I’ve been trying to properly summarize this past weekend with my friends in Hamilton. It was good for my soul, real life, deep conversations. Slowing down while the snow was falling was exactly what I needed.
Click here to read my other Hamilton Weekend Wrap Up.
Happy 2020! I just love the fresh start feeling of the New Year as it’s always a great reminder to reflect and celebrate victories of the previous year, or in this case the previous decade. Each year, I look forward to these posts as a way to count the fruit. You can read previous posts here: 2018 and 2017.
We adopted this little Doberman/Coonhound cutie officially on September 8th, 2019 almost a week after unofficially adopting her (…also known as taking her home for a trial run) on September 2nd. For Kevin, it was love at first sight and I had to warm up to the idea of having two dogs, hence the multiple date situation, making this the most typical Jacqueline and Kevin decision of all time. We were not in the market for another dog, but when you see an adoption event when you’re driving by Petsmart, you can’t just pass it up like nothing is happening. We both love all the pups and have joked about having a farm some day so we can adopt or foster more, but we didn’t really plan on getting another one this soon.
At the time we adopted her, she was only 12 weeks old and just about as crazy as you would imagine. She wasn’t house trained or really anything trained, so it took some getting used to and lots of new routines. Just like we did with Chloe, we taught Willow to ring a bell when she needed to go out and she learned that in about two weeks. She still occasionally has accidents, but it’s mostly just when we’re not paying enough attention to her.
Willow was the name originally given to her at the adoption shelter, and we thought it was a perfect fit for her and to go with Chloe’s name. We also got to meet her sister, Fern, who looked very similar to Willow, but was all tan with longer ears. The coonhound genes were strong with that one. It was fun to be able to see them together, especially since we never got to see Chloe’s siblings. They told us that Willow and Fern were found together on a county road outside of town and that they searched high and low for the folks she belonged to, but they never had any luck.
Our biggest concern in bringing home a new pup was how Chloe was going to handle it. I always thought of Chloe as a single dog household kind of gal, but she quickly took to loving on and instigating all the crazy play time with Willow. I truly think Chloe is happier with her around. Since we got her, they have destroyed almost all Chloe’s plush toys and have chomped their way through about four antlers.
Weeks with us: 8
Trips to the Vet: 4
Pounds Gained: 5 lbs
Estimated Full Grown Weight: 55lbs
Likes: the toy Chloe has, howling as we scoop her food, cuddling at night, and Chloe’s bed.
Dislikes: having to go in her kennel while we’re gone, cars driving by during walks, and sleeping in her own bed.
We’re lucky to give this little sweetie a forever home.
We wore out the grass between our houses for the final time last weekend. So thankful for the opportunity to live next to two of our favorite people for the past 3 years. Lots of amazing memories were had here including all the house projects (including peeling paint and completing a tile backsplash in one day), Quiplash game nights, borrowing sugar (even though Schnucks is approximately the same distance away), Reapeford Garden, and all of our plans to tear down/add windows to our fence or somehow connect our basements. Looking forward to all new shenanigans for us to get into in the future. We already miss you, Sarah and Cole!
I love a good birthday tradition. Growing up, my parents made it really special for us by hanging streamers, balloons, and having our entire family over the day of for a party. In addition to my favorite foods, Mom always made a double decker circle cake (vanilla with chocolate icing) and Great Grandma made banana cake. When I moved away from home it was hard to keep up with these traditions, so they started coming here to celebrate.
When we were registering for our wedding, a springform pan made it’s way onto our list, because who doesn’t like cheesecake? When I went a year without using it, I decided that needed to change and I started making cheesecake each year when family came in town for my birthday. Over the last couple years, it’s expanded from birthdays to anytime I offer to bring a dessert somewhere, which has allowed me to try out several different flavors, crusts, and baking styles. (Just for the record – I am a firm believer in the water bath cooking method and oreo cookie crust.)
They haven’t all turned out looking pretty, but all of them have tasted fantastic. Cheesecakes are finicky because they will crack and leave a gaping hole for a million different reasons – over mixing, temperature changes/drafts, over baking, etc, etc. My best advice is just to start with a cheesecake that has topping – no one will ever notice.
This year I made White Chocolate Raspberry by Baker by Nature and I have to say, it was the best so far!
None of my pictures come close to the ones in the link above (LOL) but we added chocolate sauce to the mix, so I think we’re winning.
I didn’t have the mesh strainer to adequately remove the seeds and pulp, so I only put the raspberry swirl on half, just in case!
Here are the recipes I’ve tried – and the ones on my list.
Past Birthday Cheesecakes: T W E N T Y – S E V E N | T W E N T Y – S I X | T W E N T Y – F I V E
Other Cheesecakes I’ve tried: G R A N D M A ‘ S B I R T H D A Y | N O – B A K E R E E C E S | O R E O
Next Up: H O N E Y L A V E N D E R | L E M O N B L U E B E R R Y
We had the best lake weekend with the family and then a productive Sunday evening prepping and cleaning up at the Esports facility.
