artichokes, anyone?

A few months ago B and I went to a restaurant and ordered artichokes for our appetizer. They were insanely good. They came with some butter based sauce to dip them in. Mmmmmm...... butter.

I have thought about them. A lot. Too much, to be frank with you.

At Costco they had packages of these big, beautiful, magazine photo shoot worthy artichokes for $5. I walked past them, because I have never made artichokes before and they intimidate me.

When I was a little girl, my mom, an adventurous chef herself, made artichokes. In our little brown and yellow kitchen on Sycamore Street, she slaved away on her day off. I remember her working on them for what seemed like forever. I remember her fingers bleeding all over the place from cleaning them. I remember, vividly, her cursing. I wondered why my mom would subject herself to such pains for us - and on her day off, of all days. My mom worked crazy long hours while I was growing up. Frankly, we weren't a very appreciative crowd to receive her culinary endeavors. I didn't understand that for my mom, the rewards of cooking arduous gourmet foods far outweigh the blood sweat and tears (and cursing). I get it now.

Something came over me when I saw the fresh artichokes at Costco. So I went back. I actually drove all that way for just one item. Does anyone else think Costco is as big of a pain in the butt as I do? Seriously people. Lucky for me, my MIL needed a few things so the trek out there seemed justified.

They are in my fridge. They are on a shelf at eye level. Every time I go to the fridge, they look at me sadly and ask, "are you going to make us? Or are you going to chicken out and let us go bad then toss us in the trash the next time you clean out the fridge?"

Oh little artichokes. I will make you. I will make you tonight! I do not know how to make you, but I will do it! And I will announce to the blogosphere the fruits of my labor.

The next time you hear from me, I will be a changed woman. I will be a woman who has made artichokes!

Agua

Water in Scripture - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

i love...

God's grace and mercy

the way B looks when he rides his motorcycle

Ethan's sense of humor

Gabriel's hunger for knowledge

the way my mom answers her phone

perfectly ripe oranges and avocados

sunshine on a chilly day

shade on a hot day

drinking coffee with my MIL

laughing so much my sides hurt

taking a really good picture

photoshopping a mediocre picture and make it a really good picture

my friends!

my car (it sounds materialistic but it is the nicest car I have ever had)

sore muscles after a long workout

Mary Kay eye makeup remover

smelly candles

jazz

washing my hair for the first time after a several days of camping

chocolate

-----------------------------

Me: Ethan, what do you love?

Ethan: Ummm..... YOU!

(he knows how to melt my heart in record time!)

Me: What else do you love?

Ethan: Daddy.

Me: Anything else?

Ethan: Unky Simon. Apples. Juice. A Party. Boots. Playing with animals.

From Adventures of the Grigg Boys

-----------------
Me: Gabe, come here! What do you love?

Gabe: YOU!!!

(these kids are somethin else!)

Me: What else do you love?

Gabe: Big Bend

Me: Anything else you can think of?

Gabe: Daddy, our house, bubbles, Charlie Brown...---------------------------
What do you love?

tell me about your mom

I totally ripped this idea off of another blogger. Some time ago I interviewed Gabriel to get an idea of what his perceptions of Brandon and I. And I posted his responses about Brandon already too. Here is what he had to say about me...

What is something mom always says to you?
yes and no.

What makes mom happy?
obeying.

What makes mom unhappy?
disobeying.

How does mom make you laugh?
doing funny faces.

What was mom like as a kid?
I don't know, you probably played with toys.

How old is mom?
9.

How tall is mom?
60

What is her favorite thing to do?
play on the computer and do yoga.

What does mom do when you are not around?
look for me.

If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
walking. (???)

What is your mom really good at?
doing yoga and pilates.

What is your mom not very good at?
watching tv (little does he know...)

What does mom do for a job?
(when this interview was originally conducted, he said 'yoga and exercise and pilates' which was true)
(so I asked him again just now and he said...) go to the studio and tell people how to exercise and be healthy.
So we had a talk about how I haven't done that since last fall and all those times I leave him to take pictures of families I'm doing my new job. He got excited and asked me if we could go take pictures of Africa.

What is your mom's favorite food?
broccoli, like me!

What makes you proud of your mom?
playing games with me.

If your mom was a cartoon character, who would she be?
Alicia (from Diego)

What do you and your mom do together?
play games and cuddle

How are you and your mom the same?
we wear glasses.

How are you and your mom different?
we write different things. I write faces, you write lists.

How do you know your mom loves you?
you're always giving me kisses and hugs

What chore does mommy not like to do?
watch tv (I really do not know where he gets the idea that I hate tv because I love tv - I wish I could watch it more but these pesky kids...)

Where is mom's favorite place to go?
Target

How do you know mommy loves daddy?
giving him hugs sometimes.

shy ronnie

but where are the fish?

Gabriel: Mommy!!!

Me: Go back to bed!

G: Moooooooooommmmmmmmyyyyyy!

Me: WHAT?! (read in the tone of my mother)

G: I can't sleep.

Me: Do you want me to turn on a CD?

G: yes.

Me: Story or songs?

G: Songs ... I want to listen to Phish! I like them because its daddy's favorite.

Me: Ok. (fumbling around with CD's in the dark)

[turn on cd and fiddle with the volume]

Me: There. Can you hear it ok?

G: yes, thank you.

Me: Ok. Good night, guys.

Ethan: Mommy! Wait!

Me: (rolling my eyes)(don't judge me, its dark) What?

Ethan: This isn't a fish song!

Me: Yes, it is.

Ethan: But where are the fish?

Me: Fish aren't actually in the songs. It's music by Phish.

Ethan: No, it doesn't sound like fish.

Me: No, fish don't perform the songs. The people playing the music, collectively, are called Phish.

Ethan: Oh... are they singing about fish?

Me: Ummm.... yeah. Good night!

end scene.

This post is otherwise titled: Who's on first?