Monday, June 7, 2010

I'm here!

Hello all!

I'm here! Nothing too exciting has been happening the past few months so I really haven't had anything to post about, hence the absence.

Well, now that summer has unofficially started, we've been spending more time outside and working in the gardens.

My hydrangeas are budding up quite nicely and I expect that we'll have a beautiful show starting in the next couple of weeks. The day lillies are nice an full as well, though I have only seen the beginnings of one bud. It's still early for them.

The foundation planting we did last year looks pretty good, however the gumpo white azaleas we planted do not seem to be doing well at all. I spoke to the nursery that we got them from and they said we could dig them up and exchange them so I think that's what we'll do this weekend.

My herbs are doing well in a pot on our deck. The mint has really taken over, as I suspected it would, but I will be using it in fruit salads and such so it's not a problem. My tomato plant is looking a little sad. I'm not sure if I planted it too early, or it was drowned in some of these crazy rain storms we've been having. I'll give it a while longer before I reclaim that planter for something else.

The wildflower bed we planted it sprouting nicely. I just hope we get some flowers soon! We planted a gazillion seeds so something should flower for us. :)

I've also been planning a summer surprise party and was quite happy to get the catering squared away this past weekend and for a fabulous price that includes delivery. Score!

What have you been up to?

Monday, February 8, 2010

We have a range!

Hello all!

Our new range was installed on Friday and it is beautiful! I was cooking up a storm! I made Shepard's Pie for dinner and cupcakes for dessert Saturday night. I made this breakfast casserole (and added sliced scallions) for breakfast on Sunday. For the big game, I made some Touchdown Taco Dip and spicy wing dings. OMG, I'm still stuffed but it was all so good!

It was so nice to be able to be back in the kitchen again. I've got to get back to my meal planning and stick to it since we leaned a little much on dinners out and delivery for the past couple of weeks. The problem is now that I can make whatever I want, I can't think of what to make. Ugh!

What's on your menu this week?

Friday, February 5, 2010

Cars

Is it summer yet? I'm so ready for winter to be over. I need my car show fix!

These are some pictures from the car show in Marshfield last year.

*Drool* I want one.
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wednesday

Hello out there!

I'm on day 8 of this no smoking thing and it's going pretty well. I have had a couple of minor slip ups, but have otherwise I've been doing really well.

We didn't really get anything done on the kitchen this past weekend since we couldn't get the plumber out to disconnect anything. I don't really know that I was thinking. It wasn't an emergency so why would they come out on a Saturday? Duh. Anyway, they came yesterday and took out the ovens and capped the pipes. We'll be cutting the counter to make room for the new range tonight. Our electrician is coming tomorrow night to put in the new plug and the plumber is coming back on Friday to hook the range up. I can hardly wait!

Since I'll be able to cook, I'm trying to decide what to make for Superbowl Sunday. I usually do a chili for football games, but I really want to do something in the oven since I'll have it back after all these months. Maybe I'll try some type of wings and a baked dip. Since I'm not a buffalo wing girl, maybe I'll make these. I've made them before for dinner and they were yummy. I think I'll try them with the little wings and drums that you can buy in the freezer section. Hmmm, I must check out Recipezaar for some other goodies.

That's all I have for today. What are you making this weekend?

Friday, January 29, 2010

Happy Friday!

Hello all!

I hope you are staying warm. The wind is howling here and with the wind chill it's -7 F. Brrr!

Today is Day 3 of not smoking! Go me! I really hope I can stick with it and kick this habit. My head is in the game this time so I'm feeling confident. I want to give a big shout out to all my FB peeps! You guys rock! I truly appreciate your encouragement. Thank you. (((Big Hugs)))

We picked out our new range last weekend and it was delivered this week. We're getting there. Right now it is sitting in our sun room taunting me, but it's real purdy. =) We had a carpenter out to give us an estimate and his "off the top of my head" estimate was outrageous! He basically was quoting a week's worth of pay for a barely one day job. I don't think so! I think we're going to work on this ourselves with a friend's help to make the new cabinet door. That's the plan anyway. We'll be starting on that tomorrow.

Assuming our work on the kitchen is successful this weekend, I will be back with several cooking posts. Oh, how I miss having an oven that isn't possessed. I can't wait to bake some bread and sweet treats. A lasagna or some homemade mac and cheese wouldn't go amiss either. I've been scouring the interwebs for some new recipes and have a few lined up. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Yum!

On a completely different topic, I think I'd like to start some digital scrapbooking. Now that I have my nice camera, I'd like to do something with the pictures I've been taking. I heard about a software package on another blog, but when I checked it out it was a subscription type thing. They would send me a new disk every two months with new templates and charge me X amount each time. I don't really want to get into that sort of thing. I was looking for more of a one time purchase deal. If anyone has any recommendations that won't break the bank, I'm all ears.

What have you been up to?

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Yikes! 2 Months??

Sorry! I've been neglecting you! Things got busy with the holidays and such that I'm just now getting back into the swing of things.

Let's see, where to I start?

Well, Thanksgiving was very nice, despite the fact that the blasted Brady Bunch oven kicked it on me just before dinner. Thankfully, everything was already cooked and I was just using the oven to keep things warm. We had a lovely meal and great company! I highly recommend that menu plan I mentioned since the food is yummy and it kept me on track (and got all the food cooked before the oven fiasco).

My high school had an informal part 2 to our reunion that weekend. It was great to catch up with those that didn't make it to part 1 over the summer.

The next weekend was Michael's work Christmas party. It was a blast. It was so good to meet so many of the guys that I've heard about forever but hadn't yet met in person. They are a great bunch and load of fun.

We hosted Christmas Eve with Mum and Dad and C and S and the kids. It was hectic getting the food ready since we still don't have our oven, but I made a great chicken, broccoli and ziti on the cooktop, with salad and garlic bread (in the toaster oven.) Christmas Day we went over to Michael's family and had a yummy Irish breakfast and played Wii. I have some funny pics of the boxing matches. LOL. Any why is it that the little people you fight all wear glasses? Later that day, I went over to C and S's for dinner with them, Mum and Dad and Uncle J. All in all, it was a great Christmas!

For New Year's we went to see Michael's cousin M and his girlfriend W in NYC. We stayed with them for a few days and went to see Gaelic Storm on NYE. That show rocked! I can't wait to see them again. W made the yummiest Guinness Beef Stew on New Year's Day. It was perfect! I can't wait to see them again later in the spring at our house. =)

The following weekend, we finally got those windows installed that I spoke of in my last post. It had been a scheduling nightmare with the original installer, but the person that actually came out in his place was awesome. His did a great job and is going to help us with a few other projects.

One of those projects is replacing our cooktop/wall oven set up with a stand alone range. That's going to require me to put on my GC hat at coordinate the carpenter, plumber and electrician but I think I'll be able to handle it. They're all good guys and have worked at our house before so I don't see it as being a problem. I just can't wait! I've been dying to make cookies and bread. Soon enough. I expect that we'll have this project done in the next 2-3 weeks.

Sheesh, that turned out to be a longer post than I expected. I hope you are all doing well!

What have you been up to?