Peas and Favas

I have a little friend - whom i adore - sitting contently next to me.

her name is pea olive and she is my youngest daughter - with a fever, content to be just next to me, leaning her head on me, sucking on her hospital pacifier -which she only uses in her crib but there are always exceptions - yes ;) - how blessed am I!!!

Usually I would be continuously pulling her off the table, off my desk, down from the couch - she would want to be typing - but not now, no -she is content.  It makes me think about my contentedness and where I find those places where I am pleased to just sit, sit with someone who I feel safe with, someone I can trust, somewhere I love - I am that for her right now and I love that I get to be.  Where or who is that for me - have many thoughts about that -something good for me to think on....

Speaking about P. olive and peas - Grace and I shelled fresh sugar snap peas and fava beans.  As we opened up their little home, there they lay, hanging out with their family, nestled close or surrounded by a soft sweater (you must feel the inside of a fava bean).  They are so cozy in their shell.  This is definitlely  their safe little place where they are content to just sit and be!

peanut butter quinoa cookie sweetened with honey and a lemonade with an orange slice seemed to make everything better all of sudden.  the chewy drippy taste of honey lingered after the soft peanuty dark brown rustic looking cookie.  going now to see if i can find a recipe for this amazing cookie.  here i go.

Is 2:30pm too early to put pajamas on and cozy up under my blankets?  - oh ya, I have 3 little ones - yes, it is too early.  I am dreaming of my down blanket and a warm sunny spot on the couch to warm my feet.  An episode of Murder She Wrote or continuing on in "A Homemade Life".  A large glass of water with lemon and orange and a tylenol.  An excitement for what the rest of the day holds rather than a dread of what activity I will come up with for afternoon witching hour entertainment.  I am wondering what it would be like to not feel so tired, what would that look like to my children who get 10% patient, kind me and 80% tired, irritable me these days - ok, not so hard on myself - maybe 11% patient, kind me and 79% tired one.

I have not gone to the my usual grocery store run but rather have been stopping daily stops here and there at markets to pick up whatever sounds good with 3 little mouths excitedly waiting and choosing and asking.  Yesterday it was 5:30pm driving home in traffic after another quite unenjoyable photo shoot at Target - why did I choose to do this again?  The drive thru at chic filet was so enticing (and I don't even like processed chicken!!!)  How EASY would that be....i fought the urge trying to imagine how much better I would feel feeding these precious ones a better meal.  So, I drove home and made orzo in chicken broth with spinach and parmesan cheese.  Then on pretty little white plates I placed 2 little fresh mozzarella balls, a chunk of perfectly ripe avocado, and a slice of prosciutto drizzled all in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. It looked really special and pretty - they deserve to feel special - they are!  I actually did find a decent dinner in my refrigerator that is quite empty and sad.  And yes, I felt satisfied that these 3 little bodies had good food in their tummies.

*this moment is ending as my activities coordinator job is about to begin - I hear the cries from the crib, footsteps emerging out of rooms - bring on the witching hour! ;)