Mr. Basil Comes to Dinner

Recently, I wanted to make caprese salad for lunch, so I looked for basil at the grocery store.  While Publix had pre-packed basil for $2, they had actual basil plants on special for $3.

Mr. Basil has been going strong for several weeks, and finally this weekend, I had to split down the plants.  I re-used a mushroom container and the bottom of a strawberry container for the new temporary pots.

I've been putting basil in everything lately, including salads and soup.  I don't typically use recipes when making dinner, so this in an ingredients list only for the soup.  I'm sure it's not healthy, yet it used up some leftovers, and sometimes that's the goal!

Potato Basil Soup
- pre-cooked red potatoes, diced (leftovers from the previous night's dinner)
- lots of fresh basil leaves
- milk
- rivels (flour/water mixed together and dropped into the boiling liquid)
- garnish with pepper and fresh grated cheese

What are you having for dinner tonight?

List Party

I really like lists.  I like daydreaming about lists, I like writing down lists on lined paper, regular paper, and especially graph paper (those boxes are so satisfying).  I like typing up lists, crossing items and tasks off lists, reading other people's lists, ranking items, grouping items, making sub-items for previously listed items...  It's all delicious.  Here's a list I've typed up to organize all the (current) projects I would like to someday tackle in my home.  Oddly enough, each list and sublist is in absolutely no particular order.  Except that #1 is the toilet in the master bathroom.

Wanted and Needed To Do's for Someday

Upstairs

Master Bedroom:
- exchange broken ceiling fan for chandelier or prettier fan
- paint walls (grey?)
- sew new curtains (hybrid from two sets I have (yellow + grey)
- new bedframe (queen platform)
- new mattress
- new duvet cover

Master Bathroom:
- fix the toilet (won't stop running)
- caulk around bathtub
- fix the broken drawer (bottom right)
- move main door to outside of frame

Master Closet:
- add extra shelves at far end

Baby's Room:
- paint (bye-bye Winnie the Pooh)
- fix master ceiling fan/install instead of the butterfly fan
- add a bed, small dresser, another bookcase
- add a table for my sewing machine and materials

Baby's Bathroom:
- caulk around bathtub
- install shower rod, curtains

Laundry Room:
- buy a washer and dryer :)

Hallway:
- ahh something that doesn't currently need anything

Staircase:
- add a shelf over the bottom window?
- add art, pictures, or mirrors

Downstairs

Powder Room:
- fix toilet (leaking?)
- remove all the little blue paint dots from the fixtures because the former owner got paint EVERYWHERE
- add shelving (pedastol sinks are form and not function)

Stair Closet:
- add another section of shelving (or three)

Foyer:
- no current needs

Living Room:
- paint (pale yellow?)
- remove the nonworking Dish cables (also remove Dishes from roof)

Dining Room:
- paint (green?)
- install a new light fixture

Kitchen:
- add knobs the doors and drawers
- update stove (I miss my glasstop!!)
- install new countertops or glue (instead of packing tape) down the popped up pieces

Garage:
- get extras out of there (the seller left sooo much junk!!)
- add shelving, peg board, anything for organization!

And hardwood floors for all!!!  Someday!!  Except the garage and stuff, that's just crazy...

What's at the top of your To Do Wish List?

One-Car Garage

Boy, when they say it's a one-car garage, they mean it's a ONE CAR garage!  :)

On Friday, I decided to put Gus in the garage just to see if he would fit.  He does!  Just.  Yikes! It's a good thing he's so tiny (Pontiac G5 GT) - there's no way I would fit something massive in there.  

I've Pinned some ideas about what I'd like to do with the garage, like a recycling area, and using copious amounts of pegboard to organize items... lean extra doors and pallets against the wall... :) Currently, the big space taker is the gargantuan garbage can.  Although I've considered it, I haven't started the garbage service.  I'm sort of an obsessive recycler, instead.  

Then again... it's all about perspective.  Check out this guy I found on youtube:

What can you fit into your garage?  

Heat Rises

Before moving into my townhouse, I really only ever lived on the second or third floor of buildings - two apartments, and my parents house - so I never fully appreciated the whole "heat rises" science experiment.  That being said, the upstairs was 68 this morning!!  Brr!  Pretty sure I could see my breath in the kitchen.  Since it is now 84 out, though, I'm not eager to turn on the heat.

My homebound student canceled today, so I was able to get home earlier.  I decided to use that time to update the ol' blogger.  Since my dad said he will check it "on occasion" I want to make sure there are pretty pictures for him to see when he checks in (Hi Pop!).

Remember, this is a work in progress... :)

I think I'll start with a picture of one of my favorite parts of the house thus far: the doorhandles on the first floor:

I'm eating my words from the last 6 months - I cannot believe the (ahem) creative paintjob in the great room/dining room actually goes with my items!  I do have new colors picked out... yet these are tolerable for awhile...

And finally... here's the master bedroom thus far.  Yes, the plastic is still on that lampshade and no it's not plugged in.  I'm not sure if I like it.  The picture would be wider and show the rest of the room except someone still has not unpacked three suitcases...

Poly's so vain - she probably thinks this post is about her.  Seriously, though, she looooooooves to hang out in the baby's bathroom.

XOXO!

Turkey Taco Salad

Mmmm I made taco salad for dinner tonight and used ground turkey instead of hamburger.  Yum!  Thanks, Mom, for the idea!!!  So good!  Is this the part where I'm supposed to post pictures?  Perhaps of the kitchen in which I made said dinner, so it fits with the blog theme?

What did you have for dinner?

I've Moved!

After 6.5 months of waiting, I am now a homeowner!!  I will update more soon... Until then, here is a picture of me carrying my kitty, Napoleon, over the threshold!

Home is where my Poly is!

  

Closing Tomorrow!

3pm. Fingers crossed no more craziness!  \o//