New Car

Today was a big day. I made my first car purchase! Yes, it was time for the camaro to go (I will miss it, just not in the winter). On Saturday, I pick up my brand new Saturn Ion! I will post some pictures this weekend.

Plant update

In addition to the plants I bought at the farmer's market, I did a little replanting this weekend.
First a picture of the herbs from the farmer's market... basil, cilantro, and parsley.

I also repotted the Dahlia plant that we got at the farmer's market when Ken and Natalie were visiting. It is always blooming!

I also split and repotted an indoor plant that has been needing it for almost a year. I don't know what it is called but now I have four pots of it.. including one pot with two plants.

And although I repotted the tomato plant a couple of weeks ago, I thought I would put a picture of it up too. There are even some tomatoes that are almost there (and dozens of others that will follow shortly)

Cake

I wanted to bake yesterday so I decided to make lemon cake.
I used a mix from a box but when it was done, I added lemon syrup (1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar heated until the sugar dissolved) and crushed some strawberries in enough buttercream frosting for the filling. I think it turned out pretty well. We took the leftovers to a last minute BBQ today. I think it went over pretty well!

It's been a while

I know.. it has been a while since I have posted anything. You would think that I would have so many things to share but I really don't. We have been busy with work and enjoying the nice weather for softball.
We made a trip to Des Moines for my aunt and uncle's 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday May 12.
This weekend, we went to the farmers market again.. here are some pictures. I will post a picture soon of the herbs I bought and an update on our tomato plant.. it is loaded with little tomatoes! I am just waiting for them to turn red!
Happy Memorial Day!

Friday Feast number 145

I have missed a few weeks of Friday feast.. A few of them, I haven't really missed, I just thought the questions were really stupid :)

Appetizer
Name a sound you like to hear.

That is a tough one. I love to hear lots of things.. a french horn is the first thing that comes to mind. I have always thought they sounded beautiful. Also, I like listening to a good drumline anyday.

Soup
What is your favorite kind of cheese?

My new favorite is havarti with green olives. Since we live in Wisconsin, I think it would be bad for me to list the cheeses I don't like :)

Salad
Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?

I usually don't but I don't know why. I am usually up earlier on Saturday than any other day of the week.

Main Course
When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?

Uhhh... I don't know, I forgot.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I notice ____________ when _____________.
almost silent sounds, Jason can't hear them

Friday Feast number 142

Appetizer
Name something you would not want to own.

An apartment building. I don't think I could handle all the tenants' complaints.

Soup
Describe your hair (texture, color, length, etc.).

Curly/frizzy/straight (completely depends on the day), strawberry blond (although I prefer to say red), pretty thick, and its usually around shoulder length.

Salad
Finish this sentence: I’ll never forget ___________.

The day Jason proposed (12-14-03)

Main Course
Which famous person would you like to be for one day? Why?

Oprah.. I don't think I could be her for more than one day but it would be cool to see how her life works.

Dessert
Write one sentence about yourself that includes one thing that is true and another thing that is not.

I love to cook and I never procrastinate :)

Playing catch up...

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was out of town last week for my grandmother's funeral on Thursday. Jason's parents had planned a trip to visit us and they arrived on Thursday. We left a car for them with (very poor) directions to our house and came back to Madison on Friday to spend the weekend with them. On Friday we ate lunch at our favorite Japanese restaurant. Then we walked along State Street.
After both Jason and I spent a little time at work, we headed home. Jason's parents had bought a rotisserie chicken for dinner on Thursday night so I used the leftovers to make puff pastry empanadas.
On Saturday I made a batch of my grandma's cinnamon rolls (and a loaf of bread because we didn't need 2 pans of rolls). It was my first try at making them and I think they turned out pretty well.. although I would say that my mom's are even better.
Then we headed to the Farmers market at the capitol. It was a beautiful day and the tulips were in full bloom.

Ken and Natalie bought us a couple plants for our patio. One is a grape tomato plant and the other is a dahlia.


For more pictures of the capitol area, click here.
We grilled some hot dogs for lunch and then rested during the late afternoon (except Jason, he went to lab). Then we went to Abuelos for dinner. Although no one ordered the monster combination platters that Jason and I ordered last time, we still ate plenty!
On Sunday we went to eat brunch at the Great Dane (a brew pub near campus). Again, we ate a ton of great food and then headed to Olbrich Gardens. Jason and I hadn't been there before but we will make sure that we go back. The conservatory had many beautiful orchids and other plants.

Outside, things were just starting to bloom.

For all the pictures from Olbrich (and there are many), click here.
For dinner on Sunday we had Meatloaf Supreme, mashed, potatoes, and green beans. For dessert, I made another batch of the Molten Chocolate Cakes... it was WAY too much chocolate this time and I will only fill the custard cups half full from now on.
It was a great weekend and the weather was beautiful!
Then back to work on Monday. Last night we ate more leftovers (meatloaf sandwiches). And tonight I made a recipe from one of Jamie's heroes, Paula Deen. Mexican chicken casserole (finally, the chicken is gone!) and some Cornbread.