Boiling Hot

Falling into the Void

Fall - I love so much about it - especially the cold, sunny days… a cup of steaming coffee or cider… the cheerfulness of orange and yellow in the trees.  Gradually though, almost imperceptibly, the sky goes gray. Dampness invades your bones, colds your household and your spirit starts to sigh.

Since we are experiencing our first fall in Paris and our kids have to be commuted to school (think bus, metro, rain, wind and a fussy 3 year old who will only wear THIS or can’t bear to touch THAT) we are going through, how shall I say, a bit of a wake-up call.  Daily life with small children is, for the most part, a lot of drudgery.  Laundry, snotty noses, wet naked bodies running away while you try to wrestle them into pajamas, the repetition of instructions and clean up.  It’s a thankless job.  Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark starts to take its toll on your mood and the lightness you felt in July seems like a distant memory.

To balance the fatiguing effect of the work/school week, we are making a point of taking the time to enjoy simpler things.  This weekend we rented a car to get out of the city for a spell and go back to Gally Farm.  This is a great day trip from Paris. I had been once before with the kids and we all loved it.  Simply walking around the grounds (where you can pick virtually anything: beans, peppers, fruit, berries, rhubarb, potatoes, gourds, and more) was rejuvenating.

For anyone interested, here is my grandmother’s rhubarb pie recipe which has stood the test of hundreds of holidays, dinner parties and breakfasts at the cabin.  It is very simple and extremely good.

Dottie’s Rhubarb Pie

2c diced rhubarb

1c sugar

2tbsp flour

1c whipping cream

Mix all but the cream together.  Pour into unbaked pie shell. Pour whipping cream over rhubarb mixture.  Cover with the top crust.  Bake at 400 until browned and bubbling.

© 2009 Work Life Balance.