One of my greatest wishes as a mother was that no matter what, my children and myself (and husband) would always be able to talk to one another, as well as listen. Sometimes it's a catch twenty-two as you never know what you're going to hear or what someone will say, but as a parent I'd rather have the lines of communication open than not.
I find myself very fortunate that my daughter and I have a very open dialogue. We talk everyday about whatever is on her mind, and before bed each night, we both recount what our favorite parts of the day were. When something is bothering her, sometimes I have to gently press, since she thinks that what she may be feeling/thinking may offend, but this doesn't happen often.
It's amazing, the way an eight year old views things. It's also a little startling that they know the things they do, understand the seriousness of certain situations. But what is truly enjoyable, is the humor and levity that seems to be injected into daily life. Children thrive on it and seem to find it everywhere.
Considering this levity, I decided to ask my eldest a few questions about myself, her daddy, herself, and her brother. Really light ones.
Do you want to see what she thinks about certain things? The answers may surprise you, but they'll definitely amuse you as well.
So without further ado, may I present the musings of an eight-year old.
1. What is something mom always says to you?
“Take your time on your test and I love you.”
And Dad?
“Good luck and I love you.”
2. What makes mom happy?
“Hugging and being silly.”
What about Dad?
“Being done with his work.”
You?
"When I get good grades on my report card. When my parents say funny things."
3. What makes mom sad?
“Headaches.”
And Dad?
“When he has a lot of work to do.”
4. When does your mom laugh?
“When I tell jokes.”
And Dad?
“When I tell jokes to him, too.”
You?
"When Jackson does silly things."
5. What was your mom like as a child?
“Huh? What were you like as a child? You were LOUD!”
And Dad?
“He was a boy. Are you going to write that?”
6. How old is your mom?
“Thirty-one?”
Dad?
“Thirty-two.”
You?
"Eight. Almost nine."
7. How tall is your mom?
“About five feet.”
What about Dad?
“Five foot seven.”
8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do?
“Play with Jackson and snuggle us.”
And Dad?
“To play with Jackson and make breakfast for us.”
And you?
"Play Poptropica on the computer."
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
“Feed Jackson.”
And Dad?
“He works. Isn‘t that the most obvious answer?”
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
“Having the cutest babies!”
And Dad?
“Work.”
You?
"For being the best, best math person in my class. I'd be the best at multiplication."
11. What is your mom really good at?
“Typing on the computer really fast. Ummm…and you‘re good at washing dishes. Oh! And laundry. And you listen to me all the time.”
And Dad?
“Cooking. He‘s really good at cooking!”
What about you?
"Math, science. I'm really good at being a daughter and sister, too."
12. What is your mom not very good at?
“Shooting baskets.”
And Dad?
“Drawing.”
13. What does your mom do for her job?
“Taking care of us. You have a real job, Mom. You’re on PTO committee.”
And Dad?
“He works in his office as an accountant. And I want to be one when I grow up. Daddy’s going to be my partner.”
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
“Pasta.”
And Dad?
“MEAT.”
And you?
"Macaroni and cheese."
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
“She gave birth to my favorite baby brother.”
And Dad?
“He lets me in his office, and he won his tests!”
And Jackson?
“He’s funny.”
And you?
"I'm very clever."
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
“Elasta-girl from “The Incredibles“. She’s stretchy!”
And Daddy?
“Mr. Incredible.”
And Jackson?
“Jack-Jack.”
What about you?
"Hmmm. I have to think about this one. You know the cartoon "Tom & Jerry"? I'd be Tom, the cat. He's really speedy."
17. What do you and your mom do together?
“We go shopping, to soccer games, and talk, and work on my homework and projects.”
And Dad?
“We go to basketball games.”
18. How are you and your mom the same?
“We have brown hair and are very careful with Jackson. We love to read!”
And Dad?
“We love sports.”
19. How are you and your mom different?
“She’s older and has blue eyes and wears earrings.”
And Daddy?
“He has black hair, freckles, and taller than me, of course.”
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
“When I do something wrong, she always tells me that she loves me no matter what. I just feel it in my heart.”
And Daddy?
“I can just tell. It’s in my heart, too.”
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
“That he’s her husband.”
And Daddy?
“Mom is very organized.”
What do you like most about your mom and dad?
"They give me permission to eat ice cream."
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
“Target.”
Dad?
“Lenscrafters.”
And you dearest?
"DISNEY WORLD!"
Pudding is awesome.
You know how people say there's always room for jello? Well, exclude me from the jiggly-wiggly jello lovers group. It reminds me far too much of hospitals. But creamy, smooth jello pudding? Oh, yes, please! Our family will always have room for this yummy treat.
It's a surefire hit with children (check), super quick when you're in need of some sort of dessert(check), and the best part (at least for me at the moment), is that it comes in sugar-free varieties. Check, check, check!
See? I'm still keeping my Lenten promise.
Last week our local market had them on special so I picked up a handful, knowing they'd come in handy now that the weather's warmed up. Warm pudding is fabulous-especially if you take a look at one that a certain Barefoot Contessa whipped up.
But I've been craving some cold desserts, and since my daughter loves them, too, I was in luck when I hit the market that day. Top of my list? The basics: chocolate, vanilla, and banana. But when I saw the butterscotch, it was also dropped in the basket. And when my daughter and her daddy were dancing the night away, and my little one was fast asleep at seven, out came the chilled milk and jello box.
And now, friends, the recipe...
It's on the box.
Butterscotch Pudding
-one box of butterscotch jello pudding mix
-2 cups cold fat-free or 2% milk
-homemade whipped cream (optional)
Directions
Pour pudding mix into bowl, add cold milk, and whisk/beat for two minutes. Mixture will thicken. Place in refrigerator for any amount of time past five minutes for full pudding firmness. Serve and enjoy!
If I were able to, I would have made my home made whipped cream to add an extra, more subtle flavor (plus the mixture of the creamy textures is just unbelievable). But I also thought a little more about it and thought how folding the whipped cream into the pudding would create a fantastic mousse!
I'll definitely be making this again after Easter-making it a mousse instead. And taking it one step further? As a fall and winter treat, add either gingersnap cookies, or crumble them up and sprinkle them on top for a delicious seasonal touch.
Well, friends, I hope you all enjoyed this!
I know I did.
Here's a little hint...though it's more of an ongoing process than a springtime project (and no, my wee one is still too little to be out of his crib. There are no twin beds in the foreseeable future).
Look for a delicious recipe tomorrow, all. You'll be rushing out to make this sweetest of easy treats as soon as you see the accompanying picture!
Have a lovely evening.
Due to inclement weather two weekends ago, Charlotte's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade was canceled. This was such a disappointment since one, it's something our entire school participates in, and two, it is a serious amount of fun. And I'm not saying that because of the free donuts and coffee.
I was in charge of the parade two years ago when I was Cultural chair. But as I'm now a Vice President on the Board, I do more assisting and delegating; a conduit between the parents and the Board as opposed to having one duty. It's a nice balance for me right now-especially with our wee one.
Needless to say, we were all thrilled when the man in charge of the parade rescheduled.
So what, you might ask, did we do this weekend?
As you can see from the very green mosaic above, we were able to enjoy a wonderful belated parade! Everyone had a great time and as you can see from certain pictures, the day went from beautiful and chilly, to beautiful and springtime warm. Jackets and hats found their way underneath our wee one's stroller, while our eldest marched in the front with her friends-independently of our family for the first time.
Do you see this look of fatigue she's wearing afterwards? The granite column somehow managed to hold her up after all of the crazy fun she had with her friends.
But can you blame her? Do you see the gorgeous day we'd been blessed with? Not a cloud in the sky.
Of course, I couldn't help but make this little collage of my favorite boys. They had a fantastic time together while I ran about helping my incredible chairwoman when she needed it. Aunt Ruth, do you recognize that sweater?
It will be a few weeks until we find out how our school did in the Parade contests, though if history is any indicator, we should be in good shape. Our families and friends were very enthusiastic, happy to bring the spirit of our school and St. Patrick's Day to the spectators.
Now how could we possibly top the day? With our school's second annual Father-Daughter Dance, of course! Don't they look great?
I couldn't help but be tickled by my daughter. For as much as she avoids all things deemed "girly", she loved the pink rose she was given as she and her Daddy left the dance. LOVED.
It was a fantastic weekend, and I hope yours were marvelous as well. Be sure to come back this week as I have more spring projects for you to see, a super fast and delicious dessert to share, and a questionnaire about myself and my husband as answered by our daughter. It's sure to be interesting!
Have a lovely spring day!
Welcome back lovely Spring! You've been gone far too long. Your sun, your warmth, your freshened air; everything about you shows full appreciation for the joy and beauty in life. You help us to feel renewed, bring light back into our hearts. The chill of winter still lingers around your edges, but you don't seem to shy away. Kind and temperate, you gently usher your friend to another place so your delicate fingers can paint our world in brighter, happier shades. The colors of life!
Our hearts and souls rejoyce at your arrival. Smiles come easier, laughter rings. Everyone feels more at ease. You've added a bounce to our steps, and we can now enjoy long strolls, inhaling the scent of flowers that has perfumed the warming air. Dogwoods and cherry blossoms are showering us with their petals; laying out a magnificent carpet for you to glide upon.
We've done our best to make way for you over the past week, celebrating your bountiful fruits, enjoying your weather, bringing what you gift us with outdoors, inside our home.
We look forward to spending much more time with you, never forgetting that while your visit is brief, you'll be back again next year. We'll welcome you with open arms as you shine your loving rays down upon us.
Welcome back, dear friend. We've missed you.
This letter to Spring has been brought to you by our sweet bebe. He enjoys talking, playing, crawling, walking, eating, and playing with his little duckie. Much like our new season, he (like his sister) is a constant reminder of the joy in life. He, too, will be spending quite a bit of time outdoors.
As promised, today I have a new spring treat to share with you all: the ever delicious blueberry muffin.
There are some fruits that seem to evoke thoughts of the warmer months: strawberries, peaches, lemons, watermelon, and pineapple. But blueberries make me think of hot Louisiana afternoons picking through blueberry bushes with my mother when I was a little girl. It was messy, and really uncomfortable at times due to the weather, but the sweetness of the berry always made up for it.
It's interesting to note that as I grew older, the taste of fresh blueberries lost their appeal. Who knows why. It took many years (as in until I was a parent) for me to be able to once again appreciate this tiny berry.
I'll be the first to admit that most of the time we make the quick-out-of-the-box muffin mix-quick meals and snacks are a must in our household. But every now and then I like to slow down and enjoy making a meal from scratch. I don't get to do this often, and frankly sometimes I just don't want to. But once you try this recipe, friends, you'll see why I carved out time to fix these yummy treats.
Blueberry Muffins
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup milk
1 cup blueberries-fresh or frozen
1 tablespoon lemon juice and some lemon zest (optional and to taste)
Combine all dry ingredients, in separate bowl combine all wet ingredients (including zest if you choose to include it). Fold wet into dry trying not to over mix. Fold in blueberries.
Bake in 350 oven 20-25 minutes until tops are firm to the touch.
This is a quick, simple recipe, friends. And if you want to kick it up a bit, you can always make a simple sugar glaze mixed with the lemon zest by following this recipe below:
Simple Sugar Glaze
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
Stir milk into sugar, add vanilla (and if you choose, lemon zest), then drizzle onto your muffins. It can be thickened with confectioner's sugar or thinned with milk or other flavored liquids, like the lemon juice.
Obviously we chose to forgo the drizzle to keep it a little healthier (and to keep me on the Lenten path), but this glaze can be used on anything-cakes, cookies, and muffins. It adds a little something extra, which if you have little ones, translates into supreme hyperness and excitement.
May you all enjoy them as much as we have! Is there a fruit that you associate with spring and summer?
Martha's "Good Things" are always just that-very good. But for budgetary reasons, it's sometimes difficult to follow her projects to a "t". This is where the real fun-and using your own creativity-comes in.
Imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, but who really wants a carbon copy of someone else's work? It lacks the person's personality and it takes the enjoyment out of making something your own (sorry for the Abdul-ism).
When my daughter and I were glancing over April's "Good Things" page, we saw the mantle decoration and knew we had enough of our own similar items to do something very much like it. We were very excited!
So take a peak...
Eledest especially was very happy with the results. For our mantle in the hearth room the decorations are to scale with the mouldings-something the mantle in the inspiration picture didn't have. It made our work a little more challenging, until we found an old mirror hiding under the bed in the guest bedroom. After that, everything fell into place.
It was alot of fun to pull together.
And speaking of fun...
We had a wonderful time at Mass yesterday. St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorite days for Mass at my daughter's school. The bagpiper (who was very cool in his sunglasses)played such beautiful music.
The organist accompanied him in "Highland Cathedral", which always brings we moms to tears. It's so beautiful. And with everyone decked out in their vibrant greens, it made the appearance of Spring seem that much closer.
And it's only two days away if you're not keeping track!
The little guy was so well behaved, and since he was still raring to go, after Mass we made a quick trip to Target. It was necessary as he's growing like a little weed. The sleepers are so cute-especially for spring and Easter.
The super-soft duckie feet just made the outfit! It was beyond adorable. But as he does at times, my baby became very sleepy while we were shopping, and decided to take a nap. Precious, but goodness does that not look comfortable.
He slept for a good while after that (thank goodness he's a good sleeper like his sister), so it gave me a chance to really look around for a few springtime treats. I picked up these yummy looking Easter Basket sweets by Little Debbie, which made eldest very happy.
The colors are very cheerful and who doesn't like snack cakes? Taking these strolls down the isles also helped me to come up with my next springtime project...
Blueberry Muffins.
Nothing quite says spring (and summer) like fresh, plump blueberries. I hope you'll all come back and take this delicious recipe with you as we leave winter behind.
Have a great day!
It's not exactly a project, but a sweet little taste of Spring.
My daughter will be enjoying these this morning. Never fear, her lunch is much, much healthier. It's fun, though, to let your children have a little suagry treat in the morning. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, so why not break the rules every now and then?
I know my child will appreciate it.
I'd put up the rest of my pictures from the mantle, but I'm with both children and out the door. Where are we off to? Well, friends, we're on the way to school for our St. Patrick's Day Mass. I used to be in charge of it and all that it entailed: gathering the bagpiper to play, arranging things with the organist and our Priests, readying the Irish dancers and the parade. But as a V.P. now, I'm fortunate to have a really talented lady in place so I can take the backseat (and really enjoy the beauty of the celebration).
A lovely day to you all lads and lasses. May the luck of the Irish rub off on you all (and if you're actually Irish, be sure to collect on that Kiss!)
Good evening, friends!
I was hoping to have pictures for our first family Springtime project, but if you can be a bit patient the pictures will be up tomorrow. I'm short of one item, though I know it's somewhere around here. I simply need to find it so the project can be completed.
To give you a teaser, however, may I offer the inspiration image from this April's Martha Stewart Living?
It was brilliant in its simplicity and elegance. Not to mention it's easily something my eldest and I could do together. And we did! Of course, we put our own spin on it, using lavender, blue, and green as the palate instead of yellow (which was very pretty).
Once it's finished tonight, I'll be sure to put up our take on Martha's mantle arrangement. But until then, another little teaser or two.
And as a little side note, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, I have one of my faovrite Irish bands, The Corrs, on rotation for the next two days. They're all too gorgeous in appearance and voice. May I suggest "Runaway" for the romantics?
Enjoy!
It's only a few more days until Spring finaly begins, but with this rainy weather, the children are helping to spruce the house up in preparation. We cannot wait!
Inspiration is everywhere. In the spirit of helping you all get as excited as we are, this week I'll take you on a daily journey through some activities. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading and viewing as much as we have (and will) partaking in them together.
First up was the bare space above my daughter's bed. Remember how I'd asked for some suggestions? Well, a lovely friend, Sarah, from La Jeune Marie, thought I should hang some pictures in said space.
Interestingly enough there used to be two very pretty botanicals that hung above her bed when we lived in Memphis. They were found while we were in Italy in a calendar set, and it was fortunate that years later I managed to find a good use for them.
Even more fortunate? I found them again this weekend!
I love the vivid colors-so springlike! Even better is that they go wonderfully with her room (and my daughter didn't object to them).
Et voila!
I think our princess likes the end result. Don't you?
Stay tuned for tomorrow's great Springtime project. Are you a little curious? Here's a hint : Martha, eggs, and moss.
Until tomorrow then!
Why is our wee one standing on his tippy-toes? Well, friends, the story starts here...
I've been playing the piano since I was three years old. Make no mistake, this doesn't make me a great performer, let alone player. I haven't "played" in years, though thanks to lessons at a great college from a very young age, I can pick up music and play my way through it.
Very roughly.
My hopes were that my children would find love in piano music. This way I could defend having my upright brought into our home, taking up space where we had none. My daughter has not shown one iota of interest until recently, and it's primarily because of this little guy.
We have a daily routine that eventually involves me up to my elbows in washing dishes. Our wee one will crawl his way around the first floor until he finds my husband's office and the piano. This is what ensues...
Naturally big sister can't help but get in on the fun, so now she's getting piano lessons froms yours truly. Our little one, however, will have to wait a few more years before he can get in on the action. But until then, I think he's quite happy doing what he's doing.
Don't you agree?
Growing up in New Orleans, ninety percent of the year was warm to hot to miserable. We'd get a cold snap somewhere in Winter, but it never lasted long. Nevertheless, my mother kept up a habit of changing out bed linens-covers and sheets-when the seasons moved from the warmer to the cooler, and vice versa. It was something she picked up from her mother, and it's a little something I've continued with. We'll just call it a quirky southern tradition since I know plenty of other people who do this.
Sometimes I think it must drive my husband a little batty because this means extra bedding for three rooms (now four). He's never said anything to me, being the nice guy that he is, but I'm fairly sure he thinks I'm off my rocker for doing it.
And since Spring is starting to show her lovely head, guess what I started doing today? That's right! I began folding down the comforters and duvets and pulling out matelasse's. The first room was my daughter's.
It's such a special, pretty room to me. The bed is a Tester, from my girlhood days. It was a thrill to pass it down to my own daughter. My mother and I made the bedding and draperies, and my daughter picked out the lovely shade of Wedgewood blue. It reminds me of a clear summer day. Isn't it refreshing?
I folded down her comforter, placed her snazzy gold pillows near her bumble-bee embroidered pillow, and let Spring begin to soak in. It was as if a soothing calm washed over the entire room.
Fabulous.
All I needed was the big girl herself to complete the picture, and everything would be perfect. But I suppose this little fellow would do in a pinch! In fact, he almost matches the room.
Because that's where every little brother belongs, right? In his big sisters bedroom. Shhh! Don't tell her he was there! Kidding, friends.
In any case, the transformation from the coziness of winter bedding is slowly making way for the balmyness of the warmer days to come. I'm hoping to find something to place on the wall over eldest's bed-especially since looking at these pictures I realize how stark the space is.
Any suggestions?
Today I'll finally be able to start tackling the playroom. It's been in disaster mode since last weekend, but until Time Warner came to re-connect our Internet service in the room, I couldn't tether the bookcases and I couldn't put the hundreds upon hundreds of books back onto their shelves. Thus, all toys and books and everything else have been on the floor. There has been no order whatsoever.
My inner clean-freak has been having a mini-nervous breakdown.
I let my children play in the danger zone, ignoring the fact that day by day the mess seemed to multiply and grow. But the children seemed to enjoy it more that way. Seriously. The laughter grew in proportion to the size of the mess-especially when loud crashes accompanied their play. Needless to say, they were in hysterics by last night.
Now don't you all worry. They haven't been in any real danger, friends. I've just had to bite the bullet as far as cleaning goes. It was hard for me to let the children play in the room, but there really was no harm (save my mental state). I cringed every time I even walked past the Room of Clutter and Disorder.
To take my mind off of things, I've been focusing on other things. Board meetings, meals, homework, and soccer. I've also been working in my little boy's room! Now this has been like manna from Heaven.
For years we've had this beautiful lawyers bookcase, and for years it's been nothing more than a catch-all for various toys and things. Until now.
Isn't it lovely? It's in wonderful condition and we should be ashamed that it's been put aside for so long. Thankfully, our wee one's new nursery has the perfect sized wall in the entrance to his room. It doesn't quite take up all the space, but loves it's place across from his crib.
I even found time to decorate it as my little one played.
Love, love, love his lamp. It was one of the first items I purchased from Home Goods when I learned we were expecting a boy. I added his first teddy bear-completely plush with it's silly noodle hair-and a few books, "Where the Wild Things Are" and "The Original Handbook for Boys". A picture with his sister on his first day home from the hospital sits in a place of honor. It's been with him since his first week of life, so I thought it should stay with him no matter how things were arranged. Finally, I added his monogram painting that a local artist did for him.
I loved the green, loved the simplicity. Most of all, I'm a complete monogram nerd, so it was a win-win situation.
Care to guess what any of his initials stand for?
Well I need to go as my mischevious one is rushing towards his newest favorite activity: sneaking into the bathrooms to stand and unroll the tissue paper. This little guy is going to be one to watch.
Take care friends!
Y'all know you want this one.
It's funny, but I'm the only one in my family who likes Banana Bread. I don't know why-it's delicious. It may be why I don't make it very often, but when it pops out of the oven, it never lasts long. Gone are the mini-chocolate chips I sometimes add (no sugar for Lent, remember?), so the only appeal for my daughter isn't even there.
But it's a perfect bread, friends. Savory when warm, a perfectly tasty snack when at room temperature. It's great with butter, better without. It even freezes well (not that it ever makes it that far).
Doing my best after falling off the wagon last week, I even used a sugar-less recipe. There was no difference in flavor-which was a thrill-but I'll still give you the one I usually follow as well as the sugar-free.
Enjoy!Sugar-Less Banana Bread
3/4 c. mashed bananas
1/3 c. vegetable oil
2 lg. eggs
1/2 c. water
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. chopped nuts (optional-and I usually prefer without)
Beat together mashed banana, oil, eggs and water until creamy. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices. Beat well. Stir in nuts (optional). Spoon batter into oiled and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Spread batter evenly. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing
Banana Bread
1 1/2 c. self-rising flour
3 bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1/2 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sugar
1 c. chopped nuts (again, optional)
Cream together butter, eggs and sugar until smooth. Add bananas and vanilla; beat well. Mix in flour. Bake at 325 degrees for about 1 hour or until golden brown. Cool completely before slicing.
Obviously I don't always wait until it's completely cool. When I'm craving some 'nanner bread, I just have to have it!
Do you all have a favorite baked good you just have to have straight from the oven?
It feels odd to be finished with Photographic February. It's not that I won't post pictures for a while-as you can see I have plenty to share today. But as much as I enjoyed making a picture post a day, it felt obligatory. Don't misunderstand. I found it fun to look around my daily life and give you little glimpses into it.
But yesterday was a nice break.
This whole past weekend, in fact, has been wonderful. There was heavy rain and now incredibly beautiful snow. This meant no soccer games, no work. Nothing. Our entire family had a lovely, lazy weekend together and with our third snow day, we're still reveling in it!
There were many good meals and snacks prepared,
The children had plenty of uninterrupted fun together.
There was no homework, no tests or projects. Obligations were nowhere in sight-what a first! My husband and I had time to geek out together by catching up on favorite shows and typing together on our laptops. I even found time to switch our wee one's nursery and the playroom. Please bear in mind that the before rooms are in complete disarray and the afters still have quite a bit of work needed.
Yay the fun!
Now while my husband is back at work today (for just a little while), the children and I will have some fun in the snow. Then while they rest this afternoon, I'm making banana bread! Look for a quick, delicious recipe to follow, friends. In the meantime, I'm going to take a few minutes while the children are playing together and catch up on my "serious" reading.
Enjoy your March Monday, friends. I know having one more family-filled day will certainly get my week off to the right start.
