Cupcake Test 2 "S'more"

This week, we've had a request from the groom to make the S'Mores Cupcakes.  

Process Notes:  Even though I went from a 1/3c scoop to a 1/4c scoop for my cupcakes, I only managed to get 21 cupcakes.  I'm still looking for an ice cream scoop with a sweep to see if that will help.  Also, the book called for baking them at 375, while the box called for 350.  I baked at 375, but just for 18 minutes.  And, due to the higher temperature, the ones in the cheaper (lighter) muffin tin, were extra brown.  I'd recommend doing them at the lower temperature.  The frosting is oh-so-sticky, but what do you expect with marshmallow fluff?  Also, I was only able to frost 18 cupcakes with the one batch of frosting.  That's a half-dozen short which will add up in quantity, quickly.  I used my mini-chopper on the candy bar shrapnel, but if I were making these in bulk, I would definitely use the food processor.

Tasting Notes:  Me - I'm not a big fan of the S'mores.  I like them in theory, but in practice, not so much.  I liked the chocolate mixed into the batter - that was tasty.  I didn't really get any graham taste from the crumbs that were added.  Instead, I felt like they made the cupcake a little rubbery.  The frosting didn't have much of a marshmallow taste to it - maybe if it got toasted with a flame thrower?  The teddy graham couples were cute for decoration.  I think StY probably had a good idea to dip the cupcakes in the graham crumbs as decor & for more flavor.

Mark -  Likes these very much and would put them on the list to make.  His suggestion for improvement is to put a puddle of chocolate syrup in the top of the cupcake before frosting them to add a bit more chocolate flavor.  He thought that the teddy couples were appropriate for a wedding - & fun too. 

Mark's Office - I'll add these notes some time this weekend.  Mark did say he had received positive feedback.

They all equal "Ouch!"

So, we've had some pretty nice weather around these parts for the past week or two, and it looks like it will be staying that way for the next week or two.  I decided that I'd get out and sweep the deck off so I could "get my glow on".  It's showing the dead fall from the earlier storms and it's a pain to walk on.  The deck is much older than we've been living in the house, and we've known for some time that we need to get it fixed - just as soon as we both have a perm position.  I think you can see where this story is going. 

I'm just getting started when my foot, no leg, goes straight down through one of the boards.  I'm home alone.  And my leg is stuck between the boards.  Yikes.  And the only neighbor I know is home won't hear me - as he's riding his super loud Harley too and from the house.  Okay, pull it together.  Pull my leg out of the hole - is it broken? No, I can still walk on it.  Well, that's good.  I get back in the house and IM Mark - but he's idle (working in the lab on some super big issue).  I'm feeling woozy, so I decide that laying down and elevating my leg might be a good idea.  Then my ears start to buzz.  I call Mark - but he's in the lab and he doesn't have his phone.  The buzzing goes away.  Now, what did I learn in my days as Princess-Schlepp-alot when Mark's leg was broken?   Oh yeah, put some ice on the bruises to contract the blood vessels and maybe it won't bleed as much.  Up again to get some frozen veggies to put on the leg.  Keep it elevated.  Take some ibuprofin.  Eventually (20 min or so) Mark does call me back, but everything is under control by then!

I have three, count them three, beautiful purple places on my leg today.  One on the inside crease of my knee, and two on either side of the thigh where it was girdled by the sturdier boards.  Basically, I have a "frog" on both sides of my leg.  Ugh.   So, call it a bruise, a hematoma, or a contusion, they all equal "Ouch!"

Final result:  We're going to get some lumber this week, and start repairing the deck.  One board at a time.

Cupcake Test 1a & 1b "Just Because"

My youngest sister is getting married this year!  She's asked my other sister to work her magic in producing some sort of (cup)cake for the reception.  Sister the older has sent both of us the book Better Crocker Just Cupcakes so that we can all test recipes and take notes. 

Our first test is of the "Just Because" cupcakes.  In the book, they look like a version of ho-ho's or ding dongs, rich chocolate cupcake with a cream filling.  I used a chocolate cake mix for the cupcake and then made two filling/frosting options.  The first is the "Creamy White Frosting" - I tinted mine pink because I don't have any clear vanilla (yet!) in my pantry.  The second is the "Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting".

Process Notes:  I only got 21 cupcakes (vs. the 24 advertised) - I need to get a scoop that will let me put the same amount of batter in each liner.  I baked them at 350 (preheated and everything!) on the convection bake setting in the gas oven.  Chocolate cake doesn't look good in fancy liners.  You might as well use the foil ones or plain-jane and a wrapper.  It took 3/4 of a recipe of the Creamy White Frosting to do 10 cupcakes.  1/2 a recipe of the Creamy PB Frosting was more than enough to do 11 cupcakes.  I think I put a smidge too much milk in the PB frosting - I've got a cupcake in the fridge to see if it sets up better. 

The Ugly Ducklings

Tasting Notes:  Me - The cupcakes were moist, but not exceptionally so.  I liked the PB better with the cupcake than alone.  The Creamy White was also quite tasty.  I can see this with a chocolate ganache or some jelly inside.  It does not however, taste like a ding dong or ho-ho - that would need a bit more cream I do believe.

Hubster -  The Creamy White is his favorite.  It tastes like the frosting they used to make at the Harvey's in Valdosta.

His Office - we'll see if we can get an update tomorrow.   eta:  The un-official verdict is this:  The pink frosting looks more appetizing than the peanut butter - all 8 cupcakes devoured vs. a couple of the peanut butter remaining at the end of the day.  The peanut butter frosting looks a little like poo if you don't put sprinkles on it.

You can see StY notes here.

A tasty mess

I haven't made one of these in a while - like years.  But evidently it's made an impression because when Mark had a pot-luck to attend, this is what he asked me to make.  I couldn't find my original recipe, so I did a search and this one sounds like 95% of the one I had previously. The only change I made was to swap the graham cracker crust for one made of Oreo Cookie crumbs.  Skip the sugar, and it is good to go.  Made for a decent breakfast this morning with a cup of joe. 

A walk in Santa Cruz....

 I went for a walk today during the break in the rain.  I had headed down to Santa Cruz for the last minute grocery shopping, and decided to drag my camera along with me.  The light on this solstice day was decidedly odd....  almost metallic on the water.  The moody clouds gave me quite a stir.  I walked from the most southern lot to the Surfing Museum.  On the way north, my focus was towards the water.

On the way back to the car, I was more interested in the homes and gardens along the water.



I love the tromp lei(?) columns on the balcony of this home.



And this wondrous garden not only had a pond and a bridge, but a Mexican pottery gecko hiding in the water....

Mirror Twin Homes...  They were repaving the shared driveway with wonderful bricks.

Whales make me happy

Purple Balustrades

A historical Victorian with fabulous landscape and paint job

And Mondays

Monday.  And the house is quiet for the first time in over 48 hours.  I don't know how a person doesn't go crazy with all that noise all the time.  I can hear a clock ticking in the far room.  The static hiss of the light bulbs.  The scratch of my pen and sleeve as they pass over the page.  A jay screeches in the trees.

Don't get me wrong.  I love music.  There is nothing like good music to set a mood, to get you moving, to score your day.  I can get sucked into the TV as well as anyone. Despite my best intentions I listen* to  more TV than I care to admit.

But this ~ this quiet time when you can hear the rain dripping off the gutters.  A critter rustling in the leaves.  The creaks of the house as it settles again.  This is necessary for the peace of my soul.

I can think, without having to process...

I can imagine, without being led...

I can listen, without having to comment...

I can be still.

On another note, does anyone know what this is?  I found it on my walk the other day.  It's about the size of a large cherry.  I'm assuming it's either not ripe or poisonous since the tree was still full of the fruit.

*These days I "listen" to TV more than I watch it, since my eyes are usually focused on what's going on in my hands.

Rainy days

We went from this on Thursday....

To this today....

Bring it on.  We are ready.  We've got gas for the generator and probably a mile of related extension cords.  We have cords of firewood for the wood stoves.  I've got a gas stove and oven now, so I can cook.  And the water heater is gas too.  The chain saw is sharp in case any of the trees fall down and I have tarps in waiting.

BTW, that's just rain hanging onto the redwood trees across the yard, not snow, even though the forcast is threatening down to 2000 feet this weekend.

Stay warm and dry!

Homecoming

Picture has nothing to do with following words, I just like it!

There's nothing like coming home to a warm fire, the smell of bread in the oven and something tomato and onion on the stove top, some good music on the stereo, and a glass of something tasty waiting for you.  Let's see if I can make that happen tonight.

Possibilities

For some time now, I've wanted to do a set of 2' x 4' paintings for my dining room.  A knife, fork and spoon.  Primitive acrylics.  Something that I can actually do.  I have the canvases and I can get the paints.  I just need to decide which of my silverware I want to use as an inspiration.  I have collected a set of mismatched silverware over the years, mostly at flea markets and other thrift shops, and it's all quite tarnished at this point.  As much as I love the look of the flourishes, scrolls and flowers on the actual handles, I don't believe my painting skill set is good enough to do them justice.  Right now, I'm liking the long handle of the third knife from the bottom.  It has a few details that might be a bit of a challenge ~ I'll have to see if I can't do a draft first.

Benign Neglect

Last year, a friend was leaving the company I was working for and I bought her a purple Christmas Cactus and told her that if she took good care of it, it could live for 20 years.  At the same time, I got a hot pink one for me, thinking, there's no way I can keep it alive even a season, but it'll be pretty while it lasts.

So after it finished blooming (dropping most of the buds), I put it in the window sill with the rest of my succulents, and watered it about every other week.  I noticed some buds on it earlier this month, but since they dropped like crazy last year, I didn't think I was actually going to get flowers. 

And then I read an article, I think it was in Martha Stewart, and it turns out my benign neglect was actually the perfect combination of conditions for a beautiful set of blooms.  Water it occasionally after it drys out, let it grow where it gets normal daylight hours, and is cool during the day and cooler at night.  They suggest a basement window but my house is pretty cool most of the time anyway. 

Of course, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, so maybe I have a Thanksgiving Cactus instead.  Regardless, it's blooming and I'm happy!  I may go get another one this year - in purple this time.

Unemployed. Again.



Pear Leaves in the Fall

So, my most recent contract gig has ended.  It lasted over a year, so I have no real complaints, just how the heck do I get hired next time?  And it's the best/worst time to be unemployed.  Best  - It's the holidays, and I can spend the time to enjoy them without the need to be rush-rush-rush everywhere everywhen.  I might even get out my Christmas decorations for the first time in three years.  Worst - It's the holidays, and I have no extra money to spend.  It's not like I don't have enough supplies and time to make things, just, wow, can I make it work? I'm sure I can.  But still.  I need to take inventory.

I find I do well if I keep to a schedule.  Get my house cleaned up.  Get moving - cardio, yoga, weights.  Don't get sucked into the Internet.  Get out of the house at least once a week - even if I don't have an interview.  Make plans and schemes and dreams - and I will get a job just in time to mess them all up. 

Today was my first day home.  I'm still playing catch-up with the things that have been avoided or "slapped at" over the past year.  It'll take the rest of the week to get everything in order - and I miss a day because I have an appt on the far side of the hill later this week.  At least I'll be able to run some errands that day as well. 

Here's to some good spirits, some good karma, and some good times.



Ten on Tuesday

10 pieces of advice for college freshmen:

1. Stay put.  It'll take you longer to finish your degree if you change colleges.  Really.  Like 2 years longer.
2. That includes your major - make a decision and stick with it.  Chances are, you aren't going to be doing what you majored in anyway.  I did, but most folks don't. 
3. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.  This is advice for all my life.
4. True Love will wait, if it's right.  If it doesn't, well then, aren't you glad you know now instead of later?  (Not saying that you shouldn't have fun or a relationship, just you know, don't get seriously deeply involved (Do as I say, not as I do....))
5. Have fun - get involved.  I wish I did.
6. Be aware.  Walking home from class at 10:30pm and the dude stops the car next to you to ask if you want a ride home?  Um, no.  And ride the bus the next time (or all semester).
7. In spite of your parents (but not to spite them), move into the guy/girl dorm if you are living on campus.  The Virgin Vault is no place to be.
8. You don't have to put on the freshman 20# (this from a girl who's now significantly overweight).  I lost a lot of weight the first year of college - walking everywhere and salad bar in the cafeteria because I was impatient.
9. Take night classes, even if you are not working, just going to school full time.  You will have better chances at job opportunities during the day, if you want/need to work (not competing with high school or as many other students).  You can sleep in later.  You don't have to go as often during the week (they are usually 2x/week instead of 5x/week).  And they usually don't happen on Friday so you can still attend the local party/game.
10. Maximize your credit hours.  Maximizing your per semester credit hours means you will be done faster (and cheaper).  If I take four classes instead of three, I will be done in 3 years instead of four.  Tuition goes up every year, and there is usually some flat fees (which also to up) that you pay each semester.  So I'm paying for 9 semesters of flat fees instead of 12.  And pretend that tuition is $100/class the first year and $110/$120/$130 the following years.  So the standard 3 classes/semester would cost me $4140 and the 4 classes/semester would cost me $3960, saving me $180.  Which doesn't sound like much, but where can you find tuition at $100/class??  Do your own math.

Bison Drive-By

Hey look honey!  Cute Bison on the hill side.....

Look honey!  There's a bison in the road....

And he's getting closer!

He's headed straight for us!

Can he get any closer?

I guess so....

Advice for Yellowstone...

We had a blast, came home more tired than when we left. I’ll be posting blog pictures probably this weekend – I just downloaded the 1000+ last night from the 5.5 day trip.


Words of advice:

• If you can postpone this trip until after Labor Day, you might want to – it’s crowded with end of summer parent/kid combos in August.


• We didn’t need the bear spray or the bug spray, but ran out of two bottles of sunscreen. But we only went on the trails that EVERYONE was going on – if you are off-roading or taking trails less traveled, I’d still bring the bug/bear sprays.


• They were working on the roads near “the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” and the traffic was horrible. However, don’t miss it, especially if the sun is shining – it’s kinda awesome. (Look for the Osprey nest near Inspiration Point on the North Rim)


• The construction between Madison and Norris (I believe) was advertised as being really bad, but we didn’t really have a problem with it. However, there’s not really that much to see along that road side, so you can avoid it and not feel like you are missing anything.


• You have to see Old Faithful (obviously!), but do it as early in the morning as you can. We got there for the 9:00am “show” and I laughed at how large and empty the parking lot was. At noon, you couldn’t find a place to park and the restaurants were just jam packed with people. Oh, and the cafeteria isn’t open for breakfast – we had ours at the Old Faithful Inn.


• If there are people pulled over on the side of the road and you don’t know what they are looking at (ie. Upcoming Scenic Vista), pull over too – it’s usually some large mammal like a BEAR! Or a BISON! Or even a BALD EAGLE! (I know a Bald Eagle isn’t a large mammal, but it’s still really cool!)


• Which also means – bring your binoculars and the longest camera lens you own. The critters usually aren’t in the middle of the road, but are up the hill a ways from you.


• Usually, means that sometimes, the Bison is coming straight for you down the middle of the road and you could reach out your hand as he walks past your car to pet him. Highly not advised (the petting part – which we didn’t!), but still a story to tell. (Can’t wait to show the pictures!)


• If you have a need/desire for a vegetarian meal – bring it yourself. My veggie sister wanted eggs and hash browns one night (it was on the menu) but they stopped serving that at 8:00 even tho they were open until 10:00 (huh!?!?!). The next restaurant was advertising black bean burgers in addition to the hamburgers and bison burgers – but they were “out”. I suspect they didn’t have much call and so stopped ordering them.


• Bring as many gig for your camera as you can. Those 1000+ pix were on three cards, totaling 20gig (the last card wasn’t full). But I missed a day when we went whitewater rafting – I didn’t bring my camera that day, so I can only imagine if I had the day full of pix too. I had 28gig to play with tho, so I was in no danger of running out. (RAW+L format for my Canon)


• Go whitewater rafting – but do the half day trip, not the full day. You still get the experience, but you don’t spend all day on the river. We used the Flying Pig Outfitters in Gardiner, MT – they had dry bags, storage cubbies, jackets (life and dry), and water booties – all for your use, and free. If they offer to let you “ride the bull” do it – it’s the best seat on the boat! And get there kinda early – parking is a pain.  If you do the full day (including lunch), and you have a special diet, let them know and they will do their best to accomodate you.


• Be prepared for weather. The folks from TX were in jeans and sweatshirts the whole time, while Mark & I were in T-shirts and shorts (or short pants) most of the time. Put the rain jackets/ponchos in your backpack EVERY DAY even if it looks like a clear day! It will rain on you some time – maybe not for long or even hard, but it will rain. Friday night we were at the campsite and we got a winter mix – rain/sleet/snow. So bring sweaters/sweat shirt/layers just in case…


• We went down to the Grand Tetons on Friday and did the boat ride/hike to Hidden Falls on Jenny Lake – way cool. The boats run every 10 min or so, and again, the parking lot was jam packed at noon – get there earlier if you can.


• Plan a full day the night before – you probably won’t see everything you want to, but without a plan, you definitely won’t see half of what you want.  Be open to the unexpected/detours though as well.

Viva Las Vegas

We headed off to Las Vegas (again!) this past weekend to celebrate my newly acquired ancientness.  We got there late, really late, Thursday night and did our usual run to the Wally-world to get snacks and check out the cheap clothes that we can never find here.  It was after midnight before we finally checked into our hotel, the Southpoint.  It's a newer hotel, south of the airport and the outlet mall, on Las Vegas Blvd.  The rooms were great - clean, comfortable, large, with pillow top mattresses and quality cotton sheets.  Also, you didn't hear the kids screaming up and down the hallways, so that was nice.

The highlight of the trip was the Garth Brooks concert on Saturday night.  Again with the late  hour, a 10:30 show, but that meant they weren't trying to clear out the theater for the next show.  It was a smallish theater ~1500, with just Garth, a mic, and an acoustic guitar.  Trisha came out in the middle of the show and did about three songs, with the great ear-worm "walk-away joe".  That song is still running through my head.  Garth did the usual suspects (Friends in Low Places, Wolves, Thunder Rolls and many others), along with selections from his musical idols.  It was after 1:00am before we got out of there.

It was a bit of a challenge to get the tickets, both on the day that they went on sale and the day we went and picked them up.  Since he's not doing other shows any more, and only limited shows in Las Vegas, the tickets went fast and furious.  And they are quite concerned about scalpers - you had to give all the names in your party when you bought the tix, it was printed on the tix, they wanted to see both of our id's when we picked up the tix the day of the show, and then we got wrist bands and "club" stamped.  At show time, they scanned the tix, the wrist band and the stamp to make sure you were the ones who had bought the tix.  Oh my.  Can't say as I blame them, but still. 

All this was follwed up by a shopping spree at the Lane Bryant at the Outlet Mall.  T-shirts, dress shirts, a skirt and a dress (unbelievable!), jeans and a jacket.  Fun fun fun!

We're off book folks....

They had the German cherry pitter, and it works quite well actually.  The hopper kinda stacks up, so you can gently roll the cherries through, but I have to imagine that it works so much better than picking up a cherry, pitting a cherry, pulling the cherry off the pitter and picking up the next cherry.  We were able to process 36#'s of fruit with relative ease.

I know, crazy huh?  I thought that one box of cherries would not quite be enough, so I bought two.  And actually, I'm glad. If this is not the last week the cherries will be available, then it's darn close. 

We spent two afternoons making up jam.  Saturday was Plain Cherry Jane and "Bing" Cherry Jam with spices and Amaretto.  Sunday, we went off book (Ball Blue Book) and started going crazy.  We made Blue-Cherry-Berry, Cherry Marmalade, Cherry-Strawberry, Cherry Vanilla, and Cherry Conserve(Compote?).  All quite yummy, although I think the Cherry-Strawberry and Cherry Vanilla are my favorites.  The Cherry-Strawberry is full of that jammy fruit flavor you read about in your wine tasting notes.  We liked it so much, I actually put aside cherries in the freezer so we can make some more when I get strawberries.  The Cherry Vanilla tastes kinda like the way good pipe tobacco smoke smells.  I think it's going to be great over vanilla ice cream, or maybe as a glaze on some really good meat - duck perhaps?

2010 Jam Plans include:  Strawberry (1 1/2 flats of fruit), Plum (1 box of fruit), and Meyer Lemon Marmalade (whatever is left on the trees!).

I need to preserve (groan!) the recipes for future episodes of "Little Cabin in the Woods", so measurements and notes as follows.

Cherry-Strawberry makes 6.5 half pints

• 2 1/2 c chopped, pitted cherries
• 2 c chopped strawberries
• 1/4 c lemon juice
• 3 1/2 c sugar
• 1 pkg powdered pectin (next time use the low-sugar version)

Cherry Marmalade makes 7 half pints

• 4 c chopped, pitted cherries
• 1 med orange, chopped and seeded (peel included)
• 2 T lemon juice
• Sugar (tbd)
• 1 pkg powdered pectin

Blue-Cherry-Berry makes 8 half pints

• 2 c blueberries
• 2 c chopped pitted cherries  (change to 1 c blueberry, 3 c cherry)
• 1/4 c lemon juice
• 6 1/4 c sugar
• 2 pkgs liquid pectin

Cherry Vanilla makes 7 half-pints

• 4 c chopped, pitted cherries
• 1/4 c Amaretto (altho you don't taste it, I think it supports the vanilla bean)
• 2 T lemon juice
• 1 vanilla bean, scraped but whole pod cooked in
• 4 c sugar
• 1 pkg powdered pectin (change to low sugar pectin next time)

Cherry Pecan Conserve (Compote?) makes 10 half pints

• 4 c chopped, pitted cherries
• 1 c chopped strawberries
• 1 med orange, chopped and seeded (peel included)
• 1 pkg powdered pectin
• 1/4 c lemon juice
• 4 c sugar
• bring the above to a boil then add:
• 1 c chopped pecans
• 1 c raisins
• 1 pkg liquid pectin

When it's Peach Pickin' time in CA....

Then it's jam making time for me.

This weekend Mark went with me to the Farmer's Market in Santa Cruz.  Well, really, it's a flea market with a selection of farm stands included, and the primary reason we go is to hit the farm stands.  I have impulse issues - when I see all the pretty colors and the yumminess that is summer fruits and veggies, I forget how much the two of us actually eat and end up buying enough for a compost pile as well.  So Mark's job was to keep me in check - don't overbuy, just enough for the coming week.  I know I have an issue (potential!), and this system works for us - most of the time.  Until a certain someone, overcome with the sweet perfume of ripe peaches in a warm tent on a summer weekend, decides that yes, we can deal with over 50 #'s of fruit for a steal of a deal... And let me point out, that certain someone wasn't me. 

So, 50#'s of peaches (not cling-free!), 25#'s of sugar, 8 pkgs of pectin, a little lemon juice, 9 hours, 4 aching feet, small knife nicks and sweat later, and we have 80(!) jars of peach jam, peach pie jam, and probably some peach syrup.  80 jars of jam = 5 gallons of jammy goodness.  I think you know what's coming in your Christmas package.

And silly me, I still haven't learned my lesson.  I'm going to Sur La Table some time this week and see if they have one of these or these in stock.  If they do, we'll be repeating the process again next weekend.  Sigh.

Besides the peaches, I also did two jars of refrigerator B&B pickles, a half-gallon of sugar-free strawberry ice cream, and installed new shelving units in the laundry room.  The house is still a mess but smells of peaches, so it's all good.

80 Jars of Peachy Keen Sunshine

Another birthday, coming up...

   Usually, sometime near my birthday I like to review my goals from the beginning of the year.  It's a handy time for me to do this as you can't get much closer to the middle of the year than June/July time frame.  I'm always surprised when something can actually be crossed off my list, because, let's face it, I have absolutely zilch in the way of follow-through.  This year is, so far, no different.  I've been knitting, and things are getting done, just not as much as I would like.  Losing weight, not happening.  Keeping in touch with my sisters, barely, but almost current.  Blogging, ha! 

  I don't think that means that I need to stop planning though.  Because I do accomplish some of the things on my list, eventually.  Like my tangerine scarf - that's been on the list for about 4 years now.  And finally, it's done.  And the long "add-on" room has the floor and the paint, and is organized quite nicely.  That's been on my list since we moved into the house.  And last year, it finally got done. 

  Things just have to marinate a while before they get finished is all. I have a wish list a mile long.  Some things on it are really old, that doesn't mean I don't want to do them any more.  It just means I haven't done them yet.  I guess it's more of a bucket list than anything else.  This year we have plans to go to Yellowstone and meet up with some family.  Well, that's been on the list for a while.  Really, check it out.  It's more of a part of a bigger whole (like visiting all the National Parks or taking the nephews across the USA) but it's still part of my list.

  So I have the same goals and dreams over and over and over again.  And I make progress on some of them, but at least I am reminded of what I'd like to do and eventually, they might get done.  Should I publish them here and now?  I think not.  Accountability is all well and good, but I'd rather not expose myself to the world.  

  And summer is finally here - maybe?  It's been cool and misty the last couple of days and that is so unlike our summers that I don't know that the tomatoes are going to set fruit.  At least the farmer's market is full of fresh summer produce.  I had a peach today that just dissolved in my mouth - mmm.  But I always feel like summer time is my time.  I love the heat and the sunshine into the later evening hours.  It puts a bounce in my step.

  Navel gazing done for now.  Hope you have a happy!

So I don't forget....

Left to Right

 

• Speckled Butter Beans (Running)
• Tomato, Cherry "Kimberly"
• Dill, "Dukat"
• Tomato, "Black Krim"
• Dill, "Bouquet"
• Arugula, Italian
• Tomato, "Cherokee Purple"
• Basil, Sweet
• Tomato, Red "Extreme Bush"
• Speckled Butter Beans (Bush)

What a weekend....

Saturday:  Brooks & Dunn Last Rodeo Tour

Sunday:  Sonoma County Wine Tour

Geyser Peak:

2005 Alexander Valley Meritage
2005 Ascentia Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
2005 Kuimelis Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

2007 Block Collection Merlot, J & J Fay Ranch

2005 Merlot, Alexander Valley

Clos du Bois:

2005 Clos du Bois Briarcrest Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Clos du Bois Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Francis Ford Coppola Winery:

2007 Director's Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvingon

Trentadue Winery:

2005 La Storia Meritage

Dry Creek Vineyard:

2005 Endeavour Cabernet Sauvignon