Easter with the Krache Family

My best friend, Tamara, and I have been friends since we were four years old.  I distinctly recall Tamara and I gluing together cotton balls to make angels with our Daisy/ Girl Scouts Troup.  At the age of four, I admired Tamara’s beautiful long hair and coordinating outfits. 

Twenty-six years later, I still admire Tamara’s beauty, in addition to her kindness, intelligence, patience, humor, and energy.  Tamara has grown-up to be the kind of friend, wife, and mother that we all strive to become.  So much so, that I am marrying a perfect guy named Brett, just like Tamara’s own husband named Brett!  Our Bretts are both loving, smart, goofy, generous, ambitious, handsome, and dancing machines.  Such lucky girls we are!

Tamara and Brett’s daughter Brooklyn is four years old.  Brooklyn is the same age that Tamara and I were when we first became friends.  Brooklyn and her brothers, Jameson and Emmett, have inherited their parents’ beauty, intelligence, humor, and enthusiasm for life.  My Brett and I cherish every opportunity we have to spend with the Krache Kiddos.

Last week, I mentioned to Brett that the Kraches could possibly/maybe/hopefully be visiting our house on Saturday.  Before I knew it, Brett had purchased Easter baskets, a stuffed bunny, loads of candy, lunch fixings, and mini-cakes for our Easter with the Kraches under the Old Walnut Tree.

The Krache Family arrived like a tornado filled with rainbows and pixie dust.  Brooklyn and Jameson devoured their Easter baskets, while 5-month old Emmett snuggled and giggled with the ladies. 

Then we sent them all outside to enjoy our first day of sunshine.  Thanks to the Love of My Life, Viv, Paul, John, and Brett Krache for their hard work trimming, mowing, and pruning!

Meanwhile, Brooklyn created a magical kingdom in the garden.  She proclaimed that she was the “Princess of the Mud”.  Jameson must have been the kingdom’s chef.  For, he scoured the dirt for worms and collected them in a cup.  He may have snacked on a few worms during the collection process.  But, worms can’t hurt, right?

After a brief period of rest and sandwiches, my mom announced the best surprise of the day… the Easter Bunny had arrived!  The expressions of excitement on the kids’ faces conveyed pure joy.  Brooklyn, Jameson, and Harper successfully located all of the eggs in the front yard. 

Reigning over a mud kingdom and collecting eggs is tough work, but the Krache Kiddos get the job done. 

Tam and I have always enjoyed the simple pleasures in life when we are together.  The hours we spent as kids fishing, camping, creating clubs, making music videos, and playing dress-up defined who we are as women.  From 4 years old to 30, from cotton ball angels, to her angelic kids.  Twenty-six years may have passed since Tamara and I first became friends, but being together is still one of life’s greatest simple pleasures.  BFF, Tamba!    

Our Schmoopie Dinner Party

Jessica Mitchell was one of my first real friends in law school.  We instantly bonded over a love for Yorkies, designer handbags, and all things pink.  Jessica also provided contagious laughter and a listening ear that helped me navigate those difficult years at SU Law. 

Jessica married her husband David in a beautifully ornate wedding on March 10, 2007.  It was an honor to stand by Jessica and David as a Reader during their ceremony.  Brett and I frequently reminisce about their lovely wedding because we both attended separately.  Two and a half years after their wedding, we began our own love story under the Old Walnut Tree.

Today, Jessica, David, Brett, and I get together as often as our schedules allow between Renton and Issaquah.  David is hilarious and a masterful story teller.  David also works for Microsoft, so the boys have plenty to talk about while Jessica and I gossip about girly topics.

On Wednesday night, Brett and I were thrilled to have Jessica and David over to our house for our very first Dinner Party!  There is not a day that goes by that I am not enormously grateful for Brett.  However on Wednesday, he garnished my scoop of gratitude with a cherry on top.  I arrived home to a spotlessly clean house, front porch, foyer, living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. 

But, that’s not all!  He arranged a beautiful bouquet of pastel flowers for me. 

But, that’s not all!  He purchased, prepared, and served an amazing dinner!  There is no doubt in my mind that Brett makes me the luckiest fiancé in the world! 

(Brett prepared Caesar salads, bread with olive oil and balsamic dipping sauce, rib eye steaks, grilled portabella mushrooms, beef steak tomatoes, sautéed mushroom topping, and asparagus. Yum!)          

Jessica and David entertained us with captivating stories of their recent travels in Peru and Brazil.  Despite the inevitable challenges of traveling in South American, Jessica and David remain madly in love, schmoopie doopie, and oowie gooie over each other.  It’s inspiring to witness the love that they have cultivated and nurtured through their four years of marriage. 

Thank you to the Giners for sharing with us their love and devotion to one another.  And thank you to Jessica for the delicious strawberry tart!

Thank you to the Love of My Life for being a perfect host.  He cleans and cooks and entertains and cleans again.  Despite the inevitable challenges of a Dinner Party, we remain madly in love, schmoopie doopie, and oowie gooie over each other. 

Bring on the next Dinner Party under the Old Walnut Tree!    

Inside of a Dog

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

~ Groucho Marx

If you could be any reality star, who would you be?  Brett responds that he would be the Captain of a crab boat.  Absolutely never, nope, too dangerous, no way José!  I respond that I would be Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer.  I LOVE DOGS! 

Cesar is a self-taught dog behaviorist.  He aims to train humans and rehabilitate dogs in a three step process: 1) exercise; 2) discipline; and 3) reward. 

Cesar emphasizes awareness to energy, in order to create a calm submissive state in your dog.  I’ve read Cesar’s books, watched his television show, and implemented his suggestions with my dog friends.  But, what does Harper think of these training principles? 

I just finished a book that attempts to answer that question.  Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz challenges dog owners to learn about your dog’s anatomy and examine life from his point of view (the animal’s umwelt).The nose.  As humans, we lack a finer appreciation of the information, codes, details, and history that comprise a single scent.  The umwelt of a dog is defined by smells, for dogs rely upon their sniffers more than any other sense.  To a dog, a scent is more than stinky or floral.  A scent answers the following: Who are you? Where have you been? Who have you been with? What did you do? What did you eat?  How long ago did that all happen? 

Our vision takes a snapshot of this very second.  The sense of smell provides a timeline of invaluable information to the dog.  Harper sniffs my face when I get home from work because he wants to know what occurred at the office all day.  Such a thoughtful boy!

The eyes.  Harper knows the names of all of his toys.  I recently taught Harper a new trick to tease our human friends.  I say to our guests, “What is your favorite color?  Ask Harper to find you something in that color.”  Harper hears the question inflection in the guest’s voice and listens for the color.  Then he takes off in a blur to find his toys named red, blue, or green.  The guests are always impressed and always respond, “But, I thought dogs were color blind??”  Silly humans!   

Dogs are not color blind.  But, they have a more limited range of color than humans.  Dogs may show a preference for blue or green toys because their photoreceptors are more sensitive to these colors.  Yellow, red, and orange may appear less vivid to a dog than to a human. 

However, who needs color when there is motion?!  A dog’s eye is perfectly designed to detect motion, even at long distances.  Generally, breeds with longer noses can see further, but have difficulty seeing up-close.  That explains why Harper’s Cousin Walter the Pug sits in your lap and squeezes his adorable pug nose as close to your face as possible.  He simply needs a better view.  It also explains why Harper often steps right over a toy that I have asked him to retrieve.  His longer nose makes it difficult to see what is underfoot. 

Dogs’ eyes are constantly shifting, searching for motion.  The author explains that breeders tend to eliminate blue-eyed dogs because they appear shifty.  Poor Harpie.  A dog with dark eyes is still shifting his eyes, but the shiftiness is less noticeable.  Blue or brown, their eyes are ideal for spotting a tiny squirrel dashing across the neighbor’s yard.        

The Pack.  Animal behaviorists have long theorized that a dog is a descendant of the wolf, a pack animal, and he requires the structure of an Alpha in order to find his place in the pack.  Sure, Harper needs structure.  But, humans started domesticating the wolf over 10,000 to 14,000 years ago.  Humans have intentionally bred traits into/out of dogs to make them less wolf-like and more human-like. 

For example, eye contact is a mannerism that humans value.  To a wolf, eye contact implies aggression and should generally be avoided.  Harper gazes in my eyes today because of breeder selection, not because of wolf genetics.  The author appreciates the influence of humans upon the dog and strikes a balance in her analysis of the pack mentality.  Perhaps the pack is not Alpha male + Beta + Omega.  Rather, a family structure of mated pair with rank based on age.  Harper knows his rank, but he is still part of the family.       

Although the author’s observations of her own dog were sentimental, I would prefer more emphasis on the science behind the dog’s conduct.  Perhaps, the underdevelopment of scientific support can be attributed to the overall lack of research on dogs.  The organization of the book was distracting at times and the transitions between subjects could have been more fluid. 

Nonetheless, I recommend Inside of a Dog to anyone who craves a deeper understanding of Man’s Best Friend.  

Bliss Weekend in Wine Country (Part 2)

There are few people in this world that I have known as long as Ryan Rockhill.  Our history extends back before we were born.  Our Dads were best friends in high school. S-A-M-M-A-M-I-S-H, Let’s Go!  As kids, Ryan, Randi, John, and I explored their farm in Duvall and played school in their attic in Bellevue.  Now as adults, it is a joy to reminisce about our commonly-shared memories and outrageous mutual friends. 

This year Spring Barrel Tasting in Washington Wine Country fell on Ryan’s girlfriend’s birthday.  Janelle and Ryan met in the typical Rentonite manner, through the Ramquists.  Janelle embodies what it means to be a good friend, is loyal to her core, and perpetually optimistic.  Ryan and Janelle are a care-free and enthusiastic couple.  Together, they bond over fly fishing and hiking.  Ew.  The Ramfuses offered an alternative to rivers and bugs… Let’s celebrate Janelle’s birthday by wine tasting! 

Initially, Ryan longed to hunt turkeys on opening day rather than to sniff and slurp “rotten grapes”.  Nonetheless, after a few glasses of “rotten grapes”, he embraced the novel experience, sampled new things, and even picked a favorite.  More rosé please!

On Saturday morning, we woke up in Prosser with our itinerary in hand and a hankering for adventure.  The sun poked in between the light cloud cover and the wind raged against our hair.  At 68 degrees, it was the perfect day for a drive to Benton City.  The wineries in Benton City rest upon Red Mountain and overlook the picturesque valley below. 

We peacefully meandered through six wineries on Red Mountain, from the familiar backyard BBQ style winery of Oakwood Cellars to the palatial estate style at Terra Blanca.  Each winery offered a minimum of four tastings of both white and red wines from various years.  Thank goodness for the salted meats, cheeses, and Cle Elum Bakery bread to soak up all of those tastings. 

Our favorite aspect of Spring Barrel tasting is exactly what makes it a unique weekend.  http://wineyakimavalley.org/spring-barrel-tasting_365.html  The wineries offer tastings straight from the barrel.  These grapes are typically picked in fall 2010 and stored in oak barrels until the spring 2011.  At one of our favorite wineries, Tapteil, the winemaker explained how the taste of the wine depends on many factors, including the summer weather, national origin of the barrel, and level of toasting within each barrel.  A late harvest produces sweeter berries and increases the alcohol percentage.  A new barrel infuses a stronger oak flavor into the wine.  A medium toasted barrel may incorporate a slight charcoal note.  All fascinating.  By the end of the day, we were winemaking experts!

From Red Mountain, we traveled back to Prosser for the afternoon.  Vintner ’s Village is centrally located in Prosser and houses dozens of wineries.  We explored the dark, cool warehouses with wine barrels stacked by the hundreds.  All of the tastings from Yakima to Richland were included in the price of the weekend Premier Pass or $45 per person. 

After a long day with great friends, we decompressed by opening a bottled we had just purchased and planning our return to Spring Barrel Tasting 2012.  Or maybe next year, Brett and I will try fly fishing and turkey hunting… maybe.

        

Bliss Weekend in Wine Country (Part 1)

It’s easy to get caught in the undertow of work, life, and requisite obligations.  Brett and I are truly dedicated to setting time aside to reconnect with one another during what we call Bliss Weekends.  These Bliss Weekends consist of a wide range of bonding activities: from working on the house together to holding hands on the couch to going away on mini-vacays.  

Yesterday, we returned home from a Bliss Weekend in Washington Wine Country <<insert relaxing sigh>>.  We both took Friday off from work (my first vacation day off since our trip to Texas in October!).  We leisurely packed our suitcases, packed Harper, and packed into the van. 

 (Harper really doesn’t want to be left behind!)

There is something wholly satisfying about roadtrips with Dave Matthews on the Zune, Harper in my lap, and Brett singing along.  We analyze the world, discuss our love, and learn more about each other.  I also annoyingly point out every animal we see on the way, “Did you see that [cow], [crow], [horse], [roadkill], Baby?!”  While Brett patiently replies, “No, I must have missed that [cow], [crow], [horse], roadkill], Baby.”

We stopped in Cle Elum to drop Harper off with his Grammie and visited with Danae, Alea, and Gaby. 

(Harper was really upset that we left him behind.)       

Danae is moments away from giving birth to her baby boy and she is looking adorable!  Gaby Walior is the sweetest, most adorable doll.  We cannot wait to babysit!  Then we stopped at Glondo’s for salted meats and smoked cheeses; and hit the Cle Elum Bakery for Dutch Crunch. 

http://www.glondos.com/ 

Our last stop before Wine Country was perhaps the most monumental.  We ordered our wedding rentals!  That is great news for each of you because you now have a rental chair, tables, drinking glasses, silverware, and a tent for 9.10.11.  What a great feeling to be one step closer to Mrs. Brett Rafuse!

We left the Yakima party supply store and drove to Sunnyside.  Steppe Cellars is located smack dab in the middle of endless cow pastures and orchards.  http://www.steppecellars.com/wine.html  Inhale the rich smells of livestock (eew) as you bounce along the unpaved road (ouch).  But, tuck your head into the Steppe Cellars barn and you are transported to a wine lover’s utopia.

The evening progressed with four courses: 1) shrimp & coconut rice; 2) citrus spinach salad; 3) pork & rosemary potatoes; and 4) chocolate espresso salted truffles.  Each course was paired with two wine tastings.  Although we are not the most sophisticated wine-os, the winemaker at our table patiently explained her reasoning behind the pairings.  We marveled at how a well-paired wine and food combination can heighten your senses.  For example, she paired a very sweet wine with the tart citrus salad. 

The wine tasted distinctly differently before the salad arrived.  Upon its arrival, the tart salad relaxed the previously overwhelming sweetness in the wine.  A symphony of flavors in your mouth.  Wow, we might actually understand this whole foofoo wine obsession!

Fortunately for us, Saturday will provide plenty of opportunity to become novice sommeliers.  But, for now Bliss Weekend in Wine Country remains TO BE CONTINUED…

Do you have any suggestions for symphonic wine pairings?        

Never Cook Soup in Your Bathrobe

Sure, I know HOW to cook.  My father can make an alfredo sauce seemingly out of flour and water and he can bouillabaisse just about anything.  However, I also know the difference between a rear naked choke and a guillotine in mixed martial arts.  That doesn’t mean I will be performing submission holds in the octagon any time soon.

Translating my knowledge about cooking into actual delicacies has been challenging.  My first challenge arose from what we call the “Great Top Ramen Catastrophe”.  I had been preparing a meal of Top Ramen without pants on (What!?  People cook in their bathrobes all the time!)  Just as I poured the finished product from the pot into my bowl, I spilled the boiling soup onto my lap.  The result is a nasty scar on my leg and an even nastier scar on my memory.  I still love Top Ramen, but never prepare it without pants on.    

The second culinary challenge I face is in preparing a meal for two people.  For example, I once prepared a crock-pot full of chili.  I had carefully selected the beans, diced the peppers, and perfected the spices.  I accompanied the chili with dozens of corn muffins.  The first night of chili for supper was great.  Chili for lunch the next day was a treat.  By the end of the week, if I never tasted another kidney bean it would be too soon!  Portioning for just two of us is challenging. 

The third culinary challenge is convenience.  Brett and I are inclined to work too much.  We have approximately two hours from the time we arrive home, prepare dinner, eat dinner, digest dinner, and decompress before my head hits the pillow.  Most meals that require effort do not lend themselves to our two hour window.  Excuses, excuses, but the result is that we go out to dinner far too often. 

(They make you crack your own crab.  We consider that "cooking".)

With these culinary challenges, how are Brett and I going to meet our goal of eating healthy meals at home?

Hello, Trader Joe’s!  http://www.traderjoes.com/index.asp

Fortunately, a Trader Joe’s resides just around the corner from my work.  (Sorry, Sarah Whelan, for making you insanely jealous.  Trader Joe’s has yet to arrive in Austin.)  Twice a week, I buzz into Trader Joe's for lunches and dinners.  Their lunch selection is fantastic.  From fresh salads, to prepared pastas, to unique sandwiches, they have an entire section of quick meals for people like me.  People who are short on time, short on cash, but still want to eat a healthy meal.  My favorite is the beet salad.  Try it!

Trader Joe’s also solves our portioning challenges.  They offer a wide variety of proteins and vegetables packaged for two.  I first select a protein: chicken breast (with or without marinade), steaks, or fish.  Next, I choose a raw vegetable, such as broccoli, green beans, asparagus, peppers, or mushrooms. 

Brett and I arrive home, oodle and canoodle, then prepare dinner together.  Brett grills the protein on the BBQ, while I steam the veggies.  I have had great success with an olive oil/ lemon juice/ garlic/ soy sauce/ pepper concoction, brushed over asparagus, then grilled.  We are eating fresh, healthy, vital dinners at home. 

I am no Domestic Diva.  There are cheaper, more convenient, more diverse methods to preparing dinner.  But for the meantime, Trader Joe’s has helped me to transition from Top Ramen and Ritz crackers to grilled proteins and steamed veggies.  

Do you have any tips or suggestions for convenient and healthy meals for two?