Lift

Let's get this tree cutting party started.

R2D2

Last weekend we had some errands to run.  The list for the store was growing.  Random stuff. 

Socks.
Cleaner.
Toothpaste.
Baggies.

As we walk in the store, Walt Kowalski heads right to the garden section.  He's drawn to it.  This weather has been so nice.

Walt Kowalski: "Look a smoker. We can smoke things."
Me: "How much does it cost?"
Walt Kowalski: "Only $34."
Me: "Let's start smoking, baby."

We bought R2D2. 

We came home and immediately got out the screwdrivers to put it together.

It was early in the afternoon, I'll have plenty of time to smoke.  AND I have some chicken thawing in the fridge.

What I didn't plan on was having to "cure" the smoker for 3 hours before the first use.  That added time.  Oil the smoker with vegetable oil, make a cool fire inside.  Oil some more.  Make a hot fire.  THEN I could add the food. 

I soaked the chicken in a brine in the meantime. (Next time I need a marinade.)
 
Finally, I got the chicken on, added the apple chips to the coals, added the water pan, put the lid on and waited. 

 
The electrician said that I might need several tires before I got it just right. 

Nope. 

We ate chicken at 9pm, but it was delicious apple smoked chicken.  I was planning broccoli and potatoes too, but the chicken was so good we didn't want anything else.

I added some dry seasonings as it was cooking.  Yummy.  I can't wait to find more recipes for marinades and dry rubs.  AND it's supposed to be nice again this weekend. 

(Nice dish rag and sponge in the background. )

Tea anyone?

The coffee tea cups and sleeves have different pictures on them. 


The first one I had there was a camera on the sleeve.

 

Then the next day, I realized that not only do the sleeves have pictures, but the cups have decorations, too.

 

 

Interesting combination.  I think my cup from the first day had a moustache. 

 

Day three:

 

 

Nice pearls.

 

 

Valentines

That Walt Kowalski is sneaky.  All I said was "I need a shower.  I will make dinner after I wash off this day."

When I got out of the shower...

I am a amazed I didn't smell them before I saw them.  Smelled like spring. 

And salted chocolate covered caramels, and chocolate covered pretzels, and a glass of wine.  He definitely helped wash off a hard day.  And there was a note that said "sharing is nice."

Of course.

Last weekend when we ran into the grocery for "just a minute" and had to elbow our way through the store, I paused to smell the Hyacinths.

He was paying attention.  Roses are pretty, but Hyacinths are pretty AND smell wonderful. 

His surprise gift...bacon brownies.  Brownies, covered in chocolate with a caramelized bacon topping.  Sweet AND salty.  Yes, there is a story behind them.  I'll post more after I make them.

Spring?

If you would have told me that last week we were going to be up to our knees in snow and this week it would have been so warm I could hang my clothes out on the line to dry, I would have said "You
crazy."

Nope.

 
Comforter is clean and smells great.  I love free drying.  Thank you Walt Kowalski for the clothes line!  It's high enough for him to walk under and not get "clothes lined" and low enough for me to reach it with a hanger.  Although, the next load I hung out to dry ran out of daylight.  I brought them inside mostly dry.

Walt Kowalski was washing cars. I think we *just* put the hose away.  Luckily, "away" wasn't far in the shed and back out it came. 

Walt Kowalski dressed himself this day.   J Actually, he had a different jacket on and when I came outside I said "What are you wearing? Is that your good jacket?  That's not play clothes." He tried to hide behind the truck and said I'll be careful.  He got a different jacket, but didn't have it on for more than 15 minutes because it was so warm.  No fire needed to keep warm today. 

I have to remind myself that it is still the end of January and February is just starting.  Some of our coldest and snowest days have been in February.  Tell that to my daffodils coming up. 

Snow, Concerts, and Dessert

As the snowstorm of the season approached and approached and approached.  Then it snowed and snowed and snowed.  Not the worst we've ever had, but so far the worst this season.  

 

Everything closed.  Saturday we shoveled and shoveled and shoveled.  Our afternoon plans were cancelled.  But what about our evening plans?  We have concert tickets.  We've had these concert tickets since November!

 

A quick phone call ensured the show would go on. Pizza was a well deserved reward for dinner after a day of shoveling.

 

 

 

The show was excellent.  It's one of our favorites.  I wouldn't call it a tribute band. Definitely not a cover band.  Not imitators or impersonators either. They play the music *exactly* like the album.  Exactly like the original. Wow.  Impressive.

 

 
And for dessert, a forgotten fundraiser.  WAY before Christmas, the neighbor girl sold chocolate covered pretzels and apples.  We had so many other goodies that it got pushed to the back of the fridge.  That was over a month ago. Maybe a month and a half by now. 

 
I know that apples last a long time in the fridge, but Walt Kowalski was concerned because of the stick.

No worries.

It was perfect and delicious. A tart, green apple covered in caramel, chocolate, chocolate pieces and drizzled in more chocolate.  Yum. Delicious.  Too much for one.  Glad I shared.

PS. I have a video of me sled riding with the neighbor's daughter.  I'll post that soon.

Lazy Saturday

A couple of Saturdays we weren't feeling it.  It was cold.  We were tired.  the list of things to do was long, but we just didn't have the motivation. 

The biggest thing we felt like doing was taking a nap. 

We were hungry, but didn't want anything to eat.  We were bored, but didn't want to do anything. 

We were just over everything.  Even the cats were tired. 

Yes, that's 3 cats in a basket.  Fudge was taking up the majority.  Oreo climbed in with him and Pepper Mama laid right on top. It was the sunny spot in the kitchen.  

A day a home was just what everyone needed. 

I found a movie on TV, put on the tea kettle, Walt Kowalski made a fire and we just hang out.  

The day wasn't a complete waste.  A huge sewing mending pile has accumulated. (I hate mending. Am I the last person on Earth that still mends?)

Walt Kowalski stumbled across it when he was cleaning out the back room.  Some things just went in the garbage; they were past repairs.  OK, they were past desire to repair. Others were fixable.  They are the hand-sewing fixes that take time.  Things like missing buttons.  I also had 3 hoodies that had ripped pocket seams.  We've all done it.  Get your pocket caught on the door knob.  You can still wear the hoodie, but now the pocket is flapping and makes it even easier to catch.

So I got out my cookie tin of sewing supplies and did some mending.  

FYI, I still haven't got my sewing machine fixed.  {bows head in shame.} Yes, Miss Wendy, I know.