Venturing into the Big Blue

We have really enjoyed swimming lessons with Pam. We did 2 weeks of lessons at the beginning of February.

First Chocolate

I think the boy enjoyed his first chocolate, given to him by his sister.

Kamut for Valentine's

Kamut Pancakes again. I used the squirt bottle technique to make heart shapes this time. Layered with strawberries and cream this was simple to make, and lovely to consume. The strawberries were macerated overnight in sugar and crushed soft green peppercorns. The peppercorns add a bright tangy flavor to the juice that releases from the strawberries. I find it delightful. I've eaten it with whole peppercorns instead, but they are much more intense and thus better paired with something a bit heavier (like a big dish of vanilla bean icecream—I got this from the dessert menu at Café Madrid, a favorite restaurant of ours in Salt Lake City).

A Painting for the Taylors and a purple headdress

I did this painting for my sister's front room. When I got out the camera it was to take a picture of the painting in progress, but the photo seems to be more about a certain purple headdress in the bottom left, don't you think?

The final painting. Hmmm . . . I'm not sure which one I like best, the final, or the "in progress" version. It would be lovely to have both. This is the framed final version hanging on Jennifer's wall. I really like the frame with it.

The Lion and the Lamb

Janet made this outfit for Josh when he was a baby.