Weekend Edition: Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air here, but that translates to a lot of very strong wind.  It can be the most unpleasant time of the year, which is of course frustrating since all you want to do is go outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Sunday's breakfast: Home-made black bean with Oaxacan pasilla chile in banana leaf and chorizo, potato and wild mustard in corn husk tamales, eaten with Vanilla atolé.

Can you see the buds swelling on the apple tree?  At the tip you can start to see the petioles opening just a little.  (I think those are petioles, its been many years since I had to take any botany).

The flowering quince are way ahead, with actual baby leaves and flower buds emerging.  This is always the first to bloom on our property.  

Yum, this salad was as tasty as it was colorful.  

Much like myself my dogs are not the most photogenic.  Violet looks much less goofy than this in real life, as I like to think I look better in person.  That's why you'll see few photos of me online. 

Anna Sui double sided  fabric that I bout at Britex in San Francisco several years ago for an upholstery project that I decided not to use.  I recently rediscovered it in my sewing crate and thought of a new way to use it.  I'll reveal as soon as I actually get it done. (And yes, I know that at the rate I sew that could be never.  I'm working on it).

Meaningless Blather: Oscar Watching

Did you watch the Oscars last night?  I've got to admit, I do watch them each year, but they seem to get more and more uninteresting.  I'm not really sure why I still sit through it.  Force of habit?  I don't know.  At this point the thing that interests me the most are the red carpet fashions, though I'd like to see more of the interesting dresses regardless of who was wearing them instead of just dresses on famous (or spouses of famous) people.  One of my favorite dresses last night was worn by the woman who co-won for best documentary, but since she's not a celeb, finding a good picture of it was almost impossible.

It was interesting, and seemed befitting and somewhat intellectual-- perfect for a documentary film maker.  I think her 2008 dress might have been even better.  And I like her black (or almost) nail polish choice both times).

Overall I think this may have been the dullest Oscar fashion parade ever.  Though these red-carpet pics don't really do it justice, I think Scarlett Johansson's dress was my favorite.  It read a lot better on stage to me.

What I didn't love was her "natural touseled" hair.  I don't know, I think I'm as over the messy hair with fancy dress as I am the dowdy high-necked, sequined 80's sheaths being sported by all of these young actresses.  Case in point, Michelle Williams, who's hair and make-up was beautiful, but the dress?  Big blah.  She'd look awesome in Scarlett's dress, in my opinion.

Maybe I'm  just a  woman who likes contrast.  I like simplicity, but if you're going high-necked give me something sexy, like a mini, or at least something actually vintage.  And that's all I'll say, since I know full-well that no one gives a damn what a 30-something semi-farm living Albuquerque dweller has to say on the subject.

Did you have a favorite?

Hello Monday.

So my current work schedule involves Mondays off, which is great because it allows me to catch up on the little things that I'm too busy to get done over the weekend.  Today I got a couple of un-photogenic things done, like finally installing the pull-out trash can under the kitchen sink and prepping one of the raised beds so that peas can go in soon.  Then I did some slightly more photogenic things like getting a couple of gifts boxed up and ready to be sent tomorrow.

Eating leftover Vietnamese soup for lunch outside in the sunshine, with a shelter mag.  Ah, heaven.

And then following it up with this slice of sourdough cake slathered with lemon curd.  

And finally, cutting some flowering quince to force inside.  Yes, that white star is technically a Christmas decoration, but it looks so cool in that monochromatic vignette with the lamp and wall that I've left it out.  

Now its time to finish the day's chores.  You know feed the dogs, wash up the dishes, think about dinner.  Hope you had a sunny and productive Monday too!

Breakfast: Inspired by Katy Elliott

This morning Katy Elliott posted about the marmalade she made for her Valentines breakfast, and it reminded me of my own.  I know, I just posted about it last week, but its that tasty.   My current favorite (and I think classic) way to eat it is on toast (from this week's sourdough) alongside a cup of plain black tea and a soft boiled egg.

Happy Valentine's Day

Last year I had the time and inclination to hand make Valentines, this year not so much.  Instead I give you this photo of a heart shaped geranium petal that I took last summer.  Happy Valentines Day.

Sunday Evening

A glass of wine, and a shallow book while this week's sourdough loaf bakes in the oven.  Pretty nice.

Also, I bought this wooden wine crate at a Salvation Army on Friday, in order to use as a holder for the wood stove logs.  I like it, but I don't know if it'll be a permanent solution.

Friday Fun: Snack Time

After a dramatic week due to the weather, it was really nice to have a sunny afternoon at home to bake this mini pie, and to enjoy it a la mode.

And while I waited for it to bake,  I was seduced by the marmalade that Tawny and I made.  When I looked down at my plate I realized that I'd made everything from scratch, the bread, the cheese and the marmalade.  The marmalade is going to have to become a yearly tradition, its so delicious.

Most of the U.S. (and Australia, and probably Canada) has experienced dramatic weather this past week.  Ours came in the form of bitter cold, which caused between 25 to 30% of all the people I know to suffer from frozen and/or burst water pipes.  (Yes, I calculated that using the unscientific method of using my workplace as typical).  Then the state started running out of natural gas, which meant that some towns were without it altogether, leaving many with no heat.  Thank goodness we're having a little reprieve today.  Lessons learned?  Marry a plumber, they are flush this month, and invest in solar.