Cherry Blossoms

We are doing the DC cherry blossom walk/watch/whatever this weekend! I can't wait!
http://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=404

I just think that site is cool because I am a garden geek.

ps- this is the best picture I could get of the only cherry tree in the neighborhood. I hope MUCH better ones will be coming soon.

Spring!

The first is my lovely painted toenails, pink in honor of spring set against our not-quite-green lawn (and I know I have ugly feet. Please just ignore them and focus on the springiness). Following the foot photo shoot, Parker and I took a walk today around the neighborhood just so I could take pictures of the blooming trees. I'm sure someone thought I was canvasing the neighborhood for burglaries. Heh. The second picture is my favorite. I even managed to get the background blurry. If you are interested, the rest of the photostream from the walk can be found here- http://dazismazimaryland.shutterfly.com/78
We talked with Peggy, the walking neighbor who moved here in 1978, again. I met her once before and discussed the possibility of a hawk swooping down and attacking my cat. This time we talked digital cameras and the fact that Safeway is no longer selling film or processing it. Interesting fact that I will have to look into more when I have the time. She has a poloroid that she uses frequently and she is worried about not being able to find film for it. Now for that? I would be worried. Of course there is always online. As for the birds, I heard one diving into a yard. It was a white-headed one. It looked a lot like a CA condor, but I am not sure those are out here. And yes, that's right. I HEARD it and looked around to see it coming back out of a backyard. I tried to take a picture, but it was flying too fast. Carmy seems to be fine though and the ones that were hanging out by the field behind our house seemed to have moved on.

And one more little ode to Spring and Easter- http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlebirds/3390754656/

I wish I had the time to create natural dyes. I just might have to try it anyway. I know I have onion skins, red and yellow. That's a start. (I just saved some a red onion. Now if only Aunt Nancy doesn't wonder why there are onion skins in her cupboard and toss the baggie away.)

Storage

I caved a little and bought two storage items for my room. One I have been wanting since the moment I saw them at World Market. I am surprised there were any left after a year, but mine was just waiting for me at the Alexandria store. We made the trip the weekend before last. It's not that far. It just feels weird to me to travel to the next state to get to a store. And Miss Nancy's GPS lady led us astray. Very astray. However, if we go again, I know exactly how to get there and all the side streets for miles. It was weird. I got sad in World Market. I saw things K and I looked at together, talked about and ate together. It upset me and I had to keep saying a mantra to keep focused on the now/positive. It still seems like such a waste to me. All the plans, hopes, just the day to day. I know things weren't going well, but to just give up, it's just hard to get my mind around. But back to storage. I spotted this ottoman at Target and just about swooned. To say I hearted it would be too light. I wanted it right then and there. But I restrained. I thought about it. Thought about space, money, etc. I do need something for my oldest cat to hop onto to get onto my bed. But was there room in my room? I weighed and weighed and finally decided to get it. I love it. I want to pet it endlessly. It makes me so happy to see my cat perched on it. I still haven't filled it up. That's great! I'm keeping library books and some yarn projects inside. I'd store more, but I don't know when my son will figure out the top comes off. For now, he is happy to bang on the top. I should take another picture once I have the bookcase full and the comforter on my bed. Miss Fluff made a mess so I had to wash it. But in this one, you can see my new pink sheets and the bedskirt.

We planted last week. Here is one shot of view out of the kitchen window where I planted morning glories plus some of the wild chives we've been eating. The second is the bed in the front. I still haven't gotten to making beds by the side of the house. I have to come up with bunny-proof fences. I am thinking I will keep the lettuces on the deck in pots and plant the bigger things down where the bunnies will be. Nothing in the front has sprouted yet despite all the rain. I just checked! I might cave and buy some pansies to brighten things up.

Hail!

Parker saw his first hail storm this afternoon! He happened to be strapped into his high chair eating dinner, so I turned him completely around and let him watch out the sliding glass door. I showed him some, but he wasn't that interested. I was even willing to let him eat it! On a side note, it's so nice to be able to feed him bits of what I am eating. He's really getting to the point where he likes the seasoned food much better than the plain. He still balks at chunkier portions though. He prefers to just gobble and swallow. That's my boy!

This seems to be my week of links. I'll get back to posting shortly. Until then- http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Save-on-Sustainable-Gallery-44032808?src=rss

And also http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods

I thought I would share this link as well. It might come in handy if you are decorating and can't decide on the right paint to buy.

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/colors.php

If only...

I heart these shoes- http://www.bluefly.com/Nanette-Lepore-pink-leather-Flirty-Flower-wedges/cat180022/212968700/detail.fly


Not exactly momma shoes, but boy would I feel like a hot momma in those!

Fourth Tooth for the Parker Man!

My son's fourth tooth is making its appearance and he is full of fuss! He's been refusing chunky bits of food. I can't say I blame him though. It's been cute to watch him figure out how to chew with his teeth and to see him move the food to the front and work on it. This picture taken last week (at 44 weeks on St. Patrick's Day) shows him in all his toothy glory.

More yummy links

In the spirit of gardening, I give you these two links-

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/seasonal-fruit-vegetable-tool-00000000008233/index.html

and http://www.eattheview.org

First Day of Spring!

It is my full intention to plant something today. It is! I was going to list the seed packets I got, but decided a picture is worth a thousand words or something like that. It's chilly out and the wind is blowing and to be honest, I should wait another week to sow seeds. I think they will be ok though. I can't wait to look out my bedroom window and see cosmos reaching their cheery faces in so into the ground they go.

Library

We ventured into town yesterday for an outing to the library. I joined a local book club and wanted to see if I could pick up this month's selection for free (since I wasn't about to pay for it!). The library is located downtown in a brick building. I will have to take pictures of it some other day when I remember to bring my camera. We were early so we cruised around down to a lake where I tried to remain unafraid of the geese while wheeling the stroller past very quickly. We already were attacked by a hawk in Lubbock and I was attacked too many times as a child just trying to give a goose some bread. But that's a story for another day. There were signs out not to feed the waterfowl. Seems I was not the ONLY child.. The lake has a lovely wooden walkway/pier. The weather turned cold and I didn't dress us up warm enough to take a lap around so maybe next time.

March Snow

Before I dive headfirst into spring, I should post these pictures of the March snow that arrived a couple days after I did. 6 inches of snowy goodness. The first picture is roughly the view out my bedroom window. The second is a side shot of the front of the house and the third is where my garden will be

A movie, beans and seeds

We watched Changeling the other night. It was a hard movie to watch. Just the thought of someone taking my son made me tear up throughout the movie. I can't imagine coming home and finding my son gone. I didn't care for the movie. It was depressing and while I am glad Angelina took a role with a bit more meat in it, she wasn't convincing for me.

Last night I cooked some delicious navy beans. At least I thought they were delicious! The chived potatoes took center stage to be honest. Parker, who had already eaten, decided to finish my beans and then another huge spoonful. He must have loved the rosemary or the butter or just the whole dish. It was the first time we actually "shared" a meal.

And the morning glory seeds have been planted. I used the seeds I had sent to Nancy a couple years back that she hadn't planted yet (bad Nancy!). I didn't take pictures because it was a little boring. Just me digging a trough in the ground while Parker, Nancy and Carmy watched. Maybe next year, Parker can actually help. I thought he would eat the seeds if I let him try. I am going to plant a couple rounds of the morning glories in case a late frost kills this first batch off and just to stagger them so maybe I'll try for pictures then. I can't wait to have my flowers bursting with color through every window. I might sneak out today with some seeds left over from last year's failed attempt and toss them into the barren flower beds. I know I have cosmos. I'll have to go dig them out and see what exactly is left. But now it's time for a shower and then downtown to get a library card and something meaty for dinner. Poor Aunt Nancy suffered through those beans last night so I want to cook something nicer for her today.

I leave you with a picture of Fluffy outside, enjoying a moment of peace. Or start with for that matter. I need to figure out how to move images around.

Kicking feet

My son is a kicker! I knew this way back when he was still inside. He loved to kick me right in the ribs every night as I was going to sleep. So it shouldn't be a surprise to me now that his kicking has been kicked up a notch (sorry, my bad, couldn't resist and all). He kicks while being changed. He kicks in the bath. He kicks when you pick him up. He kicks while being fed. He kicked the food cup right out of my hand the other night. It's driving me up the wall, but he's having a grand time!

Maryland in March

I haven't mentioned much about Maryland. Mainly because I haven't been out and about AND I haven't had time to post. I can't say that it's beautiful here right now. Although stark grey trees against a steely sky have a special beauty. As I was looking out the kitchen window this morning to make sure the chives growing wild right outside were still there for the dinner I have planned this evening, two white cottontail deer went bounding through the field just on the other side of the yard. Since we've been here the daffodils have started to bloom and the grass is slowly turning from yellow to green. Needless to say after Lubbock, I am looking forward to spring. The air today smells like blooming flowers. It's delicious! Oh, and the first of the cherry trees were in bloom last weekend in Annapolis. We are slowly settling in and I am feeling more and more calm. I am so looking forward to exploring the country here. For now, here is a picture of the kidlet at the Harbor in Annapolis. It's a cute little spot that reminds me of Capitola back home. It was very cold that day hence his ruddy cheeks and the lack of other pictures. My hands were frozen cold! I had packed a picnic lunch which we managed to eat at the water's edge, but it would have been much more fun if the sun had been out like the previous weekend.

Parker outside almost 10 months

I just love this series of photos I took of my son. This one is my favorite (and gosh, my camera takes GREAT shots outside.)

Parker in the snow

Here is a picture of the kidlet sticking his hand into snow for the first time. He tried a couple times before he gave up and started crying. Too cold for him! He liked watching it fall from the sky though.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Parker's new food today was not corned beef. Nor was it cabbage. It was strawberries. I cooked them in oatmeal as I have read that heat reduces the allergic reaction in infants. I think he will be fine though. So far, he's not shown any signs. I've been feeding him potatoes and he's been fine. In fact, the diaper rash I couldn't get rid of in Texas has gone away. I am not sure if it's the cooler weather or possibly the water. I can't think of anything else.

Still unpacking!

The subject says it all! We are slowly settling in and Parker has calmed down. I can't imagine what a shock this has all been to him. First the packing, then his dad leaving for good, the plane trip and then a brand new home without his toys. I mean to post every day, but I'm just busy and worn out. I'll leave you with this until I have time to actually sit down and write something- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wdkLE6LFSU

Oh and Parker has three teeth with his fourth just showing.

I need to vent or I'm going to just stew on this. K is whining about how lonely he is, how hard it was to watch his son fly away. Not to me, but to his past online flings. I am sure he is feeling alone. But maybe he should have thought about the consequences of lying to me constantly and avoiding contact with his son by sleeping all day. I don't understand how he can expect pity when he did this to himself. When he did this to US. I stuck it out, miserable as I was. I tried. I asked him over and over again to get therapy, tried to work it out, made countless compromises. I am relieved it's over finally. It just irks me to no end that he expects sympathy for being the wronged party. The least he could do was suck it up and be a man. Learn from his mistakes instead of trying to make me out to be the bad guy. Or maybe spend some of the time he is whining about how lonely he is to instead ask how his son is doing. Which he has done once since he moved out three weeks ago. I've had to be the one to give him news about Parker. He even missed his doctor's appointment. Honestly, we are better off without him. And I suppose it's a lot easier to pretend you are a good parent when you aren't right there, dealing with the day-to-day. Just sending money (which I hope he manages to do on time and on schedule) is not being a parent. And asking my best friend who opened her home to us to spy on me because K is worried about his son in my care is despicable.

I've been too exhausted and overwhelmed to post and I still can't find the cable for my digital camera or the thingy to put the card from my cell phone so no pictures!
We arrived safely (obviously). Parker was great on the plane, but after 5 hours, even the most well-behaved of infants starts showing some signs of fuss. My cats arrived late Friday night and my things on Sunday. Now if I can only find the time to unpack and the space to put all my stuff!