Great things are going on in Jackson right now for the younger set! There are TWO great exhibits currently running, plus a theatre production!
First, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science has an exhibit on offer until May 6 called Animal Secrets. The exhibit focuses on the lives and habitats of forest animals. Clay absolutely loved the darkened cave where he could discover animals with a tiny flashlight and the giant tree where he could pretend to be storing acorns for the cold winter months. Visitors can also build their own ants and play with eagle and raccoon puppets. As usual, this exhibit is offered in addition to all the great things you can see at the museum any time - the fish tanks, the two-headed snake, the nature trails, etc. We tuckered ourselves out exploring, then picked up a bit of Chick-fil-A on the way home. A great Saturday!
And just this weekend, the Mississippi Museum of Art unveiled their Curious George Saves the Day exhibit. Full of fun illustrations, letters, manuscripts, and more, this exhibit traces the lives of Margaret and H.A. Rey and their most famous creation - Curious George. Little man has been a HUGE Curious George fan since he was very little, so we couldn't miss this exhibit. We showed up on opening day to not only see the show, but to participate in all of the family activities the museum had planned. After arriving, we picked up our yellow safari hat and our passport. Once we'd enjoyed story time, we set off into the exhibit. Along the way, we had our passport stamped at booths where we decorated bookmarks, created a postcard, drew in a giant dry-erase book, and more. We finished up with a free red balloon and a ride around the art garden on a miniature train. Topped off with a couple of slices of pizza at Sal and Mookie's for lunch, and little people (and big people) were very happy. You have until July 22 to catch this exhibit! Don't miss it!
For next weekend, we have tickets to New Stage Theatre's production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I know a few of the cast members, so I am especially looking forward to the show! Most of the original shows have already been sold out, but the theatre recently added an additional performance on March 8. There's still time to sneak a seat! Tickets are a bargain at $10.
So much going on! So much to do! Buckle your little person in the carseat and meet me out there!
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Friday, March 02, 2012
Bookmarked
Two books I read recently that I thought I'd weigh in on.
Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese, was an excellent novel about family, country and how one's past shapes one's future.
In Missing Hospital, a mission in Ethiopia, a beautiful nun dies in childbirth. Her twin boys, Shiva and Marion, are the product of a secret union between the nun and the resident British doctor. Wracked with grief over the nun's death, the doctor abandons the boys, who are later adopted and raised at the mission. Years later, as political strife tears the country apart, Marion flees to the United States to save his life. Apart, the boys both grow into men fascinated with medicine, men whose pasts confront them in life-altering ways before the story's conclusion.
I worried that this book would be depressing, but its heaviness is tempered by vivid, loving descriptions of Ethiopia (almost its own character in this novel) and the characters' fortitude and optimism in the face of harrowing circumstances. Even the storylines with sad endings have some peace about them, some feeling of closure.
Verghese is an adept writer, and one whose own love of medicine is evident in this book. I learned all kinds of things, and I have a new appreciation for those who choose a life of healing. Though the book starts rather slowly, it is ultimately worth reading.
I also read Off Season, by Anne Rivers Siddons. In it, we meet young Lily, whose wealthy family summers on the Maine coast. There, she discovers her first true love and experiences her first true loss. As an adult, Lily returns to the same little beach house she frequented as a child when her husband dies unexpectedly. Memories echo all around her as she sorts out a new way of being and tries to make sense of all that has come before.
Though Siddons does an admirable job of creating a world and peopling in with characters, I have to say that this book is a downer. There is so much death in it, and Lily is forced to rally again and again. I didn't care for the ending, especially after I'd invested the time to cover nearly 400 pages getting there. Can't recommend this one.
Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese, was an excellent novel about family, country and how one's past shapes one's future.
In Missing Hospital, a mission in Ethiopia, a beautiful nun dies in childbirth. Her twin boys, Shiva and Marion, are the product of a secret union between the nun and the resident British doctor. Wracked with grief over the nun's death, the doctor abandons the boys, who are later adopted and raised at the mission. Years later, as political strife tears the country apart, Marion flees to the United States to save his life. Apart, the boys both grow into men fascinated with medicine, men whose pasts confront them in life-altering ways before the story's conclusion.
I worried that this book would be depressing, but its heaviness is tempered by vivid, loving descriptions of Ethiopia (almost its own character in this novel) and the characters' fortitude and optimism in the face of harrowing circumstances. Even the storylines with sad endings have some peace about them, some feeling of closure.
Verghese is an adept writer, and one whose own love of medicine is evident in this book. I learned all kinds of things, and I have a new appreciation for those who choose a life of healing. Though the book starts rather slowly, it is ultimately worth reading.
I also read Off Season, by Anne Rivers Siddons. In it, we meet young Lily, whose wealthy family summers on the Maine coast. There, she discovers her first true love and experiences her first true loss. As an adult, Lily returns to the same little beach house she frequented as a child when her husband dies unexpectedly. Memories echo all around her as she sorts out a new way of being and tries to make sense of all that has come before.
Though Siddons does an admirable job of creating a world and peopling in with characters, I have to say that this book is a downer. There is so much death in it, and Lily is forced to rally again and again. I didn't care for the ending, especially after I'd invested the time to cover nearly 400 pages getting there. Can't recommend this one.
Shame, shame, shame!
Oh, shame on me for not visiting this space in such a long time! Shame, shame, shame!!
Succinctly, January and February were FULL of activity. Some developments at work (I got a promotion! Woo hoo!), some family drama (mom got her hip replaced, sister is nearly to term with a high-risk pregnancy), and some of our general fun-finding (a divine gala at the Mississippi Children's Museum, lovely nights out with friends and family, etc.) have kept me busier than usual.
There's no use in trying to catch up, really, so I'll just forge ahead with today's story.
Months and months and months ago, hubs and I decided to take a trip to Rome this spring. We booked plane tickets. We found an apartment to rent in the historic center of the city. We booked it and began the long season of anticipation. I bought guidebooks and highlighted them obsessively. I began trolling fodors.com. We got some Berlitz DVDs and started rolling our r's.
Then, my sister got pregnant, and there were major complications. Then, my mom discovered that she'd have to have her hip replaced, and mom's visits to the hospital never seem to be routine. In the face of all the family issues swirling about, hubs and I realized there was a good chance we didn't need to be going anywhere.
So, we stopped planning. Stopped looking at guidebooks. Stopped making reservations. Stopped learning Italian.
And then, about two weeks ago, we noticed something. Our family issues were not ending in disaster. In fact, they were progressing nicely towards positive resolutions. Which meant . . . which meant our trip to Rome was imminent, and we couldn't speak any Italian other than "sorella" (sister) and "jurisprudenza" (law). We also hadn't make a single reservation, not to tour the Vatican, the Colosseum, not to eat anyplace special, not to do . . . anything.
Sooooo, in the past week, we have been a veritable storm of productivity. We've alerted our banks and credit card companies that we'll be traveling. We've converted money. (Good night, the exchange rate is HEINOUS.) We've bought suitcases (Hubs got me a darling little red Samsonite! I love it!) and made reservations. We've blown the dust off the guidebooks.
The only things we haven't done are to learn some Italian (which I intend to do in haste) and start getting excited! We have ten glorious days in Rome planned. It's the first time we've been overseas since little man came along, and I intend to savor every moment!
Succinctly, January and February were FULL of activity. Some developments at work (I got a promotion! Woo hoo!), some family drama (mom got her hip replaced, sister is nearly to term with a high-risk pregnancy), and some of our general fun-finding (a divine gala at the Mississippi Children's Museum, lovely nights out with friends and family, etc.) have kept me busier than usual.
There's no use in trying to catch up, really, so I'll just forge ahead with today's story.
Months and months and months ago, hubs and I decided to take a trip to Rome this spring. We booked plane tickets. We found an apartment to rent in the historic center of the city. We booked it and began the long season of anticipation. I bought guidebooks and highlighted them obsessively. I began trolling fodors.com. We got some Berlitz DVDs and started rolling our r's.
Then, my sister got pregnant, and there were major complications. Then, my mom discovered that she'd have to have her hip replaced, and mom's visits to the hospital never seem to be routine. In the face of all the family issues swirling about, hubs and I realized there was a good chance we didn't need to be going anywhere.
So, we stopped planning. Stopped looking at guidebooks. Stopped making reservations. Stopped learning Italian.
And then, about two weeks ago, we noticed something. Our family issues were not ending in disaster. In fact, they were progressing nicely towards positive resolutions. Which meant . . . which meant our trip to Rome was imminent, and we couldn't speak any Italian other than "sorella" (sister) and "jurisprudenza" (law). We also hadn't make a single reservation, not to tour the Vatican, the Colosseum, not to eat anyplace special, not to do . . . anything.
Sooooo, in the past week, we have been a veritable storm of productivity. We've alerted our banks and credit card companies that we'll be traveling. We've converted money. (Good night, the exchange rate is HEINOUS.) We've bought suitcases (Hubs got me a darling little red Samsonite! I love it!) and made reservations. We've blown the dust off the guidebooks.
The only things we haven't done are to learn some Italian (which I intend to do in haste) and start getting excited! We have ten glorious days in Rome planned. It's the first time we've been overseas since little man came along, and I intend to savor every moment!
Sunday, January 01, 2012
My 101
Well, I think it's time to admit that I've been woefully derelict in keeping up with My 101. Here's where I've moved the needle in the past few months:
101 things to do in 1001 days
Learn to juggle
Take a martial arts class
Make a will
Make a living will
Train to run 3 miles without stopping
Try a yoga or pilates class
Go to the Lauren Rogers Museum
Learn to play at least one song on the guitar (or, sheesh, just PRACTICE once in a while)
Write a food article and get it published
Write at least one poem or short story
Plant an herb garden
Make fresh pesto with basil I grew
Drink wine in California
Eat salsa in San Antonio
Treasure hunt on Highway 49
Host a New Year’s open house party
Visit the famous fried chicken place in Lorman
Go the fall flower show/festival in Crystal Springs - I did this! I actually took a day off work and did this! It was great. I took tons of pics of plants, bought a hilarious piece of yard art, and ran into a frew friends!
Learn more about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict
Give blood
Learn to play the harmonica
Get my piano tuned
Buy sheet music for a song I like and learn to play it on the piano
Learn to do a passable waltz
Go ice skating
Attain APR accreditation
Read at least 3 current books on my profession
Take a road tour through the Mississippi Delta
Enroll in a Millsaps Enrichment class of my choosing
Take Clay to Disney World
Celebrate my birthday in style
Boil/steam a live lobster
Go to a rodeo
Host a formal tea, like at the Savoy
Write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper
Perform in at least one stage production
Attend at least one college alumni event
Get back in touch with some of my college professors
Book a session with a personal trainer
Learn more about how to maximize Adobe Photoshop
Plan a surprise party for someone
Replace at least three outdated light fixtures in my house
Plant some vegetables and keep them alive long enough to harvest them
Plan and take at least one “destination trip” in honor of a holiday (Salem at Halloween, Plymouth Rock at Thanksgiving, etc.)
Stop cussing. Seriously STOP.
Renew my passport
Spend an entire day in complete silence (This one is going to be very difficult.)
Check out a library book, read it, and leave a note in it for the next reader.
Attend one religious service of a faith other than my own, just to observe
Start buying more goods that are made in America
Find a professional mentor.
Act as a mentor to someone who needs me
Take Clay fruit picking at a local farm
Make something yummy with what we pick
Take Clay to the Petrified Forest - We did this one! What fun! We took the forest trail, flumed for gems, and bought some keepsakes from the gift shop. This was a great day!
Buy him a bag of shiny tumbled rocks
Take Clay to Rocky Springs
Take Mom to the opera
Rent a boat and go deep sea fishing with dad
Do a “Godfather Week” at the house, where we eat Italian food and watch the Godfather series (once Clay goes to bed. Eeek!)
Go camping
Have an indulgent breakfast in bed.
Have my eyes checked (Dear Lord, I’m getting old.)
Take a weekend trip alone. COMPELTELY ALONE.
Win a bet
Look up more shadow puppet instructions and expand my repertoire (Dog, deer, dinosaur, rabbit, and bird are getting kinda old.)
Throw a tapas and wine party
Go on a picnic (Because you can never have too many.)
Toast the sunset
Go see an author read from his/her work
Fly a kite.
Ride a horse
Go see a fortune teller or psychic
Ride a train
Find the perfect swimsuit
Have a facial
Move more of my bills/notices over to electronic or auto-draft
Clean out/shred as necessary in ALL of my old files (Gulp.)
Add money to a parking meter about to run out
Repair the back yard arbor
Whittle something
Kiss a new baby
Throw a Mediterranean party with grilled lamb, veggies, tzatziki, the whole nine
Start a personal, meaningful family tradition at Easter
Photograph a sunrise
Go to Pepsi Pops
Go to a ceramic painting shop and paint something cool.
Take a family trip to the wildlife preserve in Louisiana
Learn how to change my own oil in my car
Learn how to check and flush/fill fluids in my car
Learn the basics of how my car works
Get a book on constellations
Try to identify at least five of them in the sky
Write a love letter
Surprise someone
Put Christmas decorations on the outside of the house - We did this one! We went above and beyond our normal wreath on the door with two tiny trees flanking the door (adorned with bows), red ribbon wrapping the two front columns (a la peppermint), a lit garland, and both colored and white lights.
Have sandal heels re-tapped or CHUCK THEM
Make a care package for someone
Buy something hand made.
Visit a place that’s rumored to be haunted
Tape and edit a video to create a FINISHED PRODUCT.
Start date: February 16, 2011
End date: November 13, 2013
101 things to do in 1001 days
Learn to juggle
Take a martial arts class
Make a will
Make a living will
Train to run 3 miles without stopping
Try a yoga or pilates class
Go to the Lauren Rogers Museum
Learn to play at least one song on the guitar (or, sheesh, just PRACTICE once in a while)
Write a food article and get it published
Write at least one poem or short story
Plant an herb garden
Make fresh pesto with basil I grew
Drink wine in California
Eat salsa in San Antonio
Treasure hunt on Highway 49
Host a New Year’s open house party
Visit the famous fried chicken place in Lorman
Go the fall flower show/festival in Crystal Springs - I did this! I actually took a day off work and did this! It was great. I took tons of pics of plants, bought a hilarious piece of yard art, and ran into a frew friends!
Learn more about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict
Give blood
Learn to play the harmonica
Get my piano tuned
Buy sheet music for a song I like and learn to play it on the piano
Learn to do a passable waltz
Go ice skating
Attain APR accreditation
Read at least 3 current books on my profession
Take a road tour through the Mississippi Delta
Enroll in a Millsaps Enrichment class of my choosing
Take Clay to Disney World
Celebrate my birthday in style
Boil/steam a live lobster
Go to a rodeo
Host a formal tea, like at the Savoy
Write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper
Perform in at least one stage production
Attend at least one college alumni event
Get back in touch with some of my college professors
Book a session with a personal trainer
Learn more about how to maximize Adobe Photoshop
Plan a surprise party for someone
Replace at least three outdated light fixtures in my house
Plant some vegetables and keep them alive long enough to harvest them
Plan and take at least one “destination trip” in honor of a holiday (Salem at Halloween, Plymouth Rock at Thanksgiving, etc.)
Stop cussing. Seriously STOP.
Renew my passport
Spend an entire day in complete silence (This one is going to be very difficult.)
Check out a library book, read it, and leave a note in it for the next reader.
Attend one religious service of a faith other than my own, just to observe
Start buying more goods that are made in America
Find a professional mentor.
Act as a mentor to someone who needs me
Take Clay fruit picking at a local farm
Make something yummy with what we pick
Take Clay to the Petrified Forest - We did this one! What fun! We took the forest trail, flumed for gems, and bought some keepsakes from the gift shop. This was a great day!
Buy him a bag of shiny tumbled rocks
Take Clay to Rocky Springs
Take Mom to the opera
Rent a boat and go deep sea fishing with dad
Do a “Godfather Week” at the house, where we eat Italian food and watch the Godfather series (once Clay goes to bed. Eeek!)
Go camping
Have an indulgent breakfast in bed.
Have my eyes checked (Dear Lord, I’m getting old.)
Take a weekend trip alone. COMPELTELY ALONE.
Win a bet
Look up more shadow puppet instructions and expand my repertoire (Dog, deer, dinosaur, rabbit, and bird are getting kinda old.)
Throw a tapas and wine party
Go on a picnic (Because you can never have too many.)
Toast the sunset
Go see an author read from his/her work
Fly a kite.
Ride a horse
Go see a fortune teller or psychic
Ride a train
Find the perfect swimsuit
Have a facial
Move more of my bills/notices over to electronic or auto-draft
Clean out/shred as necessary in ALL of my old files (Gulp.)
Add money to a parking meter about to run out
Repair the back yard arbor
Whittle something
Kiss a new baby
Throw a Mediterranean party with grilled lamb, veggies, tzatziki, the whole nine
Start a personal, meaningful family tradition at Easter
Photograph a sunrise
Go to Pepsi Pops
Go to a ceramic painting shop and paint something cool.
Take a family trip to the wildlife preserve in Louisiana
Learn how to change my own oil in my car
Learn how to check and flush/fill fluids in my car
Learn the basics of how my car works
Get a book on constellations
Try to identify at least five of them in the sky
Write a love letter
Surprise someone
Put Christmas decorations on the outside of the house - We did this one! We went above and beyond our normal wreath on the door with two tiny trees flanking the door (adorned with bows), red ribbon wrapping the two front columns (a la peppermint), a lit garland, and both colored and white lights.
Have sandal heels re-tapped or CHUCK THEM
Make a care package for someone
Buy something hand made.
Visit a place that’s rumored to be haunted
Tape and edit a video to create a FINISHED PRODUCT.
Start date: February 16, 2011
End date: November 13, 2013
More merrymaking
We had such a joyous holiday season!One night, we bundled up and went out to see the lights at Winners' Circle Park! Every year, the City of Flowood pulls out all the stops, stringing lights all over this public park. Admission is free, Santa is in attendance, and train rides and hot cocoa are available for a small fee. There must be thousands of lights, and they are absolutely gorgeous. We dialed up one of the Clay's buddies and met he and his family out there. We rode the train, saw Santa Claus, and basically ran wild along the beautifully illuminated trails. What fun!
We also enjoyed the festive atmosphere at the Mississippi Museum of Science's Christmas Festival. Again, tons of lights, a live nativity, and lots of live music (both choirs and instrumental groups). Again, we sat on Santa's knee (shyly asking for a pair of binoculars). We also got the chance to peep inside the museum at night, gaping at all of the aquariums and running into a few old friends.
On Christmas Eve, we met up at my sister's house for a delicious dinner. For the menu, we decided to focus on greatest hits. We started off with munchies - a
melted brie topped with Mississippi honey and sliced almonds, served with crackers. Then a gorgeous rosemary wreath studded with olives, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella balls. (I found this cute recipe idea on Pinterest. It looks very festive, is super easy to to put together, and is actually healthy.)For an entree, we had a gorgeous rib roast. Nine pounds of rib roast was PERFECT for 10 people (8 adults, 2 kids). To accompany it, we served green bean casserole, salad, rolls, and potatoes roasted in the drippings from the roast (unbelievable). Dessert was a decadent homemade cheesecake with chocolate sauce. (Grace is an awesome baker!) I could definitely see this becoming our go-to menu for Christmas each year. Everything was delicious and tasted of the holidays.
Yesterday, we finished up our holiday celebrating with hubs' side of the family, and it was GREAT! A huge spread of fried turkey, amazing ham, casseroles, dressing, and the most sinful caramel brownies you can imagine. Tons of present opening, laughing, talking, plus a quick walk! My father-in-law cracks me up. (Plus,
he has a quality that reminds my of my dear grandmother - every plan he touches flourishes and grows. I admire a green thumb so!) And Clay loves seeing everyone, petting the dogs, and playing video games with cousins and uncles.What an amazing Christmas season. I gotta admit, this one was particularly good. We are so blessed to have our health, our families, and all of the undeserved gifts we enjoy on a daily basis. Here's to a warm and wonderful 2012.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Hollying and jollying
It's early December, and Christmas has arrived at the Bradshaw house! Last weekend, we took down all of the fall decorations and brought out our garland and tree! We decorated the inside of the house, hung ornaments, and introduced Clay to our new Elf on the Shelf.If you've never had an Elf on the Shelf, I'll tell you a bit about it. My younger sister gave it to Clay last Christmas, so this is our first season using it. Basically, it's a little stuffed elf that comes with a book. The book tells you that the elf watches the goings-on at your house every day and flies to the North Pole each night to report to Santa. Each morning, he's in a different spot, so you have to wake up and find him!
We named our elf Jingleshanks, and he's doing a ton more than just reporting to S
anta. He's couriered letters to and from Santa back and forth from the North Pole, in addition to bringing out our Christmas decorations, stocking the Advent calendar, and more. I have tons of plans for this little guy before the season is through!We introduced Clay to him over a special Christmasy breakfast with snowmen doughnuts, fruit and milk.
This weekend, we decorated the front porch with lights and garland. We also went light peeping! There are some houses that are really done up! I also volunteered with a couple of friends to ring the Salv
ation Army bell outside of a grocery store, which was really fun! We wore nutty Santa hats, brought a boom box and a Christmas CD, and danced and sang along to the carols as we rang our bells. If you gave both going into and coming out of the store, you got four high kicks, a la The Rockettes!!
Thanksgiving!
We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving! Due to the kitchen renovation currently going on at Mom's house, we hosted the extended Thanksgiving celebration at the Bradshaw house this year. What fun! I had a great time decorating, cooking and enjoying the day!Here's the menu:
Appetizers - I made a fun marinated goat cheese appetizer with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, rosemary, and chopped black olives. We served it with a loaf of sliced, toasted french bread. To go along with it, I had a fruit tray of sliced ripe red pear and purple grapes. As a finishing touch, I served a bowl of salted mixed nuts and some split dates, stuffed with whipped cream cheese and a half a pecan.
Main course - After some deliberation, I decided to make the same turkey recipe that I made last year. (The only change - I omitted the white wine in the gravy. One in our party is with child, and I felt it was better to be safe than sorry!)
For sides, my sweet sister Laura brought all kinds of delicious stuff. She made my grandmother's classic dressing, and she also made another stuffing with sausage and apple (a delicious meal in itself). Then, she made tender roasted brussels sprouts with prosciutto and a balsamic glaze. She also brought baked sweet potato rounds, dressed with a bit of red onion and bacon. YUM!!
We also had the now-traditional homemade cranberry sauce and Sister Schubert rolls.
Dessert - Here's the crazy thing - we had strawberry cake and sweet potato pie, but dang it if I could eat ANY of it!! I had a piece of cake a couple of days later at mom's house, and hubs ate some of the pie in the ensuing days, but I don't think anyone even ate dessert on Thanksgiving Day! We were all too stuffed from dinner!
At any rate, I really enjoyed hosting! Hubs and I found a sweet little wooden table (and matching chairs) at Target, and we dressed it up as the kids' table. It worked perfectly!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Veterans Day
Taking little man to Vicksburg National Military Park had been on my list for a while. Mom took us there when we were little, and I have fond memories of patrolling the battlements, hopping around the monuments, manning cannons and just running around out there.Yesterday was Veterans Day, and I thought, "What better time to visit?" The weather was gorgeous, the leaves were turning brilliant fall colors, and we had a free Saturday. So off we went.
We arrived at around 10:30 a.m. After a quick trip to the visitors center (where we learned more about the seige of Vicksburg and bought a cool Union infantry cap), we headed out for the driving tour. Clay LOVED running around (and on) the monuments, blasting the enemy with heavy cannon fire, and exploring the Cairo (the Union gunboat on site).
And it is a gorgeous time of year to visit. Cool enough to keep you from sweating as you run up and down all of those earth embankments, absolutely amazing fall foliage, a nice breeze - it couldn't have been prettier. Before we even left, Clay was asking when we'd go back!
Next time, we'll arrive a little bit earlier and bring a picnic. We stayed from about 10:30 a.m. until about 1 p.m., and we only left then so we could go grab a late lunch.
Halloween!
We had a great Halloween here at the Bradshaw house! First of all, the week before Halloween, we went out to Boo at the Zoo. What fun!Years ago, Boo at the Zoo was a scary event that was desigend for older kids. The zoo would pay college and high school students to dress up in horrifying costumes and lie in wait for unsuspecting visitors in all of the park's nooks and crannies. SO, you'd be strolling nonchalantly along, and a hideous werewolf would jump out from behind a corner and scare the pee out of you.
Over the past couple of years, the Jackson Zoo has wisely reconsidered thier approach, turning Boo at the Zoo into more of a harvest carnival event, with games, candy, and a costume contest. We suited up and headed out. Clay loved the carnival games (and the hot dogs we purchased on site for dinner), but I think his favorite part was just getting to run through the zoo in his Batman costume as night was falling. The whole place was decorated, and he jumped and hopped and caught bad guys, all without having to constantly hold my hand. He was in heaven!
Then, on Halloween night, all of us suited up and went trick or treating. There was a great crowd in our neighborhood, and I loved getting to see all the kids (and some of the parents! Huzzah!) dressed up. We came home with a significant haul, and Clay enjoyed opening the door and handing out candy to the rest of the trick or treaters. (He kept exclaiming, "Look! Mom! We have some more customers!!")Needless to say, we had a GREAT TIME! Other Halloween doings included carving three pumpkins (That's one of them at left. The other two looked like Jack Skellington and Boba Fett!), making our traditional spiced pumpkin seeds, and trying out a new recipe that I found on Pinterest for pumpkin cookies with caramel frosting. (OMG.)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
My little punkin
We took a trip to Nichols Boyd Pumpkin Patch this weekend! For the past three years, it's been on our list to do in October. Clay loves seeing the animals, riding the hayride, selecting his pumpkin, and playing on the big swings and hay bales out by the pumpkin patch.
If you've never been to Nichols Boyd, it's easy to find. Just take 25/Lakeland out past Brandon. Get off at 43 and follow the signs! At most, it's a couple of miles off 25.
When you first get there, you'll sign in and pay for the hayride. Then, while you wait your turn, you can check out the caged bunnies, quail, chickens, turkeys, goats, and Porkchop the Pig. Once you board the hayride (Sit on the left-hand side to have a better view of all the animals.), off you'll go to check out the farm's zedonk, fallow deer, cows, donkeys, goats and ducks. Once your animal encounter is complete, the hayride will deposit you out at the pumpkin patch, which is surrounded by a shaded playground of rope swings and hay bale mazes. Adjacent fields of sunflowers make for great family pics.
Once you choose your pumpkin and let off some steam, you'll get back on the hayride for a trip back to the barn. There, you can buy fall treats (I cannot recommend the homemade peanut brittle enough. It's the best I've found.) before heading off for other adventures.
A few pics of my little sweeties:
This is Clay snuggling up to one of the stuffed scarecrows on site. They have tons of little vignettes set up everywhere for picture taking.
This is hubs and my little punkin on the hayride.
See the pretty sunflowers? I kept trying to get Clay to pose in this one with me, but he was soooo over the picture taking by this time.
If you've never been to Nichols Boyd, it's easy to find. Just take 25/Lakeland out past Brandon. Get off at 43 and follow the signs! At most, it's a couple of miles off 25.
When you first get there, you'll sign in and pay for the hayride. Then, while you wait your turn, you can check out the caged bunnies, quail, chickens, turkeys, goats, and Porkchop the Pig. Once you board the hayride (Sit on the left-hand side to have a better view of all the animals.), off you'll go to check out the farm's zedonk, fallow deer, cows, donkeys, goats and ducks. Once your animal encounter is complete, the hayride will deposit you out at the pumpkin patch, which is surrounded by a shaded playground of rope swings and hay bale mazes. Adjacent fields of sunflowers make for great family pics.
Once you choose your pumpkin and let off some steam, you'll get back on the hayride for a trip back to the barn. There, you can buy fall treats (I cannot recommend the homemade peanut brittle enough. It's the best I've found.) before heading off for other adventures.
A few pics of my little sweeties:
This is Clay snuggling up to one of the stuffed scarecrows on site. They have tons of little vignettes set up everywhere for picture taking.This is hubs and my little punkin on the hayride.
See the pretty sunflowers? I kept trying to get Clay to pose in this one with me, but he was soooo over the picture taking by this time.Fall family fun!
When Brian and I first started dating, I remember going with him to the fair. His parents owned a pool shop then, and they had a booth in the TradeMart. After we swung by to visit them, I remember going on some rides and having our pictures taken in one of those Old West booths.
But since we've grown into adulthood, we've just not put the fair on our priority list. I mean, it's dirty. It's expensive. The food will harden your arteries in a hot minute.
But then, last year, we thought that booger might be old enough to enjoy the fair. And dang it all if he didn't LOVE every minute of it! It's fast becoming a fall tradition at the Bradshaw house, so here's our 2011 report:
We started at the petting zoo, which is completely free to enter. If you want to hand feed llamas, camels, goats, cows and more, you can either pay $2 for a bag of carrots or drop a few quarters into the feed machines throughout the tent.
The llamas and the wooly cows were amazingly soft. And the camels had long, dark lashes. There was even a zebra and a giant tortise in the back, though you couldn't feed them.
A few scenes from the day:
But since we've grown into adulthood, we've just not put the fair on our priority list. I mean, it's dirty. It's expensive. The food will harden your arteries in a hot minute.
But then, last year, we thought that booger might be old enough to enjoy the fair. And dang it all if he didn't LOVE every minute of it! It's fast becoming a fall tradition at the Bradshaw house, so here's our 2011 report:
We started at the petting zoo, which is completely free to enter. If you want to hand feed llamas, camels, goats, cows and more, you can either pay $2 for a bag of carrots or drop a few quarters into the feed machines throughout the tent.
The llamas and the wooly cows were amazingly soft. And the camels had long, dark lashes. There was even a zebra and a giant tortise in the back, though you couldn't feed them.
A few scenes from the day:
Clay and hubs atop the ferris wheel. Clay really wanted to ride this, but I think he was bored once we were aloft. Not enough risk for my little speed demon.
The dragon coaster was HILARIOUS, mainly because it was completely rickety and jarring and you felt like it would fall apart and kill you at any minute. We absolutely loved it. I honestly could not stop laughing the whole time.
As usual, the boy loved the vehicle rides. We rode this Jeep ride, a motorcycle ride, and another one that was designed to look like race cars.
We enjoyed all beef hot dogs and a lemonade at the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association booth, and we couldn't leave without sampling syrupy biscuits from the biscuit booth! Clay took a whirl down the big yellow slide with me (a perennial favorite), and we *might* have bought a bag of Malone's taffy when we left. (A bag that may or may not have lasted 24 hours once we got home.)
All in all, a GREAT TRIP! Think we'll be going every year for a while!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Adventuring in Jackson
This past week, Clay and I had TWO great adventures I thought I'd share!
First of all, we went to see a touring production of Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby. When I heard that Peter Pan would be playing in town, I knew it would be a perfect choice to serve as one of Clay's first big musical theatre shows. I invited my sister and her 8-year-old son to come along and bought our tickets.
We had a filling dinner at Sal and Mookie's pre-show, then arrived at Thalia Mara Hall just in time to take our seats as the lights dimmed. I had worried about Cathy Rigby in the role, but I had no need. She did a fine job and from our seats, her slight build and posture were easily believable as that of a boy.
The two little guys we brought with us loved the show, often commenting on specific characters, effects, and set pieces. Clay got scared a few times by the pirates and the crocodile, but a hug or two seemed to solve the problem.
During intermission, we trotted down to overlook the orchestra pit, where we pointed out the different instruments and waved to the musicians. (They seemed delighted to see us, by the way. I was amazed that we were the only ones taking advantage of such an educational opportunity.)
All four of us enjoyed the show, and I'm so glad we got the chance to attend! Kessler is bringing Beauty and the Beast to Jackson as their next production, which might also be worth checking out.
On Thursday night, I packed up little man and a picnic dinner and headed for Symphony at Sunset, an annual open-air concert held at The Cedars in Fondren. It was an absolutely gorgeous night, and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The orchestra played a selection of songs celebrating America, and the decor matched the stars-and-stripes theme. (Though I do wish they'd allow the musicians to wear slightly more casual clothing for outdoor concerts. We're all lounging around in jeans and flip flops, blankets spread out on the grass, and the musicians are up there in the same white button-ups and black slacks as always. I would have loved to have seen them in white T-shirts and black shorts, or even jeans and those cute black T-shirts with the tuxedo fronts on them!)
At any rate, Clay again got to see the musicians and the instruments (this time from an even closer vantage point). They also provided glow sticks for the kids and offered star-shaped iced cookies (from Campbell's! Yum!) and ice cream.
Clay did a great job paying attention for the first half of the concert. We left for home shortly after intermission so as to get little people into bed.
On both occasions, I was very proud of his behavior as an audience member! He seemed very interested in what was going on (particularly during Peter Pan), and I think he really enjoyed himself at both events! That's my boy!
First of all, we went to see a touring production of Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby. When I heard that Peter Pan would be playing in town, I knew it would be a perfect choice to serve as one of Clay's first big musical theatre shows. I invited my sister and her 8-year-old son to come along and bought our tickets.
We had a filling dinner at Sal and Mookie's pre-show, then arrived at Thalia Mara Hall just in time to take our seats as the lights dimmed. I had worried about Cathy Rigby in the role, but I had no need. She did a fine job and from our seats, her slight build and posture were easily believable as that of a boy.
The two little guys we brought with us loved the show, often commenting on specific characters, effects, and set pieces. Clay got scared a few times by the pirates and the crocodile, but a hug or two seemed to solve the problem.
During intermission, we trotted down to overlook the orchestra pit, where we pointed out the different instruments and waved to the musicians. (They seemed delighted to see us, by the way. I was amazed that we were the only ones taking advantage of such an educational opportunity.)
All four of us enjoyed the show, and I'm so glad we got the chance to attend! Kessler is bringing Beauty and the Beast to Jackson as their next production, which might also be worth checking out.
On Thursday night, I packed up little man and a picnic dinner and headed for Symphony at Sunset, an annual open-air concert held at The Cedars in Fondren. It was an absolutely gorgeous night, and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The orchestra played a selection of songs celebrating America, and the decor matched the stars-and-stripes theme. (Though I do wish they'd allow the musicians to wear slightly more casual clothing for outdoor concerts. We're all lounging around in jeans and flip flops, blankets spread out on the grass, and the musicians are up there in the same white button-ups and black slacks as always. I would have loved to have seen them in white T-shirts and black shorts, or even jeans and those cute black T-shirts with the tuxedo fronts on them!)
At any rate, Clay again got to see the musicians and the instruments (this time from an even closer vantage point). They also provided glow sticks for the kids and offered star-shaped iced cookies (from Campbell's! Yum!) and ice cream.
Clay did a great job paying attention for the first half of the concert. We left for home shortly after intermission so as to get little people into bed.
On both occasions, I was very proud of his behavior as an audience member! He seemed very interested in what was going on (particularly during Peter Pan), and I think he really enjoyed himself at both events! That's my boy!
Tremendous!
I got the chance to see the movie The Help a couple of weeks ago, and it was amazing. You may recall that I read the book this movie is based on a while back. Also, they filmed a few of the scenes here in Jackson, Miss., where the book/movie is set.
Even without all of that, though, I think I would have loved this movie. First of all, it was expertly cast. There wasn't a weak link in the ensemble. You may be aware of my love for Viola Davis. She doesn't disappoint here in her role as Aibileen Clark. Emma Stone, who plays Skeeter Phelan, is pitch perfect. Minny, played by Octavia Spencer, made me laugh and laugh. I could go on and on, but let's just say that each character is interesting, and leave it at that.
In addition, growing up in the Jackson area made watching this movie very special for me. I recognized some of the locations, some of the clothes, and many of the characters. And as a native Mississippian, I can tell you that the film is very true to Southern life in many ways.
Not only that, the story is engaging and uplifting. This one is a MUST-SEE!!!
Even without all of that, though, I think I would have loved this movie. First of all, it was expertly cast. There wasn't a weak link in the ensemble. You may be aware of my love for Viola Davis. She doesn't disappoint here in her role as Aibileen Clark. Emma Stone, who plays Skeeter Phelan, is pitch perfect. Minny, played by Octavia Spencer, made me laugh and laugh. I could go on and on, but let's just say that each character is interesting, and leave it at that.
In addition, growing up in the Jackson area made watching this movie very special for me. I recognized some of the locations, some of the clothes, and many of the characters. And as a native Mississippian, I can tell you that the film is very true to Southern life in many ways.
Not only that, the story is engaging and uplifting. This one is a MUST-SEE!!!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Clay the adventurer!
We've been having lots of adventures lately! First of all, we went by the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science to see their Frogs! exhibit. We saw giant, ugly looking brown toads (They were super-still.); tiny, neon-colored poisonous dart frogs; and measured how far we could hop in relation to various amphibians.Even though it was a hot day, Clay and I still hit the trail system out back. Of course, he picked the next-to-longest trail they had! We had a good time exploring and looking for lizards, but for our next visit, I may wear hiking boots!!
We also went by the Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza. They hold it each year at the Trademart. Clay got to practice shooting a bow and arrow (several times), we sampled fudge and deer sausage, and we even heard wild turkey calls! The people at the booths gave him tons of free stuff (tote bags, wildlife posters, candy, etc.), and before we left, we even got to try zip-lining!! (That's him in the ziplining safety gear.)
In August, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus also came to town. We've not missed a single one of their performances in Jackson. The show was fun, with acrobats, clowns, and trained horses, elephants, and even camels! This year, they had a new act - the ring of terror. Three motorcyclists drove at dizzying speeds in a metal cage. Just when you though it was safe to look, they sent a woman in a sparkly costume in the cage to stand in the center, while the motorcycles whizzed all around her. Yikes!
Cly had such fun. We bought him a box of popcorn, and he was sticking his little arm ALLLLLL the way in it to get the last kernels before the night was over. On the way out, we also picked up a mug for him that looks like an elephant! Not
too practical for drinking, but he's enjoyed playing with it!Today, we visited the Mississippi Petrified Forest. I hadn't been since I was a kid, and WOW. There's a short and fun nature walk which takes you through the park. You can see the petrified logs in the same places that ancient floods washed them, centuries ago. After that portion of the visit, you can explore a small (but really cool) geological museum featuring fossils, more petrified wood, and precious stones. (They even have some giant shark jaws!) After that, we flumed for gems. (Think panning for gold.) We found obsidian, amethyst and more the little bags of dirt we purchased at the gift shop. And how could I fail to mention the gift shop?! Jewelry, polished stones, even slabs of petrified wood were all on offer.
Admission is $7 for adults, and preschoolers are free! (Fluming is $4 per bag of goodies.) They are open nearly every day of the year, and they even have a pavillion you can rent out for gatherings. (This place would be PERFECT for a little boy's birthday party!) I just cannot recommend it highly enough. We so enjoyed our visit!
Friday, September 02, 2011
Update on My 101
It's been MONTHS! Shame on me! BUT, even though I haven't been posting it here, I have been making progress! See below!!
101 things to do in 1001 days
Learn to juggle
Take a martial arts class
Make a will
Make a living will
Train to run 3 miles without stopping
Try a yoga or pilates class
Go to the Lauren Rogers Museum
Learn to play at least one song on the guitar (or, sheesh, just PRACTICE once in a while)
Write a food article and get it published
Write at least one poem or short story
Plant an herb garden
Make fresh pesto with basil I grew
Drink wine in California
Eat salsa in San Antonio
Treasure hunt on Highway 49
Host a New Year’s open house party
Visit the famous fried chicken place in Lorman
Go the fall flower show/festival in Crystal Springs
Learn more about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict
Give blood
Learn to play the harmonica
Get my piano tuned
Buy sheet music for a song I like and learn to play it on the piano
Learn to do a passable waltz
Go ice skating
Attain APR accreditation - Woo hoo! This one is done! It was a long haul, but it was worth it!
Read at least 3 current books on my profession
Take a road tour through the Mississippi Delta
Enroll in a Millsaps Enrichment class of my choosing
Take Clay to Disney World
Celebrate my birthday in style
Boil/steam a live lobster
Go to a rodeo
Host a formal tea, like at the Savoy
Write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper
Perform in at least one stage production
Attend at least one college alumni event
Get back in touch with some of my college professors
Book a session with a personal trainer
Learn more about how to maximize Adobe Photoshop
Plan a surprise party for someone
Replace at least three outdated light fixtures in my house
Plant some vegetables and keep them alive long enough to harvest them - We did this over the summer! Tons of cherry tomatoes!
Plan and take at least one “destination trip” in honor of a holiday (Salem at Halloween, Plymouth Rock at Thanksgiving, etc.)
Stop cussing. Seriously STOP.
Renew my passport - Check and check. We are ready for Rome!
Spend an entire day in complete silence (This one is going to be very difficult.)
Check out a library book, read it, and leave a note in it for the next reader
Attend one religious service of a faith other than my own, just to observe
Start buying more goods that are made in America
Find a professional mentor
Act as a mentor to someone who needs me
Take Clay fruit picking at a local farm
Make something yummy with what we pick - We went blueberry picking in May, and we made blueberry streusel muffins. YUM.
Take Clay to the Petrified Forest
Buy him a bag of shiny tumbled rocks
Take Clay to Rocky Springs
Take Mom to the opera
Rent a boat and go deep sea fishing with dad
Do a “Godfather Week” at the house, where we eat Italian food and watch the Godfather series (once Clay goes to bed. Eeek!)
Go camping
Have an indulgent breakfast in bed
Have my eyes checked (Dear Lord, I’m getting old.)
Take a weekend trip alone. COMPELTELY ALONE.
Win a bet
Look up more shadow puppet instructions and expand my repertoire (Dog, deer, dinosaur, rabbit, and bird are getting kinda old.)
Throw a tapas and wine party
Go on a picnic (Because you can never have too many.)
Toast the sunset
Go see an author read from his/her work
Fly a kite
Ride a horse
Go see a fortune teller or psychic
Ride a train
Find the perfect swimsuit - The one I bought for my trip to Orange Beach was pretty dang awesome. I got tons of compliments on it. Too bad that when I went online to buy it in every color it came in, it was nearly sold out. :(
Have a facial
Move more of my bills/notices over to electronic or auto-draft
Clean out/shred as necessary in ALL of my old files (Gulp.)
Add money to a parking meter about to run out
Repair the back yard arbor
Whittle something
Kiss a new baby - My sweet best friend had a new arrival in July! Baby love!!
Throw a Mediterranean party with grilled lamb, veggies, tzatziki, the whole nine
Start a personal, meaningful family tradition at Easter
Photograph a sunrise
Go to Pepsi Pops
Go to a ceramic painting shop and paint something cool
Take a family trip to the wildlife preserve in Louisiana
Learn how to change my own oil in my car
Learn how to check and flush/fill fluids in my car
Learn the basics of how my car works
Get a book on constellations
Try to identify at least five of them in the sky
Write a love letter
Surprise someone
Put Christmas decorations on the outside of the house
Have sandal heels re-tapped or CHUCK THEM
Make a care package for someone
Buy something hand made
Visit a place that’s rumored to be haunted
Tape and edit a video to create a FINISHED PRODUCT
Start date: February 16, 2011
End date: November 13, 2013
101 things to do in 1001 days
Learn to juggle
Take a martial arts class
Make a will
Make a living will
Train to run 3 miles without stopping
Try a yoga or pilates class
Go to the Lauren Rogers Museum
Learn to play at least one song on the guitar (or, sheesh, just PRACTICE once in a while)
Write a food article and get it published
Write at least one poem or short story
Plant an herb garden
Make fresh pesto with basil I grew
Drink wine in California
Eat salsa in San Antonio
Treasure hunt on Highway 49
Host a New Year’s open house party
Visit the famous fried chicken place in Lorman
Go the fall flower show/festival in Crystal Springs
Learn more about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict
Give blood
Learn to play the harmonica
Get my piano tuned
Buy sheet music for a song I like and learn to play it on the piano
Learn to do a passable waltz
Go ice skating
Attain APR accreditation - Woo hoo! This one is done! It was a long haul, but it was worth it!
Read at least 3 current books on my profession
Take a road tour through the Mississippi Delta
Enroll in a Millsaps Enrichment class of my choosing
Take Clay to Disney World
Celebrate my birthday in style
Boil/steam a live lobster
Go to a rodeo
Host a formal tea, like at the Savoy
Write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper
Perform in at least one stage production
Attend at least one college alumni event
Get back in touch with some of my college professors
Book a session with a personal trainer
Learn more about how to maximize Adobe Photoshop
Plan a surprise party for someone
Replace at least three outdated light fixtures in my house
Plant some vegetables and keep them alive long enough to harvest them - We did this over the summer! Tons of cherry tomatoes!
Plan and take at least one “destination trip” in honor of a holiday (Salem at Halloween, Plymouth Rock at Thanksgiving, etc.)
Stop cussing. Seriously STOP.
Renew my passport - Check and check. We are ready for Rome!
Spend an entire day in complete silence (This one is going to be very difficult.)
Check out a library book, read it, and leave a note in it for the next reader
Attend one religious service of a faith other than my own, just to observe
Start buying more goods that are made in America
Find a professional mentor
Act as a mentor to someone who needs me
Take Clay fruit picking at a local farm
Make something yummy with what we pick - We went blueberry picking in May, and we made blueberry streusel muffins. YUM.
Take Clay to the Petrified Forest
Buy him a bag of shiny tumbled rocks
Take Clay to Rocky Springs
Take Mom to the opera
Rent a boat and go deep sea fishing with dad
Do a “Godfather Week” at the house, where we eat Italian food and watch the Godfather series (once Clay goes to bed. Eeek!)
Go camping
Have an indulgent breakfast in bed
Have my eyes checked (Dear Lord, I’m getting old.)
Take a weekend trip alone. COMPELTELY ALONE.
Win a bet
Look up more shadow puppet instructions and expand my repertoire (Dog, deer, dinosaur, rabbit, and bird are getting kinda old.)
Throw a tapas and wine party
Go on a picnic (Because you can never have too many.)
Toast the sunset
Go see an author read from his/her work
Fly a kite
Ride a horse
Go see a fortune teller or psychic
Ride a train
Find the perfect swimsuit - The one I bought for my trip to Orange Beach was pretty dang awesome. I got tons of compliments on it. Too bad that when I went online to buy it in every color it came in, it was nearly sold out. :(
Have a facial
Move more of my bills/notices over to electronic or auto-draft
Clean out/shred as necessary in ALL of my old files (Gulp.)
Add money to a parking meter about to run out
Repair the back yard arbor
Whittle something
Kiss a new baby - My sweet best friend had a new arrival in July! Baby love!!
Throw a Mediterranean party with grilled lamb, veggies, tzatziki, the whole nine
Start a personal, meaningful family tradition at Easter
Photograph a sunrise
Go to Pepsi Pops
Go to a ceramic painting shop and paint something cool
Take a family trip to the wildlife preserve in Louisiana
Learn how to change my own oil in my car
Learn how to check and flush/fill fluids in my car
Learn the basics of how my car works
Get a book on constellations
Try to identify at least five of them in the sky
Write a love letter
Surprise someone
Put Christmas decorations on the outside of the house
Have sandal heels re-tapped or CHUCK THEM
Make a care package for someone
Buy something hand made
Visit a place that’s rumored to be haunted
Tape and edit a video to create a FINISHED PRODUCT
Start date: February 16, 2011
End date: November 13, 2013
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Pinterest - my new addiction
If you haven't been over to Pinterest.com yet, I almost hesitate to tell you about it. For a list-making, project- and recipe-collecting, (slightly?) OCD person like myself, it's the web version of crack cocaine.
You see, Pinterest allows you to save photos and bookmarks of the things you find on the web. All kinds of things - products, project ideas, recipes, funny quotes. And it lets you organize these things on "boards" any way you wish. So, I have a "Spooktacular!" board where I've pinned fun Halloween ideas - foods, costumes, decorating schemes, links to products I want to buy.
And the site just keeps that information there for you, organized in your intuitive way. AND THEN you can see what your friends on Facebook are pinning. Or just browse what everyone's pinning, to see if there's anything there you like.
You can see how this is dangerous for me, no? I've already had to get ruthless about what I pin. If it doesn't look fairly cheap, pretty easy, quick, and fabulous, I won't pin it. Otherwise, you end up with something like 3,000 pins. Like some of my friends. (I am sooooo not kidding.)
The process is completely addictive and a huge time sink.
However, if you decide to click on over there despite my warnings, welcome to the dark side! Be sure to look me up!
You see, Pinterest allows you to save photos and bookmarks of the things you find on the web. All kinds of things - products, project ideas, recipes, funny quotes. And it lets you organize these things on "boards" any way you wish. So, I have a "Spooktacular!" board where I've pinned fun Halloween ideas - foods, costumes, decorating schemes, links to products I want to buy.
And the site just keeps that information there for you, organized in your intuitive way. AND THEN you can see what your friends on Facebook are pinning. Or just browse what everyone's pinning, to see if there's anything there you like.
You can see how this is dangerous for me, no? I've already had to get ruthless about what I pin. If it doesn't look fairly cheap, pretty easy, quick, and fabulous, I won't pin it. Otherwise, you end up with something like 3,000 pins. Like some of my friends. (I am sooooo not kidding.)
The process is completely addictive and a huge time sink.
However, if you decide to click on over there despite my warnings, welcome to the dark side! Be sure to look me up!
Scrutinized
For years, it's been on my personal "to do" list to attain APR accreditation. The process to do so is rather lengthy:
1.) Submit an application and a readiness review questionnaire. On the basis of these documents, you are allowed (or not) to go to the next step.
2.) Sit for a readiness review. You put together a professional portfolio, then you present it to a panel of 3 APRs. They ask questions to determine your professional areas of strength/weakness. Based on this review, you are allowed (or not) to go to the next step.
3.) A computer-based examination of 187 questions that tests your knowledge, skills and abilities in a variety of topics necessary to the field. You must pass the exam to achieve accreditation.
After a little more than 6 months to get through all the steps, I think I can safely say I've done it at last. I took the exam on Saturday and got a B! Woo hoo! It's not technically official until I hear from the Public Relations Society of America, but it's looking like I can FINALLY mark this one DONE!
1.) Submit an application and a readiness review questionnaire. On the basis of these documents, you are allowed (or not) to go to the next step.
2.) Sit for a readiness review. You put together a professional portfolio, then you present it to a panel of 3 APRs. They ask questions to determine your professional areas of strength/weakness. Based on this review, you are allowed (or not) to go to the next step.
3.) A computer-based examination of 187 questions that tests your knowledge, skills and abilities in a variety of topics necessary to the field. You must pass the exam to achieve accreditation.
After a little more than 6 months to get through all the steps, I think I can safely say I've done it at last. I took the exam on Saturday and got a B! Woo hoo! It's not technically official until I hear from the Public Relations Society of America, but it's looking like I can FINALLY mark this one DONE!
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Table 100
There's a new restaurant in town! Table 100 is located on Lakeland Drive in Flowood, right next to Lowe's. I've been there twice now, so I thought I'd weigh in.
On my first visit, I popped in for lunch one weekend. After settling myself at the bar, I ordered the macaroni and cheese gratin (small plate) and the farm to table vegetable plate. First - the macaroni and cheese. It comes out in a small iron skillet, which I think makes for a wonderful presentation. It's also quite a large portion, so I think it would make a great appetizer to share. Secondly, the dish has a nice, crunchy breadcrumb topping. (YUM!) The macaroni is flavored with Parmesan cheese and ham, which is a great combination. My only regret? I wanted MORE HAM. Bites with a piece of ham in them were perfectly seasoned, owing to the saltiness of the meat. Bites without a piece of ham, however, were undersalted to my taste. (Plus, I love ham. More ham equals more love.)
Then, my vegetable plate came. It featured a delicious, buttery ear of Silver Queen corn, a gorgeous cornbread muffin, a tender pile of creamy lady peas, a nice heap of mashed potatoes studded with sauteed onions, and a divine bowl of black eyed peas. Each vegetable was absolutely delicious. (Particularly the black-eyed peas. I'm not sure what they were cooked with, but they came in almost a light brown sauce that was rich and full of flavor.) I do have one small gripe, though. The vegetables on this plate rotate according to what's in season, available, looks good, etc. But the combination of vegetables that ended up on my plate were very starchy. Beans, corn, potatoes, and bread. I longed for something greener (green beans, perhaps?), or something just raw and fresh (a bit of sliced, dressed fresh tomato?) to balance the plate and provide color. Other than that, though, I had no problems with this dish. Each vegetable was delicious and expertly cooked.
I returned for dinner last week. I started with the watermelon mojito. Dear LORD, it was good. I could have easily drank two or three of them. Delicious. I followed it with the duck confit spring rolls, which were yummy and served with a kicky sauce. My friend chose the crabcake, and I found myself stealing bites form her plate. (When I return, that will be the first thing I order.)
For an entree, I selected the pasta bolognese. I was surprised to see that they were putting the hearty sauce on angel hair noodles. While the taste was excellent, I am used to seeing bolognese served on a much more robust noodle, such as a penne. At any rate, it was very tasty, and the sauce held a hint of sweetness that I still haven't been able to pin down. I finished with a nice, creamy peach melba that was entirely satisfying. My friend got the cheesecake, infused with some sort of tropical flavor that I can't seem to recall at the moment. (Must be the mojitos. Heh.)
At any rate, I highly recommend this place. Prices are spendy, but the food is made with care and the service is outstanding. I enjoyed both of my visits there, and I'll definitely be returning!
On my first visit, I popped in for lunch one weekend. After settling myself at the bar, I ordered the macaroni and cheese gratin (small plate) and the farm to table vegetable plate. First - the macaroni and cheese. It comes out in a small iron skillet, which I think makes for a wonderful presentation. It's also quite a large portion, so I think it would make a great appetizer to share. Secondly, the dish has a nice, crunchy breadcrumb topping. (YUM!) The macaroni is flavored with Parmesan cheese and ham, which is a great combination. My only regret? I wanted MORE HAM. Bites with a piece of ham in them were perfectly seasoned, owing to the saltiness of the meat. Bites without a piece of ham, however, were undersalted to my taste. (Plus, I love ham. More ham equals more love.)
Then, my vegetable plate came. It featured a delicious, buttery ear of Silver Queen corn, a gorgeous cornbread muffin, a tender pile of creamy lady peas, a nice heap of mashed potatoes studded with sauteed onions, and a divine bowl of black eyed peas. Each vegetable was absolutely delicious. (Particularly the black-eyed peas. I'm not sure what they were cooked with, but they came in almost a light brown sauce that was rich and full of flavor.) I do have one small gripe, though. The vegetables on this plate rotate according to what's in season, available, looks good, etc. But the combination of vegetables that ended up on my plate were very starchy. Beans, corn, potatoes, and bread. I longed for something greener (green beans, perhaps?), or something just raw and fresh (a bit of sliced, dressed fresh tomato?) to balance the plate and provide color. Other than that, though, I had no problems with this dish. Each vegetable was delicious and expertly cooked.
I returned for dinner last week. I started with the watermelon mojito. Dear LORD, it was good. I could have easily drank two or three of them. Delicious. I followed it with the duck confit spring rolls, which were yummy and served with a kicky sauce. My friend chose the crabcake, and I found myself stealing bites form her plate. (When I return, that will be the first thing I order.)
For an entree, I selected the pasta bolognese. I was surprised to see that they were putting the hearty sauce on angel hair noodles. While the taste was excellent, I am used to seeing bolognese served on a much more robust noodle, such as a penne. At any rate, it was very tasty, and the sauce held a hint of sweetness that I still haven't been able to pin down. I finished with a nice, creamy peach melba that was entirely satisfying. My friend got the cheesecake, infused with some sort of tropical flavor that I can't seem to recall at the moment. (Must be the mojitos. Heh.)
At any rate, I highly recommend this place. Prices are spendy, but the food is made with care and the service is outstanding. I enjoyed both of my visits there, and I'll definitely be returning!
Nose in a book
I've had my nose in a book for a while now. Because hubs and I are planning to go to Italy in the spring, I've been gravitating towards books involving travel and/or Italy in some way. Thought I'd weigh in and report on some of the pages I've devoured.
Lady in the Palazzo is written by Marlena de Blasi, she of A Thousand Days in Venice fame. In the autobiographical book, de Blasi relates how she and her husband relocate to Orvieto, a charming hill town in Umbria. The couple finds an apartment, contracts to renovate it, and settles into a new life of friends and food in the town. It's not much of a plot, but de Blasi writes evocatively of food and the Italian way of life. (And there are some recipes at the end! Woo hoo!) This is a great armchair traveling book for those who love either or both.
Eat My Globe, by Simon Majumdar, has alot more action. Upon turning 40, the author realizes that he has some unaccomplished goals. Namely, to go everywhere and eat everything. To whit, he quits his job and schedules a 14-month jaunt around the world, basing his itinerary on the best dishes the world has to offer. Majumdar really does cover quite a bit of territory during his trip, and he honestly evaluates both the places he visits and the foodstuffs he consumes. Plus, he's both a gifted write and a funny guy. Highly recommended! (P.S. Majumdar and his brother run a food blog - Dos Hermanos - that's updated regularly. Worth checking out, even if the photos and text layout rather oddly on screen.)
Lastly, I just finished Passion on the Vine, by Sergio Esposito. A native Italian and a devotee of both wine and food, Esposito runs Italian Wine Merchants in New York City. His book describes how he fell in love with Italian wines, got to know their producers, and developed a market for them in the United States. Readers follow him as he rambles across Italy, meeting winemakers and tasting delicious dishes. I learned alot about Italian wines by reading this book, knowledge I plan to put to good use when we visit Rome!
All three were great books for vicarious traveling. Hmmmm . . . what will I read next?
Lady in the Palazzo is written by Marlena de Blasi, she of A Thousand Days in Venice fame. In the autobiographical book, de Blasi relates how she and her husband relocate to Orvieto, a charming hill town in Umbria. The couple finds an apartment, contracts to renovate it, and settles into a new life of friends and food in the town. It's not much of a plot, but de Blasi writes evocatively of food and the Italian way of life. (And there are some recipes at the end! Woo hoo!) This is a great armchair traveling book for those who love either or both.
Eat My Globe, by Simon Majumdar, has alot more action. Upon turning 40, the author realizes that he has some unaccomplished goals. Namely, to go everywhere and eat everything. To whit, he quits his job and schedules a 14-month jaunt around the world, basing his itinerary on the best dishes the world has to offer. Majumdar really does cover quite a bit of territory during his trip, and he honestly evaluates both the places he visits and the foodstuffs he consumes. Plus, he's both a gifted write and a funny guy. Highly recommended! (P.S. Majumdar and his brother run a food blog - Dos Hermanos - that's updated regularly. Worth checking out, even if the photos and text layout rather oddly on screen.)
Lastly, I just finished Passion on the Vine, by Sergio Esposito. A native Italian and a devotee of both wine and food, Esposito runs Italian Wine Merchants in New York City. His book describes how he fell in love with Italian wines, got to know their producers, and developed a market for them in the United States. Readers follow him as he rambles across Italy, meeting winemakers and tasting delicious dishes. I learned alot about Italian wines by reading this book, knowledge I plan to put to good use when we visit Rome!
All three were great books for vicarious traveling. Hmmmm . . . what will I read next?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Stop the drama!
Mmmmmmkay, so just before we went to the beach, Clay gave me a black eye. Then, after a (blissfully uneventful) week on vacation, I came back home and had emergency gallbladder surgery. That was quite enough excitement for me, but apparently the universe disagreed.
The week after my surgery, I get a call at work from our daycare. Seems Clay was reaching/climbing up to the top of his cubby to get something, and the whole thing fell over on him. Seems he has a big gash in his head. (Turned out to be on the back of his scalp, but I was imagining it right in the center of his forehead at the time.) Seems he will probably need stitches.
Gulp. I hurry over to the daycare, calling the pediatrician's office on the way to see if sewing up a head is something they can do at the office. (It is. Seriously?) Get to little man, get him to the doctor's office, then physically HOLD him still while they put four STAPLES in his scalp. (Apparently, staples hold the scalp together better than stitches. Who knew? I'm learning all kinds of things I don't care to be informed about.) It was special.
Mom and dad were kind enough to keep him for a couple of days, until the wound wasn't so sore and raw. (Ick.) Back to daycare he went the following week.
And did I mention the following week? HOW could I have forgotten? On the way in to work, I got a big ugly flat tire on the Interstate. It was burning up hot outside, and I was wearing a dress with a full skirt. I called hubs, who didn't pick up his phone. Then I called my boss to let him know I'd be late.
My boss was all, "So you didn't actually TALK to Brian? You left him a message? Don't worry. I'm on my way. I can put the spare on in, like, 10 minutes."
Little did the poor man remember that NOTHING involving me takes 10 minutes.
He gets there, jacks up the car a bit, and it rolls. (We were on a bit of an incline.) So, we inch the car up a bit to get on level ground (probably shredding what's left of the tire). Then, he jacks the car up again, puts the spare on, and lowers the jack. We are sweating like pigs. It is a sad state of affairs, people in the computer.
I'm trying to "help," in my anemic way, and in the meantime, every 18-wheeler whizzing past is blowing my skirt to kingdom come. (I'm still convinced that half of I-55 saw my panties that morning.)
Guess what? Spare's out of air. Blankety-blank-blank.
By this time, hubs is there, and he luckily has some fix-a-flat. We fill the spare with air, take it to the shop, then go back to work. Picked the car back up on the way home.
Needless to say, I'm really, REALLY hoping that this week is drama-free.
The week after my surgery, I get a call at work from our daycare. Seems Clay was reaching/climbing up to the top of his cubby to get something, and the whole thing fell over on him. Seems he has a big gash in his head. (Turned out to be on the back of his scalp, but I was imagining it right in the center of his forehead at the time.) Seems he will probably need stitches.
Gulp. I hurry over to the daycare, calling the pediatrician's office on the way to see if sewing up a head is something they can do at the office. (It is. Seriously?) Get to little man, get him to the doctor's office, then physically HOLD him still while they put four STAPLES in his scalp. (Apparently, staples hold the scalp together better than stitches. Who knew? I'm learning all kinds of things I don't care to be informed about.) It was special.
Mom and dad were kind enough to keep him for a couple of days, until the wound wasn't so sore and raw. (Ick.) Back to daycare he went the following week.
And did I mention the following week? HOW could I have forgotten? On the way in to work, I got a big ugly flat tire on the Interstate. It was burning up hot outside, and I was wearing a dress with a full skirt. I called hubs, who didn't pick up his phone. Then I called my boss to let him know I'd be late.
My boss was all, "So you didn't actually TALK to Brian? You left him a message? Don't worry. I'm on my way. I can put the spare on in, like, 10 minutes."
Little did the poor man remember that NOTHING involving me takes 10 minutes.
He gets there, jacks up the car a bit, and it rolls. (We were on a bit of an incline.) So, we inch the car up a bit to get on level ground (probably shredding what's left of the tire). Then, he jacks the car up again, puts the spare on, and lowers the jack. We are sweating like pigs. It is a sad state of affairs, people in the computer.
I'm trying to "help," in my anemic way, and in the meantime, every 18-wheeler whizzing past is blowing my skirt to kingdom come. (I'm still convinced that half of I-55 saw my panties that morning.)
Guess what? Spare's out of air. Blankety-blank-blank.
By this time, hubs is there, and he luckily has some fix-a-flat. We fill the spare with air, take it to the shop, then go back to work. Picked the car back up on the way home.
Needless to say, I'm really, REALLY hoping that this week is drama-free.
Party on.
A little more than a week post-op, we had little man's birthday party. Every year since he's been born, I have pulled out all the stops and thrown a huge birthday party for him at home. Year 1: big election-year theme party. Year 2: a rootin' tootin' cowboy party. Year 3: the luau to end all luaus.
The only problem? By year 4, little people have their own ideas about what they want their party to be. I was gearing up for a huge backyard circus party with a pony, a clown, and a cotton candy machine, but Clay insisted on a party at Pump It Up. And, well, considering I was barely off the operating table, it ended up being a good idea. (Looking back on it, I have no idea how I would have been able to clean up after that pony.)
All in all, I probably spent about the same amount I would have on a blow-out home party, but 1.) I didn't have to clean up the house before the party, 2.) I didn't have to clean up the house after the party, 3.) I didn't have to decorate, and 4.) I didn't have to cook. Worked out pretty well.
Scenes from the day are below. What a little cutie!
The only problem? By year 4, little people have their own ideas about what they want their party to be. I was gearing up for a huge backyard circus party with a pony, a clown, and a cotton candy machine, but Clay insisted on a party at Pump It Up. And, well, considering I was barely off the operating table, it ended up being a good idea. (Looking back on it, I have no idea how I would have been able to clean up after that pony.)
All in all, I probably spent about the same amount I would have on a blow-out home party, but 1.) I didn't have to clean up the house before the party, 2.) I didn't have to clean up the house after the party, 3.) I didn't have to decorate, and 4.) I didn't have to cook. Worked out pretty well.
Scenes from the day are below. What a little cutie!
Monday, July 04, 2011
She's got a ticket to ride . . .
It's official. I've sent the passports off to be renewed (and Brian has already gotten his back), and we bought the airline tickets shortly before we left for the beach. Hubs and I are going to Rome - ALONE - in the spring! Woo hoo!!
You may already know that before booger was born, hubs and I traveled to Europe a few times. Since little man came on the scene, I haven't felt comfortable being that far away from him. But by next spring, he'll almost be FIVE, so I think it's time for hubs and I to continue our treks overseas.
I've bought a few guidebooks, and so far, here's what I'm interested in seeing:
Colosseum
Roman Forum
Pantheon
National Museum of Rome
Borghese Gallery
Vatican Museum
St. Peter's Basilica
Capolitine Museum
Appian Way/Catacombs
Trevi Fountain
Baths of Diocletian
Cappuccin Crypt
Plus, maybe a day trip to Tivoli to see Hadrian's Villa OR maybe to Pompeii or Ostia Antica.
Still left to do: book an apartment, buy advance passes for top attractions, and learn a little Italian. Woo hoo! Rome, here we come!
You may already know that before booger was born, hubs and I traveled to Europe a few times. Since little man came on the scene, I haven't felt comfortable being that far away from him. But by next spring, he'll almost be FIVE, so I think it's time for hubs and I to continue our treks overseas.
I've bought a few guidebooks, and so far, here's what I'm interested in seeing:
Colosseum
Roman Forum
Pantheon
National Museum of Rome
Borghese Gallery
Vatican Museum
St. Peter's Basilica
Capolitine Museum
Appian Way/Catacombs
Trevi Fountain
Baths of Diocletian
Cappuccin Crypt
Plus, maybe a day trip to Tivoli to see Hadrian's Villa OR maybe to Pompeii or Ostia Antica.
Still left to do: book an apartment, buy advance passes for top attractions, and learn a little Italian. Woo hoo! Rome, here we come!
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Never a dull moment at the Bradshaw house . . .
Ever since we got back from the beach, I've been having some stomach troubles. On Saturday (the day we came home), I was hurting a bit. I told myself, "Well, Nicole. You are just getting too old to eat and drink like that. Time to suck it up and admit you aren't 20 anymore."
But in the ensuing days, even light, healthy meals were causing me pain. And on Thursday night, after I got Clay home from the salon, I was in so much pain that I knew this was something more than indigestion. It got to the point that, though I felt foolish, I had to ask hubs to take me to the emergency room. (Dad was kind enough to meet us up there to pick up little man.)
After lots of questions and an ultrasound, I was told that I had gallstones. Lots of them. And that if I wanted the pain to stop, I needed to have my gallbladder removed post-haste.
I couldn't believe it. I eat a pretty healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, all that good stuff. The doctors and nurses kept telling me that we really don't know what causes gallstones and that gallbladder removal is a very common surgery for them to perform. (One nurse said they even call it their "blue light special," because they do so many of them.)
So, the next morning found me getting prepped for laproscopic surgery. By mid-morning, I was in the O.R, and by about 2 p.m., I was waking up from anesthesia. I was back home by 7 p.m., held together with stitches and surgical glue.
The whole thing was just wild, and it happened so fast. I'm a bit sore, but all in all, I seem to be recovering well. The doctor told me I'd need to take a week off work, but I'm not sure that'll be the case. I could definitely see myself going in for some half days, at least, next week. (Just can't drive if I have the pain meds in my system.) According to the doctors, you don't even need your gallbladder to live. The body adjusts once it's removed, and you apparently never notice it's gone.
So, now I'm the same Nicole I was, minus one pesky gallbladder. Nuts, ain't it?
But in the ensuing days, even light, healthy meals were causing me pain. And on Thursday night, after I got Clay home from the salon, I was in so much pain that I knew this was something more than indigestion. It got to the point that, though I felt foolish, I had to ask hubs to take me to the emergency room. (Dad was kind enough to meet us up there to pick up little man.)
After lots of questions and an ultrasound, I was told that I had gallstones. Lots of them. And that if I wanted the pain to stop, I needed to have my gallbladder removed post-haste.
I couldn't believe it. I eat a pretty healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, all that good stuff. The doctors and nurses kept telling me that we really don't know what causes gallstones and that gallbladder removal is a very common surgery for them to perform. (One nurse said they even call it their "blue light special," because they do so many of them.)
So, the next morning found me getting prepped for laproscopic surgery. By mid-morning, I was in the O.R, and by about 2 p.m., I was waking up from anesthesia. I was back home by 7 p.m., held together with stitches and surgical glue.
The whole thing was just wild, and it happened so fast. I'm a bit sore, but all in all, I seem to be recovering well. The doctor told me I'd need to take a week off work, but I'm not sure that'll be the case. I could definitely see myself going in for some half days, at least, next week. (Just can't drive if I have the pain meds in my system.) According to the doctors, you don't even need your gallbladder to live. The body adjusts once it's removed, and you apparently never notice it's gone.
So, now I'm the same Nicole I was, minus one pesky gallbladder. Nuts, ain't it?
Adventures in hair care
On Wednesday night, after Clay had his bath, he was puttering around in the bathroom. Brian and I noticed he was awfully quiet in there. When we checked on him, we discovered that he'd been cutting his own hair. And not just a strand or two in the back.
There was a patch in the very center of his forehead that he'd cut right down to the scalp. I gasped as I saw him, and he immediately said, "I'm sorry, mama." (At least the boy knows when he's done wrong.)
I didn't want to make it any worse, so we scheduled a salon appointment for Thursday night to see if anything could be done to correct the damage. When I ask Miss Kathy (our hairdresser) if she could salvage anything, she shook her head sadly. "We're pretty much gonna have to buzz this one." Dangit. Clay has such pretty hair, and I love the style of it.
At first, Clay thought the trimmers were really fun, then he happened to catch a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. I don't think he was prepared for how different he'd look. He cried a little and said, "I want my hair back!" I felt like the devil.
However, one sucker and a couple of pep talks later, he was telling me he liked it. And I notice now that he's mentioning some of the same positives I talked up (it's cooler for summer, easier to wash, hey - it might even make you faster in the pool!) when he's telling others about his cool new 'do.
Before:
There was a patch in the very center of his forehead that he'd cut right down to the scalp. I gasped as I saw him, and he immediately said, "I'm sorry, mama." (At least the boy knows when he's done wrong.)
I didn't want to make it any worse, so we scheduled a salon appointment for Thursday night to see if anything could be done to correct the damage. When I ask Miss Kathy (our hairdresser) if she could salvage anything, she shook her head sadly. "We're pretty much gonna have to buzz this one." Dangit. Clay has such pretty hair, and I love the style of it.
At first, Clay thought the trimmers were really fun, then he happened to catch a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. I don't think he was prepared for how different he'd look. He cried a little and said, "I want my hair back!" I felt like the devil.
However, one sucker and a couple of pep talks later, he was telling me he liked it. And I notice now that he's mentioning some of the same positives I talked up (it's cooler for summer, easier to wash, hey - it might even make you faster in the pool!) when he's telling others about his cool new 'do.
Before:
After:
Tasty reads.
While at the beach, I had the chance to devour two food-centered books that I think nearly anyone could enjoy. The first one (my fave among the two) was The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. The book had been recommended by a friend, as well as O Magazine, and it was actually released last summer.
Rose Edelstein's life is trucking along just fine, until her ninth birthday. Around that time, she begins being able to taste emotions in her food. Whether the person preparing her meals is angry, rushed, sad, happy, unfulfilled - Rose can eat one bite and know. This magical gift, of course, tells Rose much more than she wants to know about her mom, dad, and other adults in her life. As she grows older, Rose learns to cope with and eventually embrace her gift, while also discovering the she isn't the only member of her family with special skills.
I thought this was a great, original novel. Bender does a admirable job taking things that seem impossible and making them absolutely believable. It's also a delight to watch Rose's eventual triumph unfold.
I also read The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. In this book, chef Lillian holds a cooking class at her restaurant once a month. The book tells the story not only of Lillian, but of each of her students. Each one is dealing with different problems and joys in their lives, and each one is taking the class for a different reason.
As the story progresses, I realized that the essential ingredients were actually the students and the impacts they have on one another throughout the book. This tome is not as complex as the first one, but made for a perfect beach read. Plus, the descriptions of food were divine.
Rose Edelstein's life is trucking along just fine, until her ninth birthday. Around that time, she begins being able to taste emotions in her food. Whether the person preparing her meals is angry, rushed, sad, happy, unfulfilled - Rose can eat one bite and know. This magical gift, of course, tells Rose much more than she wants to know about her mom, dad, and other adults in her life. As she grows older, Rose learns to cope with and eventually embrace her gift, while also discovering the she isn't the only member of her family with special skills.
I thought this was a great, original novel. Bender does a admirable job taking things that seem impossible and making them absolutely believable. It's also a delight to watch Rose's eventual triumph unfold.
I also read The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. In this book, chef Lillian holds a cooking class at her restaurant once a month. The book tells the story not only of Lillian, but of each of her students. Each one is dealing with different problems and joys in their lives, and each one is taking the class for a different reason.
As the story progresses, I realized that the essential ingredients were actually the students and the impacts they have on one another throughout the book. This tome is not as complex as the first one, but made for a perfect beach read. Plus, the descriptions of food were divine.
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