fall knocks on summer’s door

Friends, are you as ready for autumn as I am? Yesterday rains and winds swept through the southern mid-Atlantic coast. It was as if Mother Nature tapped summer on the shoulder and said, “Okay dear, it’s getting late, and I think you’ve been here long enough.” For this, I am glad. And, thank goodness we have seasons. It’s been a steamy summer and I think many of us are ready for the progression into autumn. These cycles keep our appreciation of what has been, what is, and what is to come. During these transitions, it’s fun to take advantage of some of the best parts of the two over-lapping seasons. You can cozy up to a cup of hot coffee (because the appeal of iced coffee is waning), yet go for a run or hike in shorts. You can still enjoy beautiful blooms before October frosts nip the growing season in the bud. And, you can start to bake some of those warming flavors from fresh fruits before turning to summer’s preserved flavors that winter cooking relies on.

Autumn invites us to enjoy cool temperatures and inspiring crispness. It is also a time of turning inward and exploring more introspective habits, balancing the prior months of extroverted summer. My man just snapped a few pictures that beautifully bridge summer to fall. Last weekend we transitioned from summer blooms of zinnias and violets to bronze and purple mums. It has certainly cooled off in Chapel Hill, but there is still plenty of time for some iced tea on the porch.

politics, a big decision on the beach, and some ginger snaps

So much has happened since my last post. Last week my evenings were filled with the RNC as I chopped and sauteed dinner. And this week it is the DNC accompanying me at the dinner table. Currently, I am anticipating Bill Clinton’s speech tonight. Did/Do you listen/watch? Do you love or hate politics? What do you think of the conventions? Yes, they are full of hype and character references, but they are thrilling, too. And, all those brass-y preludes to the political events!

I love politics and wish I were more involved. Isn’t it amazing that we are all able to participate in the government of our nation? It feels like a privilege rather than obligation, yet it is more pressing than a privilege. Too many of us are apathetic and uninvolved. If voting is our only political involvement, I think we need to be doing more. I have a somewhat secret desire to be involved in local government. This preceded “Parks and Recreation,” but the show has done nothing but deepen my desire to run for some sort of office. How great would it be to be part of the decision-making process in your community? Listening to the concerns and innovations of your neighbors and working toward implementing solutions. Sounds great to me! Are you or anyone you know a member of local, state, or national government? What do they say about it? Recently, the extent of my government involvement has been this bicycle ride with my sis. (Kidding…mostly)

Sandwiched between the conventions, I spent the weekend in North Carolina. I need not rehearse my love for this state – I think we all know where I stand there. It was a dreamy weekend of relaxation, conversation, and determination. As I recently mentioned it has been a very stressful past month. So, after a cozy few days at home and lounging on the beach despite some light sprinkles, we discussed and encouraged each other at length. My man and I decided enough is enough. We have had it with the long-distance. So, after December, I am packing up in Washington and heading back to Chapel Hill! The discussions about this were long not because it was a hard topic, it was really an easy decision to make, but we are trying to be practical about it, too. I don’t have a job lined up, but we decided it was worth it to us to make the change. Life is short. Choose happiness. (bumper sticker material, right?!)

Before the rain:

During the drizzle:

And, the sweet ending. Over the lazy labor day weekend, I felt the baking itch. This usually happens, oh, daily. But, I’ve been storing up some baking mojo while in DC. I just don’t have the same urge to bake for myself. One reason: if I bake a cake and a few days later it is gone, I have to face the fact that, yeps, I ate that whole cake. Oof. So, I prefer to bake when there is someone other than me involved. Another reason: isn’t it so warming to share something you’ve made with another person? So, I made one of my favorite cookie recipes: ginger snaps from the most recent edition of the “Joy of Cooking” affectionately referred to as simply, “the Joy” in our house. This cookie recipe is super easy and has a delightful surprise ingredient : lemon! Below is the unaltered recipe from the Joy. These cookies are so good with Earl Grey tea, milk, or just straight from the cookie tin.

Ginger snaps

Preheat oven to 350. Grease or line 2 cookie sheets.

Whisk together in a medium bowl: 1 1/4 C flour, 3/4 t baking powder, 1/4 t salt, 2 1/2 t ground ginger, 1 t ground cinnamon, 1/8 t ground cloves

Beat in large bowl until fluffy: 1 1/2 stick (6 T) unsalted butter, softened, 3/4 C sugar

Add and beat until well combined: 1 egg, 1/4 C dark molasses, 1/4 t lemon zest, 1 t lemon juice

Stir in the flour mixture until blended. Form the dough into 3/4 inch balls and arrange about 1 1/2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, about 12 minutes. The cookies will flatten and develop a crinkled surface as they bake. Let stand briefly, then remove to a rack to cool. For crunchy cookies, overbake slightly, for more tender ones, underbake by a minute or two.

Seriously. So. So. Good. And the lemon is life-changing! Let me know what you think when you bake them at your home!

flower arranging

I have drooled over flower arrangements ever since I was a little girl. Summers for me were spent in Maine and every evening was spent with my grandmother in her 1/2 acre garden. We would start by picking vegetables, then would meander through the berry bushes and canes picking and snacking as our fingers were dyed that luscious purple hue that lasts until the next day to remind you of the picking you need to do again the next evening. The last stop was always the flower beds – nasturtiums, pansies, lilies, roses. These treasures gathered in pails and buckets turned into our entertainment for the evening: shelling peas, shucking corn, cooking tomatoes, freezing berries or baking them into oozing pies, and arranging flowers. Having never formally learned how to arrange flowers and I tend to go with less is more. But, the more I learn, the more daring and full my arrangements become.

Currently, this whole flower arranging project is made tricky since I don’t have a permanent yard hosting a variety of flowers and greenery to select for the perfect composition or whimsical grouping. I yearn for the day when we trade in our patio for a patch of earth where we can plant perennials. I love the idea of tending for a plant and getting to know it for years to come. It is so lovely and romantic to step out of the back door and snip a few buds here, cut a few blooms there, then accent with a frond and branch, and head back inside with a jolly ray from outside. Again, part of my nest(ling) phase of life I suppose and that will come soon enough. Until then, what better opportunity to gather inspiration and lessons on flower arranging.

Recently, several websites (1, 2, 3, 4) have been giving me ideas about what flower gardens and cut flowers can be. I plan to start a sketch book to store some of these ideas I’ve “picked” from other places. I’ve always thought being a florist would be such a  pleasant second career. Do you like flower arranging? What resources do you consult, or have you always been free-form?

Here is some inspiration from H Bloom:

Besides principles of flower arranging, I am also interested in the historical significance of flowers – floriography is the tracing of the meaning of flowers through time, especially popular in the Victorian Era. For example, did you know ranunculus imply radience, anenomes symbolize unfading love, and gerbera daisies signify happiness? These happen to be the flowers we had at our wedding two years ago this weekend (!).

As I grew up, my two favorite flower beds in my mother’s garden were and still are her roses and her peonies. The roses are always a crowd-pleaser, and you’ve already been privy to my obsession there. But the peonies offered a more sentimental appreciation. Our peony bushes came from my father’s grandmother’s yard in Kansas. Doesn’t that simply add to the romanticism behind these sumptuous blooms? As if we need any nudging to have flowers around us, but these two posts (here and here) from spring/summer have sparked a must-have obsession with peonies.

stressful summer, or, why family and good friends are so important

The second half of summer has not been as conducive to consistent blogging as I would have liked. There has been quite a lot of fun travel, but quite a lot of stress, too. Two recent posts in the blog-o-sphere have inspired me to be more open in the blogging forum. So, after quite a few days of silence (again), I am attempting to get back on the figurative blogging bicycle.

I just returned from a long weekend in Maine spent with my grandmother and cousin sister. It was just what I needed. Good conversation with a practical, carpe diem grandmother, and lazy chatting with my spunky 20-year old sister (biologically my cousin, a mere technicality). What a world of difference this weekend made to melt away the stress and anxiety I’ve been wading through the last few weeks. It has been one weird thing after another. So, this four day retreat came at just the right time to ground me and give me a boost. It made me realize how important people you know and trust are to our well-being. They are there for you to share thoughts and concerns without fear of judgement. They are there when you need a hug or a cheeky reality check. I need more of this in my life.

The challenge is that my best support system, my husband, is not around all of the time. Yes, we talk every night and text constantly throughout the day. But, sometimes you just need a hug. So, as much as I have tried to view this long-distance stint as an adventure, I think it is taking a toll on me. But, it is really hard sometimes. And not only in the “I miss him” kind of ways. But, having someone there for you, looking you in they eyes and saying, “everything is okay – we are here, now”. So, we will see what happens.

What do you do to cope with the everyday stress and anxiety of life? I’ve been really glad to have a running plan. And, I can say that I have been sticking to it (mostly). This past weekend in Maine got me geared up for the half-marathon I’m running there in mid-October. Good motivation. I’ve also started taking deliberate chunks of time for deep breathing, yoga, and/or meditation. And, there is always some good stand-up clip on Comedy Central. But above all, the best relief from stress is a chat with a loved one – family or friend. Someone who knows just what to say to ease your mind. This whole stress and anxiety thing is new to me and I am not eager for it to be a regular part of life, so I’d love to hear what other de-stressing tips do you know and practice?

So, until the next blog post (no more two-week gaps), I’ll be trying to stay chill in this end-of-summer heat.

circling the wagons

I cannot really explain the last month (!) of absence. This would never fly in school. Or work. Or life. So, blogworld, I apologize. However, I can say that some pretty great things have happened in the last month. My man and I went to South Dakota for a bit over a week for some r+r with our families. We are fortunate enough that both sets of our parents live within 12 miles of each other. And, yes, your deductive skills are probably working snappily to intuit that we knew each other growing up (mostly as friends in high school) – cute, right?! While we were there we did nothing but enjoy family, relax, chat, play, and eat good food.

We went to a cave with two of my man’s cousins who were visiting from Denmark, and his brother. Jewel Cave is the second largest cave in the world. While it isn’t the most stunning cave, it is really pretty dang cool. The highlight of the cave tour was toward the end when the guide was wrapping-up her talk. She asked the group, “Why do you think we keep exploring the cave?” Without skipping a beat, the 15-year old guy in a hoodie and thick-rimmed glasses from the rear of the pack answered, “Imperialism”. So, so funny. I think my man and I were the only ones to hear the retort.

We also spent quite a lot of time with my folks at their new cabin in the Black Hills. It is gorgeous. Just look at the views they have from their entire wall of windows. Incredible! I am very happy for them and this investment in family time they have made. I can hardly wait for all of the future gatherings there! On our way back to town we even found a secret wild raspberry patch. Bliss. I even went with my Moma to her water exercise class – these ladies can move! It was definitely a fun workout and I want to do it again.

After this perfect week we took a road trip to the mountains of Colorado for an extended family reunion. If there is one thing I LOVE on a road trip, it is an ice cream snickers bar … so. so. good. It was great to see aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins’ children. How fun to see the next generation. After a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit I decided I would volunteer to organize the next reunion in 2014 – I am very excited! It will be a challenge to decide where it will be, but I think there are plenty of amazing options. If any of you have ideas for places for a 3-day reunion that isn’t too far a drive from Kansas/Oklahoma, let me know!

Since returning at the beginning of August, I’ve been back to work and enjoying a few short-stay guests. One was my cousin sister and her boyfriend. We had a great time cycling around Washington seeing the monuments, and we ate at a place that serves only pies – savory, sweet – what a great idea! I have also seen one of my brothers and my man this past weekend. These visits have been so wonderfully timed! It really gives a good lift to the end of the summer. There is one more trip I’m planning for August and a little getaway for Labor Day, and then I am excited to welcome in autumn and its cooler temps, cozy evenings, and warming foods.

How has the end of summer been for you? Are you feeling the itch to move on to the next season? Personally, I am so excited for some cooler running temps.

Join me elsewhere for a drink!

Hi friends -

Today I am a guest blogger over at one of my bestie’s blog: txheartswi.blogspot.com. I’m writing a post while she and her new husband are on their honeymoon (squeal!) in Hawaii.

Check it out for a an easy, unfussy pomegranate margarita recipe to help beat the heat!

Here’s a preview to tempt you:

Secret garden

Inspired by my new sense of adventure, I set of for a bicycle ride Sunday afternoon with nothing more than a picnic lunch, sunscreen, and an open mind. Too often, I head out on rides that are purposeful. I used to be better about just heading out the door for a spin – nothing in mind, no errands to run, just a little tour of the neighborhood. I have found while living in Washington I have not been doing enough of that. So, it was high time to get out the door and take a spin around town.

My starting point was the White House, it is fairly central and I thought something along the way might lead me to my next top. Sure enough, en route I saw a bus with an advertisement for the National Zoo and was reminded how much I have been wanting to go check out furry little animals! So, I whipped out my iPhone and mapped it out:

It didn’t look too daunting, so I set out along the purple line. I made it about 1/3 of the way before losing the line. I have a pretty good sense of direction for the most part, but I was having a hard time finding the Rock Creek Park bike paths. This wasn’t the first time I had trouble finding an access point to this system of trails. I have heard lovely things about them, but every time I’ve wanted to use the trails, they have been under a high bridge, down a steep ravine, or otherwise inaccessible. Unfortunately, it was no different this time. Met with steeper than expected hills, and legs that weren’t as fresh from the previous day’s long run as I had hoped (yes, I am still flexing my well-power muscle, more on that later!), I decided to cut things short. So I abandoned my plan and went rogue. By this time I had made it to Georgetown and knew there were several nice parks on the northern edges of the neighborhood – I was off.

As I was cruising along the road, I noticed a jaunty, yet nonchalant sign for the Tudor Place pointing up the road. I followed the arrow. I was pleasantly surprised with the discovery!

A true secret garden! The Tudor Place dates back to the very early 1800s. The land was sold to Martha Parke Curtis Peter for the $8,000 her step-grandfather, George Washington, willed to her. The house was designed by Dr. William Thornton, the same man who designed the Octagon House. Much later, in 1960 the house was named a National Historic Landmark.

My visit was limited to the much cooler outdoor space. As you can tell from the unfortunate quality of my pictures, it was humid (hence the halos), but very pleasant with shaded paths and secluded benches. After a tour around the exterior of the grounds, I found a lovely bench to sit down for a picnic. This regal creature kept me company.

The Tudor Place invoked thoughts of grand parties on what would have been a country estate at that time. I imagined ladies in beautiful gowns and parasols strolling arm in arm discussing the gentlemen they fancied, sharing  tea and shortcakes while planning the next campaign ball, and men in smart jackets whispering the political gossip of the day in hushed tones over cigars and Kentucky bourbon. Ahh, is it time for the next season of Downton Abby yet? I am obviously ready.

It wasn’t the destination I had intended, but that didn’t matter one bit – in fact that was the point. I think I will make my way back, perhaps packing a sketching book next time. It seems somehow fitting to sit on the grounds sketching.

Coffee kisses

Today is Saturday – the day I reserve for going out for a fantastic coffee. It’s not that during the week I drink the dregs, but Saturdays are the perfect candidate for a slow start to the morning, an afternoon outing, or a quiet evening – an opportunity to find the best latte in town. Today I set out fairly late – post dinner. I like after-dinner coffees out. It begs a relaxed stroll or a lazy bike ride. The rush to get the first caffeine of the day is sated, the haste of the day has passed. Instead, there is a relaxation, a settling-in for the rest of the evening, a sense of accomplishment and glow from the day, and an eager drawing up of new plans for tomorrow. The people-watching is completely different, too. In place of colleagues and commuters struggling to wake up on the way to the office are couples out for dinner, singles looking for their next stop of the night, and people catching up on their reading or writing of the day.

Admittedly, I am still searching for the perfect DC latte. I like Peregrine in Eastern Market, but still pine for my favorite haunts in Minneapolis (Spytown), New York (Oren’s), Copenhagen (Cafe Europa), and Boulder (Spruce Confections). Perhaps this should be a game, a challenge. While my man and I are in the middle of long-distance, I need a sense of adventure to keep me going sometimes. And, I’ve been rather remiss in posting about my eponymous Friday fikas. Keep your eyes peeled, the quest begins now.

One of my favorite things about drinking coffee, besides the taste, the ritual, the social nature, the warmth in your hand, the smell (that is a lot of favorite things), is the coffee kiss.

That trace of lipstick left marking which mug is mine. The hue can be a reflection of the mood of the day: nude attitude for a little sass, raspberry rush for fast-paced feminism, la pausa to slow the day to a sensuous speed, caractere to pour on the panache. Don’t you just love the names for lipstick (and nail polish for that matter)! Today’s coffee kiss is fitting, stormy pink. I spent the day dodging little storms while out and about in the city on my bicycle. Also, it has been a mixed week, so when I headed out for a coffee this evening, I decided to primp a bit more than I necessarily otherwise would have to lift the mood and the storm clouds to make way for a brighter week next week.

How about you? Does your coffee kiss reflect your mood?

Still reveling

My friends – it has been the dreamiest past twelve days. When I last wrote, oh so long ago, I was getting ready to jump on a plane for one of my best lady friend’s wedding. And as I anticipated, it was such a fantastic weekend!

My man and I travelled from Chapel Hill and Washington, respectively, and met in the Minneapolis airport. It worked like a charm! We hopped in our rented Jetta and bopped over to Uptown to join the hippest of the hip in MPLS for brunch at French Meadow Bakery – yum! My man had one of his favorite things in the universe, a breakfast burrito, and I indulged in a delicious hemp bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers, onion, tomato, and dill. And of course you cannot be in MPLS more than a couple of hours before having a delicious cup of coffee (or two three).

After this breakfast of champions we headed over to the Walker Arts Center. Have you been there? If not, book your tickets to Minneapolis now – you’ll thank me. We wandered the sculpture garden for a couple of hours – lazily strolling the paths, talking to the other (art) lovers, and enjoying the breeze and shade. When the mercury started to rise, we headed to the drug store for some bottles of cold water and sunblock, and by then it was time to meet up with one our good buddies for lunch at The Local. We chatted, caught up, and enjoyed delicious food for a couple of hours before my man and I had to tootle down the road and our friend had to get back to work.

Our drive to Eau Claire was filled with a car-ride dance session to what we affectionately refer to as “party music” (Jay Z, Usher, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Miley Cyrus, Goyte, etc) and drooling over the beautiful Wisconsin landscape. My man and I were both convinced we were ready to move to this gorgeous state in about 12 seconds flat. We are both such romantics when it comes to rolling farm land interspersed with hardwood forests. And the barns – oh the barns! Lovely! We eagerly made our way east toward Eau Claire where we checked into the hotel and showered before heading to the church in the sweet town of Eleva for the rehearsal.

The rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, getting ready for the wedding (hair, make-up, dressing), and the actual wedding were a.mazing. So well planned and so personal – it all seemed like an extension of my friend and her new husband. It was so fun to be a part of it, but the best part was watching how happy they were/are as a couple – pure love! I love love and I could not get enough of it that weekend … ahh.

After these two and a half dreamy days in Wisconsin, my man and I headed back to our cities on the east coast. Just two days later, I trekked down to Chapel Hill for four and a half more days of bliss. Fourth of July was uneventful other than being the perfect opportunity to enjoy the warm weather by grilling, making popsicles (hibiscus-pomegranate), and enjoying cool bevvies on the patio with my man. We had thought we would make it to the coast, but it was actually too hot for the coast (this is a foreign concept to me). With more than just a weekend in Chapel Hill, we had time to fall revive our regular pattern of dinners, errands, conversations, relaxing, and generally being together – so nice.

We rounded out the weekend with some gardening, baking (cherry pie), ice-cream-making (honey-lavender), grilling, running, cocktail-making (pomegranate margaritas), working out, and buying a few “adult” items for our apartment (a striking painting from a local co-op gallery in Chapel Hill and a beautiful new dresser). I’m not sure what else we could have fit in our long weekend. It was all a blissful, lazy blur.

Anticipation

I have not felt this sense of anticipation in a long time (is it that extra cup of coffee I drank after lunch?). Tomorrow I fly to Wisconsin by way of Minneapolis, meeting my man in the airport since we are flying from two different airports, to celebrate one of my best friends who will be married on Saturday –  so, so super fun! It brings back all of the thoughts and appreciation of my own wedding (just under two years ago) – one giant love fest! Remember my post earlier on about “Everybody all at once”? That idea of seeing everyone you know and love in one place  maybe the best part of a wedding. The ceremony is meaningful, the dress and decorations are fun, the music sets the mood. But to me, the best part was getting to celebrate with everyone who was there, to share some moments with them, and to celebrate this unique gift in life that we find someone we can walk with in the journeys of life. Sharing this time with many of the people we love beyond words was so intimately special – a treasure.

Karen – I am excited for you – one of those rare instances in life where it is a self-less, genuine happiness. This is going to be a kick-off of many incredible journeys to come!

When I get back I will fill you all in on the details of the celebration. Until then, I will be in a dreamy bliss over the philosophical musings of what love is and how lucky we are to know and experience love. I’ll share those thoughts when I get back from the great mid-west.