Growing growing growing

Our first red tomato



Our Roma tomatoes (not even thinking about getting red yet)



My new favorite garden plant (they really are the cutest) and the peas that I noticed for the first time earlier this week



My Crazy Days bargain - a clearance candle-holder turned birdfeeder (to be honest, I thought it was a birdfeeder from the start - but then read the label about "risk of fire")

We also have green beans on the one bean plant that grew from our first planting. There are three newer bean plans (two are pretty spindly) so I'm hoping for more beans to come.

The italian squash is dying (borers? stalk borers? something) and one of the Roma plants is not looking so hot. The spinach and lettuce also bolted during the last two weeks.

Auction

A few of my treasures from yesterday's auction (the first auction I've ever been to!)







Kind of in love with the camera and the old binoculars. Mom got the camera for me ($2.50) and the binoculars came in a big box of stuff. I'm thinking about hanging the binocs by our big window to watch the birds (at the risk of looking like we're peeping on our neighbors). I'm also thinking about film for the Brownie or magically having the skills to convert it to a digital camera (with google and enough patience, I can do all things, right?) ;)

I also got a printer box, an awesome old mirror, a frame I want to use (either around a print or to frame a chalkboard), two lamps (need paint, rewiring, new shades), and a rug.



Printer's box



Old mirror, lamps, and me

Piano (!!!) and camping

Last Friday, I got a call from my Dad. He asked if I was busy and then said I needed to go home because they were delivering a birthday present and I needed to let them into my house. Huh??

I drove home and saw the Habitat ReStore truck in front of the house, and my mom standing next to a piano bench (!!). It about killed the poor guys delivering it, but I now have my very own piano.



I can't remember the last time I was so surprised (as my sister-in-law puts it, it was like "little kid Christmas"). They'd talked about seeing the piano at the ReStore, but I hadn't gotten out to see it and figured it had already been sold (and it had - to them).



Then, after work that day, I went up to Gary, SD to visit John and camp out for the night. It was the first time in two years that I went camping and WASN'T responsible for other people's children - so much more relaxing ;)



We had a great time hanging out with his coworkers on the patio, riding around town in a golf cart, and camping. It's so nice to get to know where he works and the people he works with.

More pictures of the resort:

More garden

A few pictures from earlier this month. I finally weeded and put straw down, and the plants are SO much happier. I also got fungicide spray for the tomatoes (leaf spot) and squash (powdery mildew), and I replanted some green bean seeds and spinach.



Tomatoes in action



Peppers doing their thing



Overall garden



I also bought shepherd's hooks and put the birdfeeders up in front of our bay windows

4th of July

My grandparents were here for the weekend. We grilled out and shot off fireworks (while getting eaten alive by mosquitoes). Good times!

Buffalo Ridge Resort

About 3 weeks ago, John started working at the Buffalo Ridge Resort as their Kitchen Manager. Over the July 4th weekend, we finally made the 1 1/2 hour trip up to see him and try the food.

A shot from the drive up



and the drive back



(actual pictures of the resort next time)

Garden update

Flowers

from my friend, Cassie. They looked beautiful and made the whole ground floor smell heavenly!

Garden 2011

Baby parsley



Our in-ground garden



More herbs in containers

This year, we're growing: bradywine, roma, yellow pear, and grape tomatoes; green peppers, banana peppers, chili peppers, habenero peppers, and jalapenos; spinach, lettuce, beets, green beans, carrots, radishes, italian squash, and sugar snap peas; rosemary, dill, sage, mint, parsley, basil, tarragon, and cilantro.

=)

House and Cooper

I've been cleaning and finally remembered to take pictures of the house. Here you go!



Living room



Another view of the living room (can see a bit of our entryway)



Our entryway



Kitchen sink

Today - I'm hoping we can plant our garden and hang pictures (right now there are only pictures up in the kitchen).

More Pics

Jersey Shore

The shore was really beautiful - and even warm (when the sun was out and the wind wasn't blowing too hard). I enjoyed watching the waves, dipping the very bottom of my feet in the water (once, for a second - it was COLD) and eating beach snacks (combos, double stuff oreos, and goldfish).

Espresso and a free puppy

On Monday afternoon, we drove down to Cranbury, NJ (after stopping at Anthropologie). We spent most of the time in the Book Worm, a great used book store.



Bren told me about this sign, and I couldn't resist getting a picture. I also got three books, Spook, When I was Puerto Rican, and Dreaming of Snow in Havana. All for $4 - gosh I love used book stores!

After that it was time for some ice cream and sitting by the lake.

Back to the city

We started the day by chilling in Union Square park and Washington Square Park and then walking through SoHo.



Then we were back on the subway and on to Central Park. We stopped by Dean and Deluca for some sushi and walked to the Alice and Wonderland statue to eat. It was so warm that I kicked off my shoes and rolled up my jeans.



Ahh, sushi and edamame...



Then on to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was incredible and overwhelming. I saw more art in a few hours than I've seen in my entire life.



The Temple of Dendur

Efes for dinner in New Brunswick - falafel sandwich and dark cherry nectar

Princeton

On Saturday, we drove down to Princeton in a drizzling rain. We had pizza for lunch and a successful trip to the awesome consignment store (cardigan and gray top). By the time we left the store, the sun had come out. Next, we went to the Bent Spoon for ice cream (one scoop coconut and one scoop lavender mascarpone).

Then we walked around Princeton's campus - such gorgeous buildings! I can't imagine how much tuition must be - maybe I just don't want to know.



Can't resist blooming trees...



After Princeton, it was back to New Brunswick and then to Origin for Thai-French Fusion (awesome deliciousness).