So much to write about ... so little time....
October 14, 2006 at 2:00 PM
by Ashleigh
Random thoughts ...
Peeing in places other than the toilet. How does my Son the Eldest actually manage to pee onto the top of the toilet cistern? How, how, how on earth can his aim be that bad? We won't talk about the peeing in the dustbin, behind the toilet and into the toilet brush holder.
The shouting syndrome. Isn't it wonderful when you get to do an activity with the kids that is usually a chore, and they both enjoy it and there is no shouting to get everyone out the door and everyone is happy (for a few moments at least?) We went to football this morning and usually Seb wants to go and Joe doesn't and I have to fight with Joe to get him into the car. Today he went like a little lamb and he enjoyed his practice immensely. Wonderful. Mommying seems all worthwhile at moments like this.
How universal the 'my man doesn't understand me' malady really is. My friend had a falling out with her mother-in-law and wanted her husband to say something to his mom. He wouldn't, so they reached an impasse. I asked Brad if he would say anything to his mom in the same circumstances and he said no. I guess it's just a case of misunderstanding what women really want and not being able to fully sympathise with what it's like to have family and home as the focus of your entire life. She wanted her husband to talk to his mom and affirm that she (his wife) was the most important person to him, and when he wouldn't it was like a slap in the face, belittling everything she does. They've sorted it out now, she compromised on the situation, but still, it makes you think. All these things are relative (and usually involve relatives)!
Why are girl's clothes so much more expensive than boy's? I bought some clothing for my two nieces - a pinafore for the 3 year old and a skirt for the 7 year old. Wow, compared to boy's clothes this stuff is pricey! I could have made something for considerably less, but I didn't have time, and I'm not sure they'd like something homemade.
How kids' sports can go so wrong? Read this article and see what I mean.
The whole Madonna/baby from Malawi thing. I tend to agree with the children's rights movement opposing the decision. Read this too.
The new UN leader. This just seems odd to me. I'm sure it shouldn't but with regard to the whole Korean conflict thing surely the election of a S.Korean official to UN secretary general has to be a bad thing? That S.Korea seems to play a pivotal role in many conflicts is also confusing. Perhaps it would have been better for the UN Secretary General to be elected from another continent for this term. However, if the UN really is a dog with no teeth, as everyone says, then this shouldn't matter to an ordinary person like me.
Ventilation. There's an article in the weekly newspaper we get here that talks about how most people in Holland don't ventilate their homes enough in the winter. There was even a special campaign being run by Postbus51 running from 4 September to 30 September. They say to keep your windows slightly open or the ventlation seals on double glazed windows open even when it's freezing outside. Apparently it actually lowers one's heating bills because dry air is quicker to warm than damp air. I don't know that the air outside is any dryer than the air inside but we'll try it out this winter and see.
Bloglines. Did you know that you can browse through other people's bloglines subscriptions and see what cool blogs you're missing? I'll show you mine. If you look at how many people are subscribed to a particular blog (at the top on the right hand side) and then click that link, you'll see all the people with public subscriptions and in turn be able to click through and view their subscriptions. It's a good way to get to see other blogs that will probably have something you want to read; after all those people are reading something you're reading too. Cool, huh?
Black Salsify. I have this coming in my vegetable selection next week. Reading about it has me scared - goo that won't come off your hands if you don't peel it underwater? Yikes! It's called Schorseneer in Dutch. The article says that one of the Dutch nicknames for this vegetable is 'keukenmeidenverdriet' which translates as 'kitchenmaid's sorrow'! It should be interesting.
Now I'm off to do these things. Baking with all those apples, making fennel and tomato soup, making up a cookie kit from these dudes for my dudes, a visit to the Evil Arches for supper and then some ironing while watching trashy tv.
Have a great weekend!
Comments
Thanks Tatjana!
I found a recipe online for salsify fritters where you steam the salsify and then add capers black olives or smoked mackerel to the mix before forming it into little cakes that you roll in flour and then brown in butter. That sounds pretty nice, but so does Hollandaise sauce!
I think I'll get a huge bunch of it - something like 1 kilo so I'm sure I'll get to try both methods :) Glad to hear it's not *that* gooey!
Never heard of salsify, but I'm curious now. I don't agree with the viewpoint that Western white couples should not adopt children of other colors from other cultures. I do think that the adoptive parents should learn about their child's native culture, but I don't think that culture or color are insurmountable barriers.
For someone who doesn't blog much, I sure had a lot to catch up on after my weekend away! :D As always, your writing is entertaining and even informative and you make the yummiest stuff!!
Don't worry, the salsify is not so bad. Here in Germany they call it black root or winter asparagus, because when peeled it is white and looks like the white asparagus eaten here. Peeling is a bit of a pain, because the skin is thick and a bit rough, but there is not much goo. Definitely better if you run some water on them or peel in a bowl of water, but not as bad as they say. Oh, and like asparagus, goes well with Hollandaise sauce :) Good luck!
October 15, 2006 12:54 PM