In the end, we decided against anything with one bathroom. Say what you will about how picky that is, but we know our requirements. The place we live needs two toilets. So we’ve given up the Craftsman house (she would have made us wait too long before she decided anyway) and the Sunnyvale house. We’re looking at two more places this afternoon, both in Santa Clara. I’ve printed copies of our credit reports, photocopied our pay stubs, put the checkbook in my purse, and in one case downloaded and filled out applications. We’ve driven by each — one a townhome at $2100 monthly, the other a house at $1995, both the same square footage — I intend to put applications into both, even though we haven’t seen inside yet. I’m done looking. Husband is done because I say he is. 😉 The thing is, it’s just a rental. We’re not buying, so this is not an investment. We just need a sturdy, safe, quiet place to live, and I don’t care if it has “charm” anymore. We bring the charm.

And considering the deplorable conditions people live in worldwide, everything we’ve looked at is luxurious.

I’m sorry if I haven’t been commenting or responding to comments much lately. This housing search takes a lot more time than one would expect. I’m feeling a tad unwell these days too, and with the stress of this I’m taking care of my basic needs: eating, sleeping, being in the moment.

Goodness, I even got teary during Cars. The James Taylor song in the middle of the movie, Our Town, got me. So did Brad Paisley’s Behind the Clouds.

It’s official. I’m a sap.

It’s a new year and we’re off running, trying to find a place to live. We like our rental house, but the landlords decided to let their son have it. So we need to find a place to live, pack, and move by February 15. We have looked at 30 places so far, with limited success.

My days are focused on unpacking from our holiday trip to visit my family, putting new presents away, and starting to sort stuff for Goodwill. However, I do have a moment to post a really simple recipe from a holiday dinner. My mother found the beets and we tried a recipe on the package. I’m not a regular beet eater because I don’t quite know what to do with them. This dish was savory and so easy to make. I didn’t calculate the Weight Watchers points yet; given it uses butter and cream, it’s not a low-point dish.

Red Beets with Thyme Cream

2 8 oz. pkg of Earth Exotics Diced Red Beets
4 shallots finely chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp. fresh thyme
4 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
salt and pepper

In a medium sauté pan, brown shallots in butter, add fresh thyme and heavy cream. Add salt & pepper, bring mixture to a simmer, mix in beets. Let simmer approximately 8-10 minutes, finish by adding red wine vinegar.

You can probably use 2 cups of diced red beets that have been briefly steamed.

Today I unpacked one suitcase (full of clothes), and then we went to look at possible homes to rent. I feel absolutely lazy about writing. I could write about the trip, but already it’s past and I’m onto other daily tasks. Such as what we’ll do tomorrow evening to ring in the new year. (Nothing intense.) I may write about the visit at some point.

I’m just worn out! Not a lot of creative output lately except for photos, which I’ll post in lieu of words.

I made some this year and it turned out much better than last year’s batches. Everyone said the toffee was more intense. I think it’s because I cooked it to just a second before burning before pouring it out. I also used a fine 70% cocoa baking chocolate.

Toffee
1 cup butter
1.5 cups sugar
3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
3 Tbsp. water
8 oz. chocolate chips or baking chocolate
1.5 cups raw almonds, chopped or sliced

Place a sauce pan over medium heat and add the butter, sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir consistently as the temperature of the mix raises. When the temperature reaches 305° F, remove from heat and pour onto a buttered 9″ x 13″ cookie tray; you may also line the tray with parchment paper instead of using butter. Spread the toffee evenly.

While the toffee is cooking, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler. Once you have spread the toffee on the cookie sheet, spread the melted chocolate on the toffee. Sprinkle with the almonds and allow to cool.

Serves 8-10

In the past 24 hours, I have been asleep for 19 of them.

The snail mail is sorted and opened. Email is next. Then blog reading. But first, more sleep.

We are home. Exhausted. I have 275 emails to deal with. We’ve been up since 1 a.m. PST and have covered over 3000 miles. Stacks of mail await. I’ve not read any blogs in ten days.

It was a wonderful holiday! I’ll write more later, but I now have an appointment with my recliner and the cats. There are two more pre-posted quotes coming up in the next 24 hours, which will give me time to spring back to life.

Until then.

In one minute it will be midnight. We’re packed, the house is straightened. The taxi company has been called and instructed to pick us up at 7:30 a.m. I’m waiting for my hair to dry a bit more, and then I shall go to sweet sleep. (After I eat one more Lindt truffle from a huge bag that Husband just gave me. An early Christmas present.)

For the next ten days I’ve selected quotes that are relevant to the season. I hope they provide a little inspiration. If I have time and access to a computer, I may post other entries too, but if not, there will still be something here for you!

Oy!

Saturday we spent 5 hours driving around, looking at places that Husband had found on Craigslist. We saw a couple of them inside, one which was viable, but for the price, we decided we’d look more after we return from our trip.

We’re flying out tomorrow! Am I packed? Not yet. Organized, sorted, grouped, but not packed.

Posting will be light for a week. Have fun gearing up for Christmas (if that’s your holiday).

I’m really agitated at the moment. I came home from a wonderful tea date with a friend (my first formal tea ever) to a letter from our landlords. They want to give the house to their son (which we knew upon moving in they might do in 3-4 years, so we were hoping to get through next year here). We need to vacate the house by February 15.

What’s distressing about this? One, it’s not on our timetable or by our choosing, and we were content living here. The rent is a really good deal. It’s a cute little house, 2-story with a garage and small lawn. Two, we are going away for holidays next week and lose housing search time.

The landlords were happy to have us, saying we are excellent tenants and so on. It’s just that we had a month-to-month rental agreement, and they want to use the house now.

*sigh*

Often times surprises like this open the door to something even better. But I can’t embrace it quite yet. I see the amount of stuff we own and blanch. I looked at Craigslists and choked on the rental prices: $2600 monthly not including utilities for a 3 BR/ 2.5 bath, no pets allowed. Ack.

Years ago I borrowed my brother’s copy of The Northern Exposure Cookbook (which, unfortunately, is only available used starting around $30). There were two recipes I adopted from the book. One is below.

Lightfeather Duncan’s Mashed Potatoes

12 medium-sized red potatoes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large yellow onion
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp. prepared horseradish
1 Tbsp. coarse-ground black pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 325F. Wash and quarter potatoes (don’t peel). Place in a large pot and cover with water. Boil until tender (about 15 minutes).

While potatoes are cooking, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Coarsely chop onion and sauté until translucent.

Drain potatoes and place in a large mixing bowl. Add onion, butter, sour cream, horseradish, pepper, and salt. Using a hand-held mixer, whip potatoes until fairly smooth. (A hand-held masher works fine but won’t be as smooth). Stir in cheese.

Transfer mixture to an ungreased casserole dish. Cover and bake for about 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Makes 6-8 servings

My cousin sent me a small cookbook last year full of simple recipes. Since he was visiting today, I decided to make him dinner from the book. It turned out to be so delicious, so simple, and thus rather elegant.

Saint Hubert Fish Stew

Makes 6 servings (6 Weight Watcher points per serving)

2 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 Tbsp. oil of choice (I used olive)
1 pound cod or similar fish, cut into chunks
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
3 potatoes, diced (leave skin on)
4 Tbsp. parsely, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
2 bottles beer (I used Shiner Bock, nice and dark)
4 cups water
salt and white pepper to taste (I used black pepper)

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil in a stew pot for a few minutes.

2. Add the remaining ingredients, stir well, cover, and cook slowly over low to medium heat for 35-40 minutes. Stir from time to time so that the stew does not burn at the bottom Serve hot.

This is excellent with a crusty bread and butter.

Source: From a Monastery Kitchen: the Classic Natural Foods Cookbook by Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourrette

My mom gave me this little tree in 1990 or 91. I lived in some cramped spaces over the years, but since Christmas is my “thing,” she wanted me to have a tree. (I believe my sisters got one too.) Every year she gives me one or two tiny ornaments for it. Even though we’re traveling this year, I still put it up, as I have every year. I also got out our stockings and a few other decorations. There’s a wreathe on the door, too. I can’t not decorate for this season.

Yesterday and today my friendly UPS man left me presents. My friend in San Francisco sent The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges and the Japanese novel by Soseki Natsume, I Am A Cat.

And then Leah sent Winter Morning Walks : 100 Postcards to Jim Harrison by Ted Kooser (love his poetry) and The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges.

It looks as though my brain and hands will be busy in the coming months. Thank you!

And then I received a sweet letter from a total stranger. I participated in a Swap-Bot Swap called A Letter for Me?. I was assigned someone to write to, and I received her URL so I could explore and get to know her a bit. And then I wrote a friendly letter describing myself, finding connections (there were many), and writing her blessings for the new year. Likewise, someone received my name and wrote (by hand) a three-page letter about who she is, where she lives (Polk City, Iowa), and what she enjoys doing to pass the time. You might wonder why anyone would do this. But think: when was the last time you received a personal, handwritten letter containing interesting and uplifting thoughts? It’s a neat way to meet pen pals.

One more package is on its way to me, and I look forward to it. I signed up for Blogging by Mail. Again, each person was assigned someone and the task was to put together a care package of foodie stuff and other goodies (this is a culinary-based group). My recipient, Heather, was tickled by the package I sent her. I’ll post about mine when it arrives.

And this is just the beginning! There are still the gifts from family and other friends to come. Speaking of which, I have a tote bag full of presents to get to the post office. And Shirl, I need your new snail mail address! You moved to that beautiful farm house and Santa needs to know where it is.

This is almost a dessert, but I first encountered it as part of Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk (fat free)
1 stick margarine or butter
1 large (29 oz.) can sweet potatoes
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Pre-heat oven to 350F. Mash potatoes. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the pecans and stir together well. Pour in to a large, oven-safe dish and sprinkle the top with pecans. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until firm.

Thanks to my friend S who introduced me to this dish!