Life Lately

These past few weeks have flown by in a blur of puppy training.  When you have a new puppy, you spend a lot of time outside, both day and night.  I'm not complaining, though.  I view the constant trips to the backyard as excuses to spend some concentrated time admiring the cuteness of my little Vivi.  Being outside so much, you can't help but pay attention to all of the little ways spring is rushing in.  This morning I noticed that the buds on the tree in our yard have become full leaves.  I wouldn't have noticed without standing next to it waiting and waiting for Vivi's potty.

I've also started a few new books.  The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz was a present from my mom last week.  It's an ice cream, custard and sorbet cookbook.  Some of the recipes seem challenging, but the fun kind of challenge involving double boilers and lots of sugar.  I attempted an easy recipe to start with: chocolate ice cream with peanut butter swirls.  It tasted like a melted chocolate bar.  Delicious!

The other book I'm reading is my book club selection, A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel.  I first read it a couple of years ago, but I'm still finding it laugh-out-loud funny.  The first chapter, an excerpt from Zippy's baby book, is worth the price of the book (as well as the price of the book you'll buy after reading this one). 

In these chock-full weeks, I've also managed to start something of a tradition: the weekend cocktail.  The weekend cocktail tradition is nothing more than me blending a new mixed drink for my boyfriend and I (and whoever else is around) during the weekend.  I'm so happy to have an excuse to try some new cocktail recipes and to get our cocktail shaker out of storage.  Two weekends ago I mixed up French 75s and last weekend I made Moroccos.  The photo above is of my Morocco in a martini glass.  I assure you, my pinkie was extended with each sip. 

Life lately has been busy and great.  I cannot wait to see what else spring has in store.