I Feel So Wholesome!

In our weekly veggie box we get some unfamiliar things occasionally (so that's what a rutabaga looks like!) and this week it was "Horticultural Beans." (Catchy name, huh? Can't imagine why that one hasn't caught on...) They were super pretty, creamy white beans with lovely pink speckles...

in coordinating jackets.

Tankboy was a huge help in the shelling process...

Little did we know that the ones we snacked on raw were much more flavorful than the cooked ones. They lost their pretty pink speckles and were just sort of cooked white beans when done, ho hum!

And despite my laundry room floor looking like this at the beginning of the weekend:

...I did get in some climbing, some kayaking, a toddler's casual birthday party (to distracted for pics, sorry!), family time at the river, and a fully cooked Classic American summer meal of fried chicken, corn, and salad! AND the laundry will be totally done by this afternoon!

That's what I call a quality family time!

Doing Things And Makin' Stuff...

So the fourth was wonderful here. Well, not here actually, but in Tahoe where we went. We got to stay in our usually rented house for the first time in 5 years or so, which was wonderful, despite the fact that there is no furniture, cooking utensils or other housewares. We got to see bazillions of friends, and their kids, so big and so wee! Tank boy got to go kayaking on Lake Tahoe with his Daddy and got to see his first fireworks, which he loved! (Which started an hour and a half after regular bedtime, eek!)

It all started out rather quietly for me, as The Hub took The Tank up two days earlier in the hybrid, while I logged in another two days at work. The quiet nights at home were a nice treat, taking full advantage I; battered and sauted up some local organic eggplant (yum!), did my new yoga video, and of course knit.





Then I caught the bus, to the train, to another bus, to yet another bus, to finally meet the family Truckee. Though this sounds complicated, it was all really UNstressful, as I was not traveling with a toddler, nor was I having to do the 5 hours of driving. So it was nap and knitville for me!

Truckee then was a whirl of Fourth celebrations (parades, picnics, open houses and lake splashing) and home improvement preparations. (The rental house master bath has been hurtin' for certain for years now.) But the Home Despot delivery should arrive there today and the contractor (slash old mountain biking buddy) starts work tomorrow! Aside from the cranky shouting match I initiated with the husband after wiping out in the Home Depot parking lot, skinning a knee, losing my son's helium balloon and flashing my panties to the general public, it was an awesomely fun AND productive weekend! Hope y'all had just as much fun, but slightly better traction!

Oh! And if you want to enter the easiest contest ever to win some yarn, go give KnittyK8 a book recommendation!

If You Can Dodge A Wrench...

Hey there! This is a really random assortment of events from the past week... Hum an inspirational tune to yourself and think of it as a photo montage, mkay?

Tank Boy enjoyed playing in puddles of all sorts...



I made an awesome quiche with local organic collard greens, fresh dill and eggs, store bought onions, goat cheese, and cheddar, that was the rockin'est quiche I've ever made, but they boys pretty much couldn't have cared less, so I had to eat the whole thing myself...


I got Tank Boy to grudgingly model yet another Foliage hat...


Have you guys seen this shot from The Drudge Reportof McCain nuzzling Bush? Poor kids, had their awkward slash tender moment forever caught on the digi!


And a quick snippet of our Sunday evening. Poor Tank Hub had a wrench sort of slip while he was yanking on a pipe and kind of smack him in the zygomatic arch (aka cheekbone). Ouch! One CT scan, some laceration irrigation, an ouchy shot or two, and four stitches later we were back at home eating pizza.


How was y'alls week?!

Because I Can't Trash The Organic Produce

I baked some squash for Christmas dinner that turned out horrible: flavorless and stringy. So we had more than our normal amount of leftover squash in the fridge. I googled up " 'leftover squash' soup recipe" and came up with this quickie little recipe. And wow, what a difference some coconut milk, curry paste, a 1/4 cup of sugar, and a blender makes!

Hmmm, those ingredients could prolly make dirt taste better, huh?