Dino

Clean house. Cleaner than I've ever seen it. Today, I'm finishing up some finals with hope that soon it will be over-friday-! I can read a book that does not require a dictionary and write a sentence without a footnote. I do understand why we have footnotes. But, it can feel like no one believes a single word coming out of your lying mouth. Footnotes are a way of defending yourself. I could never be friends with people that make me do that every time I state a fact or paraphrase an argument.

I made the best loaf yet, and am thinking that it will be tasty with goat cheese, avocados and pepper for lunch tomorrow. In reality, that is exactly what I ate for lunch yesterday. I tend to eat a variation of the same thing for two-week periods, then switch. Do others do that? I once at a half-honeydew every night during the summer. I was 14.

Every time I look at this bread my mind says, "plate tectonics, plate tectonics!"

These are the triceratops and brachiosaurus that now live in our house:

Harry Had a Bad Feeling

I've been reading memoirs of two Russian noblewomen at the end of the 19th century, and their flair for drama has really seeped into me. When I sat down to write this entry, I noticed a definite lean towards exaggeration. The text read a lot of it was killing me and I couldn't stand to see it or it ruined my whole day. I'm referring to my room as seen here, and I have to say that any of those would be a bit of an overstatement. But, when I did post that picture, I noticed the blue of the picture frames I had up really looked awful. Then I noticed it without the help of the camera, and every time I entered my room I just turned away. Happily, my new and beautiful print, Harry Had a Bad Feeling, from Leah Duncan arrived and my wall has been saved.

The wind here in Albuquerque will really blow a person down. Riding a bike downhill can be more like uphill wearing weights with a gusts like this.

Check out Leah's lovely blog, and post about Harry here.

Space

The last nail is in, and my room is starting to take form- with the pictures, lights, blankets, and warmth pouring in. A housemate in the tub, the other baking sweet treats. Here is a little slice of the new bedroom:

Bread

I received a bread recipe from my friend Regis, via Carry and I want to make a big batch every week. It turned out so well, but I do think I would cook it for a bit longer than I did. Also, can't wait to try it with every type of flour I can imagine.

No Knead bread recipe:

3 cups flour

1 5/8 cups water

1/4 teaspoon yeast

1/ teaspoon salt (or to taste)

-Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Let sit 12-18 hours

-Wrap dough in saran wrap. Let sit 15 minutes.

-Wrap dough in well floured towel/cloth Let sit 2 hours.

-After 1 and 1/2 hours of sitting, preheat oven to 450. Put dutch oven or oven safe dish with lid in oven.

-After 1/2 hour, bread in cloth will be done sitting. Fold dough in half, drop into ovensafe dish. Bake covered for 1/2 hour.

- Remove lid, bake for another 15 minutes

- 1/2 hour or until crust is browned. Bread is done when it sounds hollow.

I got to eat it on my new porch, in our beautiful weather, looking at my roommate, Koby's beautiful wreath. Its nice having a base, a home, and I am settling in quite nicely. Although, I do believe I saw a spider in my room last night, and from browsing a large number of photos today, I've decided its a brown recluse, but maybe a baby. Or, a wolf spider. Whatever it was, I don't think it wanted me dead.

Looking Back

Louis and I just moved back from Quito, Ecuador in January, and some days, like today I go through the pictures and take it all in. I'm really still in the process of sorting through it in my mind. A bit like, arranging it for how I will remember these things in the future. Reminds me of an episode on RadioLab about memory.

Its a bit strange being back in Albuquerque, and feeling a little bit like Ecuador was in another life. I've been asked what I've learnt or how I've changed. I really have been trying to isolate and name some real changes, but just about the only one I can definitively say is, I've developed a serious love of all things rap. And I mean your everyday radio top 40 rap. But, I don't see how Ecuador did that to me.

I'll be moving into my New Mexico home on March 1st with my two friends Brenna and Koby. I'm itching to get in (paint!) and settle back into the slow pace of things here. I'm hoping this blog will help me keep track, and also give me some dialog to remember along with all the pictures.