We Missed the Boat

Our cruise began with high blood pressure. I picked Kathi up from work and we drove to the Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham where the yacht was moored. We parked, got our bags and were strolling toward the dock when we noticed the ship was leaving the dock. We ran, we screamed, we made a scene. Fotunately, the skiffs that were escorting the Safari Explorer out of the bay came back, loaded us and our bags and brought us to the yacht. Since we were last minute travelers, our names were not on the manifest. The weather was gorgeous so the Captain decided to leave early so the passengers could enjoy the sunset. He thought everyone was on board. If you knew anyone having dinner at the hotel or Hearthfire Grill on Tuesday night and you've already heard about us running with baggage and screaming down the dock please bear in mind how much we wanted to go at that point.

We are gaining on them...

We sipped martinis and got over it. The crew and captain fell over themselves making it up to us all week. Kathi and I had a great entrance, so everyone on board knew us.

Bon Voyage

Photo is courtesy of American Safari Cruises Their site is listed to your left...

I have been on standby. My sister Kathi, the sister that is not a Snapsister but a travel agent, asked me to MAYBE take a trip. She would enter a drawing for a cruise at 3:00 on Tuesday, with drawing at 3:30 and the yacht leaving at 6:00 in the evening on Tuesday. Kind of be ready to go but you might go nowhere.
I can do that! My hubby said GO, if you get picked... My boss, Troy said GO, if you get picked. My guys said GO, if you get picked. This is a BIG if... The cruise is Tuesday through Friday in the Pacific Northwest on board the Safari Cruiseline. There is a gourmet chef, a wine expert and a masseusse on board. All included, really. There is a sauna and a hot tub on the deck, unreal scenery, luxury cabins, kayaks to use, people to meet, books to read. Oh please, please let it happen! We would take the train back home on Friday evening... Hoping like crazy! Cross your fingers...
*I prewrote this post on the off chance we got to actually GO. If you are reading it, we got picked! I figured I'd have time to pack, hit the post button on the blog and drive to the Belleweather Hotel where I am departing on an unreal adventure!
Bon Voyage- I'll just go ahead and say it since I don't have time to wait for your good wishes.

Fall is Football

Max had his first JV football game yesterday afternoon. Fun! He had two really nice sacks. The Lyncs soundly beat Sehome. Fun. I love to go to Max's football games and particularly when they win. Hey, if it's not about winning why keep score?
Max is #83. He is on the far left of the photo. Go Max!
*Check in late this afternoon for another post.

Summers' End

I was hoping for a sunny Sunday and I got one. After church, Sam and Max boarded and hubby and I biked at Birch Bay. We met up for lunch at CJ's Beach House for some calamari and coconut prawns out on the deck. Nice.
And the C Shop. I had my favorite, a caramel sailboat, they are white chocolate diamond shaped "boats" filled with homemade caramel and two almonds for a sail. As good as I remembered. Buttery!

My sis Jodi, and BIL Bill and family came over in the evening for a BBQ. The whole day felt like a really nice way to end the summer.

This & That Again

*Love Fridays-especially when Hubby is actually off for the weekend. Yay!
*I have two cans of pumpkin in the cupboard just burning a whole in my pocket, or something like that. I feel like baking, baking something with pumpkin that makes me feel all Fall like, makes the house smell good and just gives that cozy feeling. Any ideas? Besides pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting?
*Hubby is going to help me with the Costco, Trader Joes trip this weekend. Yay!
*Hoping, hoping for a sunny Sunday. We need one last day at the beach with long boards and bikes. Church is at 9:30 so we'll have lots of time.
*I am starting to think about cleaning the garage, ooh, my guys just love that. Maybe Saturday afternoon, early evening, a family, bonding project. Are you feeling the love people?
*It is REALLY dark at 5:30 a.m. when I get up for boot camp. O'dark thirty. It's hard. It's cold. Anyone want to join?
*I ordered very cool, cute, neato inventory for the museum gift shop this week.
*Yesterday I ordered two cords of firewood. Hubby has worked too much to get it done. We've, well the guys, have always gone out and cut, split and stacked. I found an ad for firewood being sold by some young guys that want their Christian school to have a band and were fundraising. Win-win! I got the last two cords and they deliver! Yay!
*I need to declutter my house and brain this weekend. Wish me luck!

A Fall Meal

One Fall Saturday my BIL John was visiting and I had made Taco Soup for dinner, we went to a football game and decided to invite more guests. We got home and I quickly made this chowder, dumped it in a crockpot after it had simmered, to keep it warm. I'm flying around the kitchen and was ready to join my guests for a little happy hour, gave a quick stir and found the lids from the mushroom soup in the chowder. Could have been awkward if one of my guests had been served a tin can lid...So, take it slow.
This corn chowder is a good Fall meal that my guys enjoy with blueberry muffins. I posted that recipe earlier.
The celery adds some nice color.
Why fry bacon, when there is facon?
If I use baby reds, I just leave the peels.

Supper Corn Chowder
5 slices bacon
1 med. onion, chopped
2 c. cooked or canned corn
1 c. diced cooked potatoes
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
parsley
Cook bacon/ facon until crisp. if you use real bacon save 3 T. dripping for frying the onion. I use the all ready cooked bacon from Costco and fry my onion in butter. Add remaining ingredients and dash of pepper. Heat to boiling; simmer a minute or two. Enjoy!
*Please note I usually double the recipe. My guys like leftovers. Sometimes I assemble and put in the crockpot on low before I go to work. When I cook the potatoes I add a sliced carrot or two, they are good for you and they add some nice color. Sometimes I add a stalk of celery to the onions. Again, nice color.
Like all of my recipes, they would never be recognized by the original cook.

Dinner is ready and I have a couple hours to go walking or do some gardening. Nice.