Food Blog! Spatchcock!

I have been remiss in my postings about the August of Fewer Boxes, but I have been doing my best to have home made stuff that tastes good.

Tonight I spatchcocked a chicken on the grill and it was delicious.

I rubbed it with some olive oil, a couple of crushed cloves of garlic and Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning, and then off to the grill. 

I cooked it over indirect heat, skin down, for 30 minutes, and then I flipped it over and cooked it another 20.

I turned it back over cooked it another 5 minutes over heat to give it come color. I cooked it under a skillet (which according to this I should have filled up with rocks or something to make it heavier) to squish it while it cooked. One recipe I read said that I should have cooked it over heat first to really char the skin, I didn't want charred, but I could have used a little more crispiness.

Next time, I think I will do the direct heat first.
This is a blurry representation of the entire meal which screams summer to me. Roasted corn, homemade coleslaw and the spatchcocked bird.

It was delicious.
And now it's all gone.
What's on your menu today?

Up a Creek

The weather broke today, and it is a glorious 79 degrees out there. 

We spent a little time this afternoon at Minnehaha Creek. 

The Younger was quite amused that The Youngest was walking towards him through the hip-deep (for her) water.
My favorite way to spend the day with two of my favorite people.

The Soundtrack of Our Week

We've finally gotten a little reprieve today from the intense heat, though I fear it's still going to be quite muggy.
I am nearing the end of my Grettir.
I have the turtleneck collar on the needles as we speak.
This sweater is a really fun knit. There are all sorts of fun tricks and techniques: tubular cast on and bind off, short row shaping, Kitchener stitch under the arms and colorwork.
Also, it's gonna look sharp.
Now careful readers will notice that this Grettir looks different than the photo I posted earlier in the week. I had to rip down and reknit the top half of the yoke because I had mixed up the colors on the black and white xerox I had of the pattern.
I am glad I did because I am much happier with the look.

As for Mickey Mouse, that's been The Younger's favorite new thing.
He has mastered the art of choosing his favorite track which is a disco version of Chim Chim Cheree.
He's also a fan of Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah.
I have a feeling it's going to be an integral part of his memories of his childhood, and that makes me smile.
What's on your playlist today?

Crafting On

The weather here is furnace hot outside, 98 degrees with 75% humidity, and it's going to stay that way for a few days. 

The upside of this is that as we've been hiding in front of the air conditioner it's the perfect weather for knitting in my living room.

All that remains is a few more rows of yoke and the turtleneck collar and I am finished with my Grettir.

I've been knitting this in Shelter, which is what the pattern calls for, and it's been a dream. 

It's so fluffy!

This is destined to be a model for my class on this pattern, and then to hang up in the store. I can't wait until it comes down and I get to wear it.

Joining Nicole for KCCO.

Weekly Stills

Emily in Australia has a feature called Weekly Stills and I have been meaning to be a part of it, I even did it once, so here are some favorite shots of the week.

 .

1. Shooting the curl at The Fair.

2 and 3. The little farmer.

4. The instant that she gets a face full of water on the splash pad at the zoo.

5. The Younger and his new record player.

6. Backyard blanket fun.

7. Silly selfie on the river cruise.

8. Reading in the kitchen.

Head to Emily's Beetle Shack to see more weekly stills.

34/52

Top: at the zoo
Next three at the Fair.
What a fun week!
Joining Jodi for 52 portraits.

Records

 Yesterday, before our boating adventure, we found a surprise waiting for us at the playground.

This 4-in-1 radio record/cd/tape player was just sitting on the ground.

While we were there the maintenance crews tried to throw it away twice, so I felt no qualms about bringing it home.

This morning The Younger and I did a little fiddling and got it working.

Now, The Younger is a record-playing expert, and we've been enjoying my records that have been languishing in the basement for years.

 These are a few of my children's records, some from my own record-loving youth.

I can't wait to sit back and enjoy my Django Reinhardt again.
I am quite sure that I bought this record for the cover alone, I don't know if I have ever listened to it, but today it's on my list.

Such an exciting find!