Garden Party 2013

Remember Garden Party?  We have a progressive dinner with two other couples and rotate courses from house to house.  It's always a summertime highlight, it's always elegant, and it's always a 5 star quality dinner.

Well, we get tired too.  We get busy too.  We sell farms, remodel our homes, have kids home for the summer and sometimes even this elite foodie group calls it quits.

So, that said, Garden Party 2013 is a bit different than past years.

It was a potluck.  We each kept our assigned course and we cheated.

Big time cheated!

We went to the farm, Karen brought the centerpiece because she had already made it for our usual style of Garden PaRtY.  Shelly still brought out real dishes to the barn because we aren't that pathetic that we'd use paper.  No tablecloth this year, we were slummin'.  Vern was still in his swimming trunks when we arrived.  It was a casual Garden Party.

 The weather was beautiful, we had our appetizers out by the pool, they were served by Mark and Karen.

They served Sangria from a box, and a nice selection of appetizers from Trader Joes and Cash and Carry.

 Hubby and I served main course in the barn.  We served a leftovers style dinner with leftover BBQ tri-tip that we had in the freezer from reunion, sliced thin on slider buns with a nice selection of Kraft BBQ sauces, corn salad made from leftover corn from the night before, and ruffle potato chips with ready made french onion dip.  We served a red meritage wine from Barbed Wire.

 Vern and Shelly served chocolate peanut butter pie and blueberry pie ala mode purchased from Bellewood Acres.  It was served with a espesso hazelnut vodka over ice.

 While it wasn't swanky the friends were still great, the food was actually good, the setting was beautiful, the weather perfect and we had entertainment from the Abbotsford Airshow.

Karen's flowers were a hit and I hope to get a lesson.

 As for 2013, we get tired too, it's all we got, folks.  

Rest assured, we will be back next year in all of our glory!

Max's Fan Club

When we got to the farm in George on Saturday morning we were happy to see Max.  Since he has been busy harvesting wheat we didn't actually think that we'd get to see him.  It rained on Friday so he was off work for two days.  I think as crazy unhappy as Max was to be off work I was that crazy happy to spend time with him.  He was on call.  Hubby and Max were getting caught up when the fans started arriving. 

 Gabe and Owen were so happy to see Max.

 They hang on just in case he decides to get up and go someplace.

 Later that evening Jared was really trying to convince Max to do something.

 They are always trying to convince Max to take them swimming in the canal or play hide and seek or tag.

 I kind of like how Gabe is giving Kassie the stink eye in the picture below.  He may be thinking- "Max is ours, we have plans; nice you stopped by and all but Max is busy with us so don't get any ideas."

 On Saturday morning little sis Kelly got to Max first.  I wanted her to look at the camera and smile but she only has eyes for Max.

I

Max didn't say it but the phrase, I'm  kind  of  a  big  deal, came to my mind.

Sheesh.

Reunion 2013

 Over the weekend we went to Hubby's parents for a family reunion.  My father-in law's family has a reunion every year on the first weekend in August.  On the way home Hubby and I counted 70 people that came and went over the course of the weekend.  There was family, neighbors, friends and Watershed (concert at the Gorge in George) campers.  

Honestly, there were probably people there that we didn't even know about or see.

It's all good.

 

Sam and Angela came just in time to build a rocket for the launching of the rockets.

 The rockets involve plastic soda pop bottles, cardboard, and duct tape and... water, a compressor and an alfalfa field... and a competitive spirit.

 

At our family reunion we have a soft ice cream machine.  There are toppings, cones, root beer for floats, peach cobbler for under neath and it is changed out between chocolate and vanilla.  The littlest of the family may help themselves.  It does get closed an hour before meals so everyone has an appetite.

 At our family reunion we have a set of 16 year old twins, I didn't get a picture of the big twins.

Kelly and Nate are the little  twins.  

Nate was born and stayed with his Mama right before their Daddy went to China to pick up Kelly.  

They are so sweet together.

 At our family reunion we have a BiG BBQ grill.  On Saturday evening we had grilled chicken, 

ribs and beef tri tip for dinner.  It takes all afternoon.  Hubby's Dad does the grilling with tons of help from Uncle Dave and others.

 At our family reunion we have all ages.  Hubby's Dad is the oldest in his family and Hubby is holding Emmit, who is just six weeks old.  Hubby told Emmit's mama to go ahead and eat while he took care of Emmit.

She could not believe her good fortune but really I think Hubby was the fortunate one.

 At our family reunion there is love and the littles love the BIGS.  I'll share more later about Max's fan club.

 At our family reunion there is a pinata after dinner.  There is a big bouncy house, there is a craft table for the kids, this year there was a playdoh table, there is a pool and swimming in the canal.  

There are tents, trailers, and beds everywhere.

 At our family reunion there is a fat boy breakfast in the morning with teens running the grills.

At our family reunion there is a lot of visiting, catching up with family and there is a whole lot of love and respect for family.  Everyone pitches in with the meals and the activities. 

And behind it all are Hubby's folks, they host every year.

My mom-in law is a saint.

Truly.

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!