mimi’s Black Magic Chili

Tonight is the church’s Halloween Hoedown and the return of the church-wide Chili Cookoff. If there’s one thing that’s pretty certain in church-related cooking contests, it’s that the Bero/Gaston women will do very well. Mama, aka Miss Carolyn, is famous for her homemade soups and ridiculously good pecan shortbread, while middle sis, Cigi, makes a chocolate thing so good...
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Cirque du Maman

It’s quiet in my house this Saturday morning, but I know that won’t last. Frick is at a friend’s, Frack has a friend over, Mr. Man has completed his crack o’dawn coffee meeting and is now about to go bike riding with a friend, and mimi has squirrels.Every mother on the planet knows about the squirrels–the ones who camp out in your brain, jumping about and chatteringchatteringchattering...
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Into the Wild

I’m playing hooky today and tomorrow for one of my own personal children…Frack and the fifth grade class are having their class campout. This means mimi is in for a decidedly unglamorous overnight trip. No makeup, layers, and Lord knows what else. Of course, it’s raining–Murphy’s Law lurches into effect whenever a momentous occasion such as this one presents itself....
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