We came home last Wednesday and bypassed going to Ft. Stevens. The rain and mud were getting to us, and it is doubly annoying with a dog. Colleen was here to greet us, and Craig stopped by so it was a perfect opportunity to go out for a bite to eat and visit - Colleen's treat.
We tried the newly-opened Jakes's Bistro here in Steilacoom. Jakes started about 18 months ago as a beer and wine stop and has now relocated and added a full menu. As with most restaurant endeavors in Steilacoom it was okay (and over-priced). I haven't found that any of the eating establishments in this town, either current or closed, quite hit the mark for whatever style of dining they are offering.
We are still working on emptying the motor home and moving back into our stick-built house, but we are getting closer. After two weeks on the road and stays in rainy Oregon, I felt like EVERYTHING needed to be laundered! Plus I found on this trip that I was dragging a lot of stuff with me that I had not used in ages, so I have been purging!!
I have chatted with Elisabeth by phone, and we hope to get together next week for an outing, to include lunch of course, and to catch up on each other’s news.
Ken has been busy planning a fishing trip to Alaska with his long-time friend from grade school days, Daryl Ziemer. The guide whom we used twelve years ago is still in business so they are booked with him for two half days on the Kenai. And I think they hope to squeeze in a bit of halibut fishing or try fishing some other river in the area while there. I would love to go, but this needs to be the guys’ trip in honor of their 70th year. Ken’s birthday was in March and Daryl’s is September.
Our summer plans include a family reunion in Spokane on July 5 for the descendents of Bill and Lilly Kirkwood, and then we will be off for Virginia for a visit with the Brian Kirkwoods and the Keith Kirkwoods. Ken’s visit will be shorter since he has to bt back for his fishing trip, but I am thinking of staying longer. Sheila’s mother has invited us to spend a week with her and Nolan and Warren at her newly-built beach home, and I am excited to do that. I always enjoy time with Betty, and who wouldn’t want to spend time with their grandsons?
Brian just learned that he has been selected for a school starting in August so he will be leaving his post at the Pentagon in favor of a year’s worth of school. The downside is that his commute to the Pentagon has proven to be very easy and relaxing since he uses public transportation, and the school commute is going to be longer and more challenging. Everything comes at a price, but of course we are happy for him and this latest bit of good news. Fortunately, the school is at Fort McNair so they don’t have to move. Many Air Force schools are in Alabama. Ugh.
I utilized our bus system last weekend to visit Colleen in her new digs in Seattle. It took over 1 ½ hours from the Park and Ride in Lakewood and a transfer in downtown Seattle to her stop. Had I chosen to leave Steilacoom by bus it would have added at least another half hour. No wonder we cling to our cars!!
Her apartment is great and it is in the heart of Queen Ann. She has a lower level apartment with a narrow concrete patio running the full width of the apartment and accessed by a sliding glass door off the living room. A wonderful spot to dine or sit with coffee and paper and watch the world go by. The patio and apartment entrance face an alley rather than the main street, and it is fun to see all the folks out walking and bicycling. There is a peek-a-boo view of the canal and one can hear the boats and bridge tender honk at each other when a boat wants to pass.
The downside is that there has been a smoker who occupied the apartment, and even though the lease says it is a non-smoking building, we suspect there is another current tenant who smokes. I think the landlady has agreed to replace the carpet, because even though it has been cleaned and deodorized, there is still that lingering stale odor. And we think a good air cleaner would overcome the rest of the problem. It will all be worth it in the end.
I need to save some news for my next blog!! Ciao
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
A Cooking Tidbit
I haven't had much to say lately, but I happened on something tonight that proved quite successful. I purchased some lamb shoulder chops which are about half the price of lamb loin chops, but everything I read for preparation talked about stews, braising, and long slow cooking. I couldn't be bothered, dinner was due in an hour so I borrowed a page out of Cooks Illustrated as shared with me by Brian.
The Cooks Illustrated article talked about blade steaks which are relatively inexpensive and flavorful, but again not a very tender cut of meat. Their solution in preparation for kebobs was to marinate the trimmed and cubed beef in olive oil with a couple of cloves of chopped garlic. However much of either ingredient for however long from fifteen minutes to four hours. I used about 1/4 cup of oil and two cloves of garlic for two lamb shoulder steaks.
I used the above marinade for the shoulder steaks after trimming them just a bit. i then cooked them on the stovetop at a pretty high heat for not very long........and they were quite tender and very tasty. Bon appetite!!
The Cooks Illustrated article talked about blade steaks which are relatively inexpensive and flavorful, but again not a very tender cut of meat. Their solution in preparation for kebobs was to marinate the trimmed and cubed beef in olive oil with a couple of cloves of chopped garlic. However much of either ingredient for however long from fifteen minutes to four hours. I used about 1/4 cup of oil and two cloves of garlic for two lamb shoulder steaks.
I used the above marinade for the shoulder steaks after trimming them just a bit. i then cooked them on the stovetop at a pretty high heat for not very long........and they were quite tender and very tasty. Bon appetite!!
We are still in Beyond
We are three days into our week's stay at the Cannon Beach RV Resort. Even though spring break is over for Oregon, this park is full this weekend.
Ken drove to Steilacoom on Thursday and will return this afternoon. He had a couple of things to take care of and is going to help load the truck for Colleen's move to Seattle. I think Craig and a friend are also helping on the Steilacoom end, and she has Curt, Cinda, Linea, and one or two others at the other end. I helped with two Arizona moves, so I'm not feeling too guilty.
I jut realized I had not talked about Collen's move. She has been looking for months for something in Seattle that was 1) affordable, 2) close to her office, and 3) would let Skyla move in. Colleen was on her way to work when the landlady/owner was putting up the for-rent sign!!!! And as she and Colleen were talking, a second interested party appeared. So that tells you how difficult housing is.
With an introduction of Skyla and the owner that went swimmingly, the apartment was hers. Not only is it affordable, it is almost the equivalent of a three-bedroom since the second bedroom boasts a large alcove. And it is a two-minute walk to her office. Now I can go play in Seattle and have a place to land if I decide to stay in the city.
So Cooper and I have been out of control with our eating, sleeping, and daytime activities. I didn't even get out of my sweat pants yesterday and my meals consisted of scrambled eggs, jicama, a hot dog and one stale gingersnap. It has been pretty rainy so he and I venture out for his walks and then huddle back inside. I must clean up my act this afternoon.
But I have been sewing my little heart out. This is a paper pieced quilt top with about a million little pieces, so the progress is hard to see at times, but it is fun. Once Ken gets home to babysit, i can visit the local quilt shop!
We will probably move up to Ft. Stevens Park on Wednesday where Rod and Karen will join us for a few days. It is a typical Northwest state park with lots of trees and big sites, and I suspect it will be pretty quiet next week with everyone back in school.
On that happy note, I'll sign off for now. Ciao
Ken drove to Steilacoom on Thursday and will return this afternoon. He had a couple of things to take care of and is going to help load the truck for Colleen's move to Seattle. I think Craig and a friend are also helping on the Steilacoom end, and she has Curt, Cinda, Linea, and one or two others at the other end. I helped with two Arizona moves, so I'm not feeling too guilty.
I jut realized I had not talked about Collen's move. She has been looking for months for something in Seattle that was 1) affordable, 2) close to her office, and 3) would let Skyla move in. Colleen was on her way to work when the landlady/owner was putting up the for-rent sign!!!! And as she and Colleen were talking, a second interested party appeared. So that tells you how difficult housing is.
With an introduction of Skyla and the owner that went swimmingly, the apartment was hers. Not only is it affordable, it is almost the equivalent of a three-bedroom since the second bedroom boasts a large alcove. And it is a two-minute walk to her office. Now I can go play in Seattle and have a place to land if I decide to stay in the city.
So Cooper and I have been out of control with our eating, sleeping, and daytime activities. I didn't even get out of my sweat pants yesterday and my meals consisted of scrambled eggs, jicama, a hot dog and one stale gingersnap. It has been pretty rainy so he and I venture out for his walks and then huddle back inside. I must clean up my act this afternoon.
But I have been sewing my little heart out. This is a paper pieced quilt top with about a million little pieces, so the progress is hard to see at times, but it is fun. Once Ken gets home to babysit, i can visit the local quilt shop!
We will probably move up to Ft. Stevens Park on Wednesday where Rod and Karen will join us for a few days. It is a typical Northwest state park with lots of trees and big sites, and I suspect it will be pretty quiet next week with everyone back in school.
On that happy note, I'll sign off for now. Ciao
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Quartzite and Beyond
Monday Quartzite, Tuesday Edwards AFB, Wednesday Sharpe Depot, Thursday & Friday Travis AFB, Saturday Eureka fairgrounds, Sunday Bandon Rv Park, Monday Cape Lookout Oregon State Park.
There, now you know what we have been doing!! Jeff drove to Travis last Friday to bring some shop equipment, visit for a while and have lunch. Otherwise, it has been the three of us keeping each other company.
As you know, you don't make the best time on 101, but it is so much more interesting than driving I-5. We have enjoyed nice weather, although we saw some snow alongside the road coming into the park yesterday.
We have been to this park twice before. The most memorable was about ten years ago with Jeff and Bev. Bev and I arrived before the guys and struggled to set up a new tent that had no instructions with it. As is the norm, we four retired for the night leaving everything out on the table. It was college spring break in the area, and when we awoke the next morning we found that all of our liquor was gone. They had to walk right in front of our tent to get to the ice chest where the beer was, but the scotch and wine was much easier because it was right out on the table. They only thing they left was a bottle that said tonic, but was actually filled with homemade Kahlua.
We figured it was probably payback for some similar moment in our kids' lives when they might have taken advantage of a similar situation.
We have enjoyed lovely weather here with not a spot of rain and barely a puffy cloud in the sky. But it does get down to freezing at night. I am looking out at two sites occupied by folks in tents and realizing why I don't miss that lifestyle. I'll keep the motor home with its furnace!!
There is a quilt shop in Tillamook and another in Cannon Beach so I am looking forward to visitng both. One never knows what treasures are lurking behind those storefronts. My project has been to accumulate fabrics for yet another quilt project I have at the ready.
We had an email from Gary O. this morning saying his mother has suffered some mini-strokes although the CT scan shows no sign of anything. She is in the hospital awaiting more tests. I hav emailed to let him and Carolyn know we are thinking about them.
There are lots of dogs who have brought their families here to camp. My favorite is a little eleven-month-old Corgi. He is very cute. For the most part everyone keeps their dogs in good control, but there is always the one who thinks the leash laws don't apply to him or her.
To be continued from Cannon Beach.
Ciao
There, now you know what we have been doing!! Jeff drove to Travis last Friday to bring some shop equipment, visit for a while and have lunch. Otherwise, it has been the three of us keeping each other company.
As you know, you don't make the best time on 101, but it is so much more interesting than driving I-5. We have enjoyed nice weather, although we saw some snow alongside the road coming into the park yesterday.
We have been to this park twice before. The most memorable was about ten years ago with Jeff and Bev. Bev and I arrived before the guys and struggled to set up a new tent that had no instructions with it. As is the norm, we four retired for the night leaving everything out on the table. It was college spring break in the area, and when we awoke the next morning we found that all of our liquor was gone. They had to walk right in front of our tent to get to the ice chest where the beer was, but the scotch and wine was much easier because it was right out on the table. They only thing they left was a bottle that said tonic, but was actually filled with homemade Kahlua.
We figured it was probably payback for some similar moment in our kids' lives when they might have taken advantage of a similar situation.
We have enjoyed lovely weather here with not a spot of rain and barely a puffy cloud in the sky. But it does get down to freezing at night. I am looking out at two sites occupied by folks in tents and realizing why I don't miss that lifestyle. I'll keep the motor home with its furnace!!
There is a quilt shop in Tillamook and another in Cannon Beach so I am looking forward to visitng both. One never knows what treasures are lurking behind those storefronts. My project has been to accumulate fabrics for yet another quilt project I have at the ready.
We had an email from Gary O. this morning saying his mother has suffered some mini-strokes although the CT scan shows no sign of anything. She is in the hospital awaiting more tests. I hav emailed to let him and Carolyn know we are thinking about them.
There are lots of dogs who have brought their families here to camp. My favorite is a little eleven-month-old Corgi. He is very cute. For the most part everyone keeps their dogs in good control, but there is always the one who thinks the leash laws don't apply to him or her.
To be continued from Cannon Beach.
Ciao
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