Archive for August, 2009

Ava Fix

IMG_1116

Pesto packin’ mama

Tis the season…

IMG_1137

IMG_1144

As I made my ninth batch of this tried and true pesto recipe this weekend, my blender started spewing smoke. I took it apart and found the coupling driver in pieces. Fortunately, the $6 part is easily replaceable. (I had to order a new glass pitcher a few months ago due to an unfortunate incident involving strawberry-banana smoothies and the kitchen floor. If I keep this up, I’ll have a completely new blender assembled by early next year!)

IMG_1141

My food processor was a fine stand-in on the last batch.

IMG_1145

IMG_1150

Troublesome teething toddler

IMG_1153

For the past few days, our normally sweet toddler has been holding us captive, torturing us with her most powerful tool of terror: sleep deprivation. Instead of snoozing soundly for 11 hours a night, she’s waking multiple times, screaming so loudly I’m surprised we haven’t had a visit from the city police. Apparently, she’s cutting two-year molars just a bit ahead of schedule.

By 2 am this morning, we reached a breaking point. I went to Walgreens and bought every teething-related product they sold. I covered all possible bases, from the extra strength Ora-Gel to the homeopathic teething tablets.  Nothing worked—not even the normally helpful Motrin/Tylenol cocktail. I’d guess we got about four hours of sleep between the three of us.

I took her to the doctor this morning, practically begging the doctor to find something wrong with her that could be effectively medicated. No such luck, but the doctor did suggest Benadryl to help her sleep. “One half teaspoon for Olivia,” she said. “Four teaspoons for mom and dad.”

I don’t think that will be necessary for us, but I am counting down the minutes until Olivia’s eyes become droopy.

July Wrap Up

I heard a news report last night that said Kansas City had its third coldest July on record—in 115 years. We’ve spent a majority of the month outside, which isn’t something you can normally—or at least comfortably—do in Kansas this time of year. I hope the same holds true for August.

Our little garden is doing well as a result. The bugs made short work of our brussel sprouts, and the broccoli doesn’t look much like broccoli at all, but the cucumbers are going crazy. And, we had our first real harvest of tomatoes last week.

tomatoes

I’m planning to spend tomorrow taming the basil and making a few batches of pesto.