The Office

If I had to guess, I bet he's a little like Stanley...

I don't know if I ever mentioned, but this year was little rough work wise for Bryan.  His company couldn't keep him busy so he went on standby for quite a while, and then on unemployment for a bit.  He made the most of his time off though by getting his Master License (electrical), which is like the Ph.D of the electrical world.  I am so proud and impressed, I tell him all the time while forcing him to make eye contact.

Last week he started a new job!  I'm still not exactly sure what it is, but it will be a new challenge and he's pretty pumped about it.  The funny thing is that he is used to service work and working alone, and this job requires a bit of time in the office.  Office politics are a new thing to him...

Bryan telling me about his day:

Bryan:  Well he is diabetic so has to be careful or he'll go into anaphylactic shock

Me:  You mean insulin shock?

Bryan:  Oh yea.  And he's allergic to penicillin so he can't let his blood sugar get too low.

Me:  You mean insulin?

Bryan:  Oh yea.


It's like a whole new world to him, I love it!

Orcas trip film

Remember when I reposted Nie Nie's family sailing video?  Well Mike from The Mind of Spaz sent me a link to a super deal on a little pocket camera (and it's still on, check it out!) I was slightly suspicious after ordering and the post office misplacing the package twice, but I got it in time for our trip to Orcas.  So here you are...more Orcas Island footage.  This is the last post about it, scouts honor! 

I didn't care about good speakers on the camera because I hate my voice and knew I'd set it to music.  Of course my editing is choppy and the music wasn't long enough so I had to loop it.  Bare with me, it's my first one.  Bryan says it reminds him of The Wonder Years ;)

Peanut Buster Parfait

Have you ever had a Peanut Buster Parfait?  We usually get them at our local Dairy Queen but I don't know if it is their creation.  I always forget about them, but the other night we went to a friend's house for dinner and that is what I brought for dessert.  I think if I had to pick a favorite dessert, this could be it.

Easier than a sundae it's vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge and Spanish peanuts (it has to be Spanish peanuts, don't make me come over there).

I didn't fancy layer it the way they do...

Madison approved. 

Don't you wish you could get away with PJ's and a tutu again?

What did you do this weekend?

I'm exhausted and I haven't even taken a vacation yet...

Planning vacations are just as exhausting as taking them.  Well, maybe only for an indecisive gal like me.  Should we go here?  Should we go there?  Put it on paper just in case!  I feel like I've been spending all my free computer time searching for train tickets.  Okay, I've done my fair share of pinning as well ;) 

P.S.  I am not complaining...just trying to tie in a flashback photo.  How'd I do?

Just making cheese in Gruyere, Switzerland...no big deal

Considering a pit stop in Gruyere soley for the raspberries and double cream.

I'm sure Bryan would like to see the torture chamber in the castle as well...

Charlie swims!

Mildly cruel, but now we know...he won't sink.    You may want to turn off the sound for this.  In fact, I urge you turn off the sound ;)

Orcas Island

Part 2!

I don't know how I'll even narrow our Europe photos down.  This was only a 3 day weekend!  Saturday we spent the day on the Island, taking in the sights and spending time at the beach.  It was actually hot out and we got to be in our bathing suits!

We woke up and went to breakfast at The Kingfish Inn.  It was delicious, and so was the view!

Housemade sausage patties, poached eggs and fried potatoes. 

I had to eat the biscuit too, they had honey butter.

After breakfast we headed to The Exchange

Located next to the dump, you can drop off any non garbage items, and shop too.

You can find almost anything, and you name your price!

There was a lot of furniture I could've brought home ;)

A little stop by the farmer's market

Agua Frescas

Watermelon and Cucumber Basil

Then a drive up to Mt. Constitution

And then...can you guess?  Go ahead and guess...

More oysters!!!!

Back to the beach for some blood orange rum coolers

(Trader Joe's blood orange soda and rum)

Charlie was so tired and sprained his tail...it's still uncurled

Ryan's last moment of relaxation before he went out to get the crab pots!

Pot 1

Pot 2

Most were females, but we still had a ton!

Issy swam out to this rock and hung out for awhile

Bryan shucking oysters...in his undies ;)

Oyster shooters!

Grilled with Kaitlyn's special sauce and a glass of white wine

Sacraficing a crab for the bbq

And that was just the appetizers...

Back to the house for a seafood paella!

Hustlin' and bustlin in the kitchen

Ryan's paella

Then s'mores by the campfire to finish the night.

Can I go back now?

Orcas Island

Part 1... ;)

This weekend we went to Orcas Island to visit some friends.  It was a fabulous weekend and we really packed it all in.  Thank you Kaitlyn and Ryan for having us! 

Waiting for the ferry in Anacortes

Sunset cruise through the San Juan Islands

And happy hour at New Leaf Cafe

Then home to cheesecake strawberries and a game of cards

In the morning we took our coffee to the beach and to visit Ryan at the Pottery where he works

Explaining trimming to us

The dogs after a swim

Then we headed to the dock to catch the ferry to Lopez Island

But we had the ferry times wrong so we were forced to drink bloody marys and enjoy the view...

Love birds and Mt. Baker

Biking Lopez

(Mom I wore a helmet I swear!)



The blackberries were ripe for the picking!

But we stopped at the fudge shoppe for ice cream anyway ;)

Pick your fudge and they melt it on top of your sundae...sinful

Then we peddaled as fast as we could so we wouldn't miss the ferry.  It was an hour late.

Waiting...

Waiting...

Then we packed the pooches in the car and headed for the beach

Blackberry mojitos on the beach

And grilled oysters

Dylan can't get enough of the view

Bryan apologizing after throwing Charlie in the water

A beautiful sunset and sandy face

Then it was back to the house for fresh caught crab and Kaitlyn's homemade salsas...

see the salsa recipes here, I'm ready for more!