It was a somewhat subdued spring break this year. My mother came to visit to escape Wisconsin's wintery last gasp. We didn't go anywhere except to my brother's for Easter in Sacramento. Last week we started a terribly difficult jigsaw puzzle. This week we finished it--right before school starts up again. We were all relieved, but plan to burn the damn thing so as never to be bothered by it again. R.I.P. crazy cat puzzle!
There's no way to stop it, so best to grab and hold on tight, guiding best as can. With a dab of fragrance remindful of the Bonnie Bell musk I used to swim in, my 12-year old is ready for her first middle school dance, thankfully wearing sparkly silver boots instead of Lip Smackers. She's going with Franklin, a friend, a boy who she asked to attend with her--as friends. They plan to sit by the punch bowl with friends, scarfing snacks--her words, not mine. And all I can say is if we weren't chauffeuring, there'd be no Franklin, that's for sure.
T’was the night before middle school and all thru the shack
Not a person was stirring ‘cept for mom gone all whack.
The backpacks were weighted, and all primed to go
In hopes they’d be loaded with lunches just so.
The kids were akimbo, all tousled in bed
As visions of terror unleashed in their heads.
As Papa in pj’s spotted my panic
while wobbling there on the threshhold of manic.
While searching the web, an idea she sought
And found one, behold, oh wow, what a thought!
just let her be, and surely somehow
she’ll work it all out, so sleep well for now.
We be back in the summer NoCal fog after those steamy 90-plus temps of Wisco. When traveling back east, I always say we're on Barcelona time, as we get up and stay up later, which is about the time we do the same at home. It makes it easier upon reentry to the Pacific Zone, except when there's a 6:00 am flight like yesterday. Waking up at four just about did me in.
Baked it yesterday and frosted it today. The proof will be in the gateau, of course, but damn this cake looks good. I did a crumb coat for the first time, which made it much easier to frost. Now all that's needed is eight kids to dig in!
Oona has a birthday coming up, so we spent the day preparing. We cleaned the house, did the laundry and shopped for the meal. Our decorations are homespun and the cake is homemade. We shredded a plastic tablecloth for weatherproof ruffled streamers to hang outside. It's a yellow cake with fudge frosting, which will be made tomorrow. The recipe's from cake expert Jim Dodge and called for eight egg yolks. It's from a cookbook and not online. So sorry! Now I need a nap. Oh wait, it's almost time for dinner.
She plays it often enough on the iPhone, but something tells me India Jane, all of 7, is bored with the electronic version. Hence this simpler version exquisitely rendered as only a child envisions.
Who doesn't love a good story?
Working hard at doing too much of everything lately, I'm always so relieved to say 'hey ya' to Mr. Friday. Except when it comes to dinner. All tapped out, I usually cave in and order pizza, cause aside from being easy it's the only worthwhile edible within delivery reach of our cloistered canyon. But sometimes I rally enough to cook on a Friday. Last week, I made astounding ribs. Tonight, I conjured a quartet of handsome hamburgers, which is easy enough when you've access to really good and fresh ground beef. Still we kept it simple, no starch and just two veggies picked out by the girls--fresh red pepper fried with sweet onions. Then we added Wisco cheddar to the heated rolls at the end. Only then was our Friday cheeseburger binge deemed yum.
Oona had an upset tummy last night, so we'd made jello this morn to ease her into toast.
Meanwhile India is way past needing to learn to tie her shoes, so we shared a wee girl scream when she finally found the other bunny ear.
Later on, Oona wanted to learn how to chop so we gathered the necessities for enchiladas and I carefully guided her through garlic, onions, scallions and cherry tomatoes.
She sauteed the chicken, chopped the onions and garlic, shredded the cheddar and rolled it all up with the sauce. This would be her first homemade dinner pretty much start to finish, and she's very proud indeed.
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