Happy Birthday Jake's Mommy

It's Sunday and Jacob is continuing to do well, taking his antibiotics and occasional pain meds, but not showing any major ill effects from the surgery. His eye is still swollen and discolored, but I think it's actually starting to look better. We're looking forward to his follow up with the surgeon this Wednesday. Hope to see his surgical braces removed soon.

Today is also Denise's birthday and I have been correspondingly slaving in the kitchen most of the day, starting with what I considered to be a damn fine breakfast, regardless of what the birthday girl may have thought. Chile rellenos (again, what can I say, I have a boat load of Anaheim chiles from the garden and need to use them for something), papas con chorizo (OK, I hate to admit this, but I used vegetarian chorizo at the specific request of the birthday girl; and I really hate to admit that it actually tasted pretty good) and my own take on Belinis (2/3 champagne, 1/3 blended frozen peachs, simple syrup and peach schnapps.) Breakfast is pictured here, with Jake sticking his big broken face into the middle of things.


The boys gave their mother a gift she's needed for a long time. She has a poster from the 1957 Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Growing up in Santa Barbara, it holds a special place for her. Unfortunately, its special place was thumb-tacked to the wall in our office. So, the boys stole away with the poster one day and had it professionally framed. An excellent idea (mine I think.) She seemed to like it...The boys also fulfilled her birthday activity wish by accompanying her and Leo to the "dog beach" in San Diego. I was spared the trip, because someone had to prepare the birthday dinner. Apparently I lucked out. The dog beach was reportedly a zoo, albeit featuring only two species, Canis familiaris and Homo sapiens, and too many of both. Leo had a good time, but then Leo has a good time anytime other dogs are involved.

While everyone else was off to the beach I worked on dinner. Denise requested barbecued chicken, a fairly involved recipe incorporating a dry rub, a couple hours in the smoker, homemade BBQ sauce and all pretty well worth the effort. I decided to accompany that with a Thai Noodle Salad, modified slightly to incorporate some of the stuff we've been harvesting from the garden. And for dessert, a nectarine and peach crisp prepared outside in the Dutch oven. Again, she seemed pleased...

As for my gift for Denise, well, I've been a little preoccupied with other stuff lately, so my gift is still a work in progress. I'm building her a potting bench for the garden. So far it is just plans and materials to be assembled, but then we've been married 27 years plus; if she's not used to disappointment by now she never will be.

Somewhere along the line I have apparently displeased my spouse, because tonight she is punishing me with her movie selection, "Hotel for Dogs."

The horror...the horror...