Uncategorized – Page 114 – This Old House 2

For the love of a Jeep

We’ve been talking about trading in my car because the miles were getting up there and it was in need of “stuff”. It was either invest in the new “stuff it needed, or get into a new car before the trade-in value went to the floor. I started looking at the different models available, and since the Volvo had served me well for quite a while as a dependable car and a solid ride, I thought I might do the same thing again. Until I talked to the dealership. When I bought it years ago, Ford was an owner in Volvo. That’s no longer true – China now has a hand in it. I have nothing against the Chinese, but I really want to buy American where I can. After doing more research I initially decided I didn’t like anything in the mid- size SUV range that wasn’t a gas guzzler… and so I decided to keep the partially Ford manufactured Volvo for now.

But then… then… I saw it. The Jeep of my dreams. (Actually that’s the Wrangler, but my arthritic neck begs to differ.) My son and I took the Overland for a ride and I loved it instantly. I drove home all excited about finding something I really liked, and it wasn’t crazy expensive, and it’s AMERICAN… and the gas mileage was better than my Volvo! I was doing a Happy Dance, people!

I was met with ..

HIM: “What, …NOW? No.. now’s not a good time.

ME: But… three weeks ago was a good time?!….what happened in three weeks?

HIM: I just bought a much needed snow-removing tractor for the jobsite and there’s no way we can swing a new car now. You decided you didn’t want anything new, remember?… so I bought the tractor for work.

Ok then.

(insert sound of air deflating rapidly from balloon… and maybe a muttered @#$%)

Because OMG I loved that Jeep.

I had a Jeep when we were first married. I kept it for six years. Absolutely loved it madly. When our family grew and we needed more room, I had to trade it in for something better suited. On our way to the dealership, I had to pull over. I sobbed like a baby, not wanting to let go of my beloved Jeep.

Back to the present – So I went about my business for the past few weeks, admittedly pining for the Jeep I wasn’t going to get. Last Thursday I went up to college girls campus to bring her home for the weekend. ~~Because she had another date~~ Because she wanted to spend more quality time with her folks.

On the way back I got a call from Mike.

HIM: in an aggravated voice – You gotta come pick me up, my truck died after picking up the tractor as I was getting on the Highway. I’m in Saybrook. I’m gonna have the tow truck driver drop me off where the dealerships are, right next to the highway entrance.

ME: The truck died??… OK, will be there in 20 minutes. Which dealership? You might as well meander over to the Jeep dealer and look at the one I was drooling over!

HIM: again in an aggravated voice – I’m not looking at the freak’n Jeep, but actually that’s the closest so that’s where I’ll be. Hurry up, we have to go to the garage and see what’s wrong with my truck.

So, we get to dealership row to pick up the Man. I see him talking to the salesman I had talked to, and they are looking at the inside of a Dodge Ram truck in the showroom. I walk in, dismayed that they apparently haven’t even glanced at the Jeeps. I walk RIGHT PAST the black beloved Jeep … (which had been brought inside and had a big red bow on the hood).

He talks more about the truck with Kyle Salesman, and then we start walking out. I make him stop and atleast please LOOK at the Jeep, there’s one in the SHOWROOM, for cripes sake. He glances over and says… ” it’s OK. Maybe next year.” And keeps walking.

I say.. WAIT.. you’re RIGHT HERE. Can’t you just give it a better LOOK???… and he says…

You like it?

Yes. Love it.

It’s yours. Go get your papers and “stuff” out of the Volvo and hand it over.

SHUT UP.

Really. It’s yours.

WHAT??? Stop it.

See the bow?

And I cried AGAIN…. for the love of a Jeep.

… and the guy who made it happen 🙂

What the weekend looked like

Both kids home

fire in the fireplace

football football football

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – twice

Great weather – beautiful sunsets

Maple Walnut cookies (oh good Lord – recipe below)

Perennial Gardens put to bed for the winter

A thankful heart for these days ~

Recipe here :

http://www.ahealthyjalapeno.com/2011/10/maple-walnut-cookies-my-first-bloggy.html

the last of the mohegans in a vase on the table

Hoping you had a good weekend

and did things you enjoy.

Put your favorite weekend activities in the comments section below.

Zen-like

So, I’m a high-rev person, which is great for getting things done, but kinda wreaks a little havoc on your body as you start to get (ahem)…OLDER. I’ve been told I oughta try yoga by more than a few professionals, to calm my little self down. The whole idea of Yoga has always been alittle off-putting for me…The chanting, the sweating, the poses (I am sooooo un-bendy) the Ooooms flowing through the Chackra.. or whatever. And there are so many different kinds! Sitting still with my restless mind, clearing my head of worrisome thoughts seems just… well, impossible. However I’ve come to the point where somethings gotta give, so I’m going to give it a try. Every day. Whether I like it or not.

I’ve even bought two little Buddhas to put in my Betta bowls, just to go with the new energy flow here at This Old House.

I can’t take a “class” because of my hearing impairment – (can’t hear the instructor) so I’ll try it at home with a DVD – atleast here I can learn the routine by watching, and then get it right hopefully by repetition. If you’ve had experience with Yoga, and in particular Yoga for the yoga-impaired, let me know about it in the comments section below. My friend Lynn has recommended some good beginner tapes… I welcome any advice ~

PEACE.

Because I’m a cupcake freak

Ingredients needed:
Cupcake – I think you know how to make these

Chocolate frosting

3 oval shortbread cookies (Keebler Sandies Right Bites Shortbread are good)

6 to 10 candy corn pieces (love that candy corn!)

White icing

Black decorators’ gel

Red fruit leather (we used strawberry Fruit by the Foot)

Assemble according to picture. How cute is THAT! Found it on the web somewhere.

Happy Tails

For those of you who have been following Chip’s story, he’s doing great… acting like the puppy that he is, still the wonderful loving disposition, and he has a coat now! He appears to be a lab/pit/shar pei mix, if you can imagine. Here he is with a rescue volunteer who came to visit him last week at Lorins house. He will be ready to go to his forever home very soon. If you live in Connecticut and know someone who would give him an excellent home (because he really deserves it!)… send me an e-mail at karenthisoldhouse@hotmail.com and we can arrange a visit.

And THESE dogs below… are from Dog Days in Branford.

Their new owners have been kind enough to send updates…

…all is well that ends well. 🙂

This is Maple.. who has adjusted very nicely to her new digs…

Ella with her new coat and a big sister who adores her…

Jackson and Dawson and this wonderful couple who rescued TWO!

A picture says a thousand words.

A Sound Investment – Before

As you probably know, the housing market has been horrendous for years just about everywhere in the US. Since we’re in the home building industry, we’ve definitely seen lean times. M decided to branch out a little into something that will bring some money in and pay for itself as an investment. This condo was purchased for a song compared to it’s market value five years ago… a real bummer for the people who owned it, but a great deal in this buyers market. First it will be gutted, as the kitchen and bathrooms are about 30 years old and in need of updates. The tile floor are filthy too and the basement is downright dank. There are two rooms, living room and kitchen, on the first floor with bathroom inbetween – a basement laundry room, and two bedrooms with bathroom upstairs. Lots of natural light in this unit, which I think makes a big difference.

The location of this condo complex is wonderful- right across the street from a harbor that leads into Long Island Sound. It’s also a very safe walking and biking neighborhood, with a tennis court and swimming pool.

The complex is a C shape, facing the water.

Each unit has a deck area – this one faces out over a marsh and boat yard..

Bedroom facing rear…

front bedroom..

upstairs bath…

living room into kitchen

basement stairs

The view just down the road…

I’ve always loved that house on stilts.

Stay tuned – the re-do starts this week.

swirled pumpkin chocolate cheesecake

A Womans Day Recipe… I haven’t made it yet, but I’m adding it to the Thanksgiving Menu. YUM!

Recipe Ingredients

•1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan

•1 9-oz pkg chocolate wafer cookies (such as Nabisco Famous Wafers)

•3 8-oz pkgs cream cheese, at room temperature

•1/2 cup fat-free Greek yogurt

•1 cup sugar

•2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

•2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

•2 tsp pure vanilla extract

•3 large eggs

•1 15-oz can pure pumpkin

•1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (2 oz)

Recipe Preparation

1.Heat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9-in. springform pan with melted butter.

2.In a food processor, pulse the chocolate wafers to form fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse to incorporate. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of the pan. Bake until the crust is set and fragrant, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

3.Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, flour, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Transfer 1 cup of the batter to a bowl. Beat the pumpkin into the remaining batter until fully incorporated. Pour the pumpkin batter into the cooled crust.

4.Melt the chocolate in the microwave according to package directions. Add the chocolate to the reserved plain batter and stir until fully incorporated.

5.Dollop the chocolate batter over the pumpkin batter. Using a table knife, make decorative swirls by pulling the chocolate through the pumpkin (do not overdo it or the colors will turn muddy).

6.Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set and center still wobbles slightly, 50 to 55 minutes. Let the cheesecake cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.

What I learned from my son

Most of the time it’s our job to teach our children. Every now and then I find I’m learning something from one of my kids. (side note: my grandfather Al used to hate when children were referred to as “kids”. He would say… Kids are GOATS! )

As I watch my son grow through the teenage years, I notice the relationships he has with his friends and the things they consume their time with are different from my friends and I at the same age. I remember all too well the anguish I felt as my high school boyfriend spent continuous “guy time” with his pals, and I would sit at home missing him or go about my business missing him , rearrange my schedule when he was available..most of the time waiting for the next time we would be together. Such a waste of precious time.

I wasn’t the only one… this was the general state of being for my girlfriends too. And we did things together as well… but when we were together, we were still TALKING about them. Not enjoying the activity at hand as much as we could have, and that’s a shame. And OH.. the time spent on the appearance.

My son has some great friends – they ride bikes together, motor scooters, they play football in the front yard, they make trails out in the woods, they go to football and soccer games, have many a sleepover, light bonfires and sit around talking about trucks… and yes, they certainly like the girls. Some even have steady girlfriends. But they don’t obsess over them, not at all. They truly enjoy each others’ company and the activity they are in the midst of at the moment. ..they know how to LIVE in the moment. I wish I could go back and tell my 16 year old self the very same thing. I wish I could tell ALL sixteen year olds this bit of information, and have it really mean something to them.

This weekend they gave each other haircuts with a pair of clippers. I instantly cringed at the thought, but shut my mouth. They were going to the movies with girls later and that was what I was thinking… They really didn’t care if it came out alright, they had a good time doing it. As it should be.

Gator Love

We’ve had the gator for about six years now, and it’s been a Godsend around the farm(s). I use it for all manner of manure removal and it’s also used for firewood, sand and dirt moving, rock picking, tour giving and vegetable picking, brush clearing, etc. etc. Who woulda thunk I’d be so enamored with a John Deere product. It’s a glamorous life, I tell ya….