Leo's come to stay

My boss has kindly asked if Beto and I could watch Leo, his girlfriend's cat while they take a short vacation together in St. Tomas. Leo was brought by this afternoon and he is quite a pleasure to have around. Such a gentle and loving little animal. He likes turkey slices and runs to greet you at the door upon arrival by standing on his hind legs.

Later on that evening, we attended the Sunset concert at 2424 Studios (2424 East York Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125) in Fishtown. Fantastic show. They played in the newly finished 5,000+ sf space on the first floor. Great space, it is rentable for any function you might dream up. Beto and I are thinking of holding our Philadelphia wedding reception there. I have lovingly dubbed it the Fishtown Convention Center.

http://2424studios.com/wp/

Memorial Day

Our Memorial Day was spent moving around, rearranging furniture and cleaning up and cleaning out.  The end result is not too bad, the house looks great.  

I've also made iced tea for the first time this season with mint from the garden.  Black tea, mint and honey. Delicious.  

Sunday

A few weeks ago, a dear friend our ours took a spill while riding home on a motorcycle.  He has been in the hospital since, and while he is getting better, it is going to take some time for him to recover fully. 

This Sunday, co-workers and friends got together to throw a benefit for Jones.

Saturday

Saturday afternoon,  Letterly Street block party and farewell to our elderly neighbor, Carol. Carol and her dog, Heidy are leaving to go live with family in Georgia.

Later on that evening, "Family of Four" birthday party.  Four of our dear friends celebrate their birthdays. 

Our First Project Together!

I didn't want to let this pass without note; a couple weeks ago, BC had asked Beto to put together a flyer/poster for his upcoming show.  I had the opportunity to take the photos that would then be used in the flyer.  Beto had brought it to my attention that this was actually the first project that we had the chance to work together on.  We are working to get to the point where, in time, we will be able to work together, from home, on our own time.

Friday

I am continually amazed at what a great group of friends I have had the chance to meet in the last four months. 

Friday evening was spent at Johnny Brenda's.  We were there to see the Audible show and BC Camplight play play.  Fantastic shows, the both of them, with plenty of dancing.  Friends of mine from California were able to make an appearance.  

Tuesday Morning

It's Tuesday morning.   Beto has come back from the Rocket Cat with coffee and is setting up the record player. Connections are not quite right yet and swing and static are quietly making their way up the stairs to where I am giving the bathroom cabinets one last coat of glossy white paint.  

Today is one of the first Tuesdays I am home and on my new, part time work schedule.  A change that I have made so that I may study web and graphic design to, hopefully, make my way into a more creative field of work that I can really pour myself into. 

Beto will be leaving to go downtown to the paper soon.  He is coming to the end of his brief freelance period there.  I know he might not have enjoyed every minute of it, but it has been quite a special feeling for me to open up the paper  and know that he was part of it's design and creation.  Incredibly awesome to see illustrations that had their beginning right here in this house.

Friday Saturday Sunday

Recently we have started some new projects.  We have been to Home Depot at least five times in he last week or so.

We have given the bathroom a new look.  We painted, installed new molding around the tile floor, which we stained  deep walnut colour, installed a new mirrored medicine cabinet, and made a great looking shelf in the bathroom which is also stained to match the molding.  

I have also been refinishing some furniture.  The home office is our next project, which will include installing a wall to separate the office from the bedroom. There will be pictures once these projects come to completion.  At the moment the place is in a state of disarray. 

Beto and I have started going out on the weekend brunches for Pho.  Two bowls if Pho, mine a small with no meat, Vietnamese iced coffee, and coconut juice. Delicious!

Phở (fuh) n.
Traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The Origins of Phở

Phở was born in Northern Vietnam during the mid-1880s. The dish was heavily influenced by both Chinese and French cooking. Rice noodle and spices were imported from China; the French popularized the eating of red meat. In fact, it is believed that "phở" is derived from "pot au feu" a French soup. Vietnamese cooks blended the Chinese, French and native influences to make a dish that is uniquely Vietnamese.

Some of what goes into Pho:

basil

sawgrass or saw leaf herb

bean sprouts

scallions

cilantro

chili

lime

beef broth

rare steak

rice noodles

Appartment for Rent

So this is my old apartment. The place at Dauphin and Gaul in a sweet spot in Fishtown. Beto found this place for me when we first met and stood by me as I pulled strings and called in favors to scrape together the money to move in. Thanks to Tommy, I was able to find a tennant for the Art Museum Tower place I was living at the time. Now that I am living with Beto and Prince, I am looking to find a tennant for this place so that I can stop paying rent for a place that I am not living. I must say though,this is one of the most beautiful apartments I have ever had the pleasure of renting.

A Green Garden

(Five potato plants, planted from old potato: French Fingerlings, and Banana Potato)

The rain has been making the backyard green and beautiful. The wild flowers are coming up, the mint, the foliage, all are doing well. The potato are doing very well, even after being partially dug up and disturbed by the mange squirrel. Beto says that he will personally catch and transport that squirrel so that he leaves the vegetables alone.

Painting

We have been painting quite a bit recently. Beto has introduced me to a product called Mod Podge that I like quite a bit. It is a non-toxic sealer, glue, finish. I have been using it on top of my water colour paintings.
http://www.plaidonline.com/apmp.asp#Classic