Seems like it’s been a long time since I had a free weekend. I’m still working out the kinks on this new template, I don’t like how it displays pictures and I can’t remember how to fix it.

I’m been really busy with work lately, and I’ve been filling all my free time with crafts, food, and friends. Today I skipped a barbeque so I could catch up on my cleaning and enjoy some time to myself. Let’s see, I slept in, got my last batch of free bagels (thanks so much, Mom and Dad, it’s been a GREAT year of bagels) touched up my purple streaks, finished the cabinet (more about that below), thoroughly cleaned the house, restocked groceries, knit, baked, and watched another great Studio Ghibli film, The Cat Returns. Ben is working late tonight in Glenwood Springs, so I might have to tuck myself in tonight. Until then, I’m uploading some recent pictures and listening to Rent (can’t wait to see it this November!).

Some recent meals I’ve cooked:


Mmm, my first roasted pork loin was delicious! Most of it is in my freezer waiting to be reincarnated.


Strange it never occured to me before to use my laundry rack as a pasta rack.


An old favorite, Kale soup. Ben started a recipe database for me, and this was the first one I wanted to enter.


Tonight’s treat: Rolo cookies: chocolate cookies with a gooey caramel center. I got this recipe from a link on my new favorite blog: slashfood. It’s part of the Weblogs, Inc Network of which I also like to read Cinematical. This recipe was featured as one of their “food porn” images, and I think my picture would totally fit in with the other food porn shots.

My biggest project the last week has been refinishing a dresser Ben and I pulled out of our local dumpster. It was originally a badly painted puke teal green with brass hardware.

With the help of Ben and his boss Eric’s tools/muscle, we stripped the paint and sanded it smooth last weekend.

Wednesday I primed, Thursday I painted, and today I bought and affixed the hardware.

It looks a thousand times better! This was a bigger project than I anticipated, but with a lot of help, I got it done and I’m quite pleased with it.

What else have we been doing? Guess:

(By the way, although butt-ugly, this particular bean bag is heavenly. It has a special stretchy part that conforms to your body perfectly. I saw some still at Target today if anyone is in the market for a video game chair.)