I had an almost perfect week. Summer has really started around here. Camping with Bethany and Chris at Deception Pass, staying on a gorgeous Whidbey Island beach with my parents, sister, niece, and nephew. We encrusted all our earthly possessions with sand, dirt, and campfire smoke, and consumed at least 1,000 more calories per day [...]

I made macaroni and cheese the other night (you’re welcome, kids), and Yancey actually pushed it away and ate only salad.  He said, “Babe, don’t be mad at me.”  What’s a wife and mother to do?  Be mad, of course!  He’s on the healthy firefighter kick, and when I unveiled soba with cabbage last night [...]

I had planned on taking Milo and Loretta to the play gym yesterday morning, but the community center has moved the playtime to 1:00.  What toddlers are awake at 1:00?  Budget cuts, probably.  So we’re in the car, in the middle of a torrential downpour (Did I sing the praises of fall recently?  I take [...]

In the last three days, I’ve made three Asian noodles salads.  One for the catering gig, and the other two from leftovers floating around the fridge.  They included, in various combinations:

Soba (buckwheat) or spaghetti noodles
Cilantro
Red cabbage
Mint
Stir-fried green garlic shoots
Julienned carrots
Julienned cucumber
Black or white sesame seeds
Pickled ginger
Yellow peppers
Red jalapeno peppers
Candied slivered almonds
Coconut sesame brittle from the [...]

Bethany came down from Bellingham to spend the day with me.  She left with Baby Emmett (who’s not really a baby anymore) about an hour ago, and I miss her already.  She brought spring onions, rhubarb, and mint from her yard, and we met up at Volunteer Park with Naomi, Isaac, and Reggie.  I love [...]