Recipe: Black Bean Burritos

I have this fantastic book called The Best Kept Secrets of Healthy Cooking by Sandra Woodruff. It was recommended to me by a former co-worker and has been a pretty good guide in trying to make changes to our diet at home. I probably don't cook from it as often as I should, but there are definitely times I turn to it and I check there for new recipe ideas frequently.

I recently whipped it out for one of the easiest recipes I've got. My doctor pointed out at my last appointment that there is virtually no protein in my diet. When it's just Mason and I, especially at dinner we tend to opt for easy things. While I try to keep those relatively healthy, it's a small sandwich or bowl of cereal. Every now and again, we'll make something Alan doesn't care for. However, we generally steer clear of meat. This recipe fills both requirements. It's quick, easy, relatively light, and it has plenty of protein.

Black Bean Burritos

1 1/2 C. cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can, drained

1 tsp. Chili powder

4 flour tortillas (8-in. rounds)

1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed

1/2 C. bottled salsa

1/2 C. shredded non-fat or reduced fat Cheddar cheese

-Place the beans and Chili powder in a pot and mash lightly with a fork or potato masher, leaving slightly chunky. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 2 mins or until heated through. Set aside.

-Warm the tortillas and lay on a flat surface. Spoon 1/4 of the beans along the right side of the tortilla, stopping 1 1/2 in. from the bottom. Top with 1/4 of the corn.

-Fold the bottom edge of the toritlla up about 1 inch. Beginning at the right edge, roll the tortilla up jelly-roll style. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 4 burritos.

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9X13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and arrange the burritos seam side down. Top with salsa and cheddar cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Afteward, try topping with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, or scallions as desired.

Nutrition facts per burrito: 286 calories, 50 g carbs, 1 mg cholesterol, 2.5 g fat, 8.1 g fiber, 15 g protein, and 467 mg sodium*.

*I use reduced sodium beans, the Heart Healthy tortillas (not necessarily whole grain, but not made with lard either), and the cheese made with 2% milk because it still melts where the nonfat stuff doesn't. That might alter this information. Also, I don't use bottled salsa, I use the fresh prepared salsa from Harmons. This last batch I got was the hot stuff, and just fair warning, it was super spicy (but so good for these!).

Wordless Wednesday: Swing, swing!

While we were at a charity hockey game, Mason found some alternative methods of entertainment. Sure, watching Dad play was fun; the chair swinging was just better!
(19Jan08). For more Wordless Wednesdays, take a look at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Seeing Red

One night last week, we were out in our yard doing some weeding. We love to save this task for after dinner because the our house faces east, so by this point in the day our front yard is fairly well shaded.

Typically while we weed, Mason is riding his bike in front of the house or playing in the dirt, and the dogs are dozing in whatever sunshine they can find, or next to one of us while we curse the morning glory.

Well, this night wasn't particularly typical for a couple of reasons. First, my fantastic neighbors across the street let Mason come over and play with their kids and a few other neighborhood children because they were working in their own backyard. He loves spending time with their cute and fun kids so it was really generous of them to invite him.

Also this same neighbor also warned us about an older woman who takes a nightly walk down our street and will confront you if your dogs are off-leash outside, and she's really aggressive about it. Alan and I both hate confrontations about this because we know the leash laws for our area, and people frequently express strong opinions about our dogs. (For example, we once had a woman at the off-leash dog park attempt to remove Samson's electronic collar after she had told Alan she believed "bark collars" were abusive. Alan tried to tell her it was not a bark collar (dogs bark--can you train it out of them?) and that, on the say-so of our dog trainer, we were using them because we needed our dogs to be off-leash obedient for their training.)

Anyway, not too long after our neighbor's description of what happened to her, the walking lady approached Alan. I happened to be across the street checking on Mason and Samson had followed me and decided what I was doing wasn't interesting enough for him so he was going back home. Apparently, this lady was walking by just as he finished crossing the street back into our yard and plunked himself down. She felt justified yelling at my husband to get our dogs on leash because "it's the law!". Alan immediately replied it is not the law in our area and he would do no such thing as long as they were not behaving in an aggressive manner. She threatened to call the police department and told him that she had been bitten by a dog exactly like ours so she doesn't like them and they need to be on leash.

It's probably a good thing I wasn't there. I have a big mouth that gets me into trouble, combined with a firm knowledge of police department and animal control procedures. At the very least, I have a feeling the police would have been needed for an in-progress civil problem.

I have a huge problem with people who feel comfortable telling me how to handle my dogs unless I've asked them to (like a trainer). My dogs always follow commands given by me or my husband and don't engage in threatening behavior (they don't bark or charge at passersby, they don't chase cars, and they have never bitten outside of commands to do so). We have invested a lot of time and money into training to make this possible. Furthermore, our dogs are always supervised when they are out in the front yard. We recognize that while negative behavior isn't typical of them, it is still possible and they need to be watched.

For us to be threatened, in our own yard, for circumstances that have never occurred at our home, is absolutely infuriating to me. If the dogs had even looked up from their nap when she walked by, she may have been justified. In this case she was not and I'm still angry about the whole confrontation. I understand that not everyone likes dogs, and some people are legitimately terrified of them (especially dogs as large as ours). I'm not asking her to walk up and pet them, I'm just asking her to keep her mouth shut when she walks past as long as there is no problem!

This is a long story to make this point: if you have a pet and aren't familiar with the animal ordinances in your area please take the time to get familiar with them so you aren't "caught" as we were. We had vaguely checked into the law when we first got Rio, but we never had a need for the specifics until last night, and so we weren't entirely prepared for this woman's tirade. Next time she walks by, we will be.

Here are links to some of the animal services sites for the Salt Lake Valley Area and beyond: Salt Lake County Animal Services, Davis County Animal Control, Utah County Animal Control, Draper City Animal Services, Murray Animal Control, Sandy City Animal Services, South Jordan Animal Control, South Salt Lake Animal Services, West Valley/Taylorsville Animal Control, West Jordan Animal Control, and I couldn't find a direct website, but here is the contact information for Midvale City if you want to reach their Animal Control. They work a lot with South Jordan Animal Control, so their information may be very similar. Also, here's a link to Cottonwood Heights for Adopt a Pet; I think their animal related items may be under Ordinances, but they don't have a dedicated page for Animal Control yet.

Our vicious beasts: Rio on top and Samson on bottom

72 hr. kit challenge, week 9

In case you are participating and hadn't noticed, I'm also placing an overview sort of list on the right hand side of the page so it's ready to go!

Also...I confess. I could add another reason to the list of reasons I'm special. I just realized this morning that everything my workplace has provided is with the intent of creating a 96 Hour Kit for all your family members. So there will be a number of items coming up for day 4. I'm trying to decide what to do and would love some input. I think maybe I'll just skip anything that is an instruction for day 4, and maybe go back when we're all done and do something to upgrade. Is anyone else on board with that?

So, continuing on. This week, we should be gathering a sturdy pair of shoes for each kit. Pick something that will be comfortable should you end up walking a lot, and something that will protect your feet in case you are walking over rubble or other potentially dangerous materials. Don't be like me and insist that flip-flops are all-purpose shoes! Happy shopping/gathering.

Date Knight Movie Review

Before we were married, one thing we did all the time was go to movies. Alan and I have very similar tastes in movies. Every now and again, I go really girlie on him, but not too often. We are usually up for at least one summer blockbuster, even in the post-Mason world. When the opportunity for date night comes up, more often than not, we'll go see a movie. (Which is not say we've seen more than a few since Mason was born.)

A couple Fridays ago, this led us to the opening night of The Dark Knight. This movie has received a lot of hype, I think, because it's just one of those summer releases. The death of Heath Ledger after finishing this film only further heightened all the hype, but I certainly don't think that's the whole reason for it.

Even if Heath Ledger were still alive, I would have gone to see it. I loved Batman Begins and I really love Christian Bale. He's a solid, methodical actor who is not too hard on the eyes. His performance is as dark and stoic as this version of Batman should be. Bruce Wayne is told (in a very foreshadowing manner by Harvey Dent) that "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." This is a distinction he appears to be really struggling with as the body count in Gotham City mounts, and I would guess an overall theme of the brooding aspect of his character and the portrayal is so spot-on that you feel his doubt, loneliness, and uncertainty but at the same time, his need to take action because he is one of the few who can.

Heath Ledger is super creepy and very entertaining as The Joker. Even the phenomenal reviews given don't do his performance justice. It has to be seen to be believed. There were a hundred tiny little quirks in his performance that made you chuckle or made your jaw drop.

All the other characters are rock solid as well. I was skeptical about watching Gary Oldman in anything post-Sirius Black, but he is just as good here as he was there, albeit this time as a conflicted mangement-level police officer rather than a wrongly convicted wizard criminal. I was also not too sure of Maggie Gyllenhaal because I usually don't like her much, but she brought a tough element to Rachel Dawes that I liked a lot better than Katie Holmes' version. Finally, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman were both almost scene stealers. I have never seen either of them in a movie and not liked them and they both continue to be favorites of mine.

This movie is dark and it goes very fast. I will probably have to see it at least a dozen more times to catch everything I missed; but the movie is good enough I would have no problem watching it over and over again in rare and precious down time. I read a review that says the director, Christopher Nolan (who has never made a movie I don't like, by the way-The Prestige is one of my favorites!), doesn't let up. The way the movie is cut just slowly ratchets up the tension until all the characters reach a peak that can only be described as pure chaos. That review was the so correct. There are a few little sassy comments that make you chuckle, but for the most part the story is dark and deep. One major theme was rules we live by. By making rules, are we just setting ourselves up to break them, or are they successful guidelines? And just what does it take to break a person so completely their rules disappear? One of my favorite lines: "Madness, you know, is like gravity...all it takes is a little push."

I don't want to say too much that would ruin the movie for anyone else. I will say, though, that my favorite thing is the fate of the Batmobile. The special effects were all absolutely solid. My least favorite part was the (brief) gutted and burning fire truck. On the whole, this movie was 152 minutes well spent. However, this movie is not for the squeamish. While it isn't overtly graphic, the ideas are well enough conveyed that more sensitive types wouldn't be sure what to do with all the chaos.

Friday Fives: You're Special, Sunshine!

So Alan and I have spent an unusual amount of time together lately, what with the camping trip and ganging up on our neighbors (see a later post... I will link to it once it's posted) and all. As a result, I've noticed something about him that others might not know: he really likes to tease me. Sometimes it is to blow off steam when he's frustrated, but usually I give him enough material to keep him amused. So this Friday, I give you Five Reasons My Husband Thinks I'm "Special".

1. Cold medicine can't keep me down. He still likes to tease me about the night shortly after we were married, when I actually woke him up to advise him that "I took a bunch of cold medicine and now I can't sleep." I'm not sure what I was expecting. Maybe one of those sweet late night conversations we had when we were dating? He told me that was nice and went right on sleeping. I'm sure this particular moment is still a little fuzzy around the edges for him.

2. I can't sleep with a blanket tag by my face. The blankets must face the right direction. Also, they must be somewhat evenly distributed. I can sleep in all manner of layered clothing, but anything more than a sheet and a comforter (even when they get kicked over to me and are doubled up) drives me nuts. It should be noted Alan was the one who actually made this discovery--I was unaware of this behavior and I have unconsciously passed it on to Mason.

3. I organize by color. I get excited when there is something to organize. Our home office filing has always been color coded. When I was a bank teller, the money in my bottom vault was wrapped in color-coded rubber bands by denomination. My recipes are arranged in categories in a 5X7 binder, and each category is color-coded. I recently had to learn what kind of fire apparatus runs out of which fire station in the valley; I made flashcards and guess how they were organized? Each fire department in the valley had its own color. He brings home new multi-colored Sharpies and I actually giggle with excitement instead of groaning about the project that probably lays ahead. I also used to have an alphabetical system for DVDs and CDs, but both those have been tossed out the window since we had Mason.

4. I eat like a little kid. I love chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, and cereal. I've been finding relatively healthy ways to enjoy these things as an adult (and a parent), but I think he's rather amused I go to all the effort. When he asks what we had for dinner while he was at work and gets a reply of "Rice Krispies and Frosted Mini Wheats mixed together", I think the only appropriate response is shaking his head. Keep in mind, I'm the same girl who went with him last summer on a wine tasting/fresh seafood eating vacation. His only stipulation was that I didn't order chicken fingers everywhere we went.

5. I have "girly" moments. I'm typically not the girl who asks for help easily or readily admits that I'm afraid of something small. Please don't confuse this for me saying I am not the mom who can conjure up all kinds of deadly and bloody what-ifs in the most simple scenario (I totally do that--maybe that could be a separate list). However, things like spiders don't usually freak me out. That is, until he has me reaching down in the sprinkler box and then announces I should wear gloves because he has seen a Black Widow down there recently. (He got to finish winterizing that year by himself and it took hours for the "creepy crawlies" to go away). If I can't reach a bowl at the top of the cupboard, I ask for his help without thinking it through (he and I are the same height, so he probably can't reach it any easier than I can). He has told me how to work our barbeque about 18 times and I don't remember so I only grill when he's home to "show me how" (take over). I can change my own tire. (Meaning I have the knowledge, but not the strength to crack the lugnuts so he ends up doing it). Oh, and don't forget the screaming when the grasshopper landed on me while we were weeding last night. At least I wasn't standing up; then there would've been dancing too, and I would have to add a #6 about my clumsiness.

Wanted: Golf Skills

I recently finished up some golf lessons Alan gave me for my birthday. There was a little scheduling issue (such a surprise when it comes to our family, I know!) that could only be resolved by taking two lessons last month around the time of my birthday and two lessons this last week.


I just wanted to let anyone who is interested know about the instructor. She is amazing! I liked her so well that Alan and I are thinking of doing some private lessons, either with the two of us or another couple who we love to golf with.


Thanks to Melanie, I can hit 110 yards or so with my irons consistently. I've been trying to get a handle on the woods (mine is a hybrid 3/5), but I'm not quite there yet. I'm determined to keep practicing with it, because she says it will be my "bread and butter" as a female golfer. It will help me make up some distance, meaning that hopefully Alan won't have to stop four times on the fairway so I can keep hitting and catching up to him!


In the beginning lessons, we have worked on stance/posture and grip more than anything else. She got to me to relax (yes that's possible) and have a more fluid swing. I would love to move on to her second group of classes, where you work on chipping and putting, but she's only doing private or semi-private lessons for the rest of the year.


If anyone is interested in taking lessons or wants further information, you can visit her site: Melanie's Pro Shop. She is patient and thorough, and I would highly recommend her. She is very much a pro!

Wordless Wednesday: Attack of the flying cards

Most kids would hate a game that spits cards out in your face at random intervals. Mason, on the other hand, played with it for nearly an hour and laughed so hard we weren't sure he would stop playing with it! (30June07) For more Wordless Wednesdays, go play at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tripping Down Memory Lane

I got this from my friend Nicol's blog, much like where I get everything else I post. I also saw it on Bethany's blog and left her a memory. Play along if you'd like, but please be nice!



-As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you have of Alan, Jann, or Mason (or Rio and Samson, we can all play!). It doesn't matter if you knew us a little or a lot, anything you can remember!


-Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory, I'll assume that you are playing the game and I will come to your blog and leave a memory about you. If you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory as one of my comments.

72 Hour Kit Challenge, week 8

This week's assignment is much like last week's: it's a previously completed assignment on repeat. This week, gather your food for day 2. The same rules as last time apply. Happy hunting!

Book Review: On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan


rating: 3 of 5 stars






This author writes so beautifully I can't imagine hating anything he's published. This story wasn't my favorite, but it so completely described and endeared the two principal characters that I can't hold the rest of the plot against him. His story is a throw-back to being on the cusp of innocence, and eventually realizing how things would have been different if you reacted differently in one explosive moment. On Chesil Beach, everything changes for these two characters and yet, life goes on.


View all my reviews at Good Reads if you want to know more about what I've been reading!

Hittin' the sauce

As a result of this camping trip, we've ended up with an over-abundance of breakfast-like foods. We have a few pounds of Canadian bacon, two dozen eggs, an extra gallon of milk, and about 1 1/2 lbs of sausage. We generally keep breakfast simple, with maybe a pancake, some milk, and a piece of fruit, so using this is quite the challenge. I'm cooking things we almost never eat in the hope of making it through the items I can't freeze and use gradually. So this morning, we had Eggs Benedict. It's an indulgent and not extremely healthy meal, so we almost never eat it to begin with. I'm also not very confident with sauce making, so I have always made it from a pre-packaged mix. This morning, though, we had no pre-packaged mix so I went searching for a user-friendly recipe for Hollandaise sauce. It was wonderfully easy and had a great flavor! I'm sure we will use this for many "special occasion" breakfasts to come!

Blender Hollandaise Sauce

2 egg yolks (or equivalent Egg Beaters)
1/8 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. Lemon juice
dash hot sauce (e.g. Tobasco or Cholula)
1/3 C. butter

1. Combine egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice, and hot sauce in blender. Blend for about 5 seconds until thoroughly combined.

2. Melt butter in a microwave safe cup until completely melted. Turn blender on high and add butter in a thin stream. Sauce should thicken as you go. To keep warm, place blender pitcher in a pan of hot water until ready to use. Serves: 4

I adjusted this recipe to a size friendly for our small family. We had just enough. Also, don't put any in the microwave, no matter how briefly. It will cook the eggs in the sauce. I don't always think things through. The only thing I'll do differently next time is use Egg Beaters or some other egg substitute so the raw eggs are pasteurized, especially if I'm going to feed it to Mason. Also, use a light 1/8 tsp. of mustard so the flavor isn't too overwhelming.

Head to Allrecipes for more creative breakfast ideas.

What's your Ice Cream Personality?

Your Ice Cream Personality:

You like to think of yourself as a fairly modest person. And it's true that you don't talk yourself up... but you're also pretty happy with who you are. You are incredibly cautious. You rather miss out on something than make a mistake. No one would ever call you wild... but they would call you responsible. You are a somewhat open minded person, but deep down you're fairly conservative. You don't like trying new things very much. And if you do find something new you like, you stick with it. You are a natural multitasker. You feel alive when you're doing more than one thing at a time. You are fun loving and sweet. You tend to enjoy joking around and teasing people.

The Ice Cream Personality Test

Book Review: Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey

Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" by Cameron Dokey

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a fast, easy to read story that was perfect for a lazy afternoon. However, I didn't feel the characters were very well-developed. The ending came too quickly, and didn't describe much of the 'ever after', which is the part I enjoy more of fairy tale alterations. There was also, for me, not much surprise to it. I knew how the book would end almost before I picked it up.

That being said, it is good if you need a fluffy, feel-good read or if you like fairy tales with a more conventional spin. I will probably read at least a couple other books in the "Once Upon a Time" series when I'm in a princess sort of mood.


View all my reviews at GoodReads if you want further recommendations!

Five Fun Facts About Rio

Rio was our first child in many ways. We adopted her in May 2004 when she was 8 weeks old, and just a month after we got our yard put in. She was the second puppy we had seen and was so adorable we couldn't avoid getting her that night. We went to the local grocery store (we had reached the cash limit at the ATM), each purchased a pack of gum and took the max cash out, just so we could take her home then instead of waiting for the check to clear.
She has been basically a constant delight ever since then. She is smart, sly, and can be quite funny. This Friday, I give you my Five Favorite Things About Rio.

1. She cuddles up in her kennel whenever she needs a break. I had read in dog-training books that many dogs will use their kennels as a 'den', a refuge. She's the only one I know who actually does it.

2. She hogs the cold air. She is the one who invented the concept (with Samson as her faithful follower) of laying on the AC vents in our bedroom at night. We have to turn it down to at least 64 degrees before she'll step off, and since we can't very well do that anymore with Mason to consider, she gets full reign.

3. She will bring your her bowl when she's hungry or knock the 5-gallon bottle of water off when she's finished drinking it. She very clearly communicates her needs.

4. She can intimidate you with just a glance. We once had a neighbor who flat-out refused to walk past our house because she would watch him. She never once barked at him, she would just sit in the far corner of our yard and stare when he passed.

5. One of her ears doesn't stand up correctly. Her right ear always flops. We had thought briefly about making her a show dog, because her coloring is beautiful, but the floppy ear would've ruined that. But it gives her so much personality we couldn't do the harsh ear-cutting surgery to really make her ears point. She'll cock her head and look at you with that floppy ear, as if to say "I dare you to pet me. Or give me a hot dog, your choice."

Rio, the first night we brought her home, May 2004

Rio, as a very very dirty princess on our camping trip last week, July 2008

And the winner is....

So a big thanks and awww to Nicol @ Classy and Sophisticated for the award! I'm so honored to publish a blog that inspires her to do something. She said I've helped motivate her to work on her 72 hour kits, which is also true in reverse. I totally wouldn't be getting my own together if I didn't have someone who is so consistently on top of things doing it with me. Nicol and I have been friends for years, so I'm sure that helps with the motivational factor, too.



So, once an award is received, the rules are as follows:


1.Put the logo on your blog.
2.Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3.Nominate at least seven other blogs.
4.Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5.Leave a message for your nominee on their blogs.





Now I'm feeling some pressure as to who I should nominate, because I don't follow lots of blogs. Also, most of the blogs I look at outside of friends' are ones Nicol has recommended. In a lot of ways, my world is very small!



I'd like to pass an award on to Misty @ The Birch Family because, although she doesn't update lots, it's because her kids are so busy. They are both really good, happy kids and are the kind of family I hope we will have even when our kids are older.



Next would be Jill @ The Stewart Family. She's the one who got me into this in the first place. Plus, I like having a place I can keep an eye on the adventures of Parker, or should I say: Mason is his stunt double.



Also I want to include Sarah @ Enchantingly Simple for including excellent recipes and how-tos. I'm going to try making my own yogurt (once I procure a candy thermometer) thanks to her, and I'm sure Mason and I will love it as long as I follow the directions!



Speaking of recipes, I would be remiss if I didn't award my friend Joey @ Whatever Recipes. She always has the recipes I'm looking for. It may seem self-congratulatory because she has posted a couple of my recipes, but I have gotten way more out of that bargain. Her meatloaf is awesome, as are basically any of her baked goods. My favorite (not that it wasn't a tough choice) continues to be her fruit pizza.



Then there is Jo @ Justin, Jo and the Kids. I went to high school with Jo, and our husbands also went to high school together. It's been fun to celebrate the odd coincidence in that as well as catch up with them through her blog. Her two children are so cute, and she posts lots of picture that are absolutely adorable.



I need to mention Amber @ Built Ford Tough because I sucked her into the blogosphere and she doesn't disappoint. She is entertaining and so is her little boy!



Lastly, I would like to pass this on to Carolee @ The Jaynes Family because, although we fell out of touch for a while, reading about her beautiful family has been a great way to catch up. I love watching the slide shows and videos she has put together of their family time and she inspired me to do my own.

Whitney Reservoir continued, in stereo

I warned y'all in my first post about this trip that I took an obscene number of pictures, so I copied Carolee's idea and made them into a slide show. I hope you like it!

The third and fourth days were spent in much the same manner as the first two. We took rides on the 4-wheelers, ate a lot of good food, and spent much time gathering rocks to be chucked in water, and then chucking those rocks. Alan spent a little time teaching me to shoot a BB gun (I'm actually not too bad of a shot. Not great, but not bad, either). We made targets out of paper plates and shot for chores. I reached the circle just out from the center and earned "Diaper Duty". That was already my job to begin with, so I see it as nothing lost. At least I didn't have to gut a fish! That just sounds gross! We worked our way to a well-shaken soda can, but I didn't actually hit that. I guess I have a goal for next time. My big goal this time was to not hurt myself on a 4-wheeler, and I was successful. I even popped a wheelie when we were loading the ATVs onto a trailer; it was kinda scary and kind of fun!

Anyway, on to Mason because he is so much cuter than the adults. He would climb on the ATVs and politely ask for someone (usually "Paumpa") to take him "on the 4-wheeders, please". He helped reel in a fish for the first time, and promptly asked to squeeze it. The poor fish pooped all over Alan's hand in protest. Mason also loved making sandwiches (s'mores) and just generally being allowed to run free, dig in the dirt, and throw stuff. He dragged Grandma on walks up and down the hillsides through the bluebells and down to the lake and back. He cleared all the rocks out of our campsite. He protested bedtime until the moment he hit his pillow (or got on a 4-wheeler or landed on Grandma's shoulder).

On our third day there, we took a trip up to where there was still snow on the ground and let Mason experience sledding. It wasn't quite as big of a hit as throwing snow at Paumpa, but hey, what could possibly be so fun? Afterwards, the grandparents took Mason for a ride so Mom and Dad could enjoy a ride up over the ridge to the top of the mountain. The view was beautiful and the break was appreciated!

The fourth day was more of the same as well. The boys fished, and then Alan and I packed up while Alan's parents went for one last ride (that sounded way too death-defying for me. I'm an off-roading wuss). We had some lunch and finished packing up and then we were out of there. Mason didn't want to go; he told us he wanted to live there. Samson started whining in dismay when he realized his kennel was packed in the truck and we had to lift both the dogs in because they wanted to stay. If it wouldn't have been for the desperate desire to take a shower, I'm not sure we would have returned back to reality! I think this camping trip (at least one, maybe more) will become a summer tradition now that we know Mason fares so well and loves it so much. And have you ever seen such a very dirty boy?!

Wordless Wednesday-What's Wrong With This Picture?

A direct result of a two and a half year old who wants to "do it myself". Hint: his "cool dudes" are upside down. For more Wordless Wednesdays, check out Classy and Sophisticated and 5 Minutes for Mom .

Life is Great in the Great Outdoors

We spent the better part of last week camping with Alan's parents up at Whitney Reservoir. It's such a beautiful area, and so remote. It was good to get away from ringing phones, overtime shifts, and all the other things that clutter up our lives. We actually got to spend some time together, which was a precious and fun opportunity.

It was also Mason's first real camping trip. We've stayed down at Palisades, or done a day-trip with Alan's family and their 4-wheelers a few times, but this was the first real camping we've done since he was born. I think it's safe to say he had a good time. Mason loves throwing rocks into water and mud to make a big splash, and this is what he spent a good portion of his time doing.

There was also a huge tree that had fallen over long ago that neatly divided our campsite and provided a perfect little bench by the fire. Mason was a huge fan of bouncing on the end of it that didn't quite reach the ground, and suckered Grandma into helping him every chance he got ("Grandma wants to help you bounce on the wog").

We were nervous about "tenting it" (as Mason had recently expressed a loud desire to not go outside for any reason) and sharing a zipped up sleeping bag with all three of us. As it turned out, we had no reason to worry. Mason had everything he needed: Grandma and Grandpa, endless dirt, water and rocks, and boundless energy.

There is no way I could post all the pictures we have in one post, so I'm going to split it up a bit. Here are some pictures from the first two days we were there. Have you ever seen such a dirty boy? And just wait for the next two days' worth!

Looking for the perfect rock to throw in the lake he discovered about 10 seconds after we had camp set up.

The view from the lake up the hill. Our campsite was just through the trees. Needless to say, we got in some hiking because this hill is quite steep!

By the end of day two, Mason was an old hand on the ATVs. He would climb up on them and beg someone to take him. This was while we were making dinner, and he wanted "Paumpa" to take him. By the end of the trip, he knew exactly how to start the 4-wheelers, but thank goodness he didn't have the dexterity to take off the emergency brake!

Mason bringing dad what he called a "big ant", but it's origins still remain unknown and said bug remains very dead as a result of being pinched between Mason's fingers because he wanted to hold it.

Also, on the second night, we (mostly my father-in-law) made prime rib for dinner. It was a fantastic recipe and one we plan on trying at home when we want a "fancy" dinner. Don't be put off by all the spice, just dive in. It will be worth it!

Cajun Prime Rib

1 (7 lb., 3 rib) Prime Rib roast
1/4 C. black pepper
1/4 C. garlic powder
1/4 C. salt
1 large onion, sliced
1 lb. sliced bacon, uncooked
Cajun seasoning to taste



1. Carefully cut off fat cap, but don't cut into meat. Reserve fat cap for later use (we just cut it into more of a flap for easy usage). Completely coat roast in pepper, then garlic powder, and finally salt. Replace fat cap and cover the rest of the salt with sliced onion, securing rings with a toothpick as necessary. Wrap bacon over onions, again securing pieces as necessary with toothpicks. Wrap your roast tightly in aluminum foil and place into the refrigerator overnight.



2. In the morning, preheat oven to 550 degrees. (We used a dutch oven, but the recipe recommends opening all your windows and turning on fans when you do this!). Unwrap roast, pierce several times with a knife, and re-wrap. Place in a shallow baking dish and roast for 35 mins.



3. Remove roast from oven and let cool, no longer than 30 mins. Return to refrigerator (still wrapped) for at least 3 hours.



4. Preheat grill for high heat. Remove fat cap and bacon, then scrape off onion and seasoning. You may reserve the bacon to grill or use for other things. Use a sharp knife to slice the roast into steaks. Each rib should yield two steaks, one with a bone and one without. Season steaks with desired amount of Cajun seasoning (for us, the more the better it seemed), and grill to desired doneness. You may want to lightly oil the grill prior to cooking.

For more yummy dinner ideas, check out Allrecipes and for more camping trip fun, check back here later this week.

Yup, I removed a post...

Just in case anyone who checked my last update about going private was wondering where it went, everything is code four (there's some nerdy radio talk for you). I found out who the unfamiliar blog was and the whole thing is more than okay. I'm too lazy to "go private" without a cause for concern. I just deleted the whole post rather than make anyone who hadn't checked yet read through my paranoid rambling.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then so much is the better for me! Thanks for reading!

72 Hour Kit Challenge, week 7

All right, I'm falling down big time on this stuff and I really need to step it up! Thanks to Nicol for keeping me posting this so that I will stay on top of it. Without her interest, I surely would have given up. In case of emergency right now, we'd have some food, water, and a bag to store it in. Those items are not necessarily together at the present time, and they are currently located in my basement, which may or may not do me any good!

So, if you're not a total slacker like me, week 7 will be fairly simple. It's the next gallon of water per person/pet. Also, it's time to get cracking on your family's emergency plan. I introduced you to a rough outline of one put together by the city we live in as part of a previous post, but I will include some more detailed instructions with this week.

Some of the things you may want to include are the following:

Identifying escape routes from your home
Identifying gathering locations
Identifying community hazards
Learning community evacuation plans
Creating a communication plan
Learning how and when to shut-off household utilities
Insuring against financial loss
Addressing special needs for people and animals
Finding out shelter information
Securing your home against disasters

The most important thing on this list, of course, is the most important thing we can do-- communicate. Creating a communication plan is the first item on the agenda here. Identify an out-of-state contact. In case of a large scale disaster, someone who is away from the situation and able to help you track all members of your family is the best for this situation (because what are the chances everyone will be home?). Phone lines for long distance are less likely to be jammed in the event of emergency, as are phone-company-sponsored pay phones. See if you can track down a couple of those nearby (good luck, there aren't many any more!). Also, make sure you kindly ask this relative or friend if they are willing to help you. Maybe you could inspire them to start a family plan and offer your services in exchange.

Now that you have your contact identified, and in addition to storing their phone number in your phone, write it down and store it in your emergency kit. If you want ideas for what to put on the card, I have some documents from the Red Cross attached to the work email with this info that I can pass on. Contact me at either my own email, which you should have, or the email for this blog, which is posted somewhere to your right. That way, if your cell phone is damaged or (like mine) more likely to run out of steam when you really need it, you still have the phone number. Make sure children who are able to also memorize this number in addition to your own contact information.

The last and final thing for this week is identifying two gathering locations for your family. The first is somewhere very nearby, in the event of a one-home distaster such as a natural gas leak or a fire. It could be a neighbor, it could be the corner of your street. Just so long as everyone knows where it is. The second location is in case of a larger emergency that may require a full-scale neighborhood evacuation. It could be your grocery store, or to use my manager's words, "Grandma's house where she lives 2 miles away." Include this information on the emergency cards stored in your kits, but make sure everyone in your family knows the information as well.

All right, good luck and happy planning. Hopefully I'll get on top of it and have a picture to post next week!

Photo Tag

So thanks to Nicol and her tag, I'm posting pictures of my house right after we got back from camping. Why couldn't I wait until the next morning to check on the blog?

This photo tag includes the following items, and says no touch ups should be done before the photo is taken. Enjoy!


Dream Vacation
This is from our trip to Maui, Hawaii in 2005. There are so many pictures of the places we went, but I settled for this one. It's the view from our hotel room (a cheesy little tradition that I have when we go on vacation), and I would love to go back there more than words can say.

Self-Portrait


No one mentioned how hard it is to take a picture of yourself. This isn't the best quality, but I really don't know what else to do. Plus, I look like a dork. At least I'm a clean dork because it's after the post-camping shower!

What are the kids doing?

What he'll most likely be doing for days straight with as hard as he played!

Our closet

Our closet is organized chaos. Because Alan is always changing clothes to go to work or to come home from work and return that night, the shelf in the middle is what we like to call a "staging area". Oh, and if anyone is in the market for a barely-used helicopter flight helmet, let me know. The one in the top right hand corner should eventually be for sale.

Laundry Room

Remarkably clean considering the volume that will pass through in the next couple of days. I guess it's fortunate for me (less embarrassing anyway) that our laundry room is tiny, and the only entry from the garage. Thus, we keep our dirty clothes far away and transport them so as not to block entry.

The Bathroom

It's true, I'm posting another picture of the purple bathroom on my here, but this is also for a tag (I think Nicol started the first one, too) and this really is the bathroom we use most frequently. Because it's too tiny to turn around, you get a limited view of it.

The Fridge

Fuller than normal, but not by much!

The Sink Alan and I are both so uptight about the kitchen being clean that the first thing we unpacked was camp dishes. The second thing we did was to wash all those dishes and put them away. There are only a couple of glasses and some breakfast dishes in the sink from this morning.

Favorite Room

This is our bedroom. It's messier than normal because a lot of stuff got shoved off to the side last night so we could go to bed, but I really do make my bed every morning. I love our bedroom because of the ceiling fan (only sorta included in the picture) keeping it comfortable in the afternoon when the sun is on the west side of our house (where all the large windows are), and the large bed where Mason and I can sit and read stories when the rest of the house is too hot and I'm too cheap to crank up the AC.

Favorite Shoes

This is not a very flattering picture of them (I swear, they aren't that dirty!), but these are my girly shoes from this spring. I can't wear flip flops to work, which are my second favorite pair of shoes, so these have been getting me through the summer quite nicely.

Nicol passed this tag on to five, so I will tag Joey, Becca, Laura, Jill, and Carolee. Have fun, ladies!

Music Review: Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings by Counting Crows

Counting Crows recently released a sort of ambitious little project called Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings. I have been listening to more and more of them lately, and I keep liking what I have found. I asked my mom for the CD as a birthday gift without having heard any of the tracks on it, which is highly unusual for me to do.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the difference in the songs on here and what I've heard on the radio. I think almost everyone my own age remembers well "Round Here" and "Mr. Jones" from our junior high days. I have stayed away from their more mainstream pop-sounding stuff, and settled on songs like "Anna Begins". Well, this CD is a cross between that radio-friendly stuff and "Anna Begins".

The title suggests it's divided into segments, and it is. The first portion, the "Saturday Nights" is more raucous and just plain loud. It's the kind of music I get in trouble with in my car because I drive too fast. The first track, 1492, sounds almost like a whole different band if it weren't for the fact that Adam Duritz has a very distictive voice. I think my favorite of these more up-tempo songs is Insignificant. The others were good, but they sound fairly similar and I have a hard time telling them apart if I'm not paying close attention.

The second half of the CD, the "Sunday Mornings", starts off like a mellow morning after a rowdy night out with Washington Square, a very slow and pared down acoustic-style song about, you guessed it, walking through Washington Square. I have a feeling, had I ever been there, I would know what they were talking about and would be partial to this song. I like the sound of it, but it really has very little meaning to me. This second part continues in kind of this simplified vein (even using a harmonica in places, without it coming off too much like country music), but gradually builds into Come Around at the end, which is my favorite track on the CD. It's about a relationship where the involved people keep coming back to one another, and even when their relationship takes a detour they still have the trust that eventually their time will come back around.

I wasn't sure if I would come away thinking the attempt was cheesy, to capture an entire young and wild weekend worth of feeling. Instead, I got a really good CD that I can listen to whether my mood indicates 'fast driving music' or something a little mellow and almost melancholy without resorting to Dashboard Confessional.

Five Fun Facts about Samson

Samson is laying here next to me as I'm typing out some blog posts and responding to email, and it makes me think about him a little bit. When we adopted our two dogs, we invited two very distinct personalities into our lives. They make our lives richer, sometimes they make our lives more odiferous, and they never fail to provide affection when you really need it. So for the next couple weeks, I'm letting Friday Fives go to the dogs.

Five Fun Facts About Samson

1. It took us longer to name him than it did to name our son. One of the choices was acutally "Diogi". To see why that's funny, sound it out carefully. It took me several tries.

2. He howls at telephone rings. We can't change our ringtones, or many times even have an incoming call, without him letting us hear how it's affecting his day.

3. He groans when he scratches the right spot on his ear. Some dogs twitch their legs, but not Samson.

4. He likes to crawl under the back porch. This is most entertaining because he weighs about 110 lbs and often gets stuck. He also sleeps with his head and shoulders under our bed.

5. He never fails to entertain. He licks the air coming out of air vents, he tries to catch bugs in his mouth, and prefers to sleep sprawled on his back. He has tried to dive under our bed and missed because he was too big, walked into tables that haven't been moved since he lived here. He has fallen asleep having his head scratched, fallen over when he lifted his leg to go potty, and lost his balance trying to scratch his side.

Sadly, I can't find any pictures of Samson as a puppy. We didn't have many because it was so hard to get him to hold still for that long, which is sad because he was so very adorable. But here is on our camping trip, watching something out on the water.

Chuck E. "say Cheese"

Thanks to Joey and Nate and their family, who were making a trip to celebrate an important goal of Nathan's and invited us to share, Mason got to experience Chuck E. Cheese first hand. I think he had a pretty good time. We did a family deal, so each of the boys got about 50 tokens for rides and games. Mason loves Skeeball and basketball, but he also spent quite a few tokens on this little Merry-Go-Round.

In the end, he had some pizza, played in a playground, and hit another little kid in the head with a skeeball (Mason apologized and we made sure the other little boy was okay). When it was time to go, Joey and I teamed up on the skeeball and basketball games to burn through tokens and earn some tickets.

Mason's spoils for the effort was as follows: two small Tootsie Pop suckers, a pack of crayons with a notepad attached, a handful of yellow and green plastic spiders, and a sheet of three stickers.

Maybe next time he'll even ride with Nate in the monster truck. Thanks for inviting us to play, guys!

Wordless Wednesday- Splash Park

Splash parks are a huge draw during hot summer days in our neighborhood. Two opened nearby last summer, and although we thought Mason might be too young to really enjoy himself with all the "big kids", he kept up and made some waves (splashes) of his own. This is my favorite picture from that first trip. (25June07). For more Wordless Wednesdays, check out Classy and Sophisticated and 5 Minutes for Mom .

"Sparklies" Everywhere and the Rockets Red Glare

On Sunday night, we engaged in a little extended-family time and did a small fireworks show at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Mason was no more excited to spend time outside, but once again, when the "fireworkings" started up, he was completely hypnotized. He also got his first experience with sparklers. Fortunately, he doesn't share my odd dislike of something so childhood-oriented. Unfortunately, he wanted to do it himself (that is, with no motherly assistance). I was okay with stepping aside, but I was so glad the grandparents were there to prevent injury. I can only imagine what would have happened if, in his enthralled state, he had decided to grab the "sparklies" instead of just watching them. Injury averted, I think a good time was had by all. Thanks for the invite, Grandma!

Grandma also made some really yummy candy popcorn which I will have to snag the recipe for and post here. It was. that. good.

72 Hour Kit Challenge, week 6

Sorry, Nicol. I know this is late. Please forgive me. Monday crept up too fast this week, or maybe I've been working too much the last few days to keep track of time properly. Either way, I'm sorry!

Wow. Six weeks into this already, and I'm only two weeks behind so far! I actually have the clothes we need, it's just a matter of compiling them. Mason is going to be the really tough one, as we all know how quickly kids grow, but I have some items of the next size already purchased, so I'll just make sure we allocate some into his 72-hour kit. I'm still looking for a deal on a roller backpack, by the way, so if anyone sees one that would be an appropriate size for a toddler, please let me know.

The challenge for week six is what I'm going to simply call bedding. You can use mylar blankets, wool blankets, or a sleeping bag kept close to your kit. Keep in mind that small children may need additional items. Also to consider: ground cover (tarp or garbage bag versus something inflatable. They have self-inflating and kinds with a pump, depending on how much you are willing to spend and how large of a kit you want to carry) and pillows. My work stated mylar blankets are small enough for a backpack, and can be found for as little as $0.99. I would think I'll go for small single or twin sized wool blend blankets and, if I can find them for low enough cost, some inflatable pillows. I am likely to grab at least an extra blanket or two for the dogs kits as well, and I'll want to make sure we have a spare flat collar and leash to make sure, should we be more nomadic, that we have a way to make them stay put at night. One other consideration is the waterproofing needs of toddlers.

Steer clear of wool if you have allergies, but in choosing blankets and bedding, keep in mind: portability, seasonal needs, warmth/waterproof-ness (I'm even making up my own words now), and comfort. If you can strike a balance between all of these, your choice is probably the perfect one for your family.

Can I Get Your Opinion on a Nudity Issue?

I did something different the other night. I was so tired I didn't realize I had forgotten to remove my wedding ring before I went to bed. I typically have some pretty sensitive skin, and even this ring must come off to avoid a red, itchy line by morning. I woke up when I smacked my hand on the headboard and felt the ring hit instead of my finger because that was such a foreign thing.

Don't get me wrong, I love my wedding ring and I wear it every day. I feel "naked" without this exact ring in place. I have purchased a few cheaper bands to wear around the house or to other outings where I don't want this treasured item to go (like 4-wheeling), but they always end up in much the same allergic reaction and cannot replace the value of the real deal. I even tried just wearing the wedding band portion of my ring a couple of times before it was soldered, but it was just too weird for me.

Because my mind works in mysterious ways, the simple act of wearing my wedding ring to bed made me curious about others' habits with such a personal object. Do my friends take off their rings, or wear just a wedding band most of the time? What makes my friends' wedding rings so special to them (besides the obvious)? Did your spouse pick it out or did you help? We all seem to have our own style and our own reasons for wearing the rings we do. But most of all, it seems like there are definite opinions on the topic of ring removal, so I decided to do my first poll. Please feel free to leave comments here as well, because a multiple-choice poll doesn't cover all the options.

Splish-Splashin' on a Saturday Night

My friend has a fun little setup on her back patio for her daughter and invited Mason to come play in the swimming pool. The only catch was the water came from the hose and was quite cold. My little water baby didn't mind at all. However, his enjoyment was cut short by the A/C unit kicking on. Nothing will take away your bravery quite like a loud fan, apparently.

...And the "Flaps" were "Blowin' in the wind!"...

Happy 4th of July everyone!



We did the usual this year, meaning we went to see Daddy in the parade (ha!-please notice I'm a nice enough wife I didn't post the pictures I bragged about on Twitter.) that usually stars at least a few of his co-workers, if not all of them, followed much later by the "fireworkins" Mason has been so longingly asking for. Well, once it became obvious that no one was accompanying us this year and I got over feeling sorry for myself about it, we embarked. I don't know why it hit me so hard, considering I always knew Alan's job would mean stuff like this, but today I was a little nervous about going out alone with Mason and trying to keep him sufficiently entertained.


The parade was well-received by Mason, overall. He likes sirens, he wanted to go inside the Mobile Command Post and the Crime Scene Unit, and he eventually got the hang of waving back to the passersby. It should be noted he seemed to prefer waving to the beauty queen floats, which I found amusing. The first handful of candy that came at our early-arriving (no one die of shock, please!), front-row-sitting selves caused major tears as it bounced off his head and all around. Those tears were barely averted when the fire engine, bearing Alan's buddy/co-worker as engineer passed by. This is important because Alan had sweetly asked him to save a piece of candy for Mason thinking that no one but the fire dept. was allowed to throw candy this year. This was misinformation, as everyone had candyu and now the 4th of July stash closely resembles something I have yet to throw away from Easter. Anyhow, Jeff is a good shot, and although the throw wasn't hard, Mason waved and yelled "Thanks" as he started crying again after the taffy bounced off his chest.



Oh, and big thanks to the auxiliary group who handed out flags before the parade started. Mason loved them, and he loved to wave them. He misunderstood me when I told him what they were called, and as soon as we got home, he wanted to hold his "flaps" again. At random intervals, he would wave them and say they were "Blowin' in the wind!". He can be pretty adorable. However, this stopped when he poked himself in the eye with the stick. I wish I was kidding about that, but I guess now I can say the parade itself was more fun than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick with some literal meaning.



We had a bit of a meltdown after the parade. Mason wanted to go on a blow-up slide, but he didn't believe that was what I had put him on after our very looooong wait in line. By the time he stopped crying and asked nicely to try again, the line was even longer and he didn't believe I was going to let him go on it because we were so far away from the slide, leading to another fit. We went to the car for a respite from the heat and a drink of cold water, and he was like a new kid. We set out again, armed with our blanket, to seek a seat for fireworks. Alas, the wind was blowing and the concert was loud (I'm wondering if he's coming down with an ear infection because he was only happy snuggling in my lap with my hands over his ears). But as soon as the action started, he was all about the "Wow! That was a big one!" and the "Look at that! Lots of colors! Big booms!" The change in demeanor came right around the time Grandma came out, and we were both so grateful to see her!



Despite the difficulties we faced, and the much complaining put upon my husband during my frantic phone calls, Mason's reaction made it worth it. You can't tell from the picture (he was being so very solemn!), but he said he had fun and wanted to see more "fireworkins"; accordingly, we will be heading out in a few weeks for the local Pioneer Day celebrations, even if we have to brave the crowds and heat alone. We can make it, and we can have some fun, too.

I watched the guy driving this tell the passenger to "look how cute this little boy is!", the limit of my lip-reading ability, and felt happy.

Friday Fives : Five Great Things About Camping

I'm trying so hard to get excited about our up-coming camping trip, but I just keep thinking of all the things I really hate about camping. The place we like to go is so remote there is nothing resembling a bathroom, and the last time we went, we got stuck trying to leave and it took hours to dig ourselves and my father-in-law out. I am typically what you would call a creature of comfort. I appreciate nature, but prefer it in small doses. I like my air conditioning, my bed, my clean bathrooms, and my shower. So in an attempt to buck up and adjust my attitude, I bring you this week's Friday Five.

My Five Favorite Things About Camping

1. A campfire that comes with S'mores. There's something about fire-roasted marshmallows that can't be duplicated, no matter how many S'mores Cupcakes or Brownies I bake. And although I complain after Alan comes home from a housefire with that smell, I do enjoy the smell of the fire in the proper context.

2. All the stars. Even though our house is a little more remote now than where I grew up, and we don't have as many lights to block out the stars, you still will never see more stars at a time than when you are out camping.

3. The chance to try new things. Alan and his family have introduced me to 4-wheeling. I'm not the biggest fan of that, but I think this year he's going to teach me how to shoot a BB gun. I'm hoping I'll enjoy it and feel like there might be some adventure left in me yet.

4. The food. There is no denying it. The food at Girls' Camp was always fantastic. Roasting things over the fire makes for a good meal. But Alan's family always makes really good food while they are camping, and this year we get to make some of it, too.

5. Zip-together sleeping bags. When Mason was very small (just 6 mos. old) and we went up to this same spot, it was far too cold to leave him on his own at night, just as it will be this time. He was so snuggly and sweet, and because of his desire to keep his head at the top of the sleeping bag, I got to cuddle with my baby without a foot to the thigh or a head to the back. It's been a long time since I got to snuggle with him all night, but I'm thinking this might be the last opportunity. Plus, my husband throws off body heat like a furnace and it should be sufficient enough to keep us all warm. Note to self: pack footie pajamas or socks to avoid cold toes.

Book Review: Atonement by Ian McEwan

rating: 4 of 5 stars at Good Reads

I really liked this book and found it to be very different from other stories I've read. The biggest difference was that it wasn't extremely fast paced. It wasn't the book you can't put down, but it was the book that quietly prods you to pick it back up. The first part, the part with the "event" the whole story is based around, is told over the course of one day and lasts about 175 pages, which is about half the book. The rest of the story comprises the other half of the book, and so moves a good deal faster.

The other interesting thing was the third person, mostly omniscient point of view. You as a reader get to see what various characters are thinking and feeling. It isn't all the characters, and it isn't even all the characters who turn out to be important, but it is the characters who are most affected by the chain of events set forth.

At the age of 13, Briony Tallis witnesses a few scenes between her sister and the son of a servant. Straddling the line between childhood and adulthood, she doesn't understand what she sees and it prompts her to make bold accusations that end up tearing her family apart. She spends the next half of the book trying to make amends that aren't really possible.

I really liked the way the author paints his picture. You can picture exactly the vase he describes as a precious family treasure, the fountain Cecilia dives into, the "temple" where Briony makes her discovery and where their lives all change. You can almost feel the heat of the kitchen where the servants are preparing a roast dinner in the middle of the summer, or smell the hospital ward Briony works in during World War II as a young adult. He uses adult words, which add to the educated element of the characters. His characterizations are spot-on, and every action is fairly well explained. Even if the ending didn't wrap things up in the way I would've preferred, I would still recommend this book. I wouldn't be surprised if it became a classic, and if I re-read and find something new in the subtly drawn story that I hadn't noticed before.


My favorite line from the book came near the end.

The evasions of her little novel were exactly those of her life. Everything she did not wish to confront was also missing from her novella--and was necessary to it. What was she to do now? It was not the backbone of a story that she lacked. It was backbone.

Briony treats herself harshly for what she's done, but her thought is essentially true. Confrontation is the only way to deal with her childish actions. On the other hand, doing what she did took a lot of backbone, so we know she has one. It's just a matter of her willingness to use it in an effort to right the wrong she committed.

Perhaps the only thing I didn't like was that Briony's actions were, in part, due to a letter she read in which one of the other characters uses my least favorite word in the English language. It may surprise some to learn that I have one, but I do. And while it's true that the word is only written once and then vaguely alluded to afterward, and Briony receives it with what I feel is the appropriate amount of shock, I still think I didn't give it five stars only because of this. There are a couple of very brief examples of strong language, and some fairly graphic imagery (all three main characters are closely involved in World War II) including some sexual content, so if you are typically offended by these things you may want to steer clear. The one word was all that offended me, so it was easily overlooked on my part. If it weren't for two instances of graphic language, I would say the themes alone in the book were reason enough for it to be a classic worthy of high school reading lists. As it stands, it is probably not appropriate for that venue.


For more on what I've been reading or for recommendations from your friends, check out Good Reads. This slightly tweaked post is brought to you courtesy of the new "blog it" feature on their reviews.

How to Approach Rock Bottom Head First

Ordinary sliding is just too boring. Why not head first AND on the "tummies"? (13June08) For more Wordless Wednesdays, check out 5 Minutes for Mom.

My friend Becca

My friend Becca recently started her own blog, and I was so glad to have what might be a flow of information about her family. She has three little kids and we are so busy between the two of us that we don't talk as often as we might want. Unfortunately, we haven't chatted any more online than we do in real life!

Becca and I first met at some point in junior high school. I can't remember exactly when, but my earliest memory of knowing her was at another friend, Natalie's, birthday party when we were around 14 0r 15 years old. She had lived in my neighborhood previously and become friends with the girls I later became friends with. By the time I came around, she had already moved.

We spent the better part of at least one summer together when she invited me to her house for a whole week, just because. It was there I learned you could put blue food coloring in Top Ramen and it was still edible and how to make Muddy Buddies. It was through her, that on New Years Eve 1996-97 that I met my husband at a church dance. I was so embarrassed when she corrected the wrong phone number I had given him (on purpose).

Becca is the friend you never forget. We get silly and giggle together over nothing. We can spend hours talking about anything, whether it be our kids and husbands or some totally random subject. Plus, her mom has always been super nice to me, too. She is also the friend you lose touch with, find again, and you know exactly what you were missing.