The best birthday present ever!
Mary
A Year of Sunday Mornings: Week Thirty-Two
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Tag Archives: summer
Planning for Wagakwud
We’ve begun planning our third year of Camp Wagakwud and we couldn’t be more excited to finally go camping again this summer.
from Poler
from Adore the World
Trevor
Over the Cold
Every March I instantly become ready for spring, even though I live in Michigan and I should know that it’s going to be another month or two before anything resembling “warm” happens.
Until then, I’ll just be daydreaming of the spring/summer.
Camping from likheter
Tennis from MOJOmercantile
Canoeing from Canoe Bay
Bicycling from What Good Have I Done Today?
Trevor
Labor Day Barbecues
Today is Labor Day and that means it’s the last holiday of the year where you can enjoy an outdoor barbecue. With all the great things that fall brings, it’s always sad to say goodbye to the barbecues of summer.
from Creative Pro
from Hey Oscar Wilde!
from Plan 59
from Wantist
Trevor
Summer Cycling
There’s a glorious perk of going to college in Chicago called a UPass. It’s a transit pass that is added on to your tuition for the semester and it saves students a ton on public transit. Since I graduated in June, I have been unable to accept having to pay for a monthly CTA pass, so I’ve bicycled everywhere.
I usually bike as my primary mode of transit in the spring, summer, and fall. This summer has been more serious. I can count the amount of times I’ve taken the train on one hand and no 100° day will force me onto the El.
My bike, Caroline, is a Raleigh Olympian. This morning I stumbled across some amazing vintage Raleigh ads. Clearly, riding a Raleigh makes me a pretty classy lady.
from The Spokesman-Review
from The Urbane Cyclist
from Hidden Garments
from Paul Fillingham
Mary
Summer Snackage
I have been newly obsessed with baking this summer. I am particularly focused on pies. I made this Strawberry Ginger Pie for the fourth of July and this Blueberry Ginger Pie with Parmesan Crust for a girlfriend’s barbecue.
I have also been making a lot of craft cocktails. Usually, I’d prefer a cold IPA to a cocktail, but it’s lovely to spend time with friends making simple syrups and muddling herbs. I recently made homemade lavender simple syrup (from the lavender in my own herb garden!) and used it in these Blueberry Lavender Mojitos.
Mary
That Summer Feeling
I know we’ve been neglecting to update the blog lately. It’s hard to stay inside on the computer in the summer time. In fact I’ve been completely consumed by summer fun. Pools, lakes, camping, grills, guitars, sigh.
from sugarpie honeybunch
from Lisa Reeve
from Andrea
Empire Bluffs from What Good Have I Done Today?
Camp site from What Good Have I Done Today?
Mary
Weekend Brunch: Rachel’s Guacamole
My sister, Rachel, makes the best guacamole ever. This is not an overstatement; everybody who’s ever had it agrees. Yesterday, I taught a friend how to make it and I thought it would be nice to share it here as well. I went to Stanley’s and bought about a military backpack’s worth of produce. I always go crazy there because everything is so affordable.
Part of my haul from Stanley’s
Rachel’s Guacamole
- 3-4 avocados
- Juice of one lemon or lime
- Half of a jalapeno, diced
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
- 1/4 of a small red onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- Cumin, to taste
- Smoked paprika, to taste
- Seasoning salt, to taste
Mash everything together in a bowl using a potato masher or fork and serve.
*We don’t really measure the spices. I usually add a little at a time and taste it to see if I need more.
Mary
Porch Forts
As the weather gets warmer, I have been slowly working to make my back porch feel more like an extension of my apartment. I am going for a southwest bohemian theme. I want the finished area to be the perfect place to lounge with a book and a glass of iced tea.
I spent Monday night block printing my own chevron fabric. At first I wasn’t sure what to do with it, but I think I’ve settled on making a fort. What could be better than passing your summer days in a whimsical blanket fort on your back porch?
I’ve rounded up some awesome forts made of blankets for inspiration.
Backyard blanket fort via aphantomheart
Candles and Lights via Living Room Fort.
Folding tent via Fort A Day
Rodeo from Living Room Fort.
Mary
Southwestern Porch
With our unseasonably warm weather, I’ve been dreaming up some new ideas for my back porch. All of my neighbors have really furnished porches, but mine could use a little love. I really like the idea of a southwestern theme.
1. Bull skull from klinker, 2. Rug from Urban Outfitters, 3. Mason jar lamp from Living Beautifully, 4. Southwestern pillow cover from Chic Decor Pillows, 5. Southwestern porch from Lee Rentz Photography, 6. Cacti from Gennine’s Art Blog
Mary
