dog-sitting

this:

is how you get 'er done-

2.5 mile run

and

two two-year-old pups

worn out

before 8:30am

...

off to (photo) class

...

thanks to:

(2) easy walk harnesses

adjustable-handle leash

super-awesome neighbor to document

adventures in homemaking: canning tomatoes

my trip to vermont

was not without purpose-

amanda and i

decided this spring

to give canning a go

when tomatoes were in season

...

with 70lbs. of organic roma beauties

62 wide mouth quart jars

and a few YouTube videos

we were off and running...

washing the jars

blanch. peel. core. dice.

our stovetop ready for sterilizing jars

hard at work

(i was on tomato duty, amanda- jars)

well diced. but oh-so-many-more to go!

admitedly, we freaked when the first batch came out looking like this:

but after some phone calls to

canning-friendly friends

we were relieved to discover the separation was totally normal

(color and amount of water may vary depending on tomato-type)

death. by. canning.

we put in some SERIOUS man hours

exhausted for good reason:

47 quarts of diced tomatoes + 5 quarts of tomato puree

...

think we'd had enough?

HA!
we decided we'd had

SO.MUCH.FUN

we'd tackle peaches

next...

(told you we were both psycho!)

drink, please!

latest thrifting find:

set of 6

blue + gold

vintage culver ltd. glasses

$8

...

i'm dreaming up a fabulous retro-gypsy-glam dinner party table-scape!

sick day

i had big plans for this week

house projects

yard work

blogging catch-up

emails and calls

...

but

i'm sick.

knocked off my feet

by a nasty chest cold virus

so all i've seen of this glorious weather

are the slivers of early fall's golden light

across our hardwood floors

if i had more energy

i'd feel guilty for all the lounging and on-demand watching

and, i have to admit, i am NOT a good sick person

but

dad's chicken noodle soup

and

flowers from my sweet husband

are brightening my week

...

off to dose up on echinacea and vitamin c

hoping to catch up on posts later today...

ahoy matey!

this little pirate

turned three

this week

...

so i offered to make the cupcakes

for the jake and the neverland pirates lover

yo ho ho!

skully the parrot

a little lass

and gentleman of fortune

...

a few sketches

while they baked

and a quick iphone pic

before dropping them off

happy birthday, benny!

xoxo

back to class

my kid's sewing class

started up again this week

...

our first project of the year:

quilted pencil cases

perfect for september

a quick, 1-day project

to get the little ladies

back in the groove

...

and boy, did they impress

craft-show worthy

(amazing. seriously. these girls are nine!)

...

it's great to be back

woot woot!

road trip: shelburne, vt

irene thankfully didn't affect my plans

to head north

for a week

of canning and catching up

with my dear friend, amanda

...

i woke early monday morning

and hit the road

nellie in tow

calm after the storm, indeed!

(taken through the windshield)

the cloud formations in the brilliant blue sky were just phenomenal

...

arriving

felt like a homecoming of sorts

i have such found memories

of amanda's family's farm...

high school long winter weekends

summers swimming in the pool

playing dressing up from an attic full of 60 + 70's finest

and, then, amanda and jeff marrying

all with a lake view...

we brought the dogs for a romp and swim

before heading over

to amanda's cousin's

for dinner

ummm, yeah... i could come home from work to that every day!

i followed amanda and fia around the gardens

(amanda is working on an album of fia's first two years and was snapping some final shots)

before we settled into a spectacular dinner

thanks, ave!

with a spectaular view

and even better company...

worth the loooong drive?

ummmm....

YES.

more and more and more

to come

....

it takes rain to make a rainbow

a rainy, gray day

was just perfect

for baking

birthday cupcakes

sprinkled

with cheerful color

three years...

three years ago today

we married during hurricane hannah

waking today

to a beautiful rain storm

made us smile

happy anniversary, reid

all my love, forever

xoxo

photography: orchardcove

words for the week: make a little space...

thought this

was just the most perfect way

to start september

...

...

not to mention

she

is just the cutest ever, no?

.

via pattersonmaker