Fall Runway

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I am SOOO ready for fall -- I know I shouldn't complain about the weather as we've had a pretty lenient summer in terms of heat, but I am really over this latest heat wave.  When it gets to be Labor Day weekend and I see the kids are all back to school, I am ready for fall - not 90 degree temps.  Bring on the 60's, football, McIntosh apples, changing leaves, apple cider, soccer games (oops, that should have been listed a little earlier...), sweater weather...you get the idea.

Since the weather isn't cooperating, I turned to Pantone's 2013 Fall Color Palette to give me some fall inspiration this week, and I wasn't disappointed.  These colors are cool, inviting, and ready to tailgate!

Some of  my favorites "pop" out right away, and of course, when I see colors, I "see" stones and/or crystal colors.  I am loving "Samba" as red is my color, so I am thrilled to see it in the line up this fall.  For me that would be red coral or perhaps siam or crystal red magma Swarovski (can't help but think scarlet and gray here - especially with "Turbulence" - GO BUCKS! -  or red and black - "GO OWU!" - it's my last season as a soccer mom - pass the tissue box :/).

Played yesterday with some Kambaba jasper which came to mind when I saw the "Deep Lichen Green," "Linden Green," and "Turbulence."  Great combination.

Our little "Miss Abby" would be very happy to see her two favorite colors here - pink and purple - "Vivacious" and "Acai."  I'm excited to work with a few of my favorite stones - amethyst, rose quartz, crazy lace agate, lavender agate, cherry jade.

"Koi" is the perfect autumn color and would be wonderful for carnelian or if working with "Carafe" as well, numerous beautiful jaspers.

My other favorite color is blue, especially the brilliant tint of "Mykonos Blue."  I'm thinking sodalite, lapis lazuli, so many brilliant Swarovski colors.

I'm also glad to see a carry-over from spring in "Emerald" (for some reason I look pretty good in this color, if I do say so myself, lol).  No, unfortunately, I don't have any lose emeralds about to work with for this, but the "aqua" shade for fall brings to mind the green that can be found in some chrysocolla - have to look for these special pieces, but they are so pretty and worth the look.  And I like the idea that chrysocolla is associated with bringing serenity, clarity, and peace.

So, warm me up some cider, bring me my soccer game blanket and bead board, and let's get this fall moving!

Morning Glory & Help, Please!

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I've been away from the garden for a few days - exciting family moments (goalie girl returning from her summer abroad, celebrating her 21st birthday with us, and heading back to school for her senior year - where did these years go? And yes, that means another - the final - soccer season is upon us; our little granddaughter's baptism - again, it seems just a blink when we celebrated that with our oldest granddaughter four years ago).  So, when I headed out this morning there were quite a few changes waiting for me.  This sunshiny beauty was the first I noticed and certainly made me smile, actually, laugh.  There are a row of them along the back of the garden, and this is the first to burst forth.

Beans, beans, beans - yes, there are more beans.  I had to go hunting (this is our first garden, and it really is more like a jungle than a neatly kept garden bed) as the three bean bushes have been over run by summer squash and several tomato plants, but there were more than enough for another round of our favorite beans, cherry tomatoes (oh, yes, those are ready), and feta cheese salad.  And more beans are still on the way.

A few summer squash are working away, and more zucchini are on the way (naturally).  But the big news is the tomatoes are finally turning -- and yes, we did overplant (did I really think otherwise??).  Goodness!  I brought in plenty of cherry tomatoes for the salad mentioned above -- and to add to another quinoa veggie salad for tonight.  Also picked about four giant red 'maters (to add to several ones already in the house that hubby had picked a couple of days ago).  We're doing BLT's for lunch with the remaining lettuce that I picked.

So, with a garden FULL of tomatoes about to turn at the same time, the question is -- what are your favorite tomato recipes -- and please keep in mind, I will NOT be canning or freezing.  We will use what we can (love fresh salsa -- would consider freezing some of that in small batches, if possible -- and fresh pasta sauce) and be giving away lots, I think, but would love to try some new recipes with our bounty!  We do have access to LOTS of fresh herbs (overplanted on the basil as well) :)

Feel free to leave recipe links in your comments and keep them coming!  Thanks :)

Monday Mail!

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I promised to explain why (well, at least one reason) I had been AWOL and there she is!  Our sweet, oldest granddaughter came to her very first "Grandparents' Summer Camp" - a whole week away from Mommy, Daddy, and her little brother and little sister and a whole week of fun with Mimi and Seanathair (Irish for "grandfather").  Abby is a very grown-up 4-years-old now, but we were all still a little tentative as to how the week would go as this was the longest she had ever been away from home - some overnights, of course, with her Grandma and Papa who live a few blocks away, but not a whole week - and "so far" away!  But, Miss Abby, except perhaps for this one "Kodak moment," was like the Energizer Bunny and kept us all going, going, going so we don't think she had time for any homesickness - that, and the wonder of Skype, of course!

And, I was so excited when the mail arrived today as I had made photo books of our camp week (one that I'll be taking down to Miss Abby this week!).  I think you can see how much fun we had :)

Click here to view this photo book larger

Build your own high-quality photo books at Shutterfly.com.

According to her Mommy, our camper is already planning her next summer!

 

When the Garden Talks...

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I've been AWOL again - good reason (more on that in another post next week, promise - it was our first "Grandparents' Summer Camp") :)  But, it also meant, aside from some quick trips to check on whether my plethora of green tomatoes have decided to turn, I had also pretty much been AWOL from the garden.  Not good.  If you are a gardener, you know what I mean.  When you ignore gardens, they start talking to you...

Our Vegetable Garden

(Note - ok, really, an excuse - first time veggie gardeners...)

Our Herb Garden

One of Our Flower Beds

(Note - Hubby Takes Care of These REALLY Well)

Guess I better start listening - or at least get working!  Happy gardening!

Playing with Wire

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I signed up for one of those online jewelry classes a while ago and have slowly been working my way through it -- you might remember that I first used some basics from the class for my project in the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party with the goodies I received from Mandi E. of Craft-o-licious.

Well, I've finally moved through a few more lessons, and I'm really excited with what I'm creating.  Here's what I've come up with this week.

I might list these.....or I might do up another pair using some sodalite and list those....or....lol....

And I just finished these chandelier-style - in time for my niece's 18th birthday.  She likes dangling earrings and I used IU colors where she is heading off to in the fall.

Have to admit I was a little intimidated at first by the look of all those loops, but they were really fun to create. Looking forward to playing with them some more - maybe as a pendant base.

 Stay tuned - eventually, I have to get something listed in the shops!!

Today's Aroma Brought to You by...

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Remember yesterday's photo?  Well, today's aroma is brought to you by basil and garlic.  Just finished my batch of pesto - thank you, Ina Garten :)  I will say that Ina must like her pesto a bit thinner than I prefer - or more likely I didn't "pack" my cups as much as she would have?  Her pesto recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of olive oil and gives a 4 cup yield.  I only used 1 1/4 cups of the olive oil - really thought any more would have been a pretty runny pesto.  And that, of course, meant less pesto - but a lot less.  I ended up with 2 1/3 cups - big difference.  I froze 2 cups of it, in 1/2 c. portions using the method recommended here and kept the remaining for use now.  

The "pinky taste test" proved yummy, and I'm sure our plants will provide me with at least one more batch before the season ends.

The kitchen?  Oh, yeah, still gotta do those dishes...soaking.  They're soaking...I'm working on it.

Wordless Wednesday...almost

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I see pesto in my future...any favorite recipes you'd like to share?