good day sunshine!

Guess what? I have every damn window of my house open and its actually HOT in here. I'll tell ya, this blast of sunshine and warmth is all my soul needed. All of my doubts and worries have melted away, and I just cant wait for school to be over so I can dedicate more of my days to soaking up more of this beautiful weather.

Yesterday, while I was deep in my studies, a group of turkeys visited. This actually happened about six times throughout the day. I would be cranking out my math homework, and a light rustling would draw me to the window, only to find these huge, awkward birds picking at the tops of weeds and darting through shrubs.

Their feathers are incredible! I hadn't seen one this close up before. The feathers along their body are kind of iridescent? I mean, we all know what their tail is about, but they are really striking birds in general. Okay, maybe not in the face so much...but still! It was a nice to have unexpected visitors.

I finally moved my studying (which meant packing up all of this ) outside to the covered porch. Best thing I ever did.  The breeze felt rejuvenating. So green, and it brought to me hints of violet hidden in the grass. The cats lounged around the table, twitching their tails. At one point, I did abandon my pile of books to tear at some weeds that have over taken my poor garden. In doing so, I recovered the poor little strawberry we planted when we moved here. She probably hadn't seen sun since!

Does anyone know what this could be? It's trailing up the drain spout, and I love it!

Eric got home from work around 5:30, and we took a very lovely afternoon walk together, just like old times. We really hadn't done anything like that since before we moved here either! We used to live right off of the bike trail, so almost everyday, we would take a bike-ride, walk downtown or to the farmers market- or just walk the trail and tell each other our to do lists, our plans, hopes and dreams as we picked wild flowers and greeted happy dogs and their walkers. I feel like it kind of renewed our relationship, since are both bogged down with work and school lately. So good to be away from it all and walk and talk as young loves once again.

It was also just so nice to be back out in nature. We live in such a quiet and beautiful neighborhood. We also live in a mobile home, and our driveway is God awful (although the landlords have actually been working on it, and its a pretty smooth ride these days!) but we also have a gorgeous view of the southwest portion of the county. We have the prettiest watercolor sunsets and storms that move in right over our little canyon here. There are millions of birds chattering away these days, and grasshoppers rocketing through the tall grasses. The cats are just lovin' the warm rays.  I think its finally time that I actually shave my legs (!) and throw on a skirt sans tights! I have a really beautiful skirt that I bought and never wore last year. Well, its finally going to happen, and will probably be my next outfit post.

Are you guys enjoying this stereotypical California weather?

gotta get down on friday

First signs of life under the fakey sun popped up on Friday morning! Check it out!

We think this is thyme, and basil soon followed, along with spinach and some of our heirloom tomato varieties. So excited for the garden this summer!

Friday also started with an early morning trip to the vet. Jules has been having some 'symptoms' of parasites like he had when he was a kitten. We decided to make an appointment and get a 'fecal float' test as well as some flea medicine for the poor little fella.  

We were having a hard time choosing a vet, as our little guy had become really vicious when we took him to Animal Outreach for some routine shots. It was so unreal. He acted like a feral cat, clawing up the walls, screaming this sound I have never heard from a cat before, and no one had even touched him! They called in backup, who all began swatting him with nets and telling me how insane my cat was.  I think we were all pretty damned traumatized. 

 There is a vet less than 2 minutes away from our house, so we decided to go there, hoping that the shorter car ride would ease him. Well, it didn't help much. At least Eric went with me this time so I didn't get so upset seeing Jules get upset. The worst part is, the Vet cant really check him out, so if he cant find anything in the fecal float test, there could be 'a million other things'. It would be almost impossible to treat Jules anywhere but home because of his horrible attitude, from what the doc said. Jules could potentially need an ultrasound, therapy, mediation etc that we would have to find a way to administer ourselves, or find a vet who travels. Funny thing is, he was INSTANTLY sweet again as soon as we got on our driveway. Like a flick of a switch, he was my lovey guy again, nursing on his baby blanket and rubbing on my legs, begging to go outside to smell the wind. Ughhh. Poor sicky babe! I'm just hoping they find something from that test, and its easily treatable... Has anyone had such trouble with their pet at the vet?

After the vet, I had to leave my loves and go to work. But once I got off, we headed out to Fairplay to make sushi with some of our close friends from Sacramento.  

Charlie has been Eric's best friend since 4th grade. I love that they met and bonded over their Goosebumps collection! So cute. He is dating Breanne, who quickly became one of my most favorite people I have met. Sweet sweet sweet girl.

Bre was really the culinary master for the eve. She made miso, authentic (seasoned and fanned) sushi rice, and prepared all the fixins to go inside the rolls. It was our first time making sushi, so she taught Nikki and I how to roll 'em!

Eric and I made veggie gyoza-filling at home prior to the journey out there. I must admit, we waited to assemble them because it goes much faster with more hands!  They were filled and crimped in a jiffy!

It was really fun just hanging around the kitchen together, laughing about Sexy Sax Man, which I have not been able to get out of my head for days now! Check him out below!

 

Obviously, getting to share this beautiful meal together was the best part! And honestly, I was surprised that the sushi was so damned good! It was super delicious!

After dinner, the gals cleaned up and chatted over crisp, smoke filled air on the porch while the guys played music. Unfortunately, sexy sax man couldn't make an appearance...

Hope you guys had a fun weekend too!

xoxo

ain't no sunshine

Well folks, here it is: my first outfit post. I've had a couple requests to do some, so I thought it was about time that I start posting the get-ups I can get along with. Today was blustery- complete with the torrential-rains, so boots were mandatory. The rest of the outfit just got kind of thrown together as I was realizing I was late for work! Not so stoked on the jean skirt- kind of too clubbin' for my usual style? It's kinda short and tight with gold detailing... Yikes! Really wishing I had an adorable floral dress instead. (Just found about this shop Ruche through another blog I follow. Such cute stuff!). So that's hopefully, my next clothing purchase besides a romper. Thats all I want to wear all spring! That is, only if only the sun plans to come back....?

Shoes: TJ Maxx
Tights: Gift from Eric
Skirt and top: Mallory's shop, Firefly when it was still around!
Cardigan: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Gift from/created by Mallory

Beanie: Borrowed from my love!

And of course, my morning wouldn't be complete without my cup o' joe and some love from Girl (the cat who adopted us!)  What do you think? Was this a sufficient outfit post?



xoxo

monday's child is fair of face,

Another lazy day around the house here. Spring has sprung, but we have yet to see the sun! Lots and lots of wet weather lately.  On Friday, we even got some low snow- El Dorado (where I live) even got an inch! I was at work when it started, and I stayed longer than I probably should have. I barely got up the driveway. But once I got home, Eric and I just sat at the window with our coffee, watching the snowflakes get bigger and bigger. So lovely.

I think if you click on this, it would be easier to see the beautiful HUGE snowflakes!

It was also nice to come home a little early.  Also, yesterday was so darn blustery, Sara felt that it would be pretty slow and if I wanted the day off, I could. I took her up on that, and did a lot of studying. Looks like there is going to be a lot more days like these coming up. But the few glimpses of spring that we got have stolen my heart.

Today was another day spent inside, buried in papers scribbled with formulas for hyperbolas and drawings of cell dividing. Eric was home with me, and we took a few breaks together to do some cleaning and baking together. I love rainy days for that reason.

We each made a loaf of bread in a different style from the same starter. Most of the time, Eric's bread or yeast doesn't yield anything, and I always tell him its because he never follows a recipe. I feel like I always followed a recipe at least the first time I make something new until I get a grasp of what it takes to make something tasty. THEN you can adjust. So, I made my bread strictly from a recipe, and he made his from his heart.

Guess which one is mine? If you think its that beautiful golden one in the back, behind the pale lump in front, then you're WRONG!  Dang! His turned out a delicious artisan bread, complete with flavors of sauteed garlic, rosemary, black pepper and a perfectly crunchy crust. Mine is a monster- one that will probably only serve as a quick breakfast if its hidden under some jam...yikes! Totally put my foot in my mouth with the continuous 'recipe debate' in our house...The man can bake a loaf of bread. ♥

Since we bought some cod yesterday, I decided to take a page from Eric's book, and go sans recipe while cooking it for dinner. I dipped the pieces in a mix of lemon and butter, and dredged the pieces in a little flour,panko bread crumbs salt and pepper. Then I baked it and served it with jasmine rice and fresh green beans.  I also sprinkled a little of this fancy salt on the green beans! Such a different flavor! It's a lot less astringent than table salt, and more mineral flavors. Reminds me of when the sea swallowed me in Tulum- and while I was being tossed around by the tide,gasping for breath, I swallowed the sea.

Besides just cooking and cleaning, Eric also got our little spring seedlings going today! He has caught the spring fever too.  As lovely as the snow was, we have big dreams for our garden. We have visions of a thick forest of basil and shady tomato shrubs with their alluring herbaceous scent;  Towering green beans intertwined with heavenly blue morning glories, all a buzz with bumble and honey bees! I dream of a garden like we had back when we lived in Somerset.

But for now, the seeds lay in their warm beds made of egg cartons, underneath phoney sunrays until they get their second leaves.

And hopefully they do sprout, in spite of Jules' constant curiosity of the glowing light underneath the sheet...

Here is to a bountiful Spring!
xoxo