Another Use for Ribbons

Dear Mom,

A worn out watch band + an abundance of ribbon=

I've been having fun swapping out ribbons to coordinate with what I am wearing. Way more fun than that brown leather I was buckling to my wrist everyday.

Plus there is the bonus of having a new excuse to buy more ribbons!

I find myself wearing more jewelry around my wrists in the summer. I guess because they are not bundled under warm sweaters. Last summer the Young Lady and I made these:

We tore bandannas into 1-inch strips, soaked them in water and them twisted them tightly. We tied them around our wrists and ankles and let them dry. The longer we wore them and the more frayed they became, the better they looked.

Carefree summer "jewelry" for easy summer days.

Love,

Kim

In My Ears

Dear Mom,

I have a little Ipod shuffle that I keep loaded with audio books that I borrow from the library. With so little on television ( I only watch 3 programs, and those will be winding down for the season in the next week or two) , I listen to books when there isn't anything on worth watching in the evening, while doing housework, and while knitting.

I just finished listening to Paths of Glory, by Jeffrey Archer. Paths of Glory is the

story of George Mallory, who led the British expeditions to Mount Everest and may have been the first man to reach the summit. We will never know. After listening to the story, I want to believe he was. The book is written as fiction, but is based on the factual events of George Mallory's life. Adventure, love story and history all combine to make this an entertaining book to listen to and I'll bet just as good to read. It is hard to explain how I could be moved to tears by a story I already know the ending to (the prologue takes care of that), but I was. Am. I loved it.

Love,

Kim

Cinco De Mayo ii

Dear Mom,

Wow! Kim is impressive!! If she ever gets to Mexico, she can order beer, find a bathroom and perhaps know when she should have gone to bed. The only thing I remember from Spanish class was how much fun it was being naughty with Mike Mitchell!! Hey, I'm 42 years old now and I have capitalized on that naughty fun and can order a beer in my native tongue wherever I am!

Too bad I've lost track of Mike!! It would be great to order a beer (or two!), celebrate Cinco De Mayo and talk old Spanish days with him (I have never laughed so hard in my life as I always did with Mike Mitchell!! Yep, we were some kind of naughty!!)!!

I am terrible with uploading/downloading, especially from YouTube, but click on the link and you can enjoy some great Cinco De Mayo music!! Arriba!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0nQMgaJibc

Love, Wendy

Cinco De Mayo

Dear Mom,

After all those years of high school Spanish and then a tiny bit more in college, I can't remember how to greet you en espanol other than to say Hola. Those classes were a long time ago, but I've recently had a refresher while helping the Young Man review vocabulary words for his freshman Spanish class. I should remember how to do more than ask where a bathroom is (which for some reason, in high school, seemed like something very important that I should know), or what the time is. My Hero, it won't surprise you to know, could order 2 beers. (I could say Coca-Cola in my best Spanish accent, but you can smile and say that anywhere and get what you are asking for.) So between us, should we find ourselves lost in Mexico without a translator, we will know what time it is wherever we are, have a couple of beers (that I don't drink) and find a bathroom.

I can't entirely blame the years for my poor conversational Spanish. Less than a year or two after my Last Spanish Class, I found myself on the Oral Surgery rotation while I was in the Dental Hygiene program. We did rotations to different clinics in the dental school as part of our education. We mostly did more observing than any hands on work, but we weren't there to get in the way and had to help out if called into action. Anyway, there I was in the Oral Surgery Clinic. And let me digress once more to say that "they" spent quite a good bit of time lecturing us on how NOT TO FAINT before they actually let us in, which in my mind does nothing but make me feel like I might faint. Okay, back to oral surgery which at this point you are wondering how this could possibly tie in to Spanish class. It does. I am watching many teeth being extracted. I am trying to not think about fainting, which I totally wouldn't have had to think about AT ALL had I not been given the lecture. And then a woman is seated in the chair. Her turn. NO speak English. Very frightened. Can I think of ONE WORD en espanol to reassure the poor woman? NO. I just tried to communicate with my eyes and facial expressions, which were probably not so reassuring since

1. I really didn't know what was going to happen to her

2. I felt bad for her not being able to understand any English and

3. I was thinking about not fainting.

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I offer this recipe for a Mexican Potato Frittata. I admit to being a better knitter than I am a cook. Not that I am a bad cook, I just can't manage too much at once while I cook. With that said, this is a tasty, healthy, simple recipe and a nice change of pace from tacos and enchiladas.

Mexican Potato Frittata

1 t olive oil

12 oz. red skinned potatoes, cut in 1/2 inch cubes

6 large eggs

1 (11 oz.) jar salsa ( you can choose the strength you prefer- I usually get mild or medium because I can't take the heat- My Hero adds Tabasco sauce. Because he can.)

1/2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/4 c sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

1 medium tomato

Preheat oven to 425.

In a non-stick skillet with an oven safe handle ( I use my cast iron skillet), heat olive oil over med-hi heat. Add potatoes and cook, covered, until potatoes are tender and golden brown, about 10 min, stirring occasionally.

In medium bowl, beat eggs with 1/4 c salsa, salt and pepper. Stir in cheese, set aside.

Dice tomato and stir into remaining salsa.

Stir egg mixture into potatoes in the skillet and cook over med-hi heat, covered, for 3 minutes or until egg mixture begins to set around edges.

Remove cover and place skillet in oven; bake 4-6 minutes, until frittata is set.

To serve, transfer frittata from skillet to serving platter or cutting board (I never do that part- I just serve straight out of the skillet- real fancy that way) and cut into wedges. Top with salsa/tomato mixture.

Makes 4 main dish servings. Each serving has about 235 calories, 14g protein, 20g carbohydrates, 11g fat (4g sat fat) 327mg cholesterol and 795 mg sodium.

Note: I imagine that it is easy to cut the sodium by not adding the salt. And using 2% cheese would cut back on the fat content, but I did make a note to myself on the recipe NOT to use egg-beaters. I must have tried that and it didn't work.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Love,

Kim

Breaking news

Dear Mom,
I interrupt my regularly scheduled vacuuming to bring you this Breaking News.
News so exciting that my head hurts from the adrenaline rush. News that when I received it, caused my heart to pound like it does when I am Sweatin' to the Oldies. Lightening bolts out of my fingers kind of news......

A major yarn company has chosen one of my designs to publish!!

Details to follow as they come available.
That is all.
Returning to my vacuum cleaner now.
Love,
Kim

The Weekend

Dear Mom,

I did finish this sweater ( my design ) over the weekend. A good intermediate weather type sweater. I am happy with it, but there are a couple of details I will tweek when I make it again.

I also took these pictures over the weekend. I brought this columbine with me from our first house, and I am sure it came from your yard before that.

And check out the bumblebee. I just love this zooming in on a zoomed in picture. These are those great big Hindenberg bees. I think they are fun, but Bumper wants to protect the yard from them. He will launch himself at impressive heights and speed (especially for a thick, 10 year old dog) to try to get these bees. Once he has had a successful catch, he spits them out quickly and guards the wounded prey until he gets bored with it. I warn anyone to approach at risk when he is protecting his catch. The thing could be dead and pulverized by his paws, but he won't let anyone near. You would think it was a t-bone steak or something.

Love,

Kim

Random

Dear Mom,

With my rain gauge showing we've had about 3 inches since Monday, the yard looks like this:

The grass. is. high. I would measure its depth like we do with the snow, but I might lose the ruler. I am hoping we get a break in all this rain long enough for the yard to dry out so I can climb aboard John, Dear and MOW!!!! At this point it may take mowing twice just to get through it all.

The good thing is that with all the rain keeping me inside, I've knit almost an entire sweater in about a week. I think I started this one last Thursday. I may finish it this weekend. It will be a tunic for me, my design.

Last Sunday when it was sunny, warm and windy, The Young Lady and My Hero took the dog to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (aka, the track) for the Annual Mutt Strutt. This dog walk around the track benefits the Indianapolis Humane Society. Between the stress of the car ride and walking around the 2 1/2 mile oval, Bumper was exhausted. I think it took him until mid week to recover. The plan next year is to take him on the short walk, which I think is just in the pit lanes. Here they are, on the "yard of bricks" at the finish line.

Today was ANOTHER half day of school. Add all these half days together and I swear the summer could be 2 weeks longer. You might think that coming home after only a half day would be a happy thing. It was for some.

But not for everyone.

15 year old, stalked by mamarazzi

Have a happy weekend!

Love,

Kim

A Sweatin' To the Oldies Report

Dear Mom,

I have sweat to the Oldies 1, 2 and 3. Today I will visit #4. So far, Sweatin' to the Oldies 2 is my favorite. Don't ask me why. Maybe it is the music, maybe I can follow the moves better. Who knows. I am starting to know those people behind Richard. Some of them are starting to irritate me.

Actually, I may skip #4 and Boogie Down the Pounds, or Disco instead. Just to shake things up.

Sweatin' to the Oldies is a total 80's flashback. Thick slouchy socks, big hair and white Reeboks.

Short shorts.

And mullets.

And I am pretty confident when I say that nobody but Richard Simmons would have an exercise move called "Sizzle". ( To "Sizzle", all that is required is shaking your hands in a flashy way as you bring them from over your head down past your shoulders to your waist- as you march in place, of course.)

All in all, it is an entertaining way to get an hours worth of exercising in. And flashing back to all the aerobics classes I took in my 20's is not a bad thing. I just hope nobody is peeking in the windows as I sizzle.

Love,

Kim

Spring Knitting

Dear Mom,

I am a slow knitter. Where Kim can knit an adult sweater in days, it takes me days just to find the proper needles for my project. Another few to work on gauge and correct my needles, if necessary. And still another few to start knitting! My knitting mojo needs to be "just right"; Kim's knitting mojo is never wrong!! I am super excited though!! I started a spring sweater in March (like, actually in the spring)! And FINISHED IT! In time for Spring!

This pattern is the Knitting Pure & Simple Neckdown Shaped T-Shirt #233. I loved everything about this sweater: the simplicity of the neckdown knitting.

The shaping.

The yarn. Fleece Artist Sea Wool. The slight variations of the hand dyed yarn. The beauty of a simple stitch.
Best of all, I'll get to wear it this year!!! Woo hoo!!!!
Love, Wendy

Lilacs

Dear Mom,

If only I could include the fragrance with the pictures.

I filled the soup tureen on the dining room table,

Put a bouquet on my nightstand for sweet dreams,

and put a small vase in the Young Lady's room.

Heavenly.

Love,

Kim

Cats and Clean Tablecloths

Dear Mom,
Why are cats instantly attracted to clean tablecloths? I spread my new tablecloth over the patio table, and 30 minutes later, this is what I found!!

Sweet dreams, Benny!

Love, Bonnie Jo

29 Hours

Dear Mom,
I was beginning to worry that we would have another restless night, that we had been outwitted by a guinea pig. I was imagining a ferocious guinea pig grown to the size of an opossum with thick matted hair emerging from under the hot tub months from now, snarling and wild.

At approximately 8:45 this evening just before darkness settled and after 29 hours on her own in the wilds under the hot tub, Oreo was trapped in Bonnie Jo's squirrel trap. And she is not one bit sorry for all the trouble she caused.

The equipment involved during the escape included 4 beach towels, an army blanket, 16 feet of wire fencing, 4 hockey sticks, a garden hose with spray nozzle, 2 flashlights, a chipmunk cage, a guinea pig igloo, carrots, lettuce, yogurt chips, broccoli slaw, timothy hay, a water bottle, and finally, the squirrel cage.

In desperation and frustration, "creative" suggestions were starting to emerge. The Young Man was taking the SWAT team approach to pig capture, suggesting we "smoke her out" with stink bombs. I told him this would probably not work as the prison riot treatment (blasting her with jet stream water from the garden hose) had failed. My Hero wanted to trap her in a miniature bear trap, but when we figured she would probably chew her own leg off and escape, he said, "Well, at least that would slow her down."

Feeling a bit panicky, at 6:00 pm we called Bonnie Jo and borrowed her squirrel trap. At 7:00 the trap was set. We waited. IF this didn't work......

Thankfully, a happy ending. Well, maybe not for Oreo. I think she liked living on the run.

Love,

Kim

The Fugitive

Dear Mom,
Yesterday afternoon, during a field trip into the backyard, Oreo escaped. She is hiding out under the hot tub deck.
The elusive pig has managed to evade all our attempts at capture which include bribes of lettuce, carrots, yogurt chips and broccoli slaw. We tried enticing her out with the sound of a shaking plastic produce bag. The hose nozzle set on "Jet" didn't force the speedy pig out. Even with each of us manning one side of the deck, using flashlights and a loose system of communication to shout which section the fugitive had escaped to, and armed with hockey sticks, the pig thwarted us. Heaven help me, I even had my good salad tongs out there trying to grab her if she got close enough to the edge. It was getting dark, the Young Lady now crying and prematurely mourning the death of her favorite pig. Covered in mud from all the jet stream spray, at 10pm we gave up and went to bed hoping Oreo survived her night in the wild.
After a restless night (for us), Oreo has been spotted a few times this morning, coming out from her hideout for a bite to eat and scurrying back before she could be captured. The current plan involves the chipmunk trap and some carrots.
I'll let you know how it all turns out.
Love,
Kim

Monster Sunflowers

Dear Mom,

I was inspired by The Great Sunflower Project, a program to help with bee conservation. Participants are asked to watch and record the bees at sunflowers in their gardens. The sunflower chosen for this year's bee study is "Lemon Queen". As I was scanning the large variety of sunflower seeds, a came across "Sunzilla".

These giant sunflowers will reach up to 16 feet tall! I intend to plant them in a row on the outside of the fence (out of reach of the chickens) where they will make a living hedge.

They are off to a good start, and they are growing fast! I feel like I'm in first grade again, excitedly watching the seeds sprout and then magically bend toward the sunlight!

Love, Bonnie Jo

Yesterday

Dear Mom,

After too many cold, wet days, we were treated to a beautiful, sunny, warm day yesterday. A good day to spend working in the yard, tending to the lawn and gardens, and remembering.

I always think about Daddy when I am mowing with his John Deere. Now my John, Dear. I remember the time he came out trying to help me figure out what was wrong with my old John Deere, which always worked just fine when he got on, started it up and whipped around my yard at lightening speed, giving me that look that was pretending to be irritated with me for the interruption but the sparkle in his eye, the tilt of his head and the barely concealed smile told me that he was really tickled with the situation and his dumbstruck daughter.

I moved some perennials and planted some new ones. I planted hollyhocks, foxglove, delphinium, shasta daisy, as well as a few that I was not familiar with but looked pretty: silene, soapwort and viola labrador. Now I just need to keep them watered and hope the bunnies don't eat them.

I weeded a bit and cleared up some of the dead stuff from around the perennials. I could spend the entire day today doing the same, but the inside is looking neglected. I need to find some balance. The weather is predicted to be nice through the weekend, so I should be able to manage keeping up with both, and still find time to sit on the porch with my knitting and enjoy it all.

Love,

Kim

1 Corinthians 13:7

Dear Mom,

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love,

Kim

Missed

Dear Daddy,

I miss you.

Love, Wendy

A Frog Pyramid

Dear Mom,

I think we have acrobatic frogs in our pond.

Look...there is another one in the water coming up to complete the pyramid!

Love, Bonnie Jo

A Sweet Poem

Dear Mom,
I was cleaning out paperwork and doing some filing the other day, and I came across a poem I had cut out of the newspaper several years ago. It was worth saving.

KIDS WHO ARE DIFFERENT

Here's to the kids who are different,

The kids who don't always get A's,

The kids who have ears twice the size of their peers,

And noses that go on for days...

Here's to the kids who are different,

The kids they call crazy or dumb,

The kids who don't fit, with the guts and the grit,

Who dance to a different drum...

Here's to the kids who are different,

The kids with the mischievous streak,

For when they have grown, as history's shown,

It's their difference that makes them unique.

Copyright 1982 by Digby Wolfe

I like that poem.

Love, Bonnie Jo

I surprise myself sometimes

Dear Mom,

It shocks and shames me to admit that last week, as I stood in the long line at the grocery store, I caught myself perusing the latest issue of Country Music Weekly magazine. It was a slow moving line. I could try and blame it on GinaWhoCanParallelPark, but she wasn't there to put the issue into my hands. Because I did take a swift glance, I was able to give her the scoop on Toby Keith's new clothing line. GinaWhoCan ParallelPark has her finger on the pulse of celebrity gossip, so scooping her is a significant achievement.

As if that admission isn't bad enough, later that day, in an effort to put myself in Time Out so as not to "lose it" while dealing with the kids, dinner and homework after school, I found myself in my bedroom with the door closed and the tv tuned into QVC. (for the record, I didn't intentionally tune into QVC, I just somehow landed there) I was weak. Other than the one time I ordered the "Miracle Mop" when the kids were really little, I have never ordered anything from QVC.

I was vulnerable. There he was, telling me that I was worth it, that I could do whatever I needed to do. All I needed was to believe in myself, and that he believed in me. And it was the QVC deal of the day. I caved.

I ordered the entire library of Richard Simmons' "Sweatin' to the Oldies" DVD's.

I have "Sweatin' to the Oldies" 1, 2, 3, and 4. I have "Party off the Pounds", Richard Simmons SuperSweatin' Aerobic Workout and finally, I have "Boogie Down the Pounds", Richard Simmons SuperSweatin' Disco Workout. The QVC special included the bonus disc "Richard Simmons Love Yourself and Win, Six Steps to Self-Esteem and Permanent Weight Loss" which I suppose next time I put myself in Time Out I should watch rather that flip through the channels and land on QVC again.

Love,

Kim

Audrey Kay

Dear Mom,

I would like to tell you about my beautiful friend, Audrey Kay. She is a librarian at my local library. She sits right there at the front desk. She is the first person we see. Always smiling; always helpful. Not just to us--to everyone. A welcome sight. Take a deep breath and get drunk on Audrey Kay's kindness.

Audrey is also a cancer survivor. I didn't know her when she was battling her cancer but I think she fought with grace and humor. I'm also sure she dug her heels in and fought with anger, too. She was NOT going to let cancer win!!

She is a mother of 2 very beautiful children. Sarah is very much like her mother, humble. Will has a wicked sense of humor, also like his mother.

Audrey knits and crochets. She is involved in several ministries at her church; she knits or crochets prayer shawls AND comfort afghans. If she isn't knitting them herself, she is sewing squares for comfort afghans that people have given to her. I don't know that she has ever knit anything for herself. She is always giving afghans away. I was even the very privileged recipient of a poncho handknit by her for my birthday!!

Are you getting that Audrey Kay is some kind of wonderful?!?!

Sadly, Audrey Kay's husband suddenly and unexpectedly passed away last Thursday. The memorial service for her true love was yesterday. A cold, rainy April day. The kind of weather that puts an exclamation point to a memorial service. The service was full. To honor her husband, but also to honor Audrey Kay. Hopefully we banded together and got to show Audrey Kay what a difference her life is making in our lives. I think, though, that Audrey Kay was more of a comfort to us. She is strength. Grace. Beauty.

Today is her birthday. And while it is marked with sadness, my birthday wish for Audrey Kay is that she will know. KNOW. that she is loved. Deeply loved. Appreciated.

Kim blogged once about channeling her inner Audrey Hepburn. My hope is that I will be able to tap into my inner Audrey Kay.

Happy birthday, dear sweet Audrey Kay!

Love, Wendy

Apple Oven Pancake

Dear Mom,

On a cold, rainy April day, nothing tastes better than eating breakfast for dinner!! One of our favorite "dinners" is an Apple Oven Pancake.

Baked in a deep dish apple pie plate, it comes from the oven like this:

While the "pancake" is baking, I prepare our apples. The apples are finished at about the same time as the pancake and get poured into the hollow pancake. Like this: We slice the pancake while it is still very warm and sprinkle powdered sugar over each slice.

This particular piece is huge and did get cut in half. Our apple oven pancake is pretty rich and sweet and goes superbly with a cold glass of milk. We have talked about serving this with sausage links but we never do. A fruit salad takes away from the cinnamon-y apples. Toast isn't worthy. Apple Oven Pancake is perfect just the way it is. And for dessert? A snuggle with the sweeties!!

Apple Oven Pancake
1 cup milk

6 eggs

2 Tbsp. melted butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray dish with nonstick spray. Combine milk, eggs, butter and vanilla. Whisk in combined flour and salt until egg mixture is smooth (this is a runny batter). Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 350 degrees and continue baking 15 minutes or until sides are crisp and golden brown.

While the pancake is baking, prepare apples as follows:

7 apples, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg
Melt butter in medium skillet. Mix apples with sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg until apples are coated. Saute apple mixture in melted butter (cover skillet for approx. 5 minutes to soften apples). Remove lid from skillet to caramelize apples.

Serve with powdered sugar. Enjoy!!

(Note: if you are weird with textures, the apple oven pancake is an eggy pancake and not your typical bready pancake. Just lettin' ya know. I don't want to hear about weird textures from any of ya'll . . . .)

Love, Wendy

How I know she's mine

Dear Mom,
Often I feel like I am an outsider in my own home. In so many ways, our kids are very much like their Dad.
Every so often, though, something happens and I know part of me is in there somewhere. One of those somethings happened Friday evening.
The Young Lady was hit "in the eye" with a tetherball. And she didn't see it coming.
Yep, she's mine.
Love,
Kim

Free Radical

My most recent finished object- The Shipwrecked Shawl

Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.- Voltaire

Dear Mom,

Enough is enough.
Reading that people who drink soft drinks are 2 and 1/2 times more likely to be anxious and depressed is making me more anxious and depressed.
Free radicals are caused, among other things, by stress. The fight against free radicals is Stressful.
Avoid the sun, but get out there and absorb the Vitamin D you are deficient in.
Combat free radicals with antioxidants and Stop the Aging Process! But embrace the "you" you are today, you've earned those laugh lines, stretch marks and gray hairs......
Go organic! But those naturally occurring free radicals? Well not that organic.



Enough is enough. My head hurts.






I am choosing to embrace my inner free radical!

Free- easy, independent.
Radical- a person who holds or follows strong convictions.

And Knitting is my organic, stress-relieving antioxidant.





If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.- Mary Engelbreit


Love,
Kim

Chicken Breath

Dear Mom,

My chickens like chives! This is a problem I had not anticipated. I try to shoo them off, but they sneak behind my back and eat more!

When they were back together in the coop, I noticed their breath smelled like chives! Can you imagine...chive-smelling chicken breath?! I hope their eggs don't taste "chivey", although that might not be too bad in an omelet!!

Love, Bonnie Jo

I can't make this stuff up

Dear Mom,

Just a few days ago, the Young Man was standing about where I was standing when I took this photo:

He couldn't find a hanger.

Why is it that I am the only one who can walk into a room that any member of my family promises has been thoroughly searched for whatever that one thing is they can't find and put my hands on it immediately?

It has come to this: Now when I am told "I can't find blahblahblah", I respond with, "Well, if I find blahblahblah, then you owe me $x.xx." Sometimes this works and they go scurrying off to find it themselves, but not always. I have yet to be paid.

So, knowing he was looking for a hanger, I tried to step outside myself and observe as a scientist might observe animal behavior in nature as the Young Man opened the laundry door and began his search. Search= stand here until the hanger magically appears in my hands. Or until my mother finds it for me. As he began to turn in my direction, the question on his lips, I said "Turn around. Face the washing machine. Right there, directly in front of you. Reach your arm straight out. It will touch a hanger."

"Oh, thanks Mom."

Love,

Kim

Just Dandy!

Dear Mom,

There is a new project brewing at Peacemaker Farm...we are attempting to make dandelion wine.

Cheerful neighbors looked on as we "harvested" chemical-free dandelions from their yards, and excited children were eager to help us collect the yellow flowers! Approximately 2 quarts of dandelion flower heads were collected. The wine recipe requires most of the green material to be removed from the flower heads, leaving a heaping pile of petals. The petals were then covered with boiling water and left to steep for two days.

We are new to the art of wine making, so we are learning as we go. The ingredients are simple: dandelion flowers, sugar, oranges, water and Champagne yeast. It will take six months to a year before we will even know how it tastes!

Love, Bonnie Jo

Cancer Survivor

Dear Mom,
Gracie is my neighbor's granddaughter. Today is her birthday. She is four years old. A lively, active, very funny four year old. She is also a cancer survivor. When she was 15 months old, the doctors found a tumor in her kidney. She had her kidney removed and months of chemo, with a central line in her chest because chemo tubes and needles are so painful for a not-even-two-year-old. We had to be careful when we picked her up, even though that is all we wanted to do. Pick her up and snuggle with her and try to make her feel better. We wanted to try to understand. She has a scar that covers the entire width of her belly; a scar from one side to the other side of her. But two years later and if you don't know Gracie, you would never know she had cancer. She is a survivor. And she is also a deep comfort to me in a way no one knows. She is the baby that we held and cradled and drew comfort from when Daddy died. She was only days old when Daddy died so suddenly. In the shock of Daddy, a baby. In Gracie, there are reminders of time without Daddy. Four years already? I still remember my last conversation with Daddy, like it was yesterday; the laugh of Daddy during that conversation. I also draw strength from Gracie, the little four year old that has survived so much already. Gracie, the baby that provided quiet comfort on a cold and rainy April day.
Happy birthday, Gracie girl!!!
Love, Wendy

Happy Easter and A New Family Tradition

Dear Mom,

The Young Lady's Chocolate Eggs were a delicious success, and I think a new tradition is born. She will be making these again. And again. We've even discussed modifying the decorations for other holidays. The recipe is simple and she made them herself with just a little bit of guidance.

Chocolate Bunny Eggs

makes 2 dozen

1/3 cup butter, softened

3.9 oz. package instant chocolate pudding mix

1/3 c boiling water

3 cups powdered sugar

8-oz. package semi-sweet baking chocolate squares, broken up

tubes of frosting, candy sprinkles for decorating

Combine butter and pudding mix and mix well. Add boiling water and stir until well blended.

Stir in powdered sugar one cup at a time. Mix well until you can form a ball. Chill for about 15 minutes.

Using your hands, shape tablespoonfuls of chocolate mixture into small egg shapes about 1-1/2 inches long. Set eggs on a tray or baking sheet covered with wax paper. Chill for 30 minutes.

In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate squares on high setting for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes, until partly melted. Stir until smooth.

Dip eggs into melted chocolate with a fork or toothpick. Return to wax paper a chill. Decorate with frosting and sprinkles. Keep refrigerated.

Happy Easter!

Love,

Kim

Meanwhile

Dear Mom,

While Wendy was having the new sprinkler system installed, things continued on pretty normally around here. Normal for Spring Break, anyway. The highlight of Spring Break (for me): The Annual Purge.
We accomplished the annual purge of the kids bedrooms in One Day (a new record!), leaving no surface untouched and every toy, trinket, article of clothing, bead, bobble and scrap of paper evaluated. "Keep", "Trash" and "Goodwill" were the buzz words of the day. I didn't stop to cook. My Hero brought pizza home. With a professional beauty shop hair clip in place to keep my bangs out of my face, we moved furniture, rearranged the Young Lady's bedroom, sweat, dusted and vacuumed our way to completion. They have come to realize after so many years, that I Mean Business and the sooner it is done and behind us, the better.


We rewarded ourselves with a movie the next day.


Last night My Hero took us downtown to Iaria's, an Italian restaurant, family owned since 1933. Curvy red booths. Chianti and calamari. Pizza with real cheese that stretched and stretched from the slice to the Young Man's mouth. The food was delicious, reasonable and plentiful. The bread was still steaming hot when it was delivered to the table. The Young Lady's description of Spumoni ice cream: "It tastes like taffy!"


After dinner we went duck pin bowling, which nobody is really good at, and the Young Lady did better when she used the ball that was so beat up that it wobbled all the way down the lane if that tells you anything about the skill level. Of course, "the boys" did lots better than "us girls", but we all had fun.



That leaves coloring eggs. We tried a recipe the Young Lady found that used beets, onion skins and blueberries to make the dye. An interesting experiment, but if vibrant colors are what you are after, nothing can replace the good old food coloring and vinegar dyes.

beet colored egg

Today we try making chocolate eggs for Easter. If successful, we will bring them for dessert to your house tomorrow.
And it is time to get a grip on laundry and the reality of setting the alarm and back to school on Monday morning.
Love,
Kim