I'm in a painting!

We all went to the Cambridge-Oxford boat race on sunday (which one, I do not remember...) and I ended up in a painting!
We were all standing on the river bank watching the boats, and there was a guy doing a quick painting behind us.
When we came up to find a spot to stand and watch the race, there was no girl in a turquoise skirt. When we left after the boats had gone by to go find a pub there was a girl in a turquoise skirt!

me!

woohoo!

I am pretty psyched. I have never been in a painting before.

oh, and Oxford won.

(we had to ask)

oh my goodness

I need a nap....

AND...

...Jen and Meredith are coming tomorrow morning!!!

woohoo!!

took a couple days off work to run round London with them.

gonna be an awesome week :)

Ben is here!!!

nothing more needs to be said


:D

on a sugar high

so it is normal over here to bring in sweets and food for everybody else when it is your birthday, not the other way around.

two peoples' birthdays today

two very generous people

chocolate cake at 9:15 in the morning, with carrot cake and chocolate bars and starburts and cadbury rolls...with more chocolate and candy right after lunch (and full lunch at the pub across the street)


to say that I am on a huge sugar high would not be way off base

wish there was less cream in it, cause it was delicious...

Cold Zucchini Soup

Ingredients:

-3 to 4 medium zucchinis, cut into 1" pieces [ps, zucchinis is a funny word to spell]

-3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth

-1 large onion, sliced thin

-1 1/2 tsp curry powder

-1 cup heavy cream

-1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan layer veggies and sprinkle with curry. Mix well.

2. Pour in broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes or until tender.

3. Spoon out veggies and puree until smooth. Pour into bowl (or original pan) and mix in cream, milk and salt and pepper to taste.

4. Chill and serve.

Thanks to mom for the recipe! I made it and served it hot, so it works that way as well. Not quite cold soup weather here yet...

I am going to try it with light cream and half as much, and maybe some soy milk instead of the real stuff, so I can eat it.....if I do end up trying it and it is good, I'll let you guy know

woo hoo!!!

Ben officially has his visa and his flight over here!

I am doing happy dances in my living room  :)

one week!!!

only one week until Ben gets here!

I have never been happier

although will be happier still when he is actually on British soil

yay!

bacon? what bacon?

may have put bacon into the soup, and Julia (who is vegetarian) may have eaten some before I got home to tell her not to.....but she said it's the most delicious lentil soup she had ever had! So, you know, that's gotta count for something....

Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

-2 onions, chopped

-4 carrots, diced

-3 celery stalks, chopped

-3 cloves of garlic, minced

-2 g dried oregano

-2 bay leaves

-1 g dried basil

-1 can crushed tomatoes

-385 g dry lentils (black or green)

-1895 ml broth (veggie or chicken)

-15 g spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced

-3 potatoes, diced

-3 slices bacon, diced

Directions:

1. Fry bacon in a large saucepan with oil until starts to brown. Add onions, carrots and celery. Cook and stir until the onion is tender.

2. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano and basil. Cook for two minutes.

3. Stir in lentils, add broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

4. After 30 minutes add in the potato and spinach. Simmer for another 30 minutes. Season with salt, pepper (and optional vinegar) to taste.