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Spring, sprouting and flinging all over the place

daphne on March 15, 2009

Sometimes nature is cruel. Other times, while it’d be an exaggeration to call nature cruel, she’s not exactly helping things by subtly antagonizing the underlying issues of sibling rivalry.

Thanks, nature, for this. One more reason to pit sister against sister in the eternal contest for who is best.

Allow me to settle the question equitably, in the interest of protecting their loving sisterly relationship. IT’S ME! I’M THE BEST. LOOK WHAT I DID!

Yesiree–that’s a tulip. Or a daffodil. Or something posing as a flower-to-be in exactly the same spot where I presciently dropped bulbs about a million years ago.

As I mentioned already, I was not all that excited about digging in the dirt as the first hints of winter swirled through the air. It’s unreasonable to have to wait season upon season for something to rear it’s lovely head. Like a pinata that you smack in the midst of a party and then wait and wait and wait and then finally as you are growing weary of all the waiting you are showered by a cascade of delicious snacks. Oh the joy.

Would you look at that? Time, as they promised, has flown.

I was wrong to be smug about the waiting. It’s a delightful treat after all these months to get something as magical, as beautifully incredible and special as this:

Really. That’s two sprouts. Try to contain your excitement.

I’m sorry, but did I hear a GET REAL? Am I sensing a lack of bubbling enthusiasm over the little nubs that are popping from the earth in front of my house due solely, I remind you, to my brilliant foresight? Fine. I’m no dummy. I know not everything can be chard crisps and amphibian sex. You remember frog sex, don’t you?

I don’t mean to lead you on. Springy though it may be, I am not going to delve back in to the birds and the bees.

But guess what boys and girls? It is time again for the annual elementary school Spring Fling. Seems like just yesterday that we boogie-oogie-oogied ’til we just couldn’t boogie no more. This year it was time to spring back to the most totally boss, righteously bitchin’ decade of them all…the 80s! Here are the two cutest valley girls of the year–

Give me a break before I gag you with a spoon. I know what you’re thinking, and no, I did not send Acadia to her school dance wearing a shirt that says Eat Flax. I’m the real deal, baby. All eighties, all the time. Her t-shirt, of course, reads Frankie says… RELAX as it flash-dancingly dips over one shoulder.

My family, much like spring itself, is so totally tubular.

Happy Bodacious Spring.

Pick a peck of pumpkins

daphne on November 10, 2008

Disclosure: I don’t know how all those bloggers out there stay on top of things. I write the stuff down, really I do, but then there were election results to check 157 times a day (phew, anyone else happy that that’s behind us?) There’s the laundry to swap out, and then it’s time for swim lessons and dinner, and well, here I am weeks later and that brilliant piece o’ literature I prepared is all yellowed and crinkly.

So for this post I’m going to take you back, back a few weeks when the weather was still on the fence and I was feeling crabby about the sunshiny threat of an eternal summer. Back when the innocent days of early October beckoned our family to the pumpkin farm…

I was thinking pumpkins and spiced cider, but the wishy-washy weather felt differently, rearing its sunny head to the delight of the raspberries and other evil pollen producers that extended my sneezy season well beyond the limits of what a rational person should have to bear.

Lovely, yeah; sweet, sure. Everything coming up floral; frankly, I’m over it. Hello? Ice and snow? I’m bumping up against the legal limits for Sudafed purchases here.

Still, the unseasonable warmth did provide a nice opportunity to hit the pumpkin patch unburdened by heavy coats and muddy boots. The corn maze was high and the wheat was a’waving as we met up with Uncle David and cousin Felix to pick a perfect gourd, or five.

The children frolicked in the corn and fed some chickens. And occasionally gave in to mom’s irritating requests for pictures.

We came. We picked. Maybe we whined a little bit but that’s only because it was really hot and the hay was poking through the flip flops and come on when is it going to be time for lunch? You know, pumpkin patch perfection.

After all, Acadia found this guy, and he kept her pretty busy.

Apple Pie

daphne on October 18, 2008

I like my apple pie on the not-so-sweet side, but you can always add more sugar to taste. I also like it piled super high, so base the amount of apples on the size of your pie plate.

For the filling:

12-15 apples, peeled and sliced in thin slices
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 Tbls cinnamon
Zest and juice of one lemon (use juice of 1/2 lemon if you want a sweeter pie)

Put all above ingredients in a bowl and toss lightly. Set aside

For the crust:

(This recipe makes 3 crusts, or enough for one two-crust pie and one one-crust pie.)

3 cups flour
1 1/3 butter flavored crisco (I’m going to try butter next time, but the right cool temperature and soft texture is very important)
1 egg
1 Tbls vinegar–apple cider or white
1/3 c ice cold water–really cold is the trick
1 tsp salt

Mix flour, shortening and salt with a pastry blender (I haven’t got one yet; a fork will work too, just not as well.) Mix until it resembles little pebbles.

Beat the egg, water and vinegar together. Add to the flour mixture.

Mix lightly with a fork until it forms a loose ball.

Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Roll out.

For two-crust apple pie, put the bottom crust in your dish and fill with filling. Top with 1-2 Tbls of butter, cut in chunks and dotted atop the filling.

Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 and continue baking for 25-30 minutes longer, or until crust is evenly brown.

My brother insists that only vanilla ice cream is worthy to be served ala mode. I’m a more equal opportunity ice cream fan. Either way, enjoy!