Cup of Frothy Goodness

I have thus far been resistant to the Senseo “cup at time” coffee maker. Now I love coffee, but the snob in me was irritated with a counter space stealing machine that makes one pathetic cup of Joe out of a “coffee disc”. This is all it does, it does not keep your coffee warm and you get 4 oz. in your cup—translation—this for people who do NOT drink 2-3 MUGS of coffee to get going.

This being said—For 1-2 ½ cups of coffee at a time made to actual perfection—all you need is a French press. The drawback: Cleaning it. You have to rinse the strainer screen after each use AND you actually do have coffee grains left afterward that must be dumped. Answer: Garden. They are very good for your plants and smell good. You just fill the press pot with water again (with the strainer removed, duh), swish it around, and then with great flair…TOSS it into the garden. By garden I mean land mass that is not concrete. Lets be honest, I do live in TX and therefore consider any grass that grows instead of bare dirt (back patio) a lush paradise-like garden. If a small shrubbery or dare I say—tree grows well, that’s freakin’ Eden folks! But, I digress (most over used expression commonly used lately)…COFFEE.

While shopping for a Senseo 3 years ago when the popularity was very high a helpful woman aisle-ing with me said, “Don’t get a machine for one cup of coffee!!!! Get a French Press!” It was a light bulb moment for me as I have been using a French Press for 18 years and this simple perfection hadn’t actually occurred to me. The coffee from a Press is like buttery silk coffee bean perfection. There are not enough fluffy and smooth words to describe it. These cups of Joe don’t require a drop of icky coffee creamer or sugar. It is the equivalent of “Camp Coffee” (coffee made over a camp fire in a percolator or sauce pan). Yes, that good. So, I fought off the intensely American urge to purchase, have for my very own, and store in dusty shelves of over-cluttered home one more unnecessary object. Yes, I felt superior--the real well traveled--all knowing--engaging woman--we all want to claim is our friend--kind of Superiority.

Well, Husband/Sex Tool received one as a prize of some kind and so there it sets on the counter of the mid-refurbished kitchen. I made a cup. I really did like the ability to place my beautiful but small specialty tea cups on the tray. I love the way the frothy lovely coffee goodness perks directly into the lovely waiting cup. A frothy layer sits atop the coffee below promising a prompt sumptuous caffeine high. I mean really folks—take a look at this very arty treat for the senses. Tell me you do not want a cup right now!

Bubble-Bursting Moment: It tastes bitter and acrid. Not at all as lovely-jubly as coffee from my French Press. Alas, arty treat does still win out for a bit…I am going to try some other “coffee discs”. Perhaps, I just have the bitter one. I can’t get frothy tops out of my French Press. I can’t get the ease of casually rinsing the “coffee disc” strainer in the sink and pushing the machine to the back of the counter. So, we will play with it while we are post- refurbish in this kitchen of ours and see what happens.
Should Senseo stay or go, now?!? We shall see. Will I pack it up and send it to one of you?!? Yeah, like I could re-package something, get an address on a label, go to the post office and actually mail something!?! I’m not that Superior. I’m working on it; however, I can always make a pot of French Press coffee and feel better about myself.

Fixin' the Kitchen

First--and Foremost...Happy Birthday David! How does 40 feel?!? We're all behind you buddy! Way, way 6 months behind you...lol. Wow!...I bet people who partied with us in Germany would have never thought we would have made it to 40! But, not only have we made it...but...we are pretty, too! Thanks for blazing the birthday path for us each year Dave! We love you!

Second--Christmas was great and I am afraid Christmas Excitement has already been promptly replaced with Renovation Excitement. Poppy and Nana left 2 days after Christmas leaving us free till Jan 7th. How often do you find this kind of time to make this large a mess! In fact, I really wanted to get a family picture in front of the tree and it appears that I simply can't bring myself to get everyone cleaned up enough for a decent picture in front of it, so, I may just have to box that puppy up and get on with my life. By decently cleaned up, I really mean Bruce and I. The kids are cute with little to no effort whatsoever. The aged Papa and Mum, not so cute--even with hours of effort. We pretty much shoot for looking "rested". Rested would be very complimentary.

Bruce is ripping out the kitchen and has done the following as of this blog:

--Ripped out old ceiling
--rerouted electrical that was just hanging below ceiling joists into proper boxes (code)
--rerouted water for fridge (hereto known as Frigo) so we can have ice in new Frigo location
--put up half of ceiling drywall and replaced insulation along the way (I had the misfortune of helping with this or more to the point Bruce had the misfortune of my help-lol)
--tore out old pantry
--put new door way from front room through to kitchen/den
--took down existing A/C duct work from ceiling to shift it into new ceiling above Frigo & Pantry

--Yes, Folks--I said PANTRY!!! This is a happy, happy thing for the Shenanigan!

--working on building pantry walls (I'm trying to work Pantry into as many as I can)

--worked, reworked, and re-reworked kitchen layout till, finally I think we are really satisfied
--picked out door for pantry
--picked out units for kitchen. (Thankfully IKEA puts this job even in ballpark for us!!!)



The kids are enjoying the changes but bored with us being so busy with it. I don't really blame them. But we are making very good progress and Bruce assures me it shouldn't take more than...2 weeks. lol well see :) Meanwhile, I am playing lots of board games with kids, watching lots of kids movies and reading books to Jules. Zoe has been entertaining us by playing PS3 games while Jules and I look on (yawn...) I'm still reading through David Sedaris books, so the laughs are keeping me smiling for real and not the plastered on high eyebrowed kind meant to calm frightened children and animals.


Third--I have a few pics of the progress. I have actually downloaded my camera in preparation of this blog and can send some cute Halloween and Christmas pics. I hear Jules in the living room yelling, "huh oh, somebody needs a hero!" We are never without a hero in the Hoodswain house!