Pick a Peck of Pickled Peppers

This year, we decided to try growing some vegetables along the side of our house. I am not very good with plants, and last year we attempted to grow some veggies in containers on our deck and failed miserably. This year I have enlisted Cameron's help and he reminds me to water them and has been just elated to see the fruits (or vegetables) of our labor. We planted cherry tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers and basil. I have to admit, I have been pretty excited about it too, there is a sense of satisfaction when you cook a dinner with ingredients you grew yourself, it's really neat. Not that much is left for dinner when we pick the tomatoes and then just pop them in our mouths, they are unbelievably flavorful. And our cucumber plant has taken over and just today we picked 4 that are well over a foot long. It has been such a success that we are inspired to expand next year and try out some other varieties.

Cameron has never been much of an artist. He refuses to color in coloring books, and at school or church when he is asked to color something, he just scribbles all over it and says he's done. Well this week we tried some watercolor paints that Grandma Johnson had brought when she visited and he really enjoyed himself! His little friend Natalie is quite the artist and gave him some good pointers. Our house is now filled with his masterpieces and he is continually begging me to get the messy paints out.

Gavin's new favorite saying is "Oh man!" I'm not sure where he heard it, but you will hear him playing and babbling and then all of a sudden, "Oh, man!" He also LOVES doggies. My mom watched the kids last night for us and they have recently adopted a very rambunctious mutt. Gavin was so happy to see Maddie and even though we have seen her several other times, he never remembers that she charges and pummels him every time. But he is not phased for very long. The fear of being knocked over is quickly forgotten and he is right back to antagonizing her. He is either very forgiving or has very severe short term memory loss.

So my 10 year high school reunion was last night. I have to admit, it was better than I thought and I think Jeremy felt the same. Even though I really had to twist his arm to go, he ended up having some good conversations with the people there and he even won a great prize in the raffle. I was able to reconnect with the two people that meant the most in both my elementary school and high school days, my dear friends Prateeksha and Amelia. Neither one of them has changed very much and I feel committed to keeping in touch better with them both. I'm glad we decided to go, it's just one of those experiences you have to have.
I have a passion for food. I like to cook it, but even more, I love to eat it! And I often receive compliments on dishes that I make, however, the recipes are seldom mine. I woild love to be able to share a few of these "gems" with you. Here is my first.

Stolen Recipe of the Week: So Easy (and fattening) Crab Cakes

2 1/2 cups potato chips, crushed

1 pound lump crabmeat

1/3 cup tartar sauce

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 T butter, thinly sliced into 6 pieces

1 1/2 T Dijon mustard

1 lemon, cut into wedges

Heat broiler. Combine chips with crabmeat, tartar sauce, mustard, and pepper and stir to combine. Form into 6 patties and place on foil lined baking sheet. Top each with a pat of butter and broil until browned, 2-4 minutes. Serve with the lemon wedges.