Dogwood in Bloom

From the deck.



Finally got a chance to play around with my new camera. If you haven't noticed, I like to take a little walk around the yard when the light is good to see what's going on. This week: the dogwood trees are just starting the burst. The blushy cream ones are in full bloom, while the more vibrant pink ones aren't quite there yet.

First Cookout. Check.

Goodbye, Sweet Thursday

For the most part, I have had the luxury of having my Thursdays off (usually with the sacrifice of nights and/or weekends at work). But, that's coming to an end, as I enter new relms of professional employment. Weekends are usually time to catch up on house work, groceries, cooking, gardening, etc. Thursdays were just for me.

It's exciting, but I'll miss my me time.

Signs of Spring

I took some time to wander around the yard a little to see how spring was coming along.

Tons of crocuses are out. I feel like I didn't even notice them last year.

This one is growing where he shouldn't (in the herb garden bed). I wonder how he got there.

We have several forsythia bushes in our yard. Some are in full bloom, others are waiting.

Teach by Example

This comes at a very important time. I was just talking to Aaron about this a couple of weeks ago, asking "why aren't they telling us how to survive? Why aren't they telling us to grow gardens?" They are.

Fan Questions

Meghan Writes:

have you considered an herb garden? I would love to do that. I have a sick stomach and my nose is a little raw from the cold i had (is well now!) and was like, I would love some mint. It is a creeping plant though but who the hell cares, you know?


Meghan,

Hey. Yeah, we have some herbs. We have wild mint growing in our front yard. We transplanted some to the back and it seems to be growing out there, too. It's nice because it keeps coming all summer...so much so that Aaron weed whacked it twice, and in a couple of weeks it was back again. I usually put it in ice water with some lemon slices.
We also have wild dill growing in the back yard. It's awesome.
And we planted some basil, but unfortunately, we only used a little of it and then it went to seed. We still tried making pesto from it, but it didn't turn out that great.
Anyway, we have this special little garden box about 3 feet squared built up with large stones in the middle of the back yard that is perfect for herbs. That is where we housed the basil last year. I'd like to try lavender. I have killed every attempt at rosemary, though.
When we were in Somerville, Aaron constructed an elaborate window box holder, and we used to grow so many herbs in that on the third floor. We probably could have grown cherry tomatoes, too, because the window box we had was pretty deep.

My seedlings are coming up nicely. The pea tendrils are already about 3 inches long...growing almost an inch a day in the past two days! I know you're supposed to plant peas early, but I'm scared to because we're still having cold nights. My chard, lettuce and tomatoes are up, too.

I'm really excited about my garden this year. Last year was a test, and this year I think I know how to improve it. Now I just need to figure out a way to keep people out of it. We're going to have to build the fence higher and keep a lock on the door. People stole over 100 of our tomatoes last year. We got to eat about 7 of them. :(

photo recap

Here is what's been going on:

I've been making these things. I call them "Bookworms." They hold your place open.

I gave this one to Meghan. I saw her a couple of weeks ago. I miss her.

We've been making a lot of soup. This one was a generic "Asian" mushroom soup. However, I think that soup season is coming to an end.

My husband is growing an afro.

My kitty is still cute.

Day Off

Yes, Aaron, count them: Two kinds of hot sauce. I have faith that he used both.

Happy President's Day. As this often tries (and usually fails) to be a kind-of food blog, I was going to post a bunch of pictures of our 44th president eating, but then I thought that might be weird.

I think I might need some tacos in the near future.

link

This made me laugh today.

It's mustard Richard. MUSTARD.

Letters From Grandma

Dear Amber and Aaron,

Sorry I'm so late with a thank you for the beautiful picture and dish. They made the trip just fine. Right after Christmas I had a bad cold that kept me down many days. The first time I was out of the house was Jan 9.
My word is it cold here -- Brrr. We also have more than our share of snow.
We didn't have our sewing bee at Church this morning. Too cold for us. Last year we made 60 quilts for missions.
I went to my Circle meeting yesterday. It was nice to get out.
Heidi was here for a quick trip to officiate at a funeral for a friend who was killed on a snowmobile. Very sad -- left a wife and 2 children. Speed! Speed! That did it.
Love,
Grandma B.

Folk Craft at the Double A Ranch

We've been keeping busy lately. Aaron finally finished his first woodworking project, and it's beautiful. Bookshelves are in high demand, so it was a good project to start with.

Our downstairs library is finally becoming more library-ish and less boxes-piled-up-along-the-walls-ish.

I've been working on some small projects, myself. I've been having fun making these dolls (template here):

I sent the boy doll off to a new boy, even though he wasn't perfect. I was kind of torn about sending it...it's weird when something doesn't turn out just right...do you give it anyway, or decide to scrap it, even though it took you most of a Saturday to make? Working with velvet is tricky...any tips?

I also spent the later part of December teaching myself how to embroider, which is so much fun.

I think the windows need window boxes, so this isn't quite done.

Yearly Report Card

I always like to start a new year by summing up the last one's highlights and projecting goals/ideas/etc for this fresh one.

2008 was interesting. It was hard. The biggest deal: The wedding, of course. I am a married woman. The big question is: does it really make any difference? The answer: I think so. Not that anything has changed dramatically within our relationship, but I've noticed that outsiders treat us a little differently. It has indisputably validated and solidified our relationship in the eyes of others. All of a sudden, he means something. "My husband and I share a car, so we need to plan a schedule in advance. I'll have to talk to him before I can agree to work late."
"Husband" seems to be this ghostly presence looming over most women. Never seen, but always discussed. But, we are a team. We work a lot differently. I think I really scared some people at work when I called Aaron to come help after none of the volunteers we had lined up showed up for a big event we were hosting.
"He'd really do that?"
Uh, if I ask nicely, I guess.
"But there'll be children here!"
I'll tell him not to wear his coat made of knives? What?
Did that get them on to call their husbands to high-tail it out to help? No, I think there was a game on or something. I like us.

Other things: loss. 2008 was filled with sadness and loss. I officially lost my best friend this time last year. That was equally liberating and difficult. When you are so close to someone, it is really hard to get over something like that. Maybe it's just me.
And Cody. I think my mind is just coming around to the truth of it. For the last couple months, the shock was overpowering. I feel so sorry for my family and what they're going through.

Things to look forward to in 2009:
A better garden, more crafting, new reading goals, more responsibility at work, etc. In 2009, Aaron and I will have known each other for 10 years. I don't even know how that is possible, but here we are...