I had a lovely visit with the Grandboy–we kidnapped him yesterday after a nice brunch with him, daughter and SIL. The weather yesterday was epic suxxorz, pouring goddamned rain all. day. long. without a pause. So we made cashew butter cookies, he played some video games, we watched “Up In Smoke” because I think every kid needs to be aware of the drug humor of previous generations (we can’t let them think it all started with Harold and Kumar now, can we?), listened to some random music and shot the shit. I got a text message from my daughter at 0430 saying she got a text message from Jr in the middle of the night saying he couldn’t sleep, then she called at 0530 saying she wanted to come get him before work–I was all WTF? Anyway, I let her know I’d take him home today and he was sleeping just fine–as a matter of fact he and Himself didn’t roll outta bed until nearly ten. I asked the grandboy about the late night text message and he didn’t believe me–checked his phone and was rather perplexed–we guess he’s texting in his sleep now! So we had the usual blueberry pancakes and he accompanied me on my daily errands since he wasn’t overjoyed about spending the day alone at his house. We finished up at a local coffee house enjoying a nice mocha for me (mocha milkshake for him) and bagels for both of us. He’s so much fun to be around, just a joy… We got him a new camera for Solstice and he amused himself by taking video of me at the coffee house which I’m sure will end up Crazy Talked into something horrible…
I stocked up on ten pounds of fresh garlic cloves so I can do the epic roast garlic paste thing tomorrow morning, om nom nom. Right now I have lentil soup with the leftover roast lamb chopped up in it simmering on the stove waiting for Himself to get done with the retard he’s helping and have dinner. Fresh sourdough bread to go with, slurp. I bought the Grandboy a loaf of artisan Italian bread as well, since he’s a bread junkie and was thinking of buying it himself–that’s what grandmas are for, right?
It dumped snow last night and today large sections of the Southeast part of Portland are impacted with flooding from the Johnson Creek watershed–the small creeks are overrunning their banks something fierce… This weather is so freakish!
Hugs, trouts and yeehaws as appropriate–gotta go stir me soup!
Here’s the recipe for the lamb shanks, gt. They got a five-star rating from The Boy and the Lumbering Git tonight, so I do believe I’ll add them to my regular rotation.
I did make a few changes, though… first, I had the butcher slice the shanks up into 1" pieces, because I find whole shanks can be a bit unwieldy. I also marinated them in the Berbere Marinade for an hour or so beforehand, rather than browning and then basting with the marinade afterwards like the recipe calls for. And lastly, I used a small can of plum tomatoes instead of fresh, mostly because the fresh ones at the store looked and smelled like green cardboard (ugh).
Sorry the pup didn’t work out, gotti. Good thing you were able to decide he wouldn’t be a good fit so early on, though… it’s better for all of you this way. I’m sure they’ll find a family that’s a perfect fit for destructive rambunctiousness.
shadow, that yarn is gor-gee-us (and the shawl pattern they used to show it off is awful purty too). It makes me jealous of all the mad knitting skillz contained in the MMP, which somehow seem to have passed me by.
Pretty yarn, Shadow! Which dark green did you get, Cypress or Sherwood Forest? I like them both; actually I like all the colors. Just out of curiosity, how does the yarn compare to Misti alpaca? Not quite an equal comparison since Misti is alpaca and this is alpaca/merino, but I’ve been pleased with all the other Elann yarns I’ve bought so if I’m in the market for laceweight any time in the future, it would be nice to know. Although currently I’ve got 6 oz (1800 yards total) of Blackberry Ridge merino/silk laceweight to use for my niece’s wedding shawl, and it would be hard to find a laceweight that’s lovelier. Feels like pure heaven.
Ten pounds of fresh garlic cloves? Wow, that’s enough to keep vampires out of the whole city of Portland!
It should be bedtime. I made a ladybug dishcloth for my kid. The doggies have been out to pee. **FCD **is watching Heavy Metal - what a stoopit movie that is! I’m going to watch something else in bed.
I guess my vacation is now officially over. <insert deep, sad sigh, wailing, gnashing of teeth, and copious whining>
¡grñeeeeeeec! (that was brakes, they’re Spanish brakes)
Not back in my place yet but I figured I’d drop by and wish y’all a better new year than the last.
We’re baptizing the kidlette today. She’s going to be the Baby Jesus in the big Mass on the Epiphany - the Proud Parents thought that, since there are other babies of appropriate size around, it might be someone else, but the priests questioned their sanity: “no no no, we’re not asking anybody else, actually we’re not asking you guys either, y’all are going to be the Holy Family and that’s it unless you happen to have a hotel booked somewhere. Do you have something to dress the Kidlet up as one of the Shepherds?”
Since she’s #2 and in perfect health (plus these three years of having his inlaws at home have made Middlebro start appreciating his bio family), we’re being able to handle her a lot more than the Kidlet. When I make her grab my thumbs and lift her torso, she doesn’t let her head loll, she follows the movement and looks around when she’s up. Her favorite spot is leaning against anybody’s shoulder, as high up as possible. Excuse me while I go clean up the drool from the keyboard…
love that email, Mooom
I’m beginning to dislike four-day weekends - by Friday night, I’ve rested so much I can’t get to sleep. Now it’s 2am and in order to sleep I’ll have to take another pain pill, which means I won’t wake up early enough to make going in to the office for overtme worth it.
I’ll be thankful for Monday, but a full week after two half weeks is going to be rough
Up and semi-functional - at least enough to get to the MMP…
If the kid was accurate in her message to us yesterday, they’re on the road now - they intended to leave Jacksonville around 7. If traffic is normal, that would get them here between 6 and 7 this evening. So I need to be sure to cover their bed with wrapping paper late enough that the stoopit cat won’t mess it all up and early enough that I’m not doing it as they walk in the door.
Big fun today - we’re going to the dump. Rah. We’ve got a bunch of scrap wood to be rid of - the kind you can’t burn safely for firewood - and several full trashcans. I intend to do 1 or 2 loads of laundry, depending upon how much I’ve got, since the kids will likely monopolize the machine tomorrow. Yeah, I know, you wish you had my life…
I woke up to find the pantry door and one base cabinet door wide open - stoopit cat! All Brandy ever did was open the bottom hutch drawer. This guy gets into everything! He’d be really annoying if he wasn’t so funny.
I was looking at some Misti Alpaca on Alpaca Direct, since I need something to push me over the $50 free shipping threshold that the Denise needles are just short of. 5 cents short, to be precise. It’s either the yarn or extra cables/end caps/connectors for the needles. At the moment I have about 4 projects waiting to be started once I get these things. They had better be good. Hmmm. But, I’d hate to get fancy yarn only to find out my skin is too sensitive to use it.
I had a run-in with the cutest puppy yesterday. (OK, not really a puppy, but they’re all puppies to me.) As I was walking to the train, the dog kind of blocked the sidewalk and sniffed me. So, of course I started petting him. Then he jumped up and tried to put his paws on my shoulders (he was too short) for more attention. He was so funny. His owner looked pensive when he jumped, but relaxed when he realized that I wasn’t mad at the dog. I have no idea what kind of dog he was, but he made my day.
Whoops battery is about to die…Must find plug. Later all!
{{{{{{{{{SpazCat}}}}}}}}}, sorry that your visit has been unhappy. We’re still here for you, though.
I am so confused as to what day it is! And like Rosie, my sleep schedule is all messed up (yes, I got up in the middle of the night too … unable to sleep) and while I’ll be glad to get back to work on Monday (I can’t believe I just admitted that!), am also wondering just how I’ll be able to cope with a normal, 5-day week! Ah, why can’t I have Jeannie or Samantha power and not have to work?! lol
Thanks for the hugs. Mountain Friend and I had A Talk after he got home, so we went out. New Guy came too. :rolleyes: We froze his ass off giving him the midnight tour of Asheville, though. I laughed mercilessly.
I’m taking off to explore some trails today to give them some time to make out --again. (heavy sighMEN) NG’s working this afternoon, so MF is mine.
The good thing is MF’s uncle has the number of many HNIC’s in regards to education in this area. The bad thing is I may have to go back to high school teaching. The good thing is with a Master’s degree I’ll have access to a higher pay grade and employment in private schools. Also I’ve been panic attack free for over a year, so I think I can handle it better. I’d still prefer teaching composition/ESL in a community college though. Or archiving. One must take what one can get in these harsh economic times. I’m just glad I Know People.
Shadow, that voicemail fiasco is…dayum. At least you’re guaranteed some entertainment next week. FCM, are you sure you didn’t get Houdini reincarnated as a cat? Yarnies, I have no idea what any of you are talking about hugs embroidery materials. Bobbio, I eagerly await your story. Rest of you, have a good Caturday!
Howdy Y’all! I’ve been productive. I made brekkies (link sausages and pancakes), made cheesestraws for tonight’s Epiphany party at a church member’s house, and made a corn casserole and two gallons of tea for brunch after church tomorrow. Tomorrow is the annual Parish meeting in which we elect new Vestry members and other stuff. I was asked to run for Vestry but declined. What with a still newish work gig and all, I don’t wanna take on sump’n else right now.
Last night, ol’ y’all know who got his breakfast birthday supper. This was followed by quality hot tub time with champagne. Then I gave him his birthday “present.”
Oh, and last load of laundry is about to come out of the dryer. Yay me! Soon it shall be nappypoo time methinks.
Good morning! I, too, woke up in the middle of the night, listened to something interesting on the radio, came over to the computer and found the broadcast because I missed who they were talking to (it was the Governor of the Bank of Canada, one of Carrie Gracie’s best interviews of 2008, according to her; it’s the second interview in the broadcast, I think). Fell asleep again and woke up just in time to hear a really cool story on Weekend Edition about a partnership between the Baltimore Symphony and Harriet Tubman Elementary. Here’s the blog link with video and here’s the link where you can hear the broadcast. Warning: extremely warm and fuzzy story.
Wow, sleeptexting…there’s a new one! Grandboy sounds like lots of fun.
Shadow, sounds like you have the best possible attitude towards your work situation. I’m still hoping they know what’s good for them and keep you on. Anyway, I always love your knitting stories and pictures (everyone’s, really). You’re creating some beautiful stuff.
Thanks for the recipe link, Muppet. Sounds yummy. I’ve added it to the blog, including a link to your post for the modifications.
Need to get going on my day. Want to go to Joann’s, Trader Joe’s, Home Depot and several other places I can’t think of right now.
Then I’ll be coming home to work on house stuff. Need to finish re-organizing the office (got close, but not quite done before Mom’s visit).
Busy morning - we’ve been to the dump, so the house is mostly trash-free now. The kids actually got underway just before 8, and she called about 40 minutes ago - they’d just crossed into South Carolina.
**FCD **has been futzing in the garage/shop again, and I’ve got a load of towels in the dryer and miscellaneous stuff in the washer. I’m going back downstair to clean up some more.
Oh yeah, idiot Cleo spent the night in the laundry room. She must have followed one of us into the back of the basement and got shut in back there. Stoopit cat.
Good morning one and all. I’m up and the coffee is brewing.
We need to dash out and buy birthday presents for my daughter today. Her birthday is tomorrow. Unfortunately, she has to work tomorrow, so we’ll take her to breakfast, brunch, or lunch. It’s her call.
Tonight, we’re going to a friend’s house to celebrate her birthday and play 99. We’ve gotten her and some other friends hooked on the game.
I slept much better last night - bed at 9:30, up at 6:00. Mr Rebo got up at 3:15! Around 6:30 he starts talking about breakfast - I just kinda looked at him. He made breakfast! Sausage and french toast, yum!
Then I took the idgits to the park. They had a blast as usual! Home and bathed the mutts, then I put the prime rib bones in the oven to brown for stock. They’re smelling so good! I was gonna make soup today, but all the recipes and Dopers say cook the stock for 8 hours or more, then cool and skim the fat. So I’ll do that, and we’ll have something else tonight. I’m thinking Mexican…
I have 9.5 lbs of garlic roasting in da oven–first thing in the morning, I think we’re clinically insane that we think that’s a cool thing. I have to get it all baked, grunched and freezing before 1400 when Himself starts work. We have another laptop coming in for a build today as well, guess when it rains it pours!
Speaking of which, we’ve been having all kinds of flooding around here from Johnson Creek–this video was shot about a mile from my house. What you can’t see in the video is that behind the guy standing in the flood is a nice little hill that raises the level of Foster about 30-40 feet and runs north and east, diverting the floodwater around the base of the hill. I’m on a shoulder of that hill, just a tad higher than the neighborhoods that are flooding all over the place just to the north and west of me. Trippy–I tried to drive down Harold St but it was closed for about a mile due to a small stream turning the street into a mini-river. Several other areas are underwater but they’re mostly spots that do this on a regular basis and people are used to it. It’s a trip…
Speaking of flooding and related issues, our stacked washer/dryer appears to have given up the ghost–bearing seized in the washer. We’re looking at replacing it and I’ve been doing some pricing out but what neither of us wants to deal with is that the laundry really needs to be replumbed, and what’s really fun about my house is that there’s no way to shut off the water to just a part of the house, nor is there an outside stopcock on the main to shut it off–it has to be turned off at the street with the big key thingy. So doing any sort of plumbing means the whole house is without water for the duration. We’re trying to figure out a way to build the entire piece, feed it up through the roof and just cut and butt the main pipe to the laundry room to minimize the time the water’s out. Stoopit appliances…
We shoulda seen it coming, GT, he talks in his sleep all the time so texting is just a natural progression of sorts!
Whew, the garlic is making my eyes water–ouch, but at the same time, neat!
Howdy, all. I slept a little better – not good, but better. But at least I do feel more human today.
Maybe you should put an extra litter box and water bowl back in the laundry room, just in case, FCM. With those two cats, it sounds like a good idea. Especially Taz’s ability to sneak around everywhere and anywhere – he’s quite the cat!
Not much going on here today except I actually have some work I need to do. So Rosie’s sig to everybody, and I’ll be back eventually when I get sick of the whining. I did ten pages of this depo last night and could tell it’s going to be one long whine. Oh, goodie. :rolleyes:
