I do all my own stunts

It's Oscar/Mommy Day

I have deemed today Oscar/Mommy Day.  With a relatively clear schedule and nothing that can't be pushed out until tomorrow, I thought we would have a special day together.  The recent home improvements we've been engaged in, and our utter disaster of a household during the kitchen project, have made poor Oscar a little on edge.  

We started the day by sitting in his favorite chair by the window; Oscar watching the joggers and dog walkers pass by and I checking my email.  We then set out on our (what seems like daily) trip to Home Depot for some serious head hanging out the window and wind-in-the-face action.  Next, Oscar and I walked to the dog park.  Various butts were sniffed and a selection of trees and bushes were perfumed.  Oddly, the dog park was virtually empty and at one point we were the only pair there.  I suppose it's not surprising at 11:00 AM on an overcast weekday in January (Is it a sign that the unemployment rate is going down?), but we had a great time just the two of us.  We then had a delicious t-r-e-a-t and he is currently engaging in one of his other favorite activities: snoozing/twitching under my feet while I work at the computer.  

Oscar also loves to read books and take naps on the bed, so we might do some of that later this afternoon.  Maybe we will take a little trip down to the lake for some more sniffing and perfuming the bushes.  I don't know, we will have to discuss it.  

This is one of my favorite pictures of Oscar and I.  It was taken on another overcast day last May.  There is nothing remarkable about the photo, but I just love the way he is looking up at me;  his intense, adoring eyes, always so eager to please.  The truth is, we adore each other with the same intensity.  I've never thought of myself as a very warm or 'maternal' person, but I have to say that I love being his mom.  He and I have a special bond; different from his or my relationships with anyone else.  He trusts me profoundly and I love him unwaveringly.  I wasn't lying when I said we discuss things together.  We speak each other's language.  

Here is a sampling of some of my other favorite photos.  

I feel like I should definitely mention that Oscar shares a special bond with his dad as well.  Aren't they adorable together?  

Thank you, gentle reader, for obliging me my super self-indulgent gushing and fawning over my little love bug.  Oscar/Mommy Day doesn't happen very often, so I figure I'm allowed.  

The grand reveal

Kitchen 2010

Our little kitchen project is finished!  

Although the less than desirable view into our neighbor's carport/art studio/toolshed has not changed, nearly everything else has.  Our parents joined forces and generously gifted us with a new dishwasher, a disposal, the plumbing services required for both appliances, new countertops, a new bank of drawers and countless man hours installing these items, sanding and refinishing cabinets and painting, painting, so much painting.  It is one of the most amazing and elaborate Christmas gifts Brian and I have ever received and we are so thankful.  

If you saw my previous post, you can see how desperately we needed this.  The final result is fresh, calm and uncluttered.  Plus, we now have what feels like an acre of counter space.  The pristine surfaces and clean lines make me supremely happy.  It is shocking how much of my mood is wrapped up in having an orderly living space.  I almost couldn't survive the three weeks in a cloud of sawdust, pouring my cereal and making toast in the living room every morning.  I was not a very nice person to be around.  Now, I can finally breathe again (Brian is relieved).  

Additionally, we replaced the flooring, repainted all the walls, trim and cabinets inside and out.  We also did a few little tweaks here and there like replacing all the light switchplates and hanging a piece of art over the electrical panel.  If someone can explain to me what purpose having the electrical panel located smack in the middle of the kitchen serves, I'm listening.  

We also added a few shelves to display cookbooks and for keeping spices handy.  

A few more views:

I am in love.  

First major DIY exploit of 2010

Kitchen Makeover Sneak Peek

The impetus:  A dishwasher

There she is.  She is so lovely.

For Christmas, Brian and I were the recipients of a supremely generous and coveted gift from both my parents and his parents.  A dishwasher.  Our house, having been built in 1938, did not feature one of these blessed mainstays of modernity and we just chalked it up as part of the charm of living in an old house.  We are not too pansy to get our hands wet.  We hosted annual Thanksgiving feasts for 15 people and did dishes for 2 days afterwards.  'Man up!' we said, and man up we did.  Until we didn't feel like it anymore.  

Well, we've finally stepped into the 21st century and Oh, it's glorious!  I positively adore loading the dishes, studying the user's manual, pushing the tiny buttons and watching the glittery lights illuminate.  Most of all, I love inspecting the final result after the cycle is finished.  Glassware - not a smudge.  

I wrote a while back about how much I loathed our kitchen, especially its imaginative color scheme.  So, with the installation of our fancy new dishwasher, we decided to roll up our sleeves and give our entire kitchen a much needed makeover.  Take a look at these photos and you'll see what I mean.  

Gah!  Look at those cabinets.  I told myself that they were 'retro' and after I saw their similarity to Betty Draper's kitchen on Mad Men, I told myself that they were 'cool'.  But one can only delude oneself for so long.  Even I saw that they were in horrible shape.  And tell me, how is it possible that a house can exist for 70 years without one owner having any familiarity with a cleaning product?  

We are not entirely finished with the makeover.  We still have a few touch-up projects to complete, so the grand reveal will have to wait a bit.  But I wanted to share a few quick photos of what the heck I've been doing for the past 2 weeks, besides neglecting this blog.  

The kitchen's single element I adored and insisted on incorporating into the makeover were the super retro red drawer pulls.  We sanded and refinished the cabinets and drawers and decided to paint them all white to give it a simple, clean look.  

As you may have guessed, we said goodbye to the hideous lavender and lime green color scheme.  We repainted all the trim a crisp white and for the walls we chose Behr 'Puddle' from good old Home Depot.  We splurged and got the 'Premium Plus Ultra' paint.  It supposedly has less fumes and combines primer and paint in one can.  Can you believe it only took one coat?  

We also gave the interior of all the cabinets and drawers a fresh coat of paint.  Have you ever attempted this?  It sucks.  But the result is well worth it.  I took the opportunity to reorganize everything as well.  Having everything in its place makes me absolutely giddy.  

Hopefully we will have everything complete by the end of this weekend and I can share with you guys the fruits of our labor.  It can not come soon enough.  Painting 8 hours a day for 2 weeks allows you a lot of time to dream up fantastic new art, crafting and knitting projects.  I can't wait to get started on something new!    

The most cheerful of baked goods

Cupcakes

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

I am waiting for the plumber.  He was supposed to be here at 8:30 AM; it is now 10:00.  The audacity required to show up one and a half hours late to an appointment defies all credulity.  I should take this extra time at home to do something productive like pay bills, or something relaxing and informative like peruse this month's Sunset magazine.  Yet I am paralyzed.  I am seething with fury over what an asshole this guy is.  

Except the truth is, our plumber isn't an asshole at all.  He is pretty wonderful actually.  Personable, not condescending, talkative, fun.  If it weren't for the constant cloud of stale cigarette smoke surrounding his person, I could picture us being friends.  And, living in a house built in 1938, a plumber friend would be wildly practical.  

How do I handle this?  I've already called his office.  He's on his way.  I don't want to answer the door tapping my foot and pointedly glancing at my left wrist in thinly veiled passive aggression.  It will be hard to keep up my persona of breezy politeness with near toxic levels of bitch coursing through my veins.  How will I manage?  And of course, the plumber and his lateness are not to blame.  Plumbers, cable guys, electrical repair men:  notoriously late.  I know this already.  And an 8:30 AM appointment?  Please!  Getting out of bed any earlier than 9:45 was a grievous aberration; a momentary lapse in the calm, protective cynicism that customarily typifies my character.  

Having engaged in the futile practice of trying to erase the scowl from my forehead in the mirror for the past 15 minutes, I can only think of one other activity to engage in:  telling you folks about the cupcakes I made the other day.  I am hoping that the absurdity of it will have a warming effect on my icy, black heart.  

These delicious lovelies are from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, my vegan idols and saviors of my marriage on multiple occasions.  They're fantastically rich and spicy with bits of candied ginger in the cupcakes and surprisingly well complimented by the cool, lemony cream cheese frosting.  They're perfect and charming and bring a smile to your face, as all cupcakes do.  And I don't know about you, but I constantly crave gingerbread around this time of year.  If you don't have it already, get the book.  Make these cupcakes.  

OK.  I feel a bit better now.  Surprisingly less homicidal, which is a good thing.  And supremely smug in the knowledge that the plumber will get exactly none of my cupcakes.  Mainly because I've already eaten them all and I haven't any left to give him, but I remain smug all the same.  

Happy New Year

Have any resolutions?

Wheat Berry Salad

My resolution, as usual, is to eat healthier.  Not necessarily to eat less overall - less sugar, or less carbs, or fewer Mighty O Donuts.  I've actually resolved to eat more.  More of the good stuff:  fiber, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C, essential fatty acids.  

Here's what I'm going for:  6 servings of whole grains, 4 servings of veg, 4 servings of fruit, 4 servings of dairy alternatives, and 3 servings of protein (tofu, tempeh, legumes, nuts, seeds).  That's a lot of food.  I've found that in order to get all 21 servings in it is necessary to get creative and find foods that double up, like quinoa, a whole grain that is also high in protein, or calcium-fortified orange juice.  

This Wheat Berry Salad came my way from my friend, Dana, who is beautiful and successful and always seems to be brilliantly balancing about 100 million responsibilities, even her nutrition.  She has always eaten very healthily, even in college; when the rest of us subsisted on Top Ramen and pb&j, Dana always seemed to be munching on a salad or a bowl of yogurt mixed with Special K.  I'm sure she shared a few pizzas with us, or bagels with cream cheese, but I've always admired her for what appeared to be a very healthy, balanced diet.  

So, Dana passed this recipe on to me which is originally from Ellie Krieger of the Food Network.  Not only is it delicious and simple to make, it is packed full of nutrients.  It makes you feel good.  

Wheat Berry Salad

Serves 6

1 1/2 cups hard wheat berries

3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1/2 cup tart dried cherries, chopped

1 scallion, white and green parts, chopped

1/2 cup chopped parsley

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, combine the wheat berries and enough water to come 2 inches over them.  Bring to a boil and cook uncovered for 1 hour, or until tender.  Drain and let cool.  In a large bowl, combine the wheat berries with all the other ingredients.