Panegyri 2009!

The 3 of us went to this festival as a family. We had a blast. We only have this 1 picture to show from the festival though - but it's one with close friends Mary Ellen and Kelly. We always hook up with friends at this festival, and often run into people we haven't seen in years. It's that kind of Cincinnati place! Jeanne was thinking about how she's been going to this festival for close to 30 years, WOW! It was Lia's first time (minus the time in utero last year). She enjoyed a taste of Serbian cepavcici and kalamata olives - loved the olives.

Dan, Debbie and Anna came into town!

All the way from Arizona! We feel so lucky that they came out of their way to spend the night with us on their way to Huntingburg, IN! Notice a theme for Lia - something in her mouth!

We had an evening out

We actually put Lia to bed and went out! Thanks to Colleen for babysitting!!! We attended a Summer Solstice Soiree at the Haussler's - the couple who comissioned Frank to do the big painting in their stairewell. It was a beautiful night.

Garden update

Here's Jeanne's first real harvest, she thinned the kale and chard last night. Thinking about a "Kale Scramble" - kale and scrambled eggs with feta & kalamatas and maybe a pasta dish...Update: we've had the Kale Scramble several times for breakfast! It's delicous and great to have greens for breakfast!Left to right - beets, chard, kale and lettuce (tomatoes along the fence).

Left to right - okra, pepper, eggplant & broccoli and cauliflower (tomatoes along the fence). No picture of the back garden as the few corn plants that did come up mysteriously DISAPPEARED - not wilted and died - but GONE. So Jeanne replanted one more row and transplanted the extra okra in there. Also, butternut squash is still too little to be exciting, and the herbs take forever to come in and the spinach isn't doing so hot. All in all, pleased with the garden, never any guarantees. The corn is from last year so maybe that's why it didn't come up so well. But who could be eating it? Not squirels and we don't have bunnies - plus they'd go for the greens!

2 Family Kitchen Pictures

Here it is! Finally Frank approves some pictures on our blog.

The kitchen isn't finished, but what is, is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Frank is truly doing an amazing job. Did you notice the granite counters?
Here's the pass through from the kitchen sink looking into the Dining Room.
Above is the center Dining Room window Jeanne made (photo taken on a cloudy day) and there are 2 more to follow soon. We worked on the design and glass selection together to come up with something unique and that fits into the style of this home.

Coq au Vin

Coq au Vin, pronounced coke-oh-vahn, literally translates to "rooster in wine". Coq au Vin is a classic French stew of chicken pieces, bacon or lardons (salt pork), mushrooms and onions cooked together in red wine.

Jeanne made us this dish with a rooster she was given by the lady we buy our local, pastured eggs and chicken from. It was AMAZING. Jeanne will definitely be making this again. There was enough sauce left over to serve over grilled chicken breasts a few days later. Lia even tasted it and liked it! After browning the rooster, the marinade is cooked down.

On the side, the pearl onions, mushrooms and bacon come together.
Here the meat and the final sauce join - DELICIOUS!

Frank started on our deck trellis!

Making Jeanne nervous, here is Frank standing on the deck railing beginning our trellis installation. Our wysteria are growing and will need something large to hold onto and grow up. This shows the center diamond, and there will be 2 more.