Two

Salt and Pepper
Laurel and Hardy
Bonnie and Clyde
Harmony and Melody
Rhythm and Rhyme
Barnes and Noble
Ebony and Ivory
Bert and Ernie
Shoes and Socks
Bacon and Eggs
Shrimp and Grits
Ben and Jerry
Rain and a Good Book
Ruth and Naomi
Yin and Yang
Cheese on Pizza

Michelle and Sandra...

Sandra and Michelle.

We're Poor and You're Fat

Ahhh, out of the mouths of babes.

I've heard both of these comments from my son.  Not at the same time, thankfully because I'm not sure how I would have handled that but still.

The first one sent me on a rant that lasted a fair little while and included things like, "you think WE'RE poor!?  You should see how people in other parts of Auckland live!  Should we take a drive there now?  Lock your door!"  And "do you have any idea how much we paid for this house? DO YOU?  Well, let me remind you! Do you think a POOR person could afford that?"  And, finished off with, "Think about all the things you have that make you rich in ways that MATTER.  Family, friends, a tree hut, a cat, skype, and best of all Jesus in your heart."  Gets him every time, that one.  NOTHING he can say to that because I'm right.

Yeah yeah yeah, there's always going to be things we want.  Always.  We are designed to never be satisfied.  I love this from C.S. Lewis:  "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."  Brilliant!  This is not my home forever.  Heaven is and I need to keep my perspective in that direction.  That's deep stuff for an 8 year old to get his head around but he'll get there.

You're fat.

It didn't exactly come out that way, he's not MEAN for heaven's sake!  I was saying to him something about how I love his little body and how, believe it or not, I looked that way when I was your age, too.  And do you know what he said with a beautiful angelic smile on his face?  Oh, then that means I'm going to look like you when I grow up... (as he looks me up and down).  I said what?  FAT?  And he said YES!!  Okay, okay, some would argue I led him into it but come on!  That hurt!

So I cried and then got a grip.  I am not fat.  But if this is his impression, that's a real shame.  He does not need to be concerned about being/getting fat, especially at his age but he is.  He worries about it and I need to keep that in check because that worries me.  I don't know where that's come from, either.  I could just broadly blame society but I don't want to leave it at that.  I need to narrow it down quite a bit more than that.  We certainly don't talk like that here at home.  He eats healthy. Exercises.  I'm just not sure.

Shared Space

One of my newest chickens sounds like a duck.  Somewhat disconcerting but maybe she's just getting her new, grown-up voice.

Do you ever have days when you're driving in your car and feel like you and your car must be completely invisible?  Because people pull out in front of you.  Stop for no apparent reason.  Don't signal so you know what they heck they're doing...  I hate that.

So I've been considering, as one does at the start of a new year, what the sort-of immediate future has in store for me and what I can do about it.  What do I want it to have in store for me?

I keep coming back to the fact that I think I'd like to find a commercial kitchen to work out of and produce some marmalade/tomato relish/barbecue sauce that I can actually sell.  I made a few inquiries a while back but came up empty.

Until...

At the Ooooby meeting today!  Check this out: http://commercialkitchen.co.nz/

I think I might give them a call.

In the Works

I love the sound a piping hot saute pan makes when you take it from the stove and put it straight into the sink under running water.  SIZZLE!  Makes me smile every time.

Next month we'll have been here four years!  Wonder if I'll ever stop taking note of that date (March 4th by the way)?

The other day I was thinking about Garden City and how I wish I could go there.  Lunch at Paparazzi... is that still there?  Is the chocolate shop still there?  Sweenors, I just remembered the name of it.  It's not on the directory of stores online anymore...  But I see Anthropologie is?  Wow, that's pretty cool; I love that store.  And Pottery Barn is coming there?  Nice!  Wish I could go.

I also still think about the Mew's Tavern from time to time and how I wish I could go for lunch.  A few beers and a big, huge burger with Susann.

And an ozone layer!  I still wish we had one of those here. It's 78 out right now but it feels ALOT hotter.  ALOT.

We're going sailing after lunch; the only survivable place to be this afternoon will on the water.  Divine!

I don't have a whole lot to say but will endeavor to check in more regularly this year.