After a year of teaching in Virginia, Sophia is now coming back home to Pennsylvania to teach second grade! She will be teaching in Tioga, about an hour north of Williamsport, and I am thrilled! It has been great to have her home during the pandemic to teach remotely, and I am delighted that now…
Month: June 2020
Sticky Elbow
Tonight we got carry-out from the Sticky Elbow, and everyone walked (or rolled) away from the table satisfied. Their take-out menu seems a little more subdued than their regular menu, and it is a good thing. We don’t really need kangaroo and rabbit when there’s already the standard elk and bison on the menu. A…
Fajitas and Corn Salad – A Meal Forged in Mayo
We started this week’s cooking adventure with high, serene hopes that we had not bitten off more than we could chew. Who could know that the simple act of spooning a cup of mayo into a mason jar would nearly bring down the operation? Now, you might be wondering what a cup of mayo is…
Hey, Digger Man!
We live in an old house, so now that the world is back to work, we have several home maintenance projects underway. Charlie is painting, Mark is working on the roof and gutters, and Plumbing Masters is replacing the air conditioner. Ben is maintaining his traditional role of watching everyone work. In Ben’s mind, he…
Weekend Treat – New China Royal
Ben never chooses Chinese food when left to his own devices. Mind you, he gobbles it up in a flash, but he would always go with a burger and fries, if given the chance. Today, however, we discovered a game changer.
The Most Ben’s Day of Wednesdays!
Ben reports that he had a great 20th birthday. He had been planning this day for ages, and he wasn’t disappointed. I consider this a major feat under social distancing constraints! Ben’s day included a special breakfast, a bike ride, lunch from McDonald’s, conversations with two former babysitter friends, gifts from family and friends, and…
Lazy Days of Summer
Every Day: Communicate Work Help Move Relax These are the five “rules” I posted on the fridge in March, in hopes that we could have a little balance in our lives and avoid driving each other crazy in lock down. Recently, I reminded Ben of the daily goals. He chose to see it as a…
Hot Dogs – Can we be frank?
Hot dogs have always been a favorite of Ben’s, as the following two stories illustrate. The first is a cautionary tale, so skip a few paragraphs if you have a weak stomach. When Ben was about eight, he had just started playing Little League Challenger Baseball, and we were at a team picnic held in…
Finding the Ice Cream
Ben loves ice cream, and he comes by it honestly. Summer Sunday afternoons often mean a family road trip to Eder’s for the best ice cream ever. His favorite flavor fluctuates, but often has something to do with cookies and cream. At home, he used to profess his disdain for vanilla, but once he realized…
Tuna Poke Bowl
Our family loves sushi, so it was only a matter of time before we started making our own poke bowls. For Ben’s Day Wednesday, we swapped in udon noodles with peanut sauce for the sticky rice. To the base of noodles, we added tuna, avocado, mango, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, mint, bang bang sauce, scallions,…