Summer's almost here...

Just came across this article on urban gardens in London. Lovely. And also: 'Cake Day"? Hello, sign us up. 

Playing with their food

Wow: this is a great article by Raymond Sokolov, author of the excellent With the Grain (which they do have on the shelf at the town library, in the John Sleeth Centre). Smart, common-sense words about kids and what they will or won't try, in their plate. We see a whole range of this at school:: from the kids who come back for seconds of cheesy polenta (! It's true!) to the ones who pout because the elements of their plate are - gasp! - touching each other.

Oh, my goodness. Tomorrow, Zoé and her kindergarten friends are off for the day: the 'new' batch of kids will be visiting the school, taking a ride on the bus (hooray!) and the teachers will be giving their speeches to the parents. Lorie has baked some toothsome blueberry-orange muffins and they will be able to sample our baking!

This means that an entire year has flashed by, since we held 'maternelle orientation day' for Zoé, Nima, Maxwell, we met Marie and Amyela, a WHOLE YEAR (now seriously, pipe down Kelli. Honestly...).

I can actually remember Benjamin's visit of the maternelle, when he came back saying that the bus ride was too short (!)

This also means that we'll be gearing down for end-of the -year trips, Elliot's graduation in the gym, and planning for this summer...

Nous aurons des assiettes de fruits et des muffins délicieux demain pour conquérir les parents des nouveaux élèves de la maternelle, le nouveau gang de 2012! Ça veut dire que j'aurai 1 enfant de moins à l'école, certains en auront 1 de plus... and so it goes...

Things have been so busy, I seem to have fallen into quite a rut. Bleah! Reading this post, I am getting all charged up about my projects:: and I do so need to start running regularly again. Heh, I am registered in 2 events in the next 2 months!

March Break thaw

Recipe for Ribollita from the beautifully delicious site 101 Cookbooks.

This is the kind of website that drives me crazy! Makes me want to get cooking. Which is a good thing , since this March Break has been a week of eating at roadside groceries (and not the charming market-food that one eats when on vacation; we're talking cold ham-croissandwiches at the IGA in Rigaud, in their clear plastic shells. Shudder.) and fried arena food. The high point (I think the whole family agrees) has been the breakfast buffet at the hotel in Gatineau. I think I caught Benjamin sneaking slices of bacon into his pockets for later...

Honestly, though, this week is a welcome break in the menu planning-grocery shopping-making lunches for 100+ kids. The end of the school year is in sight!

A bit of sunshine in mid-winter in Quebec

Cette semaine, en Amérique du nord, nous avons une curieuse tradition: le jour de la marmotte. (En plus d'être aussi le sujet d'un très bon petite comédie américaine, la tradition a une surprenante historique.)

Mais non, je ne vais pas publier une recette pour le ragoût à la marmotte! Ça serait d'un goût épouvantable! ;-)

Et depuis que je fréquente des blogs de tricot, j'ai adopté "International Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. " Quand je suis en voyage, c'est l'uns de mes choses préferées:: tester et comparer les comptoirs de glaces. À Rome, dans le Maine, le Massachussetts, à Toulouse... en se baladant et en découvrant de nouvelles choses, des librairies et des marchés publiques... *sigh*

Oyez! Hear ye!

We have officially passed the half-way mark of the 2011-2012 school year!

For parents of students who currently have a pass at the cafeteria: It's time for the 2nd payment of $360. (It is ALWAYS possible to give us post-dated cheques; the cost for 1 student to have our wholesome meals every day comes out to $72 per month. Give us a call and we will work out a system.)

For parents whose kids would really, really like to have a pass for hot lunches for the rest of the year (February through to June): It's never too late to start! Give us a call...

Pour les parents d'élèves qui ont eu une passe de Sept - Janvier: C'est le temps de renouveler! Pour les 5 mois qui restent, une passe pour le repas chaud chaque jour (incluant soupe, boisson et dessert maison ou fruit) coûte 360$ en tout:: ou 72$ par mois, en cheques post-datées.

Et pour les enfants qui réclament une passe de repas chaud pour le reste de l'année (février à juin): il n'est pas trop tard! Appellez-nous...