Misc Photos

Ohhh they are sound asleep and don't know what I have!

Until I take a bite!

I'll share with Miss Thistle!

And I'll share with Miss Cricket!

Look at those crazy eyes!

Ohhh... then back to sleep!

Some friends' rhubarb patch got a bit too big for them, so they dug up a few root balls, and we took two. Look at how crazy the roots are!

They are already growing, and I haven't even planted them in the ground yet!

Today, I had my first grand adventure since breaking my fibula... I had been doing rehab by walking up and down the driveway, but then I realized that if I could walk up and down the driveway six times, I could walk up the road a bit, so I did. Very pretty! It's strange to walk without dogs, and also strange to walk at this excruciatingly slow pace, but... well I will try to find some moments of zen meditation.

I have a very nice walking stick, custom made by a dear friend! It's a root! Super light and strong.

Okay, now food photos!

The more stories I heard and read about industrial ranching, the less I want to buy meat from non-local producers, even so-called "organic" and "free-range" meat. Whenever I see meat from local ranches at Alaska Feed, I buy it. At least I know that Alaska doesn't do CAFOs. Anyway, the last time I was there, I saw beef short ribs! So exciting! I braised and simmered them in pho seasonings with soy sauce, ginger, and green onions. Then I added carrots, bok choy, boiled eggs for brown eggs, and tofu skin bunches. So good!

Rockfish tacos!

Here is one of my weirder lunches... Leftover pico de gallo in Campbell's condensed chicken noodle soup, with tofu skin. Definitely weird, but not bad!

Miss Thistle sez, "No hugs, please. No squeezies. No, you may not play 'this little piggy' with my toes. I will deign to accept a Very Respectful Earrub, that is all."

Bum leg update

At five weeks, I was told to start putting the foot down, but without full weight, and still using crutches:

At six weeks, I got another X-ray, and got cleared to start walking in my boot!

At ten weeks, I'll be re-evaluated for dumping the boot and switching to a brace!

Other Spring Things

Sunny days, interspersed with showers and hail:

The first rhubarb has appeared:

Miss Thistle is sound asleep!

Until she hears the sound of me picking up an apple!

Do you think they are comfy? I sure hope they are comfy.

A study in personality contrast

SQUEEEEEEEEZE!!

No touchy.

Happy Spring!

The Minor News reported that official "greenup" or "leaf-out" day was yesterday, but I think it was the prior day. Look! I took this photo:

This morning, I was pleased to observe that I do, in fact, still have some leg muscles. The flobble-wobble I was seeing a few weeks ago was due as much to limited range of motion as to atrophy. I can point and flex my foot most of the way now!

Here is a photo of Cricket looking uncharacteristically regal:

And one of Thistle winking!

And here is my new rice steamer!

Would you believe I have not owned a rice cooker since I left home? I have been making rice on the stove top. Other Asians would view this as blasphemy! But the other day, my sister informed me that the rice cooker of our childhood, which is more of a steamer than just a rice cooker, was still available! Our mom brought hers from Taiwan when she immigrated in 1973! So of course I bought one, and now I can steam veggies and meats and eggs, and reheat leftovers, too!

OK how long has it been since you've seen photos of Thistle eating an apple? This is mandatory, right?

"AaaaaaAAAAAaaaaAAApple!"

Le chomp!

Would you ever be able to refuse this face?

So gentle!

Historical May 4th photos

2013:

2014:

2021:

Not quite there yet... but look! My columbine!

I thought I saw it, but wasn't sure, since I can't bend down in crutches. So I took a photo with a zoom lens, and yes! It's my columbine! This, however, is not a columbine:

There is still quite a bit of patchy snow on the ground, although nothing like, apparently, 2013:

Less on the North side of the house, where we cleared all of the trees:

At week 2, my left leg was already noticeably flabby and atrophied. At week 4, it looks like this:

This is very distressing to me! But I think I will recover quickly once I can walk again. One more week until I can start putting weight on it!

Here is a photo of Miss Thistle looking pretty:

And both the girls lined up for BELLPEPPER!!!!:

I was making a pizza:

It turned out pretty good!

I think Miss Thistle is comfy with us. Do you think she is comfy with us?

Homebound things

A few weeks ago, I happened upon the phrase "cheese latke". Cheese latke? "According to some food experts, the Hanukkah latke dates back to 13th-century southern Italy. It was a ricotta cheese pancake — sans potato — and unlike its Ashkenazi counterpart, the Sephardic creation wasn’t even called latkes... These cheese pancakes were called cassola when the recipe was brought to Rome after Sephardim traveled north from Spanish-controlled southern Italy in 1492 following their expulsion at the onset of the Inquisition."

So of course I had to try them! The recipe is really simple.

They were really tasty, but not at all the same type of foodstuff as the crispy fried potato ones. They are more like pancakes. Calcium-rich pancakes, perfect for breakfast with a healing bone fracture!

Beasts in a sunbeam:

This is what we woke up to yesterday (April 30th). Happy spring, Fairbanks!

That look when you pick up a curry comb and the dog in question does not want to be combed:

Rockfish and kale noodles with black bean sauce: