Copying

I am going to copy the ladies over at www.jessfinds.blogspot.com and make my Hanna wish-list for Patrick. I have actually bought him several cute things lately both from the real shop and on e-bay. He will need more as nothing from last winter still fits. I do think now that he's 2 and his growth has really, really slowed down that he will fit into these things again next year. Size 80 in pants. 80 or 90 in shirts. Seven in shoes.

First Riding Lesson

Yes, they make paddock boots, helmets, and breeches for toddlers. The way this works is one person leads the pony around while the other has hands ready to catch a slipping tot. Patrick really didn't require much assistance, though. He has another lesson this weekend. His pony is Jolie.

When is doubt....

When your child wakes up in the wee hours making a reverse croup sound on air intake and you are bleary-eyed not sure what the hell is going on, call 911. That was our morning and he needed an immediate dose of prednisone. So much better now. It is croup. I had heard the croup cough before but never the sound of breathing distress. I ahve never dialed 911 but so glad I did.

We are a racist nation.

Look at what far too many white Americans believe about African-Americans. We ought to be ashamed. We need to repent.


http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-obama-race

Tagged

I got tagged by Jess G. I a virgin meme writer so go easy on me.

Joys:

1. Fall breezes through open windows (my house smells so clean right now)

2. homemade totally-from-scratch and a so fresh flour tortillas

3. Patrick holding his hands up above his head and saying "Yay!" with delight

Fears:

1. flying. hate it. tubes of death.

2. mice, gerbils, rats, hamsters aren't even up there on my list

3. that the reps will win. "Oh Canada, our home and native land." or "God save the Queen."

Obsessions/Collections:

1. keeping my kitchen sink clean and white

2. Royal Stafford china in blue or brown with the choaching scene

3. nails and toes - got to be done up

Surprising Facts

1. I once slept in the grounds of La Alhambra

2. I have two webbed toes on one foot. Patrick has the same set on both feet.

3. I was once a size 2 petite

I don't really have anyone to tag. So sad.

Clarification

Okay, so after reading a Wash. Post article today, it seems both candidates would cut taxes for those making under about $230k or so. The difference is McCain would also cut for high end earners whereas Obama would tax them. How else are we going to pay for comprehensive insurance, this endless war, educational programs, and our mounting national debt? And I say this as one who is in a higher tax bracket. Taxes can serve a good purpose and I don't trust people to share their money through private endeavors. I've seen firsthand how that works.

Again, thanks to Sara K. for sending her readers that way.

The Best Part

A few weeks ago I was watching Food Network late at night. They had this company on that does New England clambakes. Well, that's my kind of food. The food of my ancestors. So, I googled "RI, clambake, Sept., 2008" and found the same company (McGrath's) doing a clambake at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol, RI 15 minutes away from where we were staying. It was a foodie experience. Early in the morning they go out and collect rockweed off the cliffs in Newport. They build a fire with wooded pallets upon which they mound granite. When the fire dies, they put the rockweed on the granite. This special seaweed has pockets of saltwater that pop when hot. Next they layer the food on the stones then cover with lots of canvas tarps for two hours. They also make New England brown bread in coffee cans and steam it under some of the tarp layers. Great bread for Thanksgiving this year.

The Bake

The Unveiling

Oh my!

YUM!

The View.

Patrick gets down

Patrick dancing on the green in Mystic.

More Rhode Island

Well, actually it's Connecticut. We went down to Mystic to get Pizza at THE Mystic Pizza. Second time we have been there and it is really so, so good. Even just their plain cheese pizza is great. Visited Mystic Seaport where we toured some ships and listened to jazz on the green. Could have stayed there and let the kids dance for a lot longer.

Rhode Island

We were sick for, well, the entire "vacation" (quotes becuase I am convinced there is no such thing until children are more independent). I did everything I could not to be sick -- herbal supplements, neti pot (very cool -- will use one everyday as a preventative so as not to be sick) but alas the plague got me, and Patrick, and Jesse and now has one of our friends' daughters (so sorry!).
Still, what is important is that we got to visit with friends (though I did try to get Jesse to leave at one point and let us be sick at home). We did have some fun times in the trip and here are some of the pics to prove it.


Here we are at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, a great place for little ones because of it's smaller scale and choo-choo train. We got to ride in the caboose.






Patrick milking a "cow."