I just mowed the lawn.

It's kind of funny looking, and my push-mower leaves the tall grass sticking up like little flags to the shame of how long I left it. Also, the edges are bushy. Must find a hand tool for the edges.

But it smells good. I've always loved the smell of a freshly-cut lawn.

Which is good, because freshly-cut lawn is one of those things to which the boy is allergic. He won't be fighting me for the lawn mower anytime soon. No sirree.

In other news, I met the next-door neighbour. (It's hard to miss the sound of my push-mower. I really must find the oil for its blade. It is in a box somewhere, along with everything else.) We had a Norman Rockwell moment chatting over the picket fence. He's a very nice geographer.

Yes, there's a picket fence. The boy thinks we should paint it black.

i cooked real dinner.

boneless, skinless chicken thighs in pesto, grilled (in the grill pan! on the stove!) and then chopped and thrown into a casserole dish with sautéed crimini and porcini (fresh porcini!) mushrooms, a handful of diced fresh tomatoes, basmati rice, and chicken broth. baked until the rice cooked and split a little.

served with a big green leafy salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocadoes. and feta and radishes for me. and negra modelo for the boy.

i love the grill pan and the vent over the stove. some tasty things you can only do with high heat.

this is nearly as exciting as the first time i moved to a place that had a real fridge with a freezer you could keep ice cream in. stove with vent!