The 80's ain't got nothin' on HairBand.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Pretzels
The other day, the kids and I were all sort of... bored. Rainy weather, I think. And lots of extra time on our hands. We decided to make some Osinkosky Pretzels. Now I kinda wish we got bored more often. These are always AMAZING.
The following picture is after the pretzels were rolled and shaped, and then boiled briefly. Like pierogies, the shaped pretzel is plopped into boiling water just long enough to seal the dough. Then it floats to the top. You just keep lining them up on a greased cookie sheet and salting them to your heart's content.
They get baked until they're golden brown. This picture shows my favorite part: the bottom. Crisp and delicious!
But be warned. Along with Auntie Anne's style pretzels, you also end up with a full-fledged Mess. A gross, doughy, flour-sprinkly Mess. (Especially if you have as many helpers as I do.)
Solution? Well, that goes a little like this...
The helpers get to taste a pretzel from the first cookie sheet that goes through... "Oh, boy are these good! Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!!! Can we have another one, Mama?"
"Why, certainly! But of course, we'll finish cleaning up the kitchen before we eat anymore..."
Normally, sure, I would try that Little Red Hen angle... But, with a threat like that, I would also need to be prepared to be eating all the food myself. So it is a tesitmony to the pretzel's worth that THIS is what happened next:
All the kids helped make the pretzels, clean up the flour mess on the table and floor, and do a few of the dishes. Awesome.
The following picture is after the pretzels were rolled and shaped, and then boiled briefly. Like pierogies, the shaped pretzel is plopped into boiling water just long enough to seal the dough. Then it floats to the top. You just keep lining them up on a greased cookie sheet and salting them to your heart's content.
They get baked until they're golden brown. This picture shows my favorite part: the bottom. Crisp and delicious!
But be warned. Along with Auntie Anne's style pretzels, you also end up with a full-fledged Mess. A gross, doughy, flour-sprinkly Mess. (Especially if you have as many helpers as I do.)
Solution? Well, that goes a little like this...
The helpers get to taste a pretzel from the first cookie sheet that goes through... "Oh, boy are these good! Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!!! Can we have another one, Mama?"
"Why, certainly! But of course, we'll finish cleaning up the kitchen before we eat anymore..."
Normally, sure, I would try that Little Red Hen angle... But, with a threat like that, I would also need to be prepared to be eating all the food myself. So it is a tesitmony to the pretzel's worth that THIS is what happened next:
All the kids helped make the pretzels, clean up the flour mess on the table and floor, and do a few of the dishes. Awesome.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Blackberries
We've gotten into a pretty decent routine for the weekdays this summer. So far, so good. Recently, the kids' favorite part of the day is taking a walk or riding bikes down the road to pick blackberries before quiet time. They love finding and eating the berries and the chance to get some exercise. Then Caroline takes her nap and they read or rest for a little bit. Here are a couple pictures:
Dylan picking and eating berries
Dylan eating berries, Daniel running towards me
"Oh, Man! Look at these! Wait, Mama! Let me make my face like THIS! OK, take my picture!!"
Dylan, Daniel and Haley's bowls of berries
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Friday, June 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Service Dogs of Virginia Volunteer Training
Training started last Tuesday night for the Service Dogs of Virginia volunteer puppy raisers. I was nervous for about a day and a half leading up to it.
Would I get lost on the way?
Would I make it on time?
Would the kids be okay with a new babysitter?
Would the people there like me?
But when I'm nervous about something, I do what my Dad taught me to do: Prepare, prepare, and then prepare some more. And get there early.
For trips, I check for my license, wallet, and cell phone.
For work, I'm early.
For this, I may have over-prepared to epic proportions, but that was just a direct reflection of how important it felt to me.
I had a map and I made sure I knew how long it would take to get there. Then I cushioned the drive with extra time so I could stop for coffee and take a peek at the mountains at the scenic overlook.
I asked the sitter to come over extra early to familarize her with the kids and their routines. So for, like, two hours of babysitting, she was coached on my household for the better part of an hour. (Yikes... I have become one of those moms.)
I popped a frozen lasagna in the oven so she wouldn't have to worry about dinner. (And by saying "she wouldn't have to worry about dinner" I may or may not have been talking about myself.) And, in reality, the babysitter wasn't entirely new, the kids just hadn't seen her since she went away to college.
And as for the last question... What am I, twelve? Good grief.
Tuesday afternoon came and I hit the road extra early. But I was still nervous. So I called Karin. Oh, the miles between us kind of hurt right then. I let myself imagine how it would have felt if she had been in the car next to me. We would have had the windows rolled down and been so flipping excited we wouldn't have been able to contain ourselves. We chatted for a few minutes, and I promised to fill her in on all the details when the session was over. We got off the phone, and then I was on my own.
The nerves lasted until somewhere between the Waynesboro Starbucks and Afton mountain. That's when something clicked. And I just got excited. This was really happening. I was on my way... I could picture making the same drive with my puppy in a couple short months. How amazing will that be???
My mom called and wished me luck and boosted that confidence level even a bit more. When I pulled into Charlottesville, I found the place just fine. I got there with ten minutes to spare. I parked the van and walked down to the entrance. I opened the door to Service Dogs of Virginia and six beautiful, black Labradors came lumbering over to me to quietly say hello. I petted each one on the head and said hello back. I couldn't help but smile. This was so right.
The evening was more fufilling than I could have possibly imagined.
I really feel like I have connected with a part of me that has always been just around the corner.
I wanted all of you, all the people I love, to be peeking through the windows and watching me while I worked. I still get choked up just thinking about that image. If you could see me now...
I'll post more information on the topics we covered and the training I did later... The girls are soaking in a tubby as I write this on my phone. They are loving the long bath, but are rapidly turning into prunes. So I'll end for now. But before I sign off, just smile with me at these gorgeous mountains and exciting new chapter that lays ahead.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Would I get lost on the way?
Would I make it on time?
Would the kids be okay with a new babysitter?
Would the people there like me?
But when I'm nervous about something, I do what my Dad taught me to do: Prepare, prepare, and then prepare some more. And get there early.
For trips, I check for my license, wallet, and cell phone.
For work, I'm early.
For this, I may have over-prepared to epic proportions, but that was just a direct reflection of how important it felt to me.
I had a map and I made sure I knew how long it would take to get there. Then I cushioned the drive with extra time so I could stop for coffee and take a peek at the mountains at the scenic overlook.
I asked the sitter to come over extra early to familarize her with the kids and their routines. So for, like, two hours of babysitting, she was coached on my household for the better part of an hour. (Yikes... I have become one of those moms.)
I popped a frozen lasagna in the oven so she wouldn't have to worry about dinner. (And by saying "she wouldn't have to worry about dinner" I may or may not have been talking about myself.) And, in reality, the babysitter wasn't entirely new, the kids just hadn't seen her since she went away to college.
And as for the last question... What am I, twelve? Good grief.
Tuesday afternoon came and I hit the road extra early. But I was still nervous. So I called Karin. Oh, the miles between us kind of hurt right then. I let myself imagine how it would have felt if she had been in the car next to me. We would have had the windows rolled down and been so flipping excited we wouldn't have been able to contain ourselves. We chatted for a few minutes, and I promised to fill her in on all the details when the session was over. We got off the phone, and then I was on my own.
The nerves lasted until somewhere between the Waynesboro Starbucks and Afton mountain. That's when something clicked. And I just got excited. This was really happening. I was on my way... I could picture making the same drive with my puppy in a couple short months. How amazing will that be???
My mom called and wished me luck and boosted that confidence level even a bit more. When I pulled into Charlottesville, I found the place just fine. I got there with ten minutes to spare. I parked the van and walked down to the entrance. I opened the door to Service Dogs of Virginia and six beautiful, black Labradors came lumbering over to me to quietly say hello. I petted each one on the head and said hello back. I couldn't help but smile. This was so right.
The evening was more fufilling than I could have possibly imagined.
I really feel like I have connected with a part of me that has always been just around the corner.
I wanted all of you, all the people I love, to be peeking through the windows and watching me while I worked. I still get choked up just thinking about that image. If you could see me now...
I'll post more information on the topics we covered and the training I did later... The girls are soaking in a tubby as I write this on my phone. They are loving the long bath, but are rapidly turning into prunes. So I'll end for now. But before I sign off, just smile with me at these gorgeous mountains and exciting new chapter that lays ahead.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Arboretum with the girls
The girls enjoyed some shade from the sun at the JMU Arboretum this past week. The ducklings looked especially cute as they gobbled up the duck food. Haley and Caroline both had a great time.
Water Fun
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kim O <kosinkosky@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 5:01 PM
Subject: Water fun
To: "kosinkosky@gmail.com" <kosinkosky@gmail.com>
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: Kim O <kosinkosky@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 5:01 PM
Subject: Water fun
To: "kosinkosky@gmail.com" <kosinkosky@gmail.com>
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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