Shrimp Fest 2010!

Shrimp fest 2010 was a great success and filled with wonderful shrimp inspired foods! Though we may not have had the music pump’n or the lights all a flicker’n the food was amazing, and the crowd was beautifully filled with friends and family. Of course we had the traditional shrimp platter from Costco, a shrimp Caesar salad, shrimp enchiladas, and shrimp Alfredo as the main dishes. For the appetizers we went with some wonderful grilled and fried foods, such as bacon wrapped jump shrimp and coconut fried shrimp. Dave Olsen brought bacon wrapped tuna marinated in BBQ sauce, and later in the evening Jon made wonderful shrimp AND crab sushi! For dessert I made red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, except some had chocolate once I ran out of the other, and our wonderful Jan and Iola brought cakes as well. Of course I had the margaritas out and made iced water in my awesome glass jug.

Those who could make it had their fill of shrimp these evening, and though we may have cooked pounds of shrimp in numerous ways, we have yet to had enough and will continue to cook shrimp for everyone as long as we can. I think Shrimp Gumbo is on the order for next year – Bubba would be proud!

Adventures in Public Transit!

We went on an adventure yesterday. We had no car (Jon drove to work) and wanted to be out and about in the world, so with no other form of transportation we headed onto public transportation from Sandy to Portland.

First of all, let me tell you I use to frequent MAX and the bus as a teenager, and never had any problems with the environment. Now, as a “suburban housewife” I dread any form of public transport! This isn’t my snobbieness coming out, it’s pure a hygiene and safety issue. People don’t wash their hands, don’t shower, and pick their noses on the bus. On MAX you hear about knife fights and shootings, and people getting ran over! So, needless to say I’m not a fan anymore. The years of invincibility are over for me. But, I can’t let that hinder my ability to get out and be active either. So, at 11 o’clock Julia and I stood at the bus stop and got onto the bus (her first time). She was excited and easy going; just read books and chatted at me the whole way into Gresham. Then, we waited at the MAX station and as the train approached her excitement increased. “Look at the train, Mommy” I could see her thinking.

As soon as we sat down though, the crazy began. I had weridos talking to me even though I wasn’t even looking their way, and smelly people standing to close for comfort. I had a bag packed with toys and Julia gear as well as mommy stuff, and no purse. It felt better to only look after 1 large bag instead of my small purse and hefty diaper bag. We rode the train all the way to Pioneer Court House Square to have lunch with Aunt Robin and shop at the Portland Farmer’s Market. (More on the market another time.) Julia had such a great time, but I could tell she was done with our adventure by the time we boarded the MAX again. Although, she could have played with the water fountains for much longer then I gave her. My next adventure to downtown Portland will include the use of a car and a trip to the central library for Julia.

The Famer's Market

Robin, Julia, and Me

Playing in the water fountain

Review Part II

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

With Jon working on Saturday he didn’t get to see much of the fair, but he would of course say that it’s the same every year and if you’ve seen it once you’ve it twice. I of course knew better and had rose colored glasses this year. (Actually, I do have rose colored glasses all the time, but I digress.) So, Sunday we came back from church, took naps, and then headed back over to the end of the fair to see what we wanted to purchase and ooh and awe at. Every year we manage to get something at the fair to remind us of the local talent and not just have factory made trinkets in the house. Here is a list of the purchases from past years – black and white photograph, glass candles holder, ceramic oil burner, cartoon characters drawn of our friends, hanging planter, wood carved roses, yard decorations, marionette (puppet) toys, and of course a candle shaped like a pie. These can all be seen around my house for your viewing pleasure.

This year we weren’t going to spend a lot of money, and decided that the purchase would be something for Julia. Of course, the popular children’s booths included the marionettes, the marshmallow poppers, the t-die shirts, or wooden whistles, but I wanted something that not every other kid already had (but was getting this year). So, we went with a rainbow colored wire crown and wooden wand that she can wear on her birthday. She waved that wand around through the park for some time too. I took some pictures of some of the craftier items I saw this year, and then we met up with our friends and enjoyed the last band to perform the festival (who performed all 80’s rock hits by the way).

Lindsoe Clayworks has been a booth I’ve always admired and reminds me how much I wish my best friend from college would come to this fair and show off her amazing pottery. Here are some of the pictures from her booth. She had some great new colors to her pottery this year and the staples of pottery are all there. I also saw a gal sitting in her booth painting away another beautiful creation to sell, and had to take a picture of that. Her booth included her husband’s hand made cedar lawn chairs and her hand painted canvas paintings. Jon and I always admire their booth. I couldn’t take pictures of my favorite booth – the artist who sells Black & White Photography from around the country and now some from Europe. I have one of his photos framed on the wall in my living room. Another frequent item was the metal yard décor – usually roosters or some type of animal or welcome sign.

Some might say I’m crazy to enjoy all the hustle and bustle of this festival when it’s so close to my house, and I might agree early on, but in the end I really enjoy living in the center of all the ciaos. It suits me just fine, and I may go a little crazy when a porta-potty is put on the side of my yard, or when people walk through my grass, and even when crazy people start moving my plants to such things, but in the end I love the Sandy Mountain Festival and all it has to offer.

Review Part I

Sandy Days

Every year the City of Sandy has the Sandy Mountain Festival during the second weekend in July. The festival is an arts & craft fair in the town’s Meinig Park along with music on two stages along with food booths from local non-profit organizations. Outside the park includes many other activities as well, which are to be enjoyed just as much. The Thursday before the fair is of course the much anticipated (and chaotic) parade that kicks off the event. After the parade starts the carnival for all the kids to enjoy - just the usual rides, carny games, and cotton candy. There are also smaller events Friday before the fair, as well as a beer garden with live music each night of the festival. Being that I moved into Sandy just 6 years ago I became fascinated with the festival and all it had to offer. We live only 2 blocks away from the park, our house is on the parade route, and the carnival is a block away from us. We are the center of the festival. Some years we throw yard sales, and some years we don’t enjoy the ciaos as much. As for this year it started off rough, but with the amazing weather and the delight of introducing Julia to our yearly summer event I was all set to enjoy the festival.

Saturday started off with watching all the traffic arrive into town and take over the sidewalks and roads around my house. I do get a little crazed by this too, people tromping through my yard and leaving garbage as they go can get a little overwhelming. But, I take a deep breath and call my friends to come park around the house and in our driveway. Of course there’s usually at least one incident of me telling people they can’t park in my grass, and have to stay in the gravel when they park on the side of the house and this usually ensues an argument from some white trash women who hasn’t figured out how to have a decent conversation with a person since all she does it talk to her dogs and smoke all day! (That’s another story in it self.) So, anyways, Julia and I take off to the fair, first to visit Tickle Creek Candles – the family business. Jon’s sister and mom, along with anyone else in the family who helps out here and there, have a booth every year now for the past 4 years and make candles that look like pies. This a huge hit at the fair every year, and they do great business. Back onto the path we walk the entire park, meet up with friends, and then around 2 o’clock (after 2 trips back home to cool off and have snack) Julia and I head home for naps, and then back again after Jon gets home from work.

In the evening we meet up with all our usual friends and some of out new friends. Julia’s friend Sidney and her mom met us at the carnival and we walked around. One look at the rides and Julia wanted to jump all aboard. Jon was much more reluctant then I, although I still had my reservation about putting her on a ride, we went ahead and bought tickets. The ride operator tells us that if they kids freak out they will give us our tickets back, so ok…here goes nothing. Julia gets in and grabs a hold of the fake steering wheel, tried to rock it like a rocking-horse, and as the ride starts it jumps forward hard and the biggest smile and laughter erupts from her face! Phew, crisis averted and a new found glory has arrived for my child. The pure joy that was Julia that evening was something I will cherish forever. The giggles, the smiles, and then of course the hard crash of sleep in the end made all the stress of the day melt away for me.

Now, Julia’s friend Sidney was also on the ride, and let’s just says she was a little more apprehensive about the whole thing then Julia. I think I have a very adventurous girl on my hands. Later on Julia rode the same ride again with her other friends – kids she will forever grow up with and call family.

The evening ended with us haveing a fire going in the back yard, the older kids falling asleep by the fire after chasing each other for an hour in the back yard, and me getting to hold Tyson and Dana’s baby girl as she fell asleep. Perfect!

The start of Sandy Mt Festival!

Dear City of Sandy,

You are pompous, unorganized, and ignorant in how to run a parade this year. In past years I have seen a smooth ran festival machine, but as far as today’s events went you are not that machine any longer. Here am I coming home to enjoy the coolness that is my house when I see a porta-potty in my yard! Yes, A PORTA-POTTY! I don’t care if you think that area belongs to you – IT DOESN’T! I care for the lawn there; I weed, mow, and take care of any snow, leaf, or grass – NOT YOU! And when I say I, I’m referring to my husband!

Okay, so I get over your stink’n porta-pot behaviors and set myself in for the staging area in front of my house. We’ve been gracious about the traffic, the people parking in our grass, the peoples walking through our grass, and the general ciaos that is the staging area of a parade. Not a big deal, we even like sitting and watching the floats and cars go by. Although, as I sit and watch the beginning of this unorganized event begins to unravel it’s self to me. One group of people looking for their staging area can’t seem to find their group – their in the wrong space. A VFW jeep can’t park in its staging area because, opps – you forgot to put no parking signs up for those who feel the need to park less then a block away from the parade route. So now, that said jeep is circling the block waiting for all the moms and dads to stop dropping off their kids in the wrong place.

Now, let’s talk about your traffic control problem. Now, like I said we enjoy sitting at our house and watching the set up, but we invite our entire tribe of friends and family to join us at the parade, which I have loyally blocked off a whole block of space so that all of us have perfect seats for viewing of this wonderful tradition that is the Sandy mountain festival Parade. That being said, how the HELL is my friends and family suppose to go to the parade if they can’t even park ANYWHERE near my house to join me? City of Sandy, let me tell you this, you can NOT block of access to the main artery of your city 2 hours before the parade even begins. You can NOT block people from parking near the parade route, or you will slowly loose interest in this parade. You will have an entire army of friends and family join in a boycott of your parade! Children will no longer want to join in the fun of the parade by riding on floats, or walking in the parade, and who really likes the incredibly loud horn on the tow trucks anyways? And really, you allowed Taco Bell to rent a U-Haul Truck with posters on it as a parade float! Just pitiful!

By the way City of Sandy, where the heck did the candy go? The kids want candy! They want audience participation! I hope the rest of the Sandy Mountain Festival has a brighter future in store then the shameful show that was the parade today!


Sincerely,

Your Loyal and Loving Home Owner

Spur of the Moment - Summer Memory

My cell phone rings, and it’s my best friend Robin. “Hi, how are you?” she says. I can tell in her voice that’s she’s having a bad day. “I’m fine, what’s up?” “Whatcha doing for dinner?” She asks. I tell her something on the meal plan I’m following, and she proceeds to ask if her, her husband, her oldest daughter, and our two other friends; Andy and Laura could come over for a BBQ. I smile, even though I know she can’t see me. Of course she can come over for dinner! But I tell her, “Let me ask Jon what he thinks and I’ll text you back.”

My husband, the yes man, of course says yes, we both LOVE having our friends over and it’s all the better when it’s not planned out and we all just end up together for the evening. So, last night was one of those nights. At first I somehow felt overwhelmed with anxiety when everyone bombarded the house, but then I just relaxed and realized they don’t care (like it’s always been) if my house was messy or if I wasn’t ready for dinner yet. We’re such a family. Everyone brought over supplies for dinner, the appetites, and their smiles. We ate hamburgers, chips, beer, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Coke, and Salmon and asparagus. We had the music turned on, Julia was running from outside to inside to see everyone, Laura’s pregnant belly was out for all to touch, Robin was drinking her “special” beer, and the guys were BBQ and talking about random video games and etc.

We started a fire in the fire pit, pulled all the chairs around it, and drank out sorrows, bad days, aches and pains, and became the relaxed group of friends again. No one was nagging, no one was arguing, and no one was storming off with bad feelings. The fire was brewing, the girls became wrapped in blankets, and the guys poked at the fire. Eventually the guys went inside to play a game of Munchkin (I most certainly need to tell all about this game) and the girls stayed by the fire. Jon and I had put Julia down for bed already (someone who was exhausted just by the 2 and half hours of party time she got in) and were now free to enjoy the evening. We took pictures as a group for once, missing Laura who had to work in the morning and went to bed early and another couple of our friends - Paul & Jessica, and for once no one had food in their mouths or was making some stupid face from the spur-of-the-moment captures of the party I would take. This is my family, my tribe, and my friends. I love it when we get together spur of the moment.

5 days to go!

So, I have fallen behind on my countdown and my fun facts! So sorry! This week has been so interesting and frantic I usually don't have such little time to myself.
So, on Monday and Tuesday I had lunch with my mom and rushed home each time to meet Ashleigh at the house and out Julia down for her nap. Monday Ash and I make chocolate chip cookies and Tuesday evening we made chicken pot pie. Both nights I made it to the gym for a kick-ass workout!

Wednesday I drove to the tri-cities with my mom and Julia. This was an amazing trip. I packed a ton of stuff and my best buddy gave me the car DVD player to use for Julia. This was a life saver because Julia was fascinated by the fact that she was watching her videos in the car! About half way to the Tri-cities Julia fell asleep and we seemed to take way to long to get there. I had music on, 3 stops total and we finally made it to Kenniwick to visit with my Aunts. My Aunt Mary-Jane had never met Julia and she was in a perfect mood to meet new family. She was smiley and loving, and was glad to hold hands, give kisses, babble, and eat anything anyone put in front of her. I took a walk with Julia for about 15 minutes to get her out of the house and into the fresh air before we were off driving home.

By the time we got to the Gorge, John's Day Dam, the rain was coming down in buckets, and it kept coming and coming until after I made it home. The drive was miserable, and thankfully Julia slept all the way home once it started raining. We didn't make it home very quickly either, not until 11 o'clock.

Today I woke up early to meet Morgan here so she could stay the whole day and spend the night. Yay, Julia and I get to have a sleep over while Ashleigh is having hers at home. Since the rain has not stopped still I decided we would go to the mall and play at the park and walk around. Devin, our long lost Navy friend who was also our best man at our wedding, showed up a day early to hang out with all of us and joined us at the mall. In the food court is a new Carousel and it was $2 to ride. So, Morgan and Julia rode the carousel together. After we went to the indoor park and played, and then Devin took us to Panera Bread for lunch! Sweet! Never been there before, and it was super yummy!

Here are some funny facts about me. ONLY 5 DAYS until my birthday and only 2 until the party!

- I snore really badly, sometimes even wake myself up! Not all the time though, and trust me Jon’s thankful for that.
- I am so not a morning person. I’ve become one that gets up early enough in order to not be grumpy at others and have personal time before everyone else is awake (preferably Julia). But, I still need a lot of coffee to make it through the day!