Well, October was an interesting month for us. We had several events to attend and we also made it to my family's annual beach trip. For this post we'll go week by week.
The weekend of October 7th, we decided to hold a small get-together for a few friends and family. We had a little mini-housewarming. Originally we were planning to have a large housewarming and invite everyone, but then we realized that it was just too much to do and we didn't have enough chairs anyway, so unfortunately we had to limit it. Still, we had a nice time. We scored for some great housewarming gifts ;) and others brought wonderful food: everything from Panettone to Canoli (good canoli! I clarify that because it's really hard to find around here) to authentic homemade Lebanese-style hummous and baklava. Edo and I also contibuted a little to the party by way of wine, beer -- although Im not sure why we even bother to buy beer because almost everyone I know drinks wine and we end up with a bunch of beer bottles sitting in our fridge when it's all over -- and some hors d'oeuvres plus homemade bread courtesy of yours truly. I also made some salsa and guacamole. I made the salsa mostly for my brother because he really seems to love it, but unfortunately he and his family were unable to make it and I didn't realize that until I had already made it. Oh well... everyone else enjoyed it!
Mom and Dad left before dark (why? nobody is entirely sure) even though Alix seemed to be enjoying herself talking to some of the new Italians in the area but the rest of us hung around for a while chatting and eating. The honor of Biggest Winner of the Night, however, goes to Silver because most of the food was right at her height sitting on the coffee table in the living room so she would feign disinterest and then walk past and snatch a piece of bread along the way. It was irritating at the time but even moreso since then because she's realized that she can do it and sometimes she gets a goodie. Now Edo and I have had to go back to basics teaching her good "table manners" (which, for a dog, means "get the hell away from the table"). She's also taken quite a liking to my bread which would be flattering if (1.) I didn't know that the only thing she won't eat is radish, and that includes several non-food items, and (2.) it takes a long time to make them so, since I can't make them during the week, we have to try to make them last as long as we can. Having a dog robbing us of a roll or two is definitely a hindrance to that goal. Edo constantly reminds her that she's a lucky dog to have owners who: let her sleep in their bedroom instead of outside in the cold, accept that she brings no income into the house and continue to keep her and feed her in spite of that, and don't beat her when she does something cheeky. Nevertheless, she has a sense of entitlement for these sorts of things and doesn't think it's anything special to be treated like a queen. Dogs, who'd have 'em?
The next weekend we went into Raleigh (yes, it's sad...where we live involves going "into Raleigh") for two reasons. First, we met Hanya at the Borders near where she lives to have a chat and also take advantage of an "educator's discount" offer thingy that they were having that day. Many of Edo's Christmas gifts have already been purchased which severely limited what he was permitted to buy, but I did allow him to pick up a book about Hitchcock. We've been watching a lot of his films lately and Edo likes to watch the Special Features to find out what was going through his mind when he made the film. I enjoy watching them because of Jimmy Stewart ;)
After we left Borders, we met Mom and Dad at the State Farmer's Market to buy our annual pumpkin and selection of gourds. Edo thought it seemed silly but that didn't stop him opining about which pumpkin would be most appropriate for our front porch. The gourds, however, he did not seem to care about, or for. But it's a tradition now that Mom and I have been doing for years and so the men just have to deal with it. The pumpkin/gourd arrangement will stay on our porch until after Thanksgiving, when the "Christmas Season" will officially begin.
By the time we'd finished shopping, we'd worked up quite an appetite so we decided to have dinner with Mom and Dad at the Ocean Stars restaurant in Apex. It's not the most well-known seafood restaurant in the area, but as fish camps go, it's probably the best. We figure it beats another more famous fish camp in Durham ;) by a mile. It's not exactly Michael Dean's, but that's a different kind of restaurant altogether anyway.
The next weekend was our annual family beach trip which, for reasons that we won't go into here, meant Mom, Dad, Alix, Edo and me. We stayed at a place in Surf City, NC which isn't exactly hopping this time of year (not that any of the beaches are, but this was even less than normal) but the beach was lovely and the house was nice too.
We were about 45 minutes from Wilmington so that Saturday afternoon we decided to go into Wilmington where we shopped a bit down by the Cotton Exchange, and then we ate on the river at Elijah's restaurant. The weather was perfect for it, and it didn't get cold until well after sundown so we were able to enjoy our meal outdoors. Edo and I shared the Carolina Bucket (quite literally a pail of seafood all steamed together with sausage, potatoes, and corn) and then a chocolate raspberry torte for dessert. Mom ate the Chef's Salad; she wasn't very hungry, and Dad got a cup of the NC seafood chowder and a fried oyster sandwich. He said the sandwich was great, and I tasted the soup which was delicious. He can keep the oysters. Blech.
The next day it was time to head home, so we left late-morning and made it to Raleigh early in the afternoon. We hung around Mom and Dad's house until 4:30 when we could leave to go collect Silver from the vets where she was being kennelled, and then we went home together. It was a great weekend but too short! Next year hopefully I'll be able to take a day or two off work so we can go down there and relax and enjoy the coast a bit more.
Finally, we reached the last weekend in October. That Saturday night was Stacy and Mike's Harvest Festival party. It was a costume party but Edo and I didn't dress up; we just weren't up for that this year. We did bring some meatballs which people seemed to enjoy and we also ate lots of the fantastic food that Stacy and Mike prepared. She made a chili with buffalo meat which was delicious. And her spiced cider was fabulous as always! We had to leave a little early (around 10:30) but it was nice to see everyone for a while anyway.
Melissa and Ken were there and I haven't seen Melissa in months and Ken in years so that was nice, and I also saw Jo whom I hadn't seen in months plus some old friends from college who showed up right as we were about to leave. It was a good night.
November is also fully booked so I'll be back in a month with my report ;)
Take care,
Tiffani
