Kat's Lavender

Isn't this a beautiful lavender...

Before my friend Kat moved to South Carolina last spring, she let me raid her garden. This lavender is large with a wide girth but didn't suffer a bit from the transplanting. It has thrived and bloomed all summer!! It is absolutely gorgeous--- Thank you, Kat!!!

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PF Chang's

Shrimp with Honeydew and Candied Walnuts-- Our new favorite dish!

Look ya'll, here's how to do it!

Excuse me, would you please put the camera away...

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Playing at the mall...

Playing 'I'm gonna get you'!

Peek a Boo!

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Berry Desserts!

Upside Down Berry Cake! Unusual but tasty. The recipe called for a bit of cornmeal and fresh basil in the batter. Sounds odd but the flavors were addictive! I'm going to make it again! This winter when I have no fresh basil I am going to experiment with a flour only version--- Of course, I won't have fresh berries either--- maybe frozen will work.

Quick Blueberry Cobbler!

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Kids get all the perks....

Talon is watching SpongeBob on the ceiling while at his dental checkup.
Wonder if my dentist would consider a tv on the ceiling...

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At RibCrib!

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Quick Fruit Tarts...

This snack is so fast and delicious! Just spread Nutella on a graham cracker and top with fruit! Easy as pie-- well, much easier than pie!

It is reminscent of two of my favorite treats: the wonderful chocolate dipped fresh pineapple and strawberries Morrow's offered on saturday morning at the mall and pie.

Pineapple is my ultimate topping because we don't get good fresh pineapples very often in Oklahoma. Strawberry is my next favorite topping. Blueberries and cherries are good toppings but not as spectacular as the other two. Talon prefers his topless or maybe with banana. The whole point was to get him to eat more fruit but I'm the one eating more fruit!

Did I mention the best part? It is low-cal! Yes, I repeat: Low-cal!!
One graham cracker sheet has about 65 calories. A thin layer of nutella (approx. 2 teaspoons) has about 65 calories and the fruit calories are minimal. Amazing since it tastes so rich and decadent! I typically eat one but splurging on two certainly won't break the bank!

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Sonic!

At the top....

WHEE!!!!

Talon is a big supporter of Sonic--- it is an Oklahoma company, after all. Well, he doesn't really care about that. Talon only cares that the breakfast sandwiches are served anytime day or night!

This Sonic was next door to our hotel in Bartlesville. Talon was thrilled that we could just walk there anytime--- so, yes, we made several trips.

This sonic is one of the coolest around! It has a volleyball court with sand and the largest playground we've ever seen at a restaurant. Really tall slides, too.

Have you ever seen a Sonic with a playground? We hadn't until this one.

The old funky sonics in all of our burgs are being replaced with shiny new ones--- no playgrounds though.

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Dance Party!

Here is a video of Talon incorporating some clogging footwork into his routine.

Talon is a funny dancer from way back. At age 1, he would close his eyes and sway his head and body in a groovy fashion--- just like an adult might do when hearing a favorite song. At age 2, Talon would say: Watch this move! He gave his moves silly names but some made sense like 'spinback' or 'kick up'. Talon still creates moves and names them.

I really don't know where this tendency comes from except that his Miller grandparents were exceptional dancers.

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Our Little Clogger!

The clogging girls at SDC have a cute and informative show. They demonstrate the various styles of clogging from around the world. There are way more types than you'd think--- Canada even has one, and of course, everyone is familiar with Irish Riverdance. They include a Hatfield & McCoy audience participation bit that is fun. The girls also invite kids to come up on stage for a quick lesson. Talon loves an audience so you know he gave it a go. He was so funny! I wish you could have seen it--- his little legs were just a kicking! It is a shame I never thought to use the video function on my old clunky camera-- I would have loved to save this event for posterity!

Cloggin' up a storm!

Preparing to take a bow...
(the only one that did-- tickled us!)

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Pan Bagnat Update...

You may remember that Jim requested a deli meat version of a pan bagnat. On this one, I layered ham, sandwich pepperoni, garden peppers (cubanelles, anaheims, poblanos), chives, cucumbers, olives and tomatoes. I whipped up the same dijon vinaigrette as before.

This pan bagnat is delicious too and I'll definitely prepare it again-- maybe varying the veggies and meat.

As yummy as this one is, I still prefer the traditional tuna pan bagnat. Jim won't commit either way yet.

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Summer Tradition...

FRESH SALSA!!!

One of the culinary highlights of summer at our house is fresh tomato salsa. Scrumptious for chip dipping! Also, the perfect topping for black bean tostadas, breakfast burritos, quesadillas, tacos, fajitas or wraps. Sometimes we even eat it as gazpacho-- which is really what it actually is, after all.

Fresh tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onion, lime, cilantro, and salt--- What could be better...

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Picked a Peck...

of Peppers!

and a Ton O'Tomatoes!

Large Cherries, Juliets and Sungolds! Delicious!

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