if a foodie does not take a picture.....

This is a joke in our household.  One of the people who I follow on twitter and read his blog posted:  If two foodies sit down to dinner and a picture is not taken, did it happen?  My Beloved roared when I read him this because he feels that it is very true.  We were teasing about just that when I took the picture above.

It is a simple meal for family.  What can you put together fast.  A pound of cooked pasta.  A half pound of pancetta browned.  A handful of pine nuts and sliced garlic thrown into the pan while the pancetta is cooking.  A tablespoon or so of dried basil next.  A few stirs and minutes until everything is well mingled.  A half cup of heavy whipping cream and two handfuls of grated asiago cheese stirred into the pancetta at the very end.

Three bowls.  Three forks.  A sprinkle of cheese.  Laughter.  Conversation.  Home.  Family.  

Yes, dinner does take place if a picture is not taken.  It is even better if a memory is made.

busy weekend, quiet week

It was a busy weekend.  We went to friend's house on a lake.  We played in the woods and the water, met new people, had fabulous conversation with old and new friends, and ate well.  I got a chance to learn to row.  I think I have fallen in love.  I would really like my own rowboat but I will have to save my pennies  I have it all picked out already.

But because of the busy weekend, it may be quiet around here this week.  I did not work on all my projects.  

I did not even get bread made.  A loaf is rising in the refrigerator as I type.  I will bake it in the morning so I will have fresh bread for breakfast.

I did finish all the nine squares for the current baby quilt I am working one.  100.  I hope to lay them out tomorrow and I will take a picture and post here.

But like I said, it may be a quiet week.

Happy Memorial Day

Drink some tea.

Bake a cake.

Spend time with your family.  Thank those in your family who have served, those in your life who have served, and remember those who have fallen.

the coast

We went on vacation to the Oregon coast after my Grandmother's birthday party.  Now, what does that really mean.

It means that the three of us and a dog pile into our truck that is pulling our travel trailer and head to Beverly Beach State park in Oregon.

We read and drink tea.  I might have a project to work on.

We walk in the woods to head to the beach.

And we walk.

And we walk some more.  My Beloved actually calls it trekking.  Before he came with the Tall Short person and myself, he could never figure out how we could be so tired so early in the evening from just a simple walk on the beach.  And then he joined us.  His definition of walk changed!  Trek.  I just found this out this last trip and we have been going for years now.

Puppy face had a blast!  I think we finally figured out how to tucker him out.  Beach, sticks, balls, and long walks.  But he never said no.  He just got slower as the week went along.

I kept trying to ice my fractured ankle but I think the runoff was colder then the ocean.  My ankle is still swollen.

I spend time in the kitchen creating.  My family feels like they eat very well.  Yes, we will still go out but I also create.

We have been back for a week and I am finding that I miss the trees and the ocean greatly.  We will be going back to Oregon soon for a bladesmithing course for my Beloved but it will not be the beach.  But I will get some tea and hopefully get some tree time.

This is latest finished creation.  It is already sold.  That makes me smile.  Both the process and the selling bring him joy.

back!

Yes, I have been gone for a week and a half.  The 100th birthday party and the beach were lovely.  I will actually post pictures here as the week goes by.  I am going to "steal" some from the Tall Short Person because she was continually taking pictures with her phone!

We left at midnight.  Did I spend all the time sleeping or packing?  Of course not!  I made a dress.  I had seen a dress on a French website that was so similar to my everyday dresses that I could not believe it.  They were charging 200 Euros which is almost $300.  My frontier dress for $300?????  I took my trusty pattern and measuring tape.  Took out fabric that I purchased for between $1 and $2 a yard, and got to stitching.

Less then two hours later, I had a new dress.  The fabric is very soft and I used a muslin for the petticoat.  One of the things I really liked about it was that it does not have buttons down the front so it is even easier then my normal frontier dress pattern.  And then there is that other thing.

The muslin petticoat that shows!  Scandalous!

This is a fabulous dress.  I need to make some more and have ideas straight from my fabric pile.

Life is going to be interesting around here.  My Beloved quit is job while we were on vacation and has two businesses he is trying to grow.  The Tall Short Person is going to make us grandparents in November.  I will truly have much to do because I am still working, and stitching, and crocheting, and weaving, and spinning.  I hope to actually get the surfboard out sometime soon.

Remind me next time, it does help to blog on vacation if you remember all the needed gadgets!  Smile.