Mac and Cheese

Cooking has not been a joy lately...don't know why...just haven't been feeling it.  But tonight I may have turned the corner.  I did take pictures as I made this...but they were not good so I will spare you.  But just know that you should make this....Pimento Cheese Mac & Cheese!  The recipe is here.

Almost Spring "Flowers"

Spring can't get here soon enough.  The temperature in Richmond today is in the high 60s, but the wind could blow this house to Oz...and back...so not really a pleasant day for outdoor activities.

I have three old medicine/whiskey bottles that sit on my livingroom mantle all the time.  My dad found them in an old house, oh, probably 40 to 45 years ago.  They were old then.  In the spring and summer they often have flowers in them...daffodils or gerbera daisies...whatever I can find to stick in them.

But in the winter they just sit there.  They are usually in front of the window, so they still look kind of pretty, but they really cry out for flowers...or just color.

So when I saw this, I thought it might be the perfect winter solution.  Of course, I didn't get around to it until winter was almost over, but that's the way it goes around here most of the time.  I am a huge procrastinator.

Is It Over?

Is it over?  Winter that is?  The weather here in Richmond has been teasing us.  The high temperature on Friday was 77.  We have started cleaning up the yard in anticipation.  On Friday morning I cleaned up the herb garden.  And look at what I found!

Chives!!

And this!!

Oregano!!

My friend, Ann, and I started noticing the early flowers coming up in Forest Hill Park this week.  But this afternoon I found this in the backyard.  I think it may acually be a flower by next weekend.

There is much more clean up to do.  And the weather is going to turn cold again this week.  But there is hope of warmer temperatures again next weekend.

Birthday-Valentine Special

Yesterday we celebrated two birthdays and Valentine's Day (one late, one early, and one right on time).  We went out to dinner (eventually-we failed to make reservations so it took three tries) with friends.

Pre-dinner we had drinks and snacks at home.

While the guys drank beer (as in good beer), I made Black-eyed Susans for Donna. 

Those are grapes in the foreground...but not just any old grapes.  They are pickled grapes and they are amazing (and super easy).  The recipe is from the Lee Brothers cookbook, Simple Fresh Southern.

The star of the show was the Gorgonzola-Parmesan Twists.  We first tried these Christmas Eve...four of us finished them all within minutes.  They are best hot/warm, but I can assure that room-temp does not slow down consumption.

I am considering a big (as in 5 couples...that's big to me) dinner party next weekend....to extend the birthday celebration.  After all it is his "birthday month."  But I need encouragement.

They're Home!

My dolls are home...my Mimi Kirchner dolls that is.  I blogged about them here.  They will be my inspiration..if I ever get around to making dolls.

Little Red Riding Hood living on the living room sofa.

Sweater Baby living in the spare room upstairs.

Pink!

I love this coat!!  I found it at the Goodwill Store on Cary Street in the fall.

I had been thinking about a new winter coat...for no apparent reason except that I wanted one.  I was thinking conservative length, conservative color....boring.  I was ready to ditch what has been dubbed as the "bishop coat".  I think that I have had it for 10 or more years.  It is black, long, and very warm...I still have it...hard to let go of.

But then I saw this coat...and this.

But after I got it home, I realized that it had really big shoulder pads.  Besides the fact that shoulder pads are kind of creepy...I really never needed them...assuming that anybody did :).  So my plan was to remove them...and today I finally did.

And now I really love my pink coat!