Notes from the week

~Arms by their sides, fingers splayed in “jazz-hands” fashion, their hips sway from side to side as they hurry across the floor. Backs arched slightly to keep from tumbling forward as they pick up speed, they squeal with delight playing chase and hide and seek.

~The floors had dried enough for the kids to come out and run around. Each with their sippy, they come thru the gate to the kitchen and chase each other (and the dog) around the living room. Soon Gabe comes back to the kitchen, big smile on his face, toting both sippys. I go back to washing dishes and hear him giggling. Then I hear a *clack, clack* pause *clack, clack, clack.* I know that sound. It’s the sound the valve of the sippy makes when it’s fallen into the cup that’s being shaken violently. Sure enough, rain showers of milk were falling all over the walls and freshly mopped floors. Grumbling to myself, I set about wiping up as Addie rounds the corner and stops to survey the scene. I look up and see her standing straight as an arrow, arms pointed fiercely downwards and eyebrows arched to their highest. “As long as you’re in cleaning mode…” she seems to say. Deposit made. I could only laugh.

~Walking home last night after a trip to the park in our neighborhood Addie has her first temper tantrum. This child will not hold your hand when she’s walking unless she’s nervous or on uneven ground. After several unsuccessful attempts to guide her back to the house I decide to cut her off. Instead of walking beside her hoping she’ll follow me, I dart in front of the driveway she’s heading towards to block her path. That’s when she’d had enough of not being able to go where she chose. She abruptly plopped down on the street and started wailing. Oh, this child can wail, too. Deciding enough was enough, I scooped her up and carried her wriggling, and kicking back home. *shew* Thank goodness that’s over! Heh, yeah right. Payback’s a comin’!

The Cabaniss Clan

Welcome home

I had been worried that after our week long trip we would come home to tomato plants that were dead, dried up, toppled over, or something equally depressing.
Imagine my delight when we were able to not only salvage many of the perfectly ripe tomatoes, but had enough to make almost a gallon of Steve's fresh salsa. These are a mix of Jet Star and Big Boy hybrids; large, firm, and much meatier than those you would find in the grocery store. I had wanted to grow some heirloom variety, but in a pinch Lowe's seed racks came through just fine.

The salsa is wonderful, made with vidalia onions, jalapenos, and plenty of garlic. Our collection of canned foods is growing, you can see the jars of bread and butter pickles I made a few weeks ago. The recipe is from Rhonda Jean at Down To Earth and is terrificly spicy and crunchy. I eat these right out of the jar or as a complement to a meal; it seems almost a shame to put them in sandwiches. ;) They're not as sweet as the ones found in the supermarket but I like them especially for that reason. Unfortunately our cucumber plants did not survive the trip so this was the last batch I was able to make with homegrown cucumbers. Oh well, 8 pints should last a while anyway, and there's always next year....

Blueberry Buckle

Now this is the way to start your day!
You can find the recipe here.

Hacking away the unessential

"Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life,and the labors of life reduce themselves." - Edwin Teale

Between routine baby and house care I'm spending time here, today.

I've never been one to take naturally to order and organizing but I'm figuring it out. I've been able to get a handle on the clutter on the lower level of our house but the upstairs provides more of a challenge. More specifically, the spare room. You know, the room that you would never show to guests let alone spend any worthwhile time in yourself. This room has become, in essence, a huge junk drawer; everything that we need but don't have a home for and is too big to stuff in a closet. It's the way-station for items on their way to and from the attic. The home of "I'll get back to that later" projects and paperwork. Boxes and furniture to go to Goodwill line the walls and spare cables and wires snake their way across the floor.

Perhaps it's the annoyance of not being able to reach the items I have somehow managed to store b/c of all the junk the in way of them, or perhaps it's that my sister is coming to stay the night on Friday (heh.) But enough is enough. Starting today and working slowly to not burn out, I'm de-cluttering bits at a time. It will take time and it will be tedious, but it will be so worth it. Just imagining, a room without a walking path... now wouldn't that be a thing to behold!