Alla Carbonara

So I made some Spaghetti Alla Carbonara the other night, and tried my hand at taking foodie pics. They're hard. =-) This is a pretty simple meal...a meat stretcher since you don't even have to use a half pack of bacon. Parmesan, eggs, bacon, pasta...what's not to love? 

I usually add the peppers and onion for extra flavor and veggies. 

Cooked down and ready to add to the pot. 

Fresh parsley is key, and lots of fresh ground pepper of course!

Hungry yet?

These boys love their "Noo-nuhs," as Silas likes to say. (That's noodles in toddler-ese.)

Aaron's noodle doodles. 

Later it was Uncle Remus time...Leon has been loving those stories! 

Garden

Here are some pictures from the garden this year, and a few of the boys. It has been a constant battle to keep Silas, mainly, from picking everything before it is ready.

Beets, tomatoes, green beans, marigolds, cucumber

Kale, swiss chard, squash, potatoes, weeds. We have since cleared out a lot and made some room for fall greens, hopefully. I let a bunch of lettuce and mustard go to seed for collecting. I used a lot of the mustard when we canned dilly beans. 

Leon showing Silas how to pick maters through the fence. 

So happy to have zinnias this year! Seed collected from Rebekah's plot several years ago. 

These sungold cherries have been coming out our ears! They are ok, but split as soon as water hits them. The honeydrops have been magnificent, the best cherry toms I've ever tasted, and a beautiful color. 

Vacation

So we went to the Gray Fossil Site on Monday, and Leon really enjoyed that. He kept asking about the dinosaur bones, (of which there werent any, being a Miocene dig) but enjoyed the "Be the Dinosaur" exhibit where they had video games of different dinos. I didn't get any pictures. Where's Abigail when I need her? =-)

We packed up and headed to Asheville early on Tuesday to spend the day at Chimney Rock. And what a day it was, full of lots and lots of stairs and some amazing views. Leon impressed us and walked the whole way, except for a tiny bit at the end. 

Kept those sippy cups close at hand, it was a hhhhhhot day. 

On the Chimney...the railings were kind of scary, right along the edge of the rock!

Silly grin from a sweaty boy. 

Thanks for taking this pic, Leon! He's getting pretty good. 

"Down, Dah-yee."

'Lil bugger didn't want his picture taken, managed to sneak this one in.

We didn't notice the second face behind the Devil's Head until we got home. 

Hot and tired on top of Exclamation Point, the highest spot at 2480 feet.

Our "family picture," since Leon opted out. Can you seem him in the back? 

I called the 400 ft waterfall a "waterslide." It just kind of trickles and slides down this sheer face. It sure felt good to hot tired feet! 

Cute as a poot...

Feet in the water! 

It was a fun but long day. We spent about 5 hours traipsing around, with a short stop to eat. Whew! 

Then it was on to Asheville and some Neo Burrito. Yummo.

We stayed in the Bon Paul and Sharky Hostel near Israel. The boys liked the suit of armor in the living room. 

Nest day we spent hanging out at the mountain stream off Skyline Drive. It was amazing and relaxing. We had to hike a bit in, so no pictures. Leon is swimming like a little fish with his floaties, and didn't want to put on his swimsuit, so I didn't make him. It fit with the atmosphere. 

Here's a pic from the camping spot, I don't have one of the huge rocks and swimming hole close by. 

We had a lovely time. It was good to get home.