Sorry, I'm No Fun!

Sorry I have been absent of late. I haven't forgot you all I just have been indisposed. The problem is really the disposal of a kidney stone that has taken up residence in the wrong spot (actually there is no right spot). I've spent a little time in the emergency room and a lot of sofa time. The dogs have made it clear that they want their space back! Mostly I have been in a drug induced stupor which is a little different from my normal stupor in that I can't even quilt. My greatest disappointment (from last Thursday on) is that I haven't been eating (yes, me not eating) food and the smell of it has made me sick. I have been consuming gallons of liquids and no..... I have not lost one ounce not a pound. How is this possible? My one consoling thought has been that I will have probably lost a dress size and people won't recognize the new slim me but--- no worries --there is no improved me. Maybe if I loose the kidney stone I'll loose some weight........ how much could a stone weigh? I'll be back soon at least a stone lighter.

My Perfect Weekend

This weekend my son, JR, came for a visit from California. He had a happy reunion with the dogs and played with the grandkids who were thrilled to have a new playmate. As a mother it just doesn't get any better than to have both of your children, son-inlaw and all the grandchildren together at once! Perfect!

Cllearly, the new car was also a big hit!

Back To Bread

I've been baking again- not that my girlish figure benefits from this! I was inspired from the December 9, 2007 post on the blog by Breadbasketcase http://www.breadbasketcase.blogspot.com/ . She had been baking from the recipe at Cook's Illustrated February 2008 magazine that had a no-knead bread recipe. I gave it a try and substituted my sourdough starter (about a quarter cup) for the vinegar and got what you see above and below. The one on top is olive and Parmesan. I tried the green olive, rosemary and Parmesan and liked it but really thought maybe Kalamata's would be better- I'll let you know. Anyway, this article touted using a Dutch oven to get the crispy crust and we had an old one- see bottom picture- and I found this works much better than the pan and ice cubes or spraying water into the oven! It's a sacrifice if it's a new pan but in the magazine they show one that can be had for under $40. I love this method and have been using it for my other recipes. It's embarrassingly easy!

Only One To Go

While everyone else has been taking down their Christmas trees and getting organized for the year to come, I have been working on my next quilt. I admit to being a bit obsessive about my projects. I only have one block to applique and I can start the final shuffle and decide where to place them. If I can find more of this fabric, I might but some more fabric between the blocks to allow more quilting space. Decisions!

Fun In The Snow!

The Dober's have been enjoying all the snow- who needs a snow plow?



As much fun as the snow is, Violet still loves her bed!

You're probably sick of snow scenes but the sunsets and mornings have been really lovely---

Dumber Than Dirt

I freely admit that I am technically challenged. I had one of those happy ideas that cause all kinds of grief when I couldn't load pictures into my photobucket. After the third or fourth failed attempt (no one said I was bright either!) I figured out I was at capacity and needed to open new albums- well, then I decided why not organize all my photos in the bucket? I just got busy and ignored that little warning sign that kept coming up about links, etc. and moved all the photos attached to the blog! Clever, no? After a panicked phone call to Heather, she was able to restore my banner and the rose by Greenie Gardens and make me understand my stupid mistake. But I now had no photos to go with the archives on my blog, not wanting to go back and try to figure out what went where, I erased most of the old blogs. So--- I have decided to just do posts of the subjects I wrote about- dogs, house, quilts, roses, garden, my California garden and house, maybe some cooking etc. Sorry if you have seen some of the pictures before! So that's my latest hairbrained idea.

This is always my wacky time of year. For example the major things that are going to go wrong with the house, car, etc. usually happen about now. This year is not much different. I had a lovely day yesterday working on my blog, taking photographs, cooking, my basic favorite activities -- and then it all started--- I went upstairs to start a load of laundry and the gray box that controls the washer with it's automatic shut-off valve wouldn't work --- for no known reason. It has been working perfectly for the last year and now-- won't let the water come to the washer---grrrrrrr. The room is only big enough for the door plus the washer and dryer stacked on top of eachother and -- yep the panel is behind the stupid thing. I am able to wedge
my not so slim body into the space on the side and feel what is in the box but not see it. Well, a call to the plumber--Happy New Year. Next, in frustration I go back to the computer, have a glass of wine and work on a posting. John comes up behind me and decides to point to something on the screen and-- you guessed it --- wine all over the computer. First I just wanted to panic, they I wanted to do serious damage to John and finally we mopped up what we could and pulled the battery out. After a lot of time with the hair dryer and the hose on the back of the vacuum blowing air-- it works but with a little damage to the screen--did I mention he hurled it everywhere? Oh and the garage door is barely opening-- you have to help the opener open it. They say bad things come in three's but I've found it's more multiples of three's. It's looking like 2008 is going to be an expensive year!

Roses Continued

Rose- O-Mania

Roses Keep On Coming