Water and Words

Time to add some vacation memories...

This time I will share all the joy we found in the water and with words.

The words were actually all my joy.  I read 2 1/2 books while we were gone that week!  It was glorious.  I love to get lost in a good book.  It rejuvenates me, relaxes me.  So I was thrilled to not only read so much, but also to read with such beauty all around me.  Here are a couple examples of the view over the top of my book:

 

is there anything much better than digging your toes in the sand while reading?

So much other fun happened in the water...

like handstands in the pool

and launching water balloons with the neighbors

and riding around on wave runners

and getting new hair-do's from riding wave runners at high speeds

and posing for family pictures

and digging in the sand

and getting some lake-weed therapy from Dr. Emily!

That last scene was a sight and a half.  My son is freaked-out by lake weed.  The only sense he can make of it is that he's not sure what's in or under or around the lake weed.  So he hates to see it, touch it, imagine it...he just freaks out.  So somehow the sweet Emily convinced him to paddle out beyond the lake weed on the noodles.  It was so much like the scene from "What About Bob", where Bob gets pushed into the water by Dr. Marvin and he paddles on his back to safety.

And here is a total bonus story for you!  Brad and I took a long ride together (we got the wave runner up to 53 mph, thank you very much!) and we went back to get a peek at Matt's house.  You know, Matt...one of my beloved Seahawks.  Last year I actually posted a picture of his house, and I think in the picture you can see his snazzy boats lined up at the dock.  All shiny, candle-apple red.  I don't know why he didn't choose Seahawk blue...but anyway.  I digress.  This year, as we were approaching, one of those shiny boats was making it's way towards the house.  When we were on our way back???  I am 99% sure that the tall, buff, mostly bald man parking the boat at the dock was no other than #8 himself!  I did have my camera with me, but I unfortunately also brought along my dignity.  So we just drove by and stared.  And really, after meeting Kari earlier in the week, my cup was so runnething over that I couldn't take in another brush with greatness.  But still, it was exciting.  And he looked relaxed.  And in great shape.  And ready for August, if I do say so myself.  And I am not being paid even a cent in scouting reports.

And goodness me, but I have not even made my way to the water park pictures yet!  I will have to save that for another day, another post.  Just looking at these pictures makes me want to hurry back over there and do it all over again!

Monday Menu ~ Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

Hold on to your hats, Monday Menu is back!  After a very unintentional hiatus, it's back.  Life just gets in the way of good intentions sometimes, and Mondays seemed to come and go with no thought given to this.  And it's so funny...because these menu posts very rarely get comments, which is fine.  I really do this to document things for my kids.  And I'm glad to have these recipes in an accessible way.  But, because they get no comments, I assume they would not be missed.  And then I start hearing a low, gentle rumble headed my way...and it gets a bit louder and rumblier and it comes out in the form of, "when are Monday Menus coming back?" "How come you aren't posting recipes anymore" or "I really like the recipes, are you going to post any more soon??"  or my FAVORITE: "you aren't putting very many Monday Menus up anymore, does that mean you aren't cooking very much anymore?"  I wish it were that easy.  "Sorry, kids, mommy didn't blog today, so there will be no dinner."  That just makes me chuckle.

So, in the interest of all the silent but lovely people who are missing Monday Menu, this one is for you!  And actually for all of you, because it is sensational.  I snagged this from Marlece, made it for the first time on vacation, and have made it already since we've been home.  It makes a huge amount, and tastes great as left-overs.  In fact, I ate it for dinner three nights in a row.  It's a perfect summer meal!

oh, sorry...there I go fantasizing again...

THIS is the real salad!

Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad With Chicken and Asparagus

Creamy Buttermilk Dressing:

1 large garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup buttermilk
3 TBSP rice vinegar

Pasta Salad:

2 TBSP salt
1 pound penne pasta (Marlece uses bow tie, I use penne, the last time I used a mix of penne a small shells, so do whatever)
8 oz. trimmed asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound cooked chicken (I just cooked a whole chicken a pulled off a bunch into bite-sized pieces.  or just use a Costco rotisserie chicken, or be all healthy and do just chicken breasts.)
8 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved (I'm such a rebel: I used 4 Roma tomatoes, chopped coarsely)
1 (14 oz.) can whole artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (the 2nd time I made this, I only had a jar of marinated artichoke hearts.  I used 'em and it was fabulous.)
3 green onions, thinly sliced (or just finely dice a good amount of sweet onion, tastes great either way)
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted in a small skillet over low heat until golden (I have yet to add this, but I know it would be great)
1/3 cup pesto (homemade or refrigerated prepared)

directions:
mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl; keep chilled until ready to toss with salad.

bring water and salt to boil in a large pot.  add pasta and cook according to package directions.  Add the asparagus the last minute.  Drain thoroughly and dump onto a large, lipped cookie sheet to cool.  When cool to the touch, add to a large bowl and toss together all remaining ingredients.  (Can be covered and refrigerated for several hours at this point.)  When ready to serve, add dressing, toss to coat and serve.

And, as a bonus, here's a new favorite thing from Costo:

The Arends introduced us to this amazing bread on vacation:

A  piece of this toasted goes beautifully with this salad.

Enjoy!

Airports and Hair Nets and Rocks, Oh My!

It's time.  Time to share more vacation memories.  Time to put a post up that will bump that sweet waffle post down one.  I don't really want to do it, but I do want to get the rest of these memories on here while they are fresh in my brain! 

I left on vacation just about totally wiped out.  I had been running on fumes for quite awhile, just going in too many directions when my body and mind just wanted a break.  It felt like life had been ruled by the clock and places to be for so long, and I was ready for vacation!  We had one more deadline to meet before we could actually feel like we were letting down:

Alex had spent the week prior to vacation on his road trip to Washington DC.  He took some amazing pictures, and I will post those soon.  We picked him up at the airport Wednesday morning, our get-out-of-town day.  His flight was 20 minutes early, and we were racing to Sea-Tac, hoping to be there in time for me to be at the gate when he got off the plane.  We so barely made it!  I had to stand in line at the ticket counter, which was moving sooo slowly.  When it was my turn, the man was in a very chatty, jovial mood.  Great, but that plane is landing in FIVE MINUTES!!!  He said, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but you have to be 21 to pick up a minor at the gate."  Hilarious.  I said, "Well, the fact that you just called me ma'am speaks for itself."  He wanted to continue this banter, and I wanted to vent my impatience.  I kept it sweet, though, hoping to get out of there without ruffling any feathers.  I did, and literally walked up to the gate as the plane was taxiing.  It was so great to see him!

We were in no rush to get over to Chelan, so where did we start our vacation?  Costco!  We grabbed some lunch and sat there in the food court looking at Alex's pictures and hearing stories.  After about an hour and a half of stories and wandering the aisles of Costco, it was time to hit the road!

It felt great to have all my kids back in one place, to sit and read a magazine and chat with Brad.  A very peaceful drive in a van loaded with coolers, pool noodles, and happy kids.  Then we came into Wenatchee, and three of us had to use a bathroom and could not make it the rest of the way.  At the same time, we saw the big billboard for the Applets & Cotlets factory.  "Free tours and samples"  Well, I'm sure if you offer tours and samples, you must also offer bathrooms, so off we went.  What a hoot!  I have never even eaten an Applet or Cotlet.  I don't like the texture I see when I look at them.  I've never been much of a jelly candy girl.  I do have some standards when it comes to my food.  But my children will eat anything, so all was not lost.  And the bathrooms were a relief to behold.

And the little hair nets we had to wear?  Well, that was just a bonus.

this would make a smashing Christmas card photo!

That's officially two pictures too many of that experience. 

And then it was finally time!  Time to say hello to the Big Rock House for another week!

hello, Big Rock!

hello, Big Rock House!

It was so good to pull in and know that we were in for a fabulous week.  To know that there would be no ringing phones, no t.v., no computers...

How cool is this??  Brenda and I posed for HOURS to have this sign made.  And that's not easy to do on water skiis.

first dinner on the deck

first dip in the pool

and the sun sets on our first day...

And now it is time to run on that treadmill.  I went 10 days without running.  I ate too much on vacation - though I wouldn't change that for anything - and now it is painfully obvious!  My body screamed in protest yesterday, and here's hoping that today is better!  But I'll never know unless I try! 

Yet Another Thrill at Blueberry Hills!

We are back home after a glorious week of vacation!  Like last year, there are entirely too many exciting experiences to share in one post.  And the one that shines well above all others, for me, is the one I need to start with.  It needs its own post.  It really needs its own blog, but I'll keep it controlled.

My berry, berry, absolute favorite place to eat breakfast...actually I do believe it is just simply my berry favorite place to eat, is Blueberry Hills in Manson, just outside of Chelan.  I first ate there in June of 2004.  I fell deeply in love with a waffle like I had never known.  It's perfection.  The setting is so beautifully relaxing.  It's a place that makes you want to linger, not rush.  The food is all scratch cooking...makes me feel like my grandma is back there "puttin' something together" for me.  So.  Good.  We loved it so much, and intended to go back soon.  Our plan was to make a trip in the summer of 2006, and then that summer took on a life of its own with Beth, and waffles were not on our mind.  So FINALLY we made it back there last year.  FIVE YEARS after I fell in love, I had to wait FIVE YEARS!, to get myself back there.  And it did not disappoint.  It was so worth the wait.  I tell everyone about this place.  I have given myself the role of the Blueberry Hills Ambassador in Olympia.  I do think everyone I know, and many I don't, have heard all about Blueberry Hills.  Yeah, it's true, you'll find your th-rill.  You can go check out their website to get the whole story of the place... Leanne's Waffle Obsession. (Link name, not yet the website name.)

 

And this year?  Well, it not only did not disappoint, but it blue me away.  Yes, I meant to say blue instead of blew.  There's a theme being woven through here.  I truly had a happy moment there that shot straight to the core of my heart.  I said above that I'd keep it controlled.  Silly me.  I know myself better than that.

Here's my perfect waffle order:  hold on.  (I literally am salivating just preparing to describe it to you.)  They make Danish Yeast Waffles.  Not just your regular waffle, a Danish Yeast Waffle.  This waffle is the perfection of slightly crispy outside and fluffy inside.  Just the slightest hint of yeast-yness comes through, hinting of a fresh-from-the-oven warm yeast bread.  And the smell?  Oh, the smell!  All I can say is that if you were so blessed to grow up with grandparents that lived on a farm and a grandma that really knew how to cook, then you know the smell.  It smells like home.  Yep, that's it.  Like a warm, safe, cozy home.  A place where you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved and welcome.  That, my friends, is Blueberry Hills.  And the taste?  It completely matches all that you would hope it to be.  Anyway, back to my order:

I get the Coconut Creme Waffles.  Listen to this:

"Two Danish Yeast Waffles topped with our homemade creamy coconut syrup, shredded coconut, real whipped cream & slivered almonds."

Sounds great, right?  But wait, there's more.  Another menu option describes the Barn Waffles, which is two waffles topped with warm pie filling, either blueberry or peach.  Okay, peach pie is a food that speaks to my heart.  I just couldn't let either option go.  So I ordered the coconut creme waffles with a topping of warm peach pie filling.  I know, right?!  When I ordered this in 2009, the gal asked, "Are you sure about that?".  I enthusiastically assured her that I was quite sure about that.  Really, the level of assurance was matched by the level I had on my wedding day.  Not a waiver of doubt in my mind.  And both have turned out to be well-deserving of my certainty.

hello, my lovelies

I scrape my whipped cream off and divide it among the kids, because really now:  I want nothing to interfere with the perfect taste of the peaches and coconut and waffles.  And I learned a secret this trip, which is ridiculously obvious to me once in was pointed out, and that is there is a hint of almond extract in the peach pie filling.  So of course it meshes beautifully with the coconut/almond topping.  It was meant to be, all this time.

So this year, once again, I was telling the waitress how great that combination is, and that it really should be tried.  She said she'd pass that along to "Kari" (!!!!).  I said, "Oh, please tell her how much we love this place!"  And SHE said....."Well, would you like to meet her?"

Be. Still. My. Heart.

Uh, yeah, I'd like to meet her!  I'm not kidding when I say that my adoration for this place is right up there with Paula Deen, Trophy Cupcakes, Bobby Flay, and The Pioneer Woman, to name a few.

And she is as sweet as her food is divine!  It was honestly such a thrill on Blueberry Hills.  I can't even say enough about what a happy, bright spot that was for me!  To finally be able to tell someone that what they do brings you such joy...it was...a joy.  Our family has now made such great memories there, and I am so grateful for the chance to be able to meet the gal who is responsible for setting that stage.  And I know it was a crazy, chaotic day for her, and she still took the time to chat with us...warmed my heart.

isn't she the cutest?!

And then it gets even better!!!  (Now my heart is all a-flutter at the memory.  And I'm still salivating.  What a wreck.)

Brad went back in with Brenda after we had gone out to our cars to ask about local wineries.  I said to him, "Hey, have her sign a menu for me!"  Ha!  Well, she just went above and beyond with that, too!  She signed a menu, alright...but look what she printed up just for me:

check out the 4th menu option!!

I am having it framed (the signed version) to hang in my kitchen.  And every time I see it, I will be reminded of another great family vacation, a heart-warming place to eat, and a gal who is sweeter than the coconut creme waffle with warm peach pie filling!!  Thank you for your sweetness, Kari!!!

Many more vacation stories to come, but I had to give this one the place of honor...now you see why this deserved its very own post, huh?!

And, I can't leave out the biscuits and gravy...crazy good.

I promise there are some biscuits under that mound of gravy!

good friends to share it with??  even better!

my sweet family to share it with?  as good as it gets!

Monday Menu ~ Nut Butter

***This is a re-post at the request of a friend.  I made this last night, and she called while I was making it.  She insisted on the recipe...and I insist you must try this!  I love, love, love it...still.  A piece of raisin bread with nut butter will be my breakfast everyday on vacation...except for the day when I am at Blueberry Hill eating my Danish yeast waffle with peach pie filling and coconut syrup.  My heart flutters at the mere mention of this waffle.  It's about the best thing you can imagine on your taste buds.  But I'm getting carried away again...back to the nut butter!!!!!


Okay, this is a bit of an odd ball recipe. You may read this and think you'll save the trouble and just buy yourself a jar of peanut butter. But, please, let me tell you that this is such a very yummy nut spread. We love this, and eat in on a whole variety of things. One thing in particular has become one of my new favorite foods. It was the last thing I ate before I ran my 5K. If that's not a testimonial, I don't know what is! This recipe came off another blog I read, MckMama, but I've tweaked some things and left some things out...what I usually do to a recipe.

This makes a huge amount, so although it's a bit of a mess to make, it will be worth your time and last you a long while. I would say this recipe took me about an hour from start to finish. And the amounts are somewhat random: not a recipe that is dependant on exactness! So have fun making this your own in whatever way suits your family!

if you are one to look closely at a picture, you'll notice tahini paste...I left this out...

Nut Butter

1 jar (28 oz.) peanut butter (I use Kirkland organic creamy)

1 big (80 oz.) tub of Adam's Crunchy peanut butter

About 1/2 of a 26 oz. jar of almond butter

1/2 cup-ish honey

3/4 cup-ish Nutella

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup raw almonds

1 cup pecans
1 cup walnuts
1 cup cashews

Put the sunflower seeds, almonds and nuts into a food processor, blender, or nut chopper (in small enough batches for your machine to handle it). Chop until they are fine, fine, fine, but not to the point of turning into a paste.

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butters, almond butter, honey, Nutella, and ground nuts. Mix very well. I use my hand mixer to easily get it all incorporated together.

Spoon the mixture back into the empty peanut butter jars and other random jars, store in the refrigerator.

This is such a great blast of protein and lots of the good kind of fats. We love to eat it on regular sandwiches, pancakes, french toast...whatever. But our very favorite way is on a piece of toasted raisin bread. You have to trust me. It is fabulous...my new favorite breakfast!

The most affordable way to make this is to stock up at Costco...peanut butters, almond butter, Nutella, and most nuts are a great buy at Costco.

Crackled But Not Shattered

Sometimes rocks come flying out of nowhere and leave you all dinged up.  What happened physically this evening to our sliding glass door is a lot like I feel on my insides.

Brad was just finishing mowing.  Took one more pass around the patio to clean up the scattered grass clippings and wham-o!!  Two rocks that were totally unseen came shooting out from under the mower, hit two spots on the slider, and the crazy crackling began.  The crackling, which sounds like rain on a tin roof, went on for about two hours.  Actually a peaceful sound, but left behind a mess of a door. 

This happened to us 4 years and 23 days ago.  Same door.  We looked up our invoice for the repair to remember who came to fix it.  The ouch to our finances is significant.  Doggone it.  Talk about crummy timing.

While we were waiting for the replacement glass last time, people actually thought it was pretty when they saw it.  Even the glass man said that people pay a lot of money to have that type of glass installed.  Too each his own, right?!

I've had some dings like this to my insides recently.  Something comes flying out of nowhere, totally unseen, hits sharply, and the crackling begins.  My "rocks" have been in the form of dishonesty and criticism.  Totally unexpected, from sources you should not have to brace yourself from.  But people are just plain imperfect, no way around that.  And my imperfection I'm sure has thrown my share of rocks in some way or another.  Friends will disappoint us, even cause hurt from time to time.  It confuses me, perplexes me, hurts me, and angers me. 

But I know a great Glass Man.  Only He can reglaze my heart with a new pane of tempered glass.  Glass that may crackle, but doesn't shatter.  Sometimes... most times... okay, every time, I wish He would just deflect the rocks and not let them strike.  I'm sure He deflects more than I'll ever know.  And I do know that I learn so much about His grace and restoration every time. 

So even though this is crummy timing (is it ever good timing??), I know that it is such a great reminder to me that things may crackle us, but they do not have to shatter us.  

Opportunities

Today is the first day of summer break for us.  Already, this time is brimming with opportunities. 

A huge opportunity was dropped in Alex's lap.  With Debbie off to D.C. last week, she needed a willing father to drive her car out for her.  She is a blessed girl to have a father who is always very willing to do what he can to help his family.  So he left early this morning for a drive across the country to deliver the car.  And guess who's sitting in the passenger seat?  Yep, Alex.  On less than a day's notice, he happily climbed into that little Accord to drive many, many miles with his grandpa.  What a fabulous time for them to take a road trip!  I'm sure there are some great conversations going on, and lots of life lessons will be gently gained by this trip.  One great thing about Alex and his grandpa...this man knows how to have a genuine relationship.  He likes Alex.  He's interested in what Alex has to say.  He knows he has a lot to offer, but he also knows that Alex has a lot to offer.  He lets things be gained by relationship, not by telling.  We are thankful for this time they have together.  They plan to arrive in D.C. on Saturday, and Alex will fly home Tuesday, just in time to leave again on Wednesday.  Busy boy, but can you imagine a better way to be busy?  I can't wait to hear all his stories!

My girls are both taking the opportunity to clean out their closets and drawers.  Oh, my.  The volume of "stuff" that is coming out is incredible.  They have both grown so much this year.  And you'd think, having girls that are three years apart, that we'd be able to pass a lot of Brenna's things to Beth.  Nope.  Not working out that way.  They are too close in size.  They are too different in taste.  Shopping with them today was an exercise in patience and endurance.

After we took care of them, it was my opportunity to try to find a new swimsuit.  Ugh.  Ugh.  Ugh.  I just cannot say that enough.  I found one that I am satisfied with how it fits, but it sure is ugly.  I found more than one that was very cute, but when I put it on: ugh.  So I don't know which way to go.  Ugly or Ugh.  Maybe I'm delusional and they both are Ugh.  In which case I can dump the ugly and just have the ugh.  I don't know.  I brought home ugly to have Brad give me his opinion.  

And then, driving home, I had the opportunity for some much-needed humor when the topic of my kids future came up.  I was telling the girls that I couldn't believe they were now 7th and 4th graders.  One thing led to another and I was telling them how exciting it will be to watch what they pursue in their life, and how excited I am for their future.  ((Long ago, Brenna had told me that the things she will look for in her future husband is that he loves Jesus and is a good driver, because the whole idea of driving seems a bit intimidating to her, so she's not sure she wants to ever drive.  So her husband is going to have to drive her everywhere.  That was probably when she was 10.))  Today,  she was describing how she saw her future, her children, her job as a nurse, etc.  I said, "Well, I sure hope there is a husband in that picture."  "Oh, yes, he'll be the one driving me around!"  Call her Miss Daisy, but that girl is sticking with her plan!

I laughed, but then quickly gained control and sucked my tummy back in when the picture of me in the 3-way dressing room mirror flashed through my mind.