Flowers, and hummus, and herbs...Oh my!

This weekend has been not only productive, but very uplifting. I spent the week whittling away on my house, and while there are still things that can be done, overall, my house is exceptionally clean, comfortable, and peaceful. Really, in the end, aren't we all looking for a little peace. Perhaps our forefathers were in pursuit of happiness, but I'd say that if you pursue a peaceful lifestyle, happiness will follow. Have I gotten too Ms. America candidate for you yet? If so, stop reading.

Here is what I have gotten accomplished this weekend.

First of all, I got my bedroom rearranged. I got the dresser out of my closet and into the bedroom, got the bookshelf moved, and moved all the plastic into my closet. Dad finished up the edge tiles in the closet for me, since I never got around to it.

I cooked. I made maple and mustard glazed steak for supper on Friday with hummus and all the dippers as a side. Mom made the asparagus fritatta for breakfast, I made apple chicken gouda sausages for lunch with (surprise!) hummus and pita bread for lunch. Supper was chicken shawarma with artichoke. Let's talk about artichoke. When I was younger, mom always melted butter and threw toasted breadcrumbs into it to dip our artichoke in. Why did we do this? Artichoke is quite yummy on its own. So yummy, in fact, that I got another one, and it's quite possible that my dinner tonight will be a veggie burger and a whole artichoke. On the down side, artichokes are the crab of the vegetable world. Oh so good, but so much work for so little product, you know? It's worth it, though, more so than crab, even. Back to the weekend menu...For dessert I made chocolate chip banana muffins. They were very yummy, and not that bad for you. I still want to eat all of them in one sitting, though. I'm going to have to be very good.

I measured this week, and in three weeks I have lost 2.5 inches in my waist. Isn't that something? The funny thing is that I lost only.25 inches in my hips. I don't know how you even that all out, but I've got to try.

Mostly this weekend, though, we did yard work. While Mom and Dad were here we did a lot of raking, "mowing," and moving wood. You wouldn't believe the huge amounts of wood that Willis left here when he moved out. I'm going to have to remember to bring the logs camping with me so that we don't have to buy firewood, but I assume I'd have to cut it, and I don't know if you know this, but I shouldn't ever be trusted with an ax. No, really, it's true. I might cut my foot off. Then camping wouldn't be nearly as much fun. After the rents left, I went to Lowe's and got some plants. I'm attaching pictures of what I've bought and planted. If anyone knows what the yellow flower is, please let me know because I am at a loss as they did not label it.

Now I have to go cook...again.