Wednesday, March 30, 2011

What's going on?

Making : Wedding stuff galore!
Cooking : whipping up an egg bake thingy and some banana muffins to take to the east-side Hoffs  for a breakfast visit tomorrow.

Drinking : I pretty much survive on half-caf coffee anymore, oh and brewed iced tea.

Reading: my cousin's blog 
http://notacrazycatlady.com/ which is hilarious
Wanting: a day off.  Playdate with my husband!  We haven't seen much of each other lately and I miss him!

Looking
at the GIGANTIC mess which I call home.
Playing: mahjong solitaire!  Like every night (there, I 
said it) without fail
Wasting: as little as possible----- "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
Sewing: does crocheting count?  If so, I whipped up a little pattern for covers for my vintage open top glass pitchers. Recycled cotton yarn in  cheery-citrusy variegated colors for the o.j. pitcher and red cotton for the other one.  Should wash up like a dream.  Little scalloped border on them, which I love!

Wishing:for more hours in the day!

Enjoying: a quick visit from Jamie, Lilly and Abel today.  Such a treat!

Waiting: for Jas and Nate's wedding!
Liking: today's round of thrifting!  I have become a thrifting ninja.  I am that person that bitches in a thrift store, "Who's pricing this?  I refuse to pay these prices!  Robbery, I tell you.  C'mon, you got this shite for free!"  I talked someone into selling me something for 5 cents--that has to be a record!

Wondering: How I will paint the bathroom later this summer.  So many decisions, this is a colorful world people!

Loving:Wolfie's sense of humor.  He yelled at a very dangerous driver on the road today, calling the guy a "snorter".  Then laughed himself silly over what he perceived as his own witty brilliance.  I love watching him grow and develop.

Hoping
: Today's snow is the last one!

Marvelling: at how Vlad is learning by Wolfie homeschooling.  At dinner he was discussing if he was nocturnal or diurnal!
Needing:Not much.  Things are satisfying as is.

Smelling: My hyacinths in major bloom.  Thank you for the beautiful hyacinths Matty!

Wearing: Flannel nightie.  I mentioned THE SNOW, right?

Following: Spiderman, in the comics page of the PD.  He is battling Morbius, the vampire right now.  The hoffbros are into it too.

Noticing: Olivia fattening up and paying attention to everything around her.  What a sweet baby!

Knowing: Littles don't stay little long

Thinking
about how exciting it is to be in love with someone sooooooo much, and then find that the next day, some how, I have found a way to love him even more! <3Bookmarking:A lot of  creative as hell blogs.  People are coming up with amazing ideas and I find that so inspiring!
Opening: an antiques store by the look of my dining room-- wedding stuff is everywhere!
Giggling: over Vladdie---
         me: "What do animals with pointy teeth eat?"
          Vlad:" meat."
          me: "What do animals with flat teeth eat?"
          Vlad: "plants."
           me: "How about animals with both pointy AND flat teeth?"
           Vlad:" Scrambled eggs!"Feeling: the location of every sinus in my head!  ouch!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Senses...

Hearing:  Birds tweeting outside my window reeeeeeaaallllllly early in the morning, when it is still very dark out.  Sounds like it would be irritating, but it is delightful.  I snuggle in and listen to them and dream of warm weather coming.

Smelling:  Two different things.  First, bread baking, today was baking day at the Hoffman Homestead and it smelled particularly wonderful and yeasty today.  Second, every year Matt treats me to hyacinths.  They smell up the house in the most amazing way and then I plant them outside and enjoy them year after year.  This year he bought me 2 gorgeous tin planters full of them from the little garden shop on Detroit Ave.  They are so exciting, as they are blossoming before my eyes.  Every time I walk past them, I notice that they have opened more.  The scent is fantastic-- forget about stopping and smelling the roses, give me hyacinths!

Tasting:  Giant fluffy home made whole wheat pancakes (with blueberry syrup) and made from scratch veggie sausages.  A cup of good hot coffee thrown in.  I love breakfast for dinner!

Seeing:  My forsythia bush has that yellow blush that hints that spring is here.  Soon it will open up in full bloom in a glorious burst of color. Then we will hold the little blooms under our chins and ask if we like butter while checking for a yellow reflection to confirm that YES we love butter!

Touching: Nostalgia.  I finished creating Jassy's bouquet from bits of clothing and jewelry that belonged to some of her Grandmas.  Also some of the jewelry she wore to Prom (escorted by her Groom <3 ).  A lot of loving energy in that thing!


May as well add another one,not truly a sense...
Feeling:  Very happy with our decision to homeschool Wolfie.  That started in January.  We are seeing so many positive changes in him.  It is very exciting and has had a powerful (in a good way) impact on the whole family.  His hunger for learning has returned.  Our boy is back!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Oy Vey! another Recipe! This time it is Kolacky!

    This is Grandma Terry's Kolacky (Can be spelled many ways: Kolache, Kolach or kolace) recipe.  These can be made with many different fillings.  My family likes apricot, prune and passion fruit/mango.  Nut and poppyseed filling are also quite popular.  You can use any commecial filling, jelly, preserves, jam or make your own from scratch.  When you make these, you must imagine Gram Terry yelling, "Roll them thinner!  Here let me do that!" or they simply won't taste as good.

The Official Tomele Ancestral Kolacky Recipe  

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour


1. Cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy
2. Beat in flour.  Knead dough lightly.
3.  Divide dough into 2-3 balls, wrap and chill at least one hour.
4.  Roll out on a lightly floured surface to a circle 1/16th of an inch thick
5.  Using a biscuit cutter or small floured glass, cut into circles.
6.  Spread about 1/2 Tbsp. filling down the center, then fold each side into the middle overlapping each other.  secure with a toothpick.
7.  Bake at 350 degrees until golden, about 20-25 minutes.
8.  When cooled, dust with powdered sugar.
9.  Put on some Frankie Yankovic, put your feet up and enjoy!