a quiet saturday picture dump

So we woke up early went out to get our inspection done, quick stop by the farmers market for the worlds best fresh spinach and then the slow quietness begins. I was busy sewing, David was busy playing online/studying and Isabella was busy doing very important little girl things like collecting all the small toys to place in the egg carton, emptying anything and everything that contained anything and bring a "bu" (book) or two to papa. When the afternoon sun hit us we all decided to move our quiet to the porch. We fed birds, fed our selves, napped, and played quite calmly with a bucket of bird seed.





I love slow Saturdays.
I love Bella's soon-to-be when-she-is-ready big girl bed.
I love my new little kitchen helper.

an afternoon and night alone. a first.

David decided to take Bella out.... OVER NIGHT. Yes, I had an evening and soon to be a night to myself. My four hours of solidarity didn't prove to be as productive as I thought they would. I did manage to make a lovely knit headband (which I wore all night and did not fall off once) and started a movie I have no interest in finishing. After sitting on the couch for an embarrassing amount of hours I called a friend and went out for coffee, with embroidery hoop in hand. It was a very relaxing evening and hopefully I will get up early tomorrow morning so I can get some sewing in before my family returns. I wonder how they are doing......

Here is the best picture I could get of this on my head:


I'll have some pictures of the very amateur embroidery I'm doing soon.

Two part post of a many part weekend

Part one: Veggie Burgers!

These burgers have become a weekly favorite over here! I have to post this for my vegetarian friends who are trying to cut down on their processed foods and my eco-friendly friends who are trying to cut back on red meat. And it is also for anyone who would like to try a delicious healthy alternative to hamburgers.

2 cups beans of any kind (my favorite is 1/2 black 1/2 kidney)
1 egg
1/2 cup rolled oats (not the instant kind)
1/4 medium onion (i use half if i have a good onion)
tsp chili powder
salt and freshly ground pepper
and you can take it away from there....
(also if i accidentally add too much bean water i add small amounts of flour to make them formable)

Mix all ingredients together, my How to Cook Everything Vegetarian cook book say to pulse these together in the food processor, but I like them just mushed together and still lumpy. With wet hands form patties and put them on the griddle at 325 for about 5mins on each side. From start to dinner table this usually takes me about 20-25mins. (allow more time for first attempt) Yey please let me know if you try them.





Part Two: Our accidental zoo trip!

We set out all ready to go to the arboretum for a nice day of walking down trails of what Houston is suppose to look like when.. oh no! every single road to the arboretum is closed for die hard exercise enthusiasts! We decided to head to good old Herman Park instead. We havn't been there since before Isabella's birthday. As we are pulling up we decide we should to to the zoo instead. I love how easy going my husband is. Here are a few shots from Isabellas first walking only trip to the zoo. She is such a big girl. and YES she is wearing the tutu I made for her for her birthday. She is no longer afraid of the tutu, but the baby goats were!

A very late Christmas post

We spent Christmas in Washington and happened to get there in the beginning of Seattle's worst snow storm in 50 years! It all melted away the day before we left (thank goodness) so our flights went out as scheduled. All my plans of showing Isabella and David some of my childhood winter favorites in the pacific north west were cancelled due to horrible road conditions. Instead we spent a lot of time indoors doing a lot of nothing. I think we all needed it. We also had plenty of snow to keep us busy outside. David and i went sledding in my old very hilly neighborhood and even brought Isabella along a few times. I wish we had more pictures but we spent more time playing this year.





Ok now that I am all up to date, I can freely post about anything now. I really hope to keep up with this more. I've been in a bit of a creative slump. I think all that "making" I did before Christmas tired me out. I do have projects lining up and I think im ready to get started. In fact tomorrow night is Jenny and my first craft night. (yey!) Im hoping it will grow and more people will want to come and be crafty but if not... I am ok with that!