Saturday, February 27, 2010

Sick and Salads

No, not sick of salads! The recent sunny days interspersed with rainfall have made the lettuce do what it does about this time every year -- bounce into glorious, ruffle-headed life. If it weren't so sandy-muddy from the rain and the shovel-wielding children, I'd eat it standing in the garden. Maybe. . . mulch next year? anything to keep the splashy sand out of the inside of my beloved Tom Thumb headlets. I had to toss the Tom Thumb from my book club salad because I just couldn't get it clean:


So I wash carefully and have a salad for lunch, but often not one for dinner because I'm wiped out, because I'm not sleeping because sick children still wake their parents up at night even when they're getting to be big little kids.


He looks to me as though I've set him out for recycling. A lot of today was spent asleep, and he seems to still need it. I have my fingers crossed that there are no sore ears or throats tonight, and I will make enough salad for two meals tomorrow.

13 comments:

kitsapFG said...

Ohh... I feel sorry for both of you! That picture on the porch is pricelss though!

The fresh greens look wonderful and hopefully they will help ward off the virus that is afflicting your family.

Heiko said...

That's it. Plenty of greens and fruit is the best medicine. Do you think the recycling people would take the lad? There's a thought...

Ribbit said...

The girl is sick, too. We were up all night. I love the sleeping in the sun. That's got to do wonders.

el said...

Who could possibly get sick of salads? I love the red oakleaf ones, how pretty. Mulch DOES help, a lot...too bad you don't have a lawn any longer because grass clippings do great to keep the splash off.

Can't you soak them for a while? I actually wash the leaves individually, under a stream of water. First they soak in the bowl of the salad spinner, then they get their shower, then they go into the salad spinner basket. YES it takes a while but I am really fast with it now!

sorry to hear about your poor babies.

So what did you read?

Daphne Gould said...

I hope your little one gets better. I used to hate when the flu ran though the family. Now that the kids are gone we rarely get it.

Anonymous said...

I always used to find the sunny spot to sleep when I was sick as a kid, too. My bed has an afternoon sunny spot, so I don't have to as an adult. :-)

Hope he feels better, quick!

I weeded the beds last weekend. You're inspiring me!

Ruby Louise said...

Hope everybody feels better soon!

Jeff Vandiver said...

Great photo of the harvest. I hope your little one gets well soon.

Kristin said...

That lettuce is gorgeous and I like the outside light on it in your photo. Bless his heart--sleeping on the doorstep. I thought you were going to say he slept-walked and that was where you found him. Oh my...hope the illness ends fast.

Stefaneener said...

kitsapFG, he really seems to like that area, especially when he doesn't feel good. It faces south and a little bit west.

Heiko, I have suggested to the children that they might in fact be set out for pick up, but they don't seem to believe me so far. I could bribe a city worker to go along with it. . .

Ribbit, hope you get some sleep!! Healing thoughts to everyone.

el, that's how I wash, too. I might have to go so far as a paintbrush to scrub, and you know, I'm just not going to do that. I will keep my eye open for grass clippings, though. I ought to be able to grab some from a gardener or neighbor.

Daphne, another good thing about them growing up!

Suzee, I hope I can see them some time. The sun (and cats) puts me to sleep, too. Might be the time of year also.

Hey, Ruby Louise, welcome. He'll get over it -- I just hope he does in time to go snowboarding this weekend.

EG, hi there. It looked almost too pretty to eat.

Kristin, do you work hard on your pictures too? There are days I'm in a hurry, and days that I can take my time.

michelle said...

I hope your little one gets better soon and you all get a good night's sleep. I don't need sick children to deprive me of sleep, I manage that all by myself. I'm having far too many zombie days lately.

That's such a pretty bowl of salad greens. The oak leaf lettuces have always been a favorite of mine just because I love the frilly leaves.

The weather has been such a tease lately, rain one day, sun the next, and then rain again. I shouldn't complain, it could be rain, rain, rain....

Stefaneener said...

Michele, I agree. I'm a total sucker for a pretty lettuce.
As I was running in overcast this morning, I thought, "Well, I saw the moon last night, so it's not overcast ALL the time."
And the blackberry harvest should be spectacular this year : )

Ottawa Gardener said...

Oh poor sweet little guy. Hopefully all the rest will perk him right up. As for mulching, yeah maybe straw or something to prevent those pesky mud droplets from bouncing upwards. It helps in my garden.

That looks like the start of another great salad. I miss fresh salad. Soon!