For all you readers...

Check out these free bookplates you can download from, whomelse, Martha Stewart.  She has made it so easy.  You just print and paste.  Read more at www.wideopenspaces.squarespace.com/wide-open-spaces/free-bookplates.html.

Abby

Our oldest pet, Abby, was attacked by our neighbor's dog yesterday.  She was sitting on our front porch.  The dog came to her.  She fought really hard and with Chris' help we were able to get the pitt bull to run off.  She has been at the vet all night and will stay today.  She sustained several puncture wounds and a broken leg.  I will go by the vet after work today to see how our baby is doing.  The dog also chased our neighbor who was trying to get a picture of him.  Jay had to run into his house and slam the door.   Turns out it is our neighbor's dog.  The neighbor is a renter.  I very rarely see her and I had never seen the dogs.  I thought about it a lot last night and I have decided to pursue it with animal control.  We have a baby and my two across the street neighbors (one lives next door to the dog) have a total of 5 young children that are always outside playing.  Thank goodness it was raining yesterday so they couldn't go outside.  Any thoughts?

Ahhhh-Dooor-abllllle

Look at this sweet outfit from Baby Bean's spring collection.  And the model couldn't be any cuter.

Image from www.babybeanwear.com

I need more Lafayette lemons.

Here's what I should have done with my lemons from Chris' dad.  I attempted a lemon pie I found in Martha's Pies and Tarts but I screwed it up as is usually the case any time I bake something.  I think this recipe would have been easier.  Except I don't how to properly can.  I wouldn't have been able to seal the jar correctly; just screwing the lid on would have to suffice.  Check out the recipe at http://dollopbyann.blogspot.com/2010/01/just-for-you-honey-preserved-meyer.html.

Image reblogged from www.dollopbyann.blogspot.com.

Afternoon Food Post

By 3:50 p.m. every work day afternoon I am starving and all I think about is food.  So I think I will start posting what I would eat if I wasn't still trying to lose baby weight and if I was one of those lucky people who can eat whatever they want and not gain weight. What do we call them?  Oh yeah, men.  See the malt ball shake in this picture I would definitely drink one of those right now.

Image reblogged from www.happyladyeats.com

So True

Reblogged from www.abbysharp.tumbler.com

Chris turns 30 on Sunday

Any ideas what I can get him?  He doesn't read this blog so we are safe to discuss it.  I have some ideas but nothing that is flashy enough to be given for the big 30.

Gold Again

The lions have been returned to their former glory.  Some frat boys were outside working on them yesterday.  I'm not sure what they did.  Perhaps they just painted over the blue.  Couldn't get it off the stone though.

Eat Some Spinach Crepes for Me....

Some lucky ladies I know will be staying in this unique and beautiful hotel.....

The main hallway at the La Fonda.

in this unique and beautiful city.  And there's supposed to be snow!   I'm so jealous.

Santa Fe

T.V.s Best Trash

Edie has really cut into my tv watching.  I may catch the weather several times a week but that's about it.  What do I miss most?  The Real Housewives series of course.  God I miss these ladies.  Treat yourself to Orange County, New York (this may be the best), Atlanta, and New Jersey.  I've heard rumors about a Dallas version.  Remember the "big hair and bad skin" quote from Goodfellas?  It perfectly describes these gals.

Believe it or not, these women are far trashier than this picture lets on.

Soup Love

Nancy gave me this wonderful cookbook a couple weeks ago.  I try to make a big pot of soup every Sunday.  I freeze the soup in serving size containers and eat one serving each afternoon when I get home from work.  It's a good way to stay on track when dieting.  This is a vegetarian cookbook.  I plan on using a lot of the veggies that I am attempting to grow in the community garden at work.  This weekend I will attempt a yam and Swiss chard soup.  I am growing swiss chard in the garden and I have used it ornamentally for years because it's pretty and really easy to grow but I have never tasted it.  I'm sure there will be a yam and Swiss chard soup post to follow.  Many of the recipes are vegan.  She also has a chapter with all sorts of vegetable broths.  I give it a thumbs up.  Thanks Nancy.

These Poor Lions

Last week the students came back from Christmas break.  The frat guys that live in this house spray painted their lions gold the weekend before school started. Sometime last week a rival frat, I'm assuming, came by in the dark of night and dumped blue paint on them and painted their mouths red.  The blue paint ran down the lions, onto the stones they are mounted on, and then down onto the sidewalk.  They had a guy powerwashing them all day Friday but it didn't seem to remove any of the paint.  These poor lions are painted at least 10 times a semester.  I'll keep yall updated as any progress occurs.

Dill and Arugula Pesto

I have a community garden at work that I share with some student organizations.  The students don't seem to harvest much so I take home the bulk of what it produces.  The garden isn't a year old yet and I am stilling trying to figure out what I'm doing.  Vegetable gardening isn't easy.

I hope to document in my blog how I prepare the things I harvest.  This week's harvest included Arugula and dill.  I decided to make a pesto with the two.  I toasted the pecans a little and used more than the recipe called for.  Boy it is good and spicy.

Arugula and dill drying.

 

Newellton pecans, garlic, salt, dill and arugula.

 

Pesto spread on my sandwich.  Yum.

The Weekend

This weekend was all about eating with a spoon, turning over and hanging out on her belly, chewing anything she could grip and take to her mouth, looking around, and socializing.  Pastora has done an excellent job teaching Edie how to eat her pureed fruit from a spoon.  Pastora does all the hard, messy work and I reap the benefits on the weekends.  I hope that's how potty training goes too! This weekend Edie enjoyed several meals of pear sauce followed by a bottle.  She is also turning over to her belly the second you lay her on her back.  She likes to have a toy in front of her to grab once she is on her stomach.  She will pull the toy to her mouth and chew on it as best she can.  It's still difficult for her to grab an object and turn it so that it fits in her mouth properly.  I think she isn't completely aware yet how her hands work. 

We had the Willi and Jeremiah over for dinner on Saturday and Edie was all about hanging out with the group, socializing.  When we would all laugh she would laugh.  I think we might have a social butterfly on our hands.  She didn't want to go to bed.  I finally put her down around 7:00 so I could start cooking.  She seems to love going to new places too.  She looks around and takes it all in.  We went to the Angry Dog for lunch yesterday and she was mesmerized by all the televisions. 

Abby and the paperwhites.

Chris trying to see the score.

Milo helping clean up pear sauce.

Chris made show crab legs and Milo wants some.

Lots of motion.

At the Pearl Cup.

Jumperoo

This is my first attempt at uploading a video. Here goes.

I need carbs and cheese tonight!

Yes I am still dieting but I have some Jimmy's tortellini, pesto, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese in my freezer that is just calling my name.  It's Friday so I feel I can reward myself guilt free.  I picked some arugula and dill today that I have planted in the community garden at work so I will attempt to make an arugula and dill pesto with Newellton pecans.  The best thing about the tortellinis is that the cooking time is about 1 minute so very little time stands between your mouth and that cheesy little pasta treat. 

Today

I don't get it..

Can someone explain this fad to me?  I think some of the money from each purchase goes to charity, which is great, but damn these shoes are ugly.  With all the good looking, comfy shoes on the market this is what everybody is wearing.  I don't get it.  They look much uglier on than this picture suggests.

Nothing Cuter

Are You Kidding Me?!!!

Whenever it rains or there is any amount of moisture on the tennis courts, we get a call to come blow them off.  I haven't ever help with the task until today.  I now know that it's nearly impossible to remove small amounts of water from a very large, flat surface. 

Soaking

If Chris and I are ever fortunate enough to add a bathroom on to our house I would like to install a clawfoot tub.   Makes me think of Maine.

Whistler

Here are some Whistler highlights.  When I have more time I write captions and tell you all about it.