Eating Out!

We have had many themes around cooking and eating during our summers.  Some years we are inspired to cook a lot - grilling, slow cooker, new recipes, so many variations.  We have some things that are our "summer standards" - rice & beans, bran muffins, BLTs, local garden salads, homemade pizza dough with toppings, etc.  This year, more than ever, we have been tempted by local restaurants!  This past week, in particular, I have insisted that we clean out the fridge, not shop, and eat our dinners out.  We always love TWR beef, we happily tried a new Thai place in town, we cannot resist our Brakeman burgers, and Big Hole BBQ is a new favorite.  This week we also tried out the new Mexican place in town and found that they have the best tacos around.  Friday night, when we finally committed to going to the rodeo, we announced to our friends that we'd start the evening with dinner at Tony's Pizza (much to our kids' disappointment, we had not yet dined at Tony's this summer), and the Wilcoxes and Batchens joined us.  It was a very fun evening.  Tonight as we were headed out, the Russells called and told us they'd like to join us for a "good-bye" dinner but didn't want to eat at TWR, lest Susy be easily called away (as can happen way too easily), so we agreed to meet them at Warbirds Cafe!  We ended up having a very fun evening, eating out on the patio and enjoying a few takeoffs and landings (the local private airport).  We all sense that we haven't had enough time with the Russells, who we would consider some of our best family friends ever, so each moment together is cherished.  I genuinely miss my time with Susy when I'm not here - and I know she feels the same way.  I hope to sneak in a quick run with her tomorrow morning (Sun 8/19), but if it doesn't work out I'll be grateful for the time we've had, even if some of it has been at restaurants!