7 Quick Takes Friday, #54

1. I had a gift certificate for Amazon that needed to be used up before it could burn a hole in my computer, so last week I placed an order. My new books arrived this week (oh, happy day!). I got In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan and began reading it immediately. It's really caught and held my attention, but also caused me to cry strangled sobs of longing for my beloved donuts: there's nothing natural or whole about donuts.

I feel bereft. Or at least the expectation of feeling bereft in the near future. It's only been a few days since I had a donut, so the next few weeks will reveal if I can keep Pollan's message in my head during the inevitable donut-withdrawals.

But I already feel strangely healthier, just from reading the book. It's unsettling.

2. The second book I bought was Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It too, has caught and held my attention. Human women are fascinating creatures.

3. One night this week, Lauren and Justin were snuggled up on our bed reading stories before bedtime. At some point, she became bored with whatever story he was telling and started searching for something better. She picked up Taking Charge of Your Fertility -- a huge book in such a little girl's hands -- and started reading it from the beginning, jabbering animatedly at each new page.

She made a game of it with Justin: she'd turn a page, babble off some mumbo-jumbo, look at her daddy, and laugh uproariously like she'd just finished reading the best joke ever. Over and over, jibber-jabber, laughter, page turn, jibber-jabber, laughter, page turn. I pulled out the video camera to capture the cuteness, and -- whaddaya know -- she stopped. Just when she'd found a picture of the female external reproductive organs.

Lauren was highly interested in discussing it, but the problem was with her audience. When confronted with a highly graphic drawing of girly bits, her mature father just couldn't take it. Justin had to bury his face and hold his breath to conceal his laughter. (Junior high, here we come.) To make matters worse, she kept asking him what it was and he couldn't remove his hand from his face long enough to answer.

And I have this whole exchange on video. I'd show it to you, if I knew how to upload it and display it here. It's probably for the best, though. It doesn't bode well for my husband's future in discussing any feminine issues with his daughters.

Human men are hilarious creatures.

4. Mia's preschool class made a cute little craft that some of you might like. It's adorable and so simple:

It's a regular ziploc baggie, filled with tissue paper scraps and ribbons, tied around the middle with a pipe cleaner, and shaped into a butterfly. So easy and fun! You could have your little one cut or tear pieces of colorful paper, fill the baggie with pom-poms, confetti, fabric scraps...really endless options. A perfect spring craft!

5. On his way home from work one night this week, Justin called and asked what was for dinner. The food I'd made didn't cause him to erupt into joy or abundant excitement, so I (in some kind of moody, hormonal place) got my feelings hurt. I sulked about not being able to please anyone all the time and if I had to worry about the kids refusing the food, I shouldn't have to worry about him too. He was understandably confused; his reaction had been nothing short of normal. I was having an off day, though, so I pounced. We hung up and I began feeling dumb about it, but not dumb enough to call and apologize. Luckily, he called back a few minutes later and it was like nothing had happened -- like he knew I was being unreasonable, but didn't need to call me on it.

I was properly chagrined and embarrassed over my behavior by the time he got home, all set to make it up to him somehow. But instead, he had a surprise for me. He brought me a slice of cookie from the Cookie Company -- with my favorite frosting on top -- after I was terribly gripey and ill-mannered towards him. He's a good man.

(Wait. Do processed cookies fall in the same category of un-naturalness as donuts? Oh well. It wouldn't have been right of me to turn down a gift meant to assuage my hormonal frustration.)

6. The weather here is becoming so springlike that I'm starting to get excited about my garden. I bought lettuce and broccoli to hopefully get planted this weekend. Last year, I waited too long past the prime planting time and my broccoli didn't do very well, so I want to get it done a little earlier this year. Plus, I want to begin planting as soon as allowed so hopefully my gardening days will be complete by the hottest days of August. I start to get cranky about why I started a stupid garden in the first place around that time, and am ready to sow it all under by then.

But for now, I'm looking forward to it!

7. I keep meaning to thank you all for your lunchtime suggestions! They've been wonderful and helpful and plentiful, and I keep looking over them for continued inspiration. (If you haven't seen the ideas, you should check them out -- they've really helped me escape our lunchtime rut.)

Thanks for stopping by today, and be sure to check out Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes! Have a wonderful weekend!