Beads on the wall

Last week Will worked out a way to provide me with many clips to display my beads.

Here's the space where it will go:

Here he is putting the board into place:

Here it is, in place and unpopulated:

And here it is full of little bags of beads

So all of the beads are now more or less 'in place' in the room!


Meanwhile, I've been busy with the buttons. Still sorting and stowing them but also:

Last post before returning to work

This LOA went by too fast! I got a lot done but there is so much still to be done!
I DID get these things done:
- bead room makeover - still in the process of organizing
- cyst on chest removed
- cap on tooth
- organize one side of Library cabinets
- took care of most papers/documents
- my laundry is up to date

Want to do more:
- spend time in the bead room
- exercise - did some but did not get into a routine. Housework was good exercise.
 - eat well - lots of veggies
- determine fate of spare electronics
- organize remaining closets

Never got to:
- outside garden - and now it has snowed
- organize clothing

Probably lots more...
I also DID relax and feel completely detached from work. I sort of missed the parties but not as much as I expected. Trouble is, I got so out of the habit of working that I don't want to go back! Of course that is not really an option so I'll just have to see how it goes.

Button chaos:

And around the corner it keeps going....

 Close ups of metal buttons:

And a few of the many shell buttons:

And we got snow on Friday:

We still have most of it but rain is on the way so most of it won't be around much longer.

I also feel like a cold is coming on. Lots of sneezing! Will has it too.
Clariton didn't help much but Ibuprofin might be helping me not feel too bad.
I hope I either feel too bad to go to work or all better. I don't want to go in all sneezing etc. but don't want to stay home unless I'm feeling sick.

So all in all, I'm very glad to have had the 5 weeks off, but am hoping I get more time for LOA in the not too distant future.
I learned that not working doesn't open up infinite amounts of time and that it is so easy to waste time.
Maybe at a time of year when it gets light earlier it will be easier to get going earlier in the day.

More posts as I have time...

Beef Wellington

Here is the promised post about Beef Wellington - oh and Happy New Year. It is early on the first but I couldn't sleep.
Our dinner last night couldn't have been better!
We got a trimmed piece of meat from the market. It was expensive! Almost $40.
I cut it down a little further to make it the right shape.
I looked at 3-4 different recipes online and kind of worked between them.
First I made the mushroom duxelles and then seared the beef.
Then I rubbed the beef with dijon mustard.

 Next I prepared the wrapping for the beef, prosciuto covered in the duxelles on plastic wrap:

 The plastic makes it easier to roll up, kind of a like a sushi mat.
 Here it is partly rolled up:

 I didn't take any pictures of it all rolled up but it made a nice sturdy bundle.
At this point I put it in the frig. for several hours per instructions.

Again, I didn't take pictures but wrapping the beef in puff pastry took a bit of cutting and pasting of 2 sheets of puff pastry.
 Then it went to the screen porch which makes a good extra frig. when the weather is right.

After 30 minutes- one hour I put it in the oven and prayed it would get cooked enough before the pastry was too well done. I put it in at 400 for 30 minutes and it still looked underdone so I waited another 10-15 minutes. When I tested the temperature it was perfect! 123 degrees... just like America's Test Kitchen!
Here is is just out of the oven:

I made sort of a poinsettia out of some of the puff pastry remnants and it looks great.
We let it rest about 20 minutes.
And here it is being sliced:

And here is the leftover:

Absolutely perfect! It tasted fantastic! I served it with swiss chard and asparagus.
It was not difficult but took some careful planning to get it accomplished.
Best of all it was worth the effort and my guests were very appreciative!

I'd do it again!