Father's Day

For Father's Day Rick got buttermilk waffles for breakfast and a dinner of ham, au gratin potatoes, rolls, and coffee cake. Piper made him a cute card, a daddy-themed puzzle, and we bought him a new pair of slippers and pajama pants (he was in desperate need of new slippers).

Piper and I also made him these bingo cards that had pictures of things that he loves. We made two variants too, one for Piper and one for me, so that we could all play together. We had themes going. The first column is for foods/drinks he likes, second for pastimes, third for the things he loves the most, fourth for luxuries, and fifth for travel. They were a big hit and Piper loves playing because it's easy for her to mark off the squares. We're still teaching her how to recognize when she has won.

Strawberries and Adventures in Domesticity

The full-swing strawberry season is quickly winding down. We've got strawberries just starting to grow in our little garden but we've had other sources of strawberries lately.

We got these heavenly beauties from our organic farm share. I don't think I've ever tasted better quality strawberries before. They were perfectly ripe, juicy, tender, and red through and through. Piper and I gorged on them.

Piper and I decided to go strawberry picking one day. I had found a farm not too far from us. We were taken on a tractor with some other pickers to rows of strawberries. The rain had done a bit of damage and they were nearing the end of the season. However, we picked eight quarts.


Child labor


My helpful picker. She was pretty good and picking only the red berries.


Now what do you do when you have eight quarts of berries and not enough time or stomach capacity to eat them all before they rot?! Make jam, of course. My parents routinely made jam when I was growing up. I had assisted in making jam once before with my step-sister Kym but that was over 15 years ago. Above is the result (minus one jar I gave away) of two hours of labor. I was very concerned about them sealing well so I consulted three recipes and methods simultaneously. I was very pleased with the results.

So, so good.

Rick in Beijing

Two weeks ago Rick had the opportunity to go to Beijing for work. He went a few days early to get in some sightseeing and to get over any jet lag before the meeting. He went with our friend Chris Musso and he was able to see our friend Hwee-Hong who we knew from New York. Here are some pictures from his travels.

Rick at the Great Wall

Musso looking cool


The Olympic "Bird's Nest"

Getting foot massages

The Forbidden City

New outfit

This is one of the many new outfits Piper got for her birthday. The one featured below is courtesy of Grandma Ann.

Random pics

My mom and a very pregnant me

Piper saying "Yar" after attending the Lakewood Library's How to Be a Pirate party

We didn't have time to get Piper's face painted at the party so I told her that I would give her a mustache and beard when we got home. She replied, "Ahoy mateys!"

TV Viewing

Rick and I finally watched the season finale of House. It was quite exciting and can’t wait for the new season. At least I have the new season of Burn Notice to tide me over for the summer. A new favorite on Discovery Healthy is Deliver Me. It’s about three women who run an OB practice in L.A. It’s really interesting; I’d watch it even if I wasn’t pregnant.

Summer is here!

A few weeks ago Piper and I went to the Rocky River spray park. This week we got a pool pass and went to an opening ice cream social. We’ve also signed up Piper for swim lessons. It’s a group class with parent participation. It will be good to get some good pool time in, what with my belly getting so heavy and everything.

Coming up in July Rocky River hosts a family day called River Days. It will have a kid’s bike parade, basketball tournament, food, crafts, inflatables, and clowns.

A local movie theater is also hosting free movie days for kids. Every Tuesday and Wednesday they show G-rated and PG-rated movies. We’ll probably go see Horton Hears a Who and maybe Happy Feet. Piper’s never been to movie so I figure that by going to a movie that she’s seen before, then she’ll be more likely to pay attention.

For the next six months we’re splitting a share of organic produce from a local farm with some friends. We’ve had two loads so far and we’ve had beets, rhubarb, green leaf lettuce, kale, strawberries, eggs, bread, and maple syrup. I made a fantastic strawberry rhubarb crumb cake. It was so, so good. This is in addition to the herbs, tomatoes, carrot seeds and strawberries we planted three weeks ago.

We’re looking forward to the summer. How about you?

Piper was seriously flirting with this kid. She would stare at him and try to get him to wave or smile at her. Oh no, it begins.

Piper and Ellie at the pool enjoying ice cream