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Catching up - In reverse
Dec. 27th, 2009 08:27 pmJust home from a belated Christmas with the 'rents. And came home to another 8 inches of snow in the driveway. Impressive, given that we were only gone a little over 24 hours.
Santa brought some interesting goodies. The "Fairy Tale Knits" book I wanted, a new 9x13 pan (The old one being warped in several planes), and an XM satellite radio. Unfortunately, it does not support the A La Carte package. So I'm trying to figure out how to get set up so that I have the Frank Sinatra, Standards, and Swing channel without having to buy the "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" package. I have no interest in the Premiums - I'm not interested in Sports, I can't stand Oprah, and I'm far enough to the "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" side of things to want nothing to do with the Liberal Talk channels. Still and all, I'll have fun with it. Almost as much fun as trying to even explain the concept of Satellite Radio to Mom. ;-)
Anneliese adores the EasyBake oven and the Light Bright. She also put her new Ariel doll into the cradle that Dad made her and put her to bed. Tres Cute.
I made Mom a necklace - though it seems a little snug to me. Hmmm.... Not sure how to fix that, or if she'll even let me. I might get a few more beads and try to make another crystal cluster and splice it in. Even another couple inches would make a big difference.
And, I finally got to get lots of use out of my shnazzy granite slab. Dad got some Sour Cream Pralines, Pecan clusters, hazelnut pralines, chocolate peanut butter bark, chocolate covered caramallows, and some homemade candy canes.
This was a learning experience. And, I have no brains. I was out at the supermarket early this week, looking for the Hazelnuts. It's a nice little store, and the manager stopped to ask if I needed help finding something. I asked about the nuts - all they had was in the shell. FIne, I say! Tedious, but doable. (Also asked about the Baker's ammonia. He knew what it was, but didn't know anybody who carries it anymore. Gonna have to order.)
I got home and went, "So I have to crack the nuts.... with what?" Dude. I have no nutcracker. Nor could I find pliers. It was much to icy out to trot out to the garage. So I ended up with a vinyl mallet in the basement. Trying to break the shells and not the nuts. WIth about a 70% success rate.
The candy canes made the granite really worth it's weight in gold. But man, those are a pain. And I never did get them very minty - either with extract or oil. Not sure how that works out. But I have a new respect for people who do sugar work. And a new technique. I bought some of those cute little stretch gloves they sell in the winter that aren't really very warm. And put vinyl gloves over them. So I could pull sugar without too much burning of the fingers.
At least Dad was suitably impressed. He said I'd have gotten on famously with his Grandfather.
Naturally. The Fries do tend to gravitate toward each other.
Santa brought some interesting goodies. The "Fairy Tale Knits" book I wanted, a new 9x13 pan (The old one being warped in several planes), and an XM satellite radio. Unfortunately, it does not support the A La Carte package. So I'm trying to figure out how to get set up so that I have the Frank Sinatra, Standards, and Swing channel without having to buy the "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" package. I have no interest in the Premiums - I'm not interested in Sports, I can't stand Oprah, and I'm far enough to the "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" side of things to want nothing to do with the Liberal Talk channels. Still and all, I'll have fun with it. Almost as much fun as trying to even explain the concept of Satellite Radio to Mom. ;-)
Anneliese adores the EasyBake oven and the Light Bright. She also put her new Ariel doll into the cradle that Dad made her and put her to bed. Tres Cute.
I made Mom a necklace - though it seems a little snug to me. Hmmm.... Not sure how to fix that, or if she'll even let me. I might get a few more beads and try to make another crystal cluster and splice it in. Even another couple inches would make a big difference.
And, I finally got to get lots of use out of my shnazzy granite slab. Dad got some Sour Cream Pralines, Pecan clusters, hazelnut pralines, chocolate peanut butter bark, chocolate covered caramallows, and some homemade candy canes.
This was a learning experience. And, I have no brains. I was out at the supermarket early this week, looking for the Hazelnuts. It's a nice little store, and the manager stopped to ask if I needed help finding something. I asked about the nuts - all they had was in the shell. FIne, I say! Tedious, but doable. (Also asked about the Baker's ammonia. He knew what it was, but didn't know anybody who carries it anymore. Gonna have to order.)
I got home and went, "So I have to crack the nuts.... with what?" Dude. I have no nutcracker. Nor could I find pliers. It was much to icy out to trot out to the garage. So I ended up with a vinyl mallet in the basement. Trying to break the shells and not the nuts. WIth about a 70% success rate.
The candy canes made the granite really worth it's weight in gold. But man, those are a pain. And I never did get them very minty - either with extract or oil. Not sure how that works out. But I have a new respect for people who do sugar work. And a new technique. I bought some of those cute little stretch gloves they sell in the winter that aren't really very warm. And put vinyl gloves over them. So I could pull sugar without too much burning of the fingers.
At least Dad was suitably impressed. He said I'd have gotten on famously with his Grandfather.
Naturally. The Fries do tend to gravitate toward each other.
