She truly is a lap dog…

If I’m on the computer, she’s right there with me.  She’s good for posture.

Those who know me know my preference to pencils (real, not mecanical) over pens.

I found the most perfect addition to my collection of things that were made just for me…

I love you twin lens pencil sharpener… 

It sharpens like a dream. You can even adjust how sharp you want the point, brilliant!

I hate my tomato plants, and they hate me…

One thing that is growing, my peppers! I’m going to dry a batch this weekend.

My jalapenos are turning red. I have never had a red jalapeno… I think it might be time to try one.

We went to Salem on Sunday to hang out with some friends, and take a few photos of her wonderful round baby belly.

It was a marvelous day…

I was a second shooter at a wedding also… busy weekend.

I liked using my brain again… I should most certainly use it more often.

It was finally granola baking weather…

It’s one of those things you don’t do in the summer because of that excruciating thought of having your oven on for any length of time. It’s finally past that point, mostly.

I make it in my turkey roasting pan. It’s way easier to stir if you bake it in something with higher sides. Trust me, you’ll end up flipping granola all over you kitchen

I just mix everything right in the pan.

• 2lb can of oats (not the quick kind) Actually I have never used the quick, maybe you can…
• 2 cups chopped nuts
• 2 tblsp cinnamon

I never seem to make it the same way twice, these are more guidelines.

In a medium saucepan:

• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup of apple cider or some sort of juice. I sometimes thaw a couple cups of frozen blueberries and throw them in instead of using dried fruit.
• 2 tblsp vanilla

Heat the liquid until the sugar cooks in.  Pre heat the oven to 300.  Pour liquid over dry ingredients 1/2 cup at a time, mixing completely each time. Put in the oven….

Cooking times vary. I usually stir every 15 minutes for an hour. And then every ten minutes after that. Don’t cook it until it’s dry, that means it will more than likely taste burnt. I will continue to dry out  when it cools. You can always stick it back in the oven if you need to.  I usually take it out when it becomes a lot easier to stir. Vague I know…

• If you’re using frozen blueberries it takes a little longer to cook.
• If you’re going to add coconut, add it 3/4 of the way through baking or it falls to the bottom and burns.
• Add dried fruit about 3/4 of the way through baking also.
• It’s good heated up… throw it in the microwave for a minute.

My granola container once belonged to my grandma. I love it. It fits a batch perfectly…

Happy Tuesday Loves!  I think everyone should try to have a picnic this week.

A really good meal in a cool spot on a beautiful day with someone who makes it all that much better…

My favorite super hero turned another year wiser this weekend.

I’m glad your mom didn’t opt for a dog.

Thank you for always being amazing… Happy Birthday Love!

I just looooooove Mums… somewhere in my top three favorites.

 

It is my official first fall candle burning day. Pumkin spice, it smells divine…

It’s a bright spot in my dreary, rainy day.

One bad part of having your birthday so close to a holiday, it makes going away for the weekend a little crowded.

Even though J managed a three day weekend, we stayed pretty close to home.

Dinner and yoga…

Not in that order.

Basil Pina Coladas…

I happen to think they are the best drink ever! Or maybe second, I do love Bloody Mary’s.

I use a double shot glass to measure (one so naughty it will never be on my blog, shame on you king:)

• 2 oz coconut rum
• 2 oz coconut milk
• 4 oz pineapple juice
• 1-2 large fresh basil leaves
• two handfuls of ice

Blend!

If you are a lover of blended drinks, like myself, buy a magic bullet. You will fall in love!

You can use it for other things too…

Yes, he picked sushi for his birthday dinner… predictable.

So J’s sister sent him a cheesecake in the mail for his birthday. Genius, I know! We only ate a couple pieces before J left for three days leaving the rest sitting in my fridge. I hear it calling to me at night… It wants my soul. Damn you Janelle!

Happy Tuesday Loves! I’m going to go have a forkful of cheesecake…

 

I felt it.

Last Sunday afternoon.

Fall…

This is my time of year. My favorite!

It’s still warm during the day, but just before and after now have a chill that requires a sweater.

It seems later than it is and life starts to resemble a country time lemonade commercial…..

I’m gitty.

Pig roast in the city…

• cucumber
• celery
• apples
• ginger

We had a much, much needed day away/outside.

Sometimes you need to get away for an afternoon to get your brain right…  Salem is always a good idea.

Crystal balls are cool. Flattering, not so much…

These will never get old…

Every once in a while you come across something that was made just for you… and one of your friends.

I’m in love with this place…

Eureka! I have found good ranch on the east coast! I was beginning to fear it didn’t exist out here… like chicken fried steak.

This is our new go to place for wings and beer. The wings were perfect…

It’s summer so I’m loving fruit beer. I had their Blueberry Ale (fantastic!) and the Watermelon Ale. I can’t wait to go back and try some of their fall beers. Heaven!

I love eating outside…

Happy Tuesday Loves!

If home is where your heart is, then mine is split in two…

Montana, where I was born, grew up, know like the back of my hand; And Boston, where I begin a new life with… my new life.

I know my heart will always be in two locations, but I patiently wait for the day it does not feel that way…

My days were scheduled the whole time I was out there, not my favorite but necessary if I wanted to spend time with everyone. First three days with “the girls” the only thing missing was Kari, next time I’m out you better not be on bed rest.

My first day in town was spent with my Natty. Drinking a bit too much, a bit too early… and pedicures. It’s kinda what we do when we’re together. Despite what her mother says, she was always the bad influence on me…

Ummm, Libby, I think you grabbed the wrong soap…

My guts hurt when I left. The girl makes me laugh!

Went to find Alanna, and all I found was this guy…

My favorite wall…

Some friendly lady gave us cheese curds…

Other than Wynn, these are my two favorite dogs…

Sparky is the only big dog Wynn likes. And how could you not, she is so sweet…

I was so happy Dave (the one with the camera in front of his face) could make a trip over the border to see me.

I miss my photo friends… 

Norman, another Red Lodge staple.

Breakfast with Alanna…

We had to get biscuits and gravy for old time sake. We both lived on that super healthy substance for a spell…

Ahhh, the summer of gravy. I believe that was the same summer we came up with the otter pop diet.

I can’t tell you how grateful I am that King was back home at the same time I was.

My oldest friend…

I drove out to Luther to visit my second family. I drove that 14 mile strech of road a thousand times, it’s still my favorite drive. Especially in the spring…

I left Red Lodge Friday night to spend the remainder of my visit with the fam.

The farmers market in Billings is my favorite farmers market, my mom and I go every chance we get.

My very first assignment for my very first photography class was taken there. It was less than stellar but I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s when I truly fell in LOVE with photography. Sigh…

Montana Vintage store is one of those places you’re torn between wanting to tell everyone how amazing it is and keeping it a secret. Other people who love vintage deserve to love this place too… Me, my oldest niece and my sister have a mutual adoration of “the old”.  It was fun to shop with them…

I ended up with four slips, a ruffled pair of pantaloons (I have a love hate relationship with that word) my new favorite dress and a dress/coat set. I was in pure heaven… I can’t wait to go back.

I ran into a Wynn look-alike… Her hair was cut a lot closer, same sweetness.

Most families have a card game, ours is rummy.

Casey Jane and I took the girls swimming in the creek… It was a fantastic way to spend a summer afternoon.

Words can’t describe my love for my mom’s blueberry muffins… I think I ate like 25 in three days.

Everyone in the house got haircuts, the floor looked like someone skinned a mammoth… Katie got bangs for the first time and Emma got all her hair cut off. I thought my sister was going to have heart failure.

Then off to the fair… I can’t wait til they all get old enough to start going at night.

My brother-in-law got into a fight with a toolbar, I’m not sure who won.

My mother agrees with me, snow cones aren’t as good as they used to be.

We had a great BBQ afterward at my brothers. No pictures, I guess I was too busy visiting.

I love love love my family… I’m already ready to see you again. It wasn’t long enough.

I’m ready for fall…

My bright spot on my migraine-alicious flight home.

I love and miss you all sooo much. Thank you everyone for coming to see me! Until next time…

 

Since I’m flying out on Tuesday, I decided to do an early short post. I will make up for it next time.

I hope to one day be able to bring enough in from my garden that I have to buy very little food in the summer.

It can be done, people do it all the time…

I’m finding container gardening very painful. I think it makes an already tricky situation trickier.

I want a garden, like in the ground…

I had a branch break off my tomato plant and it about broke my heart. The cages I bought are sturdy but not tall enough. SOB, if it’s not one thing it’s another.

Breakfast makings…

Diner food is kinda hard to find around here… Sometimes you’re just in the mood for pancakes, sausage and syrup that is made mostly from poison. J found a diner a couple miles from our house, pretty good food with a crazy over the top atmosphere, just like I like it. Pancakes taste better when you have a dinosaur mural to look at.

We brought out Croa for game night the other evening. Its this crazy french game that J found….

These little bastards infected both of my brussels sprout plants. I had to throw them out. No brussels sprouts in my garden this year… boo.

I planted salad, spinach and peas the other day. I’m experimenting a bit this go round… We will see.

We met up with a rather large group of friends Friday for “dinner with the queen.” Leila teaches in Cairo but makes a yearly trip back to the area to visit her former subjects she ruled over during her  years at BU.

She’s amazing…

We hit a cigar bar on the way home. I guess the love for my husband trumps my hatred of cigar smoke.

I don’t know what it is about overly drunk, puking, twenty somethings that compels me to photograph them.  I always get yelled at by the sober-ish hair-holding friend though. Fun times…

I won’t get to post again until the 23rd. Happy Montana vacation to me! 

I believe the meaning of harvest to be anything that grows faster than you can shovel in your mouth.

I harvested basil for the first time this week, that makes me smile. So does pesto!

I think it will be the only thing this year I’ll have enough of to harvest. I’m still one happy gardener.

My head is already swimming with next years gardening plans…

Oh and bottom rot can kiss my ass! I may get mmmm like two tomatoes this year.

I have started juicing… I gotta tell you, I feel a thousand times better!

It does wonders for your energy level. Plus my skin looks way better, I was looking a little grey…

My favorite recipe so far…

• 1/2 a pineapple
• 1 cucumber
• 3 carrots
• 3 celery stalks
• 2ish cups of broccoli (no I don’t measure)
• 2″ of ginger

I try to keep it around 70% vegetable 30% fruit.

This batch had beets, celery, cucumber, kale, ginger and watermelon…

I’m kinda addicted now… Alanna was right.

When the temperature stops mimicking Africa’s, I’m going to make soup with the pulp. I can’t wait!

Every day a new color palette…

I can’t remember where we were, but my blueberry beer came with blueberries in it.

Ya, pretty fantastic!

What a beautiful garden…

Little kid after my own heart…

I just think vegetables are the most beautiful thing God ever created…

I went to a baby shower this last weekend.

They had swedish fish… I couldn’t stop eating them.

They should call them french fish. The french are more evil. They would have to cut the sugar content by about 90% though. How about french canadian fish, sweet and evil…

Oh how I love a sparkly vintage… anything!

Need I say anything about this book…

Haven’t seen these smallish people since I photographed them a couple months back. They are a bit more alert…

I do love babies…

Lynn read us a story… and it was brilliant!

Happy Tuesday Loves!

Last week was a good week…  

I met Angelina Spidergirl Princess Rapunzel (I’m missing about three names) walking with her dad and little brother down by the water.

When I was walking away she noticed I had a camera and asked (in the softest voice) “Will you take my picture”

It’s amazing how you can meet someone so new in life that already has such a presence. I hope to run into her again someday.

I’m curious to see who she will be that day…

This chair was my grandparents; I love everything about it.

Perfect chair in a perfect spot… 

We went to Harry Potter 7.5 the other night…

I can’t help but always be a little disappointed with the movies.

Everyone who’s read the books knows what I’m talking about. They’re entertaining but…

I’m always happy to go to the theater though. And no talkers this time!

Spiderman (girl) seemed to be the theme of the week.

This picture kinda makes me sick when I look at it…

I got up early the other morning in order to get to Haymarket before it hit a 100… I think it was 99 when I got home at 8:30.

No crowds though..:)

I spent all day Sunday working in the garden.

That is just the best!

My lettuce is beautiful but bitter, another casualty of the heat.

Alanna sent me some much needed fence decorations. That huge white fence is a little much…

She’s so talented… If anyone need anything made from metal, Back Alley Metals is your place!

Thanks Love! You’re the best!

I pride myself in the fact that we really only take out the trash maybe once every week and a half to two weeks.

I have started putting meat scraps in Wynn’s biodegradable dog bags. Keeps the stink contained in the garbage. Hooray!

Happy Tuesday Loves!

Ya know when too many days of heat and humidity suck out your will to live, I have that.

My garden seems content. Peppers are blooming like crazy.

I learned about bottom rot on tomatoes this week.

She’s a good dog…

I Can’t Wait!!

They look like little elves…

I’ve finally figured out how to grow basil. I think the trick is not too much sun and plenty of room.

And grow enough plants so you aren’t always picking at one or two.

My peas are done, sad day.

I’m going to do a second planting in a month; I hope to get more than five peas per plant.

I have a new plan…

I soaked corn husks in chicken broth and rosemary before re-wraping them and throwing them on the BBQ.

It’s my new favorite way to cook corn on the cob….

Much needed night on the town…

My hand looks huge!

Happy Tuesday Loves!

We ventured up to northern New York to visit James’s sister and husband. I loved it up there, it reminded me of Montana. The weather was fantastic! Hot but not overly hot during the day and cool at night… and no humidity.

Nice view…

Holy crap this kid…!

Being the annoying child crying in public lovers that both Nate and I are; I don’t know who wanted to dangle him over the edge more.

I can understand a crying baby, but this kid was like seven. He never stopped crying the whooooole time.

I was thankful for the excellent bloody marys.

We did find great amusement in photographing him.  I especially love the “life is good” shirt he’s wearing.

We went hunting for the giant alligator in Lake Placid, no dice.

Oh how I love the water…
Thats it, we’re getting a kayak… or two. It’s such a great way to get away.

Itty bitty Janelle and Nate…

We went home and had a stellar crab boil…

I gotta love the man for at least trying things. Even if it’s something he knows he’s not crazy about.

We rode the ferry (not fairy) across Lake Champlain on our way home…

She found a little friend that she played with until it stopped moving.

Happy Tuesday Loves!

 

I have started to think of Wednesday as the beginning of my week. It was bound to happen.

We went out on Thursday night to see “T: An MBTA Musical” With a pre show dinner at The Field next door….

My man loves him a Guinness…

“T” (in a nutshell) was a musical about the shortcomings of Boston’s transit system. SO HILARIOUS!

I don’t ride the T that much so I don’t get let down by it as much as those who ride it everyday. However, on the way home from our date the T broke down. HA! how ironic… The doors wouldn’t open, then they wouldn’t close, then they shut it down and said we have no idea when it will be fixed so figure out another way to get where you need to go …

So we decided it was a fine night for a walk.  We walked from the Kendall to the Lechmere (20 min) and found it to be closed until December. So we hopped on a shuttle bus. We found it kinda funny but I can see where that would get old really quick if you had to rely on it for work.

I kinda got lucky with my in-laws…

J’s sister Julie came up to spend the fourth with us, fun time!

Yes, my dog has her lazy moments, usually only when it’s hot.

I wonder what makes people leave their shoes…

I like the Financial District on Sunday, empty. It’s what the zombie apocalypse would look like.

If it sounds like fun, there is a good chance 10,000 other people in the city are going to think it’s fun too.

In the case of fireworks 800,000 other people thought it would be fun. I tried but couldn’t capture the sheer number of people there, it was insane!

If you want a front row seat you have to go early in the morning and set up camp. Might be fun with the right group of people…

We decided Mexican food was a good fourth of July dinner… We didn’t even try to top our “all american” lunch.

Lucky dogs…

People waiting to get on the T… This isn’t even the closest stop to where we were.  We walked for about 45 minutes to avoid this craziness…

I bet there were about ten other T stops that were just as crowded.

Julie decided to stay an extra day since J had it off.

We headed up north… Always a good idea!

WHY?

Someone who actually thought this was a good idea is roaming around free out there. Probably driving a car… and voting!

My favorite store in Salem now has a sister store in Newburyport. What could be more perfect…

I always come across things that remind me of my girlfriends…

And this is why I had the scallops…

Happy Wednesday Loves!