laeroport

news from the garden

 

Our first cherry tomato finally ripened last week.  I cannot overemphasize how happy this made me.  I took this photo, popped it into my mouth and didn't tell a soul.  Just call me The Little Red Hen.   Since then, we've had a few more, which I have shared, but none have made it as far as the kitchen.  And in case you think this looks a bit anemic, it is a sun gold orange cherry.  One of my favorite varieties.

I have a little raised bed off our back patio that is filled with zinnias, cosmos, two cherry tomato plants and a few new perennials that I planted this year.  In mid-May, it looked like this:

 

and this morning.  And this was taken AFTER I'd cut a healthy bouquet of cosmos and zinnias to take into Eliot's classroom.  My favorite of the zinnias are the ones in my header - persian carpet.

What a difference!  My perennials are thriving - asters, scabosia (pincushion flower), mums and lupine, most of which I bought at the Monarch Watch spring plant sale.  Now if I'd just see a monarch!

The trellis is completely lost to the morning glories.

 

They make me almost as happy as the cherry tomatoes. 

 

Now if I could just find a little time to weed.  How does your garden grow?

non-stop weekend

Two parties on the 3rd, hanging out all day with the Oil Cloth Junkies on the 4th and another family fireworks viewing on the 5th.  Thow in some sewing time, poolside handstitching (me and Michelle), embroidery, reading and a small addiction to the My Tribe computer game, and you get a pretty good picture of our weekend.  But here are the real pictures.

Hope yours was fun.     

OLS - week five

This week's meal was GOOD!  Well, at least Tim and I thought so.   

Beef and Apple Brats, bought at farmers' market - Aidin thought they were too spicy, but I loved them,

 

served with kale chipsand fresh snap peas (probably the last of the summer ::sniff::), japanese turnips and more of those delicious carrots - all from my CSA.  Jill sends out a newsletter each week with recipes for some of the things that you will get in your bag.  The kale chip recipe was already on my mind, but when Erin posted her review of kale chips, that clinched the deal.

Can you tell I am kind of a meat and two veg. kind of girl?  Maybe next week I'll branch out a bit more.

I'm planning on taking local dishes to two Independence Day potlucks this weekend. 

Enjoy the fireworks and I'll see you next week.

reasons to smile

* I don't have to work tomorrow.

* zinnias from my garden.

 

* lots of sewing projects and some weekend time to tackle them.

How about you?

Cue Sonny & Cher....

It is getting to be that time.  Time for our annual Middle Eastern dance concert.  The rehearsals are scheduled, the theaters are booked, the costumes are being cut. 

This year, we'll be performing in two locations with our usual Lawrence show and as part of the Kansas City Fringe Festival.  The Fringe shows are just an hour.  The shows in Lawrence will be a bit longer and will feature live music (with the husband playing bass) and Aidin dancing with another 8 year old, Taylor.  I do hope to see your smiling face in the audience.

          Gaziyeh Enterprises, Inc. presents…

Cairo on the Kaw XV ...   

                The Beat Goes On…

An exploration of rhythm and moves from the

Middle East

Featuring  Raghsidad

Tuesday, July 21 -  7pm

                  Friday, July 24 -  7 & 11:30pm

XS Lighting-  1632 Broadway -  KCMO 

   

For  more info visit  www.kcfringe.org

Or contact gaziyeh@aol.com

 

Saturday, July 25 - 8 pm

Sunday, July 26 - 2pm

Lawrence Community Theater - 1501 New Hampshire

 

 

Photos of Raghsidad from Siham & Co.

someone got a haircut

before:

after:

 

Gah!  His cuteness is killing me!

Happy Tuesday!

OLS - week 4 - a day late

Last week, with the heat and camp, all my dinner-making mojo just went out the window.  I couldn't even make a grocery list, let alone something fit to eat.

So last week's one local summer meal happened last night.  Variation on a theme.

Swiss chard, leek and colby frittata -

 

accompanied by CSA carrots  (so wonderful) -

enjoyed al fresco. 

 

Okay, "enjoyed" may not be the right word.  Neither of the kids thought much of dinner.  Aidin ate the carrots.  We eat quiche all the time, but she claimed she missed the crust. Personally, I like it better with swiss, but I haven't found a local swiss cheese.

But dessert was grand - black raspberry cobbler seen here in the pan -

 

and here on the plate.

 

Dang!  It was yummy.  I had it for breakfast too. 

The eggs, again, came from my market friend, Richard Bean.  Swiss chard and leeks were from my Moon on the Meadow CSA bag.  And I used Hudson Cream Flour, which is not within 100 miles but is from Kansas - the four mill is just about the only thing in the town - and I could buy it in my favorite grocery store while also buying the Alma Cheese. (Click on the GiveBack link over on the sidebar to see how my favorite grocery store contributes to our community.)

The raspberries came from the Peters Family Farm and were purchased at farmer's market.  Black raspberries were not on my list, but they called my name when Aidin and I were making our usual Saturday-morning-market-breakfast purchase of home-made cinnamon rolls. 

More cinnamon rolls appeared at my front door on Saturday afternoon.  My 16 year old next-door neighbor and favorite babysitter has a summer job at Wheatfields.  And gets to bring stuff home.  That made for a very nice Sunday morning with the newspaper on the back patio.

Saturday we had a fun meal that I didn't photograph.  Won Tons made with a little leftover hamburger combined with cabbage, purple cauliflower and carrots - all from Moon on the Meadow.  I baked the leftover Won Ton wrappers a la Molly and they were a hit - although mine were just squares, not fancy heart shapes.

This week we have some beef and apple brats on the menu as well as fava bean crostini, kale chips, stir fry, and a roasted fennel, onion and potato side.

Now I'm hungry.  I guess I'll go have that last piece of black raspberry cobbler.

Ciao for now. ~ L

Made in the shade

(or how to cope at Girl Scout day camp when the heat index is 110)

 

We have spent the week trying to keep cool at day camp.  We scrapped plans to cook over the fire and I brought out my camp stove.

We have eaten at least 20 pounds of ice per day and have drained the big orange Gott water cooler.

We have walked very slowly to and from the activities that we actually chose to participate in.

We have spent a lot of time sitting around, wrapping yarn around sticks and making friendship bracelets.

We have played water games like Drip, Drip, Splash (Duck, Duck, Goose but with a sopping wet sponge) and have constantly had a wet bandanna tied either on our head or around our neck or both.

We have discovered all the shady spots.

Above all, we have made the best of it and had fun. 

 

These photos are a bit odd because I cropped all the other kids out.

In other news, Tim's surprise party was a complete success.   He didn't suspect a thing, although after the fact he said there were lots of clues if only he had put them all together.

Next week, things might get back to normal.

I said might.

:)

Cheers!

One Local Summer - week 3

Beef tips, CSA carrots, some strange fries - also from the CSA, and local bread from Wheatfields.  A lack-luster meal this week.  I tried to make a local wine reduction / gravy thing but it was a total disaster.  I'm hoping for something more stellar this week.

Cheers!  And happy Father's Day!

happy birthday, hon

Today is my husband's 40th birthday.  Tonight we are throwing a surprise party for him in our back yard.  It has taken all of my brain power this week to get ready and not let it slip.

 

Tim has been such a huge part of my life for so many years - nine before we got married and nearly 12 since.  He is smart and funny and has so many talents - writing, photography and music.

And did I mention he's a pretty awesome dad?

Happy Birthday, Honey!  We love you!  Here's to at least 40 more, spent together.