Welcome to HV Favorites!

Today kicks off our blog challenge over at the Nestie HV board.  Today's topics:  Fave song, food and day of the week.  So here's my list.  Or lack thereof.  LOL

1)  FAVE SONG

Well, this is a little hard for me.  I have several songs that I just LOVE.  But there are three that will always top my list.

The first one:  Love Street, by the Doors.

I love the Doors.  They are one of my all time favorite bands. I discovered Jim Morrison and the Doors when I was 15 years old.  There was a dusty copy of his biography No One Here Gets Out Alive.  I found it at my Mom's job one day and took it.  I read that book cover to cover 3 times that summer.  I was in love with Jim by August.  The Doors spoke to me.  Their lyrics weren't always happy go lucky, they were profound, dark and made you think.  Just right for a brooding 15 year old girl.  I thought that the ultimate romance at that time was Pam & Jim.  I knew nothing of dysfunctional love at that point.  Jim and Pam were dysfunctional, but this song, Love Street, was a love song to Pam.  He DID love Pam.  No matter how much they yelled, screamed, cheated, Jim's heart always belonged to Pam.  You feel it in this song.  When I hear it, I think of my life so far, and it fits me.  I'm not the only one to think this as well.  Others who know me say the same.

Fave Song #2 - Sugar Magnolia by the Good Ol'Grateful Dead!

Oh how do I love the Good Ol'Grateful Dead.  If the Doors spoke to my dark and brooding side, the Dead speaks to my happy sunshiney gal.  I LOVE the Grateful Dead and my life as their fan. Because of them I have met some of the best people in my life. They are my FAMILY.  From my time with The Dead, I learned to love.  I traveled to places, I probably would not have.  I have had a lifetime of experiences and the best people in my life because of this band.  People who have come and gone in my life.  People that I probably would never have met because of this band.  I took my son out on tour when he was just 2 years old.  Some of the best times we had just driving around in my truck going to see them play. The day Jerry died, 8/9/95, I'll never forget.  As much as I would like to.  I can still remember that day and it's been so long but I know what I was doing and where I was.  The tears that spilled. The phone calls.  The complete feeling of being lost.  

But let me tell you a funny story about the song Sugar Magnolia and how it became my nickname.  *flashback wavy sounds*  Picture it......March 1991.  A young Tee, she's about 20, smitten with a beautiful long haired man that had just started at her first job out of college.  His name is Joe.  I loved him madly, even though I had a boyfriend at that time, I was completely head over heels for Joe.  He was beautiful.  I knew the Dead. I had gone to a show in Albany with some friends from college. I dug them, but I REALLY got into them when I met Joe.  He made me my first tape of the Dead.  Gave to me as a present.  We scored Spring Tour tickets and not only did Joe and I go, but my buddy Sean went as well. I  worked with them both and I would call them "My Knights in Shining Armor" because they were always there for me.  We were all relatively close in age and got along well.  But back to the story....

It's a windy March day.  We duck out of work early. The three of us get in Joe's car and head to Long Island.  The Dead were playing at Nassau Coliseum as was their custom for Spring Tour in NY.  We um, shall we say, indulged a bit on the way.  Nature's finest.  We're all feeling pretty good.  We get to Nassau and I decide I need to change from my work clothes and hey, I'm at a Dead show...I'll change in the car.  I didn't mind.  I pop out of the car changed.  Just jeans and a loose sweater...but much more comfy than my skirt and blouse from earlier.  Joe's roomie Scott has met us at the show.  Joe and Scott are across from Sean and I.  We are leaning on Joe's car while the other two are leaning on Scott's. We're just chatting.  I am feeling pretty darn good.  A perma-grin on my face and Sean's as well.  Next to me, I'm not really focusing, but there are two young men talking.  Something seems to pass between them. I glance over and smile and the one guy says "Hey."  I say "Hey" back.  Look to Sean.  Look back at the stranger, still grinning and yes, back at Sean.  Sean asks "What's going on there."  and I look at him and start to giggle "I don't know!"  and now just into a fit of laughter.  Scott comes up to me, puts his hands on my shoulders and says "I dub thee Sugar Mags!"  and that was it.  My nickname forever.  

Fave Song #3 - Suite:  Judy Blue Eyes

I ADORE this song for one reason only.  It is my opinion that this is the single greatest love song ever written.  Stephen Stills wrote this song for his love at the time Judy Collins.  My favorite all time lyric "This does not mean I don't love you, I do.  That's forever.  Yes and for always."  I LOVE THIS SONG.  The video posted is from the movie Woodstock and it's just an amazing rendition of this song and what these men could do when they were younger.  They can't hit those notes as high any more but they still perform this song beautifully.

The rest of this post will not be as interesting as the previous.  Why?  Because I LOVE music.  I love listening to music and seeing it performed live.  I worship band boys and I'm not ashamed to call myself a groupie or as many of band boys call me "a band-aid".  Almost Famous is one of my all time favorite movies. But let's move on, shall we?

2) Fave Food

Well, I adore chocolate.  A little too much given how heavy I am these days, but I do love chocolate cake, candy, ice cream and chocolate milk.  My friend told me of chocolate covered bacon and I almost died.  

3) Fave Day of the Week

I don't think I have one.  If I had to pick, I guess it would be Sunday because The Bear is home from work and it's usually a relaxing day.  I'm usually working or running chores on Saturday. Sundays are for us to hang around the house or just go out and do stuff together.  Plus, most Sundays.  Bear makes breakfast and he's AWESOME at it.  

See I told you those last two were going to be anti-climatic.

Blog Challenge

Well, hopefully the fire I need to keep up here, will happen this month.  It's HV Nestie Favorite things challenge!

Yay for friends to get your creative drive going!

Rare to have this much of a winner.

It's very hard for me to keep up on this blog during the busy time at work. I got promoted and my responsibilites went up. Which is a good thing professionally. Bad for goofing on the internet and trying to keep up with home stuff and cooking.  I will admit, from about October to end of December, if I worked, and didn't plan something in the crockpot...I didn't cook dinner.  I couldn't deal with it.

But now it's January and I have time to cook again.  Well, I had a winner from Cooking Light last night.  From the most recent issue of Cooking Light I made their Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca  It was outstanding.  I do suggest you try this and add it to your arsenal of chicken recipe's.  I made it with thin spaghetti, not angel hair.  I crushed some garlic and added lemon juice to the pasta.  I had one of those moments when I took my first bite, it was like the heavens opened and the angels sang.

I don't know if its the sage, the proscuitto or the lemon, but it all blended well together.  I also think now that our town got a decent butcher, our choice of meat has changed.  I haven't bought meat from the grocery store in almost a month.  There is a definite difference in the meat products I serve at home now.  I do highly suggest that you all if you have the chance, buy your meat right from a butcher.  You'll be amazed at the difference in the meals you cook and serve.

Work so far

Well, the kitchen didn't go as planned.  That's fine.  Here is what we've done so far.

I'm disappointed with the pictures.  Only because you can't really see the color that well.  We chose a pale green. It's Behr color Valley Mist 460E-2.  I panicked when I first saw the color in the store.  I thought it was too gray. But then Bear put it up on the wall and OH MY.  It's really pretty.  For those that know me well enough to come to the house, I think you'd agree too when you see it.

Bear, his Brother and his Buddy did SO MUCH work getting this painting done.  I can't stop tanking them enough.  I appreciate all the work they have done.  I've told them all this and probably will continue to do so for a long time.

The wall featured in the photo is the wall that we want to cut the "window" in and have a counter.

This is another view.  You can see the color a little bit more.  This is the back door that leads to the deck, the other door leads into the dining room

This photo here is of the cabinets, stove and our new microwave.  I thought about it for a quick second about painting the cabinets white.  It's an idea, but I'm not really sure about it.  I'll take opinions from anyone offering.

Excuse the clutter. Some of the items there is because we were in the process of putting things back now that the room is painted.  The cabinets are good cabinets, good wood too.  The ugly brick you see at the top of the picture, well that is going.  I don't know when, but it's going.  I hate it.  I mean I REALLY REALLY HATE IT.  It actually caused a mini-argument between Bear and I the other day.  But back to the question at hand.  To paint or not to paint.

I had the thought that white cabinets may look nice.  I have this vision of new doors, with glass on them. I really like that open view and I think because all our appliances (except for afew smaller ones) are white that the cabinets being white may be too much.  I'm not really sure.  Whatever I decide however, can't be accomplished for some time.  *shrug*

Here is a photo of our newest bed.  Bear just cut this one so there is lots of work planting wise to be done, but it's beautiful don't you think?

This bed is on the western side of our house.  It's the side that you access our entrance and the deck.  Which is why we have the solar lights lining the brick light up the path that Bear is preparing from the back to the driveway.

It then curves like this to the backyard.  Excuse the mess.

We plan on planting ornamental grasses here (where the bike is).  We have a climbing rose and a new hydrangea planting on the side along with some tiger lillies. 

My Bear rocks.  We're having a BBQ this coming weekend.  If I make anything clever, I'll post a new recipe.

End of May

Life has been busy.  It happens.  The kitchen remodel isn't going as planned.  We are doing some work and for that I am very grateful.  It's hard to get everything because the person that was due to remodel the kitchen and fix our deck got hurt.  So he can't do anything for us right now.  It makes me sad, because I was really counting on it, but what can I do.  *sigh*
I probably shouldn't be writing at all today because I'm in a pouty mood.  I was good for most of the day and then came home to realize something I just found, was lost to me again.  It makes me sad.
Though what makes me happy is my Bear.  I look at him sometimes and I just can't believe how overwhelmed I feel when I see him.  How much I love him.  I know this isn't my usual type of post, but I'm not in my usual kind of mood.  I love my Bear so much.  He just takes my breath away sometimes. I tell him these mushy things and most times he rolls his eyes at me.  He gave me the sweetest card on Mother's Day. It was the nicest card I have ever gotten.  I really do just love that Bear so much.  I tell him every day.  It makes losing something so much easier. 

Trying something new: A Book Review

I read.  I read a lot.  It's not a surprise to people when I tell them I've just earned my BA degree in English.  Because I read.  I read a lot.  I have favorite authors and books.  One of my favorite authors is Alice Hoffman.  I've just finished reading her most recent book The Story Sisters and I reviewed it on Goodreads.  Here it is:

The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had bought this book a year ago.  I had a lot to read for other purposes (classes) so I kept it in the car and read it in pieces.  For me, it started off slow, but as I was drawn more and more into the World of the Story Sisters I couldn't put the book down.  The Story Sisters is heartbreakingly beautiful.  I recommend it to everyone, not just Alice Hoffman fans.  Ms. Hoffman never ceases to amaze me with her beautiful stories.  I enjoyed it very much and I think my friend will too.

View all my reviews >>

I must've done at least one thing right.

Well, we did our taxes last week.  We are getting a refund so the porch remodel is a go.  More importantly, THE KITCHEN REMODEL IS A GO!!!!  I've been downplaying it a lot here at home, because I'm afraid to get too excited about it. I'm afraid if I show too much emotion, it won't happen.  I'm very excited.  Not only are we cutting a hole in the one wall and making a "window" into the dining room. We are painting, adding new counters AND getting a hood for the stove!!!!!  What really made me happy is the painting.  We've decided to tear down the wainscotting and just start all over.  I'm even going to get to re-do the backsplash around the counters and the stove.  I could cry, I'm so happy about it.

I really thought this wouldn't happen because as I've said, it's not just us in this house.  It's Bear's mother who fears change.  Who has the TACKIEST taste in home accessories, furniture and overall style.  Not to say my style is all that great, but I like to think I know what looks good. I'm struggling. I  think I have to start all over agian with my living room, but that's another challenge.  But his mother would decorate with everything from the friggin dollar store if she could. I'm sure this statement will come back and bite me in the ass, but I don't care.  It's true.

Bear, to coddle Mommie dearest, drove over to a friend of his house to show his dear mother what his idea was like. He felt that if she saw it, she'd understand better what he was trying to say and be more agreeable.  We still have to get her to "let go" of somethings, but Bear is hopeful about that.  I'd like a new stove, but I'm not going to push it.  That'll be my present for next year.  More counter space and NEW countertops makes me very happy.  The workspace in the kitchen is horrible.  The counters are horrid and the only large surface area is the table.  Since I'm 5'9" the table is too low for me and when I'm rolling out dough my back always ends up hurting.  We're going to get an island that will fit for my height as well as Bear's.

We're going to get some paint.  I have an idea on how I would like it to look. I'm looking for a Tuscan style almost.  Earth tones, but bright, if that makes any sense.  We don't have stainless and that's fine, because I don't really like the look of stainless.  I know, blasphamey, but I don't like it.  I haven't even thought of counter tops yet, but I know I want granite and so does Bear, so it's all good.  Mommie dear thinks granite is pointless but her opinion on the counter tops doesn't count, since Bear and I do most of the cooking and we want to make the kitchen the way we like.  Also, granite countertops are ALWAYS a nice feature for selling your home.

I'm going to happy dance my way down to LOWES and Home Depot soon and start pricing out all these things.  I'm so excited, I can't wait for March to get here, because that is when we want my buddy to start doing the work on both the kitchen and the porch. I'll have a new kitchen by June!!!!  I can't wait!99