The Harvest

My Hunka Hunka Burning Love and I were given two tomato plants from our neighbor. We put them both in big pots, pretty quickly after we got them. One died of blight, but it has been so fun to nurture and care for the other that survived. I would love one day to have a decent size garden to grow tomatoes, squash, zucchini, red, yellow and green peppers! But for now, my potted tomato, rosemary and basil will have to do.

Tomatoes do and don't need a lot of care. They must be watered frequently, but besides that they just kinda grow. It was soo fun to check out the tomatoes every morning as I walked out the door to work and then again on the way back into the house after work. It was such a treat to spot the new little buds that were forming and know that our plant was not a dud.

 

We're still picking. Our dear plant is a late bloomer. I don't think he got the memo that he's supposed to yield all his fruit in mid-August. Just last week we picked our first harvest and we still have about 10 green tomatoes on the vine.

 

The Harvest!

I hope the rest of our tomatoes ripen before the nightly frosts kill the plant. Last night was 54 degrees. I was told earlier this summer, "there's nothing like a home grown tomato." I wasn't sure I believed that, until I had one of my own. MMMmmm, Mmmm, good! I want more!



Our first tomoato pulled off the vine. (Not my best picture... I had just gotten back from the pool.)

Lattes

Although I don't get them often, I am such a sucker for a caramel latte with skim milk.

When My Hunka Hunka Burning Love and I first started dating he worked at a local coffee shop in town, so he'd often stop by my office or on a Sat or Sun morning he'd bring my a "yummy treat." Essentially, my addiction is his fault. As a one income family with someone in grad school, we attempt to be very conscious about our spending habits. The career services office at the law school told the students if they ever walked into their office complaining about money woes holding a Starbucks cup they'd get no sympathy and be kicked out.

My HHBL still spoils me though, because every morning he wakes up and makes a pitcher (?) of French press coffee for us. However, in the month of September we get FREE LATTES! Thank you Hot Cakes! In the month of September Hot Cakes gives one free latte a day to all U.Va. staff, students and faculty. It's fabulous! Nothing gets Fall off to a great start like a free caramel latte every morning.

The sad news is, that nobody reminded me and so we didn't get our first one until this morning. But, we kicked it off in style and also split a pumpkin muffin - oh heaven! So long French press, I will see you again on October 1st.

Project Completion: Numero Uno!

If you know me well then you know that I typically always like to keep my hands busy with a project. As they say, idle hands are the devil's handywork. However, you probably also know that my timeline for completetion is indefinite. A slight purpose for this blog was to document those fun projects that do get completed. I teased you a little with this post, but have yet to update you on my success, but I promise it's coming. I have less that 1/4 left to finish. If I can finish in the next few weeks, it might be the quickest project completion to date.

Here's a pillow I made. I started this circa fall 2011 and completed it circa spring 2014. Only 2.5 years isn't bad. I stole borrowed the pattern from something I found online, drew it only the canvas, picked the colors and needlepointed it. Then turned it in to a b-e-a- utiful pillow!

 

I'll save my Hunka Hunka BL a little dignity and not post the pic of him taking a little nappy poo with it. I joked that by the time I finished it better be his favorite napping pillow. He was proving to me that indeed it was. Except now I don't want him to nap with it, because I don't want it to get ruined.

Woohoo, I actually completed a project... at least most of the way at this point.

School's In Session

Good bye beach, until we meet again next summer.

School is officially underway for my Hunka Hunka Burning love and myself. But, my HHBL and I headed down to the beach, just one last time, for Labor Day weekend before saying our good byes until next year. I'm not much of a fan of summer or winter. I just need about two weeks of each. One week of winter for Thanksgiving and Christmas and two weeks for the beach. The rest of the time can be fall and spring for me.

Here are some highlights from our beach trips to tide me over until next year.

This picture is blurry because the turtle was moving so fast it was hard to capture.

My mother's perfect day at the beach includes a book, her umbrella, some wine coolers and of course peanuts with the shell. However, this is evidence that my mother is not the only one with the craze for peanuts. I was with my HHBL's family when we found these shells that I had to shuffle through in order to put my towel down. It was actually quite sweet to have a little bit of my own mom with me while I spent time with my in-laws.

While most of the houses at beach communities are awful, gaudy or a little too shabby chic for my admiration, my HHBL and I found this little gem that we'd like to buy one day. It's on the Sound side in OBX, so you get to watch the sunset over the water every night - ahhhh, magical!

Family photos 2014

Luzars - Isle of Palms

Greenes - OBX

Last but not least, the signs of love...

My HHBL is such an arteest

Have no fear if I accidentally leave my rings at home because I took them off to put on lotion. The sun has helped to brand me as a married woman. I don't need no stinkin' rings to show that I'm off the market. The pale spot on my finger almost blinds me more than my bling bling.

 Ok, you get the picture, I love the beach for two weeks in the summer and I really love vacation. Enough is enough, good bye summer beach vacations. Using the words from one of my favorite books, "TTFN, ta ta for now."