Teton Creek

Last weekend we discovered a new favorite spot.  We camped alongside Teton Creek in a dispersed site.  It quickly became one of our favorite sites ever.  My mom and Rachel joined us for the second night.  We were having too much fun to take many pictures (plus I forgot my camera), but here is a peek at some of the action.

Breakfast Cookies

I recently discovered the most rad breakfast...healthy cookies! Here's the recipe and some pictures of the first batch I made...And yes, you are reading the recipe right, there is no sugar, eggs, flour, or butter used!

Breakfast Cookies

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup of almond meal
1/2 cup mixed nuts, finely chopped
1 cup dried cranberries

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup safflower oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, almond meal, mixed nuts and coconut flakes. Stir in cinnamon. Add dried fruit and stir until well and evenly mixed.

In another bowl, combine oil, mashed banana and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until well combined.

Using your hands, mold sections of the batter into cookie shapes. Remember, because there is no flour or eggs, the batter will not expand while baking. Bake for about 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

I enjoy my cookies with a glass of homemade almond milk...a handy recipe Em taught me!

Yard life

Our backyard is getting a life.

This weekend we planted 20 trees, invested in a patio set, and I am currently scheming a way to get a hammock.

Sam and I have enjoyed dinner on our patio every night since bringing our outdoor dining set home.

My garden is chugging right along. I think I may need to thin my lettuce. Turns out you really should pay attention to the spacing instructions on the packets. In other news I have 2 little tomatoes growing!!

I've recently become a potted flower fanatic (thanks Mom!). I've added 5 more pots to our front and back yard.

Today is the first day of summer. West and Millie ran through the sprinklers to celebrate.

Millie

Meet Millie! We introduced Mills into our family on Sam's birthday. She is 8 weeks old, 16 pounds (what a little chunk!), and is a purebred black lab. West is already smitten. Actually we all are. Actually everyone but Chai.

The garden

We put in a garden this weekend! I've always wanted to be a gardener, but my previous attempts never quite worked out. This time though, I'm completely bitten by the garden bug and am looking forward to tending it all summer.

By sunday evening my hands were completely caked in dirt, but I had managed to plant tomatoes, peppers, rosemary, cilantro, thyme, chives, mint, flat leaf parsley, curled parsley, basil, radishes, carrots, onions, kale, endive, and an assortment of lettuce. I also put in lavender, salvia, and orange marigolds for a pop of color -- a trick I learned from my sweet mom, who is a master gardener herself.

The MVP of the weekend though was Samrald. He steered the rototilling committee, and after my failed attempts, came to the rescue and properly built the garden's cedar edging.

Every morning I wake up and check on my new favorite thing. So far, so good. But then again, I'm only three days in.

Stay tuned for more adventures in gardening!

lately

three weeks?

Wow.  Three weeks since the last post?  Unacceptable.

Things here have been busy, busy, busy.  However, I did recently join "Pintrest", which is like an online idea book.  Check my "pinning" out here.  And Ladies, (maybe Gentlemen readers too) you'll note I've moved away from taking styling cues from Ms. Emma on Glee.  I'm glad I don't want to look like an Easter egg anymore.

And, because I don't have any new photos or stories...here's another playlist I've had on repeat lately.  Link to it here.

Generator^First Floor by Freelance Whales
Night Beds by Night Beds
Heart of Gold by Neil Young
Furr by Blitzen Trapper
Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face
Equestrian by U.S. Royalty
To Go Home by M.Ward
Boy With a Coin by Iron & Wine
Your Rocky Spine by Great Lake Swimmers
To Ohio by The Low Anthem
Hymn #101 by Joe Pug
re: Stacks by Bon Iver