This and That

Just a little randomness today.

Found a wonderful blogger, who just happens to be in Arizona, that I think some of you will enjoy. Especially those of you with a gypsy soul. This is the post that hooked me, but do check out all of her site, A Fanciful Twist. It's just magical.

I buy organic most of the time, especially produce (even tho I read a headline from the British press, I think, a week or so ago saying it wasn't all that much better for you). My husband is okay with it, and even indulges - and enjoys - some soy products instead of meat from time to time. The other night he was in the kitchen fixing a sandwich or salad or something. I heard him start to chuckle and he called for me to come see something. He was removing some leaves from a head of romaine lettuce - organic - and there was a ladybug in between a couple of the leaves. Yup! That's organic!

For some reason it makes me feel good (successful maybe?) when one of my kids calls me to ask for advice on how to do something or cook something. "Mom, what did you used to use to marinate that chicken?" "Mom, besides the hashbrown potatoes and cheddar cheese soup and ham, what else did you used to put in the crockpot when you made that cheesy potato stuff when we were kids?" It just kind of makes me smile. And interestingly, most of those calls over the last few years have come from my son.

About three weeks ago, I saw a little calico kitten and its mommy in my backyard for the first time. I don't have cats, but a neighbor - almost a block away - has several/lots, and they have made a habit of hanging out in my backyard for some time now. (I once asked the universe why this was. I still don't know, but I take it as a compliment that they do. silly as that sounds.) The kitten was still nursing and, as near as I could guess, had probably been born either in, behind, or under (somehow) the shed in our backyard. I saw the kitten and mommy every morning and every evening. And I was captivated. I'd forgotten how cute kittens are. How absolutely curious and playful and forever pouncing on things they are! I never fed them, and while I went outside from time to time so that they could kind of get used to me, they still always run and hide when I'm too close. And now I haven't seen the kitten since Sunday. And I miss it. I keep going and peeking out the window hoping it hasn't moved on, even though I know it will eventually. Here kitty, kitty, kitty . . .

see the kitty peeking out of the shed? quality is not great, but i took it from inside the house through the window.

Happy Tuesday,

Where do Babies Come From?

Was reading Jane's blog at Spain Daily today, and although I can't really remember if we ever even had a story about where babies come from, it reminded me of a funny story from when my kids were little.


Years ago, probably close to 20 years, we were at home one night cleaning up after dinner and getting the kids their baths. My daughter was in the bathtub in the bathroom down the hallway from the kitchen (she must have had the door open) and my son was in the kitchen with me.


We had a couple of clear acrylic magnetic photo frames on the refrigerator door, and one of our photos had slipped out the bottom and landed somewhere (probably under the refrigerator). The picture that came in the frame when I bought it, a picture of a sweet couple standing together on a beach at sunset, was still in the frame. My son, about 9 or so at the time, asked me who the people were. And my explanation to him went something like this, "Well, I have been trying to figure out how to tell you this, and I was going to wait till you were a little bit older, but I guess I can tell you now. Those are your real parents, you and your sister were adopted. But don't tell her yet, because she's still too little and she won't understand."


I can't tell you what he said, if he said anything. I simply don't remember. But a few minutes later, my daughter, then about 5 or 6, was standing in the doorway of the kitchen wrapped in a towel. Her face was red and she was just about ready to cry. I asked her what was wrong. And she said something like, "I've been having a little talk with God." Me, "Oh really?" Daughter, "Yes, and I don't think you're our real mom!" Right away I started laughing and commented on what wonderful hearing she must have. I went and got her and told both kids that I was only teasing them and explained to them about the fake photo in the frame. She was still upset and just didn't believe me. My husband even tried reassuring her, but she wasn't buying it. We actually had to call my Mother and have her talk to my daughter to finally calm her down and assure her that I was, in fact, her mother.



True story!