racing for the cure

Over the weekend the girls and I headed to Toledo to participate in the Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure.  We have done many of the races before, but this one was particularly special as it was run
In Memory of our friend, Gretchen Gotthart Skeldon who died in Februrary. 


The Race for the Cure is always an emotional day for me and so many people. This year was no exception.  It is incredibly moving to see all the runners with the names of those they are honoring, in celebration of or in memory of, pinned to their t-shirts.  Some have a list of names that is painfully long, some have photo collages and tributes, and some simply have one word written--'mom'.

It is moving to see all of the survivors that parade in, celebrating the battle that they have fought.  These women and their families were truly celebrating--balloons, boas, hats, and pink everywhere.  As thankful and as happy as I was for these women, it was difficult not to think of Gretchen and how she was not in this group for the first time in 14 years.  


Some people organize teams to race together, raise money for the Komen Foundation, design a tshirt, and enjoy the event.  We were part of Team Gretchen this year.  Some of the tshirts that people design are cute and funny and bring little levity to a  not so funny disease.  Some of the best shirts this year:  'Big or Small, Save them All',  'Teachers for Ta-Tas", "Save Second Base", "Don't Slack, Check your Rack", and my personal favorite, "Methodists for Mammograms". 


 Our team had a tshirt as well.  It is a picture of Gretchen's smiling face with the phrase "Do All the Good You Can".  When I first saw it, I thought it was just okay.  There was no pink, nothing about breast cancer, and nothing about 'in memory of...'.   As I got to the race that morning, I slowly began to realize how perfect this t-shirt was.  It was incredibly awesome to run into a couple hundred of Gretchen's smiling face.  I mean, that is what I always think of when I remember her anyway.  It was like there was a little part of her everywhere that day.  Although Gretchen loved the Komen Foundation and did so much to help women and families dealing with this disease, she never ever, never wanted cancer to define her.  Gretchen would not have wanted 'a cancer shirt'.  She saw cancer as merely an opportunity to show all of us—everyone she encountered—what it really meant to live a life full of faith and love and joy.  It is our obligation now to always remember the way we felt when Gretchen was with us and make every effort to be that way with the people close to us--and to Do All the Good You Can.


I see that my sister, also named Gretchen, Gretchen Gotthart's best friend, is living this to the fullest.  I cannot even begin to recount the ways that Gretchen DeBacker was there for her friend the past 17 years.   She helped whenever she could in sickness and health, was a true advocate for her friend, organized round the clock care and meals for her, helped with her daughter, and supported friends and family that were having trouble dealing with Gretchen's cancer.  I aspire to be the kind of friend she was to Gretchen Gotthart.  We should all be so lucky.  After losing her best friend, she continues to work tirelessly in her name.  Starting a foundation to help others, organizing wildly successful events, and promoting the race that hundreds of people signed up to run.  Gretchen, I know that Gretchen is incredibly proud of you and thankful for all you have done and continue to do.  It is clear that her spirit lives on in you.

I will leave you with a poem that Gretchen Gotthart had taped to her computer in her office at Libbey Glass where she worked as a National Sales Manager for 20 years--I believe she was successful in all of these intentions.  

Cancer, I intend to not only beat you, but to use you to better the lives of everyone I can:  by loving them, encouraging them, giving them information, making them laugh, praying for them and by any other means I can.  Cancer, you are not the end.  You are merely my opportunity to serve others--and perhaps my only chance to attain at least some small measure of heroism.  AND, sell a ton of glass in a holy & healthy way. 

I don't think you're ready for this jelly...

A couple years ago we were over at one of our neighbor's for dinner and as an appetizer they served this delicious jalapeno jelly that they had made.  I couldn't stop eating it.  It was sweet and savory and a little spicy and I just kept spooning it on crackers with some cheese.  A couple days later, having not gotten it out of my head, I emailed them for the recipe.  It was almost as if they had been expecting and waiting for my inquiry.  Their response was something like, "Ah, yes, the jelly".  They knew of the power it had and now I was just another follower, forever connected to this magical treat.  (I've been watching a little too much LOST lately.)

Anyway, it seemed like there wasn't too specific of a recipe they were using.  Just kind of improvised each time and based it loosely on the recipe in the Ball canning book.  I had no choice but to give it a go as this was now my calling, my destiny, my fate.  (seriously, I'm watching like 3 episodes a night)

It was delicious.  I have made it several times since and it has always turned out great.  I eat way too much of this stuff. I mean way. too. much.   My favorite way to enjoy it is with bagel chips or pita chips and cream cheese.  I ate so much of it when I was pregnant with Harriet, I'm pretty sure she is  37% jalapeno jelly.  I was trying to confess to a friend how much I was actually eating and he said, "Well it's not like you are sitting down in front of the t.v. with a whole jar of jelly and a tub of cream cheese and just spooning it on to crackers."
"Oh my god!  No!"  I said,  laughing a little too nervously,  pretending to be horrified that someone would do that, and wondering where he put the hidden camera because that is exactly what I was doing.  And am still doing.

This jelly is also great on toast or empanadas, with any creamy cheese like goat or brie, or thinned out with a little cider vinegar and used as a salad dressing (I like greens, blue cheese, chicken, pistachios).  If you would like to make some of your own, the recipe that I use is below but feel free to improvise.  Or, just come over and take a jar off my hands.  Speaking of hands, I strongly recommend wearing rubber gloves when working with the roasted jalapenos.  If you don't, be sure to wash your hands very well after.  Don't rub your eyes and for god's sake don't change the baby's diaper!
Oh Harriet, will you ever forgive me?

Jalapeno Jelly
This recipe yields about 5 (8oz) half pints

12 jalapeno peppers (whole)
2 bell peppers (slice sides off in 4 big pieces)
1 large onion (sliced in thick rounds, about 4)
2 cups cider vinegar
6 cups sugar (!)  (try not to think about it)
2 3 oz packages of liquid fruit pectin

Place all veggies on pan and place under the broiler until black and charred (about 5 minutes)
Remove from pan and place all peppers in a bowl and cover immediately with plastic wrap, let stand 10 minutes
Place onions into a blender with 1 cup vinegar
In a large pot on the stove, add the sugar and remaining 1 cup vinegar

Once peppers are cooled peel off the charred skins and discard them along with any seeds or stems from the jalapenos.  I keep a bowl of water nearby when I do this to help get the skin and seeds off of my hands.  Add the peeled peppers to the blender and puree all the veggies until smooth.  Do not strain puree.  Add puree to your pot and bring to a boil over high heat.  Boil for 10 minutes stirring frequently.
After 10 minutes, add all pectin.  Stir and return to a boil.  Boil hard for 1 minute.  Remove from heat.
Ladle into hot jars and process for 10 minutes.  (for more information on how to process or can, check out this link)
A friend of mine made this, put into jars and refrigerated it.  She said it should last about 3 weeks.
 It probably won't hang around that long.

ready to go into the broiler

 (I was doubling the recipe)

nice and charred. 

 I put the onions back in for a little longer.

                                         

one week supply.

just kidding.  sort of.

                                            

how I enjoy it.  

no need for a plate, really.

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doggone it

When Eloise was 2 she started asking for a dog.  I thought of an age that seemed like an eternity away and told her she could get a dog when she turns 6.  If you think she has maybe forgotten that promise, think again.  She pretty much brings it up every day.  She has researched, with the help of her dog-loving aunts, what breed she would like to have.  She has started countless sentences with, "When I'm  six and I get my dog...".  Whenever she draws a picture of herself petting a dog she tells me she must be 6 in this picture because, see, she has a dog of her own.

Don't get me wrong.  I love dogs.  We had dogs growing up and I really do want a dog... someday.  I hope that when her 6th birthday comes I'll be a little more ready to welcome a huge, lovable, responsibility into our home.

Until we get the real thing, we'll continue to love the current dogs in our house--Commander Flufferton and Wags.  We received Commander as a gift when I found out I was pregnant with Eloise.  Mike named him, we both fell in love with him and when Eloise was born, the two of them became inseparable.  (Just so you know, I do realize I am talking about a stuffed animal in case you felt like you needed to call somebody on my behalf because I had finally lost it).

Commander has been everywhere with Eloise, sleeps with her every night, and has never let her down when she needed him at the doctor's office or during a particularly scary Blues Clues.  She has taught him numerous tricks, taken him for walks (drags), read him hundreds of stories, and when he isn't allowed to go somewhere she takes photos to show him upon her return.  She has made up his entire life story including his family lineage, his likes and dislikes, and some jokes that he finds particularly funny. It is true love.  I don't know what we would do if anything ever happened to him.  Please, don't let anything ever happen to him!

Wags was a gift from a very, very dear friend, Marie Vogt.  Eloise took a liking to him while visiting her house in Toledo one evening.  The next morning she brought him over to my parents house where we were staying, set him on the front steps, rang the doorbell and watched from a distance as Eloise discovered another new friend.  Precious.

If Eloise is half as caring and loving and attentive to a real dog as she is to her toy dogs then I think we'll be okay when the time comes.  It is going to be here before we know it and I don't think I'm going to be able to get out of this one.

newborn Eloise and Commander in the hospital

Wags sitting for his portrait,

 Commander napping in the distance

girl's best friend

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soccer mom

Yesterday was Eloise's first soccer game on her AYSO team.  It is a team of 4 & 5 year olds.  There is a 30 minute practice and then they play a 30 minute game with another team of the same age.  Eloise is not super athletic but I don't think she has any idea.  She started off a little slow but by the end of the game she was running around and kicking and having fun doing just what she was supposed to be doing.  At least, I think she was.

She comes by her lack of athleticism honestly.  I have never been into sports, hardly played any sports as a kid, and rarely watch sports on tv.  When I have watched a game I am the cliche wife watching and commenting on the uniform colors, tightness of the pants, and can't they do something about those squeaking shoes?  Soccer is something I know very, very little about.  I know the ball is kind of hard, and you are not supposed to touch it with your hands.  I know that there are 2 goals and goalies are trying to keep the ball out of them.  Is that right?

I am going to make a real effort to try and learn about the game and become the soccer mom I always dreamed of being.  Hmmmm.  Not sure if I can pull it off.  Well, here are a few things I learned at my first game:

The shin guards actually go under the socks.  I should plan to show up looking a little cuter next time because all the other moms seemed to have 'outfits' on.  Soccer is, surprisingly, not played in an area with lots of shade trees but is, in fact, played in a wide open field with blinding sun.   I should maybe get my player some real soccer shoes instead of some tennies from Nordstrom with sparkles on them.  The coaches' kids are always the worst behaved.  I am supposed to have a little chair that folds up all nice and neat and is easy to carry.  I should know the names and locations of all the different fields so I don't have to walk around in previously mentioned blinding sun for 15 minutes looking for other kids that seem about the same size as mine.  I should bring my little soccer player already dressed in her uniform and not a skirt, t-shirt, and head of hair with 8 butterfly clips in it.  Snacks are very important at soccer (we were there for one hour and they had 2 snacks and a lemonade--I can definitely get behind the snacks).   I am supposed to stand at the sidelines and cheer at the appropriate times and yell encouraging things, instead of sitting on a blanket taking pictures and cheering at random moments that may or may not have anything to do with our team.  I should bring Starbucks.

So as the weeks go by (only 8 more!) I hope that we all get better at soccer.   It will be a learning process for the whole family.   Did  you know some countries call it 'football'?   Isn't that cute?  Who knew?

'before'

'after'

doing something soccer-y

the all important snack

making an effort

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corn

We've been working to preserve the best of summer and one of my favorites is sweet corn.  I have had really good luck with freezing it and it is a pretty simple process.

1.  Buy the freshest corn you can, preferably picked that morning.  Once picked, corn has a tendency to get starchy very quickly and starts to lose its sweetness so it is best to do your prep for freezing as soon as possible.

2.  Have any children in the house shuck the corn outside.  This will keep them busy for a long time.

3.  Put a big pot of water with a pinch of salt on to boil.

4.  Check on the corn cleaning progress outside and be amazed at how many dirty jokes and double entendres your husband and you can come up with using the words 'shucking', 'corn hole', and 'cob'.  Realize that you both have the maturity of a 12 year old boy.

5.  Once the water is boiling, add the ears of corn and boil for about 4 minutes.

6.  While corn is boiling, set out a huge bowl of ice water and a towel.

7.  After boiling for 4 minutes, remove corn and place in ice water until cooled.  Remove from ice water and let cool further on a towel.

8.  Remove corn kernels with a super cute tool like this amazing one, or stand the corn upright on top of a little bowl turned upside down in a big bowl.  (does that make sense?)

9.  Once cooled, place the kernels in freezer bags in 2-3 cup portions.  To use, simply thaw first for the best texture and use in your favorite recipes.  We add to chili, cornbread, veggie soup, salsas, etc.

10.  Realize that it is going to take a shit load of corn to fill up that new freezer in the basement.

post shucking

lined up and cooling.  can you find the 1/2 eaten one?

removing kernels with this cute little guy

ready to be packed up, frozen, and enjoyed in the dead of winter

jumping

We just got back from a little neighborhood get together and I am giddy.  I feel like a kid again.  I am flooded with all kinds of great memories.  You see, our neighbors have a trampoline.

We had a trampoline growing up and I think I can say that it is responsible for about 46.8% of my childhood memories with my brother and sisters.  We got it when we were living in a very small town in Oklahoma and everybody had one, it was just normal.  I guess because there wasn't much else to do in this very small town in Oklahoma.  When we moved to Toledo we we like celebrities with that thing.  People came from all around to see it and try it out for themselves.  Kids, some that we knew and others we didn't, would constantly be knocking on our door, and when we would answer, they would simply ask, "Can we jump?".   No "hi" or "how are you today?" just, "Can we jump?".

My siblings and I made up our own vocabulary for all the things we would do on the trampoline.  We would have 'seat wars' and 'knee wars' and 'double bounce' each other.   We named all kinds of tricks and could do front flips and twists and turns.  We did some dangerous shit too.  We used to put the sprinkler underneath so the mat would get completely soaked with water and end up weighing about 500 pounds.  Every time we would bounce, water would spray up and it was about as slippery as a silicon covered bar of glycerin soap on an oil slick.  We also jumped out of the tree onto it and I think there was an incident with the dogs that I would rather not get into.

The trampolines of the seventies were not the trampolines of today.  There was no padding to speak of.  No  covered poles. No net that surrounded the whole thing.  We jumped on a mat with rips in it,  attached to a hard, steel frame with rusty springs and we loved it, damnit!

Tonight while jumping at our neighbors, I was right back at it--just like riding a bike!  I bounced with Eloise and some of the other little kids, but truth be told, I kind of wanted them to beat it so I could go solo.  I will say that even though I was mentally back in 2nd grade, physically I was definitely not.  I was totally winded, wished I had on an underwire bra, and peed myself just a little bit with each bounce.  Ahhhh, the joys of getting older.

I don't think, in fact I know, that we will never ever get a trampoline ourselves.  Why?   One parent in this house is extra safe, a little overprotective, and well, is a lawyer.  Also, he has apparently never
experienced the thrill of seeing his older brother do a front flip, overshoot it, hit his mouth on the bar, and crack off the bottom halves of his two front teeth.  I mean, come on!

So, for the time being I will have to sneak over to the neighbor's house to get my jump on, in secret.
Knock, knock, knock..."Can we jump?"

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waste not, want not

I'm annoyed.  Not outraged or furious, just annoyed.

Yesterday we set out to Target to get all the required school supplies on Eloise's list for preschool.  At her school, you are asked to buy everything on the list and it goes into the community pool and used throughout the year.  Fine.  Love that idea.  There were a few school supply-ish things:  crayons, glue, scissors, etc and then the remainder of the list consisted of a pile of items that I could only think of as...garbage.
600 paper cups, 5 boxes baby wipes, 4 rolls paper towels,  2 packages napkins, ziplocks in 3 different sizes,  2 boxes of tissues...

Somewhere, Al Gore is crying.

I understand that it is probably difficult for the school to avoid this much use of disposable things.  In fact, I was trying to think of some better solutions.  All I could come up with was a personalized cup for each child that they could reuse each day.  I think they only have water at snack time and there is a kitchen so they could conceivably rinse them out.  Having said that, I am not a preschool teacher with 20 kids screaming and eating and spilling and peeing... so I get it if this is not their top priority.

I think I was annoyed because I haven't bought most of this stuff in about 4 years.  At some point we decided to start using dish towels instead of paper towels and cloth napkins instead of paper ones, and try to use handkerchiefs instead of tissues.  We don't use paper plates or cups or straws either.  But before you give me my halo, I'm not perfect.  I admit that I have always used disposable diapers and baby wipes.  (In fact, I think I might be addicted to the Costco baby wipes and use them far too much.)
I try to remind myself that going greener doesn't need to be an 'all or nothing' situation.
I believe that you should do what you can and what works for you and your family.

What works for our family is a huge drawer of dishtowels that we use for everything from spilled milk to wiping countertops.  We just throw them in the wash and they are in constant rotation.  I have observed that people who come into our house are very uncomfortable using them, they get over it.  I once had a babysitter call me because she couldn't find any paper towels in the house and she wasn't sure if she should use a dish towel.  I think my dad is the most annoyed at our lack of paper products in the house.  "How do you drain the bacon?!??"

We have another drawer for cloth napkins, the 'everyday' ones, which are covered in all kinds of stains but still manage to make our meals seem more civilized, and the 'company' ones, which are just a tad nicer.  I remember the moment when I realized that cloth napkins were just pieces of fabric.  Fabric?!!?  I've got a ton of fabric.  If you have fabric around the house you can make your own too---very simple tutorial here and lots more on the internet.

When I was getting all this stuff from the store yesterday I remembered what I also hated about buying that kind of stuff.  It isn't that cheap.  I was thinking napkins would be like .97 or something and the pack I got was $3.49.  Waste.  I also hate hauling it into the cart, and into the car, and inside the house and finding a place to put it and...wow, I guess I was really annoyed by this stuff.

 I'll get over it.  Eventually.

the stuff

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