The Wonder Years

Of any television show I've ever watched, the best one by far is and always will be, "The Wonder Years".

I'm watching an episode from season two and am continually blown away by everything about this show: the actors, the costumes, the 1960s historical references, the spot-on voice over from Daniel Stern and most of all, the music.

It just feels, sounds and looks exactly like I imagine the 60s feeling, sounding and looking. And as many of you know, if time travel were possible this is the era I would visit!

There is just something so simple and beautiful about this show. Watching it, you feel everything the characters feel: Kevin's broken heart, Jack's struggle to support his family, the family struggling, just like families struggle now, to understand the changing world around them and within them.

I rarely make it through an episode without being deeply touched (usually resulting in a few shed tears!)

I'm going to let the show speak for itself; here is a clip from the pilot episode. I dare you to watch and not feel anything! Enjoy...

A Pat on the Back...

So, you might remember a little goal I made for myself in this post. If you don't bother to click on the link, I will fill you in...my goal was to sell at least 10 photos at the farmer's market, and I've sold.....

13!!!!!!

Oh, heck yeah! It feels fantastic. I had no idea I could do it, but I did. And now there are perfect strangers (and a few friends and some acquaintances) who have MY photos hanging in their homes. That is just bizarre to me! But, it definitely gives me confidence to keep going (even if the dumb ol' MAC didn't pick any of my photos for their Manhattan Photographers exhibit).

So, here are some of my favorite photos I've taken in the past few weeks. Enjoy and thanks to everyone for the support of my silly little dream!

Elevators in Green, Kansas

Funky little shop in Leonardville, Kansas

Leonardville, Kansas (One of my favorite photos I've ever taken!)

Beautiful abandoned school or church in Leonardville, Kansas

Same old abandoned school or church

Used cars in Randolph, Kansas

Wheat field outside of Clay Center, Kansas

Movie theater in Clay Center, Kansas

Open field in the middle of Clay Center, Kansas

Time to Celebrate!

Cold Cream of Cucumber Soup

I was able to pick a few GIANT cucumbers from the garden I told you about in my last post and this recipe was the perfect way to use up the cukes and eat something cool and refreshing on yet another hot summer day!!

Cold Cream of Cucumber with Dill and Yogurt

Serves 4 and is vegetarian!

3 cucumbers, each about 5 inches long, ends trimmed, unpeeled, cut into large chunks

2 sour dill pickles

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon lemon juice (I was out, but lime juice worked just as well)

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill or dried dill

salt and pepper

Put cucumbers, pickles, yogurt, cream, lemon (or lime) juice and chopped or dried dill in a food processor. (I have a very tiny food processor, so I did cucumbers in multiple batches, and a batch of the pickles. I then mixed everything together in a mixing bowl. Just make sure your cukes and pickles are blended up into pulp.) Season with salt and pepper.

Cover tightly and refrigerate until well chilled, 2-3 hours.

For the adventurous: The recipe also suggests that you could add chopped sweet red onion or shredded carrots to the mixture. It also suggests that mint could be substituted for the dill.

It literally took me about 15 minutes to put this together (plus the chill time). It turned out delicious! I bought some Naan bread and threw it on the grill for about 1 1/2 minutes each side and served that with the soup. Perfect combination.

So, go out in your garden (or a friend's garden, or take a trip down to your local farmer's market) and find some cukes and get cookin'!

How Does Your Garden Grow

So, I'm excited to report that this time next year, I will have my own garden.

But, right now I have to settle for nipping veggies and peppers out of a friend's garden (with permission of course!) What am I going to do with said veggies and peppers, you ask? Well, in the next few weeks I'm going to share a few recipes with you that will help you use up some of the generous gifts from your garden.

Stay tuned...

Wind Through My Hair, Bug Up the Nose

My history with motorcycles is really a love/hate relationship. Until this weekend, the only time I had ever been "on" a motorcycle, I wasn't even riding it, just sitting on one and burned the holy hell out of my leg, resulting in the two huge scars I now have on the inside of my right leg.

So let me rephrase...My history with motorcycles is really a hate/hate relationship...Until my dear beau stepped in. You see he has a motorcycle, a cute little 1980 Honda (that is all I know about it, and I'm sure he would appreciate me calling it 'cute'.) This made me nervous to no end...that is until I finally rode on it on Sunday.

And let me tell you, I get it! I get why so many people love to ride motorcycles. You feel free (and much cooler than those squares in their cars) :-) I say this, but I was quite a nervous wreck on our first ride (and I still won't let him go above 40 mph).

So, last night (after a long day of me feeling on the verge of tears and a nervous breakdown), we took the ol' girl out on McDowell Creek Road, twisting around the curves, heading down dirt roads and curling up into the Flint Hills to see a view of Manhattan that few get to see. And it worked...I calmed down, let the breeze whip my hair around and kept a smile firmly planted on my face (even when a bug flew up my nose).

So let me rephrase one last time...My history with motorcycles is a love/hate relationship (approximately 85% love to 15% hate).

And it gives me the chance to wrap my arms around a good lookin' hunk of man! Who could turn that down?!

Wildflowers

I have a hard time going anywhere to buy flowers when the most beautiful Kansas flowers are mine for the picking.

Yesterday evening my beau and I went for a little nature walk at Warner Park. (I do believe this is our first walk/hike where we came back without any ticks!) It was a lovely evening, and we only got a little hot and sweaty....from the walk! Here is what we were privy to...

And here is what we took home.

Where do you like to get your flowers?

Blueberries, Blueberries

I saw a pint of blueberries in our fridge this morning and have since had this beautiful poem by my dear friend, Andrea, and her husband, Bob, stuck in my head (or at least the first line):

"blueberries, blueberries, pickin' blueberries

up in the mountains where the land feels airy.

blueberries, blueberries, pick 'em all day

brought me a friend so I won't mind the stay.

under the pine and the oak in the sun

that's where you'll find the sweet, juicy ones.

blueberries, blueberries, in the summertime

pickin' where I go to clear my mind."

So with Andrea and Bob (and their sweet new addition Orien) on my mind, I decided to make this scrumptious blueberry pie!

Here is the link to the pie crust recipe I use. And here is the link to the full blueberry pie recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman (I use her recipes constantly and have yet to be disappointed!!)

Here are my lovely blueberries coated in sugar, nutmeg and flour.

The pie crust is ready to go.

I decided to use a lattice top crust instead of completely covering the top with another full crust.

And here is how it turned out! De-li-ci-ous!!!

Blueberry Pie...check, Wine...check,Frank Sinatra record...check, Ace Perry Cider...check, hot man to share it all with...check!

Happy Baking! Enjoy the summertime!