More veggies yesterday - lettuce, radishes, bok choy, komatsuna, onions, SUGAR SNAP PEAS (woo hoo!), kohlrabi, and cilantro. Not too sure what to do with the komatsuna, but I think it is a mustard green as it tasted like mustard seed. We will probably use it in stir fry. When in doubt - stir fry!! I have also read you can boil it, steam it, pan fry it, put it in stew and I am sure many more things. Who knows - eat it raw?
On Saturday I did the "Hog Wild Day's" 5k run. It was a lot of fun. I think it may have been the small crowd. More personal maybe. I actually stayed for the awards ceremony after ( I have not done this before ) and that was so fun too! I didn't win an award, and maybe never will...but guess what people? A 4 year old little girl won 3rd place in the 14 and under age group.
What?
I know that is what you just said. Yes, FOUR years old. She ran her first 5k in 38 minutes and something seconds. Is this normal? Is this crazy? Is she on her way to the Olympics or Guinness Book of World Records? I don't know but I was amazed.
Just so you know - I was around my usual 30 minutes. They will post the time when they get to it I guess and then I will know for sure.
After my run we saw the parade. I confiscated my share of fruity tootsies unknowingly from the children. Ssshhhh!
Sunday we went to the carnival - and it was good fun. No extreme sadness this year. No sick stomach (me). It was great. I think maybe the fact that it wasn't 800 degrees outside helped. It probably actually made the day.
Hoping you are all having a good start to your summer. We are in for a busy one - and it's already going too darn fast!!
Take care!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
A week in the life.........
This week has been a busy one!
Monday Ella and I drove to Mt. Vernon to get our first veggies of the year from our CSA, Abbie Hills Farm. We got arugula, bok choy, capers, radishes, lettuce and basil. Unfortunately for us, the farm has suffered a bit due to the rain, but I think they will recover nicely and we will enjoy lots of yummy stuff through out the summer and fall!
Tuesday night I went to help a friend of mine clean her house, she was one of the unlucky ones that got flooded. All of the water had receded from her first floor by Tuesday, but they are still working on getting the last couple of inches out of the basement. Her family has lost so much and the rebuilding process will be timely. They are in good spirits somehow and are of course very thankful they all came out of this safe. I went back on Wednesday afternoon and hopefully will get back over there today. It's amazing the progress you can make when you have a lot of help - and they are blessed to have many friends!
Yesterday was Gage's first baseball game of the year. He did really well - and of course made me proud as both of my children always do. Next year he wants to join a more competitive league. He has only ever played for the YMCA. I was hesitant at first to let him do it because of the commitment. After yesterday though - I think that is where he needs to be if he wants to continue to play. No bragging here but he needs to play with kids who are at his skill level and the YMCA just doesn't do it for him anymore!
Ella is still doing gymnastics, although we may take a break on it for the summer. Sometimes I feel like I have to force her to go, and that just takes all the fun out of it for both of us. She loves it once she gets there - it's the getting her there that we struggle with. She really wants to play basketball but alas she is still too young. Maybe next year!
Tomorrow I am doing the 5k for Hog Wild Days, the yearly celebration in Hiawatha and it's LOTS of fun.
After the run, we have the parade! I love parades!! Large or small!!
Bring on the fruity tootsies!!
Sunday we will enjoy the carnival and hopefully it won't be too HOT!!
Monday Ella and I drove to Mt. Vernon to get our first veggies of the year from our CSA, Abbie Hills Farm. We got arugula, bok choy, capers, radishes, lettuce and basil. Unfortunately for us, the farm has suffered a bit due to the rain, but I think they will recover nicely and we will enjoy lots of yummy stuff through out the summer and fall!
Tuesday night I went to help a friend of mine clean her house, she was one of the unlucky ones that got flooded. All of the water had receded from her first floor by Tuesday, but they are still working on getting the last couple of inches out of the basement. Her family has lost so much and the rebuilding process will be timely. They are in good spirits somehow and are of course very thankful they all came out of this safe. I went back on Wednesday afternoon and hopefully will get back over there today. It's amazing the progress you can make when you have a lot of help - and they are blessed to have many friends!
Yesterday was Gage's first baseball game of the year. He did really well - and of course made me proud as both of my children always do. Next year he wants to join a more competitive league. He has only ever played for the YMCA. I was hesitant at first to let him do it because of the commitment. After yesterday though - I think that is where he needs to be if he wants to continue to play. No bragging here but he needs to play with kids who are at his skill level and the YMCA just doesn't do it for him anymore!
Ella is still doing gymnastics, although we may take a break on it for the summer. Sometimes I feel like I have to force her to go, and that just takes all the fun out of it for both of us. She loves it once she gets there - it's the getting her there that we struggle with. She really wants to play basketball but alas she is still too young. Maybe next year!
Tomorrow I am doing the 5k for Hog Wild Days, the yearly celebration in Hiawatha and it's LOTS of fun.
After the run, we have the parade! I love parades!! Large or small!!
Bring on the fruity tootsies!!
Sunday we will enjoy the carnival and hopefully it won't be too HOT!!
Monday, June 16, 2008
2008 Flood
I have been wanting to post about the catastrophic flooding Iowa has experienced (and is still dealing with) but I can't seem to find the words to explain the sorrow and loss families and businesses here are experiencing.
Debris collecting on one of the downtown bridges' pedestrian hand rails.
City Hall
We thankfully live far enough away that we were not affected by the rising river water. Our yard was flooded by the rains but with all of the devastation elsewhere, we have no complaints.
While area rivers crested higher than ever seen before, families have lost so much in the fast moving currents rushing through their homes. Businesses in downtown Cedar Rapids have lost so much as well. I don't know when our community will recover.
My heart goes out to all who have been affected in any way.
Here are some photos from http://www.gazetteonline.com/:
Above is a photo of the public library on the upper right and the Science Station on the lower left, two places we cherish and have spent many hours at.
Debris collecting on one of the downtown bridges' pedestrian hand rails.City Hall
Two firefighters making their way under interstate 380 on 2nd Ave.
Some 'after' pictures:
Above is the inside of a downtown business - what is left of it.
Please send your thoughts and prayers to the victims of this flood.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Relationships
Summer has arrived and we are already busier than ever. I have a calendar/date book thingy now a days and it has really come in handy. I don't know how I managed without it before. A friend of mine uses the calendar on her phone religiously. But she has a nice phone. She has a really nice phone.
I'm not ready to have that close of a relationship with my cell phone yet. I love all of the new features cell phones have these days (like I am soooo old) but getting to know them, for me, can be overly time consuming. I don't even text message really. That however is not the point I am slowly trying to get at today.
I have MUCH more vacation to take this year (thanks PAETEC) and I am so excited to use most of it up this summer. I will be going on field trips with Gage and Ella, camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, relaxing, running, gardening, water parkin', canoeing, and more - and NOT just on the weekends!! Woo Hoo! I love summer.
I also love the warm months because we get together more with family and friends. What better a way to gather than a picnic or barbecue or camping? That brings me to what this post was really all about.
My beautiful cousin Sarah and her husband Jeremy are having a baby this summer. I can't wait to meet her (the baby of course). I am hoping this summer I will get to. No rush on coming for an Iowa visit though OK? I know you will be busy. And of course you will want time of your own with your own (new) family of three. But rush if you want to. I mean...we won't mind ya know......if you wanted to.
Really though, all jokes aside they are going to be great parents and I'm sure they will come when they are good and ready.
Speaking of love and babies and such........
Gage's class, for Science this year raised butterflies from caterpillars. They patiently and excitedly waited for the little caterpillars to make their chrysalis. Then wondrously watched while they slowly and steadily emerged into the same world they started but as a new creature - the butterfly. It's amazing how that re-creation takes place. In fact, as they were letting the butterflies go off into a new world of flying that awaited them Gage learned another lesson.
Well sorta.
He told me over dinner last night that as he was letting his butterflies go with his friends at school he had not one but 2 butterflies land on his hand.
"The funny thing", Gage says, "is that they were stuck together." Hmmmm
He asked his teacher what was happening. And her reply without a blink of the eye I'm sure: "They're mating".
"Oh, mating" I say. "Did you ask her what that meant?"
"Yes", he says with a disgusted look on his face. Oh boy I am thinking. Where is this conversation going to lead us.
"And?" from me waiting to be shocked at what my eight year old may already know.
"Well", he starts, "it means they were getting married right on my hand!" And he says this with a stabbing yet frightened voice.
"Oh getting married?" I say "Well what is so gross about that?" And at this point I don't know if I should go into more detail, or let it be. I decide for now at least (I mean he is only eight years old) to just let it be.
Then the answer from my beautiful innocent boy as to what is gross about this marriage taking place on his hand:
"When butterflies get married, they stick their butts together!" He says this with his face crinkled up like a baby bulldog and his hand around his neck all while he mimics that he may just choking to his death.
All I can say is "Wow, you sure learned a lot in Science this year". My laughter was bubbling up from the depths of my inner being and I managed to hold it in. He raced out of the room, obviously done talking about mating and marriage for now.
And I don't mind. In fact, I don't mind at all.
I'm not ready to have that close of a relationship with my cell phone yet. I love all of the new features cell phones have these days (like I am soooo old) but getting to know them, for me, can be overly time consuming. I don't even text message really. That however is not the point I am slowly trying to get at today.
I have MUCH more vacation to take this year (thanks PAETEC) and I am so excited to use most of it up this summer. I will be going on field trips with Gage and Ella, camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, relaxing, running, gardening, water parkin', canoeing, and more - and NOT just on the weekends!! Woo Hoo! I love summer.
I also love the warm months because we get together more with family and friends. What better a way to gather than a picnic or barbecue or camping? That brings me to what this post was really all about.
My beautiful cousin Sarah and her husband Jeremy are having a baby this summer. I can't wait to meet her (the baby of course). I am hoping this summer I will get to. No rush on coming for an Iowa visit though OK? I know you will be busy. And of course you will want time of your own with your own (new) family of three. But rush if you want to. I mean...we won't mind ya know......if you wanted to.
Really though, all jokes aside they are going to be great parents and I'm sure they will come when they are good and ready.
Speaking of love and babies and such........
Gage's class, for Science this year raised butterflies from caterpillars. They patiently and excitedly waited for the little caterpillars to make their chrysalis. Then wondrously watched while they slowly and steadily emerged into the same world they started but as a new creature - the butterfly. It's amazing how that re-creation takes place. In fact, as they were letting the butterflies go off into a new world of flying that awaited them Gage learned another lesson.
Well sorta.
He told me over dinner last night that as he was letting his butterflies go with his friends at school he had not one but 2 butterflies land on his hand.
"The funny thing", Gage says, "is that they were stuck together." Hmmmm
He asked his teacher what was happening. And her reply without a blink of the eye I'm sure: "They're mating".
"Oh, mating" I say. "Did you ask her what that meant?"
"Yes", he says with a disgusted look on his face. Oh boy I am thinking. Where is this conversation going to lead us.
"And?" from me waiting to be shocked at what my eight year old may already know.
"Well", he starts, "it means they were getting married right on my hand!" And he says this with a stabbing yet frightened voice.
"Oh getting married?" I say "Well what is so gross about that?" And at this point I don't know if I should go into more detail, or let it be. I decide for now at least (I mean he is only eight years old) to just let it be.
Then the answer from my beautiful innocent boy as to what is gross about this marriage taking place on his hand:
"When butterflies get married, they stick their butts together!" He says this with his face crinkled up like a baby bulldog and his hand around his neck all while he mimics that he may just choking to his death.
All I can say is "Wow, you sure learned a lot in Science this year". My laughter was bubbling up from the depths of my inner being and I managed to hold it in. He raced out of the room, obviously done talking about mating and marriage for now.
And I don't mind. In fact, I don't mind at all.
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