dorkiness of all kinds.

This is an amusing essay by Todd Barry (one of my many favorite comedians) in the New York Times Sunday magazine. (yeah I know what a bother it is to register) I have seen Barry live about three times and he is always entertaining. This is his website. I encourage everyone to check out the receipt museum.

Patio furniture discussions are over and items have been over. This was more complex then a G8 summit. Thank goodness the Russian Federation wasn't there. It would have broken down talks completely. We shall soon be proud owners of some cute patio furniture, some slouchy patio furniture and a Weber barbecue. Oh may the excitement continue.


When I was a girl I had these particular paper dolls known as "Ginghams". Somewhere up on a shelf in my Mother's house I think my two sets of paper dolls live. I adored them so much. I remember receiving my first set for Christmas when I was six. They weren't terribly fancy or exotic like my Tom Tierney paper dolls but they were so sweet and cheerful. I would spend hours making up story-lines for my paper doll and of course it would involve her changing outfits every five minutes. (A girl can't wear the same outfit to the tea party that she wore to the ice cream social)
I found this great site devoted to Ginghams. I had not realized how many sets there were. The first one I received was Sarah's tea party and the second one was Katie's Ice Cream Parlor.

I have had a long standing love affair with paper dolls of all kinds. I have made one or two sets myself but I do like hunting down interesting and unusual paper dolls now and then. I have one or two antique sets and some reproduction ones as well. It is mostly fun to bring them out and let little girls play with them now and then. When I was a kid I would sometimes follow my Mother to garage sales -looking for interesting things and sometimes I would find some terrific paper doll sets along the way. Often they were dirt-cheap so it was easy to talk my Mother into letting me have them. Of course my Mother has been a bit of an enabler over the years when she will find sources for some. There was a drugstore in Poulsbo that was like something out of the fifties and they had this huge ephemera section. There were decorations and paper dolls of all kinds. It was just mind-blowing. Anytime we would visit I would have to stop and look at everything. Even if nothing had changed. I rarely left without some sort of paper decoration.

sarahparah will be pleased. I finally purchased a copy of The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. Now we can really discuss our hot lust for founding Fathers.

I also ordered Food Lover's Companion. I have been meaning to get this for such a long time. It is an important reference book to keep around the kitchen. We have a copy at work as well. It helps to settle arguments.

Now to attempt to get dressed and plan out a day of cooking and slouching.

Not exactly a Just Sayin'

Colonel Sander's evil younger brother?

(no subject)

I have been ignoring most articles and chatter and polls about the damn oscar awards.
My plan is to slouch properly on the sofa, judge the dresses and hair and well up during, "guess who died" montages.

It will be good.

some of this and that.

Is it possible that I have spoiled Mr. Jenner? I first made him Boeuf Bourguignon -which he loved and then we began to discuss dessert. I pointed out we had a bit of the almond cake left, some biscuits and chocolate ice cream. He wasn't terribly enthused about any of those options and then I said, "well I could also whip up a pound cake if you would like." He said, "Oh that would be yummy."
So I did.
It is a bonafide pound cake with a pound of everything going on. (I will post the recipe later)
I can serve that up with some fruit or ice cream.

As for the Oscars -Some good, some meh, some nice surprises. I was deeply pleased for Philip Seymour Hoffman because he is such a mighty fine actor who really gives performances that often break your heart in two.

Memo to Charlize Theron: Maybe it isn't a good idea to raid the Dynasty costume department when looking for a dress. Just a thought.

I can't wait to read Go Fug Yourself. This is like Christmas for them.

And finally the themed recipes for the Month of March are Here Go drool over the pages of au_gout.