Sewing Again
See there, wasn't that little title helpful? Now you know to go elsewhere if you really don't want to read about my little upcoming project. If you don't, I really can't say that I'd blame you.

And, when I say that this project is little, I mean it. It is a skirt. Skirts, by the way, are like the easiest thing to sew. You can literally make one in like 2 or 3 hours and that includes time for breaks or for watching your kids play/settle disputes/make lunch/read a few blogs/etc. This is especially the case when the skirt to be made will look something like this one from Garnet Hill. Because, not only is the pattern easy, the fabric is wrinkly gauze, which means that no ironing will go on during the construction which then means that you have much less to do -- since we all know that half of sewing is ironing.

I'm going to get things picked up around here so that I can start on my project later. Sally forth, y'all, and have a wonderful Friday.

What to Cook?
I don't know about y'all, but the approaching summer makes me wonder what I should cook. I know, I know, of all times of the year to hit a cooking roadblock....but it always happens. I guess that I sort of enjoy fall and winter cooking and baking better than summer cooking and therefore make more of an effort. Summer....it's hot outside, the children are starving, there are picky people here, and, did I mention that it's hot? So, when I saw this page linked on another blog, I knew that I had to mention it here. Summer Express: 101 Meals Ready in 10 Minutes or Less was in the New York Times last summer. Check it out. Is is doable for a family of 6? Probably not some of these recipes, and certainly not in the time limit. But I read it and it sort of expanded my thoughts about summer cooking, anyway.

Perhaps there is some hope for us and we won't have sandwiches everyday, after all.

Another cooking resource that I always enjoy reading and almost always using for recipes is the Cook's Illustrated Free Email Newsletter. It comes every other week and is always full of their most popular recipes. Also, it always features a seasonal or holiday menu and usually has product or appliance reviews, as well. I've made so many successful recipes from this newsletter. Try it for awhile and see if you like it. You have nothing to lose since it's FREE.

Now, what have y'all been cooking lately?

Swell Season
Jon and I went to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova last night. It was fun.

Those Irish are such a chatty lot. Both the opening band and, of course, the main act were led by Irish folks and they all talked a lot about the songs and their meanings, etc. This could have been kind of frustrating, especially if the artists took themselves too seriously and were too lengthy in their descriptions/ruminations. But they weren't like that, especially Glen. He has a good sense of humor along with sort of an artistic interpretation of things. His ramblings were all quite entertaining.

One of the funniest things he said during the concert was when he noticed that there was an elderly lady in the audience. He apologized for singling her out and begged her pardon for some of his language, hoping that it wasn't offensive to her. Her daughter yelled back that the lady was half-Irish anyway so not to worry. That was a funny exchange.

As far as the music goes....well it was all really enjoyable. But, I have to say, as good as his band is, I liked the songs that he sang by himself best. Of all the songs he sang, I liked the first one, Say It To Me Now, the best of all.

I love to people watch at concerts. And each time we go to a concert -- which is so very, very seldom, I find myself reflecting on past concerts that went to in college and since. I especially found myself doing this last night as Jon and I found ourselves on the floor in front of the stage which is a place that we used to occupy more often say, fifteen years ago than anytime recently. What an old fogey I have become. I really think that sitting down helps me enjoy music so much more. Who would have known there is such a connection between one's hiney and one's ears?

Anyway, it was a nice evening. But the old fogey here is done with concerts for a good long while -- that is, unless Paul Westerberg comes to town.

Did Y'all Feel the Earthquake Today?
I did. Which is odd, since it is the smallest one that we've had lately. Here is a story about it all.

Now I'm going to have that Carole King song stuck in my head today.

More Bragging
but you know, I have to do it when I can.

This time it is about my oldest son. In music class at his school, each child is given the chance to sing aloud, alone, in front of the class. The song is the free choice of the child and the music teacher tapes the performance.

Well, my oldest. He can sing whatever, WHATEVER he wants. And he can sing it eerily, sometimes, exactly as he heard it. For instance, he can do a fantastic Nell Carter song. But that isn't what he chose to do. Actually, I'm shocked that he sang a song loud enough for anyone to hear. Because, even though he sings loudly all the time at home, singing in front of -- or with-- others is just something that he doesn't do.

He must have been feeling confident or something that day because he sang Yackety Yack. He sang it really well. And when he was done, all of his classmates were on their feet, yelling and clapping and shouting for an encore. Typing it out almost makes me mist up. Because it was all so normal. And because he was showing some of the gift that he has been given. Not everyone has that ear. Not everyone has that voice. Almost everyone has normal. Sometimes he gets close.

The Hall of Fame of Handy Men
I'm married to a handy man. I should have begun a list, long ago, of all the things that he has fixed over the years. VCRs, DVD players, computers, the washing machine, the dryer, light fixtures aplenty, garbage disposers, all kinds of plumbing.....the list is long, my friends. There is really no telling the time and worry and money that we have saved by having such a handy fellow around. Of course, I would have married him anyway, but I won't deny that this is a bonus.

Why am I saying all of this? Because he rebuilt the motor on our dishwasher last night. And how did he do it? What magical part did he locate in our house that solved all the problems of the broken dishwasher? Well, it was a wheel bearing from a Powell Peralta skateboard. I would, I'm sure, be even more impressed with this mechanical epiphany that he had, if I could wrap my brain around it at all. He told me that we'd have to tell the grandchildren about this one someday (not that I necessarily think that there might ever be grandchildren in the picture). But that at least clued me in that this was an achievement for one of the handiest of men.

He's pretty much priceless.

When One Has Children Who Need Extra Help...
it is such a bonus that, even though they seem sort of otherworldly, that they also have the demeanor and aura that almost universally inspires people to want to help them -- even love them. I didn't and couldn't have planned this with my sons....but it really helps. My sons cause Mother Hen-itis in other people and I couldn't be more happy that they do.

One IEP down. The folks at their school are great. Thank you, God. Amen.

I Need to Abstain From Crafty Readings
but I just can't. Case in point: Denyse Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects that I got from my local library. I just love everything in it. I mean, I love Denyse Schmidt fabrics and some of her commercially available quilts but had never seen this book before. Check out this cute apron. Or what about this skirt(scroll to pg. 80). Not to mention the beautiful quilts mentioned -- lovely, all of them.

Like I said...I don't need to be thinking crafty thoughts and dreaming crafty dreams....but I just can't help it.

Don't Leave Your Guacamole Unattended....

at least, if you're at my house.

Heaven Help Us
My youngest son told me today that he has a girlfriend. She is in his 4-year-old preschool class. He told me that she has tall legs, blue eyes, blonde hair (wike mine, he says) and the name of Emma.

My oldest son has now discovered that there are br**sts in the world. It is like he has discovered that there are staplers in the world -- that is how straightforward (and totally CLUELESS) he is about it all. The other day I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I'm looking at your br**sts." And then he laughed. Jon and I laughed, too, because the way he said it was hilarious. But a split second after laughing, I felt a sudden deep sense of foreboding. Maybe it's not too late for us to move somewhere remote? I have a feeling that all of this is only going to get harder.

Meanwhile, the two middle boys don't want to know or have anything to do with girls and their visible anatomy. I'm going to count that as a blessing.

His Daddy is So Proud
On Sunday, my youngest son and I went to church with my sister. We enjoyed it. The service was more contemporary than we are used to. Actually, the band started and ended the service with a rousing version of Taking it to the Streets. In the middle of one of the songs, I looked over at my son to see how he was liking the service. Um, yes. I'll say that he was enjoying it immensely. He was dancing to the music and playing air guitar right along with the band. I wish I had that on tape.

Riding in a Van With a Boy
I've been doing a bit of driving lately. This spring has been so beautiful. And, as much as I like sunny spring weather, there is something that I've always loved about seeing the green of spring trees against a grey sky.

Most of the time, when I'm driving, I have my youngest son with me. He is a great traveler -- I think that part of this is due to being the fourth. When one is the fourth, one automatically gets dragged around everywhere. And he is usually happy to go.

Today we were listening to Frog and Toad while we were driving. If you have children or if you buy gifts for children, I highly recommend this CD. All of my boys love the stories. They are read by Arnold Lobel, the author of the books. He has such a relaxing voice that I told E after awhile that I was going to have to listen to something else, or I was going to fall asleep while driving. So I put on one of the mixed CDs that Jon made me. The third song on there was Thanks I Get by Wilco. I guess that I've listened to that song a lot because E immediately started singing along with the song. I told him that he was a great singer and he told me that he knew that he was a great singer.

I love the confidence of 4 year olds.