Jonathan, Kayleigh, and I have been having a lovely time at Mom and Dad’s. It is really nice to see Jonathan outside so much, whether he’s helping Mom dig potatoes out of the garden (this morning); helping Boppa on Gator rides to refill birdfeeders, check out the far side of the property, or just get the mail; or swimming and shouting at the top of his lungs in the mini-swimming pool that Daddy got up a few days ago. Kayleigh is also delighted with all this room, although she thinks the dandelion flowers are a little bitter and was quite happy for me to fish them out of her mouth. She prefers the dirt, frankly. Given the opportunity, she will pull off all the flower heads of the dianthus and hostas, but if I give her the globe flower of one of the onions—which is edible—she discards it immediately. Of course she does!
Quite a few evenings have seen Jonathan out on the deck with Boppa playing poker (Texas Hold ‘Em), although tonight (Friday) he got to stay up late and played Kings In the Corner with Mom & me before going out to the little old house to spend the night there with Mom. (I couldn’t b/c Kayleigh needs me at night still—but one day I will.) He loved the card game, kept checking outside to see the level of darkness, and when we finally went outside to see them get settled in, he immediately remarked with delight on the fairy lights (his Uncle Lee also has them at his house in Ingatestone) and wished upon a star, quietly so that none of us could hear his wish. He and Mom looked very sweet in the double bed out there. I hope they have a nice night’s sleep. Going out there was his idea, not suggested by us. He and Mom have been going over there in the mornings to play games, since that way Kayleigh is in no danger of either disturbing the game boards or getting ahold of little pieces that she shouldn’t have.
The things Mom has fixed have been delicious, as always. Sometimes it sounds “ordinary”, but having things fresh from the garden turns it into an incomparable meal. Tonight we had meatloaf, potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli and snow peas. The meatloaf was nice and light, not sitting like a stone in the stomach the way some do, and the potatoes, broccoli, and snow peas were fresh from the garden (Jonathan and Mom dug up the potatoes this morning). It’s the second time I’ve had potatoes since I’ve been here, and they are so good! Very creamy (I think they are some variety of red potatoes), much more so than store-bought ones. And the snow peas (also the second time I’ve had them since arrival) are so good that I said to Mom that I really like them—as opposed to them just being all right or acceptable, which is all I can manage for most vegetables. These are sweet, crisp, and so good that I could actually imagine eating a bowlful of nothing but them. Who would have ever thought I would say that!?!
Posted by elizabeth at June 24, 2005 10:26 PM