Frangiwhat?

Back in the day, I was a serious Jane Austen addict. (I still read Persuasion once in a while, but, for the most part, I've moved on. You kind of have to - there are only 6 books! Sanditon totally doesn't count.)

Anyhow!...back then, when I was totally obsessed, my husband thought he'd make me happy by baking me a period dessert. Bakewell tart. It turned out great. We promptly lost the recipe and could only remember that it somehow involved ground almonds.

Well, one of us (Tony or I - once again memory fails me)- blessed with a moment of clarity - said, "Aha! Bakewell Tart!" Even the hooligans loved it. Annika said, "Wow, this is so much better than pie!" (She isn't a fan.) Anyhow, we highly recommend it for your next Jane Austen moment, and, if anyone is interested, I'd love to serve it, should anyone wish to join me to play the Jane Austen board game Jeszie sent me.

...and you'll have to read the recipe to find out what the frangiwhat? is.

That Poor Frog

This has been going better lately. More pee on the frog. Less pee on the floor. Poor Froggy.

Spring is for Spray-painting!

Spring has sprung! I can tell because it's finally warm enough to spray-paint outside (as long as you keep an eye out for scattered showers). My neighbor said that, before she got to know me, she always wondered what the "ratttle, rattle, rattle" noise was echoing from my back yard. And to ring in the season...


I found this neglected little chair at Goodwill. It had never been finished, and, although it was a whopping $10, I just couldn't pass it by.


Besides, I could just picture it painted cherry red next to the bigger mommy chair, in my side yard. (This is my only picture of the mommy chair...ahem...behind the trains...out the window.)


Didn't it turn out sweet!


Cozy can hang out there and sip lemonade while I'm gardening this Summer.

Tastes Almondy...

My brilliant red-haired sister made me this for Christmas.

Yes, I made the "huh?" face too, but, trust me, it's very cool. Felted soap. The process is a mystery to me, but she used her magic to make almond soap...and felt it. (The felting is the part that I can't picture happening, since my felting experience is somewhat limited.) ...but I've tried the soap - the wool is gently exfoliating, and I suspect it's depositing lanolin on my skin (but that could just be my imagination...the power of positive thinking?)


It passed the Cozy test too. ...hmmm...tastes even better than Irish spring (which she got a nibble out of this evening)...


...plus it has this cool stringy stuff I can try and pull off....


...entertaining and delicious!

Gardeny Goodness

Well, my feet are super-sore from walking around Seattle and speed-walking/Boo-chasing around the Garden Show in highly inappropriate shoes! (Supportless, allbeit cute flats!). I knew that I should have worn my converse, but I was just too dang lazy to go and find a pair of socks.

...and I just couldn't wait to regain custody of Sofia. Those dang grandparents stole her away and left this huge void in our home! Of course, I could wait long enough to eat at Ipanema's with Tony. Going out to eat with just Cozy and BooBoo always make us sentimental about the time in our lives when Anthony and Sofia were our little (and only) children. They've grown so fast.

Sofi called me when we were almost finished with our lunch.

Me: We're at Ipanema's without you.
Sofia: You're in Seattle! Don't come get me!
Me: Uh, why do you think we drove out here?
Sofia: Can you come back tomorrow? There's somthing I wanted to do tonight.
Me: No.


She pouted the whole way home and then was a cranky beast to everyone who missed her so much. I think she just doesn't want us to be so sad the next time she goes away. :)

My favorite displays at the Garden Show? Seattle Urban Farm Co. (once again) It's more of a chicken truck than a chicken tractor - and twice as cool.



AND whoever did this garden. I'm too lazy to go look at my flyer. Adorable cold frames!


"I will not garden until payday. I will not garden until payday." Just keep saying it, Annalia, maybe it will come true.

Peek-a-paper

...good for so much more than just wiping hineys.


I don't know who left the bathroom door open, but Cozy thanks them.

I-Need-A-Better-Name Salad

The ingredients may not look tempting, but once you put everything together...


This is technically called 3-bean salad, but how lame is that? It doesn't even begin to describe the cuminy, cilantroy yumminess or the low-fat, fibery goodness of this dish. Tony is trying to eat better, so I am trying to cook better. This salad is part of my effort. My MIL made it for us several years ago, and I scrounged up the recipe on the internet. Try it. You'll like it.


Flavoricious Fiberlicious Bean Concoction
takes: about 30 minutes
makes: 6 side dishes

1 1/2 c. frozen edamame beans
1 can or 14 oz of black beans
1 can or 14 oz of black-eyed peas
2 c. thinly sliced celery
1/2 c. diced red onion
1 tsp. chopped garlic
1/2 cup cilantro
2 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 c. olive oil
1 tsp. cumin

Cook the edamame beans for 4 minutes, and then rinse them (to stop them cooking). Set aside. Heat olive oil, add cumin. When fragrant, remove from heat, add lime juice, and combine with all of the other ingredients. After mixing, let stand for at least ten minutes before eating (or it will explode...just kidding...no, I think it just gives all of the flavors time to get to know each other.)

I'm so impressed with my lack of pettiness in making this nutritious salad, since Tony is happy to torpedo any chance I ever had of losing weight. (Why do you think I try to do it when he's out of town.) His latest effort involved putting at least 6 different flavors of ice cream in our freezer. Who can resist that? Stronger people than me, that's who. ....and he's dairy-free!