her period for several hours or several days. She pouts, cries, gets sullen faced...you really can't tell what's going to bring it on. This morning she laid on her bedroom floor and cried like I'd asked her to leave her true love--why? Cause I told her that she needed to make her bed before she got dressed. Last week, I caught her slamming her baby into her timeout chair and yelling, "you are a stupid dad!" Why? Cause he told her that she couldn't blow a loud whistle in the house.

I used to think that it was a girl-thing...that it would just ratchet up a notch when she turned twelve. Well, I was wrong.

Jack has proved himself to be something of a "lover of the arts" as well. For the past couple of weeks, if he gets so much as a rug burn or a large feather passes over a body part he will scream like he's had an arm cut off in a tractor PTO shaft. The shock of the cry has been so overwhelming that I've been known to come running from the basement (which seriously, I NEVER do)--only to find that he stubbed his toe on an imaginary pebble. It goes without saying that the kid can suddenly give Sally Field a run for her "waterworks" money.

Que Tchaikovsky's theme for "Peter and the Wolf"-- let it be told that I will only run up the stairs from the basement so many times before I just start yelling, "quit yer bawling".

Last week Jack's cries for help went unheeded for hours because I just didn't believe him. When I finally did look him in the face I noticed that he had a goose-egg on his eye. We put some ice on it, but by then, the damage had been done.

What kind of mother says something like, "it's your own fault." ??

This one. That's who.

Thirty and Five

I celebrated my thirty-fifth birthday. Jeff cooked Molten-Lava chocolate cakes. Lachlan gave me a princess tic-tac-toe game and Jack gave me a T-Rex dinosaur. I don't know what Jack was more excited about getting a new dinosaur or eating lava out of a "volcano cake". You can also see in this picture that Lachlan purchased "me" some purple Kool-aid. She's really nice to give me something like that since I would NEVER purchase it for myself. The kids have helped "me" drink it every day.
I've really spent a lot of time thinking about thirty-five. This has been the first birthday when I've felt older. I spend more time trying to cover up my face than show it off--made an official switch to full-coverage foundation. I almost always wear my glasses to read. It used to be only when I remembered, but now just thinking about reading without them gives me a headache. Without getting to "Debbie Downer"--I'll just say that I'm not quite ready to get into my forties.
Jeff and I also celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this month. We were able to get a bunch of our friends together and go out to dinner. We are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives. It really made for a fun couple of weeks.
Jeff gave me a 50mm/1.8f Nikon lens for my birthday. They aren't very expensive, but I'm already loving what I can do with it. It is very different from my "every day" lens--so I'm going to have to practice. Don't judge. These are my first-tries...

Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova

This dessert was named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. The brits call it a "Pav"--and it is amazing! I found this recipe in the June 2010 issue of Food Network Magazine. I love this mag. I probably find 10 recipes per issue that we love. It's generally less health conscious than my Cooking Light, but sometimes I find that I don't want to have to think about it any more. I saw ol' Nigella Lawson stirring the meringue in the bowl and I thought it would just be a crying shame to miss out on something so easily made. The recipe is not available on Food Network, but it is available on Nigella's website (found here: http://www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=283)

Her recipes are given in metrics for our overseas friends, but here I've given it in old school.

If I could say which recipe will make you look like a great cook--even if you're not (yet)--this would be the one. It is on the sweet side so you won't want a side of ice cream with this--and fresh, unsweetened fruit is a must--

Here is what hers looked like:

And mine: lopsided sure, but who really gives...

Instructions:

1) Prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment. Draw a 9-inch diameter circle on the paper with a pencil, tracing a round cake tin that size. (Flip the paper over so your meringue doesn't touch the pencil marks- you'll still be able to see the circle)

2) Make the meringue. Beat the egg whites with a mixer until satiny peaks form, and then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny. Don't be in a hurry.

3) Add the chocolate. Sprinkle the cocoa, vinegar and then the chopped chocolate over the egg whites. Gently fold everything with a rubber spatula until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed in.

4) Shape the meringue. Secure the parchment to the baking sheet with a couple blobs of meringue under each corner. Mound up the meringue onto the parchment within the circle, smoothing the sides and the top with a spatula. Just make a nice smoothed over circle.

5) Bake the meringue. Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temp down to 300 degrees and cook for one to one and a quarter hours (I only cooked my for 65 minutes--you're going to have to look at it). When it's ready it should look crisp and dry on top, but when you prod the center you should feel the promise of squishiness beneath your fingers.

6) Let it cool. Turn off the oven and open the door slightly; let the meringue disk cool completely in the oven. Although, I didn't because I wanted to eat it--so I pulled it out and let it cool on top of the stove for maybe 15 minutes. When you're ready to serve, invert onto a big flat plate and peel off the parchment.

7) Decorate. Whisk the cream (I added pwderd sugar and vanilla to my cream) and pile it on top of the meringue...if you don't like so much sugar I would just do the straight cream and it will help to cut the sweetness. Scatter the raspberries on top. You can also grate some chocolate, just a little if you have the patience. The pav should look like a frosted cake.

From Nigella: "Traditional Pavlova is white. The cocoa in this one makes it denser and gooier, and the raspberries add tartness."

Ingredients: Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova

For the meringue base:

6 large egg whites

2 cups superfine sugar (I just use granulated sugar that I throw in the food processor for 30 seconds)

3 TBLS unsweetened cocoa pwder; sifted

1 tsp balsamic or red wine vinegar

2 oz. dark chocolate finely chopped

For the toppings:

2 cups heavy cream

4 cups raspberries

1-2 oz. dark chocolate

Letters

Dear Jack,

I love this picture of you. You are always itching your belly. I don't understand it at all. I worry that someday you will be a crazy man who is always itching his gut.

I'm going to overlook it until you are in the second grade and then we are going to revisit this issue.

Love, Mom

Hunger Games

I noticed that seemingly over a short period of time that grasshoppers were begining to destroy my irises. Grrr. I hate grasshoppers. There were a couple of places in the yard where the California poppies had gotten so thick that the chickens couldn't get in there and get to the insects. The grasshoppers were getting down beneath the plants and hiding. I decided to take the time to level the playing field--or in this case, completely tip it in favor of the predators.

My own little version of the Hunger Games...ha.ha.

Oh, how I think you are a twisted genius Suzanne Collins.

Anyway, I started pruning and about 10 hours later I was finished. It's usually what happens when you start doing yard work. I burnt the section of my back so badly (you know the part where your shirt rides up when you bend over on your hands and knees) that I think its going to leave a permanent discoloration of the area.

The grasshoppers didn't know what hit them. It was like a feeding frenzy. Insects were running for their lives, but I'm telling you, chickens are lethal--lethal killers. The insects didn't have a prayer.

It was the whole point. To show them who is in charge.

I'm President Snow. The great and evil manipulator.

Here are my children with the winners: Peeta and Katniss.

Did I mention that I pre-ordered Mockingjay and I'm going to spend my birthday ignoring the real world so that I can find out what happened to District 12....

Chicken Coop is Finished!

It's been painted in our garage for three weeks, but we haven't had a chance to put the shingles and roofing materials on it. Jeff finally finished it on Saturday while I wrote a talk for church--

Have I mentioned how awesome Jeff is? Okay, seriously, he built this amazing chicken coop without a plan. I told him how I wanted it to look and he just made it happen. There really isn't anything that he can't do. I am so happy about my chicken house that I almost cried when all of those guys from our neighborhood showed up to help him move it out back.

Oh, and by the way...the chicken coop is going to double as a bomb shelter. Because Mr. Murray doesn't just build stuff in a half-assed fashion. This think could protect Bruce Willis in an episode of Die Hard 12. I'm actually grateful because in about 2 months it is going to be a frozen wasteland in this corner of winter hell and I don't want to have to worry about my precious babies freezing to death. So thank you, babe, for making it absolutely perfect.

And a special thanks to our wonderful friends and neighbors who I love so much...Brett, Steve, Travis, D.A., Eric, Shane...even to Cory, Wyatt, and Brian...who showed up late and didn't have to move anything--I love you anyway for just being willing to come help move something that weighs 600 pounds!

It's fine with me if you want to lay the praise on a little thick here...

The best news of all is that we got our first egg on Monday afternoon. She even laid it in the nesting box! Isn't it just so wonderful?! Jack danced around in the yard and told all of the birds, "they are getting all growed up so big!" Then he ran into the house to tell his dad, "that my chicky laid me an egg!"

I know that my pioneer ancestors are probably rolling over in their graves over the ridiculous-ness that is the laying of an egg, but hey, it is what it is...

Look at how happy that kid is with that little egg. Yeah, for our first success with "Project Urban Chicken" :)

Setting Precedence

Me: Have you worn those underwear before?

Jack: What?

Me: (voice is high and tight) How many days have you been wearing those red Elmo underwear?

Jack: I weared 'em since thirty-a-clock. And I no poop, no pee, no farts in dem.

Me: (with resignation) Ok, well, at least we've established a solid timeline.