Friday, January 29, 2010

I'm blessed, but I have no proof

The goal today was to clean and to take pictures of my shiny clean claw-foot tub, the beautiful flowers on the kitchen table and some other routine thing I'm grateful for. Instead, I'm uploading a picture my mom asked for. This is the front of the house. I did clean my tub, though. And I made cupcakes. Chocolate ones. They were delicious. Sorry about the lack of evidence to validate my claims. I'm tired. Too many chocolate cupcakes...

Monday, January 25, 2010

Prayer Request

My good friend Karen and her husband run a missions organization called Side by Side. They provide building and contract services to missions organizations around the world to build churches, orphanages, etc. Jim is currently in Haiti doing all he can to help the victims of the earthquake. Please view the following video Karen put together and their website. Information on supporting them is on the website, if you feel so inclined. Mostly, please pray for Side by Side, for the team's safety and, clearly, for the victims in Haiti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjMHbyeFPUM
www.essonnews.com

Friday, January 22, 2010

Home

Today the house feels like home. Most everything is put away and I just did chores (laundry, dishes, clean up after the dog who is currently de-stuffing a toy). Since we've been in the SD, I have already seen a guy on a bicycle, holding a surfboard... in traffic. We have met a woman in our neighborhood who must have done a whole lot of drugs in the seventies judging by her frizzalicious brain and hair. I've had one (mediocre) job interview. I've found a fabric outlet, where I'm meeting a friend this afternoon. Jon and I have made guacamole, braised short ribs, chicken soup with homemade broth and broiled tuna. I have fallen in love with our gas stove. And most importantly, the Yellow Dog loves his new fenced in back yard. That has a neighbor's clementine tree hanging over into it.
I have yet to put the office together... papers everywhere. But I'll get to it. There's a door that can be shut until I do.
The picture uploader thing isn't working so well today, so just check out facebook to see pictures of the house. It's not done yet, but will be soon. Next up: painting, pictures and new curtains!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Currently Laying on an Air Mattress Doing Work and Feeling Disorganized

Our apartment looks like a cave with cardboard stalagmite boxes everywhere. I would upload a picture, but the uploader got packed. So did our toilet paper. They asked about everything else to make sure we didn't need it, but didn't bother to ask if we would need toilet paper. Clearly we don't look needy, because it's disappeared into one of the boxes marked, "bathroom".

Nevertheless I love change, so I am giddy. Take these boxes away! I can find toilet paper on the road... the road to the land of avocado trees in back yards!

Guacamole.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Would You Like Some Tea With Your Scones?

Go ahead. Click on the picture. It's even more delicious close up.

Clearly my main concern of late has been eating up all the food we have in our freezer and fridge, which the movers refuse to move and refrigerate for us. I had some freshly frozen cranberries that said to me, "Don't you think we would be delicious in that cranberry orange scone recipe?" Well, actually, the Craisins said that, but I told them no, that the frozen ones would have to be used first, since they weren't making the move with us. The Craisins understood.

So I made scones. My very favorite scone recipe ever. I want you to make it, too and experience the crunchy, crumbly joy.

Cranberry Orange Scones *YUM*

2/3 C buttermilk (or 1Tbl lemon juice plus milk to equal 2/3 C and let sit 5 min before using)
1 egg
3 C flour
4 tsp baking powder (I know it's a lot. Trust me.)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C butter, room temperature
1 C fresh or frozen cranberries (also, Craisins work, and make the scones a bit sweeter)
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp fresh grated orange peel (I would use the zest from one full orange)

Heat oven to 375 F. Beat egg into buttermilk & let sit. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and cut in butter with a pastry cutter (or a fork).
Add cranberries, sugar and orange peel, tossing to coat. Add buttermilk mixture and stir with fork until soft dough forms.
Turn out onto a floured board and knead 5-6 turns. Form dough into ball and pat out into a rectangle. Cut 8 wedges and place on baking stone (or sheet). Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on edges. Let cool on rack at least 1 hour.

I never let them cool on the rack for an entire hour. I eat one as soon as they're cool enough to not burn my insides.

Packers come Thursday!