Simple Joys

As challenged by my good friend Mrs. M, here is my list of 5 simple joys that don't include husbands and children.

1. My wild card. I have a gift card to a local massage joint that I just found out does reflexology...now to pick a date!
2. Quiet time alone to read a book or do one of my many little craft projects.
3. When the sink is empty of dishes to wash (must get crackin' on this one, to make myself happy ;-) and filling another bag/box with crap we just don't need. Too much, too much! *
4. Planning this year's veggie and herb garden.
5. Girlfriend time.

What's on your list?

* I had to stop myself from listing a bunch of cleaning/organizing things as it's a source of joy and also a huge source of frustration right now.

A taste of the harvest

Nothing tastes better than something you've nurtured and grown on your own land (okay, it's a city lot, but still) that you've put up for the winter in order to have wonderfully delectable Sunday dinners that have all hands crying for more. This makes me want to do The Growing Challenge (brought to my attention by my good friend Hippy Goodwife), which wouldn't be too hard since I only grew beets and beans from seed last year, but I won't cop out and only add the obligatory 1 new item...but I digress.

Today I pulled out pumpkin that I grew this summer, baked and froze for the winter. I also had a package of 4 cheese ravioli. Ah ha! I know what I can make...lazy CzaMama's pumpkin ravioli! I'd never made it before, but the image of it was amazing! Sure I've actually made pumpkin/squash ravioli, and let me tell you, it was divine but really, who has time like that with a toddler?! Not I.

So this was my solution. I melted about 3-4 tbsp butter (I said this was good!) in a medium saucepan, added 1 tsp of homegrown, dried sage, browned the butter and added it to my Cuisinart that already contained the 1.5 lb of thawed pumpkin. I then added a dash of freshly grated nutmeg and about 1/4-1/3 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Completely pureed the pumpkin and while it while it was whirling about I added enough whole milk to make it "saucy," like CzaMama.

I set the sauce on a very low burner, and set to boiling the ravioli (following the package directions). Once the ravioli was cooked, I drained it and tossed in the pumpkin sauce to lightly coat the pillows of loveliness.

Needless to say, CiBaby gobbled up her dinner tonight, which has been a feat lately as she's been pushing a lot away. But this dinner contained her fav 5...cheese, noodles, pumpkin, peas and an apple for dessert.

Nothing says SUCCESS like a bulging belly.

Is that a Baby Ruth in the pool?

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, someone pooped in the pool tonight...and it wasn't CiBaby or me! (We checked CiBaby's swim diaper, and I'll tell you if that poop was able to squeeze out of her skivvies it deserved to be let free!)

"EVERYONE OUT OF THE POOL!" yelled the instructors...uhh okay! It's not like I want to hang around a floating turd. A quick "examination" by the lead instructor (she got a net...no hands, no hands) determined that yes indeed class would be canceled.

On our drive home T-Daddy said to me, "I was wondering if it was her since the poop was swirling around your swimming suit." Oh barf. Did I mention that we blew bubbles in the pool tonight too? Double barf.

Off to have a drink...It's medicinal!

Testing Testing 1-2-3 Testing

Is this thing on?

That's right Ladies and Gentlemen, CiBaby has entered...The Testing Zone.

"There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space… and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition… and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call…" the Toddler Testing Zone.

2 Nights in a Row!

Holy smokes! CiBaby has slept through the night, in her own room, 2 nights in a row. That makes 3 times in 1 week, and all in her room. That beats the 4 months before that when there was only 2 nights where she slept through...I think we're making progress!

Did I mention she's in her own room?! Yep. A little over a week ago I just couldn't take it anymore. She was in bed with us all the time and basically on top of me. Did I also mention that she's a little furnace??? Ugh. For awhile I was thinking that I was going into menopause with the night sweats I was having. With that I put up her blackout shades, moved in the sleep sound machine and night light and voila, she was in her room! She did quite well that night and it's been getting better each night. Of course there have been a few tears, some screaming, temper tantrum throwing and one bloody nose (I have no idea)...but it's progress right?

3/11/07 Pictures of the CiBaby abode!

I still have a shelf and pictures to add above her bed.




This awesome picture was a gift from a dear friend. Not only does it go with CiBaby's room PERFECTLY it also looks so much like her AND the kicker of it is CiBaby became a U.S. citizen in Hawaii!

There are a few things that still need to be done. The couch/daybed is still coming and I need to get crackin' on the curtains before the sun comes up really early.

It's 4706

...do you feel old?

Today we celebrate Chinese New Year, the year of the rat.

How are we going to celebrate? CzaMama is making dinner! We are having Barley and Vegetable Soup, Soy Roast Chicken with Ginger and Spring Onion and Cashew and Chili Fried Rice, all from the Chinatown cookbook, and some Big Bowl egg rolls (from the freezer section ;-). Then after dinner, CzaMama is running away to a Tupperware party (LOL!).

T-Daddy is celebrating at work today, they are having a Chinese New Year celebration, but it's only for employees (boo!).

Along with our celebrating we will try to bring ourselves good luck and keep away the bad luck. I will briefly open the door as it's only 9F degrees today (remember, it's the tundra). It's a good thing I bought new shoes for Saturday's wedding last weekend and that I already have the pants I'm going to wear. Oh shoot, I can't sweep today...darn. Although I don't think I can get away with not cleaning at all...I guess we just won't have as much good luck as possible. It also looks like I can only spruce up my hair as I don't want to wash away my luck.

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. - Chinese Proverb

Happy New Year!

**All of the recipes were absolutely delish!