Concord and the North Bridge

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Freedom Trail

On the T.

30,000 flags for fallen soldiers in Massachusetts.

One if by land, two if by sea. Does anyone know how many they hung?

We caught a train into the city, and our day quickly turned into an adventure. Following the Boston Freedom Trail we wandered from Emerson College, through the public gardens, up to Faneuil Hall and over to the North End. From the North End we went across the river to Charlestown, to Bunker  Hill. We stopped for a pint and lunch at The Green Dragon pub, picked up iced Americanos at The Thinking Cup, and learned the history of the birth of the United States along the way. We laughed a lot,  did a lot of things James and I had not yet done, and our feet were good and tired after 6 miles.

To the MFA and Fenway

After church this morning we ventured down to the MFA, which is boasting free admission this Memorial Day Weekend. We had a chance to look around in the America's rooms, and wandered through the Impressionists before we left. My favorite was the quilt display, around a thousand quilt flags sent in to memorialize this year's marathon. The different designs and ideas were creative, unique, and from all around the world. From there we walked to Fenway, had a Tasty Burger (yyuuummmm!) and took this bottom picture.

Hooray for parents in Boston!

Friends

James and I spent last weekend hanging out. We had friends over for dinner, for dessert, and for games (at least two games of Settlers of Catan). We dropped in on people, went for dinner, and ice cream with the Rolfes. We even made new friends. Though one night James did come home and make me this steak, potatoes, and salad dinner with wine (lucky lady!). I am blessed by the community that we have been given here, I think I say it all the time, but it only continues to grow and deepen.

These are some of the pictures I snapped, which are becoming more fun to take everyday. I am still enamored with all the color around us right now. Oh! Did I mention I got my haircut?

Project

We were given this dresser last summer, and today it got a little makeover.

And I did the laundry.

Success!

Thoughts on Healthy Eating, and Living

"Thanks for being healthy with me" is a phrase I often say to James after I've cooked a delicious meal, the kind that almost make you feel guilty because they're amazing, but usually made with fresh, healthy, homemade ingredients. If I've made salmon, a lasagna, thai chicken pizza, or a pasta salad full of green things, these are the meals that excite James, and I love that they're good for us.

I learned to cook for a crowd from my friend Beth. When I moved in with her and her family I was hesitant when she would pour entire bags of broccoli, lettuce, or chicken into her dishes--there was no way we'd ever eat it all! But I quickly learned that a family of six eats a lot. It always happened that the nights we had extra were the same nights friends and neighbors would pop in, hungry. 

 Beth also taught me about CSA boxes. We talked a lot about sustainable living, meal planning and  vegetable gardening. As a wedding gift she made me a recipe book with all of her favorites. Armed with that book, The Joy of Cooking, and Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson, I sit down each week and put together a shopping list. We're blessed to live near a Trader Joe's and a family owned produce market and I usually stop at both.

This last week we were blessed to have James and Bri, college friends of "my James" (usually how Bri and I distinguish them) stay with us. I think they like good meals more than we do. While they were here, the Jameses cooked Carne Asada and some other fantasticalness on the grill. Bri made Shakshuka the last night they stayed, and if their process of packing up backpacks hadn't given me the travel bug, this dish tipped me over the edge. Our apartment was certainly full with them here, but full of laughter, coffee, and fun times too.

Good friends, good meals, they go together.

Right Now...

Bri is editing photos from her latest shoot, her James is working on the computer behind me, my James is home from work and killing baddies on his computer. We're all listening to good music, watching the Edgar the roomba sweep the floors--and I'm doing this. 

Officially Summer Break

What is it like to have four people in a one bedroom apartment? 

Fun. 

James and Bri are staying with us for a bit while they transition into a new apartment, a trip to Europe, and a summer in Maine. We feel really blessed by an apartment that works for this, the french doors on the living room play a key role. Our fridge has never been so full. 

The days are longer, the sunshine warmer, and I'm looking forward to a more normal schedule next week. My spring cleaning is almost done, I even got to the plastic liner inside the shower, the front of the oven, and with any luck the Moore's roomba will do under our bed today. Closets are organized, donations dropped off. I decided while walking home last night I want to have a baby herb garden in our living room window, and more succulent plants. 

With no school for a while and work only 30 hours a week, I also think I might need to start a new reading list. 

Jeena and Tahli

These two. 

They fill our church with laughter and dresses to spin in. They are the kind of friends that share together and laugh together. Jeena's family, the Kopecheks, was the first to invite us over and get to know us when we moved to Boston. Her brother, John David, and James share the same birthday. We are always blessed by their company and felt so welcomed by them last summer. 

It's their turn to head out, and though we will miss them dearly, we have cherished moments with them and are so excited for their move to Pittsburgh. 

I wanted to snap a few pictures of them together today, because these days I'm convinced friendship endures through time and space. Every time they see each other again they'll have changed a little, grown up some more, but this moment captures the beginning of a special friendship. 

This Week in Photos

I carried my camera this week and these photos reflect the essence of it. I've been spending extra time at work--going in early, staying late. We're slowly seeing the extra work pay off. Hitting big numbers earlier, ordering extra product to fill needs.

Late shifts mean I have lots of time at home in the morning. I finished up the last of my Magazine Overview class for the semester, and have done a fair bit of spring cleaning and decorating. I drink lots of coffee. On Sunday James indulged a Craigslist find and we went to pick up a lovely, perfect little sewing table. It's the kind that folds out, and with a little work my sewing machine will fit inside of it.

The garden at church is bursting with life lately, I was able to go cut back winter grasses and pull weeds Friday morning. To work in the garden, in the sunshine, there is nothing like it. James and I are still coping with opposite work schedules. Many days this week I saw him for an hour in the morning, and an hour at night. We try to make the best of it, but some days are hard. I'm thankful for a husband that takes care of me so well.