Well.....I'm feeling better today, pals. Yesterday was payday for Zuddy, so I put my iPod on and walked to his workplace to pick up his paycheck (1.5 miles round-trip). It was a nice day...20 degrees and very bright and sunny so it felt good to be outside. (Edited to add....you know how I figured this out? Gmaps pedometer. If you haven't seen it yet, go and check it out. Where it says, 'jump to' just type in your zip code.)

Even though I almost bit it on the ice a couple of times.

But I got to give myself another red X on the calendar!

And thanks for the comments....every girl loves to hear from her pals! I know have no reason to be crabby - what with all of you nice internets and my cute little house, sweet little girl and my loving Zuddy.

But the hormones - oh - the hormones. Why? WHY do they make me so hateful??

I mean, I was irritated at everyone in my path yesterday! I kept my iPod on so no one would try and talk to me. Still....some lady at Target just had to keep yammering at me when I was trying to read magazines (at the store so I wouldn't have to buy them - tsk-tsk). I ended up buying a People Magazine and a diet Dr. Pepper for an "I'm crabby and I deserve it" treat. And I spent $100 on essentials. ESSENTIALS...nothing (except for the magazine and soda) went into my cart but food items (Hey! Target sells grass-fed beef now!) and kitty litter and laundry soap. Sheesh.

Then? I went to Hallmark to buy some cards and the woman working there (who looked very familiar) kept staring at me. And following me around. I tried to ignore her......I do look like I'm homeless on most days, so I was thinking she probably thought I was a hoodlum. When I went to purchase my cards and she asked me about my iPod. She was very sweet. She couldn't believe how small it was (which is why she kept following me around - I had it clipped to my sweater and she was trying to get a look at it.) and asked me how I got music in it. She doesn't have a computer, so she really didn't understand, but she was very nice. And here I am, all hateful and ugly inside.

So I went home and drank my soda while reading about Tori Spelling. Because I just had to know about her life. And how Jamie Lynn is doing (will she get married?) and all about Brad and Angelina's family vacation.

Because it's important to keep up with such world events. And to be informed. So I can sound intelligent when I'm deep in conversation with people.

And also so I can be part of the 'stalkerazzi' problem.

Anyway. I put off the rest of grocery shopping for little bit. Have you noticed how the price of groceries has gone up?

Tell me - how much do you end up spending on groceries every week? I used to spend $100. But now? I have a hard time keeping it at $150. And we don't usually buy things like juice or cereal. I know meal planning has been a big help - but I don't mind telling you how much I dislike the planning. I love it when my blogging pals post what they eat - like the way Lisa from Coastal Nest did a few days ago. And Cutzi did, too. Because I'm a copy-cat and I'm not afraid to steal from their lists.

I know Mrs. Jones sometimes uses the Grocery Game. Does anyone else out there use it? Penny used to - not sure if she still does.
If you do use it....do you end up buying things you normally wouldn't? Or do you really stick to your normal grocery items?

I'd love to hear about your money saving ways!

Crabby, Crabby, Crabby.......

I am.

I've got a scorching case of PMS, I keep getting called by various companies to work for them at the last minute, and I can't because I'm working on a project for another client.

Developing recipes.

Which is painful for me.

Because I'm never satisfied with my recipes.

Plus? I need to be disciplined and focused.

And I'm neither of these.

Hmmm....what else can I belly-ache about?

We're supposed to get a couple inches of snow - which isn't a lot - but still. I'm finished with winter.
DONE.

Let's think "happy" now, shall we? Yes.

Let's have something positive here.

Well? LLA, has been using the 'Jerry Seinfeld' red X method to get her 1 mile walk in every day. Go to her blog and check it out.

This is very motivating to me because I've been SUCH a couch potato this winter. So I officially started this last week. On Thursday.

Then I officially officially started again yesterday. Because of that little problem I have being disciplined and focused, remember?

So here's what I'm doing:

• I'm totally copying LLA and doing a mile a day. That's attainable and sure as heck is more than I have been doing.
• I'm super-duper out of shape. And while I've been wanting to go to a class at the health club? I'm just too out of shape to keep up. And I tend to like classes because I forget I'm exercising. Unless it's really difficult for me (which it is now). In which case I tend to avoid them.
• It's still a bit chilly out. It's also very icy. So I'm not all that thrilled to go outside and walk. So a while ago, I got this from Netflix:

It's a 2 mile "walk" you can do in the comfort of your own home. Yesterday I almost skipped it again, but while I was half asleep on the sofa at 6pm, I finally popped up and just DID IT, telling myself I only had to do one mile. Just half.

So I did the whole thing and felt so much better. SO.MUCH.BETTER.

Now I have my first red 'X' on the calendar.

Baby steps, right?

You know you're probably not a good singer when......

.........belting out tunes at the top of your lungs along with your iPod, you notice the resident felines running toward you, howling, with a look of concern on their hairy little faces.

This - of course - is a totally hypothetical situation.

Lovin' Cutzi!

I just made Cutzi's refried beans.

I will now make anything she posts on her blog. I'm shooting for the Chinese Noodles next.

And Zuddy? While he's always been in full support of my blogging addiction (read: enabler) and completely understands why my Internets are every bit important as my real-life friends?

He's now CRAZY for the Cutzi!!!!!!

There's nothing he loves more than refried beans and now we can have an endless supply for $5 and NO EFFORT. And I know exactly what's in them, BECAUSE I MADE THEM!!!!!

I over-salted them, though, so that's a bummer. Be careful when you salt them - it takes a while for the salt to "show up" in the flavoring - the saltiness gets more pronounced as they sit. Try one tablespoon (I used Kosher salt, so you might want to halve that amount if you're using regular table salt). But they are still deeeeeelicious.

Thanks, Cutzi!

Kitchen Essentials, Part 2

You know what?

This doesn't feel right.

When I write these posts and then after I read them....I feel like they're snotty and bossy. Do you feel like that when you read these posts? I don't mean for them to be.....I mean for them to be "sharing" posts. I think this will be my last post on this subject.

So - my kitchen is small. I don't have a lot of gadget-y type items. At one time I was eyein' up that salad dressing measuring thingy from Pampered Chef that Lisa and Cutzi talked about, but I don't have room for everything I want. My kitchen is already overflowing.

Any hoo.... here are a few more things I love. Are you ready?

I would freak If I had this cookware set. Normally there's something missing in every set, but not this one! NO SIR. But it's $2400.00.

I don't know too many people who part with that kind of money up-front for cookware.

But If I could? I'd do it.The two absolute essentials from that set (in my opinion) are the 10 and 12-inch skillets and the 3-quart saute pan (below). Whoops! I guess that's 3 things.My 12-inch skillet is an inexpensive nonstick restaurant style one from Sam's Club. I use it all of the time, but I'd love an All Clad stainless one (not nonstick). I'd never pay big money for nonstick. The nonstick coating doesn't last long enough to justify the cost.

Here's a little secret: If you're patient, you can collect your All Clad from Homegoods or TJ Maxx. MJ and I do it all of the time. MJ got a gorgeous Copper All Clad 3 quart saucepan for $39, I think.

And while I'm on the subject of All Clad.....all of my cookware isn't this brand. My 3 quart saute is Calphalon (I got it free when I worked at a cooking school), but I WISH it were All Clad. There are a few more pieces that are other brands as well, but I'm slowly replacing them with All Clad. In a perfect world we'd all have that $2400.00 set, Internets.

Having said that, People who like to cook can cook in anything. And the test kitchens I work in don't have this stuff.

Pyrex custard cups. 6-oz and 10-oz. I like this brand the best. I have pretty little white ramekins, but they don't stack well. I use the custard cups the most.
Kitchen shears.

4 cup pyrex measuring cup. I use it as a mixing bowl a lot.
Batter Bowl/pyrex 8 cup measuring cup. I also use these as mixing bowls. By the way? I bought an 8-cup Martha Stewart measuring cup from K mart and it's CRAP. Anytime I try to pour something from it, it sprays everywhere.

Microplane grater. I carry this with me when I'm working.

Locking tongs. I've been giving this really cool kind as wedding and shower gifts, but I just have this simple pair from WS. I'm too cheap to buy the cool kind for myself and I'm happy with the ones I've got.

I know I've mentioned this before, but it's worth another mention: The Turn-About from Pampered Chef. Yes - it's not pretty. But sometimes practicality trumps beauty, right?
Right.

An offset spatula. This one is large - but I like the smaller one better. I carry this with me to work, too. You can get them at Target, I think. They're cheap - unlike this one from WS $28. Crazy.

A few things that I don't have but are on my list:

A really nice food mill. I'll never spend the money on this. I want an expensive one and I'd hardly ever use it - I just know it. But, boy, it'd be nice for sauces and perfectly smooth soups.

Pasta machine. I'm always using my pal, Hilary's machine. It's really fun to use. And we do it as a family. Actually, Franklin's Mom gave me a gift certificate to a cookware store and I think I'm going to buy this.

A really nice mandoline with removable blades that can be sharpened. I'll probably never buy this for myself. But I want it. The food processor just doesn't give you the control you need for perfect slices.

Dudes I can't tell you how many times I've bought this book - and never once has it been for myself. MJ and I bought it for the Target Test Kitchen and somebody stole it. It's that good. I've bought it for many a bride - like Michelle! And she loves it, too. Well, it's officially on my list. I will get it in a couple of weeks, I think.

Dude. I wish this thing were as cheap as that cookbook! I'm so glad to be working on a regular basis again! I will buy this ASAP.

Oh sweet JESUS! I know you've never seen this before (Heh.) But it's 30 inches of dual fuel-convection lovliness. If Zuddy ever told me, "Martha, it's me or the stove - you can't have the both of us."

I'd pack for Zuddy's departure and give him a long, loving kiss and pat him on the behind as he left my life forever.

Awwwwww come ON! You know I'm joking. I'd totally try to get him back after a couple of years.

What are YOUR favorite kitchen items?

(All photos are from Williams-Sonoma, Pyrex, Pampered Chef and Amazon.com)

Work, Vinaigrette and Kitchen Must-Haves (part one)

I'm finally starting to get on the ball, here, people. I had to work the last couple of days. Click on the word "work" to check it out. It's the place that I gave you a tour of in January.

You know what? Working a little makes me way more productive. I love getting out of the house once in a while. And I forget how much I like to work until I get out there and do it.

Speaking of work, my new job is with General Mills. I will be working out of their R&D facility and it involves a lot of travel, but most of the time it will just be a day trip or overnight. Fly-in, work, fly-out. I'm thrilled. It's part time work, which is soooo nice. Plus? I can still consult for others, so I can continue to work at the Photography studio, which I love.

Okay, so let's talk recipes.

I was thinking really hard about what to include in my 3 recipes for Sarah. I have a million favorites, but very few that I make all of the time. Some of my favorites are just too complicated. Well - not complicated - but I tend to just "eyeball" things or I change them every time I make them or they're just not something that maybe YOU wouldn't want to make (i.e. French Onion Soup), so then, why bother sharing that one?

I want to please you people. Because that's what it's all about, right? Right.
Pleasing the Internets. Right. Yes. Because I want you to be happy.

One of the few things I make all of the time is a homemade mustard viniagrette dressing. Now, this is one of the recipes where I don't measure the ingredients. I'm going to give you the recipe that I based my vinaigrette from. It's good. But I tend to add more mustard - maybe double than the recipe calls for. It makes the vinaigrette thicker and then you can skimp on the oil a bit. I also vary the vinegars and oils. I really like Champagne vinegar (and don't buy really expensive champagne vinegar - that's just silly), but you can use anything. Cider vinegar is great in here. So is balsamic.



Homemade Mustard Vinagrette

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teapsoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Whisk together all items except the oil. Slowly add the oil in a thin stream while whisking.

That's it! Besides changing the oil or vinegar, here are some other ways I change it:

*I'll add garlic (1/2 clove.)

*fresh herbs - basil or chives- are really nice in here.

*Like I said: add more mustard.

*I use this on a Caprese salad or on a green salad

* I use it on sandwiches,too.

*My favorite dinner in the whole wide world is baked chicken, a big green salad with shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, green or red onions, tomato and cucumbers and a baked potato. I put a little vinagrette on my potato with some sour cream.



* My favorite lunch is hummus spread on a panfried wheat pita flat bread (I use cooking spray to fry it) with the green salad I mentioned above on top of the hummus and drizzled with the vinaigrette and folded and eaten like a taco. Click on "hummus" for my recipe. I've never met a pre-made hummus that I've liked. It's gotta be homemade.

Alrighty-then!

Are you ready for my list of kitchen must-haves? Here we go!

I make my vinaigrette in these working glasses. I only have one size: the one on the right. I should get some taller ones, but I don't have the room for them. If you buy them at Crate & Barrel you can get some red lids for them. I use these for SO many things. Food storage, of course. You can use them as a drinking glass - I don't like them for that purpose, but Zuddy doesn't mind. I use them to hold cotton balls and swabs and toothbrushes in the bathroom medicine cabinet.

A good Chef's knife is a must. I like the 8-inch Wustof. There's a place in Mpls. that sells discounted sales returns. I buy mine there and I get them sharpened there once or twice a year. Zuddy sharpens them for me, too. But the guy at this place (It's called Eversharp) is top-notch.

Good dry ingredient measuring untensils are a must, too. I have 3 sets of measuring spoons and 2 sets of cups. I like the spoons to not have a large flared cup. I like the stainless ones from a cookware store. I'm picky about these. I don't have the ones above (which are All-Clad brand from Williams-Sonoma), but they look like good ones. I have the Williams-Sonoma store brand ones and I have an older model that they don't sell anymore.

A flat whisk. I didn't know I needed this until I was at my friend, Hilary's house using hers. She bought me one. I freakin' love it. I have a few different whisk sizes that I like.

Silicone spatulas. I like the ones from Pampered Chef. They're the best, but these ones from Williams-Sonoma look kinda peppy, don't they?

An instant-read meat thermometer. I just get mine at Target - the no-frills Taylor brand one.

Okay, this is an extravagance: this pepper mill. The very one pictured. I freakin' love this thing. Zuddy bought it for me when we were dating. It's super-easy to get the pepper in there and it's top-notch. Unfortunately? This is a photo from the one at Williams-Sonoma. It's Seventy-Five-Freakin'-dollars. I highly doubt Zuddy spent that kind of money on it, but there you have it. And if I had to do it all over again? I'd spend the money on it. But not for the salt. For the salt, just use kosher salt.

Okay, I could go on and on with this, but I will continue tomorrow.

I loved all of your comments on the cologne! Sarah!!!!!! You are too funny about the Pot-head at the party!!!!!!!!

I have a bone to pick............

....with the guy who doused himself in this before getting on an elevator with me:

It's not okay to wear this cologne anymore.

It stinks.

And not in a good way. You know what the smell of this reminds me of?


A college house party ca. 1989. When I smell Polo cologne, I'm instantly brought back to a time in my life when I would party with sweaty drunken college boys. I don't just smell the cologne. I smell stale beer and bad breath mixed with that cologne. Then I think about Hawaiin shirts, jean shorts and big hair.

And the Politician shown at a frat party in the photo above?

A freakin' BONUS. Because when I googled "Frat Party Photo" this was the first entry to come up. How is it a good idea to attend a frat party if you're a politician? I smell another Lewinsky scandal coming on......

Dude. Politicans skeeve me out. Icky. Perhaps when one is elected into public service? There should be moral compass attached to the explanation of benefits folder.

Just a suggestion.

Things

• I'm getting rrrrreal sick of winter. And the cold. It's been cold.

• I'm the warmest person in the universe, so cold doesn't usually bother me. Uhhhh....do you think it could be all the blogging/sitting around I do?

• I went to my old friend Holly's house yesterday. I didn't want to leave - I had so much fun visiting her and seeing 2 of her 4 kids (the other 2 were in school). They were cute as buttons. Her 4 1/2 year old boy came home from preschool and hugged his 2 year old sister right when he came in the door. It was the sweetest thing ever. How could I have lost touch with her?

• I know how: I'm a lazy friend. And luckily? My friends are so low maintainence that they don't seem to mind.

• I got a new job! Yay! It will be a 2-3 days a week thing and I'm thrilled. Sitting on my buttocks and blogging doesn't pay real well.

• Did you watch wife-swap last week? Holy shit. I need my good tv shows back. When are the writers going to be crankin' out the good stuff again?

• After that show, I started calling Zuddy "the gate keeper". Then I made him call me by my new work title, "Scientist". Ha! I'm going to be throwing that around for a while. You all may need to start addressing me this way as well. Heh.

• I know I need to share 3 recipes with y'all. One of my recipes needs to be documented - I never measure the ingredients. One of them is stolen from Ina Garten, but I always change the ingredients, so I need to document my changes.

• Speaking of recipes, do you know what I made the other night? After I read Sarah's blog and saw her casserole recipe, all I could think about was Tater Tot Hotdish. So I made it. Noodle hated it (of course), but Zuddy and I chowed down on it. It just hit the spot on a cold Wednesday night. Zuddy couldn't believe I made it.....I'm not a casserole lover at all, but the one on Sarah's site looked so good to me! Maybe I'll make hers next time.

• Just so you don't think I'm above mistakes in the kitchen - I made some scalloped potatoes last night and I didn't have enough cream for them, so I topped off the cream with milk and added some butter to replace the fat in the cream. Didn't work. The cheese curdled and the butter pooled all over. They were so gross and fatty - they tasted okay, but all that butter made me squirm.....Zuddy didn't seem to mind, but my intestines rebelled. Ish.

• MJ and I went to a conference for the Sustainable Farming Association a couple of weekends ago. It was awesome. So inspiring. So many farmers, students, people just interested in Sustainable agriculture and eating local, co-op owners, Vintners. At the very end of the conference there was a Wine and Cheese tasting and MJ interviewed all of the Farmers/Cheese Artisans/Vintners. She did such a good job and made everything so interesting! I truly believe MJ will be famous some day. One guy even stopped to talk to her and tell her how amazing she is. I can't wait to go to another event with this group. The people who come to these things are wonderful. Okay. Some of them are total hippies talking about auras and herbs, but they're still super-nice.

• What else? I don't know....oh! I went to see 27 dresses with my pal Sandy the other day. What a great chick-flick! Have you seen it?

Craftsmen and Crazy Cat Ladies.

Hey there bloggers!

I was a very busy girl looking for Craftsman-style houses yesterday. I found a few, but they're not the kind of decor and "over the top" craftsman I think Sister Bunch-O'-Honey and Michelle are wanting.
But I found this little beauty. Oh- and ThirkleGirl will hate it.
But I want it.
Like, NOW .
And Zuddy? I have NO IDEA what the garage looks like. I know if it were up to you? You'd gut the house and turn it into a garage anyway. So for your viewing pleasure? Just imagaine every house you see as a fabulous garage.
So - here it is. A 3 bedroom, 2 bath house built in 1916 with 2,897 square feet of living space. In a fabulous neighborhood in Minneapolis (Near Jilly's house) for $514,900.

I just love the outside of this one. All bugalow-y cute. Cozy. Yum.

This storm door makes me want to weep tears of joy...and then it makes me want to see more it. The living room.

The dining room.

The kitchen.

This is a dresser in one of the bedrooms! The bedrooms were nothing special, so I didn't save those pictures.

The rear of the place.

It has a 2 car garage (Zuddy). Awwww, Zud. You know what? If I were the wife I should be - the wife I should strive to be - I would've saved the picture of the house in Saint Paul with the 2 gargages. That's right. One house, TWO 2-plus car garages! On a city lot! They were facing each other with a driveway between them. You know what Zuddy would've called them? "Dueling Garages".
For those of you who don't live around here, this is very rare. City lots are very small and there are a lot of 1 car garages.

Okay, so now you're going to need to indulge me. Mary Jane and I were talking about our newest passion yesterday - miniatures. MJ found a local miniature shop online and I went there the other day. They're going to help me wire my house for electricity. I told MJ they have classes for people on how to make stuff and how to wallpaper your house, etc.

Then? She told me about how this hobby is just thisside of "crazy cat lady"status. Let me illustrate:

Normal__________________M&MJ___________Crazy Cat Lady

In this illustration, notice I didn't put us directly to the left of the Crazy Cat Lady.

That's because we haven't actually taken any classes yet.

And I have only visited this store and haven't actually bought anything.

But I've been stalking miniature artists. And so this doesn't make me normal anymore. Because look at what I aspire to create/own:



June Clinksales

WhitledegeBurgess

And because I'm all about honesty and self disclosure: I told MJ I want to have an artist make me a slipcovered sofa for Gracie's dollhouse (It's mine.).

Because everything in mini-world is too formal.

And I'm a very casual person.

And also very normal.

House Tour

This one is for all of you hatin' on the old houses.....whiners.

It's recently built - just this year - but still in the city. It's a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom house with 3440 square feet of living space for $998k.

Ready? Lets go!

Ahhhhh.......You know what I love? Shingles. House shingles, that is. Not the oozing-sore-herpes-virus-type. (Sorry. That was kind of gross of me. Plus, you just know someone will be searching on one of those words and end up here.) Anyway. Here's the outside.

The kitchen. I would love to see MJ's kitchen with these colors. And that range, baybee. Oh yeah. But recipe developers shouldn't really have a range like that - they're too powerful and would throw off our cooking times. Sweet Jesus, though. I love this kitchen.

The first floor living room. You know what I like about this house? It's casual feel.

The formal dining room. I don't like that chandelier.

The office. Let's blog here, okay? Okay!

The lower level family room.

The lower level bonus area. Of course, anytime you're paying a million for a house, nothing's really a 'bonus', is it now? No, it's not. It's only a bonus if you get it for free. Just my personal opinion.

Is that better?

House Tours!

Oh yes! I said "tours" - plural. Because I have penance, my friends :)

Here's the first one with a little background story:

It's in my neighborhood and I've always loved it. And when you see the outside you will wonder why - unless you love houses and can see beyond the shabby paint (life lesson: don't judge a book by it's cover, people). Anyway.....Noodle was about a year and a half, and we were at the park and there were 2 other Moms there with their girls who seemed to be about the same age as Noodle. One of the Moms lives in this house! So, you just know I wriggled my way inside, don't you?! Oh yes I did!
Her husband is a landscaper and in the back yard? He had built a pool with a waterfall out of huge rocks and cobblestones! It was amazing! However, it was never quite finished and then they had 2 kids 13 months apart, so it really never got finished. He tore down most of it and just made a deck.

Okay, so - it has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. It was built in 1916 and has 1,835 square feet of living space for $275k. All three levels are finished, but I know for a fact that they've never really lived in the upper floor - though their teenage son used it for a while as his hangout/bedroom. The Mom hated the upper floor - but like I said, 2 kids in 13 months - so fixing it up wasn't a priority for her.

The outside. Shabby, but not-so-much-chic. I still love it.

The kitchen. Dudes. It took my breath away when I saw it in person. All of the original cabinets! And so well taken care of......but as a person who loves to cook - it broke my heart! There is a big old farmhouse sink standing alone to the left of the fridge. It's totally cool, but there's no dishwasher. Look at the chandelier! Cute, huh? I think the Dad is an artist-type. He picked out the chandelier and wanted them all through the house.

The living room. You can see the dining room, too. There's a beautiful built-in buffet in the dining room. They used to have a photo of it, but took it off the tour for some reason. I think the family already moved out, because when I was there, this house was filled with breath-taking art - all original works and it was the first time I had seen such art. It was very cool. Look at the mustard color they painted the ceiling.

Another shot of the living room.

The bathroom on the main floor.

One of the two bedrooms on the main floor. I think they swapped out the chandelier because the one that was in there was very ornate and expensive.

The front porch. Gorgeous, huh?

The front bedroom. They never decorated this one. It's pretty big: 18x11!

The upstairs......you can see why she didn't like this room, but couldn't it be totally cool?

So - that's that one.

Here's another one across the river.....in Minneapolis. You know what? I think I've been in this one, too. With my pal Hilary! We went on a tour of bungalow kitchens and while I don't recall, the kitchen looking all that familiar? The outside rings a bell!

So, this one has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, and 1814 sq. feet of living space. It was built in 1921 and it's listed at about $460k.

Cute little cottagy exterior, no? Appearantly, there's a 1 bedroom cottage on the property that rents for $1,000 a month. I don't know why they didn't show it in the tour.....I'd love to see that!

There are 2 bedrooms upstairs.
The kitchen. I'm not loving the range right next to the sink like that, but I like the way they've kept the original cabinets and added those new ones.

The basement bathroom.

The living room. It's 20x12 feet.

The dining room - it's 13x12 feet.
The sun room, just off the dining room.

The basement family room. There's another bedroom down here as well, but it's not included in the tour.
The back yard.

What do you think of these?