Summer Road trip

We are bitting the bullet and driving across country from the east coast to Utah to visit family. We have always wanted to do this...yes I'm a bit nervous with an active 8 year old in a car for 3 days..yikes! But so far so good 3 hours in and one Starbucks visit under our belt. 

I will blog via mobile the next few days as my project bag is chick full of goodies! 

On deck first is this gorgeous Madeline Tosh "Free Range Eggs" in Tosh sock for my "Rose City Rollers" 

I thought it was fitting as we are starting out in Farm Country near Lancaster Pennsylvania. 

I'll keep you posted,

Ming 

Summer Veggie Lasagna...

Two things I love about summer...fresh herbs and summer squash.I could eat summer squash almost everyday, seriously I could. So you would of thought I won the the lottery when I found my first summer squash ready in my garden. I don't  know where it came from to tell  you the truth because my other plants aren't showing much yet but, this beauty was there.

It was a stormy day yesterday so I felt it was a good day to make lasagna. I grabbed some Basil and French Tarragon for my sauce and got started.

Now when it comes to my sauce I am a purest. I wanted a very light sauce for this summer dish...Onion, Basil, S&P a touch of sugar, Olive Oil, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese..The fewest ingredients as possible. I added some French Tarragon this time (why you ask??? because I had it growing ;-))  and let's just say I won"t leave home without it again!

I added some other summer veggies I had in the fridge which included zucchini and sweet peppers. I had some broccoli that needed using so I threw that in.as well. I was told last night that this was Rock Star worthy. So I give it to you now...let's face it we all want to be a rock star at some point and I can't sing a lick so I  will do it through food!

Summer Veggie Lasagna

• 1 yellow squash mine was large so you may need two depending on size.
• 2 Zucchini
• 2 Sweet Red Pepper
• 2 cups Broccoli florets cut small
• 1 box Lasagna noodles
• 1 large container ...I used the biggest the store had ... of good quality Ricotta cheese
• Fresh Mozzarella cubed, 1 large log or ball
• Grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese 1/2 cup 
• 1 cup shredded Mozzarella for topping

For the Summer sauce 

• 2 Cans Chunky tomatoes sauce 
• 1 large Sweet Onion
• a bunch of French Tarragon 
• a bunch of fresh Basil
• S&P
• Sugar in the Raw
• Olive Oil

In a pot heat your olive oil,about 3 TBS and add diced sweet onion. When it starts to sweat add the Tarragon. Saute for about 5 min. Add your tomatoes, S&P, sugar. Now cook at a good simmer for about 25 minutes. Add some grated cheese and at last minute before finishing cooking add the Basil last. Turn off heat.

Cook your noodles, drain and set aside..make sure they are Al Dente so they don't get too mushy when you bake the lasagna. Slice your squashes very thin and as well as other veggies so they cook rather quickly while baking.

Now spread some sauce in the bottom of your lasagna pan...now we start the layers.

1. Noodles
2. Sauce
3. Ricotta cheese 
4. Veggies
5. Fresh Mozzarella
6. S&P
7. Repeat 

Top with shredded Mozzarella cheese and bake covered at 375 degrees Fahrenheit till bubbling about 40 minutes and another 5 uncovered. 

Enjoy!!

 Guess what, we had another storm today ... we woke up to it this morning... but it was a good storm ...distance rumbles and a nice rain...the kind that sounds good and makes you feel very cozy. I really like a dark morning sometimes especially in the summer...it  slows the pace even more...don't you think?? The other thing that was good about it...I didn't  have to go running for cover in the basement! However, I caught a few pics outside before it started coming down so hard. I love capturing raindrops on the flowers <3

Be well,

Ming

P.S. Let me know if you achieve Rock Star status as well after you make the Lasagna ;-)

Summer so far...

It started out like this...favorite summer foods. A yoga retreat in May in the middle of the gorgeous fields below and the sweet flowers and sounds of summer...

  

It was a very busy spring cleanup after a long cold winter. All of May was graduation party after graduation party. I had everything in order to start my summer gardening. I got the veggie boxes planted...the patio planters planted...the deck all set up...the lawn never looked so good...I finished two swaps I was involved in...it had  been quite busy and WE WERE READY TO START SUMMER and we were off and running! 

Then one evening this huge line of storms came through our area and BAM. All that work was for nothing. Tornado force winds and apparently a few touchdowns came through our area like Godzilla onto Japan!! We lost 5 100 yr. old trees and bushes. The lawn was torn apart by the trees coming down. Days without power and internet... we have a generator to supply us water and a few lights. Thankfully we no one was hurt.  It was actually quite amazing! However our town and neighbors we all worked together to help everyone clean up and remove dangerous hanging branches and such. 

So we are back up and running and have had family visiting for 12 days and it is great...but I am ready to get  back to projects!! The sewing machine is calling my name and the basket of yarn is as well. I started the My Small World Quilt by VeryKerryBerry and I adore it. I haven't gotten extremely far but as you can see above, but this week I will definitely make some progress! The gnome embroidery designed by me was for the mini quilt for KidGiddygnomeswap on Instagram. I adore drawing and stitching up these patterns!

The Sandwich...Tomato, Cucumber and Cheddar with  Basil Mayo:

• Thin sliced tomato and cucumnber 
• High quality cheddar cheese sliced as well
• While grain bread...I use a fresh baked from our local Wholefoods
• 2 Tbsp.Mayo with 4 or 5 chopped Basil leaves mixed together
• Salt & Pepper

That's it ...simple quick and perfect for a hot summer day!

So whats next...working on my quilt...and a cross stitch SAL( I'll share more later) and I want to start reading the Outlander books as I was addicted to the series...and really how can you not be with this guy...

You can now wipe away your drool...;-)

Be well, Ming

Everything was AWESOME...

when we went on vacation to California for a visit with family in the Bay area...

 five days in the Sierra Nevada's in Tahoe

 

  

a day trip to Virginia City, Nevada...

 

 

a final Lake Tahoe sunset

then an eleven hour drive down the coast to San Diego area...

 

  

for a visit to his Mecca ...

 

 

 Oh Cali, I didn't realize how much I missed you! It's been 30 years since my last time with you (Geez, do I feel old!) How I forgot about all your splendid beauty and how your colors inspired me! We traveled the same route as I did when I was 12. The Bay Area, Tahoe, and then south to the San Diego area for the long awaited visit to Lego Land for the little man. He has been talking about it for three years now. So, we finally decided that this was the year to do it. We don't think we have ever seen him happier! I think the face in the picture above sums it up.. don't you? He never wanted to leave the hotel...we had a pirate themed room, very cool!

Our visit with family in the Bay area was so fun. Four little boys...8 and under...that was a bunch of energy in one house. They played extremely hard all day and night. Us parents just watched in bewilderment thinking

 "oh we are so in for it when they are older!!"  Then we were off to Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay...gorgeous!! Hikes through the Sierra Nevadas. Hair pin turns on mountain roads...my stomach was in my throat much of the time!! Breath taking views all around us. I think I would definitely relocate to Tahoe someday.  We spent a day as well in Virginia City, Nevada...an old gold mining town about an hours drive from Tahoe. The little guy said to me "This looks like the Old West" ...yes child this actually is the Old West, I had to explain to him! Then we drove eleven hours south. It was a gorgeous ride seeing much of the state...but poor Cali, you are sooo dry! That drought is terrible! We saw some Army maneuvers on our drive down the coast...they were waving to us as they drove by...we saluted them back. And, of course I insisted we see a California Coast sunset. The youngin' wasn't happy about it as it took time away from Lego Land (a whole hour..god forbid!) but, he got into taking some pictures... the blurry one of course. Like any good mom I love it cause he took it! The four older kids you ask?? Where were they? Here, there and everywhere this summer. Yes, we left them behind this time...that was a first for us. We did miss them, 

really we did ;-)!

It was a great summer with lots of good times. Now it is time for school. I am always sad when summer ends. I love my kids home with me<3! Tomorrow we send the youngest daughter off to the other end of the world to New Zealand. Our oldest son moved out this summer to begin his "after college life". The older daughter is heading south to Florida and the middle son has been in Vermont working all summer and started his Junior year of University. So, we almost have an empty nest ...at least for us that is what it seems like. Down to one 2nd grader who can not wait to get to school...he got the "cool teacher" this year!

I hope you all had a wonderful summer too! Make sure you stop back later this week to check out my visit to Jimmy Beans Wool in Nevada! Really, did you think it would be a vacation for me without some sort of fiber or craft involved! As my little guy would say,,,"Seriously!"

Be well,

Ming

**the picture of the Lego bike rider, that is the reception desk...that is a whole wall of Lego Minifigures and the wheels are magnifying glass so you can see them!!!