muffins that taste like donuts

I made these muffins on Sunday that were pretty good.  The title of the recipe was Muffins That Taste Like Donuts and they did.  We had friends over for brunch and everyone liked them (except maybe our toddler guest who was having too much fun to eat much).  We ate the last three on Monday morning.

Wednesday morning Rory threw what can only be considered a big fit wanting more of these muffins.  I didn't make them for her.  We'd already had our toast.  This morning she asked for them again.  And she got them today.  She seems to like them just as much this morning.  What a lucky girl.

it's a beautiful day

Today is the kind of day that makes up for all the rainy days.  It is absolutely gorgeous outside -- the sun is shining, there are a few white puffy clouds in the sky, it's warm (by Stavanger standards) and there is a nice breeze.

This morning Rory and I rode my bicycle to playgroup.  The ride to playgroup is mostly nice, a good portion of is right along the fjord and is just beautiful, part of it is through an industrial area, and the rest is through a residential area.  And never mind the hills coming back up from the water in to town, though I do not think my legs will forget the hills.

Lately Rory has been giving the thumbs up sign when she likes something.  Today gets a big thumbs up!


 

rain

It's raining again today.  Yesterday Rory and I braved the elements to walk downtown to run several errands.  We were to pick up Rory's new hiking backpack, but they'd reserved the wrong one for us and they didn't have the right one.  So no new backpack for Rory to hike in.  She was a little bummed.

That was our last stop.  Before that she was walking and I was pushing the stroller.  She rides in the stroller downtown and then home, but I let her out to walk while we're shopping.  I've discovered and love the Asian grocery store -- okra and edamame yesterday!  Both things that you just do not see at the regular Norwegian grocery store.

Not sure what we're going to do today.  Probably go out (in the car) to buy a new coffee pot.  The one we have now has been getting stuck.  It makes a few cups and then I don't really know what happens...it gets loud and the rest of the water just steams out.  Annoying.  Especially because I then have to turn it off to stop the steam and so my second cup of coffee is cold.

We really have not had that much rain lately.  But it did rain a good bit Saturday, yesterday, and it looks like today is all rain.  Cannot complain too much.  It's what I got my wellies for.  But sunshine is better.

July so far

To paraphrase Gretchen Rubin (the author of The Happiness Project), the days are long, but the summer is short.

It's July 12th.  Already.  Really.  

July highlights, so far, in mostly chronological order:

• Stepler was on a field trip in Scotland from June 30th - July 4th
• I took and passed my Norwegian driving test
• Rory and I planted a sunflower
• I found okra at the Asian grocery store downtown! 
• We've been to the wonderful new coffee shop downtown twice
• Rory and I had dinner at Stepler's co-worker's and Rory loved playing with his dogs and running around the garden (British for yard)
• I (with a little help from Rory) made a cake with strawberries for the 4th of July party we attended
• We went to friends' for a 4th of July party, Stepler got home just in time for the last 30 minutes or so
• I made Thai noodles that Rory and I loved, Stepler not so much
• Rory and I took Janice and Shiner (beagle belonging to other friends who moved to Jakarta) to the airport for their journey to Jakarta, Indonesia -- they both survived
• We made homemade guitar-shaped popsicles
• Rory got a haircut
• Rory and I picnicked on the beach with friends and Rory even got in the really cold water
• Rory and I tried a new bread recipe
• We made ribs for the first time in Norway, they were rather tasty
• We had a family picnic and playtime at the beach, but it was extremely windy, so windy that the blowing sand hurt
• We have enjoyed lots and lots of Norway's delicious strawberries

There are pictures of much of this, but due to computer issues, they'll have to wait.  Stepler has promised to write the post about his Marathon.