Arlo Gilbert Blog

I’m always amazed at the e-mail that pours in from around the world. I think I’ve heard from every continent but Antarctica. This could be a really fun way to help Amy learn geography (several years from now). I can’t understand every e-mail that comes, but pictures speak a thousand words in any language. If you feel like taking a virtual vacation to visit a family in Thailand, click onto Indhira’s site.

I got some more info on roasting pumpkin seeds, so I’ll be trying out these suggestions. I thought I’d pass them along, in case anyone else will be making a pie from a pumpkin this season and will be digging out more seeds. One person says: Soak in salt water for two hours, spread on metal tray, salt seeds and bake @ 400F until dry. I hadn’t tried soaking them. I’ll definitely give that a whirl. Another person says: I mix them with olive oil and some seasoned salt, then bake them at 250 for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. She says they’re pretty tough, and I think that’s how I did them last time (except with regular salt). I love the flavor, I just get tired of chewing the hulls. I think I’ll try seasoned salt—that’s a new one on me and leads to all kinds of ideas. Another person says: Wash them thoroughly, lay them out on a cookie sheet, salt, and bake at a low temperature until they are dry and lightly browned. Consensus for all three is that I should continue chewing the up, hulls and all. I will, it just limits how many I can enjoy in one sitting. But maybe that’s a good thing. ; )

I knew the question would be coming up soon. I’ve been feeling it myself. A friend sent an e-mail asking why I haven’t updated Amy’s pictures online lately. Truth be told, it’s the same reason I haven’t been responding personally to e-mail—I simply respond here in my blog. It seems I’ve got myself going in several directions these days, and the only way I can keep my bearings is to limit my time online. A blog is simple to keep up—talking comes quite naturally to me. But photos, well that’s another story. There have been times when I find hundreds of photos still “stuck” in my camera because I haven’t taken the time to download them. Let alone create a scrapbook page. So please hang in there. It’s got to slow down, right? And then I can show you how my sweetie’s growing.

Some of my favorite time each week is spent at the library. They have a baby story time that’s understandably short, then Amy and I go explore the board books to see what’s new. Maybe because the library is quiet, maybe because we sit close and read, but I find it the most relaxing time of my day. That and the time we snuggle and read at the end of the day. Maybe because I’m sitting still with only one simple task: reading “Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?”

It seems strange to think about, since Amy is not quite 18 months, but she actually could start going to a preschool next year. I’m considering a co-op preschool, where I would be there the whole time steering her and other toddlers toward hands-on activities and helping them learn to interact appropriately with each other. I know I get this already with our playgroup, but playgroup is more of a social time for moms. I get the feeling preschool would require more interaction with the kids. I’m already getting a little melancholy about Amy growing up. Part of me would freeze her in her cuteness right now; part of me is excited about the new things she says, does, and learns each day.

[sing the verse below to "Happy Birthday to You"]

 

Happy Birthday to ME,

Happy Birthday to ME--

Just now feeling older,

Should I lie 'neath a tree?

Thought I'd check-out my blog tonight.  My buddy Dave told me over the telephone that interesting things were afoot here and there in the Blogosphere.  I wish Andrea in CA a happy birthday today, and all of my online friends the best life has to offer, now and always.