Pumpkin Pics!

Toilet Update...

Steven has just informed me that our toilet is back in action. Thank Goodness for that!

Partially exploding Pie/Toilet and other tidbits:

First, let me say that I made a pie. I made my first filled pie with real shells made from scratch and everything. My Grandma is a genius. She was the one who gave me the recipe and all the tips for a successful crust and filling.

What she did not give me was the knowledge to thaw the berries completely and crimp the pie well before placing it in the oven. Actually in her defense she did tell me to thaw the berries- I just didn't listen. So there's another point for Grandma (the Pie Genius). Come to think of it, my Mom deserves some credit here as well- she gave me the berries and relayed messages between me and Grandma. So thanks to Mom!

Well I put the pie into the oven and kept checking on it regularly. Mostly because it smelled amazing and because I was worried the edges might brown up too much and I didn't want that to happen. I was, after all, going to serve this to guests!

I checked on the pie at around 15 minutes left on the timer... and it had started... a slow oozing of purpley jam like consistency out the side of the crust. I thought, "Well I'll just let it go, it can't be too bad"...

I was wrong. It got worse.

It oozed up onto the crust top and over the side. It oozed over the edge of the pan and onto the racks and the bottom of the oven (thankfully covered in foil). The ooze continued to cook into a protective layer of berries mixed with sugar that hardened like sap on a car windshield.

It was an absolute nightmare to clean. I had to haul both racks out of the oven after cooling and run hot water over them to dissolve the sticky mess. They are too big to submerge and my scraping/rubbing with a towel and scouring pad were fruitless attempts!

Thankfully the pie was amazing and tasted wonderful. Another Kitchen Lesson Learned!

The Toilet is another mess entirely.

This morning we woke up and went through our normal routine just like another morning. Steven took his shower, I got ready for work and just after Steven brushed his teeth we both heard the sound of the toilet running- for no good reason. I just figured, "Well sometimes it does that I guess", because sometimes the toilet upstairs does do that.

But Steven apparently has a trained ear and he went over the toilet, jiggled the handle and removed the lid. I go back to curling my hair and he starts to check all the normal issues. Is the chain tangled? No. Is there anything "wrong-looking"?? Not really. Just then, out of the corner of my eye- I see him touch the cap of the pump and all hell breaks loose.

Before I know it nasty toilet water is breaking out of the pump, and filling the floor. Only its not coming from the pump, its coming from the hose that connects to the wall. I just didn't realize this. He leans down and I assume that he's trying to find the source of the leak and I walk over and try to push the pump back down under the water to squash the spraying and end up shooting it at Steven's face instead. Turns out he was trying to turn the water off at the valve under the tank of the toilet and I messed up big time by trying to mess with it at all.

So long story short- Steven had to change his shirt, we are down a toilet but not a pie and things got pretty exciting in the Stanley household this week.

We also carved pumpkins on Sunday. I will have to post some photos a little later.

Pumpkins!!

Two weekends ago we went out to Mom and Dad's Pumpkin Patch!! We had a total blast. This year the pumpkins that they planted were the perfect size for carving. Mom even remembered to turn them a couple of times so they are beautifully round and just right.Chris and I picking out the best ones, but it was unnecessary because they were all pretty awesome.
Dad and Colin are loading up the cart. We had so many that Steven had some on the four wheeler and I carried one that was going to fall off.
Dad looks pretty good with corn stalks that people are taking home for decorations. He's pretty good at driving that thing around.
Here's a Family Photo in front of the "Pumpkin Patch" sign my Mom painted. You can't see it, but Colin is standing on top of his pumpkin.
Colin on his birthday present- A four wheeler of his very own! He put his pumpkin in his basket- it was so cute! We had a total blast and look forward to it next year. It was the perfect day, sunny and no rain!

We also got a pumpkin from the Steven's parent's farm that grew totally unexpectedly, so we are rolling in the pumpkins. Looking forward to carving them and putting them on the front porch. Stay tuned for more photos!

Christmas Cards 2009

Last weekend Steven and I had Larry and Marlene over for a dinner and for them to take our photo for our Christmas cards this year...I know what you're thinking, "Christmas Cards ALREADY???"... But yeah. I am.

A few weeks ago I found this photo on my Mom's computer from Christmas 2008. I thought, 'If we hadn't just taken a lovely photo- this one would be great'. Maybe Mom can use if for her card this year. :)

Side Note- I am holding a thing of Blue Ice because I burned my finger on the glaze for the ham!!

Ladies Who Opera - Part 2

Last year we did "Ladies Who Opera" - Part 1.

Last night we followed up with "Ladies Who Opera" - Part 2. Shelley, Iva and I went to La Boheme at the Keller Auditorium and it was spectacular!
I finally remembered to take a photo of the sign above the entrance!

First we started out at Fennoil for a fabulous French dinner- which I loved! Last time we were there it was so nice that we sat outside, but last night I finally got a peek at the inside and the decor is top notch. It was such a great way to start off the night and we got parking right across the street- that's luck!
I ended up with a phenomenal ice cream sundae with caramelized nuts, chocolate sauce you got to pour on and candied fennel seeds. YUM! Dinner was good too :)
They have a couple of fire places set around the restaurant. They give off an awesome fall vibe. The concierge took our photo here.
Then we got to our seats and I asked the couple in front of us to take our photo- she happily obliged me, then went on to say (as her husband gets up and walks to the row behind us) that they got their professional wedding photos back and her Husband has nothing but bunny ears in all of them! So their favorite thing for photos now is to do "Bunny Ears". Here he is as "Random Dude" in our photo giving us bunny ears. So much fun! They were down from Seattle just to see the Opera - how cute!

It was such a great night and we had a total blast!

Girl's Shopping Trip!

On my last adventure to Billings MT, I was on a plane to Seattle flicking through the in-flight magazine when I saw a spread advert for “The Bravern”. The Shops at the Bravern (as it is collectively known) is a new upscale shopping center in Bellevue WA. However, it was the fine print of store openings that moved me to write down the name and file it away for later when I
had internet access- Jimmy Choo.

My dear sweet friend Shelley could be compared to Carrie Bradshaw, but she is far more intelligent, witty, funny and impeccably styled. She’s also a SHOE-A-HOLIC. I don’t just mean that she has a lot of pairs of shoes either. I mean that she has an immeasurable love for shoes; and she especially loves Manolo and Jimmy- just like Ms. Bradshaw.

The fate was sealed. I pulled out my iPod touch and opened a new “note”…in it I tapped the name and the website provided. We would have to see this, and we would have to see it together.

It opened two weeks ago and last weekend that was just what we did. It was far grander in person than I could gauge from the glossy magazine photo. Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Salvetore Ferragamo all shinny and new, not to mention the crown jewel Trophy Cupcake.

Bright and early last Saturday morning Shelley was at my door ready to go. I’m sure Steven likened the experience to two kids waking up on Christmas morning.

My only personal let down for the day was that while the rest of the shops were completed and open, HERMES was not. The classic orange sign was the only hint that it was even there. The door was sealed shut and all the windows were covered with orange paper. Oh well, I guess that just means a return trip.

We did walk away with some Jo Malone purchases, plus a Neiman Marcus gift bag and Jo Malone gift! Then we headed off for a scrumptious lunch at Artisanal (See the photo below!). In our usual style we enjoyed processco (which I’m very fond of) and homemade pizza for me and fettuccini for her. Then it was one quick stop off to Nordstroms (HUGE and having a big make up event! With a DJ spinning tunes!) before heading back home.

All in all, a wonderful way to spend a Saturday with a great friend. The three hour car ride there and back didn’t faze us at all. Except for that part where we spent Sunday lounging around and recuperating ...