Our Brick Shithouse -- In Progress

Ken is working on the garage this weekend. It has already been suspended, a trunch dug, forms made, a concrete foundation poured. Now Ken is in the process of lowering everything back down. I have no idea what I'm doing -- which is fine, because he does. I mean he really knows what he's doing. It is truly impressive.

Here are some pictures of the garage in progress:

1. Here is the poured concrete foundation, the old (dark) supports in the foreground that Ken is sistering with new 2x4's at the correct dimension (as determined from the distance from the top plate). Once the supports are in place, he will lower the structure back down onto the foundation. You can also see the sill plate (the horizontal 2x6) that he has bolted to the concrete foundation. Ken calls our garage a "brick shithouse" since it will be way overbuilt for its purpose. But it will be structurally sound -- and that's way better than it was before.

Here's another view of the sistered 2x4's and how they're attached to the sill plate. Those brackets are surprisingly heavy!


Ken inside the garage this morning. You can see the temporary supports holding the garage up, the temporary cross-bracing to keep it from racking (that's engineering speak for tilting; I just learned that), our old armoire from Tucson and all the sistered supports (lower left). And a cute Ken, of course, looking nice and construction-y.


A porch-eye view of the construction:


While Ken is slaving away inside the garage, I'm gardening. Seems a fair trade, right? This weekend I'm finishing the irrigation instillation in the front yard, propogating some plants, laying mulch and most importantly... installing edging. The grass in the backyard has started to creep into the path despite weed barrier underneath. That suggests to me that it also needs some vertical barrier between the two. Originally, we wanted metal edging but it was really expensive and just not quite feasible right now (see "brick shithouse" above, our desired fence and our soon to be waterproofed basement). So after much searching, I found some border barrier that worked well (see brown line around the left side of the border).



However, it just wasn't sturdy enough to hold in all the mulch and still look nice. It will be great around the grass/gravel. But not where there's mulch. Ken and I sat down to discuss our options and we decided on basalt boulders like we installed in the front... only use mini ones. I only had a few left, but here's an example of what it will look like:

Funny thing about the above picture is the concrete walkway is still there. It will be removed this summer when we waterproof the basement. The path will all be gravel lined in basalt boulders. It will be beautiful with crisp lines, yet easily flexible if I want to change paths/beds. It has irrigation already and in time I will install path lighting (read: after I learn about the mystery of electricity).

In the meantime, here's a picture of our two projects in progress. Ken's and mine. It's a nice memorial day weekend. We're both happy checking projects off our lists. Kinley and Hughes prefer to supervise from the porch while basking in the sun like they did all day yesterday (not shown).


Happy weekend!

My paper

is submitted.

Catch Up

My folks and brother were in town last week. We had a great time and went to wine country and out to the coast for a couple of days. They left on Tuesday, but not before we made my mother and father help pour a concrete foundation for our garage. Ken is doing the sill plate and lowering the whole structure this weekend. I'm going to lay a couple yards of mulch and finish the irrigation for the front yard (the small leaders and drippers). It feels good not to have any major plans or having to fight traffic to get out of town.

I'm just about to submit my second paper (the last one left from grad school that I've added to since i've been here). I am excited that it will be off my plate. It had started to "talk to me" (not literally, but it was always in my thoughts). I also found out yesterday that I got a small fellowship that will help pay for my research this summer. Always a plus. Also submitted my abstract for SfN last week so I will see you folks out in San Diego this fall.

Busy. Busy.

Cheese Crack

Dearest friends and family,

I weed out the weak recipes and only pass along the ones that make my eyes roll back in my head. This is that recipe. A friend made it last night as an appetizer dip. It was demolished and everyone asked for the recipe. The name of it looks strange and will probably make you not want to make it, but I assure you it is well worth it. The people that will probably love this the most are: Kristen, Kyle, Marsha and Sara (since this would go over amazingly well at any of her sunday dinners).

Please do not hesitate to make this. Kathy served it on a dinner plate -- bottom was smeared with a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture and then topped with the sugary goodness. We're talking sweet, savory and spicy in one awesome bite. If you like that combination (actually, Brian this has you written all over it, too), then this is your recipe.

Like I said before, it was demolished. I would eat this on a bagel. I would eat this on a plane. I would eat this in a train. I would eat it over there. I would eat it in my underwear. I would eat this on a bike. I would feed this to little tikes. It is that good. Drooooool.

xoxo,
Lisa

GOAT CHEESE WITH CHILE MORITA AND PILONCILLO SAUCE

For cheese spread
6 ounces soft mild goat cheese, at room temperature
12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (she used low-fat cream cheese)
1 small garlic clove, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chile morita paste or minced canned chiles chipoltes in adobo sauce (kathy used chipotles)

For sauce
1 tablespoon chile morita paste or minced canned chiles chipoltes in adobo sauce
8 ounces piloncillo (Mexican unrefined sugar); I'm sure you can get by with using brown sugar in a pinch.
1 cup heavy cream (she used fat-free half and half, which also worked well)

Accompaniment:
grilled bread, corn chips or crackers (she served corn chips)

Make cheese spread:
In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together cheeses, garlic paste, and chile morita paste or minced chipolte chiles. Transfer mixture to a small serving bowl and chill, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Make sauce:
In a small saucepan combine chile morita paste or minced chiles chipoltes, piloncillo, and cream and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up sugar, until piloncillo is melted and sauce is smooth, about 20 minutes. Transfer sauce to a small serving bowl and chill, covered, for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. (can thicken it up with a bit of cornstarch if desired, but not necessary).

Spread cheese on grilled bread, corn chips or crackers and lightly drizzle with sauce.

Makes about 2 cups cheese spread and about 1 1/4 cups sauce, serving 10 to 12.

Gourmet
You Asked For It; Liberty Bar, San Antonio TX
April 1996

2 Years of Waiting

We have lived in our house for a little over two years. When we bought the place, we knew that a developer had bought the property next door and was going to be building a duplex/two condos/two townhouses/whatever you want to call it. We had our lot. He had his. He also had a small backwards L-shaped piece of property behind our house. He needed the length of the L for his width measurements to build the duplex, but he didn't need the small swath behind our house. We immediately asked to buy it. He said yes. We negotiated a deal.

Cut to two years later. Two years of weekly phone calls asking for the property contract. Delay after delay. Was he just placating us? Was he going to sell the property to someone else at a higher bid? Now the duplexes are about to be sold. Still no contract. Lisa is sad. Finally, we got a call last week saying he was ready to get the ball rolling. We reminded him of the deal but he had "no memory of that conversation". Instead, he quoted us a price that was twice the original amount and four times the estimate of what the city said the piece was worth.

Frustration.

We finally got him to agree on a new amount that was fine to both parties. Still not in writing. More pestering. But on Friday we got word that he submitted the surveyor's adjusted lot lines to the city (meaning the property would be coming to us). And he put a copy of the contract in our mailbox. To our surprise, we got a little extra bit of property than we originally thought (see diagram). Awesome! And today, at 1:30, we finally have a contract signed by both parties that puts the property in our possession.

I am so excited.

The Gallon Challenge

A group of friends organized a competition yesterday to see who could drink a gallon of milk in an hour. They had to hold it at least 15 minutes after drinking the gallon. Out of 8 people, 4 finished the gallon. Only one could hold it. It was hilarious to watch. Gross, yes. But funny. See a movie of the event here (not for the sqeamish). I'm in the aqua sweater in the background while Wisconsin is puking. Mom, you must be so proud.




*Note: Wisconsin ended up drinking a glass of his own "curds and whey" for $13. Now that was gross.

Update: they've made a movie of the "curds and whey" consumption. View at your own risk.