Italienisch Essen

Ribollita

This winter, we've been all about Italienisch Essen. For a bit, we moved into Slovenia, but spent most of our days eating Tuscan-like peasant foods with the help of Giada DeLaurentis. I think my favorite part of this dish is the Parmesan Rind you put into it - parts, but not all of it, melts and adds incredible texture and flavor.

And who doesn't love Cannelloni Beans?? For a few months there, I think we had Black Beans in almost every dish, so it was nice to switch gears.

Grete and the Marshmallow Bed

If you remember our first trip to Germany in 2006, we discovered Bettdecken at all of our hotels, except the American ones (tsk) and loved them. Personal warmth control, no need for stringy sheets when you're trying to curl into a ball, you can layer them if you're really cold, and if it's too warm - just stick a foot out and let in some cool air. Plus, they look so cute rolled up. They look like Marshmallows.

We are not the only ones who like these Bettdecke. Especially after new sheets are put on them. (They are like duvets covers, but the nifty sets we bought in Deutschland zip up at the bottom.)

Here is Grete demonstrating how to kick a foot out to get fresh air. Or watch the ongoings of the house. Or create whatever master plan she has going on in her head to take over the world. She gets an A+ for technique.

California

Next vacation: California. We both can't wait to be in the sunny land. It's unfortunate that a bunch of Texans will also be there for the football game, so I kindly ask they avoid Disneyland at all times that week. We are also going to revisit Santa Monica and a great English pub, Ye Olde King's Head (last seen in June of 2008). Can't wait.

Tschüß!!

Squirrel Summer

Here in Austin, the normal high has been around 103 F (between 39 and 40 C) for a few weeks now. Yesterday was actually the 23rd day over 100 F degrees! Usually, these temps don't come around to bake us until August or September...but last year and this year the baking came in June and July.

And then there's our poor Squirrel. I think he's been abandoned by others and/or successful in kicking out the dork Squirrels we've had for the past two years. This boy is industrious - he moves about the Pecan trees in the back quickly, doesn't nervously chew on it as much as the others did, and many days will sun himself on the tree outside our guest room - watching Grete do the same on the guest bed.

In fact, Grete and he have developed quite the relationship - I actually think that he believes he is a cat. Seriously. He loves to lounge in the sun, within a little distance from her...of course, he's outside, she's inside. We've named him Romeo because he's wooing our daughter lately on our kitchen balcony. She lures him with well placed almonds and such...


Chillin with some nuts


Romeo digs a trench in the moist soil to cool off


Grete patiently awaits, singing "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge


Romeo buys himself a drink


The pivotal moment - can Squirrels see through glass? Grete awaits the answer


Now I think this playa' Romeo is just leading our little girl on

Tschüß!

Grete and the Squirrel

This happened last year with another Squirrel and now it's happening again with a new, younger one. Grete has a best friend to hang out with in the mornings. Near our guest bedroom, a tree comes dangerously close to the window and has a great bump for the Squirrel to sit on.

Lately, this cute girl has been coming to see Grete and they stare at each other, or Grete sprawls and sleeps on the bed while the squirrel cleans her face. She doesn't mind me, I say hello and she blinks back. It helps that Grete's colors are squirrel-esque.



Last year, when Grete was younger, another squirrel would come by and sit with her. That one has moved on, but the friendliness remains.

Tschüß!!

Pantry Fixes

May is almost bye-bye; good thing we knocked a small, but big project off the list -- the pantry. When we bought this place the pantry only had a handful of shelves. We would joke about an episode of Some Random House-Buying Show on HGTV (there are a million of them) and the couple was showing off their kitchen post-move.

The woman opens the pantry and they have lots of room but only 3 shelves -- which are stacked high with food -- as she reaches to put chips on top of the burgeoning pile, she comments, "We love our pantry" and just pushes it in, like it has tape on the bottom and will hopefully stick.

We've felt that way for months and actually laughing make that comment quite often. So, we had enough and went to Home Depot with a shelf to figure it out. Of course, it was wider than most boards and not wide enough for others. We'd basically have to cut-to-fit. We found some already-laminated boards, but couldn't find someone to help us cut it - and then heard they really don't cut that. What?!

That did lead to some excitement for Ryan because it meant he was getting a new tool! He's been gathering a nice collection lately: lawnmower, weed wacker, wallboard saw, and now a jigsaw. After traversing back-and-forth (I think we made 4 rounds in Home Depot) we finally bought our stuff and went home to make the shelves.



One thing led to another, and all the shelves in the kitchen received a nice makeover. It works so much better now! Putting dishes away is a breeze -- I think most people stock their kitchen shelves when the first move in, shoving things wherever there is space. Having Ryan re-think it from scratch was invaluable. Oh...yes...I do have to admit...Ryan did pretty much everything. Aw, my hero.

After all of that, I pulled out some ground turkey and made some awesome Turkey Burgers -- made them up and put them on the grill. Fantastic! They also made a nice topping for Ryan's salads during the week. I'm proud of how we've been eating super well and he's been working out so much! He's a beefcake now!!


Yummy Turkey Burgers

I haven't run for over a month -- partly because I've been sick the past few weeks with a nasty cough. Don't know where this is coming from but also suspect the new job has something to do with it. I won't go into it, because I working hard to not think about work today. I am having separation issues with work-life right now. It's not that I have so much work projects going on...it's all internally-driven and I need to stop! Ack, there I go again, damn it!!!



Grete is super cute -- I love her. She follows me around all day, especially if I work from home. Isaac is wonderful too -- happy as can be.

OK, menu planning time!

Tschüß!!

Deutsches Umfrage

A few weeks ago, I was poking around www.db.de, the website for Deutsche Bahn, and somehow clicked on a survey...alles in Deutsch. I figured most of it out, using my dictionary for help.

Then, I receive an e-mail asking me to setup my profile on this Market Research company's site - so I do. I now get surveys every week or so, asking my opinion on different things...today's was quite thorough and asked about my Getränke (beverage) preferences, etc. It's actually an amazing language lesson for me! I did get tired after a while...was looking up way too many words.

Grete's spay operation went very well -- I stayed home yesterday to watch her and she's been sleeping it all off. I feel bad having to do that but know it's the right thing to do. Now we need to watch what she eats so she doesn't gain a million pounds and turn into Garfield.

Our friend, Mary, called me yesterday and asked if I would help her save a table at a bar for a game later that day -- I was so happy she called! Of course, I said, especially if drinks are involved and acceptable at 2:30 p.m.! Afterwards, we're going to Melissa and Robert's house for dinner -- should be a great night!

Last night, we were SO LOCAL I couldn't stand it -- we walked 1/2 block to the nearby Mexican Restaurant, called Sazon, and it was awesome -- listening to live music, ate queso, and both had great dishes. After, we mozied another half block to Horseshoe Lounge for a beer -- it was packed. Had a nice chat and then walked through the backdoor (like regulars) down the back alley, and across the street to our house. I love this neighborhood!

Tschüß!

Growing Grete

Isn’t she an angel?

Grete continues to grow! After lingering around 1 lb. 2 oz for a while, she has grown to 1 lb. 8.6 oz as of today -- which is fantastic! She is so fun to be around. Isaac and her are getting along, although she does these long “interested stares” which worry us but I’ll hiss and she’ll look away. :)

She also loves to eat -- when Ryan or I prep her food, she meows and runs around like a crazed fiend...below is a little video of some meowing...

Tschüss!

Yay...Time Off!

I am so excited that it’s the weekend already! I have to work a bit on Thursday but am going to take Friday off -- Ryan is off Thursday but working Friday AND Saturday (yes, it’s a vicious cycle when you’re married to a hairdresser...that explains why every other waking moment is spent together. Literally -- I’ve been playing my favorite computer game (Quake 3: Urban Terror) for the past hour across the room from Ryan who is gabbing on the phone. I could have gone upstairs...but that’s alone time and I get plenty of that! :) We are quite the modern couple.

Went to a goodbye party for a couple who both go to Ryan -- they’re moving away -- and it reminded me that hetero-suburbia is just as messed up as the gay-urbania. Swingers, drunk adults (with children running around like crazy), fireworks...too much. We had a great time (the couple is so nice) but quite the odd experience. We’re glad to be back into the safety of our lair.

Going to my 2nd cousin’s house tomorrow for a BBQ -- so nice to have family close but I really miss my mom and dad. Ah well, I need to get back there...

Cat is doing a bit better -- she was de-wormed and her fecal came back all negative...we’re watching her pretty closely...more later.

Tschüss!

Vet Visit #1

Dr. Burnside came over today for the first vet visit for Grete Imke. (Pronounced “Gretta Imkah” but spelled auf Deutsch.) (Ok, we’re 95% sure...ok, I’M 100% sure but Ryan keeps trying out some other names for her. I suppose time will tell.) Alles gut!

Her poor lip, though, has been “degloved.” Sounds really gross but I think that when she was out in the wild she accidentally tried to hide in something that was too small for her (even though she is teeny -- 1 pound 1 ounce!) and it cut her face up, especially her lip, and chipped a tooth.

Here’s a look at what it was like last Sunday...it’s much better now.

She needs to put a lot of weight on, so our goal in the next few weeks is to fatten her up! We have her on a grain-free diet (the brand is call “Wellness” which reminds me of an Absolutely Fabulous episode) that is meat by-product free. Yay for health!

We bathed her twice and we are confident that she is flea-free! We did snap the below pic mid-way through her bath. Aweeee!!

We are also not going to de-claw her and instead work with her to get her scratching out on a myriad of scratch posts and horizontal scratchers (which she is sleeping on at the moment). Declawing cats is rather inhumane since you are cutting off the end of their fingers (not the nail bed, but the whole joint) and is illegal in most European countries. So, that’s a no-go!

OK, she’s resting and I better get
the day started. However...who
could resist such a cuddly babydoll?

Tschüss!

SaraCat Sent a Stork This Morning...

SaraCat sent a stork -- about one week to the day of Sara’s passing...we get a phone call from our neighbor Steve across the street. “I think God sent a little kitten to you, but had the house number wrong.”

We went over and hiding in their garage was the tiniest little kitten...we chased it around and then got our paws on it...so absolutely cute and we were in love within moments.

She is probably six weeks old and was starving...we put her in Sara’s old kennel and let her rest (after feeding her a bit) while we went about buying a smaller litterpan, more litter (we had run out), etc.

After we got back we found she had fleas...let me tell you, they don’t recommend many things for a six week old, but you can bathe them in Dawn soap (really!) and so we did and she was soooo good and appreciative. We’ll repeat the bath a little bit until we’re comfortable that the fleas are all gone.

Isaac is pretty comfy with her...a bit concerned, which we will be watching...but I think he’s going to be just fine.

What a surprise bundle of joy! We are certainly happy to know that all of our years of care for Sara will continue with another sweet girl. We’re trying a few names out...we’ll let you know how they stick!

OH -- another fantastic meal from the German cookbook...will tell you more later.

Tschüss!