annie blog

Birthdays and Other Stuff
This is birthday week here at the Barlows. Two of my boys have very unfortunate birthdays. Why, do you ask, are they so unfortunate? Well, because, not only do they have birthdays that fall just after the New Year and Christmas celebrations but they also occur within 2 days of each other. So, every year, we come home from traveling, take down all the Christmas stuff and immediately put up birthday stuff. My soon-to-be-4-year-old thinks that he has never had a birthday, actually. I think that it may be hard for a young child to separate the celebration for his birthday from the celebrations that have just occurred for the holidays. Who knows?

It has taken quite a bit of effort for me to get back in the groove here after being away for Christmas vacation. We had a really great time visiting everyone and going to the beach. We came home with a van packed full of toys and new clothes. And this is good news. But, when you live in a cottage with 5 other people, bringing in new things creates a bit of difficulty because you basically have to chuck some stuff out to make room for the new. Now, I’m not complaining about the new stuff. I’m just saying. And, it’s not as hard to make room for the new clothes because the old ones just go straight to the donation pile or (in the case with my clothes) right in the trash.

Happy weekend, everybody.

Birthdays and Other Stuff
This is birthday week here at the Barlows. Two of my boys have very unfortunate birthdays. Why, do you ask, are they so unfortunate? Well, because, not only do they have birthdays that fall just after the New Year and Christmas celebrations but they also occur within 2 days of each other. So, every year, we come home from traveling, take down all the Christmas stuff and immediately put up birthday stuff. My soon-to-be-4-year-old thinks that he has never had a birthday, actually. I think that it may be hard for a young child to separate the celebration for his birthday from the celebrations that have just occurred for the holidays. Who knows?

It has taken quite a bit of effort for me to get back in the groove here after being away for Christmas vacation. We had a really great time visiting everyone and going to the beach. We came home with a van packed full of toys and new clothes. And this is good news. But, when you live in a cottage with 5 other people, bringing in new things creates a bit of difficulty because you basically have to chuck some stuff out to make room for the new. Now, I’m not complaining about the new stuff. I’m just saying. And, it’s not as hard to make room for the new clothes because the old ones just go straight to the donation pile or (in the case with my clothes) right in the trash.

Happy weekend, everybody.

Birthdays and Other Stuff
This is birthday week here at the Barlows. Two of my boys have very unfortunate birthdays. Why, do you ask, are they so unfortunate? Well, because, not only do they have birthdays that fall just after the New Year and Christmas celebrations but they also occur within 2 days of each other. So, every year, we come home from traveling, take down all the Christmas stuff and immediately put up birthday stuff. My soon-to-be-4-year-old thinks that he has never had a birthday, actually. I think that it may be hard for a young child to separate the celebration for his birthday from the celebrations that have just occurred for the holidays. Who knows?

It has taken quite a bit of effort for me to get back in the groove here after being away for Christmas vacation. We had a really great time visiting everyone and going to the beach. We came home with a van packed full of toys and new clothes. And this is good news. But, when you live in a cottage with 5 other people, bringing in new things creates a bit of difficulty because you basically have to chuck some stuff out to make room for the new. Now, I’m not complaining about the new stuff. I’m just saying. And, it’s not as hard to make room for the new clothes because the old ones just go straight to the donation pile or (in the case with my clothes) right in the trash.

Happy weekend, everybody.

Speaking of Gifts
A few days ago, Jon and I were talking about getting Christmas gifts. N, 9.5 years old, was in the kitchen listening to our conversation and occasionally saying something. Well, we got around to talking to the presents that most people usually don’t want for Christmas such as socks or underwear. Then I said, “You know, I don’t feel that way. If someone wants to give me underwear for Christmas then I will be happy to get it.” N immediately gets a shocked expression on his face. He exclaims, “You wear underwear?!?”

These boys have so much to learn.

Speaking of Gifts
A few days ago, Jon and I were talking about getting Christmas gifts. N, 9.5 years old, was in the kitchen listening to our conversation and occasionally saying something. Well, we got around to talking to the presents that most people usually don’t want for Christmas such as socks or underwear. Then I said, “You know, I don’t feel that way. If someone wants to give me underwear for Christmas then I will be happy to get it.” N immediately gets a shocked expression on his face. He exclaims, “You wear underwear?!?”

These boys have so much to learn.

Speaking of Gifts
A few days ago, Jon and I were talking about getting Christmas gifts. N, 9.5 years old, was in the kitchen listening to our conversation and occasionally saying something. Well, we got around to talking to the presents that most people usually don’t want for Christmas such as socks or underwear. Then I said, “You know, I don’t feel that way. If someone wants to give me underwear for Christmas then I will be happy to get it.” N immediately gets a shocked expression on his face. He exclaims, “You wear underwear?!?”

These boys have so much to learn.

He’s So Quotable
So, today, we took the boys to the zoo. We saw lots of peacocks and peahens in the central area near the concession stands. So, I was explaining to J about how some were male and others were female and told him how to tell the difference. I was wondering if he understood me until he said to one peacock while gesturing to a nearby peahen, “Look, Peacock, your long lost love is here at last!!”

He’s So Quotable
So, today, we took the boys to the zoo. We saw lots of peacocks and peahens in the central area near the concession stands. So, I was explaining to J about how some were male and others were female and told him how to tell the difference. I was wondering if he understood me until he said to one peacock while gesturing to a nearby peahen, “Look, Peacock, your long lost love is here at last!!”

He’s So Quotable
So, today, we took the boys to the zoo. We saw lots of peacocks and peahens in the central area near the concession stands. So, I was explaining to J about how some were male and others were female and told him how to tell the difference. I was wondering if he understood me until he said to one peacock while gesturing to a nearby peahen, “Look, Peacock, your long lost love is here at last!!”

Rocky Road Fudge
This is the gift that I made for all of the assorted teachers/therapists/aids/helpers of my boys. When I added up how many gifts I wanted to give, well, I figured out that I was going to have to make something. Truthfully, I would rather give gift cards — not out of laziness — but because I think that gift recipients would find them more pleasing. You know, everyone doesn’t like fudge. But, seeing as how I’m not wealthy, this was my option. And it is really good. The bonus is that you get a real arm workout — candy makers must have arms of steel.

Makes about 2 1/2 pounds

11.5 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips (a whole bag of Ghiradelli)
5 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (a little less than half a bag)
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate , cut into small chunks
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon table salt
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup mini-marshmallows
1 cup cocktail peanuts, salted
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Cut 12-inch length extra-wide heavy-duty aluminum foil; fold edges back to form 7 1/2-inch width. With folded sides facing down, fit foil securely into bottom and up sides of 8-inch-square baking pan, allowing excess to overhang pan sides. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Pulse chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate in a food processor until the chocolate is uniformly processed into little round pieces about the size of small popcorn kernels. Then, transfer the processed chocolate into the top of a double boiler and stir in the baking soda and salt until evenly distributed. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Set bowl over 4-quart saucepan containing 2 cups simmering water. Stir with rubber spatula until chocolate is almost fully melted and few small pieces remain, 2 to 4 minutes.

3. Remove bowl from heat and continue to stir until chocolate is fully melted and mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in marshmallows, peanuts, and chocolate chips. Transfer fudge to prepared pan and spread in even layer with spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Remove fudge from pan using foil and cut into squares.

Yield: 64 pieces