Monkey Lobster

Cyrus turns three

I can't believe it's been three years.  It's been a crazy three years for us. Having a second baby, ending up in the ICU, learning that he was different, dealing with many medical issues, specialist and surgeries, learning to be a parent of a child with special needs and then one day without even knowing it just being a parent. I'm not saying that it's no longer on my mind that Cyrus is different than other children, it just isn't the first thing on my mind.  Things just seem more settled, I feel more "normal".  Not so worried that someone might ask me how old he is and not know what to say, or that no-one will like him because he doesn't understand language. He is just the cutest, sweetest thing on the planet, and I am so happy to have him in my life.

We had a party for him this weekend with cake and lots of music and dancing.  He had a good time.

 

new coop

So here is their new coop (a family gift from my mother, thanks mom).  And here they are at night trying to roost on top of their coop instead of in their coop where it's safe.  So far we have had to pry them off, squawking bloody murderer and place them on their roosting bar.  But they are happy in the early morn to have the outdoor space to scratch at before we get out there to let them out.

Now if I can just remember not to break the eggs in my pockets.

I made yogurt!!!!!!

I have been wanting to do this for so long now.  I was inspired when I saw this recipe for yogurt in a crock pot.  The crock pot has been going like mad around here and yesterday (after another crock pot dinner) we collectively decided that we were going to take a break from it. My favorite meal so far is skinless/boneless chicken legs with a jar of apricot chutney thrown in, a little apple cider, a few hunks of ginger and a pinch of curry powder.  It's just hard to go wrong.

But back to the yogurt, it turned out great.  It is so much cheaper that buying yogurt, plus my milk gets delivered in glass bottles so no plastic.  I also strained some of it in a clean kitchen towel for my little messy eater who needs things to stick to his spoon a little better.  My only complaint is how to getthat "sour" flavor, maybe a different starter? 

Halloween

 

 

 

 

Recovering from the flu just in time to make it out for the holiday that comes second to only Christmas. 

Hope you had a good one. 

grateful for another milestone

 

 

I've been waiting for this day for a long time, it's a milestone for us.  Eating is a big issue for kids with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.  He now weights over 25 pounds, is wearing size 2/3T and eating with utensils from a plate.  Wow!

Tea saucers, shot glasses and "play" silverware make up a good size plate setting for him, and squash-almond-meal pancakes make an easy to pick up sneak in the veggies and protein kind of meal.    

Inspired by soule mama (as I often am) I am reminded to be grateful for this grand achievement.  Yes the drink spills, dinner is rejected, and half chewed chunks of food land on other diners' plates, but for over a year I wondered to myself if he would EVER feed himself.  I am grateful for having the patience to continue to give him the cup and utensils knowing that it would make for more frustration and clean-up.  I am rejuvenated to continue to push him and hold us to higher expectations. 

weekend

We had a relaxing and uneventful weekend. It started with evening in with pizza, games and dancing with Garrison Keillor.

 

 

 Some chores in the morning and yummy Halloween treats. 

 

And a fall walk at a local farm. 

 

Now that's a sea of kale.

works in progress

Christmas is right around the corner and this is the beginnings of a quilt for Elsa's bed. 

My nature corner is coming along as well.  The mushroom was just two circles sewn and stuffed and then sewn onto a long piece of rolled up and sewn felt for the stem.  The little gnome will have a face, I can't do the whole face-less doll thing.  A simple painted face I imagine, I'll share when it's done.

And the paint is for my bathroom, yes it's VERY green.  I have been painting for a month now, a little here a little there and 3 coats to get good coverage.  Between having my wisdom teeth out, having a toddler and fighting against lice (any tips?), it has been one of the bigger tasks I have on my list. 

not so pretty

Recovering from dental surgery this week, I developed a taste for tapioca pudding.  

So we measured and and stirred and ended up with loose scrambled eggs with half cooked tapioca. Where did we go wrong? It didn't taste too bad but the texture was neither smooth nor creamy. 

apples in the fall........................

 

 

What's better than apple picking on a crisp fall day on an organic orchard in new england?

 Apples now appear in all things baked (and a little almond extract made these ones particularly good). 

I've gone a little crock-pot crazy since bringing it home a few weeks ago.  She is my new best friend and she does apple sauce without a single stir.

More to come on that subject.

pumpkin vase

We made these with the girls group at artstar this week. They are center pieces for a harvest festival dinner at one of the local schools.  

We gutted the pumpkins and carved them with small woodcarving tools.  Some of the girls used a hammer and nail to poke holes in the sides that then where suck with flowers.  We found it easier to cut paper cups to fit the pumpkins and fill them with water instead of the pumpkins themselves. 

 

 

So fun, so quiet, so engaged for so long.