MarshallAndFamily.com

 I took Monday off from work and since I was still in the midst of tulip fever decided to haul it to Mt. Vernon to see some tulips. Marshall and I were heading north on I-5 and it started raining. As we drove past the Everett exits I realized that our destination was still another 35 minutes away. I underestimated the distance by a longshot. It seemed like we drove forever before we got to Exit 226. It was so far away that the clouds broke and it was sunny!

It was surprisingly difficult to find the tulip field(s). Not a single speck of tulip at the Mt. Vernon exit (c’mon Chamber of Commerce – go to Costco come fall time, get a bag and plant them!). Good thing I had the sense to bring a map of the tulip farms otherwise I would have had to stop and ask someone if anyone had bothered to plant the bulbs this year.

There were no tulips in sight as we drove through downtown. For a town that is supposed to be known for a tulip/daffodil festival I was quite disappointed. There are more daffodils (and tulips) planted at the Woodland Park Zoo – actually there are more planted in my yard than the entire downtown. 

We left the house at 3PM and arrived in the middle of a tulip field at 4:45PM. As I parked the car and let the little man run free (he was screeching to be let out by now) I realized how muddy it was in the field. The ground had huge tractor tracks with water filling the gulleys. The dirt actually looked like heavy white clay and it was amazing that anything would grow out of it at all. Good thing I wore my Wellies and Marshall had his boots on too (and an extra change of shoes). Next time I’ll bring him a spare outfit too. Marshall loved splashing around the puddles but I really had to hang onto him since he’d lose his balance and fall front-first into a mud puddle. 

Despite a bit of a heavy wind it was great weather. We were tuliped out after walking around the field and as we headed back to Seattle I was planning out how many bulbs I’d need for this fall…

We spent Easter Sunday at home enjoying the sunny and warm weather. We took some photos in front of the house before heading over to the pool -hence Marshall’s beachy getup. 

It was so nice outside that combined with Marshall’s outfit you could almost mistake our location as Southern California (ok – not quite but I tried). I really enjoyed seeing all of the bulbs I planted last November. I’m already thinking about how many hundreds more I’ll need this fall and who I’m going to hire to plant them for me. No wonder why Holland had Tulip Fever in the 17th century. I think I’m starting to catch it now.

It has been unseasonably warm for the last few days in Seattle. Friday was hot at 75F, enough to make me change into shorts after I came home from work! It cooled down Saturday and today it was sunny and warm. We took advantage of the beautiful weather and did some more gardening. The tulips and daffodils are in full bloom. So is the quince bush/tree (bright pink), rosemary bushes (blue, purple, white), and cherry tree (white). In two or three weeks after they fade the Rhodies will bloom, and so will the snowball, peonies, and on it goes.

 Unfortunately we also have a sea of yellow flowers – dandelions. I went around the yard and pulled them out with a Weed Hound (Google it if you must know) before they went to seed. 

 Marshall was vaguely interested in the yellow flowers but only after I made a big fuss about how pretty they were to pick :^).

I had a craving for red bean buns this weekend. Tempting as it was to drive up to the Ranch (99 that is) and buy a few, I decided I should make my own. I like Chinese sweet buns but I’m not crazy about the processed white flour and preservatives that are probably in the buns. I hauled out the bread machine and made a 50% whole wheat sweet bread dough for the buns. I used a can of sweetened red bean paste for the filling and the rest was easy. I was trying to bake and Marshall was not feeling quite like himself: screeching a lot, wanting to be held a lot (potential new cold/cough).

 I got a step ladder out and he stood at counter height so that he could watch me make the dough – that made him quite content.  After the machine finished making the dough I rolled it out, put the filling in each piece and let them rise.

 A quick bake later, we had home made red bean buns. Not bad for a first attempt. Marshall found them to be delicious and promptly put away half of one as soon as he got his hands on it.

   Marc gave him one for breakfast the next morning too.  Lucky kid.  I don’t ever recall having something this good for breakfast.  He quickly ate the filling and slowly finished the rest of the bun.

Verdict:  I’ll keep the dough recipe but nix the canned filling.  I’d rather make my own with less sugar.   Perhaps if I make Taro filled buns Ora may fly out just for the occasion!