Brothers

It has been just over a year since our beloved Samsonite kitty died. I still miss him lots when I think about it but fortunately, I don't think about it too often anymore. I hope he is still resting in peace and purring with the kitty angels. He is.

After Sam's death, Stanley was a bit of a butthead. But that was to be understood. He lost his cuddlemate and bather. The twins loved each other a lot and their new baby brother wasn't on their radar much. In fact, Stanley and Simon weren't on the best of terms a year ago. Simon would attack Stan and Stan would hiss and growl at Simon. But, luckily for the whole family, they have learned to love each other and have come a long way since their bratty sibling days. After some one-on-one and family counseling, Stan is learning to except love again. And, Simon is willing to give it.

Just this past month, we have noticed the boys sleeping closer together and Simon cleans Stanley regularly. On maybe two occasions Stanley has even licked Simon (who really needs it, that cat is dirty). It makes me so happy to see them getting along. They both need someone to love them (yes, we are still talking about cats).

Stan and Simon don't curl Yin Yang style like Sam and Stan would but that is all right. We are making progress, the family is happier, and honestly, Stan and Simon don't have the right coloring to make a Yin Yang sign like the twins did together.

Maybe someday we will get to the point of super cuddliness but for now, we are at least making progress.

Time to Get a Move On

Dammit, it's March.

That's means it is time to get off my bootay and get a move on.

It's time to plant, dig, cut, clean, build, plan, find tools, get dirty, and lordhavemercyonme weed (*gasp, clutching throat, choking, dying). I love my garden but I don't like the work. I am the worst housewife ever. I'll never be a real farmer's wife. I can't milk goats or chase down a pig. And, it isn't that I just can't, it is that I won't. What I am trying to say is that I am still too lazy to go outside and get working. Hence why I am writing this now.

But, in my defense, it did snow last week and it is in the forecast for next week. I can still be in hibernation mode thankyouverymuch!

Alas, Mr Pepperworth is outside getting ready to extend our front porch and he is building chairs for said front porch. He is being very productive in manual labor. Me, not so much and I am starting to feel guilty (but not guilty enough to actually go outside today).

Oh well, the sun is suppose to come out tomorrow (before it starts a rain/snow mix next week) and I will pull on my Carhartt's and work shoes and get outside and do something. And, I'll only cry a little....while holding a kitty (because that is what I am good at doing outside).

Gluten-Free, Veggie Etouffee

This is my most precious recipe.

There once was this amazing restaurant in Parkland, WA called From the Bayou. They had amazing, spicy dishes. My favorite was their crawfish etouffee (back when I was a carnivore). It was creamy, flavorful, and just perfect. It was served over rice and with their jalapeno cornbread.

Then one day, something happened. From the Bayou was gone. The owners fled from debtors, at least that is what I heard. But...they left a special treat. On their website, they posted the recipes for some of their best dishes. It almost seemed like they were trying to "shove it" to people who wanted to buy the place or something. This was about 8 years ago. Luckily, I was smart enough to print them off (and the new restaurant did fail after it was sold). I still I have the recipes and I don't really want to give them out without making you pay. They are that good!

However, I have changed the etouffee recipe a bit to make it vegetarian and gluten-free so I feel that it is worth sharing. It still is creamy and mouth watering. Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother, I would just cry that it is gone forever!

INGREDIENTS
5T butter
3 chopped onions
2 chopped green peppers
1 1/2t chopped garlic
3-4c slice mushrooms
1 1/2t arrowroot powder (flour for you glutens)
3/4T cayenne pepper
4 dashes hot sauce
1T garlic powder
1c whipping cream
1 1/2c milk
1/2c half and half
1 3/4c (or one 16oz can) tomato sauce

METHOD
1. Melt the butter in a large heavy pot.
2. Add onions, peppers, garlic, and all seasonings and saute, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent. About 15 minutes.

3. Add mushrooms and saute for about 5 min.
4. Mix arrowroot powder in a small bowl with 1T water and mix well until incorporated. Add mix to pot and stir for 1 minute.

5. Add whipping cream, milk, and half and half.
6. Cook until liquid thickens, but not boiling, stirring often.
7. Add tomato sauce and cook for 15 minutes.
8. Continue to stir and cook. The longer you cook the etouffee, the better it tastes! I like to cook mine for at least 30 minutes.

Serve over rice!

29.

I have been a really bad blogger lately. I know. I feel like I am just not in the mood for writing down my thoughts. Maybe it is because I have my thoughts towards other things such as: food, weeding, running, facilitating meetings, my to-do list, something I forgot, laundry, and so on and so forth.  Some of those things I think about and then do. Some of those things I think about and then feel bad about not doing. My life isn't going badly, I just think about other things I suppose and I don't really feel that they are worthy literature for a post.

However, while I have been contemplating life and all it's activities, I turned 29. Last week was my birthday. I went on a Ikea shopping spree with Mah and Mr Pepperworth. It was very nice and I even got through the whole store without dragging my feet and asking someone to carry me (I have a short shopping span.) Fil and Mil took us to dinner and then I went on a 3 day xcountry skiing excursion with my parents and the hubs. Getting to ski, lounge, snowshoe, and sit in a pool-sized hot tub was the best. I thoroughly enjoyed being active during the day and feeling tired and sore in the evening.

So yes, I am almost out of my twenties. Honestly, I feel like I already should be there. I don't know, maybe owning a home makes me feel older. Or maybe it is the fact that my face finally looks older to me, I don't have that girlish sweet-faced charm anymore. (Or at least the charm that I am pretty sure I had.) But, then, on the other hand, I can't drag myself out of bed earlier than 7:30am and that makes me feel like a lazy 13 year old. No one wants to be 13 again though. I've never done well is odd numbers (fun/odd/embarrassing fact: I don't get out of bed when the clock ends in an odd number. Some sort of intelligent superstition).

What will 29 bring me? I don't know right now but it better be good! Maybe I should start running again, I think I have been saying that for a month now. Come on 29, inspire me.

January Gone

Wow, next week is the end of January (and Justin Timberlake's birthday in case you write that on your calendar). I gotta say, January 2012 has been a pretty interesting year beginning.

I am now the chair of the local Public Market (not sure how I feel about that still).
We had over a foot of snow for almost a week (which I totally loved but thought the schools should have been in session).
We went to visit Sissy and Lil' Bear is California (had a great time even though it rained...at least it wasn't snow).
I discovered Pinterest (what I do instead of updating this here blog, whoopsie daisy).
I haven't worked a full 5 day week for probably a month because of holidays and vacations (but I still didn't find time to get all my other "to-dos" done).

But alas, next week I will be working a full 5 days but then....it's my birthday and I am taking a day off (or two). I think Washington should put a 4 day work week on the ballot soon.

My first pinterest DIY project "snow sticks"

Bright New Day

Sometimes I wake up (when I am not cozy under the covers and talking myself out of waking up) and I look outside and the sky is beautiful. Our front windows have a great view of the islands and sky. The clear sky and pink shadowy clouds are amazing. This morning I decided to take Buk for a walk (because I didn't want to run). When I walk just a quarter of a mile up the road, Mt Baker is fully visible. This just makes me smile every single time. If I walk even further, about half a mile, I can see the Canadian mountain range and that too is spectacular.

I get such joy seeing nature in all its splendor. Every time I see the mountain or the green San Juans, it makes me remember why I love my home. You know, sometimes I wished I lived in Hawaii because it too is so perfect but on mornings like this, I am reminded why I love Washington.

I know, this is total hippy bullshit but lordy, my day is a little brighter now because of the chilly, beautiful morning walk!

Garlic Carrots (Raw)

I love garlic. If you don't like garlic then you probably won't like this recipe. Which means you probably are a vampire. Just sayin'.

But, if you do in fact like garlic and you also happen to like carrots, then you should make this. It is super easy to make and it is a healthy snack. I make this when I find myself wanting a snack and about to open some chips. For me, this recipe replaces those easy to eat snacks that I really shouldn't eat all the live long day.

INGREDIENTS
6 larger-sized carrots
3 cloves of garlic
1T Mirin (an asian sweet rice vinegar) or regular rice vinegar
2t agave (or 2t simple sugar)
1/2t (or to taste) salt

METHOD
1. Grate carrots and put into a medium sized bowl.

2. Mince the garlic and put in same bowl.

3. Pour Mirin, agave, and salt into bowl.
4. Mix together.

5. You could eat it now or stick it in a jar and put in the fridge to let the flavors mix together a bit more and enjoy some later.

I am going to go eat some of mine right now!