Strawberry Leather

Andrew came home from the grocery store yesterday with 3 pounds of strawberries and asked me to make some fruit leather with them. Since I don't cook much, I thought this was a strange request. However, since I'm not very busy these days (I know that's about to change), I agreed. Here is my attempt at Strawberry Fruit Leather from the latest Gourmet. Also included is a picture of what Callie was doing while I was making it.

Closest wildfire yet

Unseasonably hot (95 degrees), ash settling on the car, smoke in the air... and it's still only April.

(From the LA Times)

The hills above Sierra Madre are on fire. For those who have visited us out here and want to know how close that is to us, Sierra Madre is just north of the horse track (and our hospital). It's also just east of Callie's favorite dog park.

Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be a big one. And there aren't dozens of other fires in the area, so resources can be concentrated.

Nesting

My maternity leave officially began Monday and I have been nesting this week. As you can see, Callie is having a hard time understanding these things are not for her. Sure hope the baby isn't allergic to dogs. As Andrew said awhile back, "It would be sad if the baby had to start sleeping outside." We have finished lamaze and so now the counting begins...2 more weeks.

Things are squared away in Austin (well except for that whole employment thing)

Back from Austin. It's time for the home stretch out here in LA. Got a lot squared away for our return later this summer.

People wanted to know if I was okay with the baby being born out in California. Of course I'm okay with it. That will be the excuse whenever baby acts up. However, if we want to call the kid a Texan, he's got to be born over Texas soil, so...

After Paige's wedding last night, I went down to the Capitol and got some Texas to put in a jar to bring to the delivery. If you think I'm kidding, you might not know me very well. Apparently it's actually pretty common. Or at least enough people do it that it doesn't make me look insane. The nurses out here might have a different opinion when I roll that jar under the bed.

(I hope that soil wasn't imported from Oklahoma, or else this kid's going to be really messed up)

One cool thing I saw when I was there last night was a big group of college kids were playing Capture the Flag over the whole grounds. I wanted to play, but I was still in my suit.

I also finished tying up all the loose ends on our house. I've decided to go with a minimalist approach to furniture since that's the cheapest route. The only thing in this room will be the rosemary plant that I'm holding.

Gone to Texas... in an 02 VW

On Tuesday, I began the 21 hour drive from LA to Texas so that I could leave one car in Austin, and the other will stay with us til we move back. It was a long, uneventful drive. Here are some sights though...


If you've ever made the drive, you've seen these signs. There are probably 50 signs leading up to "The Thing" in both directions. I didn't stop. Maybe next time.


From LA to Anthony, NM I drove angry and unfriendly. Then I saw this sign and I remembered that I needed to relax a little.


Two things kept the car rolling along. The first was a feast consisting of brisket, ribs and cabrito (goat) in Junction, TX at Coopers...


... the second was satellite radio. It really doesn't get any better than that set right there. I can say that because I requested it.