Rock To Wind A String Around

I can’t believe my favorite holiday is over–we never seem to cram as much merriment in as I hope, and yet, we’re pretty darn chipper despite the things we missed.

We had a quiet day here in Cowtown.  Elliott did some Halloween-themed schoolwork and finished an art project or two.  Astrid slept in, played a bit and then took an obscenely long nap.  It’s almost like she knew there’d be some late night socializing ahead.  Our pumpkin patch plans never materialized (we always tried to go with Albert on the weekend, and he’s been so busy—POOF! October disappeared) so today I scrambled to find a pumpkin for us to carve.  Elliott was unwavering in his decision to have one, and Astrid Meklit just loves pumpkins in general, so I called a bazillion places (okay, 4–but since I never use the phone, 4 seemed a lot like a bazillion) and then zipped off across town lest someone snatch the orangey goodness from our tiny hands.  By the time I got back, we jumped into Halloween mode.  Elliott and Albert took turns hacking at the pumpkin, while Madame was happy to stick her hands in to pull out the innards.  I worked on our ‘oh-so-tasty’ holiday feast.  As always, mummy dogs were the main course, while witches’ kidney (baked beans), vampire lungs (strawberries) and broomsticks (celery) rounded out the meal–frobscottle was the drink of choice (thank you Roald Dahl).  There were also fries! because AM adores them.  We ended the evening with vampire cookies–sweet little rounds with gooey, oozing pockets of raspberry jam–thematically pleasing and not entirely without nutritional merit.

After a quick cleanup and a costume change, Naruto and the chicken hit the mean streets of Cowtown.  The chicken was a little confused about her duties as a trick-or-treater, but was quick to catch on when she realized there was CANDY!  at. every. house. we. went. to!

An hour later, AM and I were home, while the men continued to hunt wild game Kit Kat bars.  Elliott brought back a full bag of treats, which gave him more than a full hour of sorting joy (his favorite part of Halloween).  Add in a Great Pumpkin showing, some roasted pumpkin seeds and really, it was quite a night.  No tricks, just treats—there was even candy left in the bowl when we got back.

No promises, but I think I’ll be able to post a picture or three tomorrow.  Stay tuned, and

Happy Halloween!!!

This, is not a cooking blog.  As much as I like to cook, I typically don’t share recipes, but tonight, an exception.

We are soup fans.  When Albert works in town, I make a soup a week.  We usually eat it twice for dinner, and for at least one lunch, so it’s worth the time it takes to let it simmer in the first place.  While Albert travels, I don’t cook as many multi-meal options–too many leftovers, things often go to waste.  Sometimes, the season calls for soup anyway.  After a cold busy week, I was eager to make a favorite vegan cream of potato soup recipe.  It’s been at least two years since I’ve made it, and while I love the original, I thought it due for some tweaking:

Potato Soup with rosemary and roasted garlic (adapted from Mollie Katzen’s Vegetable Heaven),

1.5 lbs of russet potatoes (about 4 medium-sized should do) peeled and in chunks

8 cloves of garlic

6 cups of water

2.5 cups of chopped onion

2 large carrots, peeled and in chunks

1 head of roasted garlic, squeezed (cut off tips of garlic, wrap in foil and roast at 375 until the head softens)

1 10 oz box of silken tofu

2 tsp of salt

white pepper to taste

a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or 2 tsp of dried rosemary in a teaball.

Heat a little oil in a stockpot on medium-high heat–add onions and cook until they begin to soften and brown.  Lower heat to medium and add carrot chunks.  Stir for a minute or two before adding the potatoes.  Brown the potatoes until they begin to stick and then add about 1/3  of the water (2 cups).  Add the raw garlic, the rosemary and the salt and pepper, and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add the remaining water and cook until the potatoes and carrots are very soft.  Remove  from the heat, add the roasted garlic paste (it will be done by now) and the silken tofu.  Blend thoroughly after removing sprigs of rosemary or teaball (I leave the rosemary in mine–we really like it).    20 minutes of work, ready in less than an hour.

This soup is super creamy, even without dairy.  I served it with some crusty peasant bread (those peasants, so crusty!) from La Chatelaine and a mixed greens salad with pears and a bit of blue cheese.  The amount of garlic may seem off-putting, but the roasted garlic is very mellow, and the raw garlic isn’t as bright as it might seem.   The original recipe doesn’t call for sauteeing the vegetables first, but it is so much more delicious this way.

I had hoped to be all super-cute and say, “served best with chicken” and then include a shot of my own little fowl in her holiday finery, but it is a vegan recipe.  Enjoy it with a salad, for goodness sakes!

telling you all how much I adore Barack Obama.  I’ve covered all that before, I know, but it bears repeating.  A long, long time ago in the race, I was a big fan of John Edwards–he had the platform on poverty, and he seemed most likely to consider marriage for all, not just for heterosexual couples. I was sure he was my choice, and I was disappointed when he left the race.

Now?  I feel like I was cheating(a familiar theme when John Edwards’ name pops up these day).  Lots of flash, a little substance, but not even close to the standard Barack Obama consistently sets.  I didn’t think I could love him more, but the infomercial convinced me that I have more adoration to give!

In other news—-I’ve managed to stain my hands dark purple (Julie, I don’t recommend this, even for you) while making gluten-free playdoh.  It seemed like a good idea–little homespun treats in brown paper bags festooned with circles and ribbons.  Elliott and I made mini muffin tin crayons, I bought popcorn balls, and little balls of black, pink, or orange glitter playdoh seemed like a fine addition to the bags.  Next time, I’ll buy playdoh and make a little for Astrid at another time–my hands are very grape-like.  This is the end of the party circuit—some playgroup friends tomorrow for brunch and round things (keeping with the circular theme, don’t you know) and the world’s longest nap after.  Okay, probably not, but it sounds oh, so good (see all those circles in the last phrase–it’s like an obsession!)

Picures soon–the cord should be here tomorrow, though I won’t hold my breath.  In the meantime, the camera bursts at the seams with shots of wonder and poultry.

I was perusing the local paper this morning when Elliott asked me to read his horoscope (Capricorn for him–so very).  The horoscopes sidle up to the section of the paper listing significant events for the date, number of days left in the year, etc.  I was horrified, a little startled to see that there were only 65 days left in the year.  I have a calendar, it’s not like I can’t see that October is almost over, leaving us with approximately 60 more days to finish the year, but still–there’s a lot left to do this year.  I have a number of EOR goals to accomplish, a solo trip to Denver,  a week of Thanksgiving fun with Albert’s family (and they’re all staying here in the house), etc.  My list is no longer or shorter than anyone else’s but suddenly, my perception of the time left to complete everything shifted by quite a bit. ..

Sometimes, the march is beneficial.  We’ll be paying off the balance of my very large student loan before the end of the month, 8 years earlier than scheduled.  We can add this payment to Albert’s even larger student loan bill and hope that we shave a few years from his finish line too.  On the other hand, every single day is a battle with the clock.  While my proclivity to tardiness is (almost) cured, I still stay up too late and rise too early to be a really useful engine (like Thomas!)

I’ve been thinking about time a lot lately.  With the end of the Bush presidency is sight, and just a week left before Election Day, I bet there are a lot of people wishing the march would slow down.    I feel it with my kids all the time–can’t we just freeze this moment, this incident?  Elliott still climbs on my lap to tell me about his life (or more likely, his latest obsession)  Astrid Meklit sings loud and long whenever a song pops into her head (every 3.25 minutes, it seems).  They change so fast though–all of this is fleeting, fleeting fleeting.  New joys abound, but sometimes, at the end of it, I miss the today I just had.

Another crazy-busy weekend here in Cowtown.  The carpet, yes, the carpet (you know, the one in the basement that sadly, I’ve mentioned time and time again because I have nothing of note to blog about…) has been     REPLACED!  Oldest child is very happy about this state of affairs–all of his stuff (the toys with 60,000 pieces) is housed in the basement.  It really hasn’t been perfectly usable since April, so he is thrilled that carpet= k’nex + lego +hotwheels mega world once more.  I’m hoping he’s a little more focused on building now that he has the opportunity.  Lately, he’s been spending lots of time bugging for screen time when he isn’t doing schoolwork or riding his bike.  With the cold weather on its way, having a place to build and unwind is a good idea

Today was the first of Astrid Meklit’s two parties–she was very excited to see her grownup friends, especially Joel and Amy. Friends from all different sectors of our life came together to nibble, and enjoy AM in her pretty party dress.  Initially shy with the mass of people hanging out in our family room, Madame Two rallied and enjoyed the festivities, especially the singing of, “Happy Birthday.”  I wish I could share pictures, but I’m waiting for a replacement cord for my laptop–another day or two and I’ll post a bazillion.

Albert will continue to work in Chicago for the next few weeks. He’s very much looking forward to the public party in Grant Park on November 4th.  We’re both excited that he’ll be there live and in person when Barack Obama is declared our next President.  I wish we could join him.

Another party on the horizon, and lots of Halloween activities too.  We can’t wait!!!!!

Go look!   The internets are a lovely place to be today.

Wordy Wednesday here–the power cord for my laptop is being replaced, and the laptop holds the key to picture-posting joy, so just words from me.

If there were pictures here, you’d see the small girl dressed as a large chicken, and assorted photos of birthday glee.  With 2 parties on the horizon, Monday was a fairly sedate affair, but there was ice cream (okay, rice dream, but no one’s asking….) for dessert and presents from loving grandparents.  Albert, Elliott and I each bought her something too, but the only thing she really cares about right now is the doll stroller that Pops bought.  Her new dress–me doll, the lovely Melat, is secondary to the delight of pushing the stroller ‘by yourself.’  When she forgets about the stroller for a few minutes, Astrid Meklit is happy to play with her new cash register (although Haba thoughtfully sells it without play money–thanks–something else to buy.  AM loves the idea of putting money into the register, but real money is too edible, so Haba cash has been ordered).  She also loves the new big truck from Elliott and the new puzzle from Glama.  It makes noise!  The Rody, the gift to end all gifts, has been scorned though.  I think she’s a little scared of him, even after we all took turns going for a ride (he supports 400 lbs–we could all ride Rody together if we wanted). That’s ok–Rody is patient.  I’m sure she’ll adore him by next week.  There will be toddlers, lots of toddlers here for a party next Thursday.  Once someone else likes Rody,  AM will make clear her own devotion to the one who is red and bouncy.  In the meantime, she can roll her new stroller to the swinging sounds of Sesame Street Playground  songs and videos from around the world. Another gift from Glama, it was really a treat for me, I think (I love all things Street-related, at least pre-Elmo) but Elliott loves it the best.  It’s been on non-stop since Monday night….I know it’s only Wednesday night, but trust me, Takalani Sesame and  Xiang pi xiao ya (Rubber Duckie) don’t need that much air play to become constant by-products  of an empty head.    Still, it’s a nice break from the house music Elliott usually assaults me with.  The boy has gone techno and like all good sensory seekers, loves to have it blaring when he’s doing schoolwork.  His schoolwork time is usually the time that I’m frantically making calls or working on EOR-related stuff, and I’d prefer silence or a little NPR to liven things up.  Guess Sesame Street Playground is a good compromise.  It is public broadcasting-related, but it’s livelier than Talk of the Nation.  Alrighty then!

As soon as my laptop cord arrives, pictures will be made available.  The girl at two is even cuter than she was three days ago–I don’t know how she does it!

I’ve been a big fan of Apartment Therapy’s nursery blog, Ohdeedoh, for a very long time.  In addition to finding fabulous nursery items and baby ‘must-haves’ ohdeedoh also gives birthday shout-outs to the littles.  I sent a picture of Madam on a whim, and they posted it with all sorts of yummy news about (and links to) EOR.

Take a look at my little beauty, in all her 2 year old glory:

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/happy-birthday/happy-birthday-astrid-066806

Eager to know the results of Albert’s race or his fundraising efforts?  The story can be read here, so come on over!

…to race kick-off.  Team Philanthropy is excited, nervous and tired. Team Philanthropy also made a good bit of money for Ethiopian Orphan Relief along the way.  I’ll report on the back end!