Never A Dull Moment

I forgot to mention that we did have a snow day on Monday... really an ice day. We don't get inches and inches of snow here, we typically get more ice! I really enjoyed hearing Kim's outlook on us snow-wimps here in VA :) .... I don't drive if I see ice. You might ask Why?

My parents live waaaaay out in the county, and their driveway is literally straight up. When I lived there, I didn't own a car with 4 Wheel drive. Getting my little Focus or Suburu (Loyale!) up that driveway was such a scary feat. We tried going in reverse, getting a running head start, all that... but the ones that make me cringe at the thought of them today: Going straight up the driveway, getting a running start, but hitting a patch of ice, falling backwards, sliding in my vehicle sideways, sideways again, and then, conviently, returning to exit the driveway headfirst that I just minutes ago, went up exactly the opposite direction! That happened to me at least 4 times, and I was sure my car would flip or continue on its downward icy path right into the steep woods below the road. No, I don't drive on ice!!!!

So yeah, we hung out at home on Monday. Jeremy didn't want to work out, and we hadn't seen a bit of snow all year. Even last year there wasn't enough snow to use our sleds. So... he attempted ice sledding. Walking to the hill we like to use, I was pretty sure he'd sit on the sled, want to move but not go. I was wrong! He went super fast every time, and it was just so funny because there was just a dusting of snow. He's like a big kid, and life is never too serious with him! He had the biggest smile on his face!

This may have contributed to the fact that today he's so sick... but I'm sure he'd tell you it was worth it!

I was content to stay inside, cleaning and getting a headstart on Valentines, since I never sent Christmas cards. I was so happy to finally score some "Love" stamps right after I'd made a bunch of these cards!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Jeremy's been sick with a bad cold the past few days, and after a restless night last night, he finally took his first sick day of the year today. I have a sore throat, but that's nothing compared to his symptoms. Poor guy. I wanted to make him a nice bowl of soup, and dessert tempted me... so here are some recipes for you to enjoy, as we did. This really were the EASIEST Martha Stewart recipes I've ever made... nothing too fancy or time consuming... just perfect for a freezing cold night like this one!


Chicken Noodle Soup
Serves 6 to 8
In addition to broad egg noodles, you can make this heavenly soup with angel-hair pasta broken into short lengths or other shapes, such as alphabet pasta or pastina, or add cooked grains like rice.
3 quarts Homemade Chicken Stock , or canned low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat
3 carrots, cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces medium egg noodles
Cooked chicken meat, shredded (from Homemade Chicken Stock recipe)
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, or 1 tablespoon dried dill
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley

1. Place stock in a stockpot over medium-high heat, and bring just to a simmer. Add carrots, and simmer until tender, about 6 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles until just tender, about 6 minutes. Drain noodles, and add them to the pot of stock, along with shredded chicken meat. Season with salt and pepper. Heat until very hot. When ready to serve, stir in dill and parsley.



Peach Cobbler
Serves 8
10 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced (2 quarts)
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
2/3 cup heavy cream
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Place peaches, cornstarch, dark-brown sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Toss until well combined. Pour mixture into an 8 1/2-by-11 1/2-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the baking powder, and salt. Using a fork, two knives, or a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
3. Whisk together egg and cream in a liquid-measuring cup. Slowly add this mixture to dry ingredients; mix with a fork until dough just comes together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board, and roughly shape into a 12-inch log. Using a bench scraper, cut log into twelve equal portions.
4. Place rough balls of dough on top of peach mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack, and let cool slightly. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Eye Candy for Frugal Franny

Who's Frugal Franny, you might ask??? Why, me, dear! I'm going to be better about my internet shopping (one of my weaknesses, somewhere after antique malls, yard sales, art books, cook books and ... fabric!)

I just wanted to share with you my all-time favorite online fabric and notions stores...

1. Cabbage Rose-- my source for nearly all my fabric (they've got the **NEW** Amy Butler line)

2. Twining Thread-- this is one of my new favorites to visit.. love some of the embroidery kits and crewel supplies

3. Reprodepot- they have an incredible collection of fabrics!

4. Kitty-Craft (you'll have fun even just visiting this site!) Check out some recent discoveries:

I still have my Mon Chhichi! He's pretty beat up, though!

Hope you're having a fabulous week!

28

Last week I turned 28. I can't believe I'm 28! Not that 28 is such an awful big number, but it seems like just yesterday I was 21. Really. I've been completely spoiled this week by friends and family... it's going to be hard to go back to being a normal person :)
(an ice cream cake)

I've seen a few fun memes around blogland, but I just wanted to mark the occasion with an entry of 28 things:

1. I'm thankful for: the kindness and wisdom of my parents, the generosity of my brother, the love of my husband, my sweet, sweet pets, my friends who can always bring a smile to my face, my coworkers who teach me so much about life everyday, the kindness of strangers, the fact that I've survived some things I felt I couldn't...
2. I love: how every day is new and this quote: "Make it a good day or not, the choice is yours." Here's another good quote, from my father: "Sometimes what you want and what you get aren't always the same thing."
2.5 (oops!). This week: Jer, my family and friends spoiled me by taking me out to some of my favorite eateries 'round here, as they know good food is my drug of choice :): Cafe Michel, The Depot Grille, Sheridan Livery, Panera (I heart bread), Southern Inn. I finally made a home cooked meal last night. Oh, if you live around here, I'd say the best meal we had was at the Depot... I had the Bourbon Glazed Salmon... sooo yummy!
3. The loot: Lots of fun stuff!
A mini-chopper

A vase

Bird stuff... a mercury glass bird

more

this one Ashley got for me in London @ Top Shelf... cool, eh?

4. Friends I wish I could have seen for my birthday: Rachel Tro., Hillary, Rachel Cald., Mariana, Karlos, Angela, Creek, Justin
5. Why I love living here: That Walmart hasn't ruined the downtown business.
6. Scary things about the world:That the electric car vanished, probably because of the big oil companies. Pollution. War. That young girls think they're fat: there is actually a girl, I believe she is a Washington and Lee student, who is stick thin but I see every time I go to the grocery store loading up on junk food-- a full cart every time-- I've seen her 2 days in a row before, always without a list just wandering. She's so thin her eyes are sunken, and I want to say something to her. Should I? What would I say?
7. My phobia: the dark. Ok, not the dark inside the house, lights out; the darkness fo the woods, sans flashlight or fire. It's kind of a long story, but a big part of it might be that Watcher in the Woods scared the crap out of me when I was little.
8. My other phobia: clowns. This is a result of Killer Clowns from Outer Space. What freaky movie! Clowns getting kids to wander into the woods to see the circus, and then eating them (is what I remember)... I could never look at cotton candy the same way either! :)
9. A movie you should watch: Who Killed the Electric Car?
10. A movie that left me a little confused: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This is definetely not a date night movie, it's a little depressing and confusing. At least now I understand, partially, the hype over Elizabeth Taylor's acting.
11. A book I love: Sue Monk Kid's The Secret Life of Bees
12. A book I recommend, but can't say you'll enjoy reading the whole thing: The Black Dog of Fate. As an Armenian, I am so glad I've read this, but I've never been able to finish it because of the disturbing facts.
13. A really cool hint I'd like to pass on: If you have a stem of cut hydrangea and it starts to wilt, fill a deep pot or bucket with lukewarm water. Drop the hydrangea into the pot, flower side down. Let it sit for a few hours... and voila! it comes back to life. See?
Before, wilting in the arrangement...

And after, days later!

I'm so excited about this, as these are my favorite flowers; I heard the hint a long time ago, but thought it sounded ridiculous.
14. A City I Love: Paris
15: A City I'd love to see more of: Victoria
16. A City I'd love to see: Rome
17. I want to try: Crewel or Needlepoint. I got Wool and Hoop for Christmas this year, and I just love the designs. Needlepoint is so expensive, SO expensive, but really beautiful when finished. I have an aunt who does needlepoint beautifully, and my grandmother got me one for Christmas (finished already, not a kit).


18. Blogs I've just discovered: 3191, Cut + Paste, Through the Lens, Stuff on My Cat (Watch Out, Moby!) .
19. Food: I like tomatoes, but hate ketchup. I actually don't like any condiments.
20. A Car I Want: Toyota Camry- The Hybrid! This is truly a sweet, sweet ride. In my dreams we could afford it, but I am still saving up for a car this year.
21. Bad Habits I resolve this year to quit: Not returning phone calls or emails promptly, not writing thank you notes when I should and ... biting my nails. I keep telling myself that if I could find a way to stop, I could treat myself to a manicure-- but right now, that would be like paying for a haircut with a shaved head. :)
22. Something I want to do less of: Internet shopping. I'm saving up for a car, after all!
23. Something I can't get enough of: The Office. I just want Jim and Pam to get together!
24. Something I want to do more of: Exercise. I'm trying to walk a trail here at least 2x a week. I daydream that I'll get back into swimming, too...
25. Something I hope for: to find a way to love my job. Some days that's tough, but every so often, something happens, or maybe a child does or says something that makes it all worthwhile.
26. This weekend: I'm going to start making Valentines!
27. Today: It's snowing! Yippee! Our first snow of the year, I hope it's a good one.
28. Tommorow: I'm going to wake up and hope school's canceled, just like every kid around here!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Back From My Blogging Vacation...

I really enjoyed some time off from blogging, but I've missed it, too! I first just want to share some of my favorite photos from the Christmas vacation. We had such a great Christmas this year!

Got to spend a little time with friends...
Ashley and her boyfriend Rob

Sisters

The Girls


Family...
My brother: "I ain't a player, I just crush a lot" :) (I wish I could get him to smile for the camera!)

My parents-- figuring out that we all went in on a trip to Vegas for them!




In Philly, after I survived the trip (my bro, dad, husband-- lots of football) since my mother couldn't go... At Fonthill. I'd really recommend this museum- gorgeous tilework!

More in Philly (Bucks County).
That's my dad's sister Susie, her oldest son Joey and youngest son Greg.

My dad and his brother Alfred

We also went to DC...

Joey and Jeremy in front of a Top Gun plane

Visiting Monuments. We ended up seeing Pres. Ford's funeral procession drive by. Afterwards we all went to a tconcert. I was skeptical-- wondering why we should bother since Big Hair and heavy metal went out with the 80's-- but it was really awesome! I'd recommend seeing them-- really spectacular.





And lately, we've just been Winter-Spring Cleaning and I've been downloading all my CDs to my **new** iPod!

Hope you've all been well! Have a Happy Week!