5-28-11

Today I update my blog entirely from my new iPad. I'm not sure what to make of it and hope it proves to more than a novelty.

Dan and I spent 5 hours today volunteering with the neighbors to plant azaleas, service berry trees, and hydrangeas in the median strip in the entrance to our neighborhood. I met some really nice folks, including a woman from Alabama who went to Auburn around the time I did, and a young woman from Mississippi who had lived in Alabama prior to moving here.
Met a university senator and some other neighbors.. Worked my joints sore. It was a good thing to do and the median looks really good.

This day on 5-28
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5-27-11

Had a meeting this morning with some people in the county who want me to do some research at a new elementary school on environmental literacy. Sounds promising...

Went up to the new department office and hung the two paintings. They look really good and brighten up the room some.


This day on 5-27
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5-26-11

 

Ah... first Thursday of the Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA)! We got lots of greens plus turnips and radishes. Had braised mixed greens with garlic for dinner along with BLATs (Bacon Lettuce Avocado and Tomato). I love eating local and seasonal veggies, and not having to shop for my food. Did I mention I hate grocery shopping? This is just so much fun.

This day on 5-26
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5-25-11

 

 

I accomplished a great task today- framing these two watercolors. They are a surprise for my co-workers!

This day on 5-25
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5-24-11

 

FINALLY I won a game with Miss March. She had a 10 win streak and I finally broke it. Not much to report today.

This day on 5-24
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5-23-11

Happy Birthday Dan! You asked for eclairs, I made you eclairs. First making the dough, then piping it out on a pan, then baking it, then making the custard and cooling it, then slicing and filling the puffed pastry, then making the chocolate sauce, then drizzling it, and then.... eclairs for you!

This day on 5-23
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5-22-11

 

This evening after a terrific thunderstorm with hail I went in search of water with my camera. As much as I'm sick and tired of rain in this place, water is still a beautiful thing. Or, it can be. This is an assignment from the 52 Photos Project. Fun stuff! You can see the other water photo submissions for this week there.

Worked on book chapter, went grocery shopping, cooked dirty rice for dinner, etc. today.

This day on 5-22
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5-21-11

My first walk in two weeks due to an injured ankle. Frisbee loved the running game. Well, I'm still here. No rapture today. Figures.

This day on 5-21
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5-20-11

 

Friday. Dan and I went out to dinner at Smashing Tomato this evening. I picked this sweet bay magnolia flower and brought it indoors- and it perfumed the entire room.

This day on 5-20
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5-19-11

 

 

 

During a meeting at school this morning I got a text from my friend Mags asking if I could babysit Lex this afternoon. It made my day! I got to hold a 2 week old for two hours- feed and change her- rock and cuddle her. Such blessed therapy.

Ironically, I photographed a flower from the same peony plant in 2010. See below-

This day on 5-19
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5-18-11

 

I'm adjusting to a quiet house.
My office is a mess.
Once I clean it, I can start my summer.

This day on 5-18
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5-17-11

Bursitis, osteoarthritis, and plantar fasciitis says the rheumatologist.

I'm getting old, says Chrissy.

Jes went back to Colorado today. I'm sad.

This day on 5-17
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5-16-11

After a morning of hanging around the house and an afternoon of errands, we went to the Woodsong's Old Time Radio Hour with Dr. and Mrs. Phred to see/hear Tommy Emmanuel play guitar with his brother and band. It was a sold out show and fantastic. Jes and Aza came too.. we just loved it.

 

Afterwards we tried to go to Graeter's Ice Cream, but it turned into an Orange Leaf. It was good too. I recommend the coconut.

 

Came home and the girls decided to go in the attic and look through thier boxes of old stuff. Memories. Childhood memories. Boxes of them.

 

 

This day on 5-16
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5-15-11

 

 

 

My sister Sta came down to visit from Indiana with two of her kids- and we had a fun visit just hanging out in the kitchen. Squirt made us all lunch- grilled cheese, bacon, and apple sandwiches. They were fantastic! We watched funny videos on Dan's iPad and looked at photos of relatives. I took a picture of the three girls, my mother's three granddaughters. She has 3 granddaughters and 5 grandsons. A lovely trio.

 

This evening we had a cookout with my work colleagues so they could meet Jes and she could meet them. We had shish kabobs, grilled asparagus, corn and avocado salad, focaccia, and for dessert: pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream. It was really fun! I haven't had a dinner party in a long time, and it really worked out well.

This day on 5-15
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5-14-11

 

 

 

 

In the cold Kentucky rain, we took Jes to see some sights. First we went to Keeneland and pet horses and walked around the place... even tried on hats in the gift shop. Then we drove out to Woodford Reserve and did the bourbon tour. Loved the chocolate bourbon balls.

Jes and Squirt cooked dinner- and did the grocery shopping for it- and it was fantastic. Grilled chicken and vegetable paninis with hummus and cheese. And sauteed squash with caramalized onions. It was such a wonderful thing to have Aza clean for me and Jes and Squirt shop and cook for me- best Mother's Week present ever. Five around the kitchen table. Loved it.

Oh, and then we watched a documentary (thanks to Root) about the Yogis of Tibet and we laughed our heads off watching the "secret" rituals never before filmed.

This day on 5-14
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5-13-11

 

 

 

Woke up, bottled a new batch of kombucha.
Wrote all morning.
Got my hair cut this afternoon.
Cooked dinner.
Waited for Jes and Dan to arrive... and they did.
Jes brought tons of samples from the vitamin store she works at. I'm eating a Cocoa Cassava bar right now and it's soooo good.
Not sure about the hair cut.

This day on 5-13
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5-12-11

My SCOBY is growing. Starting a new batch of kombucha today. Aza came over today to visit. We sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee and I loved it. Maybe Jes will arrive tomorrow? She's stuck in C'ville with a broken car.

This day on 5-12
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5-11-11

 

This photo is a surprise for my husband. Hmmmm.... what did Chrissy do today?

This day on 5-11
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5-10-11

 

 

Irises in the garden. There are at least 4 varieties. Tall big purple, short purple, tall skinny purple, and tall white and short white.

I tested the pH of my kombucha today and it's good. 3.0 is where it's supposed to be. I tested plain tea just to check and it's definitely up over 5. I love my kombucha.

This day on 5-10
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5-9-11

 

 

 

 

Peonies! The peonies are here! There must be at least six varieties in the garden. I love them all.
Today I spent all day writing.
Cooked my son a nice dinner- then wrote some more.

This day on 5-9
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5-8-11

This Mothers Day, I went out to brunch with Dan and 2/3 of my children. Jes arrives this week, so it will really feel like Mothers Weekend then! We went to Doodles and I had the Sweet Strawberry Wine French Toast with coffee and beignets. Mmmmmm....

This day on 5-8
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5-7-11

 

Perfect little Lex, baby daughter of my friend Mags-- just four days old. The first time I met this little peanut, she was only 20 weeks along and I made a video of her ultrasound with my iPhone. I've been waiting to see her in person ever since!

This day on 5-7
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5-6-11

 

I went to my new favorite store today, Super Walmart. Once again, this store had everything I was looking for- even the Fisher Price puppy, which has the voice of my sister Sakura who is a voice actress. This puppy will be a gift for my friend Mags's new baby Lex whom I hope to meet tomorrow.

Today I visited a teacher and principal of a local private school because they wanted advice on integrating STEM better. It felt good to be an expert on something and share that with a school.

This day on 5-6
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5-5-11

My first large batch of Kombucha ready for bottling after 8 days of fermentation. It should be ready to drink in a few days. Stop on by this weekend if you want to sample some non-alcoholic home-brewed booch!

This day on 5-5
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5-4-11

May the 4th be with you! Today was a special day because my friend Mags's baby girl was born this morning. I can't wait to see them. Perhaps I'll have some new baby pictures in a day or two.

Another photo of my garden- irises, columbine, and peonies in bloom. It was cold today. It was hard to be motivated. All my joints hurt, I think, from all the lifting yesterday.

This day on 5-4
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5-3-11

 

 

 

Got to school early to give an exam, stayed for a meeting at which I was supposed to present but we ran out of time, then rushed off to help load supplies being collected for the Alabama tornado survivors. It was the most rewarding two hours I've spent in a very long time. I was so touched and humbled and amazed at the generosity of people coming by with hundreds of dollars worth of things to donate. One man came with entire SUV full of brand new supplies. The main things people brought were diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, clothes, and food. We filled one POD with clothes (there I am inside that POD trying to organize things so we could get more room), one with paper products, and one with food. It's one small gesture of many around the country. Shipments going to Alabama from all over the country. Really truly amazing. And to think that just one county west of where my mom lives, devastation. I can't imagine if it were my home town in addition to my home state. My adopted home state.

After that I met up with some students heading up the student chapter of NSTA and treated one of them (the secretary) to dinner. OK, Aza is the secretary!

This day on 5-3
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