Hooray for Yard Sales

I love yard sales. I remember the Lake Street yard sales in Girard way back in the day. My mom always went. I got to a point where I would complain about getting up so early and at some point they just stopped.

The weekend before last, there were sales all the way up and down Harvard Street, just a couple of blocks away, so after breakfast Liam and I headed out to see what we could come up with.

My love of yard sales has been rekindled...to say the least.

I came up with a baker's dozen articles of clothing (including a Ralph Lauren polo shirt and a Baby Gap denim jacket) for 50 cents each. Gently used clothing, by the way, has the added bonus of containing much less residue from pesticides used on cotton...and, again, 50 cents each...what is that? 5 percent of the original cost of some of these things?

I got a couple of annoying electronic toys that mister loves, a Boppy pillow, and a bunch of books.

I also found this...

For those of you unfamiliar with this contraption, it is a Jumperoo. They retail for close to $100, depending on the bells and whistles. This one was $10 and a moment of my spare time to wipe it down (it's barely been used). Score.

I'm going to have to start getting the Friday paper to check out the sales.

The Whole Enchilada

I make really great enchiladas. Really. Ask Ryan.

This is the recipe. You'll notice that I do what I normally do with directions of any kind. I read them, decide that I like parts of them, and then change the rest.



This was the first time I used the grill as part of the enchilada prep. The chicken is rubbed with a spicy blend that is mostly ground chipotle and cumin...I could tell you the rest, but then I'd have to kill you...and, no, that recipe isn't 100% accurate, so don't even try it.

There are, for those of you counting, three jalapenos and two habaneros headed into the mix for eight enchiladas. If you're good at math...(3+2)/8 = spicy.



If you lean in close, you'll probably clear your sinuses. I'll bill you later.



What would the enchilada be without its authentic Goya red beans and rice? (10 points if you can't hear "red beans and rice" without starting to hum a certain Sir Mix-a-lot song...)



One last coat of cheese before it goes in the oven...mmmm...cheese.



The finished product, complete with almost enough sour cream to make it possible to eat without dying. For me, at least...According to Ryan, it was "a good start."


He wants me to make the next batch spicier. He forgets that I have to sleep with him.

Liam Likes It

So far, Liam seems to like his room. He seems concerned about that ray of sunshine, though...it must not be certified organic.

He was making that funny noise because it echoed while the upstairs was empty. Now, there are a lot more toys than I thought he had in his room. Along with his crib, which he is sleeping very well in despite the change. He actually naps better...must be having his own space out of the hustle and bustle.

I'd say he likes it.

Back at It

"It" being Puffer-hole (see previous post about hole-ness). This is a little late. We were actually there on the 31st of May...we counted that as our June outing.

A shot from the only good place to eat outside in Erie if you're a baby. Heck, one of the best places to eat in Erie no matter who you are.



The best place to read a book, too. I believe Ryan was taking his dorkiness to a new level and reading about Napoleon on this bright, beautiful day.



Mister loves him some Pufferbelly. He mostly likes to flirt with the waitresses. He likes older women. He tried to order a beer, but since he doesn't speak English yet it didn't work out too well. It's probably better that way...Tigger's had some trouble with the booze.


Liam also loves mommy...and self-portraits.



Stay tuned for our photo-documentary on Erie's unhealthy obsession with block glass...Part One: Erie Insurance and the Parking Garage of Doom.

Happy (Early) Father's Day

With all of the housiness that will be going on next weekend I figure it's better to get it out there.

For the best daddy ever...

Comin' at Ya!

Mister has almost figured out how to crawl...he has all the pieces, he just hasn't quite figured out how to put them together. If his butt is up, his head is down...and his arms just don't seem to go the right way.

He has mastered scooching, creeping, whatever you want to call it.

Here he comes!

Comin' to get ya!

A Big Round of Applause

For Liam...who has figured out how to clap.

He still hits himself in the face from time to time...or just totally misses. It's pretty cute either way.

Funny Doggie

Pete says I should consider stand-up. I'm not so sure. Not everyone gets me.

Liam, however, thinks I'm hilarious...

Doggie says...?

Hole in the Wall

Ryan has this odd habit of referring to things he likes with "hole" either stuck on the end of the word or replacing part of it. Many of these "words" are palces to get food of some sort. Not sure why, but it's been going on for a while now...Weg-hole, Clifton-hole, Market-hole, etc.

This weekend we made a little trip to Puffer-hole.


Of course, we sat in our middle booth by the bar. We've sat there a lot. This time was a little different.

Unfortunately, Rose wasn't there...and will probably kick us when she finds out she missed Liam on his very first trip to the restaurant...well, any restaurant nicer than Panera, for that matter.


He was very good. We'd been out looking at houses and he was hungry by this time. He had lunch (from a bottle)...we had lunch (from a bottle...just kidding, we both had really good cheeseburgers). We even managed to eat cheesecake for dessert before he got tired of watching us eat.

On Sunday, I got purty flowers from Ryan. Liam sang to me all day and I was even sung a duet at one point. Very nice.

The Nose Knows

It's been brought to my attention that Liam might look a little bit like me, too. I don't see it so much...I still say he looks like Ry, with his crooked smile and (sorry) Sitter ears.

I'm on the left (that's my nephew on the right...he was known as "little Dale" growing up...the last time I saw him, nearly ten years ago, my hand was the size of his palm...) with my dad, circa 1981.


I might concede that he has my nose...but that's it.