Beans!

It's started.... green beans in the garden, which means daily picking for a while, lest we miss one and all of a sudden we have a gargantuan bean lurking in our garden.

Calla helped yesterday, and together we picked just under a pound of beans.  Since I really am that much of a nerd, I know exactly: 15 3/8 oz.  If only we had picked just 4 or 5 more and it would have been an even pound.  I also made my first pesto of the season, with a mix of lettuce leaf, genovese, and Thai basil.  We roasted red potatoes in the pesto and they were a hit. 

Joe logged some good grill time this weekend, smoking about 5 lbs of chicken for dinner last night and 9 lbs of pulled pork for a party next weekend, weather permitting.  If weather doesn't permit, I have a lot of pulled pork in my freezer.  Visitors, guess what you're getting for three meals a day.


And today, we're bidding farewell to Jess and Ben, who are in process of moving to Baltimore this afternoon.  They've been about six hours away, which is probably the time it would take to drive to the airport and fly to visit them, so in that way, nothing has changed.  But the good state of Illinois feels a little emptier without them being just a train ride away.  Good luck, Jess and Ben!  Calla already asked when she can come and visit... so watch out!