I spy cake!

Some fancy--and tasty--camera work recording Budapest's finest pastries landed Diane in one of our favorite blogs. CakeSpy.

Diane's friend, Jessie, writes CakeSpy. Jessie records everything tasty and sweet and you will see that she is an accomplished illustrator. Diane has Jessie to thank for the idea of producing her own iPop Magnets.

Today is a great day!

A baby was born!

Today started with Steven sending a text message to Kätlin Kruusmaa (his 'host sister' from Peace Corps) realizing that is has been 10-years since he arrived in Estonia and met the Kruusmaa Family. The Kruusmaa's became a "second" family to Steven.

Today is not just a 10-year anniversary of friendship. In Estonia, today is Jannipäev which is...well the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it best:

Aside from Christmas, Jaaniõhtu (Midsummer Eve) and Jaanipäev (St John's Day) are the most important days in the Estonian calendar. The short summers with brief nights hold special significance for the people of Estonia. Jaanipäev follows the longest day (21 June) of the year, or the Summer Equinox, when night seems to be non-existent.

Even more extraordinary--and special--is Kätlin's birth to her second child, Lee, today. She was born on Jannipäev!

We are so happy for Kätlin & Ivo!

Ivo, Kail, Kätlin, Diane & Steven in Dubrovnik, Croatia (2006)

Shuffling toward Monday...

Well it is Monday again. This day keeps coming around somehow.

We are well prepared, however. We had a great weekend with nothing planned. Sometimes you just need to stay home and do nothing. Naps, eating good meals and enjoying the cool weather (60F˚/16C˚) with candles lit all day long was how we spent our weekend.

It was perfect!

Actual footage of Diane shuffling in her cool

slippers on our lesser cool Ikea "Persian" rug.

* Thanks to Bonnie & Richard for the slippers!

What is this?!

On Friday Steven bought 1/2 kilo (about 1 lbs.) what he thought was spinach. He bought this so-called spinach from his favorite vegetable stand ironically ran by a Bulgarian family. Upon further inspection...this is not spinach! At least it is no spinach that we have ever seen. The leaves are thick and crunchy. The underside is velvety. We sautéed some with garlic and oil for dinner tonight. Given we don't know what this is, we though some heat would help. So far we both feeling fine...

Any ideas what this stuff is?

Leaves are about 2in./5cm wide & 3in./7cm tall.

Underside (backside) of leaf

Hungary for Mexican

Over the past few months we have received many packets of taco season and taco shells! (I think it is the "we miss Mexican food" that has been on the "what we miss" list that has encouraged people to send taco mix.) Tonight we thank Kate for the season and Bonnie and Richard for the shells! We have one more packet of taco shells and 8 more packets of taco seasons. When the taco season runs low-we will let you know. The shells come a little crushed but still tasty. We are able to find tortilla wraps which is just as good!

Thanks to Kate and Bonnie and Richard!

Diane's taco-notice tomatoes

Steve's Taco-notice no tomatoes:)

happy busy

I know we haven't updated in awhile so I thought I would link you to my "other" blog. You can see what I have been up to....

Click here to visit www.dianekappablog.com

A short update...

It is 11:30 pm and we are both up. I am sitting on the couch reading the news on the internet. Steve and I hear scratching at the door.... We look at each other and he answers the door.

There sits Sultan. She steps in the house, Steve sits down and pets her. There is lightning and light thunder. She is scared. I so wish we could let her in. She truly is the sweetest dog.