My Kitchen Aid Mixer

I've own this Kitchen Aid mixer for almost ten years. I love the fact that it is white and so mid-century modern.
 
Last week, I used the mixer for the first time. It works like a dream.  It swirled my cake mix around beautifully and quietly and it doesn't walk all over the counter.  I've been told that some mixers like to walk.


The cake looks so much better in person and it was yummy! The swirl is from the melted blackberry jam that I added to the batter.  I also added fresh blackberry that I picked in the rain.

Have a great day!
SB

How to be Big, Little at the Same Time

Early Sunday morning, she hopped into my bed and started nuzzling him.

While hugging and smothering him with kisses, she asked in a high pitched voice "Do you want your little, big sister?""
Baby smiled and wriggled.
Big sister asked "Do you want your little, big sister?"
Baby smiled and wriggled some more.
My cutie pie asked the same question over and over again, in the same high pitched voice only a four year old can make and still sounds adorable.    

I am thinking to myself "little, big sister?"  I am confused but watched the interaction with enjoyment.  Then, I understood what she was saying; she meant that she is my little girl and his big sister.

Good Thing It Is Sunny Here.

I can't share what I really wanted to show you, so I am posting this beautiful photo taken at a tulip farm in Skagit Valley.

Meanwhile, I need to go and make a phone call.  I hope to fix this problem by tomorrow.  

Thank you for being so patient.

I Heart Him

This was taken two years ago, when he was 4 yrs old.  Looking at him, I feel peace and calm.  Someday I will let him know that he is my soul.

It's a boy.

****SIGN**** my baby boy arrived safe and sound on June 14, 2010 @ 5:22 a.m. via C-section. Things happened the way I had hoped, or rather how my baby wanted it.

I got to go through the first stages of labor rather than do a scheduled C-section. Two weeks before, I ademently requested that I be permitted go into labor rather than scheduled a C-Section. I wanted to make sure that the baby was not going to be born too early and I wanted the baby to let me know when s/he was ready. My doctor granted my request and we scheduled a C-section for 40 weeks, in order to give me enough time to go into labor.

On Monday at 2:30 a.m. my contraction started and by 3:30 it was one minute apart and I was in excruciating pain. I was also vomiting after each contraction so we know that we had to get to the hospital. When I arrived at the maternity ward, I was five centimeters dialated and the nurses gave me some medication to slow down the contraction.

I am still dazed at this blessed event and have not fully let go of all my worries and apprehension that have built up throughout this pregnancy....I am trying to simple breath and let my soul take in the sweet little face, sound, and feel of my son's perfection.

One thought crossed my mind, "I spend so much time and energy consumed with things associated with work, making money, and acquiring stuff, and accomplishing other daily routines.....but in the last nine months, I didn't care about any of that stuff, all I wanted was for my baby to be healthy. Life is and can be that simple and beautiful.

A New Phase

Oh No!!! I can't seem to control myself, I am in love with....DISHES!!

In the last few weeks, I have spent countless hours on the internet looking at dishes and table settings and perusing antique shops. Last night, I had a dream about them.

My latest find is a 27 piece set of Fire King Pink Swirl plates.....OMG!! I am in love. Did I tell you that I am in love? I am plotting a self reward system, so that I can acquire the matching bowls and grow my collection.

Cleveland boy threatened that he will take away my credit card, if I buy any more dishes. I reminded him that this is not my fault, "baby, I am just nesting, this will be over as soon as I give birth."

Am I really going through a phase or have I reached a new level of insanity?

Watermelon Rind

This morning, as I groggily cut up some watermelon to put in my son's lunchbox, I had this conversation with my husband:

Him: "Honey, remove the rind so that it doesn't take up so much room in the lunchbox."

Thinking that he had a good point, I proceeded to cut it up. Then hubby noticed what I cut up contained the white part of the rind.

Him: Don't give Z the rind, it's not healthy for him. It will make him sick.

Me: "No it won't, I know this because when I was living in a refugee camp we would scoop up what was left in the rind and made a spicy salad out of it. "

Husband: "Honey, you don't live in a refugee camp. You can throw all of the rind away, we have plenty of watermelon."

Husband: "Honey, same with the dishes, you don't have to worry about breaking the dishes whenever we use them. If we break a dish, we can always get more or just get new ones. "

The conversation woke up my heart with a start and I internally gasped, how often does my past crept up in my present life and shape how I am being? I need to be conscious of how often my past collides with my present.

I also became aware that as I told my childhood story to my husband, I did so without judgment or pain. This children experience could have effected me differently. I am so grateful that when I had little to no food to eat, the hunger did not leave a scar of scarcity in my childhood heart.