This One's For the Birds

This weekend was my first time...

- seeing "The Birds" (so good to watch outside at the park at night!)

-going to "the diner" (so good for drunkeness)

- buying stuff at the farmer's market (so good for a reason to get up early on a Saturday)

-seeing "Cats" (yet to be seen but I'm sure I'll love)

Oy!

Don't you just love peonies? They are so feminine and lush. I think I would like to live in a peony...

I'm exhausted. I cooked tonight which is a relatively uncommon occurence. I didn't even cook dinner, just stuff for the rest of the week. Somehow it ended up being 10:30 before I got everything cleaned up and I'm pooped! I made this via Smitten Kitchen. Since I wasn't hungry enough to eat a real helping I will save my judgement for later. It's healthy and I think it will be pretty tasty and inexpensive (I roughly calculated it to be about 50 cents per 1/2 cup serving).

The Days are Getting Longer

Loving the light coming in at sunset.

Reflections on Road Kill

I know, I'm sorry. But it is the most appropriate title I could think of. Let me explain: This morning on my way to work I noticed a goose in the middle of a busy intersection! He was nowhere near any body of water that I can think of. I felt quite sorry for him and a little helpless as to what to do.

I actually do not like geese. I grew up living on a lake and basically think they are mean and poopy (literally and figuratively). Also, they hiss which is quite disturbing and there was an unfortunate incident with a turkey when I was 4 that has left me wary birds in general. However, this lone goose, with his cute little, waddle tugged at my heart strings.


So, he managed to cross the street without harm and I hoped that he would wander his way into the woods or fly back to water or whatever it is that lost geese do. I should have called the appropriate agency when I got to work but since I have the attention span of a squirrel I pretty much forgot once I got to work. However, on the way home I saw him wandering around again! I called animal control who said, they are "not allowed to interfere with migratory water fowl" and suggested contacting the conservation department. They were already closed since it was past 5:00 : ( I'll try tomorrow but it may be too late.


The gyst of all this is that I've been seeing a lot of roadkill lately and it has really bothered me. It seems to me a sad side affect of our fast paced (fast machines) lifestyle. Such a disregard for life. While my dad was changing the oil in my car this weekend I stopped and really looked at my car for a change and was a little bit disgusted by the "machine-ness" of it. It's not that I don't appreciate the opportunities that modern transporation has opened up for us, but I think roadkill is a prime example of ways that it has disconnected us from our natural world. I've been thinking lately that it would be nice to not have a car (although I won't deny my love for the convenience and independence). To not have the cost and the hassle of owning it would be great. Plus, perhaps other modes of transportation would help me reconnect to my surroundings rather than isolate myself off from them.

It's Never Too Late to Start to Blog

Nevermind that I intended to start this months ago! It's a beautiful spring day, a day of new life, and therefore a great day to start blogging. Today I became an aunt for the second time. Caroline (Rae, not sure on the spelling yet) Schrader was born at noon today in Iowa City. She weighs 6lbs. 14oz. and I will no doubt post a picture as soon as I get one. I probably won't get to see her in person until next weekend and I can't wait. I felt so blessed to become an aunt to Madeline and I'm very happy for her to have a sister. I can't imagine my life without my sisters!

This is the mother's day card that I made for my older sister (their mom). The quote perfectly describes our relationship. Also the card that I made for my mom which I was really pleased with.

I'm trying to enjoy a lazy Sunday as I have to go back to work tomorrow and can't go to Iowa yet. The weather is nearly perfect and I have a new Dwell to read so I'm happy. I'm especially loving the "Modern Homes with Old Bones" feature as I'm intrigued by the mixing of historic buildings and contemporary architecture. Reminds me of some great places that I visited in Denmark, my favorite being this place.

An interesting point that was made in the magazine is that historic restoration and sustainable design can really go hand in hand. Probably most people would not automatically associate the two, but it makes sense that using the "bones" of an old building requires a lot less energy than building from scratch. In my limited personal experience preservation can prove a hot button topic. I think that the President of National Trust for Historic Preservation summed it up well in his recent speech.

"I'll begin with a reminder of what historic preservation is all about. When you strip away the rhetoric, preservation is simply having the good sense to hold on to things that are well designed, that link us with our past in a meaningful way, and that have plenty of good use left in them."

Too bad there isn't an old castle around here that I could fix up *sigh.*