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Peaseblossom55
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Weekend Update
So how was your weekend? Anything exciting happen?
My weekend was decent, nothing too exciting really. Friday we stayed in and relaxed. Saturday we went to Great Adventure, but we didn't stay for too long it was ridiculously crowded. We did renew our season passes for 2013 though. Yay!
Sunday we went house hunting, it went pretty well. We saw 5 different places. One of the places we saw we liked quite a bit. It needs some work but has a lot of potential. It has 3/4 of an acre of lands, so much room in the house 5 bedrooms 3.5 bathrooms. It's been on the market for awhile so we keep wondering what's wrong with it. So we're thinking it over. Overall I'm tired and cranky. I can't believe it's already Monday again.
My weekend was decent, nothing too exciting really. Friday we stayed in and relaxed. Saturday we went to Great Adventure, but we didn't stay for too long it was ridiculously crowded. We did renew our season passes for 2013 though. Yay!
Sunday we went house hunting, it went pretty well. We saw 5 different places. One of the places we saw we liked quite a bit. It needs some work but has a lot of potential. It has 3/4 of an acre of lands, so much room in the house 5 bedrooms 3.5 bathrooms. It's been on the market for awhile so we keep wondering what's wrong with it. So we're thinking it over. Overall I'm tired and cranky. I can't believe it's already Monday again.
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Re: Weekend Update
Danser - House hunting? How exciting!! I hope you find something you love!
Hummingbird - The "meet the breeds" thing sounds like a lot of fun! We have an aussie and I must admit I love watching the agility shows on TV now. It's amazingly entertaining. How fun that you got to see and pet so many breeds at one time!!
Allusive- Please post pics when you get them back from your engagement shoot. I can't wait to see that! So glad the food tasting went well. We really like this house, we are just concerned there may be a lot more wrong with it than we can see. Otherwise we don't mind the fixings and updating in time to update the kitchen and all.
Is it wrong that I was really hoping to get called for jury duty today? I still have to call in each day at 5pm to confirm if I need to be there for the next day or not- annoying.
[QUOTE]Hummingbird- macaroons are one of my favorites. How did they come out?
Posted by danser55[/QUOTE]
<div>They came out okay - they tasted just fine, but since I went to a french macaroon class at a culinary school a while ago, I know exactly how they're supposed to look when they're perfect - and they were nowhere near that! I think I need an actual pastry bag (not a ziploc bag with a hole in it), a real stand mixer, and a food scale in order to make them more bakery-quality. </div>
Allusive- I can't wait to see your e-pics! Have you and your FI decided on a menu yet or was this just a tasting of random options?
Saturday was much of the same. Saturday afternoon dbf, my dad and I went to Cabela's which is a huge sporting goods/hunting/outdoor store. It's always interesting to go there. After that we went out to dinner for my dad's birthday which was fun.
Sunday was grocery shopping and watching football as well lol. Also looked at some ideas to install a gas fireplace in our living room (my parents are paying for it for a Christmas gift) and I can't decide on anything!
danser~how many houses have you looked at so far? I felt like I looked at a million while househunting!
hummingbird~omg I would have went crazy at the "meet the breeds" show! We are looking into getting a dog to add to our family. We are so on the fence between a Golden Retriever and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. I agree with you in regards to Irish Wolfhounds, they do not live that long. My friend's family had Great Danes and they only lasted ~5 years. Also, how hard is it to wall mount your television? We were talking about doing that, but I'm just a little worried we would install it wrong and the tv would end up falling!
allusive~sounds like a busy weekend! Is the photog who did your engagement photos your wedding photographer as well? I'm clueless with stuff like that lol. Please share some pictures!
lovely~we did the same thing on Sunday. Which football games did you watch? We had to unfortunately watch the Giants/49ers game, but then watched the Pats/Jets game which was a good game!
Pretty normal weekend except for finding out we have bugs in the pantry. So we spent 2 hours yesterday pulling everything out of the pantry, throwing out most of the opened food (two trash bags full, not happy), cleaning it out with bleach, rinsing sealed food tins/packets with bleach, and putting the food back in. They must have come out of the quaker oats - the tub was probably a year old, but still within the due by date. There must have been eggs in there and they've hatched within the past couple of weeks. The inside of the tub was crawling with them, it was so gross!
Danser - so glad house hunting is going well. I wouldn't worry too much about houses that have been on the market a while. My parents have two houses that have both been on the market for over 4 years. Nothing wrong with either of them, one has a brand new kitchen (at least it was brand new 4 years ago). It's just the market has been terrible and there is no money in the area where they are any more. Just make sure a surveyor/inspector (don't know the US term for it) gives it a proper lookover. It can be pretty expensive but definitely worth finding out before you sign contracts!
Hummingbird - I find a scale makes a huge difference in baking. Particularly because flour can have a huge weight difference in the same volume if packed or loose.
If we did decide to go further and make an offer we would definitely do an inspection and make a decent inspection outcome a condition on buying the house. We aren't in any rush either.
Humminbird- I never worry too much about the look of dessert I eat, mostly just the taste. Sounds like a fun dessert to make though. I've made chocolate meringues before those are good.
I second getting a food scale! Or at the very least learning the proper way to measure flour. It drives me nuts watching other people in the kitchen when they don't know what they are doing.
[QUOTE]Buddys- I'm not actually sure which games we watched. They were mostly background noise for me while I baked muffins and worked on wedding stuff. FI is much more into football than I am. Which game went to OT? We watched that one, lol. At dinner time I made FI switch to Harry Potter, which I greatly prefer to football. I second getting a food scale! Or at the very least learning the proper way to measure flour. It drives me nuts watching other people in the kitchen when they don't know what they are doing.
Posted by lovelyheather[/QUOTE]
What's the proper way to measure flour if you're not weighing? All my baking recipes that I use are in weights, but I know some new books I have use volume.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Weekend Update : What's the proper way to measure flour if you're not weighing? All my baking recipes that I use are in weights, but I know some new books I have use volume.
Posted by fizzylemonade[/QUOTE]
You are supposed to stir it around with a spoon and then use the spoon to scoop/sprinkle flour into the measuring cup. Then level it off. You don't want to pack the flour into the cup, or you will be measuring too much. This site has a bunch of directions and information: <a href="http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/how-to-measure-flour/" rel="nofollow">click</a>.
[QUOTE]Buddys- I'm not actually sure which games we watched. They were mostly background noise for me while I baked muffins and worked on wedding stuff. FI is much more into football than I am. Which game went to OT? We watched that one, lol. At dinner time I made FI switch to Harry Potter, which I greatly prefer to football. I second getting a food scale! Or at the very least learning the proper way to measure flour. It drives me nuts watching other people in the kitchen when they don't know what they are doing.
Posted by lovelyheather[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that was the Pats/Jets game lol. I'm more of the football watcher, my dbf will watch it on and off.
Buddy - We will be using the same photog for our wedding as well. The package we selected included an engagement shoot. Since our wedding will be in the summer, we thought a fall shoot would be fun. We had a blast and now i'm even more excited we hired the one we did!!
Heather - We did pick a menu to get a price quote on. We listed our ultimate wishes after the tasting and then we'll make tweaks to fit it into our budget if necessary. Here's an idea of what we're going for:
Chip and Popcorn Bar (Beet & sweet potato chips & popcorn w/seasoning salts)
Passed Beignets (these are like a warm cheesy ball)
Beverages
Keg beer (we'll bring)
Wine (we'll bring)
Basil Limeaid (With the option for margaritas as our specialty drink)
Salad
A "wedge" bar with iceberg wedges, bacon, tomatoes, onions and a variety of cheeses
Entrees
Seared chicken with pan gravy
Carving station with 2 styles of ribeye
(one with Chimichurri sauce and one with a red wine sauce)
Sides
Grit Bar (with fixins to order like popcorn shirmp, cheese, mushrooms, sausage, etc)
Macaroni Bar (with fixins to order like bacon, veggies, etc)
[QUOTE]Ooh - thanks for the info heather! I find with most recipes I'm just fine using measuring cups, but for more advanced stuff, or when it's not easy to get the desired texture/consistency in the finished product, you absolutely need to measure by weight. Until a few days ago, I've only lived in a place with a teeeeny kitchen, so FINALLY I have room to buy all the little kitchen items I need. I'm also 99% sure my mom is going to get me a kitchenaid mixer for my x-mas present, if she can find a good deal. Then, my life shall be complete. @Buddy - wall mounting wasn't too hard once we found a powerful-enough drill. You need a REALLY strong one. The cheap one BF bought couldn't get those huge screws through the stud, and one of the two drills we borred from my stepdad couldn't do it either (and they were both good drills). Only one of them was just barely strong enough, and BF still had to finish it with...a socket wrench? I think that's what it is.
Posted by Hummingbird125[/QUOTE]
Good to know! Thanks so much for the info! Were the screws really long? The wall that we are going to have to mount the tv on is only ~4" wide so that's another concern!
Don't you love going from one house with a small kitchen to a house with a bigger kitchen??? My kitchen in my old apartment was tiny. The kitchen in my house now is huge! I'm hoping for a Kitchen Aid stand mixer as well from my mom lol!
Friday night, took the Bean camping with other cub and boy scouts. Since he (and other boys in his den) are getting ready to 'graduate' to Boy Scouts, they had us camp with some of the kids from our Boy Scout troop. It was definitely a little nerve wracking for me. I'm slightly (read: incredibly) OCD about a few things and very protective of the Bean. But with some encouragement from Bean's den leader and the Scout Master, I was able to let go a little bit and Bean had a great time playing Manhunt and Flashlight Tag in the middle of the forest in complete darkness. And I didn't have a coronary. I even managed to remain calm when he set his oven mit on fire while learning how to prepare breakfast for the parents. The only bad thing was it was freaking freezing and an air mattress was definitely not the way to go. All the air underneath me ended up freezing and we were snuggling together all night trying to keep ourselves warm.
El senor showed up early Saturday morning to take over for the remainder of the campout, brought me Starbucks, and let me head on out to the barn for the last show of the season.
Barn family and I all went to dinner Saturday night and I got a tad tipsy. Snuggled the tiniest mini dachsund ever (Axel), and joked around with everyone.
On Sunday, we travelled to the horse show for the last competition of the season and we ended up beating out another competitor by 1 point for Reserve Circuit Champs!! I didn't think we had done it, I knew it was going to be a really tight race. But in the end, all of our hard work paid off! I was so freaking happy. Since Bean wants to start contesting the jumpers with his princess pony, my time showing her (for him) is now over
One last sort-of related note: My trainer's stepson was awarded the juinor sportsmanship award. Another child from our barn was awarded it last year for this same show series. It's decided by management, other trainers/exhibitors, and the judges throughout the season. To have two kids from the same barn win back to back, shows that our trainer is running a great program and really bringing these kids up right. It makes me so proud! And I've been with her since I was a little kid, so I must be freaking perfect. haha
"His farts smell like Satan's asshole mixed with a skunk's vagina. But it's okay, because I love him." -CSousa
Holy crap. My post is long as fuuuuuuck. Sorry for being an AW.
"His farts smell like Satan's asshole mixed with a skunk's vagina. But it's okay, because I love him." -CSousa
Thanks Heather. I knew to level it off, but I'm guilty of sticking the cup in the bag and 'scooping' the flour.
Bean it sounds like you had a fun weekend! You're definitely braver than me...I am not one for camping outside when it's cold!
[QUOTE]Holy crap. My post is long as fuuuuuuck. Sorry for being an AW.
Posted by beanbot2002[/QUOTE]
Sounds like a great weekend Bean! Glad to hear it went so well!
"You're our early 20's BSC scarecrow. They cower at your maturity." - lennonkdc
[QUOTE]Bean- If you do a lot of camping I can recommend my sleeping bag! I have never been cold at night (and I am always cold). After spending a night freezing in his sleeping bag while I was toasty warm I managed to convince FI to go buy the same bag. I kind of want to camping now!
Posted by lovelyheather[/QUOTE]
<div>Ohhhh what sleeping bag is it? I'm totally in love with mine. It's an REI travel sack. Fold up to the size of a football. A total saving grace and keeps me warm when people start messing with the ac in the cabins. </div><div>
</div><div>(Yes we have ac in our cabins. We're in Texas, we'd die from heat stroke and city kids would never leave their homes.)</div>
"You're our early 20's BSC scarecrow. They cower at your maturity." - lennonkdc
So dish on the 7-year-old mare... What's her name? Breed? Hands? (how tall are you, btw? I'm a short, stumpy 5'2", so my little 14.3 pon is perfect for my sausage legs) What are you working on with her right now? Is she still just on the flat, or are you working cavaletti/fences?
Kudos to your trainer on spinning out such amazing little riders - not the least of which is the Purest Perfection, yourself.
[QUOTE]Bean- If you do a lot of camping I can recommend my sleeping bag! I have never been cold at night (and I am always cold). After spending a night freezing in his sleeping bag while I was toasty warm I managed to convince FI to go buy the same bag. I kind of want to camping now!
Posted by lovelyheather[/QUOTE]
Please recommend one! El Senor said that the Scout master said something about insulated pads and special sleeping bags that go down to cold temps since the boy scouts camp YEAR FREAKING ROUND! Yep. Once a month, just an overnighter, but year round. Snow, sleet, all that shiz. So he's gonna need something good.
"His farts smell like Satan's asshole mixed with a skunk's vagina. But it's okay, because I love him." -CSousa
[QUOTE]Congrats, Bean!!! How awesome! So dish on the 7-year-old mare... What's her name? Breed? Hands? (how tall are you, btw? I'm a short, stumpy 5'2", so my little 14.3 pon is perfect for my sausage legs) What are you working on with her right now? Is she still just on the flat, or are you working cavaletti/fences? Kudos to your trainer on spinning out such amazing little riders - not the least of which is the Purest Perfection, yourself. ;) I'm sure George Morris could learn a thing or two from studying you, eh? (good god, did I ever date myself with that one...)
Posted by ponyprose[/QUOTE]
George Morris is the man! Don't worry sweetie...I'm getting up there, too. I remember when he was still competing. HA!
Anyhow, the new gal I'll be riding is Nikita. She's a 7yr old, 15.2 hh (approx, we haven't put a stick to her just yet, but we measured with tape on Saturday) Westphalian/TB cross, by Caruso I believe. Anyhow, born/raised with my trainer. Owners haven't had time to do much with her, and with all of her set backs (2 colic surgeries, etc) she is just now getting started.
Now that they've brought back the adult small hunter divisions at the A's, I'm hoping to catch a ride to take me to there. Maybe she's the one! She has just started under saddle work. Only has about a week on her, so she's a very green Walk/Trot right now. But we take our time and bring them along nice and slow, being sure not to skip steps (think long lining, lungeing, backing, etc). She should be trotting cavaletti and jumping cross rails in a few months or so. I've been lucky enough to ride babies for my trainer for years now, but it's been a while. I haven't been on a real green baby in a few years. Not since I sold my last OTTB.
I'm only a snip over 5ft tall. Margie has always been my idol for that reason haha
"His farts smell like Satan's asshole mixed with a skunk's vagina. But it's okay, because I love him." -CSousa
Westphalian/TB cross sounds delightful! Sucks about the colic surgeries - did she have a torsion both times? That's scary shiz. Pony colicked in '07 and I nearly had a coronary. She was on the ground covered in sweat before the vet finally got there to hit her with some Banamine. Since then, she's been founder sensitive, too, unfortunately. Fickle ponies!
Anyhoo, have fun with your greenie!