The FIRST (fourth) Star Wars - just to be clear:
Cute as a button!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
This is how we snow
See how boring it is to live in the Akron area? All the snow storms pretty much split around this area... See the map image below - the storm path is moving NE - so that empty stripe through the middle is what's passing over us. Sure, there was a lot of snow when I got up this morning, but I haven't seen any flurries falling since I got up.
Granted, I got my txt msg from the University around 5:15am saying morning classes were cancelled - and that unless further noticed, classes would resume at noon. I want MORE snow so that EMPLOYEES get the day off too!!!
Mom and dad have been talking about coming down late this week and visiting through the weekend, altho mom kept saying that might not happen if the storm's bad. Trust me, this is Tuesday - by Thursday there will be little sign of this storm.
Granted, I got my txt msg from the University around 5:15am saying morning classes were cancelled - and that unless further noticed, classes would resume at noon. I want MORE snow so that EMPLOYEES get the day off too!!!
Mom and dad have been talking about coming down late this week and visiting through the weekend, altho mom kept saying that might not happen if the storm's bad. Trust me, this is Tuesday - by Thursday there will be little sign of this storm.
Woo hoo - I'm a winner!
Cynthia Sandberg over at Love Apple Farm's Grow Better Veggies site, the official kitchen garden for Manresa, just announced the winners of her latest contest, and it looks like I'll be getting MORE tomato seeds to start this year!
These heirloom seeds come from www.TomatoFest.com - which I've surprisingly never heard of before, but you KNOW I'll be checking it out! Looks like I'll be getting (clockwise from top right) Dagma's Perfection, Black Cherry (which I had the last two years), Tobolsk, Sunset's Red Horizon and Black Prince.
Definitely spend some time checking out Cynthia's site - she's constantly got great gardening info, and will expose you to some of the coolest veggies you're going to want to grow!
Hm, now I've gotta figure out how to claim my seeds...I don't think I got the email she sent out...
These heirloom seeds come from www.TomatoFest.com - which I've surprisingly never heard of before, but you KNOW I'll be checking it out! Looks like I'll be getting (clockwise from top right) Dagma's Perfection, Black Cherry (which I had the last two years), Tobolsk, Sunset's Red Horizon and Black Prince.
Definitely spend some time checking out Cynthia's site - she's constantly got great gardening info, and will expose you to some of the coolest veggies you're going to want to grow!
Hm, now I've gotta figure out how to claim my seeds...I don't think I got the email she sent out...
Sunday, February 24, 2008
I Want To Believe...
...that this'll be good! I really, really do!And I'm really, really worried! Sounds like even Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny are having a hard time getting back into their roles?
Fingers crossed!
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=147903
PS - yes, that poster is from their last (first) movie...no visuals to pull from the new stuff yet.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Well THERE'S something you don't see everyday!
Three deer just galloped through the backyard while I was sitting with the cats on the sofa, reading. Big ones too! At least they kept on moving and didn't stop for a nibble of any of my growies...
A handful of Stardust
We had a very pleasant surprise with the latest Netflix arrival today! After a number of duds or "everyone's watching it so we have to as well" movies, Neil Gaiman's Stardust came without the highest of expectations from either of us, and instead we both really enjoyed it. Brett says it had some predictable moments, occasionally the effects seemed a little transparent, and we both agreed pacing sometimes went from too-rushed to a little too slow, but I didn't let any of that sour the movie for me. On a scale of 1-to-10, I'd easily give this a 9, possibly a 10. I easily immersed myself in the world of faerie and magic, enjoyed the characters, enjoyed the plot, etc...
I did feel I SHOULD like it because I've always been a fan of Claire Danes ('My So-Called-Life' anybody?!) and Michelle Pfeiffer, plus I love me some good fantasy, but not having had any friends recommend it, I was skeptical. Then again, it's based on a comic by Neil Gaiman (and I looooved his Sandman and Death titles! Still have my Death t-shirt from...wow...mid-90s?). Oh, and it's even got Robert DeNiro in a very...entertaining role!
Instead we got a very entertaining movie with beautiful scenery (some on par with Lord of the Rings!), good acting, and, oh yeah, introduced to hottie mchottie Charlie Cox...
Dreeeeeamy!!!
And a number of scenes in the movie, especially the following one, looked like they could've been taken straight out of a Charles Vess illustration. I've had other stuff illustrated by Charles Vess (even wrote him a fan letter once in my younger days!), and have always loved his work.
I highly recommend you consider renting or buying this movie. In the meantime, I'm going to see about getting my hands on either the graphic novel/collection, oooor see if it was originally a novel.
Enjoy!
I did feel I SHOULD like it because I've always been a fan of Claire Danes ('My So-Called-Life' anybody?!) and Michelle Pfeiffer, plus I love me some good fantasy, but not having had any friends recommend it, I was skeptical. Then again, it's based on a comic by Neil Gaiman (and I looooved his Sandman and Death titles! Still have my Death t-shirt from...wow...mid-90s?). Oh, and it's even got Robert DeNiro in a very...entertaining role!
Instead we got a very entertaining movie with beautiful scenery (some on par with Lord of the Rings!), good acting, and, oh yeah, introduced to hottie mchottie Charlie Cox...
Dreeeeeamy!!!
And a number of scenes in the movie, especially the following one, looked like they could've been taken straight out of a Charles Vess illustration. I've had other stuff illustrated by Charles Vess (even wrote him a fan letter once in my younger days!), and have always loved his work.
I highly recommend you consider renting or buying this movie. In the meantime, I'm going to see about getting my hands on either the graphic novel/collection, oooor see if it was originally a novel.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
What I want in 2009!
From the makers of the City of Heroes and City of Villains online games comes the Champions Online Universe. After the deals fell through between Microsoft, Marvel Comics and Cryptic Studios recently, Cryptic began work with Hero Games to develop what is possibly the original super hero RPG, bringing it online, and hopefully making it like a City of Heroes x10!! Only this is going to be on the PC ANNNND X-Box 360.
More info here... (with some cryptic pics)
Oh yeah, I think I'm gonna need this!
More info here... (with some cryptic pics)
Oh yeah, I think I'm gonna need this!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
I've gotta say, I'm honestly surprised an X-Men spin-off movie is gonna happen. TWO even, if what I've read is right (Wolverine and Magneto). Here's the latest blurb on the Wolverine movie - and the cast is getting kinda interesting! I love me some Liev Scheiber and Ryan Reynolds!
Three more members of the cast for X-Men Origins: Wolverine have been revealed.
According to Variety, Ryan Reynolds, who starred as Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity, has joined the Wolverine cast. He is believed to be playing Deadpool in the film. Reynolds has long expressed an interest in the character.
Fox has yet to confirm Reynolds' casting, but did confirm that Taylor Kitsch of NBC's Friday Night Lights will be playing Gambit.
Hip-hop artist will.i.am is also part of the cast, according to Variety.
They join a cast that includes Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Liev Scheiber as Sabretooth, Danny Huston as William Stryker and Lynn Collins as Silver Fox. The film has already begun shooting under the direction of Gavin Hood for a May 1, 2009 release.
Planting seed
There's four petunias in the following picture:
Maybe they're a little hard to see, eh? That's just 'cause they're not in bloom yet. Give it time, give it time...
Here it is, mid-February, and it's time to get ready for spring and summer!! YAY! SEEEEEEDS!
Brett picked up a folding table for me, and I assembled the plastic shelving, plus set up the 'picnic table' that is part of the trunk area of the Honda CR-V. Tidied up a bunch of last year's seed starting stuff, got organized, wet down some soilless seed starting mix, alphabetized all the seed packs (some dating back to 2004! I'm not holding my breath on those), and finally got my hands in the (non-)dirt!
Here's one side of the basement, with my planting area, the plants we got from Saturday's gardening symposium, and the "potting shed" sign mom gave me some time back.
The opposite side of that part of the basement. I'm definitely going to need to get more lights. And maybe another heat mat or two? (And I wonder how soon the feds will be knocking on our door, asking if I'm growing marijuana!)
Some of the seeds I've been working with are SOOOO small! These are nemesia seeds...something I've never grown from scratch, but they're too expensive to get each year as individual plants if I can grow my own!
I need to think about starting eggplants, peppers and tomatoes real soon, not to mention more annuals and perennials. Hm, should also consider starting lettuce maybe?
As always, Simon the Ruiner wants to be involved!
And anytime you're doing anything in the basement, there's always got to be some supervision (aside from Simon the Ruiner being directly involved):
I didn't touch these photos up at all! Tucker's eyes are just real creepy with the flash.
Spoooooky!
Tucker also gets real playful on the steps - so that's about the only exercise we can convince him to try.
Maybe they're a little hard to see, eh? That's just 'cause they're not in bloom yet. Give it time, give it time...
Here it is, mid-February, and it's time to get ready for spring and summer!! YAY! SEEEEEEDS!
Brett picked up a folding table for me, and I assembled the plastic shelving, plus set up the 'picnic table' that is part of the trunk area of the Honda CR-V. Tidied up a bunch of last year's seed starting stuff, got organized, wet down some soilless seed starting mix, alphabetized all the seed packs (some dating back to 2004! I'm not holding my breath on those), and finally got my hands in the (non-)dirt!
Here's one side of the basement, with my planting area, the plants we got from Saturday's gardening symposium, and the "potting shed" sign mom gave me some time back.
The opposite side of that part of the basement. I'm definitely going to need to get more lights. And maybe another heat mat or two? (And I wonder how soon the feds will be knocking on our door, asking if I'm growing marijuana!)
Some of the seeds I've been working with are SOOOO small! These are nemesia seeds...something I've never grown from scratch, but they're too expensive to get each year as individual plants if I can grow my own!
I need to think about starting eggplants, peppers and tomatoes real soon, not to mention more annuals and perennials. Hm, should also consider starting lettuce maybe?
As always, Simon the Ruiner wants to be involved!
And anytime you're doing anything in the basement, there's always got to be some supervision (aside from Simon the Ruiner being directly involved):
I didn't touch these photos up at all! Tucker's eyes are just real creepy with the flash.
Spoooooky!
Tucker also gets real playful on the steps - so that's about the only exercise we can convince him to try.
Jennifer Beals has nothing on me...
These unfinished socks are looking more like leg warmers at the moment. Hmmm...that gives me an idea:
Or, maybe not. Do you think I could pull it off if I knitted up a pair of magical, homemade leg warmers? Like, hey, if a top hat can bring a snowman to life, why not!? Stranger things have happened...
Ok, guess I'll go back to the original plan to just make myself a pair of socks. I've finished the calf part on each, not really using a pattern yet. They both still have three double-pointed needles (DPNs) in them holding my spot until I get brave enough to start on the heel. I tried doing a mini practice sock a few weeks back, and it was uuuuugly! But I didn't have any real "personal investment" in that way - no way was I going to wear it. It would've fit a baby. Maybe. A club-footed baby. These are looking WAY better...
Sure, they look a little malformed/short right now because I can't pull them all the way over my foot with all the DPNs still in, but they'll get there... It still amazes me that I can turn a string into something like this!
And, as usual, Simon the Ruiner had to be a part of the photo shoot.
Wow, exposed hairy calves... Making me eager for shorts weather and summer time!
And then, in my search for the perfect Flashdance video I came across this... WTF!? (Looks like Irene Cara was still holding up well whenever this was filmed)
Oh - and yeah - I really am knitting stuff now. Not too much yet, and nothing great. I still need to post pics of Brett wearing the first (not-so-good) hat that'll go to my niece Emma, and the better replacement hat (which Brett says is still a bit big around - looking like he's wearing a "Blossom" (the tv show) hat...). I think what I really enjoy about the knitting also is I feel tv-watching time is less WASTED time since I can do both. If only I could knit and read at the same time!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The new Knight Rider
Ok, did anyone see it? If so, what'd you think?
Some of the acting was pretty painful. Some of the effects, like showing KITT driving along a road off in the distance, when you could CLEARLY see it was a fake car (and bad fake shadow) superimposed onto the road, were particularly bad. And I have to say I'm tired of shows where it's "night time", and yet you can see shadows from the sun, light on people's faces, etc - where they clearly filmed during the day and just filtered/altered it afterwards.
All that griping aside (there was more from Brett), I'm sorta kinda intrigued. I'm not sure a show like this would last long on TV in 2008... We know it was just a 2 hr movie, but it was clearly set up to try and spin off a regular series.
So...your thoughts!?
Some of the acting was pretty painful. Some of the effects, like showing KITT driving along a road off in the distance, when you could CLEARLY see it was a fake car (and bad fake shadow) superimposed onto the road, were particularly bad. And I have to say I'm tired of shows where it's "night time", and yet you can see shadows from the sun, light on people's faces, etc - where they clearly filmed during the day and just filtered/altered it afterwards.
All that griping aside (there was more from Brett), I'm sorta kinda intrigued. I'm not sure a show like this would last long on TV in 2008... We know it was just a 2 hr movie, but it was clearly set up to try and spin off a regular series.
So...your thoughts!?
Garden talk in the middle of winter
A couple of you may have already gotten the following in email. Why the hell RETYPE it and try to make it sound excitingly different when I'll just be saying the same thing for those that didn't get the email!? So I'm cheating and pasting it here.
Yesterday was the 8th Annual Gardening Symposium, sponsored by the Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve, with this year's theme "Cultivating the Green Life." The event is held at the amazing R.G. Drage Career Center in Massilon, OH... I went two years ago with Mary and Cindy from work, and we skipped last year (it's not the cheapest event, plus similar topics to the year before). This year Mary convinced me we both needed a serious hit of garden time in the middle of winter. Cindy's no longer here, but Mary's aunt expressed interest in joining us. Here's the flyer if you're interested in seeing the class/workshop/lecture offerings.
The garden symposium was fun, and, surprisingly, we didn't spend too much. I spent $8 at the vendors. And I actually took something like $70 with me. But realize, it was more a series of lectures/workshops which we'd already paid for, lunch (again, already paid for) and then a small area of venders. I bought two small scented geraniums - one apple, one lemon - $4 each. I was TEMPTED to buy a big bag of worm castings, but resisted. Got a handful of packs of free (year old) seeds - peppers, cukes, pumpkins, marigolds, etc. Plenty of reading material to go along with notes we took in the sessions, plus recipes, URLs to check, etc.
The "French without Fuss" was hosted by a very gay (but entertaining and educational) guy from one of the popular local (altho not Kent/Rootstown-local - more out where Brett's parents live) grocery store chains, Buehlers. His little stuffed-phyllo bites (cream cheese, gruyere (spelling's blanking on me), mushrooms, curry, etc were great. The brie, chicken and spinach soup was pretty good, altho a touch salty (at least I didn't mind the brie - whenever I've tasted just the cheese, I hate it). The coq a vin (sp?) was DRYYYY with boneless skinless chicken breast (which he warned us about - saying normally it should be made with cut-apart chicken with the bones, skin, etc - but when cooked ahead for the workshop, boneless is easier), and the wines in it were too strong. And then the kick ass dessert - a no-bake chocolate "cake" (more like a cross between mousse and fudge, as he described it) with 8 eggs, lotsa butter, etc, and then it had a spritz of whipped cream in a can (I know, I know) and a freshly made raspberry coulis (sp?) - just raspberries, lemon juice and sugar, pureed and strained of seeds. I tell ya - I was about to lick the rest of that with the choc smears and whipped cream off the plate!!!!
We had a propogation workshop where we got to get our fingers dirty - they showed us planting seeds, dividing, taking cuttings, etc - nothing new or hard, but hey, we get new plants out of it! ;-) I made sure one of the transplants I brought home was catnip for the cats...which they haven't found yet. This course was hosted by the wonderful owners of Lily of the Valley Herb Farm, in Minerva OH. I wish they had a web site. The husband does all sorts of wonderful teachings, and is an excellent instructor. He and his wife were obviously hippies in the 70s - there was even reference to him growing stuff that's not legal now... ;-)
The keynote was all about how American's have moved so far from their heritage they don't realize they practically have a meal in their yards, with everything we consider "weeds", spraying them when we could be eating them... This guy also makes a coffee-replacement with dandelions - Dandy Blend. (Ugh, awful site!) His lecture was VERY educational and entertaining, and I wish I would've had him as a botany instructor years ago (especially since some of his students got to go to England to see a more natural way of living off've the environment)
Another very educational, but not as entertaining, lecture was the one on soil structure. Every time I use my tiller (and I WILL use my tiller) I'll feel guilt about not necessarily doing the right thing to improve my soil structure. Hey - I'm the first to admit I go for the quick fix on stuff, and tilling isn't necessarily the best choice...
The "get butterflies into your backyard" lecture was awful, with a weird couple that sort of competed with each other to talk about how they're planting all these local/native plants in their yard, with no grass as far as I could tell. Weirdos. But they showed some cool pics and a great video of a monarch undergoing transformation.
I wish I had pics from the event to show, but no such luck. Maybe I'll show pics of my growies from the propogation workshop as they grow and develop!
I think I need to go play with my seeds packs and start some new growies!
Yesterday was the 8th Annual Gardening Symposium, sponsored by the Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve, with this year's theme "Cultivating the Green Life." The event is held at the amazing R.G. Drage Career Center in Massilon, OH... I went two years ago with Mary and Cindy from work, and we skipped last year (it's not the cheapest event, plus similar topics to the year before). This year Mary convinced me we both needed a serious hit of garden time in the middle of winter. Cindy's no longer here, but Mary's aunt expressed interest in joining us. Here's the flyer if you're interested in seeing the class/workshop/lecture offerings.
The garden symposium was fun, and, surprisingly, we didn't spend too much. I spent $8 at the vendors. And I actually took something like $70 with me. But realize, it was more a series of lectures/workshops which we'd already paid for, lunch (again, already paid for) and then a small area of venders. I bought two small scented geraniums - one apple, one lemon - $4 each. I was TEMPTED to buy a big bag of worm castings, but resisted. Got a handful of packs of free (year old) seeds - peppers, cukes, pumpkins, marigolds, etc. Plenty of reading material to go along with notes we took in the sessions, plus recipes, URLs to check, etc.
The "French without Fuss" was hosted by a very gay (but entertaining and educational) guy from one of the popular local (altho not Kent/Rootstown-local - more out where Brett's parents live) grocery store chains, Buehlers. His little stuffed-phyllo bites (cream cheese, gruyere (spelling's blanking on me), mushrooms, curry, etc were great. The brie, chicken and spinach soup was pretty good, altho a touch salty (at least I didn't mind the brie - whenever I've tasted just the cheese, I hate it). The coq a vin (sp?) was DRYYYY with boneless skinless chicken breast (which he warned us about - saying normally it should be made with cut-apart chicken with the bones, skin, etc - but when cooked ahead for the workshop, boneless is easier), and the wines in it were too strong. And then the kick ass dessert - a no-bake chocolate "cake" (more like a cross between mousse and fudge, as he described it) with 8 eggs, lotsa butter, etc, and then it had a spritz of whipped cream in a can (I know, I know) and a freshly made raspberry coulis (sp?) - just raspberries, lemon juice and sugar, pureed and strained of seeds. I tell ya - I was about to lick the rest of that with the choc smears and whipped cream off the plate!!!!
We had a propogation workshop where we got to get our fingers dirty - they showed us planting seeds, dividing, taking cuttings, etc - nothing new or hard, but hey, we get new plants out of it! ;-) I made sure one of the transplants I brought home was catnip for the cats...which they haven't found yet. This course was hosted by the wonderful owners of Lily of the Valley Herb Farm, in Minerva OH. I wish they had a web site. The husband does all sorts of wonderful teachings, and is an excellent instructor. He and his wife were obviously hippies in the 70s - there was even reference to him growing stuff that's not legal now... ;-)
The keynote was all about how American's have moved so far from their heritage they don't realize they practically have a meal in their yards, with everything we consider "weeds", spraying them when we could be eating them... This guy also makes a coffee-replacement with dandelions - Dandy Blend. (Ugh, awful site!) His lecture was VERY educational and entertaining, and I wish I would've had him as a botany instructor years ago (especially since some of his students got to go to England to see a more natural way of living off've the environment)
Another very educational, but not as entertaining, lecture was the one on soil structure. Every time I use my tiller (and I WILL use my tiller) I'll feel guilt about not necessarily doing the right thing to improve my soil structure. Hey - I'm the first to admit I go for the quick fix on stuff, and tilling isn't necessarily the best choice...
The "get butterflies into your backyard" lecture was awful, with a weird couple that sort of competed with each other to talk about how they're planting all these local/native plants in their yard, with no grass as far as I could tell. Weirdos. But they showed some cool pics and a great video of a monarch undergoing transformation.
I wish I had pics from the event to show, but no such luck. Maybe I'll show pics of my growies from the propogation workshop as they grow and develop!
I think I need to go play with my seeds packs and start some new growies!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Winged Heat
Looks like Hawman's going to be on an upcoming episode of the Batman cartoon - perhaps this Saturday? I'm intrigued... I have to say I've always found Hawkman hot - LOOOONG before I ever even knew what "gay" was, I was drawn to him. While the character himself never did much to catch my attention (alien cop from another planet, along with his wife, come here to play heroes), and sure, I did read it for a short while it the 80s and 90s when they started revamping the character (and revamping, and revamping, and...uh oh - what've we done to continuity!?), the character himself never did a whole lot for me.
Visually - well, that's another story! Must be the harness, and the more-often-than-not big chairy chest, and those cool wings (removable, mind you, as they were just attached to the harness!). When we were kids and playing superhero, I KNOW I played Hawkman sometimes, but then it didn't seem he had much more going for him than flight...and seriously, MOST heroes have some sorta fast mode of transportation these days (more often than not, flight).
Compare the upcoming animated version above to the more rough and tumble ones that follow.
And while looking for decent pics of Hawkman (not easy to find the era I was looking for), I came across this site which makes me a little embarrassed/nervous about my own comic book geekdom!
Visually - well, that's another story! Must be the harness, and the more-often-than-not big chairy chest, and those cool wings (removable, mind you, as they were just attached to the harness!). When we were kids and playing superhero, I KNOW I played Hawkman sometimes, but then it didn't seem he had much more going for him than flight...and seriously, MOST heroes have some sorta fast mode of transportation these days (more often than not, flight).
Compare the upcoming animated version above to the more rough and tumble ones that follow.
And while looking for decent pics of Hawkman (not easy to find the era I was looking for), I came across this site which makes me a little embarrassed/nervous about my own comic book geekdom!
Beasts sleeping
Got this new cat bed last week since Moxie loves to be curled up in warm, confining, cozy spaces for sleeping. Only all three cats turned up their noses to it.
Then, the other day Moxie was sleeping on the blanket thrown down for them in front of the fireplace, and I carefully picked her up and moved her into the bed. She only seemed bothered for a second, and then went back to sleep. She stayed in the bed quite a bit that day, then later both Simon and Tucker had to have a turn at it.
And I haven't seen a single cat in it since! What's up with that?
Well, from the looks of these pics annnnd seeing how they all took a turn at it, I figure it's probably at least safe to cut off the tags and not plan any returns to the store... How content does she look here!?
Then, the other day Moxie was sleeping on the blanket thrown down for them in front of the fireplace, and I carefully picked her up and moved her into the bed. She only seemed bothered for a second, and then went back to sleep. She stayed in the bed quite a bit that day, then later both Simon and Tucker had to have a turn at it.
And I haven't seen a single cat in it since! What's up with that?
Well, from the looks of these pics annnnd seeing how they all took a turn at it, I figure it's probably at least safe to cut off the tags and not plan any returns to the store... How content does she look here!?
Happy Valentine's Day!
To my Cutie Pie, Brett
- I Love You!
- I Love You!
(and to the rest of you as well! Happy Valentine's Day!)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
SNOW DAY!
Unfortunately, not for us employees of Kent State University. HOWEVER, students got out at noon yesterday, and it looks like the grade school kids got out again today. I had two of the neighbor kids shoveling the drive way last nite, and they were trying to convince me they'd get another snow day today. I shouldn't have doubted them - while I was working from home, I heard quite a ruckus outside:
Their dad/step-dad (there's five kids) Craig is way cool!
Even Scruffy had to get in on the action!
I tell ya, I think the two girls screamed at the top of their lungs the entire time - and I don't blame 'em. That had to be looooads of fun! Oh, and you should see the size of the snow fort between our two houses!
Their dad/step-dad (there's five kids) Craig is way cool!
Even Scruffy had to get in on the action!
I tell ya, I think the two girls screamed at the top of their lungs the entire time - and I don't blame 'em. That had to be looooads of fun! Oh, and you should see the size of the snow fort between our two houses!
While the cats are sleeping...
...THIS landed on the bird feeders. There were a lot of times later in the day after this guy landed that none of the other birds came back. I think they're afraid for their lives (rightfully so!). If you know anything about birds, help me identify this - falcon or hawk or something else? I uploaded the super jumbo size pic (which you should hopefully see when clicking on this smaller one)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Just a liiiiiittle bit more!
C'mon, c'mon, c'moooooon (doing the pee pee dance) - just enough more "danger and risk" in this storm and maybe we employees will get to go home too!!! (But let's be honest - there really isn't that much snow out there) Oh well - the good news is I got to cancel a training session I was in charge of this afternoon for employees coming from other branch libraries. Yay - I'll take what I can get! ;-)
Multiple Kent State Campuses have issued advisories.
*Class cancellations begin effective at NOON for these campuses:
East Liverpool
Stark (entire campus closes at 5 p.m.)
Tuscarawas
Class cancellations begin effective at 12:30 p.m. for:
Kent Campus
Regular office hours remain in effect.
Multiple Kent State Campuses have issued advisories.
*Class cancellations begin effective at NOON for these campuses:
East Liverpool
Stark (entire campus closes at 5 p.m.)
Tuscarawas
Class cancellations begin effective at 12:30 p.m. for:
Kent Campus
Regular office hours remain in effect.
Oh how they tease...
How are the NE Ohio weather forecasts like trying to meet someone online for a scandalous hook up?
They SAY 5-8 inches, but you KNOW it's only gonna be 1-2.
Har har...
Seriously though - there's all this talk about today's evil snow storm that's gonna hit...at one point the forecasts were suggesting 9 inches! Oh come on - those of us in this area know that these storms always slide right past, or actually split and skirt around us!!! TEASE TEASE TEASE!
C'mon Mother Nature - I challenge you! Bring it on! Hit us with your best shot! Sure, even if you do, it'll be too late in the day to have classes and work cancelled to really make a difference, but hey, to quote Little Orphan Annie, there's always tomorrow.
Here's what little bit we had to show after the last "big storm"...
They SAY 5-8 inches, but you KNOW it's only gonna be 1-2.
Har har...
Seriously though - there's all this talk about today's evil snow storm that's gonna hit...at one point the forecasts were suggesting 9 inches! Oh come on - those of us in this area know that these storms always slide right past, or actually split and skirt around us!!! TEASE TEASE TEASE!
C'mon Mother Nature - I challenge you! Bring it on! Hit us with your best shot! Sure, even if you do, it'll be too late in the day to have classes and work cancelled to really make a difference, but hey, to quote Little Orphan Annie, there's always tomorrow.
Here's what little bit we had to show after the last "big storm"...
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Battlestar returns!
YAY!!!Sci Fi Channel on Friday announced that Battlestar Galatica will return for its fourth season on Friday, March 28 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) with back-to-back half-hour specials. The first new episode will premiere the following week, Friday, April 4 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).
The first special, Battlestar Galactica: Revisited, will serve up "essential" information on the series' past three seasons, providing the uninitiated with an introduction to the characters and relationships. Galactica's executive producers, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick serve as guides, providing insights and revelations about the series.
The second special, Battlestar Galactica: The Phenomenon, is a "celebrity-studded celebration" of the show's impact on pop culture. Interviewees include Seth Green, country music's Top Male Vocalist of 2007 Brad Paisley and Talk Soup's Joel McHale.
Here's how Sci Fi describes the new season:
"As Season 4 opens, the last remnants of humanity continue their search for a new home, the thin line that separates them from the rapidly evolving Cylons is being redrawn. Galactica's crew, rocked by Starbuck's sudden and mysterious return from the dead -- and her claims that she has been to Earth and can lead them there -- attempts to make sense of the inexplicable. Meanwhile, four members of the fleet are still reeling from the revelation that they are Cylons and have been all along."
Friday, February 08, 2008
Cat cubes!
I picked up one of these "cat cubes" at Wal-Mart awhile back. Comes all folded up real small, held together with a band. Take the band off and it flies open, often hitting you in the face. One you unfold it and pop it open, you have a nylon cube with wirey metal edges providing some support. They come in blue-on-red, or red-on-blue. There's three sides with holes, the rest without. Inside are tassles hanging from one side, and there's velcro tabs around each hole - you get velcro strips also, and that's where the fun begins.
Moxie loved the first cubes so much I had to buy more. We're up to four now - at only $3.88 at Wal-Mart, and considering how much entertainment they've provided, I think I can TOTALLY justify getting, oh, maybe another one or two? ;-) Here I've got them in a 2x2 configuration, but you can change the layout quite a bit. I just wish you could go UP with them - that they were strong enough to add levels of height.
Moxie loves to hide in side, play-attacking the other cats as they walk by. Or she'll be inside, reach out and snag a toy, and drag it back in with her. (She must think she's either a ground spider or hermit crab?!)
But her most favorite game? Sit inside and then I toss a toy on top. I've got some videos of this game, but haven't uploaded any to YouTube yet. Here's some stills...
The toy goes on top:
Within secs it rockets into the air as she smacks it from underneath, sometimes staying on the cube (which starts the smacking all over again), and sometimes flying off (which means she might reach out and snag it).
Rinse and repeat.
I guess she can just see it's shadow, or perhaps the indentation - whatever, it's a blast! If you've got cats, these toys are SO very worth it!
Moxie loved the first cubes so much I had to buy more. We're up to four now - at only $3.88 at Wal-Mart, and considering how much entertainment they've provided, I think I can TOTALLY justify getting, oh, maybe another one or two? ;-) Here I've got them in a 2x2 configuration, but you can change the layout quite a bit. I just wish you could go UP with them - that they were strong enough to add levels of height.
Moxie loves to hide in side, play-attacking the other cats as they walk by. Or she'll be inside, reach out and snag a toy, and drag it back in with her. (She must think she's either a ground spider or hermit crab?!)
But her most favorite game? Sit inside and then I toss a toy on top. I've got some videos of this game, but haven't uploaded any to YouTube yet. Here's some stills...
The toy goes on top:
Within secs it rockets into the air as she smacks it from underneath, sometimes staying on the cube (which starts the smacking all over again), and sometimes flying off (which means she might reach out and snag it).
Rinse and repeat.
I guess she can just see it's shadow, or perhaps the indentation - whatever, it's a blast! If you've got cats, these toys are SO very worth it!
Hailstorm
Got home Wednesday to find "glass beads" all over the front flower beds. Looking around, I found more all over the lawn, just not as concentrated as where the roof had funneled them to the front landscaping. Here they are on the back deck...
The hailstorm must have hit and finished very shortly before I got home from work - and I'm sure it freaked the cats out, considering the size of the hail.
This is after I'd been home a short bit and decided to get some pics - plus it had started raining, so there was some thawing by this point.
All in all it's just been a real dreary, murky, rainy week. Many of the streams, rivers, ponds and lakes are flooding around here - luckily we're no where near our backyard pond, which has a drainage system built in for overflow.
The hailstorm must have hit and finished very shortly before I got home from work - and I'm sure it freaked the cats out, considering the size of the hail.
This is after I'd been home a short bit and decided to get some pics - plus it had started raining, so there was some thawing by this point.
All in all it's just been a real dreary, murky, rainy week. Many of the streams, rivers, ponds and lakes are flooding around here - luckily we're no where near our backyard pond, which has a drainage system built in for overflow.
He may be obnoxious...
Tucker can be a real pain in the ass - just look into those eyes and you can see it...
...and yet he can be so cute other times!
...and yet he can be so cute other times!
Sweet Gardening PORN!
The first of the arrivals...you KNOW you want to touch them!
Still gotta order from Parks Seed, and then I'm done. No, I really mean it!
'Sides, it's not toooo much longer before I need to start planting those that need a really long headstart!
Still gotta order from Parks Seed, and then I'm done. No, I really mean it!
'Sides, it's not toooo much longer before I need to start planting those that need a really long headstart!
I'm *&^%ing Matt Damon!
ROFL! Thanks SOOOOOOO SO SO SO much to Dave for sending this one along! If you maybe don't find things of a raunchier nature (like the word being bleeped out so much in this video), then perhaps you'll want to pass on this one.
But now that I've said that, I bet you can't refuse! ROFL!
Oh, and just FYI - in case you weren't aware, Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel are actually married to each other. ;-)
But now that I've said that, I bet you can't refuse! ROFL!
Oh, and just FYI - in case you weren't aware, Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel are actually married to each other. ;-)
Thursday, February 07, 2008
John Mayer does his best Borat impersonation
I sent the first John Mayer sling thong out to some friends yesterday when I first came across the picture. Now I've seen the blog where it originated from, along with more pics and the great story from the girl on the cruise who took the photos. She's gonna be popular!
Check this out...
(You'll notice I'm behaving and not swiping the photos to put here on my site. With all the rags/mags that are going to be making her offers, I'm sure they'll be hunting down anyone else who's posted the pics on their blogs.)
Check this out...
(You'll notice I'm behaving and not swiping the photos to put here on my site. With all the rags/mags that are going to be making her offers, I'm sure they'll be hunting down anyone else who's posted the pics on their blogs.)
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Winter Wonderland
It's not snowing today - it's just raining and muddy and cold, with some hail a little smaller than marbles still lying in the mulch that must've hit just before I got home... Instead of thoughts of gray, dreary skies and a yard so wet you could sink in it (and many of the rivers and streams are flooding), let's take a look at some of the nicer pics I took last week...
Think happy thoughts!
Think happy thoughts!
More clues...
Sorry - I know there's a lot of new cat pics already, but I can't resist posting these two!
Have I mentioned how agreeable Simon is!?
(And as I post this, he's hopping up on the plugs/UPS behind the computer, checking things out - which he's done before and managed to kill all the power to the computer. On two different occasions!)
Have I mentioned how agreeable Simon is!?
(And as I post this, he's hopping up on the plugs/UPS behind the computer, checking things out - which he's done before and managed to kill all the power to the computer. On two different occasions!)
Kitties in the Sun
We haven't had too many sunny days lately - and when we do, the cats definitely take advantage of it. And these picture just show how Moxie is often a silhouette with eyes...it's often hard to see all the details (like limbs) on her, no matter what the lighting...
There's something beautiful about a cat in the sun, and almost artistic about an all black cat backlit by the sun with some really green foliage. In this next case, there's also something a little worried about this cat...
Oh yes. It's "Simon the Ruiner" as we often call him. Finally get Tucker to play? Here comes Simon! Getting a little loving from Moxie? Simon's bound to come crowd her out. (Check out her eyes here!)
Don't get me wrong - we give Simon more loving than the other two because he's just so darn agreeable about it. He loves luvin'! Look at me! Look at me! Purr purr purr in your face. He's always checking in on us if we're working on a computer, watching tv, eating dinner...whatever we're doing, that's where Simon's gotta be!
Annnnd it doesn't usually last long. He forgets why he came for a visit and trots off somewhere else. Don't worry - whatever the next thing it was I was doing after taking these pictures, I'm sure he was right there with me!
And now time for some peace and quiet...let's contemplate the tree...
...or just look cute. That's Moxie!
There's something beautiful about a cat in the sun, and almost artistic about an all black cat backlit by the sun with some really green foliage. In this next case, there's also something a little worried about this cat...
Oh yes. It's "Simon the Ruiner" as we often call him. Finally get Tucker to play? Here comes Simon! Getting a little loving from Moxie? Simon's bound to come crowd her out. (Check out her eyes here!)
Don't get me wrong - we give Simon more loving than the other two because he's just so darn agreeable about it. He loves luvin'! Look at me! Look at me! Purr purr purr in your face. He's always checking in on us if we're working on a computer, watching tv, eating dinner...whatever we're doing, that's where Simon's gotta be!
Annnnd it doesn't usually last long. He forgets why he came for a visit and trots off somewhere else. Don't worry - whatever the next thing it was I was doing after taking these pictures, I'm sure he was right there with me!
And now time for some peace and quiet...let's contemplate the tree...
...or just look cute. That's Moxie!
Seed Ordering Assistant
If you notice the pages haven't changed in the open catalog, you'll see my "assistant" really wasn't much help... And perhaps you'll notice how I strung catalogs all over the table, even opening some and pretending to be more interested in those, rather than the foreground catalog.
Didn't work.
Cat's KNOW!
Once I gave in and started paying attention to Tucker, he lost interest, got up and left...
Didn't work.
Cat's KNOW!
Once I gave in and started paying attention to Tucker, he lost interest, got up and left...
Meat Pie!
It's no secret I love Jamie Oliver - I love his carefree, often haphazard cooking style, and I love even more than he's getting MORE to the basics cooking with stuff he's growing at his own home! (Actually, I admit I'm a little disappointed, because a gardener is actually credited on his new show, Jamie at Home...)
I don't know how Jamie would have the time to do all the gardening AND his career as a chef, write cookbooks, teach kids, etc...so I forgive him. 'Sides, if he was doing more gardening, he might not have time to film the Jamie at Home TV show to go with the book - it's on Food Network sometime around noon on Saturday's - watch for it!
We were watching the pastry episode the other day, and he cooked up a steak, guinness and cheese pie with a puff pastry lid. We were both DROOOOOLING the whole time. Brett said I should make it! I grabbed my BRITISH RELEASE copy of Jamie at Home (since I don't believe they've sold it here in the US yet? I had to get it through amazon.co.uk awhile back) - confirmed the recipe was in the book, and within days we were cooking up a tasty meal!
First you slice 3 medium red onions (I used one LARGE red onion and one LARGE white onion), and sweat them in a pan with some oil and butter - his intention is to just get them transluscent and develop some flavors without really trying to carmelize them. (Oops, mine got a little browned, but hey, that's just flavor!)
Then you crank the heat up and add 3 chopped cloves of garlic, chopped carrots (I used five SKINNY carrots, he calls for 2), chopped celery (I used three), "4 field mushrooms" (I roughly chopped a large container of baby bellas, "1 kg brisket of beef" (just under two pounds of pre-cubed stew beef worked fine), a few sprigs of rosemary (picked and chopped), a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of pepper. All of this went in the dutch oven and was fried up a few minutes - he didn't really aim for color or browning here.
Stir in 2 heaped tablespoons of flour. (This goes against what I've always thought you did in these situations - usually working the flour in a bit sooner, like tossed with the meat - to get some browning flavor, and be less likely to avoid clumping. Jamie's method worked just find)
He calls for a 440ml can of Guinness - as you'll see in the picture below I could only find bottles - so one of those went in (bet I could've used two!) To that add enough water to come just short of covering all the goodies being cooked in the pot. Bring this all to a boil, cover, and put in a preheated oven (375F) for 1 1/2 hrs. (Oh - I added potatoes, and Mary and I were discussing how so many other stew-ingredients could go in as well, such as parsnips)
Remove the pan from the oven, stir, return to oven and bake covered for another hour. This is IMPORTANT to plan how early you're going to cook this dish! I missed it in my initial read of the recipe, and we had the pie around 9pm for a late dinner!
If you find the stew isn't very thick, cook it a little longer on the stove top - you don't want this too runny/wet!
Mmmm....doesn't that look good? You know how you make it better? Jamie then has you stir in 100g (um, two big handfuls!) of shredded cheddar cheese. I'd recommend a robust/sharp cheese - the beef and Guinness aren't shy flavors!
After you've stirred that cheese in briefly (and done a bunch of taste testing and mmmming and ahhhhing), prepare your puff pastry crust. Where Jamie lives, he gets a block of it (500g). Here in the US, we buy one of those long packages of Pepperidge Farms puff pastry, from the freezer section, usually by the frozen fruits and frozen pies. (Don't accidentally get the frozen phylo dough, which is also right there). If you're doing like I did, and using the Pepperidge Farms stuff, take it out of the freezer about an hour in advance, open it, separate the two folded up pieces of pastry, put them on something like a cookie tray (don't unfold them yet!), cover with a little plastic wrap so they don't dry out, and let them thaw. Mine were still quite chilly after an hour, but definitely easy to work with.
When opening up the folded pastry, expect it to crack on the folds - it always has for me. Unfold, place on a large flat, lightly floured surface, and roll it out big enough for your large pie pan or casserole dish with a rolling pin, using enough flour so it doesn't stick. This is a great time to repair any breaks in the pastry from unfolding.
Here I've rolled out the bottom crust and put it in my biggest deep dish pie.
And then we filled it (and had leftover stew that wouldn't fit!), and sprinkled on two more large handfuls of cheddar, per Jamie's instructions. I do wish I would've gotten a pale and reallllly sharp cheddar, one with more bite, and perhaps a touch of a mustardy flavor, but eh, we used your standard Sharp Cheddar block from the grocery store.
Careful, don't burn your fingers as you're picking out bits of stew-covered cheese to taste test. (Um, this wasn't something Jamie said to do - we came up with that one on our own! Quality control, ya know!?)
You want to make an egg wash (mix one egg and about a tablespoon of water - and no, don't measure that water!) and brush/smear it on the inside top edge of the crust. I did it before pouring in the stew and cheese - made life easier!
Mmmm - looking good! That egg wash is going to act like glue. Roll out the other half/sheet of the puff pastry, making it a bit bigger than the top of the pie. Don't aim to have as little extra dough overhanging as you can (like you might normally do) - you want some extra here!
And then Jamie says to criss cross the top of the dough lightly with a very sharp knife. WOW this REALLY makes it! It's ok if you cut through here and there - just quickly drag your very sharp knife across... Place the cross hatched dough on top of the filled pie, pat it down around the egg-washed edges lightly, and then fold all that overhanging extra crust from both the top and bottom doughs, bringing it up on top and getting a nice, rustic look. Sure, it seems to weight itself down and just look like a floppy mess. DO NOT PANIC!
This recipe didn't suggest cutting some steam holes in the top crust. I think you'll be doing that by accident with the criss-crossing of the knife anyhow. Brush the top (or just smear with your clean fingers if you don't have a pastry brush) with egg wash, pop it in the 375F oven (I put it on a sheet pan "JUST IN CASE" anything bubbled out), and bake it for 45 minutes - until it's puffed and golden.
It may not look like much (thick wet canvas if you ask me), but that puff pastry is really layer after layer after layer of dough folded over with bits of butter smashed between the layer. SUPER THIN layers! When your puff pastry hits the high heat of the oven, the heat causes the butter to melt and give off steam. That steam lifts up the space between the layers of pastry, cooking as it does so, resulting in that wonderful puffy, crispy, crunchy, fun to eat crust!
Check this out - after it comes out of the oven! Talk about airy and crisp!
I'd say let it sit for maybe 10-15 minutes - just so the insides can cool and congeal just a bit. Even with a wait, you'll see the insides pour into the cut space some. That's ok - still tastes great! Sure, the name is "Steak and Guinness Pie with Puff Pastry Crust" - but that's too damn wordy. We know we'll be making "meat pie" again in the near future (and may actually try halving the recipe - it really makes a lot for just the two of us!
Some additional notes:
I gave Mary the recipe, and she made the filling in her crockpot two days before she could make the entire pie. The filling turned out great! However, her country-store-purchased puff pastry didn't puff at all - instead it stayed doughy and raw in the middle. After we talked a bit, I think it's because she put the top crust on the COLD stew. Even with putting it in a hot oven, that crust is still sitting on cold stuff, and probably didn't get that heat-shock it needs to cook and puff the pastry. If you're going to make the stew in advance, DEFINITELY reheat it before pouring into the dish.
I was nervous about using a really dark beer, but went for it. Only I didn't get a very dark Guinness - apparently there's different options. Mine was muddy brown and in a beer bottle with a plastic "rocket" rattling around inside - to improve the head when you pour it maybe? Mary brought me a bottle of the beer she used - and extra stout/dark Guinness. She also brought me some of the stew to try. It was definitely more rich with a touch of a tang from the beer? (Oh, and she used 1 1/2 beers - Jim drank the rest to "help her out"). I'd be curios to try it with half what I used and half extra dark like she used. Her stew was VERY good (and minus the crust)...so I definitely won't be afraid of using the bolder Guinness in the future.
Be forewarned - that crust isn't going to stay super crispy after it's been in the fridge - just accept that, or make a smaller batch - just what you can eat the first nite. Or have friends over the first night to eat the whole thing! ;-) Who wouldn't love beer and beef in a pie!?
Or, screw the pie aspect of it and just make a really kick-ass stew!
I hope you guys give "meat pie" a try - it was a great recipe.
I don't know how Jamie would have the time to do all the gardening AND his career as a chef, write cookbooks, teach kids, etc...so I forgive him. 'Sides, if he was doing more gardening, he might not have time to film the Jamie at Home TV show to go with the book - it's on Food Network sometime around noon on Saturday's - watch for it!
We were watching the pastry episode the other day, and he cooked up a steak, guinness and cheese pie with a puff pastry lid. We were both DROOOOOLING the whole time. Brett said I should make it! I grabbed my BRITISH RELEASE copy of Jamie at Home (since I don't believe they've sold it here in the US yet? I had to get it through amazon.co.uk awhile back) - confirmed the recipe was in the book, and within days we were cooking up a tasty meal!
First you slice 3 medium red onions (I used one LARGE red onion and one LARGE white onion), and sweat them in a pan with some oil and butter - his intention is to just get them transluscent and develop some flavors without really trying to carmelize them. (Oops, mine got a little browned, but hey, that's just flavor!)
Then you crank the heat up and add 3 chopped cloves of garlic, chopped carrots (I used five SKINNY carrots, he calls for 2), chopped celery (I used three), "4 field mushrooms" (I roughly chopped a large container of baby bellas, "1 kg brisket of beef" (just under two pounds of pre-cubed stew beef worked fine), a few sprigs of rosemary (picked and chopped), a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of pepper. All of this went in the dutch oven and was fried up a few minutes - he didn't really aim for color or browning here.
Stir in 2 heaped tablespoons of flour. (This goes against what I've always thought you did in these situations - usually working the flour in a bit sooner, like tossed with the meat - to get some browning flavor, and be less likely to avoid clumping. Jamie's method worked just find)
He calls for a 440ml can of Guinness - as you'll see in the picture below I could only find bottles - so one of those went in (bet I could've used two!) To that add enough water to come just short of covering all the goodies being cooked in the pot. Bring this all to a boil, cover, and put in a preheated oven (375F) for 1 1/2 hrs. (Oh - I added potatoes, and Mary and I were discussing how so many other stew-ingredients could go in as well, such as parsnips)
Remove the pan from the oven, stir, return to oven and bake covered for another hour. This is IMPORTANT to plan how early you're going to cook this dish! I missed it in my initial read of the recipe, and we had the pie around 9pm for a late dinner!
If you find the stew isn't very thick, cook it a little longer on the stove top - you don't want this too runny/wet!
Mmmm....doesn't that look good? You know how you make it better? Jamie then has you stir in 100g (um, two big handfuls!) of shredded cheddar cheese. I'd recommend a robust/sharp cheese - the beef and Guinness aren't shy flavors!
After you've stirred that cheese in briefly (and done a bunch of taste testing and mmmming and ahhhhing), prepare your puff pastry crust. Where Jamie lives, he gets a block of it (500g). Here in the US, we buy one of those long packages of Pepperidge Farms puff pastry, from the freezer section, usually by the frozen fruits and frozen pies. (Don't accidentally get the frozen phylo dough, which is also right there). If you're doing like I did, and using the Pepperidge Farms stuff, take it out of the freezer about an hour in advance, open it, separate the two folded up pieces of pastry, put them on something like a cookie tray (don't unfold them yet!), cover with a little plastic wrap so they don't dry out, and let them thaw. Mine were still quite chilly after an hour, but definitely easy to work with.
When opening up the folded pastry, expect it to crack on the folds - it always has for me. Unfold, place on a large flat, lightly floured surface, and roll it out big enough for your large pie pan or casserole dish with a rolling pin, using enough flour so it doesn't stick. This is a great time to repair any breaks in the pastry from unfolding.
Here I've rolled out the bottom crust and put it in my biggest deep dish pie.
And then we filled it (and had leftover stew that wouldn't fit!), and sprinkled on two more large handfuls of cheddar, per Jamie's instructions. I do wish I would've gotten a pale and reallllly sharp cheddar, one with more bite, and perhaps a touch of a mustardy flavor, but eh, we used your standard Sharp Cheddar block from the grocery store.
Careful, don't burn your fingers as you're picking out bits of stew-covered cheese to taste test. (Um, this wasn't something Jamie said to do - we came up with that one on our own! Quality control, ya know!?)
You want to make an egg wash (mix one egg and about a tablespoon of water - and no, don't measure that water!) and brush/smear it on the inside top edge of the crust. I did it before pouring in the stew and cheese - made life easier!
Mmmm - looking good! That egg wash is going to act like glue. Roll out the other half/sheet of the puff pastry, making it a bit bigger than the top of the pie. Don't aim to have as little extra dough overhanging as you can (like you might normally do) - you want some extra here!
And then Jamie says to criss cross the top of the dough lightly with a very sharp knife. WOW this REALLY makes it! It's ok if you cut through here and there - just quickly drag your very sharp knife across... Place the cross hatched dough on top of the filled pie, pat it down around the egg-washed edges lightly, and then fold all that overhanging extra crust from both the top and bottom doughs, bringing it up on top and getting a nice, rustic look. Sure, it seems to weight itself down and just look like a floppy mess. DO NOT PANIC!
This recipe didn't suggest cutting some steam holes in the top crust. I think you'll be doing that by accident with the criss-crossing of the knife anyhow. Brush the top (or just smear with your clean fingers if you don't have a pastry brush) with egg wash, pop it in the 375F oven (I put it on a sheet pan "JUST IN CASE" anything bubbled out), and bake it for 45 minutes - until it's puffed and golden.
It may not look like much (thick wet canvas if you ask me), but that puff pastry is really layer after layer after layer of dough folded over with bits of butter smashed between the layer. SUPER THIN layers! When your puff pastry hits the high heat of the oven, the heat causes the butter to melt and give off steam. That steam lifts up the space between the layers of pastry, cooking as it does so, resulting in that wonderful puffy, crispy, crunchy, fun to eat crust!
Check this out - after it comes out of the oven! Talk about airy and crisp!
I'd say let it sit for maybe 10-15 minutes - just so the insides can cool and congeal just a bit. Even with a wait, you'll see the insides pour into the cut space some. That's ok - still tastes great! Sure, the name is "Steak and Guinness Pie with Puff Pastry Crust" - but that's too damn wordy. We know we'll be making "meat pie" again in the near future (and may actually try halving the recipe - it really makes a lot for just the two of us!
Some additional notes:
I gave Mary the recipe, and she made the filling in her crockpot two days before she could make the entire pie. The filling turned out great! However, her country-store-purchased puff pastry didn't puff at all - instead it stayed doughy and raw in the middle. After we talked a bit, I think it's because she put the top crust on the COLD stew. Even with putting it in a hot oven, that crust is still sitting on cold stuff, and probably didn't get that heat-shock it needs to cook and puff the pastry. If you're going to make the stew in advance, DEFINITELY reheat it before pouring into the dish.
I was nervous about using a really dark beer, but went for it. Only I didn't get a very dark Guinness - apparently there's different options. Mine was muddy brown and in a beer bottle with a plastic "rocket" rattling around inside - to improve the head when you pour it maybe? Mary brought me a bottle of the beer she used - and extra stout/dark Guinness. She also brought me some of the stew to try. It was definitely more rich with a touch of a tang from the beer? (Oh, and she used 1 1/2 beers - Jim drank the rest to "help her out"). I'd be curios to try it with half what I used and half extra dark like she used. Her stew was VERY good (and minus the crust)...so I definitely won't be afraid of using the bolder Guinness in the future.
Be forewarned - that crust isn't going to stay super crispy after it's been in the fridge - just accept that, or make a smaller batch - just what you can eat the first nite. Or have friends over the first night to eat the whole thing! ;-) Who wouldn't love beer and beef in a pie!?
Or, screw the pie aspect of it and just make a really kick-ass stew!
I hope you guys give "meat pie" a try - it was a great recipe.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Tucker afloat in a sea of blue
Tucker seems to approve of the new duvet cover we got at Ikea recently...
"Heath Bar Candy"
So Sharon expressed interest in the chocolately treats involving saltine crackers the other day. I have to say I've had a couple private interludes with the container of treats since making them, and then feeling guilty after I realized I should've stopped snacking sooner! They go down real easy - there's something about the combination of sweet, salty and crunchy that just makes me keep gnoshing on them! I remember mom making these once a couple years ago and I thought they were the nastiest things.
And then I tasted them!
Wow - GOOD STUFF!
Heath Bar Candy
- Saltine crackers
- 2 sticks real butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 12 oz chocolate chips (I used semisweet, some recipes call for milk chocolate)
Line a pan, bottom, sides and up over edges, with foil. Some recipes call for 13x9, some don't specify - I used a sheet pan, so I'm sure the "Heath crunch" and chocolate were thinner than you'd get if you made it in a 13x9 pan.
Cover entire bottom of pan with a single layer of unbroken saltine crackers. Preheat oven to 350F.
In a small pan bring the butter and brown sugar to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes. Pour this over the crackers, being VERY careful (sugar syrups like this will stick to you and really really hurt!). Spread goo as evenly as you can across the crackers real quick - it'll start to stiffen up. I found a silicone spatula came in real handy for spreading without sticking to the goo). Bake for 5 minutes at 350 - the goo will probably start to bubble a little bit. Sprinkle chocolate chips all over top and allow them to soften in the oven for a couple minutes.
Remove from oven, spread chocolate evenly, let cool/harden, and peel from foil. I set them out on a cold garage floor to chill, and then used a metal bench scraper to break them up in the pan. A sharp knife would work, or just lift out and break them - I doubt you'll get any in the original square shape of the crackers! What you see in the picture above is real thin - only the thickness of a cracker plus a thin layer of a crunchy sugar layer and a thin layer of chocolate.
Yes, this sounds like a freakish dish, but they're a nice salty and sweet treat!
And then I tasted them!
Wow - GOOD STUFF!
Heath Bar Candy
- Saltine crackers
- 2 sticks real butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 12 oz chocolate chips (I used semisweet, some recipes call for milk chocolate)
Line a pan, bottom, sides and up over edges, with foil. Some recipes call for 13x9, some don't specify - I used a sheet pan, so I'm sure the "Heath crunch" and chocolate were thinner than you'd get if you made it in a 13x9 pan.
Cover entire bottom of pan with a single layer of unbroken saltine crackers. Preheat oven to 350F.
In a small pan bring the butter and brown sugar to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes. Pour this over the crackers, being VERY careful (sugar syrups like this will stick to you and really really hurt!). Spread goo as evenly as you can across the crackers real quick - it'll start to stiffen up. I found a silicone spatula came in real handy for spreading without sticking to the goo). Bake for 5 minutes at 350 - the goo will probably start to bubble a little bit. Sprinkle chocolate chips all over top and allow them to soften in the oven for a couple minutes.
Remove from oven, spread chocolate evenly, let cool/harden, and peel from foil. I set them out on a cold garage floor to chill, and then used a metal bench scraper to break them up in the pan. A sharp knife would work, or just lift out and break them - I doubt you'll get any in the original square shape of the crackers! What you see in the picture above is real thin - only the thickness of a cracker plus a thin layer of a crunchy sugar layer and a thin layer of chocolate.
Yes, this sounds like a freakish dish, but they're a nice salty and sweet treat!
Monday, February 04, 2008
RIP Murphy
Picture of Murphy taken just last weekMy parents had to have Murphy put to sleep this morning. On our move back to the mainland from Hawaii about 19 yrs ago we stopped to visit relatives in Kansas - someone had dropped a pregnant cat off at my Uncle Dennis' farm, and Murphy was one of the kittens. Yes, a litter of outdoor siamese kittens on a farm, where the kids would entertain themselves by dropping the kittens on sleeping dogs.
Uncle Dennis let us take one, who seemed to frown alot, on one condition - we had to let her have kittens. (This was to torture my mom, of course - he knew my brother and I thought it was way cool) So little "frown face", who later got the name Murphy, road from Kansas to Ohio on my lap, kept separate from our cat Bartley because we didn't know how he would take it (plus she hadn't been tested for any diseases yet).
If I remember correctly, Murphy had 11 kittens over 3 litters while she was still fairly young, bred with a big chunk of a Siamese cat ("Storm"). We kept one of the kittens, my parents naming her Ming, and I called her Bunny for the longest time (she was so soft, even shortly after being born!). (Which she was softer than Murphy, Ming is also considerably more dense/muscular!) Murphy had those kittens in bedroom closest, in suitcases full of new/surplus socks she was able to crawl into, etc. On one of her later litters, we'd see Murphy chasing Ming down the hallway, with Ming carrying a kitten in her mouth. Ming never had kittens, but apparently she thought she needed some of her own.
Murphy was often considered my cat, but went with mom and dad to NY when dad retired from the Air Force and I moved out to stay in Ohio. She wasn't necessarily the most playful cat, but could definitely be a lover. Especially if you were lounging in the chair closest to the fireplace. Even when we go back to visit and she didn't always seem quite "with it" in her later years, Murphy still enjoyed kneading her paws on your chest and showering you with love if you sat still long enough for her.
Mom's been saying Murphy's had a harder time of getting around lately. Her kidneys have been failing for awhile, and now her legs have begun to give way. I knew this day was coming...and I hate to say it's been a little easier thanks to the miles and the infrequency of visits. But it still tore my heart out to read the email from mom this evening saying they took Murphy in to be put to sleep this morning.
Murphy is now buried in the backyard next to Bartley.
I wonder what it's going to be like for Ming. Dad said she's been "taking care" of Murphy a lot lately - cuddling up to her more, keeping her warm, etc. Mom's email said Murphy had dropped from 6.25lbs in the fall to 3lb 11oz this morning. I know it was the right thing to do - it was probably past due...but it's still rough.
Rest in Peace Murphy...
Murphy and Emma, Thanksgiving 2007
Clue #2
Incredibly blurry Tucker gives yet another hint at what the new hobby is...
Oooh, ok, I know you've probably figured it out ANYHOW, and there are some really cute pics of him not-so-blurry, so I figure I'll post one of those as well... Check out that grip!
Oooh, ok, I know you've probably figured it out ANYHOW, and there are some really cute pics of him not-so-blurry, so I figure I'll post one of those as well... Check out that grip!
Super Flop
In addition to super cutie (and super floppy) Simon, this one's got a little something for Peter, who's pretty much been begging for pics of Brett.
Building up to confessional posting...
Here's a clue. I'm guessing it's yet another construction Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss' character) in Close Encounters of the Third Kind would've made (along with mashed potatoes) if he'd had a particular hobby under his belt...
Seriously - tell me you don't see the similarities!
Here's scenes from the movie...
Ok, this second one is actually him playing with the train set stuff if I remember correctly...
And if you don't even GET these references, don't speak to me...at least not until you see the movie!
Seriously - tell me you don't see the similarities!
Here's scenes from the movie...
Ok, this second one is actually him playing with the train set stuff if I remember correctly...
And if you don't even GET these references, don't speak to me...at least not until you see the movie!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Woodpeckers!
In addition to all the "normal" and "boring" birds we've had at the birdfeeders lately, there's been some real excitement (ok, excitement for me).
First was a black and white bird that, at initial glance I assumed was one of the white-breasted nuthatch that are no longer exciting and new. Then I realize it didn't have as much blue-gray to it, and there was a vibrant red spot on it's head! A quick search through the bird book revealed it to be either a downy woodpecker or a hairy woodpecker (seems most of the difference is a matter of a few inches in height). Very cool and exciting! These pictures were taken around 1:20pm, January 17th...
A couple hours later, with the camera on the coffee table ready for any more shots of the the downy woodpecker (I'm assuming it's a downy based on smaller size and not-too-long beak), "he" showed up again... The camera says I took these at 4:06pm, and I was more excited at the opportunity to get more/better pictures, and didn't pay attention to the details. It wasn't til after I pulled the pics onto the computer yesterday, and saw them blown up, that I noticed something - no red spot on the back of the head! Unlike the bird in the pictures above, THIS downy woodpecker is a female!
And then a week or so later I came home from work one day, opened up the backdoor blinds, and realized I was being watched by a VERY startled, and considerably larger black, red and white bird - this one had more white, and a MUCH brighter, MUCH bigger red spot covering it's entire head! It watched me very closely - before I could get to the camera, it took off...but I paid attention to the details and was able to determine it was a red-bellied woodpecker. (Check ou the pic at that link!) WAY COOL! I sent off a very excited email to a number of bird-watching friends, and have had an eye open for a follow up visit ever since. No such luck. :(
I thought my luck changed less than an hour ago. I was sitting there playing with the new cable box settings when something big, black, white and red landed on the bird feeder with a couple funny squack noises. It must be the red-belli...waitasec! That's not the same kind of bird! The camera was upstairs with both the card and the battery out - there was NO WAY I could move across the room without being spotted and spooking the bird. I yelled for Brett - but he had his headphones on listening to podcasts and was using the powerdrill in the closet with new shelving. DAMN! NO PROOF! The bird sat there, making Tucker nervous and me excited, and then took off. Crap! Whipped open the bird book, and confirmed I'd had a visit by a pileated woodpecker! SO COOL! Blabbered on about it to Brett, retrieved the camera, and got a few pics of the bird hopping around on one of the trees way back past the property line:
Yeah, see - you can barely make it out. Bummer. Oh well - I had proof, and didn't expect any more excitement for awhile, deciding to get back into trying to figure out why I can't set up series recordings with the DVR when something big blurred past the window and must've landed on the roof at the edge of the house.
Ok, this time I was ready. Sure, whatever it was couldn't just been a bluejay, or it could've flown past the house and across the street, or...
It could come back, squawking, and land right there on the birdfeeder! I fired up the camera and before taking time to zoom in, I got some pictures - JUST IN CASE it took off again!
(You can see Tucker's ears on the far side of the sofa - I don't know what he thinks of these huge birds!)
And I was in luck - it, no, SHE, was hanging out a bit! (I'd looked at the difference of the birds in the book before she returned - no red moustache, and a dark spot on the forehead...)
VERY COOL! And even cooler? She stayed just long enough for me to get a bit of video!
First was a black and white bird that, at initial glance I assumed was one of the white-breasted nuthatch that are no longer exciting and new. Then I realize it didn't have as much blue-gray to it, and there was a vibrant red spot on it's head! A quick search through the bird book revealed it to be either a downy woodpecker or a hairy woodpecker (seems most of the difference is a matter of a few inches in height). Very cool and exciting! These pictures were taken around 1:20pm, January 17th...
A couple hours later, with the camera on the coffee table ready for any more shots of the the downy woodpecker (I'm assuming it's a downy based on smaller size and not-too-long beak), "he" showed up again... The camera says I took these at 4:06pm, and I was more excited at the opportunity to get more/better pictures, and didn't pay attention to the details. It wasn't til after I pulled the pics onto the computer yesterday, and saw them blown up, that I noticed something - no red spot on the back of the head! Unlike the bird in the pictures above, THIS downy woodpecker is a female!
And then a week or so later I came home from work one day, opened up the backdoor blinds, and realized I was being watched by a VERY startled, and considerably larger black, red and white bird - this one had more white, and a MUCH brighter, MUCH bigger red spot covering it's entire head! It watched me very closely - before I could get to the camera, it took off...but I paid attention to the details and was able to determine it was a red-bellied woodpecker. (Check ou the pic at that link!) WAY COOL! I sent off a very excited email to a number of bird-watching friends, and have had an eye open for a follow up visit ever since. No such luck. :(
I thought my luck changed less than an hour ago. I was sitting there playing with the new cable box settings when something big, black, white and red landed on the bird feeder with a couple funny squack noises. It must be the red-belli...waitasec! That's not the same kind of bird! The camera was upstairs with both the card and the battery out - there was NO WAY I could move across the room without being spotted and spooking the bird. I yelled for Brett - but he had his headphones on listening to podcasts and was using the powerdrill in the closet with new shelving. DAMN! NO PROOF! The bird sat there, making Tucker nervous and me excited, and then took off. Crap! Whipped open the bird book, and confirmed I'd had a visit by a pileated woodpecker! SO COOL! Blabbered on about it to Brett, retrieved the camera, and got a few pics of the bird hopping around on one of the trees way back past the property line:
Yeah, see - you can barely make it out. Bummer. Oh well - I had proof, and didn't expect any more excitement for awhile, deciding to get back into trying to figure out why I can't set up series recordings with the DVR when something big blurred past the window and must've landed on the roof at the edge of the house.
Ok, this time I was ready. Sure, whatever it was couldn't just been a bluejay, or it could've flown past the house and across the street, or...
It could come back, squawking, and land right there on the birdfeeder! I fired up the camera and before taking time to zoom in, I got some pictures - JUST IN CASE it took off again!
(You can see Tucker's ears on the far side of the sofa - I don't know what he thinks of these huge birds!)
And I was in luck - it, no, SHE, was hanging out a bit! (I'd looked at the difference of the birds in the book before she returned - no red moustache, and a dark spot on the forehead...)
VERY COOL! And even cooler? She stayed just long enough for me to get a bit of video!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Cinnamon Chip Scones
I haven't made scones in way too long!
I think the last time I made them, it was from the Pacific Passions Cookbook that Peter gave me - back in August 2006!??! (Ok, has it really been THAT long!?)
Anyhow, I've craved cinnamon chip scones after getting a taste of them from some local bakery quite awhile back - one that's no longer local-enough to make trips to after the move, at least not just for a single scone, which they might not even offer any particular day.
The problem? Where to find cinnamon chips!? I know Joe over at Culinary in the Desert/Country has found them before, but they're not easy to come by locally - believe me, I've looked!
And then it finally happened - sometime back in December while shopping for Christmas baking marathons, I came across them in the seasonal baking goodies (along with mint chips, swirled chips, etc) at Giant Eagle. I bought a bag! WHY only one bag? I don't know. I'm hoping I'll go back and find they're now stocking them on a regular basis.
Anyhow, those chips have been sitting in the pantry just waiting for their chance to shine - which happened this week. I decided to start with the cranberry orange scone recipe from Barefoot Contessa's cookbook, leave out the cranberries, use the zest of just one orange (I think it called for two?), and dump in most of the bag of cinnamon chips. Hm. Was that going to be cinnamony enough? So I dumped in some (maybe a couple teaspoons' worth) of chinese cinnamon, finished making the dough, cut some in larger rounds, others in smaller triangles, and plopped them on their pans.
They all got a quick egg wash, and then the larger ones were treated to a sprinkling of very coarse sugar, and I decided to consider the smaller ones "diet scones", leaving the sugar off. (ok, here's the inside joke - there's nothing "diet" about these suckers! The recipe called for 3/4 lb butter, a cup of heavy cream, and 4 large eggs - I used all-natural eggs from Emma's Eggs near us)
Once they came out, I caved and had to scarf down one of the large ones (hey, quality control!) right away. YUM!
Then I figured they'd benefit from even MORE cinnamony goodness...so I combined a cup or so of powdered sugar, maybe a tablespoon of cinnamon, and the juice of half the orange to make a glaze I dribbled on top.
Hm, seems another one disappeared, post glaze, for, um, quality control reasons.
I have to be honest - I made these in the morning, and had a THIRD one for dessert with lunch. How bad is that?
Some of the remaining scones went in the freezer - we'll see how they hold up later. And most of the rest went in to work the next day. It didn't take too long before those scones were cleared out - I know the last one was split by two coworkers who showed up at the same time and decided to share rather than wrestle for it!
Unfortunately, this recipe doesn't seem to create scones with a long shelf life. They were AMAZING the first day. The second day they were pretty good but already not as fresh and fluffy tasting, and by the third day they had an almost stale texture/taste to them. I'm not sure how this works - maybe all the fat in them doesn't preserve them well? Any suggestions? They were sealed in Gladware, but there was definitely some air in there with them.
What do you guys say - should I post the recipe? Hunh? ;-) I can't be held responsible for your calorie intake if I do!
I think the last time I made them, it was from the Pacific Passions Cookbook that Peter gave me - back in August 2006!??! (Ok, has it really been THAT long!?)
Anyhow, I've craved cinnamon chip scones after getting a taste of them from some local bakery quite awhile back - one that's no longer local-enough to make trips to after the move, at least not just for a single scone, which they might not even offer any particular day.
The problem? Where to find cinnamon chips!? I know Joe over at Culinary in the Desert/Country has found them before, but they're not easy to come by locally - believe me, I've looked!
And then it finally happened - sometime back in December while shopping for Christmas baking marathons, I came across them in the seasonal baking goodies (along with mint chips, swirled chips, etc) at Giant Eagle. I bought a bag! WHY only one bag? I don't know. I'm hoping I'll go back and find they're now stocking them on a regular basis.
Anyhow, those chips have been sitting in the pantry just waiting for their chance to shine - which happened this week. I decided to start with the cranberry orange scone recipe from Barefoot Contessa's cookbook, leave out the cranberries, use the zest of just one orange (I think it called for two?), and dump in most of the bag of cinnamon chips. Hm. Was that going to be cinnamony enough? So I dumped in some (maybe a couple teaspoons' worth) of chinese cinnamon, finished making the dough, cut some in larger rounds, others in smaller triangles, and plopped them on their pans.
They all got a quick egg wash, and then the larger ones were treated to a sprinkling of very coarse sugar, and I decided to consider the smaller ones "diet scones", leaving the sugar off. (ok, here's the inside joke - there's nothing "diet" about these suckers! The recipe called for 3/4 lb butter, a cup of heavy cream, and 4 large eggs - I used all-natural eggs from Emma's Eggs near us)
Once they came out, I caved and had to scarf down one of the large ones (hey, quality control!) right away. YUM!
Then I figured they'd benefit from even MORE cinnamony goodness...so I combined a cup or so of powdered sugar, maybe a tablespoon of cinnamon, and the juice of half the orange to make a glaze I dribbled on top.
Hm, seems another one disappeared, post glaze, for, um, quality control reasons.
I have to be honest - I made these in the morning, and had a THIRD one for dessert with lunch. How bad is that?
Some of the remaining scones went in the freezer - we'll see how they hold up later. And most of the rest went in to work the next day. It didn't take too long before those scones were cleared out - I know the last one was split by two coworkers who showed up at the same time and decided to share rather than wrestle for it!
Unfortunately, this recipe doesn't seem to create scones with a long shelf life. They were AMAZING the first day. The second day they were pretty good but already not as fresh and fluffy tasting, and by the third day they had an almost stale texture/taste to them. I'm not sure how this works - maybe all the fat in them doesn't preserve them well? Any suggestions? They were sealed in Gladware, but there was definitely some air in there with them.
What do you guys say - should I post the recipe? Hunh? ;-) I can't be held responsible for your calorie intake if I do!
Snow Cats
First there's these "snow cats" I made after one of our snow falls...
One each for Simon, Tucker and Moxie. Looks like they want to sing Christmas carols.
Creative use of holly leaves and holly berries, eh? ;-)
And then there's these snow cats, with pictures taken from several different occasions over the last couple weeks.
"It's cold if I walk on the snow, and yet there's no snow here under the table..."
"I think I'll just stay under the table..."
I took Simon on the backyard patrol, just to see how things were looking from the backyard.
We've pretty much given up on any fall/winter crops still being pickable, altho the spinach DOES look like it'll perk back up once we have enough sunny weather.
He decided it was too cold and made a bee-line back to the safety of the house.
And on another day, after more snow...time to adventure outside again since they were getting cabin fever.
Who doesn't love leaving the first foot (paw) prints in freshly fallen snow!?
I wish I would've gotten some pics of Simon's snow-doughnuts. It's like a cross between making snow angels, and making doughnuts with your car. You take your cat out in the fresh snow, lie him down on his side (Simon's VERY cooperative if you're giving him even the least bit of attention), and spin him in circles. I couldn't get him to lie there long enough to try and make an actual snow-kitty-angel, but he's fine with being spun in circles for a few rounds. ;-)
One each for Simon, Tucker and Moxie. Looks like they want to sing Christmas carols.
Creative use of holly leaves and holly berries, eh? ;-)
And then there's these snow cats, with pictures taken from several different occasions over the last couple weeks.
"It's cold if I walk on the snow, and yet there's no snow here under the table..."
"I think I'll just stay under the table..."
I took Simon on the backyard patrol, just to see how things were looking from the backyard.
We've pretty much given up on any fall/winter crops still being pickable, altho the spinach DOES look like it'll perk back up once we have enough sunny weather.
He decided it was too cold and made a bee-line back to the safety of the house.
And on another day, after more snow...time to adventure outside again since they were getting cabin fever.
Who doesn't love leaving the first foot (paw) prints in freshly fallen snow!?
I wish I would've gotten some pics of Simon's snow-doughnuts. It's like a cross between making snow angels, and making doughnuts with your car. You take your cat out in the fresh snow, lie him down on his side (Simon's VERY cooperative if you're giving him even the least bit of attention), and spin him in circles. I couldn't get him to lie there long enough to try and make an actual snow-kitty-angel, but he's fine with being spun in circles for a few rounds. ;-)
Beer bread and flowers
Taken late one sunny afternoon between snow storms were these first two pics of the orchids in the kitchen. I've photographed this particular orchid quite a few times over the last few years now...for such a small expense, I've gotten soooo many blooms out of it. (Sharon recently asked about using a 50% off coupon for orchids at one of the big box stores - I say GO FOR IT!)
Day later, the snow is falling and baby it's cold outside... The orchids and green growies crowded by the kitchen window help fight off the winter blahs, even though it honestly is really pretty out there after a fresh snow fall!
But what better way to keep toasty warm inside than bake up some nice, warm bread. I haven't been geared up for dealing with an all day project like making a yeast-risen bread lately, and both Andy-from-NY and Julie-from-work have been talking about beer bread, so I thought I'd give it another try.
While it turns out the recipe I found was basically the same as Andy's, Andy also adds herbs and cheese to his recipe. And Julie tends to swap in some whole wheat flour with just about everything she bakes, plus this week she brought me a slice of beer bread that she worked rosemary and pink peppercorns into. Talk about a heady aroma and great savory flavor! Sadly, what you see here might LOOK good but it was a bit lackluster... Next time I'll try a different recipe and/or add in the extra goodies like Andy and Julie do.
Day later, the snow is falling and baby it's cold outside... The orchids and green growies crowded by the kitchen window help fight off the winter blahs, even though it honestly is really pretty out there after a fresh snow fall!
But what better way to keep toasty warm inside than bake up some nice, warm bread. I haven't been geared up for dealing with an all day project like making a yeast-risen bread lately, and both Andy-from-NY and Julie-from-work have been talking about beer bread, so I thought I'd give it another try.
While it turns out the recipe I found was basically the same as Andy's, Andy also adds herbs and cheese to his recipe. And Julie tends to swap in some whole wheat flour with just about everything she bakes, plus this week she brought me a slice of beer bread that she worked rosemary and pink peppercorns into. Talk about a heady aroma and great savory flavor! Sadly, what you see here might LOOK good but it was a bit lackluster... Next time I'll try a different recipe and/or add in the extra goodies like Andy and Julie do.
What's Up?
Cardinal butt!
Here's something I see alot of, rain, snow or sunshine - bright red spots back in a particular area of the trees (the spot at the back of the neighbor's lot, right next to ours):
A short while later, when the snow died down, I was able to get a better picture (even with a camera really not intended for this sort of shot). Sometimes we'll count six or more male and female cardinals in this area. I love watching them take flight from the tree line, and more missile-shot with their wings folded in, rather than fly, across the lawn up to the bird feeders - really gotta try to get a picture of that sometime!
We've got a handful of tufted titmice (or as Brett's mom misremembered the name, horny titmice) that come to visit. They're full of loud attitude. This little guy was scoping the yard...
...until he realized I was taking his picture. That's some serious evil-eye I'm getting there!
Gotta love how vibrant these birds are!
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?
The bluejays haven't been coming up to the house nearly as much as they were during the summer months - not sure what that's all about. We could easily have six up at the back of the house at the feeders, making all kinds of ruckus. Now it's very rare to even see two at a time (maybe it was a small family and they've gone their separate ways?), and for the most part they stay at the back of the lot - so I put a feeder back there for anyone too shy to come up to the house.
Black-capped chickadees were one of the first birds I started to pinpoint back at the condo, along with the goldfinches. We get quite a few here, and I love when they sing and talk amongst themselves.
The bluejays also seem to really like the compost area, but I think it's mostly because it's the highest spot to sit at the back of the yard right now.
Another black-capped chickadee. I should try to get pics of the juncos and (not-so-)goldfinches.
We had one female cardinal coming around for awhile who was missing all her tail feathers. I haven't seen her in awhile. I hope she's just grown them back and I can't distinguish her from the others. At least one of the females are a bit more vibrant in color, almost peachy... I wonder if those are younger birds? Definitely gotta get better pics to distinguish them!
Sparrow? I need to figure out what these incredibly common birds are.
Don't you hate when guests come to a party and leave such a mess?! I need to start planning to deseed this whole area before spring and come up with a better plan for those feeders!
I found a use for a clementine box - some of the birds really seem to appreciate it. I feel better about sprinkling a palmful of (incredibly stinky) dry roasted mealworm grubs into it as a treat for the birds, rather than just toss them on the ground. Those tasty treats are WAY too expensive for me to do that, altho I think the birds are finding all of them. I like to think it's giving them a little extra energy for warmth during the freezing winter months.
Incognito cardinal...
The cats really like the bird feeders out the back window, which is why I'd hate to move them further back to avoid problems with all the seeds. I'm hoping the large groups of doves (18+ at one time!), cardinals, juncos (also 18+!), finches (easily as many as the juncos), and other birds will be responsible and ensure there are no seeds left to sprout come spring time!
"Do you mind?"
Here's something I see alot of, rain, snow or sunshine - bright red spots back in a particular area of the trees (the spot at the back of the neighbor's lot, right next to ours):
A short while later, when the snow died down, I was able to get a better picture (even with a camera really not intended for this sort of shot). Sometimes we'll count six or more male and female cardinals in this area. I love watching them take flight from the tree line, and more missile-shot with their wings folded in, rather than fly, across the lawn up to the bird feeders - really gotta try to get a picture of that sometime!
We've got a handful of tufted titmice (or as Brett's mom misremembered the name, horny titmice) that come to visit. They're full of loud attitude. This little guy was scoping the yard...
...until he realized I was taking his picture. That's some serious evil-eye I'm getting there!
Gotta love how vibrant these birds are!
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?
The bluejays haven't been coming up to the house nearly as much as they were during the summer months - not sure what that's all about. We could easily have six up at the back of the house at the feeders, making all kinds of ruckus. Now it's very rare to even see two at a time (maybe it was a small family and they've gone their separate ways?), and for the most part they stay at the back of the lot - so I put a feeder back there for anyone too shy to come up to the house.
Black-capped chickadees were one of the first birds I started to pinpoint back at the condo, along with the goldfinches. We get quite a few here, and I love when they sing and talk amongst themselves.
The bluejays also seem to really like the compost area, but I think it's mostly because it's the highest spot to sit at the back of the yard right now.
Another black-capped chickadee. I should try to get pics of the juncos and (not-so-)goldfinches.
We had one female cardinal coming around for awhile who was missing all her tail feathers. I haven't seen her in awhile. I hope she's just grown them back and I can't distinguish her from the others. At least one of the females are a bit more vibrant in color, almost peachy... I wonder if those are younger birds? Definitely gotta get better pics to distinguish them!
Sparrow? I need to figure out what these incredibly common birds are.
Don't you hate when guests come to a party and leave such a mess?! I need to start planning to deseed this whole area before spring and come up with a better plan for those feeders!
I found a use for a clementine box - some of the birds really seem to appreciate it. I feel better about sprinkling a palmful of (incredibly stinky) dry roasted mealworm grubs into it as a treat for the birds, rather than just toss them on the ground. Those tasty treats are WAY too expensive for me to do that, altho I think the birds are finding all of them. I like to think it's giving them a little extra energy for warmth during the freezing winter months.
Incognito cardinal...
The cats really like the bird feeders out the back window, which is why I'd hate to move them further back to avoid problems with all the seeds. I'm hoping the large groups of doves (18+ at one time!), cardinals, juncos (also 18+!), finches (easily as many as the juncos), and other birds will be responsible and ensure there are no seeds left to sprout come spring time!
Returning to the land of blogging!
The computer's back up and running (thanks hon!), personal settings and applications are mostly re-established/re-installed, and I'm getting back in gear. Let's celebrate with a tasty treat I've only had once before when my mom tried making these years ago. What is it? Well, let's just say I took this pic moments after they came out of the oven, before they went to sit out on the freezing garage floor to chill for about an hour, that's a sheet pan (NOT a 13x9x2 pan), aaaand there's a visual clue included. Any guesses?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)