Pepp-iversary

This week marks our one-year anniversary of aquiring our beloved doggie, Pepper. You can read last year's post about our Canine Addition here.

Coming home from Happy Camp 12/26/11

I can't believe we've had her for a year. While she is still an overall introverted dog, cautious of new people and situations, she seems much better socialized than she was when we got her (at age 15 months and when she was named "Winda"). We try to bring her to small gatherings to be around groups of new people, and bring her lots of new places to explore. By the end of the weekend of K's family's visit, she was playing with his sisters and was over her "hiding" tendency.

THEN: see how shaggy she was!

She was leash-naive when we brought her home. I still remember trying to let her out to do her business, highway-side, on the way back from Happy Camp and worrying she was going to slip out of her collar and be hit by a car.

She used to be a picky eater (we worried she was going to waste away! She wouldn't even take treats from us at first), but now she scarfs down her breakfast or dinner in about 30 seconds flat.

She loves walks, hikes, snow, cats, cows, horses, treats, her new interactive find-a-treat shuffleboard toy, sitting on the ottoman and staring out at the world, being chased in a large field, and sleeping snuggled inbetween her parents in bed. She has flown with us to southern Ca and is a very "well -traveled dog," as my parents like to say.

She hates the vet, haircuts, getting her ears cleaned, being too warm, and being left home alone.

Pep does 30,000 ft on Southwest

Relaxing at home

Pep and Shabu

She is the "best dog ever"-- definitely the best Christmas present ever, and a wonderful addition to our family. We can't imagine life without her. Here's to many more years and Pepp-iversaries.

Christmas 2012: Birthdays, Gifts, and Blessings

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6.

Merry Christmas, everyone! We had a wonderful holiday weekend leading up to the day we're really celebrating--today, Christmas, the birth of Jesus!

On Saturday, a couple of days before our savior's birthday, we celebrated our sister-in-law Lisa's 28th birthday with a surprise cake and gifts.  Since Kenn's birthday is the day after New Year's, we celebrated his big day, too (to his surprise!).

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Tiramisu cake from Ramones, a local bakery

 

Another local gift, earrings from Holly Yashi

We opened family gifts on the 23rd as the family had to drive the long way back to OC before actual Christmas (they were originally going to leave this morning, but instead got an easy start and took off last night after dinner, driving through the night).  We did a secret-Santa type exchange-- I got some lovely red hoop earrings (sorry, no pics) and an amazon gift certificate from Katherine!

We made stockings for everyone, stuffed with local gifts for them to remember this Humboldt Christmas!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

 

 

Pep thanked auntie Lisa and uncle Kenn for her very festive gifts!

Father and son in matching cardigans! K's mom was dying with laughter at this sight!

 On Christmas Eve day, we were blessed with the first sunny weather in a long while (and only sunny weather of the weekend)! K and I took the half-day off from work, and we took his parents and youngest sis, Theresa, on a Arcata city tour, including the Plaza and Marsh.

For Christmas Eve dinner, I decided to make a roasted beef tenderloin, inspired by a yummy dinner at Wai Kiu's the day after Thanksgiving. I broke in the roasting pan we got as a wedding gift for our first Christmas as hosts (I don't think I've ever had people "over" for Christmas. We are almost always traveling somewhere as guests). It was fun, but as I was trying out the recipe (adapted from Allrecipes.com) for the first time (not sure that Christmas Eve with the in-laws is the best time to test out something new?), it was a bit nerve-wracking. While most of us "kids" like beef medium-rare, the parents like it well done and I had to play a bit with the oven temps and cooking time ("averaging" the cook times of a couple of different recipes ... do real cooks do that?!). Luckily, a new meat thermometer came in handy, and it turned out really well!


We even used our "nice" plates, lit candles, and used the silk tablemats and runner from Singapore for the first time.

The meal was a hit!  I would definitely make it again (see recipes below).

Today (Christmas), we are having a very nice, lazy day. If it were cold enough to snow, we'd probably have 6 inches on the ground.... it is really rainy. We opened our presents to eachother and from my family (I'm excited to try out a stovetop cappuccino maker with some of the espresso in a box of Italian goodies from my sister) and I spoke to my parents and sister on the phone. We haven't left the house except to walk the dog--we are watching basketball, napping, reading, and eating leftovers. I'm sucking down sudafed (my nose is as red as Rudolph's) and going through boxes of kleenex, and hoping I'm back to feeling better by tomorrow when we have to return to work.

  May peace be your gift for this Christmas and the blessing of the Almighty be with you and the world to help us all make this world a better place. To make it a Christmas day everyday of the year. ~Kurt Avish

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 THE RECIPES

Beef
5-pound boneless beef tenderloin, left at room temperature for 2 hours before cooking
4-5 tsp Montreal steak seasoning
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1. Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 275 degrees F.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Rub roast on all sides with seasoning. Heat oil in pan. Turn on exhaust fan, add meat to hot skillet and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes total.
3. Set roast on wire rack. Slow-roast in oven until roast reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees F for medium-rare and 140 degrees F for medium, approx 2 hours.
4. Transfer roast to a cutting board; carve meat and serve with the sauce (below)

Mushroom-wine sauce
2 cups sliced white/baby bella mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup beef broth
3/4 cup red wine
2 tsp cornstarch (or to desired consistency)

1. Heat oil in pan

2. Add garlic, mushrooms, sautee until softened

3. Add broth and wine, heat to boil

4. Add cornstarch, simmer until sauce thickens

Rosemary roasted red potatoes

2 lbs red potatoes, quartered

1/2 c olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper 

1 Tbsp rosemary 

(1 Tbsp chopped basil, if desired/available)

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees

2. Bake potatoes for 30 minutes

3. Mix potatoes with other ingredients

4. Bake another 15-30 min until softened

Taking over Trinidad

The weather on Sunday was not any better than on Saturday, but we ventured out again to Trinidad, one of the most scenic towns in this area (even in the rain!). Credits to Kenn and Eddie for the photos.

Pre-day trip photos in front of our house:

The parents

Kenn & Lisa

 

Asian-tourist style

The siblings

 

In beautiful Trinidad

Lisa takes the reins!

Trinidad B and B

Lisa's not a fan of the weather!

At the Lighthouse

(Eddie has a fantastic eye for photography!)

Mom and her girl

 

Dad and daughter

Sistahs!

 

Pepper dons the bonnet!

On Trinidad Head

 

Kenn

 

Pepper leads the way!

 

Katherine & Eddie, lovebirds

Katherine

The girls! 

We'd left the umbrellas in the car... here is the improvised rain gear!

Crab bins

We had lunch at the historic Samoa Cookhouse, which is the oldest surviving and operating cookhouse in the West, serving the men employed in the logging industry starting in 1893.

We later enjoyed dinner at home (on the menu: chicken marsala) and celebrating Lisa's birthday; more pics and posts to follow!