With work keeping me busy, it's been quiet around here for a while. I've got lots of retroactive blogging queued up to do at some point when time allows again (including stories and pictures from a week in London over New Year's). Most of that will have to wait for now, but I can probably squeeze in a little Spring-inspired photoblogging in the meantime.

The flower spike on our second phalenopsis sprouted another branch in December, which developed buds in January and is now on the verge of opening its silky white blooms:

Things are blooming outside too — including the spectacular pink magnolias in San Mateo's Central Park. I stopped in the rain to take a few pictures yesterday while we were downtown running a picture-framing errand:

After picking up our frame at Cheap Pete's, we stepped out of the rain for lunch at a favorite local spot, Sushi Sam's. I've been wanting to try their Nabeyaki Udon, but have never before managed to resist the allure of Sam's unbelievably fresh sushi in order to do so. Apparently it took being a little cold and wet to put me over the edge. Like everything else I've had at Sam's, it was excellent, with a complex, smoky-flavored broth that reminded me (strangely, perhaps, but without a doubt) of a good island scotch. And of course this is Sam's, so it was a work of art too:

Truth be told, I didn't quite manage to resist the sushi though... A negihama handroll somehow managed to find its way onto our table. No one has seen it since.