Land spreadin’ out so far and wide

Posted on May 23, 2006 by Frog

We spent the weekend creating a vegetable garden. The better-half turned over the plot with a shovel and then he used our mini tiller to break up the soil. I was in charge of root extraction, manure tossing and planting. For some reason I tend to end up on my knees wailing away at roots with a hatchet way too often. I am woman hear me roar.

The little tiller performed really well considering we made it do way more work than it was designed to do. We’ll probably have to upgrade at some point. We received the tiller as a wedding gift and I was so excited to get it. We’ve probably used it more in the last 3 days than we have in the last couple of years. 20 minutes in a flower bed once a year is nothing compared to hours in a 25X25 garden plot.

What does our garden grow? I’m glad you asked. Tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin, corn and sunflowers. We’re also trying carrots and radishes this late in the season. I’m skeptical. The better-half is hopeful.

I tried starting some herbs from seeds earlier this year and 1/2 of the plants look like crap so I bought some actual plants and put them in larger pots. The eating at F&G should be great come late summer.

In other yard news, the pool guy came out this morning to do one last check on the site before they start work tomorrow. He said he’d be at the house at 7:30 and the better-half said he was there on the nose. The better-half has promised to take pictures.

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with cream filling, icing, jimmies, and I am so glad I am not like them

Posted on May 18, 2006 by Frog

Here’s a lengthy wrap-up of the food we encountered in the Pacific Northwest:
Etta’s: Calamari and shrimp and ginger rolls, albacore tuna over risotto and spinach and dungeness crab cakes with asparagus.
Peso’s Kitchen: Outstanding Bloody Marys, breakfast burrito and huevos tacos.
Kells Irish Pub: Corned Beef pasty and clam chowder.
Wild Ginger: Salmon satay, black pepper scallops, BBQ prawns, sichuan green beans, white and brown rice and mango sticky rice.
Piroshky-Piroshky: piroshkies (we tried several on more than one occasion).
Mr. D’s Greek Delicacies: Gyro.
Virginia Inn (went twice): Chicken sandwich, meatball sandwich (one of the best ever and I order these a lot), tuna sandwiches.
Le Panier: brioche, apricot croissant, raspberry croissant.
CI Shenanigan’s (the most mediocre of meals): 1/2 dozen raw oysters (very nice), asparagus wrapped with prosciutto, NY Strip with prawns, prime beef kabobs and prawns and caesar salads.
Renaissance Cafe: 3 Little Pigs eggs and toast, Denver scramble and toast. The owner scrambles the eggs with the steamer attachment on the espresso machine. Heavenly.
Cafe de Paris: mussels, frisee and lardon salad, salade mimosa, duck breast, cassoulet and pomme frites. Cheese plate for dessert. Epoisses and some other cheeses, but I don’t remember because there was Epoisses and it was perfect.
Sylvia Hotel: buckwheat pancakes, eggs, sausage, toast.
Mediterranean Grill: falafel platter and chicken shawarma platter.
Pacific Crab Co.: the best mojito (I joked about running over to the bartender to give him a big smoochie), calamari to start, clam, mussel and chorizo linguine, sablefish and salmon with asparagus and crab and potato salad.
Cafe Mexico: chicken chimichangas, chipotle chicken. Darn good margaritas.
Siam: egg drop and vegetable soup, chicken curry, spring roll, vegetarian pad thai.
Matisse (7 course tasting menu with accompanying wine) and sorry about no French names on these dishes–it was bad enough I was taking notes on an old receipt: salmon pate in puff pastry that was shaped like a gingerbread man (as the amuse bouche); beef broth, wine, truffle and morel soup; lobster bisque and lobster meat on a potato pancake; rabbit, carrots, pearl onion stew; halibut, merguez, caviar with a beurre blanc; peach and raspberry sorbets to clear our palates; venison, asparagus tips, mashed turnip or parsnip, pearl onions with a veal demi glace and a thin waffle-cut potato crisp; brillat-savarin salad; strawberries and Devonshire ice cream; citrus madeleines. One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.
Gustav’s: burger with Canadian bacon, bratwurst, fries and onion rings.
Enzian Inn: breakfast buffet eaten quickly so we could get the heck out of Dodge.
Lombardi’s: Ravioli and smoked salmon, chicken saltimbocca and salads. Chocolate ravioli and chocolate mousse.

This was like a siren’s call:

The better-half had the pepperoni and jalapeños slice and I had the Mediterranean slice.

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Reentry is hard

Posted on May 16, 2006 by Frog

We got home yesterday and unpacked the mountain of dirty clothes. Let me tell you–I smelled by the time we finally got home. Something about being in the same clothes for more than 24 hours will do that.

We took the red-eye to Dallas and then had a long lay-over before we could get on the plane to Richmond. I was so tired that I don’t remember the flight to Richmond. We got on and luckily had two seats by ourselves. I shut the window and we went to sleep. Didn’t hear the safety announcements, briefly saw that others were getting sodas, woke up as we started our descent into Richmond. That nap was the best and kept me going until after 9 last night.

Leon has followed us and meowed since we got home. The meowing isn’t something simple like “meow”. It’s more like “oh my god there you are, I’m so happy to see you, where have you been, I’ve missed you, please don’t leave again” meowing. This morning when I opened the bedroom door he started the meowing and ran half-way up the stairs to greet me. Then he did the cha-cha-cha around the kitchen with me this morning…to the pantry, to the counter, to the refrigerator, to the trash can. Hopefully, he’ll settle back into the normal routine of ignoring us and graciously giving and receiving affection.

Work today has been fine. Luckily not too much heavy thinking was needed because what little bit I had to do, I didn’t do well. Tomorrow I should be completely readjusted.

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Why He Hate Me?

Posted on May 14, 2006 by Frog

Tonight is our last night in the great state of Washington. We fly out of SeaTac on the red-eye tomorrow night.

A co-worker suggested we come to Leavenworth to see the little town that turned itself into a spitting image of Bavaria.

Mr. Quayle, I know Bavaria and this is no Bavaria. It is like a theme park gone horribly, horribly awry.

Exhibit One–the room art:

Exhibit Two–a close-up of that lamp:

The only thing to do is to enjoy the Okanagan Spring Pale Ale we bought in Victoria.

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In Victoria

Posted on May 12, 2006 by Frog

Nothing but pictures today…
Butchart Gardens–ice fell out of the sky while we were there:

A cold and windy vista:

Posted in Watching | 4 Comments

Contrasts in Vancouver

Posted on May 11, 2006 by Frog

Yesterday morning we went to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown. The garden was smack-dab in the center of Chinatown with all the noise of construction and people going about their business. The garden was quiet and calm and we felt like whispering while there.

We took the advice of the very nice woman working at the garden’s gift shop to enjoy outdoor activities before it rains and went to Grouse Mountain.

This morning was overcast and we enjoyed breakfast at the Red Umbrella and sat next to two older women who seemed to have been friends for years. As we were leaving, one of the women said something about us having to endure their chatter but they don’t see each other very often. We let her know that it was no problem and we said good bye. The people here are so very nice. We noticed that in Tacoma and Seattle too. Must be all the clean air, delicious food and diversity of the population.

We’re in Victoria now and rode over on the largest ferry I’ve ever seen. When we got off the elevator from the parking level, I’m sure I looked like a rube. Stunningly huge passenger lounges and we just picked just one of them. The lounge on the other deck was huge too and had cafes, gift shops, etc. The seats were better than some airline seats I’ve been in. The sun broke out on our passage and it’s been beautiful ever since. The temperature is pretty moderate but there’s the incessant wind that makes it seem cooler to me.

Our hotel is on the waterfront but we face the city. We have a balcony so if I lean way over I can see the sails of sailboats. There’s a park to the other side and lots of green space, large trees and flowers.

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Dude Had a Boa Around His Neck

Posted on May 10, 2006 by Frog

Today we were having a late lunch at the Mediterranean Grill and as we were sitting in the window watching the world go by, a guy with a boa wrapped around him walked by. The boa was not the feathered variety but the snake variety.

Yesterday we saw a couple outside a Gelato shop feeding their dog a spoonful of gelato. Luckily they switched spoons after Fifi had a bite.

We went up to Grouse Mountain today and it was warm but full of snow. We sloshed around in the snow for awhile and then took the tram back to the base of the mountain. We had the pleasure of riding down in a packed tram. The extra bonus was we were with a school trip group. The noise level on the tram was astounding.

We walked around English Bay and into Stanley Park after our lunch. Really quite nice.

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I’ve Been To Paradise

Posted on May 8, 2006 by Frog

We arrived in Tacoma today for the sole purpose of using up our Go Seattle card at the Glass Museum. The museum is closed on Monday. Figures. So we went here instead:

The view from our Tacoma room:

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Score!

Posted on May 6, 2006 by Frog

Our flight out of Richmond (and one of the first morning flights out of Richmond) was cancelled. A hyrdaulic problem–on the first plane out of that gate. How lame is that? So, we all got off the packed-to-the-gills plane. I was able to reach someone at the special 800 number American provided and switched our flight to St. Louis and then to Seattle. The person on the phone was very nice and apologized for having me on hold so long. I had to go back through to the ticket counter to get new boarding passes. Those people? Not so nice. Also, people in line changing their story and weeping on the phone to get sympathy points? Lamer. I don’t understand how women do that…cry at the drop of a hat to get their way. Me? I’m a cold-hearted bitch and can see through that stuff. I’d send the whiny baby’s bags to Timbuktu for lying to me.

Anyway, we finally got to St. Louis on a kiddie plane and then discovered we’d been bumped to FIRST CLASS to Seattle. I ate and drank soda and wine and sank down deep into my big comfy chair. First class rocks.

We arrived in Seattle early. We’re staying at Hotel Max which also rocks. Small rooms but hip and cool and modern and artsy to a crazy amount. In other words, perfect. We had dinner at Etta’s, which was also perfect. The wine with dinner was super–Elk Creek Pinot Noir.

We’re thinking of having a nightcap downstairs to cap off what started off as a crappy day. But, we were bumped to First Class and our luggage actually made it here the same time we did. W00t!

A view from our window:

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ride like the wind to be free again

Posted on May 3, 2006 by Frog

I absolutely had to mow the grass out near the road because it looked like a scary nightmare. If you have scary nightmares about large hunks of grass following you around, that is. Plus, I wanted it to look like we’re around for next week when we’re not going to be around.

It takes me at least a half hour to cut all of that and, frankly, sometimes I think there’s more grass out by the road than there is in our yard.

Anyway, I don’t normally cut it very quickly because there are some areas where the ditch is pretty steep and it always seems like I’m just about to fall off the mower. I finished most of the scary falling off places when I noticed that the sky was getting really dark, the wind was really picking up and it was getting cooler. If that doesn’t spell thunderstorm, I’m not sure what does. So, I threw it into 6–the fastest speed. There’s a reason why there are flames on my lawn mower and I drove like a good girl from Mechanicsville. That is like a bat out of hell.

Just as I was finishing the last little bit, big drops of rain started falling. I raised the deck and hauled butt back to the garage. I pulled halfway into the garage–I hate pulling all the way in and then shutting it off because of the loud bang it makes–and then got the push mower back in its place and then moved my car back into its normal spot in front of the garage. By the time I got into the house the rain had stopped. The sun came out. So much for cutting the rest of the yard today. I’m hoping that no one will notice that the front yard gets shaggy while we’re gone.

Posted in Generic Thoughts | 2 Comments