Shanti, Shanti!

Sorry, Nikki, I stole your blog post title.

I just finished reading Nikki's latest post from India, and here's were it took my thoughts:

 It nearly brought me to tears, this trip of a lifetime you've just embarked on.  As a friend, I couldn't be happier and more excited for you.  As a friend who shares the same roots of childhood, I know this is where you're supposed to be, and it's not in the least surprising that you've wound up in India on your way to Tanzania.  As a friend who shares familiar ties that I wish we didn't share, it's impossible to describe how proud I am of you, and how proud your mama would be, too.  You are an inspiration to everyone you meet; a truly model being of kindness, light and beauty. 

I love you, Nikki!

Cindarelli, Cindarelli!

Ok, a couple of things:

1.) I hate the Samsung Galaxy phone (I had one, and I found it to be total crap, maybe the new one is better?).  That being said, I LOVE their commercials.  There are a couple people that make me laugh every single time.  The guy with the curly hair who says, "The headphone jack will be . . . on the bottom!" And then does a gesture with his hand implying that is mind has been blown.  It's good stuff, folks.

2.) We're currently on the downhill slope of finishing up a major house project -- sure to be the next post, with pictures.

And now, the rest of the story (thank you, Paul Harvey).

While we (meaning Chris Poage, Gregg Hardy and TJ) have been working diligently to get the new floor in the entry way over the weekend, I thought a good way to get Rowan out of the house was to naturally take her to the Ballet! Courtesy of a friend who works for PNB, we were able to score 4 tickets to the show on Saturday.  We were accompanied by Joelle and Olin, and we had a lovely time! The kids were enthralled (it seemed), and only asked questions about what was going on about every five minutes :)

The music was grand and the dancing beautiful.  A pre-ordered Prosecco and two fancy cupcakes for the kiddos waiting for us at a pub table during the first intermission wasn't too shabby, either.

High lights of the show included the carriage, and the kids shouting Brava! Brava! for Cinderella and  the cast as they took their final bows.  A fun day for all.

Rowan has said she'd like to now take Ballet, and that she'd prefer Olin was the boy that picks her up and spins her around.  When he's 15 and she's 16, naturally :)

ps - Olin is 9 months older than Rowan.  You do the math.

The wee ones showing off their new wands!

Prosecco & Cupcakes? The only way to intermission!

Mom and Mom.  Photo by: Olin P. Nelson

Ballerina in the making!

Peach Talk! Good Peaches, No Backtalk.

Yesterday at the market, Alisa told me she had an idea for a radio show called, Peach Talk.  It fields the questions from all of the 70-year-olds about peaches, and canning.  She had a 20 minute conversation with a man yesterday about why Elberta peaches are the best for canning.  I learned some, too.  For instance, did you know that . . .

1.)  Elbertas are an heirloom variety peach, and have been around for a long time, unlike all these new age, space-alien varieties.

2.)  Elbertas hold their shape when canned in hot syrup and processed, making for a delicious treat with a dollop of cream.

3.)  Elbertas are easy to peel! Dunk them in hot water, or not, and use a paring knife to peel their skin back.


My canning harvest is nearly complete, featuring apricots, plums, peaches, pickles, green beans, and cauliflower.  I also have a freezer full of strawberry, raspberry and blackberry jams, and bags upon freezer bags of berries, apples and beans.

What else is she canning? (Is what you might not be asking yourself, but here's the answer!) Tomatoes, corn,   and whatever else I can get my sweet little mitts on that will keep in a jar or a freezer bag (which is many things).  Maybe next year I'll venture into prepared goods; like a sauce or salsa...the possibilities are truly endless!

There's something extremely self satisfying about opening your hutch and seeing the gleam of harvest by the work of your own hand.  And it makes for a nice treat to eat, too!

Hoorah. Hoorah.

We're off to just a fabulous morning at 23605 5th Avenue.  I'm being sarcastic, ff you couldn't hear it.  I haven't had a cup of coffee (aside from treating myself to Starbucks or Cafe Ladro) in about two weeks, so I've been drinking tea.  No specific reason, I just haven't ordered the special coffee for our machine.

Wary, I pour myself a mug of coffee from the French Press (that I despise) and fill it half way with sugar and the other half with cream. I microwave it for a sixty seconds, take it out, and not more than 30 seconds in,  drop it on the counter; break the mug and spill scorching coffee all over my hand/self.  Ouch.

Do you think I started all over again with the coffee and the French Press and that is out to get me? Hell no I didn't.  I went straight for the tea drawer and got a bag of Harrod's English Breakfast.  And now I'm fine.

Stupid French Press.

In other news, Karin told me at work yesterday that my fave Ina Garten (aka The Barefoot Contessa) is coming to Seattle for her new cookbook release  in October, Foolproof.  Thinking I'll cheer myself up from the French Press incident, I hop onto her blog, read all about corn and what we can do with it, and proceed to click on her book schedule.

I'm getting excited now, because what if I get to go?! Surely it can't be that pricey.  The link redirects me to the Seattle Symphony website, and I click to pick my tickets.  Lo and behold, when is my sweet Ina going to be here?

 TOMORROW.

  Boooooooo-freakin'-whooooooooooo.  Hoorah, hoorah.


And that dear readers, is my day; one hour into my weekend.

The Hankering

Here's what I find challenging: a post title for your post.  I guess, sometimes it comes naturally for one who knows exactly what they would like to share.  For me, the complete opposite (unless it's like the last one I did, which I named 'Busted' because I got busted for not writing enough -- fair is fair).

It's been busy 'round these here parts the last 4 weeks.  We were gone nearly every weekend of August, and only finally have begun to settle back into our home let alone routine.  We floated down a river with cheap sunglasses and canned Blue Moon, we took a gigantic family weekend to the Uff-Da capitol of Washington State, Stanwood/Camano Island.  We went backpacking! And then we were done with those things, and we looked around the house and realized the shamble shanty it had become due to our absence.

Now that I feel like I've taken care of the house cleaning issues, I can write about the things I really want to write about.

1.)  I got a typewriter.  And it's not just your run-o-the-mill electric model from the 80s, either.  It's a Royal Tab-O-Matic, and it comes with a click in case for safe keeping during travel.  Turns out it's GREAT for writing time capsule letters from the 1800s...who knew!?

2.)  We got a new fridge! And if you read Donnianne's blog, you'll note she always hated it (it's her old one) because it wasn't counter depth and whatnot (BAH!), but seems to me one lady's loathed fridge is a step up to the eastside for this lowly, technically Snohomish County girl.

3.)  I am a canning/food preserving maniac, and couldn't be happier with my condition.  I have a new bestie in the 75-80's age range, her name is Hilda, and she's a long time shopper at ye olde fruit market.  One afternoon conversation that started utterly confusing due to traffic noise, fan noise, and the fact that she's nearly 400 years old, ended with the offer of all of her old canning jars because she was 'retired from the sport'.  I jumped at the offer and am happily canning everything in sight.

4.)  Rowan started Pre-Kindergarten! I guess it's preschool, but Pre-K sounds so fancy and advanced, and by gum she loves to say it! Today was the first day I got to drop her off, and at first sight of her teacher, she proclaimed, "It's Miss Carol!" In my head I do a crooked elbow yanked back at my hip and firmly shout, "nailed it!"  So, so proud of that kid.


That's what I have today.  I've got a hankering to write, and I'm hoping that hankering will rear it's head and force to me to do it a few more times a month.

And that, dear reader, is how you come up with a title.

Busted.

June twenty-four to present day had held many an adventure. Here's the recap.

June 30: Kristi & Dave have a couples shower hosted by Robin & Paul. Lots of wine (too much consumed by yours truly) and a erotic Pictionary game with a massive easel used for pitching business ideas. I now want one.

July 4: Olin has a 5th birthday, and the weather shapes up. Unlike the weather at his party on the 3rd, and it poured buckets while the kids dropped Mentos into 2-liters of diet Coke.

July 8: Family Q in Maple Valley. Beautiful meat, and the sun was shining, too. Fun had by all, I truly love having my fam together...too seldom an occurrence.

July 14: Tj goes on an all man backpacking trip, dubbed "mancation.". The girls had happy hour at Boom Noodle in U-Village, and pickled green beans, cauliflower, and cukes. Yummmmm.

July 21: camping trip up the Entiat Valley with our Jappy and her Nappy. Camp bocce ball team names included, Camping with Deer; and Camping with Beer. Stopped in Lemonworth (because they have lemonade there, according to Rowan) for a pretzel and schnitzel.

July 28: We try to build a fire pit in the back yard. I knock over the old bee box that's been there more than ten years, and a small swarm of yellow jackets encroaches me. We didn't make the pit that night, but we still had a fire...sorry you sting crazy bastards.

August 3-4-5:

Rehearsal dinner party, a fabulous wedding, and a recovery Sunday that consisted of me in the plastic kiddie pool in a lawn chair. Classy.

August's spirit wolf proves to be just as busy as the rest of the summer thus far...stay tuned!

First Camp of the Season

And what a camping trip it was! The technical term would probably be "quasi camping," because we slept in cousin Gregg's yard in a tent, and used his amenities like flush toilets and gourmet cookware.

For you, a list of attendees:

Chris Asmann & children (Chlöe, Olivia & Pucci)
Chris, Alisa & Sedona
The Berry-Schaerperimages, dog and child included

We had lovely weather despite the the torrential downpour and epic lightening storm we encountered at 5,000 feet. No big deal. Wasn't scary at all. Not. It was horrifying and I thought we might die, but we were spared, this time.

Saturday brought Twisp Farmer's Market and the Senior Center Western Sale, which is never a disappointment. We also scouted out a little hike with the girls to a secret waterfall, that everyone else in the Methow Valley also knew about :)

Rowan had a blast with her friends, a highlight being Alisa and I playing potty time Mad Libs with the girls. The words "toilet" and "tooters" don't really get old. Ever.

We campfired last night, made hobo pies for dinner and as Rowan and Iay in our bags in the tent, were serenaded by Poage and the G sauce with a great view of a clear sky.

Breakfast at the pub, and after two Bloody Mary's I was asleep shortly after we turned onto Hwy 20 in Winthrop. A short trip, but a good one all the same.

Reverse Jet Lag

Someone told me recently that jet lag is a bitch the older you get. I have every evidence of that fact. I'm feeling quite foolish for proclaiming that I'd certainly have no problem with jet lag once home. I was wrong. The first few days I was up at 4, raring to go, today, by 5pm I was ready for bed. Me no likely.

Tj had a noteworthy observation however: the weather's effect on my mood/motivation level. It was beautiful and warm yesterday, and I was busy at the fruit market. Today, rainy and misty, and I was counting the hours until I got to leave Kohl's, and then Sears. Painful. My work is boring, and I fear boredom, in the realm of non health threatening genres and compared to like, a bird taking a crap on your windshield, is one of the worst things. Ever. No one to talk to, just bras upon bras that need rehanging. I have a job, two actually, and I'm very thankful. Enough said.

With this seasonal depression weather we had today, I decided to make soup. It turned out quite well, with fresh herbs from my Mother's Day garden!! So very exciting. My picturesque meal is picturesqued below, along with a picture of me that I like to call: Jet Lag: you guys, where are we?! If you are a LOST fan, you're welcome. If you're not, it's free on Netflix and Hulu. I suggest you get on that plane. Immediately.

A happy birthday's eve to my one and only Jakey Henn.

Coulda woulda shoulda

In reference to our last day of the world's most epic vacation. I shoulda typed up one last entry. But alas, it's for my mind only. Oh la la! To quote one Ciscoe Morris.

Our jet lag wore off, just in time to be super tired when I got up for work this morning. C'est la vie I s'pose. The good news is, it's my birthday week, which means I basically get whatever I want, and what I want is an awesome week. Off to a good start, it was beautiful today.

Next funness: Jakey comes up tomorrow!! Whom has a birthday on the 13th, so I guess you could call it his birthday week too...I guess.

Über next funness: family dinner on Hen's birthday! At an Indian restaurant? Perhaps. Maybe it'll be something cool that I don't even know about.

2. Über fun: Flag Day Spa Fun with my bestie!! Cannot wait for my ultimate facial and brow tint. Everyone should have darkened eyelashes on their birthday.

3rd and final funness: my actual day of birth, celebrating 29 years of Esther, on a Friday with a game party with all the greatest friends in the greater Bothell area (not to mention the greatest friends in the world), when the only thing on the agenda for the next day is a party. Albeit not for yourself, but rather two eighteen year olds about to embark on life, a party with free hard liquor all the same. Day drinking. That's what it's called. I learned it from Kristi. The term, not the action.

Let birthday work week (it officially started yesterday) begin!!

Day 12, Basel.

Wow. Whoa. Uhhhggg. Sigh.

Time to go home. We are All packed, we are well fed, and we are lying in bed, full from our last meal with family Fritsche and ready to get some rest before getting on a plane tomorrow.

The past weeks have been just wonderful. We have had some of the most generous people I know give everything they possibly could, and I can't thank those individuals enough.

We took one last little trip to the city today, for lunch a trip to the Nespresso store. That's my birthday present from Tj! I am so excited about it. Christine took us to the Coop, where we filled our basket with things essential before departing home: mayonnaise, mustard, deodorant...chocolate...Swiss herb mixtures...you know. The basics.

I'm so tired. I think this is my last sentence from Basel auf der Bruderholz.

Day 11, Basel.

And we're back! About 15 degrees cooler, Basel was lovely today with nice fresh air and sun in the afternoon.

We visited my former school today, and wandered around looking for a familiar teacher, that we found out wasn't working that day. I left him a note, and the staff in the office thought it was super that I came for a visit.

Next to my school is a park called the Grün 80, or green for the non-learning disabled people. Just kidding. I meant non-German speaking people. I know what the grammar should look like here folks, it's an inside joke. So lay off ;)

The park was beautiful and full of birds and one giant dinosaur that was gifted to the park in 2005 from some Swiss company celebrating 25 years of the park. Imported from New Mexico. Everyone knows they make the best fake, to-scale dinosaurs.

We hopped the #10 tram into the city and had a relaxing day. Visited the stores I needed to hit before heading home for some Swiss essentials--like a butcher shop, see photo--and met with a friend from my school days, Corrine. She now has a little one named Jonas, and he was so sweet! It was great to visit, so I guess I'll have to come back in a couple years and see that boy again!

We wrapped up our day with a date night...as if the last two weeks haven't been one giant date. Am I right, or am I right?! We went to a place that specializes in cordon-bleu. And they had three pages of the style you could choose from...and no option had chicken! Veal or pork. Have I mentioned that I love the way folks eat across the pond? Because I love it. I wish I could eat baby cows everyday. And raw piles of them once in a while. Only kidding. Sort of.

It was a splendid meal to end a splendid day. One more day in the city, and we'll be on our way home!