Dad's Bday

Yesterday the parentals came up and we celebrated my dad's 77th birthday!!! 

The boys played golf and Langdon Farms

Mom and I hung out, went to the Mill End store (which resulted in me completely changing my mind about revamping the family room - more on that another time but lets just say this post is completely out of date now.  I'm not doing those fabrics after all) and played around on our Ipads.  

I made dinner with all of Dad's favorites.

Menu:

Lau Lau (fresh from Uwajimaya)

Sesame ginger chicken (did both thighs and breast so we could have leftovers)

Steamed rice w/ nori & black sesame seeds

Chinese long beans

Hawaiian sweet bread

And for dessert - eclairs and ice cream bon bon's
Didn't get any pictures of the food - boo - except for the dessert but here is the table

Everyone said the food was good but the star of the dinner was definitely the wine

It was one of Dad's Opus One

Definitely a special occasion wine.  Mom has bought these in the past for him for his birthday and he has put them away for special occasions.  I guess turning 77 counts for that.

Gifts for Dad included fun food treats,  See's candy, personalized "business" cards for the "master golfer", and a Eddie Aikau shirt that I brought back from Maui in January to save for his birthday.

Didn't do such a great job taking pictures but it was a great day! (That's the plaid chair that I have got to get recovered one way or another)
Easy clean up as well.  Everything pretty much fit in the dishwasher so you can't beat that. 

Today is a holiday and we are meeting friends to see....

via imdb
......and grab a bite to eat after.  I don't have real high expectations for this movie but surely there will be some laughs and if we are lucky lots of Bradley.

Happy Memorial Day!

What I'm Reading



via here

What I need to keep reminding myself as I read this book is that it's not fiction.   Someone actually lived this life.  I definite must read for anyone. 

update 5/30 - I finished this book and I would still suggest it to anyone to read.   It is an amazing story and the ending comes together in a neat bow.  It seems a little rushed at the end but its understandable as the focus is more on her earlier life.  I'm just wondering why this hasn't been made into a movie - although logistically it might be hard and would probably loose a lot.

Aloha Friday

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Three day weekend for me - yea!   Dad's going to be 77 on Monday and they are coming up for dinner.   Perhaps I should figure out what I'm serving sometime soon.  Ummmmm....  Won't be BBQ because even though it's May it can't seem to stop raining or get above 63 degrees.  Oh well just means my flowers are happy and that things will stay green.



via Pinterest

A Hui Ho



And the winner is.....

Not too bad of a picture considering it came from my phone.  I have one on the camera I will download someday.  Anywho these are the fabric finalist!  I know I said here that it was going to be seaglass inspired but then I fell in love w/ this fabric.  I might still have some greenish accents for pillows and such we shall see.  Or I might leave the red accents in the room. 

I am absolutely in love w/ the flower print. 

Currently it is going to be curtains and I'm thinking of covering a whole wall w/ this print. The smaller wall behind the desk for those of you who have seen my family room.

The smaller piece that is the floral is going to be the ottoman at this point and I'm not sure about the geometric.  Joann's is having a big fabric sale this weekend and I'm only ordering the big flower print - plus the other one comes the Mill End store.

Here are some pics of some of the loser's

I however need a sewing machine.   Also, when I tell people about what I'm going to do - repurpose a oversized chair & ottoman, make curtains, and cover a wall in fabric - they all get the same look on their face.   Its not one of admiration - more horror.  Shaunna said if any of her friends could do these things it would be me or the other Amy.  I think that's a compliment.  So onward and upward.  The other Amy thinks I can do - said she would give me tips.   I have a three day weekend this weekend so if I can get the flower fabric for the Mill End store I'm starting on the ottoman.  My favorite fabric will have to be ordered which will give me some time to get a sewing machine and do a little research on sewing curtains.  It can't be that hard can it?  Oh wait I probably need the sewing machine for the ottoman repurpose - ummmm - better start the research on those things straight away.

Stay tuned.........

Beach Weekend

Had a much needed weekend away with my hubby and the furry one.

As we went along during the weekend I would grab the camera and try to take pictures where I could to which he would say - "Is this for the blog?" and smile at me.   So here goes......

We left on Friday morning and went a different route then normal to mix things up.   We went Hwy 26 to Hwy 6 through Tillamook.  I have to say that road is a little creepy to me.   You are down in this valley with the mountains up on either side and a river along side you.  Don't get me wrong its very pretty but just curvy and not what I'm used to.

First stop.......Tillamook Cheese Factory.

Falling under the category of "things we take for granted because they are in our back yard" I have to say I love this place.  Even with hundreds of tourist milling about it still has this homey down home feeling.   And lets face it the cheese and ice cream aren't too bad either.

Since it was a weekday we could actually see them making the cheese!

These are the vats w/ the milk in them on the left.   It takes 10 lbs of milk to make one lb of cheese. 

On the right you can see the big bricks being cut down and ready to package

The interactive area on the top deck is really cool.   There are all of these "fun facts" and huge windows were you can see everything being done.  On the right -  Matrix looking contrapson sucks the air out - "vacuum packed"

Where it all starts :)

Totally touristy!   You gotta love it!

 

The real reason why we go - let's be honest.   Being that it was before lunch we shared a bowl of Marionberry Pie - yum, yum, yum.

Second stop.........Pelican Brew Pub

Have to say I know realize why we quit eating here.   The food is over priced and not so wonderful.   And we didn't even get that great of a view from our table.   But when you are relaxed and on a mini getaway it doesn't really matter all that much.

This is the clam chowder.   I give it 1 clams out of 5.   Mom and I were going to have a clam rating on chowders and this is where this one ranks for me.   Plus that little "bowl" was $7.  

This is the fish and chips.   $17 for 3 very small  pieces of overcooked and not very fresh tasting cod.  The cole slaw however is tasty.  Not real mayonaissing if you know what  I mean.  Had to ask for tarter sauce - odd - they gave you this red "sauce" that you can see in the chowder picture that was spicy - probably to try and cover up the over fried fishy taste.

I went and walked down to the beach after lunch.  Gotta love that this is one of those beaches were you can drive right down onto the beach!   You can't really see them but there were surfers out there (in full wet suits).  

Fun facts about Pacific City and Haystack rock:  

Haystack Rock Wiki

There are 3 Haystack rocks in Oregon.   Silly if you ask me but that's how it is.  This is not the main one as it is in Cannon Beach and then there is but yet a third one.  I'm thinking this could get confusing to visitors in the area but maybe its just one of those quirky Oregon things.

Final stop..........Mermaid Cottage in LC!



We had a much better meal that night at Lovin Spoonful.  I love this little place.   Home cooked good food.   G had the Prime Rib and I had the Strognoff (both were delicous!).   No there aren't any pictures - I forgot.  But trust me I will be back to this place and will take pictures then.  G wanted to go back the next day for their BLT's that he loves.  And it has a view of the ocean to boot!

It was nice enough one afternoon that we played card in the side courtyard - yes that's my winning hand

Bubba  near by - isn't the rhodie pretty?  I won't have these at home but they are so great over at the coast and are mostly in bloom right now.

We were able to go on a walk around the neighborhood and ran into this......

Yep that's it - the pole to the siren.  It points towards the beach.  I haven't heard it but the parentals have.  Let's hope I never do have to hear it.  

I do love our little bay though...The drifwood sculptures are ever changing

And of course I hit the "outlets".   Old Gravy had rubber flips for $1!

Because we all know that's what I need.   More shoes - namely rubber flips.

Also, had dinner at Mo's - the fish and chips there were wonderful!   The chowder here gets 4 clams!  And the view was great as well.  I promise pictures of all of this next time we go.   We are creatures of habit when it comes to this place.  I get the fish and chips w/ a cup of chowder and G gets a bowl of chowder and a grilled cheese w/ tomatoes and extra dills on the side.

All in all a great weekend.  Can't wait to go back!

Wednesday Quote

Blanaid

Aloha Friday

Sunset at the Five Palms

TGIF!

I have to admit that I was very confused about what day it was all week so its good to see this week is over.

G was in Austin all week for a conference and we (me and the furry one) missed him dearly.  Although she is my dog its funny how out of sorts she gets when he isn't around.  

In other news......I have today off!   Very excited about that.  Made yesterday so much easier.  G has a furlough day so I figured why not.  Would love to work a 4 day work week however would still like to get paid for a 5 day work week so I don't think that would work in my favor.

Also, the sun finally made an appearance for more than a day this week was able to go on 'walk breaks' at work in the am and pm which is wonderful and helps to keep my energy high.  Made it above 70 Wed and Thursday and today its supposed to 75.  

Wednesday quote



pinterest.com



In other news the posts that got deleted have shown up again - thank you blogger!

West Linn House

This is the West Linn house.   Kinda sweet in its own little way.

The living room/dinining room w/ sliders out to the patio. G painted the fireplace front - so much better.  And look at the new carpet!  Oh and I painted those walls along w/ almost every other surface in this house.

 And on the right fireplace w/ G in the kitchen in the backgroud

On the left.....Entry way.   That closed it really big - and has some great storage like a pantry almost.  There is another closet around the corner down the hall as well.  Nice flooring in the entry way too.
On the right....Hallway to the bedrooms.  The washer/dryer on on the right behind the bifold doors.   Amazing the storage this place has that another closet at the end of the hall.  Perfect for linens.  There are 3 bedrooms.  Two on the left and the master at the end of the hall on the right.  The is a full bath just past the laundry closet and the master has a little half bath.

On the left....Here's the kitchen.  Brand new stove!  Window looks out to the side yard and patio which is really nice.  It's kinda small but still has the "traingleThe double (yes that's right double) sliders out to the side patio/yard.    On the right.....There is a big back yard as well behind the house w/ two outside storage sheds. 

G has been slaving over this house for the last 6 weeks and when I say slaving I mean it.  He has been over there every weekend as well as almost every night after work.  There was some pretty good damage left my the last renter.   Like the smurf killing on the front room carpet (there was blue in this one area that I couldn't figure out what would of made that stain besides a smurf).  

Good news is the end is in sight and we have a renter who is checked out and paid in full!   G is doing the walk through w/ her on Friday and then he is DONE!

Let's keep our fingers crossed she stays a while (the last renter stayed 6 years) and doesn't put a gillion holes in the walls and then try to spackle them. 

Mom's Day Food

Finally got a chance to download the pictures from Mom's day!

I found out Saturday that my mom's retina had torn yet again in another place.   She had to go up to OHSU to the Casey Eye Clinic to see the on call Dr. (who was apparently very good looking) on Saturday.   He informed her he could do surgery that night or she could wait and have her Dr. do it in Salem on Monday.   She opted to wait until Monday.   Can't say that I blame her.   Sunday morning her Salem Dr. called and wanted her to come down to his office to check her out.   This I thought was great although not so great for him being in the office on Sunday.   Needless to say he confirmed that surgery would need to be done first thing Monday morning.   We still went down to Salem for 'supper' but I wanted to make sure that I took some food down w/ me for them to have on hand for the first part of the week so I threw together a couple of "things" instead of making the Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Ice Cream.

Thing One - Enchilada Stack.

Easy to make and throw together w/ what's on hand

Needed:

Enchilada Sauce

Ground Beef

Cheddar Cheese

Red Onion

Olives (although I forgot them this time)

Flour Tortilla

Refried Beans

How it all starts - I just use a 9x9 pan which makes enough for two meals for us.   Then brown the beef and add the onion.   Then add beans and a little sauce.

Just start layering......I put a little sauce in the bottom of the pan and then torts followed by meat mixture w/ addtional sauce on top and then a little cheese (I forgot the olives)

Repeat w/ the second layer and a little sauce and cheese on top and viola!   Easy peezy.

Throw it in the oven at 350 or 375 for about 30 minutes or so and serve w/ fresh cut tomatoes, avocado, sour cream and chips

Thing Two:

Gingerbread loaf for her w/ crsystalized ginger pieces in it.  This was a HUGE hit. 

It's just the box mix from Trader Joe's and then I add the crystalized ginger.

Thing Three:

Tortellini Soup

It was from a mix - I was in a hurry and needed it quick

 I forgot however to put the tomatoe sauce in at the begining - oops!  But got it in before the tortellini at least

 Finished product w/ the Jasmine plant she is getting as well.   And can I just say the plant smells wonderful.  Might have to go back to Whole PayCheck and get one for myself.

Not fancy or complicated I know but thrown together in about an hour and some change and made w/ love.

We headed down to Salem and had a great meal!

Prime Rib!  Yum!  And the pototoes were devine as well.   Didn't get a pick of the asparagus but she put panko crumbs on them (you can see the crumbs in the back in the pan)

 And for dessert Key Lime Tart from Whole PayCheck - it was so creamy and had just the right of tang.

Good news is Roberta is on the mend.   She still has to keep her head down for so many hours a day and is back to doing drops 4 times a day but this to shall pass.