As always, the days go by in a blur...

Note: I started this post in early October and somehow never published it so here it is.

I don't know why I think that is an acceptable excuse for being a terrible, lazy blogger but there it is.

We've had a busy few weeks since school started but definitely the high point, activity-wise, was volunteering at Freedom's Run. This was a new marathon event (plus a half marathon, 10k, 5k, and kid's one mile run) which started in Harper's Ferry, ran up the towpath on the C&O Canal, through the battlefield at Antietam, and ended in Shepherdstown. They had over 1800 participants in the very first year of the race, which ended up being a West Virginia record, and the kids and I ran the first water station on the race route.

This entailed me trying to wake three very sleepy kids (my two plus Laura's friend Maya) up at 5:00 am, collecting another kid down the street, and driving to Harper's Ferry before dawn. By the time the sun came up we had set up three long tables, pre-poured hundreds of cups of water and sports drink, donned our rain ponchos (when the runners try to grab a water cup out of your hands they frequently miss and water goes everywhere - by the time the last runner had passed we were very happy indeed that we had worn protection), and were ready.

The first runner appeared a little before 7:15, the last one straggled through about an hour later. By 9:00 we were packed up and ready to head home. We're already signed up to do it again next year because a good time was definitely had by all.

By the way, wouldn't you want a nice refreshing cup of water from these goofy little people? Yeah, me too.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

After a long, hectic but generally happy summer the girls are finally back in school. The first official day was August 26 but JiaJia only had orientation that day so the real start of the school year was August 27. I had expected my little one to be a little more apprehensive about school and the bus but she climbed aboard with nary a backwards glance, even as I stood at the bus stop crying. My baby just isn't a baby any more.

At any rate, I took this picture this morning because I loved the look of the two of them with their huge backpacks venturing out into the fog.

How I did

Well, statistically speaking, not too well. I posted 16 out of 31 days in July, slightly better than half I guess but still not the daily blog I aspired to when I began this exercise.

Still, I'm pretty happy about it. I got back in the habit and while I don't think I'll ever be a really prolific blogger, once a week might be a realistic goal. Surely my horrible children will do something interesting that frequently.

At any rate, thanks to those who stuck with me on this journey. It has been fun, as anything that involves my family and friends generally is.

So, August's topic is "tomorrow." Maybe tomorrow I'll think of something new to post about...

What a fun night!

On Wednesday, Jane and Ken kindly opened their lovely toy store, I mean home, to us for a pizza party in honor of Gordon and Lydia's stop in Maryland on their grand cross-country tour. How exciting for Lydia to be starting grad school and how wonderful for us to get a chance to spend some time with her and her dad!

Lydia has turned seemingly overnight from a sweet young girl to a mature and accomplished young woman. I am amazed at her fearlessness at starting a new life in New York but if there is anyone who will succeed at such an adventure, it is our Lydia. I would compliment Gordon and Liya for being great parents (and I do) but I honestly believe that with this particular child it was more a function of just staying out of her way and letting her do her best.

Laura and JiaJia got to spend time with their beloved Aunt Janey K, we all ate a ton of pizza and ice cream cake (yes, the girls are still talking about the cake), some of us got our baby fix by cooing over Jimmy and Ronke's adorable little Jordan, and the adults spent some quality time out on the deck at twilight, just enjoying being together. In all, just the usual good time at the Broadwaters.

Our Yearly Fireworks

Every July the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department has the obligatory Firemen's Carnival. It is what every mother fears - poorly kept up rides, weird carnies, "games" that take all of your kids' money, and greasy horrible funnel cakes that smell like they were cooked in what drained out of your engine block last week at Jiffy Lube. The only redeeming characteristic of this hot mess is the fireworks.

We left the house at about 10:15 for the scheduled 10:45 start and, with my amazing parking space karma, were able to park at the Rite Aid with a perfect view. Just after 10:45 the show started and honestly, it was every bit as good as anything the National Park Service puts on. I don't think even the National Symphony Orchestra could have improved this. We built a nest in the back of my car for Laura, JiaJia and Sophie (lots of pillows and a big cozy comforter) and we all enjoyed the show immensely.

Now, the monkeys are in bed but still giggling and I'm here on the computer, amazed that a city girl like me can enjoy the essence of small town America on a night like this.

My most favorite dessert

Okay, I know this isn't a food blog but I have a new favorite dessert, Buttermilk Yogurt Panna Cotta, and I have to share it with those I care about the most. If you can imagine a cheesecake flavored custard, then you get the idea. Flavor it with just about anything, it doesn't mind. I've done ginger, Kahlua, lemon - the list is endless. It is fabulous with berries or other fruit and is way low in calories and fat. Just what we all need at the end of a long day. This version serves 6.

2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon water
1 cup fat free milk
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt

1. In a small bowl, mix the gelatin with the water and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. In a small saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer with the sugar and cook until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and whisk in the softened gelatin until dissolved.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the yogurt. Whisk in the warm milk mixture until smooth. Pour the mixture into six 4-oz. ramekins (or one big bowl or teacups or whatever you have that you can serve the stuff in) and refrigerate until set (about 4 hours).
4. Serve with berries, cherries, grapes and honey, or whatever your little heart desires.

I don't have a picture but will take one when next I make this. Yum!

An incredible dinner

This time of year there are so many choices when it comes to great vegetables that I asked Cecily if we adults could just have a big salad for dinner Tuesday night. We were headed back home yesterday (with Sophie!) and I wanted something delicious and light for dinner. One Salade Nicoise later, my wish was granted.

I picked up a fresh baguette on the way home from the office (although I didn't stick it under my arm like a Parisian riding le Metro) and we boiled eggs and potatoes. Cecily had anchovies with hers (the work of Satan, in my mind) and I had tuna. Tomatoes, baby romaine, fennel and avocado rounded out the plate. It was a simply amazing dinner.

If you're wondering about the table on which the glorious salad sits in the picture above, Cecily painted it one day when she was bored. When I'm bored I watch pointless television or surf the web. When she's bored? Art happens.