So, when you take a photo of your kid cuz you want to remember the moment, is it really called documenting? Oh, well. I don't care. Whenever Analeasa has a particularly memorable moment and I remember to (rarely) I like to store it somehow, and who doesn't? We used to use the mini cassette recorder a lot for that since she started babbling and since we don't have a video recorder. And then there's all the quotes notes floating around somewhere that I'd like to end up all in a book. I suppose this will do for now. At least it's written somewhere.
My little girl (Child, as she likes to be called) thinks that "mother looks like a goat when she wears her hair like that." I'm not sure if the barely long enough to fit into a band pony tails on either side of my head (well actually in the bottom on the back) are the horns or the ears to her. But then she told me the other day after her second viewing of "the Marnia movie " (it's too cute to correct) that I looked like "Mr. Tummy". She (we, too) will be calling the goat/man that well after she can read the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. "He said, My name is Mr. Tumnus, but I call him Mr. Tummy." Oh, and he is the star of the show. She connected with him immediately and I'm sure if she was a little bit older, she'd have his poster on her wall. She is too cute, and really loves to see real friends togther. Softy inside.
Well, I'd be smart to go to bed now.
Wow, what a weekend. I'm kinda worn out, but the great thing is that my little strawberry queen got to taste the real strawberry shortcake (or my version) for the first time. She is so cute. Wish I'd gotten a picture of her all covered with red stains.
Friday we all spend the afternoon (Analeasa spent the morning trying not to bother mother while she was sick) getting all ready to have pictures "made" of the house for the realtor. That was way too much work for a 15 min photo shoot, but only because I was sick. If the pictures are as good as they looked on a 1 1/2" screen, I'l think it was worth it.
Saturday we all packed up early and went to "the farm". One of the local farmers grows strawberries too and we went to pick our own. Never thought it would take so little time to get so many and that it would take so much time to "put up" that many. After about an hour of bending and trying to "crawl" without hurting my back and chasing Analeasa around a bit, we went and weighed the sweet, juicy, aromatic rubies and the farmer's wife was SHOCKED. What are you going to do with all those? 52 pounds of the best berries we've ever had!
What are we going to do with all those? Everyone suggests jam, but I think that'd be such a waste of good stuff. Why cover up that wonderful flavor with sugar and gel? I'd rather make something with it that complements it and brings out what I crave in those expensive little morsels.
So, we now have a freezer full of them (Yeah!!) and I'm going to be making a lot of smoothies and shortcakes, Devonshires (thanks to the Tacoma club), and my favorite, Gelati. Strawberry Lemon Gelato with creme fraiche is the best treat in the summer (or if you are me, anytime). My only concern is, as I seem to with all things I love, I might develop an intolerance. Oh, that would be just my luck. But in that case I'll just get to make more of the things that I love for all the people I love.
Analeasa thinks strawberry shortcake is the bomb. I mean the TCFC character. I prefer the old 80's original (as I do with most things) as opposed to the modern slightly punkified, politically correct version, but I still think she's cute. I just remember loving to smell the lemon doll and chew on the blueberry muffin's hat. Oh, and their cute tights and shoes. If I was a fanatic, I'd probably be on E-bay right now paying our mortgage to get yet another collector's doll.
Ok, I am quite a rambler. We really did have a grand time despite the illness, slightly chilly weather (could have been way too hot and sunny, so I'm actually considering that one a real blessing) and long drive.
It's too late for all this, Think I'll just go get a few and go to bed.
2006 Menu
Bellini
Champagne/Wine
Devilled Eggs w/capers & onions
antipasto consociate
Italian Sourdough Bread w/European style butter
Grapefruit & Avocado Salad w/Ginger-lime dressing
Herbed Roast Leg of Lamb
Mint Aoli
Apricot Compote/Chutney
Parteggiare il Piatto
Patate Lani
Asparagus & Carrots w/scallions & vermouth
Coffee
Pastiera Napoletana
Torta di Mandorla
Gelati
It was fantastic. Services all Holy Week. Had our closest friends over and had a blast. The Italian-inspired feast was sanwiched by two wonderful Resurrection worship services. Not a lot of "rest" for the kitchen staff, but well worth the work.
Can't wait to do it again next year.
Hey there. This is the long lost first NSA blogger. I see that there are a few who have blogs with no entries--sounds familiar. I just wanted to give everyone a grand hello and I hope to be on here more often.
A taste of things to come. We are listing our house as soon as we get the photo shoot done--tomorrow, hopefully. It's really about time, but I know that most of you don't even have a clue what the big deal about that is nor have you been able to experience our house in any stage of (dis)repair. So, we'll update you all as to the details and hopefully be able to get a virtual tour on here for you to see what all my life (and a lot of Levi's, and even some of Analeasa's) has been sucked into for the past four years. Won't that be nice?
Also, you ought to get some idea of how we are doing or at least what we are doing out here in warm, sunny Chattanooga. Again, I'll try really hard to keep up with all that. May not be very complete as I will be still working on finishing the details, showing the house and packing, etc. If anyone has any ideas on a place to move not too far from town with land (2+ acres) we'd love to hear them.
Cheers