weekend

Our weekend was full of happy time together, nice walks in our neighborhood, and awesome cooking. Here's a recap:

We had to run to the school where Wade works for a bit because Julian was auditioning to be in one of the student films. While he was in a room talking to the students, we hung out in the hall. Audrey is a tiny girl Wade. Lady Wadey, as I like to say. Their eyes are the same. 

There is something about walking-down-the-hall pictures that makes me so happy. Maybe it's because it shows so clearly how very tiny she is, and depends on us for everything. It's so very sweet.

 My friend Daniel is the person who got me into Doctor Who, so I thought it was appropriate to make him a TARDIS for his birthday. It's needlepoint on fabric, painted in with watercolor. I forgot to get a picture before it was framed though, so that explains the reflection. This was surprisingly not very difficult, and really is one of the coolest things I've crafted, I think.

Less than half a mile from our house, there is an amazing trail. Our little section of town in Winston-Salem is called Bethania, and it's one of the first places settled in this area, back in the 1700s. There are large parts of land that are still untouched and wild, and the local people here have done a fantastic job of the preservation and historic information on all of it.

I found this bird's nest lying in the grass. Was it blown down from a tree? Or are there types of birds who build nests in grassy areas? This was kind of tumbled around and empty, so I don't think I was stealing anyone's home. I wanted to keep it because it's so beautiful and I'm forever in awe of birds and their ability to build these amazing little homes, but I felt it was best to leave it where I found it. Take only photos as my souvenirs.

Near the meadow. On our first walk up there this past summer, we were really lucky and saw a deer just hanging out and snacking on some greenery.

These two little cuties posing by the signs that show where all the cool historic shit went down. (Don't be jealous of how eloquent I am. It's a gift.)

I've been told by a professional tree dude that this is a cherry tree, and cherry trees get these weird tumors in them. Like some kind of virus in the tree. It grows a huge knot, and woodworkers like them because of the extra mass of usable wood there, and they carve bowls from them. We saw this tree on our walk - can you see the face?

In food news, I have been craving falafel like.....a person who hasn't eaten falafel in years because it has gluten. (I couldn't think of anything great to compare it to.) So I made some and followed this recipe from Saveur and did everything the recipe said, except that I left out cayenne so the kids would eat it too. I also added 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric. It was motherforking incredible. I also made this tzatziki sauce to accompany said falafel, and it was a rather delightful creation. In an act of pure rebellion, I used store bought hummus. The meal was enormously satisfying to my falafel craving, and it's kickass to have more purely vegetarian dishes with variety.

I hope you all had a nice weekend and a good start to the week!