I hate change.

4:30 am.  sunrise from our apartment in Seattle.

I am sitting on my couch at home and I am looking out the window. I can't take my eyes off the twinkling city lights. I feel like I have to enjoy this moment and I start missing the city already. Isn't that the silliest thing you have ever heard? Missing something that is still right in front of you. I am way too familiar with this feeling. I often feel this when I travel. I start missing my husband a couple of days before we are apart from each other. I try to get as much of him as I can before we have to be apart.

I am now feeling this way towards Seattle. I am trying to get as much of her as I can before we have to be apart.

I have two months to drink her in.

Clouds starting to clear and the Olympic Mountain Range peaking through.

Strongest woman I know.

I love you nana.

October 31, 1927-August 17, 2011

In-N-Out

It's 7 am and Im sitting in a coffee shop getting some work done. A group of 6 just walked in and I overheard them tell the barista that they were driving 10 hours to Redding, California, because that was the closest In-N-Out to Seattle, Wa. They were going to go, have dinner, and then drive back.

Unless you've lived in California and have experienced the wonder of In-N-Out, you would think they were crazy. But I wanted to get in the car with them.

Curry leaves.

Growing up my mom has always had a little curry leaf plant somewhere in the kitchen. It's just been in the background, never bothering anybody. The leaves themselves are fragrant, but unless you make it a point to smell them, they won't intrude. In fact they become more aromatic once they have been plucked or cooked.
On many occasions my mom would send me to the plant and ask me to pluck a few leaves off for whatever dish was on the stove. I remember smelling them in my hand from the moment I plucked them till I handed them to her. I'm always amazed at how scents evoke such vivid memories. To this day when I smell them it takes me back to those days.
They are used for seasoning many Indian dishes. Thrown in when sauteing the onions, cumin, and mustard seeds, adding the subtlest flavor. When one comes across them while eating, they politely put them on the side of the plate and continue on with their morsel.

When I first moved to Bellingham, Wa, there were no Indian stores around for me to get a fresh supply of curry leaves, and I would often omit them from my Indian cooking. To be honest, I never noticed their absence, but I did feel guilty for not adding them in the dish. It made me feel less authentic as an Indian cook.

Now that I'm in Seattle, I do have Indian stores a little more available to me, but I find myself not using all the curry leaves before they go bad. I've been freezing them, but I feel that some of it's potency is lost. My mom just sent me way too many fresh curry leaves and for two days I was distraught at the thought of them being stuck in the freezer, losing it's vigor. Then today, I had a brilliant idea. I am going to dry them. I have them all laid out on napkins in a single layer, and just letting them dry overnight. I'm actually very excited to see how they do when cooking.

My mom's curry leaf plant and my attempts to dry some.  

First knitted stuffed animal.

When my nephew Jacob was born (cousin Aaron and Dianna's first born) I decided to dust off my knitting skills and attempt a stuffed animal. I printed a pattern from the web years ago and found it somewhere among my yarn. The pattern called for double pointed needles, and though I've always been intimidated by them, I decided to not voice the intimidation for fear the needles might hear me and take whatever little courage I had. So I forged on without hesitation and started the project. I wish I thought about taking pictures as I went along, but it only occurred to me before stuffing.

Here is the last couple of steps before the finished project. Turned out really cute :)

Baby Jacob.

Recharged.

2010 was a great year. The first half was spent planning our unforgettable wedding, and the last half was spent being a giddy newlywed. I realize that the year revolved around love and all that mushy stuff, and perhaps for the bitter betty's out there it would seem as if I based too much of my 2010 happiness on a man, but you can take all of that negativity put it in a box and bury it somewhere, because it was such an unforgettable year.

It's amazing how January 1, 12:00 am has this effect of recharging a person. They feel ambitious and so positive for the next 365 days ahead of them. As if no matter what happened in the previous 365 days, the first day of the new year is all the new beginning a person needs. I am definitely a victim to this. The idea of a clean slate is so tempting it's hard not to cling to it.

So what does 2011 have in store for me? Well some on the list seems a little ambitious, but not impossible. Here's a condensed list off the top of my head.

• More writing. Always.
• More flossing. Never hurts.
• Career stability. Sooner than later.
• Financial stability. Desperately needed.
• More crafts. Brings me joy.
• An etsy. Much desired.
• Weekly mani/pedis. Why not?
• Parallel Parking Queen. Doable.
• Novel. Ummm....
• More reading. Missed it so.

Well...2011, let's do this.