Happy Leap Year

I've got some randomness today.  The 29th of February is pretty random so here goes a themed post of 29 random thoughts.  Oh, the irony of themed and random!

1. Hawley is aging.  It's a worrisome detail in our lives.

2.  Max is growing up. Six feet, three inches tall.

3. Max is going to the farm today to work over mid winter break.  This is one of those times where I am worried about the drive over Snoqualmie Pass, the snow and all.

4.  In September Max will drive over the Pass and go to school at Walla Walla Community College.

5. We are really going to miss our little guy.

6. Sam is out of the country for a month or 215 days.

7. Sam is in Oman, in the Middle East, but he texts me every night, but it's morning for him.
*I've added a picture he sent last night of his new digs.  

Isn't technology awesome for soldiers and and their families?

8. I found this chair online at Pier One, copied the photo, and now that is all I have.  The chair is MIA on the Pier One website.

9. I thought with the mapblue aqua in the living room, it would be perfect.  Or not?  We may never know.

10. I'm still redecorating the living room slowly, but steps are made everyday.

11.  Hubby hung the blinds and with the drapes and I feel like we have grown up window treatments for the first time in our lives.  I am so in love with my Pottery Barn Vanessa drapes.

12.  Isn't this picture of Danny and Jess with Grandma cute?  My sister that is a Snapsister took it at Christmas.

13. Hubby and I are talking about taking a trip to Michigan to see them.  Maybe after Max leaves for college this Fall.

14. Did you know airline ticket run about $500 to Michigan?

15. The price of jet fuel, gasoline etc. is really frustrating.  Not a political blog here, but I think I'll vote for a candidate that can see the merit of drilling for oil closer to home.

 16. Aren't Danny and Jess a darling couple?  I love them.

 17.  I went to the laundromat this week.  I didn't mind since it was for one load.  A big load.  I washed the painter's drop cloth with bleach and fabric softeners galore.  I love how it turned out.

*Just a reminder, I went to the laundromat from 1977-1990.  I'm still scarred.

18.  I ordered a stencil from Etsy.  I got it in two days!  Thanks USPS!  You have really been getting a bad rap lately.  And really, you are fairly reliable.

19.  I can't wait to share the drop cloth finished project.  We have a ways to go yet.

 20.  I have to start cooking differently.  Max is gone a lot and Hubby and I are eating leftovers.

21. I cooked up some crimini mushrooms with grape tomatoes to serve with eggs a few mornings ago.  

Crazy good.  And no leftovers.

 22.  Owls are everywhere.  And they are so cute!

 23.  We used to have an owl that lived in the barn.  He was pretty cool and we were happy to have him.

24. Our little town has four basketball teams at State this week.  Lynden Christian boys and girls (1A), Lynden High boys and girls (2A).  Go teams!

25.  Are you going to State?  We are thinking about it.  I still wish it was still in Tacoma.

Yakima is just so Yakima.

26. We have to recreate this picture of the babies this summer.  Hana, Zach and Max were the babies and will always be known as the babies.

27. Even if the babies are in college they are still and forever will be the babies.

28. I love the new JC Penneys look and straight forward sales.  Macys could take a few lessons.  

29. If any of my readers are celebrating their Leap Year Birthday... Happy Birthday!

That is so cool!
*Photos are from my archives, the Snapsisters, Pier One, Etsy etc.

You Be The Judge

Hubby and I along with two other couples were asked to judge an Iron Chef type competition on Saturday evening.  My sister Kathi's dinner club was having a friendly competition between the men and the women.  They drew a meat, a starch and a vegetable choice out of a hat on Saturday morning and then got cookin'.  

They drew out pork, rice and parsnips.

Mark and Julie, Jim and Stacy and Hubby and I were the judges.  We were sent to room away from the kitchen where we were served appetizers and a glass of wine.  Then we were called to dinner where the women were served Plate A and the guys were served Plate B.  We traded plates and bites, we discussed and then we voted.  It was tough to choose.

Plate A- Kathi, Janice & Marla

Stuffed Pork Chop- stuffed with green apple, sausage and parsnip with fresh sage dressing.

Honey glazed roasted carrots and parsnips. Crazy good. Crispy pancetta helps.

Rice Balls with balsamic reduction.

 Plate B- Jeff, Randy & Dan

Dry Rubbed Pork Chop with fig, apple, cheese and artichoke stuffing. The dry rub was so good.

Served on a bed of parsnip and carrot puree'.

Topped with pickled parsnip and carrot frisee'.

Roasted red pepper& corn rice with mushroom ragu. Very pretty.

Parsnip & carrot chip garnish.

The guys won by 5 points.  So it was very close.  Everything was delicious and so pretty.

Stacy came over in the afternoon and set the table using her Grandma's cranberry King's Crown stemware.

The cooks were busy and so it was nice she did that  for them.

 No competition for dessert, Marla made it and it was delicious, a lemon cupcake with lemon curd filling with  torched seven minute frosting, served with a raspberry sorbet.  A lovely ending to a delicious dinner.

I hope they have more competition and call us to judge.  It was a dream job!

Pretty Primrose Posies

Every February I swear that I will not be tempted by primroses.

They don't do well in the house.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

I don't really need them.

I see them some places and they look a little ratty and sad.

I pass them by and feel smug that I haven't given in to temptation.

And then they come to Whatcom Farmer's Co-op and they are perfect.

No ratty blooms, no yellow leaves, and only 99 cents each.  I cave.

I grab seven plants, run to check out, race home and place them in a tray on the mantle.

I can't help it.  

It's like an instaproject.

But, aren't they sweet?

Aren't they cheery and pretty?

And so rewarding when I'm drowning in projects and need a bit of accomplishment.

And I have a primrose graveyard in the back.  I do replant them when they get ugly.  

Sometimes they come back.

I don't even know why I try to resist.

Happy Hour with the Aunts

 On Friday evening Hubby and I were going to go out for dinner.  No schedule or agenda.   The phone rang.  It was Aunt Nelda.  She and Aunt Judy were going out for dinner and wondered if they could stop by on their way to dinner.

Yes please!  Uncork the wine, the aunts are coming.  Only one of them drinks wine but Hubby and I jumped on board for a glass.

Aunt Nelda wanted to give me this sampler that my Grandma stitched.  She thought it would go nicely in the Stone House.  Yes, it does!

Thanks so much for thinking of me Aunt Nelda and for stopping by.  Pretty much any Friday, we are here and  love hosting a happy hour.

Getting my Bum Off the Sofa, Really

After Christmas I took a little rest.  Until Hubby and I went to the BiG Ballard estate sale I was resting.

A sabbatical, if you will.

After Christmas was stored away and I didn't make any resolutions and I laid on the sofa and became addicted to Downton Abbey, and I snacked too much and felt no creativity.... no major projects got started or finished here.

I am feeling  rested now and I am ready to go on.

So, some thrifting, projects, and walking are in order and I am now ready to tackle them.  Well, maybe not the eat less, move more.  Rome wasn't built in a day.  Give me some slack.

On to the projects...

I've been looking for this contraption for a very long time.  It's going to be something cool and very Pottery Barnish.  Miss Holly has agreed to help me.  Friday I was at Joann's Fabric, thinking about calling Holly and I ran right smack into her, right next to the adhesives in the scrapbooking aisle.  Divine intervention?  I think so!  I always think every project will be easy and amazing until I hit a wall.  Poor Holly witnessed my simplistic mentality at it's best.  Or worst?  Remember that I don't know how to sew and I was in a fabric store.  Poo!

 We had 12 black stemmed champagne flutes, then I broke one while washing late one night and then there were 11.  Now there are 20.  I found 9 at the thift store this week!  

Thanks goodness!  Because one never knows when 19 of their closest friends will need to stop by to celebrate and make a champagne toast.

I have that all the time.

Anyway... I am prepared.  Like a boy scout, prepared.

 Hubby and I found this ottoman.  It needs to be recovered or slip covered; however, it is the perfect height and has good bones.  There are two spots it could go in the Stone House.

Canvas drop cloth and a lot of it.  I have plans.  I need a stencil and poof another project is on it's way.

The package was open so I got a great deal.

So many projects, so little time.  Stay tuned.

Lofthouse Copycat Cookie Recipe

Lofthouse Copycat Cookies

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

Cream together.

Add 3 eggs, 

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups sour cream

Mix in the dry ingredients.

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

5 1/2 cups flour+

After the cookies were mixed I divided the dough into two oblong inch thick pieces, wrapped them in cling wrap and put them in the fridge overnight.

The next day the dough is ready to roll and cut.  I use half flour and half powdered sugar on my rol pat, then roll the dough.  The Lofthouse cookies in the grocery store are thick so I made mine thick.  Use a generous amount of flour/powdered sugar.

 I keep my powdered sugar handy to dip my cookie cutters if they start to get sticky.

Bake at 425 degrees in a preheated oven for 8 minutes.  Cool before frosting and decorating.

I made two batches over the course of Love Week and tried two frosting recipes. 

Preferred Frosting

1 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

6 T. heavy whipping cream

Mix until light using a mixer.

 Obviously, I still haven't taken a cake decorating class.  I'm not sure if this recipe should be labeled Love Week or June is Dairy Month.  Either way, they are very good and much like the ready made cookies available at the grocery store, they are addicting.  It is humanly impossible to eat just one.

 *Disclaimer:  Of course, I found the recipes on Pinterest and tweaked them.

The Conclusion of Love Week 2012

Yesterday Kassie showed up with a special Valentine's Day breakfast for Max.

It  looked delicious and was so pretty on the tray.

Who wouldn't want to wake up to a pretty red head with a special breakfast?

This morning it was back to Mom yelling, "get UP, I called you 5 minutes AGO!"

"And bring down your dirty laundry OR you won't have any CLEAN clothes!"

As for breakfast, it was chocolate milk, that Max poured and stirred for himself.

The party is over.

Thus concludes another Love Week at the Stone House.

Valentine Dinner 2012

We celebrated Valentine's Day on Valentine's Eve last evening.  I set the table with a Scrabble theme.  It was a lot of fun to use the tiles, words and the Scrabble board colors red, pink, blue and tan.  I love Scrabble and am always up for a game.

 I baked more cut out cookies.  I've been experimenting with Lofthouse copycat cookie recipes for a few weeks.  I think I've finally got it.

 Of course, we had a heart shaped meatloaf with some of Max's favorites and a few surprises.  Max requested the snow salad and the green bean bundles and since he will be away at college next year I was happy to serve his choices.

I had gift bags for everyone.  My guys usually get valentine boxers and chocolate, this year was no exception.  Adelene and Kassie got chocolates and treats too.

 After gifts we had dessert.  The sugar cookies and chocolate mousse served in chocolate cups were a hit.

 After Kassie went home Max showed Ad the jewelry he had bought Kassie for her Valentine gift.

It's pretty and Ad approves.

 I had the Scrabble board out and ready to play a game but we were too busy visiting and laughing to have time for a game.  I'm thinking may be Hubby will play a game tonight.

I want to wish each of my readers a special Valentine's Day today.  Remember to show someone you love just how much you love them today and always.

Love you!

I Corinthians 13:4-8a

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails. 

Love Week 2012

Remember the faux roll waffle iron recipe?

Well, it's back.

For Love Week.

We are celebrating Valentine's Day on Valentine's Eve.  Do you want to guess what we're having for dinner?

Yes, you're right!

Meatloaf.

Celebrations

I attended Bob's 90th birthday luncheon this week.  His dear friends, Pete and Hope came too.  It was so good to see them and so good to see Bob and Pete laughing it up.  Bob's wife, Anna Greta brought lunch.  She is an excellent cook and no one makes Swedish Meatballs better than a Swedish woman.  Their daughter made the homemade rolls.  It was a fun day at the museum.

Yesterday I had an appointment in downtown Bellingham, Hubby came with me.  It's our wedding anniversary on Sunday, and since we have a full weekend we decided to go out for lunch at D'Anna's to celebrate.  Their pasta is handmade on site and is fantastic.  We had a lovely day.  

That said, I have to add that we had numerous calls, texts, interruptions during what we thought would be our private, romantic lunch celebration.  Alas and a lack that wasn't to be.  Max had an issue and boy howdy did he need his parents.  

Next year we will have to be  on a cruise. 

Out of phone range.  

I think it's the only way we can get a little peace and quiet.  

I'm kidding, we love our little guy and are so happy that he can call us.

Just not all the time.