Good morning Lounge

[MissHoneychurch]

It is Monday. The weekend is over :( How was yours? Guess what I did! :crazy: Livingroom is done, bedroom is half done ... I am coming along ... fortunately. Unfortunately I have to live between boxes now. Sorry if I bother you with only the moving theme these days but for an unknown reason it is the main theme in my life right now :rofl:

Picture of the Day

[Droopy]

1. Good mornin'!

That's a neat pic. Looks like it could have been taken in the Salt Flats out in the northern, Utah desert.

I hear you about moving. When I bought my little condo a year and a half ago, it was all I could talk about. It's a very exciting, but stressful, time.

What's for breakfast? I'm going to have bacon, eggs, potatoes, and pancakes.

[MissHoneychurch]

2. Good morning Droopy

The pic was taken in the Black Forest, South Germany.

I'm moving January 8th. Till then everything has to be packed. I think I will conquer that :D
Can't wait to be in my new condo.

I had a sweet roll for breakfast, an Apfelkreppel :9

[ThomCat]

3. I lived out of boxes for 5 weeks.

I can't say how glad and thankful I am that I had my "house elves" to come in and pack it all up for me, twice!

I couldn't have moved without all their help. Packing is a real backbreaking pain.

I hope your move goes smoothly. :)

[MissHoneychurch]

4. Fortunately I only have 2 weeks

to live between boxes. I can tell you one thing: I have way too many books .... :rofl:
Fortunately my mom and her bf are coming January 1st and help me with the move.
I know what you mean though. :hug:

[Eurobabe]

5. Good morning!

Hang in there, it's almost over...then you can unpack in your own place. :D :bounce:

Mom's cat hasn't shown up yet either, as of yesterday. Now I start to think maybe he got in someone's garage? The group of townhomes behind her have garages. :shrug:

[MissHoneychurch]

6. Good morning

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

I am more than glad that I leave tomorrow morning and won't come back till Sunday. And then when I come back 11 more days till the move ...

Sorry to hear that Biddy hasn't shown up again. If he left for good I hope he found a good and loving home :hug:

[jeff30997]

7. Good morning MissHoneychurch !

Over here it's 4:15 so I'm going to bed. :hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

8. Good morning Jeff

and good night :)

Sweet dreams :hi:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

9. Err...good morning I guess...although it is actually 21:00PM Monday evening here

But a very good morning to you regardless. I had a great weekend -a wonderful neighborhood Christmas party followed by a profoundly moving, powerfu and uplifting Christmas carols service at Church.

Ugh...moving and packing and unpacking can be exhausting. The end result is satisfying though

Hope you have a great week ahead of you MissH:hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

10. Where the heck are you????

:D

Good evening to you then :hi:

I wish you a wonderful Christmas week too!! Sounds like you had a great start into the week.

I want to be done with the moving already. But it will be a couple more weeks. But then I will be in my very own condo and not be moving ever again :woohoo:

[MattSh]

11. Good early afternoon...

From Kiev !!

[MissHoneychurch]

12. Good afternoon to you

How is Kiev these days? Any nice pictures of the churches in the snow?

[Callalily]

13. Good morning MissH!

Great (and interesting) pic!

Don't worry about your moving stories. We've all been through it and are feeling your pain. So we're all right there with you. And you know, the time is now going to go fast!

Weather was too cold and blustery to go anywhere yesterday, so I baked bread and Jambalaya.

Here's the pics.





:hi: :hug: :loveya:

[MissHoneychurch]

14. Good morning Simply

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

Good thing I am munching my lunch at the moment or I would reach through the computer to strangle you to post pics of such delicious food without me having a chance to taste it :D

[Callalily]

15. LOL! I do with I could

share with you. Both are very tasty. I love to cook, and I know you do too.

It's another cold and blustery day. Temp is minus 5 with a chill factor of minus 26. I'm not looking forward to going outdoors.

[MissHoneychurch]

16. Could you at least please post a recipe

for the jambalaya? Damn, that looks delicious.

The temps went up here over the weekends. We have temps in the higher 40s now. But it is supposed to get cold again in the second half of the week.

[Callalily]

17. Here you go. And it's super

easy to make. I did a little tweaking. Used smoked Spanish paprika instead of the "regular" paprika and substituted the tomato paste with a chopped chipotle


Jambalaya with Shrimp and Andouille Sausage

Using both andouille sausage and juicy pink shrimp, jambalaya is like a spicy surf-and-turf. To save time, buy frozen peeled shrimp and thaw in the refrigerator or under cold, running water.
Yield

4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)
Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 cup chopped onion
* 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 6 ounces andouille sausage, sliced
* 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
* 1 teaspoon paprika
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
* 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
* 1 bay leaf
* 2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
* 3/4 cup water
* 1 tablespoon tomato paste
* 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
* 1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
* 1/2 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, minced garlic, and sausage; sauté 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Add rice and the next 7 ingredients (through bay leaf); cook 2 minutes. Add broth, water, tomato paste, hot pepper sauce, and diced tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Add shrimp; cook 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Stir in parsley.

[MissHoneychurch]

18. Thank you!!!

That looks not to hard to cook.

Hmmm ... I am still looking for a dish I could cook on January 1st when my mom and Ralf are coming ... looks like I found it :D

[Callalily]

21. The Jambalaya would be the

perfect dish to make. You just put everything in a pot and let it simmer. That way you've got lots of time to visit with your guests.

I think I'm going to have to start my car and let it run for a while before I head out for work. It's super cold here right now, and I haven't had it running since Saturday. Oh the joys of winter! ;)

[MissHoneychurch]

22. And we will have time to pack

:eyes:

Ahh ... the plus of a garage or not having a car at all :D

[Callalily]

44. LOL! It'll be good to have

the extra help. Maybe they can convince you to purge stuff. Get an objective opinion. ;)

Yes, cars are a curse here. It's almost a necessity, and a very expensive one too.

[MissHoneychurch]

51. Yes, it definitely will help

No way, I keep what I want to keep. I will hear enough when we unpack :rofl:

I found out again this weekend why I am so happy about my digital camera ... damn, do I have a lot of pictures. Nowadays they are collected in the computer. Don't take much space outside of the computer :rofl:

[AirmensMom]

26. Good morning, SF!

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

Oh, that looks positively yummy! :9

[Callalily]

45. Morning AirmensMom!

Good to see you.

Yes, both the jambalaya and the bread are super yummy. Leftovers tonight, so I don't even have to cook.

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

[blueraven95]

19. Good Afternoon, MissH!

I've seen that picture before, right? I think it perfectly describes what it felt like walking into work this morning! :scared: <-- by which I mean COLD!


My weekend was great! But I didn't really get my cleaning done, so that's what I'm doing tonight and tomorrow. :rofl:

I had another really long conversation with that guy I was telling you about, which was amazing. Then, by chance, my family (parents and sisters and me) all ended up in the same place last night, for the first time in forever, and in time for the 1st night of Hannukah, which was a lovely coincidence. :D


So, when exactly is the move date? I hope you aren't living in boxes for too long. That sucks!

:hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

20. Good morning blueraven

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

Yes, you've seen the pic before. I think I even entered it into a contest. Temps here are in the higher 40s. But supposed to get cold again mid of the week.

I didn't clean my oven either :rofl: Packing was more important for the moment. And in between I watched biathlon :)
Moving day is January 8th. I will be off the from the 2nd till the 11th of January. So no Good morning threads in that week. :(

Ohh .... will there be some more developing? :evilgrin: Is he still coming to visit with his daughter?

Sounds like you had a wonderful Sunday. My brother is on his way to my mom's place as we speak and I will follow tomorrow after work.

[blueraven95]

23. I thought so.

I like that picture! It's been really (relatively) warm here in Baltimore, unlike the rest of the country, which has snow, but the walk into work this morning was COLD!

Oh goodness, I'm going to miss the Good Morning threads. I don't know what I'll do! :(
I'm glad the packing is coming along, though. It's amazing how much stuff we manage to have.


Ummm, I don't know. Maybe? Yes, it looks like he is really coming to visit with his daughter. I'm kind of in shock about it. I really didn't think it would actually happen (although I guess there's still a chance that it won't). I'm quite nervous. :blush:


It sounds like you will have a great holiday too! :D

[MissHoneychurch]

28. I wish I could post

but I think not only Skittles would kick my ass if I did :rofl:

Oh ... you have to tell me about his visit :D I wish you the best. Who knows what the future holds for you :hug:

I will be here Dec 29th and 30th and will post my threads. On the 30th I have to leave a bit early though - I will get my keys :woohoo:

[blueraven95]

31. that doesn't seem quite right

but I understand. :sigh: But I'll still miss them.


I'll dish, don't worry! :rofl: But I don't know if it will be all that interesting!


Yay Keys!

[MissHoneychurch]

35. I will miss you guys too

but when I come back I will be around some time :D

You will see how it goes. The least you will have as good conversations as now when you talk on the phone.

[blueraven95]

36. I know.

I may have to post threads while you are gone, and maybe you can stop in to give us moving updates :D


I'm sure it will be good. I'm just not used to someone who can make me feel so vulnerable and open, you know? :blush: All my friends here are saying that I'm gushing. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing.

[MissHoneychurch]

It is a good thing

I am happy for you :hug:

Maybe I can show up in the evenings. During the day it will not be possible.

[blueraven95]

40. I know.

But as I'm telling everyone, we are just friends. That's it.

No one believes me, but it's the truth. :rofl:


Evenings work for me. That's mid-day my time :D

[MissHoneychurch]

43. Uh-huh

keep telling that yourself, maybe you will believe it :rofl:

And friends can become lovers :D

Guess I have to start "Good evening" threads then :D

[blueraven95]

47. yeah I know

:blush: <-- I'm really fair, so I blush really easily, and everyone is teasing me to see me turn red.


I'll definitely be watching out for "Good evening" threads.

[MissHoneychurch]

49. Why do I get the feeling

that your friends have a lot of fun with you these days :rofl:

[blueraven95]

50. yes, yes they do

:rofl:

But it's definitely a step up from the blind dates they've been trying to set up. :P

[MissHoneychurch]

52. Hey

at least they don't put an ad in the papers :rofl:

Fortunately that never happened to me.

[blueraven95]

53. that would be AWFUL!

:rofl:


yes, I guess it could be worse :D

[MissHoneychurch]

56. Always glad to put things in perspective

:rofl:


Just finished cataloguing a edition ... was busy with it the whole day :crazy:

[blueraven95]

57. yikes, that seems like a lot of work!

I'm here mostly goofing off, but I'm going to have to put out invitations soon. :( I miss my student workers, but they are all on break.

[MissHoneychurch]

58. It was enough to do

I don't need to see Gottfried Keller anytime soon again :banghead:

It is your last day today, isn't it?

[blueraven95]

59. hehe

I understand that!

Nope, I'm in tomorrow, and half of Wed.

Then I'm off :woohoo:

It's my first real break in a year and a half. :D

[MissHoneychurch]

60. Oh OK

first real break in 1 1/2 years??? :wow: You are good, not sure I would survive that long without vacation. I sure am spoiled with the 30 days vacation each year here in Germany.

[blueraven95]

61. okay, seriously, time to move to Europe

I get 15 days of vacation a year. And 10 days of sick leave (which I assume is not included in your 30 days vacation).


And they wonder why we burn out here.

[MissHoneychurch]

62. No, sick leave is not included in vacation time

you get sick when you get sick. You are allowed to stay home up to 3 days without a signature from the doctor. Just call in in the morning, tell them you are sick. You don't run to the doc because of a bad cold ....

[blueraven95]

63. Yep

we've got it totally wrong here. If I didn't hate moving so much, and I had a job, I'd be on my way :D

[MissHoneychurch]

64. Do you think it will ever change in the U.S.?

or will it change in Germany and we will get less vacation time? What will happen first?

[blueraven95]

65. It's more likely to change there than here

which is sad.

I wish we had a more liberal policy to leave/health care/etc. I can't figure out why we don't.

[MissHoneychurch]

66. Well, I will be leaving now to go back to my boxes

but before I leave I will give you the earworm I am suddenly having :evilgrin:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=z9opdQcowXs


Have a wonderful rest of the day and we talk tomorrow again.

:hug: :loveya: :hi:

[blueraven95]

67. have a great evening!

talk to you tomorrow!

:hug: :loveya: :hi:

[AirmensMom]

25. Good morning, blueraven!

It's cold here, too. Brrrr! Glad I have a warm coat today!

Sounds like a great weekend! :bounce:


:hi: :hug:

[blueraven95]

27. Good Morning, AirmensMom!

It was a good weekend :D

How was your's?

:hi: :hug:

[AirmensMom]

29. Mine was good.

Busy, but good. Could have used a little more sleep. I'm meeting harleykid in town today so we can go shopping for Christmas dinner. I'm excited about it. It will be the first time one of our kids has cooked a holiday meal for us!


Guess what? Harleydad made a door for the barn yesterday! :bounce: It's going on the back of the shed. It's one of two big doors that will open up to let the vehicles in (which right now means a lawn mower). He got too tired to put it up, but it's COOL! Of course, I can't take a pic of the shed now b/c it's being used as a workshop while the doors are being made. That means it's a big mess! x(

[blueraven95]

33. that does sound good

You sound like a lucky mom. I've never cooked the holiday dinner for my parents. But then, I'm not that great a cook. I think they prefer that I bring the baked goods and that's it. :rofl: But your kid sounds much cooler than me! :D


Oh, I can't wait to see the barn with it's door! That's going to be so cool! :)

[AirmensMom]

37. My kid

LOVES to cook. And her husband loves to eat. So she's really just cooking for him and letting us come along. :rofl:

I can't wait, either. The siding is up around the doorway, too. Too bad it's in the back where I can't see it from the house! But he says he'll do the front next. :bounce:

Going to leave soon. Harleykid just called ...

Have a great day! :hug: :hi:

[blueraven95]

41. Have a great day!

:hug: :hi:

[AirmensMom]

24. Good morning, MissHC!

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

Good progress! No worries about the moving theme ... it's good to get the updates! :bounce:

I didn't sleep well Saturday night. Was up till 4:30. What was that about? :shrug: Last night was better. Meanwhile, I got the laundry room sorted out yesterday. I'm almost done with house closets and will head to the garage next. Probably not until after Christmas, though.

[MissHoneychurch]

30. Good morning AirmensMom

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

You neither???? :rofl: Did we have full moon? Even though I figured out what kept me awake ... almost a liter coke did the trick :blush:

[AirmensMom]

32. Yikes!

A liter of coke would have kept me awake for two nights! But I didn't have anything of the sort. Actually, I can't remember when I last had caffeine -- I'm so sensitive to it!

Last night was good, though. :bounce:

Oh, I have to go to the book store today. Hopefully, harleykid is not as a bad an influence as someone else I know. :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

34. Bad influence in a bookstore????

is that even possible??? :rofl:

I do drink coke but not very often. Forgot about the coffein. :blush:

[AirmensMom]

38. Only if you go in

not needing anything and come out $200 poorer. :rofl:


oops! You won't make that mistake again! :hug:

Harleykid just called, so I have to get myself going. Sorry I can't stay longer.

Have a great day!

:hug: :loveya: :hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

39. You have a great day too!!

:hug: :loveya: :hi:

We talk tomorrow again!!!!

[malta blue]

42. Good Morning Honey!

:hi::loveya::hug:

I hate moving!

Little MB and I are well. My mom arrived yesterday and is staying until the 30th, so we are well taken care of now.

I did not go get my surgery done this morning - I am too stressed from all the burglary stuff still. But Little MB is still getting her teeth pulled this afternoon and will enjoy pudding and ice cream for dinner :9

I hope you have a wonderful day today.

[MissHoneychurch]

46. Good morning malta blue

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

I hate moving too. But if all goes as I plan it, that will be my last move ever!! I can't believe how much stuff I collected in the last 6 years ... and it is tough for me to throw stuff away.

I read that you found some of your pieces. That was good to hear. :hug:

Ugh ... pulling teeth x( I remember when I got teeth pulled because I got braces. It was summer. My dad took me. Afterwards, my mouth was still numb, I wasn't allowed to drink or eat for a while ... my dad asked if I wanted an icecream ... dad :spank: me

[blueraven95]

48. Good Morning, malta blue!

Are you recovering from the robbery? I know I had trouble sleeping for awhile after I was robbed. :hug:


:hi:

[malta blue]

68. hi blueraven

I slept both last night and the night before, but that was because I was not alone. I think the first night I have to sleep there alone will be hard.

Thanks for asking :hug: DUers are the best!

[Spacemom]

54. Good Morning MissHoneyChurch

I'm staying cozy inside today! The kids are off for the holidays and I think we'll bake some cookies. A good day to stay home and warm!

Beautiful picture!

[MissHoneychurch]

55. Good morning spacemom

mmmmmhhh ... cookies :9
That sounds just like the perfect thing to do. It is cold outside, the house smells good and you sit on a cozy couch with a hot chocolate and munch coiokies :D