David and Cheryl

Spring is here! This is my favorite time of year! I just love to stand outside and smell the spring air, see the birds, the flowers and so much more. Across the field from me, lives a deer family. Well, maybe they are just a deer herd, but there are small ones and large ones, so, who knows? Anyway, every day they nibble their way across a field of about 6 acres and then cross the street right on the side of my house. They are so pretty, I find myself waiting for them each day. Our bird feeder is a social meeting place as well, with mostly black birds and sparrows, but we do get a pair of cardinals. The male is a brilliant red, and the female a duller reddish brown, but they are incredible to look at, and since Aunt Cheryl saw them first, I have named them Cheryl and David after Aunt Cheryl and her husband, who passed away in 1996. She seemed pleased when she heard the names I gave them. The feeder is right outside of the kitchen bay window, and we can enjoy the birds when we are at the table. I point out the birds to Little Joe, but he doesn't quite get it. He is more interested in the cat that sits in the window, making little cat noises and switching his tail as he sees the birds outside.
The Gentle Giant is fishing again. It has been so long since he has gone fishing, and I was really concerned because he lives to fish. He has gone fishing the last two days, and brought home some really large redfish. We usually give them away, but sometimes I cook them. I am just glad he is having relaxing fun with David, Shane, Robby and whomever goes with them. It would be nice if he could actually retire and fish whenever he wants. I want to fish. I wanted to go today, but I couldn't because I knew that Nanamee was coming, I had Little Joe, had to cook, and other things. I love fishing, love the feel of the fish pulling on the end of the line, the excitement as the captured fish breaks the water, and the feeling of excitement as I show off my catch. I will go again, but will have to plan for it, so I don't shirk my responsibilities.
What I did do today, as on many recent days, was make dinner completely from my food storage. I made chicken and dumplings, and every ingredient was from food I had stored. That really feels great, knowing that I can utilize the storage, and have a plan to replenish the items as they go on sale.
This morning, I got up to make Little Joe's Cream of Wheat. I was half asleep, but he was hungry, and so I had to get to it. He was sitting in his high chair watching me cook, and I was moving in rote as I gathered the cereal, the milk, butter and the sugar. I poured the milk into the pan, heated it up as I stirred the cereal in, and cooked it until it was thick. I added the butter and a bit of sugar, poured it into a shallow dish and stirred it until it had cooled. I sat down to a lip-smacking Little Joe, and gave him a bite. He slurped it in, but then immediatley made a face and spit it right out! I knew it wasn't too hot, so I was surprised at his reaction. Cream of Wheat every moring is the high point of Little Joe's day, and he usually gobbles it down. I couldn't remember if I had put the sugar in it, so I took a bite, and found my mouth full of gritty cereal instead of the smooth cereal I usually cook. I was still in a sleepy daze, but that woke me up, and I wondered what I had done wrong. Little Joe was indignantly demanding his cereal, so I had to act fast. I got up and looked at the pan. No clue there. Then, on the counter, I saw the plastic container of GRITS, instead of the Cream of Wheat. Well, heck. I had cooked grits for him, something he had never had, and obviously didn't like. I poured the sweetened, buttery batch of grits down the disposal, and quickly righted the situation. As I sat back down with his little bowl of cereal, he looked at it suspiciously, but cautiously opened his mouth. I knew I had done it right this time, as he smacked his little lips and quickly opened his mouth for another bite. Tomorrow, I am going to put cold water on my face, so that I won't make that mistake again. Silly me.