So, this morning, I got up. Twice. At 6:49, Mom knocked on my door, thinking I was going to be late for work. Except, of course, this is Sunday and I don’t GO to work on Sundays. So I went back to bed, but didn’t really manage to get back to sleep … and since I was up until 1:15 finishing a book last night, I’ve been a little tired today.

Still, I didn’t let it slow me down! First, after eating breakfast (oatmeal with walnuts), I baked a cake. A Nut Cake from Nick Malgieri’s “How to Bake” (a great cookbook, by the way).

While I got that started, I finished a batch of granola. Like Susan (Have you voted for her yet? Time’s running out!), I make mine in batches these days, except that I (1) use a skillet for the nuts and stuff and my crockpot for the oatmeal part, and (2) I cook enough of the nuts, seeds, and coconut for TWO batches of granola, but then do the oatmeal part separately. As in, I cook 6 cups of oatmeal/honey/oil and mix it with HALF the nuts/seeds/coconut. The second half I save until the next time I need granola, and then I cook another batch of just the oatmeal/honey/oil and have a complete, second batch with a lot less work. This is convenient because it takes a lot less storage space for the nut/fruit combination (about 3-4 cups, total) than it does for an entire batch of granola (about 16 cups). So, I make half a batch, stash the other half of the nut-part, and then make the oatmeal part when I need it.

I did pretty early, too, so that I could then get my batch of yogurt started. I’ve been doing that in the crockpot, too. I heat the milk in a pot on the stove (much faster than the crockpot) while warming the empty crockpot–then pour the milk into the crock and turn it off, and let it cool down to about 105-109 degrees. Stir in about 1/4 cup of starter yogurt, cover with a warm towel, and let sit for 6-8 hours.

Then, we got the news that that house adamantly does not accept pets, which made Mom cry, and made Chappy feel guilty.

Luckily, we had a distraction!

A pair of wild monkeys.

Risa (whose picture I somehow managed NOT to take) had called on their way down to the NJ Sheep and Wool festival (or whatever it’s called), to ask if I wanted to join them, but I really couldn’t … but I suggested that, if on their way home they weren’t too tired and it wasn’t too late, maybe they could stop by and say hello.

They had so much FUN!

Especially once I pulled the flying squirrel toys out. (The look on Chappy’s face in this picture just cracks me up.)

The good news was that I had two Flying Squirrel toys. The bad news was that Chappy tends to focus on only one at a time, so Alex had to work a little harder for his attention.

But then, there was jumping…

Because who doesn’t love jumping?

Oh, and Risa got quite a kick out of this.

While the kids were jumping, Chappy was sitting right in front of me, looking up and smiling. “I’m having so much fun, Mom!” But every, single time I would lift my camera to take his picture, he would look away. I’d lower the camera, and he’d smile. I’d lift the camera, and he’d turn his head. We must have tried at least five to seven times! This was the best shot I got.

And, right now? He’s sound asleep … all that romping wore him out–in a good way!

Thanks so much for the laughs, Risa–we needed that!

So, we’re back to looking for something I can afford that’s nice, and big enough for the four of us. The really sad part is that the house we found yesterday was perfect–3/4 miles from work, lots of space, an incredible price, and so, so gorgeous with newly-finished floors, new kitchen appliances, everything. Gorgeous. It almost feels that finding anything else at all is going to feel like a letdown. So, please, don’t stop crossing those fingers for us! (Please.)

In the meantime …

At least we have cake. (Nut cake, with maple frosting–because, yes, it really is beige. And yummy!)

Tags: Baking, Chappy, Friends // 4 Comments »