tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709666428009420882024-02-06T20:03:07.323-08:00Drop it like a trig classAnne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.comBlogger496125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-67354217480569223492017-02-22T10:19:00.000-08:002017-02-22T10:19:24.172-08:00Spring Awakening?Is this thing on?<br />
<br />
I'm back! I managed to inadvertently sign up for the <a href="https://cannonballread.com/">Cannonball Read</a> so I will be posting book reviews. No guarantees of anything else but I said I'd do a half Cannonball (26 books) so reviews there will be. All the linky credits from Amazon and the CBR site for any books bought are donated<a href="https://cannonballread.com/fight-cancer/"> to help kick cancer's ass</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII_pwTpsYxmY-dWDzC4xmmfnttNwUY6OBmQcSf3dvc8tXzx6zjdkQp2aP7O9EJ53jXEAmeOpbwVmJ7cJJB7Zfkb2Z3F2qzXrAJPLgmR5xK3XqrxOZ_YslpUCvZMI_4MLBfwIXfg6XUu5r/s1600/51iK6X7ypqL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII_pwTpsYxmY-dWDzC4xmmfnttNwUY6OBmQcSf3dvc8tXzx6zjdkQp2aP7O9EJ53jXEAmeOpbwVmJ7cJJB7Zfkb2Z3F2qzXrAJPLgmR5xK3XqrxOZ_YslpUCvZMI_4MLBfwIXfg6XUu5r/s320/51iK6X7ypqL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sticking the book cover in for a test review to come soon!Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-8032076755158845562015-04-22T22:28:00.004-07:002015-04-22T22:28:54.035-07:00Sick/stuck.So due to a series of unfortunate events, I am stuck home invalid for a bit. I am trying to spend my time somewhat reasonably, so I have been watching BBC documentaries on Netflix. So far it has been Richard III and now the holy Grail. I also am working on a book on Basque history by Mark Kurlansky. I have enjoyed some of his earlier histories but this one so far is a bit list-y. Basque history is generally interesting but it is suffering a bit from the presentation.<br />
<br />
I am also having excessive time to look at where to go for our next vacation! I get a long weekend for Memorial Day next month and we are going to go down the coast to the San Luis Obispo area. I am really excited to take Matt to Hearst Castle, he has taken me to enough castles and cathedrals I figure I owe him one, and I think he will really enjoy it. Hearst Castle is amazing, and I haven't been in 10+ years. Blogger won't let me put in a picture, but <a href="http://hearstcastle.org/">the website</a> has some great shots.<br />
<br />
William Randolph Hearst was building with his daddy's money from massively profitable gold and silver mines, and his own from the early newspaper industry. He spent like it was going out of style, importing church pews, tapestries and parts of buildings from all over Europe (authentic or otherwise). <span style="text-align: center;">He consorted with the rich and famous and was known for his amazing parties. The movie Citizen Kane is famously based on Hearst, but a smaller movie called the Cat's Meow was also based on some unusual incidents in his life and is a fun film. It also features the late Edward Herriman as Hearst, and that will always be my mental image of Hearst now.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Hope everyone is well and doing many fun things this spring! I will try to update more reasonably and have some patience with Blogger as best I can. Emma, I very much hope you and Andreas are doing well and the adoption process is going smoothly for you!</span>Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-3835173359155328442014-12-08T07:45:00.001-08:002014-12-08T07:45:16.808-08:00ExcusesSo for some reason the Blogger interface is just awful now, on my laptop or mobile devices both. Anyone still reading this and happy with another platform? Should I be switching to Wordpress? The post formatting is always crazy now when I put in photos and I can never get youtube to embed any more. Half the time I can't even scroll to the bottom of a post when I've written it. I am thinking Wordpress is the next frontier. Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-85022274403081373402014-09-08T18:37:00.001-07:002014-09-08T18:37:04.990-07:00Project Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So this was a sad corner of my kitchen. The original thought was that it faced the dining room so something in the credenza or buffet family should live there, so it never got cabinets to match the rest of the kitchen. Thus, when we moved in, this was what the budget provided.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK06F8jl7omnXH-Jfu3GHlIuPEbILmYoaByWgU9Zi-wz6GaijEbuXi7eZBGaB6TP2wm6FaLGL7nDs3bpp85oNtenn2Jv8rEaKO7PSW7pguP8K5wAnG88GP8UvtVCPJhEAWaCtTIM7Zz_Fc/s640/blogger-image--178161042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK06F8jl7omnXH-Jfu3GHlIuPEbILmYoaByWgU9Zi-wz6GaijEbuXi7eZBGaB6TP2wm6FaLGL7nDs3bpp85oNtenn2Jv8rEaKO7PSW7pguP8K5wAnG88GP8UvtVCPJhEAWaCtTIM7Zz_Fc/s640/blogger-image--178161042.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was very functional, and EVERYTHING got shoved over there. Mess central. I also inherited my great-aunt's china (beautiful but most of a set so lots of space required). So I did a deal with the landlord.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI2LnsnFNplqf6hYlxnP2zVVuRw8_c4oOOJow7IB13NE58IdZFCtXIdyfWdWcAAL0IenvTJcr8gerOgKMgWVkStnKct6QozKRIx_-LpDYpZEBAvocBpvE62C2m0zduG91WdjRe-RfdJgZ/s640/blogger-image--1513637613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI2LnsnFNplqf6hYlxnP2zVVuRw8_c4oOOJow7IB13NE58IdZFCtXIdyfWdWcAAL0IenvTJcr8gerOgKMgWVkStnKct6QozKRIx_-LpDYpZEBAvocBpvE62C2m0zduG91WdjRe-RfdJgZ/s640/blogger-image--1513637613.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The place that sold the kitchen cabinets sells them as single units, and these <i>just</i> fit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GYoahokoafcIhxixIu1PkCOgN6G0m3WEPGVw4zTRjvqoNuR5iQr8u4FKGDImXXvZRCKWtc7l4gazBLBLwRa5hSW9c-HryPlXPdoc5SdS2E0WhzTwb80Vi1d15S4HVGOIzhNyERDIcsni/s640/blogger-image--371076313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GYoahokoafcIhxixIu1PkCOgN6G0m3WEPGVw4zTRjvqoNuR5iQr8u4FKGDImXXvZRCKWtc7l4gazBLBLwRa5hSW9c-HryPlXPdoc5SdS2E0WhzTwb80Vi1d15S4HVGOIzhNyERDIcsni/s640/blogger-image--371076313.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>They also sell precut slab granite for cheap. Unfortunately, no handles, those were the worst part. We bought the cabinets individually already assembled, then all we had to do was screw the three units together and glue the slab on top (it is definitely not going anywhere now). And put on ALL THE HANDLES. Seriously, the biggest investment of time and effort for this whole shebang, other than the three trips to pick up the separate pieces, was those handles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWy4LvvzsgdN-LGY1B_eif0LZspk6qwFhyphenhyphenMOSOulCkc9B4743QLTJVxd4t0_EC0hEX-1_36A0NLOQnd4iATY-W2iSMr_sy_aJiXp00maXrj_oBkY6s1pqECYiOaS-JjcrRe19S3E9vbFe/s640/blogger-image-61622172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWy4LvvzsgdN-LGY1B_eif0LZspk6qwFhyphenhyphenMOSOulCkc9B4743QLTJVxd4t0_EC0hEX-1_36A0NLOQnd4iATY-W2iSMr_sy_aJiXp00maXrj_oBkY6s1pqECYiOaS-JjcrRe19S3E9vbFe/s640/blogger-image-61622172.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But I Looooove it. This is the legitimate, not-styled action shot. We will put away the cereal when we have dinner parties, I promise. But we still get the buffet effect, with a massive increase in storage. All my kitchen linens, stand mixer, all that china, and I still have room! The small radio may not stay forever but I think the wine looks fancy there. And I promised Matt not to cover it <i>completely</i> with plants. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And I do have a paper towel holder that I am going to attempt to hang, so that won't live there either (eventually).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So this is what my last two weekends have been spent on while Matt was sick or working. Enthralling, I know. But it has been a huge improvement in my life. That is also why you didn't get a before picture, we are not memorializing the epic amounts of stuff that used to get piled here. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The only catch is to not pile all the things here now. It is great for unloading groceries though. Unexpected bonus! </span></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-84771472539854437402014-08-12T08:36:00.000-07:002014-08-12T08:36:36.368-07:00Musical Interlude<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last night was date night. It was really nice. Santa Cruz on a Saturday night is loud and busy and crowded, but on a Sunday it is much more reasonable. We hit my favorite restaurant, a place just called Red Restaurant and Lounge, first. They always have interesting things on the menu and now I have determined that I am ok with brussels sprouts as long as they are in roasted/chip form. Texture is apparently crucial, who knew? They were nutty and crispy and I may actually purchase some brussels sprouts for the first time in my life to try and replicate them at home.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But enough about cruciferous vegetables, we went to a show! John Pizzarelli is the son of the famous jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and the guy is a party. The vibe is very high-energy Tony Bennett if Tony Bennett were a couple of decades younger and could play a mean guitar.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RRrV7oMcmEY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">And next we are going to Paul McCartney! This is a bigger show than I have been to in years and I am excited and slightly alarmed. With age, my tolerance for crowds decreases dramatically. And I am ooold now. But thankfully so is Sir Paul. And the rest of his audience. So we will see how that goes.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-83109454310647973062014-07-31T10:19:00.001-07:002014-07-31T10:19:16.561-07:00Happy CamperI just got back from an amazing week at the brass chamber music workshop at Humboldt State in Arcata. Normally one of the bonuses is the cool and fog, but this year we got some sun. So on the short day (chops need recovery time!) we drove up to the little town of Trinidad for overpriced seafood and some sand between our toes. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-RXci4Lw0qmWzyvGhXLJ4U3nysqzDtYjT2l0NOufEbR5nbpFKNhIIEvx2CcdaNvsKy2anfrqNF4P2jB4G1bk8nsEo4TvIdMbGmZ6Ok1CFwZ59yRjyevujj0z3UUgJSwvCAUxMvzH6YT6/s640/blogger-image--1364103541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-RXci4Lw0qmWzyvGhXLJ4U3nysqzDtYjT2l0NOufEbR5nbpFKNhIIEvx2CcdaNvsKy2anfrqNF4P2jB4G1bk8nsEo4TvIdMbGmZ6Ok1CFwZ59yRjyevujj0z3UUgJSwvCAUxMvzH6YT6/s640/blogger-image--1364103541.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Not TOO much sun though. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfPVL8yT7NsXWLD9wKCXty7ASwTp40XQzHgnbuS0WqbL5aH2Pm3UT6WblBiB9iL8kU3aDj-5TPunS_6Qmhxw18Z684Mzr0fFFB-TcRvJUG_MNNfO1Kl4uQQwTEvubOHY9CpZ2XVvx8wxP/s640/blogger-image-1836509774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfPVL8yT7NsXWLD9wKCXty7ASwTp40XQzHgnbuS0WqbL5aH2Pm3UT6WblBiB9iL8kU3aDj-5TPunS_6Qmhxw18Z684Mzr0fFFB-TcRvJUG_MNNfO1Kl4uQQwTEvubOHY9CpZ2XVvx8wxP/s640/blogger-image-1836509774.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is looking south. Trinidad is still a big fishing community and there were plenty of boats out, but all to the west of us. That trail goes all the way down to the beach, and it's a good workout coming back up! There were lots of stops to "admire the view" and catch our breath. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIAKoixdrbSZqzaaga2gw3cOKfMvrWxSBC6gs8p7Pn1BWh1-FpMD_1o3H661YDcWVXgB-OMFsVPDJFHE7dVQsARtIkiWns9p2Bu1LuNZHlmEyUpJ2Hp2WKAiBol6JGEbKPf4eGsOxUGmz/s640/blogger-image-446912464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIAKoixdrbSZqzaaga2gw3cOKfMvrWxSBC6gs8p7Pn1BWh1-FpMD_1o3H661YDcWVXgB-OMFsVPDJFHE7dVQsARtIkiWns9p2Bu1LuNZHlmEyUpJ2Hp2WKAiBol6JGEbKPf4eGsOxUGmz/s640/blogger-image-446912464.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Can't vouch for much of town because we didn't spend much time there but I do love a nice beach. </div></div></div>Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-26126442014011427762014-07-16T23:45:00.002-07:002014-07-16T23:47:21.946-07:00Unexpected Subtraction<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been at what is basically my first desk job for almost two years now. I still go out and do field calls and take plant and soil samples for the lab to analyze, but the preponderance of my time is now spent at a desk either writing up reports or on the phone with people talking about their plants. So, significantly less active than any other job in recent memory. And it is hard to leave work and motivate to get my butt to the gym. So my mom talked me into being her Weight Watchers buddy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are pros and cons to living ten minutes from your parents once they've both retired. The pros you saw in the last post - a landlord who is willing to invest in improving stuff around here. The cons are your landlord needing to have a serious sit-down with you about your weight. Not interested. But he offered to fund my WW membership if I go with Mom. So I was resentful, to say the least, but I love my mom, so I went. And now I'm kind of resentful that it seems to be working.<br />
<br />
I didn't have an issue with my weight, but I feel better than I did, and I always like an excuse to buy new clothes. And I have a couple of weddings to go to this summer and I have been enjoying some new-to-me fashion blogs, so I think there is some nice cocktail dress and sundress shopping in my future. So I guess it's a begrudging endorsement. The WW tracking app is well-designed and they make it comparatively easy, at least at the beginning. Apparently some of the meetings they spend quite a bit of time pushing their products but none of the ones I've attended have been that way. We sit around and strategize about how to eat more healthily and it seems like a relatively reasonable system overall. Truthfully, I'd probably be way less into it if the app wasn't so helpful and easy to use.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, new favorite fashion blogs! These ladies seem to be back east somewhere and are slightly dressier than I am (still working with dirt, even thought it's a desk job) for work, but I adore their style of writing. Also periodic posts of hot guys and great sale tips!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
http://www.looksgoodfromtheback.com</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This lady is somewhere in Canadia, eh? and has super-accessible style. She is basically what I would like to look like at work. Also she has hair like Christina Hendricks (JEALOUS) and posts intermittent book roundups where I keep finding interesting-sounding books to add to my reading list.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
http://bluecollarredlipstick.com<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anybody discovering exciting new fashion blogs I should know about? I am over the fancy, high-fashion stuff, not that I was ever really into it, but lately I love a good everyday outfit blog.</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-46456614888834092062014-07-13T21:48:00.001-07:002014-07-13T22:59:18.493-07:00Unplanned Hiatus<div style="text-align: justify;">
Things have been quiet around here, my apologies for the lack of updates. It's different living in somebody else's house, a. you can't just run around doing whatever projects you want and b. it's harder to justify spending money on things that won't come with us when we leave. </div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That said, I can't stop working in the yard, that would just be crazy. The summer we moved in we poured a little front porch. And never used it. So this winter we talked the landlord (my dad) into having a little arbor built over it.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFzwOi4-GQir-6Tb-sI7eJ_nUxsj4m4elgcRxNcLrOR5DN3EL_zt-mNIO3S_w4eHqmx7QfKheD_2i_Yo0rgAfug5ZoBEVWZVPBAQWN2v7vvlYtvT8__-qI_pdCQtYGe4QCJMiScjgEhja/s640/blogger-image--1050694136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFzwOi4-GQir-6Tb-sI7eJ_nUxsj4m4elgcRxNcLrOR5DN3EL_zt-mNIO3S_w4eHqmx7QfKheD_2i_Yo0rgAfug5ZoBEVWZVPBAQWN2v7vvlYtvT8__-qI_pdCQtYGe4QCJMiScjgEhja/s400/blogger-image--1050694136.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Not too imposing after everything froze in our crazy cold winter, I know. We normally don't get lows in the 20's for a week straight, so I was mainly concerned with keeping the citrus trees alive. But everything recovered and I also finally admitted to myself that the backyard will never get enough sun for my vegetables...</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3bEvqqWySC64Rnz6SbYck8P1CGjIEscDppXY7DsY3DawmLzi-kTJYy-3OxK4z4b1ApSskT2oEnrRw8PFbvZ_6zq-NOkqCQuDHDzqlyFe68kQMSnRKCcq5yMiYIjdv_D2Y3XOkhwbzE4S/s640/blogger-image--1373735935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3bEvqqWySC64Rnz6SbYck8P1CGjIEscDppXY7DsY3DawmLzi-kTJYy-3OxK4z4b1ApSskT2oEnrRw8PFbvZ_6zq-NOkqCQuDHDzqlyFe68kQMSnRKCcq5yMiYIjdv_D2Y3XOkhwbzE4S/s640/blogger-image--1373735935.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So we got a little veggie bed action going too. You can also see the new little fence that my dad and I put in, it made life a little less miserable while the neighbors were gutting their house and construction debris was everywhere. It's not too imposing yet, this was my first shot at bush beans on the right and so far I think pole beans are a way better use of space. These just aren't very productive. And unfortunately, I planted two varieties and one is way tastier that the other, but I don't know which one was which. Sad trombone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MOwIxb_3NDV5R2tmjkgg9d9_JdNRPwITN8MaqwWnSB2tpN1g3GvZJpKoPNN4YwMr7Z_yUXNsm24P10TKCOQYjLPqCioUT3LYxox-fptTdFbupfcxoUdYhutSSNV3XuCCVmHcKa0CWCry/s640/blogger-image-1212259966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MOwIxb_3NDV5R2tmjkgg9d9_JdNRPwITN8MaqwWnSB2tpN1g3GvZJpKoPNN4YwMr7Z_yUXNsm24P10TKCOQYjLPqCioUT3LYxox-fptTdFbupfcxoUdYhutSSNV3XuCCVmHcKa0CWCry/s640/blogger-image-1212259966.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So the upshot is, much more time being spent on the porch now. Even Matt will take his coffee out there in the a.m. sometimes now. Everything is growing in nicely and it's secluded from the street now so you can sit there and watch people walk by and nobody even notices we're there. The pile of trees in the street in that picture is another story, we had to spend some cash on tree trimming/removal in the backyard, it was a jungle back there! You can see the remains all piled in the street, and our backyard can see the sun again! Still not enough to grow tomatoes though.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I have ideas for other things to blog about, fingers crossed I can get back on the horse and stay on! Is anybody else still out there?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-89222845032201176142014-01-08T18:02:00.001-08:002014-01-08T18:40:59.727-08:00Happy New Year!We went out with Matt's parents on their boat on New Year's Day and it was lovely.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK12DxqshMMKxjbiWlxM1JCknCnCbyllqsTXMicaC-2qZlH1-JBHkjjxbY9h_X_cNer6EW8z-GuNtdo867xGwf0zPoTPDyRu9CGRQyeMAIgPEzDvYpXIV0jHMIYhNCjaerxugrH8g3dVS9/s640/blogger-image-1726886540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK12DxqshMMKxjbiWlxM1JCknCnCbyllqsTXMicaC-2qZlH1-JBHkjjxbY9h_X_cNer6EW8z-GuNtdo867xGwf0zPoTPDyRu9CGRQyeMAIgPEzDvYpXIV0jHMIYhNCjaerxugrH8g3dVS9/s640/blogger-image-1726886540.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Hazy and not windy enough for a sail but we had a little motor around and I think that peak in the distance is Mt. Tam. Hazy days also make for lovely sunsets so I won't complain (much, although we are overdue for some rain down here).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRXSwKlvBP9YSweSKCLEBSjMkLcjvAqEEKEP-K4GT6aHm3SDQOjX8B1MYbyHNvz29g2ktn9Ud-6PnvFmFES2ru1Dp0v0A4bXo9XZ6vDC0iOLSSQmxlqpfwyuujaOH82CMNoI8yZbq8PYf/s640/blogger-image-104831175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRXSwKlvBP9YSweSKCLEBSjMkLcjvAqEEKEP-K4GT6aHm3SDQOjX8B1MYbyHNvz29g2ktn9Ud-6PnvFmFES2ru1Dp0v0A4bXo9XZ6vDC0iOLSSQmxlqpfwyuujaOH82CMNoI8yZbq8PYf/s640/blogger-image-104831175.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This weekend we took a drive up the coast to Davenport, which is a tiny town where the Odwalla bottling plant was before they got bought out by Coca-cola. Now all that's really there is some pretty views and a couple of little breakfast joints, hence our trip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYrRc_pmbbPFQ8vSdM1muqUh58RChy8jkxPLtI8V8OOJFAALSXbNDuchi4802VKSJ40IrFYzIbgbvn9-USA-NbRz2MGXaH67q6Qg7ClmbI6neVIWl_3Nh5y6729D_6naECoU5XsCDpxuX/s640/blogger-image-825075854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYrRc_pmbbPFQ8vSdM1muqUh58RChy8jkxPLtI8V8OOJFAALSXbNDuchi4802VKSJ40IrFYzIbgbvn9-USA-NbRz2MGXaH67q6Qg7ClmbI6neVIWl_3Nh5y6729D_6naECoU5XsCDpxuX/s640/blogger-image-825075854.jpg" /></a></div>
Back home I have been fighting some sort of bug the last few days and being a bum. However, the neighbors are gutting their house and putting a second story on, and today was foundation-pouring day. So not exactly a peaceful day at home with two concrete trucks outside all day. But it may have inspired the landlord (my dad) and I have some project pictures coming up soon!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On the home front, Matt's on a bit of a health food kick so if I find and good recipes with chia seeds I'll definitely post them (ha). That said, nothing will top the post-holiday stuffing waffles. Normally I am not a big Rachael Ray fan but she has a stuffing waffle recipe with cranberry maple syrup - blend up your leftover cranberry sauce 50/50 with maple syrup and whoo baby! It's a ways out, but next Thanksgiving think about those leftovers...</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-15628306390925672712013-12-07T11:34:00.001-08:002013-12-07T11:34:58.950-08:00I'm not dead yet! I'm feeling better!Sorry for the radio silence, I need to get back on the blogging horse here! Things have been going fairly well, the job is not exciting but going well, Matt has gotten some contract work so we might get to do some traveling again soon, Thanksgiving was delicious...<div><br></div><div>Ok, long version. We had Thanksgiving at a friend's and I brought regular and vegan stuffing, and discovered that leftover stuffing is best when stuffed in your waffle iron. Yes, we are now converts to the church of the stuffing waffle. Mix a little maple syrup in your leftover cranberry sauce and you are good to go. We had a second Thanksgiving at home on Saturday with my parents so I could have leftovers, and I actually made gravy correctly for the first time in my life. And an apple tart that was lovely and of course I didn't take a picture.</div><div><br></div><div>We also had a fun trip to Austin. We had horrible colds the whole time so we didn't do a lot of partying (and it is a party town). But there was a lot of great shopping and an insane amount of good food. The weather was crazy with flood warnings and thunder and lightning but we still went to an outdoor concert and had lots of fun! I'm glad we checked it out, Matt turned down a mediocre job offer out there a while back and we were wondering. It's a nice place to <i>visit</i>.</div><div><br></div><div>The holidays are now in full swing down here, I have a Christmas concert this weekend and it's time to get a tree! I am thinking about putting up lights on the house for the first time this year, we'll see what happens! </div><div><br></div><div>How is everyone out there in blogland? Happy holidays to everybody out there!</div><div><br></div>Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-8166496454296679822013-08-06T22:43:00.000-07:002013-08-06T22:47:41.717-07:00Ringing Endorsement<div style="text-align: center;">
So I had been told in the past "oh you should go read Jane Eyre, it's really good". That's it. Not something to get me running to the bookstore. This is stuff that got read in the other English class that I wasn't in while we read Julius Caesar or something. And it never really registered on my radar. So what did it?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/Jane-Eyre-movie-image-Michael-Fassbender-Mia-Wasikowska.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/Jane-Eyre-movie-image-Michael-Fassbender-Mia-Wasikowska.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yup. The 2011 version of Jane Eyre is a humdinger. Mia Wasikowska is SO GOOD.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/movies/1/0/q/2/X/jane-eyre-michael-fassbender-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/movies/1/0/q/2/X/jane-eyre-michael-fassbender-photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also, Michael Fassbender does tortured and crazy and handsome quite well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cinemapolis.org/pics/pics3/janeeyre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.cinemapolis.org/pics/pics3/janeeyre.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had been reading junk like Rebecca and The Scarlet Letter and yes, great writing, blah blah blah. But talk about leading ladies that I cannot sympathize with for the life of me. But Jane actually does something about her situation, which is what drove me nuts about both those books. Jane gets through awful situations or she gets out. She does it all on her own terms, and to be fair, I am not generally pro-religion, but I like what her religion means to her. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sc7jUMAozqTv5T7ApxlSkfxUH5Q2VVMNXbr0FkSlo9QvZz-sbQeLNzT75w-7Gqb2hrUt_8yfNmedWmNgV9e40R_cSKk_z77Ndo08IzwMVtPdGYwtQuQGDBZoO-WCpAcnAAVRefx2j-c/s1600/jane-eyre-2011-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sc7jUMAozqTv5T7ApxlSkfxUH5Q2VVMNXbr0FkSlo9QvZz-sbQeLNzT75w-7Gqb2hrUt_8yfNmedWmNgV9e40R_cSKk_z77Ndo08IzwMVtPdGYwtQuQGDBZoO-WCpAcnAAVRefx2j-c/s320/jane-eyre-2011-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And seriously, come on.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I read the book, thank you <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/">Project Gutenberg</a>. And it is good. The movie definitely abridges some of the more dated bits, but it is still suitably crazy and gothic and visually stunning (and I don't just mean Rochester). And it gets bonus points for great casting of Judi Dench, who is good in pretty much everything but is great in this. So if you haven't read it, I will say it: get out there and read Jane Eyre. And then watch the 2011 movie, because helloooooo Fassbender! I am not normally one for the broody Byronic crazy ones, but I think Rochester is my exception to that rule.</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-34578331947732153562013-07-12T13:35:00.001-07:002013-07-14T07:03:35.646-07:00Evidence<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRxVQqxu7OZ-v1FjGsVvtWtbzWwL7YBgE8kM4aqC7m39AiHf9CMMKuR8OVs13SAfDOvYRI8IKCLqP2Zie3swJHsmk9H9JSCVfZr1d_Jf0E9fEKfF6C-GKeLIvzrD1aNGonT_0vlx3niRv/s640/blogger-image--1672484634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Of a productive weekend. With another to come soon, hopefully. The top of my poor desk was looking so sad, I didn't even take a before picture. I scrubbed it down with diluted Murphy's Oil Soap and very fine steel wool. Then I wiped it down, let it dry and did some sanding.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRxVQqxu7OZ-v1FjGsVvtWtbzWwL7YBgE8kM4aqC7m39AiHf9CMMKuR8OVs13SAfDOvYRI8IKCLqP2Zie3swJHsmk9H9JSCVfZr1d_Jf0E9fEKfF6C-GKeLIvzrD1aNGonT_0vlx3niRv/s640/blogger-image--1672484634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRxVQqxu7OZ-v1FjGsVvtWtbzWwL7YBgE8kM4aqC7m39AiHf9CMMKuR8OVs13SAfDOvYRI8IKCLqP2Zie3swJHsmk9H9JSCVfZr1d_Jf0E9fEKfF6C-GKeLIvzrD1aNGonT_0vlx3niRv/s640/blogger-image--1672484634.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Only the top really needed help, and let me tell you it looks much nicer now. I gave it a couple of coats of Minwax wood finish in dark walnut (it stains AND seals, whoo hoo) and it is pretty snazzy now in comparison. The rest of the piece is in much better shape so I just left it as-is. It's a little redder than the top but when I am sitting at my desk what I see is how nice the top looks now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip25BbWeO_E0awmEO0JnkuDxn_Ots5hlKiTV4UcIdSXeQ7O381Hfhe8AIhCdrVwSETJ8nZwxlFisL8TGSCCSuG45kh_yEgCVqgiGvu0UvgKn13VaZj0QO-_hqypfsL0lI_Rb_0EvwbIE2T/s640/blogger-image--1606458929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip25BbWeO_E0awmEO0JnkuDxn_Ots5hlKiTV4UcIdSXeQ7O381Hfhe8AIhCdrVwSETJ8nZwxlFisL8TGSCCSuG45kh_yEgCVqgiGvu0UvgKn13VaZj0QO-_hqypfsL0lI_Rb_0EvwbIE2T/s640/blogger-image--1606458929.jpg" /></a></div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-33991852820878260442013-07-05T06:41:00.001-07:002013-07-05T06:51:06.971-07:00Before I Forget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiAw34hCJRWUMYaaUAhfQ3g5YNXD5WfLrGjqyoCIBknnZ8V_LNvBIjXTUdy9bBkDsNx7KU9D99yrfnvang_i1uCFUrAv-0otm0-sLe-T79WOF5t20cdQProdRtC0hyphenhyphenE0_o7RQ87yNleKA/s640/blogger-image-1775519367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;">This used to be my lawn. Not missing it so much now. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiAw34hCJRWUMYaaUAhfQ3g5YNXD5WfLrGjqyoCIBknnZ8V_LNvBIjXTUdy9bBkDsNx7KU9D99yrfnvang_i1uCFUrAv-0otm0-sLe-T79WOF5t20cdQProdRtC0hyphenhyphenE0_o7RQ87yNleKA/s640/blogger-image-1775519367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiAw34hCJRWUMYaaUAhfQ3g5YNXD5WfLrGjqyoCIBknnZ8V_LNvBIjXTUdy9bBkDsNx7KU9D99yrfnvang_i1uCFUrAv-0otm0-sLe-T79WOF5t20cdQProdRtC0hyphenhyphenE0_o7RQ87yNleKA/s400/blogger-image-1775519367.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Can't wait for my trees to give a little more shade, it's been cooking here the last week!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6ruOwcedGkI77V87wZRrBRwbyfJ1gyIl9FK4b6fTZZ-4Qa2chGvQ2lIYDrQhjk9Bg9G7Hr8rFOIRj1VfDd79bwzNbdYKmepIPKkSpGrGfvOEL1TnPj2Sp3kSSAiuvdkqc7R1L175pXbC/s640/blogger-image-1126418759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6ruOwcedGkI77V87wZRrBRwbyfJ1gyIl9FK4b6fTZZ-4Qa2chGvQ2lIYDrQhjk9Bg9G7Hr8rFOIRj1VfDd79bwzNbdYKmepIPKkSpGrGfvOEL1TnPj2Sp3kSSAiuvdkqc7R1L175pXbC/s400/blogger-image-1126418759.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I do need to catch up on some weeding though.</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-35960937538818612172013-05-05T00:13:00.001-07:002013-05-05T00:13:46.726-07:00Literary Interlude (or lack thereof)I read a couple of interesting books recently so I thought I should put something up here so it looks like I'm still around (not really, I am swamped at work and spending all my spare time in the garden while the weather has been so nice).<br />
<br />
Rebecca - yes, I know it's a classic and I needed to get around to it, but it made me think of reading The Scarlet Letter in that unsympathetic, I-can't-always-escape-my-modern-perspective way. As in the "Why the hell didn't she do something to change her situation, what a wimp" perspective. Hugely evocative writing and excellently creepy to read, Mrs. Danvers is a hell of a character, as is Rebecca herself, but the de Winters (Mr. and the second Mrs.) are just so hard to identify with or sympathize with as a general rule. So, I'm glad I read it and now I think I've filled my Du Maurier quota for a while. But I do wish the movie was in color so I could see the epic descriptions of the house and grounds with all the lush, blooming flowers done justice.<br />
<br />
Gone Girl - after all the hype I was curious and the library had it for Kindle (this is fancy, I can check it out from my laptop and then it shows up on my Kindle and disappears again in three weeks. No overdue book fees!), so I gave it a shot. It is definitely well written, characters keep seeming sympathetic and then changing, and the back-and-forth switching perspectives between husband and wife works really well (something that doesn't always work if the writer isn't up to it). But in the end, it was just kind of horrible. Miserable people and misery triumphing in the end. The much-vaunted twist at the end was something I never expected and was very well written, but I can't say I will be seeking out more of the author's work. I flat-out asked somebody if it was like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo because I don't like reading so descriptively about torture and violence, and they said no, but I'm not 100% sure that was accurate. It is a different kind of torture, for sure, but it still was something I couldn't read at bedtime without worrying about it giving me nightmares.<br />
<br />
I think I just had a run of a lot of miserable and highly unsympathetic characters all in a row. Thus the palate cleanser:<br />
<br />
Three Men in a Boat - this is incredibly silly and quotable. It's like Wilde-lite and I love the language. I need more stuff like this for a while I think.<br />
<br />
"How good one feels when one is full - how satisfied with ourselves and the world! People who had tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business quite as well, and is cheaper, and more easily obtained. One feels so forgiving and generous after a substantial and well-digested meal - so noble-minded, so kindly-hearted."<br />
<br />
Next up is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Monuments-Men-Greatest-Treasure/dp/1599951509">Monuments Men</a>, which it looks like I need to read before the George Clooney version hits theaters. It was one of my mom's book club books which can be hit or miss, but this is the intellectual book club and she really liked it so I am looking forward to it.<br />
<br />
What are you all reading out there in Blogville?Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-56858134683307446572013-04-12T21:39:00.001-07:002013-04-12T21:40:34.314-07:00Does That Make Me Crazy? Probably...I'm still around, things have been quiet because one of my coworkers got a new job and we haven't replaced her and my other coworker was on vacation so last week I got to do two people's jobs and this week I got to do three people's jobs. Well, not really. Let's just say we are a little behind but I gave it the old college try. And not the "drink stuff somebody mixed in a garbage can and wake up the next day in your party clothes" kind of try. But I am pretty proud of myself.<br />
<br />
And my reward is going to be my first vacation day in seven months! We are headed up to Reno in the a.m. to give that storage unit of stuff a dirty look and visit a lot of people. It should be a blast, other than the drive and the potential for bad weather that always comes with the Sierra Nevadas in springtime.<br />
<br />
And since what's a post with no pictures of plants, here's our trip to Hakone Gardens last weekend.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFWXEcE_N1pKzn1azdRZkkBtnyMdnfKzt_Q_ZekN9CgnkYO4yDKw04WaUJQlKQQJVEzid3LNu4TeeCpxsaacwiQMzISWO2RQDSXYNCDKFbDhHm7Ppv4YnsghEvMzcNMhZcoP_cPftz_MS/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFWXEcE_N1pKzn1azdRZkkBtnyMdnfKzt_Q_ZekN9CgnkYO4yDKw04WaUJQlKQQJVEzid3LNu4TeeCpxsaacwiQMzISWO2RQDSXYNCDKFbDhHm7Ppv4YnsghEvMzcNMhZcoP_cPftz_MS/s400/DSC_0025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
It was a weird, humid hazy day but the cherry blossoms and the azaleas were looking lovely. Too early for the wisteria though except in the sunniest spots.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WDfB36JIUJ1S7bGrepI-kJY46YRItN63VZFh42RNTcoovkadpyj1-5sNj9H_EQcPikbGQhusmCQgTgMNXrmON2rPz8XKos4TWCRHG4tyRzJIHab5tSl7BmEicA6sSIFc8pPjk0FsBOYr/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WDfB36JIUJ1S7bGrepI-kJY46YRItN63VZFh42RNTcoovkadpyj1-5sNj9H_EQcPikbGQhusmCQgTgMNXrmON2rPz8XKos4TWCRHG4tyRzJIHab5tSl7BmEicA6sSIFc8pPjk0FsBOYr/s400/DSC_0051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And there were lots of people there, so it was a challenge waiting for people to move behind a shrub so they wouldn't spoil the photo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8wsk9pGRVL2-XwxUzh8tCukZUQP1fJ5NZ3uSYbnE5qmWfCF5mEoXWVvUJQzO6w1Nd-2WNwxG3rJjcBrHeDf_KFYxJBjW_asUzOqNEoGQABHw79JNu7s3MOCsT640DkR3wz0Gdd6N81N2/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8wsk9pGRVL2-XwxUzh8tCukZUQP1fJ5NZ3uSYbnE5qmWfCF5mEoXWVvUJQzO6w1Nd-2WNwxG3rJjcBrHeDf_KFYxJBjW_asUzOqNEoGQABHw79JNu7s3MOCsT640DkR3wz0Gdd6N81N2/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
But it was worth it. We tried to go to Filoli but they were having some sort of open house/family day and it was $20 for members (!) as opposed to the normal FREE. Also, huge crowds of small children. I don't go to gardens to be surrounded by people.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67mB-oi0epe_FE3HQhBHy3NtPza4UvSQvVi55rdUDMMkAMZ5keFItMvc4xYLw71YSrPVNHnp7UhxyBfhPtb9CGqfQsCkOZAWkaEh9ib0ttA5jkk3mPLC8i09gJnWRaNLmDTggoZuy9kBc/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67mB-oi0epe_FE3HQhBHy3NtPza4UvSQvVi55rdUDMMkAMZ5keFItMvc4xYLw71YSrPVNHnp7UhxyBfhPtb9CGqfQsCkOZAWkaEh9ib0ttA5jkk3mPLC8i09gJnWRaNLmDTggoZuy9kBc/s400/DSC_0078.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I go to gardens to maintain the illusion that there totally isn't a dude right behind that shrub. He's in the next shot.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So wish me luck, I have to go to bed so we can drive to Reno bright and early! And cross your fingers that we can unload some furniture while we're there!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bd2B6SjMh_w" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bonus! This is the cool creepy video from which I stole my title.</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-25454408293245280142013-03-03T08:03:00.000-08:002013-03-03T08:03:12.707-08:00Life Update (By Emma's Request)Since I do spend quite a bit of time meandering on here about books and food, let's do a full update for the new year (well, new-ish now).<br />
<br />
I am living in San Jose, California, and it will be two years (!) this month. We left Reno when the jobs dried up and moved into my grandmother's old house at the edge of a cute little town called Campbell. I have been working on the house and garden under the stern but tolerant eye of the landlord (my dad). Since we moved in he has been able to do most of the 30 years of deferred maintenance that he put off while my grandmother was here. So it has been painted and the windows have been replaced and the kitchen and bathrooms have been redone, and we have dealt with rats and termites both, and there has been quite a bit of plumbing. But thankfully the roof is good. I have taken out a large amount of lawn and planted fruit trees and geraniums and a lot of wacky succulents (welcome to California).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJf4M6LFdpqnjbVOkodCxy0l08WsPWBgzzxkYG1-2p84Wg7u2CPomcuH4ELlzSRVQzzdvyc3ZMerb2HX8IbGp955j8wEsh2FH_YPeMVvCbYK-2jgRCvYs7Imbj0USWJqMn7Kh4z1f9VRO/s1600/6a00d834cdafac69e2014e882b4308970d-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJf4M6LFdpqnjbVOkodCxy0l08WsPWBgzzxkYG1-2p84Wg7u2CPomcuH4ELlzSRVQzzdvyc3ZMerb2HX8IbGp955j8wEsh2FH_YPeMVvCbYK-2jgRCvYs7Imbj0USWJqMn7Kh4z1f9VRO/s400/6a00d834cdafac69e2014e882b4308970d-800wi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">So far this is just inspiration. But isn't it lovely? Probably from Sunset.com</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When we moved down here, Matt got a job at a company that rented big vans full of games and video games for kids' parties. He liked it, he got to play games with kids and drive around so it was way better than unemployment and much healthier than a high-stress corporate cubicle job. And he discovered, having always lived inland, that it is great to be able to drive to the beach and just hang out there. Unfortunately, one day driving back from the beach on a drizzly afternoon, I hit a wet patch and flipped the car. No broken bones, but Matt lost a lot of meat from the back of his head and the next three months meant staying home, living off of savings from the last high-paying corporate cubicle job and changing dressings three times a day.<br />
<br />
After three months, a couple of surgeries and a skin graft, and a lot of arguing with insurance companies, his head healed up and he started going for walks outside. I got a job as a Horticultural Technician, basically going to big fancy companies and taking care of their plants. It was awful, but slightly better than unemployment. And I couldn't sit around the house and watch Matt any more after three months solid. We started having a life and he got a job at a local guitar repair and consignment shop. He loves it there and can ride his bike to work but his boss is bonkers so it is a mixed blessing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS-9wS7-ZdeAu9DP2iYHg2IBPjjQS_GMeNCj9ldrF6NCpBtHb1jzu8hZe0ClpKg6x5KhNNIVni-EJjm0cV2TH2j2JfokSqO1jKA25wQFkFI9eMoedsct6JMI5YWDBP_j6lbtKPwvqR3X0/s1600/6a00d834cdafac69e201538e37b3f0970b-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS-9wS7-ZdeAu9DP2iYHg2IBPjjQS_GMeNCj9ldrF6NCpBtHb1jzu8hZe0ClpKg6x5KhNNIVni-EJjm0cV2TH2j2JfokSqO1jKA25wQFkFI9eMoedsct6JMI5YWDBP_j6lbtKPwvqR3X0/s400/6a00d834cdafac69e201538e37b3f0970b-800wi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">More inspiration, also from Sunset Magazine</span></div>
<br />
After a year as a plant janitor, I finally got a job with Soil and Plant Lab, we test people's soil and give them recommendations for landscaping and plant care, working with everyone from homeowners, contractors and landscape architects to the San Francisco Zoo and Cal Academy of Sciences to nurseries and tree farms. Now Filoli is one of my clients! I am a Soils Consultant and I get to drive out to fancy gardens to take plant and soil samples and then I research them out and write up reports. It is a short commute and my coworkers are both smart, nice and interesting people. My boss is crazy too, but she is at the Anaheim office so it is not a terribly high-stress environment. Matt is looking for some audio engineer work again and we are enjoying living in the Bay Area. It is not a cheap place to live but we are not living a crazy expensive lifestyle so if we would quit having expensive car problems things would be going pretty darn well. So one thing at a time.<br />
<br />
So there's your update Emma, sorry I'm not a punctual blogger but as much as this sounds like excitement, it has all happened very slowly. We miss Reno but there is a lot going on here, we are so close to the beach and the city and there is so much music here!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZtDHqb0JVuQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Believe it or not I'm in there, second tuba from the left!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-42618659569130533862013-02-18T22:30:00.002-08:002013-02-18T22:30:32.137-08:00Roundup (mostly cooking and books)I'm still here, no Austin in sight. They lowballed Matt so it looks like we are going to keep looking a little closer to <i>where I already have a job</i>. But I still am having urges to sell furniture. There is a trip to Reno and a storage unit cleanout somewhere on the horizon... I just had to have the transmission rebuilt in my car so all that stuff up there is looking mighty sellable.<br />
<br />
Now I am in the throes of cooking projects. I have invested in some Indian spices and am working on diversifying my vegan cooking (the January resolution hangover). I am pretty happy with lentils and garbanzos as protein sources, but I still need to work on white beans, I basically only like them as Italian-style with pasta and lots of garlic. Bean diversification is in progress!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img4-1.myrecipes.timeinc.net/i/recipes/su/13/01/spiced-red-rentils-caramelized-onions-spinach-su-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img4-1.myrecipes.timeinc.net/i/recipes/su/13/01/spiced-red-rentils-caramelized-onions-spinach-su-l.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Also I still hate chard.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My mom gave me David Lebovitz's most recent book to read and now I want to buy all his cookbooks too! I have made the chocolate yogurt cake things twice now, they are basically a lovely moist chocolate muffin that goes great with coffee. He was the dessert chef at Chez Panisse, among other things, and it's a light memoir about living in France. I went through a travel reading phase and still go back to read Peter Mayle on French food, but this book was one of the few food-related memoirs I've read that made me want to actually cook 3/4 of the recipes in it. Julia Child and Jacques Pepin wrote my two favorite food memoirs, My Life in France and The Apprentice, and they are both AMAZING books. But while they completely inspire me and make me want to cook, they never really make me want to cook what <i>they are talking about</i>. This guy does. Clearly I need to spend some time perusing his <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/">blog</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51bnnbeqydL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51bnnbeqydL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm making a chicken curry-ish thing tonight with carrots and tomatoes, we'll see how it comes out. I've also been experimenting with desserts some more, I have 2/3 of a batch of the Barefoot Contessa's chocolate buttercream recipe sitting in my freezer because it is insanely rich and I have to figure out what else to put it on. Might need to bake myself a birthday cake at this rate just to use it up!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Garden pictures should be forthcoming soon, it has been cold and dry but we are getting some more rain soon so I need to get planting!</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-21056718674995337882013-02-01T08:19:00.001-08:002013-02-18T19:00:35.009-08:00Back In The Office AgainIt's that time of year, the organizing and fresh-starting season is nigh and my office needs some love. There is a doom-worthy file cabinet in the closet and I may just have to empty out the whole closet at this rate and start fresh. <br />
<br />
The desk and bookshelves are under control right now, and I love my cushy red reading chair, but I need a solution for the wires in that corner, as they are looking pretty ratty right now. <br />
<br />
But here's the rub: Matt just applied for a job in Austin. Yes, the one in Texas. And that's a 26-hour drive from here. California is big, but when you add in Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas, that is SO FAR AWAY. <br />
<br />
So how much time do I invest in getting my office just-so, and how much do I spend trying to decide what we can take and what we will sell on Craigslist? I know it doesn't matter until they offer him the job and he takes it, but it is a crazy idea to have in the back of your head... If I had to get rid of most of this stuff, what would I keep?<br />
<br />
The whole thing is just making me desperate to go to Reno and clean out the storage unit up there- if it didn't fit in this house and was still good furniture, we stuck it in a shipping container behind Matt's dad's garage. And I am dying to get up there and sell a big batch of perfectly good furniture, because at this rate, we may never have a house that it all fits in again (the Reno house was quite spacious). We went from around 1800 sq. ft. with a two- car garage there to 1100ish and a one-car garage down here, and this house was already partially furnished (hence the awesome bookshelf and desk in my office, those are MINE NOW). <br />
<br />
Updates and pictures of furniture as events warrant. Right now I am in limbo. And it is killing me in the getting-projects-done department. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu03elu4KpdQEScn_BCBwV8IyvhR-i-Asr_oSiSW0jnHpOtq1fTKsCI9Tm2XXDq27QdTNfjnycdyGf-U7IJZVxje_uJRfrY-RruUspKU02w22u7R8cEHJgbmbbodI3xoQtEq3SKTY-vo9/s640/blogger-image--832742307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu03elu4KpdQEScn_BCBwV8IyvhR-i-Asr_oSiSW0jnHpOtq1fTKsCI9Tm2XXDq27QdTNfjnycdyGf-U7IJZVxje_uJRfrY-RruUspKU02w22u7R8cEHJgbmbbodI3xoQtEq3SKTY-vo9/s400/blogger-image--832742307.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZY_96ZrDgUp-sMb5RbxJo0XwTfoWRw6EXajv4bYXvrNDw_r1MCx4xq4S-P2DAI9Nbc_mp5ipniblyynu9saFgFZWFKi9vswRI-vw3XI5tVtBeougjjq9-3mhcvNDJiGAIoPHv7bcnmC7/s640/blogger-image--1957085744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZY_96ZrDgUp-sMb5RbxJo0XwTfoWRw6EXajv4bYXvrNDw_r1MCx4xq4S-P2DAI9Nbc_mp5ipniblyynu9saFgFZWFKi9vswRI-vw3XI5tVtBeougjjq9-3mhcvNDJiGAIoPHv7bcnmC7/s400/blogger-image--1957085744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-24157984000285656902013-01-12T22:59:00.000-08:002013-01-12T23:01:03.905-08:00Movie InterludeIs it weird that I'm watching the BBC miniseries State of Play (very good, so far) and counting the actors I recognize from Doctor Who? I'm up to six so far, I think. I had to look up a couple to make sure they weren't in Doctor Who. Matt even caught one I missed, and he usually makes fun of me for playing "name that face" (but, I needed to figure out that the snotty Miss Bingley from the BBC Pride and Prejudice was the Vice-President of the Galaxy in the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie!)<br />
<br />
My list of Who actors so far:<br />
John Simm<br />
Bill Nighy<br />
David Morrissey<br />
Marc Warren<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/toolbox1234/2-10-love_and_monsters_103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/toolbox1234/2-10-love_and_monsters_103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Rebekah Staton, who looks very different as a blonde. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/512xn/p00qrdbv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/512xn/p00qrdbv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And on top of all the Who people, add a really young James MacAvoy and also, Kelly MacDonald, LOVE HER. Not to mention The Hound from Game of Thrones. Weirdly stacked cast. Almost distractingly so. But this was also pretty early in a lot of their careers and they have gone on to bigger and better things. So, um, good for them, I guess is my point. </div>
<br />
Matt was making fun of me for watching modern BBC with no Mr. Darcy involved but I am home with a stuffy brain and a semi-cold and I just watched the first three of six episodes in one sitting and am going to be waiting by the mailbox until Netflix sends me the second half!<br />
<br />
Edited to add: also one of the cops was the alien leader in the first episode of Doctor Who I ever saw. I guess if you do British tv, it's either Eastenders or Doctor Who, is what this really means.Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-27893172009750011282013-01-02T16:56:00.001-08:002013-01-02T22:18:55.991-08:00Update (Fruitcake Edition)<div style="text-align: center;">
I managed to get some During photos for once but then forgot the After. This one got gifted on Christmas day after about 3 weeks of marinating. I forgot that this recipe makes a double batch so the partygoers got to sample a slightly fresher one on the 16th. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55ta_AmSwTJXC-lMr9vjjBZTjp2KYBdy7mHC71gd1_dmcr2jFeko_K22Qjp9YjtDsnLtN2Ft78xhrymC4QoxJyUDmsvoLlsWR2usvcffhXr3ZtB7x71VjDhzBgEAKG4QlXr5VrBOgzi8b/s640/blogger-image--1397836999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55ta_AmSwTJXC-lMr9vjjBZTjp2KYBdy7mHC71gd1_dmcr2jFeko_K22Qjp9YjtDsnLtN2Ft78xhrymC4QoxJyUDmsvoLlsWR2usvcffhXr3ZtB7x71VjDhzBgEAKG4QlXr5VrBOgzi8b/s400/blogger-image--1397836999.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">This is Alton Brown's Free Range Fruitcake recipe - it uses dried fruit (not candied, except for the ginger) which you then macerate overnight in your liquor of choice. This year it was dark rum because it was available, good-quality and vaguely festive. Past years have involved applejack or brandy but I am not married to any specific tipple for this recipe so far.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyUX2fEnsQI9OhgF0XHfHl3W4-i_j_iqDcXXhgJwq3rAV79E92KYHxD78IyYCXz4ix5SbQ5RFZENNg2NBmeVPr8kHNQAqjtZkbRhv9-dX3N1XrDP8CaUDjkbw760Mtiz7nZ8JgYama5fa/s640/blogger-image-269452109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyUX2fEnsQI9OhgF0XHfHl3W4-i_j_iqDcXXhgJwq3rAV79E92KYHxD78IyYCXz4ix5SbQ5RFZENNg2NBmeVPr8kHNQAqjtZkbRhv9-dX3N1XrDP8CaUDjkbw760Mtiz7nZ8JgYama5fa/s400/blogger-image-269452109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a hit at the party, too. Nobody knew what it was so I sliced it up into chunks and it disappeared with nary a fruitcake/doorstop joke to be found. Although that may have been partially because my dad spotted it and started telling everyone "Don't eat this" so there would be more for him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySd7j8wjEbQTZ4RxE0CW8HD6pPgn2zyU3kzCqeD4N6cdd-OOnSepyp55l1lF2vuxDWpfJNnQLPa96sgFj4w9U4adyNg5q5xecqzhB7hBhLhqQSbcf88jlYhKOjqfga1kDEaAvHRkrA3Td/s400/blogger-image-1672467205.jpg" /></div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-85945609065675222092012-12-28T12:41:00.001-08:002012-12-28T12:41:27.061-08:00Fighting With BloggerLet's see if I can post this, maybe Blogger is just anti- pictures of fruitcakes. <br />
<br />
So the party was lovely, everything was a hit except the couple of things that got forgotten in the fridge, and we got to have leftover cookies and cider for ~1.5 days, which is reasonable. <br />
<br />
Christmas was also fun, we went and had a delicious cioppino at the house of some of Matt's Italian gourmand cousins. I brought a tiramisu as it is my only recipe that will stand up ti ANYONE's scrutiny, no matter how fancy their tastes. <br />
<br />
And now I am at work and it is DEEEEEEAD because it has been pouring rain and nobody is worried about their plants being happy when they are worried about their trees blowing down. So I am using up all my data on my phone farting around online instead. Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-18281461732165594562012-12-02T21:13:00.000-08:002012-12-02T21:13:00.609-08:00House Update and the Beginning of the Party Planning ListsI inherited some stuff from a parental cleanout this weekend, the annoying office rug that never stays flat under chair wheels is getting Craigslisted and the old vaguely Persian rug that is in way better shape is now residing under my wheels as I type. Also my mom's knockoff Herman Miller-ish desk chair that she never used. So my office is fancy now! House tour update is still pending, I swear.<br />
<br />
I have also been swapping art around on walls and it is still not where I want it to be. Grr. However, good art is everywhere and is even sometimes incredibly cheap - I am thinking about buying the digital download of <a href="http://500px.com/photo/17706303">this amazing thing</a> and hanging it over the bed, which would be one nice big thing to center that room around. But not right away as framing is still not free. Maybe after the holidays.<br />
<br />
Party Thoughts: the party is two weeks from today. I need to dig out the entertaining box from the garage, it is the magical place where all spare paper cups and napkins hibernate until needed, as well as the big coffee percolating urn thing that gets filled with cider and keeps it hot and on tap for me. So here is the list/plan so far. A Costco trip is pending as of next Tuesday.<br />
<br />
<u>Sweet</u><br />
Cookbook's amazing <a href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/recipes/2007/04/25/kentucky-bourbon-balls/">bourbon balls</a><br />
<br />
Peppermint bark<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/honey-caramel-nut-bars-10000001940827/">Nut/shortbread bars</a> (I am addicted to these and am only allowed to make them once a year)<br />
<br />
(possible new recipe) Smitten Kitchen's lemon bars from the new cookbook<br />
<br />
<a href="http://takeitlikeit.blogspot.com/2008/12/bestest-chewiest-gingersnaps.html">Gingersnaps </a><br />
<br />
Some kind of thumbprint cookie to use the insane pineapple guava jam I made from free pineapple guavas, or at least some kind of shortbread sandwich cookie for the same purpose. Trying to decide if it could work in ischler, which are Hungarian sandwich cookies made with ground almonds (may test this with hippie almond flour as they can be dense) and chocolate on top.<br />
<br />
<u>Savory</u><br />
Cut up veggies with hummus (possibly two kinds, last year it was roasted garlic vs. roasted red pepper)<br />
<br />
Baguette with cheeses (this is another potential place to serve that bonkers pineapple guava jam)<br />
<br />
Spiced nuts<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-baked-goat-cheese-brie-41406">Baked brie with cranberry sauce</a> for something hot and holiday-ish<br />
<br />
Trader Joe's mushroom tartlets (I usually forget to serve anything warm so this is one thing)<br />
<br />
This highly exciting savory version of <a href="http://jcarrot.org/yiddish-savory-hamantaschen">hamentaschen</a>, but I need a filling other than mushrooms if I do the TJ's stuff. Or maybe I should do these instead and go with the mushrooms? They will get a test run next weekend, they just look sooooo good to me<br />
<br />
Korozot, my grandmother's highly addicting Hungarian blue cheese based dip<br />
<br />
Mini bagels with shmear (korozot is also good here) - this was a random thing my mom brought last year and it was a HUGE HIT<br />
<br />
Smoked salmon (great with the tiny bagels)<br />
<br />
Antipasto plate with olives, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, salami and prosciutto, possibly with the little mozzarella balls...<br />
<br />
<br />
90% of this can be made ahead of time, served at room temp. and eaten with fingers or toothpicks. Somebody is threatening to bring a crock pot o' meatballs and I have to figure out what that involves, utensil-wise. But I figure if the brie is warm as well as the mushroom tart things I can get away with mostly cold stuff other than that.<br />
<br />
Next up, thoughts about decorating. I need to get a tree soon!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdwmUG8luCY9z5t4L5qOeRGOrb5OCmD3tqnF9sbCkqocGQMw4Iv2jSY0IHzJrCVhJV4Ku01ay7FN1rtELhcVx4MeKAYwDH6cfK4Kq5A6BWtsufBo6OFjQJpG-vfjvj27pfP0SZ2uvCZs/s1600/eve+running.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdwmUG8luCY9z5t4L5qOeRGOrb5OCmD3tqnF9sbCkqocGQMw4Iv2jSY0IHzJrCVhJV4Ku01ay7FN1rtELhcVx4MeKAYwDH6cfK4Kq5A6BWtsufBo6OFjQJpG-vfjvj27pfP0SZ2uvCZs/s400/eve+running.jpeg" width="281" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And because Eve Moneypenny had the best costumes in Skyfall and I want them all. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVqxOuhu6JZ7pS_KpLINIXi1zDOn9MmJ5Gct2mvu22QUJi4A_dfe7fI6GK0hTVrAqgbiR4ZYPxnLa1SLQGMw8sO2MbZBwKaoMaMe1VKksKRnSepJWrxbQuU8Y5zID21SflU2DAbRgp8c/s640/skyfall_eve02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVqxOuhu6JZ7pS_KpLINIXi1zDOn9MmJ5Gct2mvu22QUJi4A_dfe7fI6GK0hTVrAqgbiR4ZYPxnLa1SLQGMw8sO2MbZBwKaoMaMe1VKksKRnSepJWrxbQuU8Y5zID21SflU2DAbRgp8c/s320/skyfall_eve02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That red outfit might be good for a holiday party...</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-59625715192282058552012-11-24T13:42:00.000-08:002012-11-24T13:42:04.393-08:00Brain DumpHappy post-American-holiday food coma! We went to the Sacramento area for the holiday and stayed overnight there, thus completely missing Black Friday (and when I say "missed" I mean "didn't miss it at all"). We went to my aunt and uncle's place (centrally located, big room for entertaining) and had a lovely time. I brought the apple pie I bring every year (don't mess with success, eh?) and it was demolished. Somebody else brought a pumpkin pie, the other thing I usually take care of, so I also made the <a href="http://joythebaker.com/2010/11/almost-no-bake-pumpkin-cream-pie-with-maple-whipped-cream/">almost no-bake pumpkin cream pie</a> from Joy the Baker (Smitten Kitchen's gingersnap pumpkin tart with cheesecake swirl was the first test recipe but was not terribly interesting) and it was a massive success. Much lighter and fluffier than a standard cheesecake and the maple whipped cream is sheer genius.<br />
<br />
Also saw the new James bond movie Skyfall. And is it just me, or is it becoming a progressively worse and worse gig to be a Bond girl? I just vaguely remember the Pierce Brosnan ones (showing my age, these were the ones I first saw in theaters), and while they were heavy on the camp and riddled with silly gadgetry by the end, they were also the ones with strong female characters that didn't just not think/sleep with Bond/get killed off ASAP. Yes, Xenia Onatopp was campy, but she was also a threat. And yes he was saving a lovely Russian but at least she was also some kind of scientist.<br />
<br />
Daniel Craig's nu-Bond established Vesper Lynd as the be-all, end-all of women in Bond's world, killed her off, and decided that no other female gets to be the badass she was. Give me Honey Ryder or Pussy Galore and I will snigger at the name and then be ok with them. These new ones just kind of make me mopey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/screencrush.com/files/2012/10/skyfall-Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/screencrush.com/files/2012/10/skyfall-Q.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
New hipster Q, however, is adorable. </div>
<br />
Also, INSANELY GORGEOUS sets. The ruined island where the bad guy hides out? Chase scenes through Turkish markets? Bond's ancestral family home in Scotland? Good gravy. The whole thing was clearly shot with a loving eye and I enjoyed looking at every minute of it. Woof. Apparently they built the whole manor from scratch, which is also fun.<br />
<br />
Also, Albert Finney! Bond's arc is pretty good, they spend a lot of time establishing him as aging and losing his knack and his interaction with the excellent Javier Bardem (it's another American movie, he must be playing a creepy bad guy) is so well done. And the car, sweet sassy molassey, the car. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will just say the first car scene makes the movie for me. Bond movies need a sense of humor if they're gonna fly. Daniel Craig is a good Bond but I think sometimes he gets a hair too serious.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/26/article-2120378-1255A3A3000005DC-485_964x678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/26/article-2120378-1255A3A3000005DC-485_964x678.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And speaking of beautifully shot movies, we also rented Jiro Dreams Of Sushi, and it is also a visual feast. There isn't really a plot or much development of any kind, it's just this guy, he is a top sushi chef, and he talks about food, and his acolytes talk about food. Yes, he has acolytes. But man, talk about a pretty movie.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Jiro_sushi_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Jiro_sushi_poster.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
<br />
And more hipster Q. Happy long weekend, Americans! And happy Saturday, Canadians!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02378/wishaw_2378039b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02378/wishaw_2378039b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-31586692891114594672012-11-06T07:44:00.000-08:002012-11-06T07:44:13.985-08:00Go Vote (With Digression)Last time I watched Mary Poppins it kind of made me sad that this was a throwaway scene. The whole movie makes it seem like Mrs. Banks should be spending more time with her kids, but in retrospect, this is so awesome. Everybody in America should be voting today if you haven't already!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aznNQ_5Kz8A" width="420"></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Also, Glynis Johns (Mrs. Banks) and Elsa Lanchester (Katie Nana) are two of my favorite of Danny Kaye's ingenues. If you like a hilarious movie, check out the Inspector General with the amazing future Bride of Frankenstein.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.julienslive.com/images/lot/109953/0/lot109953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://www.julienslive.com/images/lot/109953/0/lot109953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And the possibly-even-better Court Jester where Glynis Johns does not get nearly enough screen time as the badass Maid Marion-esque love interest vs. Angela Lansbury's shallow, pretty princess.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/5848221682_1b2d7511c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/5848221682_1b2d7511c4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Danny Kaye had it pretty good back in the day, eh?</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270966642800942088.post-3930941968396046172012-10-28T21:49:00.002-07:002012-10-28T21:49:53.084-07:00I Need Some Exciting Things To Talk About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
...because right now I am sans projects and fun things. I am accumulating lots of ideas though, the biggie right now is to do something about the laundry situation, right now the laundry area is in the garage, and that means it is grimy and there is no good work space because I stack stuff on top of the dryer for storage. So my plan is to slap a coat of paint on the wall in there and hang a cabinet on it. Then I can store soap and cleaning things in there. And I swear, there will be before and after pictures. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I have plans to shoot a new house tour because things have gotten moved around and my inspirations and whatnot are all jumbled up. I have been helping a recently-divorced friend redecorate and it is making me want to rearrange my house. And since the size of the house limits rearranging quite a bit, that means mostly moving accessories and swapping around art.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3vNU_1ARg8kJtqPJcXdFTBlKxQIkd_73peGQ9eAT-Plkpw7xcimmv1Slna_FVQ1Xs3dVZM_3JDcLl58YRFRvb2_qa7mT45XlLYhGjJejQ1HJfKk-1V3KsZw6o2xym42vZK_VcF4LMQiP/s1600/caption-this-picture21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3vNU_1ARg8kJtqPJcXdFTBlKxQIkd_73peGQ9eAT-Plkpw7xcimmv1Slna_FVQ1Xs3dVZM_3JDcLl58YRFRvb2_qa7mT45XlLYhGjJejQ1HJfKk-1V3KsZw6o2xym42vZK_VcF4LMQiP/s400/caption-this-picture21.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I swear, there will be pictures soon. Right now I am just brainstorming and lacking inspiration. And time.</div>
Anne At Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980087155991051007noreply@blogger.com2