6/52: Change of Plans for Super Bowl Weekend

Old Man Winter is at it again, folks!  He totally derailed my weekend plans and instead of my weekly train ride to Seattle Friday afternoon, I stayed home waiting for the snow and ice storm that never really materialized. 

Brian ended up taking a bus down and we spend most of Saturday editing his Series 65 class that he spent last week filming.  It is a long process, but fun working on it together.

Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday and it was the first time in three years that I didn't really care who was playing or where I was watching.

2016 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (best Super Bowl location watching, ever)

2015 - Seahawks lose at the last second to New England.  Boo hiss!

2014 - Seahawks win Super Bowl beating Denver Broncos.

The game is always entertaining.  The commercials were marginal (is it just me or have the Super Bowl commercials gone downhill), but Lady Gaga was AMAZING!

We had quite the spread of food and a big bowl of taco soup when the game was over.

My Pop, watching from Springfield, OR BEFORE he cut up his Patriots shirt at halftime.  Congratulations!  They came back and won in OT.  Amazing!  I guess it's time for a new shirt!

Enjoy!
Stacy

38/52: College Football and Fall Decorations

Okay, it's almost fall.  I give!

It's hard to believe.....how fast time goes by now.  It just seems like yesterday we were putting away the Christmas decorations and in like just over 2 months from now we will be digging them out again!

I decorated for fall this past weekend.  Saturday was dark, windy and wet.....the most perfect day to be at home.

We watched some college football which seems so foreign to me.  I am in deep denial that it's not the middle of June.

Sunday before driving down to Portland, I tried a new breakfast recipe that we both really loved.  Hash browns in a waffle iron...who knew?!

Enjoy!
Stacy

3/52: Another Quiet Weekend with Lots of Good Food and Drink!

It rained a lot over the weekend which is one reason why our only real outing of the week was to Ikea and the grocery store to buy good food to eat.  I truly believe that nothing warms the heart and spirit like cooking or being cooked for.

Brian treated me like a Queen on Friday night and served a wonderful casserole and salad. On Saturday he made the best Cowboy Hash to warm our bellies and start our day.  Just enough fuel for a trip through Ikea before coming home for tea and Swedish cookies.

Unfortunately, our Seahawks lost on Sunday and will NOT be going to Super Bowl 50.  It was a tough season, unlike the last two that had bits of magic, shock and awe...Sunday was the final letdown to a frustrating year.  I am seriously ready for baseball season.

Enjoy!
Stacy

4/52: Super Bowl Weekend

Brian and I hosted his family last weekend in Seattle.  It was great seeing Brian's brother Kerry from Honolulu and Sister in-Law Amy and her daughter Carrie from Alameda.  It's a tradition that we have continued after Brian's brother Ken passed away in 2013.

We took everyone downtown on Saturday for a ride on the monorail and a trip up in the Space Needle.

We then walked down to the iconic Pike Place Market.  Unfortunately, there wasn't any flying fish, but we had a great time walking around the market.

I headed back to Portland Saturday night so that I could watch the Super Bowl on Sunday!

I guess there really isn't much to say about the
end of the game....we are all sad, disappointed and heartbroken.

We will get them next year!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Former Cheesehead

Who: Stacy
What: Super Bowl Sunday
Where: E Street in Springfield, OR
When: January 1996

It's hard to believe that I was once a cheesehead.  The Packers are in town this weekend, playing my much loved Seattle Seahawks and it dawned on me that one day.....a long time ago, that I not only rooted for Brett Favre, but I also wore plaid!  What was I thinking?!

Go Hawks!

Enjoy!
Stacy

I Love My Ducks!

Last Saturday, the Oregon Ducks played the Washington State Cougars in Seattle at Centurylink Field.  Given that Autzen stadium in Eugene is almost always sold out, it was a great opportunity to see my ducks.

We bought cheap nose-bleed seats in the 300 level and although the view of the city was fabulous, the action on the field was miles away.

The game started at 7:30 and by halftime, the north wind picked up and it was time to take the water taxi back to West Seattle and watch the second half on the couch!

View from our seats

 
It was a great victory for the Ducks, with a raucous crowd (it was the annual home game in Seattle for Washington State) with 60,000+ in attendance (many of them ducks)!

One last shot before heading home (it was chilly).  We wished these were our seats!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Recipe of the Week: Porter and Cheddar Soup

College football season is in full swing and it always makes me think of a good hearty soup....something to warm your insides on a cool autumn Saturday. This one is really easy and really yummy!

Enjoy!

Stacy

Porter and Cheddar Soup

Ingredients:

1 small onion, diced fine

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoon flour
2 quarts chicken, beef or vegetable stock

2 quarts heavy cream

12 oz.Deschutes Black Butte Porter

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 pounds extra sharp cheddar

Salt and Pepper

Bacon crumbles, optional

Directions:
1. Over medium heat in a soup pot, caramelize the onions in the butter. Add the flour and cook the roux for 10-15 minutes (it should be a rich brown color) before adding all the liquids.

2. Bring the liquid to a boil, then simmer for half an hour. Add the Worcestershire sauce and cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

If you have an immersion blender, you can blend for a creamy consistency. You may need to add extra cheese to thicken or add a splash of beer to thin (that is if there is any beer left).

Serve with topped bacon crumbles alongside a good crusty bread

Old Photo Friday: Autzen Stadium Memories

Date: September 2001
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Who: Simon Parry (visiting from Australia), Stacy, Jimmy Willis and Sandra at the Isler & Company annual tail-gator.
What: Big game! Ducks vs. highly ranked USC (and we kicked their butts). Our nation was in mourning after the attacks of 9/11 and the football game gave us something to cheer about again.

The ducks are playing some good football, but I know it is early in the season.

Enjoy!
Stace

Super Bowl Sunday

Happy Super Bowl Sunday. The Rebecca Lane ladies are going with Cousin, Tom and the Patriots to be "perfect". I hope the game is close and the commercials are funny. It's nice to be home with a fire on a relaxing Sunday.

The Taco Soup is on! Here is this year's football cake. The top laces are a bit weird, but it came out really good.

Enjoy!
Stace

Old Photo Friday: Cheeseheads Rule!

Date: January 25th 1998

Who: Stacy (A.K.A. Miss Cheesehead). My Dad's good friend, Jimmy Meyer sent this all the way from Wisconsin.

Location: E Street

Event: Sunday Footall

What: The Packers had a 9-7 record in 1992, and began to turn heads around the league when they signed perhaps the most prized free agent in NFL history, Reggie White. With White on board the Packers made it to the second round of the playoffs during both the 1993 and 1994 seasons. In 1995, the Packers won the NFC Central Division championship for the first time since 1972. After a home playoff 37-20 win against Atlanta, the Packers defeated the defending Super Bowl Champs, SF 49ers 27-17 on the road to advance to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 38-27. The returned to the Super Bowl in 1998 but were defeated by the Denver Broncos 31-24.

Can you tell who I'll be rooting for come Sunday?

GO PACKERS!!!!

Enjoy!

Stacy