Happy Boil Day!

So back to the Pacific Northwest for Thanksgiving with the parents. This was the book that we found on the nightstand in our room. Uh-huh. 

And Dad came up for dinner and evening! The menfolk! So fun!

And he brought us some smoked salmon. And trout too, I think. Mmmm. Amazing as usual

We had snicky-snacks and jibber-jabbered all afternoon, perusing travel maps and walking in the sunshine. Not slaving over a stove for 8 hours.

Because...instead of traditional fare, we did a low country boil, a pile of seafood and veggies and sausage and awesomeness that you boil all together and throw on the table, basically with lemons and a whole tin of   and eat. with your hands. SO good. My recipe takes parts from the Low Country Boil recipe and parts from the Frogmore Stew recipe. Corn!

Andouille!

Baby taters!

Leh-mons.

My handsome sous chef, in charge of garlic bread! Yessss!

I love love love my in-laws new house, but as Stacey says, it's mostly a one-butt kitchen.

44

Even at the tender age of 44, he can barely wait to open gifts. Woman. What. Are. You. Doing.

Among other assorted gifts my husband received these elk pants. And if you look closely, just beneath them you can see the red good pants he also received. I like this pix because he appears to be wearing them, but isn't really.

He also got these awesome copper cups for Moscow mules and other chilly drinks. Just moments before opening this gift he had been nagging me that he wanted some of them, pointing them out in a magazine. Mwahahaha! I am so clever! Hahah!

Then over to Porterville for a festive combined birthday celebration with Mike, another Sagittarius, for gifts, clam chowder, and Sunday night football!

We were also treated to a concert by the best trumpetest around. She's getting quite good.

My husband even participated in a staged stomping in the room, as she'd learned the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars. Hahah!

Then, the German chocolate cake! YAY!

Ruby thinks she's a lap dog. Such fun!

The Deer Hunter Returns

The deer hunter and his peeps returned! With dead things!

This is a pretty big ice chest, but it's still shocking what comes back from processing. Still very happy about what comes back.

His new rack, plus a couple of sheds. I had hoped to introduce you to my new sink in another way, dear internets. But here it is, my new gorgeous white porcelain kitchen sink! My sweet husband found it for me at a home repair thrift store, $25. Yay!

The next day, yes, boiling heads. Gross.

Thankfully he had the (enforced) sense to destroy his own pot, not one of mine.

It was a bit brisk out, enough to generate steam...

...but warm enough that one didn't need a coat. To sit outside. In the sun.

Coats back were required after a bit.

These are a bit out of order, but here's the mighty hunter back from his long drive, and soon snoozing on our tiny couch. Welcome back!

Holiday Party!

My company moved our holiday party to early November, for reasons you don't want to hear about. Trust me. Three hours before the event my husband returned from 2 weeks of hunting in Montana, and was smelly and hairy and crusty. When I asked if he'd want to go, his blunt answer was "&#*$ no." Luckily, my sweet friend Shelby was on standby to be my date, in her swanky purple dress.

I brought out the fancy Nordstrom rhinestone shoe clips my mom snagged from her thrift store for me. They don't come out often, but I love them so.

Fur coats. Nuff said. It was a murder mystery theme with an "old Hollywood glam" theme. YES.

My and my lovely twin. Some folks see it, some don't. Those who do often ask, "Are you too sisters?" Often.

When I invited my date, I outlined the features of the event, including among other things, a prime rib buffet and door prizes and whatnot. Shelby said, "you had me at photobooth."

Some of us had fun with some of the murder mystery decor. And the candy cigarettes passed out by the cigarette girl.

I do love a good next-morning rock-and-roll vignette, as you may know.

Farewell to the Old Guard

Last year I spent Veteran's Day with 3 of my fave vets. To my immediate right is my grandfather, a World War II vet. My mom decided to differentiate from my other grandfather (whom we all called Gramps) we would call this one Oompa, which we were told was dutch for grandfather, tho I can't find anything on the interwebs to substantiate this.

He passed away a few days before Veteran's Day this year, after 87 years. He'd buried four women, 2 of them wives, and said he lived about 4 years longer than he wanted to. Every time I would visit and ask how he was, he would predictably say, "STILL ALIVE. WISH I WASN'T. WON'T KILL MYSELF. DON'T BELIEVE IN IT. STILL, NOT HAPPY." Heh. Here's him in the Navy. He lied about his age to get in -- he was 16.

Here we are at his second wedding, a small backyard function. I love this pic, tho I'd forgotten how little Sister and I were when our Grandmother died. I am pleased I do have memories of her, despite being so young. Check out Dad's bad-ass turtleneck, and DAMN! Mom was such a hottie! There are 10 years between Dad and Uncle Pat, and 13 years between he and I. He looks like he just got off tour with Zeppelin here. They say to tell your hairdresser to never go lighter than your hair has ever been. Oh to get that shade back.

So. Bad. Ass. Seriously. What is this, Goodfellahs?

After the service a bunch of us went to The Ship Tavern in Multnomah Village, where my grandfather used to hang out back in the day. It was a fun event.

An old school laminated table in the tavern, encrusted with bottle caps from the old brands.

Uncle Pat and Sister perusing said slab table.

A smallish group, but it was gracious of folks to come cheers the old man.

Leftovers from an era gone by.

Dad and Sister and U.P. and I were hoping to have a Blitz, but it was not to be, so we cheered with a Henry's. Which is NOT the same thing. I love the image of the old man arriving in heaven, met by four arms-crossed, toe-tapping white-haired women. :)

Off to Portland!

So off to Portland last month. Regretfully, for a funeral, but I always welcome a chance to see my peeps. Here's where I parted ways with my sweet Cooper, which safely delivered me to the airport just minutes before my flight, thanks to my inability to be awoken by my cell phone alarm. I forget how many times Jon actually slugs me and alerts me to the buzzer.

As it was a last-minute flight, I had to fly through Oakland. The Oakland to Portland flight was QUITE empty, which was just lovely. Like the old days, flying to Connecticut to see sister when i was what...23? That Minneapolis to Connecticut flight was always sparsely populated.

Makeup. That is all. Makeup. And good makeup. In a vending machine. BENEFIT.  YES.

I'm not a fan of landing over water, or near water. That is all.

I am a fan of dining with my peeps!

ALL of my peeps!

After delicious and lovely dinner (thanks Dad!) we headed back to sister's house for the eve! Thanks for the fun evening, family! Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Amy's Birthday, and Happy Dad's Birthday! Yay!