dimecres, de juny 27, 2007

Summer Visits

I've been really busy the last few days squeezing in lots of visits with family and friends. On Friday afternoon, I found out that my cousin, Danny, was in town from LA. Austin and I were just planning on relaxing since he had had a stressful work week but we were happy to hang out with Danny. We ended up having him and his sisters (plus one baby) over for an impromptu dinner. Danny is a professionally trained chef so Austin and I were a little intimidated but we just threw together a shrimp pasta, green salad, and some good bread. It turned out fine and we had a wonderful visit.

On Saturday, my parents came to visit and we took them out to a pottery place we found in the middle of no where. The artist was home so he showed us his studio and kilns and we got to meet his cat, Earl Grey (if I ever have a cat I want an Earl Grey, both in name and specialness). Later we went out to a tepanyaki restaurant for dinner and it was divine as always.

Sunday was brunch at a fun cafe and then we went to a surprise 30th birthday for Danny out at my aunt and uncle's. It was there that I realized the simple pleasure of having a big deck surrounded by forest; I could have stayed there for hours.

On Monday, I got to visit with Bad Z! She was also in town from LA. We had many adventures, including a long lunch at the restaurant where she had her wedding reception, hanging out with her tiny niece, and tea shopping. It was perfect.

Today I'm back home and had a meeting on campus this morning. Now I'm doing the Domestic Goddess routine in between some reading. Tomorrow is entirely unscheduled! Friday is a full work day at The Office and then this weekend is a family reunion on Austin's side.

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divendres, de juny 22, 2007

Friday

It's Friday, the only day this week I'm not at The Office but the one day I will be at The Campus. I'll be working with two colleagues on a project that we are trying to complete over the summer.

After that, I'll run a few errands and then do some cleaning in preparation for my parents' visit. They are coming tomorrow and we're taking them out for dinner at a haibachi grill restaurant, something they've been talking about trying for awhile. Then on Sunday, we're taking them to breakfast at a favorite coffee shop where my dad previously had been disappointed by arriving too late for a breakfast sandwich that he was craving.

It'll be a great weekend and then early next week, I get to see my good friend, Bad Z!

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dimecres, de juny 20, 2007

Updates

It's been awhile since I've posted. Since I've started working part time at The Office, I've been really busy because I've also got some side projects with the university going on.

I also took a little time to go Up North to visit my parents. My mom and I went out to Red Oak Studio to have a painting by my Grampa framed. Roger, the framer (framist?) is an amazing artist who makes everything an aesthetic delight with just the right frame, mat, etc. He did all of our honeymoon art and we were entirely pleased. I can't wait to see how my Grampa original turns out.

My mom and I also went to a pottery place and to some little shops in my hometown. I went back to the craft store where I worked and while lots had changed, it was like walking back 10 years in time (in a good way).

Austin and I ran some errands over the weekend. Among them, I had to stop at the ATM that's in the bank drive-through. I deposited a check and then decided to get cash too. I was so intent on getting my receipt and changing some settings that I forgot my cash! A car behind me on the street was honking and waving like mad. A woman had noticed and sent her teenage daughter to get my money for me. The young lady came running across the parking lot with my $40 and I hugged the sweetie for her efforts! They probably thought I was crazy and I definitely felt that way after leaving my cash but I was touched at the honesty and thoughtfulness of their act. It also made up for the fact that someone in a giant black SUV, talking on a cellphone, had just cut me off and given ME the finger. I'm quick to focus on such negative instances but lots of nice things like the ATM People also happen too.

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dimarts, de juny 12, 2007

Saturday

Last Saturday was our Day of Fun. We went to an art fair and a winery before checking in to a B&B. Then it was the main event, the six course dinner with the corresponding wine flight. So, so amazingly good. The restaurant we went to emphasizes the use a lot of fresh, organic, local food and I think it definitely came through on the taste.

Champagne and blue skies, what a way to start the menu...

Champagne and blue skies

Course 1, Salad

Course 1, Salad

Baby greens with a buttermilk-dill vinaigrette with baby beets and salami americano.
Paired with champagne.

Course 2, Soup

Course 2, Soup

Chilled sugar snap pea soup blended with mint and garnished with a pea shoot.
Paired with a crisp riesling.

Course 3, Fish

Course 3, Fish

Sockeye salmon, spicy mustard couscous, grilled asparagus, and tomato beurre blanc. (My favorite course!)
Paired with pinot grigio.

Course 4, Meat

Course 4, Red Meat

Seared tenderloin, white earth wild rice, asparagus tips, lardons, and morel au jus. (Least favorite course.)
Paired with cabernet.

Course 5, Cheese Plate

Course 5, Cheese Plate

Trumpeter Meadow, Winter Sun, and Northern Lights Bleu Cheese along with blueberry honey and crostinis.
Paired with chianti.

Course 6, Dessert

Course 6, Dessert

Strawberry Napoleans with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and a sprig of mint.
Paired with port.

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dissabte, de juny 09, 2007

Spanish Food

Yesterday afternoon, when I was dealing with my bout of nostalgia, I decided to make some classic Spanish food. I had time and even though we were planning on doing something easy for dinner, I knew this was it. I ran to the grocery store and got the items for a tortilla, tomato bread, and a Catalan dessert.

Using the recipes from our awesome cooking class in Barcelona, I put together a perfect tortilla! Perfect! I was so happy; I think all the recipes that I had tried from my Spanish cookbooks were far too complicated.

perfect tortilla!

The tortilla smells sooooooo good while cooking; Austin said he could smell it when he got out of his car.

To add to our startchy meal, Austin made the pan con tomate. We used some fruity Spanish olive oil and added minced garlic, then grilled it in our toaster oven and rubbed it with tomato. So, so good.

Pan con tomate and tortilla

I once read somewhere that the tomato bread is the essence of what a pizza should be.

For dessert, I had made crema catalana. Every country has one of these-- creme brulée in France, flan in Spain, and this is the Catalan interpretation. It's milk, egg yolks, sugar, lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla.

crema catalana

It was easy to make and delightful to eat.

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divendres, de juny 08, 2007

La Nostalgia

Exactly a year ago, Team Lunderoy was emerging from the wine country of Bordeaux and about to hit up cosmopolitan Barcelona.

Kelly & Austin at the vineyard

Siiiiiiiiigh........... I miss it a lot.

Kelly and Austin at Parc Guell

But I am excited for our weekend plans!

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dijous, de juny 07, 2007

The Office

Since my summer school class was canceled and staying home all day vacuuming in a dress, pearls, and heels just wasn't enough, I'm doing a little corporate stint. I guess the agony of the cube farms is paying off because I'm back to doing a bit of human resources/ recruiting/ staffing stuff. I have flexible hours and it's nice to get out and about from time to time.

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dilluns, de juny 04, 2007

Celebrating One (Official) Year of the LundeRoys

Sunday, June 3 was our one year anniversary but because I was gone for part of the weekend, we are sort of celebrating in phases. I got home on Saturday and found flowers and a ring that I had seen at our jewelry store and thought would look good on my right hand. Our gift is supposed to be a joint art purchase (still pending) but Austin surprised me with "finger art."

On Saturday night, we returned to the restaurant where we were married and had a fabulous dinner. At first, we were going to recreate our nuptial dinner of awesome Cajun pasta but I decided to go with shrimp creole and Austin went for seared blackened tuna. We were thoroughly pleased with the results.

Seared, Blackened Tuna
seared blackened tuna with garlic smashed potatoes and seasoned vegetables

Shrimp Creole
shrimp creole with a tomato, celery, and onion sauce

For dinner we shared our "wedding cake," cheesecake. Instead of freezing a piece from last year we opted for a fresh slice. It is guiness flavored, really rich and chocolaty, and it even resembles a good pint.

Anniversary Cheesecake
guiness cheescake

On Sunday, the actual day, we just laid low and enjoyed a quiet dinner and a movie. The other "phase" of the anniversary will be next weekend when neither of us is working or conferencing. On deck is a picnic at a winery, a six course dinner with wine pairings at a cool restaurant that uses local and organic food, and a night in a nearby b&b.

It's been a great year.

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The Conference

The conference that I attended last week was Friday and Saturday but I left on Thursday to see some friends and run a few errands. First I had lunch with my cousin Lisa (whose wedding I'm in this September) and we met downtown Mpls. It was Thursday, Farmers Market day, so I enjoyed walking around and taking that in. I worked downtown the summer of 2004 so it brought back some memories of my escape from grad school and brief return to the corporate life :-)

That evening, I was able to go to my friend LeeAnne's dress fitting at Brides of France which was really fun and she looked amazing. Then we went to happy hour at Figlio. Ah, the days when I lived mere blocks from $2 wine and $2 gorgonzola fries... That evening, we had dinner on LeeAnne and Tom's terrace and then I crashed early to get up for the conference.

The conference itself was good and LeeAnne got to meet some of my colleagues after hearing me talk for a long time. At every session, I tried to find a possible dissertation topic among all the information and research. Second Language Acquisition and identity and culture acquisition came the closest in that little game of mine.

Friday night, LeeAnne's fiancé had plans so it was just the two of us like the good ol' days. I realized it might be the last time I hang out with LeeAnne for a while since the next time I see her will likely be at her wedding and then she'll be moving to Arizona. We did our usual cooking and sipping wine and just talking way too late.

I woke up a lot during the night and finally got up around 5:30 to get ready for the day. I was presenting with my colleagues at 8:00 so I wanted time to wake up, collect my thoughts, etc. The presentation went well and I stayed at the conference until about 2:00. Then it was home for anniversary stuff.

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