4.29.2008
Miscellany
4.28.2008
Finished...
Now...just a brief bit of time in class this evening for the final exam and then a wait until graduation a week from Saturday.
4.26.2008
Reading List
This is the time of year when some of my favorite fiction authors have new releases. I don't read lots of fiction...but spring and summer seem to call for easier, breezier reads.
This book (above) has been highly recommended by several co-workers. I was attracted to the cover when I first saw it...yes...I do judge a book by its cover!
I've been wanting to read the Country Living Crafting A Business book for several months. It seems to be put together like the Victoria "Business of Bliss" series from a few years ago.
I read a review of Shakespeare's Wife a few months ago...non-fiction.
This book about life in the library is absolutely hysterical! The writing style is easy, breezy...but it holds many truths. It's definitely a "must read" for anyone in public service.
4.25.2008
Cupcake, anyone?
*Preheat oven to 375. Put 16 paper baking cases in a muffin pan, or put 16 double-layer paper cases on a baking sheet.
*Put the coffee granules in a cup or small bowl, adding the boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Let cool slightly.
*Put the butter, sugar, and eggs in a bowl. Sift in the flour and baking powder, then beat the ingredients together until smooth. Add the dissolved coffee and the sour cream and beat together until well mixed. Spoon the batter into the paper cases.
* Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until well risen and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
*To make the frosting, sift 3/4 cup of the confectioners' sugar into a bowl, then gradually mix in the warm water to make a coating consistency that will cover the back of a wooden spoon. Dissolve the coffee granules in the boiling water. Sift the remaining confectioners' sugar into a bowl, then stir in the dissolved coffee granules. Spoon the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a piping tip. When the cupcakes are cold, coat the tops with the white frosting, then quickly pipe the coffee frosting in parallel lines on top. Using a skewer, draw it across the piped lines in both directions. Let set before serving.
Friday
4.24.2008
Garden Anticipation
4.21.2008
Trash Pickin'
Home Again, but wish this was here...
A few of us spent the remaining morning hours walking around DuPont Circle, checking out the things we missed while visiting the "big sights"....
The Sunday Farmer's Market was in full swing, but due to the intermittent rain, the area wasn't crowded.
Mushrooms, galore...so many varieties!
A huge pot of rosemary...$65.00
Beautiful radishes and beets
Poppies in buckets
Many varieties of greens
Pretty little tulips
...and a colorful flat of petunias.
I was so tempted to try to bring some of this home, but I restrained myself. It won't be too long until the markets open around here...I'll just have to wait.
4.20.2008
4.19.2008
Saturday in Georgetown
We visited the campus of Georgetown University...there were several high school visits in progress, and one area of the campus was set up with lots of tables featuring the various organizations in operation at GU. The trees were absolutely gorgeous...when I scan through my photos, I see a pattern; doorways, blooms, and religious art.
While strolling around M Street, after breakfast and before lunch, we stumbled upon Georgetown Cupcake. Cute, cute, cute little cupcakes. I bought two--a key lime, and a double vanilla. Yum.
The surprising news on this trip--we were awakened early Friday morning by an Ace Alert---a text message informing us of the earthquake that shook our world at home. The alerts usually let us know about snow and ice delays, and tornado watches/warnings for the UE campus community. I called my daughter and she said it was kind of scary, but there was no visible damage. I look forward to getting home tomorrow evening--I'm such a homebody.
4.16.2008
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
This is an "upclose and personal" picture of the tree outside my front porch...the one I took a photo of a week ago. It's so nice to see leaves on the tree now.
Here's the little concrete angel "guarding" the front porch. She used to live in the rose garden...now she lives amongst the ivy.
4.13.2008
Upcoming Trip
The Cherry Blossom Festival will be over, but I'm sure there will be some beautiful sights to see mid-week when my class has its final trip of the program. We'll be heading to Washington, D.C. for a whirlwind trip including the Holocaust Museum, the Hirshhorn, National Cathedral, Arlington National Cemetary, and the National Art Gallery.
We've made several trips as a class over the past three years...a long weekend visit to Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky with side trips to the Abbey of Gethsemani, and and overnight stay with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth~~for a World Religions class; a daytrip to the north of Evansville for a visit to the Amish, and a long weekend (which was much-dreaded, but very much enjoyed) to the Pine Mountain Settlement School in eastern Kentucky~~for environmental science.
Let's just hope that Delta doesn't decided to ground all of their flights this week...
4.11.2008
Sunny skies, cookies in the oven
After work yesterday, I decided (as I often do on a pre-day off eve) to do a quick Sam's Club shop...they had the most beautiful strawberries~~2 lbs. for under $3.00. As soon as I got home, I cut up a few and had a little scoop of ice cream with them...so tasty! I needed "comfort food" after doing a few price checks...this whole gas thing is really making a huge impact on everything. Most filling stations I passed on my way to Sam's had their "regular" (remember Ethyl??) priced at $3.45 / gallon. Sam's gas price was $3.32. A small savings, but unbelievable as it seems, I felt like I got a bargain. The convenience of living within 6 blocks of the workplace is a small comfort. Don't know what I'd do if I actually had to commute to work.
Almost time for a cookie!
4.10.2008
I Never Wanted to be "The Weather Lady"
We're all gonna have webbed feet before this is over! During my first "real" job after high school, there was a woman in our office who constantly fretted about the weather. I feel like I've turned into her on one level. I don't fret about it, but I do think and plan with the weather in mind. We're supposed to get lots of rain in the next few days and powerful storms are in the forecast. Little blooms from all of those Bradford Pears are blowin' in the wind...so glad I took my picture earlier!
When I got to work this morning, one of my co-workers expressed "big interest" in one of my bargain acquisitions this past weekend...the Miraculous Medal. It will be going back to work with me after lunch for her. I was just going to use it in an art piece.
4.08.2008
A View from the porch...and down the alley
4.06.2008
Catching Up
It's been awhile...as usual, not much going on. As I look through photos on my phone, I decided to do a little blog post. Last Monday...
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Photo is from http://www.mortons.com/ While perusing new books this week, I came across Morton's the Cookbook 100 Steakhouse Recipes fo...
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I've been looking forward to today all week...I'm packing up my sewing machine and visiting my friend Michelle. We're going to ...