Jim's job: Foster's Market & Catering

I'm now working part-time at Foster's Market, a longtime Durham eatery that is well-known in the Triangle area and throughout the country. Since opening the Market in 1990, Sara Foster has added a second location in Chapel Hill and authored four cookbooks. Visitors come literally from far and wide in order to experience Foster's firsthand! I've met folks from New York and Philly, Arizona and San Diego, all of whom gushed about how much they loved Sara's cookbooks and were so excited to finally visit her restaurant in Durham. There are also our regulars, for whom Foster's is a part of their daily routines.

It has been fascinating to see the insides of a coffeshop/bakery/restaurant, especially one that is managed very well and serves high quality food. They make as much of it from scratch as they can: the baked goods, the mayo and all the dressings, plus house-roasted meats for sandwiches and salads. I've learned a lot and I'm thankful to work with and for good, interesting, fun people. Sara herself works nearly everyday.

Scones, muffins, quick breads, cookies, and New York style coffee cake are baked daily. My favorites are the chocolate chip peanut butter scone, the whopper (a chocolate cookie with walnuts, pecans, chocolate chips, and a dash of espresso), and the coconut macaroons.

It took some time to learn the system for taking orders: each item on the menu has a special code and an individual price, and as you can see from the green boards hanging from the ceiling, there are a LOT of items.

Foster's also sells various unique foodstuffs, such as local/organic/gourmet dressings, spreads, chips, bakery kits, chocolates, candies, baskets, beer, and wine.

Yes, the cakes and pies are baked daily, to, and they are Yummy! Cakes: chocolate, carrot, coconut, German chocolate. Pies: mixed berry, apple, pecan, french silk, lemon chess, chocolate chess. Even though I don't usually go for cheesecake, the oreo chocolate cheesecake looks amazing...I want to give it a try sometime.

One of our signatures is the plethora of salads made fresh each day using the best ingredients available. Tarragon chicken salad; roasted new potato salad; tuna salad; sesame roasted veggies; watercress with tomatoes and bleu cheese; ceasar - these are just a few on offer. All are extremely tasty!

Come for a visit and we'll make a trip to Foster's!

Cousin Love

Gemma and Asher LOVE to be together! Here they are earlier this week at Indian Trail park (down the road from Mom & Dad's), eating a snack before hitting up the huge slides and rope ladders.

Snacktime

Though he isn't 6 months old for another day or two...Timo has started participating a bit at snacktime and mealtimes. He is quite insistent. Eager. We discovered that he can sit quite well in the booster seat (and so Gemma has transitioned out of it and into a booster seat at the table) and is beginning to work on grabbing chunks/sticks of food. So far he has nibbled/sucked on cucumber, celery, rusks, apple, watermelon and kale. In fact he had the best time with kale and was able to hold onto it quite well!

Meanwhile, some peanut butter and crackers and orange slices for Gemma. Don't get any on your new tutu!

Whoops! Look at that concentration!

Success, one day at a time

Success for Gemma: wearing underwear and staying dry! 

She is an "old pro" now for staying dry and using the toilet during the day, and still working on staying dry all night. One reward system we used for training were these sticker charts (using Dora stickers; Dora is a new favorite character of hers) where 5 stickers equals a surprise. The first chart was what we used at the very beginning, and she received stickers for every time she went on the toilet. The grand prize was an ice cream cone at McDonald's. 

After that chart filled up, we made a second chart for dry naps and nights. When that filled up, she got this beautiful pink tutu (hand-me-down from Lillian - thank you so much!!!!). Dance heaven for this little ballerina! When she first put on the tutu, she looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I need a hair bow." (!)

Here's Gemma giving an explanation of the charts.

Hurrah! Marvelous job for Gemma!
 

Afternoon snuggles

Afternoon snuggles and playtime in Gemma's crib is a new favorite activity for the sibs. It starts out with giggles and sharing the blankie, and usually ends up with Gemma jumping and singing while Timo laughs and tries to roll around.