Thai Meet Ellena, Ellena Meet Thai

So it's true, all those stories you may have heard about engineers and their love of Thai food. Wherever I have worked at, this has been the case. In some places there were certain days of the workweek devoted to Thai, as in "Oh, it's Thai-Thursday again Jim and I didn't even notice. Your turn to drive this week!"

I am also a culprit. Love it. The hotter, the better. One of the things I sacrificed when I boarded the ship to the land of unemployment was sweet, deliciously-wonderful Thai goodness.

This all changed recently. The family packed up last weekend for an "outing" to a local restaurant we had never been to. When we got there, we naturally asked if there were any child boosters on hand. Alas, there were not! But I am proud to say that our little Rocketship stood on her chair for the entire meal! She loved the appetizers, the soup and especially her noodles! Man, does she love noodles! She will definitely want to be coming back and we will be happy to take her!

Yep, 'nother one hooked Thailand. Happy?

Hope For Today, And Always

Today's hope is for our great country and anyone affected, directly or indirectly, by the attacks that occurred eight years ago today. Naturally, everyone remembers where they were "when", but how many of us also remember that many lives are still disrupted to this day? Please take a moment and lift these people up in prayer today.

We will never forget you...ever.

Explained: Cat Probability

This is, of course, according to Cheeseburger, one of our favorite internet hot spots. We (read: I) can't get enough actually now that I think about it!

Dog lovers: revert to Hot Dog for all your canine wittiness needs.

You Are A Fruitcake...Welcome To The Family!

Dear Ellena,

Today I think you should know that your mother and I have always had a pact together - yes, even before you were born - to embrace our child/children for who they really are and also for who they become. We intend to continue doing so. Always. And in these current days it seems even so much more important for us to remember this agreement. This is because as you grow and develop, we can really start to see the inner you breaking out from within.

You see, on some days you are a complete goof (most of the time actually - friends will blame one of your parents for carrying the elusive dominant goof gene!). On others, you are so into dressing up. Sometimes you are a bit needy (acceptable - and expected actually). Some days you are content to play by yourself for hours (this really helps me on my job search, btw) and others you desire to have us by your side all day. We love this about you. You are a different little person every day.

For whatever reason (not questioned), you really like to wear pajamas, a ballet princess skirt, moo shoes (a size too big still!), an outside long-sleeved hoodie (even though it is 80 degrees out) and the brown hat that was accidentally shrunk in the laundry...for hours! And then dance around and make silly faces. No problems here. We embrace your quirkiness.

Here you are on a shy day (yes, actually caught on camera! This is so very rare actually. You just backed up and leaned against the wall. Cute skirt!

And Yes, I guess in hindsight it was a mistake to let you feed yourself the spaghettio's. Oh well...no regrets here, it was still fun! And you were having fun too, just check out that smile!

We love you. And yes, you fit right in.

Recipe: Chunky Tomato Salad

Here’s a salad-alternative recipe you will find helpful if you have a garden that produces more medium-to-large tomatoes than you know what to do with! It is easy, light, different, and perfect for this time of year! It has become a favorite around here. Check it out!

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 large tomatoes, preferably heirloom, seeded and coarsely chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Are you ready for this? Simply toss together the tomatoes, basil, shallots, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper directly into the serving bowl you plan to use. This salad is especially tasty if chilled in the fridge before eaten. Enjoy!

The Triple-Orange Daylily Bulbs: Revisted

Back in May, we posted about Grandma Gigi's Texas Garden. Remember, she had the orangest daylilies ever? When she visited us last year, just after E was born, she brought some of these lilies up with her. I believe she may have even snuck them on the plane (sorry TSA!).

During her stay, she "nursed" these bulbs & stems in a pan of water of our deck where they could receive the best sunlight. Then they were planted. After she left I watched and waited for something I could report out on, but nothing came. I was concerned the neighborhood deer might have found them irresistible because I never saw a thing, but I was told it would take just over a year for the blooms (I guess good things DO come to those who are patient...).

Well, the good news did come! One has popped up to say hi! Perhaps I am just getting older, but I was prompted to ask her about the exact history of this flower, especially since I knew it had some family meaning. Here, in Grandma Gigi's own words is the account of the Triple-Orange:

~~~~~

My mother loved flowers. It didn't matter what kind they were, as long as they bloomed, they grew in her yard. I think I was about 8 years old that spring when she found the triple-orange daylily bulbs in a seed catalog. They were expensive, & we were on a limited income, so she told me we'd have to save our money. One day she said we had enough, so we ordered them. I remember "helping" her fill out the order form, then I got to carry the envelope out to the mail box. I think I was as excited as she was about them. She would look every day for the bulbs to arrive in the mail, & one day, there they were. I remember the package being kind of bulky - the mail box wouldn't even shut all the way! I carried the package very carefully. I was kind of disappointed when she removed those ugly brown bulbs from the package; was this what all the fuss was about? Mother told me that we'd have to wait for a little while, but the wait would be worth it. We planted them the same day we received them. Mother had so many other daylilies - all colors & shapes, but she said THESE were special; the blooms were to have a triple layer of petals on each blossom & be a beautiful bright orange! They came up right on schedule, but I had to wait the rest of that year, plus part of the next spring, before they finally sent up tall, green bloom shoots. I watched the buds grow fat. One morning there were three opened, & they were everything the seed catalog (& mother) said they'd be! Yes, they were worth the wait! Mother called all her friends & told them to come see them. Such are memories made of. I found that those triple-orange daylilies proved to be very user-friendly. They are healthy & hardy, & I found that they would grow in all types of soil. Through the years I've made it a point of carrying a bulb or two of those lilies to just about every place I've ever lived, & left them for the future owner to enjoy. I have also made it a tradition to bring them to family, no matter WHERE they live! Every time I see a bloom, I'm taken back to that summer when I was a child & "me & mommy" planted daylilies together.

~~~~~
Here are pictures of the actual flower, which has bloomed here in our backyard.

In a digital age of .jpg's and txt msgs, we are elated to know there are still physical objects that can be "passed down", or better yet "planted". What does your family pass down from one generation to the next?

To Another Six...

Dear S,

I certainly can't properly express my feelings for you here, but I can say that the last six years have been the best part of the ride so far. If I think back to our wedding day, I remember trying to predict the future with you. I never, ever could have seen something so bright as what we have - a wonderfully happy marriage, a beautiful & energetic little girl, a strong & growing faith and commitment towards our Lord and each other - it seems so unreal. But I know that it is. I look forward to another six (and more!) with you. I know the best is yet to come. I love you.

Yours,

L