{Sunday Afternoon Picnic}

We had a lovely picnic today in the field across from our apartment complex.

I got up early and made deviled eggs, chicken salad, mock tuna salad, pineapple and strawberry-rhubarb pie.

A little chardonnay as well.

The Labradoodles accompanied us too.

1950's Dress: The Way We Wore, Houston, TX

1950's Hat: Antique Store, Ramona, CA

1970's Pendleton shirt: Replay, Houston, TX

An unexpected visitor.

{Birthday bleach}

Happy 23rd birthday to me.

Vegan pumpkin cake. 

 

{Better}

My computer has just recovered from a nasty virus.. Antivir Solution Pro.
It was scary!

Made [vegan] chocolate cupcakes with peanut buttercream frosting yesterday for someone's birthday at CNA class.
One cupcake was reserved for a soldier's belated birthday.

I found a robin's eggshell on the way to class too!

 

{Just stuff}

Made Seitan Roulade from veganyumyum for dinner today.

{Rain, rain}

This past weekend was the weekend of the Kentucky Derby and Elizabethtown Farmer's Market- We didn't make it due to horrible weather conditions.
Thunder and lightning for 3 days straight.All 3 of the cats were piled up in the corner under my bed.. they do not like loud noises!

To warm up I baked a dozen oatmeal raisin cookies.

I've never seen so much rain and strong wind in my life.
I had to bring in my balcony garden- minor damage to basil, tomato and strawberry plants.
The telephone across the field from us is bent over.
And on Sunday, at 05.40 AM I was awakened by the tornado siren!
That's one of my worst fears- a tornado.
I've never experienced one personally- but my mom grew up in Ohio where they do occur and I recall as a child her telling me about her nightmares involving them.
I gathered myself and the cats into the bathtub, covering with blanket and pillows.
10 minutes went by.
I checked weather.com on my iphone, and the bad weather had blown east.
Phew!
Supposedly we're supposed to get another storm this weekend.
I actually do enjoy stormy weather- makes me feel cozy.
Especially at the laundromat.
Oh and my belongings were finally packed up on Monday and are now en route from California to Kentucky!!!

{Birthday bleach}

Hooray! Today is my birthday and I'm 22!
It's kind of odd..
When i was little I never thought that I would live to be 20.
It just seemed so far away.
But now i am beyond that

and fine
 
I baked my birthday cake
Still need to ice it though.Got the recipe from wholefoods.com
vegan maple-almond cake.
I baked two circular cakes because I needed enough cake to carve into the shape of an owl.
I tasted a scrap of cake and..
I loved it!

It wasn't tooth-shatteringly sweet.

The recipe doesn't even call for sugar.. maple syrup is the sweetener.