I just finished a course on Monday, and as a gift to myself I’m taking the month of February off of school. I took two courses between September and now. With moving, and working, house-keeping, and puppy-rearing it’s been… well… a crappy sort of existence. So, February is/was going to be a gift. Sort of. I have big plans to do some work around the house, inside. Some painting, some tiling in the kitchen, some general cozying and settling in.
And then…
Well, I still have all that planned but work is sort of getting in the way. I’m going to be on the road a bit in February, starting tomorrow afternoon/the following morning and ongoing until someone can be hired in the other city to do the job I’m going to be pseudo covering. Which sucks. I’m going to miss the boyfriend and the puppy, “my boys.” I’m going to be driving tonnes in rented cars on crappy winter roads. I’m not going to get ANY of my home improvement projects finished… and I’m setting a bad precedent that’s going to cause the company to send me on random field trips whenever they please.
But today is ok. Today is cold out, but sunny. I think we’re going to get bundled up and go for a bit of a hike in the early afternoon sun. I’m ordering some big prints of a few of my photos and I’m going to frame them and hang them around the house when they get here. I’m going to be tired this month, but I’m going to make the freedom from essays and assignments and calculating the book value of common shares for a company that doesn’t even exist worthwhile.
And, I’m hoping to update every day.

Wow.

Well. I just renewed my webhosting for another two years, so I’d better make it worth while this time.

2009  has been the best. 2008 was shitty. I think 2010 will be a slap in the face. Here’s to the odd numbered years.

In the past year I’ve

- learned how to cook and bake gluten free
- bought a house and all the fixin’s
- brought home the most fantastic puppy on the planet. Fantastic in terms of physical and behavioural cuteness. Fantaaastic.
- killed at school
- killed at work (figuratively, but there are days when it’s been close)
- gone to visit my folks twice
- gained a sister-in-law. i didn’t have to do much for that one, but it’s still pretty cool
- taught the boy-bot how to run and love doing it
- totally slacked at blogging
- lost any work-life balance that i may have had in the past

The office closed at lunch time today, and after going to our favourite diner for eggs benny, we took the dog for a walk to our local liquor store for a bottle of my favourite sparkling wine for New Years Eve. I bought a bottle of merlot too, I’m going to try Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon recipe, but with bison. I’m hoping. I still need to get my hands on some bison stewing meat, but I think I might have a source.

Right now I have a pan of homemade marshmallows made with agave nectar setting on the counter. Later I plan to make a pan of butter cookies with almond flour. I’m excited to crack open that bottle of wine that’s chilling in the fridge right now.

My resolution for the next year is to do less. Instead of going insane, I’m only going to take one course at school at a time, I’m going to take more pictures, bake more, decorate our house, and enjoy the puppy. He’s really easy to enjoy.

I might even blog more. Maybe.

The only difference between these two attempts was that I separated the eggs and beat the egg whites in one, and didn’t in the other. I can honestly say that it makes little difference what you do.

Recipe:

Gluten Free Coconut Flour Waffles

2 tbsp coconut oil
3 eggs
1/4 c brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp gluten free baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp buckwheat flour
2.5 tbsp coconut flour

It REALLY doesn’t matter what order you put the ingredients in your bowl as long as you mix the buckwheat flour in BEFORE the coconut flour.

These are dense, and probably won’t easily fill your waffle maker. I aim for the center of mine and make adorably odd waffle shapes. You could do the same and play “Name that Country.” Convince your breakfast mates that you formed the waffles in the shape of a country, and they have to guess which one or they do the clean up! Brillliant.

I heart these with fresh strawberries and vanilla yogurt or pan roasted apples (in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon) and vanilla yogurt. Delicious!

Picture forthcoming.

We (meaning my boyfriend) just bought a house! I’ve already sourced cheap almond flour in the neighbourhood. There are 6 grocery stores within a short walk! Two italian, two asian, and 2 big chain type deals. I’m stoked on the Italian markets! All the nuts, and syrups, and oils! Oh my! Along with our weekly grocery delivery service, I believe we will be more than set in our new digs.