Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Luci Goosy--a Luci Update
Well, yesterday was farm day and when talking about the farm, why not talk about Luci? I mean she had to come with me since she was STILL on holiday. (Thank goodness her first day back was today.)
Backtrack. Last week at the farm we were again a bit beseiged by male pigs on the loose. With my education and fear in hand, I threw feed on the ground away from me which would distract the pigs and keep them off my tail as well as Luci who in her fear, wanted to be beside me instead of where I wanted her which was away from me the foodkeeper and therefore, highly desired by roaming male pigs. However, even though she had that bit of fear that drove her to my side, she was amazing holding her own and moving swiftly along between me and the pigs as we led them with food to their pen. She was even barking assertive commands at them which, of course, were no less futile than Peanut trying to get a mouthful of curly tail. I wasn't so thankful for Peanut's intervention this time because in her confused agitation she was actually getting between the pigs and their food in the pen by standing where I had the gate wide open for them to pass through.
Last week, I decide to just open the gate wide open to get into the goats' pen and I thought "Who cares, they leap fences anyways." But then I noticed a huge (standing beautifully up to my shoulders) goat that I had never seen before and realized that I would need to escort her back in because she wasn't going to be able to fit back in through the fence after I close the gate. She was very polite with the other goats, which made me sad (I mean it's survival of the fittest!) when I pointed her to the food everyone was gobbling greedily up. She was so sweet and tame, she became my new favorite and so I sought her out this week, looking around for her in all the little goat shelters but she was nowhere to be found. When I asked Francesco about her, he said that she had passed on and that she had lived for 15 years. I didn't know her very well but I have to say I had been thinking about her all week--she's the kind of goat who you could give a gigantic hug to because she's so large and gentle and meaty. I am sorry to have missed out. I have to say that I am coming to really admire Francesco. I can't believe that with all the animals and farms he's worked on over the years, he can still, with the loss of a small rabbit, slump his shoulders and tenderly sigh. I don't know what his story is but he is there every day caring for those animals.
About the time I was done with the goats last week, Luci wasn't. I lost her for a moment but she was discreetly tucked into a trailer of hay, cornering a baby goat, talking to it and petting it. The goat was frozen, understandably, so I had to get Lu out of the way because, honestly, I thought it was dead. Thankfully, it wasn't. After that, Luci was off to tucking hay under her arms and feeding sheep through the fence, talking to them, and loving it.
After much assessment, I have truly deduced that we do not have enough animals in our house. If Luci could just have some more companions, in animal form, I think things would be much more sane around here. She is so EASY at the farm except when it comes to her rabbit visitation. She gets in the cage and stomps around after them until she catches them all the while using that drunken sailor voice of hers saying "Come over here", so it's just around and around for a while until I have mercy enough to extract myself from whatever I'm doing and lift the baby bunny into her arms where she cradles it and sings to it with a smile on her face. Then it's a fight to get her out of there but I'd like to see the bunny survive to adulthood without a heart attack.
At the farm, most of the animals have their place. If you're a sheep, you go with the sheep, etc. Now the goats, they tend to go lots of places when the food is being served. When the little pet-type pigs are being fed, they jump in and wield their horns and I feel it is so injust. (But I have to admit, I've been lookin' forward to little rumble between the pigs and goats.) Anyways, there is this one goose whose place is with the goats--she never has a need for her own kind or the water she just walks around with them and seems to herd them sometimes. In fact she really seems like the cafeteria supervisor holding a whistle because she opens her wings and her beak and flutters around behind them. I am intimidated by this assertive personality and I definitely need to do a background check on her before I extend the hand of friendship. I wonder-- is she tolerated, or esteemed by these goats? Is she crazy?
Luci's prayer last Monday as we had lunch after our farmwork was "Deah God, thank you for the goats, and the sheep, and the hee-haws."
Backtrack. Last week at the farm we were again a bit beseiged by male pigs on the loose. With my education and fear in hand, I threw feed on the ground away from me which would distract the pigs and keep them off my tail as well as Luci who in her fear, wanted to be beside me instead of where I wanted her which was away from me the foodkeeper and therefore, highly desired by roaming male pigs. However, even though she had that bit of fear that drove her to my side, she was amazing holding her own and moving swiftly along between me and the pigs as we led them with food to their pen. She was even barking assertive commands at them which, of course, were no less futile than Peanut trying to get a mouthful of curly tail. I wasn't so thankful for Peanut's intervention this time because in her confused agitation she was actually getting between the pigs and their food in the pen by standing where I had the gate wide open for them to pass through.
Last week, I decide to just open the gate wide open to get into the goats' pen and I thought "Who cares, they leap fences anyways." But then I noticed a huge (standing beautifully up to my shoulders) goat that I had never seen before and realized that I would need to escort her back in because she wasn't going to be able to fit back in through the fence after I close the gate. She was very polite with the other goats, which made me sad (I mean it's survival of the fittest!) when I pointed her to the food everyone was gobbling greedily up. She was so sweet and tame, she became my new favorite and so I sought her out this week, looking around for her in all the little goat shelters but she was nowhere to be found. When I asked Francesco about her, he said that she had passed on and that she had lived for 15 years. I didn't know her very well but I have to say I had been thinking about her all week--she's the kind of goat who you could give a gigantic hug to because she's so large and gentle and meaty. I am sorry to have missed out. I have to say that I am coming to really admire Francesco. I can't believe that with all the animals and farms he's worked on over the years, he can still, with the loss of a small rabbit, slump his shoulders and tenderly sigh. I don't know what his story is but he is there every day caring for those animals.
About the time I was done with the goats last week, Luci wasn't. I lost her for a moment but she was discreetly tucked into a trailer of hay, cornering a baby goat, talking to it and petting it. The goat was frozen, understandably, so I had to get Lu out of the way because, honestly, I thought it was dead. Thankfully, it wasn't. After that, Luci was off to tucking hay under her arms and feeding sheep through the fence, talking to them, and loving it.
After much assessment, I have truly deduced that we do not have enough animals in our house. If Luci could just have some more companions, in animal form, I think things would be much more sane around here. She is so EASY at the farm except when it comes to her rabbit visitation. She gets in the cage and stomps around after them until she catches them all the while using that drunken sailor voice of hers saying "Come over here", so it's just around and around for a while until I have mercy enough to extract myself from whatever I'm doing and lift the baby bunny into her arms where she cradles it and sings to it with a smile on her face. Then it's a fight to get her out of there but I'd like to see the bunny survive to adulthood without a heart attack.
At the farm, most of the animals have their place. If you're a sheep, you go with the sheep, etc. Now the goats, they tend to go lots of places when the food is being served. When the little pet-type pigs are being fed, they jump in and wield their horns and I feel it is so injust. (But I have to admit, I've been lookin' forward to little rumble between the pigs and goats.) Anyways, there is this one goose whose place is with the goats--she never has a need for her own kind or the water she just walks around with them and seems to herd them sometimes. In fact she really seems like the cafeteria supervisor holding a whistle because she opens her wings and her beak and flutters around behind them. I am intimidated by this assertive personality and I definitely need to do a background check on her before I extend the hand of friendship. I wonder-- is she tolerated, or esteemed by these goats? Is she crazy?
Luci's prayer last Monday as we had lunch after our farmwork was "Deah God, thank you for the goats, and the sheep, and the hee-haws."
A Reflection on Earthy Things
The website for that carrot cardamom soup I mentioned a while back is http://www.nibblous.com/recipe/269. Sorry I can't provide an American translation. Yummy in my tummy! Go ahead, throw in any strange root vegetables you want.
Some of you may recall that Darren was recently away for work in SF for 10 days. This was, for at least 5 days, not fun for me, I had predicted it wouldn't be fun in advance, and consequently had planned to steal off for a couple nights myself after D got back. This I did simply by going to cheap (for England) hotel at Hyde Park. That Park is fabulous--with a lake, lots of greenery, lots of happy dogs. It was a fun little getaway because I took it easy, read bits, sipped tea and coffee, ate a tofu noodle dish at Wagama's after having been mislead in that direction by a excitement inducing shop sign reading "Tofu" (it was a clothing boutique), watched a movie, and went for a short run.
Apparently while I was there the park did experience "Le Stink" though I missed it. (Is anyone like me? I always want to share the interesting things I read about in the newspaper.) There was a terrible smell wafting over the southeast of England on Friday due to the accumulation of smell from German diesel engines, Belgian chocolate factories, and Dutch pig farms. It had accumulated for a while over in northern Europe and then been moved on by strong winds. So sorry to say I missed the smells even though I was in Hyde Park where it was reportedly experienced.
While on my outings around Hyde Park I made a much anticipated trip to the new Whole Foods here. I was longing for those bins of bulk foods, for instance the black beans I like to cook up with a head of garlic. However, I came out depressed. It seemed as though they were competing with Harrod's on the first floor with the utmost decadence--beautiful foods and bread displayed in enormous stacks in the entrance area. Fabulous exotic chocolates in shiny plastic containers. An amazing food buffet. And I was depressed. I feel this may be a step in the right direction for a few who shop high end and therefore are getting an education on the value of organic food to the body, land, and peoples of the earth but I felt it was also a way to turn on the appetites of the average man and by displaying the words organic (and local in a few areas) keep the river of indulgent non-local food coming via high fuel-consuming travel methods and in high-fuel consuming packaging. It felt way to glamorous. Our food comes from dirt that we like to diminish and I feel that too much of this facade is misleading. It leads us to gluttony, poor health, and a loss of our connection to creation and our place in it. Anyone ever read the book Dominion: the Cruelty of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and a Call to Mercy? Well, I think I need to get back to where I left off.
Speaking of food (and yes my rant goes on...) this is an excerpt from my friend Jennifer's email which I just love. Her excerpt (and yes, watch "The Future of Food", it is very good):
This reminded me of the documentary, "The Future of Food". This is the description from Netlfix...."Before compiling your next grocery list, you might want to watch this eye-opening documentary, which sheds light on a shadowy relationship between agriculture, big business and government. By examining the effects of biotechnology on the nation's smallest farmers, director Deborah Koons Garcia reveals the unappetizing truth about genetically modified foods: You could unknowingly be serving them for dinner." It totally freaked me out. The ones story that stuck with me was also referenced in Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle". A small farmer in Saskatchewan Canada had spent 30 years farming wheat and creating his own seed storage so he did not have to buy seed each year. To make a long story short the Canadian courts ruled that he had to destroy all of his seeds. Why? Because a neighbor's wheat had blown out of his truck into the farmer's field and sprouted up here and there. Why does this matter? Because the second man's wheat came from genetically modified seeds and the company that sold him that seed argued that the first farmer should not profit off wheat that he did not buy. Now farmers are basically being forced to buy seeds from huge companies, huge companies that genetically modify their seeds so they only respond to the fertilizer and pest-killers that the huge company also productes. Big business freak me out, mostly because I don't think they really care about me, they just care about making money. I hear company slogans, see the commercials, listen to the CEO (who earns millions each year) telling me they want what is best for me but honestly, do you think they care about me or their money? The government and big business share a very comfortable bed together and I don't think they will ever part. Point in case, WalMart is paid money to build their money sucking stores then drive out the small stores which offer better quality, better service and better product diversity. I am that small business in this world, I have an un-glamourous job and make very little (don't get me wrong, I love my job).
Some of you may recall that Darren was recently away for work in SF for 10 days. This was, for at least 5 days, not fun for me, I had predicted it wouldn't be fun in advance, and consequently had planned to steal off for a couple nights myself after D got back. This I did simply by going to cheap (for England) hotel at Hyde Park. That Park is fabulous--with a lake, lots of greenery, lots of happy dogs. It was a fun little getaway because I took it easy, read bits, sipped tea and coffee, ate a tofu noodle dish at Wagama's after having been mislead in that direction by a excitement inducing shop sign reading "Tofu" (it was a clothing boutique), watched a movie, and went for a short run.
Apparently while I was there the park did experience "Le Stink" though I missed it. (Is anyone like me? I always want to share the interesting things I read about in the newspaper.) There was a terrible smell wafting over the southeast of England on Friday due to the accumulation of smell from German diesel engines, Belgian chocolate factories, and Dutch pig farms. It had accumulated for a while over in northern Europe and then been moved on by strong winds. So sorry to say I missed the smells even though I was in Hyde Park where it was reportedly experienced.
While on my outings around Hyde Park I made a much anticipated trip to the new Whole Foods here. I was longing for those bins of bulk foods, for instance the black beans I like to cook up with a head of garlic. However, I came out depressed. It seemed as though they were competing with Harrod's on the first floor with the utmost decadence--beautiful foods and bread displayed in enormous stacks in the entrance area. Fabulous exotic chocolates in shiny plastic containers. An amazing food buffet. And I was depressed. I feel this may be a step in the right direction for a few who shop high end and therefore are getting an education on the value of organic food to the body, land, and peoples of the earth but I felt it was also a way to turn on the appetites of the average man and by displaying the words organic (and local in a few areas) keep the river of indulgent non-local food coming via high fuel-consuming travel methods and in high-fuel consuming packaging. It felt way to glamorous. Our food comes from dirt that we like to diminish and I feel that too much of this facade is misleading. It leads us to gluttony, poor health, and a loss of our connection to creation and our place in it. Anyone ever read the book Dominion: the Cruelty of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and a Call to Mercy? Well, I think I need to get back to where I left off.
Speaking of food (and yes my rant goes on...) this is an excerpt from my friend Jennifer's email which I just love. Her excerpt (and yes, watch "The Future of Food", it is very good):
This reminded me of the documentary, "The Future of Food". This is the description from Netlfix...."Before compiling your next grocery list, you might want to watch this eye-opening documentary, which sheds light on a shadowy relationship between agriculture, big business and government. By examining the effects of biotechnology on the nation's smallest farmers, director Deborah Koons Garcia reveals the unappetizing truth about genetically modified foods: You could unknowingly be serving them for dinner." It totally freaked me out. The ones story that stuck with me was also referenced in Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle". A small farmer in Saskatchewan Canada had spent 30 years farming wheat and creating his own seed storage so he did not have to buy seed each year. To make a long story short the Canadian courts ruled that he had to destroy all of his seeds. Why? Because a neighbor's wheat had blown out of his truck into the farmer's field and sprouted up here and there. Why does this matter? Because the second man's wheat came from genetically modified seeds and the company that sold him that seed argued that the first farmer should not profit off wheat that he did not buy. Now farmers are basically being forced to buy seeds from huge companies, huge companies that genetically modify their seeds so they only respond to the fertilizer and pest-killers that the huge company also productes. Big business freak me out, mostly because I don't think they really care about me, they just care about making money. I hear company slogans, see the commercials, listen to the CEO (who earns millions each year) telling me they want what is best for me but honestly, do you think they care about me or their money? The government and big business share a very comfortable bed together and I don't think they will ever part. Point in case, WalMart is paid money to build their money sucking stores then drive out the small stores which offer better quality, better service and better product diversity. I am that small business in this world, I have an un-glamourous job and make very little (don't get me wrong, I love my job).
Monday, April 21, 2008
Poor Jesse
I've noticed for a while that Jesse wasn't hearing the things he should be hearing. Such as Darren's voice coming out loudly from the phone so that I could hear it but Jesse, whose ear was right next to it couldn't--that was disturbing. Then on Thursday, he failed his hearing test at school. Conveniently we had a doctor's appointment scheduled for him that afternoon since I had been concerned about his hearing, even though I knew it could all come down to earwax or fluid building up in his ears since he had been sick and looked sickly pale for a couple of weeks. (Now, who hasn't experienced their child not hearing them sometimes when you talk to them? It is common but Jesse's seemed to come and go.) The doctor found no earwax but we were back to the doctor's again yesterday following a miserable day in which he complained about lots of ear pain. ( Some things have been entertaining during this hearing loss time, but I was starting to freak out. For example, when one of our CA guests asked J how he was, he said "Oh she's at school." Then D said, "Come here and sit down for lunch" and he said "What?! We're going to In 'n" Out Burger?! with excitement. But the big doozy was when I tucked him into bed and turned the music on, on the dresser beside his head, and as I walked out he said naively, "Oh mom, you forgot the music!") Anyways, the doctor yesterday pacified some of my fears saying that fluid build up in the eardrum is actually the number one reason why kids fail hearing tests, and she saw a whole bunch of it receding in his ear drum.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sweet 'n' Sour
Darren was orchestrating a little game of Sweet 'n' Sour over our dinner of fish, chips, and steamed parsnips tonite. It was fun but inspired by some not so fun behaviour mostly on the children's parts. They have been terrible if you ask our opinions this week-end--fighting and competing constantly and tuning us out. So Darren was acting out some nice (sweet) behavior and some bad (sour) behavior and having them name it. It was fun for J and he was getting into it. I can't believe Luci, who when asked to answer sweet or sour, she would just stutter intentionally and then say something like carrot--she actually had no idea what we were talking about. (Which leads me to ask this question: How do you reason with a child who is so outside the realm of reason? She knows the naughty thrill of doing something to make her brother cry but sometimes she unintentionally is gone, totally absent from our reality,)
Sweet memories....Today, (or was it yesterday?) Darren and I were remember how it wasn't too long ago that Jesse couldn't say his 's's (how in the world do you write that?) so he would always refer to the "tars in the ky", etc. How I miss that! I believe he was saying that even as he started preschool in SF--he was pretty newly 3 then.
One thing Luci does that is really cute is refer to all of us (the humans, dog, and stuffed items or dolls) as "my dears" when we are her babies. Actually it could be just me and I would still be "my dears".
Took a fabulous run to Victoria Park tonight, via Mile End Park and the Canal. Love being able to have Pea by my side (or really far away actually) for it all to sniff things out and be my companion. She does slow me down but then would I be going out at all if I didn't have her to motivate me? She actually did really well considering she did the same thing earlier in the day but at top speed keeping up with Darren's bike.
And now for some bragging. I bet I am just about the only person in the world who, in this month of April, is able to enjoy some peppermint Joe Joes. Do you know anyone besides me (and Darren) eating them? Even my kids aren't eating them yet! Thanks to Annelies who sent me some lovely goodies via my mule Darren who was just in SF! I love my goody bag--I'm going to read that magazine in my cozy bed tonight.
Sweet memories....Today, (or was it yesterday?) Darren and I were remember how it wasn't too long ago that Jesse couldn't say his 's's (how in the world do you write that?) so he would always refer to the "tars in the ky", etc. How I miss that! I believe he was saying that even as he started preschool in SF--he was pretty newly 3 then.
One thing Luci does that is really cute is refer to all of us (the humans, dog, and stuffed items or dolls) as "my dears" when we are her babies. Actually it could be just me and I would still be "my dears".
Took a fabulous run to Victoria Park tonight, via Mile End Park and the Canal. Love being able to have Pea by my side (or really far away actually) for it all to sniff things out and be my companion. She does slow me down but then would I be going out at all if I didn't have her to motivate me? She actually did really well considering she did the same thing earlier in the day but at top speed keeping up with Darren's bike.
And now for some bragging. I bet I am just about the only person in the world who, in this month of April, is able to enjoy some peppermint Joe Joes. Do you know anyone besides me (and Darren) eating them? Even my kids aren't eating them yet! Thanks to Annelies who sent me some lovely goodies via my mule Darren who was just in SF! I love my goody bag--I'm going to read that magazine in my cozy bed tonight.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Life at the Farm
When I went to feed the cows today, it was nice to notice that there were 4 instead of the usual 3. A calf (about Peanut's size) had been born over the week-end! It was adorable--Luci and I had to jump a fence to get a good view of it though as it was taking cover between two of the cows probably because Peanut was around. Glad to encounter life, instead of death, at the farm today.
It was fun having Luci there. She did very well with her task of holding the hose and filling up the water containers for the chickens. She must have filled up at least 8. She also visited the bunnies while I was busy doing certain things. In fact, I don't think she really noticed that I actually had her locked into the cages at a couple of points just to keep the door shut and therefore, Peanut out. She really wanted to visit this one bunny who was enclosed with an assertive chicken but I could not let her after my experience with the chicken. I had gone into the cage to feed the bunny and then realized I needed to make space in the dish for the chicken feed so I pushed some to the side and as I did that the chicken bit my arm, probably in fear that I was taking the food away. I also had one chicken in a full cage of chickens who had some bone to pick with me so as I entered and reentered the cage, he would give a good, hard peck at my right boot. I'm starting to actually really like these chickens and their personalities but I would prefer to not be bitten again.
It was nice to be on my own today (don't know what Francisco was up to) and really figure out how to do everything, as well as how long it takes. In my beginner stage, it would take me about 3 hours to do all the feeding and arranging like putting the 2 lambs which need to be bottle-fed, outside for a bit and letting the geese and ducks into their pond, since they have to be locked up at night in order to not get eaten by the foxes. There are so many animals at the farm, it is hard to actually remember them all. Have I listed them all? Here goes: donkeys, chinchillas, ferrets, ducks, geese, sheep galore, pigs, miniature pigs, goats galore, chickens galore, bunnies, guinea pigs, and cows. But Luci and I did have a good time together admiring the animals. When she was watering the chickens, she kept saying, "We're farmers mummy, aren't we?"
Happy Birthday to my dad who is the big 68 today but whose answering machine will not take my serenade! So Dad Happy Birthday!!!!!!!
It was fun having Luci there. She did very well with her task of holding the hose and filling up the water containers for the chickens. She must have filled up at least 8. She also visited the bunnies while I was busy doing certain things. In fact, I don't think she really noticed that I actually had her locked into the cages at a couple of points just to keep the door shut and therefore, Peanut out. She really wanted to visit this one bunny who was enclosed with an assertive chicken but I could not let her after my experience with the chicken. I had gone into the cage to feed the bunny and then realized I needed to make space in the dish for the chicken feed so I pushed some to the side and as I did that the chicken bit my arm, probably in fear that I was taking the food away. I also had one chicken in a full cage of chickens who had some bone to pick with me so as I entered and reentered the cage, he would give a good, hard peck at my right boot. I'm starting to actually really like these chickens and their personalities but I would prefer to not be bitten again.
It was nice to be on my own today (don't know what Francisco was up to) and really figure out how to do everything, as well as how long it takes. In my beginner stage, it would take me about 3 hours to do all the feeding and arranging like putting the 2 lambs which need to be bottle-fed, outside for a bit and letting the geese and ducks into their pond, since they have to be locked up at night in order to not get eaten by the foxes. There are so many animals at the farm, it is hard to actually remember them all. Have I listed them all? Here goes: donkeys, chinchillas, ferrets, ducks, geese, sheep galore, pigs, miniature pigs, goats galore, chickens galore, bunnies, guinea pigs, and cows. But Luci and I did have a good time together admiring the animals. When she was watering the chickens, she kept saying, "We're farmers mummy, aren't we?"
Happy Birthday to my dad who is the big 68 today but whose answering machine will not take my serenade! So Dad Happy Birthday!!!!!!!
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Snow!
It snowed gobs of snow today--from early in the morning it was accumulating on trees and cars, etc. My kids saw other kids having a snowball fight and buiding snowmen in the afternoon when it was melting into the ground but nice and sticky. The plan was also to make an attempt at it ourselves after lunch but we ended up staying inside until early evening when we took Pea to the green. The kids (don't know if I had ever mentioned this idea to them before) started eating snow and Jesse remarked how amazing it was and offered me some to which I said "No thanks" But I had to tell him how I used to eat snow with syrup. I'm not sure that is info I should have given him.
I must go to bed now. Must admit I am tired of having Darren gone. It has been good but now I think I am done with being alone with the 3. Perhaps tomorrow will be nice and refreshing though, as J is back in school and he is soooo excited about it. Now Lu is on break so she will be coming to the farm with me.
Had a day of going to church in the snow, eating parsnip, turnip, carrot cardamom soup, and doing 3 video chats with East Coast family. Will have to work on the West Coast ones now.
Sidenote: I have to admit that I miss watching Oprah so I think Jennifer and I will sometime watch Oprah together. I realized that I can see her TV screen pretty clearly on Ichat video. And it will be on at a better time for me--9 p.m. instead of 4. I also realized that the kids (only once in a blue moon!) could actually have Jennifer turn on the children's programming for my kids. What a hoot this technology could be.
I must go to bed now. Must admit I am tired of having Darren gone. It has been good but now I think I am done with being alone with the 3. Perhaps tomorrow will be nice and refreshing though, as J is back in school and he is soooo excited about it. Now Lu is on break so she will be coming to the farm with me.
Had a day of going to church in the snow, eating parsnip, turnip, carrot cardamom soup, and doing 3 video chats with East Coast family. Will have to work on the West Coast ones now.
Sidenote: I have to admit that I miss watching Oprah so I think Jennifer and I will sometime watch Oprah together. I realized that I can see her TV screen pretty clearly on Ichat video. And it will be on at a better time for me--9 p.m. instead of 4. I also realized that the kids (only once in a blue moon!) could actually have Jennifer turn on the children's programming for my kids. What a hoot this technology could be.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Movie Night
As a few of you many know, Friday night is the night when we eat pizza, watch a kid's movie and eat popcorn. Which reminds me of a funny of Luci's last week. I rented the movie Lassie from the library and she just kept referring to it as Mango over and over. At first, Darren and I were like, HUH? But, of course, it makes perfect sense since she and her brother have been treated to mango lassis in Indian restaurants forever and ever.
I find I am always thankful for movie night because just when you think your life is boring or that you are uninspiring, just drop the words, "pizza, pocorn, and movie" and the enthusiasm generated in your children will make you feel for a moment that your are hot stuff.
Today was supposed to be a coordinated day--you know, one of those where your little schedule of events works smoothly. But alas, not buses came for 20 minutes so instead of hitting up the bank, we moved to event #2 which was riding on a little 20p train (the kind that bobs up and down in front of storefronts) and going to the library cafe which has a fabulous view of the neighborhood which includes the hospital helipad and the trains coming from Whitechapel station. Unfortunately this event #2 had been in the plans to serve as bribery for carrying out event #1 with my children and so for a while I had to get my head around just enjoying the moment even though the task of getting to the bank was not going to be accomplished for another several hours. That was because I needed to swing home quickly after the library and switch from stroller to wagon to go to Lulu's school for a parent/teacher conference. However, the hot chocolate at the library cafe was too hot to imbibe quickly which slowed down the time of arrival at our house so I had to call and cancel my parent-teacher conference. I could have killed myself to get there, sweating and running with the wagon but I was so over pushing myself today. Sometimes I feel I can push myself no longer after having mobilized with the kids and dog for multiple events. Throw a mood swing/temper tantrum in and that can really change the terrain also. Jesse was moody right as we arrived home from the library so I determined that I was just out of the game on making it to the parent-teacher conference.
However, we did make it back to the bank in the midst of this amazingly brilliant and sunshiny day. (Picture Jesse and Luci wandering around in short-sleeves and Peanut panting.) We then went to Stepney Green to exercise Peanut and ourselves. The whole day was filled with gorgeous weather and I can't believe how spoiled I am to have the trees behind me starting to break open with white buds. I can only imagine how beautiful it will be soon.
Tonight as I beckoned the children to clean up the toys with me before the pizza Jesse said, with a smile on his face, "Man mom, you treat us like slaves, making us pick all this stuff up!" I have to say that that really tickled me. However, I was able to share with him the concept of "How do you think I feel!?"
A note of interest: Wagons are definitely an American thing. For a while, I thought maybe this might be true but I thought no, the looks from people are about how loud or how wide on the sidewalk we are. I am comforted to know that these most likely were not the thoughts. (My English friend Hannah also informed me that they seem to be an American thing as her American friends are considering a wagon.) They are, as I have been fortunate enough to hear them, "Oh, well that's an idea", "Now that is the way to go", and "Where did you get that?" The latter question being quite frequently asked. I can't believe that I am in the position of having the cool gadget. If only I could start a wagon importing business.......
I find I am always thankful for movie night because just when you think your life is boring or that you are uninspiring, just drop the words, "pizza, pocorn, and movie" and the enthusiasm generated in your children will make you feel for a moment that your are hot stuff.
Today was supposed to be a coordinated day--you know, one of those where your little schedule of events works smoothly. But alas, not buses came for 20 minutes so instead of hitting up the bank, we moved to event #2 which was riding on a little 20p train (the kind that bobs up and down in front of storefronts) and going to the library cafe which has a fabulous view of the neighborhood which includes the hospital helipad and the trains coming from Whitechapel station. Unfortunately this event #2 had been in the plans to serve as bribery for carrying out event #1 with my children and so for a while I had to get my head around just enjoying the moment even though the task of getting to the bank was not going to be accomplished for another several hours. That was because I needed to swing home quickly after the library and switch from stroller to wagon to go to Lulu's school for a parent/teacher conference. However, the hot chocolate at the library cafe was too hot to imbibe quickly which slowed down the time of arrival at our house so I had to call and cancel my parent-teacher conference. I could have killed myself to get there, sweating and running with the wagon but I was so over pushing myself today. Sometimes I feel I can push myself no longer after having mobilized with the kids and dog for multiple events. Throw a mood swing/temper tantrum in and that can really change the terrain also. Jesse was moody right as we arrived home from the library so I determined that I was just out of the game on making it to the parent-teacher conference.
However, we did make it back to the bank in the midst of this amazingly brilliant and sunshiny day. (Picture Jesse and Luci wandering around in short-sleeves and Peanut panting.) We then went to Stepney Green to exercise Peanut and ourselves. The whole day was filled with gorgeous weather and I can't believe how spoiled I am to have the trees behind me starting to break open with white buds. I can only imagine how beautiful it will be soon.
Tonight as I beckoned the children to clean up the toys with me before the pizza Jesse said, with a smile on his face, "Man mom, you treat us like slaves, making us pick all this stuff up!" I have to say that that really tickled me. However, I was able to share with him the concept of "How do you think I feel!?"
A note of interest: Wagons are definitely an American thing. For a while, I thought maybe this might be true but I thought no, the looks from people are about how loud or how wide on the sidewalk we are. I am comforted to know that these most likely were not the thoughts. (My English friend Hannah also informed me that they seem to be an American thing as her American friends are considering a wagon.) They are, as I have been fortunate enough to hear them, "Oh, well that's an idea", "Now that is the way to go", and "Where did you get that?" The latter question being quite frequently asked. I can't believe that I am in the position of having the cool gadget. If only I could start a wagon importing business.......
Thursday, April 03, 2008
A Few Days in the Life of Childhood Here
We managed to have breakfast together here as a family the 2 mornings before Darren flew off to San Francisco. The conversation just couldn't seem to steer away from what planet Luci might have come from. She offered some suggestions and weird quirky looks to give us hints but it was really Jesse who was coming up with the names. The second morning, Darren came up with a song and suggested to Jesse that we could do a little routine at the talent show that would be happening at the upcoming InnerChange conference this summer. We thought it would be cute and perfect as Luci seemed to delight in the attention by doing the chicken dance in her chair as we sang and harmonized.
So 2 nights ago when I put the kids to bed, Jesse became disturbed by an interaction I had with Luci. Luci is in another few day faze (she seems to go in and out these) of sucking or mouthing things. (Our bus rides today consisted of Luci having J sit beside her so she can suck on his fingers.) Anyways, Luci was sucking on a button on her doll as I was shutting off the light. I said (frustrated at how amazing she is at tuning me out) "Luci, stop sucking on that button, I don't want it to come off, have you choke on it, and die." Jesse said, "Mom, nooooooooo. I don't want her to die. We're supposed to do that silly dance this summer at that conference." I thought, "Boy, sorry I scared you so badly."
Yesterday, I was tidying up in the kitchen while keeping an eye on my kids playing in the back yard here and there. I had the back door wide open as IT HAS BEEN GORGEOUS here, a fact recent visitors (aaahemm!) might have a hard time believing. They were being so good and getting along, sounding so pleasant. Really I was delighting in all the joy of my children having this great sunny, free, childhood moment complete with sunshine and bare feet. I heard them laugh as they came into the house and I greeted them as they were mounting the stairs with 2 beautiful ceramic African fairies. Their smiles and their joy were beautifully radiant in concert with my inner conviction that these were NOT 2 gems harvested from the jungle of my back yard. I realized, given the small amount of black people living right around here, that they came from the beautifully attended and sculpted (really a rarity around here) back yard of my St. Lucian neighbor Clara. I had to explain to them, first and foremost, why it was wrong/stealing to take them, and then bring my kids barefoot and dirty to Clara's door to apologize. My first statement to the daughter, who apparently doesn't reside there but was visiting, upon the opening of the door was, "I bet you're wondering why I am holding these things." She was confused and then fetched her mother, who the kids said a quick sorry to.
Being that I don't get to run while Darren is out of town (not that I run that much when he is here), I devised a plan to take my kids to the green near us, put them in the middle of it, and run around it, on the sidewalk, 4 times. Luci really got into it and was running alongside me for a good bit when--such an unfortunate turn of events--Luci got smacked solidly in the face with a secondary school kid's errantly aimed soccer ball, Poor thing, she was running so well and then, BOOM, shock and tears. The kid muttered a sorry and asked if she was okay. I said yes and then walked away, something distracting to do instead of strangling him. I had to process if it was the right thing to totally bite my tongue in his direction but I decided that the last thing I would want to do is rain on the parade of this urban youth who is enjoying the outside with his friends and who probably suffered a faltering of his self-esteem right at the moment of impact. I was reminiscing (and some of you may not follow my opinion) fondly about the guys that would play football (the American kind) on a active street in San Franciso. On the one hand one may feel led to think that this activity is irresponsible, but I thought it was a actually a much less dangerous activity to participate in than sitting away in a darkened room in the projects watching TV and doing nothing with the energy of urban angst. So that was my position tonight, torn between my daughter's comfort and this kid trying to live free.
In a moment of solidarity, I got smacked in the nose with 2 potatoes that rolled out of a basket full of potatoes I was hoisting onto the top of my hutch. And it made me think of this recipe which goes well with potatoes. From Extending the Table....., sort of a continuation, but much more cross-culturally, of More With Less.
South African Meat Loaf
Soak 1 large slice bread in:
3/4 cup milk (175 ml)
In frypan, melt:
1 T. margarine (15 ml)
Add and fry until golden:
1/2 c. onion chopped (125 ml)
Add:
1 T. curry powder (15 ml)
1/2 t. sugar (2 ml)
1 t. ground turmeric (5 ml) (optional)
1/4 t. salt (1ml)
dash of pepper
1 T. lemon juice or vinegar (15 ml)
In mixing bowl, combine:
soaked bread (squeeze out milk and reserve)
fried onions and seasonings
1 egg
1 lb. ground beef or turkey (500 g)
Mix well.
Put into well-greased casserole or loaf pan.
Whisk together and pour over meat:
1 egg
reserved milk
dash of salt and pepper
Bake at 350 (180 C) 45-50 minutes, or until egg mixture is set. Serve with rice and potatoes, and chutney. Ummmm....unless of course you have a stomach virus--this is what you missed Dan and Judy!!!! We ate some last night and today, but of course not the SAME one that coincided with your visit.
So 2 nights ago when I put the kids to bed, Jesse became disturbed by an interaction I had with Luci. Luci is in another few day faze (she seems to go in and out these) of sucking or mouthing things. (Our bus rides today consisted of Luci having J sit beside her so she can suck on his fingers.) Anyways, Luci was sucking on a button on her doll as I was shutting off the light. I said (frustrated at how amazing she is at tuning me out) "Luci, stop sucking on that button, I don't want it to come off, have you choke on it, and die." Jesse said, "Mom, nooooooooo. I don't want her to die. We're supposed to do that silly dance this summer at that conference." I thought, "Boy, sorry I scared you so badly."
Yesterday, I was tidying up in the kitchen while keeping an eye on my kids playing in the back yard here and there. I had the back door wide open as IT HAS BEEN GORGEOUS here, a fact recent visitors (aaahemm!) might have a hard time believing. They were being so good and getting along, sounding so pleasant. Really I was delighting in all the joy of my children having this great sunny, free, childhood moment complete with sunshine and bare feet. I heard them laugh as they came into the house and I greeted them as they were mounting the stairs with 2 beautiful ceramic African fairies. Their smiles and their joy were beautifully radiant in concert with my inner conviction that these were NOT 2 gems harvested from the jungle of my back yard. I realized, given the small amount of black people living right around here, that they came from the beautifully attended and sculpted (really a rarity around here) back yard of my St. Lucian neighbor Clara. I had to explain to them, first and foremost, why it was wrong/stealing to take them, and then bring my kids barefoot and dirty to Clara's door to apologize. My first statement to the daughter, who apparently doesn't reside there but was visiting, upon the opening of the door was, "I bet you're wondering why I am holding these things." She was confused and then fetched her mother, who the kids said a quick sorry to.
Being that I don't get to run while Darren is out of town (not that I run that much when he is here), I devised a plan to take my kids to the green near us, put them in the middle of it, and run around it, on the sidewalk, 4 times. Luci really got into it and was running alongside me for a good bit when--such an unfortunate turn of events--Luci got smacked solidly in the face with a secondary school kid's errantly aimed soccer ball, Poor thing, she was running so well and then, BOOM, shock and tears. The kid muttered a sorry and asked if she was okay. I said yes and then walked away, something distracting to do instead of strangling him. I had to process if it was the right thing to totally bite my tongue in his direction but I decided that the last thing I would want to do is rain on the parade of this urban youth who is enjoying the outside with his friends and who probably suffered a faltering of his self-esteem right at the moment of impact. I was reminiscing (and some of you may not follow my opinion) fondly about the guys that would play football (the American kind) on a active street in San Franciso. On the one hand one may feel led to think that this activity is irresponsible, but I thought it was a actually a much less dangerous activity to participate in than sitting away in a darkened room in the projects watching TV and doing nothing with the energy of urban angst. So that was my position tonight, torn between my daughter's comfort and this kid trying to live free.
In a moment of solidarity, I got smacked in the nose with 2 potatoes that rolled out of a basket full of potatoes I was hoisting onto the top of my hutch. And it made me think of this recipe which goes well with potatoes. From Extending the Table....., sort of a continuation, but much more cross-culturally, of More With Less.
South African Meat Loaf
Soak 1 large slice bread in:
3/4 cup milk (175 ml)
In frypan, melt:
1 T. margarine (15 ml)
Add and fry until golden:
1/2 c. onion chopped (125 ml)
Add:
1 T. curry powder (15 ml)
1/2 t. sugar (2 ml)
1 t. ground turmeric (5 ml) (optional)
1/4 t. salt (1ml)
dash of pepper
1 T. lemon juice or vinegar (15 ml)
In mixing bowl, combine:
soaked bread (squeeze out milk and reserve)
fried onions and seasonings
1 egg
1 lb. ground beef or turkey (500 g)
Mix well.
Put into well-greased casserole or loaf pan.
Whisk together and pour over meat:
1 egg
reserved milk
dash of salt and pepper
Bake at 350 (180 C) 45-50 minutes, or until egg mixture is set. Serve with rice and potatoes, and chutney. Ummmm....unless of course you have a stomach virus--this is what you missed Dan and Judy!!!! We ate some last night and today, but of course not the SAME one that coincided with your visit.