Do you feel the pinch? Financially I mean, hopefully not physically. I feel like we are being squeezed, pinched, sucker punched, etc. by the drastically rising costs from all angles; school bonds, food prices, gas prices, heating costs, sales tax increases, luggage fees on flights, trail parking permits, snow parking permits, bridge tolls, $5.00 ATM fees, etc., etc., etc.
Today I got pinched again and it really hurt. The county says my property is worth 66K more than last year. Do you think AH will be willing to move to another state now? (or at least another county) I'm thinking he might.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Little Vandals
My kiddo's artistic temperaments are in full bloom this week. On Monday the sheet rockers started their work and just as they were packing up for the day it was called to my attention that little fingers had been at work in the still very wet mud.
The vandal hit three separate areas. Of course my initial thought was that DS hands were apart of this until I noticed the stick figures and then I absolutely knew Beeb was the culprit. Highly unusual for her but I can understand the temptation.
Upon questioning her I was flattered to know she paid tribute to her loving mother when she said, "Mommy, I drew you!"
It is a rather good likeness, and she made me thin! How could I stay mad at her when she was so considerate.
That evening we met DH down at the lake for some relaxation and tubing. DS did his second trip ever on the tube (with me) and I was even able to talk Beeb into trying it for her first time (with me). They loved it and laughed the entire time. I only received half a dozen head bunts as we bounced over waves and otherwise survived (though my arms are still sore today).
As we packed up for the night AH (amazing husband) found this in the cabin:
Where he wrote his name in black (I know it's small) can you squint and see how well DS spelled his name? I am so proud of how he must have taken his time to form such beautiful letters! I guess in addition to my own kitchen and entryway I'll also be painting the cabin walls. Humf!
The vandal hit three separate areas. Of course my initial thought was that DS hands were apart of this until I noticed the stick figures and then I absolutely knew Beeb was the culprit. Highly unusual for her but I can understand the temptation.
Upon questioning her I was flattered to know she paid tribute to her loving mother when she said, "Mommy, I drew you!"
It is a rather good likeness, and she made me thin! How could I stay mad at her when she was so considerate.
That evening we met DH down at the lake for some relaxation and tubing. DS did his second trip ever on the tube (with me) and I was even able to talk Beeb into trying it for her first time (with me). They loved it and laughed the entire time. I only received half a dozen head bunts as we bounced over waves and otherwise survived (though my arms are still sore today).
As we packed up for the night AH (amazing husband) found this in the cabin:
Where he wrote his name in black (I know it's small) can you squint and see how well DS spelled his name? I am so proud of how he must have taken his time to form such beautiful letters! I guess in addition to my own kitchen and entryway I'll also be painting the cabin walls. Humf!
Friday, July 18, 2008
VOMIT (you might not want to read this one)
Tonight my amazing husband took our kiddo's on a bike ride while I was out. When I got home he related the events of this historic ride to me. Apparently just as they arrived at the trail head DS needed to go #2 so they headed back home, took care of business and then went back to the trail. After riding to the end of the trail Beeb announced that she now need to "take care of business" as well. (pause . . . here's where it gets interesting.) Beeb had diarrhea and since this is not normal for her (ever!) she was taken aback and told DH that she had "vomited" out her bottom. She said it was "vomit pooh".
I love it! It's my new favorite phrase. I can't wait to find scenarios where I can use it in everyday conversation.
I love it! It's my new favorite phrase. I can't wait to find scenarios where I can use it in everyday conversation.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Kitchen Progress
I wanted to attached a photo that shows the floor before Steve the Engineer did his thing and got it all up. Remember it took me 3 days just to get that small section at the door up. I am still suffering from the nightmares it induced.
I think that entire process burned us out a bit and we took a week off from kitchen work and enjoyed the break.
This week we, and by "we" I mean DH, are doing the new lighting for the kitchen. DH took down the sheet-rock from the ceiling yesterday and tonight he is placing the new lights in the room (once the old lights cans are removed).
The new lighting will consist of 5" cans in the general areas and then some 3" lights that swivel for the accent lights (mainly on our back wall where the artwork will hang). We are leaving the accent lights that are currently over the cook-top and sink spaces. They are placed within the duct and would be hard to patch the over-sized hole it would create if we went with a smaller light.
I think that entire process burned us out a bit and we took a week off from kitchen work and enjoyed the break.
This week we, and by "we" I mean DH, are doing the new lighting for the kitchen. DH took down the sheet-rock from the ceiling yesterday and tonight he is placing the new lights in the room (once the old lights cans are removed).
The new lighting will consist of 5" cans in the general areas and then some 3" lights that swivel for the accent lights (mainly on our back wall where the artwork will hang). We are leaving the accent lights that are currently over the cook-top and sink spaces. They are placed within the duct and would be hard to patch the over-sized hole it would create if we went with a smaller light.
Smore Pie
Over at the Smitten Kitchen you will find some of the best food recipes - yum! This one looks especially appealing to me and so I am adding it to my "must try" list of recipes.
The recipe on the site includes step-by-step photos along with the instructions. Oh, and it also includes short cuts if you don't want to do everything from scratch.
For crust
5 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter, melted, plus additional for greasing
1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs (10 graham crackers or 24 small gingersnaps; about 6 oz, pulsed in a food processor until finely ground)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt (omitted if you use salted butter)
For chocolate cream filling
7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not more than 70% cacao; not unsweetened), finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 large egg, at room temperature for 30 minutes
For marshmallow topping
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin (from a 1/4-oz package)
1/2 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Vegetable oil for greasing
Special equipment: a candy thermometer
Make graham cracker crust:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter pie 9- to 9 1/2-inch pie plate.
Stir together all ingredients in a bowl and press evenly on bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake until crisp, 12 to 15 minutes, then cool on a rack to room temperature, about 45 minutes.
Make chocolate cream filling:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Put chocolate in a large bowl. Bring cream just to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan, then pour hot cream over chocolate. Let stand 1 minute, then gently whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Gently whisk in egg and a pinch of salt until combined and pour into graham cracker crumb crust (crust will be about half full).
Cover edge of pie with a pie shield or foil and bake until filling is softly set and trembles slightly in center when gently shaken, about 25 minutes. Cool pie to room temperature on a rack (filling will firm as it cools), about 1 hour.
Make marshmallow topping:
Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water in a large deep heatproof bowl and let stand until softened, about 1 minute.
Stir together sugar, corn syrup, a pinch of salt, and remaining 1/4 cup water in cleaned 1- to 1 1/4-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then boil until thermometer registers 260°F, about 6 minutes.
Begin beating water and gelatin mixture with an electric mixer at medium speed, then carefully pour in hot syrup in a slow stream, beating (avoid beaters and side of bowl). When all of syrup is added, increase speed to high and continue beating until mixture is tripled in volume and very thick, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla and beat until combined, then immediately spoon topping onto center of pie filling; it will slowly spread to cover top of pie. Chill, uncovered, 1 hour, then cover loosely with lightly oiled plastic wrap (oiled side down) and chill 3 hours more.
Brown topping:
Preheat broiler.
Transfer pie to a baking sheet. Cover edge of pie with pie shield or foil and broil 3 to 4 inches from heat, rotating pie as necessary, until marshmallow topping is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Cool pie on a rack 10 minutes. Slice pie with a large heavy knife dipped in hot water and then dried with a towel before cutting each slice.
[Alternately: I browned the topping with a creme brulee torch. It took some time and didn’t get as brown as I think it would have under the broiler (the pie was still cold, and hard to heat up with a small flame) but it does work in a pinch, or when you’re away from the oven.]
Note: Pie (before browning topping) can be chilled up to 1 day.
The recipe on the site includes step-by-step photos along with the instructions. Oh, and it also includes short cuts if you don't want to do everything from scratch.
For crust
5 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter, melted, plus additional for greasing
1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs (10 graham crackers or 24 small gingersnaps; about 6 oz, pulsed in a food processor until finely ground)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt (omitted if you use salted butter)
For chocolate cream filling
7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not more than 70% cacao; not unsweetened), finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 large egg, at room temperature for 30 minutes
For marshmallow topping
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin (from a 1/4-oz package)
1/2 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Vegetable oil for greasing
Special equipment: a candy thermometer
Make graham cracker crust:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter pie 9- to 9 1/2-inch pie plate.
Stir together all ingredients in a bowl and press evenly on bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake until crisp, 12 to 15 minutes, then cool on a rack to room temperature, about 45 minutes.
Make chocolate cream filling:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Put chocolate in a large bowl. Bring cream just to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan, then pour hot cream over chocolate. Let stand 1 minute, then gently whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Gently whisk in egg and a pinch of salt until combined and pour into graham cracker crumb crust (crust will be about half full).
Cover edge of pie with a pie shield or foil and bake until filling is softly set and trembles slightly in center when gently shaken, about 25 minutes. Cool pie to room temperature on a rack (filling will firm as it cools), about 1 hour.
Make marshmallow topping:
Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water in a large deep heatproof bowl and let stand until softened, about 1 minute.
Stir together sugar, corn syrup, a pinch of salt, and remaining 1/4 cup water in cleaned 1- to 1 1/4-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then boil until thermometer registers 260°F, about 6 minutes.
Begin beating water and gelatin mixture with an electric mixer at medium speed, then carefully pour in hot syrup in a slow stream, beating (avoid beaters and side of bowl). When all of syrup is added, increase speed to high and continue beating until mixture is tripled in volume and very thick, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla and beat until combined, then immediately spoon topping onto center of pie filling; it will slowly spread to cover top of pie. Chill, uncovered, 1 hour, then cover loosely with lightly oiled plastic wrap (oiled side down) and chill 3 hours more.
Brown topping:
Preheat broiler.
Transfer pie to a baking sheet. Cover edge of pie with pie shield or foil and broil 3 to 4 inches from heat, rotating pie as necessary, until marshmallow topping is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Cool pie on a rack 10 minutes. Slice pie with a large heavy knife dipped in hot water and then dried with a towel before cutting each slice.
[Alternately: I browned the topping with a creme brulee torch. It took some time and didn’t get as brown as I think it would have under the broiler (the pie was still cold, and hard to heat up with a small flame) but it does work in a pinch, or when you’re away from the oven.]
Note: Pie (before browning topping) can be chilled up to 1 day.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
While the boys are away . . .
Yesterday DH took off camping with Mr. B and Steve The Engineer. The boys headed out late afternoon and took along a few motorcycles for some easy back country navigation.
This left the Beeb and me with 24 hours of testosterone free activities. What are two single girls to do? Well, first thing we did was call up Steve The Engineers wife and invited her to join us for the Issaquah Art Walk.
At one of the stations along with walk Beeb got to make her first watercolor crayon project. She drew a red stick figure person with a purple and green sky (because purple IS the best color ever). We viewed many different mediums of art and heard some great bands and individual performers. My favorite musical performer was a Native American man who played the violin. He grew up in a foster home on the Lummi Reservation and started taking violin in school when he was in the 4th grade. He had beautiful stories to share about how each song came about as well as some lovely poetry.
The Beeb did pretty good going from exhibit to exhibit (it was a lot of walking) and I think she too enjoyed her first "art walk".
That evening I let Beeb say up extra late and then we bunked down together in my bed where she proceeded to elbow and push me to the very edge. After a few restless hours on my part I gave up and moved to the guest room and tried to salvage a few hours of rest. At about 4:00 am Beeb hunted me down, in tears, and climbed into bed with me again, and again proceeded to lay claim to 90% leaving me the edge.
Today we both were a bit worse for the wear and laid low most of the morning. Beeb played quietly with her toys while I attacked dirt, dust and soap scum that has been accumulating in the upstairs of our house. After lunch we played a quick game of Bingo and then headed off to Home Depot to purchase our new kitchen sink, faucet, lighting and front door hardware (yes, that right, soon the handle will not come off in your hand leaving you trapped in my house).
We ended our "man free" day by stopping by the library to pick up some new reading material.
Not a bad way to spend 24 hours.
This left the Beeb and me with 24 hours of testosterone free activities. What are two single girls to do? Well, first thing we did was call up Steve The Engineers wife and invited her to join us for the Issaquah Art Walk.
At one of the stations along with walk Beeb got to make her first watercolor crayon project. She drew a red stick figure person with a purple and green sky (because purple IS the best color ever). We viewed many different mediums of art and heard some great bands and individual performers. My favorite musical performer was a Native American man who played the violin. He grew up in a foster home on the Lummi Reservation and started taking violin in school when he was in the 4th grade. He had beautiful stories to share about how each song came about as well as some lovely poetry.
The Beeb did pretty good going from exhibit to exhibit (it was a lot of walking) and I think she too enjoyed her first "art walk".
That evening I let Beeb say up extra late and then we bunked down together in my bed where she proceeded to elbow and push me to the very edge. After a few restless hours on my part I gave up and moved to the guest room and tried to salvage a few hours of rest. At about 4:00 am Beeb hunted me down, in tears, and climbed into bed with me again, and again proceeded to lay claim to 90% leaving me the edge.
Today we both were a bit worse for the wear and laid low most of the morning. Beeb played quietly with her toys while I attacked dirt, dust and soap scum that has been accumulating in the upstairs of our house. After lunch we played a quick game of Bingo and then headed off to Home Depot to purchase our new kitchen sink, faucet, lighting and front door hardware (yes, that right, soon the handle will not come off in your hand leaving you trapped in my house).
We ended our "man free" day by stopping by the library to pick up some new reading material.
Not a bad way to spend 24 hours.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Independence Day 2008
One of the great pastimes for children during the July 4th celebration is picnicking and the eating of incredible amounts of junk food. This year is was no exception in our family. Mr. B himself consumed an entire bag of Doritos, a few cans of pop, cookies and who knows what else. Beeb did her share of ingesting all the scrumptious sweet foods as well, though she was more subtle about it.
What I hope is not an annual tradition is what happened this morning at 5:08am when Beeb woke me up and said, "Mommy I just vomited on my bed." I can barely see her through my tired, swollen, blurry eyes and I can sort of make out some goop on her face. I get up and herd her into my bath for a washing and then down to her room for clean clothes. It is then that I get my first glimpse of the green sludge that now covers her bed. I have no idea what she ate yesterday that created such a horrific color (maybe an entire field of grass?) but I think her sheets are now permanently stained so I guess I'll buy some dye and see if I can get the rest of the sheets to match.
What I hope is not an annual tradition is what happened this morning at 5:08am when Beeb woke me up and said, "Mommy I just vomited on my bed." I can barely see her through my tired, swollen, blurry eyes and I can sort of make out some goop on her face. I get up and herd her into my bath for a washing and then down to her room for clean clothes. It is then that I get my first glimpse of the green sludge that now covers her bed. I have no idea what she ate yesterday that created such a horrific color (maybe an entire field of grass?) but I think her sheets are now permanently stained so I guess I'll buy some dye and see if I can get the rest of the sheets to match.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Birds and the Bees . . . or rather Ankles
I was telling Beeb that her best friend would soon be a big sister. This lead to the Beeb wanting to know how the baby gets out of the body. I debated over this and decided to be honest and told her that the baby comes out of the "insert V-word here" which is down near her pee-pee. Boy that got her attention and I was informed that when she has a baby it would not be coming out "down there". I asked her where her baby would come out and was told "my ankle."
Huh?
Huh?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
