Upside Down Cats

Usually by midweek I begin looking forward to the weekend, when - hopefully - I will be able to carve out a generous chunk of time to recuperate from the breakneck pace of my Monday through Friday gig as a daycare provider.

Just the notion of lounging in bed or drinking a leisurely cup of coffee or spending the better part of the day in my pajamas is enough to fuel me through the end of the work-a-day week.

I learned something this past weekend, though, that convinced me that a busy Saturday can have its merits. Continue reading "Zoned Out" »

You get a bonus in this installment of Too Cute!...a too-fer, if you will.

Overheard today during the daycare children's rendition of Ring Around the Rosey: "Asses, asses, we all fall down!"

And today's second preschoolism: "I am a moymaid!" (Perhaps there are parts of the country where this is not as much of a departure from the familiar-to-my-ears Midwestern pronunciation of Mermaid...)

Hope these help you laugh your way into a pleasant weekend, compliments of my unintententionally entertaining little friends!

The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)



As a daycare provider I eagerly take on the responsibility of teaching children the basics of how to be nice people. Now that the youngest of our little daycare family is two years old, we are focusing more on behavior - and less on diapers (and I am not complaining about that!).

I am currently trying to teach my group of daycare children to choose to do the right thing...cooperation, altruism, the golden rule and all that rot...

Continue reading "Gina's Quotes Du Jour (Wordsworth & McCartney)" »

Last week flew by...it's hard for me to believe it's already time to post this week's meals I've planned in advance. Here's a sampling of what's on the menu at Chez Gina...

Beef-Barley-Lentil Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread

Meal-Sized Salad w/ Crabmeat, Cheese & Bacon & French Bread w/ Garlic-Herb Butter

Parmesan-Crusted Cod, Rice Pilaf w/ Almonds & Oven-Roasted Asparagus w/ Garlic & Olive Oil

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Mixed Greens Salad

Barbeque Spareribs, Macaroni & Cheese & Creamy Coleslaw

Seafood Benedict w/ English Muffins, Hash Brown Potatoes & Pineapple-Orange Salad

Pasta Two Ways: Fettucini w/ Chicken Alfredo Sauce & Campanelle w/ Tomato Basil Meat Sauce, Homemade Garlic Herb Breadsticks, Mixed Greens Salad & Strawberry Shortcake



Hey...that sounds like a pretty tasty week! No matter what the week brings, at least I have dinner to look forward to!

Sunny Spot...

Here comes the sun...finally!!!

Here's Abbey and Cooper worshiping the Sun King!

And while we're on the subject, (what subject was that, exactly?) let us take a moment to enjoy a very cool musical interlude...

Continue reading "Happiness Is A Warm..." »

There have been some happy family happenings which have prevented me from making a menu the last couple weeks. Now that things are returning to normal, I am back to planning my menus in advance. Here's a sneak peek of what I'll be cooking this upcoming week...



Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Sandwiches & Hash Brown Potatoes

Steak, Cheese & Rice Burritos & Mixed Greens Salad

Fried Eggs Served over Sausage & Cheese Grits & Multigrain Toast

Bow Tie Pasta w/ Chicken & Asparagus in Lemon Garlic Sauce w/ Toasted Walnuts

Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts Sauted in Olive Oil & Garlic

Hot Beef Sandwiches w/ Cheddar Horseradish Sauce, French Fries & Raw Vegetable Platter

Coquilles St. Jacques, French Bread & Mixed Greens Salad

Beef Barley Soup & Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread

Chicken Parmesan, Pasta Tossed w/ Garlic & Olive Oil & Mixed Greens Salad



I feel absolutely large and in charge now that I've got my meals planned out again!

Submitted for your approval: Gina's Quote Du Jour 4/10/08

The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any. - Fred Astaire

I had no idea the talented Mr Astaire was so astute...

My Sweetie Scott found this quote quoted on Execupundit recently and he knew I would want to comment on it.

Scott knows how I feel about manners - or the lack of them. It's a common topic of conversation when I return home from battling the crowds at the grocery store or debrief after a day spent with the children in my daycare.

I usually come home from my weekly excursion to the supermarket completely frustrated with the state of humanity. What a collection of selfish, clueless idiots I encounter! That's all it takes...two hours among the general public to convince me that the human race is headed down the tubes...

Continue reading "Lost (Manners) In The Supermarket" »

Ah, the life of a cat in a home daycare...



















K and Abbey























M and Cooper



There's always lots of love going both ways. Hopefully the children gain and learn as much from the cats as the cats gain and learn from their little friends.