Sigh. Yesterday I said goodbye to my pink dream. Rosie, I called her. She is a 1950s pink stove. Okay I can't stand to refer to inanimate objects as "she" so I digress. General Electric range, creeeeamy pink. Dreeeeamy fleurescent light, right below the clock and buttons and such. Oh what a masterpiece. Why didn't I keep it?
Because. I don't have $3,000 to spend on a fridge to match. Getting a fridge to match it would have been a nightmare so I decided to donate Rosie to Habitat for Humanity. It is in their showroom right now. Please check it out! If you want a pink ribbon kitchen and something sweeeet to go with your pink kitchenaid, consider Rosie!
Currently I do not have a stove. I don't even have a microwave. I went to Trader Joe's yesterday because I realized that I hadn't any food either, and loaded up on all sorts of good stuff, so I thought. At checkout, the outgoing young man said, "Getting-ready-for-a-meeting food?"
"No." I said. "I have no stove food." His teeth, my teeth, lady behind me, all our teeth flashed. Nobody knew what the fuck to say after that.
"Thanks!" I said.
Ok. So. I have a cleeeeeean slate. I want to have a pinky kitchen but I am too poor for a pink fridge. Here are some options that are BETTER than the same old WilliamsSonoma crap. This stuff endures. Like ME. And YOU!
to be continued, as I have to work at 4 tomorrow!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Kitty and Minchie
Kitty is turning 18 this year. I don't know how old that is in cat years, but judging from her looks and her behavior, she is a crabby old girl. 
She never liked dogs, nor did she like any cats other than her little companion Cleo, who passed away a few years ago.
So when Kitty found that she was decidedly alone, she seemed more content. I decided that since she probably has few years left, I would hold off on getting a dog. Then Christmas rolled around and Herc did what a person should NEVER, EVER do: he gave me a pet!
Oh yes, little Minchie.
She is a frisky little Bichon, whose capacity for excitement seems limitless. She likes to jump around like a kangaroo. She particularly likes to use human legs as springboards during one of her spastic episodes.
Kitty was openly disappointed at first, and still can't stand the sight of little Minchy. But if it had to be a dog, thank goodness it had to be this dog, who would never hurt a fly.
Unless the fly happened to land on my leg just before a power-spring off.
She never liked dogs, nor did she like any cats other than her little companion Cleo, who passed away a few years ago.So when Kitty found that she was decidedly alone, she seemed more content. I decided that since she probably has few years left, I would hold off on getting a dog. Then Christmas rolled around and Herc did what a person should NEVER, EVER do: he gave me a pet!
Oh yes, little Minchie.
She is a frisky little Bichon, whose capacity for excitement seems limitless. She likes to jump around like a kangaroo. She particularly likes to use human legs as springboards during one of her spastic episodes.Kitty was openly disappointed at first, and still can't stand the sight of little Minchy. But if it had to be a dog, thank goodness it had to be this dog, who would never hurt a fly.
Unless the fly happened to land on my leg just before a power-spring off.
Fun with secondhand bookcases
I procured these old bookcases for free, soon before the demolition of a downtown building. They were both originally over 7 ft tall, but Herc cut the top shelves off in order for them to fit through my doors. 
They were used to store huge binders for construction projects. They had greenish laminate shelves, and the rest is plain old cheap plywood. We did our best to cover up all of the noticeable cosmetic problems like dings and ill-placed screws, and I spent three days sanding, priming and gel-staining to match the stain of my floor. Herc was the hero of this project. It would not have been completed had it not been for him, because I didn't know the first thing about sawing and nailing. These bookcases spent three months' time providing rich habitat for several black widows and their broods before Herc got busy. Now half of my books have a nice place to sit.
They were used to store huge binders for construction projects. They had greenish laminate shelves, and the rest is plain old cheap plywood. We did our best to cover up all of the noticeable cosmetic problems like dings and ill-placed screws, and I spent three days sanding, priming and gel-staining to match the stain of my floor. Herc was the hero of this project. It would not have been completed had it not been for him, because I didn't know the first thing about sawing and nailing. These bookcases spent three months' time providing rich habitat for several black widows and their broods before Herc got busy. Now half of my books have a nice place to sit.
Friday, June 13, 2008
These tomatoes are safe! Chow down.
An elderly neighbor across the alley has been growing tomatoes for 
20 years and he is not about to stop just because he has been ordered by his doctor to steer clear of them. That means I've been the lucky recipient of many handfuls like this specimen here.
All of a sudden, I'm thinking of dishes that I could make with fresh tomatoes, like:
SAFFRON RICE WITH TOMATOES AND FRESH OREGANO
Pinch of saffron
2 Tbsp. salt, plus more for seasoning
1 1/2 c. jasmine rice
2 large or 3 regular-sized roma tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4 -in. dice
(about 1 cup)
Freshly ground pepper
6 sprigs fresh oregano, leaved piced from stem
1. Fill a med. saucepan w/cold water. Add saffron and 2 Tbsp. salt. Bring water to a boil. Stir in rice, ad cook until rice is tender, 12-14 minutes. Remove from heat, and drain well.
2. Place rice in serving bowl. add butter and tomatoes, and toss very gently. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh oregano. Serves 4
Of course, the Roma tomatoes would be substituted. The recipe is from a Martha Stewart Magazine years ago and
it has been posted earlier in this blog...
Wow, I never knew how much I take tomatoes for granted until this salmonella outbreak occurred.
20 years and he is not about to stop just because he has been ordered by his doctor to steer clear of them. That means I've been the lucky recipient of many handfuls like this specimen here.All of a sudden, I'm thinking of dishes that I could make with fresh tomatoes, like:
SAFFRON RICE WITH TOMATOES AND FRESH OREGANO
Pinch of saffron
2 Tbsp. salt, plus more for seasoning
1 1/2 c. jasmine rice
2 large or 3 regular-sized roma tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4 -in. dice
(about 1 cup)
Freshly ground pepper
6 sprigs fresh oregano, leaved piced from stem
1. Fill a med. saucepan w/cold water. Add saffron and 2 Tbsp. salt. Bring water to a boil. Stir in rice, ad cook until rice is tender, 12-14 minutes. Remove from heat, and drain well.
2. Place rice in serving bowl. add butter and tomatoes, and toss very gently. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh oregano. Serves 4
Of course, the Roma tomatoes would be substituted. The recipe is from a Martha Stewart Magazine years ago and
it has been posted earlier in this blog...
Wow, I never knew how much I take tomatoes for granted until this salmonella outbreak occurred.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Attention-seeking gestures
I'm babysitting little S for a friend who is deployed. Clearly, Kitty could do without the new pooch, but who can resist such a little bundle of affection?
We live at the dog park. Look us up there.
If you are a beagle, please be sure you are wearing your tags because people tend to walk out with the wrong beagle sometimes! Last week I was busy chatting with a little cocker spaniel's owner when all of a sudden, I had that SINKING feeling. I looked around and did not see S anywhere. I started to walk aimlessly, thinking there must be some mistake. One of these little dogs must be S! Then a lady came running down the hill with a little dog in the lead whose ears were flopping impossibly in front of her eyes. She had S. She was so upset. I felt better once little S was secure on my leash and walking back to the car.
We live at the dog park. Look us up there.
If you are a beagle, please be sure you are wearing your tags because people tend to walk out with the wrong beagle sometimes! Last week I was busy chatting with a little cocker spaniel's owner when all of a sudden, I had that SINKING feeling. I looked around and did not see S anywhere. I started to walk aimlessly, thinking there must be some mistake. One of these little dogs must be S! Then a lady came running down the hill with a little dog in the lead whose ears were flopping impossibly in front of her eyes. She had S. She was so upset. I felt better once little S was secure on my leash and walking back to the car.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
My Grammy's Sunbeam Mixmaster
My Grammy passed away recently. I am extremely thankful that I was able to spend a few weeks with her over the past year at different times. She was such a wonderful woman, and I don't know how life will be without her charm and love.
My uncle gave me her old Mixmaster after the funeral. Of course, it would have been the only material item that I would have liked to take home with me, had I thought of it. He also gave me one of her old straw sun hats and each of the granddaughters took some of her perfume to remember her by. She was a Chanel No. 5 girl forever.
I miss her so.
Maybe I'll dig out her famous brownie recipe and get Niece over here for a photo-op with the old Sunbeam.
My uncle gave me her old Mixmaster after the funeral. Of course, it would have been the only material item that I would have liked to take home with me, had I thought of it. He also gave me one of her old straw sun hats and each of the granddaughters took some of her perfume to remember her by. She was a Chanel No. 5 girl forever.
I miss her so.
Maybe I'll dig out her famous brownie recipe and get Niece over here for a photo-op with the old Sunbeam.
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