Freckles and the Super Hero

This is my boyfriend...

okay, maybe 22 years ago.

Don't you want to just pinch his little freckled cheeks?

Don't you want to just help him with his science project?

Little did this young man know, he would one day partner up for life with a superhero...

I bettcha didn't know that all of the super-est of super heroes wear giant white velcro shoes.

Anyway, I share these totally awesome pictures with you because today I took some new pictures of My Love for his business website.

Usually, when asked to be in a photo, he freezes up like he is getting his mug shot taken. His beautiful natural smile turns into something of a grimace...Eeek! 

But today was a magical day (perhaps because a superhero was taking the pictures?).

I just had to share this momentus occasion with all of you.

My Love is a graphic designer.

We wanted to take some pictures of him that would show how sweet and friendly he is.

Which picture would look best on his website?

Awwww....

Which picture should he use?

Happy Friday

This week I have been inspired by Shauna Niequist's book, cold tangerines.

Here are a few quotes, along with some awesome

dog videos (you can learn a lot from your pooch).

Shauna writes:

"...this is what I'm finding, in glimpses and flashes: this is it. This is it, in the best possible way.

That thing I'm waiting for, that adventure, that movie-score-worthy experience unfolding gracefully. This is it. Normal, daily life ticking by on our streets and sidewalks,

in our houses and apartments, in our beds and at our dinner tables,

in our dreams and prayers and fights and secrets--this pedestrian life is

the most precious thing any of us will ever experience."

Dogs in Cars, from Keith Hopkin on Vimeo

"I don't want to wait anymore. I choose to believe that there is nothing more sacred or profound than this day. I choose to believe that there may be a thousand big moments embedded in this day,
waiting to be discovered like tiny shards of gold."

Beautiful Day at the Dog Park from Kelsey Wynns on Vimeo.

Roll in the grass. 

Catch a frisbee.

Frolic in the spring sun.

Have a good weekend.

Snowpocalypse 2012 and Avocado, Spinach and White Bean Enchiladas

Day #3 of "Snowpacalypse" in the Pacific Northwest.

The snow has finally stopped, but the roads are still frozen solid.

I guess you could say the cabin fever is setting in...

We took a break from the jigsaw puzzles and movies to take a long walk through the winter wonderland.

Our town was blanketed with 6" of snow.

It was so quiet. So peaceful.

With no cars braving the roads, we danced in the middle of the street!

Cadence brought her tennis ball. She always carries it with her no matter how long the walk. 

The beach was abandoned, but beautiful, covered in snow.

After the cold walk, we had a hankering for spicy Mexican food. 

I made Avocado, White Bean and Spinach Enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce. 

This dish is totally vegan, but can easily become a carnivore's delight!

Please forgive my food photography skills...this dish tasted much better than it looks in this photo. 

Avocado, Spinach and White Bean Enchiladas (Vegan)

Adapted from The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen

Preparation time: about 15 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Serves 4

½ cup fresh lemon or lime juice

3 medium-sized ripe avocados, diced

1 cup cooked white beans

1 cup frozen corn thawed

1 cup packed fresh spinach

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced, plus more for garnish

3 medium-sized tomatoes, diced

6 scallions (both green and white parts), diced

tortillas of your choice (I used organic corn tortillas)

Red Enchilada Sauce (see recipe below)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 medium cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 

2. If you are using frozen tortillas, defrost them first--fully wrapped--to prevent their drying out.  

3. Prepare the sauce (see below). 

4. Place lemon juice in a medium-sized bowl. Peel and pit the avocados, cut them into small dice and add them to the lemon juice. Toss lightly. 

5. Add remaining ingredients and mix gently.

6. Moisten the tortillas. Katzen has a great summary of the three methods:

   a. Sauté them briefly on each side in a little oil ("Very briefly" means approximately 10 seconds.).

   b. Dip them briefly in the sauce ("Briefly" means a dunking, not a bath). I used this method.

   c. Dip them just as briefly in water (least desirable, however easiest).

7. Assemble the enchiladas by placing a few tablespoons of filling on one side of each tortilla and rolling it up. Pour a small amount of sauce into a shallow baking dish, add the enchiladas and pour the remaining sauce over the top. Cover with foil, and bake for about 30 minutes.

For the Red Enchilada Sauce

5 medium-sized tomatoes, diced

1 large red bell pepper, minced

1 tablespoon salt

5 large cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat, partially cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. 

2. You can leave it chunky of puree in a food processor or blender (I used an immersion blender). For extra smooth sauce, pass the puree through a fine strainer or sieve (I did not do this).

A few things...

1. Today I visited Waterfront Antique Mall  

in an effort to avoid the Black Friday mobs at the mall.

The antique mall is very eclectic. 

A friend of mine has attended their auctions and found some incredible deals.

I absolutely love vintage restaurant ware. 

I snagged this heavy duty restaurant ware plate from the YWCA for just a few bucks!

2. Design*Sponge Online published a book this fall.

I check the d*s website religiously for their latest postings about home decor, food and life.

The book is beautifully designed. It lives on our coffee table so I can drool on it whenever I see it.

Grace Bonney (the adorable gal in the picture) is one of the creators of the website, and her home is featured in the book.

  The design aesthetic is funky --much of the homes are designed with mid-century touches.

The book also has a large section of DIY projects for all skill levels and budgets. 

I want to make these hand towels!

And these place mats!

Toward the back of the book there is a wonderful illustrated "How To" section for all of those intimidating craft projects like rewiring a lamp or reupholstering a chair. 

  I keep seeing awesome craft projects like these but just never stop and take the time to try them out.  

 A New Year's resolution of the crafty sort, I pledge that I will complete (and post about) one new craft project per month in 2012!

3. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars. Leftover pumpkin puree is a great excuse for these delicious bars. Mr. Living Lovely on Little (Mr. LLL) pondered whether these bars were part of my plan for world domination.

No, they are not. I actually borrowed the recipe from Elizabeth LaBau of SugarHero.com.

My apologies for the not so pretty food photos. Man, taking pictures of food is HARD! Please refer to Elizabeth's gorgeous pictures--I promise you they didn't actually look like a chunk of sod!!

Can you find all four?

This fall, the school I work for hosted a grand party... an extravaganza to raise money for student scholarships.

Our school has a wonderful nutrition program that emphasizes whole foods production, so this year our florist had fun with the centerpieces, placing some surprise elements in each one....

Notice anything unusual?

Each bamboo box was filled to the brim with edibles, roses, and succulents. 

There is little frugal about professionally designed centerpieces, but I love the attention this florist paid to the details, even hiding rocks and shells underneath some of the little leaves.

The florist was Fiori Floral Design.

A Change of Heart

(Note: This picture has been edited. No, I was not stuck in a hurricane and no, this is not another dimension or the World of Narnia. Next photo is the original.)

This evening I was disappointed to find it too dark to throw the ball for Cadence by the time we arrived at the dog park.

I became frustrated.

I realized that winter's long nights are quickly replacing the extended hours of summer sunshine.

Grumpily, I decided to hike down to the water anyway, primarily because Cadence had already smelled ocean and had her heart set on the visit.

Boy am I ever glad I did.

Sure, it wasn't the warm summer sunset I was expecting, but the sky was a turbulent and swirling navy blue. I felt no wind. The dog beach was mostly empty.

The silence, in combination with the intensity of the sky, and the twinkling of the distant ferry lights, was breathtaking.

How often does life end up as you expected?

How many times does life surpass your expectations?

Thank goodness the world isn't left up to my imagination!

Here's to more surprises like this!

Daydreaming of spring...

Making the most my sunny day off, Cadence and I headed to Sky Nursery.

Note: Co-pilot poking her nose out of the rear window.

But first we had to stop at a friend's garage sale.

(By we I mean I.)

Picked up a HUGE vintage wooden frame for $5!

Craft project coming soon...

Sky Nursery is beautiful any time of year. They are dog friendly (if your dog is people-friendly), and their staff is incredibly well-informed about the ins and outs of gardening in the Pacific Northwest.

Visit their website for a $5 off coupon for every $25 purchase.

There is also a coupon in the most recent Chinook Book.

http://www.skynursery.com/doc/gifts_specials.htm#coupon

http://sea.chinookbook.net/

Ah, I can't wait for Spring!

I might have gone a little overboard on the seeds this year...

Fantasizing about large fresh salads, pumpkin pie and butternut squash soup forced me to load my basket with seed packet after seed packet.

How can I resist such names as

the exotic Dolce Vita basil,

the silly Pinokkio organic lettuce,

the seductive scarlet nantes heirloom carrots,

and the teenage boy of the cucumber world, the burpless muncher?

It wasn't my fault, honest.

Can my tiny urban backyard handle my visions of bounty?

For those of you interested in sustainable gardening and urban homesteading on a budget,

visit the fine folks of

http://backyardfarming.blogspot.com/.

The Great Giraffe Masacre of 2011

This morning I stumbled upon the scene of a brutal crime...

The puff balls filled the air. Sunshine lit up the scene...

Who is the culprit you ask?

I venture to guess it is none other than...

CADENCE!

Oh no!

She came back to finish the job!

What a vicious beastie!

$1 Goodwill stuffed giraffe = Countless hours of fun!