Boogity Boogity Boogity

(Okay, lest is seem as though I actually know something about NASCAR racing, let me just say I happened to see that particular catchphrase everywhere yesterday. I had to look it up on Wikipedia to understand the connection.)

Another exciting Sunday in the Evans household! Jeff and I participated in a regional church fundraiser at the NASCAR 499 Talledega Superspeedway yesterday. We've done it a few times now; ushering last spring, cleaning up the stand last fall, and ushering again this past Sunday. There were strong storms and tornado warnings on Saturday, so a smaller race was bumped to Sunday also. So we had the painful (or privileged, depending on your point of view) duty of ushering a double header!

We were up at 4 am that morning after staying with some area brethren, and we got home around 10:30 that night. I would hazard a guess that we were on our feet nonstop for at least 12 hours. It may not sound like much, but standing in basically one place in the sun, wind, and grit for that long gets a bit wearing. But with almost 50 volunteers we were able to raise a good bit of money, and we certainly had a good view of the speedway. Apparently it was a very exciting race, but I really can't tell the difference!

Prepping for Prague and Berlin

The countdown continues! Just two more weeks before departure. We're trying to organize all the details and plan in advance for what we might need:
- I've found and ordered the most comfortable walking sandals my tootsies have ever experienced;
- Jeff is looking into iPhones so we will have international cellphone abilities;
- I've purchased a netbook so I can access Internet and email all over Europe;
- a well-traveled friend loaned us some guidebooks;
- I've made my first international bank transfer ever (at a hefty charge from the local branch, so best to avoid if possible);
- our new Capital One account has been opened and credit cards are being overnighted (FYI, Capital One is the only card we found that doesn't charge an international transaction fee);
- our plan tickets and airport pick-up are arranged (so we'll just keep praying that the volcanic ash grounding flights in Europe subsides soon);
- I viewed a documentary on the Jewish cemetery in Prague so I'll be familiar with some of the historical sites and lore;
- my German class is confirmed;
- the dog, house, car, plants, yard, etc. are all booked into the capable hands of our housesitter/petsitter extraordinaire.

I'm not sure how to pack for a two month trip. The most we've been abroad at a time has been two weeks or so. We can do laundry in the basement of our accommodations, so that's convenient. I'm trying to pack light, but it's shoes that are a problem more than clothes; they take up so much room but you really need a variety for different occasions and ensembles. Jeff has it harder because his suits, sportcoats, and shoes are far larger and bulkier than anything I have to take. This will be a fun experience in minimalist living!

Kitchen!

I'm finally completing some of the little details of the kitchen remodel. The bulk of the work has been done for over a year, and I've enjoyed it so much I just jumped into using the kitchen and never took final pictures. The slideshow I put together was before we completed the drywall and wallpaper on the raised bar, so you'll have to forgive that detail in the photos.

I just installed the pull-out trash and recycling bins today, and this small element makes me almost burst into song each time I enjoy the ease of it. In fact, almost every feature in the kitchen still makes me smile, from the full extension and self-closing hardware to the deep drawers for pots and pans to the instant responsiveness of the duel-fuel range. We did an almost complete gut for around one-third the cost of the average kitchen remodel (which does not usually include moving appliances, removing interior and exterior walls, etc.). It was a wonderful blessing and a learning experience. I had such a great time designing and implementing it, I can't wait to do the next one!

Before:


After:


Comparison slide show:

Newest feature:

Puffed up again

I've been awaiting the arrival of a very necessary baking component for almost a week now. After discarding all leavening agents, I'm starting fresh with new baking soda, baking powder (always aluminum free!), and my very favorite, never-fail, go-to yeast, SAF. I have to special order the SAF, so that's why I've been on pins and needles the last few days. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm always nervous about my loaves if I don't have SAF. Thankfully it arrived safe and sound, ready to produce another year's worth of tasty, chewy, hardy, healthy bread.

200,000 and still going strong

We took the camera with us on our last trip to document a historical event. Our 2000 Dodge Neon has been going strong since Jeff bought it new ten years ago. Given all the driving we do, it's really racked up the miles. There are a few minor problems (burns a little oil, leaky seal on the trunk, bit of a gas odor outside, etc.), but on the flip side we still get 35 miles to the gallon on the highway! Who knew the Dodge Neon had such longevity? Jeff likes to make the analogy of the miracle of the Israelites in the wilderness when their shoes and clothing lasted 40 years!

Our little green car has signed a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), so we won't be going to heroic measures to extend its life. When it has a major breakdown, we will put it out of its misery and buy a new car. But in the meantime, we will do our best to maintain and ensure quality of life. That includes asking our house-sitter to start the car once a week or so while we're in Germany! We've left it for almost two weeks at the airport in long-term parking in the past and it required several attempts before starting, so we would expect the worst if it sat for two months. All in all, it's been a good vehicle, and car shopping is all the harder now because there will be big shoes to fill.

Great Goodies

Time to pull out those special, once-a-year treats! I made these simple peanut butter cookies for company this week, as I felt it would appeal to the palettes of three young children. It pleased the adults, too ;-)



Unleavened Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raw sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs

Preheat convection oven to 325 F. Beat peanut butter, sugars, and flour in standing mixer until well combined. Add vanilla and eggs one at a time until incorporated. Refrigerator dough 15 min for ease of handling. Using small melon ball scoop, drop dough onto cookie sheet. Sprinkle sugar over the dough and press fork pattern into the tops, flattening dough. Bake for 10-12 min until edges are just set. Makes 45-50 small cookies.