An Interview with Marley

Greetings! This is the other Holland again. As many of our readers know, we are animal crazy with our 3 dogs and 2 cats. They are such an important part of our life, online and offline, that we thought our readers should get to know each of them. Recently, I sat down for a chat with Marley, our beloved beagle.

Me: Marley, can you tell me how you first met your human?
Marley: I was living on a farm in Oklahoma with a bunch of other dogs like me. At the time, my brother and I were the only babies left. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you, you were a sucker....eh I mean a keeper. So I walked up to you and rolled over on your foot so you could rub my belly. I
snuggled in your lap all the way to my new home.

Me: Was that your best day?
Marley: It was my worst and best. The worst because I had to leave my brother. The best because I had my forever home.  
Me: What are some of.. 
Marley: Actually one of my best days was the day you brought home Amy. She, well not really her, but because of her I have an endless supply of cat nuggets and you know how I love to eat. 
Me: Marley, that is cat poop. 
Marley: It is heaven in a box is what it is!
Me: You disgust me.
Marley: I lick your face while you are sleeping. Next question please.

Me: What are some things that you would like our readers to know about you?
Marley: First, I am a loyal friend. I have followed you from Oklahoma to this hotter than sh%$ place we call home.
Me: Watch your language
Marley: Sorry but I swear my butt is sweating it is so hot. Second, I am a free spirit. I like to be left alone but when I want or need attention, I know how to ask for it. I am a quiet soul that has learned to take things in stride. New dog in the house, no problem. New cat(s), no problem. Another new dog, I hate you--kidding! I enjoy my time with my humans, whether it's a walk around the neighborhood or snuggle time. While I may be a bit older, I still like to snuggle just like I did on that first day.

Me: Yes you do Marley girl. Any faults?
Marley: I can often be described as strong willed...
Me: I call that stubborn.
Marley: Whatever, anyway I am strong willed and I see no fault in that now that I think about it.
Me: Thanks Marley! Any last words to our readers?
Marley: Ice cream is best served chilled, cat nuggets are a gift, vegetables on a vine taste best and love is curling up with the ones you adore particularly when they have beer or wine for me to steal, I mean taste.

An aside from the author:
I could not have asked for a better furry companion than Marley.  She is incredibly sweet to all she meets, a loyal furry companion, although stubborn at times.  Most importantly, she has the ability to love unconditionally, regardless of what other furry animals enter our our home.  While she may have to share the spotlight at times, she holds a very, very special place in my heart.  

Our Animal Herd: Bailey

It's animal week at The Holland House. You've read some stories about our animals before, but we thought we'd dedicate one day a week to each of our "girls", and how they came to be a part of our family.

Many many years ago while in college, I was sitting around my apartment one night when I heard this pathetic meowing coming from the front door. I opened it to find the scrawniest cat with the biggest bug eyes, just meowing her little head off for food/attention. She immediately started rubbing against my legs and walked right on in. Not knowing if my roommate would be ok with this new addition, I fed the cat a little lunchmeat and sent her on her way so that I could make an informed decision about keeping the scrawny thing. Roommate said yes, and we decided that if the cat showed up again the next night, we'd let her in. Of course she showed up, and happily waltzed right in when I opened the door for her.

(I guess I should have prefaced by saying that we always had cats growing up, and all of them were rescued from the streets, so I didn't hesitate at all about taking one in.)

I named her Bailey because Party of Five was popular at the time (man am I dating myself). My best guess is that she was around 1, and had likely been abandoned by another resident at the apartment complex. She was just as sweet as could be, was litter box trained, and desperate for affection. You could not sit/stand/sleep without her wanting to be on top of you. But I loved her for it, and she has been right there by my side through thick and thin.

She gained weight quickly and has been in relatively good health ever since (minus her current thyroid problem). In fact, she went from scrawny to fat in no time, and was the butt of many family jokes for awhile. She also gained many fans, as my family grew to love her quickly, as did anyone else who came by to visit.

Bailey was perfectly fine being an only cat, but the sucker in me decided to take in another stray at a different apartment just a few years ago. Bailey welcomed the new cat into the apartment and while they mostly get along, they have their "sisterly moments" too.

Working out their differences over a spot on the couch.

More like a dog than a cat, she prefers to be by people and will follow you almost anywhere. She's also known for being a little mischievous, and will do just about anything to get some treats (including jumping up on the kitchen counter to get ahold of the treat bag), or joining with the dogs when treats are being handed out.

The transition of moving into Hank's home with two dogs was an easy one for her, and she asserted her "alpha cat" as much as possible, though it's a constant battle between Bailey and Maddie the Peekapoo.  She has been able to hold her own through countless foster dogs and kittens, and now the permanent addition of a puppy. She even reluctantly played surrogate mom to her own mini-me, foster kitten Bess. In her golden years though, she prefers to sleep. Aside from food, naps are her most favorite thing.

At an estimated 14 years of age now, she's lived a really great life. I can only hope that she has a few more good years left in her, because the thought of saying goodbye to her breaks my heart. I know that I'll need to be prepared for that at some point, but until then I'll keep spoiling her with treats and snuggles as much as she wants. She's brought so much love into my life, and has been there with me through some pretty rough times. I'm so grateful that she picked me on that one fateful night.

Foodie Pen Pals

A few months ago I started participating in the Foodie Pen Pals exchange hosted by Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean. Each month the box that I have received has contained such fun, thoughtful and tasty items, and they just keep getting better. It's really a fun exchange to participate in.

The first month's box contained some southern goodies from Ocracoke, NC. The second box had delicious midwestern treats, and this third box was all about great ethnic flavors. My June Foodie Pen Pal Dan, a bad ass librarian from New York, reached out to me and asked some great questions to help guide his food choices. I told him that I love Indian and Asian food, regional fare, and any kind of condiment. He took my suggestions to heart and sent me a fabulous box!

The box included: green tea soba noodles, soy wrappers, tamarind candy, Yuzu juice, and two different spices- Zaatar and Vadouvan, along with a fun handwritten card. Given that there was a general theme, I wanted to do my own version of "Chopped" with the items he included. Of course the soy wrappers were the driving force in putting together something fun and healthy for lunch. So I baked some Yuzu juice marinated tofu, cut up some veggies, and cooked the noodles to make a fun Tofu Wrap (though mine didn't turn out as pretty as the ones on the cover of the package).

I also made the most amazing Yuzu Vinaigrette to pour on top of the wraps, and also to use with the leftover noodles. It was delicious, and I will be making more to use again in the future. In case you're wondering, Yuzu is a citrus juice, a combination of lemon/lime/orange. It's a great condiment to add to a variety of dishes if you want to freshen them up a bit. I made the dressing up as I went along, so there is no way I can try to recreate the "recipe", but below are the ingredients that I used. (Yes- I dissolved a candy or two in the dressing to sweeten up the tanginess just a bit.)

The final product was a fresh, tasty and healthy wrap that made for a fun Monday lunch. The only ingredient that I did not use was the Zaatar, but I have plans to make a roasted beet dip with it this weekend.

I'm so thankful to Dan for putting so much thought into this box, and sending some fun (and very new) things to try out. The Tamarind Candy was an experience for sure, and I probably never would have thought to try them on my own. Thanks Dan!!

This month I sent a "Texas Peaches and Pecans" themed box to Cora at The Cereal Mom. You can check out her blog to see what she thought.

If you're interested in joining the fun, click on the link below to read more details about Foodie Pen Pals.

Lunch in a Box: Veggie Drawer Frittata

Everyone has those nights where they don't feel like cooking dinner. You get home from work, you're tired, and the last thing you want to do is spend an hour (or more) throwing something good together. But you also don't want to spend money on a dinner out, or risk eating something that doesn't fit into your "I eat really well during the week so I can splurge on Saturday" mentality. Or maybe that's just me. Regardless....on nights like that, I clean out the veggie drawer, pull out eggs that I always have handy (really, you should always have eggs in your fridge), and whip up a Veggie Drawer Frittata. Dinner (and leftovers for lunch) done in about 30 minutes.

The beauty of this dish is that you make minimal mess (I usually dirty up a cutting board, small bowl, and a skillet). You can cook it completely on the stove top if you want, and it's a great way to use up things in your fridge that might otherwise be wasted.

My winning combo is usually this: eggs+chopped veggies+herbs+cheese (only if I have some on hand)= one delicious, and reasonably healthy, dinner. It's hard to write a "recipe" because really it all depends on what I have. But I'll include how I fixed ours last night, and any options for substituting.

Veggie Drawer Frittata
(feeds 2 for dinner, plus leftovers- increase ingredients if you're feeding more)

6 eggs, mixed with about 1/4 cup water or milk and seasoned with salt and pepper
1 cup chopped veggies (I used 1/4 red onion, a huge handful of chopped spinach and red and yellow bell peppers
1/4 log of goat cheese
1-2 T fresh chopped herbs (anything that you grow is fine- we had some nice basil to use)
1 tsp oil

Heat oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat, and sauté veggies. I like to cook harder veggies like onions and peppers first, before adding in ingredients like spinach.

Once veggies are mostly cooked, reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in egg mixture, stirring slowly while the bottom starts to firm up. Add in crumbled cheese and fresh herbs on top, then walk away. It should not take more than 10 minutes for the eggs to cook through, but I like to pull mine off the stove and finish in the oven at 350 until the top is slightly browned. Just be sure to cook it long enough so that it doesn't jiggle in the center.

When it's done, serve with a simple salad, fruit salad, or nothing at all. It's pretty hearty on its own. Then use the leftovers to pack yourself a fun little lunch! I added bell pepper sticks and a vadouvan yogurt dipping sauce, with a mandarin for dessert. It's even great eaten cold.

Dresser Restoration-Take One!

Greetings!  I am the "other" half of The Holland House. For those that have been reading Amy's blog, you may be aware that I am a self proclaimed handyman.  Sometimes it works, most of the time it does not.  The most important thing is that I like to learn the "how" just in case my talents are ever in need, which they rarely are--thankfully. 

With that, I introduce my new obsession, Chalk Paint®.  Chalk Paint® is an easy to use product.  It rarely requires any preparation, such as sanding or priming.  As an added bonus, it may be used on almost any surface - from wood to metal.  I was sold on Chalk Paint at the moment I read "rarely requires any preparation".  You can read more about chalk paint at Annie Sloan or Maison Blanche. So after a few hours of research, Amy and I had developed a plan.  First, we needed a test piece of furniture before I went all out on a piece visible to everyone visiting our home.  Second, I had decided to make my own chalk paint.  Why?  Well we had a sample quart of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl that I desperately wanted to use and I am frugal.  Chalk paint runs approximately $35 a quart.  While I have no doubt it is worth every cent, for my first go at this, I felt making my own would make the most sense.  With game plan in hand, we located our test furniture piece - a 9 drawer dresser for $25.  Awesome because we would actually get some use out of this in our closet!

After picking up the dresser, which obtaining it was quite an ordeal that I will save for another day--or never, I made my shopping list for my new project:

• Paint--lucky us, we had it on hand.
• Plaster of Paris, Home Depot $9
• Purdy paint brush, Home Depot $12
• Minwax Paste Finishing Wax, Home Depot $9
• 2 clear quart paint jars (one for mixing plaster, other for paint), Home Depot $3
• Fine Grit Sandpaper, Home Depot $4

First step was to make my special brew.  It was quite simple, really.  You can add more Plaster of Paris for thicker texture or add more water for less.  It was very much a trial and error process.  Be mindful though, Plaster of Paris dries very, very quickly.  The recipe I used is below:

• 1 cup paint
• 2 tablespoons Plaster of Paris
• 1 tablespoon of water (less for thicker, more for thinner).
• Mix the plaster in a separate container then add to paint. Stir well.

This paint dries very quickly.  I did 3 coats on the dresser unit but only did one coat on the drawers--see "what I learned" notes for details.  After the paint dried, I sanded the edges to really get the antique, well worn aesthetic that I was looking for.  Also since this was a test project, I sanded through on several of the flat surfaces to allow more of the original color (brown)to show through.  I even took my finish nail tool to create "worm holes".  

The final step is to apply a wax.  I applied using a clean, lint free clothe, then buffed with another clothe.  It really took care of a few of my problematic sanding marks--yes, I got a little carried away--and also adds a protective varnish on the furniture without too much sheen.  Here is the finished product:

For my first attempt, I was pleased and it only took 4 hours.  So for $65 we have a dresser in our closet that provides us additional storage and satisfied my newest obsession.  I will continue working on my technique, next up is an old rocking chair and then our china cabinet.  I did learn some valuable lessons.  So here is my "What I Learned" section:

• Put your OCD aside and realize that the base coat does not need to be perfect.  After all, it is supposed to be antique. I did a better job on the drawers when I threw caution--read perfectionism-- to the wind.
• The Plaster of Paris dries very, very quickly.  Don't mix then walk away to grab a beer  before adding to the paint.  You would have thought I would have learned this just once but no, I am an over achiever and did this twice. Genius.
• If your furniture has already been "refurbished" with a pebble texture then you should just walk away or sand. Your call.
• Dogs have no business being your painting assistant.  Think you know where that is headed.

Cheers till next time!

Paradise Vacation 2013: Nevis (Part II)

Wednesday morning started just like the rest, with a delicious breakfast buffet at the Coral Grill,  at a table overlooking the beach. We had another early start, as this time we had planned a Rainforest Hike with a group of Apple folks. We boarded taxis and headed towards the volcano. I thought it was just for effect when we were handed walking sticks, but it turns out they were very necessary. The climb was harder than we anticipated, but still lots of fun! The higher we got, the muddier it was, so we had to be very careful on some of the steeper parts. Our guide pointed out lots of different trees and plants (including a cinnamon tree and the "leaf of life"- a leaf that never actually dies). Hank was a little disappointed that we hardly saw any monkeys, but we were treated to a beautiful view once we reached the peak of the trail.

Our lovely view at breakfast each morning. 

After the hike, we hosed and off and hit yet another pool. We wanted to take advantage of having some alone time away from the group, so we found a quiet spot at the Garden Pool and enjoyed lunch and drinks through the afternoon. Miss Jackie (our favorite staff person of the trip) took good care of us! Leisurely dips in the pool, followed by a nap, made for a very relaxing afternoon.

We headed around the corner for dinner again, this time eating at Double Deuce. We had read great things about it, and were not disappointed. The restaurant is run by a local family, and the British chef had previously cooked on one of the plantations. I caught a glimpse of the kitchen and could not believe there were only two people doing all of the work. Hank had fish and I had coconut shrimp, and everything was delicious! We were pretty worn out from the week, and I wasn't feeling so hot, so we skipped another late night at Sunshine's and opted to head back to our room instead.

Thursday morning finally brought the opportunity to sleep in a bit. We grabbed a late breakfast and decided to walk the "challenging" trail along the golf course. There were 3 options, and they weren't joking by deeming this a difficult one. Hank tried to run it our first morning there, and the hills nearly killed him. But the best part was that we finally saw monkeys. LOTS of monkeys! They got so close to us that we could have reached out to pet them. For fear of having our faces ripped off, we opted to just snap a couple of pictures instead. When the British originally settled on the island, many of them brought Vervet monkeys with them as pets. There is now a huge population of them on the island, but they aren't all that welcome. They're known for eating fruit and flowers, but they are awfully cute to look at!

About once a month you can see a clear view of the volcano- we got lucky while on our golf course hike!

When we got back to the hotel, it was time to hit the beach for an Apple-hosted beach bash. They reserved all sorts of water sports (paddle boarding, jet skis, sailing, etc.) and served lunch and drinks. It also happened to be Hank's birthday, so I tried pulling it off as the best birthday party ever- all just for him! He didn't seem to mind. We had fun jet skiing, napping and hanging out with friends, all while sipping on cold drinks. The highlight of the day though was when four Frenchmen swam from their catamaran (at any given time there was a variety of boats and yachts just off the shore) and made friends with our group. A game of volleyball ensued, and there was all sorts of yelling in English and French. Watching Hank interact with these guys was hilarious, and I think everyone had fun watching.

Our final night in Nevis was the Apple awards dinner, held under a tent on the 18th green. There was a cocktail reception first, which included a performance by an adorable Nevis children's choir. The view from the event was gorgeous, and of course everything was top notch. We were served a three course dinner and treated to a slide show with fun pictures of all the Apple employees who were on the trip. After a day of drinking on the beach, and cocktails and wine with dinner, we got to show our stuff on the dance floor to a really fun band. The evening definitely got a little crazy, but we had a blast. There was a ton of dancing, and it was such a fun way to wrap up the trip.

We were sad to say goodbye on Friday, but ready to make our way home to see our fur babies and sleep in our own bed. The ferry didn't leave until 1pm, so at least we had time to sleep in and have one last lunch by the pool. Nevis had one more surprise in store for us though, a view of a $300 million yacht parked right outside the hotel. Each day the yachts seemed to get bigger and bigger, and this one took the prize. We found out that it belonged to a 38 year-old Russian billionaire named Andrey Melnichenko, and his yacht was simply named "A". You have to click this link to get a video tour of the inside- it is just ridiculous! It's hard to even wrap my head around what their lifestyle must be like. We also saw his matching plane as we flew out of the St. Kitts airport- it was hard to miss the matching A on each of the engines. Rough life!

In the middle picture, the open hull contains 2 matching James Bond-style 30-foot speed boats, and another small tender boat.

After an overnight stay in Miami, and a 6:20 AM flight the next morning, we finally made it home Saturday afternoon. I don't think I need to say again what an amazing experience the entire trip was, but I will! We so enjoyed getting away to paradise and shutting off all the stress of work, home, etc. We relaxed, experienced the islands as much as we had time for, and just enjoyed being together. I was ready to get back to work tough, and getting busy working towards this year's goal so that we can do it all over again in Hawaii for the 2014 Circle of Excellence trip.

Paradise Vacation 2013: Nevis (Part I)

On Sunday of our trip, we met the ferry to take us to Nevis. After a 45 minute ride, we pulled up in front of one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever seen- the Four Seasons Nevis. We were greeted by our own staff member who escorted us to the Apple hospitality lounge for check-in, where we received a fun welcome gift of a beach bag and matching towels. It was then on to our room overlooking a hammock, the beach, and the 18th hole green. Seriously, I could have died right there.

After settling in, grabbing some lunch and touring the property, it was time to head to the beach for the welcome reception. There were drinks, great food, and even a band playing. It was fun to see a few coworkers who I knew, and also to have a chance to meet some of the ones from the field who I rarely get to see. But Sunday also meant football play-offs, and those of us from the Texas team migrated to a tent set up closer to the hotel that had the games on TV. We drank beer and watched football, with the sound of waves in the background and sand beneath our toes. A girl could get used to that for sure!

Monday started with a mandatory business meeting, which ended with a Ray-Ban rep handing out pairs of sunglasses. Score! We then settled by the Reflection pool (one of 3 pools on the property) for a few hours of relaxation. I scheduled a body scrub at the spa later in the day, so I eventually had to go inside to clean up for that. I wanted to try a treatment that I had never done before, and that sounded like a great way to get the dead, flaky winter skin off my body. The spa area was nothing short of amazing. I could have stayed there for hours! There were two small "pools"- a waterfall pool and a dipping pond. Such a relaxing space.

After my spa visit, we met up with friends to walk around the corner to Lime Beach Bar for dinner. The Four Seasons is nice, but as you can imagine- the food was very pricey. It was also not as good as we were expecting, so for meals on our own we decided to try places off property. Lucky for us, there was a string of beach bars just a 10 minute walk down the beach, with fresh fish and lobster for only $20 a plate. The pace of life on the island is a slow one, so we were prepared for a long evening and made the most of it with familiar and new friends. Hank ordered lobster, I ordered shrimp, and everything was delicious!

After dinner we made our way to Sunshine's Bar, where the Killer Bee drink was made famous. It's made with moonshine rum and fresh fruit juice, and topped with bitters and fresh grated nutmeg. More than one is guaranteed to mess you up big time! But it was so tasty and definitely worth trying.

Tuesday morning rolled around a little too early, as we had signed up to do a kayaking excursion that started at 9. We took a cab a few miles away from the hotel and met our tour guide Greg. He was great and made sure that we were all set up and ready to go. We kayaked for 3 miles back to the hotel, stopping twice to snorkel and have a little picnic. It was so fun seeing Nevis up close from the water. It was not an easy excursion at times, but we really enjoyed it.

Back at the hotel, we changed into swimsuits and got lucky by snagging one of the beach-side private cabanas. Apple had rented them out for 3 days, and I was so glad we got to spend a few hours in one. After being out in the sun all morning, I needed some shade. These were like fancy little huts with a sitting area, TV and small fridge inside, and lounge chairs under the covered area. We also had someone waiting on us, and quickly ordered lunch and drinks. We only got to stay for a few hours since we had to get ready for an Apple hosted dinner, but it was a great, relaxing afternoon.

After a brief cocktail party, the whole group (there were about 130 of us) boarded buses to the Golden Rock Inn, an old sugar mill plantation-turned nature preserve and boutique hotel. It was breathtakingly beautiful! The grounds were meticulously kept, and many of the old buildings had been repurposed into a restaurant, pool bar, etc. They also turned the old sugar mill into a 2-story room. We were greeted with drinks and appetizers, and had plenty of time to walk around exploring all the trails.

Dinner was served next to a multi-level pond area, and this ended up being one of my favorite meals. Fresh food, lots of variety (including a ton of vegetarian options) and even a cheese and fruit platter served before dessert! It was heavenly. After dinner the DJ turned up the tunes and there was plenty of dancing into the late night hours. We were tired from our morning excursion, but made our way onto the dance floor a few times before calling it a night.

Part II of the trip coming right up....