It's not the boggie woogie flu...

But it is pneumonia.
Tim's thanks go to the ER for missing it 9 days ago.

From Shadow's Kitchen...

Doggie Cookies Recipe
For your dog!

You will need:
• 2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
• 1 cup milk

• Preheat oven to 375'F.
• In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
• In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well.
• Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use bone shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
• Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown.
• Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.

• Icing can be made using cream cheese, plain yogurt, honey and a flour.

Persuasion

I do love this story, and I really wanted to buy the DVD of this Masterpiece Classic adaption (and I am on an Austen kick right now). But... when she started mouthing like a carp gasping for air, and had all that saliva stuck to the sides of her mouth, I sorta got grossed out and started laughing. No wonder it took him so long to kiss her! Blech! I think I'll pass.

Emma. Again.

So you missed it? No time? No problem!
You can watch the entire four hour mini series in just 4 minutes! Brilliant!

It's Pancake Day!

Some call it "Shrove Tuesday." (The word shrove is the past tense of the English verb shrive ~ in case you thought you might lose sleep over not knowing).

In the United Kingdom and Ireland (for those who follow the Anglican tradition), Shrove Tuesday is often known as Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday. And there are festivities! On Pancake Day, pancake races are held in villages and towns across the United Kingdom. The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard the church ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake. So today...people are apparently running all over England with frying pans in their hands, tossing pancakes! And how much fun is that!

And yes, it's also known as Fat Tuesday. It's a whole Mardi Gras, let's-eat-as-much-as-we-can-before-Lent kind of thing. In Sweden, I'd be serving semla or fastlagsbulle (a sweet bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream) to my family today. That tradition evantually evolved to eating semla every Tuesday between now and Easter ~ apparently semla is amazingly good! But, sorry kids. You're American born, Mormon Swedes, and we don't do the whole Lent/eat a pastry every Tuesday thing, but I'm not above making pancakes and running up the street with a frying pan. So guess what we're having for dinner?

Add another candle on his birthday cake...

Happy 25 to Doug,
whose 1st birthday cake was Cookie Monster...
We dedicate this day to you!

Dear people who live in the snow,

Some days it's good to be me.

All quiet on the western front?

Remind me again...

Why do I live here?

Happy Valentine's Day!

CATaclysmic

Dear Whiskers,

Apparently you're a boy cat. You should have said something. Perhaps you tried, and we just weren't listening. It was badly done on our part. But this does explain the deep primal meow you have. And it does explain your large muscular size. Your wanderlust and appetite suddenly make sense too. It also, I fear, explains the tomcat spraying of my front door every month (you little beast. And to think I was blaming the orange cat who lives behind us)!

It also explains the midnight cat fights. And the fact that apparently you lost the last one. And the fact that you're now spending the night with the vet, running a fever, having that abscess on your face drained, getting a few shots of antibiotics, being tested for horrendous cat diseases, and costing me $242.00!

Purfect. Just purfect.

abra sus libros a la página...

And that's pretty much all I remember from college Spanish.

I wish I'd paid more attention. Because I think my gardener and his minions are talking about me. I just think that if you're paying a ridiculous amount of money to have your entire backyard planted, then you should be able to tell them that you think certain shrubs should be moved 'a little to the left'. I didn't think I'd been outside that much, but when he sorta ushered me in the front door and said, "Not to worry!" followed by rapid-fire Spanish a few moments later.... well, you know. Just sayin'.

Where oh where is Stacy?

I am currently reading this.

(Not to be confused with this or this, which I am also reading. Simultaneously, mind you. Chapter for chapter. It's fascinating!).

So who is Queen Emma? "By birth Emma herself was a Norman. But she effectively became the wife, mother, and aunt of England. She married, and outlived, two English kings, saw two of her sons crowned and enthroned, and was great-aunt of William the Conqueror."

I know. Groovy, right? And yes, you can borrow it.

Do Ewe Knit?

My sister does.

In fact, she and her friend taught themselves by watching videos on youtube!

Apparently, they've gotten so good, that they can knit with an accent! (It's very European).

And now the best part of all... (and I want to be there for this)... they can have parties and make new friends and spin old yarns while cozily knitting the afternoon away.

They can call themselves Chix with Stix... or... wait for it....the Knit Wits!

They can use this invitation tag attached to a small ball of yarn wrapped in cellophane. They can serve Knitting Needle Kabobs, Mitten Sandwiches, Purl Punch, and these groovy yarn cupcakes.

I'm not jealous. I've tried to knit in the past (and have been asked not to by the Safety Inspector General). I just know they'll have some knitty-gritty fun!

What's in a name

I really don't know why I have all these books about Mr. Darcy, when it's Mr. Knightly I revere.

Alas.