french shallots...

french shallots..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

these are still fairly small...
and only have one bulb each.

i got them at the farmer's market last weekend...
from the same vendor that had the garlic scapes.

speaking of the scapes...
i made a pesto from them today.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
day#19

close up...

close up..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

my tomato plants are doing well.
they have quite a few flowers...
and a few tomatoes.

hopefully the weather will continue to cooperate...
and i'll have a good harvest this year.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day18

10 weeks...

10 weeks..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

ms. makayla is growing like a weed.

at her doctor visit on friday...
she weighed 12 lbs, 4 oz.,
and measured 24 inches in length.

remembering...

remembering..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

By the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as people visited the graves of their deceased relatives in church cemeteries, whether they had served in the military or not. It also became a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family gatherings, fireworks, trips to the beach, and national media events such as the Indianapolis 500 auto race, held since 1911 on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.[4]

Annual Decoration Days for particular cemeteries are held on a Sunday in late spring or early summer in some rural areas of the American South, notably in the mountains. In cases involving a family graveyard where remote ancestors as well as those who were deceased more recently are buried, this may take on the character of an extended family reunion to which some people travel hundreds of miles. People gather on the designated day and put flowers on graves and renew contacts with kinfolk and others. There often is a religious service and a "dinner on the ground," the traditional term for a potluck meal in which people used to spread the dishes out on sheets or tablecloths on the grass. It is believed that this practice began before the American Civil War and thus may reflect the real origin of the "memorial day" idea. [5]


#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day17

empty nest...

empty nest..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

we dropped the daughter at the airport this morning...
on her way back to nyc.

so...
this title has a double meaning for me today.

i'm not sure what once was inside...
but it was built on my cherry tree.

i've have a most enjoyable week off work...
and am going to hang out in the garden today...
photographing eveything...
and maybe grilling a bit.

enjoy!

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day16
#garden

family...

family..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

the daughter.

the hubby.

~~~

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day15

california red...

california red..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

tonight's beverage of choice...
from the skinny girl wine collection.

we're making some bruschetta...
and sipping on this...
while watching the final episodes of scandal.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day14

grapefruit cake w/grapefruit buttercream...

grapefruit cake w/grapefruit buttercream..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

my daughter has a ''Cali Trip'' board on pinterest.
this cake is on it.

we returned home from yosemite today...
and are making this cake for tonight's dessert.

the batter is rather thick...
and reminded us of a drop biscuit dough.

it just finished baking...
and my house smells wonderful!

update...
it tastes delicious also!

next time...
i think i want to make it with lemon!!!

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day13

all of the lights...

all of the lights..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

this tree is in the lobby of the hotel we're staying at.
i took photos all day at yosemite...
but none with my lensbaby.

i'll be posting the yosemite photos in the next few days.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day12

appetizer...

appetizer..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

tomorrow is my daughter's 30th birthday.

tonight...
i made a special dinner.
~ grilled jumbo shrimp.
~ grilled fava beans.
~ stuffed artichoke.
~ rosemary & garlic roasted potatoes.
~ roasted asparagus.
~ vodka martinis.

yes...
i made an assortment of veggies.
she's a vegetarian.

tomorrow...
we'll shoot yosemite...
and have cake and champagne.

happy birthday, sweetie!!!
you hold a special place in my heart!!!
love always!!!

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day11

breakfast...

breakfast..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

this is the trader joe's chocolate-filled french toast...
sprinkled with powdered sugar...
and garnished with raspberries.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day10
#edible

sampler...

sampler..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

today we went to brunch in napa.
mrchazman ordered the beer sampler...
which the daughter and i tasted.

he ending up ordering a glass of the pilsner...
and the daughter and i had wine.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day9

nom nom...

nom nom..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

the daughter arrived home today...
for her birthday week.

we left the airport...
and headed to the grandparents' house...
by way of the nom nom truck.

she and i had bahn mi sandwiches...
and mrchazman had tacos.

#60days
#lensbaby
#muse
#day8

blt...

blt..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i'm on pto until may 29...
and today is my first day off.

for some crazy reason...
i was awake at 2:30.
luckily i have friends in other time zones..
and one of them had just sent me a text msg.
i eventually went back to bed about 4:30.

i've been working on my final photoshop presentation...
and i'm just about ready to show them to everyone.

i'm nervous...
because of course...
i want it to be perfect.

mrchazman made some bacon...
and since i'd bought some tomatoes last week...
i made a blt.
it looked so pretty...
i wanted to share it with you.

now that i've photographed it...
i'm going to go out back and enjoy it with a cup of coffee.

then...
i'm headed out.
enjoy your day!

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day7

to go...

to go..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

every morning mrchazman makes a pot of coffee.

i have a cup at the house...
take a cup for the drive...
and fill my thermos.

it's decaf...
cause you don't want to see me on caffeine.

***

side note...
i'm pouring left-handed...
and shooting with my right.
that darn muse is hard to operate with one hand!

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day6

the taste of salt...

the taste of salt..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i haven't taken the time to read for pleasure in a long time.

last week...
i ordered this book that i saw mentioned on goodreads.

i'm enjoying it so far...
and plan to have a lot of reading time while i'm off work for the next ten days.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day5
#book
#glasses
#b&w

gummy vitamins...

gummy vitamins..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

these gummies are yummy...
and i have to restrain myself to only have two per day.

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day4

cuvée m...

cuvée m..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

last weekend...
we hit up mumm.

only one of these is mine...
the others belong to a coworker...
and i'll be sending them to her tomorrow.

#60days
#day3

happy mother's day...

happy mother's day..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

for all the mother's out there...
have a very happy mother's day.

i received a wonderful groupon from my daughter...
for a wine and cheese tasting.
i almost threw it in the trash...
as i zipped thru my email hitting delete.
thankfully...
it opened instead.

mrchazman got me a new 'everyday' watch...
because after YEARS (approximately 20) of wearing my other one...
the crystal is cracked...
but i was wearing it anyways.
hey...
if it ain't broke, right?

i'll get to be mom to my daughter next weekend...
when she comes home for her 30th birthday week.
but today...
i'll play mom to my niece...
and visit with my mother...
as we celebrate mother's day...
and this past week's birthdays.
my father and two of my brothers had birthdays this week...
and they were all born on mother's day.

my father bbq'd yesterday...
my mother made the sides...
and mrchazman and i are bringing the champagne and desserts.
cheers!

#holiday
#cake
#muse
#60days
#day2

cake...

cake..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

new project.
i know i said i was ready for school to end...
so that i could take it easy...
but hey...
you only live once!

#lensbaby
#muse
#60days
#day1