i've made dinner all week and brian has been eating the leftovers. i was inspired by the latest issue of bon appetit and it's "7 ways to be more italian in the kitchen" list. rule #4 - eat the leftovers. but i don't like leftovers so i cooked. that means something right? all week i made delicious italian meals all consisting of cannelini beans. a basic vegetable soup with pasta. a tomato stew with sweet italian sausages, tuna with olive oil and red onions. yum!

the weather is changing...although tomorrow's high is 83' you can still feel the difference in the breeze and the smell in the air. i'm a little nervous to see what will happen to my garden once the rainy season is upon us. i harvested tomatoes from the garden, check them out. they are firm, not too juicy, a tad sweet but really flavorful in a citrus kind of way.

tomatoes and basil from my p-patch

last weekend we were in portland for a visit with dan and vanessa. we had a really great time with those guys...really relaxing and fun. we watched a movie at the theater, went to a minor league baseball game, ate food out and at home, laughed and fell asleep around midnight each night. it was really wonderful. i have to make more trips like that to portland, too many the last few times have been filled with too much drinking and a hangover the next day or eating at delicious eateries around town (but that is really hard not to do).

no plans this weekend but i think it will be a productive one. brian made a list of things we should do it includes a picnic, friend's house party, picking blackberries, watch netflix movies, riding our bikes to ballard, etc.

i have some serious goodies growing in the garden. brian and i were at the p-patch for 6 hours on sunday afternoon. the p-patch organizers had a "master composter" (a term i'm sure only exists in seattle) from seattle tilth teach us about composting. since i was so late coming into the season, we headed to city people to purchase starters. we planted swiss chard, leeks, cippolini onions, romaine and red leaf lettuce, spinach, chives, rosemary, basil and mint! we also have growing tomatos, carrots, and peas. i can't wait to make quesadillas with all those tough greens and fresh cocktails with all those herbs. yum!

last night i made a kickass ceviche! i wish i had pics to prove but i was way to messed up to remember. i do remember the ceviche was limey.

yay! and the weekend is just around the corner...exactly one hour away.

this weekend i plan to
- learn more about gardening (ie visit the library, internet, people's minds)
- bike to ballard
- figure out podcasting

brian and i have tickets for tonight's opening screening of humpday. im pretty psyched about that. and the weather in seattle this weekend will be undoubtedly beautiful!

1) while many many things have happened in the last couple of weeks, i wont get into details about how much fun summer has been. you can actually keep up with me on a more regular basis on my flickr...click on the link to the right of this webpage.

2) last night patrick and i posted "save the date" flyers for the 17th ave block party! ahh, it's real! and now we just have to get the neighborhood to bring the fun to the street. august 8th! i cant wait

3) i just received this email from the City of Seattle...
"You've been on the waitlist for a community garden plot at the Spring St. P-Patch. I am happy to say there is a spot available for you now. The garden is located at 25th Ave & E Spring Street"

i just got my p-patch plot!!! i've been on a waiting list for way over a year now! the grand opening for the garden is sometime in august. since i'm a new gardener i hope to not let them down!