7 Quick Takes #14

--- 1 ---

The best news first - we found out yesterday that Husby's treatment is not going to be the one they've been seemingly trying to foist upon us for the last couple of months. No longer do we need to worry about his fertility being reduced to nothing; as well as treating his condition, this medication should actually improve matters! Huzzah. We're still celebrating.

--- 2 ---

It snowed today, epically. I presume the conditions across the country are particularly awful, because to have a solid 3" fall in one morning in a port city is almost unheard of. I looked after my Neff today from when I got up at lunchtime until his tea time. We built a snowman, threw snowballs, went on a trek to discover that all the shops had sold out of sledges, and shovelled snow. I made him skis out of two cut-up milk cartons (and pushed him down the road in them). I also took a few photos and discovered that I might possibly be the best Aunty in the universe, because when there were no sledges to buy, I made one and he rode it all the way home, hooting and screaming about how this was the BEST SNOW DAY EVER!

--- 3 ---

So, building a sledge was one new experience today; walking barefoot in the snow was another. A little bit bonkers, I know, but not something I've ever done before and just thought I would, so I've tried it.

--- 4 ---

Despite feeling like even more of a fraud, having set up some baby loss counselling on Monday to span the next few months, I think I'll still go. I did still lose a baby, and Husby's treatment's only promised for the next six months, so we might still be dumped back into *that* place. I'd like to have my head sorted by then, if possible.

--- 5 ---

If you haven't seen it yet, this video will make your day. It's a gorgeous, wonderful, well-put together short film about probably the most amazing family I have ever heard of (except yours). It's gorgeous and a shining standard for what an adoptive family can look like. It makes me laugh; it makes my heart ache; it brings me joy; it gives me hope.

Do click the links rather than the image - I can't figure out how to link an image yet.

--- 6 ---

I'm reading a wonderful biography at the moment, of Maria Merian, a German explorer, painter and all round fantabulous lady. She lived from 1647 - 1717 and after a life spent artistically exploring the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly, she travelled with her youngest daughter to South America in what is reckoned to be the world's first purely scientific research voyage. She was an amazing character and the book is incredibly well written, considering there's so little concrete detail about the lady herself, and much of it is extrapolation from other documents detailing the time.

The book's called 'Chrysalis' and intriguingly enough, despite being bought second-hand in England, has '$7.98' in pencil, hidden in the spine of the dust-cover. If only books could talk.

--- 7 ---

In honour of my self-awarded 'Best Aunty' status, let me share the 'New favourite food' recipe I made for Neff and myself at lunchtime; pizza toasted sandwiches.

Ingredients

Pre-toasted toast

Tomato puree

Mixed herbs

Onion or salami or any other topping you desire

Cheese

Spread one half of the toast with tomato puree. Sprinkle herbs on top. Add a layer of sliced onion or salami or anything else you choose. Put cheese over the top of that. Top with the other slice of toast. Bung in the microwave for 1 minute until the cheese has gone oozy and slid out onto the plate. Cut and eat while hot. Try not to go back for more than just one more.

For more Quick Takes and a dose of good news, visit Conversion Diary!