requisite mum and pumpkin

Last weekend we had a mini fall work-day, traveling to my favorite garden center for lawn fertilizer, pebbles, and -- of course -- a pumpkin and a mum. We augmented a sad little spot of gravel by the mailbox, at the threshold of the gate to the backyard:

The gold mum and large pumpkin stand sentinel. We're hoping the squirrels won't attack the pumpkin before Halloween, so we can carve it. If they do, we have a spare hidden in the shed.

Fall remains my favorite season, and our new home's faded perennials make the season more personal. I've followed the progress of the sedum, aster, coreopsis, and virginia creeper almost full circle. In the large bed next to the vegetable garden, the winterberry bushes have released their namesakes:

The garden, lawn, and hedges remain mostly green -- even as the maple trees across the street have lost most of their leaves.

squirrels of september

Every week in September has brought armfuls of fallen leaves off the pin oak tree that stands in front of our house. I've raked, bundled, and piled them on Saturdays. But they're still green.

Fall may be approaching, but the local squirrels are determined to hurry it along and de-leaf the old oak before it even has a chance to enjoy the season. They baldly, gleefully chew off bunches of green leaves, hunting down green acorns. The small, molested branches fall gracefully onto the lawn, the driveway, the hill of myrtle.

Here are some action shots of the property damage (and accompanying acrobatics):

We're guessing that squirrels are a protected species in this progressive, urban county. But that hasn't stopped Wes from pricing BB guns.

shorter days, snazzier lighting

My industrious in-laws visited over Labor Day weekend, quickly adopting the honey-do list as their own. We learned a bit about hard-wiring, caulking, and problem-solving ... and now we can remember their invaluable help every time we flip the switch.

The first project was upgrading the mismatched and poorly functioning outdoor lights. We added a touch of industrial chic:

Next, we installed a modern gray felt pendant in the dining room. Perhaps my love for the color gray is some kind of subconscious effort to balance my extroverted personality? The dining room in morning light:

In the picture above, you can also see my grandmother's mirror and a framed old map of the great state of Iowa, which we found at the Capitol Hill flea market. Look through the pocket door to the kitchen, and you'll catch a glimpse of the new gas range and OTR microwave ... our only significant "upgrade" so far. Finally, I can cook again! Just in time for fall soups and sauteed apples. Speaking of fall, please enjoy this close up of my harvest centerpiece (shades of grandma), composed of gourds from the farmers market:

tomato sorting

 

I'm still harvesting a handful or two of cherry tomatoes each week. Here we have the almost-ripe, and the ready-to-eat. Lovely little bowls courtesy of my friend, Ann.

summer in the city

Another lighted city. An always-lighted city. How would you describe New York? I visited the City (as we called it in Connecticut) regularly growing up -- striding deliberately down Fifth Avenue, gaping at the Plaza's extravagance, clapping at Broadway shows, and gazing at the view from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. My mother took me and my sister, in turn, to find our wedding dresses.

Last weekend marked my first visit with my husband, and I saw the City with fresh eyes (and sore feet). We explored more neighborhoods than I had before, venturing into Brooklyn and touring the tenement museum on the Lower East Side. We enjoyed a mix of take-out lunches and fine dining, local ale and French wine. Here are some of my favorite photos -- our attempts to capture New York's je ne sais quoi.

The sculptural trees of Bryant Park. Next to the New York Public Library, a great place for people watching and sandwich munching.

Fresh juice at Union Square Greenmarket. We carried a giant bottle of grape-apple around with us all afternoon.

The Flatiron Building. Our view during Friday lunch, below.

Gourmet pizza and fresh mozzarella from Eataly, Mario Batali's epic Italian food emporium. I became so overwhelmed that I just stood by the door while Wes fetched the olive bread.

The roofs of New York ... as seen from the Empire State Building.

Waves of cobblestones at St. Mark's in the Bowery.

Sesame pancake and fresh (but still fried!) pork dumplings in Chinatown.

Enjoying an indie coffee break at Oslo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The cheese plate at Rye, also in Williamsburg. I had lovely spring pea ravioli and Wes enjoyed duck with couscous and chutney. This place was elegant but not pretentious -- a perfect Saturday night setting for weary walkers.

We rode the Staten Island Ferry on a foggy, damp Sunday morning. It afforded views of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn, and ... don't leave it out ... New Jersey.

The city's newest park, The High Line. We walked 16 blocks on this elevated park after a few New York friends recommended it. Can you see why?

summer sweat

I hereby declare that it is most displeasing to even visit one's garden on a hot, humid July day with mosquitoes swarming garden beds (and legs). Not even the ripe cherry tomatoes seemed worth it today!

I'm looking forward to ripping out all the scraggly herbs and be-spotted bean plants and starting over in early September. Until then you'll find me inside, hanging pictures and curtains.

fresh feasts

We have enjoyed some delicious food moments this summer, with family, and with friends. As promised, here are some snapshots:

My brother-in-law and his wife drove out from Illinois, by way of Maryland. They came bearing Amish eggs from just a couple hours north. We wasted no time and enjoyed them for breakfast. With bacon, of course.

The Sunday farmers market is just three blocks up the street! In South Arlington it's a little more relaxed than the hyper-foodie version in the northern part of town. I enjoy the relaxed rhythm of walking over each Sunday.

I visited my friend's mother out in a more rural part of the Virginia suburbs. She has a blueberry patch, and the pickin' was good! I took about ten pictures of the blueberries; I'll spare you and just include this one.

Though I might be satisfied just watching plants grow, it is nice when they do produce something edible. This is one of the earlier bean and cherry tomato harvests, ready to be shared with a friend. And I lied ... the blueberries found their way into this picture, too.

Plated salads, ready for a dinner party. Featuring arugula and basil from the garden. The red pepper is probably from Mexico. I made peace with that.

With help from the nearby Thai market, we attempted spring rolls with some shrimp and home-grown basil. Success!

The dining room table served as the beverage bar for our open house.

Happy Independence Day!

and then it was summer

The weeks are flying by, and it's hard to believe it's been only six since the raised beds were just boxes of dirt. The cherry tomato is seven feet tall and giving the scarecrow a run for his money. This week marks the last spring lettuce & arugula harvest, and heralds the first crop of green beans. The garden grows faster than I can blog about it, and I think I am more committed to gardening than blogging. That's a good thing, right?

 May 23. Now see below.

  June 14.

I'm starting to ask myself why I grew so much dill ... if you live nearby, please come over and clip some. Here are the pea blossoms, cherry tomatoes, green beans, and a baby serrano pepper:

Here is our backyard oasis. (That's the pond area to the right.) Now featuring a new grill, and blooming coreopsis and butterfly bush.

I will post again soon on recent memorable food moments! There have been many.

a shenandoah story

In the brief moments spent indoors during the last month, we’ve arranged a few pieces of new furniture. My favorite of these is our new dining room table. It is handcrafted from wood salvaged from a 1901 orchard barn in the Virginia countryside. It has three long planks running its length, with a breadboard extension for seating eight. The carpenter made it according to the size I specified and sent photos to make sure the finish was dark enough. I enjoyed working directly with him, and he enjoyed telling the old wood’s story—and making it come alive for another generation.

With the table as its centerpiece and a view of the garden, I think the dining room is my favorite room in the house. I feel fortunate to work from home, and even more fortunate when there is company around the table!

season of salads

The harvest has begun. The arugula came up first and fastest, so I've been blending it with lettuces from the farmer's market. There isn't much else that is ready (unless you count mint, of course), but I've made more than a few salads with simple vinaigrette. Today marked the first garden give-away, as I pressed a friend to take away some of the arugula.

potting party

Living in northern Virginia, I've discovered the season of spring anew. The seasons (usually) shift gradually here, and I relish the chance to watch flowers bloom and fade in succession as the weather warms. Now some of those flowers are in my own backyard; though the tulips are long gone and the azaleas have withered, the irises and spiderwort are gracing the green with spots of purple. The pond foliage has filled in dramatically (see below).

Last weekend my sister and brother-in-law visited -- our first overnight guests! We sat on the patio, dropped by the farmers market, and planted half a dozen containers with plants I found at Merrifield Garden Center. My brother-in-law snapped a few photos:

Both the watering can and the pink & orange begonia were housewarming gifts from friends nearby. Now I think of them, and my sister, whenever we sit outside.

spring sprouts

Last weekend we built cedar raised beds and filled them with fresh soil. On Easter Sunday, I planted my seeds: peas & beans, basil, dill, cilantro, chives, and lettuces. This spot gets a lot of sun, and it's great to finally plant more than a few pots on the balcony.

This week, bush beans and lettuce offered almost-instant gratification, sprouting in a mere four days. They were a warm welcome as we officially moved to the house!

Also loving life: the pink azalea on the side of the house (with lily of the valley) and the stonecrop sedum near the pond. When the boxes are unpacked and the furniture is in place, I promise I'll post more than just pictures of plants!