we didn't see whales

 

 

 

 

  but the morning was still lovely...Mister and I hit up Avila Pier for a breakfast picnic along with hopes of some whale watching. We've had all sorts of whale activity in the bay. We did not see one whale tail but we did see dolphins and sea lions and star fish and all sorts of sea birds. We left after our packed breakfast of fruit and yogurt, before the corwds appeared and just a few hours before THIS was recorded.

yup, I still want one or two...

 

 A few weeks ago I spent the morning with my friend Amy of sweet happy pie as we planned for a fun project this October. I stepped into her lovely casa as she was pragmatically rescuing a batch of homemade strawberry bread. Note to self...cake batter can be fried when thick enough.

 

 

 I love how chickens have personalities as diverse as their feathers. Someday, the mister and I might have chickens...and a goat...but first we need a roof over our heads that is ours. I might need to rethink my professional goals. 

i try, i really do

 but somehow i can't seem to keep the kitchen table clear...This shot is from early July, it looks like I baked scones that day or the day before and who knows why the foil is out...the sunflower greens got eaten in bits and then they died because I forgot to replant them and they got all root bound. That's my water bottle there. it usually sits in the car with me and my wallet is next to it and I must have needed my inhaler or library card, otherwise it would have been zipped closed. That box on the floor there on the left is from the Zoku ice pop maker and it seems as if there is always a collection of empty egg cartons camping out on the table. The book is called Make the Bread, Buy the Butter and it is a keeper. I checked mine out from the library but am now looking for a new or used copy of my own. Oh and that loaf of french bread under the camera tray there? That loaf got super hard and stale and so I made french toast out of it. French toast that was supposed to go into the freezer for quick breakfasts but became dinner and then snack and then breakfast the next day, mr. a-go-go likes to snack on the frozen slices. Ick. Hope you enjoyed a peak at the usual chaos that is around the tiny casa. I showed you mine now how about you showing me yours?

through another lens

 Mama za-ander left her camera at home when they came to visit. She knew I would (gladly) document it all wily-nilly as I am wont to do so she saved her picture taking for her phone. While I am not gung-ho about our cell phone proclivities, I do like the camera in those things. Check out all the fun she documented from their visit. We had so much fun! Golly but I miss them!

diy: burlap and lace

 The mister and I are currently on the road traveling across a handful of states. We're on our way to a wedding. My nephew is getting married...he's getting married. I keep thinking he's still that clever wide-eyed toddler that used to suck on lemons, twist my nose and push me out of the way if Days of Our Lives was on (seriously, my mother was a fan and so that young' un was conditioned to the theme song...poor kid never had a chance). With the nephew getting married (today in fact) and me being me, I forced asked the bride-to-be to let me make something for the wedding. It's an early evening wedding and so she is placing an assortment of jars on the tables to house candles and the like. I had been stalking peeking at her Pinterest board and suggested I make cozies for the jars. She sent me a photo that I have since lost the link to and so I made these. I think these are really close to the project she sent so if you do know who made them please let me know so I can link them up.

 

Here are the steps I took in making these nifty cozies. If you can't tell, I used short zig-zag stitches to reign in the burlap and keep it from fraying. The green thread is just so you can see the stitches. I had vintage lace on hand leftover from grannie's collection and even used some vintage hemming lace for the narrower cozies. 

 

 The ribbon ties will customize to an assortment of jars in different sizes, but the cozies themselves may need a little double-stick tape to keep them from sliding down. When working with burlap, make sure to use your ickiest scissors as the burlap will dull your fancy fabric cutting snippers in no time.

 

Do you like how they are the same but different? I really like how they tunred out and think these would make any party fabulous. Oooh, I think I should make some for Halloween, what color lace should I use? Oh or should I use cheesecloth? Oh my, I wish I had more time to make some now but I'm on the road.  If you make these, shoot me a picture or link and I'll share it here. Enjoy!

recipe: a quick frothy coffee drink

I had a cold a last week ago and craved something cold for my sadly unhappy throat. After too many chicken mugs full of hot tea to count, and more jars of ice water than I could stand, I dragged my sick and sorry self to the kitchen to see what I could come up with. The mister and I were getting ready for our road trip (the one I'm on right now) and so the contents of the fridge were a tad bit minimal. But if I am anything, I am resourceful.

coffee ice cubes are perfect but plain cubes will work fine

blend blend blend

crank or sprinkle some sweet on top (that's chocolate, coffee beans and sugar there) and enjoy!

After spying the awesome sugar, chocolate and coffee bean grinder bit of magic I used in my s'mores scones I had an idea. I did not have one lick of iced coffee in the fridge, bu I did have a box of instant coffee packs from Trader Joe's (you gotta love Joe's). Combine one packet of coffee with the paltry container of coffee ice cubes I had lingering in the freezer, a one cup combo of milk and half and half along with a shot of cinnamon syrup into the blender and blend until there are no chunky bits and you have one tasty soother for a sore throat or any throat for that matter. I added a grind or two (or three) from the happy coffee grinder and a straw and plopped myself down on the sofa for a long sip and maybe a little Gilmore Girls. I need to try this with cream...or ice cream even.