Happy V-Day in July

As I've written before, I'm drawn to Grey Gardens-style homes, and here's one my mom and I drove by when Evan and I were visiting her Little Rock. I especially loved the paper hearts alongside crepe myrtle trees still wrapped in Christmas lights.

Hello, Sunshine

A sunflower tree is growing in my kitchen garden. We didn't plant any seeds, but here it is in all its glory. Blossoms are finally opening all over the place. The stalk is so thick that I haven't had to stake it.

Chicago

I was in Chicago last week covering the Blogher convention. Lots of fun and lots of great women. Top, my view from the Hotel Monaco, just off the Chicago river. And bottom, other Iowans appeared to have made the trip east, too.

Summer squash

I'm quite sure everyone is tired of seeing everyone else's homegrown veggies, but I cannot resist since I'm such a newbie at this. Here is a summer dish prepared using Deborah Madison's cooking with farmer's market produce cookbook. We grew this squash, which I prepared using olive oil, sea salt, ground pepper, and herbs I've been growing: oregano and flat-leaf parsley.

Morning fog

This is from my morning drive into downtown today.

Can't wait

Where the Wild Things Are movie release Oct. 16. The boy's hair and freckles remind me of sweet Evan.

New look from Anthro

Check out Anthropologie's new Web interface. Very cool and love these new images.

Biker Boots

These are seriously some way cool boots. To wear now and punk up a flowery dress, and this fall with tights (and same flowery dress with a biker jacket). Sadly, they are priced way out of my league. Here's the link via Camp Comfort blog.

Minneapolis

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Pix from my recent trip to Minneapolis over the 4th of July. From the top: Walker Sculpture Garden, Java Jack's Coffee house (great bostock pastries and lattes), the cafe in the Swedish Institute, "waitress" on the way to dinner in downtown. The last two pics: The Staghead (great Belgian beers) and a church in Red Wing, MN

Behind the scenes

Making food pretty (for the October issue) doesn't necessarily mean the making part is pretty. From our photo shoot last week.

The Beach

Went on a trip for work to deliver a presentation and was pleasantly surprised by the hotel/views where we stayed--in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Top pic is of sweet tea, and it was quite sweet indeed.

For Shawn

Dude: this picture is all you! From isuwannee.com.