MommyCoddle

I'm giving up caramel

This may just end up being my ugliest, most photographically uninspiring post to date. I'm thinking that maybe I should just give up any caramel-related baking/candy-making in my kitchen. It never goes well.

So I'm working my way through this week's little list of comforting projects with my children. Yesterday's simple project was to make some miniature caramel apples.

Last week, when I was sitting in the doctor's office, I was thumbing through some parenting magazine--Family Fun? Parents? Not sure which. Anyway, I saw this little recipe that showed bite-size caramel apples. I didn't get to read the how-to because I was called in to see my doctor, but I remembered a melon-baller, toothpicks, and melted caramels.

I guess it would have been good to see the directions.

I was feeling pretty confident going in to things yesterday. Even went out and bought myself a melon-baller--something my kitchen was lacking.

I quickly discovered it is nearly impossible--okay, impossible for me--to make a perfect little circular apple bite like I saw in the magazine. As I made apple "chunks" with my melon baller, I had my kids stick toothpicks in all of them. I soon realized that the apples were turning brown too quickly and I hadn't even started melting the caramels bits yet.

So being the quick thinker that I am, I had the girls dip all the apple chunks into lemon juice to hold them off while I melted the caramel. Oh, I'm such a genius....I thought.

I melted the caramels and by this time, I had lost the attention of all my kitchen help and I was left to dip the balls myself. Fine. No biggie, sometimes, I admit, it's easier this way.

I started dipping, only to realize that my children didn't do a very good job of securely pushing the toothpicks into the apples. Before long I was fishing for chunk after chunk of apple in the quickly thickening, extremely hot caramel.

When I set the apples out on the parchment paper, I realized to my horror, that all the caramel was dripping down the sides of the balls, not sticking to the apple chunks at all and pooling all over the paper. And thanks to our generously sloping kitchen floors, was snaking it's way off the parchment paper and almost onto the floor.

Fantastic.

So, then I decided to grab the one apple I had left and jam a popcicle stick into its top and coat it with the remainder of the caramel. I was determined to have some success in this deal. We'd divide up that apple and all share bites of its caramel-y, sweet and sour goodness, or something.

I dipped it in, set it out to harden...and then my kitchen help decided to reappear.

I forgot to mention that when I started this project, I thought it would be yummy to dip the apples in chopped peanuts. So I had a little plate of nuts sitting at the side. Then I changed my mind.

But while I was in the pantry trying to salvage the last of the caramel, my "help" decided to dip (drench) my only successful apple in the nuts. They patted on layer after layer, rolled it, dipped it...only to weigh it down so heavily with nuts that all the caramel sludged off the sides of the apple and puddled around the bottom.

Meanwhile, I was in the pantry desperately trying to figure out something to do with this remaining cup of caramel. Being the caramel genius that I am, I poured the rest out onto a baking sheet and then covered it with granola. It was the only thing I had on hand that I could think to dip into it. And at the moment it seemed like a really yummy combo.

I left it to cool and harden. I thought just maybe I had invented some new candy, some gourmet treat. Not so much. Pretty much just a puddle of chewy caramel with granola floating on the top of it.

So anyway, a good kitchen failure is good for keeping the old ego in check, I suppose. I guess next time I'll just swipe the magazine out of the doctor's office so I can actually follow the directions of someone who apparently has mastered the art of working with caramel. Or I'll just avoid caramel all together and stick to the store-bought, ready-made stuff when I need a fix.

Next up....turnips. Yes, turnips. One of the "perks" of having your husband work with a LOT of farmers? I always get interesting farm-fresh produce left on my kitchen counter.

Strangely, my children are clamoring for me to fix turnips tonight for supper. Something to do with their obsession with Little House on The Prairie, I suppose. Any suggestions? I've heard just cook them up and serve them like mashed potatoes.

I'll be sure to report.

full inclusion

For the past few days Lori has been blogging about how important it is to include the "littles" in your learning. She says "letting your youngest children marinate in this atmosphere of engaged, excited learning is the best way to effortlessly raise relentless learners."

I figured I'd better show her how much Elizabeth likes to marinate in the learning that's going on around here.

good morning

This morning at the breakfast table, Mary asked me, "Mom who do you want to rule? Obama, Jesus, or Dr. Silverman (my OBGYN)?" After we solved that problem, she asked me, "Mom when I grow up will I be a mom, just like you?" Yup, Mary. (no caffeine yet, my answers are bare bones.) "So does that mean you'll die, because there'll be two of us?"

Oh, that girl.

So, good morning. There's so much to say, I don't know where to begin. Your emails this past week have provided more comfort and encouragement than you know. I was overwhelmed by your response. It just reinforced my decision to share all of that with you. Thank you..which doesn't seem like enough, but thank you.

I'm feeling much better today. The past few days I had to take a pill which...ahem, contracts things, if you know what I mean. I was really, really dreading it, and it was stressing me out. And it turned out to be nothing at all---just made me feel a little loopy.

This morning was the first morning that I woke up and really felt completely like myself again. It is a good feeling. I have lots of thing on my to-do list today, but still have the lessons of being still in the back of my mind. I have lots of comforting things planned for our week, some bread baking, some felting, some carving of pumpkins and roasting of seeds.

A few quick, good things before I go--since I'm currently being attacked by a  toddler who wants my lap...

If you hurry, I'm giving away a starter kit of gdiapers over at babycenter. These are the hybrid diaper--an easy middle of the road diaper for those who want to make the switch from disposables to cloth diapers or something greener. I was sent a starter kit to try, and I am since hooked. A total convert. (And those little g pants that go over the liners? Way too cute.) You can read more about my review of them in the post.

These beautiful felted stones are from Lisa of Lilfish studios. I absolutely love them, so does some child in my house who lined them up like this on top of the bookshelf. These stones are responsible for my need to felt something this week. We'll see what we come up with.

Alright...my time is over. Everyone is dressed and booted up, ready to go check on our chickens. We moved them into their real chicken house/coop last night for the first time. We're anxious to see how the ladies liked it.

A new post over at babycenter here--love it if you'd stop by...
More soon, friends.

today

Today, I'm back.

I've been struggling with whether or not I should let you all know what's been going on or just jump back in to normal things. But I guess, since I feel like I'm the kind of person who's pretty open and real in this place, I'd just briefly and gently let you know where I've been.

A few weeks ago, I discovered I was pregnant. I was honestly shocked, but at the same time, we want to have more babes, and you know how quickly you can warm up to the idea--start making plans in your head about who will sleep where, how you'll convince your husband to bring back cable television for the long nights of nursing, how old the baby will be when the baby is born. You know.

But at the same time this pregnancy felt different. I didn't have my usual longing to call up my family and let them know the news. I didn't feel pregnant except for the little white stick in my hand that said so. (Though soon after, I found myself becoming too tired to do the dinner dishes each night.)

However, last week I had a miscarriage.

I'm doing okay. I feel ready to move on. I want to feel some normalcy again, though my body continues to remind me that it's not quite ready.

But today has been better. My best day in awhile.

But you know what? This whole experience has taught me a few things.

First of all, the day the miscarriage began in earnest, I felt flooded with gratitude. Gratitude for my three sweet, healthy, happy children. They are gifts. Gifts that I was taking for granted. I am truly blessed.

Second, there is much to be learned in being still. My children have known where to find me the past several days--tucked under the covers in my bed, under the quilts on a comfortable chair in the living room. They find me, tuck in beside me and talk to me. Secrets. Questions. Stories. And just times of being quiet or napping together. I would have missed these moments if it weren't for all this. And now, I see the importance of being still and available more often.

And above all, I am so grateful for my husband--who knows exactly what to say, what to take care of. Who dropped everything for me, and took care of everything for me. What would I do without him? I can't think of another person I'd rather go through this life with. We've been through our fair share and always come out on the other side better because of it.

On Dan's first day back to work, Mary said to me, "Mommy. Emma and I are going to take such good care of you today. No. We're going to take such good care of you all the way until you're better. Is that nice to say?"

It was perfect, Mary.

Thanks for listening, friends. Looking forward to getting back in the swing of things very soon.

snapshots

This is Tiger. Dan calls him"Soup", I guess in keeping with the food names we have for the other cats, "Orange Juice", "Blueberry"....He showed up on our farm right after we moved in, sneaking in meals with our other kittens. No one has made contact with yet, except for Emma. But he's getting braver and braver, now even coming up to the porch to sleep on the cushions. Lately, he's been sitting outside the kitchen window on a bench. It's right outside where I sit at the kitchen table, writing, cooking. Yesterday, after much contemplation, Tiger and I made contact. A little crab dip on my finger didn't hurt things either.

What we do with the leftover cardboard. I can't tell you how much entertainment this provided. Simple joys.

Trying to do something with the abundance of unknown pears growing in the orchard in the back corner or our farm. They are tough-skinned and hard as rocks. I cored and peeled them, then stewed them in a simple sugar syrup, thanks to some help from The Joy of Cooking. Much better now.

Moments before Emma's pony decided to throw his head forward, again, sending Emma flipping over his head and flopping on to the ground. My friend, Sarah, whose daughter rides in the same lesson, said it was good I didn't see it. Emma tried hard not to cry, but by the time she got back on, tears were streaming down her cheeks. Of course I wanted to jump in there and check on her and rescue her, but I didn't. She went on the trail ride, came back on a different pony, but came back happy. She's a tough little girl.

The swing. The big swing.

Happy Weekend, friends.

eight years

Late Monday evening, I left two notes on the bathroom mirror for Dan, hoping he'd find them Tuesday morning. One was a gushy love note, since it was going to be our eight anniversary that day, the other said, "Don't forget it's trash day." When I saw them again Tuesday morning, I thought that's kinda what married life is like right now--the practical mixed in with the sweet. There's the madhouse of tag-team parenting, farmhouse remodeling and long days, mixed in with sweet moments that remind you why it is you love that person so much.

We exchanged a few gifts--for Dan a wool "working man's" vest and a CD of B-sides for one of our (mostly, his) favorite artists. And he arrived home from work with a huge tree to plant in the yard. Perfection.

And now, for the FOURTH time, this post I've been trying to get off my mind and on to the blog is interrupted. This time by an early nap waker...

more later, friends.

a worthwhile detour

Who knew an impromptu trip to the pet store could work out so well for me?

This morning the girls and I were headed to the library so I could deal with some issues--my last large bag of library books, which I returned last week never showed up as "checked in" on my account. Thankfully, I know which librarian it was--the grumpy one with really strong perfume, I wrote a check to pay my fines, (Yes, I write checks sometimes to pay for our library fines. Just doing what I can to support the local library.) and I knew exactly which books I had returned.

But at some point along the drive, Emma asked if we could please go to the pet store. I get this request several times a week, and I always turn it down. But you know how sometimes, you say no so many times in a row, for no particular reason, that finally, you just have to say yes.

So I did my library business at the drive-in window and we detoured to the much longed-for pet store.

We wandered the aisles. I let the girls stand, faces plastered against all the cages and tanks. I answered questions, I said no to every request for dog treats and cat toys--I left my wallet in the car. And then finally, we left...three red-faced, weeping girls dragging along with me out to the parking lot.

You might be wondering how this could have possibly turned out well for me, but just wait. It gets better.

Elizabeth was crying because I had to peel her pudgy fingers off the cage bars of the gerbils. Emma was crying because she had already named, and grown emotionally invested with one honey-colored hamster, and dear Mary was crying because she just wanted another plecostomus.

At first, I began my mother diatribe about how "I was going to remember this next time they asked to visit the pet store." And, "you have four kittens, six chicks and five guineas to love and take care of at home.", etc. etc. None of it was doing any good. None of it was doing anything to stop the wailing in the back of the car.

But then my wheels started turning. I remembered that I was in the process of establishing a chore system with the girls and thinking about letting them begin to earn an allowance. So we spent the rest of the trip home discussing these new ideas.

I still don't have all the kinks worked out in my system yet, but all the girls heard was DO CHORES + EARN MONEY = BUY THE HAMSTER/PLECOSTOMUS MYSELF!!

The conversation in the car immediately took a turn. From Mary, "Mom I promise I will never make you angry again. Mom. I promise I will always clean up after myself, even when I don't really want to. Mom. What chores do you want me to finish when I get home? Mom. I promise you are the best mom I've ever heard of."

From Emma: "Mom, I'm going to make my bed, clean the whole downstairs, mop the kitchen floor, and clean Elizabeth's room when we get home. How much money do I need to get a hamster? I already have about sixty dollars, I think. (she has maybe, three.) I'm guessing by like next week, no the end of this week, I'll be going back to get my hamster."

We got home and they barreled out of the car. By the time Elizabeth and I got inside, they were tying aprons on each other, talking like Laura and Mary Ingalls, and heading upstairs to make their beds. I just stood back and let the magic happen. They made their beds, picked up laundry and brought it to the washing machine, picked up the bathroom floor, washed the windows in their room. Emma cleaned Elizabeth's room and laid out a diaper and PJs for naps. Mary picked up her toys in the hallway, and even carried things back downstairs to their proper place. (that never happens!)

It was like having a team of merry maids arrive in my home. It was a beautiful, beautiful thing. Brings a tear to my eye. Finally, when they began plans to clean out a closet I pulled back on the reins and brought them back into their room for a talk.

I told them how happy I was, and told them I would work on a system so that we could keep this kind of thing up, and yes, they'd be able to earn a little money in order to save up for their pets. I gave them each fifty cents for their enthusiasm and we called it a day.

I'll let you know when I figure out my system. But for now, I'm still enjoying the post-pet store high. We might just have to go back tomorrow.

a little bit of everything

Can we all hold hands, bow our heads and have a moment of silence together....because I feel the need to commemorate this day. All the laundry in the mommycoddle household is DONE. And folded. And put away. It took much labor, much discovery of things that had been missing since, oh, summer, and the deed is done. One step closer to organization, my friends

And now that all the clothes are clean, I've come to realize that my two oldest children have serious dresser issues. Their "hand-me-down, get by for now" dressers have four small drawers and a cupboard with doors down below. The stuff down below is a massive wad of turtlenecks, bathing suits, wool sweaters and tank tops. Seriously, when I clean their room, I take my foot, shove all the stuff back in the bottom cupboard, slam the door and walk away. So today, we took a trip to IKEA and bought some nice, cheap cloth baskets and got those little dressers all neat and organized. Then Emma had the genius idea to make little pictures on the outside of each drawer/door so they would know what to put inside. The taped-on method is a little wonky, but otherwise I love it. I did Mary's sketches, Emma did her own.

Emily, I was going to call you on the way to IKEA but I knew you'd just finished entertaining/holiday, so I wanted you to relax and not feel the need to rush out and meet us. But we're on for next week.

I met with my new book group last night. (They really wanted to "make" the blog today. Hi girls.) We spent about five minutes talking about the book and rest of the time telling funny stories and laughing so hard, I left with sore abs and achy face muscles.

I just wrote a new post on baby center about getting a chore system in place for the girls. One woman can't be expected to do it all. And I think the magnetic refrigerator grid pad that Joan, from BusyBody Book sent me is going to be just the thing for this. Thank you, Joan.

The guineas have had their own little Independence Day. They are now free to move about the cabin...or yard. And word to the wise, don't forget you left the guineas out after dark. We left them out in the dark for maybe thirty minutes. Bye-bye one poor little guinea. Emma reminds me, "Mom. Life on the farm can be tough." And Mary keeps telling me, "When the guinea's ready, he'll come back." She goes out to the back yard every day and calls to him.

Meanwhile, our six hens have become five hens plus one rooster.

Mary and Elizabeth have runny noses. Could cold season already be here? What do you do to protect your children from the flu during this season?

The girls have been wanting pancakes for breakfast for the last few days. And because I'm not at my culinary peak come morning, I decided to make the pancakes this afternoon. We made a few with cinnamon and chocolate chips "for special", and some plains for Dan, bagged them and tossed them in the fridge for tomorrow morning. Hello? Why haven't I been doing this before??

Thanks for banging through the random thoughts with me.
Happy Thursday, friends.