Some things are better left to the professionals, even when it comes to food, or so I thought.
My first pizza creation ever, and the Jiffy crust came in second during our taste test
My fear of creating foods at home has to do with my trepidation of the unknown and not having faith in my cooking abilities. When it comes to pizza, what’s easier than taking it out of the box and putting it in the oven, why would I want to challenge that system? I’m just that kind of girl, go my own way, create my own path and finally I’ve created my own pizza.
Papa’s Peperoni Pizza
To test out the crusts we purchased three different brands and made three different pizzas, one for each of us.
Our three different crustsMitch’s Jalapeño and Meat Delight Pizza
The best crust was Miss Betty Crocker by a mile
The marina came from a jar and was pretty darn good.
Next time we’re going to make our own marina just to try it, along with making the crust from scratch with a yeast packet. We’ll continue to buy the cheese and pepperoni, don’t want to make everything from scratch!
Add a little kick with jalapeño pepperoni
The total cost for all three pizza’s was $8.75. Well worth the time and effort, both for the pocketbook and the pallet!
It is amazingly great to be back home and we hit the ground running when we got to the house. The first few days we spent cleaning the house and yard, followed by painting and laying new flooring.
laundry room before
laundry room afterOur new bedroom floor Mitch put in. It’s Allure from Home Depot, it’s awesome and the color is Piedmont Ash
Although we’ve now been home for two weeks it feels like it’s only been a few days. In addition to cleaning the house, we needed to clean the trailer, camper and truck and then list them all for sale on craigslist. Oh yeah, by the way, if you or anyone you know is looking to buy, check them out on craigslist. click on each word below to see the actual listing:
While cleaning we used a product that Mitch read about online before we’d left for our travels and boy does it do the job, it’s called Bar Keepers Friend.
great stuff that really works and doesn’t have a super strong odor
We had a spill in the oven in the trailer and it was a dark solid cooked in mess, my new little friend made it super easy and it looks like new! Works great to remove water spots as well. All this work and sweat doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been super sweet to be home, we just haven’t slowed down much to enjoy it like we should.
got some beautiful plants for the house already
Last week we also put a fence inside our fence for the dogs. Our yard is so large and was neglected over the last couple years so when it rains, mud is a huge issue with the dogs. We decided to create a little piece of paradise right out our back door where the dogs can go, and after we lay brick there won’t be any mud! Yahoo, so grateful my sweetie pie is a great fence guy.
Charlie taking a break while Mitch is hard at work
We are finally somewhat unpacked and organized. We still have too much stuff, I still have too many clothes and am seriously considering seeking professional help on how to lessen my possessions. The anxiety that I’d experienced while traveling has now came back to haunt me as we unpacked boxes that were stored in the shed.
Milo enjoying the leaves from last fall before we cleaned up the yard
Yesterday we went through our last boxes, full of paperwork. It took about 6 hours and finally I feel somewhat organized. We’re looking forward to washing the road grime off our bicycles in the week to come and slowing down to enjoy the bliss that we are finally settled back home.
Breakfast of champions: 2 pancakes drowned in syrup, three fried eggs and three slices of bacon with a side of black coffee. So Happy! Happy Father’s Day!!!
.
Papa’s gotten settled into his own little place 15ft from the house and is starting to relax into his own routine. This morning Mitch and I made him a Father’s Day breakfast on his favorite kind of plate…paper! We wish all you father’s out there a wonderfully happy day.
Seeing the sky through the forest and appreciating all the wild flowers.
Before I tell you about the best day everish (can’t really say best ever, but definite top 20) I need to tell you how we got here. It began to seem as if I’d never find the right one, as I sit in the 65th car, it feels like all the others I’ve sat in over the past 3 weeks.
Nah, not the one for me
It was as if I’m the glass slipper and there’s no Cinderella in sight, nothings fits!
Nice but nope…
My darling husband, patient as can be, has tolerated 20 different dealerships, the salesmen and my constant uncertainly of what kind of vehicle I’d like to have.
Let’s check out this engine
Yesterday we got a call from non-other than the guy who sold us our furniture who had moved into car sales just last month. He found a truck he thought Mitch would like, so we venture down to Larry H. Miller Toyota to check it out (ask for Tom Campos if you go!). It wasn’t the truck for Mitch and they didn’t have any in my price range that I liked so we were about to take our weary bones home when we went across the street to look at Larry H. Miller Honda. Along the back fence they have the row of misfit cars that they deem not worthy of repair and sell as is.
As Is, is fine by me
Walking pass the row waiting to go to auction, I see the sun reflecting off her polished chrome, as if smiling and saying I’ve been waiting for you to find me! It’s a 2009 Volkswagon Tiguan and has all the bells and whistles. I never thought I’d have such a fancy car.
I finally found “THE ONE”
I had my last car (Rio, a 93 Nissan Sentra) for 18 years and plan to keep this girl for good! Along with the great deal, they told us what work needs to be done. Yes, of course there’s trepidation in getting it, knowing that there were things wrong, but at least we were actually informed this time and I know it’s the car for me, I say she’s worth the work!
She has a sunroof that goes from the front all the way to back! Wahoo!
For the last two days I’ve been telling Papa and Mitch that she’s the coolest car EVER and how pretty she is, with that being said I’ve decided to name her Fancy. It was such a long day yesterday we made plans to go back to the dealer today to finalize everything and drive her home, and I wanted the night to sleep on it and pray about it.
Check out that shine…and she’s mine! What a blessed day it is!
How’d today become the best day everish you ask? How could it not be! We went to Riverside State park for a long wonderful hike, then went to finalize the paperwork and pick up Fancy.
Trail at Riverside Park
The beauty in the details of flowers never ceases to amaze me
After that we went to Olive Garden (papa had never been before and loved the lasagna) and to top it off, we only have one week until we move back home. Life just seems to be on an upswing right now and we have more wonderful days ahead.
It’s that time of year when the lime green tint of pollen encompasses all of Spokane, and the beauty of spring giving way to warmer days as summer is on its way. We’ve been keeping ourselves busy with food and fun. Our friend Stacey had a birthday to celebrate so we met her at Bangkok Thai on Trent.
Pop’s food almost got cold as a trip to the restroom resulted in a moment of disorientation… gonna need an app called find my papa.
From the outside, the building is unassuming and lacks luster, but once inside, it’s a whole other world or colors, windows and style.
Papa has a captured audience, Happy Birthday Stacey!
We were very happy with the beautiful view of the Spokane River and the food was pretty good, I’d recommend it if you’re a fan of Thai. Later in the week we were looking at vehicles, seeing whats in the world of used cars and ended up in the Valley on Sprague. I did a minute of research and read about a mexican place called Puerto Vallarta on Sprague. We decided to give it a try. Wowzer, was it yummy!
To our surprise it was super delicious and extremely AFFORDABLE! For the three of us, it cost less than the price of a fast food burger joint when we get three “value” meals. The plates had large portions and everything was super fresh. If you are ever out in the Valley and are looking for mexican food this is the place.
Now that’s a burrito! Yum.
Along with our adventures in cuisine, we’ve been enjoying our local state parks. Last week we went to Mount Spokane State Park and saw our home land in a whole new way.
View from Mount Spokane
This weather is for the birds, warm and wonderful.
Hey bird, what’s the view like from up there, it sure is pretty from hereA three pedal flower on a three leaf plantIf only a picture could capture the beautiful sounds of this creek
Finally we get a change of scenery and leave that RV park for a whileA little waterfall from the snow melting
Three pedal flower in another color
A bridge along one of the hiking trails
My handsome hiking buddy
A bridge along the way home, reminded me of the movie Beetlejuice.
Moment of truth… I need to work on being more prepared for my crazy brain when I get hungry. Our next state park was Riverside State Park. Mitch suggested we make sandwiches before heading out, I was resistant to the idea and just wanted to leave. After loading the truck I enter the house to find that not only did he make sandwiches…he made a mess.
Exploding mayo from the jar went very far, couldn’t get it all in the photo
I can’t tell you how his preparedness made the day so much better. I really need to work on that, be more thoughtful of our future selves in regards to being hungry.
Now that’s a sandwich!
I would have to say papa was happy about it too! Peppered turkey sandwich with a Pepsi and the gorgeous surroundings of Riverside State Park, so splendid was the day!
I’m not smelling the river, or am I?
I just love the view
A bench just lies in wait to give you reprieve and a view
Let’s go down to the bridge guys
Wow the river is full
I love getting pics of my guys together
Hello folks! Only 10 days till we move back into our house. YAHOO
View of the bridge and Spokane River from above
Me helping Papa work his way up the hill
Somewhere along the river there’s a place called the bowl and pitcher, this may be it…or not.
Spokane river
It may have taken 12,000 miles to get to this place of joy, peace and contentment that was ultimately in our own hometown, but it was worth it. Mitch and I both love to hike and guess how often we did it before we started traveling? Only 3 times in probably 7 years! Somehow life just got in the way, now we’re going to consciously make sure that we make time, no matter what, to really do the things that we love! I encourage you to make time for yourself and do those things that bring you joy. Make that time, it’s worth it!
Goin' Road Trippin' 