City Mice

Before reading this post, sit down because you might be here for a while. You might even want to grab a cup of coffee to keep awake. This is going to be a long post covering events of yesterday evening and today.

Yesterday Sammy was sick, again, so we had to cancel a long awaited sleepover she was having with a friend. We intended to let the girls camp in the backyard for an extra special slumber party, but it was not to be. After much consideration, and a little bit of a spring in Sammy's step, by late afternoon we'd decided the slumber party was back on, this time with just our family. We cracked open the brand new six person, octagonal tent, Jon had bought a few days ago and started assembling it with a great deal of enthusiasm... at first. After an hour or so, it became all too clear that the tent was a lot smarter than us. We gave up. As much as I hate to admit it, it was just too damn hard and we were tired of wrestling with it. After all, we are, City Mice, and know not the ways of erecting tents and such, instead we are much better at erecting a suitcase in which to place our travel clothes for hotel stays.

Despite our pathetic attempts at outdoorsy fun, we settled on a simple backyard fire complete with Nutella S'mores.

The girls camped out in the family room instead of under the stars.

By morning, we were all hungry for a big breakfast {fighting with a tent will make you ravenous) so I made these Pikelets from Donna Hay. I'll have to provide the recipe later as I am too tired to type out the recipe now.

After breakfast it was off to explore our sunny city. As you probably know by now, it just isn't a family outing without a trip to a long board store. And yes, Jon did manage to buy another one -- with our encouragement of course.

Then it was off to downtown Seattle where we explored the open market and cavernous stores and eateries.

 

After the girls had ice-cream at Pike Place Market, we stopped in at the Chocolate Box - a cruel thing to do after the girls had already eaten their ice cream. Their hungry eyes wanted more treats but we just couldn't bring ourselves to give them more, so we left with having only a few samples.

Then it was off to Tune, a high-end audio store where we checked out a few turntables. And yes, I did explain to the children what the big black discs were and why they were going around and around on the flat plate.

We walked to the Olympic Sculpture Park where we rested and also played.

We listened to the gurgle of Seattle's underbelly through the large orifice in the center of this installment. Okay, maybe it wasn't Seattle's underbelly, but if you had to imagine it, it would probably sound like the glurp whoosh bubble bubble coming out of this contraption.

The City Mice showing off their sharp teeth and claws.

After taking the photos we saw the sign that read, "Do Not Touch." Oops.

I call the above image: Man, Red Chair and Striped Handbag. HA!!

It was such a beautiful day and this bride picked the perfect day to start her new life. I apologized to her for taking her picture but told her that I thought she looked gorgeous. I don't think she minded what with that radiant smile of hers.

This orange bike is fabulous.

Finally we arrived home after a long day walking the hard pavement of downtown Seattle. Jon made possibly the best ever iced coffee drink I've ever wrapped my lips around. But because it contains: condensed and evaporated milk along with concentrated coffee, I don't know how many more I'll be having -- it was extremely decadent. My husband knows me too well. I suppose I was supposed to sip it... I didn't. I chugged it. Yummy.

We City Mice were wiped out by the end of the evening -- well, except for me. After having that coffee I'll be up all night, hence the long post.

Lemon Butter Cake

My children sometimes challenge me in ways I never thought imaginable. They can be fiery, and they test their boundaries at every turn keeping me forever on my toes. We are trying our best to take advantage of the summer break and we wish desperately that Mother Nature help us out a little. The incessant rain and gloomy skies haven't given us much motivation to rejoice so instead we rely on indoor activities like, practicing our best Paula Dean accent to fulfill each day. Alex's impression of Paula Dean is almost perfection while Sammy and I still have work to do.

"Welcome to Pawla Deeen's Besst Diashes. Today we're goinna bake a deliciouz, Lemon. Butter. Cake. Don't that jes make yer mouth warter?"

The other day I baked a cake even though there was no birthday or anniversary to celebrate. I just thought a cake might be the thing we needed to lift our spirits. That and a little Paula Dean.

Modern Classic, Book 2, by Donna Hay is absolutely wonderful. Donna's recipes are time savers and require few ingredients which is exactly the type of baking I enjoy most -- simple.

Lemon Butter Cake

Recipe from: Modern Classic, Book 2, by Donna Hay

Ingredients:

Cake:
4 oz butter, very well softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup caster (superfine) sugar (can be found at William Sonoma or other specialty food stores)
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder, sifted
1/4 teaspoon baking soda, sifted
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon zest of lemon

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place the butter, vanilla, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, flour, baking powder, baking soda and milk in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on low speed until combined.

Increase speed to high and then beat the mixture until it is smooth.

Grease a 8 inch round cake tin and line with non-stick baking paper. Spoon in the mixture and bake for 1 hour 5 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Allow to cool for 5 minutes then turn onto a wire rack. Serve plain or spread with basic icing.

Basic Icing:
Sift 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar into a bowl. Mix through 2 tablespoons water or 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest until smooth.

Less Talk, More Photos

I feel like this post is coming to you really late even though the 4th of July was only a few days ago. This year, for the first time, we went away to Long Beach, Washington for the holiday. We stayed at our usual spot on the beach but this time the small coastal town was bustling with swarms of people. On our first day there, as we were exiting a grocery store parking lot, the guy in the truck in front of us decided to backup without looking and plowed right into us. Poor guy. Even though he ran into us, I felt sorry for him. He was a young kid, probably in his early twenties and like most people his age, he was probably heading out to enjoy the holiday when unintentionally, excited as he may have been, he banged into us. I'm sure whatever dreams he had of a rock'n weekend was tarnished with this accident now hanging over him. And, as disappointed as we were that this happened, on our vacation no less, we couldn't dwell on it. We called our insurance company, reported the incident and that was that. It was time to move forward, busted headlight and all, to enjoy our seaside escape.

Even though we've been to this spot before, the landscape changed. This time, instead of dry, wheat colored straw we were surrounded by magnificent lush green grass; the ocean is just a two minute walk away.

After spending time on the beach it was off to town to buy fireworks.

We spent time in town taking advantage of all the things we don't normally find open in the off season.

This little walk-up dining spot had an outstanding selection of sandwiches and pizza. They bake their own sandwich bread too.

In the little town north of Long Beach, we were eager to watch the fireworks show they had planned for July 3rd. We feasted on kettle corn and shaved ice, but then the rain came and just about everyone picked-up and left.

As we were leaving, the show began.

The next day, we spent more time on the beach.

In Long Beach, you can drive on the beach. I'll never understand this. Why on earth drive on the beach? I'm sure it's fun, but I don't have any desire to do it. My girls played as best they could all the while dodging traffic.

Finally Alex gave up and took her pail and shovel to higher ground, far from the highway beach traffic.

Back at the condo the girls ate sugar cookies. In true Sammy fashion, she ate the frosting first.

We attended a small town parade.

My girls love the pool and would stay in it all day and night if we let them. Sammy has blossomed into this highly capable, strong swimmer, while Alex is still bobbing around in the shallow end. I can't say that I'm as happy to be in the pool as they are, but I do like that this is a saline pool which feels great; you never have to worry about your eyes stinging or smelling like chlorine. It's wonderful. And the temperature here is always perfect! In the off season, we normally have it all to ourselves, not this time.

When we weren't on the beach playing Frogger with all those cars zipping by, we were on the boardwalk wheeling around the smooth paths. As family photographer, and watcher of Alex, I stayed on foot running alongside Alex making sure she didn't get going too fast. After an hour or so, Alex sprawled out right there on the path complaining she was too tired to keep going. With a little encouragement she got up and skated the last stretch to the car where she plopped down in her seat like it was the most comfortable chair she's ever sat in.

Chico's is a great pizza joint for families. We were sad to see that this business is up for sale so we're hoping whoever buys it, doesn't change a thing.

After dinner it was back to the beach for fireworks

The evening of the 4th was calm and strangely quiet save for the bursts of fireworks that erupted along every inch of coastline. Alex and I watched large plumes of chrysanthemum shaped displays explode above our heads while Sammy and Jon enjoyed them from the condo. The beach was a little scary for Sammy and considering the company we were in, I didn't blame her for wanting to enjoy the show from afar. People were camped out along the beach, each with their own bonfire and arsenal of fireworks. It was a combination of beer drinkers, pyromaniacs and probably gun toting outdoors men just itching to light something on fire, but it turned out just fine. As far as I know, nobody got hurt, and like I said, it was surprisingly quiet and calm. Everyone was there just as we were enjoying America's birthday. We went to bed that night with the sound the 4th lulling us to sleep. I will always remember this vacation and the fun we shared together. Oh, and that sandwich shop is always on my mind too. Nighty, night.