Happy Birthday, Dear Marisa!

Today is Marisa's 22nd birthday! Happy birthday, Marisa! Since Marisa left for Portland yesterday afternoon, we had "Marisa's Birthday Celebration Day" on Thursday. It began with Joel waking Marisa up! It is a fairly long and complicated story as to why he is holding a deflated balloon and bottle of wine, but Marisa found it funny, and was a good sport about it. (As was Joel who had not been told why he was doing any of this...)

Marisa chose her birthday (celebration day) dinner. It was a french dish called tartiflette, which is similar in flavor to cheese fondue, and similar in concept to scalloped potatoes. It was very delicious! And contained much cheese. We also had steamed artichokes. Halley joined us for dinner (and cake), which was a nice way to make the dinner more special.

One tartiflette with bacon, one without

 After dinner we had peach cobbler ice cream cake! Marisa and I brainstormed and did a lot of research before landing on this recipe, which we made our own by adding raspberries. I had never made an ice cream cake before, and it was a fun (and successful!) project. 

It was fun to celebrate Marisa's birthday! It always falls during spring break, so it was special to celebrate together.


Today is the first day of spring break. I will be in Walla Walla until Monday, so it will be a nice chance to get ahead on some homework and relax in a quiet house. Unfortunately, it looks like our warm, sunny weather is gone for a while, but we don't get flowers and pretty green grass without rain, so I can't complain.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Rain, Rain, Rain by Boz the Bear
Rain, Rain, Rain
It's good to see you again
Drip drop pitter patter splashin', swishin' rain
We love the rain

Hear the dip drops on the street
Happy birdies dance and tweet
Pretty garden colors glow
Grammie's flowers grow and grow

Rain, Rain, Rain
It's good to smell you again
Drip drop pitter patter splashin', swishin' rain
We love the rain

We can watch the puddles grow
Splashin', Jumpin' -- here I go!
It's a gift right from the sky
To the earth when she gets dry

Rain, Rain, Rain

It's good to hear you again
Drip drop pitter patter splashin', swishin' rain
We love the rain

When the rain begins to clear
And the sun begins to glow
See the rainbows in the sky
Pretty colors in a row

Rain, Rain, Rain
It's good to feel you again
Drip drop pitter patter splashin', swishin' rain
We love the rain

Weather or Not You Like It

Spring is here in Walla Walla! Well, technically it isn't. The first day of spring isn't for another 12 days, but try telling that to the 64* forecast. It is days (Who am I kidding? Weeks!) like these that make me sad to be leaving Walla Walla at the end of May. It is so beautiful here when the sun shines! Daffodils are starting to bloom near our house. Students and animals alike are spending more time outside, tossing flying discs and rolling on cement steps, respectively. To quote fellow blogger, Rachel Franco, "Peace out, winter gloom!"

This morning I am sitting at Olive in downtown Walla Walla with fellow Whitman student, Grandma's House resident, and moose enthusiast Rachel. She is diligently working away at her thesis! I love coming here for breakfast and morning study sessions.

Apart from the excellent weather, there isn't much to report. We are gearing up for our last week before a two-week spring break, so I'll just leave you with a few photos from the last week.

Cookies decorated at the belated "Time's Up Valentines Party"

Rachel and Marisa got me a Norwegian heart waffle iron for my birthday! 

Marisa had dinner plans on Friday...

So Rachel and I ate Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Risotto! (Both foods Marisa dislikes)

That is all I have to say for now! Happy International Women's Day!

Love,
Yellow Snail, Purple Moose, and Green Cat