Splish splash

We received 7.5 inches of rain this weekend. Rivers and streams are out of their banks. Roads are closed. And everyone's laundry got washed.

Japanese feast 1

Please pardon the multiple posts about a single event. I am confused about the persnicketiness of the new blogspot database for pictures, and my photo editor is hovering. I work best with a little elbow room. 

Saturday night, Claire came home and Mizuho's friends Yukiho and Ben came over for dinner. The four of them sliced, boiled, steamed, baked, fried, sauteed, souped, spiced and fussed in the kitchen for hours. The result was a fabulous Japanese feast. Pictured below is cucumber sushi.

I particularly liked the pork pot stickers.

Japanese feast 2

Claire and Yukiho are taste testing the miso soup.

Japanese 3

Claire is all smiles as dinner is served. Sneaking into the kitchen, Mr. Bojangles is eyeing dessert.

The table is set. In the foreground, pork curry soup, followed by pot stickers, pork burgers, pickled cucumbers, sushi and miso soup. We ate and we ate and we ate. It was all so good that just listing the menu is making me hungry again. Thanks, chefs!

Ben and Yukiho, pondering the meaning of art in the context of movies. Yukiho believes movies that are art is limited to fiction. Ben is an upcoming movie maker.

Claire and me with feast on our minds.

Duo soupo. Meso soup on the left, pork curry on the right. Given the choice, take both. I did.

Oh yeah, I am not just a Missouri hillbilly. I can eat soup with chop sticks!

Quiche

Something great is always cooking at our kitchen. Sunday, Pat made a delicious quiche for brunch...see Pat, I didn't publicly complain about the asparagus.

Congrats Pat!

Pat was presented the 2010 University of Missouri Graduate Faculty Mentor Award last night. The award is for being the most outstanding advisor for doctoral students on campus and it came with a big, fat honorarium. Congratulations, Pat.

Pat with her department chair Irv. He has an iPad. I don't.

Claire, Pat and Mizuho. Over exposed picture. Free wine and hors devours  at the reception.

The Easter hike

Where should we take our annual Easter hike? That's easy. The Easley access to the Katy Trail.

Little Rosier is ready for adventure.

Do these people look like they are prepared for a four mile hike in 85-degree temperatures after a long, cold winter?

Pat and Mizuho enjoy the cool breeze off the confluence of Bonne Femme Creek and Missouri River.

The great Easter egg hunt

The great Easter egg hunt of 2010 was held in our back yard. The devious egg hider found great joy in dastardly clever egg obscurement.

The search for eggs was far and wide. Mizuho, what are you doing waaaay down there?

But alas, the beautiful princess Mizuho found many eggs, and the whole kingdom rejoiced.

Easter lunch

After church, we ate our traditional Easter feast at the Boone Tavern. We dined on salads, eggs Benedict, fried chicken, ham, roast beef, biscuits and gravy, sausage, hash browns, mashed potatoes, assorted greens, rotini al fredo, fresh shrimp, salmon, chocolate covered strawberries, fresh fruit, assorted desserts and so much more. We are planning to walk from Columbia to Jefferson City and back this afternoon to burn off the calories.

STL Zoo

Yesterday, Pat and Mizuho went to the St. Louis Zoo. They capped off the day with an en passionate round of shopping at the St. Louis Galleria.

Mizuho's maiden voyage

Pat, Mizuho and I enjoyed a quiet canoe paddle on Finger Lakes. It was Mizuho's first time to be in a canoe, and her first solo boating experience. Fortunately, she chose to save the thrill of capsizing for another time.

Cheese Cake & Easter Eggs

Mizuho made a fantastic cheese cake yesterday. It was delicious, but it didn't last long.

Today, Mizuho dyed Easter Eggs. They turned out great. I hope she doesn't hide them in tricky places.