80.365

I recently signed up for an HTML class. It's put on by a group that's trying to create an equal-opportunity environment for women to learn and enter into the male-dominated web world. I even went to a pre-class mixer where I knew absolutely nobody, let alone the venue where it was held. I love the anonymity and the ability to focus on learning when I'm alone. It's fun to meet new people too, because everyone's from completely different backgrounds.

79.365

I made an appetizer for the first time this week and decided I couldn't just throw away the avocado pits. So, at 11pm, I decided to Google it and figure out what to do. *Probably not a good idea to start this project late at night. I nearly speared two fingers with toothpicks.* I uploaded two photos since the first one is so abstract you have no idea what you're looking at. Adam and I are patiently waiting. Apparently it could take three weeks to see results. That is a year to a three year old, I believe.

78.365

Seedling update: most of them are in the ground. They've been there for about two weeks because I had nowhere else to put them and they seem to be doing fine. If there is a chance of frost I will have to cover them, I think.

I had carefully documented what seeds sprouted when and which pot I put them in, but all that was thrown out the window when Adam decided to help plant them. I think this is a green bean plant. Who knows anymore.

77.365

Miata Rehab project #1: Here is a really underwhelming "after" shot of the new windshield. (I'd post the "before" picture but it's horrible). I had been patiently waiting for a big crack so I could get a new one since the old one was causing a leak. A leak big enough to prevent me from driving it in the rain, and that's pretty much what's been happening here for about three weeks straight. Why is the hard top still on, you ask? Because the plastic window in the soft top got so brittle in the cold that it snapped in two. Stay tuned for project #2: replace plastic window.

76.365

I forgot to post yesterday, so here's another one to catch up. The hostas are unfurling!

75.365

I have GOT to stop taking pictures of plants. But the tulips only stay for a short while. Enjoy them while you can.

74.365

My father lives on his family's farm and the recent rains have filled the quiet little creek so much that the water's frothy and flowing fast. I really enjoy the time that we spend there.

73.365

I should have posted this since earth day was yesterday. Oh well. Have a great weekend.

72.365

Looks like it's time for banana pancakes. Add a little cinnamon and nutmeg and watch them disappear. I love to bake homemade bread but I've never tried to make the banana kind. Let me know if you have a recipe that you like and I'll try it.

71.365

The remains of a healthy snack. I have to admit, healthy snacks don't happen as often as they should in my house. Sometimes I have to refer to a meal as a "snack" in order for it to be eaten. Heck, just to avoid tears and get a certain someone to sit at the table. I've found a lot of wisdom recently and it not only resonates, it offers solutions.

70.365

Traffic jam. This is what my brain feels like most of the time. Everyone's suffering from lack of time. How do you deal with it? I try to use the tools available to me to help. I write everything down in an app called Taskos. Because if I don't write it down it'll keep me up at night or I will forget. I utilize Gmail filters heavily: my MOMS club contacts automatically get labeled for that group, work contacts go into another group, etc. I star emails that need attention when I can't get to them right away. I use Sparrow for email on my Mac: it's a much nicer interface than Gmail's native format. I've got all of my groups linked to my Gmail calendar in the hopes that I don't miss anything. And, of course, my Google Reader is jam-packed with stuff to read when I get time to sit down. Anyone else have tips they can share for time management?

work day

It's been a while since I've featured some work. Here are some logos and illustrations I've done. They're always fun to work on and a welcome change from page layout stuff.

69.365

It's time for Easter egg hunts! We might get lucky and have nice weather again this year.

68.365

Not sure if you can see it or not, but the wind was blowing this little guy's hair and he was still singing his song.

67.365

Getting the little plants acclimated to outside life has been easy so far. I'd better get them into the ground before they climb out of their tiny cells and choke me.

66.365

Welcome to my office: a little Porce-namel table I bought for $15 and refinished and an old $30 desk chair that I also refinished. I'm finding that I am outgrowing them. With two monitors and a Wacom tablet, space is tight. I'm going to have to rethink this space. I will be sad to let these pieces go, but I have a feeling I can get some cash for them. My latest antiquing adventure led me to a Porce-namel table in ok shape for $200. Sweet!

65.365

This is what dinner looked like. I know I've already gone on and on about my rice cooker. But it's so useful it rarely gets put away. One morning it made steel cut oats for me. Later that night, saffron risotto with edamame.

64.365

We had one of those surprisingly warm spring days that make you think summer has arrived. I couldn't resist the green grass in the evening light. Our neighborhood looks magnificent bathed in it.

63.365

I have been patiently waiting for the small ornamental tree across the street to flower. It's spectacular. I was under it to take this photo and the smell was beautiful.

62.365

Are you the stinker that eats all of the bird food?

61.365

I've got nuthin' on this one. Too. Tired.

60.365

We went to Highbanks Metro Park and found a little bridge overlooking a stream. We must've thrown rocks and sticks in the water for an hour. It might sound boring but it was fabulous! It's nice to slow down sometimes.

59.365

This is what's left after making baked tofu sticks for a picnic the next day. I love the imprints they make on the parchment paper. Here's how I make them:

Mix in a bowl:
2 TBSP soy sauce
2 TBSP rice vinegar
2 TBSP sesame oil
1 TBSP honey

add the mixture to your tofu that's been cut into sticks and let it marinate for about 20 minutes. Place sticks on something lined with parchment paper and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Flip them over and bake again for 10 minutes. Done! We dip them in a tiny bit of soy sauce to eat them.

58.365

My most prized possession: my Miata. I bought it about six months after I graduated college and have been moving it from place to place since then. I sold it to a friend when I didn't have a good place to park it and he had it for a little over a year, then I bought it back. It's a serious relationship.

You can say it's girlie or cute or whatever. But it's a perfectly-balanced sports car, even if it's a little underpowered. It's destined to be a classic for some very good reasons: fun to drive, cheap, reliable, nimble on the autocross track, replacement or mod parts are plentiful and pretty cheap, oh, and fun to drive.

I'm slowly rehabbing it starting next week (I hope). It's seen some serious wear even though I've taken good care of it and it's time to show it some love.

57.365

A friend created his wedding invitations and all stationery at a really unique letterpress place in town. I went to a ladies' night event when it first opened and had a great time making little letterpress note cards. It's a fun idea if you're looking for something unusual to do. Or if you have an event coming up that needs a special touch.

56.365

 I found a really cool children's book at the library: Spot It! by Delphine Chedru. The simple paperboard cover originally caught my eye, but once I got inside and saw the uncoated paper, beautiful patterns and cool color palettes, I knew I had to take it home. Even if the boy doesn't like it as much as I do.

55.365

Sprout update: the ones the cats haven't eaten are doing well. After they'd germinated on the wet paper towel, I tore off the paper towel around the seeds and planted that and the seeds in a little seed starter container with lots of compartments (and a lid to keep the cats out). I've cut holes in the lid so the plants don't get too hot or moist but still have protection.

54.365

This is my last butterfly photo, I swear. I just couldn't resist posting one that was different than your average "butterfly on leaf"shot.

53.365

Here is a collection of details and other cool things we saw.

A special thanks to my travel companion who, first of all, believed that a small town in rural Indiana had something cool to offer and, secondly, waited patiently in the cold while I ran around snapping photos of nearly everything.

52.365

I  can't remember if I've ever had an old fashioned flavored Coke, but this is THE place to do so. Make sure you bring your sweet tooth.