Recipe

Would you like to have the recipe for the best granola ever?  Well here it is -

From this cookbook -

The Grant Corner Inn was a bed and breakfast in Santa Fe, NM.  It was located right beside the Georgia O'Keefe museum.  I believe the owners retired and sold the property a few years ago.  My Mother recommends adding chopped dried cherries to the granola mix after baking.

Dear Dad

This post has absolutely nothing to do with anything except making me laugh.

When Mike & I were in Mexico recently we visited the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza.  The group pictured below was there visiting as well.  See that man in the middle with the vest?  I saw that man and all of a sudden my body became possessed with the crazy spirit of the paparazzi.  That man looked JUST LIKE an Asian version of my father!!!

See for yourself -

That is funny to me.

American Gothic Remix

This one is for my virtual friend Paul from the Kitchen and Residential Design blog -

Mudroom Magic

Today I'd like to share with you a mudroom magic renovation from the home of my husband's cousin Angie. Angie & her husband Matt live in Illinois with their cute little boy and newborn daughter. I don't feel like mudroom is quite the right word for this space. Hallroom might be a better word, but hallroom magic doesn't sound as good to me as mudroom magic.

This first picture is the view from their Kitchen/Breakfast Nook down a short hallway. The door on the left leads into the garage -

Another before shot -

They removed the door and widened the opening to the hallway -

To create space for a built-in area they bumped out a portion of the wall.  The backside of the bump out is cantilevered over a set of stairs that leads down to their basement -

This picture is taken from a sunroom that is off the hallway to the right of the widened opening.  The built-ins are installed - 

Painted and styled up with baskets, hooks and a seat cushion -

A view of the new built ins with the opening trimmed out and finished -

Before and after shots side by side.  The carpet tiles are from flor.com.  I am imaging their son doing some fun square jumping on those carpets -

I think this hallway renovation is just fantastic.  From what I was told straight from the source Angie & Matt had help in planning this project from Angie's brother-in-law who is an architect.  This concept could be applied and put to use in a variety of ways.  Thanks Angie & Matt for letting me share these photos.

The Tipping Point

It has been reported Al & Tipper Gore are calling it quits.  But, why?

 AP Photo

This is how I'm imagining it all went down ...

Al:         "I invented the internet."
Tipper:  "No, you did not."
Al:         "Yes, I did."
Tipper:  "No, you didn't."
Al:         "Yes, I did."
Tipper:  "No, you didn't."
Al:         "Yes, I did."

... continuing for years and years with this addition ...

Al:         "I am sick and tired of not being able to play Darling Nikki on my iPod."
Tipper:  "No Darling Nikki in my house or on the iPod of anyone that lives in my house!"
Al:         "That's it!  All these years I haven't been able to listen to Darling Nikki.  I've had it!"

OK, so it isn't funny at all when couples (especially parents) separate.  Think of how this is totally going to screw up holidays for their children and grandchildren.  I remember seeing Al on Oprah (just typing Al on Oprah is almost too much for me) in recent years discussing global warming and he was so good.  It was like he was finally comfortable in his own skin and had found his place in the world.  Maybe Tipper didn't like this Al.  Perhaps she preferred the uncomfortable Al.

Single ladies, you now have multiple choices of newly single men :  Al Gore or Larry King.  Let's not forget John Edwards too.