This week: Pie, Polo, and Paul (and Chung)

We've had another busy week, but in a good way. Last weekend, we went to watch Wyatt play polo--one of the last matches of the season. We usually go more often, but with the baby, it's been difficult to manage. We threw caution to the wind and kept him out past his bedtime. So this was special. It was a pirate theme, so Suzi, in her usual form, did up a great tailgate for their box. Bean and coconut soup, jerk chicken, tropical fruit (which Delish sampled for the first time and loved)! And by the way, having a station wagon, especially an all-wheel drive, is perfect for things like this! You can haul all your baby junk PLUS your cooler and tailgating stuff. And you can drive over grass and fields with wreckless abandon.

Delish's first match

First pineapple

Pirate theme -- Suzi always does it up!

Bean and coconut soup -- Suzi is an awesome cook!

I can't believe I'm actually saying this: I really love having a station wagon/junk hauler!

House warming stuff: My mom gave us a bouquet of flowers and some fruit as a housewarming/good luck thing. What remained of the flowers, I put into a jelly jar. So cute. And Monday, our dear, sweet neighbor, Nancy brought over a fudge pie to welcome us to the neighborhood. She said she had baked one a couple weeks ago, but with the storm (Irene), her basement flooded and she injured herself. When her daughter came to help, and moved the pies, they went flying. So she finally go around to baking new ones for us. How incredibly sweet! We love our neighbors! It's an excellent mix of families and old timers. The couple across the street, just moved in and are expecting a baby any day now. They already have two girls, and they're hoping for a boy. The neighbors behind us just had a baby girl back in July. And a couple two doors down have a 15 month old boy. Then there's Nancy, and other long-time residents of the very quiety neighborhood, made up of a handful of the original ranch houses alongside newer in-fill properties like ours. It's so lovely!

House warming flowers from mom

Sweet neighbor Nancy brought over fudge pie!

Fudge pie closeup



Back to the pie. It was perfect because the next day, we were planning on having our friends, Paul and Chung who were visiting from China (and whom we, coincidentally, visited in Beijing exactly one year earlier--see last post) over for dinner. He's Australian and she's Chinese. Both have limited experience with America the beautiful (other than the usual globalization of American culture), having visited maybe only once before.  Anyway, after we had a simple dinner of grilled steaks, baked potato and salad, we served up the pie!Chung called it American pie! Indeed! Can you get any more American than this? I do not think so.

Our first use of the grill and patio-Paul and Chung visit from China.

 First meal on our farm table. Simple steak and potatoes.

...and American pie!

We also got to use our farm table for the first time ever, and we love it. No worries of banging it up, spilling stuff. It'll be great for Delish as he grows and destroys things! ;)

Life is busy as usual. We're settling in nicely. Need furniture and more sleep, but we're happy and comfortable. The weather is getting cooler and the leaves are starting to turn. Looking forward to the fall!