More House Stuff

A damp, cloudy, cool Longmont morning. This is what I saw as I looked out the bedroom window. No mountains to be seen but the pond looks good.

Today I am working on a project for the back porch - a "grilling station". To me it is a rolling cabinet I can use for grilling item storage and a top for holding things as I grill. All cedar and it should look good. The plans I am using call for an open back and front, but I am closing the back and will add a door on the front.

Wednesday, finished except for a door and stain. Got the lumber, got the hinges, got the stain. Tomorrow! Let's hear it for my helpers.

Finished. Door on, jalapeño knob on, stained. The top is two pieces of 12" x 24" tile. They can stand up to heat and dirt and are removable. Now, back to kitchen cabinet slide out shelves. Only two to go. Then on to jewelry drawers for the master bedroom closet, a corner shelf for the half bath, kitchen drawer dividers, bathroom drawer dividers, a murphy bed, and the big one - cabinets and shelves in the office. 

 

Trump Tower Chicago

Living In Longmont

Some random thoughts on living in Longmont.

Utility expenses are much lower here than in Glen Ellyn. I just looked at our combined water, wastewater, trash and recycling, and electric bill for mid-July through mid-August. $148.00. We would have paid that just for water and trash in Glen Ellyn. Our gas bill was about $16.00. Granted, this time of year we are only using the water heater and stove, but this is very reasonable.

On the other had, how about getting cars registered? The Miata was under $100 - license and fees and new title. Not too bad. The new Jeep however was almost $750. The clerk at Boulder County said they stick it to you on new cars for about the first four years.

Weather? I have certainly enjoyed the weather here. I see the sun almost every day. This past week has given us clouds in the morning but then sunshine the rest of the day. Right now we can sit outside in the late afternoon and enjoy sun and cooling breezes at the same time. We have had one big rainstorm since we arrived, and a couple of smaller storms. Generally though, warm during the day, comfortable or cool at night and almost always sunny.

Longmont is easy to get around and Boulder is a short drive down the road. I would be happier if Whole Foods was open in Longmont now instead of in a few months. My shopping is spread between Sprouts, Natural Foods, and occasional trips to Safeway during the week. Whole Foods is a weekend trip.

We are finding restaurants we enjoy in Longmont, Loveland, Boulder and beyond.

Then yard looks good with our low maintenence rock and pots and pond. The interior is comfy in the living area and our designer bedroom. Our bedroom with a new bed and sidetables and comfy chairs looks and feels like a hotel room. I find it very nice. I've got art on the walls in the living area, the upstairs hallway, and the guest bedroom. Everything else is bare for now.

My workshop is a hodgepodge right now but I am getting things done. My first project of pull out shelves for the kitchen cabinets is moving along. And should be done in a couple of weeks. Then I move on to my other jobs.

All in all I would say we are settling in. 

 

Cats Etc.

o

Espresso Brownie Tart

Espresso Brownie Tart

 A recipe from: From The Earth To The Table, John Ash

Makes one 8-inch tart  

• Butter and cocoa powder for dusting the tart pan
• 1½ cups sugar
• 1/4 cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup chopped walnuts 
• 1/4 cup instant expresso powder
• 3 large eggs
• Optional garnish: powdered sugar, unsweetened whipped cream, and chocolate shavings

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Butter and lightly dust with cocoa powder an 8-inch tart pan; save any excess for the ½ cup needed. Melt the butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler and stir in the cocoa powder and expresso powder until smooth. Pour into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a regular electric mixer; at low speed, mix the eggs one at a time, alternating with the sugar. Continue mixing at medium speed for 6 to 8 minutes.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and slat. Fold the dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture along with the nuts. Pour into the prepared tart pan and bake for 25 minutes. The tart will be very soft when it comes out of the oven.

Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Even chilled it will still have a chewy center.

Serve the tart cut into wedges and topped with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, unsweetened whipped cream, and chocolate shavings.

Birds At Our Feeder

Mourning Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

Blue Jay

American Goldfinch

House Finch

House Sparrow

Brewer's Blackbird

Red Winged Blackbird

Northern Flicker - seen November 4, 2016

European Starling

Chickadee

Common Grackle

 

 

Online you can see these and more front range birds at Audubon Birds of Boulder County 

Moving Recipes Is Work!

A few posts ago I said I was working to move recipes from the old Jordan Recipes page to this blog. It turns out it is difficult to get them moved over. Formatting issues are a real problem.  If you don't want to wait, just go visit the old Jordan Recipe Pages