Testing

Testing

Bathroom Update

This is the "before" shot. This all started because of the damned pink tile. We decided to remove the pink tile and replace it with white, ignore the pink tub and attack a complete renovation at some later date. All of the tile came off easy until I got to the tub surround. After spending a fair amount of time chisseling a few of them off, the wall basically crumbled. Apparently, 50 years of water damage took it's toll and left me with what you see below.

From this point, it was ON!!

See more photos here!

Photos, photos and more photos

 

FINALLY got a few new photos up. Sam’s Halloween party at school, fall fun in the leaves and a few of the kids in their costumes. (LINKS BELOW) Hope to have some more photos of the continuing house renovation up soon as well. Officially, we now have paint on every wall in the house and I’m just about to declare the bedroom finished. The kitchen is in the home stretch and I hope to have it completed soon with the 5000 miles that we be embarking on for the holiday travels.

At any rate, thanks for stopping by and came back soon and often.

Sam's School Halloween Party

Kids - Fall Fun

Halloween 2010

Chili cook-off 2010

 

I knew before I came to work last Friday that I wasn’t going to win this year’s cook-off. I took last year’s crown with my first ever attempt at making chili. I did what I know how – I grilled, smoked and spiced and it worked. This year I decided to bring some Ohio flava to these crab eaters. I made Cincinnati chili from scratch and brought all the fixin’s to create up to a 4 way. Those that already knew what Cincy chili is about loved it. Most everyone else was at the very least, intrigued. At the very least, I enlightened a few people and ate some damn good chili! I’m already working on my recipe for next year. Please believe, I WILL be winning that belt back!

Pork Explosions!

Pork Explosions CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

We had a potluck at my office on Friday. I volunteered/was coerced into making pork explosions. For the uninitiated, it is bacon that is woven into a mat upon which a pound of pork sausage is pressed and then a layer of chorizo (Mexican spicy sausage). The chorizo is my own twist. The standard version calls for cooked bacon to be crumbled on the sausage layer. Add in some spices and roll into a heart attack shaped log. I have found that with all the fat, it's much better to smoke them first to cook them without flareups. After smoking for 4-5 hours I finish them on the grill with a chipotle-cinnamon BBQ sauce. Needless to say, not for vegans or those with a weak heart. I made 5 and there were 0 left, so I guess that's a good thing. If you are thinking of trying this out, I caution you that it is a costly and time consuming process. These took me a total of 6-8 hours to prepare, smoke and grill. If you do try it, let me know how it works out!

My Little Incubator

Well, once again, my daughter has blessed her mother and I with a new sickness. She apparently picked something up either in Michigan or on the plane home. Dani got sick on Tuesday and I started yesterday. Each of the kids good for about a half dozen sicknesses per year. This one is a little earlier than others, but it still sucks. Thankfully for her, she's cute which has saved her on more than one occasion. Hopefully it's a fast bug that will get the hell out of me, Dani and this house in the next day or two.