HP Sauce

I just got some HP Sauce from World Market.

Oh joy!

Now I need to make meat pies or something deliciously yummy and English.

Chris and Dennis vetoed canned spotted dick.

What's in the fridge

Irish Extra Stout again.

2010 Garden Plan

I think I'm going to replant last year's garden plan this year.

We're going to move the beds down the hill and level them soon. I'll test the ground in the backyard. Only the top layer needs to soften up, so we might be able to get this done this Sunday. It is supposed to be over 40 in the afternoon.

I am going to have to put down some kind of weed barrier this year. Crabgrass got into the beds last year, probably from our lawn trimmings in the compost. I think I can just staple 4' x 4' sheets of black weed fabric over the tops of the beds.

I'll have to refill them to the top to make this work to its best advantage.

I am also going to have to build the fence before I start planting. I think I can make something that will work out of the chicken wire we bought last year. I need to keep squirrels out immediately, rabbits once I put in plants, and birds once there is visible fruit. You'd think they'd get their fill from the neighbor's St. Francis statue garden.

I still really want to see this happen in real life.


I don't really feel like starting any seeds indoors this spring. I'll have to review and revise based on what is available in the garden centers later.

Chess Pie

Chess Pie #4

Sugar Cream Pie

1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
7 T ap flour
2 c evaporated milk
1 T diced butter
1/4 t ground nutmeg

Mix the sugars, flour, and milk. Pour into crust. Dot with butter and sprinkle with nutmeg to look pretty. Bake 300 degrees for 1 hour.



This is also not really Chess Pie. Dennis and I both identified evaporated milk when we were eating at Gus's Fried Chicken, and it is their Chess Pie I am trying to recreate. This isn't it, but it is good. It has a bit too much flour taste to me, but I think real cream would solve that. I also think going pure white sugar would sweeten it up. I would like that, because you can't get a pie too sweet for me.

BB King & Buddy Guy

I just got back from seeing BB King and Buddy Guy.

BB's set was plagued with sound problems. How disappointing. The crowd was not into it.

Mr. Buddy Guy played the panties off of everybody. He burned stuff down. Wow! He played an Albert King song so low down and dirty that I almost cried.

I feel privileged to be able to see these men play. I noticed there were not that many people my age in the crowd. Hippies, stadium rockers, hair banders and kids around Chris's age were all represented, but I just didn't see that many from the MTV generation. Where are you guys?

Chess Pie

Chess Pie #3

Jefferson Davis Pie

1/2 c softened butter
1/2 c white
1/2 c packed light brown sugar
1/2 c heavy cream
1 egg
1 T ap flour
1 1/2 t vanilla

1/2 c heavy cream
1 t sugar
1 t bourbon

Preheat oven to 425.

Mix white sugar, brown sugar, and flour. Add softened butter, cream, eggs and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Pour into unbaked pie shell.

Bake at 425 for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 and continue baking for 45 to 50 minutes.
Whip cream and add sugar gradually until stiff peaks form. Once cream is whipped, gently fold in the bourbon. Serve with pie.



Ok, this is not really Chess Pie. It is sugary and caramely. It goes really well with the bourbon whipped cream.

Presenting Chester A. Rathur

We have a new family member!



In honor of President's Day, his name is Chester A. Rathur.

Kimchi Fried Rice

The whole family ate the kimchi I made!

I thought I'd start out with something that used a little kimchi and other things we're all used to, so I made kimchi fried rice.

True love and shoes

My dear, darling, sweetest Dennis drove to Warrenton, MO today to buy me shoes.



I love HIM, and I love these too.

Making your own kimchi

I'm attempting David Lebovitz's kimchi recipe.

Mmmm, it smells so good.

Barkus Pet Parade 2010

Lacey went to Soulard to hang out with her dog friends and celebrate a little of the Mardi Gras season.

This is her first Pet Parade, and she had a great time!

Chris's new shotgun

Chris needed a new shotgun for YHEC. He had really outgrown Grandma's youth model last year, but wanted to stick with what he'd been practicing with. He's finally ready to move up this year.

We found this TriStar Hunter EX at Cabela's. We went home to talk it over, and Chris decided this is the gun he wanted.



Purchasing a firearm from Cabela's in Hazelwood is a three ring circus. Only not fun. We knew exactly what we wanted and didn't need to browse at all, but it still took an hour and forty-five minutes of standing around in various lines to get the transaction completed. Nobody said thank you, or sorry for the wait, or gosh we're glad you came in and spent a big chunk of money with us today. I'm certain this will be our first, last, and only purchase from their gun counter.

Nevertheless, Chris seems pleased with the new gun. We'll see how he shoots tomorrow!

Closet update

I've been taking a picture of my work outfit every day for about two months now.

Here are some things I've decided:

1) I should not wear oversized sweaters.



2) I like this cardigan, and I'd like to find more like it.



3) It took me about a month to wear this belt after I bought it. I will not wait a month to wear it again!



I need more skirts. I am thinking about dresses for spring and summer too. I can wear a sweater or jacket over them in winter.

I never thought I'd look at fashion blogs, but I've found one that I'd really like to mimic. I love the way she looks!

What I'm Reading

I've just downloaded the following Vonnegut titles in audio format: Cat's Cradle, Welcome to the Monkey House, Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast of Champions. These are the four currently available from the St. Charles library.

It is different to experience Vonnegut in audio format. You lose something, but you also gain something.

I am so glad I saw Kurt Vonnegut speak at Washington University before his death. It was a regret avoided. How often do you get one of those?

Somebody.
Sometime to sometime.
He tried.