Dearest Stranger At The Grocery Store

It was just your average grocery store trip. Well as average as a trip can be with two 3 year old boys who really hate to be stuck in a cart. When I grocery shop with the twins I generally have to put one of my little guys in the basket in the back because our grocery store doesn't have an double carts. As the cart starts to fill with groceries, the little guy who is become encased in produce and dried goods starts to become restless. The other little guy in the front seat part of the cart is starting to think it's rather unfair the his brother gets to “have” all of these wonderful packages and cans and peppers and apples. So I give him a bag so he can hold “his” produce on his lap. They are both chatting away at me, “Momma what's that?” “is that a tomato?” “Can I have an orange pepper.” I am so deep in my world of grocery list and interacting with toddlers and keeping them occupied that I didn't even notice your approach until you said “Excuse me Miss.” You didn't know that only moments before that, one of my boys managed to open a can of chicken noodle soup just enough to spill most of the broth on the grocery under him and onto the floor, causing me to have to find an employee so we could get a rag to clean up the mess before anyone slipped on it. You probably didn't hear me bribe those two cute little blond boys that “if they were good in the store they could pick something from “their” produce bag to eat in the car in the car on the way home.”

What you must of heard was one of those rare moments where I was having a fun, funny, and interesting conversation with 2 calm, seemingly well-behaved 3 year olds. When you walked over and said “Excuse me Miss, I just want you to know your children are going to be so smart. I've been a school teacher for over 30 years and the way you talk to your boys, well, it's just the right way. It's how I have always spoken to kids. It's just great!” Then you turned to my boys and said “Your Mommy is going to make you very smart.” Well, when you said that, it didn't matter if it was true, it didn't matter what you said really. The receiving the compliment, when I felt like things were getting pretty stressful, it made all the stress of shopping with my boys melt away. It made me forget how annoyed the store employee was when I asked for the rag to clean up Bodhi's mess. It made me forget the dirty looks I get when someone sees a child in the back of the cart, instead of the seat of the cart, even though it's my only option because that grocery store doesn't have 2 seater carts. It made me forget how stressful and embarrassing it can be to shop with my boys when the irritating and judging eyes of strangers fall on us as we shop. And that because one of my twins is the size of a 5 year old, that people assume he should have master volume control by now.

I just wanted to thank you dear stranger. You helped me get through one more day. You made me feel lighter. You made me feel proud of myself and my kids. You made all my worries of the day slip away and gave me that warm fuzzy feeling. A stranger. A simple 2 or 3 sentence compliment. Thank you.

On This Day 13 Years Ago

I put on a big white gown.

You looked so handsome in your tux.

The room was full of your family and my friends.

I walked down the isle with tears in my eyes.

When I saw you, you mirrored my tears.

We were glad the justice of the Peace kept it short.

You put a ring on my finger.

And I put one on yours.

We danced until midnight.

I was never so tired in my life.

It was the best party we have ever attended.

I loved you that day like I have never loved before.

I love you this day so much more.

13 years and 4 children later.

You are my life and my love.

The moon and the stars.

Thank you for loving me and saving me.

I will spend my life.

Trying to show you what you mean to me.

Happy Anniversary Dearest Husband.

A Recipe - Seafood Chowder

I don't usually blog about food. In fact this will be my first, but I figured it would be easier to share it on here then on Facebook. Now I love to cook, but I am not much for measuring, and I often substitute whatever I have on hand. So keep that in mind should you try and make this yummy chowder. All my measurements are "about" what I use. ;-) It's also pretty obvious I don't write recipes, so if I missed a step or a word something strange, feel free to ask. Thanks.

Seafood Chowder

2 1/2 to 3 lbs Red Potatoes

1 can clams, with juice

1/2 cooked shrimp (You could use uncooked too, just toss them in the pot a bit sooner.)

1/2 lbs lump crab meat

4 strips bacon, chopped

1 diced onion

3 stalks celery, chopped

1 medium to larger carrot, chopped

5 or 6 clovers of garlic, minced. (we love garlic, so you may want to do less if you don't love it)

1 box chicken stock

1 stick of butter

4 tbls flour

2/3 to 1 cup of milk (I use skim, because it's what we buy but you can use whatever you'd like, even cream or half & half if you're being really naughty. I mean, you're already putting a stick of butter in it, so you might as well go all out, right. ;-)

salt and pepper to taste

Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce to taste

1 tsp Italian Season

In a large pot start to brown your bacon, then toss in the onions, celery, carrots. Once onions are translucent add garlic and cook for another minute or so. Toss in a few dashes of hot sauce, if you like a bit of heat and salt, pepper, and other seasoning to taste. Pour the entire box of Chicken (or veggie stock would work well also. I prefer chicken) in pot. Cut potatoes into bit sized pieces, and add to stock. Bring to a boil and cook long enough for the potatoes to be al dente. I am guessing about 15 minutes.

While the potatoes cook, in a separate sauce pan, melt 1 stick of butter. Once melted sprinkle your flour in to the pan. Mix well, and cook on low heat for a bit, so you cook out the raw flour flavor. Then slowly add milk, a little at a time, whisking constantly. I add salt and pepper to this as well. You want a pretty thick Béchamel sauce, because you're going to pour it in the your chowder at the end, thus thickening it up and making it nice and creamy. When your Béchamel is nearly ready turn the heat to low.

Add all your seafood (including the juice from the can of clams) to your large pot. Cook only long enough to heat the meat. Then pour the Béchamel into your large pot. Combine well and serve. Sorry I don't have a photo. I never think to take them, and well, it was so yummy it was gone in one night. My boys can EAT!! ;-)