Thursday, July 31, 2008

puppyversary

One year ago today we adopted Scarlett from the Riverside Humane Society and forever changed our lives for the better. Here are some pictures of her from our first year together.

Today:
Having a lick (just a couple won't hurt, right?)
A happy camper:
A sad little fan:
Sharing with cousin Evelyn:
Family photo at tent rocks:
With Uncle Fernando in California:
7/31/07:
We look forward to many, may more years with our beloved little girl. She is pretty much the best dog in the whole wide world.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

farmer's market (a jasmine inspired post)


Matthew and I woke up early today and headed over to the farmer's market, because I had a hankering for a VBLT (veggie bacon, lettuce, and tomato). To my horror, by the time we had finished our breakfast burritos there were only two tiny heirloom tomatoes left in the whole place. We would have to go to wholefoods for a few more later. But we did manage to get some great stuff. Two fresh picked eggplants, butter lettuce just like my grandma used to grow, very spicy radish sprouts, jalapeƱos, corn, fresh onions, and finally a bunch of beets. A couple of weeks ago I was listening to the splendid table on npr and they were talking about beets and how to prepare them. I was intrigued by the idea of topping roasted beets with brown butter and basalmic vinigar, so I tried it out for dinner tonight. It was amazing.

I also made the eggplant. I cut in 1/8ths and brushed it with olive oil, seasoned lightly and baked at 400 degrees for 50 minutes (while roasting the beets). I topped the roasted eggplant with lemon juice and a sprinkle of Parmesan. The eggplant was so incredibly easy and delicious we're planning to do it again next week.
The beets, while amazing, were a tad bit futzy with the peeling and may only be brought out on special occasions.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Home sweet home

At least for now. I arrived back in Santa Fe last night to my beloved little family, including a rather sick puppy. Scarlett has a bad ear infection, and the antibiotics are just not working fast enough if you ask her daddy and I. Poor little girl. My home is already beginning to fade into boxes. No more books on the shelves (except for a few for work and my knitting library), non essential glass wear, and photos on the wall. Soon, it will all be packed and we will say good-bye to the land of enchantment. But don't feel sorry for us, we're going home. Home to the city where we met, the city where we both became grown-ups and fell in love, the city we were married in, the city we love. We have found a little duplex on the lower, western edge of the upper-eastside to call home for a bit, until perhaps we can find something more permanent. I will be teaching a few classes at UWM and still working on that dissertation, which in our love/hate relationship, I am currently in love. And of course, last but not least, I will have many opportunities for big warm knitted garments, hats, scarves and socks for like 9 months out of the year.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

california part II

The combination of working, spending time with friends and family I see rarely, and general summer stuff, I have been neglecting my little blog, and my knitting. Who wants to knit when it's 100 degrees?

So here's what I've been up to:

Last weekend started on Thursday with a dip in the pool, some snacks and a beer. Later that evening my sisters, my step-mom, and I went out for drinks while my dad played poker (although we did let him join us later).
Friday the parents left for Wisconsin, and the sisters and I headed down to laguna to visit a yarn shop and walk around. I only bought a tiny bit of local sock yarn - I was very impressed with my restraint. After Laguna, we went out for our very first pinkberry, which I found to be the inspiration for my new favorite yogurt shop in Santa Fe, yoberri park. After filling up on frozen yogurt we headed to the H&M, where I picked up two cute tops, a fabulous skirt, and a sexy dress, all for almost nothing. That night we went out for fabulous sushi with my sister's boyfriend. This is a favorite spot of my siblings, who know the sushi chef. We ended up drinking more than we ought, and spent Saturday recovering.

Sunday I headed into LA to visit my friend Jasmine, who I had not seen in forever. We took her Corgis for a walk and had a lovely brunch, before heading out for pedicures. The photo of the Corgis above is from her blog, are they not too cute? After leaving Jasmine's place I headed out to Santa Monica to check out Mandy's soon-to-be-new digs. We walked around her lovely new neighborhood, saw the college she will be teaching at, and Drew's school. Then we all went out for Indian food. I came home exhausted and not quite ready for another week of teaching.

The rest of the week went by quickly with teaching and working. We had dinner with Grandma Rita on Tuesday and Heather left to return east on Wednesday. This weekend has been mostly quiet time with myself, although Courntney and Fernando keep me company from time to time. Tonight I am headed out to Riverside for a potluck with friends and then it's only four more days until I am home with my little family!

In other news we think we found a flat in Milwaukee, so keep your fingers crossed that it works out.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

because it's a blog about knitting

Pattern: Noro Stripe Scarf (directions here)
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden in colorways 246, 264, 211 & 47
Needles: US size 7 (my new latern moons - yum!)
For: Matthew for his b-day
The project is about 50% complete and I LOVE it.

Monday, July 7, 2008

one year

Can you believe it?
Above: One year ago today. Below: Our desserts on Saturday night at the Compound.
The old married couple:

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

happy birthday to my dear husband

Today is my wonderful, charming, perfect husband, Matthew's birthday. I wish I could be with him to celebrate, but I'll be headed back tomorrow to spread some birthday cheer his way. In my absence he is headed out to the Santa Fe Brewing Company with friend Frank to fill up the growlers (gallon jug of beer) and have a few beers. I hope they let him man the tapper.