I actually have TOO much to blog about.

My fabulous husband made dinner tonight. Jason is a true chef. The man can look in our fridge, freezer and cupboard and come up with something that tastes fan.tas.tic.

So, let's take a look at the quiche he made, Pioneer Woman style...

First, start with your crust. In this case, Jason MADE this crust. I'm so in awe of him right now...

Of course you need eggs for a quiche. Ours come straight from the hen house. Another perk of living in TCH.

Cheese is necessary too. We're too lazy to actually hand grate. Bag o' Cheese, the way of the champion chef.

Here he is, my own personal chef. I'd like to point out that, yes, that is a Carolina ballcap. And that towel? It's a permanent fixture when he cooks.

His concentration is so nonchalant. I love him so. Whisk away, my love.

He decided that shrimp would be the other key ingredient. We like to keep beef, chicken and shrimp in our freezer. Options, people. I need them.

Milk, it does a body good. We only had the fat-free kind in the fridge. Jason calls it white water. This fact would come back to haunt us later. Note to self: only use whole milk for quiches. (Do you see how fast he's moving? Intense, this man.)

Quiet, folks. This stuff doesn't just make itself. J needs to concentrate.

What's that? Who's at the back door? Our two mangy mutts. Begging, of course.

They think if they sit pretty, they'll get something. Can't you just hear them saying "Pleeeeeease?"

Ok, back to business. My job was to pull tails and dice the shrimp. Usually, I just stand around and look pretty when J is cooking, but I was glad to pitch in this time.

Ok, everything's mixed and poured!

Hmmmm, too much shrimp in the middle. Let's make this a little more even...

Jason's whisk action is so fast the camera can barely catch it!

And into a 325 degree oven...

Wow, 7:18. This is going to be a late dinner.

Forty-seven minutes!? A really late dinner. In my family, we call that "Eating With The Hamiltons." We're working on the trademark.

And voila!

The crust was sheer perfection. The stuffing delightfully cheesy.

Folks, it's official. I married up.

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I can't believe our sweet new kitties only got one comment yesterday! So here's some more pictures. The Country House Kittens- Day Two. Still sleeping. Still eating.

Look! Kittens!

I went out to feed Lola this morning and she looked a LOT skinnier. I did a little amatuer vet check and there was one other sign that yes indeedy, she had her kittens. (I know, major gross out, right? But hey, that's country life these days.)

Lola's been shacking up in the shed behind Jason's shop. This shed is currently stuffed to the gills with Memom's old stuff. Stuffed. I had no idea where the wee ones could be. Finding them involved carefully moving a few items alternated with standing absolutely still and waiting to hear their tiny "mew!" Finally Lola came back in and showed me right where they were. And here they are!





Aren't they so teeniny? I counted three, which is good because Lola is so small that I think more than that might have been dangerous. They're doing what they do best, eating and sleeping. When I finally found them Jason looked at me with this "Leslie Ruth Petree, do NOT get attached to these kittens" look. It's trademarked at this point.

But no worries, these little ones will be heading to new homes when they're ready. If you want one, just let me know!

And here's the other worthless animal hanging around the house. Lazy bum...

Meow & I Do

So, I've mentioned here before that cats around The Country House are a good thing. A much needed thing. We have two legitimate cats here at TCH, Bo and Lola. We were kind of aware that we might be feeding more than that and we got solid proof of that tonight. An extra black cat and an extra tabby appeared at the feeding table this evening. And then...we heard several different "mew"s from the shed behind the feeding table. Yes, some random cat has nested their kittens inside the back shed.

It's not a surprise, really. After all, the shed is still filled with old stuff that needs to be taken to the dumpster. However, Jason has put his foot down and is stating adamantly that we will be feeding only Bo and Lola. So I am forced to reconcile myself to something that is standard practice for country living: the necessary "removal" of said random cats.

As a city girl by nature, if I think about this for too long I will cry like a baby and throw myself in front of that shed a la Fern from Charlotte's Web. Instead I have chosen to let Jason do what needs to be done and I just DO NOT need to know about it. La la la la la....

Of course immediately after I made this uncharacteristic decision, I picked up Lola to give her some snuggles.

"Um, Jason? Do you think the kittens could be Lola's?"

"No. Why?"

"Well, when I picked her up, I could feel her nipples. I have never felt them when I've picked her up before..."

"She couldn't be, she's so skinny that it would show."

"Um honey, look at her...she's looking fatter these days."

I lean down and feel her belly.

Aw crap, Lola is totally knocked up. We then proceed to call her a hussy, slut, hoochie, willing to give it up to any Tomcat that comes by, etc.

These kittens will not be "removed". We'll find homes for them and then do what Bob Barker wanted us to do all along: get Lola fixed.

Aside from all the cat drama, the Whirly wedding went off beautifully. I was beyond exhausted today, much more tired than I thought I would be. Still, it was a lovely event and I'm so proud to have played a part. I managed to get some pictures of the happy day...

{These kids were the cutest. One of my jobs was to wrangle them pre-ceremony and I loved it.}

{Yes, that is an ice sculpture with shrimp. So freakin' good.}

{She was singing to him...I love that}

{Classic Texas Two-Step hold...And her dress: GORGEOUS!}

{These dresses were even more stunning in person}

{I can't even begin to tell you how involved a process it was to find the ribbon that went on this cake. No seriously, I can't or I'll start crying again.}

{One of the coolest groom's cakes I've seen in a while. And with matching golfball cupcakes!}

{Mrs. Whirly looking so lovely and regal, dancing with her father...}

{See those Chinese take-out boxes? Jason and I put together all 150 and tied the ribbon handles. I can't think about how many were left at the reception or again, I will cry.}

{A sparkling exit despite the Texas thunderstorm mere moments before}

The Country House Menagerie