Talkin' 'Bout My Grill!

We worked outside today.  I climbed into one of our trees and trimmed some limbs out.  I also mowed the lawn for the first time while Cora worked on the front gardens.  She also helped me with the tree trimming, pointing out limbs that needed to be trimmed that I couldn't see.  Chloe was outside with us for part of it, but she was experiencing a grumpy day and took a nap in the morning and another in the afternoon, during which times we were able to get a lot done.

When Chloe was up, we ran to town and got some things we've been needing.  But, most importantly, today, I got the grill of my dreams.  I am in love, again.  She is dark and her body is hard and smooth.  Lovely legs but she smokes like a chimney.  

Our old grill was at least five years old, possibly six.  It was a 30 dollar Wal-Mart special, and we probably should have replaced it a couple years ago, but I am stubborn and jury-rigged it.  This Spring, however, it was on its last legs...literally.  It wobbled and was a safety hazard.  it was rusted and old.  It needs to die.

So, we bought a replacement today.  It is a Char-Broil, and it has the ability to place a smoker on it.  It is about 12 kinds of awesome.  I spent about 2 hours putting the thing together.  It has cast iron grills, you can raise and lower the charcoal deck, and it has a thermometer.  It also has a CHIMNEY!!  

 YES, I did place it on it's very own concrete pad...it even has white-walled tires!!

 You know, it will take me a while to get to know the ins and outs of it, but, by Gawd!  It makes some BADASS food!  Steak, zucchini, and asparagus.  The asparagus was a no go, since I forgot to put it in foil, and even though it looked done, it wasn't...we'll try that again later.  I guess I got a little excited and was raring to cook!  Here is a picture of my BADASS food!  LOOK AT THOSE GRILL MARKS!!  Just like a REAL Bar B Cue!

 So, yeah, it was a long day but it was well worth every little bit.  And Chloe, well she's as sweet as ever.  She loves her books.  She has come up with ways to react to certain pages in her books.  For instance, one book is about zoo animals that follow the zoo-keeper home.  The zoo-keeper's wife makes the discovery when the lights are out, and the two pages are black, but for the two eyes of the zoo-keeper's wife.  I usually say "Blink, blink," when we get to this page, Cora does something a little different, but Chloe now says, "OW," or "OH!" in a cute surprised kind of way.  She makes us laugh!

She always arranges herself on your lap, just so before you read her a book.  that opens up some fun.  One book is about monkey's drumming.  And at the end of every passage it goes, "Dum-ditty, dum, ditty, dum-ditty, DUM."  The lap shakes a bit for each dum-ditty.  Well, the last page has a million monkeys on their drums, and so, that makes the lap and Chloe really shake.  She knows it's on the last page and no matter who's lap she is on, you can watch the anticipation on her face as you build up to this great amount of shaking.

She is the best.  Honestly, SHE is my girl!