lemon cake

pleased to meat you

2012-02-19T18:23:00.000-05:00

scene from a meat department.

edgar:"am dat ticken?"

me:"no, it's..."

edgar (interrupting); "am dat beef?"

me:"no, it's..."

edgar, (very excited now); "am dat carrion?"

humus?

2012-02-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

the girl loves helping out, but doesn't seem to be a big fan of garlic...

pirate pei's birthday

2012-02-12T15:05:00.000-05:00

the kiddies attended special birthday last week...

pirate theme!!!

the invitation noted that costume wasn't required,

but c'mon! a dress-up birthday? the best thing ever!

edgar decided to be a skeleton pirate,

while esther sported the scurvy knave look.

don't let the gentle gaze fool you;

she is brandishing a sword, after all!

blackberries

2012-02-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

well, i broke down today and purchased a tablet computer "for my husband". truth is, i knew i would be hooked. line and sinker, baby. such a reasonable price, this one; i even voluntarily entered the big box store (we all know the one...) and approached a hunching bunch of post teen associates to enlist service...ugh. i felt like such a maroon.

and yet here i am, attempting a post on this new (to me) tech-gadget, and rather enjoying it.
reel me in.

sunshine slaw

2012-02-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

my favourite winter vegetable may just be the simple carrot.

sure, it is a veg'n'dip staple, but carrots also add sweetness to a simmering stew,

crunch to a stir-fry, hidden goodness to a muffin, and noses to snowmen.

(not to mention googly eyes for children in the kitchen!)

i don't often use them in salads, though...

perhaps put off by the memory of

vinegary shredded-carrot/bloated-raisin salad once served by via-rail

in the complementary snack pack...

well call me crazy, but my carrot salad days may have returned.

i challenge anyone to shred a firm carrot, pile it into a stark white bowl, and not think of sunshine.

in fact, into that bowl:

shred four carrots,

mince one scallion

toast 3 T sesame seeds

and toss the whole mix with a dressing of:

1T tamari

1 T roasted sesame oil

1 T rice vinegar

1 t miso paste

1 t finely grated gingerroot

dig in, or chill to mingle flavours.

tonight, a side for brown rice and salmon,

but it would sing in a sandwich,

or serve as a fresh topping for baby spinach, or other tasty greens.....

i think i'll make eight carrots worth next time.

record

2012-01-17T20:01:00.000-05:00

we have been enjoying the more bittercold days by cranking up the ol' victrola...

a dance party inevitably ensues.

we bought it years ago, with an eye for lovely furniture, and an ear for musical history.

a few 78s came with it, and my dad found some more for us; operas, jazz, big band...

this disc is one of campfire songs...like blow the man down, charlie is my darlin', and clementine.

the kids connect immediately with the magic of the scratchy, strident sound,

the magic of how a crank of the handle

brings voices of the last century back from the dead,

and how those voices enliven the limbs of our dancing children.

2012-01-17T19:39:00.000-05:00

an archive of a taste of spring...these pics are from tulip festival, may, 2007.

a teeny tiny esther.

blooming.

snow business

2012-01-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

after a very long and patient wait, snow has come to town.

snowman sentries were finally raised in the back yard,

and the street (directly in front of our driveway) was transformed overnight into
an himalayan base camp.

icicles were served at the canteen,

and our intrepid neighbour was among the first who braved ice-burn

on the swift slide down.

it has started to attract the on-the-way-home-from-school crowd;
daily, at 3:20 p.m., they scramble and chitter over the mound like squirrells.

with an estimated 15cm of more snow arriving today, the mountain-of-fun

isn't going anywhere soon!

~
the question is no longer "where to play?" but instead, "where to park??!!"

go ahead...

2012-01-17T06:43:00.002-05:00

make my day.

the first thing i saw when i returned from a gruelling grocery run.

thanks, girl...i love you too!

guimauves ches nous

2011-12-16T16:06:00.000-05:00

in order to pre-christmas procrastinate yet more effectively,

i decided to take on an entirely new candymaking experiment...marshmallows!

it turned out to be well worth the fiddly pan preparation,

gelatine melting, egg-white whipping

and sugar syrup boiling.

the recipe i used

called for coating the squishy confections in chocolate.

(Canadian Living december 2011, pg.206)

according to edgar, that step was merely gilding the lily.

his perspective?

he gently cradled his in two hands, and exclaimed,

"SQUARES? i always wanted marshmallows in SQUARES!

dressing?

2011-12-16T15:47:00.000-05:00

the combination of two fun projects led to another mesmerizing mixture!

one afternoon, we were decorating cookies.

the next day, we blew off a little steam with a baking soda and vinegar volcano...

the day after that, the sprinkles and vinegar (which happened to still be on the counter)

plus a glug of oil turned into a kalidoscopic experiment!

not suitable for a salad, but nourishing, none-the-less.

freckles

2011-12-09T13:24:00.000-05:00

let them eat cake (and cookies, and icing, and...)

2011-12-08T14:39:00.000-05:00

edgar's 4th birthday was celebrated with days of sweetness...

on his actual birthday date, cake!

grandma's skills didn't disappoint...the request was for a star-wars-lego cake...

she managed to re-enact the battle on the snow planet,

complete with a stronghold of candy lego blocks that actually interlock!

for his 2nd 4th birthday party, it was ice your own cone-cakes, with lots of sprinkles and a candle!

then for good measure, we built a few gingerbread trees,

and decorated a few ginger-guys.

here is a closer glimpse of rebel victory;

even though they are out-numbered,

i'm quite sure the "good guys" will win.

"use a fork, luke..."

wild animals

2011-11-30T10:56:00.000-05:00

this is huahui ( pronounced wa wee.) he is edgar's favourite little stuffy buddy.

i can't quite remember when huahui turned up,

or when he became "THE CHIHUAHUA" in the boy's life,

but i do know that at one point we had two of him. then we had one.

and then i realized that one is the loneliest number when stuffed toys are involved.

this is bob.

esther found him under the tree last year; he was a christmas wish, fulfilled.

until bob, she hadn't favoured any particular stuffy, but obviously, he is very special.

david and i had joked about finding another bob, "just-in-case"...

"just-in-case" arrived a couple of weeks ago, during an overnight trip to the greater toronto area.

on the way home, the family had stopped at an amusement arcade

in a large mall to participate in a birthday event.

after all the fun, the kids were hungry, and we were in a rush;

we had to be back in ottawa at a very specific time.

we gathered ourselves up for the trip home.

while david forged the path, i negotiated the throng of mall shoppers with a child in each hand.

edgar was crying, disappointed by having to leave the play arcade, but at least the girl was doing o.k.

then esther said the words that chilled my heart...

"mama, did you remember to pack bob this morning?"

GASP!

i held off anwering for a moment, trying to envision the near future...

was there any way i could possibly make this all work out tear-free...

i hadn't even realized that the monkey had been brought into the house the night before,

and was sure i had done my due diligence in packing up that morning...

but no.

bob was still in georgetown, mingling with a covy of esther's cousins' toys.

there was no way out.

i took the kids to the side, hunkered down,

eyeball to eyeball, and explained the situation as gently as i could.

not only was bob not packed, he was located a 45 minute drive in the wrong direction...

we could not return for bob.

horrible seconds passed as the news registered

with the girl...her face slowly crumpled into a mask of true tragedy.

then the wailing commenced.

edgar had just been settling out of his crying jag, but the contagion

of esthers' outburst renewed his noisy tears.

at this point, a person could be forgiven for assuming that

david and i were particularly bold child abductionists...

this cascade of sorrow so overwhelmed the din of enthusiastic shoppers,

that i made for the nearest exit.

the van was parked other side of the mall, so while david hoofed it,

i sat on a bench, awaiting his return, with two squirminig, high volume, angry children.

children that hated me with all their hearts.

we eventually got everyone into van,

called to make arrangements for bob's return, and attempted to soothe

esther with the idea that he would have fun taking the bus back to ottawa...

and endured not a very peaceful 5 hour trip home.

this too, is bob.

esther spent a tearful night without him.

grandma had popped him on the first bus; he would arrive the following afternoon.

david hastened to the bus station to pick him up.

the bus, however, ran late that day!!!

the bus-parcel office was closing, but the serviceman

offered to stay an extra 20 miniutes to check the tardy bus's packages for the missing monkey.

thank you, bus-parcel man...

thank you, thank you, thank you.

now to find another bob...

cure or cause?

2011-11-30T09:36:00.000-05:00

these kids get hiccoughs often.

the girl even had them before she was born, so i have

tried many remedies

over the years.

the one that works? a spoonful of sugar.

that's right, a whole teaspoonful of sugar, administered in one full dose to a small mouth.

the child is advised to let it melt in his/her mouth, then swallow the resulting syrup.

the success could be caused by the shock of having one's mum willingly spoon sugar into one's head,

but it does work for these two.

this treatment, however, may be the scource of our newest affliction;

pseudo-hiccoughs.

using her skull

2011-11-18T10:33:00.000-05:00

she created this ouvre for the express purpose of scaring the boys...

y'know, i think it just might work!

dill-licious

2011-11-14T12:31:00.001-05:00

i have been working with katan kitchens

to help develop a few healthful, tasty, great-for-you meals...

i can't provide the recipe, but can encourage

the consumption of more millet!

yum. yum. yum.

if you have 16 olives...

2011-11-13T17:45:00.001-05:00

then make this.

stovetop or slowcook.

simple, lots of veg, and comfort-food yummy.

lemon and olive chicken

um, Cowman?

2011-11-11T06:53:00.000-05:00

a drink and a show

2011-11-11T06:51:00.000-05:00

the girl, juice cups in hand, dragged her brother outside

to enjoy last night's sunset.

fall fling

2011-10-25T17:20:00.000-04:00

jumping with joy

2011-10-24T18:33:00.000-04:00

thanksgiving holiday weekend up north...

the days were so beautiful, the nights so fresh,

only the yellowing aspens and amazed grown-ups whispered "october".

the sun, water, dogs and children still believed in august.

bluteau and holt

2011-10-24T18:29:00.000-04:00

about a month and 1/2 ago, my beloved suggested that we host a house concert in october:

"this fellow, michael holt, is doing an around the world house-concert tour...whaddaya think?"

at the time, october seemed infinitely far away, so i agreed.
hey...what the???...it's october!
and last weekend was the house-concert.

the lovely andre bluteau opened the show,

and spellbound the crowd with earthy lyrics and gritty vocals.

(hit his link and listen to 'morning mouth' for a taste.)

after an intermission of snacks, mulled wine and lively chatter, michael

took over, and had the joint jumpin' in no time!

there was a great deal of inspired dancing,

even the stairwell was employed for it's acoustic and entertainment properties.
~
although this household is quite accustomed to impromptu musical interludes
and guitars cases in the hallway, the event made for an unusual
and especially lively sunday afternoon!
and i think mr. holt is still booking living-rooms near you...

esther's menagerie

2011-10-11T19:55:00.000-04:00

dress-up time is a family favourite.

usually i am the one doing the facepainting, but this time,the girl decided

to wield the face eye-liner pencil herself.

she fashioned a ferocious tiger, and fierce kitty-cat...

great job, girl!

edgar and b., in case the disguise is too convincing...

(very special thank-you to our patient and trusting guest!)

good sport

2011-10-04T14:23:00.000-04:00

edgar has been enjoying speech therapy at CHEO with his "big friend" sarah...

he is a gregarious little guy, and loves to joke around and share his ideas, but it has been tricky, even for me, to understand his point sometimes.

we went outside to play a few weeks ago, and settled on a game of baseball.

i grabbed the ball, and he reached for the bat, saying "here, mom, i got the wackit!"
he tends to 'elmer fudd' his R sound, therfore,

i thought he must be confusing the game with tennis, and gently corrected him:
~

"sweetheart, it's called a bat."

"no, it a wakit."

"honey it is a bat...a baseball bat...not a tennis racket."

to which he replied, "no, mom, it is a WAKIT!"

as he swung the thing in a powerful arc around his body...
~

it was clear to me then that he really meant a whack-it.

rock hopper

2011-09-25T19:35:00.000-04:00

lemieux island

2011-09-25T19:32:00.000-04:00

a gorgeous autumn day.

we walked the trestle bridge across the river...

to a greenspace mostly used as dog park.

the kids and canines both were

fascinated by the fresh water and the scent of fall.

we spent quite some time throwing rocks into the mighty ottawa,

trying for the biggest splashes,

drawn to the mesmerizing patterns those splashes carve on the still water.

fairy cakes

2011-09-21T23:14:00.001-04:00

esther and i thought it might be nice to have a few of the ladies over for tea...

we made a guest list,

she helped me set a lovely table.

there are occasions where only great grandma's china, and great-great grannie's tea set will do.

this was one of them.

the ladies were charming and polite;

discussion ranged from wiggly teeth,

(who has 'em)

the names of the third grade 1 teacher,

(is it mme julie?)

to the villains on Wild Kratts.

("i'm sure it is Vector, not Victor...")

and they did leave the cupcakes for last.

and to make the party complete?

a visit from a clown.

"ugly but good"

2011-09-18T20:11:00.000-04:00

is the translation of the name of these Italian confections...

i finally tried this recipe from the Complete Canadian Living Cookbook...

with dark chocolate, these are lactose free, and they lend themselves to a variety of add-ins...

chopped toasted nuts, nougat, dried fruit...

i think they should be called "simple yet fabulous" instead.

using a stand mixer for part two makes it even easier.

Brutti ma Buoni Cookies

4 egg whites

1 C granulated sugar

whisk these together in a double boiler

until the whites are glossy and opaque.

(about 10 minutes)

they needn't be whisked the whole time...

multitask, and chop up:

2 C good quality dark chocolate.

remove the eggwhite/sugar mix from heat, and

beat until cool and thickened

(about 7 minutes)

then gently fold in:

3 T flour

1 t vanilla

the chocolate.

drop by heaping tablespoons onto

parchment lined baking sheets.

bake, 1 sheet at a time, in the centre of a 350 degree oven

for about 25 minutes...

check at 20 minutes, though...trust your instincts.

cool on a wire rack, then store at room temperature.

that is it. a special treat. just keep an eye on your sneaky housemates.

especially the really short ones.

socks first, then shoes.

2011-09-09T19:25:00.000-04:00

first week of school, and the girl is adapting to early mornings by using a

tried and true organization method...

check, and....check.

breakfast and...lunch?

2011-09-09T14:34:00.000-04:00

this past weekend we hopped in the van to camp-out at our friend's farm near Perth.

it was the perfect evening for a bonfire and a glass of wine,

and the kids were shadowy giggles, roaming and exploring the dusk until tent-time.

in the morning,

i tagged along with joanna to a neighbouring farm to pick up some bacon.

while josh and david made pancakes, the four small people

(once they had helped dig up and wash the potatoes)

got to relax on the "playground" until mealtime.

and later i was introduced to a future supper date...

star wears

2011-09-01T23:12:00.000-04:00

the girl (a.k.a. princess padme amidala) contrived a very convincing tough-girl costume

while playing star wars with thomas and edgar.

(and none of these kids have even seen any of the films...)

little nuts

2011-09-01T22:57:00.000-04:00

offering the kids peanuts in the shell was a bigger hit than i had imagined...

edgar joyfully cracked his apart by bashing two together

while making super-hero/bomb noises;

the girl nibbled at the nuts, then deftly turned

each of her fingers into little shell-helmeted puppets.

and the squirrels could only observe, with hunger and bewilderment.

mo willems

2011-08-27T22:51:00.000-04:00

this kooky series has sparked a lot of fun and reading aloud around here lately...

mo, known for his Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon books,

has paired a neurotic elephant and an insouciant pig as the dearest of friends.

these friends get involved in situations like:

the stories are simple, but not stilted,

sweet, not cloying,

and

HILARIOUS!!!!

seriously. my reluctant reader eagerly takes on each new book with

an interest usually reserved for ice cream.

i dare you; go find yourself a kid, take it to the library to find an elephant and piggie story.

beware, take it home to read...or risked getting kicked out for your theatrics.

a little wilder

2011-08-15T23:17:00.000-04:00

i thought the girl might enjoy a good pioneer story

while we were "roughing it" at the cottage among the bears and blueberries,

so i hit the library for a copy of little house in the big woods

by laura ingalls wilder before we left.

not only did she enjoy the book, she especially embraced the idea of

'rag-curls' featured in the chapter describing christmas finery...

once suitably curled-up before bed, she cuddled with grandma for just one more chapter.

out of (his) control....

2011-08-12T15:43:00.001-04:00

"mama, why you not let me go to space?"

gooey gunk

2011-08-11T16:04:00.001-04:00

Q: what do you get when you mix

white glue, water, colouring and borax?

A: gooey gunk! and a lot of indoor fun.

if stored in an airtight jar, this gloopy mess continues to be fun for weeks.

it does become more and more solid...much like silly putty.

trust the recipe...

it doesn't seem as though it will work, and yet, mysteriously, it does.

~how to do it~

in two bowls, prepare the following:

solution A

1 cup H2O

1 cup white glue

2 T liquid tempera paint

(or a few drops of food colouring)

solution B:

1 1/3 cup warm H2O

4 t borax (laundry booster)

stir until borax is completely dissolved.

slowly pour solution A into bowl containing solution B (do not mix!!!)

roll solution A around in solution B 4-5 times.

lift solution A out of solution B and knead for 2-3 minutes.

play with it!

(a tray underneath play area was very helpful)

store in an airtight container.

thanks again to the ultimate book of kid concoctions

by john e. thomas and danita pagel !

p.s.:it came out of clothes after a good soaking and laundering;

anything stuck on hard surfaces came off with the scrape of a credit card...

but it was better to roll it up before it dried.

still

2011-08-09T23:22:00.000-04:00

little minnows swim,

sun doubling their numbers...

casting shark shadows.

blueberries

2011-08-09T23:16:00.001-04:00

it is practically impossible to convey the bounty of

the wild blueberry season in black creek/matheson township this year.

each spring visit to the cottage, we carefully watch the berry bushes, blossoms, and the weather

in order to predict what sort of harvest may be in store.

even so, this year seems to have taken everyone by surprise...

the hillsides are simply laden with blue,

the fruit is large, sweet, and juicy, making for fast picking;

and the picking pails fill nearly as quickly as the bowls empty.

worth waiting for.

2011-07-09T22:52:00.000-04:00

the italian festival carnival has become quite the draw...

the games, the rides...the anticipation!

a mitt-ful of tickets and a long wait will get you some rides,

as well as a flight to the moon,

and back.

a taste of westfest 2011

2011-06-12T18:46:00.000-04:00

we attended westboro's big party on saturday.

owing to all the street snacks,

bouncy castles,

buskers,

and more street snacks, we didn't even make it to the music venues...

esther's photo portfolio

2011-06-12T18:34:00.000-04:00

the girl was in charge of the camera for a while yesterday...

here are a few kid's eye view shots.

splashdowner

2011-06-12T18:21:00.000-04:00

they came,

they splashed,

they skidded.

then they went home for band-aids.

salad days

2011-06-09T14:34:00.000-04:00

sweet (potato and black-eyed) pea salad

i have been inspired by the warmer weather to make up more served-cold dishes...

this one is so yummy i don't want to forget it!

lightly toss simmered-just-tender sweet potatoes and black eyed peas

in a dressing of lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, fresh sage and garlic chives.

chill overnight.

sprinkle with finely diced red onion, and serve with a crusty loaf!

(drizzle a little extra olive oil to serve, if desired...)

luciano's lunchbreak

2011-06-09T14:22:00.000-04:00

yet another reason to appreciate an italian deli one block away...

sandwiches are always tastier when someone else makes them!

(especially when enjoyed in a hammock...)

centipede

2011-06-02T07:23:00.000-04:00

an urban insect inspected.

'look, mama; it has little ears!"

dandy lions

2011-06-01T23:54:00.000-04:00

after an arboretum picnic,

foraging for dandelions.

guess what? they found some.

dandelion,

dandelioness.

milestones

2011-06-01T23:46:00.000-04:00

the rotary club of the town of matheson is celebrating it's 50 anniversary this year.

david's grandfather, who passed away last august at the age of 93,

was one of the inaugural members of the matheson chapter.

his contributions were toasted at a gala held last weekend at the

floyd s. hembruff civic centre in matheson;

"fast floyd" would have loved it.

his extended family were invited guests...

there was a string quartet, a jazz band playing big band standards, dining,

dancing, glass clinking, speech making, and even a "comedy act"...

and not just a little magic.

blinded by science

2011-05-15T23:10:00.000-04:00

one fraction of the many many seconds spent fascinated by the

ball rolling "mousetrap" style contraption

at the ontario science centre in toronto last month...

after the egg hunt

2011-05-15T23:02:00.000-04:00

my 43rd cake.

2011-05-15T22:57:00.000-04:00

today, i'm thankful for the rain.

ok, for the last few weeks i have been looking everywhere for my camera.

in fact, i almost bought another one

but

i was certain that i had last seen it in the house.

it had not been stolen; although our home often looks as though

it has been turned over by robbers,

it would be a very particular thief to leave every other potentially

valuable electronic device behind.

considering where i finally located the camera, my hunch was correct.

it was a particular thief indeed...

a cheerful magpie who stashed his prize for later;

tucked safely away in the bottom of my pink rubber rainboot.

here then, finally, is my birthday cake,

and the time-tested recipe.

(david's mom has been making it for his birthdays for as long as he can recall)

the first blurry paragraph is the icing recipe,

the second is for the cake itself.

lion taming

2011-04-13T20:36:00.000-04:00

there had been nothing but a 1/2 cm trim since he was born.

it was decided that he finally needed a haircut.

but how to have it cut?

i certainly couldn't do it;

the simple act of washing and combing elicit fierce complaint...

and then,

will it have to be short?

will the curls disappear? will i cry?

he is so wiggly...

regardless, for this event to occur peacefully,

the more experience

the hairstylist had with kiddies, the better.

the appointment, therefore, was made at a children's only salon.

edgar clambered into the 'car', did up his seatbelt,

and was as quiet as a lamb the entire time.

he may look concerned, but is, in fact, glued to a massive t.v. screen of cartoons.

so, no dramatic outcome after all...

he still sports his mane, it is just a little 'zazzed up'.

(according to esther.)

whew.

hotcakes

2011-04-13T19:58:00.000-04:00

a window on esther's most important meal of the day.

only 9C this morning, but she firmly maintained her preference for breakfast on the terrace.

we moved the play table out to the front steps,

set her up with a chair,

and there she patiently waited to be

served her solitary meal of pancakes, maple syrup, and milk.

eager beaver

2011-04-11T22:46:00.000-04:00

last night we had fierce thunder and lightning, then very high gusting wind today.

no surprise, then, when preparing supper,

(the kiddies were flaking with TVOkids)

i heard a loud CRACK,

and our street lost power.

transformer, i guess.

luckily, no entertainment inside meant new entertainment outside...

since it was too dark to spar inside,

the gang from the beaver boxing club took to the street to finish their training.

first we watched from the window,

then from the back garden,

then from the driveway...

closer...closer...like cats mesmerized by butterflies.

both kids found the whole spectacle so amazing,

that the coach offered up an extra set of gloves.

esther declined, but edgar took on the invite...

i think the boxers were entertained also...

oh, and the power returned just as i began to light the candles.

the need for inner space

2011-03-28T14:23:00.000-04:00

i figured that a space ship-would be a fun project for edgar and i to make this afternoon..

at first, i thought we were making a stuffed rocket,

but quickly realized it is a better blast-off un-stuffed.

three-two-one....

lift-off!

chillin' in

2011-03-08T22:20:00.000-05:00

it is amazing how priceless/expensive a cardboard box playhouse can be....

self portrait

2011-03-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

esther playing whiffle ball at the school winter carnival.

(she couldn't remember the name of the game, so she drew us a diagram)

frosty blades

2011-03-05T12:22:00.000-05:00

edgar has completed his first series of skating lessons.

lizzy ( and daddy too) coaxed him along for 1/2 hour each tuesday afternoon.

six weeks weeks later, he is well on his way to a brand new skill,

having earned a yellow participation ribbon for his efforts.

the look of pride on his face had me rummaging for my hankie.

~~~

another boy was testing his skates and skills that day as well;

a young veteran soldier.

he and edgar were on the bench at the same time...

edgar's little hockey skates,

side by side

a prosthetic 3/4 leg/skate system.

yellow ribbons.

gratitude.

pride.

origami whammy

2011-02-21T18:32:00.000-05:00

we were given some origami paper

(thanks, nana!)

and needed to locate a website for a few simple designs for little hands...

jackpot!

esther had a great time folding paper into

cute creatures...

the puppy even "barks" when you pull his ears a bit.

i predict that 1000 paper cranes will be next on my to-do list.

(instructions for the crane are there, too...)

ballet, any style.

2011-02-18T14:38:00.001-05:00

the girl's ballet class;

a study in free-form fun.

february thaw

2011-02-18T14:30:00.000-05:00

+11 C today...maybe even warmer!

esther, edgar and georgia tackled the rivulets with a splash of colour,

and an enthusiasm for hydrodynamics.

a plastic water bottle cap, a few twigs, and a fine, well decayed leaf

surfed the streams again and again,

leaving the tugboat abandoned on the coast...

fabricland, fabricland!

2011-02-06T22:53:00.000-05:00

i was searching for a fabric shop location.

unbidden, their jingle rang out as i opened up fabricland's home page.

turned out the girl and the boy went mad for it.

go ahead; but you will be hooked...

everybody dance, now!

lost and found

2011-02-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

yesterday, the four of us bundled up and took the number 2 bus downtown.

we hit the rideau centre first for a few purchases,
then ambled down the stairs to winterlude at confederation park to admire the ice sculptures

(and eat maple taffy on snow, of course).

well, at some point, i had put my wallet in the shopping bag.

at some later point, i placed that bag on some slushy snow.
at an undetermined point after that,
the sodden bottom of the bag let go,
releasing my wallet into the winterlude crowds.

yikes.

we searched; no luck. so i left my name at the info booth...hoping.
"well, if you have an angel," the info lady said,
"it will show up here, and we will give you a call."

it turns out i have an angel.

the message was waiting for us when we walked in our front door.

the kids were playing with our neighbours, so david and i hopped in the van to retrieve the wallet.

the plan was that he would drop me off at the park, then circle around and pick me up.

the intersection i jumped out at was cordoned by police.

we assumed it was for winterlude traffic calming,
but it turned out a protest march was about to travel along elgin street to city hall.

"where will you be?" i asked, one leg already out the door,

and was sure he replied "on elgin".

i made it to the info booth.

the wallet was a bit damp, but otherwise intact; i was overjoyed.

i skipped back to elgin street to meet up with my ride...

then waited, and waited...

there had been that protest march...
perhaps he had been delayed in the traffic barricades?

waited waited.

there are about three million gold dodge venture mini-vans in ottawa, by the way.

finally, glancing kitty-corner across the street, i spot ours

(the windscreen wipers are stuck in the full upright position when at rest)

...bingo!

i ran across the street against traffic, earning an annoyed honk,

only to see my beloved continue on around the corner and out of view.

waitedwaitedwaited.

he would go around the block one more time, surely. right?

waited.

thought the cabs looked like a good option,
(after all, i had my wallet!)

but could david still be driving around looking for me?

well, it had been his last tour around the block after all...

fifteen minutes later, my pocket buzzed.

david calling from home.

it seems he had actually said "the lord elgin" as i exited the van.

i didn't need to take a cab, however.

david returned,
and finally found me
in front of the lord elgin hotel.

pas-ta-stic

2011-01-29T21:01:00.000-05:00

so, on this lazy saturday....

hard wheat semolina flour, fresh eggs, and a splash of olive oil

from our local italian deli

was transformed into...

yummy pasta!!!

the boy and the girl each took turns turning the pasta machine wheel.

(i did man the helm.)

encouraged by the supple result, i mixed up some chicken,

romano, bread crumbs, basil, roasted red pepper and an egg,

for yummy raviolis.

even better?

with the kiddies looking at books and quietly playing,

i got to talk to my brother and sister-in-law

on the phone during the process...

felt like a little kitchen party.

the results were well worth the "effort".

so much that i almost forgot to take the 'finished product' shot...

please, do try this at home;

with a shaving of parmesan,

a drop of black truffle oil

and a

crackle of black pepper...

art-is-in

2011-01-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

if i could really whack a foul ball, it would land here....

one of ottawa's most revered/devoured bakeries

recently moved to the unsightly,

best-kept secret called the City Centre.

a meander in my pajamas results in fresh wheaty-buttery treats,

served up by true enthusiasts.

i really should jog there or something...

oh, train!

2011-01-26T13:50:00.000-05:00

a great day for an urban adventure...

taking the O-train!

we donned snowclothes, walked over the bridge to the station,

paid out $1.75 (kids under 11 ride free),

and waited very patiently.

well, as patiently as possible.

this urban commuter train runs north/south only five stops

from our neighbourhood to a mall in ottawa-south.

that short trip includes views of ice waterfalls, a deep dark tunnel,

a raging icy river, interesting university students, speedy trees and ducks.

this particular trip also boasted snacks!

we enjoyed a few trips trips back and forth;

it is good to remember that sometimes

the voyage itself can be a holiday.

after-school snack

2011-01-25T15:48:00.000-05:00

a story

2010-12-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

the compelling tale of a sleepy sheep, spun by the masterful narrator, uncle richard.

(miss you three!)

caramel corn

2010-12-03T22:34:00.000-05:00

i saw some recipes in parents canada magazine this month:

in a pinch for time and bakesale goods, i gave this confection a try...

after a quick kijiji search, i tracked down a (brand new...five bucks!!!) hot air corn popper...

(expressly for this purpose... as far as i'm concerned,

stove top oil poppin' is the only way to go for savoury snacking.)

the effort did not disappoint.

classic caramel corn:

common sense:do not drink and confect!!!

1/3 C popping corn

(about 8 C air popped corn)

1 C packed brown sugar

1/2 C corn syrup

2 T butter

(worked fine with no-dairy margarine)

1 t vanilla

1/4 t baking soda

preheat oven to 250 degrees

lightly oil a big bowl, and pop the corn into it.

combine the syrup, sugar and fat in a heavy, medium sized sauce pan,

(don't allow the paucity of contents lull you into thinking you can use a smaller one...

the mixture really bubbles up at the last step!)

bring to a boil, and cook without stirring for 3 or 4 minutes.

(do carefully encourage the contents by swirling the pot now and then, though.)

the longer the cooking, the more caramelliness.

remove from heat, stir in the soda and vanilla.

this is the foamy bit.

be careful.

quickly pour this elixir over the corn, tossing with metal tongs until evenly coated.

spread onto a cookie sheet lined with a silpat or parchment paper

and bake at 250 for 30 minutes.

cool,

tape your mouth shut...c'mon, it's for tomorrow!!!!

break up into yummy chunks.

bag 'em.

and one of the best parts?

the washing up is as simple as

plopping everything in a warm sudsy sink,

then enjoying a glass of something.

rinse, repeat.

seeing things

2010-12-03T21:56:00.000-05:00

hey, is that a fuzzy blue elephant?

the girl directed that this drawing was never to be erased.

so, just in case, i'll store it here.

birthday boy

2010-12-01T23:59:00.000-05:00

lovely edgar.

three candles on the cake tonight...that fact,

plus a peg-legged pirate,

a knights' helmet, a rocket ship and a hockey shirt all add up to

"i a big boy now".

and what a boy!

happy birthday, pooch.

spooning

2010-11-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

it was a quiet sunday afternoon...

the boy re-charging for more mischief with a nap, and esther playing peacefully.

this means that i too was puttering, enjoying the quietude.

now, i am used to overhearing the girl's narratives and operettas as she

manipulates her little characters...

polly pockets, little people, paper dolls...you know.

very sweet and entertaining little dramas.

but today's episode was even more enchanting then usual;

at some point of the play, she opened the the cutlery drawer to audition cast members.

i wandered into the kitchen for tea, and found a whole new family there,

sporting fancy duds and 'dos.

hallowe'enies

2010-10-31T22:22:00.000-04:00

ready, set....

GO! GO! GO!!!!

chip-monkey

2010-10-31T00:23:00.000-04:00

grapes in the cheeks.

natures' own halloween costume.

wooly bear season

2010-10-31T00:20:00.000-04:00

these fuzzy fellows never fail to delight small fingers!

we really took this one off course...

found on a sidewalk blocks away, it was giggled all the way home.

it is hoped that it found a suitable place to live in our back yard;

a quick google revealed that these little furries are isabella tiger moth caterpillars...

wouldn't it be so fun and educational to see
the transformation from cocoon to moth in the spring?
we could investigate life cycles, biodiversity, etc., etc...

but truthfully, we just want more tickley caterpillars, and you need the moths for that.

or bea's knees?

2010-10-23T23:43:00.000-04:00

esther and i craftily conspired today...

baby bea has turned two, and what toddler doesn't need a take-along pillow?

(note the little loop of green ribbon to tote it by)

i had talked to esther about the idea, and she was eager to contribute.

she drew the flower/letter design, oversaw and encouraged every moment of sewing, and was personally in charge of stuffing.

she even sat on the project thoughtfully as the stuffing got stuffier, just to make sure it was fluffy enough for bea's bum.

when the pillow was all puffy and cosy, esther asked

"can we make one of these for me one day, mum?"

il fait beau

2010-10-02T23:50:00.000-04:00

camp radio was invited to play at the

beau's brewery oktoberfest in vankleek hill,

so we came along for the fun.

obviously, there was some fine beer to be had,

but unlike most beer themed festivals of similar style,

this one had a petting (feeding) zoo, as well as a barnload of even more fun for the kiddies.

the girl had done this sort of thing before,

and enjoyed the snack-fest in a cautious and respectful manner,

while edgar could barely contain his glee.

and, while oblivious to the meaning of the yellow sign,

i'm certain he would have happily surrendered his fingertips, just to be a part of it all.

so, this kinderfest had colouring and facepainting,

a charming jumbo tarp covered in enticing blobs of home-made playdough,

a clown show and pumpkin painting (yes, esther's is all pink,)

and a great place to leap around.

oh, yes, the other rock show was great, as well!

garden salad

2010-10-02T22:57:00.000-04:00

esther often likes to help out in the kitchen by creating her own recipes.

so this morning, at breakfast-time,

the girl, inspired by her new recipe for salad dressing,

(a mixture of water, sumac, cumin and chile powder)

carefully chose greens from the backyard.

the combination of colours and textures was quite convincing, at that...

it was gorgeous!

she chose the perfect combination of

chives, rue, boston ivy, mint, plantain,

lily-of-the-valley leaves, parsley, berries and various weeds...

the final concoction being both tempting and possibly toxic.

it was brought inside, dressed, tossed, admired, then

returned to the garden to feed the slugs and squirrels.

it seems they know to pick out the foul bits.

bon appetit, critters!

lemon aides

2010-09-13T14:22:00.000-04:00

we held an spontaneous yard sale this past weekend.

this event was spurred on by the weeks' attempt to re-negotiate our overall storage space, only to discover there was no space left...time to claim some on the curb.

this rather exhausting task was sweetened, however,

by the tangy addition of esther and the gang serving up some fine refreshment!

lemons fresh-squeezed, glasses wobbled full,

and pips finger picked out of each glass by enthusiastic proprietors,

who clamored for customers like carnival hawkers.

softie

2010-09-09T19:58:00.000-04:00

and yet, to look at him sleeping,

one would never imagine the escapades he is dreaming up for the coming day...

puddle ducks (+ bugs+froggies)

2010-09-09T19:50:00.000-04:00

the perfect day to sport the new autumn attire!

more of an alley than a runway, but they do look great.

(and did track down a small puddle at least!)

thanks, ron and marg, for the lively 'creature' comforts!

it was the girl's first day of senior kindergarten also, and she took to it with great enthusiasm!

lined up with her friends, and didn't look back.

well, she is five!

9 1/2 hours

2010-09-01T17:49:00.000-04:00

broken toed.

last night, on my way to the fridge, i zigged, and my toe zagged...

directly into the edge of a cupboard.

i do wish i had taken the "before" picture...

(the one where my baby toe looked like it was peeking over it's own shoulder)

but this is the end result of almost 10 hours at the ER. thank you, dr. choi!

it took him and his med student a few sturdy yanks to reduce the fracture,

but heck, that's what local anesthetic is for!

and everything is kind of funny at 3 o'clock in the morning.

4 to 6 weeks of "buddy taping" and i should be good as new.

i promise myself a decent pedicure as a reward!

combo number 2 please.

2010-08-30T23:10:00.000-04:00

cottage cousins

2010-08-30T23:06:00.000-04:00

both esther and edgar really enjoyed the cottage this year...

a long trip up and back, certainly,

but the filling was pretty delicious.

houseboat rides,

tea parties,

ATV motocross,

dollies,

owies,

and cosy breaks with the cousins.

chalk it up!

2010-08-30T22:44:00.000-04:00

edgar has found his medium,

but what is the message?

floyd stringer hembruff

2010-08-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

i offer this photo in memory of a great man,

floyd stringer hembruff

thank you, poppa.

fun? yow!

2010-07-24T19:42:00.000-04:00

another youtube view for you...

scrambled pancakes.

fasten your seatbelts...it's going to be a bumpy ride!

to-do list

2010-07-24T19:12:00.000-04:00

wondering what to do on the next rainy day?

look this site up.

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/index.htm

paper dolls, printable pages, games... a wealth of fun generation for the entire family.

personally, i'm looking forward to the colour-in russian stacking dolls here.

good thing i have little kids!!!

muppins

2010-07-15T23:31:00.000-04:00

well now.

edgar would call it a muppin, and nana would call it a cupcake...regardless, it is a baked goods recipe that is worth the trouble of a little extra choppin' and toppin'.

strawberry rhubarb muffins

combine in one bowl:

1 C all purpose flour

1 1/2 C whole wheat flour

1 C brown sugar

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

combine in another bowl:

1 C chopped strawberries

1 C chopped rhubarb

1 large egg

1/4 C cooking oil

1 C soured goat milk

(or any milk, even soy...just add a tsp lemon juice)

dump wet ingredients into dry, stir until just moistened throughout.

fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full,

top with a mixture of

cinnamon (1/2 t)

and brown sugar (1/3 C)

bake at 375 degrees F

for about 20 minutes.

cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing and devouring for tea-time.

(thank you to 'company's coming' homestyle-y cookbook tycoon, jean pare,

for the 'mostly muffins' edition)

birds of a feather

2010-06-30T17:51:00.000-04:00

the girl & mme robin, on esther's last day of JK.

this remarkable woman shepherded both an a.m. and p.m. gaggle of kiddies through the demands of JK with boundless enthusiasm and sensitivity.

she shared the opaque world of junior kindergarten with each and every eager parent,

and more than once brought me to tears of pride and wonder.

thank you, robin.

i have my fingers crossed for edgar in 2011...

hmmm...

2010-06-30T17:33:00.000-04:00

i spied this pattern while looking for a summer crochet project:

leg fancies

now, to choose the colour...

lift-off

2010-06-22T22:52:00.000-04:00

the whole hand old

2010-06-22T22:47:00.001-04:00

drenched in glorious sunshine,

i clapped myself on the back for cheekily ignoring the weather report for esther's

birthday party-in-the-park day.

then, when the last item was unpacked from the car, a fine mist started to fall.

within 15 minutes, mist thickened to a good ploppy rain,

which persisted until it was decided to move the gang to this overhang at the park fieldhouse.

we dried out by the fire of five candles,

and shored up energy reserves with chunks of cake.

then, game on.

bug hunting,

butterfly prowling,

bubble blowing,

paparazzi chasing,

then through the full circle back into the mist.

happy fifth birthday, my lovely.

june bugs

2010-06-17T09:33:00.000-04:00

in the last month, the traffic barrier outside our home has become a unique little ecosystem.

the concrete planters serve as playground, garden and zoo, and it isn't unusual on a sunny afternoon to see a congregation of the neighbourhood littles taking full advantage of those benefits.

the linden trees in front have blossomed also; pale green, rather insignificant flowers, but what a perfume!
attending the blooms are exciting new insects to investigate...

and edgar took quite a shine to this deceased subject.

it is now respectfully stored in a small blue jewellry box, like the treasure it is.

fairmont park p.m.

2010-05-27T22:54:00.000-04:00

a lull in the heat wave... the perfect day to explore a new swing-set park with a new play-date.

three thumbs up for the cool watermelon treat,

two thumbs up for the goofy plastic car,

and all hands on deck for the top of the teeter/totter!

clown prince

2010-05-27T22:20:00.000-04:00

magic meat

2010-05-14T00:33:00.001-04:00

so. in researching roasting times for eye of round, i fell across this "i-never-would-have-believed-it-till-it-happened-to me..." kind of roasting method. had to try it.

so, for those that won't hit the link, the trick is a very short (21 minutes) actual cooking time, then turn off the oven and desert the kitchen for a park or something.

voila! the rice crispy square of oven roasts!

details? this cut is about 3 lbs, seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper. i did put a stoneware tray in with it to help maintain the oven temperature,

and yes, it turned out great.

bi-ki-co

2010-05-14T00:08:00.001-04:00

dilly of a day-

2010-05-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

can't help but notice the lush tangle of volunteer and intentional green in the back garden.

it surprises me every spring that those tiny little roots, seeds and rhizomes break their sleep to join us up here, and that they stubbornly wait out the frosty evenings.

this week, the girl has encouraged springtime by seeking every swing set park in the 'hood (hintonburg, laRoche, fairmont, and the one near deRienzos so far) after school.

tonight, however, we were inclined to stay home and tend. a fist-sized package of dill seed in the pantry inspired a planting frenzy...(some of edgar's frenzy can be seen to the lower left of the photo.)

while broadcasting the seeds, the two scratched at the earth and squabbled like little raccoons, and eventually needed to take break.

with luck, in days we will be discovering the lacy sprouts of dill not only in the two designated pots, but wherever else they found a bed.

mmmmm. pickles.

socks appeal

2010-05-03T22:53:00.000-04:00

a sunny run in the arboretum after a morning of downpours.

we welcomed the first real deep, warm spring rain last night; through wide-open windows, it induced a soporific soaking of raindrop dreams...

snare drums and a million ticking clocks.

we all tried to concentrate on the bbq chicken picnic, but the juicy grass just seemed to make wrasslin' just that much more inviting...

leading to dampened socks and elated spirits.

i know my feet are still humming.