creating space for beauty & simplicity
on really hot nights my sister and i used to sleep on the floor of my parent’s air conditioned bedroom.
it was such a treat. cool skin under our quilt with just our noses peeking out when the rest of the house was so so hot.
last night as we were all falling asleep to the hum of the window unit, i heard the girls giggling on the floor at the foot of our bed.
i smiled and for once was happy we do not have central air.
it’s summertime.
time for some mojitos.
over at tend.
when i was a farm apprentice many moons ago i worked with someone who had previously worked as a baker.
throughout the season we would bake all sorts of things together including all of the recipes from his bakery.
i left that year with a stack of papers with those recipes doodled all over them and somehow they got lost in the shuffle.
a few years ago i unearthed those recipes and neatly wrote them all down.
when i stumbled upon the poppy seed cake, i made it right away.
i love how simple it is and it is so deliciously moist.
i made this cake in the spring for one of our potluck lunches at the farm.
the farmers loved it and now request it for all birthday celebrations.
yesterday i made it for sebastian who told me it reminds him of a poppy seed cake he grew up eating in germany.
happy birthday seb!
poppy seed cake
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil (i use canola or coconut)
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup poppy seeds
1 cup sliced almonds
Mix wet with dry and pour into greased and floured bundt pan. bake 50 minutes. sprinkle with confectioners sugar.
enjoy!
first year on the swim team.
first swim meet of the season.
first place for back stroke (norah).
first place for breast stroke (hannah).
first time i felt like a sports mom.
yesterday i found a note in our mailbox from someone who has been admiring our home. it said if we ever wanted to sell to let them know.
this past winter we had a possible opportunity to move to one of my favorite houses in town with a half acre of land.
on monday we are having an architect come to draw up plans for our attic.
we’re staying.
yesterday i had one of those freak out moments when the three of us were standing in the changing room.
i stood there for a moment looking in the mirror and saw how grown up everyone looked (including me).
ride a roller coaster, check.
the heatwave struck a few days ago and we are retreating to the beach tonight.
we may be able to cross off a few things on the summer manifesto like ride a roller coaster, bike on the boardwalk, swim in the ocean and maybe even crabbing.
the sprinkler is on giving the garden one last drink before i go.
limes and tanqueray, and some farm veggies are packed up along with suits, sandals, sunscreen, a few games and a kite.
i think i’m ready.
:: this morning i drove chris to work. we stopped for coffee. i stayed in the car and as i watched him through the coffee shop window i felt a few butterflies and thought he was the cutest guy in there. i’m smitten.
:: today i wore a navy blue polo shirt. i flipped the collar up and felt like my mom when she was young.
:: we are headed to a friend’s for dinner. i made the black raspberry crumble.
ok so…
i didn’t make the dress this weekend but i did start cutting out the pattern.
i didn’t bake a black raspberry pie but i did gorge on the berries til i felt ill.
i didn’t finish the socks for chris for fathers day bit i did pick him up a vintage screwdriver set with pretty wooden handles at a garage sale.
i didn’t run the media five miler this year but i did have a blast at the after party.
i didn’t write my friday post for tend but i did play in my garden all weekend.
what didn’t you do this weekend?
