Stay Tuned...Update Coming Soon

What city is this? Stay tuned to find out!

We have been on holiday (love that phrase) since Thursday and just got home yesterday afternoon. I will post an update and pictures soon, so stay tuned...

Royal Wedding Dance

It's the buzz on the street, everywhere you go. The Royal Wedding. No word yet on whether or not our street will be throwing a street party. Secretly, I'm hoping that someone on the street will; I think that would be so awesome.

To get this party started, I have to share this video. Cred: I found it first at Carrieloves.com.

Always with Us

Merrit: "Don't you think this neighborhood is a lot like Gramma B's neighborhood?"

Me: "No, not really. It doesn't look anything like her neighborhood."

Merrit: "It sounds like her neighborhood. Listen to all the birds. And it smells like her neighborhood, too."

Me: "What smell is that?"

Merrit: "Pine trees and pine cones and leaves and air."

Evidence that our much-missed family and friends are always with us in subtle ways.

High-Flyin' on a Springy Sunny Day

Ollie eating omelettes, complete with wife beater and butt crack.
Yeah, we're very proud.

Today was omelette day. Merrit wowed us with The Napoleon. Later in the day, we walked down to the coast. Merrit rode his bike and Ollie rode his scooter. The weather was gorgeous. Mike and I both broke out the flip flops. 

All of us were feeling exuberant that spring has sprung. 

Passersby were totally making fun of us...but, whatever. The pics are worth it, don't you think?

Hoping all you Raleigh folks are safe and sound after last night's tornadoes. Sending thoughts and prayers. Let us know how you are. <3

On Distance

I run
the two miles
to the lighthouse

white and peeled

against the swirled

grey sky 

hovering above the

grey sea churning

I run, sure footed
across the sand

seaweed smell 

and stones smooth

for me to stride over 

past the man

in his heavy coat

and dog, wet

I move fast,

light, like the seagull feather

tumbling on the sand

I chase

the lighthouse crawls closer

the north sea
endless and grey
I run

St. Mary's Lighthouse in far left distance. North Sea.

I am participating in Five Minute Fridays, hosted by Gypsy Mama. This was fun, thanks for the prompt!

As American as ... Jiffy Mix?

No, I didn't get a hankering for apple pie. Just this: Cornbread. In yesterday's email inbox:

Order Information

Order Number:	88
Date Ordered:	Wednesday 13 April, 2011

Qty	Description	Item #	Unit Price	Tax	Item Total
1	24/8.5 oz. Packages "JIFFY" Corn Muffin Mix	220	$10.00	$0.00	$10.00

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Sub-Total: $10.00 Per Item (Tiered) (Shipping (via UPS)): $15.00 Total: $25.00

Yes, I paid $15 in shipping for $10 worth of cornbread mix! I have looked in about five different stores for cornmeal, including a health food store which stocked a bunch of different flours. Almond flour, spelt flour, rice flour...but no cornmeal. It was a complete bust. I even looked at the grocery department of amazon.co.uk, but they wanted to charge me 41 pounds to ship three boxes of cornbread mix! What the...?

Obviously, cornmeal is not an English pantry staple. Hence, cornbread is the perfect thing to bring to a party we've been invited to on Saturday night. The party is being hosted by a co-worker of Mike's and, since it's such an international crowd at the office, everyone is supposed to bring a dish from their home country. I hope my corn muffin mix gets here in time.

What is typically "American" food? So much of what we cook in the U.S. is a take-off of other countries' dishes; it's true that we've made them our own—Chicago-style pizza, Tex-Mex, etc. But Mike and I are stumped. We were trying to figure out last night what American food is, and all we could come up with was: chili, fried chicken, Southern-style biscuits, backyard BBQ fare, and corn bread.

What would you bring to the party? You know, in case my corn muffin mix doesn't get here in time!

Eight Weeks of Waiting...

...and our boxes are finally here! The kids acted like it was Christmas morning as they were reunited with their favorite toys. Mike is happy to have his guitar again. And me, I'm torn between my kitchen goods and my scarves, shoes, and jewelry.