THINGS I'M LOVING: May 24, 2019.

​This place. My mom and sister Amanda visited us last weekend and we went to Fort Loudoun (a French-Indian War-era fort) for their Garrison weekend. The weather was perfect—it would have been hot without the strong breeze but that breeze was poem-worthy—and the demonstrations were entertaining to watch. The cannon was shockingly loud, but the gigantic gun that four soldiers had to hold up was equally—and more surprisingly—so. It was just a really good day with family. (Also, God bless the family members that come to town and help watch my kids for the weekend. My mom and sister let me sleep in both days!).
 
This article. Monica Hesse says that we need to know more about the woman’s reproductive system so that we can use biological facts for the arguments we’re making…and craft laws that actually make sense. It’s one of the many smart articles circulating in response to the COMPLETELY DUMB and AWFUL abortion laws signed in Georgia and Alabama, among other places. I 100% believe the argument that if men could get pregnant, abortion would not be an issue. It just wouldn’t.  
 
This recipe. A lot of my childhood was spent in a book, and learning to cook was one thing that fell (was dropped like it was a 100-pound-weight) by the wayside. I’ve learned more about cooking from Daniel than I’ve learned from anyone else. This Shrimp Pad Thai recipe is one that I’ve started making and it’s really, really good. If you have an extra person who can stir while you add the ingredients, that’s for the best, really, because once you add the noodles things get moving.  *I also add a Pad Thai sauce that I buy at the grocery toward the end for extra flavor. That’s *maybe* cheating but also #livingmybestlife.
 
These flowers. Our roses are blooming and they’re gorgeous. I’ve never lived in a home where we planted/potted so many flowers before, and it really makes me happy every time I see them. Now we’re waiting on our coneflowers, zinnias, gladiolus, and ranunculus to bloom. Fingers crossed they make it and don’t fall victim to the same despicable creature that ate the petunias out of our pot.
 
This article. Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite tropes (along with 50 other ones), and this list with its 100 recommendations is desperately appreciated.
 
Other Things I’m Loving: Sam started a new school this week, made up a really cool story about turning into a bear at night, and also told me “duh” when I gave him reminders for school. It’s been a big week for my almost 4-year-old. Raymond is showing his personality more every day—please, no eye contact in the morning and you must say puppy with him a million times a day (it’s in his contract). And we ate our first collard greens from our garden last night.