sara skates

I rejoined a CSA this summer after figuring out that I could take on a ‘core’ position (a group of about 15 people who run the CSA – each with distinct manageable jobs) in lieu of doing farm and distribution shifts. This CSA has built into it a principle that every member should experience the ‘work’ of vegetable farming and distribution so they know where food comes from etc. I love the premise though the farm work doesn’t work so well with a kid in a wheelcair and walker – but that’s another story.

We have been getting a lot of chard and kale. My meal of choice with this (aside from winter stews and it’s SO not the season to make those) is chips.

They are easy peasy to make. I cut each leaf off the stalk, and spray one side with olive oil and cut into chip-sized pieces. I spray one side with olive oil (I have a mister – if you don’t, put leaf chips – from the whole bunch – into a bowl, add a Teaspoon or two of olive oil and toss/mix to coat). I place them on a cookie tin – in a sinle layer with the oiled side down, and then mist the other side. I sprinkle a bit of salt on top-and pop into an oven at 250deg. for 10-12 minutes.

Out they come and then I proceed to inhale them

I have been tossing the stalks into the compost bin though if anyone has a better idea I will try it!

I was driving home from the dentist today, and ended up on this long road that has a lot of apartment complexes -right behind a lower elementary schoolbus. So it was a slow drive with lots of stops. One stop had four parents waiting for their kids; three with younger siblings.

The bus doors opened and two of the sibs (probably each about age 3) started hopping up and down with their arms over their heads – pure glee. Their respective sibs got off and smothered them with hugs and kisses.

It was totally sweet! And a nice reminder of the bonds that Hannah and Toby have – even if neither is willing to show it in their current teen and pre-teen stages of life.

I got Toby on the bus this morning, kissed him goodbye, stood up and said ‘Bye, sweet stuff!’. Then this:

Bus driver: ‘Bye Sara’
Me: ‘Bye John!’
All the kids on the bus: ‘BYE SARA!’

Apparently I am a noticable part of their day

one of the really cool things about having siblings is seeing their versions of doing the same school projects. Hannah did a weaving project in 4th grade (on the bottom), and Toby just brought his home (on the top).

Their different personalities shine forth pretty loudly in their work! Toby’s is all even and planned and symmetric; Hannah’s more freeform and artsy . I love them both!

So…I wrote the teacher in question, who filled in some extra history.  She confirmed, that yes, there was a huge level of “give the poor crippled kid a goodie” going on.  The cafeteria worker in question is 87, and while the teacher had spoken to her, clearly the message didn’t sink in.

I suggested (and the teacher agreed) that at most, she should bring it up with the administration.  She didn’t want to get this lunch lady in trouble (she’s underpaid and 87…).  But it would be easy enough to summarize the situation without names, and have the admin issue a policy/letter.  And she heard that I thought it was really inappropriate to give Toby the responsibility to manage this one.

Moving right along to the next thing…I’ll consider this one done

testing testing 123

photo test, check out IT dudes freeing my computer from combination lock. Yes, I have forgotten the combination…

So the backstory.  Toby came home from school today summarizing this inequity.   Apparently one of the lunch ladies at school likes to bake, and has taken a liking to Toby and slips him a slice of cake (or whatever) occasionally.  Such that the other kids notice.  The inequity (for Toby) is that one of the teachers has decided that the way to deal with this is to work with Toby on refusing these gifts.  So, today the lunch lady started to pass him a slice, and this teacher glared at Toby, shook her head and frowned at him to say “no”.

Now, I get this issue is multi-layered.  There’s a level of “give the poor crippled kid a treat” (it happens with some frequency.  Some lady handed Terry a dollar at McDonald’s once, “for the boy”. Toby was rather taken with the idea that random strangers would give him money.  He was about 6 at the time).  There’s a level of unfairness to all of the kids at school.

But call me crazy – is this not just stupid?  IMO the teacher should talk to the lunch lady if she has an issue with this.  It is not fair to put Toby in the position of refusing something like this.

But moreover, I’m just shaking my head.  How on earth does someone respond to this?  I’ll email the teacher and ask for her side.  But there’s a limit of my control over misguided people.

I know, I have been a seldom blogger lately.  My sabbatical is winding down, June is shaping up to be quite busy.  Things are going well.  Adolescence is calming down   Knitting is happening (always a good sign, though I’m trying to finish this baby sweater and the i-cord bind off is just endless).  Skating has gone great this spring, though that’s worth of another post (complete with video).