Almost missed it!

Yesterday was World Penguin Day--who knew?!  I didn't find out until the end of the day, but I quickly composed a poem for the occasion.  I'm sharing it with you so we'll be more prepared this time next year.

Oh, little penguin blue, 

Somewhere there's a mate for you. 

And if they ain't by your side this minute, 

It don't mean their heart's not in it. 

They could still text to say 

"I love you" on World Penguin Day.

Awww, little penguin blue...

Taboo subjects

Normally I don't talk about work stuff here, and I'm going to be vague and anonymous and all, but dang, am I excited!  I've been looking for a career change for a while now, and here it finally is.  I'm going to be relocating to the bigger town (small city?) in this area and will be doing something quite different.  I'm really looking forward to being a part of this organization and I'm truly enthusiastic about the challenge I'm facing.  I plan to move my little household down there as well, as soon as I can find a suitable place.  Which brings me to another taboo subject.  Living in the small city (big town?) will bring me closer to someone I've been spending my tiny bits of free time with.  It should be interesting to see if we can stand each other on a more regular basis.  

Oh, the changes are flowing now!  This is all so wild and new and exciting aaaaand I'm gushing again.  Sorry about that.  Ahem.  Speaking of gushing--here's another picture of my brother and his baby.  I want to hang this one on my wall.  Prepare for the sugar coma before you scroll down:

Sleepy sleepers

Makes you want to take a nap, doesn't it?  No?  Just me?

Auntie Attack!

I'm not sure that continually posting about my brand-new niece is really any better than posting about my cat, but I just have to share this link with you.  If you want to see real people being super cute and romantic, plus some really fine photography.....go to Jill Gum Photography.  She really captured my brother and SIL and (of course) there are marvelous photos of the new arrival--squeeeee!!

You may now return to your regularly scheduled lives.  Thank you for your attention.

And just in case you're uninterested in babies or romance, here is a picture of my cat:

She is absolutely refusing to share the afghan

Spring Will Come

Setting sun shines pink
Through clots of snow on bare trees.
Cherry blossom time!

Bawk Bawk

Chocolate class + two jobs + half marathon training schedule + a fun new friend = breathless, in a somewhat stressed but also good way.  I’ve thought of two new chocolate flavors to try out.  They might be awesome or they might be nasty—there’s only one way to find out.  Any volunteers?  No?  How about if I give you a hint?  Ants on a log and root beer floats.  Anyone interested in being a guinea pig now?  For those of you who had the misfortune of growing up somewhere besides the Midwest, “ants on a log” is the name of a kid’s snack.  It’s a stalk of celery, filled with peanut butter, with a line of raisins stuck on top of the peanut butter.  I’m serious.  It’s on Wikipedia, so it must be a real thing.  Root beer seems to be one of those “love it or hate it” flavors, so that confection may not be popular with everyone.  My brother is in the “love it” camp, and I haven’t created a candy for him yet.  If it turns out to be delicious, I’ll give him a box to distract him when I visit my brand new niece (next month, when it will hopefully NOT be snowing anymore). 

Speaking of celery—I’ve invented a Primal variation on a coworker’s tasty chicken dip (which I always eat with celery because NO CRACKERS ALLOWED).  If you want something healthier than chocolate, try this:

Non-cheat Chicken Dip

1 large can chicken (10 oz)

½ tsp herbes de Provence or Italian herb blend

¼ tsp garlic powder

½ cup plain Greek yogurt (organic is best, as usual)—I use the kind with fat in it cuz it’s yummier

Drain the chicken, throw it in a bowl and use a fork to break up the lumps.  Crush the herbs a little with your fingers and sprinkle them over the chicken.  Add the garlic powder.  Stir well.  Add the yogurt and stir again.  Eat with celery stalks or spoon into lettuce wraps, or just eat it with the spoon.  Quick, easy, yummy.

So what do you think of the candy ideas (other than that they’re a bit vague)?  Would you taste a root beer float crème?  How about ants on a log, if it was made with chocolate instead of celery?  And if anyone tries the dip recipe, will you let me know how yours turns out?

Aunt Sarah

It's official!  I'm an auntie for the very first time!  And I'm weirdly excited about it, hence all the exclamation marks!!!!!!

Being born just makes a girl tired

Ain't she a darling?  I've gotta run--I need to get started crocheting adorable tiny things for my brand new niece :)

Snow Falling On Runners

I was surprised by the number of people who were out running in the crazy cold yesterday morning.  I saw quite a few within a mile of the parking lot but by the time I was a couple of miles into the woods, I seemed to have the trails to myself.  I stopped to stretch my calves and took a moment to look around.  Snow was sifting softly through the trees and I smiled to myself and thought “man, I sure do hate snow.”  Running when it’s snowing is like running through cobwebs that never stop sticking to your face.  Ick. 

C’mon Spring!  I. Am. Ready!!