Around These Parts

So yeah, I wrote this whole post about the future of my blog and then posted nothing for a week. My bad. I figured I'd catch up what's going on around these parts with a personal blurb today.

Since we moved into our home in 2009, we have planted 15-16 fruit trees, with 2 more sitting on our deck yet to be planted.  The above pictures are the blooms and buds on the trees sitting on our deck. When I looked out my window this morning, I was taken back at the beauty of them, as well as the symbolism of spring: changes, transformations, etc.  It's amazing to think of these trees over the winter- they were large sticks in pots of dirt. Yet every year they come back and bear fruit. It's just amazing. Here is a picture of one of our pear trees blooming:

I like to think that I am contributing to the green effort by planting more trees, plus I'm already planning the recipes I'll be making when these bear fruit. A late frost last year killed the (crop,) but the year before we had more pears than we knew what to do with. I did make this Pear Almond Torte for book club and it was delicious!

I got home late last night after spending the week in Milwaukee for work, and am ready to start my weekend. A few hours left of work and I will be lounging on the couch holding my husband's hand watching movies. I cannot wait.

Although I work from home, it was really nice to be back in an office environment, even if I accomplished little to no work. I was able to meet some of my coworkers face to face, and meet 9 new ones! I didn't see as much of Milwaukee as I would have liked, but was able to get out 2 nights for dinner, including a trip to the Safe House. The locals know of this place, a restaurant that requires a password to enter, those not knowing the password (word for word as I found out) are subject to ridicule and humiliation. It is all in good fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

On the home front, our washer died about 2-3 months ago, and I am just getting a new one delivered and installed today. I can't even begin to tell you how much joy this brings me.  Before I met and married my husband (and bought our first home,) I have lived in apartments since I was 19.  Let's just say I haven't had to worry about not having a washer and dryer since 2002.  I have been driving to my in-laws, but I have run out of clean sheets and towels. Let's just say I will be playing laundry maid all weekend. And I'm excited.

Other than that, not much going on. I lead a really exciting life, can't you tell?