Day 134: May 14 - Luros wedding

I'm being very sincere when I say that I'm not sure I've ever been to a wedding where I was so sure that the happy couple would, indeed, forever stay a happy couple. Mary and Jason make an amazing team, and I think everyone who knows them is very lucky. I'm very grateful they ended up in my life.

The wedding was beautiful, the band was very fun and the bride and groom were happy, happy, happy.

Day 133: May 13 - Fiesta!

Mary and Jason's wedding was truly a 4-day Napa Valley event. At first I thought having everyone invited to the rehearsal dinner was a little overwhelming, but it was great to see everyone have a chance to mingle, get to know each other, and celebrate. These two are absolute troopers, with silly hats and blinking fiesta buttons.

Day 114: April 24 — Easter feaster

Some last-minute plans on my last-minute day off turned out quite fabulous on Easter morning. Mary and Jason had quite the spread of goodies. Of course, I only took pictures of the ones that were extra sugary:)

She made these puppies from scratch. From SCRATCH!

I'm regretting not eating one of the banana nut muffins. Maybe she'll make them again?

Freaking addicting, these little guys were.

Then it was time to help with wedding stuff. We figured what could go wrong.... a sharp knife, champagne and wine corks that we had to cut through? After a couple slices on our fingers, we decided that a big oven mitt was a smart decision.

End result. Well done, I think.!

Day 106: April 16 - Mary's bachelorette!

What a fun day and night! Mary's very lucky to have such great people in her life. Lunch was amazing, the hotel was beautiful. Strawberries and champagne in the hotel room wasn't so shabby either!

Mary's "attire" for the night was ... well...interesting. I've honestly never seen a bride be SUCH a great sport, though. Honestly, I was in awe of her good nature.

Day 40: February 9: Best gnocchi

Mary spent three days making this recipe of gnocchi and what I called "magic sauce" from Michael Chiarello's "Bottega" cookbook, and she was nice enough to invite Peter and I over to consume it. There's just something about food that you put all that time, energy and love into that makes it taste SO much  better than quick food.

 Mary throwing the gnocchi into the salty, salty water. Michael says it should taste like sea water. It did.

 Skipper was just DYING for a piece of chicken to fall his way.

 The recipes...see all those steps...

 ...and all those ingredients! Really great olive oil was key.

The end result. AMAZING.

Day 36: February 5- crab feed goodness

'nuff said.







Also I tried to run 10 miles today. Failed miserably thanks to wind, sun and general lack of tenacity.

But it appears spring is around the corner. I love love love daffodils.

Day 35: February 4-bingo

My grandma would be proud. Bingo could have been awesome.... If we had won. Instead Mary kept getting one away from winning. Double super boo.

The highlight of the night? This dauber machine. Who needs a soda or candy machine when you could buy bingo daubers?!

Day 29: January 29-eat your heart out

Auberge du soleil. One word. YUM!

Today's adventures brought us to one of the top restaurants in the Napa Valley... Both literally and figuratively. It's on the top of the hill, which means an amazing view, but the cuisine is also ridiculous.






Gnocchi mushroom goodness





Lobster risotto





Quail (and those things at the bottom of the plate? foie gras ravioli. Mary exclaimed this one of the best things she has ever put in her mouth.)






Chocolate dumplings. Now THAT is good plating.





The view.

All in all, amazing. Now if only the food coma would subside so I could do something (anything!) productive with the rest of my day!

Day 14: January 14

Mary tricked us into going to the Elks lodge, just so she could show us her crazy pool shark skills. But, for dollar beers, it's well worth it. Thanks Mary and Jason!



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