A New Chapter

Well we have clearly jumped off the deep end here and provided you, along with ourselves, an enticing twist in the Shoup Story. After visiting a friend here in town, just two doors down this beautiful Victorian caught my eye. And I thought... hmmm... what would I do with a house like that? Well after feeding my cravings for design by looking up the realtor and the pictures of this large beauty, we ventured off to look at it. Then, we ventured back to look again... and again. And now, we are in escrow to buy this beauty. Oh the things I could tell you about this house... let's just say it is HUGE, its like a wonderland... and hopefully in 60 days it will be The Shoup's Wonderland. Now, I will have to pay more attention over at the Nesting Place blog to get my ducks in a row... or should I say my wing back chairs in a row. Oh I am completely tickled! Click here to check out the digs to this house...


Another point to this fine day and this story is... the current owner of our future abode. After walking through the house I noticed some tropical touches, and endless seasonal place settings (obviously someone who cooks and entertains often)... and then the face and the cover of one of our family's favorite recipe books. Naam Priutt! ...and her book Lemongrass & Limes. In fact, it was in the sun room off of the master suite that our dear friend and realtor Amber just nonchalantly mentioned that this is where she writes her recipes. Now we all know I will not be carrying any torch to writing recipes... but any that know us, know that Paul's taste buds must be peaked and quenched with new foods regularly. So since we moved here in April 2006 and received this book as a gift as a housewarming gift... we have experienced Thai food regularly and we have been amazed at how simply extravagant this food does seem. Those two words 'simply extravagant' are an oxymoron in a sense, but truly it is fairly simple to find, purchase and prepare these foods, yet the experience of dining with them is a much more extravagant experience. ... oh, and surprisingly filling as well. Now I won' t be cutting up my fruits into extravagant shapes and features. But this book does offer a variety of meal courses and entertaining tips to prepare and carry off a splendid Thai dining experience.

Now, if only I could meet her this weekend at her rummage sale!