Rain Dance Anyone?

With two hundred odd wild fires burning across Florida, twenty of them major, I feel the stress factor rising.

The air quality is horrible here right now - I open my patio doors and it feels like all the neighbours are burning trash in their backyards. Today and yesterday were better than earlier in the week, but the weather experts say smoke is going to be lingering courtesy of what was Tropical Storm Andrea. This makes being outside unpleasant, and those of you with toddlers will know how some days you just.have.to.get.out! My inconvenience aside - it's very unsettling to see what these fires are doing to the atmosphere, to people with breathing difficulties not to mention any settled areas under threat.

Growing up in Ireland, I'd cheerfully have gone a long stretch without rain, it rains all the time there (the price of all that emerald-ness), but boy do we need some of the wet stuff around here.

So as the rhyme goes 'Rain Rain go away, come again another day' - today would work!

Next stop Carnegie Hall!

I know I should be saving this for Monday for the Makeover Monday update, but I can’t wait to reveal that I have nailed my piano piece! Actually I pretty much had it down on Monday evening, a shock to me I can tell you.

Okay, so it wasn’t exactly the most demanding classical masterpiece – rather a simple, 16 bar Minuet in G by Johann Sebastian Bach – think ‘Baby Einstein’ music and you’ve pretty much got it. Still, I read the music and have been practicing so that I can play it without stumbling or hesitating.

To give you an idea of how much of a challenge this is for me. I can play the piano pretty well. I can listen to a melody and sit down and replicate it, adding my own harmonizing chords with the left hand. While this to any (non musical) passerby may sound good, I am never satisfied with it. I want to be able to play properly, but I’m lazy and impatient, and I just hate reading the music.

The Treble Clef music (played by the right hand, the one that looks like a squiggly ‘g’), is always easy for me to read and very easy to play right off. It’s reading the Bass Clef music (the one that looks like a backwards ‘c’ and is played by the left hand) that stumps me, and as for coordinating this with the right hand? Well, lets just say it’s always been quicker for me to ‘sound it out’ myself and come up with something which is ‘close enough’, but never good enough, hence my quest to Maestro-dom!

Determined to do this right – I sat down and played the right hand piece first – very easy. I then cheated, got my pen out and wrote the letter of each left hand note beside the music. This meant I didn’t have to mentally go through the F.A.C.E, and E.G.B.D.F (Every Good Boy Deserves Football) acronyms in order to identify the notes! It worked and stopped me from getting frustrated and abandoning it.

My husband returned last night, and proud of my accomplishment, I played the piece for him. His reaction was underwhelming to say the least – not being a classical music aficionado he didn’t recognize the ‘tune’ and therefore did not feel qualified to say if it was good or not! You would think this could have worked in my favour in that he would not have noticed the bum notes that may or may not have crept in as I was playing, but no. I explained to him that, for me, reading this music and playing it, is like reading two sentences of a book and speaking them, all at the same time – he still didn’t get it, and just gave me that sympathetic ‘whatever makes you happy, dear’ look.

Oh well, I’m pretty chuffed with it, and inspired to try something more challenging next time. My ultimate goal is to be able to sight read any piece of music and play - like a proper musician. This however will definitely be a long term goal!

Like fly paper for weirdos

That’s me! That, or I have a flashing light above me that draws them in. How else can I explain why people come up to me in places like Walmart and tell me random things like "it’s 3 weeks ‘til hurricane season hits, and you better be prepared, we’re gettin’ one way worse than Katrina this time, and you better be ready"? All this yesterday as I am (unsuccessfully) trying to secure my toddler back into the cart, with my infant strapped to my front in his snugli! All, in the kids towels aisle. I’m thinking though I should have asked him how he could be so certain that we’re in for a ‘worse than Katrina’ storm, I might just have asked him for this week’s lotto numbers, too.

This is not the first time something like this has happened to me. I have been accosted by panhandlers and other weirdos in Walmart’s carpark – so maybe it’s not ME, maybe it’s Walmart that is like fly paper for weirdos then?

Makeover Monday

It's Monday? Again? Already?!

It barely seems like yesterday that I sat here and typed my seemingly manageable goal of making more time for me and dreamed of sessions at my other keyboard hearing myself play a little bit of Tchaikovsky or the like. Where did the darn week go then? Just as I'm getting round to finding time to actually sit down and get the music book out of the plastic bag that I carried it home from the store in, I find myself at another Monday and not only am I supposed to be playing away, but have other goals in store for this coming week!

I failed miserably at the piano piece last week, but did enjoy a great dinner out with my friends, and vow to make that a more regular feature (it's 8 months since we did it last!)

Moodswingingmommy at Am I Going Mad or am I just a Mommy is keeping us on our toes with Makeover Monday so rather than throw in the towel, I'll try this again. I'm going to learn a piano piece this week! That is my only 'formal' goal since the hubs is going to be away 3 out of the 5 workday nights this week my real goal will be surviving until Friday, with a full head of hair and sanity intact!

Check out Makeover Monday at Am I going Mad or am I just a Mommy for instructions on how you can participate.

Family memories all baked up in love.

We're heading out of town this weekend, to my cousin and her family. She celebrated her 40th Birthday last week, and knowing that she will have all the spa gift cards, and 'smelly stuff' one would want, I have resorted to making edible goodies for her (creative and economic all in one - always a bonus for this stay at home mother!)

The first batch of chocolatey goodness I'll be bringing is her favourite family treat - our Nana's Caramel Squares. As I was baking these this morning I found myself fondly reminiscing about Nana, to the point where I could almost feel her there standing beside me, watching her soft freckled hands, knuckles swollen with arthritis, lovingly rubbing the butter into the oats and flour. She was 75 when she died, not that old these days, and I was only 13, yet my memories of times spent at her house are vivid and plenty. I remember her patience as we (another cousin and myself) made Caramel Squares in her kitchen, on the big red table and we put a whole can of condensed milk into the base instead of the caramel mixture. Never one to waste a thing, she proceeded to get another can of milk for the caramel, and used our 'modified' base anyway. I think those were the crunchiest ones we'd ever tasted lol!

The timing of my reflections on Nana couldn't be better, since patience is not a strong point of mine lately. She was a great role model, and someone whose attitude and caring outreach to others I would like to emulate more. She was a devout Catholic, and instilled in her children a love of their faith, and a love of God and his 'holy Mother' as she would say. I want to pass that on to my children. I also want them to have fond memories of their Grandmothers and other extended family which is why, even though the thought of traveling for hours on end with two small children by air terrifies me (you have no idea!), I know it is so important for us to travel to Ireland as often as logistics and funds allow us to do so. We are fortunate, too, that our families can visit here fairly often.

The other recipe I'll be making for my cousin this morning is a Martha Stewart recipe - for Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies. Like most recipes of Martha's it'll use all my mixing bowls and utensils, but it'll be so worth it because these are scrumptious. Martha is someone I don't want to emulate so much lol! Well except for the mega millions part, but I'll stay clear of prison thank you!

Here are some pics - and should you feel the urge to try - the recipes are here for you too :) Have a SUPER weekend!

Caramel Squares:

For the base:
4oz quaker oats (I use quick cooking - but I don't think it matters)
2oz sugar
4oz all purpose flour
4oz (one stick) butter

1. Preheat oven to 375F
   
2. Sift flour, add oats and sugar
3. Work in butter with fingertips until evenly distributed and mixture forms pea sized lumps
4. Press mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 8x8inch baking tin (I like to use the disposable ones, I can peel the tinfoil away and it makes cutting them much easier).
5. Bake for 25 mins or until brown and firm.

For the top:
4oz (one stick) butter
2oz sugar
2 generous tablespoons of light karo syrup (golden syrup)
Small can condensed milk (I used the most of a 14oz can)
Few drops vanilla extract
8oz milk chocolate chips

1. Put all ingredients into a large pot and bring to the boil - allow to bubble for 5 mins (as my Nana used to say 'not a minute more, not a minute less). Be careful - I use a large pot because this mixture likes to 'spit' and there's nothing worse than a caramel burn if it gets on your skin. Watch it carefully too, it's very easy to burn and I have found this out the hard way and ruined saucepans in the process!
2. Pour caramel over cooled base, refrigerate to allow caramel to set...
3. Melt chocolate and pour over cooled caramel. Refrigerate again to set.
4. Once cooled and set, remove and allow to come to room temperature - then cut into squares.

I'm tired typing now and I have NO packing done, so here's a link to the brownie recipe"

Martha Stewart Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies


Now, how come I never remember how much of a pain clean up is when I embark on these baking adventures?

Operation Escape Accomplished!

Two blissful hours of adult conversation, nobody tugging at my trouser leg looking for something, no battles over unacceptable toddler behaviour, no crying, no whining and no demands from anyone!

My long overdue break with other moms was last night. It was in apparent jeopardy at least twice though. The first time being when my Husband called Tuesday to say he had to go away to Naples Wednesday, and stay overnight for work - but smart guy that he is, he delivered this news, and a babysitting solution all in the same sentence! The second time was when we were getting perilously close to the time when I was supposed to meet my friends and the babysitters still hadn't arrived!? I could literally feel the tears of disappointment smarting my eyes at the thought that I wasn't going to make it out.

I don't mean to paint my toddler as a tearaway - she's not (at least not all the time). Lately however, I have felt overwhelmed more than a few times at my complete lack of effectiveness in parenting her positively (therein lies a juicy blog post methinks!), and so I needed OUT for a little while, to stop me feeling even more overwhelmed.

I have never left my kid(s) with a babysitter before - like a real, paid for, babysitter. The only times in 2.5 years that we have gone out as a couple without the children is when we have family visiting from Ireland. One of my friends asked 'how was it?' 'leaving the kids with a babysitter for the first time, how did you feel about doing it?' I felt confused, it hadn't even crossed my mind, not even for a fleeting second, to feel bad about it. So then (briefly) I felt bad for not feeling bad. I was so single-mindedly focused on escaping! So suddenly I considered would Miss E miss me? Would she be difficult? Would the baby fuss? Then just as suddenly I put it out of my mind confident that Beth, (the babysitter) could handle it!

So since I'm making myself out as a mom who could care less if her kids cry when she's out - I imagine you'll all cast me out for sitting eating my meal and secretly smiling to myself that since my husband was out of town I'd get to sleep all night in our bed by myself - with the comforter to myself, stretching out right across the bed if I wanted to. I didn't factor into this the likelihood that Miss E would trot into the room during the night and get in beside me as she does most nights, but I can deal with her, she doesn't snore - I was still looking forward to a better night's sleep in general. Hmm - I couldn't get to sleep for AGES, I missed him, I guess I must love him or something!

All of us enjoyed our meal together, very grateful that we didn't have to cut pieces up and hand them to little people who always seem more interested in what's on our plate, than their own. We did end up talking a LOT about our kids - we each have children the same age and so we found ourselves comparing our challenges and successes. I'm confident though, with a few more outings we can branch out into other topics, and set the world to rights.

I'm off to check my calendar now so I can schedule another get together in the near future - check your in boxes ladies, and get the hubbies on board - we're doing this again, SOON.

Chinese Freeze Tag

Shauna from Pass the Chocolate tagged me for a game of "Chinese Freeze Tag." Here's how to play:

I'll write 10 (maybe not very) interesting facts about me and/or habits of mine.
I'm supposed to tag 10 people, but since I've seen this on a few blogs that I read - I'm running out of options (and don't say read more blogs - I read too many as it is!)

Here are my ten fascinating facts, and no yawning permitted:

1. I fell out of an upstairs window when I was five years old and got away with just a broken arm (and gave my pregnant mother a near heart attack!)
   
   
2. I learned to drive a manual (stick shift) car, and that is the only type I drove in Ireland. Now that I'm so used to driving an automatic, I find it hard to adjust to manual when I visit Ireland. We're going home soon for a visit, so here's hoping I don't burn anyone's clutch out!
   
   
3. I called someone yesterday whom I met through a mommy message board! She is a very nice person, and I felt totally comfortable calling her and I'm very glad that I did :) She's a great listener (I didn't really give her much choice!), and if she forgives me for chatting while her pizza was going cold, maybe we'll do it again some day and talk about more superficial stuff.
   
   
4. I hate mushrooms. I think it's just the texture, because they don't really have a 'taste'. I can't even force myself to eat them if they're in a meal I eat at someone's house - I have to embarrass myself and push them to the side of my plate.
   
   
5. I like mashed banana on toast, with a slice of cheese melted over the top. Sounds gross - but try it.
   
   
6. I cannot touch my toes without bending my knees - and I think this has something to do with my legs being 3.5 ft long (heel to hip - a fact I had to determine as part of a statistics exercise once lol!)
   
   
7. I am to be Matron of Honor at my sister's wedding in Ireland next year - at 36 I may be the oldest bridesmaid in history!
   
   
8. I have a congenital malformation of my brain, discovered in December 2006 after a cat scan following a bad fall I had. Apparently my brain at the base of my skull extends further than it's meant to. I've never had any ill effects from this and I like to think of it as me being so brainy that my head can't hold it all in :). Knowing this now however does kind of freak me out a little and messes with the hypochondriac in me.
   
   
9. I am escaping from the kids , am spending some quality time with friends on an evening out this week (can you tell I'm excited??)
   
   
10. I drop the 'f bomb' entirely too often - I'm trying to do better!
    
    
    

So, there you have it - kept you riveted didn't I? I feel bad not passing on the tags - but seriously I'm not sure if I even have 10 people who read this - so I won't embarrass myself by trying to come up with 10 names ha ha! Feel free to do it if you like - good for days when you're running out of blogging material :)