What a crazy week we had last week!  The Boy turned five,  we went to Disney World, and then had a party.  In the days leading up to his birthday, I was so busy finishing up last minute crafting and packing for our trip that I was completely unprepared for the emotion I would feel [...]

First, please go watch this video.  It is of track star Derek Redmond at the 1992 Summer Olympics.  He was favored to win the 400 meter race, but halfway through the race he tears a hamstring and falls to the track, cringing in pain.  He decides to finish the race as his father pushes his [...]

Here’s this week’s Date Night menu:
Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon
Duck Breasts with Mushrooms
Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Carrots
Fresh Organic Greens with Balsamic Honey Vinaigrette
Lindt Chili Chocolate
My bastardized duck recipe is based on the one in Paula Wolfert’s Cooking of South-West France.  The first time I ever cooked duck it was from this recipe, upon my friend Peter’s recommendation.  The [...]

I remember so well the Jello of my youth.  I loved the stuff.
But I don’t really want to feed my kids what is basically artificially flavored and artificially colored sweetened water.  The Boy came home one day asking if I knew how to make Jello.
Of course I do!
This is a great treat to make with [...]

I’ve spoken before about how much I love our local organic farm.   They’ve had their last stand days until August, and I am going to miss them! I suppose that they are having their off-season since it is so very hot here in the south this time of year.
The soil needs to lie fallow for [...]

Dear Time,
Please slow down.  How did these children get so big?

Life is going by so fast that I hardly have time to catch my breath.
These children, who seek to find joy and happiness in every moment, are my teachers and yet I am so busy that sometimes I don’t pause to notice.

So if you could [...]

Once upon a time many years ago, my mom made homemade pickles.  They blew me away and I’ve been wanting them ever since.  I’ve been on a quest for decent pickles for a while now, to no avail.  Why do the pickles at the store have to have preservatives in them?  Isn’t the fact that [...]

I got lucky at the grocery store, and found lamb chops for $9.99 a pound instead of the usual $19.99 a pound.
Saturday’s Grownup Date Night menu:
Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon
Broiled Lamb Chops with Lemon Zest, Garlic, and Rosemary
Yukon Gold Potatoes with Dill
Broiled Zucchini, Yellow Squash, and Onion
Fresh Organic Greens and Chevre with White Balsamic Fig Vinaigrette
Sauteed [...]

Once upon a time, I had a piece of fabric in my stash.  I loved it so much that I dared not ever cut it.  Every time I went to Joann’s, I looked for it again, and they did not have it. Finally I decided to use it before I fell out of love with [...]

A surprise bike from the thriftshop.
The first lesson:
A father running alongside, never letting go no matter how much his back ached.
A boy, so close to being five and all of the exciting changes that come with it.
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It is scenes like this that make me remember why I’m doing this.