Happy Valentines from Marten Pumpkinface
Public service announcement: Marten P. Kat reminds you to take a moment this Valentines and stop and sniff the roses.
Weekenders
This is the second weekend wherein I have driven home straight after work Friday and then hibernated until work beckons on Monday morning. It makes me socially stunted, take the fun out of non-work time. Laundry and baking (good stuff, will share recipes this week) and cleaning may be somewhat therapeutic but also make for a dull girl. This whole domestic housewife weekend thing is dullsville, population me, and I won’t make the same mistake next weekend.
But today, the sun shone.
And ohmigawd it was amazing. Was in a foul mood (generally not a morning person and was a little negative with boyfriend) and then as I cleaned the barn a bright shot of sunlight got me. Right in the face! Amaze…that ball of fire and I need mega time together and we haven’t been having that lately and I need to have some fun! FUN! FUNNY!
Lots of fun stuff happening though.
So excited for Friday afternoon with Steph and Pacific Mall, she’s my rock and we’re both on team Apple now, accessories featuring Asian cartoons beckon. Speaking of which…please let me introduce you to Iphoneington, the newest member of the fam. I will be full time I-ing once I figure out how the hell I can get the thing setup. Everything is good…except it’s not activated for my mobile profile…wonderful, a trip to Rogers awaits.
First Valentines and Anniversary weekend (28th of February) with Coyote. Gotta think of something super fun to do. We may have to have a marathon date of awesomeness and premarital sex. What are you doing for V-day with your lover boy/girl? Samers?
Let’s file this under things we already know…Marty is awesome.
Go Shrimp Yourself
I mean that in the nicest way possible.
If you were privy to holiday celebrations at Casa O’Curry then you’ve been shrimped, lucky you and after several requests I am giving away all my secrets. You don’t need much for this recipe but you do need a mold, we use a copper fish one Mother has had around for ages. I dream of one day having a whole several course dinner party, every course different individual molds.
For now, a wistful dream.
Shrimp Delight
1 Can undiluted Campbells Tomato Soup
1 Envelope unflavoured gelatin or agar agar
(natural gelling agent, yum, but it didn’t have a face or a parent so…worth it!)
1 Cup finely diced Celery
1/4 Cup grated or finely chopped white onion
1 Cup Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip (for those watching waistlines)
1 Eight Ounce package of cream cheese
2 Cups chopped shrimp (you can use the canned variety, the mini guys, but they must be well rinsed)
Combine soup and gelatin on medium heat until warmed through. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients, combine well. Pour mixture in to greased mold and let set overnight in the fridge.
When ready to serve gently unmold, the best way is to tap the mold on the countertop and just loosen the edges with a butter knife. If the mold does not come out immediately, remain calm and let it sit on the plate, mold upsidedown and tap a little on the mold. Give it time, relax it’s just a dip!
Leftovers
The box the tree came in was sadly and unceremoniously defiled in several ways by the cats.
It was all a ploy.
Cause someone has a tree fetish.
It’s still up. Ortho Ukes Xmas was merely a week-ish past so…it’s not super weird it’s up still. I think.
Winston
This morning, in -10 degree weather, in the romantically falling snow, during my morning nicotine break, I made a new friend. He jumped on my foot and stole my heart all in one second.
I watched as he dug in the snow with both paws and nose for a little snack, looking no doubt for the rose hips all dried up under the shrubs in the snow. Because foraging in the winter isn’t easy for a little vision impaired dude I shared with him the crusts from my lunch sandwich. He was so enthused that he let me even pet him while he munched away.
Nature man, so frigging adorable.
I Will Never Tire of Doodling
It was a good mall day.
It was also a good evening, out for typical chain restaurant food. I had grand plans to make dinner however after a mall crawl and a tense half hour in Chapters trying to hunt down a C3PO USB key we needed food, cheap and cheerful it may be. At least at Montana’s they provide a canvas and some crayons to stave off the hunger pangs whilst you wait for your Chicken Tacos.
I drew the cats. Shocker.
I also drew the finest squirrel I have ever doodled.
I should have doodled what my 2012 resolutions are. They must be finalized this week. For the first year in many they will likely be quite usual, you may yawn, you may be surprised that in my old age not only do I nest but I crave some semblance of normality. Just as long as normalcy doesn’t rear it’s ugly head in to my hairstyle or wardrobe.
That will never happen guaranteed.
Crayons are sooooooooooooo underrated.
Love This Day
What a lovely day. Slept in, coffee in bed, time outside in the warm weather finishing projects and listening to good music. Some internetting and a strawberry bubble bath. I love working out in the shop, I feel purposeful when I create something with my hands. When I wedge carrots in all the nooks and crannies of the forest for the hares it’s one of those warm and fuzzy bunnies moments.
Tomorrow holds great promise…going to the throbbing metropolis that is Newmarket to get a 2012 day-planner (clearance at Chapters right now) and hopefully get an adorable USB key I have had my eye on. Then I get to play secretary (sexretary) for this hot Ginger electrician I know, filing receipts, snapping my gum, dropping my pen a lot.
But mostly I do that for the money. Cause you never know when you’ll stumble across a cute USB…
Lion Cut
The groomer assured me this time his highness was much more pleasent. She did not seem to suffer from any gaping wounds when I picked him up so I think he is finally becoming somewhat friendly in his old age.
Marty is 7 today. He is the love of my life.
He loves it. I assure you.
Handsome no matter the haircut.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY’S SPECIAL FURKID I WORSHIP THE GROUND YOU PEE ALL OVER ALL THE TIME AND I DON’T EVEN CARE BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH ALL THE PAPER TOWEL AND MR. CLEAN.
Spoiled Thirty Year Old Gloats
I should have said no gifts on the invitation but because I have amazing friends who spoil me constantly I ended up with a huge haul of wonderfulness. You wonder why I am such a brat of a tyrant but you people enable me and my attitude by doing lovely things that make mine ego explode. So much love! Feel it!
Mel, Princess Pine Needles, one of my oldest and bestest totally floored me with this one. It is beautiful, the picture not doing it an ounce of justice. This will have a place upon my desk forever and I think of her everytime I see it.
Bahire brings the bling. I have been wearing this one non-stop, I think little bugs and animals have every place in every wardrobe.
The old lady I work with, Jean, who is indeed not old at all (Hygiene!) and my brother and his family enable me. Feed the addiction kids! I adore that greeting kitty.
Janet and I will be crazy cat ladies and plan to have a farm and fill it with stray kitties so they live in the lap of luxury.
Stephers and Jeff want to get me drunk. And it worked. Several days in a row. I adore this stuff, Japenese plum wine. Great straight, on the rocks, with tonic, waith gingerale, with premarital sex. Or all combined. Roar.
I love a thoughtful gift. This was from our blacksmith and his wife. Bob and Mary came by for the party and helped us get out the food, arrange the platters and then presented us with the frame. Bob took our picture and then came by the next day, the gift framed and ready to hang. What a great way to celebrate and remember the 30th/60th birthdays.
Our people are the best people in the world. I love all of you guys so much. When I am famous and stupidly wealthy I will buy you all islands and we’ll live lives of luxury, full of relaxtion and saving kitties.
Love Bunnies
So I woke up yesterday…buzzing with excitement about my tattoo appointment set for 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon.
I guess I can now feel confident getting a phone without email and only for calling/texting/tweeting/Facebooking now since my blackberry doesn’t seem to be interested in keeping me up to date with emails. Paul sent an email on Thursday night telling me that Hydro shut his whole street down to replace poles. I found out this via text via Coyote yesterday morning.
Boo.
But that’s okay, I decide collectively with Coyote we’ll still take the half-day vacation and cause some trouble. After all, day sex. Awesome.
Without a plan we kind of meander everywhere like two confused crows interested in shiny things and then one of us has a Eureka moment and we’re on the road to nowhere trying to find a Booster Juice. Sadly Google lead us astray and we were each denied a Funky Monkey.
We did however accomplish some things.
Made the journey to return my failed Kitty decoration. Thank God Coyote was there because without a receipt the Walmart return lady was about to send me packing with another likely defective lighted meow-meow. I got a store credit anyway (thanks to Coyote’s quick thinking) but the manager had to be called blah blah blah. I expected more Sprawlmart I really did.
Anyway, that was a success so we go to East Sides for lunch. We strayed from our usual choices and were disappointed, not to mention totally putting out the waitress the entire time seemingly. She had no other tables but was busy the whole time ignoring us. I hate leaving a bad tip, I do because I’d like to think everyone works hard but when you’re that rude and half the time we can’t find you…c’est la (her) vie.
She wasn’t just a bored kid either, you should know better in adulthood regarding good service.
So a little crestfallen we went to get my sushi at T and T. OMG, I love that store. It smells and it’s a clusterfuck of carts and I want to save all the live fish and crustaceans but nonetheless, the best place for Matcha and tofu and sushi around. Also…amazing vending machines. Got some twoonies for these puppies…
I love useless things. These guys have a new home with Olivia the Pig in my car, keeping me company on the commutes and en route to adventures.
So we get a whole bunch of awesome there and head to the Markville mall in hopes we can get some Christmas shopping done. So not in the mood for it but we did manage to get some stuff done for Coyote’s family. Also, bought epic gingerbread house kit. I will post pics when we feel crafty and get that puppy all set up.
Then I had a torrid affair with a veggie and cheese sub. Then beddies.
Okay, gotta go and clean the house. Ev and Mel are coming tomorrow to take pictures, so excited to finally meet them. We’ve been Twitter buds for a while and they take amazing photos. I hope they have photoshop. My chin and I aren’t friends right now.