MI FAMILIA - PART II

I'd like you to meet my favorite niece, Heidi Lynn Gonzalez Orr. OK, sure, she's my ONLY niece, but one is all you need if your only niece is Heidi Lynn Gonzlez Orr! She used to be known as "Snaggle Tooth." Not any more! Heidi, who specializes in Trusts and Estates, is a partner in a big shot Seattle law firm and carries her great, great grandfather's (a Mexican Supreme Court Judge under the Porfirio Diaz regime) legal torch.

http://www.lanepowell.com/2558/heidi-orr/

My niece was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but that hasn't slowed her down much at all. She teaches at Seattle School of Law on the side, she volunteers, she's active in local professional and MS activities. I'm proud of my courageous, optimistic niece. She's beautiful inside and out, don't you agree?

This is her adorable, loveable Neufie puppy Sophia. (She's still a PITA but thankfully, she's smart and trainable and will grow out of her puppyness. Soon I hope!)

"Q" - NAME THAT TREE (#7)

Hint: found in Hawaii

WONDERING...

...what used to be here. I wonder how they sunk the pillars. I wonder how long ago. Do you suppose the structure burned down?

Astoria, Oregon - May, 2010

NOT A COLUMBINE

Another unknown discovery, found in mid-May in Washington's Belfair State Park on the Hood Canal. It sure looks like it could belong to the Columbine family...

THIS is a Columbine!

Hmmmm. OK, I give up. Mark or Darice, are you there?!

NAME THAT TREE #6

At first, I thought this was a hangin' tree. But then, SUDDENLY, in a flash, I swear I spotted Ichabod Crane fleeing the Headless Horseman in broad daylight. DON'T BLINK! You might get lucky too!!

MI FAMILIA - PART I

Meet The Big Kahuna, my favorite brother-in-law, Joe. Actually, he's my ONLY brother-in-law, but even if I had more than one brother-in-law, Joe would STILL be my favorite. Everyone should have a brother-in-law like MY brother-in-law! I guess I was behind the door when Joes were being doled out. My sister got really really lucky. (I did get great hair though!!!)

Today Joe is going to pressure wash Washington green mossy goop off of his yard toys, and then he's going to bake some beans. I mean ROAST some beans. As in coffee beans.

~~~~~~~~~~

To get his MOJO jump started, first he cranks up Jesse Cook to the max, shoos the dogs out of the way, hooks up the propane to a born-again barbeque...and

then measures his bean of choice, Kenya Peaberries...

...into a custom made (by Joe, of course) rotating drum (note the recycled colander) that's been welded onto the original BBQ spit.

Mount the "drumspit" ...

...set the temp to "high," and fire up that sucker.

When the "griddle" is red hot...

Close the lid...

...and wait...

...and watch...

...and let that pervert take more pictures!

After a few whiles, the beans start to change color...

...(journey's end is about 500 degrees)...

...and when the beans start to smoke, they are just about ready for prime time. Wait for the smoke!

But first, they need to be emptied into this custom made (again, by Joe, of course) sifter/strainer that allows the beans' hulls to fly into the breeze.

Oh! That tantalizing aroma! But we're not through yet.

The beans now require a gentle cool-down before they can be packaged, stored, ground or gifted to his dear, darling, sweet, adoring sister-in-law! So, naturally Joe has manufactured the PERFECT cool down apparatus...

et voila! Peet has nothing on my brother-in-law! This is coffee just the way I like it. And this "Joe's Best Kenya Peaberry" most certainly doesn't get any fresher!

My brother in law ROCKS even when he's not roasting Kenya Peaberries!

NAME THAT TREE #5