In the Garden: Fruit Blossoms

We spent another weekend out in the sun, tending to our garden. After a lot of hard work, it is looking much tidier... important, since as the weather improves, we are beginning to spend a lot more time in the yard. It is sweet to watch our little one get so fascinated by all of the many intriguing outdoor diversions, discovering the dirt and rocks and flowers and (sigh) dandelions.

I haven't seen many sprouts from the seeds I planted (at least, I am still pretty sure that most things sprouting up in the back veggie patch are weeds), but time will tell. The good news is that it is shaping up to be a good year for fruit. Last year, we had an amazing crop of apples (overwhelmingly so, as you may recall), and it looks like the apple tree will take the year off from fruiting, as we didn't see many blossoms at all. No matter; the blueberries are looking like they are finally taking off. We planted them about 3 years ago now, and have had modest yields from them in years past, but I think we will be rewarded for our patience this year. Just in time, too, since Cora is an insatiable blueberry eater. And of course, we'll be happy to add lots of fresh blueberries to our diets this summer since they are such nutritious little fruits, packed with antioxidants and vitamins. (Yes, I do occasionally mention nutrition on this blog!)

Baby bluebs

We are trying to coddle our strawberries this year, in hopes that they may reward us with their delicious fruit. More water and a nice soft bed of landscaping cloth should help to keep them happy and comfortable.

Strawberry blossoms

And, oh, the cherries! These little green nubbins will grow into precious jewels of perfect fruit--but these largely exist just to tantalize us, since our trees are so very tall that they are out of reach. We are hoping to find a very tall ladder to borrow, as I don't know if we can stand to forsake these beauties yet again. Well, at least the birds enjoy them if we can't.

Cherry nubbins

Lastly, our newest addition to the fruit family is a pair of grapevines. We picked them out at the nursery and had two choices: one producing a green seedless table grape, and one whose grapes were praised for their "attractive clusters." Can you guess which one I chose?

Grapevine leaves

Hope you all are enjoying a lovely spring!

Ten Years: A Love Story

Ten years ago, it was a beautiful sunny day in Sparks, Nevada. Being last few weeks of high school, everything seemed fresh and bright and lovely, with the promise of summertime and freedom ahead. I couldn't be happier that high school was ending, and I had just gone on the most perfect date the weekend before with my new beau Brett (yep, you guessed it!) so I was feeling rather giddy with this new love. As I walked out to my car, one of Brett's friends caught up with me and asked a straightforward question: "Are you and Brett going out?"

I wasn't quite sure how to answer. The past few weeks had been a wonderful whirlwind of courtship. Though we'd run in similar circles of friends throughout high school, our mutual shyness had prevented us from getting to know each other. At the very end of senior year, our sisters, who could tell that we would make a great couple, separately helped to set us up. In early May at a foreign language awards ceremony, Brett offered me a kumquat-on-a-stick and successfully procured my phone number (how could I possibly say no after eating that delicious kumquat?). He called me that night, and we talked for hours. Many mixtapes, dozens of quirky yet heartfelt letters, and one most perfect date later, I pondered the future of our relationship. I knew that such a thoughtful man as Brett, who had put together the lovely first date we'd just had (years later, I still think that a walk around the arboretum, a trip to the art museum, and lunch at a funky restaurant sound like the perfect afternoon) was a definite keeper, that I would want him in my life forever. But we hadn't really discussed our relationship yet. Would he feel the same way?

Later that afternoon, at his house, I explained this dilemma. "I didn't know whether I should say we're going out," I explained.

Brett smiled. "Let's say that we are!" he enthusiastically agreed.

Until we got married five years later, we celebrated this day, when we had decided we were officially a couple, as our anniversary. We've been together for an entire decade now, and there hasn't been a single day when I haven't been grateful to have Brett in my life. He is my best friend, my biggest fan, a caring husband, a loving father, and such a sweet, generous, smart, funny, talented person. Considering all that he does for this blog (proofreading, commenting, taking photos, suggesting posts, promoting it to all his friends...), it seems fitting to pay tribute to him here today.

Happy 10th anniversary (and happy early birthday!), Brett. I love you and always will.

FAQ's

I am looking for a vegan dietitian. Do you provide nutrition consultations?

I am not doing individual nutrition consultations at this time. If you are looking to find a veg-friendly dietitian in your area, a handy resource is the American Dietetic Association's RD Search Page. Just check the box for "Vegetarian Nutrition" under Areas of Expertise to ensure that the RD is familiar with veg diets.

I am interested in becoming a dietitian. What is the process like, and where did you do your training?

Becoming a dietitian involves completing at least a 4-year degree, along with specific coursework that qualifies you to apply for a dietetic internship. The dietetic internship is a 6-12 month supervised practice program that allows students to rotate through a variety of settings, including clinical, food service, and public health. Once the internship is completed, the final step is to sit for the RD exam. (You can find out more details at the ADA website.)

I completed my training through the University of Washington. I graduated with my Bachelor's in Cell and Molecular Biology, then returned to get a Master's degree in Nutritional Sciences. I also completed my dietetic internship through the UW.

What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
Good question! Check out this post for the answer.

How did you become vegan?
Click here for the whole (rather long!) story.