This was the view from our bedroom window last night. I couldn't sleep, so I sat by the window staring at the moon with binoculars. I could clearly see the Copernicus crater. It was pretty fabulous. But, I didn't know it was called the Copernicus crater until I found this map of the moon's surface. Tonight, print out this map, go outside and look at the moon with binoculars. It'll be great! By the way! Check out the recipe box link on the left! It has pictures and links to all of the recipes I've posted on this blog! Can you believe requies has been around for more than a year?
I really enjoyed showing you guys some of my favorite prints a few days ago. I found even more that I really like which I think would be perfect in a kitchen or dining room. Click on the image to access the artists' etsy shop.  from mediumcontrol $22 A simple but eye-catching reminder. Do you guys sit down at a table to eat every meal? Jared and I usually eat dinner at TV tables as we watch Star Trek. I'm not ashamed! When I picture our future though, with children, we're definitely eating around a table as a family. I wonder if it will really be like that!  from handz $19 I love the mid-century inspiration in this print. But the simplicity and primary colors seem distinctly modern. Love it!  from SweetFineDay $28 This print is simultaneously eye-catching, stylish, unique and immensely helpful! I can't tell you how many times I google "1 cup = how many tablespoons?" It also comes in different colors, but I like this pumpkin color the best.
Thanks Jan, Jenna and Kristy for letting me post your images!
Decorating kitchens is hard! Do you guys have any tips?
We just moved into our new apartment, and our walls are bare waiting to display some beautiful art. Here are my favorite pieces I've found so far. Click on the images for links to where they can be purchased.  "Jelly Crop" by Amanda James. $25 at Prints by Amanda James Stunning isn't it? Could that be a pun, because jellyfishes stun people? Why not? I love the electric teal, the details and the cropped perspective. It reminds me of one of my favorite animes, Princess Jellyfish, and also of many trips to the beach with family.  "Texas, Deep in the Heart" by Cindy Tomczyk. $30 at Paper Parasol Press Do I even need to explain why I love this print? Texas will always be our home. We're sojourners here in Illinois, no matter how long we stay . I also love the crisp, simple design, the primary colors, and the vintage, kitschy inspiration.  "The Great Lakes" by Marnie Karger. $35 on Crafterall Illinois is pretty great though! I've had my eye on this paper cut art for some time now. I love the depth it gives to the Great Lakes, and the colors remind me of cold, immense Lake Michigan.  "Abstract 1" by Ashley Goldberg. $20 at AshleyG I already have one of Ashley G's prints called Knitty Knitty. Love it! The colors in Abstract 1 just make me happy! When I look at it I hear bossa nova in my head! There's definitely something tropical about the abstract shapes to me. I see waves, shells and tiny fish.  "Home Sweet Home" by Rosie Music. $26 at rosiemusic. I will definitely buy this print someday, it's just too perfect! It is exactly like Jared and I! Jared plays the bass, for those of you who don't know, and I knit, which you all know. If only the girl also had glasses, and there were no cats. They're very cute, but Jared is allergic! Maybe I could ask Rosie to make me a custom print! In addition to the similarities to our leisure activities, I love the green color motif and the serenity captured by the artist. They all look so peaceful and content, I love love love it! She has a whole series of these prints in her store, I bet you could find one that reflects your interests!
So what do you think, which prints are your favorites?
Thanks to Amanda, Cindy, Marnie, Ashley and Rosie for letting me post these images of their beautiful artwork!
 "Twilights Moon" by Jaime Best, shop linked in image. I just realized last night that I call fireflies "Lightning Bugs" and always have. I'm proud of that! What do you call them?
I was thinking about it because I asked myself "What is your favorite thing about summer?" This summer has been chaotic, we totaled our car (and we're both totally unscathed!), had a lot of unexpected expenses (like fixing the AC on the car that got totaled only days later), we both got sick, we moved into a new apartment (which we're very thankful for but the process was quite stressful) and we bought a new car (again which we're very thankful for but making such a big purchase can be unnerving, it also falls into the unexpected expenses category)! And all this in just 3 weeks!
In the midst of all this chaos, I haven't really had a chance to enjoy summer, with the exception of the trip to Florida which was glorious. And even now that it's all over I still am really jumpy; when the phone rings my heart races because my first instinct is that it's bad news, and I've been having trouble sleeping, which is rare for me.
So, to help calm my nerves and force myself to enjoy this beautiful weather and all the things that come with it, I was thinking about what aspect of summer I really wanted to savor. I chose lightning bugs! They're so magical and tranquil and I love how you see them just as twilight begins, the most peaceful time of the day. They also remind me of my childhood, catching them in mason jars on Mammaw's driveway and then barbarically rupturing their abdomens to smear their glowing guts on my face. Kids are gross! And in the future when I see lightning bugs I'll remember the walks Jared and I have been taking and how we stop to admire them as we hold hands. Yep, lightning bugs definitely help me relax and enjoy summer.
The beautiful print above reminds me of Psalm 4:8, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone O Lord make me dwell in safety." Thanks for reading this, writing it was a good exercise for me to remember how blessed I am and how good God is.
Jared and I had a wonderful little celebration last night! We walked to a nearby lake and sat on a blanket to watch distant fireworks. We had a great view and we were the only people there! The fireworks were accompanied by a bright, low crescent moon and lightning bugs. Delightful!
Yesterday was a less than perfect day. It's funny how on days like those little bits of beauty are much more poignant and moving. Like this sweet little guy! I stared out my window and watched this teeny hummingbird for a good 10 minutes. I'm going to miss him when we move!
Other little things that made my day.
-Jared and I spotted a little bunny which is plenty cute, but then Jared said, "wook at that wittle bunny wabbit!" Cuteness overload!
-Being given the freedom to vent at a book group I go to with ladies from church. And that they listened sympathetically and genuinely want to be posted on how things turn out.
-Going to Chipotle. We go there so often that the people who work there know us. I love seeing their welcoming smiles of recognition. It makes me feel like I'm living in a small town!
What little things can turn your day from bad to good?
When I was in Houston for Delaney's birthday, I went through some stuff that my mom had from my grandparent's house. Guys, I hit the vintage mother lode! I could probably start a whole blog just about going through all those boxes. And maybe I'd do that if we lived in Houston. Instead, I'm going to show you guys the cream of the crop in the next few posts. So stay tuned!
Today, I'm going to start with my favorite photos. This is my Pappaw. Handsome huh? He died last summer at 93 years old. I could go on and on about it, but I won't. If you're interested, just ask!
This is my Mammaw with Tim, my uncle. Mom says this photo was taken while they were living on the military base in Japan. Pappaw was a pilot in the Air Force. I love this photo. So many old photos are thoughtfully posed, and those can be nice, but a beautiful candid photo like this one is unique. Her hand is so gently reaching out to her baby, it reminds me of Adam in the Sistine Chapel.
How...cool...is...this...photo?! Mammaw and Pappaw really loved their time in Japan, and would often share stories of their time there. I love how intently they are watching the man. I wonder if he's explaining what they are eating or teaching them how to use chop sticks. I also love that their eating bento boxes, so cool. I'm a pretty big Japanophile, so this picture gets me really excited!
If you, like me, have an irrational love for things Japanese, you will love the next post. I can't wait to share it!
and 8 days. Sorry it took me so long to share these cute photos!  The birthday girl makes her grand entrance!  She enjoyed her time outside, but refused to walk on the grass!  Bubbles are her favorite thing right now.  before  after  Once all the guests left, she was free to run wild, fueled by two cupcakes!  The next day, we went to the Houston Children's Museum. It is....the.....coolest! (Delaney loves cameras.)  The museum had a room just for babies and toddlers.  Delaney enjoyed having everything at her level and being able to roam free. Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!
At church this morning, Father Stewart quoted some lines from this poem by John Updike called "Let us walk through the door." I've always loved John Updike ever since I read Rabbit Run, so I had to I wanted to share the whole poem with you guys. Let us walk through the door
Make no mistake: if He rose at all
it was as His body;
if the cells’ dissolution did not reverse, the molecules
reknit, the amino acids rekindle,
the Church will fall.
It was not as the flowers,
each soft Spring recurrent;
it was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled
eyes of the eleven apostles;
it was as His Flesh: ours.
The same hinged thumbs and toes,
the same valved heart
that — pierced — died, withered, paused, and then
regathered out of enduring Might
new strength to enclose.
Let us not mock God with metaphor,
analogy, sidestepping transcendence;
making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the
faded credulity of earlier ages:
let us walk through the door.
The stone is rolled back, not papier-mache,
not a stone in a story,
but the vast rock of materiality that in the slow
grinding of time will eclipse for each of us
the wide light of day.
And if we will have an angel at the tomb,
make it a real angel,
weighty with Max Planck’s quanta, vivid with hair,
opaque in the dawn light, robed in real linen
spun on a definite loom.
Let us not seek to make it less monstrous,
for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty,
lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are
embarrassed by the miracle,
and crushed by remonstrance. Can't really add anything to that, can I? I hope you all had a wonderful, peaceful, blessed weekend.
I was fortunate enough to go to the best restaurant in North America yesterday! I attempt to write about food on this blog, but I really can't describe our experience at Alinea. All I know is that I was giddy the entire time and I'm pretty sure I giggled with delight each time they brought out the next serving in the 22 course menu. Progressing leisurely through the courses, we enjoyed 4 hours at the restaurant. Watching food competitions on TV I never really understood why presentation or aroma was such a huge deal to the judges, but knowing that the chefs at Alinea meticulously placed each element (with tweezers if necessary) on our plates and smelling the aromatics (some as exotic as warmed eucalyptus leaves) which accompanied each serving made our experience at the restaurant unforgettable. I'll show you pictures now, but I have to say I'm not exactly sure what we ate last night. Even though our servers gave us a menu to take home as a souvenir, some of the ingredients still elude me.  Each course had its own silverware, and they were placed on these linen pillows.  Steelhead Roe in a soup flavored with rutabaga and grapefruit. The creamy pillows are dijon mustard.  Razor clam with carrot, soy and daikon.  This one blew me away. In the little bowl is an asparagus soup with foam. On the fork is foie gras encased in aspic and topped with watercress, vanilla and mint.  This plate was fascinating because I never realized how much I rely on color to tell me what my food will taste like. So, when I ate this I had no idea what flavors to expect. It is halibut with all sorts of stuff, including pepper, coffee and lemon.  This dish was served on an orb with three levels. The first level has a rabbit parfait with pumpkin seeds, sage and I'm pretty sure that orange stick was freeze dried pumpkin.  The second layer held a rabbit rillette nestled in apricot and pumpkin gelee.  The third level was rabbit consomme seasoned with sage and cinnamon and heated by a hot rock.  This mushroom dish was plated so that it looked like they were just growing out of the plate. It featured morel mushrooms, wild leeks, sumac and pine (nuts or bark, I don't know).  This is a pasta wrap with short ribs and the diner's choice of toppings which included sun dried tomato dressing, turnips, tobacco gelee, blackberry, olives pickled in red wine, and fermented garlic, among other things.  This recipe is from a french cookbook published in 1906. It's called canard a la cussy, and it is duck, topped with fried duck skin and atop a puff pastry filled with more duck! It was incredible. Oh, and it was also served with the antique plate you see, as well as antique silver ware and an etched crystal wine goblet.  I think this was my favorite course of the whole evening. A single ravioli like pasta filled with black truffle oil, truffle, romaine and parmesan. The chef calls it 'black truffle explosion.'  This course is called 'snow.' It is yuzu juice frozen on a metal bowl with dry ice. You use a spoon to scrape it off. This was the start of our dessert courses.  This is a sweet potato emulsion served on cedar with pecans, brown sugar, apples, bourbon filled drops and cayenne pepper cotton candy!  This is a glass straw filled with water, lemongrass, finger lime and cucumber and sealed with a dragon fruit gelatin. To eat it you suck the gelatin out of the straw and all the liquid follows. This was simply perfect, so refreshing and you could taste every ingredient.  This was the final dessert course. The servers spread a mat on top of the table and then two chefs brought out the ingredients: creme brulee custard, hot chocolate, freeze dried blueberry, blueberries pickled in red wine, freeze dried peanut butter, sugar, and free dried chocolate mousse.  When they plopped the freeze dried chocolate mousse on the table, the cool fog rushed over the ingredients and it smelled incredible!  When they remove the glass tubes, the custard has set in place, and they burn the sugar on top to make creme brulee!  The finished product. Pretty amazing huh?! It was so neat to watch the chefs make the beautiful designs so effortlessly. I asked how they made squares out of the hot chocolate, but the server said 'Wouldn't you like to know?'  Then we demolished it! Thanks for reading this really long post and looking at all the pictures, I didn't even include photos of all the courses! Share in the comments, what's your favorite restaurant?
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