Who do they think they are kidding?

No Publix, it's not premium if it has high fructose corn syrup in it. No matter how nice the packaging.

My Laundry room - How awkward.

I love having my washer and dryer in the house. Back in my old house they were in the garage, and I'd get my clothes all sweaty just getting them out of the dryer. They are in the kitchen now, where I can hear them and remember about them. And it's way more comfortable. But it is kind of awkward, working around the bi-fold doors.There you have it. The bi-fold doors just barely let the dryer door open. And the kitchen door to the garage is right there too. Don't even think about opening it if the bi-folds are open. Wait, you can't tell from the garage. Bang! Oops. You can't get in, anyway!

The other bi-fold doesn't give me much room to work at the front of the washer, either. Why do I keep the doors? Well they keep the area tidy looking and they muffle the sound. But you can bet my next washer will have a lid hinged in the back. I'm not sure what to do about that dryer. And no, I can't just let them trade positions, they are where they need to be. It's just awkward, that's all.

I cannot believe it. I believe it.

I thought if I went out of my way to request the kitchen be clean by 8:45 so I could make my bake-sale goodies, that my daughter at least would realize that meant not to wait until 8:55 to start cooking.

No, she's in there making ramon and I'm cooling my heels until she's done. And she'll leave the pot in the sink too, because that's how she rolls.

They are leaving in January.

Bake sale biscotti

I'm always uncertain how to package home-made goodies for a bake sale. Do I arrange them on a plate and cover with plastic wrap? (Bake sale ladies or teens can figure out how you can get them home or eat them on the spot.)

This time, I've made biscotti for the bake sale on Tuesday, since I am working 10 hours on Monday. What timing, right? Biscotti still tastes great 2 or 5 days later. So I decided to put portions of cookies in baggies with labels for two reasons. One, it saves the volunteer from having to package them, and because if I put these loose in a plastic box they get kind of broken up.

I wanted to put all the ingredients on the labels, but they wouldn't fit. These are whole grain cinnamon nut biscotti from the King Arthur's Flour blog. I love that site.

The irony, a bake sale to benefit the American Heart Association. I'll have mine with whipped cream, please.

It's always something...

I had to have my old air conditioner replaced last week. It was over 12 years old, so it was time. In every other house I've been in where the AC has been replaced, the new unit was smaller than the old. My new one covers the whole concrete pad, and goes up to the top of where the ficus was trimmed. Of course, the ficus height is determined by anonymous guys from Top Cut. I doubt my electric bill will go down as predicted, since my housemates turn the thermostat down whenever they feel like it. Yeah it's comfortable at 76, but not necessary, IMO.

This morning I'm just waiting around for the permit inspectors from the city. It could happen, really.

More tea towels!

Yes, even more! These 2 are actually hand embroidered. They are bigger and more dramatic because of it, but I can tell there won't be dozens of these by November.