tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186216872024-03-17T22:02:55.231-05:00Scrappin My Bliss~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.comBlogger582125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-89014430968202127962012-01-07T15:10:00.001-05:002012-01-07T15:12:50.187-05:00Art Journaling 2012<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb3yQcC3FrNFcaQ59Upgbyks87Lcxr3DbgZWCZtlKtSK3TdjK7PGurO4f6TrqriKvZgoAQMOqlFFUem-vYNhTuJPX7iba7m9gz5_zjNLYO4gh_dKD66lXJIY1ttYAnWIZjB28DA/s1600/DSC05399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb3yQcC3FrNFcaQ59Upgbyks87Lcxr3DbgZWCZtlKtSK3TdjK7PGurO4f6TrqriKvZgoAQMOqlFFUem-vYNhTuJPX7iba7m9gz5_zjNLYO4gh_dKD66lXJIY1ttYAnWIZjB28DA/s320/DSC05399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Something I love to do, but don't share often, is art journal. I plan to share more in 2012!<br />
<br />
Usually when I art journal, I place what I do in to two categories, both of which keep from sharing my pages: either way too personal or (I feel it is) way too hideous to share. Yes, I do let my inner critic get to me. No more! While I will still continue to make pages that I do feel are too personal to share, and that is OK, I will no longer deem any of the art I create "too hideous." That is so against what I love about art journaling....the fact that it is free-form, funky. Basically, it is what it is.<br />
<br />
To encourage me to share more of my art journaling adventures I will be joining in <a href="http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/">Julie Fei-Fan Balzer</a>'s <a href="http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2012/01/art-journal-every-day-why-i-art-journal.html">Art Journal Every Day</a> this year. If you are unfamiliar with Julie's work you must check it out. She is an amazing artist. And I can say I have had the privilege of meeting her, too!<br />
<br />
So, here is a page I am actually excited to share. Simple, yet meaningful to me...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu13uibQwUivaN_UsqMD6O32lm9IrduYdFvSuNLvOqi_eRuz_SxAhqkGRn3urh3gB3TEXHFgfOa_o0T9wMVC2WNiaoyDV80d2xexEh6HLoQXfVkDomgmvRWiaFueHWlTb6XPioQ/s1600/DSC05391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu13uibQwUivaN_UsqMD6O32lm9IrduYdFvSuNLvOqi_eRuz_SxAhqkGRn3urh3gB3TEXHFgfOa_o0T9wMVC2WNiaoyDV80d2xexEh6HLoQXfVkDomgmvRWiaFueHWlTb6XPioQ/s320/DSC05391.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I created this a few days ago with a technique I actually learned from Julie's blog, the drip. I used two shades of Adirondack Color Wash and sprayed them heavily at the top of the page, allowing them to form longs drips down the page. The journaling is done with acrylic paint (white on letter stamps for "BE" and black for the free-hand painted words). The flowers on the side of the page were stamped using a thin coat of white acrylic on a Hero Arts rubber stamp. I used Claudine Hellmuth acrylics in this, but I also use Liquitex quite a bit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENDkhMAe-_4Zea2Y-YGmy-BjoRlEdUG_qevisq4OOu5hoJ5k1W6ARU9dZ9zEIkaV183OksykfW9SDgzj_YrtCFqi-z-1qxl8y-MluvoKFVvbI9pashhnc2XX1AKJZQoCa0Lxn7A/s1600/DSC05390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENDkhMAe-_4Zea2Y-YGmy-BjoRlEdUG_qevisq4OOu5hoJ5k1W6ARU9dZ9zEIkaV183OksykfW9SDgzj_YrtCFqi-z-1qxl8y-MluvoKFVvbI9pashhnc2XX1AKJZQoCa0Lxn7A/s320/DSC05390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This shows the facing page that I got random squirts on! I plan to add to and build something on that page at some point, also.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzdaYMGbChY4582aXN-7s-nrxlxgiZr_AhmNA6GlhRIlw_-kQt0axh0UYEPAbDpBmqNXPD9nu17mfkQYRoSJHWunmJNFi3Epe1l5CpQmHLGloAQhD6IGtJkeH30lIXoi0P2xezQ/s1600/DSC05392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzdaYMGbChY4582aXN-7s-nrxlxgiZr_AhmNA6GlhRIlw_-kQt0axh0UYEPAbDpBmqNXPD9nu17mfkQYRoSJHWunmJNFi3Epe1l5CpQmHLGloAQhD6IGtJkeH30lIXoi0P2xezQ/s320/DSC05392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHflxhv5-Ni45DoQTiQeZzNjBWiRCS3S91grz0NzQI375T3lpLx3LiJks1d4biATMP_nwN0cyW6SwwkuG4cs0Mpi_GhkG5L3cJgKCfMz1q_N4XMWxMzVDOqMY8JVdZIzuN3SUnHw/s1600/DSC05398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHflxhv5-Ni45DoQTiQeZzNjBWiRCS3S91grz0NzQI375T3lpLx3LiJks1d4biATMP_nwN0cyW6SwwkuG4cs0Mpi_GhkG5L3cJgKCfMz1q_N4XMWxMzVDOqMY8JVdZIzuN3SUnHw/s320/DSC05398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I also wanted to share a couple backgrounds that I have started. The top was made using a few different colors of Maya Road Mists. The bottom was made using Lyra Watercolor crayons and a wet brush. Sometimes when I just feel the urge to get messy and play I will do a bunch of backgrounds in my book then come back to build on them when the mood strikes.<br />
<br />
I'm linking up this post to <a href="http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2012/01/art-journal-every-day-why-i-art-journal.html">Julie's first Art Journal Every Day post for 2012</a>. I hope you will go to her blog to check out all the amazing creations linked up there!<br />
~*~*~*~*~<br />
<i>In the interest of full disclosure I need to put this out there from the start: I know me. I know how I am. I know I won't actually art journal every single day this year. I have decided that is OK! I will do it as often as I can and as often as the creative juices are flowing freely!</i></div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-18624469498284235782011-12-24T13:45:00.000-05:002011-12-24T13:45:41.815-05:00Merry Merry....<div style="text-align: center;">So it is no secret that in this 2nd half of 2011 I have been a terrible blogger. Still, I couldn't let Christmas Eve go by and not post <i>something</i>. And I certainly couldn't miss an opportunity to wish all of my bloggy friends a very Merry Christmas, or Happy Hannukah, or Joyous Whatever You Celebrate at this time of year!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This entire month has been one busy blur. I still can't quite accept that is already December 24. At this time next week we will be ticking away the final hours of Twenty-Eleven and getting ready to usher in Twenty-Twelve.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So what I have I been doing this month? Well, working, mostly. Working has sucked up and enormous amount of time and the stress of it definitely contributed to it not feeling too Christmas-y. But, it is what it is. I have a good stable job and at this time of year more than any other I am thankful for it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I baked...a lot. I have always enjoyed baking. I don't like having all those yummy baked goods around my house, though! Too tempting! Luckily I enjoy the process of baking more, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing what I make. So I have sent in loads of yummies with Kevin for his office and brought in bunches to mine. I have given to neighbors and baked for my family and friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of that baking for friends was shared on Friday evening December 16 when I got together with girlfriends for a Girls Night In Christmas Party and (very informal) Cookie Swap!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAnV6wmgDB6ZFu0zgdbMwXzFn4xVwk0BUJNa9dsF4DlbKAjD5kKeK2CAq6HAJZJ89GjvBM3gNVRAktZMGysST7FaxKTEetZ-PM68o1IIU6mEUKXDUVKU0yrfhPpiSU6_uKz_-1w/s1600/404587_2940650914985_1222537543_33360061_124750613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAnV6wmgDB6ZFu0zgdbMwXzFn4xVwk0BUJNa9dsF4DlbKAjD5kKeK2CAq6HAJZJ89GjvBM3gNVRAktZMGysST7FaxKTEetZ-PM68o1IIU6mEUKXDUVKU0yrfhPpiSU6_uKz_-1w/s320/404587_2940650914985_1222537543_33360061_124750613_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the yummy goodies we all divided up to take home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNflI3M4f7KnVegMo3E7N6DcTX_x7FPon0nQoFoAgTWIWJEvCDR-61lwpF2MV1vo1a8RRKdHgE8lcJ4NfaRI9aZI0mYqoQKLrfOnZfyff713mYp4mRe56Q3R2jQm6nnXrlac1wpA/s1600/400773_2940646874884_1222537543_33360058_768826161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNflI3M4f7KnVegMo3E7N6DcTX_x7FPon0nQoFoAgTWIWJEvCDR-61lwpF2MV1vo1a8RRKdHgE8lcJ4NfaRI9aZI0mYqoQKLrfOnZfyff713mYp4mRe56Q3R2jQm6nnXrlac1wpA/s320/400773_2940646874884_1222537543_33360058_768826161_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had lots of other yumminess and, of course, an array of liquid refreshments....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRTg9bJTikIuKOhboPRpI_Qgpu_mMzGB37ja4gk60R9m8HsOHAa7IkcPCdKFSEFG73RQMNIWZap2YN0nZN-mK_ZPErrLr8j32V3_xtkXc6ofDo8XGotpJ2oqpJOJzv3GYnPIX2g/s1600/374174_2940661875259_1222537543_33360069_761622160_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRTg9bJTikIuKOhboPRpI_Qgpu_mMzGB37ja4gk60R9m8HsOHAa7IkcPCdKFSEFG73RQMNIWZap2YN0nZN-mK_ZPErrLr8j32V3_xtkXc6ofDo8XGotpJ2oqpJOJzv3GYnPIX2g/s320/374174_2940661875259_1222537543_33360069_761622160_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My fabulous friends</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ntzp2XQI8ccXxQhyphenhyphenGGiN3yjFkjfoSCYS-A4Tk0KZSvOk_aO4y9T3SMXXw0nU-1Q6KiDlWwpgG1zQEhD08yxUYS5He0geoVArEnVZ-Korwibb_eAsCWhWPk5WJ8JJbpDsaC49CA/s1600/393510_2940668995437_1222537543_33360073_247882129_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ntzp2XQI8ccXxQhyphenhyphenGGiN3yjFkjfoSCYS-A4Tk0KZSvOk_aO4y9T3SMXXw0nU-1Q6KiDlWwpgG1zQEhD08yxUYS5He0geoVArEnVZ-Korwibb_eAsCWhWPk5WJ8JJbpDsaC49CA/s320/393510_2940668995437_1222537543_33360073_247882129_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mom even stopped by after her own Girls Night In with her friends up the road</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemsbdTWsyapJddKPKMtLeQUGjAnavTFYID_pjCwJ0cragnpWSrBlg3ysbqTgrMdClL57nmkiWaWeKb7bQR7U1Uza7RYSB-2TwFsJMngBcctaDHX2OyDzaPIocBo30KNFvz2-yGg/s1600/374948_2940639114690_1222537543_33360051_748796352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemsbdTWsyapJddKPKMtLeQUGjAnavTFYID_pjCwJ0cragnpWSrBlg3ysbqTgrMdClL57nmkiWaWeKb7bQR7U1Uza7RYSB-2TwFsJMngBcctaDHX2OyDzaPIocBo30KNFvz2-yGg/s320/374948_2940639114690_1222537543_33360051_748796352_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even Bailey got in on the fun before Kevin took him upstairs. No boys allowed after a certain time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That was just one of the fun parties this month. On Friday December 9, Kevin, Joe, and I attended a big Christmas party with my friend Shawn from work, his wife Erin, and his brothers Brian and Kevin. Erin's Dad has a few parties a year at a local social club and it is always a wicked good time!!! Dinner, live band, and FULL OPEN BAR all night (which is why I am never able to write about it right away....ahem!). The following pics were taken with my phone, well in to the night, and there are either people's fingers or weird ghost-y light things in most of them. Oh well...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4ngF8Z1JRsflKe11ZoyVACrK85DoVg1w_8r8mY8Wp-P8UK34tTuHq8-i6cLfgtqqWkUyjAcMS0QxoYEZP-W4NMt65s2s5D-Zx1qfEo06KFrjAbtHofy8ynQMJebBWNN67RDZxg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4ngF8Z1JRsflKe11ZoyVACrK85DoVg1w_8r8mY8Wp-P8UK34tTuHq8-i6cLfgtqqWkUyjAcMS0QxoYEZP-W4NMt65s2s5D-Zx1qfEo06KFrjAbtHofy8ynQMJebBWNN67RDZxg/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My handsome hubs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPJEMpsr8ue-5W6xqUT3kzcLPLA8wbDftFM2lkXCDttomqfasLACWxFqCYYXVPCKihZyqRMnpcLLakSsM-5IPex0O86fkLssI2w8tUIFjiwKLq5innvx3d2nftARUhokF48ICHw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPJEMpsr8ue-5W6xqUT3kzcLPLA8wbDftFM2lkXCDttomqfasLACWxFqCYYXVPCKihZyqRMnpcLLakSsM-5IPex0O86fkLssI2w8tUIFjiwKLq5innvx3d2nftARUhokF48ICHw/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Joe</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGdSD9FNbBHf-MreWEP99b0GGem19n0UNsmacDVgK3hWRMYh7B9JRNmwXUVdUfA0KIjWNpvGgpbuSy8GYDBh1hGJXc53thKiiU3cZCt23w15dPfbCTRj7TukYPaKSVMS9GyVJnQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGdSD9FNbBHf-MreWEP99b0GGem19n0UNsmacDVgK3hWRMYh7B9JRNmwXUVdUfA0KIjWNpvGgpbuSy8GYDBh1hGJXc53thKiiU3cZCt23w15dPfbCTRj7TukYPaKSVMS9GyVJnQ/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me and Brian. We are pretty bad when we get together and drink! We pretty much lose track of how many each of us have...then we dance and act stupid and have a blast!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35Al_w__B5Rmpc9RB4gWba5SyTvoHl2H7ZTnSIDpfr9a3XZJ97SdRT7popySh5Ikb9ntaQ8V0VVjFMRWUldnSNoVM7WU7DiNQNJnmxRtnLbP4ytlb_nYDp6A2-nL0wht380u5sA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35Al_w__B5Rmpc9RB4gWba5SyTvoHl2H7ZTnSIDpfr9a3XZJ97SdRT7popySh5Ikb9ntaQ8V0VVjFMRWUldnSNoVM7WU7DiNQNJnmxRtnLbP4ytlb_nYDp6A2-nL0wht380u5sA/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me with Shawn and Brian. At this point I was pretty much using them to lean on...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrOUMkpaiV78GGjpKw5aHFXJ7cr7rtV1_9nGdyxQNXa4dBTDxS3UmDMvmRDb8Yz3PumHG0tLkpwPDhIwZ5boMoSb7twMtTLsMcgI-kwxy8fneFt35m7ghyphenhyphenOxfEkiu4b7FEV_Rxw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrOUMkpaiV78GGjpKw5aHFXJ7cr7rtV1_9nGdyxQNXa4dBTDxS3UmDMvmRDb8Yz3PumHG0tLkpwPDhIwZ5boMoSb7twMtTLsMcgI-kwxy8fneFt35m7ghyphenhyphenOxfEkiu4b7FEV_Rxw/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stefan and Michelle. So cute! They are engaged! I love them because they don't believe I'm 40!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA7jvK2KjlEMr4PV2R0fJJ6Fl7LXheIluFyoyrqRl0N7Pv_pal8qEJuENnYKYiqZel4vaPzJIg11QqWMZR8J4CsMPDmYM0zY8ywobCjXlcM8G-eqivdorNM7AoPm9W5mJxXE-AA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA7jvK2KjlEMr4PV2R0fJJ6Fl7LXheIluFyoyrqRl0N7Pv_pal8qEJuENnYKYiqZel4vaPzJIg11QqWMZR8J4CsMPDmYM0zY8ywobCjXlcM8G-eqivdorNM7AoPm9W5mJxXE-AA/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brothers. Trouble! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFLvDjaAZ0UNqPkg-uIyOjnv5_uotHZzhdJfp5pg78YiZ1J2ySQXNQC7WOdrANQefomexVUQwDMYNh7LgihEwD8LhHsn2yBdi04N91hpG-wahplpXqgs4uRjGFDoFh-sw9q-7mA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFLvDjaAZ0UNqPkg-uIyOjnv5_uotHZzhdJfp5pg78YiZ1J2ySQXNQC7WOdrANQefomexVUQwDMYNh7LgihEwD8LhHsn2yBdi04N91hpG-wahplpXqgs4uRjGFDoFh-sw9q-7mA/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love this pic...even though Kevin was pretty much holding me up and that weird finger ghosty thing is in it I still love it. My hubs is such a good guy!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And speaking of what an awesome guy he is....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PsCZHV0NFxB6nV3Sasb1JzsgQzMIkD21l-1qf3J9MFOc7mewYER2J3FH9wq4mLH5srHrf30v55OjEqshqYiJqI84-YegvBpBu5CEDBAPYdavL5VZlGThU3H2gFRPbuiQkG8qMg/s1600/IMAG0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PsCZHV0NFxB6nV3Sasb1JzsgQzMIkD21l-1qf3J9MFOc7mewYER2J3FH9wq4mLH5srHrf30v55OjEqshqYiJqI84-YegvBpBu5CEDBAPYdavL5VZlGThU3H2gFRPbuiQkG8qMg/s320/IMAG0045.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kevin rang the bell for the Salvation Army in Harvard Square in Cambridge this year!!! So very proud of him for doing such an amazing thing!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlklUN7KRQl9i_C7TvVUHv6NNeVfDi7atAyifQyj8JNRnRNoWUPEZD-OL6q6_Jl8ZDRCNx9KmthAzGF_3qMpGtcK-QAY4TFvC2yNfSLEwp_1XiyfUsBIgFM5WmX_xVJKhSeWlGw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlklUN7KRQl9i_C7TvVUHv6NNeVfDi7atAyifQyj8JNRnRNoWUPEZD-OL6q6_Jl8ZDRCNx9KmthAzGF_3qMpGtcK-QAY4TFvC2yNfSLEwp_1XiyfUsBIgFM5WmX_xVJKhSeWlGw/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course, when I have had the time, there has been Christmas crafting. That is my December journal in progress and the Christmas card we sent out this year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My GLU friends and I continued a beloved tradition....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIrISdjhZm2KeAWK3At-WS7DPb1VmeMwCeBfPgsHqkgQKtlYGeCONiTRSzL_gRiJWVjwKVn485Hs5-k1SEYqvt7m78vUJgJ9aIPhgPf-B9fiY2fn5Fo85puHw-Q2KIfSrNTvsew/s1600/DSC05299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIrISdjhZm2KeAWK3At-WS7DPb1VmeMwCeBfPgsHqkgQKtlYGeCONiTRSzL_gRiJWVjwKVn485Hs5-k1SEYqvt7m78vUJgJ9aIPhgPf-B9fiY2fn5Fo85puHw-Q2KIfSrNTvsew/s320/DSC05299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">.....exchanging handmade ornaments! So exciting and fun to receive the box each year. One of our friends described as "it is like opening a box of hugs from treasured friends!"</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Yes one of those ornies says 2010. They were misplaced last year and added to this year's bunch.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of more craftiness....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWLjFmwggJm5sf6HSqTqzqNdc5Rf_AI-kN17yVVll-C6ROe4SnBuVEfFRVbpSBSMdMrwx98qw-x8TuSXYQsQihmqByDECaPEb7mq9iArPSr1fPhoTFIkGjQ61aok9DhInc0s-iw/s1600/DSC05163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWLjFmwggJm5sf6HSqTqzqNdc5Rf_AI-kN17yVVll-C6ROe4SnBuVEfFRVbpSBSMdMrwx98qw-x8TuSXYQsQihmqByDECaPEb7mq9iArPSr1fPhoTFIkGjQ61aok9DhInc0s-iw/s320/DSC05163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">.....my Mom taught me to sew!!! I made Christmas stockings for Bailey, Kevin, and me!</div><div style="text-align: center;">This one is Bailey's!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ_g8Z6OKb2ZEbjhK8uTXwzQS6ptJ05XlWlRvNgDOAr_VVv_9uZ5L9BVe6YCl2hNafexeQ6GsXczvfssU6BuOU8p8vi7jPXShdk4Y9yTnTsYbsSsKmjPWgVUOE-iXQXqABtG6Kg/s1600/DSC05165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ_g8Z6OKb2ZEbjhK8uTXwzQS6ptJ05XlWlRvNgDOAr_VVv_9uZ5L9BVe6YCl2hNafexeQ6GsXczvfssU6BuOU8p8vi7jPXShdk4Y9yTnTsYbsSsKmjPWgVUOE-iXQXqABtG6Kg/s320/DSC05165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the pom-pom trim! Fun and a bit retro!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the best thing we saw this month.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh-dWVEZzckUCVknd1WcvuuCqk5GPSYASQKkZausuDVZHpxtPB97gPbekflQihubS90moG3Sq25NbCHAzef3NG7Csy4nKUROXuWvyG_AP4unV4cm_xOHwLBFOSVA1VOApVIm9iA/s1600/DSC05351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh-dWVEZzckUCVknd1WcvuuCqk5GPSYASQKkZausuDVZHpxtPB97gPbekflQihubS90moG3Sq25NbCHAzef3NG7Csy4nKUROXuWvyG_AP4unV4cm_xOHwLBFOSVA1VOApVIm9iA/s320/DSC05351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">.....seeing this little guy perform with the rest of this third grade class in the school Christmas concert!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfffUSVv5evwV-hIgl8qAG5Xl0cmcjMLBg97VeKZd8K2QHkceKQ2KkaLEDmK6518-W5i5gdodZHzEtBNKC1q94GgX6Es09hFHewx4eJQGhaC47Yrm0EzN8mmXuNcAPKShb_Z5kxQ/s1600/DSC05352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfffUSVv5evwV-hIgl8qAG5Xl0cmcjMLBg97VeKZd8K2QHkceKQ2KkaLEDmK6518-W5i5gdodZHzEtBNKC1q94GgX6Es09hFHewx4eJQGhaC47Yrm0EzN8mmXuNcAPKShb_Z5kxQ/s320/DSC05352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHsw7nJ7WDbhE0UQqXS00SWw1tqHGCzFxjUS2aIscjk-ThcQzTuXvOEqOFVpkh1QmdrTJltROsfwgSXsAYagIdmI47Fkmp8A8grJLWQjDOz6heg_PvAcK9qUowjZg6Rc0eB7pzg/s1600/DSC05358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHsw7nJ7WDbhE0UQqXS00SWw1tqHGCzFxjUS2aIscjk-ThcQzTuXvOEqOFVpkh1QmdrTJltROsfwgSXsAYagIdmI47Fkmp8A8grJLWQjDOz6heg_PvAcK9qUowjZg6Rc0eB7pzg/s320/DSC05358.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Love love love!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While we were at the school, the principal got up to speak after the second grade classes performed. She asked a little boy to step forward then she explained that his Dad has been serving in Afghanistan for a couple years and it had been a very long time since he had been home. Then she told the little boy that we all just wanted him to know that we all think his Dad is a hero and we are grateful and thankful for all he does. Then she said that since he is such a good boy he deserves a surprise. I started to hear gasps and whispers and I looked across the gym and spotted him: the soldier waiting there in his desert fatigues!!! Tears immediately filled my eyes, and the eyes of everyone in the room, then the principal told the little boy his Dad is home!!! When he stepped in to the gym that kid sprinted off the stage so fast and flew in to his Dad's arms!!! It was truly the most precious thing to see. The gym erupted in to cheers and woohoos and a long standing ovation and they just hugged and hugged!!! Even all the guys in the room were crying!!! If I had my wits about me I would have snapped a picture but I was too busy wiping my tears and cheering!!! Even without a pic, though, I will never ever forget that moment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The joy of the morning events was misplaced with shock and sadness later in the day when we learned that one of our city's firefighters lost his life battling a blaze at a local apartment building. What makes this harder is I knew him. He is only a year older than me. He graduated a year before me and was also a member of our church, I hadn't seen him in several years but my brother was good friends with him. He leaves behind a wife and three young children. Two days before Christmas. So sad and tragic and unfair. Please keep this hero's family in your thoughts and prayers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow. I didn't mean to end on such a sad note, but this blog has always been about keeping it real.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't forget...you can track Santa's journey around the globe through <a href="http://www.noradsanta.org/en/">NORAD</a>!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-12082956340061667562011-12-01T19:05:00.000-05:002011-12-01T19:05:39.153-05:00Fall Journal Pics.....<div style="text-align: center;">As promised, here are the pics of my Fall Journal for 2011. There are quite a lot so I made them in to a slideshow. If there is something you want to look closer at you can pause the slides. Please feel free to ask any questions you like about my process, products used, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(After the slideshow was done I realized a few of the pics are not rotated. Sorry for that.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i></i></span></div><i><div style="text-align: center; width: 480px;"><embed height="360" src="http://w5.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy155%2Fkristendesimone%2Faeb090b6.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="border-width: 0; float: left;" /></a><a href="http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/kristendesimone/?action=view&current=aeb090b6.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="border-width: 0; float: left;" /></a></div></i>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-46661740849208263492011-11-30T15:47:00.002-05:002011-11-30T15:47:51.784-05:00~* Fall Journal 2011......<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">is <b>COMPLETE!!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pictures soon.......</i></div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-23415259599463458662011-11-27T16:55:00.000-05:002011-11-27T16:55:42.536-05:00I'm still here, I promise!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0xQZDLj9L9qNllyaY9iLSntlINnTyRNWWMqBO0ieQhJ__nok9Kk5kftB_Ey1mtc582mVKoulXK87OR5A0r5Nwqh0CGFJNKZFTJNUm9rnpXVBs2ZLAo6CKxI4HeaDMwK_OZT21Q/s1600/DSC04971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0xQZDLj9L9qNllyaY9iLSntlINnTyRNWWMqBO0ieQhJ__nok9Kk5kftB_Ey1mtc582mVKoulXK87OR5A0r5Nwqh0CGFJNKZFTJNUm9rnpXVBs2ZLAo6CKxI4HeaDMwK_OZT21Q/s320/DSC04971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I have slacked off on blogging again....BIG time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So here's a cutie photo to distract you from my lack of posting ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ironically, I have a million and one post ideas floating around in my mind, loads of photos to share, updates on fun fall stuff to write about, and so much more....I just can't seem to settle myself down long enough to to write. The days fly by, one hour blurs in the next, and then it is 5AM and starting the craziness all over again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, I am here. And I will write. And write and write and write.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I promise!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-70218689834565830612011-10-04T15:25:00.001-05:002011-10-04T15:27:18.697-05:00Its almost HOLIDAY time!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-Fs08ocTDFk" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can pre-order your copy of <a href="http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com/">Holiday with Matthew Mead</a> now by clicking <a href="https://subscription.timeinc.com/storefront/site/oxmoor-oh-mmholiday0911.html?xid=535445&link=1005724">here</a>. I can't wait to get my hands on this year's issue! I absolutely loved last years issue...such fabulous Christmas inspiration and yummy eye candy!!!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-23590082007338836392011-09-11T17:11:00.000-05:002011-09-11T17:11:37.977-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">9/11/01 - 9/11/11</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOVwoAwqnfQKf6GAkLSL-V2VX7F7iteQAu2hWMiC8S8IqIOuRBowmJkYqTgCkjFlrVZZX0kwpQEvmxNPC7JVyqIeoeAMvmVPNM4OvpIfJ1vODAzino5CH3RkKQAZRfLgoQzO2_Q/s1600/iwo-9-11-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOVwoAwqnfQKf6GAkLSL-V2VX7F7iteQAu2hWMiC8S8IqIOuRBowmJkYqTgCkjFlrVZZX0kwpQEvmxNPC7JVyqIeoeAMvmVPNM4OvpIfJ1vODAzino5CH3RkKQAZRfLgoQzO2_Q/s320/iwo-9-11-final.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Never forget....</i></div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-37515489102160144462011-09-07T12:20:00.002-05:002011-09-08T14:10:40.122-05:00I can feel it...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtG1eGeQZ_3_1lp5ViPX_tuzeDO1YaEmFc4MGPrgE0LnDAExOAYDR4kcnj1HPA6HQvpv0w3bQPMLd9vrjj7Ppcnm6GsvItVUBd-LpDD7bSgDD7JVYAjJIZ0IwlmaOcJbHYZaBIDg/s1600/autumn+official.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtG1eGeQZ_3_1lp5ViPX_tuzeDO1YaEmFc4MGPrgE0LnDAExOAYDR4kcnj1HPA6HQvpv0w3bQPMLd9vrjj7Ppcnm6GsvItVUBd-LpDD7bSgDD7JVYAjJIZ0IwlmaOcJbHYZaBIDg/s320/autumn+official.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you? Can you sense it coming? I can...and it thrills me to no end!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Autumn is my absolute most favorite time of year. And the fact that I live in New England makes it all the more special. Truly, autumn in New England is a season to savor. New England just does autumn right!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can feel it coming. Though the days are still mostly warm the nights have taken on a chill. The mornings, too. The wind blows with a bit more gusto....it's <i>blustery</i>. I just love that word.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And don't even get me started on the light. Oh the light! That golden-hued warmth that saturates a fall afternoon. It is so hard to describe, but it is just so gorgeous. It actually starts to get this way in late August, a sure sign that fall is ready to make its grand entrance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know the calendar still says it is technically summer, but as far as I am concerned, when the page turns to September 1 fall has arrived...at least in my heart. It is a season of warmth and coziness, of renewal and fresh starts (doesn't the start of a new school year bring with it the excitement that anything is possible, even if you are no longer a student?!), of comfortable azure-skied days and crisp, million-starred nights, of leaves and pumpkins and apples and woodsmoke curling from the chimneys.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{{{sigh}}}</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so ready for all of it!<br />
<br />
<i>Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.</i><i> </i><br />
<i> </i><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">—George Eliot</span></span></div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-3039283074641715382011-09-06T14:15:00.000-05:002011-09-06T14:15:48.336-05:00Lots to share!!!<div style="text-align: center;">I have been busy! That is a good thing, but I have neglected sharing all the fun stuff, and I love to share the fun stuff. I actually don't have too much time right now but I really wanted to post. I promise separate posts for each of these things with more detail but for now here is a just a tease of what has been going on...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXQejBdMEo06ReIvdkHzAIMxTLk83kXO3fdNLDrpWWnQuk2d-cmNi9-nxpFAA2QLGEINY5CBmqXo57pe_QRfvN8Z1G9fs7Ooqf-kPwrAIyCJXlbKo2aPI14k9QGf6UO2eu6YQUg/s1600/bar+harbor+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXQejBdMEo06ReIvdkHzAIMxTLk83kXO3fdNLDrpWWnQuk2d-cmNi9-nxpFAA2QLGEINY5CBmqXo57pe_QRfvN8Z1G9fs7Ooqf-kPwrAIyCJXlbKo2aPI14k9QGf6UO2eu6YQUg/s320/bar+harbor+balcony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took an amazing vacation to gorgeous Bar Harbor in northern Maine!</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the view from our hotel balcony!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBBsC5BTBXRje5zkQXK0cYyidO8cq53QzVYLgsCDP0dS31lrcqZxzX1J_99VwqOHIhbx-ZaiaZ96xrcoBypTyFDbY3J1FbD-oXrgqCD5BVZ6hZDzqo4FBMj93VREQvAQ8Weu1_A/s1600/bar+harbor+cadillac+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBBsC5BTBXRje5zkQXK0cYyidO8cq53QzVYLgsCDP0dS31lrcqZxzX1J_99VwqOHIhbx-ZaiaZ96xrcoBypTyFDbY3J1FbD-oXrgqCD5BVZ6hZDzqo4FBMj93VREQvAQ8Weu1_A/s320/bar+harbor+cadillac+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFOA7ypTMd4OzOVKnipWEMsI4khSPtSxuwdJZaIQhn_SdLT4ib_8rrX8xQmFwanIZt6do4ZO6FBfWW2A2ZEbik3Y6Xh3NRVO0pU16MJTt45uzwGiilbflyAMaWh7TJR20dFKguA/s1600/bar+harbor+town+pier+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFOA7ypTMd4OzOVKnipWEMsI4khSPtSxuwdJZaIQhn_SdLT4ib_8rrX8xQmFwanIZt6do4ZO6FBfWW2A2ZEbik3Y6Xh3NRVO0pU16MJTt45uzwGiilbflyAMaWh7TJR20dFKguA/s320/bar+harbor+town+pier+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the Bar Harbor town dock</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLTgGBjjTw7Ec3jCD7ZvhFGf3_XfgLys6F8TiXaB6wx-rz2inTL9RaX17XAzySGlwJAfZi1jHs2kDbAKd30-IUI69pPq8Jvm_B6liPRowomOxGO_2K8XIv8tGRyCfhnjsXfyYqw/s1600/bar+harbor+main+str+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLTgGBjjTw7Ec3jCD7ZvhFGf3_XfgLys6F8TiXaB6wx-rz2inTL9RaX17XAzySGlwJAfZi1jHs2kDbAKd30-IUI69pPq8Jvm_B6liPRowomOxGO_2K8XIv8tGRyCfhnjsXfyYqw/s320/bar+harbor+main+str+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Main Street in Bar Harbor</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlAWjUjOdH0EnyWdIQ6tB6hKOjEBtkpCqFL1AZwcZB81jqSNoAGKavwpCj15ozdOMkz9FN7GR5laeK2NIwhaUImddYeWjVSKEivCucs4rywjcvhNsIQmwBc_SmLyos2NJMvTe5A/s1600/bar+harbor+sunrise+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlAWjUjOdH0EnyWdIQ6tB6hKOjEBtkpCqFL1AZwcZB81jqSNoAGKavwpCj15ozdOMkz9FN7GR5laeK2NIwhaUImddYeWjVSKEivCucs4rywjcvhNsIQmwBc_SmLyos2NJMvTe5A/s320/bar+harbor+sunrise+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunrise taken from our hotel balcony</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we got home in time to see our nephew begin THIRD GRADE!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_q5PK-qkZ-fUFXjPAn-NRIdPXRE1TDC0LYzbbFkt2IWx4djcZ1UeJVzMDwHjFeflnsUm7euT5tgcRxDRIWFPuYXIJPKGsSJ8IGLVjxs_xsOLDQQfmR-JythI9eckJ_YByL4pcA/s1600/jonathan+first+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_q5PK-qkZ-fUFXjPAn-NRIdPXRE1TDC0LYzbbFkt2IWx4djcZ1UeJVzMDwHjFeflnsUm7euT5tgcRxDRIWFPuYXIJPKGsSJ8IGLVjxs_xsOLDQQfmR-JythI9eckJ_YByL4pcA/s320/jonathan+first+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I simply cannot believe he is in third grade already. The years go way too fast...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5NZfojTPtpB9rlSMhGRkJWS2-2NXmNorzAX_a1VocOahUyss8ngMC81-y0e19ciHrqCg5_yCupb-Kjx-yK8YVj-ROPS8MHWIBTp_CIE53bYWPp_PmXOKq9zGDvK2TgIQkBdMtA/s1600/Jonathan+first+day+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5NZfojTPtpB9rlSMhGRkJWS2-2NXmNorzAX_a1VocOahUyss8ngMC81-y0e19ciHrqCg5_yCupb-Kjx-yK8YVj-ROPS8MHWIBTp_CIE53bYWPp_PmXOKq9zGDvK2TgIQkBdMtA/s320/Jonathan+first+day+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">As per tradition I had to make him a cake to celebrate his first day....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2CmaYCRfVkmOUog_HLlml832AhB71Zz1bLUdiFgInefw-fsuGW11qco1IpY_rHu16JXAezbpvBs9GzMABiEJNkroC9sevGraeEaRHmIqf65a8HcuUttAoXotk6IAyFbJlyaPlA/s1600/jonathan+eat+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2CmaYCRfVkmOUog_HLlml832AhB71Zz1bLUdiFgInefw-fsuGW11qco1IpY_rHu16JXAezbpvBs9GzMABiEJNkroC9sevGraeEaRHmIqf65a8HcuUttAoXotk6IAyFbJlyaPlA/s320/jonathan+eat+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and he loved it!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And, of course, since it is now, finally, <b>SEPTEMBER</b>, my thoughts turn to all things AUTUMN!!! And as is my tradition each year, I had to make my annual fall journal!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6WjwVlMdhRQDDQT6Fh2H6J1JfhbzmzZD44OSHBXos_ANCFoAIXHru9ClGyRfXGHbp_NtJanD9Vs3SZ1sAv6DsKYszhf2Ye5dEKwsKA1IM9nm63OBlzNWZzF_ncYdCh0SRwECMQ/s1600/fall+journal+cover+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6WjwVlMdhRQDDQT6Fh2H6J1JfhbzmzZD44OSHBXos_ANCFoAIXHru9ClGyRfXGHbp_NtJanD9Vs3SZ1sAv6DsKYszhf2Ye5dEKwsKA1IM9nm63OBlzNWZzF_ncYdCh0SRwECMQ/s320/fall+journal+cover+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are just a few peeks at a few of the pages...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3Qwn0z-7tmQUOyM2APIscNIDfwX38z-XN5tHzj54yM6jDpVP04evRY0SuwItaDAe3PWig-vyH4ue1MYzIt3H6dAkoIZlFjFKAkQyKh6JM8-afjQ5vStqyxL9mOxD6Bx1BfVwSA/s1600/fall+journal+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3Qwn0z-7tmQUOyM2APIscNIDfwX38z-XN5tHzj54yM6jDpVP04evRY0SuwItaDAe3PWig-vyH4ue1MYzIt3H6dAkoIZlFjFKAkQyKh6JM8-afjQ5vStqyxL9mOxD6Bx1BfVwSA/s320/fall+journal+side.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfnlkjiEy9kOMGPP7fNbA9dOfAUSF3lrZbKgAJnNNcvcGzTaQaq9hxhJ-N-OLFLyUCYLfQMcyPNuDiEmBS8RDO6pEDSjlOHVpVsUj64fTM5W848aVhOqhdvMTV_wJnjs-pHAJlg/s1600/fall+journal+good+reads+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfnlkjiEy9kOMGPP7fNbA9dOfAUSF3lrZbKgAJnNNcvcGzTaQaq9hxhJ-N-OLFLyUCYLfQMcyPNuDiEmBS8RDO6pEDSjlOHVpVsUj64fTM5W848aVhOqhdvMTV_wJnjs-pHAJlg/s320/fall+journal+good+reads+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ7Au1INOBPJQGGP69p3vnnz9VWCIpFPWHY09obTHEewljpm_dz4EOqv3n7Z33TzmLy9L162fBHn-lPiaQyGYgWo7cPJmy21ycHXOI6dSE7Oeg8a0PaXD3k_Ar-Z-z84Jd6knTQ/s1600/fall+journal+j+first+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ7Au1INOBPJQGGP69p3vnnz9VWCIpFPWHY09obTHEewljpm_dz4EOqv3n7Z33TzmLy9L162fBHn-lPiaQyGYgWo7cPJmy21ycHXOI6dSE7Oeg8a0PaXD3k_Ar-Z-z84Jd6knTQ/s320/fall+journal+j+first+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1XfIf2xUD7QzWZeo8jCQ9d5VyOkSwFNbQTCkMDkRkEE6irnEpzbLn7G_raRuDEiG-rC544eETUZ2ps2l0edBu6gWrFPFP9WPpFKc-cpiWjL3jjhU7OTMGDtwA8cwwF7HKYAVag/s1600/fall+journal+october.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1XfIf2xUD7QzWZeo8jCQ9d5VyOkSwFNbQTCkMDkRkEE6irnEpzbLn7G_raRuDEiG-rC544eETUZ2ps2l0edBu6gWrFPFP9WPpFKc-cpiWjL3jjhU7OTMGDtwA8cwwF7HKYAVag/s320/fall+journal+october.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2iGRKpUTMbC1A4CupcmDlS6HkTYyrGVbF4aHsolq7aRgs7XBIdQSj5RgQPUSn7ifDIsPLz-0975OKiWUurl9HjwJ35AgXVuDjK4ov-gcKDVdZ2dh4PvgQX6QKUkNdq8K-vmJGA/s1600/fall+journal+halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2iGRKpUTMbC1A4CupcmDlS6HkTYyrGVbF4aHsolq7aRgs7XBIdQSj5RgQPUSn7ifDIsPLz-0975OKiWUurl9HjwJ35AgXVuDjK4ov-gcKDVdZ2dh4PvgQX6QKUkNdq8K-vmJGA/s320/fall+journal+halloween.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULHbNE3_hhlq9719Xpuy-5YeQAk4okseI2VoimXkjSVbGYH_Msx8Qef4rpc9FqsdM4usMa90wys6GRqPsV0jRe5E5aUsxrAxzpUecgHiWs7JsakRVvepYneTyzrGvr9x987Dc4Q/s1600/fall+journal+halloween+bailey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULHbNE3_hhlq9719Xpuy-5YeQAk4okseI2VoimXkjSVbGYH_Msx8Qef4rpc9FqsdM4usMa90wys6GRqPsV0jRe5E5aUsxrAxzpUecgHiWs7JsakRVvepYneTyzrGvr9x987Dc4Q/s320/fall+journal+halloween+bailey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY_OCrQSmkhrjWpj3l8qnieyGcz2_8EBYzPs89qCAcliPZx6KzkF7BIfEruUSlxyBvTkXpR5mitHviuEeYGz4H7MchefS1UPfuSnlDMKi7yIAvUZ97MYhhNM5yUP5d8OVzkSPDw/s1600/fall+journal+tday+menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY_OCrQSmkhrjWpj3l8qnieyGcz2_8EBYzPs89qCAcliPZx6KzkF7BIfEruUSlxyBvTkXpR5mitHviuEeYGz4H7MchefS1UPfuSnlDMKi7yIAvUZ97MYhhNM5yUP5d8OVzkSPDw/s320/fall+journal+tday+menu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For those of you that follow my blog you know this is something I do each year. You can view last year's completed journal <a href="http://scrapbliss.blogspot.com/2010/11/fall-journal-share.html">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So now that it is September you can expect a LOT of Autumn posts....again something you expect if you have followed my blog! I am a fanatic! I can't help it!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-43146046892134405772011-08-21T12:36:00.002-05:002011-08-21T12:42:08.482-05:00Memories over 30 years in the making.....<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">~Helen Keller</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How do you put in to words memories that span a huge part of your life? I am writing this morning, tired (after getting to bed at 3:30AM and only sleeping for a few hours), happy, and feeling overwhelmed and grateful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't blogged much about this, but my brother and I attended summer camp for a good chunk of our childhood, in to our teen years, and early 20's. The camp was run by our church and everyone that attended was all Greek kids that we have known pretty much our entire lives. The camp is no longer in existence, having been replaced in the early 90's by a much larger camp run by the Greek Archdiocese of America. I am so sad my nephew and his generation will never get to experience what we did...though, much of what was, umm, <i>accepted</i> in the 70's and 80's, like hanging campers by their underwear from a flagpole probably wouldn't fly now! :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to try to put in to words how much camp meant to all of us that attended, but at the same time I don't want to. First, because honestly if you weren't there you just wouldn't really get it. And also because it was such a personal and wonderful experience shared by a relatively small number of people....it is like it all ours and it is kind of hard to share.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, with that said...I will let these pictures that I took last night at the reunion we had do most of the talking. Most of us, though still fairly local, have not seen each other in over 20 years! In the last few years, as the popularity of Facebook grew, a group was formed. We talked and talked over this time about getting together but none of us actually took action. Finally our friend Jamie stepped up and made it happen! She picked a date and time and location and got the ball rolling. The result of her hard work? An amazing night with amazing people that will always be an important part of a special time in my life! And now that we finally did this and we saw how great it was we definitely will not let another 20 years go by before doing it again!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Get ready to see a whole bunch of Greeks!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the pics!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL7G5ndL2UoXfwYYv9MSIn_Ee0tmt-BSflbK_3drVS46n6AGCyxZf0ztlffa71twf4bWcyoBjamm5oJ0BVm1FQko9O87U6dWpr12q5EYSVgwItg1x1UvFeJg5HbiHBwAoHIDpgg/s1600/DSC04410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL7G5ndL2UoXfwYYv9MSIn_Ee0tmt-BSflbK_3drVS46n6AGCyxZf0ztlffa71twf4bWcyoBjamm5oJ0BVm1FQko9O87U6dWpr12q5EYSVgwItg1x1UvFeJg5HbiHBwAoHIDpgg/s320/DSC04410.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chris, Chris, me, Nick</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWohc9VQVjfhouUiBVZJKrmeVtUnqeJfMOrAnyi_oA5gBLWJbdwyz0eq_NLXVWLAuV1a__qtZUacAMkPjuJwRtPlBVADZbuJdfRVFTFkX4_oMUqwCKMzHwWx47lbJxlI6lOfYZQ/s1600/DSC04390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWohc9VQVjfhouUiBVZJKrmeVtUnqeJfMOrAnyi_oA5gBLWJbdwyz0eq_NLXVWLAuV1a__qtZUacAMkPjuJwRtPlBVADZbuJdfRVFTFkX4_oMUqwCKMzHwWx47lbJxlI6lOfYZQ/s320/DSC04390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Corrina and Peter</div><div style="text-align: center;">(so bummed this one came out blurry)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5kEO8OFRrl-YvBdKxUHQiYPXEjRvupRckRkVAIOX8wv8mdLArNGc4mcqhIjJCVWdurGbfCCjkICaGT2y6yw61UoWe7w2acPFXcP4xOims9eNmyDxueaDtzlAX7qBR2UaeNhkGg/s1600/DSC04391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5kEO8OFRrl-YvBdKxUHQiYPXEjRvupRckRkVAIOX8wv8mdLArNGc4mcqhIjJCVWdurGbfCCjkICaGT2y6yw61UoWe7w2acPFXcP4xOims9eNmyDxueaDtzlAX7qBR2UaeNhkGg/s320/DSC04391.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jonathan (my brother) and Evangeline</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMUvoQUIkOPKaFRfAUVqHJrKl0JP1BtZaiJ56nBRyNg7NdYOrlYnaOTvL_vUrJeo9DQW2qqrncSYWq-V4sb5mPpaX0r5H6qzZ2597WLwsBRh96LOWPI-je99RsQjcN21Dxswq2g/s1600/DSC04392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMUvoQUIkOPKaFRfAUVqHJrKl0JP1BtZaiJ56nBRyNg7NdYOrlYnaOTvL_vUrJeo9DQW2qqrncSYWq-V4sb5mPpaX0r5H6qzZ2597WLwsBRh96LOWPI-je99RsQjcN21Dxswq2g/s320/DSC04392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mark, JIm, Francine, George</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSniFu3kgMPNHfe2SDFRwbjrFPNgfbld99_e8l-7nPCdU76jQh8njXqVhFv7dxl3YF-3J8j_mXUvh7Mh5Weu_DPVZQIg9sR4m9Rvx-k2FWSHwDtzBFvOHEJJJJO916UZ3gIY7GsA/s1600/DSC04393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSniFu3kgMPNHfe2SDFRwbjrFPNgfbld99_e8l-7nPCdU76jQh8njXqVhFv7dxl3YF-3J8j_mXUvh7Mh5Weu_DPVZQIg9sR4m9Rvx-k2FWSHwDtzBFvOHEJJJJO916UZ3gIY7GsA/s320/DSC04393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pam, Mary, Nick, Jennifer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx54gZMEEikdi3zbkASCRF_tTmRhirpDI3PmV5_cfL24e4a0Aa6bQiNi0et-koklUqfiuyg3T9nclnA847Ot84MERk5vt6W9rRlzyEZ3aHnXDt1xe-a7y0yGP5Foi7Z4gFuDDJw/s1600/DSC04396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx54gZMEEikdi3zbkASCRF_tTmRhirpDI3PmV5_cfL24e4a0Aa6bQiNi0et-koklUqfiuyg3T9nclnA847Ot84MERk5vt6W9rRlzyEZ3aHnXDt1xe-a7y0yGP5Foi7Z4gFuDDJw/s320/DSC04396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jim</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love him! Always such a goof!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxHk3_cZnDZ4ctXqULduiYt_OVjkCPg4bJtUo5G19kZQ7LgMINLMM0nM1vKqnnNUPu2aWzQtgO_XTV8w1vzeMQoVFB-rV6J-PIeSsnN-iblaAHYeybdlJ5nfRKO2Y74SQ0MR4Uw/s1600/DSC04397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxHk3_cZnDZ4ctXqULduiYt_OVjkCPg4bJtUo5G19kZQ7LgMINLMM0nM1vKqnnNUPu2aWzQtgO_XTV8w1vzeMQoVFB-rV6J-PIeSsnN-iblaAHYeybdlJ5nfRKO2Y74SQ0MR4Uw/s320/DSC04397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jim and Chris</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQYqfATFMeBVLSExhdlsTnHFtQ6NlwcLu9FfjgCjeAc_iA7b2yzCqKdwyQJiSd4vrEgAgYMwVjnVnOc8BzbG37LXpazO9mkrcNGMddnXDvS70g-WstYccLhS5z1aIVbEyITR08Q/s1600/DSC04398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQYqfATFMeBVLSExhdlsTnHFtQ6NlwcLu9FfjgCjeAc_iA7b2yzCqKdwyQJiSd4vrEgAgYMwVjnVnOc8BzbG37LXpazO9mkrcNGMddnXDvS70g-WstYccLhS5z1aIVbEyITR08Q/s320/DSC04398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eleni, Teena, Jim, Tina</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBDr42n0MBv3VIkahoAF4TwQ1cX7SLyMJ05NiYzQdtoPnm52lXDFcLG4gBq9qthMRb8bUh-9e5Ueq1oLceLqIcIMciJW0sZeFv7KOPM_pNCqsufMOFKKNYuKal3cufQXRZ5LO8g/s1600/DSC04399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBDr42n0MBv3VIkahoAF4TwQ1cX7SLyMJ05NiYzQdtoPnm52lXDFcLG4gBq9qthMRb8bUh-9e5Ueq1oLceLqIcIMciJW0sZeFv7KOPM_pNCqsufMOFKKNYuKal3cufQXRZ5LO8g/s320/DSC04399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nick, Jim</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brothers goofing around! All we were missing was their</div><div style="text-align: center;">younger brother Tommy who couldn't make it :(</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-4KZXD4DKwmm9RgMcqG8FSYDQrUyHnwsp8ltsF815pPoDG5DPnjz__5KQRc2BgBJ8Fpu8fmJLFqOIPpEdalxdX-Y0SL3WWR01Zh9ukCCVc557vSPQ6qX5wfbeij8mNws1EOX9A/s1600/DSC04400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-4KZXD4DKwmm9RgMcqG8FSYDQrUyHnwsp8ltsF815pPoDG5DPnjz__5KQRc2BgBJ8Fpu8fmJLFqOIPpEdalxdX-Y0SL3WWR01Zh9ukCCVc557vSPQ6qX5wfbeij8mNws1EOX9A/s320/DSC04400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nick, Jim</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvWJ3PRlv_3GRAO9o4qMv_OuwYNIxo_bujDGQh7qYoYKxpYkqFdr-kXQelXBjDEC31huSjJw_1OA-0e1AzmaGNy664YCgd9e1Emk1AJidUmsxoQ55Usga7K8QxnvGzJP4Q2Fd7g/s1600/DSC04401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvWJ3PRlv_3GRAO9o4qMv_OuwYNIxo_bujDGQh7qYoYKxpYkqFdr-kXQelXBjDEC31huSjJw_1OA-0e1AzmaGNy664YCgd9e1Emk1AJidUmsxoQ55Usga7K8QxnvGzJP4Q2Fd7g/s320/DSC04401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Steva, Steve, Kerri, Michelle, Dean</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyXNIJOK-CpAgZAwgDDQ7LR1hvzcdgA-BmKTJGFb3FOHWyUOOZcY-CwJoRSZNfkP20wWZuOMTFgV8WjUxqDQf0HMH17TWCD0es3w1Ubk1lDlB2r0lxKyWkBbT0cIiAl2_E6glsw/s1600/DSC04402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyXNIJOK-CpAgZAwgDDQ7LR1hvzcdgA-BmKTJGFb3FOHWyUOOZcY-CwJoRSZNfkP20wWZuOMTFgV8WjUxqDQf0HMH17TWCD0es3w1Ubk1lDlB2r0lxKyWkBbT0cIiAl2_E6glsw/s320/DSC04402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nick</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLbcPvZUGMoiHhQg4Wl41-lMiPJzvl7h7LwkRjdMxteMYKHkmF0_AOh-lNiyoiOJKPOkF4AN5YC2_OBXe2BLf0bj22VOVAAzFMAvhv_xmvDCstU-iKM6rnm4UX8ILKS7_IxQ6qQ/s1600/DSC04403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLbcPvZUGMoiHhQg4Wl41-lMiPJzvl7h7LwkRjdMxteMYKHkmF0_AOh-lNiyoiOJKPOkF4AN5YC2_OBXe2BLf0bj22VOVAAzFMAvhv_xmvDCstU-iKM6rnm4UX8ILKS7_IxQ6qQ/s320/DSC04403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">George</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk4aDGQSTbgeG9CuuTzBY5Gdxbe2lFVoEL2A_CTImtLDVWzSPJWZ-SOCENz6skNETEvWGMyFCsYyuvbV724KyIqpa7ZjAc4yZS9iww5QEUa7axbaVBqx6Dl3kBS0AK3812Oef6A/s1600/DSC04404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk4aDGQSTbgeG9CuuTzBY5Gdxbe2lFVoEL2A_CTImtLDVWzSPJWZ-SOCENz6skNETEvWGMyFCsYyuvbV724KyIqpa7ZjAc4yZS9iww5QEUa7axbaVBqx6Dl3kBS0AK3812Oef6A/s320/DSC04404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDds23cjqIOqYey83Diy-oXuENC4r4-HfqmOGbiY_KEiOI5pyMMiFn35NSuRb3iGXae2M3uXHe7jbu3gcukst5gP5xUKcTWnh41VgGdmFPvtEwvH_Tbgxg8zntMy66st4gsF7CQ/s1600/DSC04405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDds23cjqIOqYey83Diy-oXuENC4r4-HfqmOGbiY_KEiOI5pyMMiFn35NSuRb3iGXae2M3uXHe7jbu3gcukst5gP5xUKcTWnh41VgGdmFPvtEwvH_Tbgxg8zntMy66st4gsF7CQ/s320/DSC04405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nick and Peter</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is so great...every year at camp someone won Camper of the Year. Peter knows someone who makes trophies so he had this one made up for "Camper of the Year 30 Years Later"or something like that...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF50zfbh3fHA5R7FR6BP6WVw-fKdQu6G-c5v1m_cw89sRViKpPdCyNGVQwpd6G6aM3L8tdOaI5zi3_kjcg5FA2TIn5IgpH0TCryQf_ue_KwI-p8zA1c9MPC1VvUfAZRswC_N-Dg/s1600/DSC04406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF50zfbh3fHA5R7FR6BP6WVw-fKdQu6G-c5v1m_cw89sRViKpPdCyNGVQwpd6G6aM3L8tdOaI5zi3_kjcg5FA2TIn5IgpH0TCryQf_ue_KwI-p8zA1c9MPC1VvUfAZRswC_N-Dg/s320/DSC04406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpl3OXWrm5WEyWX18Imf3zD8YtVJGjy7L7qrYfB4q2E7HOV0TcNCZbtt0FiR9qJaDPFkciuG7vIAu2zMVzqXKD_dx0BjDQvhDN7lSKQIFm_RleD0aVnxrFaI1XA_EeRE60gUjkVA/s1600/DSC04407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpl3OXWrm5WEyWX18Imf3zD8YtVJGjy7L7qrYfB4q2E7HOV0TcNCZbtt0FiR9qJaDPFkciuG7vIAu2zMVzqXKD_dx0BjDQvhDN7lSKQIFm_RleD0aVnxrFaI1XA_EeRE60gUjkVA/s320/DSC04407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2TLCo57WjgWMAO4NXxkT5g7WWzsuUl7cZc2I78Ebo_5_bSGrhopBG_tNHFSSMfstJSTk7E4VjZLqRVkGoaXy1QJNYVnfAFkVZUqhbCyDJMUMMhcTZbV3fSPQzwZqzt1RKvTjwA/s1600/DSC04408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2TLCo57WjgWMAO4NXxkT5g7WWzsuUl7cZc2I78Ebo_5_bSGrhopBG_tNHFSSMfstJSTk7E4VjZLqRVkGoaXy1QJNYVnfAFkVZUqhbCyDJMUMMhcTZbV3fSPQzwZqzt1RKvTjwA/s320/DSC04408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and presented it to Jamie for getting us all together!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">So very cool!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmqq9M1kOCNuzhdOK3XXUFnrUXoEzJ7bXNmyxifghRKhZOw5jszdGvrvbHlM2VPOSdEI3ybVtcMvl9rF7YzpmAQivwqzpoWobWJCR1rEJpzHfMFfufDNoUIGvzDCTbqNZmAQyNQ/s1600/DSC04395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmqq9M1kOCNuzhdOK3XXUFnrUXoEzJ7bXNmyxifghRKhZOw5jszdGvrvbHlM2VPOSdEI3ybVtcMvl9rF7YzpmAQivwqzpoWobWJCR1rEJpzHfMFfufDNoUIGvzDCTbqNZmAQyNQ/s320/DSC04395.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ernie was our camp director for several years (after many years at camp!) and lives out of state now and unfortunately couldn't make it up for the reunion. So he sent up dozens of gorgeous long stem red roses for all the girls! So sweet!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRPQRIfjLTl22j4xhrL1_K_5dTDhQ-6RmFGjSS5TahgMQNpAJXLl-IGP2Rp9LOew8atKJ5pyXOYzK2TtW36Wn2WaiVS5h75mJ4dkJQDelaNYRm2RQ9JmtobW4E4E0AqZiWDtH4w/s1600/DSC04412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRPQRIfjLTl22j4xhrL1_K_5dTDhQ-6RmFGjSS5TahgMQNpAJXLl-IGP2Rp9LOew8atKJ5pyXOYzK2TtW36Wn2WaiVS5h75mJ4dkJQDelaNYRm2RQ9JmtobW4E4E0AqZiWDtH4w/s320/DSC04412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfu84NwIMhrq1wGl7kxW8SzGZCpwXoMD50QAcgnsT_0SBr-8QW_0xoZQiawfZ29D3sNwpmcbOXVIWzG_-rJlikNlFGccOZ18oKnkJHxBsnyv09DFam8mzN8gbGOQx4QRPGf50pw/s1600/DSC04411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfu84NwIMhrq1wGl7kxW8SzGZCpwXoMD50QAcgnsT_0SBr-8QW_0xoZQiawfZ29D3sNwpmcbOXVIWzG_-rJlikNlFGccOZ18oKnkJHxBsnyv09DFam8mzN8gbGOQx4QRPGf50pw/s320/DSC04411.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And Peter put together a DVD of camp pictures through the years and set it all to music...and he made a copy for every one us!!! So very thoughtful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a FABULOUS night! So many laughs, stories, hugs, and memories!!! The few words I have said here hardly do it justice, because really, how do you adequately describe such precious memories?</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-11066218917340170892011-08-14T15:50:00.002-05:002011-08-14T16:05:26.713-05:00I know, I know, but I gotta share......<div style="text-align: center;">We picked all of this just this morning!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8-NpIKK_wVm0pn5d7rQ0bQb8Y4-Bm5m0fjcU7XEof937SxmqvcuJsmp7XA0A31vmlWpVgxBQsbuQeAn944WSl6V_R3cWSsZktBNswAcqibQ0P_IdAht_qp9NOp7l62Ilhdak/s1600/DSC04381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8-NpIKK_wVm0pn5d7rQ0bQb8Y4-Bm5m0fjcU7XEof937SxmqvcuJsmp7XA0A31vmlWpVgxBQsbuQeAn944WSl6V_R3cWSsZktBNswAcqibQ0P_IdAht_qp9NOp7l62Ilhdak/s320/DSC04381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">All of this wonderful fruity, veggie goodness...<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">~Anonymous</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa_GhCtTdbp-CSmNNcL9F3X7r_KUWJoAUCbv2y0U6PAYaTAOZ4u3GM1fKqg_rB3F6FqhaIV30yzFQJXDhxbD8VaMXSr1LR9XWrG9tXjhpm_SdmAGAOYMKBq6p4BsVpuTkoZdG/s1600/DSC04382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa_GhCtTdbp-CSmNNcL9F3X7r_KUWJoAUCbv2y0U6PAYaTAOZ4u3GM1fKqg_rB3F6FqhaIV30yzFQJXDhxbD8VaMXSr1LR9XWrG9tXjhpm_SdmAGAOYMKBq6p4BsVpuTkoZdG/s320/DSC04382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...in all of its rich, colorful, healthy glory!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was worth picking it all in a steady drizzle!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We (and our family) will enjoy this deliciousness in many forms this week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s-c-ltqWcHioZMIN4JupBK-km99Qj5QlX9IcGrrlJ5Lo7GZdrX2qpPsLWOg2cCLYQcRdbRpXQjzG5c1ZTEA-rRAq4jdlsiA7x2iRWzaAtiZQK5FFb_9MXtVWy2Vv4UtZXJ_F/s1600/DSC04383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s-c-ltqWcHioZMIN4JupBK-km99Qj5QlX9IcGrrlJ5Lo7GZdrX2qpPsLWOg2cCLYQcRdbRpXQjzG5c1ZTEA-rRAq4jdlsiA7x2iRWzaAtiZQK5FFb_9MXtVWy2Vv4UtZXJ_F/s320/DSC04383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spicy jalapenos and sweet banana peppers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tuu3tYmPHZ-KJYg-cyaAdXHzWoytsUYfQS0pr9fpcLUu0UXezK-iORyqN1YOgDlZgXM8iqrGzRz1XBI6nlmEPTzOj_R5v4hjSDBlTa5saNB13rDQn5aPc3_Sy5SFkND5GUWb/s1600/DSC04385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tuu3tYmPHZ-KJYg-cyaAdXHzWoytsUYfQS0pr9fpcLUu0UXezK-iORyqN1YOgDlZgXM8iqrGzRz1XBI6nlmEPTzOj_R5v4hjSDBlTa5saNB13rDQn5aPc3_Sy5SFkND5GUWb/s320/DSC04385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Savory-sweet bell peppers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghTLLfY8dPM8oo2MRMXBI-7G5jiFocFre2g9_XGskyo_LPEPQp6jvdu1HhF9qakqyw129dlIzir4oemd_0iRdduWubb2qFyE4lr5WZghbvpRexfPgvgviXKTDFFlfyA2ABVO1/s1600/DSC04386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghTLLfY8dPM8oo2MRMXBI-7G5jiFocFre2g9_XGskyo_LPEPQp6jvdu1HhF9qakqyw129dlIzir4oemd_0iRdduWubb2qFyE4lr5WZghbvpRexfPgvgviXKTDFFlfyA2ABVO1/s320/DSC04386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cherry tomatoes (and a few Romas and Big Boys)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm8ce1B7sxbYuX8ffSvyOrcs7AKSMDmOfljdJfCH0TxMU8BDSjPVlyLfMF7hPpsVRwjoIIsSF8lhqGdoQRIy1nNS7GH2ZuOGv0NldYJsRoGjX8OWsHOaAsxegbyxTG3sCz-4F/s1600/DSC04389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm8ce1B7sxbYuX8ffSvyOrcs7AKSMDmOfljdJfCH0TxMU8BDSjPVlyLfMF7hPpsVRwjoIIsSF8lhqGdoQRIy1nNS7GH2ZuOGv0NldYJsRoGjX8OWsHOaAsxegbyxTG3sCz-4F/s320/DSC04389.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">All this incredible color and flavor!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU0AURVvPV3JwqTaRQcRq_RFUDjtxGkASY4t2FxKDNC9aNTcyG6p_KubMn9vevgoN_NgwXHBTmn7PLiZAih_JwO6k1-kS5iF5o9jlEexU_SsMoyJ_tHLwTRh3poRuUDsBKFR6/s1600/DSC04384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU0AURVvPV3JwqTaRQcRq_RFUDjtxGkASY4t2FxKDNC9aNTcyG6p_KubMn9vevgoN_NgwXHBTmn7PLiZAih_JwO6k1-kS5iF5o9jlEexU_SsMoyJ_tHLwTRh3poRuUDsBKFR6/s320/DSC04384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">All right outside our back door!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUaOV81Kf0NYdA7CxtSqckNx9BNXFi02EswAJi0UDXNGIBiQsoi2GRCur2Q-5_Pm7IQRuWo-6LpL6diCZ9xKLI6WYACFsXEXnFHM3lJOBrgzUbstSCG4o1ARAtfQoSa9JbHRI/s1600/DSC04387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUaOV81Kf0NYdA7CxtSqckNx9BNXFi02EswAJi0UDXNGIBiQsoi2GRCur2Q-5_Pm7IQRuWo-6LpL6diCZ9xKLI6WYACFsXEXnFHM3lJOBrgzUbstSCG4o1ARAtfQoSa9JbHRI/s320/DSC04387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">YUM!!!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">By the way....I can<b>NOT</b> get enough of these banana peppers!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am putting them in/on <i>everything</i>!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~*~*~*~*~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The tomatoes we picked today are just the start. Our 8 little plants grew in to 8 giant monsters just dripping with tomatoes! There are vines and fruit EVERYWHERE!!! And they are all starting to ripen. So, what's a city girl gardener to do?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Yflj0RpJRCDhmgsJ4S8mg1qhZvk6ti1NtBGjhV2PTNS9sHmfyhgE1IZZv9AeDzM4SyLugzLZY0Pk4cQSkEDvcZudGnzwgxBwzb-PYlfQaU1t-LfoX1D_IYlBza4OCJhDRVe6/s1600/51tdOFs99iL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Yflj0RpJRCDhmgsJ4S8mg1qhZvk6ti1NtBGjhV2PTNS9sHmfyhgE1IZZv9AeDzM4SyLugzLZY0Pk4cQSkEDvcZudGnzwgxBwzb-PYlfQaU1t-LfoX1D_IYlBza4OCJhDRVe6/s320/51tdOFs99iL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Waterbath-Including-Chrome-Plated-4-Piece/dp/B00212IHBY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313350858&sr=8-1">Ball Enamel Waterbath Canning Set</a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teach herself to can!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep! I'm a-gonna put up those 'maters just like my country diva sistas!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have really enjoyed being able to give away bounty from our garden to our family and friends, but I don't want to give it <i>all</i> away! We worked hard! And I want us to enjoy that healthy bounty in to the colder months. The fall and winter is when I actually enjoy cooking! I love getting up early on a Saturday or Sunday morning and making a big pot of homemade sauce or soup. I buy cans of crushed, diced, or stewed tomatoes <i>constantly</i>. Why not enjoy my own, fresh, grown by us tomatoes?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, and dadgummit that means I gotta can! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, I am so enthusiastic about learning this new skill that I braved <a href="http://www.walmart.com/">HellMart</a> on <a href="http://boston.about.com/od/shoppingservices/a/Tax-Free-Weekend-In-Massachusetts.htm">tax-free weekend</a> here in MA to stock up on <a href="http://www.freshpreserving.com/products/jars.aspx">mason jars</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My plan is to mostly can crushed/diced tomatoes to use in sauces and soups, but I also make a pretty kick-ass salsa, and with our abundance of jalapenos I will can a bunch of salsa, too! Football season is almost here and we enjoy having our friends over for Patriots games. Chips & salsa and ice cold beer is the go-to game day snack! And the one other thing I plan on trying is making some pickles.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, juuuuust in case I really get in to this canning thing, this book</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcko_OEAxfLuJy0iA4qNEvZh6NsPW-B2EbQ4Z5Ru86huOHMy10aP1508nhNilVtZnS-iZeUCzJr2z4JZkuWnbXyrcRZXRs2aFvj-A7zEMjMVBz6ChxFQcxJxje_40n-b2Vl3g/s1600/51nF3izhyuL._SS400_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcko_OEAxfLuJy0iA4qNEvZh6NsPW-B2EbQ4Z5Ru86huOHMy10aP1508nhNilVtZnS-iZeUCzJr2z4JZkuWnbXyrcRZXRs2aFvj-A7zEMjMVBz6ChxFQcxJxje_40n-b2Vl3g/s320/51nF3izhyuL._SS400_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Complete-Book-Home-Preserving/dp/0778801314/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313351536&sr=1-1">The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">is also on its way to me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~*~*~*~*~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My lack of blogging...and then when I do blog it is all gardens gardens gardens...would make it seem like there really is not much going on in my world. Hmmm. I guess that is kind of accurate. Gardening really has been the highlight of my summer so far, with the exception of a few fun things here and there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">BUT, good stuff is on the horizon, including:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~ a long-awaited trip to <a href="http://www.barharborinfo.com/">Bar Harbor</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(which means many many many photos of my beloved New England!)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~ AUTUMN is almost here!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(which means TONS of stuff to blog about!!!)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~ speaking of Autumn, I have started work on this year's <a href="http://scrapbliss.blogspot.com/2010/11/fall-journal-share.html">Fall Journal</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(pics and a post to come SOON!)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~ My brother and I are going to our camp reunion!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(yeah, I have a "date" coming up with my brother! LOL)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~ Oh, did I mention AUTUMN is almost here?!?!?!?!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-35665593480866006922011-08-01T19:34:00.000-05:002011-08-01T19:34:11.160-05:00Happy 30th Birthday MTV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s8yrUV3IFYoYDKtp5ogj-yUvc7qlE0vh_gZHTlBlqzlSbNu5aNSFcoOsfpkf-s4lR3yYRLU-Y70C2IxhOCOm4TXtLeCHJ3bwtFJ-FEHxJZiCrePhNzwEi5i493mmLsWTEuFs/s1600/mtv-logo-o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s8yrUV3IFYoYDKtp5ogj-yUvc7qlE0vh_gZHTlBlqzlSbNu5aNSFcoOsfpkf-s4lR3yYRLU-Y70C2IxhOCOm4TXtLeCHJ3bwtFJ-FEHxJZiCrePhNzwEi5i493mmLsWTEuFs/s320/mtv-logo-o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep...30 years ago today, at 12:01AM August 1, 1981, MTV was born!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">MTV was HUGE to me in the 80's for many reasons, and I totally have a post about this brewing in my mind, but in order to do it proper justice and cover all I want to cover...I can't do it now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I gotta get to bed!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">MTV is 30....which makes me 40, people!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A girl needs her beauty sleep!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-38691781919057118052011-07-22T20:19:00.000-05:002011-07-22T20:19:23.079-05:00Harvesting...<div style="text-align: center;">Can you stand another garden post?! I can't help myself!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KUeiIyIjI51vi7R0PYeJvX3CB5yu0X8jFrfAyDywnqzwOFNvdMqsy-AD5TXj1K7Rr-JQoLEAQjUuKwuPbKOLzGVpV_NvAD-znUqkzKCFtKqwbvtE47EnYMXRYyK4PA3hgXcz/s1600/DSC04304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KUeiIyIjI51vi7R0PYeJvX3CB5yu0X8jFrfAyDywnqzwOFNvdMqsy-AD5TXj1K7Rr-JQoLEAQjUuKwuPbKOLzGVpV_NvAD-znUqkzKCFtKqwbvtE47EnYMXRYyK4PA3hgXcz/s320/DSC04304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We picked all this tonight!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJbMOvMgsSD65gUHQJJdxKhwcBft5b5r6pWzykjGw4YgE2tF5RkVWN0VUds3c1pMKbrga8PytFmUrf4hWMtVSn0Fm0mg3dzOwB5dcSzeZ48Z_Z9uuxe9hpaBf2EoaW55bPRqi/s1600/DSC04310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJbMOvMgsSD65gUHQJJdxKhwcBft5b5r6pWzykjGw4YgE2tF5RkVWN0VUds3c1pMKbrga8PytFmUrf4hWMtVSn0Fm0mg3dzOwB5dcSzeZ48Z_Z9uuxe9hpaBf2EoaW55bPRqi/s320/DSC04310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLFt_SSbt7ZpD0XpaARb2iDc32Uo8Lxj2ykldZxOFe0A2_n_qRMVVYt7-6zS4VWdEfZB74RTP37dsomkSMd0DKfx7Ja0zorORNFhdbOJoe7ihTn90Wls-_vwEZd6L2P-XkgRZ/s1600/DSC04311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLFt_SSbt7ZpD0XpaARb2iDc32Uo8Lxj2ykldZxOFe0A2_n_qRMVVYt7-6zS4VWdEfZB74RTP37dsomkSMd0DKfx7Ja0zorORNFhdbOJoe7ihTn90Wls-_vwEZd6L2P-XkgRZ/s320/DSC04311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">29</span> cucumbers!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkpOSTTQN4iw2_IdYpOqN29ukRUJBTSDP7IvE6j_iFvFJmCc4K5BxCXeZ9ATNwmpxPZOej8zy-TsTvVfDDlL9Np9Gj11fZEsORJ_lwa_Q21nRbk4qd9sCIiwbTyIS5K1aXovA/s1600/DSC04306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkpOSTTQN4iw2_IdYpOqN29ukRUJBTSDP7IvE6j_iFvFJmCc4K5BxCXeZ9ATNwmpxPZOej8zy-TsTvVfDDlL9Np9Gj11fZEsORJ_lwa_Q21nRbk4qd9sCIiwbTyIS5K1aXovA/s320/DSC04306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our first two spaghetti squash!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGZG0L1hdusXARyNZxvjKN-gKxFGXaD_YNGX4iB1EGO6PzT09hpWY96cXTFQ8cFeJR1TpK6I2dSj2welPRXBGd8UML3FKMValoOGB2INmokk7tC1LFSCZYTIqd0432ULXH2B9/s1600/DSC04307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGZG0L1hdusXARyNZxvjKN-gKxFGXaD_YNGX4iB1EGO6PzT09hpWY96cXTFQ8cFeJR1TpK6I2dSj2welPRXBGd8UML3FKMValoOGB2INmokk7tC1LFSCZYTIqd0432ULXH2B9/s320/DSC04307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bunches of green beans and jalapenos!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg9et5p43foBDBFhiERMU2lQTaMdcpRkbGDoZGaJcF_NsCI1uJ_-YyQqqaKsNxDsRLGIsWKHTLRnwnbR_HTsBXF9FlruJusy1KFWzrsOmvjG-l8uKHldPbeS3f6Z7rIu1MZ-5/s1600/DSC04309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg9et5p43foBDBFhiERMU2lQTaMdcpRkbGDoZGaJcF_NsCI1uJ_-YyQqqaKsNxDsRLGIsWKHTLRnwnbR_HTsBXF9FlruJusy1KFWzrsOmvjG-l8uKHldPbeS3f6Z7rIu1MZ-5/s320/DSC04309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Zucchini, of course. There is always zucchini!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BGJbpKEUHUXvaMEgFzflU-DXukznmMx-DHakKBVHs8u7k8gzBv85yghqjiG7k_rSEyxQ9zrTM_s12gUZOv08DlL2hIe-VGJF4BuZK6pGiT3N8ZRDYnRJC9Ph9e2ykDPRpWYs/s1600/DSC04308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BGJbpKEUHUXvaMEgFzflU-DXukznmMx-DHakKBVHs8u7k8gzBv85yghqjiG7k_rSEyxQ9zrTM_s12gUZOv08DlL2hIe-VGJF4BuZK6pGiT3N8ZRDYnRJC9Ph9e2ykDPRpWYs/s320/DSC04308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bell pepper and banana peppers!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have to say one of the pleasures in gardening this year, besides getting to pick all this fresh organic goodness all summer, is being able to <i>share</i> it all! The last couple years our garden was very small and produced just enough for us and maybe a little for our family. This year, besides giving tons to our family, we are giving stuff away to neighbors and friends and co-workers. It is so much fun!!!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-3430320939737500872011-07-22T08:00:00.001-05:002011-07-22T08:00:18.740-05:00Civic/friend duty...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnwqrzfL3Sh_sn2dHs3RGAtuRL4Cmgyuu8QhRwV5YTkHcKuRBY515R-EexiizMHPYF1FyAM88U-Ms_pbuHCCORtl5h2pm57qtMJOvDzHImk1b0h_dhiuRASCacTxs1tIXNbGZ/s1600/DSC04294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnwqrzfL3Sh_sn2dHs3RGAtuRL4Cmgyuu8QhRwV5YTkHcKuRBY515R-EexiizMHPYF1FyAM88U-Ms_pbuHCCORtl5h2pm57qtMJOvDzHImk1b0h_dhiuRASCacTxs1tIXNbGZ/s320/DSC04294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our friend Teddy is running for mayor!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(yes, I will call our future mayor Teddy!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My brother and Teddy have been friends since kindergarten. So I have known our future mayor since he and my brother and all their other bratty friends were running around doing bratty things!!! ;-) Kinda blows my mind that one of them will soon be the new leader of our city (yes I am that confident...).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies50JFqv7N5WyRZ3jdielINcZKPjUXZCv1j44vE5fHS_X5o7SgEyK4bjjguETLRg8EwCgBFwT9IcROwMf5Htgl6sr8IZf7Tkve0Jt72L01AVuTkGjd5b6HaHuLi8_zZY9Mpqn/s1600/DSC04293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies50JFqv7N5WyRZ3jdielINcZKPjUXZCv1j44vE5fHS_X5o7SgEyK4bjjguETLRg8EwCgBFwT9IcROwMf5Htgl6sr8IZf7Tkve0Jt72L01AVuTkGjd5b6HaHuLi8_zZY9Mpqn/s320/DSC04293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I am doing my civic/friend duty and helping out with his campaign however I can...like addeessing hundreds upon hundreds of mailers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yfLgu4wGqf_TMhXJjUpzBiIc4Fxe9fWf3QXBku3O3tbH9U2vX-8u8X2-oN4nUIT0VLn8dRzlVAS7qJNvGRrXYQGWYzX7w6hy6kc_ktU3kXS-KTvsml4Yo0TQkLpR8n-k_mUz/s1600/DSC04295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yfLgu4wGqf_TMhXJjUpzBiIc4Fxe9fWf3QXBku3O3tbH9U2vX-8u8X2-oN4nUIT0VLn8dRzlVAS7qJNvGRrXYQGWYzX7w6hy6kc_ktU3kXS-KTvsml4Yo0TQkLpR8n-k_mUz/s320/DSC04295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hey...it keeps me out of the heat holding campaign signs! </div><div style="text-align: center;">(just kidding! I would do that, too...closer to November! LOL)</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-80359442375997995702011-07-21T19:32:00.000-05:002011-07-21T19:32:28.399-05:00Got cukes?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQxOUUncfdwOXFDA9JTiSCgalbk0sSRYp25Dq2T6nj4RKuACOCeDofo5mehtZcB9CbAnx_AygbZSn__WP1qKn3AhbrCjF_Rdy_ACIhs3FNAYNap8kO-FN4xNBgLa3K4NYV4RZ/s1600/IMAG0497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQxOUUncfdwOXFDA9JTiSCgalbk0sSRYp25Dq2T6nj4RKuACOCeDofo5mehtZcB9CbAnx_AygbZSn__WP1qKn3AhbrCjF_Rdy_ACIhs3FNAYNap8kO-FN4xNBgLa3K4NYV4RZ/s320/IMAG0497.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>19</b></span> cukes!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>picked Sunday 7/17/11</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">And currently there are more out there ready and almost ready to be picked...more than I can count! </div><div style="text-align: center;">We also have about <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">20</span></b> spaghetti squash in varying stages of almost-readiness!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Garden 2011.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">WINNING!!!</span></b></i></div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-70326859404080972052011-07-16T14:52:00.001-05:002011-07-16T14:53:43.525-05:00Cukes & zukes & Tahoes, oh my!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYhh9jlAkuTC8yJzvs1S6slGCeGXOUwFMIJKzs3QeP7KqUk9h6WDn8a-fzh_uoOPLGHhnLKcbE4w8wM5-ITNAozanmKxujQHodp0tZr6jiTBSJVO91jEUZj31nKnJyT_kj81N/s1600/DSC04302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYhh9jlAkuTC8yJzvs1S6slGCeGXOUwFMIJKzs3QeP7KqUk9h6WDn8a-fzh_uoOPLGHhnLKcbE4w8wM5-ITNAozanmKxujQHodp0tZr6jiTBSJVO91jEUZj31nKnJyT_kj81N/s320/DSC04302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">veggies picked 7.15.11</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seemingly overnight our garden is producing massive amounts of produce! Especially cucumbers and zucchini! Yesterday afternoon I went out and picked 20 cukes alone and couldn't even count all that was still growing and yet to start forming! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagJkw8KQOhN2bXaJZUPc9a2eeU0eiZjxXLhNhs046FxIvQKYsHo0l1L170XDKIjnaueLKa9HHovbX8bsHc8feELsbT4hP0VUm8utn4rjXtLQ2hw4qwOP2FX6lZ6DKZQT3_aUF/s1600/DSC04299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagJkw8KQOhN2bXaJZUPc9a2eeU0eiZjxXLhNhs046FxIvQKYsHo0l1L170XDKIjnaueLKa9HHovbX8bsHc8feELsbT4hP0VUm8utn4rjXtLQ2hw4qwOP2FX6lZ6DKZQT3_aUF/s320/DSC04299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The zucchini is going crazy, too, and they are playing games with us. We will go out there and find some normal sized ones ready to pick and scope out the others that are still growing. We move vines and leaves and think we are checking every inch....then a few hours later one of us will go out there again and seemingly out of nowhere one of those behemoths seem to appear. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujFXS787R5JbrNz5gc5aYfeYcEKB2bqCG71QYFuZ8Vi_LqjADwMk7e_w_PFnGK-XxxcrrHB-c2Z6KunPrIZLz3dn8FF9-MHFkdcX7kXum9xBVkvcuYtYnDd9rk72tcl8LV-1d/s1600/DSC04298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujFXS787R5JbrNz5gc5aYfeYcEKB2bqCG71QYFuZ8Vi_LqjADwMk7e_w_PFnGK-XxxcrrHB-c2Z6KunPrIZLz3dn8FF9-MHFkdcX7kXum9xBVkvcuYtYnDd9rk72tcl8LV-1d/s320/DSC04298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I generally prefer we pick them when they are the size of the two on the right in the picture, but it seems that no matter how diligent we think we are, no matter how observant we think we are a few manage to hide and grow in to something you could club a person with! Just this morning Kevin found another ginormous one (not pictured).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU0jJawyTnH_NQIg_o1974kdPT7Hr72r12X2HjbL0FGsY4TVcSXE9rV-zH39kAmdifGQLb4XwIwby_NVpN6Z8EhamCHb7dnJOB7wuhqb4l3eVcKP2A-aa5JIhRuX_UUQYXMBW/s1600/DSC04301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU0jJawyTnH_NQIg_o1974kdPT7Hr72r12X2HjbL0FGsY4TVcSXE9rV-zH39kAmdifGQLb4XwIwby_NVpN6Z8EhamCHb7dnJOB7wuhqb4l3eVcKP2A-aa5JIhRuX_UUQYXMBW/s320/DSC04301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In addition to the cukes and zukes, we also picked loads of string beans (there are only a couple in this photo, for, ya know, <i>artistic</i> reasons...) and we picked a few sweet banana peppers!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8F6Q8ztDUgRyu3XFIJldIn9Qe_qdVylk0ZjgwcncsD3JKAGANiPMVs0qy9vcZlpmdtzYE44AS1oHnlyfqWfEGfaeHE6j9kd6RAnwJ9NHO6hXSA5Rz4krcWfKRCrWdrFmUnDvx/s1600/DSC04303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8F6Q8ztDUgRyu3XFIJldIn9Qe_qdVylk0ZjgwcncsD3JKAGANiPMVs0qy9vcZlpmdtzYE44AS1oHnlyfqWfEGfaeHE6j9kd6RAnwJ9NHO6hXSA5Rz4krcWfKRCrWdrFmUnDvx/s320/DSC04303.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Best. Cucumber. Evaaaa.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As soon as I brought the veggies in yesterday I had to enjoy a fresh cucumber. O.M.G. it seriously does make a HUGE difference when you grow them yourself (or purchase direct from a farm, CSA, or farmers market) verses purchasing them at a supermarket.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So speaking of SUVs....what? You mean we weren't speaking of those? Oh, ok....well, let's!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wanna see my new baby???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoYgc-S0MiD1EpTMrjUBEuHU1k4LiVZO_OjW50iTDnifbmgW6n1xhrxj7VvNq93QBSj094htGACg0EWmAkorP5VFsWB9CXijpw27yBwxk6iTgQfeZPbVIetRWp_gfbNxf8sZg/s1600/IMAG0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoYgc-S0MiD1EpTMrjUBEuHU1k4LiVZO_OjW50iTDnifbmgW6n1xhrxj7VvNq93QBSj094htGACg0EWmAkorP5VFsWB9CXijpw27yBwxk6iTgQfeZPbVIetRWp_gfbNxf8sZg/s320/IMAG0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My new-to-me Chevy Tahoe!!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(yes that is me in the background that I blurred out because I looked like hell in the heat!!!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We just got her (yes, its a "she") today! And I get to bring her home next Saturday! The dealership we got her from is over an hour from our house so it is much easier to go back on a Saturday than a weeknight after work.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bJXTmJfwR19X7o3AJUu_pdwIfSRu8go9dZWLuxfRTCGM-7Zm3GoSBhCsKOoM3iL9cGIDqyMO0n6MgG0A2VX99MQosQciOvHaeVIvkgOGcM0494Sq7OwjLG3XC-yIHfIVRbyn/s1600/IMAG0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bJXTmJfwR19X7o3AJUu_pdwIfSRu8go9dZWLuxfRTCGM-7Zm3GoSBhCsKOoM3iL9cGIDqyMO0n6MgG0A2VX99MQosQciOvHaeVIvkgOGcM0494Sq7OwjLG3XC-yIHfIVRbyn/s320/IMAG0020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">love</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE</span> her!!! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Loved sitting in her, loved driving her, just love!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I feel so blessed and grateful to have her!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, that's my weekend...cukes and zukes and Tahoes!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-71208371834251211682011-07-11T17:56:00.000-05:002011-07-11T17:56:36.369-05:00Welcome to the jungle, we got your fun and games!<div style="text-align: center;">HA! Who's got Guns-n-Roses stuck in their head now?!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy to oblige...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">:-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If you've never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">~ Robert Brault</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0xTncGMk7zTClFiAVkWO1iu4NyEmpC-E9icei_zmWPhDzhMA2XH7RYb-__c_oCeQFA4Se__DjttXBRakbwfOEi1xjOEOw5rwYiEnB1hhyOC3UPQ4CBLJhyphenhyphen4g6B3F8C1tU6T5/s1600/DSC04226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0xTncGMk7zTClFiAVkWO1iu4NyEmpC-E9icei_zmWPhDzhMA2XH7RYb-__c_oCeQFA4Se__DjttXBRakbwfOEi1xjOEOw5rwYiEnB1hhyOC3UPQ4CBLJhyphenhyphen4g6B3F8C1tU6T5/s320/DSC04226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuyE-v8JOaEkJ0XKyu1Px8eNR7DsAALXQErFeuF7ABTaqh1RyEe6S1AcBbVpznFwCwlW5MH5SZQN7VwDt1tTFWnsW6kvefyffpFWrhW1-T_oNDcKKS5cdA86et3jiXNb5Kn1l/s1600/DSC04259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuyE-v8JOaEkJ0XKyu1Px8eNR7DsAALXQErFeuF7ABTaqh1RyEe6S1AcBbVpznFwCwlW5MH5SZQN7VwDt1tTFWnsW6kvefyffpFWrhW1-T_oNDcKKS5cdA86et3jiXNb5Kn1l/s320/DSC04259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpeiuJUTM469IIi6ZrtJ5JO2oFLnaqKAyIvJaQ6aAj6yGgA6_-cIKE6NFjzLPB_Wb8z-ZaJUb53qhWBNpJuXrTaWYONwiJUL0gn4BQQxx9SHVcr71hc6ztiMTL3qtadDTKUD3/s1600/DSC04276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpeiuJUTM469IIi6ZrtJ5JO2oFLnaqKAyIvJaQ6aAj6yGgA6_-cIKE6NFjzLPB_Wb8z-ZaJUb53qhWBNpJuXrTaWYONwiJUL0gn4BQQxx9SHVcr71hc6ztiMTL3qtadDTKUD3/s320/DSC04276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuyE-v8JOaEkJ0XKyu1Px8eNR7DsAALXQErFeuF7ABTaqh1RyEe6S1AcBbVpznFwCwlW5MH5SZQN7VwDt1tTFWnsW6kvefyffpFWrhW1-T_oNDcKKS5cdA86et3jiXNb5Kn1l/s1600/DSC04259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuyE-v8JOaEkJ0XKyu1Px8eNR7DsAALXQErFeuF7ABTaqh1RyEe6S1AcBbVpznFwCwlW5MH5SZQN7VwDt1tTFWnsW6kvefyffpFWrhW1-T_oNDcKKS5cdA86et3jiXNb5Kn1l/s320/DSC04259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and this, too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All of it. The entire garden this year. In such a short time it has already gone so far beyond what I imagined it could be!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvMwbQGBTaQygbhPH_C5nbv0DnUi9QI8TmyTyqSW8REdOcGA0RpzG9jK5uk6fovKzmn3uqAkzPhnFN3juS20RjQn509m2sNgCnojFBseS6SqN6VkxEvMBQBWvPu_g5zB_AGJy/s1600/DSC04252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvMwbQGBTaQygbhPH_C5nbv0DnUi9QI8TmyTyqSW8REdOcGA0RpzG9jK5uk6fovKzmn3uqAkzPhnFN3juS20RjQn509m2sNgCnojFBseS6SqN6VkxEvMBQBWvPu_g5zB_AGJy/s320/DSC04252.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything is just growing like crazy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7qNNaBNjBau1owTXqjDdYsJQ4BoUzDpTPodT6RerA-8VS9VtJo-1TjX9j7kxImV-E-5mdFoHUaQYfgwADrf4-GsJOjfQxCdZdWEQxFKCcmIaOxW-OvMmfb06NRD1K-0pC6Qc/s1600/DSC04237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7qNNaBNjBau1owTXqjDdYsJQ4BoUzDpTPodT6RerA-8VS9VtJo-1TjX9j7kxImV-E-5mdFoHUaQYfgwADrf4-GsJOjfQxCdZdWEQxFKCcmIaOxW-OvMmfb06NRD1K-0pC6Qc/s320/DSC04237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And we are starting to harvest all kinds of goodness!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The photos I took yesterday really tell the story fine on their own. There is not much I can add. I am just very pleased with our progress so far. For two people who have only been gardening a few years, and the last couple years we just had our one teeny little plot, the fact that we have not only been able to keep EIGHT raised beds plus numerous pots not only alive but thriving it such an amazing feeling of accomplishment! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawATdJ-V3r_KulofuHIw0erkP8Liq7fsDkmF0WGsozvXU7_1R96KjAebEEybbIHVmIA-zx_gUmQCMa94wDbPXEF_Fga5eySeGFi9kyd5qbdOygbm_SHYLGLyf_UcEkYYQ-fyC/s1600/DSC04229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawATdJ-V3r_KulofuHIw0erkP8Liq7fsDkmF0WGsozvXU7_1R96KjAebEEybbIHVmIA-zx_gUmQCMa94wDbPXEF_Fga5eySeGFi9kyd5qbdOygbm_SHYLGLyf_UcEkYYQ-fyC/s320/DSC04229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is usually hot as hell out there, and the weeding and tending can be back spasm-inducing work, but it is oh so worth it! All the sweat, all the dirt, all the terrible tan lines....all worth it!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBGOg0oHY2RoSK-cpsSNYjJ7-KSzx67WKAdcT4iVlCYjhtxAPPaMXLUmizBo5ZMkR-FyGSc9H2BbP8_72v0lEVssK-ntxgU1HbMzanFZyR8w7kfT5RFQFw_RX_6b52SySNvLf/s1600/DSC04213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBGOg0oHY2RoSK-cpsSNYjJ7-KSzx67WKAdcT4iVlCYjhtxAPPaMXLUmizBo5ZMkR-FyGSc9H2BbP8_72v0lEVssK-ntxgU1HbMzanFZyR8w7kfT5RFQFw_RX_6b52SySNvLf/s320/DSC04213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cucumbers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjqZ4OxRxlziplBN335nOPIFj_btG_D9ts1ZxLc_30vOxlwnY30IiQw823PxUK4-GyI8EkZdyIbxk1hl0vG5xGYPynRIGDy17qLEPAwvpNm2Getdp5gHYmDx5XCy8CdNPJ-dO/s1600/DSC04214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjqZ4OxRxlziplBN335nOPIFj_btG_D9ts1ZxLc_30vOxlwnY30IiQw823PxUK4-GyI8EkZdyIbxk1hl0vG5xGYPynRIGDy17qLEPAwvpNm2Getdp5gHYmDx5XCy8CdNPJ-dO/s320/DSC04214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cucumbers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVclXx0djkpTBbUffB0-h8-fRruVMH01ijGBafINZuJxfT199F_BjCi1jF2jkO4WoK9J90tToi5YFDc1TCDUehM1xgswm1mlC-1PtLhrBBhj7NFGJOSIBqTdudy98VkV5Da2W/s1600/DSC04215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVclXx0djkpTBbUffB0-h8-fRruVMH01ijGBafINZuJxfT199F_BjCi1jF2jkO4WoK9J90tToi5YFDc1TCDUehM1xgswm1mlC-1PtLhrBBhj7NFGJOSIBqTdudy98VkV5Da2W/s320/DSC04215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cucumbers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH5vPUdWywlG7HYuwo4WAPUF47vNjXW2R_l4PGfO3CY9Wa62Sqh39PZD2JaXrV2310FUjgwJbjLMiTlNr0gjrZz_z1dL6GUa-cY_RiavJbuWndozEVHN0d3u8XNm6Cjpgq7dK/s1600/DSC04219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH5vPUdWywlG7HYuwo4WAPUF47vNjXW2R_l4PGfO3CY9Wa62Sqh39PZD2JaXrV2310FUjgwJbjLMiTlNr0gjrZz_z1dL6GUa-cY_RiavJbuWndozEVHN0d3u8XNm6Cjpgq7dK/s320/DSC04219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> String beans</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3gAYXWzmzrySbduu6T7QM3w7lFg_kOLN3oiaduxG6KFnz9lYNtihx3QnN6YXqB82On05-EfucbgigrLy0-QYzJyFX2CrIma451yR0MkFcYHxdTw0d70qbcv1r5bhrfOxe7Ua/s1600/DSC04220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3gAYXWzmzrySbduu6T7QM3w7lFg_kOLN3oiaduxG6KFnz9lYNtihx3QnN6YXqB82On05-EfucbgigrLy0-QYzJyFX2CrIma451yR0MkFcYHxdTw0d70qbcv1r5bhrfOxe7Ua/s320/DSC04220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kevin harvesting string beans</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dJXb4uaNhbRMECZbmf0tyOoKxkB01Mo0XfU9CO87qozob1bluqgCaAGQiueYBf3KZ5HeELgFqGnsZh5nGC2bQ2s6CaRsQWiOKor6EQh7RZ4NyI6nhPe-4kUwNde9UTptD2tL/s1600/DSC04222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dJXb4uaNhbRMECZbmf0tyOoKxkB01Mo0XfU9CO87qozob1bluqgCaAGQiueYBf3KZ5HeELgFqGnsZh5nGC2bQ2s6CaRsQWiOKor6EQh7RZ4NyI6nhPe-4kUwNde9UTptD2tL/s320/DSC04222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHFxWe_nCkCcWSsRyif4ISiHpj7VHXgStT55RSjhOP62Y83kmf7eSd8pImTpOdGXdPlmS8bmqB69HcZhuF8i47_BZBRLt_RVFMFOefktcvDSIsvXupvYgk1SeRuClfsmyXJ2L/s1600/DSC04223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHFxWe_nCkCcWSsRyif4ISiHpj7VHXgStT55RSjhOP62Y83kmf7eSd8pImTpOdGXdPlmS8bmqB69HcZhuF8i47_BZBRLt_RVFMFOefktcvDSIsvXupvYgk1SeRuClfsmyXJ2L/s320/DSC04223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UFMcNYtw0Eag8ijyAILVYgj9xxt2FWBTHOIEIJ-60z_obMcc7RonLTsIiSlBNtIj6sYAcqd66hu6HsLvaiN7o1Hs8VqGMDp4ij8yWqh787DLYmYbk7_Y7WhD2p_rM9KMh2Y8/s1600/DSC04224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UFMcNYtw0Eag8ijyAILVYgj9xxt2FWBTHOIEIJ-60z_obMcc7RonLTsIiSlBNtIj6sYAcqd66hu6HsLvaiN7o1Hs8VqGMDp4ij8yWqh787DLYmYbk7_Y7WhD2p_rM9KMh2Y8/s320/DSC04224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFbMYsMEr6-r6uJ1Pk2NN5HTWaqH19JPyKI9IawZKBYEnPVdMnLfxgNKEJ-UpvRFZ5rKO9mfTx8-v_e4Y3O_IJTMk00CAQACBnaOxhcrMlJ44ZCeyevt60xX99YFi5JhEWuwI/s1600/DSC04225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFbMYsMEr6-r6uJ1Pk2NN5HTWaqH19JPyKI9IawZKBYEnPVdMnLfxgNKEJ-UpvRFZ5rKO9mfTx8-v_e4Y3O_IJTMk00CAQACBnaOxhcrMlJ44ZCeyevt60xX99YFi5JhEWuwI/s320/DSC04225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed some last night and we will have more tonight!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi1TVX52fMzSQQFGrwvDNwyXMKxqXvhdx0SF7l2YsdIp5iPopNSt27NqZA5VSn3PnlVK9-SIHPIpQWq1w1qUm1t0ZhFWlpXlrlw00aiDqzwOIcQfMu3Mhzsryca7NHgZlSiLZ/s1600/DSC04230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi1TVX52fMzSQQFGrwvDNwyXMKxqXvhdx0SF7l2YsdIp5iPopNSt27NqZA5VSn3PnlVK9-SIHPIpQWq1w1qUm1t0ZhFWlpXlrlw00aiDqzwOIcQfMu3Mhzsryca7NHgZlSiLZ/s320/DSC04230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Zucchini</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn35pEGhDM4Hbvh_eCBWCZEeSdmbSPqkJXginCxvGWurp3gvdpQi0Sub1LlmFp1UP2XE1K2lWtWiHWEfnrje-Pkf5vKVw230cw-_RLvsZEgxThfdIU3MPIT4RZlWZY1THeeViQ/s1600/DSC04231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn35pEGhDM4Hbvh_eCBWCZEeSdmbSPqkJXginCxvGWurp3gvdpQi0Sub1LlmFp1UP2XE1K2lWtWiHWEfnrje-Pkf5vKVw230cw-_RLvsZEgxThfdIU3MPIT4RZlWZY1THeeViQ/s320/DSC04231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More zucchini</div><div style="text-align: center;">(<i>now that I am really viewing the photos I am realizing how phallic these look! Oh my!</i>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y29qwFBa0_LI8YfjrBJo0si5fKXVkPndO_syfA4JWl3Et3wDkEhG_rn_qGzqP3Rx16fLSjJWjVnH2Iw-bJFOY5KpDhElQNIRZwXAp8v_2ofPD2Xf48hxteRl_DX_gwo18vHz/s1600/DSC04232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y29qwFBa0_LI8YfjrBJo0si5fKXVkPndO_syfA4JWl3Et3wDkEhG_rn_qGzqP3Rx16fLSjJWjVnH2Iw-bJFOY5KpDhElQNIRZwXAp8v_2ofPD2Xf48hxteRl_DX_gwo18vHz/s320/DSC04232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> See what I mean?! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqkh0a2yjesm9POEpg4R2ucJc48jDDzw6eosNqx-PGwgXWFjPNHr4zCtTByTov-lev65Ou2Z1pbfodtdwiVI5JPgUvx5JndwmEOX_n6Xz3PzV6n1MieHm2QgCfDsKXra82e-O/s1600/DSC04235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqkh0a2yjesm9POEpg4R2ucJc48jDDzw6eosNqx-PGwgXWFjPNHr4zCtTByTov-lev65Ou2Z1pbfodtdwiVI5JPgUvx5JndwmEOX_n6Xz3PzV6n1MieHm2QgCfDsKXra82e-O/s320/DSC04235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvxQh5Cz6W9U0BfitnfUEsjVIK8fjlObMhfROXQp5U5ZIF7Ofhq9qzdrsCJzcKs3yr7mhYa5cyNVez2lscI8NMYtD2719arlJPsq5moYJhnhiXNoD1Ra9bwvDSSsaq81CR2YP/s1600/DSC04241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvxQh5Cz6W9U0BfitnfUEsjVIK8fjlObMhfROXQp5U5ZIF7Ofhq9qzdrsCJzcKs3yr7mhYa5cyNVez2lscI8NMYtD2719arlJPsq5moYJhnhiXNoD1Ra9bwvDSSsaq81CR2YP/s320/DSC04241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Little baby bell peppers just getting their start!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cPsn7fGf7pvWQIHbUtvjLu6GUoy_LCO7dx2L5TcJTaT7o5IDFnFg6p24GwIY9YfBhOofmqSc6NN46RFoLJl9i2h5FjlLEN_a7ZINUl7hXtJrML5Q3buI2EeKs3eJZgJhydul/s1600/DSC04242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cPsn7fGf7pvWQIHbUtvjLu6GUoy_LCO7dx2L5TcJTaT7o5IDFnFg6p24GwIY9YfBhOofmqSc6NN46RFoLJl9i2h5FjlLEN_a7ZINUl7hXtJrML5Q3buI2EeKs3eJZgJhydul/s320/DSC04242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bell peppers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHyMss5OF0AjTjSuykqio_4gLSa3ppxtZt4sVrpQRlajQ0TC1995vY2W1d18OCO1I09W7jk7bXGaMS9OcScep8DVskWFtrBiyKaYBRitNK3Mwf-VBBeRMRNdk6ZSbuj128K6c/s1600/DSC04243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHyMss5OF0AjTjSuykqio_4gLSa3ppxtZt4sVrpQRlajQ0TC1995vY2W1d18OCO1I09W7jk7bXGaMS9OcScep8DVskWFtrBiyKaYBRitNK3Mwf-VBBeRMRNdk6ZSbuj128K6c/s320/DSC04243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vbPlUar29FAWUT6zWQ6Oh1l2wi1ofxkZLcL3i1NUlWwwJQ4-bA5A0SLT-jvjyM2nbHy3nZkp0Ei7XP0Y1H8XkqjqBhqRjQoZGpnvogqZ7Dp9gjR6W09v6A4CdIt20fvZuSkh/s1600/DSC04244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vbPlUar29FAWUT6zWQ6Oh1l2wi1ofxkZLcL3i1NUlWwwJQ4-bA5A0SLT-jvjyM2nbHy3nZkp0Ei7XP0Y1H8XkqjqBhqRjQoZGpnvogqZ7Dp9gjR6W09v6A4CdIt20fvZuSkh/s320/DSC04244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sweet banana peppers!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrbgf9pMnKA6ISFDXacouadtn721dHiV_YttER58WAUwYVgCH6kBhCDVvWgytftPbqyF4Bzu2yIk0qAvd2lQsv_yDTHBWhMBdlyBVcjhSgoEeu_G9bl-XoYqVvcX_PFNkSNSW/s1600/DSC04245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrbgf9pMnKA6ISFDXacouadtn721dHiV_YttER58WAUwYVgCH6kBhCDVvWgytftPbqyF4Bzu2yIk0qAvd2lQsv_yDTHBWhMBdlyBVcjhSgoEeu_G9bl-XoYqVvcX_PFNkSNSW/s320/DSC04245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Banana peppers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTHFuu6SSn2op-rBTUTE_LyfEozi-zmOGYGWBKkoEa2_tcE8o4q7USgAPzkX9YoBraj7vOW79lDbkUSDa5CKGk1ehOgkiB5lDeDHNTku51HYCC5RtvwOmDrgOVCcadoUm9EYG/s1600/DSC04277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTHFuu6SSn2op-rBTUTE_LyfEozi-zmOGYGWBKkoEa2_tcE8o4q7USgAPzkX9YoBraj7vOW79lDbkUSDa5CKGk1ehOgkiB5lDeDHNTku51HYCC5RtvwOmDrgOVCcadoUm9EYG/s320/DSC04277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These little guys will become Big Boy tomatoes later this summer!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxzP19MhQJXCPxpH13NH4R8_XtNp4dM4wuD5xYy_a5oFNJyzN2ZtUtFiQiNgCZTOfhyvsqRo0p67lom6qsG8HUCsM-VDMA5l-Vzw1YbJ3u1H4x1WWqfePHM2PoXmY0slDFf1N/s1600/DSC04278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxzP19MhQJXCPxpH13NH4R8_XtNp4dM4wuD5xYy_a5oFNJyzN2ZtUtFiQiNgCZTOfhyvsqRo0p67lom6qsG8HUCsM-VDMA5l-Vzw1YbJ3u1H4x1WWqfePHM2PoXmY0slDFf1N/s320/DSC04278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDNK2xYHXuNEXnRGMTXGPSIsTk347lyrTRmQXyOgrQY8C5iiNmqxxugh9VxTdVEaD0CS7e72wQIbslWuuVV1D0yzFs9J4zDoSncZGHgrN1YyeaWlD5giN0ldJW2vqObomE2Mm/s1600/DSC04279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDNK2xYHXuNEXnRGMTXGPSIsTk347lyrTRmQXyOgrQY8C5iiNmqxxugh9VxTdVEaD0CS7e72wQIbslWuuVV1D0yzFs9J4zDoSncZGHgrN1YyeaWlD5giN0ldJW2vqObomE2Mm/s320/DSC04279.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Little now...soon to be Big Boy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKGkQeaIQwK_DmISXvlYo2bfDGhRCJM4nczM-WC1JtCNXYfMoN7u5mbkq03HEqvqWTycpOh3M9FecOYBvF3sCr2resh8MYyXUtOccPrdwzuNb7qSx6Ds9lWEnn35YQB1xmSRj/s1600/DSC04280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKGkQeaIQwK_DmISXvlYo2bfDGhRCJM4nczM-WC1JtCNXYfMoN7u5mbkq03HEqvqWTycpOh3M9FecOYBvF3sCr2resh8MYyXUtOccPrdwzuNb7qSx6Ds9lWEnn35YQB1xmSRj/s320/DSC04280.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just as a recap, we've got 8 wildly thriving tomato plants (different varieties), 8 pepper plants (different varieties, three different types of cucumber all growing like crazy, two huge zucchini plants, five string bean plants making beans all over the place, an acorn squash plant and spaghetti squash plant that share the same bed and have gotten so big I don't know where one ends and the other begins and there are little baby squash galore in there, two types of radish, carrots, eggplant, and loads of herbs!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbu27QXpcH94mx7m6Q58pitGb3AXrr7u-KPLGqK-VwWPcjcE7MR5cKR9Nm65KOAqUMxpOBOSEgoOnVb6ZsF_9AnHudRygirH_Henyo4ZwL6h_YyxjS6tucEEpytez8EZ4S2DO/s1600/DSC04227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbu27QXpcH94mx7m6Q58pitGb3AXrr7u-KPLGqK-VwWPcjcE7MR5cKR9Nm65KOAqUMxpOBOSEgoOnVb6ZsF_9AnHudRygirH_Henyo4ZwL6h_YyxjS6tucEEpytez8EZ4S2DO/s320/DSC04227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawATdJ-V3r_KulofuHIw0erkP8Liq7fsDkmF0WGsozvXU7_1R96KjAebEEybbIHVmIA-zx_gUmQCMa94wDbPXEF_Fga5eySeGFi9kyd5qbdOygbm_SHYLGLyf_UcEkYYQ-fyC/s1600/DSC04229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawATdJ-V3r_KulofuHIw0erkP8Liq7fsDkmF0WGsozvXU7_1R96KjAebEEybbIHVmIA-zx_gUmQCMa94wDbPXEF_Fga5eySeGFi9kyd5qbdOygbm_SHYLGLyf_UcEkYYQ-fyC/s320/DSC04229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H81k23O24POjrtDjC7BoZZE5CJXhDjy-FHq7ZIblmgFFPOxSDUl58u5Nn2bP9WWfnw5jQBch2zK8v-0DrncmiGEhFNeiRaAhvu-x0LUtZpc2IdC7-p0SkPEv0v9D5Y47vHwZ/s1600/DSC04228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H81k23O24POjrtDjC7BoZZE5CJXhDjy-FHq7ZIblmgFFPOxSDUl58u5Nn2bP9WWfnw5jQBch2zK8v-0DrncmiGEhFNeiRaAhvu-x0LUtZpc2IdC7-p0SkPEv0v9D5Y47vHwZ/s320/DSC04228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CPO3LXHJYEpBRqC_u5XDnqdXhZ1jQGysL7CSMRViOlAp29thIWCMXEKnQm-1PTydwzMIHbHAZKnbMBTMKqSgPp3kEFGUJdb_Wk1IYdQO0vucjG5Ek9rQrT9wzHTvuZtr6fG_/s1600/DSC04257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CPO3LXHJYEpBRqC_u5XDnqdXhZ1jQGysL7CSMRViOlAp29thIWCMXEKnQm-1PTydwzMIHbHAZKnbMBTMKqSgPp3kEFGUJdb_Wk1IYdQO0vucjG5Ek9rQrT9wzHTvuZtr6fG_/s320/DSC04257.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZatthoKGj9e7QGXiWg7orn-2U39fznV1FC6HDA4-dx5Fbs6AVCf4Upwx2yuxRQCrlKotitwIfA0zHOFgaVGFx6CalB_UlXDzvAwPX7FDj9FZsXSai0UnB9Q669V4v3MCTwJx_/s1600/DSC04258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZatthoKGj9e7QGXiWg7orn-2U39fznV1FC6HDA4-dx5Fbs6AVCf4Upwx2yuxRQCrlKotitwIfA0zHOFgaVGFx6CalB_UlXDzvAwPX7FDj9FZsXSai0UnB9Q669V4v3MCTwJx_/s320/DSC04258.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1PqehAI_fK0mAcOKtsXpxhJgYVwmufSIYYykbB8F5psAc3Q_h0IdCWubweeKZt4S1sSK7aMqo2Vnf5NfHJjlzRAI0Ppgpu807KoNpvJ5Mn3Jp2nxaoMD-U7qZyOcdCcq_xJE/s1600/DSC04260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1PqehAI_fK0mAcOKtsXpxhJgYVwmufSIYYykbB8F5psAc3Q_h0IdCWubweeKZt4S1sSK7aMqo2Vnf5NfHJjlzRAI0Ppgpu807KoNpvJ5Mn3Jp2nxaoMD-U7qZyOcdCcq_xJE/s320/DSC04260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhhyF2vT2voU8nDLUC9ZxX2p7NuJ9MdWLTB8VLPyaZ8vHqUUQBKFTbVTG1pcNodAV5G3RS6YZVOiLXReAuneBIGm5htJ2JcCqg9VIof58aMdLr9x2-dDT3G1V-pZZTNJz6wdK/s1600/DSC04261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhhyF2vT2voU8nDLUC9ZxX2p7NuJ9MdWLTB8VLPyaZ8vHqUUQBKFTbVTG1pcNodAV5G3RS6YZVOiLXReAuneBIGm5htJ2JcCqg9VIof58aMdLr9x2-dDT3G1V-pZZTNJz6wdK/s320/DSC04261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6myd7-c3U-7u7VpB9YwJO1sCDjjv8aNB_ajBXhpu9gs1hQhnn-8Ba3GHR7B6ULEIQVdXuF0PfnxnEJTm4kLiVX4MemPcjudLWVtJaHnbq62d5ODCdY64TznqSOcjA3YREoYY/s1600/DSC04263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6myd7-c3U-7u7VpB9YwJO1sCDjjv8aNB_ajBXhpu9gs1hQhnn-8Ba3GHR7B6ULEIQVdXuF0PfnxnEJTm4kLiVX4MemPcjudLWVtJaHnbq62d5ODCdY64TznqSOcjA3YREoYY/s320/DSC04263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HF7gSqxaEaav2lyL3vCc4c1ow84Z0Tu1mk8oQDLhEuLg9AzG5qP91af1C9lxRm36D80FOKDWqCdhyHmmXkJ3w1WEPB3aVxg6dpR27fJ4uiz37J9UWBes3Pgo2m5Y6oMtULs6/s1600/DSC04264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HF7gSqxaEaav2lyL3vCc4c1ow84Z0Tu1mk8oQDLhEuLg9AzG5qP91af1C9lxRm36D80FOKDWqCdhyHmmXkJ3w1WEPB3aVxg6dpR27fJ4uiz37J9UWBes3Pgo2m5Y6oMtULs6/s320/DSC04264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTzIkUZuP4BD43_iXNApPpHoMYpwU4c6JDMDwzxm45UZAkz7nnb6BWD7YjgOMPKeqPijFsxy148Qrc1KTwjjzrLmVK3Xjb5KMuY-blcPkkyJg1wbNhXHYVUWovQb9qephX3qc/s1600/DSC04265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTzIkUZuP4BD43_iXNApPpHoMYpwU4c6JDMDwzxm45UZAkz7nnb6BWD7YjgOMPKeqPijFsxy148Qrc1KTwjjzrLmVK3Xjb5KMuY-blcPkkyJg1wbNhXHYVUWovQb9qephX3qc/s320/DSC04265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1sKGIGEnYuxZcLSIsJo2mYaPo5HYUWi1s-KSxWmxRM1kb6MZLnI4mD-yKQ1DMe-cInumNdSAuQIG9v0w_4Lwku2Q-4732btN7oYLDYntw2Mlgf3a2SddRedbzsJfObgks6-j/s1600/DSC04266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1sKGIGEnYuxZcLSIsJo2mYaPo5HYUWi1s-KSxWmxRM1kb6MZLnI4mD-yKQ1DMe-cInumNdSAuQIG9v0w_4Lwku2Q-4732btN7oYLDYntw2Mlgf3a2SddRedbzsJfObgks6-j/s320/DSC04266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5ohjev31Pj0rrA9XuiOg8qbjNJVzpVC333ivDcwh7F4W2f71IvurS8oyzV-Ri8TZJIItjUUGnkQES_NCZ4XOHJl2wNj1uztIbtcMMgtAetiRg07C_CiGqQmaXy8DubtaBFfo/s1600/DSC04267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5ohjev31Pj0rrA9XuiOg8qbjNJVzpVC333ivDcwh7F4W2f71IvurS8oyzV-Ri8TZJIItjUUGnkQES_NCZ4XOHJl2wNj1uztIbtcMMgtAetiRg07C_CiGqQmaXy8DubtaBFfo/s320/DSC04267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRtHvi5IIW8pX70-FpTVp2w9yBFNpOPbrMVslSjoVIQe2YDEV1XcwHkWtdn_CFpHJ7xtJRb03iyCLYfpOpXLmBI-WUcaQWWUmvIsNIuWan_QLpFRJSsLaG_nnCsHP3dzCrvOL/s1600/DSC04269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRtHvi5IIW8pX70-FpTVp2w9yBFNpOPbrMVslSjoVIQe2YDEV1XcwHkWtdn_CFpHJ7xtJRb03iyCLYfpOpXLmBI-WUcaQWWUmvIsNIuWan_QLpFRJSsLaG_nnCsHP3dzCrvOL/s320/DSC04269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbwDW_KYwssyZSMTggmpkErGRiW1gbtcO-ycS5Ax1fAgJsYy2zClwLbUMYIDP61gqIOUpCjmHG6HSMSjZS52RO-nWomlOGEF9VPUKkpbG61dUGsxCMFlCBFm6piGzUmHuRK8C/s1600/DSC04270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbwDW_KYwssyZSMTggmpkErGRiW1gbtcO-ycS5Ax1fAgJsYy2zClwLbUMYIDP61gqIOUpCjmHG6HSMSjZS52RO-nWomlOGEF9VPUKkpbG61dUGsxCMFlCBFm6piGzUmHuRK8C/s320/DSC04270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGm28_i0-7MtCPIArJRB25bQmidIeAYXbfndWjT5TXRJ8UuvbPZ7w_dJxZNjb5TnYonYVFG1xItlVNTA22ysA6PMY3JZiiqjmQR7XPOkr5cZ3jj6amBvAxy45BQhzTkLKyj4r/s1600/DSC04271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGm28_i0-7MtCPIArJRB25bQmidIeAYXbfndWjT5TXRJ8UuvbPZ7w_dJxZNjb5TnYonYVFG1xItlVNTA22ysA6PMY3JZiiqjmQR7XPOkr5cZ3jj6amBvAxy45BQhzTkLKyj4r/s320/DSC04271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH_iE146HPR4BWuDjdKREk-cmHB1XlVWfUuhhEY-A6HdBdOi_Q77t7tSWnWwCxNDChjnSPBzhwAgQyeZJp-4sBYDTbYCqMgmvDcqQToIVcLCaPr3ppfVv45vVMNCR71dP7bTS/s1600/DSC04272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH_iE146HPR4BWuDjdKREk-cmHB1XlVWfUuhhEY-A6HdBdOi_Q77t7tSWnWwCxNDChjnSPBzhwAgQyeZJp-4sBYDTbYCqMgmvDcqQToIVcLCaPr3ppfVv45vVMNCR71dP7bTS/s320/DSC04272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZy4hzw_jvfmUrwFcBUauAFhKQozR1ZFAcIRqLf1rAajF56VBCp2DQ5uk8XHzTU9ojXj9xp58DLRec3jRkHfaQ_0PE8vppjSnLVc3yXJyVXihOnnBpn12E7KPe7LFT2K-g1ZZ/s1600/DSC04274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZy4hzw_jvfmUrwFcBUauAFhKQozR1ZFAcIRqLf1rAajF56VBCp2DQ5uk8XHzTU9ojXj9xp58DLRec3jRkHfaQ_0PE8vppjSnLVc3yXJyVXihOnnBpn12E7KPe7LFT2K-g1ZZ/s320/DSC04274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij4pHL57T_-j12LgVkAr3XCiuljEFesYmCvwJ-g2im7pwPv4jDGMIbP-dodbn15frolQXDz_7rboxdmTN3sKCs2VrbW8NRqU1fsbVt0OyamNNzawX6p5bzaO9Q_zc-O6Hb6tJ/s1600/DSC04281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij4pHL57T_-j12LgVkAr3XCiuljEFesYmCvwJ-g2im7pwPv4jDGMIbP-dodbn15frolQXDz_7rboxdmTN3sKCs2VrbW8NRqU1fsbVt0OyamNNzawX6p5bzaO9Q_zc-O6Hb6tJ/s320/DSC04281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3x7-vlEumqHpsjPmlzdm_9ESPXfrUTeqWPd0hwXASg12sNrZ9K_o7t2ewYvutIEyamcK3dGiAmyKvtZvSQr9hKDupyq8f-gKGvVnUF1RJZGS3aOzxkRKsQkriAI9fjYA1rT5/s1600/DSC04292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3x7-vlEumqHpsjPmlzdm_9ESPXfrUTeqWPd0hwXASg12sNrZ9K_o7t2ewYvutIEyamcK3dGiAmyKvtZvSQr9hKDupyq8f-gKGvVnUF1RJZGS3aOzxkRKsQkriAI9fjYA1rT5/s320/DSC04292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-82120350909216168702011-06-30T17:44:00.000-05:002011-06-30T17:44:26.016-05:00Tea time...<div style="text-align: center;">(Such an original title for a blog post. Go me!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Soooo, I love coffee. I mean I really really reeeaaalllyyy love coffee. Not that that is a bad thing. And though I love it I am not downing it all day every day. But I do drink a fair amount. And when I am not drinking coffee I pretty much only drink water, and lots of it. So that is good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Still, I think I am going to attempt to cut down on my coffee consumption. Notice I did not say "give up coffee." That would just never happen, and really I have no desire to give it up. But I would definitely like to cut back. And I want to drink more tea.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I go through phases with tea. I really like it. It is just that coffee and water seem to come first, before tea. So today at the grocery store I went straight to the tea section to stock up on a favorite brand, Yogi.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rLFx7avQvJOoZtu2kxWkUtwnS6ouc0fK11OZaRgA8DWS06fJqWtSwNvqx6S0qNsJ0op_7MLxaOJgj3HgpQJfdgIvpi_jWLwEk-sn4-eAl6D2063f9BSUeSL34k4ojbjX2AjF/s1600/DSC04093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rLFx7avQvJOoZtu2kxWkUtwnS6ouc0fK11OZaRgA8DWS06fJqWtSwNvqx6S0qNsJ0op_7MLxaOJgj3HgpQJfdgIvpi_jWLwEk-sn4-eAl6D2063f9BSUeSL34k4ojbjX2AjF/s320/DSC04093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These are the three I came home with. A good assortment, I think. What I am going to attempt to do is to still have my morning coffee. Gotta have that. But then throughout the day, especially at work (which is where I seem to consume the most coffee) in between all the water I drink, I plan to drink tea, also. My office is freezing year round so I don't mind consuming hot beverages there, even in summer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The other thing I love about Yogi tea is this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1O7k6EWa5AYoS9OKfoEGGCKvnjBBdpjIW4778OfiCO-V6xDcILBVyHQoQxEBk5RTaRoY-dj_fQKct17EZjR1tKeGTii3v0Vxq7hII1Snk2jXTRz3jC2RJfbMMe5z1TnW08cbT/s1600/DSC04096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1O7k6EWa5AYoS9OKfoEGGCKvnjBBdpjIW4778OfiCO-V6xDcILBVyHQoQxEBk5RTaRoY-dj_fQKct17EZjR1tKeGTii3v0Vxq7hII1Snk2jXTRz3jC2RJfbMMe5z1TnW08cbT/s320/DSC04096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...the inspirational messages on every tea bag tag! Love this!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, Operation Drink More Tea starts....well, if I am being honest, it will probably start on Tuesday July 5 when I go back to work. I will keep you all posted.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you a tea drinker? What are some of you favorites?</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-35480909482070855172011-06-28T14:00:00.055-05:002011-06-28T14:00:00.430-05:00Living vs. existing...<div style="text-align: center;">Do you ever sometimes feel as if you are just going through the motions day to day? Do you ever wonder if each of your days has purpose? Or does each day just feel like the same old routine, day in and day out, until you stop and wonder "what is the point?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Damn. When I read back what I just wrote it all sounds so depressing and morose. And that is really not what I mean this post to be. I guess I am just in a bit of a funk. Summer is hard for me. I want to embrace it and savor it and soak in all that can be wonderful about it, but, really...being a grown-up just sucks the fun right out of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hate the heat and even more the humidity. I mean completely loathe it. To me, trying to enjoy anything in the stifling heat and humidity is impossible. I wasn't always like this, though. There was a time that I looooved summer! Absolutely loved it. Of course that was a time when I could spend each day, all day, at the beach. I could be in the water for hours on end. I never ever have the opportunity to swim anymore. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But this post is also not going to be all about me whining about the heat. I mentioned in a previous post that I am going to do my best to savor summer. My dislike of summer, however, is what made me start thinking about this blog post I wanted to write. This past Sunday, our day was consumed with running around on boring errands, doing lots of yard work, cleaning the house, doing laundry.....BLAH! And I stopped to think...a lot of our weekends are like that. And our weekdays are no better...we both wake up well before dawn, we both start work early, we work all day, come home, have dinner, watch a little TV, go to bed. OK, maybe some nights in the summer we do a little more than that since there are more hours of daylight, but for all intents and purposes that is what our weekdays consist of.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes it is very true that I have been enormously blessed throughout my life. I have an amazing husband who loves me for me, who is my true partner in this crazy life, and my very best friend. I also have an amazing family and some pretty great friends. Kevin and I both have good stable jobs, we have a nice home, cars to drive, food on the table, and we don't stress about paying bills. I have seen and done a lot. I really shouldn't be complaining and that is not my intention. But sometimes I can't help but feel, as we go through the motions of our day to day life...are we really living, or just simply existing?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I wonder, is it really that big a deal to have the luxury of being able to do what we want whenever we want if we...don't? Those pesky grown-up responsibilities get in the way, and it is hard to break free of routine, even a boring one. I know it sounds like I am saying my life is boring, and I am sure right now I am sounding ungrateful for the blessings in my life and neither is the case.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know. I guess we all go through these funks from time to time. Life can't always be non-stop fun and games. And I know I am the only one that can make the most of my life and live it to the fullest. I know I will snap out of this and will once again be able to say to hell with the laundry and housecleaning. Putting it off one more day won't hurt (and if we are out of underwear we can go buy some!). We can't say to hell with work, of course, so we can make our time out of our offices more fun and exciting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We can choose to live. We don't have to accept simply existing.</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-67242788636615192652011-06-27T15:00:00.017-05:002011-06-27T19:03:57.906-05:00Gardening check-in...the herb files!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, in addition to our veggie garden that I am clearly enamored with right now (as you know if you read my last post...), I once again have my deck herb garden growing and flourishing and making the air around it smell oh so yummy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9NAejW0FOKgmSwscClyv3qO8jHO7T8tRb5fMDjjWLqYU6t0TWuSJ61s3TGja8TeRJwQ-BsTMzoOSDo8-2n-SlQtywISnL9U5fvpfeXC4JDysTksWdA-nQmBtZJBaIugUKo1Q/s1600/DSC04083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9NAejW0FOKgmSwscClyv3qO8jHO7T8tRb5fMDjjWLqYU6t0TWuSJ61s3TGja8TeRJwQ-BsTMzoOSDo8-2n-SlQtywISnL9U5fvpfeXC4JDysTksWdA-nQmBtZJBaIugUKo1Q/s320/DSC04083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm....sage! One of my favorites! When I brush past it releasing its scent I immediately think of Thanksgiving and how I can't roast my turkey without lots of fresh sage!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_8jiRU1i1ecQ7yqrfU1dqm369CBuO0-gnL5Zaeo5Mjn_91AY5rXPU0maJNuJUTDLG734k9ByIHq5iGcGX_gqlURAmoaPIte8wmAXM-Uyp8FNFiH9V8rFAgWq60yK1AlB34p5/s1600/DSC04084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_8jiRU1i1ecQ7yqrfU1dqm369CBuO0-gnL5Zaeo5Mjn_91AY5rXPU0maJNuJUTDLG734k9ByIHq5iGcGX_gqlURAmoaPIte8wmAXM-Uyp8FNFiH9V8rFAgWq60yK1AlB34p5/s320/DSC04084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wonderfully fragrant mint. All good Greeks have lots of mint!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9atlp8nMjwZkkFZIRHSn346IMH0k2orluPAIQMk_5pVjs5DIADN4BOujIPupr0Ri-JqOf_KJG411jHoLsWxENoNgdsEpMpT9FU9t_aCFMyEer8nQnKaYK57ufsHsAdc1HDbJ/s1600/DSC04085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9atlp8nMjwZkkFZIRHSn346IMH0k2orluPAIQMk_5pVjs5DIADN4BOujIPupr0Ri-JqOf_KJG411jHoLsWxENoNgdsEpMpT9FU9t_aCFMyEer8nQnKaYK57ufsHsAdc1HDbJ/s320/DSC04085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (r): Greek oregano</div><div style="text-align: center;">(l): Italian parsley</div><div style="text-align: center;">Greek and Italian...just like us!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0HvTmWAOaBTHIiZm0YxUvbouvtfmg9mIfoLKFpYD6NmkzsHn3TIPDKcC7tra_B4zj10Bxy8tZKlEY_0i3Xbk45xZtlNW244bwSSFTPfKVKZWqKhNFMcWPRadfUm54-2WPKh2/s1600/DSC04087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0HvTmWAOaBTHIiZm0YxUvbouvtfmg9mIfoLKFpYD6NmkzsHn3TIPDKcC7tra_B4zj10Bxy8tZKlEY_0i3Xbk45xZtlNW244bwSSFTPfKVKZWqKhNFMcWPRadfUm54-2WPKh2/s320/DSC04087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> BASIL!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Deliciously fragrant, aromatic, and so incredibly yummy sweet basil!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryei4xgG2q72h6x-l426KuSeS2Wnj2aBjoZDTJW5q7SkS5VPaAQCXXfrZjNP7UD8KXmj2JeWnw66Bps0Nt5y-sgiUltaWueOKZLJ-MYYxrqkDs0z90ah0yGDYhG07dTNjocvL/s1600/DSC04088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryei4xgG2q72h6x-l426KuSeS2Wnj2aBjoZDTJW5q7SkS5VPaAQCXXfrZjNP7UD8KXmj2JeWnw66Bps0Nt5y-sgiUltaWueOKZLJ-MYYxrqkDs0z90ah0yGDYhG07dTNjocvL/s320/DSC04088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet marjoram. Such a lovely scent and delicate taste. This is the first year I planted it. Can't wait to use it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not pictured: thyme, lavender, rosemary, and cilantro (which is giving me fits, again...grrr!).</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-12347073785211216452011-06-26T16:56:00.001-05:002011-06-28T17:42:57.938-05:00Garden check-in...<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">~Hanna Rion</span><br />
<br />
To say I am pleased with the progress our garden has made so far this season would be an understatement! Almost everything seems to be thriving and growing like crazy!!! And, today, we had our first harvest.....a big colander full of spicy arugula!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoKk54M4qmVPgLEzck1z5NhzTOl8Ood1_hKKUK2529Vk62rVSBtTpJ1kblc36FOON5bPhJw7XXLCPLe0G4ifPixuIeuajJLVQG4VXRhAprH0OJ7ftCgZe86M9LFGcZINnUbC1/s1600/DSC04029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoKk54M4qmVPgLEzck1z5NhzTOl8Ood1_hKKUK2529Vk62rVSBtTpJ1kblc36FOON5bPhJw7XXLCPLe0G4ifPixuIeuajJLVQG4VXRhAprH0OJ7ftCgZe86M9LFGcZINnUbC1/s320/DSC04029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the first year we planted arugula and so far, so good! I wasn't sure of when to harvest it or really how to, either. I thought you just pull the whole thing up. YouTube to the rescue! I found, like, a bajillion videos on gardening and harvesting and such. I learned that as long as I kept trimming the leaves and pinch off an flowers that start to form my one plant will continue to produce!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3pJ6dfh0qC-s5xigaAFN9TjhM0UUU6ThoMPofGNhqGNRrmWTx9ZmM4PvTR_vttikei4fVZ_osK0NrQu4fzYKtmSnuqa0_PiPBz5iLjy526ymnD4YHr04WPgx-EnLq2x2giD_/s1600/DSC04042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3pJ6dfh0qC-s5xigaAFN9TjhM0UUU6ThoMPofGNhqGNRrmWTx9ZmM4PvTR_vttikei4fVZ_osK0NrQu4fzYKtmSnuqa0_PiPBz5iLjy526ymnD4YHr04WPgx-EnLq2x2giD_/s320/DSC04042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And now we can enjoy fresh arugula for a few days till the next time it is ready to be trimmed!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also learned that I needed to thin out my radishes, so, did that, too...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OoGq8eoojfVx49K8f5VCb5t37TbkCAeNQlCTXjWByuuUNQbkAyI4c7zQ3p65k5J4mABg_T3hYfKS8fXybSr3tjN7bp4XJcZXV757oGId1e0PlQd-0VHzWicsJDK7uPp63BsS/s1600/DSC04039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OoGq8eoojfVx49K8f5VCb5t37TbkCAeNQlCTXjWByuuUNQbkAyI4c7zQ3p65k5J4mABg_T3hYfKS8fXybSr3tjN7bp4XJcZXV757oGId1e0PlQd-0VHzWicsJDK7uPp63BsS/s320/DSC04039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHyxTx7d8YNX-QVLOpIIAN6c9A9V4erAoP35TVaihn3OTGKVpRMBK2gNjeyB0e20FdrJkuCTZ1tl82db9AQiIy5R8zhSSlLsOa3Jr8X0W7nhD8Ze__rDLGnj_I0XFpkDTNnz7/s1600/DSC04040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHyxTx7d8YNX-QVLOpIIAN6c9A9V4erAoP35TVaihn3OTGKVpRMBK2gNjeyB0e20FdrJkuCTZ1tl82db9AQiIy5R8zhSSlLsOa3Jr8X0W7nhD8Ze__rDLGnj_I0XFpkDTNnz7/s320/DSC04040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It is hard to tell in these pics but there is a row of carrots growing in between the rows of radishes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, I am very pleased with our garden this year! I love the whole raised bed concept. Keeps everything neat and orderly, and weeding is a breeze! We don't get even a small fraction of the amount of weeds we got as when we planted in the ground the last couple years!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Want to see everything else?!? It has all grown so much since last I posted about our garden!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4y7Zhh8UeW1Yylp7x80OVCtKYw_nKZZqsu288WrpCPyaeUTBmWaUM3OSggVYyWudgl0DyJ6Zq-qVaNQnO7LNgZ2npUzm4K9Aq6ibI66Y5oVimTOgdXT2idUq_Tier1WawOcBr/s1600/DSC04030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4y7Zhh8UeW1Yylp7x80OVCtKYw_nKZZqsu288WrpCPyaeUTBmWaUM3OSggVYyWudgl0DyJ6Zq-qVaNQnO7LNgZ2npUzm4K9Aq6ibI66Y5oVimTOgdXT2idUq_Tier1WawOcBr/s320/DSC04030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEqDFb9nKlDrqzn7W5PFi1dw_U6ebf-MEx70uc_9wyVZLymN_oHcVD0LYGZxDutCup9eniyJcPJ3Qhp_dtYS0BOe_jPZNPA1rBSsB2npE1B0jO6dxLMpcLeJjTKepjFsABSAZ/s1600/DSC04031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEqDFb9nKlDrqzn7W5PFi1dw_U6ebf-MEx70uc_9wyVZLymN_oHcVD0LYGZxDutCup9eniyJcPJ3Qhp_dtYS0BOe_jPZNPA1rBSsB2npE1B0jO6dxLMpcLeJjTKepjFsABSAZ/s320/DSC04031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There's "Farmer Kev" looking all rugged and dirty! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisit27wJvjIBj4_XO76zdpIMq2oQeU5bziyEKmRB3wkYHDIa-B0retbcR6H9uR9hFA7L9uTVdA3vTN4uszMxGeZMQl_KARNk_mgDlKltqs2h3gHA3bFyeF5LS1p1Jxkbhgbv5O/s1600/DSC04035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisit27wJvjIBj4_XO76zdpIMq2oQeU5bziyEKmRB3wkYHDIa-B0retbcR6H9uR9hFA7L9uTVdA3vTN4uszMxGeZMQl_KARNk_mgDlKltqs2h3gHA3bFyeF5LS1p1Jxkbhgbv5O/s320/DSC04035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Somehow we bought one too many cuke plants so we planted this one in a large pot and hoped for the best. It is doing so well!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4VyGy7SB7XZbyIrjJ4LPZ7BXoDtLtkcvMNQAoLzV-9lMA6TxF04s4JSx-s04teNvf-lo1aarBZT5R-v3ZZnWpAvu-B6f-2yJGuggDA2JQgl7ge5-sBSm6jB3bxQ5SJ8xIqoF/s1600/DSC04036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4VyGy7SB7XZbyIrjJ4LPZ7BXoDtLtkcvMNQAoLzV-9lMA6TxF04s4JSx-s04teNvf-lo1aarBZT5R-v3ZZnWpAvu-B6f-2yJGuggDA2JQgl7ge5-sBSm6jB3bxQ5SJ8xIqoF/s320/DSC04036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Spaghetti squash and acorn squash!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRctPcjapnBzjRvrA7S_bbwcEKiHbZwd4AcIB1tU2jb7cYWTm6kvk83QygvEODkSL2ohGOqc0gTe8iRKe2aK3K2a54HiasmLGd3eHmOTXZf1NJ3c8JpNR98huHy4xAZftL9ubT/s1600/DSC04037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRctPcjapnBzjRvrA7S_bbwcEKiHbZwd4AcIB1tU2jb7cYWTm6kvk83QygvEODkSL2ohGOqc0gTe8iRKe2aK3K2a54HiasmLGd3eHmOTXZf1NJ3c8JpNR98huHy4xAZftL9ubT/s320/DSC04037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The leaves are getting HUGE!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3d8vWqDGut9LaRHYYDm3WUI4HTZ1kxFhlCsM15ogx9UVxsu-FvsMcmSaYAhaGwDFvu8tysdoJ28xEsb_-DCfeX6R0mcs4r4SzIZV5GABZp_EufeEIq6MhWLaiVYVrrkeGqIh/s1600/DSC04038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3d8vWqDGut9LaRHYYDm3WUI4HTZ1kxFhlCsM15ogx9UVxsu-FvsMcmSaYAhaGwDFvu8tysdoJ28xEsb_-DCfeX6R0mcs4r4SzIZV5GABZp_EufeEIq6MhWLaiVYVrrkeGqIh/s320/DSC04038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> No, that ugly blue barrel is not a permanent part of our garden! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4z5SkGGGx96E2RO4zdfqQxo92vxUnzBiiuJHsHrdIcEF9LBfuPljX2OET-s0cYlAM4H6jOpVfOnJuxA-J8JhXTvF7g4qWg9iiR4IsqJb35yKwWvkJ7oLhKuzNi0qG7O_XCSLG/s1600/DSC04043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4z5SkGGGx96E2RO4zdfqQxo92vxUnzBiiuJHsHrdIcEF9LBfuPljX2OET-s0cYlAM4H6jOpVfOnJuxA-J8JhXTvF7g4qWg9iiR4IsqJb35yKwWvkJ7oLhKuzNi0qG7O_XCSLG/s320/DSC04043.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> String beans (that are not properly trellised yet...)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDor1tF1ojltc47pwkPD36S1VR2HTPiyM6zLzrE8Xr5s7cqqVc05CdkV7jrwLDNMJd2lWqcY5Gg8aVW5lJgcTb3NbAfUGtSmFLgpsBlceEt9B9oqTk4cE3Sa3TzsfVg74ce2H0/s1600/DSC04044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDor1tF1ojltc47pwkPD36S1VR2HTPiyM6zLzrE8Xr5s7cqqVc05CdkV7jrwLDNMJd2lWqcY5Gg8aVW5lJgcTb3NbAfUGtSmFLgpsBlceEt9B9oqTk4cE3Sa3TzsfVg74ce2H0/s320/DSC04044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Big old reliable zucchini with their ginormous leaves!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6RrDIvx9Mo6Dd6jO329-iihDnK1Ce2KlNG25GGDomYWr1s7BggVZ0RMh3ePPdiv6RtMCKR8kDq6BPPGAtXc8FRru6xLBTYesuJlBmE-vZxsJG3UPwfwW5H9EyvUirZ4QW4NL/s1600/DSC04045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6RrDIvx9Mo6Dd6jO329-iihDnK1Ce2KlNG25GGDomYWr1s7BggVZ0RMh3ePPdiv6RtMCKR8kDq6BPPGAtXc8FRru6xLBTYesuJlBmE-vZxsJG3UPwfwW5H9EyvUirZ4QW4NL/s320/DSC04045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VrqnSYG7tOOLby5ol3zrHvAR6TUq4i-vhlgIS6L0rMkbTbfBvG98fMGHvLU8HCMxx8R0opRPacFaD8tK6HcIZRVfvD8t5K8QvFMLJSlErizGBmeUUCaWxe38x6g_RD7d9Ngc/s1600/DSC04046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VrqnSYG7tOOLby5ol3zrHvAR6TUq4i-vhlgIS6L0rMkbTbfBvG98fMGHvLU8HCMxx8R0opRPacFaD8tK6HcIZRVfvD8t5K8QvFMLJSlErizGBmeUUCaWxe38x6g_RD7d9Ngc/s320/DSC04046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cucumber plants!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNHzq-qLFeaKh1F08nGkpQo4x4fwWwPMlv5sKJzZowJhtbpP7VgEPKiPPc_2s5Z59JDar8GxBFdYr_PTB_uPk-DpvmNRWafSNC2LPUKTdUtIiiu6z-P2-kEetqtjeT98naNSh/s1600/DSC04048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNHzq-qLFeaKh1F08nGkpQo4x4fwWwPMlv5sKJzZowJhtbpP7VgEPKiPPc_2s5Z59JDar8GxBFdYr_PTB_uPk-DpvmNRWafSNC2LPUKTdUtIiiu6z-P2-kEetqtjeT98naNSh/s320/DSC04048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Deliciously fragrant tomato plants!!! For those of you that garden, have you ever noticed how fragrant tomato leaves are?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4LU3LBNJbFBj0DUb-oWB6Ol_EzmIF4XkQApkQNez-AACXCSXc6-aWMoNsXF9VEdoudtb9YYBSwVrhypgX2Fyy4eFzFLuDbUOADFipSX5orrmGNIeTyu8mnWR92QY2jNXHjp_/s1600/DSC04049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4LU3LBNJbFBj0DUb-oWB6Ol_EzmIF4XkQApkQNez-AACXCSXc6-aWMoNsXF9VEdoudtb9YYBSwVrhypgX2Fyy4eFzFLuDbUOADFipSX5orrmGNIeTyu8mnWR92QY2jNXHjp_/s320/DSC04049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXXplOxeK8fbCgZNQKcKu8W6oJxY7KwOFix-KHqIvdtIETY6TzMHyTRCZybLDTayNTC05E5IwhRCAUYcy57UF_gwtidOmsde6z7GDuNx4DQevVaWW99kWe3JH1yr8L9D5h5PQ/s1600/DSC04050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXXplOxeK8fbCgZNQKcKu8W6oJxY7KwOFix-KHqIvdtIETY6TzMHyTRCZybLDTayNTC05E5IwhRCAUYcy57UF_gwtidOmsde6z7GDuNx4DQevVaWW99kWe3JH1yr8L9D5h5PQ/s320/DSC04050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These <a href="http://www.burpee.com/gardening-supplies/xl-pro-series-cage-green-prod001781.html?catId=2320">Burpee tomato cages</a> are hands down our best garden purchase this year. Well, they are tied with the raised beds. Really, though, the cages we got the last few years at Home Depot or local garden centers never held up. Tomato vines get thick! So I bit the bullet and bought the Burpee cages, which, yes, cost, like triple what I paid at other places, but I was replacing the one I bought every year anyway so this, to me, was well worth it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyufRFvVQILNjg5bkrVWdEVVEpXDvXY-0jqU__yRgTbWRaHH8YaKcQyk5poeOsP-TWNKtRPj3E1PyMkwf-8ZIxYVk9GEia1pwdOVE0qGDF6Yi7l80cr5wSEOB6BuJF5p19hgI/s1600/DSC04051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyufRFvVQILNjg5bkrVWdEVVEpXDvXY-0jqU__yRgTbWRaHH8YaKcQyk5poeOsP-TWNKtRPj3E1PyMkwf-8ZIxYVk9GEia1pwdOVE0qGDF6Yi7l80cr5wSEOB6BuJF5p19hgI/s320/DSC04051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvIaEblL-iDQ_Jse-OjqsXCWVdQpvu_HjFB3uB2Z5vb_fJIjcdRSIp12IxHPxo7nbplYmTzwVZPYWkPdjfi2Y5uYHA0ZQK90yzzR4Im8KmbCi01Y80HSkHf6I_hu2oDtiUNAV/s1600/DSC04052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvIaEblL-iDQ_Jse-OjqsXCWVdQpvu_HjFB3uB2Z5vb_fJIjcdRSIp12IxHPxo7nbplYmTzwVZPYWkPdjfi2Y5uYHA0ZQK90yzzR4Im8KmbCi01Y80HSkHf6I_hu2oDtiUNAV/s320/DSC04052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I obviously can't get enough of our tomato plants!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9oFrDqG4nQxavZuXqW5TAbgcY95hfcrTohikmFiqGVdEmKgn9TmnAwnmWuoY5NoPF3TTHt9PiXZFr_AGbSoqKwW9jLw-roGnEN4h2_PlXLYPXsyun3VMZMq_nCdnE5vamfns/s1600/DSC04053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9oFrDqG4nQxavZuXqW5TAbgcY95hfcrTohikmFiqGVdEmKgn9TmnAwnmWuoY5NoPF3TTHt9PiXZFr_AGbSoqKwW9jLw-roGnEN4h2_PlXLYPXsyun3VMZMq_nCdnE5vamfns/s320/DSC04053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bell peppers...red, orange, and green! Since I took this pic earlier today all the plants are now caged.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-OVIsS53U2ai_SFOiytBk-FZwVvjagpV6-Z0Kx-2Qp62zE90lBm4tAk4Z7XMfSTJ5eAnzXFcv7x-DNenkUwYS20elPBpG0g6pjFHojE7ReTKr3WFCEWUSlFGFEh_yxBOWANg/s1600/DSC04054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-OVIsS53U2ai_SFOiytBk-FZwVvjagpV6-Z0Kx-2Qp62zE90lBm4tAk4Z7XMfSTJ5eAnzXFcv7x-DNenkUwYS20elPBpG0g6pjFHojE7ReTKr3WFCEWUSlFGFEh_yxBOWANg/s320/DSC04054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Peppers....jalapeno and sweet banana!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uYuLggNQ1O0B_yC7ALxQ-ilhSbg5k1PNZy4ST13PNDQvVXcBXmBjKECZbLYC-1rVRiGKf0oiU7tyGiJRXUkar4qwN_QWgjLqGhf_P1vdSUCZE59XMQ_NAi28Hik2VnkdBroy/s1600/DSC04055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uYuLggNQ1O0B_yC7ALxQ-ilhSbg5k1PNZy4ST13PNDQvVXcBXmBjKECZbLYC-1rVRiGKf0oiU7tyGiJRXUkar4qwN_QWgjLqGhf_P1vdSUCZE59XMQ_NAi28Hik2VnkdBroy/s320/DSC04055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4LkDufwkwXUB4f5SPV-jEiXUQfdCE8saQ33NtQAp-srxfiMIb6jbQ6X8gJ-Gp4_4t0T2kEr-_0T3ClEc3ZLGKPp5lIi7FJfmIguVZZbIQzEi7RD5nTSPTazKZ7zdoMexxz5q/s1600/DSC04056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4LkDufwkwXUB4f5SPV-jEiXUQfdCE8saQ33NtQAp-srxfiMIb6jbQ6X8gJ-Gp4_4t0T2kEr-_0T3ClEc3ZLGKPp5lIi7FJfmIguVZZbIQzEi7RD5nTSPTazKZ7zdoMexxz5q/s320/DSC04056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Doesn't he look like he is trying to figure out a way to take a bite out of the plants?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFnhVkxsco9e3do0ku26H1Q7MolLDFJsK6Y6e5VFcsob3rZvceTidy8TyV7fx8xh5Rai0JfcnGedfh3WHqd0hVFG80o4db6vaFBHDrK7QAdnevqAD8p1lHbf6KPftOoLbdo2W/s1600/DSC04057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFnhVkxsco9e3do0ku26H1Q7MolLDFJsK6Y6e5VFcsob3rZvceTidy8TyV7fx8xh5Rai0JfcnGedfh3WHqd0hVFG80o4db6vaFBHDrK7QAdnevqAD8p1lHbf6KPftOoLbdo2W/s320/DSC04057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> "I think she is still watching me...."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzCb6oax4gzHa4bh26EKu6ER2o95_6n7mnVLaxkc-HYhOix8Wak5jgCpKQia2D89Lzl3hY5RtSErXDbXXT-vQ6c39cZ2v6a5gqpJkDDz95YGoc9fsOwCJ89tGsV_F8jg1IGbk/s1600/DSC04058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzCb6oax4gzHa4bh26EKu6ER2o95_6n7mnVLaxkc-HYhOix8Wak5jgCpKQia2D89Lzl3hY5RtSErXDbXXT-vQ6c39cZ2v6a5gqpJkDDz95YGoc9fsOwCJ89tGsV_F8jg1IGbk/s320/DSC04058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> "Whaaat?! I am so innocent...."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2TuFPHw2-2Wd78NZqFkgqFeTNpv8KzskBKZFMGsyGWs3xsBL4tL2R2NcLAsHgR62JQmXlAgNLtsnUG_jNy_SDkDwpd6GTn65MW0ubzYIINBkFFWF6-hZ0orJY3wv7UcwHdo-/s1600/DSC04059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2TuFPHw2-2Wd78NZqFkgqFeTNpv8KzskBKZFMGsyGWs3xsBL4tL2R2NcLAsHgR62JQmXlAgNLtsnUG_jNy_SDkDwpd6GTn65MW0ubzYIINBkFFWF6-hZ0orJY3wv7UcwHdo-/s320/DSC04059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 'Maters, 'maters, 'maters!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNC4lxC5Vk8yfjRTzZpVuwZiPwagpkMmOeJE_0wcIQMqOohlNSf30yCVvbfmfzyF0zb9G9ff9kfzEQXYpIVyRDi6Imp84D3adoa1VYQEEo6vDXCHS2DsPTnbC_X92lgzhqcEAh/s1600/DSC04060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNC4lxC5Vk8yfjRTzZpVuwZiPwagpkMmOeJE_0wcIQMqOohlNSf30yCVvbfmfzyF0zb9G9ff9kfzEQXYpIVyRDi6Imp84D3adoa1VYQEEo6vDXCHS2DsPTnbC_X92lgzhqcEAh/s320/DSC04060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Feeding...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr5uDEB12KaE15Xg_LShr8_-apmri8RLrhevDiLnDZEKdIoVQBK-yS_n8GIUs0ovlyP-xD1TY9bSNbNAOezSWuWcnq7-ChISCEsAINLNgdr2-VNHA7k609oxVX1yXDmXpc3Vx/s1600/DSC04061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr5uDEB12KaE15Xg_LShr8_-apmri8RLrhevDiLnDZEKdIoVQBK-yS_n8GIUs0ovlyP-xD1TY9bSNbNAOezSWuWcnq7-ChISCEsAINLNgdr2-VNHA7k609oxVX1yXDmXpc3Vx/s320/DSC04061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVu9hJ3PdvnOFkzufEJ1giKUrHf1vs3pXb07ofHpRNkcm30xS8ytteS32-ZfgON7ggg9FhEXWQtCmQYtGrG28d6_IgjJE6R7OXmVXOsnM7NGzTiABIpbIAEexk0qbYSHJFArs/s1600/DSC04063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVu9hJ3PdvnOFkzufEJ1giKUrHf1vs3pXb07ofHpRNkcm30xS8ytteS32-ZfgON7ggg9FhEXWQtCmQYtGrG28d6_IgjJE6R7OXmVXOsnM7NGzTiABIpbIAEexk0qbYSHJFArs/s320/DSC04063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> L@@K!!! Cutie little cherry tomatoes!!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjY2TWNZeQzKDhtW8Q6i_R3mdDGZxZYQbi5bs3zRWq3Ttz3hKdKI6MVXJGTQ5_Y_F4zmM2QTvZ06r-5ELHx4FduPytuTBwmNvTzb50mfJfd_qTS9OSGASV9T0bqprjSWcXKko_/s1600/DSC04064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjY2TWNZeQzKDhtW8Q6i_R3mdDGZxZYQbi5bs3zRWq3Ttz3hKdKI6MVXJGTQ5_Y_F4zmM2QTvZ06r-5ELHx4FduPytuTBwmNvTzb50mfJfd_qTS9OSGASV9T0bqprjSWcXKko_/s320/DSC04064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I actually did a little dance when I saw these!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCXLLuTmKWqIaoIM6HcqSTJHtLxK502ZqCVd8_PviLHpDg6LAVxkEuf9N8-swxghLKpuAtbuwrAZTkU1xdm0V7rBlM3d3e267S1r-ilvdXtQffzchUiqZfsHdBcf7l1thNHMc/s1600/DSC04065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCXLLuTmKWqIaoIM6HcqSTJHtLxK502ZqCVd8_PviLHpDg6LAVxkEuf9N8-swxghLKpuAtbuwrAZTkU1xdm0V7rBlM3d3e267S1r-ilvdXtQffzchUiqZfsHdBcf7l1thNHMc/s320/DSC04065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Blossoms waiting to turn in to tomatoes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UBoTHF_HbFkpfX-B9pF_viq3m7-0gPCENTxPRSUH_RFrslbKCiAydIz4eRIj_kcHXN72gmErKcnnBfzJq0ji6XiiTGHjZS_1KiL31VNk5gABzXlvMjOcRqrqFxwFER5x1g-a/s1600/DSC04066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UBoTHF_HbFkpfX-B9pF_viq3m7-0gPCENTxPRSUH_RFrslbKCiAydIz4eRIj_kcHXN72gmErKcnnBfzJq0ji6XiiTGHjZS_1KiL31VNk5gABzXlvMjOcRqrqFxwFER5x1g-a/s320/DSC04066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee1pOv9OS1N1T9Hc8k4gf6BxojwNaBuxwYgaJn0MiRJnbeQXRl8MXj0wxHgwIROIbeKyVSRdAnO7kGEfGuGL3Q6a0JD4cKImqdvEM5JRL0J3VBsDP0xJeGfWEiDxAThsDAl3L/s1600/DSC04067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee1pOv9OS1N1T9Hc8k4gf6BxojwNaBuxwYgaJn0MiRJnbeQXRl8MXj0wxHgwIROIbeKyVSRdAnO7kGEfGuGL3Q6a0JD4cKImqdvEM5JRL0J3VBsDP0xJeGfWEiDxAThsDAl3L/s320/DSC04067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The way I keep gushing about tomatoes you would think I loved them and ate them all the time. The truth is, I don't really like raw tomatoes. I rarely every eat them in salad and if I do it is because they were chopped up pretty small and I didn't notice them. I never ask for them on sandwiches. I know many gardeners think that one of gardening's greatest pleasure is walking out to their yard, plucking a sun-warmed tomato from the vine, and biting in to it like and apple. Ewww! I could never! But...I love to cook with them! I love to make sauces, and salsa, and use them in frittatas, and one homemade pizzas, and in quiche, and really anything. Oh! I will actually eat <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/caprese-salad-recipe/index.html">Insalata Caprese</a>, though...go figure!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyhoo, I obviously had a little too much fun photographing our growing garden so I will just leave you with several more photos for your enjoyment!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you gardening this year?! I would love to hear all about it, and of course, see pics!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVEOohcfOBCSAKzBas3WosyMVFlx-KJbcW-WlsJCIKemefDefqTY0LyNKZV8AtXe6MHpoXu2sL3EK2aeCrFmAifE-GL6EpQJU25tv5QeVi-q7rGSE86Curtgthwb6vjoYHsQc/s1600/DSC04068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVEOohcfOBCSAKzBas3WosyMVFlx-KJbcW-WlsJCIKemefDefqTY0LyNKZV8AtXe6MHpoXu2sL3EK2aeCrFmAifE-GL6EpQJU25tv5QeVi-q7rGSE86Curtgthwb6vjoYHsQc/s320/DSC04068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwMnwh7En5GkhMu7Z_ZQ9QDrltYAvd5gCwFds9eOhUu8BiXlh2Ufw1dufrT8PCeYjHPtzwmBt8cfzGrlCcvzwPTyqL6iqNlIAJSc5gf-ReiKGRsyPhfpryOZlBsVxEkuNXO3n/s1600/DSC04072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwMnwh7En5GkhMu7Z_ZQ9QDrltYAvd5gCwFds9eOhUu8BiXlh2Ufw1dufrT8PCeYjHPtzwmBt8cfzGrlCcvzwPTyqL6iqNlIAJSc5gf-ReiKGRsyPhfpryOZlBsVxEkuNXO3n/s320/DSC04072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidEIwcT7CbcEHu0blmgg_0ef69IHz43u36fSvGf_X-OnAfgTtLSYroQ4u_-D6TIds_QxYWlBsHG-wFGKO3E5car-g4JutsFgcCRrbzoeJzXOXgKaOXSZO24ejZTiJzFtNPdC2/s1600/DSC04073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidEIwcT7CbcEHu0blmgg_0ef69IHz43u36fSvGf_X-OnAfgTtLSYroQ4u_-D6TIds_QxYWlBsHG-wFGKO3E5car-g4JutsFgcCRrbzoeJzXOXgKaOXSZO24ejZTiJzFtNPdC2/s320/DSC04073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0NLybdaJKT9avAwpB4sOagdCUce-33pRX9fo9UGQPjE7qGo5dPVnsxozurSmThFEI5MfZaGFwksEThmnILay7xJhxcOy5UjGpZ08GsOI-KjF3vyHcy-Wf5orCU4yOEAwzgFA/s1600/DSC04074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0NLybdaJKT9avAwpB4sOagdCUce-33pRX9fo9UGQPjE7qGo5dPVnsxozurSmThFEI5MfZaGFwksEThmnILay7xJhxcOy5UjGpZ08GsOI-KjF3vyHcy-Wf5orCU4yOEAwzgFA/s320/DSC04074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1ytSelsBEsN8Szd_3ot_lgrSB7vvulGnpR-IZF27kny-jvD4PR90btp2SlUr5Ew7LbhY-PHOvHiiO3D0xXAa94kq_TWJknmYY75KoMwm1sz8UmIhUvWyMsiUcFsLvwPV55JZ/s1600/DSC04075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1ytSelsBEsN8Szd_3ot_lgrSB7vvulGnpR-IZF27kny-jvD4PR90btp2SlUr5Ew7LbhY-PHOvHiiO3D0xXAa94kq_TWJknmYY75KoMwm1sz8UmIhUvWyMsiUcFsLvwPV55JZ/s320/DSC04075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglNvL2y2pznvqUPsLxoT4eppcQwc0e15E3X3Jx47psjc6Pr5vIKO0Ek8Kq6Q7Na4XZuka83zjaPRj50ct0p8_pRQVPxkconP049Rx2Y9uZPi88BCIUF1afv0_8RtXcQ0J7wfx/s1600/DSC04076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglNvL2y2pznvqUPsLxoT4eppcQwc0e15E3X3Jx47psjc6Pr5vIKO0Ek8Kq6Q7Na4XZuka83zjaPRj50ct0p8_pRQVPxkconP049Rx2Y9uZPi88BCIUF1afv0_8RtXcQ0J7wfx/s320/DSC04076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqks7TrcHpWtXJx0fy7_Q_trj9o-vVqeQJD-sF-r2GEqU-_kaoRnnLu4Ie1KaHQmKJtNXiJxvsUY9LUuoPcEHu6L4vY3q4O5H4UCpbSIQbqqzjMNOlBwRd3fmHP8-2oejhliKW/s1600/DSC04078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqks7TrcHpWtXJx0fy7_Q_trj9o-vVqeQJD-sF-r2GEqU-_kaoRnnLu4Ie1KaHQmKJtNXiJxvsUY9LUuoPcEHu6L4vY3q4O5H4UCpbSIQbqqzjMNOlBwRd3fmHP8-2oejhliKW/s320/DSC04078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s6pUKTMoVIfWVSXyqF15WsH0l6NgvMoAFRUUcARyg0LPJeJ_yWgt859C6F1gEDMvj7ZkN5To8x81_tYq-KzQKsXhXoy1O2rUBiM-8ayyqjrB7wRKhE5u-MzarvXR_DgBbbZV/s1600/DSC04080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s6pUKTMoVIfWVSXyqF15WsH0l6NgvMoAFRUUcARyg0LPJeJ_yWgt859C6F1gEDMvj7ZkN5To8x81_tYq-KzQKsXhXoy1O2rUBiM-8ayyqjrB7wRKhE5u-MzarvXR_DgBbbZV/s320/DSC04080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEZC4kbU0z-ipGsp70_si_ejo6x4GhMg0SF3_nmKlrKmNI31wyxfOwm9fyIrwvOXz5oCM_p2DWwTk3PTUMWhD_c7j583yA7wZQtYfZgQqHO2MkONZVPCtqoSJsk7fuHJx_IFl/s1600/DSC04081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEZC4kbU0z-ipGsp70_si_ejo6x4GhMg0SF3_nmKlrKmNI31wyxfOwm9fyIrwvOXz5oCM_p2DWwTk3PTUMWhD_c7j583yA7wZQtYfZgQqHO2MkONZVPCtqoSJsk7fuHJx_IFl/s320/DSC04081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMtTdYK8V3elE5jZnD8FWJl80G-O88yUpVN2Z5eHaOkdvp9jTmkGBpYPZIVW2o8YjTZB0UderxC-VSmkbIzmk8lu64UyVzu1shejChF9Mp-3l-CZdeeR9oo-NeXYG0b0QYAqR/s1600/DSC04082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMtTdYK8V3elE5jZnD8FWJl80G-O88yUpVN2Z5eHaOkdvp9jTmkGBpYPZIVW2o8YjTZB0UderxC-VSmkbIzmk8lu64UyVzu1shejChF9Mp-3l-CZdeeR9oo-NeXYG0b0QYAqR/s320/DSC04082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-64963636721651226202011-06-16T08:41:00.001-05:002011-06-16T08:43:05.535-05:00We are the CHAMPIONS, my friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4-Q1nwWNGTsZapOxz7yNEtGkPXjPncWmWXG2eGohbjl-prsNq7kig_vg2es7OzV8ZcnZJ914uSJ-bbqGRy_FxF83hA7ll5t4fZbC5e_DnqLBTeu0T2m-_R8vh0bI34N9UTS0/s1600/Bruins+champs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4-Q1nwWNGTsZapOxz7yNEtGkPXjPncWmWXG2eGohbjl-prsNq7kig_vg2es7OzV8ZcnZJ914uSJ-bbqGRy_FxF83hA7ll5t4fZbC5e_DnqLBTeu0T2m-_R8vh0bI34N9UTS0/s320/Bruins+champs.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yeah, baby!!! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bringing Lord Stanley's Cup home to Boston!!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Say what you want about Boston. The haters are definitely out there. But there really is no denying it....Boston is a dominant and legendary sports town, and last night our Bruins proved that!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOUFn-AiA5Pb4XoWDv9YUDuf8lj0e9MjBWvNk_WU_UZrd05FGq3v2DH68ynMuF5OZQN5ybilWowQ5f4PXdIGMDuoNmyk2yYH4sZdSuf6nl2sLOTB1KhuisHXmVltrD9NQEvl4/s1600/bsteam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOUFn-AiA5Pb4XoWDv9YUDuf8lj0e9MjBWvNk_WU_UZrd05FGq3v2DH68ynMuF5OZQN5ybilWowQ5f4PXdIGMDuoNmyk2yYH4sZdSuf6nl2sLOTB1KhuisHXmVltrD9NQEvl4/s1600/bsteam2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Boston Bruins, 2011 Stanley Cup Champions</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
What a game!!! What a series!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Football has always been my first sports love, but after football I am a hockey girl through and through, and I have loved my Boston Bruins since I was a kid! I was only a year old the last time they won the Cup so this victory last night is so very sweet!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHJDuWATXFlZIm6TEJ2SeAsmYo90M6C0PvXp2F6HU3HtPMLlBYPBBxUPgXzAJJyRM9sO2aVQhYg_2d8jo2UyKNX9bmhpc7TMjQaADYSntZF63r5E8uPt95c_KdMuWu9Bp1gW_/s1600/849e85_timmy_06152011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHJDuWATXFlZIm6TEJ2SeAsmYo90M6C0PvXp2F6HU3HtPMLlBYPBBxUPgXzAJJyRM9sO2aVQhYg_2d8jo2UyKNX9bmhpc7TMjQaADYSntZF63r5E8uPt95c_KdMuWu9Bp1gW_/s1600/849e85_timmy_06152011.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tim Thomas is THE man!!! There is no better goalie in the NHL!!! And in addition to being a MAJOR part of the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup he also very fittingly won the Conn Smythe trophy as MVP of the series!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTtpJIAmmSGSzregFZmAdoG7plVHnVYPPdT9W7P9gi2DpwnouPbBR1Sj7cyTsk8vqL_5l3XjHOB1PN5M-D79EBicNRe_NHUXjBjRpkhJbt9ZNyXvZ6toIQgnIewRdsoEyOtb9/s1600/bostonsports2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTtpJIAmmSGSzregFZmAdoG7plVHnVYPPdT9W7P9gi2DpwnouPbBR1Sj7cyTsk8vqL_5l3XjHOB1PN5M-D79EBicNRe_NHUXjBjRpkhJbt9ZNyXvZ6toIQgnIewRdsoEyOtb9/s320/bostonsports2.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep, Boston is a sports town! And a damn fabulous one at that!</div><div style="text-align: center;">In just ten years our teams have brought home all of the major sports championships, a few of them multiple times!!! We have our New England Patriots (Super Bowl champs in '01, '03, and '04), our Boston Red Sox (World Series champs in '04 and '07), our Boston Celtics (NBA champs in '08), and now our Boston Bruins (Stanley Cup champs in '11)!!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And people still want to say Boston sucks?!?! To that I say....</div><div style="text-align: center;">kiss my Boston ass!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrd60AD4F8xVOD5RDqW_vBjBZ1Z8gWY5VCRApUjzXEWc3jQHFeObL6y4zaKyDLvnlZKN6wAlquetOIp161Zn1Puyh5oIxkydPrrUXc1uWL9pntKnX90jTfkO1qXmDLNGioYbW/s1600/bruinsnewlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrd60AD4F8xVOD5RDqW_vBjBZ1Z8gWY5VCRApUjzXEWc3jQHFeObL6y4zaKyDLvnlZKN6wAlquetOIp161Zn1Puyh5oIxkydPrrUXc1uWL9pntKnX90jTfkO1qXmDLNGioYbW/s1600/bruinsnewlogo.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I just read online that our boys have touched down at Logan Airport and are in route to the Boston Garden! The victory parade is being planned and should take place in the next few days!!! Beantown will be rocking!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Way to go Bruins!!! You guys are THE BEST and you made us all proud!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOSTON BRUINS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2011</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-52339936577575084832011-06-12T16:24:00.000-05:002011-06-12T16:24:27.338-05:00Embracing summer...or trying to, at least!<div style="text-align: center;">It is no secret that I am not a big fan of summer. I wasn't always this way. I used to absolutely love it. I even loved the heat. Of course, I pretty much lived at the beach day in and day out. I unabashedly baked in the sun for hours on end wearing very little, if any......</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">sunscreen!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(you thought I was going to say clothes, didn't you?!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeah, it is true. I loved summer....the beach, both day (sunning and swimming) and night (cruising around and meeting boys!), the outdoor concerts, camping in the mountains. I just loved all of it. I still love the beach, though I don't go anymore because I am not happy with where I am physically. I love concerts, but one in an indoor air conditioned arena sounds infinitely more enticing than outdoors on a muggy, buggy night. I would still go camping, but middle age has made me a bit soft and the thought of camping the way my friends and I used to (minimal supplies, sleeping on the ground, not showering for days) doesn't really sound all that appealing any more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Summers here in New England have always been ridiculously hot and disgustingly humid. More than it seems it should reasonably be for someplace in the Northeast. I have just found in recent years that I can't stand it! I absolutely loathe the heat and humidity. Once the thermostat inches past 80 and the heat index starts rising I am a miserable bitch. Funny, though, I never minded it when I could spend every day at the beach, not a care in the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Growing up is a bitch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The ridiculously frigid, bone-chilling New England winters are not my favorite either. It is nice at this time of year to not have to be bundled up in multiple layers of heavy clothes. I love not having to fear the ice that builds up everywhere I walk. I love the longer hours of daylight and getting the garden going.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, still, we have already been blasted with some nasty humid days and there are for sure many more just lurking around the corner. It is, after all, almost July.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I am trying something new this year. I am going to attempt to embrace summer....at least I am going to make a real good effort to. Despite my complaining and whining about the humidity there really is much to love about New England in the summer. Well, let's face it, there is much to love about New England year round, and summer is no different. I actually wrote a post a couple years ago about all the great things about <a href="http://scrapbliss.blogspot.com/2009/06/thinking-summer-on-rainy-sunday.html">summer in New England</a> (ironically, I wrote it on a rainy Sunday in June and I writing this post on a rainy Sunday in June!). This year, in order to try an embrace summer, I did what I do best: I got crafty!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIqt0nBqiU8eLhAD0HBZSfdA_3UYJXsvpdn8hi2zeVFxWHHpGpUbhJGEc-cFMfYgoyngi6fP4Z38Pu5Z_r8eabNO6_w7yQ-liWUZ8NdqBESsfDjI83RnEat-eGF8UYEH2JneF/s1600/DSC03976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIqt0nBqiU8eLhAD0HBZSfdA_3UYJXsvpdn8hi2zeVFxWHHpGpUbhJGEc-cFMfYgoyngi6fP4Z38Pu5Z_r8eabNO6_w7yQ-liWUZ8NdqBESsfDjI83RnEat-eGF8UYEH2JneF/s320/DSC03976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have read my blog for any length of time then you know that every year in late August I make a fall journal/scrapbook that encompasses September, October, Halloween, November, and Thanksgiving. The idea is I put the book together in advance then add to it throughout the season and by the time December 1st rolls around I have a handmade, funky, overflowing, crafty keepsake of my most favorite time of year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvL2COKdIBe60LMTnRIPkrhwpZQJoIQjJ64xh3jFY-Is_V1JLUHsz-w84xAzoM9uiPAlF30rLdO3I98pQZeoQkPEIzdF1jO11zfH2eISgi71MiToO5PCWCVOAxG4BJ5PmsTpe/s1600/DSC03984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvL2COKdIBe60LMTnRIPkrhwpZQJoIQjJ64xh3jFY-Is_V1JLUHsz-w84xAzoM9uiPAlF30rLdO3I98pQZeoQkPEIzdF1jO11zfH2eISgi71MiToO5PCWCVOAxG4BJ5PmsTpe/s320/DSC03984.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I am trying that for summer, just on a much smaller scale. I am going to try to embrace summer more, but I harbor no illusions that I will ever love it like I love fall, so I am thinking I will not need quite as much space in this journal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't take any pictures of the process of putting it together but it was really very simple, and everything I used on it is stuff I already had in my stash. The covers are two pieces of bookboard that are roughly 4.5" x 6.5". They are covered in canvas front and back. I misted two sheets of <a href="http://www.aswexpress.com/discount-art-supplies/paper-and-sketchbooks/oil-and-acrylic/strathmore/400-series/strathmore-400-acrylic-linen-canvas-pad-0074904000000.html">Strathmore Linen Canvas</a> with <a href="http://www.mayaroad.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=198_200&zenid=7bbae32e94d740db21c3f338411fc894">Maya Road mists</a> in summery colors. Then I just cut pieces to size and used a glue stick to cover the book board. I freehand wrote "Summer 2011" using a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elmers-Painters-Opaque-Marker-Medium/dp/B0027AEB3I">white Elmer's paint pen</a>. I inked a random chipboard flower that I had in my stash with <a href="http://www.rangerink.com/products/prod_dyeink_distresspads.htm">Ranger Distress Inks</a> in colors to blend with the mists I used and stuck it on with the glue stick. I used my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Memory-Keepers-Eyelet-Handle/dp/B001EWPYXG">Crop-A-Dile</a> to punch holes thru the bookboard and bound the book with generic office supply store <a href="http://www.staples.com/Staples-Loose-Leaf-Rings-1-Size/product_481326">binder rings</a> (I always keep a bunch on hand in several sizes). There are three sections: June, July, and August. I made the page dividers by cutting down generic <a href="http://www.staples.com/Staples-Heavyweight-Manila-File-Folders-Letter-3-Tab-50-Box/product_744100?cmArea=class_box1">manila tabbed folders</a> and misting them. Each section has a page pre-printed with the month (they were cut from a larger 12 x 12 piece of scrapbooking paper I had. I can't remember the brand but if I can figure it out among the mess in my craft room I will come back here and update. And other than that, each section just has random pages cut from scraps of patterned paper, <a href="http://bazzillbasics.com/">Bazzill cardstock</a>, and <a href="http://www.hamblyscreenprints.com/">Hambly transparencies</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vmealLon3tIZZshiGlS2KeWfm9G2NTrJle5IqMm9csDjHSzLLq4mUeGVH5nkBe6dershX06hXsRdLkFEfZZOtsHPIUThbU5Pyq55CAnlUWZlfp7FabCaerRrC232rjCiqvSK/s1600/DSC03977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vmealLon3tIZZshiGlS2KeWfm9G2NTrJle5IqMm9csDjHSzLLq4mUeGVH5nkBe6dershX06hXsRdLkFEfZZOtsHPIUThbU5Pyq55CAnlUWZlfp7FabCaerRrC232rjCiqvSK/s320/DSC03977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_Ns76yC3Hu9TOR7Re3_fV09gZVuMoAiiK3IthU849gWs_f34_1vpd_S0r7Pyh-zktbCtFzylUl22G8MGV7NwNfS_x58vDe9wzoglZ6guCuH1WxwT7E8zY9dNntE2kyJv5KYv/s1600/DSC03978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_Ns76yC3Hu9TOR7Re3_fV09gZVuMoAiiK3IthU849gWs_f34_1vpd_S0r7Pyh-zktbCtFzylUl22G8MGV7NwNfS_x58vDe9wzoglZ6guCuH1WxwT7E8zY9dNntE2kyJv5KYv/s320/DSC03978.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5uhyphenhyphenkFqlx5zoGhJ4mfILcFnjE5sh1O0EJiPSPzdhovtK-l4X_aQtIWu-mW1F3wRimV87Sf7r3vyumLbihhh-ACSGBGGCx0dTMpKy2m5HoLszvVOjueWzrNzWL-jfZmUskNDw/s1600/DSC03979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5uhyphenhyphenkFqlx5zoGhJ4mfILcFnjE5sh1O0EJiPSPzdhovtK-l4X_aQtIWu-mW1F3wRimV87Sf7r3vyumLbihhh-ACSGBGGCx0dTMpKy2m5HoLszvVOjueWzrNzWL-jfZmUskNDw/s320/DSC03979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIwVKEy00r8ei8F4nR11bcE2rgrzdqL1baV-w2URSrS4SE-gpyD68R3Mg8vhSaqubQgxNXos1Y4CICPXEZY9-Kg5QsKU8E_9SB3JHMtG_sbEn4gqPJAI3B7J3Chg3A8UieXkd/s1600/DSC03980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIwVKEy00r8ei8F4nR11bcE2rgrzdqL1baV-w2URSrS4SE-gpyD68R3Mg8vhSaqubQgxNXos1Y4CICPXEZY9-Kg5QsKU8E_9SB3JHMtG_sbEn4gqPJAI3B7J3Chg3A8UieXkd/s320/DSC03980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLGsUpNaVd0sp6xO4heq0ULYc2_7PbEA76Zzt2qUqgi-hT_piEvhcYbwzH5h69fTZZftYI7VzD5_kz6NqOnfB0PPgjKn8hDhbfZe3HUf86JITqt1I2Jj22H7EjALRxCBbqb3c/s1600/DSC03981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLGsUpNaVd0sp6xO4heq0ULYc2_7PbEA76Zzt2qUqgi-hT_piEvhcYbwzH5h69fTZZftYI7VzD5_kz6NqOnfB0PPgjKn8hDhbfZe3HUf86JITqt1I2Jj22H7EjALRxCBbqb3c/s320/DSC03981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nYw2sjlNB8Hom0bbZF1xE9ifVnTByQVG5mUOdQcvGu0JJpdFxxUIvriCBoYd75xYbBJMkj_8rlX44ASUfU7yeo574I1kl82IILws7oFsSMsE_77Czj1bqpDaOOdkgPwIjqy7/s1600/DSC03982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nYw2sjlNB8Hom0bbZF1xE9ifVnTByQVG5mUOdQcvGu0JJpdFxxUIvriCBoYd75xYbBJMkj_8rlX44ASUfU7yeo574I1kl82IILws7oFsSMsE_77Czj1bqpDaOOdkgPwIjqy7/s320/DSC03982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8AL5ppCYf_BX8YXk6LmpeZTcTRMJcgicdFQYGFlTc357fp3sIixI14kF4LLIj3UBon-mlCS9CEhtjHD_n33629thUktSRhpe4CXJPcVzR1NO8EcXLybOC720q5H-KI01j7YZ/s1600/DSC03983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8AL5ppCYf_BX8YXk6LmpeZTcTRMJcgicdFQYGFlTc357fp3sIixI14kF4LLIj3UBon-mlCS9CEhtjHD_n33629thUktSRhpe4CXJPcVzR1NO8EcXLybOC720q5H-KI01j7YZ/s320/DSC03983.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are not a big fan of summer, what do you do to make the most of it?!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-49653472911792899772011-05-30T16:46:00.001-05:002011-05-30T16:47:34.146-05:00It's here....GARDEN 2011!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0qD_iF5xpLd6lS_3WVyN0tah8xUnSawGSinihEu0qZ_9X2c_8yrdJnJor34_TEy9BQY_VSpssb0E9WwYDk88aHJkcSbBVslAKRYlS2XYgnujw3Ar7t66gGmfTOAoxtK-wJ47/s1600/DSC03954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0qD_iF5xpLd6lS_3WVyN0tah8xUnSawGSinihEu0qZ_9X2c_8yrdJnJor34_TEy9BQY_VSpssb0E9WwYDk88aHJkcSbBVslAKRYlS2XYgnujw3Ar7t66gGmfTOAoxtK-wJ47/s320/DSC03954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Garden 2011</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">is planted and it is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BIGGER</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BETTER</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">than ever!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXfZ2leQSDe4eNTJ8Hk_7dwfLd7GRdGlflLg9VJHL-gdGYrOWLbLVGOl59vhCrI_GuJtZIvvDug2SY9IhA3RoKVagtBZi9QQSgiqrVLyUB5qR7T_Her7SQsfxXp2fViEbeblQ/s1600/DSC03955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXfZ2leQSDe4eNTJ8Hk_7dwfLd7GRdGlflLg9VJHL-gdGYrOWLbLVGOl59vhCrI_GuJtZIvvDug2SY9IhA3RoKVagtBZi9QQSgiqrVLyUB5qR7T_Her7SQsfxXp2fViEbeblQ/s320/DSC03955.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, it was hard for me to get it all in one picture!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kuT5X4OWUUYI6pwW0nu1eTfmUetFSNVp0Sx4HEZzmekRgLqhlZzy6Ulequo9kexaXJmbXVLZx8oNhfr9ThgOQyeMhqjkTyYSIb4M8-WV9oHhkOsJ9tIgqLTAjWfUeoqMY74M/s1600/DSC03956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kuT5X4OWUUYI6pwW0nu1eTfmUetFSNVp0Sx4HEZzmekRgLqhlZzy6Ulequo9kexaXJmbXVLZx8oNhfr9ThgOQyeMhqjkTyYSIb4M8-WV9oHhkOsJ9tIgqLTAjWfUeoqMY74M/s320/DSC03956.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eight 4' x 4' raised beds...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BgMNprKyUAqB8n67wsCevTLCbvTzoCtOatnkMJB8zsfYIlpKL2axEINlei_8oIDaK5qrVexW89h3RP51zQqZ58gA3K8O91xlZGbf2Iur55Y34A_wnR02MvSkIAu1vujkXppu/s1600/DSC03957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BgMNprKyUAqB8n67wsCevTLCbvTzoCtOatnkMJB8zsfYIlpKL2axEINlei_8oIDaK5qrVexW89h3RP51zQqZ58gA3K8O91xlZGbf2Iur55Y34A_wnR02MvSkIAu1vujkXppu/s320/DSC03957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">23 different varieties of veggies...</div><div style="text-align: center;">(and maybe a few more to come!!!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK72qjyHfVyN0kovCPpmY2rGma3mNU3jWO9hpMqSM6TJxV6IISzfky3GPyqmDVm3rpvlfoc43ItOE67mFhjIoePY_vQ_BcgKEMP6_QmfIgskPFG2LGXPUu0jDQLccuwIELVslB/s1600/DSC03958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK72qjyHfVyN0kovCPpmY2rGma3mNU3jWO9hpMqSM6TJxV6IISzfky3GPyqmDVm3rpvlfoc43ItOE67mFhjIoePY_vQ_BcgKEMP6_QmfIgskPFG2LGXPUu0jDQLccuwIELVslB/s320/DSC03958.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Three different varieties of cucumber...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgEV3J818oBvZc-_nEhd0F-vC4jLcxd_Mh2N8BQfAFe7UnLqorn_xJGBbqiQNRxe2bn13l8Xufph579TuCIHQWh-MJoEayD6PMnZcT4CW8MOgM65nY76DfeZkBCQVGGaK4AFT/s1600/DSC03959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgEV3J818oBvZc-_nEhd0F-vC4jLcxd_Mh2N8BQfAFe7UnLqorn_xJGBbqiQNRxe2bn13l8Xufph579TuCIHQWh-MJoEayD6PMnZcT4CW8MOgM65nY76DfeZkBCQVGGaK4AFT/s320/DSC03959.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are four different varieties of tomato...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUn_xJ9gZC7HLCBIh6wzbeY3XWJMoqLZQlOHxqa4Sy5GDf93w9vSLjSa6_eLAl-8Nxb45aJci0l4WdzBevS3xfMWJJ8o_xeA4QaFJ1UfI8_IKVpKFFiPZ8lnlvBUhNJtMNi6f/s1600/DSC03960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUn_xJ9gZC7HLCBIh6wzbeY3XWJMoqLZQlOHxqa4Sy5GDf93w9vSLjSa6_eLAl-8Nxb45aJci0l4WdzBevS3xfMWJJ8o_xeA4QaFJ1UfI8_IKVpKFFiPZ8lnlvBUhNJtMNi6f/s320/DSC03960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Five different varieties of peppers...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iqvKmeICedoJdksh_0FrscMLypiRBekpxf581Hv1-j5KpQ6QYWjyGd27JYO0ujrDAgsDQHEKwnSgn2BOQt7yi22U0GAC9eSi_ymxqCu9n-mkAdyW8f-MwTDfmge3fwD_NwKl/s1600/DSC03961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iqvKmeICedoJdksh_0FrscMLypiRBekpxf581Hv1-j5KpQ6QYWjyGd27JYO0ujrDAgsDQHEKwnSgn2BOQt7yi22U0GAC9eSi_ymxqCu9n-mkAdyW8f-MwTDfmge3fwD_NwKl/s320/DSC03961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is like my zesty corner...all tomatoes and peppers!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(and check out that hunky man!!!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRdf5vx_1PNgkkrH5950Vku90qQrcbL-_eShuKiaGDsagg5VmbSWUgL3m2V60fioi_59_98WkZtFtQZaE_B4rm4UcA4kR9JHRMK4lw65NJyeyVO_Rofp9hna1rzu5ahoPF2bR/s1600/DSC03962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRdf5vx_1PNgkkrH5950Vku90qQrcbL-_eShuKiaGDsagg5VmbSWUgL3m2V60fioi_59_98WkZtFtQZaE_B4rm4UcA4kR9JHRMK4lw65NJyeyVO_Rofp9hna1rzu5ahoPF2bR/s320/DSC03962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-EzUSdI0FiSEmxfE_fxRI_uehn66xyQhaa2fSWXa_e3dQdBhN5pqS1VIPSWg8xGo9xt7FcVQrX9HAc28uHmi9eYhFuFT968wuIFaM5KPzJrNfaB5LBeyiuXBb8N2GCevrV9o/s1600/DSC03969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-EzUSdI0FiSEmxfE_fxRI_uehn66xyQhaa2fSWXa_e3dQdBhN5pqS1VIPSWg8xGo9xt7FcVQrX9HAc28uHmi9eYhFuFT968wuIFaM5KPzJrNfaB5LBeyiuXBb8N2GCevrV9o/s320/DSC03969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah! And nine different types of herbs...so far!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN9Hs5Ree2jVndoXp7G0_v7AMYQn3_3TRempHkf4SaTr6lFnBysgy6GRy2qKk9knBofvkB2wjTMruY6yqOqFxA6OPPdlmEGAAeCo8chU1T8qn0eRJer0Dn8Gtqm3D4G9XV-l2/s1600/DSC03970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN9Hs5Ree2jVndoXp7G0_v7AMYQn3_3TRempHkf4SaTr6lFnBysgy6GRy2qKk9knBofvkB2wjTMruY6yqOqFxA6OPPdlmEGAAeCo8chU1T8qn0eRJer0Dn8Gtqm3D4G9XV-l2/s320/DSC03970.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what our holiday weekend consisted of!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday morning three yards of screened and composted loam was delivered to our driveway. Kevin and my brother set to work assembling the beds and then later Kevin hauled loads of dirt to the backyard to fill them. Sunday we visited THREE different garden centers to get all the plants and seeds we wanted!!! Then we took a break to attend our nephew's 8th birthday in the park...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mVEDn3ezxhFu09a1ExFCrjV__mQk4EfiVIgtFCHUaHsJ0IWUgtoUCS5zvUmf0f3-lvIfa_FdIz88UvsN5ZvkFjR77OkuVzbsaFuivmBD9hdvyty96jgB6qMV5Tq57-ZZNk-n/s1600/DSC03952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mVEDn3ezxhFu09a1ExFCrjV__mQk4EfiVIgtFCHUaHsJ0IWUgtoUCS5zvUmf0f3-lvIfa_FdIz88UvsN5ZvkFjR77OkuVzbsaFuivmBD9hdvyty96jgB6qMV5Tq57-ZZNk-n/s320/DSC03952.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Yes, he turned EIGHT!!! Gaahhh!!! Where is the time going?!? But that is a whole 'nother post!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This morning we awoke super early, headed to a few local cemeteries to visit family graves and pay respect to veterans that have passed on, then it was home to get dirty!!! And get dirty we did!!! And sweaty!!! And sore (but a good sore)!!! And, I'm sure, a bit smelly!!! Oh, well! The end result was worth it!!! All those veggies and herbs planted!!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluMOYGL1XQ8PXVeDDbWK4wR73R1dGv6ipLICPZ7tcGPvp9hPnn6skzWouKZuRraWbJyZ3S_I5atdFhI3UD1-rzhkTaStzACVQ2H0Tg-_NM2VQ2zg3jVH6rtbu4U_gcrEsxj9o/s1600/DSC03966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluMOYGL1XQ8PXVeDDbWK4wR73R1dGv6ipLICPZ7tcGPvp9hPnn6skzWouKZuRraWbJyZ3S_I5atdFhI3UD1-rzhkTaStzACVQ2H0Tg-_NM2VQ2zg3jVH6rtbu4U_gcrEsxj9o/s320/DSC03966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_ZtB639KovVQn6QXs96MGwIWDaOh4xgmb54ONdePBvGaNt7Z66lxeBsErkdAiMKAQT0Bjn5BasNduoJGY4YOwS9cvS5khqruVQZtWTIzv7ibnk6s3mkWoGaIj0tEB3muYoFj/s1600/DSC03967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_ZtB639KovVQn6QXs96MGwIWDaOh4xgmb54ONdePBvGaNt7Z66lxeBsErkdAiMKAQT0Bjn5BasNduoJGY4YOwS9cvS5khqruVQZtWTIzv7ibnk6s3mkWoGaIj0tEB3muYoFj/s320/DSC03967.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wp7iHVubLGNZsVnyIrqEuQ4LgtxuNZuUjftMmcG7zeptZE9jj6zP8cGlVVax2RvanqYXpcxa_KpICBajNL9LmdYxqIAPE6lsZ5XH-c3wHpMUMkRAfNZfNoFqC9aUyLH5oPCo/s1600/DSC03968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wp7iHVubLGNZsVnyIrqEuQ4LgtxuNZuUjftMmcG7zeptZE9jj6zP8cGlVVax2RvanqYXpcxa_KpICBajNL9LmdYxqIAPE6lsZ5XH-c3wHpMUMkRAfNZfNoFqC9aUyLH5oPCo/s320/DSC03968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">...and a few hanging baskets, too!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(These are the two hanging over our deck. There is one more hanging on the side of the house kinda near our front steps and driveway.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">The ones on the deck are a mix of petunias and marigold. The one near our driveway has petunias and two other types of flower I don't know the name of! :-) But all together the basket has red, white, and blue flowers!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, do you want a rundown of what we planted today?!</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Cherry tomato</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Roma tomato</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Big Boy tomato</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Homestead tomato (an heirloom variety)</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Red bell pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Green bell pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Orange bell pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Banana pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Jalapeno pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Zucchini</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Spaghetti squash</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Acorn squash</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Icebox watermelon</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Radishes (two different varieties that I can't remember the name of)</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Carrots (Danvers Half-Long)</div><div style="text-align: center;">* String beans</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Peas</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Arugula</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Eggplant</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Pickling cucumber (two different varieties)</div><div style="text-align: center;">* "Burpless" cucumber</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I had...have!...hopes of planting romaine lettuce, spinach, summer squash, scallions, and Brandywine tomatoes but have not gotten my hands on any plants. There are still a few more local garden centers I can visit...!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And for herbs...</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Sweet Basil</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Greek Oregano</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Italian Parsley</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Sweet Marjoram</div><div style="text-align: center;">* German Thyme</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Sage</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Fern Dill</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Cilantro</div><div style="text-align: center;">* Rosemary</div><div style="text-align: center;">* English Lavender</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I still want to plant some chives and I would love to plant fennel!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Many of the things I would like to plant are better suited to cooler temps so I am hoping to keep our garden up through early to mid-fall, depending on the temps. Many lettuces, spinach, peas, broccoli, etc., are much better suited to cooler temps. The last several days here have been way too hot and nasty humid so we have been watering like crazy, so it is probably best that I haven't found all the plants I would like to find. At some point I would love to plant garlic and Brussels sprouts, too!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am just so excited to have what I consider a "real" garden this year!!! I am hopeful that it will produce a bounty of all things good for us, and plenty to share with family and friends!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you gardening this year? If so, I would love to see pictures and learn about what you are planting!</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18621687.post-60950987569987659942011-05-13T15:44:00.001-05:002011-05-13T15:48:20.473-05:00Crossing the Rainbow Bridge....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrRXL5KNhiai2M8QCp5Fi03sXV-DD5HRRD88IvV3DYFP6pJAF9-joo_QWU_hXey1nHc9qkT487VvVQvVQAtZ0AgW81CjJrZlb1po5vv9SS8inM91FuiIn1Y-ZnQz9BBubCEtR/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrRXL5KNhiai2M8QCp5Fi03sXV-DD5HRRD88IvV3DYFP6pJAF9-joo_QWU_hXey1nHc9qkT487VvVQvVQAtZ0AgW81CjJrZlb1po5vv9SS8inM91FuiIn1Y-ZnQz9BBubCEtR/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Kya, 2005 - 2011</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday our sweet girl Kya, my brother's gorgeous Golden Retriever, crossed the Rainbow Bridge. To say we are all heartbroken would be a huge understatement. She was way too young to go, way to young to be sick, just plain way too young. Life can be ridiculously, indescribably unfair at times. And I don't understand why. And it sucks, plain and simple.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAZzXc6w1D9DS-yevihga5uCUZli4WYxBgeSuxP-EyOW9lMKFonYv1K5-SAzVC3pmIqNtMrnd1K_NYzYmeXfxR1zD14om1bsyXgT1TPNjcXc3ASDEAYjqmEkzZWa1Lq77gyTh/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAZzXc6w1D9DS-yevihga5uCUZli4WYxBgeSuxP-EyOW9lMKFonYv1K5-SAzVC3pmIqNtMrnd1K_NYzYmeXfxR1zD14om1bsyXgT1TPNjcXc3ASDEAYjqmEkzZWa1Lq77gyTh/s320/mail.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got the call from my brother at 11:45AM yesterday morning. I was sitting at work when my cell phone rang. It is not unusual for me to talk to my brother or husband or parents during the day so I didn't think anything of seeing his number pop up on the screen. Never, ever, ever when I woke up yesterday morning did I think the day would end as it did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZWMoEwEocfjuAZiXPALoKGKM-8IxUeXSZWGtJZKSh5xjyEyospK3uQ7KGeuDunNLRtSoshlccgoUD5Yob079uWrO2hKKkkxyM70PgFhQRU5DpxY7TaVyX-jeKoy38F8dAeBt/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZWMoEwEocfjuAZiXPALoKGKM-8IxUeXSZWGtJZKSh5xjyEyospK3uQ7KGeuDunNLRtSoshlccgoUD5Yob079uWrO2hKKkkxyM70PgFhQRU5DpxY7TaVyX-jeKoy38F8dAeBt/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kya had a growth in her abdomen. She has had it for several months an unfortunately it was in an area where surgery could have actually made things worse. We knew in our minds this could shorten her life....our hearts are having a hard time accepting that it shortened it this much. My brother got a call from his ex-wife that she had to take Kya to the vet yesterday morning. She was lethargic, not wanting to eat, and her belly was rigid. Long story short, the mass had grown and burst, causing internal bleeding. Our sweet girl was suffering and the most humane thing to do was to let her go, let her go to the Rainbow Bridge where she could be happy and whole and well, and she could run and play to her gentle heart's content.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-gcjSgMCU2FaeG7JyUz3hO9ESBXYXysiDUD7z9Vdbd-yBZo17etYKLrH0iJK6IEEtNcnQ2xevj8YmCSfMzgf0WCj26MbJBWVALXfpFQD4pKU0t6J1nmpLhg1yzIP6zs1F0B1/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-gcjSgMCU2FaeG7JyUz3hO9ESBXYXysiDUD7z9Vdbd-yBZo17etYKLrH0iJK6IEEtNcnQ2xevj8YmCSfMzgf0WCj26MbJBWVALXfpFQD4pKU0t6J1nmpLhg1yzIP6zs1F0B1/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I immediately left work to be with my brother and to see Kya one last time. I will forever treasure the four hours we had with her yesterday on a beautiful sunny afternoon. I will always remember how, finally, after six years, she let me snap as many pictures as I wanted. I have very few pictures of Kya because she was always such a wiggle worm! She was just too excited to sit still for a photo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8zdYRRtjzxS-OKX6TpnN10Pc8Bocz-JOdnuc37U46oDWRvRwQqEWk-pFs3l1nHRwAGoR8zjtskkhDUAzp_Z0zdUMM0WA99jmjhyHCV_oO1aPTClc6e9E0Eirbj-wSu2kd5GS/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8zdYRRtjzxS-OKX6TpnN10Pc8Bocz-JOdnuc37U46oDWRvRwQqEWk-pFs3l1nHRwAGoR8zjtskkhDUAzp_Z0zdUMM0WA99jmjhyHCV_oO1aPTClc6e9E0Eirbj-wSu2kd5GS/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know why she sat still yesterday, though....and I would give anything to have it go back to the way it was, to me chasing her around with my camera, pleading with her to let me get just one good picture, and when I would think she was stopping to let me snap a picture, she would look at me with her big bright eyes, wag her tail...and run away!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF12eHYdpxDR0grrz-be0toTJY6c61RWjBl6SZwiGL2BjtQnAiAL1dxIkD5eCltrH0oz1RzIjoRqkBG9BbiT1wPZjltrQMhayGVNdXO_m3QOzmaW5ZDXkqGFo3aUwb83EHVIlK/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF12eHYdpxDR0grrz-be0toTJY6c61RWjBl6SZwiGL2BjtQnAiAL1dxIkD5eCltrH0oz1RzIjoRqkBG9BbiT1wPZjltrQMhayGVNdXO_m3QOzmaW5ZDXkqGFo3aUwb83EHVIlK/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know the quality of these pics are not the best. I had to use my phone and my hand was shaking. I am just so grateful to have them...and that I was able to preserve the last tender moments between my brother and Kya.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFk5eaLubMVXEUx66XEUT8KOFj7nC0es_ADKb84eE9iGJJx-5JuNj3E3o_BnjbvqUq_nG-XKxRi5_4ZlWha4eW18AS218G25gaYD0v2fm2ofIgst3h4m3a8zlpzsKfeSdZaxK/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFk5eaLubMVXEUx66XEUT8KOFj7nC0es_ADKb84eE9iGJJx-5JuNj3E3o_BnjbvqUq_nG-XKxRi5_4ZlWha4eW18AS218G25gaYD0v2fm2ofIgst3h4m3a8zlpzsKfeSdZaxK/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My nephew was only a year old when they got Kya. He is seven now, and it kills me that he has had to experience the loss of his beloved dog already. I am so proud of him, though. He is such a loving, smart kid. Even through his sadness he knew he didn't want Kya to have pain or to be sick. He knew he was spending her last hours with her. He was so strong and brave.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zEl_T_3JUkrj2i44gBtVYHnDnhnlaGCK1zcSUYJY33BalW_33KDjcR3i6yeEmXFeXSELj7oRr0rwSdQcKcl2WFs8veIdoosCznjul7SvCnzNPy1UNKUuFgPrS15a_XRgZowt/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zEl_T_3JUkrj2i44gBtVYHnDnhnlaGCK1zcSUYJY33BalW_33KDjcR3i6yeEmXFeXSELj7oRr0rwSdQcKcl2WFs8veIdoosCznjul7SvCnzNPy1UNKUuFgPrS15a_XRgZowt/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a fact that I am easily the most overly-emotional member of our family. When it was time for my brother and his ex to put Kya in the car to go back to the vet I couldn't handle it. I was prepared to go with them if my brother needed me or my nephew decided to go. In the end, he wanted to stay home, so together we waited.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Though Kya was clearly not feeling well and she had pain, her tail never stopped wagging yesterday, she never stopped giving us all kisses, and she continued to show the love she always has. It was so hard to look in to her soulful eyes knowing that once they took her for her last car ride she wasn't coming home with them. The tears are still quietly rolling down my cheeks as I type this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our parents are away on vacation right now. When they come back we will resume our weekly family dinners over there...and my Bailey is going to be looking everywhere for his cousin. Whenever one dog is at my parent's house and the other isn't, each of them constantly look around for the other.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know when we make the decision to bring a dog in to our lives, we are never going to have unlimited years with them. Their time with us is always far too short, even if they live to "old age." Still, the joy and happiness and unconditional love they give is priceless. Still, we should have had more time with Kya. It was just way too soon. The time we did have with her was amazing and joyful and wonderful. And I know that we couldn't selfishly hold on. My head knows that....my heart is taking much longer to catch on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HniSaGIHq5GooOotZcwGAgoIOWM86PdfsW02UjNuJ7eDe1DbKRvFlYBjLoAUONdfcielRDq6mIWaO1CsmfMOwHnXRKHmV2Qq9kC7JCbaPXCOpE9nbnhMqMz5omtp68qaXBOX/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HniSaGIHq5GooOotZcwGAgoIOWM86PdfsW02UjNuJ7eDe1DbKRvFlYBjLoAUONdfcielRDq6mIWaO1CsmfMOwHnXRKHmV2Qq9kC7JCbaPXCOpE9nbnhMqMz5omtp68qaXBOX/s320/mail.jpeg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rest well, sweet girl. We love you. We miss you. Till one day we meet again at the bridge...</div>~Kristen~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09465071484241973035noreply@blogger.com9