Sunday, October 24, 2010

Lots of Potential.

So last time I was at the farmers market I was chatting with my favorite farmer, Rick Kabara, about fresh and fantastic restaurants in the area.  He tipped me off to one in particular that I had never heard of... Cafe Verandah  After looking over the menu online, I am so excited! 


like LOVE restaurants with small menus riddled with fresh, seasonal items.  This will be an exciting adventure that I'm sure will have to happen more than once, based on the varied lunch and dinner options.  I'll be sure to keep you updated on my assured visit south to Jackson Center.

Also coming up in conversation with Rick, The Inn at ONU.  Another front runner for the area's best place for fine food.  Check out their dinner menu...

Friday, October 22, 2010

You're Hot and You're Cold...

It's that time of year when it starts to get really cold at night...frost is practically expected now.  But it also is still fairly warm during the day.  Highs in the 60's are the norm.  It's because of this that I can't decided whether or not to turn on the heat!

I'd like to put off having a giant gas bill for as long as possible but I'm running out of blankets to put on the bed at night.  I've even resorted to sleeping with my slippers on!

Here's the deal I made with myself...when the high temperature is in the 50's...even if it's 59...I can turn the heat on.  I can't wait for 59! 

This morning when I woke up it was 56 in the house...brrrr!  But then again, that's what I grew up with.  We heated the house with a wood stove, so winter mornings were more than chilly after the fire had been out for a couple hours and the temp outside is at or below zero! 

The fam has since upgraded to heating with propane, but my mother still keeps the house at a steamy 64.  (That's the warm setting, not the cool!)

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Busy Saturday.

My day began much earlier than usual Saturday with a visit to the farmer's market.  Yes, I had to pick up some veggies that included some butternut squash, sweet potatoes and fresh local honey.  But I was also there for the Farmer's Market Pumpkin Pie Bake-Off!


There were five pies in this year's competition and all were delicious.  My favorite was an Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie with a crumble on top.  The winner, was a heart shaped pie that featured a crust cutout of the breast cancer awareness ribbon.  This was a fitting winner considering the Bake-Off was a fundraiser for the "I'm Special Group," a breast cancer survivor support group here in Lima.

After my five slices of pie, I went home and took a nap!  Not only was I still tired from my trip home to Mpls, I'm not used to getting up early since I work evenings...the pie was worth it though.  I bid and took home one of them!

Then it's of course off to work for the afternoon.  But as a special treat, I was invited to appear on the WIMA 1150AM Tailgate Show for the Buckeyes vs. Badgers tonight.

Here's a pic of me and roomie Elise, last time we made the trip back to homecoming in 2009...I need to get back soon!


I am so excited for the game.  I think it's a pretty unpredictable one.  Hopefully it's close and the Badgers come out a winner!  ;)

Surprise!

So I have been dying to blog about my most recent visit home, but I couldn't say ANYTHING until it was over...I didn't tell my Bestie M that I was coming home until Kubes and I showed up at her work for lunch break.  She was very suprised to see my face waiting beside the car!

While I was home I had to get my fill of big city life.  That meant lots of shopping, eating, and even a few cocktails.  It felt good to see some sky scrapers again; and to eat at my abosulte, all-time favorite sandwich shop...Manny's Tortas, Mexican Gourmet Sandwiches.



A big thanks to Kubes' parents for their hospitality, as well as the Drugg household.  It was GREAT to see you all again.

I'm also very excited to travel to Chicago next "weekend" to see the Bestie family again.  We didn't get Oprah tickets, but I'm sure we can find some other things to do around town...

Sunday, October 10, 2010

A Favorite Treat.

Dropping Mom off at the Dayton Airport today gave me an opportunity to pay a visit to one of my favorite restaurants...Culver's!

There isn't a Culver's in the Lima area, but Sidney has one.  My first job was working at the Culver's in Buffalo.  My whole group of friends, as well as my sister and her friends worked there so it was quite the social experience.

Along with the paycheck, they job had great benefits that included, all you can eat ice cream, all you can drink pop, half off all food and the best of all...a freezer full of ice cream toppings like snickers, chocolate flakes and cookie dough.  Does it really get any better than that.

My menu choice today was a classic...grilled cheese kids meal with a vanilla cone.  Only the prices have changed, the flavor was fantastic!

Hi Mom!

Mom Betker was here to visit for a few days and that means projects... All the little stuff that I had been putting off is now done.  Here's a list of just some of what Mom accomplished...i did help a little. :)

  • Buying a new couch
  • Hanging pictures
  • Painting a thrift store sofa table
  • Vacuuming in all the corners
  • Washing the windows
  • Changing light bulbs
  • Cleaning the coffee maker
  • Canning late season tomatoes
  • Spraying for bugs with Home Defense
Thanks for coming, Mom!  Punchie and I very much enjoyed the visit.


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Best of the Best.

Pumpkin pie is a serious staple of the fall season...and I'm a big fan.  Although I must admit, at the end of Thanksgiving dinner, there usually isn't a lot of room left in my tummy for a slice.  I usually have to wait an hour or so between dinner and dessert.

The classic dish involves a few key ingredients: Pumpkin, eggs, cream, sugar and spices.  It's the extra secret family ingredients that can add that little something extra to make the pie stand out from the standard grocery store variety.

I'm very excited to try the best that Lima has to offer as a judge at this year's Farmers Market Pumpkin Pie Bake-Off.  It takes place on the morning of October 16th in the parking lot of the Lima Mall.  Money will be raised to support the I'm Special Group, a support group for breast cancer patients sponsored by Lima Memorial Health System.

I'm encouraging all you super chefs and super chef wannabes in the area to bring your best slice!  The more the merrier!  The pie entry fee is $5 and at the end of the day, pies will be auctioned off for the cause.

For more information contact Rick Kabara at 419.230.2195 or see him at the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings!  Good luck!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Solo.

It feels so good to have my space all to myself.  No more roomies!  Just me and Punch, living the dream.

Now all we need is for a certain boyfriend to find a Lima job and head down here!

Moving is one of my least favorite activities, and it comes with a long list of chores!  Vacuuming, wiping everything down, scrubbing floors...you name it!

God thing I have my new friend, Roomba, to help me with the vacuuming and sweeping.  He picks up buttons and dog fur in addition to the usual dirt and dust.  He also seamlessly transitions from the carpet to the linoleum.  Yay!  Welcome to my house, Roomba!

Punch was a little wary of our new amigo, but we'll just all have to learn to live in peace!