Sunday, October 30, 2011

More Yummy Recipes

I may have blogged about these before, but I thought I'd repost.  Tonight we are having braised short ribs and harvest vegetables.  I prepped a chicken curry for tomorrow.  Lots of fresh veggies and yummy meats!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Pumpkin Time

 For Book Club last night, I made mac n cheese bites.  I lined muffin tins with parchment paper and scooped in home made mac n cheese.  They were a HIT!
 Today I took my LS to Jack O Lanterns on Broadway.  Lots of creative pumpkin carving!
 I stopped at the Saturday Market for a potato donut and coffee.  Check out their awesome fresh coffee system. 
And I bought our favorite Princely Puppy a new doggie bed.  He seriously looks like an Arabian prince on it.  He is already doing so much better after one day of antihistamines/ steroids. 

Jim made it back safely from his conference.  We are so happy to have him home!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

A Gal and Her Dog

It's official: we miss Jim!  He left 3 hours ago.  Sigh.  Right now Trooper is in my craft room, picking up embroidery thread with his mouth.  What a rascal.  After work we jogged to the dog park, trying to enjoy the last days of light after work.  Then he joined me to get take out from Cafe Yumm.  They make really yummy, healthy take out.  I got a tofu bowl with edamame.  There are about four or five of them in Eugene, I think, and they recently erected an electric car charging station at one of their stores.  Pretty neat place.  And now I'm trying to craft and what not before bed. 
Tomorrow night is Book Club, where we'll be discussing Cutting for Stone.  Sadly I did not finish the book, but it will still be fun.  I am taking mac n cheese cups.  Jim will be home Saturday afternoon, on which day I plan to take my LS to a jack o lantern festival, then we have two parties to attend.  We're kind of social butterflies. 
Oh, and Trooper is going to the allergist tomorrow.  Poor Puppers can't stop itching.  Hopefully she can give him some relief.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Chilly Mornings

I had to wake this dog up an HOUR after I woke up this morning.  It was 28 degrees out (pretty cold for Eugene) and it's been pitch black until after 7am.  I love when he sleeps like this, like a little fox.
Jim leaves for Portland tomorrow and will be gone until Saturday.  He is attending some sort of conference that has to do with business and the environment.  Just a lady and her dog for a few days!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Autumn

 We've had some sunny, crisp autumn days.  This wasn't taken at our complex, but one nearby.  The changing leaves strike me as so beautiful every year.
Pupster got a haircut.  Poor dog has some more hotspots.  I love when he gets groomed though, he's so darn cute. 

This weekend I made some pretty darn good recipes, if I do say so.  On Saturday night, we had one of our fave couples over for dinner.  We made a tag team quiche (I made the crust and Jim made the filling.)  We even included chanterelle mushrooms from the farmer's market (may or may not have been collected in the forest.)  I also made a zucchini bundt cake from MSL.  I even made the candied zucchini, which looked like pickles on top.  The cake and glaze were really good, but you can probably leave the candied veggies out.  And last night I made curried chicken soup with sweet potato biscuits.  Sweet potato biscuits are just as awesome as they sound.  Make them now!!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

5K

Only for you, blog readers, will I share this unflattering picture of myself at 7am on a Sunday.  Trooper and Jim woke up to support me (Jim didn't want me to walk to the stadium in the dark) and then we went to Studio One for a GREAT breakfast.  Jim will be studying all day and I'm hoping to get in some crafting and domestics. 
Trooper is still itching a lot.  We think this is around when he started last year.  Maybe there's some sort of allergen out right now.  He's had a few hot spots.  He's going to get groomed today, so hopefully that will help him and we'll be able to see his spots better.  His allergist is really great about answering emails and said that if he doesn't get better, we should take him in for antibiotics/ steroids next week to get him through this extra itchy time.  Poor guy!  I told him he should get a job to help cover his costs, but Jim and I both agree that the love that little beast gives us is worth every penny. 

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Pin Cushion Pattern

This is based on a free Heather Bailey pattern.  I didn't use the ribbon she suggested.  I made it from scraps of fabric around the art room.  Pretty basic but it's cute and is functional.  My last pin cushion looked like it was from a children's play set. 
We missed on darn dose of Trooper's medicine and he itched all night long.  Poor Jim woke up at 4:30am and didn't go back to sleep.  Tonight we noticed he'd itched a hotspot raw on his little head.  Jim disinfected it and we'll keep an eye on it.  He'd been doing really well on his current daily dose, food, and being in the kitchen during the day.  Hopefully he'll be back on track in a few days. 
Here's another cute blog: Elise Blaha.  She makes books and other crafts. As she says, "enJOY it!"

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Souper

I think I blogged about this soup last year: Ina's Mexican Chicken Soup.  It's really good.  I think that once fall hits I enter soup mode.  I remember not liking soup in my younger years, before I discovered the joy of home made soup.  I'm already dreaming of what soup I'm going to make this weekend. 
I'm also crafting away every night.  I can't post too many pics because they are mostly Christmas gifts.  Jim went out for a drink with some guys from school and I while I was sewing, Trooper was pacing around.  He hates when the wolf pack isn't intact.   I told him he could sew if he had opposable thumbs. 
I've been seeking out cool new blogs.  I found this one, Nest of Posies, recently.  It's amazing how many crafty women are blogging.  Blogging is a little self indulgent, but who cares.  It's a nice way to journal your ideas, activities, and thoughts.  You go, bloggers!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Breast Cancer Run

Once again I am running in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a 5K run this Saturday.  If you'd like to donate to the cause or for me running, click here

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Go Ducks

 Jim and Trooper went to a few tailgating parties while I was at my roller skating party.  Things I learned: 30 year olds probably shouldn't roller skate.  Luckily, no falls!  I went to the game a little late.  It was rainy but fun. 
 Studying and napping.
 We thought we'd worked out the cat problem, until we saw this this afternoon.  The darn cat was trying to get onto our balcony!  Jim spoke with the owner but I fear the devil cat is going to make its way in to our apartment.  We're under siege!!!!
 Don't be afraid of making your own pie crust.  The key: very cold butter and water.  Tonight I made us a bacon, goat cheese, and spinach quiche. 
 Farm fresh eggs.  I love the one in the back right.  It's so much bigger than the rest!
 These are "Ranger Cookies" from the Good Housekeeping cookbook.  They have oats, coconut, and dried berries.  If you don't use parchment paper when cooking cookies, I highly recommend it.  It makes for no sticking and easy clean up. 
I actually make two quiches but am not sure about the plural of quiche. 

Friday, October 14, 2011

TGIF

What an angel.  Trooper loves sleeping on the patio. 
We are happy it's Friday.  We went to the dog park after work and now Jim's grilling me burgers.  I think we are going to a little party tonight and then a busy day tomorrow.  I am trying acupuncture for the first time in the morning.  (Why not try some Eastern medicine.) Then I am going to the BBBS rollerskating party while Jim tailgates, then we're meeting at the football game.  Woo!  Sunday all I plan to do is domestics.
Speaking of domestics, this is an awesome pattern for a tote bag that I've been working on.  I love Heather Bailey and her designs.  If you're a sewer, try it out.

And a video for your weekend enjoyment:


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Fishy

I think I posted this Rick Bayless Tilapia recipe awhile ago.  We love Rick Bayless.  When we lived in Illinois, we loved watching Check Please followed by Mexico, One Plate at a Time on PBS on Friday nights.  (Party.)  One of our goals is to get to his restaurants in Chicago.  Anyway, this is a great weeknight dinner.  RB makes his own salsa, but I bought store bought, and it was fine.
We are already booking up the ol' dance card for this weekend.  Saturday is a roller skating party for BBBS (sometime soon I'll tell you about the last time I rollerskated; I thought I broke my patellas) and we have tickets to the Ducks game (vs. ASU) on Saturday evening.  Here's hoping for no rain!!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Food Snobbery

We have to admit, in the comfort and privacy of our own home, we are kind of food snobs.  Not a lot.  But sometimes.  For example, Jim hasn't found any pizza in Eugene that compares to back in Illinois.  So he makes me wonderful pizza.  He said he uses a Tyler Florence recipe for the dough, so I'm assuming this link is the one.  And a recent addition to our home was a French Press coffee maker.  We recently had coffee from a French Press at Mother's Bistro in Portland, and Jim claimed it to be the best cup of coffee he'd ever had.  It was a good recipe for success: Stumptown Beans (his fave), a good breakfast, his birthday, and great company.  So his lovely wife picked him up his own French Press at the TJ Max for $17.  I think you'll agree that these are all good food snobbery acts.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Pumpkin Patch




Saturday Morning Bike Ride

 We woke up to a beautiful morning.  I rode my bike to the bank and Saturday Market.  On the way I rode over by Jim's work to take a picture.   This is the court house that he works at.  He's kind of a big deal around here. 
 My Manhattan Smoothie.  My awesome husband bought this for me for my 29th birthday.  Oh, and he brought me home a bottle of wine from his winery tour.  What a guy!
 The fruits and veggies are always so beautiful at the market.


Friday, October 7, 2011

Rainbows

I guess one good thing about a lot of rain is that you'll see the occasional rainbow.
Last night I was treated to Jim's kung pao chicken.  It's really good and fresh.  He chops up red peppers and adds them in.  He also said he doesn't add as much sugar as is called for.  After dinner I took the seat of honor on the couch and drank wine and watched tv.  I was the queen of the house.
Today Jim's on a trip with GBI (Green Business Initiatives) to tour three wineries.  I'm majorly jealous.  In all fairness, I was invited, but after our trip to Illinois for Christmas, I will only have 8 hours of time off left for the year, and want to reserve that for anything unexpected that may come up.  I still wish I was with him!
No big plans this weekend except relaxing and taking my LS to a pumpkin patch/ corn maze.  I'm daydreaming that I'll find apple cider donuts, but I'm not sure if I'll be that lucky. 

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Goals for Autumn

1.  Crafting time of at least 30 minutes a day.
2.  Take my vitamins and supplements every day.
3.  Floss every day.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Rainy Season

It feels like we were just saying how darn hot it was, and now it's cold and rainy.  We still have the window AC in our bedroom.  It's been raining pretty steadily since Sunday and it looks like it will for a few days.  I made soup and cornbread for dinner.  Trooper seems a little depressed about this.  Jim suggested we put on some Miles Davis for him.
The excitement of the house is that Jim was one of the winners of his competition on Monday night!  That means he will be competing in a national event in New York in February.  If you want details about what he'll be doing, you can call him.  But please call him between Thursday night and Sunday morning. 

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Birthday Weekend

 I think Jim had a great 31st birthday.  On Friday night we drove to Portland and met a friend from Denver and Seattle.  We ate at a gourmet brewery.  We had foie gras, elk, and lovely sandwiches that had meats seared in duck fat.  We seriously ate like French kings (and a queen).  And we drank plenty of good beer.  On Saturday morning, we ate at Mother's Bistro.  When we got back to Eugene, I made Jim pumpkin bars and spaghetti carbonara.  Then we went out for drinks, and I planned a pretty big party at the bar for Jim.  I think about 15 law school students and some significant others showed up!  Jim seemed to have a pretty great day.  Today our friend and I went to yoga and then we all hiked to the top of Spencer's Butte.  Jim's studying away at the library and I'm about to make the boys chicken and biscuits.  Yum!  The pic below is from Mother's.  Pretty cute reminder :)