Monkey OFF my Back

Wow, I never realized how much the Brenda Novak For the Cure Auction candy donations would be like the monkey on my back.

I knew it was there, as it periodically yanked my hair, or tickled my neck, or simply threw poo around.

But there wasn't anything I could do about it . . . until now.

The candy boxes are packed, labeled, and ready for mailing.

And I DO want to thank all the ladies who donated and won my candy. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it. Yes, I know I complained, lamented, and gritched, but that's my process . . . actually, making candy is very similar to writing a book.

Here's what the box of Truffles looked like:

Here's the note I put inside:

 

 

I opted for the milk and dark chocolate mixture, and I picked the chocolates that came out a slightly bigger mold.

 

Cup 'o Joe (Kahlua) the only one molded in white chocolate didn't make the cut because the mold was a little too small for this box insert.

 

Amaretto--one of my favorites--didn't make the cut either because of the specialized shape, a slightly elongated heart. I would have had to destroy one of the candy wells to make it fit in the box insert.

 

As I've mentioned before I make my own fillings so I know which ones work better with the milk chocolate or the dark chocolate. Some of the fillings can stand up to both the coatings, but I went for the checkerboard 'look' of the finished product.

 

A couple of the fillings turned out so much better than I expected--Pilgrim's Progress (maple with minced walnut--while some of the other new flavors will need a little tweaking.

 

This doesn't mean the flavors are bad, just that they aren't as strong as I would like them to be.

 

When I was making my fillings, I gushed over a couple of them: Bronx Cheer (raspberry) and Midnight Magic (blackberry).

 

Bronx Cheer was EVERYTHING I could possibly wish for (it's in the dark raspberry shell). It turned out perfect, right up there with my best flavors: Limoncello, Key Lime, Strawberry Margarita, Grand Marnier, and Black Forest.

 

While Midnight Magic was good, it wasn't up there with the right flavor tone as it had a slightly sweeter taste rather than the tart one I was trying to make. 

 

I'll be tweaking the fillings today or tomorrow. Along with some that I didn't pack in the box: Mango Madness, Cranberry Delight, and Pom Pucker.

 

But there's no hurry now since I have this monkey off my back . . . now, we have to finish making Halloween costumes, get ready for my daughter's birthday and Thanksgiving before I have to even think about making chocolate again.

 

Later, Peeps! 

Walt Disney World -- Magic Kingdom Rides

Finally!! The last installment of the WDW ride breakdown. I saved this one for last because this is the park where the majority of rides are located. As I mentioned before, Disney rides are mild compared to other parks, but that doesn't mean they are less fun.

And there is almost always a story behind each ride.

New version of the map:

Old version of the map:

Again, not a fan of the new maps, but it does have a few of the new rides in the upper right quadrant of Fantasyland.

I'll start off in Tomorrowland, and head counterclockwise, since that seems to be the way we hit the park. The Unofficial Guide book to WDW will give you 'touring' suggestions that will take you back and forth across the park, so if you plan to use one of their tours as a guide, please wear your running shoes!

. . . well, wear your running shoes anyway, because by the end of the day you will have walked MILES.

Again, becoming familiar with the rides and their location will keep you from wasting time as you get your bearings.

Virtually all the rides are wheelchair accessible PROVIDED you can get out of the chair to get on a ride. Wheelchairs are allowed in all the shows and a few of the rides. IF you have a stroller, there is stroller parking near each show/ride.

**Mark your generic stroller/wheelchair with something easily identifiable, such as a red bandana or a pinwheel, or whatever. 'Dirty' diapers have been used to secure one's stroller.**

**if you have a young child who is unable or doesn't want to ride a particular ride, ask an attendant if you can "Switch Off". This basically allows one parent to ride, but then when the ride is over that parent can watch the child while the other parent rides.**

**pick up a times guide to verify meet-n-greet times**

**any ride with a * in front of the ride name is a ride that is on my 'do not miss' list**

MAIN STREET USA

Truthfully, we tend to buzz right through this area to head to Space Mountain, especially in the morning. There are a couple of things you need to know about Main Street. The big central park area is a gathering place for character to take pictures and sign autograph books. To your right, they have been revamping Town Square Theater -- fast pass -- to have an indoor meet-n-greet with Mickey and the Princesses.

Diagonally across the square, they have a new adventure called, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, in which a child searches for clues throughout the Kingdom to defeat the Disney Villains. This would be a fun adventure if you've been to the Magic Kingdom numerous times, right up there with finding Hidden Mickeys, but I'd save it until after you experienced all that the Kingdom offers you.

Walt Disney World Railroad -- This is a regular train that goes around the outside edges of the Magic Kingdom. The main station is above the tunnel entrance into the park. The two other stations are in Fantasyland, where ToonTown used to reside (the upper right corner of the map), and Frontierland, between Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.

TOMORROWLAND

*Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor -- fast pass -- Interactive SHOW -- The fast pass simply gets you to the front of the line. A limited number of people are allowed in the theater at one time. It's an okay show, not my favorite. Save it for the heat of the day.

*Stitch's Great Escape! --SHOW -- 40" height requirement -- DARK -- fun scary-- A little wet -- though there seems to be a ton of people crowding the queuing area, this theater seats quite a few people. Once you pass the outside doors, there are two more queuing areas before the theater. EVERY seat in the round theater is excellent. Once the show starts, the shoulder harnesses come down over your shoulders on each chair. Sit up straight.  DO NOT ALLOW IT TO SMUSH YOU DOWN. It presses down, but then it pops up about 1/2 inch.

This theater used to be where the Alien show was held . . . and that, my friends, was a really scary show!  

*Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin -- SLIGHTLY DARK -- continual two seat cars move through various scenes as you try to take out Zurg. The front of the car closes on you to keep you in place, but you don't care since you have your gun to shoot things! A third small person can sit in the middle, but there are only two guns. Laser guns shoot targets on various objects to earn points.

Carousel of Progress -- SHOW -- it's been YEARS since we saw this show. Very rarely is it crowded. Personally, I think it's dated as technology is progressing so quickly that it simply can't keep up.

*Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover -- 4-6 person car takes you above the crowds and through a few rides. It helps you rest and get the feel of TOMORROWLAND. It takes you through Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain, though you won't see anything except the flash of stars, planets, and the rockets unless the ride happens to be down and the lights are on.

Astro Orbiter -- motion sickness --two-seater rockets fly up and down above TOMORROWLAND. Seatbelts and centrifugal force keep you seated.  Similar to Dumbo and Aladdin's Flying Carpets. We did ride this one during Halloween fireworks one year. Now, THAT was really cool! Slow to load and unload. Small groups are taken in elevator to the ride.

*Space Mountain -- fast pass -- 44" height requirement -- DARK -- Two sections of three  seats make up the 'rocket'. You sit one in front of the other. Lap bars hold you in. You really can't see a darn thing so there's no way to brace yourself during this ride. I LOVE this rollercoaster, but it's really rough on your body. It can be very jerky, so if you have neck or back issues, you might want to give this ride a miss.

Tomorrowland Speedway -- 32" to ride, 54" to drive height requirement -- If you've never driven go carts then this might be fun for you. A bunch of cars, running on lawnmower engines, travel on a rail--there is no deviation from the rail or passing. You are stuck on the rail. Of course, this ride is more for the kids than the adults . . . unless the adult wants to relive the magic of the Speedway. I hate to burst your adult bubble, but it isn't the same as it was when you were a kid.

FANTASYLAND

 

Currently, there are two arms to Fantasyland, and they don't meet. When the Seven Dwarves Mine rollercoaster opens up, March 2014 I believe, I think the plan is to open everything up. If you look at the new map and see the big green area with the words, Fantasyland, that is where they are building the mine train.

First, I'll do the path to the right and then go back to do the left path.

Mad Tea Party -- motion sickness -- 2-4 person--when I say up to 4 people, I mean two adults and two little ones NOT four adults-- teacups spin on a moving floor. A fun ride unless your kid is crazed and wants to make you puke. Jus' sayin'.

Fairytale Garden -- head toward Cinderella's Castle opposite direction from the Dumbo rides, very secluded niche-- character meet and greet

Dumbo the Flying Elephant (2) -- motion sickness -- elephants fly around, a lever controls up and down. 2-3 persons per elephant. It's been awhile since we've ridden it, I think seat belts keep you in place.

*The Barnstormer -- fast pass -- 35" height requirement -- This is a fun rollercoaster. A great one to start your kids on. It's not too scary, not too steep, not too long, but it can be fast. Each car seats two people. Recommend one adult to one child per seat. A lap bar with a netting over your legs keeps you in place.

Walt Disney World Railroad -- Fantasyland station. You can get on or get off at any station, BUT you have to leave your scooters and large strollers. Umbrella strollers can be folded up and taken on the train.

Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station -- A Lot WET-- bring extra clothes

Pete's Silly Slide Show -- character meet and greet 

*The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh -- fast pass -- slight dark -- Each honey pot holds four, two in front, two behind. This is a nice quiet ride through Pooh's mind. The scariest part is his nightmare about heffalumps and woozles. A bar comes down over your legs.

Ariel's Grotto --  character meet and greet

Under the Sea -- Journey of the Little Mermaid -- fast pass -- When we went on this little ride, there was no waiting. It seemed similar to The Seas in EPCOT. Little girls would love this ride. Me, not so much, it was kind of boring.

Enchanted Tales with Belle --  character meet and greet

Prince Charming Regal Carousel -- merry-go-round. On the side of the carousel toward Cinderella's Castle is the Sword in the Stone. They do a show here. Check your Times Guides.
 
*Mickey's PhilharMagic -- SHOW -- Must See -- Make an effort to see this 3-D, well 4-D since you'll get slightly damp, show. It's in a huge auditorium so don't let the crowds waiting at the door scare you. It's a nice way to cool off and relax.

*Peter Pan's Flight -- fast pass -- DARK-- 2-3 persons per ship. I never really liked the Peter Pan movie. It just didn't do anything for me, so I was hesitant to ride this ride. Do NOT miss this ride. It's one of my favorites! How many times do you fly in a pirate ship over London? The front of the boat slides closed to keep you in place.

*"it's a small world" -- raft ride-- I know, I know, you will have to ride this ride and suffer the brainworm of music for the next few hours. But it's a very happy ride. It makes people smile.

LIBERTY SQUARE

 

 This is a very small walk-thru area on the way to Frontierland, mainly shops and food places.

*Haunted Mansion -- DARK-- scary -- 2-3 people in each doommobile, continuous conveyor with doombuggies. The front of the doommobile closes on you. This can be very scary for little ones. If you have a kid who's afraid of the dark or things jumping out at them, then you might consider missing this ride. The ghosts dancing in the ballroom are fascinating to watch. Be sure to look at the pictures on the walls, ghosts on the chandeliers, etc.

Liberty Square Riverboat -- They were referbing it in Aug. 2013. It takes forever to load and unload and all it does is go around Tom Sawyer's Island. If you're at WDW for the rides, this one ain't what your looking for.

The Hall of Presidents -- SHOW -- True Confessions here. I never saw it. Auditorium setting with animatronic presidents.

FRONTIERLAND

 

 Keep to the right around the small lake.

*Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- fast pass -- 40" height requirement -- mine train rollercoaster. 2-3 people per row, two rows per car. Three only if you are accompanied by a child. A bouncy, jerky, runaway mine train. A couple of times we rode this while the fireworks were going off--totally magical! It's a fun rollercoaster, much of it outside. Look for hidden Mickey's.

Walt Disney World Railroad Station -- Up the stairs between Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. 

Tom Sawyer Island -- rafts are poled over to the island. I don't know if there are limits to how many people are on the island, but it tends to take a long time to get over there. It's a great place for kids to run and play and search of treasure. Parents you might want to find a spot to sit and enjoy the break. The only way on and off the island is the raft.

*Splash Mountain -- fast pass -- 40" height requirement --A Lot WET-- three rows of two people fill a log. A lap bar keeps you in place. There are three or four drops. The last drop is the one everyone can see. If they have their water cannons on, then expect to be blasted! 9:15 in the morning is NOT the time to get soaked, just saying. If everyone coming off the ride is drenched, don't expect anything different. . . the right side of the log seems to be the wetter side.

Country Bear Jamboree -- SHOW -- Yeah, never saw it. Can't help you here.

ADVENTURELAND

A Pirate's Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas -- search for treasures throughout Adventureland!

*Pirate's of the Caribbean --DARK -- raft ride-- four people per row and about six rows to each boat. A couple of drops, but nothing crazy since you aren't held in by anything except gravity. Remember the movie. Yeah, the Johnny Depp one, they took the story from this ride, then the ride was revamped with Johnny D hiding in the scenery.

Jungle Cruise -- fast pass -- Boat ride. No real seating except around the edges. They take you around the four largest rivers in the world, feeding you cheesy jokes the whole time. It's goofy, but fun, with animatronic animals. Extra fun in the dark. It makes it a little more realistic.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room -- SHOW -- A good way of getting out of the Florida heat. The show was revamped when Aladdin came out, 10+ years ago. It needs a little updating, but it's nice to sit down out of the heat.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin -- think Dumbo ride, but with flying carpets. If I remember correctly there are two rows per carpet, holding 2-3 people per row. Watch out for spitting camels!

Swiss Family Treehouse -- Walk-through .  . . or should I say walk up and down? It's kind of cool to see the home of the Swiss Family Robertson. LOTS of narrow stairs if you have a heart issue or blood pressure issue, or even claustrophobia, don't attempt to climb this. We were there when they shut it down and emergency personnel had to rescue someone.
 
Tinker Bell's Magical Nook -- character meet and greet 

And this wraps up my Walt Disney World tips and tricks. If you have any questions, shoot them my way as I'm always happy to talk about WDW!

Later, Peeps!

I'm working on the final Walt Disney World Park in Florida-- THE MAGIC KINGDOM.

I'll post it later today when I'm finished with it!

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Candy, Candy, Candy!

I've been a little busy this week molding candy.

No, this isn't the candy that I make for Christmas, but rather the candy for the Brenda Novak Auction winners from last May.

I waited until cooler weather, simply because I didn't want the winners to get a pile of chocolate goo in the mail.

The Sea Salt Caramels were made about two weeks ago. Remember that fiasco? First, I cut the caramel pieces too small, then too large. I then made two 'perfect' batches back-to-back. When I dipped them they got all gross and melty--but I have to say, they tasted REALLY AWESOME! . . .no wonder I didn't lose any weight this week--many of them were too large for the form in the chocolate box. The next day I had an epiphany about checking the calibration of my candy thermometers (insert thermometers in boiling water--212 F or 100 C. Easy-peasy), and discovered that the thermometer I used on the last two batches was low by 10-12 degrees! YIKES!

Two new batches were made, using my good candy thermometer. I actually 'measured' the caramel pieces pre-dipped, so they would fit in the forms, so the five Sea Salt Caramel boxes are ready to go.

Of course, there will be some variation in size due to the candy maker's (ME) inability to cut and dip 'Perfect' pieces of caramel.

Onward to the truffles! Yes, I make all the fillings. It took me a few years of experimenting, but for the most part I'm happy with the results. Some of the newer flavors need a touch of tweaking.

Here is a picture of how I stored these babies. Normally, I have a separate box for each truffle flavor, but since I only made one batch, which gives me eight pieces, of each flavor. I mixed the candies in the storage containers to save on space.

23 flavors of candy

 

One of the winners wanted all her pieces to be dark chocolate, but that isn't happening.

 

Look, I know my flavors. I know which ones can stand up to the dark chocolate and which ones that will be overwhelmed by the dark chocolate . . . though there are a few experimental ones in the dark chocolate, namely Whiskey Toffee Crunch, Rum Raisin, and Pomegranate Pucker. Those might not make the cut into the auction boxes. . . . I'll have to sample them later

 

Sucks to be me, right?

 

And now you know why I will ALWAYS be on Weight Watchers and fighting to keep my weight under control!

 

Left side, starting from the bottom left corner, candies from left to right, lovingly coated in milk chocolate . . .

 

Box One: Frangelico, Barenjager (honey), Gingerbread, and Cherries Jubilee (cherries in a white truffle base)

 

Box Two: Black Forest (cherries in dark chocolate truffle), Midnight Magic (blackberry), Mango Madness, and Pilgrim's Progress (maple with walnuts)

 

Box Three: Strawberry Margarita, Grand Marnier, Amaretto, and ButterShots

 

Right side, top to bottom, starting at the top right corner, smothered in dark chocolate . . . with the one white chocolate exception , , ,

 

Box Four: Rum Raisin, Cranberry, Pomegranate Pucker, and Chocomel (caramel)

 

Box Five: Bronx Cheer (raspberry), Key Lime, and Peppermint Schnapps

 

Box six: the only one coated in white chocolate is . . . Cup 'o Joe!, Whiskey Toffee Crunch, Limoncello, and last, but certainly not least, Ride the Wave (salted caramel)

 

Some candies have fun names, other candies I simply used the base liquor as the name. Yep, all of the candies are made with booze, although I cook the alcohol out of the filling. So they are child friendly.

 

Gotta go pack some candy after I test drive a couple of flavors. FYI: I do test the fillings prior to molding them, but the flavor profiles change when they are molded in chocolate.  Then I have to see how I can put them in the boxes to make them look the prettiest.

 

Later, Peeps!

 

 

Weighty Wednesday -- Hibernation Effect

Holiday season is here, Or as I'm fond of calling it -- CANDY SEASON.

It starts with Halloween and ends with Easter. November and January are lighter months, but the other months make up for it.

And, of course, I make candy.

How can you make candy without tasting the product? 

You can't. Though I don't usually eat a whole piece of the final product, I do take a destroyed one (usually cracked in the freezing process), cut it open to see how the filling holds in the candy, how it looks against the chocolate coat, and then taste a sample of the piece to decide how the flavors meld together.

--this last step is how I decide what type of chocolate covers the filling. If my filling is tart (Limoncello, Key Lime, Bronx Cheer {raspberry}), or pepperminty, and I know it will stand up to the dark chocolate flavor, then I will mold it in dark chocolate. I tend to mold Cup 'o Joe in white chocolate, because who doesn't like vanilla cream flavor in their coffee? Almost all the other flavors I make will go in milk chocolate--the velvety creamy texture combines well with all the other flavors.

And it's not just the fact that candy will be laying around the house for the next few weeks, waiting for Halloween, plus the post-Halloween extras.

--I make a point of having hubs hide the six MONGO-sized bags of candy from Sam's Club, but if he can't hide it, I make a point of 1) NOT OPENING IT, or in a moment of weakness when I open it, I make a point of 2) barely slicing open the end and using my heat sealer to cover the evidence.

Yeah, this old dog has some tricks.

The toughest part of this season is what I like to call the HIBERNATION EFFECT.

With less sunshine, we tend to become sluggish, lethargic, eat comfort food to excess, and not really care about our health. Who wants to exercise?

Only those freaks who live to exercise, that's who.

Okay, I like to walk outside. When it's spitting rain, or the wind is blowing at 50 mph from the north, and it's in the 40's or lower, I don't particularly like to walk on those days, but I still do it.  

It's a habit. And a good one. So I'll keep doing it. . . though I might change the time of day until after the watery sun warms the land just a little bit.

And I hate going to the gym more than I hate freezing my butt off in the nasty weather!

It's a tough time of year when it's dark when we go to work and dark when we get home. We put on our sweats, yoga pants or fuzzy jammies with the expandable waists and go to town in the pantry while we watch TV, or play video games, or sit and read in the evening .

Tis is the season of soups, stews, and all sorts of casseroles. The urge to bake luscious desserts, or just a batch of cookies, is upon us, as the heat from the stove provides comfort along with the food that warms our tummies.

The key to surviving the season is to have a PLAN.

Plan to eat all five servings of fruits and veggies daily. With the modern convenience grocery stores, there is no excuse that you can't get fresh fruit and veggies . . . unless you live in the boonies. A fresh salad before dinner will help fill you up.

Plan to drink plenty of WATER. This is tough since we don't think to keep hydrated in winter, but your skin will thank you. Here's my trick to drinking water on my walks: I fill my aluminum water bottle with HOT tap water. Mile one, the water is very warm, but cools enough by miles two through four to comfortably drink. The container holds 3 cups of water, which is half of the recommended daily amount of fluids.

Plan to make time for exercise. Look, just parking at the back of the parking lot and walking into the grocery store is better than nothing. Walk around your house. Walk the mall a few times before you shop. If you have a second story in your house make a point of walking upstairs to go to the bathroom. Every little movement is better than none at all.

And the biggest challenge of the season is PORTION CONTROL. If you haven't been practicing this little beauty, now is the time to start. I know you want another bowl of stew or soup or another scoop of that chicken enchilada casserole, but do you really NEED it? Are you hungry? Or did it just taste so good that you just want more to satisfy the pleasure center of your brain? Wait a few minutes before you head to the kitchen for seconds. Drink some water. Enjoy family time. Or get more of that lovely green salad instead. Do anything to get past the few minutes of wanting something, but not needing it.

Another trick is to use a ladle that has four or eight ounces marked. Use this to measure your amount of soups or stews. I know WW sells scoops that have specific amounts marked. Buy a set. Oh, and when you measure, don't make it a HEAPING scoop. We're talking level scoop. Use a knife to level it off if you can't trust yourself.

I know the food tastes good--that's what got us into this weighty predicament--but you need to have control over the food, not vice-versa.

This is a challenging season. I know you can do it, because I'm right there with you.

And the sun is up enough for me to change and go on my walk.

Later, Peeps!

Kitchen Backsplash

I can't remember if we bought this house in 1995 or '96, but I can tell you that it's time to do a little updating. And to see what the current style in our area, all we have to do is wander through some new builds. Bedrooms will stay the same size, all you have to do is paint them to given them life.

And though hubs would love to remove all the carpeting, that simply isn't possible with Maggie, the sheepdog, tearing around the corners. Our little bit of wood in the front entryway is scarred from her trying to get a grip.  Yes, we have a carpet in here, but there are two corners to slide around when one goes down the stairs and into the main living space.

Back on topic:

The first thing that came into the hubster's mind was the kitchen backsplash. Quite a few years ago we replaced the Formica countertops with Corian. Hubs wanted granite, but I'm not a fan of granite. Besides the color I wanted (with a ripple of blue through it) was probably the rarest granite out there. READ:  $$$$ cha-ching!

 

Picture Time!

The white backsplash was so stark against the white cabinets that my MIL painted the grapevines for me.
Hubs added the under the counter lights the first year we moved in. It was DARK under there when the winter gloom arrived!

 

Test hole: discovered an outlet hidden by the builder residing under the tile behind my stove. Oops!

For some reason, I can't enlarge the next pictures. Sorry. I tried numerous times and numerous ways, but Blogger won't let me do it. I sent feedback to Google Blogger.

Tile removed. Plastering started.

 

 

Everything plastered, ready for tiling.

 

The first few tiles go up. Remember EVERY side AND outlet will have to have tiles cut to fit.
That's a lot of tiles!


FYI: Hubs has tiled before, namely our bathroom, the kidlet's bathroom and the utility room. We have a we saw. Be sure to wear your safety glasses, gloves and shoes when cutting the glass tiles. Yeah, hubs managed to step on some glass. Blood was everywhere.
Sorry, no pictures.

Pre-grout: We . . .er, HUBS did remove the stove and microwave to add a row of tiles to give it the right look.

Grouted. We sealed the quarts stone before grouting.

 

Grout still worked its way into the quartz. So we took white vinegar and a toothbrush and scrubbed every piece of quartz tile.

Finished!

Yep, there's a decent amount of stuff on my counters. And Yes, my hubby makes his own wine . . . and my kitchen is the only place in this house to do it!

At least it's past the fermenting stage. Ugh, I get yeast headaches from the smell.

I haven't forgot about the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom ride breakdown . . . well, okay, I DID forget about it, but I've had other things on my mind!

 

I'll work on it today, and hopefully will have it up later this week. I can't promise tomorrow because I need to make candy,finish judging a contest, plus write a thank-you note to an editor.

 

Later, Peeps! 

 

 

Late Oktoberfest post

We went to Oktoberfest on Thursday night . . . which should explain why I totally forgot to blog on Friday.

I blame too much beer.

The kiddo and I took down our Oktoberfest hats and tried them on.

See? She looks happy here. If you happened to see the FB picture I posted, she was Miss Frowny Pants. Pre-teens think that look is cool . . . I need to let her know that her face will get wrinkles if she keeps it up.

 

Here's a close-up of my drunken chicken hat. It's too cute, plus it has finger holes in the head and wings like a puppet!

 



We opted to leave our hats at home.

On Thursday the German bands are not the "A" team, but it wasn't crowded, we had VIP access (though hindsight proves it didn't matter on a Thursday), free beer, and a great parking spot.

See? She likes going to Oktoberfest, mainly for the potato pancakes and the rides, but she did have fun.

Oktoberfest has become a tradition in our house.  Because that's where my hubby and I met in 1990. Long story, but a cute one, AND we are still trying to find posters from that year! I won't share the story with you, since I've been accused of sharing too much.

On Friday, I spent the day with a toothbrush, scrubbing quartz tiles with vinegar. Hubster finished the backsplash, grouting, sealing and caulking the edges. I'll post pictures on Monday. We still need to seal one short wall, but most of my kitchen is back where it belongs.

YAY! Morning coffee is where is should be!

We did discover years worth of crud under the upper kitchen counters. Yes, I clean under there, but sometimes the messes don't show up for a few days, and by then, I have forgotten about it. I need to clean the rest of my cabinets, because I'm still finding fake 'blood' from when the hubster exploded the stuff in my kitchen a few years ago.

The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is wonderful. Just saying.

We're still debating about changing out the faucet in the sink (a huge expense) along with changing all the drawer pulls from gold to pewter. And I've been looking online for new valences for the kitchen windows. As much as I love my grapevines, they've been up for 15+ years and it's time to update.

I'll post kitchen reno pictures next week.

Later, Peeps!