Salsa and sauces

I decided to make some salsa fresca today- we had some leftover grilled chicken and I wanted chicken tacos for lunch. The salsa in the fridge was, well, suspect. It ended up in the garbage and I can't eat tacos without salsa. Luckily, I had all the ingredients in the fridge. There aren't many- tomatoes, onion, garlic, lime, cilantro and jalapeno. Cut it all up roughly, and put it in any amounts that sound good to you. It's not hard.

Since I had all the ingredients out, I decided to make some tomatillo sauce for tomorrow. That will go over some chicken tomorrow, with rice and veggies. That has everything above, except for tomatoes. It uses tomatillos (the big green looking tomatoes) instead. You cook everything except for the cilantro, then when it's done add the cilantro. (some people don't like cilantro-it tastes like soap to them. Cilantro can always be removed from a recipe-you could add in parsley- or just leave it out)

So, I'm already trying. Fresher ingredients, with less red meat.

Now, this weekend will be a giant fail for me. We are having a garage sale, and that means sandwiches, chips, and if I am lucky- some fruit. Fast and portable is the mantra this weekend.

gotta go out and price some crap in the garage. More later....

As much of the Palin speech I could stand. I didn't say understand. Because I didn't.

"What an absolutely beautiful day it is, and it is my honor to speak to all Alaskans, to our Alaskan family this last time as your governor. And it is always great to be in Fairbanks. The rugged rugged hardy people that live up here and some of the most patriotic people whom you will ever know live here, and one thing that you are known for is your steadfast support of our military community up here and I thank you for that and thank you United States military for protecting the greatest nation on Earth. Together we stand.

And getting up here I say it is the best road trip in America soaring through nature's finest show. Denali, the great one, soaring under the midnight sun. And then the extremes. In the winter time it's the frozen road that is competing with the view of ice fogged frigid beauty, the cold though, doesn't it split the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs?

And then in the summertime such extreme summertime about a hundred and fifty degrees hotter than just some months ago, than just some months from now, with fireweed blooming along the frost heaves and merciless rivers that are rushing and carving and reminding us that here, Mother Nature wins. It is as throughout all Alaska that big wild good life teeming along the road that is north to the future."

What is she trying to say? Why did she add in the odd "together we stand" ? I wonder why she didn't just add in a 911 for good measure? My head hurts now, so I have to skip ahead. You won't miss anything.

"And first, some straight talk for some, just some in the media because another right protected for all of us is freedom of the press, and you all have such important jobs reporting facts and informing the electorate, and exerting power to influence. You represent what could and should be a respected honest profession that could and should be the cornerstone of our democracy.

Democracy depends on you, and that is why, that's why our troops are willing to die for you. So, how 'bout in honor of the American soldier, ya quite makin' things up. And don't underestimate the wisdom of the people, and one other thing for the media, our new governor has a very nice family too, so leave his kids alone."

Umm, ok. I won't make things up about you. I only have to tell the truth to have you come out looking like a semi-intelligent loon. Oh, right, actually, I only have to copy your own words.

"I promised that we would manage our fish and wildlife for abundance, and that we would defend the constitution, and we have, though outside special interest groups they still just don't get it on this one. Let me tell you, Alaskans really need to stick together on this with new leadership in this area especially, encouraging new leadership... got to stiffen your spine to do what's right for Alaska when the pressure mounts, because you're going to see anti-hunting, anti-second amendment circuses from Hollywood and here's how they do it.

They use these delicate, tiny, very talented celebrity starlets, they use Alaska as a fundraising tool for their anti-second amendment causes. Stand strong, and remind them patriots will protect our guaranteed, individual right to bear arms, and by the way, Hollywood needs to know, we eat, therefore we hunt."

ok, again, words fail me (and obviously, her)lets skip ahead....

"I resisted the stimulus package. I resisted the stimulus package and we have championed earmark reform, slashing earmark requests by 85% to break the cycle of dependency on a stifling, unsustainable federal agenda, and other states should follow this for their and for America's stability. We don't have to feel that we must beg an allowance from Washington, except to beg the allowance to be self-determined. See, to be self-sufficient, Alaska must be allowed to develop - to drill and build and climb, to fulfill statehood's promise. At statehood we knew this."

Of course, she doesn't mention that the Alaska legislators are coming back early to try to get the rest of the stimulus that she "resisted".

My head is splitting open...... lets skip to the end please....

"Alaskans will remember that years ago, remember we sported the old bumper sticker that said, "Alaska. We Don't Give a Darn How They Do It Outside?" Do you remember that? I remember that, and remember it was because we would be different. We'd roll up our sleeves, and we would diligently sow and reap, and we can still do this to carve wealth out of the wilderness and make our living on the water, with strong hands and innovative minds, now with smarter technology."

As Stephen Colbert said tonight-"since she knows her book will end, she's decided to leave the last 200 pages blank"

I actually think the first 300 don't have much on them either...

Sofas ,couches, daybeds

No food, although I am going to the grocery store today. I'm looking at what people lay on after eating. I have been collecting pics and Widows shopping because we really need a new sofa-although I know that it will be a while before we get one (again, boy child, bad dog and hairy cat preclude us spending real American dollars on a sofa that will be destroyed in a week)




Here are some that strike me as interesting.

From here

This was a diy project!



This strikes me as something I could do myself.

I have no idea where these are from actually- but it does look like a DIY that is possible.


Hans Wegner Daybed.



The rug company- but look at those sofas!


Elle Decor

I don't know where this is from, but we had this sofa (or one like it) growing up-

I will never be the next food star

Wende, in her wisdom starts out with a questionnaire-Here are the questions and my answers


Distinctly Kitchen-y Questionnaire Favorites


1.Is there a chef/cook, real or fictional, whom you admire? If so, what's the appeal of this person?
Guy Firie. He has the job I want more than anything else in the world-going around the country and eating in little dives-and getting paid for it! Then there is Paula Deen. Not withstanding her love of butter, I love her cooking. I think of her as the Dolly Parton of food. No one I have ever met doesn't love that woman. I make her deserts for every work event that the Mr. has to take one and everyone loves them-there hasn't been a clunker in the bunch. Then, because I love Italian food almost as much as Mexican, and the photography on her show is fantastic-Giada de Laurentiis.


2.Is there a chef/cook, real or fictional, whom you find annoying? If so, what's the offense by this person?
I hate Rachael Ray. Hate her. Hate her show(s) , find her annoying and even if she did have great recipes that would save me hours in the kitchen, I can't bring myself to watch her. I want to strangle her when ever she says EVOO.


Personal history

1.What's your earliest memory of cooking--or assisting with cooking--yourself?
Not including Lucy (of charlie brown) tea parties? Cookies. That never came out right because my mother used margarine.

2.What do you consider to be comfort food? Tacos, enchiladas (cheese only with red chile gravy), lasagna, grilled cheese sandwiches, fettuccine alfredo, pizza with greasy cheese and peperoni.

3.What piece of cooking advice would you never take again?
I second Wendes stock issue. Bones and carcasses are needed for stock, but I just can't deal with making it. Too much work. Also, that stupid throwing a piece of pasta on a surface to see if it sticks to verify if it's cooked. Just eat a piece and stop the food fights.

4.What do you enjoy about cooking? Testing out new recipes .

5What do you dislike about cooking? The fact I have to do it daily.

6.What animal best summarizes your current cooking and/or eating habits?
The Mr MUST have MEAT at every sitting. And a starch. I would be a semi vegetarian if alone, but he's a carnivore. So, if there is an animal involved in this question, my husband would eat it, not use it as an symbol

Goals
1.What is bothering you about your current eating/cooking habits?
See above with the meat. I also think that I get so bored that I fall back into making the same 10 items over and over again.

2,What do you want to be able to say about your eating/cooking habits at the end of eight weeks? Things are more interesting. New choices, new menus. Oh, and there is less meat, cheese and butter.

Breath, Bones, Heart, Head.
I am good about getting rid of expired food. It's clean. The pantry if full of stuff we will eat, so that's not an issue. I will clean the stove (it's gross) and the fridge today or tomorrow since it's going to RAIN again and I can't work outside or paint. I have probably about 60 cookbooks here, and access to the interweb, so recipes aren't going to be an issue so much. And I just did the questionnaire. SO, good for me I guess.
This looks to be fun. Except for the Turducken ,Wende. Those things are gross. The grocery store I used to go to in Austin- Central Market-used to sell them for "special occasions" Yuk. But I would recommend anyone going to Austin go to Central Market. They are really special. Really special.
-

I have a new project

1960's vintage fireplace
Originally uploaded by thefarmersdaughter

Yes, it's a free standing, 1960's/70's avocado fireplace. Your eyes do not deceive. The Mr. got it at a garage sale (at 5.30PM ) for 15 bucks.
I have to figure out how to remove the unfortunate black spray paint from the avocado, at least the base part. Under the paint looks to be in good, even shiny state! If the stack has to stay black-well so be it- but I will paint it better that's for sure.
It's either a Preway or a Sears model. I have found an on line owners manual, so if I can clean it and find it's serial number I should be all set !

More eye candy...and not a white room in the bunch

I am trying to be a bit more realistic. With a cat, a bad dog , a 5 yr old and a husband, a white room is impractical at best. I don't want to hover over a sofa or rug all the time, and I want us to be able to live in our rooms.

My Grandma used to put a sheet over her velvet couch when ever we came to visit. It offended me at 10 let me tell you. When she gave the sofa to my parents I used to get a certain amount of satisfaction that not only was there no sheet, but we put our feet on it, slept on it, ate on it, and the dog was up there with us!

I like this one because of the wood chairs and sofa. They are totally my style and I covet them....No, I have no idea where this picture came from- it's been floating around in my hard drive for a long, long, time. This is Amy Butlers place I believe.

This is one of my favorites. I think it's an office actually. I don't care. And I love that cow...

This is by Thom Felicia- it seems warm and homey.

This one I love more due to the furniture- those chairs and the TV cabinet. I would love to have those windows and light too...

I'm off to go shopping today! Have a great one

Childrens rooms. Why are they awful?

Do a simple Google search of boys bedroom decor. What comes up is generally horrific. Not like the girls rooms at all. Boys stuff is very themey stuff like this-



The scary guy in the corner would never let me sleep-
why do adults put kids "into" things all the time- boat beds, car beds, etc.....

I just want to find some inspiration photos for the boys room that really don't focus on a single theme or rely on vinyl stickers and murals for the interest. I want to find a room that doesn't scream "walmart decor" or " I went to pottery barn kids and bought everything they had that was blue".
Kids change what they love every 20 seconds or so. My boy is 5. He had a "doggy" nursery, then a generic big boys room, then a cowboy ish room, then it was rustic safari, then Star Wars, now it's more generic again- with movie posters and such. I need to find something that works for him for longer than 3 months and works for me as well, since the door is always open.

I want to find something that, while the bones remain the same, the stuff can be switched out so that when he has a new "love" that stuff can come out and I don't have to get new linens, carpet, curtains etc...

We went Windows shopping. He picked out these-

He thinks that I can paint that picture above the bed. I told him that I cannot. I like how you can see who lives here, but it doesn't hit you on the head, drag you across the room and beat you into submission.

He liked the bunk beds. Our house isn't tall enough. I believe that we could build something like this though, only one story high...

I like this- with a few alterations, such as more kid friendly art and some toys, this would work.

His room has a very rustic wood wall. He and I like both like antlers.


Why am I starting to look at this room too? Because I am taking the boys rug out of his room and putting it in the basement tv room when it's finished. It's a bright red and will look great down there. I am planning on putting this rug in the boys room to replace it. After I vacuum it of course-

and this is the lamp he's getting for his bedside table. I think He needs a more big-boy lamp now.

Since I painted his room earlier this year a light greyish blue, I think these will work color wise. Now I have to work on de cluttering some of his stuff and getting his to decide on what he wants to see on his walls day in and day out. That's no easy task for a 5 year old.

Painted cement basement floor is 1/3 done!

Painted cement basement floor is 1/3 done!
Originally uploaded by thefarmersdaughter

Here it is! 1/3 painted, now it has to cure for about a week. We can walk on it Tues., but we aren't going to.
This is what we did for our anniversary. I know, sounds odd. But I told the Mr. I didn't want to do anything big until 10.

Happy Anniversary to me!

Today is our 6th wedding anniversary.

I'd do it all over again!

Kermit would love this place.++UPDATED++

and so do I.

busier than the past few days inspiration photos, but I feel drawn to this room too. Although, I have to say, a large part of that is due to the black and white quilt on the bed.

This room is by Sheila Bridges.

This room is by N UR Space- simpler, cleaner use of bright green.

I have more inspiration in my little finger....

It's not that I don't love stuff like this apartment therapy house tour- because I do-love it I mean. The table, the chairs (which are like mine) the big colorful fun paintings, the MCM furniture-I think this is great- But, I seem to be drawn more to this now-

Elle Decor-07

It appears that I am leaning towards white, but I think that I can say I am really going for a clean, uncluttered, unfussy look that is a bit more natural.

The question is- should I try to re-decorate, or just see if this new found love of white will pass?

Another white living room.......

I snuck in another white living room. This one caught my eye because I have a similiar lounge chair.

the kitchen was feeling left out...

As you can see- I love the farmhouse style sink and open concept shelves. I would love to get rid of the upper cabinets in my kitchen, but I'm afraid of the dirt and grease that would accumulate on the dishes and glasses. So , laziness prevails over style once again....

I don't know where I got these pics from. The top looks like one that was in Domino(RIP) the bottom looks like a Martha (the antiChrist)Stewart. But I could be wrong.

Like a moth to the flame....

More Inspiration pictures. I guess I am in love with white rooms right now.

These are from Domino Magazine (RIP) from Sept. 06. I wish I could give a linky, but they took all those away (bastards). Anyway, this is Michelle and Derek Saunders apt. She is the vp and fashion director for Juicy Couture at the time (maybe still- I don't know) I don't get how her decor is so calming and fantastic and Juicy is known for putting their name on womens butts.

Enjoy-
This is pretty much my table. Maybe that's why I love it so. I also really am liking the bookcases.

I really love the bookcases in this room. They would be easy to replicate. The chairs too- I have 2 already and if I throw a stick where I live ,odds are good it'll land in a similar danish modern chair.

The back deck

back deck
Originally uploaded by thefarmersdaughter

This year I repainted the picnic table and my Grandfathers table in red. It has had an amazing effect on the back deck-much more alive and inviting than ever before.
The farthest table was my Grandpas at his cottage. The table could be 60 to maybe 100 years old. It is pretty much held together with metal plates (I installed) and years of marine paint (he painted).
Every year he threw on a new coat of red marine paint (any color as long as it's red" was what he used to say) . When I got the table I couldn't find red marine paint- only blue. Not wanting a blue table, I painted the tops a light tan. It was horrid.

This year I found a gallon of this brick red exterior paint on the mis tint rack at lowes for 5 bucks for the gallon. I had intended on painting my front door with it- then thought better of that. I have painted these two tables and my bird feeders and poles with it though- and I just love it. Just not enough to paint the front door...

More obsession....

I love these too. They are from a design firm - Meyer Davis.

These are in the residential file- this is called Lake House. But, I have to say- every picture that I saw gave me a case of decor envy.

I am totally obsessed

I have found the perfect decor for me. After doing a touch of the windows shopping I found this

There is oh so much more at the above link. I love, love, love this house!

The basement is full of toxic dust

before- north side of basement. B4
Originally uploaded by thefarmersdaughter

The basement started this weekend looking like this ( well, with more crap strewn around-this is after we cleaned it up )Stage one of the basement re do is getting rid of the carpet and painting the floor.

We pulled up all the carpet and the pad (which was amazingly NOT disgusting-no water damage or pet damage and the pad was intact ) and we got to this-

Ok, it didn't look like this. We actually had a rather nice cement pad with no holes or major cracks but it had long strips of carpet adhesive on it. The section above had 3 long strips-each 8-12 inches wide that ran the length of the space. The Mr. used gallons of adhesive remover and scraped-then he sanded the entire floor. He killed the sander yesterday doing it and the entire room is covered in toxic dust. Tonight we clean it. Once it dries (a day or two) then we can paint this section.
Sadly, this is only half of the basement- we have another identical section to do next week....

lipstick on a ....

My baby lost his first tooth

I knew it was loose. The hygienist had told me a few months ago it was getting ready. Yes, he's a bit young , but apparently it's not how young you are that matters, it's the order the teeth fall out. He's right on target with that so no worries!
I was cooking in the kitchen when he walks in with the tooth in his hands and gives it to me telling me "it fell out" no crying, no freaking out, nothing like that at all.
So, we are now firmly telling the tooth fairy lie-the one I swore that I would never tell.

Why do all the great kid legends- Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy- all have to break into the house to give your kid something?