Time flies!

Jonas, who apparently now grasps the phrase "Time flies" enough to make it his own, piped up from the back seat of the car this evening with the following announcements, produced in one long burst:

"Time flies when you're mad!

"Time flies when you're watching movies in the car!

"Time flies when you're going to sleep with mommy and daddy and Baby Silas!

"Time flies when you're drinking milk!"

There you have it folks. Things to try next time you need some time acceleration.

Kraut!

I managed my first foray into sauerkraut today, after attending an inspiring discussion by Wild Fermentation author Sandor Katz during the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello in September.

And, as with so many made-from-scratch things to which I take a shine, I quickly realized Egidijus already knew all about how to make sauerkraut.

So with confidence from Mr Katz, who was quite convincing in his seriously- this-is-easy, no-really-you-can't- screw-this-up message, and some recipe guidance (and elbow grease) from E, I made me some kraut.

To do this, I chopped up about half a cabbage head (3 or 4 cups max), then crumpled it manually for a few minutes until the cabbage got a bit wilty.

I added a scant teaspoon of kosher salt and then used a potato masher to finish pulverizing it, mashing until I had a fair bit of liquid leached out of the cabbage.

I grated and added two small carrots (ours - yay!), plus a scant teaspoon of sugar and about a half teaspoon of caraway seeds.

A bit more mashing, until I had enough liquid to cover the mixture if I pressed down on it. Transferred this to a jar, tamped it down so the liquid covered the solids, put on a lid and left it on the stove top so it would be exposed to a little warmth in the coming days.

The result:

Brothers

In the past three months or so, I have watched a transformation beginning to take place: Jonas and Silas are changing from siblings to brothers. Sharing activities, making up games, learning from each other.

This kitchen table has been as witness to this change as anything in this house. Not bad for a $50 special from Ikea.

Home.

I love staying home on Mondays and the boys seem to agree. Silas is enjoying a long nap on his big brother's bed and Jonas is basking in the late-autumn sun on the kitchen table, piecing together his current favorite puzzle.

Learning at home. Resting at home. Being together at home. Pretty much what this family thing is all about.