...how does your garden grow?...

Well, we'll find out in the next few months.

Chris & I planted our garden yesterday. Our gracious neighbors plow a row or 2 in their back garden space just for us. We're so blessed to have such great neighbors.

We planted these tomato and pepper plants we bought at the Famer's Market last weekend...

and seeds for green beans, squash, zuchinni, and cantaloupe.

In about 2 months we're planning on planting seeds for broccoli and spinach that would produce in the fall.

Our sweet neighbors also invited us over to pick fresh lettuce from their garden. We did & it was so beautiful that I had to take a picture (I take pictures of everything). The lettuce will be tasty on the hamburgers Chris is going to grill for us tonight!

Fresh vegetables...yummy!

More new things to share...

I have picked up a few new clothes here and there over the last couple of weeks. I don't usually buy myself clothes often but I guess I was in a splurging mood, not that I spent much because everything I got was either on sale or a great price to begin with.

They're so springy & summery looking...love it!

Here's the sun dress I bought yesterday. I wish you could see more of the detail on it but the material is precious. It's very simple but cute! I might just mention that I love Kohls!

My mom & I found this shirt last weekend at Macy's on one of our shopping excursions. I wore it out to dinner last weekend & totally love it! I've always loved to wear green.

I found these adorable sandals at Kohl's yesterday. They look great with my new dress!

And last, but not least, here's the new scrub top I bought at Wal-Mart of all places. I got a pair of matching green pants too. I love the pink & green color combination and they're soooo soft.

That's all for the moment.

Things to share...

Here are some things I missed out on sharing when our camera was out of working order...

The 'T' hanging on our front door that I so dearly love...

The lamp on my desk in the office...
My newest tote bag...

Our basil that's growing like crazy (I wish my oregano looked this good)...
More to share coming later!

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day!

Since we moved to Durham nearly 3 years ago, we have been involved in the county's recycling program. It's been so easy since we moved into our house as we have our own recycling bins and just put them on the street for pick-up each week. We can recycle nearly all of our plastics, cardboards, glass and tin cans. It makes us feel like that one small piece at the time we are helping our environment.

About 3 months ago, we took another step towards "going green" and bought recycled cloth bags to take grocery shopping. I leave them in my trunk and every time I go to the grocery store or run in Target or Wal-Mart they go with me. I was appaled to learn that more that 500 billion plastic bags are used each year!!! Anything I can do to decrease that # is important to me!

What can you do to help our environment???

1 down...

I just finished the final for my last class this semester...

Seven credits and one semester down...

A break from classes until May 17th!

Molten chocolate cakes

I made these molten chocolate cakes Friday night for dessert. They were such a hit & only took about 30 minutes total to prep & cook! I'll definitely make them again.

Here's the recipe.. and you can check out other great similar easy recipes at the Kraft Foods' website!

4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
6 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

PREHEAT oven to 425°F. Butter four 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Place on baking sheet.
MICROWAVE chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until butter is melted. Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar until well blended. Blend in eggs and egg yolks with wire whisk. Stir in flour. Divide batter among prepared custard cups.
BAKE 13 to 14 min. or until sides are firm but centers are soft. Let stand 1 min. Carefully run small knife around cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto dessert dishes. Serve immediately, topped with whipped topping.

lazy Sunday...

I love to hear it rain...

We had been out tossing a frisbee in the backyard this afternoon & it started to rain. By the time we made it inside it was pouring. Chris let up the windows in the living room and we just listened to it rain...sometimes I love a rainy afternoon.

We really enjoyed our visit with mom & dad this weekend. It was very laid back but we got out a bit and saw quite a few things. I cooked Friday night & the rest of our meals we ate on the go, with the exception of breakfast & we had these delicious berry cheesecake muffins I made!

We picked up some great things at the Farmer's Market Saturday morning. Chris & I got fresh green beans, okra, & strawberries and we bought bell pepper and tomato plants to plant in our garden hopefully next week. I'll have to take some pictures of them later! We also hit up a few antique stores since my parents enjoy "antiquing". I have been on a quest for antique hardcover books and ended up finding one so that was fun.

Last night we actually ended up at Carolina Brewery for dinner & it was so delicious! Oddly enough my dad said he wanted to see Horton Hears a Whoo so we went to the movies after dinner & what a cute movie it was! They came to church with us at U.B.C. and then headed home. We were sad for them to go, as always, but so enjoyed their visit with us!

My parents brought us the set of wingback chairs we bought from my uncle's friend. They're in our den at the moment, but aren't in position so when they are I'll take some pictures of our newest furniture.

Off to find some dinner for us...

Company's coming...

My mom & dad are on their way to see us right now. We're so excited to have them visit us again.

While they're here I think we're going to visit the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and hit up the Farmer's Market in Raleigh. Strawberries and sweet potatoes are in season now...2 of my favorites! We'll probably cruise around Brightleaf Square too.

I made some mixed berry cheesecake muffins to share while my parents are here. They turned out looking pretty good, so I'll have to take a shot of them to post later.

Chris & I wanted to cook dinner for them one night and go out to dinner with them another night that they're here. I think we'll head out to dinner tomorrow night. With the help of some of my fine-food-loving friends I've selected a few places Chris & I have never been to but are supposedly great. We'll let them decide between Squid's, 411 West, or maybe Pop's. Who knows!

I better get going for now...I have an appointment for a hair cut at Aveda at 0930.

more edited shots

More shots edited with the help of Picnik...love it!

Sadie...the edited version

My friend Hollie told me about this great website called Picnik where you can edit your pictures for FREE! They have great features & I had some fun playing with my favorite picture of Sadie. Here it is 3 different ways.

Sadie

More shots from today with our new camera...

Here are some pictures of Sadie doing her favorite things: smiling at us, sleeping while keeping guard at the front door, and shaking hands!

Fresh cut grass & flowers to share...

Chris cut the grass yesterday a.m. I love the smell of freshly cut grass.

Here are some pictures I shot this afternoon of flowers blooming in our yard. Our tulips are on their way out, but I did get a lovely shot of my favorite yellow one. We have 4 different varieties of azaleas in our yard so there are shots of some of those too!

Love the new camera!

FINALLY...

FINALLY...

We bought our camera today...hooray! It was quite a decision for me & I actually ended up getting a model one step down from the one I had originally planned on, but that's all for the best.

We ordered it online & will pick it up when we're out this evening...I can't wait! Here's a picture of my new toy!

Look for new pictures to be up soon...

A new find...

Recently I have discovered McDonald's Premium coffees....they're delicious and reasonably priced!

I have totally fallen in love with everything I've tried. I think so far my favorite is the iced vanilla latte. The vanilla cappuchinos are great too. An iced mocha is next on my list to try.

They make a nice treat...try one out!

things to share...

We're hoping to get our new camera next Saturday. When we do, I'm going to be taking photos like crazy. I have so much to share...

the flowers blooming in our yard

the lamp on my desk in the office-it's so adorable

my new black & red toile tote bag

new photos of Sadie-she's such a photogenic pup!

the arbor we built a few weeks ago for our flower garden

updated photos of our house-it's been a while since I took new shots

the metal 'T' hanging by ivory ribbon on our front door

the adorable yellow taggie blanket I'm working on

the herbs I potted 2 weeks ago-basil & oregano...yummy!

It won't be long either & I'll have photos to share of my parents visit (less than 2 weeks!), our vegetable garden, our 2 new upholstered chairs for the den (my parents are delivering them to us), & so much more!

what a day

Whew!

What a day it was! I worked again today after having just Monday off from the conference Thursday & Friday & working Saturday & Sunday...not enough of a break I must say.

I had a patient that went "bad" quickly today. It makes for a bummer of a day. It is days like this that make me appreciate my co-workers even more though. We all work so well as a team & while I spent the hour & 1/2 in my patient's room before I transferred him to the MICU they managed to keep an eye on my other patients and help our transition to the MICU be as smooth as possible. Go team!

I feel that nursing is my "calling", however there are some days that make me feel more like my calling is a blessing. Today was less like one of those days. My calling is by no means easy, but more often than not is rewarding, even when the patient's outcome is not for the best. Days like today force me to remind myself that there are patient success stories and that no matter what happens there is a reason I have been placed where I am.

I have a calling to fulfill...