We decided to have the carpet removed from the upstairs bedroom as opposed to having it stretched to even out the large wrinkles that had developed over the years – about two weeks before our house was on the Washington School Tour of Homes. Unfortunately the hardwood floors underneath the carpet weren’t quite in the pristine condition we were expecting, and of course every Wood Refinishing Company was completely booked until well after the day of the fundraiser. I initially thought I might rent a floor sander and attempt it myself, but one look at a two minute video on YouTube, and I realized I had no interest or skill in do-it-yourself projects that require any kind of preparatory work. Painting the floor was another option I considered and I promptly called a friend who is clever with home proposals and wonderful at decorating (because I also decided I just HAD to have the dining room chair cushions that had been perfectly fine and acceptable for 10 years, recovered). The morning this dear and patient lady came over, I had baked Grapefruit Poppy Seed Bread and made a French Press of coffee to accompany our planning meeting. She found the PERFECT fabric for my dining room chairs and then gently talked me out of painting the upstairs floor – offering instead to come over and use a hand sander to take care of the worst of the scuffs and marks, making it a lovely, pleasant and presentable space in time for the tour.

– please don’t pay attention to the wrinkled comforter or the 12 hundred footprints on the rug (this picture was taken after the Home Tour) but note the lovely, warm and welcoming wood floor (-: (and the cute little pom poms I picked up from Hobby Lobby – Auntie Marion wouldn’t even recognize her room from last Summer without the dingy carpet – wish she was going to be here this year instead – once all the footprints were vacuumed out of the carpet and the comforter appropriately smoothed and maybe a little side table to hold a glass of water following our nightly glass of Chardonnay!!!)

GRAPEFRUIT POPPY SEED BREAD

1 cup butter, softened

1 2/3 cups sugar, divided

3 eggs

3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

3 tablespoons poppy seeds

2 tablespoons grated grapefruit peel

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup grapefruit juice

GLAZE

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons grapefruit juice

Heat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 1/3 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in yogurt, poppy seeds, grapefruit peel and vanilla.

In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt, gradually beat into creamed mixture.

Transfer to a greased 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix grapefruit juice and remaining sugar.

Remove bread from the oven. Immediately poke holes in bread with a fork, slowly pour juice mixture over bread. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove to wire rack to cool completely.

In a small bowl, mix the glaze ingredients, drizzle over bread.

Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home, February/March 2016

www.tasteofhome.com/