I owe you one...

I know I owe you all a catch-up post on my trip, but here are a few things I'm planning on doing soon. I wish the week was full of weekends and I could just play...

1. Container vegetable gardening. I want to grow things. Grandma was all excited to work on their garden and Tony's BIL & sister, Jim & JoAnn, told me I could grow some in a container no problem.

2. My succulent plantings. These lovely specimens are from Kassi's home and were featured on her blog this morning. I want to make these.

3. Redoing an ottoman I got for free. It needs to be upholstered (I'm thinking some light, fun fabric) and it's dark wood that I think I am going to paint white.  My friend, Hourik, does all kinds of things like this and she said she would show me how. Now I've just got to set the date. And she has lots of succulents in her garden - maybe she'll let me take a few cuttings for my garden...

4. Hit the spa. I was already planning on going to the spa with a friend or two, but after getting sick this week, I am all for a massage. Like 4 hours.

5. And finally, I'm back in the gym. Or on the road. Or in the pool.  I just need to get moving again. After sitting at my desk for 882 hours (see previous post) I'm ready to be active!

Julie & Julia and the Fun in Life

Last weekend was spent with the Shachah ladies and we enjoyed a dinner at Outback Steakhouse and then we watched Julie & Julia.  It was a wonderful evening.  I have actually heard mixed messages about this movie mainly related to Julia Child not liking the whole idea, but after having watched the movie, I have fallen in love with trying new things again.

I spent today contemplating the passions in my life: gardening, knitting/crocheting, cooking, reading.  All things that have somewhat fallen to the wayside as of late.  I used to eat up everything related to these fields.  I used to spend time pouring over cookbooks, watching the Food Network and plotting the week's meals.  Now, I make a few different meats on Sunday and make salads for Earl and brown rice for me for throughout the week.  Thoroughly boring.  I used to read voraciously.  I used to look over gardening books and visit knitting websites.  Now, not so much.

Julie Powell says that Julia Child made her have fun again.  Julie & Julia sure stoked my fire for blogging, blogs, cooking, etc etc.  Earl and I ran around getting errand after errand done today and then tonight I pulled out my Bon Appetit cookbook and looked through the vegetable, potato and meat sections.  I modified the recipes slightly, but decided to cook peppered steak, roasted small red potatoes and steamed broccoli with crushed red peppers.  It was a delicious dinner and one I savored even more because I spent the time cooking it.  Now, I can't wait to find a new pattern and whip up some new crocheted pieces.  

Latest Happenings

In the absence of a post with words, here are a few pictures. I am grateful for the friends God has given me at church. And I L-O-V-E my flowers. Here's just one pic of what's blooming.