Project 365: April 2nd through April 8th

April 2nd: Dinner at Richard's and we brought this lemon butter cake for desert which Patrick made. We also brought over some of my homemade lemon curd which I can to go with it.


April 3rd: Drinks and dancing at Mummy's Restaurant downtown - well, we were actually watching several bellydancers, including Sean's sweet lady Bridie.


Bridie dancing at Mummy's Restaurant.


Decorations at Mummy's Restaurant.


Dinner at Le Happy with Jen and Patrick. This was amazing - I got the coconut cream with toasted coconut crepe. I also had them add bananas and chocolate.


April 4th: Dinner with Jen and Patrick at Mio...salmon, tuna and yellowtail nigiri; double crunch roll; alaska roll with real crab; dragon roll; and sunset roll. Plate of nom!


April 5th: Work bathroom...the ladies have this sweet (and VERY handy) group of things which are handy - hairspray, spray deodorant, moisturizer, flossing picks etc...just using a bathroom 2000+ other people are not using is pleasing enough.


April 6th: Getting a massage on a sunny afternoon. I love the space of this gal...


April 7th: Late night at the B Side with Vincent, Mindy and Sean...this is the girl's room.


April 8th: All in a day! Got a pile of clearance sweaters and tank tops at Old Navy plus a pile from Ulta using my 20% off: Stila One Step Correct, Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer, Korres Pomegranate Deep Cleansing Exfoliant, Sebastian Potion #9 Smoothstepper, Urban DecayPrimer potion, OPI nail polish in Gouda Gouda Two Shoes, Rimmel nail polish in English Rose, Rimmel base & top coat and shimmery rose lip pencil by NYX Cosmetics.

Project 365: February 20th through February 26th

February 20th: First flower of the year popped up in the front yard - a gorgeous pink anemone.


February 21st: Paul over for snacks and neighborhood association discussion. I made dragonfruit and strawberry salad plus cucumber sandwiches on rye bread.


February 22nd: At the Beaverton Library for leadership training with the mayor's office.


February 23rd: And the crocus are beginning to come up - the yellow always come up before the blue purple.


The girls...sans one...


February 24th: Scott's 50th Birthday party - my goal is to age half as gracefully!


Stop two - hanging out with Wendy, Aaron and Erynn at the Lovecraft.


The Love Craft


February 25th: Stop one...champagne and girl time at Korina's awesome house.


The proposal - stop two... Hanging out at the Horse Brass for Michael's birthday where he had just proposed to the ever sweet Eden. My drink of choice to polish out the night? Framboise...


February 26th: Naked lady party at Marla's awesome house watching the roaring Yule log fire with Christmas music.

Project 365: February 13th through February 19th

February 13th: One of my new rings...flower power...


February 14th: Assessing the yard which needs a weeding something fierce. These are some anemone bulbs about to come up and you can see violas in the background.


February 15th: An example of me and Jen's texts to each other...we are both huge asparagus fans so I send her things like this when I find the super thin asparagus at Fred Meyer for such a cheap price.


February 16th: Reorganizing my dressing area. Starting from the left I found a amber glass and metal hanger which fits my fancy scarfs, mask and headbands well freeing up tons of space on my dresser. I added some nice hooks beside the mirror for all my necklaces since they were all much too long for my jewelry box which is in the center. Patrick added two floating shelves above the mirror which freed more space also on the dresser which I added my vases to etc. I added my 'M' hook to the right side of the mirror to hang a few more scarves from and hung more necklaces under that. I found a trash can which matched all the new cups and such I got to fit my makeup brudhes and such in. And finally I found a fleur de lis wreath door hook which we cannot use anywhere and just had which works perfect on the bedroom door which I now hang all my shawls from. Patrick was giggling that I made my side of the room all girlie.


Visiting my friend Lilith for some girl time...this is one of her sweet kitties who adores me.


February 17th: Mexican Trains Dominoes crack...on my way to Lilith's the night prior I grabbed this set and was delighted to discover my $22 bought a very nice game indeed.


Late in the evening Jen joined us for dinner. Patrick made this amazing angel food cake based on an Alton Brown recipe which we topped with macerated strawberries and fresh whip cream. We all agreed it was the best angel food cake we have ever had hands down.


February 18th: Patrick's amazing mead has now been bottled for 23 bottles total. He corked it all and added foils. We are now just waiting for the labels.


February 19th: Sushi lunch with Clinton, Annie and Jen.

December 31st, 2011

I have been experimenting lately with oranges and canning. Here is a latest creation - blood orange sauce.

Project 365: January 9th through January 15th

January 9th: The bestest Christmas gift/card was from our sweet neighbor's kitty...


January 10th: At Baby Ketten karaoke with Brant, Amber Rose, Wendy and Caroline at Mississippi Pizza Pub


January 11th: Dinner of roasted chicken, sauteed asparagus and salad with shrimp and yogurt Caesar Parmesan dressing.


January 12th: Our awesome friends Jason and Kelly always send us awesome gifts...this time they sent a pack of Christmas cat nip toys which the kitties, clearly, like.


January 13th: New spring plants added to the coffee table to perk up the house.


January 14th: The amaryllis bloomed again but it was so heavy it broke so, in a vase it went. But it looks lovely with my new pink hyacinth which just started blooming.


January 15th: Ummm...wow... I ran to Home Goods to get some candles and found this "bookend" which was labeled "genuine horn"...lol...just wow....

November 10th, 2011 Lemon Ginger Marmalade

A few weeks ago I made some of my lemon ginger marmalade.


Skinning the lemons and being careful to avoid the pith.


Slicing up the zest.


Cutting the pith off the fruit and removing the seeds.


Cutting up the fruit.


Peeling the ginger.


And then cutting up the ginger.


Boiling the lemon and ginger.


Mmmmm marmalade...


Labeling the jars...