The travelers made it home from the mountains and you know what that means....
There needed to be a Beard Wars picture. We kept Frederick there for comparison purposes, but I have to let you know there were various allegations of cheating when a couple of my boys arrived at the start of the trip with scruff already apparent. Caroline tried really hard to be part of the gang and I have to give her props for effort.
They arrived home unshowered and amazingly stinky. My husband likes to take advantage of that.
Sent to me from the kids and grandkids.....I got a few from Evan of last week's birthday boy. They have kittens at their house and Quincy got right into the box with them.
Here he is on his birthday...this big 5 year old boy.
Quincy and his mama have been on a little trip to visit one of her sisters, leaving the "big" boys at home. Evan sent me this one of his cooking efforts for dinner one night. Let me save you from trying to read the packaging. It's all dehydrated backpacker food. Mmmmmmm....
This is one from Collin who is making his way to us this week. He stopped at my father-in-law's house and his wife took this shot of Collin, his grandpa, and James. All of them share names in various combinations.
My daughter sent these cute pictures of Jack enjoying his bath. He loves to kick and splash.
And here he is showing support for his dad's favorite team.
If you can believe it, these boys are 5 months old. I'm having a hard time with that.
There was a little bit of stitching this month, but most of my available free time was spent getting card kits ready for the annual Cackle & Craft, coming up next month.
I did finish off this little ear bud pouch.
I've had the stitching done for quite a while, but for some reason couldn't make myself go to the fabric store to grab the big closure snap.
I completed a block for a crazy quilt I'm trying out. I've always been fascinated by crazy quilts and the fancy stitching over the seam lines. Several years ago, I made myself a couple of different vests out of crazy quilt blocks, and one of the long-held baby girl quilts I have stashed in a cupboard is done in crazy quilt blocks.
I also finished off another Dragonfly Dreams block.
I had to brush up on my bullion knots for this one. Not a ton to show for the month, but I can guarantee I was busy.
From the kitchen this week, it's been all chick food, all the time. There was the chicken salad sandwich I posted last week, there was quiche, there were chicken-sauced baked potatoes....and there was this meatless (gasp) pasta salad. That's right....this week's recipe is neither a sandwich, nor a chicken salad and Has. No. Meat. Which is why it's appearing while my husband is out of town.
My daughter-in-law, Sarah, runs marathons and does her long runs on Saturdays, so she carbo-loads on Fridays. For the foreseeable future we will be having pasta on Friday nights to assist her training. This ticked all the boxes for both of us. First off, it was cool, which just works in the ugly summer heat. It also has vegetables....yay, us. The dressing for it is a combination of pesto and Italian salad dressing which flavors it up really well, and it comes together in less than 30 minutes. Yep, chick food at its finest, with the extra bonus of a quick prep time and carbs for marathon runners. The recipe is put out by the the gals on the Our Best Bites site.
Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad
1 pound fresh asparagus, washed, trimmed of woody ends, and chopped into 1" pieces
1 (12 oz.) package fresh cheese tortellini
5-6 ounces grape tomatoes
1 (7 oz.) container pesto
7 oz. good-quality Italian salad dressing (use the empty pesto container as a measure for the dressing)
Shredded Parmesan cheese
Cook tortellini according to package directions. When there's a minute or two left of the cooking time, throw in the asparagus with the pasta. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and the asparagus and run cold water over the mixture until the pasta and asparagus are cool. Transfer to a serving container and throw in the tomatoes.
While the pasta mixture is cooling, mix together the pesto and Italian salad dressing. Drizzle it over the pasta and gently toss. This can be served immediately or refrigerated for 2-3 days before serving. Before serving, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serves 4-6
I've been working at dead-heading the roses and brought a few into the house.
These bright, "hot" colors seem to reflect the temperatures outside. My poor roses are definitely panting in the heat.
Whatever outside work I need to get done takes place before 9:00 in the morning. After that, I'm parked on an air conditioner vent. I was roaming around outside and saw this. For some reason, it just tickled me. It was like the branch was waving crazily at me.
Because my husband has been gone on the pack trip, "I'm gone" flowers arrived.
This is without doubt the most exotic arrangement I've ever received. This 2-tone anthurium is something I've never seen before.
I've seen these big pink flowers growing, but I don't know what they're called.
My herb pot has been doing remarkably well this year. Usually by now the basil is looking really pale and ugly. I don't know what the difference is, but it's really happy. I have thyme, marjoram, parsley, and oregano growing in there with it.
With all the "big kids" in the mountains, we had a Mommy Movie night with the littles. We watched the newest Little Women offering. The camaraderie with some of my daughters-in-law was a lot of fun, but I can't say the movie was my favorite version of the book. Don't mess with iconic books. Don't change endings, don't mess with plot lines. The little boys had a great time playing together.
Sent to me from the kids and grandkids this week....Jude thought he'd be ready to go on the pack in trip with his dad and Issac. Unfortunately, he's not big enough yet. It's Isaac and Roger's first year to go. The family rule is you have to be 7 to go. By then, it's thought they can walk a good share of the 13 miles in to camp.
Jude's also getting really brave around the dogs. While my dogs are very nice and quite well-behaved, they're big compared to little ones and can be a little intimidating. Jude reached out to give them a pat this week. It's a big step.
From the babies, we have some fun lip-smacking from....I think this is Leo. My daughter will correct me if I'm wrong.
I think this is also him in the flying saucer chewing on the stuffed lion. Jack has started rolling over more consistently this week.
It's my daughter-in-law, Alison's, birthday today....happy birthday to her!!
From the kitchen this week there's not much to tell, as most of the time we were trying to clean out the leftovers before my husband and Bryce went on an adventure with the rest of the in-town boys and several off the grandkids. It's the week of the annual horse pack-in trip in the mountains of Wyoming. Bryce and his wife will be spending the next couple of months with us until the apartment they're moving into is available. Sarah chose not to go on the trip, wanting to avoid injury to her knees/legs/ankles/feet. She's running the Boston Marathon in the fall and wants to be in top shape. She runs lots. We have been bonding over Downton Abbey and stitching.
I did make some salmon one night last week. This is some of the recently-caught fish and it was excellent. My husband just grilled it up with a little butter and salt & pepper. The asparagus came from the local farm stand and was amazingly disappointing. It was so fibrous and tough we couldn't chew it.
Can you stand yet another chicken sandwich recipe? Since the guys are gone, and since my husband gets a little testy when chicken is served frequently when there's abundant, hard-won elk and deer (read RED MEAT) in abundance in the freezer. So, Sarah and I are having a chicken fest this week. Several nights of chicken will be happening while the carnivores are gone. I think this one was my favorite of the recent recipes I've tried. I ripped it out of a Food Network magazine, and it's really tasty. I like a good club sandwich...the bacon-y, tomato-y, goodness all tucked in between slices of good bread. The potato chips add a really nice crunchy element that's a little surprising and just adds to the flavor.
Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then break each strip in half. (You know know that pre-cooked Costco bacon? Just saying....)
Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, herbs and celery in a large bowl; stir in the chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
Toast the bread and spread with mayonnaise. Divide half of the chicken salad among 4 slices of toast. Top each with some potato chips, 1 piece of bacon, 1 tomato slice, some lettuce, and another slice of toast. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 4 double-decker sandwiches. Gently press each sandwich together and cut in half. Makes 4 sandwiches.
The lilies have gone nuts. To answer the question I would be asking about now, I didn't know they'd be quite this tall, which is why they're at the front of the flower bed instead of at the back. I may move them at some point.
My volunteer sunflowers have started blooming. I thought at first that they were all going to be the big Mammoth variety and while I do have those, I also have this branching type as well.
Got the husband-requested apricot-pineapple jam done. He's happy, and it's sure pretty in the jars.
As just a glimpse into my personality....yes, these are pudding boxes. Their innards are going on the pack-in trip and Marc was here the other night, emptying them into other containers. Now, he did exactly what I would want and expect him to do. He put all the boxes in the recycling container I have in the kitchen. A couple of days before he was here, I'd emptied that out and put a new bag in, and when I saw the boxes, what ran through my head?
"I could get so much more in there, if I break those boxes down." And yes, I did....by size. When my daughter was here last, she noticed I'd moved where she'd put something in the dishwasher and laughed about it. Yes....I have a system. What's interesting to me, though, its that there's a whole other side to my at times OCD personality, and this is it:
Part of my craft desk at the moment. There are at least 3 projects on it right now, probably more, as well as a stack of things I've ordered and want to try out, which is why they're not filed away. How long have they been sitting there to "try out?" Anybody's guess. There's also another stack and a basket of "to try" things....also on that desk.
Back in one corner I have quilting projects, unstarted or unfinished, not to mention the almost-as-tall-as-I-am stack of card kit boxes with the kits in them. Why I'm perfectly OK with this right now and not the pudding boxes? You tell me, because I have no clue. Part of me is rigidly and ruthlessly organized (meal plans, anyone? I've got them pretty much done through the end of the year.), and part of me is totally ok with a general gathering of similar stuff, all of it encroaching on useable free space. Am I getting claustrophobic in my craft room? Yes. Does that mean a major shovel out is coming? Also, yes. So far, I've been able to talk myself out of it, though.
We spent a very pleasant evening at Evan's on Sunday, where they hosted us for nachos and lawn games. The biggest hit for the grandkids were these "rocket copters." You can bet I went on Amazon to pick some up to have here.
Sent to me from the kids and grands.....Gwen is ready for braces.
Elisa sent me pictures of a ward activity they went to. There was a pie eating contest, no hands allowed.
Ah well....:)
There was also a big water slide and just look at the expression on Ephraim's face. He looks kind of terrified to me. What I want to know is if he repeated the experience.
Elisa also sent me this meme which she said tickled her chicken-loving heart.
Over at Collin's house, there was ice cream on hot summer evenings.
Cute little boy faces.
Rachelle sent me these of Levi, commenting that she had her own home-grown Huck Finn.
Vanquishing foes.....
My daughter sent me this one of Jack(R) and Leo (L). A lot of times this is the way it is. One's OK, and the other one's mad.
They've started discovering their hands for batting at things and chewing on, sometimes gagging themselves in the process.
My husband and I spent a couple of days up at the cabin last week. He likes to wander when we're up there, and I don't mean just a walk up and down the road. Being the outdoorsman he is, he likes to hike. Now remember, I was raised a city girl. We didn't hike, and in southern California we honestly didn't wander on the sidewalks much as kids because...California....scary. Although I do have memories of early days, walking my bike or my Flexi-Flyer....Oh? You don't know what that is? Well, here--->
I'm a child of the 60's and 70's and at one time, these were all the rage. My middle childhood was spent on a street that had a steep hill, and I would walk my bike or the Flexi-Flyer up to the top, get on and literally go flying down that hill. It's a miracle I didn't break something. Anyhow, getting back to the point...we didn't hike.
In fact, I'm kind of a reluctant hiker. I'll go, but it has to be before it gets hot, and I really prefer the Skunk Creek Trail, as it's pretty and has quite a bit of shade. So early one morning while we were there, we gathered the dogs, got in the rhino and set off for the trailhead.
Along the drive, it's nice to see old friends. I've featured this tree before in blog posts. The picture doesn't do the size of it justice. I've got a picture of my husband on a horse at the base of the tree and the base is nearly as wide as the horse is long.
There are always growing things to see, and the scenery actually changes quickly. One week you might see one kind of flower.
The next week, it might be gone and something you've never seen before has taken its place.
They're all shapes and sizes. These are about 3 1/2 feet high and are just coming into their own. They look a little like large Queen Anne's Lace.
These were new this week.
You might think these are run-of-the-mill dandelions.
They're actually Milkweed and that's my hand for size comparison. Kind of like a dandelion on steroids.
You might not think you would find tiny, delicate things out in the mountain wilderness. You'd be wrong about that.
This is one of my favorite views on the hike. We usually hit this spot about the same time pretty much every time we go, providing we've gotten on the trail when I want to. The light coming over the wavy grass is just so lovely, and never fails to make me think of how much God loves us...to create such beautiful things to see.
Along more mundane lines of thinking, my husband got his clothes for the upcoming yearly horse pack trip sprayed down with mosquito repellant. I'm thinking that if you have to douse yourself in insecticide to go somewhere, it's not going to be a good time. However, he, Evan, Eric, Marc, Bryce, and assorted grandchildren have been there before and are doing it again. They disagree with me.
Just an observation here. I'm a reluctant hiker, and a slow one. Yet somehow I've managed to hike the tread and heels off my boots. Go me.
We had leftovers from the rib/drumstick fest that was the July 4th menu. My husband loves the very primal feeling of gnawing the rib meat off the bones. There was also a little of the homemade ice cream for him to eat right out of the storage container with a spoon.
We have zucchini. AND we have squash bugs. I made a couple of loaves of zucchini bread and let my daughter take one home when she left with the babies. She's not a fan of zucchini unless it's disguised as dessert.
We tried a new recipe for Thai chicken pizza, which was a little odd at first, but in the end we decided we'd eat it again.
We discussed last week that I'm a fan of sandwiches. Tuesday is kind of my dedicated sandwich night, mostly because my husband has church meetings that night, and we like to keep things moving at a good pace to get him there with something in his stomach. Preferably something easy to put together. I tried this last Tuesday and it will be added to the rotation. Now, I will confess that my favorite, favorite chicken salad is still the curried chicken salad that's my old standby. (It's also really good if you throw a few cashews in there instead the walnuts..) This hasn't taken over that crown, but it was tasty, and a change of pace. One of the sayings my mother used over and over again when I was a kid....you know the ones, right? The ones you're so sick of by the time you leave home, and you vow to yourself they will NEVER come out of your mouth, and then when you're a mom they just spill out at the weirdest times and you're like, "WHERE did that come from???" Anyway, back to the subject, one of the things she used to say was, "A change is as good as a rest." That's the category I'm putting this in. You need a change every once in a while. I can't source the recipe for you because it was a page ripped out of a now-defunct magazine called EAT. It's just so easy to put together, and if you are wanting to be low carb, this could be put in lettuce wraps. Tortillas would also be good.
Parmesan Chicken Salad Sandwiches
1/2 cup light mayo (or full fat, if you prefer)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoon snipped fresh basil (I happened to have some leaves on the plant in my herb pot, so I used that)
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 Tablespoons finely chopped celery (I'll be honest and say I forgot to put that in. I didn't necessarily miss it, but it's probably good and crunchy with it added in.)
Salt & Pepper to taste
12 slices bread, toasted if you want
Mix together all the ingredients except the bread. Spread salad mixture on toasted or untoasted bread of your choice. You can also add sliced tomato and/or lettuce without hurting the flavor any. Makes 6 sandwiches.
