Plant identification success

It's a candytuft! Yay!
Let me back up.
When we moved into the house, it came with some lovely bushes in the front plot, including three holly bushes, a dying azalea (I'm currently attempting to bring him back) and a few other types I can't immediately identify. There was also two crawling plants that were green and fairly pretty, despite it being winter. But it wasn't until spring that we learned that the gorgeous little guys sprout pretty white flowers. Like this:

The problem is that they were planted on only one side of the house, so the house just looks lopsided, especially with them in full bloom.

That's me in the reflection and to the right of the front stoop you can see our sad azalea. I hoping it will bounce back after a few doses of azalea food, purchased at the most magical place on earth, otherwise known as Anderson's Showplace, a gardening store in Newport News that I promise to talk about soon.

So I posted this photo on Facebook in the hopes that someone would be able to identify it.

Turns out one of my friends from Algeria that I met during a summer cultural exchange immediately knew and messaged me the name. So now all I have to do is get some candytufts to plant on the other side and my home will look less lopsided and more lived in. Now if only I can get the dying azalea to play along too!

More visions of Spring

Spring is popping up everywhere in Virginia. Grass is taking on a more lush feel and tiny flowers are coating areas of my backyard that had previously seemed dead.

Winter generally feels like it will never end, so it's the little reminders of spring that I am grateful for.

And it seems that spring is arriving on the blog as well. A bit of cleaning up here and there and updating many of the sections I have recently let stagnate has left me feeling cheerier. I've finally posted my columns under the "Outsider in Suffolk" tab and put the black bean soup recipe under the "From my kitchen" tab. And, as you might have noticed, I'm updating again. It's been a difficult few months, but I'm beginning to notice a new spring in my step, if you'll forgive the pun, and hopefully that will encourage more productiveness on my part.

Spring has arrived

Despite the return of chillier temperatures to the area, during a walk with Miyagi I discovered this beautiful sight:

Despite the leaves that we never bothered to rake from last fall, these daffodils have still managed to push their way into my yard, offering tidings of a great season.

New plan for an old fave

I have a slight obsession with cork - but not in the way you might think. I truly dislike the traditional corkboard that we were all given as a going-to-college present. But I love when the beauty of cork - it's earthy color and it's usability - gets repurposed into something unexpected.

Case in point:

From "Original Ideas," Young House Love

The best part is that this looks incredibly easy to do and has the potential for plenty of applications. Ergo, you won't be wasting a whole bunch of cork since you won't be buying a whole roll for just one project. Looks like spring is bringing on a whole bunch of inspiration for me to try new things!

Celebrating spring: Lemon Coconut Bars

I love spring. There's no better feeling than the warm sun on your face and a cool breeze blowing through your hair after months of depressing, gray and cold days. And witnessing trees bud, bloom and turn green always gives me hope for the future.
I would say that by far it is the bright colors that can help make life seem better again. I always thought that a gorgeous bunch of daffodils was one of the most happiest sights in the world. What better way to celebrate the lemony yellow of the flower that signals that Spring has finally arrived than with a lemony dessert?
I've never been a huge fan of lemon bars or tarts. I find most recipes either too sour or too sweet. And then I happened on a recipe from Budget Bytes (this is becoming my favorite place to discover recipes) for lemon coconut bars. It seems Beth (the blog's author) has happened upon the best way to mellow out and balance the sour without overpowering it with sweet. A perfect compliment to the balance of warmth and coolness that is embodied in the ideal Spring day.

Lemon Coconut Bars
Don't forget Beth's helpful breakdown of cost. Her estimate puts the total at an amazing $2.38.

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup shredded coconut

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
   
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flower and powdered sugar. Mix until evenly combined.
   
3. Let the butter come to room temperature and then just work it into the flour mixture with your hands. Mixture will look like lumpy sand.
4. Lightly spray a 9x13 inch glass casserole dish with non-stick spray. Pour the flour/butter/sugar mixture evenly into the dish and press it down with your hands until it is compacted. Bake for 15 minutes.
5. While the crust is baking, combine the eggs, granulated sugar, lemon juice and baking powder in a bowl. Mix it well until the sugar is dissolved. The baking soda will react with the acidic lemon juice and begin to foam, don't worry.
6. When the crust is finished baking, quickly re-whisk the filling then pour it over the crust. Sprinkle the shredded coconut on top and bake the whole thing for 20 more minutes or until it is golden brown on top. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
   

The squares were a hit with my future in-laws (it's been way too long since we got to see each other!). And they fit almost perfectly with the strawberry pie that was served as the other half of dessert. It was lovely to scoop up the leftover strawberry filling with the lemony squares.

Bringing Spring home

I was so excited that Spring has seemingly arrived that I went to Trader Joe's recently and bought two bunches of tulips.


I put a few stems into a collection of coke bottles that I brought home from a college trip to Morocco.


I lined them up on the stove to help brighten up my kitchen.

One bunch was yellow, the other was reddish orange with yellow tips. Absolutely gorgeous.


The rest I put in a huge measuring cup that I got for Christmas. It looks a little more like a pitcher than a measuring cup, but it was a simple solution to me not actually owning a vase.

A few flowers to get over this silly wintertime

Oh, if only spring would arrive and snap us all out of this sadness.

Contemplating light

I enjoy my new apartment. I love how close I am to many of the stores I frequent. I love that we have a balcony (which we would use if it wasn't freezing outside). I love the wood floors, and the warm ambiance they give the basic white-wall look all apartments have. What I DON'T love, in fact, what I hate is the light. Basically, there's no way for sunlight to enter the apartment. We are on the wrong side of the building. Later in the year, when the sun travels to a better part of the sky, we will still get no light because there's another building in the way.

*Sigh* This wouldn't really bother me except I love plants. I currently have a kalanchoe (that I've nursed back to health numerous times), but I think this sunless prison will be the death of my faithful, green friend. So I will soon be bringing him in to work so he can survive.

While this saves my plant, it leaves me with little green at home. So how does one still have green, but no sun? One of the blogs I frequent, Design*Sponge by Brooklyn-based Grace Bonney, has the answer: Terrariums.


She offers a tutorial on how to make your own mini-terrariums, above. But, while I love the idea, I'm not sure if I could be that creative. I might just have to buy them already made, from an Etsy dealer preferably. I did buy one for my mom, and the thing is apparently growing like a maniac. I could go with either of these:

We all know why I like the one above (too bad it probably doesn't come with the typewriter). But I think this next one is really cool, too. One question: How would you water the dang thing?

The beauty of terrariums is that not only do they not really need sunlight (they generally are made up of moss) but they are self-sufficient, requiring little watering. I think they are the perfect way to get a little spring in the middle of winter.

Sunny days, starry nights

A flower blooms in Portland, (c) Beth Beck

The beginning of autumn has been lovely. Sunny days with sweet, cool tinge to the air give way to refreshing nights that seem to help the stars pop. I've always enjoyed being warm, but I think I prefer warming myself up with a cup of tea and thick sweater. Ah, Spring I miss you too. Your explosion of color to celebrate new birth. Your showers that wash the nasty grayness of winter away. But this is farewell for now. I hope to welcome your joyous blossoms soon, but for now, I think it's time for spiced hot apple cider, pumpkin carving and chili.

Intrigued...

River Rock Moss Terrarium, from Greenbriar's Etsy

I would love to buy this beautiful little terrarium. I am intrigued by the little world contained in a glass vessel for all to see. It would make the perfect companion to brighten my nights at work and green up my desk (unfortunately not next to my ancient typewriter because I do not own one).

You know what other item could 'lighten' my day? This one could try:

25 watts, by Steamed Glass on Etsy

This one was placed in an ACTUAL LIGHT BULB. A 25 watter, if you couldn't already guess. Aren't these just the coolest little things? I wish I had the creativity to come up with these. If only I didn't so completely hate spending money...

Blooming Bob

So Bob (my aforementioned tomato plant) has begun blooming and has several buds ready to start popping out the babies - baby tomatoes that is. YAY. I was soooo excited that I took a picture of them.

Bob the tomato plant (at home on my sunny front porch)

Bob is preggers...

Bob's first baby

Bob's gonna need a new bed (read: pot) soon. In other Spring news, my lavender seeds have grown a sprout, emphasis on the singular article (a). The other seeds are still hibernating. I'd have a picture, but lavender seedlings are TINY (note the typographical irony).

Have you forgotten that I am a Journalism major who enjoys designing in newsprint?

Ready for Spring

Well I am officially ready for Spring...especially now that it feels like Spring may be here to stay. And so, I purchased Bob, my tomato plant. I'm hoping he'll grow big and strong and make some yummy tomatoes (since the ones in the groceries stores are so disappointing). So here's my Bob (click images for a larger view):

He loves the sun!

I'm expecting him to get much bigger, so soon I'll be transplanting him. Unfortunately he's doomed to a container for the rest of his life because we have to ask permission to plant and I don't want to leave him behind when I move anyway.
I also planted fresh mint, chamomile and lavender. I'm growing them from seed so I won't have picture for a few weeks, and they won't be very big for a month and half or so.

Spring is here

I've always thought that summer was my month just because it is so wonderfully warm. I love the heat and that is no secret. But I must admit that when spring comes my mood begins lift and I am much happier. So, yay for spring.