So there’s this book called ”Two Little Gardeners“. It’s an old Golden Book and, to be honest, it’s one of the most boring books in the world. It’s just a story – with kind of lame illustrations and big blocks of text – about two kids that plant a garden and everything they do to it like hoeing, planting seeds, watering, setting up a scarecrow etc.
I took one look at it (someone gave it to us) and knew she would hate it. No bright colours. No fun rhymes. Nothing. So NOT a preschooler book, let alone a two-year-old’s book. Honestly.
And of course she loved it. 
I now read this book, three times a day, every day. I have done this for three weeks now. And the only reason why we don’t read it more often is because then I hide the book and shrug and say things like “Wouldn’t you rather go jump on the bed in your panties?”
Anyway, the upside of the book is that she now has a passing acquaintance with veggies. And the fact that you pick and you pick and you pick after the vegetables grew and they grew and they grew and then you cook and you cook and you cook (seriously…this is the book).
We stopped by our local farmers market today. She promptly ran over to the pile of carrots and shrieked “PICK PICK PICK PICK. Mumma, EAT EAT EAT EAT!”
After we had paid for carrots, zucchini, corn, tomatoes and bread, we retired to a picnic table to listen to the fiddle music of “The Jammin’ J’s” (two kids with acne that played an accordion and a fiddle) and let Anne dance. Then we came home and had Market Supper. Which basically means that I boiled the corn and then we sliced the bread, ate the tomatoes on it and also gobbled up the carrots. Other than some salt and pepper and butter, it was just fresh veg and fresh bread. I think the only thing left is the zucchini. (Might toss together a pineapple-zucchini bread tomorrow.)
Sidenote: Brian always remains amazed at his ability to enjoy a single meal that doesn’t involve meat. He says, with wonder, “I feel full….and there was no MEAT….but I feel full….”
The best part about it is that my child, without cajoling or pleading or bribery, ate an entire enormous carrot, half a tomato, two hunks of bread and an entire bowl of yogurt before finishing it all off with a big cup of milk and a belch.
Turns out that “Two Little Gardeners” is now my favourite book too.
Oh, and on a completely different note, don’t forget to enter my contest for a new book! Pass the word – the drawing isn’t until Friday night!
