Random Peek

And now for a few random things that have been happening recently...

Cody and I made this pineapple upside down cake Sunday. The key to the best possible flavor is using fresh pineapple. We got the recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. It's based on the show on PBS where they test recipes, kitchen tools, and ingredients to find what works best. If you don't have this cookbook, I would seriously recommend getting a copy as soon as possible.

Lucas and I played in the backyard this morning and I noticed the tiny green blackberries on our vines. I am SO excited that we'll harvest blackberries this year. These blackberries have been on an adventure since we first transplanted vines from my mom's house in Midland to our old home. The second season is when the berries finally arrive after transplanting. We only got to enjoy them one summer before moving to our new home. We transplanted again and after another summer we finally get fruit again!

I quit reading the awful book Ape House by Sara Gruen and picked up this newly arrived copy of The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht instead. It's off to a fabulous start, and I am enjoying it 100 times more than Gruen's sloppy, contrived, less than fascinating effort.
A new spot where I enjoy reading and sipping coffee is at this cute patio set I picked up at an estate sale recently. I had been wanting something just like this for a while. The estate sale was on our old street, and I knew the woman whose things were being sold. I feel like she would appreciate that her patio set has gone to a good home that will use and appreciate it. I want to find round cushions to add to the seats.

The kids got to do their first egg hunt of the season this Sunday at an after church picnic. They had a blast. The weather was sunny but not too hot, and the little park where the hunt was held was so pretty with thick green grass, a creek, and a stone bridge. It's hard to believe Easter is still 2 weeks away!