Well, hello there! How did it get to be the second half of November? Birdy just now said to me, "Wow, soon it will snow because it will be December!" And I said, "Uh oh." "What is it, Mama?" "I have to go order a turkey." This part of the year crashes in like a sleeper wave, and I will pop up in January, gasping and exhilarated and happy to be combing the seaweed out of my hair.
Meanwhile, as the weather cools, there is my world-famous (okay, at least 3 or 4 of my friends make this) instant oatmeal recipe over at family.com. And then there is the buttermilk birthday cake, which is up though not posting on the homepage. In it you get to ogle many parade-float style cakes we've designed over the years.
And did you want to see how the carnival fortune teller answered Birdy's question, "Will I go to college?" I like how her New York accent breaks through on the word "chariot." The funniest thing was how few of the kids realized that they actually *knew* her. "I do!" they'd cry, baffled and thrilled. "I *do* have two older brothers!" Or, even the kids she didn't know: "I am! I *am* kind towards animals! How did you know?" Eet voz a lucky guezz.
Edited to add: I thought it was so obvious, but before anyone says anything awkward about the fortune teller, I wanted to give you a hint that I'm in this video. And I'm not the one filming it.
That? Is an excellent video clip.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am so excited about the instant oatmeal recipe!
I'm off to check out the recipes, but that is so funny how she jumped on the college thing!
ReplyDeleteThe fortune-telling video reminds me exactly of my interactions with my high school guidance counselor. :)
ReplyDeleteThe fortune-teller seems to be concerned about losing her head-scarf.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, your cake decorating skills leave me feeling...um...inadequate? Can I borrow you for my next child's birthday? Because it's all I can do to put sprinkles on cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteHmm, so you're not IN the video, but you're not *filming* it either? Is it like that mind bender with the doctor who can't operate on the kid, because "He is my son?" even though his dad is with him? That's what your *subtle* hint reminded me of.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I loved the clip. Priceless.
I'm thinking the kid wants to go to college. Perhaps the fortune teller can grab some funds from the future to pay for it. Hooray! Awesome video.
ReplyDeleteSO funny! I just thought I'd drop by and see if there was anything new, and yes! There is. Always fun, Catherine!
ReplyDeleteMy children, age 7 and 9 have yet to figure out that it's their father in the Santa Claus suit every year at the fire hall Christmas party and at our house on Christmas Ever.
ReplyDeleteI like you as a fortune teller!
Love the video. Wish I could get the recipes to load. Is there something wrong with family.com?
ReplyDeleteNot only are you an excellent fortune teller, you sound (in character)just like the lovely mother of my daughter's friend, which made me smile :)
ReplyDeleteGasp!
ReplyDeleteYou? You? You are behind the grind-up-the-oatmeal recipe I got from Family Fun back when? I should have known! My kids loved that! Thanks for posting it. I really have to do that again this winter!
I must have the same NY accent b/c I played the video twice and don't hear it; chariot sounds fine to me.
ReplyDeleteAnyway it was a fun video. My dad was Santa all through grammar school and I never knew.
Love your recopies and am off to try the others.
I had no idea that was you! I thought it was some kind of school fair and it was one of the older kids volunteering to be the fortune-teller! You are too funny. Now I'm thinking it was for Ben's birthday party? I am totally stealing that idea. The kids must have loved that! Great clip. Talk about preserving memories. Wait until you show that to Birdy when she's in college. --Cathy K
ReplyDeleteI love this so much!
ReplyDeleteLove this! But my husband can't be Santa any more. Last time he tried, when my middle daughter was 3 1/2 she said afterwatds to me, very quietly, "you know, father christmas has hands exactly like Dad, and the same ring. I think this is very strange". she's cleary going to be a forensic scientist when she grows up!!!
ReplyDeletehahahaha! I love this clip! And Birdy WANTS to go to college!!!! I love it.
ReplyDeleteHey, are you coming to Logan for the cooking class? If you already came and I missed it, please lie. don't break my heart like that. OK?
We went to the school holiday Bazaar on Friday, and my son's last year's teacher was dressed as Santa.
2 YO girl was ecstatic! But 4 YO boy looked at me and whispered, "That's Mr Wright Santa! I want to go talk to the other one with the glasses" (he meant the one at them mall with whom I get the kids' pictures taken). My little boy is so observant, I have to be careful around him!
Happy Thanksgiving dearest Catherine! And enjoy your turkey! This year I'll make the turkey soup again. I'm re-reading last year's awesome Wondertime Thanksgiving issue and pretending is this year's.
Catherine, those birthday cakes! I don't think anyone can ever, ever stamp you as a parent who can't deal.
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations on your big boy turning ten. It's one of those things that is utterly unimaginable when you're mired in car seats and naptimes and meltdowns over snowsuits. But then it just happens, and of course you must be very proud and grateful.
Wasn't she conscious being filmed? Sometimes fortune tellers just say things that are too general for everyone to happen
ReplyDeleteawesome! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI HAVE MADE THAT OATMEAL CAKE MANY TIMES! HA!
ReplyDeleteI can't comment over at Disney Family. They won't LET me - all touchy about my password and such - but I wanted to say that my husband has MADE that train cake!
http://frogandtoadarestillfriends.blogspot.com/2007/01/more-birthday.html
(it's a blathery post - just scroll down!)
Your cakes are LOVELY.
Go look at my sad excuse for a birthday cake. Go ahead-- it's up today-- and it will leave you wondering how you could have deprived the world of your wonderful recipe for so long. Max will thank you next year.
ReplyDeleteAnd PS-- I *wish* the fortune teller could come to northern Michigan...if you have any ins perhaps you could ask her;), because in Max's preschool newsletter, they asked kids to answer the question "What makes you an individual"-- and my boy could have used a little tarot card help. Why? Unlike the many "I love my pets/I'm a great brother/I am a nice friend/I like to be helpful" answers most gave, Max said::
"I like storm troopers and ninjas and I can really clog a toilet."
Ahem.
I'm sorry, I have a newborn so I just don't have time for the other site's comments. :) our oatmeal= old-fashioned oats+milk+crunchy peanut butter + honey. 45 seconds in microwave. awesome, and no blender needed! also, love the accent.also, we found the eric carle museum from oklahoma because of you and loved it!
ReplyDeleteWhoa, Hey! I clicked over to your blog this morning (just now, actually) and there was a picture of a book called "Brooklyn" (?) so I clicked on it, and was immediately ushered to a sequestered area and told "sorry, link not found!" Then when I clicked bak over to your blog *poof* picture of book GONE!
ReplyDeleteWhat up?
(For some reason, that fortune telling video made me teary. Perhaps it's Birdy's determination! And your loving interpration of the cards!)
ReplyDeleteYour Baked Pancake recipe has been such a hit here! I thought I'd both tell you and show you the latest one! (But I'll have to email you the photo since I can't drag it onto the comment!)
А вы гадаете на Рождество? вот как надо - рождественские гадания
ReplyDeleteOh, I am leaving this comments WEEKS after you posted, and it was easier to leave it here than over at disney family (I don't want to deal with password etc). I wanted to comment on the oatmeal recipe - it looks great, and I will try it - but I wanted to note that I have been making fairly instant oatmeal for years. I just put some in a bowl, add milk (cause I figure milk is good for the kids) and microwave for 2-3 minutes (depending on your microwave and how much oatmeal etc). I add brown sugar, honey or maple syrup to taste (well to my taste- I am sure the kids would like more) and maybe some raisins, cinnamon or vanilla. They eat it all winter. Not too bad to clean up- just the bowl from the microwave.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am gonna do is make up a mix that already has some brown sugar and raisins/dates and cinnamon and start with that - will save some steps in the blurry AM hours!
Thanks!
No she's not concerned on losing her scarf
ReplyDelete