Meskel Flowers

Growing up, my birthday was marked by the bright yellow blooms of Meskel flowers growing in the fields of Ethiopia. They were the first hint that the rainy season was coming to an end and that my birthday was right around the corner.
Of all the gifts I received through my many birthdays in Ethiopia, the bouquets of meskel flowers will always have a special and vivid place in my memory. I think I secretly believed that they bloomed just for me... I’ve missed them more than usual this year.

celebrating (round 2)

This weekend has been wonderful. Too short as always, but wonderful nonetheless. Saturday was beautiful, a much appreciated change from the rain. I woke up with the sun (ah, love that) and headed out to the knit shop- bound and determined to learn how to crochet. Well, I didn't actually learn how to do it, but I found some beautiful yarn, and a lady who is going to teach me how to get this little project started. I met up with Kristen at the knitting store, she was loaded with fresh produce from the farmer's market. We walked back to her place and planned a big sunday feast to put her early fall bounty to good use. From there we went back to the farmers market to pick up some additional ingredients.

After that I went shopping...at least I tried to. I think I used to enjoy shopping at one time...maybe. Not anymore.

Now the highlight of my weekend....Last night B took me out on a date to celebrate my birthday. We started the night with a walk along the waterfront and made our way to dinner.

We went to Cypress, one of my absolute favorite restaurants of all times. I love the atmosphere- the exposed brick walls, contemporary lighting, three story wine wall, and big leather booths. But as much as I love the atmosphere- it doesn't hold a candle to the food. Mmm mmm.  

We have never been disappointed with what we have ordered. They dishes are equally beautiful and scrumptious. We even tried out their iced tea mojitos- a brilliant invention. At the end of the evening, the waiter brought out a beautiful birthday cake. B had secretly asked the pastry chef to make a cake for me. It pays to have sweet connections (literally:) It was a chocolate cake with creamy milk chocolate frosting and raspberries. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I could use another piece right about now. B can rarely surprise me- I can probably count on one hand the number of times he's pulled off a surprise without me knowing about it (including when he proposed). But every once in a while he gets one under the radar- and i love it.


Today we went to church and then headed to a good old fashioned sunday dinner at Kristen's. We ate out on the porch at a long table and it was beautiful.

Now it's time for the West Wing and a piece of that cake....

rainy day goodness

The last two days have been gloomy and rainy...perfect for staying at home in your pj's, curled up on the couch, watching "i love lucy" reruns. As good as that sounds, we had to venture out in the rain and go to work. Blah. But yesterday, after a long day at work, guess what I came home to? A big simmering batch of B's homemade gumbo- the perfect comfort food for weather like this.

It was smoky, spicy, and delicious...i should post the recipe

We served it with this:

fresh homemade honey cornbread

Kristen, Janie, and Katie stopped by to eat and watch the season premiere of the Office. Finally some good tv is back thanks to fall sweeps. It was a cozy, relaxing evening. The perfect cure for the gloomy day blues.

Today I found a beautiful ball of yarn and was determined to make the cutest little baby gift I've ever seen...I neglected to remember, however, that I don't know how to crochet: ) And knitting won't do the trick for this project. So I spent the afternoon curled up on the couch trying to teach myself. It's harder than I thought. I think i'll pay the little knitting shop downtown a visit for a little tutorial.

B, in an effort to make me not feel useless after my crochet incompetence, convinced me that I was brilliant at mixing drinks. (It was a nice try) I think he really just needed one. As did I. So I mixed us up some tropical cocktails to beat the chill outside.

they turned out quite delightful if I might say so myself:)

We also had a "five loaves" inspired salad. Grilled tortellini and roasted cherry tomatoes with avocado and moz. Mmm mmm.

Now we're in for the night...watching the presidential debate. Oh the controversy!

a walk in the park...

Today I got to eat lunch here….With this….That was, hands down, the absolute best part of my day. When B has to work at night, he rescues me at lunch time and we take a mid-day picnic somewhere nearby. This bench at the waterfront is one of our favorite spots.

The weather today was delicious. The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing...it was almost a little bit chilly. Hello Fall! I've been waiting for you. There was even a tree that was starting to change colors. I though I would miss the fall leaves completely here in Charleston, but I have a good feeling about this season.

For lunch B packed his world famous sandwiches and we spent the hour completely removed from the workday reality.

Today we even had these little guys….

We sat and talked and watched the sailboats and dolphins glide on by. If we all had lunch breaks like this everyday the world would be a better place. I’m convinced.

The only downside of these little escapades is that it means I won’t get to spend the evenings with B.

After work I donned my keens (a gift from B that I love) and headed out for a walk in the park.

Sometimes I am blown away by how incredibly beautiful this place is. Here are some of the pictures from my little jaunt. These pictures don't do this afternoon justice.

Nite nite....

the daily grind

I’m starting to enjoy our weekday routine. There’s something about having a wholesome start to the day that makes the week seem somewhat conquerable.

Around 6:30 I get up (still don’t really enjoy that part- never have, ask my family:) and start the day. I have about a half an hour by myself before B comes to life. During that half hour, I feel like the whole world is still asleep- even though the distant hum of traffic in the background says otherwise. In just a few hours the stillness of the morning will be replaced by the hectic pace of the outside world. The sun is just starting to peak over the horizon, and when I stand on the porch I can breathe in the fresh sea breeze. I love living near the ocean. Around 7:00 the smell of coffee starts wafting through the house paired with mellow tunes from the ipod. I never used to drink coffee, but early mornings and that warm inviting aroma make it hard to resist. I think our chill morning routine is our way of preparing ourselves for the drastically different pace of the day ahead.

After B is showered and dressed in his chef attire (there is something incredibly attractive about a man in uniformJ) he makes us breakfast and we sit at our little table and eat together. It’s easy to forget that we have some place to go- I would be content to sit at that little table for quite sometime doing absolutely nothing. Inevitably, 7:30 comes around and I rush to finish packing my lunch and get ready. Then, we’re out the door- coffee mugs in hand and usually running a little bit behind. I think my favorite part of the morning is that we get to drive to work together. I love this for several reasons…

1. I get an extra 20-30 minutes of uninterrupted time with B.
2. The view of the bay from the bridge is 10x more amazing when you have someone to share it with
3. I really, really don't like driving

The worst part of the morning: Dropping B off at the little cobblestone alley beside Magnolias and slipping into the drivers seat.

Because my work days aren’t always that grand, our morning routine is my refuge before the daily grind.

This evening Kristen, B, and I, are piling into the “bullet” to go up to Columbia and rendezvous with my parents. We have to do a car swap- and it is a nice little excuse to see each other again…and celebrate my birthday.

Today I discovered Wordles. Thought they were pretty clever. Here's mine...Make your own here.

Just got a call from the hubby and it looks like it's time to head to columbia....

p.s- i love it that i live in a city where horse drawn carriages contribute considerably to traffic.

a weekend savored

Mom and Dad were in town this weekend. It was a relaxing and wonderful few days. As always it went too fast. It was our first time seeing them since the wedding and their first time seeing our new nest. It was fun to play hostess and entertain this crazy bunch. We had a weekend full of delicious food, long walks, and good conversations. It almost felt like a vacation....but i still need one of those too.

Friday night we started out at our house with a delicious meal of grilled avocado and fresh tomato basil pizza and grilled crusty bread salad out on the porch.

the setting: back porch on a cool, crisp evening

the fam

grilled pizza

cheers

(that was for you kristen:)

Saturday we had the perfect lazy morning with a pancake breakfast and a walk on the beach. I could use more saturdays like that.

the menu: pancakes with fresh lemon whipped cream and berries

Saturday afternoon we relaxed and had tea with fresh scones (inspired by our new scottish cookbook) and then Ben headed to work and we headed downtown. After a looong walk downtown along the battery we had a Mexican fiesta at Kristen's with infamous red and green enchiladas and sangria. After work Ben joined us and spoiled us with a collection of Magnolia's delectable desserts. Mmm mmm.

Now it's sunday night, everyone has gone home, and Ben and I are lounging on the couch watching season 2 of the west wing...i wish weekends never ended.

Redemption

These were the redeeming factors of another work day...

our view on the ride to work this morning

I don't think I'll ever get tired of this view. Sometimes I secretly hope that the traffic will be really bad on the bridge so I can sit in the car with Ben for as long as possible and take it in. I love it that Ben is the last one I see before I walk into work and the first one I see on my way out. There's no one else I'd rather carpool with.

An otherwise blah day at work was pleasantly interrupted by a much needed Kudu break with Janie. Kudu is a little African coffee shop in downtown Charleston. It reminds me of home and is perfectly tucked just across the street from my office. We sat outside in the courtyard and soaked in the incredible weather. Janie, by the way, has the most amazing hair. It looks incredible every day without fail. I have her to thank for my wedding 'do'.

That evening Andolini's seemed to be the perfect way to decompress after work. There's something about a giant slice of fresh tomato pizza that is good for the soul. We sat outside in the beautiful cool weather and laughed about each other's stories from work. We're learning a lot in these jobs...and are very excited to move on to wherever God takes us next.

mr. andolini and his pies

Tonight we celebrated the cooler weather (84) by baking up a batch of d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s whole wheat chocolate chip pumpkin muffins. The smell of fall is still wafting through the house. Here is the recipe...it's a keeper.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (room temperature)

1 c. granulated sugar

1 can (15 oz) Pumpkin puree

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. chocolate chips

Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the paper cups in the muffin tin. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar with pumpkin until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips, and pour into muffin cups.Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

visitors!

B's mom and mammaw left this morning. We had a short and sweet time together. I loved being in the room with three generations sitting on the couch. I also love inheriting yummy recipes....especially ones that call for a handful of this, and tad of that, and the word eyeball:)

Oh, old people make me laugh.

We went out to a wonderful dinner at Magnolias and sampled some of B's sensational creations...scallops, fried green tomatoes, tuna, hummus springrolls, and of course, steak with pimento cheese on top. Oh how i love being married to an AMAZING CHEF.

Right now i'm sitting on the porch listening to a good old fashion summer rainstorm. love it. Did you see the moon last night?

B is scooping up delicious bowls of Banana Pudding ice cream. He said he got it for me, but i have a sneaking suspicion that he may have had an ulterior motive....

Oddly enough...

I love reading the "Oddly Enough" section of Reuters. If I ever need a little pick-me-up at work I parooz these bizarre news stories from across the globe. If you too need a little eccentric entertainment, check it out.

In other news, this headline caught my attention earlier this month: 'Snowfall' shocks Kenyan village. So maybe it wasn't actually snow, but that didn't stop grown men from frolicking in the fields. Kristen and I would have gone absolutely crazy if this happened when we were living out there. The closest thing we had to winter was when our water bottles froze while camping in the Simeon Mountains.

pure excitement

The hail covered 100 acres and was at least four inches deep

Finding joy in the little things

Today i choose to find joy in the fact that i have sage green post-it notes that match my pants perfectly. Sometimes it takes a little stretching to find joy at work...

There aren't enough days in a weekend...

There's something about sunday afternoons that I just love.  Maybe it's those deep naps with the hum of football on the tv in the background, or the conversations around the dinner table that linger through the afternoon.  It seems like the whole world takes a much needed break, exhales a little bit before the start of another week.  You don't feel like you're missing out on anything- because everyone, just like you, is taking it easy.  Or so it seems in my own little world.

No, we don't have a dog (yet).

Ben and Ollie on a lazy Sunday afternoon last year- just makes me want to snuggle

This morning we tried out a newlyweds small group.  They were having a kick-off brunch and obviously knew they could win Ben over with mini breakfast sandwiches and juice.  I, on the other hand, am much more discerning-- the mini muffins were what did it for me:)  Just kidding.  Kind of.  But it really was nice to be around people that are just as obnoxiously newlywed-ed as us.  I think it will be a good fit for us.  

Of course, no Sunday would be complete without a run to costco for kashi and avacodos- the necessities of life.  We got swanky new phones today too.  I love little gadgets.

B's mom and mammaw are in town for a little visit.  It's fun having them around.  Mammaw makes me laugh.  Why is it that the weather channel becomes such a vital part of life when you get older?  Ben has the day off tomorrow to show them the sites.  I wouldn't mind another day off.  There never are enough days in the weekend.  But i suppose another one will be here soon enough....    

The Perfect September Saturday

Is it just me, or is September the most deliciously wonderful month of the year?  (And it doesn't have a thing to do with the little fact that it's my birthday month:)  I don't think I've ever appreciated the early hints of fall more than this year. These Charleston summers are h-o-t!  I can't wait for sweater weather.  I probably shouldn't get too excited...after all it is still in the 90's.  I have quite a while before sweaters come back.  Do they ever really come back in the south?

Today B and I both had the day off.  I love saturdays.  I love them even more when we have them off together.  We let the sun wake us up, cleaned the house, changed the oil, cleaned some more.  Oh, and yes, we went to the grocery store.  Is it weird that that is one of our favorite things to do?  

After lunch we loaded up the bikes and headed downtown for a little ride around town.  

 

B and the bikes at the battery (say it 5 times fast)

(by the way, he's dancing in front of me right now- wish you could see this:)

i like my carolina blue bike...a lot

apparently whoever took this picture didn't fancy ben's face:)

The day ended with delicious burgers (another creation of chef ben) out on the porch.  I love how slow life moves out on there.  I wish everyone could have a big porch for evenings like this.

There's a first time for everything...

Today Ben and I decided that we would give this a shot.  Who knew coming up with a name for it would be so difficult.  I wanted a way to capture and share our everyday memories- even if it's just with ourselves.  All too often, life goes by so fast that the simple pleasures get lost in the muddle. 

Right now I'm rocking on the porch on a Friday afternoon sipping juice out of a mason jar and feeling very southern.  These are the moments that I often let slip by.  The only thing missing is Ben.  I miss him.  Working on a Friday night is no fun for either of us.  

We've been married three months.  i still get butterflies.   

The sun is just starting to set- I think the beach is calling my name.