I’m getting my hair done this afternoon!!!!! I’m happy to say that working as a hair person for 11 years has not jaded me to the joy of having someone else mess with my head for two hours… Yes folks, cut AND color today…

I’ve been having a hard time lately with the whole concept of eating out. I love going somewhere where I can relax and have someone else do the work. I love love love to cook but sometimes I just need to get out of the house. So my problem lies in the quality of food at 99% of all supposably good restaurants. At home we eat as organic and grass fed as possible; really good quality food is hugely important to both of us. So sitting staring at a menu of ingredients I wouldn’t buy myself gives me anxiety. How can I relax when I’m eating a twenty dollar salad that is full of chemicals?

Why yes, I am the hippie of the family…

So this is my new favorite restaurant… It’s a place I can go and not feel panicky. They get it…

And everyone is happy.

I’m not sure if that’s Robert Smith or a witch. Or a combination of the two…

Sufie Poet demi bowl with their amazing hot sauce. It’ll put a smile on your face…

So it’s the next day… I got my hair done and I’m not horrified. I’m not super impressed either. Color is great, cut is so so (my hair no longer gets pulled out by my camera strap which is good) The hairdresser was dull and said like three words. Boring! I guess the search continues…

What did they feed you, kitty?

My mom used to make salmon patties when I was little. I decided to try. I added a few extra ingredients to make them a little more us…

Salmon Patties…

• one 6oz can of salmon (or fresh)
• handful of chopped spinach
• chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup finely ground bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp red pepper
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 egg
• pepper to taste
• lemon wedge

Mix all the ingredients together, except the lemon (works easier with your hands).

Form into patties (about three) and throw them in the pan on med/low heat. Don’t quote me on this but I think it takes about five minutes on each side.

Squeeze the lemon over the top when your done… wa la. Lunch!

I also attempted homemade mayo for the first time… Anthony, I thought of you. Happy Birthday one day late…

So here’s my conclusion. Olive oil is too strong tasting or at least I think so. It’s not like you use a few dashes, it’s closer to 3/4 cup per egg so it will set the flavor. I will try again with grapeseed oil next time.

You can double or triple this recipe but keep in mind it doesn’t keep for longer than four days or so.

Mayonnaise…

• 3/4 c oil of your choosing
• 1 egg yolk (not a whole egg)
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard
• juice from 1/2 a lemon (or 1/4 depending on your taste)
• salt and pepper to taste
• red pepper if you choose (and I do)
• stand mixer

You could try this by hand, but keep in mind you will have to whisk for about 30 minutes. That sounds like the opposite of fun.

So, add everything but the oil to your mixer bowl, mix for a few seconds on medium.

After that start adding the oil a tiny drizzle at a time, literally. Make sure the oil is mixed in before you add more. I used a turkey baster for more control. If you add it too fast it will turn into a slimy mess.

When it gets as thick as you want, you’re done! It really does take like 20-30 min, even with a stand mixer.

Oh ya, and it won’t be white. It will be yellow. How could it not since two of the ingredients are egg yolks and dry mustard? Makes me wonder how they make it white…?  Bleach?

My husband (because he is fantastic) told me to go have a day at the spa. So I did.

It was great! Massage, facial, mani/pedi. Great way to spend an afternoon…

I love love love angry weather! Makes me so miss storm chasing…

JCA, I hope these make you smile… Love you tons!

We had a very productive three day weekend… Tons done inside and out.

YAY!!!!! No more sage! The kitchen is one of the few rooms that we can paint now. We (I mean my husband) decided not to paint until we replace the windows, he’s right of course. Do it right once…

The windows in the kitchen and both bathrooms are new though, so we’re starting there…

We prettied the front of the house a bit: planted a few flowers, trimmed the bushes, trimmed the grass, moved rock. I no longer feel like “those neighbors”. We plan on redoing every square inch of our outside space by this time next year. There is certainly no reason to look like white trash until then…

Future home of our new fire pit. Right where my husband knocked the old one down… I love it when he does manly things.

And here is where my rhubarb patch is going to be. I want to squeal every time I think about it! I wish my crowns would get here…

I knocked my African Violet off the bench. Anyone who knows about these plants knows that if you look at them wrong a leaf snaps off. And if it gets knocked off a shelf,  it’s pretty much toast.

I wanted to cry… There has been two plants growing happily in this tiny pot for years; flowering constantly…  So I picked up what was left and replanted them in two pots. It was like separating siamese twins… It made my heart hurt.

Upcycling makes me smile!

Our first bbq meal of the season (we finally got our tanks filled)… It was glorious! And it looked great on my new favorite thrift store find of year…

The first day of summer is on the 20! Plan something outdoorsy to celebrate, or plant something… Or drink a Bloody Mary (outside).

Happy Thursday Loves!