In the double-digits of April

 For the past week, I've been a lazy bum.  My foot has actually healed very quickly, and Mom had planned on staying for the whole week (we didn't know how fast the recovery would go this time around), but I had to keep the surgical boot on per doctor's orders.  So what did we do?  Well...

She did this...

and made these...

while I admired these...

and we both tackled this.  Sage, thyme, rosemary, and basil.  The last spot on the bottom will get cilantro.

I made a little progress going through this montstrous stack of magazines I inherited from you-know-who (I've decided if they aren't read by May 31, they will be gone!).

Mom also bought each of us one of these - a little book called "One Sketch a Day: a Visual Journal", which is meant to be an image-based diary of sorts.  It's fun!

Mom started it off for me.

On other days and at other times...

I finally hung Grandma's trays on my kitchen wall.  I wanted to keep them, but I didn't have storage space for them, and for the longest time they stayed in a corner on the floor.  Finally I found a solution that wouldn't damage the walls - 3M velcro strips!  They make them specifically for picture hanging.

I got an unexpected surprise of a tax refund, so I took a fun little trip to Cost Plus, one of my favorite stores.  In no particular order: a fun wallet that can hold my travel documents when I fly...

the long-anticipated bacon chocolate bar (two of my favorite flavors! Imagine!)...

and the also-much-anticipated ramekins. I come across so many recipes that either call for ramekins or would work well in a smaller dish for individual portions at dinner parties.  These are 6 oz each and they came 2 for $3.  Not bad!  I got 6. :-)  Mmm... I think the first thing I will make is Martha's lemon souffle that I've had bookmarked for YEARS.

Today it hailed (again), and it was wam and overcast all day.  I don't mind that kind of weather, especially when I have to be inside working.  I  made a so-so dinner of cooked spinach with nutmeg and some shrimp sauteed in butter.  It was ok, but I don't think I'll be repeating that one.  I've been having problems with spinach anyway - it gives my tongue and teeth a really odd dry feeling due to the oxalic acid.  I actually don't mind spinach, especially in salads, but I might have to avoid it from now on. 

Book club is this Friday; we are reading Perelandra by C.S. Lewis.  Have any of you read his space trilogy?  I'm not a sci-fi fan typically, but these books are analogies and ideas about Christian life and they make you think about some things in a different way.  I've enjoyed them. (Perelandra is the second of the three.)

Well, that's current life from Apartment 308.  Rather calm these days.  I can't wait to play tennis again!  See pictures on Meredith's blog!