spring

 the blossoms are doubling by the day

in hopes of a fruitful summer.

Spring Break 2013

We were lucky enough to take a few days off in the middle of the week to visit Jake's cousin Maria and her husband Nick in the Monterey Bay area.

We ate well

 laughed

 took our time

talked about life

dreamt of the future

We strolled through the acquarium

ran through Dennis the menace park

and laid in the grass at Earth Bound farms

Getting out of the life your used to, even if for just a few short days 

is like a breath of fresh air

wouldn't you agree?

More pictures to come.

So Much Love.

What a unique and special friendship we are starting to develop. Our lives wouldn't be as colorful with out her.

I'm planning to catch this little blog up to date with what has been going on the past month. 

I love that we too, can change with the seasons.

 Sit tight until then.

So much love,

Katheen&Violet

this week (via Instagram!)

my sweet flower

this picture makes me feel like she will be in kindergarten soon, waiting against the fence for mom or dad to pick her up. slow. down. time.

fun at the park with ms. sophia

so happy to have dusty buns left overs for lunch. go local!

this is  warm weather staple for us. Homemade tandoori naan Pizza. oh-so-good.

yup. she loved it. "my toes? my toes? pretty toes?" never thought I'd be that mom.

once a month "frousin" (friend that is a cousin) dates. we were in Phở food heaven

spring/summer projects 2011

We have accumulated quite the list of things to accomplish around our house during the "warm season".

the list goes as follows:

1. plant summer garden.

Jake and I have been reading one magic square  if you have a small space (even large to medium) to garden I highly recommend this book. It gives you great ideas on how to most effectively use your space while still getting the most out of your crops. We found out what plants do well next to each other and where to plant them, thus, the map.

We also planted corn, watermelon and more Armenian cucumbers along the side of our house, not to mention newly planted apricot, nectarine, plum and pomegranate trees.

So much to look forward to this summer, my salivary glands can hardly contain themselves :)

2. take out ugly white carpet and replace with wood.

our carpet is a mess and barely a year in existence. It has seen its fair share of stains the worst being the 4 foot long bbq sauce stain I contributed last summer.  Jake has been bringing me home wood samples to choose from and we decided on a restored wood finish.

Source: beautifulpaper.tumblr.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

My kitchen is a similar grey, but we are keeping the tile and the carpet in the bedrooms. So long ugly white carpet!

3. Finish painting the interior of the house.

We currently have 4/8 walls painted in our living room/dining room/ kitchen area (its really one great room) because I like to change my mind. Jake refused to continue painting (who would blame him we have really tall walls) until I decided what exactly I wanted to do. I've mentioned this before but I have interior indecisiveness. However, I finally decided on something and I am NOT going back.

Source: gallery.apartmenttherapy.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

This is my inspiration.
I decided that it IS possible to have 3-4 different colors in a room, opposed to one monochromatic bland color. Especially since we are dealing with such a large space, I was afraid I would get worn out of the same color scheme.

here are some more pictures that inspired my color choice.

Source: wherethesidewalkbegins.blogspot.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

Source: nicety.livejournal.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

I can't wait to reveal the end results! (and God bless poor Jake for letting me vocalize my 287 different ideas. HA)

4. Outside patio furniture.

I've always loved the idea of having big comfy patio furniture to fall asleep on on cool summer nights. I stumbled on this really simple idea, and really, there are never too many pallets on my end of town.

Source: vtwonen.nl via Kathleen on Pinterest


 Stay tuned for our progress!

busy weekend ahead

I had a conversation with a friend about how spring weather makes you feel like anything is possible. You're not restrained by the heat, or kept inside by the cold.

Spring brings new life in so many different ways.

Since the sun has been gracing us with its presence, we've had the chance to sit quietly in our backyard.  Which helps me prepare for the hustle and bustle of the busy weekend ahead of us.

 Jake's family coming into town for the MCC relief sale which is an annual auction/ food bizarre to help raise money to those who are in need around the world. 

Even though I did not grow up Mennonite (although my dad has often threated joining the Mennonite Church as a political stance against war... all talk dad) since I grew up down the street from a Mennonite College, we always went to enjoy the food and the beautifully auctioned off quilts.

I can't help it, I picture quilt makers like this EVERY. TIME.

Jake is, however, ethnically Mennonite.

I guess if he was true to his roots he'd look something like this

Then again,

 I'd look something like this...

Which makes Violet an...

Armennonite?

 Anyway, Jake and his cousin John-Mark volunteered to make and run the Borscht booth this year, so starting to night we are slicing and dicing our way through cabbage, carrots, potatoes,  celery and onions in hopes for happy bellies full of semi traditional Mennonite cuisine! ( they sell really good tacos too)

Back soon with pictures and details to follow!

spring.

how does your garden grow?

last of the winter harvest

fearless

the many shades of violet

bubbles

friends

RIP fishy

 this took me three days!! recipe via tartine, mmm  morning buns! (more on this later)

a certain kind of weekend.

This weekend was the kind of weekend where you wear the same outfit three days in a row (mostly done by me)

Where shoes are optional.

Where lunch is served on a blanket in the sun.

The kind of weekend where leisurely strolls are a must.

Where new friends are made.

It's a kind of weekend you find it hard to forget.