smitten kitchen.

let's talk about smitten kitchen. do you visit this food blog? it's delightful and delicious. in addition to joy the baker (hello polenta!), it's a favorite site to visit. i've yet to make a recipe that i didn't love.

this weekend i made deb's lemon ricotta pancakes for a sunday brunch feast. the flavors were amazing. the texture was a bit mushy when it should have been fluffy, but i think that's due to me under-whipping the egg whites. the cooked apples were yummy, and a little side of bacon balanced out the sweet quite well.

last night i made the strawberry-rhubarb crumble. i cut the sugar slightly, topped it with vanilla ice cream, and called it perfect. my folks came over to enjoy it with us.

other smitten kitchen favorites are my go-to pumpkin muffin recipe and blueberry muffin recipe.

ps- deb also has a cookbook. i don't have it, but given the quality of her recipes on the blog i'm sure it's wonderful.

roses.

rainy sunday.

damp and cold outside. coffee & computers in bed. snoring little lu. and this song.

lately.

scenes from spring:

practicing.

first creemee of the season.

morning run.

sunset on lake champlain.

bringing spring into the office.

old golds at erin's shower.

barn party.

sweet lilacs.

green mountain sunset.

first ride of the season.

life with lu.

lu is coming up on two years old now. she has really matured over the winter-- she's still high energy and loves to run, but she's calmed down a bit. she listens well, can hang by herself in the front lawn, and loves to show off her tricks. she loves to snuggle as much as she loves to join us on the trails with skis and bikes, and most of all she loves to play with od. we just love her so much.

waiting patiently.

tennis ball and crocuses in the sunshine.

more friz please!

a good gardener.

besties.

good timber.

happy birthday, bob dylan.

(perfect song for this rainy day in vermont)

messenger.

"my work is loving the world.

here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird--

equal seekers of sweetness.

here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.

here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

are my boots old? is my coat torn?

am i no longer young, and still not half-perfect? let me

keep my mind on what matters, 

which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be

astonished.

the phoebe, the delphinium.

the sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.

which is mostly rejoicing, since all ingredients are here,

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart

and these body-clothes,

a mouth with which to give shouts of joy,

to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,

telling them all, over and over, how it is

that we live forever."

--mary oliver

a good wednesday.

this afternoon we designed our rings, shopped for a suit, and ordered our invites. plus i bought a shirt that is covered in green bicycles. success all around.

from a reading for work.

"the plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. but it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. it needs more people who live well in their places. it needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. and these qualities have little to do with success as our culture has defined it."
--david orr

on enjoying your own company.

it's a fine art: enjoying your own company. i've had a weekend that felt like i was practicing this constantly. in general, i think i'm great at being my own friend, enjoying my solo time, and finding peace in the quiet. and when i saw this quote on a blog on friday, i thought 'yeah!' i was home solo with a an indie romantic comedy, a beer and a homemade pizza. it was quiet and i was oh so content. but too much time with myself? i get bored. yesterday i spent the whole day, and night, with only the company of miss lu. i did my chores, prepped for celebrating brett's birthday, ran in the woods, lifted at the gym, made delicious things, and walked the dog. i waited for company- and didn't get it. today has been a better balance- brunch at kismet with brett followed by my first bike ride of the season, a solo dirt road ride. tonight we're having friends over for a birthday bbq- and i simply cannot wait. i think i've gotten enough restorative solo time. bring on the fun! the chatter! the laughter!

how much solo time is enough for you?

happy birthday.

seven summers ago, this cowboy came strolling into my life. i'm grateful for all of our adventures together since then and look forward to our next big adventure this year: marriage! happy birthday, b.

date night.

last night i enjoyed a splendid date night with my best girl, jenna. we joined her parents for dinner at el cortijo, strolled church st in burlington, and then headed to the flynn to see a terrific performance of dreamgirls. there's nothing like stepping out of your routine for a little entertainment, and a good play or concert is always so much fun. the actors and singers were so incredibly talented- what a show! (and, i'm such a granny. staying up late on a monday really wiped me out.)

moments to appreciate.

• having a best friend to whom you can say things like, "sometimes i just wish our brains were bluetoothed or wired together so i could tell you all the random tidbits i want to share that aren't worth a call, note or text." and having her not look at you oddly.
• lilacs and crabapple trees blooming everywhere around town. the floral aroma blowing across the yards and along the street. sticking my nose right up inside of the flowers, and exhaling as hard as i can only to inhale again. the smell so sweet it brings tears to my eyes.
• a baby shower for a childhood friend. quite different from birthday parties and prom-- our group is now celebrating weddings and babies together.  as part of the crew yesterday, we had a mama, two mama-to-bes, and a bride-to-be. six of my high school friends either have or will have babies by the end of 2013. this stage of life snuck up on me mighty quickly!
• a birthday party for a friend, and a whole new crew of folks. twinkle lights, live music, kids racing around, brisket, and the darkest chocolate cake. 
• the week ahead: dreamgirls at the flynn, a belated mother's day celebration, an early birthday celebration, and the corporate cup 5k.

family.

this mother's day, i'm grateful for both of my parents. for their wisdom, support, enthusiasm and love. my mom is on the cape spending this mother's day with her own mum & siblings, so i enjoyed my mother's day with my dad, working on the sailboat in the shipyard. looking forward to summer sails with both of them. 

friday.

kicked off with a strong workout and a fun outfit. followed by a latte-- latte fridays were a favorite celebration in steamboat. either from starbucks on my walk to work, or the bagel shop after early yoga class. now that i work for a coffee company, it's hard to justify. a series of awesome songs on my drive to work (1, 2, 3 and 4). a plate of muffins i brought in to share with the team. a productive meeting. carrots, celery & peanut butter. a ridiculous only-on-friday-afternoon email chain among coworkers.

true.

"may i a small house and a large garden have;

and a few friends, 

and many books, both true."

-abraham coley

keep it you.

frolicsome.

an abundance of gratitude.

for the seemingly never-ending "summer days" we are experiencing in this first week of may: 70s, 80s, perfect blue skies, warm breezes. for the dinners enjoyed on the porch, the grill cooking burgers, the grass lounging, the porch reading. for the hint of sunburn quickly turned tan. for progress on wedding planning (a photographer! a website! a registry! wedding band shopping!), enthusiastic emails among friends, and strange dreams that all involve the wrong place, the wrong time, or the wrong dress. for the first outdoor farmers market, a long walk in the woods, dogs swimming in the river, and stoop chatter & meal planning. for an outdoor beer festival, dinner with family, and a wonderful trail run. for the oldest of friends sharing laughter and heartache. for a phone call from the appalachian trail full of tales of adventure. for a freshly prepped garden, seeds for lettuce, beets, kale, and for tulips smiling in front of our porch. for sweet neighbors, a good book, and a fan in the window.

be you.

"do not chase people. be you and do your own thing and work hard. the right people who belong in your life will come to you, and stay."

the trees.

the little things.

you've got to learn to appreciate
the little things
in life;

like a good cup of coffee,
or a
fresh-smelling flower,
or the smile of
a stranger
as you pass
on the streets.

the world is a
monumental beast,
frightening and
discouraging, but
in small doses, it is
the most beautiful thing
you'll ever discover.

--unknown

is this thing on?

hello out there. i know i haven't been as regular about posting lately, but i also can't tell where my readers are. i think i've gotten one 'like' in the last two weeks, and no comments. you have to leave some love to get some posts, people!

spring.

today: bare legs, painted toes, sandals, and a new dress. noontime yoga class held outside in the lawn. a meeting held at a picnic table. sunglasses. 74 degrees. bluebird skies. yippee.