I had my two oldest grandchildren over for the day yesterday. The oldest, Lauren, turned 13 today. So a shopping trip was in order to celebrate becoming a teenager. Her younger brother, Logan, spent the day with Grandpa.
When it came time to fix dinner, I asked them if they wanted spaghetti. Logan refused saying that he only liked the noodles and not the sauce. So as an alternative, I suggested we have homemade pizza. Logan readily agreed to that.
When I pointed out that it didn't make sense that he'd eat pizza with tomato sauce on it, but wouldn't eat spaghetti with the same sauce, he wasn't amused. He said I was tricking him. Then I showed him the bottle of sauce to be used on the pizza. "It's the same sauce that I would have used on spaghetti." I said. All the wind was taken out of his sails. He has no excuse to not eat spaghetti with sauce...at least, not at Grandma's house. We had pizza anyway.
But next time....
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Worth the price?
I was browsing the online Williams-Sonoma catalog today. Did you know that you can get a set of the latest version of J.A. Henckel knives, including a block, for $1499? This is a real steal since at full price the set is $2250. This is a really good looking set. I really like the knife block. But, $2250 for 5 knives, a honeing blade, kitchen shears and a solid wood block to store the set???
Henckel makes great knives. I've had a set for at least 15 years. I love them. In fact, when I am going somewhere (like a ward dinner, even someone else's home) that I will be involved with food prep requiring a kitchen knife, I've taken one of my Henckel knives with me. Call me a knife snob, if you want. But I really dislike using dull, cheap knives.
For $2250, these knives better sing and play music, plus self sharpen. Without test driving them, I'm not sure the set is worth the money. Besides, do I want a set of knives that I feel I should put under lock and key when not in use?
Henckel makes great knives. I've had a set for at least 15 years. I love them. In fact, when I am going somewhere (like a ward dinner, even someone else's home) that I will be involved with food prep requiring a kitchen knife, I've taken one of my Henckel knives with me. Call me a knife snob, if you want. But I really dislike using dull, cheap knives.
For $2250, these knives better sing and play music, plus self sharpen. Without test driving them, I'm not sure the set is worth the money. Besides, do I want a set of knives that I feel I should put under lock and key when not in use?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Institutional
A couple of years ago, the lobbies and hallways of my apartment building were redecorated. The finished look was kind of a weird mixture of traditional and modern with a hotel like institutional feel. I've never really been sure if the redo was an improvement.
Over the last couple of weeks, the elevator lobbies from the parking garage have been redone. The painted cinder block walls have been covered with sheet rock. We've been told that new flooring will be added.
We were out of town for a few days last week. The redo in the elevator lobby was more or less finished when we came home last night. The new floor hasn't been put down. But the walls and elevator doors have been painted. Prior to the redo the walls and elevator doors were the same color...rather mundane and boring. The elevator doors are boring no more. They have been painted institutional green. Every time I come into the lobby from the parking structure, I feel like I'm entering a hospital. I can't wait to see what the new flooring will be.
IMO, this redo was a definite FAIL.
Update: The new flooring is being laid today in the elevator lobby. It's a cream colored vinyl tile with green streaks. The tile is reminiscent of the tile that we had in the basement of the house that I grew up in back in the 1950s.. Except that was green with cream colored streaks. In the middle of the lobby floor is a logo for the apartment building. The logo is green, but not the same green as the elevators doors. The green in the tile is different than the other two greens. So what they are going for is a vintage look?? That makes sense since the rest of the building doesn't have a common theme. There's a little modern, some traditional and a lot of institutional. And, the decorator should know that greens are difficult to match. The elevator green has blue undertones. The logo has yellow undertones and the tile is something in between. Oh, well.
Over the last couple of weeks, the elevator lobbies from the parking garage have been redone. The painted cinder block walls have been covered with sheet rock. We've been told that new flooring will be added.
We were out of town for a few days last week. The redo in the elevator lobby was more or less finished when we came home last night. The new floor hasn't been put down. But the walls and elevator doors have been painted. Prior to the redo the walls and elevator doors were the same color...rather mundane and boring. The elevator doors are boring no more. They have been painted institutional green. Every time I come into the lobby from the parking structure, I feel like I'm entering a hospital. I can't wait to see what the new flooring will be.
IMO, this redo was a definite FAIL.
Update: The new flooring is being laid today in the elevator lobby. It's a cream colored vinyl tile with green streaks. The tile is reminiscent of the tile that we had in the basement of the house that I grew up in back in the 1950s.. Except that was green with cream colored streaks. In the middle of the lobby floor is a logo for the apartment building. The logo is green, but not the same green as the elevators doors. The green in the tile is different than the other two greens. So what they are going for is a vintage look?? That makes sense since the rest of the building doesn't have a common theme. There's a little modern, some traditional and a lot of institutional. And, the decorator should know that greens are difficult to match. The elevator green has blue undertones. The logo has yellow undertones and the tile is something in between. Oh, well.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
32 Years By The Numbers
Today is my 32nd Wedding Anniversary. Wow! That's half my life! Here's a look back...
5 kids
7 grandchildren (with another due in April)
9 moves in 2 cities
2 apartments
2 condos
5 houses
3 motorcycles
1 houseboat
1 runabout
1 drift boat
4 Personal Water Craft
3 grand pianos
5 cats
2 dogs
1 trip to Paris
1 trip to Scotland
1 trip to Acapulco
1 trip to Denmark and London
1 trip to Israel
1 Cruise
1 California coast road trip
1 Motorcycle trip to Canada, the NW and back
1 Motorcycle trip to Santa Fe and back
1 Ford Bronco
1 Ford Taurus wagon
1 Mercedes
1 Cadillac
1 Audi
1 Corvette
1 Mustang
1 Jeep Wagoneer
1 Toyota
1 Chevy Blazer
2 Ford Explorers
2 Suburbans
2 Porsche
3 BMWs
4 Range Rogers
3 Volvos
(What can I say? He likes cars - expensive ones - and I probably missed a few)
8000+ miles on a motorcycle
1 Pioneer Trek
4 river trips
Many camping trips
Countless trips to Lake Powell
44 Christmas Trees (a live tree, sometimes two, every year)
and
Finally, 1 pair of diamond stud earrings
I think that pretty much covers it!
Update: He tells me it should be 2 Mercedes. Honestly, I barely remember having one.
5 kids
7 grandchildren (with another due in April)
9 moves in 2 cities
2 apartments
2 condos
5 houses
3 motorcycles
1 houseboat
1 runabout
1 drift boat
4 Personal Water Craft
3 grand pianos
5 cats
2 dogs
1 trip to Paris
1 trip to Scotland
1 trip to Acapulco
1 trip to Denmark and London
1 trip to Israel
1 Cruise
1 California coast road trip
1 Motorcycle trip to Canada, the NW and back
1 Motorcycle trip to Santa Fe and back
1 Ford Bronco
1 Ford Taurus wagon
1 Mercedes
1 Cadillac
1 Audi
1 Corvette
1 Mustang
1 Jeep Wagoneer
1 Toyota
1 Chevy Blazer
2 Ford Explorers
2 Suburbans
2 Porsche
3 BMWs
4 Range Rogers
3 Volvos
(What can I say? He likes cars - expensive ones - and I probably missed a few)
8000+ miles on a motorcycle
1 Pioneer Trek
4 river trips
Many camping trips
Countless trips to Lake Powell
44 Christmas Trees (a live tree, sometimes two, every year)
and
Finally, 1 pair of diamond stud earrings
I think that pretty much covers it!
Update: He tells me it should be 2 Mercedes. Honestly, I barely remember having one.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Just thoughts
The husband is on the volunteer ski patrol at a local ski resort. The resort opened today. Which means that every Saturday until the end of season in about 5 months, he'll be on the mountain. He was overjoyed when he got the call to report today since he thought that volunteers didn't start until sometime in December. For him, ski season started early.
Yesterday, I had four of my grandchildren here for most of the day. The two boys, age 5 and 4, were delighted to be together. The 4 year old and his little sister live in Denver and don''t get to see their cousins very much. The two little girls, age 3 and 2, had a great time together. One of the good things about having four little ones all day is that they are all potty trained - didn't have to change one diaper!!
My two year old granddaughter has me wrapped around her little finger. While on an outing yesterday, she spotted an "elegator" (escalator). In her sweet, little, voice, she asked "Grandma, please can I ride the elegator?" After one trip, up and down, she asked "Please, please, Grandma, can I ride the elegator again?". Of course, we went again.
My five year old grandson was over one day last week and was in a rather contrary, grumpy mood. When he left, I suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea to let Mr. Grumpy out and leave him in the parking lot of his apartment building. The next day, he was over again and in a much better mood. I commented on Mr. Grumpy being gone. His response was "I left him in the parking lot and he got run over by a car.".
We had very amazing sunsets a couple of days this week. The sky was brilliant pink and orange. Spectacular. However, my three old granddaughter was afraid of the glowing orange sky. She thought the sky was on fire and the fireman needed to put it out.
Thursday night, two grandchildren slept over. Yesterday morning while closing up the hide-a-bed, my arm got caught between the mattress and sofa frame. My little helpers kept pushing up on the mattress causing me to scream in pain for the husband to come and help free me. Thank goodness he was home, because I'm not quite sure how I would have gotten myself out of my predicament without his help. I probably terrified my grandkids too.
Yesterday, I had four of my grandchildren here for most of the day. The two boys, age 5 and 4, were delighted to be together. The 4 year old and his little sister live in Denver and don''t get to see their cousins very much. The two little girls, age 3 and 2, had a great time together. One of the good things about having four little ones all day is that they are all potty trained - didn't have to change one diaper!!
My two year old granddaughter has me wrapped around her little finger. While on an outing yesterday, she spotted an "elegator" (escalator). In her sweet, little, voice, she asked "Grandma, please can I ride the elegator?" After one trip, up and down, she asked "Please, please, Grandma, can I ride the elegator again?". Of course, we went again.
My five year old grandson was over one day last week and was in a rather contrary, grumpy mood. When he left, I suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea to let Mr. Grumpy out and leave him in the parking lot of his apartment building. The next day, he was over again and in a much better mood. I commented on Mr. Grumpy being gone. His response was "I left him in the parking lot and he got run over by a car.".
We had very amazing sunsets a couple of days this week. The sky was brilliant pink and orange. Spectacular. However, my three old granddaughter was afraid of the glowing orange sky. She thought the sky was on fire and the fireman needed to put it out.
Thursday night, two grandchildren slept over. Yesterday morning while closing up the hide-a-bed, my arm got caught between the mattress and sofa frame. My little helpers kept pushing up on the mattress causing me to scream in pain for the husband to come and help free me. Thank goodness he was home, because I'm not quite sure how I would have gotten myself out of my predicament without his help. I probably terrified my grandkids too.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Making Mom Proud
For the past month or so, I've been teaching my youngest daughter how to sew. I failed to pass on that skill when she was still living at home. But as part of a college course assignment, she had to learn a new skill. She picked sewing. We finished it up today.
With the leftover fabric, I'm making one of my granddaughters a skirt. My mom would be proud because I'm not using a pattern. That was a skill she used all the time. We'd go to the department store where I'd find something that I liked. Then we'd go to the fabric shop where Mom bought everything she needed to make it. Sometimes without using a pattern.
Now if I was really going to make Mom proud, I'd craft a matching dress for my granddaughter's baby doll. Mmm...I don't think so.
With the leftover fabric, I'm making one of my granddaughters a skirt. My mom would be proud because I'm not using a pattern. That was a skill she used all the time. We'd go to the department store where I'd find something that I liked. Then we'd go to the fabric shop where Mom bought everything she needed to make it. Sometimes without using a pattern.
Now if I was really going to make Mom proud, I'd craft a matching dress for my granddaughter's baby doll. Mmm...I don't think so.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Out and About
I wish I knew the story behind why a gal at the grocery store today was wearing a down coat which barely covered her backside, flip flops and nothing else. I was tempted to tell her that she forgot her jeans/skirt.
While perusing the meat section at the store, I found a small cloth handbag sitting on top of the packaged meat. The handbag had no closure and I could easily see a wad of money in the purse. It wouldn't have taken much for me to take the money. But being honest, I asked a couple of women in the vicinity if the bag was theirs. The owner was located, much to her relief.
Why am I not surprised that out of 1.5 million requests for tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert, my request for tickets wasn't picked? It makes no difference since after putting in the request, we decided to go to Denver that same weekend. Oh yes, and the random selection process for tickets that the church uses really isn't a lottery, right? (wink, wink)
While waiting to make a left hand turn today at an intersection, the driver behind didn't quite stop and bumped into me. No damage...but she did have her cell phone up to her ear when I looked in the rear view mirror. Guess she wasn't paying attention. Hang up the phone and drive!
Even though the calendar says November 1, it's more like the middle of October. And it's only suppose to get better this week. Awesome!
While perusing the meat section at the store, I found a small cloth handbag sitting on top of the packaged meat. The handbag had no closure and I could easily see a wad of money in the purse. It wouldn't have taken much for me to take the money. But being honest, I asked a couple of women in the vicinity if the bag was theirs. The owner was located, much to her relief.
Why am I not surprised that out of 1.5 million requests for tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert, my request for tickets wasn't picked? It makes no difference since after putting in the request, we decided to go to Denver that same weekend. Oh yes, and the random selection process for tickets that the church uses really isn't a lottery, right? (wink, wink)
While waiting to make a left hand turn today at an intersection, the driver behind didn't quite stop and bumped into me. No damage...but she did have her cell phone up to her ear when I looked in the rear view mirror. Guess she wasn't paying attention. Hang up the phone and drive!
Even though the calendar says November 1, it's more like the middle of October. And it's only suppose to get better this week. Awesome!
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