Not So Dirty

If your mind is as firmly planted in the gutter as mine has been known to be, then you've possibly come across the same phenomenon as I have.

There are many phrases that we use on a daily basis that, at one time, would have sent me into a raging fit of suppressed giggles, but am now forced to remain composed due to context.

Having kids changes everything.

And so, here is my list of 

Things That Sound Dirty That Really Aren't Anymore.

Animal in bed = ‘Monkey’ jumping on it.

I don’t think it will fit = Triangles don’t go in the square hole of the shape sorter

Too big for your mouth = Let’s cut food into smaller bits

I’m going to ride you = Asking for piggyback or talking to toy horse

Banging on the floor = Wielding a toy hammer

Get on your back = Time for diaper change

I”ve never seen one so big! = Commenting on a rock found in the driveway

I’m going to eat you = The tickle monster is hungry for elbows

Yay, you got it in the hole! = Celebratory phrase of improved hand/eye co-ordination

Nice balls = Commenting on the colour/pattern of plastic toys

Be gentle with the balls = Please don’t throw things in the house

I’m all wet = Spilled water… again

You’re so dirty = Time for a bath

Writer's Block

I've been working on my book.
Instead of sewing. Which is bad lol.
But I'm getting sucked into my little writer's bubble again.

I've written the end finally.
For the longest time I wasn't sure where I was heading with it but i've re read it twice and done a lot of thinking and I think I see the 'point' of it now.

So now the problem is, I spent a year not working on this and so there's a year of events that aren't fresh in my mind. For a long time I was writing in 'real time'. Up until Toby's first birthday. Then I made some notes of things that i needed to include but didnt know how to form the thoughts yet. And now I"m reading over my notes going... huh??

I feel like I have writer's block, but im not really short of things to write about. It's about my own life for goodness sakes, I can't run out of material.
Maybe I just have too much to say and I"m afraid that if i focus on one thought I"ll lose the others.
Maybe I just don't really know how to connect it all.
Im also afraid that in  my determination to finish this book that I'll skim over parts that need more detail. I also don't want to be working on this for another three years.
And then i get discouraged because I kn ow getting things published is hard to do. But I dont know if I want to go as far as self-publishing... It feels like cheating I guess. I dunno.

I've had a  change of emotional stature in the last month or so. Luke is at school finishing his apprenticeship and we havn't actually seen him in over a month and rarely spoken.
And I've been saying for quite a while that this is what I need. To just get away.
I've become numb to the whole thing, but not in a bad way.
I've decided I just don't care. I've decided I like not feeling anything towards the situation.
I like having my weekends back.
I like having Toby to myself.
....Although feeling numb doesn't make for very good writing lol.
And blogging about it doesnt help the fact that i need to be doing 'real' writing lol.

In other news: the snow is wet, the sky is grey, our house has lost most of the skunk smell but it's still lingering, maple syrup season is starting, I saw a red-winged black bird today... the poor dear looked terribly confused at the weather, More gift bags at Ecocentric, 'Sleep pillows' on the way there too, makin sushi tomorrow, clocks spring ahead sunday morning, going to Glee Live in TO June 11, making plans to go see a zillion plays in Stratford.

Sick-time food

We've been really fortunate here to not be sick all winter. Save for a few days on stomach flu before Christmas, we've managed to avoid the colds and fevers going around.
Every time Toby or I show even the slightest signs of getting a cold I make a bunch of high vitamin, high anti-oxidant foods to boost the immune system.
Granted, Toby is a kid who will eat a wide variety of foods, and not all of these are suitable for kids under 18 months, but you can pull from these ideas what you will...

Garlic Soup.

One tub of homemade chicken stock
8 cloves of garlic, sliced
1 Tbsp dried oregano

For my chicken stock I cover chicken bones with water in a deep pot and add carrots, celery, several cloves of garlic, a bay leaf, rosemary, oregano and a touch of salt. Boil for a couple hours uncovered. The water will evaporate and the nutrients in the stock become concentrated. Ladle contents in to a sieve held over a large bowl or measuring cup. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate over night. Carefully spoon excess fat off that will have congealed on the top, stir the remaining juices, and then I pour into washed margarine containers for freezing.

For the soup, I pop out the frozen puck of chicken stock with about an inch of water into a pot and add the sliced garlic and oregano. Bring to boil. I serve it in a mug with a straw and we make a game out of drinking the broth to find the garlic chunks at the bottom and then fish them out with a spoon to eat (Toby's favourite part)

Benefits
-The broken down chicken contains amino acids that loosen congestion. Also it's a good way to get proteins back in your system during stomach flu.
-Garlic is an antioxidant and aids in circulation and keeping low blood pressure. It's used as an all-round immune and health booster in many herbal remedies.
-Oregano has anti-viral and antibacterial properties and improved respiratory health.


Garlic Ginger Tea

4 cloves of garlic, sliced
2 slices of fresh ginger

Pour two cups of boiling water over garlic and ginger and let steep.
It may sound like an odd tea, but it actual has a very mild soothing flavour!

Benefits
-Again, garlic is an antioxidant and will help clear your body of 'bugs' and boost your immune system.
- Ginger sooths the digestive tract and can help ease nausea. It has anti inflammatory properties so it can ease pain and reduce cold and flu symptoms.

Chamomile and peppermint teas (as long as they are true herbal teas and not flavoured tea leaves) also are very soothing and ease headaches and promote rest.



Salmon Avocado Salad


1 can solid sockeye salmon
1 small ripe avocado
1 Tbsp Nayonaise (or regular Mayo) (optional)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 sheet of sushi nori (seaweed), crumbled
black pepper

This stemmed from Toby asking for sushi (even tho we'd just ate a bunch the night before) but i was out of rice so i gave him some nori to munch on while I made a salmon salad for lunch, and this yumminess was born.
Drain canned salmon and mash together with avocado in a bowl. Add mayo if desired - it makes a creamier texture, but if your avocado is really ripe and creamy you may choose not to use it. Add oregano, black pepper to taste and crumble the nori into the bowl. Mix well.
I served it with rice cakes, and Toby like sunflower seed butter on his.

Benefits
-Salmon contains Omega-3 Fatty acids, loads of vitamins, and calcium - especially from the calcified bones that appear in canned salmon.
- Avocado is packed with vitamins as well, and the high fat content of the fruit means you feel fuller on healthier food and are less likely to snack on other not-so-good foods (which is good when you have a cold!)
- Oregano, again, had anti-viral and antibacterial properties
-Nori, seaweed contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium and Riboflavin
- Black pepper can diminish the amount of gas in the intestinal system and reduce bloating

This one wouldn't be good food for stomach flu, but to ward off the common cold it's great!


Even just throwing garlic and oregano in everything you make (rice, potatoes, stir-fry) is better than nothing!

Get well soon!!

Salmon Avocado Salad

The dip-and-scoop

The taste test

Yumm!!