The Dazzling Uncertainty of It*

This week has been typical pre-autumnal fare in New England. A tropical day followed by a sweatshirt day followed by a knee-high rubber boots day. Now the sun shines again, and somewhere in the yellow I find the energy and strength to recap for you the meteorological schizophrenia.

On Monday it occured to me that I am far more optimistic than I give myself credit for. It was a startling realization that came on the sandaled heels of summer. The day before had been balmy. Why I assumed that trend would continue is beyond me. I'm usually a glass-half-empty type girl, and I've lived in Connecticut long enough to know that a little skepticism in regard to the weather (or most anything, really) is healthy. But there I was with The Boss (that's what we call my two year old daughter around these parts), standing in our driveway, both of us donning sundresses and flip flops.

The Boss hugged into herself, bracing each forearm with the opposite palm. "Cold and rainy!" she chattered. A fine, fine mist was a veil all around us, fusing invisibly to our forms. I sighed. Then I scooped up The Boss and deposited her into her car seat. I grabbed a sweater from the pile of discarded items pooling on the floor in front of her. I wrapped it around her like a blanket. "Cold and rainy," she repeated in that pitiable lament. I looked down at her, her sweet face magnified by a bulbous drop of rain on my eyelash. So young. So not-yet-jaded.

I shut the door and walked around to the driver's side. I settled into my seat and put the key in the ignition. The mist on my head turned into disparate drops of water as I shook out my hair. "We're just going to have to deal with it."

***

The next day, the veil had intensified into sheets of rain. Everything was gray, except for the roads, which were vivid black. I drove toward our playgroup with slightly less concentration than the conditions required. Somewhere near the skinny diner filled with fat patrons, my wheels bit into a puddle that threatened to swallow the car whole. We went slightly sideways. There was a steady line of cars coming toward us in the other lane. I took my foot off the gas while both hands remained tight and white on the wheel. I was silent, but I heard a voice from the car seat behind me.

"Oh, man!" The Boss's outburst was not so much fearful as resigned. It was the recognition that her mother was a crappy driver. It was the articulated awareness that life is an adventure over which nobody, least of all a two year old, has any control. Oh, man. Turns out a toddler can be jaded after all.

The car righted itself and we sailed on through.




*Mark Twain, from a speech on the weather

Ready for Something Sweet?

My family and I recently had the pleasure of visiting a local farm for our annual blueberry picking extravaganza. Oh. My. Goodness. There isn't many things better than being outside in the summer sun, picking and eating blueberries. And to watch my 3 little kids chowing down the sweet treats was even sweeter!

The farm we now flock to every summer is March Farms in in Bethlehem, CT. Not only do they have wonderful fruit for the picking every year, but they also have great vegetables, baked goods, spices (the basil is a must have!), dressings and syrups that'll knock your tastebuds out! Visitors can also enjoy a new playscape next to the blueberry bushes, a barnyard of animals to pet and hayrides come fall. And don't forget Pumpkin picking! It's a special place that my hubby and I look forward to visiting each year with our children.

We left March Farms with a big boatful of fresh vegetables and too many blueberries! I've enjoyed baking all sorts of wonderful desserts this week - want a slice of my first ever blueberry pie?

If you are ever in Western CT, look up March Farms. It's a delicious place to visit!

Making Wishes Come True...

Do you like ice cream? Yeah I like the triple chocolate myself. Do you like sunflowers? Yup there's plenty here. Do you like making wishes come true? Well then I have just the place for you.



Now through July 29th, Buttonwoods Farm Ice Cream Stand is donating all of the proceeds from their sunflowers to the Connecticut Make A Wish foundation. For $5 you can purchase a huge bouquet of sunflowers. The girls and I took the drive today and walked through the fields. Then they sat and enjoyed their Raspberry Sorbet. They each brought a bouquet of sunflowers and then we made the trek home.


So if your in the area this week and want really good ice cream (it's all made right there) and want to help make some wishes come true, stop by!