3 robins

Needing to re-stain the north side of our house this summer, I was happy to see a momma robin build a nest on the project site and lay three eggs. Too quickly, the eggs hatched and the young 'uns are growing up. Alas, the chore's starting date looms like a storm cloud on the horizon. Soon, Larry, Curly and Mo will fly away with my excuse to delay.

Jan n Mike

Our great friends from New Jersey are in Kansas City this weekend for a family reunion. Pat and I joined Jan and Mike for a fantabulous dinner and great conversation at the Justus Drug Store--a restaurant on Thursday night. We pretty much ate everything on the menu. Sous chef and Claire's friend Doug made our hors d'oevres and salads. General manager and owner Camille Eklaf waited our table and we enjoyed gossiping about the Missouri foodie network with executive chef and owner Jonathan Justus. It is always awesome to see Jan and Mike, and the meal was much more than an amuse-bouche.

Since we were in Kansas City, we had to watch the Skills USA national baking and culinary finals and cheer for our local team. Claire competed in the national baking finals two years ago, and her friend Doug, yes the same Doug, competed in the national culinary finals. Both Claire and Doug are prodigies of the Columbia Area Career Center culinary and baking programs. This year, the Columbia Area Career Center produced the culinary state champion for the eighth year in a row, and the third straight baking champion. Chefs Brook Harlan, Carri Risner and Jeff Rayl run an outstanding program. This year, Rachel was the national champion in culinary and Meghan finished second in baking! Congratulations Rachel and Meghan! Congratulations Chefs!

New and old

New slate floor. New appliances. New blisters. Old stove. Next: countertop and paint. Oh, summer. Please wait for me.

Timeless

Last night, we celebrated Pat's birthday with dinner at Bleu and a walking tour of the scenic city center of Columbia. Pictured below, Pat gives her acceptance speech after being presented the keyhole to the city. Happy birthday, Pat! You're not getting older. What's up with that?

Balloon

Below, Mizuho is pictured with her graduation party balloon. Mizuho will use her new balloon to fly home in July.

The speech

Today, Mizuho gave a speech about her year in America to our Columbia Metro Rotary Club. Her speech was great. We laughed, we cried and everyone applauded loudly. Mizuho ended her speech with a four minute slide show set to music. Below, Mizuho is pictured with Eva, who is our chapter's out-bound youth exchange student for next school year. Eva will be living in Turkey.

35

Last night, Mizuho ate 35 tater tots! That's a new indoor world record for eating tater tots! She also polished off a salad, tenderloin steak and big piece of cake. Congratulatons, Mizuho!

Skills USA dinner

Last night, Pat and I enjoyed the company of our friends Sarah and Johannes at the Columbia Area Career  Center's Skills USA fundraiser dinner for their state champion bakery and culinary arts students. You may recall that Claire was Columbia Area Career Center's first state champion baker two years ago.  Pictured below are Pat, Sarah and Johannes, just some of our dead soldiers, three of the eight courses and the menu. If you missed this event, don't worry. I consumed your share. Chef Risner and Chef Harlan, Rachel and Meghan, congratulations and good luck at nationals!

Graduation

Sunday, we held Mizuho's graduation party at our house. We invited Mizuho's other host families, members of the Columbia Metro Youth Exchange Committee and about 15 of Mizuho's friends. Pat decorated the house in Hickman purple and gold, and bought a big graduation cake. (Claire is out of the country, so we are sans baker for the summer.) I smoked four racks of ribs, and grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. Others brought side dishes. It was a feast. The food was great, the weather was beautiful and the conversation lively. The evening was capped off with smores at our camp fire ring. Below are all of the pictures we took at the party. That's right. None. Ooops.

Kid's stuff

Check out what Claire made during her first week at work in Belgium. Wow!

Strawberries

Pat's green thumbs are yielding a bountiful strawberry harvest. There are two gallons of berries in this basket. One morning's produce. We are having strawberries for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Strawberry cobbler, strawberry pie, strawberries and ice cream, strawberry smoothies, strawberries and angel food cake (and in my case, devil's food cake), and strawberry jam, and strawberry pancakes, chocolate covered strawberries, fried strawberries, blackened strawberries, and strawberry etouffee. It is a berry good time to be dining at our house.

Spaghetti

Over Memorial Day weekend, Pat, Mizuho and I drove up to my parents' house to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary, Ma and Pa! On our way home, we made our usual stop at the Omaha Old Market for some shopping and to dine at the loverly Spaghetti Works. What do you think we ate there? Below, Mizuho and Pat sport spaghetti smiles.