Sharp Chef Competition

We had a lot of fun watching the "Sharp Chef" competition that was hosted by our community this past Saturday. It was a regional competition for the Holiday Retirement Communities and the winner will go on to the next level of competition...our chef, Tommy DeLong won (we knew he would...he's the BEST!). The competition was modeled after the Iron Chef competition. Here are some pictures from the contest.

This is our dining room all set up for the contest.
Chefs lined up to be introduced. They were from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
Our So. Towne Ranch Chef, Tommy DeLong begins his prep.Oh! Oh! Fire Bad!! The nearly finished plate....
The smile of a winner.......and Congrats from the competition.

And through it all....the band played on....really good music.

Because our dining room was being used for the contest, we had a fabulous barbeque outside (don't know why this picture is dark...it was really a beautiful day)

Easter Decor (lest I forget)

This is an idea I got at the Dr.'s office just before Easter. They had used the small peeps bunnies, but when I got to the store to get them the large ones were all that was left. Easter grass on the bottom, peeps around the sides, I filled the center with M&Ms (but you could use jelly beans or something else), then Easter grass on top and I put a few chocolate eggs on top of the grass to hold it down a bit. I like the idea that I can change the contents for each holiday.

Moving up in the World...We're #1

Happy Easter to all! This is Don and Carol in the dining room for Easter dinner.And this is our new apartment...same address, just two doors down the hall in #001 instead of #003...it is a spacious 2 bedroom apartment, 1100 square feet...we are loving the space.

Another view of the living room (the TV goes on that blank wall) and all of the windows have the wide wooden louvered "plantation" shutters...Next is our little dining area...
another view...there is a door on the far right that leads to one of the porches...

This is our Den/Guest/Sewing room...

...and another view.

This is our bedroom (guess I should have opened the other shutters to let in more light..sorry).

Our bathroom.

And the Guest bathroom...
We are on the ground floor ("Creekside") on the front corner of the building. You can see our front porch and bench...
...and this is our side porch (we can still feed the ducks from here)
The view from our side porch... the creek...
Next is the view toward the side and front (toward the street)

and finally, the view from our little dining area window...spring in bloom and the beautiful snow capped Ocher Mountains in the distance...we loved our new home...come visit when you can.

A Better Way to Feed the Ducks

Thought you'd like to see Don's latest invention...an upside-down patio table with one of his Physical Therapy bands stretched between the legs (of the table)...wad up balls of bread and insert in band...pull back and...WHAM!...you hit a duck in the head (no kidding). This man has too much time on his hands!

At Aaron and Chrys' Place

These pictures aren't really fair...taken after a long day at work. We had a great time visiting with Aaron and Chrys: they took us to the waterfront for lunch and took Dad to the Pacific Northwest Woods gallery at Pioneer Square; I bought an art game at Elliot Bay Bookstore and they were good sports and indulged me in trying to figure out the rules...and...we got to go to Chrys' dance lesson and watch...Yah!...Oh, I mean, Ohlay!!

Thanks for a great time! Dinners, lunch, game, movie and a day in Seattle...we loved every minute.

Afternoon Tea Time

We had lots of fun in Seattle this January. Grandma played games with Charlotte and Grandpa played games with Calvin....and after naptime Rachel served tea for grown-ups and tots... Grandma brought Charlotte's favorite Honey Boys from Utah...

Charlotte poured ohh so nicely...

...then tried drinking from the spout...

...and the saucer...Rachel poured for Calvin...

...then he said, "I do it!"...and he poured and poured until there was no more (water) in the teapot, the cup was overflowing and the table drained onto his pants...

...now let's pour it back into the teapot and try again...

Grandkids in Korea

AJ on the day I arrived in Korea...

Kami, just outside Chili's on the base...

"...but....but...I just laid down to take a little nap, Kami. I don't want to play the Picnic Game right now...okay...okay...you win!"

(she's laying on top tof me)...who could resist?

This is my favorite blanket...Auntie Mindy made it for me...These guys were in the parking lot of the apartment complex when we came home one day...all she really wanted was a balloon...
mmmm....bananas....

I love the expressions on their faces...

What a Happy guy!

We should have a caption contest for this one...

His shirt says it all!!

One day while I was visiting in Korea, Jess and Drew had to go to the base gym for a Biggest Looser sit-up contest...

Here, Dad, I'll help!

This is one tired baby!!