math

unexpected day at home with Dave

+ 1 hour afternoon nap

+ homemade popcorn

+ kitten licks

+ 10 mile run, partly in the rain

+ great thunderstorms

_________________

1 terrific Monday

Humid run this morning, but felt good. Some words that came to mind while I ran:

Morning slips in on kitten paws, padding gray

and soft over pillows, hands still clasping

sheets, eyelashes tangled on cheeks.

domestivity (domestic activity)

Got up early this morning and headed down to Bluffton, Indiana. Rachel and I first took a walk to the farmer's market where we picked up two dozen sweet corn. Walked home (stopped so Rachel's dog, Eme, could poop in the middle of a parking lot). We husked the corn and had some coffee, smoked and sharp cheddar, and apples, and started shredding zucchini. Lots of zucchini. Rachel's mom had grown a zuc as big around as my bicep and as long as my fingertip-to-elbow. Incredible. I had brought four rather large zucs as well. We shredded them, then started making bread. Abbie and Lacey soon joined us, too. We finished the bread, froze corn, had mexican dip and chips for lunch, did some crafts, and just hung out. At the end of the day Rachel and I each had four bags of corn to freeze, we had eight big loaves of zuc bread, two bags of leftover shredded zuc to freeze, and Rachel had two new doorstoppers. I finished my book on CD on the way home, then got some time tonight for dinner with Dave, to write thank you notes, do some bills, play with Mosie, and watch some gymnastics. All in all, a fantastic Saturday!

Also, something I'm still excited about: my best friend, Becca, got engaged at the end of July. She recently asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. I am THRILLED and eagerly anticipating it. Bec and I have been best friends since second grade, eight years old, when we had matching bowl haircuts and had pencil races on our desks in Mrs. Fogle's classroom. Other than family, Bec has been my longest friend. I cannot wait to be with her on her wedding day!!! And next weekend Bec and Rachel - another longtime best friend - will be coming to visit me! Possibly with Bec's fiance, Peter! Dave and I are very excited for them to come!

(This post is dedicated to Dave, who begged for an update.)

hodge podge

Aunt Penny and Uncle Lyn came up from Fort Wayne yesterday. We spent the afternoon in Shipshewana, then came to Goshen for dinner. Walked around downtown after we ate, then played Uno and Hand & Foot. Since we were gone all day I put boneless pork in the crockpot with apple juice. Then when we got home I drained the juice, shredded the pork (just using tongs - it fell right apart), then added a bottle of bbq sauce. Let it cook together for another hour, then had sandwiches! We tried to find fresh corn but didn't see any roadside stands - can you believe it??

Had my first "harvest" of home-growns this week. Even though it's only about 11 beans I'm still immensely happy. (Note: they're not that great tasting. I think the key to good produce - big zucs and delicious beans - must be room and space to actually grow. Novel concept.)

And Aunt Penny took our first "family" picture:

I'm not sure if this will work or not (I've never tried to post a video), but here is a video Dave took of Mosie playing:

We're having staff over for dinner tonight - eight or more people in our little apartment! I'm going to make a pasta throw-together - wheat pasta, marinara, ground turkey, sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, sauteed zucchini and onions, goat cheese. Everyone is bringing a side to contribute as well! Hooray for good fun!

weekend revelations top 10

1. Lake showers - even when the water temp makes you breath hard and you don't have conditioner so your hair is all knotty - are pure fun. And make you feel 7 again, with heavy wet-shoed feet, tight cold skin, and zebra mussels bits stuck to your toes. I asked Dave if I smelled clean and he said I smelled like outside and water. Even better.

2. Eggplant sliced super thin and sauteed to perfection in olive oil tastes kind of like a potato chip but 12 times better.

3. Runs in a light rain, especially along the coast with the waves rushing and the lake wind blowing and your sister beside you, are the best kind.

4. Grandmothers may need to be reminded ten times about what boat you are leaving on but they will always remember to smack your butt when they hug you.

5. Sunday night dinners of popcorn, cheese, turkey sausage, apples, and peanut butter are the very best kind. Especially combined with a movie, a husband, and a sleepy kitty.

6. Blissful: napping with Mosie, both of us asleep, with her paws in my hair.

7. Surprises from Dave: a full gas tank to get to Marion, reese's pb snack cups, and a big yellow daisy flower. Best boy.

8. Kitties get bored at 3am.

9. Little nieces at 16 months get giddy and run into walls. They are conveniently resilient. And wonderfully adorable, busy, and open-mouth-kisses-sweet.

10. Mondays should be replaced by more weekends.

pizza pizza

We tried this pizza crust recipe last night and it was soooo good! We topped ours with fresh marinara, basil, oregano, carmelized onions, yellow peppers, turkey sausage, sundried tomatoes, and cheese. YUM. The crust was kind of biscuity, not too dense, and very delicious. I used only wheat flour and it still came out great.

Off to Kelley's Island this weekend!

And I have beans growing! I think I can harvest a few today!

Mosie

The new addition to our house: Mosie (Moe-zee)!!