Well last night I made my very first real chicken soup! It wasn't completely from scratch in that I did not have time to roast or boil a whole bird, but I did start with just onions, garlic, chicken, stock, carrots, celery, rice, and thyme. It turned out great! And I didn't use a recipe, I just used what seemed the appropriate amount of ingredients for where I was trying to go. I am very proud of myself and excited for fall with soup. My grandma always told me I would be a good cook because I come from a long line of good cooks (she is the best!). I never believed her until recently, it does feel sort of like I have tapped into a stream of memory.

Last night I received my first very own shipment of organic fruits and vegetables from Capay Farms! I am planning a vegetable feast with the bounty including this soup with 20 cloves of garlic. This is part of my new plan to spearhead the loss of the extra 20 pounds I've gained over the last year. Ah Love! it makes you fat.

At first I thought it was an interesting description, but now I'm getting a little irritated at the amount of times the term "shard" is used in food writing around the web lately. Of course I'm too lazy to site sources but let's just say that all of our throats should be permanently scarred if we are eating as many shards as have been mentioned recently.

Every year I get at least one perfect fall evening. I can't wait for this year's and I think I would like to celebrate with an organic roasted chicken.

This whole food chocolate mousse sounds really cool to me. I am liking the idea of making desserts out of unrefined foods so they are sort of good for you. I have made these cupcakes with zucchini and coconut fat two times now and they are excellent!

Alright, enough of the pity party. I feel much better now. Back to the regularly silly items I like to post here. For instance, these cookies look very nice to me.

When you start out the morning trying to decide whether to call in because you're afraid you won't be able to stop crying but decide to go and end up crying in the bathroom by 8:30, it's probably not going to be a very good day. On the plus side the weather is really nice.

Flickr is holding an auction to benefit Katrina victims. Looks like a great way to buy some original artwork and benefit humanity.

the time feels right for apples and some darkness

Oh weblog, you should see the quilts I'm making. But you can't because they're surprises!

In case you're getting married soon like me, here's an awesome article about how to deal with wanting the white dress you always thought you never wanted. On Indiebride.com

Plus diamonds! I always said I would never get a diamond and now I want one. Actually, lots of them! It's an archetypal experience.

I think this Casual Friday blog is pretty fun. The format seems to be silly things to do.
Highlights:

9. Ran up and down my hallway yelling "Ready or not...here I come!"

1. Aggressively sniffed my fingers in a crowded elevator

2. Yelled "Mission accomplished!" after stopping to tie my shoes on a busy sidewalk

5. Began using the salutation, "Boobs are great," at the closing of each e-mail and letter I write

10. Began selling wrist bands that say "What Would R. Kelly Do?"

7. After further review, the phrase "Pimpin' Aint Easy" is complete bullshit...that has the be the easiest job in the world

No. 7, um, do you watch Dave Chapelle

oh hi internet, I've been in a very introspective mood and well, I can't tell you everything.

This is such a peaceful sandwich idea:

Middle Eastern Peace Bagels - Spread halved bagels with cream cheese and store-bought hummus or baba ghanouj, thinly-sliced cucumbers, chopped lettuce and tomato, and toasted sesame seeds.

from this website

Notes from lately:

1. I like it when Nigella Lawson tells me what to eat.

2. I bought some Rose Syrup at the persian market and have been drinking little sodas made out of it. Sort of like perfume soda, but I sort of like it.

3. Beauty and the Geek is excellent, they had a marathon on Sunday and now Thaddy has the biggest crush on Mindi.

4. I love the farmer's market! One of the vendors gave me free squash blossoms to try in eggs. Also, did you know that daylillies are edible and tast like sweet lettuce?

5. Summer is the best.

this Rena Tom jewelry makes me want to do some more beading (actually it makes me want to buy it, but since I don't have any money it makes me want to bead)

Here's a shot of how the kitchen looks now, it turned out awesome and I love it. Incredibly talented contractor-friends took out the walls, did electrical, and installed the peninsula and sink. I tiled the counters and backsplash and helped paint. My Love did the floors in the whole joint and painted a bunch. My roommate jumped in whenever we got in trouble. Kim convinced me to stop being so stubborn and Jaya loaned me his truck for dump runs. Thanks everyone!

I need to figure out how to do a slideshow of all the before and after stuff.

My idea of a perfect Monday night:

1. Double up at the gym with step class followed by yoga with favorite teachers.
2. Thai leftovers reheated with love.
3. Margarita on the rocks with salt.
4. Extreme faux drunkenness brought on by a single margarita after the gym.
5. Long massage including hand and scalp massages.
6. Make out until you fall asleep.

coconut cake sounds really good, huh?

guess what I'm buying for my current summer music conundrum:

one which people will listen to while they fall in love with each other, and then the world will onced again be a sugary dark place shot through with jungle-green rings of light in unlikely places.

I'm looking for something pretty and dreamy, but not sad. Let me know if you have any ideas.