Office: Before & After

My office "During". We finally replaced the flooring and carpeting in my office at work. But that meant that everything in each room had to be taken out and stored until the painting and carpeting was complete. Below is how I spent many weeks - with my computer set up on boxes of copying paper on a coffee table in the back room. It meant I had to periodically check my voicemail at work as no incoming line was hooked up. And then I had to figure out where my files were moved to since they were not in their normal spot. Made for a crazy 6-8 weeks until it was finally done. I think it was worth the wait though - see below!

MY OFFICE: BEFORE

MY OFFICE: AFTER

CONFERENCE ROOM: BEFORE

CONFERENCE ROOM: AFTER

MERCHANDISER OFFICE: BEFORE

3 workstations

MERCHANDISER OFFICE: AFTER

8 work stations

Tortellini Soup

TORTELLINI SOUP

2 TB oil
3-4 garlic cloves
1 large onion, diced
1 tsp paprika
3-4 stalks celery, diced
4 large carrots, diced
1 large can diced tomatoes
Kale - cut to spoon size
Soup stock (vegetable, chicken or beef)
1-2 small bags dried tortellini, any kind
1-2 bay leaves
Salt & pepper to taste
Drizzle of honey & Drizzle of balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in bottom of large soup pot. Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic and paprika. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender. Add a little stock to cook veggies if they are starting to get too brown. Add salt & pepper. Add tomatoes, kale, stock and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Add tortellini and turn heat to medium. Cook until tortellini is done. **Finish off with a drizzle honey and balsamic vinegar - this part seemed odd, so I skipped the honey and served the balsamic vinegar on the side, so each could add what they wanted. I really liked the flavor that way as I could add more if I wanted** Add salt & pepper to taste. Turn heat to low until ready to serve. Remove bay leaves before serving. Do not overcook. Soup will thicken as it sits, so OK to add more stock.

Serve with shredded cheese & crusty bread.

Rainbows!

ST PATRICK'S DAY RAINBOWS
Rolos
Rainbow Twizzlers
Cellophane treat bags
Green Ribbon

Irish Pasties

IRISH PASTIES

Leftover roast, about 1 pound
3-4 potatoes, cooked and cut in small cubes
Salt & Pepper
1 box pie crusts (or make your own)

Beef Gravy:
Drippings from beef roast
1-2 cups water
2 tsp beef bouillon
2 Tbsp corn starch mixed with 1/4 c. water
Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. mix the roast, potatoes, sald and pepper in a large bowl. Unroll the pie crusts and cut in half. Put a good amount of filling in each crust. Fold over and seal. Place each pastry on a greased cookie sheet. Make a couple of small slits in the top of each crust. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and brush with some melted butter. Serve with gravy.

For Gravy: Bring ingredients to a boil and thicken.

Symphony: Ann Hampton Callaway

Tonight mom and I went to the Symphony where Ann Hampton Callaway performed numbers by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart and Stephen Sondheim. In addition, since it was St Patrick's Day, we heard Danny Boy and she did a St Patrick's Day improvisation number.

You might recognize her from the theme song to the TV series "The Nanny". She both sang the number and wrote it. She is a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer.
THE NANNY

She was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens,
Til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes.
What was she to do, where was she to go
She was out on her fanny.

So over the bridge from Flushing to the Sheffield's door,
She was there to sell make up but the father saw more,
She had style, she had flair, she was there,
That' how she became the Nanny.

John Carter of Mars

WELL, you knew we had to see it!!

Here is John Carter striking a pose in front of the John Carter movie poster.

We got together with Robert & Angela H; Evan & Jon G; Bob & Kathy T; and Jody & Brock to see the John Carter movie downtown. We also happened to see a young man from our ward (he also saw the movie) so we had him hop in the picture too! After the movie we went to Applebee's for lunch.

And yes, we loved the movie!! Edgar Rice Burroughs (same person who wrote Tarzan) also wrote John Carter of Mars. John read it when he was young, so already knew the story line. I did not know the story line and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the movie (as I'm not that into science fiction).

Standoff in Spokane Valley

While we were watching a movie, the phone rang. Because it was so late (10:30pm) we originally were going to let it go into voice mail. However, John grabbed it - listened for a few seconds - and then hung up. We asked him what it was about and he said he thought it was some solicitation call from the police department. I told him I did not think they called that late at night and "there's probably some crazy guy in the area".

We did not think much more about it until after the movie and we were heading to bed. That's when we looked out the window and saw the block in front of our house blocked off with police cars - literally on either corner of our block. We could also see police cars further down the street beside our house. We turned on the news to find that the police were negotiating with an intoxicated man just around the corner from our house. We could hear the SWAT team throughout the night. Finally, we went to bed only to be surprised that it was still going on when we awoke. Around 5:20am we actually heard the SWAT team yell to the man - "Step away from the house and onto the grass" And then "On your knees....I said on your knees!!" Then we heard some shots (which we found out later came from a bean bag round). Evidently after 9 hours of negotiation they sent CS gas into the residence which made the suspect exit the house. However, he did not follow directions - thus the bean bag shots. Just a little excitement in the neighborhood!!

Boston Market Cornbread

BOSTON MARKET CORNBREAD
2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix (8.5oz size)
1 box yellow cake mix (18.5oz size)
5 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1 c. water
1/2 c. vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until combined. Pour into pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Oreo Poke Cake

We had a family activity at the church building tonight. Assignments included bringing a dessert or chili or cornbread. We brought this dessert as well as some cornbread. Besides the meal, the young women put on a demonstration of line dancing. Everyone was dressing in flannel, jeans and boots.


OREO PUDDING POKE CAKE
1 box chocolate cake mix (plus oil, water, eggs according to direction on box)
2 large boxes Oreo Pudding
4 cups milk
Crushed Oreos for topping

Make cake as directed on box, using a 9x13 pan. While cake is still warm, poke holes into the cake using the end of a wooden spoon. (Note: You want LOTS of holes and BIG holes). Make pudding as directed on box and pour over cake. (Because I made a few holes and not big ones, I thought there was too much pudding. If you make lots of big holes, then the amount of pudding will be perfect.) Sprinkle crushed Oreos on top. Allow the cake to cool for several minutes. Then put it in the fridge to set up for about an hour before serving. Keep leftovers in the fridge.

Power Poles

They are swapping out our power poles in the neighborhood. Did not really notice the difference in height until we saw the old pole across the street standing up next to the new pole. Crazy!