I *heart* fall

surprising growth

My plants are going crazy!!!
It was just last week that I showed you how everything was growing nicely. For example, here were my yellow patti pan squash and lemon cucumbers one week ago:


They must be loving the heat, because check them out this morning!


I'm shocked! We even have some little thumb-sized squash hiding among the larger-than-life leaves. I think we may be harvesting soon!

I'm also honored to share my son's very first drawing of "mommy" and that's daddy next to me (with the hair).


This took me by such surprise! When we draw at home, it is all numbers and letters, all the time, and I had never seen him really attempt to draw people, so when I found these in the pile of art projects brought home from school, I literally had tears streaming down my face and gave Addison the biggest hugs. There's nothing quite like seeing your own portrait through the eyes of your first child.

He even mocked one up of himself...

which, you've got to give him credit... is pretty accurate!


I love you, my bubs.

weekend of sun

Wow. Some sunshine in my life goes a long way toward making me a happy girl.



This weekend felt like a different world. Partly because of the sun and all that it brings out of this city and the people in it who all patiently (or impatiently) waited out the long, grey winter... Barbecues, shorts and short sleeves, mowed lawns and gardening, drinking cold drinks and playing games on the lawn, cats stretched out in windowsills, children riding bikes, frisbees...

Plus, the return of old friends from days when there was less responsibility in our lives, when we spent entire days lazing about together, being silly and talking about nearly nothing important, playing video games late into the night...

And then there are the things that are new in our lives, that combined with the old, just make everything the way its supposed to be, and oh-so-right... precocious, beautiful children, talk about our careers and the things we're experiencing in our diverse lives... and of course, you know you've all grown up a little when the side dishes at your potluck grow up past bags of chips and store-made potato salad into green beans dressed in a white balsamic vinaigrette, strawberry-mango crisp, grilled salmon, and other delectable morsels.

Oh spring, disguised as summer, you have been a blessing this weekend.

garden plot

We spent a good portion of the last two weekends building a raised bed out of cinder blocks in our backyard, filling it with dirt, and planning out what we want to grow. It's really exciting, since all we've had room to grow in the past has been a couple of tomato plants and some herbs. I can't wait to try growing peas, carrots, zucchini, two kinds of onions, shallots, garlic, peppers and greens. Yum!

Of course, when you're married to a graphic designer who loves his job, designing the garden plot becomes a whole new ballgame.



I present to you, our garden plot masterpiece!

He cracks me up. Every time we have moved into a new apartment or done some serious rearranging, he busts out the illustrator files and plots everything out down to the last quarter of an inch. It both drives me crazy, and I love him for it.

On the first day of Christmas....

Wow, what a week!
We've had:

• 10 inches of snow,

• took 9 sled runs down the hill, (which satisfies list item #3!)

• I made 8 calendars for my girlfriends from little brown pen,

• watched the winter weather forecast for 7 days,

• ate 6 cupcakes between the 3 of us today (guess who ate three all by herself),

• made 5 quarts of soup,

• enjoyed 4 holiday parties,

• survived 3 snow days,

• enjoyed a VERY rare evening staying up til 2am,

• and now am mother to 1 toddler who turned 3 years old today!

the stuff of life

I'm so behind! I've been busy being out and about taking pictures of the changing colors,





attending weddings, putting the finishing touches on my Halloween costume, carving pumpkins, and cooking, cooking, cooking.

My poor family. I think they've about had it with my soups. Seriously, in the past week or two, I have made Mushroom Barley Soup, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (thank you Alicia, it was so delicious!), Vegetarian Chili, Creamy Potato and Kielbasa Soup, and Lentil Soup (ok, ok that was from a can, but I still subjected my family to it!). But, to my credit, they have each been cozy, yummy, and satisfying... in my opinion, all the things an autumn meal should be!

Tonight I couldn't bear to cook another meal. I was totally spent, so we went out here for a slice instead, which was great. A band was playing in the lounge, and Addison was completely enthralled by the music. He always is when we see someone playing live, particularly if there is a guitar. In fact, it has been his focus and obsession as of late.



A friend of ours gave us this toy ukelele and every day Addison puts music in his stereo -- usually his favorite, John Mayer-- and rocks out.

Then I brought out the big guns.



He was ecstatic.



And Addison, I couldn't be prouder of you, because I know you are going to make it big someday. In whatever you choose to do.

enjoying

We are so lucky here in Portland to have farms all around the city for year-round weekend trips to pick berries, flowers, and enjoy fresh local produce, outdoor concerts, witness beautiful weddings, and families enjoying each other's company.

This past weekend it was my own family enjoying one another and bringing home varieties of squash, apples, avocados, pickled beans, cider, and of course, pumpkins for carving.



We enjoyed a little tour of the farm animals doing their signature barnyard performances right before our very eyes, like pages from a storybook.



But I think my favorite part of the trip was capturing little bits of magic with the camera,



and watching others do the same.



I love having this blog and sharing bits of my life with you all. Thank you for all your comments and encouragement (and tips!) during these first two months!

xoxoxo

outside and inside

September has taken its seat and settled in. Its cold cold nights and scorching days have left me changing my clothes multiple times a day and doing my best to savor these last bits of summer.

We've tried to spend as much time outside as possible during the daylight and curled up with movies at night.

Here were some of the goodies from our week:

Smith & Bybee Wetlands just minutes from my house.









Its hard to believe that all this exists just a couple hundred yards from a major road in the city. You've got to love Portland.


You've also just got to see this movie, Bella.



For the serious movie-lover, it is a unique gem of a movie that appealed to all the senses. It is unpretentious, and lacks the banal Hollywood movie formula that I have grown so tired of.

For those who just want a little eye candy, the lead role is a serious hottie. And who doesn't like that?