I don’t think I’ve gone this long between posts, this is going to be a long one… grab wine.

Hmmmm, what to say about Monday…

I don’t hate whoever did this, I refuse to poison myself with destructive emotion for someone who doesn’t deserve a second thought. It was simply an act of cowardice.

Instead, I choose to focus on the love. There was far more kindness and compassion that day.

I don’t think this will faze Boston. It’s not that no one cares, they do… deeply, but everything I’ve read seems to focus more on the amazing people of this city helping in anyway they could, not the bomber. It is a nice change.

I predict a record breaking marathon next year; Bostonians refuse to be terrorized.

May he or she responsible find themselves publicly identified wandering around the North End… I think the Italians would handle it with grace.

The amazing view from the top of the tower we found while exploring the woods by our house… We find something cool every time we go for a hike.

Someone had broken down the door, so of course I went up to the top.

And they were fantastic! I love being around people who love to garden as much as I do. I can’t wait to take advantage of all the great classes and gatherings put on by these guys…

Happy dog place.

I miss you Casey Jane!

My babies are not babies anymore, they are all getting huge!

I never liked parsley, to me it had no flavor, now that I’ve had fresh cut I’m seriously hooked.

I went to a seed swap the other night… love.

I just love those two…

One of my very best friends (who is also a photographer) flew out to visit me for a week. We had such a blast!

I so miss all my girls…

If I had money I would take turns flying everyone to me.

I was photographing the owl, how on earth did I miss the bat wings! I may have to go back.

Essex is an entire town of antique shops. They’re mostly big ol houses converted, It takes an hour and a half just to get through one. I kinda have an ADD freak out moment every time I turn a corner. It truly is heaven.

Amen Sistah!

Wynn was doing her evil cackle.

I love having Kari around, I’m not the only one laying on the sidewalk looking like an idiot.

We rode the carousel at the Commons, we laughed so hard our stomachs hurt. I’m not going to say why, maybe you’ll figure it out.

Smartie pants lost her ID and two credit cards while shooting (I’m sure squatting in some weird position caused them to fall out of her pocket). I can’t believe we found them, God bless honest people!

Boston cream pie at the Omni (where it was invented) for lunch. Should be on everyones Boston to do list…

I want a pineapple plant….

Beauty and the Bruce… yum.

Ahhh, she makes me laugh.

Oh my gosh, it’s me! I’m not really on here very often. HI!!!!

I love you girl!!! You made my month.

This is in my top three restaurants. I LOVE this place… and truffle fries.

My two favorite red heads!

My dear friend with the last name of

sent me a gift in the mail… dried lavender for my bedside table. The bowl she sent to put it in (that called to her from across a thrift store) is exactly the same as the one I broke two days before getting the package. Good timing girl! You know me well.

I break stuff, it’s a curse. It will look beautiful in a stepping stone… along with all the other treasures I’ve broken and can’t get rid of.

Tamiko and I went to the city garden to pick up rain barrels, tis a glorious place, I wish it was closer.

Lynn needs a city garden. Hmmmm

My love! Rhubarb.

I was talking to the couple that owns my favorite little garden center, and they said they don’t carry it because no one asks for it anymore. That is sad to me, everyone used to have a patch in their garden.

I now have eight patches. I planted five more starts last week because I thought the ones I planted last year fried because I planted them too late. Ummm no, three are coming back up. Maybe I’ll be the rhubarb lady at the farmers market…

Flowers for my momma…

And they lived happily ever after…

I can hear my mother… “shame on you, Barbara!” I have one where we’re not flipping Kari off, but the light is better in this one, and that’s what really matters.

It’s Earth Day on Monday… I love Earth Day even though I think it’s bullshit that it’s only one day a year. Sigh… Someday people won’t have to be reminded not to be a life suck.

Happy National Cheeseball Day Loves!

This is post number 90. Oi!

And it’s the first day of Spring.

NOT THAT IT LOOKS ANYTHING LIKE SPRING… It snowed another foot yesterday. I’m over it. Still.

I wanted to plant my peas. BOO!

I have been day dreaming about my plot a lot lately. Where everything will go, what I will get to work on first when the snow finally melts (in f-ing July).

I did order some goodies yesterday… Six raspberry bushes, a black currant bush, a serviceberry tree/bush, a grape vine and 60 strawberry plants (yes 60, I love strawberrys). I’m going to try the rain gutter thing that’s all the rage on pinterest.

I went to a small dog meetup the other week, I thought Wynn would have fun playing with other small dogs… Not so much, she didn’t move from this spot other than a couple times to go scratch at the door. She is such my dog… We try.

Yes, I know what they look like. But they taste pretty damn good.

Paleo Ginger Snaps… kinda

Preheat oven to 325

• 1 c coconut flour
• 1 c almond flour
• 1/2 c molasses
• 1/4 c chopped almonds and pistachios (or whatever you have)
• 1/4 c dried fruit such as craisins, blueberries, raisins (chopped small)
• 1 tsp dried ginger
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 stick of butter (1/3 c) soft
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 scoop protein powder (optional)

Combine dried stuff in a mixing bowl. Add wet stuff.  Mix until combined.

They don’t spread out like regular cookies so you need to make patties by hand before you put them on the cookie sheet.

Cook for around 15 min (check at 12) I honestly can’t remember what time worked… Make a test cookie if you don’t want to wing it.

We made the trek to Jersey for a little family time… And the Columbus flea market. It’s still my favorite.

My christmas cactus bloomed again! Lucky me. If the snow would go away, maybe he would stop getting confused.

My seeds have grown so much in the time since I took these.

Tomato

Sweet Pepper

Celery

Parsley

This is one of our favorite deserts… It’s kinda like an apple pie without the crust.

Preheat oven to 350

• Add around 4 TBLsp butter to the bottom of the oven-safe bowl.
• Peel and cut up six apples.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon, around 2 tsp.

Bake for 15 minutes then stir. Bake for another 10-15 minutes. Take out of the oven when apples are cooked and soft. Stir again, push apples down into the juice and let sit for 10 minutes.

I use sweet apples so I don’t need to add any sweet, you may want to.

Happy First Day of Spring Loves!

I hope the next post is better, this one kinda blewwwwwwwww.

One year ago, we were in sunshine and warm weather.

My beautiful orchid we brought back with us from the wedding, is blooming like crazy. All the blooms fell off (along with my other orchid) when I moved them from the front porch, to my office window. I try not to take it personal when my orchids give me the finger. I still love them, like a mother loves a teenager.

Happy Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Wags! I think you should get married again next year.

From our BIG snow…

We got some good snow days out of it.

Our rain gutters could not be any crappier if they were upside down.

They do make for beautiful icicles though.

Everyone needs sunshine.

I do not miss this… “There is a snowflake on the ground, it’s still my parking spot!”

Pants looking like he wants to eat my soul… cats, so much disdain.

I had a simply lovely, love day, with my love.

Needles, herbs, plastic bodies with removable parts, and a waiter who sounded exactly like Dr. Janosz Poha from the Ghostbusters. I kept waiting for him to come over and tell me everything I was doing was wrong.

My new indoor seed starting set-up. It’s going to be so cool!

I started my first set of seeds on Sunday, they’re germinating on my ironing board even as we speak.  Tomatoes, peppers, onions, parsley, celery and brussels sprouts. I just peaked and I have a brussels sprout poking through, and a few onions. They are so cute when they’re little…

I had an evil ol bat yell at me while taking these pictures. I’ve never had someone yell at me for taking pictures before. I wasn’t anywhere near her property, or disturbing her in any way. She just couldn’t understand why someone would be so close to the ground with a camera, therefore, she wanted to destroy me… and my little dog too. I stayed an extra special long time on that sidewalk, cause that was the kind of mood I was in. Mean people suck.

Banana chips are the best!

Quick hair trip to New Hampshire.

The only thing I miss about long hair, going six months without a haircut.

I love everything about coffee, except the taste.

Another in my attempt to make the perfect sweet potato chip. Deep fried in coconut oil. Tasted good, still not crunchy.

I love getting what I can off etsy. Why, you ask?

Because of this…

and this.

Great people who own small businesses and take the time for finishing touches.

Cheers to you!

Oh! I went and looked at my first studio spaces. They were no where near what I has looking for, I had the best time!

This is the only element out of three spaces that turned my head.  It was like looking at someone wearing a plain, generic, 1990’s pant suit with red frye t-straps… The wall was beautiful, but it couldn’t save the outfit.

My perfect space is out there…

Happy 40 Joe! It actually is your birthday today.

We had a great time celebrating with everyone.

Melissa, you make me smile.

Matty being the best Godfather ever…

Happy cold, windy, dark, miserable f-ing day Loves!

Come on Spring!

There is 2 feet of snow outside… Part of me wants to go photograph and the other part wants to jump on a plane and go to Belize. I spend so much time in my house, I live here and work here.  I kinda feel trapped at the moment.

Instead, I will post images from my birthday; walking around in 59 degree weather, in my favorite city.

We stayed here…

My husband planned the whole thing. I love being married to someone who knows how pleasant I become when stuck doing something I don’t want to be doing, but still has the confidence to surprise me,  knowing full well I do not like 99% of all surprises either. He’s a keeper.

The Liberty is a fantastic place! For all of you who don’t know about this marvelous place, it used to be the prison.

Best of all, they are Wynn friendly. I love dog lovers!

Every Wednesday night in the summer they have doggie courtyard night. Have a drink and surround yourself with pooches. Oh yes, that will happen this summer, often!

The Liberty is right across the street from the MGH T stop (our lovely T is also dog friendly) so really, it’s the perfect Wednesday night date. Win Wynn!

Yeah, I know it’s out of focus. You can’t win em all.

We ate and drank like kings, and never left the building. Simply perfect if  your birthday lands at the end of January.

We stayed the night of the 29, so tecnically it was not my birthday yet. We celebrated my mother’s birthday instead… She would have passed on the oysters. Oh, but they were soooo good, probably the best I’ve ever had.

Red Snapper is my favorite fish, and guess what happened to be the special that night….?

The Mr. had an unagi, sweet potato and fig pizza. A very happy J.

Our scenery while waiting for the elevator, not bad at all…

My actual birthday was perfect. The weather was unseasonably warm, so we took a very long stroll around Beacon Hill. (At what distance does a stroll cease to be a stroll, or does it have more to do with the speed in which you are walking?)

Birthday cake: salted caramel and gluten free chai tea cupcakes. So friggin good.

AND THEN WE WENT TO THE BEACH!

Made my soul sing…

I believe this is the wave that filled my boots with water…

I got spoiled with presents…

Thankfully Wynn got new shampoo and conditioner for my birthday, she was a complete disaster after walking around the melting city.

This is my oldest treasure from childhood. My parents bought me this mug in Canada when I was four. I use it all the time and it still looks new.

I drink a lot of tea… I’m actually drinking some now.

We headed to Harvard sq. so the Mr. could get more work done on his tattoo.

I do love his number one ink gal… She is a groovy chic and amazing at her job,

What do you do to get more medium chain fatty acids into your diet…?

This is J’s new love. Coffee with grass fed butter and organic coconut oil.

Don’t scoff until you try. If I liked coffee, I’d be all over this. I did try them in hot chocolate and it was amazing!

Give it a whirl and see what you think.

Happy Snow Day Loves!!!!

I will post some winter wonderland photos in the near future.

I’ve been writing this all day, here and there… And into the next day.

I turn 35 in four days. I feel pretty good about that.

When I turned 28 (have your shit together year of my 20’s) I was in my second year of college. I had really nothing more than “what”  figured out. I knew I wanted to photograph until the day I die. I didn’t need much more than that knowledge to feel ok with where I was… I still don’t.

I will officially be closer to my 40’s than to my 30’s.  The aging process is so surreal.

I remember my mom turning fourty. Black balloons and learning what”over the hill” meant.

I appreciate you always sharing your birthday with me. You already shared so much of yourself.

I love you.

Ya Baby!

I do love to bowl…

Mango Sorbet

• Two ripe mangos, peeled and cut up.
• 1/4 – 1/2 c pineapple juice
• 1/16 c triple sec (or so)

Mix with a hand blender until smooth. Cover and put mix in the fridge for 4-ish hours to chill. Use whatever you use to make ice cream and go to it. I have the kitchenaid bowl. It takes about 20 minutes.

Bowling and the ocean in one week! I am a lucky girl.

Ahhh, hot wings.

Happy Almost End of January Loves!

J and I went out for breakfast New Years Day, to one of our new regular spots. J LOVES their corned beef hash.

We ended up sitting next to me and my girlfriends 15 years ago… Poor posture, last nights makeup and slept on hair.

It made me smile inside. Partly for not being anywhere near twenty anymore, and part for finally being able to appreciate the crazy life I used to lead without dwelling on the infinite number of stupid things that should have ended in my death…

They were talking about the previous evenings drama: how hard it was for girl number one to get girl number two’s drunk ass out the door, the nerve of that one guy hitting on girl number one, that bitch trying to start a fight with girl number two… giggling the whole time.

The only difference between these girls and the past us’ was the amount of “wickeds” in the conversation…

Some of my very early twenty gals on New Years Eve (at least 15 years ago)…GOOD TIMES!

I can’t believe I ever drank bud light… yuk. Thank the Lord for maturing taste palates.

Now, I drink tea.

This recipe is for Toni, the newest member to the paleo family…

Like most recipes, I don’t have a name for it.

For Toni Soup:

• one container of chicken broth (get a case of organic chicken broth at costco (not cans) if you don’t want to make your own every time). We’ll talk about bone broth later…
• one can of coconut milk
• heaping tblsp of tai chili sauce
• heaping tblsp of red curry paste (more to taste)
• salt and pepper to taste
• one can of diced tomatoes, liquid included
• two chopped red, yellow or orange peppers
• a couple chopped celery stalks
• chopped smallish onion
• Meat of some sort, I used fish (tricky) in this batch. Chicken is great!
• whatever else veggie wise you want to throw in there. I have used: water chestnuts, cauliflower, spinach, bamboo shoots, cabbage, bok choy, kale… Stick to veggies that hold up to cooking for a bit (or add the weaker ones in at the end).

Starting with all the liquids and spices, throw it all in a large pot and cook until veggies are soft . I sometimes saute the onions and celery first in a little butter, then add.

Enjoy my friend…

Christmas is still around…

Hi…

I have been trying to master sweet potato chips. Not easy. What I’ve learned so far…

Essentials… Meat slicer (they have to be thin and evenly cut so stick to smaller sweet potatoes unless you have a heavy duty slicer, mine isn’t). Baking rack, I don’t think they exist so I will try a cooling rack that doesn’t leach poison; laying them on a tray doesn’t seem to work.

I tried this route, it would have probably worked better if I hadn’t gone upstairs to work on photos and forgot to set a timer. Awesome.

Let me know if any of you hear of a method that works… I’ll keep trying.

Some of my successes (there were a few). They went perfect with a big ol Montana burger.

My new year is going great! I still feel inspired and driven every day.

Thanks in part to great friends that are just as determined to make their lives and careers exceptional.

Just keep moving forward, with purpose…

Happy Thursday Loves!!

“Oh my God, I shot my eye out!”

Of course I started Christmas day out with the Christmas Story, didn’t you?

SONSABITCHES, BUMPASSES!!

Then I got to hang out with my husband (kinda). Isn’t technology grand…?

It was actually a white Christmas… love.

Garlic scapes peaking out…

Christmas night walk with my favorite girl…

I wanted to do the whole house, the Mr. said no. Sigh.

Any Christmas lights are good in my book…

Cigars and dinner in the city with friends…

Dinner with friends twice in one week, lucky us!

This time at our house.

Topped off with a bonfire in a blizzard…

And cake!

Blizzard aftermath sure is pretty…

I’m really excited for the new year… Who isn’t? Fresh starts, goals, reflection… I can’t wait!

We wrote our 2013 goals out on our way back from Montana, we certainly had time.

I have a ton of course, always do, but they are all attainable…

My main goal is a hard one, not as concrete as most, and nearly impossible to  gauge… I am going to stop trying to be so perfect. (It may sound silly, but it really messes with my brain.) I come from a whole family of perfectionists, I learned from the best. We are seriously hard on ourselves if we produce anything that isn’t up to par. I don’t get things done that I should because I can’t seem to do a “perfect” enough job. I’d rather not do it if I can’t do it to the quality I think it should be. I’m terrified someone will say it’s not good enough; even writing this I imagine people saying nothing you do is anywhere near perfect… What the Fuck!

So, this year I will try my hardest to be perfect at being imperfect.

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY NEW START LOVES!!

The 20 of December just isn’t the same without you…

I made my wreaths this year… I hauled whatever looked cool from around my parents house back with me from Montana. Then loaded the back of my car with greenery that I found at a Christmas tree lot (for a whopping five dollars). And went to town…

Banana bread for my little banana bread lover in Wyoming…

My old girl is dying… She has limped along for three years longer than I thought she would. The new year brings a new computer; I am happy and sad.

Hope you are doing something worthy of the first day of winter tomorrow… I am, I don’t know what it is yet.

Have a fantastic day Loves!

I always think the images from my travels home should be better than they end up. I love it there, it’s familiar and there’s always a lot going on. I guess I just want to visit and not photograph…

First stop on our very looooong road trip, Jersey diner food with the in-laws…

Love…

My husband thanking God for his 6 scotch sampler for lunch in Laramie…

And good ranch for his wife so she will stop bitching about the crap they try to pass off as ranch anywhere east of Wyoming.

I would just like to add, the new image gallery format that wordpress has set up, blows.

The amazing view from Janelle and Nate’s house… Thanks for letting us stay!

“All my cousins are dogs” Ellie told her friend… Still makes me giggle.

Ya, baby!

I spent the better part of my late 20’s in this building…

…and this lab.

My old locker. Jayne you’re the best! No more boring numbers…

I rarely saw this room with the lights on… Still smells the same.

Lunch and wine with one of my favorite people… Thanks for playing hooky!

Of course my friend Mo has a disco ball in her basement, one of the many reasons I love her…

Happy dogs!

Ridley rolling in something nasty, you’re welcome Alanna.

Of course several trips to Sam’s for our RL Ales fix…. And sandwiches; bring back #9!

One of the perks of staying with Mick and Alanna, they have an espresso machine in their basement.

And homemade chai…

I have seen her mom make this same face in the same situation…

Bloodys at Chico… Perfect!

So So proud of my mom… She was honored this year at her school.

Two year old mint from our wedding…

  

My mom gave me all her Christmas records while I was home… The greatest collection of Christmas music ever!

Don’t worry siblings, as soon as I can figure out how to record them, I will.

Fitting…

My dad was so in love with the Lennon sisters when he was little, he cut out the picture of them and put it in a frame.

Perfect Montana snow.

My head is gigantic!

So long Montana!

J is in LOVE with City Brew coffee.

His top three favorite cups of coffee on the trip (out of thousands): Mick and Alanna’s basement coffee, City Brew kiosk in Red Lodge and the Flying J on the border of Nebraska and Indiana.

Ahhh Cracker Barrel, I love you and your slushy lemonade.

Disturbing on so many levels…

Thanks for the great trip Loves!!

It is once again my favorite holiday, St. Nicholas Day.

I wrote about it last year, and find I have nothing to add.

This year I’m celebrating by hanging new curtains and cleaning my bathrooms. Not the most eventful St. Nick day in history…

We have a shiny new natural gas heating system… after six days of double (sometimes triple) layers and space heaters. Welcome home! your oil tank gauge is a big fat liar… We won’t miss you, you black tank of nasty. 

I got our tree up yesterday, LOVE!

And I’m happy to say my Christmas cactus is blooming at the moment, so I didn’t miss it. I think all my plants went dormant due to lack of heat, I did not mean to leave you in the cold…

I’m in the process of going through my vacation images, 697 to be exact. I’ll post soon…

It’s good to be home…