I came across this book in the cookbook section of "Book People" downtown. I was confused because there was an Oxford Classic smashed between Betty Crocker and Rachel Ray. The title intrigued me, so I picked it up and turned to the first page. It starts by quoting a few verses from Proverbs 31. There is no better way to begin a book about household management, and this convinced me that the book would be something wonderful. The author goes on to write in a manner similar to Aristotle, beginning with a topic, expanding on it, and then moving on to another. Her topics include everything from the proper way for a wife to converse with others to the fact that early-risers have well-kept homes. I couldn't bring myself to buy it because it was full price at the store, but I'm definitely going to search for a cheaper used version.
In defense of the Book People's organizational system, the majority of the book is recipes, which I'm also excited to explore.
When I told Rachel about it, she shared Living a Beautiful Life with me, which I'm going to start reading. I'll let you know how it compares!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Holidays, fondant, and relatives.
Mom brought it to my attention that I failed to say anything about my fabulous Valentine's date at West of Paris. Well, in short, it was AMAZING! They serve the best "all around" meal I've had anywhere, from appetizer to desert. And to start the evening off, my hubbie brought me a beautiful bouquet of roses :) It was a lovely day.
I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but I baked a cake last week that I had intended to have ready for sometime around Valentine's. Well, Valentine's came and went, and I never found the time to finish it. I wanted to make a heart, and then use pink fondant icing to decorate it. I made the cake, froze it, and then made the fondant and kept it frozen until finally I got up the guts to have a go at it today. I made my own butter cream icing (which reminded me of the cakes mom made for our birthdays when we were little - it tasted the same, and made me miss her!) to coat the cake with, and made my own fondant out of mini marshmallows. The fondant wasn't turning out how I wanted it to, and while I was working with it today I figured out that it was too dry. So I added water and "viola!" it worked.
Here are some photos I took while I was "building" it:
With butter cream, waiting for fondant.
With fondant: There are quite a few bumps and tears,
which should be easier to avoid next time.
With some decorations. I'm not sure why I didn't hide the tear in
the corner with a heart, but oh well. I like how it turned out, though!
So I'm not ready for Ace of Cakes, but I'm pretty sure my
housemates will be pleased with tonight's desert!
I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but I baked a cake last week that I had intended to have ready for sometime around Valentine's. Well, Valentine's came and went, and I never found the time to finish it. I wanted to make a heart, and then use pink fondant icing to decorate it. I made the cake, froze it, and then made the fondant and kept it frozen until finally I got up the guts to have a go at it today. I made my own butter cream icing (which reminded me of the cakes mom made for our birthdays when we were little - it tasted the same, and made me miss her!) to coat the cake with, and made my own fondant out of mini marshmallows. The fondant wasn't turning out how I wanted it to, and while I was working with it today I figured out that it was too dry. So I added water and "viola!" it worked.
Here are some photos I took while I was "building" it:
I used a 10" square pan and a 9" round one. I trimmed the 10" too much,
so I just added where it needed extra.
so I just added where it needed extra.
The butter cream turned out really yummy.
With butter cream, waiting for fondant.
With fondant: There are quite a few bumps and tears,
which should be easier to avoid next time.
With some decorations. I'm not sure why I didn't hide the tear in
the corner with a heart, but oh well. I like how it turned out, though!
So I'm not ready for Ace of Cakes, but I'm pretty sure my
housemates will be pleased with tonight's desert!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
My hands smell like meatloaf...
It is 7:15pm on Sunday. Dinner is in the oven (meatloaf and baked potatoes), I'm showered and rested (I took a 2 hour nap this afternoon), the house is quiet aside from the British accent of the man-on-tape reading C.S. Lewis' Perelandra to Tyler. My heart-shaped cake is in pieces in the freezer, awaiting icing and fondant. The laundry is done, the main floor of the house is clean (upstairs is tomorrow's project), and the majority of this month's issue of Credenda/Agenda has been read. It was a great weekend.
The other day while Jen and I were on our way to get coffee, she looked at me and said "Can you believe we're in Idaho?" I can't. I can't believe I'm in Idaho, after 2 years of hating Idaho for taking my man away from me. I can't believe I've been married for more than 8 months after waiting for him for 5 years. And yet, here I am - Happily married, living in Idaho.
So the big news of the week is that Bran and I have decided to go on the Atkins Diet! We've both gained weight since we got married, and as a result we're worn out most of the time and just lack energy. We're starting tomorrow, and are going to set our first goal for Randy's Wedding in June. Bran really wants to start lifting weights again, and I've been dying to get back into pilates, so we're going to just do it. I'm excited :)
The other day while Jen and I were on our way to get coffee, she looked at me and said "Can you believe we're in Idaho?" I can't. I can't believe I'm in Idaho, after 2 years of hating Idaho for taking my man away from me. I can't believe I've been married for more than 8 months after waiting for him for 5 years. And yet, here I am - Happily married, living in Idaho.
So the big news of the week is that Bran and I have decided to go on the Atkins Diet! We've both gained weight since we got married, and as a result we're worn out most of the time and just lack energy. We're starting tomorrow, and are going to set our first goal for Randy's Wedding in June. Bran really wants to start lifting weights again, and I've been dying to get back into pilates, so we're going to just do it. I'm excited :)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Pay it Forward
Snatched this from Abra:
If you want to join in the fun and get a little something in return … be one of the first THREE people to leave a comment on this post and you’ll receive a gift from me during this year. There’s a small catch…You knew there would be didn’t you? Post this on your blog or Facebook wall (sorry, no MySpace-ing) referencing this post then come back and leave a comment on this post, telling me you’re in. Fun, huh? And by in, you do know that means you have to Pay It Forward and give something to three people on your blog or Facebook page. I don’t even care if you make something … just giving something is good with me!
Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift from me. When and what will be a surprise.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I'm giving up on the pictures for now.
We think Bran's hard drive crashed, which means no pictures. It also means bad things for his computer, but I'm going to let him worry about that.
This week was tough. I've had the same schedule at work for the past few weeks which has me there Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. I don't like working 3 nights in a row, and it wears me out working 4 nights a week, so I think I'm going to ask them if I can just do Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The day between makes all the difference.
Evie had an especially long week. She's just about 9 months old, and my mom thinks she might be in the beginnings of separation anxiety. She does fine when Michelle drops her off, but then she gets very grumpy and just won't be happy. She finally had a good day on Friday, so maybe it was just a short phase. Michelle and I were talking about it, and we really can't complain when she gets grumpy because for most babies its 50% of the time, but for her it's only about 10% of the time.
I woke up this morning at 11:30 (I was asleep by midnight last night) and couldn't talk. My throat is all sore and swollen, and my head is stuffed up. I haven't been sick in a while, and I just feel icky. I have to close at work tonight, which means I'll be there from 5:30 until about 11. I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm off tomorrow and Monday, so it will be worth sticking it out.
The girls got a fish named Benny last night. I didn't find out until I came downstairs to see Jen this afternoon. Evidently Tyler told them not to tell us because he was afraid we'd be mad, since there is a "no pets" clause in the house rules. I laughed, thinking of our 3 dogs... then I told them that fish barely count, since they take up as much space as a bouquet of flowers.
Jeremiah Grauke is singing in the kitchen while I write this. Having friends with talent like his is one of the many amazing things about living in Moscow.
Sorry about the randomness. I thought my thoughts were more organized than that, but I don't really think clearly when I'm sick.
Check out the latest post on Femina - The Wilsons are visiting the Merkles in London and posted a sweet paragraph about CS Lewis.
This week was tough. I've had the same schedule at work for the past few weeks which has me there Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. I don't like working 3 nights in a row, and it wears me out working 4 nights a week, so I think I'm going to ask them if I can just do Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The day between makes all the difference.
Evie had an especially long week. She's just about 9 months old, and my mom thinks she might be in the beginnings of separation anxiety. She does fine when Michelle drops her off, but then she gets very grumpy and just won't be happy. She finally had a good day on Friday, so maybe it was just a short phase. Michelle and I were talking about it, and we really can't complain when she gets grumpy because for most babies its 50% of the time, but for her it's only about 10% of the time.
I woke up this morning at 11:30 (I was asleep by midnight last night) and couldn't talk. My throat is all sore and swollen, and my head is stuffed up. I haven't been sick in a while, and I just feel icky. I have to close at work tonight, which means I'll be there from 5:30 until about 11. I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm off tomorrow and Monday, so it will be worth sticking it out.
The girls got a fish named Benny last night. I didn't find out until I came downstairs to see Jen this afternoon. Evidently Tyler told them not to tell us because he was afraid we'd be mad, since there is a "no pets" clause in the house rules. I laughed, thinking of our 3 dogs... then I told them that fish barely count, since they take up as much space as a bouquet of flowers.
Jeremiah Grauke is singing in the kitchen while I write this. Having friends with talent like his is one of the many amazing things about living in Moscow.
Sorry about the randomness. I thought my thoughts were more organized than that, but I don't really think clearly when I'm sick.
Check out the latest post on Femina - The Wilsons are visiting the Merkles in London and posted a sweet paragraph about CS Lewis.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Married People
1. When was your "engagement" anniversary: October (17?) 2007
2. When is your "marriage" anniversary: May 31, 2008
3. How long have you known your spouse: ~13 years
4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged: 3 or 4 months, officially, 4 years not officially.
5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time: Sunday School at Bay Area Community Church. I think we were 6 or 7
6. What is your spouses full name: Brandon William Antkowiak
7. Do you have any children yet: none with us here, but one in heaven.
8. How many:
9. Do you have any house pets: 3 dogs - Duke, Hoss, and Moose, and three people - Jen, Rachel, and Tyler. We make the dogs stay outside, but let the people in.
10. Do you own a house or rent: we own our house, along with Tyler and Jeff and Karen.
11. Do you live in the country or town/city: town
12. What is one of your favorite activities together: Cooking, eating, and watching movies.
13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot: We love getting to go back to Maryland.
14. How many siblings (including in-laws): 6
15. What church do you attend: Christ Church
16. Is this the church you were married in: no
17. What town is your current address: Moscow, Idaho
18. Do you work or stay at home: work
19. Where did you honeymoon: West Virginia
20: Leave a piece of marriage advice: Rely on each other. It's ok for your husband to also be your best friend.
2. When is your "marriage" anniversary: May 31, 2008
3. How long have you known your spouse: ~13 years
4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged: 3 or 4 months, officially, 4 years not officially.
5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time: Sunday School at Bay Area Community Church. I think we were 6 or 7
6. What is your spouses full name: Brandon William Antkowiak
7. Do you have any children yet: none with us here, but one in heaven.
8. How many:
9. Do you have any house pets: 3 dogs - Duke, Hoss, and Moose, and three people - Jen, Rachel, and Tyler. We make the dogs stay outside, but let the people in.
10. Do you own a house or rent: we own our house, along with Tyler and Jeff and Karen.
11. Do you live in the country or town/city: town
12. What is one of your favorite activities together: Cooking, eating, and watching movies.
13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot: We love getting to go back to Maryland.
14. How many siblings (including in-laws): 6
15. What church do you attend: Christ Church
16. Is this the church you were married in: no
17. What town is your current address: Moscow, Idaho
18. Do you work or stay at home: work
19. Where did you honeymoon: West Virginia
20: Leave a piece of marriage advice: Rely on each other. It's ok for your husband to also be your best friend.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
work was late...
and I had to close last night, too. Plus, I think my uploading of pictures somehow destroyed my husband's computer because it won't start.... all of that is to say that I don't have a computer, don't have the pictures I took, and am only posting because I got to use Ty's computer for a minute.
As soon as we get Bran's up and running, I'll do a huge post with pictures of our dogs, and my new haircut (!).
<3
As soon as we get Bran's up and running, I'll do a huge post with pictures of our dogs, and my new haircut (!).
<3
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