Wordless Wednesday: an evening at grammy and papa's



A Perfect Afternoon

Yesterday I was afforded the rare treat of an afternoon to myself (and here's the clencher) IN MY OWN HOUSE.  Some of you will understand the magnitude of this gift.  Mr. Veen packed up the kids, the dog and himself and went off to the lake leaving me to enjoy probably the last quiet afternoon I will have this summer.  Mr. Veen earned himself some serious bonus points yesterday!

I loved having the day to putz lazily around my house and ended up spending a good chunk of the afternoon reading in the backyard.  I am officially "hooked" by the Harry Potter series and am almost done with book two.  But my blissful day of rest would not have been nearly as fun without the following little concoction I came up with.  I've dubbed it "Spiked Watermelon Lime Granita" and it is delightful indeed!

Here's a very loose recipe - adapt to suit your fancy.  Of course the granita is wonderful without the alcohol as well, but since you're dealing with me  - you get the alcohol version....

Ingredients:

Watermelon (seedless cut in chunks)

Lime Juice ( a few limes will do!)

Sugar (I used around 1/3 cup for 1/2 a large watermelon)

Splash of Vodka

Blend melon, lime juice and sugar in batches.  Pour this mixture into a baking pan, cover with saran wrap and freeze to your liking...(I was impatient and didn't really freeze mine for long!).  As the mixture freezes, take a fork and stir and scrape to create the granita mixture.  This process will take a few hours.  Add vodka at the end, shake it all up and serve.  Delicious for a hot summer day!





Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  last night I literally gave you a hi-five as we passed each other coming and going.  Let me say I am looking forward to actually sitting down with you and having an adult conversation tonight.  Dear 90 degree weather:  you have given me a fresh realization that I'm not a fan of you this week.  I will take partly sunny and 75 any day.  Dear Ella:  thank you for being an eight year old girl and showing me how fun it is to go to lunch and shopping just us two.  You're pretty cool!  Dear Fleet Foxes:  thanks to a certain friend I cannot stop listening to this song which makes me feel like I'm going on an epic journey.  Nice.  And last to Mr. Veen:  you don't drink real coffee, stay up late and are an excellent burper.  Need I say more? 

Happy FREAKING Weekend!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  today we were discussing how your new haircut is reminiscent of Brad Pitt in his latest movie Tree of Life.  Just another reason I'm in love with 50's/60's old school.  Dear Costco:  after yesterdays trip I was affirmed in my decision to refrain from entering into a long term relationship with you.  Dear Henry:  lately my favorite new phrase to use around the house is "Oh Henry!" ; this only makes me love you more.  Dear Noah and the Whale:  I love absolutely everything about this song and video - that's all.  Dear Cabin Camping Trip:  I'm excited and nervous about you all in one.  Please be kind.  And last to Mr. Veen: what do Bachelor Pad, family reunions, no privacy, pregnancy and ranchers all have in common?  Leave it to you to figure that one out!  Love ya.

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL!

Fridays Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  It's always a nice surprise to have a quiet morning chat with you before the kids wake up.  Dear Doggy Park:  Thanks for providing free entertainment last night.  It's official - I feel like I have a new kid now after hanging out with a bunch of human "parents" doting on their dogs.  Dear Gearheart/Cannon Beach:  Just a few short days and we will be getting reacquainted!  I can't wait to sleep in, not do laundry, eat too much, and play with my sweet fam.  Dear One Day on Earth movie:  You look amazing and make me and my little world seem very, very small.  And last to Mr. Veen:  Since I won't be blogging next week you'll have ample time to catch up on all the blogs you've missed = lucky you!

HAPPY FRIDAY!


One Day on Earth - Motion Picture Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Saturday Morning Suprise!

Just about the time I begin to think life couldn't get any crazier around here, something significant happens to change my mind.  Last month it was a new dog and kidney stones, this past weekend it was a turtle.  Here's the story.

We had just gotten home from the kids' Sat. morning swim lessons at the Y and were unpacking bags when Ella came tearing through the door screaming something at the top of her lungs.  At first I thought - "Crap - someone's hurt" but after a few minutes began to unscramble her words which were:  "THERE'S A TURTLE IN OUR BACKYARD!!!!".  Really?  No Joke?  I walked out to the backyard and witnessed the following...

This little fellow was just chillin in the barkdust in our backyard.  These are the thoughts that ran through my head:  "What the *%#@!" and then "We are sooo not keeping a turtle - we have ENOUGH animals around here." 

I'm pretty sure our kitty Tubbs was also thinking "What the #@$%*!"

Of course Jake and Ella were instantly smitten and immediately began googleing what to feed turtles.  Jake was convinced that God had read his mind and miraculously dropped a turtle in the backyard just for him.  I did what any sane person would and let Tom figure out what to do with the thing.  Turtles creep me out just a tiny bit - something about their general head and neck region.  To me they look like a snake with legs and a shell.

So "Turdy the Turtle" was taken to a nice lady that runs Salem Wildlife Refuge out of her home.  I'm sure he is now enjoying life somewhere in Minto Brown Park which is far, far away from my backyard!







Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  it's fun to have another "kid" around the house and share being proud parents together.  Wasn't Henry cute the other night when he was barking in his sleep?  Dear Summer:  to quote one of my favorite books Olivia:  "You know you really wear me out, but I love you anyway!"  I hope you love me anyway too.  Dear Foster The People:  I like your sound and can relate to the lyrics in this song especially this week.  Dear Solitude:  sometimes I crave you so much and think it's incredible how truly elusive you can be in this big, loud, busy world.  Dear Grandpa:  96?!  That is amazing.  I will stop complaining now about being tired.  And last to Mr. Veen:  it's Friday - your favorite day of the week - let's do something fun tonight!

Over and out -

Wordless Wednesday: Rogue Farms



Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  It has been a whirlwind of a crazy week, it seems we are in a season where I blink and an entire week has gone by!  Dear New/Old Job, Kidney Stone, and Henry:  Thanks to you this week has been really good, really bad AND really fun all together.  Dear Oregon:  I don't care what people say about your drizzle in July, you have once and for all won my heart this summer!  Dear Avett Brothers:  I can't sing your praises enough after seeing you live and in concert. This might be my new favorite song of yours.  Dear Concert Goers:  Wow!  What an eclectic mix of weird you guys were.  Thanks for providing people watching at it's finest.  And last to Mr. Veen:  I will drive you to urgent care and then yell at the doctors and nurses to hurry up and see you anytime.  Here's hoping we don't have too....

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  when you sit beside me while I'm blogging it makes me feel like your going to read over my shoulder and that feeling creeps me out.  Just sayin.  Dear New Running Shoes:  it is a very big commitment to buy you.  I expect that when I strap you on I'll be able to run like the wind!  Dear Summer:  you give a fresh new meaning to the term:  "play hard" - I've been loving embracing that mentality with you this past week. I can always rest come winter right?  Dear Obadiah Parker:  I love your cover of "Hey Ya" - bonus points for bearing a striking resemblance to Zach Galifianakis.  Dear Adoring Audience:  I regret to inform you that I will be taking next week off from blogging because I will be camping deep in the woods and am ditching my laptop to commune with nature.  Somehow you will survive without your daily dose of my goodness.  And last to Mr. Veen:  tonight I'm looking forward to seeing this movie with you and can't wait to dissect all the deep, metaphorical, hidden meanings - whoop!

HAPPY WEEKEND ALL - SEE YA ON THE FLIP SIDE!

June 2011: Favorite things

Here's a list of some of my current favorites in no particular order...

1.  This print from Lisa Cogdon.  It's currently hanging in my kitchen above my coffee pot where it makes me quite happy.

2.  Peonies.  They are pretty much done blooming but they have become my official favorite flower of June - so beautiful!

3.  These is my Words.  Reading it, loving it, completely addicted.  That's all.

4.  Platform Wedges.  For a girl who doesn't do well in heels I love these and actually look forward to wearing them.  I don't feel like I'm going to fall over and break my neck and they are truly comfortable.  Now I just need to find some time to paint my toes....

5.  This blog is so beautiful!  Check it out if you want to see some pretty photos...

6.  All things 1980's  have made a resurgence around my house these days.  We are rocking out to Michael Jackson and watching The Cosby show.  It's weird in a really good way!

7.  Strawberry Lemonade Martini.  It is my drink of the summer thanks to Carol  - go over here to get the recipe!

8.  My friend Kevin came over with the classic movie All that Heaven Allows last night.  I was unprepared for just how much I would love this film.  Not only is it visually breathtaking but it actually has a really great message too.  Of course it doesn't hurt that Rock Hudson is a total hunk either....

9.  Jake and Ella.  I love having these guys home for the summer.  Yes, it's crazy and chaotic at times but I also know it won't last forever and before I know it they'll have flown this little nest.  Sometimes I want to just freeze time and keep them 8 and 10 forever.  They are such wonderful little people!



10.  The Avett Brothers.  My friend Lance recently burned me ALL of their albums!  Thank you Lance - I am loving them:)











Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  upon waking the other morning you declared you had a Hannah Montana song stuck in your head.  You then proceeded to sing "Put your hands up!" over and over.  Dear Nancy Jam:  thank you for making my bagel with cream cheese d to the licious.  Dear Vacation Bible School:  wow.  Three nights in a row of free childcare?  Yes please.  Dear SNL the 2010's:  I can't think of a better way to end the day than by laughing my hiney off with you!  Thank you for being on insta play - Amen.  Dear PW iced coffee concentrate:  at first I was skeptical of your process but one sip was all in took to become a believer.  Thank you.  Dear Stupid Computer in all it's Stupidness:  you are not letting me post videos today which is quite frustrating.  I will borrow a word from a cute girl I've met and say simply:  poops!  And last to Mr. Veen:  how about a hot date at the cheap theatre tonight? 

HAPPY FREAKING WEEKEND!

Wordless Wednesday: Bend Weekend 2011

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  I have never quite understood the logic behind getting up, showering, and then taking a nap.  Call me crazy (because I am!), but I prefer the reverse order to that equation.  Dear Ipod:  after only a two year relationship you have officially called it quits!  Your timing in this is less than desirable.  Dear pug puppy:  I cannot for the life of me get you and your squishy cuteness out of my head.  One word and one word only is saving me from going out and getting one of you right now:  poop.  Dear Justin Bieber:  after watching your documentary I officially have "Bieber-fever".  What can I say?  If loving you is wrong than I don't wanna be right.  Dear Saturday:  word on the street is that you intend to deliver 80 degrees and sunshine.  Yes, there is still hope for a summer!  And last to Mr. Veen:  you are the flip in my flop, the fizz in  my beer and the sparkle in my sunshine. 

Erin -- out!