Spring Chickens

Before reading this post you need to understand a little about my family.  My dad grew up in Waterbury, CT and my mom was born in Maryland.  Neither of them never really spent time on a farm.  But after moving onto a piece of property in Hamilton, VA 8 years ago they have increasingly warmed up to elements of the county life.  5 years ago they got their chocolate lab, Chessie.  Over the past 3 years, we came to know my dad as "Farmer Tom" as he slowly built up a garden in which he grows everything from kale to tomatoes and pumpkins to asparagus.

Last month, my family decided one day that they were going to get chickens.  The next day they had a large Tupperware container full of 8 chicks and a weeks later they bought another 8 and had to upgrade to two Tupperware containers.

Over the last two weekends, we have spent Saturdays out at my parents' house helping build the chicks a more permanent home.  Even though the coop isn’t finished yet, Haley and the gang decided to bring the chicks out to get a preview of their future home while Farmer Tom and I finished up the roof.

Roller Derby

When I moved to Virginia, a co-worker introduced me to the little known wonder that is roller derby. We went to one of her bouts and I was hooked! If I can ever improved my skating skills I'll try out for the team! I really liked that even though the competitors pushed each other around, they were all really best friends. And this event was even more fun because my sister Rachel came to visit from NYC!

NYC Eats

New York City is a very special place for Alexander and me. It's where we fell in love with each other and shared all our first memories together. Many of those memories were made over delicious food and drinks, and as we plan our next visit to the city I remember all those good times and the delicious meals! I love to make lists, and I love food even more, so here's our list of NYC food favorites along with our handpicked menu items:

BREAKFAST

• Grey Dog: The Challah French Toast is delicious!
• Murray's Cheese: Breakfast Burrito
• Ray's Deli: Every New Yorker has their favorite place to get a bagel, and ours is Ray's

LUNCH

• Toasties: An unassuming sandwich shop that has some tricks up its sleeve. Try the Alice, layers of turkey, granny smith apple, and brie!
• The Meatball Shop: You can't go wrong with anything on this menu, but our favorite is the kitchen sink with the family jewels!
• Rockaway Taco: In the summer we would travel all the way out to the beach at Far Rockaway just to get fish tacos from this stand. They also have the most refreshing italian ice I've ever tasted
• Taim: Taim was the first falafel I tried and I never want to try anyone else's. We both love the Harissa Falafel Sandwich, a little spicy but the perfect balance of flavors

DINNER

• Joseph Leonard: We went on our first date here, the atmosphere is perfect and so is the pan roasted chicken
• Pam's Thai: A hole in the wall jewel on 49th street. It doesn't look like much, but the Red Curry, Spring Rolls, and Thai Iced Tea will keep you coming back for the authentic Thai flavor!
• James: My favorite is the burger, with the herb fries, and the St. Anne's to drink!
• Dumont Burger: The burgers are great, but we go here for the DuMac and Cheese with bacon. If you can't go there, get the New Brooklyn Cookbook and make it yourself!
• Fette Sau: The best BBQ I've ever had, and that's saying something because I'm from the deep south. The baked beans are also to-die-for and the beer selection is great
• Sweetwater: We found this place while exploring one day and it became a fast favorite. We both love the burger with caramelized onions and I like to drink the hot toddy they serve when it's cool outside 
• Victoria Restaurant and Deli: I discovered this place when I was living in Harlem. This is the most authentic Dominican food I've had in the states. The chicken nachos are my go-to take out food!

DESSERT

• Donut Plant: Vanilla Bean, Creme Brulee, and Valrhona Chocolate donuts are a must
• Billy's Bakery: Billy's was our Sunday afternoon ritual. I love the lemon bars and the caramel pecan cheesecake
• City Cakes: A designer cake shop that also sells the biggest and most delicious chocolate chip cookie!
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: It's worth it to find one of these trucks and taste their special flavors. Try the Earl Gray Tea ice cream or the Palm Sugar (my favorite)

What are your favorite places to eat? 

Luckett's Farmer's Market

A couple of weekends ago Alexander and I went antique hunting in Lucketts, Virginia. We found some delicious kettle corn and cute farmer's markets along the way. Autumn is my favorite season, and this was a fun adventure!

Home Made Weeknight

When we first moved into our apartment we had a very limited pantry. Thus we had many simple meals, lots of soups and lots of tacos! One of my college roommates (and now my creative partner) taught me how to make the best tacos the way she makes them in California. The pumpkin soup is some we got at World Market and then we topped it with home made sourdough croutons.

As Kingfishers Catch Fire

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;

As tumbled over rim in roundy wells

Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's

Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;

Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:

Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;

Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,

Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.

I say móre: the just man justices;

Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;

Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is —

Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,

Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his

To the Father through the features of men's faces.

 

--Gerard Manley Hopkins

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This blog is about a married couple trying to live the way Christ would see us living. This is our life!