tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668762806143945002024-02-20T01:30:43.862-08:00Melissa Barrett...how did I get here?Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-30993125528933816492010-06-25T06:02:00.000-07:002010-06-25T06:20:22.792-07:00Blog Hi HiAfter a few weeks of deliberation/hibernation/stagnation... I've decided to combine my personal blog with the family blog.<br /><br />The Barrett Banter blog was started on a whim, and then became an important link to family while we were away in DK. Then I started up my own blog because I wanted to rant about things and people, experiences I was having specific to being an expat, food, politics (and I knew some of the family really only cared to see 'what was up with Pete'. Those people don't know who they are - because they don't read this blog).<br /><br />Two blogs worked fine before. I was unemployed.<br /><br />Now its just too much. I'm working, Pete is in school. Rich started a new job (yep, we won't be on another expat assignment anytime soon, bummer).<br /><br />So off I go to Barrett Banter. If you don't mind more of my son Peter, come along with me.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.barrettbanter.blogspot.com/">Link to Barrett Banter</a><br /><br />Ahhh, remember when...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9WhcRwzBNDLj8rZg4KobBl6pQlhfsLfgYMLMyG9KQo3F-lIo_z2DekXnCpLlCOaKs0ex_PoKhQMRnNq52wvGWXPxOvI5QqfjO4gCCLax18H9tlag7FuelJDhR60zLWvJOjv-OW3rQe0/s1600/DSC_9510%5B2%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9WhcRwzBNDLj8rZg4KobBl6pQlhfsLfgYMLMyG9KQo3F-lIo_z2DekXnCpLlCOaKs0ex_PoKhQMRnNq52wvGWXPxOvI5QqfjO4gCCLax18H9tlag7FuelJDhR60zLWvJOjv-OW3rQe0/s320/DSC_9510%5B2%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486696142112365074" /></a><br />Now that I'm gone from Denmark I am free to fantasize that it is the most idyllic place on earth. I listened to a show yesterday on how people can only survive (mentally) by their memories. And those memories are not non-fallible. We change them (whether we realize this or not) to be what we want them to be.<br /><br />Survival is not based on intelligence - but adaptability (and that might mean selective memory modification).Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-79324368517117648572010-05-31T06:13:00.000-07:002010-05-31T06:22:35.739-07:00Back Online @ HomeAbout three weeks ago I dumped a nice, full, steaming cup of coffee all across my laptop. Nice. That laptop was less than 10 months old. Tears ($$ tears).<br /><br />I promptly went out and bought a new one. We don't have TV, so internet is our small connection to the greater world. I got the same one I had before (minus the fancy graphics card). However, the guy had to give me a returned one, since there were no un-opened ones. He said it had been checked out, and was ok to go.<br /><br />I took it home, and left it to sit for a few days. I just had bad computer vibes. Well, it turned out that that one was a dud. The fan ran constantly. So I took it back.<br /><br />They gave me a brand-spanking-new one. I took that one home and sat on it for a few days. If I don't turn it on, then I won't have any problems see.<br /><br />So maybe, little by little, I'll feel more comfortable with tapping away on this thing, downloading pix...only time will tell.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-70872169468609689292010-05-14T08:15:00.000-07:002010-05-14T08:46:35.275-07:00Good MusicA MN artist let's any-one stream any-of his three albums, whenever you want. Just click the first play button after 'Share' and it will happily play you the whole album.<br /><br /><a href="http://jeremymessersmith.bandcamp.com/album/the-reluctant-graveyard">Jeremy Messersmith - The Reluctant Graveyard</a><br /><br />Now I'm bugging out of work early to go have lunch and recess with Pete.<br /><br />Yeah!Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-66869109275375304692010-05-08T06:16:00.000-07:002010-05-08T06:36:49.083-07:00Time Time TickingLately, I've been busy trying to get some jobs out of the way - so that I have more time to just to what I want to do. One that been hanging out there in process for a couple of months are the hearts.<br /><br />My soon to be sister-in-law (marrying my husband's brother) asked me to make 180 Danish paper hearts to be used as party favors at their wedding this June. Two years ago I made Danish woven hearts as gift tags for Christmas presents; that's how she 'found' out about these things. The plan was to do them in the dead of winter, when I had nothing else to do. Well, I don't know what I did last winter, but it wasn't this little project.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuvVzCmZjv77dMpyyyueeuIGvrxWVKT1gy11dv3dG5qMEZekaAZarvOBuiGb32U7pYQZoLRVi7PTWzu2ZCnikwPuy8oc_xAgL0f1GdLMnognKTe4bT9eOCrB2iCQdrZsjq_kCsPHZyx8/s1600/IMG_0781_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuvVzCmZjv77dMpyyyueeuIGvrxWVKT1gy11dv3dG5qMEZekaAZarvOBuiGb32U7pYQZoLRVi7PTWzu2ZCnikwPuy8oc_xAgL0f1GdLMnognKTe4bT9eOCrB2iCQdrZsjq_kCsPHZyx8/s320/IMG_0781_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468887711420217346" /></a><br />I've made good progress on them this week with the help of the new Margaret Atwood book - After the Flood. I was able to download the audio book for FREE from from my library. Sooooo awesome! (I love free.) The interesting thing will be how long it sticks around in the download program - a program on my computer, not online). I think I read some sort of message about how I have 21 days to listen to it. Maybe it self-destructs? ??<br /><br />I'm also trying to get a bunch of work done at work so that I can take some days off. I want to be home all alone, with nothing to do. No Danish hearts, no cleaning, no cooking...this may all be a fantasy that I've worked up in my mind, but its my goal right now.<br /><br />Oh yeah - and just to make you people in DK feel better. It snowed here last night. And later this morning - in freezing temps - I have to sit outside and watch my son play t-ball.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-53285422826512625982010-04-27T12:46:00.000-07:002010-04-27T13:41:22.926-07:00Mutant AsparagusCan you see the tip of this thing?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkJWCtXGkmxmPMzq-HQduP6cxL_LEQ1fdiHEfl8J-3wBRM3OrI03aCDi1bqknvQ9I3tSBfw2GP06rSP2MHVeJ_ym9WkVQI_IompmyC9Et1iOVJXbe1HfadDqtsAQPNewwil_8hH6Gs34/s1600/IMG_0564.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkJWCtXGkmxmPMzq-HQduP6cxL_LEQ1fdiHEfl8J-3wBRM3OrI03aCDi1bqknvQ9I3tSBfw2GP06rSP2MHVeJ_ym9WkVQI_IompmyC9Et1iOVJXbe1HfadDqtsAQPNewwil_8hH6Gs34/s320/IMG_0564.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464906161107282370" /></a> I was out looking for wetlands on a hazardous waste site yesterday and I found this guy growing out of the base of a concrete block. There was only him though, and I won't be eating it.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-73348844243237756802010-04-23T07:30:00.000-07:002010-04-23T07:45:40.673-07:00ConsumedFor the past three weeks I have been obsessed with garlic mustard. Any chance I get I'm out in my backyard, my neighbor's backyard, or the neighboring empty lot - pulling this thing with a vengeance. In certain areas its 100% percent of the total cover. Just a crazy carpet of this crap, that will eventually go to seed and produce an even denser and larger diameter carpet next year.<br /><br />This is an edible plant, brought over from Europe long ago. Since its non-native it has no nature enemies to keep it under check. No animals browse it, no bugs eat it. You get the first one in your yard and think - look how pretty, its shiny and bushy and it has that nice white flower. Then it goes to seed, which is scattered by animals and kids all over the place, and before you know it you've been successfully invaded.<br /><br />Removing it all from my yard took time. But I did it. Now I want it out of my neighbor's yard - for obvious reasons. However, convincing some people that this thing should be at the least managed is challenging. But I have hope that - with a smile and a free flyer, I will prevail.<br /><br /><a href="http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/publications/pdfs/GarlicMustardHandout.pdf">Link - Garlic Mustard flyer from WDNR. Know your enemy!</a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-83228337200307152492010-03-30T06:49:00.000-07:002010-03-30T06:59:31.551-07:00MotherloadFor the last few months, Rich and I have been contemplating what we were going to fill our plant boxes with. They are nice and tall - to make gardening easy. But that's also a lot of volume.<br /><br />Well the other day, driving to get my hair cut, I spotted through the leaf-less trees a giant pile of black. It turned out to be a HUGE compost pile from yard waste for the city next to us. They put it outside their gate, so we figure its free for the taking. So far Rich has made about 7 or so trips, about 8 pails each trip. And I think we finally have filled the boxes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDShoIT4ef8zsnGuRGeitOf2N3h2IUBl9iSq2ZnVr9kyicYrWn72RAY1gWZbdnb2YgbU9IsMq95nHwT_jTdQJpDcT5qA-iol4IuKw9YQonuEfJXGvuprTu86rZkaDYfDAIj-T2QsCHOLc/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDShoIT4ef8zsnGuRGeitOf2N3h2IUBl9iSq2ZnVr9kyicYrWn72RAY1gWZbdnb2YgbU9IsMq95nHwT_jTdQJpDcT5qA-iol4IuKw9YQonuEfJXGvuprTu86rZkaDYfDAIj-T2QsCHOLc/s320/IMG_0759.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454424822821324434" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYxB4lrAyx3o7IegHg4zEEK_SrG3kxGaqyt0r1KM0HqJyCcOKkx1I9JjEuL80QALUtG11F8M__aIqnwLWvOnZhvwGWLiv2Sqxrs8tpQ6c_7XQj-AOZwkWcBNGnlTHSFwZapSnjYERrJ4/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYxB4lrAyx3o7IegHg4zEEK_SrG3kxGaqyt0r1KM0HqJyCcOKkx1I9JjEuL80QALUtG11F8M__aIqnwLWvOnZhvwGWLiv2Sqxrs8tpQ6c_7XQj-AOZwkWcBNGnlTHSFwZapSnjYERrJ4/s320/IMG_0761.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454424821061216818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YtZeJYYDYDsNftmfl_sTMcL6D0IR_ph5MExyaH-sb0CO_UCwQlp59hSdEPRY2ZHEDcEbgyOkVH_WjBgzkTj_W7zX6m0cUmEYAAAz0COpdmYY4QbJFMlB0C4aLc8NeS5n8o9NxXauZ98/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YtZeJYYDYDsNftmfl_sTMcL6D0IR_ph5MExyaH-sb0CO_UCwQlp59hSdEPRY2ZHEDcEbgyOkVH_WjBgzkTj_W7zX6m0cUmEYAAAz0COpdmYY4QbJFMlB0C4aLc8NeS5n8o9NxXauZ98/s320/IMG_0760.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454424810057612594" /></a><br />This is a pic of my buckthorn removal progress. Our back lot line used to be a solid wall of the stuff. I saved the native bushes (those are the little stumpy trees that are left) and we'll see how they do now that they have been "released" - released from their confinement trying to grow in the buckthorn.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HP4mu7SVB0PPp94I9k0ZKEUDnE6W8XObzDVJQhooh6lIDp67ye-e-9qXkiU2K2fwHa9KRZK2IZx6WRqzotxEszrZimtpemaIcjnjYmJp55wzscJiVmW8NDeAGhSj0_xfvQWon1xbCeE/s1600/IMG_0762_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HP4mu7SVB0PPp94I9k0ZKEUDnE6W8XObzDVJQhooh6lIDp67ye-e-9qXkiU2K2fwHa9KRZK2IZx6WRqzotxEszrZimtpemaIcjnjYmJp55wzscJiVmW8NDeAGhSj0_xfvQWon1xbCeE/s320/IMG_0762_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454425956888518418" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-67467482251309417642010-03-27T20:42:00.001-07:002010-03-27T20:42:24.338-07:00Bedtime Stories 2<a href=http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2010/01/14/bedtime-stories-2/>Bedtime Stories 2</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-84310497335762894902010-03-27T20:34:00.001-07:002010-03-27T20:34:04.839-07:00The Baby Grinder<a href=http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2010/02/09/the-baby-grinder/>The Baby Grinder</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-34523182390443263422010-03-21T09:22:00.000-07:002010-03-23T11:36:17.799-07:00Out & AboutThese are sights from my field day last Friday.<br /><br />For my afternoon meeting, I parked at the 'no parking' sign.<br />And everyone else did the same.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmnTNGqPeb6dygE_P2v6uXZVx7co6WO-dSfzG7KP0zfrXECw8Qm9wLTmRr0A52denUnCg8BkzJWf945bH840BmpNDIWN6MQmVF-e739yuxvMxjqYjAqPXAVN7sKXEUYVDx-DcRP5hP6k/s1600-h/IMG_1440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmnTNGqPeb6dygE_P2v6uXZVx7co6WO-dSfzG7KP0zfrXECw8Qm9wLTmRr0A52denUnCg8BkzJWf945bH840BmpNDIWN6MQmVF-e739yuxvMxjqYjAqPXAVN7sKXEUYVDx-DcRP5hP6k/s320/IMG_1440.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451126780617914834" /></a><br /><br />Rosehips.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5fIVacG4WJSs8JOECOs7XOi5dlxmccqgAOxL3jJ1MO_NohzNAuF30zke2yERIwuZVX3nl7Y1ebaiRdn4lZ2EtPQ_uX7VzKbJF6ZT2lcJHPFQB64_EoRcY_5IWHdymfuiCuZcIVK8Nc4/s1600-h/IMG_1437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5fIVacG4WJSs8JOECOs7XOi5dlxmccqgAOxL3jJ1MO_NohzNAuF30zke2yERIwuZVX3nl7Y1ebaiRdn4lZ2EtPQ_uX7VzKbJF6ZT2lcJHPFQB64_EoRcY_5IWHdymfuiCuZcIVK8Nc4/s320/IMG_1437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451126766236713458" /></a><br />Trash as art.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqhjRb_1cV98Yp9ITn8d6j_M_GFrAFd-iu-o7Nr6LW3UEy-tgYd8k6VdVbgTEfx3yxRR1g1ANGH71qgnifSQIzkCtgFtS-g1TpJCaWni-h2jRG0vj983w1AkKU-g-7_QsRLxfT8B2VsA/s1600-h/IMG_1434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqhjRb_1cV98Yp9ITn8d6j_M_GFrAFd-iu-o7Nr6LW3UEy-tgYd8k6VdVbgTEfx3yxRR1g1ANGH71qgnifSQIzkCtgFtS-g1TpJCaWni-h2jRG0vj983w1AkKU-g-7_QsRLxfT8B2VsA/s320/IMG_1434.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451125735034807842" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuPnEfb52Uhj29CbKjnxuOgDxWXc_Sxx5AyOtrqMv-3w9nD7XvnYle0I_q3-wvVH2S5Zd-L9M1L_Ie7rBuztX-SGGA9r5jNR2dsWqwB_DcZqHYRMYJe0LURF4gGrILqMx82s6lTCvlkM/s1600-h/IMG_1436.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuPnEfb52Uhj29CbKjnxuOgDxWXc_Sxx5AyOtrqMv-3w9nD7XvnYle0I_q3-wvVH2S5Zd-L9M1L_Ie7rBuztX-SGGA9r5jNR2dsWqwB_DcZqHYRMYJe0LURF4gGrILqMx82s6lTCvlkM/s320/IMG_1436.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451125746373961554" /></a><br />Trash as trash. The rivers here are flooding, and with the water comes lots and lots of junk.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0KotjnQcbOP5bDrl866OO5_33ilf9MSeWdlamDiR3wz8E5cxh_FXOK38mals4VlM7Pasn2lWibUhKt27RTiuEiSxsERoWHAMMTkR_l90iEnCuBem4gMNQnrNmpnMX_aZin9A1PM1LqI/s1600-h/IMG_1413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0KotjnQcbOP5bDrl866OO5_33ilf9MSeWdlamDiR3wz8E5cxh_FXOK38mals4VlM7Pasn2lWibUhKt27RTiuEiSxsERoWHAMMTkR_l90iEnCuBem4gMNQnrNmpnMX_aZin9A1PM1LqI/s320/IMG_1413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451124378251661698" /></a><br />Lovely mushrooms.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzij7VqhCmfiaL4quWiePishsoqeockMBGA2v_Z7rOO4PAbYDXzmJMNdP2BQOSwDZIpAKajD5mfAD7PY6j7lLFRnryRISvgbRzPCuzoKN1JjMev_i0Q3Rq1aWdcwxL_pwMYq2QXVTUgw/s1600-h/IMG_1424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzij7VqhCmfiaL4quWiePishsoqeockMBGA2v_Z7rOO4PAbYDXzmJMNdP2BQOSwDZIpAKajD5mfAD7PY6j7lLFRnryRISvgbRzPCuzoKN1JjMev_i0Q3Rq1aWdcwxL_pwMYq2QXVTUgw/s320/IMG_1424.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451125252484555042" /></a><br />Finale - I was told by the landowner that this here rock is the biggest in Wright County, MN. Or it was at one time-until it was mined to build the foundation of the original farmhouse.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF9CodcBWhHS4mWyvJ4M2TaFS67NPsBJv4upk_YKNpA-TmUJRaGrRHp-UwxXYC73Bf5N41PPT4AbwXXsLG6NEUp-QtphdmguwedhWLtTyc5jfi6kNiFU9xfKgfZsRSynWxDkRxFqHZyQ/s1600-h/IMG_1406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF9CodcBWhHS4mWyvJ4M2TaFS67NPsBJv4upk_YKNpA-TmUJRaGrRHp-UwxXYC73Bf5N41PPT4AbwXXsLG6NEUp-QtphdmguwedhWLtTyc5jfi6kNiFU9xfKgfZsRSynWxDkRxFqHZyQ/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451123667272858418" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-21864716791128993422010-03-18T08:02:00.000-07:002010-03-18T09:33:33.182-07:00Yeah, OK, I've been AWOL lately. Melting snow causes us to have a jittery and slightly crazed feeling at work. Its a spring rush to go and look at wetlands that might not have water in them at any other time during the year.<br /><br />This picture was taken with my not-very-fancy-phone. At one of my sites there is an experimental carp barrier. Well, I didn't see any carp behind the fence, but I did see some pretty nice northern and muskie. All over a foot long. Lent is fish fry time you know. These guys weren't even scared of me, I could have just reached down and grabbed one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxVwUXHRW_QdAY3bYYv6HisM8nUHvqdUD2KIXTNWh0m28FA95Ztnc_q74hHCto30I-ltIUxwww9BJYmmLuJSPlGV1jWksGV01wYkaedKe02_h6Qw0p7JlyIeIxk0y_LhJ9dH7Vdjcpvc/s1600-h/fish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxVwUXHRW_QdAY3bYYv6HisM8nUHvqdUD2KIXTNWh0m28FA95Ztnc_q74hHCto30I-ltIUxwww9BJYmmLuJSPlGV1jWksGV01wYkaedKe02_h6Qw0p7JlyIeIxk0y_LhJ9dH7Vdjcpvc/s320/fish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449989475360011682" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-4581460790495975192010-03-08T12:10:00.001-08:002010-03-08T12:30:56.730-08:00Can you smell spring?Wait! Oops, I mean don't breathe.<br /><br />The MN Pollution Control Agency has been issuing air quality warnings for the past few days. We have had very little wind lately, so the polluted air is just hanging around. But the point is WE HAVE polluted air.<br /><br />This used to be the problem of *other* Cities, not Minneapolis. We're supposed to be all about woods and wilderness, not cars and smog.<br /><br />But on the up side - we had a few days of warm weather last week and the driveway is finally clear of its former 6 inch sheet of ice. I attended a winter hike/winter plant ID class last weekend and didn't even need my hat (although I did have on long underwear).<br /><br />I can't remember craving an end to winter as much as I have this year. Is it the child climbing the walls, is it lack of fulfilling work? Am I just getting old and can't tough it out anymore? I can't put my finger on it. I just need it to be over. I am unmotivated to do anything until I can do it with the windows open.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-86525191588532072172010-02-28T06:02:00.000-08:002010-02-28T06:16:27.389-08:00Pinwheel Appetizer RecipeI haven't shared any food stuff in long time - mostly because its been pretty much the same old thing. But I did have a girls night this weekend, so I was motivated to make something different.<br /><br />I've been sitting on this pinwheel recipe ever since I tried it months ago at Lakewinds. Its oh-so-yummy and vegetarian, but it needs the right crowd (that is to say - not someone like my father-in-law). Here it is:<br /><br /><em>Pear, Blue Cheese, and Onion Pinwheels<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />2 pears cubed (any kind)<br />1 cup blue cheese crumbles<br />1 vidalia onion (or other sweet onion, or even jarred onion relish)<br />1 cup spinach leaves<br />1 package wraps (I used tortilla shells)<br /><br />Heat oven to 425. Clean pear and cube. Spread onion mix on wrap (I very thinly sliced my onion and sauteed it before putting it on wrap). Add pears, spinach, and blue cheese. bake in oven, open-faced for 10 minutes. When done, roll and chop into appetizer size. Serve hot or chilled.</em><br /><br />I have no pictures. Girls night was Friday night. I stayed later than I wanted to at work, then had to hit the grocery store, rush home, make this appetizer, and then rush downtown. The kitchen was not a pretty site.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-72639278925736416262010-02-24T11:05:00.000-08:002010-02-24T11:07:55.994-08:0032 Seconds of Divine-ness<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/owGykVbfgUE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/owGykVbfgUE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-49350653020646518242010-02-23T07:59:00.000-08:002010-02-23T08:19:58.731-08:00Ya gotta check this out!<a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/music_blog/archive/2010/02/new_prince_song.shtml">Link - 89.3 debuts new Prince song this Friday.</a><br /><br />I'm from Minneapolis, and Prince <em>IS</em> Mr. Minnneapolis.<br /><br />*You can live stream this radio station in Europe - I did while I was there. You can also listen to their live studio performances and interviews anytime you like.<br /><br />Some of my favorites...<br /><br /><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/08/02/edward_sharpe_and_the_magnetic_zeros/">Link - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros</a><br /><br /><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/11/20/brother_ali/">Link - Brother Ali</a><br /><br /><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/11/03/they_might_be_giants-live-performance/">Link - They Might Be Giants</a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-79487190705000826792010-02-13T05:33:00.000-08:002010-02-13T06:08:45.285-08:00Can I get myself a normal week please?<br /><br />The week before last started out with a popped ear drum (in the boy), that I neglected for two days due to ignorance, that then turned into a trip to urgent care followed by a few days at home with a double ear infection and 10 days of antibiotics. His sickness was then passed on to me where it still lingers.<br /><br />The following weekend we had the pleasure of going to the children's ER on Saturday night. We have now used the dreaded epipen. The food culprit - split peas. No peas for Pete thank you.<br /><br />On Monday this week I got my Toyota gas pedal fixed (I have a 2010 Corolla). This is my second recall (the first was for something to do with the brakes and cold weather). Oddly, I'm not the least bit upset about the whole thing. When the news comes out, I get an email from them on the same day. Then THEY promptly call ME to set up an appointment to fix it. This last time I even got oil change gift certificates. I know they are a bit concerned about heir reputation, but really, that stupid Volvo we used to have was more trouble.<br /><br />Peter had a Chinese new year performance and party this week, plus a valentine's party plus Friday night sledding. Although it was an exciting week for him - he also needs to get back on a normal schedule. Normal health, normal eating, normal homework, normal bedtime.<br /><br />Last night I started reading 'Unconditional Parenting' by Alfie Kohn. He had me hooked in the first chapter, when he explained how Timeout (originally the whole term was <em>timeout FROM positive reinforcement</em>) was used in animal studies to 'control animal behaviours' and then he further explains how this is perceived by the kids as love withdrawal. <br /><br />But we use timeouts. Super nanny uses timeout! Who doesn't?<br /><br />But, then you read a little more. And I have to admit, as he starts to give examples of things parents do to withdraw love - I can say that I've done some of them. Even as recent as yesterday.<br /><br />Peter told me he didn't like cucumbers, only carrots. This is absurd and untrue. I told him so, and then I proceeded to ignore him (that's the love withdrawal part) as I unloaded the dishwasher. I withheld love simply because I had a crappy day at work coupled with the fact that my kid told me he only wanted carrots for dinner. How stupid is that?Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-50211025203831876572010-02-01T10:17:00.000-08:002010-02-01T10:56:37.077-08:00Go Figure...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0Uqrh-qfzcBiMkRYkK0BNY3qszlHOI5_G_j7_fHphnlzgT5AEg3Ets8wb0lm_SxYfl8wRrpozCYqjr66_ws1uhRySBKPPouYy4qsO3OyRBcBRtKx-H9p6K-zJ4k0G9Jp8RIOvIfRKDc/s1600-h/IMG_0613_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0Uqrh-qfzcBiMkRYkK0BNY3qszlHOI5_G_j7_fHphnlzgT5AEg3Ets8wb0lm_SxYfl8wRrpozCYqjr66_ws1uhRySBKPPouYy4qsO3OyRBcBRtKx-H9p6K-zJ4k0G9Jp8RIOvIfRKDc/s320/IMG_0613_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433341525486589730" /></a> That's my boy, out on the middle of a frozen lake in Plymouth, MN. There was a Scandinavian themed fish house (Medicine Lake Art Shanties), and people speaking Danish. You know, you can actually go to Danish camp in MN.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/newsite/Programs/Youth/Summer_villages/danish.php">Concordia Language Villages.</a><br /><br />I don't know why, but the other day the grunginess of my bath curtain caught my eye. All the sudden it was just unbearable, and I promptly got a new curtain, rod, and hangers. Ahhh.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_bZpIAYnvK3493mj6r-1x7_q6e4dgRy-Y-YaFWL9ByuzkgpEb-qPqv9yqKH_llZnY0X3DgVUkhJOsk4cpp_La8tKrLKxye5N82JRNhxfYJCbR0du6JUUmcyegIvHYQ23xeatrB2vI-Q/s1600-h/IMG_0563_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_bZpIAYnvK3493mj6r-1x7_q6e4dgRy-Y-YaFWL9ByuzkgpEb-qPqv9yqKH_llZnY0X3DgVUkhJOsk4cpp_La8tKrLKxye5N82JRNhxfYJCbR0du6JUUmcyegIvHYQ23xeatrB2vI-Q/s320/IMG_0563_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433345351359940610" /></a> Wait. Did you see the pink? That's right. I have a circa 1959 salmon pink bathroom (our main bathroom). I actually don't mind the color, plus the tile is in good shape. Its kind of fun to hear people's reactions when they first go in there. Of course, not all comments are good. Men in general, and especially my husband, tend to extremely dislike the pink. So what to do. Keep it retro, or overhaul the whole thing?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb5slv5JhwThfDBCZ9wYxQN8srzxX96KkjzCIYtg2wyR37n54m3sFbWToZICgIR2Ahk5A4ozfE9oAm0XPT07_imeLlodssr20Jo-Uv0cTNTJKT30TrVNeikZJgSuI3ijEzAwkA-dpmic/s1600-h/IMG_0564_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb5slv5JhwThfDBCZ9wYxQN8srzxX96KkjzCIYtg2wyR37n54m3sFbWToZICgIR2Ahk5A4ozfE9oAm0XPT07_imeLlodssr20Jo-Uv0cTNTJKT30TrVNeikZJgSuI3ijEzAwkA-dpmic/s320/IMG_0564_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433341241267617762" /></a> And this weekend we made one of the most comforting of comfort foods - roast chicken. We always use the recipe from America's Test Kitchen for a high roast chicken (you can watch it on You Tube). Making this in DK, we could never seem to get the potatoes to come out just right. It was probably caused by operator error - my oven had 8 or so options, but I only knew how to use one of them.<br /><br />But this time, in my gigantoid american oven that spurts out a dry heat, the potatoes were spot on. And for the underskin butter/garlic/mustard marinade we used Coleman's mustard (my grocery store has suddenly started carrying popular British food items). That stuff has a kick as stong as wasabi. Num.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HeMOUh_Ic2ZCXtNqVvCwdaSi8s8Ng4vJ0D36ybcpNQ2Cy_g0DZCgcxMT_MaZrWBZR4fQiqjflZTafIFi94Pd1_5M3ncoke2Ogzn4ejpbSKMkeMP5Ld3smUjb_0YwGrsPixpnQgYuEh4/s1600-h/IMG_0577_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HeMOUh_Ic2ZCXtNqVvCwdaSi8s8Ng4vJ0D36ybcpNQ2Cy_g0DZCgcxMT_MaZrWBZR4fQiqjflZTafIFi94Pd1_5M3ncoke2Ogzn4ejpbSKMkeMP5Ld3smUjb_0YwGrsPixpnQgYuEh4/s320/IMG_0577_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433341238715143554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrwpBV2QiFedhlmDMF9V2Y8hHz3gD_f44YQr0t_4jMKvr39oYDlLymCWgWh7_Xmb3n1umf9le5dLSCimky9-UCAlgkI5jLQqaxQiLkgRCfojSkz6lt6E2bR2gjmt1_3T689W2eOFLJxQ/s1600-h/IMG_0578_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrwpBV2QiFedhlmDMF9V2Y8hHz3gD_f44YQr0t_4jMKvr39oYDlLymCWgWh7_Xmb3n1umf9le5dLSCimky9-UCAlgkI5jLQqaxQiLkgRCfojSkz6lt6E2bR2gjmt1_3T689W2eOFLJxQ/s320/IMG_0578_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433341232221399666" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-51077431837860691182010-01-23T13:59:00.001-08:002010-01-23T15:19:59.731-08:00Pre Party Mini SagaToday was birthday party day for my son - 6 years old. I had booked a party at the nearest bowling alley, an easy 5 minute drive. Before leaving I just happened to look out the window. Uu Oh, the neighbor guy is salting the road...just to get BACK to his driveway. The neighbor boy is out in the road with his hockey stick and puck. Crap!<br /><br />A light drizzle in just freezing temps was creating quite a nice ice rink of the roads. On top of that, we live on an end moraine (a glacial dumping ground) making our neighborhood a series of hills and pockets and turns. My only hope was to get to the top of the hill right outside our house (a 6 house stretch), then it would level off to to the highway entrance, and we would be on our merry way.<br /><br />Well - I'm not shy about asking and off to the neighbors I went. First to the one with the hockey boy (they usually have something, the dad was a fireman), then to the one with salt. Half a bag of grit, and a bag of salt later I was ready to make my attempt. <br /><br />Get in the car, Now, NOW! I screamed at Peter.<br /><br />We made it to the top of the hill, we made it out to the highway. We started on our way and I laughed out loud - Hope we didn't forget anything!<br /><br />Shit - I forgot Yoda's ears!!!!<br /><br />Boy starts crying.<br /><br />Without the ears, the cake is just a weird looking green head. We must go back.<br /><br />I go around the freeway loop-de-loop. I drive just into our neighborhood, park the car in the road, put the boy on the top of the nearest snowbank (in case another car hits my car), and start running home. I'm not a runner, but I don't want to chance the hill with my car again. Plus I don't know where I'd turn around. My driveway (which is also a hill) is a sheet of ice too.<br /><br />I get home, get the ears, and start running back to the car. The boy meets me halfway, crying. He's forgotten his birthday crown from school.<br /><br />I do not turn back.<br /><br />Disclaimer: My husband is the cake-baker in our house.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir32ZRB4r968Ty8R6RfL851dzHW9G_BPmusv1ZjQX0u-sFCqgg_9JwHofen82g8ikt50jZoNSfPsEcMdaGyEJ350q-ROz8enHQWsRtMHow9Y0YEv7-ebuWfhg9xkPWAdB8JUWIDYGN08k/s1600-h/IMG_0552_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir32ZRB4r968Ty8R6RfL851dzHW9G_BPmusv1ZjQX0u-sFCqgg_9JwHofen82g8ikt50jZoNSfPsEcMdaGyEJ350q-ROz8enHQWsRtMHow9Y0YEv7-ebuWfhg9xkPWAdB8JUWIDYGN08k/s320/IMG_0552_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430078600485184690" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-27583629372050911472010-01-21T11:35:00.000-08:002010-01-21T11:48:13.179-08:00Time to feed the wormsI got a new camera, so this time around I actually got some non-blurry, zoomed in shots of our nematodes.<br /><br />Get the food.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbwLtkr6W2yPc9fegf88QSy4k6ci1p6Zn4R2nJyu8ektFgHr1o5p5S6YLvMHeub6YwCC4ywgnFqFZemwCHO1zL6zSZdNzHGDpGKC1sGXvlRoO3Ls0q-PGcmfnsCtF_NBJhufvR86UuM0/s1600-h/IMG_0429.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbwLtkr6W2yPc9fegf88QSy4k6ci1p6Zn4R2nJyu8ektFgHr1o5p5S6YLvMHeub6YwCC4ywgnFqFZemwCHO1zL6zSZdNzHGDpGKC1sGXvlRoO3Ls0q-PGcmfnsCtF_NBJhufvR86UuM0/s320/IMG_0429.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429279728336779810" /></a>Dump it in.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qxjRvM4ZLbZCfInep8Hpomt7CDiKPTzpj3L7WsBEeXDiby-NrpgfmC5Wm1CdyXTGWo8KA-UT0rtEqFM81Dlh_qTTdmQZk_D6jDE2-RzAKtQWIxsK5ArMnxQQApVDAoUvXnbNoU1o_7o/s1600-h/IMG_0431.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qxjRvM4ZLbZCfInep8Hpomt7CDiKPTzpj3L7WsBEeXDiby-NrpgfmC5Wm1CdyXTGWo8KA-UT0rtEqFM81Dlh_qTTdmQZk_D6jDE2-RzAKtQWIxsK5ArMnxQQApVDAoUvXnbNoU1o_7o/s320/IMG_0431.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429279719833366434" /></a>Crush those eggshells.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY0tZekDIC7VWqJhLCguqBNW0Rostvcnn8jHPfdIBvYKycdKuvXm0rL-EKdXzGtJLAM-pKGoGZxIZZtZeIkIEGO7GzT_D4sdOU7grKvO8AX19KckiCo7qeu5wQdFOpsm7v4-R5fid5p8/s1600-h/IMG_0433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY0tZekDIC7VWqJhLCguqBNW0Rostvcnn8jHPfdIBvYKycdKuvXm0rL-EKdXzGtJLAM-pKGoGZxIZZtZeIkIEGO7GzT_D4sdOU7grKvO8AX19KckiCo7qeu5wQdFOpsm7v4-R5fid5p8/s320/IMG_0433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429279555916669602" /></a>This is what happens when you mix worms, newspaper, and food.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDyqX8twNo6yI852xKbdT_7LX4QMKVZJF3pxdkTxoCuEh8ZsSjf6UHg0Dt-VR_I_qix4b2nt8_f-qMUmyqGxDtVFAiMpwx9CApiag1Gdcfzg941kQpxba7E8TI1gi7Ues1T5IYSCpZo8/s1600-h/IMG_0438.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDyqX8twNo6yI852xKbdT_7LX4QMKVZJF3pxdkTxoCuEh8ZsSjf6UHg0Dt-VR_I_qix4b2nt8_f-qMUmyqGxDtVFAiMpwx9CApiag1Gdcfzg941kQpxba7E8TI1gi7Ues1T5IYSCpZo8/s320/IMG_0438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429279549296855026" /></a>AaHhHhHh! (not really a worm)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbcyN8u03vzZYiOljieZov46mPgZac1xbGHxztxZp6qN31Fyj9jY9onBlqPvfj-f9Jr6hyphenhyphenCJZzyCUCGcYBmOyMyJyLYhwXUYV_QCuGLEv9ROJmcHoO5tD9C_jifuc_tby3-gW0No432w/s1600-h/IMG_0444.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbcyN8u03vzZYiOljieZov46mPgZac1xbGHxztxZp6qN31Fyj9jY9onBlqPvfj-f9Jr6hyphenhyphenCJZzyCUCGcYBmOyMyJyLYhwXUYV_QCuGLEv9ROJmcHoO5tD9C_jifuc_tby3-gW0No432w/s320/IMG_0444.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429279545149842130" /></a>Ooze.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnITxCYdpjQ1VPUajItiLqTMhwBNzkidfNlIPhlg1UvuK7YX-rHEhEY8YwPOV_iW6mcRFeX-quZaN4lri8W9G7Oj2BKN7X6oPbpMPA5pXWw1Cjm4UoqlhTTcl7a4-xgoNks5ukXHRq4w/s1600-h/IMG_0447.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnITxCYdpjQ1VPUajItiLqTMhwBNzkidfNlIPhlg1UvuK7YX-rHEhEY8YwPOV_iW6mcRFeX-quZaN4lri8W9G7Oj2BKN7X6oPbpMPA5pXWw1Cjm4UoqlhTTcl7a4-xgoNks5ukXHRq4w/s320/IMG_0447.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429279536664521570" /></a>Back into the closet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv4n9o3IsjjGtS5Qfsnw3n1h8GJByBTCRJu_EzqSJglZcemyG63ar8wZW7sJmjrrWAc6IntnEbNCNnS7cuueseyzWKVBZo3QtpCQAUDktbeAw-MOcx6wlYdItXWKLnSK7mEey2lKXmVI/s1600-h/IMG_0449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv4n9o3IsjjGtS5Qfsnw3n1h8GJByBTCRJu_EzqSJglZcemyG63ar8wZW7sJmjrrWAc6IntnEbNCNnS7cuueseyzWKVBZo3QtpCQAUDktbeAw-MOcx6wlYdItXWKLnSK7mEey2lKXmVI/s320/IMG_0449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429279532490449074" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-28349969257627237712010-01-07T08:28:00.000-08:002010-01-08T06:51:02.050-08:00Piggy Under PressureA few weeks back while out Christmas shopping, I ran across a small pressure cooker. My other one is very nice, but its soooooo huge I don't ever use it for cooking. Just canning. This one was the right size, had the safety features that I MUST have, and was on sale. Ok, you're coming home with me.<br /><br />Last night I used it for the first time. I made a happy pig pork roast in 45 minutes, with another 5 additional minutes to cook the potatoes/parsnips/carrots. Parsnip puree is THE puree that we constantly see underneath food on those cooking shows. I don't know why a 'gourmet' scallop or piece of beef is always served on top of this sort of baby mush, but I thought those parsnips must be pretty tasty to be served repeatedly to such distinguished pallets.<br /><br />Well, I tried them yet again, and in my opinion, they are what they are (not potatoes), and those chefs must add some magical butter or something to make them so delectable.<br /><br />I still have a couple of parsnips. I'm going to try them in a pie with cheese and see if I can change my opinion of them.<br /><br />The cooked meat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv8nG6du5TnWlj1aL6FohK3Qmj11pgmJko_qRRLZC4embQsMUzRgvnflC2ucUVFM50K8Yf6OQgp27jrzHIxTNMRWNlfU67gq3gbcqGDevIWl_UMRcJJuBSsldiPtWtfaUa89fYkoHRF4/s1600-h/IMG_0346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv8nG6du5TnWlj1aL6FohK3Qmj11pgmJko_qRRLZC4embQsMUzRgvnflC2ucUVFM50K8Yf6OQgp27jrzHIxTNMRWNlfU67gq3gbcqGDevIWl_UMRcJJuBSsldiPtWtfaUa89fYkoHRF4/s320/IMG_0346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424038004064432642" /></a><br />Then add the veggies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZy5zPOGp5WVUGFjBaUMo_gN2cB9BK7P5hGryoSwX8mQNxTm-ZvUNi1Y-92jkoEjnEMHe_2I889QHPGWrDPLwNB8EFFF9qyp5ew-ZXImIK4Lb7FHMsVnelptayObTH6Z_Z1fq_CNDRBP0/s1600-h/IMG_0358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZy5zPOGp5WVUGFjBaUMo_gN2cB9BK7P5hGryoSwX8mQNxTm-ZvUNi1Y-92jkoEjnEMHe_2I889QHPGWrDPLwNB8EFFF9qyp5ew-ZXImIK4Lb7FHMsVnelptayObTH6Z_Z1fq_CNDRBP0/s320/IMG_0358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424037993339387890" /></a><br />Cook another 5 minutes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVFwgUKKNhiSc81s2dGu-pWUkJaWrshdOE0KL0d4KGfRVb0aYdd9yZSC62tGRVLlikT5CHZUyg8ZY5Kg3ffRnpBFojoqHjAw6x7nRH2eNOlCbmTxAj6LEk40GvwDDogC_g8qKcroox_Y/s1600-h/IMG_0347.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVFwgUKKNhiSc81s2dGu-pWUkJaWrshdOE0KL0d4KGfRVb0aYdd9yZSC62tGRVLlikT5CHZUyg8ZY5Kg3ffRnpBFojoqHjAw6x7nRH2eNOlCbmTxAj6LEk40GvwDDogC_g8qKcroox_Y/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424038000121976274" /></a><br />Done. The meat was tasty and tender. And the veggies were fully cooked - in 5 minutes!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYv7NJcelKzxX60TSrKXv6w_9F-Kk-MQyismGxRGW3ypYacocuRi1xOs-NUXl8bQgEimYj1qelXXlCzlDcLS36B-9sTnGJJ77GovsF2DlcZ_wuOdSo6msSgDeqyA28O-SVDHd2BEpUlsA/s1600-h/IMG_0359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYv7NJcelKzxX60TSrKXv6w_9F-Kk-MQyismGxRGW3ypYacocuRi1xOs-NUXl8bQgEimYj1qelXXlCzlDcLS36B-9sTnGJJ77GovsF2DlcZ_wuOdSo6msSgDeqyA28O-SVDHd2BEpUlsA/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424037985546470706" /></a><br />But the very next recipe I'm trying with the pressure cooker is Oxtail Ragout.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />Because I have an oxtail in my freezer that's why. It came along with my happy cow meat from the farm. As did a tongue and a heart. I gave those tantalizing chunks away. I kept the tail because I once saw Anthony Bourdain eat one, and he seemed to be in heaven.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-89634934546972674922010-01-03T19:05:00.001-08:002010-01-07T09:01:56.614-08:00They're (still) Alive!Upon specific request, I'm providing a vermicomposting update.<br /><br />So let's see. About 2 months ago a box of approximately 1000 red wriggler worms was delivered to our doorstep. We stuck them in a dark green plastic storage bin drilled with holes in the top and sides, and shredded newspaper (just the soybean print paper part, no glossy adds, no bleached paper).<br /><br />Then we started adding our food scraps - about an oatmeal canister full of chopped up vegetable and fruit waste per week. No meats, no dairy. Eggshells yes. The box ended up in my hall closet, near the bath and bedrooms. This closet is above the furnace, so its a fairly warm place, and its also pretty quiet and vibration free. Oh yeah - this is also my linen closet. Its pretty remarkable how these things just don't smell.<br /><br />Except for that one time.<br /><br />While researching this worm thing in the past I read about one girl whose worms died in a soupy sloppy mess of their own making. I think its caused by a combination of too much food, not enough paper, and lots of moisture being produced from the respiring worms.<br /><br />So, just to make sure this wasn't happening to us I had Rich dig down a little deeper than normal. Well, we had some *soup* on the bottom and MAN did it smell.<br /><br />The remedy was to drill a few holes in the bottom of the bin as well. Since the paper forms a smell and slight moisture barrier, the excess water just can't evaporate fast enough. Plus if it was that dry in the box the worms would die. They need to stay a bit wet.<br /><br />With the latest modification I think we have everything under control. And every time Rich digs around in there, there seems to be more of them. I think we may need to find a home for their kids. For sure we won't be releasing them into the wild. These little guys are actually non-native and are one of the problem species eating up too much of our forest litter.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsG0nKrxAmArpA0Iq6QmuSENyLkusvv49IoOms7HPNnKvIxRnyip1CGfbhDbxgnsLJWEpVhH4MPspdkYMviFVj8nP-iChepvYCZxS5olqYF4qtRgqB7sZJaxrqlRWgmyysAc9N7sqEi8/s1600-h/IMG_0225_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsG0nKrxAmArpA0Iq6QmuSENyLkusvv49IoOms7HPNnKvIxRnyip1CGfbhDbxgnsLJWEpVhH4MPspdkYMviFVj8nP-iChepvYCZxS5olqYF4qtRgqB7sZJaxrqlRWgmyysAc9N7sqEi8/s320/IMG_0225_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422719680065870850" /></a><br />The black dots on the side are worm poo. I think when they crawl to the surface of the paper at night to feed, they must also crawl up the side of the box. We always leave the cover on. Our guys will not be skeaking out at night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl2_WuAy21mPwj2pXHfLT9IeKo2i6oI75pYt1FDkhe0wfHF2Ny0YVeNnLXfe7-bUpZly8t8sPhS3GwVLOxPivXWeigL6mu3MrSyV4aB1NufLW5U-xGQq-pGCnhLIu6xjc5_w-9ZB0Qfo/s1600-h/IMG_0226_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl2_WuAy21mPwj2pXHfLT9IeKo2i6oI75pYt1FDkhe0wfHF2Ny0YVeNnLXfe7-bUpZly8t8sPhS3GwVLOxPivXWeigL6mu3MrSyV4aB1NufLW5U-xGQq-pGCnhLIu6xjc5_w-9ZB0Qfo/s320/IMG_0226_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422719675065298642" /></a><br />That little pool of water in the corner was the producer of an extremely pungent and stinky smell once uncovered.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirudCVUkBvoxEZEIEraiHsoxn3m8wSuQJ6sLdbVFBbBRnZR860PnqnHJX94usajTzk4CGatL0dCVUM3zMO5khyphenhyphenZM-torlX7PIi9o-GbJBV4FxJ20m5E4WSdEdUKuECTo3g38J3VaZqp2E/s1600-h/IMG_0227_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirudCVUkBvoxEZEIEraiHsoxn3m8wSuQJ6sLdbVFBbBRnZR860PnqnHJX94usajTzk4CGatL0dCVUM3zMO5khyphenhyphenZM-torlX7PIi9o-GbJBV4FxJ20m5E4WSdEdUKuECTo3g38J3VaZqp2E/s320/IMG_0227_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422719671189371554" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-86601090276924803372010-01-01T19:47:00.000-08:002010-01-07T09:02:25.235-08:00Ris a' la mande - Check!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSaAe4i6pUu8kgBk8qdDb4jS6FsvqtVqU_ce9ex0kHnDixaWKapj_fFuAwr05wQwr15Hel14gaiy3tnCusNjxi2UEWp_wcisZilMpb-aIGXB21lScySSHNV_xC53j8V3lugmNZkeOakI/s1600-h/IMG_0317_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSaAe4i6pUu8kgBk8qdDb4jS6FsvqtVqU_ce9ex0kHnDixaWKapj_fFuAwr05wQwr15Hel14gaiy3tnCusNjxi2UEWp_wcisZilMpb-aIGXB21lScySSHNV_xC53j8V3lugmNZkeOakI/s320/IMG_0317_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422706973881658242" /></a><br />Yesterday I stirred up my first pot of rice pudding. I've pasted the recipe below right from the email because I love how Lone gives me metric units...and gallons. So thoughtful.<br /><br />I was a bit concerned at first...I weighed out the 150 g of rice and was then supposed to add to that tiny pile OVER 4 cups of milk! But I put faith in my friend's holiday recipe and it turned out just fine. You know how at Danish Christmas parties the porridge comes out and all the grown men get goofy boy grins on their faces and start shoveling it in? Well, Rich even did that. And other people at the New Year's Eve party also went for seconds, so I'm considering it a success.<br /><br />I heated up some canned cherry pie filling for the cherry "gravy". Because the color of the canned gelatinous ooze was a bright and un-natural pink, I added some red wine and grated nutmeg to it. Much more appealing.<br /><br />Oh Yeah - and I got the whole almond. Happy Birthday to me!<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Lone's ris a' la mande</strong> - serves 4-6 people:<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#336666;">Cook risengrød (rice porridge) of 1 liter milk and 150 gram (5.3 ounces) grødris (the special rice for this kind of porridge - hope you have this in the US?).</span></em> I used arborio rice and basically stirred it constantly while slowly adding milk. This step took about 1 hour.<br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><em>Empty 1 vanilla pod into 2-3 spoon (not teaspoon) sugar and put the emptied vanilla pod down in the porridge while this boils. After the porridge is finished and lukewarm put in the sugar/vanilla and put it in the fridge or a cool place. (remember to take out the vanilla pod).</em><br /><br /><em>100 gram (3.5 ounces) of almonds are chopped into small pieces (remember to save one or more whole almonds for the mandelgaver (presents)). The chopped almonds are putted into whipped cream (made out of 0,5 liter cream (0.13 gallons). </em><br /><br /><em>Before serving you mix the cream/almonds and the rice porridge and still keep it cool if you make it a few hours before serving. This is served with the hot cherry gravy.</em><br /></span><br />Although it turned out just like it was supposed to, next time I make it I'll probably added the whipped cream when its still a bit warm and runny, and serve it at that temperature too. I know its not "the right way" but I think that's when it had the stronger vanilla flavor (because I was of course taste testing along the way).<br /><br />I purposfully did not bring along any french pâté or foie gras to the party. They just look too much like cat food. Blah.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-6562941868063438362009-12-28T11:23:00.000-08:002009-12-28T11:49:14.059-08:00Christmas SynopsisEven with dire weather warnings we were able to have Christmas eve and day as originally planned. And we are a 99% drama-free group, so I have no sparkling stories to share. And unfortunately, my big food plans never came to fruition.<br /><br />Aebleskivers - didn't get to that.<br />Rice pudding - didn't have the vanilla bean, plus forgot to bring the ingredients.<br />Glühwein with special Glühwein cups from Germany - forgotten.<br />Wine from France - forgotten.<br />Port and blue cheese for food gift exchange - yep, left at home.<br /><br />I did remember to bring the pork pate and Foie Gras we got in France, but they weren't really that good anyway.<br /><br />We have one chance to redeem ourselves by bringing all the above to the new years party. TBD.Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-13005660183915728362009-12-23T07:32:00.001-08:002010-01-07T09:02:55.101-08:00What did I do?All I said is that <em><strong>I Like </strong></em>listening to <em>I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas</em>. I didn't mean we <em><strong>had</strong></em> to have one.<br /><br />This is the current weather forecast. All-in-all there may be around 20 inches stacking up over then next few days.<br /><br /><span style="color:#339999;">Tonight</span> - <span style="color:#6600cc;">Snow</span>. Snow accumulation around 4 inches. Lows around 25. East winds 15 to 20 mph.<br /><span style="color:#339999;">Thursday</span> - <span style="color:#6600cc;">Snow</span>. Snow accumulation of 5 to 6 inches. Highs around 30. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph.<br /><span style="color:#339999;">Thursday Night</span> - <span style="color:#6600cc;">Snow</span>. Snow accumulation of 4 to 5 inches. Lows 25 to 30. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph.<br /><span style="color:#339999;">Christmas Day</span> - <span style="color:#6600cc;">Snow</span>. Snow accumulation of 3 to 4 inches. Highs around 30. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph.<br /><span style="color:#339999;">Friday Night</span> - Colder. Cloudy with <span style="color:#6600cc;">snow</span> likely. Light snow accumulations. Lows around 15. Chance of snow 60 percent.<br /><span style="color:#339999;">Saturday</span> - Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of <span style="color:#6600cc;">snow</span>. Highs 15 to 20.<br /><span style="color:#339999;">Saturday Night</span> - Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of <span style="color:#6600cc;">snow</span>. Lows around 5 above.<br /><span style="color:#339999;">Sunday</span> - Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of <span style="color:#6600cc;">snow</span>. Highs around 20.<br /><br />However, being snowed in won't be so bad. Pete will have some new toys, and we'll have our new fireplace to keep us toasty.<br /><br />This used to be our basement fireplace.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikd9VUY5gk94KXvxjKLbUdQhOhZiN_A33wSMww1XWkMsuPSnw-fiUsKkLw76dLRfvhgN-wflprl9xEI3jQXqYsZpOEFUJHsT7XSwI9CAoZ2vdGnae0gyaYJgCJk3crOJ3PEBekS-FJY00/s1600-h/IMG_0017_1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418459351613573682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikd9VUY5gk94KXvxjKLbUdQhOhZiN_A33wSMww1XWkMsuPSnw-fiUsKkLw76dLRfvhgN-wflprl9xEI3jQXqYsZpOEFUJHsT7XSwI9CAoZ2vdGnae0gyaYJgCJk3crOJ3PEBekS-FJY00/s320/IMG_0017_1.JPG" /></a><br />And we turned it into this fireplace with a wood burning insert. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! I'd have it going right now except Rich is finishing up the new tile along the hearth's edge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_79fvoVzBpsgx587yxNp7CWXloTwS5ReXqgiqMrTWr3kRn5KS3AYN7FDIRM-4k1FXpCGLtvby4GBMsFvgykliIvNYCH4dhEtz24C31zjlpGsfbnLs9RdKn-ewPLV_pKS16nERkZB880E/s1600-h/IMG_0139_1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418459347353503218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_79fvoVzBpsgx587yxNp7CWXloTwS5ReXqgiqMrTWr3kRn5KS3AYN7FDIRM-4k1FXpCGLtvby4GBMsFvgykliIvNYCH4dhEtz24C31zjlpGsfbnLs9RdKn-ewPLV_pKS16nERkZB880E/s320/IMG_0139_1.JPG" /></a>Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-866876280614394500.post-15485865251553851722009-12-19T04:54:00.000-08:002009-12-19T05:37:39.075-08:00You taught me wellOh Denmark (said longingly). I know all is not euphoria over there. But I've taken with me the good stuff. I no longer just leave the clementines in their box. They are in a cute green, Søster Grøn bowl and I'm planning on poking a few with cloves this coming week. I've dug out my Jul stuff - including nissen and straw reindeer. And I've shown the daycare girl how to make woven hearts for their HC Anderson Day next week. Ho Ho Ho.<br /><br />I also have a bootleg bottles of Glogg and Viking Blood that I'll be breaking out this Christmas Eve to serve with my first attempt at rice pudding and aebleskivers, served alongside some Den Gamle Fabrik (the real stuff).<br /><br />Even so - Its been hard for me to get into the holiday spirit this year. So few cards have arrived to our home, or to my office. Its depressing. The holiday parties have been scaled back or are non-existent. <br /><br />We did finally get snow - but not as much as some places (Holy crap! You guys must just be basking in the snow.) Last night we put on our comfy cloths, made up some popcorn, and drove around listening to Christmas music and looking at neighborhood lights. Mmmmm, a little more in the mood from that.<br /><br />But finally - my last day of work for a bit was yesterday. I'll be spending the first part of next week getting the house ready since we are hosting Christmas Eve. I've been pretty lax on the decorations up until now. Just a few favorites so far. We'll see if I can get into it when I have a good block of time by myself. Put on some music...make some tea...no kid or hubby to get in the way...Melissa Lauterbach Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18390367015190025045noreply@blogger.com1