The Scenic Route

On Sunday we took Max and SIL Laura out for breakfast in George and then started for home.  We usually take Snoqualmie Pass and once in a blue moon take Stevens Pass but this time we took a different route.  We traveled on I-90 to Blewett Pass.  We had not been on Blewett Pass before and really enjoyed the drive.  We got on Highway 2 and then stopped in Leavenworth.

 We took a walk, browsed through some of the shops including Kris Kringl.  It's a delightful Christmas shop.   We found some inspiration but we also saw the creepiest elves ever.  Besides needing some orthodontia they struck us as ScArY.  The store had a large section for the creeper elves so someone must be buying them but honestly, I can't imagine having one in my home.  

If you think their faces are scary, that's nothing, their price tags were even more frightening.

Goofy.

 The leaves are starting to turn so the drive over Highway 2 was very pretty.

We had one last stop at Zeke's for a burger and a shake.  I had a coconut shake that was really, really good.  Worth every calorie.  We ate outside and enjoyed the thunder and lightning storm.

The Seahawks game was delayed due to the storm and that was fortuitous for us as we made it home to watch the game.   It was a win win for us and for the Seahawks.

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day

Hubby and I drove to George, WA on Friday evening.  On Saturday morning the Quincy Farmer Consumer Awareness Day (FCAD) festivities started early.  First we went to the Qunicy veterans' memorial walls where Hubby's Dad and other vets were honored with their names being added to the new wall.

Then we hurried over to the parade route to get on the Farm Family of the Year float.

 We were a popular entry as we threw out a lot of candy.  Marie does know the parade 

wrist-wrist-elbow-elbow wave, she just happens to be throwing candy on the photo below.

After the parade we walked through the displays, ate Rotary BBQ, and we were honored onstage.  Yes, introvert moi was a tad freaked.  Though it was a nice presentation and I was really happy for Hubby's folks.

After FCAD we made a few stops in town and then went back to the folks because it was 95+ degrees and I thought I was going to drop dead from the heat.

Hubby and I made dinner for everyone Saturday evening.  We wanted to honor the honorees.   And since everyone wanted the recipes, here are the links for Nectarine Salad, and PW Apple Dumplings.  I'll post the potatoes and the bars later.  FYI for those that wanted the recipes, the flank steak was marinated in Trader Joe's Soyaki and served with mushroom tumble.  

It was so great to visit with everyone.  Although we didn't see much of Max, as he was busy being a farmer.  Which totally makes sense as you don't get to be Farm Family of the Year without a lot of hard work.

We had a fun weekend and I'll share our trip home later.

Random Again, Rambling On

 This summer Hubby and I and our friends have been stopping in at Kulshan Brewery on Thursday nights for  a brew and some Streat food truck fare.  It's been fun to work our way through the menu.  Last week was a perfect evening with good food, friends, and live music.  It felt like the exclamation point at the end of the summer sentence.  The creme brulee and chocolate malt pot de creme were a perfect finish.

 I am adjusting to life with a smart phone.  Many times it continues to be smarter than me.  On Friday while shopping I snapped a photo, texted it to Max, asking if he liked the shirt and if so what size.  He's a sophomore in college but I still wanted to buy him a first day of school shirt.  

The phone is great when shopping for guys.

I'm liking fitness pal, mapmywalk, and instagram.  What is your favorite app?

Hubby's parents, his brother and Max are being honored next weekend at Farm Family of the Year at the Farmer Consumer Awareness Day in Quincy, Washington.  I don't usually have our last name in the blog but it's so misspelled it doesn't matter.  Not even close.

What does matter is the event and the farmers.  I know they aren't too impressed with the honor but I am excited for them to be honored.  They are one of the first three generation farms in the Basin and have worked hard.  Hubby and I are going to the festivities because we begat the third generation.  

That's our only claim to fame, but it's a good one.  We are proud of our Max.

Right before the company arrived... the coleslaw fell out of the fridge last Sunday.  Just keeping it real over here.  Our entertaining isn't always flawless.

Sam and Angela stopped at the grocery store and I whipped up another batch.  We had a nice visit with Jay and Lyn, my folks and my nephews and friends.  I tried a new recipe for crab dip and have since renamed it Crab Crack.  I'll post it soon.  Yum!

 It's no secret that I don't have a garden but I do have friends and family with gardens and we have enjoyed some delicious tomatoes.  My favorite way is red leaf lettuce, tomato, bacon and yogurt ranch dressing for lunch.  With tons of fresh cracked black pepper.

On Saturday Hubby and I went to the Vintage Trailer Show in town.  We had fun getting ideas for our '57 Aloha, meeting our Aloha face book friends in real life and we found two windows that we needed for our restoration.  It was inspiring.  Next year we hope to camp with the group.

Today I am working on a door.  The front door is looking good, all interior doors were replaced and painted but the back door needs some loving.  Hubby has finished the scraping and we are ready to paint the exterior trim.  I pulled out all of the annuals on Saturday, cut back the hostas, trimmed the hydrangeas and emptied the window boxes.  Even though we are expecting summer like weather this week I am finished with watering for the year and just wanted it gone.  

Before you get get all holier than thou because your plants still look good, some of mine did too.  But it's easier to take them out before the rain and frost arrive.

All caught up...  with a very random rambling post.

Until next time...

Last Monday's Field Trip

Last Monday Sheryl and I went to Woodinville to pick up a love seat.  We thought we'd do some antiquing in Woodinville but we got skunked.  After many  go  around  again  in the roundabouts we gave up on that idea.  Sheryl had wanted to drive past the Hollywood School House, probably not a dozen times but sometimes we get more than we want.

Our next stop was lunch and then on to Molbaks Nursery and Garden.  We hadn't been to the Woodinville location before and now we get all the hype.  Ooooh, it's pretty.  My mother-in-law has been telling me for years and I finally made it there.

 Next stop was Snohomish for some shopping.  Sheryl hadn't been there before so I suggested that we hit the decor shops and save the antique stores for another day.

 I have one of these old bread boxes in the garage.  It's been buried in there for twelve years.  

Apparently it does have some value.

 Our last stop was the Train Wreck Bar and Grill in Burlington.  We enjoyed fresh crab tacos, halibut, guacamole and chips and Margarita Monday.

It was such a fun day with one of my best friends.  And just like junior high we wore the same outfit, Monday it was white jeans and a coral top.  Unlike junior high we didn't call each other first.

Only regret of the day, not getting a photo of us matching our outfits.

The best part of the day, we made plans for more fun field trips.

Splain Lucy Part II

Sooo,  as I shared earlier I haven't been posting recipes because of the painting mess on the kitchen counter.  Hubby and I have been busy this summer with many projects.  Some of my readers have asked why I am not sharing projects.  I have a good explanation. 

We have been asked to be one of the homes featured on the Bethany Christian Services Holiday Home Tour this December.  

Hence the notebook...

The notebook is full of To Do lists and many, many ideas.  Hubby and I are working our way through the book, paint can by paint can, door by door, room by room.  There aren't any big projects, just many little projects.  Of course, we still go to our jobs, we still have a social life and we still sleep, however; other waking moments we work on the projects, the lists and the house.

Quite frankly, the pressure to get things finished is a good thing.

We appreciate the work that Bethany Christian Services does for many reasons.  Our biggest and best is our nephew, Zach.  My brother's family adopted Zach through Bethany.  We have been blessed by Zach and we've been blessed with our home.  

It's good timing for us this year to be on the tour so after some careful consideration we decided to go ahead.  Hubby has been a big part of the plan and I could not do this without him.  It is scary and a bit nerve wracking to put yourself out there.  No denying that fact.

Besides the projects, I'm junkin'.

I've been going to many estate sales this summer because when your Christmas style is vintage you can't run to a store to get supplies in December to pick up a few more things.  Picking and junking have kept me busy this summer gathering Christmas goodies.

I am not going to blog all of my projects as I want some of the projects to be a surprise and we want there to be many tour visitors to help Bethany have a successful home tour.  Why would you buy a ticket if you could tour the house via blog?  

Please save the date, December 7, for the Bethany Holiday Home Tour.

The best part... I  am sooo very excited to see the other three homes on the tour this year.

Some well known  girls  have jumped on the tour with us...

Splain Lucy

As Ricky always said to Lucy, "Splain Lucy", and I do have some explaining to do.  

I have some catching up to do also.  This is only the beginning.

The painting continues thus there haven't been any new recipes on the blog.  Who would want to cook in a kitchen with counters like mine?  No one.

Though I did bake Almond Cookies this weekend.  They really are the best and since I was sending a care package to Danny, and I had everything out because it was my week to bake cookies for church, and I had places to go where I knew they would be appreciated, I baked around the painting mess.  Twice.

I've been out junkin' this past week.  On my way to a boating cocktail party I stopped at a roadside sale.  My hostess gift was a dahlia bouquet and since Holly and Shelly were in the car and told me I should have a vase I flipped the car around at a roadside sale and found the perfect vase for two bucks.

I'm classy like that.

 The Saturday estate sale was in Marietta and was quite the adventure.  But I got what I went for so it's all good.  It was a little sketchy.

Back to the boating cocktail party...  It was girls' night on the Renewal and we had a wonderful time.  I think you all know how I feel about boating, it's little scary for me.  Since we stayed tied to the dock I felt pretty good though I did take a some seasickness meds prior to boarding.

 I wish I had a picture of our hostess smiling because her smile is so pretty, but she was so busy waiting on everyone that my pictures of Chris are all blurry.

 Before the other guests arrived Shelly and I played with my new camera and took some shots of each other.  We're goofy like that.  But it was fun and we felt so nautical and swanky that we couldn't resist.

I wish I had taken a group shot but I was very busy having a lot of fun.  And you may be surprised to know just how many boating rules and how much terminology this non-boater does know.  

Permission  to  board?

I'm actually pretty nautical when it comes down to it.

There's more blogging coming and even more splaining.

Stay tuned.