After we got back from vacation we started concentrating on what to do with the living room area. It presently has three chairs, a coffee table, a couple of stands, a lamp and two litter boxes that accommodate the little fosterlings we have. Our living room in this house is hardly more than a pass through from the front door. While it's not a main room of the house it is expected to be used for receiving guests. Yes, I know the litter boxes could pose as quite a distractant but we do figure that's better than the alternative.
So the window wall will hold a respectable sofa at 72" long. Bigger than a love seat but not ginormous. So off we went on a search. We stopped at our IKEA store and found a nice little sofa that would pretty much work. Rather than just getting that, we also looked at a few other places coming to the conclusion that we liked the one at IKEA best of all. By that time of day we were pretty beat and headed home to do some figuring on how on earth we were going to get the sofa home. After all, we are back from the vacation that we took our little pick up truck and sold it to our daughter in California. We took measurements and started looking at the cars.
We figured my car would work and it would fit. It would require shoving the drivers seat all the way forward so you can hardly drive but for one shortish trip figured it would be worth it. So the next day we headed to town only to find out the sofa we selected was over sold. AS IN HERE YESTERDAY, GONE TODAY. But there was some good news in this. We discovered we had confused the tags on the display model and we thought it was the size we wanted, well we knew it was the size we wanted but thought it was the love seat. WRONG. The display model was indeed the sofa. That was OK cause after seeing it again we still felt it was what we wanted. So we put our name on one and were told it would be about a week that there were some in transit. Or we could look on line and watch for the shipments coming in.
OK so we tried looking on line only to realize that particular model is not in their computer. I called customer service and was told an entirely different story about the sofa's. They had been on order or in transit for like 3 - 4 weeks not days and now they didn't know what the deal was. We should call back every day to see where the order is. And NO they can't take an order over the phone but once the sofa was in the ware house, they could hold it for 24 hours.
OK so not being highly encouraged by this I basically blew it off figuring we'd go to plan B. what ever that might be. Till last night at 6:15 we get a call from IKEA that the sofa is in. Must have been instant transportation but heck it's in, and no we can't hold it. Can't do a phone transaction etc. By then it was almost 6:30 and the store closes at 7 pm. We didn't even have a good idea which car to haul this home in. So Husband threw in several tie down straps to his Escape and off we DASHED to IKEA. It's 33 miles on the highway and we missed three lights to get there at about 5 after 7 on the car clock. Luckily there were tons of people streaming out loading stuff etc, so I snuck in the entrance / exit cause the main doors were locked already.
There I walked back through the cash lanes to our sofa. The sales person had our name on one, and had it loaded on to a couple of carts so all I had to do was roll it to the check out and go. Man! that was AMAZING!!!!!
So we hauled the couch out and shoved it into the Escape, strapped it in and then strapped the tail gate down as far as we could. Ran the air conditioner on high all the way home to keep fresh air through the car and from 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm we did the turnaround including loading up. Course we drove the speed limit home. LOL And saw no less than 4 people pulled over for what ever reason. Thankfully they did not see us on our way to IKEA.
The sofa is now safely in the garage till tonight when we'll so some major moving around of our meager selection of living room furniture. The litter placements still are a concern for me, as things have been going so well. We'll just have to see.
And to the nice exceptional person at IKEA! Stand proud. You did a great customer service act and it so worked out for us and while it totally sucked to get the call that late at night and to have to scramble like we did, you had that ready to go. APPLAUSE!!!!!!! and THANK YOU!!
ME
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Home at last!
Wow, what a darn good trip. We got home at about 5:30 last night and had 4 kitties very glad to see us. However, we were more glad to see our neighbors that took care of our house. The girls mowed the lawn while we were gone. It was a fantastic surprise to come home to. I've downloaded some 300 pictures to the computer and will have to take some time to go through them to send them on the way. The Kitties all did well with NO horrible surprises for all the time we were gone. This is a good thing.
We had so much fun celebrating our friends birthday. It was his 60th and he partied like a youngin'. Their home sits in a secluded area on the edge of Cottage Grove with a river behind them and yards on both sides and great big pine trees around. I'm not sure how many folks were able to come celebrate but he was congratulated by all the best. His daughter from Washington came down with a close family friend that I believe was pretty much another daughter, and the best surprise ever was his daughter from Hawaii was along for the trip. Everyone kept the secret and the surprise was complete.
The house is so nice and I know they have done several projects to it to make it this way. Just a charmer of a home. I think my favorite is the 4 season room they enclosed on the back side. What a wonderful space all in all. We were made to feel like family and really felt it while we were there.
Our drive from Arcata to Cottage Grove was calm and beautiful. There is some really pretty country side out there.
The speed limits in Oregon suck. The main highway is 65 but the secondary highways are 55 and that is frankly too darn slow. The impact of this really didn't hit us till we left our friends and headed on our merry way home.
Not only that, but we got caught in the old, we aren't familiar with where we are so we'll just follow the map and hope it works out. Well, the little 36 mile cut across that was slated to be a scenic byway was the most windy road with zero scenic to it we have ever seen. Two lane only with a center double yellow line striped. The trees were tall and right up to the edge of the road and there were bicyclist all along the way. I really do not have anything against folks out on their bikes, but this road was not meant for both cars and bikes. It was probably the most challenging technical drive yet. Speeds up to all of 20 as you muscled your car up the road, a lot of the curves were 15 mph and they meant it. It was so bad I was buried under anything I could find cause it made me horridly car sick. The tall trees and the sunlight added the strobe affect with the lights. IT DID NOT HELP in any way. It was the most miserable 36 miles we've ever driven. And once committed we couldn't do anything but continue. Solid traffic both ways.
This road did come over some incredible landscape. We crested the pass at the Deschutes National Forest near the Three Sisters wilderness area. This is geological wildness. Total old lava flow from God knows where. I'm definitely going to be looking this one up. If I hadn't been so car sick we may have stopped but the visitor center was solidly packed so on we went. The lava flows are certainly old, but man, sure makes you glad you weren't alive then, and more glad that what ever volcano or event caused this has calmed down. The lava flows continue well through Idaho. Amazing landscape.
Once past that we had a much more normal drive over to Bend Oregon, and on to Burns and stopped for the night in Ontario Oregon. It's right on the border to Idaho and a nice little town at that. Our goal was to get to Nampa ID and we made it to within 30 miles. Close enough.
We left Cottage Grove at about noon and got to our hotel rest at 9 ish. We were beat. Found a Best Western that was probably the nicest place we've stayed in for a long time and crashed for the night.
Up and out of there around 10 am and home by 5:30. Not a bad day of it.
whew, back to work. gots to run.
I know, Pictures are coming. I'll work on them between laundry loads tonight.
ME
We had so much fun celebrating our friends birthday. It was his 60th and he partied like a youngin'. Their home sits in a secluded area on the edge of Cottage Grove with a river behind them and yards on both sides and great big pine trees around. I'm not sure how many folks were able to come celebrate but he was congratulated by all the best. His daughter from Washington came down with a close family friend that I believe was pretty much another daughter, and the best surprise ever was his daughter from Hawaii was along for the trip. Everyone kept the secret and the surprise was complete.
The house is so nice and I know they have done several projects to it to make it this way. Just a charmer of a home. I think my favorite is the 4 season room they enclosed on the back side. What a wonderful space all in all. We were made to feel like family and really felt it while we were there.
Our drive from Arcata to Cottage Grove was calm and beautiful. There is some really pretty country side out there.
The speed limits in Oregon suck. The main highway is 65 but the secondary highways are 55 and that is frankly too darn slow. The impact of this really didn't hit us till we left our friends and headed on our merry way home.
Not only that, but we got caught in the old, we aren't familiar with where we are so we'll just follow the map and hope it works out. Well, the little 36 mile cut across that was slated to be a scenic byway was the most windy road with zero scenic to it we have ever seen. Two lane only with a center double yellow line striped. The trees were tall and right up to the edge of the road and there were bicyclist all along the way. I really do not have anything against folks out on their bikes, but this road was not meant for both cars and bikes. It was probably the most challenging technical drive yet. Speeds up to all of 20 as you muscled your car up the road, a lot of the curves were 15 mph and they meant it. It was so bad I was buried under anything I could find cause it made me horridly car sick. The tall trees and the sunlight added the strobe affect with the lights. IT DID NOT HELP in any way. It was the most miserable 36 miles we've ever driven. And once committed we couldn't do anything but continue. Solid traffic both ways.
This road did come over some incredible landscape. We crested the pass at the Deschutes National Forest near the Three Sisters wilderness area. This is geological wildness. Total old lava flow from God knows where. I'm definitely going to be looking this one up. If I hadn't been so car sick we may have stopped but the visitor center was solidly packed so on we went. The lava flows are certainly old, but man, sure makes you glad you weren't alive then, and more glad that what ever volcano or event caused this has calmed down. The lava flows continue well through Idaho. Amazing landscape.
Once past that we had a much more normal drive over to Bend Oregon, and on to Burns and stopped for the night in Ontario Oregon. It's right on the border to Idaho and a nice little town at that. Our goal was to get to Nampa ID and we made it to within 30 miles. Close enough.
We left Cottage Grove at about noon and got to our hotel rest at 9 ish. We were beat. Found a Best Western that was probably the nicest place we've stayed in for a long time and crashed for the night.
Up and out of there around 10 am and home by 5:30. Not a bad day of it.
whew, back to work. gots to run.
I know, Pictures are coming. I'll work on them between laundry loads tonight.
ME
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Now in Arcata California
We made it this far after leaving Napa, CA. It's just such pretty country here it made the whole drive very enjoyable. Along the way are groves of redwoods and these trees grow right up to the edge of the road. Very scary zooming past these giants.
We followed the Eel River north on Hiway 101 and slipped into Arcata about 6 ish. Then we watched in dismay as the fog rolled in. That meant not much for heading down to the water or any other sight seeing unless we wanted to see fog. But watching the mist blow in was rather cool. You can sure tell the humidity is higher on the coast. My skin is sure soft! LOL
Spent the night in the Days Inn. Sure wouldn't recommend it. It's clean enough as far as that goes, but there was so much Pledge left on the tables that we had to take a wash cloth and wipe down all the surfaces. Even at that, If I'm not careful the laptop will go sliding right off the table. The room has an Iron in it but no ironing board. No elevator, NO ice on the second floor as the map and the room info portrays. The restaurant is an absolute joke as are the lights in the room. Half don't work, the other half work with the switch by the door. That's not so bad, but there is a wall sconce that comes on as well so you can't use the switch, read before going to bed and just turn off your bed side lamp. No, you would have to get up to turn off the sconce, then you would be plunged into darkness to find your way back to you side of the bed. Does anyone who designs hotel rooms EVER stay in one?????
We won't even go into the 5 worthless pillows.
Soon we'll be off to look at some cool trees. I can see pretty good outside, but there is no telling how much fog we'll have this morning. It has also been highly recommended that we drive up the coast line from here and cut across at maybe Coos Bay or so. We'll have to look at the map.
So, ta ta for now.
me
We followed the Eel River north on Hiway 101 and slipped into Arcata about 6 ish. Then we watched in dismay as the fog rolled in. That meant not much for heading down to the water or any other sight seeing unless we wanted to see fog. But watching the mist blow in was rather cool. You can sure tell the humidity is higher on the coast. My skin is sure soft! LOL
Spent the night in the Days Inn. Sure wouldn't recommend it. It's clean enough as far as that goes, but there was so much Pledge left on the tables that we had to take a wash cloth and wipe down all the surfaces. Even at that, If I'm not careful the laptop will go sliding right off the table. The room has an Iron in it but no ironing board. No elevator, NO ice on the second floor as the map and the room info portrays. The restaurant is an absolute joke as are the lights in the room. Half don't work, the other half work with the switch by the door. That's not so bad, but there is a wall sconce that comes on as well so you can't use the switch, read before going to bed and just turn off your bed side lamp. No, you would have to get up to turn off the sconce, then you would be plunged into darkness to find your way back to you side of the bed. Does anyone who designs hotel rooms EVER stay in one?????
We won't even go into the 5 worthless pillows.
Soon we'll be off to look at some cool trees. I can see pretty good outside, but there is no telling how much fog we'll have this morning. It has also been highly recommended that we drive up the coast line from here and cut across at maybe Coos Bay or so. We'll have to look at the map.
So, ta ta for now.
me
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
off to the Redwood Forest
Today, sadly, we leave our Daughter and Son in Law's place and, gladly, head off to the Redwood forest. It has been a most enjoyable visit. I hadn't seen them for 2 years. We've enjoyed some touring, we visited the Robert Mondavi Winery, another one I don't remember the name of, but actually the best one yesterday called Trefethen Family Winery. This place was amazing, unique as it's actually a family run business. The grounds were great and the main building was so impressive. We were treated quite nicely and enjoyed our tasting immensely. We even made it out of there with a few bottles of wine to enjoy. We bought a desert wine that is to die for. So smooth it just sips down without making you go ewe this is so sweet. They do have a web site for those that are interested. trefethenfamilyvineyards.com I haven't looked there yet but i BET it's got photos etc on it. Very nice place.
The truck has officially been sold to our Daughter. I'm sure it will be more and more fun for her to have as time goes on. It's a good thing to hand off now. Although I am sure we are going to think of a million reasons to use that truck in the next month. Hahahaha. It's been sitting dormant way more than being used.
Today we will head up Hiway 12 and connect with 101 towards Arcata. We plan on spending the night there to enjoy the redwood national forest. Since our son in law had to head to work today we will be heading right past there and grab lunch along the way. That will be a great stop. He works at Dean and Deluca's. Nice place, high end foods and kitchen supplies, of course wines etc.
After our drive just to get here, I'm looking forward to being in the same car with Terry and enjoying our selves a bit more.
ME
The truck has officially been sold to our Daughter. I'm sure it will be more and more fun for her to have as time goes on. It's a good thing to hand off now. Although I am sure we are going to think of a million reasons to use that truck in the next month. Hahahaha. It's been sitting dormant way more than being used.
Today we will head up Hiway 12 and connect with 101 towards Arcata. We plan on spending the night there to enjoy the redwood national forest. Since our son in law had to head to work today we will be heading right past there and grab lunch along the way. That will be a great stop. He works at Dean and Deluca's. Nice place, high end foods and kitchen supplies, of course wines etc.
After our drive just to get here, I'm looking forward to being in the same car with Terry and enjoying our selves a bit more.
ME
Sunday, August 9, 2009
So, It's so freakin hot here!
Well more likely it's freaking humid here. Just a bit of a difference compared to extra dry Utah.
For dinner last night Alex made a reduction out of a Cabernet wine with spices and butter that was to die for. Smooth, creamy and aromatic. The steaks on the grill were finished with the best blue cheese I have ever had. I'm going to buy some of this cheese and bring some home.
Napa California is so beautiful. There are redwood trees on the boulevards where our daughter and son in law live. There are such a smattering of ALL KINDS of trees you just can't look every where at once. The vineyards are beautiful and we plan on touring some today. We've driven past several already and these places are great. The Robert Mondavi vineyard looks JUST like the commercials about the place. The vineyards stretch in all directions.
Our drive over was for the most part uneventful. I was quite stressed about this but following the truck turned out to work out well. We also had our walkie talkies so we could communicate with each other. That was the best thing in the world and I would heartily recommend it to anyone needing to travel in separate cars.
The trouble came after we crossed into California. There is major (as in MAJOR) work being done on Highway 80 and in places you are travelling on such a skinny two lane road that you feel you are certainly in the hands of God to get to where you are going. The cement wall dividing the highway in on your left and the giant freaking semi's are on your right. It was so tight I was thankful I wasn't driving the Edge as it's a wider car than the Escape. My hands hurt the next day from gripping the steering wheel. However, with all that taken into consideration, and the fact that California has the absolutely shittiest hiway sign system. We got through it ok.
Had the pleasure of touring a little in Sacramento. Actually if you really must know, we got lost and had to double back to get us back on track. Ended up coming out on a section of highway where three on ramps come into one place. SCARY. Trying to communicate with the walkie talkies and keep each other in sight. Creep onto the highway watching two other places come on as well, then realize every one wants the exit this turns into except us. Hmmm. Terry hollars at me to get out of the exit at my best opportunity we needed to go forward not go back into the city. So, zip back into traffic and we were just exactly where we needed to be. whew! The section of Sacramento we had landed in was quite pretty if you like gated communities. We were glad it was daylight.
And to the credit of the great travelling American spirit, we did not see a single accident all the way here. GO AMERICA DRIVERS!!!!!!!!!
Our Daughter's apartment is lovely. Two bedrooms one bath on the second floor of a two story unit. There are wonderful Victorians, craftsman and regular framed houses all around. There is a neighborhood grocery right across the street. It's very homey here.
It's just been a dandy visit so far!
ME
For dinner last night Alex made a reduction out of a Cabernet wine with spices and butter that was to die for. Smooth, creamy and aromatic. The steaks on the grill were finished with the best blue cheese I have ever had. I'm going to buy some of this cheese and bring some home.
Napa California is so beautiful. There are redwood trees on the boulevards where our daughter and son in law live. There are such a smattering of ALL KINDS of trees you just can't look every where at once. The vineyards are beautiful and we plan on touring some today. We've driven past several already and these places are great. The Robert Mondavi vineyard looks JUST like the commercials about the place. The vineyards stretch in all directions.
Our drive over was for the most part uneventful. I was quite stressed about this but following the truck turned out to work out well. We also had our walkie talkies so we could communicate with each other. That was the best thing in the world and I would heartily recommend it to anyone needing to travel in separate cars.
The trouble came after we crossed into California. There is major (as in MAJOR) work being done on Highway 80 and in places you are travelling on such a skinny two lane road that you feel you are certainly in the hands of God to get to where you are going. The cement wall dividing the highway in on your left and the giant freaking semi's are on your right. It was so tight I was thankful I wasn't driving the Edge as it's a wider car than the Escape. My hands hurt the next day from gripping the steering wheel. However, with all that taken into consideration, and the fact that California has the absolutely shittiest hiway sign system. We got through it ok.
Had the pleasure of touring a little in Sacramento. Actually if you really must know, we got lost and had to double back to get us back on track. Ended up coming out on a section of highway where three on ramps come into one place. SCARY. Trying to communicate with the walkie talkies and keep each other in sight. Creep onto the highway watching two other places come on as well, then realize every one wants the exit this turns into except us. Hmmm. Terry hollars at me to get out of the exit at my best opportunity we needed to go forward not go back into the city. So, zip back into traffic and we were just exactly where we needed to be. whew! The section of Sacramento we had landed in was quite pretty if you like gated communities. We were glad it was daylight.
And to the credit of the great travelling American spirit, we did not see a single accident all the way here. GO AMERICA DRIVERS!!!!!!!!!
Our Daughter's apartment is lovely. Two bedrooms one bath on the second floor of a two story unit. There are wonderful Victorians, craftsman and regular framed houses all around. There is a neighborhood grocery right across the street. It's very homey here.
It's just been a dandy visit so far!
ME
Sunday, August 2, 2009
ODE to Alaska
Well probably not an ODE but we saw red wild salmon at Costco's yesterday and bought one for $4.99 a pound. Had to laugh, it's probably the cheapest red salmon we ever got. But barbeque salmon on the grill last night was divine! And the left overs were boned out and frozen for the salmon quesadilla's. They will also be divine!
Tonight we are having brats and I made fresh buns this morning with the bread recipe. I broke down the 4 loaves quantity to 2 loaves and to one loaf. That way I can make as much or as little as I want. I'm not very good at hot dog buns yet but practice will make perfect.
We are entertaining a change of plans for our little road trip that begins next weekend. We will be traveling to Napa CA to see our daughter and son in law, and take them the truck. Then we are heading north to Cottage Grove OR to celebrate a friends 60th birthday. so as we are looking at the maps and all, when it occurs to me that we'll be driving past the Red Wood Forests. so big detour time. We'll leave our Daughters the day before we originally planned and drive over to Arcata area and spend the night so we can get up early in the morning and drive through he park and on up to Oregon. What a fun detour!
So here's to AK, and salmon, Home made bread, and gorgeous drives! YEA
Tonight we are having brats and I made fresh buns this morning with the bread recipe. I broke down the 4 loaves quantity to 2 loaves and to one loaf. That way I can make as much or as little as I want. I'm not very good at hot dog buns yet but practice will make perfect.
We are entertaining a change of plans for our little road trip that begins next weekend. We will be traveling to Napa CA to see our daughter and son in law, and take them the truck. Then we are heading north to Cottage Grove OR to celebrate a friends 60th birthday. so as we are looking at the maps and all, when it occurs to me that we'll be driving past the Red Wood Forests. so big detour time. We'll leave our Daughters the day before we originally planned and drive over to Arcata area and spend the night so we can get up early in the morning and drive through he park and on up to Oregon. What a fun detour!
So here's to AK, and salmon, Home made bread, and gorgeous drives! YEA
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Bread Making
I was treated to a new recipe this weekend. Some of you may have heard of this but I am here to report even I can now make bread.
This recipe uses a brand name SAF Instant Yeast, and a product called Soy Lecithin found in the natural food store. The yeast we were able to find on our second try locally.
Also of note, this is a sticky dough. It was recommended to use Pam spray to spray on your hands, and since this is an instant yeast dough, you do not turn it out on to a floured surface, you spray your counter as well. You do not knead this dough you just sort of shape it. ; - )
Makes 4 loaves of bread
10 1/2 cups bread flour
1 Cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
3 heaping tablespoons SAF brand instant Yeast
stir together the dry ingredients and to them add:
3 Tablespoons of Soy Lecithin. ( this is a thick sticky soy oil so the recommendation is to just estimate three blobs that would be tablespoons size and to not measure this as it just sticks to the spoon)
4 cups hot tap water (not boiling)
Mix about 5 minutes. The dough should be very sticky.
(I had to add another half cup of water while this mixed for the sticky consistency)
Turn on to oiled (sprayed) surface and cut into 4 loaves, shape and place into loaf pans.
Raise 25 minutes
Bake 25 mintues at 400 Degrees.
Can use half the dough for bread, half for pizza or calzones, buns etc.
That's it. No kneading, no let it rise and punch it down no flour all over the kitchen. This is like magic.!
We made this bread this morning and got it baked before the house was too hot. It was extremely easy. We then went out and bought some whole wheat flour so our next batch will have some of that in it. Also I cut the recipe in half as I only own two bread pans and wanted to see how it worked first. I figured if I didn't like it I would just give the soy lecithin and yeast to my boss (is who gave me the recipe). I'm looking forward to giving this another go. I am looking forward to making this into buns.
Apparently if you use more whole wheat flour, you use a bit more of the lecithin.
Happy baking!!
ME
This recipe uses a brand name SAF Instant Yeast, and a product called Soy Lecithin found in the natural food store. The yeast we were able to find on our second try locally.
Also of note, this is a sticky dough. It was recommended to use Pam spray to spray on your hands, and since this is an instant yeast dough, you do not turn it out on to a floured surface, you spray your counter as well. You do not knead this dough you just sort of shape it. ; - )
Makes 4 loaves of bread
10 1/2 cups bread flour
1 Cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
3 heaping tablespoons SAF brand instant Yeast
stir together the dry ingredients and to them add:
3 Tablespoons of Soy Lecithin. ( this is a thick sticky soy oil so the recommendation is to just estimate three blobs that would be tablespoons size and to not measure this as it just sticks to the spoon)
4 cups hot tap water (not boiling)
Mix about 5 minutes. The dough should be very sticky.
(I had to add another half cup of water while this mixed for the sticky consistency)
Turn on to oiled (sprayed) surface and cut into 4 loaves, shape and place into loaf pans.
Raise 25 minutes
Bake 25 mintues at 400 Degrees.
Can use half the dough for bread, half for pizza or calzones, buns etc.
That's it. No kneading, no let it rise and punch it down no flour all over the kitchen. This is like magic.!
We made this bread this morning and got it baked before the house was too hot. It was extremely easy. We then went out and bought some whole wheat flour so our next batch will have some of that in it. Also I cut the recipe in half as I only own two bread pans and wanted to see how it worked first. I figured if I didn't like it I would just give the soy lecithin and yeast to my boss (is who gave me the recipe). I'm looking forward to giving this another go. I am looking forward to making this into buns.
Apparently if you use more whole wheat flour, you use a bit more of the lecithin.
Happy baking!!
ME
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