Chocolate Fixation Friday

Dulce De Leche Brownies

I have to start out with saying I cheated this time. I used my favorite brownie recipe instead of the one listed. I did use the dulce de leche recipe though. Both Chris and I thought that these came out too sweet, and the dulce flavor wasn't all that pronounced. The normal chocolatey-ness these brownies have was subdued as well. I am not sure that I cooked the milk enough, it could have been darker, which might have made it taste better. I have been reading several other blogs that have used similar methods with sweetened condensed milk to make dulce de leche so I think I will try that again. The next fixation recipe was actually chosen by me, so hopefully I will like it!



Enjoy!
Amy

Another color challenge

So, I have done another of Kristina Werners color challenges. I haven't used Kiwi Kiss or Riding Hood Red that much, so I swapped those for the Certainly Celery and Ruby Red. I am only so so happy with this card. I also used a sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Hopefully the person this was made for will like it more than me!




Amy

No chocolate fixation Friday for me (and a couple other things)

So, I injured my back a week or so ago, and just today got in to have a Dr look at MRI's and Xrays. Turns out I just have back pain with no real injury. I now have some lovely drugs to make me feel better though. So, no chocolate baking for me this time. I am still supposed to lay low for another week or so to let the inflammation go down and hopefully recover in another 10 days or so. I think Chris is a little tired of playing nursemaid to me and taking care of the 3 dogs. Yes, we now have 3 dogs (temporarily). We are fostering Harley the pug for Seattle Pug Rescue. So if anyone you know wants a very affectionate loveable 2yo pug let me know, he is a doll...

Amy

Harley

We have walls and a roof!

We are at the lake again for a couple days is all, but here is a photo with the walls up and the roof on. This morning though Chris comes over and says come look at the front of the house. Where the big window and slider had been (on the floor with the deck) there was now a huge hole, basically the whole front of the house was gone. Umm... hello? Aren't we supposed to be progressing and getting it closed in, not making bigger holes? Apparently there was rot and the whole thing had been put up pretty weirdly, so Chris and Dad (maybe more Chris than Dad) wanted to make it right before covering it all up.

This photo shows a little bit how tall the house is compared to my parents house. And my parents is one of the bigger houses on the lake. Ours got a little tall... I think it is gonna look really nice though when the round window goes in and the trellis gets put up over the front windows.

We are leaving tomorrow, so probably not much more progess till the windows go in, which will hopefully be in a month or so.

Enjoy!
Amy

Camping with the girls

I went camping with some girlfriends over the weekend at Camano Island State park. The weather was nice for the first half, then VERY wet for the second half. Luckily we had Gail's RV and stayed inside playing games and keeping dry. I have realized about myself that I am kind of prissy. Well, very prissy actually. I like my hot showers, my bed, and being warm and dry. Good girlfriends are worth the sacrifice though. I REALLY enjoyed my hot shower when I got home! Thanks ladies, I had a great time!

Amy















Mardel, Dash, Amy, Amy, Boo, Kathy, Jackie and Gail

Chocolate Fixation Friday

I joined a group of bloggers that make a chocolate dessert every first and third Fridays. This chocolate glazed peanut butter torte was supposed to be last Fridays entry... Needless to say I didn't manage my time wisely enough and ran out of it before going camping over the weekend. Oddly though the torte was mostly done when I left on Thursday. Chris finished it for me (by putting the chocolate on top) on Saturday, and now I am home and can blog about it.

This thing is huge. And not our favorite. It is so rich that this will serve like 30-40 people. The crust is very yummy though. I don't think I will be making it again however.
















Ginormous chocolate glazed peanut butter torte

Amy

Fitz on the treadmill

Fitz sometimes has too much energy than is good for him. Well, maybe too much for us... A little while on the treadmill seems to help him behave better. We started him off on the treadmill at an early age, he fought it quite a bit then, but now has gotten the hang of it so well he doesn't even need a leash. The other day he went and stood on it, turned around and stared at me, like, come on mom, lets go. Here he is going at 3 on my mom's machine, I am not sure if that is 3mph or what. Chris had him up to 4.5 the other day for a short stint, that was quite a running pace for him. (Chris says he was doing sprints with him...) I think he looks quite silly, in a loving, only a mother would think it is cute kind of way. Enjoy!

Amy