Plaid and Cucumbers and Zuchini Pickles- Oh My!

Don't bother trying to figure out what these have in common. The answer is nothing, they're just three threads of thought I want to get in here before the day is over.

Plaid
Today, when we were playing at the park in the shade to avoid the 98 degree weather, you informed me you were wearing plaid. Somewhat out of context, I wasn't sure at first what exactly you were saying, but when you followed your statement with an explanation "the lines go this way (drawing vertical lines in the air with your no longer baby-ish fingers) and this way (now drawing horizontal lines in the air again with those little boy hands), and that makes it plaid" I realized I had in fact heard right. This morning, I chose to dress you in a light cotton button down shirt instead of the usual t-shirt cuz it's been so stinkin hot. I thought the thin cotton might keep you just the tiniest bit cooler. And yes, the shirt had a plaid pattern. Just yesterday you informed me your teacher's dress was "floral". Impressive adjectives for a not yet three year old. I look forward to next weeks new words.

Cucumbers
You are a cucumber fiend, and thanks to summer's bounty and Yaya's garden, you are free to happily munch on them for at least one meal daily. You can down a half in a sitting, and I'm not talking about no six inchers here. Armenian long, Japanese or english cucs, sixteen to eighteen inches is the norm. Yup that's right, eight to nine inches of sliced and quartered sweet, crisp cucumber goodness at a sitting. Between Yaya, our CSA, my garden, and our home veggie box delivery, the rest of the family gets their share too.
I'm not looking forward to the coming months when cuc production slows down and disappears. I can't bear to buy the ones in the store. Shipped in from Mexico or other faraway lands, they are rarely anything but whithered and waxy, and usually somewhat bitter.
Last winter there was one lone cucumber vendor at our local farmers market. The farmer used greenhouses to grow them organically, but their three to four dollars a pound price tag clearly demonstrates they're a seasonal treat. Even limiting myself to buying one or two per week last winter seemed like a somewhat ludicrous splurge. Hopefully your thirst for cucumbers will weather the winter and leave you waiting anxiously for next summers bounty to ripen. That might sound silly, but my childhood summers were punctuated by Yaya's garden fresh early girl tomatoes and burpless cucs tossed with salt and vinegar. Mmmm mmm good.
Never overestimate the power of simply fresh, simple good food.


Zuchini Pickles
Last summer I learned how to make very simple fridge pickles, but since you tend to eat up most of the cucs we have, I've ventured out into pickling some of summer's other pleantiful gifts. My latest experiment was zuchini. I'm always looking for ways to boost consumption of this pleantiful summer veggie. A few nights ago while I was munching through my most recent batch, you implored me for a taste. I somewhat hesitantly obliged, providing a warning regarding the taste. As you often do with foods I don't expect you to like, you asked for more. How could I say no...they're zuchinis!
Just yesterday you helped me pack up some bulk feta at the store, and informed me you wanted to have the feta for dinner. I tossed it with diced tomatoes from the garden, gypsy peppers, cucs and Kalamata olives, and you ate it right up.

You are a veggie-loving Mommy's dream.

Love,
Mom