Back to Reality

I think we have finally finished celebrating our 10-year anniversary. The party with our friends, the dinner at Sequoia, four days in Tahoe and even the final day just relaxing at home before heading back to reality was all so wonderful.

We stayed at the Montbleu in South Lake Tahoe and Hubby felt like even the booking was a nice present to him, with the Lagoon-style pool including a waterfall and spa that fit about 40! (We didn't miss a day there.) Our room even had a jacuzzi next to the bed, where I basted for an hour one night, just watching TV (it's a rarity for me since we postpone our satellite for six months every year - to save money and because we honestly don't watch that much in the summer anyway).

Most of our vacation funds went to eating and shopping - only missed one of the six thrift stores we found (yes, that's the kind of shopping we like to do - time consuming, but cheap). We did try to find a wedding ring for Hubby at a pawn shop, but he picked out a chainsaw instead - lol. The eating (more like feasting) was awesome. When the power went out at Ross and they made everyone leave, we headed across the parking lot to the Cork & More to grab some snacks. I'd say we bought out the place since it took the guy so long to ring us up (not his fault though, yes, their power was out too, so he had to do it all by hand), and by the final receipt I'd say we did, but actually they have plenty to go around: cheeses, wines, specialty beers, coffees, teas, olives, a thousand and one pastas, sauces and spices, lots of hand-made stuff like gourmet salads and sandwiches - even a cookbook I'll check out later on Amazon - Cooking with Pumpkins and Squash (read most of it while we were being rung up!)

We did do one hike down to Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay. Unfortunately it was closed for renovation, but the picnic with the goodies was delicious.

I stopped by the Wool Tree (the LYS) and found that they sell my favorite knitting magazine - Verena Knitting. Yippee. I resisted buying any yarn - although hubby was in such a generous mood that I nearly did - wow was he the noble-looking one to the gals in the shop as he kept urging me to buy something. If I ever get my yarn stash organized enough for a photo, you'll see why I must resist!

Needless-to-say not much knitting or cooking going on while on vacation, but plenty of time for it now that it's back to real life.

It's not over yet

That is, my anniversary. Officially it began at midnight I guess, but for me it began Friday afternoon when I dropped off June Bug at an overnight sitter (BFF's house). Hubby needed some razors, so I headed to store and spent almost an hour just reading magazines - a real treat with no distractions. Reading included the latest Rolling Stone with an article about Chelsea Handler (strange cat). I don't think I've even read a Rolling Stone, but I guess I was feeling wild (I know, who cares). Anyway, finally I got hungry and decided to ditch the diet and celebrate (it's my anniversary, right?), so I grabbed a medium fry from McDonald's and enjoyed it as I hurried home - yum! Hubby was already home (he got half the day off) and I anxiously wanted to "open presents" since I had already spotted mine on the couch early this morning as I was running out the door. My "coveted" pressure cooker was not in its box, however lots of other goodies were - strange, but good. Hmmmm. After the presents, a nap ensued and we awoke in time to get ready and go out to the Sequoia for dinner. We were surprised to get the first "round" of drinks on Jeff's sister and husband. Later, Hubby made small talk with the husband at the table next to us (something I hate and love, that he does ALL THE TIME - I could write a whole blog about his never-ending "networking"! What can I say he's a salesman). Nevertheless, this new "contact" handed us a whole bottle of wine, feeling festive as well (it was their 22nd anniversary), just as we were going to place our orders - more free drinks! Dinner was amazing but after 12 days on a diet and complimentary anniversary desserts, I admit I overindulged and paid for it later when getting to sleep was all but comfortable (maybe my stomach actually shrank).

The next morning Hubby went off to work and I picked up June Bug. Next, my favorite - grocery shopping (I'm not joking, I love it! I am the type of person that likes to just wander the aisles dreaming of all the goodies I could make with every ingredient imaginable.) Tonight though, my BFF was throwing a little gathering that included our friends to celebrate our anniversary - she's so cool. I asked if I could bring something and she allowed it. Mmmm, Loch Arthur Tart (I swear it was the only good recipe in that whole issue of Bon Appetit - it was their travel edition and it featured Scotland, I mean, really, Scottish Food?! Oh well if it took a whole issue to produce such a yummy dish, so be it). Anyway, I also needed to "practice" making the cake for my niece's upcoming wedding (I'm not a professional) so I also asked my BFF if I could make cupcakes for the party too. She laughed and said sure! So glad I practiced again - I'll have to work on making sure the pastry cream doesn't clump, less cornstarch I think. Topped them with chocolate ganache and call them "Boston Cream Cupcakes". Everything was ready and June bug awoke from her nap and we were out the door.

BFF had a surprise up her sleeve and had us all move locations just as the guests arrived. She had decorated the backyard of a friends vacant house just a few doors down with the perfect summertime atmosphere including streamers, candles, linens, champagne, a cake from Nugget (my favorite place at which I rarely get to shop since I live nearly an hour away). Actually, I have no pictures of the event except a funny one of Hubby posing in someones sunglasses. Don't worry, I'll get some. One very cute thing about the evening is that June Bug had helped decorate the night before and actually never told me about the big "party" all day. What a girl! The party was great and I think I'll have to do more than just make BFF a "little cake" for their annivsery next year.

Not much on the knitting front. Got an arm done on the shrug and haven't "un-blocked" the romper. Maybe tomorrow.

Hubby gave me the new pressure cooking and I made two dishes in it today. Not sure if will keep it. It works fine, but I guess I really should have requested a pressure canner if I had planned to can things in it. Oh well. Canned six pints of pears on the stovetop and dried the rest before the fruit flies could get them!

And the anniversary continues...Only three days until the rest of our anniversary celebration in Lake Tahoe. Woohoo. This is horrible to say, but I better get back on that diet tomorrow, our hotel has an indoor pool!

Yesterdays' Joy

This was the dinner from day 10-Wave 1 (of the Sonoma Diet). Herb marinated steaks with oven roasted ratatouille. I served it atop the homemade "spent-grain" bread I made a few days ago. The flowers are from the garden - Zinnias, Sunflowers, Bachelor Buttons, Oregano, Dahlias, and today we added sweat peas.

It's now day 11, which means wine tasting after work in Fairplay (it's a local town), since I'm now "allowed" to have wine - 6 oz with dinner!! Just two tastes since I had to pick up June Bug shortly thereafter. ZinMan at Perry Creek Winery is tasting better than ever and their Barbera was nice too.

On a knitting note, or should I say a knitting needle :), I visited my sister yesterday, who, if one thinks I live in the middle of nowhere, should see where she lives (it's call Rail Road Flat - I'm not kidding)! Nevertheless, she does live a nice 15-minute mountain-road ride to a quaint little yarn shop - Joy's Yarns. You could almost not notice it unless you had a trained eye in yarn shop "spotting" (we are pros). I just promised a few days back that I would not buy yarn for the cute new project I'm contemplating until I get to my goal weight, however I never said I couldn't buy for another project (sorry BFF)! lol Anyway Joy's is not quite the "joy" of my own local yarn shop (lys) - Lofty Lou's, but she's got a few gems and boy did I score. First of all, I brought my sister. (Let's just say she could not sport the bumper sticker "driver carries no cash"). Joy's doesn't take a card, so Sister came to the rescue  (I love you and I'll pay you back, don't worry) and I picked up three balls of Cascade 220 Superwash Wool in color 908 (Sexy Fuchsia would be how I'd say it). We headed back home and I searched for patterns...and I searched...and I searched. This is the problem with putting the cart before the horse. All those great patterns I've always wanted to make out of some "awesome wool" were nowhere to be found. So after almost an hour I gave up and went back to the scarf I'd started earlier. When our kids awoke from their nap (or lack thereof) I released them out to the front yard sat down on the patio and set back to work on the great project search on my iPhone and found one almost immediately at Lion Brand - the Textured Circle Shrug. I set right to work. Sadly play day was over just a short while later.

After preparing the delicious dinner (above), housework could no longer be avoided (remember, I was out in Rail Road Flat all day), my project had to wait until almost 11 for any more progress. Oh, I did block the little romper for Leslie's little one. Will probably sew it up tomorrow - actually finishing a project! Yippee!!

I finally snuck off to bed to continue my affair with the yarn, suddenly Hubby walked in! He immediately spotted the new yarn and new project - I was caught, red-handed (actually Sexy Fuchsia-handed). Oh well it's our 10-year anniversary in two days so he's in a good mood.

Sexy Shrug is calling to me - keep knitting.

Gotta start somewhere

Hello and welcome. This is the first post of my very first blog. I've read a few blogs and am now intrigued at telling cyberspace about me (I'm humble enough to know that nobody may ever read this). On Friday I will celebrate my 10-year anniversary with my husband, let's call him Hubby (are you supposed to use real names on blogs?). We have a four-year-old, daughter and I'm going to adopt the name we gave her even before we were pregnant - June Bug (it's a long story that I'll get to another time). My BFF, whose blog I just reviewed tonight, inspired my creating this blog since her last post simply stated that even if no one is reading, it's still a diary of past moments of life. I've never been too good at keeping a diary, but in case my typing might someday inspire someone - even if its just me, I'll write.

I like to cook (and mostly bake), knit, work in the garden and now blog about it all!

Happy reading.