“Parade of Homes” to “Home Sweet Home”

This past Memorial Day, Josh and I attended Parade of Homes.  For those of you not familiar with this event, it’s basically a bunch of home builders who finish their houses for this event, and then the public can tour these new homes in the GR area before the owner lives in them.  They are often professionally decorated for this event and range in price from $200,000 to $750,000.

Josh and I loved going! We mapped out which houses we wanted to see, hopped in the car, and buzzed around for the afternoon. It was so fun to tour the really expensive homes and see what cool features it had.  For example, one home had old barn wood flooring throughout the main living area.  The builder had taken old barn beams and planed the wood to make the unique flooring.  But it’s also enlightening to tour the less expensive homes and see what you can get for your $.  There was a cheaper (although awesome) modern home that had all the main living quarters on the second floor, which had a walk-out deck with a fantastic view of downtown Grand Rapids.

We wandered through homes, commenting on the layout, the building materials, the amenities, etc.  We talked to a few of the builders, who are usually a wealth of information.

And then we went home- to our humble home that has many flaws, that is a major work-in-progress, that we have dreams for that may never come true, and that would never be featured in Parade of Homes.  

But:

Home Sweet Home.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Windmill Island

A month ago my parents visited Josh and I, and we spent part of our Saturday visiting Windmill Island.  We had beautiful weather and the tulips were in full bloom.

an old Dutch building surrounded by tulips

  In the building, an old fashioned Dutch ktichen/dining room was set up. My mom loved this old stove!          

I loved the farm table! Can I take it home?

Dearest Madre and Padre

Apple Blossoms

A row of houses turned into a mini museum and gift shop

Dad checking out a replica Dutch village

Mom and I played “Cat and Mouse” on an over-sized checkerboard.

Hanging on to Spring

Spring has been so long and glorious this year, and yet I’m greedy.  I want it to last longer. I don’t want to let go of…

the lily of the valley’s sweet perfume…

   the dazzling flowers of the rhododendron…

  the splash of color created by our azalea…

 my faithful companion when I garden…  warm, sunny afternoons idly sitting with Bubba on my lap…

 picking spinach just before our meal (doesn’t get fresher than that!)

I LOVE SPRING!

Carrot Cake and French Women

Have you ever had carrot cake at a restaurant or cafe?  Much too often, it’s dry, very heavy, and the frosting is too fake.  That’s why I understood when Josh emphatically told me that he didn’t like it and didn’t want me to bake it.  But I knew that I could win him over, regardless of his protesting.  I used a Taste of Home recipe, which resulted in a scrumptious cake.  Needless to say, Josh and I polished it off in a week.  And he now loves carrot cake……in moderation.  :)

 And now on to French Women.  To be more precise, a book called French Women Don’t Get Fat.  I had read it many years ago, loved it then, and am now reading a copy from the library.  The second time around, I love it just as much.  Its premise (in my words) is that you can enjoy almost any food in moderation and that eating should be a delight.  It’s all about balance and quality, instead of quantity.  The book not only inspires me to eat healthier overall, but also to dive into the kitchen with fresh ingredients and new recipes.

Outdoor Baked Taters and Onions

They were delectable!  They were exquisite!  We wanted more!

It started when Josh noticed that our outdoor fire pit was full of really hot ashes from the bonfire we had had the previous evening.  We had just finished a very light supper and were going to go for a walk when we had the brilliant idea of cooking a potato in the ashes while we were gone.  So I cut up a red skinned potato and some onion, and then I seasoned it with lemon pepper and seasoning salt.  I then popped a tablespoon of butter on top and rolled up the whole thing in foil.  Josh stuck it in the ashes, and then we went on our merry way.

45 minutes later, we were home again and trotted expectantly over to the fire pit with a renewed hunger.  Would the taters and onions be burnt?  Would they be undercooked?

Perfecto! (if only we had done two taters…)

This and That

Now that the past two weeks have been filled with glorious Spring weather, my indoor decorating and my blog have suffered.  But my arm muscles haven’t!

Over the past two weeks, I’ve packed in afternoons of hauling cement blocks, raking grass clippings, loading and unloading wood, pulling up vines, and other various muscle-building outdoor jobs.

I love it!  I love working outside.  I love working with Josh.  I love getting rid of clutter.  I love feeling myself grow a little stronger.  I love feeling weary after physical exertion.  I hope this weather lasts for weeks to come.  Once the true heat sets in, my energy and passion are zapped.  So right now it’s go, go, go…..

But this afternoon was rainy.  So instead of slogging outside, I whipped up a delicious batch of potato salad- the very best recipe ever!  It felt so good to be mucking around in the kitchen with classical music (Strauss’ waltzes) cranked high, my cat curled up on the doorstep asleep, birds flying in and out of our window feeder, and a tantalizing reward hanging over my head.

Said reward is now being enjoyed: Coffee with a touch of caramel, a delectable nanaimo bar, and blogging!

I shall have to take some pics one of these days of all the work we’ve accomplished.  But for now, here’s two random parting shots that I took out our kitchen window and that I think are adorable.  I know, I’m pathetic for thinking a plain gray barn cat is adorable.  Oh well.

Bubba was thirsty and apparently his water bowl wasn't good enough!

I'm surprised we still have plenty of bird around our house.

 

Sunny Daffodils and Bursts of Tulips

I know that there are many picture out there of lovely daffodils and tulips.  But there is something completely satisfying when the flowers are my flowers, gracing my gardens.  And so here are some spots of sunshine that cheer me every day.

the daffodil garden (still a work-in-progress):

        the tulip garden (still a work-in-progress):