I Heard the Cicadas Sing

I heard the cicada's sing today.  (Sounds like a book title, don't you think?  It's on my bucket list, so...we'll see. 😉)

I (still) get by with a little help from my friends.  💕

Regarding the cicadas, Evan asked, "Why do they do that?"  And I felt a little sad.  My neighbor has shared her story of telling her girls the cicada's song symbolizes the end of summer.  What began as a positive, happy little foretelling became a dread as they aged.

Oh, summer.  I feel a little like Rock Biter in The Never-Ending Story, "I couldn't hold on to (it).  (Time) pulled (it) right out of my hands."

Where DOES the time go?!!  It certainly hasn't felt like much of a productive summer.  But...then...I have pretty high standards in that regard.  What I guess I should say is I haven't been overly active.  I haven't produced and directed many (if any) amazing summer experiences (aside from the upcoming capstone).  I haven't done any major home organization projects...

Except...well...I did manage to get both school calendars onto the iPhone calendar.  (And school doesn't start for a month...so, that's SUPER early for me.)  I felt pretty good about it, until I emailed my sister, the principal, prodding for a release of those school lists, while I'm on top of my game.  And she answered, "Yeah.  Those were in my last newsletter."

Still, good for me.  I didn't wait until the week before!!  I guess all this sitting around has been good for something.

I know.  I know.  I can't forget the whole "surgery" thing.  (They won't let me!). Fortunately, I am on the downhill.  I expect I will really be ramping things up from here on out.  (But please, don't tell Matt I said that.  I am already hearing the lecture in my head, and you guys...I NEED to kick something's @$$...the house, the garden...WHATEVER!!!)

Thank you for listening.

I promise I will take time to reflect on my areas of growth.  And, also, if YOU need to talk, I will listen.

And speaking of garden...I haven't done a whole lot this summer - not since the strawberries, anyway. Matt tended the tomatoes from seed to fruit.  I do still tend to be the picker, though.  The picker AND the prepper.  I mean, prepper like "preparer."  I could totally be a prepper.  I'm just not a prepper.  I'm a preparer.

Oh for goodness sake's...I wash and cut up the produce so the people under my charge will eat it.  And sometimes, I cook it, too.

I haven't been creating much in the kitchen, either, post surgery.  I finally got a little spontaneous whim yesterday, and I made not one, but TWO (count them, TWO) jars of salsa.  I have my own simple little recipe, and I used our own tomatoes, peppers and garlic.  Unfortunately, most of our tomato production came from the cherry tomato plants.  Do you think that stopped me???  (Does anything?). I took all the time in the...summer...to chop those little babies into salsa-appropriate diced tomatoes, and you can not BEAT fresh tomato salsa.  Ask the girls.  They inspired me by remembering last year's treat.

And speaking of inspiration, I did not plant cucumbers this year.  However, Eden planted a couple of plants in her square foot garden Christmas present, and they have produced more than enough.  We can never eat as many cucumbers as even one plant produces...but this year, I discovered Cucumber Salsa.  Now, that's a cucumber even I like.  (I believe pickles, another Kristen-approved cucumber product, are in my newly re-energized kitchen creation future.)

And sometimes...I will cut corners.  It's all about survival, my friends.

I looked up a few recipes online and (very me-style) simplified it to my tastes (and availability).  1/2 a very large cucumber, a couple cups of tomatoes, a couple cloves of garlic, a bit of onion, some salt and a squirt of lemon juice.  It was great with (our favorite) Mission tortilla chips, but can you imagine what a "hint of lime" chips would do??!!!!

Yum!  It felt good to finally spice things up with a home-made taco night.  Of course, that didn't stop at the salsas.  After I'd worn myself out on those, I still had the tacos to make.  And lucky me, no two people in this house can eat their food in exactly the same way (and often not even at the same time).  So, I tend to prepare things buffet-style, so the pickies can pick and choose.  Tortilla vs. No tortilla?  Meat or Veggie filling?  (Sautéed onions in olive oil.  Added refried beans and black beans to heat.  Added Minute Rice cooked and ready.)

I needed a nap by the time I was done.  But I will work my way back to these demands, however slowly.  You watch me.

Anyway, a few good things that happened to me this week:

I got to spend some time with a few of my friends.  (Individually, my favorite.)  It is one of the benefits of not having to work so much, and that is one thing about slowing down I can appreciate.

Old friends NEVER get old.  You know that person in your life...when you finally get the chance to talk you are just like, "I feel like I can breathe again!"?  They are few and far between, and I love and cherish them, each and every one.

And did you know, Jesse ALSO has those kind of friends?  One of them is Thunder, and if you never thought dogs had best buddies, then you were WAY wrong.  Because they do, and he does.  Check out how the real dog mom's live:

Don't you wish your dog-mom was (a lot) like me?  😂😂😂😂😂 See how I did that? 😉

Ok, ok.  I should note that it is really Thunder's mom who is the truly awesome dog mom.  And she's really kind of starting to feel like one of those.  👆 So...never dis the old ones, but don't close yourself off to making new ones.

Another weekly tip from someone who has little to no authority to give it.  You Are Welcome!

Have a happy week and a good night, my friends.  Sayonara for now.  10-4 good buddy.  Over and out.  However you want to say it.  Y'all come back now, y'hear?

KSO