Cara's Red and White Vegetable Lasagna

  Today I decided to make lasagna for our company that is coming Monday night. Somewhere between that decision and 8 o'clock this evening-it turned into a 12 pound masterpiece. I hope.
  I started by cooking ground beef and some fancy flavored sausage that I picked up at Grocery Outlet with a Walla Walla Onion.
  After that was all cooked and happy I made my red sauce- spaghetti sauce(about 2 large cans or jars),mushrooms,olives, seasonings, garlic and a dried vegetable mix. I let this simmer for about an hour.
  Next I made my alfredo zucchini sauce- In my food processor I pureed a jar of alfredo sauce with a fresh zucchini just picked from our garden and cooked it until hot for about an hour to tenderize the zucchini and blend the flavors.(We think that the fresh pureed zucchini has a very strange texture when taste testing it before it cooked)
  My Mom's recipe calls for uncooked spaghetti noodles so it makes it super easy! I took it upon myself to make a twisted alfredo garden version...
 1 layer of  red sauce
 1 layer of uncooked lasagna noodles frosted with ricotta
 1 layer mozzarella cheese
 1 layer of alfredo zucchini sauce
 1 layer of uncooked lasagna noodles frosted with ricotta
 1 layer mozzarella cheese
and repeat as needed alternating red and white sauces,ending with sauce.
Sprinkle heavily with parmesan cheese and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees
I have great faith it is delish but I also wonder if experimenting for company is a good idea?
But then again..can you really screw up lasagna?! :)

PS-I buy Ricotta at Cash & Carry in a huge 5 lb. container for about $8 and I prefer the whipped kind. I find that it stays good in my fridge for quite awhile and is handy to have around.( Casserole and lasagna weather is just around the corner!!  Stalk up now on noodles,frozen veggies and canned soups.Start freezing that wonderful and cheap fruit from the fruit stand-berries freeze so well!! I am also anxious to start freezing zucchini and I already have 16 cups of chopped rhubarb frozen from my Mom's garden.)

Bla Bla Bloggity Blogging....

It's funny how throughout the day, I think of hundreds of things to blog about and then blogging time comes and my mind draws a blank.....Blogging is such a broad term isn't it?

Well the latest laugh around here is Chipper's new haircut. I  had his groomer Bethany give him his "summer cut". I think my exact words were "shave him,you know,like a chiuaua?" and boy oh boy did she take me literally!I am very happy to have such a clean little dog but for the first few weeks I have to admit... he looks kinda funny.Thing is,I think she used a soap or powder that irritated his skin because he twitched and itched like crazy!This went on for a day or two before I realized that my OCD neurotic dog wasn't getting any better and perhaps this wasn't an "OCD neurotic dog thing".After 2 days of ear meds and a bath he's doing much better..whew! I feel a little guilty because he had a hard time adjusting to the extreme haircut :( He usually loves it! This time he's cold and shivers.... so I am thinking I will have to put him in his sweater until he grows a little more hair..ugh. How do people handle kids? This dog could give me a heart attack some days...

I also want to talk about Maxine. Maxine is an elderly woman who walks by our house a few times a day on her way to town.She kinda reminds me of Maxine from the Hallmark cards...

Chipper met Maxine long before I did. Maxine doesn't hear well so she avoids conversation with people most of the time. Oh but the way her face lights up when she sees Chipper! It's so sweet to see her walk by and looook around the yard to see if he's out..if he isn't she continues off walking,hiding under large sunglasses and a big colorful hat.After a few months we began to talk and she asked if she could buy him treats. Of course I couldn't turn her down!She goes on and on about how much she just LOVES Chipper and then one day she started to talk with Vern and I. She realized that we were willing to talk loud enough to chat and slowly we made a new friend. I have invited her in to see the garden and the yard and she has begun to share stories and visit a few times a week if the weather is good.I won't lie,I used to kinda dread it when we saw her coming in order to avoid the "impromptu" visit. But now I look forward to seeing her bright hat through my kitchen window and I usually make a point to go say hello. I offered her the position as Chipper's Grandma and she gladly accepted!She says she tells her sisters and friends all the time about her favorite little dog and I'm pretty sure she's serious! haha I love it :) These days I chat her ears off and some days she chats off mine. I don't care if it's 10 minutes or 30,my day can wait for Maxine. I hope I get a chance to get to know her better before she can't walk by anymore. Maybe someday it'll be my turn to walk by and visit her :)

One small step for man but one giant leap in Caraland......
Del's new addition upstairs is complete enough that he has his own functioning bathroom!!! Yay! THIS is the day that I have been dreaming of since this remodel started in March! 3 adults trying to share one small bathroom was ridiculous! I cleaned and bleached "our" bathroom today and the amazing part?! The seat stayed down and clean ALL DAY! It's the little things right? Stay tuned for "leap #2 in Caraland" when he finally takes all the neon beer signs out of the kitchen and up to his new "bar"!Then, I have been given creative control to make it look like a "real kitchen" . The good news-it'll look like new. The bad news-more painting for Vern and I.Stay tuned....I'm trying to get better at before and after photos :)

Chubbapalooza 2010

We are home and have officially survived the first annual Chubbapalooza! 12 people and 3 dogs in a 4 bedroom rancher in steamin' hot North Idaho for 5 days...whew!

Oh the stories I could tell....

My Parents had a new screen door installed right before we all arrived. We all took turns walking into it..and that was BEFORE the drinking started!

My nephew took first in his division at the local Arenacross and we were all there to cheer him on!

It seems my family has fallen in love with Vern. They teased him all weekend about when he was going to marry me!I reassured them all that marriage or not,we are together forever :)

We hiked up to Snow Creek Falls one afternoon. A Mennonite family was also hiking the trail. The girls were so cute hiking the woods in their dresses and flip flops.They all had very long braided hair and examined us with a polite curiosity and a smile.I was taking a few shots of the falls and I noticed the girls were standing just up the trail and watching me..like my every move! I was friendly but a bit uncomfortable. I found out later it might of been because they don't allow themselves to be photographed. Had those girls never seen a digital camera? Wow.

I have lots of itchy,pink bug bites. I don't miss those Idaho skeeters! :( 

We cruised "The Valley",it's beautiful field of golden wheat (and a road we cruised as teens to sneak a smoke).

We visited my all time favorite Katka View to appreciate that gorgeous river valley I call home.

I saw a lot of old friends. It was nice to see the real faces instead of  Facebook!haha

We accomplished family photos. Victory! We were sun blasted and wind blown at the wildlife refuge where we took them at ....but they are great memories none the less ;)

(I love this pic of my sister but feel the need to note that she doesn't smoke and rarely drinks. That being said..this is the funniest picture of the WHOLE weekend! I love this sexy bitch!)

The biggest shocker of all ... After 32 years I finally got a Starbucks in Bonners Ferry Idaho!They are still working out the kinks and in-training..... but standing in line it felt like a dream!

I watched a childhood friend get married to a woman who loves him so much. I love it when the good people find good people to marry! James and Sarah Tucker I wish you all the best!

We "treated" ourselves to a detour through Yakima and Chinook Pass on the trip home. It was a dream road trip once we got near the pass. The mountain air was cool and Mt. Ranier was sitting pretty just before sunset.

I am sitting here enjoying the cherries we picked up at a fruit stand in Yakima mmmmm :)

Wow. Back to work tomorrow. It feels like I have been off for weeks! Reality. Check. :)

Sticky Thoughts

"If you keep doing things the same way,don't expect different results."

This was the quote that oddly stuck in my head all day today.
Hmmmm..something to ponder...
Of all the times that I beg for guidance from above,the timing and randomness of it almost makes me laugh!
What is the lesson to be learned? What habit or routine keeps me beating my head against a perpetual theoretical wall?
Or is my message for someone else?
Maybe you?

I Guess You Really Had To Be There But...

Vern looking at the bedroom light fixture " Oh dangit,looks like a light bulb burned out."

Me "Looks like it was because there are pine needles in it?"

Vern laughing hysterically "Yes Honey,that's EXACTLY what happen! The dam pine needles got in there!"

Apparently I was seeing the bits of light bulb guts the fall apart when it burns out..but I'm still not too sure the pine needles aren't invading our light bulbs....:)

Vern (while watching "Ice Road Truckers" on TV as the truck driver is struggling to stay awake) "Pull out a nose hair! That'll wake you up!"

Me  "I don't want to know how you know this."

Sometimes he is such an overflowing cornucopia of knowledge :P

Rambles

It turned out to another unpredictable yet productive day,much like yesterday..

First of all I must confess, that my ability to get showered and ready before noon on my day off  is nil.Unless of course we are up early for an exciting day but today lacked that type of motivation.Plus Vern is working the weekend so I felt a little more off my routine than usual.

My visit with friend's was put off due to busy schedules so I waited anxiously for Vern to get home so we could get our errands ran. First stop was to Olsen's Meats and then off to Kent to Cash And Carry.Our goal was to price and or purchase turkey breast and brisket to smoke for Chubbapalooza,plus also pick up a few jugs of iced espresso to power me through the next 2 weeks. (the coffee stands in Idaho are terrible) We purchased the turkey breasts at Olsen's..wow have you looked at the going rate for turkey breasts lately?! I will be snatching it up if I can find it for more hat $3.00 per pound! Turkey breast? Seriously?! So after a spell of sticker shock we were headed to Kent..

I have been on a bit of a mission this year to see what store or nursery has the best selection..(I will blog about this later)...but today after Cash & Carry Vern was sweet enough ( he would never complain but I know it's not exactly his idea of a good time haha) to let me stop and wonder through Carpinito Bros. garden supply and nursery in Kent. Although I love the rush of exploring a new nursery..but I was quickly disappointed. The flowers were fairly common,the selection was slim but the prices were decent. Not good enough for me to go back again,I can get the same thing locally and spare myself the traffic nightmare. BUT I can never seem to  leave empty handed so I got a new Dahlia. It's a beautiful sunburst of light pink and yellow and already stands 3 feet tall!Pictures coming soon :)

I found the Dahlia a new home in the planter box next to the raspberry and I hope they can learn to get along...that raspberry grows about 4 inches a day! Oh and since I am already rambling..and we are talking about the garden..guess what?! There are big yellow blooms on the zucchini and a few little zucchini starting to grow! Also the tiny yellow crooknecks have arrived! This is the first time I have grown these and I was so happy to see they are ambitious like the other squash.Oh but the little baby ones are so cute! The "green thumb" in me strives for a lush summer garden but I also love this time of year when my garden is full of miniatures!

Tomorrow I go back to work,it's never easy to get excited to work on Sunday but I know Thursday will be here before I know it :)

21st Century Laugh

You know you've entered the 21st century when :-

1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 30 years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list...

~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~ ~~~~~~~

NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself ;oP

Have a great weekend!

Fumbled Friday

This morning I had a pretty full schedule of things to do. A visit with friends in the morning,a photo shoot in the afternoon,haircuts for Vern and Trev and a friend coming for dinner. I was feeling overwhelmed so I rescheduled the visit for tomorrow when I wouldn't be as rushed. Ah,relief..ok re-plan day. So I throw in a load of laundry and divulge in girly shows I don't watch with Vern around:). The morning disappeared fast! So,about noon I text my photo appointment and she needed to reschedule. No problem,ok,re-plan day again. I put a batch of muffins in the oven and did a little house and yard work.( Ok so I admit I forgot about the muffins and went running inside like a crazy woman,saved them just in time!) Finally around 1 pm I got in the shower and attempted to really start my day BUT at this point all I really feel like doing is cooking a nice dinner and finishing the laundry.I sent Vern in to nap when he got home,rescheduled haircuts for tomorrow and started dinner. Oh that's right we have an extra coming..better make a little extra and cook to impress! So that's just what I did! I made a tasty "semi homemade" chicken dinner and cooked a whole chicken on the smoker! Mmmm smoked chicken with fresh herbs from the garden :) Our guest arrived a little later than expected and had already eaten...I just had to laugh to myself..what an unpredictable day! So Vern and his friend had a little "guy time" while I had a little more "Cara time". A long hot shower and a few more senseless TV shows to top off a great day,sweeet! So my mind turns to tomorrow. I realize I have scheduled another busy day of things I didn't get done today! Ugh. No worries right? After a day like today I can't be too sure what tomorrow will bring.I guess I will just go with the flow again and get done what I can :)

Thankful Thursday

Today's gratitude :)

I have a photography job tomorrow! My first photo shoot with a pregnant Mama! My creative juices are flowing,I love that rush!

I am beginning to get my energy back just in time for the sun! It has taken me a few weeks to get used to my new meds but I feel better and better everyday!

Although I have to work today,it's my Friday and I get to wear a new outfit! Somehow that just makes work that much better :P

The countdown begins for CHUBBAPALOOZA!! 8 more days until we leave for Idaho!5 days of weddings,reunions,photos,food and fun!

I have the bestest,most amazing boyfriend in the whole world <3 I love living life through thick and thin with such a great partner! Loving him takes my breath away daily..I asked God for him and I am in awe everyday that he delivered such a wonderful answered prayer :)

Wordless Wednesday

Dear Parenting Manual Company, I have not yet recieved....

It was a long weekend. I could lie to you and say that it was a great opportunity to learn and grow for Vern and I... but that'd be a load of crap. It all started when we were jerked out of sleep by a late night phone call.Vern's son got arrested for drinking beer and charged with an MIP (minor in possession). Soo we got to visit the local jail at 12:30 Saturday morning.This was a first for both of us. Trevor isn't perfect but for the most part he's a pretty good kid.I really didn't say much..or do much. I just stood out side the police station. It was strange..feeling like my days of hiding in the woods and drinking with my friends wasn't that long ago yet all of a sudden there I was-the "parent" at the police station feeling a flood of angry,hurt, and disappointed awkwardness.I watched as Vern lectured him in front of the police as his Mother sat outside on the front steps and cried.We returned him to his apartment and his hysterical mother, so she could have her turn lecturing him too. I guess that's something he should have thought of before he got in trouble "If I get caught, I get in trouble at 2 houses." That boy swears he's going to change his ways,he hated jail and admitted he cried like a baby sitting in that jail cell all alone. One can only hope he means it and that he learned a hard lesson.Hmm,I wonder what chapter this is covered in the Step Mom Manual?You know,the same manuals you Mom's get when you have kids so you always know what to do...right?...No? Just kidding :p If I can only share ONE thing with any other Step Moms out there-always support your loved one as a parent first. Being a parent is a tough enough job,even harder than being a Step parent and biting your tongue,so if you cannot support or advise in a helpful way..just don't say anything at all.Let the parents be parents and remember .....they didn't get "The Manual" either  :)
PS.
I won't complain,the next day he sure did a great job weeding around our yard!

Cara Chubb-Hairdresser To The Stars...In Enumclaw

Last Christmas a client of mine gave me a book written by a local hairdresser named Sheila Shannon called Shear Determination. The book is a series of short stories (and you know how much I love non fiction!) about her long career doing hair in a small town. This book was great for my "hairdresser soul".I felt validated and entertained to hear what goes on inside another hairdresser's head! I promised myself that someday I would meet her and put a face to the personality I had come to enjoy so much.
So yesterday I was going about my usual work routine,adjusting to the recent heat wave and trying to keep on a busy schedule when my 2 o clock walked in. I greet her and bring her to my chair. She is friendly with sparkly eyes and pink cheeks..but it keeps running through my mind.."Sheila..Sheila Sheila?...hmmm" and then I just look at her and blurt out "Are you Sheila Shannon?!" and no kidding it was!! She had ran into a client of mine and loved her hair so much that she had set out to meet me! ME?! Wow! I admitted that I was a little starstruck and honored that she was sitting in my chair. We could have talked for hours but I only got a short 30 minutes to create great hair AND get to know her..talk about pressure! She too admitted that she felt compelled to meet me,something just kept telling her to call. Divine intervention? :) I am so grateful,whatever it was!
We exchanged numbers and agreed to meet again sometime when we can really talk. Perhaps I will have her cut my hair sometime?  I feel loved and appreciated for doing what I love and that's all because of my loyal clients that have followed me through thick and thin :)

Pacific Beach Wordless Wednesday

A Photographer's 4th Of July

Images taken and edited by yours truly!

Green Water Lakes

Vern has been telling me for awhile about the hike to Green Water Lakes. I was hesitant to commit because it's a 4 mile hike round trip. Well,after a few months of rain,housework and a good case of the "blahs" I was up for just about anything. So I finally agreed and hoped for good weather! We packed lunches and backpacks full of water and supplies and headed out early in hopes of avoiding holiday traffic.

The trial itself is very well maintained and for the first mile or so it's a pretty easy trail.

This tree's fragile trunk looked like a big smiling face welcoming us up the first hill :)

Vern my handsome hiking guide

Little waterfall off the side of the trail

Woah looks like the beavers have been busy!
I had a great time until the last hill,it was a cardio butt kicker! I guess it made the arrival tot he lakes that much more of a victory..this lake is a little piece of paradise!

 This was our view from where we sat and had lunch. It is where the creek runs into the lake..

On a bridge over peaceful waters..crossing over for another view of the lake.

Future camp spot possibility....but that means tent camping folks..we all know how I fell about tent camping..yah not so much.

After a nice break and lunch we headed back down the trail. The downhill version of this hike was so much more fun! The Washington forests are so lush with greenery and trees. Mushrooms,ferns and moss are everywhere! With our tummies full and a little sun break through the forest roof once in awhile we both admitted we felt like kids!

I hate bridges so I  thought I would play it up for the camera during a brave moment....

This is the "new" bridge that I did have to cross twice..it wobbles! Freaky! I hurried..

This was the happy stump that smiled goodbye,do you see the face?
What a great day we had! I am so glad I embraced my sense of adventure "nothing risked,nothing gained"! We also got a great workout without being too sore the next day :) Thank you Vern for sharing your life with me and taking me to the places that are full of fun memories of your childhood..and making me feel like a kid again too :)

My New Arrival!!

I finally got yellow calla lilies Friday! Isn't it beautiful?!

My collection is almost complete! From left to right are pink,yellow and purple. I planted the white ones by the front porch. The only color I am missing now is red...so my exciting hunt continues!

Holiday Weekend?

I wish I were back on the beach in Hawaii....
It's raining...
it's the frigging 2nd of July and I am FREEZING!
So what to do?
I guess I will go to the freezer and plan dinner. If I am stuck indoors all day,I guess I will cook :)

TGIF

I made it..it's my Friday and I am ready for a lazy 3 day weekend with my sweetie! I finished off June with top sales numbers at work and today was just as busy :).I am so thankful for this fun job I get to work each day!
I finally have a handle on my anxiety thanks to Paxil. I don't love to admit that I have to take it but to deny telling you how much it has improved my life would almost seem deceiving. I can only explain it as calm. I feel calm and peaceful. I was just overwhelmed all the time! Anxiety was ruining my life and my relationships. It made me say horrible things and dread the day before it even started. So I went to my Dr... and after a few weeks of taking Paxil..I am calm ahhhhhh :)
Tomorrow..what to do? Buy a coffee and wonder around my new favorite local nursery greenhouses? Take Chip for a walk and let him smell and explore instead of keeping my pace? Plan a fun afternoon for Vern and I? Clean out my van? Hmmm..so many options haha!
Woops,looks like it's almost tomorrow already..until then...nite :)