fairy days

My friend Karen pointed me to Carolee's Herb Farm and their Fairy Days event.

I still haven't adjusted to the Midwestern version of spring. I'm used to the season coming to stay in March, with humidity and dogwood blossoms and snow comes short behind. Here, spring teases and retreats, rains and blows- this week our tulips finally opened, and this week I also wore a down jacket through a wintry mix of precipitation.

But today is lovely, calm and blue and warm.

See the fairy house?

tobogganing

When this snow fell, it was just too cold to go out.

Single digit cold.

Almost no degrees outside.

And both my kiddos have spent the week coughing and dripping and rashing and night-waking.

But today warmed up a bit. We said we'd go sledding.

Rosie said, "But let's call it tobogganing."

Tobogganing.

october

Sixty-two degrees, fire, stars, friends, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate.

meatless monday: corn chowder

No pictures, but last night we had vegan corn chowder (with rice milk, not soy), cold asparagus salad, and shortcake with strawberries. I've made this corn chowder a few times now, and what I like most about it is that the broth is very peppery and garlicky. As for the salad, last summer I had a delicious asparagus salad: this one from Rachel Ray was NOT it. But I can't find the recipe. Any suggestions?

With corn, asparagus, and strawberries, it was like a spring celebration... except that it was cloudy and in the forties.

the due date

Last time I went into labor on my due date. Sure, Rosie wasn't born for three more days, but in my memory it's more like one neverending day, so I don't feel like she was late.

Did you know that only 5% of babies are born on their due dates? But 80% are born within two weeks of their due dates.

Today is Owen's due date. I've had so many more aches and pains with the third trimester of this pregnancy than I did with Rosie (with Rosie, there was really nothing but swollen hands and feet) that I thought for sure Owen would be earlier than she was.

But, here I am, waiting, nothing but a few Braxton Hicks contractions going on for the past week.

Jack's mom got here on Thursday. It's so nice having someone else to help entertain Rosie, pick her up and down, and help me keep the house somewhat clean.

Thunderstorms all day today. I made deep dish brownies and went walking in the mall. I've been walking every day.

Meatless Monday was a repeat for us: spicy soba noodles. Tasty. Maybe the little bit of Korean chili paste that was in it will kick things into gear. I hope so.

(And, PS, I'm a little behind on 12 in 12. My third book is Mark Twain's Autobiography, and while it's interesting and amusing, it's not exactly compelling. Plus, it's an enormous hardback, and it's too much to curl up with comfortably.)

i hesitate to call this spring break

We didn't go anywhere -- you can't, when your due date looms -- and there is a fifty percent chance of snow tonight. It doesn't feel like spring. (Actually, as Jack said yesterday, spring break here felt like Christmas break in the south.)

But it was a break, and that was nice.

At the beginning of the week we had some sunny and fifty degree days, and I (probably prematurely) planted lettuces and peas and carrots. I can always plant again in a week or two if they die in a frost tonight.

For meatless monday, since Jack had missed them, I reprised last week's spinach pancakes, this time with some delicious Indian rice on the side.

We went to the Indiana Museum of Art for the first time, and we ate cajun food at Yats.



We took a few longs walks, one to the park and one around the indoor track at Taylor, hoping to get Owen moving.

I saw the doctor, and she said, "Oh, by the way, I'll be on vacation with my family from April 1-8." Doesn't it seem that, since my due date is April 4, she might have mentioned that a little earlier? Especially since I chose her and her hospital because they do water births, and the doctors who will cover for her that week are NOT comfortable with water birth? Que sera sera.

I finished sewing a summer skirt for Rosie. I started it last week while Mimi was here, so that I could have hands on help with my first attempt at gathering, and it was from a tutorial that I probably bookmarked a year ago. Maybe I'll give it to Rosie when we come home from the hospital. She'll need some special attention, I'm sure.


And we must have done more than that, but I honestly can't remember. Today we went with some friends to the winter farmer's market in Indy, and then to some shops on Mass Ave and lunch at Bazbeaux. We have needed to be introduced to places like these!



Last night I think I had dreams that I was having contractions. But I wasn't, when I woke up. Jack's mom will be here on Thursday, so we might as well wait until then. Owen's due date shows up in the 10 day weather forecast now. If he waits until April, it will warm up a little for him.

meatless monday: broccoli with cashews

This year, broccoli with cashews has been one of our favorite side dishes. Tonight we decided to make it the main event by adding some lightly fried tofu and serving it over steamed rice. It was totally satisfying. (If you make it, I suggest toasting the cashews for 8-10 minutes at 375 before adding them to the sauce.)


Jack has just gotten over a sinus infection, and I have just come down with one. Rose slept for three and a half hours this afternoon, and I suspect she may be fighting off a little something herself. The snow and ice are back. And I miss NyQuil.

meatless monday: chard and white bean soup

A fairly simple, hearty meal. We ate it as Deb suggested, with toast and a poached egg.


It seemed like the right thing to do as the ice and snow headed our way. Here's hoping we still have power when we wake up tomorrow!