Random (but not really)

Friday, December 31, 2010

Friday Cat Blogging

Balanced Cats

Written by Michelle at 10:13 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Cats,Photos  

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Latest Pics of Grandmom

Because I know you all want to see ’em.

Grandmom!

Grandmom!

Michael says, “SMILE or ELSE!”

Grandmom!

Grandmom!

“I’m SMILING! I’m SMILING!”

Written by Michelle at 6:00 am    

Comments (2)  Permalink

Categories: Family,Photos  

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

WWA: Travel Edition

Today’s game is in honor of my car: filthy

Written by Michelle at 5:32 pm    

Comments (9)  Permalink

Categories: Fun & Games  

PAD: Too Much Travel

Too Much Travel

Too Much Travel

Too Much Travel

That’s how much we’ve traveled since the 24th. I am very glad to NOT be on the Interstate today.

Written by Michelle at 5:32 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Holidays,Picture a Day  

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Jules

I took a lot of pictures today.

Like 700.

Out of that there were 50 I thought were pretty good that I uploaded to Flickr.

These are some of my favorites of those:

Julliene

CHICKEN DANCE! (Yes, Jules loves the Chicken Dance.)

Julliene

Jules and Holly. Holly is an extremely anti-social husky, however, she seems to have completely taken to Jules (notice that Brian still doesn’t trust Holly 100% yet.)

Julliene

Angry Baby is Angry.

Julliene

Julliene

Written by Michelle at 10:23 pm    

Comments (2)  Permalink

Categories: Family,Holidays,Photos  

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Happy Christmas to All and to All a Goodnight!

Got camera loot for Christmas: flash, wireless shutter release, wired shutter release–all kinds of excitement.

Here are a couple of pictures from today:

Christmas

Christmas

Christmas

Written by Michelle at 8:07 pm    

Comments (2)  Permalink

Categories: Holidays,Picture a Day  

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

WWA: OOPS Edition

Oh, hey! Today is Wednesday. Sorry about that.

Today’s word is: forgetful

Written by Michelle at 8:03 pm    

Comments (7)  Permalink

Categories: Fun & Games  

Is That What this Space Is For?

Sorry, seem to have forgotten what I was supposed to be doing here.

In case you were curious, Grandmom is doing well!

Lily and Grandmom

Written by Michelle at 8:03 pm    

Comments (1)  Permalink

Categories: Family,Photos  

Thursday, December 16, 2010

PAD: Grey–No Blue! Skies

Evening Skies

Written by Michelle at 9:09 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Morgantown,Picture a Day  

Chocolate Bread

I wanted to try something different, and as I was flipping through my baking books I noticed I had marked a recipe for chocolate bread. I almost flipped past, but then I noticed the ingredient list was relatively simply. So I decided to try it.

Please note, that as usual for me, I did not thoroughly read the recipe, so I failed to notice this had TWO overnight rises. So starting on Saturday? Not so great.Otherwise, it’s a fairly straightforward recipe.

Now I need to decide what is the best topping to go with it.

Chocolate Bread (recipe is actually White and Dark Chocolate Bread, but 1) I was out of white chocolate and 2) I wanted all dark chocolate)
I actually diverged a bit from her process, to make things easier for me.

1 3/4 cup warm water
5 tsp yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup Dutch process cocoa
4 to 5 cups bread flour

1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Proof yeast. Add sugar, cocoa, salt and 3 cups of sugar and mix. Switch to dough hook and add more flour as necessary till pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Place dough in oiled rising bowl and refrigerate overnight.

In a food processor, combine butter, sugars, and cocoa and process until you have a crumbly mixture. Refrigerate until ready to use.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a large rectangle (16″ x 10″). Sprinkle butter, sugar and cocoa mix over the dough. Sprinkle bittersweet chips over that.

Working from one of the short ends, roll up like a jelly roll. Divide roll in half and place into two greased 8″ bread pans.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove pans from refrigerator and allow to rise for 2 to 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray tops with water and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon (I had vanilla sugar and that was fabulous!)

Bake 35 to 45 minutes, cool for 20 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

from A Passion for Baking by Marcy Goldman

Chocolate Bread

Chocolate Bread

Chocolate Bread

Chocolate Bread

Chocolate Bread

Chocolate Bread

Written by Michelle at 6:00 am    

Comments (4)  Permalink

Categories: Food  

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

PAD: Still Cold

Another Cold Day

Another Cold Day

Today’s discovery: it’s not easy, but you can take pictures while wearing thick gloves.

Written by Michelle at 8:05 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Morgantown,Picture a Day  

WWA: It’s Quite Chilly!

Temperatures have been quite brisk–it was 11 when we left for work this morning, and the walk to pick up the car after work was stimulating. So today’s word is: long underwear

Written by Michelle at 6:00 am    

Comments (9)  Permalink

Categories: Fun & Games  

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Gathering Opinions

I’ve come to realize that while I have awesome kids books, and Legos are greater for older kids, I have a dearth of things for the toddler set to do when they visit. And for the older set with toddler siblings for that matter. (Toddler + Legos != Happy Fun Times)

So, any recommendations for toys that are toddler safe but will entertain slightly older kids?

And something I’d enjoy as well? Because, you know, they will be MY toys.

Written by Michelle at 10:38 pm    

Comments (7)  Permalink

Categories: Fun & Games  

RIP: Elizabeth Jacobs, 93

A wonderful woman with fabulous grandsons. My thoughts are with them today.

I know this is odd to say, but it’s a truly lovely obituary.

Written by Michelle at 9:21 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Morgantown  
Next Page »

Powered by WordPress