Carrots and Post Vacation Stress Disorder

We bought carrots in bulk because Samm has cut out all carbs for a while.  I have NOT cut all carbs, however, and I was craving muffins, which I often do!  so this morning I decided, I'll make carrot muffins.
I'll be honest.  I almost lost it in the process.  I burned the carrots when I tried to steam them.  I poured the brown sugar into the flour mixture before I realized it was essentially a pile of rocks.  I couldn't get the food processor lid on.  Couldn't find the baking powder.  And in the midst of this (fairly close to the beginning)  Mary Lou began wailing dramatically for no discernable reason.  Crying. Bloody. Murder.


I felt certain the gods didn't want me to have carrot muffins.

But.  The carrots (burnt as they were) and I prevailed!

I had to toss Lulu in a bath with baking soda (what won't that solve, I ask?)  And we made it!
And...again being honest here...the muffins were ridiculously good.  Here is the recipe...

Life has been slowly easing back toward normal.  We spent 10 days seeing Samms family and the coast in California. Then samm went to Chile for 9 days and Lulu and I flew home.  We made a very fancy welcome home banner for samm because he was sorely missed.

And now we are back in business as it were. Naps.  Farmers markets.  Playdates.  Big stuff.
 
I loved California.  I loved that you never totally felt indoors.  That you could wear a jacket in the morning and a swim suit later.  That everyone has lemon trees!  And avocados are 10/1$.  This picture is my favorite.  Lulu spent several happy days wandering in Aunt Laurel and Uncle Davids back yard, talking to their chickens, picking oranges with Laurel, playing happily with dirt.  It was very restful.
I'm trying to imagine ways to create some of that rest and connection with nature in our little townhouse life here in Pittsburgh.

Carrot muffins is a start for today.