CSA Excitement

For about two plus years now my mother and I have talked about CSA's (Community Support Agriculture).  She introduced me to the phrase and community behind it, but until this week I was just all talk.

What it is, is a farmer who sells you a "share" of his TO BE produce. In this fashion the farmer can set out to grow a certain amount of produce (depending on how many shareholders he has) without the risk of not selling it.   The CSA that I am going with Danjo Farms has produce coming from multiple farms, all of which are either Certified Naturally Grown or Certified Organic.  I purchased 24 weeks of fruits and veggies AND eggs wit a weekly cost is $27.00.  Now, with the CSA that I went with you can tailor your fruit and veggie needs to your family and budget.  Here is their description of each share:

"The weekly food share includes an average of 7 to 9 vegetable items for a full share and 5 to 7 vegetables items for a half share. A full share should be ample for a family of two to four adults who cook at home regularly and eat a lot of vegetables.  A half share is a good size for two adults who do not cook at home every night. A quarter share is more than enough for a single person wanting locally grown food, too!"

We have a small garden in the backyard I figured I would only need a 1/4 share, but wanted eggs and fruit as well (we purchased a full share of fruit). 

So, why am I telling you about this other than it is sooo cool?! Well, today was my first share pick-up!  Check out the loot!  So, far I am really excited about this program, and I'm really excited about cooking all the amazing produce! 

Experiment On Picky Eaters

I recently read that if you let your children cook with you they are more likely to not only eat more but also more likely to try new things.  Since, my skinny little N needed some fatting up I thought I would give this a try.

 Now, the issue with N is not that he won't try things...when forced or faced with missing out on ice cream the boy will put anything in his mouth, but that was all he was doing...tasting.    Then ten, twenty minutes later, "Mom hungry, hungry."   We have started wrapping up his food, for the fridge and then when hunger strikes, warming it back up again for him to eat.  Sometimes it works sometimes not.  But really I could live without the drama of forcing him to try it and then storing it and then bringing it back out again.  I really just want him to eat when we eat and enjoy it.

So, N and I have been cooking together, and he HAS become more open and more excited about some food.  But this is not a one change fix kind of thing (I asked him today if he wanted to try some of my tomato and he turned me down without a second thought).  N is still my skinny little guy (which I'm starting to blame on how much he runs rather than how much he consumes), and he is still picky.   But something that I didn't think about when I took on this experiment was the learning possibilities.

N loves to watch me crack eggs, make coffee (or hot cocoa in his case), make muffins, or anything that I might be throwing together.  He likes to stir, and is my designated taste tester for all things that he thinks would be yummy.   My favorite thing is letting him watch the ice cream in the machine.  He's impatient, excited and won't leave his post till the ice cream is done.  So, even though this experiment didn't solve my dinner drama issue it did open up a new cooking era for N and myself; of which I'm really excited about.

How Do You Deal

When I was young, and my dad was working late enough to miss dinner we would get excited.  Why? Because my mom would bake frozen pizza, one of our (my siblings & my) favorite meals. 

It was something to look forward to when you were faced with a lonely night time meal and it cheered all the kids up. 

Now, with my own family, we face the same lonely night time meal from time to time, and I haven't figured out a way of enduring it yet.  Frozen pizza has definately lost its childhood charm. And one can only watch so much of Thomas & Friends.

What do you do with your kids when dad has to work late?

Being a Mom is Gross

Art By Nolan

If you had told me four years ago that I would, without thinking twice, wipe snotty noses with my hands, share my drinks with a toddler (who is known for back-washing), or have to double check my hands and arms for poop, I probably would shrug and say, "That's why I'm not having kids."

Kids are gross and the younger they are the grosser (I think).  But nothing, no nothing, could have been grosser than what happened today. 

Nolan has been fighting a fever since late Tuesday afternoon.  It's been a pretty bad one, because when the fever is at its highest (normally when his fever medicine is starting to wear off but I can't give him more yet.) he can't do anything.  He lays on me for comfort, and doesn't want anything.  No food (we temped him with ice cream, and he said, "no"), no drinks, nope just mom and Thomas and Friends will do it for this sicky. 

I was hoping that it would only last a day or so and then break and he would be back to normal.  But it didn't, in fact it has been getting so bad that I was having a hard time bringing it down last night.  So, off to the doctor we go. 

They confirmed that he was indeed sick and prescribed him with antibiotics, which is what they do with every illness (at least it feels that way).  Well, while Nolan and I were filling the prescription something gross happened.

THIS IS REALLY GROSS AND IF YOU ARE NOT A MOTHER YOU MAY NOT WANT TO KEEP READING.

Nolan threw up in the store! And what was my gut reaction?! I caught it in MY HAND!!!!  I had to call an associate of the store over for help in getting rid of the vomit.  You should have seen his eyes! 

As much as my mother instinct tried to catch all the throw up in one hand I couldn't (I really do have small hands), and some got on N and the cart.  (note to self: Always disinfect shopping carts).  I cleaned myself, N and the cart up as best as I could.  Disinfected as best as I could but the smell...you never forget that smell.   So, while we waited for our prescription to be filled we smelled.   Luckily, it didn't take too long, and we were out the door, back home and in a tub in no time.  I texted Steve for a raise in wages and the addition of privileges.

On the plus side of all this Nolan started feeling better right after the incident and asked for food.  Which he hadn't either been in the mood for or just couldn't keep down.  So, there you go!

    

Playing in the rain.

These pictures were also taken by my cell phone, hence the quality, during a rain spell that we were having here in KC.  N had a great time of splashing through two big puddles in our driveway.  He came in soaked but it was all worth it. 

Pictures of N from my cell phone

I have this collection of pictures of nolan on my cell phone, and wanted to share some them and their stories.

Grandpa Quinn got this balloon for N on one of our trips to Trader Joes.  N didn't want to let it go for nap time.

N wearing his sunglasses upside down

 

Nolan had gotten a hold of a permanent marker... you can guess what happened next. 

N's Giraffe made out of blocks. 

I showed N how to put balloons in his shirt.  He and I had the best time bumping bellies!

I don't know if you can tell but N is soaked in this picture.  I asked him to wash his hands and he decided he needed to wash his hair too. :)  But doesn't he look like a little boy in this picture?!

Asleep in his new bed.

Strawberry Patch

 Today was the perfect day to be outside, and what better way to spend your time than at a Strawberry patch?! Growing up we could get together with friends and descend upon the local strawberry patch, and pick berries till the sun was down and the mosquito were unbearable.  

Thank goodness, the mosquitos were no where to be found!  Nolan and I had a great time looking and finding the precious red berries.  When we got there the farmer told me that the center patch was small ruby red berries and that the side patches were larger sunset berries that turn red orange when they are ripe. 

 Nolan was SOOO excited about picking the berries.  At this stage in his talking skills everything is a narration, so, he mostly said, "Pick strawberries. Pick strawberries! I get bucket."  When we brought the strawberries home he was still excited to see his catch being washed in the sink.  Once, washed he got to the taste some of the sweet berries.

I ended up freezing 3/4 of the batch that we got and left the rest for snacking and meals.  If you too would like to go to this Strawberry Patch (Hurry quick before the season is over!!!).  It was John and Linda's Fruit & Berry Farm in Bates City Missouri.  Cost is per gallon bucket $10.  A little pricey I thought but it was still really cool to have my narrator so excited about picking some strawberries.

P.S.
Words of advice: Call ahead if you can, and make sure to wear boots or at least shoes you don't mind getting strawberry stains on.  Enjoy!