Eject and turn the cassette over!
6. MEAT. Chad dialed in ribs and brisket on the backyard smoker. Yum. We did lots of entertaining. Of carnivores. We have no pictures of the meat. Maybe because we were too busy eating. Unrelated to the abundance of smoked meats, I changed my diet to be more protein based with fewer carbs. It was the summer of meat.
7. AN EMBARRASSMENT OF TOMATOES. Chad planted a garden for the second year. This year, he planed several varieties of tomatoes that produced from mid-July through now. Our favorite way to eat the yellow and red cherry tomatoes was doused with very good, kalamata olive oil and salt. Yum E.
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| Our first harvest: July 21 |
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| The bounty we took to a dinner party in mid-September |
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| Salad at said dinner party |
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| The beefsteaks |
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Traditional caprese in mid-August
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8. FIREWORKS and JULY 4. We started July 4 by participating in the local kids parade. About 500 parents and kids in Kirkwood meet near downtown and round several blocks on foot, bikes, scooters, and golf carts. We met several of our neighbors there, and our kids paraded together. This was the first year we took the kids to see fireworks. They loved it. In between parade and fireworks, we had an impromptu barbecue with several neighbors. Chad made several racks of ribs, and I made sangria. It was a happy day.
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| Scooter brigade |
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| Post-parade, the girls played in their room, and Charlee fell on the bunk beds. Her eye was red, white, and blue. |
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| Fireworks watching |
9. CAMP DADDY. Kate spent 7 weeks at Camp Kirkwood. Her days were filled with swimming, crafts, and outdoor games. For one week in July, she went to Camp Daddy. Chad's #1 curricula was bike riding. He was determined for Kate to ride a 2-wheeler, and she learned on the first day. They spent the rest of the week bike riding, going to the movies and going to the science center. Kate said she liked Camp Daddy better than Camp Kirkwood, but next year "he should have a t-shirt."
10. CYCLING. Like the last several summers, Chad and I spent the summer training for the MS 150. Chad was able to get back on his bike in mid-July, and we did several group rides after that. We even convinced our friend Julie to join us. The highlight for me was the Tour de Wildwood, a 35-mile lung buster. We climbed about 3000 feet. Chad and I rode this one just the two of us.
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| A group ride over the Mississippi |
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| Tour de Wildwood |
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| At the end of a very rainy day 2 on the MS 150 |
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| MS 150 day 1. I rode with Julie and we enjoyed snow cones at the last rest stop |
11. OPA & NANA'S. The girls spent 3 weeks at Opa & Nana's. They swam in the river every day except 1. It was an exceptional visit. My Mom called it Cousin Camp, and wrote a
great post about it. Chad and I came home for 5 days. By. OURSELVES!! We loved the leisurely pace, ability to entertain, and our spontaneity. Here are some of my favorite pics from our visit.
