Happy Birthday Todd and Adam!

Tonight was a great meal for so many reasons.  The food was really really good.  We didn't have any leftovers!  We did 3 racks of lamb, an orzo, summer vegetable and goat cheese salad which is a 10 for any summer meal (and easy!) and grilled vegetables.  I also made my first pie ever!  I thought it was turned out very well for a first go, and unless everyone was lying, it tasted fantastic.  Happy to share the recipe with anyone who would like it.  The crust and the filling are both keepers.  We also did he lamb in a new way and it turned out heavenly.  

We went through many many bottles of great red wine.  Sitting by the candlelight and fire was beautiful and we all laughed so much.  Definitely one of my favorite nights in the new yard.  We celebrated Adam and Todd''s birthdays which are next week.  Adam is getting a flatscreen TV installed outside in the overhang and that way we can watch football out by the fire this fall.  The perfect gift for a man who I am so very proud of this year. 

Annie has had a wonderful time with Uncle Todd, Jayden and her Grammy.  She is exhausted every night b/c she doesn't want to miss a thing.  We went to the farmers market as a family today and got some great stuff.  Adam and Todd got some amazing ceviche, Cathy and I got some heavenly handmade soaps, Jayden got a lip gloss, and Annie got to taste all the fruit!  That is where we got all the fruit and veggies for our dinner.  Then the boys went to Super Franks while Cathy and I cooked our meal.

Tomorrow we have swimming, homemade frittata for breakfast, and grilled shrimp and tri-tip with corn on the cob for dinner!    I don't want the weekend to end!

My first Pie!!

Jayden helped me with my first pie crust!  Intimidating to make sure you dont overwork the dough, but it really turned out great.  I am proud of Jayden and I!

Rack of lamb with garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, homemade bread crumbs, dijon Mustard.  PERFECTION

Orzo Summer Salad

Happy Faces whom I love.

What are you looking at?

Grammy C you are so funny!

Happy Birthday Uncle Todd and Daddy!  You are two kind, funny, intelligent men and we all love you!

Annie having her Cherry Pie for the first time.

Love of my life.  I would be lost without you Adam, the last (nearly) 6 years have been so great.  I hope this year brings many wonderful things, you would deserve them all!

Bubbles!!!  Bubbles, a fire, candles, Jack Johnson and wine.  Life is mellow.

Calling it a night!

Snuggles with Jayden

I have loved Jayden since the first day I met her. She was a beautiful little girl with her long golden locks and I knew I had an instant bond with her. She is a beautiful tween as well. I love that my daughter looks at Jayden like she is the coolest friend a girl could have. Family is important and I hope that they have a beautiful friendship for life. I know that there will be times when Jayden is a teenager and Annie will seem like a pesky kid, but they will grow out of that. And for now, Jayden is her BFF.

Green Thumbs

Last weekend Adam and I did a bit more planting in the back yard, and I did some in the front this weekend. I really enjoy making things grow. I love the way the soil smells, I love seeing last years plants pop back up this season. I love the birds and the smells. Its relaxing. I am really happy with how things are filling in and I am starting to think about what we need for some great fall colors.

People ask me why I blog things like flowers or meals I cook.  The short answer is I find the images visually pleasing.  I am proud of the new things I accomplished.  I am proud I take a pile of ingredients and make them into something yummy and want to share that goodness with my friends.  For the garden I photograph its progress for two reasons.  One is I like photography and plants are great to shoot.  I enjoy looking at them.  The second reason is I love to curl up with a cup of tea and look back at how our home has filled in and changed.  We have only been here a 10 months and we have really made some progress!