we'll need something to remind us of all the sweetness that has passed through us

David and I have spent the past 10 days being painfully ill.. but we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Nothing of consequence has really happened, which might explain my lack of updates..  The other day, we were supposed to have a little dinner party with one of Dave's co-workers and his family. I planned a delectable menu and cleaned the house, like the grade a house wife I truly am.. but alas, their daughter was ill and they cancelled at the last minute... so Dave and I had a romantic candlelit dinner instead. I made a spinach  salad and portobello mushrooms stuffed with chipotle mashed potatoes and fried leeks.

I also made a cake. A ginger-macadamia nut-carrot cake. With coconut icing.

It was a pretty exciting night, if I do say so myself.  Unfortunately, nothing exciting has happened since. You should probably come out and visit us so I can have something entertaining to write about. It's your duty, as my so-called friend, or even more so as a member of my family!

I'll let you cuddle with this guy...

hahahhaha

The Elephant Prince

Christine was walking through a zealous meadow, laughing at the butterflies flitting around her head when she spied a nonchalant little elephant lying under a tree.

Christine skipped over to see the dear thing and was tormented to find that he was hurt! A tree had pierced his devoted little elbow and he whimpered inquisitively with the pain.

"My conspicuous little friend," Christine said. "Let me help you!" She took out her Leatherman Multi-Purpose tool and pulled out the tree, as defiantly as she could. The elephant cried out and Christine's heart ached, like time slides a gentle ocean, waves upon waves, washing the shore, loving the shore.. "You'll be all right," Christine whispered. "I'll take care of you. I'll call you David and you can live with me forever!"

Scooping David up in her arms, Christine carried him home and made a bed for him beside her own. For seven days and seven nights, Christine nursed David, cleaning his elbow and feeding him Candle-brand elephant chow.

On the eighth night, David climbed into bed with Christine. He burrowed under the covers and anxiously sealed Christine's eye. It made Christine giggle and she cuddled close to David, stroking his heart and singing awkwardly to him.

They continued that way for a long time. Every day, Christine hurried home so she could curl up with David. It gave her an ancient feeling whenever David sealed her eye.

Then one night, David looked up at Christine and said, "If you kiss me, I will become a tentacled prince."

Christine screamed cautiously, she was so surprised. How could an elephant talk? She must have dropped off and dreamed it.

"You're not dreaming," David said. "Kiss me."

"Don't tell anyone I screamed like that," Christine said and kissed David on his heart. The air swirled and suddenly, there stood a tentacled prince! With a crown and everything!

"I'm Prince David," he said. "I was cursed. It's a long story."

"Is it really you?" Christine said.

"See?" David said and showed Christine the scar from the tree on his elbow. Then he kissed Christine and they tumbled in a cactus and did a lot of very pensive things, some of them involving an aggressive car.

"I love you," David said when they were done. Christine clasped him close and they lived together happily ever after on all the prince treasure David had stashed away.

And if David didn't know about Christine's visits to the elephant sanctuary, well, it wouldn't hurt him.












thank you http://prillalar.com/drabbles/

how dare you think that you could be as good as me

you can't break that which isn't yours

David and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary on Valentine's Day 2006 and that was the last time we participated in the holiday.  I'm not really a huge fan of romance in general. This year, being my first year as a domestic engineer, if you will, I decided to make the most of it and made delicious blueberry pancakes for breakfast. In the spirit of St. Valentine, I added some pinkish red "cream cheese" frosting on top.

While Dave was at work I made him some peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate frosting, because I'm pretty much the best wife out there.

David proved his love to me in the form of a dozen gerber daisies. He was definitely an excellent choice.

If you're interested in recreating my cupcakes, here's the recipe. Please to enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
3/4 c. vanilla rice milk
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
1/3 c. canola oil
2/3 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. molasses
2 tsp. ground chia seeds
1 1/8 c. oat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat the over to 350F. Mix milk with vinegar in a small bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the peanut butter, oil, sugar, molasses, vanilla and chia seeds until well combined. Then mix in the milk mixture. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a separate bowl and mix.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix it until just combined. Do not over mix! Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 19 to 22 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting

1 c. earth balance @ room temperature
4 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
4 tbsp. vanilla rice milk
1/2 c. cocoa powder
dash of salt

Mix the ingredients together until smooth and fluffy. Although it looks like a disaster in the beginning, don't get discouraged. Just keep on mixing. It takes about 5 minutes.

Of a joyous song they sing, I've heard whispers..

Narcissa has spent her week shirking her catly duties of bug catching. She likes to play with the creepy-crawlies, but lets them live. Maybe it's her subtle way of telling us she wants to  become a vegan cat?

David and I are saving all of our dollars as of late.. in an attempt to appear to be responsible adults. So I can't be lazy and eat Chinese food every day..  : (   Luckily we have an awesome kitchen and I am an incredible cook, if I do say so myself. So last night, I made some veggie burgers and grilled onions and also baked some fries. You should have come over, because it was absolutely enchanting.

I also made some chocolate chip cookies for David (my secret ingredient is magic coconut milk).

 

'

Pepe's leg is not healing as speedily as anticipated. Maybe this will teach him not to jump from our bed, but I highly doubt that. He's hilarious when we let him outside. Oh the joys of having a 95 year old dog. We purchased Hip and Joint Vitamins and Dog Aspirin for him.. that definitely did not fit into our budget!  But alas, some how he stole our hearts.

Does anyone want to come over and take of our tumbleweed situation? It just keeps on growing..

artista! bonita artista!

When we went to the post office to obtain some postcard stamps, we were stopped in the middle of the road by a ridiculous lady who wouldn't stop repeating "artista! bonita artista!".. to which I replied by thanking her and smiling and trying to run away. Then she got a dollar bill out of her wallet and kissed and and put it to my forehead. It was pretty hilarious. Needless to say, I am one dollar richer.

Our date was a disaster the other night. Mostly because I am in drastic need of an attitude adjustment, especially regarding my thoughts towards our current location. We saw a mediocre movie, got cursed at and ate some illegal and excruciatingly salty popcorn. I did end up getting a good night kiss, as planned.

On Wednesday we spent the day finishing unpacking, organizing our closet and spray painting cardboard. It was not a very memorable day..

Thursday morning the plumbers finally came to fix all of our problems. It only took them about 30 minutes. It is super nice to have water again. Then we drove an hour away to pick up a fax from State Farm, because they felt that faxing documents to a public fax machine was more secure than emailing them to our email.. that makes so much sense, eh? Then we drove down even an hour further so we could go look at pianos. It was an exciting day. We also went to p.f. changs where we ate delicious lettuce tofu wraps, spicy asparagus, unbelievable eggplant and ridiculous deep fried bananas.

I'll make it worth your while, just let me taste the sky

"Were you dying to go? You just looked so exposed, demure through the dark dancing lights. I glided by. I can't deny that the shadows betrayed you and I on that night.

Oh, I must confess I am overdressed. Are you not impressed?  Darling I want to. I'll confess this too, must you know the truth, this is all for you. Darling I want to destroy you.

As you reached for my hand did you then understand? It was I who would lead you that night. When you begged to know I was glad to show that I needn't be scared, either way I still bight.

So here's the final scene when I finally come clean. I've watched you for years. And here's my favorite part, where you beg for my heart
and I disappear."

DoriAnne and Gabriel came out this weekend. The exciting day consisted of them watching me cook for 3 hours and us watching Despicable Me.  And also a few rounds of Car Tennis, which Gabriel obviously dominated. 

Here are a couple of pictures that Dave took down by the border..

madge the dog

There has been some crazy weather today. Sun, rain and tons of wind.

David is getting out of work early today and taking me on a date. It should be a pretty classy night, considering where we live.. I hope to get a good night kiss.