Petunia Bloom

New Toy – DeLonghi Rialto 4500 September 13, 2009

Starbucks DeLonghi Rialto 4500

One-Touch Super Automatic Espresso Machine

We said goodbye to our trusty Saeco and hello to a one-touch wonder.  It grinds the beans, steams the milk, and cleans itself.  We used our Saeco so much we knew we would love a newer model that would save us time.  This is so cool that, after staying with us, my mom went and bought one too.

You do have to clean the inside parts, but is very easy and doesn’t take a lot of time.  Here are the innards:

By the way, don’t you love my bronze wall tile in the first picture.

Sweet & Dirty August 11, 2009

When our grass gets too long this happens….

Kitchen Nightmares August 9, 2009

I should have known it would get a lot bigger considering it had yeast in it!!!

House Progress April 20, 2009

It is painted inside and outside!!

I really like the way the paint turned out.  It really does pull the gray tones out of the tile on the floor.  The granite will have gray tones as well.  NOW….all I need is one of the paintings at Spa Lux (it would go perfectly in this new house)!!  I am going to drag my husband in there to look at their collection.  I will probably take a few pictures if they will let me.  They are modern paintings that are not too funky and have 10-25 different colors of gray in them.  It would be perfect for above the fireplace!!

Haruno April 13, 2009

After these comments were made on Tulsa Food Blog, I decided to try Haruno.  It is a new Sushi place but also serves Korean food.  According to Haruno’s website, it is a “Pan-Asia restaurant specializing in Japanese sushi and Korean cuisine.”  The restaurant’s atmosphere had a fine dining feel and look without the formality or price of actual fine dinning.  The restaurant had a room and bar in the back that looked like it would be great for private parties.  The place seemed very clean and our waitress was uberly efficient.

Each meal is served with Miso soup and the salad featured below that had about three dried cranberrys in it and featured a citrus dressing.

The sushi was good.  We ordered several rolls.  These two were my favorites…

If I remember correctly, this is the Sansei Roll:

This was the Haruno Roll.  There is a piece missing.  My husband did feel it necessary to wait on my picture taking.

This was the Fireworks Roll.  In my opinion it was the least impressive.  It was supposed to have fried asparagus in it, and that is why I ordered it but it was smothered in a heavy sauce so I couldn’t see or taste the fried asparagus.  According to the description in the menu, I was expecting a very spicy roll but it didn’t taste spicy to me.

We also ordered a Korean dish to share, because I wanted to experience it all.  We asked the waitress which Korean dish was the most liked.  She recommended the Bulgogi.  It was served with a bowl of rice, lettuce, a sweet sauce, something else I could not identify, and written instructions on how to eat it.  My husband keep referring to it as “the steaming pile of meat.”

It was served on a very pretty plate, but the food itself did not appear real appetizing.  ….and it was steaming.  This was not inedible, but I would not order it again or suggest that you order it.  The flavor was too intense for me.  You don’t hear that very often do you?!  That taste and smell will stay with you for several days, so make sure you like it before making such a commitment!  Next time, I will stick to the sushi which was very good.

Lastly, we received one bowl of green tea ice cream.  It must come with the Korean dishes.

Check out another one of my sushi reviews: Asahi Sushi Bar.

Sophie Loves Starbucks!! April 11, 2009

Sophie knows when we are getting ready to go to Starbucks and trots out the door as if she is invited.  The strange thing is, she hates the car but loves going to Starbucks.  It is very short drive so that could be the reason.  The Baristas at Starbucks have told us several times, after seeing Sophie in the car with us, that the whipped topping makes a great treat for dogs.  So, feeling generous, we ordered our whipped cream on the side this morning.

The verdict….?

I think this goobery smiles says it all!

She demands more…

Lick, Lick, Lick Oh my.  Now we are off to take a walk on this beautiful day!

“Sanitary Cut” April 9, 2009

Last time I got Sophie groomed, they cut around her bottom (you know…) incredibly short.  It looked strange because her bottom had this bright white spot with no hair.  Well I took her in today to get groomed again.  I asked about it and they told me that is called the “sanitary cut!” LOL

Just in case you were interested…

House April 8, 2009

They are pouring concrete today!!  I am so excited!

Sophie misses her sister!

Here is Sophie’s sister Chloe:

Don’t tell Sophie, but Chloe sits up there to get a break from her!!

Once Upon a Summer… April 6, 2009

Once upon a time, in a small village in North Dakota, my husband and I stayed in very old, old, old house with a coyote, some bugs, dead and alive, and 46 year old conditioner.  Don’t believe me??  The evidence is presented below….

It looks charming, but then we all know there is a very thin line separating charming from nightmarish.

I wonder what is in those cans to the left….  I probably don’t want to know.  Is that an old refrigerator to the left…??  It looks like an old appliance of some sort.

Speaking of old appliances…here are some that still in use:

The knick knacks were so old they were considered antiques and for sale should anyone want to take home a momento…

I assumed these momentos were free to take…

Wait….I promised a coyote.

Oh my!!!  There are two coyotes…I under promised and over-delivered.  Does the hubby look a little tired.  Well that could be because we got the honeymoon suite featured below:

It was really called the the honeymoon suite, because the bed had a bouncy problem.  At the slitest touch the bed would convulse with bouncing.  I don’t know how else to describe it.  It was unlike anything I have ever seen.  It felt like I was being “bounced-to-sleep.”

Everything was within walking distance.

Try getting these three fellows to all look at the camera at the same time….

Another summer is right around the corner and, with it, more memories to be made.

PS. I don’t have a picture of the conditioner, but I have 7 eye-witnesses.  Thank goodness I took my own.