Fat Biscuit

Raspberry Scone Day

School is back on and so is my more tranquil schedule. Unfortunately, Owen doesn't find his going to first grade every day as tranquil as I do, but he is managing. This morning, for instance, after a few minutes of yet again trying to convince me that watching television before school is not only more fun but also fair and just, because other kids get to, he settled down and listened to a Hank Zipzer audiobook. Then he ate two pieces of french toast and drank some orange juice. This counts as a good morning. He wasn't thrilled to be going to school but once he was at the bus stop, he perked up. 

First grade, after all, is a bit more challenging. Owen has a math worksheet to do every day, and soon we'll start getting reading homework as well. Every day, his behaviour chart comes home, which I then have to sign. If he forgets to get his chart signed, he gets demoted to a green day (purple is perfect) the following day. Twice a week, the kids get a visit from the Spanish teacher, who tosses a little Espanol their way, and in the next week or so Owen should start back with his speech teacher twice a week. Wednesday after school we drive straight to the recreation center for Owen's private swim lesson. Starting next Monday, Owen will go to an after-school sports class for an hour. In our household, this counts as a busy schedule, though it is NOTHING compared to the crazy weeks some of his peers have. (Note judgmental tone.)

This year I've started to volunteer regularly at Owen's school library in addition to my mini-stint at the regional branch. (Book dork!) The school "media assistant" (as she is formerly known) wants me to be able to sub for her if she needs to miss work. That means learning how to do circulation. More importantly, it means interacting with kids in a friendly yet firm manner. That's harder for me. 

This week also marks my third back at a decent running schedule. I'm motivated by races, so I've registered for the Run Like a Girl 8K in Richmond in mid-October. This is also a great excuse to spend time with K and A in Richmond.

Now I'm off to the farmers' market, where I can buy my favourite raspberry scone and, if I'm feeling virtuous, a vegetable or two . . . 

Immune System of a Thirty-Three-Year Old

That cold tried to wrestle me to the ground, but I fought back (or at least my body did), so I was not still ill on my Birthday. Yeah, body! 

I'm tapping this on my MacBook from my little kitchen: I've got fish sticks in the oven, Heinz beans (British style) ready, and salads prepped. Most importantly, I've got my Magic Hat #9. Owen just interrupted me to ask for something to eat; he typically does this 20 minutes before dinner. Perhaps an indication that I should make dinner earlier?

This Saturday was the best Birthday I've had in ages. Mum and Tay's parents were here, I had a cake with my name on it, and I went out for dinner with Tay, K, and L. Dinner here was fabulous, even though we had to wait 40 minutes for a table, forcing us to have drinks at the bar beforehand.

Today Taylor did a lot of yardwork and I did a lot of Owen tending. Specifically, I played many rounds of hide-and-seek with Owen and his neighbour friend, R, and then played grunt to Owen's general in a highly strategic, potato-gun-enhanced Army battle. 

Owen climbed many trees and had another biking session, again with R. He has a happy life; only 20 more years before he appreciates it.

Cat . . . Maybe?

We're so close to getting a new cat. We visited a local shelter on Sunday and left having put one cat "on hold." The shelter now needs to call our former veterinarian and make sure we are decent pet-owners. Hopefully, by Thursday we will get a call saying we can pick up Reese. Reese is the cat, obviously. We had originally planned on getting a couple of young siblings (2 yrs.) that we spotted on the shelter's Web site. However, when we saw those two in person, they seemed terribly scared. Reese (4 yrs.), on the other hand, came up to us several times and seemed much more laid back (just like her future owners, cough). Isn't it sad that when you're discussing cats, a mere "came up to us" feels really playful and extroverted? 

Owen can't wait to get Reese. I can't wait to buy a lime green cat collar for her. 

Pancakes and Scarves and Boy Briefs in Pink

It's trying to snow outside, but it's not going to amount to much. I go out and buy a summer scarf, and the spring weather steps back and a series of chilly, drizzly days follow. Regardless, Taylor and I are making the switch to a spring-like dinner menu: most dinners are composed mainly of a large salad. Last night, though, we whooped it up and had a pancake dinner (with blueberries thrown in to make it "healthier," like that's possible). 

Yesterday, I bought a floor cushion from the Orla Kiely for Target line, placed it on the floor in front of the kitchen sink, and then promptly tossed the old red rug in the washing machine. (I'll probably donate the rug, but either way it needed a clean.) I didn't check the washing instructions, but this rug was hand-wash only, which I realized as soon as I opened the washing machine. 

Now Owen has a couple pink pieces to add to his spring wardrobe: a pair of boys' briefs in a subtle rose wash and a hooded skateboard tee, with the hood in a lovely strawberry hue. He'll kill me. He loves that skateboard shirt. I might just hide it and hope he forgets it ever existed. 

I visited a friend a couple days ago, and when it was time for me to drive home, I gave her a hug goodbye. And that got me thinking, How many "hug friends" do I have?  I suppose for some people, every friend is a "hug friend." Not me, though I've gotten more huggy in my old age. How many "hug friends" do you have?

Roll Over, Roll Over

Last weekend we were in Richmond, babysitting Ben while K and A were in the hospital having their new baby boy. Owen was genuinely helpful the entire time. He's decided that he wants to be Ben's big brother, or rather, his "pretend big brother." It's strange for Owen to feel this much affection for another kid, let alone a 2-year old, and I've considered the reasons for this particular bond. I think Ben not having an older brother makes Owen more fascinating: everything Owen does is cool. On Owen's part, he relishes this attention and enjoys protecting and taking care of Ben. Those two have also had a lot of one-on-one time; maybe they can just tell that their daddies are best friends so they had damn well better get along!

At bedtime, Owen insisted on sleeping with Ben, so we three piled into K and A's bed (sorry, guys) to read our book and fall asleep. Then I sang "Show Me The Way to Go Home" until they both drifted off. Shortly after that, I heard a loud bang, like a gun shot. Blue flashing lights appeared in the bedroom window, so I got up to peek out. Two cars had collided in front of K and A's house, and a couple cop cars were there to sort it out. I imagine at least one of the driver's was drunk. It took forever to get the accident cleared away, and at some point I fell asleep. 

Early the next morning, A arrived to say hello and to take us to the hospital to visit K and the new baby. Pretty perfect weekend, actually.

Soap Nuts

Don't worry. You can't die from Soap Nuts. These little guys are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree and can be used as a natural laundry soap. I was given a box of Maggie's Soap Nuts for Christmas from LB, and I just got around to trying them out ($9.99 for 16-20 loads 4.5 oz box). The suds were minimal, which I guess is a good thing, and my clothes came out odor-free, which would appeal to my spouse, the fragrance Nazi Fascist. Although I would love every load of clean clothes to absolutely reek of scenty scentness (don't look those words up in the dictionary), Taylor seems to have a problem with a perfumed wardrobe and has requested that our detergent be as mild as possible. So, bring on the soap nuts! 

Using this uber-hippy product requires that you throw a couple "nuts" into the included cotton sack and drop it in with the laundry. There was no mention on the package about whether these can be used as successfully with front-loading high-efficiency machines, but I don't see why not. Of course, I can barely wrap my mind around where the food scraps go after being shredded by the sink disposal, so perhaps I'm not the one to ask.