Research Help

The big guy and I were discussing solar panels the other night. We live in a small house surrounded by big trees, so neither of us thought that capturing solar energy would be a cost-savings for us. However, I said I'd do some research on it to see if I could come up with any statistics or cost comparisons that might give us some more info. I haven't found very much today, and wanted to reach out to the blogosphere.

Does anyone know of any sites or resources where you can find information related to installing solar panels on a residence? Associated costs? Return on investment info? Any local tax savings that could be reaped?

For the record, we are in Fairfax County.

TIA!

Field Trip

Someone had asked about the field trip I mentioned in my last post, so I thought I'd share some of the details.

There was a setup out at Bull Run called Native Lands. It was a weird amalgamation of Native American and African cultures. There were 4 live demonstrations you could rotate between showing various animals (llama, bison, zebra, cow), birds of prey, an African village, and traditional Native American dances. It would have been pretty fun it there weren't 30 thousand other schools there. The bleachers around each performance area were full to overflowing, so visibility was poor and conditions were hot and cramped. At the end, the kids thought it was just "ok." I would have enjoyed it a bit more if I hadn't already been to Africa and seen the real thing and attended actual Pow-Wows. I had taken Will down to a local bison farm a few months ago, so even seeing the baby bison in the Animals of the Lands exhibit was a bit uninspiring. The highlight was when I had my group of boys make a port-o-potty run before we got back on the bus. None of them listened to me when I said the portable sinks were out of water, so they all (including my son) applied soap and had no way to wash it off. Nice.

I don't want to complain too much about the experience. It was geared at 2nd graders after all. And I did get to spend 3hrs in the sun and not in my office - an experience that can never be overrated. I didn't realize until the next morning that I got a bit more sun than planned, and am sporting a gorgeous pink farmer's "tan" and lovely pink facial mask. Oops. Guess I should bring out the SPF lotion, huh?

No Work!

I get to play hookey from work tomorrow to chaperon the 2nd grade fieldtrip. My son is already lobbying for me to team up with his best friend's mom so that they can be in the same group. I think this is going to be interesting...

Weather prediction - 74 and sunny. I can't think of a better day not to sit in a cube for 8 hours!

When it rains...

Ok, I know we needed the rain we got yesterday. Many areas are still suffering from drought conditions as a result of low rainfalls last year (or the last several years depending on the area). So, I'll never complain about a little rain. But, my friends, the rain we got in the DC area yesterday was more than a little. It boarded on monsoon. I had left my composting container out next to the garden by accident, and it completely filled up and spilled over the sides. The container is 5" tall. That's a lot of rain.

Of course, having an elderly dog that doesn't like to get wet isn't fun in these types of storms. I tried to take her out no less than 4 times, and she'd start to step out the door, realize the conditions, and high tail it back into the house. A couple times I swatted her bum to get her out and would lead her into the backyard. She'd step off the patio, feel the swamp of a yard, and was bolting back towards the door. Needless to say, she didn't do her business outside. Instead she'd walk right back into the house and pee all over the wood floors in the dining room and living room. *rolls eyes* Ok, I know she's old and can't hold it anymore, so I don't get angry when she leaves puddles for us after being left alone for 5 or 6 hours. But when she blatantly pees on the floor in front of me right after I let her out? There will be some yelling.

Around 4:30pm I notice that the rain has finally stopped, so I grabbed the boy, the leash and a bag and forced them all out on a walk (yes, I had to force the bag. damn things have a mind of their own). Less than 5mins into it, we're at the top of the street and it starts to rain again!! ARRGGG!! So we end up soaked and my hair took on a life of its own. I think the final measurement of my hair was 3 feet across. Much amusement resulted when catching my reflection in a mirror.

The short one and the fluffy one; circa Nov. 2005

I scream; You scream...

My other half had to work late last night. Perfect time to get some cleaning done after the kiddie goes to bed, right? So what do I do instead? I make this:


Homemade vanilla ice cream; extra vanilla.

What, those flavorless strawberries from the grocery store by way of California weren't going to eat themselves!


Vanilla Ice Cream
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk
2/3 cup sugar
pinch salt (less than 1/8 tsp)
2-4 egg yolks to taste
2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Stir together the cream, milk, sugar, salt and beans in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Raise the temp. to just below simmering and cook for 10mins. Temper the eggs (stir a small amount of the hot milk mixture into the eggs until they're warmed up) and whisk them into the milk mixture. Bring temp. back up to around simmering and cook for another 5-10mins until it starts to thicken. Let mixture cool, stirring occasionally. Fish out vanilla beans, and scrape out the insides adding the seed bits back into the mixture. Stir in extract.

Strain mixture into another container and chill for 2hrs. Prepare ice cream following manufacturer's directions on your ice cream machine.

Note: I only use 2 egg yolks, but if you prefer more of a custard flavor, add more. The Williams Sonoma recipe calls for 6.

Uncle Sam

Oh IRS... You took my money-interest free for a year. Why did I wait so long to file to get it back? I could have used that $1136 back in Jan. when I bought this.

Spring Weather

I don't think any season is more invigorating than spring. While summer will remain my favorite season (I love the sun! And the heat! And all the plants!), spring just has this energy about it. You walk outside on a gorgeous spring day, and you are suddenly happy. Today is 80 degrees in the DC metro area, and I'm once again trapped in my cube on the 8th floor of a large office building. Away from any windows.

To celebrate the season, I joined a few coworkers in walking down to a nearby ice cream store. That half hour break from the office was pure bliss. The birds were singing! There were cute puppies to be petted! The cherry blossoms were shedding their petals and it was like walking through a glorious fairytale wedding.

Think good thoughts on this weather continuing through the weekend. It's selfish of me to hope that the rain holds off, but I need to hit up Farmer's Market tomorrow morning and want to transplant several of my seedlings to get them ready for their new garden home. Oh, and overseed my lawn, which should have been done a month ago except for all the rain.

Cardamom Ginger Scones

I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes with you. I started making these shortly after Christmas this year, after my FIL gifted us with 2 pounds of candied ginger. 2 pounds!! I don't know what the man was thinking. Anyway, I got creative with some of it (poached pears in ginger sauce, ginger pecan waffles, etc.) but then found this recipe on epicurious. I've modified to my own tastes, and it is absolutely addictive. The original is made with heavy cream, and while it does make them meltingly luscious, ordinary lowfat milk tastes just fine (and given I eat several of these a day, every way, my waistline wouldn't appreciate the cream). Ginger Scones - inspired by La Brea Bakery

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup corn starch
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
seeds of 6-8 green cardamom pods; finely ground (or 1/2 tsp. preground)
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon finely chopped lemon zest (about 1/2 lemon)
1 1/2 sticks butter, cut into 1-inch cubes and frozen
4 1/2 ounces candied ginger, finely chopped into 1/4-inch pieces to equal 2/3 cup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk

Turbinado (raw) sugar

I prepare these in a food processor, though they could also be made using a pastry blender.

Preheat oven to 400°

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade combine the flour, sugar, salt, spices and baking powder, and pulse or mix on low to incorporate. Add the lemon zest and butter, and pulse on and off, or mix on low, until the mixture is pale yellow and the consistency of fine meal. You should not be able to see individual chunks of butter at this point.
Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in the ginger. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk. Using one hand or a fork, draw in the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Wash and dry your hands and dust them with flour. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently knead a few times to gather it into a ball. Roll or pat the dough into a circle about 3/4 inch thick. Cut out the circles using a 3" biscuit cutter, cutting as closely together as possible and keeping the trimmings intact.

Note the champagne flute being used as a biscuit cutter in this image

Gather the scraps, pat and press the pieces back together, and cut out the remaining dough. Place the scones 1 inch apart on a silpat or parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the bottoms just start to brown. I like mine slightly underdone, so that I can throw them in the toaster oven for a few minutes in the mornings.

Yeah Baby!!!

Yeah, that's me, in first. Drinks on me!

In 500 Words or Less...

I'm a late 20-something mom in suburban D.C. I have a 7yo little boy who oscillates between being the light of my life and the pain that throbs behind my eye. Yes, I live with his dad, but no, we're not married. And no, we're not some cool hipsters making a political stand against the horrible state of our marital system, where not all couples can marry if they desire to do so. It'd be fun to say that was the real reason, but it's not. As with all things in life, it comes down to money. It isn't only the marital system in this country that is screwed up, but the tax law as well. Both me and the 'Big Guy' work, and if we were to marry, it would result in both of our incomes being upped to the next tax bracket. So yes, we're so shallow that, for a few thousand dollars (6k to be exact), we will live a life of sin. What can I say; I think puritanical laws are overrated to begin with.

I mentioned that I work. Yes, I am a working mom. I will wear my button proudly. I spent way too much time and money energy on earning my college degrees than to let them go to waste. Besides, I like having enough money to pay someone else to clean my toilets. (As an aside, I almost named this blog "Confessions of a Crappy Housekeeper" but then thought it would sound too much like I was a professional housekeeper (albeit a bad one) that would be giving the dish on her clients, and I just didn't want to go there.) Both the Big Guy and I work in the wonderful world of Federal IT Consulting; he on the technical side and me on the functional - and no, not for the same company. However, my passion is in paleoarchaeology, and I fully intend to go back to grad school one of these days to pursue that dream. I just need to figure out how to finance it first.

Outside of work and childrearing duties, I enjoy cooking, reading, gardening and dancing. Sometimes I even combine these activities, by dancing around the kitchen while I cook (sadly it does not help me loose weight) , or cooking with what I grow in my garden (what a delicious proposition). Sometimes I even read books or watch TV programs about cooking, gardening, or dancing. Sadly, I have yet to find anything that combines all three (though at times, "No Reservations" with Anthony Bourdain comes close).

Since I'm not into the touchy-feely stuff, expect to find posts about my cynical views on life interspersed with the occasional recipe. I will try to keep things light in both regards.

A Short Intro

So I was never the girl that discussed her feelings. I never kept a diary as a child. Well, I did in 3rd grade, but all I wrote about was playing in the snow and what I ate for dinner (I still have that diary in a box and can prove it). So, when blogging took off a few years ago, I had no urge to jump on the bandwagon. Ok, so I have a livejournal account that I started in early 2003. However, I mostly just posted quizzes from friends. It hasn't been updated in over 9 months now. I felt no need.

Then I ended up hanging out with this amazing group of women on Fri. night, and was the only non-blogger in the crowd. After mentioning to a couple people why I didn't blog, they kept urging me to try. So here I am, yet another statistic on peer pressure. Only this time I won't have to wear ugly clothes.