Garden Delight!

The other day I was given green beans and a zucchini from a garden. Coupled with a few things from our garden, namely vidaldi onions and fresh parsley, I went looking for a recipe. Last evening, I made the BEST SOUP! (I can't believe I'm blogging about this!) Even Mike, who doesn't much care for vegetables, unless they are 'casseroled' liked it!

(Okay, the photo doesn't do it justice, but the taste was delicious!)

Recipe - Green Bean, Zucchini and Potatoe Stew (Greeks call it Fassolakia Iadera)

1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 ounces zucchini, cut into 1-in-thick slices
8 ounces russett potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes
3/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 28-ounce can Italian-style diced tomatoes

Heat oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute 5 minutes. Add green beans and cayenne pepper and sate until onion is translucent, about 3 additional minutes. Add zucchini, potatoes and parsley. Pour tomatoes and their juices over vegetables. Breing to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring frequently, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 6-8

I've also been canning apricots that were given to me. I'm down to my last few and making A LOT of apricot bread later today!

Millcreek

Last evening the Lang's went up Millcreek Canyon for dinner. Dave and his family are visiting from Guam and so this gave us a chance to be together. We had a great time talking, eating, playing games, and exploring. Thanks to mom for organizing everything!!!

Madison

Lexi-a-loungin'

Grandpa Lang & Sidney

Cousins!!! (Madi & Lexi)

Chan & Dave

Steve (I don't think he'll like this photo!)

Dylan & Grandma Lang

P.S. Photographers for the evening were Alexis Lang and Madison Lang

Labor of Love...

Maintaining my status as 'favorite aunt' is not always easy, but I diligently work at it. The past few days I have spent time with nieces Alexis and Madison (both 11) - although Madison can never be talked into sleeping over. We spent one day at Grandma and Grandpa Lang's where we swam, played games with Grandma & Grandpa and ate a great steak dinner. Friday we went swimming at Steiner and made tote bags. They even worked at learning a duet on the piano. (You know the one... Heart and Soul.)


My two nieces are learning to sew very well. I was so surprised that Madison sewed straight seams this time. Last October, well, let's just say they were not very straight!

There really are four hands at this piano!

Madison with her tote!

Cute Cousins - Alexis and Madison

Madi & Lexi at Steiner

Alexis with her new tote!

Last but not least, I have video of a couple of their jumps from the high dive. Both were too chicken to dive from the high dive (okay, I would be too!) but they did dive from the low dive!

Flip Flops?

When I married Mike, I had no idea how important his flip flops were to him, but I quickly found out. He doesn't like to walk around in bare feet or even in stocking feet. It is either shoes or flip flops.

Shortly after we married, I asked him one evening to get up and shut the window. Mike arose, put on his flip flops and walked three steps - yes three steps - to close the window. Needless to say, I busted up laughing. That's when I knew that flip flops were serious business! But, the upside to this is I always know where Mike's at when he's wearing them. Flip flops really 'flip flop'!

Last evening, Mike 'lost' his flip flops. He was hunting all over the house before he asked me if I had seen them...

Where are my flip flops?

Look where they were found!

Flip flops!!!

Stash...

A couple of weeks ago when our niece, Lexi, stayed with us. Lexi purchased fabric so I could make her a bag. I finished the bag last week and had left over fabric. Today she was at our home for a couple of hours and came across some fabric that I had not used. She quickly and deftly asked if I had bought the fabric or she had. When I answered that it was her fabric, she was so excited. Alexis now has her first piece of 'stash' fabric. For any quilter or sewer, you know what that means.... There is more fabric to come!

Lexi, proudly holding her first fabric 'stash'!

P.S. I must also mention that about a year ago Mike and I were working on our will. Alexis somehow found out about and asked, "Sidney, can I inherit your fabric?" Well, since she's the first to ask, the stash is hers! (Note for other family members, if there is some of ours that you would like to inherit, you need to let Mike or I know. It may be 40-50 years until you inherit it, but it will be 'free'!)

Odds and Ends

Okay, a few more comments about our recent vacation

Treasures...

I loved being on the beach and finding beautiful shells or uniquely colored shells. I brought them home to combine with the shells I gathered while in Guam in September 2006. I just finished putting them in the glass jar and placing them back on the mantel.

$$$$ Mexican Salesmen $$$$...

Thursday when we arrived in Puerto Penasco, Mike and I went down to the Old Port area where the outdoor vendors are located. These vendors were on the beaches, at every place we stopped. I just couldn't get away from these guys and ended up with all of this stuff. Yet, there is only one item I really wanted...

Which item is the one I REALLY wanted?

Green Pitcher

Blue Glass pitcher (the back one)

Apple Platter

Earrings

Fabric Store...

No vacation is complete without finding a quilt store to visit. I wanted to go to the store in Sedona, but of course, we arrived at 5:15pm and it closed at 5:00pm. (Quilting stores have banker hours.) On our drive home I stopped in at a store in Panguitch, the Scrappy Apple Yard, or some name like that. Of course, I bought fabric, in addition to the Mexican purchases...

Here is what Mike purchased on our trip...

Yep, that's right. Absolutely NOTHING!

What does this tell you about the two of us? Okay, don't answer that question!

Vacation Highlights - The End...

Sunsets...

One thing on my 'to do' list was to see SUNSETS (plural here) while we were on vacation! Saturday evening, after a nap, Mike said, "Let's go to Mirador Beach and watch the sunset." We did and it was absolutely wonderful.

Note: Mike and I tried diligently, and I mean diligently, to arrange for a Sunset Cruise. It just wouldn't work for us. I have to admit, that just being on the beach was MUCH BETTER! After the sunset, we decided to have dinner via one of the street vendors. Manny's Beach Club also had a vendor and so we bought two large beef burritos and two beef tacos for dinner. The cost $8.00. This was the BEST FOOD we ate the entire trip! And who can beat the price. It was delicious!!!

Sunday evening we decided to sunset at Sandy Beach (I prefer this beach because it IS sandy. Mirador is ground up sea shells - see jelly fish picture for proof!)

We went to Playa Bonita and had a couple of soft drinks and an appetizer - thinking we were going back to Manny's vendor for dinner again - WRONG. We were stuffed with the appetizer! We were seranaded by a Mariachi Band. They kept asking us if we wanted 'romantica'. Of course we did!

Afterward, we took several pictures...

'Mike loves Sidney'

As with all vacations, the must come to an end. We left Puerto Penasca Monday morning and drove to Kanab. We stayed at the Perry Lodge, which over the years has lodged many movie stars. We happened to stay in the Gabby Hayes room. I have no idea who this guy is but Mike does.

No, Mike doesn't have a wierd smile. He is imitating the 'spoof' of Gabby Hayes in Blazing Saddles. (Mike loves spoof movies, I do not. Speak to him for a personal 'imitation' of Gabby Hayes!)

We drove home along highway 89. I had forgotten how beautiful the drive is. We were at Richfield and saw a sign for a Chinese Buffet. We looked at each other and both repeated the sign. We knew we were exiting! Chinese Buffets are something 'we do'!

We arrived back in Salt Lake about 5:15pm and found our home and 'crops' doing well. We have two tomatoes that are turning, Vidali onions that are growing VERY LARGE - we'll be harvesting a few soon! - and flowers on our squash plants. Plus, Mike's lone tomatoe plant is thriving! Yea!!!

The Car...

Well, this was the first road trip for our new car. It performed wonderfully except, I think we may have a slow leak in the back driverside tire. I'll get that checked out!

Gas mileage - Well I have a theory... When Mike drives, its over 38 MPG, when Sidney drives, it's a lot lower. What does that say? I'll let you interpret...

Overall Car Experience - I missed cruise control, a place to rest my arm - although a pillow in between our two seats does work - and power locks and windows. Otherwise, we have a great car to travel in.

Mexico Gas Prices - Yes, we purchased gas in Mexico for $2.50 a gallon. When did $2.50 a gallon get one all excited about gas prices?!?

The Trunk/Hatchback - Mike was all concerned that we'd not be able to fit much into our trunk, but we did. It holds much more than either of us expected!