Toothwhale

We're reading: Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose

The diminutive copy of Tomie's Little Mother Goose that came to us from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has been a frequent bedtime pick of Harper's for the past few months. So, when I happened upon the big book Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose in the juvenile nonfiction section during our most recent trip to the library, I was practically giddy with excitement and anticipation. It was one of those Just wait until you see what I found! moments.

The thick volume is a collection of more than 200 Mother Goose nursery rhymes, each illustrated in Tomie dePaola's distinctive style. Some are very short, and some are longer, some are familiar, and some are new to us. The kids and I have been reading a dozen or so each night before we tuck Harper into bed. I have to stop us because Henry and Harper would find another and another that they want me to read. Tomie de Paola's Mother Goose is one that we may not be ready to return after three weeks. I feel a renewal coming.

Late August

In late August, ...

... wildflowers swayed in the evening breeze near the Tennessee River.

... lily pads grew in the gardens at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

... orchids adorned the Tennessee Aquarium's Tropical Cove.

Curried couscous with broccoli and feta

Jake is experimenting with vegetarianism. I'm being supportive with more meatless meals. This flavorful curried couscous with broccoli and feta is from the January 2004 issue of Cooking Light. It's hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but it also would make a nice side dish for grilled chicken or steak.

 

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups water

1 cup uncooked couscous

1 1/2 cups small broccoli florets (I prefer 3 cups)

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

1/3 cup shredded or finely sliced carrot

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup cashews, chopped

2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar (OK to substitute red wine vinegar or cider vinegar)

1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. curry powder

1 tsp. bottled minced fresh ginger (if desired)

1/2 tsp. salt

One 15-ounce can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese 

Directions:

Bring 1 3/4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

While couscous stands, steam broccoli florets, covered, for 3 minutes or until tender.

In a large bowl, combine couscous and broccoli. Add all remaining ingredients except feta cheese, and toss gently. Sprinkle with cheese.

Semantics

M&M'S are a sometimes food. Yesterday was sometimes.

In the grocery check-out lane, Harper picked up a small bag of the milk chocolate candies. She's a candy monster. Normally, she asks and I say no. This time, she asked and I said yes. (I think that's exactly how to keep her asking. Oops.) "After dinner, you each can have five," I told her and Henry.

It was dinnertime already. I was running late picking up a few things at the store, and the kids were hungry. Deli samples weren't cutting it.

On the way home, Harper asked for just one "Nem Nem."

"No. After dinner," I said.

She asked again.

"No. After dinner," Henry repeated.

She asked again.

Now Henry was irritated. "She's still not opening it. It's junk," he said.

Indignant, Harper replied, "It's not junk! It's brand new to me!"

Chattanooga, Day 3

We planned an early drive home on Monday, so we knew that whatever else we hoped to do in Chattanooga for a while -- maybe years -- we needed to do on Sunday. The weather had been perfectly sunny without being humid since we arrived, but on Sunday, it had a cool edge that made us glimpse fall. On such a nice day, we decided to See Rock City. The Rock City attraction is at the top of Lookout Mountain. Rock City's stone path leads to the "See Seven States" panoramic view and the 140-foot High Falls.

We stopped at the Incline Railway and took in the view, but decided not to take the ride.

In the late afternoon, the kids and I took three rides on the Coolidge Park Carousel, which was not for the faint of stomach. I'm crazy for carousels and ride them every chance I get. This one was the fastest I've been on.

That night, we had some great pizza at Mellow Mushroom, and took a goodbye tour of downtown on the Electric Shuttle.

The only thing from my "hope to do" list that we didn't do was go to a Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game. If we return to Chattanooga, baseball, Ruby Falls, and the Chattanooga Zoo will be on the agenda.