Nice OP, MamaTigs, and I love all the photos. I want that Samoyed!
The berry tart turned out great, although not as visually pleasing as it could have been. The crust was a bit uneven and the raspberries got a bit smooshed when I mixed in the glaze. Next time I might try mixing all the berries separately and arranging them in the crust, instead of just throwing then all in together.
The weather looks lovely today. I hope it lasts.
Hee! What happened was the little house we were staying in had little furniture in it, plus snowbunny needed a small desk for her cabin, so we found a really cute one at the thrift store that supports the local animal shelter. But Papa Tigs stole it for while we were there so he’d have somewhere to sit besides the couch to play computer games, plus we found him a comfy $12 desk chair that he used. So if you look carefully, that’s his arm sitting on his legs.
The desk was a perfect fit in snowbunny’s cabin, too. Now she can test her furniture stripping and staining to make it match the rest of the wood in there. 
Idaho truly is a gorgeous place – in the northern half; the southern half (where they grow the potatoes) is high desert, so it’s a different kind of gorgeous, one that takes some getting used to to appreciate, kind of like most of Wyoming. But the northern half is filled with mountains, lakes, fragrant forests, and the cleanest air imaginable. I’d recommend you all visit, but I suspect the folks who live there prefer to keep it for themselves! 
I stayed up waaaay too late last night composing the OP and then getting a bunch of work done, and I truly did not want to get out of bed this morning. Except even with the windows open and the ceiling fan on, it was getting a bit too warm to stay in bed, so try as I might I couldn’t manage to stay asleep, to the cat’s disappointment. She’d prefer me to be a bedridden invalid, I suspect. So I’m vertical and caffeinating and enjoying the pretty morning.
I hope everyone in the US takes a moment to appreciate what today is all about, and those of you elsewhere have a good Monday!
I’ve heard that Idaho is gorgeous and I need to visit it, and now I see it’s true. Love the pic of the toes going in the water. Brrr! The bird sanctuary looks cool as nails, too.
Thanks, swampy, for the compliment. I’d share it with Daughter, but somehow the news that a middle aged gay guy in Georgia finds her “lurvely” doesn’t strike me as the most welcome of news to her…
The service sounds nice,** Nava**. A funeral is so easy to get oh, so wrong–and then (IMO) it just makes the grieving harder for all. I’m glad all could be there for him.
I have to tackle a largish yew bush today. I’d post pics, but have none. I need to take some of all my hard work. It rained hard last night, but was over with quickly, so we only got .25 of an inch (and what number would that be, anyway? I so suck at math.)
We shall see. I decided just a little bit ago that every day when I come home from work, the first question will be “How’s the job search going?”
Or is that too subtle??
Daughter and I got our picture redone, and we even bought an extra that looked really nice. We should get them by June 18. I hope.
I’ve got a load of clothes in the washer, and I’ve got 4 or 5 boxes downstairs that I’m going to empty, sort, discard/repack as required. That’s pretty much my plans for the day. Oh, and them strawberries need to be cleaned. I intend to make this holiday rather holiday-like.
**rigs ** - .25 is a quarter of an inch.
Beautiful pics, Mama Tigs! I envy the time you had to enjoy the mountains. We saw a bit of scenery in Denver, but it was only one day.
Today has been non-productive so far. I fixed breakfast, and then Dad and I took the dogs to the dog park. Blaze is feeling much better. Pretty soon I’m gonna go pick up dog poop in the back yard. Envy me my exciting life! :rolleyes:
We are so pissed off. The damn new door is warped! It doesn’t seal at the top. So now Home Depot will have a fight on their hands, since I’m sure they’re gonna argue about a replacement. In the meantime, we have a half-installed door. 
This could take a while, too.
I better go pick up the poop, so Mr Rebo can mow when he gets back from reaming Home Depot’s ass. Then I’ll pick another room to clean. Eeny, meeny, miney, mo…
Nice OP there, Tigs! Excellent pictures, beautiful scenery, amazingly cute puppehs and snowbunny’s itty bitty cabin is the bomb! Idaho looks a lot like Oregon and Washington but it’s very apparent that the ocean currents around here keep the weather much more clement–that’s a whole buncha snow there! I like our minimal snowfall, usually just enough to give us a taste and keep us on our toes but seldom enough to be really scary/inconvenient.
Waitaminute, FCM, you have your newlyweds living with you and they aren’t employed? How’s that happen? You are a much nicer mom than I–I’m way too much of a “boot 'em out the nest soonest” mom to handle that. I’ve shared a house with my son, but we were both working and it was much more of a standard roommate situation for us. Are you planning on this as a long term situation?
I’d like this to be a more holiday-ey day but doesn’t look like it–we’ve had an unexpected result at work and today looks like a heavy duty R&D day since there won’t be fifty gazillion phone calls and people dropping by… :rolleyes: Entrepreneurship is sometimes overrated!
Now if I could just pry Himself outta bed…
It’s too subtle. I vote for How’s the job search going?!
They weren’t tuxes, Mahna, they were tailcoats, dammit. M. would have a fit! And it was before 6 which meant that… oh, never mind. They did look dapper. And that prom probably led pretty directly into eight years of bellydance class, by convincing me it was fun to dance.
Back from shopping. Baby’s in bed, some stuff got sold, Mommy’s eating lunch. (N. O.L.)
I forgot to post the recipe for the Chicken Merlot with Mushrooms we had the other night. It was very good! I served it with buttered noodles and broccoli/corn medley.
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken (I used thighs and breasts together)
1 6 oz can tomato paste
3/4 c chicken stock
1/4 cup Merlot (or other red wine, or more chicken stock)
2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca (this was interesting - it thickened the sauce quite nicely)
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons dried basil
salt and pepper
Place the mushrooms, onions and garlic in the slow cooker. Top with chicken pieces. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over the chicken. Cook 5-6 hours on low. (I’m sure it would be fine if cooked longer.)
Tonight I’m grilling some steak kebabs, and having twice-baked NOT and salad.
I still haven’t gone outside. It’s noon and it’s HOT out there! (It’s in the 90’s! <whine>)
Good morning my little sunshines!
Those were beautiful pics Mama Tigs!
Another day has begun here at the Tater’s casa. I’m up, only because I asked my husband to wake me up somewhat early. I had yet another sleepless night due to the damn itchies. The itchies have somwhat improved during the day, but the really hit me at night.
In a short while I’ll have to get myself cleaned up and head to the grocery store to get the fixings for tater salad. Our friend is hosting a BBQ at his place and I’ve been asked to bring my tater salad. We haven’t had it since, well, probably last fall. It’ll be really good to have some again. It’s sinful, so I think I’ll leave any leftovers at our friend’s house.
The boys are getting ready to head over to said friend’s house to help spread bark. I’m not sure if the bark supply place is even open today, but they’re going to try.
Giggle…we just had a quickie 'precitation session so I had to quit posting for a bit.
I plan on calling my long lost hairdresser today. I rediscovered her when I took my daughter for prom updo. I called her yesterday but she wasn’t working and didn’t have her books with her. She asked me to call her today, so we can set up an appointment. As you all can see by the pics I posted in last week’s MMP, I am in serious need of a haircut and color. I’m thinking of going a little shorter, definitely sleeker, with some layering throughout and shaping it around the face. I’ve go so much damn hair and it grows so quickly.
It sounds like your the service for your cousin was very nice Nava.
Pie, I hope today is a better day for you.
I should get busy. Laterz!
Thanks **FCM ** and **Dotty ** for the recipes, they have been added to the blog.
Hugs all around to the MMP, it sounds like everyone needs them.
**MamaTigs ** I loved the pictures!! It looks like you had a great time and I want to see pictures of the inside of **snowbunny’s ** log cabin now!!
Been a busy weekend around here, we cleaned the living room and bathroom from top to bottom. Washed walls, ceilings, the whole bit. Living room also got rearranged. It’s looking nice in here now. All hubby has left to do is hook up his tv and speaker stuff. All I see are pieces are equipment and a zillion cords laying around the floor, lol.
I think I need a nap today.
Nap? What is this nap thing you speak of MCUNE?
The way it happened, at our invitation - they moved from Florida to Maryland. Daughter was interviewed for a teaching position in the county - decisions haven’t been made yet. Son in law has filled out a couple of applications. His background is almost entirely working at an Orlando theme park. He’s intending to go back to school in January, but in the interim, he said he’d get a job. They’ve been here a week. That’s where we are now.
Frankly, I’m not too pleased that he has only gone out one of the days that he’s been here to fill out applications. Hence my more subtle approach starting tomorrow. Depending upon the answers, it might get ugly…
And the reason they’re living with us is so he can go back to school and they can save up for a place of their own. Again, at our invitation.
Wow, FCM, I hope SIL gets his ass in gear, because frankly, I wouldn’t put up with that crap, not for long anyway.
You’d think he’d WANT to get going and get a job so they wouldn’t have to be dependent upon you and FCD. There’s nothing wrong with accepting a little help once in a while, but you gotta work to get yourself out of situations that require that kind of help.
Hubby just called and reported the bark supply place doesn’t open until eleven, so he’s coming back to the house with some Jack in the Box supreme croissants and then he’ll head out again.
**Taters ** - trust me, we’re not going to put up with it either. It’d be one thing if he was out every day applying everywhere. It’s quite another when he play on his computer all day…
I’m up! Leave me alone! Mama Tigs, nice OP, even if it did take a while to read what with all the clickin’.
I ended up passing out at some point around 4 (no alcohol or anything, just tired), which meant that I forgot to take my bedtime medicines, and I MISSED A DOSE OF ANTIBIOTICS :eek: :eek: :eek: If anyone gets antibiotic-resistant prostatitis, it’s my fault. Sorry 'bout that.
Not going to do a whole lot around here today. Once I can peel myself away from here, it’s going to be clean-up day, because my room is messy as all get out.
People are getting together for a bbq today. I suppose I can scare up a chicken salad in the next hour or so.
I think Victorian Heroine might be there. This should be interesting.
Haze, fingers crossed for a quiet and drama-free BBQ that is as uninteresting as possible.
donkeybear, I scoff in the face of your uber-cooties as I am prostate-free and am immune to their inflammation rays. Nyah nyah!
FCM, fingers crossed that the come-to-Jesus talk worked and that SIL gets his butt into gear. Job hunting is never fun, but it’s one of those things you have to do when you’re a grown up (and when you’ve got a wife, you are a grownup, like it or not)… maybe he should consider applying to temping agencies? They’re usually so ecstatic to get an applicant who speaks English and can type that they won’t be too concerned about the fact that he’s heading back to school in a few months.
LiLi, I’m not too worried about any fits from M about my lack of expertise in men’s dress clothing. For one, it’s awfully hard to hear him screaming from all the way over in Hawaii.
I’m in total midafternoon carbo-drift thanks to a bowl of pasta and a piece of white cake. If anyone needs me, I’ll be taking one of them nap things McUne speaks of.
NO! I want drama, dammit. Just don’t go near the grill alone, kay?
Re the newlyweds: it’s good to get the expectations out there, but I do feel a need to advocate (slightly) for new groom. He just got married and moved in with his inlaws. He’s had a week to “adjust” (me, I’d need major drugs, a lobotomy and would rather be dead, but hey! that’s just me), so go easy on him (to some extent). There should be plenty of placed needing summer help–if only of the amusement park variety (do they use temps in such places?). Please tell me he’s going back for some type of college degree. And please tell me they are going to look for a place as soon as she gets employment…
Rigs–who hates the very idea of anyone living with inlaws, even if the inlaw is me.
I got stymied by a 4th grade social studies project that #2 son has no clue of the due date. :rolleyes: We have to build a shoebox sized float (with wheels) depicting the state of California. So far, we have the base, the coastline, some “gold nuggets” (goldrush), some Lego movie people, some tiny dinosaurs and an Elmer’s glue “LaBrea tarpit” and ? There have to be 5 things. I say he use the mini California license plate that his uncle got him (has his name on it) and be done. Thoughts?
So, might do yew bush today, might not. Not feeling particularly ambitious.
FCM–of course it is. I knew that. :smack:
Thanks, Mahna. Actually she doesn’t know about The Guy and I - at least, I think she doesn’t. He didn’t tell her, anyway. I’m probably just nervous because of my own guilt. :smack:
Currently eating leftover pasta out of a Ziplock bag. Not one of my more couth moments.
ETA: rigs, the float should include a gay couple getting married. 
And yes, I’ll stay away from the grill, at least when VH is around.
**rigs ** - he is going to pursue a BS or BA, starting at the junior college. But they’re going to live here for at least 2 years, possibly longer. Especially if they have a kid in the interim. That’s fine - we said they could stay until he graduates, provided he’s in school full time.
And I know he needs to adjust - I’m really not a total harridan. But he’s made a lot of noise about getting a job but not taking a lot of action. The mixed signals are the source of concern. I’m still being nice to him, and I’m bitching to the MMP. Win-win.