Priorities and efficiencies

Early Saturday morning when hubby announced his plans to go over to a friend's house, dig up a 10-foot-tall willow tree, and transplant it into our yard, I knew I had been given the perfect opportunity to go shoe shopping with Caleb. Digging up trees and I do not get along. Digging is one of those tasks that sounds awfully exciting, catching a glimpse of what lies beneath, but it's actually not fun at all. Our Durham soil is hard and dry and uninviting. Plus, shovels leave ugly blisters on hands.

So, hubby was 100% okay with not having mine or Caleb's assistance in the matter - and we went on our merry way to DSW shoes (i.e. - paradise).  It felt as if only mere minutes had elapsed when I received a phone call.  Hubby. 

"Are you guys almost done? The tree is in the ground and I'm now on to my next task," he said nonchalantly.  Really?! Done???

"So let me get this straight," I questioned in disbelief. "You drove over to Chris's house, dug up the large willow tree, drove it back to our house, dug a 7-foot hole in our back yard, and finished planting the tree?"

"Yes," hubby said.

I hadn't even narrowed down my selection to two favorite shoes yet.  I had the one pair.  Yes, these little grey and white beauties were coming home with me.  

But it would take a great deal more time to select my second pair.  I had 5 shoe boxes sprawled on the floor in front of me, and I hadn't yet visited the pumps section.  DSW is a big place, and the shoe rack in my closet had some vacant spaces. 

To speed up the shoe hunt, I did what any good mother would do. I retrieved my cell phone from my purse, searched for Elmo video clips on YouTube, and handed the device to my son so that I could pay full attention to picking out the perfect second shoe.

And as Caleb's face washed over with satisfaction with Elmo close by, my eyes were drawn to a pair of shiny, sapphire jewel-tone, flexible ballet flats one shelf over.  That was that. We were ready to go.

Some of us are blessed with the gift of efficiency - like hubby and his ability to transform a yard in under an hour.  And some of us are not.  At least when it comes to shoes. 

Photo of the Day

Caleb loves Paxton the dog.  Are the feelings reciprocal?  I'm not sure about that one.

Taqueria la vaquita

There is this charming little taco stand in Durham, Taqueria la Vaquita, that is no secret to locals.  Though it only occupies a small lot on Chapel Hill Road, the food served really satisfies.  Hubby and I visit the taqueria frequently as the food is fast, fresh and delicious. The menu is enormous and includes both typical tacos and more unique fillings like cow udder and braised beef tongue, Mexican snacks such as gorditas, empanadas, and tamales, Mexican sandwiches, and traditional plates.

 

I like to order tacos carnitas (roasted Mexican pork).

Jed always orders the chilaquiles, a casserole of corn tortilla, tomatillo sauce, shredded chicken, cheese and sour cream. 

 

We always leave satisfied!

To my baby's daddy

As I sit here in the next room listening to hubby reading a nighttime story to Caleb, I can't help but think of how lucky I am to have found such a great man - someone who is the most fantastic father to Caleb.  Happy Father's Day to a man that deserves such recognition every single day.

 

Angus Barn chef talks steak

Today's News & Observer featured three NC chefs sharing secrets on how best to grill a steak at home - perfect timing just days before Father's Day!  Thank you Kathleen Davis (N&O writer) for this feature.  Click here to read the full story.

I was very interested in Angus Barn chef Walter Royal's tips for the perfect steak.  His answers shared below.

Preferred steak.  The ribeye; it's meaty, flavorful and well-marbled.

Selecting the cut of meat.  Look for a good, rich red color and not big chunks of fat, but little flecks of whiteness woven in the meat itself.

Prepping the meat.  Let the meat come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before grilling.  Those minutes are crucial in allowing the juices to go back into the meat.

Special seasoning.  Brush the steak with melted butter or olive oil just before putting on the grill, again when you turn it, and again just before it comes off the grill.  Wait until the very end to salt and pepper.  Salting too early zaps the product of moisture.

Before serving.  Let the finished sizzling steak rest before cutting into it.  That will preserve juices.

Now I'm ready to devour a perfectly cooked ribeye!

The Mullinnix Mojito

I won't give away the recipe for this very special Mojito that my brother-in-law makes to perfection. I can just tell you that these mojitos are divine - down to the last drop.

I actually helped make them this past Friday night - and by help I mean I juiced limes and lemons.

 

 

Bryce (said brother-in-law) took off where I left off, mixing unknown amounts of sugar, fresh-from-the-Busbee-garden mint, rum, and club soda.

The kids feasted upon frozen mojito popsicles. Only kidding, they were regular, kid-friendly popsicles.

And then, like magic, the mojitos were ready.  Presented beautifully with a fresh sprig of mint.

Actually, I'm extra proud because hubby took the photos of the final product. I hadn't realized what a great photographer he has become.

Leftover mojito from last night is taunting me from the fridge.  I'm betting I'll be sipping a cold one this evening. I'll keep you posted.

Race for the Cure

The annual Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure took place in Raleigh this morning - and I got to be a part of this wonderful event!  I have wanted to participate in a breast cancer walk for quite some time now, and I'm so glad I was able to. 

My sister, whose Wrigley's team was walking the Recreational Open 5K, invited me to tag along.  I even got my own Wrigley t-shirt to don during the event.  

The folks who I saw support this cause were an inspiration.  Every one of them was happy to be there.  Breast cancer survivors wore special shirts so that the rest of us could be reminded why we were doing this walk/race.  Every one of us was cheered on until the finish line - even those of us who strolled along lazily in the summer heat, and those of us who have never come close to dealing with the challenges that the survivors have overcome.

 

 

 The Wrigley Team, pre-race

 

A happy, just-crossed-the-finish-line Wrigley Team!

The Waterfalls of North Carolina

Last Saturday at this time I was standing deep within the Pisgah National Forest gazing in awe at the beauty of Log Hollow Branch Falls.
It was during I trip I took with the Triangle Photography Meetup group.  Our group organizer mapped out about 12 different waterfalls to visit, all located in the Brevard/Transylvania County area.

I grew up near the NC mountains, but had never spent a great deal of time challenging myself to take photos of waterfalls.

In total, I was able to visit six different waterfalls - Log Hollow Branch, Moore Cove, Looking Glass, Mill Shoal, Bird Rock, and Eastatoe.  Eastatoe (shown above) was my favorite.  It was by far the most breathtaking, and oddly enough, it was located almost directly in someone's backyard.  What a lucky property owner!

 

The Triangle Photography Meetup group is already planning an autumn trip to see a different set of waterfalls in all their seasonal splendor.  Anyone interested can come along!

Blisters from Greece

I wore one of my favorite pairs of shoes yesterday.  Espadrilles from Ann Taylor Loft that I purchased many moons again. They are a sturdy pair of shoes that offer a small amount of comfort and large amount of height.

As I slipped them on my not-nearly-ready-for-summer feet, it brought back memories of a trip I took to Greece back in 2007 (and yes, the shoes are that old).  I purchased the shoes right before the trip and was ready to hit the Grecian streets with these beauties on my feet.

I fondly recall an afternoon spent in Mykonos, one of many beautiful Greek isles.  It was my sister, her husband, my hubby, my mom, and myself as we set out from our hotel (Hotel Artemis) in search of the infamous Greek sunset.

We heard from many locals that we just had to see the sunset from the dock at Little Venice, which was about a 2-mile walk from our hotel.  The view was going to be worth it...we just knew it.

And it was. But every inch of that 2-mile walk in my 3-inch espadrilles was painful.  We walked carefully along the Greek sea coast and hugged the edge of the rocky roadside.  Cars drove wildly on the island and being a pedestrian wasn't as easy as it is here in America.  So the terrain was rugged, our safety wasn't guaranteed - but the views were gorgeous.

Little Venice and a Greek sunset at last.  We enjoyed every moment of those golden rays as we sipped on Greek wine.  But then came the walk back.

It was easy to get lost within the maze-like streets of Mykonos.  The alleyways are small and all the buildings look similar - white buildings with blue staircases.  Don't get me wrong, I adore Greek architecture.  But getting lost with painful shoes within an unknown city still 2 miles from home is not as pleasant as it may seem.

The part I find most intriguing is that I have more memories of the Ann Taylor Loft espadrilles and Greece than I do of the authentic Greek sandals purchased in Mykonos.

 

I guess that is the plight of an American tourist.  I welcome the challenge any time.