Shakes for breakfast

Bret making his all time favorite. Avocados were 6 for one dollar. He bought 30 this morning. Endless shakes for the future! I made myself a broccoli chocolate shake - my favorite. 

1 1/2 c "milk"

1 c frozen broccoli

1/2 frozen banana

2 Tbs cocoa powder

3 Tbs sweetener

Doing my duty

Bret was thoughtful and suggested we take a rose. it gave up the ghost before we got there but I figure dad doesn't care. The neighbors had a ton more decorations, but at least he now hasa wilted rose. 

Windows

Look! I have new windows! Beautiful, but the screens are on the inside because they are designed to open out - the while thing. Different, but it will work and they are pretty and silk keep the cold air out. 

Neighborhood block party

These are the "Heartland Dancers."

Panda

This is where we had lunch yesterday. Panda something. It is a Mongolian bbq place but I am convinced they never put anything away at night or stay with fresh ingredients in the morning. It was way divey. The sign says greens and groceries and is the awning over where you assemble your ingredients. It was so not nice that Bret opted not to tip. It want like we had a waitress anyway. The only woman working there was so caught up in her Asian  soap opera we were lucky she cooked our food at all. 

Spring is here!

not to make my sister jealous or anything, but I paid 1.27 a pound for these. Love the price matching. 

Hidden treasures

Look what I found in my heating vent today. This is why they should probably cleaned more than every 30 years. The date is 1981. on the back is an explanation of the word "scapegoat."

Indulging

Bret is enjoying one of his favorite treats: avocado shake. due to the high milk content we have not made them recently. Since we are visiting his parents' he is indulging. 

Natural history museum

Bret received a year membership for the both of us at the natural history museum. We loved our first visit. 

Birth parent dinner 2

This was the view from my table. 

Birth parent dinner

Last night was our annual birth parent dinner. It was my first one. Bret and I chose to donate quite a bit of money to make it a really nice evening. One of the board members is friends with Kenneth cope and got him to provide entertainment. This is his back side. I loved one of his songs -about how God loves broken things. I saw a couple old friends there and had a grand time. some day maybe I will bring my own birth mom. 

Bedroom

This is my old room. Once walked in wood paneling that I found warm and inviting. Now it will be a generic plain walled room. Yes I miss it already. Mostly because of the headache it has been to transform it. 

Window well

I am getting a new one. Not quite up to code but at least useable is the plan. It will cost about $500. I don't want to think about it. Hopefully all will be normal in a month. 

Basement drywall

Here is the latest view of our basement. I took it from the north looking south this time. The pile in the middle is our couches stacked on top of each other. Word is it will be another 2 weeks since the windows and doors are being custom made. Today the tried digging out our old window well to put in a deeper one. The old one was formed with rebar so the $125 rental fee for a concrete cutter was a total waste and they spent the afternoon with a sledge hammer. Sadness all around. I should get a photo of the big hole. Maybe tomorrow. 

Spring Beauties

These caught me by surprise. I need to spend more time outside before they are gone.

Poor mom

Now she gets to clean house. 

More basement progress

I didn't think it was possible but I now have my dryer next to my washer. Out is not totally set up yet - the guy wants to redo a lot of the plumbing still. Amazing I tell you. Amazing. Plus there are now no light bulbs hanging down to hit your head on. He put in recessed lights in places I didn't think it was possible. Next week the dry wall should be going in.

Mint ice cream

Well it is like ice cream. It is frozen banana blended with frozen spinach and a bit of cocoa powder. Oh and peppermint extract to give it the  minty flavor. All on top of whole wheat oat pancakes. I call it a delicious breakfast. 

Inspiration

That last post didn't turn out as cute as it was in person. Sorry. So here's something new. Wish I had a good photo to go with it. Instead, I pulled an old photoshopped photo of myself as a Pioneer Woman. It kind of goes with the quote. I think this may be my new mantra.

~Our God is a God who uses broken things: broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength." -Vance Havner~

Dog love

We are house/dog/child sitting this weekend at my sister's house. Her dog, like all dogs, can't get enough love. Here she is dozing next to Bret ready for a belly rub. Too cute.