By The Numbers

I've been on vacation the past couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, handsome hubby had a "mandatory" training class and wasn't able to join me.  Don't get me started on the word "mandatory"...

Anyway, here are some stats from my travels -

Miles traveled - 2998
Cousins seen - 23 (this includes cousins, children of cousins and grandchildren of cousins)
Aunts and uncles seen - 5
Great nephews and great nieces seen - 3
Funny faces Clara made that made me laugh - lots
Lucas nieces seen - 1   (:
Lucas nieces NOT seen - 1  ):
Mesquite beans bagged - gazillion
Desserts that included peach cobbler - 2
Princess sunglasses worn - 2
Kincaid's Hamburger print ad star seen - 1
Books read - 2

Life, Lemons, Zucchini

You've heard the saying "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade"?  Well, how about "if life gives you zucchinis, make zucchini boats"?!

Slice the zucchini and scoop out the middle.  In a saute pan, mix onion, zucchini scooped stuff, ground turkey and cook until done.  Season with salt and pepper.  Transfer to mixing bowl and add 1 cup cooked quinoa, a dozen or so fresh basil leaves from your garden (rinsed and chopped) and 1/2 cup of goat cheese crumbles.  I also added some paprika to give it some color.

Heat up the grill, and place the zucchini halves on the grill; cook until al dente.  (Can zucchini be al dente?)  Scoop veggie/turkey mixture into hollowed zucchini, top with shreds of provolone cheese.  Grill until cheese is melty/toasty.

Enjoy!

(These are B.I.G.  Ted and I shared one boat, and we'll be sharing the other for lunch tomorrow.  The veggie/turkey mixture makes a lot too, so I'll be looking for what to do with the rest of the mixture!)

First Fruits

Straight from my garden...and into my belly!

My thumbs are SO green!

Before...

During...

(CRAZY tomatoes in back, zucchini lower left, red bell peppers lower center, basil lower right, and marigolds to keep the bugs away)

(Quite a few developing peppers...they should turn red in a few weeks)

(Tomatoes have gone CRAZY!  Next year I will buy much sturdier cages.  I put up a chicken wire fence today to keep them up)

(Gorgeous and aromatic basil, with a few marigolds)

(A couple of teeny tiny zucchinis starting to grow)

(I don't think the leeks are going to survive the attack of the CRAZY tomatoes)

(This tomato is as big as a lemon)

Hopefully we will have some delicious fresh produce by the first week in August!!!

I'm Such a Copy Cat

Dinner tonight...

Grilled turkey sausage with green bean fries.  I also mixed some Ranch dressing and stone ground brown mustard for dipping purposes.  Excellent.  Thanks to my blogger friend Lawst & Found for the green bean recipe!

Heart Strings in a Spasm

I received this in the mail today from my sister.  I don't know why she had it, and I don't know where she got it, but seeing this made my heart just ache (in a good way) for my Nannie.

I know that I learned to write cursive in third grade but this looks pretty advanced, so maybe fourth or firth grade --- still this has to be close to 40 years old.

"Smile, Nannie, Smile!"  Be my valentine.  I love you!!!!! 

I love her very much.  Still.  Always.  Forever. 

Cousinly Fun

Nine years separate us, and we've never really spent much one on one time with each other.  Until last weekend. 

What a fun cousin I have!!!