Happy Labor Day

Labor Day already!!!??? Although I'm a strong supporter of unions and the 40 hour work-week I hold a lot of baggage against Labor Day, mostly because it means the end of summer and back-to-school. I was not a big fan of school..... Aaron loved every second of it (he's giving me that "Umm, not exactly" look...), so that means a big frownie for Anner and a big grin for Aaron. We've been opposites since a long time before we met.

Anyway... now that I don't get summers off, Labor Day isn't quite as depressing. Summer left with nearly non-stop rain this weekend. The nice thing about the rain is that I don't feel guilty not working in the garden or going out for a run. I feel completely justified by staying inside and baking oatmeal cookies, drinking wine and blogging about the end of summer.

We celebrated this Labor Day by sleeping in a LOT and watching movies. Both activities were much needed. I made a really yummy blueberry crisp on Friday - quite a good toast to summer time.

There was a break in the rain on Saturday so I dug out some bad stuff from the front garden and transplanted some other things. Sort of musical flower beds. Last weekend I got a bunch of Halloween colored pansies - blacks and oranges - so I made a little bed of them and if the crows don't get in the mood to snap off all the little flowers it should look pretty all fall and most of the winter. Fingers crossed!!!

Aaron and I have had quite a week. We were both REALLY busy at work but then on Thursday afternoon a co-worker asked me if I wanted some free Seahawks tickets. I haven't been to a pro football game in a loooong time and Aaron's never been. I was totally stressed out and doing two or three other things at the same time when I called Aaron, "Want to go to a football game?" I snapped with a lot of urgency. "Sure!" Then I realized he might not understand I meant "Want to go to a football game in about 3 hours...". I explained the deal and he still said, "Sure". That's just one of the many, many things I love about my honey. He says, "Sure" a lot.

Well.... long story short, but I ran screaming from work and he was waiting in the get away car. We made our way to Qwest Field a little bit late but it was still awesome. The crowds thundered...or at least it seemed to me. We watch the 3rd string team beat the visitors - Da Raiders. We both loved how high-energy football is. I've gotta say everyone was really nice and we liked it a lot. I think it's probably WAY louder during regular season but from what we experienced we'll happily accept free tickets anytime!! Anyone? Anyone? :)

Last weekend we went to the nursery in North Bend after visiting with our friends Melissa and Curtis and their oh-so-cute son Soren (thanks for the homemade waffles - they were delicious!). The nursery had a lot of 1/2 off items, including many hellebores for Aaron to choose from (check out some incredible photos of them at the http://www.sunfarm.com/ website) and a Eucalyptus tree for me. We were both very happy. We came home with an entire back seat of plants and flowers....some of which we've gotten planted. I'm sure the rest will get done soon. Yep, soon.

This weekend our favorite, Sky Nursery, had winter pansies and violas on sale 2 for 1!!! How great is that??? I couldn't help myself I bought another whole back seat's worth (yes, pretty much two Honda Accord back seats worth of pansies for us!). Just to have a little greenery we tossed in a few hebes, ivys, and for spring about a 160-something bulbs - including PINK daffodils!!! Have you ever seen pink doffodils??? I can't wait to see them myself. Of course, it's pouring outside so I can't be expected to plant any of it. It's sitting on the deck. Maybe next weekend I'll plant them. Often times that's how we do it. Go to the nursery one weekend and plant the next.

Now we're just sitting on the couch reading and writing (still being opposites) and having a fine time relaxing this holiday weekend. Did I mention I got a new laptop? Still trying to get it working fully, but it's already waaay better than my old one - not turning off in the middle of typing is a big plus!

Best of luck to all of our nieces and nephews and kiddos who are heading back to school. Aaron says, "boy they sure are lucky". I say, "I can't wait to go to work tomorrow because at least it's not school." Happy Labor Day everybody!

MEET MISTY!

Last week I got an email from an art co-op in the Greenwood neighborhood. It was advertising an artwalk on Friday night that included "Art Penguins". Art AND penguins!!! We HAD to go!!

The Woodland Park Zoo is doing a March of the Penguins fundraiser, inspired by their new Humboldt Penguin exhibit. You know how you can find the art Snoopys in St. Paul, Cows in Madison, Pigs on Parade in Seattle.... this was plaster penguins decorated by artist and then auctioned in a silent auction. Oh! What fun!! There are pictures of them in this link to the zoo:

http://www.zoo.org/penguinsonthemarch/

We checked them out and almost immediately went from "I guess we should at least just look at the penguins" to "Which penguin are we taking home tonight?!" We judged the penguins on overall coolness and ability to live outside in our garden.

We narrowed it down to about five and then decided to go for a walk. Why bid up your own penguin??? Best to wait until the last minute. So we did. We came back 10 minutes before the bidding closed, along with our city's mayor. Then with the final countdown in swing: 10, 9, 8,.... I put my bid number on the sheet and just like that we were big winners!! (As was the mayor, which, sadly, is more than he can say for his latest primary.)

Meet Misty our new penguin art!!

She was created by the "Misty City Morris Dancers" (we have no idea who they are)

Materials: Hand-made ceramic tiles, anchored in blue grout, wheel-thrown bowler hat, vest embellished with glass buttons and Peruvian worry dolls.

She was definitely a hit at the ice cream social and a wonderful addition to the back year.

CROW MEETS JUGGLE BALL

Aaron and I have found a semi-effective crow deterrent. Last Saturday I was watching the crows try to unpry an advertisement that had been stuck in our chain link fence. It was pretty funny. The worked as a team twisty and turning every way they could but the pizza coupons were juuuuust out of reach for them. Honestly, they were pretty funny to watch and I reveled in the fact that they couldn't get what they wanted so bad. "HA! Take that crows!!" I thought to myself.
Then I walked past the window a few minutes later and they were on the grown about to snap off some more pretty little flowers from our pants and another crow was burrowing under the dirt in the yard, no doubt causing havoc in it's path! I was MAD. Damned crows. I threw open the door and grabbed the first thing I saw; my juggle balls. I flew throw the screen door with more than the usual "gitt" they've grown accustom to. This time the colorful ball went flying in their general direction. I'm a pretty horrible thrower but it was enough excitement that they went caw, caw, cawwing away as they flew a few houses away. We didn't see them for the rest of the day!!! Can you believe it??!!!
Aaron tried the same technique a few days later with the same outcome -- no crows for the rest of the day. I now keep the juggle balls stocked next to the door.

I SCREAM YOU SCREAM

The second annual Ice Cream Social was SUPER FUN and we have a freezer full of ice cream. We had a crazy number of toppings and an fine turn-out. It also doubled as Misty's coming-out party.

FLOWERS from the Ice Cream Social:

Amazing Dahlias. They are just do cool and you never know what to expect.

This is Aaron's favorite combo-pot of "thriller, filler, and spillers"
A very happy begonia:

Happy Birthday Aaron Barr!!!

Last night Aaron's dad says, "Two words, son: Pushing 40."

Aaron replies, "A few more words, dad: Better than pushing daises."
With that --- let the birthday begin!!

Birthday Eve:

• I bring him chocolate covered strawberries and homemade brownies at work.
• Co-workers sign a hilarious card and sing "Happy Birthday."
• Then, back to work.
• Aaron comes home to see birthday presents wrapped up like the house from "Up".

Must say, of all my really great wrapping jobs, this was pretty special.

See, it's shaped like the house with balloons out of the chimney.

After dinner we frost Aaron's bday cake. It's a two person job. It's also his mom's recipe. Talk about pressure...trying to live up to a guy's memory of his mom's baking. Oiy! Don't know how it tastes, but it looks good!

12:01 AM: I serenade him with "Happy Long-Life" song

9:00 AM: Aaron serenaded, almost as beautifully, by the Crows, "Caw caw caw caw caaw caaaaaaw! Caw caw caw caaw caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!"

Back to sleep for him / I get up.

Aaron knew he was off to good start. To honor him, the crows picked flowers for him. They picked all the adorable little blooms off of the low lying plants and ran then around the yard in celebration and then in their excitement flung them into new places for Aaron to find. Thank you Crows!

10:00 AM:

• Aaron gets out of bed.
• Receives phone calls from family.
• Aaron's dad says, "You should really get a humming bird feeder for your yard."

11:00 AM: Pancake breakfast with fresh blueberries and fried tattors (including extra tasty seasoning, I'm told)


12:00 PM: Time to nap


1:00 PM: Head to Carcreek Park for Seattle Metals Guild picnic.


We walk through the woods. It's a pretty day to be born.


3:00 PM:
Back home for granola bar, fresh strawberries, and book reading.Sitting on the couch with me, "Dad says I should get a humming bird feeder."
I say, "Hum? What's that?"
Aaron explains......
I respond, "Sure. If you want one..." (then turn away so hopefully he can't see me giggling)


4:00 PM: Present opening!!!
Aaron successfully guesses 2 for 5 gifts. (He gets to keep them even if he guesses wrong.)

New ice cream scoop and toppings.

Last present from the Up present sculpture?
Aaron guesses, "Is it a hand sander?!!!" as he shakes the box.
You know what is though. You guessed it! A Humming bird feeder from me. HILARIOUS! I couldn't have paid his dad to tell him he needed one!
His dad must have the Sight.

Aaron opens the "hand sander" and realizes IT'S A HUMMING BIRD FEEDER!! HA!!

Birthday Aftermath

5:30 PM: Anner gets pizza for dinner.

8:00 PM: Watching baseball

8:30 PM: Planning to eat cake and ice cream (using his new ice cream scoop -- can't have enough of those)

That's the birthday in a nutshell. It was really fun. Thanks for all the cards and good wishes.

KILLER CROWS

Hands down. We must offer the most interesting yard in the neighborhood. At least according to the Crow Family.

Cawww

Cawww

CaaaaaaaaW!

Is how we awake every morning. (Actually, that's true for Aaron. I wake up too early for even crows on weekdays.)

Things are escalating here at an alarming rate. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that the crows had yanked down our blue lantern, crushed it and then shat upon it. I figured, maybe they don't like "blue". At least I thought that until the red lantern met the same fate.

Lantern attack area.

We're busy people and sure we're not so happy with the crows but there seems to be a real limit to what one can do to deter them. This week the crows crossed a line. We're NOT happy any more. I'm growing weary of mother nature's crow pranks!

This week, on the week of our first wedding anniversary, the crows took aim at the wedding tree!!! GASP! They've completely stripped the bark from the tree in one day. Boy am I mad!! I'm glad I married the man and not the tree, but the tree was doing great and we thought for sure it would live a long life in our back yard. Growing old with us. Now it seems pretty likely the tree's days our numbered and we've resorted to trying to find a way to "take a graft" to see if a new tree can be saved.

I wish I could say the same for the crows.

Wedding tree this past May. His little leaves had just unfolded.... *sigh*

Caw
Caw
CaaaaW.


For more information about how smart crows are, check out this link to NPR. Scientist have found out that crows can recognize faces and they certainly recognize us. They go crazy when we're in what the perceive as their play land. Damned crows....

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106826971



CAMPING -
Last weekend Aaron and I went our first ever weekend camping trip. Our mis-matched work schedules really preclude us from doing fun things like camping but thanks to Aaron (and his boss) he was able to get a Saturday off. We heading about an hour from here and had a great time with a couple other couples. It was weird though -- there's been no rain in Seattle in weeks and yet it did manage to spend 1/2 a day raining on us. We don't get it. What did we ever do wrong to deserve rain-while-camping and wrath of the crows all in one summer? Makes no difference, we were determined to have fun no matter what. And after my four summers in AK a little rain wasn't going to stop us!

We went on hikes both days. We ate gourmet smores. We did Mad Libs. We told stories around the campfire. Safe to say: a good time was had by all!! Aaron probably most liked the hiking (I was pleased that it wasn't too strenuous) and I liked the pizza over an open fire the best. Yummy! We're re-seam-sealing the tent and hoping we can maybe go one more time this summer. Wish us luck! Maybe I need to take the extra day off of work this time. Fair is fair.

Aaron hiking moves.

Fire roasted pizza.

View from hiking.

View from the car.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US -

Flowers from mom!

Today is our first anniversary!! We can't believe it! It's been one fast year. We're both pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to move in together and meld our lives. We were both prepared for some problems but instead it was all good. We spent the day at the EMP looking at the Muppet exhibit. I like Ernie the most and Aaron likes Beaker. We saw both of them up close and personal (or in sketch form). Then off to Sky Nursery to buy more plants --- can't have enough (especially on the eve of the second annual Ice Cream Social --- things have got to look good!). Finally, we met Martin & Cynthia, Ed & Brigit, and Wolfe & Christa for dinner at Marchellos. It was great fun. Marchello remembers us. He kindly set up two tables for us to choose from; one in door and one out door. We took the patio.

DAHLIAS ARE BLOOMING -

This week the dahlias started to bloom. So far they look great!! We dahlias.

I think I can bloom; I think I can bloom; I think I can bloom....

I CAN BLOOM!

Shhh...it's a mystery date

Mystery Date:
Sometime back in February Aaron said, "On July 1st, you'll be late for work."

"How do you know I'll work late?" It was a reasonable guess since I work late quite often, but still, how can he tell five months in advance I'll work late? He's good at predicting my behaviors, but not that good.

"No. Not work late.... be late. We have a mystery date in the morning."

Well, if that doesn't pique a girl's curiosity I don't know what does! For months I wondered, "What could it be?"

Aaron promptly forgot all about it.

Five months later, on the day before the would-be Mystery Date, I doubled checked with Aaron, "Hey, I have a mystery date on my calendar. Is it still on?"

"Mystery date?" he asked. "OH! Yeah....mystery date. Ummmmmm let me check. Ahh...yeah, we're still on".

Had we not just returned from The Great Food Tour 2009 (our trip to MN) I might have taken the entire day off. But since we were just home I figured I should at least work half a day. I forgot to mention to my boss that I would be out the next day so I left him a voicemail before leaving work, "I'm going to be late to work tomorrow...maybe noon or 1:00pm. Nothing's wrong. I have an appointment. Um, I'm not sure what for. Well. See you around lunch time....I think."

I'm sure that doesn't instill a lot of confidence but luckily there are bigger fish to fry than my wee mystery date.

We got up in the morning, and I'm thinking, "let's go! I have to be at work". Aaron says we can't be rushed. At about10:00 we left the house for parts unknown.

As it turns out it's not very far from our house. We were headed into a gated community, less the gate -- it has a security guard who took a look at us and said, "are you here to see the ladies" Aaron says yes, and the security guard waves us through.

"'Ladies?!" What the hell? Where are you taking me??"

I had been tossed off this road 2 years ago when I was training for the 3-Day. They wouldn't let rif-raf like me walk on the road. They turned me around. It was weird. Now we were driving through Seattle's most exclusive neighborhood. It was NOTHING like our neighborhood all of 2 miles away. The road quaintly curves among huge cedar trees and beautiful landscaping. Houses could barely be seen but when I did see them they looked pretty fancy to me. There was the occasional worker driving along the road too. I kept wondering who are the "ladies" and are we going to be stopped and thrown out. There were no house numbers, just signs. If we lived there it would have said, Barr/Charrier with an arrow.

As it turns out there is one particularly fancy garden there, the Miller Gardens. The Elizabeth Miller foundation helped create The Great Plant Picks which is about the only way we know what plants to buy. People who know what they're doing with plants try out a million different varieties and then report on the most difficult to kill types and put them on the GPP list. They keep the exotic, hard to grow ones for themselves.

We arrived at the Miller Garden (which we found by following the directions: "you'll cross four speed bumps, at the fifth bump look to your left...."). There were 3 other people and 2 interns there. The gardener of 12 years gave us our tour. I don't think we were seeing the "ladies" like the security guard predicted but it got us through the checkpoint and I sufficiently caught off guard when we arrived at the garden. Apparently the tours are extremely limited because the fancy neighborhood doesn't allow many guests. Moreover the tickets get reserved within hours of registration. Aaron had signed us up back in February.

The garden was totally and completely overwhelming, but we had a great time. It took me by total surprise and was really, really fun. They go all over the world looking for rare and exotic this'es and that's and bringing them back to try out. Mostly, I fell in love with one room of the house which was half indoor and half outdoors, complete with a fireplace. I need one for myself now.

After our 2-hour tour we left. I was totally exhausted!! I needed food. We stopped for lunch and then I made my way back to work. I snuck back in to work and got down to business, but that made my week!! Aaron is SO sneaky!!

Anniversary Art:

Speaking of gardens. It'll be a while before we can sell tickets to tour the CharrBarrGardens but we're keeping most things alive. We bought ourselves this really cool bird bath in honor of our first wedding anniversary. Our hope is to use it as a center piece in the front yard when we re-landscape out there some day. For now I refuse to put water in it because I don't want to make the yard any more hospitable to crows or coons by supplying them with fresh water. If they're going to lurk around our house there are going to be some hardships.

We also stopped by a yard sale and picked up 4 beautiful ferns and 3 really arty big flower pots all for a few bucks. We've still got to plant them but we're excited to try some new things and I love having fancy pots to plant in. I'm all about the containers!

Crows:

The crows taunt us at their every chance. They wake Aaron up in the morning with their, "CAAW...CAAAW". They still pick the little tags our of the dirt and jump up and down on the wedding tree. Lately, they've taken to sitting smack in the middle of the waterless bird bath just for the view, I guess. It's proof I'm not entirely my mother's daughter because they've perched themselves in the front yard and I haven't whipped out a gun and shot 'em from the kitchen window. I would consider having her do it though.

Dream Kitchen:

Check out this amazing kitchen picture. I want this kitchen!!! I don't know how many woodshop classes it'll take, but I think a curved cupboard looks awesome!!!

Happy Birthday America!!!

Last week was my second favorite holiday (next to the opening of baseball): Fourth of July!!! Last year Aaron and were shut-ins, spending the entire day at both computers researching and writing our wedding ceremony. I learned later that my pal Martin did the same thing, writing a wedding ceremony from scratch, but he did it in a few hours one night in a bar. That was probably more fun but in the end we're both hitched to the one we love so that's what really matters. I digress. This year we gathered with our good friends, Martin & Cynthia, Ed & Brigit, and Martin's brother Dennis. We went to see the Mariner's rookie league team, the Everett Aquasoxs. It's a great place to go because you're up close and personal with the game. There are tons of family entertainment between innings And as the sun goes down you can see all sorts of fireworks on the horizon. After our big bottom of the 10th win they haul out a little set of fireworks into center field and put them on as music plays throughout the little stadium. We ate popcorn and ice cream and had ourselves a time!!! I hope we can do it again next year.

That's the news for now! Cheers!

Minnesota 2009

We're just back from Minn-e-SO-tah....

Our trip can probably be summed up in these pictures and a list of the food we ate over the past seven days. Since food = love where I come from we know we know my family was pouring the love on us.

Homemade pizza
Caramel Apple Pancakes with butter and pure maple syrup (mmmm, sugary goodness)
Homemade melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies
Rhubarb cake
Rice krispie bars
Homemade ice cream at a new-to-us ice cream parlor in St. Paul, called Izzy's. Home of the "Izzy Scoop"
Homemade sweet rolls made with real live duck fat
Homemade banana bread (my Honey was so happy)
French toast (twice; once from each parent)
Omelets
Waffles with eggs and sausages
Homemade dry rub ribs
Homemade cole slaw
Popcorn with real butter
Walleye fish fry with real butter
Homemade Rhubarb sauce
Brownie sundae
Pig roast sandwiches
Sheet cake
Home grilled chicken saute
Root beer from a real keg
Chocolate chip cookies
And chocolate molten cake sundae from Chili's

We may never need to eat again.

The flight to MN

Dad making us pizza on our first night. One word: YUMMMY!

Planting flowers with Grandma (Aaron picked out most of the flowers, including a miniature rose, the center piece.)

Father's Day on the Jonathan Paddleford - a river ride down the Mighty Mississippi


Aaron calls his Pa from the Paddleford.

For Father's Day we got dad an astilbe and planted it for him. By morning the bunny rabbits had completely devoured it. I guess it was a Happy Bunny Day for them.

Pig Roast!!
There was a Pig Roast / Open House for my great-uncle's 90th Birthday (grandma's brother).
It was Americana the whole way!!

Kid's playing in the lake at the Party.

The traditional open house sheet cake (actually, there were three); Aaron was in heaven.

Aaron, Dad, Anner and Grandma at the party.

Anner at the party.