Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
July 7th, 2010
Saturday started out as a lovely day. Izzy woke early and we headed out to MacCaulay Park. We brought snacks and sidewalk chalk and had lots of fun drawing on the ground.
She insisted on adding whiskers to everything I drew.
Even the fish and the octopus got whiskers.
We stopped by Goodwill and found some new books for Izzy. She’s really losing interest in her baby board books, so now I’m stocking up on little kid story books. She really likes her new books but can’t seem to get enough of The Aristocats, The Little Mermaid and The Jungle Book. In fact, I have to read those stories every day. It’s a good thing I like them.
Isadora fell asleep on the way home, and transfer to crib was successful. I went into the kitchen to putter around. Mitch went to a neighbor’s house to hang out and was going to pick up a decaf latte for me from Farm Table (yum!) a little later.
While I was checking email, FaceBook, etc. I heard a terrible sound coming from outside. I can’t see the street from my apartment unless I stand on my dining room table, and only then just get a sliver of the north side. The sound was so upsetting, like an animal crying out in extreme pain, and I had a completely visceral reaction. I was shaking and started sobbing uncontrollably.
I looked out to see a woman holding a limp dog in her arms and she was screaming and crying and asking for help. It just broke my heart because I wanted to help her, but I couldn’t leave Izzy home alone to go out there to see what I could to help.
I kept seeing people approach her and then turn away. What the hell was wrong with these people? Why weren’t they helping her? I called Mitch and asked him to go down and see if he could help her get a cab, drive her to the vet, do anything to just MAKE THE SCREAMING STOP.
I began to understand that she let her dog walk off leash and he dashed into the traffic and got hit by a car. I was simply heart sick by the animal’s cries of pain and of the woman’s cries of anguish.
I started playing the “what if” game in my mind. What if Izzy broke free from me and ran into the street and was run over by a car? What if that was me holding her limp body, asking for help, and people turned away? I almost threw up I was so distraught.
Finally, a Fire Truck showed up to take control of the situation and Mitch came home to report what he learned. He, along with several other citizens, hailed several cabs and offered to give her money to take her and that poor suffering dog to a vet to get fixed up. She refused everything, which is why people were turning and walking away. She wanted to wait until Animal Care and Control would show up (even if it was going to more than an hour) to take the dog away so they could destroy instead of going to a vet for help. She apparently couldn’t afford the vet bills. More than an hour! To let that dog suffer, and let the people of the neighborhood live in her distress, for what? To not pay a vet bill?
I later learned that people called 911 for help. She wasted so many resources for no discernible reason other than getting rid of her pet who was no longer cute.
I am outraged by this woman’s lack of care for her animal. To let a dog walk off leash in this neighborhood, where cabs, buses and cars drive 50 miles an hour to make the next green light is just irresponsible. To take the life of an animal under your care because it’s cute and fun, but with no plans to see to it’s health and well being is just unconscionable. If you can’t afford to take care of your animal, then don’t get one.
I still can’t shake the sound of that dog crying.
A Collection
July 6th, 2010
Several things I wanted to write about Izzy, but haven’t had the time…
1) On Izzy’s second birthday, she sang the alphabet song all the way through, by herself.
2) After Izzy’s second birthday party, she sang, “Happy Birthday, two years old” for several days.
3) She still talks about cake.
4) Izzy is really getting in to role playing. She loves to change her doll’s diaper and put all her babies to bed.
5) Pretend games are happening more and more. She would often “feed” me a bowl of strawberries at bedtime. Her latest favorite is playing tea party with the new tea set from Green Toys.
6) This kid is getting a little sassy. Our conversation went something like this:
Izzy: Mama, I need a bicycle for my bath.
Me: You don’t need a bicycle for your bath.
Izzy: Whatever, Mama.
7) Izzy is starting to give me kisses and tell me she loves me without any prompting. I am in heaven.
8 ) She’s losing her adventurous spirit with food. It’s all about the cheese and crackers now. She won’t even eat her beets anymore. I’m so sad.
9) Whenever I draw something for her (kitty, bunny, fish, octopus), she needs to give it whiskers.
10) Now that we have noise muffling, blackout blinds in her room, she’s falling asleep faster and sleeping in later.
Super Hero Cape
July 6th, 2010
Here’s the final product of my sneak peek last month!
I found a great tutorial for Super Hero Capes over at The Long Thread. The instructions were really easy to follow. I drew out the pattern in about 15 minutes, cut the fabric in another ten, and the sewing and pressing probably took about an hour. All together, this was a quick project, and easy for me to manage over the course of several days since I don’t get solid blocks of time for my projects. It was also a fun challenge because I had never done appliqué before. There was no way I would have even attempted it using my old machine. I am so in love with my new Singer Confidence 7470. Sewing is fun again! The appliqué came out great and I’m looking forward to doing more.
Ethan’s birthday is coming up soon tomorrow, and I made the Super Hero Cape for him. How did the time get away again? I really did think I finished in time to mail it to him for his special day. Well, a little belated won’t be too big of a deal. I hope.
I love the fabric I chose. The lining is from Three Rivers Fabric. I love the blue, red. And orange. So vibrant!
I took the yard to Britex so I could find a corresponding color for the outside of the cape. The clerk helping me was the best! She grabbed several bolts of fabric and helped me choose the best red and orange to use.
Hope to have few shots of Ethan wearing it soon!
Because this was such a fun and easy project, it will be my go-to gift for little kids as their birthdays roll around. I’m making one for Izzy in lime green with a cupcake pattern for the lining. Stay tuned for photos of the next completed project.
Meal Planning week of July 4th
July 5th, 2010
I forgot that today was Monday so I’ll have to shift everything down and move a couple of things around next time I’m in the kitchen.
Sunday: Salmon with rice cooker mac and cheese and broccoli.
Monday: Veggie Lasagna with zucchini, kale, mushrooms, black olives and fresh basil. It was delicious and usually Izzy can’t get enough of lasagna, but today she refused to eat it. After the 1:00 a.m. I’m hungry screams from Saturday night, I made sure she ate something before getting down from her chair. She had carrots, hummus, pita, an apricot and some almond milk.
Tuesday: Slow cooker chili. I really should brown the turkey tonight before I go to bed.
Wednesday: Lasagna leftovers. Hopefully Izzy will eat it this time. Mitch will have to figure something out if she doesn’t. He’ll be on his own while I’m at photo class.
Thursday: Spinach Raviolis
Friday: Chili left overs
Saturday: Tilapia, quinoa and zucchini
Sunday: Soup and grilled cheese. Quick, easy and no leftovers. We’re headed to San Diego next week. Yay!
Meal Planning Week of June 27th
June 29th, 2010
Sunday: Grandma Judy was visiting and we got home kind of late on Sunday from Kathy’s retirement party, so I wanted to make something quick and easy. Store bought pesto and organic chicken ravioli from Costco fit the bill just fine. I had several organic summer squash in the fridge so i roasted those to serve with dinner. One loomed like a yellow zucchini, another looked like a zucchini in color and pattern, but it was completely round. Another was your garden variety yellow crook neck squash. The last two were shaped like flying sauces–one was yellow and one was green. I cut them in big chunks and tossed them with a bit of EVOO and a dash of sea salt. Delicious!
Monday: Thai inspired minced turkey with veggies and rice noodles. Mitch and Izzy can’t stop eating this one, so I make it once a week.
Tuesday: I had a package of Trader Joe’s pre made Jambalaya. The last time I made it, Mitch didn’t like it, but I had an idea to make it better. I sliced up some sustainably raised chicken sausage and got that browning in the pan while I chopped onions, red pepper, and kale. Once the sausage was browning I tossed the veggies in. As everything cooked, I added some vegetable broth and a bit of tomato paste to make some sauce, then added the rice and cooked it until warm. It was awesome. Izzy started off with a few bites and like it, but then refused to eat anymore. She didn’t have a nap today and was too tired to be adventurous with food.
Wednesday: Mitch and Izzy are on their own and will need to find a way to fend for themselves. I have my photo class after work and will probably grab a salad from the grocery store for dinner.
Thursday: Not entirely uninspired spaghetti and meatballs. I have some leftover turkey pesto meatballs in the freezer. Another Mitch and Izzy favorite.
Friday: it’s been a while since I’ve used the slow cooker so I’m going to get a batch of chili going in the slower cooker. We’ll have leftovers on Monday and pack up more for the freezer.
Saturday: Tilapia and zucchini.
Stay tuned…
June 20th, 2010
Awesome birthday present in the works.
Meal Planning week of June 20
June 20th, 2010
I didn’t go grocery shopping this week, so I’m scrounging in the cupboards and the freezer. This week is a little less inspired than others, but we’ll have some decent meals.
I made a wonderful baked chicken and carrots seasoned with lemon and thyme. I also prepared quinoa and broccoli. It’s a glorious thing to hear your 2 year old scream for more broccoli and quinoa!
I prepared the turkey meatballs today and we’ll eat them tomorrow night with pasta and red sauce. Mitch will reheat them again on Wednesday for himself and Izzy while I’m at my photography class for the night.
I’ll be making fake Indian fare on Tuesday. Trader Joe’s offers pre-made lentils and I’ll make an easy dish by preparing them with their jarred tikka masala sauce. I also picked up their frozen biryani rice too. I’ll make chicken curry again, using their prepared sauce along with some frozen pre-cooked chicken breast strips.
Fish sticks on Thursday! What else can I say about that?
Friday is still an unknown. Mitch will probably snooze through dinner so he can rest up for his poker game. I’ll figure out something for Izzy and me last minute. We may just have a meal of beets and goat cheese. It’s one of her favorites.
I’ll make Salmon on Saturday. I have a balsamic glaze that I picked up from the Underground Farmer’s Market that is fabulous. I’ll make a side of quinoa and will use some frozen veggies as a side if I haven’t gone shopping again yet.
Meal Planning week of June 13
June 13th, 2010
If it’s Sunday it must be lasagna! Tonight’s was my best ever. Veggie lasagna with zucchini, mushrooms and olives. What made it special this time was the fresh basil and parsley. I usually use dried.
Monday is easy night. I picked up a premade meatloaf and salad from Trader Joes.
I love the recipe I found on A Little Yumminess for Stir-fried Minced Chicken (or Turkey) with Basil. I made a few modifications and changed up the veggies. It’s a favorite in the house so it’s on heavy rotation right now.
Wednesday is leftover Lasagna night. It’s an easy reheat since Mitch and Izzy will be on their own. I have a photography class for the next few weeks on Wednesdays, so I need to make sure that I plan enough leftovers for them each week.
Yay for Farmer Brown! We had dinner with a Jaime as a thank you to her for helping me polish up my resume.
Izzy and I nibbled on the leftover minced turkey while Mitch power napped for his Friday night poker game.
We considered trying to go to Kokkari for dinner, but after two nights out during the week, I was kind of beat. The only problem was I didn’t take anything out of the freezer to prepare for dinner. I fell back on my go to dinner when I’m too tired for anything else–hot dogs! I know totally uninspired, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
Never to early for a little back talk
June 10th, 2010
Me: Let’s go take a bath.
Izzy: I need a bicycle.
Me: You don’t need a bicycle for your bath.
Izzy: Whatever.
Up next: major eye rolling, stomping out of the room and slamming of doors.
Turkey Pesto Meatballs
May 31st, 2010
2 pounds ground turkey breast
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup pesto sauce
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs whites
Mix everything in a bowl and combine well. Roll mixtures into balls. I use an ice cream scoop to make them all the same size. I put them on a cooling rack on top of a foil lined cookie sheet sprayed with a little cooking spray. Bake the meatballs at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.
Source: Baked Bree