Happy Birthday, Spencer!

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Sewfrench

I can not believe how the years are flying by.

Seems like just yesterday you were diving into Crystal Lake in your clothes……

Crystal Lake July 2005

Loving to dig in the sand.

June 20005

Learning to make sand castles.

And now look at you, practically all grown up.  So smart and nice.  Handsome and cool. Thoughtful and considerate.  Such a great kid.  We’re so proud of you!

Spencer with Papa Peter, Pyramid Point July 2010

And you still love to play in the sand…….

Lake Michigan July 2010

But growing up way too fast….

Can’t wait for  another summer at Crystal Lake.  Playing football in the lake, building sand castles,  kayaking, canoeing and maybe just laying back and reading a good book. Whatcha say?  Make it a date???  We’ve got the chicken fried rice ; )

I hope you have a most fabulous 9th birthday and a year better than any other!

Miss you bunches!

XXOO,
Grandma Lori and PaPa Peter

Posted in Family | 1 Comment

Do you believe in fortune cookies???

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Sewfrench

So, Peter’s a sushi freak, right?  You knew that….

Well, I am a hot and sour soup freak.  I love spicy.  I love vinegary.  I love Shang Hai Ichiban.  Especially their Hot and Sour Soup.  It is the best of all we’ve ever had.  Ever.  Well, okay maybe the Fusion is on par, but, unfortunately, we haven’t been in that part of the woods, lately.

Oh, my goodness, this is tasty stuff!

And sushi!  They now have a dedicated sushi bar and sushi chef, who is awesome!  Simple and even not so simple delicacies, and, delicious, and oh so fresh!

And they now have new lunch specials, daily.  This was their Firecracker shrimp.  The waitress, who hardly speaks English, kept saying, “You like hot, you like hot???”!  “Yes, hot is good, I like hot!”  It was perfect!  Oh, it was good!  We will be making this sometime soon.  I keep saying that, but I think we need to keep trying other versions.  Just to be sure…..

I read something, today, that claimed eating spicy food, regularly, can boost your metabolism, to lose something like, an additional, 10 pounds per month.  Crazy, seriously…..  If that were true, there would be nothing left, of me, but I’m game.  I can put away some spicy food.

And besides emaciation is attractive, right????

Anyway……….  I was just wondering…

Seems as if every time we go anywhere there are fortune cookies being served, someone else gets mine.  Always.  “I got yours”  “You got mine.”  “Who’s did you get?”  That’s not just me, is it?  Tell me it happens to you, too?

The best part about this restaurant?  It doesn’t matter who gets whose, because, the fortune cookie never lies!

Never, ever lie. I swear, they don't. Ever.

Posted in Eating, Health, Sushi | 2 Comments

A new totin’ bag!

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Sewfrench

That’s what we, (I say loosely), call it in the South………

Always somethin’ to tote.

I recently noticed that, almost, everyone, except me, has one of my bags.  Or so it seems……

So tada!  I spotted this Michelle D’Amore for Benartex fabric line at one of my favorite local shops.  The line is called Hab-i-tat (a philosophy…a refuge), I love the name, it spoke to me.  Am I weird, do color names and fabric lines, speak to you?  Or is that just me?  And I am in *love* with the fabric!!   I thought how fun, yeah right, it would be to practice my machine quilting around all the big flowers.  It worked.  Sort of…..  Not nearly as neat as this T4, A type personality, would have liked, but I’m okay with it.  It’s artistic…  And besides I needed it!  The practice and the bag.  Seriously.

Dang, my hands look old... I need a manicure and hand treatment!

This will be my car bag.  It has an interior zippered pocket and lots of pouches.  I’m always the navigator, or nagivator, depends on who’s doing the name calling…. the planner, the read aloud passenger, and snack provider….  My feet are drowning in maps, books, CDs, newspapers, water bottles and snacks…..  Now, it will be contained in something I’m not embarrassed to be seen, in public, with.  Not that I’m embarrassed by Walmart shopping bags…..  But, you know…….

Now I need a road trip…..

Thanks, Amanda, for the photography!!

Posted in Crafting, fabric, Quilting, Travel | 3 Comments

Great Grandma Bryant’s Macaroni and Tomatoes

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Sewfrench

Way back when…..  sometime after Grandpa Bryant died in 1971 and before Grandma Bryant died in 1974, myself and cousin Vicki used to spend random weekends with great Grandma Bryant.  I suppose we were sent there to keep her company and Vicki and I didn’t get to see each other too often, so it was always good times.  Mostly….. anyway.

One of my favorite memories, from this point, in my life was Grandma teaching us to make Macaroni and Tomatoes.  Probably not an actual lesson, but we were probably starved and on her heels….. as usual.  And boy could she cook.  Grandma Ellis learned from the best.

Cook up 8 oz. macaroni, according to the package directions, al dente.

Slice one yellow onion, in half, then into slivers.  Saute up in 2-3 TBS of butter, or meat grease.  Grandma used meat grease, from the can kept on the back of the stove.  When the onion is cooked up add in 2 chopped garlic cloves and let cook up a bit more.  Then add in a quart of home canned tomatoes, with about 1/2 of the juices.  Reserve the rest, in case you need more liquid, later on.  Break up the tomatoes, then add in the cooked macaroni and let simmer for a few minutes, let the flavors mingle and the macaroni cook a bit more.  If you need you can add in more liquid, here.  Butter or meat grease is very important to the depth of flavor, in this recipe, seriously.  Olive oil could work, but Grandma probably didn’t know about that….  Pepper generously and eat until your heart’s content.  Soak up every bit of the sunshine grown right into the tomatoes, like they were meant to be….  And if you have had a really successful canning season, don’t be afraid to use *2* quarts of tomatoes!!!

Posted in Cooking, Eating, Family, Recipes | 4 Comments

Eat your veggies!

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Sewfrench

Seriously.  These were incredible.  The most incredible veggie I’ve had in a long wintrywhile.

These  were part of a Today Show segment on guilt free girls night in recipes, from ex-“Top Chef” contestant Candice Kumai.  In her new cookbook, “Pretty Delicious,” she shares great options for guilt-free bites, so the Today Show claims.

gluten free mushroom fries

Yes, those are mushrooms.  Big, huge, juicy, fried portabella slices of mushrooms, coated in Panko crumbs, to absorb more grease.  And yes, they were guilt free.  That’s how good they are.  Incredible.  If I had more mushrooms, I’d be cooking them, again, tonight.

Portobello fries with creamy horseradish dip
Candice Kumai

printer friendly version

Ingredients
  • For dip
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
  • For fries
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs, did you know they make gluten free panko?!!
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed
  • 1/2 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
Preparation

To make the dip: Whisk the mayonnaise, horseradish, Worcestershire, parsley and salt together in a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.

To make the fries: Preheat the oven to 300 F. Whisk the panko, parsley, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs in another shallow bowl until blended.

Slice the portobello mushrooms into 1/4-inch sticks. In small batches, dip the mushroom sticks first in the bowl of eggs, then in the bowl with the panko mixture, gently rolling the mushroom sticks to coat all four sides. Transfer to a plate.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add a small mushroom stick to the pan. If lots of little bubbles immediately surround the mushroom, then the oil is ready (if nothing happens, then the oil isn’t hot enough). Add about half of the sticks and fry until the sticks are golden and crisp on all sides, 4 to 6 minutes total. Transfer the fries to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you fry the remaining batches.

4 servings

Okay, this recipe did need altered just a bit.

Double the dip, for sure.  Mayo mixed with Sriracha sauce would, also, be incredible. Next time.

1 large mushroom cap person.

1 recipe of the dry dipping Panko part, per mushroom.  And it’s best made up in a ziploc bag for dredging, *per serving*.  The eggs get the panko gunky, then it won’t stick to the mushroom *fries*, so you need to make up another batch of the dry…..  Just start out with a bag, bowl, whatever you want to do it in, but one recipe, of the dry mix per mushroom.  Otherwise your drawer handles and ingredients get all gunky while you make more….  Trust me, on that.  Or don’t.  Just see for yourself……

We served  them with this……..

Yup, that’s a corned beef.  The house smelled magnificent, all day long!

And, yes, those are Reubens on light rye, with lots of kraut, extra mustard, the good kind, minus the cheese, it’s not needed.  And besides we don’t do dairy……  Humans don’t need it…….

Leftovers, anyone???

Posted in Cooking, Eating, Gluten Free, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Anniversary #24

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Sewfrench

Life sure was different 24 years ago today.

Boy, how I was dreading telling Mr. and, particularly, Mrs. H, I needed off work early.

Because I was getting married……..

She was a hard nose.  Thank God I wised up and asked on a Thursday, her day off, besides I needed Saturday off work, too……..

It’s not that I couldn’t make my hours as I needed, or should have been able to anyway……

I was the alterationista, for a high end womans *dress* shop, as they called it, back in the day, the only, tailor, they had.  So highly sought after, that they hired me 6 months ahead of knowing their wild and crazy alterationist, who went by Linda, would be transferring out with her Air Force husband in months to come.  Not that *I* was highly sought after, but *anyone* who did high end alterations was.  Seriously.  (Thank you, Grandma, for all you taught me!  Lessons that have served me well……)

So, I got off work early, dolled up in my off white, silk, JTDress, thank goodness for even meager employee discounts and better yet, the *on account* option.

On account, I really couldn’t afford this dress, but Mr. H, WWII vet, lived in Little Rock, as a parent, for the segregations/integrations, loved to tell the stories of…., who was glued to the TV, with the *girls* who was an absolute, wrinkled up, laughing eyes doll, of a Thursdays, kind of guy…. We experienced the January 1986 Challenger Disaster with Mr. H, praying the little bell wouldn’t ring and take us away from all the happenings……. Thursday’s were fabulous days for us *girls*!  Did I mention Thursday was Mrs. H’s day off???  Bless his heart and hers too……….

Yup, all dolled up and waiting to go, watching the clock, ready to go, little more lip stick, yup, I’m ready.  No runs in my stockings, I’m good….  After a tad bit of stressing over where a certain guy was we did make it to our wedding, on time, barely…..

Thanks to the girls, at work, we had champagne glasses to enjoy a toast (Thank you Dorothy, still got ’em!), a garter belt for the typical pictures, (Karen, where are you??????), lots of fabulous photos all taken by the *other* half.  And a date, held in the Justice of the Peace’s living room, that cost a whopping, hard earned, $20.

As Kim likes the say, the cheapest date they’ve ever known….

Yup, Kim and Mike introduced us on a blind date and all is history, since then.  Gave them the perfect excuse to evolve from memories of our first double date to being a part of a double wedding.

After the ceremony we even came out to find our cars all decked out with shaving cream, ribbons and  beer cans.  Thanks, Spartan employees, LOL!  Neva, I believe, that was you???

Enjoyed a great dinner at the Holiday Inn dining room, can’t remember what name it went by then…..  Tommy Gilbert moseyed over and bought us a bottle of champagne to congratulate us with….  All four of us ventured back to my apartment…..  Called brother Ray and his wife Susan, in England, to tell them all about it, apparently not realizing the 6 hour time difference, or maybe that was the champagne…..  Can’t remember…..  Though *Ray* still remembers…….  And Susan I am sure….

It was all a ploy in trying to stay up late because Peter’s HS best friend, who he was best man for *his* wedding, and wife, along with 2 year old (first day of potty training, Antonio) and 6 week old newborn, Angelita, were racing down to be a part of the festivities and it *was* a 12 hour drive, LOL!  We were able to stay up and Peter was totally surprised that they *appeared*!  Peering in the window, seeing them looking in, must have felt like a dream to him, I can only imagine……..  Weird, LOL!

We are all still going strong.  If we weren’t, there would be hell to pay from one Taylor girl or another….  Just sayin’………

February 20, 1987

and our witnesses.

Renewal of vows at 20 years, on the beaches of Maui.  February 20, 2007.

With Kim and Mike, of course.

November 2010

Can’t speak for anyone but myself…….

Would I do it again?  In a heartbeat, please, sooner, next time.

And I’d still marry *this* one, no matter what the JP tried to do….

Though Mike is a pretty awesome guy………….

He has a pretty kick butt awesome wife.

Who I wouldn’t want my butt kicked by, ever.

Thanks for everything Kim and Mike…….

Not exactly sure how fate’s hand would have played out without my BFFs, matchmakers, to speed things along……

♥ you both, more than you know….

It goes without saying, for my man, Peter, or maybe it shouldn’t…….

I ♥♥♥♥♥ you first *and* I ♥♥♥♥♥ you most ; )

Now……. Where shall we celebrate #25???????

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Pork Fried Rice

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Sewfrench

I’m not sure this can be improved on. Any more.

How to make perfect pork fried rice

  • 3 cups cold, cooked rice.  We cook it in a rice cooker, leftover is perfect!
  • 2 eggs, whisked up
  • Bean sprouts,   8 oz
  • 1 TBS chopped garlic
  • 2 TBS chopped fresh ginger (Store the extra in the freezer, because you’ll make this again)
  • 1 cup Meat, diced and cooked  (We cut a slightly frozen pork chop into small pieces, 1/4″ – 1/2″ cubes, sauté in a dab of olive oil, then remove from wok/pan)
  • 1 cup onions, chopped, we usually use a sweet one like a Vidalia
  • 1 pkg of sliced mushrooms, or slice them yourself, we just use white button mushrooms, for this recipe
  • 5 green onions, sliced, both whites and most of the green
  • Mix the next four liquids together and stir in, in the last few minutes of cooking
  • 1 TBS Fish Sauce
  • 4 tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil
  • 2 TBS or so Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
  • 2 TBS Soy Sauce
  • A smoking hot pan and preferably it is a wok, but not necessarily required.  A wok does make it easier to keep everything *in* the pan… making cleaning the stove top easier.
Saute the meat, remove from pan.  Or use leftovers….  Chicken, pork, whatever you’ve got, or no meat, it’s up to you.
Saute the mushrooms, leave alone, let brown, but don’t allow them to shrink to nothing, or someone may not have enough for leftovers….. Remove from pan.
Saute the onions, along with the white part of the green onions, after several minutes add 1/2 or so of the green part of the green onions, half the bean sprouts, the garlic and ginger.
After cooking for several more minutes, the onions have wilted and taken on some color, push to the side and scramble up the eggs, right there in the open spot.
When they are close to being done, but still wet, stir them into the onions.
Add back in the mushrooms, pork, more green onions, more bean sprouts and break the rice up into it, and give a nice toss.
Stir in the liquids, stir up, again.  Look around and make sure you’ve used up all your ingredients, except for a few green onions and bean sprouts, for topping.
And then walk away.
This is where the name *fried* rice comes into play.  After several minutes the rice, on the underside, will take on a beautiful color and the smell will knock you off your feet.
Stir well, one last time.
Top servings with the last of the green onions and bean sprouts.
Good food, good meat, Good God, let’s eat!
Don’t be afraid to make it your own and let me know if you try it!
Enjoy!
P.S. The big guy wants me to tell you that sometimes my links, for products on Amazon, are linked to me so that if you buy something I get a little Amazon store credit.  I didn’t used to do this, but I started to recently because I was linking to Amazon anyways (hello, we all shop there) and I figured you wouldn’t mind if Amazon has to give me a free book now and then.  Just letting you know, to keep things legit around here.
Posted in Cooking, Photography, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Let’s make Vanilla Extract

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Sewfrench

Why make your own vanilla extract?

Well, let’s see. It’s easy………  It tastes better…..  It’s healthier.

Did you know that *most* commercial vanilla extract has HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) as an ingredient?  Nor did I.  Totally unnecessary and unwanted.  I am appalled at respected national brands.  I can add my own sweetener and it will definitely NOT be HFCS.

And besides sometimes we just like to make things, because we can……. and did I mention it was healthier?

I was running low, or totally out of, several seasonings, so a trip to Penzeys was in order. Both my daughters offered up $5 off coupons (I suspect they were part of a Santa stocking gift?) and I had a free coupon for a new product, besides….   Who can not be tempted by a freebie????  A beautiful day was looming and I needed out.  Penzeys just happened to be in my path and vanilla on my mind.  Did you know that each vanilla bean comes from an orchid that has been pollinated by hand? Once the vanilla seed pod has developed, it must be hand picked as well. After picking the curing process takes several months. So if you’ve ever wondered why vanilla extract, and especially vanilla beans, can be so expensive, this is why…….  But it is SO worth it.  I often double the amount, of vanilla, called for, in a recipe, if it’s my own vanilla, it tastes so good and seems so worth it, LOL!

So…… let’s get started.

3 vanilla beans ($7.25)

A small bottle of vodka, 2~ish cups, we’re flexible here… A pint bottle is about $10.

We’re talking 16 whole ounces.

Mc*****ck brand runs $3-$10 per oz, for the run deal.  So yeah, this can be cost saving, too.

A glass jar with tight fitting lid, or you can just use the vodka bottle.  You’ll eventually want to pour it into something more attractive, but you have time., to find the right container.  Or send your daughter, she knows what you need…….  She is good.

Using a sharp paring knife cut lengthwise down each vanilla bean, splitting them in half, scrape the seeds loose.

Put vanilla beans and the scraped seeds into your glass jar or bottle.  Cover completely with the vodka.

Give the bottle a good shake every once in a while. Store in a dark, cool place for 2 months or longer.

It will lasts for years. You can keep topping it off with vodka, once in a while, as you use it, just remember to give it a good shake every now and then.

Makes great hostess gifts, too!

This is how vanilla is *supposed * to taste!

Additional wins today…..

If you like a sharp pepper, these are *my* favorite! What a nice peppery bite they have!

Can you ever have too many? Especially great in winter cooking, roasts, heavier sauces, crock pot meals……….  For under $2.00?   What a deal!

What can I say. This is what *I* consider true cinnamon. Not the imitation, cassia, which we generally get at the grocery store. This tastes like oil of cinnamon.  You know the stuff we dipped toothpicks in and then sold in grade school? This is *that* cinnamon. The real deal. The good stuff.  The stuff that balances your blood sugar, the stuff we should be consuming at every meal.  Yummo.

Treat yourself and treat your family.  Check out Penzeys.  Sign up for their deals.  Seasonings have a shelf life, for optimum flavor, and don’t last forever.  What fresh ones offer is so worth it!  You and your family deserve it.  Just do it!

Posted in Cooking, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Valentine’s Day #25

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Sewfrench

What a glorious day for a 2 mile, after lunch walk, another sunny day and in the low 40's. Now, if the wind would have settled down we would have been peeling off our layers! Spring is on it's way, I just know it!

About the time of our first Valentines Day as a couple.

And 25 years later. Couldn't be happier. No way, no how.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Posted in Date, Eating, Family, Fitness | 5 Comments

Akron February 2011

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Sewfrench

This weekend Peter and I took a road trip.  A road trip for me.  None of this *us* stuff, this time, but something *I* wanted to do and he was all for it, cheering me on.  We’ve been cooped up since Thanksgiving and when the *can’t say no* opportunity arose, I was in and my driver was onboard!  I’ve so far avoided talking about a *huge* part of my life because I can’t seem to find the words to do it justice.  So, we’ll just gloss over that part and save it for another day and just say that T-Tapp, Teresa and all the people behind it have been my *besties* for 10 years.  Friends I talk to everyday.  People I’ve cheered on, been cheered on by, laughed with and cried with.  People I talk with, more often, than my *closest* family.  I whole heartedly believe in it for what it is, who it is and what it does. It has wiped out my debilitating arthritis and has been a large part in the continual moulding of who I am.

So this weekend a *few* of us gathered, to pay, to get our butts kicked by two amazing trainers.  Michelle and Jen.  Michelle, came in from Pittsburgh and Jen from near Minneapolis.  We drove 5 1/5 hours for this pleasure.  Do you know what 5 1/2 hours feels like after a kick butt workout?  I mean the sitting in the car after getting your butt kicked part?  If you have never Tapped, trust me, you do not know.  Running a 10K is *nothing* compared to this, I’m pretty sure a marathon could never compare.  This was total kick butt, people.  If you Tapp and don’t feel it like this, you aren’t doing it right.  Sorry…..  But true.  And yes, I fall into that trap, sometimes, too. But, boy how an *event* will pull Tapping back to the front and reality.  It kicks butt like nothing else.  And as I said before, somewhere else…….

Thank you Michelle and Jen for a *most* awesome event!!
This was unlike any event I have ever been to. It was so much like Safety Harbor, in so many ways. The instruction and explanations were top notch………
Michelle, you are even more incredible than I knew, I *heart* you!!! And Jen, wowzers, you are an awesome trainer with a knack for getting form across (especially ribs up, LOL!) You had an incredible mentor, I could feel it, her spirit came right through you. What gifts you two have…….
I’ve never been to an event with such an interactive crowd. People willing to speak up and admit when they needed help or clarification, people willing to be called out, by name, ROFLOL. When one person spoke up, eveyone gathered to hear the answer or look at Michelle’s awesome pedicure. LOL!
What an awesome group of Tappers, from pre-beginner to advanced, and a large group 24 ish? There was something for everyone and never a flustered trainer, in the process. Amazing.
My husband and I drove 5 1/2 hours to be here and raced home ahead of an ice storm… That is how worth it it was…… I’ll do it again in a heartbeat. Lisa???? Next time! LOL!
People, no complaining that there are no events near you…… Unless you are overseas, there is something, somewhere if you *really* want it. And you should.
Plus I got to meet my besties, in person, for the very first time, Michelle (armygirlwriting), what a *huge* surprise, I didn’t know she’d be there!! Elizabeth (gardengirl639) as sweet, dedicated and sushi loving as I imagined! Holly, Sarah, Clare and many more that I didn’t get their names but I hope we convinced to come or even spend more time on the forums!!!
What a fabulous, exhausting, muscle quivering, burning sort of day. Nothing like crawling out of a car after a long, hard, kick butt working out day, after riding for 5 1/2 hours.
Joan, the ultimate bath was my best ever. I hope your ears didn’t burn off entirely today, because you were talked about something serious….  So when you are overwhelmed with phone calls, this week, remember me and the rest of your faithful followers.  Kickbacks accepted.
Happy Valentines to me!
And Happy Birthday to Michelle, tomorrow!
Off to sleep like a baby!

Pre night….. those of us staying at the hotel where the event was to be held, met up, had a drink and had a designated driver steer us to an incredibly close, incredibly good, sushi restaurant.  (Thank you for driving, Elizabeth!) And you know what Peter and I think about sushi.  And now Elizabeth and Michelle, too?

Who planned ahead and thought about it being Valentines weekend?  Not us.  None of us…

When they told us it was 1 hour and 20 minutes wait and no access to the bar, can’t get there from here…….  And some people hadn’t eaten all day……..  Elizabeth, the local, stepped out to check on other options.  In the mean time, Peter, was wrangling, wrestling, intimidating someone or something?  …..and had us a table before Elizabeth could hardly explain our other options.  He is good!  LOL!  And boy was it worth it.  An incredible waitress and more incredible company.  Am I gushing?  No, it was fun and good.  And fun. No gushing required.  It was all good.  Those non~sushi lovers are now sushi lovers.  Just remember the soy paper and tempura.  You can’t go wrong.  Especially, if you have sriracha mayo sauce, LOL!

An incredible sushi restaurant in Akron. Wasabi. Somehow, we'll find a reason to return. Soon.

Spent with incredible friends........ Jen, Elizabeth, myself and Michelle.

What a beautiful atmosphere.

Shared with beautiful people........ Elizabeth and Michelle.

........and more beautiful people...... Michelle and Jen, our awesome trainers.

.....and oh, chocolate 'tinis, LOL! This was the best. I think I need a fork for the chocolate in the bottom!

The Angry Dragon Roll. Will anyone *ever* forget this experience???

Let's not even pretend we don't want to oogle, over this, even more....

Snow Roll ~ Tempura shrimp, blue crab, japanese mayo & sriracha chili sauce

Tempera shrimp and vegetables.... Pretty sure there was more than one of these on our table and pretty sure most of it got eaten, eventually....... All in prep, for the next day!

We didn't gather *only* to make others jealous, and no Joan, I'm not *just* talking to you........ I had no idea my online friend Michelle would be here. She knocked my socks off when she came up to me and introduced herself, as if she needed to do *that*!!! She is cuter than I dreamt and she brought tears to my eyes. And still does. What a strong woman, so happy to *finally* meet my Key West foodie advisor, patriot and all around inspiring friend. Where are the tissues when you need them?

And Elizabeth. Another long term online friend. Even more sweet, smart, proper, polite and friendly that I could imagine. What a beautiful spirit she has, besides hair and eyes and talents.......... And my sushi conspirator. Yay! Love you, girl!

And of course, Michelle.... What can I say? She is incredible, in so many ways. I want to be her, when I grow up, minus the 6 (yes, six) kids. Three is plenty for me.... A consolation/birthday gift for Michelle, I made her a Steelers weekender bag. I *think* she liked it, LOL! Just a small thank you for all she has meant to me over the last 10 years. What a treat to get to hang with Michelle. She is the real deal. I hope the people in her life appreciate her.

Colleen, Colleen, Colleen... It's been *way* too long! Cuter than ever. Not sure how she does it, but she glows from within. Even being a non~morning person, she got up super early to drive over and have a filling breakfast with us all before the reason we came together... Hurry up and get those chilluns grown up so we can see you more often!

Yes, we *all* paid good money to get our butts kicked. And will do it again in a heartbeat. Yes, we will.

May can’t come soon enough…………..

Sounds a bit like sadism, no?  Yes, it does, yes, it is, and Yes, you can do it, too.  LOL!

Posted in Eating, Fitness, Running, Sushi, t-tapp, Travel | 5 Comments