This is your brain on 'nip...

The boys get an occasional treat of catnip. Mirando quietly eats his catnip and mellows out.

Geronimo rolls around on the flat kitty scratcher. We think he's trying to get inside the catnip.


And I'm having a cafe latte, but there's no picture of that.

Knitting: Marie Louise's Lace Sweater is going. I've done four pattern repeats on the front side.

Reading: Still on Zadie Smith's White Teeth. I'll probably listen to The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde while knitting today.
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Writing: I think chapter one is really done, at least as a draft. I'm moving on to chapter two. Really.

Cooking: Yesterday I made bean and barley soup. Yum.

Bean and Barley Soup

1/4 cup dried navy beans
1 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 carrot, scrubbed and diced
1 bay leaf
3 cups vegetable stock
1 pinch thyme
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup medium barley (not quick-cooking)

Place the beans in a medium bowl and add water to cover over one inch. Let soak overnight. Drain and rinse well. Transfer to a saucepan and cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, and bay leaf. Cook until onion is translucent. Add vegetable stock, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Add navy beans and barley. Lower heat and simmer 40 minutes or until barley is tender. Makes two bowls or four cups.