Menu planning.

The swans have gone for the season.  I think only one of the babies survived. 

 Since Jim is away for the week the cooking falls to me, I am every bit as good a cook as him but he is better at planning and I am better at the kind of menu that starts with 'I saw this recipe...' or 'what is in the house?'  He does the shopping as he does the cooking and is much better at only buying what is on the list than I am.  So I had to come up with a list for him.  I figured I'd share our menu for the week, along with a couple of pretty pictures from my drive home last night.

Monday:
Lunch - tuna salad and left over cheddar puffs
Dinner - roast of beef with roasted veggies, fresh bread and a salad
Tuesday:
Lunch - Homemade ravoli
Dinner - Whole chicken roasted with extra drumsticks, fresh bread and salad
Wednesday:
Lunch - Tartine (can you tell I have been reading french cookbooks?!)
Dinner - Chicken salad pita
Thursday:
Lunch - Chicken soup
Dinner - Cream of potato soup, fresh bread and a salad.
Friday:
Lunch - left over chicken in Quesadillas
Dinner - we will all eat at different places and times.

I am also starting a diet this week.  Not that this is diet food, but if I only eat sensible portions and skip candy, fruit snacks and soda I should do okay.  I am going to track calories and exercise.  I have an image in my head of what my body looks like - it is not the same one the mirror shows me - if I get those two images closer I think I will be happier in getting dressed and healthier.  

On my mind...

These beauties are live about halfway between me and most everywhere I drive.  For three years we have measured distances by them, 'I am at the Swans' is a real reference for us.  Then about a month ago I stopped seeing them, there is plenty of other wildlife living here herons, cranes, ducks, geese, and at least two otters.  It is not a lake just a large pond with a road through it.  I assumed the DNR got to them or maybe some random act of meanness.   Then today there they are swimming with 2 new babies.  We were so excited!!!! This shot is taking through my passenger side window while I was driving (I was stopped) and does not do justice to them or my & my girls' joy at seeing them again.

Check out Down to Earth to see what others have on their minds today.  

Symposium and assorted goodness.

It is done!  Perhaps that needs to be said again but frankly I just don't have the energy.  I took part in the System's Symposium for Undergraduate Research today.  I put together (first time ever using power point) a lovely little poster explaining my research since last may.  44 by 48 to sum up a year's worth of work?!?!?! 

I was super stressed out and worried about making a good impression and not having my tongue tie itself into knots.  I had to stand in front of my poster and wait for an hour answering questions and talking to people as they wandered by.  Very stressful.  Most people would not view me as shy or nervous but I was.  From what to wear to how to say any of the things I know and love about what I am and have been doing.  I picked out (thrifted) 5 outfits and made the family pick (the kids chose a bright red jacket, navy skirt and autumn colored tank) my outfit.

The hardest thing was waiting in front of the poster when there was no one to talk with as people wandered around!  I feel like I did good, and it is over.  Except, I was asked to talk to a small community group on campus next week only to find out after agreeing that the group in 100 people in the theater!  So now I have to make a presentation up.  In my head I am already thinking about trying for two posters at next years symposium.

On to the assorted goodness, some pretty things that have fed my soul this week I hope you enjoy them too!

Butterfly opening eggs.

Badger finding eggs and helping her younger cousin find them.

Halfway between my house & Everywhere live The Swans.  This year they built their nest a safer distance from the road!

Beautiful aren't they.  There is a blue heron who lives right in this area too but he is stubbornly camera shy.

My garden unfurling.

Not sure what this is other than pretty.

Blue bells.