jasper will never go hungry again

Thom also stocked up on Jasper's food. Now if we're snowed in - we may go hungry - but Jasper will have enought to eat for a year.

our own little parisian cafe

Thom's also installed an outdoor light. You can't tell due to my crappy picture (I must have been still sleeping this morning when I took it) but it's pretty cute. Light to grill by!

while the cat's away...

One of the major benefits of Thom's job is having down time between projects. And I know you're all dying to know what he does all day while I'm slaving away at work.

This week he removed all the linoleum from the hallway between the kitchen and dining room and the pantry (or what will someday be the pantry). Sorry no before shots this time but trust me it was ugly. And, though I was thankfully not present, it definitely wasn't easy. There's still some yucky glue on the wood and the wood likely will eventually need to be replaced.

the many joys of home ownership

As instructed by the previous owners, I gave the kitchen counters a rubdown this week with mineral oil. Please note the before and after shots. Not too shabby!

we get into the festive spirit

I'm not even going to expose you to the decorations our neighbors have put up (maybe next week) since I haven't been able to successfully sneak a picture. But we've put up our tree and some lights on the downstairs windows. I don't know if you can tell from the picture but unfortunately our tree looks pathetic and tiny on the parlor level since it's a big open space with high ceilings. We may have to rethink this for next year.

Our door could also use some sprucing up - perhaps a wreath?

sunbathing

enjoying the last few rays

We got lucky and had some beautiful weather this weekend. This morning we took advantage of it and relaxed in our backyard. We still have a few finishing touches and some planting to do but it's still a nice place to be.

happy valentine's day to me

I was promised a grille last V-day and now, almost a year later, we have one in our backyard. We picked it up in New Jersey yesterday and had to unpack the entire box to get it to fit in the car. Thom put it together last night and now it's settling in to its new surroundings.

It'll be perfect to cook all the recent Fairway purchases.

on our way...

These are a few snapshots of our journey - the Brooklyn Museum and the new Richard Meier building.

the greatest place on earth

Our bi-monthly trip to Fairway - the land of yummy food! After suffering through a week of an empty fridge (after returning from Thanksgiving) we were ready for some fresh produce.

first tofurkey, now tofu-duck

I innocently asked Thom if he could pick up some "veggie duck" at the vegan place around the corner - not realizing that it would be shaped like an actual duck! After we spent 15 minutes being totally revolted by the ridiculousness of the whole situation and I read the ingredients 2 more times to confirm it really was soy protein, we sliced it up so it would no longer look duck-like.

(very yummy)

we're fancy and custom

Our "custom" (read: just another reason to charge you a ridiculous amount of money) bench for our dining table was finally delivered this Monday. According to From The Source (where we got the table) our special bench had to be made on the other side of the world since no one else is idiotic enough to order a three person bench. It was then shipped on the slowest boat ever and lost somewhere in their warehouse. Meanwhile, for three months we've had the table and four chairs and only fantasized about what it would be like to sit across from each other.

Just in time for our New Year's festivities we can now comfortably sit 8 people at our dining table. I just realized - I don't think we actually have that many dishes. Uh oh.

we drank, we ate and Susan made blintzes...

I apologize for all the non-house related content but you're all probably sick of hearing about that anyhow. While we're spending our time trying to look all adult-like and stern at the various contractors (this is necessary for anyone to take us seriously) I'll have to entertain myself in other ways.

We'll also be starting a collection once we receive the mind-boggling estimates from the contractors. I'm already practicing my graceful swoon while Thom screws up his eyebrows and says for the 800th time "I told you we cannot have tile from floor to ceiling!"

A girl can dream. Preferably about Italian marble.

we're not all freakish

Since I included the warped pics I thought I should put one normal one up there. Here's the whole group (dogs and all).

because i couldn't resist

We spent an inordinate amount of time this weekend playing with the "photo booth" tool on G & J's new computer. Personally I've always wanted to be in a Wallace & Gromit movie.

Plus now when I wake up, look in the mirror and decide I'm having a bad hair day - I know it could be SO MUCH WORSE.

we are so going to be rich someday

Ok, so not really. But we did find this note in our gate when we got home yesterday. I'm sure it's a total scam.

In other news we've begun the task of interviewing contractors for the work on the parlor floor. Soon we should have an idea of how much all the work will cost and when it might be done. After we pass out we'll pick ourselves up again and adjust our dreams.

a relaxing weekend away

Thom and I have eaten a lot.

and away we go

We're off tomorrow morning to Atlanta for stuff our faces with some ToFurky and other yummy food! I'm looking forward to the veggies, Thom can't wait for the beer and Jasper is eagerly awaiting the plane ride.

Upon our return we'll be working on the finishing touches in the backyard. And it might even be time to begin the real planning for the parlor floor. (queue the eerie background music)

officially holding my breath

The backyard is nearly done - just clean up duty left. For those of you pitiable souls who had to listen to our initial plan for the backyard, you'll notice this isn't it.

Instead of two large planters running on either side (which would have served as seating too) they've squared off 4 beds for planting. Clearly this was done to save time. And no one consulted us. But such is life.

It's exciting to have it nearly done and once they get the garbage out of there we can consider exactly what we want to plant next year. And what we'll be sitting on...

sweep, you say?

This is the view from our front door down the block. Fall has officially arrived. Sure it may not feel like it since it's still a balmy 70 degrees. But the trees know the truth.

And our front sidewalk - covered in leaves. If we don't sweep this up soon not only will we risk getting a ticket from the city but our neighbors will admonish us for bringing the block down.

The people that live on this block are serious about appearing a unified front. I've already been interrogated about our holiday traditions - "Do you believe in Christmas?" When I clarified that we're not really all that religious and that I'm, in fact, a Jew (if a non-practicing one) our neighbor shook her head to explain that's not really what she cared about. Would we be stringing gaudy lights come Christmas time?


Apparently, the block has some sort of competition. And so lights there must be...