Visiting Alcatraz

A visit to San Fran really isn't complete without a tour of Alcatraz, so on a foggy Sunday morning, we got up early to catch the ferry over to the island. There is really only one ferrying company that takes visitors to-and-from the island, and reservations fill up fast, so we made sure to book our tickets weeks ahead of time.

By and far, Alcatraz Island looks A LOT smaller than it really is from a distance. Expect to spend 2-4 hours walking the highlights of the 22-acre island, wear comfortable shoes, and depending on the time of year, layers of clothing. We were very lucky during our stay in that the fog cleared up perfectly by late morning, making for a gorgeous day.

The perspective vistas of the island were amazing! We definitely got our exercise that day going up-and-down all the hills, stairs, and paths inside and out the prison. I didn't know that in the 1970's, Alcatraz was occupied by Native American Indians as an act of reclamation activism. They lived on the island for 19 months!

Visiting San Francisco

The first part of our trip was in beautiful, gritty, and hip San Francisco. We stayed downtown in Union Square and even our hotel had an art exhibit in the lobby. We walked anywhere we couldn't get an Uber, and we were lucky to befriend an Uber driver who acted as our very own tour guide for most of 3 days.

We ate. Very. Well. Our favorite was a Burmese cult following named Burma Superstar. We ate there 2 times in 3 days and their Tea Leaf Salad will haunt me for the rest of my days. Ghiradelli was insane and was worth the milk farts even after eating 2 Lactaid tablets beforehand. Chinatown was amazing and we were able to sit in on a tea tasting at a tea house. And of course, there were 1,000 pics to be taken of the Golden Gate.

We got into town 2 days after the election and every single person we met wanted to strike up a conversation about what happened. At one point, our Uber was stuck in traffic due to a political protest in the street.

San Francisco, you are a young person's city and we loved you!

Gratuitous Kitteh Monday

Whew, that was nice!

Sorry I’ve been MIA for the past 2 weeks, but I spent 10 of those days on a 10-day vacation out to San Francisco and Napa Valley. It was an amazing, well-needed break for sure.

Hubby and I have been planning this trip since early spring, and it has been a couple of years since we took an honest-to-god-get-away-from-the-house vacation. We definitely needed it, especially since we left 2 days after the election and it was good to have something to take our minds off the mess that was left behind. 

We got back the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and I decided to just go ahead and take Mon, Tues, and Wed off too, since I had Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays from my job. So, I’ve had over 2, blissful weeks away from everything to reboot!

The kittehs missed us immensely and Chaz didn’t leave my side for several days after we got home. Here he is glued to my lap…

I'll be posting some more pics with details soon.

Florida Be Like...

Numb....just numb.

Standard Time Change

I don't even know why we still do the time change thing, it messes me up so much. The last couple of days, I've been going to bed at like 8 p.m. at night and waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. The cats don't like it either, as they are pawing at me for dinner at 4 p.m. and are howling by 5 or 6.

The only good thing about changing back to standard time is I start my day earlier and feel like I get more things done, but still.

Bath Bomb Blues

"I like flat butts"....said no one EVER!

Bath Bomb Trial #1,249

Sigh...

So, I've been making a new batch of sample bombs every day. I've learned that floating bath bombs isn't necessarily a matter of ingredients, but technique. My first couple of batches were packed so tight, they sunk like cannonballs. I'v since learned to pack them lighter, but then this happens...

Hey, guess what?...Flat butt!

They hardened wonderfully in 24 hours and look great from the front...

And even better, THEY FLOATED AND FIZZED!

These were made with a "Milk and Honey Oatmeal" fragrance oil and almond oil, hence the little bit of dried oatmeal on the top, and they smelled WONDERFUL! 

I'm thinking I like and want a little bit of soft oil, like the almond oil I am using, without an emulsifier in my bath bombs for now, but the true test will be a whole-body experience. 

In the meantime, I might fiddle with my recipe and I've read that placing your bombs to dry on egg crate foam keeps them from getting flat butts. Some people even put a towel over a cupcake pan...

Hmmm...

Making Bath Bombs and Bath Truffles - Trial #1

Not too long ago, my 16 year-old niece mentioned that she loved Lush bath bombs and bath products. So, I tracked down where the nearest store was up here and made a visit. I had never been, and I have to admit I was curious and impressed; their products smelled wonderful and their bath bombs were quite large. Their products were obviously popular, as the store was swarmed the whole time I was there. I also loved their massage bars, truffle bars, and bubble bars, so I bought a few for myself as well as some for my sister and niece.

The only thing I DIDN'T like was their prices....at $7 bucks a bomb, it adds up!

I remember seeing some Pins in how to make homemade bath bombs on Pinterest, so down the rabbit hole I went. After doing a TON of reading and research, I realized that bath bomb making includes everything I love about learning something new: it's science and includes problem-solving, it's creative, it's different, it's an unusual treat or luxury, and it's hard as hell to get right!

Challenge accepted!

Bombs #1

These are not my first bombs I tried making, but the first samples I made that worked well in a mold and hardened enough to go to trial. They look very pretty and were made with a "Lovespell" fragrance (kinda fruity/floral) and organic rose petals.

Pretty no?

Ready for action...

Nice fizzing, but the bath bomb sank and didn't float :-( .

Aaaaand it left a slight "oil slick" on the water surface from the essential oil I added...

Bath Truffle Bar #1 

This Orange Creamsicle Truffle Bar was the first thing I made and it turned out PERFECT. I got this recipe from the Soap Queen website and I adored the scent; it smelled SO YUMMY!

After some research, I knew this bar was going to sink as it is packed with skin-softening oils like shea oil and cocoa butter, but I was really concerned with the resulting "oil slick".

Ready for testing (you can still see a little oil residue in the water from the previous bomb trial)...

Great fizzing and color!

But yep, there's the "oil slick"...

Results and Thoughts:

Some of you might be thinking, "Well, that's not bad. I want those skin-softening oils in my bath." But the problem is, that oil will also cling to the side of your tub, making it SUPER slick, messy, and dangerous, not to mention these oil slicks will not necessarily moisturize your whole body...just the areas it manages to cling to when you are moving around or when you are getting out of the tub. 

Sooo, it's back to the drawing board. I know I need to try another batch of both with a new recipe that includes ingredients to help emulsify the oil  in the water. I'm working on that and I'm patiently waiting for Amazon to deliver those ingredients into my greedy little hands.

Actually, the bath bomb wasn't that bad, but I'm mostly curious as to why it didn't float. They are supposed to and I even added ingredients that are supposed to make it float....hmmm. One thought is that it is still curing and not completely dry in the center. I made it Saturday and tested it today (Tuesday), so this bomb is only a little over 48 hours old. I might save the other bomb and try again with it this weekend. 

Creamy Chicken Liver Pate with Dates

It's hard for me to be thinking about the holidays and winter weather when it's almost 90° outside today IN OCTOBER!

But, nevertheless, cold weather and Christmas parties are just around the corner, so I thought I'd share this amazing chicken liver pate spread to take to your next fall picnic or holiday gathering.

It's totally delicious and you will impress all your friends and guests if you show up with this fancy appetizer. And for some reason, when ever I think of chicken liver pate, I think of it being served at fancy parties with Champagne, which by-the-way is a perfect drink to serve with this. It also pairs wonderfully with a full-bodied Pinot Noir, or really any full-bodied red wine.

Now, to be fair, not everyone likes liver pates (think liverwurst or Braunschweiger), so it might be wise to find out what the people you are sharing this with enjoy. But then again, if they don't like it...more for you!

Serve this creamy spread on warm, crusty bread or pumpernickel toasts with a small "schmear" of Dijon mustard. Heaven!

Creamy Chicken Liver Pate with Dates
Recipe modified from: Wine Bites: Simple Morsels that Pair Perfectly with Wine

1 lb. chicken livers
2 cups milk
*4-6 shallots, peeled and cut into large pieces
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 T olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons butter, sliced
4 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
2 T sherry vinegar

*Note: If your shallots are large (the size of a golfball or bigger), use 4.

Drain the chicken livers, rinse well, and remove any connective tissue. Place chicken livers in a bowl, pour the milk over, cover, and let soak in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375°. Place the shallot pieces and garlic in a small roasting pan or pie plate, drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat. Roast until soft and golden, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Drain and rinse the chicken livers again and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over med-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add a few of the chicken livers (don't crowd) to the pan and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and firm but still slightly pink in the center, 4-5 minutes. Don't overcook!

Transfer cooked chicken livers and roasted shallots/garlic to a bowl with the chopped dates. Drizzle with the sherry vinegar and let sit for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors.

Add chicken liver mixture to a large food processor bowl with the remaining 1/2 cup of butter. Process until smooth. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper if necessary. Transfer pate to a serving dish (or 2 smaller ones) and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

This pate freezes wonderfully for future parties - Spoon into in a freezer-safe container, press some plastic wrap onto the surface of the pate, cover with a lid, and then freeze. Defrost in the refrigerator several days before use.

Gratuitous Kitteh Monday

This is all I've felt like doing lately...sitting around, looking outside, and waiting for the leaves to change...

Which probably explains for the lack of content here on ye' olde blog.

I can't believe the temperatures outside will be almost 90° for tomorrow and Wednesday in Northern Virginia. Our average first fall frost date was yesterday and the leaves have barely begun to turn color. I'm just ready to pack it all up and head inside for a break, not turn on the AIR CONDITIONING IN OCTOBER!

Sigh...

Back to waiting.

Gratuitous Kitteh Monday - Redirected Aggression 6 Months Later

There has been a very happy "Thang" around here lately. See Exhibit A:

A Happy Thang

She has completely recovered from her redirected aggression episode 6 months ago, off all meds, and is probably even happier than before. Last month we took her to get her teeth cleaned and found out she needed 3 teeth pulled, as they had turned into cavities. She has a history of Feline Odontoclastic Resorbtive Lesions (FORLs), which can be very painful. Our vet told us that cats are like people, some have good teeth, and some don't. Brushing helps A LOT, but FORLs are hereditary and there is no known cure or prevention for them in cats.

The last time she had her teeth cleaned, they pulled 3 other teeth, so now she basically has no teeth on her bottom jaw except her canines and the small teeth in between her canines. At some point in her life, she may very well have all her teeth pulled, but no worries, as toothless kittehs can live perfectly happy and healthy lives.

After her recovery, she has actually been happier and more playful than we've seen her in at least a year or two. It was 2 years since her last cleaning, so I'm wondering if her earlier grumpiness with Leo had anything to do with it. A mouthful of painful cavities can definitely affect your disposition! Still, she showed no symptoms of having any issues, especially with eating. She continued to have a healthy, VERY food motivated appetite.

That's the thing with cats. They are very stoic and often don't show pain, so a behavioral issue may have a physiological origin. Who knows if this is/was the issue with Miss Thang.

We are back on a regular (every other day) brushing regimen. I had started with her when I had Leo, but things got pushed to the back in the aggression aftermath and then her having teeth pulled. I'm hoping this will make a difference for the future.

September in the Garden

Ooof, I'm exhausted. These past 2 weeks I've been planting and moving things around in the yard/garden, which is why I've not had any energy to blog. So far, I've planted:

• 18 irises
• 4 daylilys
• 2 hucheras
• 1 hosta
• 6 black raspberry bushes

Under "normal" conditions, I would have been able to handle something like this in 1 weekend...maybe 2, but I have hard-ass clay soil, which makes digging a simple hole in the ground similar to prospecting for gold. 

Here in Virginia, most people bring in a dump truck of mushroom compost and build up for flower beds or veggie gardens. I did it right for the veggie garden, but not around the rest of the house. In hindsight, I should have done that, but I didn't know. So, I have to dig a "$50 hole for a $5 plant," which requires using a mattock, several types of shovels, loppers, lots of sweat, and some colorful curse words.

It may be "fall," but the temps outside still say summer and I'm over it! I still have 2 hydrandreas to move, 3 azalea bushes to plant, 1 decorative grass to move, and a few potted plants to heel in before we are done for the season. This doesn't include aerating the lawn, fertilizing, liming, and overseeding. 

See what I mean? EXHAUSTED.

Figwatch 2016 Update

It's time for another edition of...

Over the holiday weekend, look what I stumbled onto out in the garden. It's my very first ripe fig!

I can't tell you how excited I was to see this! I thought I had lost my chance for figs earlier this past month when I went away for a few days on a business trip and my husband forgot to water my potted fig plants. The poor plants had lost most of their leaves, but the figs held on.

I took it inside, cut it in half, put a couple of crumbled pieces of Stilton on each half, and then drizzled it with honey. YUMMMM!

This fig came from my "Negronne" fig tree...

Since this weekend, I've picked 5 more luscious beauties, with even one large brown fig from my "Olympian" tree. 

Here's hoping next year's harvest will be even better!