Time brings changes

Well quite a bit of time has gone by since the last update. The month of March is a busy time at work, and since Jon and I both work at the same place, we've both been busy!
He's somehow found the time to install hardwood floor in the living to make it a liveable space again, and he's installed the dishwasher. So even without a working sink, the dishes are getting done and I'm really, very relieved about that.
Having the living room back is nicer than I thought it would be. Yesterday, as I was getting supper ready, Philippe went over to his bin of toys and played happily by himself and it was just..... normal. And normal felt really good. It was peaceful and happy. Jon and I both noticed it and commented on it. To have a couch and to be able to sit and look out the window is really nice too. I never really realized how good it is to just sit on something other than a bed. Jon also commented on that. I am realizing so much as we start getting back to a sense of normalcy. How a lot of the stuff we have is for our enjoyment, and how when we enjoy our living environment, it allows for some breathing space and relaxation. But that is still a luxury. I never thought of having a couch as a luxury, or having space as a luxury, but it is. I feel a lot more grateful for the things that we have now, and don't have to look at what's on sale and wish that we could redecorate just to be modern. Not that I really had that tendency before, but once in a while there's the urge to get something newer looking than what you have.
No, now I just feel good sitting on my couch and having space for Philippe to play.

flooring, glorious flooring

Well, we weren't planning on it, but we put in our kitchen flooring over the weekend. This gorgeous black hardwood floor that you can slide on and enjoy the smooth, clean feeling under your feet. It looks pretty hot too with our new cabinets and painted walls and black appliances. Oh yeah!
Jonathan's parents came up on Saturday and took Philippe out while we worked on the floor. And then Jon was able to finish it after supper. Then on Sunday, he place the other cabinets on the wall accross from the fridge and stove. Now we're at the counter stage. I can't believe it! I'm going to have counters one of these days soon! And then after that I'll have a sink, and then after that I'll have plumbing to USE the sink! And then I'll have the most amazing kitchen ever!
And for now, I'm happy taking a run and sliding on my new floor. :)

Scrub a dub dub

You know how when you go to get a bath ready for your little one, you say you need to rinse the tub out?
Well, yesterday, I had to take a scrub brush and go at it for 5 minutes to clean out the paint flakes and dried on food from washing dishes and rinsing paint brushes and pans.
When these renovations are done, life is going to be EASY! .... ok, maybe not, but easiER anyway.

Recipe from my new kitchen!

Last night, I cooked in my new kitchen for the first time! We have one side of the kitchen finished, so the stove and fridge are in place, with cupboard units surrounding the fridge and then 2 drawer units on either side of the stove.
I told Jonathan he brought out the chef in me cause I cooked an amazingly delicious meal! Maybe because it wasn't pasta with sauce from a jar that it tasted so delicious, but I thought I'd share it anyway, just cause that's how good I feel.
Stir-fry and rice, in the most delicious way possible:
The rice was basmati, and I did 1 + 1/2 cups in 2 cups of water and 3/4 cup of white wine. Delish!
In my stir-fry, I had onions, leeks, celeri, red pepper, bok choy, chicken and would have like mushrooms but they had gone bad. But next time I'm putting in mushrooms.
For seasoning while everything cooked, I put salt, pepper, basil and teragon. I splashed some lemon juice on everything as well.
Then when it was almost done, I added 1 full tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter (possibly the equivalent of 2 normal tablespoons), 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce, with about 1/4 cup of water and a few spurts of soya sauce. I'm pretty sure I have solved the mystery of what kind of sauce to put in stir fry. Jonathan and I used to just put a whole bunch of Soy Ginger salad dressing in, but I prefer this other one.
It was also the first time trying bok choy, and I really enjoyed the crunchiness it brought to the mix. Kind of like water chestnuts.
If you try it out, let me know what you think - even if it's bad.