Oh Brother!

Last week on my trip through the midwest I stopped at my older brothers house. I hadnt been there in about 12  years.  Shameful, I know.  So here are some things from my visit and a possibly a few random photos.

Here is my brother and I when we were little. 

When we still liked each other. 

You know, before the teen years hit us like a ton of bricks.

There were two other siblings, but they came later.

I drove by the house that we lived in as teenagers.  It hasnt changed a bit.  Except it used to be a yellow color. And there weren't rails on the porch. And there used to be a giant rose bush to the left that attacked him once. And that fence didnt used to be around the yard. Okay so it has changed a little. But so have we. We grew up. Grew apart.  Matured and grew back together.  We have more in common.  Enjoying the finer things: family, friends, food and nice wine.  (Okay so the wine is all me, but there is still time for him to learn ;)

 Here he is! Making me dinner.

He made Jambalaya while I envied his wildly curly hair.

He chopped lots of veggies.

Here is a pepper I picked out of his garden. 

 And other stuff.

And the bacon.  Yum 

 Some chicken breast. Look at those hands chop away.

Those are some excessively musically gifted hands.

 Some of the best sausage I have ever had.

 Then it was outside to cut the herbs.

More chopping.

Stir it all together.

 And add some rice. Love the way he meassures. Just like me!

 Notice it has changed at bit? 

He added some tomato sauce and wine.

 Now on to dessert while it simmers.

Simple, delicious pumpkin cupcakes.

 I spooned them into the liners. Messy, I know.

And yes they have Christmas print.  Hey, gotta use what you got.

 Mmm cooling in the window.  Can you smell that?

 Get a little closer.  How about now?  

Mmmm mmm so fall like.

 Frosting the minis.

 And now, just as important as the cooking is the clean up.

I would have helped but you know,  I had a camera in my hand.

 Opening a bottle of wine for us.  OKAY, okay, for me!

 And viola'.  Dinner was served.

 Then we kicked back and watched a movie with his babies.

See that cross in the back ground?  Its mine now.  I love it.

 Does this photo looked staged?

I am starting to ramble. It's time to go. Just one more thing.

I took this shot in his back yard.

Do you see the irony? Or is it just me?