Crystal Mountain Gett-a-Way

This weekend, Nick and I met up with the Lopez clan at my parent's cabin at Crystal Mountain. We really enjoy our time up there during all seasons because of the vast scenery changes. Currently, there is about 1.5 feet of snow still sitting around the property from the huge winter snow dump. We use this time to tromp around in the snow, knowing that the next time we'll be up there, the warm spring sunshine will be shining on us.

On Saturday, all 6 of us headed to the ski resort area for a few miles of snow shoeing (snowshoes were new Christmas gifts for the Lewis and Vann households this year). This was my big day back to expelling energy since the whole week before I was laid out on my sick bed. Needless to say it was a HARD little jont with the fam. My sister having the energy of horse, pushed me up the steepest hills we ventured up. Matt, brother in law, and his long legs did laps around the rest of us on our assent. Thankfully, my family is beyond understanding and were willing to slow down a bit for me. Yet after too many deep breaths and slight pangs of dizziness, I waived my flag and turned around. Nick joined me in the lodge where I laid across 3 chairs and passed out...waiting until the rest of the family was done with their oh-so-energy-sucking adventure. I must say, even though I had to bag out early, it was beyond wonderful to be up there and breath the fresh mountain air. It was a surprisingly clear day and embraced the fact that our cheeks would get a little pink...nothing like spring sun!

Mom's bringing up the rear...dad next...then me. The rest of the crew are frolicking ahead of us...

Ami pushing me up the Hills...

Sunday was yet another day up at Crystal Ski Resort for Dad, Nick and myself (Ami and Matt headed back south, while mom and Brea stayed at the cabin to relax and make cookies - yummm). We hit the slopes hard and had many Thanks to God for blessing us with yet another amazingly sunny day! This was the first time back on the slopes for dad in 6 years! Due an accident on the mountain resulting in two shoulder surgeries...he decided to take some time off. He even sold his skis! But alas, Nick talked him into it and so he ventured up with us (and Nick's new A-Line Arbor board). This was by far one of the best days skiing I have ever had. Certainly not skill wise, but weather wise! There were hardly any people up there, we wore light clothing, ate lunch outside and had a crystal clear view of mountain ranges from the top, Mt. Rainer and Mt. Adams included. The snow was a bit slushy towards the end of the day, but really didn't affect us at all. Dad had a blast and already started talking about his next trip up for next weekend. Best of all, we came home to a huge batch of fresh chocolate chip cookies! Ahh, I love weekends!

Check out the view!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day...a holiday we embrace or a holiday we despise? I personally have always been in the middle somewhere. I am not to keen on the idea that as a country we are fed the message that on February 14th we are to treat that special someone with the utmost care...spoiling them with flowers, chocolates, romantic dinners, etc, etc, etc. Why can't we do that everyday OR any day of the year? I suppose we can and some people do. AND I also recognize that some people fall into normal patterns of day to day grind which doesn't always send the message to their significant other that no matter what happens, or what is at stake, he/she is the highest priority in life (besides God of course). My wonderful husband claimed to have fallen into this category, although do to the constant love I always feel, I begged to differ. But to Nick, that didn’t' matter...February 14th would be a day he would insist on being EXTRA special.
At 7:35am I woke up to the sound of something being chopped in the kitchen. This was a bit of a surprise, considering the normal breakfast routine for Nick is a bowl of cereal. I ignored it for a bit, but then my curiosity got the best of me, so I staggered out of bed all big haired and sleepy to investigate. To my great surprise, I did not find Nick in the kitchen but Le Personal Chef of Love, wearing a red apron and huge white Chef hat (made of recycled paper of course). With a tremendously large French accent, Chef promptly greeted me, encouraged me to sit at the breakfast bar and watch him get to work of preparing organic bananas and fresh cantaloupe on a platter. I happily sipped my fresh squeezed orange juice and admired the scenery: Two tall candles standing in recycled wine bottles wrapped with ribbon, a yellow table clothe with red glass beans spread all over to up the decor and a personalized menu lacking food options but full of nice complements to yours truly. Oh it was a sight to be seen. Chef asked me what I would like for breakfast...everything he says with his accent: "Omelet, waffles, eggs...anything for you." Oh I could get used to this. So I put in my special request of a dippity-doo egg and he got to cooking. My chef must have been new, because he got so distracted while making his coffee and answering my silly questions (where are you from, what did you do with my husband, etc) that he burnt the first go around of toasted eggs. Oops! Apparently he is not a multitaskter. The second one turned out much better (although the slightest bit charred), and was delicious. After serving me tea, extra hot just like I like it, Chef announced that we would be eating all three meals together that day. I would meet him in town for lunch anywhere I wanted to go, then for dinner he would create a fine feast for us. It was a great surprise and as the day unfolded, I told him I felt like I was on vacation...all three meals with my man, I mean, Chef of Love, and thoughts of him...Blissful.
So I suppose Valentines Day is a day to be celebrated in any way you want to. From burnt eggs to dinner at a 5 star restaurant. The important thing to remember is a little extra special treatment can happen every now and again...not just the specifically designated days.

Ahhh...Books!

I Love to read. A passion that started during my late high-school years. My own personal library has been growing ever since. I have this certain fondness of owning what I read. Don't get me wrong, the library is a fantastic resource, but there is something satisfying about looking at the lineup of books on my shelves; sighing with satisfaction due to the endless hours of my life dedicated to these stories. Diving deep into a whole new world...differing cultures, eras, and places on this earth I have never dreamed of visiting. It brings me much pleasure.

I have friends who can read a book in a day. This amazes me. The discipline and focus it takes...amazing. I have always found myself a bit jittery after a few chapters. The need to get up and do something "productive." Lately, I have decided my philosophy about productivity sucks (to put it bluntly). Here I am...currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert...absorbing her journey through Italy. How she is purely focusing on doing what she WANTS to do...not what is EXPECTED. Oh you know...when you go somewhere new you are supposed to see the "it" things..certain landmarks, museums, etc. Instead, she chooses to explore on foot, with no maps or directions AND to eat a lot of really good food. I am inspired by this freedom she has allowed herself to have and realize that I can have the same freedom. Now, this by no means that I am going to sit on the couch all day, eating bon-bons and reading a book a day. Or just hop on a plane and venture to some new place (not without my husband at least). No, no. That is just not in my blood. However, I strive to find more joy in doing what I love and not being so ruled by the clock. If I choose to read for an hour or two smack in the middle of the day...dangit, I'm going to.

I may be especially giddy about reading lately because of the lucky "good-book" streak I am on. I am three for three and hoping it doesn't stop there. First came: The Namesake (by Jhumpa Lahiri), then was Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen), and as mentioned before, currently Eat, Pray Love (by Elizabeth Gilbert). If any of you are in hunt of a good book, I would recommend any of those without a doubt. At the end of Water for Elephants, I actually put the book on my lap and applauded it. "Well done!" I shout, "Well done in deed!" Now that is a Good Book.

The latest:

A few of my all-time favorite books:

New Years Eve

The Fly Boys

Nick and I decided to throw a New Years Eve party this year. We were ready to celebrate the soon approaching 2008 with a BANG! Something fun...something crazy...something loud! And no, I don't mean fireworks...I mean BUNCO! After receiving 20 RSVPs we were set...the perfect amount players to cram into our home. And just to add some more hecticness to the mix; we had Fondue! That's right...three different kinds of cheese fondue, chicken skewers with four different dipping sauces and a chocolate fondue fountain to wrap it all up. Talk about a good use of counter space! You must know that the entertainer in me was thrilled to have a house full of people in our home. I had visions of people pouring over the counter, reaching for the next goody to be stabbed on their stick. People screaming "BUNCO!!!" so loud the whole neighborhood could hear. I couldn't wait!

Our preparations started on Sunday (party was Monday). The house had to be cleared away of all Christmas decorations and room made for 3 extra tables, chairs brought in, a clear counter for the serving dishes, recipes ready to go as guests brought their assigned ingredient, punch cards created, dice counted, champagne chilled, and on and on and on.

Finally, 7pm arrived and guests started rolling in. This is when I discovered that Fondue is a high maintenance food. Please don't confuse some cheese in a pot to be on the same caliber as a casserole. No, no. Casseroles are easy. Put it in the oven, leave it in the oven, serve when ready. Fondue requires simmering of some ingredients then slowing adding the cheese and stirring the spoon just so at a specific temperature to prevent clumping AND then keeping it that way. Now try making three different kinds at the same time, so everyone could equally enjoy it! Thankfully, I had some fantastic helpers in the kitchen...at the ready for their next task. As Kristen shredded and Diana stirred, Nick chopped and I filled. It was a beautiful, chaotic process.

After filling our bellies with cheesy goodness...the games began. People paired up, rolled, won, punched cards, moved to the next table...losers, sulked sadly that yet again, they had to stay put. "Buncos" being yelled (mostly by Anne Marie) and no matter what room you were in...you could always hear where Dustin was. I love the loud ones! (for those of you who have never played Bunco...you MUST!!! then all of this will make sense!) It was great fun!

We took a break between the second and third rounds for dessert: Chocolate fountain with various fruits, pound cake and brownies for dipping. Given I had just taken the fountain out of it's brand new box that day, a new daunting feat was soon to be overcome (remember I am not so much a detailed person when it comes to directions). With some encouraging words from Brian and Kristi, it was a success! We poured the melted chocolate into the base and soon, gooey, smooth chocolate was flowing! Well, that was until a small figurine tried to make it's swimming debut in the fountain and ended up turning a nicely flowing stream into a sprinkler system. Chocolate ON everyone...if you like it or not!!!
All in all, the party was a blast. We had a few high rollers walk out with fatter wallets (hey, who said coming to our house wouldn't be profitable?), a lot of really good laughs and hilarious moments to remember! Kara and Kevin's "special dance" will be locked in my memory forever!

Alright...so the big question: Who's hosting next year?

The line up...

...the food....

...and the mingle.

Oh yeah....and the culprit for a spraying chocolate fountain. OR maybe the real culprit was Diana.

My blessing

I am a blessed woman. I know I say that a lot, but I have to, because it is true. God has given us, people, all different gifts that produce fruit...some encourage, some organize, some disciple...oh how the list goes on. I believe that God blessed my husband Nick with a very special and unique gift I like to call "the Andi interpreter" gift. Recently I feel as though I have been a little bit more "on edge" than usual. Now I certainly don't mean lashing out at random people in the street...hopefully I have more inner poise than that. I just mean, there are times when I know I could be taking the higher road than the one I am on. Perhaps it is the holiday craze and the vast excitement that stems from it. Perhaps it is my small business start up frustration (I am not a detailed person and starting a business requires details). Perhaps it's my tendency to cram way too much into an hour, a day, a weekend, a week...then suffer later. In any way, due to my "edginess" Nick always seems to get the brunt of it. Now cue the part about me being blessed because of God's given gift to Nick. When everyone else would start running for the hills, Nick stands strong by my side. He turns up the Andi interpreter and helps me through my freak outs. The challenging thing about me (and hopefully everyone else in the world, just so I can feel normal) is each freak out requires a different solution to get back to normalcy. This is the tough part, where most people could potentially have a failing record. Whether my need is to be alone for a while or have a hug or to talk it out with while receiving not an ounce of advice or talk it out with many solutions solicited by him or exercising or baking or laughing or not laughing...no matter what...he just knows what to do. Ok, now, please know that I am not wearing my rose colored glasses (OK, they may be a very, very light shade of pink...but I think that's alright, he is my HUSBAND after all...hello!!!! Life-Long commitment required). Believe me, we have had to work through our fair share of "difficult conversations" to put it lightly. But as time has passed and debriefing arguments has progressed, he has learned at an unfathomably high rate what to do the next time something happens. Nick having this gift has relieved me tremendously...and in a way given me so much freedom as a person. Sounds funny, but it's true. Bouncing back faster out of a funk, a hard day, a stressful situation, trying times, etc...could be one of the best gifts he could give me. It has also allowed me to open up and say some hard stuff so I can grow more as a person. God also gave him the gift of challenge. He practices on me all the time and for that I am thankful.
I'm not sure how you will interpret this blog, but I suppose this was my outward expression of my inner reflection for 2007. Discovering that because of our marriage, I have never been so happy in whole life. That I thank God for blessing me with a man whom I can laugh and play with...who actually "gets" me and who challenges me to be a better person. I could go on...but I think you get the point.
Life is so short...I choose to drink in life with a full glass. What about you?
Happy New Year to you all!

A life lesson taught by the Food Waste men

I experienced a great gift today and wanted to share.
Every other Wednesday morning, I walk with Nick to the garage, then split off to take the recycling, food waste and trash bins to the curb for pick up. We always seem to have a really full food bin, filled with leaves, grass clippings or in this case a whole bunch of Pizza Hut boxes that Nick brought home from work after a company lunch (they were going to throw away the boxes, and my Green husband was not about to have that! Little tip: You can put food-soiled paper/cardboard in the food bin). There was very little room left in the food bin, but I noticed that our storm water ditch was packed full of leaves. I decided to grab the rake and cram what little amount of leaves I could into the bin. After about 2 minutes of this (please note that I am in still in my pajama-esk clothes) I was breaking out in a mild sweat. Raking leaves out of a steep trench, on wet, uneven grass is no easy feat. I soon had some great piles of soggy, wet, worm infested leaves piling. It was so satisfying! To my great dismay, I heard a loud vehicle coming my way. Reluctantly, I looked up and saw the food bin recycle truck backing up towards me. Frantic mode set in. I scrambled to pick up the muddy leaves by the arms full...hoping it would all fit. Soggy water was dripping all over me, flinging onto my face, but I couldn't stop...I could see the two men approaching. Soon enough...they arrived. I greeted them with a warm, "I really am not THAT crazy" smile and hello! We exchanged a few kind words as they patiently waited for me to finish filling up my bin. I thanked them profusely, then they drove off. Knowing how busy trash/recycle people can get, I was honored that they took the time to wait for me and even chat a bit. I also praised the Lord for His excellent timing, since I had a whole other trench to clean out and now I had an empty bin! I went at my task vigorously...there were 5 times as many leaves on that side and they were heavy. These leaves seemed even more caked in mud and grime and I thought perhaps this time I will run into the garage and get some gloves. Just as that thought happened, another loud vehicle approaching. Must be the plastic recycle truck I thought. I continued on my work and with a quick glance I discovered the same two men walking towards me again. "It's a slow day and we thought we would whip around the block one more time to take more of your leaves." Due to the shock and deep appreciation of these men, I aggressively dove into the slimy leave pile once again and started throwing them into the bin. Again...mud was flying all over; sogging my arms and sleeves, but I couldn't slow down...I wanted them to see how grateful I was by working quickly. One of the men helped me by grabbing the rake and re-piling the leaves as I grabbed them. I kept on thanking them and saying random things, like how great team work is, and sunny days make it easier to work and who knows what else. I kept on wishing that I had baked something yesterday so I could show my gratitude...but alas, they only got one hundred thank yous and "a have a nice day!" Once they left I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. I was suddenly overcome by an overwhelming feeling of joy. Then my daily lesson hit me: Slowing down in life can make such a big difference...especially if it is for other people. It helped me mentally re balance this busy time of year, filled with errands to run and gifts to buy and events to go to. I realized that perhaps the best gift I have to give is my time and attention, and by slowing down.

Thanksgiving Break

Family photo with Brea and newly purchased frisbee golf disks.

Ahhh...Thanksgiving. A time for family, food and a good Frisbee Golf tournament. What? That's not normal? Well it wasn't for us either, until this year.

Carrying on the Lopez tradition on Thanksgiving day...my mom created a feast to please a king. From ham to pot roast, sausage stuffing to corn casserole, pecan pie to pumpkin, we were all rolling in a food coma for hours after the feast. I am absolutely baffled by the Quantity and Quality of my mother's cooking...Ami and I ponder why we aren't fighting to lose an extra 300lbs gained through childhood (an easy feat if you have tasted her cooking). My cousins LeAnne and Lauren flew in for the weekend and joined the gathering; a treat even more so than the food before us. All 15 of us caught up, chatted and shared stories late into the evening.

The following day, my adoring husband had the genius idea of walking off some of those "extra bites" and "just one mores" through a game of Frisbee Golf. We rounded up the Evans and Davis clan and headed out. Just 5 miles from our home is a 48 "basket" course, with varying levels of experience; from amateur (me, me and me) to professional (just about everyone else). Just a little history here, I am not the hugest fan of said game. Begrudgingly (by me of course) Nick and I have ventured out to the course here in Bellingham and when it's my turn to tee off, somehow the disk somehow lands BEHIND me half the time. Needless to say, Frisbee Golf is not my sport. However when there are 11 of my favorite people all gathered together, how can I resist? Then when my 18 year old cousin Matthew rolled up with a carrier bag, I knew I was in trouble. He had multiple drivers, mid-range and putters...all different colors, full of "integrity." (Matthew taught me a lot that day). Our fearless leader obviously had high expectation for his followers as he guided us off to tee #1 of the PROFESSIONAL course. Matthew started us off. I wish you could have seen him throw...it was a work of art. Then Lauren (cousin) stepped up (also carrying a disk holder) and the whaled it. Then Nick...it flew. Then out of no where, brother in law Matt, chucked it like it ain't no thang. Unbelievable. I was shaking in my timbers, mostly because I didn't want to injure the spectators standing behind me. Thankfully it flew forward, only to hit a tree 15 feet away and went tumbling to the ground. Luckily, I wasn't the only one...a few family members (names withheld of course) were on the same par as me (no pun intended).

I'll spare you gruesome details of our 2 hour game and sum it up by saying shockingly enough each one of us walked away with all extremities, no concussions (I dare you to play with 11 people and not get smacked in the face with a flying disk) and bellies ready to be full once again with Thanksgiving leftovers.

The Lopez family had so much fun, we ventured out again after church on Sunday (following a 45 minute pit stop at JOE'S for new disks) and played another round.

So go ahead...buy a $7 disk and give it a whorl. I guarantee you will be better than me!

Shot of Nick half-way successful at beating the photo timer..I couldn't resist.

The feast that mom (and others) created.

The fam after the meal (well...2/3 of it anyways)

The joy of brushing

I LOVE brushing my teeth. For some reason, I have an unusual high need for that fresh, clean, shining smile whenever possible. This doesn't mean that I carry my tooth brush everywhere I go, being sure to brush 100 strokes every hour on the hour. But I have been known to stop in the middle of a project (scrapbooking to chopping wood) to dash to the bathroom for a quick brush. What can I say? It is just really, really refreshing! Anyway, today was a day that all dental hygiene fanatics covet: Going to the Dentist! Due to the move to Bellingham, we were in need of all new doctors. So, I asked around and luckily got into Dr Clough's office (thanks Terps!). From the moment I walked in to the moment I stepped out with goodie bag in hand (4 things of floss AND a toothbrush!!!) my experience was nothing but exceptional. Not only were they incredibly personable and friendly, they were fully equip with state of the art X-Ray equipment which is totally digital, using 80% less radiation and no harsh chemical (for the processing). Then Scott (yeah, that's right...first name basis) came in to check up on the teeth. He complimented me on my their condition and I couldn't help but beam with satisfaction...the new Sonicare is really doing it's job! Then we dove into a ten minute conversation of just how can we motivate all people to pick up their brushes and go to town (at least TWICE a day). We decided that it is all about education...healthy dental hygiene starts right now...brushing in the morning and at night (that's only 5 minutes a day!). Then floss...yep, it takes 30 more seconds, but it is the best for preventing those roots from rotting and losing teeth at a younger age. We can't just walk in there at age 50 saying "fix my teeth," and expect them not to shake his head and say it's too late. Now, I certainly don't mean to be on my soap box making you feel guilty about your brushing habits if they need improvement. I just wanted to share how inspiring that appointment was for me to continue what I have been doing and not slack off (especially about wearing my retainer). Even when I am in transition from the comfy couch to our snugly bed, I will pull over in the bathroom for a quick brush and floss. It's worth it. Plus I would rather spend the money I am saving on other great things like shoes or hiking gear from not needing crowns, fillings or root canals. Oh and you already know that Nick will be right there behind me. His passion for brushing is a weeeeeee bit lesser than mine, but no worries, he's coming around. Especially since I learned that one person's poor mouth habits can influence even the most dedicated of brushers (when in mouth to mouth contact of course). Always a good pointer for you friends who are dating. I am sure it would fly as a first date question: "So...how often do you brush your teeth?" Fits right in right!
Now, get to brushing!

Figaro and Figgy

The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.
Joel 2:22b

Saturday morning brought a great surprise to the Vann household. I woke up at a typical weekend time of 8am...ready to hit the day running. Nick and I had a list longer than Santa's packed with chores, errands, and really, really fun tasks like reading the Voter's Pamphlet so we can be educated voters. Woohoo!!! (you may detect just a hint of sarcasm there) Either way, I rolled out of bed and headed towards the kitchen. A few feet into this journey, I spotted a leaf in the hallway. This took me by great surprise considering the smallest crumb on the floor has a very short life span in our house. I looked a bit closer and realized this leaf was not brought in my a gust of wind...it had a purple sticky note on it with my husbands beautiful writing on it. I quickly demised that I had entered some rendition of a scavenger hunt. Commence the squealing: "Nick, Nick...there is a leaf in the hallway with a note on it!" Due to my excitement of the fun game I just stumbled upon, it didn't even register that stating the obvious to Nick was purposeless...obviously he was responsible for the leaf and was well in-the-know with what was going on. But because he is so wonderful, he just nodded and encouraged me to continue to through the series of notes. Each one created a leafy path through the living room, kitchen, mud room, then outside between the garage and house, to conclude in the side yard. Each leaf had a note just as the first...leading to some clue regarding "a treat that will come in the Spring, after a little TLC..." After picking up the last leaf, I looked up to find an adorable mini-fig tree planted in our yard (note: a very ugly and sad looking dead tree use to reside in this exact same spot). I was flooded with exhilaration for our new foliage as well as dumbfounded with adoration for Nick. You see, the last few months I have seem to be obsessed with figs. They have only recently been introduced to me, and I have felt like it was my personal mission to make up for the past 26 years of non-fig eating. From the Farmers market in San Fran to our delivery bin, I have been eating as many figs as I can get down. Since Nick was savvy to my new fruit addiction he decided to surprise me with two different species. We declared their names to be Figaro and Figgy and very much look forward to the fruit they will produce. That is, after I read all about them so I don't kill them off. Ahhh, I can just see the fig tarts cooling on the counter right now.


My leave notes (two wrapped in ziplocks to protect them from the rain...he's so cleaver!)

Figaro...the fig tree that my trail of leaves lead to.

Figaro even had paper fig cut-outs on him with "harvest related" quotes.

I planted Figgy yesterday...don't laugh, he may look a bit twiggy, but he will grow to be a beautifully LARGE fig producing tree!

Cooking Seasonally

For the past few weeks, Nick and I have been receiving an organic vegetable & fruit bin from Dandelion Organic Delivery (http://www.dandelionorganic.com/). Every other Tuesday a bin is delivered bursting with about 13 different varieties of local, fresh organic treats. I greatly anticipate its arrival each time...it is almost like Christmas! I open up the bin and squeal with delight (doesn't take much to excite me I guess). I pull out it's contents and begin to store it appropriately: butter lettuce, fingerling potatoes, snackjack pumpkin, fugi apples, figs, kale, sage, carrots, pluots, carnival acorn squash, fuyu persimmons and on and on and on. The purpose of receiving the bins are to diversify our fruit and veggie consumption. I felt as though we were in a rut...each trip to the grocery store would result in the same purchase: Apples, bananas, spinach, tomatoes and onion. We decided it was time to breath new life into our antioxidant supply. With each delivery, I am forced (happily) to prepare a more diversified meal. And I love it! It has been my personal mission to not only use every single thing before the new delivery shows up, but to branch out and try new recipes with (scary) new vegetables that I used to so easily pass up while walking up and down the isles of Fred Meyer. The great thing is, Dandelion Organic helps me with this. They provide an orientation flyer with each new bin. This gives a brief description of it's contents and a few recipes for the not-so-common veggie...things like dandelion greens and fennel. So the last few weeks our dinner table has seen: Horta, Braised Bok Choy, Sauteed Mustard Greens and other great things that actually taste great!

Yesterday, I felt a calling to use the two pumpkins recently delivered, which only purpose thus far has been to decorate our home for the Fall. I cut into them, roasted the meat and the seeds in the oven, then just let it all sit there until I figured out what I wanted to do. I decided on Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli with Maple Sage Sauce; a recipe from last week's newspaper. So this morning I went to town in the kitchen; sauteing the meat with butter and garlic then stuffed each wonton wrapper (yeah that's right, I cheated and used a premade wrapper...I don't have to make everything from scratch!!!) with the contents. They are resting now...the sauce will come later.

I really love the whole system because we are feeding our bodies food packed with various antioxidants on a regular basis, we get to support local farmers, and I get to go grocery shopping less! You should give it a whorl if you can!

(The Kirkland. Bellevue, Seattle area also has an organic delivery program: http://www.ilovetiny.com/)

The Pumpkin mash on the wonton

It all sealed up

The final product...all 24 of them!

My workspace with the sun shining in!!