fairmont park p.m.

a lull in the heat wave... the perfect  day to explore a new swing-set park with a new play-date.   

three thumbs up for the cool watermelon treat,

two thumbs up for the goofy plastic car,

and all hands on deck for the top of the teeter/totter!

clown prince

magic meat

so. in researching roasting times for eye of round, i fell across this "i-never-would-have-believed-it-till-it-happened-to me..." kind of roasting method.  had to try it.  

so, for those that won't hit the link, the trick is a very short (21 minutes) actual cooking time, then turn off the oven and desert the kitchen for a park or something.  

voila! the rice crispy square of oven roasts!  

details?  this cut is about 3 lbs, seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper.  i did put a stoneware tray in with it to help maintain the oven temperature,

and yes, it turned out great.

bi-ki-co

dilly of a day-

can't help but notice the lush tangle of volunteer and intentional green in the back garden.

it surprises me every spring that those tiny little roots, seeds and rhizomes break their sleep to join us up here, and that they stubbornly wait out the frosty evenings.

this week, the girl has encouraged springtime by seeking every swing set park in the 'hood (hintonburg, laRoche, fairmont, and the one near deRienzos so far) after school.  

tonight, however, we were inclined to stay home and tend.  a fist-sized package of dill seed in the pantry inspired a planting frenzy...(some of edgar's frenzy can be seen to the lower left of the photo.)

while broadcasting the seeds, the two scratched at the earth and squabbled like little raccoons, and eventually needed to take break.  

with luck, in days we will be discovering the lacy sprouts of dill not only in the two designated pots, but wherever else they found a bed.

mmmmm.  pickles.

socks appeal

a sunny run in the arboretum after a morning of downpours.  

we welcomed the first real deep, warm spring rain last night; through wide-open windows, it induced a soporific soaking of raindrop dreams...

snare drums and a million ticking clocks.  

we all tried to concentrate on the bbq chicken picnic, but the juicy grass just seemed to make wrasslin' just that much more inviting...

leading to dampened socks and elated spirits.

i know my feet are still humming.