Under a Red Roof ·

Bright White, Green Pickle

September 7, 2011 in Cooking + Baking, Eating, Friendship by Colleen | 2 comments

Will ya looky there? I can finally see my reflection in the bathroom. Huzzah! No more dashing for the best light. Many thanks the hubster, my worker extraordinaire, who did a fine job hanging said mirror and painting this weekend. We edge closer and closer to a finished bathroom, my friends. One fine day!

While he painted (the black window – his work!), I canned. Eight pints garlic dills, six pints spicy dills, seven pints bread-and-butter, two pints pickle relish, four half-pints Hatch chiles, and two quarter-pints jalapeños. Seeing the jars lined up in the cupboard is highly satisfying. Being burned by hot vinegar solution is highly painful. My thumb will recover, however, and I will be ever more careful.

We also spent a lovely day with the Twists, enjoying excellent company, the serenity of country living, grilled steaks, fine whiskey, home grown blueberries, a sky full of stars, and a visit from an owl! Its profile was reminiscent of a cat atop a tree, and a big one, too. Very cool.

Here’s hoping you had a lovely weekend and are keeping safe amid all the fires and storms. Be well!

Progress?

September 2, 2011 in Decorating by Colleen | 2 comments

Last night, until an hour much later than anticipated, the hubster and I attempted to hang the mirror over the sink, so I wouldn’t have to run all over the house to find the best light to put on moisturizer, make-up, or check my teeth for spinach. We thought we were so clever, buying the Hercules hook with Billy Mays picture on the package from the internet, with expedited shipping because I didn’t want to wait another day to do my business in the bathroom mirror. Sadly, we weren’t clever enough. The hooks didn’t want to go in at first, and once they did, were not appropriate for this application. So, instead of a mirror, we have two holes above the sink, waiting for the drywall hangers originally purchased for this purpose, which have since been misplaced. It’s a comedy!

We do have a hand towel rack and a soap dish and a hook in the shower, however, so that’s something for you.

Also, no need to check your latest prescription on what I hope are some stylin’ spectacles, because, yes sir or ma’am, that tile is a little wonky. Eighty year-old houses do not come square, but wavy, and with personality, like their crackers owner(s) {The hubster can add himself to the category, but I shall not speak for him in this case}.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Summer Night

September 1, 2011 in Quoting by Colleen | Permalink

Oh the summer night

Has a smile of light

And she sits on a sapphire throne.

Barry Cornwall

Winning and Losing

August 29, 2011 in Feeling, Loving, Thinking by Colleen | 2 comments

The hubster and I ventured to our cute and very walkable farmer’s market this past weekend at Cafe au Play. It’s a coffee shop that had once been a super creepy market that was shut down by the Feds on drug charges, if I recall correctly. It was bought by a community non-profit and slowly turned into this sweet, family friendly place with lots of great landscaping (instead of an ugly blacktop) and now, a Farmer’s Market. We moseyed over on Saturday, buying some wine, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, fingerling potatoes, and blackberries (Martha – the season has arrived!). They had a raffle going, and with every purchase from a vendor, a ticket.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I got the call I had won! I have to say that I made out quite well. The green fabric bag contained doggie treats, which I gave to one of our favorite pooches in the world, Reggie (he gives them the paws-up!). The box was some kind of awesome chocolate hazelnut cake soaked in a bit of booze. The brown bag a scone mix. I also won a 30-minute massage, a wine tasting for four, and $5 off a pie-making class. Hoot and holler!

The bouquet looks lovely on the dining room table; we’ve already eaten all the berries; the corn will be dinner tonight; and the squash turned into bread some time soon. Thanks so much Cafe au Play!

And in the losing category – I had a complaint because I wrote someone had a big butt. I changed it for about a minute before deciding against it. I wrote what I saw. That was the gist of the post. If she had skinny legs, I would have written that, but she didn’t, so I didn’t, and offended someone. It’s okay if you don’t come back, Susie. I’ll understand.