amazing orchids

i have two orchids in my kitchen window.  they bloom in the fall and the spring.  i swear, they never stop.

here is one that hasn't finished her fall blooms, but has a new flower spike nearly ready for spring.

last fall, the tip of this flower spike was somehow broken off.  i have read that you should not remove the spike until it turns completely brown.  it never did bloom, but look what is happening at the top of the spike...

it seems to have had a baby orchid.

it also has 2 new flower spikes...

the photos below are from years past. 

{march 2009}

{march 2010}

♥

p.s. do you have any idea what to do with a baby orchid?  i will research it, but maybe it has happened to you.

pam's herbed baguette

tonight,

we had homemade soup with this

it is pam's recipe,

but i found it on dawn's blog.

it's quick.

it's easy.

it's delicious.

i used whole wheat for half of the flour

{next time i will only do 1/4 whole wheat}

also, i used fresh rosemary & parmesan cheese.

♥

have you seen?

have you seen this?

{we watched it last night, and wow, was it good}

: : : : : :

have you seen these?

{the adorableness is difficult to bear}

: : : : : :

have you seen this?

{i swear, i'd wear it every. single. day.}

: : : : : :

have you seen these?

{invented by a mom}

: : : : : :

♥

show & tell {& homework & i won!}

pa gave ned this nifty little airplane.

{my dad is pa ~ because 16 years ago,

emily decided that grandpa was just too long to say.}

today, ned showed his class how it flies.

{♥ we love you, pa ♥}

~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~

homework.

ned absolutely loves it.

can't. get. enough.

it comes home on thursdays

and he cannot wait to get started.

it isn't due until wednesday,

but yesterday's homework was

devoured by my homework-loving boy,

and turned in this morning.

so, today,

he asked his teacher for extra homework.

i am happy to report that he brought home a

nice, fat stack of reading and math worksheets

to enjoy over the weekend.

{i am catie, and although i do not love homework,

i love that ned loves homework.}

~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~

and,

☼ i won! ☼

look here

and here

and here

help me decide.

♥

my new favorite breakfast

i just love kashi cereals

{kashi anything, really}

and i'm nuts about this brand new one:

kashi golden goodness

paired with greek yogurt...

it is my new favorite.

♥

vegetarian taco casserole

i love tacos, but nothing compares
to the ease & warmth of a casserole.

this one is on the menu once a week.

vegetarian taco casserole

ingredients:

beans {i mix whole pintos with refried}

your favorite salsa

grated jack cheese

12 corn tortillas

directions:

spread a bit of beans in the bottom of the dish.

make a layer of tortillas {i use 4},

then half of the beans,

then a layer of salsa,

then a layer of cheese.

repeat layers again {tortillas/beans/salsa/cheese}.

for the next layers, just do tortillas/salsa/cheese.

bake at 350° for about 45 minutes.

serve with sour cream, salsa, guacamole,

and the very best chips.

♥

ishtar market :: in boise

i recently discovered another

cultural gem here in boise

i was on an errand for a

replacement sewing machine lightbulb,

but could not resist checking out the

middle eastern market next door.

i met the very kind owner, essam.

essam is from iraq.

it really is a small world.

i bought a giant tub of imported tahini,

some delicious rolled baklava,

and the very best hummus & pita

on the planet.

ishtar market & restaurant

4516 w overland road

boise, id  83705

208.275.8437

♥

veggie stroganoff

egg noodles, "stroganoff" sauce, & veggies

~~~~~

cook noodles per package directions.

chop veggies and place in a large pot.

{i used broccoli, cauliflower, & purple cabbage}

strain noodles over the pot,

using the boiling water to cook your veggies.

while veggies are cooking,

add sauce ingredients to the hot noodles:

{apologies to my vegan pals}

butter

sour cream

mayonnaise {yes, i did}

{i even added a little buttermilk}

parmesan cheese

lemon juice

salt & pepper

drain veggies & add to noodle mixture.

top with fresh parsley, green onions,

and more parmesan.

♥

♥ etsy favorites ♥

:: a few of my favorite things ::

mustard yellow cowl

giant plush beetle

jewelry organizer

vintage hairpins

knitted bangle

reclaimed oak tub caddy

little wooden car

vintage wooden sled

parisian brass locket necklace

♥

DIY :: custom pages for your day planner

for many years, i have made my own day planner pages.  the store-bought refills are pricey and never exactly right for my life.
making them myself means i can print just a few and make changes whenever i need to.

my planner is roughly 7" x 9" and it takes half-sheets of paper {5 1/2" x 8 1/2"}.  rather than cut the sheets in half, i fold them.  this makes each page stronger, and fewer cut edges mean fewer paper cuts.  any type of document in a horizontal format will work for this project, but i like to use a spreadsheet.

i have an adjustable 3-hole punch that i use just for these pages.  you can use a current day planner page as a template and punch holes one at a time.

here are a few basic templates

i created these using open office {a free program}.

i can email these to you so you can customize & print your own.

note: each page is to be folded down the center.

♥

winter window

♥

p.s. if you care to compare...

my christmas window is here,

my fall window is here,

and my spring/summer window is here.

ned's art :: the house period

ned makes lots of art.

lately, it's houses,

clog-clad people with arms outstretched,

and cheery sunshines.

{hape = happy}

♥

duck love

i haven't posted about my ducks for quite awhile.  if i'm quiet about the ducks, it is most likely because i am waiting until i see them both.  i walk almost every single day, but it has been nearly 7 weeks since i last saw patito.  i was certain she had migrated, but had faith that she would return in the springtime.

this afternoon, as i walked by,

{minding my own business}

i was very sweetly attacked by

~my sweet petites~ 

she is really dear heart.  she does a little eager hop when i bend down to feed her.  do you remember when she started flying up to eat out of my hand?  she is extraordinary.

i don't know if she's been nearby all this time or if she has just returned {the weather has warmed considerably}.  as my mom says, "it matters not, to me."  my heart if full knowing that she is happy & healthy.

and here is my beloved pip {pippa, pippi}

i see her every day.  she has a pretty steady boyfriend.  maybe i will be a ducky-grandma this spring...

~♥~

this is a very special doll

that dianne made for me this christmas

since she is so clearly pro-duck,

i've been waiting to share her with you

until i could also share some ducky good news.

♥

p.s. to see another work of art by dianne,
also posted on a blog today, look here.