Labor Day Weekend Fun

Tim's parents and their home "Magic" decided to come and visit with us over Labor Day weekend.  They arrived Friday night...we fed them some salmon and quinoa salad...and Saturday Tim took them to our Farmer's Market...while I was at work.  They have been touring National Parks and such...so sight seeing wasn't really on the agenda...they wanted to catch up with odds and ends...although they did a little sight seeing Saturday and then were home by the time I got off work.  Saturday night I prepared a summer veggie toss with quinoa pasta...and pesto!  It was really quite good.

Sunday we got up and Tim made Quiche (bacon, cheese, onion, spinach)...and then we did a little local wine tasting...we hit Knipprath Cellars and Latah Creek (just as they were closing).  We decided to check and see if Wolf Lodge would be open Monday...it wasn't going to be...so we made an 8pm reservation to eat there...best steak in the area...and this visit was just as good as all of the others!

Monday was a lazy day..I got up late...they were already up...we made some breakfast sandwiches and spent most of the day doing computer type work...odds and ends, and laundry.  We had a little cookout in the afternoon...garlic brats, potato salad, veggies...and then later in the evening we did our Sunday night ritual a day late with popcorn at 6pm and some X-Files.

Recapping August Fun

Fun times in August...

Boating with Friends August 14, Tim and I lucked out this year and finally got to go on someone's boat down the Spokane River.  We met up after work Saturday and left from the Post Falls boat dock.  We got to see a Canadian Snow Goose, a bald eagle and an osprey.  The houses were lovely, saw a couple huge houses.  We docked in Coeur D'Alene and ate at THE BEACON, a pub.  The meal was good, but the place was a little loud for such an early hour of the evening.  We got back into the boat an hour later and headed back just as the sun was setting...which was gorgeous!  Thank you Margy and Randy!  What a fun time!

Picking Peaches at Greenbluff August 15 The next day we decided to head to Greenbluff to see if there were any peaches to pick.  We discussed how many we would get...and of course ended up buying more than what we discussed.  We also got some corn, red potatoes, and extra peaches we didn't pick.  We headed back home and started making pesto...our basil plant was going nuts and needed to be harvested.  We managed to harvest half...making two batches of pesto.  I decided to freeze this in an ice cube tray and then wrap in wax paper in a ziploc so I would be able to take out small bits at a time.  We also made peach sorbet for the first time...it was really good.  We grilled salmon with pesto which was also very delicious.  What a great weekend.

Girls weekend in Seattle August 27-30 - Yes, I traveled AGAIN!  This time it was a trip to Seattle to help my friend Amy celebrate her upcoming marriage.  Lynn hosted Liz, Amy and I for the weekend.  It was full of fun conversations, good food, a concert at Chateau Ste Michelle (Crowded House), and laughter!  Everyone needs a girls weekend!

Catching Up RECAP of July and the first part of August

WOW, what a great couple of months...it is hard to believe it has been so long since I have posted.  I really want to get better about posting.  Things we do, what we are up to, etc.  Of course I get into moods where I want to post...and then I get into moods where I don't want to post.  I guess I should just treat this as a diary.  So...big trips have included...

North Cascades National Park July 30-31 - what a fabulous place!  Tim and I want to return there sometime soon.  It was gorgeous.  We spent the night at Newhalem Creek Campground.  We found a walk in site close to the river.  It was peaceful and it was nice to listen to the river at night.  We walked to the ranger's station, went to the night ranger's talk comparing the movie AVATAR to the North Cascades National Park (the wildlife and greenery) and then joined the ranger in the morning for coffee...and to discuss where to hike.  We decided to head to the Cascade Pass area...what a drive...clouded up on us and began to rain...we hiked up a portion of the trail to get the view...the mountains around us started to disappear as the clouds moved in.  The drive up and down was fun too, most of it unpaved and often room for a single vehicle.  FUN TIMES!  But...definitely worth a trip back!

Seattle for birthday July 31-August 2 - Left North Cascades to drive to Seattle and arrived about 6pm to a lovely spread made by my sister and her roommate...cheese, crackers, proscuitto wrapped cantaloupe and wine while she prepared a steak dinner with all of the trimmings and topped it off with a red velvet cake!  It was really great and the perfect way to ring in my 40th year of life.  We spent the weekend walking around Fremont, hanging out, and just enjoying each other's company.  I caught a red eye flight to Ohio about 12 midnight on August 3rd.

Ohio August 3-10 - Picked up at the Airport by my dad...we drove back to Newark and ate lunch at La Paloma...went to the shop and met some of the guys...said hello to the ones I knew.  Went back to my parent's house to take a nap before meeting up with two friends from high school.  It was great catching up with them!  We had a great meal at Cheesecake Factory and spent nearly 4 hours talking and laughing about old times!  The next day I was up at 11am...went and had lunch with my dad at Ye Olde Mill and then went to visit my friend Jet...then packed up and headed to Columbus to see my bestie Liz! We headed to the Wine Guy and talked for hours over wine and yummy food!

Ohio - Thursday we were up trying a new place for breakfast in the Short North...walking up and down High street checking out stores and shops...having some chips and salsa with our margarita to cool down...and the stopping in to see my friend Matt at his tattoo parlor to say hello before heading back to Liz's house to change for WICKED.  We met Gigi at Marcellas in the Short North for dinner before the show...and then walked to the new Chocolates place across the street to try some chocolate before the show.  Then we went to WICKED...which was fabulous the second time...and lots of tears being with two great friends listening to the songs FOR GOOD and DEFYING GRAVITY. It was a great time!

Ohio - Friday I met Liz and Eric at Easton to hit a grand opening at Eddie Bauer...we walked around and shopped a little.  Liz and I met Renee for lunch at a sushi place Liz wanted to take me to...and we had a great visit.  Liz and I hit Trader Joe's to get some things for me to fix my dad a late birthday dinner and then I headed back to Newark to make dinner and hang out with my dad a little.  I made him swordfish and rice with some stir fry veggies.  I stopped at a bakery in Gahanna to get some german sweet chocolate cupcakes for him (it was WAY too hot to cook!).  My friend Holly stopped by that evening and we hung out and chatted for awhile on my parent's front porch.  It was fun!

Ohio - Saturday I got up and went to Maker's Market in Granville...saw Liz and Maggie, met dad there and walked around...then also got to see Chris and meet his new squeeze!  Ate a HUGE peach...and then headed back to my dad's to have lunch and then left about 1pm to go to Columbus to get my birthday tattoo!  Matt and I had a great visit...and the tattoo looks FAB!  It isn't done...I need to get back and get it finished!  Then I headed to Akron to visit Ted and Anne.  Tom came over and we had a great steak dinner topped off with strawberry shortcake.

Ohio - Sunday we got up and had breakfast...Ted made omelets and Anne made french toast.  It was all so yummy.  Ted and I went hiking...rock scrambling and going through tight squeezes...we met Anne at a local farmer's market...the food was FANTASTIC...then we cleaned up and headed to Cleveland to eat dinner at Chocolate Martini's...it was so good.  After we returned I met up and visited with Tom.

Ohio - Monday it was a day of vegging...hung out with Anne while Ted was at work...said goodbye to him once he got home and then I drove back taking the scenic drive home...ordered a Plaza Pizza and did some laundry...looked through old pictures and then packed for home.

Ohio - Tuesday...got up and went to the shop...dad took me to the airport...it was a great visit!

Trip to Iowa July 11th

It is Sunday...Ted and Anne get up and get ready to leave.  Ted makes mom a crepe...and we all eat and say our goodbyes.  It is raining again...Lynn and I decide to watch TV....and rest.  So we never get out of our pj's.  All day we just sit with Grandma and watch things and snooze.  What a fun and relaxing way to spend the day.  I am sure when I get home there will be none of that!  Mom gets back from her running around and decides to join us.  We are eating leftovers...trying to get the fridge cleaned out before it gets too late.  The rain stops later in the day and it sounds like the FIREWORKS from the fourth will be shot off tonight.  How exciting is that?  We figure that is a good reason to at least get dressed.  We start getting ready to head over to the little house site about 9pm...the mosquitoes are THICK..and we have learned they don't like Mentholatum...who knew?  So we slather and head over in the golf cart...all of us!  It really isn't that far.  Their neighbor Deb comes over to watch with us.  The fireworks are great!  We are so excited we got to see them.  It rained too much to shoot them off on the 4th and 5th...so they postponed them!  Just for us...well we would like to think so!  After the fireworks are over...we drive back to the farm where Grandpa lights another huge fire!  We sit around and giggle and sing..and stare at the stars.  It is sad, our last night...but it was a fun trip.  We decide we won't leave until we have to tomorrow. And yes...the fireworks are sideways...UGH!

Trip to Iowa July 10th

Hard to believe it is SATURDAY...all of the days are just blending together.  Ted and Anne have decided to treat us to Crepes for breakfast...Anne makes a strawberry filling and whips up some whipped cream while Ted makes the batter.  We eat them one at a time...and try other variations.  I like savoury crepes so I make a white sauce to put with my left over prime rib from the night before and that ends up yummy!  We also do a chocolate and banana one...also good!  For the rest of the day we are pretty lazy.  We decide that we will just hang out...as always...and just do whatever.  We visit, we look at pictures, we listen to stories...we eat.  More bird watching and reading in the sunroom...I swear it is my new favorite room in the house.  For many years it was the piano room..then the TV room...now it is the sunroom!  Ted and Anne grill chicken for dinner...it is YUMMY.  Ted does a great job of cooking the corn and chicken on the charcoal grill...while Anne preps food and makes potatoes in the oven.  It is quite the feast!  We decide that group photos are needed so we head outside to where the sun is starting to set. We also decide it is time for a fire...haven't made one yet.  Grandpa brings TONS of wood and before long we have a fire we are sitting 5 feet away from.  We toast marshmallows and make s'mores...it is all really fun!  Ted and Anne will leave in the morning!

Trip to Iowa July 9th

We woke on Friday...to start another day of activity...not really!  We hung out around the farm most of the day...I read and watched birds from the sunroom...and we made reservations for the Feedlot in Atlantic for that evening.  We all headed to the Care Center to see Grandma Hays.  She was most happy to see Ted.  She gave him a hard time...it was fun!  We totally spaced on the farmer's market at 5pm and headed to Atlantic early to run a couple errands before dinner.  Walmart and Fareway...meds and food.  Ted and Anne planned dinner for Saturday night and we got most of what we needed and met Mom, Grandma and Grandpa at the Feedlot for an awesome dinner (as always).  We headed back and mom and I decided to walk again...this time it was getting dark...but we walked to the water tower in Exira and back.  I took my head lamp to help in the dark...we saw several buzzards, an owl and some bunnies on our night walk.  We got back to see everyone else watching movies.

Trip to Iowa July 8th

Well, I have to say that I did what I normally do in Iowa...slept in until about 9am...and then thought it may be a good idea to walk before it got too hot.  So I ate breakfast and my mom and I walked around Exira.  First we decided on the graveyard and back...then because the sun was already pretty warm, we just walked near the school and up and down a few side streets.  Came back and ate a little lunch...and then I took a 3 HOUR NAP?!?!?!?!?!  I don't nap.  I was horrified when I got up three hours later.  I did feel good.  Read in the sunroom and helped start dinner...Ted and Anne should be arriving later...so we were going to eat later in the day.  So, just hung out and watched the birds!  Read..relaxed.  That is what you do!  Watch the corn grow (hee hee).  Ted and Anne arrived about 9pm and we had a yummy dinner.  My grandma browned a piece of beef in her dutch oven...then added a packet of Italian dressing mix, a packet of gravy mix and a can of beef broth...we cooked it in the oven slow until it fell apart.  Had her sour cream potatoes and salad to go with, and Lynn made some yummy garlic cheesy bread.  We had dirt cake for dessert.  Now who is dieting?