Complimentary

I was really dragging at work today. Perhaps it was because I forgot about a meeting that I have every Thursday morning (I was focused on paying rent this morning) and it threw me off. Or maybe it was because I've been working out a lot more in the last two weeks and I'm exhausted!

By they way, they say that exercise is, well, energizing...but I have not noticed that effect recently. I called my mother, and she has the same experience. Are we the one genetic group in this world that actually get tired from physical exertion?

Anyway...I stopped to get a latte as I was driving between schools this afternoon. I've never bought coffee midday, so it was a new barista. However, she greeted me like an old friend and said, "Oooh, I love your short hair. Cute!" That was nice of her. And then she said, "And your shirt! It's so cute!" Then, to top it all off, she gave me two punches to start my punch card.

I tipped her well. It was a most complimentary coffee experience.

I wish I had a kid.

On Sunday, we visited my friend Jo's farm. She raises fleece goats and alpacas! She also has chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, a llama, a peacock...and who knows what else! We got to hold the baby goats (kids...get it?) that were less than a week old. They were so sweet! Beanball's in love too.

The is Griz. He's the nicest deaf St. Bernard you'll ever meet. He followed us around the whole farm...tail wagging and drool dripping. He really added to the whole experience.

Look! This cute little structure is...wait for it...a CHICKEN COOP! Is that not the cutest chicken coop you've ever seen? Mamapua--we took many detailed pictures of it with you in mind!

Look! I even fed an alpaca! She ate right out of my hand!

My father-in-law and the llama got along well. What do you think they're looking at?

My husband takes great pictures with his mom's SLR camera.

Come visit me, and I'll take you to the farm, too! Unless that's not your thing. Because then I won't.

If you've got too much free time...

I've just found the most amazing website!

http://www.wordle.net/

Look what it created. All I did was type in the web address of my blog!

Isn't that so cool? Look at this one!

Very cool. And check this out.

My mind is racing with all the things I could use this for. The best part--it is legal for me to post this on my blog! You can use your wordle for anything...T-shirts, posters, bumper stickers, blog headers...All you have to do is type or copy in some text, or put in a blog address. The computer does the work to turn those words into art!

Try it. You'll have a good time.

Amazing.

Black yoga pants.

Get some.

But if you do, you might never take them off.

They are amazing.

I could get used to this!

Because I don't trust my photography skills to show you what a beautiful day it has been...I made you this picture.

The bright, beautiful shining sun is on the mountains still laden with snow...

Everything is starting to look green again.

It was the perfect day to sit in the sun eating egg salad full of fresh herbs!

It was the perfect day to wear a fun, springy dress!
It was the perfect day to take a long walk with an old friend.

And now it is the perfect evening to sit with my husband, watch TV, and smell the fresh air from our windows that are flung open wide!

Fabulous Day!

This morning was the long awaited trip to FLOWER WORLD!!! Each spring/summer for the past three years, my mother-in-law, Beanball, and I have gone to this nursery wonderland! We went as soon as we could this year because the winter/early spring has been fairly oppressive!

We always have a wonderful time. Beanball is an avid gardener! Her yard is huge and full of all kinds of trees, shrubs, and flowers. She has a lovely herb garden off the back porch and a HUGE vegetable garden in the front! She has taken me under her wing as an amateur gardener. She loves to make sure that I have all the plants I need.

At Flower World we loaded our cart full of flowers and herbs! Look at all the gorgeous young plants! We filled up the car to the brim!

These are just mine...Beanball bought even more for her yard. Someday I'll have a real yard to garden in!

I spent a couple of hours last night readying the back patio for all the new flowers! And then I spent a couple of hours today planting all my new treasures!

I can't wait until the plants fill up those pots and bloom! I bought many of my traditional favorites, as well as a few new varieties. They should do well because they're young and healthy...and I used MiracleGro potting soil;)

Here's my herb garden! Only the chives and oregano survived the winter... But now I have a whiskey barrel full of a delicious variety!

The picture is slightly blurry...but you can see the chives in the middle, rosemary, basil, parsley, sage, a little tiny thyme, cilantro, and oregano. And a couple of marigolds to make me feel like I'm warding off any pests that might try to eat my precious herbs!

The most exciting part of the day is the newest addition to my "garden." We found a potted salad garden! Swiss chard, about three kinds of lettuce, spinach, kale, and a cherry tomato plant! I took out the chives that were in this pot and replaced them with some watercress. Usually Beanball has enough lettuce in her garden to last both of us all summer...but now I have some of my very own for those days when I can't get up to the Ranch! Thanks for the early birthday present, Beanball!

I am so happy and filled with hope when I see these beautiful new plants! I'm looking forward to the next two days of forecasted sunshine...everything will take off and start to look right at home here!

Design Update

Since January when we painted our bedroom, I've been trying to make it look a little more finished and put together. I've been missing a crucial piece though--nightstands! El maestro had an inspiration and was going to build them...but it hasn't happened yet.

This past weekend when I had the house to myself, I found him a nightstand (compliments of Grandpa V. who gave it to us when he moved), hung some pictures, and tried to see if things were finished.

As you look at this picture, keep a few things in mind...the Tasmanian Devil alarm clock isn't going anywhere. The goal would be to have matching nightstands someday. And if you look at the lamps you'll see that they don't match each other. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the silver, so I switched my lamp base over to a white one. Which lamp do you like better?

(FYI: the lamps were a little too short when they were just sitting on the bedside tables. Mine is now placed on a stack of Real Simple magazines, and el maestro's in on a stack of Shel Silverstein books. Perhaps close up pictures if you want them later.)

Why doesn't this look finished to me? Is it just because I'm not a real designer? Is it the mismatched nightstands? The lack of curtains? (My white, flowing curtains did not become a reality because I have a cat-child who would most likely try to climb them and rip them to shreds in the process.)

Any suggestions?

Random thoughts

*El maestro and I went grocery shopping after work today. He's very difficult to take along. There's no "divide and conquer" strategy...he's afraid he'll get lost. I'm only able to buy what is immediately needed. No wandering around the store as I try to think up a menu for the week. Nope.

*I added some finishing touches to our bedroom this weekend. And found some things I want to change. I'll post pictures as soon as my husband gets the camera from wherever he put it...

*I've been drinking organic milk for awhile now. It costs a little more, but I feel much better about putting it in my body. I'm thinking about adding more organic dairy products to my list. They say that the hormones in milk can aggravate acne!

*Speaking of...I think ProActive is working! It's a little slower than I hoped it would be. But I've never had a cleanser/face routine actually help clear up my skin, and this is! Finally!

*I have 18 lovely, hard-boiled Easter eggs in my fridge. I guess I'll be eating eggs for awhile.

*El maestro built a fort for the cat-child. It consists of a chair, the coffee table, the couch, the cat's crinkle tunnel, and two blankets. Now I don't know where to sit, prop my feet, or how to stay warm when I watch TV.

Life is Good!

In today's economy...

I've been feeling the stress lately. Rumors are flying again at work. Will I have a job next year? Will my husband? I can tell you there's only One who knows for sure!

I've set out to memorize Matthew 6:25-34. It speaks to my attitude and the way I need to change it:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, oh you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6: 25-34

Today, when we remember Christ's suffering and death, it makes the problems of my life seem so much smaller!

La primavera

FYI...primavera means Spring in Spanish. I'm not talking about a pasta dish...

I'm so happy because Spring is actually coming! We've had two days in a row of absolutely beautiful weather! I mean...70 degrees and sunshine! I broke a sweat yesterday walking around the neighborhood! I am so much more motivated to get up and move if it's not freezing and wet.

These pictures are my proof! Sunday el maestro and I walked all over town with a camera...finding the harbingers of Spring!

I know that the rest of this week won't be as warm...but I sure needed a few days of hope!

Spring Break Dinner

I've been wanting to learn how to cook fish. It's suppose to be healthy for you, right? But I've not eaten much fish in my life. Tonight el maestro and I tried some cod fillets that ended up being pretty good. Not amazing, but good enough for a first try!

El maestro was in charge of the marinade. He found a simple recipe online. It was a nice mixture of a little dry white wine, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and thyme.

He used this wine. It's a local wine...and the Internet said that Sauvignon Blanc is a dry wine. I picked this particular bottle because the name is reminiscent of my husband's childhood, but the grapes are grown in sunny Eastern WA...a tribute to my childhood. I know...I'm such a wine connoisseur!

We marinated the fish for about twenty minutes before I threw it in a hot (450) oven. About 18 minutes later it appeared to be opaque and flaky. I think;)

Anyhoo...things came together in a nice dinner!

Roasted rosemary potatoes? Check!

Roasted asparagus? Check!

Lemon/herb baked cod? Check!

Levitating fork? Pretty close!