the garden, it grows!

I picked the very first zinnia from my garden this afternoon. then I walked around my apartment with it. then I walked back outside. for you to see my little garden! 

please disregard the trash and abandoned printer across the street.

arf arf

In longing to go on a trip- I have been sifting through the WWOOF website for potential host farms- I think I found a keeper: 

We are a small organic olive farm, not yet in production. We practice permaculture and the olives are part of a 'forest garden' which also includes 200 cork oaks, carob & other trees & shrubs. We also have a vegetable garden, fruit trees, dogs, cats, hens, bees and worms! Living in a Mediterranean climate we practice several different methods of water recycling & have a biological swimming pool. You may come and participate in all aspects of a compassionate, sustainable lifestyle. Our meals are vegan (wine is served with the evening meal) and this a non smoking place! Stays of a month or more are very much preferred. Ability to drive is an advantage. People usually book a few weeks ahead, but we sometimes have last minutes vacancies. English is normally spoken in the house, but we also are able to speak French.

In the Pyrénées-Orientales, nonetheless. 

Here's a photo of wikipedia of the Pyrénées-Orientales - so it actually might be a photo of something completely different. But I'd like to think its in France. 

hot day carpet poses

In a worthy and possibly successful attempt at cooling himself down, blackjack tries to increase his surface area by sprawling out his plump body on the rug.

is it winter yet?

Today, I slept. I slept a lot. After coming home from work during the heat of the day I was nearly paralyzed form the intense amounts of heat blowing at me from all directions. I think Blackjack must've preheated my apartment to 375˚F when I left this morning, and left it blazin' all day long. I still can't figure out why he did that. 

So I dragged my wilted, dehydrated body out of bed several hours later and went for a beautiful exciting run. By beautiful of course I mean it seemed like I could drink a full glass of water by leaving my mouth open for less than 30 seconds due to the rude amounts of humidity. By exiting, you could say it was exiting not knowing whether or not I was going to collapse due to heat exhaustion. OK, I am exaggerating here.

I came back to my sweltering apartment and knew if I turned on my oven, the building would probably spontaneously combust. SO I made cold food:

Round up some nori wraps (or collard or any type of greens), alfalfa sprouts, avocado, cucumber, carrot, green/red cabbage, any type of pepper. 

Cut 'em up! Smash up that avocado.

Since you're probably starved at this point, slap all those veggies onto the nori and then just try to wrap it up like a burrito. This part might be hard if you like to rush when you cook like me.

Done- whew! That was fast. When you roll up the nori, dip your finger into some water and use it like a glue to seal the nori together. I dipped my finished wrap into soy sauce.

I guess now I can go back to bed. 

ding dong

                                blackjack 

old pictures from my (old) room

old old summertime flowers that dried 

found this little creature on the side o' the road

one of the tiniest, loveliest things I own.

I called for moving help but all I got was this lazy happy cat

beach day

how to build a beach fort:
1. fetch an extra large white sheet
2. find various sized drift wood pieces
3. proceed in sticking these pieces into the sand
and at the same time tying some of the sheet to the sticks
4. don't build it into the wind like I did, or you'll need lots more sticks
5. lay inside beach fort and pretend your are sleeping. when a dog
comes to sniff you after he strays from his/her beach-goer- pop up and SURPRRIZE!!  

kick 

things beach forts are good for:
staying out of the sun. hiding. thinking. daydreaming. eating. reading. drawing. and other things

blacky likes the new place

is it sorbet? is it ice cream? it's breakfast lunch and dinner

Okay ya'll, prepare to be amazed. Thanks to my pal Hal, I have just discovered one of the most simple and delicious things I have ever.. licked! Already in the past 24 hours I have made this twice. It's my new breakfast lunch dinner. 

1. ladies and gentlemen, grab your frozen fruit. today I am using frozen raspberries / strawberries / bananas / blueberries.  

2. Grab that juicer. You know, that one that you might not have. I wish you had one. If you do have one- put it together before you fetch your fruit- so the fruit stays as frozen as possible. Get your prettiest white bowl. I forgot- when you are putting together your juicer- if you have this option- put the blank  in (a solid piece of plastic) instead of the screen. This ensures that the juicer will just pulverize the frozen fruit rather than push it thru the screen to be juiced. All of the 'pulp' is your ice cream (or ice fruit in this case)! It will all be pooped out one end in this case... doesn't that sound appetizing.

3. Action shot- I'm putting the frozen banana into the juicer (and fumbling with the camera in my left hand)

4. Pooooopie! This is a bad picture, but can't you see how decadent this is looking? I was probably smiling during this picture. If you want- you can even put your mouth right up to the machine and suck the treat right out (not advised).

5. REALLY! Can you believe your eyes.. or eye if you have one! The frozen fruit comes out just like soft serve. Also, I'd like to note- when you are cleaning and rinsing out your juicer's parts after- make sure you have your spoon at the ready- there is still plenty of icefruit in the parts - scoop it out and enjoy.

6. (below) I know this might look like someone who's had a painful night on the jon, but I can assure you- it's anything but(t).

What the heck! Add some sprinkles!

The final step: stop taking pictures and enjoy this treat. You probably won't believe that it's just fruit - but that's why you can eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner. Like me, now you're blogging about it, and similarly wondering what other things you can make into ice cream. What about frozen pineapple? Peaches, plums, pears, citrus fruits? What about using bananas with mint extract ? and chocolate? Frozen vegetables? WHAT! Freeze some fish and feed it thru for a frosty delight your feline will enjoy... hmm..

After eating this last night and then having dreams about battery acid and Russia - I intend on consuming it nightly.

this phire isnt phake

my favorite thing on designtorget

http://www.designtorget.se/designtorget/se/

girl with cat

Ezra Hershberger, Girl with Cat 1986

p. purrington ,  girl with cat 2012

a drawing of a place brian went

"shoud we start over?"