this weekend we get to enjoy this view every morning.

we are hosting a mini-reunion at the beach for a few of jay’s high school friends that he reconnected with through facebook.

here’s to a weekend mixed with sand, sun, pool time, grilling and lots of board games.

ian picked/snagged a bowl full of wild blackberries this week from grammie and grammie’s yard. i was inspired to bake a classic pound cake that same day. the two came together, along with some whipped cream and created a harmonious blend of yumminess that i just can’t describe. you just have to try it for yourself. here’s the pound cake recipe:

Classic Pound Cake
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups sugar
2 cups butter, softened
3/4 cup milk
6 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla etract

(i love the simplicity of the ingredients and the fact that i had everything on hand)

Step One
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place flour, sugar, butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla (in that order) in 4-qt. bowl of a heavy-duty electric stand mixer. Beat at low speed 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes.

Step Two
Pour into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan, and smooth. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 1 hour).

While the pound cake is cooking, go on a nature walk and find some ripe blackberries. If they are red, skip those and come back for them later.

i’m also starting to add to my photo project that i started at the beginning of 2010.  my plan was to complete by december of 2010, but it’s looking more like the end of 2012 instead.  i’m not giving up on it and as inspiration strikes i will continue to add to it until i’ve reached my goal.  i hope to start a new one after that with a different theme.  not sure what that will be just yet, but i’ve got time to stew on that. happy easter!

I have taken a break due to lack of interest for some time now.

When I started, I thought 100 photos would be no sweat compared to the 365 photo project.

It is harder than it seemed.

I am now on photo 33 in my still life theme.

I need to buckle down and do this.

My goal is to finish by the end of 2010.

Here are some of my latest attempts.  Go here to see what others are up to.

:: this is a cereal bowl turned upside-down with a tower of child-size ceramic cups on top.

:: i gathered some acorns while Erin and I were playing outside and placed them on the porch of the playset.

:: this was the necklace I was wearing and I placed it on top of the cereal canister in the kitchen.

Click below to see more photos from the session:

This year’s garden is coming along nicely and I think it’s the best yet because we were really selective with the type of plants.  Planting ones that we will actually eat.  We planted all four garden boxes back in April with the following:

Box 1:: 6 tomato plants and 3 each of yellow squash and zucchini

Box 2:: 3 Basil, 2 Thyme, 1 Orange Mint, 1 Parsley transplant, 1 Cilantro, 2 Tomato, 4 Bell Pepper, 1 Jalepeno, 1Datil Pepper and a couple dozen Red Onions

Box 3:: 1 Thorn-less Blackberry bush and 5 strawberry plants

Box 4:: 4 Blueberry bushes and a few watermelons

Since we were planting late and had not started any seedlings, we started with plants for everything.  So far, we’ve gotten a few strawberries and two yellow squash.  We had two actual blueberries and were patiently waiting for them to ripen, but just discovered that they were eaten by the birds.  I’m planning on making lots of Pioneer Woman’s Pico de gallo, hence the tomatoes, cilantro, red onions and jalepenos.  My mouth is watering as I write.  The kids all love fruit, way more than the veggies, well 100% more than the veggies.  So we planted strawberries, blueberries and blackberries.  If I can just keep the birds and the kids from eating them as they grow, I might just be able to make a pie someday.

Up-close Look at the Garden:

This morning we were checking out the garden, when we discovered that one of the bell pepper plants had almost been totally eaten.  We were looking around it when Jay noticed a bright green caterpillar that was looking very plump, thanks to that lovely bell pepper plant that we had so generously put there for him to munch.  We pinched off the branch it was holding on to and placed him in one of our many caterpillar jars.  After his photo shoot, I decided to go through the other plants to see what else was hanging around.  I found 6 more of his Tomato Horn-worm buddies.  I think it’s time to take some action, serious action of the pesticide variety.

Overall View of the Garden:

Here is what the garden is looking like now, a month after planting.  We are learning as we go for sure and are far from knowing what we are doing.  I have learned that it is fun to plant fruits and veggies because they are bringing wildlife literally  to our back door.  It gives us things to look up and learn about in a very practical and hands-on way.  The little bit of food we yield is a bonus.

One more thing, do you see that big thing behind the garden?  Well, that is a new to us playground that our very generous neighbors across the street gave us.  The kids are out there everyday swinging away- Hooray for neighbors!!