Mommy Marginalia

Kitchen Reader: A Homemade Life

2012-02-29T21:47:00.001-05:00

This month's Kitchen Reader selection, A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Tableby Molly Wizenberg was selected by Stone Soup's creator, Jules. (Many, many thanks to Jules for such a wonderful read!)

Before I get to the book, though, I want you to think about the best box of chocolates you've ever eaten in your life. Do you have it fixed in your mind? Mine would be, hands down, a selection of Continental chocolates from Thorntons in England.

After a year of living outside London, I was spoiled by the ability to pick up some Thorntons along with my rail ticket at the train station. They are not available in the United States. After I returned home, my mother began an annual tradition of having the largest box available shipped to me for Christmas (her theory in it being the largest box is this: if one was going to pay so much in transatlantic shipping, the value of chocolates purchased ought to exceed the cost of the shipping; I am a lucky girl).

The conundrum I faced, upon receipt of these precious chocolate gems, was whether to immediately devour as many as my happy stomach could hold, or to ration and savor each one so that they would last as long as possible (once I stretched them all the way to March!).

How, you may well be asking by now, does a box of chocolates have anything to do with A Homemade Life?

Like this: Molly's book is like a box of Thorntons. Her relatable style hooked me within the first few pages ("When I cook, there's often a lot of cursing . . .But I believe in paying attention to those meals . . . I believe in what they can show me about the place where I live, about the people around me, and about who I want to be."). And I faced a conundrum: should I devour this book as quickly as possible, or should I limit myself to a chapter per day? (In the end, as with the Thorntons, there was a little of both.)

Each of the chapters is based around a recipe (several of which I am dying to try) of the variety that is not too daunting to attempt in my very humble kitchen. Ingredients and technique tips are interwoven with family stories, told with beautiful honesty and irresistible innocence. A Homemade Life is quite simply witty, easy to read, philosophical, inspirational, and delicious. I cannot recommend it enough!

And the best part is, based on Molly's blog post earlier this month about finishing a manuscript, it sounds like we're in for another installment soon! I'm licking my lips already!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Yarn Along: Leap Day

2012-02-29T13:16:00.001-05:00

It has been a rough couple of weeks in the Moose house. I haven't wanted to be a whiner, hence, no posts. Between some behavior problems (Moose), some mommy confidence problems (Me), another round of the stomach flu (all three of us), and now potty training (all hands on deck!), I consider it a Lenten miracle not only that I have knitting and reading to share, but that I have the time and energy to share it with Ginny's Yarn Along today!

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I started a picot-edge baby blanket for a dear friend who is expecting. The pattern is a variation on the baby washcloth I worked on awhile back, and is knitting up quickly and easily. I am using Knit Picks's organic Simply Cotton in Haze Heather. I am absolutely delighted with the color!

One of the things I gave up for Lent is secular reading. I'm defining the sacrifice rather broadly, however, and allowing myself to read books (and blogs) that are both directly religious or likely to be faith-inspiring or faith-supporting. I've chosen Lent and Easter Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton as my daily devotional. I'll admit to being a newcomer to Chesterton, and I enjoy that his writing is accessible while maintaining enough tradition and formality to seem appropriately reverent. I am also reading Breakfast with the Pope, although more as a preview before sending it to my sister than for myself.

Please come join us at Ginny's and share what is on your needles and off your bookshelf at the moment!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Yarn Along: Knitting and Reading in Tandem

2012-02-15T13:13:00.002-05:00

Joining Ginny for her wonderful Wednesday Yarn Along:

Thank you for all your kind comments last week on my Mystery Birthday Project. I am alternating between that project and my Consolation Cowl, which is coming along very nicely! I just love it when you can finally start to see the pattern of an openwork/lacy project taking shape!

I am also alternating between this month's Kitchen Reader selection, A Homemade Life (utterly delightful), and The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse (utterly insightful).

The latter I happened upon at a new-to-me Catholic Bookstore last week. I'm a bit of a personality junkie to begin with (I've read several books on the MBTI - I am an ENFJ, if anyone is curious), so even though it uses the classical personality types (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic), it is interesting both intellectually and spiritually.

If you're feeling inspired to share what's on your needles and off your bookshelf, pop on over to Ginny's to join in!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Yarn Along: Mystery Birthday Project 2.0

2012-02-08T13:58:00.001-05:00

After yarning alone last week, I am delighted to be back where I belong on a Wednesday, Yarning Along with Ginny and friends!

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I promise I'm not being sketchy for the sake of being sketchy. I restarted the Mystery Birthday Project that I mentioned a few weeks ago. I am half-way done and wanted to share it, but also didn't want to give away the surprise. Actually, the photo is doubly a tease, since the yarn doesn't look exactly like that - it is more of a heathered teal in real life.

So, why the restart? I was being realistic with myself. The original Mystery Birthday Project used fingering weight yarn and US Size 3 needles. What work I finished looked lovely, but there is no denying that they were going to take forever! In addition to that project, I have a baby bolero, baby blanket, and mommy-to-be shawl in the queue, so I found a pattern for a similar object that uses worsted weight yarn and US Size 9 needles. The work so far is lovely and I'm half-done after only four days, so I'm viewing the decision as a win-win rather than a cop out.

After a few weeks of floundering with a Saint with whom I was not connecting, I gave myself permission to go out of order (gasp!) with A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. I am enjoying a very fulfilling week with Saint Monica.

Be sure to check out Small Things for more knitting and reading inspiration and tell me what's on your needles at the moment! Ginny is sharing a delightful children's book about knitting today!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

The Moose's Speech

2012-02-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

The King's Speech ranks among my favorite movies of all times. Colin Firth's portrayal of King George VI's struggle with to overcome a lifelong speech impediment is singularly sympathetic, humorous, touching, and regal.

The final scenes see the King preparing for, and then making, a live radio address following the declaration of World War II in 1939.

We see him practicing with his elocution coach, Lionel Logue (played wonderfully by Geoffrey Rush)

" 'I send to every household of my . . .' You see, P is always difficult, even when I am singing."

"Bounce onto it. A-peoples," Logue advises him.

The technique works, and the King's speech is a success.

It seems that the Moose has been taking Logue's advice, despite never having seen the film - to my knowledge.

Moose was whining Saturday night (not unexpected after spending Friday and Saturday convalescing). He had gotten up from the dinner table and then come back to hover at my feet.

"Blap," said Moose.

"What is he asking for?" Daddy Moose asked.

I couldn't help but laugh as I explained, "He wants my 'lap' but still has trouble with some words starting with a soft 'L'."

"He's bouncing on to it."

Some Monday Light Reading

2012-02-06T13:49:00.000-05:00

It's Monday. The Moose spent half the weekend sick, before joyfully bouncing back - and passing it on to me. So no Tot School post today, and no recipe, either.

However, if you're looking for some good reads about subjects that are not related to last night's Big Game, the Halftime Show, or the commercials, may I recommend the following:

My Moose is as spirited as they come. I found great comfort (and some good ideas) in this wonderful post on Loving a Wild One over at (in)Courage.

I shamelessly indulge in any bit of trivia about Queen Elizabeth. Thankfully, there seems like there will be plenty to be had in this, her Diamond Jubilee Year. These glimpses into her upbringing, personality and "real" life are a delight if you are similarly inclined.

Speaking of delightful English things, if you've been looking for a way to explain Downton Abbey to your male friends, this should help (thank you, SNL, for this great public service).

And if you're in the mood to spend a few minutes in the kitchen, these recent recipes were a hit (before I was struck down by the Moose's latest daycare ick)!

Sarah's Brown Rice and Avocado Salad with Vietnamese Dressing.
Gina's Skinny Green Monster Smoothie.

(And if you do want a little something from last night's festivities - I shan't name the event, lest I be struck down by the NFL - here's my favorite ad; I might be from a GM and Ford family, but these days, my Motor City pride swells to the tune of Chrysler's ads.)

Photo Credit

Bully for You

2012-02-04T13:25:00.001-05:00

This week the blogosphere lit up with condemnation of Susan G. Komen for the Cure's decision to withdraw funding from Planned Parenthood. A day later, Komen reversed its decision. (If you somehow missed it, here's a bit of catch-up.)

I am not here to discuss pro-life vs. pro-choice. And I'm really not here to discuss whether Komen should or should not give funds to Planned Parenthood.

Rather, I am taking to this space (small though its scope may be), on an otherwise quiet Saturday, because there are several aspects of how this all "went down" that trouble me deeply.

First, how many of the presumably thousands that chimed in (with such furor as to make Komen feel forced to make a u-turn) read the fine print? One of the main criticisms slung at Komen was that it was abandoning at risk women in need of mammograms. However, as a blogger I greatly admire explained quite succinctly:

If your organization provides low-cost mammograms to women who need them, [Komen] will still be available for grants. Planned Parenthood offers manual breast exams in their clinics. It does not offer mammograms onsite. Instead, some Planned Parenthood locations provide grants to women to receive low-cost mammograms at other organizations. Why does Komen need a middle man? Why should Planned Parenthood receive money to give grants for mammograms to other organizations? Komen is wise to give the money directly to the clinics that actually give the breast cancer screenings rather than funneling it through Planned Parenthood (or any other establishment for that matter).

So if Komen's funds to Planned Parenthood were only going to be used for third-party mammogram grants in the first place, the cessation of direct funding to Planned Parenthood should have no negative impact on women in need of low-cost mammograms.

If we, those who have chosen to take part in social media, are going to comment on the actions of others, don't we have a duty to know all the facts?

Second, if we take out the particular issues involved in this instance, who isn't for more direct stewardship of charitable funds?

One of the proffered reasons in favor of Komen's initial decision to withdraw funding from Planned Parenthood was that some of Komen's pro-life donors were uncomfortable with the fact that their dollars went to support an organization (however indirectly) that performs abortions. I don't know about you, but I can imagine the conversation between a Komen fundraiser and potential donor:

Komen operator: "We noticed that you made a donation in your mother's memory last year. Can we count on you for another $100 donation this year?"

Donor: "Well, I'm pro-life, and I want to honor my mother's memory and help find a cure for everyone else affected by breast cancer, but can you guarantee that my money isn't going to support Planned Parenthood?"

Somehow, this type of reluctance from some donors seems to have been spun into a mean-ol'-pro-lifers argument, but if we put the shoe on the other foot, how does it fit?

Health-Condition-Related Charity operator: "We noticed that you made a donation in your father's memory last year. Can we count on you again this year?"

Donor: "Well, I am an atheist, and want to honor my father's memory and help put an end to this kind of disease, but I've heard that you grant money to support a faith-based addiction support program. I don't want my money going to churches, can you guarantee that won't happen?"

Should we, as charitable donors, be forced to contribute (even indirectly) to organizations with whom we respectfully disagree in order to support a cause for which we care greatly?

Finally, and this is what has been gnawing at me the most, to what extent do we have the right to tell other private individuals (and private organizations) what to do with their money?

Don't misunderstand me - I am all for free speech. But, as Thomas Jefferson said, "your freedom ends where my nose begins."

If you're a Komen donor and pro-Planned Parenthood, then, sure, my feeling is that you had standing to express an opinion about Komen's grant practices. A respectful, reasoned opinion.

There is a line - however gray it may be - between speaking one's mind and bullying. And nasty, personal attacks (many, I suspect, by people who have no personal stake in Komen's grant practices) and calls to others to do the same cross that gray line.

It is not acceptable for me to walk next door, scream and shake my fist, and bully my neighbor into donating to Save the [Fill in the Wild Animal] Foundation. I can tell her why I'm passionate about that animal, and I can try to persuade her.

But in the end she should feel like she has a choice whether or not to support that cause. Regardless of how you feel about Komen, I'll bet they don't feel like they had a choice. They were blackmailed. Ransomed.

And that is bullying.

If this is how a private organization is treated by adults, and the collective example that grown-ups are making for their children, is it any wonder that bullying is becoming more and more of a problem in our schools?

Words are powerful, folks. If the last twelve months (think Arab Summer and Occupy Wall Street) have taught us anything, it is that.

Let's use them wisely. Let's think before we speak. Let's get our facts straight first. Let's remember to be respectful.

And, ultimately, just like we all want to make our own decisions, let's let others do the same.

Photo Credit

Yarn Alon[e]

2012-02-03T13:53:00.001-05:00

Any given Wednesday, you'll find me joining in at Ginny's wonderful Yarn Along. However, life really interfered with my plans this week.

As I mentioned last week, Moose is having some (read: lots of) separation anxiety when he is dropped off at school. This week, he has added to it with sleep disruption and his first cry-out-for-Mommy nightmare.

Needless to say, I am exhausted - emotionally and physically - and this week has just been about meeting his needs and getting by.

When Wednesday dawned, there was not a single new stitch knitted to report.

Today, the Moose and I are home together (our usual Friday) and while he naps, I am yarning alone instead of yarning along.

No heavy lifting here. I've started an eyelet cotton washcloth for a friend's newish baby who outgrew the hat I made for him before I could make it to the post office (oops!). I was also on the hunt for some easy recipes for the coming days in case our sleep quotient doesn't improve: my cooking creativity is directly proportional to my energy level, and right now both are flagging.

Wishing my readers a restful, peaceful weekend!

Kitchen Reader: Soul of a Chef and the Hundred Page Rule

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

I have been dreading writing this post for weeks. This should be my first book review for The Kitchen Reader. The assigned read for this month was The Soul of a Chef by Michael Ruhlman, and I regret to report that I had to invoke the Hundred Page Rule on this book.

What is the Hundred Page Rule? It is a personal rule I have for books - if I am not enjoying a book 100 pages in, I allow myself to put it aside. No apologies, no guilt.

The theory behind the Rule is simple: life is too short and there are too many books on my "to read" list. I have previously invoked the rule for books that strayed into a subject matter I found uncomfortable (e.g., Philippa Gregory's Greenacre); books that were distractingly poorly edited (e.g., Michael Dobbs's Never Surrender - this should tell you volumes about my dedication to the Rule: I greatly admire Winston Churchill); books that didn't click with me because of where I was at a particular moment in my life (e.g., Karen Joy Fowler's Jane Austen Book Club and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - I later enjoyed returning to the Bridget Jones sequel when I wasn't in the ooey-gooey early days of a relationship and could laugh at male foibles).

So why the Hundred Page Rule for The Soul of a Chef? First of all, Michael Ruhlman is an excellent writer. He writes with description more precise than the ingredient measurements for the most delicate recipe. His own passion for the subject gives his words less the feel of a documentary and more the mood of an epic. He tells the stories of the chefs he follows with the urgency of an episode of "ER".

And therein lies the problem (for me).

I'm in a season of life where my time between the pages of a book are some of the only moments I get to myself. They are moments at the end of a usually packed day - and sometimes the only quiet ones I get.

I got so wrapped up in the palpable stress of Ruhlman's chefs that I found myself ramping up rather than winding down while reading. Then I started dreaming about taking the Bar Exam again (a memory nearly eight years in my past and still the single most draining and demoralizing two days of my life). That was when I called it.

Invoking the Rule on this occasion taught me something about myself: for as much as I enjoy creating in the kitchen (and talk with admiration about a "recovering lawyer" who opened one of my favorite Atlanta restaurants) I'm a cottage cook kinda girl, not a city chef. Cooking, for me, is a relaxation, a diversion (like reading) - not a passion or a calling.

For that bit of self-discovery, like the Rule, I make no apologies. Although it does make me look even more forward to next month's assignment, A Homemade Life.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Crustless Chicken Asparagus Quiche

2012-01-30T08:28:00.000-05:00

Last summer, I fell in love with the Green Market Baking Book! Each chapter represents a different season and features produce one is likely to find in abundance at the farmer's market or in the CSA basket.

One of the first recipes that caught my attention was a crustless (Daddy Moose and I try to eat a low carb/whole grain carb diet) vegetarian yellow squash quiche. It was intended as a side dish, but we're a quiche kind of family, so I immediately set to work adapting it to include meat so we could enjoy it is a main dish.

Over the months I have tried several combinations (based on what we were in the mood to eat and what vegetables were readily available) and am finally prepared to share it with the world (or at least my half-dozen or so followers).

Without further ado, I give you a Crustless Chicken Asparagus Quiche (adapted from the Green Market Baking Book):

Ingredients:

Olive oil spray
Onion
1.5C shredded cheddar cheese (I used 2%)
3Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1tsp poultry seasoning
1C fresh asparagus tips
1.5C cooked chicken chunks
1C half and half
4 large eggs
0.25tsp salt
Fresh parsley (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400F and spray an 8 in. metal pie plate with olive oil spray.

2. Thinly slice onion.

3. Line the bottom of the pie plate with the onion, cutting circular pieces where necessary to cover as much of the surface area as possible.

4. Sprinkle cheddar, Parmesan cheese, and poultry seasoning evenly over the onions.

5. Sprinkle asparagus tips evenly over the cheese. (Note: you could easily substitute canned asparagus tips - thoroughly drained - or leftover steamed asparagus cut into one-inch pieces)

6. Cut cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. (I used frozen grilled chicken strips - thawed; you could also use leftover baked chicken)

7. Sprinkle chicken evenly over the asparagus.

8. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together half and half, eggs, and salt. Pour over remaining ingredients in the pie tin. If you'd like, you can add a little fresh parsley on top. (I meant to do this, but I left the quiche for Daddy Moose to pop in the oven at the appointed time while Moose and I were at Ikea, and forgot to mention the parsley to him.) You can also sprinkle the top with cheese, if you so choose.

(Note: this recipe is easy to assemble ahead of time and cook when you're nearing mealtime; I assembled at naptime for dinner yesterday. Depending on how long it has been in the refrigerator, you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.)

9. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let rest for five minutes before cutting and serving.

Makes 4 servings as a main course (or 6-8 as a side dish).

This recipe happily works with nearly any meat, cheese, and veggie combination. Stay tuned for my bacon cheeseburger version, Italian, and Mexican variations. Happy quiching!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Linking up with Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale.

Tot School: Z is for Zipper (and Zebra)

2012-01-29T14:01:00.000-05:00

~ Moose is currently 26 months old ~

Letter of the Week: Zz

Object/Theme: Zipper/Clothing

Color: Black

Shape: Square

Moose's daycare is keeping me on my toes hopping around the alphabet! We went from Ii last week to Zz this week, and I didn't feel like I was able to maximize our theme, since I only found out on Monday. I need to go ahead and plan some activities (and do all the printing/laminating) for all 26 letters so I can be better prepared in the future!

I was able to pull together the Tot School printables for the letter Zz, and Moose actually spent some time with them this week.

He even tried the line drawing (although the really accurate line you see is mine, not his).

We also used the Winter Clothing coloring sheets from 2 Teaching Mommies. When our coloring is a color identification activity (as opposed to just free coloring) I try to encourage him to pick the "right" color by starting him off - it is still too soon to tell if he just doesn't want to be told what color to use, or if he can't tell the difference.

For the most part, the Moose was not particularly interested in the items I featured on his shelves.

He did play with the car lacing beads a little (I put it out figuring that lacing was a skill related to clothing), but ignored the sock coin purse. He also mostly ignored the Melissa and Doug dressing board I put out for him, even though he played A LOT with the buckles on his kitchen booster seat (and insisted on helping with the buckles on his car seat).

Moose has been expressing a desire for independence in dressing himself for quite awhile, so getting him to participate in selecting his clothes and getting dressed was not at all difficult (although I have no photos to show for it). The harder part was managing the frustration that went with it! He is so persistent in his efforts, even when he's reached a point of diminishing returns!

The only dressing-related book I had on hand was Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?. So, since his daycare class used Zz for zebra, I also pulled out some zoo-themed books to supplement: 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo and One Night in the Zoo.

As with last week, the biggest success was our Montessori tray. I picked up a little cream pitcher at TJ Maxx for $3.99 and set up the tray with a small amount of water in the pitcher, and a drinking cup. Moose did remarkably well pouring from the pitcher to the cup.

He did less well pouring back to the pitcher to do it all over again. We're planning to head out to Ikea this afternoon, and, among other things, I'll be on the lookout for two pitchers to go back and forth. I may also take a step back and try letting him pour with beans (provided that we can find a pitcher with a slightly wider spout to accommodate the beans).

Wishing all my Tot School friends (visit Carisa at 1+1+1=1 to join in) a wonderful and inspired week!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Soul-Searching and Self-Doubt

2012-01-26T09:16:00.003-05:00

I read this article recently about Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Maids of Honour, and I found myself hung up on this quote from Lady Rosemary Muir (who was, at the time of the coronation, Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill):

Soul-searching and self-doubt is such a modern thing . . .

These words came back to my mind today, as I drove to the office, agonizing over yet another screaming-crying goodbye with the Moose when I left him at daycare.

What am I doing wrong that he cries like that when I leave? And why now - this has been our routine since he was a baby?

If Lady Rosemary's words are, indeed, a correct sociological observation, I might have be spared such thoughts, such guilt, were I born to a different time.

Then again, perhaps soul-searching and self-doubt are indicative of the evolution of human understanding and human connection, and I am better off with sadness (and a few tears of my own) if it leads to a better response to my son's emotional needs.

Or is he just going through a phase?

Or maybe I just need some more coffee?

What do you think? Is soul-searching (and, yes, self-doubt) better for us in the long run? Or is ignorance bliss?

Yarn Along: Consolation Cowl

2012-01-25T15:26:00.000-05:00

I'm always happy to wake up and realize it is Wednesday and time, once again, to join Ginny and her wonderful Yarn Along!

I finally finished up the Moose's dishtowel, and began a new cowl for myself as consolation for the one I seriously undersized recently.

I am still working my way through Organized Simplicity (and have made some great headway in organizing my junk drawer, kitchen counters, and dining room). I am delighted at the practical inspiration the book delivers, without making me feel guilty for all my past organizational failings. I also pulled out Montessori Play And Learn and How To Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way this week to get some activity ideas for the Moose after we had a great Montessori Moment playing with ice last week.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Tot School: I is for Igloo - sort of . . . (26 mo)

2012-01-23T15:39:00.001-05:00

~ Moose is currently 26 months old ~

Letter of the Week: Ii

Object/Theme: Igloo/Winter Fun

Color: Purple

Shape: Circle

I expected last week to be a slightly off week. As I mentioned in my last Tot School post, Moose was scheduled to move up to the next classroom and I suspected that our alphabet run would be interrupted (and I was right: they did Cc last week and will do Dd this week). For that reason, and given the season, I planned to focus more on some fun winter activities and be a little less structured.

It was a good thing I did.

Moose has transitioned seamlessly to the next class each and every time until now. In fact, he is always eager to move onwards and upwards to new toys and new things to learn. I expected he would be especially keen this time since all but one of his little friends had already moved up in December (and he'd been asking about them ever since).

I was instructed to drop him off in the new class on Tuesday morning. That part went off without a hitch! He ditched me at the door and ran to play with his friends. Apparently it went downhill from there. He started crying inconsolably during the 9 o'clock hour and by 10 they had taken him back to his old classroom. When one of his two teachers in his old room went to take her lunchbreak during naptime, he saw her leaving and had a meltdown. Moose can be a whiner, but he's not a big crier. This was new to everyone!

In the end he spent Tuesday afternoon in his new classroom (he woke up from his nap and asked for some of his friends). On Thursday morning, I dropped him off in his old classroom and, within 45 minutes, he asked for his "new class" and spent the rest of the day there.

I tried to be sensitively to to his unease with this transition, while still maintaining a positive outlook for him (new as it was to me!). We had a lot of cuddle time on our days home (Wednesday and Friday). We talked about his new class and the things he would get to do there. We talked about the fact that he could still see his old teachers even though he wouldn't be with them every day.

I also threw out completely my little-less-structured ideas for the week, and we focused on fun.

Wednesday morning started very rough (not surprising after Tuesday's disaster). Then I read this post over at Totally Tots and got inspired to have a Montessori Moment of my own. I grabbed an activity tray (from Lakeshore Learning), a large bowl, small bowl, and a spoon. Total prep time was about 60 seconds.

And the results were PHENOMINAL!

First he felt the ice and transferred it to the small bowl with his hands and we talked about how it felt.

Then he tried transferring ice with the spoon, which he did great with.

We had several rounds of moving ice from the large bowl to the smaller one. When the small one was full, he poured it back into the big one. A few times, we counted the ice cubes as he transferred them.

By this time the ice was beginning to melt, so we talked about how ice is made. After I explained that ice is water that gets very cold, he asked for a glass of water. He drank some and then began experimenting with adding ice to the water. He mixed up the ice and water in his cup and told me he was "cooking".

More pouring ensued and things got a little messy. At some point I pulled out a dish towel, and Moose asked if he could help "dry".

In all, he played at this activity for a full 28 minutes! For the Moose, this is an unheard of amount of time! And we only stopped because we were late for a playdate! He asked for "ice" again over the weekend (unfortunately at very inopportune times - like in the middle of meal prep, and while walking out the door to my father-in-law's 60th birthday dinner) and the lesson learned for me is that I definitely need to go back through some of the Montessori blogs I've stumbled upon and start assembling more activities like this!

Moose also played with his new Do-A-Dot Markers last week (I'd had them sitting in reserve for when we needed something fresh to liven things up, and they were just the thing for his mood last week). He didn't quite grasp the concept of making the dot mark in the printed dot, but he had fun. (The adorable printables are from 2 Teaching Mommies.)

Our physical play was mostly hide and seek (at Moose's request). We did a little yoga over the weekend, too.

Somehow, out of the wreckage that was last week came some delightful firsts: first counting to ten on his own (spontaneously in the middle of the kitchen floor on Thursday night while I was making dinner: "Mommy, listen," and he counted perfectly 1 to 10); and first poo-poo in the potty.

I peeked in on him (via video) this afternoon and he is still in his new classroom and seems to be doing just fine. These are the days I wish I could stay home be with him all the time . . .

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links.

Yarn Along: Mystery Birthday Project

2012-01-19T08:50:00.002-05:00

I am one again delighted to be joining Ginny for her wonderful Wednesday Yarn Along (and here I am straggling in on Thursday . . .)

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I haven't had a chance to start any additional projects, so I am posting a photo of the early stages of the mystery birthday project that I mentioned in last week's Yarn Along post. In truth, I haven't been able to steal too many moments for knitting or reading this past week.

I've had Organized Simplicity on my mental wish list since this time last year, and when it became available as a free Kindle download this week, I couldn't resist! I was too inspired by reading the introduction yesterday and decided to clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen and left more of a mess than I started with.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Book Review: The Uncommon Reader

2012-01-17T09:08:00.000-05:00

This month it was my turn to make the selection for my neighborhood book club. This is the second year in a row that I volunteered for January and with as busy as everyone gets around the holidays, I wanted to make sure it wasn't a cumbersome read, either in length or relative heaviness.

I have a somewhat secret resource for interesting, short reads: What is Stephen Harper Reading? I all started in 2007 when author Yann Martel decided that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper could benefit from a broadening of his literary horizons and began sending him a short selection every other week. I actually kept up with the list for awhile, appreciating both the quick nature of the reads as well as the opportunity to read someone else's selections and get outside of my comfort zone. I abandoned the venture when I had trouble procuring some of the selections, but remembered the site as a resource for thoughtful but brief reading selections.

Enter The Uncommon Reader. The basic premise is that one day the Queen (yes, of England) chases an unruly corgi onto the mobile library bus outside Buckingham Palace and, once aboard, feels duty bound to feign an interest and borrow a title - even though she has never taken the time for reading before. One of her kitchen boys is also in the bus and makes a recommendation, which she in turn reads solely out of a sense of duty. Much to her surprise, she enjoys the exercise and so begins a love affair with the written word.

The story is a delightful little read. The Queen gets so absorbed in her reading that she - fastidious as she is is known to be - slacks off a little with her duties and even her appearance. Who among us hasn't hidden a book under a desk or in a bathroom to sneak a few minutes when the plot thickens? Her Majesty becomes just as we are - even hiding a book under a blanket in her lap while in the royal carriage on her way to the opening of Parliament. There is a hilarious irony throughout, as the Prime Minister and the Queen's staff think she has begun to lose her faculties, and plot ways to interrupt her literary adventures.

With the exception of the ending (which I find unrealistic on a deep level having to do with my own reading about the Queen over the years; but which I don't think I can discuss here without a major spoiler), I thought that Bennett captured the Queen's persona (at least the public perception of it) perfectly.

Between the pithy commentary on books, the interpretation of books, writers and writing there is also some food for thought about the nature of language - the receiving and the sharing of it. The Queen begins to make notes about what she reads - highlights, responses - and I was acutely reminded of my own tendency to interact with what I am reading (which led, coincidentally to the title of this blog).

The author also posits that one can only read (and make sidebar comments) for so long before feeling the urge to enter one's own voice into the fray. How long were you a blog reader before you started blogging yourself?

How apropos that this little English book should be as a good English beer: light and frothy on the surface with some real substance beneath.

Cheers!

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links.

Dutch Oven Magic

2012-01-16T11:19:00.000-05:00

It's been a year since I purchased my Dutch oven, and while it has seen plenty of use, I had yet to use it as truly intended. That is to say, I've done plenty of stovetop cooking but no baking.

With our current transition to a family dinner with the Moose (rather than Moose eating at 6 and us eating at 8 or later after the Moose was in bed), and the attendant challenge of getting food prep done with the Moose underfoot, I finally cracked open the Glorious One-Pot Meals book I purchased along with the Dutch oven. The basic premise is that, by layering raw ingredients in a particular order within the Dutch oven, with a very precise liquid to dry goods ratio, a completely cooked dinner of starch, protein and vegetables can be achieved in around an hour.

Can you tell I was skeptical?

I started by finally ordering the metal Le Creuset replacement knob necessary for high-heat oven cooking (the One-Pot Meals all cook at 450F; the plastic knobs that come standard with all Dutch ovens - Lodge as well as Le Creuset - cannot withstand that heat). I'm happy to report that it was a perfect fit on my Lodge oven.

I chose to start with a chicken recipe involving a bottom layer of pasta (I used whole wheat), topped with chicken breasts, fresh herbs, mushrooms, pearl onions, olives, chard and canned tomatoes.

One hour later, I cut into a chicken breast to test and was stunned to find that it was cooked perfectly!

I have gone from seriously skeptical to wildly excited! If I can speed up my knife skills and cut my prep time down (it was seriously dismal this time!), I expect I will have a Friday mainstay (which yields enough for leftovers AND a freezer meal)! I also hope I will be brave enough to try some of my own adaptations next time around and, therefore, have a recipe to share.

Do you have a favorite Dutch oven recipe? I'd love to hear it!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Tot School: H is for Hammer (25.5 mo)

2012-01-15T14:45:00.000-05:00

~ Moose is currently 25.5 months old ~

Letter of the Week: Hh

Object/Theme: Hammer/Tools

Color: Pink

Shape: Star

We started off the new week with a new pocket chart on the fridge featuring the letter, color, and shape of the week. The sets I chose (all from Lakeshore Learning, but apparently not available online) feature photos of objects, which seems to particularly attract the Moose. I intended it to be primarily a visual, but Moose ended up interacting with it quite a lot - especially taking out and holding up the different stars (a starfish, starfruit, and gold craft star).

I used the printables from 1+1+1=1 again, although I can honestly say that, except one swipe of a dry erase marker at the binder housing the sheets, Moose had absolutely no interest in doing coloring/tracing this week.

Because I did not have any smaller tool toys to feature on his shelves, I concentrated on some shape toys. Moose really likes his Melissa & Doug Chunky Shapes Puzzle (he has taken to chunky puzzles in a way and with a skill he never showed with the "age-appropriate" large peg puzzles he spent all last year with). The laminated shape cards from the printables got a lot of play again and he very soundly knows diamond, star, and oval on his own. He really took to his Lauri Toys Shape and Color Sorter!

Although shapes and colors were not actually sorted.

Moose's book basket featured The Toolbox, Helping Daddy, and Skippyjon Jones Shape Up. The Toolbox (like all Anne Rockwell books) is absolutely beautiful, and if you have a young tool enthusiast in your family, I can't recommend it enough!

Moose was most excited that his tool toys were featured this week. He loves his V Tech Tool Box and Fisher-Price Drill Set! I had put up the drill bits when we originally purchased the toy (lest they get lost) and brought them out for the first time this week and he spent A LOT of time driving the screws in and out.

Daddy Moose also invited him out to his workshop while he finished up some pens he had turned on the lathe, which Moose loved!

Moose specifically asked for yoga as his indoor physical activity this week and followed along very well with his two favorite segments on YouTube (run through the TV): the warm-up from Yoga Motion and some bug-inspired poses. Interestingly, he brought toys to his yoga mat to play after yoga was finished, and I'm thinking he might do well (and contain his mess!) with a Montessori-style mat, so I'm going to look on Etsy this week for something of that nature.

The surprise learning moment of the week came thanks to an early morning (pre-sunrise) on Wednesday and an elephant-shaped booklight that Moose noticed high on his shelf. We turned off the overhead light and turned the booklight off and on, shone it at the walls and ceiling, and talked about light and dark. Of course I have no photos to show for it, but he was absolutely delighted by the experience!

This coming week we will move on to Ii and I can't wait to try out some of the cold weather fun ideas that have been coming to my inbox from some of my favorite blogs! Moose is expected to move up to the next classroom at daycare sometime soon, so our alphabet run may get shifted, but for now I'm happy that the letter Ii falls during some actual wintry weather!

For some really excellent Tot School inspiration, visit Carisa at 1+1+1=1!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Literary Challenge 2011

2012-01-13T13:50:00.002-05:00

Today I am excited to be contributing to the Law School Transplant's 2011 Literary Year in Review. Erin challenged her readers and friends to pick their top five reads from last year (they didn't have to be newly-published, simply read by the contributor during 2011). Below are my five, but if you're on the hunt for some other good reads, be sure to check out the other contributors' suggestions!

1) The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Its The Secret Garden all grown up with a delicious mystery spanning three generations. I loved this book so much that I gifted it to multiple friends this past Christmas.

2) Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson
Equal parts eye candy and intellect candy - beautiful, easy, healthy recipes compiled in such a way that you want to sit down and read the whole book. This is the first cookbook I have ever owned that I can truly say I have yet to make a recipe from that wasn't a smash hit! Although the cookbook is vegetarian, many of the recipes are adaptable for those who wish to include meat in their diet.

3) The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The story of the most influential event of the late 19th century that you've (probably) never heard of. Some will love the American Jack the Ripper angle; others will be amazed at the scale and transience of the Chicago World's Fair - and how many important figures it touched.

4) Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
If you think feminism has run its useful course, think again. This book gave me plenty of food for thought but, unlike others in its genre, it takes the reader beyond the academic and gives suggestions for actions to take to remedy the atrocities and injustices women continue to face around the world.

5) Under the Chinaberry Tree by Ann Ruethling
Parents and non-parents alike will enjoy these timeless children's book recommendations (who doesn't love to curl up with a picture book from their childhood once in awhile!). I raved about this book when I read it in early 2011, and found myself pulling it out over and over during the year for its wonderful reading and activity suggestions.

I'm still forming my "to read" list for 2012 and I'm always open to thoughtful suggestions!

Photo Credit

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Yarn Along: Of Finishings and Beginnings

2012-01-11T07:04:00.000-05:00

I am happy to be linking up with Ginny's wonderful Yarn Along again today

So much going on at once! I finished the neckwarmer I began at Christmastime, only to discover that in my haze and haste I selected the completely wrong set of needles - US4s instead of US8s! It fits, but more in manner of a turtleneck than a cowl. I have offered it to a friend's five-year-old daughter so at least it will get some use.

I am making progress on the Moose's dishtowel and have cast on a birthday gift for a friend but will have to abstain from photos or details here while it is in progress, as this friend reads my blog.

I am continuing The Soul of a Chef, which, I have to admit, is hard reading. The author does an exceedingly excellent job at conveying the frantic, nerve-fraying pace of the lives of the chefs he is following. It makes for poor bedtime reading, as I find myself having nightmares about the Bar Exam (which I took almost eight years ago!) and other restless dreams. I've also been leafing through Elizabeth Pantley's No-Cry Potty Training Solution this morning in light of Moose's first potty success last night.

I am teaching a friend to knit today! I gifted her needles and some pretty purple yarn for Christmas to get her going (she has been talking about wanting to learn for awhile), and if we can get our boys to play on their own for awhile this morning, we will have a go at it. So maybe there's a guest post from her in my future!

Dear Victoria (On Wedding Planning)

2012-01-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

Does it mean you're getting old when you start giving advice? Or was Dear Abby still young when she started dispensing wisdom?

I recently found myself on the giving end of advice about weddings and babies. How did that happen?! As I wrote responses (and, in some cases, rewrote, because I didn't do a good job at saving my very thoughtful words the first time around), it occurred to me that some of what I had to say just might help out someone else.

So the first in my very unplanned series of "Dear Victoria" posts is tips to reduce wedding costs.

Pick what 1 or 2 things are most important to you and use your funds there. There are so many other details that you won't even remember!
Look for a venue that is "self decorated" so you don't have to spend on decorations. Daddy Moose and I had ours at an historic B&B that was already decorated with antiques and flowers. All we did was throw some rose buds (from Sam's Club) in little fishbowl vases (available at Jo Ann or Michaels, or probably even the dollar store depending on the day) on the tables and we were done! We had friends do something similar at a local art gallery.
Ask if your venue works particularly closely with a caterer or baker. Ours recommended a baker and because they worked so closely together, the venue let the baker use their cake hardware for our cake so we didn't have to buy the hardware (which we would have never used again!). Some may offer discounts if you use an affiliate.
Don't be shy about making your flowers do double duty - we used our alter pieces for the food table at our reception. My bridesmaids were under strict instructions where their bouquets were to be placed for decorative purposes at the reception (they didn't really want to haul them around the whole time anyway!).
Depending on your personality, a videographer might not be a must-have. I can tell you we have watched our video exactly 1 time since we were married. Thank goodness my husband's uncle was the one who did the video (for free)!
Seriously, don't spend too much on favors! How many favors have you kept from others' weddings? I know I have exactly zero.
Do not, however, pinch pennies with shoes! When you're looking at your special clothes for your special day, remember how long you will be on your feet - comfortable shoes are invaluable.
If you have a friend who is a photographer and perhaps trying to make a name for herself, you might ask if she would do the photos as her gift to you. A great way for her to build her portfolio and she's off the hook for a present. One of my best friends did this and it worked perfectly for her and her photographer friend!

Have I missed something? If you have a great tip, add it to the comments! Someone will thank you!

Photo credit: Tim Forbes

Trying Tot School

2012-01-09T10:18:00.001-05:00

~ Moose is currently 25.5 months old ~

Letter of the week: Gg

Object/Theme: Goat/Farm

Color: Blue

Shape: Heart

This is my first Tot School post! A little background is probably in order. Moose attends an educational daycare three days a week when I am at the office. That gives us two weekdays, plus the weekend at home together. Since we were snowed in last January (and he was only 13 months old), it has been very clear to me that Moose needs some structure and stimulation to his days or he'll get bored and peel the paint off the walls.

I purchased Before Five in a Row last summer, but found it to be a bit too advanced for the Moose at this point. I spent the fall scouring Lakeshore Learning for educational toddler activities and started loosely doing a theme week thanks to the great ideas at Teach Your Tot. Then I happily discovered Tot School and spent my little bit of downtime after Christmas getting ready to integrate some of the wonderful ideas on our days home together (typically Wednesdays and Fridays) and downtime on the weekends (if he seems in the mood).

For now, I will be taking my lead from his teacher as far as which letter/color/shape features in a given week. Thankfully, they are covering the alphabet in order so I can plan some of our activities in advance. Sometimes I don't know the color and shape until Monday.

Last week we covered the letter Gg. I used the 1+1+1=1 printables for some of the letter tracing and coloring pages, as well as the vocabulary and shape cards. I also had some of the ABC coloring pages from Making Learning Fun ready and in Moose's weekly notebook.

I set up his favorite shelf in the kitchen hutch as Monetssori-sytle tot shelves.

This week we featured a farm puzzle, his blue counting bears, the "Old MacDonald" storytelling pieces, plus some stickers and the lacing beads he received from his Mimi for Christmas.

This was our book basket for the week:

We also had Big Red Barn and a DK Touch and Feel Farm Animals book featured in the book basket in his room. For his indoor physical activity, we used Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance (at Moose's request).

I can't say how relieved I was for Carisa's warnings that Ladybug's interest in the writing/drawing/tracing activities was atypical! Moose was pretty ambivalent about the tracing pages (although he seemed to love the binder and the dry erase markers, so maybe it will catch on). He did color a farm-themed page from a coloring book I offered to him.

It doesn't look like much, but it was the first time he appeared to intentionally color a particular part of a picture (he did the nose and ears in pink with prompting from me; when he switched and started coloring in blue, he informed me "color toes"). All told, I think he sat at the table a grand total of three minutes.

Otherwise, his favorite activities involved motor skills and manipulation (no surprises there!). He loves his storyboard, and brought out OldMacdonald several times (even in the evening when I wasn't trying to get him to do Tot School).

He also loved playing with his counting bears.

I am still covering one color at a time rather than forcing sorting since he is not catching on to colors particularly well. Daddy Moose is afraid he might be color blind (any time you ask him what color something is, he will tell you it is green). But he seemed to take well to shapes when I singled them out over the last few weeks (oval and star) so I'm going to try a similar approach with colors.

He also really loved the vocabulary and shape cards. The only words he didn't know were "barn" and "farmer" and he had easily picked up "farmer" by the end of the week. We are using an old food canister with a slot in the top for storage, which has added another dimension to the "game": placing each card in the tin once we review the shape or word.

Off we go . . . on to Hh this week!

For more Tot School inspiration, visit 1+1+1=1!

Yarn Along: Loose Ends

2012-01-04T21:42:00.000-05:00

Once again linking up with Ginny's delightful Yarn Along today

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I finished up another baby hat earlier this week:

I especially love the spiral top:

I have a baby shrug to cast on for my new niece (due in April), a birthday gift to cast on for a friend, and a hat in special edition yarn to cast on for myself (the yarn for all three of which came from a delightful new LYS I sneaked out to last Friday).

But then I cleaned out my knitting corner today and found some unfinished things that need some attention too A pumpkin hat I started for the Moose before he was one (and by now will probably be for eventual #2), a Celtic cable neckwarmer that has been snoozing for a long time, and this bunny dishcloth/towel I'm working on for the Moose's play kitchen:

All of which is to say that I'm having a difficult time prioritizing.

In the meantime, I'm reading Michael Ruhlman's The Soul of a Chef, this month's Kitchen Reader selection.

Happy New Year (Observed)

2012-01-02T15:08:00.001-05:00

Camellia at Zoo Atlanta - 1/1/12

Having the New Year begin on a Sunday has really thrown me for a loop! Even though yesterday was the day, both Moose's daycare and Daddy Moose's employer are closed today. Because of some kind of NFL monopoly on Sunday airtime, today is THE day for college bowls. Even the Tournament of Roses parade was today.

Yesterday, Moose and I treated Daddy Moose to an extra few hours of sleep by heading to the zoo first thing. Thankfully, Zoo Atlanta is open 363 days of the year and is one of the Moose's favorite places (behind Chick-fil-A and anywhere where construction is actively taking place).

The gorillas were particularly active yesterday and Moose and I were able to see two babies riding on their mommies. They were too quick for the shutter speed on my camera phone, but the zoo graciously provides statues of some of their residents for photo opportunities.

Moose very sweetly - but too quickly for a photograph - stroked the baby gorilla before giving both mom and baby a hug (almost serenely enough for a non-blurry photo). Almost.

We had a beautiful morning - a wonderful start to the year!

While Moose napped, I finished a darling little baby hat.

Today I am getting back to the grind. I have laundry in process. I think we'll have freezer meals tonight and I'll hit the grocery store tomorrow on my way home from work (in favor of watching football and playing with Moose this afternoon). I started the homemade vanilla given to me by a friend for Christmas.

I'm planning posts on my favorite reads of 2011, my word for 2012, more knitting adventures, and even a possible foray into Tot School so stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

Kitchen Reader: Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

2011-12-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to announce I've joined the wonderful bloggers at Kitchen Reader, an online book club for bloggers who enjoy reading and writing about (and eating!) food. For December, instead of reading a new book, we were tasked with sharing a holiday recipe.

Coming from a Polish family, Christmas Eve dinner has always been a bigger deal than Christmas dinner. Growing up, it was the one time each year when the traditional Polish favorites were guaranteed to be on the menu: kielbasa and sauerkraut (and sometimes pierogi, potato pancakes, nalesniki, if we were lucky).

When I moved to the South and married Daddy Moose, I was in for some culture shock! Not only were kielbasa and kraut not part of the vocabulary, the Moose Family (Motto: "If it doesn't come baked in a 9x13 dish, it is probably not worth eating.") was, sadly, not particularly open to any new dishes at the Christmas table (although they swear this is not true).

Finally, after many years (and admittedly a few tears), I won Daddy Moose over on the merits of kielbasa and kraut and this year I resumed the tradition of serving it for Christmas Eve dinner.

My way of making kielbasa and sauerkraut was my maternal grandmother's, and then my mom's. My recipe card reads:

"Kraut, bacon, apple, brown sugar"

Although my mom, when I call with a question while cooking (which still happens weekly, I think), will say unhelpful things like "cook it until it is done" or "how much? well, add enough," I endeavored to make detailed notes to be able to pass along here.

Christmas Eve Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 pound bacon slices (yes, really, a whole pound)
1 baking apple (I used Rome), peeled and diced
2 pounds packaged sauerkraut
1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar
4 links FRESH kielbasa

1. Cook bacon in batches in a frying pan, skillet, or Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy (about 6 minutes total per batch, turning frequently). Reserve bacon grease as you go. Remove each batch and drain on paper towels.

2. Fry diced apple in ~ 3-4 Tablespoons of the reserved bacon grease over medium heat for 5 minutes. You can use butter if you're really opposed to the bacon grease, but I think the flavor using the bacon grease is incomparable.

3. While your apple is frying, drain and rinse sauerkraut in a wire mesh strainer to your desired sour-ness and wring out as much moisture as you can. This will vary by your family's tastes. My dad likes his completely rinsed. Given the choice, my mom and I would have it completely unrinsed. This time around, I drained (but did not rise) half and rinsed the other half.

4. Add the sauerkraut and brown sugar to the apple and continue to cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. The amount of brown sugar you need depends on personal preference as well as how much you rinsed your kraut. This time, I used 1/2 cup of brown sugar since half of my kraut was unrinsed. When I make it for my dad and rinse all the kraut, I only use 1/4 cup brown sugar. Taste as you go until you get a flavor that makes your tastebuds smile!

5. After 10 minutes, reduce heat to low, crumble the bacon back into the kraut mixture and cover until you plan to serve. This is one of those recipes that gets better as the flavors blend. I let mine sit for 2 hours this time around. I've been known to cook it in the morning and put it in the crock pot on the "serve" setting for the whole day.

6. While your kraut is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil and gently add your FRESH* kielbasa. Reduce heat until the water is barely boiling and cook 15-20 minutes per side. They will float at the top throughout, which is why it is necessary to turn them over in the water. You can either cook your kielbasa at mealtime or make a few hours in advance. If you do the latter, once the sausages are cooked, drain and put them in with the kraut (be sure to cover them up with some kraut, too).

*(Yes, fresh is much harder to find than smoked, but SO much better. When you do find it, don't be afraid to hoard and freeze some for later!)

When you are ready to eat, serve as is, or with a starchy Polish side - mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, or pierogi.

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia and Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!

(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)

Yarn Along: After Christmas Exhale

2011-12-28T13:06:00.001-05:00

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along today:

As predicted, with the flurry of wrapping, cooking, driving, and visiting for Christmas, I didn't get much of a chance to breathe let alone pick up my needles again until yesterday. I'm very happy with how my cowl is coming along! It has taken me nearly three years of knitting to finally get it through my head that wild yarn really needs a milder pattern so that the detail and colors aren't constantly at odds. The main body of this one is a simple stockinette with a slip stitch - enough dimension to keep it from being boring, but simple enough to let the yarn shine.

I received Lisa Hendey's Book of Saints for Catholic Moms from my mom for Christmas. It was not at all a surprise gift, as I begged and begged for it before it was even published in October. The format is very busy-mom friendly: 52 Saints, each with a short bio, take-away life lessons, a short passage and prayer for each day of the week, and both personal and family activities ideas for the week. Lisa Hendey's writing is very accessible to someone like me, who frequently struggles to keep up with prayer and I hope I will be able to keep up with the Saints over the next 52 weeks.

Bubble Therapy

2011-12-23T18:34:00.000-05:00

The Moose asks to play with bubbles. A lot. When we are inside. When we are outside. In the bathtub. Whenever he sees anything remotely shaped like a bubble. You get my drift.

Lucky for him, I "get" it. I loved bubbles as a child, too. My mom indulged my sister and me with all kinds of large or fantastical bubble wands over the years. And I already started stocking up on some interesting bubble blowers as I ran across them over the summer.

Playing with bubbles with the Moose has been a delightful return to childhood for me. But more than being a fun throwback, I have discovered that blowing bubbles is incredibly therapeutic. In order to make quality bubbles, one has to start with a deep breath and continue with a slow, controlled exhale. Without intending to, one enters into a pattern of yogic or meditative-like breathing. The heartrate slows. The temper (not that I ever have one, of course!) calms.

I'm sure there is a physiological and neurochemical explanation for this process. All I know is that, as the end of the day, when the Moose (like most other two-year-olds) is not at his Mr. Congeniality best, I look forward to bubbles at bathtime. The water play calms him and the bubbles never fail to bring out his giggles, and I get to (have to!) take a deep breath even if it's been one of those days that I can't step away for even a minute. And it's probably way better for me than a traditional happy hour!

Yarn Along: Late to the Party

2011-12-22T08:26:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a whirlwind of last minute shopping, wrapping, food buying, all compounded by a coughing, clingy toddler.

My only knit and reading time came very late in the day.

I am currently reading The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. It is a delightful, witty, insightful novella that imagines that the Queen of England takes up reading for the first time in her life.

And I just cast on a cowl with some very exciting Lorna's Laces yarn that I've had wallowing in my stash for over a year and a half.

I suspect that the "me" minutes will be few and far between in the coming days. I was so grateful for Ginny's weekly yarn along to inspire me to take a moment for myself.

Makin' It Monday

2011-12-19T13:54:00.000-05:00

My goal (hope, desire) was to blog about a cooking adventure each Monday. I stay home with the Moose on Friday and usually somewhere in my three consecutive days at home I find the time to get creative in the kitchen.

However, the theme of the day is just getting by. This icky cold that Moose and Daddy Moose started two weeks ago just won't leave us. How is it that the Moose can be up for more than an hour during the night, sleep in just a little, and wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed?

So in lieu of a recipe, in the spirit of some vastly more widely-read bloggers I admire, I am sharing a list of links I've enjoyed this past week:

The Law School Transplant's 21-day Yoga Challenge
Emily's (of Live Renewed) 10 Things I DON'T do as Mama of a Toddler (excellent balm to assuage any holiday- or illness- related mommy guilt)
Skinny Whole Wheat Snickerdoodles that I really want to try to make this week from Gina @ Skinnytaste
Wonderful Christmas-themed alphabet pages from Musings of Me (found courtesy of 1+1+1=1)
An adorable handprint tree I want to make this week with the Moose from All Kids Network

Wishing you a happy, healthy final week 'till Christmas!

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tot Tin

2011-12-18T14:42:00.000-05:00

Ta da! This is the tot tin (at least that's what I've decided to call it) that I finished this morning just in time to ship to my college roommate's two-year-old son. Her son, like the Moose, just turned two.

It all began a few weeks ago when I discovered the Tot School blog and Totally Tots (and others linked up). I loved the idea of dot pages and realized that if I laminated them, the boys could play with puff ball magnets with them and color with them. While pondering a cute way to present all the pieces, it dawned on me that if I put everything together in a tin, it would also provide a built-in surface for play and make it a grab-and-go learning toy!

I started with these alphabet dot pages from Homeschool Creations and laminated at Lakeshore Learning:

I scored the puff balls at the dollar store and the magnets at Michaels. I used good ole' Elmer's Glue, although it appears that most moms use a glue gun. I decided to work on a cookie sheet to keep the magnets from sliding around when I was pressing on them to stick the puff ball; I lined my cookie sheet with parchment paper to catch any splatter.

I made 11 of each color and they barely fit in this little round tin I found at Jo-Ann:

Thanks to a crafty friend, I decided to Mod Podge for the first time ever to personalize the the lid of the tin with some scrapbooking stickers without running the risk of toddler fingers peeling the stickers up (rectangular tin also from Jo-Ann):

After all the pieces were dry this morning, I wanted to give them a test run on the inside of the lid. The Moose helped (which is why the green puff balls are piled up in this picture):

(Mommy Moose straightened them out for a more picture-perfect finish):

I'm making one for the Moose, too. I plan to restock the tin weekly with the letter of the week, and other items for the theme/color/shape of the week as appropriate. Stay tuned!

[Dis]connected

2011-12-16T13:47:00.001-05:00

On Fridays, Lisa-Jo, the Gypsy Mama, challenges her readers to write for just five minutes on one word. Today's word is CONNECTED.

GO

I am fighting to feel connected to any one thing at the moment. I'm feeling frazzled trying to wrap up some business items by the end of the year, so I rush through things with the Moose. I've been up during the night with a coughing Moose and have less patience and tenderness for my husband. I'm falling behind in housekeeping because I'm trying to carve out time for myself to write, knit, and read . . .

[As if to punctuate this point perfectly, my cell phone rang while I was writing this with a matter I had to deal with for a client - even though it's my usual "at home" day.]

I feel like some sort of flying creature - not a bird, I don't feel that graceful at the moment - that never actually touches down somewhere. And my wings are so weary from the constant flight.

I could blame it on the season - that doesn't help - but that would be disingenuous of me. I feel like this all the time to some degree.

In the moments that I remember to look heavenward to be grounded, I only have the energy to give thanks for the momentum to keep going and beg for it to continue.

STOP

Won't you accept the challenge and join us for just five minutes at the Gypsy Mama today?

Yarn Along: Hopeful Baby Hat

2011-12-14T13:40:00.000-05:00

This week I am in a settling-in-for-winter frame of mind. Too bad it is 66F and sunny out! I pulled out the Complete Sherlock Holmes my husband bought me while I was in college and am pretending to be somewhere foggy and wintery.

I am also working on a hat for a hopefully future baby. Daddy Moose and I are starting to talk about beginning the adoption process again. Although no decisions have been made, it can't hurt to have a soft little hat knitted in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino waiting in the wings for when we are blessed with another baby.

For more inspirational knitting and reading, come join the yarn-along at Ginny's beautiful blog, small things.

Cooking Up a Good Mood

2011-12-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

This unconscionably good mood* is brought to you by:

(*The whole Moose family is nursing a cold - between Moose's stirring, Daddy Moose's snoring, and my own congestion, it would have been a better use of my time to get up at, say 2 a.m., since I was not getting anything productive - like sleep - accomplished! I will freely admit that I was not in such a good mood this morning when I first awoke!)

I was hoping to post photos of something wholesome and home-cooked today. However, due to our house full of germies, its a miracle I made it to the grocery store at all yesterday!

I ended up pulling out a jar of Coq au Vin braising sauce I bought during a sale at Williams Sonoma months ago and filling in the blanks with finds from Trader Joe's.

I used 4 pounds of chicken breasts instead of the whole chicken called for. The sauce made a delightfully large batch and will give us leftovers later this week plus at least two freezer meals besides.

I served over whole wheat penne (which I forgot to photograph because I was hungry).

Not to be left out, Moose got a pan and spatula from his kitchen so he could help.

I broke up a cereal bar so he'd have something to flip in the pan while he watched me turn the chicken to brown it.

O Christmas Tree!

2011-12-11T08:55:00.000-05:00

Every year when it comes time to put up our Christmas tree, I start lamenting that our tree is always such a disorganized hodge podge: the white lights that were in my husband's dorm room, random colored lights that we picked up from heaven-knows-where, hand-me-down ornaments that hung on my childhood Christmas trees, and the cheap blue star we bought when we were engaged - over 10 years ago.

And I wax lyrical about how someday we will have two trees, and the second tree with be decorated with color-coordinated, Martha Stewart perfection (WARNING: do not look at these trees unless you are totally secure with your own tree).

This year, these feelings lingered longer than usual. I had to improvise with the lights, since one of our colored strands decided to retire. So I was pretty sulky by the time I got to the ornaments. They went up one by one (I have a whole philosophy of which ornaments go with which kind of hook, but if I shared that here, I'd sound really OCD, so I will refrain).

About one-third of the way in, a realization hit me: this tree is my biography!

The handmade snowflake by my grandmother (who passed away before I was born):

The "filler ornaments" that my parents bought early in their marriage (early 1970's):

The Precious Moments ballerina my parents gave me the first year I took ballet lessons (I was seven):

The cross-stitch stocking I made my husband for our second Christmas:

Just as I felt a warm happiness rise as I walked through this three dimensional photo album, I realized with a sudden jolt of sadness, that every ornament on our tree was from my childhood, my friends, my family. Our tree wasn't the the dual biography of a couple that I felt it should be.

Even the more recent additions were a continuation of the same theme.

There was the goldfinch that my mom gave my husband when he took up bird watching:

The handmade "pine cone" ornament my sister made for us the year she was between jobs and money was tight:

And the olive wood nativity my parents gave to the Moose for his second Christmas:

I can't tell you how much this bothers me (and, yes, it also tugs at my heart that it took me so long to notice - this is our 10th Christmas as a married couple). I managed to corner my mother-in-law yesterday at the church holiday festival we were at (in between peeling the Moose off a poor, unsuspecting donkey in the live Nativity and going down the inflatable slide with the Moose for the half-dozenth time). She seemed really nonplussed by my revelation. At first she said that they must have some somewhere. Then she said she wasn't sure what they did have - they just didn't get that into ornaments in their family.

But I'm not ready to let it go yet. I'll give her a few days to marinate and then ask again - there has got to be some ornaments somewhere. A hideous clay figure he made in elementary school. A First Christmas ornament. Right?

To be continued . . .

Color Exploration

2011-12-09T13:22:00.000-05:00

GO

"Mommy, color?" is a request my ears frequently hear these days. Except that I don't have much in the way of adorable toddler scribbles to show for all of the trips to the kitchen table to sit with the crayons (the Moose was banned from markers after he colored his scalp green at daycare).

Instead, he dumps the crayons out. Sometimes he looks at each one individually. Other times he sees how many fat, triangular crayons he can hold in his little fist at once. Then he places each one back into the cup before declaring he is "all done".

My Type-A-ness is constantly frustrated by this. Why won't he just use them like they're meant to be used? I try to console myself that at least he is getting some great fine motor skill practice.

But today I realized that something more was going on. He was looking at these colors like it was his first time. And it dawned on me that my eyes had been dulled by the 64+ crayon profusion laid at my feet by Crayola since a very young age. Moose has been exposed to the main colors since birth, I suppose, but I realized that the crayons he was focusing on were the ones that were variations on a main color. A teal blue. A red-orange. The white crayon. He really was looking at them for the first time. Exploring them. Taking them in.

And it reminds me to be patient with him, because there is so much I take for granted that is still new to him. Like helium balloons. Clouds in the sky. Lights on the Christmas tree.

When I can catch my tongue and slow down, I get the deep satisfaction of exploring all over again these things I've taken for granted.

STOP

To join in the fun, hop on over to Gypsy Mama!

Yarn Along: Baby Boy Hat

2011-12-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine gave birth to her second son last Friday, and I was behind in the knitting department, so this week's knit is a quick hat project to send to him. I'm using my very favorite Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton yarn - so perfectly soft for babies!

Not one to be left out, Moose asked if he could help this morning. I gave him the remnants of a ball of Sugar 'n' Cream cotton to play with. Above is how it turned out - which is exactly why I wasn't really all that keen for his help.

When I was at my local Catholic bookstore earlier this week to pick up a Christmas gift for my mom, I ended up treating myself to Happy Catholic. The short passages are perfect to couple with knitting, since I frequently have to look up from my reading to make sure I haven't dropped a stitch, etc. I have always found knitting to be relaxing and meditative, and in that way, this book also pairs wonderfully. I particularly loved a line I read this morning : "Miracles are love letters [from God]."

For more knitting and reading inspiration, come see Ginny's beautiful blog, small things.

Sweet Potato Muffins

2011-12-05T10:28:00.000-05:00

If you've browsed around Mommy Marginalia at all, you've probably caught on that I've got a thing for muffins. I've also got a thing for any muffin recipe I can make using only a whisk (i.e. can be made at naptime or after Moose has gone to bed without interrupting any precious sleep). So when I was trolling the Green Market Baking Book for some seasonal ideas for this week's menu and saw the recipe for Sweet Potato Bread, I thought I'd take a whack at adapting the recipe to make muffins (and with a few other tweaks to reflect my baking preferences - which sounds sort of haughty now that I've written it, but really boils down to a) I had mandarins, not oranges already in the house; b) I had pumpkin pie spice already in the house; and c) I don't like using vegetable oil but do not like the taste that olive oil imparts on sweeter baked goods).

The original recipe makes one 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf, so I expected to yield only 12 muffins (a few of the mixes I've tried from Trader Joe's lately make one 9 x 5 loaf or 12 muffins). I was thrilled to discover that, instead, this recipe makes 24 muffins! So not only do I have a muffin for the week, I also got to indulge my new freezer cooking obsession.

Sweet Potato Muffins
Adapted from the Green Market Baking Book

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons diced mandarin orange peel
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
2 cups sweet potato puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups maple syrup
Preheat oven to 400F. Prepare muffin tins with liners or spray with non-stick spray (I like Pam baking spray).
In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients, including mandarin peel.
In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients.
Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Stir until just blended.
Fill 24 muffin tin wells with the batter.
Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in a center muffin comes out clean.
Cool muffins in the tins for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto wire baking racks and continue cooling.

If you want to freeze some (or all), I recommend wrapping each individually in plastic wrap and sealing in a freezer bag.

I think they turned out delightfully well! Although, if I'm honest, they're a bit more sweet bread-y than truly muffin-y. (Not that that's a bad thing!) I think next time to up the nutrition and cut down the guilt factor, I'll try replacing some of the butter with applesauce and cutting the maple syrup.

Happy Birthday, Little Moose

2011-12-04T14:44:00.000-05:00

Ever since my son's first visit to Zoo Atlanta in August, he's been obsessed with pandas! So when it came time to pick a birthday party theme for the Little Moose's (so nicknamed by his pediatrician for his hearty growth his first year), it was a no-brainer!

Moose's 2nd Birthday fell during Thanksgiving week, so we delayed his party until yesterday so all of his friends would be in town. I ordered these balloons from Oriental Trading Company to decorate.

And we noshed on these panda cupcakes. (Well, to be fair, I ended up ordering iced vanilla cupcakes and decorated them myself; last week was shaping up to be one of "those weeks" and I didn't think a cranky Mommy Moose would contribute to the party atmosphere.)

I also served this Man Dip recipe with corn chips, pigs in blankets, and pizza biscuits. The pizza biscuits are a favorite in our house and I figured I would freeze the leftovers - except that there were only three left over!

Judging by the amount of food consumed, the length of time the mostly-adult guests stayed (despite any real "activities" - c'mon, it's a two-year-old's party), and the extra hour of sleep the Moose took this morning, I'd say the party was a success!

He even got a gorgeous new panda from one of his aunts! Happy Birthday, my (not so) little Moose!

Tired Is a State of Heart

2011-12-02T13:25:00.000-05:00

GO

My son has been coughing at night. Nothing to be worried about. One of those air-getting-drier coughs that sets in after you've been sleeping for awhile and your throat catches a tickle. Still, I refuse to turn the monitor off, just in case it suddenly worsens. So his coughing has meant some nights of very interrupted sleep this week.

I was really dragging on Monday.

I started Tuesday with three cups of coffee instead of my usual one.

And then I remembered that two years ago this week I had a one-week-old baby. And I jumped when he cried. And I watched him sleep. And I barely slept - both out of amazement at his little life and out of first-time-mom terror. And I wasn't tired.

Tired has a lot to do with sleep. And a lot to do with stress. But it also has a lot to do with where your heart is at. When it's held fast in the right place, I can be pretty run-down and pretty weary but still not tired.

STOP

Join the fun at Gypsy Mama!

Yarn Along: Sunshiny Disposition Scarf

2011-12-01T10:56:00.000-05:00

This is a bit of a cheat - I finished knitting up this scarf for my son, but have yet to weave in the ends, so I'm still, technically, working on it. I've cast on two baby hats for friends' babies-to-be, but am not far along enough to have a photo to share. But I've been reading Ginny's Yarn Along posts for weeks, wanting to join in, and I didn't want to let another week slip by.

Knitting Knotes:

Pattern: Child's Rainbow Scarf
Yarn: One skein each of Noro Kureyon in 270 and 226 (it is very difficult to find a colorway that does not, at some point include pink!)

I am currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and trying to get a jump start on some meaningful New Year's Resolutions.

For more knitting and reading inspiration, head over to Ginny's beautiful blog, small things.

Why "Marginalia"?

2010-12-07T15:08:00.000-05:00

I first read Billy Collins's "Marginalia" as part of a poetry writing course I took while living in England. At ten stanzas in length, it is a quick read, but it has lingered on in my memory in the decade that has passed between then and now. I am a margin scribbler (one reason I continue to resist the eReader revolution). I am a questioner, cheerleader, and snarky critic, armed with a #2 pencil.

If I said that my scribbling was confined to the literal page, I'd be lying. I equally question, cheer, and snark in my head as I "read" life's unfolding plot.

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net