{this moment} dewy rose

Joining Soulemama to celebrate one moment of the week worth remembering forever.

in my kitchen this week...

With lacrosse season over we're eating much better these days. Can you tell?! 

garden harvest of lettuce :: saved that tomato for such a time as this :: BLTs on everything bagels = heaven (I love anything on an everything bagel) :: steak salad, these have become quite regular around here lately :: Julian always says, "If you haven't had applesauce on cornbread, you haven't eaten!" :: making the BBQ rub :: pulled pork with two sauces, I like mustard, he likes honey :: tis the season for macaroni salad :: at long last, I've decided I like green tea :: we've grilled out every dinner this week :: tis the season for fresh berries :: banana cream cake to use up some old bananas :: the only cake mix I had/use is GF so that's how that went and it was delicious and perfect in every way

Joining Heather. 

{Yarn Along} Finished Hitchhiker!

The Hitchhiker is complete! It is very lovely, indeed!

Now, on to the next thing. I have a handful of projects to finish up but already I am searching for the next new knitting project. I've been bitten by the shawl bug, it seems. I was able to do an advanced search on Raverly to get some great pattern suggestions :: free, stockinette, size 3 needles, shawl, #2-3 difficulty rating, fingering weight yarn. I was a little bit surprised to discover that the first two recommendations were already in my ideas list and the two top consenters are: Light & Up (though I'm not wild about the tassels) and Eiku. I have some yarn in my stash from the clearance rack at Michael's - Loops and Thread Luxury Sock in Redwoods that I think is my next choice. Thoughts?

I've found myself with a little more time than usual, so my reading is coming along nicely, too. I just LOVE when a good book inspires reading more good books, and that is what Guernsey is doing. It is written in correspondence format, which I love, and all the characters are so genuine and witty! I keep thinking I need to make notes of the funny expressions they use! Also, the book references Charles Lamb and I happen to have a copy of his Dissertation Upon Roast Pig in my to-read stack as well.
My sister was an avid reader when we were growing up. I was a good reader but found no pleasure in it. Partly to be different from her, I refused to enjoy books. This book has, however, reminded me of many classic books that I haven't read and should - most notably Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. 

Joining Ginny & Frontier Dreams. 

In Bloom

Full of loveliness - our little kingdom is. The only problem is that its all moving too fast. I can feel the days slipping by too quickly. Summer is in the air and before I know it, the dog days will be here and we will loathe stepping outside for even the smallest of chores, but for now... for now we will drink it in.

Yesterday afternoon was spent on the patio, under the umbrella where the breeze kept things cool. After three hours, I finally noticed that our baby sparrow wasn't peeping - I panicked! What had happened to him? He is ALWAYS peeping from the inside of the birdhouse, right outside my kitchen window. Later yesterday evening I saw him - a fledgling! He was resting on our patio chair and getting a snack from mamma.

The peas are scrambling up the netting I placed for them this past week. The berries are plumper everyday. Cilantro and dill are taking over and I am pulling them both like weeds. We added sage to the garden this year: common and pineapple. Any recommendations/recipes for the pineapple?

I am anxious for rain and today is promised to give us some showers - but you know how weather goes. We are at the point where we will have to start dragging the house out each night if the plants in containers don't get a good drink soon. We had a quick shower this morning when I snapped some photos of the berries and sage, but the sun is shining bright as ever now. Bring on the thunder storms! Bring on the drizzle. I'll take it any way I can get it.

This week in my kitchen...

Rhubarb-strawberry bars from Smitten, I was unimpressed, they got so soggy :: using some leftover rolls by dousing them in butter and sugar and calling them "breakfast" :: leftover pizza from the end-of-season lacrosse banquet :: "dinner" on the couch while watching Julia Child make a chocolate mousse :: apple breakfast pizza, the jury is still out.

Joining Heather.

In the garden...

The yard has exploded with color and new growth as we experience July-like temperatures coupled with springtime rains. Last week, we had to retreat to the garage to watch the storms roll by, leaving the grass half mowed. Neither of us complained, with ice cream sundaes in our hands and sweat dripping off our brows.

It was much cooler this weekend and it is a refreshing change. We've been suffering from very drying winds - near constant battery - every day last week but it seems this week will be calmer. The yard is so lush. This is what happens when the deer don't make a meal out of it all. I've had such great luck this year preserving my hosta that they are crowding the space and the little flowers cannot peek through! Good problem to have, I suppose!

In the veg patch: tomatoes, spinach, beets, radishes, gooseberries, blackberries, blueberries, cilantro, dill, bell peppers, banana peppers, and peas.

This week in my kitchen...

a rhubarb cake that overflowed its pan :: strawberries and zest with hazelnut coffee and good company :: fresh veggies as gifts from a greenhouse far away, i wish it were next door and my cousin along with it :: veggie kebabs on the grill - so much grilling for early May, temps in the high 80s :: tacos with fresh salsa, the gift keeps on giving ::  Julian's fudge sauce, because a banana split just isn't the same without it :: strawberry banana smoothies with green goodness in there too, so good {for you} i can't stand it :: teriyaki chicken outside while the thunder clouds roll in, yard only half mowed because the storms wouldn't wait

Joining Heather. What did your kitchen witness this week?