On August 25, 2012, I was married to this man. 

And it was wonderful.

It’s been so long since I’ve posted on here, I wonder, are you still listening?

If you are, well then, thank you for your loyalty and patience, and for sticking around.

I suppose that all brides feel the way I felt about our wedding: that it was the purest and most loveliest of celebrations, the most beautiful and special of days.

But, I tell you, it was.

Even now, as I think back on it all, my heart just feels so full. 

We are both so incredibly grateful for the friends and family that helped us create the magic that happened. I have never felt so loved, so lucky, so happy. I wed my best friend- the love of my life- in front of so many lovely human beings, and then we drank and ate delicious food and there was so much laughter and merriment. 

By the end of the night, my feet were dirty from dancing barefoot in the grass and there was a wine stain on my dress, but I had a ring on my finger and a flower crown that was still so fragrant with the smell of jasmine. Even after we finally got home that night, it took everything in me to not fall asleep with it on. I think a part of me knew that once that crown left my head, that sweet, beautiful day- our wedding- would be over. 

Afterwards, there was the honeymoon, and I’m sure you could guess it was incredible, too. I don’t want to go on and on about it,  because I think I’ve given you enough LOVE talk for the day. 

I can say, however, that more photos of the wedding are sure to come, and (even though it’s kind of backwards) when I finally get around to developing the film from my “bachelorette” road trip, I’d like to share those with you too.

Everything has been moving so fast around here, and John and I are trying desperately to keep up with the pace. I feel like I’ve said that a lot lately, but it’s true.

We’re hoping things will finally calm down soon.

In the meantime, we are continuing to pack up our belongings, steadying ourselves for the goodbye to so many loved ones, and for our new life in Portland (we’ll be there next week!). 

Hope your week is smashing. 

a special thanks to halley roberts, who took the first photo, and to anne parker, who took the one below it.

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It’s funny the way summer changes things.

I don’t just mean environmentally. It also changes the way we think (or at least, the way I think).

Summer makes me more adventurous; I want to drive new places, hike, ride my bike, wear less clothes, feel my bare feet sink into the sand, dirt, grass, mud. It also makes me more content with the simple things; like sipping lemonade (or gin!) on the back porch in the afternoon sun. 

There’s something about the air; it’s warm (most of the time) and sweet and everything just seems so much more alive. Suddenly I notice my surroundings more, the endless blooming in nature, the shock of cold river water on my sun-kissed skin, the way the wind feels in my hair when I drive with the window rolled down. 

Things have been so crazy over here lately, with all the planning and do-ing for our future wedding (and move). It’s been hard to slow down.

Still, I woke up this morning with a feeling of gratitude for the new day and optimism for what is to come.

A bbq; a midday walk; the sweetest smelling bouquet of flowers, gathered by a farmer’s granddaughter, purchased at last saturdays’ market. 

Small moments, that become so meaningful.

To me, that is summer.

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I can’t get over how quickly my herbs are growing this year! The mint and oregano plants are doing especially well. 

Summer, how you woo me so.

Tonight we grilled (again!) on the back porch, chicken and corn, which was thrown into a “mexican” style salad- something I made up recently when we wanted something spicy (that wasn’t are usual tacos). 

We’ve been eating it all the time, it’s soo good. I’m thinking a recipe is in order, don’t you?

There have also been lots of fruit crisps. Lots. We’ve been baking them often, because even this early in the season, the fruit has just been so sweet.

My go-to recipe for crisp topping, is, of course, from Deborah Madison, via this book. It’s one of my cooking bibles. If you don’t already own it, shame on you.

In fact, i’d go as far as to say that if you don’t have a single Deborah Madison book in your kitchen, then i’m not even sure we can be friends. 

Now that we’ve got that out of the way…

-i’d like to try the recipe for this granola soon.

-thinking these would be a nice send-off (for john and I) at our wedding. love that they’re eco-friendly.

-planning to make these candles, and keep them stocked on my back porch all summer long.

-been eyeing the bottles + vases from object & totem for awhile. so many beauties on their website!

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