My Boyfriend

RT paused the show we were watching so Alex could tell us something.  Before we got back to our show, RT asked me, "Where did those flowers come from?"

He was referring to the beautiful cut flowers I put in a vase on the kitchen counter.

Me:  My boyfriend.

RT:  No, really.

Me:  My boyfriend.

RT:  No, Where did they come from?

Me:  The neighbor dropped them off on Friday.  (I watched her boys for a couple of hours)

RT:  They've been there all weekend and I just noticed them now??!?

RT usually notices everything, so it's really strange that he didn't notice the flowers.

Me:  I guess I can invite my boyfriend over now to hang with us because you won't even notice that he's here.

RT:  Yea, he can sit on the couch with us watching TV and I can pass snacks to him.

How I got out of cleaning the bathroom

The title is fitting because that is basically what happened.

I went to clean the kids bathroom last week.  It gets pretty bad.  My kids think there is a maid that will come in and clean up after them, so they don't bother cleaning up their messes.  They are old enough to clean and clean up after themselves.  They are quite lazy.  I mean, if you get toothpaste on the counter, you clean it up, right?  You don't leave it there thinking it's a work of art!  If you get hair on the counter from shaving, you clean it up.  No one wants to see all of the hair that came off your face.  If you put lotion on and some accidentally gets on the counter?  You leave it there  You clean it up!

I think you get the picture.

I went to clean their bathroom and after about, oh, a minute, I decided that I wasn't going to do it.  They made the mess, they have to clean it up!

My anger must have shown, because Nick noticed it and wanted to help out.  I told him that they (Nick, Alex and Bella) have to clean their bathroom from now on.  I didn't care how it happened, but, somehow it had to get done.  I didn't want to be a part of the cleaning process.

Nick embraced this challenge (Lord, help him!)  He did say he didn't want to get in trouble with how he got his siblings to clean the bathroom (red flag #1).  He also said he would use physical force (red flag #2) if they did not help clean the bathroom...that he would not let them use the bathroom.  He would carry them (red flag #3) to another bathroom (I said then they should have to clean the bathroom they are being carried to).

I decided to let Nick handle it and watch it all play out.

So far, things are going quite well.  They each have the area they are to clean and everyone is participating.  I haven't heard any complaints (yet) and I have one less bathroom that I have to clean.

Vegetarian Diaries - Dolmades

It's here!  The much anticipated vegetarian Dolmades post!

A few posts back, I posted my recipe for Dolmades (or Stuffed Grape Leaves) and promised to post a vegetarian version.  I have tried vegetarian Dolmades at restaurants and I kept saying that I had to try making them at home.

I found a couple of recipes online and in cookbooks.  This recipe is taken from:  From a Traditional Greek Kitchen:  Vegetarian Cuisine, by Aphrodite Polemis.  I put some additions at the end of the recipe that you can add to change it up.

Here's the recipe:

Vegetarian Dolmades

ingredients:
1  16oz jar grape leaves
1 Tbsp olive oil
3 medium onions, chopped
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 Tbsp dried dill)
3/4 cup uncooked rice
1 Tbsp dried mint
salt and pepper to taste
juice of 1 1/2 lemons
1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)


directions:
Rinse grape leaves to remove brine and set aside.

Heat oil and site the chopped onions until soft.  Stir in parsley, dill, rice, mint, lemon juice, salt and pepper and pine nuts.  Stir for 2-3 minutes over low hear.  Remove from heat and let cool.

Take out your grape leaves and cut of the thick stems.  Put the grape leaf shiny side down.  Place 1 teaspoon of the filling on the leaf near the stem end and fold base of leaf over filling.  Fold over sides to enclose the filling.  Layer stuffed grape leaves seam side down, covering the bottom of your saucepan.

Add remaining lemon juice.  If you have left over grape leaves, these can be placed over the top of the stuffed leaves.  Place an inverted plate on top and add enough hot water to cover the plate.   Bring to a boil, then cover the pan and simmer for an hour.  Taste one to see if the rice is tender.


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If you want to make the sauce that goes with Dolmades, check out my first Dolmades recipe.

I would suggest adding more mint.  It gives it a richer flavor.

Adding cooked and chopped chick peas (garbanzo beans) to the recipe will also give it a little protein.


If you try making Vegetarian Dolmades, let me know how it all worked out!   I'd love to hear about it!

Enjoy!

Do we have any grapes?

Last night, RT and I were watching a movie.  The movie was starting to really get interesting.  All of a sudden, RT pauses the movie, we look at each other (me with a concerned look) and he says, "Do we have any grapes?  I can really go for some grapes right now."

This is a person who doesn't eat fruit unless it's in front of him.  I have to make sure I point it out.  He will eat it, but, won't go out of his way for it.

And, why is he thinking about grapes in the middle of this movie?  There are no grapes or grape references.

Yes, I laughed.  I even told him that I would blog about it.

Who thinks about grapes during a movie?

Kid Songs

I used to listen to kid songs when Nick was little.  I had a cassette tape (yea, it was that long ago) with some goofy songs.  Nick never said anything about the songs.  I thought they would be fun for him to listen to and maybe educational?  < how?  I don't know.  The sing song melodies and the goofy words, maybe?

I eventually bought a second cassette because I was going crazy needed a little more variety.  I played these songs whenever we were in the car.  Running errands, going to school, visiting friends, going to the zoo or my parent's house.  It got to the point where I had these songs stuck in my head.  I would hum along to them throughout the day.

The final straw was when I couldn't sleep at night because I had a goofy song stuck in my head that kept playing over and over and over....  I felt bad about stopping the tapes, but, if I had these stupid goofy songs stuck in my head, what are they doing to my child?

Years later, I came across one of the tapes and asked Nick if he remembered listening to those songs.  He said he has some memory of them.  He thought they were silly and he wasn't crazy about them.

I became one of those "Bad Parents" that listens to the radio or to music from current or older artists.  The music was sometimes child friendly.  We're talking:  The Beatles, Bob Marley, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, The Guess Who (mainly, "Clap for the Wolfman," because it was a favorite of the boys), and Johnny Cash.  There are others that we listened to while they were growing up (even classical).   I feel they grew up appreciating all types of music.

Today, they have varied tastes and will listen to just about anything.

Did you play children's music for your kids?

Did you go crazy listening to it?

Funeral

We had to attend a funeral last week and it got me thinking.  No, not about the person that died.  Well, I thought about him a little.  I was thinking more about my own funeral.

Morbid, I know.

I've been to quite a few funerals in the last few years, so, I've had a lot of time to think on this subject.

When I was growing up, I was told that black is the appropriate color to wear to funerals.  To avoid bright colors and to especially avoid the color red.  Getting ready for this funeral, I found it was easy, since I have a selection of funeral clothes (or appropriate funeral attire) in my closet.  That's when the thinking process started.

I realized that I didn't want everyone at my funeral to wear black.  I want people to wear clothes with color.

Yea, I know.  Why do I care?  I'm dead!    I won't be able to see what happens.  But, I want my funeral to be a little happier.  I want it to be a celebration.

I mentioned this to RT and he said, "Don't worry, we'll be celebrating!"

I can always count on him to pull through for me.

I had to clarify with him that I wanted a celebration of my life (as opposed to, "Thankful that I'm gone").  He seemed a little disappointed.  For those of you for the latter, I'm sure he will host something.....

Along with those bright colors people are wearing, I want some fun stories to be told.  I know it will be hard to come by because I'm such a serious person.  I promise I'll work on that....

I want laughter and music playing in the background.  Not too much fun though, because I will be upset that I missed it!

I realize not everyone feels this way.  I understand it's a somber occasion and that it's best to dress appropriately (funeral attire) and, sharing some fond memories is always good, too.

Valentine's for Seniors - Girl Scouts

I'm sure I mentioned way back how every year our Girl Scout troop makes Valentine's Day cards and delivers them to a Senior Living community.  Our girls have been doing this since kindergarten and call it a tradition.  This is their sixth year making Valentines.

We visited the home (that we visit every year) on Friday.  The girls enjoy seeing the residents and handing out their Valentine Cards made with love.  The residents find it a joy to have them.  The girls even sing songs for the residents.

This year, Bella asked if our troop could visit the senior home where her Grandmother is currently living.  Today, our troop delivered Valentines to the residents at Nona's (Bella's Grandmother) "house."  The girls even sang some songs for the residents.  Bella was happy that they were able to visit Nona and friends.

I think Nona (and the other residents) were happy, too.