A Newlywed....

So, it's official! I am a married woman :-) Can't believe it, but can't say that I feel entirely different, and I mean that in the best possible way! I have always felt like Jim's wife :-) now it's just actually true! I just want to thank everyone for all their help- without which this wedding would not have been nearly as beautiful as it was! I promise to upload some pictures once I have some :-) We have a couple of weeks before we take off for the honeymoon- So I may actually have some time to cook and knit and read..... you know all that stuff I used to do when I wasn't planning a wedding! well, that's it for now- I'm still tired, which i'm sure everyone is who attended and helped out!

So cheers everyone! thanks for the best wishes and the amazing time on saturday!!!!!!

Eight Days and Counting.......

Hellooooooooo! - long time no talkie! well if you haven't guessed it- I've been busy :-) since, I don't know, there may be a wedding coming up here shortly! crazy huh? well lots to do- just wanted to give a short shout out- just to let you all know I haven't forgotten about you ! I will post pictures soon- or maybe later- I don't know :-) I surprised I remember to brush my teeth this morning! that's how crazy I am right now- cheers!

18 Days and Counting....

I thought we would start with Tor. The amazing gnome who guards our garden (except he lets the deer eat the raspberries- but I'll let that slide) and makes sure that the flowers bloom and the veggies grow!.. well I'm not sure if he does all that, but I want to give him props anyway- since he has survived four winters- and just got a face lift (paint touch up) this summer. I think he's looking quite spry for a 500 year old gnome (they live to be over 700 you know) , don't you? and aren't the Liatris lovely behind him- I love liatris because it gives you a burst of color- when everything else is dying off.

So a very productive few days since we last spoke.. got the rehearsal dinner invites out, checked out the rehearsal dinner sight (I love ACES!), printed the programs ( actually Jim did that!), had a ladies night! worked out- (wherein I pressed the most weight I ever have, I can't move my arms today, but hey - that's sacrifice!) and on top of it all we got another wedding present!!! yea presents yea!!! Ice cream maker attachment and Le Cruset cooking pot! not bad--- needless to say I will show you what creations come out of them :-) Lets move on to some more pictures shall we?.......

Hollyhocks, Hollyhocks, oh holly holly holly....... Hollyhocks! bu dum dum dum.....

Another delightful hollyhock, Again a late bloomer- but we love that !

Raspberries anyone? a bit blurry I know- but trust me, this one is almost ripe- and I may just have to eat it- when I'm done typing.

The Loverly Lavender- my all time favorite plant. I think I will make some sachets this afternoon.

One more lonely raspberry- which will be consumed very shortly!

Kinda blurry sorry- This is the spicy spicy pasta I made, which was great cold too!- I used the corn and black bean pasta from the farmers market, along with tomatoes, zucchini and peppers (also from the farmers market)- and at the end added a can of spicy pinto beans with sauce- and topped with fresh herbs. yummy yummy- and spicy spicy ( I forgot that some of the peppers were spicy- I thought they where Anaheim peppers! whoops. plus I added two Serrano's....

The last Thursday Night concert.. :-( Boo. But at least this time it was a great band! last year it was such a let down, I'm sorry I like mariachi as much as the next person- but just not as the last concert of the summer!- had a wonderful time with of course.. Nicole my ever faithful and dear friend- Jim was Babysitting and being awesome.

Here Is the bag I knitted for Nicole- gave it to her at the concert and inside was some earrings, to wear with the bridesmaid dress! Very simple pattern, worked over 33 stitches and 6 rows. If you want the pattern- just let me know!!

Can you see the rainbow? I believe it was a double..

Well that's all I have for now.. since I've been SOO productive lately, maybe it won't take me as long to update- but then again, maybe it will.... gotta keep you on your toes you know. I'm excited for hockey tonight! yes, hockey. it's awesome! plus I get to watch my love on skates. sweet.

Well lots of love, and talk to you all soon! Cheers!

HAA!

I just realized I already posted the american lake pictures! guess that tells you where my mind is!- well I guess just enjoy them again! I hope my brain gets better after this wedding planning is over, otherwise I'm in trouble.

Happy August!

I thought we would start with food today, seeing as how I have had a considerable appetite lately- and a ton of produce to use up! Above are the pumpkin spice muffin/cupcakes I made the other day. Don't ask me why I made something that smells like fall- but it was lovely. I topped them with a cream cheese icing- vegan cream cheese that is :-) (thank you clarks market! I don't know what I would do without you!) They were yummy, yet seem to have been consumed by the fridge- which without the light seems to have become incredibly vacuous- which reminds me, I have to clean that (especially with all the mice running around this summer! ewwwww mice ewwwww..) ok moving on... I actually wrote up a recipe! I know for serious though! just scroll down to find it, I promise it's there!!

Farmer's Market Salsa

5-6 small radish’s -chopped Small green bell pepper- chopped

1 small cucumber- minced

¼ white onion - chopped 1 clove garlic- minced Handful of mixed cherries- pitted and chopped 1 peach - peeled and chopped 3 medium tomatoes- seeded and chopped 1 Serrano pepper- chopped Chunk of fresh ginger- minced 1 tbs agave nectar Squeeze of fresh lime Salt & pepper Fresh cilantro- minced Splash of HOT Hot sauce- 5 pickled jalpenjo’s - or to taste- minced Red pepper flakes

* This was the original recipe- and I didn't have too many hot peppers so that's why I added all the random hot stuff- it's all I had! - so next time I just minced up two serrano peppers, one with the seeds and pith- and the other seeded. You can also interchange the fresh fruit- whatevers in season!

Chill and serve

Date Night Dinner- Wild rice pilaf, served with fresh greens from the garden, and topped with blackberries, nectarines and champagne dressing. the last of our radishes and our other bell pepper- all of which went into the Salsa!!

Our awesome hike to American Lake, (I think I calculated that between the hikes, running and dog walking- I probably covered thirty miles last week!) though this hike was only 7 miles round trip. Beautiful hike up and you get the added reward of a refreshing cold lake at the end. very nice.

The hike up.

American Lake

Aspen Trees

So that's it for now- I also forgot to take some pix of the great remake of the healthy muffins, I added applesauce and carrots- and they were awesome. And this morning, having woken up at 5:20 am (why?)- I made the same muffins, but with banana's and zucchini. yum yum!! and the other night we made an awesome rice cake dish ( leftover from the pilaf) and paired it with an amazing salad Jim made with all the fresh tomatoes and herbs!!!

I am so very lucky to have such amazing people in my life, fresh food to eat and of course beautiful surroundings. I wish you all a wonderful rest of the week, (I know it's thursday, but give me a break, my wedding is in three weeks!!!! ) and of course I wish you all happiness and laughter!! :-)

Cheers!