I have so many words, which pretty much means I have no words.

I have to blather through or this will forever continue to be on my “todo” list. The Mr. keeps asking how my blog is coming whenever he sees me wasting time.

Silky jacket weather and my best boy…

Summer is camping…

More often than not, we go with Mike and Kristy. As you have likely figured out.
They match our vibe.

I have perfected my salsa recipe.
It is, of course, in the details: blend tomatoes, jalapeños, shallots, cilantro, and salt in the food processor, that way all the ingredients are small and the same size, perfect for getting ALL the ingredients on a chip. (Jared salsa is basically tomato sauce with too big chunks of onions and tomatoes, that is simply not okay.)
After you blend it up drain all the liquid off and either boil the liquid down to something that resembles tomato sauce, and then dump that back in with the salsa – or leave out. But watery salsa is also not okay.
I’ve also used that liquid when I make taco meat).
So it either tastes like fresh pico, or a jared salsa/pico hybrid. Both are delightful.

moxa
ˈmäk-sə 

: a soft woolly mass prepared from the ground young leaves of a Eurasian artemisia (especially Artemisia vulgaris) that is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine typically in the form of sticks or cones which are ignited and placed on or close to the skin or used to heat acupuncture needles.

My love of good food is what has always stopped me from ever doing any hike-in camping.
Dehydrated food is so meh…

Omaha dogs are not.

To the best Dad ever!
I did send him these on Fathers’s Day.

I’m trying to photograph more with my phone, however the pictures are so blaaaa. (My big camera breaks my back, 20 years of lugging it everywhere takes a toll.)
**I just got a new phone, we’ll see if the upgrade does the trick.
Sometimes it IS about the equipment. I just need to watch some videos on how to use it to its full potential.
Every time I get a new camera I read the instruction manual cover to cover. Understanding your equipment is more than half the battle… I am my father’s daughter.

He’s such a handsome boy…

Rhubarb is June.

Montana!

The Mr. joined me this time. 2020 was the last time he was there.
It was a busy one.
My parents 60th wedding anniversary, my Dad’s 80th birthday, and my best friend’s wedding, all rolled up into one tidy weekend.

Montana is so full of love. I feel it for weeks after I get back.

I wish I could go there more so I didn’t need to push so much into my trips.

Breakfast with Nat.
Natalie Jean Tucker. We met in church in 1990.

The “breakfast” at the Red Lodge Lounge was the best meal we had on our trip.
They made me a mushroom and swiss and onion rings at 10am. You win a forever spot in my heart for that behavior. James had a breakfast burrito with perfectly crispy home fries. Good food makes us so happy.

It’s changed a lot in the 30+ years I have been eating there, but it is always fantastic.

Cold beverage. Hot day.

J’s first.
And last.
That kid in the background is thinking “don’t do it, it’s shit!”

King got married! and I got to be there!
It was hot and social, and lovely and bright.

I stood up with her 25 years ago when she married her first husband and I got to stand up with her again when she married Charlie. I love that I have a friendship that spans that long. Maybe it’s taboo to talk about an old marriage, while showing pictures of the new one, but I’m going to. I feel all stages of life should be celebrated, some for lessons, some for joy.

There was a lot of history at this wedding.

It was a great day…

Her best friends.

And sister. And newly crowned sister-in-law (who is an absolute doll and a perfect addition to the family).

It is surreal when you get to the inevitable ” I remember when you were born” stage in life.
But, I remember when he was born!
This is King’s son Cooper.

This gentleman (upper right) is one of the groom’s best friends, and who I was dating in 1993 when King and Charlie dated the first time. Besties dating besties. Nothing could be better in high school.

Hey Josh O’Shea! (I ran into him at the wedding ) (I know he reads my blog) is your cell number still the same?

This Lady… Over my years on this earth I have gathered a tidy collection of superior, wise – mostly scary women into my life. King’s mom “Mother Teresa” is one of those.
I feel deeply honored to be loved by her.

My dad’s 80th birthday, and my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary happened this year.
So, we had a party!

LOTS of friends and family…

My squishy new great-niece, Annie Rose.

Edward – My niece Casey Jane’s oldest son.

Billy, 1/2 of Casey Jane’s twins… unfortunately the other half, Henry, was in the hospital all weekend.

My oldest sister Mary Kay’s youngest son, Luke.

And youngest, Emma.

Cake and milk (cake in milk? I actually don’t know what the official name is – one of my ancestors just gasped). It’s a family thing, on my dad’s side.
It’s exactly what you’d think, (boxed) cake. in. milk. and it’s my favorite.

My oldest sister is a force.
She is definitely the most complex human in my life. I love her with every fiber of my being.
She picks up a lot of the slack in our family. I don’t have enough days to write on this subject.

See! It’s totally a thing.
Try it, maybe you will like it, maybe it will be your new favorite thing.
Now I want some…

My parent’s true, great love – Sam.

My brother-in law, Mark.
A unique/lovely individual. And one of my favorites.

Ethan, his girlfriend Emily, Sarah, Jeanne, Emily, Katie Grace, Annie Rose, and Tim.

My middle sister is one of my very most all-time favorite people.
I can’t sum up this picture, there is too much in it.
My sister raised some very cool kids.

AHaHaHa!!! YES! Our hotel room decor.

I hope I don’t hurt anyones feelings, because I mean this with pure love, but I feel like I’m in a reality television show when I’m home. It is so perfectly cliché sometimes, it is pure entertainment.

This is awesome… Edward (you met earlier).

We are all easily overwhelmed in my family.
We go on a lot of walks.

His favorite Montana coffee on the way out…

Chicago airport date night.

Lucky penny… It’s the only thing I collect. I have a whole jar.
I keep threatening to buy a lottery ticket with them. I don’t think I quite have 200, close.

Tomorrow, or today (whenever you are reading this) is “No Rhyme or Reason Day”.
Go do some weird shit, just because.
Most of us have the day off, so…

Until next time, Loves…