Friday Klatch

[linsleyd]

Is everyone still sleeping this dreary morning? At least on the East Coast....

DH and I have a somewhat relaxing albeit busy weekend ahead. We need to clean out the garden tommorrow b/c we won't be around next weekend and the following weekend we need to plant. I need to finally clean our filthy house and get a haircut. Then we are meeting two other couples at PF Changs for dinner. Sunday hopefully nothing but we may have to go to DH's sisters for dinner which is not fun because they don't wake up until noon and therefore dinner is at 7 and it's takeout and they don't realize some people have to get up early the next day for work even if they don't. Bah.

:D

So, anyway, the east coast is supposed to dry out this weekend so I hope everyone has a good one!

[SDMomChef]

I love PF Changs - unfortunately there isn't one where I live. :( Sounds like you are going to have a very productive weekend!

My TDSs are having their 1st communion this weekend, so I'm going to be busy cleaning and cooking.

[pointerhaven]

For more that there is time to do in a weekend.

My first stop on Sat is "Herbs Galore", an annual herb and plant sale at the Maymont Park, here in Richmond. Always interesting and I can always use another plant, LOL! Then it's back home to work on the yard, need to move some day lilies from back to front, separating them as I go. Put an edging down on the walk way to hold back the mulch, which will be laid down by my friend David and Nate next week ( I have 20 yards already delivered).

Sunday will be a day when DH will help me build the Cornice for the FLRM. DD and DSIL will come for dinner and help us lift it up and install, it's 21 feet long....We will grill something and have veggies too!

DH got a La Ca Ja China, a Cuban Box Cooker, that he's been wanting for years. Just saw Bobby Flay using one the other day, so that sealed the deal, so we may just do some Boston Butts and have a Cuban Dinner on Sunday, rather than work on the cornice. Really just depends, we sort of fly by the seats of our pants on the weekends. I can always get a large group to come when I serve Cuban. It's something you do not get in Richmond. And I'm Good at it. LOL!

I'll be spending some time with the pups too! My old man Nate really love to play ball and he needs some excercise. Toby needs a bath and Scout needs to be brushed and have his nails clipped...So see lots to do, anyone want to come and help?

Wanda

[SheRa]

good morning, everyone!

i'm also a big fan of p.f. chang's! there's one close to where i work but it's always PACKED.

it's really gross and rainy here today. i'm planning on hitting up a happy hour after work until DF gets in on the train so that we can drive to CT for a concert. our friend is doing guitar tech work for days of the new for a month, so we're going to get in for free. woo!

saturday is free (hopefully) and then sunday morning is walkamerica (i work at the march of dimes and have been raising money for it). let's hope i can drag my butt out of bed that early!!

[linsleyd]

I've never been to PF Changs so I'm quite excited about going!

Wanda, sounds like a great weekend! My pups are going to the vet next weekend to get groomed and their shots. They aren't going to be happy with us when we pick them up! :D

Shera, have fun at the concert, sounds like a lot of fun! I miss live music! Here, its generally in the college town and then it's packed full. So unless it's a band we really like we rarely go to the clubs for that. Man, that makes me sound like I'm getting oldd! :D

SDMomchef, good luck with the communion, that is exciting and it should be a nice weekend....!

[suebear37]

Actually, I was going to start the klatch when I got out of the shower but Linsley beat me to it!

Linsley, you're so lucky to be able to plant already!! I never attempt it until at least Mother's Day weekend & since I'll be in your neck of the woods that weekend, it'll get pushed back to the following week!

Sherri, I bet your guys will be so cute in their First Communion outfits!! Post a pic, please! I remember when my sons made theirs... it was so festive, there were balloons on the ends of the pews, a real celebration!

Well, remember how we were going to paint the bathroom 2 weekends ago? That didn't happen, it was too cold to be able to open the windows so we're going to try again this weekend. It's about as big as a shoebox so we're just painting it off-white like it is now. Nothing too exciting.

No racing this weekend, the guys won both their races in Worcester last weekend but they'll have practice tomorrow, I guess. My oven gets the weekend off from baking cookies! My "big-girl road trip" was fun, I got to hang around with the team for a couple of hours after they were done racing. Sunday was a beautiful day, so nice that I drove home 4 hours with my left arm hanging out the window & got a nice little sunburn to show for my trip. Honestly, I can be such a bozo sometimes!:p

Tomorrow could be a sad day. The bishop is announcing the list of parishes that will be closed this summer due to declining membership. Last year we left our suburban parish where we were unhappy with the new pastor & went to a parish down in the city where our previous pastor had transferred. I suspect that both our current & former parishes are on the list for closure. We really like the new place... it's an old church built by German immigrants & the inscriptions on the stained glass windows are in German. It's truly a beautiful church & as sad it will be for me, I really feel badly for all the older parishoners who have been there forever. But we'll have to see... maybe my gut will prove me wrong.:(

Ok, back to monitoring the Woot-off!

Everybody have a great weekend!!

[DmOrtega]

I off work today and Monday. So the next thing on my agenda today is to watch Lost on abc.com (http://abc.go.com/). If not for watching online, I'd miss the entire season. I really love this season so much more then the last season.

After that if the weather clears up today, I'm outside to start leveling the area for our new patio. Talk about a workout. And of course, the new greenhouse is in working order and I've put a stool in it so maybe sometime this weekend I can get those cuttings started. I'm making time to go to a local plant sale. I love the local sales because I can find nice plants for very reasonable prices.

I hear that the weather will clear for the weekend which means we are on for a get together bbq on Saturday for hamburgers and a salad, chosen for the sgotw, as well as strawberry/ruhbarb crisp because ruhbarb was in the produce bin this week.

Have a great weekend!

[SDMomChef]

Tomorrow could be a sad day. The bishop is announcing the list of parishes that will be closed this summer due to declining membership. Last year we left our suburban parish where we were unhappy with the new pastor & went to a parish down in the city where our previous pastor had transferred. I suspect that both our current & former parishes are on the list for closure. We really like the new place... it's an old church built by German immigrants & the inscriptions on the stained glass windows are in German. It's truly a beautiful church & as sad it will be for me, I really feel badly for all the older parishoners who have been there forever. But we'll have to see... maybe my gut will prove me wrong.:(



That is really sad! I love the older churches. It just seems more spiritual to be worshipping in an old church with stained glass windows. Our church is in a more "modern" style with the alter at the center, and it just isn't the same. I can also relate to finding a pastor that you like. We absolutely loved our priest in Colorado, and we just haven't clicked as well with the priests in this area.

[Lauren]

Hi all! Happy Friday!

I've been to the gym and grocery store and am just resting before I resume yesterday's cleaning. Yuck!

Nothing, absolutely nothing good in the way of plans for this weekend. DH is playing poker tonight and I'm working Saturday and Sunday during the day. I think I'll tell him I need to be taken out to dinner tomorrow. :p

linsley - enjoy getting your hair cut and going out for dinner. You'll be looking very glamerous! We had dinner out last weekend with two other couples and had a blast!

Sherri - The girls will look so cute! Enjoy the day and post pictures!

Wanda - I don't know what a La Ca Ja China is. I'll have to google it. Enjoy being outdoors this weekend. We're getting rain. :mad:

SheRa - That's great you're doing the walk! I hope the weather is perfect for it. Hey, when's your wedding?

Hi Sue - The church does sound beautiful. Hopefully it won't be on the list. They've been closing churches in MA, too.

DmOrtega - Have fun with your outdoor activities this weekend. I could use the help of some of you master gardeners! Do you have a favorite recipe for the rhubarb? We love it here!

[Robyn1007]

Quick drive by here. I'm at work for only another 30 minutes or so then out the door to apartment hunt and get ready for tomorrow. I really need to move closer to work so that I'm not eating up my life and cash commuting every day. Tomorrow I am catering a 5 course dinner for my boss for 6-8 people. I'm excited and nervous all at once.

[Lauren]

Robyn - I saw the post on tomorrow's dinner. The menu sounds fab! Be sure and report back post-dinner. :D

[DmOrtega]

..
DmOrtega - Have fun with your outdoor activities this weekend. I could use the help of some of you master gardeners! Do you have a favorite recipe for the rhubarb? We love it here!

The woman that runs the produce delivery included this recipe taken from Cooks.com (http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1837,147170-251204,00.html). I'm going to make this for our bbq.

RHUBARB STRAWBERRY CRISP
Printed from COOKS.COM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4 c. rhubarb pieces (about 1 lb.)
2 c. sliced strawberries
1 c. sugar
1 1/3 c. flour, divided
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. butter, melted & cooled

In large bowl combine rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, 1/3 cup flour and cinnamon. Transfer to greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
In another bowl combine remaining 1 cup flour with brown sugar, oats and nutmeg. Add butter and blend well to create the streusel. Sprinkle streusel over rhubarb mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

[Peggy C.]

Hi everyone! Long time no chat.

All of your gardening plans sound great. A bit to soggy and early for that here. Usually mid may works for us.

So I finally got a lap top so maybe I'll beable to check in a little more frequently, especially when I am in other peoples houses for days on end. (like right now!)

We don't have much planned for the weekend. Besides the usual pet sitting, one of my clients (whom I work for ALOT) asked if her adult, but somewhat slow son could stay with me when they went to Paris. The pay she offered was great (bought the laptop) and he really isn't too much trouble. He makes his own breakfast and lunch. Does his own laundry and has friends that take him out frequently. If the weather holds out we are going to the Indians game tonight.

Oh and I might see DH= sometime!;)

Robyn have fun at your dinner...even for family sometimes it is scarey...usually pretty ok though.

have to run one of charges to the vet...she injured her dew claw! OUCH!

See you soon....

[SheRa]

SheRa - That's great you're doing the walk! I hope the weather is perfect for it. Hey, when's your wedding?

it's sunday may 20th. it's creeping up really fast!

DmOrtega - that sounds WONDERFUL! i love rhubarb!

[Gracie]

Hi everyone!

Erin and I are back from NYC last week. We had a blast. We managed to get some purses on Canal St, tour NYU and Columbia and have a grand time cheering on the Red Sox as they beat the Yankees 3 straight that week. It was fun to be in New York when the teams were playing each other.

This week I held a mammogram phone-a-thon here at work. Tues, Wed and Thurs evenings I had volunteers call patients of our physicians that are overdue for mammograms. We were able to call all 1000 people on the list and scheduled about 90 mammgrams for those people we actually spoke with who hadn't had one scheduled already. All in all it was about 25% of those we spoke with. We had fun but I'm really wiped and glad it's Friday.

This weekend will consist of me catching up on all the house stuff I haven't been able to do for the last 2 weeks. Ugh!! ;)

Linsley - I love PF Chang. We have 1 in Boston and I think that's it. It was a big deal when we finally got one a couple years ago.

SDMomChef - have a wonderful communion. I'm sure your DSs will be adorable. Are you cooking or having it catered?

Wanda - you always sound so busy! I get tired reading about your weekend! :) Have a great one!

Ashley - it's gross and rainy here too. It'll be hard not to hit the couch when I get home - it's that kind of day.

DMOrtega - what do you think about Juliette and Penny on Lost? I swear they are twins but Andy and Erin don't agree. Obviously Desmond would say something when he sees/talks to Juliette if they really looked alike but I just can't quit saying how similar they are.

Lauren - I think I'm good for no poker games for about 6 weeks. Just when the cigar smell finally leaves the house, another game will be on. :rolleyes: Do you go out when the guys play cards?

Robyn - good luck with your dinner! Let us know how it goes!

Peggy - so nice to see you!!! It sounds like things are going well - babysitting for a laptop - I'd take that any day!

Loren

[Canice]

So much gardening! DBF has been in Hawaii this past week, and I thought I might do some work on the beds while he was gone. Well, it's Friday and I haven't even ordered the soil, so I don't think that will be happening! Funny, I'm happy on my own, but working in the garden by myself always feels lonely, don't know why.
I think I'm going to continue with my program of "a good food experience every" day while he's gone. This has had me visiting Mexican markets and taquerias, sampling dumplings at various dim sum take-away places, lunching in Napa, taking a cooking class, etc. Since DBF's away and I'm not working, I thought I'd take advantage of things around me that I too often overlook.
Need a plan for today (in addition to Miette (http://www.miettecakes.com/gallery_2.html)) and tomorrow I'm going to try to get to the farmers' market early for breakfast and shopping. It's such a zoo down there, and I rarely even go between Memorial Day and Labor Day as it's just too crazy. Maybe out the coast for oysters afterward, if I'm feeling ambitious!

[Gracie]

Canice - Hawaii is one of my favorite places - how could you not go with DBF? I guess for you Californians it's not such a big deal to go there but it's 12 hours of flying for us. Or in the case of my honeymoon, 22 hours. :eek: Your time by yourself sounds so soothing - I can just see you wandering around (not that I have any idea what you look like!) enjoying everything.

Loren

[Deechef]

Happy Friday everyone!!
Sounds like we're all trying to get outside in one form or another.

Its a rainy dreary day here but I am home from work. Ran out of cat food so had to stop by the grocery store for that on my way home. My cat is happy :p

I'm going over to DBF's tonight so I don't have to cook! We're going to Home Depot because I have my handyman schedule for some work in a few weeks. Need a floodlight put in. Need a new kitchen ceiling light cause mine crashed. Am buying gutter guards cause I think it will be cheaper to have him do it rather that one of the commercial companies. Had 4 new tires put on my car yesterday and on Monday will have new front brakes. Yikes - there goes my savings account:eek:

Had planned to play golf tomorrow but the weather may not cooperate. Plenty of work to be done here if I must stay home :mad:

Sunday will be church and yard work. I need a wife.

Hope everyone has a splendid weekend!

Dee

[Canice]

I know, everyone thinks I'm nuts. The place he's staying at is supposed to be extraordinary, but even he admits it's probably good I didn't go.
It's a direct flight, so about 5 hours or a little more. But you get Europe a quick flight away, and it's kind of a haul from here. A friend of mine was about to move back to London after 12 years in Melbourne. He said the great thing was that it would be so quick to San Francisco now. Yuck, that's a LONG flight to me, but all things being relative....

[DmOrtega]

...
DMOrtega - what do you think about Juliette and Penny on Lost? I swear they are twins but Andy and Erin don't agree. Obviously Desmond would say something when he sees/talks to Juliette if they really looked alike but I just can't quit saying how similar they are.
...

All I gotta say is OMG!!!! I can't decide if Juliette is good or bad. I'm really loving this season. Penny is Desmonds ex fiance. No I don't think they look alike. There is just so much to remember. :D

[Peggy C.]

Back from the vet, it looks like miss Sophie has a cyst near her dew claw. She will just need medicine and she had a couple of shots to help shrink it. The vet said that removing them is usually more problems than leaving it.

Loren your trip sounds like a blast.

Canice your week sounds like it has been very nice, but never having been to Hawaii I think that is what I'd op for!:) :) My sisters husband has been out of the country for a few weeks and she has been doing all the things he hates to do. IE museaums, thai food, chic flicks etc.