Separated at Birth?

Alison made this observation the other day.

I guess it's pretty mean to compare my beautiful daughter to a hideous beast from Jurassic Park, maybe they are not separated at birth, but distant cousins. I think at this point Jackie is able to spit her peas further than the Dinosaur though.

Cherry Bomb Jam

I found this recipe on a forum

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/harvest/msg0717331418698.html

Annie's Cherry Bomb Jam

36 oz. pitted, stemmed cherries

2-5 jalapenos (I used 3)

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1 box powdered pectin

1/2 teaspoon unsalted butter (optional)

4 1/2 cups sugar

Chop or dice about half of the cherries using a food processor, or by hand, depending on how chunky you like your jams. Mix chopped cherries with remaining cherries. Remove seeds from jalapenos, being careful to wear rubber gloves for protection, and mince in food processor. I left the seeds in 1 jalapeno for extra kick.

Add minced jalapenos with cherries in a non-reactive pan, add vinegar, pectin, and butter. Bring to a boil and add sugar. Bring to a full, rolling boil and boil for 1 minute. Ladle into prepared jars, process in a BWB for 10 minutes (or 5 minutes for sterilized jars). Makes 7 half pints.

I didn't bother adding the butter. 

I went into crisis mode during the last few steps when I realized that I only had a cup and a half of sugar, so Alison was dispatched to the sketchy grocery store down the block to acquire some. 

Pitting the cherries

Food Processor!

 Cherry Goop

Jalapeno's ready to go... I used all five from the recipe but only the seeds from one. I think in retrospect this may be a mistake. The initial taste test was a great sweet cherry taste with a kick at the end, the heat from the peppers. A few days later, the flavors have combined a bit more, and the jam still tastes good, but there is definitely a jalapeno smell, and hint of pepper taste. probably using only 3 peppers would have been a better bet. Still good, but I'm thinking people that don't enjoy spicy things might have liked it, now they probably won't. We'll see!

 Boiling the Jam

Jam in the jars... 

Processing the jam in a hot water bath. 

Since I had never done this before I did not know that cherries have very little natural pectin in them, making it one of the trickier jams to set. And I now have 8 jars of jam that have not set. So I'll probably reprocess this with some additional sugar and pectin in a couple of days to see if I can get it to set properly. The jam has been processed, so I'm in no danger of it going bad while I wait. We'll see if we can get it to do what it's supposed to do.

Next time I'll probably try something that is a little easier to work with, but this was one I had in the back of my mind for a while. I have a ton of fresh Mint, that we are trying to eradicate from around the house. I'm thinking of maybe doing mint jelly next. 

Good deal on cherries at the store today, going to attempt some cherry-jalapeno jam this evening i think... I will update everyone on the full scale of this culinary disaster later.

I only want the best for you!

Sort of an odd post this evening. I saw this come across my twitter feed first thing in the morning, and I thought It was worth passing along to the 3 or so people that read this thing.

Religion and politics... things that aren't to be discussed in polite conversation. Thus far I've avoided controversial topics on this blog, and will likely continue to do so... though I am very tempted having just watched the terribly moderated cnn debate ( Newt  is toast, but I thought had a solid performance tonight) ahem... anyway, so I'll try to steer clear of politics and such, even though my political leanings are well known. That being said...

I'm not expecting Sarah Palin to run for President. I don't think she can be elected, as a result of the hatchet job that has been done on her for the last 3 or so years. I also think her resignation as Governor permanently damaged her electability as she will be seen by many as a quitter, despite the fact that is was probably the best thing for her family and the state of Alaska. I would be genuinely shocked if she were to announce an exploratory committee in preparation of a campaign for the 2012 GOP nomination.  

All that being said, I think the behavior of certain media outlets with respect to this recent email release has been reprehensible. Everyone is looking for the smoking gun, to prove what an inept, stupid governor Palin was, or any sordid details of her personal life. For the time being, it appears this muckraking exercise has failed, and if anything Palin will come out of this looking a lot better than she did last Friday before the release of the 24,000 or so pages of emails. 

This one item found in the release, touched a nerve with me though. After Jackie's 12 week ultrasound, the results we got back from the genetic screenings were not as expected. Alison had to go have additional testing done, because the preliminary results indicated a greater chance of some type of developmental disorder. Now... as first time parents, we of course freaked out. We didn't tell anyone, since we didn't want people to get worried, and we didn't have any conclusive information, but I learned an important lesson... the doctors, will get your head spinning with all sorts of possibilities. (another example... I thought the 38 week ultrasound had us expecting to deliver a fully developed adult!) In hindsight, my worries were probably silly, because we are at such a low risk for any of these things but, while we waited for the additional test results, my mind played all kinds of tricks on me. I had become convinced that we would have a special needs child. After admittedly a few moments of private despair, and worry,  I immediately found incredible peace and clarity knowing that it would all be part of God's plan for us. 

Now obviously the test results came back negative, and we have  a perfectly healthy, beautiful baby girl that confounds us sometimes with her stubbornness, appears to meet all of medicine and societies definitions of "normal" , but for that brief couple of days we were mentally preparing, and looking forward to facing these potential challenges head on. It was all so incredibly clear to us, as for us their was no alternative. We could have faced additional, potentially harmful testing, that for us served no purpose, because it didn't matter. We were looking forward to the arrival of our first child no matter what they turned out to be. 

So what does this have to do with Sarah Palin? Well, below is a letter she penned "from God" to her family in anticipation of the birth of their fifth child, who as we all know has Down Syndrome. We found it incredibly touching, and in really captured a lot of the things that were going through our heads at the time. 

So please forgive me for being overly dramatic with my story telling, but it really struck a chord when I saw it this morning, and I thought it was worth sharing. 

To the Sisters, Brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Friends of Trig Paxson Van Palin (or whatever you end up naming him!):

I am blessing you with this surprise baby because I only want the best for you. I've heard your prayers that this baby will be happy and healthy, and I've answered them because I only want the best for you!

I heard your heart when you hinted that another boy would fit best in the Palin family, to round it out and complete that starting five line-up.

Though another girl would be so nice, you didn't think you could ask for what you REALLY wanted, but I knew, so I gave you a boy because I only want the best for you!

Then, I put the idea in your hearts that his name should be 'Trig', because it's so fitting, with two Norse meanings: "True" and "Brave Victory". You also have a Bristol Bay relative with that name, so I knew it would be best for you!

Then, I let Trig's mom have an exceptionally comfortable pregnancy so she could enjoy every minute of it, and I even seemed to rush it along so she could wait until near the end to surprise you with the news - that way Piper wouldn't have so long to wait and count down so many days - just like Christmastime when you have to wait, impatiently, for that special day to finally open your gift? (Or the way the Palmas look forward to birthday celebrations that go on for three, four days_ you all really like cake.) I know you, I knew you'd be better off with just a short time to wait!

Then, finally, I let Trig's mom and dad find out before he was born that this little boy will truly be a GIFT. They were told in early tests that Trig may provide more challenges, and more joy, than what they ever may have imagined or ever asked for.

At first the news seemed unreal and sad and confusing. But I gave Trig's mom and dad lots of time to think about it because they needed lots of time to understand that everything will be OK, in fact, everything will be great, because I only want the best for you!

I've given Trig's mom and dad peace and joy as they wait to meet their new son. I gave them a happy anticipation because they asked me for that.

I'll give all of you the same happy anticipation and strength to deal with Trig's challenges, but I won't impose on you... I just need to know you want to receive my offer to be with all of you and help you everyday to make Trig's life a great one.

This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective and bind us together and get everyone focused on what really matters.

The baby will expand your world and let you see and feel things you haven't experienced yet. He'll show you what "true, brave victory" really means as those who love him will think less about self and focus less on what the world tells you is "normal" or "perfect°.

You will grow and be blessed with greater understanding that will he born along with Trig.Trig will be his dad's little buddy and he'll wear Carhartts while he learns to tinker in the garage. He'll love to be read to, he'll want to play goalie, and he'll steal his mom's heart just like Track, Bristol, Willow and Piper did.

And Trig will be the cuddly, innocent, mischievous, dependent little brother that his siblings have been waiting for_in fact Trig will - in some diagnostic ways - always be a mischievous, dependent little brother, because I created him a bit different than a lot of babies born into this world today.

Every child is created special, with awesome purpose and amazing potential. Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed up world you live in down there on earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome. Doctors call it "Down's Syndrome", and Downs kids have challenges, but can bring you much delight and more love than you can ever imagine! Just wait and see, let me prove this, because I only want the best for you!

Some of the rest of the world may not want him, but take comfort in that because the world will not compete for him. Take care of him and he will always be yours!

Trig's mom and dad don't want people to focus on the baby's extra chromosome. They're human, so they haven't known how to explain this to people who are so caring and are interested in this new little Alaskan. Sarah and Todd want people to share in the joy of this gift I'm giving to the Palin family, and the greater Alaska family.

Many people won't understand_ and I understand that. Some will think Trig should not be allowed to be born because they fear a Downs child won't be considered "perfect" in your world. (But tell me, what do you earthlings consider "perfect" or even "normal" anyway? Have you peeked down any grocery store isle, or school hallway, or into your office lunchroom lately? Or considered the odd celebrities you celebrate as "perfect" on t.v.? Have you noticed I make 'em all shapes and sizes? Believe me, there is no "perfect"!)

Many people will express sympathy, but you don't want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this.

I know it will take time to grasp this and come to accept that I only want the best for you, and I only give my best. Remember though: "My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts- for as the heavens are higher than the earth, my ways are higher than yours!"

I wrote that all down for you in the Good Book! Look it up! You claim that you believe me - now it's time to live out that belief!

Please look to me as this new challenge and chapter of life unfolds in front of you. I promise to equip you. I won't give you anything you can't handle. I am answering your prayers. Trig can't wait to meet you. I'm giving you ONLY THE BEST!

Love,
Trig's Creator, Your Heavenly Father

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/06/sarah-palin-god-letter-trig-down-syndrome.html

This to me was something that I would want to read if it were to be our family, and it's really something that I wish I'd be able to write.

Very very sneaky

I am posting here a complete series of pictures captured on the phone. Apparently Jacqueline was very interested in the contents of the cheerios box.

I think this is a good lesson to remind us all to keep the poison out of reach.

Chemistry Fail

I just realized that the URL for this site is http://bh20bugle.blogspot.com/ instead of what should be BH2O for b-water...

No wonder I almost flunked Chemistry and Advanced Chemistry in college... how did I pass the FE and PE exams again?

anyway... apologies to anyone who can't find the site because they are trying to type the correct chemical symbol for water.

June 6 Post

D-Day! Saw this on Twitter today

"An 18 year old who landed at D-Day would be 85 now. Remember, as their generation is fading into memory."

President Reagan gave this speech when I was four years old... hard to imagine





The old men in these videos look so young 27 years later.

We've had a busy few weeks with Jackie, every day she seems to be getting into something new. We've taken a lot of pictures, so here is another photo dump!

Here is Jackie getting ready for sleep on the day she hit 9 months... daddy hadn't yet installed the A/C so it was a bit warm, but she still seemed happy. 

These three pictures were taken the next day and I am including all three because they were so cute. She was having a rare calm moment these days and took a few wonderful pictures.

Enjoying my favorite spatula in the park!

Jackie got to spend some time playing with her buddies, here they all are enjoying some of the different fun activities available to babies these days. Jackie especially loves the bouncy jumparoo type things... she could go for hours. Lucky for her Charlotte and Patrick don't enjoy them as much yet, so she gets to hog it as much as she wants. 

The next class at Kings Point reports for duty on July 7th and these babies are almost ready to go. 

Jackie got to hit Grandma and Grandpa Walsh's pool for the first time the other day, it's like giant bath time and she had so much fun swimming with Mommy. 

Rocky does not enjoy the pool as much. He is growing so fast, and thankfully appears to be almost house broken... which is a huge relief. Time to sell my stock in Proctor and Gamble, the parent company of Bounty Paper Towels, I won't be needing as many now. 

Here is a nice shot with Uncle Joe, right before his promotion to Major! Jackie is congratulating him. 

I was very disappointed this year in my gardening efforts, I went and picked up tomato and cucumber plants, but they were wiped out by a few cold nights before I could get them in the ground. Luckily due the all the wasted tomatoes from last year, I have about 20 tomato plants growing in my garden and compost pile. So all is not lost, and Alison and I were able to set up the garden this year after all. Hopefully, with a little experience under our belts we'll be able to get a more usable crop this year. The Blueberry bushed already have some fruit on them, and the Jalapeno's are also blossoming... so far so good!

Last but not least, for those that don't know I was pleasantly surprised to get some good news about a week and a half ago. I passed my PE exam in the State of NJ. I was pretty confident that I had a shot at passing, but a few too many questions on the exam that I thought I had been unprepared for left me a little nervous. The big surprise was getting the results so early, as NJ is typically one of the last states to give out the results, some times a month or more after the test scores are released. This year those of us who took the test were lucky to get results after only 2 days... it was a great day. Congrats also to our Good friend Jessica who also passed in NY and Adam a former co-worker and Kings Pointer (and classmate of Jessica) who also passed his exam on the first try. Sounds like a clean sweep for the KP Team.

Until next time!