Vegetable Conspiracy?

This is a story about a kid who shunned vegetables.

We’ve all known one.

There may even be one living in your home.

My attempts at sneaking vegetables into our meals always fails,

leaving me with the feeling I have betrayed my son with my duplicity.

As a child, there were many vegetables I didn’t like but I do not recall

refusing to eat a meal just because I discovered one in the mix.

I would just pluck out the offensive morsel, usually an onion,

and continue eating.

I now eat vegetables daily, including onions.

Several times a week, I prepare Ramon noodles.
 I ate them in college and swore

afterwards that I would never eat them again.

Ha ha.

Ramon noodles are a hefty dose of carbs, but when teamed

with fresh vegetables, sans the MSG packet, it is a quick, healthy,

and economical lunch option.

I follow the instructions on the package, bringing water to a boil.

Into this, add 2 eggs, noodles, fresh broccoli, green onion,

and (precooked) thawed shrimp. When 3 minutes are up, drain off

most of the broth and pour the mixture over uncooked spinach.

Add low sodium soy sauce and pepper.

It tastes great and is nutritious.

One Saturday, my son observed as I prepared the veggies and noodles.

"I'd like to try some of that. Will you you make me some?" he asked.

!Huh?!

“Excuse me. Did I hear you say you want some of this?

These are vegetables son. See! Broccoli, green onion, spinach,”

as I pointed to each one.

“Yeah mom, I know. I want some. It looks good.”

I couldn’t believe my ears or my eyes as my 10-year-old stood

before me requesting that I make him noodles loaded with every

vegetable he despised.

I immediately wanted to touch his forehead and cheeks just to

make sure he wasn’t running a fever. Perhaps I used too much

comet while cleaning the toilets that morning.

What the hec. I made it for him then watched in awe (and shock)

as he devoured every last bit of noodle, vegetable and egg.

The kid who would leavethe table in disgust after discovering a

vegetable in his food was now a convert.

This miraculous event occurred Sat. June 13th 2009.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

I prepare this for my son almost daily. He asks me to

make it for breakfast. Just this morning he suggested that

I bring some up to the school for lunch. When he gets

home, he often requests that I make it for his snack.

Since that historical Saturday, I have introduced him to other vegetables;

bok choy, bean sprouts, leeks, zucchini, snow pea pods and sugar snap peas.

He will not try carrots and he does not like zucchini or leeks.
I’m still pleased!

This is the story about a kid who only wanted to eat ice cream….

Ode to Mother Earth

O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds of

our Mother Earth,
I walk in the beauty of those that walked before me
and behold the wonder of the dawn and the
red and purple hues of the sunset

I am small and weak and need your strength and wisdom
to learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf, rock, and stream

Make my hands respect the things you have given me,
never taking more than I need

Give me the patience to teach my children the things
you have taught me and the humbleness to listen and
learn from those that came before me

I seek strength, not to be greater than another,
but to fight my greatest enemy—myself

When life fades as the passing sunset,
my Spirit will come to you without shame

An Indian Prayer

From my Grandfather,

original source unknown

Have Hobo Bag...Will Travel

Have Bag Will Travel

The Hobo Bag made it to Vail CO and back to KC without a ‘lose stitch’. It carried a billfold, laptop, an art book, 3 magazines, hand sanitizer, a brush, lip balm, aspirin, a bottled water, gum, cell phone, camera, crayons and 2 small bags of agate rocks . Though this bag is way too big for me to carry around daily, it was perfect for this trip.

We arrived in Vail Mon. afternoon. Later that night Vail got 8” of snow. What a nice welcome as we hit the slopes Tues morn. The weather however was intense til noon when the sun finally made an appearance.

Wed. we went to Camp Hale and rented snow mobiles. On our way there I had to stop and take a picure of this bridge. Breathtaking wouldn’t you say.

We had a blast as we journeyed up the mountains on our machines. These babies go fast….up to 65 mph. Of course we had our kids on the back so drove at a reduced speed of 35-45mph. We had to maneuver a few switchbacks as well. Going up, great fun. Coming down was a little intimidating.

It's great to be back home.

Check List

I had one of those days. I am out of town all next week. As such, I pressured myself to get everything done today instead of dispersing my tasks thru Sun.

Last stop of the day, before picking up the kids….Starbucks for a fortifying Green Tea Latte. As I was waiting for my tea, a lady tapped me on the shoulder and said “Ms., did you know your sweater is on inside out?” I DIEd

Soon to debut here, An Art Deco Gargoyle Necklace/Belt that I found on Ebay.

And our own pet gargoyle, Taz.

Change of plans

Last Sunday, my husband left for Dusseldorf on business and my parents were on a cruise. As anticipated, my plans for the week rapidly disintegrated. I did not make it to my serger class.

Tuesday, my 10-year-old son stayed home with flu like symptoms. By Thursday morning, my mothers instinct told me it was not the flu but appendicitis. A doctors visit confirmed this with ultra sound. By 3:00 we were off to Children’s Mercy.

I arranged to have my 8-year-old son picked up from school. At 8:30pm Thursday, my 10year old was having a laparoscopic appendectomy. As I awaited his recovery from surgery, I saw other parents and relatives that were also waiting to hear about their loved ones. The stress of the week was instantly replaced with gratefulness that my son was only in for an appendectomy (no perforation) and not undergoing a biopsy, chemotherapy or radiation treatments. I can't begin to imagine the total helplessness a parent must feel to watch their child suffer through a long illness.

My son stayed in the hospital over night and got to attend the Valentines Party at Children’s Mercy before being released. As he picked through the thousands of hand made valentines I saw him pay attention to the other children being brought in. I knew he was quickly forgetting the pain he had endured before and after his surgery. His consideration for the other kids overwhelmed me.