When I looked out the back room windows this weekend, I saw this. Our little backyard. We have worked many hours in the garden to get it to this point. It is almost where I want it to be, the final piece of lawn needs to be replaced with gravel. And we need to get a firepit.

If I must say so, it is beautiful.

Before the growing season started and I was in such a seed starting frenzy, I had visions of a lush backyard. I didn’t know that I would be looking at it now.

I have Mike to thank for the raised bed and the heavy lifting. Mostly, I have K to thank for her creative hands, strong back, patience and company. We spent many hours bringing it all together, so I hope she comes back soon so she can share in the fruits of her labor.

“No man is poor who has friends.”

I’m a lucky girl. Lucky and grateful.

“We are restless because of incessant change, but we would be frightened if change were stopped.” - Bryson

Having K here has been great - our days and nights have been filled with adventure (drives, sights, trips), experiments (cooking, baking) and laughter. Mike has been good about letting us girls hang out and bond. Pretty soon here, our slumber party will come to an end because she will be returning home and leaving me to return to my routine. At times of separation, I always wonder if it’s easier for the person leaving or for the person who stays behind. I’ve not figured that one out yet. Maybe it’s just as hard for both parties. But I do believe that some people come into your life and you are forever changed by the connection that is formed. K is one of those few persons in mine.

Ok, now, I think I have to go pick a fight with her so I can feel slightly better about our parting.

I’m back. *sheepish*

K and I visited San Diego in the middle of May for a very fun girlfriend vacation. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel downtown and walked all over the place. I think we did the tourist thing but since we haven’t visited SD, it was a great introduction. The weather was mostly sunny but there was some grey (according to the locals). Hailing from Seattle, I can attest that SD grey is nowhere near ours. With that being said, in recent weeks, Seattle has been sparkling from all the sunshine we have been getting. Mike and I are loving it but K is just enamored. Who wouldn’t be?

There were many sights to see but one of my favorites was Balboa Park. The architecture reminded me so much of Spain, where I left my heart last year. One mention of the country will have me swooning. The Conservatory of Flowers was my favorite spot. Look at how the orchids are blooming and how the filtered light accentuates their loveliness.

Outside, the water lilies float quietly on the sparkling pools.

I know I always promise to write more frequently but I keep failing you. I know, fail is a strong word for this. The fact is, I do think about you guys a lot. Some of you I know in real life, some I have met in person, others I’ve emailed with, some I have talked with over the phone and others have come up to me in public to say hello.  I love the community around my blog but I sometimes wonder if you have stopped coming here. I don’t blame you, there are barely updates these days.

Life is good to me, Mike and I are happy but do you still really want to know what I ate for lunch? No it’s not the baby squid tapas pictured.

Recently, I’ve had the chance to reconnect with friends from the past and as a result of that, I am reconnecting with parts of me I have long forgotten. I realize how I have missed those parts of me and how I cherish these days. Life takes you to so many places where you can learn new things but I’ve discovered that my past carries its own lessons. Lessons I could not learn then or that I might have missed.

Right now, the garden, springtime and dear K have my undivided attention.

If you are still interested, it was fish and chips. *grin*

K really likes dessert so I managed to scrounge together the ingredients of this crumble for her two nights ago. It was very scrummy.

I put the seedlings in their own peat pot this past weekend and I thought I would share a picture of them. More on Flickr.

Here’s to a wonderful season of rebirth and hope!

Wishing you many a fun egg hunt, delectable slices of ham and your very own chocolate bunny!

I’ll be in the kitchen dishing out devilled eggs and some Peranakan dishes.

Update: see some pictures here.

After 3.5 weeks, my lettuce tub looks promising.

On the left, I sowed some arugula, chervil and tatsoi a week ago. No sign of sprouts from those yet. Soon.

I have been on the look-out for an outdoor dining table that would match these chairs I got at the last DWR sale.

I found this one on Habitat. Don’t ask me why I’m browsing at a store that does not have a US location. I admit that any pain from seeing something I want is self-inflicted. I just love their designs and style. During our trip to Spain, I remember making everyone walk through the store with me and the only things I could bring back were the linen pillow cases.

To me, this would be the perfect table to complement my chairs. Sigh.