CSA Week 6

We had another full bounty from the CSA this week.  Included in our loot was:  kitchen greens, TONS of basil, an onion, some tomatoes,  some yellow squash, zucchini, and eggplants.  We also got yellow banana peppers, but J knows I always struggle with how to use these, so he dropped them on the barter table.  He picked up 2 additional eggplants in their place. 

 Now just a quick note about eggplant.  I personally don't mind them, but again am limited in how I use them (think ratatouille/moussaka).  J doesn't really care for them, so when I heard he brought home 3, I about fell over.  Then, after a quick discussion, I decided I'd try my hand at baba ganoush, the close relative to hummus--and let me tell ya, we eat a LOT of hummus in our family.  I'm hoping that the Noodle will overlook the eggplant factor and focus on the similarities-to-hummus factor and gobble it up.  It will be pureed, after all, thus erasing any eggplant/vegetable connection. 

As far as these pictures of the Noodle go, I think we're heavy into that "I'm-going-to-act-like-a-lunatic-in-every-photo" stage.  Lovely.

Birthday Date Night

Lollie and Papa babysat the other night so we could go out for an "adult" dinner to celebrate J's birthday.  The restaurant where we went has a gorgeous view of Downtown and sits right high up on a cliff, overlooking the Lake.  Breathtaking and soo romantic. Good food, good wine, great conversation and a chance to exhale and enjoy just being together.

The waitress obviously could sense that this was a special occasion because this was what our dessert looked like when she brought it out.  Yum!

White chocolate Godiva cheesecake.  T.D.F. (to die for)!

$1.00

When the Noodle goes to her violin lesson, she has a sticker chart and as she performs various songs, completes different drills, etc. she gets stickers on her chart.  After she gets 5 stickers, she gets a bigger prize from her teacher.  Usually this is some sort of  goodie from the D*llar store, a small piece of candy, etc.  Last week, her teacher didn't have any prizes so she gave the C.N. a dollar (I personally think this is a bit strange, but, whatever).

After much deliberation about whether to put her $1.00 into her piggy bank and save it or go splurge...she decided to throw caution to the wind.  So, we went to the local ice cream/candy shop.  Oh, the decisions!  In fact, there were sooo many choices, she couldn't pick--so we helped out :)

Ta da--one delicious chocolate almond bar.  She thoroughly enjoyed (half of) it!

CSA Week 5

The latest hair accessory?  Ha ha--no, just a double serving of beets (from the swap table).  Can you tell that J and I love pickled beets?  The Noodle?  Not so much, sigh.

This week in our half share we got 4 apples, an onion, a zucchini, a yellow squash, cooking greens, garlic, green beans, cabbage, lettuce and beets.  J left our pickling cukes on the swap table and grabbed up the second bunch of beets.  Happy eating!!

This and that plus a birthday!

First and foremost--Happy birthday to my fabulous hubbie!  We opened presents this morning and had his ice-cream cake for dinner (always his request).  Thankfully it didn't melt from the DQ to the car and from the car into the house.  I'm sure my Nana would cringe at the sight of the cake still in the box, but when it is hot and you're short on time...we'll you get the drift!

 

Speaking of our house, it is all it can do to keep up and keep the temperature (somewhat) cool.  It is a heat wave people--ack!

While we were down visiting Uncle and Aunt C, we also got a phone call from our local library informing us that the Noodle had won a drawing through the summer reading program.  Yeah for her!

When we went for story-time this morning, she was able to redeem her prize--an Eric Carle boardgame.  Looks like it will be a fun one to play. 

Even though she's looking all serious in the first pic, she was really quite jazzed...just my little shy peanut!  Sorry for the horrid lighting--what is it with the library and lighting?!

Back from the mountains

We got back from visiting Uncle and Aunt C...and what a fun time we had!  We're lucky that they have lived in some cool places for us to come visit--the Boston area and now the mountains ( but not out West).  Isn't it amazing, how in the U.S. ,there are so many different regions and climates?  J and I were talking about it on the loooong drive back.  I honestly think that the Noodle does better than me.  I seem to be becoming less and less tolerant the longer we have to sit in a car.  Yuck!  Yet she seems to just go with the flow--thankfully!

We did all the typical "touristy" things--sightseeing, hiking (sort of), wine tasting, shopping (window), eating and of course, lots and lots of catching-up!  Some of us even attempted some K*ng Fu Panda karate  moves with the bubble gun...enough said on that one!  Ha Ha!!  So relaxing and enjoyable!  If only they weren't 8 hours away :(

 

 

Flashback Friday

This picture was taken from July 2009--the Noodle had been home with us almost a year.  Obviously we had just picked up our share from the CSA.  I think her little grin is so cute here!  Look at how short her hair is!!  It has taken us a long time to grow it out--yikes!

This was from our visit in May '09 to visit Uncle and Aunt C, up in Boston.  We were eating Mother's Day brunch at an adorable restaurant, right on the water.  Everything was so crisp, bright and clear--it was a gorgeous day.  Aunt C is quite the photographer, so we spent some time snapping photos.  The Noodle was pretty cooperative--LOL!

Here are a couple of more up-to-date snaps of the Noodle. 

We're going to be leaving to visit Uncle and Aunt C in their new house, in their new city.  Can't wait to see them and catch up!  I'm sure there will be TONS of photos commemorating the trip, right C?

We'll see you soon!  Enjoy!!

Swimming Lessons

We're in the midst of swimming lessons here.  This is the first year where the Noodle goes into the water without either J or myself.  I wasn't so sure how she'd do, but I should have known...she's fine! 

3 year anniversary

Today marks our 3 year anniversary of receiving "The Call", telling us there was a little Noodle waiting for us in China .  Can't let this day go by without remembering all of the emotions we felt!  It brings back such memories :)

First time at the movies

Last week the Noodle and I went to see C*rs 2 at the movie theater.  It was the first time she's ever seen anything on the big screen.  She loved it!!  Amazing animation but the storyline was a bit over her head...I mean, a battle between fossil fuel and bio-fuel?  Come on!  Also, how lame is it, that I couldn't believe how loud it was?!  I'm officially getting old--lol!

Ka-Chow came along for the movie

Ahhh, so relaxing!

The temperature has been heating up, so where is the best place to go?  You got it, out on the water!  There is something so, so relaxing about being out on the Lake.  Today was no different.  The swimming wasn't bad either!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a glorious time!

Gone Pickin'

The Noodle and I had planned to go blueberry picking yesterday.  At the last minute, I decided that perhaps I'd better check the farm's website to make sure they were open, etc.  Good thing!  They had posted that they were closed until Saturday so the berries could ripen.  We would have driven all that way...for nothing! 

By waiting a day, J was able to come with us.  Hooray!  Unfortuantely, I think it was still a bit early in the season.  There were tons of berries, but not as many of them were ripe.  Soooo, we had to hunt and work more for our berries and still didn't end up with as many as I had hoped.  While the Noodle was more focused on picking this year (read about her antics, last year, here) it wasn't long before she tired.  The lure of frozen berry custard, as a reward at the end, helped spur her on.  Maybe we'll have to go back and try to get some more.  Blueberries are definitely one of my favorite fruits!

Fun Friday

Anytime we get to go and meet Daddy downtown for lunch is always fun...even if we're just brown baggin' it!  The Noodle had a good time running around, chasing birds and just plain acting like a goofy-ball!

And look at the longing in those eyes...just 1 bite, please Daddy?!

Happy Friday :)

CSA Week 4

Now that we're into July, the yield at the CSA has definitely improved.  This week we brought home:  2 heads of lettuce, an onion, a zucchini, a yellow squash, more pickling cucumbers, garlic, beets and a kohlrabi.  Since we didn't get to the zucchini from last week, the Noodle and I made zucchini bread today.  Yum--it will be nice and tasty tomorrow for breakfast (and a great way to sneak in some extra veggies!).

Wordless Wednesday