birthdays
joe and i both turned a year older in the last month and a half. and yup, it's true. i'm still a year older than he is. can't figure out how to undo that one, and boy will it be handy for him when i turn 30...and 40! oh well. i've got three more years till 30 (yikes!), so until then i'll just smile and pretend like i don't remember how old i am. ;) (side note: i DO realize that i'm not old...i just feel that 30 marker coming on fast, and i'm feeling a bit weird about it).
anyhoo, the point is we've got a bunch of fun pics from all our celebrations. well, my birthday was in texas, and you've already seen all the photos from that (more than you wanted, i'm sure!), so i just have a few that prove i got some rad gifts. joe's day, however, was chalk-full of fun picture taking, so you're in for a treat (and long post).
trudy and donovan made me a precious dinner - everything i could eat, even down to the gluten-free gingersnap crust in the berry tart! they shopped organic at staff of life, and apparently had a blast. thank you SO much, fil and mil, for blessing me in such a way. it was a most loving gift. i can't tell you how much it meant to me. i feasted in pure delight, not concerned about a thing. :)
these are the treasures i brought home from texas. thank you amy, julie, and khiree! they're all being used as you read this. :)
this was my gift from my fil and mil!!! awesome, i say!! and their fabric choices couldn't have more spot on! thank you - i can't wait to make it!
okay, well, this wasn't exactly a birthday gift, but i got it right near there. it's a lemon tree, and i seriously think it's not gonna make it in my garden, poor thing. what with sitting in its container for weeks, being planted and transplanted, and finally accidentally being whacked hard by joe's shovel, and i think it has received a rough welcome. it's currently planted in the sunniest spot i could find, and looks anemic.
my mum bought me these hydrangeas! home depot had a crackin' deal on them and they're perfect for my part-shade garden! they're also currently planted, and happy.
this gift i am most certainly senitmental about. no, not a cello...but a cello stand! this is big, people! if one wants a cello accessible to one, and doesn't want to have to lug it out of its neanderthal cover every time one wants to practice, then one must have a stand. my hub got this for me, and i love it! it really has helped me practice more, which is good since i'm playing for church now. next thing to get is a proper cello case.
okay, on to joe's bday. well, actually, first, look at my hutch! isn't it adorable!??? yah, i think so. and then, look at that cute little menu thingy hanging there. that's also one of my bday gifts from my mil and fil! super cute and handy, as you can see.
i actually got balloons for joe!
at OSWALD, joe's most favoritest restaurant in all of santa cruz county. they were open in a tiny brick building in a side alley last year. then they were closed down because the city decided to make that alley a shop/condo plaza, so OSWALD had to find another venue. and boy is it fantastic! it's huge now, right downtown (front street, i think). and their food was still as divine as we remembered. we had a blast. and we decided that we need to save our pennies to go there at least four times a year, with the change of each season, as their menu changes with what's ripe and ready.
mil and fil. so cute!
this is the view into the kitchen from the street! awesome.
after a most palate-pleasing meal, we went home for a not-so-palate-pleasing gluten free lemon poppy seed cake with cream cheese frosting. the idea was brilliant, but the product was less than impressive - sorry hon! he put a good face on it though, and it was tolerable.
the fireplace rocks!
looks good, huh? hmmm. well, it was overbaked, for one. so it was anything but moist. bad start.
next morning, i made brunch for joe and our parents. actually, joe said he wanted to cook, but then morning came and he kinda didn't want to anymore. so, i was cooking in my jammies, rat's nest hair and no face on, and everyone came over and we had a blast. oh, the food was divine...i mean, you really can't go wrong with breakfast! we had amaretto french toast (i made some with rice bread for me...not fabulous, but i wouldn't turn my nose at it!), sundried tomato and fresh basil (from my garden) fritatta, bacon, strawberries and whipped cream, berry spritzers, and coffee from the Cat, of course.
joe had to get a shot of the meat.
look, everyone fits in our dining room! here we are about to dig in!
okay, after that scrumptious morning, we jetted off to the monterey bay aquarium. we wanted to see the sea horse exhibit, and it was a hoot! i LOVED those little guys. i wanted to just wrap one up and put it in my pocket and take it home. they're so cute! but, i'm getting ahead of myself.
it was 95 degrees in scotts valley, but it was gorgeous here.
the watkins came with us to celebrate
now for the seahorses! these are teeny tiny babies...they eat almost constantly, so they have to be in these little feeding waters so they can grow big and strong. awww, they're so cute!
leafy sea dragon!!
okay folks, this was my FAVORITE part of the whole exhibit! is this guy not CRAZY amazing!??? he's a weedy sea dragon!! i LOVE him! i really wanted to take him home. someone's gotta put him in a fantasy novel. maybe for n.d. wilson's next project. if he's fascinated by elephant seals, he really needs to see these!
see the man swimming in there, feeding the fish? joe, with trav on his shoulders, was watching intently.
anyhoo, the point is we've got a bunch of fun pics from all our celebrations. well, my birthday was in texas, and you've already seen all the photos from that (more than you wanted, i'm sure!), so i just have a few that prove i got some rad gifts. joe's day, however, was chalk-full of fun picture taking, so you're in for a treat (and long post).
trudy and donovan made me a precious dinner - everything i could eat, even down to the gluten-free gingersnap crust in the berry tart! they shopped organic at staff of life, and apparently had a blast. thank you SO much, fil and mil, for blessing me in such a way. it was a most loving gift. i can't tell you how much it meant to me. i feasted in pure delight, not concerned about a thing. :)
these are the treasures i brought home from texas. thank you amy, julie, and khiree! they're all being used as you read this. :)
this was my gift from my fil and mil!!! awesome, i say!! and their fabric choices couldn't have more spot on! thank you - i can't wait to make it! 
okay, well, this wasn't exactly a birthday gift, but i got it right near there. it's a lemon tree, and i seriously think it's not gonna make it in my garden, poor thing. what with sitting in its container for weeks, being planted and transplanted, and finally accidentally being whacked hard by joe's shovel, and i think it has received a rough welcome. it's currently planted in the sunniest spot i could find, and looks anemic. 
my mum bought me these hydrangeas! home depot had a crackin' deal on them and they're perfect for my part-shade garden! they're also currently planted, and happy.
this gift i am most certainly senitmental about. no, not a cello...but a cello stand! this is big, people! if one wants a cello accessible to one, and doesn't want to have to lug it out of its neanderthal cover every time one wants to practice, then one must have a stand. my hub got this for me, and i love it! it really has helped me practice more, which is good since i'm playing for church now. next thing to get is a proper cello case. 
okay, on to joe's bday. well, actually, first, look at my hutch! isn't it adorable!??? yah, i think so. and then, look at that cute little menu thingy hanging there. that's also one of my bday gifts from my mil and fil! super cute and handy, as you can see.
i actually got balloons for joe!
at OSWALD, joe's most favoritest restaurant in all of santa cruz county. they were open in a tiny brick building in a side alley last year. then they were closed down because the city decided to make that alley a shop/condo plaza, so OSWALD had to find another venue. and boy is it fantastic! it's huge now, right downtown (front street, i think). and their food was still as divine as we remembered. we had a blast. and we decided that we need to save our pennies to go there at least four times a year, with the change of each season, as their menu changes with what's ripe and ready.
mil and fil. so cute!
this is the view into the kitchen from the street! awesome.
after a most palate-pleasing meal, we went home for a not-so-palate-pleasing gluten free lemon poppy seed cake with cream cheese frosting. the idea was brilliant, but the product was less than impressive - sorry hon! he put a good face on it though, and it was tolerable.
the fireplace rocks!
looks good, huh? hmmm. well, it was overbaked, for one. so it was anything but moist. bad start.
next morning, i made brunch for joe and our parents. actually, joe said he wanted to cook, but then morning came and he kinda didn't want to anymore. so, i was cooking in my jammies, rat's nest hair and no face on, and everyone came over and we had a blast. oh, the food was divine...i mean, you really can't go wrong with breakfast! we had amaretto french toast (i made some with rice bread for me...not fabulous, but i wouldn't turn my nose at it!), sundried tomato and fresh basil (from my garden) fritatta, bacon, strawberries and whipped cream, berry spritzers, and coffee from the Cat, of course.
joe had to get a shot of the meat.
look, everyone fits in our dining room! here we are about to dig in! 
okay, after that scrumptious morning, we jetted off to the monterey bay aquarium. we wanted to see the sea horse exhibit, and it was a hoot! i LOVED those little guys. i wanted to just wrap one up and put it in my pocket and take it home. they're so cute! but, i'm getting ahead of myself.
it was 95 degrees in scotts valley, but it was gorgeous here.
the watkins came with us to celebrate
now for the seahorses! these are teeny tiny babies...they eat almost constantly, so they have to be in these little feeding waters so they can grow big and strong. awww, they're so cute! 
leafy sea dragon!!
okay folks, this was my FAVORITE part of the whole exhibit! is this guy not CRAZY amazing!??? he's a weedy sea dragon!! i LOVE him! i really wanted to take him home. someone's gotta put him in a fantasy novel. maybe for n.d. wilson's next project. if he's fascinated by elephant seals, he really needs to see these!
see the man swimming in there, feeding the fish? joe, with trav on his shoulders, was watching intently.
posted by jen at
4:14 PM
2 Comments:
Those seahorses are so adorable! How much do they cost - can we all just get one? ;)
Oh that cabinet with the glass door is so what I need in my kitchen right now. Since we're microwave free :D I don't need a cart to hold it but need a little cabinet like that for my cookbooks, etc. Where'd you get yours? Did you find it a thriftshop or something fun like that?
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