New Book Club Book!

This book is amazing so far! It's somewhat post-apocalyptic / Lost / The Giver.

It is beautifully written and endlessly entertaining.

Join me!

Lady's Camping Trip

Claire Bear invited me on this 4 day trip to Lake Cushman.

I met 7 new ladies, and we had a wonderful time!

* * * *

Also Claire's dog, Arnie, came.

He kept us safe from eating too much

and being eaten by the black bear that was sited

on the 8th and again on Saturday night

* * * *

We had a Bean Dip Contest

Played Charades

* * * *

Friday was cloudy and cold,

but we made the best of it by walking

to the creek and taking a hike on the loop trail.

We swear we had gone 2 miles,

but the mile marker only said 1,

so we chalked it up to the trail

being uphill the entire first mile.

We met a banana slug.

We ran across this log.

My legs were shaking for quite a while afterward,

because I'm scared of heights.

* * * *

Saturday we stayed on their Secret Beach on the Lake.

I don't have pictures of this,

because I was too busy juggling

reading Harry Potter and staying cool in the lake.

* * * *

But now I'm HOME - the best place to be when you've been gone a while.

All I'm missing is Travis. He went to Portland on Wednesday and will return tomorrow night.

Here's to

Caprese #2

A new Book Club book

Molly Moon

and a new apartment to move into

Another Recipe To Share

These are my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies!

It sounds a little strange,

but they have just the right amount of salt in them.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

In a large bowl,

cream together with a hand mixer:

1 cup shortening

3/4 sugar

3/4 brown sugar

2 eggs

Blend well, then add:

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a separate smaller bowl,

blend together with a wire whisk:

1-1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Blend dry mixture into creamed mixture a little at a time.

By hand, mix in:

2 cups old fashioned oats

12 ounces chocolate chips

1 cup nuts (optional)

Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.

Also, I leave for an extra long camping trip with a bunch of friends tomorrow. So I ventured to make Honey Bran Muffins from my Honey Recipe Book. Hope they're delicioius!

My Caprese

I splurged and went straight to Trader Joe's for

100% Buffalo Mozzarella

Tomatoes on the Vine

Organic Basil

Just drizzle extra-virgin olive oil

and dust with ground sea salt.

Spectacular!

Dessert Desire

The best dessert I've ever had was custom made

at a wine bar that Travis used to work at.

They had a Nutella Panini on the dessert menu, but

I love cheese.

My favorites are Telaggio and Delice.

Creamy, Pungent cheese.

And the two together are

HEAVEN

Old Pals

Thank you, boys, for a fun night on the town.

So Happy to see you after almost a year!

Let's not wait that long again.

Left to Right: Kelly Head, Eric Mill, Leslie Jensen [me]

Tribute to Annie

The moment I saw Annie on my instant Netflix queue, I hit play.

What a childhood classic for me! I've already gotten chills twice just remembering.

Thank you, Carol Burnette!

You don't even need to try.

And Rooster...

Tim Curry, you were genius

from the beginning.

Who wouldn't die for a movie experience like this?!

Grace Farrell, Be Mine!

Great Time Period

Fabulous Music

Amazing Wardrobes

Wonderful Nostalgia

Two Pictures Game

I got this idea from a blog I've been reading recently - Oh Mishka.

Grab your camera.
Take pictures of 2 things in the room you're in right now.
Put them on your blog and say why you chose those 2 items to photograph.

This is my record player that was given to me by Tiffany Reimergartin before she was a Lazercat. I don't have a ton of records but some favorites. I love her stickers. Also, the table it's on was my grandpa's. I painted the inside pink.

This is my full-size keyboard that Travis got me for my bday. I'm learning Claire de Lune...a little at a time. It's beautiful.

Meet the Plants

I've always known my dad to have a green thumb, but I haven't had the opportunity to try mine out many times. The times I have had opportunities, I've been in college or worked long hours.

Then I was inspired by Boyface Travis' Rubber Plant named Patrick.

Patrick has been around for some time. He's gone months without attention [in an unfortunate situation] and has grown several new leaves in the last year! He's standing with such good posture these days.

So this summer I decided to grow tomatoes.

This is Ella, the Early Girl, and a few marigolds to attract bugs. There are 4 green tomatoes and one that's turning red!! I did it! Thanks to the sunny weather, Ella has been a wonderful urban plant.

Then I was given an orchid by a sweet friend who works in the senior care industry with me.

And due to my love for the movie Adaptation, I named him Charlie Kaufman. He is actually two orchid plants that have white flowers with purple dots & white flowers with yellow dots. I mist him with a spray bottle and sometimes place him in my bathroom when showers are being taken. He likes a tropical atmosphere.

Finally, once the word got out that I liked having plants around, my mother brought me Fred

the Ficus. About once a week I give him water in the clear dish and he soaks it up as he pleases. Every two weeks, I see that the top of his foliage has new leaves budding! He's gorgeous.

Does anyone else have a plant that they love to grow?

My Pillows

Waiting for my fabric to be washed is one of my favorite things.

Cut the Pattern

Cut the Fabric

Add a Zipper and stuff the Pillow Form inside.

Times 4 = brightened living room!

Now onto Shadow Boxes.

Will someone...

see Julie and Julia with me?

Pretty Please