Getting Into the Groove

Our "Welcome to Fort Collins" bouquet from DM, MK, and our Colorado Fun Kids. 

We arrived in time for LG's 11th birthday, May 17. 

Visited LG's classroom for each student's presentations on an individual state. LG's is Virginia--her daddy's birth state. 

Our experience with DIRECTV got off to a shakey start. All good now. 

My reward for a miserable few days dealing with wifi, DIRECTV, moving details, etc. 

We were here for NJ's Spring Poetry Recital, and her Kindergarten final recap. Precious. 

Visiting family kicked me into cooking again (finally). We did a full-out Mexican-Southwest meal. Plenty of leftovers for both DM's family and CA and me. 

Had the girls for our first sleepover in our flat, and found this cutie on our walk to Cozzoli's for pizza. 

Saturday morning, we all walked to the farmers market. 

I baked some fully-loaded Raisin Bran muffins. 

Helped our DIL as she assisted in an friend's wedding prep. Then, she was honored to be a bridesmaid in the combination Vietnamese-Indonesian-American wedding. 

We've been visiting DM's family's church--Mountainview Community. 

Our farmers market radishes-Demi baguette-butter-salt for Sunday's lunch. 

Preparing my mother's potato salad recipe for our Memorial Day cookout. 

Snapshot of Our New Adventure

We're dipping our toes in the waters of relocation. We still love our home in Illinois, and will be spending the majority of our time there, but our children and grandchildren live 8 and 16 hours away. We want to be more involved in the lives of our family. They definitely want that, also. So we're taking a small step and leasing a 2-bedroom flat in the heart of Fort Collins. Restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques--a vibrant pedestrian lifestyle is at the doorstep. 

Old Town Flats, Fort Collins, Colorado. 

I took photos of every box I packed. (8) 

This is our current king-sized. platform bed base. We'll get something more permanent after we see how this year goes. (Not our view. From the www.)

We're loving our small table and chairs. The third chair was back ordered, but is now in-place.  

While, it's definitely a table for 3, we will occasionally need seating for 4. We ordered this side chair for a small corner of our living space and it can be utilized as a dining chair when necessary. 

Loving that we now have a use for our Languoile flatware. Discovered that it is dishwasher safe! 

 

Our small terrace faces east. It's about twice the size it looks here. The bistro table will fit in the SUV on our next drive here.  

This is our t.v.-media cabinet. Also, IKEA. We've used the 4 drawers in the center to conceal the myriad cords always lurking around electronics. Strongly considered the wheels option, but once I decided on a large area rug the wheels lost their allure. 

Originally thought I'd find a vintage rug for the open living area, but since we opted for Mid-Century decor I needed a more modern look to tie the glossy red into a rather grey/white space. Found this on overstock.com. It's arriving early next week. Fingers crossed!

After a week of schlepping bags and boxes, groceries and household goods--from the car to the elevator, down the hall, fishing for keys--picked up this foldable wagon. It fits compactly in the back of our small SUV and makes me happy. Better for our flakey backs. 

I'm kind of loving this clock from Wayfair.com. 

Also, maybe this coffee table: in front of long couch, or in the corner between couches. 

Some exterior pics taken this week.

Family Updates

DM had a birthday last Sunday.

LG was in her school production.

My brother is now a grandfather. Natalie Ann, born late Saturday, 4/16 to my sweet niece JM and her husband MW.

We celebrated my mother-in-law's 88th birthday (4/28) a bit early. CA, GP, and LFW at Metamora Fields.

Our Fun Kids got together in Fort Collins for Easter.

I celebrated RvH's birthday with her by going along for her cataract surgery!

Since both RvH's (4/1) and CA's (4/2) birthdays were just after Easter, I baked them each a coconut-lemon cake.

Our Cincinnati Fun Kids are now our Omaha Fun Kids. Out-and-about exploring their new territories.

Eew-w-w...

I told CA that this will be us in a few years!

Donna Hay's Red Velvet Cheesecake

Since I took liberties with Donna Hay's recipe, I want to capture those changes here.

My version.

Red Velvet Cheesecake
Line your springform pan with a parchment circle. I sprayed the springform bottom with Pam to help the parchment adhere.

I took a shortcut with the crust and bought an Oreo crust from the baking aisle, but poured the crumbs into an 8" springform pan and pressed it into the bottom and sides.

Filling:
1-1/2 8 oz. pkgs. Cream cheese
1-1/4 Cups Ricotta cheese
3/4 Cup Sugar
3 Eggs
1-1/2 tsp Vanilla
150g Good quality dark chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
Red food coloring paste (You decide how red you want it.)
Dutch-process Cocoa for dusting (Trader Joe's)


1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. In large mixing bowl or food processor, beat together cream cheese, ricotta, and sugar for 2-3 minutes until smooth--often scraping sides of bowl.
3. Add eggs and vanilla; beat a further minute.
4. Add cooled, melted chocolate and food coloring until well-combined.
5. Pour over Oreo cookie crust.
6. Place a shallow pan of water on lower oven shelf (keeps cheesecake from cracking).
7. Bake in center of oven for about 1 hour, keeping watch. You want the cheesecake to look solid, with about a half-dollar center spot still appearing wet.
8. Cool completely, then refrigerate 4 hours or overnight until well-chilled.
9. Dust with Dutch-process Cocoa before serving.

Years ago, I first visited Santa Fe with my sister JA. Luckily we did two brilliant things--we took a walking tour of the historic area and we took a class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Then, I visited with my friend LL and took a Southwest breakfast class which included a recipe for fresh fruit with a Tequila syrup--a simple syrup with Tequila added. I've now simplified that and cut a few calories by using 3 parts Agave syrup to 1 part Tequila. Just a splash really perks up and glazes the fresh fruit.

Lately: After the Beach

Sunset on Dufield Pond. Our first night home after the beach.

We came home from Virginia Beach knowing CA had a Heart Catherization test on Friday, leading up to Mitral Valve repair: open-heart surgery on St. Patrick's Day. Thankfully, tests gave an all-clear on any additional heart issues. And, he was a star heart-surgery patient. We continue to be impressed with the physicians and staff, the care and competence we've experienced at Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge. 4 weeks post-surgery and he's regaining his stamina and healing beautifully.
I'd rescheduled my mammogram during all this and I finally had my annual screening on Friday, 4/8. Got my first-ever call-back! Scary until I did the research and found how low the percentages are that a call-back means real issues. We prayed a lot, but I was determined to not let the week-long wait be obsessive. And, I decided to not set off an alarm. I just didn't talk about the call-back.

Today, I'm blessed with an all-clear! The good news is that they've taken a closer-than-normal look at my breasts and there's nothing suspicious lurking undetected. I know how blessed I am, as I had breakfast yesterday with a friend who very recently got different news. She's Stage 2, has had a sizable lumpectomy and is waiting to hear if she will require chemo in addition to 8-weeks of radiation.

CA has decided that we are making reservations at a nice restaurant to celebrate all our recent blessings.