This was my breakfast yesterday morning. Delicious and simple to make, and I have to say that successfully making a poached egg is so fulfilling.
I learned how from the Smitten Kitchen!
I like to think that this vintage checkerboard that I always put my food on is just my beautiful countertop.
Summur and I went to the Historic Downtown square in McKinney this afternoon. And had a lovely time! On the drive, trying to figure out where we are (121 really does just turn into 399 which really does just turn into McDonald) and blasting the 80s music and rocking the vintage shades. Walking around the square, eating delicious food, spending long amounts of time wandering around antique stores, taking photos.
We had lunch at Spoons Cafe. It was fabulous. Pink lemonade, black pepper fries, and a bacon-lettuce-avocado sandwich. Summur had Pumpkin Soup and a Mandarin Orange Salad.
We enjoyed perusing the shops, even though some of them were closed…
Just off the square and down a little side street was this staircase.
I got this skirt at the Denton Square antique store last week. Wool + plaid + pleats + 70s!
I definitely enjoyed my afternoon! Thank you dear : )
And when I got home, Mom reminded me that it’s my half birthday. So, I can convince myself that the Fiestaware teapot I got at the Antique Mall was a birthday present. And that Mantovani record. And… that’s all.
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Square dance dresses to be precise! These were passed down to my sisters and I from Mema, who loved to square dance with Grandpa. With a few tucks and pins, they fit!
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I was just experimental-editing; trying out an overlay of a picture of bokeh lights onto one of my favorite photos of the lovely Darlene! Do you like it? I think there is huge potential in this; seems like it’ll be fun to do more in the future.
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This is now my favorite kind of pie. Ever. If you haven’t had it, you’ve missed out. But really, you’ve got to make it yourself. A store-bought pie could never compete with the flavor, the texture, the just-right-sweetness of homemade.
I got my 10 peaches at Rosemeade Market, where I work. Local Texas peaches are above all others. And I used this recipe from Bon Appetit, with some adaptions.
First step: blanching them in boiling water (directions here – except I did longer than 40 seconds – more like a minute), and peeling them, which is easy; they’re just slippery.
Second step: cutting them up. (I’m not sure why I didn’t think to eat any at this point.) You combine these with sugar, I also added some lemon juice.
Third and fourth and fifth steps?: pie crust, which you put in your pan, and spoon in the fruit, and put on the top crust, and crimp the edges, and cut slits in the top, and bake. To make this:
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we were shopping at kroger, and then i wanted a picture, so i stood on the roof of our car. and then clara also took a picture of me doing so.
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BLT. No tomato for me, I use cheese instead. A BLC? Maybe.
What really makes this more than just good is… the pesto sauce. Spread on the bread next to the bacon, and… there are no words to describe how good this is.
I guess there might be some. Like best sandwich EVER.
[homemade whole wheat bread, bacon, sharp cheddar, spinach, and homemade (from homegrown basil!) pesto sauce.]
This lovely plate is Clara’s, thrifted recently.
I’ll go make myself another one.
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This was actually the Fourth of July. And, we didn’t do a lot. Most of our celebrating was done earlier that weekend.
I played around with that new lens, the 24mm macro, taking pictures of our mailbox-garden zinnias.
This (below) is currently my favorite photo. I think.
I worked in the morning, so I took these pictures in the afternoon. The sidewalk was super hot. I didn’t go put shoes on, so my feet were burning off.
That evening we went to see more fireworks, the Castle Hills ones. This time we were much farther away, but some other friends ended up being there too.
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Our Sunday festivities started with going to church (and wearing patriotic colors.) In the afternoon, Clara and I went to a pool party with some friends (where I did not take many pictures.) But we had lots of fun and ate lots of good food. The watermelon I brought was demolished in a matter of minutes. (That is only a slight exaggeration.)
THIS IS ROOTBEER. Please believe me.
Then, when I was sort of supposed to be taking a nap, I was out in the backyard trying out a lens and taking a multitude of pictures of Ginger. 24mm for a nice wide angle, eh? Sadly because this is a legacy (from film-camera) lens, it is limited in the focusing range. Like only a foot away. But for the things it can do, it is wonderful.
Then, we went to see the Farmers Branch fireworks. Very fun. We were so close, we would lay down on our backs and they would fill the sky above us. Loved it.
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Today we celebrated Fourth of July by having friends over for a cookout. Shish-kabobs are soooooo good. So are grilled peaches.
Fresh-cut, homegrown zinnias from the mailbox garden in the front yard. In sarsaparilla bottles.
I made some patriotic pretzels, just putting glaze on yogurt pretzels that I had. We had no red food coloring, though… so I used beet juice. You couldn’t taste it though; they were pretty delicious.
I also made a garland out of paint samples from Lowes. And some garage-sale-found white Christmas lights, and a homemade heart bokeh filter.
And a bunch of these crazy people were playing Ninja. Super intense and super fun to watch. Also, I’m getting a little better from being so bad at it.
And, my super cute sister!
And one of my other super cute sisters and her not-so-bad-looking boyfriend.
Even more plans for tomorrow! Happy Fourth of July, everyone.
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Elicia Wetstein 