Camo Wedding! Couldn't see it!
Saturday August 8, 2009: Estacada Oregon
Well there seems to have been much ado about nothing. I was told this was going to be the event to remember and it was in some ways. But the 'rumors' that it was a complete camo affair were not to be fulfilled. Although it did take 1hr 45 minutes to get from house to wedding sight it was a beautiful setting in a campground. That statement in itself seems incompatible but it was never the less well suited for the people and the day.
Having great expectations of a minister in complete camo outfit and a groom in camo shirt and camo cowboy hat I was to be disappointed. Or make that relieved. It turned out to be a somewhat small gathering of close friends, co-workers and relatives. About 60+ people I think. And it turns out we were not over dressed nor under dressed. We were not in camping the previous night shorts and tennis shoes and not in dress or suit. We were comfortably and appropriately in the middle.
There were cowboy hats and tasteful and subdued western dress shirts for the groom and best man. The bride looked lovely in a flowing tan gown. She was glowing and only a little trembly! The father of the bride was teary and barely able to get through the toast. The only one that ended up with BBQ on their clothes was Bill the Groom!
The sister of the groom is an event planner and was running around doing her thing. I am sure her influence toned the affair to a compromise-able middle ground and everything was tasteful, elegant and at the same time down home and casual. Rather than a cake they had quite a unique treat I thought. They had 3 stacks or tiers of little brown boxes tied with ribbon that held an individual tart. Apparently Beaverton Bakery makes this type of thing. Wedding planner idea I think. 3 flavors, easily stored and transported, and easy to take home the remaining ones. Clever people those planners.
I met Tim's work crew again but this was not at the Christmas party where everyone is a blur of ties, handshakes and 300 faces. We had a good time and good conversation. Everyone (mostly as it was still early in the day) was on top of their drinking and just having a good sociable time. We left about 5:30 pm which was just the right time. The partying was ebbing into 'good thing most people are camping here' atmosphere. All the coolers were out and the dirty jokes and raucous times were coming. In the final picture we took the Groom is trying to grope Tim. Kind of lets you know where these guys are headed- by 9-10 pm the campsites would be blasted I am sure.
Oh and the dogs were on long tethers so their rib bone eating was in a separate area, not at everyone's feet. All in all it was a a pleasant day, great temperature and a nice park setting by a stream with a bridge and perfect for the Bill and Staci.
A few photos attached. If I get that part to work!!
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Fried Green Tomatoes
I wasn't even thinking about writing on this except it keeps happening to me and I keep flashing back to the the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. It is the only actual analogy that fits exactly the situation.
The scene plays out this way. I am in my usual distracted state of driving to work and wondering will I get a parking place in our Pac U lot or will I have to park across the street behind Cornerstone Pub? Chances are usually 60/40 that I will not find a spot.
I am entering the lot because I can see a space from across the street where I am stopped at the light. I pull into the lot and go around with the direction of traffic flow and am approaching the last spot when a student whips in going the wrong direction and pulls into the only spot. I am just feet away turning in when the student turns in front of me.
I see the student, look the student in the eye and the student quickly walks away.
I am sure I passed along the frustration and what the heck are you doing thoughts were transmitted with much intensity.
Okay, settle down old woman you say. Well not so fast I reply.
Later that day at Freddie's the same thing happens. Is this karma. No way. I have not been a parking lot rebel since way before children.
So today I am driving into the parking lot at school and low and behold but I am shut out in the same manner as before. I am steamed. And today I am sure that if I had a meaningful car (the Cadillac as in the movie) I would have rammed the heck out of that little optometry student's car. And what an exhilarating feeling that would have been.
I could have been known as the crazy College of Education woman that rams cars because she can person. I missed my chance. But alas, I fear the situation may re-occur and I am not sure I will be able to restrain myself.
I really must get a larger car. I already have the insurance!!
Be afraid, be very afraid! Let them be warned- I am out there and I am old and don't care and can afford to crush them.
Sign me the angry phatom driver
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the first step is admitting you have a problem
I don't have a problem. Some may say it is denial. I say I am just prepared for anything!!
This all relates to making my little thanksgiving grocery list. I made the list knowing that there would only be 2 people and Tim wasn't really all that keen on the dinner but wanted the usual buffet to pick at all day. Sure, sure I got that. No dinner, just buffet.
I got to the store and it wasn't quite a frenzy. It was gearing up for one though. Husbands had lists clutched in their fists and were talking on the cell to the list makers. One conversation went like this- " I have the Bob's Red Mill flax seed and flour in my hand. Are you sure this is what you want, it doesn't have the same label as you wrote down. I am in the cooler section. No there is only these two things here. NO, I don't see any other. NO, I am in the cooler section. I AM in the health food section. But THESE ARE THE ONLY 2 they have in the cooler. WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT in the cooler section. THIS IS the health food section. I don't know. Yes. I don't know."
At this point I tap the man on the shoulder and tell him that there is a big section of Bob's Red Mill organic and gluten free items over 2 aisles. Here let me show you. Then into his phone. "Some lady says there is Red Mill over somewhere else. Yes. I AM LOOKING."
I finish up getting my organic chips and dip and see him with arms full. Did you find what you needed.? Oh yes he says, and pulls out the crumpled list to continue his great afternoon.
And the sad thing was that there was a man on every aisle with a list. OMG. The list maker couldn't have come to do the shopping in less time and frustration because.... Gotta love the holidays.
So back to the problem or denial or whatever. How could that silly checker have totaled my groceries for $167? I didn't even buy a turkey or alcohol or dressing stuff or pie stuff or... She was just to ashamed to correct the receipt and I was way too polite to ask her to!!
And my thought on tomorrow is this. I am thankful for having had a loving mother through the age of 92 (her age not mine!!). A husband that respects me, is my best friend, and loves me in spite of all my weird idiosyncrasies. I am thankful for my two successful, beautiful children and their delightful significant others. I am proud of them and love them all dearly. (Miss them as well)
Happy thanksgiving to everyone. Blessed be the house where love grows.
Dilley Mom
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Lineage Questions Resolved
If at any time there have been any questions about my first born girl child being called the 'Princess'. I can now proclaim that she has direct lineage rights from the queen herself. Actually the trophy is on my shelf in the Trophy room (bedroom). But finding picture positive proof tops it all.
I will be demanding the respect that goes with the title Queen Barbara Jane (right on the trophy for you skeptics) from now on- (Cutest Baby in Chehalis) . Up off your knees, I won't require that; ha ha- well maybe at some point I might
Parade wave to you all- Her Highness, The Queen Barbara Jane
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Mystery Tree Solution
I am not sure any one out there was taking me up on my reward for solving the 'what is this tree' offer. And as my curiosity was eating away at me every day because I have to walk by the tree- I sought out the answer.
Pacific University keeps a tree inventory. Odd you say. I agree. But when science class scavenger hunts included campus trees (thank you FG high school!) it was a useful tool. And once again I went to the facilities tree book for an answer.
Actually Patricia Cheyne told me today it was a Chinese lychee tree. If you look that up it looks similar on the outside but not even close on the inside. But A-ha- here is the answer.
Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa
Kousa dogwood is a small, exotic-looking tree, often planted in urban lawns. It is native to east Asia, and is sometimes called Korean dogwood or Japanese dogwood. Its flowers appear later than those of "flowering" dogwood, and the four petal-like bracts come to sharp points, giving the flower an appearance similar to a pinwheel. When the flower has performed its purpose, a berry-like fruit develops. Some authorities believe that the fruit evolved to be dispersed by monkey; they are edible for humans, as well. Reports are consistently unenthusiastic, and frequently mention the fruit's "mealy" texture. Squirrels make up for the lack of primate attention to the tree. Some birds will take the frui ts as well, though since they are large and unwieldy, compared to the fruits of Cornus florida, birds will more often feed on fallen Kousa fruits than pick them from the tree. The fruit's relatively late arrival mean that overwintering birds benefit more than migratory birds. Kousa dogwood is hardier than flowering dogwood, resisting cold and disease better. Some authorities predict that kousa may eventually outnumber florida, or even hybridize with it, causing the weaker native tree's demise.
Hope I think of a good reward for myself!
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Mom's Choc Zucchini Cake
This is the recipe I use for choc zucchini cake. Just store it covered in the fridge as you would spice cake or carrot cake. Adding choc chips or mint choc chips is a nice variation. Or sprinkle butterscotch chips on top before baking.
Choc Zucchini Cake: 325 degrees F for 40-45 minutes
½ c soft Margarine
½ c oil
1 ¾ c sugar
2 eggs ( or equivalent replacer)
1 tsp vanilla
½ sour milk***
*** sour milk = 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice per c of milk or milk substitute)
2 ½ c flour
4 Tablespoons of Bakers Cocoa (it is a powdered ingredient)
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
½ cloves
½ tsp salt (optional)
2 c (+) of shredded zucchini
¼ c choc chips (or butterscotch chips for top)
¼ c nuts (optional)
Cream margarine, oil, sugar together. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, and blend well. Add to creamed mixture the flour, cocoa, soda, spices. Stir in zucchini. Spoon into greased and floured 9x13 pan.
Sprinkle with choc or butterscotch chips or M & Ms.
Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes. Store when cooled, covered with foil, in fridge.
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Easy Zucchini Cookies
These are crazy easy and everyone that has tried them loves them. The best part is that those non veg eaters do not even know there is good for you zucchini included!
Special notes: 1) As zucchini is very 'wet' you may have to make adjustments in flour or other liquids if using GF flours which are not as drying or moisture absorbing as wheat flour. Or lengthen the cooking time. 2) Sour milk is just 1 teaspoon vinegar per cup of milk or soy. This is optional and I can't tell the difference if I don't sour the milk. 3) The baker's coca is typically found in the baking section of stores. The dark chocolate by Herseys is non-dairy I believe.
Zucchini Drop Cookies:
1 cup grated Zucchini
1 tspn baking soda
1 cup sugar (if you use brown it makes the cookies nice and tan even if you don't use the cocoa)
1/2 cup margarine (or vegan baking product, not the spread)
1 egg beaten (egg replacer)
2 cups flour (GF pantry general baking flour is good sub)
1 tspn cinnamon
1/2 tspn cloves
1/2 tspn nutmeg
1/2 tspn salt (sea salt to activate everything and is less salty!)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 TBS dark baker's cocoa (optional- I use brown sugar mostly as I am usually out of this and they still look great and taste great)
Combine zucchini,baking soda, sugar, and margarine. Add egg to mixture. Separately combine flour, spices, salt, cocoa. Add flour mixture, raisins, nuts to zucchini mixture. Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until not moist.
These cookies will not be hard like PB, choc. chip, or snap cookies. They will remain a soft cookie. To test for done-ness see if a toothpick or skewer comes out clean.
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File under "Good things in Portland"
Healthy and Tasty:
I learned of this new bakery on the morning news show the other day. I went to the web-site and began drooling on my keyboard. A delicious option finally dedicated to those that I love. And as you can see from my direct inquiry not only gf but v options as well. The link follows, as does their email reply to my inquiry.
Barb,
Thanks for your e-mail and inquiry about our products. Yes, we make vegan products and everything we make is gluten free.
The items that meet your requirements are:
Baguette
Seeded Baguette
Batard
Cranberry Raisin Walnut Bread
Seeded Bread
Portland Sourdough
Walnut Sourdough
rolls
Bavarian Soft Pretzels
Multnomah Granola (although it contains honey)
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
and coming later this week, Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Regards,
Teresa
New Cascadia Traditional TM
The Gluten Free ArtisansTM
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Brrrrrrrr
Warm heart cold hands:
I am saddened to see the chilly side of fall fast approaching. Leaves change color- awesome. Pumpkins abound- cheerful. The heat from the first fire in the wood stove- wondrous and warm to the bone.
Clay and the pup have not been around the wood stove and are going through an adjustment. Example of the tough learning curve. Clay felt the warm air coming out the front and thought jumping up on the top would be a good idea to help the investigation. It only took about 4 seconds before he was hopping straight up and from foot to foot and then diving off- those little foot pads were melting!
The pup really didn't want to go near the stove. She mostly stayed in the kitchen or back on her rug with Clay. As the temperature drops I am sure she will enjoy the penetrating warmth.
In addition it was 33 degrees this a.m. Sunny and dry though. How quickly summer fades.
In that shivering thought I sip my hot coffee.
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