We had record-breaking snow this past weekend in Frederick. It is so amazingly beautiful. My parents were here over the weekend; what are the chances my dad would be here for this beautiful natural wonder? Perhaps not as unlikely as it would seem. Last time he was here, for the same amount of time (3-1/2 days), it rained the entire time he was here. The clouds rolled in, the rain started to fall on my way to the airport to pick him up, and then rolled away on my way home from dropping him off. At least this time it was snow and much more of a winter treat. I'm loving the snow. Coco has to plough through it to make her piddle and is learning that it is worth it.

To Spontaneity!

Tonight having been marketed as rather cold, I suggested to Carl that we should stuff the baby in his blue snow suit, and then into the Ergocarrier and get a latte in town. When he got off work, that plan sounded like a great way to start the evening before coming home for pizza. Pizza is our regular Thursday night supper. I had already started to thaw our homemade dough in the fridge so that we could roll it out, put our tomatoes, cheese, and parsley on it before baking it in our oven. Before the cooking began, we piled on several layers before going into the dry cold to get our lattes. It was cold when we left, and it got colder as we made the turn around the corner onto East Street as a wintery wind wrapped its icy fingers around our stiff bodies, still not warmed from walking. By the time we reached Patrick Street, not very far really from our little rowhouse, we had decided that we were not going to make it to our lattes, at least not without a nice hot meal in our tummies. We stopped, grateful to ourselves for both agreeing on the matter of eating out, at Quynn's Attic, a place I would suggest is romantic, warm (key for us), and offers very tasty dishes. Although we had no food for Brent or toys, we managed to eat a meal without too much yelling (by Carl, or Brent, or myself), our house keys got lost only three times (twice in Brent's snowsuit), and we finally found a restaurant that is just "it" for us downtown. Having been on a quest as it called for such important matters, we are delighted that this search has given way to a successful discovery. Success having been measured in Carl's opinion that "we" could not have cooked our meals better at home. Because why would we go and pay for a meal somewhere else if we can cook it better in our own kitchen? I would like to parenthetically suggest that criteria omits the important detail of the efforts "we" make in the kitchen and whether that really should not be taken into account when rating another person's dish - "yeah, it wasn't great, but then when I'm just sitting here on my duffle rather than peeling and chopping and roasting and steaming and baking and then clearing and scraping and washing and rinsing and dishwashering...actually it tastes amazing here at Macaroni Grill!". HOWEVER, I do totally agree that it is not satisfying to pay for a meal in a restaurant that is less yummy than one eaten at home. Quynn's delivered and now we have a place we can comfortably and happily suggest when we have relatives and friends come visit us and want to see and taste the best of Frederick. We are starting to enter the realm of really "knowing" the area. Ahh that makes me happy.

http://www.quynnsattic.com/

My Typical Day these days

Lately, Brent and I have settled into a general routine for the day. It's not that every day is the same, but we move in rhythms, and if we follow through, the day (and particularly the night) goes much better. In the morning, Brent wakes up around 7 or 7:30 and I take him from his crib to my bed where I feed him and relax a little bit before I start the day. Then, we get up, change Brent's diaper and go downstairs to let Coco out for her morning piddle. I have breakfast, Brent plays on the floor for a couple hours and I check email, get a few things done downstairs. Then, Brent wants to eat and nap around 10 or 10:30. I put him in his crib, take some laundry down to the basement, and then do 45 minutes of Yoga. After he wakes up around 11:15-30, Coco and Brent have a meal. Sometimes after that Coco gets her walk. Carl comes home at 1 for lunch. At 2, Carl goes back to work and Brent goes down for his afternoon nap. At 3, or 4, just depending on Brent's sleepiness, he wakes up and we play until 5 when Carl gets home. I make some dinner while the two men play in the living room. Then all 3 of us sit at the dining room table (Brent in his high chair) and we have our dinner. Brent has oatmeal, banana, and Puffs. Carl and I have whatever I have planned for the day.

Notes: For Brent's meals, I find the Babycook by Beaba indispensible

During Coco's walk, I am thankful for the Ergobaby Carrier