Visitor!

Last Wednesday, we woke up and drove to the airport to pick up our visitor: Joe's mom!

Since then, time has really gotten away from us. We've been eating, and sight-seeing, and going to Joe's graduate student reading.

Today we drove out to EWU's main campus:

People back in Michigan are asking Joe's mom what the fall foliage looks like here.

"Brown," she says.  



 So I was excited to see this guy:



Tonight we ate dinner at a newish restaurant we've been wanting to try for months. It comes from the same owners as Madeleine's, an adorable and delicious French cafe downtown.

So we drove to the South Perry district, a little neighborhood southeast of downtown, and had a lovely meal at Casper Fry (named after their grandfather, a southern Baptist minister who used to preach in the same neighborhood). I love the industrial/antique/simple decor--the light fixtures, the chairs, the silver(real silver)ware, the old photos of Casper Fry, the painted brick, even the emergency exit sign...

...the drinks and the glasses they come in. This one's called a Westside (vodka,lemon, simple syrup, mint, and club soda). 
 

...the food. Everything was so flavorful and perfectly cooked, and they have a chalkboard on the wall telling you what local farm or ranch each item has come from. No pictures--I lost focus once our appetizer came out--sweet and spicy fried shrimp (in a sweet chili aioli!).

We've still got three full days of momtime left!