Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Growing up in California, if you didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day you got pinched! In Boston, if you don't have a good shovel or scraper on St. Patrick's Day you're in trouble!

I've had a very lazy day (I won't tell you how many hours I slept). I just made some green cookie dough and am going to visit some friends and make shamrock shaped cookies.

We got dumped with snow last night; maybe 8 inches. They spent hours plowing our parking lot last night and I'm pretty sure someone was snow blowing our sidewalks at 3:00am this morning (it was interrupted sleep). All for a St. Patrick's Day nor'easter!

March O'Madness

I love college basketball. Yesterday I submitted my brackets (is that what you call it?!) for the Final Four tournament.

I say UCLA will be the champs!

Book Club

Tonight was our discussion of East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I barely got through a third of the book but still enjoyed the conversation though I made zero comments. That's quite unlike me; usually I'm a chatterbox. We are going to try to get together to watch the movie (starring James Dean) and I took The Grapes of Wrath off my shelf when I got home.

For next month we decided to read something shorter and cheerier. Maybe The Cat in the Hat.

Happy Pi Day!

It's 3.14...and I work at MIT...

Late night Laundry

While most of my neighbors were in REM sleep I had the laundry room all to myself.

Bleak Boston

Around this time of year a few years ago a friend asked when it was going to look like Spring. I put on my weatherperson hat, went out on a limb, and told her that believe it or not, in 3-4 weeks there would be green leaves on the trees and the grass would be green. And, I was right!

This picture was taken today at lunchtime while I was out walking (aka getting fit @ MIT).

I'll make a mental note to take a picture in a month and post it.

What is your favorite hymn?

A few weeks ago I filled out a survey asking what my three favorite hymns were. Today in church instead of names for speakers the program said: Hymns Selected by the Congregation

There was an introduction to the meeting which included some statistics about which hymns were the top favorites. #1 for the men was I Need The Every Hour so all the men stood and sang a few verses of that song. #1 for the women was Because I Have Been Given Much and all the women stood and sang a few verses of that song. Then the meeting was opened up for people to share what their favorite song was and why followed by the congregation singing a few verses of the song. I think about 15 people participated. The closing song was The Spirit of God which got the most votes.

My favorite part of the meeting was when a little boy named Ben (he's probably 7 years old) stood up and said, "My favorite hymn is I Am a Child of God because when I sing it I know that I am."

Lemon dessert

I've had a hankerin' for a lemon dessert since reading about Kelli baking some lemon treats. Tonight I made a lemon dessert that Grandmother Pitchforth used to make and that I included in a recipe book I made in her memory one hundred years from her birth (March 21, 1898). Tomorrow I may try making lemon bars.

The dessert is chillin' in the fridge and I can't wait to devour it.

Lemon Dessert

3 eggs beaten

1/2 cup sugar

juice and rind of 2 lemons

Cook in double boiler after water boils first. It will thicken in 3 minutes. Cool. Mix with 1/2 pint whipped whipping cream. Spread over crushed vanilla wafers. Refrigerate.

Pass the pablum

I'm still having some trouble with my choppers so have switched to a soft diet: Eating soft foods may help if you have problems chewing or swallowing. That's me.

This was dinner.

I'm ready to burn my coat...

...but I can't...it's 4 degrees tonight.

Spring is around one of these corners...

EP airport shuttle

I enjoy picking friends up at the airport. It's always fun to hear about their travels and help them get home. My favorite time to pick people up is late at night. If you are arriving home at 11:30pm and you need a ride home, I'm your gal. I'm up anyway (usually baking!) and there isn't much traffic late at night (because all the normal people are in REM sleep).

I just got home from picking up friends that landed at 10:47pm.

I'm always glad to help a friend. Especially late at night!

The dentist and the dollar

Last night my gums were bothering me. Today I could move something on one of my teeth with my tongue. How serendipitous that I had a dentist appointment at 4:30pm today. The dentist said, "Your tooth is cracked." Then he pulled half of it out. I'll need to have the other half extracted, followed by getting an implant and a crown.

I'm trying to look on the bright side and not focus on how much this is going to cost me. Let's see...I'm glad the part of the tooth he removed was on the inside so I don't look like a hillbilly...

Neighborly Neighbor heard about my plight and sent her daughter over with this. At first I thought she was giving me money back from some groceries I paid her for last night and then I noticed the note on the bottom and it made me smile.

















At least it's not a toothless smile like I had when I was 7.

Made at Midnight

If I ever open a bakery, it's going to be called "Made at Midnight" because I love baking at midnight! My boss from a few jobs ago had this cartoon made for me. The artist is named John Bush. I really like his work and was pleasantly surprised when I received this gift! I have it hanging in my kitchen. Tonight I'm baking Black Bottom Cupcakes (see recipe below). I got the recipe from my friend Cristi that lived in Boston when I moved here. They are yummy and very easy to make. Notice the before and after photos.









Black Bottom Cupcakes

Mix well and set aside: 1 8oz. cream cheese (softened), 1 egg, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/8 t. salt, 1 small pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

In separate bowl mix together: 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. salt

Combine and add to dry ingredients: 1 cup water, 1/3 cup oil, 1 T vinegar, 1 T vanilla

Fill baking cups half full with chocolate batter. Top each with a generous spoonful of cream cheese batter. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 16 cupcakes.

B is for Burp

Tonight I watched my friend's three kids. The two older ones were asleep. The baby was kind of fussy. I rocked her. I swaddled her. I un-swaddled her. Still fussy. I walked her around. I turned the lights out. I turned the lights on. Still fussy. I picked her up. I put her down. I repeatedly gave her the pacifier. Still fussy. I put her in a little swing. I turned on the music and colored lights. I turned off the music and colored lights. Still fussy. You get the picture. Was she teething? I didn't smell anything but did she need her diaper to be changed? Was she mad? Did she have separation anxiety? Did she hate me?!

Mary Poppins was getting frustrated! I took the baby out of the swing and stood her up in front of me and then...she burped...and smiled...and made cute little baby noises...and sucked on her pacifier...and played with a toy...and was totally fine.

Ahhhhhhh...

Baby gifts

Often I give a digital baby photo shoot as a baby shower gift. Today I redeemed one of my gifts and took photos of "Mr. O." who is 7 months old. I'm actually glad we waited until he was older; he was really fun to photograph. His two older sisters were good at getting him to smile.

Borrowing

This morning I borrowed Neighborly Neighbor's kids while she had a "boring meeting". I wanted to get some exercise so I buckled them in the double stroller and we walked into Lexington Center making stops at the Post Office, bank, Library, and CVS for a treat--of course! The girls were great! The sun has melted most of the ice on the sidewalk and it is a beautiful sunny almost Spring day. We had lots of fun at the Library playing with books, puzzles and puppets. I let them check out six board books which they were excited about.

Color coordination

This morning I wore a pair of the pants my friend handed down to me. I thought they were black. I have black shoes in my desk drawer at work and I had black socks in my purse. So I get out to the bus stop -- in daylight -- and guess what? The pants are BLUE. ARGH!!! I saw my friend Tadd on the train and was moaning about my bad morning (I was soaking wet from waiting for a bus that never came, my pants were blue and not black, etc.) and he said, "blue and black go together."

Sure they do. If you are trying to color coordinate your clothes with a BRUISE.

the A list

I make a "to do" list every day. Yep. Every day. Lately, for my daily lists, I've been using colored cards that I buy at Paper Source (too bad for you if you don't live near one of these stores) and for the weekend lists I use some lined paper that I got from drug reps when I worked at MGH. Life is good when I am getting things done.

Tonight I met a friend at Paper Source in Cambridge. They are open until 7:00pm. I worked until about 6:05pm, headed to the store, and one illegal U-turn and a few wrong turns later I parked a few blocks away and ran to the store. I got there 5 minutes before they closed. Whew! I found exactly what I wanted--scalloped cards in Spring colors--chartreuse on the left and butter on the right.













I'm making my list and checkin' it twice...


P.S. I'm still working on getting fit. Tonight I walked/ran on my treadmill for 20 minutes and then danced around for 10 minutes (I hope none of my neighbors saw me!). Thanks blog buddy Africankelli for the great CD of running/walking/dancing tunes!

Sadness in Idaho

I heard today about this terrible accident that happened yesterday morning near Emmett, Idaho. My friend's niece and nephews are the Walker kids. I went to see my friend tonight after work. It is a devastating time for their family.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/273/story/73387.html

Please pray for the Walkers.

RAT (part II)

Today I was walking the halls during lunch (getting fit at MIT) and I saw a sign that said BRASS RAT...hmmmm...and it sounded vaguely familiar. It turns out that is what they call the MIT class ring! So maybe the RAT I saw was taking a break from posing for the ring. I don't know. I'm just trying to think of why a rat would be visiting "Mahogany Row".

Run And Tell (RAT)

This morning I was at work minding my own business and working on the computer when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I turned and saw it: a small RAT (or big mouse) scurrying around the doorway and into the office. I immediately alerted my coworkers (no, I did not scream) and called Facilities. Seeing a little critter will jump start your (heart and) day! While we were waiting for Facilities to show up (with our feet off the ground) the rat headed back out the door. My coworker shrieked and the rat stopped, turned around (did he look at her?!), and headed back into the office and behind some file cabinets or under the copier where it had been hanging out for a little while. A few minutes later he headed back out the door and to the left. I had turned my camera phone in hopes of getting a shot but he was too speedy. I ran into the hall and watched him run down the hallway towards the News Office. Later I heard he had been caught in the ladies bathroom (now I call it the "Rat Room") and I'm assuming he was let free in Cambridge.

Here's to you, Templeton, you livened up my day!

Close your eyes and imagine this...

A few times a year the "Men's Chorus" in our congregation ("ward") sings a musical number in Sacrament Meeting. It is always a delight to listen to them sing. Today was no different. The one thing that was different was that when I looked around the chapel, every teenage boy over 12 and man in the room was on the stand singing Nearer, My God, to Thee a capella.

Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me.
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer, The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

There let the way appear, Steps unto heav'n;
All that thou sendest me, In mercy giv'n;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

It was extremely inspiring!

Let her eat cake!

They never did that at BYU...

Yesterday at work all of a sudden I heard this LOUD noise. My coworker exclaimed, "IT'S THE MEN'S SWIM TEAM!!!" Huh? I followed the noise and found them -- the Men's Swim Team -- speedo-ly clad, yelling and screaming and hitting the wall with flotation devices. It was quite a sight!! The team yelled a cheer, everyone clapped and then I went back to my office. A few minutes later I heard the LOUD noise again and sure enough the Men's Swim Team was heading down the hall in front of our office. It was really fun to watch them cheer and yell. I guess swim team season is under way. I snapped a few photos on my camera phone and will add them later.

Tonight was the "Postcards from MIT" show and sale. My photographs and quilt art were a nice addition to the collection of over 100 postcards. I bought a really cool oil painting of a red headed woman in a green hat.

Only at MIT...

Quilt art

Postcards from MIT is an art project where all members of the MIT community (Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni) are invited to submit a 4x6 inch original piece of artwork (with your signature on the back). Today is the deadline and the "show and sale" is Friday night (the postcards sell for $15 each and the money will benefit Rosie's Place). A few weeks ago I submitted 5 photographs and last night I made these quilt postcards (inspired by Denyse Schmidt). These were the only fabric art they had received so I made 5 more tonight. I think they're pretty nifty and I hope someone else does too!

It's Girl Scout cookie time!

Some of my coworkers bought a few boxes of cookies and shared them today. Thin mints are still my faves and I've got two boxes of mints on order (where are they?!). Believe it or not, one year I sold the most boxes of cookies in Troop 833. I think my dad bought 40 boxes but hey -- that still counts! I have this recollection of our freezer being filled with boxes of cookies and they probably cost 50 cents a box.

Support the Girl Scouts!

My favorite scarf

This was my birthday present last year from my niece Adrienne. Now that it's winter it is in full fashion! I love the note that she sent along with it. She's a gem.

Squeaky clean

I usually clean for occasions. But with no occasion on the near horizon and a very very very dusty/dirty condo, I decided to clean every room today.

If Abe and George showed up with their white gloves, they'd be proud of me.

Happy President's Day!

Plug your ears!

Match A/B/C with 1/2/3:

1. Loud
2. Louder
3. Loudest

A. The alarm in my condo building went off this morning at 7:00am. People standing outside in their pajamas, fire trucks...
B. There were noises later this morning that sounded like pictures were falling off my wall but I think it was icicles falling off the roof outside my window.
C. There are 127 children in my ward under the age of 11.

My guess is:
1-B
2-A
3-C

Birthday & Baptism

My neighbor turned two today. Here's a picture of her big sister showing me "two" and one of her being two. And, one of her with her mom, neighborly neighbor.

My friend Zoe got baptized today by her dad Tadd. It was a very nice baptism (she had to get dunked twice because her dress didn't go all the way under!). The chapel was filled her friends and family (some from far far away). I made the program and some of my famous mint brownies.

Ice and more ice

I encountered these icy steps this morning walking to work. And, I looked out the window during the day and one of the students was ice skating in Killian Court (ice over the grassy quad).

It's been an icy week.

Aloha!

Do you think my nephew Ian is enjoying college life at BYU-Hawaii?

These boots are made for snowy days

Today was a snowy day. That's different from a "snow day". I had to work today so it wasn't a "snow day" for me. Sigh.

I bought these boots at L.L. Bean last year. After living in Boston for 18 years. I should have bought them the week I got here.

Thanks Elisabeth (and Martha)!

I opened my door today and found this on the table in my entryway! This cute little bear was wrapped in cellophane and holding a (yummy) Valentine sugar cookie (I have already requested the recipe for the cookie and the frosting). My friend Elisabeth made it for me and she got the pattern from Martha Stewart.

Remember Flat Stanley? I've had many a kid send me their Flat Stanley to photograph in different places and then send on to someone else so they can travel the world. So in true Flat Stanley form, I took pictures of my new bear around my condo...on the couch...on the microwave...on the piano...and on the stairs.

Now I need to name my new bear...

Who has over 200 games???

The Batistas do, that's who! I had dinner with them tonight and then we...you know...played games! First we played Rat-a-Tat Cat and then we played Fowl Play which was really fun! Luis barely beat me...but he did! I want to get Fowl Play to add to my meager collection of games.

I took this picture (with my camera phone--sorry about the blur) which accounts for only a fraction of their games! They have Mystery Date. I hope they'll let me borrow it the next time there's a Girls Weekend.

Tax time

My dad always did his own taxes. For a few weeks our dining room table would be covered with receipts, the calculator, and tax forms. He inherited a farm which I'm sure made his taxes more complicated. If we bugged him while he was working on them he'd tell us it was "tax time".

One of the things at the top of my To-Do list this weekend was to get my tax information ready for the accountant. I didn't finish getting the information ready and I'm annoyed at myself for not making it a higher priority (it didn't out-rank making chocolate chip cookies).

So, it's still tax time for me.

Have your cake in a cake carrier and eat it too!

This morning I drove to Newburyport to visit an old co-worker and her new baby. Of course I took my camera along to take pictures of the baby. It was fun to visit with her, meet the baby, and see their amazingly cool hundred year old home. My friend suggested that we take a quick trip to Oldies since I love antiquing. The place was a huge barn--with NO heat I must add--but they had lots of neat stuff organized by type which made browsing much easier. This white enamel cake carrier with red trim caught my eye. We looked through the entire place and then I went back to ogle at the cake carrier and my friend offered to buy it for me as a thank you for visiting and taking pictures. Wow! What a nice gift!! I've already run it through the dishwasher and put it in its new place on the table as my centerpiece!

P.S. Oh yeah. The baby...here's a picture of the baby.

fancy pants

I love jeans. I love dresses too. I've just never been one to mix and match nice pants and blouses. I started my new job on December 6th and I've worn either a dress or skirt/sweater every day--until today--when I wore nice pants for the first time! My friend has given me lots of hand-me-downs and I got the nice pants from her.

This morning while walking to work from the subway I was remembering that my Grandmother Pitchforth, who was born in 1898 and lived to be 94 (and whose phone number was 6--see my 1/23/07 entry) never wore pants. Never ever. She wore a dress (and apron) every day of her life. I remember asking her once about wearing pants and she told me that Grandfather Pitchforth wouldn't approve.

We've come a long way, Granny.

Enrichment Night

Tonight for Enrichment we had a card making/valentine making activity. My friend Leah is very creative and had all the supplies for the coolest cards and a little Valentine candy holder. It was a fun night!

What's for lunch?

This is what I saw on top of a trash can today as I was walking out of work...college students love pizza!!