I see that I'm getting rather lazy about blogging lately.  I'm not sure where the pictures ended up from my and Elise's recent train trip, so when I find them, I'll put those up. 

Meanwhile, here's the dinner Karl and I cooked on Saturday.  It's sort of our anniversary dinner/not going to the company dinner all rolled into one.  We originally planned to eat out, but cooking something fun just for the two us seemed more interesting.  I think we used more onions on this meal than I have in the past two months.  We made paneer jalfrezi and potato cakes with relish, from some Indian cookbooks I found at the library.  Yummmmm!  I love paneer.  Someday I may try making it, but it probably won't taste similar to what I find at the Indian grocery store.  It was a wonderful meal, and afterward we watched Buster Keaton with Elise (Albin wandered in now and again). 

Today, Elise and I went out to Eagle to deliver our little old stove to the WI Historical Society auction.  (Now we have more space in our garage.)  We planned to browse in several antique stores on the way home, but they were all closed, being Monday and all.  We had to make do with stopping for ice cream, then seeing new kittens at the Cooksville general store.  They were only several weeks old, and cute as...new kittens.  The mother cat was so friendly, and looked so proud.

When we got home, the three of us started dismantling the garden beds.  We're moving things around a bit for this year, and plan to have four small beds, rather than two large ones.  I hope we finish it soon, as I want to plant the sugar snap peas by this weeknd, at latest.

hiiii-ya!

Elise and I just finished our last self-defense class tonight.  We learned a few things, and Elise has the opportunity to take a month's free lessons at the karate school that held our class.  She was interested, so she'll take the introductory class next week, after our next trip.  It might be good for her, at least interesting to try for awhile.  And maybe she'll learn that cool move that Miss Piggy does when she's mad. 

It was so warm today, we roasted hot dogs outside in our fire pit for supper.  We brought a tray up to Albin, as his fever was spiking again, and he was too cold to go outside.  I've heard from several people that a virus with his symptoms is making the rounds.  He should be better in a day or two.

Redwall!

I got my birthday play tonight.  The dibbuns saved Redwall Abbey from the nasty pirate vermin attempting to scale the abbey walls (note strings).  Yay, dibbuns!  It was great fun, and well worth the wait.

Albin has a sore throat and fever tonight.  He must be feeling bad, because he agreed to take some medicine.  We got him some ice cream and pudding, so we'll see how he is in the morning.

Tablecloths and embroidered towels are coming right along.  I guess I could take a picture of that one of these days, too.  Maybe tomorrow.

14 on the 14th

A few things we did today:
-Karl and I had a coffee date at the Sow's Ear to celebrate our 14th anniversary.  (We have a date night planned later this month, and didn't feel the need to eat out twice in one month : ).  I did make roast chicken and riced potatoes for lunch, and Elise set a swanky table, so we all celebrated at home, too.)
-I started hemming two vintage fabrics in my stash to become tablecloths.
-We went got the bikes out and rode around behind the library.
-We found out last night that our kitty corner neighbors bought the house behind us and plan to take down the walnut tree.  We'll be able to garden this year!  We need to plan a party to say goodbye to our swing, though...

picnic

We found a large stash of vintage napkins at Goodwill yesterday.  How fabulous!  We also bought two antique plates, a silver serving tray, and two wine glasses for the Epic picnic basket.  So here's the whole set, with the basket I made yesterday and the picnic blanket.  How much would you pay for that in a silent auction that benefits the local food bank?  Oodles?  I hope so.

Elise got out the craft box last night and invented a way to drink out of two glasses at once.  We decided not to try it with chocolate milk and orange juice.

I never did get the embroidery out last night, what with making the basket and all.  Elise was busy watching 5 Redwall movies, anyway.  I'm almost done with the cupcake hat for the auction, and this afternoon, we may well be embroidering.  Albin has a Magic birthday party to attend today, and there is Boggle group tonight.  Good rainy day activities!

Kitchen Linens

My mom gave me The Apron Book, which I absolutely adore.  While browsing in the library recently, I found EllynAnne Geisel's newest book, The Kitchen Linens Book.  Be still, my beating heart!  I've read half of it this morning, and now I can't help but drag Elise out of the house and search for some more thrifted vintage linens.  When we get home, I'll get her embroidery out of the basement, and her linen tablecloth and kitchen flour sack towel set she got at Christmas (also from my mom!), and guess what we'll be doing this afternoon...

I'm also starting more baby hats.  One for Epic's anniversary dinner silent auction, one for my friend expecting a baby (the older sister needs a hat, too), and one for the newest church baby.  I'll also put together a picnic kit for the silent auction--one of the vintage beach blankets I've been sewing, a market basket, wine glasses and vintage napkins.  I hope that will bring a few bucks in for the food pantry.  A day of making things and playing with the kids.  I don't think it gets much better. 

How did it get to be the 10th of March so soon?  I haven't taken many pictures lately, so I don't think about posting...

Today we had a wonderful afternoon.  The kids and I went walking down the (muddy and icy!) bike path, threw snow over the bridge, then walked down to the little covered bridge over our local creek.  It was 51 degrees.  We hardly needed jackets.

We hosted two families for Soup Group on Monday night.  Due to a fluke of planning, I had to be out of the house almost all day on Sunday, which left half the cleaning and all the cooking for Monday.  Thanks to Albin and Elise pitching in, we got everything done just in time.  We had two kinds of soup, dinner rolls and herb dinner rolls, rice chips, hummus, oranges, sugar snap peas and brownies.  My goal was to make enough things that were lacking in wheat, all dairy, meat, eggs, yeast, and peanuts that our food sensitive guest could have a full meal.  Only the potato soup and breads were off limit to him, so I think it went well.

Here's a picture of the Suzuki barn dance.  Elise had a great time, as usual!