Tic Tac Toe with Graham.  I let him win a game and then, um, he won another all on his own.  For real.

When Graham was getting ready to go to kindergarten, we got a letter in the mail with his school assignment.  Therefore, I’ve kind of been waiting to get a similar letter for Spencer.  What I didn’t take into account is that Graham, because of the developmental preschool he attended, was already in the school system.  Spencer is not.  Therefore I need to register him.  Pronto.  Stat.  Immediately.

Because of a change in legislation, Washington state residents will soon be able to buy liquor in grocery stores instead of in a state run liquor store.  Which means all the liquor stores are closing.  Which means the wine distributors are not selling wine there anymore.  Which means all the wine is discounted.  Which means I got two cases of decent wine for under $200.  (It’s for my classes!  Really!)

This was a busy week at Book Larder.  On Tuesday night, local chef Ethan Stowell came by to do a gnocchi making class.  I actually took this class at another spot last June, I wrote about it here, so it was really a treat to assist him this time.  Actually, he is incredibly organized and a terrific teacher so my “assisting” was turning on the stove, getting him a spoon, and washing the dishes.  The food, needless to say, was abundant and delicious.

Gail Simmons also came by to do a quick demonstration, chat about Top Chef and sign copies of her new book, Talking with My Mouth Full.  She was, no surprise, utterly charming and very funny.

Once upon a time, there was only one Starbucks in all the land and it was right in the Pike Place Market.  My parents, both big fans of good coffee, used to trudge all the way down there, a good half hour from our house, and stock up on beans.  I remember looking at these displays of beans as a child, the smell of the place, the uneven floor boards.  Now the original shop is always packed with tourists, always has people standing outside taking photos of the original logo (boobs and all), and I almost never go in.  But I was in the Market on a rainy Tuesday and there were only a few people inside.

In my sweet little neighborhood, there is an incredible coffee place and also a vegan donut shop.  The incredible coffee place often has a very long line, so I opt for the donut shop when wanting a cup of coffee.  (And, this being Seattle, the coffee is terrific.)  They usually have some crazy art installation but I thought this was particularly lovely.

Enough said.

One of the wonderful things about my new phone is that I can receive photos by text.  I got this last Saturday and I burst out laughing.  Randy has been taking the boys skiing every Saturday since January.  They are on the fence about it but they certainly like the hot chocolate afterward.