June 24

Indifference

We called to her several times. Pssstt…hey Joker! Over here! Yoo hoo!

Nothing.

I think I’m hurt.

Last week the girl was a summer camp counselor at the farm where she rides. It was her first time and she was so excited. I was as excited too but I was so busy that I didn’t get any photos of her. The first day I dropped her off, I locked the keys in the car and thought I’d have to ride a horse home to get the extra key. The rest of the week was kinda down hill from there.

I was really proud of her though. She looked forward to it all year. I asked Miss Tina what the counselors do all week and her words were, “They’re going to work their buns off.”

Oh good! Perfect.

Look at Squirrel. He feels the same way.

The Way Of The World

This shriveled bud is where beauty lives. Yet it is ignored until it blooms. Perhaps we need to look closer. And have more anticipation. And give it more credit for what it is, not for what it will become. And have joy in the waiting, in the process.

I’m not sure why I have been such a girl lately. Today the storm is over, it’s day two and now it’s time to have fun.

I hope to have time to get my camera out and shoot some photos so you can see the fun in progress. There is no doubt that God is good.

June 23

June 22, 5/365

Best Shot Monday, Yellow Rose

The yellow rose is my mother’s favorite flower.

Unconscious thoughts and unknowing minds
Still breathes small signs of what’s to come
For the promise of the day
Is as evident as the rising sun…

In other words…it’s going to be a crazy day. But I will pray before I go and I know that I will go protected.

Love In The Final Round, Father’s Day 2009

The girl and her Poppop, circa 1999

My step-father, or Poppop, is the father that I always wished I had. My parents married when I was sixteen years old. I remember my step-brother Jim asking me on that day, “How do you feel about this?”

I said, “I’m so happy about it.”

And I still am. For in her final round of love, my mother has picked a great man. Happy Father’s Day Poppop.

The husband’s father died when the husband was two years old. His mom re-married and her second husband died a few years later. From then on, Virginia, my mother-in-law, raised the son who will in turn be a great father. And she did it without a husband for many years.

Virginia came to visit when we lived in Phoenix many years ago. She met Frank on the plane. He was on his way to see his son in Tucson. They struck up a conversation, struck up a friendship and now have been together over twelve years.

In her final round of love, my mother-in-law has picked a great man. Happy Father’s Day Frank.

And now, my husband, my love, my life, father to my children. The man with whom I wish I could have more kids…another story for another time.

In my one and only round of love, I am blessed to have picked a great man. Happy Father’s Day honey.

June 21, 4/365

June 20, 3/365

Zucchini Brownies

Last week during our little girl’s night out at my house, we had an interesting conversation about healthy food and I was told that there was a show on the Lifestyle channel where two ladies would put zucchini into everything.

So today, we’re making brownies.

Start with the biggest zucchini you can find.

Wash and chop the zucchini into large chunks.

Cook the zucchini in some boiling water.

Once it’s cooked, drain the zucchini and put it in a blender.

Put the recommended amount of oil (or applesauce if you are a true health fanatic. I’m pushing it with the zucchini) called for by your brownie recipe. In this case, I used 3/4 cup. The recipe called for a full cup but I figured the zucchini would make up for the extra moisture.

I used a blender because I don’t have a food processor and I don’t want any suspicious chunks – you know what I mean.

I then put four eggs in. Normally it calls for two, but I was doing a double batch. I’m okay with that. Eggs = protein for little growing ones.

Here’s my super secret brownie recipe. Any box will do. Don’t tell anyone.

I put the egg/oil/zucchini mixture into the brownie mix. The girl saw this picture and said, “Why is it green? Mom, what did you put in the brownies?” Hmmmm….

This is before she knew that it was going to be good for you.

She just wanted to lick the bowl. She’s really enjoying it.

The boy decided to get into the act too. They do the most fighting over who is going to lick the bowl after I’ve baked something.

When her own hair tastes good, she can’t complain about the zucchini when she finds out can she? I’m so evil!

They were delicious. Delicious! So moist, so chocolaty. I brought some over to Neighbor Chris. The girl saw the photos before I posted them and she said, “Mom, what did you put in the brownies?!!”

One day, they’ll get to torture their kids. In the meantime, I’m loving every minute of it. Because if I never sneak zucchini in into the brownies and eggs into the macaroni and cheese, they would never get any nutrition. They love it, and they don’t even know it.

Good for me.

Please visit fabulous Foodie Friday over at Designs by Gollum. There’s a gal who know how to enjoy life. And it’s not a sin.

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