That Sam I Am is Home

We met Danny in Seattle and then picked up Sam at Sea Tac. So good to see Sam. He looks great! It was nice to go out for lunch before Danny headed back to Edmonds.

We got home, Sam and Hawley were reunited, family stopped by and then Sam went to catch up with friends. He has a lot of plans for the next two weeks. Fun times!

Check Bacon Maple Bar Off To Do List

Danny came home for the weekend and while Hubby was at work and Max was at football on Saturday Danny and I made our own fun. We went to Cash and Carry, tried to go to the Farmer's Market, found NO parking, and so had to settle for a stop at Rocket Donuts. We tried the bacon maple bar. I loved it! Then we took a detour on the way home and stopped at a garage sale.

At this point Max is texting Danny his deepest sympathy. Danny was a good sport though and I got some Shiny Brites.

We had a fun weekend and on Sunday had dinner at my folks. Grandma made Danny's favorite ice cream dessert. Danny left to have coffee with Levi and Max and I went to do some school shopping. Nothing like waiting until the very last minute.

First Day of School picture of Max and Hawley. I can hardly believe my baby is a junior in high school. Well, maybe I can, he definitely has the attitude.
Today Hubby, Danny and I are picking up Sam from Sea Tac. In less than a year Sam has lived in Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Iraq. Next stop... HOME!

Here We Go

Next week I hope to have all of my guys home. Danny from Edmonds and Sam from Fort Bragg. I can hardly wait. Once the kids start leaving it becomes rare to have everyone back under one roof. With my guys it's rare to have them all in one country.

I may be looking forward to seeing them but Sam has made no secret that he is most excited to see Hawley. Hawley will be happy to see Sam too. Poor dog has been tolerating Max and his t-shirts and his teasing.

In the meantime...
*I am making dinner for 120+ tonight at the museum. Hubby is coming to grill and Jerrie will help serve. Looks like rain so this should be interesting.
*We have our building permit for the addition. It's starting and I have no idea how I want to decorate. Color, no color?
*The Stone House is an end of the summer, dusty dirty pit.
*Max and I need to go school shopping yet.
*I always gain weight in August. Must be the drinks and snacks on the patio.
*Hubby and I are ready for Fall. The routine, the color, football and a pork roast with fresh applesauce, we're ready!

Market Hog for Sale

BBQ the whole hog or you can have it cut and wrapped, when Meatwad reaches market weight. Only $325 for a lotta pork. Max will deliver and Mom will throw in recipes. Call today! please

This ad was NoT paid for by anyone. Trust me, it was free.

Summer Secret

Who doesn't love a surprise? Especially when it comes via Fed Ex? And it certainly is special when it comes from the one you love. Wishing you could smell just how beautiful Secret Dun Ete smells. Love it!


All husbands should fed ex their wives Summer Secret from L'OCCITANE while on a business trip. This goes over better than a key chain or a tshirt from the airport gift store.
Trust me on this one.

It's Not Pretty at the Fair

I have spent my week looking at the back end, the back sides of cows, pigs, kids. Seriously, I have very few fair pictures that aren't the back end of something or someone. Lots of what comes out of the back end too. Manure in almost every pic!







Lexi loved milking the cow in the Farm Friend's tent. I got in front of the cow for this pic.

Max won't help me get good pictures at the Fair but if someone else's Mom is taking their picture he has to butt in. So, even from the front he's a butt!

The fair just isn't always pretty.

Show Day Breakfast

During Fair week I make game day breakfast for Max and whoever needs it. This morning Max came home for a shower and breakfasts to go. Not sure who all gets one but I made four breakfast to go, Max and Zach for sure and then whoever is in the right place at the right time.


The fat boy breakfast is only made during Fair week, football and soccer season. And Praise the Lord, it looks like there will be a football season.

Today is Swine Fit and Show at the fair and I plan not to miss a minute of the action. Seriously, it is action packed. Kids, pigs and drama, all at the Northwest Washington Fair.

I am wondering, is it cannibalistic or just wrong if there were pork sausage patties on the breakfast sandwiches?

Fit and Show 2010

Yesterday was Dairy Fit and Show at the Fair. Max got a blue but not the blue he wanted. Apparently he held the extra lead rope incorrectly. Now we know.

Picture is of Max and the Lancaster girls before they went out into the ring. Sometimes the competition is from within your own FFA chapter. They all help each other and then compete against each other. So, it's all nice until show time and then they get competitive and start trash talkin'. Made me uncomfortable.


Dean, Steve and Hubby looking her over for any flaws. Dean tweaked the tail "do" and she was show ready.



Max and his heifer looked good but neither of them have ANY. PATIENCE. AT. ALL. with a mom and her camera.

Garden Party 2010 III

Dessert course was at Vern and Shelly's farm, specifically in the party barn. One word comes to mind, glittering. From the rims of our cocktail glasses, the glass and candle lit table to the tree branches overhead, everything glittered. Even the stars in the sky glittered as the huge double doors out to the pool were open letting the perfect summer evening in to our setting.


Shelly is the only person I know who can make a barn, canning jars and branches elegant. Super elegant.

Our dessert menu was chalked out on the party barn blackboard. And yes, it was even more delicious and beautiful than it was written. Difficult to believe, but true.



Lastly, we enjoyed a sipping rum that Vern and Shelly had brought back from their sailing trip. A hint of vanilla, south seas and old world rum flavor made this the perfect nightcap, after a perfect evening with dear friends and delicious food.



Until next year...

Garden Party 2010 II

Hubby and I had main course for this year's Garden Party. I think main course is the easiest for me to cook except for one biggie, the timing. It is hard to time while we are gone for the first course. Granted we get a 10-15 minute head start back to our place but it's hard.

We like to try something new. The Plum Wine Buerre Rouge called for two pounds of butter, added one tablespoon at a time. It was a bit time intensive. Hubby chopped everything for the Pineapple Salsa and for the rice pilaf. I don't have the patience to chop that small and uniform.

We put the rice pilaf in our rice cooker, hit start and left the house, hoping for the best. We put our fish in the oven when our guests came on the yard.



I wanted a lot of texture and layers on our table. Since we had our dinner later than usual I was able to use dahlias. I get my dahlias from Mr. & Mrs. Heeringa on the Birch Bay Lynden Road. I love their flowers.


Sheryl gave me the orchids from the wedding, I repurposed them by hanging them upside down from our tent. I added a few white dahlias to fill in the top. Or bottom, depending how you look at it.


Next up, dessert at Vern and Shelly's farm. I wish I had some right now.
Stay tuned...
IF you are visiting from Tablescape Thursdays, please note that the appetizers are back one post and dessert is ahead one post. This is all part of an annual progressive dinner party with friends.

Garden Party 2010 I

Lilly P!
Karen and Mark may be didn't literally use any Lilly Pulitzer designs however; everything was PINK and green for the party on the patio.

We began our Garden party 2010 at Mark and Karen's for appetizers. Karen's table began with the green and pink tablecloth and from there she repurposed and layered. Hankies and teacups, moss, old variety roses, twine, and lots of beautiful butterflies, layered.



The food was delicious. The coconut prawns were baked. Love the NO fry version. Just writing about the food makes me closed my eyes and "Mmmmmm good" aloud, all over again.


One of my favorite local spots is Karen's patio. Whimsical, recycled, cheerful come to mind, though welcoming is always my first thought regarding Mark and Karen's home.



Karen is pretty and relaxed and FiNiShEd... On to our place for Main Course 2010.
Stay tuned.
Main Course at 10 a.m. Monday