lajendi

here fishy fishy fishy

We had fish for dinner. That is an accomplishment. DH and kids have proclaimed they like nothing but fish sticks. Have you ever looked at the nutrition info on a box of fish sticks? Ugh. It has been my quest to introduce new fish into our family diet.

The number one rule of fish is get it fresh or forget it. If the market you shop smells so strongly of fish it reminds you more of cleaning products than fish, it's time to move on.

This is the salmon dish that everyone in the family likes. I LOVE it. It is so easy:

Drizzle olive oil over a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper. Lay down a few lemon slices and sprigs of dill. Set salmon fillet on top (skin side down). Then repeat layering oil, salt and pepper, lemon slices and dill sprigs. Wrap foil or parchment up like a package, but not close to the fish, give it room to steam. Bake 350 for 15-30 minutes depending on the thickness of your fillet. You can tell it is done when the center of the thickest area is opaque.

Last week I made Tilapia with a healthy breading that the kids loved. I might try it with Haddock or Cod, the Tilapia wasn't amazing.

1/2 cup cornmeal

1T flour

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 egg whites

4 fish fillets

Mix dry ingredients. Add 1 T water to egg whites and beat slightly. Dip fillets into egg, then cornmeal, repeat. Cover and refrigerate 10 min. Heat 2 T olive oil in skillet. Fry about 4 minutes each side or until done. They could also be baked to skip the oil of pan frying.

You can make a healthier version of tartar sauce by using low fat mayo and relish.

Flaming Gorge Reservor, Wyoming

What I wish I could have is the fresh caught rainbow trout we had when I was a kid. Maybe it tasted so good because you had to wait all day to get it. Or cooking it over the campfire. Or that it was breathing just before it hit the pan. Although gutting a fish is something I can live without. I can't imagine trout from the store would even come close.

In crafty news I just mailed my entry for this contest. I can't think of the last time I entered a contest. It was fun, but if you want to know what I wrote you've got to cheer me on so they'll post my letter on the website. I tried to write well and do crazy eclectic drawings too, hoping originality will get me the prize.

Pocock lingo

You know every family has its own lingo, private jokes? Here's one of ours:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApmvDU5RmyY

Viewing pleasure and knitting

Ok I'm trying this again, almost had this post finished and the computer had a seizure and I lost it all. In my mind it was the best post ever maybe this one can capture the magic. :)

Knitting is great for me because DH likes to watch TV, it drives me crazy to just sit there. So I can watch with him and knit at the same time.  Our viewing pleasure last night was American Idol and Project Runway. (Well PR was just me, I'm hooked on that show. Wearable art what could be better!? I'm so sad Chris isn't going to be at fashion week.)

What did you watch?

For those of you remotely interested in knitting just give me a minute to convince you.  I taught myself last year while laying around pregnant. I caught this show on TV and it got me excited and I started to understand the lingo. (Just TIVO it!)

Here's the pattern I'm using for the baby afghan. 

It isn't all just afghans and scarves. Really fun current trends out there and bazillions of types of yarn, yarn, yarn. Look an R2D2 hat.  Or whip up this fun tidbit. My first project was this felted bag -

Don't be a wuss, give it a try.

afghan knitting

There is something to do while hovering between influenza misery and sleep. Besides reading of course. Knitting has made my illness a bit productive.

 

I've been working on this afghan for the baby since before she was born.  This is only my second knitting project and as always I bite off more than I can chew. Really had no idea what I was getting into. The picture online looked pretty and found 5 skeins of pretty yarn on clearance. Did it need more thought than that?

Yes, it needed more thought. I used those skeins and realized unless it was a strange scarf there had to be more yarn. The off-white mohair blend I found is filling in just fine. Because of course the yarn I bought on clearance was discontinued. I made a stripey design with the colors so it would look like I did two colors on purpose and gave a traditional knitting pattern a more modern look. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I'll post the pattern and my fav. knitting sites tomorrow. When the project is finished it will be proudly posted.

Yesturday I did about 20 rows, so if I stay sick I could be done in a week. But as any mother knows only one sick day and back at life. Now R is home sick. Think she'll knit for me?

This is my big 'Thank You Mom":

 

influenza, the flu or a cold

Remember yesturday when I didn't feel like getting out of bed? I shouldn't have. The horrid influenza has arrived.

Recently I read that there is a difference between the flu, influenza and a cold. What I remember is that the biggest difference between influenza and a cold is the joint soreness and general body aches. Where as the flu is the gross puke kind of thing. You can get a vaccination for influenza not for a cold or flu.  So our kids got the influenza shot this year, but not DH and I. But then my understanding is that the current influenza vaccine is only 40% effective this year. I also read that most of the time we think we have the flu and are ralphing our innards out we in fact have food poisoning.

 

This eclectic mix of sick thoughts leads me to believe in fact we're chasing our tales with it all.

And I'm going to bed.

Seedlings

Its Monday. And I felt it this morning when I woke up. The baby was up at 11, 3, 6. So when it was time to go to the gym at 6:20 I really didn't want to go. Most days I enjoy the gym, I know its crazy, but I feel so much better afterwards. Then I have a day like today and remember an old cartoon - it was just a frog hanging there and it said "Eat a live frog every morning and nothing worse will happen to you all day."

I did it, I ate the frog (went to the gym).

Later at home, as I came around a corner to go up the stairs I glimpsed this-

The seeds J and I planted just a few days ago sprouted. What brave little seeds, there in the window with full view of the harsh snow and cold outside they still emerge.  Marigolds, cosmos, alysum, zinnia.  The tomato are still warm in their beds, not peeking out, and I understand.

"It's all I have to bring today

This, and my heart beside

This, and my heart, and all the fields

And all the meadows wide"

-Emily Dickinson 

Jesus vive

Sundays will usually be a religious post for me. Its just what my day is about.

In the area we live there are many Latino church members that come from all over the world.  Today a woman who speaks only spanish was asked to share her feelings about the gospel. She is there every week, sitting on the back row with her husband and children, trying to peacefully get through the meeting just as I do.  I smile and sometimes say 'hola' but language is a barrier.

When she went up to speak I was standing in the back rocking the baby to sleep and listening, not able to use the headphones for translation. Listening to her carefully I was able to understand a few things she said. Some of what I heard her say: spanish spanish spanish "Jesus vive" spanish spanish spanish.  (That's what it sounded like to me anyway)

It touched me, to know that although there is much we don't share, including something as basic as language, we do share that most important faith that 'Jesus lives'.

As she walked back to sit with her family I hugged her and kissed her cheek (a Latino gesture I love) and whispered in her ear, "Gracias hermana". She is my sister and I am thankful for her testimony today.

to women: just do it

This morning DH was great to take care of the baby so I could sleep in. One of my favorite things (which never happens) is to sleep in and read in bed. Today I read A Thousand Splendid Suns. Although this is fiction I'm engrossed and overcome by the reality of what women in Afghanistan and other middle eastern countries have lived through. Just a few of the laws under the Taliban:

• Singing is forbidden
• Dancing is forbidden
• Writing books, watching films, and painting pictures are forbidden
• For women: stay inside homes at all times. If you go outside, you must be accompanied by a male relative. If you are caught alone on the street, you will be beaten and sent home. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will not make eye contact with men. You will not laugh in public. If you do, you will be beaten.
• Girls are forbidden from attending school.

It seems to me these things would make my life unbearable. How I feel about my freedom is beyond words, 'gratitude' doesn't express it strongly enough. In all the times and places I could be living, I live here and now with such priviledges and blessings.

Throughout my life I've felt I could do anything I put my mind to. I think it comes from my parents, church, culture, and its just who I am.  Along those lines today I mudded drywall in the basement.

It seemed fitting, to be doing something that has been deemed 'a man's job' after pondering women's issues. It must be the men in my life, Dad, DH, God who stand back and let me go at it.

Snow Day

Today I did this:

 

Like this:

 

It  made my neighbor's day to see the crazy mother of four next door shoveling the driveway in shorts. The biggest smile I've ever seen on his face. It's good to make people smile.

Ironically enough this is the song that played on the MP3 while shoveling. 

The snow made me feel at home. It was more like Colorado snow than the icy stuff we usually get here. Plus its nice to have the roads and gym to myself because most people here are scared to drive in snow. Its still snowing . Even though I'm anxious for spring I just can't stop smiling. 

Disclaimer

Before we get into this blogging thing I'll share my biggest fear about it-

Saying(writing) something I regret.

So we're starting with this disclaimer:I will be myself. In being myself I will unintentionally offend, insult, demean, criticize or commit any number of blogging sins. If the possiblity of any of these or any other offenses causes tremors, rapid eye movement, increased oxygen intake or any other uncomfortable symptoms for you please discontinue use.

Oh it feels good to get that out of the way. Ready for this ride?!