This Just In

This woman is my soul sister in at least one regard.

This.

Yesterday, I was sitting on the couch working.

She asked for chocolate. 

(#happenseveryday #andicomplyandsupply) 

She got a bowl and brought me the chocolate chips because I was in the middle of something and wasn't going to go and get a square from my Lindt bar hidden downstairs just then. 

(Chocolate is a real sitch around here, people.)

So, there we were: her next to me, I'm working, both of us eating chocolate chips.

And then, out of the blue, she says to me:

"We're so lucky, Mom."

And I looked at her and said, 

"Why?"

And she looked right back at me and said, 

"Because we have chocolate."

Indeed.

I pretty much adore her.

Peaching

You know what I've noticed outside the last few evenings?

 A breeze.

It tells me fall is on the way.

I always feel like there's some kind of marking that the seasons are changing---whether it's a big late-summer thunderstorm or the way the air starts to feel different.

That's what I'm feeling at night.

And just yesterday I spied the first leaves turning on the mountains above my home.

And I could elaborate extensively on all the reasons I love fall, but I want to talk about peaches and orchard stands.

Cuz really, I wait all year for this time.

And as soon as I knew there was fresh fruit, I went and grabbed a box.

And really, mostly, just for this.

Fresh. Peach. Pie.

Freshfreakinpeachpie.

(#hallelujahandyesplease)

I had literally been thinking about it for months.

And it's pretty much gonna be on the reg for the next while until the peaches are gone.

There's actually one in the oven right now, for a gathering with friends tomorrow night.

And then there's already been some of this going down, too.

And, several batches of peach jam.  If you've never tried that, you're missing out.

Last week while the boys were off at karate one afternoon and my gal was playing with a friend, it was just me and my babe in the kitchen.

She was up to the table and I was busy preparing fruit trying to get a batch of jam finished before I had to leave to pick up the boys.

At one point I turned around and found her like this.

(And I'm just now sitting here trying to figure out what was all over her face.)

Let me just say that, if you have a toddler, 5 p.m. falling-asleep-naps are not your friend.

Why?

Cuz if they pull it off successfully, it means you won't get them to go to sleep for real 'til late that night.

So, what'd I do?

Woke her up, bribed her with ice cream and chocolate sauce, and put her in front of a Mary Poppins clip on the iPad so she'd stay awake.

Ice cream and chocolate at 5:15, and before dinner?

Why, you ask?

Because I'm pretty much cool like that.

(Okay, maybe it was just cuz I was a desperate woman on a mission.)

Happy October 1st

As you might recall, Isaiah had this joke going two years ago.  

In that same spirit, I thought I would leave each of my little folks a "Welcome October" greeting.

I wrote four little notes

and bought some spiders and Cadbury "Screme" eggs.

Tonight, when they pull back the covers from their pillows to climb into bed, they'll have crawly friends and a velvet-in-your-mouth yummy waiting for them.

Because, I think I could probably (maybe?) forgive 

a spider scare if there was good chocolate involved.

Just sayin.  

The Daily Need

This girl.

I get her.

I think chocolate makes her as happy as it makes me.

We are soul sisters in more ways than one.

It Begins With The Blessed Letter C

(the boys, gettin it done)

Okay.

Once upon a time, I read something in The Omnivore's Dilemma about how it is possible to determine a person's diet by examining the makeup of their cells.

So super fascinating.

(Maybe that would explain the above photographs too...ya know, genetics and all.)

I have decided that mine would definitely have signs of two things I love.

Namely, the passionate love I have for peanut butter.

AND as far as this post will cover today...for that beloved fruit and byproduct of the cocoa bean that begins with the blessed letter C. Chocolate.

(the boys, wearing it well)

It should be said with blessedness.

And I also swear that, once upon a time, I knew how to do simple addition.

It didn't go like this, tho.

I give you the way that math is done these days in these parts.

Me + each additional year of aging = an increasing violent! demand (URGENT!) for chocolate.

Chocolate + caramel.

Chocolate just plain.

Dark.

Milk.

White.

Liquified or Set.

Hot or cold.

Would prefer the European varieties (because I love cream), but I stoop low and partake of (and enjoy) most American renditions, too.

It's pretty much almost essentially a daily requirement (and yes, I did just use all those words together, thank-you-very-much).

It's pathetic that I really can't hardly go a day without it.

And this seems to be the equation of my life.

Oh. Good. Henry.

I don't know whether to cry or celebrate.

(I so understand their joy -- and how it can't seem to stay contained in the mouth...but must spread to hair and hands and arms and clothing too.)

Ah me...I guess I'll have to post about peanut butter another day. Oh. my. yum.

(If you haven't entered the free giveaway yet, go HERE to do so. The winner is drawn on Friday at noon and, well...I'm cheering for all of you.)