Lovin' the SF Life

"Mr. Bacon! How could you!"

2012-01-17T08:25:00.001-08:00

This weekend we discovered the shocking secret Mr. Bacon has been hiding. We've been living with a cannibal! Ferris hasn't cuddled with him since.

Garden Bouquet

2011-06-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

While the weather isn't as nice as the rest of the Bay Area, it was still a pleasant enough day to venture into the garden. Everything is starting to bloom right now, and I couldn't help but pick some of the beautiful smelling daisies and lavender for the house.

This bouquet isn't as pretty as the ones my Grammy Mary used to make from her garden, but it really brightens up our dining room.

Plus, Archie sure does likes flowers.

Kitty Update

2011-06-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

I know its been awhile since I've been posting. Things have been a bit crazy lately.

But life doesn't sit still, patiently waiting for you to catch up...and neither do these two little trouble-makers!

We went away for a few days and I think it brought Archie and Ferris closer together.

I think, unfortunately, it was to scheme and plot against their nice auntie who stayed at the apartment and took care of them. She awoke multiple times to fuzzy faces and glowing eyes watching her from the nightstand.

There were also incidents of hissing and inappropriate begging reported.

Shame on you, boys!

So I've been having some computer problems...

2011-04-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

And of course I went straight to the computer expert of the house.

He wasn't excited about having to help me, again, but he did it anyways. I'm lucky to have such a helpful roomie. :)

Let the gardening begin

2011-04-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we finally planted our first vegetable garden. I grew up gardening, but not in the city, and Dom has never tended a garden, so did some research.

We decided to follow the concept of Square Foot Gardening, which maximizes space and time for urban gardeners.

Dom took lead on recreating a second raised planter bed in the yard. After it was put in place and filled with nice, healthy soil, we marked square foot boxes with twine and planted our veggies.

The basic plan is like this: One big plant goes in one square foot while smaller plants share spaces. If a plant likes to sprawl, like tomatoes and peas, we'll put them on a trellis to climb upwards, making the most efficient use of the space.

We planted lots of yummy goodness! The official list is:

Cherry Tomatoes
Early Girl Tomatoes
English Peas
Carrots
Anaheim Peppers
Red Bell Peppers
Lemon Cucumbers
Spinach
Salad Mix (It's really called mesculun or something; but that's a very unappetizing word, so I am calling it salad.)
Green Onions

I went and checked on our plot just two days after the seeds touched the ground and we already have sprouts from the Salad Mix! They are so cute.

I wish that the forecast would stop calling for rain so these babies can get some much needed sun-bathing.

But one thing a gardener knows for certain...you can't control the weather.

Guess what we made last night...

2011-04-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hot and Sour Soup!

On Sundays, Dom and I try to cook enough food to feed us for most of the week. We've figured out that cooking a big main dish of some sort of meat and then a big pot of soup is a good combo to have since you can add simple salads or side dishes and have a quick weekday meal.

This week we decided to try something outside of our comfort-zone. And you know what? Hot and Sour Soup is actually NOT all that hard to make!

I'd say it's definitely worth trying because this recipe from America's Test Kitchen comes out BETTER than most of the Chinese take-out versions I've had.

Let me know if you want to give it a go!

Veggie Time!

2011-04-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

Now that the sun is back out again, it's reminded us that it's time to start planting a vegetable garden. There's a couple of raised beds in our new backyard, so we've been planning what to plant this month.

I've never grown veggies in San Francisco before. Growing up in San Jose, its a much different climate, though only an hour drive distance. There was a lot more sun, dry air and clay ground in the South Bay. SF has sandy soil, much cooler, climate, and misty foggy sea air. As far as I can tell we'll still be able to plant our favorites but who knows the outcome.

Our garden will include:
- Tomatoes (cherry and early girl)
- Peppers
- Peas
- Lemon cucumbers (my grandma used to grow these and they are one of my favorites!)
- Pumpkins

Are we being ambitious for our first garden?

Any of you SF gardeners have any tips?

Ferris & Archie: Our little helpers

2011-04-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Ferris LOVES to help with the laundry...

He just doesn't understand that he's helping to make MORE laundry for me to do, not less. NOT a good thing.

And let me just tell you that is was so scary watching him get down that I forgot to take pictures. But don't worry. All ended well and I only had to wash one piece of clothing again.

My life is covered in cat hair.

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Nap Time

2011-03-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

Archie is so cute in this picture, that I will forgive Dom for taking it while I was sleeping...

This is Archie's favorite position to sleep in. He will drape himself over your leg or foot and stay there the whole night. In pure Archie fashion, it is both incredibly adorable AND annoying.

Meet Hermann

2011-03-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

There's one more house-mate you haven't met yet...say hello to Hermann, our friendly house spider!

Normally spiders make me screetch, scream and run for cover (as MANY of you have witnessed) but for some reason, I have a fondness for this creepy little guy.

I have a feeling that it has to do with the fact that he is most certainly outside of the kitchen window with no intentions of coming inside and crawling on me.

That theory was put to the test when Dom tried to open the window and I screamed like there was an axe murderer outside.

I couldn't help it...he's still a spider, after all!

Yum! Chile Pies (& Ice Cream)

2011-03-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

Dom loves pie.

I adore ice cream.

So when we moved to our new neighborhood and learned that there was a place called Chile Pies (& Ice Cream) that does amazing and unconventional things with our two fave foods, we were super excited!

They have two signature items:

First is an Green Chile Apple Pie, with cheddar crust, walnut streusel topping and red chile honey drizzle.
They also make Pie Shakes! They take your choice of any of the freshly baked pies, mash it up, and mix it into a shake with the ice cream flavor of your choice.

Dom got both of these items (and I sampled his, of course) and we both loved them.

They don't sound at all appetizing, but trust me, that apple pie changed my entire perspective on this classic (I thought boring and bland) dessert.

Just so you know, I had their Mexican Chocolate Pecan Pie and it was delish! I was going to take a picture of it but I accidentally ate it all...

We made our first visit the weekend before last...and have been back already two more times. This could be trouble!

There's also a sister restaurant, Green Chile Kitchen, that serves New Mexico inspired food. It's next on our list to try.

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Archie & Ferris: Food Wars

2011-03-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

Ferris is the pickiest eater of all picky cats. For years, he has only eaten a scoop of his favorite dry kibble food. Canned food? Forget it. People food? Not a chance. He wouldn't even try tuna fish.

Archie, on the other hand, is obsessed with food. At our last apartment, he was sneaking around to the neighbors' houses and eating all other cat's food. He got so chubby, the vet yelled at me when I brought him in for a check-up.

So guess who I caught with their nose in another kitty's bowl?

Ferris!

And he is driving Archie crazy...it's bad enough that Archie can't have his buffet of cat chow, now he has to share? No way!

So there's a lot of chasing going on. Ferris chases Archie away from the bowl so he can eat, and when Archie catches him snacking, he pounces to protect his meal.

We try to police the situation, but there's only so much you can do.

I guess we have to return that giant bag of food we just bought, because Ferris hasn't touched his bowl in three days. UGH.

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Archie & Ferris: Playmates

2011-03-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Archie and Ferris have finally put all their differences aside and decided to become friends.

The cat fights have turned into jovial romps through the house, which we were very happy about...at first.

Don't get me wrong, Dom and I are very relieved that the two of them are getting along with little blood shed (just a few tufts of fur.) We are not happy, however, with the fact that this playtime extends through all hours of the day.

And night. Constantly.

Honestly, I don't know how they are not tired yet. We're exhausted.

The two of them have created quite an entertaining game.

First, one of them, usually Archie, decides its time to play and flops down on his side in an obvious location, waiting for the other, Ferris, to take the bait.

Ferris, during his normal prowling, will spot Archie and walk over.

I don't know when they began talking to each other but it still cracks me up. They chirp and squeak, back and forth, like two kids bickering about the rules of a game.

After discussions, it's important for both of the parties to pretend that the other is unaware of their actions.

That means Ferris will walk away and pick an spot to begin stalking. Or sometimes Archie has to get back up, move a couple feet and flop back down and act nonchalant.

Once Ferris has the perfect line of attack, he starts running at Archie, who then jumps up acting surprised, and takes off through the house.

The usual path is around the table, through the chairs, and into the living room, where Archie rolls onto his back and waits for the pounce.

Ferris doesn't really mind that Archie's dive is painfully obvious...he still gets to tackle another cat with reckless abandon.

And after a couple somersaults and squeals, they break up the “fight” and go running off in different directions.

A few minutes later, we'll hear Ferris crying, which usually means he is looking for Archie to begin another round. This time it will be Ferris who is “it” and has to run.

As all good playmates do, they they've learned to take turns...

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Archie & Ferris: Friends at last?

2011-03-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

Look what we walked in on the other day.

Peace may be coming sooner than we thought!

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Braised Kale & Beans, our yummy first home-cooked meal

2011-03-08T21:47:00.000-08:00

Dom and I love to cook, as many of you know. That's why when we saw our new kitchen we instantly fell in love with the apartment. The big stove, tons of cabinets, and yards of counter space ensured many delicious meals created with ease and comfort.

It took us a couple of days to get settled, but we finally got the chance to cook in our new home last week. We have a grocery store a block away, which is great! Dom picked up a few things from the store and here's what we came up with:

Chicken Marsala, braised kale with bacon and white beans, and whole wheat couscous

Being the expert he is, Dom made the Chicken Marsala off the top of his head.

Kale is such a healthy, and delicious, veggie that I try to have it at least once a week. And this is a recipe that we have made almost a dozen times and never get tired of. The original was from the Food Network, but we fiddled with it a bit and came up with our own (better!) version.

Here it is for you to try:

Kale with Beans and Bacon

•    4 strips of bacon, diced
•    1 pound kale, chopped
•    1 (15-ounce) can white or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
•    1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
•    Salt and freshly ground black pepper
•    1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1) Heat pot or dutch oven over medium heat.

2) Add bacon and cook until browned and crispy.

3) Remove bacon bits, leaving drippings.

4) Add kale, beans and broth, cover and steam 5 minutes, until kale is tender.

5) Add apple cider vinegar and stir.

6) Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper.

Let me know if you have any awesome kale recipes!

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Archie & Ferris: Who's the Bully?

2011-03-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

So our two boys have been getting along pretty well, for the most part.

Archie started off a bit strong...he was going to make sure Ferris knew who's the boss of this house.

Archie decided to sleep in the bed, sit in Dom's lap, chase Ferris and strut around the house like he was king. He definitely took it too far.

Because of all the bullying, Ferris started hiding for most of the day. The poor little boy...Archie even decided to sit in the hallway and swat Ferris as he tried to leave the bedroom.

But as they say, what goes around, comes around...

After a couple of days of being chased, stalked and pushed around, Ferris learned a very important tool from Archie - how to swat back.

Now the tables had turned. We saw a cat zip by us the other night and realized it was Archie running for cover. Ferris was close behind with the fire of revenge gleaming in his eyes.

Archie was surprisingly quick to accept Ferris's new-found dominance, but we're not sure if that's because he's a pushover, or because he's secretly plotting his next move.

Sunday Gravy

2011-03-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

Dom and I had our first Sunday Gravy dinner in our new place. I have been craving his delicious sauce since we watched America's Test Kitchen create their version. (Don't tell them, but I like Dom's gravy better!)

LINK: The Emotional Lives of Animals

2011-03-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Emotional Lives of Animals by Marc Bekoff — YES! Magazine

This is for all the animal lovers. These amazing stories show just how similar we are to our furry and feathered friends...and how much smarter and more noble they can be!

Under the weather

2011-03-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not feeling well today, so I'm staying home and resting. With some TLC from my buddy here, I should be back to blogging in no time!

Archie & Ferris: Friend or Foe?

2011-03-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

Archie knew from the very beginning that there was another cat in the apartment...and so did Ferris. I don't think it really bothered them as much in the beginning, mostly because they were both so excited (well, Ferris was frightened) about being in a new, much larger, place. They would hear the other's cries from behind closed doors, causing ears and tails to perk up.

However, the first time they saw each other, tails got puffy. The sun room/office that's connected to Archie's bedroom has a glass door that looks into the dining room. Ferris, being the shy one, sat cautiously under his dining room table, watching as Archie stared out the door. It was kinda awkward.

The next day began the sniffing. Archie knew that Ferris was behind that bedroom door and he was determined to get in there and meet this fellow. He would stick his nose under the door, then scratch and cry, which really made Ferris nervous.

In no time at all, Archie figured out how to open the bedroom door...and the two finally met today.

While Boyfriend was in the shower, Archie seized the opportunity and broke in.

The first thing Archie and Ferris did was sniff noses, which looked like they were kissing (so cute!). Then they went and sniffed around each others' territory, which went well until Ferris went near Archie's food.

There was some growling, some swatting, but overall things went really well. All of today they have been hanging out in the same space. Archie, being the vocal one, likes to chirp at Ferris, making sure his new roommate knows exactly who he's dealing with.

There's been no big fights, no blood shed. Overall, it has gone much better than expected. Of course, it's only been one afternoon.

We have yet to go to sleep for the night, so we will let you know who ends up on the bed with us!

Archie & Ferris: The Drama Begins

2011-03-01T21:36:00.000-08:00

When Boyfriend and I decided it was time for us to find a place together, we weren't worried about getting along in one space or combining our all our large amounts of stuff...we were worried about the cats. Really worried.

Ferris, Boyfriend's best companion, has only lived in one apartment and has not been in the same room with another cat since he was adopted. He's known for being adorably coy and sweet...with sudden grumpy outbursts of swatting and hissing. It's a dangerous combo.

Archie, my little monster whom some of you might remember from an earlier story, is the definition of a social animal. He loves every person and every cat he meets to the point of exhaustion. (For the recipient of his affection. Archie never, ever gets tired. Ever.)

We were terrified of how these two opposite personalities would live under one roof. For those of you who don't know much about the feline species, here's the main sources of our concern:

Cats are VERY territorial, they mark their territory and expect strangers to stay away...or else
They have sharp claws and teeth, designed for fighting
They are stubborn animals, who live for routine and don't take to change very well
Cats are nocturnal, so if any chaos is going to go down, it means we don't get to sleep

Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn't it?

Moving Day

To prepare for the big move, we did our research and came up with a plan. First, we would give each cat their own bedroom and keep them inside during the first couple days of the move. They need to feel safe and have their own space.

Ferris was the first to get to his room and he was terrified. He had never been away from home, so the first thing he did was panic. For the first few hours, he kept to the closet. By the end of the day, he was feeling pretty comfortable and was running about his room.

Archie really didn't care. He had his kitty condo, his litter box and, most importantly, his food. The fact that Boyfriend and I were both in the same place with him was a bonus. He was happy as could be in his new room, where there were lots of windows and a big backyard to watch.

Exploring Time

Once the boys were settled, we let them take turns exploring the apartment, which they both loved.

Ferris wasn't too sure at first and kept running to hide in the bathroom. (Don't ask us why. We don't know, either.) It didn't take long for him to become fearless and begin climbing all over the counters, boxes and furniture.

Archie immediately began running around, peeking out all the windows and practically jumping for joy. As if we'd expected anything else.

All was going perfectly, until they both realized that the other cat in the house was there to stay...

New Apartment

2011-02-28T21:58:00.000-08:00

Moving weekend has finally come and gone and Boyfriend and I are officially living in our beautiful new apartment on Lone Mountain.

Thank you for everyone's well wishes and support...it was a hectic weekend and we needed all the love we could get! I know some of you have been dying to see pics, so here's a few before shots to satisfy your curiosity.

This is looking down onto our front door and entry steps.

Top of the stairs.

The living room is to the right and...

To the left of the stairs is the dining room and kitchen.

Hallway to the bedrooms, which Ferris loves to roll around in.

Sun room that we are using as an office.

The kitchen was the first room we unpacked, of course.

View from the eat-in area.

Lots of windows...the plants are going to love this!

Our awesome stove.


All of the rooms have pretty light fixtures.

The dining room has adorable built-in cabinets.

Our mud room, which is already full of storage.

Fireplace in the living room.

Lisa and I taking a break and admiring the view from the living room.

Chris was a big help unpacking.

And there's even laundry!

STAY TUNED: I'll also be posting updates on how Archie and Ferris, our two trouble-making-but-so-lovable feline companions, are adjusting to sharing their new home.