Thoughts On Stuff

Pass the rhino, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Tim and I started hurling the rhino at each other. He has a pretty
good arm.

Abby introduced me to Cake Wrecks, which is the Go Fug Yourself of cake design. (Wow, that’s niché, isn’t it?)

A few weeks ago, I went to an All Tomorrows Parties music festival near Monticello, NY. While at the grocery store there, I spotted a wreck of a cupcake. Being the dutiful documenter that I am, I snapped a picture, and sent it in. Who can resist the mocking of a porn-’stache-wearing, cookie-choked Cookie Monster?

And so, I have made it onto Cake Wrecks. Huzzah. Now, on to my next goal: Cute Overload. I need to take one million more pictures of my cat.

At D’Parma, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Today we lazed around recouperating from the face flu (as opposed to
the stomach or butt flu). Now we’re enjoying a late lunch. It’s not
that the flu made Jason’s head any larger, he’s just drinking espresso.

What’s this, what’s this?, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

It’s the first set of fingerless gloves of the season, started in
Detroit. Why am I knitting in Detroit? My plane is broken, and I’m
waiting for the new plane to be ready. Ho hum.

At least it’s more fodder for Helpful Paws.

Meatless meat pie, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

All families, I think, have those meals that are quitessential. For my
family, one of those meals is meat pie. It’s a leftover-made meal,
made from last night’s roast and potatoes.

For my sister and I, it was a vegetarian, from-scratch, need-to-make-
gravy version. I roasted vegetables, and made the pastry crust. Then I
made a roux, and added miso paste. It made a rich gravy.

Since my sis is off onions and garlic (lots of sulphur makes baby
gassy), I was worried that it would be bland.

Luckily, our family’s recipe IS bland, so it tasted juuuuust right.

Savory Meat Pie

Saute in hot fat…
1/4 c. chopped onion
2 T. chopped green pepper

Combine in 2 qt. baking dish with…
2 c. diced cooked meat (beef, lamb, veal from leftover roast)
2 c. diced cooked vegetables (fresh or leftover, such as carrots, celery, peas, corn, turnips, parsnips)
1 1/2 to 2 c. well seasoned gravy thinned with milk or stock

Heat in hot oven (425 degrees) for 15 min.

Cover with … Golden Pastry
Have mixture hot when topping goes on to insure a thouroughly baked top crust.
Sift together 1 c. flour, 1 T. sugar, 1.2 tsp. salt. Cut in 6 T. butter. Mix 1 egg yolk, 1 1/2 T. lemon juice, 1 T. water. Blend into dry ingredients. Dough will be soft. Chill several hours or overnight in refrigerator. Roll out on lightly floured board.

Cut slits in top for steam to escape. Bake until golden brown.

Temp: 425
Time: Bake about 20 min.
Amount: 6 servings

Day 17, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Today, Felix is 17 days old. I slept all through the night, so I don’t
know if he kept my sister up all night.

I’m back at the Java Hut, for some workity workity before a grocery
run and then Felix’s first trip to the farm. I wonder if he’ll want to
pick apples and pet the cows.

I’m at the Java Hut in downtown Iowa City, working. I worked a little this afternoon, but mostly spent time with my sister and her new baby Felix. He’s so so so tiny (16-days-old tiny). I don’t know that I’ve seen such a tiny baby in a long time. Maybe since my brother and sister came home from the hospital, which was nearly 26 years ago.

My sister isn’t big on photos being on the internet, so I’m respecting her wishes. I do plan on asking her if once we take a really nice portrait, she’ll let me post it. She may say no, so don’t get your hopes up, internet friends.

LibraryThing, my kick-ass jobbity, is looking for a few new people.

In fact, they’re offering $1000 worth of books to whomever finds them a new employee! So, think about who you know who fills any of these spots:
* Hacker. We’re looking for PHP hacker, JavaScript genius and library-data experience. We hope we get two of three.
* Graphic designer/user-experience guru. Experience designing for data-rich sites like LibraryThing a must.
* Brainy, overworked assistant. Smart, flexible, organized, relentless—willing to do both high-level (strategic analysis) and low-level (send-out-these-CueCats) work. The job is non-technical, but you need to be super-comfortable around computers.

The catch? They need to live around Portland … Maine. I love going there - it’s a gorgeous town, and it’s less expensive than going to work for a high-profile .com in Boston (let me tell you). Boston is a two hours away by train, and these people get to work with ME! What could be better?

Last night Michele came over, and we had breakfast for dinner. Gluten-free pancakes and pumpkin butter, sausages, and tiny little potatoes from the garden. The potatoes were fried in oil with salt, pepper, rosemary, Webers mustard, and maple syrup.

I keep thinking about the potatoes. I think I’m in love with the potatoes. I may make them again for lunch. We have so many tiny potatoes, I could eat them every day for a week.

From the garden, mini edition, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

One potato rules them all.