TIME WITH THE KIDS

Jonel and Andy and girls joined me for dinner on Friday night.  To my delight the girls brought their violins, announcing they wanted to 'put on a concert' after supper.  

Iris has been taking Suzuki lessons for about a year, and Elsa will start this summer.  I have a dear friend who had a tiny (1/10) violin from when her daughter was small, and she generously gave this violin to Elsa...who is pretty tiny herself.  I brought it to the local music shop and had it gone over, it was pronounced 'a good violin'.  Elsa, from being present at Iris' daily practices, already seems to know quite a bit and is ever so eager to share what she knows. 

A duet....

 

 After considerable playing 'together' Elsa, who also takes ballet lessons, decided she would do some dancing to the music.

(As an aside, I have noticed that Iris gets this same look on her face, a look of deep concentration, whenever she is playing the violin.)

The 'jig'

(and Iris' 'look' again)

...this dance got pretty wild at times...and was always pretty cute...

 

the curtsy and the bow

The following night, Jonel and Andy had an opportunity for a rare night on the town, and the girls (and their babies) came for supper and a movie.  I threatened to make, French Fries, Ice Cream and Popcorn...and Elsa said with a big grin, "I don't think so."  We did have French Fries, Panninis, strawberry pie/ice cream and popcorn with the movie.  It was really a great night for me, one girl on each side of me as we watched a Disney movie.  They so fill my heart with love.

LAST WINTER HIKE (WE THINK)

While discussing how much of a hike we felt I could take, the phone rings and Andy said he was taking the girls on a hike to Billings Creek, did we want to go?  What with the very slow recovery of my hand, and the daily pain, this seemed like a hike I could do...the first since Jan. 31st surgery.

The Billings Creek 'trail' is stunning, could be easy or difficult, depending upon what you wanted to scale.  We did both.  My right hand suffered almost immediately from Raynard's and Iris offered me her 'very warm' mitten.  With the vigorous hiking and Iris' mitten my hand recovered and we all enjoyed a wonderful Sunday afternoon on the Billings Creek trail.

These girls climbed everything in sight!!  Very nimble.

These girls slid on every ice sheet!!

Elsa brought along Hip-Hop and wanted his picture taken!

You may not be able to detect, from this photo, but this is a very steep incline, almost straight up.  We all ended up climbing it.

The wonders of a cave with two entrances.  One side pretty low and narrow, although not so for the girls.

Grandpa crawled through and gave Elsa a ride out.

Ice swimming and peering down to see what is captured by the water.

The girls were fearless and went up and down ice covered paths with glee.  

As for me, it was so nice to feel 'normal' once again, at least for the two hours we were hiking.

Off to the doctor today to find out how it is all going, and why this daily pain????

COOKING AGAIN

It seems like it has been a very long recovery period, and I still am far from back to normal usage of my right hand.  I am experiencing much pain, but am going to Occupational Therapy which I am hoping will help.  

I am cooking again, though it presents some challenges I know how blessed I am and will not complain.  I could be far worse off, I know.

FISH TACOS...one of my very favorite foods.  I found some wild caught Alaskan cod at a local grocery and snapped it up.  (I am trying to serve fish twice per week.) 

...fillets dipped in flour, egg and then into panko bread crumbs...

...sauteed in canola oil until crispy...

I think the thing that makes fish tacos so delicious for me is the cabbage slaw that tops the fish.  Shredded red cabbage, onions, carrots and chipolte mayonnaise.  This is so good, I can't stop eating it.  And it is simply wonderful on the fish, in a soft flour taco shell.  

...ready to roll....

and for dessert

Mexican rice pudding....

Great meal, and so good for you as well.