Children and Valentine's Day

Warren stays overnight at our house one night a week. His mom drops him off on Wednesday afternoon, and he spends the night and we have him all day Thursday.

After his bath, he puts on his favorite pajamas, and watches YouTube videos with Grandpa. (fun with Ferrets, or any kind of train video).

When Warren goes to bed, he wants Frankie to go, too. 

But as soon as Warren falls asleep, Frankie sneaks out of the room

Uncle Ross built a fort out of large cardboard boxes.

NOTHING could be more fun than that, eh?

On this day, we were having pancakes for supper.  Warren ALWAYS wants sprinkles on his pancakes now...

And I thought it would be fun to use some heart shaped cookie cutters.

A GREAT Valentine breakfast idea!  Warren wanted to take these home to Lilly.

Except that he ate most of them...

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 Monday Morning Weigh In (MMWI):   259.8

(I know it's a squeaker...but, fingers crossed -- I have seen the LAST of the 260's..!  And it's been awhile...)

Mary's visit: Game ON!!

Mary's visit was NON STOP ACTION!! Let's see...Day #1 was the TMBC day...and Day #2 was our Iowa City Day...

EZ Best-Ever Lemon Curd

Elliott's favorite pie is Lemon Meringue. It's an old-fashioned kind of pie, and every now and then, I get ambitious and make one for him.

I enjoy baking pies with Lilly and Warren...and they love rolling out the pie crust. (we use the refrigerated, rolled up crust. IT'S WONDERFUL.!) They both like doing something special for their parents...

But, making lemon curd is a dangerous and tedious process so the kids can't help. There's that constant boiling and stirring...tempering the egg yolks...ugh. They get bored while I'M DOING IT...(hey -- ME, TOO!!)

The last time I made lemon curd, Ross had to help me pour the hot mixture into the eggs...I don't seem to have enough hands nowadays. But the lemon curd is sooo worth it...

At our Hotel Blackhawk dessert party -- the cupcake at the far end of the table is a perfect little cake, plopped on a bed of lemon curd...with raspberries and whipped cream. Soooo delicious...

I was complaining to my sister Deena about how much work it was to make lemon curd...and she said, "are you kidding? I make it all the time - it takes about six minutes in the microwave."

OMG!!  HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS??

Deena's Microwave Lemon Curd

· ½ cup melted and slightly cooled butter
· 1 cup granulated sugar
· 3 large eggs
· 1 egg yolk
· 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
· Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tablespoon)

1. Whisk all the ingredients together in a large Microwave glass bowl.
2. Microwave on high in 1 minute increments, whisking after each increment, until the curd has thickened and coats the back of a spoon (usually 5-6 minutes).
3. You could pour the curd through a fine mesh strainer. (Deena doesn't bother).

Cover and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 ½ weeks*.

*(HA!! like two cups of lemon curd would last for TWO WEEKS!!)

Hotel Blackhawk

Obviously, I enjoy writing this blog.   But there are some troublesome Blogger kinks that I can't figure out.  LINKING previous blog posts is one of my issues.

Anyway -- I tried to link an earlier post about my FIRST experience at the renovated Hotel Blackhawk -- way back in 2009.  The link did not work -- so HERE'S THE ORIGINAL POST.

It's only fitting that I should post it TODAY.  Linda's birthday...and -- hey -- JACKIE IS COMING TO TOWN.  AGAIN.  HURRAY...

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After reading about the Blackhawk Hotel Restoration -- I KNEW this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My cousin Jackie was going to be home for Christmas(she lives in Oklahoma how) -- so I decided we should have a COUSINS PARTY.

My first surprise guest -- my sister Ronda had absolutely no idea where I was taking her that day...(although she DID know she was helping to set up the "party" at a mystery location). She had NO CLUE -- right up to the moment we pulled up to the eternal flame outside the hotel...


Here we are -- the first TWO to arrive -- I took a shot of us in a hall mirror..

We were STUNNED by the beauty of the new lobby...it was a cold day, we sat by the fire...
The SECOND guest to arrive at the mystery location was my cousin Kim. We met her at a store uptown -- then Ronda got in Kim's car. She HAD NO IDEA the party was at the Blackhawk....what is that, Kim -- a bottle of wine??

Jackie arrived with her sisters, Billie and Linda -- and we were all in place, at the lobby entrance, when our GUEST OF HONOR arrived -- my sister Deena!! Deena was working that day, so I delivered a programmed GARMIN to her house -- which talked her through the 30 minute drive to the hotel. Remember -- Deena's birthday is on December 25. So -- this was her official BIRTHDAY PARTY...and we surprised her, alright!!

Here's a picture of the whole crew. Deena, Jackie, Billie, Ronda, me, Kim and Linda...during our official "tour" of the renovated hotel.

I'll be putting up MORE PICTURES of the hotel -- and the cousins party. Garrison, one of the hotel desk managers, took us on a tour -- and we got to see EVERYTHING. The new pool, the old Davenport club, the Gold Room...well....you have noooo idea.

Mary, Iowa City, Part Two.

Anne and I talked about where to eat lunch. Iowa City has MANY wonderful choices -- probably because of their sophisticated university population. Many of the restaurants are upscale and interesting. We chose Atlas, in the cute little downtown.

There is a pedestrian mall in Iowa City -- and if you park your car wrong -- you're likely to get a $25 parking ticket. Like most college towns, their budget seems to depend on ripping off out-of-town visitors...but, I digress...

The soup was a good indicator, eh? Pesto drizzled over tomato bisque...why didn't I think of that??

I'm glad I just had HALF a wrap!!

After we ate -- we moved on to the GIFT portion of the day. Mary was excited about seeing them again. When Anne and Sarah came to Beaver Dam for sewing weekend, Mary put a poncho over Sarah's head. She was the perfect young model...she didn't even yelp or scream when Mary tried to rip her ear off while trying to remove the poncho...

Mary was glad for a chance to make it up to her...

With some sewing gifts, of course!

Anne brought gifts, too!! Using a t-shirt bag to put them in.  SO CLEVER, EH?

Then, a little Sew and Tell at the table...

One of my Top Ten Thrift stores is Housewares in Iowa City.  A true consignment store - they get tons of merchandise every week, price it low, and keep it moving.  On this day, these empty fruit boxes were nearly stacked to the ceiling...See the green sign??

I love it when a business has a sense of humor...

In a glass case -- I took this crappy picture of a Singer Featherweight. $300, but without a case. And I own two of them now...so does just about everybody I know...lol...

So we did NOT buy a sewing machine on that day. But, never fear -- THE CAR WAS FULL OF TREASURE...and we did get some great ideas for our all new Midwest Ya Ya Sister show!!

Mary's TMBC Day...Hotel Blackhawk Visit

Mary's first full day in Iowa was a full one.  After Swimfit, then lunch, we went shopping for treasures of all kinds.  With two cars loaded with quilt tops, we headed to the next stop on Mary's Iowa tour...

THE FABULOUS HOTEL BLACKHAWK!!
 
You know what a big fan I am of the Hotel Blackhawk.  Here's the blog post I wrote about the first get-together we had after their Grand ReOpening in 2010...

Since that first Cousin's Party -- I've been back many times -- for wonderful occasions. And I am never disappointed.

Rebecca took our order and brought coffee in a gorgeous shiny carafe, three different desserts, and some hot tea...(is it a bad thing that I know the waitress's name?)

Sandy and Linda...

Me, Mary and Linda...

Maybe the presentation isn't EVERYTHING...but it DOES matter, y'know??

After our dessert smorgasbord -- we adjourned into the lobby for our Sew and Tell.

My favorite photo of the day. I love that the light makes Mary's hair look like a big crown. I mean -- A BIG CROWN....like she ratted it up into a peak. Awesome. I'm gonna frame this one...

Mary, checking out a small part of the MASSIVE collection of Splendid Sampler blocks.

Mary showed us the new Criss Cross apron pattern. (that's her Mom's vintage tablecloth on the back).

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this apron style. It is the one my Grandma Little wore every day of her life. Mary figured out a way to make it reversible, and make adjustments for us big girls. Tying an apron behind my back has never really been an option for me.

THIS APRON IS PERFECT in every way. And you can buy it -- for only $10 -- on MaryMulari.com

I love her gloves, made out of two way stretch fabrics.

I enjoyed seeing the new projects Mary made -- some of them used to live on t-shirt mountain.

I think most towns have a fancy hotel.

And this week, as we endure the doldrums of a long winter...maybe you could make it your mission to meet a friend at the fancy hotel, have dessert and coffee and get to know the waitress.

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Monday Morning Weigh-In (MMWI):  261

Mary's Visit, Day Two

On Mary's SECOND day -- we were headed to Iowa City.  It's a one-hour drive, and thanks to Interstate 80, it's good road all the way...

My Canadian friend, Marion, tells me that the U.S. has remarkable REST AREAS....

No kidding...while I was using the ladie's room, Mary was checking out the vending machines...

I love it when they have TONS of brochures and information...all free...some great coupons, etc.

Did I mention the interesting art installation out front?  No kidding...THANK YOU, IOWA TAXPAYERS....you rock...

When we arrived in Iowa City, we quickly hooked up with the main attraction -- my friend Anne and her daughter Sarah had already found their FIRST treasure.

Besides one world class university (University of Iowa) -- Iowa City also has the old capitol building.

But we didn't go there. Even though the State Historical Society is in the building, and I'm sure worth a visit -- we had a very tight schedule. After a morning of thrift store shopping -- THERE WAS LUNCH to consider!!

Anne and Mary...

Me and Sarah...

WE HAD SUCH A GREAT DAY...it must be TWO posts...