Mogget Monday: Helping

Mogget provides assistance with grading papers.

It has been radio silent here for the past few weeks for mainly two reasons:

1. I was super busy. Not "full of fun adventures" busy,  just plain "swamped at work" busy.  Without rehashing too much, third quarter, which is always full of activity, sapped all my energy this year. All of the events that are usually distributed from late February through March were jammed into a 12 day window. So. Tired. 
2. Since I run a classy operation here at refeathered, all of my "photos" are taken with my phone. I totally destroyed my phone about 2 weeks ago. I had not backed up any of my more recent images and lost them all. All the Moggets disappeared. Sadness.

I'm enjoying a much deserved Monday off, and lucky for me it is the one nice, warm day in the forecast. I'm off to go wander the city and bask in some sunlight.

Project 52: Week 10

1. Spring blooms!

2. Oh, wait...it's still snowing...

 3. Banana slices...

4. .... that became my first attempt at chocolate banana cream pie. Yum!

5. Balancing out pie with a healthy breakfast.

Scenes From My Weekend: Low Key & Lovely

 

  

 

 

 

 

 1 & 2: Cannot put into words how proud I am of my sister! Her first solo show at Grey Matter Gallery. 

3. Pancakes with Nutella and fresh blue berries. And coffee. Always coffee.

4. Moggers supports my running habit.

5. My sweetheart niece shows me how to blow bubbles and pop them with ones toes.

6. Grades. Done. Must. Go. Outside.

7. About to burst!  

8. Weighed down by beauty.

9. Along the side of my building.

10. Most fragrant lilacs in the neighborhood.

11. Lake front mansion ditches its lawn in favor of vegetables.

12. Sweet, elderly gentleman on a garden wall- poking plants with his cane and critiquing their hardiness.

Lately

Although the May weather was not much to cheer about (days and days of rain and unseasonably cold- hoorah for spiring?), the month itself was filled with fun, celebrations, and delightful quiet moments.

1. Grandma blankets and kitty snuggles always improve the mood when one is under the weather.

2. & 3. Pre-show sake and sushi at Umami Moto with my delightful sister.

4. After dinner Mo and I spend an entertaining evening with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert. Our view was far better than my lousy photo indicates. I have a long standing fondness for Bourdain- he's such an eloquent crab-ass. However, I must admit to having a new crush on Eric Ripert. How can you not appreciate a man who punches someone "een zee nose" for being disgustingly rude to a waiter?

5. Being a chaise lounge and massage therapist while drinking coffee.

6. & 7.  Channeling Rita Hayworth after a trip to the salon. Being a redhead is fabulous.

8. Sweet little gift left on my desk.

9. Glo-bowl birthday celebration.

10. My darling brother made the most lovely Mothers Day/Mo's birthday brunch. Crab cakes atop sweet potato pancakes, mixed berry salad and champagne with a splash of St. Germaine. Totally indulgent.

11. Brunch was followed up by birthday cake- a six-layer rainbow cake with coconut frosting.

12.  Swan Lake at the Milwaukee Ballet. 

13. My riff on taco dip- Greek dip. One can never go wrong with artichokes, lemon, basil and kalamata olives.

14. The most perfectly fluffy batch of coconut rice pudding (the rainbow cake led to coconut cravings).

15. The. Best. Birthday. Cake. Ever.  My mom is amazing. This little hedgehog was almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Scenes from My Weekend

1. Sun! Rain/sleet/snow/sideways-pellet-things for the last 12 days. Sun!!!

2. Moggers enjoying said sun.

3. Hunting for new recipes. 

4. Mo & I ventured to the place of all things magical and organizational.

5. After a successful Swedish conquest, we took on the Italians. Yeah, we ate at Olive Garden. Not ashamed in the least.

6. Getting back on track. Smoothie and lesson planning.

7. Did I mention the sun? Simandl spent most of Sunday perched in prime basking locations.

Scenes From My Weekend

 

1. Zinefest with Mo.

2. Surfing and snuggles

3. Signs of spring. Finally!

4. Escape! Someone wanted to go to the market, or just tear ass around the hallways. Whichever.  

5. The last 6 days were windy, cold and rainy/snowy. Took advantage that the weather pushed forty and went sans socks to run errands. Another sign of spring- asparagus in my grocery bag! Nomnoms.

6. Alliteration in the kitchen: quiche, corn muffins & cuban black bean stew (not pictured).