Making...memories

I'm afraid the blogging is going to be a little hit or miss around here this summer. The boys are keeping me active (in the car) and I'm trying to stay away from the computer. I've already finished two books and have started to pack for a trip away. I hope you are enjoying your summer and I will try to pop in when I have a few interesting tidbits. I'm sure you don't need to know about me driving the boys to baseball yet again.

Fun times on the lake.

My man-child. It's funny that I use this term. The Jungle Book movie was on heavy rotation when the boys were little. I keep thinking of Matt walking into the village at the end because he's hot for the girl....sigh....I hate this growing up thing.

One of my pictures was used to help advertise a new magazine in our city. Might be a job opportunity.

Fireworks....at the neighbors. Oh yeah...I'm sure there were some in our neighborhood that were not happy. Oh well!

Nights with good friends.

enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

Link Love...

It's a long holiday weekend here in the States and I'm in between activities at the moment. Fourth of July in our town is as close as you can get to a Norman Rockwell painting. Parades, ice cream socials, a movie in the park, an art festival, farmer's market and of course playing on the lake are all favorite activities of the weekend.

I've been having fun with Instagram on my iphone. Provides a bit of enjoyment when I'm shlepping the boys from one place to another.

Hope you are all doing something grand to celebrate our country's independence.

Not sure if I would ever want to make a beet cake. But this video sure makes me want to try!

Today the boys pushed me as far as I was about to go with their behavior...and at that moment i wanted the sweet girls that were sitting on the boat next to me. If I did have girls, I would do this with them.

You still have time if you need a decoration for the 4th!

Or, you could do something as sweet and as simple as this.

The name of this site says it all....and really a pool....in the living room?

enjoy the rest of the weekend! I'm off to our next activity!

Making

New day-new chocolate chip cookie recipe!

Ryan has declared them excellent!

Matt won't stray from the Toll House recipe! He's a creature of habit, that kid.

Slice and bake cookies! Dough can be made ahead of time and frozen. Pop them out when you need them.

Delicious!

And then I did a study of cheese curls.

Not much else to do on a cold, gloomy, June day!

enjoy the cookies!

5 things...

The sun is finally out today, although there are still more clouds than sun. The sky is a pretty robin's egg blue and the boys are down the street swimming in our neighbor's pond. We are trying to fall into a routine, having the same discussions over and over about having to do a few chores each day, no they can't play on the Xbox all day and the never-ending discussion about what time is a good time for bed.

1. I was finally able to weed today. Believe me there is plenty to do!

2. Smells of banana bread woke the boys this morning.

3. Looking at whitewater rafting trips and rock climbing excursions for our upcoming trip. I can do this...right?

4. Practicing patience each and everyday. By the time the summer is over I will be beyond expert status!

5. Taking mornings for myself. Reading, knitting, walking the dog and anything else. That does mean I still need to arise at 5:15 to get it all in!

Enjoy your week everyone!

Link Love...

I haven't lifted my camera to my eye all week. It's been raining off and on and I think I might be growing webs between my toes. The boys are finally home on summer vacation. I now, officially have a freshman and a seventh grader. Let the fun times begin!

Its all about food links this week. If the weather ever turns, I might have a party and try some of these ideas. Hopefully, it is nice where you are and you can experiment with some of these goodies!

Enjoy everyone!

These are first up on my list! A cookie in a ramekin. What could be better!

Okay, dessert must be on my mind. If you are on a diet, keep going. Just looking at the picture is cause to gain ten pounds!

Need an appetizer for a picnic? These are perfect! Stop at your local farmers' market and pick up some spreadable feta...mmmmm.

Now that all the local produce is finally come in I so want to make this. Great for a summer's evening!

Having guests this summer? This looks fantastic for a brunch or light dinner. Get some more fresh feta. Perfection!

PS: Since it was raining, I popped my macro on and had fun with the last of the peonies that I cut from the garden. I wish you could smell them!

Making...chaos!

Well hello! I feel like I've been stuck in the center of a tornado these past few weeks! Things constantly swirling around and me trying to grab hold of something for a bit of stability. Final exams, field trips, fundraisers, PTA obligations, baseball, social events have all filled our calendar. I think we are finally beginning to see the light at the end of this tunnel and once here, I will be thankful for a more relaxed routine. Matt finished last week and Ryan, finally, finishes tomorrow.

1. I don't think we have eaten a decent meal in weeks. We have been eating on the road to baseball a lot. Pizza has become a favorite friend. Fruit-unheard of. Last night I bought a huge assortment of cut up veggies and had that as my dinner while watching Matt play baseball.

2. We are planning our trip to Jackson Hole Wyoming. If anyone has ever been, any advice on activities, restaurants, hikes, etc...would be greatly appreciated.

3. One of my pictures is going to be published in a local magazine. I'll keep you posted.

4. Looking for some good summer reads. Any suggestions?

5. And lastly, I finished To Kill a Mockingbird a while back. This is one of two passages that really struck a chord. I believe this is what we all feel as parents.

"Heck," Atticus's back was turned. "If this thing's hushed up it'll be a simple denial to Jem of the way I've tried to raise him. Sometimes I think I'm a total failure as a parent, but I'm all they've got. Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I've tried to live so I can look squarely back at him...if I connived at something like this, frankly I couldn't meet his eye, and the day I can't do that I'll know I've lost him. I don't want to lose him and Scout, because they're all I've got."

5 things...minus 4

I'm going to take a break this week and maybe into next. I have six baseball games, one retirement dinner, one fundraiser, 6th grade field days, and Father's day: all in seven days.

I'll see you soon-if I make it.

Have a good week everyone!

Making

What did you do today in the heat? Me? I decided to bake. I tend to do this when it's warm and I have to shut my doors and windows and turn on the A/C. Today it was individual Pineapple Upside-Down cake. Yummo!

The recipe can be found in the June edition of Food Network Magazine.

I like this recipe because it makes four. Just perfect for our family and no leftovers for me to snack on!

I may just have to put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side though.

Mini Upside-Down Cakes

Brush four 4-ounce ramekins with butter. Sprinkle brown sugar in the bottom of each and line with sliced pineapple. Whisk 1 egg, 1/4 cup buttermilk, 3 tablespoons melted butter and a dash of vanilla in a bowl, then stir in 1/2 cup flour, 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon baking powder and a pinch of salt. Divide among the ramekins. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool, then unmold and top with confectioners' sugar.

5 things...

Relaxing weekend of baseball and picnics. Friends come and go and I'm constantly going to the grocery store for more food. Another bread attempt and this time success. Lots of running around today. Silly errands-more baseball tonight. At least it won't be raining and I will be able to knit!

1. It's foggy here today. But, the weather forecast looks grand. Hot by Wednesday.

2. I have something special in the works with one of my pictures. I can't wait to show you all.

3. I love my alliums. I know there are haters out there of these "onions." But they bring my garden to life.

4. Ry enjoyed time with his good friend yesterday. Fishing, frog catching and of course a small fire.

5. Struggling with how to get my fourteen year old to understand the importance of studying for finals. First time through with so many exams. He has done so well all year, I don't want him to crash now.

enjoy the week everyone.

Link Love...

Wow, I can't believe it's Friday already. The end of school is nearing which means, more studying for tests, projects due, concerts, field trips and on and on and on-which eventually leads to meltdowns of epic proportions because of all the mixed signals we are sending our children. Have fun, enjoy, but don't forget to study, study, study and by the way you need to sleep and eat and get outside and play too. It's tough being a kid these days!

1. I love older men in New York. I love to watch them, listen to them and dream about how they have lived their whole lives in one of the busiest cities in the world.

2. Looking for some summer fun for your kiddos. This camera is awesome! The price point is right too.

3. Summer craft project. Problem is, all my coffee comes in bags.

4.These are just really pretty. Oh, yes, I think I will try my hand at making these this summer.

5. My next time to NYC will lead me here. Just looks like a fun and happy place and oh, yes...I might pick up a pair of fabulous shoes. Just sayin'....

Making

I made bread. Now, I know for some of you this is an everyday occurrence for you and your family. Me-not so much. I used to make it all the time when I was single (yeah...don't ask) and when the boys were young. Now that times are busier I find it hard to fit into my schedule.

But, a recent trip to the farmer's market, led us to a bread man. He had such good sourdough bread that I knew I needed to try again.

Everything was going perfectly until I needed to remove the plastic over the bread rising in the pan. I forgot to oil the plastic, and yes, the bread stuck to it and quickly deflated when I pulled it off.

I baked it anyway, knowing the outcome was going to be a brick.

It's still tasty, toasted with butter and jam.

Over the weekend, I will attempt this process again.

I'm sure to be fifty pounds heavier by the time I have this bread making thing mastered.

On an unrelated note. I'm waiting for this yarn to arrive to start this. So much for not buying any yarn for awhile!