Cats and Cocktails

Last weekend I enjoyed a girl’s day with three ladies, a few cats, and some tasty eats. We indulged in sunshine, a swimming pool, and personally way too much food. No regrets!!!

Cheeses, fruits, crackers, and other tid bits were shared. I brought along a drink I found on Pinterest.

Tasty and Refreshing

It is super easy to make, and makes a ton. Here’s what you do:

– Pour one large bottle of Moscato or Riesling wine.

– Add one can of raspberry lemonade concentrate

– Add a bag of frozen raspberries

– Share and drink it up

Girl’s day did involve some guys. Like this feller

Hello ladies

We also got to enjoy an amazing dinner with our fun group. This totally helped me to relax and enjoy the day.

Then Tuesday happened. My car died, but no worries! It is fixed now. I did get to enjoy working from home with my personal working partner.

Get back to work!

See how much he is motivating me to get stuff done?

Goodrich Farms: Flowering

The news is the jalapeno plants are busting out some flowers. Guys, this is huge. I’ve never grown anything in my life. I’ve killed a cactus plant and a bamboo plant. Now, these are the jalapeno plants that Nick bought me, so they didn’t start from seeds, but I see it as a win.

Speaking of winning, the cucumber plants are starting to actually tendril. Low and behold, one of them is flowering as well. I started these in newspaper pots as seedlings and they are still alive. Life achievement points just went up.

And of course the chickens. They are still doing well. Hopefully getting use to the weather as we hit the mid 90s. I have to watch them around my plants, though. Generally they eat the bugs and sparse grass we have on the ground, but McCormick tried eating some leaves off my cucumber plant yesterday. Silly little monsters.

Hey guys

Shinies

Yesterday, Nick and I went to the Dallas Arboretum with family and saw beautiful flowers, fantastic sculptures by Chihuly, and enjoyed surprisingly pleasant weather.

Here are some of the things we got to enjoy!

I love glass art. I got to sit in on a glass blowing class while in college. I have the upmost respect for anyone who works with glass as a medium. It is amazingly difficult looking, but so unique and georgous.

I love the tall yellow one.

The flowers were of course, bright and colorful and great. It was an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday in Texas before the true heat rolls in.

Goodrich Farms: Decisions

Two random decisions have been made this week.

The first one was me deciding not to baby my chickens so much. They need to learn how to acclimate to the weather (while it is still reasonable and not too hot) and they need to realize that kitties are not their friends. A neighborhood cat got very interested in our babies and the babies were interested back. Until the kitty tried to get his paw through their pen. Thank goodness the pen is strong enough.

I wanted to run outside and scare the cat off, but I had to see how reliable the pen is. Thank goodness it worked.

The other decision I made was to move a group of my plants outside. Some of the leaves on my tomato plants and a cucumber plant were getting white spots on them. Through some internet research, the opinion I have come to is that the plants aren’t getting enough direct sunlight or air.

How a noob sets up her garden. No judging please!

Their first day being outside showed the tomato plants doing well, but the cucumber plants got a little droopy. I’m going to test out different locations with different light and shade to find out which works best. Hooray for learning.

Exciting moment, the jalapeno plants are starting to flower! These are the plants that Nick bought me and they use to be so small!

And the chickens are still enjoying their free range time. Hardcastle hates going back to her hutch. She just wants to stay free all day.

 

 

Recent Noms

Cooking has been taking a back burner since we have gotten so busy. I haven’t had the chance to try new recipes as often as I’d like. Here are two things that I did get to try out and was happy with the results.

Dried Strawberries

These were super easy and smelled delicious. All you have to do is cut up strawberries into halves or quarters, depending on size. Then, bake them in the oven for 3 hours at 210 degrees. They practically melt in your mouth (wait for them to cool off!)

Shrimp, Avocado, Asparagus Stir Fry

This was something I just did during a band practice night for myself. I boiled some angel hair pasta while warming up some precooked asparagus in a skillet with some soy sauce. I then added the shrimp and noodles once they were ready. Topped it all off with avocado and feta!

Things are always just so busy. We will see what adventures come out of the more productive oriented schedule.

Goodrich Farms: Roaming Around

The girls have been outside for a while and loving it. We have attached their pen to their hutch permanently so they can come and go as they please even when we are not around. Nick and I are planning on adding wheels to the bottom and reinforcing it so it can be wheeled around the backyard, giving the chickens roaming privileges.

Two peas in a pod

I have been having a surprisingly great time working out in the backyard with Nick. I hate bugs and the heat, but neither bother me when we are being super productive and just enjoying the day. Yes my legs are covered in mosquito bites even though I am covered in OFF and yes I get super sweaty, but there is just something about doing physical work outside and seeing the progress. That and the fact that we let the chickens have free reign of the backyard while we are out there to make sure they don’t get into trouble.

Devouring all the bugs!

Mel came by and took some more pictures of my babies for me. Her amazing photography skills have been a great help in capturing ridiculous moments in the chickens life so far!

Just hanging out with McCormick. http://www.melissaclaire.com

http://www.melissaclaire.com

While photographing with McCormick, Hardcastle was peeping away from her little pen. They hate being separated!

Our little ladies. http://www.melissaclaire.com

http://www.melissaclaire.com

The latest adorable moment of these two was this past weekend. Nick was holding McCormick to see if Hardcastle would follow them around the backyard. Not only did she follow, she flew up and grabbed onto his shorts and held on. When the ladies are separated, they run back to each other as quickly as possible. It doesn’t get old.

Even though these girls are completely spoiled by Nick and I and are pretty ridiculous, I love them. They are a great addition to our family and they haven’t even started laying eggs yet! They are silly, super soft, and fun to watch. On top of that, every bug they eat is one less disgusting thing to try and get into my house!

Art Scene: Chicago

During our Chicago visit, we took Monday as a “see as much as you possibly can in one day and walk until you fall over” kind of day. We accomplished both.

We got on the train to go into town at way too early in the morning. Nick just started walking, and I, being shorter and not having as long legs, did my best to keep up. We enjoyed the amazing architecture of the city, and the random odd art pieces here and there. It was a little wet, but didn’t rain on us until a few hours later.

Art on the side of a building? Sure!

No idea. But I like it.

I got to see the Bean! It was oddly impressive and very cool to walk around and under.

Just messing around.

Just doing the Randal walk.

Right before it started to rain, we opened up the Art Institute and I lost my mind. Basically everything I studied in my Art History classes was on display. I was like a kid in a candy shop. Nick and I did our best to see everything, but the Institute is like a small town. You could practically live in there. I’ll be visiting again, trust me.

Love Barbara Kruger

Georgia O’Keeffe

Nick enjoying some good old Salvador Dali

I love seeing art in real life. I love the history of it and the stories it tells. I do not like being serious when I’m looking at art; being all dead face. I’m just not a serious person. I like to enjoy it, interact with it, make it part of my day. Nick has brought that out in me. When I’m not making certain he isn’t touching the art, I’m enjoying listening to stories he makes up about art pieces. How they interact with other pieces in the building, what other pieces they have been fighting with, what shenanigans they have been getting into. That boy has the best imagination.

Lol. Kitty

Why so sad American Gothic?

Don’t Blink!

Listening to Van Gogh’s stories. Waiting for Doctor Who to arrive with Bill Nighy.

It was an amazing blur of talent and history and sore feet. I can’t wait to go back and spend a few days in there…maybe they would let us camp out in the sculpture garden? Probably not, anyways all those statues freak me out after having a few Doctor Who marathons. Yikes!

Gallivanting Goodriches: Chicago

We took a weekend trip to Chicago last week for me to meet/visit a large part of my new family! It was a jam packed 4 days. I’m still a little worn out. But in a good way.

There was so much to do and so many people to see that we were rushing the whole time. I would have loved to have more time with my new family, but it was a great initial visit.

About to take the train!

Hey Grandma Goody!

Grandma Goody took us to a jazz concert starring Wynton Marsalis. It was insane!

It was a beautiful building.

Grandma Goody scored Nick an epic floor seat. He was basically a part of the action.

We saw so many family members, but I forgot to take pictures. I was too busy talking and getting to know people. Oh well!

I did snag a picture of Nick, Mickey, and me.

Doing our best “American Gothic” impression.

We did manage to get a little touristy and see the Willis Tower. I kept wanting to call it the Bruce Willis Tower…just cause.

Such beautiful buildings.

Up on the 103 floor, in the sky deck, looking straight down.

We also go to devour some tasty foods in Chicago.

Worked up an appetite.

My first taste of Chicago pizza. Om nom nom.

It was a great trip and I have more photos than I know what to do with, especially of our Monday adventures. We basically crammed as much site seeing as possible into one day. More about that later!