Blake and Allison

yammy tacos!

2010-02-08T23:03:00.000-08:00

Allison's Yammy Tacos (vegetarian)

serves 4

2-3 medium yams (peeled and large cubed)

1/2 medium red onion (chopped)

1 red bell pepper (chopped)

2-4 Tb butter

1-2 Tb brown sugar

1 15oz can black beans (drained/rinsed)

10-12 yellow/white corn tortillas

Garnish- sour cream, lettuce, avocado, and cotija cheese (the cotija cheese adds so much flavor, it's worth buying)

1. Boil water for peeled/cube yams, cook for 10-15 minutes until soft.

2. Meanwhile cook the chopped onions and bell pepper in skillet until softened, using butter.

3. Drain cooked yams and chop into smaller pieces. Add to skillet of onions/pepper. Add more butter and brown sugar. Cook for 5 minutes.

4. Add drained/rinsed black beans to mixture, cook for a few minutes to warm.

5. Warm up corn tortillas, fill with a few spoonfulls of yam mixture, and garnish.

This is a favorite recipe that I made up a few years ago. I have made it for many skeptical meat loving friends. It is always a favorite and is often requested by friends and family. It will not disappoint : )

Welcome to WA Sammie!

2009-11-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Our friend Sammie stayed with us last week while she was in between jobs and places to live. Sammie was a high school student we knew from California years ago. We loved having her! She was great to have around. She was a wonderful help with the kids. She hates it when i say this but it is so true. She is like super nanny (she is a nanny for a living). She encouraged Ryan in eating new foods and encouraged us in being a little more firm. The kids loved her and we are so excited that she only lives 40 minutes away.

Halloween!

2009-10-31T22:35:00.000-07:00

Yummy, raisins. halloween is great- all you can eat raisins day.

I was thinking that the kids were too young to really enjoy Halloween, but I was wrong. They were so good and had so much fun. After naps we put on their costumes (fireman and dalmatian) and we headed downtown Gig Harbor for some trick or treating fun. There were many people and Ryan had fun walking up to the different stores for treats. He couldn't quite say trick or treat but he could say please, "peez". Blake was busy handing out candy at the fly shop but was able to join us for a while (1,500 pieces went very quickly at the shop). After downtown we came home for dinner and then went to a few houses on our street. The neighbors loved seeing the kids and the kids loved going door to door. When we got home we slyly traded the bag of candy for raisins. The kids munched them down and for the next week we munched their candy down when they weren't looking. :)

Birthday decorations, party time!

2009-10-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday kids!

2009-10-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated Ryan's second birthday (today is his actual birthday) and Raihna's first birthday (hers is on wednesday). We had a houseful of friends, and little ones. A little crazy, but fun had by all. No major meltdowns, vomit, or blood- that is pretty good when you have so many kids under the age of two. No real theme or activities. Theming a party was proving to be difficult so we went with green and pink. We also purchased a tunnel/tent system for the kids to play with. Other than that it was a free for all, hang out/play and eat food party. I can't believe how much they have both grown over the last year. We love you Ryan and Raihna!

Fall = soup!

2009-09-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

The weather is getting a bit chilly, fall has officially started. One of my favorite fall/winter eats is homemade soup. Today I was feeling the urge for some broccoli cheddar. I went straight to google and I made the first one I read. Supposedly, it is the Panera Bread recipe for broccoli cheddar soup. I altered it a little bit and used ingredients I had on hand. I used milk instead of half and half and vegetable broth instead of chicken. I must admit, I was a little concerned about the nutmeg. You don't really taste it. It was so good! Make it tonight, you won't be disappointed. Here is the original recipe.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups chicken stock or bouillon
1/2 pound fresh broccoli
1 cup carrots, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar

Saute onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half (this is called making a roux). Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour in batches into blender and puree. Return to pot over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended. Stir in the nutmeg and serve.

I'm still here. . . .

2009-09-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

This summer has been much busier than expected. We (meaning Blake) has been busy at the fly shop and working at the church. We have had a lot of company and a few vacations too. My life is even busier with two walking children. Can you believe it, she is walking (started at 11 months). Here are the things I thought about blogging in the last few months.

- Our vacation at Lummi island with my parents
- Our trip to the zoo with Blake's parents
- Me, Linnea, and Bonnie seeing David Bromstad from HGTV Color Splash
- Our church doing "don't go to church, be the church"
- Our garden in full bloom
- The Kid's playing monkey see, monkey do
- All my great goodwill/garage sale purchases
- My new favorite yam tacos
- My trip alone to Sacramento

Ok, now that we are all caught up. I'll try to keep up. Starting with a few pictures and a birthday party blog next weekend. Can you believe it. We almost have a one year old and a two year old!

With Raihna getting older the kids are now playing together. I love it! They have however learned how to team up and cause trouble : )

Eat Fresh!

2009-06-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

I love fresh veggies! It is so fun to go out to the garden and pick veggies then come inside and make lunch using what we just picked. Today I made a thai peanut salad trying to copy my ever so favorite from La Bou. It is such a great cold salad I made a double batch so we have leftovers to eat the next few days.

Today, I used soba noodles but you could use udon, or even thin pasta. I tossed cooked noodles with Trader Joes spicy peanut vinaigrette dressing (but also added some chunky peanut butter, soy sauce and a splash of apple cider vinegar to dressing). I then added some red bell pepper, broccoli, snap peas, and green onions. Once tossed and chilled, serve over a bed of lettuce and top with peanuts. Yum!

I didn't think to take a picture of the salad but here is Ryan with todays pickin's.

ReadyMade!

2009-06-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

Now we are ready for a BBQ, come on over! This was such a fun, cheap, and easy little project. Requiring no thinking and only a few household items. All you needed was some wrapping paper, tape and an empty six pack carton. I got the idea from the June/July issue of ReadyMade magazine. It is now ready to be used as a utensil holder or condiment organizer. Or maybe to hold crafty items. The possibilities are endless.

Camping!

2009-06-16T22:08:00.001-07:00

We went on our first camping adventure (Staircase Rapids in the Olympic National Park) with the kids last week. It was great to get away for a few days and relax. It was also nice to know that it is totally possible to camp with little ones. They did great! My main concerns going into the trip was sleeping (baby girl is getting her first tooth) and a busy little boy. They both slept well and busy boy had fun playing in the dirt at the camp site. We were able to go on family walks, fish a little (Blake even caught a 20 inch bull trout), and read by the campfire once the kids were asleep. We now have the confidence to go on at least a two day camping trip : )

A few lessons learned. Bring more kid clothes than you think you need. The good thing for us is the kids basically wear the same size. There may have been some cross dressing going on, ha. I would never put a little boy in pink heart pants, never. Not even just inside the tent. Bring lots and lots of firewood to help keep away the bugs. And always pick a site close to the bathrooms.

Orla Kiely Inspired

2009-04-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying, I love target! Sad I know. But I really do. I love how they carry designer lines at affordable prices. I also love Orla Kiely! Here is a quick little pillow that was made out of a kitchen towel. I recovered my Christmas pillow that normally lives on this chair (yes, until today I still had a Christmas pillow out). The best part is at Christmastime I just take this one off and I'm back to my favorite Christmas pillow. Let's hear it for versatility! The funny thing is my friend Erin just made a pillow from the same towel (great minds think alike). Another blog I frequent had made a tote bag from the same towel. So fun! And the best part is it only took 30 minutes from start to finish. I do wish I had a more natural ribbon for the ties (oh well, that is the back).

Meet the Easter bunny kids. . . .

2009-04-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a fun thing right? Who doesn't like bunnies, see for yourself.

She likes the bunny. . . .

Well. . . not so much.

Again, not so much. . . .

And, um- not so much. . . .

Silly boys!

Everyday life. . . .

2009-04-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. . .

2009-04-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't bogged in a very long time. What can I say, we have been busy. I know, no excuse. As if caring for two little ones is not enough we have also started a business. As many of you know we have been running an online fly fishing store for almost 5 years now. With increased sales, and our house getting smaller and smaller with the addition of the babies the time was right to open a storefront (still continuing the online busisness as well). We are in the process of changing everything from Wilderness Angler to Gig Harbor Fly Shop. We are located in downtown Gig Harbor, next to Spiro's and across and down from Tides. Here are a few pictures of the shop as well as our reclaimed space in our house.

Front door, with new logo (sorry about the glare)

Our new office/fly tying/sewing room- no longer packed with fly fishing inventory:

Missing Blake!

2009-02-05T09:36:00.000-08:00

Blake comes home tomorrow night! Yay! Being a single mom has been rough. Actually it hasn't been that bad, but I am tired. Blake has been gone since Sunday morning in Chicago for the annual mid-winter covenant conference. The kids have been great and we have even had a sunny week here (unheard of for this time of year, I guess it doesn't always rain). I have missed Blake's help with the kids- getting Ryan up in the morning, changing diapers, helping with bath time, and just hanging out playing with the kids. Most of all i just miss sharing life with him, and sharing moments. Gosh, how did we survive before cell phones, text messages, picture texts, email, facebook, chatting, and video chatting. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the week.

Playing in the backyard:
My new laundry helper, don't worry he is on the outside not the inside.

We have been spoiled!

2009-01-30T16:54:00.000-08:00

Oh no, there is no turning back. We have tasted the good stuff. Not sure if we can ever have the cheap stuff again. I have heard that about balsamic vinegar, but didn't know it was true of olive oil too. Yep, they were both amazing- and now they are gone. Thanks mom for the great christmas present. Now you need to keep up the supply. Dr Oz say's it's good for our health. Gotta do what Dr Oz says.

Love, your balsamic snob daughter that you created

alarm clocks, who needs um?

2009-01-29T10:09:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about alarm clocks lately. I know, kinda odd. We used to always set two alarm clocks to get us up in the morning. One would be on Blake's side and one on mine. That way surely we could not ignore both. We may have hit snooze a few times, then we'd be up. Now we don't even need to set alarm clocks, unless Blake has an early meeting. We automatically have two set. Sometimes one goes off a little too early (we try to have a nobody up before 7 rule in our house). That wasn't followed this morning by baby girl at 6:30. And then like clock works. . . .little guy was up at 7:15. I must admit, our alarm clocks are pretty cute. I just wish they had snooze buttons!

Mail sack, complete!

2009-01-05T20:51:00.000-08:00

Finally, I'm done. Not that it was difficult. I just hadn't found (or made) the time to sew lately. When my mom was here visiting before Thanksgiving we went to the La Befana craft fair on Bainbridge Island. It was great to see all the handmade goodness, and to meet Kathy from Pink Chalk Studio. I had been reading her blog for a while. I picked up her pattern for the mail sack, as well as a handful of great fat quarters. The pattern was very well written and I found it easy to follow (the pictures were helpful). I was challenged by her creations to get a little crazy with my fabrics. I usually play it pretty safe with my fabric combinations but wanted to mix it up a bit more and not be so matchy-matchy. Here is the finished bag. . . .

My new apron!

2008-12-27T21:56:00.000-08:00

My friend Linnea made me this apron for Christmas! I love it! The fabric's she chose are perfect. I tried to get a picture to show you all. Here is the best I got. It also shows our crazy life: wearing baby, busy boy, friendly dog, messy house.

Enough already, ha ha!

2008-12-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

Blake drove past the neighborhood elementary school and the sign that did say- Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Now says, Okay enough already! Ha,ha, I thought it was funny. Here is our snowy house.

Let it snow!

2008-12-18T22:08:00.000-08:00

Since Wednesday Gig Harbor has turned into one giant snow globe. Today it snowed almost all day long! Currently we have about 4 inches of snow on the ground and are expecting more tonight. It then is expected to clear up for a few days before starting up again. It is looking like we may have a white Christmas! I love the snow and find it very fun and exciting if you don't have to go anywhere. It gives you a reason to stay home, bundle up, play and relax. We stayed inside most of the day but ventured out in the afternoon while baby was sleeping.

The flu bug is a bad, bad bug

2008-12-12T22:48:00.000-08:00

Just when life was starting to settle down the flu bug arrived. We have learned this is not very fun for 14 month olds and they often don't give you any warning- poor "buddy".We are going on a week of puking and let's see. . how do I put it nicely? Yes, puking out of both ends. Besides the puking he also has an ear infection- also not fun. He is seaming to get better daily and as of tonight is starting to be his happy self again. Hopefully he will be better this weekend. I got a call from Santa and he really wants a picture with the kiddos. Can you believe it is almost Christmas?

We have babies!

2008-11-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

We couldn't have asked for a better thanksgiving. We had a "relaxing" day at home with the kiddos trying to establish a routine of meal time, play time and nap time. Some of you may be asking. . . . . ."what kiddos". Yes, it's true. We now have a 7 week old little girl and a 14 month old little boy (siblings). We are foster parents to these precious children and are so excited to be a part of their lives. They are both so sweet, so cute, and have so much personality. We were waiting to have our foster license before we told a lot of people (it is a long process). However, it was not a long process as expected (we learned of these children last week before our license was even processed). It happened so fast but thank you to everybody who has pitched in so we had cribs, clothes, toys etc for these children all within a few days notice. Our lives have changed drastically since monday but are so excited. I'm not going to be posting names or details on the blog for security purposes (please don't write the names of the kids in comments at this time). Thank you for your understanding. If you email me privately I can give you more details. Here is a picture of the kiddos!

Sewing projects!

2008-11-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

This week I have been feeling a little "crafty". It has been raining more and Blake and i have been spending more time indoors. We transitioned our "formal living room" into a craft space. Blake ties flies, and I sew. It is great to be able to do this together in the same space. Here are a few pictures of some things I have been making.

Let me know if you have any questions. . . . more sewing to come! I have also bought some new fabric this week. : )

Fall Colors!

2008-10-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

Blake and I went fishing last week. I think I was more into the fall colors than actually fishing! Here are a few. . . . .

All about me!

2008-10-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

You can tell alot about a person. . . .by looking at their fabric stock! So, what does this tell you? Ok, back to organizing my fabric.

Sewing day! Foot down, ha!

2008-10-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Linnea and I had a sewing day! It was fun to teach her a few things (she hadn't sewn before) and learn a little more myself. So often in reading patterns I often get caught up in the wording. I am such a visual person. Show me once and I got it. Or explain with pictures and I'll understand that too. But tell me things like "right sides together" and I over think the concept. Linnea made the "simple tote" by Lotta Jansdotter and I made the "simple tote" by Amy Karol. They both turned out so good, but so different considering they are both called "simple totes". Mine is more like, "simple itsy-bitsy tiny tote". The great thing about it is that it fits my laptop perfectly! I wish I had a picture of both our totes. . . . Bummer!

I decided to put the links for the creators not the books. Both books are great and so are their blogs, and flicker groups. Anytime I'm lacking motivation or ideas I love looking at what others have created. It inspires me!

Mangos!

2008-10-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

I hope these hurry up. . . .I want to eat them!

Chocolate Zucchini Goodness!

2008-09-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

Oh my, these are good! Try them, don't be afraid of the hidden vegetable. If you come over soon I may even share. I did say may. We are still picking zucchini from the garden daily and are getting creative with ways to use them. I found this recipe online. Of course I can't just leave it as is. I added some chocolate chips and substituted apple sauce for the egg (I also used earth balance instead of shortening). Go ahead, make them. You will love them- very moist and cake like. Here is a picture to tempt you more. . . .

Yummy food!

2008-09-17T22:58:00.001-07:00

We just got back from Denver for the annual Fly Fishing Retail Show. It was a good time meeting with our vendors, seeing new products, signing up for new products, placing orders for "show specials" , getting free stuff (Blake even got a fly rod, and we got 10 hats, and much more), hanging out with each other, seeing family, and eating yummy food. Ok, so more about the yummy food! Everyday we were able to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, WaterCourse Foods. The food was amazing. Here is a picture of our dinner from Saturday night. To read more about WaterCourse or look at their menu visit their website.

Anonymous Users!

2008-09-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

I just changed my comment settings to allow anonymous users to comment. Now anybody can comment (including you mom). Please sign your name so I know who wrote what, thanks!

Garage Sale Finds!

2008-09-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

Friday I was sucked into a few garage sales on my way to the post office. I love the two things I found. The first being an old tin that I'm going to use for storing birdseed. I know it sounds kind of funny but I have been wanting something for this purpose for a while now. Secondly, I found this beautiful fabric. I wasn't really sure what it was (table cloth, sheet, etc) but I loved the pattern and colors. I couldn't pass it up for $1. After taking it home and washing it, I found the tag that says "Hand Made in Pakistan for Karvan" it also says "double size" so I believe it is intended for a bed covering. I love it more knowing a little of the history of where it came from. I can picture it being made for someone as they stand and wait for it to be finished at a street market. Dirt floors, little booths, people everywhere, eating lamb kabobs, dirty, wrinkled faces. Maybe because I just read, and saw the movie Kite Runner. . . . anyways, I love it!

Apples!

2008-09-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

Linnea, Soren, and I went apple picking last week at a lot by our house. It actually is a bit of a sad story: The empty lot was an old homestead (house, garden, farm, etc). It has all been torn down and is waiting to be developed and filled with new houses. In the meantime the apples are just crying to be picked. After apple picking we had a bit of a photoshoot with Soren (cute baby + beautiful location = great photos). Fun had by all! Here is one of my favorite pictures:

Stool Makeover Squared!

2008-08-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

I wish I thought about taking "before" pictures.

Ok, Imagine with me for a minute. . . . a old wooden stool with paint drips on it from years of use and a white metal folding stool that had paint dripped on it as well. Both were in sad shape but still functioned fine. Now imagine, one can of spray paint and a little oil cloth. Here are the results:

I really like how they turned out, and was pleased with the results of the spray paint (click on the link above to read about it). I believe it is the only ec0-friendly spray paint on the market. The best part about it, besides the results was the price. The project cost me about $5. The spray paint was $4.29 and the oil cloth was $5 for 3/4 of a yard.

Garden Gate

2008-08-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

We did it! We hung our garden gate. Earlier in the summer some friends of ours from church had given us this old gate. I love it! We have had it propped up for the last few months but now it is officially hung. Now we just need to finish the arbor above. Hopefully that will be done soon. Added to the list of next summers projects will be the garden walkway/ground cover. Still trying to figure that one out.

Business Cards!

2008-08-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press. . . .who want's some? Ready to hand out to all your fly fishing friends! We only have 2,000 (so they are a limited edition).

Monika's Wedding!

2008-08-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from my friend Monika's wedding. She got married on 8/8/08 in Angels Camp/Arnold area. Monika has been a friend of mine since 6th grade (Mrs. Raymonds Class). It was a beautiful, yet simple wedding. It was great to be able to come down for the wedding and connect with some old friends. Much happiness, Monik and Keith!

They are ripe!

2008-08-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

We were wondering why these weren't turning red. Then realized they are "gold nugget cherry" tomatoes, and we have lots of them (this many every day).

Woot, woot!

2008-08-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

Look who came flying into our backyard tonight! It was so cool! We had just finished eating dinner with friends and we were all just hanging out on the back deck. Mr Owl landed on a little branch and hung out for a few minutes, and even posed for a photo. Geez, last week the bears, and this week an owl- you never know what you'll see.

The last few weeks!

2008-08-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

Our last few weeks have been a blur! Don't even ask me what day it is or what I have been up too, I may give you a confused look. We had visits from the Merwin's and the Dooley's (aka: the parents) here in Gig Harbor. We also spent time with both families together in Oregon. Here are a few pictures (no particular order).

The Dooley's: Picking Flowers at the Dahlia place by our house, 25 cents a stem.

The Merwin's: Crooked River, OR
The bears: Our backyardGetting Clams: The KP (we made chowder too) Me: Three Creeks Lake, a brookie!

That is all for now!

Maya, don't peek!

2008-07-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am going to a baby shower for my friend Maya. I thought I'd make her something (besides going in on the group gift). I ended up making her three little somethings. A little blankie with ribbons (I believe they are often called "taggies"), a matching burp cloth, and bib. I was pretty impressed with myself . . . .my sewing has improved greatly. It looks like a grown adult who knows what they are doing made them! Here is a sneak peak. . .

Nine Years Yesterday. . .

2008-07-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it! Blake and I are now going on our 10th year of marriage! Time sure does fly by. Sometimes I feel like we just got married, other times It seams like forever (in a good way-haha). Yesterday we celebrated by having lunch down at Kopachuck State Park (only a few minutes from our house). It is one of my favorite places to go, especially during low tide. So many things to see and play with, like little crabs. Then for dinner we went to Anthony's for some halibut! Yummm, I woke up this morning still feeling stuffed. Maybe it was the berry cobbler we had for dessert. Happy Anniversary to us! Oh, and he gave me pretty flowers! I won't tell you what I got him (very practical, kinda ashamed-haha).

I am amazed!

2008-07-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

I feel like I need to tell the whole world, or at least everyone I know. Or maybe this is something you all know and nobody ever told me! It is the easiest and best way to clean the inside of a microwave. If you don't believe me, try it! You will be amazed! I know, it's the littlest things in life that get me excited.

Simply add about 1 cup of water to a microwave safe bowl, microwave it for two minutes. This causes the inside of your microwave to steam up. Next, carefully take out the bowl of water and simply wipe down the inside. The steam gets it all off, no scrubbing required. Seriously, just a simple wipe down and it gets off all the messy splatters. Go tell the world! No more elbow grease or harsh cleaners required, just water in a bowl.

Sixty-five dollar cupcakes!

2008-07-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after church we had a 4th of July picnic sponsored by the women's ministry at church. Part of the picnic was a fundraiser dessert auction. I had volunteered to make one of the deserts. I had no idea what to make. All week I was trying to come up with something that would look impressive. I had a few options, but I was a little nervous about making something I hadn't made before. So, I went with my tried and true cupcakes, from the book: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World. These are the most moist and delicious cupcakes you will ever have. I made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla butter cream frosting, topped with dark chocolate shavings and fresh raspberries. I was a little nervous that cupcakes wouldn't be that exciting among all the fancy desserts, but impressed when they sold for $65 (that was the second highest priced item out of 25 desserts).

A handful a day. . . .

2008-07-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

Makes lot's of strawberries! However, we would have twice as many if the deer didn't get to the others that were not fenced in. Oh well, we will enjoy the ones we do have and I hope the deer enjoyed the others. Actually, I hope it made them sick so they don't come back for more. Is that mean that I wish that upon a poor little deer?!?

Fireworks!

2008-07-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was the 4th of July. We usually join the neighbors in the court for an evening full of fireworks. This year with Blake gone, I went with some friends to the Tacoma waterfront. It was pretty crazy, lots of people. Here are a few pictures. I got home around midnight last night and was surprised to see that the neighbors were just finishing up. As one neighbor put it "we blew up a few college tuition's tonight". Isn't that the truth!

Welcome Andrew Thomas!

2008-07-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

My sister, Melissa (and Paul) just had their baby boy on Monday! Baby is doing well, and Melissa is recovering from having a C-section and a reaction to the medicine. I can't wait to see them next month! Here is a picture of Avery and Andrew! Today is also Avery's 5th birthday!

Garden Update!

2008-06-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

It's growing! Check out the progress. We also put in a fence around the garden area in hopes to keep the bunnies and deer out. Now all we need is a gate.

Oh, our newest addition. . . . RASPBERRIES!

Dogs, Park and New Friends!

2008-06-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Sierra has a new friend, Bella (aka: Tiffany's dog). They had fun at the park, too bad I couldn't get a picture of them together. Look at the beautiful flowers too!

I won!

2008-06-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's the little things in life that get me excited. I won the weekly drawing at Trader Joes for bringing in my own reusable grocery bags when I shop. I think Blake thought we won the lottery by watching my excitement grow as I listened to the voice mail message last night. Nope, no lottery winner, but the proud winner of a TJ $25 gift card. I think I may splurge and buy an orchid, or plant. Something besides just normal groceries. Hmmm. . . .or I could spend it all on cookies and chocolate croissants- haha.

Backpacking!

2008-06-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from our weekend backpacking trip at the Dungeness River in the Northern Olympics. We had a great weekend, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We went with our friends Andy and Elisa and their dog Wilder as one last trip before they move to Fresno. The picture of the broken bridge is where we were supposed to cross (don't worry we are smarter than that). We bushwacked a bit longer and ended up finding a sweet camp without even having to cross the river. We ended the trip yesterday late afternoon by stopping into Port Townsend for some pizza and ice cream. Fun had by all!

It's Growing!

2008-05-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Check out the progress! This week our tomatoes, lettuce, beans, and broccoli all had major growth spurts. Yeah, we haven't killed anything yet nor have the bunnies.

Speaking of bunny. We were working in the yard last weekend, and Sierra was laying down in the grass just hanging out. I looked over and realized there was a bunny laying in the grass about 9 inches from here nose. Afraid she may notice it and get it, I yelled to Blake to distract the dog and get her away from the bunny. The poor little bunny must have been so freaked out, it was hunkered down in the grass not moving and acting like a rock. To make a long story short, Sierra ended up stepping on the bunny before it ran off to freedom in the woods. The funny thing is Sierra was clueless to it all, and never saw a thing. We got a good laugh at her expense. She is such a guard dog, haha. That is why she is not in charge of protecting the house or the garden. Good thing she is cute!

We went big!

2008-05-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

This year we greatly expanded our garden. It is still a work in progress, with one bed yet to fill. Our next project will be to put down some sort of paver walkway. Any ideas? It is hard to figure out where to begin and end. We are also still working on the soaker hose and the drip line system. This week is supposed to be a warm week with a few days in the mid 80's. Hopefully the plants will like that, I know i will. So you are asking what we planted, here you go: 4 different varieties of tomatoes, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, green onions, lettuce, broccoli, artichoke, bush beans, zucchini, raspberries, strawberries, and cantaloupe. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. . . .

A few of these are test crops, I'm not sure how they will do (especially the bell peppers, and artichoke). Last year we had much success with lettuce, broccoli, and green onions. Our tomatoes, raspberries and strawberries struggled a bit. I blame the bunnies that nibbled them down! Oh, and lack of water and sun for the raspberries (we moved them to a new location).

We got corked!

2008-05-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Check out our new flooring, and mini bathroom makeover. After much research and debate, we went with cork tiles. We had our mind made up about ceramic tile. But then decided to go with cork, a product that is more environmentally sustainable. Cork comes in so many different colors, and patterns (expand your mind beyond the look of a cork bulletin board). I also love how it is soft and smooth to walk on and stays warm at room temperature. It will be great especially in the winter. I hate the feeling of dreading getting out of the shower and feeling the cold tile (maybe that is just an odd issue I have). That was one of the cons for me when it came to ceramic tile. We also replaced our toilets, and faucets at the same time. Our new toilets also use less water than our old ones, and are comfort height. I didn't really care about comfort height but my dad insisted that we wouldn't be sorry. My favorite part of the toilets are the no slam seats/lids. There is no clanking the seat or lid down. It is impossible, Blake tried. It just slowly falls down and doesn't make a noise. I never realized that was a pet peeve of mine, but it is. Geez, in writing this I am realizing I have some issues. Oh, and if you haven't been to our house before. . .we are not afraid of color.

Hall Bathroom:
Master Bathroom:

Tulips!

2008-05-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our front yard is full of tulips! I love them!

They are married!

2008-04-29T14:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend Blake and I were in California for my friend Kaatri's wedding! It was beautiful! I will be posting more pictures and details soon. Check out their photographers blog, for a slideshow and a nice write up about Kaatri and Mark and their wedding day.

Grids of land. . .

2008-04-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

Growing up outside of Sacramento in the burbs I always forget how agricultural it really is. It is so interesting the view from the air and squares of green, brown, and the rows of crops. I love the blocks of colors and textures. In contrast I have also attached the view from the air when flying into Seattle.

Green festival!

2008-04-08T23:15:00.000-07:00

The Green Festival is this weekend in Seattle! Yeah, I'm super excited. We are planning on going all day Saturday. There is so much to do and see, it will be a busy day. In looking through the different speakers, here are a few that sounded exciting to me: Pollution in our homes, Shopping for change, Wild-life friendly gardening, and The cost of consumerism. There are over 300 exhibits, and a "natural dining" area with delicious vegan and vegetarian cuisine! You know me, food is always exciting. Anyways, I hope to learn more about social justice and how to live more responsibly. More to come. . . .

Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus!

2008-03-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

Yep, that is what our new friends are!

Where is Malta?

2008-03-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

So, today I learned where Malta is. I had to google it first, to even begin to locate it on the map. It is a very small place. It is in the archipelago of islands about halfway between the coasts of Sicily and North Africa. Set in the clear blue Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese islands are the most southerly European country. The archipelago consists of five islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino, together with two other uninhabited islands Cominetto and Filfla. I then had to look up archipelago. Archipelago simply is a chain or cluster of islands. Maybe I should have paid better attention in world geography!

Everytime we have an order on our website or Ebay to a new country we always locate it on the map and put a pin in it. Our most common countries, are Australia, Sweden, Norway, Italy, UK, Spain and Germany. However we have sold to almost 50 different countries! Pretty amazing that people all over the world are into fly fishing. Check out a portion of our map.

A clutch for the green apple!

2008-03-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

I made a clutch (fancy name for a little purse/carrying case). I got the idea from, Bend the rules sewing by Amy Karol (I now have completed two projects from this book). It is a great book, with many creative and useful ideas. If you get a chance check out her blog or flicker photos of other projects of hers that people have done http://www.angrychicken.typepad.com/ http://www.flickr.com/groups/340229@N25/

You ask. . .what is the green apple?

Well, it's my new little laptop (lovingly called the green apple because of it's color). I just got it this week and am enjoying the portability of it. I love how I can just keep it in my purse and pull it out wherever there is a wireless network. Friday afternoon I took it to Forza Coffee and worked from there for the afternoon. It was nice for a change of scenery. If you haven't seen these before, check them out! http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=24&l2=0&l3=0&l4=0&model=2007&modelmenu=1

The Story of Stuff. . .

2008-03-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Watch it, it is definately worth the 20 minutes! Sure makes you think about what you really "need". As if we really "need" anything.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

My drug of choice!

2008-03-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

Talk about addictive! Now, this is candy! Once you pop, you can't stop! Give me more!

Those could all be titles for this post! Thanks to my friend Jen (just realized I have at least 4 good friends named Jen), my garage sale "brand new" dehydrator that was never used but 10 years old, and Dole pineapple slices. Now anyone can enjoy this amazingly scrumptious treat! Unless you are around me, then you better act fast before they are all gone. They are so good, I ate half of them right off the dehydrator before they were even "done". I'm telling you, you can trick any child or even adult for that matter into thinking this is candy! Our friends had these out at their last party, I definitely stood by the bowl!

Spring is coming!

2008-03-01T11:03:00.001-08:00

We have had a beautiful month of February! It seams as if we have had sun everyday! So much sun the flowers are coming up. First the crocus, then the tulips and iris! Hopefully the deer won't get to the crocus early this year. Last year they munched all the flowers off right after they bloomed- made me sad!

Photoshoot with a friendly goat!

2008-02-29T16:49:00.000-08:00

Today Blake and I drove past this friendly goat and we thought we'd stop and say "hi". Well, the "hi" turned into a "hello" and we ended up having a photoshoot. He was a nice "kid" even though he had a chunky goatee. Check out that goatee- don't let it fool you, it is gross!

"Three spring rolls please"

2008-02-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

Blake told me to title it that. I guess it is some Strongbad quote from Teen Girl Squad. If you have no idea what I'm talking about you should google it. They are pretty funny- if you are in the right mood.

Anyways, moving on. This post is not about Strongbad. But it is about the most amazing "Fresh Mango Summer Rolls, from cookbook Vegan with a Vengeance. Oh my, they are good! How could you go wrong with rice noodles, mango, bean sprouts, cilantro, and roasted peanuts. And of course the Thai dipping sauce. I can't wait to make these again!

NW Furniture Bank

2008-02-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

So, friends of ours have started a non-profit called NW furniture bank. It is a great idea. They receive donations of new and gently used furniture from stores, manufactures and families getting rid of furniture. They then work with agencies who have already screened needy clients who need furniture. Many of these clients are just getting on their feet, whether it be from a disaster, getting out of a recovery center or moving out of a hotel. So often these people have barely enough money to make this step, let alone furnish their apartment or house. Blake was able to get a group of students together last week to volunteer for a few days (the students were on winter break from school). Below is a link to the newspaper article that covered the delivery of furniture Blake helped with.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/columnists/merryman/story/292264.html

Americone Dream!

2008-02-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

Whe knew Stephen Colbert had his own ice cream flavor! Geez, Ben & Jerry's think of everything. It was quite good in fact. . .it was vanilla ice cream with fudge covered waffle cone pieces and caramel swirl.

My Birthday!

2008-02-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

As Blake said below. . . the mom's came up to surprise me for my birthday weekend. We had a good time celebrating by playing games, going out to eat, going shopping and just spoiling me!

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday Allison!

2008-02-11T09:46:00.001-08:00

So the moms flew in this weekend to help celebrate Allison's birthday. We've had a lot of fun and I even was able to get out of some shopping by going to the Caucus on Saturday. The moms fly out tonight so we'll probably go to Tides for lunch and then hang out a bit before taking them to the airport. We'll post some pictures from the weekend soon.

Let it snow. . . .

2008-01-27T21:36:00.000-08:00

Today was a fun, snowy day! We woke up to about an inch and it continued through much of the day. I had invited some highschoolers to come hang out and scrapbook (they had a half day of school). Well, I only scrap booked one page, but we had fun hanging out! Here are a few pictures of Paulina, Aundi, and Sierra ice blocking (using the ice chunk from the bird bath). Aren't we resourceful! Tomorrow is supposed to be more snow. . .but tomorrow must be a work day (Lot's of orders and bookwork to do- no more playing for me). It was fun while it lasted!

Ikea Organizing!

2008-01-27T17:02:00.000-08:00

Hi Mom, This is for you! Here is a picture of that scarf organizer I was describing to you. Is it what you were imagining? I love it because the holes are actually large enough to hold thick scarves. I also like how it hangs flat. This too can be yours for $4.99 and a trip to ikea.

Blake's first hike (since the broken leg). . .

2008-01-24T21:37:00.000-08:00

Today was a beautiful day! Very cold, but beautiful. The slight warmth of the sun felt amazing. We figured we needed to get out of the house and enjoy it. I love these cold, crisp, clear, sunny days. I love seeing the mountains all around me!

Blake has been going to physical therapy two times a week for the last three weeks. He has been improving greatly and has been working a lot on strength and balance. Today we put him to the test- hiking on uneven ground. He did great! We just went to Kopachuck State Park (about 2 miles from our house). It is one of my favorite places. We hiked maybe a mile, and Sierra enjoyed swimming in the sound.

Rearranged. . . .

2008-01-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

Last week I finally found a sewing machine table on craigslist. The price was right and so was the style and location. It actually is a funny story. The owner and I emailed back and forth a few times discussing measurements, condition, etc. Then she signed her name to the email. I recognized her name right away, she was a lady from church! We both got a laugh out of that one. I picked it up on Wednesday and got inspired to rearrange our living room/hobby room to accommodate it. Blake and i had discussed putting it in the spare room or even our bedroom but then decided it would be much more fun to be in the same room. His fly tying desk is also in that room. I like the new arrangement! It feels like such a better use of space. I'm very excited to have all my sewing stuff in one spot. Now I don't have to lug everything out from three different closets every time I want to sew.

Your trash doesn't "go away"

2008-01-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

I came across a fascinating blog this morning. Maybe you have already heard about it. . . . .It is about a guy (an artist in Berkley CA) who decided to keep all of his trash for a whole year. His goal was to see how much trash one person creates a year (in his case about 96 cubic feet).He kept it clean, neat and sorted in his apartment. It should be a challenge to all of us to think before we use or purchase. Do we need to use that straw when we drink our water at a restaurant? Is it worth creating the extra trash? I don't know. . . but we all should be aware. When we "throw away" our trash, it doesn't really "go away"- there is no such thing as away. Check out his blog: http://saveyourtrash.typepad.com/save_your_trash/about-the-project.html

http://links.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/30/BAFFU493E.DTL

New Years Fun!

2008-01-01T23:13:00.000-08:00

Random pictures from New Years. We spent the evening playing some crazy games of Bunko, and Cranium with friends. In case you were wondering. . . .I lost badly at bunko. But in Cranium (boys against girls). The girls rocked! I love how we can read each others minds!

Christmas!

2008-01-01T22:28:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures from Christmas! I was bummed to miss the white Christmas here in Gig Harbor, but we enjoyed our time with our families.

Christmas Greetings!

2007-12-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

From our friends and family to yours!

Beautiful Day. . .

2007-12-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day, all sun and no rain! Yes, it does rain here in Washington but not always as some might think. This morning we woke up to the sun and it stayed around all day. I had to get out and enjoy the rays. I would say soak up the sun, but it wasn't very warm (maybe high of 45 degrees). Here are some pictures of the Gig Harbor Christmas tree at Jerisich Park. Today was just the day I needed to be refreshed, and energized!

He's Official!

2007-12-20T22:33:00.000-08:00

And he's got a piece of paper to prove it!

Blake is an official graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, with his Masters of Divinity. Quite an accomplishment and I am very proud of him!

Trying to understand. . . .

2007-12-14T23:20:00.000-08:00

I just finished the book, "Inside A Cutter's Mind" by Jerusha Clark and Dr. Earl Henslin. I started reading it this summer while on vacation. I read about half the book and then just set it down, forgot about it, and moved on with life. I picked it up again just this week- and finished it tonight. Cutting and self injury has been something that I have been wanting to learn more about for a few years now. Working with High School kids this issue keeps coming up and i just don't get it. I don't understand why kid's would cut and for what purpose. Reading this book helped me to realize that people don't cut for attention, it is not a suicide attempt, nor is it a"teenage" problem or something you just outgrow. For many people it is an escape from reality, something they control, the need to just feel something. . .even if it is only temporary. It is a coping mechanism, and for many it is the only thing they have found that works. We all cope in different ways. Some of us may sit in front of the tv and zone out life, others may go shopping, some find relief in food, and some people cut- or hurt themselves in some way. These people are just like you and I. . . they are not psycho. They need love, comfort, and acceptance. They need to know that they are not alone, that their feelings are real and shouldn't be discounted and they need you to be their friend and support them. Most also need to see a doctor and or counselor to try to get to the root of the issue. Anyways, I encourage anyone to read this book and learn a little more about the ever-growing problem of self injury.

Coming soon to a mailbox near you. . . .

2007-12-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

Yep, you guessed it- christmas cards from the Merwins!

Don't run to your mailbox just yet, they won't be mailed out for a few more days. This year I was feeling crafty so I decided to make the cards. I went to our local scrapbook store, toadally scrappin' (rad name I know) and bought one sheet of every christmas paper I liked. Some of the cards turned out pretty random, but overall I am pleased with the results. Enjoy!

Living With Ed Withdrawls

2007-12-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

So I have no idea where Ed Begley went. Allison and I loved that show (the first season was better than the second) but now it is no longer on Monday nights. Now they are just doing repeats of season 2 on Sundays at 11:30pm. I think Ed Begley should just have his own channel, not just his own TV show. Better yet, why even have other channels....unless of course Ed was on them?

Hopefully season 3 is longer than 4 episodes!

AHHH......Needles!

2007-12-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

Our friend Lillian stopped by today with an acupuncturist to help ease my pain. If you know either of us, you probably know that both of us hate needles and would have never thought about acupuncture (unless you want me to turn green and faint). I had mentioned to Lillian that I would like to try it sometime but definitely wasn't expecting a surprise visit today!

So I agreed to get stuck and I got needles placed in both wrists, my ears, and my left foot. It surprisingly didn't really hurt. Except now I have a headache (possibly related?). I think it actually helped my leg a little bit though. It still hurts, don't get me wrong. But it seems to have relieved a little bit of the tension. Will I do it again? Not unless there is permanent ink on the end of those needles! :)

A few of my favorite things. . .

2007-12-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

Let it snow!

2007-12-01T23:45:00.000-08:00

Today was a good day, it snowed! It didn't last long but it was fun while it lasted and it was a great way to start off December! Sierra and I ran around the backyard for a bit as Blake watched from the couch : (

Later in the day, Linnea and I conquered the snow and went to Tidefest (craft fair at the high school). It was fun, definitely a community event- all of Gig Harbor was there. Later, Jen, Rachel, and Mark came over. The boys played video games while Rachel and I made wreaths. The best part about making wreaths is that all the materials are found in our yard (except the wire form of course). We did have to hunt the branches down in the rain and dark but that was part of the fun!

Just a shell of a man

2007-12-01T00:08:00.001-08:00

So since I broke my leg almost a week ago I tried to be tough about this whole thing and not take any of the prescription drugs. But unfortunately, I succumbed to the peer pressure. Not really. Actually, I triped with my crutches and slammed face first on the family room floor. I must have either knocked around my foot pretty hard or broken more stuff because the pain is worse than it has been yet. So I did it. I took half of a percocet. I know I'm probably going to be an addict now. I even bent one of the crutches.

So now I have a bent crutch which will probably result in more mishaps and I'm addicted to drugs. This sucks.

Still Broken. . . .

2007-11-26T22:36:00.000-08:00

Well, a few days have past and it's still broken! Blake had an appointment today with an orthopedic surgeon and it looks pretty good. The bones should heal quickly, but there is a little concern about some ligaments. The doctor took a few more x-rays - pushing and pulling to get some better views. He believes at this time that they will heal properly as well but wants to see him again next Monday for some new x-rays. In the meantime Blake has graduated from the splint to a cast. Not just any cast, but a candy cane cast. Isn't he in the holiday spirit! If all goes well he will graduate in about a month to a walking boot. We will keep you updated. Our friends Jen, Rachel, and Sam stopped by yesterday with pizza and a few "special" candy bars for the occasion. Who knew so many kinds of candy could relate to a broken leg. And so the show must go on. . . .

I'm an Elf. . . .

2007-11-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

Check it out. . . . make sure your volume is turned up!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9602782840

It's Broken!

2007-11-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Blake had a little mishap on Saturday! And well, he broke is leg in three spots. It is broken twice in his fibula (shin area), and the tip of his Tibia. They look to be pretty clean breaks and luckily none are in his joint areas. He has a splint like cast on until Monday when he can get in to orthopedics and the swelling has gone down. He most likely will have on a cast for 6-8 weeks. He is just laying low. . . .poor guy!

Rachel came to visit!

2007-11-24T20:39:00.000-08:00

The weather was great! It was a little chilly, but not a bit of rain. We picked up Rachel at the airport on Friday morning then drove to Seattle for a day of fun! We decided to start of the day right. . . .stopping at a bakery for some pastries and coffee. Then went for a walk on Alki beach in West Seattle. Then we were off to drive around Seattle on the "official" tour. After the tour it was time for lunch at Agua Verde. It was really good. It is mexican food with a twist. I enjoyed my yam tacos very much!! We ended the afternoon by going to the EMP (Experience Music Project). We also wanted to admire the building, designed by Frank Gehry. Fun had by all!

What's Up Doc. . .

2007-11-18T17:11:00.000-08:00

We did it, we grew a carrot! Not just any carrot. . . a baby carrot. We thought all hope was lost for our crop of carrots this year. Little did we know. We are farmers!

I don't want to brag or anything.....

2007-11-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

but I was totally right about the weather! It was beautiful the entire time except for the last day it rained. California even got more rain this weekend than we did. You don't believe me? Go to our fly fishing blog and check the pictures I just posted from Saturday.

Here Come the Parents

2007-11-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

My parents are coming in town this weekend for my birthday but according to the weather person it is going to rain all weekend. That means we'll have to cancel the jump house, clown, and pony. (Goosh I hate clowns)
But, if the weather person's predictions are anything like they usually are.....it will end up being sunny. I think I am now fairly convinced that whenever a weather person gets fired from their job they are shipped to the Northwest to suffer the agony of trying to predict our weather. The Weather Channel. It's almost slightly amusing.... I said almost.

Facebook!

2007-11-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

Allison now has a facebook! So if you're on facebook, go add her! If you're not on facebook.....why the heck not?

Sierra the clown!

2007-10-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween, Almost.

I swear she likes dressing up! Every year she looks forward to wearing her one and only costume. She has been a clown for the last 4 years! Who needs variety! This year she has decided to wear her costume for all the kids. She has been practicing wearing it around the house (minus the clown hat, she can't handle that).

Of Course I will. . . .

2007-10-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I received two phone calls within an hour of each other that were oh so similar. First was a message from my friend Kaatri stating that she had "news to discuss with me". I promptly called her back already knowing what she had to tell me. She was engaged!!! Shortly after that my friend Monika called with the same news, she was engaged too! Congratulations to both of you. I am very excited!!! Looks like we will be making a few extra trips to Cali this year, Wahoo!

Then in the mail Saturday, I received this cute little card! Of course the answer is yes!!! I do wonder though if the dresses will be pink?!?

Volleyball behind bars!

2007-10-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the third Thursday. . . meaning it was my volleyball teams turn to go to prison! I don't mind at all, I actually like playing at the prison. However, due to coaching conflicts, injuries, and childcare issues we only had 3 people. That was a bummer! I am not in good enough shape to play 3+ games with only 3 people. The highlight for me was after our three "official" games the prison team gave us 3 of their best players and we continued to scrimmage. After brief introductions, and a game plan, we began. It was amazing how we really pulled together and played as a "team". There was no "us" and "them" attitude. We played together, encouraging one another, and just had fun! They are always so friendly and very grateful to have us come and play. They thank us over and over for coming. It is great to play with women that love the game and just have fun! I look forward to going back in another 3 weeks. Everytime I leave. . . I can't help but wonder why these women are there? Bad decisions? Poor choices? Unbeatable circumstances? I guess it doesn't really matter, they are God's children (whom he loves) just as I am.

Fall leaves and caramel everything!

2007-10-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

I love fall! The colors are beautiful! Just driving around town you can't help but notice all the bright red, orange and yellow leaves. Give it another month and they will be all over the ground. Lucky for us, many don't fall in our yard. I also love the cooling of weather, and my puffy slippers and brown vest. You know what else I love. . . . CARAMEL EVERYTHING! Aundi and Linnea came over last week and we made caramel apples, as well as carmel covered chocolate, and cookies. It was great! Dad, notice the brand!!!

I'm a joy to live with. . .

2007-10-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

"I'm not difficult to live with, I'm a joy to live with" - Ed Begley (also quoted often around the Merwin house, when one of us leaves our shoes in the middle of the family room, or our dinner plate on the counter).

If you have not watched Living with Ed, Tune in to HGTV, Monday nights at 10:30 pm. Ed will keep you on your toes as he is always on pursuit of "living green". He cracks me up! He seams to go to all extremes in saving water, electricity, and recycling. Just last night he was trying to install a hand dryer in his bathroom, to cut down on towel use and washing laundry. Luckily his wife put the smack down. The hand dryer was quite large and obnoxious! We have learned a few things from Ed this last year and hope to implement more in the near future (cork flooring, and solar tubes). Thanks to Ed we now harvest rain! Just 1 inch of rain on a 1,200 square foot roof will produce 500 gallons of water. That is more than enough to water our entire garden all summer long. Check out his website for 10 tips in going green,

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_hlwed