It’s been typical late spring weather here in the Atlanta area, which is to say that it’s been unpredictable and all over the place. Highs in the 80s, lows in the 40s, some rain, some sun, and everything in between. However the garden at the house seems to be loving it, so I won’t complain too much.
Here are my five things for this Friday – a little late, but here nonetheless!
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One
It’s been a stressful week around here. Late last week I woke up to Phoebe crying in pain at the foot of the bed, which is just not normal for my usually stoic girl. I got her into the vet that morning and they did a full exam and x-rays. Turns out she has a congenital issue called luxating patellas; it’s a condition where the “groove” that the knee joint rides in is too shallow and her kneecap pops out of place. It makes her more susceptible to stretched and torn ligaments, which is exactly what happened this week. She’s currently on medication (anti-inflammatories and pain meds) but I see surgery in our future, which means making some accessibility updates to the townhouse in the coming weeks and months!
Two
We bought this hammock for the house and I am loving it so much! Zach hung it between the two lily trees at the top of the small rise outside the fence and it’s the perfect location. Lying in it, watching the sun play through the leaves, feeling the breeze, and listening to the sounds of the creek and the birds is the most relaxing thing ever! I may have fallen asleep in it more than once this week! We also bought this set of tree hanger straps so we could hang it without damaging the trees.
Three
If you haven’t made the Momofuku Bo Ssam Pork recipe that was published in the NY Times last year, you should do so soon! It’s become my go-to for pork shoulder, whether cooked in the oven or on the kamado grill. I add powdered ginger to the rub for a little extra zing. And the leftover pork mixes well with a tangy BBQ sauce for pulled pork sandwiches the next day!
Four
Part of the fun of building the garden and landscaping at the new house is learning what’s already there. Since we bought the house in December, there wasn’t a lot to see. This spring has been a revelation as flowers and plants have sprouted, budded, leafed out, and bloomed. One of the bushes I was curious about is on the side of the house right where the fence meets the back of the garage which I suspected was some kind of gardenia, but I didn’t know which kind specifically. It’s been evergreen all winter and then suddenly, between Sunday and Tuesday of this week it burst into bloom – and intoxicating fragrance. Turns out it’s a Cape Gardenia – and it’s just gorgeous!
Five
Believe it or not, I will have an actual food post coming next week. Over the last couple of months I’ve finally perfected my whole grain pecan waffle recipe and I look forward to sharing it on the blog!
