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whining

Posted at 11:50 PM on April 16, 2008 by Vera Schabicki

Some times I get kind of whiny.

I think it may be a seasonal affective disorder, it strikes definately during the Christmas season (even though fly lady is by my side and loves me, there is WAY to much stuff to do). Then of course there are the winter doldrums, this is when we are supposed to be so peaceful that we can sit for hours in front of cozy fires and dream about gardens, pursue crafts and read a good book. Spring fever is when we are just a little short of fresh vitamins and need to drink bitter green concoctions and all will be well, ie. spring fever......summer is just to hot to fuss about (I really enjoy the humidity here, I always felt like a dried out husk in the over 100 degree, o% humidity, Sacramento weather).

All of these truly lovely times of the year blend into a long blurred never ending to do list, there are countless birthdays, team sport activities, classes............when is the time to rest? I stopped at the always delightful Target today after soccer practice (this would be well after nine p.m.), I was positively salivating at all the coveniently boxed items, little boxes of tasty crackers, luscious looking pastas from around the world.....I remembered my sour face after yesterdays soccer game when I saw the cheerful man leave the grocery with a nice very tasty smelling roasted chicken.....I had to go home and cook something for the kids , we do not eat fast food.............how painfully self righteous this can be at times. I think people eat these things because they are tired and busy...even though I know that the food really does not taste good and it makes Brittany's stomach hurt and it makes Sasha's asthma flare up...I am tempted and the kids are tempted (if you have never seen Super Size Me, rent it, my kids refuse to eat at McDonalds, ever for any reason with any one after seeing this film (be sure to watch the extras at the end of the film), ).

We are eating copious amounts of local rice and beans (from our "stores"), with lots of lovely collard greens. Our eggs from Mr. Helwig and Mr.Cheeseman and the gift of Ms Hazel are very lovely (I have had to make some truly decadent ice cream, oh well) . I have lettuce, cilantro and parsley in my garden, this is from overwintering with a floating row cover, .....this really works and I learned about it from a guy in Maine (the esteemed Eliot Coleman)! Next winter I hope to have a large enough garden to really give us some fresh stuff through the season. I am baking bread every day and now I make tortillas too, all of this is easy enough but it adds up to long exhausting day.

My youngest had a very nasty flu this past week, he lost over five pounds, I think this is about ten percent of his body weight..........I made him chicken soup from the nice Zion farm chicken.....he ate very little of it, every one else really liked it.

Will have to tell you about the wild local birthday party next time.

Best wishes, Vera