Life is Beautiful!

First of all. I stand corrected.

They aren't tulips after all.

I was informed by J's Aunt that they are crocuses.

J asked me what the difference was... I said, hopefully it makes them easier to grow, although already some are wilting... more bulbs are sprouting though, these ones are taller, so we shall see what pops out of them :) Although J hates the landscaping of the yard, it is fun to see different things beginning to bloom!

In other news, today was the perfect day. J didn't go into work til 9(pm), so we got to spend most of the day together. J and I both decided this towards the end of the day, and then laughed at the fact that during one of the most beautiful days we've had together, we didn't really do a whole lot besides the normal everyday things.

And it was even in the low 40s outside (but pleasantly sunny :)

Here's how it looked:  J getting a massage this morning to help out his back problems, then us going to Novi for lunch at the largest Irish pub in North America (where I had the most amazing hamburger I have ever eaten!), then we walked in downtown Northville for a little while and window-shopped, followed by grocery shopping and picking up paint samples at Home Depot. Then after L went down for a nap, we just sat on the couch, deciding what colors to paint the kitchen and family room, until J fell asleep. For dinner (the first one the two of us have had together by ourselves since the beginning of March!) I made tilapia, rosemary roasted potatoes, and balsamic glazed asparagus. ... And then he left for work.

We decided we could get used to this life.

But its ER. And this rotation is coming to an end, and with it, the random luxurious days (or day, since really, due to vacation falling on this month, as well as J's Guatemala trip, he didn't have any other days off) come to an end as well.

Sigh.

But next month is FP. So I may at least be guaranteed a husband in the evenings, if you negate vacation coverage as well as intern house duties! :)

A Colorful Hint of Spring

I walked out to get my mail a couple of days ago and this is what I saw. It made me smile. People say that when you see blue jays and robins, spring is on it's way. I've seen both (along with many a massacred earthworms after the recent rains), but for some reason, these tulips have kind of finalized it for me. True spring (not those silly dates created by people) is almost here... that is if you negate the low 40 degree rainy/snowy weather coming in this weekend to put an end to our lovely mid-60s spell.


I hope if it snows, it doesn't kill my tulips. I hope I don't kill my tulips neither. I wonder if what I think are tulips are really tulips.



We've been really busy these past couple of weeks what with J being in Guatemala, L and I in Phoenix, and then lotsa company and potlucks... so hopefully I'll post some pics sometime soon :)

Simplicity

In a world filled with the latest gadgets to make your life more simple, ranging from kitchen gadgets like apple slicers, to the techno field of ipods and android phones...


sometimes it takes a little one to remind you that just as Christ asks you to have faith like that of a child...


perhaps we can learn a lesson or two from his favorite toys too.



A spoon. A dryer ball. A laundry basket. A bowl.

All it takes to keep my lil guy content.

Though the rest of the stuff doesn't hurt ;)

Domestimacation

I think I'm becoming domesticated. Maybe. Actually, I have a long way to go, and I think the truth will come out this spring when I try to plant a garden... especially as I stare at my bamboo plant that was given to me by my father-in-law when L was born... it is dying a slow, painful death, I think. At least that is what I figure is happening since it is now all yellow except at its roots and for a few leaves (tips, anyone??)

But back to my domestimacation. This is what country (haha, that's a good one right?!) is doing to me. Besides the basics of putting up corn, making apple/pear sauce, canning peaches, etc, I've dove deeper into this new realm. I've made ice cream (albeit not the rock salt way... but still very fattening via coconut milk-- has anyone ever SEEN a nutrition label for a can of coconut milk?!). I've made my own chicken stock (via a store-bought rotis chicken 'cuz I'm not THAT domesticated yet!) and have made my own candy.

Well, sorta. They are actually candied orange peels. Crazy, huh? Saw the recipe and thought you can't go wrong when combining chocolate and oranges, and since it didn't really cost me anything extra (well, maybe a bit extra), I thought I would give it a go and save my compost heap (known as the local landfill) a few peels. :)
I even went organic... yes, I must be going insane now. I figured if it worked out well, I could credit the chocolate, and if it didn't, I could blame it on being organic and conclude that had it been a GMO, it would have definitely been a success. :)

 

Maybe it is dying 'cuz I placed it in my ghastly dining room, which I hope will have a rebirth of its own this spring!

 

 Coffee Chocolate Chip Ice cream made with coconut milk for my l-i husband.

 

 So the orange peels. They turned out ok. Well, actually I scrapped them partway through cuz I found them to still a bit too bitter for my liking (and just ate the chocolate plain!)... I think I boiled them long enough, but the oranges themselves were kind of bitter and not too sweet, so I blame it on the organic-ness of them. Pity, I could have used the zest ;)

Next time I'll just stick to fudge :)