The Fair

We went to the fair on Monday evening after work. I decided I would leave my camera at home (for once) but after seeing a long-horn (really long horn) animal in the petting section, I got my boss to take a picture a few days later when Safeway had their day at the fair. (It was a watusi which is a breed of cattle originally bred and raised in Africa. They can grow horns reaching 8 feet across and can weigh up to 1,600 pounds). On Safeway day, we have samples available at the two entrances to the fair, so we also have a large sign on the fence and one of our Safeway trucks on display. On the day that John, Audrey and I went we checked out the craft displays and veggie displays to look for friends and family who had entered. Then we tried some carnival food and ended our evening with a funnel cake covered in strawberries and whip cream.

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Front Door Remodel

And this is what we did on Saturday. Removed the front door, purchased a new one (to match the back door remodel earlier in the summer) and installed.

Marriage Retreat

Our Stake had a Strengthening Marriage Retreat at the home of Karl & Tami Wilkinson. We were not sure exactly what to expect but thought we would check it out. The instruction for Friday evening was to bring a picnic blanket, wear casual dress and arrive around 6pm (they had staggered arrivals so that parking could be handled more efficiently).

We checked in and got an informational packet. These were the first set of instructions: "As a couple choose a spot to sit and visit and look through your folder. This is a date! Rather than socializing with others, spend this time reconnecting with one another. Give your spouse your undivided attention. Forget about the stresses of last week or the week coming. This is a time to enjoy the moment with your husband or wife."

It was kind of weird to be spending time talking with each other when you had someone on a picnic blanket every 10 feet or so, but soon it got to where we were only focused on us and not who was near us. The setting was very quiet with areas of lawn and wooded areas as well. There was dinner available so we gathered our meal (pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, salad, chips, drinks) and headed back to our picnic blanket to go through the rest of the packet.

There were Fortune Cookies for us to share, but each had a question in them that we had to answer:

Tell your sweetheart three things that you love about them:

• John to Sam - (1) Talented, (2) Smile all the time (even your voice smiles), (3) Practical / tame me.
• Sam to John - (1) Patient, (3) Generous, (3) Cute

Explain the details about when you knew that your spouse was "the one"

• John - While in Seattle & you visited. Thought it would be easy to introduce you as my wife. Proud to be attached to you.
• Sam - Remember Provo / Park / Gazebo? - Stopped caring what other people thought. Wanted to spend all the time with you.

Share with your significant other a time when your faith was strengthened:

• John - At the MTC - while listening to one of the talks and then  when 2,000 other missionaries all sang "Ye Elders of Israel".
• Sam - At a missionary farewell for Sam Fox, while singing the words "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" - - I knew it was true.

Then we took a Language of Love Quiz - Sam's answers had most points for Physical Touch and Quality Time. John's answers had most points for Words of Affirmation, Quality Time and Physical Touch. This exercise showed us how we can best express love to each other. (Words of Affirmation - give praise, give credit, compliments; Quality Time - undivided attention, take a walk, share thoughts, feelings; Physical Touch - kiss, hold hands). The other 2 love languages where neither of us had many points were Receiving Gifts (either purchased or giving of self) and Acts of Service (help withe chores).

When we were done with dinner they had an ice cream bar and then asked all to gather together for a program. First they showed a video of Golden Anniversary couples from the stake (interview format) and then we heard from Mark & Cami Young. When the evening was over, we headed back to our car.

The next day was to include breakfast, lunch and various speakers (rotating between groups). Here is the part where we practiced the skills we've used in our marriage over the last 24 years. Though we both felt it was an enjoyable evening, we also were thinking of all the projects we could get done on Saturday so decided on the drive home to forgo day #2 of the retreat.

Smoothies

Audrey and I were having fun experimenting with different recipes for smoothies & shakes this summer. Below is a sampling of a few we made. The green one was way healthier than the ice cream shake, but both were delicious. And you really cannot taste the spinach.

GREEN SMOOTHIE
1-2 bananas
1/2 cup frozen peaches
1/2 cup frozen mango
A couple handfuls of spinach
Water & Ice as needed
Add just enough water to blend and enjoy.

BLACKBERRY SHAKES
1 pint fresh blackberries
2-4 tablespoons sugar (depending on berries sweetness)
1 pint vanilla ice cream
12 ounces pomegranate juice
1 cup milk
Combine all but a few blackberries and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until the sugar has melted and the berries are soft and just starting to break down. Cool. Then put the cooked berries, ice cream, pomegranate juice and milk in a blender and puree until thick and creamy. Pour into tall glasses and garnish with remaining berries.

Kennewick Day Trip

We had been promising to see Susan & Larry's new (to us) place for awhile, so hopped into the car and took a day trip to Kennewick. Their place is a brick rancher on a mini-farm with lots of gardening areas. I believe Susan said the house was built in 1955 and is on about an acre of land. Since they had lived there for almost a year by the time we visited, they had already refinished and remodeled a number of rooms in the home.

Afterwards all of us did a little shopping at the mall (though Larry & John headed off in different stores than Susan, Audrey & I did). Then we all had dinner at Famous Dave's before heading back home. It was fun visiting and seeing their most recent project.

Summer Kitty

Oriental Chicken Salad

ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD
1 chicken breast, cooked and diced
1 cup of Yoshida's Original Gourmet sauce
3 c. fresh Romaine lettuce
1/2 c. mandarin oranges
1/2 c. pineapple tidbits
1/8 c. sliced almonds
Apple slices
Creamy poppy seed dressing.

Pour the marinade into a small bowl and add diced cooked chicken. Let sit for at least 5-10 minutes to soak up the marinade. Wash & chop romaine lettuce and put on individual plates. Add remaining ingredients onto each plate. Take the marinated chicken out of the bowl with a slotted spoon and place on bed of lettuce. Drizzle poppy seed dressing over the top & enjoy.