still here...

This print is by Stefanie Beyeler. She was featured in Storque on etsy and I was intrigued by the way she does people. And then animals. And then I was inspired. I'm just too lazy lately to make a space in my messy studio to actually work. It's only messy because there's a mile high pile of cookbooks with no place to go! Yet.

I'm actually in the middle of a super huge cleanout of the guest room closet and Caroline's extra stuff in the guest room (yes... her room is clean because MY room is a mess!!!). I went through winter coats and shoes to bring out the spring and summer things. We have had a few days of gorgeous 70 degree weather over the weekend. It's raining today but the last few days I've let the breezes float in through open windows and the daffodils and forsythia bushes are blooming yellow all over our property. Everything smells fresh. We spent the afternoon picking up sticks all over the yard from the winter. I love to watch the kids drive the tractor.

On Saturday it was Nathaniel's 12th birthday and he had a big party with all of his friends. He said it was one of the best birthdays ever, so that was a good way to end his "childhood" and usher in the following teenage years. I was looking through old albums at earlier years of him and just am amazed at how fast everything has happened. I think everyone probably feels this way, but it's easy to regret not enjoying the earlier years more... I guess we're so busy parenting that it's hard to see just how darn cute they really are! Maybe that's why being a grandparent is so rewarding. You can definitely appreciate every stage because you're not in there every day doing it all.

We've almost got our family room/kitchen all painted and then we're putting up crown moulding... a huge project! But it looks so nice. I'll take some pics soon... probably even before it's finished.

We watched "Mr. Holland's Opus" last night with the kids and it made me miss teaching. I'm happy just doing what I'm doing right now but there is always a part of me that wants to give something to the community. I was trying to think of where that part of me came from and I guess it was being a part of a youth group growing up and realizing that everyone has something to contribute to make the world a better place. Teaching kids and seeing them excited about being able to do something new is one of the best feelings. My favorite part of the movie is when Mr. Holland is upset about the school cutting the art and music budget and he says that Reading and Writing are important but WHAT are the students going to read and write about???! Of course it's another movie that I cry all the way through! I have to stop watching those!!

I made lots of things for fajitas yesterday (Nathaniel's favorite meal) and so we'll eat it again for left-overs! Here's a really good way to give some flavor to sour cream: Mix a cup with a teaspoon of lime zest, a 1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro, a 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and an 1/8 teaspoon of salt and put it all in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. This cilantro-lime sour cream is so cool and good with a hot spicy salsa! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Hope you are having a good Monday and enjoying the first days of spring!

xo ~ Bethany