Lemon something a'coming

Whatever I have is gross, just gross. It's like I'm pregnant again (am definitely not)! Barf. When I was pregnant with Oliver, I had really disgusting morning sickness for months. Each day I scanned the infinitesimal heavens of my brain for something, anything, that sounded remotely appealing. The upside was that I usually could find something tolerable; the bummer was that after eating it throughout that day, it was as if I'd overdosed and thereafter could never look at that item again. One day I HAD TO HAVE Waldorf salad which I consumed like a Cone Head. The next morning, even the thought of any element of the Waldorf made me want to wretch. You can imagine that we had quite a few random leftovers around. Lemon was the most consistently good-sounding taste, however, and that is also true today. When Oliver's Mighty Machines show finishes up, I think we'll have to jump in the kitch together, aprons donned, and make a lemon cake. He is a doll of a helper, so it'll be a nice, manageable activity.

What are y'all cooking? Doing?

Thoughts

1. Go Chen Guangcheng! 2. Why do I or one/both of the kids get sick every -literally- time Tom goes out of town? I step over slugs for the love of god; come on karma.

3. I am definitely the most impatient sick person I know. Perhaps this is because there's no reprieve from life when I am so it really effs with things. I mean, it's extremely likely that one or both of the kids will wake me up at the crack tomorrow and not care a hill of beans that I could hurl at any second and really just want to lay flat in a dark room.

4. Why did Lindsay Lohan get invited to the White House correspondents dinner? Was it a joke? I don't get it.

5. Why I am incapable of throwing out unread publications regardless of age? In this way, I AM my mother.

Bird friends, perfect spring fare

Just outside our bedroom window, a bird family has set up camp in a gutter. For the most part, I'm thrilled by this as I love watching them fly to and fro. However, they talk as much as do Jack and Oliver; I mean seriously, the amount of chatter is unreal and at all times of the day and night. Oliver woke up at some horrible in-the-5s time this morning, and I finally put him in bed with me. At one point, he asked, "what is that noise?" The birds. Sheesh.

In a state of queasy dizziness, I got both boys to school this morning with bookbags properly packed and teeth brushed. Since then I have been flat as an unleavened pancake in bed, falling in and out of sleep. This is really a bummer. And I suspect it means I won't be back in the kitchen today as I'd hoped. Instead, I'm daydreaming about meals to be enjoyed later this week when it's supposed to be definitely warm and definitely sunny (unlike today's 20-degree swinging between clouds and chill and "partly-sunny" nonsense): Spring, for the love.

Shaved asparagus and zucchini salads sound fresh, crisp and marvelous. I love springy veggies that exude tiny pops of crunch and water when you bite into them and sever their cellular structures. The same goes for spring peas, tiny turnips and bright little radishes. All of these items pair well and look lovely alongside salmon, whether you poach, roast or grill it. And don't forget the abundance of fresh herbs this time of year- wow! Mint, basil, chives, dill, thyme, sage, rosemary, tarragon, parsley, cilantro. Blend them with abandon and you won't be sorry.

Lemon always screams spring to me too even though it's an ingredient I incorporate year round. A lovely lemon pound cake with a simple lemon glaze is a perfect dessert and often one that tastes better the next day. Anyone planning to celebrate a mom this Sunday, keep lemon cake in mind for a great brunch/lunch finale. Kids of all degree of pickiness will gobble it up too. And fresh lemonade is easy and versatile: add some ginger, or basil, or mint. Add some seltzer for a spritzer or some liquor for a kick.

I've got recipes posted for all of these foods, so get cooking, and have fun!