Botanical Garden

Do you see the happy face on one of the flowers....wierd!

Haircut

Logan hasnt gotten groomed in sooooooo long and after he got neutered and took his cone off, the first thing I did was take him in. His bands were getting so long he could see it was just too scruffy looking. Here is a before and after

Google

Obama & Noruz

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/20/barack-obama-iran-message

Best Doggy

I have the best dog ever, he's so cute and cuddly, he sleeps with me and every morning creeps closer and closer off his pillow to come lick my face or flip on his back so i can give him a belly rub, he's so fluffy and I LOVE HIM SO!

Haft Seen

So people ask me the meaning of different things that we put on the table and what they mean for Persian New Year and I have no clue. So here is the information!!

A few days prior to the New Year, a special cover is spread on to the Persian carpet or on a table in every Persian household. This ceremonial table is called cloth of seven dishes, (each one beginning with the Persian letter Sinn). The number seven has been sacred in Iran since the ancient times, and the seven dishes stand for the seven angelic heralds of life-rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty.

The symbolic dishes consist of:

Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil representing rebirth.
Samanu is a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding and represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking.
Seeb means apple and represents health and beauty.
Senjed the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree, represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all else.
Seer which is garlic in Persian, represents medicine.
Somaq sumac berries, represent the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil.
Serkeh or vinegar, represents age and patience.

To reconfirm all hopes and wishes expressed by the traditional foods, other elements and symbols are also on the sofreh):

a few coins placed on the sofreh represent prosperity and wealth;
a basket of painted eggs represents fertility.
a Seville orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space.
a goldfish in a bowl represents life and the end of astral year-picas.
a flask of rose water known for its magical cleansing power, is also included on the tablecloth.
Nearby is a brazier for burning wild rue ,a sacred herb whose smoldering fumes ward off evil spirits.
A pot of flowering hyacinth or narcissus is also set on the sofreh.
A mirror which represents the images and reflections of Creation as we celebrate anew the ancient Persian traditions and beliefs that creation took place on the first day of spring.
On either side of the mirror are two candlesticks holding a flickering candle for each child in the family. The candles represent enlightenment and happiness.

Happy St. Paddys Day

Went outside during work while the parade was going on and snapped a few pictures. It was chaos & I got yelled at by a grandma (New Yorkers!)

Happy Persian New Year from Colbert

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/221462/march-12-2009/mahmoud-s-non-consensual-endorsement-deal

Photo Blog

Been MIA for a little bit but I have a good reason. I have been working on my other site. Please forward to anyone you know!!!

http://ellies-photography.blogspot.com/

Sushi anyone?

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/02/roll_one_up_america_obama_sush.php

Logan

Yes I baby talk to him and Yes I am obsessed
:)

Vegetarian Enchiladas

Enchiladas

• Package of Tortilla bread
• Trader Joes Enchiladas sauce
• Shredded jack cheese and mild cheddar
• Cooked Brown rice
• 1 Can refried beans
• Sour cream/Guacamole/salsa
• 1 chopped Tomato

Prehead oven to 325 degrees
1. Spray a baking sheet with spray butter or olive oil, just a little for the bread not to stick to the bottom.
2. Open the trader joes sauce and pour about a spoon full onto both sides of each tortilla and spread it around
3. Scoop a big spoon full or two of the refried beans, brown rice, top with cheese and some chopped tomatoes
4. Roll up the tortilla and place in baking sheet, add some more cheese to the top of the enchiladas
5. Continue the steps above depending on how many you want
6. Place the enchiladas for about 15minutes in the oven or until the top of the cheese has melted.
7. Serve with Sour Cream, Guacamole or salsa on the side