September 25: That long already?(This time last year Tobi had been with us a month. I looked through all my pictures yesterday.) I now apologize to Gena for nagging that she update her web page. Her excuse was too much happening to update. My excuse is ... not enough, and the too cute for words stuff relegated here. But now life has meaning and direction again! The kitchen project seemed on indefinite hold with all the summer activity we had, but now Jorj is determined to take off the last half of December and renovate the kitchen himself with Jim. This means: gut the kitchen, re-wire, run new plumbing, new flooring, install cabinets and counters, install lights. I'd been planning my dream kitchen, but with the limited schedule and budget, I'll concentrate on getting the exact cabinets I want, and cheaping out on counter, lights and flooring with an eye to replacing them in five to ten years. The outside venting stove hood is probably a pipe dream: we have neither the time nor money, and once the cabinets are in, may not want to cut a hole into the ceiling! Jorj and I have agreed on a cabinet style. It's called "Shaker inspired" by the manufacturers: square frame with panel, no beveling, no arches. I'd like some glass doors for dishes and glassware, and he likes the mullioned doors too. The look can be very modern, or very Deco. You know I want the Deco, to fit with the age of the house better. We agree on a mid to light wood finish for the cabinets, and no-nail, no-glue wood flooring (I think I could lay that). We aren't agreeing on the counters: I want cheap and to replace them in five or ten years. He hates waste. He'll probably agree to replacing the overhead light, because it could be re-sold. Tought to re-sell custom counters. Aug 22: DomesticFinally got back into the garden this weekend and weeded, trimmed some bushes, cleared another foot of ivy, and lost the loppers. No idea where they are. Felt much better and less sluggy after doing some clean up. The weather has been more September than August, so this was quite pleasant and not the usual sweaty hard labor. I'm considering replacing the perennials I planted last fall that didn't survive through summer (most of them -- eaten or didn't make the winter). I'd also like to go a bit crazy with ferns and other shade lovers, but I haven't cleared that ivy bed yet. Unless the bed is cleared before the plants are bought, there will be more dead plants in my yard. The site update continues apace. Someone liked the original all-blue design, so I added links on the first page to change between the white and blue stylesheets (requires cookies and JavaScript). I've also tried to remove the wall of text feel from the Sources & Resources and Baking 101 pages. Not having much luck. Aug 16: RenovationsNot of the house, silly! Of the web site! The Zitronenhertzen recipe shows what the recipes will eventually look like, but I have to update each one by hand. Bleh. The Baking 101 and Sources and Resources pages have new logos; the others don't. I'm workin' on it! And some links, especially CGI links, will take you to the current site. Aug 13: Julia ChildJulia Child is dead? No! Hearing this news, I planned to spend the night watching tributes to her on PBS and FoodTV. Missed the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, and FoodTV couldn't find enough stock footage and chefs near their studio to put together a half-hour tribute. Come on! The woman would have been 92 on Sunday! They knew this was coming! Major newspapers and news services had her obit pre-written, and FoodTV can't get a tribute together in 6 hours? Why am I paying for this? Oh yeah, Alton Brown (who, like Julia, concentrates his show on exploring one dish, and how to do it right). Update: the tribute is Sunday night 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., (skip the 8 show, that's Emeril) with cooking shows she appeard on 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. schedule. And the governor of New Jersey is gay. And resigning. And opposed legal marriage for gays. Time for ice cream. Happy 80th Birthday Fred!We celebrated Fred's 80th this weekend. Wow! Family, friends -- about 35 people. Mom rented the "dining room" at the home and the food was amazingly good. We did some cakes for him -- cheesecake and Dettingen Schokoladekirschkuchen. No pictures, because I forgot the camera. Aug 9: Two degrees of Doctor WhoGo through the cast list of any British TV show or movie, and eventually you'll find someone who was also in Doctor Who. Thanks to the IMDB, I've been amusing myself by finding who in Harry Potter was in Doctor Who (I'm waiting for Tom Baker to be something -- he would have been a good Nearly Headless Nick) or worked with someone in Doctor who. We figure by the end of the Harry Potter series, the "all British" cast requirement will have employed every living actor in Britain. Can't wait for Black Addemort (yes, I know that was a rumor, and it's Fiennes).
Other news: Rita Skeeter is Miranda Richardson, who was Queen Elizabeth in Black Adder. Aug 1: We have newsIt's been hard not telling you, but now we think it's time. |
What I'm readingIn preparation of Tobi leaving, I bought an armful of books from Powells. Book buying is always my response to seperation from loved ones. Or re-reading the Chronicals of Narnia or Harry Potter.
What I'm listening toMore CDs to replace the tape & bootleg collection
Things that make me happy (in no particular order)
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