fried green tomatoes

Wow, I can hardly believe we are into August already. I am not sure why as a child, a month lasted forever, now, a month feels like a week. My only complaint about summer, as much as I try not to have any, but I cannot help it with this one: chigger bites. I get eaten up by them when I go out in my yard and do any yard work or hang my laundry out. I just do not understand how I have some of these problems when I live in the city? These bites are so annoying, they itch for days, and they itch more each day for several days. My daughter got some while we were hanging out her clothes, she read somewhere to rub deodorant on the bites to stop the itching, it really does help, a lot!!! If anyone has any tips on how to keep these things from biting you, be sure and leave a comment. I'll try anything.

The stores already have green tomatoes for sale, seems a little early to me, but makes me very happy. I love "fried green tomatoes"! When I make them, it is the only thing I eat. I made some last night and they were..."AMAZING!" I have one left to cook for dinner tonight, but I am headed to the store today to get more. I seldom fry anything, but I make an exception when it comes to fried green tomatoes.

    photo by spbm

I do not measure anything, but here are a list of the ingredients:
mix together in bowl>>>
flour
corn meal
salt
pepper

in a seperate bowl, mix>>>
egg and a little milk

dip sliced tomatoes in flour and cornmeal mixture, then in egg and milk mixture, back into flour and cornmeal mixture. fry in heavy skillet with about 1" of vegetable and olive oil, heated hot but not too hot, they will burn if the grease is too hot, and they'll be soggy if the grease is not hot enough.

Some of my beautiful zinnias, blooming and thriving. Hollyhocks did not have the huge blooms they normally have, but still gorgeous.

   Photos by spbm

 Rumi quotes are good for any day of the week. :)

    photo by spbm

Wishing everyone a wonderful, relaxing, and lovely weekend!
xoxo

week in review

I'm so happy, finally there are vines growing on my old bike. I've tried getting this magic to happen for a couple of years, no such luck. Well, this year my luck has changed and there are morning glories growing on the bike. Not convinced they are going to bloom, not sure they are getting enough sun...always hopeful, though.

photo by spbm

Had my kids home last week! YES!!!! It's very rare for them to be home at the same time, all of them. It felt like heaven having them all here. The kids are growing up too fast to suit me, but what can you do to stop it.?. They tend to grow faster when you see them only once a year, if you are lucky. The ones living in Denver come home more often than the ones in North Carolina, but just thankful that I got to see them this summer.

 

                            photo by spbm

 

My awesome guys!

 

                            photo by spbm

Little A watering the plants.

                            photo by spbm

 

Little A feeding the fish.

photo by spbm

 

Talk about a creative mind, this girl has one...she painted rocks and the steps for hours with water, in every color "imaginable".

 

                            photo by spbm

My beautiful little B is going through the "don't point the camera at me" phase. :(  I tell her she is too  beautiful not to let me take pictures of her.

 

   photo by spbm

Little Marelli having an easy day. Lately, he wants to lay on top of the glass table???

  photo by spbm

colors of summer

                           photos by spbm

rain...a lot of green

This is been the strangest spring and summer I can remember, the second day of June and my thermometer reads 59 degrees. I'm starting to wonder if I will ever get all of my yard work completed this summer... and still the pond needs some TLC. With all the rain we've had, everything is a beautiful green, but if the rain continues, I'll be swimming to get to the car.

My babies were here last week, made me a very happy camper for a few days. Had so much fun with them, going to the Science Museum, picking dandelion bouquets, etc. My little Ada inherited her love for flowers from me. She gets so excited over every single bloom she sees. No one has told her that some of them are weeds, so to her, every bloom is a beautiful masterpiece displayed by nature. She's amazing - so real, honest and pure.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer thus far.

Have a great week!

Quote:

“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 All photos by SPBM

Balance

The past month has been hard! I'm trying to keep myself together, functioning on a somewhat sane level of existence. I feel a bit robotic, moving one foot in front of the other. The weight of caring can feel like the whole world has fallen on you - pretty much the way I feel these days.

I hope all is well in your world!

xoxo

Shades of Pink

My flowers are blooming, the trees have leafed out, the thermometer passed 100 degrees today. Has summer arrived in April? It sure feels like it.

Photo by SPBM

Aren't these beautiful blooms!?

Photo: Apartment Therapy

I kinda like this pink sofa. :)

Photo: Design Is Mine

A little pink. A lot Bohemian.

Photo by SPBM

Photo: http://encorehomestagingredesign.blogspot.com/2010_05_23_archive.html

This room has stories to tell. :)

 Photo: Fresh Home

I really like this kitchen. :) I would never paint my cabinets pink, but if I moved into a home with the cabinets painted this color, I would leave them.

 

Photo by SPBM

Photo: Manolo Home

Love this child's room.

 Photo by SPBM

Yep, it really was this hot here today.

Garden Sheds

One of these would make for the perfect shed, studio, or escape palace. If only I had a place to put one...

All images from http://www.bhg.com/

 So country cottage.

 Adorable.

 Pretty!

 A wonderful place to hang out.

 Rustic.

 Inviting.

 English Garden.

 Comforting and Cozy.

 Beautiful elegance.

 My favorite. And, I LOVE the bird cage and water fountain.

 Country Charm

Charming.