Curious Bird

 

I don't know about you, but I don't find sleeping on a remote control all that comfortable. Motown is one funny boy.  He seems to be  feeling okay lately. We sure dislike giving him the fluid injections -- they take too long and he really hates being swaddled like a newborn -- but they seem to make him feel quite a bit better, so onward we go. He doesn't know it yet, but tonight is treatment night...

I can't believe it's almost Halloween. We carved a pumpkin with the biggest mustache, but this nasty rain we're having is keeping me from snapping a photo. Hoping to take one before Mr. Mustache starts to take a turn for the worse. Ewww.
Dustin and I are looking forward to tricker-treaters this year. For the first time in Philly, we now live on a little street that seems pretty perfect for some good tricker-treating action. Can't wait to see what comes a' knockin'.

More soon,
l.

We'd take it

 

 

 

Dustin and I both agree that we'd be pleased as punch (he didn't say that, I did) to live in the fantastic a-frame house featured in the most recent ReadyMade magazine. We love the windows and all the lovely wood.  Very cozy.

pretty things

Look at this lovely handcrafted piece of jewelry I get to be the temporary owner of. Isn't it a pretty little thing? It will eventually make its way to a new home -- as a gift to someone with an "A" name -- but for now I get to hold it up close and admire it. I am considering ordering this necklace for a few other people in my life, and maybe even myself. I am really pleased with how it turned out -- so simple and pretty.  In case you're curious, it was created by Lisa from Lisa Leonard Designs who happens to be one talented lady with a lovely shop and an equally lovely blog. 

Stay warm out there (can't believe I'm saying this so early in the year),

Leya

 

gifted

 

If you stop by very often, you probably know how wacky I am for pickled veggies (and grapes). This past summer was definitely the Summer of the Pickle. I pickled everything I could think of: cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, okra, and of course multiple batches of Molly's wonderful pickled grapes. I think cauliflower was probably my favorite, although that was before I was gifted a jar of the most amazing pickled green beans made by my fellow pickling fiends/friends, Atticus and Christine.  They are spicy and crisp and perfect. Now the tricky part is recreating them because according to Atticus, they didn't measure, they just whipped them up using white vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard seed, black peppercorns, and garlic. I'm going to give it a try but until I get it just right I may be taking trains to Brooklyn to say hi and pick up jars of pickled green beans.

Loving this fall weather.

Also loving this photo and this one
too.

This blouse is super cute. 

Perfect for dessert.

Say no to plastic. These are nifty.

Take care,

Leya

p.s. If you happen to live in Philly. This week is Neighborhood Food Week. There are tons of restaurants in various neighborhoods with special prix fixe menus. We're looking forward to getting to know some of our new neighbors while eating a tasty dinner later this week.

Contessa

After thinking it over, I decided to scrap the apple butter idea and make an apple tart instead. The fact that I had just canned tons of applesauce the weekend before kind of got to me. Besides, I decided I needed to save my jars for pickling green beans and cauliflower, two things I can't seem to get enough of. Completely inspired by some pickled green beans gifted to us a few weeks ago. More on those later.

So...not knowing what apple tart recipe to use, I sidelined the whole thing for about ten minutes until I flipped on the food network on Saturday morning to catch Ina Garten making, you guessed it, an apple tart. And that was that -- I had my recipe. As usual, she didn't let me down. And now we get to have delicious apple tart for breakfast for at least a few more days.

 

 

Before I go, I wanted to mention that Motown is feeling a bit better. I watched him swat a toy around the kitchen floor yesterday, which made me very happy. His spunky behavior occurred after getting his first sub-q fluid injection, so we're hopeful that the fluids are going to make a difference for him. Isn't he a handsome devil?  You don't have to answer that...

Happy Autumn,

Leya

Hello,

After a long and emotional week, Friday and Fall Break(!) is finally here. I can really use a little break, let me tell ya. No real plans to share, except I think I am finally going to find the time to paint the kitchen walls from drab white primer to a lovely apple green. Fingers crossed (for like the third time) on this one. Honestly, after such a sad and stressful week since getting the news about Motown being so sick, painting sounds pretty darn relaxing and meditative. I am kind of looking forward to it.  I'm also looking forward to making a big pot of potato soup, reading something other than articles or chapters for school, re-potting some new mums in our backyard (not really a yard, but you know), watching several back-to-back episodes of This American Life, making apple butter, and listening to the new(ish) Cass McCombs record on repeat. Yep,  that list sounds pretty nice.

I wanted to let those of you who were curious about the upside down caramel apple cake know that I used this recipe and it was pretty good. Dustin liked it a whole lot -- I have less of a sweet tooth, so I could only have a couple of pieces before I needed to move on. I will say that it was wonderful warm out of the oven. Warm apple anything is good if you ask me. 

Hope you have a lovely Autumn weekend. 

-Leya

blues

a sad day. Motown had an appointment with the vet today after we noticed that he has appeared quite under the weather for a couple of days. he has vomited a bit lately and has just not been his usual self. after a long appointment and lots of tests, the vet gave us some sad news diagnosing him as having kidney disease. we're still not sure what the prognosis is -- we're awaiting more test results -- but we are now faced with the heartbreaking reality that our sweet boy is getting old (almost 14)  and may not be with us forever as we had hoped. his diet must change and we have to make sure he doesn't continue to lose weight.  to see him right now with his sad face and his fur-less front side from the blood work brings me to tears. think of him and send him some healing love if you can. it would mean a lot to all of us right now.  

Update: Thanks so much for all the wonderful offerings of love and healing for Motown. You guys are the best. And I am so grateful to be able to send such bummer news like this out into the world and feel such kindness  and support from people I have never even met. Kind of blows my mind, actually.

A little update on our boy: We received word from the vet that the additional tests came back and things don't look too good. His poor kidneys are functioning at a very low level requiring him to start multiple weekly injections of subcutaneous fluids. We are quite overwhelmed with the prospect of injecting him due to his increased anxiety lately (after all the hubbub at the vet, etc.) He seems to be very against the idea of taking medicine by mouth, so I'm certain he will not be keen on being poked with a needle.  Hopefully Dustin and I will find our way with this and he'll get a little help from the extra fluid intake. For those of you who have done fluid injections on your cat, please email me with any tips for easing the process. I will take all the wisdom you can provide.  

One good thing: The new diet of mostly wet food is pretty exciting for Motown...and as a preventative measure, our vet prescribed Mortimer the very same food, and Mort thinks he may have just won the pet food lottery.

More soon.

an apple (or four) a day

 

 

an update on the giant amount of apples we picked last weekend: I made a huge batch of applesauce and a caramel apple upside down cake and I still have half a bag (8lbs?) left. Dustin votes  for more applesauce and maybe a nice batch of apple butter (anyone know of a good apple butter recipe?) but I'm exhausted and can't think of peeling  or coring another apple for at least a few days. I'm wondering if freezing apples works? I did some research on the idea, but I'm unsure about it. Any apple freezing gurus out there?  also, must-make apple recipes are very much welcome. 

still feeling a little out of it with this cold but I'm hanging in there. power of positive thinking.

-leya  

 

Just read that Gourmet Magazine (and Cookie) is being canceled by Conde Nast.
I really look forward to getting each and every issue of Gourmet. This is a total bummer. 

hello out there,

after a lovely autumn weekend -- did you see the harvest moon last night? wow -- I had to go and get a nasty cold. It is my first sickness of the season (please let it be the last) and I'm set on it only lasting a day or two. I have scattered pretty pink blooms around the house to distract me from the fact that my head feels like a bowling ball right now. it seems to be working a little, I think.

make sure you catch the harvest moon tonight. it's a beauty. 

-l.