Happy Birthday Katie!

Today, my lovely wife turns 27 years old! With our readers help, let's have at least 27 comments about why we love Katie! Happy Birthday babe!


(We both wish we were back there on your birthday...ah Mexico!)

A Tradition Unlike Any Other

The weekend is upon us. Not just any weekend, I'm talking about Saturday and Sunday at the Masters. This is my favorite major, and its all the more special that it is the first one every year.

I was lucky enough to go to a practice round in 2007, and it was everything I had expected, and then some. The history, the course, the pro's, and surprisingly enough, the food.

All the food prices are surprisingly low. Apparently they haven't changed in years. Another little tidbit is that the wrappers for most all the food is green. Seems normal. But the reason they are green is that if they don't make it into the trash cans, they will blend into the turf while the cameras are rolling.


This is where I fell in love with pimento cheese sandwiches. My parents ate them a lot when I was growing up, and they always just looked horrible. But, I had never tried them until I went to Augusta.

When Katie and I were going through some cookbooks we got for our wedding, we found a recipe for Pimento Cheese spread, and we had to make it. Here's the recipe:
- 8 ounces each of extra sharp white cheddar and extra sharp yellow cheddar cheese (finely grated)
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise (NOT MIRACLE WHIP)
- 1 4 oz. jar of pimentos (drained and finely chopped)
- 2 teaspoons yellow onion (finely grated)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 3 tablespoons hot salsa
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup chopped pitted green olives (Optional, and we never include)

Stir all this together, and refrigerate, covered for 2 hours "to allow the flavors to develop."

Other than grating the cheese, this is an easy recipe. It makes a lot of spread, which is a good thing because its delicious. Now, armed with a P.C. sandwich or two and a glass of milk, lets watch some golf!

While the Kat's away

Katie is out of town for a few days in New York City (NEW YORK CITY!? Get a rope) With that Maybel, Blake and Maverick and I decided to go on a camping trip to the South Cumberland State Park. We were specifically headed to the Savage Gulf area, and had a 18 mile round trip hike planned. We got there late Friday (around 9:45) so we camped there by the car, and headed out Saturday morning around 9.


Having never been to this park, I must say it is amazing. Some of the views from the top of the trails are great. The route we chose was pretty strenuous, a lot of up and down and very little flat ground. Somewhere close to 800-900 feet in elevation change going down and coming back up.

The dogs were pretty good. I was a little nervous at first, since Maybel had run off on Thursday night for about 30 minutes. But having her off the leash was not a problem. They got in trail mode, and stayed on the path most of the day.

After hiking 5 miles, you would think Maybel wanted to rest. Think again....



We got to Collins East around 3:00, and Maybel and I were wiped out. Partly because we had slept about 4 hours the night before, and partly because of the crazy hard trail. She slept great last night.


Got up this morning, hit the trail by 8:00, and we were back in the car by 1:00. It was a great trip, but I will be paying for it for the next few days. I am going to be walking funny because of these sore calves! Maybel also has a few raw spots on her feet, so we both look pretty sad. Hopefully, we'll be back to normal by Tuesday night when Katie gets back.


I think she's tired...

There's more to post about (our new home for one) but that will come. Right now, I've got to catch up on Friday Night Lights!