i finally got cosme

to go check out the flooring options.  While we're totally undecided on anything else, we know which carpet we want in the bedrooms. 

When I first walked in I saw this one and loved it.

I didn't know what Cosme would think.  I really didn't even know what I'd think in 30 minutes so I looked around, seeing what else I might like.  I took a few samples home.

I slid them under the dresser and then under the bedspread.

Then I found a paint color I liked and held it next to them.

Then Cosme got home and pointed out the one he liked, the first one I liked.  So we went back to the flooring store and scheduled a time for them to come measure.

I also decided on one other thing.  Remember the new grey bedspread I just got?  I think I want to stick with tan and get a new one.  Give me a few hours and I'll pick one out just in time to change my mind again.

Now I'm off.  I've got to get to the grocery store and use a coupon that expires today.  Hey, it's a good one.

and now the next set

of paint samples I picked up.

I'm pretty sure I know where Cosme's going with his suggestion of blue.  I will draw the line at painting a silver star above the headboard, FYI.

Paint shouldn't be this difficult.  Bottom line is I like blue.  Sometimes the blue starts to look too purple and I don't like purple.  Sometimes the blue starts to look too green and I like green but it doesn't really match... or maybe it does.  Whatever.  I think I'm taking the day off from thinking about paint.  Today I think I'll clean.  I need to clean a little mess going on in Eric's room and it also wouldn't hurt anything if I did a little work in the cat/craft room.

For now I'm starving and am having an egg and toast but I should probably be having leftovers.  I tried a new recipe last night.  Chicken and rice, technically it was Arroz con Pollo.  The recipe is HERE.

This was just before I put the lid on.  It said to let most of the liquid evaporate but that rice still needed to cook so I wasn't sure how much to get rid of.

In the end, I liked it.  I think Cosme thought it was fine.

Looks like I'll be having arroz con pollo for lunch for the next few days... and maybe a few dinners.  I know what'll be for dessert too.  This time of year everyone's all like "pumpkin this", "pumpkin that", "pumpkin spiced latte", blah blah blah.  I'm not a fan of pumpkin but I am a fan of pecan pie and 'tis the season.  I've been wanting one so I finally broke down and made one. 

Pumpkin schmumpkin.  Pecan pie is where it's at.  I still have enough dough left for one pie crust but I think I might make some cherry hand pies for Cosme to give to Eric when they go to lunch tomorrow.  I know those will be safe around me.  What isn't safe is that pecan pie and if I look at this picture any longer, I'll need dessert after breakfast.  I'm getting out of here before I lose that battle.

i picked up and

inspected some paint samples. 

I'm so overwhelmed and entirely too picky.  There are a few I like in certain lights but not so much in others and then there are the rest that are just totally wrong.  I've made the decision to keep looking at paint samples and on Friday we will go check out flooring options.  Yeah, remember those two tiles I picked out a few months ago that I LOVED?  I'm having second thoughts now.  It's not easy being so picky on top of indecisive.  I know exactly what I want right now but I might want something totally different in a month.  This is why we are both going looking at flooring options.  And you know what?  I think Pinterest might be a bad thing.  It keeps putting different ideas in my head.

On Sunday though, my head was in the clouds... or, just slightly below.  We went for a little flight.  Here's a picture I got flying over San Luis Pass. 

Oh well, I guess I'm going to head off and back to the drawing board or idea board or whatever.  Whatever I want to call it, I'm headed off to overwhelm myself with more ideas and colors.  I think I'll check out what kind of critter the dogs have cornered and are barking at too.

the photo challenge

the other day was "chocolate".  I was thinking of all the ways I could go about it but the only chocolate I had in the kitchen was syrup and cocoa powder.  Then I thought about Psycho and the tour at Universal in CA.  When the tram takes everyone past the Psycho house, they inform you that chocolate syrup was used for blood in the movie.  That was the path I decided to take.  I'd do black and white with a knife and syrup.

I put some newspaper and parchment paper down on the dining table and got a few shots.

I was actually happy with this one.  I think there's something about the lighting.

I didn't really care for this one but considered it for a minute.

Then I decided those just looked more "crime scene" and if I was using Psycho as the inspiration, it really needed to be done in the bathtub.  This is what I came up with.

Speaking of messes, we started working on Eric's room over the weekend.  We patched a hole in the wall and now I'm trying to find the right color to paint.  I'm in a bit of a dilemma though.  The room needs carpet so do I find carpet and then get paint to coordinate?  Or do I ignore the carpet and get the paint to match everything else?  And how do I stay neutral without going back to the colors we have now but lean more towards grey without the room looking way too drab?  I should be able to figure this out.  I mean I didn't take that interior design class way back for nothing.  Oh well, I guess it's back to the Pinterest board.  Until that decision's made, I guess I can continue to take posters, guitars and skateboards off the walls.  Now I just need some motivation to get moving.  I don't see that happening anytime soon.  I think I'll go for a walk instead.

i was being spied

on this morning by an intrusive reptile.

Speaking of which, I watched some of the Presidential debate last night.  I wasn't watching it by choice.  Cosme was watching it and I was right there.  This whole election and the nastiness it's brought out in people on social media is disappointing.  It's all really too much for someone like me to put up with, someone who although totally passive aggressive, likes to keep her mouth shut.  I expect it from the candidates, that's what they do.  I don't expect it from people on fb.  I mean, when you connect with someone on fb, it's friending.  Being a friend involves being nice and somewhat respectful.

You know what I think is pretty funny?  I'll tell you anyway.  As teenagers and young adults it seems like, just from what I've experienced, everyone was all "stick it to the man" with anarchy symbols everywhere.  It's sad that now a lot of these people are the same ones buying into all the BS they're being fed from the media and its politicians, like they lost having a mind of their own.  I'm not saying a lack of government would in any way be a good thing.  Trust me, I understood we would one day have to grow up and get with the program.  I'm just saying how crazy it is to grow from anti-establishment to so (I don't even know how to word it), so... I believe and trust everything the man tells me because they are the government and do no wrong.  Do I like being an American?  Definitely.  Do I trust the people running this country?  Definitely not.  But guess what.  That's the awesomeness of being an American, having my own opinion.  I'm not going to sit here and trash one candidate because I'm not in the mood to be one of those people... right now.  "Here, let me preach about how horrific bullying is and everyone is equal... but I'm going to harass you and call you names because being a bully isn't that bad and I only meant we're all equal if you have my same beliefs."  That's all I'm going to say because I'm tired of it.

I'm tired of it all.  I'm tired of people.  I'm tired of their opinions.  I'm tired of all the BS.  I'm disappointed and disgusted.  They say your true colors come out when you drink.  That statement needs to be amended: Your true colors come out during a presidential election year.  And besides, what happened to way back when you weren't supposed to talk about who you were voting for?  I guess that went right out the window with so many other things.

I'm stopping here.  I feel like I could sit here and rant for the rest of the day.  I've already had one Coke.  I predict another before the day's over. 

i gave in and called

the vet for a new prescription for Strat.  He had to go back last Monday to get retested after his first round of antibiotic.  There was a tiny bit of infection left in his system, small enough to where after another round of antibiotic, he won't need to get tested again.  Either that or he's just a jerk and they're tired of putting up with him.  Anyway, after his appointment last Monday, they called on Wednesday and gave me the results.  Knowing how difficult it is to give him pills, they offered to order a gel antibiotic that can just be rubbed into the tips of his ears.  That gave me the option of either picking up pills on Thursday (without having a dose since Sunday) or I could order the gel on Thursday and have it shipped.  Since I didn't want him to go any longer than necessary without medication, I went for the pills.  Fast forward to Sunday.  He bit me pretty bad.

Once the bleeding slowed down, I grabbed my Thieves instead of peroxide and Neosporin.  I've been using it daily and trying to keep a band aid on just to keep it covered.  I've also been wearing gloves quite a bit just to keep from washing the oil off.

The last straw wasn't the bite though.  The last straw was yesterday when I went to refill the water dish and saw a full pill on the floor.  I picked it up and planned to give it to him as soon as I finished with the water.  When I turned around and was walking to put the water back, I saw another full pill.  That did it.  I can't handle a cat with a bladder infection who can't get better because he won't swallow his pills.  In the meantime, he's locked in the bedroom because I don't want any symptoms or retaliation showing up in other parts of the house... if you know what I mean.

I called the gel in, which is actually cheaper than the pills per dose.  Well, the vet calls the gel in and I call the pet pharmacy to pay and have it shipped. Where the gel gets you is the shipping.  The gel is about $14 while the shipping is $15 for it to be here on Thursday.  I called the pharmacy's phone number, with their Houston area code.  I asked if this was something I could pick up, they said yes and that's what I'm doing this afternoon.  I'm saving $15 and getting it a day early and I won't have to sit around the house waiting to sign for it.  Oh, I'll also stop at a store or two when passing through Pearland.  See how it all works out?

I was catching up on some dvr this morning and this scene from The Middle had me laughing.  The easiest way for me to get it here was record it on my phone and then get it from YouTube, trust me, it was the easiest way.  So, it's not like it's a top quality video but it's the content.

This has been Strat and me for the last few weeks.

The pharmacy said his prescription would be ready at 12:00.  I can't wait.

i made those

Halloween cupcakes I had talked about.  Well, the vanilla looked like Halloween cupcakes.  The chocolate looked like Sesame Street cupcakes.

I wanted to try a different frosting tip to make the creature look hairy.  I'd already decided to go with purple because I'd seen the eyeballs on it and I thought they looked good together.  The chocolate cupcakes had a plain vanilla buttercream frosting... with eyeballs.

Halloween cupcakes, the Sesame Street edition

Some with smaller eyes and after with bigger, bloodshot eyes

I tried using black frosting to add a mouth, like maybe the monster was screaming or scaring someone.  It didn't help.  It just made it look more like a muppet.

The vanilla cupcakes had almond buttercream and those could pass for Halloween cupcakes.

Halloween cupcakes, the Psycho edition

I didn't think to try the red gel before adding so much to the cupcakes.  I didn't care for it.

I took some up to Eric and left some here for us.  I've been working on making them disappear.

I didn't make a special trip to drop off cupcakes and bread though.  I was headed to a Capture Crawl with Houston Center for Photography on Saturday morning.  It was a walking tour of The Heights.  Go ahead and ask me how many pictures I took.  Two.  I took TWO pictures.  I didn't plan on only taking two pictures.  (And by the way, I haven't even bothered looking at them.)  It was a tour pointing out the different types of architecture through Houston Heights.  Forget about the fact that as a kid I would sit around with pencils, paper and a ruler and design houses for fun but this house tour was also basically a history tour.  So yeah, I didn't get any pictures because I was too caught up in the story and our history lesson.  So I pretty much failed at the Capture Crawl but the tidbits of info I picked up balanced it out.  I kind of feel like I could use a redo though, maybe one that isn't so interesting.

I guess I should find a way to get motivated before I fail at Monday too.

i've been busy in the

kitchen the past couple of days.  There was a breast cancer awareness shopping event in West Columbia yesterday.  My aunt asked if I would make some pink sweeties for her store so I made those along with some pink covered pretzels.

It worked out perfectly.  I bought some cake boxes that ended up being too small for my 9' cakes for the bazaar but the were great for holding approximately six dozen sweeties.  They were also the perfect size for holding a batch of pretzels.

Yesterday I baked a couple of loaves of bread (at Eric's request) and today I'll make some Halloween cupcakes.  Tomorrow I have a Capture Crawl in Eric's neighborhood so I'll just drop all that off before I get started.  Now I need to find something good for storing cupcakes since his half will be sent in the carrier.

In the world of animals, Strat is on another 2 weeks of antibiotics.  I tried breaking the dose up into wet food yesterday.  He didn't fall for it so it looks like I'm stuck cramming pills down him for the next couple of weeks.  The vet also wants me to start giving him pills for bladder support.  I think we'll wait until he's done with the antibiotic.  Not only is three pills hard enough so why make it four but think about how easy the one pill will be after suffering through three.

I ordered a few Christmas presents the other day.  One was delivered the day before yesterday and two were scheduled to be delivered yesterday but then I got this notice on my tracking stuff.

I'm not terribly irritated since it'll still be here before Christmas and I didn't really need it last night but now I'm curious.  What happened at 4:02 to add three days onto my delivery?  That sounds a little serious.  At first it didn't change the delivery date so I figured the UPS truck must have broken down and there would be a delay.  When they changed the delivery date, that got me wondering.  I mean really, I have Amazon Prime so this was all fast shipping but now the delivery time is double?  That means everything is probably having to be resent.  I pictured a UPS truck on fire on the side of a highway, I pictured a scene that could have come out of Castaway, I wondered if the truck was hijacked and what thieves would do when they came across my package (if you knew what it was you'd wonder too)... I'm SO curious to know.  I'm pretty sure though, once again, that the real details aren't near as exciting as what's going on in my head...  lucky for that delivery guy.

yesterday was a crazy

day.  It started off with Strat having to be at the vet at 7:45.  After dropping him off I went to Walmart to pick up a few things for Eric, like Nyquil, Dayquil, Vicks Vapor Rub, soup, Lysol and all that kind of stuff.  After Walmart I drove it all up to Eric.  While there, he asked me to go get some popsicles.  I left him medicated and fed and then I headed back home to eat lunch, do laundry, make dinner and wait for the call to get Strat.  I did all that and once I got Strat home, I had to give him a bath because of an accident he had in his crate.  Oh, then I had the pleasure of giving him is meds.  After that was done I finally had time to take a shower and then I was able to clean the kitchen.  After that I went to bed.

Once in bed I did get online and order a few Christmas presents.  I also looked for a couple of things to wear on a weekend trip we're planning to Mexico.  Here's one of the things I came across.

I'll pass, thanks.  Or, maybe I should pick it up for the next time I travel to 1976...

Speaking of time travel, there's a new series I started dvr-ing on NBC called Timeless.  It's about a few people who are sent on a mission and have to do some time traveling to catch a bad guy who stole a time machine... or is the government the bad guy and they're sending the crew to stop a good guy?  The first episode was okay, I was going to watch the second one today but the previews for episodes to come look like it could get interesting.  They aren't supposed to let any facts change and their first mission was back to 1937 with the Hindenburg.  The next episode involves Abraham Lincoln.  We'll see.

Another show I've started recording is Westworld on HBO.  I'm only about 10 minutes in on the first episode but it looks like it could be really good.  The previews make me think it's like Total Recall and maybe a little bit of The Matrix but set in the wild west.  We'll see on this one too.

So I recorded those shows on Sunday but we did actually sit down and watch the Cowboys play. 

Strat wanted to hold feet.  He also says they should not mess up what they have going on with Dak Prescott by sticking Tony Romo back in once he's healed.

I tried a new recipe with the sliders I made on Sunday.  We really liked it and I'll make it again but probably not with burgers.  It's potato wedges and I figured "okay, we'll have it like french fries" but it's really a little too much to go along with burgers.  Or maybe they're perfect but I should stop at one...

They are really good though and that recipe is HERE.  For the two of us though, I only used one large potato instead of the three or four the recipe calls for.

Now I'm going to go make some Halloween treats.  No, these aren't for trick-or-treaters.  I've just spent too much time on Pinterest and in the Halloween aisles and now I need treats.  I guess I'll take one for the team and eat them myself.  Don't worry, I'll share all my wins and fails here.  I'd even share a treat if it were possible.

it was a little cool

this morning so I decided to take advantage of it.  I went for a walk all by myself, no dogs invited.  I was going to walk the basic mile of one time around the loop but to avoid human interaction, I had to detour and went a different route.  This sucks because about halfway through the walk it felt like something was pulling in my leg and I really wanted to get back to the house.  All my detour did was add time and steps onto that walk.  I know it's good for me and all that, blah, blah, blah, but I was over it.  And guess what happens on a cool day's walk.  You still get sweaty.

I was so happy to make it home and sprawl out on the cold tile.

I felt like one of the animals.  Then I took a shower and felt human again, a human who's ready for lunch.

Next up on the to do list?  Chicken salad and chips... and a Coke.

i can say one thing about all

that baking I did, other than the fact it made me eat way too much, it put me in the mood to cook.  Yes, we were back in the eating out habit but I think that was mainly because we were so busy.  Since I've done all that baking though, I've found myself planning more meals to cook instead of calling in for take out.  As for groceries, I like shopping for certain things at Aldi just because they're cheaper.  Today I decided I'd drive to the one in Alvin since we're running low on eggs.  I almost went to the one in Pearland to stop by another store as well (Sprouts) but I wanted to hurry because I'd baked two chicken breasts for chicken salad before I left.  There are several things I like better about Aldi in Alvin than Pearland but one of the things I don't like better is the drive.  Instead of a 30 minute drive down 288, I made the little bit shorter drive down 35.  That road is just not safe.  It's small, one lane for each direction and there are always wrecks.  I say it all the time and I'll say it again because I believe it's a valuable tidbit that my great grandfather said when I was a kid and I don't think enough people do it but...  Driving down a highway like that, if you keep to the white line on the right, it leaves so much more space between you and the car in the other lane.  I think it's one of those things like using the left lane to pass that people just refuse to do.  I was behind a guy on the way to Alvin and there was a dump truck in front of him.  This guy kept trying to pass but couldn't.  The dump truck finally slowed down with his right blinker on and this guy started to pass him ON THE SHOULDER.  Luckily for him he caught on before he spent the rest of his evening at the hospital.  Also lucky for him that I didn't have to give a statement because I would have let anyone know how erratic his driving had been up to that point.  Anyway, I made it to Aldi and came back home down 35 with an SUV tailing me the entire way.  There was also a car in front of me so passing wasn't really an option.  Once we got close to Angleton, the road was down to one lane so I turned right to bypass the town... so did he.  As my lane was merging into his, he started to speed up to cut me off but it didn't work.  We traveled down the road until my left turn came.  I turned my blinker on, slowed down and as I made my turn, the guy had the nerve to HONK AT ME.  Now, I pretty much keep my language family friendly but if there's not a crowd and my road rage strikes (which strikes pretty hard), I will flip somebody off.  So that's what he got.  Of course the whole way home I thought about what I should have done instead but it was too late.  He was gone and managed to get me worked up.  I made it home and unloaded my groceries and started to make my chicken salad.  You know what is good at clearing your head?  Cutting and chopping.  So I did.

There's something about it that I like.  It can be calming.  It helped so I kept on and made my chicken salad.

And that, folks, has been my day so far.

And how about those blog changes?  I don't know if I'm totally satisfied but of all the new colors and designs I've looked at so far, this has been my favorite.  I could pay a few dollars and get a different one but I'm way to indecisive to make that bold of a move.  For now I'll keep what's up until I come across something different that suits whatever my mood is at the time. 

Now I'm just hoping I can stay motivated to get a few things done before the afternoon lazies hit.  That's been happening lately.  Yesterday it hit at 2:45.  I'm hoping for at least 6:00 today.  Wish me luck.

we figured something

out last night.  Maggie doesn't really get her attitude with Cosme around.  We also figured out this must be the hierarchy in their eyes:

Cosme

Eric 

Maggie

Melanie

Archer

(With Maggie and myself rotating, depending on her mood.)  I don't get that.  I'm sweet but I'm stern as well.

While we're here, the hierarchy in the cats' eyes:

Strat

Servants (aka every other living body)

Speaking of the animals, I went ahead and told Eric about Archer.  I sent him a picture too.  This is what is going on with his forehead.

All this picture needs is some Sarah McLachlan playing in the background.

I let Archer have some alone time yesterday.  Maggie was out playing and he hung back and sat around in the cage for a while.  I think he appreciated that.

And as for the latest on Strat, he's still taking his 2 1/4 pills a day.  I did find a way to make it easier on me though.  Instead of giving it to him all at once, I space it out.  It's not like he forgets what's coming but it's just not as messy and a little less of a struggle.

Here's what happens after one of our struggles

He drools and drools and drools and drools... It's not pleasant for either of us.  He keeps trying to spit pills out and I keep retrieving nasty smelling wet pills and sticking them back down his throat.  Really, it's not fun.  Oh, another thing, he won't hesitate to snap at me.

If I can get other unflattering pictures of the animals today with TMI, I'll be sure and post those tomorrow.  Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I've been back on my raspberry tea kick from Sonic.  I started thinking about how much cheaper it'd be if I just made my own pitcher of raspberry tea.  I pulled out the iced tea maker and my box of raspberry tea and got busy.  Let's see, the directions said for one quart of tea I'd use six tea bags.  My machine makes three quarts so that 18 tea bags.

Eighteen tea bags.  Okay.  I had 12 but had already prepped my machine for three quarts.  Oh well, it would either be disgusting or just weak.  After brewing and cooling I've come to the conclusion that I'll probably just stick with Sonic's happy hour.  I did find a jug of raspberry tea at Kroger but it's sweetened and I like the unsweetened tea 98% of the time.  Like I said, happy hour at Sonic.

Now I've got to go take the garbage out.  I forgot I put the wrapper from a package of chicken in there.  Yuck.  Still TMI?

i think we might have

a situation brewing with the dogs.  It all started a month or so ago, I guess.  I think I already mentioned it but I've always fed the dogs out of one dish.  Maggie has always stepped back and let Archer eat first.  All of a sudden she's had a change of heart.  I've had to get onto her a few times now for practically attacking Archer when he goes to eat before she's ready for him to.  Now it's come down to her being really possessive of me.  While she eats first, I try to stand off to the other end of the patio to pet him.  As soon as she sees it, she comes to me and he walks off.  She sticks around for a few seconds to make sure he's not coming back and then she goes back to the food.  Repeat.  Unlike if there was a cat behavioral problem, I will call in a dog trainer if this keeps up.  I just don't know what's gotten into her.  It's almost like she's bipolar.  When they've had their spats over the food, she forgets about it almost immediately.  Archer, on the other hand, needs his space after she acts out.  It's not like they're fighting, it's just her.  I don't know.  This morning I took them on their separate walks and spent a little extra time with Archer, petting, scratching and hugging.  I can say it here because I know Eric doesn't visit and read anything I write but this morning before I let them out of their cage, I noticed Archer had three or four spots on his forehead where hair was missing.  My first thought was that it was from Maggie but there's no irritation or redness that seems like her nails would leave.  I just don't know.  Where's the dog whisperer when I need one?

I picked up my non-bifocal glasses today.  I figure I can go ahead and say the B word since it doesn't apply to me...yet.  I like them and these Eyezen lenses work.

I stuck with black frames but instead of solid, I went back to my usual tortoise shell.  The whole process was weird.  Normally I go back and forth between a few pairs, texting pics and stressing over the decision.  This time I walked over to the frames, saw these, tried them on, held onto these while trying on a couple of others and then told the girl I wanted these.  What normally is about 30 minutes of me trying to make up my mind took no more than 5. 

I took a picture the other day while all the baking was going on.  I'll let you guess what almost happened.

That could have been a nasty experience.  I had the lid off the vanilla before I decided to look down - and that was only because I was wondering why the lid to my Coke felt so weird.

I was going to take the time and go get a pedicure today but that walk with the dogs ended with a blister so now my afternoon is free.  I guess I'll take advantage of it and start on dinner or laundry... or dvr.

the bazaar was

yesterday.  That means we're done selling raffle tickets.  That also means we're exhausted.  We spent most of our day at the KC hall yesterday.  Compared to some of the jobs other people had, ours was somewhat easy for the actual event.  We really only had to decorate our table and endure a little bit of chaos while people were turning their tickets in.  We had a chance to walk around and check out everything else going on in our down time.  We each offered to help out a little in the other departments too.  Cosme donated some flight time for the auction, which went for over $1000.  I offered to bake something for the cake walk, which has always been one of my favorite events... go figure.  So, yeah, I finally got around to baking the official cake I delivered.  (Remember my test run from last week?)  Anyway, I baked a three-layered vanilla with almond buttercream.  I decided I'd make cream cheese coffee cakes too.  It's also one of those things I don't make too often so every time I make it, I cross my fingers that it'll turn out okay.  The recipe makes four cakes so I always keep one for us to sample.  I started my dough the night before and put it in the refrigerator overnight, just like the recipe says and just like I've always done.  Saturday afternoon I pulled the dough out and it didn't look like it had done anything.  At that point I could've thrown the dough out and been happy with the vanilla cake... but, no.  I was determined to get it right.  I didn't throw the other dough out but put it aside and started a new batch.  I left the other dough out to see if it would rise.  Sunday morning I checked my second batch and it looked like it had risen just a bit.  I decided to move forward and finish the cakes.  I mixed the cream cheese filling, rolled out the dough, put it all together and let it rise.  Before I'd done that, I'd taken the dough that flopped and made little balls and set them in a pan.  (Do you see where I'm going with this?)  I figured I'd try something new.  If it really flopped, I wouldn't be as bothered.  After those balls had actually risen and I realized that they might not be a total loss, I made little indentions in the top.  (Now do you really see where I'm going with this?)  I whipped up a half batch of that cream cheese filling and filled it in the holes.  I let that bake for about 20 minutes and then drizzled a vanilla icing over the top.

That's where I went with that.  Cream cheese kolaches.

Then I stuck the coffee cakes in the oven.  When they came out, I added a little bit of almond to the icing and drizzled that over the top.

I kept one to sample, called a friend to come pick up another one (me at 6:58 on a Sunday morning "if you're up, hungry and want to send someone by to pick it up, I've got a coffee cake that just came out of the oven") and the other two went to the cake walk.

Oh yeah, I realized I had a lot of buttermilk left over for the vanilla cake so I used two smaller to-go sheet pans and make sheet cakes.  I'd only made it in a regular sheet pan in the past so when I divided it into smaller pans, I wondered about the quality.  I had to keep one for us to sample, of course.

A few hours later we were ready to head out to the bazaar.

I probably gained 13 pounds during my test run and sampling.  Also, I think my exhaustion from the bazaar might be enhanced due to my four day sugar high.  On that note, a piece of cake and a nap sound great right now.