Books

Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore or computer and buy Elizabeth Strout’s “Olive Kitteridge,” the 2009 Pulitzer Prize fiction winner. I first heard about this book on NPR and I’ve since read it three times and recommended it to all readers I know. This has it all: Lovely and lyrical writing, subtle details that stay with you, stories you can’t forget and powerfully ordinary characters. The book is a series of short stories that follow the lives of folks in a coastal Maine village over several years — some people we get to know well and others just sort of pass through, leaving more questions than answers behind. This is the sort of read that makes you think. And want to reread it so you can think some more. If swine flu-closings furlough you from work, pick this book up and take it home. And even if your workplace remains blissfully swine flu-free, pick it up, anyway. You’ll be glad you did.

Family

Today is the 25th birthday of my older daughter, Lizzy Jane. She had the bad luck to be born first, so I got to practice all my non-maternal skills on her. Luckily, she proved to be resilient, smart and independent and thrived no matter how many stupid mistakes I made. (Who knew rocking babies to sleep every night — three or four times every night – and letting them drink apple juice all day was bad for them???) Today, she is such a loving mom to my 13-month-old grandson, Capt. Adorable, that I constantly am in awe of her parenting skills. No protracted, drawn-out, miserable bedtimes for her! She also is a talented dancer and performer, as well as a teacher and budding choreographer. Plus, she’s the best money-manager I know — she can come out of a grocery store with a week’s worth of tasty and nutritious meals on less money than most people spend on a pair of new shoes. (Not that I myself have any personal knowledge of blowing the budget on gotta-have shoes, you understand. Because that would be wrong.)  I have no idea where she learned all this — books? magazines? Dave Ramsey? – but I do know that I am incredibly proud to be her mom. Happy 25th birthday, Lizzy Jane!

Spring Gardens

There is nothing like a gorgeous spring day in Alabama, especially if you can enjoy it in a backyard such as this one. My friend Evelyn and her husband love digging in the dirt — and it shows. They created this backyard paradise from scratch, and it’s the perfect spot for some peaceful reading and bird-watching — two of Evelyn’s favorite pastimes. (She is one of the few people I know who gets excited about seeing things such as a broad-billed hummingbird, which is why I love her so much.) There’s also a lovely screened-in porch perfect for relaxing. In fact, I think I need to go over to Evelyn’s house right now for a dose of stress-free garden serenity. Y’all come, too!

Blogging and Computers

Arrrggghhhh! I am still stuck in Wonky Computerland and am having to struggle with our antiquated and dusty desktop while Internet access sort of comes and goes. All my favorite blogs are marked for immediate reading on my laptop, which is still in intensive care at the computer hospital. Without those daily readings, I realized how much I missed seeing Lecia’s photos on A Day That Is Dessert and reading Becky’s adventures at Suburban Matron. And countless others. Being out of the blogging loop makes me understand how much I enjoy checking in with the blogging community and being a part of such a smart, creative, funny and thoughtful group of (mostly) women. You all rock and I can’t wait to get back home. It’s rough out here without you.

Since I”m stuck today without my photos and lists of brilliant-ideas-to-turn-into-blog-posts (which are all on the laptop — well, the photos anyway), all I can offer is my newspaper column from this past week. But I do poke fun at my husband in it, so that’s always entertaining. http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090424/ARTICLES/904245005

Summer Recipes

You know how this past summer the new recipe that everybody was talking about was Southern Living’s Tomato and Watermelon Salad? Well, that was the big news here in Alabama, anyway. It sounded so weird but tasted so good and after all, what can be better for you than fresh and just-picked juicy watermelons and tomatoes? Here at our house we made up a batch twice a week and practically lived on it all summer – it was that good.  So, in the spirit of honoring instant classics, I’ve found the latest New Recipe that’s going to be the hit of the season. Are you ready? It’s Avocado and Grapefruit Salad! I’m serious. This is so incredibly yummy and simple to put together that I can already predict it’s going to be another must-have summer hit, along with bright yellow purses, khaki Bermuda shorts and adding a fresh lime slice to your New Age wine over ice. I first tasted this salad when my friend Sherry Campbell, the director of the Shoals Culinary Complex, an incubator for small culinary businesses, in Florence, Alabama (http://www.shoalsec.com/), included it in a cooking class she taught recently. As soon as she said “avocados and grapefruit,” everybody sort of went “Huh?” But I promise you, you will love this salad and your friends will call you a culinary trendsetter and eagerly await invitations to your summer cookouts.

Avocado and Grapefruit Salad

Peel and trim the pith from four Ruby Red grapefruits. Working over a bowl, cut segments free of the membranes and let segments drop into bowl. Squeeze all juice from the membranes into the bowl. Refrigerate up to two hours. Immediately before serving, cut two Hass avocados in half. Slice each half lengthwise into six thin slices. Drain grapefruit and reserve juice. Add avocado to grapefruit segments along with 2/3 cup pitted oil-cured olives and juice of one lime. Toss gently to mix, adding about 1/4 cup olive oil just to coat the avocados. Season to taste with salt and pepper and toss again. Optionally, add some of the reserved grapefruit juice.

Need the Tomato and Watermelon Salad recipe that had everybody talking this past summer? Go here http://www.southernliving.com/food/healthy-light/summers-best-00400000009954/

And P.S. — I’ve got my laptop back! I’ve got my laptop back! I think, anyway. Maybe a couple minor problems, but we’re all optimistic, right? Right?????

Kids

Since I’m hanging out here on my daughter’s desktop while my beloved laptop is in Computer Hospital (but we’re expecting a full and quick recovery), I started thinking about all the things young families such as my daughter and son-in-law – parents to grandson Capt. Adorable — have that we didn’t have 25 years or so ago. Like Little Gym. Does everybody else know about this place? It’s my new favorite spot. Little Gym is a franchised gym for all ages children. Capt. Adorable (above on the left) goes to the Birds class for 10 to 19 month-olds. He loves it! The children run around exploring and also do “group” activities as well as a bunch of around 1-year-olds can. It’s also great for my daughter to meet other young moms, and the instructors are so fun and enthusiastic. Even 51-year-old grandmas are welcome, although when our instructor was explaining how to do a backwards whoop-dee-doop with our little Birds, I’m pretty sure she looked at me when she said, “And if for some reason your back won’t take this, don’t worry about trying it.” I think she envisioned having a medical emergency right there on the red mat, but I can whoop-dee-doop with folks half my age. So there. Check out Little Gym at http://thelittlegym.com

 

I’m also loving these Snack Traps that keep snacks in securely and lets babies reach in and get what they want without muss or fuss. Capt. Adorable carries one everywhere — so much better than the sandwich bags and empty margarine tubs I used for his mommy. And then there are these incredibly no-spill cups by Gerber. I’ve seen these thrown, dropped, tilted, turned upside down and rolled around in purses and diaper bags without a single drop. Amazing! When I think of all the spillage and dribbles and puddles my two left behind, this advancement seems nothing short of miraculous. I never tire of pointing out to my daughter how good she has it now. “Back when you were a baby, I had to …” I’m sure she appreciates me sharing.

Computer Bugs

This is exactly how I feel today, after I spent all morning trying to fumigate my computer and then sadly gave it up and turned to a professional. The thing is, I’m the sort of person who never gets bitten by bugs. I can stay outside from 6 to 11 on a summer night drinking beer and talking about the new Alabama quarterback and everybody else is scratching and miserable as they try to swat away mosquitoes and I’m thoroughly enjoying the wonderful evening. But somehow that anti-bug protection does not translate to my laptop. This morning I was attacked by one of those “You’ve got a virus so click here to get rid of it” scams and the more I tried to combat it on my own the worse it got. And what’s so aggravating is that I keep my online security systems current and practice safe surfing — but this one got me. So please beware! I took my laptop to the local computer person who promised quick relief. In the meantime I’m using my daughter’s desktop, which doesn’t like me very much in the first place and is, I can tell, right now very suspicious that I’m a carrier of Bad Things and must be Dealt With Cautiously. Wish me luck.

Gall Bladders

My son-in-law, Jason, had his gall bladder out this past weekend and so for the past several days I’ve been helping my daughter take care of her two helpless men: the patient and my almost-13-months grandson, Capt. Adorable. Well, actually my “helping” consists of playing with and going to the playground with and having fun with Capt. Adorable, while my daughter whips up smoothies for the patient and tries to encourage him that he’ll feel better soon and it will all be worth it. I was amazed that major organ removal could be done in a couple hours as outpatient surgery, but Jason did have a bit of a problem at the hospital and had to have a catheter, which has caused him worse pain and discomfort than the actual surgery. Today the catheter comes out, though, and hopefully the healing process can continue. One of my other jobs as helper was to answer the phone and the doorbell as concerned friends and family checked in. And I hit the jackpot one afternoon when a friend of theirs brought over a combination belated Easter basket and bowl of get-well-after-gall-bladder-surgery goodies. The gift-giver had had gall-bladder surgery a couple years ago and also knew that my daughter and son-in-law try to eat healthy and organic, so the goodie bowl was full of good-for-you treats and easy-on-the-tummy mixes, although hidden in the bottom were a few almond and dark-chocolate Snickers — my daughter’s favorite guilty junk-food pleasure. Because if you can’t indulge a bit when your husband has a catheter in and four incisions on his abdomen, when can you???

Spring Cleaning

Seems as if everybody’s spring cleaning. Folks determinedly are clearing out closets and basements and unloading unwanted clothes, shoes (“How have I ended up with 60 pairs of shoes?” one friend said. “I don’t even like them all!”), books, furniture and unfinished (unstarted?) projects. After all, it is easier to operate from sleek and organized spaces. It helps to spring-clean your brain, too. You know all those bits and pieces of ideas and thoughts that flit through your mind and you plan to do something with but never do? I gathered up a few of those and made my weekly newspaper column out of them. Read it at http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090417/ARTICLES/904175001.

And now my mental columns-to-write filing cabinet is alarmingly empty. Ideas, please!!!

Fashion

When my two now-20-something-year-old daughters were younger, Old Navy was Clothing Central. We could find whatever we needed there for all three of us: School clothes, T-shirts and shorts for summer, jeans, jackets and even work basics for my office. Lately though, I’ve been disappointed. I don’t know if we’ve changed or Old Navy has, but I’ve walked out empty-handed most times I’ve gone in recently — if I even went in. With grandson Capt. Adorable’s arrival almost 13 months ago, however, Old Navy has regained its top spot for family fashion. I bypass everything else and head straight back to the baby-boy corner, where shirts and shorts like these are off the cute-0-meter. And cheap. In size 12-18 months, each of these pieces was about $12. I think Capt. Adorable’s going to be the best-dressed toddler at the playground. And of course, on my way out of the baby-boy section, I just happened to spy these blouses for me. Perfect! They’re lightweight and fitted just like I want button-up blouses to be and they give winter-weary closets some of that cheerful color warm-up we’re all craving right now. At $25 each, they come in literally a rainbow of shades. Hard to choose — I may have to go back for more. Check them out also at http://oldnavy.gap.com/.