Birthdays!

The start of February is always busy with birthdays in the Hansell house. Jon and I began the month with ice cream for breakfast. Because it is a holiday!  Mine was on a slice of Moose is Loose cinnamon bread and Jon put a cutie on vanilla ice cream, then drenched it all in chocolate sauce. He said it wasn't bad, but felt it might have been better with the oranges sliced up. Then, he went off to work and Steve helped me do chores at the house. 

I had to wait til Moses woke up in order to remake the bed! I had a busy, nice day and figured Moses could have a spot of comfort, too!

Daffs were visible everywhere in the yard! These are in back and looking splendid. The ones along the walk are pretty, too!

Moses was entirely interested in the halibut dinner I'd made. He was intent on getting Jon's attention..or his fish!

Sunday, we enjoyed our annual luncheon out between birthdays. Jon's ordered a sandwich made of two patties with ham and roast beef and bacon and cheese! He got the wrong fries, these were mine. We transferred them over to my plate and he got his own separate.

I had a chicken sandwich. With bacon! I only ate half of mine, I had the chicken part later. Jon left part of his fries, he had those warmed in the air fryer on his birthday!

I did pick up a pair of earrings at the restaurant. I like how they sparkle.

On Jon's birthday, I made chocolate moose muffins for him to take to work, he left them in his Bronco! 

 We had planned on pizza for dinner and Jon opted to go with me to get it. It had also started to snow, just like last year! I may not be privileged enough to get snow on my birthday, but Jon is! Jon decided on a festive only for him sort of pizza. The garlic chicken I bought slid in the oven, made a calzone and a mess, and then was spread back out after it was rescued. I was not happy-it was a rather convoluted kitchen day!!

 Jon's birthday cake was a recipe from a Martha Stewart cookbook that I will probably never use again. It was dense and delicious, but used more flour and sugar than I use normally. It also dropped like a rock and took hours to cool. He wanted a layer cake, so between the layers I spread home made Alaskan raspberry jelly with mini chocolate chips. It was delectable! Reminded me of one of those fancy chocolates in a box that have a burst of juice when you bite into them.

The curls were so easy to make. I got a chocolate bar from the cupboard and the tater peeler from the drawer and made shaved chocolate curls! They would have been larger if I had a thicker bar of chocolate.

26 candles does make a bit of a fire!!! I didn't want to spread them all over the top and make holes everywhere, so I grouped them together. Made them easy to blow out, too- 

 Jon staged his cake and ice cream. It looks good enough to eat and it was more than good enough!

So, another pair of birthdays is over. What does the next year hold? We'll take it day at a time and see what happens. 

snow squirrels

Not much wildlife in a city, even a small one. However, we do have entertaining squirrels! Three arrived at the feeder this morning, but when I finally decided to try to capture some with the camera, only two were in the vicinity. Eventually one scampered up to the feeder and the other stayed on the snowy ground picking up the dropped kernels. 

 It didn't matter how much snow was falling, these critters were intent on feeding. This one was so focused, I wondered if it had gone into mini hibernation!

It finally moved.

 After a bit, the one on the ground skittered up and there was a quiet skirmish for the corncob. The first one climbed further into the locust and the other claimed the fairly cleaned off cob. It wasn't quite as graceful, although I give it points for agility!

I'm hoping Jon will take some winter photos for me. I took these through the windows, Jon is more sneaky and patient. However, my February baby is not exactly thrilled with snow and winter when it needs worked in. He needs to take some time to play with the weather and his camera. He always ends up with amazing pictures! 

The gift of food-

This is perhaps one of my favorite Christmas scenes from this year. Jon had a box of crackers when he was at the computer and stuck them on the shelf overhead. Each time I looked at the holy family next to a box of Cheez-Its with a football, I laughed. 

I decided to make tree shaped biscuits for Christmas dinner instead of rolls. I was a bit skeptical cuz they looked more like arrowheads than trees. Thankfully, they were yummy no matter what they resembled! 

After Christmas, I wanted to use the air fryer to make egg rolls. These things are so easy and incredibly messy. I finally discovered the absolute best way to make good circles. I fry one side in a non stick pot and flip it into the large non stick frying pan. (this was the first one, it was not as well shaped as the rest!) 

 When I was done cooking the sugarless crepes, I fried up the coleslaw/chicken/soy sauce mix in the big pan. From there, I wrapped the mix inside the pancake and glued them shut with paper mache paste (thick mix of flour and water).I did coat the outside with butter before folding them up, I think I'll use a more oil based oil next time.

 They aren't as large as the ones I've made before. They needed to fit inside the fryer! They also were not very uniform in circumference.

 Only one 'popped' open a smidge while they were cooking. I think, next time, I'll make the bread part a tad thinner and add the aforementioned oil as a coating. They didn't 'fry' because it used hot air. Nonetheless, it was a successful experiment.

An air fryer is an absolute wonderful kitchen item to have! I am so glad the guys got me one for Christmas and I'm incredibly glad there was a spot in my kitchen that seemed made for it! Jon says it looks like a professional hair dryer, I wonder if I should call it Frenchy? 

(from youtube)

Post Christmas!

 This is a post with a great many pictures. Today is the 11th day of Christmas, so I reckon that I can still share ones from December and the 25th! First is a brilliant sunrise from early in December.

There weren't as many decorations put up this year. I was too tired. Although, it sure made putting them away easier! Above the kitchen window were bright colors and a friendship ball in a mug- I love different things that remind me of others. 

Socks are always fun. Those get opened up while we eat our traditional cinnamon rolls, or even before! (this is a fuzzy green car wash mitt. It reminded me a bit of Muppets!) 

 The box is from mom's house. Steve liked it and I decided to give it to him for Christmas. I  put some beard accessories inside.

 Mittens, with the glowing eyes, is watching Jon build a Lego Bobcat sort of contraption. I don't think it is possible to have a non Lego Christmas! There has been a definite change in Lego through the years. In the 70's, our bricks were just that. Today, Jon's newest box has several items specific to this kit. Tony told me about a store/place where you can buy bits and bobs that have been lost over the years. Brilliant idea!

 Jon and I had researched and determined which of the air fryers out there was the best buy and most accessible on Black Friday. I had hoped the guys had purchased it and was so thankful they did~ I even used it on Christmas Day! Fun, fun, fun! Mine is black, not purple.

 Jon's workplace had them choose numbers and grab a gift with that number on the tag. Oddly, Jon's gift was an incredibly soft camo lap blanket! He had a yellow and black and camo Christmas this year!

 Moses trying to sit in a bit of cardboard from the air fryer!

 Steve brought his mom down for dinner and she got to open her presents.Steve  helped.

 She really liked the calendar made with photos of animals from Alaska and Oregon.

 I had an idea for a Christmas dessert that looked well in theory, but not in the glass dishes! Chocolate angel food cake with an ice cream I'd mixed using the ingredients from the December DQ Blizzard of the month. Candy cane bits, chocolate bits, vanilla ice cream, and a splash of chocolate sauce. With whipped topping.

We also played an interesting game I'd picked up from 'The Moose is Loose'. It was cute, not entirely competitive, but definitely easy and cute.

We are always glad to hear from Tony. Christmas Day night we had him on speaker phone so we could all enjoy talking to him.

Advent calendars are always a big part of Christmas for me. I have one just for the Advent Sundays and a couple for the days leading up to Christmas. I saw this Hot Wheels calendar and suggested Steve pick it up. It had at least 6 or 7 cars and several odd bits that went with them or the scene. They were not very easy to get out, but he used his pocket knife! The most unusual find behind a numbered 'door' was the red character. We aren't exactly sure if it is supposed to be Santa or just a regular elf.

It was a nice low key Christmas. One of the best sorts to have!

Lights and Lasagna

 Jon  hasn't given me his excellent squirrel photos yet. So, I'm sharing Moses and lasagna and lights. Moses took advantage of a spot of sunshine on Sunday. I'd smashed down the dried catmint in the barrel and it smelled amazing, Moses thought so, too!

 I was asked this morning about the lasagna garden beds I've been making. It isn't this:

 It is this! (I might loan out my book, I've purchased it a couple of times to give away, it makes a great gift, and this type of gardening is a perfectly easy way to grow plants anywhere)

 And these lights are from a few years back, Steve's added more! A lot more.....

 Steve and Moses taking a bit of a break.

 
 The different bulbs for my two beds. All total there were supposed to be 89. However, one of the bags had a few rotted daffodils. Thankfully, I'd gotten some from another Athena garden. We'll see how many of these actually appear in the spring. I love being able to cut flowers for the house, I prefer not to cut the ones in front because those are for show. These beds are in back and also for show, but more for cutting!

 Steve cut an apple box in half, or close to half. It isn't necessary to frame in the lasagna beds, I just find it less messy. I noticed the first beds I made, the layers tended to spread unless contained. These beds also have on the very bottom a base of chicken wire. I noticed last year I only had a few tulips in a bed I'd made years ago and added many to. When I dug down to see what happened, I found numerous tunnels. Wire works well to keep critters out, as long as it has small holes. You could even use screening. Not plastic! My beds would have taken less time to create if I'd used the proper ingredients. In the book, the author suggests what to use for the different layers. The 'noodle' of the bed is peat moss and I only had one bag of peat moss. I should have had two. Peat moss here in EO doesn't break down well, most things don't. I make my layers fairly thin, except for the dirt.

 I halved the bulb count and scattered them in each bed. Where they landed, I tucked them in. Toes, first. Steve laughed. I figure the different varieties will make the flower fairies happier and the mixed colors and scents and shapes will be pretty!

 Steve had some extra wire and I will put that over the top after the last layer of chopped leaves.

 This will be the most interesting bed in the spring and summer. Soil from here is partially from Steve's punkin/sunflower patch. I could have a million weeds as well as sunflower and even rose campion, which is the plant in the middle. The pot broke and I absolutely hate throwing plants away. Thankfully, weeds in these beds are super easy to pull.

While hauling dirt, I spilled the wheelbarrow. I am tipsy, so tipping over the barrow of dirt wasn't a surprise. I was just thankful it was so close to where it needed to go! 

Steve had mowed more leaves for me. These work lovely in a lasagna bed. Whole leaves are ok, but chopped ones tend to break down in 5 years instead of 10. I still don't compost properly here, I'm too fond of the Tillamook method of leaving anything organic outside for 3 days and finding it decaying. Or rusted, as Jon says! 

 This was silly. I had two barrels full of leaves and the one filled less I used on the taller bed. So, when I dragged and dumped the other barrel, I discovered it was a bit too much!!! I fixed it and placed the wire over the top to help deter cats, maybe!

 This is one plant I like, to a point, and will toss. I like lamb's ear. It is pretty when little, but it gets totally out of control fast! I dug up quite a bit and made a large mess. The seeds will grow, thankfully most of them might be in the yard where they will stay mowed. Lamb's ear underfoot is soft!

 All done.

 Steve adding new lights.

May you enjoy this busy week that jump starts most of our holidays and have a splendid Thanksgiving day! 

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy