Pedal Power

It has been very unspring-like weather around Portland lately, and I am getting a wee bit tired of it. I am tired of having to wipe off Mesa's muddy paws every time she goes outside, most of the time while trying to balance a baby. I am tired of not being able to mow the lawn because it is so wet and muddy and so the grass in our front yard comes up to our knees. I am tired of not washing the car because I know it is going to rain and won't matter anyway. I am tired of not being able to take Tate on long walks around the neighborhood with Mesa like I had envisioned all during my pregnancy (can you just imagine me, a stroller, a baby, a 120 lb. newfoundland dog, and an umbrella? I think not). Overall, I am just tired, tired, tired of this gray and cloudy and rainy weather. So I am dreaming of summer and spring and that means I am absolutely dying over these bicycles from Madsen Cycles. Referred to as Urban Utility Bicycles, they would make the perfect summer day, farmer's market, kid-carting, dog-carting transportation device, don't you think? The details feel very Scandinavian to me, and I can imagine myself and an older version of Tate traveling all over town on the weekends. So European. And absolutely made for lazy days with warm, sunny weather and black-and-white striped t-shirts with red tennis shoes.

They also seem to perfectly fit the bike-riding culture in Portland. Speaking of which (both bikes and European culture), have you seen this commercial? I love it.

And when I think and dream of spring. I think strawerries. At least that dream has been satisfied. Here is Sunday night's strawberry shortcake.

Next to chocolate chip cookies, strawberry shortcake is my favorite dessert, so this was a fantastic way to herald in spring (in flavor, at least). It was delicious. Lip smacking good, you might say.