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Game of cards

2012-01-31T23:05:00.003-05:00

What goes well with a roaring fire? A game of cards.

While we were visiting with Aaron's family we learned how to play Kings in the Corners. Fun!

Winter fire

2012-01-30T23:04:00.000-05:00

Finally some snow... setting the scene for a cozy fire. Stewie was most appreciative.

Shooting

2012-01-29T00:11:00.000-05:00

Today we went to Aaron's gun club with some of his coworkers to shoot at targets.

While you will not find me pointing a gun at anything with eyeballs, I do enjoy shooting at objects that are not cute and furry.

I am all about the gear... think Queen Elizabeth in her Hunter wellies and a Barbour shooting jacket. And I like the pink. Aaron even got me pink shells! : )

You get the idea...

Bathtime

2012-01-28T00:10:00.000-05:00

The plea.

Early snowdrops

2012-01-27T15:09:00.003-05:00

This morning I spied a batch of snowdrops popping up and starting to bloom. I am no horticulturist by any means but isn't it a tad early?!

Pet of the Week

2012-01-26T15:07:00.000-05:00

Big blue eyes and fur smudges! No one will notice if you get little butterscotch pudding on her by accident.

Searra #14953914

Searra is a beautiful, petite cat! She is 1-year-old Siamese mix and was brought to Lollypop Farm because her owner no longer had time to care for a cat. Searra is such a friendly girl! She loves being petted and held. She is adventurous and playful, too. Searra has lived with young children before and did well with them. Searra is available for just $35 through Friday, 1/27. She would make a wonderful companion!

Day Two Burrito

2012-01-25T15:07:00.000-05:00

I really like the idea of getting more mileage out of cooking. So this is what went down. We made a batch of slow roasted pork in the crock pot (recipe from Wegmans) and the first night we used it for tacos then the next night for burritos.

We had never made burritos before. They were so good! I kept saying to Aaron, how is this possible? How come we have never made burritos before?!

They are going into regular meal rotation!

Cake is Love blog

2012-01-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

There has been talk for awhile now that blogs are on the decline. I can see how Facebook and Twitter might be taking some of the traffic... and perhaps the adoption rate has plateaued... even though it seems like there are an awful lot of Tumblr sites out there.

It is true that I don't add very many new blogs to my RSS reader. I don't know if that is due to there being fewer new blogs or if I am more selective with my shrinking amount of time to read blogs.

Once in awhile I find one that I just have to add... but even rarer is it someone I know. I was very excited to see my friend Meredith, who is living in the Netherlands start a blog, Cake is Love. She is an inspiring baker/cook and an entertaining writer.

Her posts are amusing and the food photos drool-worthy. I feel like she is so much closer now with this little peek into her life! That is why I still love blogs!

Whoopie Pies Take 2

2012-01-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

Honestly at this point I don't know what is up with me vrs whoopie pies. I gave it another go yesterday with mixed results.

I followed my mom's recipe to the smallest detail yet I ended up with pale, ghostly whoopie pies. Not chocolatey enough!

PS - Do not stare too closely at my baking sheet. It will hypnotize you. No, actually it is an awesome baking sheet Aaron got me for Christmas and I cannot express how amazing it is. Nothing sticks to it.

After some alterations, the chocolate level seemed right but then my whoopies were poofy and crackling.

I finally ended up with a few that seemed ok. I called this one "Big Whoop".

The big winner here is Aaron - 'cause he thinks they taste just fine.

I'm not giving up whoopies! I'll try again another day!

Cassette Tape Lamp

2012-01-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

Check it out. Aprille made me this fab cassette tape lamp for Christmas.

That's right. Soak up the crafty upcycled awesomeness.

Caterday Nip

2012-01-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

How does Stewie like to celebrate Caterday?

With a lil' bit o' the 'nip!

Good stuff.

Pug Moment

2012-01-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

I would like to interrupt your regularly scheduled programing with this pug moment.

Thank you... as you were.

Naan Pizza

2012-01-19T13:27:00.000-05:00

On a whim Aaron and I picked up ingredients to make naan pizza. I kept reading about them and well... it doesn't seem like you could go wrong with naan.

There are lots of recipes on Wegmans.com for different kinds of naan pizza. We made the Margherita-Style Naan Pizza.

I was pretty excited to use our pizza peel and stone.

It was sooo good! And easy. And fast. Add it to our list of weeknight meals. I can't wait to try the Portobella Mushroom Bruschetta recipe.

Pet of the Week

2012-01-18T15:53:00.001-05:00

Look at this little pipsqueak! Looks like she is pointing... perhaps at a rabbit? A squirrel? An ice cream truck?

Trudy #14831144

Trudy is a super cute 7-yer-old Toy Fox Terrier mix with a Black and Tan fur coat. This poor little thing was found as a stray in Clifton Springs and brought to Lollypop Farm to find a forever home. She's a tiny thing, weighing just 7 pounds! She walks well on a leash, prancing right along while inside, but she's a little hesitant to go out now that there's snow on the ground. A home with children over the age of 12 is recommended since we know nothing about her history. Trudy is available in the Seniors-for-Seniors program, so adopters age 60 and older can take her home free of charge. After spending some time in this big bad world all alone, Trudy is looking for a home where she can be the center of attention and grow accustomed to the life she deserves. She can't wait to be well taken care of, fed, loved and warm!

Lucky, the cat from last week is still waiting to be adopted.

World Market

2012-01-17T14:52:00.002-05:00

While I was in Vegas my good friends Peggy and Walt took me to an awesome store called World Market. It's kind of like a Pier One but even better.

There were so many goodies. I really had to watch myself so I didn't over commit to what I could take home in my suitcase.

I got this paper recycling bag. Wrestling with the recyclables in our house is a constant struggle. It's amazing how much paper we get in the mail. Hopefully this will help round it up.

Jars! Argh they had jars of all shapes and sizes. I so should not be toting glass back home on the plane but I couldn't resist these little guys. Chalkboard paint?

World Market also has international foods! And some US too, like this honey. I'm not sure what makes it "tea" honey but combine wee jar with honey and the mention of tea and I'm on board.

Remodeling inside and out

2012-01-16T14:51:00.000-05:00

There was a lot going down while I was in Vegas. Aaron started remodeling work on our downstairs powder room. Hoo boy. I'm not sad to see that weird watercolor wallpaper go.

And we had two trees cut down and another two trimmed. It's hard to see them go but two were rubbing on our roof and the other two were dead. Hopefully there won't be any giant limbs falling down this year like last year!

Breakfast at home

2012-01-15T14:00:00.003-05:00

Fresh coffee and pancakes for breakfast.

So good to be home.

Food in Vegas

2012-01-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

One of the best parts of Vegas? The food. One evening I went with my co-workers to Hash House a Go Go. Crazy huge proportions. I had a pork tenderloin. This pic really doesn't show how big it is.

My last night my good friends Peggy and Walt took me to In-n-Out Burger. Sooo good!

At CES

2012-01-13T13:58:00.000-05:00

One of the coolest things I have seen here at CES is MakerBot.

It's a 3D printer that can "print" objects! So cool!

I was also pretty excited to see a chalkboard wall at CES.

I had to leave a message.

Dessert

2012-01-12T13:56:00.002-05:00

I had a revelation at dinner last night.

Rochester & Aaron on Wham 13 News

2012-01-11T13:58:00.002-05:00

I go away for a week and Aaron lands on the news ; )

The Street just ran a story "10 Cities Poised for Greatness in 2012" and Rochester was on the list. (VERY COOL!) Wham 13 News caught up with Aaron and asked him what he thought of Rochester.

Pet of the week

2012-01-10T13:48:00.000-05:00

Maybe he would bring you a little bit of luck for 2012.

Lucky #12085128

Lucky is a twelve-year-old purebred male Domestic shorthair who was part of a Lollypop Farm cruelty investigation in Riga, New York. He is finally able, after one year, to look for a warm, comfortable forever home. Lucky is a beautiful black kitty who, being a bit set in his ways, likes to view the world on his own four paws. He enjoys being petted, but if you please, he'd rather not be picked up. That makes him a little anxious. This handsome guy is a mellow boy who is looking for a home where he can spend his retirement years. And, Lucky is eligible for Lollypop Farm's Seniors-for-Seniors program. An approved adopter, age 60 or older, can bring him home at no charge. Lucky has been waiting so very long. Come and meet him today!

Beethoven, the dog from last week, is still waiting for a home.

Sweet potato puff sundae in Vegas

2012-01-09T13:47:00.000-05:00

Not a great pic but believe me it tasted better than this looks.

I am in Vegas for CES again and last night we ate at BB Kings. This is a Sweet Potato Puff Sundae! Those are little sweet potato tater tots rolled in brown sugar and drizzled with chocolate and caramel. Topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

Dog crafts

2012-01-08T23:57:00.002-05:00

Before there was Martha Stewart there were my great aunts. Like my grandma, they are all creative cooks and crafters. One aunt makes amazing hooked wool rugs. Another quilts, makes candy and sews the coolest gifts.

This year she made dog toys for the pooches. Such a simple design, long strips of fleece tied into knots with squeakers inside.

Hugo loves his.

She also made these great little bags you can attach to the leash to carry treats and poo bags. So crafty!

Domo Magazine

2012-01-07T23:56:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I got an email from someone in Japan asking if they could use my domo pictures in a magazine.

I said if they gave me photo credits and sent me a copy - sure!

Right before the holidays a package arrived for me and there was the magazine with my pictures inside!

It also came with this cute little domo bag!