food, crochet, merriment
My answer to chronically cold feet. I didn’t really have one pattern. It’s a mixture of two or three. It’s big enough to put on easily, which is important because my foot is fused and doesn’t bend at the ankle much or the big toe at all. It’s also snug enough to stay on but not so tight that it makes my scar nerves go crazy.
Sounds complicated, I know.
But seriously–it’s a win.
I’ll admit that I haven’t always been a huge fish fan. Oh, sure I like fish sticks and if I’m feeling fancy, I might have halibut on the occasion of a blue moon.
But my son is trying to be much more healthy so one night he brought home an enormous salmon filet. I had no idea what to do with it. Seriously, no idea. But when I saw the price tag on that crazy thing, I knew we needed to figure it out. After an evenings research, I found a lovely little fool proof recipe that is so easy, and SO delicious–that I might, just possibly have made it four times in the last couple of weeks.
I couldn’t help myself.
Let me tell you how simple it is to make.
First, you’ll need a cast iron skillet. Get it warming. Then gently rub a little olive oil onto both sides of the fillet. Salt and pepper lightly. Set the salmon into the hot skillet and turn down to medium heat. Set the time for about 6 minutes–depending on the thickness of of your fillet. Now, don’t mess with it. I know you’ll want to poke it and scoot it around in the pan, but don’t. When the time is up, gently turn your salmon over and let it cook, undisturbed for another 2-3 minutes.
That is IT!!
Serve as is, or with Malt Vinegar….mmmmmm.
You’re gonna need to put me in your will for this one.
You’ll see.
When we were in Las Vegas, little Merrick asked me if I would make him a penguin.
Like any good Grammy–of course I said, “Anything for you my darling.” Yes, that’s just how I talk. Haha.
Once I was nearly finished with the little guy, Merrick asked for one more thing.
He asked if I could make it a Warrior Penguin with armor…
and could he have a sword…
that he can really hold?
I said, “Hmmmm, why yes. I bet I could.”
Love you Merrick.
Note: The basic pattern I used for this is Pin the Penguin by Vesnianka Patterns on Etsy
Out of the blue–we got news that our Daney boy and his family would be in Las Vegas for about a week–there was only one thing to do…
ROADTRIP!!!
Awesome too that Lily & Beckham both had soccer games there that week as well. Double duty roadtrip! Wahoooo!
We made a quick stop at the Creamery–you know…
long enough to get and ice cream cone, and get our picture taken with a cow. Heh, heh.
We drove, and drove and drove until the lights of the city came into view.
Now, honestly, none of us are particularly huge fans of Vegas. The whole place feels kinda creepy to tell the truth. But if my wandering Texas boy and his birdies are here then we’ll forge ahead!!
Ok, nowwww I feel better. Haha. Seriously though, it did make me happy to see the Trump hotel. So dang awesome.
Good old Nate found our hotel in no time and checked us in. Then all we had to do was wallllllllk to our rooms.
This place was so huge that there was an airport type moving walkway just in the nick of time!
Though I whined…I did not, in fact, die–as you can see.
Ahhhhhh….what a lovely room!! And what cute kids!
After a good night’s sleep, we were off to find my Texas boy!
We found them!!! Oh, it was so good to see Dane and Kortney, sweet little Merrick and Skylie and Linky. I didn’t take the pictures that I should have because I was too busy hugging them all.
This breakfast joint was the meetup place for the rest of the family travelers!
I know that other than Dane’s family–we all live right by each other, but for some reason it was just so nice to sit there and look around at everyone. I kept thinking–“These are allllll mine.”
So, so good to see them again. And SO incredibly good to have all my family in one room– even if it was just for a little while.
And did I mention–the food here was great too! The pancakes were bigger than the plate!
My BLT looked positively dangerous!
It was scrumptious, although I had to dismantle it before I could eat it. Nobody’s mouth opens that big.
After that– some folks went shopping…
site seeing…
did some soccer-y stuff…
and caught the water show at the Bellagio. Believe it or not, I stayed in the car in the parking lot because it was just too much walking for me. Look at these little treasures, would you?
Mine. Mine. Mine. Heh, heh.
I spent the last night at the soccer condo so that I could teach my class from there, Saturday morning.
The crazy boys stayed up half the night playing games. They laughed so much I thought someone would be sick.
We came home after two lovely days with all my kiddos together. I’m pretty sure that this is what Heaven is like.
My Heaven anyway.
Of course it was dry as a bone here–snow-wise for Christmas. Booooo. What is Mother Nature doing?!
I mean, seriously, we ordered snow for the big day but SOMEbody must have missed the memo…until January. Well, fine then.
At the risk of sounding ungrateful, I must say–Christmas snow, January snow… it’s all just incredibly beautiful and if I had my way–we’d have a gentle blizzard that would keep us all indoors for a week.
Sounds like heaven to me.
That’s my dream. A winter wonderland, right here in my own yard.
Even if it’s in January.
