It seemed like a good idea at the time...

Take one part excavation, two parts particle board, and three parts record rainfall and what do you get? Mud holes, swamps and the opportunity to surf in your own front yard! Yep, Mr. Hinkelgruber arrived home from work Friday to have the opportunity to use our temporary front sidewalk. Unbeknownst to him, the plank was floating and suddenly became a surfboard! We didn't even know he could surf!?! It was all in good (albeit, not clean) fun.

The concrete guy says he's going to pour on Tuesday, so a week from now, we should at least have some new concrete sidewalks and maybe even two new retaining walls. I only hope the back wall is constructed in time that the sloughing at the alley stops before our yard ends up in the alley.

I think I hear my oven calling - I think this April fool will be baking this week!

It looks like spring, but...

From inside the house, you'd swear it was 70 degrees. Not so fast...it's closer to 59 degrees and the breeze, while not strong is chilly! But it sure is nice to see Mr. Sun.

How does that adage go, "In the spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love...?" Well, when you're a middle aged woman and man, it turns of thoughts of new concrete! We got an estimate today, and it looks like we're getting two new retaining walls, new stairs, a new back porch, new sidewalks - whew - that's a lot of concrete.

The other thing this woman's thoughts turn to is lemony desserts! This week? Lemon meringue pie! Yum!

To the Way-back Machine!

"Mr. Peabody, Mr. Peabody - I need the way-back machine!" Oh, I think I still have a crush on Sherman - that lovable little nerd-boy. That movie, "Mr. Peabody and Sherman," just makes me want to find a little white dog to name Mr. Peabody. No, Mr. Hinkelgruber, it won't be happening anytime soon.

Weatherman says it might hit 68 degrees next Saturday. Do we believe it? Who cares, the mere thought of it makes me happy. 

Oh, what a beautiful morning...

Looking out our dining room window this morning, I would swear it was May (well, maybe late March/early April). Our crocuses are croking, our daffodils are daffing - yep, spring is coming!

This weekend was a foodie's heaven: wine and cheese tasting (oh, let's be honest - it was feasting, not tasting) on Friday, all the crab we could eat (can you say, "Crab coma"?) at the Greek church on Saturday - what a weekend! The real problem with this, is it makes it difficult for Mr. Hinkelgruber to plan a menu for the week. How do you follow that?

The end of this coming week brings the Rose City Yarn Crawl - can I possibly 'need' more yarn?

Don't worry, I'm not contagious - it's just asthma....

Did anyone else catch that awful virus? Superbowl Sunday it moved into my lungs, traveled to my head, temporarily took up residence (I actually went to the doctor) and finally today (February 15) I'm feeling waaayyy better! (And, yes, I'm pretty sure a trip to Vegas where the temperature was 78 degrees didn't hurt my recovery!)

So, I love to travel. But, I'm so lucky to have a personal chef. And, that's why I love to come home - I love home cooking - Mr. Hinkelgruber's home cooking. Breakfast is at least as good, if not better when Mr. Hinkelgruber cooks breakfast. And, oh, dinners are never bad - as you can see from this week's menu.

It's snowing?!? In February?!? In Portland?!?

Yeah, I know I'm late with this post, but I'm not six weeks late! And, yes, it is snowing a little bit - well, it's mixed with rain, but there's snow there, nonetheless.

We had to send our beloved puppy to the doggy-day-care in the sky last week. I had no idea how weird it would be being truly alone during the day after not being so for fifteen years. I really do miss her.

On a happier note, our Seattle Seahawks trounced the Denver Broncos in yesterday's Superbowl! Woohoo! What a game! Now I get to go back to Vegas and collect on that bet I laid down on those guys. Way to go, fellas.

Knit one, yarn-over, purl across...

Well, my knitting obsession has taken over. The annual "Rose City Yarn Crawl" takes place February 27 - March 2, and to gin up excitement, they sponsor a "Mystery-Knit-a-long." This year's is a shawl (the first clue has just come out, and that's apparent). I've finished the first clue (ok, I've finished it twice - once with beads, one without). Now I have to wait until next Friday for the next clue! I guess I'll just have to find something else to knit to pass the time.

Because we weren't here for Halloween - I didn't get my chili fix. Mr. Hinkelgruber took care of my jones by preparing white bean and chicken chili for dinner. Ahhh....hog heaven!