Baby E and dinner with suntaneye

 

We're on Baby E watch - M went into labour earlier today (quite a lot earlier). I texted J and both of us dreamt about Baby E being born. Come on Baby E! We all hope you are born quickly!

In other more mundane news, Simian went to work early this morning. He worked in the garden this afternoon and I baked a chocolate banana cake.

Suntaneye and her husband came over and we all went to Liberatore's for dinner. We've never been and it was good! Suntaneye and her husby know what I like - so they got Pitango's gelato as well! Yum! It's Suntaneye's husby's birthday so we had dinner, then came home to have a Wii-match. We also had cake and ice cream!

As I type this, I just got a text from WW - Baby E is here and both mother and baby are fine! Whew!

First snowball of the season

Black cherry snowball
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Simian went into work this morning, then he came home. We went for lunch at 5 Guys, then went to pick up some peat moss. We also stopped for groceries and for snowballs - we had black cherry (on the left) and cotton candy. The guy making the snowballs asked if I wanted blue or red cotton candy :) Nothing says summer like a snowball!

Bunny

Bunny
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Sorry for the blurry photo - this was taken through the screen. We now know what's been at the buckwheat though!

I went down town this afternoon, and then Simian and I met up with our former neighbours. We ended up having dinner with them at Tutti Gusti!

Clothes on the dryer

Clothes on the dryer
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

I got to use my new drying rack today - they kept predicting rain so I was running out all the time to check. It finally rained about an hour ago so my clothes were safe :)

My Scooba was also acting up again - it started twirling around and hitting stuff. I took it apart but couldn't figure out what was wrong. I might have to send it back. Why Scooby why???

Pilated woodpecker in the sun

Pilated woodpecker in the sun
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

I finally got some shots of the Pilated woodpecker. For some reason, some of the birds are being a little camera shy of late. This is the largest woodpecker in North America and when Simian and I first saw it last week, Simian joked it looked like a vulture. Simian has nicknamed it Pontius.

Busy Sunday

 

Simian worked in the garage all day - it was going to rain or threatened to, so he decided it was safer to build indoors. He finished up my new clothes drying rack and the planting boxes. However, since our vermiculite isn't in yet, he also decided to start up the hydrophonic setup so that we can transplant some of our seedlings. That's the hydroponic box on the new cart he just made.

I went and potted around the garden and did a little weeding and trimming of one of the hedges (the leaves are shooting out in all directions making it hard to see the birds). I came in and baked afterward. I made a mushroom and cauliflower gougere (though the receipe book said to just use an oven safe dish without specifying the dimensions - as such, I couldn't really pile the filling into the hollow - in fact I couldn't really get a hollow going with the consistency). It did puff up as promised though :)

I also made Earl Grey biscuits - I didn't cut out stencils from a paperplate as they recommended, trying to use my cookie cutters instead. That didn't work so I just ended up trying to make them as thin as possible. They were delicious. I think that worked. I baked a chocolate whiskey cake for tomorrow - apparently it tastes best after you've let it rest. Both were from my trusty Gourmet cookbook.

Dinner at Hunan Taste

 

We met G & M and Baby N for dinner at Hunan Taste - we figured G especially would like it and he did. Simian and I had a late lunch so we didn't order so much but we shared the veggies that G & M ordered. Our taro turned out kind of mushy and not what I was expecting - don't think we'll order that again. The veggies were great though!

Again barely anyone in the restaurant was not Asian - usually a sign the food is pretty authentic. They did cave though and offer fortune cookies.

Saturday

 

Simian and I had a busy day - and his started earlier than mine, hence he has now passed out on the couch. He got up bright and early to hit the yard sales, and then he stopped to pick up our eggs. The last time we had stopped by to get the eggs (we no longer have to go to the farm because Green Akeys now stocks them at a deli) we had noticed that the small, local bookshop, Locust Books had closed down. I was pretty sad because even though I didn't go all that often, I have bought stuff there several times.

Today though, Simian noticed that they were having a liquidation sale and it started at noon. We went for an 8km jog and think we spotted a blue heron at the creek and then came home to some excitement - Simian convinced me to leave my keys and phone at home, and then his spare key wouldn't work at first. We headed down to the bookstore after managing to get into the house.

The damage I wrought at the store can be seen in the lower right hand corner. Some of these were books that I had been eyeing for a while - including the pop up Bird book that plays all the different bird sounds for you. Since the books were 80% off, they were a fantastic deal.

We went to Glyndon Gardens after lunch but they didn't have the vermiculite we needed.

Sunny

I had to run some errands today (and stopped by Trader Joe's for more of their fantastic chocolate, with a trip to B&N). Afterwards, I picked up Simian and we went to Pitango's for ice cream - they have new fantastic sorbet flavours.

We went to Hmart - and then Simian went to pick up some wood at Lowe's. Weather was gorgeous again today though it was actually warm in the afternoon.

We considered going for this but driving back to the city at midnight just wasn't going to happen :)

Sun!

 

SUN finally! The weather got warm and we had a full day of sunshine and blue skies. You couldn't ask for a nicer day. Simian came home in the afternoon and worked in the garden while I cleaned the house.

Here's what I made for dinner last night - mushroom casserole. I also baked Simian's favourite cookie - ORCs - though I added cappucino chips this time.

This is one of the catbirds in the tree. We saw the huge Pilated woodpecker today - Simian joked that it looked like a vulture.

Suet feeders

Suet feeders
Originally uploaded by ariel1511976

Simian put up these suet feeders for me - the birds were always clinging on to the hanging feeder. Unfortunately it's been raining so much that the ground is all soggy - Simian put it in but told me not to be alarmed if it fell. It did towards the evening but the birds love it.

We went for dinner at D and H's home - Will and A were there too, as were D and H's children. Little L is a whirlwind of energy!

Birds

 

I spotted a new bird I haven't seen before - the indigo bunting, a tiny little blue bird (bottom right hand corner). The squirrel in the upper right hand corner was just sitting there. I wondered what it was doing, but I think it was just taking a rest.

Baking and Building

 

Simian and I stayed in today - he went out for a while to buy some wood, but then came home and was out building all day. It was sunny but cool out.

I went out and put some seed balls out - they're little balls that are supposed to be compressed seed. You don't even need to bury them. The one I got is for a hummingbird garden.

I went and filled the feeders and the hummingbird came into the garage while I was refilling the feeder. I flapped my arms when I saw it and it flew out. As I hung up the feeder, another flew up to me. Demanding little birds :)

Simian built gardening boxes. Since our veggies seem to have been eaten up, with the new box, Simian will be able to keep the deer and other animals away from our veggies.

I made more canele and also made a strawberry-rhubarb pudding cake care of the Gourmet cookbook. I've never used rhubarb before and realised I hadn't bought enough for a pie. The cake was pretty good though.

I also made salt baked potatoes care of the same book - you roll the potatoes in egg white and then salt and baked them. You can then scrap off as much of the skin as you like but the potato is lovely and tender.

I washed my car today - but it still looks streaky. I think we'll take it to the car wash.

Mystical Garden

 

Mom will remember this - Simian and I set up the Mystical Garden today. It used to be called Magic Garden. It was exactly the same as I remembered - including the fact that the tree toppled over.

Saturday

 

Simian and I had a busy day. He went first to check on all the yard sales in the area and then we went to the zoysia grass farm - looks like grass alright. We met a guy who is re-doing his whole lawn and said he had done his mother's. He loved it.

Then we went to Baugher's to pick up some fruit on the way home. I also got a magic garden which I had as a kid (will post photos when I have it up). Of course it's now US$6 instead of S$1 but you can't put a price on nostalgia, right? :)

We went by Suntaneye's to drop off a planter box. She and her husby have done fantastic work on their house and their yard.

Simian and I went to Holy Frijoles for a late-ish lunch. I had the taco salad and Simian had the potato burrito, and of course the generous free nachos - we rolled out of there and were so full, we had salad for dinner. Of course being in Hampden, we had to stop by Atomic Books.

Simian dropped by the lab and then we went and got some supplies before heading home. Simian just finished Don't Touch my Gem - I fell asleep halfway. For some reason, the sounds the characters make remind me of Pinball. Impy - tell me how you're doing!

Don't Touch my gem

Don't play this game - seriously. It's way addictive. How can you not love a game where there is evil bwahahha-ing going on? Guess what I spent most of my Friday doing? Fortunately I'm at level 14 so that means I may actually spend time doing something else tomorrow.

I've also of course been stalking hummingbirds. One of them has been using the feeder at the main door - but of course when I wait with my camera he doesn't show. I'll get that shot!

The weather has been strange - chilly. Today it was warm - and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny but windy.

Caneles and run

I made caneles yesterday - after watching this video. I actually think they look pretty much the same - the beeswax doesn't look any different. BUT I so want to try the caneles at this cafe. Incidentally, this batch of caneles turned out pretty great.

Simian worked from home today and I went for my first 5 km run. I also went for a haircut. Weather is warming up - but it's raining.

Pasta

 

The weather has taken a turn for the chilly again. It was a good thing we didn't pot the tomato plant we just bought (a Mortgage Lifter) because it went down to freezing last night and there was frost. It's doing quite well in the house now, on a sunny ledge.

Simian worked on tables for the guest room yesterday after we got home from picking stuff up (he also went to work in the morning). I made dinner - baked lemon pasta (to which I add mushroom) and just plain boiled asparagus because I wanted something simple.

One of the hummingbirds decided this evening that the string that hooks up our solar lights is a great perching place. I'll try and get a photo!

Busy Saturday

 

Busy day today - we started out early (though not as early as Simian would have liked) and got to the Butcher's Hill flea market by 9:30 am. Suntaneye and her husby got there a short while later and Suntaneye and I went for a stroll. We scored several good buys - there was a guy selling Egyptian cotton sheets and I got a 1200 thread count set for $20! I also got some Ogden Nash books for fifty cents each and a xylophone for Simian. Suntaneye got pots for her garden. Simian got a device that helps you to make frames and Suntaneye's husby got a microscope.

All of us went to visit our ex-neighbour, only to hear the sad news that he had just been laid off. He was very positive about it and kept trying to tell us to not let it get US down! I really hope things look up soon for him.

Afterwards, Suntaneye, her husby and I went to Samos for lunch. Suntaneye had to go home and study (and her husby to cut the lawn) so we made plans to see each other after Suntaneye's finals (good luck Suntaneye!)

Simian dropped by the lab for five minutes, then we went to Flowermart. It seemed to have a lot less booths this year and stuff was pretty expensive - we didn't buy anything except a small tomato plant (interestingly, they sold Chinese 'lucky bamboo').

Our last stop was to see Will and A as they were having a party at Will's for his birthday. I played with Arnold and even got to pet Maddie, A's cat.

The entire day was windy (we were under a wind advisory all day) and Simian and I went for a run when we got home, which was pretty brutal. I had to wear gloves and my phone stopped working (which it does when it's too cold outside).

Also, Happy Mother's Day Mom! Hope you have a good day - love you!

Spring

 

It's spring and all the animals are out. A few days ago I was jogging and there was a huge tortoise right in the middle of the road - I have no idea how it got there. There is a pond but it was a distance away. Then there are the birds - there is a pair of robins that has been fighting all over the yard. The catbirds are back, as are the cowbirds and of course, the hummings. Last night however, Simian and I were woken up by a noise - Simian asked if they were cats and I said I was pretty sure they weren't. When we turned on the lights, the noise stopped - there were at least two animals. I guessed they were foxes and from the youtube videos and sound clips, I think we were right. It was extremely loud though - and at first made us worry that something was injured.

The plants are also blooming - M, remember the chives from last Spring? They grew throughout the winter and they seem to be spreading. Yay!

I made a chocolate banana cake today for Simian to try - and added strawberries. Strawberries are in season and so we bought a huge box the other day.

Hummingbirds

 

First hummingbird of the season - I managed to get this shot off. Today I saw two - so either he's bringing friends or more hummingbirds are making the migration. Last year, this was the week they turned up too!

I made chilli and Norwegian loaf for dinner last night - and there was ample leftover. I didn't have non-instant oatmeal, hence the bread looks a little strange!

Will's Birthday

 

It was Will's Birthday yesterday! Simian, A and I planned a surprise day out - Simian lured him out to Frederick with the need to attend a meeting. A and I were there - A with a gorgeous cake that she had baked, in hand!

We went to Wonder Books and all of us left with a pile of books each (I got a fantastic illustrated copy of Rime of the Ancient Mariner!). Simian only left with two books - but then he's disciplined that way.

Will and A bought us dinner at Brewer's Alley and then we had cake by the Carroll Creek!

Lunch on a hot day

 

Another scorching day - it's as hot as it is in Singapore - and today and yesterday both have set record temperatures for this date in DC. At the same time, we're expecting rain and a thunderstorm, and I just spoke with K and there are floods in Tennessee!

Simian went to work in the morning and then when he came back, it was too hot to eat. I made a mango salad and strawberry smoothies for lunch. We finished Encounters at the End of the World and then Simian went to build some furniture and I did some weeding. Some areas in the garden are doing pretty well - others just have poor soil and weeds.

For dinner I made eggplant. I used part of the recipe from the Complete Vegetarian Cookbook and then added a tomato base with chickpeas and potatoes.

Grass and Food

 

Simian woke up to hit the yard sales early. He was out of the house by 8 am. I got up when he left and went through the huge pile of mail I had waiting for me.

We went out to survey the garden - Simian has been doing quite a lot of work but winter killed some of our grass, and we haven't re-seeded (and we don't think it's been done in a while) so we are considering what to do next. Weeds are starting to sprout in the bald patches. Zoysia grass, which we have in Southeast Asia, is being sold here. Big plus point : no mowing! It may be more expensive to lay down and takes a while to establish itself - but the not mowing is extremely tempting. On the other hand, clover may be a quick fix and also cheaper.

We headed out after to Giulianova Groceries to get eggs from Green Akey's - it turns out they just started carrying them this week. This makes it so much more convenient to pick up eggs. Also, I got some cannoli which turned out fantastic!

We went to Hmart to get groceries and decided to stop at Hunan Taste for lunch. We took it as a good sign that all the people there were Asian (unlike the other Chinese restaurant we were told was 'fantastic' - we were the only Asians there). Also, they don't muck around - you get chopsticks and a soup spoon. Unfortunately there weren't many non-vegetarian options, though there was pig's blood and other yummy delights. Simian and I however liked what we did have - lily bulbs and celery and corn, and potato noodles, and potato pancake. Plus - and this is a HUGE plus - they make their own very, very good chilli sauce. It was also relatively inexpensive. I think we'll be back.

Food on the plane

 

Imp asked me the other day what we get on the plane for Indian Vegetarian food (interestingly, Simian was asked twice by different stewardesses why he chose Indian Vegetarian, and when he said he liked it, the follow up question was whether he went to Mustafa often!).

I promised to take photos and here they are - I didn't get the bread or the papads and even though the seat is nice and comfy, I couldn't really shift the food far enough away so the shots are a little blurry! I also normally opt for the 'usual' dessert - which was chocolate ice cream last night. Interestingly, I had two appetisers and one main and no dessert for dinner.

Simian stayed in today and we ran some errands. I also cleaned the house. The trees are blooming and it's hot today - will get some shots tomorrow. Also put up my hummingbird feeders for the year!