Just Pluggin' Along

Fifi was resting today, milking an itty-bitty cold for all it was worth with her sisters. They love to be her "nurse," and so were bringing her all she needed -- food, water, books -- to her bedside. I'm pretty sure Dumpling was even wearing a mob-cap and apron for effect.

Cuddlebug got to watch a Dora video this afternoon while I took the opportunity to iron some laundry...*o.k., the Dora video was so that I could take a nap; I'm so very tired after our lunchtime read aloud, but before and after that, I did*...work on catching up with our history timeline cards. (Fifi and I are working together to type up a short narrative for every person, event, invention, era, etc. that we study for the back of a thumbnail flip card. They will then be taped onto a long, horizontal laminated series of poster boards in the guest space/playroom. I'm very excited about it, but it's tedious work that really needs my attention because there is just so much to integrate. Now, if I'd thought of this 4 or 5 years ago, we'd be in better shape.) Anyway...

So, today was mildly productive. Only in the little things really. When Husband drove up in the driveway, I was still at the computer "googling" and composing bios and went into a bit of a panic because it was after 6, and I hadn't actually done anything about preparing dinner yet! I bought a salmon yesterday, and knew what I was going to do -- the whole meal would only take about 1/2 hour -- but it wasn't going to happen by just thinking about it. So I jumped up from my timeline work and started moving in the kitchen. By 6:55, we 5 were sitting around the table thanking the Lord for bringing us all home safely for another meal.

I've discovered my George Foreman Grill will do a salmon basted with olive oil, garlic, rosemary and salt paste in 5 minutes. Asparagus drizzled with olive oil, salt and a sprinkle of parmesan bakes in the oven at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Husband brings home a nice loaf of bread and *viola!* A very nice, tasty dinner that I, *chin up* the Queen of Boiled Pasta and Broccoli, feel confident in making! This is a very big deal to the girl who never took a Home Ec. course in high school, because everybody knew that homemaking was for Lew-sers! (It really ought to be a law.)

At the end of the meal, and after listening to Dumpling and Cuddlebug chirp for bread through the whole dinner (only to be told, "not until after you eat your greens,") Husband pulls out the last heel of bread. It is not sliced and is therefore pretty large. The only one to have not yet had a piece, Dumpling has dibs on it. Husband begins to tear the large piece in half, to which Dumpling slowly rises in a seemingly-involuntary stunned protest, and mutters something like, "Uh. Ah! Oh! No Daddy!" So now Husband has two halves of heel in his hands and offers one to Dumpling. I watched the exchange, and still don't know just how she managed it, but there was reaching and touching and an exchange of pieces before Dumpling finally came up with both of them. Husband was trying hard not to bust out laughing as he looked across the table at me, wondering what just happened? How did she do that? When we went for an answer, I turned to the clever, quick girl to my right just in time to see her licking both halves! Possession is 9/10ths of the law, but licking secures it, for sure.