No Knead Bread

One of the breads Dan makes is Jim Lahey's (of Sullivan Street Bakery in NYC) No Knead Bread.

It looks great & tastes even better.

Want the recipe? Click here. :)

Update on Rooster

She had her echo-cardiogram today and the results are good. The radiologist confirmed that her left atrium is mildly enlarged, it's not a pulmonary issue (they thought this may be an issue because of her breathing) and there is no fluid in the lungs. The heart didn't look as enlarged today and they believe the reason for that is that the medications are working! That is such great news to hear! The radiologist recommended another echo-cardiogram in 6 months. We are keeping her on 2 medications (Pimobendan & Enalapril) and changing her diet (and Bear's too) to a low-sodium diet. We are thinking about making them their food from now on ...like a Doggy Casserole (chicken, brown rice, peas & carrots, chicken broth) or we might go with an all natural kibble. :)

Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers, vibes and kind words. ((Hugs)) from Sissy & me.

Getting Crafty

For Christmas Dan bought me a lot of crafting tools. I'd been wanting to try my hand at crafting for awhile, but when I received the gifts I was a little overwhelmed with everything and didn't know where to start. This month I finally got the courage to start somewhere and I made some cards. They aren't the greatest, but perfection takes time. :) I really enjoy making them though. I find it very relaxing and so far my favorite technique is Dry Embossing.

Next month my mom & I will be taking a Sewing Boot Camp (4 classes). If my projects (pillow, tote & pajama pants) turn out okay, I'll be sharing what we make in class.

Here are some of my creations:

My mom's birthday card

(Flocked)

The envelope for my mom's card

(Dry embossed)

V-day card for my hubster

(Stamped, Dry Embossed & Flocked)

My poor Sissy Roo

A few months ago we learned that both Baby Dan and Sissy have heart murmurs. A lot of small dogs develop heart murmurs. We were told just to watch for any changes and report back to the veterinarian for any concerns. For the past week we have noticed Sissy has been coughing more frequently and her breathing has changed dramatically. We took her to the vet on Friday, the vet performed an x-ray on her and we were informed that she now has an enlarged heart. :`( She's on 2 medications now and we will see how these work for her.

It just breaks our heart that our little girl is going through this. It just makes us more aware that our "kids" are getting older (they will be 14 this May) and that they may not be with us for too many more years. They are our family, our babies and our whole world. Our lives would be so different and simply not the same without them being apart of our day. We know that there are a lot of dogs on these medications that end up living for many more years. We just want our girl to be okay. We've just got to stay positive.

The radiologist is going to exam Sissy's most recent x-ray and decide if another echo-cardiogram needs to be done based on what he sees.

In the Garden with Baby Dan & Sissy

I've been missing our garden and lovely green grass so in honor of that I wanted to post a couple of pics from last year of my "kids" (okay mainly Baby Dan, but what can I say my boy loves the camera) in the garden. :)

Making Ricotta

A few months ago Dan made Ricotta cheese for the first time and it was delicious!

The recipe can be found on BonAppetit's website.

Bring milk and salt to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in lemon juice. Let simmer until curds form, 1 to 2 minutes.

Using finely slotted spoon or skimmer, scoop curds from pan and transfer to cheesecloth-lined colander.

Let drain 1 minute (curds will still be a little wet).

Transfer curds to medium bowl.

Mmm homemade ricotta...there's nothing better.

Cover and chill until cold, about 3 hours.

He's happy & I'm so proud. :)

2010 WILL BE OUR YEAR!!!

Goodbye 2009! Hello 2010!

2009 was filled with both good & bad times. It was a tough year, but it's FINALLY over and we're already starting the year off well! The case (house) is settled and we can now move on! It's been over 2 years of hell and we couldn't be happier that it's all over.

Now we can focus on more important things like getting Dan's film made, possibly opening our own business & making a baby (I can't believe I just typed that!)!

New Year's Eve Dinner-Shoyu Ramen

Happy New Year from us to you! I hope 2010 is amazing for everyone!

Christmas in Atlanta

This year was my first year spending Christmas at the Jackson Farmhouse and away from my parents.

Before we left we had our own little Christmas here at home...

We bought ourselves a ping pong table! Got a great deal at Costco. I love that place! :)

I bought Dan a molecular gastronomy kit. Food nerd!

I also got him 2 Shun knives to add to his set (one perfect paring knife & one Santoku knife) and a marble pastry board for working with dough.

Dan bought me a bunch of things to get me started on my crafting. :) Wish me luck!

He also got me a pink Juicy Couture iPhone case (the iPhone itself was kind of a Christmas gift too). Love!

Dan made the "kids" some Christmas cookies. They loved them!

Baby Dan opening his gifts (one jacket from us and one from my parents)

Just what he wanted...He loves them!

Sissy opening her gifts

Sissy could care less, but she's going to love them when it's cold outside.

Christmas Tree at the Farmhouse

Stockings made by Dan's grandmother (except for mine)

My sister-in-law, her boyfriend and my mother-in-law

My brother-in-law & mother-in-law

In front of the tree

Dining Room

The "kids" got snuggies from their Uncle Chris! Too cute!

On our way home we stopped in Lufkin (city where Dan was born) to take a pic of Rudolph.

For more than 40 years, Rudolph the Red Nosed Pumping Unit has been ushering in the holiday season in Lufkin.

This full size, LUFKIN Mark 640 oil pumping unit is a fully operational unit painted red especially for the season. The working pumping unit is dismantled after the holiday season, repainted and sold to a LUFKIN Industries customer to become a working pumping unit somewhere in the world. After the holidays, the trailer will be utilized by a LUFKIN customer to transport goods across the country.

We had a great Christmas! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!

Christmas Tree 2009

Christmas ornaments have become one of my favorite things to collect.

Last year I shared some of my favorites ornaments.

Just thought I'd share some of our new ornaments. :)

Our Christmas tree set-up for this year

Our "J" ornament

2 Chi ornaments from my mother-in-law

My friend Amanda sent me this cute little rolling pin ornament. :)

I love our 1st "family" ornament.

I don't know why it took me so long to get one. :)

This one is from Etsy seller dottedcrossdesigns.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!