rest of Aug and beginning 'new year'

The Fall semester started this past week. We tend to say "happy new year" to each other at this time in early september. August turned out to be a wonderful month. Mike and I took a week off, stay/borrow-family-beach houses - cation, Cape Cod and Mystic. I got some good ocean starting time in. Declan turned three and I got to see all of the other nephews and my niece a bit this month. So many of them now!

I always say it and will say it again, I love fall, and this time of new semesters and new weather. My grandma always says "the sun is like diamonds on the water at this time of year." I already made apple crisp and planted a mum! AND I am officially a student again...

this moment

Inspired by the lovely SouleMama: {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Happy Almost Weekend!

august began

It was a busy week, this first week of August. I went to Baltimore for work for most of the week. Before Baltimore, we saw some Picasso with mike's dad in the city. After baltimore, I weekended at the beach with shane, watching the waves for hours. Then to brooklyn, for brunch - holly, kevin, jessie, and liam - and watching the baby for hours.

I think homemade sauce from the garden II will happen this week.

summer drinks

I could go on and on about the summer vegetables in my life these days, but there have been some tasty beverages too! Jessie and I visited the pop-up matcha tea house in Soho last week. Despite the air quality alert and the 97 plus degree weather in NYC, we ordered hot matcha and enjoyed every sip. I treated myself to an appropriate matcha bowl since it just seems to make the experience even more enjoyable. Jessie treated me to the fancy, ceremony grade matcha, which does a good job at kicking cancer butt. So more matcha in my beverage diet lately!

Here is my new bowl.

Then, Kevin and I experimented with iced shaken matcha!



I have made many batches of sun tea lately. Darjeeling and any herbs ready from the garden. This time, lemon basil and ginger mint.

summer sweet times

I haven't taken too many photos of all of the family visits. So, in a few words, I just wanted to note how lovely it has been, since Orion was born, to have the different family parts visit the tri-state area. It is always nice to share a few moments with my family on my turf. It has been fun, fam!!

I have (of course) taken several photos of this little one, however.

farm fresh

We joined a CSA this year. It is my first experience being a member of a farm and I have to say, I just love it! Tuesdays are delivery days and we get a long message from our Organic Farmer, updating us on the crops and what will come for the share this week. We are getting so many delicious vegetables and it is a wonderful challenge to eat them up during the week. Swiss Chard, Kohlrabi, Bok Choy, Cucumbers, Squash, Beets, Peas, Herbs, Lettuce, Kale...some of the yummies we received in the last few weeks. After you pay for your share for 22 weeks, you end up saving so much money on organic veggies. And seriously, there is nothing better than 'literally just picked' swiss chard. I Love my CSA!!

I am also doing my own gardening...smaller scale than usual but I am still getting out there. And look, my first tomatoes!

this moment

{A Friday ritual by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.}