Update

Yeah, sorry, I've been bad on the blog front. We've been doing our thing and somehow that's meant several weeks without a post on the blog, even though I've been thinking up all sorts of posts and thinking, I really need to sit down with the laptop and get it all out...but it hasn't happened.

Right now I'm cooking dinner and listening to Henry talk to his parents. Being married to someone with two cultures is interesting, but never more so than when I hear him switch between his Spanish side and his English side while talking to his parents. When he's on the phone with his mum, he's a quiet, nice English boy. On the phone with his dad, he's fiery and gestures a lot. I hear the word "Papi!" spoken sharply as he and his dad discuss whatever it is they have on their mind (today it's his parents upcoming trip to London). It's funny to see his whole demeanor change depending on the person to whom he's speaking (and the language in which he speaks). He seems so much more assertive in Spanish.

We did a little traveling over the Memorial Day/Bank Holiday weekend. We went up to York to visit Henry's friend Andrew (one of the best men at our wedding) and his wife, Mari. We spent Saturday night in York and then the four of us went down to Buxton in the Peak District. Despite the windy weather, it was GORGEOUS! When I first moved here, my friend Meghan gave me a movie about a woman from Hampshire (the South, where I live) who moved to Yorkshire (the North) and found it to be "wild" and "untamed". Bollocks, I say. It is BEAUTIFUL and parts of it reminded me so much of the mountains east of Seattle that it almost brought tears to my eyes.

After Buxton, we went to Bakewell. Apparently there's some famous dessert made there, but I had never heard of it (although we had a pudding, and it was quite tasty!). We went to meet Craig and his new girlfriend, Amanda, who was lovely. Also lovely? Chatsworth (see below). That's what I want for Christmas!


Chatsworth has a kitchen garden, where they grow their own veg and herbs and such. I am trying out a smaller version by attempting to grow tomatoes, basil, strawberries, rasberries, and other assorted herbs. It's going okay so far (despite my black thumb), and I'm actually considering a complete redesign of the garden for next summer so that I can grow only things worth eating. The only drawback is all the bloody slugs who live in England and think my garden is very tasty - I've spent quite some time looking for ways to thwart their efforts. Sometimes I think of what the me 5 years ago would've made of the me I've become - not the least when I'm happily tossing snails against the back garden fence!

It's a good life. And what makes it even better is that I'm heading home in July. I get to spend the 4th in Seattle and some time with my parents before heading to San Francisco for 3 days for work. Then I get to go to see Rob and Sarema and the kids for a few days! I am so excited.

My only complaint is that Sex and the City came out this weekend and a) I haven't seen it yet and b) I don't get to see it with any of my girlfriends, especially the Golightly crew, who had a kickass premiere party with SHOES and DRESSES and COSMOS and GIRLS and I really wish I had been there (with Les and EB, too!). I miss my girls.