HOME!

We've done it.  We bought a house (See photo from last post).  It's an adorable colonial, right in the city.  It's convenient to work, and within biking distance to a lot of necessities: grocery store, pharmacy, ice cream shop, etc.   Hardwoods throughout, tons of closet space, updated kitchen, basement, attic, and garage.  We LOVE it!!!!! 

We hung out with our next door neighbors tonight, they had a campfire in their yard...they're really cool.   

Because of all this  transition, I've been neglecting online, I've been on vacation all week, unpacking and settling into our new house.  We couldn't be happier!  I'll post photos of the new place soon ! ( as soon as I unpack the camera cord!)

Could it be? Yes, it could.
Something's coming, something good,
If I can wait!
Something's coming, I don't know what it is,
But it is
Gonna be great!

PizzaPizza

We had just a wee bit of ham and pineapple leftover from our Easter supper.  

So tonight, I made Pizza.  Hawaiian Pizza.

First, I made the best pizza dough I have ever made:

It came out awesome, I don't know why, or how.  Perhaps the stars were in alignment? Or maybe all the kneading I didn't go by time, like I usually do, but by feel).  Also, my mom's been telling me for years to use this particular recipe...for some reason I never listened until now....Should've listened sooner!  Anyway,  the dough was awesome, it stretched beautifully, and didn't bubble up while cooking!! 

I call this picture "Pizza in afternoon sun."  The sunlight was coming directly through our back windows (we had the curtains open) and onto the stove where I was assembling the pizza...

A closeup of deliciousness to come...

Since it's just the two of us, and I only have one pizza stone, the rest of the dough I made into personal pizza size, and baked it off to freeze for quick pizza suppers later!

Aha! The final product! Isn't it beautiful???

Springtime Porn...

We went for a walk this evening, instead of just hitting up the gym.  On our way back up our driveway, I spotted it:

The first dandelion...fighting it's way between the driveway and retaining wall...

Then, I went back to snap a photo of my daffodils and flamingos:

On our way in the back door, I snapped this photo, prompting the title of this post:

That's right, I think those bugs are doing the nasty.  I thought it was neat.  Mike said that if I was taking a photo of it, then it was porn.

I do love spring, and all the living things that come around! 

Coming soon:  Photos of my last spring with our Mary garden!

Happy Easter!

I had to work today, but still made a delicious supper for Mike and I.

That's ham with pineapple, asparagus and smashed potatoes.  With blueberry coffee cake for dessert.  Yum.

When I got home, a surprise for me: these grow in front of our house, and weren't open yesterday at 5:00ish.  Today at 5:00ish, they were open and beautiful.  

And my grandma sent me some beautiful pussy-willows!

Happy Easter and Happy spring!!

Bread Basket...

If you've never been to a Freihofer's Outlet (In Syracuse, there's one on Teall Ave. Find one near you here ) let me tell you something.  If you buy any commercial bread at all, anywhere else, you're wasting your money. 

All this, for $15.80. 

My mom sent me to the "bread store" today with a list:

3 loaves "Grain Lovers"

1 Canadian Oat Bread

3 Bagel Thins (wheat if they have it!)

3 Berry or cranberry bagels ("Mixed Berry")

              "As long as they have red specks" ~My brother.

Apparently, she's stocking up on bread for the Apocalypse.

Actually, my little brother is in town, and taking some back to school with him.

I had a small list of my own:

1 loaf Jewish Pumpernickel bread

1 package hamburger buns

All that came to $14.81, so in order to get 3 punches on the frequent buyer card, I threw in a package of Thomas' whole wheat english muffins.  

$15.80.  It would not fit into my oversized reusable shopping bag.  Now, if that's not bargain shopping, I don't know what is.

The "Grain lovers" bread was 3 for $3.00
The bagel thins were $.99 each

The bagels were 3 for $2.97

Pumpernickel $1.39

Rolls were 1.69 (for 12)

English muffins were $.99

I bought the English muffins, because last weekend, I tried to make my own:

Not a nook or cranny anywhere in the whole batch.  I think they didn't rise properly during the second rising.  It's like eating a very dense biscuit (or whole wheat hockey puck) for breakfast.  Perhaps another recipe that's not a modified bread recipe would work better....I used the recipe from How to Cook Everything - this amazing cookbookencyclopedia that my future sister-in-law got me for Christmas.  The "English muffin" recipe is just a variation on the basic bread recipe, which is why I think I didn't get nooks or crannies.  I'll try something different next time, but for now, I have Delicious Thomas' whole wheat English Muffins. 

apology

I've been meaning to post for about 2 weeks....and every time I sit down to write, I have nothing to write about.  Also, all the photos that might spur something brilliant are sitting on my camera...and I don't seem to have the time to upload them. 

As an update, I'm loving this spring weather.  I'd love to tell you about seeds that I've started, but we have a big move looming, and I've been spending time getting rid of junk stuff we no longer need or use.  I'm finding happy homes for some things, and donating the rest.

It's supposed to feel more like June (or even July!) 2nd here, rather than April 2nd today..with our forecasted high at 80 degrees!  Last night, I came home at around 10:00...and it was still 68 degrees outside-it felt positively balmy!  

I resolve to get those pictures off of my camera tonight, and will blog something more substantial soon!!! 

It's Bonfire season!!!