Happy Halloween!!!

As everyone should know by now- Ripley is named after the delightful Ellen Ripley of Alien fame! But had Ripley been a boy dog- her name would have been Brody. After the sea sickness prone, Chief Brody of Jaws. Jaws is my favorite movie after all. And I do love me some shark.

So imagine my delight when I found this costume I must have ordered for Eli a LONG time ago! (The BFG Apartment is a treasure trove of stuff) And so- I give you Ripley in her Jaws costume!!

It kinda looks like Ripley is in her EATEN by Jaws costume!

Hope your day is filled with plenty of mini candy bars!

Two Can Anne & I went to IKEA today...

Orb shaped pots and pans? The better to cook the meatballs in!

Super cute cat toy comes with sardines. Super cute dog toy comes with... wieners?

Hassidic cat?

We didn't buy any of those things. I did get new bowls and treat jars for Ripley.

TCA got crib stuff and picture frames.

And laughs... we both got a LOT of laughs!

Last Minute Costume Ideas!

Ellen Ripley Essentials: Grey pants, wide suspenders, white tee, man's watch. Bonus Items: Super Soaker–esque fake laser gun, grease smears (space is dirty!), cropped Sigourney 'fro. Make It a Couple Costume: Depends! Does your boyfriend own a bolo tie? If he does, pat yourself on the back and make him go as Paul Reiser of the Future. Not fortunate enough to date a man who owns western wear? Spring for a blond wig from CVS and make him go as Newt.

Thanks, lemondrop.com! Now where do I get those things in puppy sizes?

FOOD Notes From A Broad!

On Sunday, JR suggested we hit this place her pal, B wanted to keep hush hush for birthday brunch. She had to plead and plead and finally he gave her the address. We gathered up Mark, Hanna & crew and off we went to eat Greek food and celebrate the birth of... well, ME! JR said that Brian said it was the best Greek food ever.

I say... AMEN!!!! OH MY GREEK! This was the best Greek food EVER!!! JR & I didn't bother to wait for M&H to arrive- we took the liberty of ordering fresh, hot potato chips and grilled pita with various spreads. I admit, I told JR I wished M&H had arrived later- so we wouldn't have to share! The tzatziki was outrageous! Fresh herbs and capers, flash fried on top. I seriously almost licked the bowl!! The hummus- insane. The garlic potato dip, with garlic chips- ridiculous. When we everyone was there we added grilled haloumi cheese, grilled octopus (which I tried and LOVED), Greek meatballs stuffed with feta, lobster macaronia, two bottles of delicious Greek white, the freshest most yummiest grilled lamb I have ever had (and I had the gross, privilege once of eating lamb that had been alive earlier in the day which turned out to be delicious). The kids had freshly made ice cream- Abby's was fig made from figs picked from the fig tree on the patio!

Hands down- the BEST thing of the BESTEST Greek meal (even including meals I had in Greece) was the cauliflower risotto. It was a special. Special does not even begin to describe it. They roasted the cauliflower, using the stem to make the stock to make the risotto. Then they flash fried some of the cauliflower to give the dish some texture. They also flash fried the cauliflower leaves for atop the dish and for a bit of kick? Pickled carrot slices.

I cannot wait to return! Mark said it was better than football (which he sweetly gave up to attend brunch) (he DVR'd it but it isn't the same). Abby made up a word to describe it all- "deloshness"! William ate enough pita to fund a small Greek town! And us, ladies? As if the company of two of my dearest, sweetest, most wonderful friends wasn't enough- our bellies were full of goodness, our faces tired from laughing and our afternoon a joy.

Company can (and did) certainly make the meal but DAMN, this was some deloshious food!!! If you are able to get to Whitestone- RUN, RUN to Exo!!! Seriously, go now. And tell me what time you are getting there 'cause I will meet you!

www.exorestaurant.com

Dear Tree, Nice Pic! Love, Apple xo

You're Welcome! Amen.

FALL For The Patio!

We picked this curly beauty up in Oregon and brought it all the way home courtesy

of a travel container built by my bro!

World's Tiniest Peppers finally make an appearance!

Happy Fall, Gnomies!!

Here's Lookin' At You!

Fiberglass is F.U.N.

One of my favorite places along the way was one of the only places I planned on going out of my way for! I had read about the F.A.S.T. Corporation on Roadside America. It is this place in Sparta, WI that makes all the fiberglass molds for statues and water slides and monuments and well, anything you can think of! When they have made a mold, they don't throw it away- they save it in the "yard" and allow folks to wander through and take pics!

I was thrilled to wander (Ripley- not so much! She was a bit freaked out!)

So, if you are ever in Sparta, Wisconsin or just passing thru.... STOP!!! Until then- here are some pics to tide you over!

I included the next pic to show you how BIG some of these molds were! HUGE!

Look at this guy compared to Ripley?!?!

I included this one for obvious reasons!

A-Whole-Lotta Trippin, IV

at a Rest Stop, South Dakota

How Ripley rolls...

World's Largest Truck Stop, Iowa

(the Dog-O-Mat was a self-serve dog wash next to the big rig Truck-O-Mat!)

Punxsutawney, PA

(Ripley saw 6 more hours of driving!)

HOME, HOME On The Range!!

A-Whole-Lotta Trippin, III

Snake River Canyon, ID

(Evel Knievel tried to jump this! Ripley Knievel went up & down the stairs by herself! For her, almost the same risk!)

Blackfoot, ID

West Yellowstone, MT

(former home of my bro & sis-in-law)

Old Faithful- Yellowstone Park, WY*

(*Yellowstone deserves its own post... stay tuned!)

Devil's Tower- Wyoming

(the FIRST National Monument)

Report From The Road...

Me: Hi! Do you have a room available and are you pet friendly?

Hotel Mistress: I do and we are. One?

Me (with fake laugh): Yes, well, plus the dog.

Hotel Mistress (no laugh): I am sorry. I just learned a friend was shot in the face by her boyfriend.

Me (with concern but a need to lay down): Oh, my. I am sorry.

Hotel Mistress: Did you see police cars at the other hotel?

Me: Check, please.

-and scene-

Already Missing Welches....

and all of it's loving smooches and giant squeezes

the homemade goodness from mac & cheese to crumble to mushroom soup!!

every ounce of Ripley lovin' and dramatic trepidation

the quiet moments and huge belly laughs with my sis-in-law

the vocally whistled duet with my bro

the gorgeous, jammy love of my niece and nephew

the chickens, duck, neighborly critters and Tank

the letter C (is for cars) and soccer games and walks with Ripley and car rides together

and the "lala lala lala, Da DUHs" & Diana Ross inspired "DOWNS"

all of it really...

Is there a patch or some gum for this withdrawl? And is it available at a Motel 6 in Idaho?

Apple Pickin' Punkins!!

Hood River "Fruit Loop", OR

Freshly Mowed Grass Is Hell On A Lady's Paws!