Maggie made it.

So I'm still excited by the prospect of homemade poptarts, but it's so hot and muggy today. A perfect day for...


Homemade canteloupe ice! Maggie made it. Really. Easy enough that a five-year old can do it (with the assistance of a bigger person and an ice cream ball.)
Here's the recipe:
2 c. canteloupe
1/2 c. sugar
1c. water
(you could also add herbs, like lavendar, basil or thyme...)

Combine everything in the blender and whip until very smooth. Chill for about an hour.

Make the ice following directions for your ice cream maker. I'll totally plug the ice cream ball here (http://www.icecreamrevolution.com). After filling the canister with the canteloupe mixture and the the other part with ice and rock salt, Maggie and I rolled ours back and forth for 10 minutes. Perfection. And even her big brother agrees, so you know it's good.
You know what would make it really good (in a grownup way)? Some port. That would be awesome.

-- Posted from the iPhone of Awesome

Smitten Kitchen Wants Me to Die Happy

http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/homemade-pop-tarts/


-- Posted from the iPhone of Awesome

My new favorite website

I visit the Craftzine site every day (honestly, more than once a day -- it is that good.) Today, they had a great post about Agence eureka, a site devoted to vintage graphic stuff. It's great inspiration for anyone who loves the art of craft.

What I learned from Michael J. Fox this morning

"Our happiness is in direct proportion to acceptance and inverse proportion to expectation."

I already believe that (some say to a fault), but Mr. Fox put it so eloquently. He has a book coming out soon (I didn't catch its name) and I intend to read it.

There's a total chick in our house.

She's five and very in touch with her emotions.


For example, pissed that she's not allowed to bring teeny tiny plastic dogs and cats to the park.
I told her that her face would freeze that way if she didn't stop, but that had little to no effect.

Also, I've just been informed that I'm "the meanest mommy a girl could ever hope for." That's another way of saying "I love you and you're totally awesome, Mom. AND I'm going to do what you say because you are so very smart." That's what I caught, anyhow.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Happy Easter.

Cherry blossoms

Day 2 of spring break was a trip down to the (insanely) crowded Mall to see the cherry blossoms...


I don't remember so many people in years past, and I admit to feeling a liitle proprietary (local vs. tourist, silly really.) Could be the amazing weather and Good Friday. Anyhow, the Cherry Blossom Festival is in full...ummm...bloom (ugh).

There were bands. Paul and Maggie drew in their journals (me too) and we hung out behind the Lincoln Memorial for a bit before walking a long, long, long way to meet Charles at the 17th & Penn McDonald's, aka the Bill Clinton MickeyD. I understand the appeal of proximity (across the street from the White House) but gee, that's a bad franchise. Unfortunately, it's the only way I could bribe the kids to keep walking and I was desperate.

We tortured the kids with more walking and a metro ride home before the final payout: root beer floats.

Honestly, we all deserved that. And probably some hard liquor and a massage.

-- Posted from the iPhone of Awesome