Playing in the Dirt

What a great weekend. We actually didn't do any of the things we planned on doing (per our last post) but it was productive, fun & relaxing. You can't ask for much more.

On Friday night we were supposed to join a coworker & his wife for drinks after work, but Ken wasn't feeling well that morning so we cancelled just to be sure. He ended up feeling fine, but they already adjusted their plans. Instead we went home and I finished installing the hooks in our new GEAR ROOM -- this is a dream room. All of our camping, skiing, backpacking, snorkelling, raquetball, softball, frisbee, etc. equipment in one room. Backpacks & camelbaks hanging on the wall. Sleeping backs airing from ceiling hooks -- sleepie, our double sleeping bag included. Our coolers and tents arranged neatly on shelves. Our skis and snowboards on wall hooks. Separate bins for separate sports. It's gorgeous. I'll take a picture at some point. Meanwhile, Ken cut a shelf for our bathroom that will go above the toilet. When we bought the place, they originally had an over-the-toilet shelf deal going on that made our only bathroom look really small. We took that out, have since painted, hung new recycled curtains and new shower curtain. Feels much more open. Ken painted & installed it yesterday. Looks great. Makes more room on the vanity which opens things up a bit.

On Saturday, I made a good latte made from beans Ken picked up from Stumptown, around the corner from his office. Sara recommended this place and I agree; I like their coffee -- and I'm not usually picky. But I've actually started to develop a taste for it. Taste for it meaning I can discern ones I like and ones I don't. Pretty good for a girl who loves Miller Lite. Paul Etter would be proud. We let the people behind the counter pick three-four different kinds in 1/4 lb batches.

Finca el Injerto has been my favorite thus far. They have a full story about it, but their description calls it complex with a full body (able to put the sleeper hold on any other coffee in its weight class). It has a lush and fragrant aroma with flavors of milk chocolate, butterscotch, fruit and a long, juicy finish.

The one I made this Saturday was good but didn't beat Finca. However, the lattes I made yesterday and today from beans below may have given Finca a run for its money:

Rwanda Karaba (fair trade)The 600 members of the Karaba Co-op live and grow their coffee on tiny plantations in this district of the Ginkongoro Province in southern Rwanda. Nearly 30% of the farmers in this cooperative are women, survivors of the 1994 genocide. Under the leadership of Angelique Karekezi, Karaba's general manager, the co-op utilizes the ideal growing conditions that have encouraged coffee production here for generations. Berry blossom dominates the aroma of the cup before giving way to a remarkably assertive and delicate acidity, followed by flavors of dark chocolate covered raspberry, cranberry, vanilla and cedar.

OK enough about coffee. Just thought I would share given some of your loves of the stuff (read: you would mainline the stuff if you could).

On Saturday, Ken and I went to town on our backyard (aka weedland). We moved the composting bin they left us which was full of great soil to another (less visible) spot in the yard. Pulled up a ton of dandelions, random philodendrons and dill plants growing in the middle of the yard. Transplanted some to a "garden" area and mixed some of the dirt with fresh compost. Also planted sugar snap peas and snow peas in three areas. We'll see if they grow. We still have a big mound of dirt (seriously) to level. Some hyacinths and daffodils are slowly coming up. We also have a thorny bush/vine that resembles a berry bush of some kind. Will keep my eye on that too. I dreeeaaam of blackberries in the backyard.

On Sunday I had that great Rwandan latte. Ken ate his breakfast in his rocking chair on the front porch in the sunshine. sigh. I love it so far. Very peaceful. After my coffee, I continued to weed the front yard (I think I'm on day 4-5 with no end in the near future). I've already refilled the compost bin and have enough to fill another bin. Ken went for an afternoon hike in Forest Park, the largest city park in the US, while I went to the Yard & Garden show. I've been eyeing gladioli bulbs in the stores. 25 cents a piece. 20 cents a piece. Behold the garden show selling them for 10 cents a piece in a 50 bulb pack. 5 bucks. Perfect. And if you spend $5 or more, you get a free 4" pot of tulips. Hooray. In all, I bought 50 gladioli bulbs, 20 ixis bulbs and 20 freesia bulbs. I planted them all when I got home, bringing the grand total of bulbs planted in our front yard to just shy of 400. They should bloom between early spring and late summer. I love it.

Yesterday I had another Rwanadan latte and re-stained the inside and out of the front door that Willie (the dog of the renters) had scratched the bejeezus out of. Looks beautiful now. Afterwards, I spar urethaned the window sills on the first floor to protect them from UV damage. You could see the wood starting to dry out before. Now things look a lot healthier. Aired out the house while I weeded... again. Ken went to a casino in Washington state to play poker while I trimmed the eight rose bushes in the backyard for spring. I think of Rob & Jana everytime I trim those bushes since I was talking to them on the phone when a thorny branch fell on my head.

Took a shower, drank a cranberry & vodka with a bit of ginger ale (takes off the hard alcohol bite) and made Brian Hawkins' gnocchi recipe for dinner. Yum. I love that recipe. (Brian, did you know you can freeze the uncooked formed gnocchi for later? Freeze them in a single layer and then when hard you can transfer them to a labelled ziploc bag -- can have homemade gnocchi in the time it takes to boil water).

What a great weekend.