A Really Perfect Labor Day

What could be better?  Chopper's home, the yard is mown (Chopper just said "the yard is MOAN??" but that is a legitimate past participle of mow so now you've learned something), the weather is 84 DEGREES!!!!!  I kid you not.  We have had a cold front and it is glorious!!

So of course after weeks of being trapped inside while the girls go crazy, we had to go outside and revel in it!

 So we started with some yard work which involved Chopper mowing the lawn (I think it's been a month since he touched it but who can blame him?), I  pulled a few weeds (very few -- you know how I feel about dirt and bugs), Abby and Megan drew on the driveway, ran around with this feathery frondy things from our bushes that we hate, and played with bubbles -- well bubble solution really.

Then our neighbors came out to play and we caught up and I learned that Megan is one bossy little girl!  She kept telling the 6-year old what to do.  Sigh.  I think that's first-child syndrome -- we all know that I have it!!

After lunch Abby took a great nap and I started painting our bedroom!

Can you tell?  It's gray and I love it!  I'll take better pictures when it's done, the furniture is back together, and the light is better.

Then Chopper finally did what he's been talking about for years (YEARS, SERIOUSLY!).  He grilled/smoked a rack of ribs.

Kind've a problem when you don't have a smoker right?  Apparently not.

 Here's his nice little grill all rigged up . . . 

 And the ribs rubbed and ready to go!

 Smoked with hickory chips . . . 

 And carefully watched by Megan (who knows what hot means and stays away from the grill.  Abby on the other hand was temporarily banished to the house and cried like it was the end of the world.  She LOVES being outside.  Thank goodness for fall.)

 And voila! (I've been saying that a lot lately, haven't I?)

 Don't they look great?

 Abby thinks so.

 Here we go, first bite dry to test the flavor and power of the rub . . . survey says . . . too salty!  WHAT?!?!?!  Alton Brown has failed us.

 So we'll try it with sauce.  Megan REALLY REALLY liked this part -- "painting the ribs".  She kept asking for more.  Oh, and by the way, you know all those parenting books that say when you involve a child in the cooking process it gets them interested and they're more likely to eat the end result?  Lies, all lies.  Megan did not eat a single rib or even lick her fingers.  She just wanted to paint.

Abby didn't get any ribs after all.  But she ate hot dogs and olives like there was no tomorrow.  Which according to her stomach, there's no two hours later, let alone a tomorrow!!

So the ribs were a little disappointing.  Actually, the ribs themselves were really good -- Chopper's wonky smoker really worked -- it was just the rub.  Sad.

But it really was a perfect day like I said.  Family together.  Everyone happy (and I do mean everyone -- no time outs for Megan!), great weather, and working on the house.  Gee we have lots of blessings!  I hope everyone else's was just as good!