tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79170140065285260882024-02-07T00:40:21.111-05:00sara may.... or she may notA chronicle of my crazybeautiful lifeThe Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.comBlogger364125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-83543988471762492072010-09-23T09:34:00.003-05:002010-09-23T09:42:17.323-05:00On Asking and Telling<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5mgqr-RWUmVMyk_eLeKvm8kUVyvfdZB1-yCAT9kagrBk3rgJuwZeUNZ14HGNX2NbH225373lEwTUeQR95UYTAeenuysrUsrhRJZqxOkqS5YVR7rl9hPVWtQXW89_LVoRjYDluKGIOFg/s1600/DADT.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520117469757299506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5mgqr-RWUmVMyk_eLeKvm8kUVyvfdZB1-yCAT9kagrBk3rgJuwZeUNZ14HGNX2NbH225373lEwTUeQR95UYTAeenuysrUsrhRJZqxOkqS5YVR7rl9hPVWtQXW89_LVoRjYDluKGIOFg/s320/DADT.jpg" /></a><br />Our service men and women, both the straight and the (closeted) gay ones, are dying for their country. Why are we squabbling about an archaic policy that keeps people shamed and quiet when they are literally laying down their lives to keep the rest of us safe?<br /><br />It's ridiculous and it's hurtful.<br /><br />On a completely different note, I started culinary school yesterday. It's exhilarating, if a bit overwhelming at this point. More on this later....The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-79639373322244777372010-09-11T10:40:00.004-05:002010-09-11T10:59:49.540-05:00Dance/Candy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NR8i-WCh6AjuD-ifgO1YRgJ4QZX81_s_g0keaCCqJI1L5VKno065YdhiD4KWUWT0KXK_uSkDcMasDBCmf3MSsS9CpTiT1IomkDK9yKGHCGku8fHqhYo0EqNyi5mbtEfvbFpi0fOlCZk/s1600/kcd.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515681473606138690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NR8i-WCh6AjuD-ifgO1YRgJ4QZX81_s_g0keaCCqJI1L5VKno065YdhiD4KWUWT0KXK_uSkDcMasDBCmf3MSsS9CpTiT1IomkDK9yKGHCGku8fHqhYo0EqNyi5mbtEfvbFpi0fOlCZk/s320/kcd.jpg" /></a>Last night I attended the opening night of the <a href="http://keilacordova.com/home.cfm">Keila Cordova Dances</a> piece entitled <a href="http://livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=14324">As Big As The World</a>.<br /><br />It was a wonderful show. Catch it if you can-- it closes this weekend.<br /><br />For the last three Fringes I've stage managed Keila's productions and they have been some of the most wonderful times of my stage management career. Keila and Andrew are so wonderful, the dancers are sweet and funny and very talented, plus there's always a baby hanging around to play with. It has been the essence of the Fringe Festival for me-- hard work + long hours + great people= a perfect experience. The very beginnings of creation, the birthing of Art.<br /><br />It was weird to see the show merely from the audience's perspective, but I loved it. A huge thank-you to Keila, Andrew and the dancers for creating such a great work and for all of the wonderful Fringe-y memories of years past.<br /><br /><br />And in other news...<br /><br /><br />I started working as the pastry chef's assistant at the Fountain this week. It's totally fucking awesome. <br /><br />My first day we made simple syrup and berry toppings and apple turnovers and then experimented with honeycomb candy, which was later made into an ice cream. Yesterday we made brownies and hot fudge and absinthe truffles. Yes, you heard right. ABSINTHE TRUFFLES. <br /><br />I never saw myself interested in pastry/candymaking. But I'm fascinated. I love it. I want to learn everything I can about it. It certainly doesn't hurt that the pastry chef (her name is Davina) is awesome and funny and sweet and a GREAT teacher. <br /><br />Next week I'm going to learn how to make ice cream. What the WHAT? This is so exciting.<br /><br />AND on Thursday I made a trip up to New York to pick up my official Natural Gourmet Institute chef jacket, houndstooth pants, aprons and side towels. Plus of course I got some drinking done with Kris, Leah and Kelly. It's going to be a fun year.<br /><br />It's real, people. It's really happening. So fast. Less than two weeks now.The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-50667874882429050192010-09-05T09:02:00.002-05:002010-09-05T09:10:24.675-05:00Soda Jerk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVAiYkwT5Cy2wlRGXxftz8mS1GS0VRwDM0z-MXXM6rbgYibKOd86x7WiMx4n6VJp2v5mreQnAAAG9LHQiW9i0ED0iXFZND91o812_Q6r1wgDbd2JGYB6_yjfhWpbE428lh81ywWM28vA/s1600/soda+jerk.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513430007487530802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVAiYkwT5Cy2wlRGXxftz8mS1GS0VRwDM0z-MXXM6rbgYibKOd86x7WiMx4n6VJp2v5mreQnAAAG9LHQiW9i0ED0iXFZND91o812_Q6r1wgDbd2JGYB6_yjfhWpbE428lh81ywWM28vA/s320/soda+jerk.jpg" /></a> Mixing a <a href="http://franklinfountainphilly.blogspot.com/2009/04/menu-fountain.html">Japanese Thirst Killer</a> at Franklin Fountain.<br /><br />Despite the occasional rude customer ("can you just shut up and give me my change?") I'm really getting into this job.<br /><br />Come visit me. I'll scoop you some ice cream or mix a phosphate for you. And you can be one of those lovely customers that makes my day.The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-59500773106027688672010-09-04T11:09:00.004-05:002010-09-04T11:50:18.355-05:00Leaves of Change<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp8PVvFB9_PPMfo0uOXtOr27F6aZx1N8m-puWzaCJMGukXyAb3_lEPBugGkKuRvzRmzxR25iywvyXPYBb-EpbNap3lSX_40atqZ_fZ42HbpCmg6BnTLrgNmgSpYjNaM39PYTj9VQ0Dm4/s1600/untitled+project+%23213.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513091553728476642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp8PVvFB9_PPMfo0uOXtOr27F6aZx1N8m-puWzaCJMGukXyAb3_lEPBugGkKuRvzRmzxR25iywvyXPYBb-EpbNap3lSX_40atqZ_fZ42HbpCmg6BnTLrgNmgSpYjNaM39PYTj9VQ0Dm4/s320/untitled+project+%23213.jpg" /></a> It's that time of year again, folks: last night was the official opening of the <a href="http://www.livearts-fringe.org/">Philadelphia Live Arts & Fringe Festival</a> and for me, the unofficial beginning of Fall.<br /><br />I had the privilege of attending Jenn Rose, Dan Kazemi and Steve Pacek's production of <a href="http://livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=14022">Untitled Project #213</a> in my old stomping grounds at the Walnut's Studio 3 space. Philadelphia people, don't miss this show. It plays this weekend only and it's the best piece of theater I've seen in a very long time. Poetic, beautiful, deeply heart-wrenching. The technical elements were absolute perfection and the performers were astonishing. Thank you so much for such a wonderful theatrical experience.<br /><br />After the show, when I finally stopped sobbing, I pulled myself together to go to the opening of this year's <a href="http://www.livearts-fringe.org/festival-bar.cfm">Festival Bar</a> with Amanda and Arizona. The venue has changed (and become a little more clubb-y and less art-y) but the cheap beer and dancing remained.<br /><br />It's going to be a great couple of weeks.<br /><br />In other news........<br /><br />For those of you who follow me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/The-Cozy-Herbivore/">facebook</a> (become a fan if you haven't already!), <a href="http://twitter.com/CozyHerbivore">twitter </a> (ditto) or at <a href="http://www.thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/">The Cozy Herbivore</a> this news is a bit old, but for the rest of you, here goes:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv6eCQZgmxXnjROos1XROyIBlttM0LkzzL2a7_Gm7tSB0bj27sB3CbQGFs7QLLenG1KgS8omEcEfW9ig9Q1EysQb23NztByN0L01p1VdHdqEyERYTh5c_9HFZ1c7SlE_mxPka-RiX1YU/s1600/iquittheplay.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513095587800574242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv6eCQZgmxXnjROos1XROyIBlttM0LkzzL2a7_Gm7tSB0bj27sB3CbQGFs7QLLenG1KgS8omEcEfW9ig9Q1EysQb23NztByN0L01p1VdHdqEyERYTh5c_9HFZ1c7SlE_mxPka-RiX1YU/s320/iquittheplay.gif" /></a>Yep, I gave my resignation to the Walnut Street Theatre. I am changing things up to the extreme, following a dream and going to culinary school this fall at the <a href="http://naturalgourmetinstitute.com/html/about-c.html">Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts</a> in New York. I will be commuting there two days a week for the next ten months. It's a huge step for me... I have never done anything but theater in my adult life. And I love it, I still do. Once the theater gets into your blood it never leaves. It's like malaria.<br /><br />But the schedule was really wearing me down, and more than that, I have felt a wellspring of creativity bubbling up inside of me for several years now that has been up to this point rather frustrated and unfulfilled.<br /><br />Let's face it, being a stage manager is an exciting and interesting job, but it is not creative in any way. It's a facilitating job-- I helped artists create all day every day. And I miss being a part of that creativity. I have no interest in theatrical creativity myself-- I'm no director, not cut out to be an actor, and my design work is woeful. Still, I itch to step out from the sidelines, to not always be the woman sitting quietly at a table taking notes about other people's art.<br /><br />Since I was a little girl I have always loved to write, and in recent years I have discovered an abiding love of food and cooking. It's suddenly become my dream to channel both of these loves into a new career. I'm thinking I would like to get into food writing or recipe development. Or possibly be a personal chef. I don't know exactly what, yet. But I do know that I don't want to spend too much time in a restaurant kitchen. Because, let's face it, if I am complaining about the long night hours and the low pay of theater, how is restaurant work any different? Right down to the crazy behind-the-scenes drama, the two are linked in an adrenaline-fueled, sleep-deprived junkie sort of way.<br /><br />In the mean time, a girl's gotta make her money, so I got a job at the <a href="http://franklinfountainphilly.blogspot.com/">Franklin Fountain</a>. If you're in Philly, you simply must check this place out. It's awesome, handmade artisan ice cream served in the style of a turn of the century soda fountain. Right now I am a soda jerk, but on Tuesday I begin training with the pastry chef to be her assistant. The Fountain has purchased an <a href="http://franklinfountain.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-10-scoop.html">old fashioned candy shop</a> next door and will open it in time for the holidays.<br /><br />Never in my wildest foodie dreams did I think I would get into candy making, but I am fascinated and terribly excited to learn all about it. I especially love that the Fountain is committed to local and seasonal ingredients, prepared in an old-fashioned way.<br /><br />So now I've caught you up and I can stop dropping mysterious hints on this blog about Big Changes. Onward...The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-82965966697105633472010-08-09T15:28:00.005-05:002010-08-09T16:54:40.189-05:00Son of a Beach!This summer has been a weird one for me & Deb... kinda stressful, very poor (okay, nothing weird about that, we're <em>always</em> poor in the summer) and in a break from tradition, we're not taking a vacation this summer. There are many reasons for this which I can't really get into right now, but let's just say Big Things are coming and we can't really get away.<br /><br />Enter Beth to the rescue: she has planned and organized two trips to the beach at <a href="http://www.strathmere.net/">Strathmere, NJ</a> with a great group of friends to help us get out of the city. Thanks Beth!<br /><br />We returned from trip #2 last night, sandy and sunburned and bone-tired from frolicking in the ocean. It was blissful. It may not be a full-fledged vacation, but getting away for even a day was just the change of pace we needed.<br /><br />And none of this would have been possible without the help of Tara, Scotty, Mel and AJ, who took turns taking care of Hyde so his mommies could slip away for the day. Thanks guys!<br /><br />Amanda and I, right after our first dip in the ocean:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvJia0heWCAC6UrBGaLkInVJhOWYwt1jSsYP2L2LtYmCU5psiYUQ_E9RDp8oD9isHJvVICqXCHIUuRX9SBxiJaG1rCP36N0wOfp6L2DSnL3JdlvnWzU1PFoveUflqNQ_oCjNd82QSm90/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503526718439025378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvJia0heWCAC6UrBGaLkInVJhOWYwt1jSsYP2L2LtYmCU5psiYUQ_E9RDp8oD9isHJvVICqXCHIUuRX9SBxiJaG1rCP36N0wOfp6L2DSnL3JdlvnWzU1PFoveUflqNQ_oCjNd82QSm90/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+016.JPG" /></a><br />Deb and Chris just, you know, chillin':<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw7Tv2WSUfk-uAeTlTIsHZt4O3SUmF69rMwDj0N8W6kyu8WVs0PgprA-Lgw_fJ7xzsIQD5MDkNfxAWzggRWlFjX0pRO-1r4uyfxDLAu1GCEIq2xmvtI6cDQDi5pfpbsIv9gfcbXJq3ok/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503526712121596850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw7Tv2WSUfk-uAeTlTIsHZt4O3SUmF69rMwDj0N8W6kyu8WVs0PgprA-Lgw_fJ7xzsIQD5MDkNfxAWzggRWlFjX0pRO-1r4uyfxDLAu1GCEIq2xmvtI6cDQDi5pfpbsIv9gfcbXJq3ok/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+021.JPG" /></a><br />Chris and Jihad, hard at work on one of the many sand castles constructed:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxE-7WwN1QDLAdPxEJ2hfgOWNMjot1rDvnrLi9i0SqfGK9HAZpR9OqM9gSNvJoCSvSiixVhxvgQyJCj-3h58tVVGqnjBRHGgiSVPVpXqqi1PBN02AqIdiZzJ7P3auP7obWMzj6Em0WLUA/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503526701684994418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxE-7WwN1QDLAdPxEJ2hfgOWNMjot1rDvnrLi9i0SqfGK9HAZpR9OqM9gSNvJoCSvSiixVhxvgQyJCj-3h58tVVGqnjBRHGgiSVPVpXqqi1PBN02AqIdiZzJ7P3auP7obWMzj6Em0WLUA/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+023.JPG" /></a><br />The boys and Deb even tossed a football around:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcHeDk5-Haq7lz0Mfy8ZN78VamcMalCUqYG5D63R5yerQwRHkJNa9Xckrp0pCvFFkPez-99bH4LFz94bdFOxEWS0jZksyp9OjsxzmZKWQ1REHndmoCzPIOiYqBi1lcctx1Uv7JaWnPo8/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503525253507028818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcHeDk5-Haq7lz0Mfy8ZN78VamcMalCUqYG5D63R5yerQwRHkJNa9Xckrp0pCvFFkPez-99bH4LFz94bdFOxEWS0jZksyp9OjsxzmZKWQ1REHndmoCzPIOiYqBi1lcctx1Uv7JaWnPo8/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+025.JPG" /></a><br />Deb and Arizona give the thumbs up to beach bellies:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHfgCl-DmPgsNI8w528-CS-BN_wasUSUm1ctw02jNMLSLeoFKVla9s7WUX-1AcPFX0K9bK-ASGpmiMADjnF_hYPvBCgc4fUH2d-El0baHxx8fgXz0ROTyxi-oCGo-PgQ7UkptqPgF8wA/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503525250715143874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHfgCl-DmPgsNI8w528-CS-BN_wasUSUm1ctw02jNMLSLeoFKVla9s7WUX-1AcPFX0K9bK-ASGpmiMADjnF_hYPvBCgc4fUH2d-El0baHxx8fgXz0ROTyxi-oCGo-PgQ7UkptqPgF8wA/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+039.JPG" /></a><br />Arizona and Kali played some futbol:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCM1a4OaHM4avK97LtdnFByhBn-SNPNrSgFCK_jAvofo3kbrfPUTVCCawHrCCcio2FvTHoV9RcOm8QZrA9oCedsun1qMkngUfzIFcuKB8ctQFjOZsjIOGgRchBNhDwxNjwptxrVl2fB4/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503525242606199874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCM1a4OaHM4avK97LtdnFByhBn-SNPNrSgFCK_jAvofo3kbrfPUTVCCawHrCCcio2FvTHoV9RcOm8QZrA9oCedsun1qMkngUfzIFcuKB8ctQFjOZsjIOGgRchBNhDwxNjwptxrVl2fB4/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+042.JPG" /></a><br />Hold on, it's the ocean calling. I said HOLD ON!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoGHCxyuxLAhAv-aWfwiN9DV6npl6aR3usm3Lk3-Ph9TcJ3t4S2QCbfK30Mv0s2erAefgPtBDnzs7UQ2gJG-6DVm6hPrJaR8P7371U6YWOIUqziudTzDe92bwButmEDRaxCLugUuVyqk/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503524171633963458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoGHCxyuxLAhAv-aWfwiN9DV6npl6aR3usm3Lk3-Ph9TcJ3t4S2QCbfK30Mv0s2erAefgPtBDnzs7UQ2gJG-6DVm6hPrJaR8P7371U6YWOIUqziudTzDe92bwButmEDRaxCLugUuVyqk/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+043.JPG" /></a><br />We win! Thumbs up! (l-r: Deb, Beth, Kali, Chris)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzGWpKinD4EzNircrWTbgcdljZ90VC6FueXa_tSAFsnXN8qrE-Sm8j9fz4dn4dXWtTW_IrKYeXYaZsEXxpG7H4SAPK-y5MWISt3nVJ8ZB0hAMuzvIQ-LY6Q3dXWW1TscvXTbLXbXXNic/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503524156968724722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzGWpKinD4EzNircrWTbgcdljZ90VC6FueXa_tSAFsnXN8qrE-Sm8j9fz4dn4dXWtTW_IrKYeXYaZsEXxpG7H4SAPK-y5MWISt3nVJ8ZB0hAMuzvIQ-LY6Q3dXWW1TscvXTbLXbXXNic/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+046.JPG" /></a><br />Chris, hard at work on his second sand castle:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL03DwLmBYjYfq_8OYYyeM_J47JdEXwerGJWm4vgiFfliH89BqcVzcmQBGFHXUr93Zv7vGVXyjsgu3frj9z5aXAsO4-f3tay-pCk7-Em0VfRTnhg8PgEO-xjwCIlqVUZVvMly_TQwEFws/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503524146966444802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL03DwLmBYjYfq_8OYYyeM_J47JdEXwerGJWm4vgiFfliH89BqcVzcmQBGFHXUr93Zv7vGVXyjsgu3frj9z5aXAsO4-f3tay-pCk7-Em0VfRTnhg8PgEO-xjwCIlqVUZVvMly_TQwEFws/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+048.JPG" /></a><br />Getting sunburned:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7UPKZla71DEvm6bVksuOBKa8xgdMuvAjoFTMaZKdk2mDCZYCftkFyPRzARbbiG5N33AfORr2DmLPOTee45bAFjneSzKUc9zwBIYvt5RGY6ToeW1VPhaTYL3DqqxwJzQR714AzPhiQfM/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503511403733744738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7UPKZla71DEvm6bVksuOBKa8xgdMuvAjoFTMaZKdk2mDCZYCftkFyPRzARbbiG5N33AfORr2DmLPOTee45bAFjneSzKUc9zwBIYvt5RGY6ToeW1VPhaTYL3DqqxwJzQR714AzPhiQfM/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+052.JPG" /></a><br />What is a trip to the beach without the traditional beer shotgun?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg242dHdJrs8ccOC5p_ZZwTqcbPKKNV4snzEi83SVkq28FR93La8wmTNVqUBLtUbE-OUoMSKRmHoqBJWRscEVXu4PlmzXdDx-UMv8KOVLtPbdm0PBKBoey8LyB838vUg_-_g64pK5_xksk/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+065.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503511382159130482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg242dHdJrs8ccOC5p_ZZwTqcbPKKNV4snzEi83SVkq28FR93La8wmTNVqUBLtUbE-OUoMSKRmHoqBJWRscEVXu4PlmzXdDx-UMv8KOVLtPbdm0PBKBoey8LyB838vUg_-_g64pK5_xksk/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+065.JPG" /></a><br />Group shot! (l-r: girl who's name I don't know, Anna, Jihad, Marc, Deb, Kali, Beth, me, Rafiq)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo05fAPeVROwz9vF-w7pVPLwYj-TZ69Rt5J85N4Be5wGq7iXsZs0tafnoxR7uncct0wZKx2fsq1BYC8EsBTzy6GCgRxxCCP8Rgj1IgJ_iYZTdJV-KJ3TJ7pnSWQVjjbUykOSQsESBHVI/s1600/BEACH!+8.8.10+067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503511376546907122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo05fAPeVROwz9vF-w7pVPLwYj-TZ69Rt5J85N4Be5wGq7iXsZs0tafnoxR7uncct0wZKx2fsq1BYC8EsBTzy6GCgRxxCCP8Rgj1IgJ_iYZTdJV-KJ3TJ7pnSWQVjjbUykOSQsESBHVI/s320/BEACH!+8.8.10+067.JPG" /></a> As we left the beach, Chris drove us to a little ice cream shop that made their own ice cream (so different from the popular pre-made place) and we jammed the whole way back to Philly, our hair filled with sand, our bodies sunburned and our hearts very, very happy.The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-79415279502640513282010-08-06T12:38:00.003-05:002010-08-06T12:47:29.574-05:00Progress<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R5Cf3v7ICl9n3JW4K1VJrQDA9xwgeMIqB14om9ZJaYoULZ70Yo46V_xTRy8BUWNDLdJ0Qvovge07DQoRLQ-5JZscWS35kaZgZNFFG3E6nXI_dBvmcwb6ovA6zFnp19wYPKSPuG6Scjo/s1600/Prop+8.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502353345972659298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R5Cf3v7ICl9n3JW4K1VJrQDA9xwgeMIqB14om9ZJaYoULZ70Yo46V_xTRy8BUWNDLdJ0Qvovge07DQoRLQ-5JZscWS35kaZgZNFFG3E6nXI_dBvmcwb6ovA6zFnp19wYPKSPuG6Scjo/s320/Prop+8.gif" /></a><br />Great article about Judge Walker's decision being a turning point in the culture wars <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-04/prop-8-overturned-vaughn-walkers-ruling-on-gay-marriage/?cid=hp:beastoriginalsC3">here</a>.<br /><br />Next stop, the Supreme Court?<br /><br />This is VERY good news!!The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-57521039808560093902010-08-04T12:04:00.011-05:002010-08-04T14:57:50.972-05:00BREAKING! Garden Update!I'm kidding, of course. There's nothing really "breaking" or urgent about a garden. And that's why I love them.<br /><br />But anyway, the container garden is in full swing, and despite the heat, we've had many occasions to sit outside with frosty beers and enjoy it. Although the air conditioning unit on the patio is noisy, we are so grateful to have central air inside, especially during this beastly year. And in the interest of not wasting any water, we collect the air conditioner's runoff and use it to water the plants every day. I also put a bucket in the bottom of our shower (it takes FOREVER for that water to heat up to anything close to comfortable) and we use that as well to feed the thirsty plants. Sure, it's kind of a pain in the ass to lug a bucket of water outside every day, but knowing that we're doing all we can not to waste resources is really important to me. Plus I'm developing some awesome biceps-- it's a win-win!<br /><br />The garden isn't all work and no play: I've been using this incredibly lush mint plant for juleps and for making mint syrup that enlivens every cocktail with a summer-y flair:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdmVsP7an4JdfX4J_VIbv-NqL-w8FI-wCilLJ1tM-gx9l6apQHGgFIaK-EQRkNNDEnQEIRpx23Dyeca_TsWTiBf7BV39RZI2zH8rfg8nkc4NAE5rLoy0DhI5nOf_MIXARFaigMC5UoCQ/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501610644018884306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdmVsP7an4JdfX4J_VIbv-NqL-w8FI-wCilLJ1tM-gx9l6apQHGgFIaK-EQRkNNDEnQEIRpx23Dyeca_TsWTiBf7BV39RZI2zH8rfg8nkc4NAE5rLoy0DhI5nOf_MIXARFaigMC5UoCQ/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+033.JPG" /></a><br />And I found a nice alternative to chemical <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">mosquito</span> repellents: a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium_citrosum">citronella </a>plant!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFtjbCkWJbnyXV4t8WL_bdbKfx51KZDpm7y_1k5CbVo-iXrC0dFW4_g_JxOkJ35eu0GGL_zzP7htE442gaHOsLdCqu-vnN74LJd1U4aO-G0THb7HAA3SPcsq5LK7Eto-_9EFB6X9pP9s/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501610635986716658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFtjbCkWJbnyXV4t8WL_bdbKfx51KZDpm7y_1k5CbVo-iXrC0dFW4_g_JxOkJ35eu0GGL_zzP7htE442gaHOsLdCqu-vnN74LJd1U4aO-G0THb7HAA3SPcsq5LK7Eto-_9EFB6X9pP9s/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+010.JPG" /></a> Actually a member of the geranium family, this plant smells extremely lemon-y when disturbed even the slightest bit. I don't know if it's all that effective against those stinging buggers, but hey, every little bit counts, right?</p><p><br />We've just started to get our tomato crop in, and it looks like there are many more to come:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkr7r5Y9EBOEQVZlbEphdAPAm8s5I0DCOAO7QdKB9gRVDIP80SJvPl1AqKaueuyPHBqgxy516hvLJomQvoflhH2-pPrw1pSDbErDY9pCGbjsMyMa7VCzhIvcF4Y9Qnxd5zaoKS4IEo0I/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501610217828486002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkr7r5Y9EBOEQVZlbEphdAPAm8s5I0DCOAO7QdKB9gRVDIP80SJvPl1AqKaueuyPHBqgxy516hvLJomQvoflhH2-pPrw1pSDbErDY9pCGbjsMyMa7VCzhIvcF4Y9Qnxd5zaoKS4IEo0I/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+039.JPG" /></a><br />Look at this lovely <a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/99740/">Orange Blossom</a> tomato!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9q1yM_gtz22iByjDR6RqFs1IFRjam4IK5P5UQ2MDVAh39YwnISnqd411UFHZ6_phUXSRBmuNirNtuyaYPjkW27c1sEi8JzV281l-ykiJYhUrEWR9HYWG2HqVJ-AZHUhwn9JO8zjZtMSM/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501610209110258514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9q1yM_gtz22iByjDR6RqFs1IFRjam4IK5P5UQ2MDVAh39YwnISnqd411UFHZ6_phUXSRBmuNirNtuyaYPjkW27c1sEi8JzV281l-ykiJYhUrEWR9HYWG2HqVJ-AZHUhwn9JO8zjZtMSM/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+001.JPG" /></a> They are INCREDIBLY slow to mature, but oh-so-worth it. Gorgeous and delicious!<br /><br />Luckily we have the <a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/88786/">Black Cherry</a> tomatoes coming in like they're going out of style while we wait for the Orange Blossoms:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKv9bKIvA6j5Hu9QvOUQBp3AbnYi0kIzx7FBdGfQhUqB2OsTraI0H0vkQoNS7BmxLZ_co0RIA4rmMs3gY6vp4nZyQMRe2v6QSO4tlz-AXTjO6YkbeLBQ-OeZ5izprhOvVeBeHVTTKcs8/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501610197101890322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKv9bKIvA6j5Hu9QvOUQBp3AbnYi0kIzx7FBdGfQhUqB2OsTraI0H0vkQoNS7BmxLZ_co0RIA4rmMs3gY6vp4nZyQMRe2v6QSO4tlz-AXTjO6YkbeLBQ-OeZ5izprhOvVeBeHVTTKcs8/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+007.JPG" /></a><br />They grow fast, they look adorable and they're so sweet & juicy:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt1In28PSJe95x7EnZL5Q9UjspztJlRpXODg2L-vvp83tFNmRdVwvMxOUiU_vTp6XIxoVF-Ai7zPmkhRD19QT5I-AsfK6LCxF8yRxUq324shK40UsYGui1ppscyvMcJiEkxekjnZIaoc/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501607559384236738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt1In28PSJe95x7EnZL5Q9UjspztJlRpXODg2L-vvp83tFNmRdVwvMxOUiU_vTp6XIxoVF-Ai7zPmkhRD19QT5I-AsfK6LCxF8yRxUq324shK40UsYGui1ppscyvMcJiEkxekjnZIaoc/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+009.JPG" /></a><br />I'm totally in love with my zebra-striped geraniums-- so cheery!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYqPc4TWRl1WCVweomedZSt8QLrnqlHwaG_lT8WkH9YIrfcd47DHz3Nxf6YFQ-72EThOUEbUsZzrE1WCZnJqt7axMq2cSro02M1gLka4tNTM89xQNLR1JEfk3WB4Q8td5-ql5rqW3B-8/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501607551921657970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYqPc4TWRl1WCVweomedZSt8QLrnqlHwaG_lT8WkH9YIrfcd47DHz3Nxf6YFQ-72EThOUEbUsZzrE1WCZnJqt7axMq2cSro02M1gLka4tNTM89xQNLR1JEfk3WB4Q8td5-ql5rqW3B-8/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+005.JPG" /></a><br />The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pansies</span> are blooming continually as well:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohBvFTGo3xA4iQ_zxifm5KuWQsbdDso6s9gp8w46GQa9TbunByGB9D9NN8fheWKrRYgUQnOt2rKxzRBpYIiRGPkcSKkw0uXgEJlYj30KCaV8_YqvA_7H95mleQBtEG6mLH4ne_TQcgrY/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501607538635678930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohBvFTGo3xA4iQ_zxifm5KuWQsbdDso6s9gp8w46GQa9TbunByGB9D9NN8fheWKrRYgUQnOt2rKxzRBpYIiRGPkcSKkw0uXgEJlYj30KCaV8_YqvA_7H95mleQBtEG6mLH4ne_TQcgrY/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+030.JPG" /></a><br />Even the sensitive plant, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">re-potted</span> to get more sun, has started to bloom:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NiYIMXDanHiFmuGEE2l-9-wxe0fNceKG5RKRReittf1LmVC_azwAWxyDl80HOaOLOf_62HFldub3bBXRlDIi13dpeOK2BK5pJK4twooXcqPVjt5q8H0x11Y8qOkD7ygHyHE44Gu4BCY/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501607101996884642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NiYIMXDanHiFmuGEE2l-9-wxe0fNceKG5RKRReittf1LmVC_azwAWxyDl80HOaOLOf_62HFldub3bBXRlDIi13dpeOK2BK5pJK4twooXcqPVjt5q8H0x11Y8qOkD7ygHyHE44Gu4BCY/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+029.JPG" /></a><br />The pepper section of the garden is just getting <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">swingin</span>':<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxAg4oSdZIrz6j02DaNEIn7orXCXmvyEKR2gm08nu_RlXB7vWjN38TQAUj8sRA3Fm7MAcuahWXvbReSIirrZoRd0nCQtFYe1eVqr9RS4tBpv4WdPlZseIsIvSqAZXLXkQStqgNAaWHsQ/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501607098326077218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxAg4oSdZIrz6j02DaNEIn7orXCXmvyEKR2gm08nu_RlXB7vWjN38TQAUj8sRA3Fm7MAcuahWXvbReSIirrZoRd0nCQtFYe1eVqr9RS4tBpv4WdPlZseIsIvSqAZXLXkQStqgNAaWHsQ/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+028.JPG" /></a><br />Look at this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">itty</span>-bitty jalapeno!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs1HyxoSo0AKcXgAzO2q1yoKz-Yu8QjngHnRL-o3pwVnZyKVphsdng0kR3wJ2AkdPucr3GvT-Srw8uRtAAGnpaAPE83uFouFUP7rLbURlrbptKaVFr5sADEqJCoPv9Ve0nDd4VI1HB1U/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501607091076367090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs1HyxoSo0AKcXgAzO2q1yoKz-Yu8QjngHnRL-o3pwVnZyKVphsdng0kR3wJ2AkdPucr3GvT-Srw8uRtAAGnpaAPE83uFouFUP7rLbURlrbptKaVFr5sADEqJCoPv9Ve0nDd4VI1HB1U/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+027.JPG" /></a><br />And this bell pepper is FINALLY starting to get a little color... grow, dude, grow!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HDzjVfDtUsDd1kxIKyfDbCfIxkOM3sH_UM6kxOs7txZ-mddxQkT6Q2s7eBzvbiuOWTOfnDwoH5t0I8F-vpL-MVYI4morTBNctmurqdvRFkXmP0oc6TTLsVIkFwh8F426tmFx3RRh_GQ/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501606683280823058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HDzjVfDtUsDd1kxIKyfDbCfIxkOM3sH_UM6kxOs7txZ-mddxQkT6Q2s7eBzvbiuOWTOfnDwoH5t0I8F-vpL-MVYI4morTBNctmurqdvRFkXmP0oc6TTLsVIkFwh8F426tmFx3RRh_GQ/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+026.JPG" /></a><br />The Swiss Chard has been good to us this year, as evidenced by the stalks we've cut off and used to top sandwiches and to saute into breakfast scrambles:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj746eLnxx2RLZ4MeI7e5gw6p2ZqX-jZkmPl9CPGGvu25d7Vfp_yiOMHQ8H_qTpuyLQj8vVg-xIvH528-jm4ULvSHPUlnPyn9Ho5H4zXv8HhhSZatcvTZQAfOo_po67IgnpDbL1-FFNp0/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501604852394326290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj746eLnxx2RLZ4MeI7e5gw6p2ZqX-jZkmPl9CPGGvu25d7Vfp_yiOMHQ8H_qTpuyLQj8vVg-xIvH528-jm4ULvSHPUlnPyn9Ho5H4zXv8HhhSZatcvTZQAfOo_po67IgnpDbL1-FFNp0/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+011.JPG" /></a><br />Still no sign of any okra buds, although I'm not giving up hope yet:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8AETTpXOVtpIPALZ2FVkektTZjp-fOSsUWYV53hxzOsVJQgRlhyE7Jo5dZSsRAHccZ120Jih7Y3CrJhJ-jhc9qbIgod5Bwx95MvBxk_v7qZqX9HFuaNY0ir5nVrBZW5OpvhJ_bvmbwA/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501604842848448562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8AETTpXOVtpIPALZ2FVkektTZjp-fOSsUWYV53hxzOsVJQgRlhyE7Jo5dZSsRAHccZ120Jih7Y3CrJhJ-jhc9qbIgod5Bwx95MvBxk_v7qZqX9HFuaNY0ir5nVrBZW5OpvhJ_bvmbwA/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+034.JPG" /></a><br />And I'm getting a second round of green beans too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZVTekXysi_ZcNJKTbjDrJ3ZxaR0LZ18mwtIeE-bnYG4Y4u9d9fUUP-ST9swiBYvwPrcW2x8cNSxoMReBNFunRDhb5t3aX9K24Xu3SnFUwRmVQkuFiMwRYU6Uvr4jUgIW1iwItmnDWyo/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501604832341236018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZVTekXysi_ZcNJKTbjDrJ3ZxaR0LZ18mwtIeE-bnYG4Y4u9d9fUUP-ST9swiBYvwPrcW2x8cNSxoMReBNFunRDhb5t3aX9K24Xu3SnFUwRmVQkuFiMwRYU6Uvr4jUgIW1iwItmnDWyo/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+036.JPG" /></a><br />The fairy garden seed packet has yielded a magical container of little, sweet flowers:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryxFHucwkLfAC4NI4SlFbTOH9CHLL88W9CAaEDTPhszDNE5p0tzv_CISRP1F-oSMO_MI0bpxA6F6iMVlfuvB5lAQNME5xDtlCw3hkNvGeNOxEsEVf6aS6bCXCs2ewJMatnzm6aT02fSE/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501604185470924050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryxFHucwkLfAC4NI4SlFbTOH9CHLL88W9CAaEDTPhszDNE5p0tzv_CISRP1F-oSMO_MI0bpxA6F6iMVlfuvB5lAQNME5xDtlCw3hkNvGeNOxEsEVf6aS6bCXCs2ewJMatnzm6aT02fSE/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+012.JPG" /></a><br />And the strawberries have sent runners all over everywhere, which combined with the morning glory pot (on the bottom) gives this yellow shelf an awesome overgrown look:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z5fCYuJXI3ywReqimtTKGCjX7i9m0_qahOVrPHdoh_HYHpxE3g1p9cag9Iom5gwt9oqIm38XeYyUfgiweUDULq4lE5B7pi7xYSt5fNKoW9lx7i3wg8hMonwBhTv-DRoVgFgtQn7CRgI/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501604174729903634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z5fCYuJXI3ywReqimtTKGCjX7i9m0_qahOVrPHdoh_HYHpxE3g1p9cag9Iom5gwt9oqIm38XeYyUfgiweUDULq4lE5B7pi7xYSt5fNKoW9lx7i3wg8hMonwBhTv-DRoVgFgtQn7CRgI/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+013.JPG" /></a><br />The morning glories say hello to me as I water every morning:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdBDeoqdJxFSJn08eQX9fCojKFXEe2E3c-Rgb2NMXFeLwVnQ6rPf4ihzEwhLdMMj-lnO_EWJXc604Lw9LF1ofa2eE_MJZ0IxxYNe214R95cDjDvrTWQICa6wep6zlOHzqg6CNaX9grZM/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501604168908855298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdBDeoqdJxFSJn08eQX9fCojKFXEe2E3c-Rgb2NMXFeLwVnQ6rPf4ihzEwhLdMMj-lnO_EWJXc604Lw9LF1ofa2eE_MJZ0IxxYNe214R95cDjDvrTWQICa6wep6zlOHzqg6CNaX9grZM/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+014.JPG" /></a><br />And the rosebush. Oh, the gorgeous teacup rosebush. It's been so beautiful all summer, flowering over and over. I love the delicate little blooms and I love how when they fade they scatter pink petals all over the patio. It's too perfect.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9GWYU7HVBB7di-3y5oD-ZlkWMWnnijK3hA9F3fe0BnMf00GVU_ITVhcZ59fiSuAsbF2uemcSXbT74Y93EZVvXfuwMC2E22vwHokFFr2ZIptlc7IGbs6XscS65geSfoLlB3gBJeg3Dso/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501603794877589730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9GWYU7HVBB7di-3y5oD-ZlkWMWnnijK3hA9F3fe0BnMf00GVU_ITVhcZ59fiSuAsbF2uemcSXbT74Y93EZVvXfuwMC2E22vwHokFFr2ZIptlc7IGbs6XscS65geSfoLlB3gBJeg3Dso/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9TYsnqeWk9c7I_6HJS7nRHN9_8zj0BThQxaLem8cNSRlgN1hKsQNCR2aNqhaurtq46KD0S_iiRy8wEFuFO76VSBVlnyPcLAVFLofwB1A34mmPfdU9yo8ALJ7jDa2W8PHV4Ui79qYj9E/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501603784553443730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9TYsnqeWk9c7I_6HJS7nRHN9_8zj0BThQxaLem8cNSRlgN1hKsQNCR2aNqhaurtq46KD0S_iiRy8wEFuFO76VSBVlnyPcLAVFLofwB1A34mmPfdU9yo8ALJ7jDa2W8PHV4Ui79qYj9E/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+017.JPG" /></a><br />The verbena had a brush with death when I left it in an overly sunny spot, but moved to shadier digs, it's coming back:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBQYIVyBNmPRajv4aV6PorC7Adirkf9AvgxcNlsq9npP8zUBd6ICAYXEryrObqIKKmn4yQR49EqGm1XMv7fUyi90T-kpyUFouYOAf8FJJ3jVMy8k61YScowb2EzKUdUXqY58-ZU0qypA/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501603317772153746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBQYIVyBNmPRajv4aV6PorC7Adirkf9AvgxcNlsq9npP8zUBd6ICAYXEryrObqIKKmn4yQR49EqGm1XMv7fUyi90T-kpyUFouYOAf8FJJ3jVMy8k61YScowb2EzKUdUXqY58-ZU0qypA/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+021.JPG" /></a><br />And the bronze fennel is seriously out of control:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-TDF9pqW9EDMvp1j2-L-rO-7p9d_UNLuZ1Zp0w_wHY13lowQXchTdk-renssOkpKW1ltLfH3xIe92S0oYSbiyUVsX_-419eUVS1yQYPT8aKQNhxAarc-dolPGgaMD6Pcj579caWVRmc/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501603310763261170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-TDF9pqW9EDMvp1j2-L-rO-7p9d_UNLuZ1Zp0w_wHY13lowQXchTdk-renssOkpKW1ltLfH3xIe92S0oYSbiyUVsX_-419eUVS1yQYPT8aKQNhxAarc-dolPGgaMD6Pcj579caWVRmc/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+023.JPG" /></a><br />Of course for all of my garden <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">successes</span>, there was a big failure:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WZMnqMHQXCbJJ4EmOgKoMH172K3Q1WlxpcwmEejlbgyM6YAPMA-UcJN5ADZc8nVy6y0WDP9EiTYEMWlCSLhbtLbtELie0SShXge0Z_KFNc6jpYsheAWs6UpxBmUZ6NQY8I3ad5NbcxU/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501603782268985698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WZMnqMHQXCbJJ4EmOgKoMH172K3Q1WlxpcwmEejlbgyM6YAPMA-UcJN5ADZc8nVy6y0WDP9EiTYEMWlCSLhbtLbtELie0SShXge0Z_KFNc6jpYsheAWs6UpxBmUZ6NQY8I3ad5NbcxU/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+032.JPG" /></a> Both of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">zucchini</span> plants died, hard and fast. I don't know why. It's so frustrating. They both had male & female flowers, even little baby <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">zucchinis</span>! But then they just wilted and died. I've never had luck with any of the cucumber/squash/melon family. This same fate befalls them all. Any suggestions, fellow gardeners? I'm thinking it must be some sort of pest, although I couldn't see any huge red flags when they were dying. </p><p><br />Because I'm wildly obsessed with farmer's markets, I couldn't resist showing off my latest haul:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk2qopymmT0Mj_BfYZm6U5dA-oI_aRByk3UYYXoMMoXjjEcEu6CJ2M2HG7SW1Yrby93k4_m6QXkubE_GqzZnlY_bFrraFwqLHDrVfwzyeij33Mzi9lDRy4cx3kjcf0n_weSfuFNuhasA/s1600/Container+Garden+8.3.10+051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501603298085049602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk2qopymmT0Mj_BfYZm6U5dA-oI_aRByk3UYYXoMMoXjjEcEu6CJ2M2HG7SW1Yrby93k4_m6QXkubE_GqzZnlY_bFrraFwqLHDrVfwzyeij33Mzi9lDRy4cx3kjcf0n_weSfuFNuhasA/s320/Container+Garden+8.3.10+051.JPG" /></a> Yes, that's my foot at the bottom of the picture. </p><p>A pint of onions, a bunch of carrots, an assortment of peppers, 2 heads of lettuce, a head of garlic, 3 cucumbers and a loaf of bread for a little over $20. So <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">stinkin</span>' cheap, so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">stinkin</span>' good.</p><p> </p><p>Good god, all I want to do is live on an organic sustainable farm, raise chickens, start canning produce and making cheese. Can this happen soon, please? </p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-14846496998859638402010-07-28T12:23:00.003-05:002010-07-28T12:38:19.114-05:00PoolsideThis summer has been hot, hot, HOT. I'm very grateful to live in an apartment with central air, but nobody likes being cooped up inside when the sun is (mercilessly) shining. You feel guilty, like you SHOULD be braving the heat to be doing something summer-y and fun, because god only knows winter is just around the corner. I hate winter.<br /><br />So I'm very glad that Mel & AJ have brought back the famous <a href="http://saramayorshemaynot.blogspot.com/2009/07/pool-party-south-philly-style.html">kiddie pool</a>:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1DtZn90W26_lnC4NjWvTLR4mu3lHrC-g4T8Ag60_D2KlLfIEcHgzNRA1VIF8BO3V1qC1e4h9rtVI4zd66fwhFtl_OuztSezHSiNtY3SNqNEnOt4_iteGkOFK8OEribPVtCZB0EIzOzE/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499009517911180594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1DtZn90W26_lnC4NjWvTLR4mu3lHrC-g4T8Ag60_D2KlLfIEcHgzNRA1VIF8BO3V1qC1e4h9rtVI4zd66fwhFtl_OuztSezHSiNtY3SNqNEnOt4_iteGkOFK8OEribPVtCZB0EIzOzE/s320/001.JPG" /></a> Mel & AJ have an abiding love for smoking stodgies in the pool, which is apparently a tradition of theirs most evenings when they come home from work. The couple that smokes together... drops their ash into the pool. (AJ!)</p><p><br />When the shadows begin to lengthen, we light citronella torches to ward off the stinging beasties:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p0fEqJa0pWCPxz2jvvpSNhlK5k9F-iuNlZzSXqfgXM7CmxuAnZ-g8XU15ZUm3rbNPoknz_GExTrpKTPkVmq_hk_LLQnoOhMgT3zbwVC3w0K0qd73brNbhIYK_i8EBZ6e-MMLI-c5wDs/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499009507314108386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p0fEqJa0pWCPxz2jvvpSNhlK5k9F-iuNlZzSXqfgXM7CmxuAnZ-g8XU15ZUm3rbNPoknz_GExTrpKTPkVmq_hk_LLQnoOhMgT3zbwVC3w0K0qd73brNbhIYK_i8EBZ6e-MMLI-c5wDs/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br />Although the pool is still as warm as bath water, we get out in the evenings and toast with mint juleps, made with fresh mint from the garden:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8O94FlO81aMsJTurYCjTplLubENumv_XZnMaw-UBsJtFt90gODykm_aECLQHOdsLqGcuaYNZSXkkInmCh_SHe6UG50-ftDj203ujz6J7BfdfP8eAIolHoqquDaEXvQtXth61U5quSuM/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499009502682949858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8O94FlO81aMsJTurYCjTplLubENumv_XZnMaw-UBsJtFt90gODykm_aECLQHOdsLqGcuaYNZSXkkInmCh_SHe6UG50-ftDj203ujz6J7BfdfP8eAIolHoqquDaEXvQtXth61U5quSuM/s320/007.JPG" /></a> We cool off, refresh and drink bourbon to try and ease the sweltering heat and maybe, possibly <em>try</em> to forget that this is the last summer Mel and AJ will be here. It isn't an easy thing to think about, so we work hard to cram all of the love and fun we can into this hot and sticky season.</p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-20137562666489420742010-07-22T13:06:00.003-05:002010-07-23T10:14:58.410-05:00Ooops...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDubyLIyKZTAAf55kWwf4QnaEBFQYB29nUDVZURq0bKxmcdoD7H8n1duFS1C2OdZ4hTaLh_B1ZylShqBzxotVy9pCt7rL40SEBrn_0egC1Ah9o0exqubxSt3ACMi3hnPbmAwYbo8F2keY/s1600/dog+in+cone.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496798483482455538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDubyLIyKZTAAf55kWwf4QnaEBFQYB29nUDVZURq0bKxmcdoD7H8n1duFS1C2OdZ4hTaLh_B1ZylShqBzxotVy9pCt7rL40SEBrn_0egC1Ah9o0exqubxSt3ACMi3hnPbmAwYbo8F2keY/s320/dog+in+cone.jpg" /></a>...I accidentally slammed the dogs tail in the door which started bleeding a lot so then Deb took him to the vet and he had to get 4 staples put in but he won't stop licking them so he has to wear this stupid cone which he absolutely hates but this picture is just so silly and cute I can't resist laughing at it every time.<br /><br />Yeah, I'm a terrible dog mommy. But as a wise parent of a human child told me, "Everyone drops the baby at some point". Jeez. Can't wait for my own human children, because if I feel this guilty about a DOG I can't even imagine what my brain will be like with actual offspring.<br /><br />What else is new? Hmmm. This week is a little crazy because I'm workshopping a new play being written by the lovely and very talented Madi Distefano called MEANWHILE...<br /><br />It's a two-person quick change comedy that spoofs film noir. It's hilarious. If you're in Philly this week, come and check out our reading this Sunday, 7/25 at 6pm in the upstairs of Plays & Players. Or go and see the actual production of it this spring when <a href="http://www.bratproductions.org/">BRAT </a>puts it onstage.<br /><br />Other than that, I've been writing a lot, both for <a href="http://www.thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/">The Cozy Herbivore </a>and as a guest poster on the Green Aisle Grocery blog. Check out my latest entry (a berry crumble/berry cobbler debate) <a href="http://greenaislegrocery.com/2010/07/19/intern-saras-debate-to-crumble-or-to-cobbler/">here</a>.<br /><br />I'm proud to report that Hyde is recovering nicely from his... err... incident. And I, in turn, am now super-paranoid about letting all of him get out the door before I close it.<br /><br />All's well that ends well, I suppose...The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-52657765610348808672010-07-17T13:08:00.009-05:002010-07-17T14:48:44.386-05:00So Heeeeyyyyyy....How's things with you? How is your summer going?<br /><br />Mine's going just swimmingly, thanksforasking. (You see what I did there? SWIMMINGLY? In the SUMMER?! Okay, I'll stop.)<br /><br />My show closed (finally glorygloryhallelujah and if you ever want a long and drama-filled theater story, buy me a drink, ask me about it and I'll give you quite an earful...) and now I'm doing... nothing, officially. Of course, "nothing, officially" really means lots and lots, unofficially. Which is fun.<br /><br />Right now I'm interning at <a href="http://greenaislegrocery.com/">Green Aisle Grocery</a>, which is the cutest little boutique grocery store EVER. Seriously, if you live in Philly you must come and check it out. The owners, Adam & Andrew are super nice and they're even letting me write a guest column on Green Aisle's blog! Check out my Summer Cocktail post <a href="http://greenaislegrocery.com/2010/07/14/summer-cocktails-at-green-aisle/">here</a>.<br /><br />I've also been really hard at work on my food blog, <a href="http://www.thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/">The Cozy Herbivore</a>. It's currently rocking an awesome site re-design (thanks to <a href="http://mamamona.blogspot.com/">Mona</a>!) and some great summer recipes. I'm really focusing on local and seasonal ingredients this summer and I'm also working hard on my food photography. I'm really proud of the way this blog is growing, shaking and yes, cooking. With gas. So you should all check it out and become a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cozy-Herbivore/135736749784543">facebook </a>fan and follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/CozyHerbivore">Twitter</a>. Because if you don't, I'll think you're lame. There, I said it.<br /><br />Annnnnd I've been having other adventures too-- tomorrow I'm going to the BEACH which I'm superduper excited about because I didn't get to the beach ONE TIME last summer and that was a total drag. Not this summer, I determined. So I'm sure I'll have lots of beach-y happy fun photos for you after tomorrow, but until then you're just going to have to content yourselves with a few photos from My Summer Thus Far.<br /><br />The week after my show closed my mother convinced me (by buying me a bus ticket) to come up for a short visit because there was to be a May Family Gathering. Now unlike the Tompkins, who get together most weekends and have lovely picnics all summer long, the Mays rarely gather together. Mostly because a lot of the Mays live far away, but also because if you get too many Mays together for too long, it's like a scene from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_(film)">Highlander</a>-- THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE. Of course we love each other very much blah, blah, blah.... and we do indeed love to do what the Mays do best: eat and drink.<br /><br />So when my Uncle Chris called and said he was going to be in town and would we like to come and eat at a fancy restaurant in Syracuse can you guess what we said?<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhNzNleoO_8U-hztdmOxcOg20sfvy3lRVgMb90TtsD4-Da4v2kimUg_H2PRb-yZOJSMFVFeLqJ8majsI16q50WjWCmtJmqcLlO8kL7PHpJiToB0HcTZ_f805_g0Y27W31WqmxIN_qUYU/s1600/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494943926668159666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhNzNleoO_8U-hztdmOxcOg20sfvy3lRVgMb90TtsD4-Da4v2kimUg_H2PRb-yZOJSMFVFeLqJ8majsI16q50WjWCmtJmqcLlO8kL7PHpJiToB0HcTZ_f805_g0Y27W31WqmxIN_qUYU/s320/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+003.JPG" /></a> Oh hell yes! </p><p>(l-r Aunt Therese, my new Uncle Jim, the Grandfather, Mom, random waiter who talked like a robot, brother Joe-man, Aunt Maureen, Uncle thanks-for-the-food-and-booze Chris, Dad) </p><p>My visit home was short (but very sweet) and I'm really happy I got to spend some time with the family. I even snuck in a quick lunch with Weas, who has taken up running. For fun. Don't get me wrong, she looks FANTASTIC, but who is this person and what have you done with Weas? I concluded my trip by making a vegetarian meal for the family which of course you just know I had to blog <a href="http://thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/2010/07/three-berry-crumble.html">about</a>. </p><p>I had to return home to Philly in a hurry because that weekend was our epic Fourth of July party. Deb and I fretted incessantly about this party-- would anyone show up? Because it was a potluck, would we have enough food? Would my <a href="http://thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/2010/07/smokehouse-cheddar-veggie-burgers.html">veggie burgers</a> hold up on the grill? WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH BOOZE TO GO AROUND?</p><p>We needn't have worried. Folks showed up in droves, and <em>everyone </em>brought something to eat. And to drink. And just when we started to worry that there was TOO MUCH food & drink that we would <em>never finish ever and we don't have enough refrigerator space and we hate to waste food and all of this booze needs to be drunk by SOMEONE</em> the horde descended and, like the proverbial locusts, devoured everything. It was amazing. Our friends are amazing.</p><p>Even the people we sorta-kinda know are amazing:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyOusQEw3RQwvdkbq3DgQL4N7_pyZBoovgPQfCGEpYSru0mgmY8VIKCUYaw6h6lML2LIdJhVaHYUlcvJiyLwsGFAIMFyO4SqKD51vmzGyuUr_YAAh2ZEfVYmcUSVazvBdrf23XU0kjzg/s1600/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494943767698532626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyOusQEw3RQwvdkbq3DgQL4N7_pyZBoovgPQfCGEpYSru0mgmY8VIKCUYaw6h6lML2LIdJhVaHYUlcvJiyLwsGFAIMFyO4SqKD51vmzGyuUr_YAAh2ZEfVYmcUSVazvBdrf23XU0kjzg/s320/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+020.JPG" /></a> Okay, so Lauren & Dan on the left side of the picture are old friends, but new friends-of-friends came too! </p><p><br />Amanda brought this bottle of Canadian whiskey and proceeded to harass everyone into taking swigs. From the bottle. She went home at 11pm that night.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuj8Ook6QvsDOpu9o7YagfTPFJCvYZz63s31xEaMcNyCLuePBFcnN2nLblmE5DTz7rZFb8410vAs5w4-gDGXleaSLFpULy-cEKscRrwjvxv3Lp1JtS4I9v0-VGyO_mOjX4bVHd_RzvIs/s1600/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494943761710947218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuj8Ook6QvsDOpu9o7YagfTPFJCvYZz63s31xEaMcNyCLuePBFcnN2nLblmE5DTz7rZFb8410vAs5w4-gDGXleaSLFpULy-cEKscRrwjvxv3Lp1JtS4I9v0-VGyO_mOjX4bVHd_RzvIs/s320/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+024.JPG" /></a> (l-r: Rachel, Amanda "the pusher" McKenna, Carrie)</p><p></p><p>Deb & Scotty pumped UP the jam:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS-gVWInioc2rAjOKFRWw27Q4qZPFrhHA1C8UJ2z-2XGxs4moNdBjFcjQem74UYQU0K5qfxxeGolzgRaeV-1p2fqs55GS-t6tY4dOg03jkSVKzGZoN_CUGRo7sBbcEEgqGdySuNoak7U/s1600/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494943753511990706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS-gVWInioc2rAjOKFRWw27Q4qZPFrhHA1C8UJ2z-2XGxs4moNdBjFcjQem74UYQU0K5qfxxeGolzgRaeV-1p2fqs55GS-t6tY4dOg03jkSVKzGZoN_CUGRo7sBbcEEgqGdySuNoak7U/s320/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+026.JPG" /></a><br />What would a 4th of July be without fire in the hands of inebriated people?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NZbLZSAseZ6pZqWPpoAP7X_o0ApRD3eOvB1nhPFbUdX8tWNffhS26sUVk_RakrEWyqY-J-ZMk2FCgstd_cjTDt8pbaUvFzx3igLiB2qmsrnkOUG9pEphM1i1J64p0Gw5I816H9zyQ70/s1600/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494942878924990642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NZbLZSAseZ6pZqWPpoAP7X_o0ApRD3eOvB1nhPFbUdX8tWNffhS26sUVk_RakrEWyqY-J-ZMk2FCgstd_cjTDt8pbaUvFzx3igLiB2qmsrnkOUG9pEphM1i1J64p0Gw5I816H9zyQ70/s320/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+037.JPG" /></a> Jered shows off his fire style while Sarah cheers him on? Tries to eat his face? I can't really tell.</p><p><br />And of course it wouldn't be a party at our place if Lindsay & Deb didn't get drunk and take off their pants/do stupid stuff like piggy-back rides:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCUukgeooE50BdDnlQmJqzCRlkeHuGhn4jL6ZbSFMVun3SVTYUqJnddp8GUVBwrhLh99YCqvLDu9h8-mMRONFKy900Q-Lx844K0Cc_3rsIaCwPRGUOJJC5RxeJ7Pfdxk3-56GxcfIBk4/s1600/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494942872856476242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCUukgeooE50BdDnlQmJqzCRlkeHuGhn4jL6ZbSFMVun3SVTYUqJnddp8GUVBwrhLh99YCqvLDu9h8-mMRONFKy900Q-Lx844K0Cc_3rsIaCwPRGUOJJC5RxeJ7Pfdxk3-56GxcfIBk4/s320/Musical+end+%26+4th+party+041.JPG" /></a> It was a really fucking fun night.</p><p>And SPEAKING OF Deb, my lovely lady just hit a major milestone: last Sunday was her 30th birthday!</p><p>She decided to invite our besties for dinner at the <a href="http://jamaicanjerkhutinc.com/">Jamaican Jerk Hut</a> (shut up, haters) followed by a night of serious drankin' at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/bob-and-barbaras-philadelphia">Bob & Barbara's</a>, home of the $3 <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Philly%20Special">Philly Special</a>. (For those of you unfortunate out-of-towners that's a can of PBR and a shot of Jim Beam. Shutup. You know you want it.) </p><p>It was an AWESOME night.<br /><br />Eating at the Jerk Hut:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_6Xo5MAf4kLvFH_MFtO0qclHVFkAN5Ol1KsIm3_Nj6obcOvdPhZEPT049ijS5oP2n3hCggG41q2AmPUO3wJGiGDTh4u2Uc-hJTd5X3APyZBe8eBGEsNKoghYW06-MikWrMERKIQV_2A/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494942867754701810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_6Xo5MAf4kLvFH_MFtO0qclHVFkAN5Ol1KsIm3_Nj6obcOvdPhZEPT049ijS5oP2n3hCggG41q2AmPUO3wJGiGDTh4u2Uc-hJTd5X3APyZBe8eBGEsNKoghYW06-MikWrMERKIQV_2A/s320/Deb's+Birthday+008.JPG" /></a> Cherie Tay FTW!</p><p><br />Yeah, it was hot, so we all looked so glisten-y:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWghZ5uS_gZEFGVomaTPfgNW6x4WNMf_1OIOWN5d4BXBodIvbcygzIc4Yo4Awz8T49v4usTnGHNmSa2CRPrL2uDtSFNChr-XlhtSvSbxkdQbn3PGcAUnQ8K4bhmJE4TgcJpG3Yffm8qU/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494942358471531842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWghZ5uS_gZEFGVomaTPfgNW6x4WNMf_1OIOWN5d4BXBodIvbcygzIc4Yo4Awz8T49v4usTnGHNmSa2CRPrL2uDtSFNChr-XlhtSvSbxkdQbn3PGcAUnQ8K4bhmJE4TgcJpG3Yffm8qU/s320/Deb's+Birthday+011.JPG" /></a> (l-r: Mel, Debs, Rachel, Leo)</p><p><br />The food is SO GOOD:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpFtHfoMMpiEFLqCxRzc_ze4wi0tq5JaFQRq-h8thOqCUveu9vJd-LqPjNFMUsBX3M1Mm4ArC7HAkyGTzf08ckRv4Y3nKPhDH1-IM7yNauwrT-OoDXj4A3HLZh0SQGbxJs74ggvZdpGc/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494942353510193762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpFtHfoMMpiEFLqCxRzc_ze4wi0tq5JaFQRq-h8thOqCUveu9vJd-LqPjNFMUsBX3M1Mm4ArC7HAkyGTzf08ckRv4Y3nKPhDH1-IM7yNauwrT-OoDXj4A3HLZh0SQGbxJs74ggvZdpGc/s320/Deb's+Birthday+013.JPG" /></a> (Cherie and Bryan, keepin' it klassy)</p><p><br />A rather blurry picture of my girl eating her Brown Chicken:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijpwxe5RUGA4qJKiOndpuiTdFhgvt7lSDWlEsDFhsevomABBb5WEc_pp9p5sFpdslOc4KlGt9v1fKvVxLnAluaVs2KC88JjEvJTW_dx6U2OqtFwi8qe9Rr4HHhJxPUKFl5t1YQWqVaKI/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494942345691037794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijpwxe5RUGA4qJKiOndpuiTdFhgvt7lSDWlEsDFhsevomABBb5WEc_pp9p5sFpdslOc4KlGt9v1fKvVxLnAluaVs2KC88JjEvJTW_dx6U2OqtFwi8qe9Rr4HHhJxPUKFl5t1YQWqVaKI/s320/Deb's+Birthday+016.JPG" /></a><br />This is me all: Where's my wallet oh who are you, stealing my camera and then taking this picture?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MmLSzvoPzz8O5VDWtQLrvB9auDb6dWbg8NTOacbdAfWDgncV-lU4Bxw0u99Q9JVBoePpnMID6an6TTRMA6foVqU4irkPnzT_Tsnxbelm4EXdIc7FswDOO2WqWj720LLsymmlzyTXtY4/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494941931202838898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MmLSzvoPzz8O5VDWtQLrvB9auDb6dWbg8NTOacbdAfWDgncV-lU4Bxw0u99Q9JVBoePpnMID6an6TTRMA6foVqU4irkPnzT_Tsnxbelm4EXdIc7FswDOO2WqWj720LLsymmlzyTXtY4/s320/Deb's+Birthday+017.JPG" /></a> I also learned an important lesson that night about wearing a vintage maxi dress when it's pouring rain... namely that the hem gets mad wet and that moisture travels up your skirt so you feel damp all night long...</p><p><br />Deb is all: I got the money for the check and I'm looking real cool and then Mel decides to grab my boob:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxucdhIv8xueQknn-si1jbhz64-bjd7NdjZU84o1d87HwAXlwWQ2XDm2i3hCk2UT3BZ250YBlynnihLoM7bHudW87MeJcCZT57l5OR2tiGg9HL9oooKO7gZMm2UbaE20NeckXn42ZRie4/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494941926802792258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxucdhIv8xueQknn-si1jbhz64-bjd7NdjZU84o1d87HwAXlwWQ2XDm2i3hCk2UT3BZ250YBlynnihLoM7bHudW87MeJcCZT57l5OR2tiGg9HL9oooKO7gZMm2UbaE20NeckXn42ZRie4/s320/Deb's+Birthday+021.JPG" /></a><br />Our friends have such great taste in shoes, even if I do make fun of Alison's inner dyke for coming out with these boots (although they are super hot and secretly I want them):<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGqgNZGvhgo7SuP9pzQu11AaKsotMW1JZ0HeVpR-yJOjc87BN_uVjjCSLB-ptxtVQv_deQAy6q3hfLVpE3ar5zfoQWaukVrx2Mde0OTVMobRDPDGc346pDgH02nlVJyf_q2oPgu32v38/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494941916559046674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGqgNZGvhgo7SuP9pzQu11AaKsotMW1JZ0HeVpR-yJOjc87BN_uVjjCSLB-ptxtVQv_deQAy6q3hfLVpE3ar5zfoQWaukVrx2Mde0OTVMobRDPDGc346pDgH02nlVJyf_q2oPgu32v38/s320/Deb's+Birthday+022.JPG" /></a><br />Moving on to Bob & Barbara's, where the photos got a little blurry towards the end of the night...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsR1yl8RqskA2hyphenhyphen4GVx2Bp_VPJowwLhVGjXQLlJ_QTYSoj1NJBB4KO9fICbRhngOI_ZN5B9GtuF63-jU13MclM0OhJUL0iEuYLRHsuUz1zhvVR7qifQooY2DypRlQI6XXb0l0UiRzUQk/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494940750307553778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsR1yl8RqskA2hyphenhyphen4GVx2Bp_VPJowwLhVGjXQLlJ_QTYSoj1NJBB4KO9fICbRhngOI_ZN5B9GtuF63-jU13MclM0OhJUL0iEuYLRHsuUz1zhvVR7qifQooY2DypRlQI6XXb0l0UiRzUQk/s320/Deb's+Birthday+033.JPG" /></a> ...I'm sure it had NOTHING to do with all of those empty beer cans behind us. Nothing at all.</p><p><br />Our friends are so foxy, even when they are making fishy faces:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVjpT-l1_zFA9VQoItZgru1vnxFJgd_-QceNBVKcHvcOEbAZjpLPqux3GG-lDYtfrZH1XbRHGTC3FgHzhMDwmZrH4nW0Dwx3nXB3itHI_2C7TIwCkmjh0H0ccppb-N2dapAH85SSqmNs/s1600/Deb's+Birthday+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494940742179994354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVjpT-l1_zFA9VQoItZgru1vnxFJgd_-QceNBVKcHvcOEbAZjpLPqux3GG-lDYtfrZH1XbRHGTC3FgHzhMDwmZrH4nW0Dwx3nXB3itHI_2C7TIwCkmjh0H0ccppb-N2dapAH85SSqmNs/s320/Deb's+Birthday+034.JPG" /></a></p><p>(l-r Mel, Alison with her hot lesbian boots, Carrie I-just-sucked-a-lemon-slice-or-maybe-just-did-a-shot-of-bourbon-face)</p><p>So my last few weeks have been unofficially wonderful. And I look forward to lots of unofficial fun in the weeks to come as well.</p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-70124322479542257602010-06-25T20:31:00.006-05:002010-06-25T20:57:39.622-05:00Weekend UpdateHow's tricks, kids?<br /><br />Things here are good.... looking forward to a BREAK. My show closes on Sunday, and let me tell you what, it's time.<br /><br />Now don't get me wrong. I love my cast. The show is nice and short. I like getting a regular paycheck.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVDMdnp7y1kxva6AglHBO8FKlZ6aBFtrtMQxqT_w0wsuZhTnHZZaVfjHXrg-aYp2s84K-H9WMFj-TJzoP-7OCnnj5tWSurwauJttNwwUyXrN5FquCmfgGah8E-gC6SXpr_W7vG1D1J-o/s1600/kidshelf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486891106573912722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVDMdnp7y1kxva6AglHBO8FKlZ6aBFtrtMQxqT_w0wsuZhTnHZZaVfjHXrg-aYp2s84K-H9WMFj-TJzoP-7OCnnj5tWSurwauJttNwwUyXrN5FquCmfgGah8E-gC6SXpr_W7vG1D1J-o/s320/kidshelf.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />But Mama is TIRED. It's been a looooooooooong season. There's been enough drama both onstage and off to last me for a good while.<br /><br />SO. Summer is here, and although I spend most days freezing my ass off in the heavily air conditioned theater, I hear the weather's been nice and hot. I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to drinking lots of beer, lounging in <a href="http://saramayorshemaynot.blogspot.com/2009/07/pool-party-south-philly-style.html">Mel & AJ's pool</a>, maybe going camping and just generally relaxing.<br /><br />Now you know of course I can't totally relax, like, EVER, right? So of course I have a few things up my sleeve this summer. Stay tuned.<br /><br /><br />....<br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, okay I KNOW I've been sort of neglecting this blog and when I do update I'm being all kinds of sketchy. I was just scrolling back through some of my earlier blogs and reminiscing about my old blogging habits. IT WILL GET BETTER SOON, I PROMISE. Really. Thanks for sticking with me, it's been one of those years.<br /><br /><br />Until then, check out this sweet picture I snapped with my phone at <a href="http://www.thenewpornographers.com/">The New Pornographer's</a> concert Deb & I rocked out at last Monday:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xLD-J490YzMl97oVDGqvkyVPeOvhF-O8cFDu53Q1buMxSL7GsnmGs4X4Sd-Or0GRwki2tb0tym1jS_Gi5GM1vhUbSp_9q8Tjau5jmxnXlcHkskAeGwgqegeZYYERk55_0w4flQCrrjQ/s1600/New+Pornographers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486893164623559122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xLD-J490YzMl97oVDGqvkyVPeOvhF-O8cFDu53Q1buMxSL7GsnmGs4X4Sd-Or0GRwki2tb0tym1jS_Gi5GM1vhUbSp_9q8Tjau5jmxnXlcHkskAeGwgqegeZYYERk55_0w4flQCrrjQ/s320/New+Pornographers.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was a really great show. We've learned the big-girl trick of snagging seats at concert venues with balconies. Sure, it's rad to be on the floor, but we're OLD. Seats? Drinks? Balcony view? Sign us up. All you have to do is arrive a little early, ID in hand (most venue balconies are for people 21+ only, which makes them even cooler) and be prepared hold onto the seats you get for dear life. When one person goes to the bathroom or to get beers, the other must spread their body over two seats and prepare to elbow any pushy little latecomer in the face. This ensures maximum old-person enjoyment of a concert. Balconies may get hot and crowded, but at least you're not being pushed around by some dumb 18-year-old determined to ROCK OUT at their first unchaperoned concert.<br /><br />Wow, I really do sound like an old person. Harumph. Get off my lawn. Damn kids.<br /><br />Anyway. My summer's just around the corner. And it's gonna be big, I tell you, BIG.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks for sticking with me, kittens.The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-37815871572045025252010-06-15T14:44:00.008-05:002010-06-16T18:23:43.664-05:00Phone TagFor a little while this past fall and winter I was without a camera. This pretty much sucked, but I made do with my Blackberry's camera.<br /><br />I decided to do a great camera phone clean-up, and thought you'd be amused by some of the photos on my phone...<br /><br />Like this one, especially:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz53ZpdxMfWJqtQ2UhK1RYeK78lQ8KZa6gZkuH54c05LnHdjyAtDzmnfCK_0Cqg0tOxHKpEx8kBKYLGpi-0v0RcCw9LJs8r4rkUXklq42YhsUqGDQfKnVOLkpK7dLl75x-DrKFNXuXK4/s1600/GetAttachment19.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483090355589237474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz53ZpdxMfWJqtQ2UhK1RYeK78lQ8KZa6gZkuH54c05LnHdjyAtDzmnfCK_0Cqg0tOxHKpEx8kBKYLGpi-0v0RcCw9LJs8r4rkUXklq42YhsUqGDQfKnVOLkpK7dLl75x-DrKFNXuXK4/s320/GetAttachment19.jpg" border="0" /></a> This glorious piece of snow sculpture appeared the morning after one of the gigantic snowstorms that hammered us (heh) this winter. Sadly, it only lasted a few hours before some self-righteous person with no sense of humor knocked it down, presumably for "the sake of the children". </p><p><br />This picture was taken by me during our recent <a href="http://saramayorshemaynot.blogspot.com/2010/05/on-street-festivals-and-block-parties.html">block party</a>... and I have absolutely no idea what Amanda is doing to the back of my head.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNRV3AmbDS6wc8F4GmfrUydpTF5CSVm6Q3BA2iDhlU2diNpB1pKiWqIVbZSMuWZKGGkAzj6nBmrkBigQ3WZnzCEOXXERtvoS7VtnpZwhCtAi6x6Twjv-UzXE2Fm8VLCvRT8vY5chfYv0/s1600/GetAttachment20.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483090348810703170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNRV3AmbDS6wc8F4GmfrUydpTF5CSVm6Q3BA2iDhlU2diNpB1pKiWqIVbZSMuWZKGGkAzj6nBmrkBigQ3WZnzCEOXXERtvoS7VtnpZwhCtAi6x6Twjv-UzXE2Fm8VLCvRT8vY5chfYv0/s320/GetAttachment20.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />More pictures from the snowstorm... taken after stumbling out of a wine bar.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB7vYOqRT8onO1ZHpQh6Oit5oMGBjMGAPgBlaDXbDW6yDa4H3GqKdYJlJPiBRJumH2c3gWpHMvLKAi_cwacSg5zn2mfZQPGhDrGVPw1El8YkFS-gewvADsDWvJtwGSvYRSXk0Q_VYfOA/s1600/GetAttachment21.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483090340942161778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB7vYOqRT8onO1ZHpQh6Oit5oMGBjMGAPgBlaDXbDW6yDa4H3GqKdYJlJPiBRJumH2c3gWpHMvLKAi_cwacSg5zn2mfZQPGhDrGVPw1El8YkFS-gewvADsDWvJtwGSvYRSXk0Q_VYfOA/s320/GetAttachment21.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrPD86WZzCEWxZtTrC6SMTpdqSBO9hNPfXfhI-jQ54vuO4iO1DDcGu3DDWO4f4SjZnKhXQ_fxwnEbfQKgnN4g3N586rTy6JGnnIsNd8Dk_-fxyWneG83Bas_IYQUnpVg1fXRNqwJQPTE/s1600/GetAttachment17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483090336694664514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrPD86WZzCEWxZtTrC6SMTpdqSBO9hNPfXfhI-jQ54vuO4iO1DDcGu3DDWO4f4SjZnKhXQ_fxwnEbfQKgnN4g3N586rTy6JGnnIsNd8Dk_-fxyWneG83Bas_IYQUnpVg1fXRNqwJQPTE/s320/GetAttachment17.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Our bedroom is HELLA COLD in the winter, so we are forced to pile on the covers. Apparently Deb thought I looked cute, but as I remember it, I was just cold and drunk. (Are we seeing a theme here?)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio93DItcXh4eIJMMdOIj8b76dyhBJDpyCBSbfZofDjD4PyC1fkbjSODxzDD78APBe7Gypx7uiiDjbKcF1dOppmoJLqCBx_aZ4tXF3dG9GbTyZA9ZcYVte1rFp7endRtAt3OSsR_8SGDZM/s1600/GetAttachment16.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089594876959954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio93DItcXh4eIJMMdOIj8b76dyhBJDpyCBSbfZofDjD4PyC1fkbjSODxzDD78APBe7Gypx7uiiDjbKcF1dOppmoJLqCBx_aZ4tXF3dG9GbTyZA9ZcYVte1rFp7endRtAt3OSsR_8SGDZM/s320/GetAttachment16.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This past fall I went apple picking with Amanda, Arizona, Chris and his adorable son Aidan.<br /><br />Do these gourds look phallic to you?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sH7T3QTaDLEkY0a9ln2Th3QrWclfUYQzvEsnT5FtB6Pdw_JIXEM9nJOGII8AfjbEVXAQsUPtd3QGv719GWCvgWsCyRizZEbdeyArNvnVlHxqCEbfTuFZW4kVWxuVJMaPkCmSYNJgLV8/s1600/GetAttachment14.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089591000331330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sH7T3QTaDLEkY0a9ln2Th3QrWclfUYQzvEsnT5FtB6Pdw_JIXEM9nJOGII8AfjbEVXAQsUPtd3QGv719GWCvgWsCyRizZEbdeyArNvnVlHxqCEbfTuFZW4kVWxuVJMaPkCmSYNJgLV8/s320/GetAttachment14.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />SUNGLASSES! (me, Amanda, Arizona)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6hPN3g3nokkxWZ6Mr6Hh-BLb0Xu6E7GfbwoKU3qIX-EOGAwAWkB-DZGsEHcclL8iAPN0ngyH2DrvLGweGb5abCthepW8Kq8EIBxbpV6CjO4AOy8aR2cHx4ylOq2k1T6S6eiCc54FQUE/s1600/GetAttachment13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089584571809314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6hPN3g3nokkxWZ6Mr6Hh-BLb0Xu6E7GfbwoKU3qIX-EOGAwAWkB-DZGsEHcclL8iAPN0ngyH2DrvLGweGb5abCthepW8Kq8EIBxbpV6CjO4AOy8aR2cHx4ylOq2k1T6S6eiCc54FQUE/s320/GetAttachment13.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Aidan tackles a caramel apple like a champ:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T74M2W6mS_P_1RrEfpQxhvOFSz8j0jR7AtH9Wuess_ulLn1W4amj-uw04bWKgyw04R-U13NaO8GBCufx1cCBT0PLApp4v7Y6HscRyZi9r4D4t4er1kAcSHgr9ywKMVGJeF3loudZHy0/s1600/GetAttachment12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089577930987362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T74M2W6mS_P_1RrEfpQxhvOFSz8j0jR7AtH9Wuess_ulLn1W4amj-uw04bWKgyw04R-U13NaO8GBCufx1cCBT0PLApp4v7Y6HscRyZi9r4D4t4er1kAcSHgr9ywKMVGJeF3loudZHy0/s320/GetAttachment12.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Amanda opted for the peanut-covered caramel apple:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgxHcXOcxve1WOPGqG5jemG2cBzQd1TysDSLgKxVyInC-9eUhZS_o7dDjUqCvMPyNwJdLgpvMkH6a68yhDC6L1Up3TQ9NmCXwxA2iN7_Zrpc8eeqPK_oFulo2BPrN-tPQgvJluUGmiDY/s1600/GetAttachment11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089568592361746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgxHcXOcxve1WOPGqG5jemG2cBzQd1TysDSLgKxVyInC-9eUhZS_o7dDjUqCvMPyNwJdLgpvMkH6a68yhDC6L1Up3TQ9NmCXwxA2iN7_Zrpc8eeqPK_oFulo2BPrN-tPQgvJluUGmiDY/s320/GetAttachment11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Trying to capture the beautiful fall sunshine streaming through my kitchen window:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharIny-eJD4me0sKRCKbGdwaICrWn5ZVerLHbJko9i2ORYwTg2ovYkYM4_JtXy8bhkqg9R2UP_ar5xXf1ZNQTJHrNVdebBn9W6zn3DDo8Nuv_bEAKjUu7GRV8C0MgcmehILZHOuVzciT4/s1600/GetAttachment10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089019095432594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharIny-eJD4me0sKRCKbGdwaICrWn5ZVerLHbJko9i2ORYwTg2ovYkYM4_JtXy8bhkqg9R2UP_ar5xXf1ZNQTJHrNVdebBn9W6zn3DDo8Nuv_bEAKjUu7GRV8C0MgcmehILZHOuVzciT4/s320/GetAttachment10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />From the living room window:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBkUJPBnPZJwDhiyluEFfysamyhQ8cVJQT-fBmLKaPpyKgl2z9m6Dyg1NBIegaf89VrubB_7F_n9k-BHGMpReNJq9lCAIPx9AXyyJ_Wmp2xUVcQnVSEtarZYjZ61eqCOBqr6JDwIKc9g/s1600/GetAttachment9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089013624510386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBkUJPBnPZJwDhiyluEFfysamyhQ8cVJQT-fBmLKaPpyKgl2z9m6Dyg1NBIegaf89VrubB_7F_n9k-BHGMpReNJq9lCAIPx9AXyyJ_Wmp2xUVcQnVSEtarZYjZ61eqCOBqr6JDwIKc9g/s320/GetAttachment9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On a recent hike down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wissahickon_Creek">Forbidden Drive</a>, the dog took a moment to freak out on a sandbar:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbogL4g9AuHW2NyHMIrzXYj5798ToouULFgyPzerFmVEJ-2kq_MMEvoqlRnx5fb472J3BGeF4y-sXvy0gSIqDWOpjKJTPDe7gG1OEztmloO1SP_xCX-tVEbI4IGPOnZyT4Tvc2wU2Ado/s1600/GetAttachment7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089015888021394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbogL4g9AuHW2NyHMIrzXYj5798ToouULFgyPzerFmVEJ-2kq_MMEvoqlRnx5fb472J3BGeF4y-sXvy0gSIqDWOpjKJTPDe7gG1OEztmloO1SP_xCX-tVEbI4IGPOnZyT4Tvc2wU2Ado/s320/GetAttachment7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My good friend Caitlin came to visit a few weeks ago and we did a Philly-style bar crawl. Here she is exhibiting her phone number cards from <a href="http://www.sistersnightclub.com/home.html">Sisters</a>, which sadly, did not contain any phone numbers. (The lesbians just weren't biting that night!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6eaP_kc_B7biP3OCnj-hzgmLElZvG8wFOdorDcEwAK72FifknXU7NFw7BiOZIcqDYPnOMVd1PlsO-6MzjhtCUM0es4rb0Hii-3iGWeCrNgJLnATlSDHQktarkUy1zS1npyZoTtG0ANQ/s1600/GetAttachment4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089004157205314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6eaP_kc_B7biP3OCnj-hzgmLElZvG8wFOdorDcEwAK72FifknXU7NFw7BiOZIcqDYPnOMVd1PlsO-6MzjhtCUM0es4rb0Hii-3iGWeCrNgJLnATlSDHQktarkUy1zS1npyZoTtG0ANQ/s320/GetAttachment4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Deb caught this picture of the dog sleeping on my head this past winter:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGRwXWBFMLXeEsQNluBtMd_dZD429sfrxqlo5eOhkkuNBoWErLQi7MUgn5AwuXyHy45N4sGSyt45XiJq6XAUBXF8T0ksyLIG9A2WSCIdFastli4nahf9dtemSV5XfiU4M11n0Ew36Vig/s1600/GetAttachment3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483089001489782450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGRwXWBFMLXeEsQNluBtMd_dZD429sfrxqlo5eOhkkuNBoWErLQi7MUgn5AwuXyHy45N4sGSyt45XiJq6XAUBXF8T0ksyLIG9A2WSCIdFastli4nahf9dtemSV5XfiU4M11n0Ew36Vig/s320/GetAttachment3.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-73441444948570085952010-06-08T15:10:00.004-05:002010-06-10T14:55:10.804-05:00Farmer's Market HaulMoney's a little tight lately, but that's not stopping us from accessing the best fruits and vegetables of the season. I'm so grateful to live in Philadelphia, an extremely farmer's market-friendly city.<br /><br />Deb and I were recently wandering around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rittenhouse_Square">Rittenhouse Square</a>, enjoying the gorgeous weather, adorable babies toddling about and rich people doing whatever it is that they do in the middle of a day on a Tuesday. We stumbled upon the weekly farmer's market, and with only ten dollars in our pockets, we took home all this produce:<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCZh5Gu48qlcMO2nTKp7ake-Su5RZm1_HvaMIp_Jf8hMlqJXS4egch_AxcR4dRfJQcmNMWS6BaYLUXVR9eI97X_QSCMomagWQAf4pzU6NwTHP1dijlLLdc39uV8aSU1m_0yEtrGwb0eY/s1600/Farmer's+Market+Pasta+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480498218361208898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCZh5Gu48qlcMO2nTKp7ake-Su5RZm1_HvaMIp_Jf8hMlqJXS4egch_AxcR4dRfJQcmNMWS6BaYLUXVR9eI97X_QSCMomagWQAf4pzU6NwTHP1dijlLLdc39uV8aSU1m_0yEtrGwb0eY/s320/Farmer's+Market+Pasta+003.JPG" /></a> (It was actually a pint of sugarsnap peas, but you know I had to get all artsy with this photo...)</p><p>Plus a pound of this <a href="http://www.eatwild.com/basics.html">grass-fed, pastured ground beef</a> for Deb:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYeUMOuVBmgaFwqebHhtY8c1iPIdfsEFuIymqz-H7r-SVLbGAZQAfiQESPV7erTh8oZuigdyCSG7A_CwcRbuZlGpkU_wAGpxp6zwqdYS0KKitFI-Pt-3SlDYoqtTIGYvoFVeV3DN58YQ/s1600/Farmer's+Market+Pasta+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480498209106036402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYeUMOuVBmgaFwqebHhtY8c1iPIdfsEFuIymqz-H7r-SVLbGAZQAfiQESPV7erTh8oZuigdyCSG7A_CwcRbuZlGpkU_wAGpxp6zwqdYS0KKitFI-Pt-3SlDYoqtTIGYvoFVeV3DN58YQ/s320/Farmer's+Market+Pasta+001.JPG" /></a></p><br /><p>She cooked up two of the patties with a little sauteed red onion, chiffonaded basil on a bed of Swiss Chard picked from our garden!</p><p>The produce was so incredibly gorgeous that I was inspired to create a simple <a href="http://thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/2010/06/farmers-market-pasta.html">Farmer's Market Pasta</a>. Check out my recipe-- I'm super proud of this one!</p><p>A pound of humanely-raised ground beef, 2 zucchinis, a pint of cherries and a pint of sugarsnap peas for ten dollars. Good for our wallet, good for our health, good for the planet.</p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-12322304803208837532010-06-05T17:54:00.005-05:002010-06-05T18:16:37.289-05:00Greek Festival!It's that time of year again... time to stuff ourselves silly with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baklava">baklava </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanakopita">spanakopita </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmades">dolmades </a>at the <a href="http://stgeorgecathedralfestival.com/index.htm">St. George's Greek Festival</a>!<br /><br />I persuaded my cast to join me in the festivities between shows today, and I think they were glad I strong-armed them into coming.<br /><br />Lauren shows off her spanakopita:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe_uq_I19jj86MCZVN23wLB_U9t_abQI7AkRUXyYpKlISgLndZyj0bMuKY05kcPd5KNc5KYBqD6XdwTMxmSkJIFvp70rR1kr_QhsmZe4cfzu9OYa_npzONK-4QAeAy0BCMCrO5e63hO8/s1600/greek+fest.1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479427220091258402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe_uq_I19jj86MCZVN23wLB_U9t_abQI7AkRUXyYpKlISgLndZyj0bMuKY05kcPd5KNc5KYBqD6XdwTMxmSkJIFvp70rR1kr_QhsmZe4cfzu9OYa_npzONK-4QAeAy0BCMCrO5e63hO8/s320/greek+fest.1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Alex enjoys a Greek salad... perhaps a little too much.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz3xSlg9spT-YTDcn0KocBke-SuDhBXG7ZkPXXZL3572gClv5bavriLS0KEmdSHvBSHaEzUGEzhHWNYo5dtmQvRcm33fLJdRbhBl6WGp3NLEjUTT2rI34tDj-Ih51AOmKl3kLCrUopcI/s1600/greek+fest+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479427215725236082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz3xSlg9spT-YTDcn0KocBke-SuDhBXG7ZkPXXZL3572gClv5bavriLS0KEmdSHvBSHaEzUGEzhHWNYo5dtmQvRcm33fLJdRbhBl6WGp3NLEjUTT2rI34tDj-Ih51AOmKl3kLCrUopcI/s320/greek+fest+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And what would the Greek Festival be without a shot of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouzo">Ouzo</a>? <em>Opa!</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8ItJxLX-KBywvG9L5ocHEm3Y3fZrJW-P4PvEJ3ztzV0xpUh1mlbdJF27d-7RlV4dc4hl5wqrtVYTAeItkpEoJUc1GX_3vavgthrdT4jdmQWCVvVdtHYsM7vpHriLoK-pb0YRTElfbz8/s1600/greek+fest+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479427211189380674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8ItJxLX-KBywvG9L5ocHEm3Y3fZrJW-P4PvEJ3ztzV0xpUh1mlbdJF27d-7RlV4dc4hl5wqrtVYTAeItkpEoJUc1GX_3vavgthrdT4jdmQWCVvVdtHYsM7vpHriLoK-pb0YRTElfbz8/s320/greek+fest+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Although it was stifling hot under that tent, it was absolutely worth it to enjoy these Greek delights. There was a live band and a group of teenagers dancing-- what's better than that? We rolled away from the church stuffed to the gills, dreams of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllo">phyllo </a>dough dancing in our heads.The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-89558424030981412042010-06-02T13:44:00.009-05:002010-06-03T09:42:14.486-05:00Container Garden 2010!Hello, dear readers, how have you been? Since my last posting, I have been dealing with show drama (sick actors, no understudies, oh my!), looking for some sort of job to keep myself occupied with over the summer (4 months off is a little non-stimulating, not to mention not very well paid...), having house guests (Leah and Kris and Anthony, on their annual migration from NYC to <a href="http://www.brevardmusic.org/">Brevard Music Center</a>) and fighting off the aforementioned plague that has been passed around the Walnut Street Theatre like a bad penny.<br /><br />Throughout all of this, I've actually managed to get the container garden up and growing, and with the help of my amazingly creative girlfriend, I must say it's looking pretty stellar:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu7uD32HptPGIX33pvphAet1GXPu88pha_rhz9EZ7VPLBmgCmvkELj8dL_12RgxwvBQYO5ISb_wCoYrTZjYeaq6M9C4yB1_VlIU1YGS23e0m2CO_vlVkaiiCsqeY21GOzxW0I7wPC71k/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478252717247979218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu7uD32HptPGIX33pvphAet1GXPu88pha_rhz9EZ7VPLBmgCmvkELj8dL_12RgxwvBQYO5ISb_wCoYrTZjYeaq6M9C4yB1_VlIU1YGS23e0m2CO_vlVkaiiCsqeY21GOzxW0I7wPC71k/s320/005.JPG" /></a> I decided to grow a huge variety of things this year just because well, I could. Here's the run-down, in vaguely left-right in the picture above: 2 zucchini plants, echinacea, bronze fennel, rosemary, sensitive plant, oregano, 3 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, geranium, sage, cilantro, thyme, a rosebush, salvia, 2 petunia plants, dianthus, begonia, basil, jalapeno pepper, swiss chard, bell pepper, wildflower mix, strawberries, morning glories, potato and verbena.</p><p>And I want to grow more. I'm always looking for new plants (and containers!) to try out. Any suggestions?</p>I've already got little baby zucchinis-- I can't wait for these babies to be ready to eat! Look how cute:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66Xo3S5JiVgbn8HH7cUON7FSbSr_8I35cVed1fxBjmQho8240gHpTQPSQkqm_OnfEjs4e8Vs3ufj4VrWDKdHZ7uhUqy8T8Wc5JQwyRxk6lfU9tgX84EynaYbM1Gjltdv9E6vgXplnd84/s1600/006.JPG"><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478252438560479426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66Xo3S5JiVgbn8HH7cUON7FSbSr_8I35cVed1fxBjmQho8240gHpTQPSQkqm_OnfEjs4e8Vs3ufj4VrWDKdHZ7uhUqy8T8Wc5JQwyRxk6lfU9tgX84EynaYbM1Gjltdv9E6vgXplnd84/s320/006.JPG" /></a></p><br />I'm excited to see the echinacea bloom:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFAlQvTzTeYLOa9AoV9YyfyGs3Hne2t0GsQRSShCS88YojcC-6A5v8V_1K5-zB0JiSAEa25Q_hKsGEPn1YpFIW6_hv8k173Vb89azBOlj5wBg2jsaKuDVsMVGZcA9lKKSqI38J7vosFQ/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478252424613577266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFAlQvTzTeYLOa9AoV9YyfyGs3Hne2t0GsQRSShCS88YojcC-6A5v8V_1K5-zB0JiSAEa25Q_hKsGEPn1YpFIW6_hv8k173Vb89azBOlj5wBg2jsaKuDVsMVGZcA9lKKSqI38J7vosFQ/s320/007.JPG" /></a><br />And this has to be my favorite botanical purchase of the season. There's an awesome dude at my local <a href="http://www.farmtocity.org/FarmersMarkets.asp">farmer's market</a> who sells plants that his daughter grows from seed. This little guy doesn't have any consumable parts, but it is a neat party trick. It's called a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_pudica">sensitive plant</a>, and it looks like this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX-5DX5BcSjybPN0mzxGsLiMvi79pgq5ly3YfyqRvTgvmEcznn_CspqwQD8Y3skFBhfmjn-USh6J1PPkzNsr3hbQwjipOh-XABBMSaP4hXVxEW7byAY_CrnQB7slCctrEZykALLqCyQg/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478252420850468178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX-5DX5BcSjybPN0mzxGsLiMvi79pgq5ly3YfyqRvTgvmEcznn_CspqwQD8Y3skFBhfmjn-USh6J1PPkzNsr3hbQwjipOh-XABBMSaP4hXVxEW7byAY_CrnQB7slCctrEZykALLqCyQg/s320/008.JPG" /></a><br />But when you touch or shake it, the leaves fold into themselves like this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFrRIcRyFcNEHd8kzc63hHiHHD3D8ENrrD_J9GZO3uSz2oVYierbv-j24SJyYTZQRXSmsrumApXq57cTKyWVX80HJgLJqieFzT8bl0QgGin7OCeSNDehrun59-yZeL-nHGTNCaNHQwUE/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478252414561813794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFrRIcRyFcNEHd8kzc63hHiHHD3D8ENrrD_J9GZO3uSz2oVYierbv-j24SJyYTZQRXSmsrumApXq57cTKyWVX80HJgLJqieFzT8bl0QgGin7OCeSNDehrun59-yZeL-nHGTNCaNHQwUE/s320/009.JPG" /></a> So cute, right? Pictures really don't do it justice. You'll just have to come over to my house and touch my plant. <p><br />My heirloom oregano is looking good these days:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevmsy_SixXFRKzaXbQDHMJaV28_W2aWhHrwhN5MLpW5HDA_E4LbSHsYMmpMJ-zuQEhyByoUgZfiCj6rAEN1CmjjTLzn2gNPoItvMJLPcwKmge2CI9Hj2U2s290DrhfkWEcaWzWiyVCyc/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478252408240127650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevmsy_SixXFRKzaXbQDHMJaV28_W2aWhHrwhN5MLpW5HDA_E4LbSHsYMmpMJ-zuQEhyByoUgZfiCj6rAEN1CmjjTLzn2gNPoItvMJLPcwKmge2CI9Hj2U2s290DrhfkWEcaWzWiyVCyc/s320/010.JPG" /></a><br />And this is bronze fennel, a gift from my new friend <a href="http://apwriters.blogspot.com/2007/11/adam-erace.html">Adam Erace</a>:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXStPiweRsOkjy-i3ucsrTfHj_gZkUAKhyphenhyphenfU14VedTSE_kT0rT-EUFoGQb7ClzxgXj-p8XXZceFkIRP2YLqz4LGF_QPQ2QKv_4zoYDQK929A6WWwquEDeQL_nzdR0oQoPyw-lI6HjfBYU/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478251805585640642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXStPiweRsOkjy-i3ucsrTfHj_gZkUAKhyphenhyphenfU14VedTSE_kT0rT-EUFoGQb7ClzxgXj-p8XXZceFkIRP2YLqz4LGF_QPQ2QKv_4zoYDQK929A6WWwquEDeQL_nzdR0oQoPyw-lI6HjfBYU/s320/011.JPG" /></a> (More on that topic later...)<br /><br />The tomatoes have already started to flower, leaving me with visions of those round globes of summer dancing about my head:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtcsL-BLZ1IwgghI-aSB2TJf4sZ-LV8rlXOm5wUNiX3hY7BnefSGpc7jcf3QR-j8lnzGN9dXOOPV5Q2KPNxusB7DVEjbJub-z1z1VvxL8HhNWCZP70Gu6nUMq8_8MFT9eNPMQ_Mgsu0c/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478251796308483794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtcsL-BLZ1IwgghI-aSB2TJf4sZ-LV8rlXOm5wUNiX3hY7BnefSGpc7jcf3QR-j8lnzGN9dXOOPV5Q2KPNxusB7DVEjbJub-z1z1VvxL8HhNWCZP70Gu6nUMq8_8MFT9eNPMQ_Mgsu0c/s320/012.JPG" /></a> I was fully committed to growing only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_tomato">heirloom </a>and organic tomatoes this season. For the life of me, I just cannot remember what variety this particular plant is, maybe <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandywine_(tomato)">Brandywine</a>? Anyway, I also have <a href="http://www.ghorganics.com/SilveryFirTree.htm">Silvery Fir Tree</a> and <a href="http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/tomato/tomato_small.html">Black Cherry</a> varieties in containers, all purchased at my local farmer's market. </p><p>I had been rather staunch about only growing vegetables and edibles in my garden, but this year I decided to loosen up and add some flowers as well. After all, it's important to entice those bees!</p><p><br />Deb rigged me up a beautiful hanging system for some colorful blooms:</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XXrNr1rdmX6uribwMCKrCLHpVvPayxmu7cBsyg0_dX8fBB5OctkgzKqaOwJDec8g0LlsPgBze-q4c76y8SPY51V-2DX42rLVywkD-_ou4sM397LzQ2-VdpeJgir2Br0RMtSdhyj7KUk/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478251781369651842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XXrNr1rdmX6uribwMCKrCLHpVvPayxmu7cBsyg0_dX8fBB5OctkgzKqaOwJDec8g0LlsPgBze-q4c76y8SPY51V-2DX42rLVywkD-_ou4sM397LzQ2-VdpeJgir2Br0RMtSdhyj7KUk/s320/013.JPG" /></a><br />I've really fallen in love with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begonia">begonias</a>:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkaeUQyIJeH1D8fxXKDIlODpZhMziGrg2T3wEUmrQ-vpN0_bOkAZHpeWNsHLWllwDOyhZT2xQ42bjjzwN4nv-JKBeDX-ygSVCh5a1P-8sM6u-iBFhE0TtrP9kMjtrsRh0CSrtusKMK_4/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478251774689335666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkaeUQyIJeH1D8fxXKDIlODpZhMziGrg2T3wEUmrQ-vpN0_bOkAZHpeWNsHLWllwDOyhZT2xQ42bjjzwN4nv-JKBeDX-ygSVCh5a1P-8sM6u-iBFhE0TtrP9kMjtrsRh0CSrtusKMK_4/s320/015.JPG" /></a><br />And on a total whim, I purchased an <a href="http://www.marxfoods.com/products/Heirloom-Potatoes">heirloom yellow potato</a> plant. I can't wait to see how my tubers turn out!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8gDuaSHw7KifAvuZ7whqN-nQnZoPCaXMPB4mbVJQDkw9MLhwmLFjyK0Be63QOPHVgQRGH25PtXa7Ern-SPKjPk_vU7PVtVNnViRdGDb2loU8fZAN-pMhdWTJKi9UJNsTCrFvkSFMqzI/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478251765667299666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8gDuaSHw7KifAvuZ7whqN-nQnZoPCaXMPB4mbVJQDkw9MLhwmLFjyK0Be63QOPHVgQRGH25PtXa7Ern-SPKjPk_vU7PVtVNnViRdGDb2loU8fZAN-pMhdWTJKi9UJNsTCrFvkSFMqzI/s320/016.JPG" /></a><br />Mmmm, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chard">Swiss Chard</a>. Love me some leafy greens!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlJizzHYdhCpEkIB_NnH9iPyn7X4xGZmzKNEzNnwmo65ZNoT3kB8PLMa7-ZFL50luALZb_94YNm8xo1KKNaGAModE9ls8LmGRQM0AC_EScmDtSZH6XQ4fuLPgNZ6jToDId-_cQErm-IQ/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478250847220574114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlJizzHYdhCpEkIB_NnH9iPyn7X4xGZmzKNEzNnwmo65ZNoT3kB8PLMa7-ZFL50luALZb_94YNm8xo1KKNaGAModE9ls8LmGRQM0AC_EScmDtSZH6XQ4fuLPgNZ6jToDId-_cQErm-IQ/s320/017.JPG" /></a><br />An <a href="http://www.burpee.com/product/vegetables/okra/okra+baby+bubba+hybrid+-+1+pkt.+(35+seeds).do">okra </a>plant, recently purchased at the farmer's market.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZzOZh2VC8SlUADW3uWPx5HdkPL4-pmfLZ2WCXggq2XetOwXmubex8LtYgvNwNSL9nMO8imkk69kUrNIzWnSuLtNw8qUcWbfcq_uwlZkQrIG4Ork_wEfCW03XGbS04WEakuf9xnRjMHU/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478250830935288610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZzOZh2VC8SlUADW3uWPx5HdkPL4-pmfLZ2WCXggq2XetOwXmubex8LtYgvNwNSL9nMO8imkk69kUrNIzWnSuLtNw8qUcWbfcq_uwlZkQrIG4Ork_wEfCW03XGbS04WEakuf9xnRjMHU/s320/018.JPG" /></a><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme">thyme </a>is growing like a weed, which is good because it's probably my favorite and most-used herb.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbHa8o2c3_L2-9BDqrLLf516vgKLLdSTF9S0Qx9kjf-2rvxgzFBZ0HzXALBqFjnGBnY_Ef4EsGbXFYlXtpSjXNQHs2QpOkrGaV2VpXdsD4yemE2yOb7J1nJGeu-SCnzEvGpYMsReEI2s/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478250829020693426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbHa8o2c3_L2-9BDqrLLf516vgKLLdSTF9S0Qx9kjf-2rvxgzFBZ0HzXALBqFjnGBnY_Ef4EsGbXFYlXtpSjXNQHs2QpOkrGaV2VpXdsD4yemE2yOb7J1nJGeu-SCnzEvGpYMsReEI2s/s320/020.JPG" /></a><br />And my strawberry plants came back from the snowy grave! I planted these babies last year and experienced a rather disappointing haul, but after their winter hibernation they are up and running!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL5_jAYBMtJDldBruS37Y9ziufzRqoC4CjH-aYhLFvCh3gkDcgD59bS-QyqstxHRzun0aGqFeM_FzYcQIj9hxdDZ9w0JzUHC3xiJC5_Pb4kSUhvARt02dj88rJ4ZDrcyn7ISvTLhDBiY/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478250818215480482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL5_jAYBMtJDldBruS37Y9ziufzRqoC4CjH-aYhLFvCh3gkDcgD59bS-QyqstxHRzun0aGqFeM_FzYcQIj9hxdDZ9w0JzUHC3xiJC5_Pb4kSUhvARt02dj88rJ4ZDrcyn7ISvTLhDBiY/s320/021.JPG" /></a><br />My <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_bean">green beans</a> are a little out of control already:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vGg7opo83NSx4vtW0ikdLbam12AkwUo4yVluvfBWtwc8yrK7NF4OmMOC0xZs2icvMeNONYfKzHkoumPzhVZ-iNDxNi_6oGkU_PWQE6GiUGRW6nYg-YO28oCRyDnGFjYplyPs4A5b3vo/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478249774757733794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vGg7opo83NSx4vtW0ikdLbam12AkwUo4yVluvfBWtwc8yrK7NF4OmMOC0xZs2icvMeNONYfKzHkoumPzhVZ-iNDxNi_6oGkU_PWQE6GiUGRW6nYg-YO28oCRyDnGFjYplyPs4A5b3vo/s320/023.JPG" /></a><br />I bought a packet of seeds at Whole Foods labeled "Fairy Garden" and this is my first fairy bloom:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CqjJNy8VD4s5YJkET2gY49o3M81eUmq311DrYi5T4eEr321eJ1Od1heMnOCf3miBALS1YZvd6lPTTrof17HYcbwDJ8ZHRDjf_1qLhij3ZncCOUXcA7Q00TAg4bnyjbjJ8OzLj9KSXzk/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478249766199259234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CqjJNy8VD4s5YJkET2gY49o3M81eUmq311DrYi5T4eEr321eJ1Od1heMnOCf3miBALS1YZvd6lPTTrof17HYcbwDJ8ZHRDjf_1qLhij3ZncCOUXcA7Q00TAg4bnyjbjJ8OzLj9KSXzk/s320/024.JPG" /></a><br />Today's harvest:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6c7cRoIwl-3Eh6dCZ6ckX5QTiAp_45ZnjhDgxnApl0dd0XNxxYaSJ4AF_t7HmYY4hPbflFi43mUGToI-gWZ-wPS5ILD5rG3yenIh20lH8i6DFl-IyG62yRga_Lp_rwBGShOliet1utDs/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478249762597649698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6c7cRoIwl-3Eh6dCZ6ckX5QTiAp_45ZnjhDgxnApl0dd0XNxxYaSJ4AF_t7HmYY4hPbflFi43mUGToI-gWZ-wPS5ILD5rG3yenIh20lH8i6DFl-IyG62yRga_Lp_rwBGShOliet1utDs/s320/028.JPG" /></a><br />So hopefully now things in my life will start to settle down and I can enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of my labor.<br /><br />Until then, dear reader, I'm thinking that my beautifully green deck may indeed be the perfect place to crack open a beer on one of these unseasonably hot nights we've been having.The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-22918666069184010892010-05-18T18:03:00.006-05:002010-05-19T11:49:18.169-05:00On Street Festivals and Block PartiesIt's official, Summer has begun. And by "official", I mean <strong>SARA HAS DECLARED IT THEREFORE IT IS SO.</strong><br /><br /><br />Kicking off my personal summer season is the annual Italian Market Festival, mere blocks away from my house. Beer being sold on the street, mangos on sticks, Italian music, the parade of Saints... there's just so much to see.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eQ3t7Nnwox_k-xRtBOVIuRKTTmL0_TjXrNNeKPBtPrYkDXr-kcYoOGPC-YhwcRbPsiLFRVMnq8tLsJF0_lpqJMEetkTKEGAGJAMy9uKn_h1tKtJfwUtc8ZDBoLxdUizgv4w9AZ2dRk8/s1600/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472754121289570962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eQ3t7Nnwox_k-xRtBOVIuRKTTmL0_TjXrNNeKPBtPrYkDXr-kcYoOGPC-YhwcRbPsiLFRVMnq8tLsJF0_lpqJMEetkTKEGAGJAMy9uKn_h1tKtJfwUtc8ZDBoLxdUizgv4w9AZ2dRk8/s320/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+006.jpg" /></a><br />But I had one goal. Funnel cake. Where in the hell was the funnel cake?! I haven't had funnel cake in A WHOLE YEAR! Where is it??!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXsv3a7YYVhIH8VSBasuME0gHDmkqWMpCGC-bfe7ub2P0vx9Phjv3qNM6fgEpMLbBVY4uAmOguWwER8h8QGtrc3pWC9oIV2YDWk5vMpAXjwcWaNAhsuuzHG8-shNoW-g8fHPbyZXNT9s/s1600/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472754113341530098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXsv3a7YYVhIH8VSBasuME0gHDmkqWMpCGC-bfe7ub2P0vx9Phjv3qNM6fgEpMLbBVY4uAmOguWwER8h8QGtrc3pWC9oIV2YDWk5vMpAXjwcWaNAhsuuzHG8-shNoW-g8fHPbyZXNT9s/s320/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+005.jpg" /></a>Oh. That sure is a handy sign.<br /><br /></p><p>This is my FUNNEL CAKE face, biatch!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJRzc8pDhyTbV6s5klbhHr-CDWYw6_OBA5xp8KVofnZ5mAYzlwVjI1hkRmhnhhRLzX0Nh2k45Cf_kAXDi7bVhiMK2PHyjzuLfRhMNvJlLlJsUaOLlgQThFGNmlrgOr8KmAqQ4t9I-T0s/s1600/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472754101891703442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJRzc8pDhyTbV6s5klbhHr-CDWYw6_OBA5xp8KVofnZ5mAYzlwVjI1hkRmhnhhRLzX0Nh2k45Cf_kAXDi7bVhiMK2PHyjzuLfRhMNvJlLlJsUaOLlgQThFGNmlrgOr8KmAqQ4t9I-T0s/s320/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+002.jpg" /></a><br />Deb's plate is on the left. Mine is on the right. I do not know how she consumed the entire thing. She's so talented. I'm totally jellus.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAb9d5kIqvo_lgvTHmUuDl6jLFAlqBsgu_A5PhPpk6w0g-U8WMKYloL8UEgEjh6rDKPBIGIEAQlE9SrEKyU40xONzQMzdAYgsLub3BS0_w6z_UyAuKomuILJRuRF51jq52tekh9708u5k/s1600/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472753261188564082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAb9d5kIqvo_lgvTHmUuDl6jLFAlqBsgu_A5PhPpk6w0g-U8WMKYloL8UEgEjh6rDKPBIGIEAQlE9SrEKyU40xONzQMzdAYgsLub3BS0_w6z_UyAuKomuILJRuRF51jq52tekh9708u5k/s320/Italian+Market+Fest+5.15.10+004.jpg" /></a><br />And best of all, there was a block party happening ON MY BLOCK. Our neighbors and all-around-cool-cats Scottie & Tara closed down our section of Warnock for a rockin' party to celebrate Tara's 30th birthday. They even had a BAND!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn29q6kWqccc0krK3uGmeETQotnrrpZwWNgEjh7y1y1fdGAQpKQkJ5UVBVUHSy4flEsc9k_Jrdn7xq1j_wKVyRPiHI-ieCA5ee-5doIv17qoJedrRwsoIxNOpF_ooThiHxSywTWDwcqnY/s1600/block+party+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472753258068324882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn29q6kWqccc0krK3uGmeETQotnrrpZwWNgEjh7y1y1fdGAQpKQkJ5UVBVUHSy4flEsc9k_Jrdn7xq1j_wKVyRPiHI-ieCA5ee-5doIv17qoJedrRwsoIxNOpF_ooThiHxSywTWDwcqnY/s320/block+party+3.jpg" /></a> It was a hipster-o-rama fest, let me tell you that. If it was <a href="http://www.latfh.com/">hipster</a>-related, it was there. You had your strange haircuts, your ironic tattoos, your fixies propped everywhere, your weird facial hair, your pitty mixes roaming about, your biking fanny packs, your keg of PBR.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Jn1v6UQpI7TM_W1McCNWnvRBGeyuR-RHeYc8ZerTjz5kkYti5aOWf-XheliH-WzzN232OMUTcpIGbnmBKQYYb8lf4zoaGSa3Ecync0parxeAyqz5gCpZkLCBEpwEFAkoW9niVZP7uRA/s1600/block+party+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472752118765041650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Jn1v6UQpI7TM_W1McCNWnvRBGeyuR-RHeYc8ZerTjz5kkYti5aOWf-XheliH-WzzN232OMUTcpIGbnmBKQYYb8lf4zoaGSa3Ecync0parxeAyqz5gCpZkLCBEpwEFAkoW9niVZP7uRA/s320/block+party+2.jpg" /></a><br />And best of all, my favorite hipsters were there too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjug-PN_vMhAIgL2PCBkSnmAGVGMVl-PY-t7EgHFq26oGohyE4txLxke9c-A_19YzrcGyH_wTQ19Tw11exvwUpYrh7lg9SOk4wfzfXuM3CS5ShUio40eEdHwYTaEXGLEg9nEZMXWfaZuY/s1600/block+party.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472752115645362962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjug-PN_vMhAIgL2PCBkSnmAGVGMVl-PY-t7EgHFq26oGohyE4txLxke9c-A_19YzrcGyH_wTQ19Tw11exvwUpYrh7lg9SOk4wfzfXuM3CS5ShUio40eEdHwYTaEXGLEg9nEZMXWfaZuY/s320/block+party.jpg" /></a> (l-r: Beth, me, Arizona, Amanda, Dalice. I don't know who that random girl behind us is, but her shoulder tattoo was rad)</p><p></p><p>Viva la summer!</p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-6621501028013606162010-05-16T13:29:00.005-05:002010-05-16T16:24:52.428-05:00New Gaydar<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471936840446639970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihm72tDRKSaAYQaz5RvE0zwD4dbJPdZSJDU3Z0TNLl9J_j_1cSsNM1KVBpl0mpL0Z4gdoMCl2MiaFjIMXeSJHPAO1ADiMFZQPEiljAkVQ3X59R4u_XlKfWNo14WyQVACQ_qNaXmavmqc/s320/gay+conservative.bmp" />(Click for an enlarged image. Courtesy of <a href="http://stfuhomophobes.tumblr.com/">STFU Homophobes</a>)<br /><br />Also, watch this NOW:<br /><object width="384" align="middle" height="283"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.nbc.com/videos/nbcshort_at.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&clipID=1228169&showID=61&siteurl=http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/digital-short-great-day/1228169"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><embed src="http://widget.nbc.com/videos/nbcshort_at.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&clipID=1228169&showID=61&siteurl=http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/digital-short-great-day/1228169" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" width="384" height="283" align="middle" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />New post with lots of pictures coming soon...The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-63150260333059187942010-05-08T09:55:00.004-05:002010-05-08T18:25:56.910-05:00Summer Plans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqKib0gHYphkLLcKFHJxhrcZucjzpdTJC5AFA54JGNAvOPn6rkcCDyZlfbxHZ7GuUQm0lnVSgFE9RlSMqhjzFK6_-ASTWkdj72bISj8jBukZUKFpZVM5Gy2ox2eBRQDEpGMqjkCrrW-U/s1600/Silly+boy+5.10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468913043191292770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqKib0gHYphkLLcKFHJxhrcZucjzpdTJC5AFA54JGNAvOPn6rkcCDyZlfbxHZ7GuUQm0lnVSgFE9RlSMqhjzFK6_-ASTWkdj72bISj8jBukZUKFpZVM5Gy2ox2eBRQDEpGMqjkCrrW-U/s320/Silly+boy+5.10.JPG" border="0" /></a> I know, I know. I've been neglecting this blog again. But I hope that the above picture of our stupid doggie will ease the pain of my absence...<br /><br />It's not that I don't love this blog, I swear. And it's not that I love my <a href="http://thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/">other blog</a> better either. I double-dog pinkie swear. (Okay, I really do love writing recipes.)<br /><br />Anyway, I know my excuse for not posting is always "I'm busy", but really I swear it's true. Without going into the gory details, let me just say that this show has been one of the most profoundly exhausting experiences of my life. Don't get me wrong, it's great, and you should totally come and see it. But it's big-- HUGE-- bigger than any show I've done in the Studio and therefore the process has been nutty and trying and weird and ultimately (I hope) rewarding.<br /><br />So what's happening in my life now? The show's open, I'm looking forward to having my days free. After weeks of working over 60 hours and dealing with... personalities... I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have the whole day free, to stroll in to work around 6pm and be done at 9:30pm. Before you call me lucky or get all jealous, trust me, I've EARNED this.<br /><br />My season ends on June 27th and I have the summer off. In the past I have simply gone on unemployment and tried to relax before the next season starts up again, but this summer I think I'm going to switch it up a bit. I find that while having one month off is glorious, four months becomes so very tedious. I'm poking around for a part-time job that will let me collect partial unemployment so that I can keep my brain active and yet still have time to loaf. Hopefully this new game plan will allow me to have the <a href="http://saramayorshemaynot.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-fools.html">Epic Summer of Hanging Out</a> and a little extra pocket change to boot.<br /><br />Do I sound a little vague to you? Don't worry dear readers, things will be all clear soon. Until then, you'll find me cleaning my house, cooking a lot and catching up on all the reading I've been putting off. On my nightstand right now: <a href="http://www.wisefoodways.com/moons/"><em>Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger for Connection</em></a><em>,</em> by Jessica Prentice which explores seasonal eating across many cultures and gives the modern reader a chance to reconnect with those ancient and valuable traditions. I'm really enjoying it! Up next I'll be tackling Neil Gaiman's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anansi_Boys"><em>Anansi Boys</em></a><em>,</em> which I ordered soon after I finished his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods"><em>American Gods</em></a>. <em>American Gods</em> was one of the best books I've read in a long time. I cracked it open on my birthday and it's themes have had a profound effect on me during this winter/spring of my weird journey.<br /><br />Okay, now I'm sounding really nutty. I'd better stop while I'm ahead. Until then, dear readers, I leave you with the (hopefully sincere) promise to keep this blog better updated.The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-69720595112503626912010-04-25T20:57:00.002-05:002010-04-25T20:59:36.288-05:00What's this in my tooth?It's a kernel of truth:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltyTBlkmx71AyPZBAOoQ_Bx-ZpuXXb_1xIEFia2zN6KTOOMPIY_zUwpvJX94tT3VDCewWk0_hUAes0dJBzC6g9nVMabHfYAaUrUdMlGvji5VOOy86m91p0uvaEGfOdvhlfZmYqNN5tS4/s1600/script+note.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464259788494340594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltyTBlkmx71AyPZBAOoQ_Bx-ZpuXXb_1xIEFia2zN6KTOOMPIY_zUwpvJX94tT3VDCewWk0_hUAes0dJBzC6g9nVMabHfYAaUrUdMlGvji5VOOy86m91p0uvaEGfOdvhlfZmYqNN5tS4/s320/script+note.jpg" /></a>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-78693976674505768462010-04-18T13:01:00.003-05:002010-04-18T13:15:52.154-05:00We're Singing... Because It's A Musical...Our first week of rehearsals for the last show of the Studio season, <em><a href="http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/musical.php">Musical of Musicals: The Musical!</a></em> is over and let me tell you, this one's going to be hilarious. Seriously, don't miss this it.<br /><br /><br />Tom Miller took the Publicity Photos on Friday:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1oKnoyrmLhzRjKQZZEV9Y1OOkmEKDctb_WTmJZypZ1nYCB9iEiQyWS9-WyCMBJugTP_BKYSsUKopZpv0RvyglgNy3y1oJB6hk1YyYhiuVqWqLLZb23jdge7tRqjz8TOEDZX3BTtNYVk/s1600/publicity+photos+4.16+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461539966226440850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1oKnoyrmLhzRjKQZZEV9Y1OOkmEKDctb_WTmJZypZ1nYCB9iEiQyWS9-WyCMBJugTP_BKYSsUKopZpv0RvyglgNy3y1oJB6hk1YyYhiuVqWqLLZb23jdge7tRqjz8TOEDZX3BTtNYVk/s320/publicity+photos+4.16+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> (clockwise from top left: Craig Fols, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Sarah Gliko, Rebecca Robbins)</p><p>Yes, Carl is wearing pink knickers. Our costume designer Mary Folino is made of awesome.</p><p><br />Sarah strikes her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(musical)">Chicago</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabaret_(musical)">Cabaret </a>pose:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodwerjSFwK3_IWlgegtgpLzqnXLNDJywUSminn3q1zuCNlvqGDwGAHi96QdgNabTA1jyj-BNphw0Lx0AQpviXqzt9sUR7eUXHULf0PytY89Qye2bWjRvWYpwoT-szJsrHKZl94X9nlXA/s1600/publicity+photos+4.16+010.jpg"></p></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461539942845005922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodwerjSFwK3_IWlgegtgpLzqnXLNDJywUSminn3q1zuCNlvqGDwGAHi96QdgNabTA1jyj-BNphw0Lx0AQpviXqzt9sUR7eUXHULf0PytY89Qye2bWjRvWYpwoT-szJsrHKZl94X9nlXA/s320/publicity+photos+4.16+010.jpg" border="0" /><br />We run from May 4th-June 27th. Don't miss it!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACvg7x207e08xa9t5lBipQYk3Qvn57h23mmfw7tymmo3UgZ-NrGBtuEScz8vbKc4qSkAZRDR03detNYcRsdAc5g12IqbU1CzdwJ2rgedEjylzKwWnhpwqLHQO6jYK5WH0eGeGlp9wSo/s1600/publicity+photos+4.16+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461539926758616178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACvg7x207e08xa9t5lBipQYk3Qvn57h23mmfw7tymmo3UgZ-NrGBtuEScz8vbKc4qSkAZRDR03detNYcRsdAc5g12IqbU1CzdwJ2rgedEjylzKwWnhpwqLHQO6jYK5WH0eGeGlp9wSo/s320/publicity+photos+4.16+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> (l-r: Rebecca Robbins, Alex Bechtel, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Sarah Gliko, Craig Fols)<br /><br />More rehearsal photos to follow soon!The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-87892183011598707472010-04-15T23:08:00.001-05:002010-04-15T23:11:27.655-05:00It's About Fucking TimeFrom <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/obama-grants-gay-couples-visitation-rights/equality/?cid=hp:mainpromo1">The Daily Beast</a> today:<br /><br /><blockquote>Hospital Visitation Rights for Gays?<br /><br />It's not gay marriage, but it's a small step in the right direction for same-sex couples. President Obama has signed a memorandum requiring hospitals to grant visitation rights and medical power of attorney to a same-sex partner. Before now, only blood relatives or legal spouses of patients were allowed to visit. Under the president's orders, the Department of Health and Human Services can no longer discriminate in hospital visitation, and the move will affect any hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding. The decision will likely place Obama right in the middle of the same-sex marriage debate.<br /></blockquote>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-51193212715459257542010-04-14T08:20:00.002-05:002010-04-14T08:46:13.741-05:00Available With or Without NutsOkay, I'm in my double week (for <a href="http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/musical.php"><em>Musical of Musicals: The Musical</em></a>! which is going to be hilarious so you should come and see it.) but I had to leave you all with this:<br /><br /><object height="283" width="384" align="middle"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.nbc.com/videos/nbcshort_at.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&clipID=1218011&showID=61"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><param name="quality" value="high"><embed src="http://widget.nbc.com/videos/nbcshort_at.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&clipID=1218011&showID=61" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" width="384" height="283" allowfullscreen="true" align="middle" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><br />The rest of Tina's SNL episode was a bit hit or miss to me: the stuff about Michelle "Bombshell" McGee was a little harsh, babe. It takes two people to cheat, and I didn't hear you ragging on Jesse at all. Plus, just having tattoos doesn't make you trashy. (Having white power and Nazi tattoos however, does indeed make you trashy)<br /><br />Okay, rant over. I still love you, Tina. <br /><br />Do they make "Brownie Wife" for us gay gals?The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-59405983974383365912010-04-09T17:18:00.006-05:002010-04-09T18:03:42.357-05:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch Cherry Bomb!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuaoPo3RogawlCsRJlJBFcx7uj9sjymiwLgBlbsqLdypDc1uYAocOwcAp-rVhRJ87GD6eodh4YYKAz1kWCBP3GJNXqDjrjicgD_3uJensz22Zp7fOrDhsZVX1aWUSR2F9Qwq91e25yKY/s1600/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458268048783046706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuaoPo3RogawlCsRJlJBFcx7uj9sjymiwLgBlbsqLdypDc1uYAocOwcAp-rVhRJ87GD6eodh4YYKAz1kWCBP3GJNXqDjrjicgD_3uJensz22Zp7fOrDhsZVX1aWUSR2F9Qwq91e25yKY/s320/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+024.jpg" border="0" /></a> Many years ago, some springtime mastermind planted dozens of cherry trees along my block. Obviously I don't know who this person was, but if I ever met said mastermind, I would give them a big fat kiss.<br /><br />For those of you who don't <a href="http://saramayorshemaynot.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html">remember</a>, we are celebrating our one year anniversary in our apartment, after escaping from the wilds of 2 Street and crooked landlords. I have a vague recollection from last year of spring being absolutely beautiful in our new place, but we were so stressed out that I barely had time to appreciate it. Not this year, though. This year I'm loving every second of it.<br /><br />And because of our weirdly warm April weather, boy oh boy have these babies just POPPED. </p><p>I present you now with a photographic journey of my walk to work through cherry blossom heaven. You're welcome, dear readers, you are welcome.</p><p>A view down the block:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvwjQeX8oVyRIfJgWTZOSE0wMg75kSZ4qJ8xijA4B4J9bjKF-hhkkTxc8XUvMm8JMoJTPpy_5zaE4ZZVj8dSUzWoPxGxOvvRDOUwuFXFTTvhnp8hgwLM9P-2i4J35yEaZ14ODXy8eIh8/s1600/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458268043962448306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvwjQeX8oVyRIfJgWTZOSE0wMg75kSZ4qJ8xijA4B4J9bjKF-hhkkTxc8XUvMm8JMoJTPpy_5zaE4ZZVj8dSUzWoPxGxOvvRDOUwuFXFTTvhnp8hgwLM9P-2i4J35yEaZ14ODXy8eIh8/s320/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI1c4dHNdel03L0MrH7EouzaI3EdBHEiiakX5RkNM9jg3h86i9OiPwa580hDYb37AUX8latCOAwMsymJ46FpmU-CcJ2k7NZ9X6aqE_1KXYaJtJkdwArM49MEqCNgLIcDlcBiXwoJnkmE/s1600/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458267290515276802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI1c4dHNdel03L0MrH7EouzaI3EdBHEiiakX5RkNM9jg3h86i9OiPwa580hDYb37AUX8latCOAwMsymJ46FpmU-CcJ2k7NZ9X6aqE_1KXYaJtJkdwArM49MEqCNgLIcDlcBiXwoJnkmE/s320/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHZT3rIPG1fc4Il8uPKSu9QY3PdQLYhD3dIZIrL6hvJ4y6zEQU_hPjgwurlwOFPz6sWPbTuNgivavKG8mpWsroy2gTZS9-LIxZ3c2el9X1NAuegnULcw9b2JSNi8ZSfjMogxnLIg0qWo/s1600/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458267280524559426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHZT3rIPG1fc4Il8uPKSu9QY3PdQLYhD3dIZIrL6hvJ4y6zEQU_hPjgwurlwOFPz6sWPbTuNgivavKG8mpWsroy2gTZS9-LIxZ3c2el9X1NAuegnULcw9b2JSNi8ZSfjMogxnLIg0qWo/s320/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc7IlwXLsYhefgFM9hm_2AEuT3BJ46-GRBTEw2XCmMBzC0E6Lk5onvpxPwiRZz4g8oomNmx0t-Av3qVqNwzSJ2XfXMPsXZpw7ixM8FZmskcTwtrhcErg4wCNOHf9XA9S-iTTE0bTkS74/s1600/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458267267966915746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc7IlwXLsYhefgFM9hm_2AEuT3BJ46-GRBTEw2XCmMBzC0E6Lk5onvpxPwiRZz4g8oomNmx0t-Av3qVqNwzSJ2XfXMPsXZpw7ixM8FZmskcTwtrhcErg4wCNOHf9XA9S-iTTE0bTkS74/s320/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw829JM12Blqkv8uEs-Cq6TGBubJybo1jLKbSc2EVyciFs6HFcX0_CCXRDYuiiDIBGCwZV1xOftwcikzUwuo9CfzrfWe6_yU9zppvx-UK3HS7z-LNBULbi0fnJqPLkU9f9189t_SID_as/s1600/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458266603828280674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw829JM12Blqkv8uEs-Cq6TGBubJybo1jLKbSc2EVyciFs6HFcX0_CCXRDYuiiDIBGCwZV1xOftwcikzUwuo9CfzrfWe6_yU9zppvx-UK3HS7z-LNBULbi0fnJqPLkU9f9189t_SID_as/s320/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBvK4cJp75fle3ZGjsJXvxDXYwGb-oKIi8qgGvilgIIsk0a9IknVPLIHm5-saolBxNeN88JhDNqwxg35IPOAlreZvzpUwFlqoDzB8b_ZKkx_wSbuxuhSiTQL56gA-ZpQlTZd66qaet-4/s1600/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458266596300209090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBvK4cJp75fle3ZGjsJXvxDXYwGb-oKIi8qgGvilgIIsk0a9IknVPLIHm5-saolBxNeN88JhDNqwxg35IPOAlreZvzpUwFlqoDzB8b_ZKkx_wSbuxuhSiTQL56gA-ZpQlTZd66qaet-4/s320/backstage+of+Travels+and+spring+4.7+035.jpg" border="0" /></a> Happy spring!</p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-16531336130938571602010-04-04T12:28:00.005-05:002010-04-04T18:02:26.852-05:00Spring/PhillyI'm feeling a little guilty for letting the craziness of my life right now interfere with how often I update this blog, so I have decided to try harder. For you, my dear readers. All for you.<br /><br />So spring is aggressively springing all around us here in Philly, with our record temperatures. Seriously, it's going to be 80 today. In April. I'm not complaining, but damn!<br /><br />Deb and I have been experimenting with taking the dog to work with us when there is an empty dressing room for him to chill out in. He really loves the walk in, and of course all of the attention he gets from the actors in the greenroom doesn't hurt either.<br /><br />In our breaks between shows, we take him to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Square_(Philadelphia)">Washington Square Park</a> to romp around. He LOVES the warmer weather. He loves being with his two mommies too!<br /><br />Look at this handsome fellah:<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguobMYxX3r3SqH4DgltTBbgsrspcVqRZXM1TW4OWit4JClctctEklnCM5zb2KKELipE0c_KKJEp6An-ir-Vf1lta9OKzsPwE13rbSap9AsDS9d3CntjyymYsZAobQ0NKrLQZfvVpv18wg/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456338037476135058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguobMYxX3r3SqH4DgltTBbgsrspcVqRZXM1TW4OWit4JClctctEklnCM5zb2KKELipE0c_KKJEp6An-ir-Vf1lta9OKzsPwE13rbSap9AsDS9d3CntjyymYsZAobQ0NKrLQZfvVpv18wg/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We taught him a new trick, which Deb calls "hugs", but I call "jumping on mommy":<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Hfh6Rt5VCVMnYq4W29bGT2sUyHtLyXAIVBwMVApcPSPNif42QKN4kUxBg0Fpn2-X9sF66v9JEAAbAz55_LayqEBNtJy50zix0s9HDCCMm0nBHdTuK8vuUENlxAH3RxBxtzHn9MvTNH8/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456338025461863490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Hfh6Rt5VCVMnYq4W29bGT2sUyHtLyXAIVBwMVApcPSPNif42QKN4kUxBg0Fpn2-X9sF66v9JEAAbAz55_LayqEBNtJy50zix0s9HDCCMm0nBHdTuK8vuUENlxAH3RxBxtzHn9MvTNH8/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Happy stupid doggie face!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrvyhok6dmMiy4UXwU-eHr26JLPqBZe-H6WcFhnvUvlQoXGZZF-vUG9RyznVFzaNe3k62-6i4XjuJGE4EA9I74c8YNvPoTFAh9Yd-Y1cUDo7qxEB6R7mQM_JGcCc0-hnBtRuHg8aztU4/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456338007942407090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrvyhok6dmMiy4UXwU-eHr26JLPqBZe-H6WcFhnvUvlQoXGZZF-vUG9RyznVFzaNe3k62-6i4XjuJGE4EA9I74c8YNvPoTFAh9Yd-Y1cUDo7qxEB6R7mQM_JGcCc0-hnBtRuHg8aztU4/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This morning I took my camera along for my walk to work to capture the absolute perfection of this day. Happy Easter, by the way! And <a href="http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/article.cfm/pagan_roots_of_easter_customs">here's </a>some excellent reading material about Easter's origins as a pagan holiday! </p><p></p><p>Anyway, I digress. Look, the oak tree in front of our apartment has started to grow some teeny-tiny leaves!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhfQqXanvBs3RapVJTIFJCv43SvF5cnRFGDPO_dILsAF5hy5iKGVkEG-Hw_hsgxh5upmDzB5K62MFNwZ4Q6tQcqv3420Tm9QK9Jj5OaLkxlWuDVdr5EfQWS-uWB1FoTM6LfPH-uvwQKQ/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456338006272726850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhfQqXanvBs3RapVJTIFJCv43SvF5cnRFGDPO_dILsAF5hy5iKGVkEG-Hw_hsgxh5upmDzB5K62MFNwZ4Q6tQcqv3420Tm9QK9Jj5OaLkxlWuDVdr5EfQWS-uWB1FoTM6LfPH-uvwQKQ/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+020.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yes, those are a pair of shoes hanging from the branches, or just some "urban fruit" as I like to call them.</p><p><br />This tree is on the end of our street-- gorgeous!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8qIoJSs02pF4xkvOOAuoJy_51Q8qQoxMwSh6Yd3Y3eOUTkQ_gXjmOv-2JTCI89xkvBKvDka4SBAxx5asC-LqCFw8K2Di8l7QRblJpKw4MheXZTvabe7xxE4amyKEJMC7eoHTxuIoLA0/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456337300914680770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8qIoJSs02pF4xkvOOAuoJy_51Q8qQoxMwSh6Yd3Y3eOUTkQ_gXjmOv-2JTCI89xkvBKvDka4SBAxx5asC-LqCFw8K2Di8l7QRblJpKw4MheXZTvabe7xxE4amyKEJMC7eoHTxuIoLA0/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157503/">Um... dogwood?</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlkptysVLfXjOxQ-rc3xh32_FphPGER67igZSgco8i3sdof4N20BjQ6M7ztHv8ZaIkVOGQWFFBWy_HUkd7HI2IgMmB0rB2RH1HTVx-v5wE9j0ryDItq1OR46xMEsGummYfAJjYDyS6ZA/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456337278713314402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlkptysVLfXjOxQ-rc3xh32_FphPGER67igZSgco8i3sdof4N20BjQ6M7ztHv8ZaIkVOGQWFFBWy_HUkd7HI2IgMmB0rB2RH1HTVx-v5wE9j0ryDItq1OR46xMEsGummYfAJjYDyS6ZA/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I know a lot of people view them as weeds, but I personally love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum">dandelions</a>. And I think they make a stellar addition to any city window box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAjPMmrK1t9m5LwixYY2XsF56739UFa6_O6u7jXVL12b0FMB4wQbdpsjAL0N1CazX8ngMsTU4bBrT3KXNugPWMAfKaoFm2TP9qEIrhrZbOlTmg3aUlTSCZCuFUR8EaOY7_l-wPpNwQc4/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456336070216715058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAjPMmrK1t9m5LwixYY2XsF56739UFa6_O6u7jXVL12b0FMB4wQbdpsjAL0N1CazX8ngMsTU4bBrT3KXNugPWMAfKaoFm2TP9qEIrhrZbOlTmg3aUlTSCZCuFUR8EaOY7_l-wPpNwQc4/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Philly in the spring: mirrored murals and blooming trees!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMyhjNNQd3VlB9TSKc9GAcTxZ-KxsIbAtVyJDhlvIraW1Gn8z5nawu-Qd4b_yfof8zAM6RtOLKdiht3EGjoTx0iFJkDTdOVAl_D67a6_w-68vJYs8xwYdymM2bZAx6cA4_Q042o4z9CA/s1600/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456336062411488162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMyhjNNQd3VlB9TSKc9GAcTxZ-KxsIbAtVyJDhlvIraW1Gn8z5nawu-Qd4b_yfof8zAM6RtOLKdiht3EGjoTx0iFJkDTdOVAl_D67a6_w-68vJYs8xwYdymM2bZAx6cA4_Q042o4z9CA/s320/Spring+adventures+4.3+%26+4.4+029.jpg" border="0" /></a> Tomorrow we have Epic Plans to clean our deck. I can't wait for beers and barbeque and hanging out in the sunshine!</p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917014006528526088.post-12391042041810962312010-04-03T12:28:00.009-05:002010-04-03T13:08:20.373-05:00April FoolsThe times, they are a changin'...<br /><br />So because I think we have developed a bit of a hive mind, our group of friends has suddenly, independently decided to make some major life changes. I'm very proud to share that Melanie has been accepted to grad school in London (and hopefully AJ will be able to join her there!), Alison is working on getting into grad school here in Philly and Amanda & Arizona plan to leave the country as well to teach English in Brazil or some other exotic location like that.<br /><br />And it all happens this fall. So basically we have this summer ahead of us as Our Last Summer of Fun & Debauchery. Or at least that's what I've decided to call it.<br /><br />We've decided to start early with the Epic Hanging Out.<br /><br />Opening night of my show, <a href="http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/aunt.php"><em>Travels with My Aunt</em></a>, Mel and AJ joined us for our traditional <a href="http://philadelphia.menupages.com/restaurants/cocos/">Coco's</a> after opening shit-faced session:<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFe0Hsx538YpU4sk7yj09ApkkuLrN4cT2i4fyx1-g7D3t79sCCIdA-JVVVf98LBTzfj41o0O98PfBJdl7V133wDNPD8mh6lkEJopCvlx09COdlgXjrZI6IW3EiH9KW5XiIZi29vsSmZs/s1600/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455968491059507138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFe0Hsx538YpU4sk7yj09ApkkuLrN4cT2i4fyx1-g7D3t79sCCIdA-JVVVf98LBTzfj41o0O98PfBJdl7V133wDNPD8mh6lkEJopCvlx09COdlgXjrZI6IW3EiH9KW5XiIZi29vsSmZs/s320/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Carolyn, our House Management apprentice, and Lauren, my apprentice:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_6JUr8e7RO8b7gkSELDvC5-6CXYxy2QuGKwBViiFLsWUv8FRwqBeWdSwwjVaIoeca-hibe-qUn9KTDQdZmVWmG3Q6QdIBxsDRNb33AbXT-w5sQOyWRf9kAPq-ovxJ1xCxy7jGZaSBqM/s1600/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455967870757098946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_6JUr8e7RO8b7gkSELDvC5-6CXYxy2QuGKwBViiFLsWUv8FRwqBeWdSwwjVaIoeca-hibe-qUn9KTDQdZmVWmG3Q6QdIBxsDRNb33AbXT-w5sQOyWRf9kAPq-ovxJ1xCxy7jGZaSBqM/s320/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This morning Arizona invited us all over for a vegan brunch. Holy moley, it was awesome. Arizona made tofu scramble and spicy potatoes, I brought my <a href="http://thecozyherbivore.blogspot.com/2010/04/breakfast-carrot-cake.html">Breakfast Carrot Cake</a> and Beth made smoothies! Linds & Carrie brought over a New Zealand pudding, but I had to go to work before it came out of the oven. Sad face. I'm told that even as I type, they have moved to the park to kick around a soccer ball. I'm so jealous!</p><p>Beth is a big fan of brunch:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL2hw_hZp-UCZgaJKz-Y_054Y5XSILHRfsFdHb9tMcrhT-3ezwNuHVuoOxSb9gdQzIGjgEt0qaAVwT3nzU7tXJTrsKU1oq_5X7v_qOIy7z_R6xnOImMQxIbwNOxMJM5sgNKA94gZvp5I/s1600/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455967062997210082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL2hw_hZp-UCZgaJKz-Y_054Y5XSILHRfsFdHb9tMcrhT-3ezwNuHVuoOxSb9gdQzIGjgEt0qaAVwT3nzU7tXJTrsKU1oq_5X7v_qOIy7z_R6xnOImMQxIbwNOxMJM5sgNKA94gZvp5I/s320/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Lindsay can't decide whether to drink his smoothie or his beer:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_RzHFWgpmktujWg1Qx48WLmMgWierhfmIykPwR5L53XnfbPniyF0wDsBNM1jtcLhzYD-Oy_5QS-APuedntBbePtuloJmWk29mSXE6MvHOFbR0bod0TlKiEYjYXgRiK7sWANOMTRh8n0/s1600/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455967052949783634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_RzHFWgpmktujWg1Qx48WLmMgWierhfmIykPwR5L53XnfbPniyF0wDsBNM1jtcLhzYD-Oy_5QS-APuedntBbePtuloJmWk29mSXE6MvHOFbR0bod0TlKiEYjYXgRiK7sWANOMTRh8n0/s320/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Amanda went with the smoothie first... but I can bet her beer will follow shortly!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo-9NSguwBlSowBfkMSMtBOt5do-RuuzxNWosQj7t57i9UVOA7XmsOQXtBl9Mch26RugbvBwGFZIsXyROjLSllxmIkdgeRKuDmKdMTFRdfZFY9pgXBPzWLKrS7ja2J79GvCvaLpYbqng/s1600/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455966501426544226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo-9NSguwBlSowBfkMSMtBOt5do-RuuzxNWosQj7t57i9UVOA7XmsOQXtBl9Mch26RugbvBwGFZIsXyROjLSllxmIkdgeRKuDmKdMTFRdfZFY9pgXBPzWLKrS7ja2J79GvCvaLpYbqng/s320/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Chillin' with Arizona's Italian friend Matteo, watching some futbol:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl_7HtqF2J34h8VKEyPrU5tg0Xpz6-F5Xm8nF1Hr-BVoyeOp8CSgQSwe5x4jsq9kS3V0Mr21FNbplHQpUod4sSOGtrvFsmAW4W_oyDHdNpXvSljMTbDlSxD36tZKYf9wMnNsXS1_bHlM/s1600/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455966470396546834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl_7HtqF2J34h8VKEyPrU5tg0Xpz6-F5Xm8nF1Hr-BVoyeOp8CSgQSwe5x4jsq9kS3V0Mr21FNbplHQpUod4sSOGtrvFsmAW4W_oyDHdNpXvSljMTbDlSxD36tZKYf9wMnNsXS1_bHlM/s320/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />So whenever the kitty goes to the litter box, there is a giant ritual of incense lighting and general exclamations about how very stinky it is:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDJ4LSKphMeh3mHmH7qoyjF7KNbaVnyriUv_maBWIpXuOPtOUQX2-gBioFyAQLbImgNB9A3D7rYKcOwDym_U4Cg4gT9lN-UgE3jh2pctPun_4zJ3Cx-udg0Zplk3nQ9q_Y8W83sCqm5U/s1600/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455965805787313778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDJ4LSKphMeh3mHmH7qoyjF7KNbaVnyriUv_maBWIpXuOPtOUQX2-gBioFyAQLbImgNB9A3D7rYKcOwDym_U4Cg4gT9lN-UgE3jh2pctPun_4zJ3Cx-udg0Zplk3nQ9q_Y8W83sCqm5U/s320/Travels+opening+%26+brunch+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> It's hard not to be a little sad that our tight-knit little group is breaking up, at least in a geographical sense. But I have every confidence that no amount of distance will destroy these bonds we've forged and these memories we've made together.</p><p> </p><p>Congrats, guys: I'm so proud of you all for moving and shaking and following your dreams!</p>The Cozy Herbivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07352090933839290505noreply@blogger.com0