Beauty, sweetness, wonder

Isn't this an awesome photo? A little while ago, I was working in the den and could hear a cardinal chirping away out front. I figured it was on the power lines, but went to look. He was bouncing around in the magnolia tree. I took this looking sideways out the front window so I wouldn't scare him away. He was plucking petals off the flowers, and trying to pull the buds off the branches.

This little guy was snooping around the trunk of the tree. I think I saw him out back yesterday, nibbling dry grass near the driveway. I took his photo through the storm door, but then did venture out to see if I could get a better photo. He didn't run too far, but didn't want to pose anymore, either.

Last year Greg found a bunny nest in a depression in the yard - wonder where they'll be this year?

Finally, the tree is pretty much all bloomed. The flowers usually get either frozen or hailed upon. We're supposed to have heavy rains tonight, but it's not going to be hot enough today for hail.

Blooms burst forth!

This was the magnolia tree on Sunday afternoon...

This is the magnolia tree today (Wednesday):

After the flowers fade, it will be thick with dark green leaves.

I love this tree - it was a birthday gift many years ago, and has grown from being a stick, to a tree almost as tall as the house. Those flowers mean Spring is really here. Yea!

Happy Birthday wishes!

It's the first day of you-know-what!

It is a dull, grey, damp day here, but warm, and the birds are singing. I'm not complaining.

Crane-watching

We spent a lovely day driving the backroads south of the Platte River between Alda and Gibbon. The annual migration of the Sandhill Cranes is beginning to peak, and we enjoyed the birds and the river. Sunshine and 60 degrees made it perfect birdwatching weather. Here's a link to more information about the cranes, and the place where we started today: www.cranemeadows.org
We took a minute or so of video, but the wind was blowing too hard to hear the cranes. Sounded a bit like "cooing". We saw a few do the "dance", too. It was very cool!

The Platte River (it's pretty when it has water in it!)

The crane in the middle of this photo is "dancing".

My new blogs

I've been reading several food/cooking blogs and cross-stitching blogs lately and decided to go ahead with my own. So here they are:

http://livedangerouslywhileeating.blogspot.com/

http://stitchingintheheartland.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

T.

Happy Birthday day - again!

He keeps arguing that he is 3, but I got him to show me 4 for the picture. He's really not sure what this all means, but is having fun with it. Treat bags went to preschool, and his Grandma is picking him up this afternoon. Happy Birthday, buddy!

Has it Sprung?

“One swallow does not make a spring, nor does one fine day”

(quote by Aristotle)

We all want to believe that Spring has arrived and will stay for a few months. I think she's just visiting, teasing, and will go away, laughing at our disappointment. Everyone will be cranky when she goes, but we'll welcome her back with delight when she returns, whether it is to tease again, or to stay for good.

This photo is my magnolia tree, taken this morning. It'll be blooming soon, then when the flowers fade, the leaves come on. It's gotten big enough to screen the entire North side of the front deck, offering a haven for those little birds who sing and flitter about, driving the cats crazy as they watch through the window.

I'm really aching to get some gardening going, but I do know better. Today I will clean up some more of the dead brown leavings from last summer, and bide my time until the bulbs come up. The hyacinth started up in January, then winter finally showed up and I'm worried they won't bloom now.

I do plan to have a small vegetable garen this year, in addition to my herbs, so there is lots of work to do to prepare for that. And I may be getting a small gazebo soon, so there will be a new area to landscape around.

Another birthday day!

Rock and Roll Never Forgets

Oh. My.

Bob Seger live. Along with The Silver Bullet Band, he made everyone feel 30 years younger last night. (The gentleman sitting next to me first saw Seger in concert in 1971 - I was 10 years old!)

This was by far the best quality performance I have ever seen in concert. I clapped, cheered, danced, sang along, and was even moved to tears.

When Seger says "Let's ROCK AND ROLL!" he means it. No flash, no dazzle, just great music, and he performed the songs just like we knew them from his albums.

I can't even choose a highlight moment, there were many. "We've Got Tonight" made me cry - it was a beautiful rendition. Then right after that he sang "Turn the Page" - I thought Greg was going to cry, too. :o)

I know this is a gushy post, but I can't help it. Truly one of those "someday" things that was so worth the 4-hour round-trip drive and the $$$ spent and having to get up at 6 when we didn't get to bed until 1:30. We always will be glad we went.

Wild Hogs

This was one of the funniest movies I've seen in awhile. I like to think my dad would have enjoyed it. The Harleys, the leather, John Travolta. Okay, I liked John Travolta - Dad would have liked the bikes, though. :o)

I liked this movie more than "Ghost Rider", though Nicolas Cage has better abs...

Um - yeah, I recommend "Wild Hogs" if you're just looking for a fun movie - not one with any deep, society-changing wisdom. Enjoy!

Edited 3/8 to add: I watched it again tonight with Greg. This movie was just as funny the second time, and I saw a few things I'd missed the first time. Go see it!

How have I been blessed?

This has been a trying day, and all I want to do is whine about it. Instead, I decided to list what has been a blessing to me:

Healthy kitties - naughty, but healthy. :o)

Hugs and kisses from Wyatt, Garett, and Grace.

Sunshine and decent temperatures outside.

Helpful people on the phone.

Looking forward to the Bob Seger concert tomorrow night!

Greg is on his way to being well, Jessi loves her new job, Nick is fine, and there is no need to dwell on the negatives. :o)

See?!

Oh, sorry, you can't see! There is too much blowing snow to see! This was the view out the front door at 6:45 this morning. Yeah, I just stuck the camera out the door and pushed the button. :o)

Snuggled in for a Snow Day - at least until I have to go to work tonight. Good news on the horizon, though. Forecast high for one week from today, 59 glorious degrees. Perhaps Spring is on the way, after all! Yea!

The Weather Forecast for the next couple of days

is for freezing rain, then 1-4" of snow. I have one thing to say:

Can we have Spring now, please?

On living dangerously while eating...

I learned to cook from my mom when I was quite young. Good, basic, midwestern comfort food. Things like goulash, tuna casserole, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, fried chicken.

Thirty-some years later, my cooking is very different than when growing up. It is still with many fresh ingredients, albeit things my mom never had access to. The fresh herbs, new fruits and vegetables, leaner pork, and fresh fish from around the world lend themselves to much different menu choices. I make my own pesto, and keep avocadoes on hand for fresh guacamole. I make my own spice mixes, have three kinds of salt in my cupboard, and a bottle of olive oil always at the ready.

The impetus for this reflection of my culinary history and current practices was what I made for supper tonight. We had fish tacos. Yes, fish tacos. I know to some of you reading this, that is no big deal. But we live in the beef-producing capital of the U.S., and my efforts to cut back a bit on our red meat consumption could be considered anti-American. Nevertheless, I took a chance. I seasoned and cooked the fish, mixed up some lime/cilantro crema and fresh guacamole, and heated up some taco shells and tortillas. Then I called Greg to come fix his plate.
He asked me what we were having, and I told him. "Fish tacos?!", he asked. "How long have we been married? Have I EVER ordered FISH tacos?" I laughed and gave him a hug - "Live dangerously", I replied. (And we've been married just shy of 26 years, and no, he's never ordered fish tacos.)

So, he made himself one of each, a soft taco and a hardshell. He added salsa and the other condiments I had prepared. Then he feasted. Yes, feasted! The fish tacos were a success! He's taking the leftovers for his lunch tomorrow, and I've been given the go-ahead to make these again.

I have to say, I loved them. And the lime/cilantro crema will be a staple whenever we have Mexican food from now on.

So I challenge you to "live dangerously" and try something new in your menu - something you never thought about eating before. You just may end up feasting!

Meanwhile, I have a huge mess to go clean up in the kitchen - that part has never changed. :o)

Good dental health

Take care of your teeth, children, or you shall have a root canal... (This picture doesn't really represent my dentist - he's a kind man. It does represent how I feel about going to the dentist. Weird juxtaposition, I know.)

I don't really like to go to the dentist.

I like my dentist, but if I only ever saw him at Gas 'N Shop getting a cappucino, that'd be okay. For 25 years, I've been seeing him once a year for a check-up and a couple of fillings. Small fillings. I have really good teeth.

Except for one.

That one has been the bane of my existance for about 9 months.

Today, we surrendered.

I have to admit that the rumors about root canals and pain, not true. I didn't have any pain during the procedure, and just a bit of tenderness tonight.

For me, the real trauma is the paralyzed half of my face for hours after. I keep feeling like I have to apologize for my mouth not moving. Of course, that would sometimes not be a bad thing, having my mouth not moving . . .

Ah, but that's a whole other story. :o)

Our Guitar Hero

Boys don't ever really grow up, do they? Here he is, my 23 year-old man-child and his newest toy. He brought it over to show us. A child must know ownership before they can share, and since he just bought Guitar Hero this afternoon, I'm not sure the rest of us will get to play... :o)

Edited to add: I just got a try and it turns out I'm more of a "guitar zero" than I am a guitar hero! Oh well.

The flowers

For the past few years, Greg has sent me a sweet floral arrangement for Valentine's Day. Delivery was bungled a bit yesterday by the florist, but I did finally get my flowers at the theater after I got to work. Customers commented on what a sweet husband I must have. Of course I agreed. :o)

My Valentines

Happy Heart Day to everyone. I wish you much laughter and love in your life.

And another...

Lewis just turned 24 - belated Happy Birthday wishes to him!