Andersen's Pea Soup

The tag said "To: Dad, "DO NOT GET NEAR MOM WITH THIS!!!, From: Justin + Stephanie". A present at Christmas, which I carefully made today following the instructions on the bag. Recently Stephanie and Justin were traveling and ate at Andersen's where they purchased it. My sweet life's partner can't stand this stuff thus the tag, but I have always liked it and my children are aware of this difference.After a few hours of preparation I strained it through our food mill (making a smooth puree), added some Canadian bacon, and a bit more salt. It's already to go... Yum.Update: I had a bowl of pea soup for lunch today. IMHO it was very good. I especially liked the tidbits of Canadian Bacon in it. I've got lots of it left so I had better like it.

Christmas 2008

The family arrived, celebrated and left. The house went from quiet to noisy back to quiet. My hours went from business to vacation back to business. The calories went from weight-watchers lean to extravagant excess back to WW. The money flow went from a trickle to a flood back to a trickle. All told it was a great vacation, and holiday. I was so so happy to see my family and to get to share in their busy lives.
Photo courtesy of Justin Watt.

Dollhouse construction

Katie and I are building a doll house for her friend's daughter, Lillee. Yesterday we painted most parts with Bin sealer. Then we glued a few things together yesterday and today. After Katie finished work today we selected and bought paint - a pale yellow for the siding, red for the door and dark gray for the trim.

Update: Katie and I continue to work on the doll house. It's slowly coming together. But we still have a lot of work to do including windows & door, railings, roof shingles, trim and painting.
Update 2: Bay window roof slope created, under eaves painted white, fake eaves mounted and shingled, and corner trim on.
Update 3: Shingles on roof, doors and windows with shutters, and porch railings in process by Kendra and Harley (not shown).
Update 4: Porch finished, eave trim done, front steps attached, magnetic access door latch, almost done, only minor touch ups left.
Interior walls, and stairs installed. There is no plan to finish the inside. We'll let her imagination do that.

Quiet Simple Thanksgiving

It was a small family Thanksgiving. Just Kathy, two of our three children, and me. No one else. The food was spectacular especially the cranberry mold. Oh and the turkey was good too.

I'm just a staining fool

We put our daily silverware in a wooden holder. We've had it for years and years. Since it has been that long it started to show its age. The wood was quite worn and pitted. So I'm on a role with stain and polyurethane, and thought I could help it out. I stained it, and put two coats of polyurethane on it. I think it turned out well, but it's still pitted, but now it's dark and shiny pitted - kinda gives it the antique feel.

Lump - 3

I went in for a biopsy yesterday, and when they reviewed the ultrasound the lump had shrunk significantly. So no biopsy. I was told to return in one month for a recheck. I'm breathing easier right now.

Update: After one month the lump has totally disappeared. So I was sent home with a clean bill of health.

Cape Cod Wedding

This past weekend Kathy and I traveled to Cape Cod to attend the wedding of Jennie C. and Alex K. Jennie C. is the daughter of our old Poughkeepsie next door neighbors, Susan and Ken, who we've continued to write, call, and visit ever since moving to Austin. We arrived on Thursday in Boston and drove down to Plymouth. The weather was great - clear, and crisp. While in Plymouth we saw the Mayflower IIand Plymouth Rock.We stayed over night in Plymouth before driving down to Hyannis. In Hyannis we stayed in a condo with a great view of the water.We were joined with our old Poughkeepsie neighbors, Evelyn and Rich P., and Betty and Ken H. On the day of the wedding we had brunch together.
Brian W., Rich P., Kathy W., Ken H., Betty H., and Evelyn P.Later that day we traveled to Ocean's Edge in Webster on the Cape for the wedding.The bride was beautiful, and danced with her proud father.Her two sisters were bridesmaids
Susan C, Sarah C. (older sister), Jennie C., and Lisa C. (oldest sister)The day after the wedding we headed back to Boston to stay overnight before our flight home. Overall both Kathy and I had a great time.

Halloween Years Past