A good few weeks

Well, its been a good month here. Dad went and stayed up at his parents house for 3 weeks helping to take care of his Mom after his sister went back to California. So for 3 weeks we had the house to ourselves. It was a nice change in many ways. To be just the three of us for a while. Kevin started working again finally too, so I’ve actually had the house to myself for a change. THAT was nice!!

Since the weather has improved greatly over the past few weeks we’ve been able to hang out outside. Which is just wonderful, no two ways about it. Andros has gotten considerably better at walking over the same period, due in large part to wandering around our yard barefoot. He’s taken a huge liking to water as well – the dogs water bowls, puddles, the creek and the lake. Basically water of any sort, anywhere, anytime. And dirt. He loves to stand and just throw dirt up in the air and on top of him and just anywhere and everywhere. Its very cute. He’s just a superbly happy guy when he’s outside, which is very cool.

Of course, while he’s playing we can actually get stuff done too, which is also pretty nice. Kevin’s tilled up the garden 2 or 3 times now, getting it all ready to plant in. He also built a trellis for the kiwi plants too, which looks very nice, and got the chicken coop cleaned out for our chicks (which came on Wednesday and are VERY cute!!).

I’ve gotten my mom’s old flower bed all cleaned out – its kind of my pet project I suppose. A couple days ago I dug up all the rocks along the outside edge and mulched around the crocuses and the rocks, all of which looks very nice. In a couple more weeks once everything else has come up I plan on digging up around everything, transplanting all the echinachea and blue bells and stuff into separate defined areas, and then mulching around everything. Basically get it back to looking like a nice bed again… something that hasn’t been the case for years and years and years!!

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What a beautiful day!!

Well, today was defeintly the most beautiful day of the year so far. It was sunny, not a cloud in the sky, and warm, so warm. Must have been at least 70+ degrees all day long. We opened all the windows and let the wind blow through the windows bringing so much nice, wonderful fresh air into the house. It was wonderful!

Andros played outside basicly all day long, and I read Axis… I didn’t mean to read the whole book today, but it just kind of worked out that way. I started it around 9am or so when I got up and just kept going till I finished it around 4pm, with only a few minor breaks for lunch, and to take care of. It was a very good book, obviously.

Mostly I sat on the swing and watched him play in the grass with his ball, truck, the dogs and all the random things he found to play with in the yard. He’d find a stick and one of the dogs would pull on it and go off and chew on it… then realize he’d found a new one and come back for that one too. Or he’d find a puddle or spot in the yard which was slightly more moist than most and play in that, or dig in the garden, or play with rocks on the patio, or… well you get the point. He was just a very busy, very happy little guy all day long. Which made it highly unsurprising when he fell asleep soon after dinner – he’d had a long, hard day of playing!!

Kevin on the other hand was extremely productive! He tilled up the garden, planted more lettuce and greens, and built a trellice for the kiwi plants (which I helped with after I finished my book;). In the process he got his first sunburn of the year. I’m happy to report that neither I nor Andros (despite having been outside for basicly the same amount of time), have one to match is though. Really hoping Andros hasn’t/doesn’t inherite his tendency to burn. Though, I suppose only time will tell.

Books books, and more books.

So, we went up and saw my grandparents today and dropped off some food that I’d made for them (spicy red beans indian style, basmati rice, spaghetti sauce, waffles). We hung out there for a while talking to Grandma and Grandpa. Dad went and did a little bit of running around at one point… apparently it was the first time he’d been out of the house in nearly a week.

Afterwe left, we went up to Borders so I could look at some books. I managed to keep myself from buying any, though only just. I was mostly looking at Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everthing and The Best Recipes in the World. I definetly would love to have both of them, but I think I want The Best Recipes in the world more. It just looks like it has so many cool, tasty sounding recipes its really pretty amazing.

So, I started a new wishlist for myself on thethingsiwant.com (). Its pretty short, as theres just not a lot of stuff I *DO* want, as crazy as that may sound. I mean, I suppose there’s lots of stuff I’d like, but not neccasarily ‘want’. If that makes any sense.

John Scalzi’s series about the Colonial Defense Forces was great – I finished
it last week – it had a fascinating premise and was just very thought provoking. I would love to read more about the CDF, Consu, Boutin, and the Perry’s someday!!

I’m also anxiously awaiting Sanderson’s publication of the third Mistborn book in October. The Well of Ascension was just as good as Mistborn, though it certainly asked as many questions as it answered. Which I suppose is to be expected in a series.

I’m nearly finished with The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. I keep forgetting to look up and see what the next book is and if any of the libraries around here have a copy. I’m sure Tor’s hope was not to encourage more library usage, but that’s certainly been my reaction. I just can’t justify spending $8-25 on a couple days of bliss, you know? Honestly though, they are selecting wonderful series.

Gardening & cooking

So, tonight I made Spicy Red Beans Indian Style, with basmati rice and a salad. It turned out pretty good, with lots left over to take up to my grandparents tomorrow. Last night I made spaghetti, so we’ll be taking some spaghetti sauce up too. I think dad should be capable of cooking rice and noodles to go with them. I’m still amazed at how much I like cooking and eating vegetarian meals to be honest. I never thought I’d be able to even consider being a vegetarian, but I really think I could do it these days. Mostly, anyways.

It’s been pretty nice outside the past few days, which has been awesome. We got tomatoes & peppers started upstairs and green onions (yellow & red), planted outside on Tuesday. Then today we planted 22 rows of lettuce, spinach, mustard and arugula outside. I really hope everything comes up and does well. Its the first time I’ve planted anything in a really long time. I think the last time I did any actual gardening myself was when I grew a giant pumpkin in like 1997 or 98. A long time ago, basically.