Random facts

On November 12, 2009:

Ford took his first two steps!....at the YMCA....in the childcare room...with Miss Ethel...while mama was in pilates...what a turkey this boy is.  He knows i have been waiting for this...well, maybe he doesn't, but he is still a turkey.

This morning I was wearing a nightgown that I had purchased at a vintage store for the Mad Men photo.  It was yellow and fluffy with ruffles and a rose.

Frank said, "Mama, you look like a dancer."
I said, "thank you frank, I wore this because I thought it was pretty."
then he leaned his head on my shoulder and said, without even a hint of manipulation in his voice,"YOU are pretty." 

I wish I could keep them these ages forever.

This evening i made one of the best meals that I have made in a very long time.  lots of flavor and deliciousness.  I'm even proud of how well the meat went with the vegetable. (i usually struggle with food pairings, i.e.: things turn out monochromatic, or the side dish has all the same flavors as the main course. Top Chef I am not. )

Here are the recipes that made the dinner.  I so recommend them.  I think i am even taking the squash to thanksgiving - and if you do make it, you must make the sauce that goes with it.  As slow as I have been to liking cilantro, and believe me - i have been a hater - this sauce was really good.

chicken meatballs and curry roasted butternut squash and chickpeas.

On November 13, 2009:

I took the boys to the science museum.  ford crawled around on the floor of the entomology exhibit that has undoubtedly been heavily trafficked by hundreds of school children, and frank carried the butterfly chart around the butterfly house identifying all the ones he could find.  I was reprimanded by an elderly volunteer who told me my son should not step on the rocks or wave the big plastic chart around in the air because he could kill the butterflies.  then we had a picnic at the Sam Houston statue.  Later, we had a lovely time at a new park with some friends.  It was a good day.....DA DA DUM...until we found this:

and then we saw this:

who, you ask, put crab claws in the garden next to the sandbox?  That is precisely what I was wondering.  Until I realized that they were growing, and spreading, and coming up out of strange white eggs on the ground.  What the #&@*!?

And can you see the gross brown slime coming off the tops?  Now I am all about nature and beauty in strange things.  but these "plants" literally made my stomach turn.  I poked them with a stick and was afraid they would attack me.  After a little internet research, I found that they are a fungus known as the, "Stinkhorn."  Oh, that is right, i forgot to mention that they smell bad, too.  What the *&%@?!  How did this get in my backyard?

If you have a spare minute to look at this website on the stinkhorn, i think that you will not be disappointed.  I am thankful to have an opportunity to learn about freaks of nature in my very own backyard.  you can also check out the stinkhorn hall of fame, here, if you are a nerd like me.