Canned Laughter

So Friday was the big night. Bear was already gone to rehearsal when I arrived home from work. My parents came to the house an hour early, worried that they would arrive too late. We headed off to the big theater up the way and had a very frightening time getting them up and down the bajillion steps with no railings leading to our seats. I sat next to Bear’s “twin cousin”, the one born just two weeks after him who lived with us for a few a months. They are very close and truthfully, I knew she wouldn’t set off my waterworks like Spouse or Daddy could.

As it was, I only teared a up a couple of times. Mostly I cried because my parents were with us and I know that the chances of both of them being with us when Bunny graduates are slim. It hurts to see them so frail, but I’m glad they were able to make it.

After the festivities we re-grouped here for champagne. The kids were delighted when Spouse made a big show of popping the corks and one flew so hard it knocked a dent in our wall paneling. They suggested we frame the dent as a keepsake of the occasion. I don’t think that’s such a bad idea.

So here’s to that little boy I put on the bus for the first time all those years ago.

On that first day of school I followed your bus and watched from a distance with binoculars! as your aide handed you over to your very first teacher with lots of smiles and hugs. I won’t be able to follow after you on the next step of your journey, but rest assured there will still be plenty of smiles and hugs.

Today is the last day of school. Bear is picking Bunny up at early dismissal and they are going to their favorite sushi joint to celebrate. Tomorrow Bear walks across the stage to collect his high school diploma. One kid down, one to go.

I have a little potluck tonight with girlfriends. I’m not sure what kind of company I’ll be. To say I’m distracted is a bit of an understatement. I’m bringing this pasta salad.

Can you tell I’ve been obsessing on food lately? It’s easier than sobbing constantly over my little baby boy graduating. Yes, after 15 years (including early intervention) of worrying, advocating and coping with red tape, I’m a little freaked out that the happy ending is finally here. I’m proud of him and at a total loss at the same time. How weird is that?

And Bunny! She  made my day yesterday. At dinner she told us how she found a $100 bill outside school. She turned it in immediately, even though she couldn’t help thinking finder’s keepers. That was some temptation for a teenager to overcome. I’m sure there was a very relieved child in the school office thanks to her good judgement. Now I ask you, how’d I get such great kids?

Not going to report on why I’ve been grinning like a fool all day, but if you want to know what we had for lunch, I’m over here today.

I’m giving away Nava Atlas’ funny new mock cookbook, Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife here.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for school to be over. This is the last week for my kids and they are getting harder to wake up and get out of the house on time every day. Today I’m trying a little aromatherapy on them.

This rich-tasting coffee cake is a wonderful eye-opener and a perfect way to jump start kids during these last few days of school. The cinnamon aroma is sure to put smiles on your family’s faces, too. Please pardon the blurry photograph, I’m having camera issues.

Buttery Blueberry Coffee Cake

Batter:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup butter flavor shortening
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• topping

1. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and soda.
2. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.
3. In a small bowl, combine egg and buttermilk; pour wet mixture into the dry and stir. You should have a very thick batter.
4. Turn batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square cake pan, toss in 1/2 cup of blueberries being careful not to stir and break the berries (you don’t want blue colored batter!), and spread to the edges of the pan.
5. Sprinkle with topping and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Topping:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

For more yummy recipes, vist Mouthwatering Mondays from A Southern Fairytale

My morning started with good intentions. I was up and at the computer first thing with the intention of writing the three or four posts I needed to crank out before I’ll be caught up. I thought I’d spend a quick 30 minutes noodling with my template, then get right to it. Six hours and one sidebar crash later, no posts. However, I do have a cute new Twitter button I made myself thank-you-very-much and I love it.

Tomorrow we are going to see the final round of the Colonial. I’m disappointed that no cameras are allowed on the grounds, so I won’t be able to share the sights with you. I’m sure I will have a delightful photo of a sunburn instead.

Now I’m off to slap together a couple dozen sammiches to take to church tomorrow for some sort of shelter. Is it horrible I didn’t ask who I would be making them for? Sometimes I feel like I get so caught up in tasks I forget why I’m doing them. Hrm…perhaps I need to try to be more mindful or I might just miss the good stuff.

Jen on the Edge has conferred the following bloggy bling to me:

This award is given to the writers of blogs that “are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

Thank you Jen!

I’d like to pass this Friend Award on to:

1. Pink Peaks because she is my sister friend and she dreams big.
2. Mz. Nesbit because she makes me laugh like a loon and she has the cleanest family I’ve ever seen.
3. Holly because she is the Picasso of stick figure art and she understands the importance of the Imaginary Line of Death.
4. Dr. Brazen Hussy whose Angry Birds never fail to make me smile.
5. T at Send Chocolate Now! Just be sure to avoid the evil kittens and weasels when visiting her.
6. Jess who is drowning in a sea of hair bows (and secretly loving it).
7. Melissa who is working to be certified as extremely dangerous. You go girl, hi-ya!
8. Rachel who has me desperately seeking an electric picnic table for my next barbecue. By the way, check out her Mouth Watering Mondays blog carnival. I guarantee it will make your stomach growl!

Enjoy your Friend Award ladies!

Remember when I told you how to keep cauliflower from turning grey when cooking? Here’s a similar tip for cooking with mushrooms. There are some dishes with pale translucent sauces and light broths that look much more appetizing with white, rather than brown or grey cooked mushrooms. Think of light sauces like lemon, green or caper Italian sauces or Asian broths. Also? This is a handy trick when canning, too.

For mushrooms that remain white after cooking:

• Clean the mushrooms by placing tham in a bowl of water with the juice of one lemon for 10 minutes.
• Do not leave them in the lemon water bath too long, or they will get soft/soggy/mushy.
• Drain and pat dry with a tea towel before using. The acid in the lemon juice should prevent discoloration.

Easy tips to make dinner look special?  That’s what works for me. For more handy tips, visit We Are THAT Family

It’s Tuesday and I’m back at my desk after three wild days off. Spouse is making something fishy for dinner tonight, Hake? I don’t know, I’ve never had it before, but I’m always up for tasting new things. So after errands, I expect I will have another quiet snuggly evening with the family. This is a very good thing.

Perhaps you are wondering about my little sewing project? I would love to post a picture of my adorable new apron but instead I find I can only post two words: Seam Ripper.

I discovered that I am not only perverse in thinking that I should pull out the sewing machine despite all indications that it is a bad idea, I am also delusional.

When I couldn’t find the straight pins that should have been in my sewing basket, I decided to wing it. I mean really, how difficult is it to sew loose binding tape on a curved edge?

Tonight I stop on my way home from work to pick up pins and a seam ripper (since that was also missing from my sewing basket). I will be making a quick stop at the wine shop on the way, as well. Some supplies should never be missing from a cranky seamstress’ basket.

Forget Memorial Day Weekend. Around here it’s Prom weekend. And oh! Did the boy have a wonderful time! It was his first all-nighter (he stayed at the school lock-in until 5:00, then took a pack of girls out for breakfast), and it was my first all night nail-biter.

During the course of my post prom interrogation wrap-up, I discovered that he went crowd surfing, ate a steak and seafood buffet dinner with three desserts, danced with every girl in his class (including more than one who gave him the eye), was cheered for dressing in pimped out fashion (oh the shoes!), and he has decided he wants to take dance lessons (see above). In other words, The Bear’s Prom was a resounding success and I do believe he will hibernate for the rest of the week.

While he’s hibernating I decided to scratch this itch I’ve had to do some needlework. I looked over an unfinished needlepoint project, but felt like I wanted to do something more practical. I’ve been wanting a few new aprons, so I took a look on Etsy and saw some adorable retro ones. But oi! They were so expensive! I’m sure I can make my own for far less.

I dragged Bunny down to the fabric store to pick up a pattern, and fabric and notions, and when I checked out, my bill was double the price of the most expensive apron on Etsy. Lesson learned. As I was preparing my materials for sewing, I tried to remember why it had been so long since I pulled out the machine. Then I recalled the emergency room visit.

What was I thinking? Why in the world would I put myself through all that again? What could have possibly put a bee in my bonnet to think that I can sew? I racked my brains and came to the conclusion that it is all Badger’s fault. She carried on about what a pill it is to sew a new project, knowing full well that I am perverse and therefore would need to swallow that same pill. I’m telling you, if I wan’t so addicted to her garden porn…

Anyway, this is what I have today. Here’s hoping I have an apron in time for dinner tonight.