We survived our second act of Mother Nature over the weekend. This time in the form of Hurricane Irene. She hit the coast of North Carolina at 0730 Saturday morning and slowly made her way North. The rain in Northern Virginia started just after 1000 and didn't stop until 0900 Sunday morning. I had a bet with my mom, that they would lose power at around noon on Saturday (they live in Hampton Roads which was within 30 miles of the eye of the storm), and I sadly lost that bet. So now I owe her a Peanut Buster Parfait from Diary Queen the next time I see her. They actually had power until about 2200 Saturday night, and I got word that the power came back on this morning, which is awesome since I thought they would be out for a least a week.
The House of Bartlett-Kerr was able to retain power and cable throughout the storm! Other than losing a branch from our Butterfly Bush there was no damage. Just a soggy back yard. Yesterday was so beautiful that we turned off the A/C and opened up the windows to let the last breezes of Irene cool and refresh the house. We grilled steaks for dinner and ate outside. It was awesome.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Shake, rattle, and roll.....
As most people will know by now (and if you don't you live under a rock) the Commonwealth of Virginia was hit by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake shortly before 2:00 PM EDT yesterday. I was at work in downtown Washington, DC, preparing for a conference call. When the tremors first hit I didn't know what was happening so I stood up and that was when the real movement happened. The floor was rumbling and the ceiling was shaking. It was by far the scariest situation I've been through. At first I was thinking this was a residual blast from an explosion downtown and then when it kept happening I realized it was an earthquake. Everyone in my office was panicked and unsure of what to do next.
We did evacuate the building and Pennsylvania Avenue was a sea of humanity (as a co-worker described it) from the Capitol Building to Freedom Plaza. Phone lines were jammed and I couldn't get a call to James or my sister. When we were finally allowed back in after about 40 minutes and I headed to Metro, which by what folks with internet told us was still running. Well, sort of since they were running at a reduced speed of 15 mph. It took 40 minutes for a Blue Line train to arrive and when the doors opened I was pushing my way into the center of the car and speaking loudly that we all want to get home, introduce yourself to the person you were pushed up against, and make room. Thank god that at Metro Center I was able to secure a seat. I re-injured my back Saturday morning and while I was okay the standing around and the very long Metro ride (about 1 1/2 hours when normally it is less than 40 minutes) hasn't helped at all. Perhaps why everyone in that car was good humored was that the A/C was working. I could only image what it would have been with no A/C. Lord of the Flies comes to mind....
All was well at home, a few items knocked over but nothing broken. The cats and Lulu seemed okay, though slightly taken aback. I was very happy to crawl into bed early last night!
On other news, we had Lulu's cyst removed on the 10th and her staples were removed yesterday. You can still see where the staples were but that should fade by the weekend. Speaking of which....
Mother Nature will surprise us once again with Hurricane Irene making her way to the East Coast. Not so much concerned for us here other than a lot of rain and wind, but my folks and sister in Hampton Roads have me a little worried. Irene is expected to hit along the Outer Banks by Saturday. If she is anything like Isabel from 2003 my folks will be without power for at least two weeks. Good thing we have plenty of room at our house!
And we still can't find the camera!
We did evacuate the building and Pennsylvania Avenue was a sea of humanity (as a co-worker described it) from the Capitol Building to Freedom Plaza. Phone lines were jammed and I couldn't get a call to James or my sister. When we were finally allowed back in after about 40 minutes and I headed to Metro, which by what folks with internet told us was still running. Well, sort of since they were running at a reduced speed of 15 mph. It took 40 minutes for a Blue Line train to arrive and when the doors opened I was pushing my way into the center of the car and speaking loudly that we all want to get home, introduce yourself to the person you were pushed up against, and make room. Thank god that at Metro Center I was able to secure a seat. I re-injured my back Saturday morning and while I was okay the standing around and the very long Metro ride (about 1 1/2 hours when normally it is less than 40 minutes) hasn't helped at all. Perhaps why everyone in that car was good humored was that the A/C was working. I could only image what it would have been with no A/C. Lord of the Flies comes to mind....
All was well at home, a few items knocked over but nothing broken. The cats and Lulu seemed okay, though slightly taken aback. I was very happy to crawl into bed early last night!
On other news, we had Lulu's cyst removed on the 10th and her staples were removed yesterday. You can still see where the staples were but that should fade by the weekend. Speaking of which....
Mother Nature will surprise us once again with Hurricane Irene making her way to the East Coast. Not so much concerned for us here other than a lot of rain and wind, but my folks and sister in Hampton Roads have me a little worried. Irene is expected to hit along the Outer Banks by Saturday. If she is anything like Isabel from 2003 my folks will be without power for at least two weeks. Good thing we have plenty of room at our house!
And we still can't find the camera!
Monday, August 1, 2011
And the settling continues
James and I continue to make progress in setting up house. Seemed so much easier day dreaming about playing house when I was a kid instead of the reality I find myself in. But I'm having a good time. Just wish I could make everything happen all at once!
We still have unpacked boxes, which is an unintended consequence of not having the same places to hide, stuff, and store items as we did in the last house. So the boxes will have to stay until I have the funds to purchase a piece of furniture to hide, stuff, and store. But maybe I should dress them up by covering them up with sheets or old curtains. At least I wouldn't have U-Haul taunting me all the time.
One piece I decided on to hide, store, and stuff items was a pie safe for our board and card games (we have a lot). I have purposefully been saving and waiting for DC Flea to roll around again to make the purchase. Almost right away I found the most perfect one but it was seafoamish green. Seafoamish green isn't in my house's color scheme so I couldn't justify paying $525 for a seafoamish green pie safe that I would have to then turn around and find time to strip before using. Turns out that the dealer painted it himself using an "antique" color he had found on an old door and had Home Depot color match. Really dude? I flat out told the guy that I would have bought it if it wasn't painted green. (And I don't think he did sell it that day.) Pie safes should not be green. I was pretty lucky with one of my favorite dealers. She had two pie safes that were different but both had the qualities I was looking for. And since it was Sunday and she didn't want to take them home she offered both for $550 and since I had the truck I could fit both in the bed and so I bought them! One is our board and card game repository and the second one is our new buffet in the dining room. They look fabulous! I would share a photo but we still have not located the camera (insert frown here).
HINT: always go to DC Flea on Sunday, never Saturday, as this is when you will get the deals you want. If the item isn't there on Sunday you don't need it. This was how I got a dining room table with sitting up to eight with three table leafs (with their own crate) and an option table support for $550 when the day before was marked at $850.
James and I also tackled a rather inventive endeavor for us this weekend in mounting a TV on the wall. It took about 2 1/2 hours and the TV has power and looks great! I didn't want power cords running down the wall like we have up in the Master Bedroom and it turns out that you can't run live electrical wires behind walls (boo! but I totally understand) so we had to install an in-wall recessed power outlet. Even if we wanted a professional to mount the TV they wouldn't install the in-wall power outlet. And we weren't about to pay an electrician so I did the homework and figured out what was needed. The product we bought gives both power and allows us to hide future cables later on down the road. And again Amazon was to the rescue saving us about $100 over similar products at Best Buy.
The last big item I accomplished this weekend was organizing the laundry room, which also serves as a storage room. What I really want to do is frame up a wall and install 1/2" to 5/8" dry wall so I can install my Elfa 74" closet system (that can't fit in the closets on the second floor) to give me even more room and storage possibilities. But I am very happy with boxes emptied and items hidden, stuffed, and stored as they are now. I have a giant box full of household items that need to go to the dump for proper disposal living in the hallway. But it can stay there instead of the landfill. Maybe within the mouth I'll have time to take them for proper disposal!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Life is what happens when you are making other plans....
Fits and starts. The story of my life.
Just after I posted about my summer reading list (I just finished the third novel in the Blue Bloods series) I had a work trip to Charleston, SC. Beautiful city, much bigger than I expected. But they had a Mellow Mushroom! And I also got in a great walking ghost tour. Other than that it was work, work, work. When I returned it was a weekend full of social events and shopping for the boys with some gardening thrown in for good measure. However, it appears that the shopping in bad shoes the gardening ended up being my downfall. I strained my lower back. Badly.
So two weeks ago I was in a recliner with a heating pad. I ended up seeing three different doctors that week, mostly because I woke up Tuesday morning and couldn't lift myself out of bed. James had to put his hand on my neck and lift me upright. And the low point was later that morning when I spent 45 minutes trying to get out of the recliner and failing to do so. James happened to call me at that time and I found my self sobbing on the phone asking him to come home and help me out of the chair! Turns out that once my back muscles loosened the pain of most likely a bulging disc emerged. Which was why I couldn't get out of a chair on my own. James ended up playing nursemaid that week but was able to go into work for a couple of hours. The doctors wouldn't order an MRI (the only real way to find out if it was a bulging disc) because though it was painful I didn't have shooting pain down my legs or numbness in my legs. I can understand that. So I am going to say it was a bulging disc.Yoga will be in my future....
And last week we took a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to spend time with my parents, eldest sister and her husband, and attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. My first trip to Grandfather Mountain I was 6 weeks old. This time I was actually able to go and sight see in the surrounding communities. We had to entertain the boys somehow. We checked out the Linville Caverns, Linville Falls, and drove up Grandfather Mountain itself to walk across the mile high bridge.
We were actually able to get the boys into kilts! Finally! I've been trying for two years now!
I could have enjoyed myself more if I had had more movement, but I powered through and had a lovely time. Now that we are back we are settling into our summer schedule. Our camera is still missing. Or I would have bored you with photos.
Perhaps it is time to upgrade to a better camera? Of course, that is when the old one will reappear.
Just after I posted about my summer reading list (I just finished the third novel in the Blue Bloods series) I had a work trip to Charleston, SC. Beautiful city, much bigger than I expected. But they had a Mellow Mushroom! And I also got in a great walking ghost tour. Other than that it was work, work, work. When I returned it was a weekend full of social events and shopping for the boys with some gardening thrown in for good measure. However, it appears that the shopping in bad shoes the gardening ended up being my downfall. I strained my lower back. Badly.
So two weeks ago I was in a recliner with a heating pad. I ended up seeing three different doctors that week, mostly because I woke up Tuesday morning and couldn't lift myself out of bed. James had to put his hand on my neck and lift me upright. And the low point was later that morning when I spent 45 minutes trying to get out of the recliner and failing to do so. James happened to call me at that time and I found my self sobbing on the phone asking him to come home and help me out of the chair! Turns out that once my back muscles loosened the pain of most likely a bulging disc emerged. Which was why I couldn't get out of a chair on my own. James ended up playing nursemaid that week but was able to go into work for a couple of hours. The doctors wouldn't order an MRI (the only real way to find out if it was a bulging disc) because though it was painful I didn't have shooting pain down my legs or numbness in my legs. I can understand that. So I am going to say it was a bulging disc.Yoga will be in my future....
And last week we took a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to spend time with my parents, eldest sister and her husband, and attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. My first trip to Grandfather Mountain I was 6 weeks old. This time I was actually able to go and sight see in the surrounding communities. We had to entertain the boys somehow. We checked out the Linville Caverns, Linville Falls, and drove up Grandfather Mountain itself to walk across the mile high bridge.
We were actually able to get the boys into kilts! Finally! I've been trying for two years now!
I could have enjoyed myself more if I had had more movement, but I powered through and had a lovely time. Now that we are back we are settling into our summer schedule. Our camera is still missing. Or I would have bored you with photos.
Perhaps it is time to upgrade to a better camera? Of course, that is when the old one will reappear.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Summer reading list....
I have been inspired for some reason to have a summer reading list. I went crazy a couple of weeks ago on PaperBack Swap (which is an awesome site where you can trade/recycle books) and requested about seven books that fall in one of two categories: Bill Bryson and teen vampire. And the teen vampire isn't the Twilight saga (which I have read and love) but another series that a co-worker of mine recommended. I figure I have a nice balance between intellectual humor and trashy fodder. I started the first of the teen vampire series yesterday and will most likely finish it tomorrow. Pretty quick read. So perfect for summer!
The boys and I will be making weekly trips to the library this summer to see how many books we can read in eight weeks. Should be fun!
The boys and I will be making weekly trips to the library this summer to see how many books we can read in eight weeks. Should be fun!
Monday, June 13, 2011
A trip to the Yards
Yesterday our friends Tony and Tina were in town and picked us up to take us to a ball game at Camden Yards to see the Baltimore Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Due to other family obligations we only stayed through the beginning of the fourth inning, but we were there to see Baltimore score two home runs in a row. That was pretty impressive. And to see Johnny Damon get walked and then out when he attempted to steal second and wasn't quite fast enough. Oh, and we had some fabulous BBQ. Aside from the rain right before the game it was a gorgeous day for baseball. And Tina got us seats under cover behind left field so we stayed cool and comfortable as you can in tiny stadium seats.
The Orioles didn't beat the Rays, but it was a great way to spend Sunday afternoon!
The Orioles didn't beat the Rays, but it was a great way to spend Sunday afternoon!
Friday, June 10, 2011
On the joys of moving
We are still unpacking, arranging, and settling into the new house. Which I absolutely adore. And I should have photos up soon....as soon as I can locate the camera which is currently hiding from me!
We have played hosts to family and friends over the past two weeks so we've been busy with everything else.
But I did just want to whine about one of the downsides to moving: having to leave behind your favorite Chinese restaurant and the struggle to find a suitable replacement.We ordered from a place near by earlier this week and I wasn't all that impressed. We'll keep on trying out restaurants until we find a winner. Just makes me long for Szechuan D'Lite.....
We have played hosts to family and friends over the past two weeks so we've been busy with everything else.
But I did just want to whine about one of the downsides to moving: having to leave behind your favorite Chinese restaurant and the struggle to find a suitable replacement.We ordered from a place near by earlier this week and I wasn't all that impressed. We'll keep on trying out restaurants until we find a winner. Just makes me long for Szechuan D'Lite.....
Monday, June 6, 2011
We've moved!
I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted something to our blog. I try to stay fresh and up to date and then a month goes by. But I have a good excuse....we moved!
James and I took the plunge and bought a house. Gasp! It has been a stressful month and we are still adjusting to our new surroundings. But I can say it has been worth it. I love our new home.But I don't love the random boxes that just can't seem to find a new place since we now have so much room compared to the old house. We don't have enough storage options. But at least we have the space for those storage options once they are located and purchased.
Yay for new home! And new adventures!
James and I took the plunge and bought a house. Gasp! It has been a stressful month and we are still adjusting to our new surroundings. But I can say it has been worth it. I love our new home.But I don't love the random boxes that just can't seem to find a new place since we now have so much room compared to the old house. We don't have enough storage options. But at least we have the space for those storage options once they are located and purchased.
Yay for new home! And new adventures!
Monday, May 2, 2011
One word: Awesome
This past Saturday night I had one of the most amazing meals of my life. Meal isn't the right word. Culinary extravaganza is a better description. My dear, dear, dear friend Dara secured reservations for the two of us at one of DC's best restaurants, Komi, which was listed as the #1 fine dining restaurant in DC, Virginia, and Maryland by Washingtonian this past January. I am not one for true fine dining on a daily basis. As a matter of fact this was the "fanciest" dinner I have ever taken part in, and most likely will take part in in the coming years. But as I have gotten older I have seen a growing appreciation for food. I'm not a "foodie" by far. But I enjoy good, well made food.
Dara took me to Komi for my birthday. And yes, it isn't until next week, but they only take reservations 30 days in advance. I wanted to make sure we went on a weekend we didn't have the boys and Saturday was the only day anywhere near my birthday I was available. Dara called the reservations number at least 30 times at the end of March before she connected with a live person. Since that time I had been silently counting down the days to our big dinner.
It was more amazing than I could have imaged. There are no menus at Komi so we never really knew what was coming until it arrived at the table. With local and regional fresh ingredients it was truly amazing. I ate food I had never eaten before like salmon roe (explosive) and sea urchin (very flavorful) which was contrasted with more familiar foods like a half-smoke (house made kielbasi) and spanakopita (lightly fried). I lost count after about five dishes, but it was somewhere between 18 and 20.
I could not recommend Komi enough to those looking to celebrate a special occasion or to experience some of the best food in DC. It was an event for me that I will never forget. Big hugs and kisses to Dara for such a lovely birthday present!
Dara took me to Komi for my birthday. And yes, it isn't until next week, but they only take reservations 30 days in advance. I wanted to make sure we went on a weekend we didn't have the boys and Saturday was the only day anywhere near my birthday I was available. Dara called the reservations number at least 30 times at the end of March before she connected with a live person. Since that time I had been silently counting down the days to our big dinner.
It was more amazing than I could have imaged. There are no menus at Komi so we never really knew what was coming until it arrived at the table. With local and regional fresh ingredients it was truly amazing. I ate food I had never eaten before like salmon roe (explosive) and sea urchin (very flavorful) which was contrasted with more familiar foods like a half-smoke (house made kielbasi) and spanakopita (lightly fried). I lost count after about five dishes, but it was somewhere between 18 and 20.
I could not recommend Komi enough to those looking to celebrate a special occasion or to experience some of the best food in DC. It was an event for me that I will never forget. Big hugs and kisses to Dara for such a lovely birthday present!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Military Spouse Blogging Community
Just wanted everyone to know I have joined a military spouse blogging community started by a fellow Army wife who blogs as Household 6 Diva. You can see the button on the right hand side that will take you to the main page with the list of other military spouse bloggers.
This is sort of new for me, sort of exciting, and a little scary at the same time.I have to thank Laura for inspiring me to join. Now I just need to ask her to help me make the blog more inviting.....
This is sort of new for me, sort of exciting, and a little scary at the same time.I have to thank Laura for inspiring me to join. Now I just need to ask her to help me make the blog more inviting.....
Thursday, April 28, 2011
FCPA Summer Entertainment Series Annouced!
Today the Fairfax County Parks Authority released its Summer Entertainment Series schedule for 2011!!! I've been waiting for this for months! While there is no Steep Canyon Rangers or Holy Ghost Tent Revival playing this year, The Pietasters are back. I also see that Scythian will be playing this year. Joe, Jaime and I were introduced to Scythian in 2009 when they played Grandfather Mountain. We will definitely be going to that concert!
Take a look at the schedule (there is a link embedded above) and if you see anything you like let me know! There's nothing like a free show! Perhaps we'll see you there!
Take a look at the schedule (there is a link embedded above) and if you see anything you like let me know! There's nothing like a free show! Perhaps we'll see you there!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
National Take Back Initiative
Now I don't normally blog about things outside of our daily life, but I am taking the time to blog about a program that is as about as awesome as electronic recycling in my opinion: the National Take Back Initiative. This is a program sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration to provide a location where people can safely dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs, as well as expired drugs purchased over the counter, in an attempt to keep prescription drugs from hitting the streets, being abused by family members, and not end up in our water supply or land fills.
I missed the first event in September 2010, but when I cleaned up our medicine cabinet I put all the expired medication in a bag and have been holding on to it in hopes that they would have this event again. I encourage you all to do the same this Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
To find a collection site near you check out this site.
I missed the first event in September 2010, but when I cleaned up our medicine cabinet I put all the expired medication in a bag and have been holding on to it in hopes that they would have this event again. I encourage you all to do the same this Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
To find a collection site near you check out this site.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Eggs, candy, and ice cream!
We had the boys over Easter weekend and it was jam packed with excitement. Saturday morning we had a play date with my co-worker Danielle and her son Tim, who is Joe's age. We met up at Shadowland for laser tag. Now, I remember when there was the personal laser tag equipment you could buy back in the 80's. But this was not that. It was very sophisticated and high tech. Danielle was unable to play with us so it was me and four boys inside this darkened room with ramps, corners, and bi-levels. We weren't suppose to run but it was hard not to on the ramps when you were trying to get away from an 11 year old! It was a lot of fun. The boys (Joe, Jaime, and Tim) had the advantage over us since it was easier to crouch down and duck walk. Each game Tim was ranked #1, then it was James, then me, and Joe. Jaime only played one game since he was unsure about the dark spaces and tended to stay in the same place.
Saturday night we had dinner at Auld Shebeen in Fairfax to hear the celtic band Edsall Road. Molly used to work with two of the band members. Jaime and Molly woofed down their fish and chips, I loved my Irish BLT, James almost licked his plate of stuffed chicken, there was nothing left on Chris' plate, and Joe munched on his hamburger. While the music wasn't really Joe's style, he prefers celtic music with a lot of drum like Albannach, Jaime was just swaying away. Molly took him up closer to the stage so he could have a better view. And he was completely taken when a very simple instrument of two polished bones about the size of popsicle sticks that when slapped against one another sounds like a castanet.
Sunday morning the Easter bunny left several large eggs in the yard for they boys full of candy and a couple of gifts. Molly and Chris joined us once again for dying eggs, eating homemade pizza, and then to help us make ice cream using my Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker that uses family power to make the ice cream. It took longer than 15 minutes but it was worth the arm strain. We finished off the day with a rousing game of Outrage in honor of the Queen's birthday this past week (and unfortunately the Raven card about the Queen's birthday didn't come up) and Chris was able to steal the scepter and make it out of the Tower before any one else could challenge him.
Saturday night we had dinner at Auld Shebeen in Fairfax to hear the celtic band Edsall Road. Molly used to work with two of the band members. Jaime and Molly woofed down their fish and chips, I loved my Irish BLT, James almost licked his plate of stuffed chicken, there was nothing left on Chris' plate, and Joe munched on his hamburger. While the music wasn't really Joe's style, he prefers celtic music with a lot of drum like Albannach, Jaime was just swaying away. Molly took him up closer to the stage so he could have a better view. And he was completely taken when a very simple instrument of two polished bones about the size of popsicle sticks that when slapped against one another sounds like a castanet.
Sunday morning the Easter bunny left several large eggs in the yard for they boys full of candy and a couple of gifts. Molly and Chris joined us once again for dying eggs, eating homemade pizza, and then to help us make ice cream using my Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker that uses family power to make the ice cream. It took longer than 15 minutes but it was worth the arm strain. We finished off the day with a rousing game of Outrage in honor of the Queen's birthday this past week (and unfortunately the Raven card about the Queen's birthday didn't come up) and Chris was able to steal the scepter and make it out of the Tower before any one else could challenge him.
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| Not as many as we have dyed in the past, but plenty of fun was had by everyone! |
Monday, April 25, 2011
Family visits
So we found out last Sunday that James' sister, Tab, and her family were in the DC area through the week. It was Spring Break for upstate New York and they decided to come and see our Nation's capital. I got a surprise text message Tuesday afternoon from Tab asking if I were busy since they were in the area. Turns out they were already in my building waiting for me downstairs! When I got off the elevator I was bombarded by three giggling girls: Makayla, Ronnie, and Dani (a.k.a. the Pixie). We sat downstairs in the Pavilion catching up and hearing about what they had seen and liked. I even brought them up the the eighth floor to see my cube, my view of the Washington Monument, and to look down into the Pavilion--the girls are afraid of heights :)
We made plans for dinner on Thursday, with them driving down from Maryland (where they were staying). Then on Thursday, there was a change in plans and they rode home with me on the Metro. They were all amazed at how I could tell them which station we were at without looking at a sign. That's what you get for riding Metro about five times a week for 4 1/2 years!
By the time we got home, James had finished grilling the burgers and the fries were almost done. It was chillier than it had been that week but we decided to eat outside. I decided to be adventurous with the "adult" burgers and used an America's Test Kitchen recipe for garlic, chipolte, and scallion burgers...yummy! And then just regular burgers for the girls. There wasn't much left from either!
Then it was talk, talk, talk among all of us. Ronnie and the Pixie played downstairs in the boys room. Makayla, the eldest, prefers to hang out with the adults, and more specifically me. But eventually they did pull out Kinder Bunnies and played a game while Tab, Jon, James, and I sat out back.
Then it was time to take them back to Metro. They would have a rather long trip back to Maryland, but they said it was worth it. And it was!
We made plans for dinner on Thursday, with them driving down from Maryland (where they were staying). Then on Thursday, there was a change in plans and they rode home with me on the Metro. They were all amazed at how I could tell them which station we were at without looking at a sign. That's what you get for riding Metro about five times a week for 4 1/2 years!
By the time we got home, James had finished grilling the burgers and the fries were almost done. It was chillier than it had been that week but we decided to eat outside. I decided to be adventurous with the "adult" burgers and used an America's Test Kitchen recipe for garlic, chipolte, and scallion burgers...yummy! And then just regular burgers for the girls. There wasn't much left from either!
Then it was talk, talk, talk among all of us. Ronnie and the Pixie played downstairs in the boys room. Makayla, the eldest, prefers to hang out with the adults, and more specifically me. But eventually they did pull out Kinder Bunnies and played a game while Tab, Jon, James, and I sat out back.
Then it was time to take them back to Metro. They would have a rather long trip back to Maryland, but they said it was worth it. And it was!
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| Tab, Jon, Ronnie, Makayla, and the Pixie |
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tilling the earth
Last night I gave James two options: finish painting the TV room and start on the stairs to the basement OR get the beds in the backyard cleaned up for future planting. He chose the opportunity to spend time outdoors. Which was cool with me as I got to put on my new overalls my mom got me for Christmas for gardening! I have been working on these beds for almost four years. They were a mess when I moved in and I have done battle every year to whip them into shape. It is starting to pay off.
There is something very soothing for me to work in a garden turning soil and letting my mind wonder to now where in particular. And very satisfying to turn an unruly flower bed into a tidy flower bed. The soil was still damp from rain earlier that day and as it turned I smelled such an amazing scent that was so settle that it was gone a second later.
My backyard has done a 180 and that patio is ready to receive visitors! Just waiting for the last few days of cool weather before planting. I can't wait!
There is something very soothing for me to work in a garden turning soil and letting my mind wonder to now where in particular. And very satisfying to turn an unruly flower bed into a tidy flower bed. The soil was still damp from rain earlier that day and as it turned I smelled such an amazing scent that was so settle that it was gone a second later.
My backyard has done a 180 and that patio is ready to receive visitors! Just waiting for the last few days of cool weather before planting. I can't wait!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Injury in the Name of Fashion
While I love my height in general I hate it in reality. Reality of shopping that is. Apparently if you are a woman over 5'7" you can't shop with the regular folk. You are a freak of nature and are regulated to the hinter lands of internet shopping just hoping that the company's sizing chart and quality control are up to snuff. If that company even believes in inseams that are greater than 32". Do I sound bitter?
I must admit that clothing companies in the recent years are catching on that tall women want to buy their clothes and the "tall" option for tops and pants have begun to emerge. But almost forget about shopping in a store. Especially if you are not a size 6 (which I'm not) so you are still regulated to the hinter lands of internet shopping. Do I sound bitter?
So shopping is not a lot of fun for me. Usually because I can't fit anything in the stores. I don't mind shopping in the spring or summer because I can get away with the short sleeves and skirts that are on the rack. Forget about winter. Not only because I dislike cold, but those are the most ill fitting clothes I own. Mostly too short in the arms and torso. There are a few companies that specialize in clothing for tall women. But even fewer physical stores that these companies occupy.
Luckily there is Long Tall Sally and their pop up shows! LTS is a British company that my mom read about in the newspaper in either 2000 or 2001. When Nancy and I went to London in March 2001 we went to the store and we were in love! A store devoted to women 5'9" or taller!? No regulars or petites in sight!? But it was in England. So we would group together purchases in order to save cost on shipping. Then a couple of years ago LTS bought out the Tall Girl Shop company which had stores in the US and Canada. As exciting that news was, we were then disappointed to learn that while the Canadian stores would remain open under the LTS brand, the US stores would close. Boo hoo. But the close out sale at the Tall Girl Shop in Tyson's Corner was pretty good. Then last October LTS had a "pop up show" in Washington, DC. Pop up shows are basically like having a store "pop up" for the weekend in a location so you can physically try on and purchase clothes from the catalog. Nancy and I went and it was amazing. Clothes that fit! Shirts that were long! Pants that started at 34" inseams!!!!!! Heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this past weekend was the first of two this year (the next one is in September). The rumor last October was that they are hoping to establish a store in the area. Now that looks like in one to two years. But until then they will continue to come to Washington, DC and offer these pop up shows. Halleluiah!!!!!
So why the title of the post "Injury in the Name of Fashion"? Well, I suffered an injury this past weekend while at the hotel where the pop up show was being held. My right foot slipped over the edge of a stair and proceeded to bend itself almost at a 90 degree angle around the edge. I fell straight down on my bottom and had to sit for a couple of minutes before getting up. I was afraid that I had broken my foot and was fearful of standing up and having my body go into shock like it did when I broke my left foot in 2006. Luckily when I did stand up all was well, except for the limp. And I wasn't going to let this stop me from shopping. I was hobbling all around the racks pulling clothes left and right. The sales associates were so nice and kept asking if I wanted ice, I told them no thanks...I had shopping to do....and shop I did. I love my new clothes! That fit!
Saturday night James took me to the ER to get X-rays and I didn't break any bones, it was a contusion, bruised, on the top of my right foot. I am now in a oh so attractive orthopedic shoe for the next couple of days. But I have a great pedicure so that off sets the ugliness of the shoe. It doesn't hurt unless I walk around without the orthopedic shoe. My fourth toe has seen better days and I am hoping that the bruising goes away shortly. I'd take a photo but it would break the camera.
The things we do for fashion......
I must admit that clothing companies in the recent years are catching on that tall women want to buy their clothes and the "tall" option for tops and pants have begun to emerge. But almost forget about shopping in a store. Especially if you are not a size 6 (which I'm not) so you are still regulated to the hinter lands of internet shopping. Do I sound bitter?
So shopping is not a lot of fun for me. Usually because I can't fit anything in the stores. I don't mind shopping in the spring or summer because I can get away with the short sleeves and skirts that are on the rack. Forget about winter. Not only because I dislike cold, but those are the most ill fitting clothes I own. Mostly too short in the arms and torso. There are a few companies that specialize in clothing for tall women. But even fewer physical stores that these companies occupy.
Luckily there is Long Tall Sally and their pop up shows! LTS is a British company that my mom read about in the newspaper in either 2000 or 2001. When Nancy and I went to London in March 2001 we went to the store and we were in love! A store devoted to women 5'9" or taller!? No regulars or petites in sight!? But it was in England. So we would group together purchases in order to save cost on shipping. Then a couple of years ago LTS bought out the Tall Girl Shop company which had stores in the US and Canada. As exciting that news was, we were then disappointed to learn that while the Canadian stores would remain open under the LTS brand, the US stores would close. Boo hoo. But the close out sale at the Tall Girl Shop in Tyson's Corner was pretty good. Then last October LTS had a "pop up show" in Washington, DC. Pop up shows are basically like having a store "pop up" for the weekend in a location so you can physically try on and purchase clothes from the catalog. Nancy and I went and it was amazing. Clothes that fit! Shirts that were long! Pants that started at 34" inseams!!!!!! Heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this past weekend was the first of two this year (the next one is in September). The rumor last October was that they are hoping to establish a store in the area. Now that looks like in one to two years. But until then they will continue to come to Washington, DC and offer these pop up shows. Halleluiah!!!!!
So why the title of the post "Injury in the Name of Fashion"? Well, I suffered an injury this past weekend while at the hotel where the pop up show was being held. My right foot slipped over the edge of a stair and proceeded to bend itself almost at a 90 degree angle around the edge. I fell straight down on my bottom and had to sit for a couple of minutes before getting up. I was afraid that I had broken my foot and was fearful of standing up and having my body go into shock like it did when I broke my left foot in 2006. Luckily when I did stand up all was well, except for the limp. And I wasn't going to let this stop me from shopping. I was hobbling all around the racks pulling clothes left and right. The sales associates were so nice and kept asking if I wanted ice, I told them no thanks...I had shopping to do....and shop I did. I love my new clothes! That fit!
Saturday night James took me to the ER to get X-rays and I didn't break any bones, it was a contusion, bruised, on the top of my right foot. I am now in a oh so attractive orthopedic shoe for the next couple of days. But I have a great pedicure so that off sets the ugliness of the shoe. It doesn't hurt unless I walk around without the orthopedic shoe. My fourth toe has seen better days and I am hoping that the bruising goes away shortly. I'd take a photo but it would break the camera.
The things we do for fashion......
Monday, April 11, 2011
2 quarts of half and half....not 1 quart
Yesterday we had our friend Laura and her son Sammy over for pizza and homemade ice cream. The boys love the pizza and I thought we would share the good eats. This was our first attempt of the year for homemade ice cream so I had to pull out the ice cream maker and James had to track down bags of ice.
Now, the recipe I use is my from my maternal grandmother's family and I have been eating it since I could walk. It is written down, but it's completely open for variations. My problem was that when it said one to two quarts of half and half for some half baked reason I bought only one quart. It's been over nine months since I made it last! So there was a whole lot of milk in the container.
After an hour the ice cream was still churning. And I knew that wasn't a good sign. We unplugged it and packed it to set up. When James brought it inside we basically had snow cream! Frozen milk that tasted like vanilla. Which wasn't bad, but not what I wanted. Everyone enjoyed it none the less.
It is just the beginning of ice cream season...I'm sure will get it right soon!
Now, the recipe I use is my from my maternal grandmother's family and I have been eating it since I could walk. It is written down, but it's completely open for variations. My problem was that when it said one to two quarts of half and half for some half baked reason I bought only one quart. It's been over nine months since I made it last! So there was a whole lot of milk in the container.
After an hour the ice cream was still churning. And I knew that wasn't a good sign. We unplugged it and packed it to set up. When James brought it inside we basically had snow cream! Frozen milk that tasted like vanilla. Which wasn't bad, but not what I wanted. Everyone enjoyed it none the less.
It is just the beginning of ice cream season...I'm sure will get it right soon!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Visitors welcomed....
When I got home on Friday evening there was a car parked in my spot. We have reserved parking so this was a bit interesting. I parked in our neighbor's vacant spot and headed in to see if whom ever was parked in my spot was legitimate. And indeed it was! James' brother-in-law Colin.
The last weekend in March James received a call from Colin who is in South Carolina currently for work. Since he was on the East Coast (he lives in KS with James' sister) he figured he would come up for a night and visit. This past weekend was decided upon but then James didn't mention anything else for the remainder of the week. So it was a nice surprise to see him. We went out to dinner and then bundled up out back with a fire.
I made waffles for breakfast on Saturday and then he was off heading south. It was so nice to see him when we normally only see Colin in the may lay that is Bartlett family holidays in NY.
This just goes to show that the House of Bartlett-Kerr is always open for visitors. We have a comfortable bed, clean sheets, a dog that will lick you, and cats that will for the most part leave you alone!
The last weekend in March James received a call from Colin who is in South Carolina currently for work. Since he was on the East Coast (he lives in KS with James' sister) he figured he would come up for a night and visit. This past weekend was decided upon but then James didn't mention anything else for the remainder of the week. So it was a nice surprise to see him. We went out to dinner and then bundled up out back with a fire.
I made waffles for breakfast on Saturday and then he was off heading south. It was so nice to see him when we normally only see Colin in the may lay that is Bartlett family holidays in NY.
This just goes to show that the House of Bartlett-Kerr is always open for visitors. We have a comfortable bed, clean sheets, a dog that will lick you, and cats that will for the most part leave you alone!
Friday, April 1, 2011
A Prairie Home Companion
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A Prairie Home Companion Cast Photo FROM LEFT: Fred Newman, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, Garrison Keillor Photo credit: Dana Nye |
Well, I am even more excited because I just bought tickets to see APHC live at Wolf Trap next month!! APHC comes every year to Wolf Trap it seems, and last year Molly and Chris went for the Friday night show. They said it longer and more racier than the live Saturday night broadcast so I am really looking forward to this experience.
Nothing like a Friday night, under the stars, having a picnic with your husband and family, listening to Garrison Keillor's voice, Guy's All-Star Show Band, and the Royal Academy of Radio Actors.....
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
My dog is smart....
Lulu just passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test!!!! Yay Lulu!!!!
She has now completed all levels of training at Petsmart (beginner, immediate, and advanced) and we decided to go for the test to see if she could pass. And she did!
Items on the test included:
We are thinking of getting her involved in agility training (just for fun and not for competition). Seems funny for an Old English Bulldog but that dog can leap when she wants to and is fast with lots of energy. Our local Petsmart also might be starting Rally, which is a mix between agility and obedience but isn't as strict. But before any of that we are going to take a break from training, which has been going non stop since August.
Lulu still can be hard headed and we have to be firm with her, but all-in-all she is such a good dog! Who knew?!
She has now completed all levels of training at Petsmart (beginner, immediate, and advanced) and we decided to go for the test to see if she could pass. And she did!
Items on the test included:
- Accepting a freely stranger
- Sitting politely for petting
- Walking through a crowd (which we already knew she could do after attending all three VA Scottish games last year)
- Sit and down on command and Staying in place (I was afraid on this one but she stayed!)
- Reaction to another dog
- Supervised separation (she's an attention whore so anyone giving her attention is #1 in her book)
We are thinking of getting her involved in agility training (just for fun and not for competition). Seems funny for an Old English Bulldog but that dog can leap when she wants to and is fast with lots of energy. Our local Petsmart also might be starting Rally, which is a mix between agility and obedience but isn't as strict. But before any of that we are going to take a break from training, which has been going non stop since August.
Lulu still can be hard headed and we have to be firm with her, but all-in-all she is such a good dog! Who knew?!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Throw Me Something Mister!
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| MOT is here!!! This is Verna. And then there is Dean. And the mother of them all is Vernadean! |
We arrived on Saturday afternoon just after a series of thunderstorms and to news that the parades we had missed while traveling, and the parades that night, were canceled. Boo I thought! Mystics of Time (MOT) rolls on Saturday night! They are by far my favorite krewe. We learned though that the parades canceled were rescheduled for Sunday and Monday. Yay!
The next three days was spent watching parades, catching beads, moon pies, footballs, cups, and anything else we could, drinking beer, laughing, walking, and just enjoying the scenery. Oh the local flavor. We found some new restaurants that were amazing (Hopjacks and the OK Bicycle Shop) and some fabulous BBQ (The Shed).
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| Ms. Nolte, Stacey, Kate, and James (a.k.a. The Caped Wonder) |
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| Beads from ONE parade! |
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| Stacey and The Caped Wonder with additional throws |
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| We ran into a member of MOT in the lobby of our hotel and he was awesome! |
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| The Comic Cowboys are known for satire on all current events. Always worth seeing on Fat Tuesday! |
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| Here is the state of throws as of Tuesday morning |
Check out all the photos of our Mardi Gras celebration here. You can see the bands, the floats, the crowds, and more importantly...the Cooler Monkey! We are already looking forward to 2013!
Friday, March 4, 2011
It's time for Key Lime Pie!
Joe has taken an interest in cooking. Which I absolutely love! He has helped several times in making pizza and is usually disappointed if I start making the pizza without him. He loves to taste and touch all ingredients. So I have decided this year to pick a recipe for Joe and I to make each weekend we have the boys.
This week it was a favorite of Joe's: Key Lime Pie.
My new favorite cookbook is The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook: Every Recipe from the Hit TV Show With Product Ratings and a Look Behind the Scenes, 2001-2011. If you have never seen America's Test Kitchen you have to check it out! These guys rock! Their recipes never fail! Okay, there is my plug for ATK.
This freshly, homemade pie (crust included) was a big hit. I should have taken a photo of the after! There was nothing left!
Stay tuned for future adventures in the Bartlett-Kerr kitchen....
This week it was a favorite of Joe's: Key Lime Pie.
My new favorite cookbook is The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook: Every Recipe from the Hit TV Show With Product Ratings and a Look Behind the Scenes, 2001-2011. If you have never seen America's Test Kitchen you have to check it out! These guys rock! Their recipes never fail! Okay, there is my plug for ATK.
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| Joe separating the yolk from the whites. He liked the slimy feeling :) |
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| Here is the pie after it came out of the oven |
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| Jaime helped me make the topping |
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| Here is the finished product! |
Stay tuned for future adventures in the Bartlett-Kerr kitchen....
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Pop Bottle Science: Experiments #1 and #2
My sister Molly and brother-in-law Chris gave Jaime a pretty cool birthday present this year: Pop Bottle Science. There are 79 experiments and science projects using one and two liter soda bottles. We decided that we would attempt one or two experiments each weekend we had Jaime while Joe was with Molly volunteering at Fancy Cats Resuce Team. This weekend we had our first two experiments.
Gas Balloon: an acid and a base make gas
This experiment mixes baking soda and vinegar to create carbon dioxide and results in the blowing up of a balloon! It was really quick once the paper towel dissolved the baking soda in the vinegar.
Rainmaker: discover the process that makes rain
This experiment creates a miniture water cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. It took longer than Gas Balloon so Jaime was distracted while waiting. But we did have a few drops of "rain"!
Jaime seemed to enjoy himself and might be looking forward to additional experiments in the future. We'll keep you updated on future experiments. For the photos from these experiments click here.
Gas Balloon: an acid and a base make gas
This experiment mixes baking soda and vinegar to create carbon dioxide and results in the blowing up of a balloon! It was really quick once the paper towel dissolved the baking soda in the vinegar.
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| Jaime adds the baking soda to the vinegar |
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| Jaime and James watching the balloon expand once the base reacts with the acid |
This experiment creates a miniture water cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. It took longer than Gas Balloon so Jaime was distracted while waiting. But we did have a few drops of "rain"!
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| Jaime and James waiting for the "rain" drops |
Friday, February 25, 2011
There is in fact not an app for that....
As many of you know I use two modes of transportation to get to work: I drive my car to a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA, a.k.a. Metro) parking garage at the Franconia-Springfield Station, and then I board a Metrorail train and ride to the Federal Triangle Station in downtown Washington, DC. Door to door is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
I am in love with the majority of my commute since while on Metro I can read, knit, complete a Sudoku or crossword puzzle, and/or sleep. I am rather calm and relaxed. Aside for the occasional delays, noisy touristas, and the outrageous expense (it costs me $10.30 a day to take Metro based on my entrance and exit station, oh and I pay $4.50 to park at the garage, but in NYC it costs less than $3.00 to ride the Subway....anywhere you go) it is great.
What I would really love to have is an app for my Blackberry that can tell me when a train is coming into a station. Metro has a "schedule" that is has posted on it's website. But it is a joke. That schedule is never kept. During rush hour in the morning and the afternoon there is a train about every five to 10 minutes but outside of rush hour trains run about every 10 to 20 minutes. And you don't know how long of a wait you'll have until you are practically on the platform. James has a great app for his phone that shows him the train schedules in real time, so you know how long you have to hustle to catch a train. But I don't.
So here is my pitch to those app writing crazy entrepreneurs: write me an app for the Blackberry for Washington, DC Metro!!! I'll even pay for such an app!!!
I am in love with the majority of my commute since while on Metro I can read, knit, complete a Sudoku or crossword puzzle, and/or sleep. I am rather calm and relaxed. Aside for the occasional delays, noisy touristas, and the outrageous expense (it costs me $10.30 a day to take Metro based on my entrance and exit station, oh and I pay $4.50 to park at the garage, but in NYC it costs less than $3.00 to ride the Subway....anywhere you go) it is great.
What I would really love to have is an app for my Blackberry that can tell me when a train is coming into a station. Metro has a "schedule" that is has posted on it's website. But it is a joke. That schedule is never kept. During rush hour in the morning and the afternoon there is a train about every five to 10 minutes but outside of rush hour trains run about every 10 to 20 minutes. And you don't know how long of a wait you'll have until you are practically on the platform. James has a great app for his phone that shows him the train schedules in real time, so you know how long you have to hustle to catch a train. But I don't.
So here is my pitch to those app writing crazy entrepreneurs: write me an app for the Blackberry for Washington, DC Metro!!! I'll even pay for such an app!!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
House of Ill
Last Friday I get an email while at work from James telling me he has really done something to his back and would be going to Family Health to see a doctor late that morning. Then I get a text message that he "has slipped something" in his back, was on quarters until Tuesday, and was currently waiting for his prescriptions to be filled at the Pharmacy. Poor guy. When I got home Friday evening he was on the couch with a heating pad and high as a kite from the pain medicine. I guess that is what I looked like in August when I was on mandatory bed rest for my back strain. I couldn't sit and stare at him for to long...we had the boys to pick up for the weekend.
Because of the weather last week they boys had only one day of school. Which was good in the sense that Joe was on the downswing of a cold. And Jaime was on the upswing. So no absences were needed. Poor Jaime looked just awful on Friday night. I put the third row seating up so he could stretch out. He climbed into the back of Lola and just laid there. Usually he is running around the cars and climbing on things during the pick up/drop off. I got all the boys back to the house, dropped them off to take showers and change into PJs, and took myself to the grocery store for comfort food and cold medicine for Jaime.
I decided that it would be a lazy, movie watching, PJ wearing weekend. The boys had a great time. We had a Pixar movie marathon in chronological order. We made it from Toy Story to Ratatouille. And had a rousing game of Killer Bunnies on Saturday night with Molly and Chris. Joe won. Once Jaime was on cold medicine he did just fine. And completed the T-Rex and alligator from this Lego Creator set we got him for his birthday. That alligator was awesome!
Except it was only lazy and PJ wearing for the boys. I wouldn't let James help at all for fear of aggravating his back even more. Which meant I made three meals a day, took care of the dog and cats, washed clothes (which I do anyway--James doesn't trust himself around the washer/dryer), and drove everywhere when needed. The things you do for your loved ones.
UPDATE: turns out that James' spine was out of alignment. He saw an osteopath on Monday who "manipulated" his back. I shouldn't have been laughing to myself but it was funny to see the doctor put James in these weird positions. At one point James lost his breath as discs slipped back in place. He could touch his toes afterwards. Something he hadn't done in months. He is doing so much better! The osteopath will become a regular appointment from here on out.
Because of the weather last week they boys had only one day of school. Which was good in the sense that Joe was on the downswing of a cold. And Jaime was on the upswing. So no absences were needed. Poor Jaime looked just awful on Friday night. I put the third row seating up so he could stretch out. He climbed into the back of Lola and just laid there. Usually he is running around the cars and climbing on things during the pick up/drop off. I got all the boys back to the house, dropped them off to take showers and change into PJs, and took myself to the grocery store for comfort food and cold medicine for Jaime.
I decided that it would be a lazy, movie watching, PJ wearing weekend. The boys had a great time. We had a Pixar movie marathon in chronological order. We made it from Toy Story to Ratatouille. And had a rousing game of Killer Bunnies on Saturday night with Molly and Chris. Joe won. Once Jaime was on cold medicine he did just fine. And completed the T-Rex and alligator from this Lego Creator set we got him for his birthday. That alligator was awesome!
Except it was only lazy and PJ wearing for the boys. I wouldn't let James help at all for fear of aggravating his back even more. Which meant I made three meals a day, took care of the dog and cats, washed clothes (which I do anyway--James doesn't trust himself around the washer/dryer), and drove everywhere when needed. The things you do for your loved ones.
UPDATE: turns out that James' spine was out of alignment. He saw an osteopath on Monday who "manipulated" his back. I shouldn't have been laughing to myself but it was funny to see the doctor put James in these weird positions. At one point James lost his breath as discs slipped back in place. He could touch his toes afterwards. Something he hadn't done in months. He is doing so much better! The osteopath will become a regular appointment from here on out.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Feed the Bunnies!!!!
Feeding bunnies water and cabbage is a great way to kill bunnies! As is Earthquake, Crow Bar, Kitchen Wisks, Acid Rain, Ebola Virus, or the Hositle Pentacostal. Let it be known that I am not talking about killing real, cute, fuzzie, living bunnies. I'm talking about Sinster Bunnies, Super Bunnies, Lone Ranger Bunny, Lumbering Bunnies, and even Gleeful Bunnies. They are the stars of my family's favorite card game...Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot. Basically the object of the game is to collect bunnies, kill other players bunnies, and collect carrots. And if you have the "magic carrot" in the end you win the game.
It all started in February 2009 when my sister's friend introduced her and my brother-in-law during her recovery from Claude. And it was an instant hit. This is a great game. It is fun, challenging, frustrating, and we all just have a blast when playing. Which has become almost weekly now that both Molly and Chris, James and I have all eleven booster decks (thank you Rich! you are the best!!!) each.
The gentleman who created Killing Bunnies was most likely on something, but the more a read Bunny Bits, I believe he was a bored sailor on an aircraft carrier and created the game to pass the time. There are some crazy cards that twist the game inside and out. As a matter of fact, during last Saturday night's game all the water and cabbage cards (which you need to feed your bunnies) were taken away but then were given back later on. It was kind of scary there with no water and cabbage cards. I'm getting a head of myself.
It can be a bit daunting the first time you play, but it is worth it. Because once you get the basics the sky is the limit. Oh! And there are three other variations you can play too: Kinder Bunnies (the kinder, gentler bunnies--which you still get to kill), Killer Bunnies and the Journey to Jupiter (its a card and board game rolled into one and is awesome), and Killer Bunnies and the Ultimate Odyssey (which we haven't tried yet but has to be just as fun).
I do want to give some advice about age appropriateness of the games. For kids ten and under I think that Kinder Bunnies will be their limit. The rules aren't that complex and the cards are easy to understand. The other Killer Bunnies (Quest, Journey, and Odyssey) have some complex rules and the cards can take some time to comprehend and understand. Jaime loves Kinder Bunnies but has no interest in Killer Bunnies. But Joe loves Killer Bunnies.
Basically if you are looking for a fun and interactive game to waste a Saturday night away on then check out Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot. Game night will never be the same.
It all started in February 2009 when my sister's friend introduced her and my brother-in-law during her recovery from Claude. And it was an instant hit. This is a great game. It is fun, challenging, frustrating, and we all just have a blast when playing. Which has become almost weekly now that both Molly and Chris, James and I have all eleven booster decks (thank you Rich! you are the best!!!) each.
The gentleman who created Killing Bunnies was most likely on something, but the more a read Bunny Bits, I believe he was a bored sailor on an aircraft carrier and created the game to pass the time. There are some crazy cards that twist the game inside and out. As a matter of fact, during last Saturday night's game all the water and cabbage cards (which you need to feed your bunnies) were taken away but then were given back later on. It was kind of scary there with no water and cabbage cards. I'm getting a head of myself.
It can be a bit daunting the first time you play, but it is worth it. Because once you get the basics the sky is the limit. Oh! And there are three other variations you can play too: Kinder Bunnies (the kinder, gentler bunnies--which you still get to kill), Killer Bunnies and the Journey to Jupiter (its a card and board game rolled into one and is awesome), and Killer Bunnies and the Ultimate Odyssey (which we haven't tried yet but has to be just as fun).
I do want to give some advice about age appropriateness of the games. For kids ten and under I think that Kinder Bunnies will be their limit. The rules aren't that complex and the cards are easy to understand. The other Killer Bunnies (Quest, Journey, and Odyssey) have some complex rules and the cards can take some time to comprehend and understand. Jaime loves Kinder Bunnies but has no interest in Killer Bunnies. But Joe loves Killer Bunnies.
Basically if you are looking for a fun and interactive game to waste a Saturday night away on then check out Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot. Game night will never be the same.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Birthday celebrations
This month Jaime has hit double digits! The big 1-0! We still can't believe he is ten years old! He has gotten slightly taller and slightly bigger in the clothing department. But is no where near the growth his brother, Joe, is going through. We aren't complaining....yet....
It happened to also be our friend's Becky and Leo's daughter, Makenzie, 8th birthday this month and so we planned a joint/surprise birthday party for both Jaime and Makenzie. Of course Makenzie was in on the party planning. It was only a surprise for Jaime. But Makenzie was so excited about the surprise part for Jaime.
Now Becky is the baker that I want to be some day when I have the kitchen of my dreams. She created, almost single handily, one of the coolest birthday cakes. Jaime is totally into Legos right now, and so the party theme was...Legos. Including the cake:
We had to cut the cake before everyone arrived because the wight of the cake was making it sag in the back. But it didn't matter. The cake was amazing and the kids loved it!
Everyone had a great time that night. Joe I believe was a little jealous of the all the Legos that Jaime got and maybe of even the cake. Just means I need to get creative for his birthday later this year when he turns the big 1-2.
While the kids watched 3-D movies, the adults played a rousing game of Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot. What is Killer Bunnies you ask? Stay tuned and I will fill you in on our favorite game in the coming week.....
To see the limited photos I took of the party click here.
It happened to also be our friend's Becky and Leo's daughter, Makenzie, 8th birthday this month and so we planned a joint/surprise birthday party for both Jaime and Makenzie. Of course Makenzie was in on the party planning. It was only a surprise for Jaime. But Makenzie was so excited about the surprise part for Jaime.
Now Becky is the baker that I want to be some day when I have the kitchen of my dreams. She created, almost single handily, one of the coolest birthday cakes. Jaime is totally into Legos right now, and so the party theme was...Legos. Including the cake:
We had to cut the cake before everyone arrived because the wight of the cake was making it sag in the back. But it didn't matter. The cake was amazing and the kids loved it!
Everyone had a great time that night. Joe I believe was a little jealous of the all the Legos that Jaime got and maybe of even the cake. Just means I need to get creative for his birthday later this year when he turns the big 1-2.
While the kids watched 3-D movies, the adults played a rousing game of Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot. What is Killer Bunnies you ask? Stay tuned and I will fill you in on our favorite game in the coming week.....
To see the limited photos I took of the party click here.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ah, the expectation of snow...The current weather pattern as been quite the debate these past few days. It appears that Mother Nature will bring the White Stuff to us once again. During the evening rush hour. I passed at least five snow/salt plows waiting in strategic locations on my drive to Metro this morning. At least we have more than the eight the City of Atlanta has total! I'm glad to be a bad weather prepared region than the southern states right now. Forecasters are saying anywhere between 1" and 4". We shall see what actually accumulates!
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