Archive for July, 2010
‘Tour Georgia’ Series: Zoo Atlanta
It must be some sort of rite of passage that every child within a 200-mile radius of Atlanta visits Zoo Atlanta on at least one {…or five} school field trips. I remember making the long–or it seemed that way at the time–drive down to the zoo quite a few times on a hot, loud bus full of sweaty kids.
And I loved it.
Last week {right before the camera broke} MM and I went on a Mommy-&-Me trip to the zoo for the morning. It was just the two of us so these pictures aren’t the greatest–I was either trying to take a picture and hold on to her, or listening to a toddler who just!wants!to!see!more!animals! in the stroller.
The heat was, for lack of a better word, oppressive, and by the time we left at lunch it was close to 100 degrees. We’ve already planned our next trip with friends in October so it should be a little cooler by then–probably around 90. I kid, I kid. More like 85.
Of all the zoo animals, MM’s favorite thing was the train that travels around the kid section of the zoo. She’s a fan of trains since we live within spitting distance of train tracks ourselves, and she got a kick of getting to ride on a real train.
While she enjoyed it she made sure to hold on tight to the side of the seat…and to my leg.
Her next favorite part was the petting zoo. It had goats, sheep, and pigs and you were allowed to walk around in the gigantic pen with them. But since MM has 11 goats of her very own, they didn’t really interest her. But, the pigs? Oh, the pigs were fascinating!
Every exhibit we went to, this is what I looked down and saw. Followed by, ‘OH! OH! OH!’ {which means: ‘Did you see THAT, Mom!?’}
Some of our favorite animals? The kangaroos, the tigers, and this strange little monkey.
But our most favorite animals were the warthogs. They were a little warthog family who lived in the mud together and played with balls. We both stood there and watched them for half an hour.
On the way out MM got a panda sippy cut and an ‘I Love Meerkats’ shirt. I’m sure they will be just a couple of many, many souvenirs we buy from the many visits we make to this place!
I’m Quite Interesting As You Can See
This is what she does every evening while I make dinner.
She’s had a long, hard day of playing with her dolls, petting the dogs, and wallering all over me. Even though she’s had two naps she is exhausted and that little chicken rug is so comfortable. She’ll just lay here a couple of minutes and watch Mom cook and…..zzzzz….
In other news, please go visit Life with this Child of Mine. They are in the process of adopting their second child (and being an adoptee myself this really pulls at my heartstrings) and are trying to raise money to bring their child home. They’re doing an awesome giveaway–even for a Nikon D5000! My parents sold a ’65 Ford Mustang to pay for all the costs of adopting me–they say I was worth every penny, but considering what those cars are worth now…well, I’m not so sure! HA!
Dream On
Yesterday’s post got me to thinking about dreams. About how each person has a “dream life”–their ideal way of living. In all actuality, I think very few people are, as corny as this sounds, living their dream. Our society as a whole just isn’t content with what they have.
And though I try my hardest to always be happy in my current state, well, I do it too.
There are blogs that I read where I wish I had *part* of their life. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, I love my family, I love everything. With that being said, there are parts of other people’s lives that seem so…well…so me, but I’m just not living it (ha!). I love Darby‘s sewing creativity, her beautiful kitchen + decorating style, and that she gets to be a stay-at-home mom. I love that Katy has five daughters {oh, what a perfect number!}, sews gorgeous clothes for them, and that she’s a stay-at-home mom. I love that Ree gets to live on the most ginormous farm I can even imagine, takes beautiful pictures, has four kids, and that she’s a stay-at-home mom. I love that Amanda takes time to enjoy life, cooks fantastic earthy things, knits, has four kids, and that she’s a stay-at-home mom.
{Hmmmm…do you see a trend here?}
If I had to write down my dream it would be this:
To be married to my C. and a mom to four girls and a boy who are little doorsteps {i.e. two years apart}. To live forever in the old house we have now {with no mortgage, of course…hey, this is my dream, okay?!}. To be a stay-at-home mom. To have a family that would live forever and always stay on the farm. To have a big garden and can, cook, and sell from it. To have chickens, goats, sheep, one cow, and a horse. To have a stable. To keep bees. To make my own cheese. And pasta. To sew {while never losing my patience, of course}. To wear dresses and aprons. To photograph everything. To knit sweaters with ease and sing along to the radio every night while I cook in a very large kitchen for my very large family.
I think it’s interesting to say your dreams out loud. I didn’t even realize how lengthy my dream was until I wrote it down just now. Some things on there might be impossible to ever achieve, but I just realized I’m living my dream in a lot of ways.
A great husband. A great daughter. A great family. A great house. A passion for the culinary and sewing.
Yes, my life is pretty dang good.
So tell me: what’s your dream life? In one word. Or in one hundred. I would love to know!
Random July Photo of the Day: Poor MM. She just pumped on that old organ forever–she doesn’t realize it hasn’t worked in 100 years!
A Different Kind of Summer
I have been a teacher for six years and have had six summer vacations.
They are always the same: happy and carefree June, a rush and frazzled July. I always feel like I have to cram everything “fun” that I want to do in just a few short weeks before work begins again at the first of August.
I don’t know why I do that, but I do.
But this summer?
Instead of that fast pace July, I’m still enjoying this summer break like it is June. Sleeping late {well, as late as you can with an 18-month old}, sometimes doing nothing with our days {today it was a playdate at the pool}, sewing while she naps, cooking, and reading.
Last week I met with the wonderful woman I’m co-teaching with and we figured out our schedule for next year. The whole time we were working on it my heart was laughing joyously. I still cannot believe that my dream I told you about a year and a half ago–my feverent prayer I prayed multiple times a day has been granted.
I feel so very blessed.
And so relaxed.
And so at peace.
My God is so good.
I posted these because they give a glimpse of some of the daily fun MM and I have had this summer…and I’m so thrilled to be able to spend every other week with her all day long this school year.
Take My Word For It: Fried Fish Tacos & Homemade Guacamole
Since the old camera is in the shop there are no pictures of tonight’s dinner. But trust me, TRUST me, this one is a good one! My poor picky C. gave it a 25…out of 10.
It all started Friday night when I picked up some trout at the grocery store. I was looking through the fish and saw the trout was being marked way down so they could sell it.
And I’m nothing if I ain’t cheap. I purchased two fillets (.75lbs) for $1.80
But I had no idea what to do with it until a craving for fish tacos hit tonight. And I had two avocados that were calling my name to be made into guacamole.
And, oh my lord, they were delish. Here’s my recipe the best I could figure it–I’m kind of ‘a little bit of this, a little bit of that’ cook.
Edit (8.26.10): I made these again {with Mahi-Mahi} and took a couple of pictures. DELISH!
Fried Trout Tacos with Homemade Guacamole
Note: You don’t have to use only trout. In fact, I think snapper, tilapia, or catfish would be better! Any thick fish that could hold up to frying would do just fine.
Tacos
3/4 lb Trout (makes 4 tacos) 1.5 c cornmeal 1 lime
Veg. Oil Salt, Pepper, Lemon Pepper, Paprika, Dried Parsley
- Pour 1-1.5″ oil in a Dutch oven or large skillet. Turn on the heat to med-high. Stick a thermometer in there. You’re going to heat it up to 325 degrees. {This takes 15-20 minutes}
- Cut the trout into 1″ slices. I remove the skin, but you can leave it on. Squeeze the lime over the fish.
- In a gallon bag put the cornmeal and dashes of salt, pepper, paprika, dried parsley, and lemon pepper. I put a lot of lemon pepper personally. Add the fish and coat thoroughly. I leave it sitting in the bag while the oil heats up.
- In the mean time make your guacamole and in the last five minutes warm the tortillas in the oven or in a skillet.
- When the oil is at 325 drop the fish in. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Serve with warm tortillas, quesadilla shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole.
Guacamole
2 Avocados 1 Tomato 1 Bunch of Small Green Onions
1 Jalapeno 1 Lime Cilantro
Salt
- Peel and mash the avocados. I use a large meat serving fork, but you could also use the bottom of a glass.
- Add the chopped tomato {I leave half the seeds}.
- Add the green onion, finely chopped.
- Add the diced Jalapeno {I’m a weenie and don’t use the seeds}.
- Squeeze the lime over the top. Mix it all together.
- Add salt to taste.
Try not to eat it all before the tacos are ready if you can!
From July’s Forgotten Picture Files
One morning Mother and I took MM to Target while my car was getting fixed. She found this Rainbow Brite necklace in the $1 bin and was in love. She wore it around all day and kept looking at herself in the mirror.
So Sad
I’m addicted to my camera as I’m sure you can tell. Well, maybe you can’t tell through a computer screen, but I can assure you that I am.
To put it lightly: it is ALWAYS with me. In my hand, stuck in my purse, hidden in my car. {And it’s always in MM’s face. Poor baby.}
Imagine my complete and utter sadness when Thursday it quit working in the middle of photographing my dad and his tractor. It made a clicking noise, wouldn’t focus, and then the viewfinder went black.
Oh, poo, the shutter broke!
I can’t really fault my camera for breaking. After all, I’ve had it for almost six years and taken around 30,000 pictures on it without the slightest problem.
It’s gone through vacations in foreign countries, an old house restoration {more dangerous than it sounds for a camera}, a dive in the river when our kayak flipped {thankfully in a dry bag}, the birth & first year of our child, and the list goes on and on and on.
But even though it’s about time something happened to it, I’m still so sad. I can’t imagine not having it with me for the next 2-3 weeks as it gets fixed. Every time I see something I want to photograph–MM playing yesterday morning, Vivi cuddling with a toy after she fell asleep, the light coming through the kitchen window this evening–it makes me so depressed because those are moments I can never get back…they are forever gone.
And yes, I’m sure there’s some truth to the whole ‘get-out-from-behind-the-lens-and-live-life’ philosophy, but there’s a bigger part of me that loves being able to capture my family’s day-to-day life so candidly with my permanently attached camera.
Images like these, for instance.
So, for the next couple of weeks there may not be as many photos on my blog, but that might just be okay. Last night I was looking through pictures I’ve taken this summer and I realized many of them have never been posted. And I might just show you some of them which is especially fitting since this is my last week of summer vacation. Yes, very fitting indeed.
A Man and His Tractor
My dad doesn’t have that many hobbies. Sure, he occasionally goes golfing and once a year or so he’ll go to a dirt-track race on a Saturday night with my cousin. And every week he’ll get his guitar out on Sunday mornings and sing.
Usually he’s so tired after working on the farm all day that he likes to sit in his chair and eat ice cream and go to bed early. Every night. No time for hobbies for this busy guy!
But there is one past-time that he is religious about. And that is tractor restoration. He is either working on a tractor or looking for a tractor all the time.
Three weeks ago he sold his latest restoration–an 8N Ford from the 1950s–and I knew it was only a matter of time ’til he found another.
And sure enough, he found this gem–a Ford 3000 tractor–in a field a couple of weeks ago. Its had a hard life sitting (and rotting) in a field for who knows how long and Dad even had to get a new starter and battery for it just to move it to the farm. But he says it’s a diamond in the rough. He says it’s a high-powered diesel tractor that can handle anything our farm can throw at it {which, honestly, is just a little plowing and taking kids on a bazillion hayrides each year}. And I believe him.
He started taking it apart earlier this week and ordering parts that needed to be replaced. He actually found the date it was manufactured through the serial number and even though the date is incredibly creepy (June 6, 1966; uhm, YEAH, 6/6/66) it’s also incredibly cool that they kept that good of records in a time where there were no computers.
After he gets all the parts off that he needs to, he’ll sandblast, repaint, and put all the parts back in where they belong. It’s a tedious and meticulous task to restore tractors and my dad loves every minute of this very hot and very sweaty hobby.
I’ll keep you updated on the progress of the tractor. His goal is to have in working order by Thanksgiving, if not sooner.
Oh and just so you know, there are tinsel lights in the garage because this is where the Christmas tree farm gift shop is every year, not because it’s party central–haha.
I Know She’s Mine and All…
…but goodness gracious, my baby is precious.
This morning I found an email in my inbox from my friend and photographer, Karen Baker, saying MM’s sneak peeks from her 18-month session on July 10th at the farm were up on her website.
What I love about Karen is that she always {Warning: this is going to sound cheesy} captures the essence of MM. The pictures Karen takes of her tell her story.
Serious. Inquisitive. Always thinking things through. Nurturing.
And I know that I can look back through all her pictures Karen has taken (six months, a year, eighteen months…even my maternity) and know exactly what MM was like at that stage in her life. I feel blessed that I know someone who can so accurately capture that.
You can see the other sneak peeks here–it’s so hard to pick a favorite.
Thank you, Karen, as always.
My Take on Julia Childs’ Bruschetta
During the summers I have been known to eat some sort of vine-ripe tomato every day. {Today I had a tomato sandwich. Tomorrow I’m making Creamy Corn Salad (with tomatoes)}
And now that the tomatoes are finally coming in I’m trying to find things to do with them. I mean, there’s only so many tomato sandwiches one can eat or salsa + spaghetti sauce to can. So this weekend I made my version of Julia Childs’ bruschetta that appears in the movie, Julie and Julia.
In that movie they actually “fry” the bread in garlic and olive and while that sounds absolutely delish I thought it might be too heavy for me on a hot afternoon so I just toasted a sliced up French loaf real thin and put it in the oven brushed with olive oil and some mozzarella on top.
After it came out of the oven I topped it was a tomato topping that I made using chopped up tomato in small chunks {I used two}, olive oil, a fresh minced garlic clove and fresh basil to taste. {With a little salt added too; remember the more salt you add, the more juicy the tomato mixture will be} I had let the tomato mixture sit in the fridge for an hour or so to let the flavors really mix together.
And MMMMMMM, what a tasty summer treat!
Another Installment of the ‘Tour Georgia’ Series, South Georgia-Style
Unless you are from Georgia yourself you probably don’t realize that the state is divided north and south. No, we’re not official like the Dakotas or Carolinas–but just the same the state is split almost right through the middle into two very different regions. The north part of the state–where I live–is full of traffic jams, subdivisions, and Targets. The south part of the state–where C.’s mother is from–is full of farms. Lots and lots of farms. But you see, it wasn’t always this way. I came from a long line of north Georgia farmers, but most of the farms up here stopped operating by the mid-1970s. I’m not sure exactly why. Perhaps it was the baby boomers not wanting to farm, the city of Atlanta expanding, the development of suburbs–who knows. All I know is that the “farm” my family lives on now is nothing in comparison to the farms in south Georgia.
When you look out C.’s grandparents’ front door you see soybeans across the street as far as you can see. You look to your left, soybeans. To the right, soybeans. The backyard? Yep, soybeans. It looks almost like an ocean. Here the land is flat and the crops move with the wind creating a wave-like effect. It’s beautiful.
Copyright Natalie Cooper. Customized by Jonathan Stovall of Uplateicreate.com
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