Skamania Lodge

Omid's aunt & uncle have been visiting the family for the past couple of days. We thought it would be nice to drive out to the gorge for dinner & attacked the all you can eat buffet at Skamania Lodge. Good eats!

It was a 45 minute drive to Skamania Lodge so we killed time by taking photos in the back of Omid's car.

What the heck, Mom?!

Photo op 1

Photo op 2

After dinner, I found Matty perched on this rock.

We had a great time!

Are you ready for Neti?

For the past two days, I have been suffering from allergies & I think a cold on top of that. I have been taking cold/sinus/allergy meds & nothing has worked to make me feel better (read: I am a big baby when I am sick).

One of my other friends is also sick. I think we picked something up at a restaurant the other day - but I can't prove that. One of her friends (on Facebook) suggested she try a neti pot. After I read that post, I spent the morning reading up on neti pots and decided I had nothing to lose.

Matty & I drove to Walgreens & purchased a neti 'kit' which came with saline packets. Matty is such a good sport...I asked him if I could take pictures of him using the neti & he said YES. Such a good boy! So Matty tried it first & had a hard time keeping a straight face. (Matty suffers from allergies too - so it was good for him to use it as well).

Demonstrating the proper head tilt.

Drip! Drip! Drip!

After Matty used the pot, he said he could breathe easier. I washed the neti and then I tried it too. It immediately cleared up my breathing passages enough that I can again breathe through my nose. It's been about a 15 minutes and I can still breathe. Let's hope this was the solution.

Blueberry Goodness!

I met up with Laurel & Sarah at Meadowglenn Blueberry Farm this morning.

Laurel with Rowan's blue bucket.

Sarah was excited to fill her mop bucket!
Me!

I stayed for exactly one hour and picked 10 pounds. This will last us a few days. I expect to go back next week for more!

A Decision

Okay...we have decided that we are NOT going to go to the wedding next weekend. There was just not enough notice. Omid and I both agreed that we would have probably gone IF the invitation had arrived a few weeks earlier. So, I will send a card & gift and call it good.

Also...if we had gone up north for the wedding....I would have missed the Barn House Flea Market that I have been waiting for. I have never gone, but have heard great things about past sales. Check it out here.

What to do, what to do...

Omid & I received a wedding invitation in the mail yesterday. I was a little stunned to see it is for next Saturday, the 18th (in the Seattle area). I checked the postmark on the envelope to see when it was mailed (thinking it got lost about 6 weeks ago) but it said the 3rd of July.

I quickly went from excitement to some other feelings. Were we forgotten guests...added at the last minute? Or...were we on a second list...that if first attendees couldn't make it, the second list was consulted? Or...does this couple just not know that invitations need to be sent out at least six weeks in advance? Should I even be analyizing this as there are more important things to worry about?

Omid and I are unsure if we should go or not. Part of me really wants to go...and the other half just says...send a card & a gift certificate. What do you think? Vote in my poll on the right.

Random Monday...

Matty & I headed to Fred Meyer today to buy supplies for PW's Jalapeno Bacon Wrapped Thingies. Omid loves jalapenos, cream cheese and bacon & I thought these would be a great appetizer for when he arrived home from work tonight. Matty spied these Giant Cheeto Balls....so like any good mother, I bought them (he goes grocery shopping with me AND brings in the groceries...I had no choice!).

Neon Orange Balls...Not healthy!

Big bite!

Video showing Remy demonstrating the 'crispy-crunchiness' of the new GIANT CHEETOS. These are too big for me...I enjoy the Cheetos Puffs much more!

After Matty & Remy had snacked on Cheetos, I made the Jalapeno bacon wrapped thingies.

Ready for the oven.

finished product (I apologize in advance for the PRESENTATION...Omid is all about presentation... I am NOT! - sorry Annette!!!).

final verdict: Me: GOOD! OMid: thought they could use 1/2 the cream cheese...but there were NO leftovers...so that should say something!

Cold Coast!

We spent the last three days in Newport, Oregon with our friends the Stevens & Kelloggs. We left the beautiful 92* heat and didn't much enjoy the cold 55*-62* weather much (or at least I didn't). I checked on http://www.weather.com/ before we left and the site said it would be around 70+* the entire time we would be there. So...I packed shorts, shorts, shorts and one pair of jean capris. Guess what!? I wore the same pair of capris everday....those jeans practically walked back themselves they were so dirty. Other than being cold, we had a pretty decent time.

This was Remy's first trip to the coast. He LOVED it! He ran and ran and ran. It was just great for him. One of about 50 holes Remy dug on the beach. He even dug up a crab.

I only packed a sweatshirt. Next time...a winter jacket!

Remy in action.

Omid, Remy & Amy

Tammie & Zinzi

(Tammie was also freezing. After this photo, Jeff ran into town and bought her a sweatshirt).

This photo of the dads & dogs was taken at about 4:00 p.m. It makes me cold just to look at it.

On Saturday, we went to the Hatfield Marine Science Center and then some of the group went to the Oregon Aquarium. The rest of us went to the Rogue Brewery.

Beautiful Girl!!!

Omid, Jeff, Nas & I took a stroll on the docks to see what the fishermen were offering.

Yummy!

At Rogue Brewery.

I got a Taster Tray. Only one of the beers was any good. That was Sig's Northwestern. Very good!

Omid, Nas, & Jeff at Rogue.

Remy, Gabi & Jack

Did I mention there were two German Shepherds on the trip? I don't claim to be a clean freak, but when I saw the carpet in our rental house COVERED in G.S. hair - I couldn't stand it anymore and vacuumed the carpet. I had to do it over and over to get all the hair. You wouldn't believe it but less than an hour later....it was covered again. I LOVE Remy's short, virtually non-shedding hair!!

Matty on a hillside. Can you guess what I was saying? "Be careful!" and "Please come down from there!"

Saturday night, we walked to the Newport bridge to watch fireworks. It was a good show. Some of the highflying fireworks we couldn't see because of the fog, but we could sure hear them!

Here is a video of the dogs the first day we got to Newport. They are having the time of their life.

Bake it Pretty

Found these adorable cupcake/muffin liners & so much more at Bake It Pretty's Etsy shop. I am so ordering from this shop! No more pale yellow/pink boring liners for me. Let me know if you want to combine an order.

Check out everything in her shop...(too cute) and a blog too.

Make This!

Pioneer Woman made a delicious looking pasta salad & posted it on her site a few days ago. I made that salad today. All I can say is: Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This is the best pasta salad I have ever tasted; though it is not an inexpensive salad. I had most of the ingredients on hand but had to pick up sun dried tomatoes, kalamata olives & grape tomatoes. Those three ingredients were on sale and still cost $17.

PW says to use about half the dressing and save the rest to pour over cream cheese & serve with crackers. I used 3/4 of the dressing & ate the leftovers myself (& finished up by licking out the bowl). That is how good this salad dressing is. Next time...I think I will just make the dressing and skip the pasta, olives & tomatoes. It's good stuff.

Remy's Birthday (continued)

We finished Remy's bday celebration tonight. Remy received a new "squeaky" hedgehog. For dessert, we had blueberry & strawberry shortcakes.

Trying out his new toy.


bday cake

Make This!

It's about 87* and too hot to cook, so I decided to make an Asian noodle salad for dinner. It's so cold & tasty and just hits the spot.

Patty's Killer Noodle Salad

12 oz chuka soba noodles
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/3 c rice vinegar
1 whole fresh lime, grate peel & juice
1/2 c soy sauce
2 tsp garlic chili sauce
2 Tbs sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup cilantro or basil or both
1 cup carrot (about 2 medium) grated
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts (optional)

In a large pot, bring 3 quarts water to a boil; add noodles & boil as package directs (about 2 minutes). Drain, rinse with cold water, let cool in colander.

In a large bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, lime juice, peel, soy sauce, chili sauce, sugar & garlic. Toss in carrots & herbs (& peanuts if using).

Cut through noodles to make manageable lengths. Toss noodles in bowl with other ingredients & chill for at least one hour.

Toss before serving. If dry, add more soy sauce, sesame oil and/or rice vinegar.
Serve cold.
**I topped this salad with leftover flank steak. It was gooooooood.
****I have also used spaghetti noodles with this salad when I haven't had the chuka soba (Winco has the cheapest price for chuka soba noodles).

Birthday Playdate!

Being Remy's 5th birthday today, I asked him what he would like to do. He said one: he would like to have a friend over and two: he would like strawberry/blueberry shortcake for dessert tonight. So...Remy's blog buddy, Goliath came over with his mom, Sarah this morning. Remy & Goliath had never met before today; so there was lots of sniffing/chasing going on. Remy (true to form) barked the entire time we were in the house. He was finally quiet once we went on a walk. Remy meeting his blog buddies (Sarah - I love this photo of you!).

Sarah & Goliath brought Remy a giant milk bone for his bday present. Remy polished it off in 3-4 bites. Thanks, friends!

Goliath & Remy = Meet & Greet.

Here is a video of Sarah trying to give Remy his bday bone.

Happy Birthday Remy!!

Happy 5th Birthday Remy!!!!

We love you so much!