Raindrop, meet birthday

Oh hai! Did you miss me?

Well I missed you.

It's been a long while since I've been too busy to update this blog on a Friday as scheduled.

That's what happens when one mentions to one's husband that one wishes to change the color of paint on the walls of one's large-ish kitchen, and said husband does not have to be told twice.

And husband begins said project at the beginning of a week that ends with his own birthday and the resultant houseful of offspring and grand-offspring who come home to help celebrate.

So anyway I got the idea about six months ago to repaint our kitchen. Only I didn't say anything to TG right away.

You've seen pictures of my kitchen on here a hundred times at least, so you know it was painted an old gold shade (Sherwin-Williams Blonde) with the table nook accented in a dark red that may or may not have been Sherwin-Williams Poinsettia.

And I'd decorated with a theme of roosters and coffee Americana, with some fleurs-de-lis and French words thrown in for good measure.

Lots of metal signs. I love those.

Well there's no getting away from roosters and coffee -- or French, or metal signs, or the fleur-de-lis, just call me Joan -- in my estimation, so it was a simple matter of changing the wall color.

And of course the window treatments.

I always use pure white or clear dishes so no worries there.

At any rate several months ago when I got the idea to change my wall color, I decided on a shade not unlike Martha Stewart's signature seafoam teal, or whatever you want to call it.

I've always been partial to teal, so I knew my new color would be in that neck of the woods even if Martha Stewart's actual paint didn't make it onto my walls.

In the final analysis, when about ten days ago I mentioned the project to TG and he presented me with a narrow but weighty book of paint chips, it took me all of ninety seconds to pick my color.

Its name is Raindrop in the Sherwin-Williams iteration.

TG didn't buy it in Sherwin-Williams brand, though; he is devoted to Valspar Signature paint and primer all in one, so he bought the superior paint in my chosen color.

Martha Stewart will be wanting to use this hue I know, so I thought I'd provide her with all the details up front.

At any rate TG gallantly finished the paint job on Thursday morning and all three of our girls, and the three grandkids, showed up Thursday night.

They had decided that their father's birthday, falling exactly one month after Christmas, is prone to be neglected.

An idea I reject, because I never neglect TG's birthday (or anyone else's in the family for that matter; quite the contrary) and neither do the kids, but I'm always up for a party so I said, well come on then.

Stephanie had planned to travel on Friday but she arrived on Thursday evening instead, ahead of the ice storm forecast for Western North Carolina.

Audrey -- who was in the storm's path as well -- and Erica both took Friday off and got here Thursday night too.

I spent all day Thursday cleaning, doing laundry, and re-hanging my pictures. And still, I didn't get done.

That's because, one, I had to pause to take a nap, that's how tired all that rigmarole made me, and two, I am always dead last when it comes to FedEx deliveries, so my new curtains didn't arrive until nearly seven. 

I'd ordered them from Amazon on Monday night, black and white awning stripe cornice-type valances to replace the red-and-gold rooster ones, and I paid extra for the privilege of receiving the goods on Wednesday.

So when did I get the box? When Thursday was practically a memory.

Then I had to install the curtains, which is most interesting with a three-inch cornice rod and a two-and-ninety-nine-tenths rod pocket.

But I digress.

At any rate Erica helped me complete the picture-hanging on Friday before the birthday party.

(She's a good hammer-holder and nail-hander and she's very level-headed which is good because although I don't use a level, I don't like anything to be crooked.)

But not before we had a donut feast for breakfast and planned a sumptuous repast for dinner.

Friday was one of the coldest days we're likely to see around here this winter, with a high temperature only in the high thirties.

It was overcast but unlike areas a scant hundred miles to our north, we didn't have to worry about precipitation, frozen or otherwise.

Erica had made the cake according to a recipe I got from a blogging buddy. Hat tip, Mari.

For dinner we planned hamburgers (TG grilled out on the Weber, even though it was very grilly chilly) with fixings such as caramelized onions, feta cheese, thick-cut applewood bacon, and my unique steak sauce concoction.

(Hat tip to my cousin Deanna who, when I saw her last October, told me she was enamored of hamburgers trimmed with feta cheese and caramelized onions.)

Don't ask me what's in that steak sauce; there is no recipe. Oh, OK. It contains (in unknown quantities) prepared barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, molasses, brown sugar, Tabasco sauce, kosher salt, lemon pepper, and coarse-ground black pepper.

At least, those are the ingredients I can remember.

To make the caramelized onions I started with three big sweet red onions and I chopped till I cried. Then I added them to a heavy skillet with olive oil and butter.

And they cooked and cooked and cooked for about an hour and I wish you could have smelled it.

I added a sprinkle each of kosher salt and sugar, and at the end, when the onions were greatly reduced in volume and a delectable brown color, I deglazed with balsamic vinegar.

You just wouldn't believe how those taste on a prime rib burger grilled to perfection over charcoal by my TG, then garnished with feta, thick bacon, and that steak sauce.

To go with? We had the best macaroni and cheese known to humankind. Hat tip, Paula Deen.

I've made this mac 'n cheese recipe twice, and both times I amended it thus: I used twelve ounces of milk (instead of eight), six tablespoons of butter (instead of four), four cups of grated sharp cheddar (instead of two and a half), one cup of sour cream (instead of a half cup), and sixteen ounces of macaroni.

And it doesn't need to cook for three hours. Two is long enough; in fact it's just right.

Everything else stays the same. This makes a larger recipe for a larger crowd, and more leftovers, which in this case is great because reheated in the microwave with a generous amount of milk added, this is even better the next day.

I asked TG what he wanted for his birthday and he said, just lots of love and a good time. We've got you covered! I thought.

But in addition, he received golf shirts, gift certificates for golf games, ties, books, pistachio nuts.

Two balloons, many cards, and several phone calls.

Plus that scrumptious meal, which I am here to tell you, was memorable.

And then there was the company of our three beautiful girls, and yes it was terrible to miss Joel and big Andrew but we had little Andrew to keep us marveling at the handsomeness of men in our family, regardless of age.

TG turned sixty-one; little Andrew will soon turn one.

Melanie was her usual quirky, adorable self, all elfin giggles and huge appetite and pensive moments when we all wonder what she thinks of her family and her life.

Allissa was her usual loving, nosy, hyper-observant self, reluctant to ever sleep lest she miss something, sans tiara this time because she said it began hurting her ears.

She enjoyed drinking homemade cocoa out of Aunt Audrey's espresso cups.

Allissa is obsessed with the movie Penny Serenade -- specifically the parts where Trina is a baby -- and we watched a few scenes of it together on YouTube.

You don't have to twist my arm where Cary Grant is involved.

You can see the entire film on YouTube, and I recommend that you do, with a big bowl of popcorn and a full box of tissues. You'll need them both.

Speaking of salty tears, Baby Andrew is a crier. Fed, clothed, dry, clean, rested, he just stands and howls, head thrown back, inconsolable.

Reminds me of myself.

It's amazing what happens when his mother picks him up, though: he stops.

Which is what I'd better do.

For now.

Happy Monday! Happy Week! 

Comments

[glenda]

Glad that you're back. I absolutely love the new wall color and the black and white striped cornice. Such a pretty color for the kitchen wall. I know you're enjoying that so much.
I can't get over how much and how fast those grands are growing up, Even little Andrew looks so much older. Hard to believe it will already be a year next month since he was born. I'll be finding out later this afternoon if my new little great grand will be a boy or a girl. Remember the good old days when we had to wait until they made their appearance. Oh well!!
The meal is making me drool right now, and I can just imagine the smell throughout the house with those carmelized onions cooking. And scrumptious Mac and Cheese ala Paula Deen. Yees!

Also I love, love Penny Serenade even though it takes quite a few tissues to get through it.

And now for the Birthday Boy.....Happy Birthday dear TG...You know they say the new 60 is now 40, and I think if that's true I'll be adopting the fact that the new 70 is now 50...So now, you're a wonderful 41, and I'm a wonderful ........Oh Well, skip that.
Love to all...........G.

[Sue the Hobbit]

Your party and menu sound lovely, and your wall colour is almost exactly the shade of my family room/kitchen, only mine might be a tad brighter. The opposing walls are a mushroomy colour to tone down the hilarity. I love blues on my walls, so I think your taste is divine.

[irene]

I was wondering where you've been, I had a much more exciting adventure in my thoughts, like a pirate adventure, glad your back. Great colour for your kitchen, and the party looks like it was great fun.

[Mari]

I love that color! I really like blue, but am scared to put it on the wall as it too often turns out wrong. I have a project planned for our bedroom, but Bob doesn't dive in as quickly as TG. :) It does involve a little blue on the walls, which has to match a comforter I've already bought.
I just know TG enjoyed his birthday. Nothing like having the family together, which is only made better if everyone is there. Little Andrew is certainly growing and as cute as ever.
Happy Birthday TG!

[glenda]

IT'S A GIRL....:-)....and you're the first friend that I've told....love ya...

G.

[Andrew]

Kitchen looks great Mom! I wish I could have been there! I missed all you guys all weekend.

[Skunkfeathers]

My paint's all off-white ;-)

[Donna (Texas)]

Oh nooo...I Missed the dang party! But, looks like everyone had a super time!
LOVE the paint color AND....the Howler...Hahahaaaaa...That is just-too-Cute!!
hughugs