Sunny/warm here. We’ll be off for a day of shopping mostly. The b2 boy’s pants now last about an hour before tearing at the knees. Do kids’ pants come in twenty packs?
Oh, well, very urban – all windows look over the backyard. Not a bad one, some trees and pretty tidy.
But the view is made interesting by this edifice, which is right in our face across the yard.
The Russian Cathedral is beautiful, but the big local news these days is the new restaurant right around the corner. Tre Otto opened just 3 weeks ago and has already become a local favorite – had lunch theer today after a long walk in the park.
That one is absolutely scrumptious.
We’re working our way through the menu (dinner twice, lunch once – so far) and sample each other’s orders when with friends – no disappointments yet.
Must be nice to be within walking distance of such great restaurants. I think the closest eatery around my house is Woody’s BBQ, home of the “sloppy woody”….which, you know, I just refuse to eat because I’m classier than that.
..within walking distance.. – Literally just around the corner…
There are some decent restaurants a few blocks south, but this is the first good one, with the right atmosphere in the immediate neighborhood (I know, we’re spoiled in Manhattan). We encounter people from our building and friends from the neighborhood each time we go there, and there is a clear consensus that this is a great – and much needed addition to the block.
I’m with you on the BBQ, my sympathies.
The only way to eat “out” in our town is to order fish and chips (or soe strange battered a deep-fat fried concoction like a “chiko roll”) at the gas station grill and eat at one of the three plastic tables they provide. Fifteen minutes down the road is a halfway decent take away pizza place.
I love taking pictures of water flowing in the creek, especially when the sun is out and making fascinating pattern.. It’s really nice right now because the water is running fast and clear.
It’s prefect timing of course, Luna, Lily and Hector have just finished shedding their winter coats and Pacha’s cria is due by the end of the month. Oy veh.
We’ll probably get a few more warm periods intermingled with the cooling ones, but by the end of the month we’ll be well and truly into the Fall/Winter months (since we don’t get a real Winter here).
At least Imogen and I got in two ocean swims in the last two weeks.
What I think is funny is how all of the literature about alpacas talks about how they “hum”, because I suppose that sounds better than saying that they whine at one another.
It’s a chilly night so I’m on cria duty (i.e. I’ll be checking her throughout the night). I made her a jacket out of the sleeve of a sweatshirt, so that should help keep her warmer. I also put grandma Nina in with them so that Pacha will have someone close to reassure her.
No. Pacha didn’t get pregnant last year, and when she was bred this year she didn’t take the first time, so we re-bred her, which did take.
Alpacas have an 11 month gestation, and most people try to have their crias arrive in late Spring. At least Tasmania’s climate is fairly mild, and the baby seems to be fine with wearing her jacket.
I am so glad the week is more than half over! 🙂
It’s been interesting getting into the swing of a new job while getting the hang of a new baby. Speaking of which, I need to take some pictures for y’all.
I ate macaroni and cheese last night in honor of CBtY’s birthday…and it confirmed our suspicions that Mr. Finn is sensitive to cow’s milk (with a nice rash this morning). Back to the no-dairy diet.
I’ve found the proteins in goat milk much easier to digest, and so do a lot of babies. We domesticated goats about 5000 years before we domesticated the Auroch (the ancestor of modern cows), so we’ve had ore time to adapt to their milk.
You can try switching to goat milk, cheese, etc. and see if that helps.
I’ve actually been doing the cow dairy-free thing for about 6 weeks now, and I decided to try eating the mac and cheese just to confirm that the clearing up of Finn’s rash/eczema was related to the change in my diet and not just a coincidence.
You’re right though – goat cheese has been okay. What does the milk taste like?
Commercial dairy goat milk really seems to vary. See if you can find a fresh source locally. For years I had Angora goats, which gave a very mild tasting milk. I used to make butter out of mine, and it made killer vanilla ice cream.
What a long week this was- it took all day yesterday to recover!
How is everyone this fine morning? We’re up for another warmish and sunny day here, with visits from the parental units.
We had a sign of spring’s approach — all three dogs spent all afternoon outside, sleeping in sunspots.
The temps are going to stay in the 50s here but there is rain in the forecast from today to Saturday. Muckland here we come.
It has been a strange week to say the least. I plan to watch Nascar and the Oscars and do very little else today. LOL
Sunny/warm here. We’ll be off for a day of shopping mostly. The b2 boy’s pants now last about an hour before tearing at the knees. Do kids’ pants come in twenty packs?
Yup – sunny and resembling spring today.
I’m told it is a good day for washing the windows…
I suspect that the view from your windows is better than mine. 😉
Oh, well, very urban – all windows look over the backyard. Not a bad one, some trees and pretty tidy.
But the view is made interesting by this edifice, which is right in our face across the yard.
ask, you certainly have interesting neighbors.
The Russian Cathedral is beautiful, but the big local news these days is the new restaurant right around the corner.
Tre Otto opened just 3 weeks ago and has already become a local favorite – had lunch theer today after a long walk in the park.
Its nice to have new neighbors who will feed you;-)
Mmmm. I want that appetizer stuffed saffron rice ball with beef ragout. To go, please.
That one is absolutely scrumptious.
We’re working our way through the menu (dinner twice, lunch once – so far) and sample each other’s orders when with friends – no disappointments yet.
Must be nice to be within walking distance of such great restaurants. I think the closest eatery around my house is Woody’s BBQ, home of the “sloppy woody”….which, you know, I just refuse to eat because I’m classier than that.
..within walking distance.. – Literally just around the corner…
There are some decent restaurants a few blocks south, but this is the first good one, with the right atmosphere in the immediate neighborhood (I know, we’re spoiled in Manhattan). We encounter people from our building and friends from the neighborhood each time we go there, and there is a clear consensus that this is a great – and much needed addition to the block.
I’m with you on the BBQ, my sympathies.
The only way to eat “out” in our town is to order fish and chips (or soe strange battered a deep-fat fried concoction like a “chiko roll”) at the gas station grill and eat at one of the three plastic tables they provide. Fifteen minutes down the road is a halfway decent take away pizza place.
But I’ll bet Beavis and Butt-Head and Bubba love it.
Actually, you’re not supposed to wash the windows when it’s sunny. Too streaky that way. 🙂
Hah, you’re only trying to get me into trouble…
is the way to go.
click for larger
Morning Miss Andi!! I love the photo and the tag line. It describes my life. LOL
Thanks and a very belated good morning to you, RF.
That’s a beautiful photo!
I love taking pictures of water flowing in the creek, especially when the sun is out and making fascinating pattern.. It’s really nice right now because the water is running fast and clear.
Especially when there are falls just downstream, eh?
Its nice to see flowing water for a change.
It’s been flowing great here since the melting started. I’m hoping that’s a sign that a very green spring will be arriving early.
It smells of spring here. Today looks like it will be a gorgeous day, which is nice because it’s CBtY’s 15th birthday. 🙂
Were having pulled pork sandwiches and REAL macaroni and cheese for dinner. I love when people have simple favorite dinners.
I am thinking this work thing really interrupts my blogging and ability to play in the nice spring weather today…can I take a vacation day already?
Calling in sick always works for me when I need that day off. And it is a really nice day.
This will be our first day in the 70s after a cold, cloudy winter.
I was hoping the weather would be crappy to discourage 3 of my kids from going skydiving. But they’re batshit insane and the jump is on.
Please tell me that Ryan is NOT one of the three.
Ryan is the instigator. Now that she has health insurance she thinks she’s invincible.
Ryan is the instigator
I think you’ve got an adrenalin junkie there, Mom.
But good to know she’s got health insurance since she’s already amply demonstrated that whatever else she is, invincible she is not.
I say it ain’t really spring until there’s green. But it sure is nice having warm(er) weather.
The sandhill cranes apparently think it’s nice too. There have been hundreds of them flying over the house today.
It must be Spring there because we’ve just got our first day of Autumn here. It’s a chilly 56 in the house and in the high 40’s outside. Brrrrrrrrrr.
I guess we’d better fell a tree soon. Good thing I recently tuned up the chain saw. Now, if only there was an easy way to tune up my back . . .
And we’ve let the stove go out and won’t (I hope) start it again until the November or December.
It’s prefect timing of course, Luna, Lily and Hector have just finished shedding their winter coats and Pacha’s cria is due by the end of the month. Oy veh.
We’ll probably get a few more warm periods intermingled with the cooling ones, but by the end of the month we’ll be well and truly into the Fall/Winter months (since we don’t get a real Winter here).
At least Imogen and I got in two ocean swims in the last two weeks.
She must have heard me:
Pacha’s first baby.
Aww, cute!
I guess she didn’t want to wait till the end of the month.
Good thing, it’s only going to get colder. Plus, she’s Pacha’s first cria, so small is good.
Nina held on to Pacha so long she was the biggest cria our friend Jim, a long time breeder, and ever seen. But then Nina was an old hand by then.
Well congrats to the mom on job well done.
Hazy light and black critters, my favorite combination.
Wow, what timing!
And really, really accurate.
All that whining is Pacha. It’s how they “talk”, especially to their newborns.
This standing up stuff sure is a lot of work.
Human parents take note: look how satisfying it is when the parents get to whine at the kids instead of the reverse.
What I think is funny is how all of the literature about alpacas talks about how they “hum”, because I suppose that sounds better than saying that they whine at one another.
It’s a chilly night so I’m on cria duty (i.e. I’ll be checking her throughout the night). I made her a jacket out of the sleeve of a sweatshirt, so that should help keep her warmer. I also put grandma Nina in with them so that Pacha will have someone close to reassure her.
On that note, I’m off to get a few hours sleep.
Night. Hope everything is fine in the morning.
Is this the usual season for alpacas to give birth?
No. Pacha didn’t get pregnant last year, and when she was bred this year she didn’t take the first time, so we re-bred her, which did take.
Alpacas have an 11 month gestation, and most people try to have their crias arrive in late Spring. At least Tasmania’s climate is fairly mild, and the baby seems to be fine with wearing her jacket.
Aw, how cute. It’s amazing how much the cria sounds like a toddler saying Mom? Mom? Mom?
Or maybe I’ve just heard that so much that everything reminds me of it.
CabinGirl, I saw this and thought of you.
Those are cool. Thanks! 🙂
Now with green … almost no white … and bumpiness rather than humpiness.
click for larger
Oooh. I can almost smell pine.
I am so glad the week is more than half over! 🙂
It’s been interesting getting into the swing of a new job while getting the hang of a new baby. Speaking of which, I need to take some pictures for y’all.
I ate macaroni and cheese last night in honor of CBtY’s birthday…and it confirmed our suspicions that Mr. Finn is sensitive to cow’s milk (with a nice rash this morning). Back to the no-dairy diet.
Hope everyone is doing fine-
Sorry to hear that. Is Finn taking soy milk?
I’m actually avoiding soy as well as goat’s milk, because of its hormonal effects.
I’ve found the proteins in goat milk much easier to digest, and so do a lot of babies. We domesticated goats about 5000 years before we domesticated the Auroch (the ancestor of modern cows), so we’ve had ore time to adapt to their milk.
You can try switching to goat milk, cheese, etc. and see if that helps.
I’ve actually been doing the cow dairy-free thing for about 6 weeks now, and I decided to try eating the mac and cheese just to confirm that the clearing up of Finn’s rash/eczema was related to the change in my diet and not just a coincidence.
You’re right though – goat cheese has been okay. What does the milk taste like?
Commercial dairy goat milk really seems to vary. See if you can find a fresh source locally. For years I had Angora goats, which gave a very mild tasting milk. I used to make butter out of mine, and it made killer vanilla ice cream.
We have a goat farm that makes cheese about 2 miles up the road. I bet I could get some from those folks – they supply our csa with cheese