Porches are for Summer

I didn't grow up with porches, so I always thought that people who had them had something unspeakably wonderful. More than a conduit from the outside to the in, it's something halfway in-between. It's a summer living room. I love when I see porches with rugs, furniture and a festival of plants and flowers. But whether you have a minimalist statement in white and green or an enclosed porch shrouded in bushes, now is the time to grab a seat and watch the neighbors stroll by with their dogs.

This porch - I've had a crush on it for years. You can't tell from the picture, but the screens are made from cooper, so when the light shines through, it has this warm glow.

Do you have a porch? Do you live on it in the summer? What does it look like? Send me a picture!

Dear Summer,

I have been waiting for you, checking days off the calender one by one, looking around the corner in anticipation, heaving an impatient sigh now and then. You'll notice I've compiled a list of things I'd like to do with you over the next few short months. We're going to have a nice visit, won't we?

Herewith my list:
  1. Eat ice cream as a meal.
  2. Lounge on the porch reading a book.
  3. Spend a few nights in a cabin.
  4. Go for long bike rides.
  5. Visit the state fair, perhaps specifically to see Devo.
  6. Grow really big heirloom tomatoes.
  7. Dedicate a photo collection to a single color - but which one?
  8. Clean the basement and attic. Okay, just the basement.
      We'll discuss the attic with Autumn.
  9. Meet a friend for dinner al fresco as frequently as possible.
10. Visit a flea market.
11. Enroll in yoga or dance classes. It's about posture and breathing.

So, we've got a lot to accomplish in such a short time! Come along, now ...

Happy Father's Day!

When I was five years old, on a fine summer Sunday morning, my father and I went for a walk on a dirt road in the woods. I had on my yellow striped polyester shirt and matching yellow shorts; he had on his straw fedora and plaid shorts. He would hold my hand, and when he saw something of interest, he would bend down and point it out to me. Nothing remarkable happened, but it was memorable in ways that grown people have flashbacks of their childhood; of simpler times.

I spent this weekend at Lake Erie with my in-laws. It was equally tranquil and had the same effect. With nothing to do but have wine and cheese, stare at the lake and enjoy lengthy conversations, I couldn't ask for a more delightful weekend. It's nice to know that simpler times aren't always in the past.

I couldn't share my birthday with two more wonderful men. Happy Father's Day Gilbert and Jim!

Nightminds - Missy Higgins

Recently my husband reunited with some old high school buddies. They were meeting up regularly for a couple of beers a few times a week and really reconnecting. My husband would come home and say, "When you meet Dan, and you will ...". Well, unfortunately I never will because he passed away on Monday in the saddest of circumstances. You learn to love and appreciate people while you have them. This song is for Dan, whom I never met, but surely would have liked.

The Uniform Project

This morning I put three bags of clothing on the front porch to be picked up the The Kidney Foundation. I think they have me on speed dial. I donate to them pretty regularly, and I like that my gently used clothes might go to someone who needs them.

When I was a child in school, I had to wear a wool plaid uniform to school every day. Like most girls of a certain age, I found this confining -- at the time. This may, perhaps, explain my overstuffed closet(s) and my conflicting need to simplify.

In retrospect, the idea of having one frock (or five identical ones) strikes me as a kind of saving grace. No more trying to match blacks or whites in the dim morning light. Imagine the ease with which you would face each day! Whatever flair you decide suits your mood that day can be added at the last moment, but you know what you are going to wear.

The Uniform Project not only solved the what-to-wear problem for Sheena Matheiken, but has also raised $103,177 for poverty-stricken children in India so they can go to school. The designer of the famous little black dress, Eliza Starbuck, was ready to drop out of the design scene when she met Sheena and was convinced to design this special dress. As I watch the video, I think, "I could really use a dress like this." Couldn't you? Go, help me convince her here and perhaps we can all have one soon. Also, check out some of their fans' answers to, "what should I wear today?"

Snapshot Aesthetics

There's a school of photography called 'snapshot aesthetics.' It's been around a long time, but didn't have a name until recently. You've seen it on famous blogs like The Blue Hour, Simply Photo and 3191 Miles Apart (which comes with a really neat story behind it, so look for the "about"). The premise of this style is to know the rules of photography, but break them from time to time. To capture things just as they are. Sometimes the composition and white balance are perfect; sometimes not. But the images have a real life quality that makes them more intimate than more traditional photographs. There is a stillness to them, an elegance of seeing the ingredients to a meal, laundry in a basket, a bicycle parked outside a café. It is life as we know it, not poised for the camera. Go and look - and tell me what you think.

The Essence of Summer

As we head into the general elections, I thought I'd give you all an opportunity to practice voting. There's a new photo contest at Midwest Photo Exchange, and they want pictures of summer. There are all sorts of interpretations being submitted, but I wanted to submit something that reminded me of childhood, when I could experience summer fully, without the cares that maturity brings. A bumble bee, the smell of home-grown tomatoes, and crab apples that have fallen to the ground. So, please, go here and vote for me and I promise to lower your taxes and improve the education system. Or at least take more pictures.

How do you envision summer?

A Baby Shower for Shannon & Kenny

If you've been around here for a while, perhaps you recall my dear friend Shannon. And then when she got married. I'm pleased to report that this past weekend the happy couple drove from Kentucky for a baby shower - their own! To see them two years later, they are so obviously smitten with each other, and have this lovely way of making those around them feel important and loved. A little girl seems such a natural addition to the family.

We can't wait to meet little Sophia Marie!

Some things bear repeating ...

About a year ago, I gave you my recipe for pesto. I was a little stunned this weekend to find that I'd already had more than enough basil to make more. Life can be good that way.

Pesto by Food Processor Method

2 cups tightly packed basil leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons pine nuts
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons romano cheese (optional)
3 tablespoons butter (I skip this step)
Briefly soak the basil in cold water and pat dry. Put the basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and an ample pinch of salt in the food processor and blend until you have a smooth, uniform consistency. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and fold in the cheese. (If you choose to add the romano and butter, you would do so at this point.)

I often throw the pesto in the freezer until I'm ready to use it. It keeps its flavor nicely.

What did you eat this weekend?