Beef Stew

This Sunday we had an unusual day in San Diego. It was actually a little chilly by our standards (about 60 degrees), and very windy. We even had some rain in the morning. Now, even if you have only lived in San Diego the short period of time that my husband and I have, you get used to 75 and sunny EVERY day. Being that we are east coasters at heart we decided that this would be the perfect day to have something hearty and satifying to eat, with the windy weather and all. We have to take these days when we can get them, they remind us of home!

We spent 3 hours making beef stew. Yes THREE hours. My husband and I are pretty passionate about good food and wine, but three hours on beef stew seemed like a lot! We chopped carrots and potatoes, simmered and stewed all with two doggies happily underfoot. When all was said and done, we served the stew atop garlic rubbed french bread and put a dollop of horseradish cream sauce to finish. We poured a great glass of Pinot Noir (Rex Hill, under $20), and sat down to eat. This meal made me thankful that we have sworn off going out to eat. It is nights like this that I am glad to get back to the homegrown things we have gotten away from.

(fyi: recipe was from Tyler's Ultimate on food network)
~Kristin~

Battle With Brown Fur

When you have two big dogs you have a dog hair problem. No matter how hard you try, your best friends will leave signs of their whereabouts in every corner of your home.

In the beginning I was mortified if I left my house with a speck of brown hair on my pants. I was even more mortified if a friend were to sit on our sofa and see a dog hair end up on their pants.

I now realize that being mortified about dog hair is a huge waste of energy. I wouldn't trade a second of our time with Moose and Kona for a lack of dog fur tumble weeds. They are allowed to lounge on our furniture and sleep in our bed. They have even gone so far as to take over our first big furniture purchase, a beautiful leather chair that sits in our bedroom. This house is meant for comfort and relaxing, whether it is human or canine.

So, instead of worrying about the dog hair, I simply embrace the battle (my Roomba and Dyson Animal are great partners). After all, are a few specs of dog hair on your jeans any worse than your friend's toddler planting sticky hands on your jeans????

~Kristin

Who Has The Brown Fur?

My husband and I are tried and true DINKers. I am a new west coaster (but an east coaster at heart). I am newly 30, YIKES! I do not like what the news has to tell us today, but will not let this fear disrupt my enthusiasm to work hard. I am a mother of the four legged kind. Two big, beautiful chocolate labs named Moose and Kona. They are 4 & 3/4 years old brother and sister, Moose being the big and Kona being the beautiful (she is just a little smaller, and has a little more grace than he).

My husband and I have had the "kids" since they were 8 weeks old. He who had never had a pet in his life, brought home these two adorable pups who complete our world. Having been married in Jackson Hole, WY we had to be able to name a dog Moose, and boy does he fit the bill. LONG legs, skinny, clumsy, but quite possibly the cutest thing you've ever seen. Kona's full name is Kona Sage. The Sage part comes from Jackson Hole and is perfectly fitting since we crash landed in a bunch of it on a "romantic" hot air balloon ride one summer.

Even though they are East Coast pooches by birth, they have acclimated well to the West coast life. They hang out in the yard, languish over their daily two mile walks, and deliberate whether or not it is worth going outside at all when it occasionally drizzles. This coming from dogs who donned boots in the snow... (By the way, they did not even have to fly here, my mother in law and I drove them here!).

I hope you enjoy following our family, and learn that while it is a chore, my battle with the flurry of brown fur is full of love, and laughter. I must sign off because Moose and Kona are luring me to bed with their snores...