Will's Favorite Time of Year

Will sent this to me in a text, stating:

"It's that time of year!"

Cadberry Creme Eggs are out for Easter.  I suspect that soon the shelves will be empty in the DC-area.

You will have to come to our house if you want a creme egg.

Happy Birthday Annabelle!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNABELLE!  

Congrats on making it to Double Digits!  We hope you have a wonderful day and all your wishes come true!

Banana Bread and Liquid Tablet

I made a banana bread cake in a pretty bunt pan just so I could drizzle it with the liquid Tablet.

In one of the first attempts in making the delicious Scottish candy, the mixture didn't set right.  It never solidified the proper way, even after letting it sit out overnight.  Instead of tossing it-- because it tasted like tablet, after all-- I poured into a jar to use for cake glazes.  I keep forgetting about it.

Luckily, my Italian friend and her husband B came for a visit and I realized that I had enough frozen bananas to make a double batch of banana bread AND that then I could use the fleur-de-lis bunt pan AND then drizzle the liquid tablet on top.

The problem will be 1. keeping Will away from it and 2. not eating it all in one go when we finally do cut into it.

Birthday Boy Lucas!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCAS!!!!  

Wishing you lots of fun and presents and cake on your special day!

Little Lemon

How very exciting: the lemon tree that bloomed a few weeks ago now has a little lemon growing on it!  I do emphasize the "little" as the budding fruit is no bigger than my pinky's fingernail.  It is there, however!  And getting bigger and stronger every day.  I will keep you posted on its progress.

Happy Valentine's Day

As I walked Stirling and Biscuit along the trails behind Dumbarton Oaks, I saw this.

It seems like a perfect way to wish everyone a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

More Orchids in Bloom

 We are very excited to report that the large porcelain pot of orchids that Will created works.  After Will had transplanted over 10 orchids into the pot, we weren't sure if the orchids would survive the move; if they would like being in a forest of other orchids; or if the pot would hold enough moisture for their roots.  We are very excited to say that all of our worries were for nought.  We have two orchids in bloom in the pot, along with several new leaves and roots.

As for the two hanging plant trays, we were also concerned that raising them up would decrease their  access to sunlight.  We can say now that it definitely hasn't!  We have a spray of white orchid blossom that is simply beautiful.

The plants seem to have taken to their new environment quite well.  Now we can rest assured that they are getting enough light and enough water and are happy enough to send out new leaves, new roots, and new blossoms.

DC Painting Surprise!

When I got back from my trip to Kentucky, I had a painting surprise of my own! Will had re-plastered and painted the en suite bathroom for the main guest room!  He had an electrician come in to put a GFCI plug in (no more hairdrying in the bedroom without a mirror!).  He replastered the cracks from the earthquake we had a few summers ago.  He painted the walls a lovely caramel color that we also have in the t.v. room downstairs.  He retiled a couple of places where the tiles had popped off the wall. He changed out the faucet to a lovely new chrome one.  He added a new soap dish and cup holders.  He hung a shelf for guests to put their toiletries.  He even added art work so the bathroom was decorated.  

I was shocked and flabbergasted and so impressed! I am not sure what prompted him to do it, but it was such an amazing surprise.  Now the guest bathroom is ready and waiting for more guests!  Who's going to be the first to check it out in person?

Was Will the Inspiration for this?

Every time we go to the grocery store, Will is determined to carry everything in one trip.  This is exactly what it is like:

And the girlfriend's reaction? That is exactly my reaction.   Everytime.

Kentucky Painting Surprise

As a surprise for my sister, Caroline, while she was on vacation for the first time in about 6 years, my dad and I painted her family room and kitchen.  For about 6 months, maybe longer?, she and Darren have had samples up on the nasty, faded yellow paneled walls as they try to decide exactly which shade of  of the 50 greys to use. (hahah terrible joke in there). 

I called her with a fake emergency: the cats of vomited on the rugs, what do I use to clean it? (Seriously, her cats had vomited and not just on the rug, but having owned a cat, I know how to clean it up). Oh, and while I have you on the phone, which color are you all considering cuz you told me a Christmas and I am staring at the various samples and I am confused.  I think I was able to pull it off, if only because she was distracted by the sights and sounds of the City on the Bay.  

Dad and I went over one night and finished the trim work that Caroline had started months ago.  Can I tell you what a pain it is to remove that blue painters' tape that has been on for months? The next day we went to Home Depot, armed with a paint chip that I was sure was the correct color.  How could it not be when Caroline said the color herself, "I think it is called Porpoise Fin or Dolphin Fin.  Something like that." 

Did you know that Home Depot sells a color that is called Porpoise? And another one called Dolphin Fin?   See--no way could we mess this up.  Ahem. 

We bought a gallon of Dolphin Fin.  We cut in around the trim and the windows.  Because the family room has wood paneling, we painted each of the paneling seams. 

 

Dad cutting in.  See all the samples on the paneling?  How could we not pick the right color with the choice so obvious?

going....

going....

In the kitchen, we painted the ply-wood soffit that had been wallpapered with a hideous pattern.  Yes, painted over it because you can't remove wallpaper from plywood.  We rejoiced when the last of it disappeared.

gone.

We rolled out the paneling in the family; we rolled out the kitchen walls.  We painted the door frame and window frame (we have to go back for the actual door and windows as it was just too cold to open them up to paint).  We trimmed out the pantry.  We cleaned and painted the air vent grilles.  All in all, about 12 hours of work spread out over 3 days and an obstacle course of furniture and toys, we transformed the family room and kitchen. 

Hopefully she (and the rest of her family) will be thrilled and the tears that will come as part of the reaction are tears of joy because the painting is done; not tears of frustration because we got the color wrong. 

Chloe and the Kangabunny

Matie came to visit us and she brought Chloe a bunny.  It is a special bunny: it is a rare Kangabunny.  A Kangabunny looks like a kangaroo, complete with a pouch and a baby Joey, but is called a bunny.  They are very rare and Chloe promised to take great care of it.  

Happy Birthday Darren!

Happy Birthday Darren!  Hope you and the family are enjoy some Rice-a-Roni while in San Fran!!