Asparagus 101

Asparagus 101

Snap off the ends by gently bending each stalk (as shown by Chef Estella). The woody end should break off at just the right spot. Soak the stalks in cold water to loosen any dirt and refresh them.

Kill them with kindness

My Darling Jacob informed me on Monday that he received a letter from the City of San Diego, letting him know that the operation of our business was in violation of the home occupation regulations. My heart sank to my stomach, it only means one thing, we have an unhappy neighbor...we've been around the block on that one.

"Mean people suck!" is what I said. Apparently the unhappy neighbor took it upon herself (we think it's a she) to call the City of San Diego and complain about our little Boiler business-- that wasn't very neighborly. What's so hard about going to your neighbor and talking about it? NOTHING!!!!!!, it's just too easy, ignorant people who are MEAN can't comprehend it (now I'm being mean). It's sad to think that this neighbor dislikes us that much, that she would take pleasure in seeing a young family struggle with their small business, over nonsense.....it's unbelievable, it's sad.

Madder-than-a- Bear, I said to Jake "I'd like to give this lady a piece of my mind"... and he gently replied "Kill them with kindness".

Los Tres Amigos

TheUsual Suspects...

I said "Good-bye" to them for 40 days.

Amigo 1

Señor Cafe was my daily morning companion. His aroma was intoxicating to me, and his taste was Divine... we'd smile at the rising sun, sit and enjoy each others company as we browsed through cookbooks for the evening supper~ I miss him the most.

Amigo Dos

Señor Dessert, always-always put a big grin on my face. When those nasty PMS symptoms would arrive, this little buddy of mine always tamed the beast... all I gotta say is "Honey,watch out this month!"

Amigo Tres

Señor Pinor Noir

OK, lets get something straight, I'm not a Wino, but I do have to say that this Gentleman, AND a Gentleman he always was, would woo me at the end of a rough day~ relax me, if you will, with his alluring berry & black cherry aromas, and his velvety smooth texture. Pinor Noir was often enjoyed with a nice supper; supper just isn't the same.

So you see my friends, for lent I usually give up on Señor Dessert, but this year I decided to be an overachiever and give up on three of my favorite things... it's been 14 days without them, and let me tell you, yesterday was tough, today was better, we'll see what tomorrow brings.

The moral of the story "BABY STEPS"!

Lagrimas

After reading nienie recent post's, lagrimas(tears)filled my eyes and my heart ached for Stephanie.
It makes me sad that someone so sweet as she(not of this world) is going through what she and
her family are. I pray that God continues to watch over The Nielson family.

Stephanie was kind enough to make me these lovely silhouettes
of my little family.

The Reifer's

Amore~

Valentina

Wishing you mucho Amore on this sweet Valentines Day!

ciao!

Little Night Owl

We have a little night owl in our home

Little night owl's bed time routine starts at 6:45 p.m., after bath time, brushing teeth, & saying prayers, little night owl crawls into bed around 7:30 p.m., with her favorite night time books, for Mommy-O to read.

The reading session goes for about an hour, due to little night owl's request to read certain books a second time around. After the reading session is over, little night owl wants to say "Good-night" to Daddy-O for the second time around; she pitter-patters to the living room where Daddy-O is watching TV; they end up building castles with blocks, wrestling, doing gymnastics, playing hide-and-seek...I can go on with their night time activities!

By the time Mommy-O makes herself get out of bed to retrieve little night owl, it is almost 10, what? where did the time go??? Little night owl is clearly full of energy, and not at all ready for bed.

It takes a lot of soothing from Mommy-O & Daddy-O to get little night owl to bed...which leaves Mommy-O completely worn out~

little night owl having breakfast sometime after 10:00 a.m. due to sleeping in

BECAUSE in the end, little night owl only wants Mommy-O. It can only get easier, right?

New family member

Last Friday we welcomed "Caillou" the Beta fish to our family. When I talked to Estella about getting her a pet fish, she screeched with excitement, although I don't think she really knew what I meant exactly because after we chose our Beta fish at the Pet store, she said "Bye-Bye fishy!" and walked away, heading back towards the fish tanks that were more on her level, were she continued to put her two little hands in the fish water~urrrg.

Anyway, after struggling with a curious-tired (way past her nap time) two year old, at a pet store, we're happy with our new family member, and we hope he's happy too.