Sunday, June 23, 2013

Can you believe they're still together?!

Who?
All time favorite pic of Dr. and Mrs. Milliren

Deeeeez NUUUUTTTSSS! That's who!
Happy 40th Anniversary to MarSue and Papa Chuck! We are so happy that they are able to celebrate their anniversary in Marion, NC... right where they got married 40 years ago.  They are a beautiful couple; a perfect example of devoted love and unwavering friendship.  We decided to steal the idea from Mark and Amber and do a little picture blog devoted to Dr. and Mrs. C.M. Milliren III.  Enjoy!
222 Love Dr. Not much has changed... maybe the car :)
Dad was quite the romancer...
Still smoking a pipe...still sitting on the same couch. Same pictures on the wall. Same lamps. I know Martha can still show a little leg when she feels like it.
At the Biltmore
Beautiful bride.
Rehearsal dinner... She looks like a lady in LOVE!
Isn't Dad dashing? And Gdad in the background looking good!
What a casanova!
With friends on their wedding day...
Exiting First Baptist Church of Marion. Love those suits!
Who wears short shorts?
Honeymooning on the Outer Banks.
Don't let these two start canoodling on the couch!
A fine match.
They haven't changed much....
Maybe a little cuter even. <3
We can't wait to celebrate their 40th with them in Marion in a few weeks. Looks like I need to get an updated picture of then on the deck...enjoying the setting sun, the song birds, the NC weather.
We love you Mom and Dad!! Thank you for all of the love and support that you have given to us.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Sunshine on my Shoulders...

Flan from our anniversary dinner.

I guess June is my favorite month...I think it always has been.  The only problem with June in the PacNW is that it is too dang cold. But, our looooooong days kindof make up for that shortcoming.  Sun is up around 4 here...sets at 9:30ish. I LOVE it. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy...It almost always makes me high. If I had a wish that I could wish for you... I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while.
Wild Willie has been doing most of the blogging lately. I keep meaning to... but excuses, excuses. No matter how busy I am, I find plenty of ways to fill my days with food and happiness.
Shrimp and Arugula Risotto
Maggie's buttermilk chicken
Steamed artichoke... ALMOST too pretty to eat!
Rhubarb Lentil Soup with Curried Cauliflower and Naan
Salmon Salad, Jalapeno cheese bread, broccoli cheese soup in the mugs.  Notice the fancy pink napkin...that was a little (stolen) souvenir from a wedding back in AR around 4/20/13. Oops!
Rhubarb Strawberry Pie - it was too pretty not to show the insides pre-baking!
Rhubarb Strawberry Pie - post-baking
Daryl came over for a cook out one night... shrimp kabobs, portabello mushrooms, mexican zucchini.
Wild Willie manning the grill... homemade pizza and corn on the cob too!
Turkey sliders... pesto pasta salad...arugula salad.
Man, I love a Sunday when we have time for sit-down breakfast! This was Muck-bear buttermilk pancakes with blueberries.

Sometimes Willie gets annoyed with my obsession with food and taking pictures of it. As evidenced in this photo of him with a shrimp po'boy and side of mangos, tomatoes, and avocados.
Discovered Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I am addicted.

So... what else... Oh yes! We had a lovely anniversary. We were going to cook at home but ended up at a little mexican place and then went to one of our favorite walking trails along the Chehalis River.
The Chehalis River is at the far side of this farm...running along that little hillside back there.
Willie looking for fish.
Just gorgeous.
"Time for your anniversary beating."
The Tuckers, Est. 2009
 I can't believe that Wild Willie hasn't blogged about the HUGE Slip N Slide that he set up in our back yard.  I wish you all could have seen it!! The whole neighborhood wanted to have a turn.

Not sure that those videos will convey the full effect...but it was seriously hilarious.  You would have thought it was a nice hot day...but it was ridiculously chilly. The kids shown are our sweet neighbor Beau (aka chicken farmer) and Gwen.  Various adults also visited. Most of them lamented their sore bodies in the following days...
Ummmm....can I mention that we can't wait for the rocking 40th Anniversary weekend in Marion?? STOKED!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Just Bobbin' Along!

I have been working a little here and there on the Yamaha XS400 hardtail bobber.  I won't bore you all with details so I have just attached a few pictures of the process.  I hope you enjoy.

This is the furthest I have gotten......


BKG purchased a MIG welder a couple weeks ago.......



About to weld on the brackets I made for the seat....





I welded on a #6 metric nut on the rear tail to allow the fender stringer to mount on.....



Tires mounted on the primed rims...


Taking all the patina off the fuel tank...

Things are starting to go faster now that I have the welder.  I am almost to the point of stripping the frame bare and prime/top coat paint.  I still need to build a new wiring harness.....just dreading that. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

"We Have Lift-Off"

Our weather here in the PacNW has made a break for summer (fingers-crossed).  I am taking the chance that the nights will not drop out of the upper 40's.  The days have gotten bluer and warmer.  We actually did yard work in shorts and didn't get cold this past weekend!  Sunday I took the cover of the hoop garden to find my plants strong and tall, along with a ton of weeds too....that heat really makes the weeds sprout.  So Marie and I spent the rest of the morning pulling weeds and having fun in the sun.  We are so amazed at how tall the corn is.  Usually your corn is doing well if it's "knee high by the 4 of July". 
All weeded out...

 Our lettuces are looking great as well at the tomatoes.  There is green leaf, red leaf, romaine, and arugula.  For the maters, there are patio, beefsteak, cherry, and 4 volunteers (surprise) from last year. 

red leaf lettuces....


Maters-R-Us....


We ate our first picking  on Saturday night, arugula.  I sauteed it with a little garlic and pepper.  It accompanied an nice filet Mignon. 
Dinner was washed down with a Pre Prohibition Pils...

So when we lets the cats outside to venture for the day we always tell ourselves that they are going to work.  We have a big metal shop in our backyard and we call it Lefty's office.  Well, while we were in our yard Sunday weeding and sunbathing, we found Lefty hard at work.  He didn't even know we caught him "at work"!
This was in the morning...he went from sleeping at night to breakfast to morning "work".....
Late afternoon "work"....
Everyone have a great week at "work"!  I hope your gardens are growing strong as well!!!

FW