Easter Sunday

Archer standing guard -

Here's who he's looking out for (his favorite girl Gariana is on the right) -

happy blackberry pie

made by Tim's mom
Deee-licious!

gathered for an Irish meal
(note to self: date wrong on file name)

when you stop at Kershaw Park with no expectations except to kill some time,
and you discover trees raining gold










(note to self: I dated these photos wrong in their file names)

coffee in the wee hours

faces that melt your heart

My sister gave me these over-sized Lego blocks to bring to our adopted Somali refugee family. The kids took to them immediately and built tottering Dr. Seuss-like vehicles using the wheels included in the set. These photos don't do justice to their beautiful faces.

Above: Makruma (in yellow) - her brother Guled (who jumped in behind her when he saw the camera) - and Asma in the background

Above: Grandma Hawo and baby Sundus
Below: Asma & Makruma (looking like a little yellow flower)




Makruma got intrigued with my camera and asked to take this last photo (above) - which started a giggle fit when she saw her family on the camera's display

weird music that you find yourself grooving to at 3am when you're working an all-nighter by yourself

how the month ended

I've been drinking a new daily concoction... Turmeric Tea!
There are all sorts of recipe suggestions online. My favorite version has evolved to be:
2 heaping teaspoons turmeric
1 heaping teaspoon ginger
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (to maximize turmeric's potential)
1 1/2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
approx 1 3/4 cups boiling water
approx 1/4 cup almond milk
Measure it all into a blender, hold a towel over the lid while you blend, then drink it while it's hot! Makes 2 bracing mugs full. Not for the faint of heart, but good for what ails you... aches n pains, that is. I've been drinking it as an alternative to ibuprofen for my achy shoulders (ibuprofen is terrible for your stomach!) and I'm convinced it's helping. And I love the color!!


This is the sweetest doggy in the world — The cats are allowed to lounge anywhere they like: sofas, beds, chairs, etc. - not so for Sparky. But Bindi & Sukey routinely choose to crowd his little bed. And he lets them.

Even the cats know.

for my sister, because she loves this song and it's Groundhog's Day


you can't not move to this

how the week started