Fresh Veggies ~ Simple Pleasures

I'm teaming up with A Collection of This And That today to tell you one of my Simple Pleasures. This week it's definitely been collecting vegetables from the garden. There's something exciting about parting all the big leaves and finding little surprises. My favorites this year are the lemon cucumbers and so many beans! It surprises me that you can simply make your own food...from seed! So much fun! The enjoyment never ceasing. :)



Please go check out the other simple pleasures at Dayle's site!

Quite delighted...

Oh today has been full of the good stuff. I'm sitting in a quiet lab, finishing up the loose ends of the work day with a paper strand of candy dots. Got to see Mom today and am going home to good friends and a cold beer. Wore a new flouncy scarf around my neck, beckoning the Fall weather as best I can. It smells of my favorite shop in Oregon. Having it near my heart has filled my day with that sea-side escape. I can breathe in and taste the salt, feel the sand.

Halfway to the weekend, but in no hurry to get there. I'm letting the week flow on like the lazy river it is. I have huckleberry coffee to look forward to every morning, and a soft front lawn to sprawl on in the evening. Even with the smoky orange haze of sky, I don't mind. Looks like the world has been dipped in cider.

I can't stop thinking about Autumn. The ruby season, about to stain the town in red and gold and wrap us in down sweaters and closed-toed shoes. I'm already planning my second annual pumpkin carving party. I'll try not to rush it, but the season will definitely be welcomed with open arms when it arrives; Drops its bags, like leaves, and gets comfy.

A Smile to Make My Heart Sing

Last Friday I had the pleasure of accompanying my nephew and his mama to a doctor's appointment. I am happy anytime I get to spend time with these two! What made it extra special? He's finally got that ol' smile thing down. He grins like it's going out of style! I'd heard rumors of this milestone, but it wasn't till Friday that I really saw it for myself. If you want to feel warm and fuzzy like never before, make a baby smile! That little boy gave me three big grins and I completely melted. Nothing like it! Of all the things I've accomplished in my 26 years, I think this deserves a slot in my top 5. :)

Bear in a Bag Day!

My cat looked a little bored today, and after I was rummaging through some of our old saved paper bags I thought I'd set her up an obstacle course. She LOVES paper bags. And I love that she does! This is what my living room looks like now (and that's not all of them!)

(With a few cat toys standing by....along with Jesus in the background..)

Whatever keeps her happy! :)

Our Valley is Full of Smoke

For years we had what the town would call wildfire "seasons." Dry weather, hot temps and enough lightening strikes to set the state a-flame. August always had a haze to it (but phenomenal sunsets!). I never minded terribly, because it was just our version of a "natural disaster." Some towns had tornadoes, some towns had major earthquakes. I was happy that our issue at least stayed outside of the city. I felt kinda lucky.

The smell of smoke also always signified the start of school. Fall was coming when the town was covered in soot. Became part of the tradition.

The "season" has been pretty tame the last two years which has been a nice, but a few days ago the hillsides east of us were lit up again. The smoke started billowing and we could see its plume from the middle of town. Thankfully no buildings have been damaged and last night's downpour hopefully helped the cause some.

I rode my bike through a blue cloud today that covered the whole valley. Not ideal for asthmatics, but otherwise, to be honest, it just reminds me of Autumn. It's the start of the next season. Escorted in in the flashiest way. The only part that makes me sad this time around is that they're suspecting arson. Seriously?! What's wrong with people? Not cool. Lightening strikes and dry brush is one thing, forest arson is just cruel. And stupid.

So as much as I want the perpetrator caught and the mess cleaned up, I won't complain too much. This is what happens when you live among mountains. When you live near the forests and wild lands. And I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Rednesday! August Adventure

Today I'm teaming up with It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday. Oh how I love the color red! That's why I was so excited when I found this down puffy vest (I'd wanted one FOREVER) and all they had was....red! Perfect! It comes with me whenever I go skiing--even if that's in August! :D

(Can you tell I'm excited to be in Glacier?!)

Head on over to her blog to see other red-themed entries!

Glacier Dreaming & August Skiing

My sister and I drove up to Glacier this last weekend to enjoy the scenery...and ski! Not too much snow remains, but still more than usual! We slept in the back of her truck, AKA the Party Wagon, and got up early on Saturday to high-tail it to Logan Pass for a parking spot. Success!

In the early sun we ate breakfast and enjoyed fresh coffee before loading our bags. I always forget how wide I am with skis AND boots attached to my backpack! We hiked up the boardwalk over the tundra like all the other tourists, but as soon as we got to snow we hopped off and hiked away from the masses. People thought we were so odd!



We got in a few turns on summer snow and enjoyed a light lunch above the valley. We saw bighorn sheep, a wolverine and a mountain goat. We shared our space with very few other hikers/skiers and the quiet and solitude was amazing. That park is definitely the "jewel of the continent" and I still can't believe how lucky I am to have it in my backyard. :)