Uno, Dos, Tres!

Sure this blog is about the Bungalow, but every now and then we need to throw in a little love. A house isn't a home without some love, right?

Mike and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary yesterday. Our last two anniversaries have been pretty cool, and this one was no different, just more low key.

We ate dinner in Morgantown at Richwood Grill. I've been there before a few times, but Mike never had. If you haven't gone, you should try it. They use local meat and produce to create their global menu. And they have a nice view from their patio. Go!

More importantly, we exchanged gifts. Each year we like to adhere to the traditional anniversary gift themes. For our first anniversary, the paper anniversary, Mike received (paper) tickets to see his first NFL game --it was in Cleveland. I received a print of the article about our wedding from the Daily Mail ... and a diamond necklace. For our second anniversary, the cotton anniversary, Mike received a 100% cotton Pawley's Island hammock. I received some cotton gifts from Victoria's Secret.

This year, the leather anniversary, we stuck to the tradition. Mike received a leather cover for his phone and a pair of dress shoes (he always needs them when covering games). I received a leatherbound recipe box and some lovely red roses. I told Mike as an added treat he had to help me organize my recipes.

My favorite story from the day can be found in the card he gave me. In addition to the lovely note he wrote inside, it was the most perfect card ever! A week or so ago, my friend Diane and I were in Hallmark picking out an anniversary card for my parents. Yay BG AL and Mama Jo and your 39 years!! I saw a card with Cinderella and Prince Charming on it and swooned. Of course I loved it. I said to Diane, "Oh, I hope Mike gives me this card. "

Of course that is the card he picked out. Isn't that cool?! (No, Diane doesn't have Mike's phone number). I was so touched. It just shows that we actually are in tune with each other, doesn't it?

Happy Anniversary to us!

Pesky Pier One is at it Again

I need to make Pier One stop sending me email. Today's says "Show me the merry" and asks me to follow their penguin for the 2010 Holiday Preview. * Sigh *

I clicked. I followed.

You can too. The site is Flash driven, so no cut/paste here. But click on it and check it out. Mike will love the argyle Christmas balls in the "Yuletide Treasures" section. I love the apron in that section, not that I need another one. The safari tree ornaments under "Gilded Forest" are adorable, yet I don't see the point of them for Christmas. The frog ornament under "Merry and Bright" is my fave.

Take care, Pier One. I'll see you in October when this funness hits the stores.

What's for supper?

Wiles Hill offers up some pretty good people. Through various activities (ahem, porch crawls organized by yours truly being some), we have come to know some great neighbors in the year and a half we've been planted here.

Mom, Mike and I decided to take Lilo over to see Diane and Jason's new cute house on the other side of the 'hood (yay!). Just as I said, "Oh, mom, you would love the lady who lives here ..." while passing a neighbor's house, out she came with a big smile on her face. "You need any tomatoes or cucumbers?" YES!

Not sure what we'll have for dinner tomorrow night, but I'm sure it will include swiss chard, tomatoes, cucumbers and a red pepper courtesy of Teresa down the street. Don't you love sweet neighbors?

We love sweet parents, too. Mine dropped in today and brought us early anniversary gifts:

That is a new Fiesta piece -- the loaf pan! And a new garbage can. You may think that is an odd gift, but mom and dad have felt guilty ever since passing off their broken, sad garbage can (read: headache) to us a while ago. They wanted to replace it with this beauty. It helps with the romance -- no more wrestling garbage bags out of the old one equals less stressful Wednesday garbage nights.

Now off to bake zucchini bread for the neighbor boys ... pay it forward!

That's what I call a productive evening

Maybe it is the excitement in anticipation to see this man tomorrow. Maybe it is the pure glee from knowing I don't have to go to my office tomorrow. Maybe I'm just nuts.

Amidst cleaning and prepping for tomorrow's houseguests (read: Parrotheads) I decided to use some of our local produce to make the Bungalow smell delicious while whipping up some yummy treats for our guests.
(The cobbler isn't burned. That is cinnamon. It got a little clumpy in the process.)

Peaches from Romney, WV and a recipe from The Lady were all that was needed to create a bubbling, golden peach cobbler. I picked up a 1/2 peck of peaches at Saturday's farmer's market downtown. They are quite delicious, but I didn't think we could finish them all before the knats took over. So I baked a cobbler (yes, I made Mike run out for vanilla ice cream to accompany it).

Zucchini is abundant with our crop share from Provider Gardens. What better way to use it than make some of Connie Harper's zucchini bread? She gave the recipe to me years ago and I substitute no-sugar-added applesauce for the oil. I'm sure this is a Connie-approved substitute. Just look at this picture. Doesn't it make you want to crab a block of cream cheese and go to town?

Now I'm off to finish dusting. Fins to the left!