Sometimes you want something special for salad and not the same old. So I googled best salad ever which is step one on pretty much everything I make. "Best muffins ever", or "best peanut butter cookies ever"... you have the idea. That's how I found my favorite chocolate cake recipe and how I found my favorite macaroni salad recipe.
But right now I'm into this salad. In a big way. I have made it four times in the last month and every time had people to share it with on top of my family and the same thing always happens. People eat seconds and sometimes thirds of it and are way too stuffed for dessert because it's so good. Then there's still a little leftover for me and I eat it for breakfast so it doesn't get too soggy and inedible. Because I am a good person. And wasting this salad would be a crime.
So here it is, it mostly follows this recipe: Jamie's Cranberry Spinach Salad, but I have modified it to make it amazing by following a composite of suggestions found in the reviews:
1 package (about 1/4 c) of slivered almonds, toasted.
1 apple, finely sliced
1 container of low fat or full fat feta, whatever is on sale. Don't buy the flavored kind, I think that would ruin the neutral creaminess.
5 generous handfuls of mixed greens, I buy the pre-washed kind to save time.
1 cup dried cranberries (craisins)
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/4 c white sugar
2 teaspoons minced onion - red is best but yellow is fine. And no chopping. Mince them finely.
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
So here's how I put all this magic together. I grab my biggest salad bowl. I grab 5 or maybe 6 big handfuls of mixed greens and put them in. Enough to fill up the bowl, you want a lot of good greens to soak up all the dressing. I know this salad was intended to be spinach, and you can totally do that, but sometimes I have textural issues with spinach stems and, yeah. I prefer the mixed greens. Next you can finely slice your apple. I peel the apples first, again textural issues with apple peels. Dump in your feta. Dump in the cup of craisins. Now for the toasting. Depending on how much you want to babysit it, you can do it one of two ways. The low maintenance way is to put your almonds on one side of a cookie tray and the 2 TBS of sesame seeds on the other side of the tray. Ten minutes in the oven at 350 F* will toast them all nicely. Or, a faster way but riskier, is to do it in a little pan on the stove top at medium heat, about 3 minutes, tossing and watching frequently and waiting for a little golden color, will work for the almonds. Only about a minute and a half will do it for your sesame seeds. Take them off the heat and toss them again and let them cool, they will continue to cook just a little afterwards due to the heat in the pan. Once you're finished toasting, put the almonds directly on the salad and save the sesame seeds for your dressing compilation. I have a handy plastic dressing bottle that has a wide enough mouth to pour all the ingredients directly into it and when it's done you can shake the crap out of it and it won't leak. Dump in your sugar, poppy seeds, paprika, vinegars, olive oil, minced red onion and your cooled sesame seeds. Shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid picture. Also I like mine slightly chilled so if there is time I put the dressing in the freezer or fridge for a few minutes. You don't want to pour it over the salad until right before you sit down to eat. So delegate the tossing and pouring and tossing to a guest while you get your other stuff done.
This salad *might* be a little extra work but once you've tasted it, barring a life-threatening allergy to almonds... you will feel privileged to make it again. It's that awesome. It's like, this salad chose you. If you are just reading this right now, you are special. Because now you know how to make the best salad ever. And no one can ever take that away from you.
I refuse to believe that it is now afternoon. Also that snow will fall in fifteen weeks. This morning I made brunch which I always feel is the best food in town. When the day comes where I will actually be able to go to a restaurant in Fairbanks and get the same quality of breakfast food that I can make at home at a reasonable price, I will be amazed and that place of business will have my loyalty.
In case you think we eat like this every day... no. It's Sunday and the first of four days off for Jason, and I'm a little bit in party mode. Tomorrow it's back to the high-fiber cereal everyone. Today the blur of summer makes me feel unproductive, the sky is moody, blue and fluffy white clouds in parts and dark foreboding in others. The wind is playing on the waters of Mia's kiddie pool. The curtains are blowing in the windows and the air smells intoxicating.
I've had my one cup of coffee and as it grows ever closer to one o'clock in the afternoon, I'm casually entertaining thoughts of changing out of my bathrobe and actually attempting some productivity. I have grand schemes of reorganizing everything but it's more in the dream phase today. Perhaps I will do just enough to trick myself into thinking I deserve that nap on cool sheets, light streaming in.
To the young man riding a motorcycle on the Steese Highway the day before Mother's Day: Wear a helmet!!!!!!
To the two other people riding motorcycles the day before Mother's Day, good job, your parents would be very proud of you for wearing a helmet.
To the people who keep on forgetting to use their blinkers. Don't even get me started. Before operating your motor vehicle, check your mirrors and seat to see if they are in an appropriate position. Acquaint yourself with the position of your vehicle's wiper and turn signal controls. If you drive an air-colored car, consider turning your headlights into the "on" position. And then for the love of all that is holy put your cell phone away and use your blinkers! Gah! The rule is 100 yards before the turn. Not two seconds before you turn you inconsiderate, self-absorbed person who thinks the roadways exist for them and by them. You are not the center of the universe!
To the people who I see texting in their cars and not watching the roads. Please stop.
To the people who must talk on your cell phone in the car, I'm not saying I've never done it. And it's still legal in our great state. But most of the time (according to my extensive body of unbiased evidence) when I observe you doing stupid things, driving recklessly, or being generally inconsiderate you are discussing trivial matters on your cell phone. So if you must talk on the phone, make sure you're not being a terrible driver while you are doing it.
Trivial matters include (in no particular order): Cheese. Television shows. The weather. Anything that isn't "Oh dear God, both of my legs have fallen off and I am bleeding to death and can you meet me at the emergency room!" And really in that case you should call 911 and pull your car over as you can no longer drive with bleeding leg sockets. Ok, here's a good reason to use it while you are driving, you are being followed and you are calling the troopers or a well-armed loved one to help you.
Finally, if you are driving a car at one time our government thought you were talented enough to pull that off. Think about that for a second. What I am getting at is, it doesn't mean you are!!!!
With no love lost for bad drivers who just don't care -
Righteous Ronnie
I don't want to be a follower, but more importantly I don't want to be thought of as a follower. Regardless, I have recently decided to boldly declare my allegiance to Team Coco, for the simple reason that it's been making me laugh. And if a supposedly funny person can do that, I say job well done. In the spirit of my new-found devotion, I wrote a poem the other morning when I glanced in the mirror and realized I am becoming Conan O'Brien. Prepare to be brutalized by poetry written by a woman before she has eaten breakfast:
Dear Conan,
I wake up in the morning looking a lot like you
Yeah I've even got a vein under my eye, it's true
Did I mention I'm part Irish, it explains a lot
The weird part is I'm female and I'm...... 22.
We don't have anything else in common
Except I laugh at your jokes
When I saw your facial vein, though
I knew I had to give your fb page a poke.
Hold the applause, I know everyone loves my poetry. If you are vomiting, I did warn you. Disclaimer: If you are not nice to me about my poetry and go to extra work to mock my poetry, my actual eye vein will eat you. And now the frosting for this delicious piece of poetry-cake, a picture of me, resembling Conan:
Most importantly I feel like I smell spring. Is that crazy? I don't know. But I smell it. It's supposed to get down to -17*F again by Friday but based on the accuracy of any weather-predicting person, website, or phone app... we really really don't know. I'm hoping we have the earliest ever spring. Sometimes I care so much about the weather I dream about it. One year I dreamed that we had a snow-free Halloween. It almost happened but then no cigar. I just wanted a Meet Me In St. Louis Halloween for once. One where the kiddies don't have to wear their costumes over their warm snow clothes. If you live where the daffodils are threatening to bloom and the baby lambs are ominously frolicking in the vast expanse of green, please don't tell me about it right now. I'm too scared for you. I have too much empathy.
I'm not asking for your compassion. I don't need it. I eat snow for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sometimes midnight snacks. I may have a touch of cabin fever though. I have had a cold for a while and so have felt like doing nothing. Correction: My body has felt like doing nothing while my brain is screaming about the fact that it is atrophying. So I am going to compile a list of extracurricular projects and start. This may mean that I am getting better. Dear God, I hope so.
On the list:
- Apple Sharlotka. I still haven't made it and I bought green apples and a spring-form pan, so as soon as I can cook without sneezing, bring it on! (Check out Smitten Kitchen for the recipe.)
- Organizing and cleansing the large upstairs closet. No elaboration needed.
- Buckle down on the French lessons.
- New crochet project.
- Catch up on laundry. Not a glamorous item but I think a worthy goal. Well it's not really extracurricular but it needs to happen.
We'll see what happens. At the moment I want to eat a steaming hot bowl of buttered maple oatmeal and take a mid-morning nap.
I played lions a lot today. I also did some other stuff but playing lions was the most important thing I did. In between laundry and lunch and dinner and changing bedsheets I crawled around on all fours and talked in a Sarabi-esque voice. I let a baby lion ride on my back as I crossed a deep river. I hunted with my cub and ate the meat we killed together. I groomed my cub by pretending to lick her hair lovingly. I admired her teeth and how strong they were (as I was required to incorporate playing lions into the flossing routine.) I even said the goodnight prayer in my lion-mother voice. And called my own daughter Simba for most of the day. Right now my darling cub is nestled in her bed and this memory is nestled in my heart.
The past week has been difficult. For me and for many people in our community. What are the words when you lose someone that you know truly loved you and cared for you. I will miss you and never forget you. You were always so generous with your love. I hope in some small way I can be like you as a tribute to you and your love. I know you didn't want to go but sometimes we don't have a choice. Thank you for fighting so hard. I believe in heaven and I believe I will see you again. Until then, I will miss you.
'Twas the night before Thanksgiving
And all through the house
Every creature was stirring
Except for the mother
Who could have been stirring
Preparing and cooking
But instead was blogging
And facebook stalking.
The holiday cookies half-gone, quite delicious
The merry pile of unwashed, crusty dishes
(you like that don't you, delicious, dishes...)
The table covered with crap in all shapes and sizes
The laundry unwashed, nearly a crisis.
But fortunately this house is not hosting Thanksgiving
And the family is generally very forgiving
So she lets go of her high expectations
And hopes the lesson lasts for the duration.
It's a bitterly cold morning here in Fairbanks. No matter how long you let the car run it really doesn't get warm inside. The dog is too hot inside but lies down to protect his paws from the burning snow if we let him play outside for any length of time. He's gotten very efficient at going potty. Fortunately the forecast indicates that we will be seeing a reprieve soon, and by that I mean, it's possibly going to warm up to -20*F tomorrow. I'm taking Mia to gymnastics today, they have a cut-off temperature of -45*F and we're way warmer than that. Ten whole degrees warmer than that. So we're going to gymnastics and going to live our lives, mostly inside. Commence Christmas!!!! It's kind of nice to be stuck inside cleaning, organizing, browsing cookbooks and watching Elf. I really like this season and make it last for 2 months every year. Usually I start listening to the music in October but Jason convinced me to wait until November this year. So far in seasonal cooking adventures I have roasted an eight-pound pumpkin and pureed it for a soup (I'd never done that before and it was interesting). I also found a recipe for soft ginger snaps that turned out pretty well. This year I think the cookies I am going to focus on are chocolate dipped macaroons and Purcell Magic Cookies:
1/2 cup milk
1 cube butter
2 cups sugar
1 heap TB cocoa powder
Bring this mixture to a boil and boil for 1 minute on medium heat, stirring when needed.
Take off burner and add:
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups oats ( regular oats, not quick acting)
1-2 tsp vanilla
Stir until thoroughly mixed, and drop on waxed paper to cool or on a greased cookie sheet. They are great frozen or stored in the fridge and they taste like a candy bar. Also they are super-fast to make and usually everyone raves about them. I really like putting the whole pan to cool right outside the door and then usually they set up instantly during the winter.
One night in New York, Mary and I walked to the Hudson River. When we came back home Jason had cooked an amazing Italian meal from scratch for us. It was heaven.
Yeah, I'm the crazy lady taking pictures of the pumpkins in Whole Foods. You just have to live in Fairbanks to understand why being in a Whole Foods feels like a magical wonderland.
Not to gross anyone out, but I realized I didn't post any pictures of myself in New York... and the only one I could find was of me making out. Sorry. And I'm totally lying. There's lots of other pictures.
For tradition's sake, we got another photo of the cool statue at the Natural History Museum. I still don't know at all what it is or who made it. We just had to take another picture since we did last time we were in NYC.
Mia was a real trooper at the Natural History Museum. It's really big! We were there for approximately 5 hours.
So yesterday my adorable 3 year old was using a marker that writes on glass. I had given her permission to write on our big hallway mirror. Everything was going perfectly until she said, "Mmmm, I like to smell this marker." I said, don't do that, it hurts your body. Then she got worried so I clarified that only a little probably wouldn't hurt her so she proceeds to sniff it again and said, "I'm just doing a little." At the bottom of this rabbit-hole I found myself saying,
1. Don't do it again.
2. It hurts kid's brains.
3. Do you want to not be smart anymore?
Oh geez. I'm THAT mom. Also the substance abuse talk? I thought I was going to have to do that... not now.
Well it's been so long since I've blogged I feel like I've lived one or two lifetimes. A few important things/highlights:
1. I decided listing 1300 things to be grateful for feeds into my OCD side in a bad way and I will blog about things I am grateful for in a more organic and less forced way.
2. I had a bad flare with my IBD and a short course of steroids did the trick. I am now steroid-free again and happy. Turns out I like being healthy.
3. I had a wonderful week of Fairbanks fall where everything was golden. My sister and her husband came up and we had the best week of weather. We went riding in the White Mountains, ate lots of good local food and took walks in Creamer's Field. It was idyllic.
4. We just got back from a great trip to NYC which is always a treat. I am so happy I got better in time to go. We got to spend time with Mary and Ryan and Ilene and Lyle were also able to come for part of the time. The food, the people, the fashion inspiration... the list goes on. We got to ride bikes all the way through Central Park this trip which was really fun. We also got to experience the Planetarium at the Natural History Museum which was amazing! Mia was old enough to go to a Broadway show this time so we all went to the Lion King together which was unbelievable.
5. After gorging ourselves on amazing NYC food for two weeks, one of our last nights there we watched a documentary about eating more vegetables. It was fairly persuasive and so I came home with a renewed vigor as well as inspiration from delicious food we got to eat, to use more whole foods and fruits and vegetables in my cooking. I am using Heidi Swanson's book, Super Natural Everyday, and trying to work my way through the entire book. So far this week I have made Wild Rice Casserole, Baked Oatmeal, and am eying the Black Sesame Otsu for later this weekend. I also found a recipe online for Eggplant Parmesan, written by the guys from Torrisi's, one of our favorite restaurants in NYC. The family has been really happy with the results so far and I am really enjoying cooking new things.
Now for some pictures!
Lady Liberty, even more gorgeous in person!
Adorable newlyweds Mary and Ryan.
Jason pushing Mia at her favorite playground in Central Park, we actually had to stand in line for the swings since we went on Columbus Day and about one million other people had the same idea.
Got to visit MOMA which was something I've been wanting to do; it was really cool to see Starry Night in person.
Jason's Dad and Mom enjoying the great weather on Liberty Island.
I'll post some more pictures (including some of the food I've been cooking) in the next few days. Glad to be back!
Hi Person that I don't know. I barely made it through sitting with you in the waiting room. And I'm here to tell you why you were driving me completely nuts. Ok, first my disclaimer. I really try to not judge people so your "behavior" was what I had an issue with, not you.
1. You were way too loud. I got to hear all your personal business and frankly I don't need or want to know that stuff.
2. Your kids appear to be oh, 9 & 10 years old. They don't need a play-by-play of your every movement. "Kids, I'm going over to this side of the counter..." But way to hover. In a suffocating way that even I, an innocent bystander, felt the aftershocks of.
3. So your son fills out a coloring sheet. Good for him. Now he's too embarrassed to turn it in to the counter to get his prize. Probably because, deep in his heart of hearts, he knows he's too old for that crap. So he asks you to go turn it in for him. This is when the fun starts. You (loudly) commence a speech on the value of trying things for himself, if he doesn't practice now, what's he going to do when Mommy isn't there with him. I kid you not. "Dont'cha think?" In a patronizing manner you address your boy-man and insist he give you eye contact while you embarrass him in front of the entire waiting room. You ask him to speak up and tell you what the matter is. He admits in a whispered voice that he's scared. You say, "WHAT?" He, exasperated, says, "I"M SCARED!" You berate him publicly for this. His sister wanders over and asks what's wrong. You tell her loudly and in a self-righteous tone that he's scared to go claim his prize. The sister yanks the coloring sheet from him and marches up to the front desk. Never fear Mommy, you have given her all the necessary tools to know how to emasculate someone.
4. To sum it up you treated your pre-teen son like a baby and humiliated him in front of the whole waiting room and I for one did not appreciate it. Let your son grow up, quit treating him like a baby and saying things like, "You're mommy's big boy". He deserves independence and freedom to make his own choices. If he doesn't want to turn in the stupid coloring sheet, then hooray, life is it's own consequence and he doesn't get the stupid prize. So ironic that you were counseling him on practicing independence. I don't get it. But I do know that it was all I could do to keep still and I found myself clenching my fists listening to your erroneous psycho-babble.
5.All that to say, you are the reason the game "Glare at every nurse who doesn't call your name" was invented. (The one that called me got the smile.)
From happiness though. Apparently there's a new study that indicates "The highest levels of chocolate consumption were associated with a 37% reduction in cardiovascular disease (relative risk 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.90)) and a 29% reduction in stroke compared with the lowest levels." I needed that, chocolate scientists. Of course they advise moderation but still it was a great way to start a Tuesday. Here's a news article with more info. Let us all raise our chocolate bars in a celebratory cheer, "To health!"
* This website and any information on it or any links to other websites provided by this website are not intended for medical advice. Don't sue me. I just like chocolate.
Missed a week so we'll pick up here. Instead of blogging and stuff I helped Mia get over a very violent 24 hour flu. Which thankfully Jason and I did not seem to get so there's number one:
101. Jason and I did not get the flu this week.
102. Yesterday. After rain and cloudiness off and on the past few days, it was 70*F and windy, blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Instead of doing chores or errands Mia and I went to the park and rode the train, played on the equipment, ate our lunch and had a few bites of overpriced ice cream. It was amazing.
103. My new-found pizza crust recipe (it's thin and maybe needs a little tweaking but I think I have a winner: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001199.html
104. This song by Jem:
I often find I'm behind the times in discovering artists. I don't know why but better late than never. I really like it.
105. The word "ramekins". Say it a few times. Say it as if it's the answer to the evil plans you have for world domination. Following up with maniacal laughter won't hurt. You'll get what I mean.
106. French onion soup. You see, that goes very well with ramekins.
107. This cool metal jewelry tree
from tenthousandvillages.com, a fair trade importing company.
108. This is a (semi) deep one that I've been thinking about for the last few weeks. Ever since I turned thirty-one (not thirty, that didn't really make the difference), I find almost everything is easier. Standing up for myself, picking blueberries, cooking, peeling apples, I don't know, you name it, it's easier then it's ever been. Not that I've arrived, I just feel like I've been doing this thing called life long enough to maybe not give a crap anymore? The struggle of life seems less. I care less about what people think, and just in general feel more comfortable in my own skin. I like myself more than I did in my twenties. So for all of you out there behind me and not sure you are wanting to head this way, trust me it's freaking awesome! For those of you older than me, so does it keep getting better or does it hit the fan at a certain point?
109. Anderson Cooper finally lost it! You can watch him laugh himself silly here.
110. I am grateful the US is taking a stand in regards to the crisis in Syria this week. You can read about it here. Our President has called for Syria's President Assad to leave office as well as instituting serious sanctions. Yeah that's right I'm happy about something our government is doing. Amazing isn't it?
111. This informative website regarding slave-free chocolate.
112. This amazing recipe for vegan lemon scones with vegan clotted cream. I made these and I am not vegan but if that's what vegans get to eat then I am a jealous omnivore.
113. Baby Can I Hold You by Tracy Chapman:
114. My personal "Find the best tiramisu in town" challenge. Several different tests must be made at each location to ascertain, scientifically, the superior product. Results will be forthcoming at a much later date. (This study could take several years.) Last night's was from Gamberdella's Pasta Bella and was perfectly creamy with a dense but not dry cake.
115. Mia's current pretend name: Lollipop
116. The fact that she spends about 20% of her day pretending to be a lion and roaring. Although it can get annoying (think Lion King fight scene on endless loop), I know I will miss it when she grows up.
117. My friend and constant companion, the hot pink Nalgene water bottle.
118. Tillamook sharp cheddar.
119. Excercise TV.
120. Fall is around the corner, one of my favorite seasons in Fairbanks. I love how everything smells and it's very comfortable and reassuring.
121. My new cookbooks by Heidi Swanson.
122. I am grateful that chocolate cures me of headaches. (Ibuprofen just isn't as fun.)
123. I am grateful for this website; it inspires me and I can spend hours looking at it!
124. Supportive places on the interwebs for people with IBD, like this.
125. Getting to see family, hi Josh it's nice to have you in my living room right now!
75. Snoqualmie Falls Lodge Pancake and Waffle mix
76. This song sung by The Frames
77. Ripe chokecherries, I think they are shiny.. (oooo, shiny!!!)
78. Southwest Sandwiches
79. My shamrock plant, thank you for still being alive. I know it's been a hard life and I appreciate all you've had to go through to hang in there. Keep on keeping on.
80. This song by The Civil Wars
81. The free piano I inherited. SCORE!
82. Gustav Klimt
83. Walking barefoot on cold ground.
84. Sharp hair scissors.
85. Funnel cake
86. Thai iced tea
87. Smoked salmon. Add cream cheese, a cracker, and you have dinner!
88. The look of joy on Mia's face when we took her on the Dragon Swing ride at the fair today.
89. How big she looked riding a horse all by herself today.
90. That my husband, after working 60 hours or so this week, wanted to take us all to the fair as soon as he got off for the weekend.
91. That Mia uses kitchen utensils as microphones just like I did when I was a little girl.
91. Pointillism
92. Dry mustard
93. This book, well loved in childhood, I was able to get a copy of it last year.
94. The smell of Country Kitchen.
95. The fact that I was able to keep Bando from eating the dead bird he found in our yard tonight. As gross as that was, it would have been ten times worse had he eaten it.
96. This awesome book about gnomes.
97. The discovery of pretzels dipped in spicy mustard, umm yes please!
98. The endless possibilities when bananas get too ripe.
99. Creamer's Field
100. One day of really nice weather after *someone* (weatherperson) said there was a frost advisory... as far as I know it didn't happen! Take that, evil winter!
Ok, can't get enough of this song and it's by the duo The Civil Wars, two friends who harmonize amazingly. It's another folk group; I'm kind of in a folksy sort of mood. The music video is fairly simple but it's just a great, great song and would be awesome used for a dance routine. In fact, now I am wondering if I've seen it used in a dance routine... nevermind, here's the song:
I hope you love it as much as I do. It is awesome!
I recently discovered the musical group Storyhill; I was listening to Prairie Home Companion the other day and they tacked on the song Paradise Lost. I went home and tried to find the song, even called KUAC, Laurie called me back and then I found it online finally mid-week. Now that I know what song it is I have played it one billion times. I am not normally into country music but I would say this falls vaguely under the folk category. Two male voices harmonizing with acoustic guitars stood out as a little different and I especially love the second line of the bridge. Ignore the talking at the beginning and just hold on... the music is coming. For your perusal, I give you... Paradise Lost:
Everybody wants a piece of paradise
A house up on the hill with a view of heaven
Now everyone's here so close together
Paradise is lost and gone forever
Chorus:
When we were young we used to walk out in those fields
And run forever in the backyard woods
Now the old trails disappear in neighborhoods
With streets named after what's gone for good
The hills above town used to be the best place
For starry eyed lovers and inspration
Now it's all paved
Every street's a dead end
And empty summer houses stand all along them
Chorus
Now there's no trespassing
There's no going back again
I only hope you remember
The way it was, what we had back then
Chorus
Everybody wants a piece of paradise
A house up on the hill with a view of heaven
This week I asked Mia to tell me things that she liked, things that she was thankful for. Here it is:
51. Couches
52. Beds
53. Butterflys
54. Dragonflys
55. Laptops
56. Rings
57. Walls
58. Lamps
59. Furnaces
60. And colors
61. And dogs
62. Balloons
63. And chapstick
64. Blankets
65. And dollies
66. And pigs
67. Coffee tables
68. Cookies
69. Playing blocks
70. Purple
71. Sesame Street
72. Cheerios
73. Curious George
74. Hello Dolly song
75. Haidie and Emma and Jak-Jak and Bubba
Mia and her friends after our second blueberry picking expedition. They did a great job!
Friday we went to the library end of summer reading program parade at Pioneer Park.
Bando was a star attraction. About one thousand people asked to pet him.
Mia was fascinated/frightened of the giant yellow rubber duck. "Why is it big, why?"
Saturday was Italian night. Homemade meatballs with Black Angus from Homegrown Market and this delicious salad. Throw in a few lit candles and a "That's Amore" Pandora station and it trumps any restaurant in town.
