Summer Lovin'

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vintage Plymouth station wagon with surf boards When I look at this photo from a camping trip last summer, Grease pops into my head immediately.

Summer loving had me a blast Summer loving happened so fast

I remember standing in the warm, dripping sunshine, staring at this vintage Plymouth station wagon with surf boards on top and thinking, "Seriously? Am I dreaming? Am I on a movie set?" Nope, I was only at a typical beach campground on the Oregon coast, on a typical summer camping trip. The key here is what was not happening: I was not tending to the fire,  I was not fussing with the camp kitchen, I was not tidying up the tent. Instead, I was out walking with my eyes wide open, because I knew I knew there was a photo waiting to be taken. I knew there would come a day when I needed to be reminded of the warm, carefree days of summer. . Today is that day.

Trillium Lake, Oregon

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I have heard about Trillium Lake and I have seen other people's photos of Trillium Lake. Now I have my own stories to tell and a few photographs of my own. Trillium Lake, Mt. Hood, Oregon

Little known fact: swimming in lakes scares me. I swam in Detroit Lake last summer and Trillium Lake this summer. The moment where I feel my fears the most is when the water temperature drops and the color of the water gets black. In other words, when the lake gets deep!

Stories from the past week: hosting a family party for 14 in my perfectly imperfect house, seeing the kids sound asleep on the attic floor in Nana's room, going camping without my husband and pitching the tent with my sister-in-law's awesome and patient help, trying to work my husband's backpacking stove in the dark with my mother-in-law so we would know how to make our coffee in the morning, hearing my Noodle laughing and smiling with his cousins, having diving contests off the rocks into Trillium Lake, climbing around the dock where folks were fishing for rainbow trout, lips turning blue, going back to camp to warm up by the fire, my idea to raise the bar on my s'mores by putting the chocolate inside the marshmallow prior to roasting...

Summer is in full swing here in Oregon...see you next Friday!

Summer Memory

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Recently, I fell in love with this image from Kristi of a life through the lens.



Is it not a quintessential image for this time of year? Ah, to be young and carefree with a big, fat piece of cold, ripe watermelon dripping down your dress onto the grass! You can see more of Kristi's amazing photography in her shop and Flickr and visit her on her beautiful blog.

By the way, thank you for all the lovely words about my last post. :) I hope you're all enjoying the season -- have any fun summery images to share with me?

Summer

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We are having odd weather here -- very cool, breezy and last night it even rained a bit. It is a rare feeling for me, but I want to feel like it's summer out there. To me, summer means carefree living, freedom, refreshing beverages, fêtes, fun and silliness. It means having the space to dream and play.


As we head into the first official summer weekend, tell me -- what does summer mean to you?



P.S. You can also find me in the Green Phone Booth today.

Key Lime Martinis

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Notes on the ingredients:

Quarante y Tres, we can learn more about this mystery ingredient together here.
(3 tablespoons)

Absolut Citron is what we've been using.
(1 tablespoon)

Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Juice is one of two we've tried. Just be sure not to get that little green plastic bottle you see in the produce section. The right kinds will be in the juice or alcohol section of your market.
(2 tablespoons)

I use Clover Organic heavy cream because it's local.
(2 tablespoons)

Combine all delicious ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
Cover.
Shake.
Strain.
Enjoy!

Thanks Papa and Tutu for bringing us this fabulous summer beverage when we moved into our new home.

Paaarty!

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This weekend found me eating cupcakes with my beautiful sister-in-law, shopping for adorable little Japanese things, cracking up with my nephew and unpacking my four large art boxes.


Lulu got these little pins for me after it took me a little too long to understand them.
I am an odd case that way though.

This weekend also found me working my first photo shoot: a first birthday party! I have more than 400 photos to sort and process this week, but here is a little sneak peek. 



It was an honor to document this special occasion for a truly beautiful family, inside and out.


Of course, I ended the weekend with our Summer '09 weekend tradition: KLMs (key lime martinis) with my sweetie. I'll post the recipe tomorrow. 

How was your weekend?

Late July

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My post title does not refer to my favorite crackers, but rather to last night's sunset as viewed from my driveway.



This weekend also included a retro dresser found at a garage sale for $30, a birthday party, unpacking, yard work, the end of the Tour (I get my evenings with my husband back, hooray), couscous with roasted cherry tomatoes, hidden Italian bakeries discovered by a dear friend, smashed thumb nails and key lime martinis.

How was your weekend?

Sweet Sailing

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Yesterday while the carpet was being installed, I headed to my MIL's house with the boy and the dog for a few hours. The dog can be left in her yard, unlike ours, so the boy and I got to spend some wonderful time together walking around her neighborhood. We shared a Peanut Butter Moo'd and played a new board game at the Treehouse.

We met Nana for lunch and went back to play another round of Monte Rolla. I have a hunch we'll add this game to our collection. It's the same concept as Chutes & Ladders (which I've always detested), where you slide back and forth in an effort to complete a course, except it's enjoyable and cute. I'd play Monte Rolla for hours.

When it was time to go, Jaden decided to spend a little of his allowance. There was a big debate between a bag of rocks or...


Nice choice little guy! 

Oh the adventures he had with the summer breeze on the walk back to my MIL's! Now that's what I'm talking about -- no Wii this or Star Wars that can compete with a good old fashioned wooden toy and a child's amazing imagination.

Score!

I'll be back with Friday Poems in a bit.