Yearly Archives: 2013

Keep it Simple, Stupid

There’s this saying, “If it tastes good on its own, it’ll taste good on a pizza”.  I haven’t had an ice cream pizza yet, or a Cheerios pizza, but I have my doubts.  If you reduce pizza to its basic

Posted in Baking Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

The Happy Children

The end of the day is tough for everyone.  Child Harbat is usually over-stimulated and tired, Number Two has had a full day of preschool and has no idea how to read his body’s own cues that he is accelerating

Posted in Parenting Tagged with: , , , , ,

Couch Forts

Small children are like mice.  They utilize at-hand materials to create little nests, cozy spots just big enough for a bed and a lookout.  If left in the forest I think children would do better making shelter and staying dry

Posted in Parenting Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Harvesting

Some say we’ve lost touch with the land.  We whizz around in cars, staring at glowing rectangles all day, and the natural world is at best, a disturbance, at worst, invisible.  Not so!  Harvesting your own food is simple, rewarding,

Posted in Gardening Tagged with: , , , , ,

Mr. Noisy

Number Two child is working on his speaking skills.  This involves yelling EVERYTHING AT MAXIMUM VOLUME.  Requests for food are similar to that of a bull elephant trumpeting an immediate charge.  Denials of questions about wanting more water/food/face-wiping are met

Posted in Parenting Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Feeding a Unicorn

One of the things I’ve learned about parenting from my step-mother, who is a wonderful parent and longtime journalist about family issues, is how to let it go.  What fights are worth fighting?  Does every moment need to be a

Posted in Parenting Tagged with: , , ,

The Unbearable Cheapness of Toys

There is a limit, toy-makers.  There is a limit past which you are cutting corners and leaving something which shouldn’t really exist.  Take for example a mermaid doll.  Sure, her makeup is smudged, the eyes distant and crossed, the plastic

Posted in Products Tagged with: , , , ,

Sometimes They Surprise You

The weekend was a tiring march from one required task to the next:  dishes, laundry, clean house for party to which I’m not invited and must hide with the children in the kitchen and bedrooms, smear food off the floor

Posted in Parenting Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Back to Writing

Oh lawdy, how good it feels to have a writing project again.  My poor neglected blog, three days without an update, but I have been cranking out words on this new project:  12,000 and counting.  The theme for this new

Posted in Writing Tagged with: , , , , ,

Learning How to Complain

Number Two has been working on his complaining skills.  You’d think this is instinctual but toddlers are able to move up to the major leagues when it comes to protest.  At over 1 ½ now, Number Two is finally realizing

Posted in Parenting Tagged with: , , , , , ,
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