Some pics of the new pad

Belle the Cat is relocating yet again, but this time should be more permanent. We've bought a house!































Here is our new front door, complete with pumpkins.















Master kitty keeps watch while we move in.













And this-our first casualty. 1970s light fixture+clumsy distracted new owner = oops.
















More to come!

Foraging winding down - but ending on a high note!

While taking a walk a week or so ago, my mushroom-hating fiance pointed out a white, round item hidden in the grass near a fence line. I couldn't believe it- a puffball! And lo and behold, we found two more wonderfully ripe perfectly formed puffballs nearby.

The best thing was, he didn't want anything to do with these nature-provided tofus-of-the-forest, so I got to do whatever I wanted with 'em.

Puffballs are great mushrooms. They are big, easy to identify, and pretty simple to prepare. The downfall is that pillbugs and centipedes like them too, so you may have to fight them for them.











First, I cut off the root part and pealed the thing with a knife.

I fried my first batch of cubed mushroom in butter. A little salt, little pepper. I put these in a ZipLock bag and froze them for future use. Some I ended up throwing into a corn chowder.














The second bunch I sliced. I cooked them in butter and then added roux (butter and flour), milk and more butter and salt, plus parsley. This made a great cream sauce to use over toast.










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Geek.Kon 09

I had the privilege of attending Geek.Kon in Madison WI this weekend. I hope to have an article in to Dane101.com soon, but in the mean time, here are some photos I took of the various activities. Above-some cosplayers













The Ballroom where many large events took place. Above is the Masquerade.










The video game room (consoles)

















Tabletop gaming










A panel room (this was on Time Travel)

Celebrate

I just found a coupon for Fancy Feast Appetizers. It's tag is "Celebrate anytime."
And I'm like, "celebrate with your cat by buying them an appetizer?"

So I shook my head, but then I looked down at Roo who is staring at me with his big scared cat eyes as I'm starting to pack up the kitchen for my intended move next week (45 minutes closer to my work and into my first purchased house) and I hear myself saying, "aw! We'll celebrate when we get to the new place! With appetizers!"

Not that most cats would understand the concept of an appetizer, or more probably a celebration. Still... we live very strange lives and walk in strange social circles, most of us contemporary humans. And the little animals we string along with us.