This morning my son got a tune in his head. He was watching the Little Einsteins, and a few lines were played that stuck with him.

 

Unfortunately, it was not part of the main piece featured in the show, so it was not mentioned on Wiki. IMDB doesn't list the music.

 

Carl was trying to sing it for Rich and me, but it was hard to figure out the true tune from his da da da da dee dee dee's. I did finally get a hint of the true tune, and "la-ed" it back to him. He said that was it. I had heard the music before, but couldn't remember it. My high school music history and literature teacher would be so disappointed, sorry Mr Wrye. I do really remember a lot from that class. We would listen to music and read about composers and styles of music. The book part was easy but I had a hard time remembering the titles and composers of the works by hearing the music. We also had to write about instruments playing and other information about the music. That was tough. I also remember every day in class Steve Buuck would let us know when it was 11:11 and 11 seconds on his digital watch. Funny things you remember.

 

Anyway back to the music in Carl's head. He gets out his violin and tries to play this tune. It was too complex for his skills right now - but the kids gets an A for effort. I did remember that the music was on a Baby Einstein DVD, but which one? 

 

So we started watching DVDs. I knew it wasn't on Baby Bach, Baby Mozart or the Language Nursery - he didn't watch those very much. Baby Bach and Mozart had characters in them that scared him as a baby, at five he still doesn't want to watch the videos. So I started with Baby Beethoven. no luck. I found it on the next one, Baby Galileo. We hadn't lost the DVD insert that listed the music, so I was able to identify the piece: Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusic K. 525 Rondo (4th movement).

 

I was familiar with the first movement, as is Carl. Here is a link to Carl playing the first movement:

granted it isn't on the violin, but the kazoo is a start.

 

So we have now watched Baby Galileo three times and I think I am going to hide the DVD for a while. They are proving a useful tool in teaching Carl music. 

 

I am researching recipes for tomato chutney.

 

It started this morning. Rich said, "We should do something about all these tomatoes." This in Richese means "When are you going to deal with these tomatoes." However I can usually translate this to a We project. He used the word.

 

Anyway there is plenty of  tomato sauce in the freezer. The tomatoes arenn't the right size to dry. I did can some salsa, but you have to cook it which I don't like.

 

I stopped at Trader Joes this morning to get a few items. Really, just a few. Vinegar, two cheeses and salad dressing was all. A friend works there, she started showing me some of the new items that she is crazy about. SO $75 later, I am walking out the door with the new cooler bag full of stuff including their new Tomato Chutney.

 

So tonight we will try this chutney on our pork chops. We will then see if it is an option for our tomatoes. SO I am looking up recipes.

 

I found this recipe for tomato chutney online:

 

 

I also found a recipe in a cookbook called, "Mrs Balbir Singh's Indian Cookery." I found the book (used of course) at Powells. The inscription says "Barbara Miller, New Dehli, 1970." I am having a little trouble figuring out some of the ingredients.

 

I also found a recipe in "The Good Cook's Book of Tomatoes," by Michele Anna Jordan.

 

We will see what happens.

 

Grapes have also started ripening. A neighbor gave me her grapes - concords and some table grapes. I made jelly with Carl and the neighbor girl Abby. I was more tired and had a bigger mess to clean up after that one batch than on the days I make 3 or 4 batches of jelly by myself.

Carl has been in kindergarten for about a month now. The volunteer program is getting started and yes I am a helping mom.

 

Carl rides the bus. I use the time we wait for the bus to review and practice skills. Every day we go over the day of the week and date. We then work on a shape he is having trouble with. Right now we are focusing on the pentagon. We talk about how a pentagon is shaped like a small house or a shed. He also sings a little song:

 

A pentagon has 5

Our tomatoes have finally come in!

 

I found a recipe - or at least a how to blog - for canning dried tomatoes in oil. In this recipe it is called Tomato Confit.

 

 

It has some answers to questions I had - mainly pressure cooker or hot water process and how long.

 

Here is another site with other thoughts.