hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, among other things, are blooming in our garden right now. I love this time of year.

What's blooming in your yard?

MLB

We went to a real baseball game for our anniversary. My first ever. I learned two things:

1. Fireworks are better over a baseball diamond.

2. My man is even hotter in a baseball cap.

epic beach days

We've been going to the beach practically every one of these last sunny days.

Usually it's just Mr. C and I.

But the best of all the seaside adventures was the one we spent with our favorite Bostonians.

I wish they spent every beach day with us. 

Yellow Nectarine Pie

This first summer pie was long overdue.

Yellow nectarines are one of my favorite pie fruits. The peels bake up all soft and tasty and turn the filling the loveliest shade of pink.

I add just a touch of almond extract to go with the almond crumb top. Then wait for those juices to bubble thickly.

First Day of Summer (vacation)

It's official. The summer holiday has begun.

Last Day of School

I spotted this tiny tree climber last night at graduation. This is what Oak Grove kidlets look like at high school commencement — no stuffy miniature suits or bored fidgety faces.

And this is what our keynote speeches look like, all glowing green leaves and in-your-face June sunshine.


By tomorrow the campus will be too quiet.

the way home

Part 3 of a summer road trip...

Leaving Ashland was a sad business. But I do so love a good drive, even when I'm driving away from a glorious summer holiday.

The fast changing view from my car window included snowed topped Shasta peaks, blood orange sunsets...

...  high mountain valleys & roadside cherry stands.

And no road trip down the Northern 101 would be complete without a pancake stop in Salinas, CA.

There are some really lovely old buildings and signs in that town. Marquees that look like they were there before color. 

I always think about those great American depression writers & photographers when I pass through Salinas. Although, I never have visited Mr. Steinbeck's museum.

Being There

Part 2 of a summer road trip...

Our trip to Ashland, Oregon was one of those vacations that none of us wanted to end. Some of the highlights were...  

 ... late summer gardens, spilling out over picket fences...

... the old house we stayed in with the perfectly wallpapered attic room...

... all the old houses and buildings with paint peeling character and signs of lemonade summers on back porches...

... slow spacey time spent in art filled coffee houses...

... morning mimosas at the Dragonfly...

... late night pints at the Black Sheep...

... hanging out with this gang...

... and these guys...

... lounging in Lithia Park...

... watching the grass grow.

Wandering North

Part 1 of a summer road trip...

We drove the 101 N from Ventura to San Francisco and passed by this crazy fire along the way.

After a night of r&r in the bay area, we got back on the road and made our way to southern Oregon.

Anyone who says there's nothing to look at on Interstate 5 must never have made it far enough north. That amazing highway winds through valleys and mountains, by forests and streams. It's lovely.

home is where the rodeo is

We're home! Made it just in time to catch the last day of our county fair. We ate candy almonds and got sun kissed while we watched the rodeo. All in all, a very Americana Sunday.

see you real soon...

We leave tomorrow for our summer vacation. There's just nothing like a good old fashioned family road trip to make you feel the sunshine season. Ah Americana.


This will be my first vacay in a long long time that I won't be taking my laptop. I'll certainly miss checking in with y'all but I can't wait to share all my photos and stories with you when I get home. Cheers.


{photo from the Library of Congress}

Fair!

The rickety rides and fried food carts have started to arrive at our seaside fairgrounds. 








Oooh I just love the County Fair!