Tuesday afternoon, after watching a marathon of Ina Garten, I was thirsting for one of her cookbooks.  I asked the 9TS if he was up for a ride to B&N and he nodded agreeably.   While on a roll, I asked him if HE would by me the cookbook.  Again he nodded agreeably.  As I sat on the floor in the cookbook aisle, surrounded by Ina's various offerings, I knew the sloth would head to the magazine section, specifically looking for this month's Model Railroad.

So there I was, OM position, five choices stacked in front of me.  I glanced through each index checking out dinners, desserts and veggies, in that order and finally narrowed it down to two:  Barefoot Contessa, At Home vs. Barefoot Contessa, How Easy is That?  I was salivating over Jeffrey's chicken but when I got to the mocha chocolate icebox cake, the liquid was pouring out of my mouth, Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing brought tears to my eyes.  But on the other hand, book 2 offered Mustard Roasted Potatoes, and a new twist on my old favorite: Apple, Pear, Cranberry Crisp.  The water dripping from my face. 

What to do?  They were both essential.  Well, if I was going to pay for one before the 9TS's kind offer, I'd buy one and he'd buy one.  Worked for me.  Til the sloth saw both, shook his head knowingly and headed to check-out with both and his magazine.  Thank.you.9TS.

So why you ask, do I want her cookbooks knowing most of the recipes are available on line?  Yes, you in the back row, I heard that question.  Because I devour cookbooks.  I read them for hours.  I survey the ingredients, dream of crockery, add parchment paper and cooking twine to my shopping list.  I Google new varieties of apples, scour the net for "good" vanilla, search for the best deal on mini muffin pans. 

Why?  Because I enjoy it.  It makes me happy to find something new the 9TS can tolerate.  I love the lopsided grin on Kidlet's face when she knows a hot apple crisp with vanilla ice cream is on the menu.  These are the moments, people, that make my world.

4.79   can you tell we have found a route we like?

yes, Kidlet, I was once 13 . . .

I went to summer camp when I was thirteen.  My mother had died that winter and I think she and my father had plotted this escapade before hand . . . to keep me occupied.  The other day, I was Googling images and typed in Camp Po-Ne-Mah, Happy Land for Girls.  Yup, you read that correctly. 

And then, it turns out, they have a Facebook group.  Not only did I join, I posted a couple of beauts they were missing.  And so, while I am making a fool of myself there, I thought I might just as well post them here too:

 and yes, my middle name was gawky.  Also gangly.  Geeky would fit.

 

and on that note, I bid you a fond and embarrassed farewell.

and this is why I adore Kelli . . .

"This is an email string between my new boss (for now) and I this morning.  He's in Ft Worth today" From: New Boss Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 10:46 AM To:  Kelli Subject:  MANDATORY   Reminder Importance: High Pls put on my colander Thx Remaining Sessions: Session date Time (EST) 27-Sep-11 3:30 to 4:30 27-Sep-11 4:30 to 5:30 28-Sep-11 9:00 to 10:00 28-Sep-11 10:00 to 11:00 28-Sep-11 11:00 to 12:00 28-Sep-11 1:00 to 2:00 28-Sep-11 2:00 to 3:00 28-Sep-11 3:00 to 4:00 28-Sep-11 4:00 to 5:00   From:  Kelli Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 10:49 AM To: New Boss Subject: RE: MANDATORY  Reminder “Pls put on my colander” Sieve would be my pleasure… From: New Boss Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 10:53 AM To:  Kelli Subject: RE: MANDATORY  Reminder Now that’s a strain From: Kelli Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 10:56 AM To: New Boss Subject: RE: MANDATORY   Reminder How about “Sift would be my pleasure”? From: New Boss Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:01 AM To:  Kelli Subject: RE: MANDATORY  Reminder Now you are just making holes in my spelling.  It just won’t hold water anymore. From:  Kelli Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:21 AM To: New Boss Subject: RE: MANDATORY  Reminder  Sorry.  I’ll try to filter my comments from now on. From: New Boss Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:22 AM To:  Kelli Subject: RE: MANDATORY  Reminder Dear Liza I give in Henry From:  Kelli Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:24 AM To: New Boss Subject: RE: MANDATORY  Reminder   Haha.  You win.  That "cracked" me up. ************************************************************************* Sunday: 4.79 Monday: 4.79

ahn-wee . . .

EEK!  All this time I have been pronouncing it en-ew-ee.  Maybe because I have been so bored, I have been too lazy to look it up.  Yes, folks, that's right, ennui has hit the cave.

Even though we both exploded out of bed at 12:52 Thursday night.  Seems the Pipster finally managed to shove that adorable little bud vase we wanted to save  . . . the one that housed my white carnations . . . right off the top of the bookcase onto the wood floor.   Shards for miles.  A hunkered down Pippin, wide eyed, not understanding the full ramifications of  . . . if I push it just a little more . . . was peeking out from under the sofa.

Even though I was set up at Carrabba's last night but my brother-in-law and his significant other.  The table was set with a complimentary glass of wine from them and some of Jen's oh so delightfully perfect chocolate drop cookies.  These are to die for.  Literally.  They are THAT good. And a gorgeous box with THE perfect fall candle and soaps. And a card that asked me politely if I knew I had a birthday on 9/11.  Jen was not a happy camper that I had not blabbed about my birthday and went into overdrive.  Slurp!!!!

Those incidents aside, ennui abounds.   After spending the entire summer housebound, we are totally, walking zombie, head twistingly bored.  The 9TS has started walking around in circles and I am staring at piles of unfinished projects.  Nothing is getting accomplished.  Nada.  No layouts.  No sewing.  No shots.  No writing.  I haven't walked in two days.

We need a jump start.  Nothing quite so dramatic as a hurricane, thank.you.very.much, but something to rattle our cages.  Any suggestions??

EDIT:  Joanie called.  Her guests have gone.  Do I want to walk.  4.79.  Yay!

out came the sun . . .

A rainy, dreary day is the best day for a massage and since Kidlet gave me money for one a long time ago and since I found a great deal on Groupon for a local day spa, today was the day . . . one and a half hours of aroma therapy, body massage, including hot rocks.  Color me relaxed and stress free.  Does it really get any better?

4.71 miles tucked in between rain drops.

no one . . .

Monday:  4.25
Tuesday:  0.00   Instead, an hour and a half of, she's trying to kill us, yoga!

Remember what happened when Kidlet left us flowers when we headed to Tampa.  They kept getting knocked over on the counter top by someone who shall not be mentioned.

Well, both the 9TS and Stacie gave me beautiful spring flowers . . . my fav . . . for my birthday.  This time I put them on the Barrister bookcase in the living room . . . until I caught someone up there among the leaves and petals and shooed her down.   Not mentioning names.

Finally, I moved them to the mantle.  I've had seven cats in this house and NO ONE has managed the mantle piece.  NO ONE.  Until:

Kidlet caught she who must not be mentioned, in action.

And she, who apparently has no guilt, merely resampled the tasty petals once again.

This beastie has no conscience.  None.

and playing . . .

Here's the picture I took with my iPhone the morning I was out chasing UFOs.  I removed the balloons and the telephone wires and then found the most amazing moon brushes by Hawksmont . . . added a polaroid mask by Nancy Rowe Janitz and color me happy.