Jambalaya love

You know me. I love my slow cooker. Sometimes, though, I feel as though our relationship is getting a little stale. Variations on a theme. Meat, potatoes, onions. Heat and eat. Not always, of course: I've made some very interesting stuff in there over the years. But I needed something new, with a little oomph.
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Found it!
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Some weeks ago, I accompanied Barb to the Dixboro General Store, where she was buying her couch. As she combed through upholstery samples, I strolled through the creaky side rooms, the ones chock full of cookie jars and such, and that's where I found this:
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A slow-cooker dinner kit! How cool is that!
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What with moving to the new place and all, though, it took me forever to get around to making it. I finally did, yesterday. The box contains a rice packet, a spice packet, and a packet of dehydrated vegetables. You put chicken and andouille sausage in the bottom of the crock, then you layer in the contents of the packets, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, chicken broth, and white wine. Lid on. Step away.
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I was alarmed at first at how much liquid there was, rising inexorably up toward the lid! But then the rice and dried vegetables started absorbing it and the crisis was averted. And then the aroma started wafting gloriously through the house. All that flavor just got beautifully infused, and by the time we stuck a ladle in there several hours later, it was all thick and flavorful and, well, thoroughly jambalaya-like. Not wildly spicy, but the sausage gave it a nice little bite. Oh, man. So good.
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But there was something that tasted better: the leftovers!
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Now I want to try the other dinner kits from this same Delicae Pantry brand. I don't think the store carried more than a couple, so I might have to place an order online. Maybe I could make one a month or something.
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See? All it took was one hot date and I'm in love with my slow cooker all over again.

Wow

The 150-year-old husk of the historic Thompson Building.

Fire in the Civil War barracks building

Terrible news this morning: the historic Civil War barracks building, just a couple of blocks away from my home, was gutted by fire last night.
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The owner says he still wants to try to save the shell, at least, and go ahead with the renovations he's been laboriously working on for years and years. When I lived just down the block I used to watch with interest as they labored on getting it ready to be used for groovy loft apartments and downstairs businesses. I couldn't wait to see what it would look like in the end.
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Here's hoping he can still save the walls and rebuild within. I have my doubts. News sources are pretty much calling the building destroyed at this point. But one can hope.

New firepit!

I guess they're more properly called "firebowls," but whatever. I've been longing to get one ever since we moved and inherited a yard! We bought one over the weekend and I couldn't be more pleased with it. It feels like sitting around a firepit, gazing happily into the flames.
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And just think... as the evenings get colder, it'll get better and better.
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Wendy and Kruma's big day

How great was that? Two wonderful people getting hitched, happy guests to witness it, and a perfect day in which to accomplish it. I was honored to have been present last weekend and couldn't be happier for the bride and groom.
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Click here or on the picture for the happy couple's wedding site!

My famous cat

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I wrote a little update about Nigel for the "Happy Tails" section of the Humane Society's web site, and they posted it today!

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Check it out here!