When I grow up

My kids have a cute lil critter book called "When I Grow Up". I started thinking of a list called “When my kids grow up” (well a little bit more anyway) in the same spirit

I will buy a kayak & have great adventures discovering hidden beaches
I will paint - oils, acrylic, watercolor, anything
I will join the mycology association and become an expert mushroom hunter
I will become a serious rockhounder and uncover treasures around the world
I will go back to school – (I was on schedule to go back this fall and start a nursing program but
baby #3 popped in. Some people can multi manage this but not me. Also my brain turns off alot when I’m pregnant. )
I will have interesting and fun dinner parties.
I will become active in an important environmental group.
I will travel to Spain and Italy.

hmm, what else? How about you? What dreams do you have on hold?

movie night

In a rare turn of events, I actually got to watch a movie of my choice the other night. I had wanted to see a new one called “The Other Boleyn Sister.” I really knew nothing about it except I liked the actors in it (Eric Bana, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson) The movie was great, with very entertaining characters. I loved seeing Portman be a bad girl. Then I found out the whole story, down to nearly every last juicy detail, is real. It is a brief story of Henry VIII, and some of his wives and mistresses. You should see it. It was a shocking history lesson. It makes me want to learn more.

Here are a few movie favorites:

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - a classic packed full of humor. A kid favorite too.

Taming of the Shrew, with Elizabeth Taylor-

Chocolat -- a good message

Hour Of The Wolf - or anything by Swedish Director Ingmar Bergman – he is a little dark and disturbing but I like it

Alfred Hitchcock films – like Rear Window

As you can see, I don’t get to watch many shows. What are some of your all-time favorites?

pregnant nun

My tummy is getting big! I really look like a swallowed a basketball. I started thinking about how to fully take advantage of this shape for Halloween. I have a few costume parties to attend and need to dress up. I dont think I am brave enough to paint my belly and let it hang out like a jack-lantern. Here are a few ideas I have found:
Nun
Cheerleader
Pilsbury Dough Boy
peapod
Bride
santa claus

Any other ideas?

Tickled Pink!

It looks like a baby girl is on her way, set for Valentines day. Perrie is soo excited. She is not liking "brothers" much right now. I am excited too. Owen can always be my mamasboy now. Now to come up with a name we can agree on. hmmm...

Excess

If David had his way, the garden would be nothing but delicata squash and cherry tomatoes. I had to talk him down to 2 cherry tomato plants this year. The problem is they all come on at once and we cant keep up with them. Well I just read about a way to preserve them. I sliced them and put them in my dehydrator (that was gathering dust) for about 24 hrs and whalah! Sun Dried Tomatoes! They have a great flavor, I keep munching on them plain. I am envisioning these in soups, pizzas and casseroles this winter. They are delicious! Do you have a favorite sundried tomato recipe?

The mysterious hybrid

Two years ago I took the kids to a pumpkin farm and bought some of those cute mini pumpkins. I decided to save the seeds and grow them in my garden. (I think they make fun teacher gifts) Last year when we planted the seeds we got half cute mini pumpkins, and half warty gourdy pumpkins. This year we tried again and only got these warty gourdy pumpkins.

This is what I have learned the hard way about hybrid seeds. They are created with two different varieties of plants, a mother and father of different characteristics. The offspring is a perfect blend of the two. However the offspring of the hybrid (the grandchild) is totally unpredictable. It could be characteristics from both grandparents, just one or a complete dud. They want you to keep buying the seeds. Great marketing scam huh?

Now an heirloom seed is a seed that will guarantee the same crop year after year (unless it accidentally crossbreeds but that can be avoided.) These are the seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation and have stayed out of the laboratory. These are self sustaining and hearty. I have heard these terms before but didn’t really understand what they meant. Thought I would pass this info along to any fellow gardens. I for one will not waste my time saving hybrid seeds any longer.

Daddy Daughter Time

I think daddy/daughter time is sooo important. So I was thrilled when David and Perrie went on a overnight backpacking trip a few weekends ago. They went with Dave's brother and his son as well. It was a perfect trip for all. The weather was great, they caught fish to eat for breakfast and there were thousands of little frogs everywhere for the kids to catch. Not to mention the heavenly surrounding. I hope this will become an annual tradition.