I'll Be Smarter on Friday

I have the annie sloan chalk paint out again and am having some fun with a few projects.  I am using three colors of paint and fabric on a project.  Yours truly may pull her hair out on this one.

I'm painting outside, because I can.  Thirty five+ days in a row of sunshine in Washington this summer.  It's not too hot, it's not raining, it's not gray skies, it's perfect.  The sunset was so beautiful last evening and then when I didn't think it could get any better I saw a beautiful sunrise this morning on my way to boot camp.  The pictures are from sunset.

 I have a little fuji point and shoot camera.  When Hubby and the guys gave it to me in 2007 for Mother's Day I had no idea I would use it so much.  It goes everywhere with me.  It's been a faithful companion.  The flash is cracked and the screen is scratched, the buttons are worn down.

On Friday I am getting a smart phone.  Mostly, I am excited about the camera and the photo apps.  And the maps/gps app will be pretty nice too, especially when I'm out junkin'.  I'm not convinced I won't still grab the fuji though.

Friday is the beginning of a twelve day staycation for Hubby and me.  We are just a teensy bit excited to have some time at home, some time together, actually a long stretch of time, to just have a break.  

We have some projects planned and some fun planned.

Enjoy the sunsets and sunrises this summer!

Hiking, Field Trips and a Recipe

This past Friday morning some of the gals from boot camp went up to Bryce Creek to visit and do some hiking.  Bryce Creek is a beautiful spot in the mountains.  Lisa was camping up there and she was the hostess with the mostess, even while camping.

She made us iced lattes without electrical power or an espresso maker.

Her secret was the cold brewed espresso by Cascade Valley Blends.  It's sold at our Cash and Carry.

 While junking on Saturday we made a stop to pick up our own cold brewed espresso.  It turns out that Shelly hadn't been to Cash and Carry before so it turned into a tour by Karen and myself.  We showed her all of our favorites at Cash and Carry, including our new favorite cold brew.

Iced Latte Recipe

 Fill one large glass with ice, add a shot or two of espresso, fill glass with milk(I prefer skim, Hubby 2%) and add 2 T. of your favorite flavor.  Lisa also had chocolate and caramel syrups to add.

 The lattes are a great summertime afternoon pick me up treat.  And an easy peasy camping treat.

Enjoy!

Let's Get Caught Up

I've been a little busy.  Since part of my job at the museum is to manage the volunteers and fourteen of them were either on vacation or sick last week it's been tough.  Thankfully the others really stepped up and helped  me.  So, I did have some time to play on the weekend.

On Saturday I went junkin' with Shelly and Karen.  I went to an estate sale specifically to get a rotating Christmas tree stand which I finally found in a shed instead of with the rest of the Christmas decor.  Yikes!  My heart was pounding, I was getting anxious when finally I found it!  In all her glittered glory she spins and I am so happy with her.

I found a Santa blow mold while searching so I grabbed him.  At our next stop I found the spinning light for under the spinning tree.  Bringing on the disco Christmas this year!  And some vintage goodness thrown in.

 My search for a burlap lamp shade is over, I found the shade and a lamp to Annie Sloan as a bonus.

 After the estate sales we stopped at a craft and antique show where we ran into another classmate, Cindy.  She is a garden art artist and had a very pretty display.

 I met a fellow Aloha owner and had a nice chat with her after a tour of her sweet Aloha.  It's a few years newer than our trailer and in much better shape.  It was inspiring.

 Saturday evening Hubby and I helped our friends, Brian and Holly, at their daughter Ashleigh's wedding.  It was so beautiful, thoughtful and sweet.  I swooned.  The cake?  The groom baked it!  Sweetest cake ever!

 I didn't get any photos of the bride cuz I was busy but I took a few of the decorations.

The Snapsisters were there so watch for some great pics.

Pictured below, Holly and I.

 I am totally taking one for the team here.  Holly looked so pretty and wore such a cute dress and sandals and I look like crap or like I'd been running around in the kitchen, which I had.  But I had to share because Holly looked so pretty.

 Hubby was busy on clean up.  He's a good guy.

Brady and Ashleigh had  THE  best wedding music ever.  

Best Wishes to the happy couple.  And Mama Holly, put your feet up today!

A Trifecta IRL

 Hubby tells me when he talks to all three guys on the phone on the same day that he had a trifecta that day.  For a mere 36 hours we had a trifecta in real life this weekend.

The guys saw friends and family, hung out on the patio, went shooting, hiking, swimming, cliff diving, motorcycle riding and ate.  They enjoyed some good laughs and deep conversations.  

And then ate some more.

Hubby and I were busy cooking and grilling their favorites.  And having our parenting skills analyzed.  Why yes, they are scarred from their childhood.  But really, they all turned out pretty great in spite of their parents.  

So, HAH!  And they still love their mama's cooking.

Patio Summer

We've been on our patio.  Every day, each evening, with family, with friends, with good conversation, some tears and some laughing, with good food and fellowship, we just continue to land on the patio.  It's good.  There have been trips to the mountains, to the bay, to the city but we always land back on the patio.   And the weather has been so summer like that we almost don't recognize life in the Pacific Northwest.

 Tonight we have a field trip planned.  And there are some hikes, beach days and work in between, but mostly we are on the patio.   From morning coffee to gathered around the fire in the evening we are enjoying some wonderful patio time with Danny and family and friends.  It's good.

Caprese Lasagna with Italian Turkey

 I found this recipe on Pinterest, it originally came from Rachel Ray; however, between the changes another blogger made and the changes I made Ms. Ray may not want to claim it.  But I will, it is crazy good and a delicious summertime lasagna.  I don't always think of lasagna in the summer but when the temperature is low enough to turn on the oven this makes a wonderful dinner.  Sometimes it just isn't convenient to grill and this lasagna tastes like summer.

Caprese Lasagna with Italian Turkey Sausage

 2 tablespoons butter

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup milk* I use 2%, 1 1/2 cups

1 cup chicken stock* I use 1 1/2 cup broth.

Low fat cream cheese, about 2-4 oz.

nutmeg, *I use just a shake

Salt, to taste

ground black pepper, to taste

Italian ground turkey  *Rachel Ray didn't use meat in her recipe, I saw another adaptation  of her recipe where turkey sausages were used.  Foster Farms makes an Italian seasoned ground turkey that I add a few shakes of Italian seasoning to, even though it comes seasoned I add a bit of my dry seasoning and I think it's good.

1 box oven-ready lasagna noodles* I use regular and I do not precook lasagna noodles, ever.

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese *I add some fresh mozzarella to the top before I bake it but it's not necessary and it keeps it lighter to just use the shredded cheese.

1/2 bunch basil, chopped * I use 3/4 cup chopped basil* If you live in my area the Green Barn has wonderful fresh organic basil or Trader Joe has plants available this time of year.

5-6 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced

Cooking Directions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Place a large saucepan over medium-heat and melt the butter.  Add garlic to pan and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute.
*I put the butter and sauteed garlic with the cream cheese, chicken broth, milk and flour into the blender, whip it up and then heat it in a sauce pan until thickened.  I use 1 1/2 cup each of the broth and milk because I don't precook my lasagna noodles, ever.  Suit yourself if you enjoy making more dishes dirty.
(Sprinkle the flour over the butter and garlic, and cook for about 1 minute.  Whisk the milk and chicken stock into the butter-flour mixture and bring up to a bubble.)*Really the blender method is better!
Add the nutmeg, season with salt and ground black pepper, and simmer until thickened, 3-4 minutes.
Assemble the lasagna by ladling a small amount (about 1/2 cup, just eyeball it) of the sauce into the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish and laying 3+ lasagna noodles over the sauce.* I always put part of a noodle on the end and then switch ends on the next level.
Top the noodles with about a third of the sliced tomatoes, a third of the basil, 1/2 cup of sauce and about a third of the shredded cheese.
Repeat until all ingredients are used up, topping the lasagna off with a final layer of sauce and shredded cheese.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake the lasagna for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil from the baking dish and bake another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly.
When ready to serve, top with remaining chopped basil leaves.
Serves 4 *seriously 4?  More like 8.

I haven't ever gotten a picture of the  lasagna ready to serve.  As soon as everyone smells it and then sees it they immediately want to eat it.  So, good luck with that...

*Edited to add:  This is the recipe I use for Alfredo sauce and it is the guideline I use for the sauce for this lasagna.  I don't add the cheese and I use the chicken broth for this lasagna.

Greek Dip or Sheryl's Dip as I Call It

 Remember the Mexican layered dips of the 70's?  We still enjoy them today.  There are a zillion variations served hot and cold.  Now there is a new guy in town and he's Greek.  And he's pretty tasty.

I first had a layered Greek dip at Sheryl's house and ever since then whenever I make it I have to text her because I feel as though I am forgetting something.  I'll share it here on the blog and then I'll have something to refer to next time and you can make it too

.

Greek Dip

Hummus, I use Sabra brand, either the red pepper or the spicy red pepper.

One half English cucumber peeled and diced, fine and uniform.

Two Roma tomatoes, gutted and diced.

Kalamata olives

Feta cheese

 Spread the hummus on a plate and then layer ingredients in the order given.  Serve with fresh veggies, pita chips or crackers. Enjoy!

Early Soiree on the Patio

 Chris enjoyed a milestone birthday in June and since I love any excuse for a party, on Wednesday afternoon I had the girls over for a small patio party.  Since it was the late afternoon before a holiday it felt a bit like a pre-func party.  That time before a holiday where you know you have a long weekend coming up, that time before you have to get your game on and feed the world(especially true for moms), that time when you know the sun will be shining for the holiday.  Definitely a time of anticipation!

There were gifts for the birthday girl, delicious food, cold drinks, good conversation and a lot of laughter.  

And Shelly brought her shrimp.  Enough said.

I need to do this more, get together with other women, enjoy their company and relax.

Like the ad where the little girl is rambling on about wanting more.  

"And then we want more, cuz  more  is  more  and  more  is better."

I couldn't agree more.

Road Trip

For Father's Day this year Hubby and I gave my Dad a day at the LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.  We went yesterday and had a great time.  Right away Dad spotted this black and white Crown Victoria.  Many years ago he and his buddy Trenton took a cross country trip in one just like it except it was turquoise and white.  Good memories for Dad.

 About the time I was thinking that it was annoying that some of the cars had their hoods up I realized that looking at the engines was the best part for Dad.  Once a mechanic, always a mechanic.

 Mom remembered what a big job it was to keep those white walls white.

 My folks drive a Chrysler Town and Country now so it was fun to see the old time Chrysler Town and Country.  Definitely some "junk in the trunk" on this baby!

 Hubby thinks one of the wagons would be nice to tow our '57 Aloha to the campground.  I agree.

 I thought this one was cute with the cheerleader pompoms in the back window and the dice in the front.

 Hey, it's Fred Flintstone's car!  Every Fred should have one.

 We all tried to pick a favorite and this 1941 Buick convertible was my favorite.  I usually go for Cadillacs or Mercedes but this gal stole my heart.  She is just so sleek and the gunmetal gray had enough metallic to make me swoon.

 My mom admitted that she always wanted a red Mustang.  Who knew?  The reds are racy!  There was a red Mustang there but I didn't get a photo.  Now she found herself attracted to any of the blue cars.  Dad and Hubby couldn't pick a favorite, though Hubby liked the 1959 Chrysler 300.

We had hoped to see a '49 Ford since Dad had one but it wasn't there.  We also wanted to see a 1960 Mercury like we road tripped to Disneyland in when I was in first grade, but it wasn't there.  

Now, that was a car!

And lastly, a self portrait.

The LeMay has car shows on the lot on Thursday nights in the summertime and they offer drive in movies too.  It is a beautiful museum and worth the drive.