Where have I been??

There was David Gray and Ray Lamontagne

There was coffee with a view...

There was a Drive in Movie...

There was swimming...

There was building...

There were picnics and music
in the gardens...

There was tomato canning!

There were great eats...

There were train rides...

There were naked cowboys...

We went to New York...major goal for trip

was to see the Intrepid which we gratefully

did it was incredible!

There have been S'mores

There was blueberry picking

There was some porch reading...

(not nearly enough of this)

There were camps...

There were visits from Dear friends

There were celebratory tea parties...

There were Lego exhibits

And Museums...

Jack Johnson...and concerts...

Boated with friends...

B and I Relayed and she sang...

Bandanas for Relay...

4th of July spent watching things crash...

E and one of the things that crashed

love us some figure 8!!


So as you can see life has been full. Very full!! In a good way but I must say I might have just packed a little too much into my days this summer. Just a tiny bit...she says laughing...

But this summer brought beach time, and I am so in love with the beach that I didn't say no and still feel like I didn't get enough in. Not enough wasting away by the water for me ever!! We got to wander with friends. We got to giggle a lot!! We got to hear a lot of live music in case you forget it is important to support live music so go out and see bands and cheer and say thank you for sharing yourself. We got to reconnect with family. We got to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We took advantage of what our local farmers have worked so hard to produce and our freezer is thankfully stocked for the winter ahead. Encourage farmers to farm food!! Find your local farmer's market every place has one somewhere. Go out and buy! You can't beat fresh picked produce for dinner! And many markets have happy chicken's eggs, and healthy farmed meats! Right there on your doorstep! No excuses. Hook up with a CSA or a u-pick and fill up your pantries and freezers! I canned for the first time this year and am looking forward to more next year. We read LOTS!!! We dined on the porch. We swam. We watched the world go by.

And now we get ready for the beginning of another school year and getting back into our schedule. I have read several articles lately about how September should be the New Year. How everything feels fresh and goals get set. How the scent of fall makes you want to turn inward and begin to make change. I love this time of year although it makes me a bit sad that my time with my girls gets to be less. Our adventures get more spread out as my work schedule and their school schedule do not always mesh. But FALL!! Oh how I love fall!!

I have had a goal every summer to have a dinner party with friends and have yet to achieve it...hmmm maybe fall??? Harvest party? Yeah I haven't been busy enough!

Hope everyone enjoyed their season and are all ready for the "New Year"!

Eating Out...

Our front porch has become my favorite place to eat out...and I am a little sad that it has been so busy that we haven't done nearly enough of that. I like to experiment and try new recipes and soak in the fresh produce I get in the CSA and farmers market. But this summer has been a dud for me to experiment and try I just have been down and exhausted mentally and physically. But I cherish the moments when life slows down just enough and we can all have a seat and enjoy a really lovely meal...this offering was pancetta, free range eggs, farm tomato, organic lettuce and some wasabi mayo with coffee and a splash of orange juice. I feel truly rich to be sitting there with my table cloth, candles, and flowers from the garden...just watching the world pass us by!

Wandering the market...

The Irishman and I stole away downtown today after dropping the ladies at school. I have this week off of work and so far have managed to do nothing remotely productive. But today was market day so we had an amble. I love the farmers market, well really I love farmers. I love the fact that I can wander down and for a few dollars come home with a really healthy meal for my family. And the colors and shapes are really wonderful to look at. I came home with some more corn (want to get some in the freezer!!), a funky white/purple eggplant, some purple sweet peppers, some green onions, plums, peaches, and my incredible bouquet of sunflowers. Sunflowers amaze me all the textures and colors! Plus the lady at our market sells such a lovely, large bouquet for only 3.50!! So I feel pampered and spoiled without breaking the bank!! Then after we had to stop into the local coffee shop for some daydreaming, what-iffing, and beverages...now himself is asleep on the couch and the little Kindergartener is happily playing with her asundry little toys in the bathroom sink...and I contemplate my next move for the afternoon...hmm, cooking, reading or maybe some much neglected scrapbooking???

Good Day

Today was another one of those dreamy, idealistic little days, the ones that actually play out like the one you had in your head. Where all the parties involved are content and happy and on the same page...and wandering and exploring all comes together...and we all find our place in the day... Bronwyn and I managed to get a bike ride in down to the farmer's market this morning. Not much in yet in our neck of the words but we did get some asparagus and spinach and I got some more herb plants (chammomile, dill, rosemary, and oregano were the new additions). I even got to get into the dirt and get them all planted today!! While we were gone John and Ella were crafting a lovely breakfast. We had pancakes and sausage and coffee and tea and orange juice all on our front porch. We even had a bouquet of lily of the valley a friend had given me for table decoration. I love lily of the valley so sweet smelling and they always remind me of being a little girl!! So thanks so much Margaret for the lovelies!

Then the ladies wanted to get out, so we being the lucky people we are, went to Dow Gardens, a lovely garden at the end of our street, photos above. It is full of paths and grass and places to wander and imagine. And there is a kids garden with water spouts where the girls get soaked and play...and if anyone who reads this can tell me what the cute little blue flowers above are I would really appreciate it!! I would love to get some of those in my yard!!

Hope you all are enjoying your Saturday!!