Category: Uncategorized

Comfort Food – Chicken Leek Pot Pie

  I am loving this chilly windy sunny crisp fall weather.  Something about it brings out the nester in me.  I’ve actually cleaned out closets, cleaned things I normally ignore (husband will please refrain from a wise-crack here, if you’re reading this) and I look for new comfort foods to add to the arsenal.  The recipe pictured below came from People Magazine, provided by  NYC restaurant Tea & Sympathy  last week. It is absolutely delicious, well worth the effort to put it together.  I had a hard time putting the fork down, it’s that good.

The only thing I did differently from the recipe below is
I left the carrots and celery in (used to make the stock)
and I omitted the onions in the stock part of the making
because the abundance of leeks afterward was enough- in my humble opinion.
This is another new love…
This creamer is SOOOO delicious, I can hardly stand it.
We are enjoying our new mancave furniture immensely.
The man who claims the cave now shares the space with grace.
Well, he lets us sit in there anyway.  🙂
You’re not making fun of my socks, now, are you?

Another Day for the Dogs

 Actually, a whole weekend… dedicated to finding over 100 shelter dogs and puppies new homes… this weekend at the Branford Elks Club on Montowese St in Branford. If you’re local, come on down and meet all these wonderful dogs looking for their forever homes.  More information here.   There are many puppies, small breeds and mid to large size pups and dogs on the roster this weekend… below are just a few faces in the crowd.  All are healthy, vet-checked, fully vaccinated, temperment approved  and ready to be a part of someone’s family.  

 If you’re not looking to adopt at this time, there are other ways you can be a part of this great dog saving weekend.. Come have a burger, dog or chili, served by WPLR’s Wigmaster!… browse the Dog Days general store for pet supplies and check out our silent auction and tag sale furniture.. All  proceeds to benefit shelter dogs.  There will also be Halloween treats for the kids!

 We are very excited about a  jewelry and key chain line designed by Mickey Johnson of Nicholas Landon Jewelry.   Mickey has donated her time and expertise to designing these beautiful and affordable pieces made of sterling silver , copper and genuine pearl, some leather pieces as well… all for the dogs. We will reveal our necklaces and keychains at the event. 

Barney, a beagle mix puppy 

Cookie, A terrier mix pup
Coriander, a lab mix pup
Kenny, an Australian Shep mix pup
Sugar, a Feist Rat Terrier Mix puppy
Spirit, a boxer pit mix girl

Good morning…

It finally feels like fall around here..
this morning we woke to an almost frost..
The light is golden…

   The  delicious scent of  woodsmoke
rising from the neighbors chimney fills the air.

 My grandfather was a commercial photographer
with a studio in NYC.
He died when I was in my early twenties…
before I discovered the joy I would find in photography.

I have not forgotten to look for the color, Grandpa Al.
In all things.

Boo!

 Halloween is a favorite around here..
no stress.. just fun. 

 These are some ideas from the web…
this look would cost nothing more than paper, scissors, alittle imagination.
Love it!

Martha Stewart probably lives here…

The non-gourmet version of these… divide cupcake mix batter in half, color one half yellow,
the other orange.. fill cups halfway with one, then the other.. frost after cooling with white icing. Easy!

 Such a simple idea, and yet the look is wonderful.
 Do you ignore the holiday altogether,
Or do you participate?
What’s your favorite Halloween tradition?

Politics

  It’s not my favorite subject.
Seems to bring out the worst in people…
and the best in them too, when they are genuine.
There-in lies the rub.

There has been a group formed in our town 
 who’s tactics involve spinning out incorrect facts
and throwing genuine, dedicated, hardworking people under the bus
with their nasty approach.
I was in a pissing contest with one of these men on a local news forum…
because I could no longer tolerate,  the incorrect information
and the mud throwing. 
The way I see it, if you think you have a better way of doing things,
you have the right to voice them.
State your mission.  Period.
After the 14th “reply”…
my mother sent me this old irish quote.
 I took the advice.
“Sometimes its better to walk away and leave him to the height he grew”.
Thanks, Mom.

The Mancave becomes more user friendly

 When this old house was put back together, the Man of the house claimed this area as his MANCAVE.   THIS would be his place to be by himself enjoying peace and solitude while he hollered and sweared as he watched his football games by a crackling fire.  The rest of us could congregate around the other side of that fireplace in the FAMILY ROOM, because THAT’S what it’s FOR. 

 See.. once you DECLARE something like that in a particularly burly tone  accompanied by a steely resolve, it doesn’t usually stick.  Most often, even when we have company,   everyone congregates in the Mancave.  Even though it only accomodates four people comfortably, (which I’m sure was his intention) …  sometimes you’ll find six making do.

Before…
http://thisoldhousetoo.blogspot.com/2010/08/enter-mancave-at-your-own-risk.html

 It originally had old furniture from the previous house, and would only allow for THREE people to sit comfortably.  We decided,  since it has become the hub, to get more comfortable furniture, and I really like the result.

I love LED candles… do you use them too?  I have the real thing here and there,
but these lend real ambiance without the worry of leaving them burning by accident.
I got them at CVS, cheap.  They even  *flicker*.

A Chipper Chip and a Winner!

 Actually, Chip IS the winner… he is doing fabulously, folks.  Running, jumping, playing, eating, growing a COAT!!!.. He loved my sneaker laces last night… it was so good to see him acting like a puppy.  Lorin is doing a fantastic job with meds and lotions and oils and whirlpool epsom salt baths, etc. etc…. Thank you again for all of your monetary and good wishes contributions. Look what we’ve all accomplished!!!… For those of you who are new, just look to the right and you’ll see where Chip started, at a kill shelter down South in horrible condition.

And the winner of the give-away, via random.org, and I’m sorry but I couldn’t figure out how to post that widget result on my blog… is No. 25, which is a comment left by Cait Throop!!  Cait, e-mail me with your address and I’ll ship it off right away 🙂   I loved all of your responses, what a hoot!   I think it’s safe to say none of us will EVER jump out of a plane or bungee jump.  Ditto!!… I plan to do this again because you guys are so much fun with your answers.

My responses:

1. I’m pretty certain that I will absolutely NEVER  drink peachtree schnapps, ever again. Ever.

2. I have a bad habit of worrying, way too much.

3. I never leave the house without my underwear.

4. The last time I thoroughly cleaned out my refrigerator was ….ummm…. well… I think.. it …was… .maybe…
5. If I had a tattoo, and I’m not saying I do or would or will, I think I would put a rising phoenix of my own design with my kids names on the wings somewhere that no one can see it unless it’s intentional.   Not that I  do or would or will.

6. Three things I can’t live without…. My animals,    love,    evidence in the human race of kindess, compassion, empathy.

7. I like my coffee to be a good quality coffee with heavy cream, no sugar… but with Acid Reflux I usually drink honey and apple cider vinegar “tea”.   Yeah. Fun.

300

 Thank you to all you folks out there
who pay any attention to my ramblings
here at This Old House 2.
You make my day with your comments!
Here’s what I’d like to give the winner, 
who will be chosen by the random generator,
 once you’ve entered by leaving your answers below
in the comments section.

Two Autumn mugs and a big bar of Pumpkin Spice soap.

Fill in the blanks….
1. I’m pretty certain that I will absolutely NEVER ____________________.
2. I have a bad habit of _____________________.

3. I never leave the house without my _________________.
4. The last time I thoroughly cleaned out my refrigerator was ____________.

5. If I had a tattoo, and I’m not saying I do or would or will,
I think I would put  a ____________on my _________________.

6. Three things I can’t live without….
__________________
__________________
__________________
(You’re not allowed to mention your family members, that’s a given.)

7.  I like my coffee ______________.

Yum :-)

  So… I made the candy corn cookies…and I gotta tell ya… they are so delicious.. especially dunked in your morning coffee.  Easy and actually fun to make, too!…

Not that I try to collect followers..
But..
it’s so cool that 300 people have liked what they see here
enough to click on the follower link!
In honor of this, I am having a 300 follower give-away.
 My next post will reveal the give-away item,
and no new followers are required.
For those of you who have already clicked,
you’ll just have to answer a few fun questions.
Stay tuned…. ï»¿