february '15

I've done a bit of experimenting cooking a whole chicken.  I've made a totally easy crock-pot version using the recipe on 100 Days of Real Food a few times, which is super-convenient.  Then mgb challenged me to try Julia Child's recipe, and really there's no comparison.  This was the tastiest bird I've ever cooked, and the soups that came from leftovers were the best.  Granted, you have to babysit the chicken for an hr and a half, hovering and turning and basting, but the result is pretty amazing.  Also the pan sauce you make from the drippings is crazy. Please note, even if you don't truss the thing because you can't find your cooking twine and you don't have a roasting rack, you can still cook a delicious, if awkward-looking, roast chicken. 

putting together the big girl bed:

and here's a shot of the big girl room as it was for most of February (humidifier and all):

cozy winter days:

birthday parties with friends:

making friends with big girl Margaret

puzzling

the changing face of our neighborhood. this is the new construction 3 streets over:

this gives me some hope that not all new construction will be gigantic - also, love the modern look:

and this one inspires me to want to just add on to our little 2 bed/1 bath and keep truckin':

I do hope the character of our neighborhood isn't stamped out, though it's days as an economically area to become a first-time middle-class homeowner look pretty numbered.

who knows what could be in store for this awesome house? I suppose we could move someday, but still.  it's got good vibes.

valentine's gift from the hubs. love.

red waveforms, in honor of valentine's day and vampire books:

xoxo.