So much to celebrate

After New Year's comes and goes, and reality sets in that there just isn't a Spring Break for adults, the winter months and accompanying dreary weather can make a Portland girl glum.

But, February rolls around, a little glimmer of sunshine with all its celebratory occasions. 

We traveled down to Albany to deliver some birthday cheer to Taylor's mom in early February, and Taylor's birthday rolled around later that week.

Just by happenstance, the Fly-Fishing Film Tour hit Portland the night of Taylor's birthday. Following a 24-hour business trip to Denver and heading into work straight off the plane, chowing down on some eastside Mexican food and hustling in to the Bagdad Theater for a cold beer and his favorite annual event proved to be just what this birthday boy wanted. That, and an uninterrupted day of inspired fishing at the coast the next day--a birthday gift to himself.

This is NOT a picture-perfect pie. I'm actually pretty embarrassed by its looks, but Taylor was pretty surprised as I've never made a pie for him on my own. When he came home and saw it on the kitchen counter he thought at first it was from my mom, but he said the lattice just wasn't her style. Ha! I whipped it up super fast and didn't even wait for the store-bought dough (don't tell my mom!) to defrost. Talk about lazy!

Not to be outdone, Valentine's Day quickly approached. It's always a favorite day of mine--mostly because of vivid childhood Valentine memories. I love all holidays, but this love-filled day reminds me of lipstick hearts on the bathroom mirrors, pink milk in our cereal, special gifts on the breakfast table, and heart-shaped sandwiches in our red and pink-themed lunches. It was my mom's favorite holiday, long before it became oh-so commercialized.

I wanted to make this year extra special, so I decided to make Valentines for all of our neighbors, my co-workers, and Taylor's work. I tried to plan ahead and make some cookie dough and a batch of blondies in the nights leading up to V-Day, but in true Kate fashion, I was scrambling at the eleventh hour on Valentine's Eve. I think they turned out OK...not half as nice as anything my sisters would craft, but pretty all right for my semi-homemade craftiness. And, we even had a couple of notes from our neighbors later that day. Just trying to be a part of my new life and work communities, you know?

As for us, Taylor and me aren't huge fans of the forced romanticism of the holiday, but he did surprise me with a lovely bouquet, a bottle of vino, and my favorite--a sweet greeting card. We went to Whole Foods for a fiesta dinner and a long stroll around the store. We came home for some Thursday night hoops action, and I fell asleep reading before 10. Super romantic, I know. Just perfect for us, actually.

I'm not sure what the second half of February will bring, but I'm sure it'll be full of quick adventures, hearty wintertime meals, and delightful glimpses of spring. Happy belated Heart Day, friends.