May 29

I love this one. She came over for a bowl of chilli today, and we sat on the floor and attacked all of lifes problems with colored pens and a pros and cons list. And also tea (with coffee mate and sugar because that's the only way to drink it).

I feel like we made headway. Or at least we have a color-coded list which is almost as good.

May 18

On my 2013 To Do list (I will never get through my bucket list unless I section things off, you see) nestled right in between Go to Sweden and Get a driving license, was Learn how to bake bread. Last year it was pie. Bread is terrifying mostly because yeast (little living organisms that bloat and die to make my bread fluffy? What nast.) but also because good bread is one of my favorite things, and making bad bread therefore, bread kneaded by my own two hands, would be that much more of a failure. However, face those fears, I did - Eschet Chayil! - and today I made Monkey Bread.

 

It is clear to me why people make it just and only for the holidays (or once every three years). It took me only about 4 hours. And this was the sped up version. However, at the end of 4 hours, we were rewarded with a delectable bunt-full of soft dough nuggets dipped lovingly one by one in butter and sugar sharing the strong bonds of caramel and frosting. I'm going to go ahead and say it was well worth it.  

 

 

It is beautimous no?

April 30

...and then there was that time when Rachel Held Evans came over for dinner and wine.

It was one of those days that goes down in a girl's history as one that can only be described as first-class. It was beautiful out, work was going well, and Rachel-OH-MY-GOSH-Held-Evans was speaking at chapel. Of course her talk was heart warming, funny, wise, and empowering and my feminist little heart was crooning happy things. We met her shortly thereafter, all atwitter, breathlessly telling her how wonderful she was and could-you-please-take-a-picture-with-us-and-sign-this-book, and oh yes, would you like to come over tonight?

AND SHE SAID YES!! So after we all died minor deaths, whipped the house in order, and Olivia made soup, we spent an evening with Rachel, talking, laughing, asking questions, and telling stories - and truly, she is a woman of valor and so inspiring.

Eshet Chayil!

April 16

I never did post a picture of the girls. Here they are, on the first night of V-Day. What an honor to work with them, talk with them, act with them, learn with them, grow with them, fight with them, and be voices together.