The beach is where the heart's at

(if RM's not careful that big cat's gonna get his hand)


One day at the coast is all a girl needs to feel completely refreshed and rejuvenated (now, that's not true - one week at the coast is more like it, but I'll settle for what I can get!). For me, the ocean really is where my heart is. Particularly, I'm drawn to that magic spot where the water meets the shore; feet wet, toes buried in the sand, legs burning and prickly from the cold COLD water, salty air on my face. There are kites flying, overstimulated dogs barking, kids splashing, parents watching. Foggy & cool, sunny & warm, clear & crisp, I'll take it any way I can get it.

Ryan and I took a picnic and our books and were quite content to sit, soaking in the scene and the sun.

We finished our day at Camp 18 for dinner, which is a whole other scene. If you're into the logging industry, meat & potatoes, and iced tea for dinner (we're pretty sure they don't serve alcohol in the main dining room, though we didn't actually ask) then this is your place. I think we liked it.

Heaven in the freezer

Formula for staying cool (both temperature and temperament wise) when it is reportedly going to be almost 100 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday and you don't have AC and you have a proven record of fairing very poorly in warm - not to mention hot - weather even though you're from the Mojave Desert AND your New Yorker husband is like a lizard and thrives in the hot hot sun, which some how just ends up making you feel even more cranky and disoriented:

01. Head to the coast for a full day of strolling, window shopping, lounging on the beach with a good book, and getting your feet wet in the cold Pacific NW ocean water.

02. Go to the movies and watch Harry Potter. Also consider seeing Year One just to stay in that magically dark and cool place a bit longer.

03. Race home to enjoy homemade - yes, HOMEMADE - ice cream.

Well, it hasn't turned out to be 100 degrees this weekend. Yet. But we are going to the the beach tomorrow for a little picnic anyway. Harry Potter was OK, yes, just OK (sacrilege?). My B.I.L. (brother-in-law) would call my experience an $8 nap. Twas. And the ice cream. Oh, the ice cream! Smooth, silky, creamy - real bonafide ice cream, like magic. We made vanilla with chocolate chip pieces and boy howdy is it good. It's also a complete nightmare on my tummy and 7 points for half a cup, if you're the Weight Watchers type, which we're trying to be. But oh! Delicious, indeed.

Artichoke Dip: good stuff

I've been inundated recently with good recipes involving five ingredients or less. This is a good one:

Artichoke Dip
- 8 oz (one block) cream cheese, softened (I use Philadelphia 1/3 less fat)
- 1 c. sour cream (I use Tillamook lite)
- 1 c. parmesan cheese, shredded (pepperjack would also be good), plus more if you plan to bake the dish
- (1) 3.5 oz can fire roasted diced green chiles
- (1) 14 oz can artichoke hearts, chopped into small bits

Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, and parmesan cheese by hand or in a food processor until well blended. Incorporate the green chiles and artichoke hearts by hand until thoroughly mixed.

If serving cold, chill for an hour or so before serving. For a baked dip, put the mixture in an oven-proof dish, sprinkle with more cheese, and bake at 350 until the cheese is bubbly and the dip is heated through (10-15 minutes).

Serve with a thinly sliced baguette.

Summer camping

Cool air
Warm, smoky fires
S’mores
Lounging in hammocks, under the trees
Waking up to a rockin’ thunderstorm
Ruby-the-wonder-dog at the river, catching rocks
Surfing (not me) and the ocean, almost warm enough to swim in
Reading my book for long stretches, and being constantly interrupted by good conversation and happy laughter.
Good meals & very sip-able sangria

Was a most-excellent camping trip. Wish it was a day or two longer. Looking forward to the next one. And I think Nehalem Falls is my new favorite camp site.




Note the green & yellow tablecloth in the background. I made that. It has pockets to hold dry, clean towels, plates & utensils, and several straps for paper towels. I’m debating whether I should have made it with waterproof plastic (like the red & white checkered wipeable picnic tablecloths one can find in the camping isle) since it rained twice. The verdict is still out.






This will be (hopefully) my next camping trip accessory.

A blue-toothed kind of night

...and when I say blue-toothed, I don't mean the latest technology. I'm talkin' taste-test so many varietals in one evening your (mine?) teeth turn blue.

A co-worker hosted a wine-tasting this evening to celebrate his birthday and it turned out to be loads of fun. I especially loved the table of sweet & savory treats for both red & white wines, respectively. The crowd was a wonderful mix of several generations that mingled seamlessly. At one point I looked over at Ryan's feet and noticed four pairs of womens' shoes corralled around him, listening to whatever words of wisdom he was imparting. I think he loved every minute of it.

I got to chatting with an editor of the local Sunday paper about global warming and racism and children and Mexico. In my half-drunken state, I am comfortable saying it was nice.

Now, at almost midnight, Ryan is putting in the latest DVD of In Treatment. Over & out.

A birthday hoo-ahh

Today is Mom's birthday, so happy birthday Mom! I had a fabulous visit this weekend and only wish it was longer. We'll be seeing you soon!

Looking at this picture I can see how we look alike.


And the purses that caught your fancy - you could totally make one of those!