Mo Has a Playdate

Hi everyone! We're home! Mo was invited for a doggy playdate today.

Mo is an unusually active and athletic pug. Mo likes to run! And he's a furry little Houdini, who has never met a harness or collar that he cannot escape. We haven't been going to the dog park lately because it is very expensive to park there and it's too far to walk. So a few weeks ago I took Mo to a public area with lovely grass, fenced and hedged--- so he could enjoy a run on the cool grass. Ha! Mo yanked his leash out of my hand, tore through the hedge, dislodged his harness---and leaped the fence to freedom.

Born Free!

He raced down our six-lane, 45 mph road at rush hour with me in pursuit, cars swerving and honking. I was so frightened. He ran about a half mile, almost to the back entrance of the dog park. He stopped finally, heard me calling him. Yes he came back, but in the road still. No more outing treats for Mo.

I ordered a no-escape harness for him. It came today. He's so chubby that the Large won't close over his belly. [vet says his weight is fine, he's just a big boy.]

So my friend was kind enough to invite us over to her home so Mo could play in her luxurious grass.

Sprinklers on!

This is her big dog, an exotic, to me anyway, Louisiana Leopard Dog.

He is dark brindle brown with slightly lighter spots, very unusual coat. Oscar doesn't much like Mo, but he was a tolerant host.

And this is Brutus, my friend's grand-dog. Brutus is a teeny tiny, elderly but spry Maltese terrier. He's too elegant to play or run but Mo enjoyed making friends.

Mo especially loves the back wall with its rows of pines and hosta and mulch. He thinks he is a little lion dog. And we desperately hoped the fence has no holes. It was just redone after H.Sandy so it's sturdy and I think maybe 8 feet high.

Even Mo can't jump over that fence.

Here's Mo investigating the garden shed.

And checking out the little Buddha in the corner. I was so pleased he didn't lift his leg there.

Poor Oscar requires a muzzle and constant vigilance, so we couldn't sit and sip our ice tea like playground moms do. Too bad.
But Mo had a good run and maybe he'll get invited back someday.

Sunflowers from other friends' garden, aren't they the  BEST!? This was just one seed package, ''assorted hybrids." From Burpee I think. Wow.

love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach....

Beach Days

Hello, hello! How was your weekend? We set out Sunday morning for a special treat---a visit to our big town's boardwalk craft fair. Our mission was to buy sea glass earrings, garden decorations, and junky fair food to bring to the beach for lunch.

I know better. But it sounded so fun. About a hundred thousand other people thought it sounded fun too. sigh. It took is 40 minutes to drive the six miles to the town beach parking lot. Of course the lots were all filled and policemen, who looked hot and unhappy, were shooing people away. I can't imagine what you'd do if you lived there, it must be awful.

My own beach, however, never disappoints. We did have a bit of excitement, as interlopers came onto our beach, a big noisy party, with a DOG! gasp. Cops came on those wheelie bikes/ trikes and made them go away. Neighbors were huffyt---the folks in question made themselves non grata by the noise and the liquor.[and minuscule dog, maybe a Yorkie?]. Had they been respectful of our beach I'm sure they would have been politely ignored.

Peace resumed.  The sand and water are very clear and clean and pristine at the moment.

Just a few swags of interesting seaweed. 

Lettuce kelp. Looks edible, doesn't it? Sushi wrappers.

Bladder kelp with mussels.

See the little football shaped ''bladders''? They are filled with air and make the kelp float upright. And a mussel. Yum?

Hope your day was peaceful too. And that no one called the police.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

*****

also "Summertime" quilt

It's been a bit neglected. But I love it. Finished the baskets except for 40 leaves and 8 buds. Still have to sew the Nine Patch corners and black Kitty.

This is Baskets with center panel. The next installment is gonna be a b&^%ch! So I better get busy. lol.

Farmers Market - Early Summer's Bounty

Hi everyone! Have you been visiting your local farmers market or green market this summer? My market is small but fun, and each week the produce  becomes more plentiful and inspiring.

This week we had the first of the summer squash. These deep yellow squashes are so delicious, what a treat. I simply slice them and steam therm in a Ziploc Steamer bag, with a smidge of butter and black pepper. They come out hot and perfectly cooked. 3 minutes.

Drain well and sprinkle chipped asiago  or parm on the top.

These are the little baseball squashes, also deep yellow or pale green. This weekend I am going to make a spicy rice / ground beef casserole, save half to make stuffed squash with these cuties.

Beautiful colors!

golf ball carrots, adorable!
For pot roast!

I love to see how the vendors show their wares, often very creative. Though truly the veggies from the guy who tosses the crops on a painted plywood table---his things are just as tasty.

chic galvanized buckets with chalkboard labels.

rustic market baskets

Herbs.

Strawberries.

Mo's weekly treats.

Spices. Gonna make pickles soon, when the cukes come in.

Cookies---"Cowboy Choc chip"---light and crispy, buttery, with cherries added. No clue what makes them ''cowboy''.

I am also still treating myself and my friends to a tasting from the Big Cheese each week, for weekend wine & cheese on my deck.

            Sheep.                                 Goat.

This week I chose a very ripe, runny, odiferous! sheep's milk Camembert. [good]; and a truffled goat cheese Camembert. This cheese is a little floury or dusty in texture, maybe is not ripe? And I for one cannot taste the truffles. [interesting. will wait to eat the rest of it, see if it ripens into a fuller flavor?]

It's also fun to meet the vendors. These beautiful radishes were from a pair of young women who sold only the rads and cut herbs. This was their first ''real'' crop, as in not an herb.

They were so proud of their radish crop! I bought a bunch of assorted white--crispy and HOT! / peppery; and also a bunch of assorted reds, milder but flavorful.

Farmers market sopping is, to me, a treat, like maybe going out for drinks or to a movie?---because it is a very expensive activity! Ten bucks for radishes? Five for four cookies!

If I view the market as entertainment my wallet doesn't shriek as loudly or painfully.
So--stop at the ATM tomorrow and find a  fun market. Try something new?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach