The Fallen Giants

To mark our second anniversary and a successful committee meeting, we went away for the weekend: Sipsey Wilderness area, in the Bankhead National Forest. We just had a few storms with a lot of rain and the waterfalls promised to be gorgeous. So off we were, backpacks and all.

So ready to be on the trail (and to test my new shoes!)

The storms blew down a few tall giants, making it challenging to keep on the trail, yet the scenery was breathtaking.

Other challenges: we had two steep descends with ropes; we also made it to one of the many waterfalls. We encountered a 4 ft snake, no worries - no one was bit (when we got home, Tom found out that it was a non-venomous black racer). We were both on edge given that this time of the year is ripe for snakes, boars, and possibly bears. We had bear mace but an accident can happen so quickly.

We made it to our campsite. Tom set the tent, gathered wood, and got the fire going. He really was in charge and doing everything! We had a few backpacking meals, and brought two steaks. One of the things that I've learned on my trips with Tom is to get a hot bed of coals, and lay a flat stone on top of them. The stone then becomes an instant pan. I love our sporks (SPoon, fORk, and Knife). Breakfast the next day started with a nice cup of hot tea!

We had a few hikers stop by and ask for directions. We also had a group of 3 young guys who were completely lost and in the middle of the dark night, Tom helped them get back on the trail and probably saved their lives.  They were so not prepared for a hike, let alone spend the night in the wilderness. We hope that they made it out of the park safely.
We had a great time, the weather was perfect too (we were maybe at 82 degrees at the highest, and about 62  at the lowest). We are definitely tired tonight and we'll be sore for a day or two.

Oh, Happy Easter y'all! :)

Sunny Sunday

Good news: Over the past week, one dahlia bloomed. It's gorgeous! And the strawberries are flowering!










Bad news: Aphids! On the lettuces, peppers, and the bulbs! They were in quarantine, and had been sprayed but in the end we decided to throw them away, dirt and all.

Tasty Tuesday and recap

Time flies! I've been away from my blog for quite some time, mostly because I don't blog from lab, and by the time I get home, I'm so drained that I don't even switch on the laptop. It's especially hectic this week, since I have a big committee next week, and we're dealing with some serious lab drama. I may not blog for a while, who knows!

On this edition of Tasty Tuesday:

CRAWFISH IS BACK!
I met with my BFF Nate last weekend and had a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon. It's crawfish season! How to eat crawfish at anytime of the day on the weekend: Courtyard Southside and Courtyard 280 start their all-you-can eat crawfish at 11:30 am and they run out in about 2-3 hours. Cafe Firenze on Hwy 280 start their crawfish feast at 3 pm. It's all for $15 per person. I love Courtyard Southside - Tom and I went there this Saturday and they let us take Tom's uneaten plate home. There will be no wasted crawfish in my home! Peel 'em and throw them on some lettuce (of course, from the garden), with some cherry tomatoes, sliced onions - yum!

Matt fighting the crawfish

As Tom's last birthday treat, I made him heart shaped eggs with toast and jelly. This is all he eats before his soccer game on Sundays. This past Sunday night, I attempted my first quiche, and made pastry dough from scratch. I used broccoli and mushrooms in the filling. I think it was tasty. And I didn't have to cook for two days! :)

Broccoli and mushroom quiche

Today while I was at lab, I got a special cake request from Tom, watergate cake (http://southernfood.about.com/od/coconutcakes/r/blbb262.htm). I've never made this cake and I hope it turns out ok. It's cooling on the kitchen counter, then it's frosting time.
Since this is for his lab, I had to make sure that ingredients were gluten-free and did not have red food color. I used yellow cake mix instead of white (Betty Crocker makes a gluten-free yellow cake mix but not in white). I used twice the coconut, no pecans, since the pecans packaging said traces of wheat. The only food color was yellow and blue in the cake mix. I substituted the dream whip powder with cool whip, and instead of milk, I used water. I'll let you know next time how it turns out (with pictures if possible) and whether anyone had an allergic reaction.

Garden recap:

All is well in the garden, lost one lettuce head. Three still left. The peppers and gladiolus are doing so much better after I transplanted them. The morning glories have twisting vines. They need a trellis, soon, really soon. Maybe we'll get one this weekend. I can't wait for my Dahlia to bloom.
We have some contamination, I think it came from the potting mix used (got the cheapest one at Lowe's).
Found some pretty flowers on a walk around the neighborhood. Used an old but clean garlic glass jar to display them.
And last but not least, Tom is eating off the garden! He is always drawn to this plant. Can you guess what it is? He had the same plant by his mailbox back at his parents' house.

The Garden!

The morning glory will need a trellis soon

There is some kind of contamination

Can't wait for this Dahlia to bloom

Found these flowers on a walk around the neighborhood

Question of the week - what is Tom eating? 

Finally Friday

I know that everyone's talking about the conversing twins, but on this week's awesomeness, is this dog;
I don't know how to put the video directly in this blog (it's not on youtube) but here's the link. 
http://video.mx.msn.com/watch/video/dog-is-a-total-showoff/8de98bja

I want a dog, preferably all trained, please! :)

Totally Thursday

 Here is the March recap.
I visited Samir and a very pregnant Laura. The 30 toes and fingers should be here anytime now.
Science wise, we are moving forward with my first paper, and I celebrated with a nice Sunrise, complete with the fruity umbrella and cherries:

In the garden, we have expanded operations. Our plants take about one third of our balcony, and we have agreed to stop at that. Our lettuce is doing great, and we are nursing new seedlings for the summer. We started a few seeds too and have some petunias. Our mums from last year had been outside since last year, and they needed a bit of TLC. So they are now on the balcony and have recuperated nicely.

In the kitchen, we are gradually eating more fresh food, and I love having lettuce on the balcony. Yum!

Thai shrimp noodles

Shrimp taco with avocado

Chris, Tom's friend from Wisconsin, dropped by for a couple of days.On Tuesday, Chris, Buster, and Tom went for a day hike at Sipsey. After all the rain from this weekend, there was a lot of water in the park. In all their years of going to Sipsey, neither Tom nor Buster had seen as many waterfalls as this time.

Chris enjoying the Sipsey water

Tom's birthday was yesterday - happy birthday! I went to his indoor soccer game, and then hung out with the team at Courtyard 280. The lemon bars were a hit.

Finally Friday, part deux

This is totally the song of the day. No more experiments for paper #1 until the reviewers tell me to. a.k.a I'm Walking on Sunshine!

Finally Friday

Finally Friday this week is dedicated to Katie Brown.
Since we don't have cable we are at the mercy of what the rabbit ear catches (Fox, NBC, CW21, ABC, CBS, my68, and a few others). We watch a lot of PBS, including the Create channel. About 6 months ago, I was introduced to the Katie Brown Workshop. She cooks, crafts, and gardens! She talks in this super cute way. Think of her as a young, more hip and vibrant, Martha Stewart.Katie does it all from a barn.
Guess who will have a craft barn when she finally buys her house?!!!
She has a website (http://katiebrown.com/) and a blog (http://katiebrownblog.com/).
There's a nice article about her as well: http://www.newyorkfamily.com/newyork/article-704-sweet-and-simple.html

Her tag line: "if you keep it simple, you can't go wrong"

Check your local listing for her show. It's definitely worth it.

Totally Thursday

 

Emily inspired this post: being grateful. Here are a few things that I'm grateful for (not in any specific order): 

Spending an amazing weekend with Laura and Samir Tom Finally recovering from whatev bug/allergy I had Having the Internet at home Skype My sister Raising Cane's in Dallas Writing club Catching up with Susie Beth LIFE The balcony garden Spring Lettuce from the garden My parents Talking to my mom when I was sick Tea with Paula Great landlords MagicJack Having the option to walk to work Ceiling fans  Discovering Homegoods Publix 25 cent a day coffee at the Institute Cooking with Tom Packing yummy lunches this week Tulips  Katie Brown's Blog

Ultimate gold stars winner of this week:
Tom for getting me donuts and juice when I was miserably sick for 7 straight days. And he made tacos tonight! yum!

Things that I am looking forward to:
The last cool days before an excruciating summer
SCIENCE! woot woot!
Gardening this weekend
Tom's birthday week
Crafting with Kelly on Saturday
A visit from Wisconsin Chris

Daydreaming about our next trip

Tasty Tuesdays

The first Tasty Tuesday: How to make healthy items into not-so-healthy

A few weeks ago, Tom suggested Egg Benedict with Hollandaise sauce for weekend brunch:
First time I poached eggs
First time I made Hollandaise from scratch
Result: I'm glad we went for a two-hour walk around the neighborhood after that meal - way too rich!

Egg Benedict on English muffins

Coconut Rum Apple with coconut ice cream

Quick Chicken Cordon Bleu (with a twist), with steamed asparagus

The healthiest version:

One of Tom's favorites: Cajun boiled shrimp,  with homemade horseradish sauce

And today, I had my first salad made with lettuce from the garden!

Something is broken

I apologize for the interruption of my blog due to the home Internet being broken :( When I get back online, I will have Dallas pictures, garden updates, and kitchen treats! Yum!

Happy St. Patty's Day Y'all!