Bag it to go

Proof that papa will always be more fun than me. He and G devised the "baby in a bag" swing last week:


Wow! He can't get enough of it. Of course, he is getting to be such a big boy these days that mama's shopping bag is now on it's last handle.

More Peas Please

I tried a new easy peasy recipe for split pea soup and it was delicious. I have always enjoyed split pea soup but figured it would be too much of a hassle. I mean what the heck is a ham hock anyways? I found the recipe for "Emeril's split pea soup" in my Martha's Everyday Food magazine and it was a snap. Beans, veggies, broth and hocks into crock pot and 6 no hassle hours later it is done.

Mr picky of the pickies even loved it. He ate two big bowls with about a 50% spoon to accuracy ratio which is really good. Washed it down with some peaches and it was a p-pleasant meal.



I searched online and could not find the recipe. If anyone wants it just message me and I can email it to you.

The Good Books

I have finally managed to resume one leisure time activity post Gunnar. Reading! I was at Target and took a minute to browse the book selection. Boy there was a ton out there I have been missing out on. So I jotted down what look good and got to ordering from the library. There have been some hits and misses but so far I have really enjoyed:

Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. I loved her book The Glass Castle and this one was just as good. Apparently I am not alone as as Times Review seems to agree. In Half Broke Horses Walls assumes the voice of her grandmother to tell of her adventures as a pioneering pioneer woman. She breaks horses and bucks tradition in this wonderful memoir.

Keeping with the cowgirl theme I read Ree Drummond's Black Heel's to Tractor Wheels. I am a huge Ree fan and her tale of unexpectedly falling in love in Oklahoma does not disappoint.

G and I swung by the library this morning and I am getting started tonight on A Widow's Story by Joyce Carol Oates. I have been a fan of hers for many years and can never resist when I see her name on a book cover. I'll let you know how it goes.

Got a waking baby so I gotta run.

River Excursion

After the Nicky's event we went down to the river. The weather was extra humid and warming up and the fog was really neat.


And of course all that fun made G quite thirsty:

MEAT

Last weekend Nick and I got our very first (non family) babysitter (thanks Holly!) and went to Nicky USA's Wild about Game at The Resort at the Mountain in Welches. It was amazing! The weather was cool and wet but the meat and bourbon kept us warm.

Nicky USA is the northwest's premier distributor and procesor of game birds and grass fed meats and this event is a showcase of sorts to bring together game chefs, ranchers, wineries, breweries, cheese makers, chocolatiers etc in one huge day of yummy excess. The event was from 11 - 4 and we ate and drank to the fullest. My eating abilities are often mocked for being insanely over the top and I can honestly say I could NOT eat any more once this was over.

A few shout outs: We had the most delicious cured meats from Olympic Provisions, melt in your mouth cheeses from Cheese Bar, savory (humane) foie gras from Hudson Valley Foie Gras, the oddest (and yummiest) meat-chocolate combinations from Xocolatl De David, out of this world ice cream from Salt and Straw, amazing wine from Teutonic Wine Co, delicious brews from Double Mountain Brewery and then last but absolutely not least the delicious black footed Iberico ham from Fermin Iberico de Bellota.

As if the tasting was not enough there were also cooking demonstrations throughout the day. Our faves from those were the Elk tartes from Chef Tony Meyers of Serrato and then the Thai drinking dish made with Wild Boar from Brendan Newell and JB Tranhlm of Pok Pok. Maybe it was the Makers Mark but Brendan and JB were hilarious and their dish spectacular.

The event was sold out and it was really neat to see so many people gathered together to really enjoy quality food. The Chefs put a lot of time and thought into their ingredients and it showed. I am sure Nick and I will attending all these events to come. Join us next year!

Go fly a kite!

Got some great pics while I was at work today. Papa taught Gunnar to fly a kite:



And he somehow managed to snap some pics too! That man's talents are endless.

Aziz - Light!

Okay, who knows the movie this posts title comes from? One of the best movies ever? Google it and make sure you add it to your NetFlix queue if you haven't seen it!

Nick and his dad tackled a major home improvement project over the Holiday. They installed windows on the east side of our living room. Wow what a difference! It is one of those improvements that you can't believe you ever lived without. What was once the dark 1/3 of our living room is now bright and sunny with a view (soon to be improved) of the woods.

Beginnings of window #1:


Cutting through the sheet-rock to begin window #2:


Gunnar enjoying some hummus and pita while taking in the show:

It was my job to keep my danger seeker away for the construction and he was such a trooper! We went to the park in Sandy, grocery shopped, picked out blinds etc to try and stay out of the way.

G watching papa put on some finishing touches:


They are in!


We are still putting on the finishing touches of trim and blinds but they are in and wonderful! Thanks so much Nick and Jeff!

Truck and Luke enjoying the fruits of their owners' labor:

London Layover

We were super lucky to have Nick's parents visiting these past two weeks. Nick's mom came for the long stay and his dad was able to come out for a long Labor Day weekend.

Nick and Gunnar really enjoyed having an extra playmate during the week. Nick even got in a couple of days work with his old painting crew.

The weather was wonderful and it was a nice teaser of how much fun it will be once they relocate.

Here are a few pics. I must confess we were really too busy to take a ton of shots. Gigi did get some nice ones on her iPad though.


Gunnar really loved the iPad. Old fashioned books just can't compete!