blog, blog, blog

See, one of the inherent problems with blogging, well, never, is that a lot of "potential" blog entries get lodged in my brain. So when I actually resolve to write a post, I can't decide what to write about. A little ridiculous.

Anyway, here in Columbia City, Seattle, we have had one group of treat-seeking kids today. So I've got a little couch time. And I'm staring at the pumpkins. I can't get enough of this fantastic homemade applesauce I've been scarfing down all day.

Which reminds me...if you ever need the perfect treat for having people over, or just for spicing up a meal, this is my absolute favorite fall treat, compliments of Ina Garten, the author of Barefoot Contessa cookbooks.

First, you make some applesauce. Pretty basic - equal parts sweet red and tart green apples. 6 or 8 of each. Peel, quarter, and core the apples. Zest and juice a couple of oranges and a lemon, and toss the apples with them. Stick the apples in a pot that can go in your oven, and add some brown sugar, a stick of butter, a couple of teaspoons of cinnamon, and a little allspice. Bake it for 1.5 hours at 350, until all the apples are soft. Mix it all up with a whisk until it's nice and smooth.

Now, the brilliant part. While your applesauce is baking, take a bunch of those baby pumpkins - one for each person at the table. I use little sugar pumpkins, but you can even use the decorative ones. Cut off and reserve the tops, scoop out the seeds, and sprinkle the insides with salt and pepper. Once the applesauce is done, stick the pumpkins on a baking sheet, fill each one with applesauce, put the tops back on, and roast at 350 for 50 minutes, or until the pumpkins are tender but not mushy.

The pumpkin/applesauce combination is amazing, and you look really cool. Win-win.

too many stories to tell: pictures from the last few months

reappearing from the abyss

I have been entirely absent from the blogosphere for the last ten months.

Here is to a fresh start!

this is seriously my worst nightmare

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003828706_websnake09m.html

Rattler's decapitated head bites Prosser man

By The Associated Press

PROSSER — A man was bitten by the decapitated head of a rattlesnake on his property near Prosser.

Fifty-three-year-old Danny Anderson and his son saw the five-foot snake Monday evening while feeding horses. They pinned it with a pipe and cut off its head with a shovel.

When Anderson reached down to pick it up he says the snake head twisted around and bit his index finger. He says if felt like his hand was in a fire pit.

In the ten minutes it took to reach Prosser Memorial Hospital the venom spread through his body and his tongue had already started to swell. He was treated with shots at the hospital and at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland.

State Fish and Wildlife Department biologist Mike Livingston says it's possible the snake had the heat-sensing ability to make one last attack or it may have been a reflex.

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I think I would die of shock.

what is your drink?

http://www.buttafly.com/starbucks/index.php

homeowners!

It's funny now that I didn't even mark this house down to go look at. When I saw it on Redfin (online listings) I skipped over it, with the thought, "That has got to be the ugliest paint scheme imaginable."

We found our new house by accident. Korwin, Kendall and I were headed to Wenatchee to celebrate Elle's first birthday party. Korwin printed out a few of our favorite listings and we made our way around the city, hoping to visit a few open houses. (Usually in the first week of a listing, a house will be shown on Sat. and Sun.) None of the houses we were looking at were open - maybe due to the gray drizzle ruining what should be a summer Saturday in Seattle. We had one more house on our list, in Columbia City; I think Korwin wanted to get going but I said we might as well go look, so we drove down there. The house was actually open so we got out of the car and walked around, knowing that we probably weren't really that interested. Korwin drove up the street we were on and we saw an open house at the end. I said, "Oh yeah! I remember this one; let's just stop and look."

Three days later, we submitted an offer and accepted the seller's counter-offer. Four days later, we were in the house getting it inspected. Five days later, we are deciding on loans and financing. It's amazing to me how fast things can happen.

Some important details: Our house is three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a partially finished basement. It is about 2000 square feet, has a really nice yard and patio, and a little garden/tool shed. It's backed up against a nature preserve called Hitt's Hill, and it's two blocks to the center of Columbia City. We're also located a short walk from the new light rail line from the airport to downtown (opening in 2 summers.) The address is 5231 37th Avenue S., Seattle.

We do have some exciting eventual plans for our house (tighten up some seals, remodel the bathrooms, change the cabinets and counter-tops, and redesign the basement), but it is extremely livable for now.

Except for the paint. In the entire house, I think I like the color of one room. Any ideas? Feel free to comment, email, etc.

Pictures!