Today's accomplishments

Today I finally finished Sarah's room darkening roman shade for her room. If you look at the closed pic, I took that one at 7:30 pm (the open one at 5:30 pm). Because DH thought that it would be easier to hide the seam where I joined the fabric if I quilted the shade, well, it was a pain. Unfortunately, I learned a trick and discovered that I really needed a walking foot to quilt neatly as I was finishing the shade.

In the summer, sunset is closer to 11:00 pm and sunrise at near 6:00 am, so room darkening is necessity. Insulating is also nice for winter.

Now I need to make one for Sydney (but I will not quilt it the way I did Sarah's).

Ialso made Pine Nut biscotti. It was from Cooking Light, and yummy. I'm having fun playing with the convection oven. Last night it was pizza.

Here is the recipe:

Pine Nut Biscotti

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour (about 13 1/2 ounces)

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 large eggs

Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Stir in pine nuts. Combine 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, rind, vanilla, and eggs, stirring with a whisk. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring until well blended (dough will be dry and crumbly). Knead dough lightly in bowl 7 or 8 times or until a dough forms (dough will be sticky). Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into an 8-inch-long roll. Place rolls 6 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; flatten each roll to 1-inch thickness.

Bake at 325° for 30 minutes. Remove rolls from baking sheet (do not turn oven off); cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Cut each roll diagonally into 15 (1/2-inch-thick) slices using a serrated knife. Place slices, cut sides down, on baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 15 minutes. Turn cookies over, and bake an additional 10 minutes (cookies will be slightly soft in center but will harden as they cool). Remove from baking sheet; cool completely on wire racks.

Yield 2 1/2 dozen (serving size: 1 biscotto)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 94(21% from fat); FAT 2.2g (sat 0.3g,mono 0.6g,poly 0.9g); PROTEIN 2.2g; CHOLESTEROL 21mg; CALCIUM 14mg; SODIUM 84mg; FIBER 0.4g; IRON 0.8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 16.6g

Julianna Grimes and Ann Taylor Pittman , Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2007

The week in review

I've been reading, but have been lacking in either motivation or time to write.

The other week, work became extraordinarily horrible. Let's suffice to say that I am applying for full time jobs now (although I only want to work part time) because I keep thinking that full time is better than what I have not. Unfortunately, unless the new job would give me some release time to teach, I think I will have to stop teaching for a while. There is a job that I am planning on applying to. I really need a job where I can work for people who actually respect my capabilities.

Last week, we started rehearsals for the dance recital. Sarah is in two dances, Syndey in one, and I'm in one. Next week, we have rehearsals Tues - Thurs and performances Fri and Sat. It will be a busy, busy week. At some point, my ILs are coming, the house needs to be cleaned, and I have HUGE deadline at work.

My new stove arrived on Tues. Needless to say, since the old stove was moved from the wall, I had to clean the floor and decided to strip the wax from the linoleum floor and rewax it. I did burn my first set of rolls in the small oven. Last night, I made pizza and used both the proofing setting for raising the dough and the convection oven for baking. I'm glad I spent the extra money to get the stove will all the bells and whistles (multi ring setting for the cooktop and the convection/conventional oven options for the lower oven. I really want to bake some biscotti today.

Earlier this week, I started waking at 6:15. The first day, I decided that I should get up and exercise (and was proud of myself for doing so). Sydney woke up as I was finishing and glanced at me as she walked to the bathroom. I was impressed with her as she commented to me later that "sometimes when I get up in the morning I see you doing yoga and following the TV." Then she commented that she really wanted to do the kids yoga DVD, but I told her we needed to get to work and we would do it another day.

Friday, we had Sydney and Mommy day! We went out to breakfast and then went the the local rock labyrinth. Sydney has been wanting to go for the past year. We had fun. Then we went to one of her friend's house for a playdate and then out to lunch with a friend of mine. It was a lovely day. This was my last chance to spend a day with only Sydney before she starts kindy. Esp if I start working full time.

I did want to share pics of the old and new stove. When/if we redo the kitchen, we will switch the locations of the range and fridge. It's on the list.

This next week will be slow to update, but I'll post recital pics later.

Gift for Sarah

ARG, recitial is in two weeks - I need to get a gift - quickly!

If you remember this is her fifth recital and we've promised her a present in honor of it.

Opinions welcome:
Ballet waterglobe music box - can be personalized http://www.thingsremembered.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_9951_602903_-1_1?fcref=

Frame, will personalize with something like "Five Years of Dance" http://www.thingsremembered.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_9951_563026_-1_1?fcref=

Music box with a picture of Dega's ballet class
http://www.sfmusicbox.com/xq/asp/MGID.-1/IID.2233/TID.%7BB2F6C3B1-0B05-439A-8A24-A83D039645E2%7D/qx/product.htm

Music box - Cinderella (Sarah's ballet class is dancing to Cinderella this year)http://www.sfmusicbox.com/xq/asp/MGID.-1/IID.2399/TID.%7B4625E211-8846-49F5-B1D9-5A460026EEA8%7D/qx/product.htm

Have a bracelet made with a number 5 and ballet slipper charms
http://www.peaceofmindjewelry.com/

Decorators Welcome

I found some that I like, but unfortunately because they are clearance (and on sale until the 20th) I can't order swatches for most. ETA: These are fabric options for the seats of the chairs.

Let me know if the fabric swatches don't show up. I'll fix them.

So, the choices are:

#1 lilac, teaberry rose, taupe, maize and olive florals on a soft sage green background.

#2 leaf green, bone white

#3 sage and pink on an off-white background.

I was thinking that I would make roman shades in the kitchen to match the seats in the dining room.

Just as a reminder, here is the dining room:

TIA

I'm bored. The new stove is ordered, I'm debating how to handle the old ones.

So, ask me a question and I will answer them in a new blog entry - serious questions, silly questions, get-to-know you questions. Be creative, entertain me!

This year it's the oven. . .

Last May, we were invited to a birthday party, our washing machine broke that day. Today, we found out our 40 year old oven will cost $500 to repair. I've told my friend that we can't be invited to her daughter's birthday party any more because we need to replace an appliance each year. She pointed out that I get new appliances!!

So, It looks like I need a new range - we are looking at a Kenmore double oven with a small regular oven and a large convection one:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02298002000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Cooktops%2C+Ranges+%26+Ovens&sName=Freestanding+Ranges

It's on sale until tomorrow.

Since we are not renovating, it's not going to completely fit in the space, but it's OK.

Any opinions?
I'm not sure about color, I think my choice is white, black, or stainless steel.

The current dishwasher is white, the fridge is cream, the stove is white w/ stainless steel cooktop.

AND, don't suggest Home Depot or Lowes for checking. Home Depot is 2-3 hours away and I'm not sure where the closest Lowes is. I have Sears and some small appliance stores. I have a one small oven, a microwave, and a grill to cook on now, so I don't have 4-6 weeks to wait for something to come in.

Yes, my town is pathetic.

IT'S DONE!!

The before - note the light fixture



The after!!

And a poor resolution close up of the curtains:

I'm so thrilled with how it looks. Now, on to Sarah's roman shade.

But, I'm betting between Sydney's t-ball pictures, Sarah's baseball pictures, Sydney's t-ball game, Sydney to a birthday party, me to a funeral, Sarah to a baseball game --- I'm thinking pizza for dinner ---- I won't get to it tomorrow. But, if I still have some energy I might work on it some during the race tomorrow.I need to find something to read for a few minutes so I can fall asleep now.

The perfect gift - need help!!

When Sarah first started dance, the owner used to give trophies to the kids when they did their fifth and tenth and . . . . dance recital with her.

She moved on after Sarah's third recital.

The new owner gives a scrapbook to the graduating seniors.

So, we told Sarah that we would give her a gift to commemorate her fifth recital.

Since shopping in town is limited, I have to be able to order a gift from the internet, so four weeks before the recital, I'm seeking ideas.

Any ideas for something really nice I can get her? I would like something that she can treasure for years.

HELP!! I'm idealess!


(oh, and the party is today so I'll catch up with updates on life tomorrow.)