watermelon slushie.

the thing you need to know about me is that i will drink (and enjoy) almost anything that comes out of a blender. that being said, after a hot and sticky summer day... this treat really hits the spot:

watermelon slushie
serves 2
 

3 cups frozen watermelon cubes

1 lemon, squeezed (lime juice also works)
1 banana
optional: lots of rum 

blend and garnish with a watermelon slice. serve, sip... and then run and jump into the lake.

summer weekend.

what are you up to this weekend? simon and i are planning a quiet evening in, (since we splurged last night and devoured beef stroganoff at a french restaurant). i'm also looking forward to getting things done, going swimming in the lake and sleeping in on sunday.

have a wonderful weekend, and in the meantime, here are five things that i am loving right now:




1. this perfect summer song: mat kearney's hey mama

2. eco-friendly cork-topped nail polish bottles from megan miller

3. tina fey's book bossypants: interesting and funny.

4. lightweight summer shawls like this one.

5. and lastly, yogurt that tastes like red velvet cake. yes, seriously.




(photo credit: aivilo)

maine, in blue.

 

call me crazy, but i'd be perfectly happy if i woke up tomorrow and it was august.

don't get me wrong... i love the summer: new freckles, corn on the sob, water that looks like the color of blueberries... but july is going to be a crazy busy month, and honestly, i'd rather just skip it. what can i say? i'm a wimp.

the other night, simon and i went canoeing, and i let my fingers dip into the water as we floated along. it was such a refreshing, calming feeling; i suddenly realized just how precious these little moments are, and i'm crazy to wish my life away.

so, let me start over. july, nice to see you... but please go easy on us, okay? and to all you americans out there, happy fourth of july!

maine living.

as i type this, the sun is setting over the lake (and confession: we are also watching a christmas episode of community. we are addicted.) anyway...  today, two pictures. 

one: this amazing little house is where we are temporarily living while we look for our own house.  it belongs to simon's parents. so, while we can't stay forever, we are loving it. where else can you go canoeing after dinner and roast marshmallows on a week night?

two: speaking of dinner, this was one of the first meals we ate in the lake house: lobster, avocado, tomato, and mango salad. i am not exaggerating when i say it was "summer in a bowl". 

conclusion: nina is officially a maine girl.

summer solstice.

the summer night is like a perfection of thought. --  wallace stevens

 

please join us, won't you?

the way life should be.

… and i’m back! how have you all been? what did i miss? can i tell you how much i appreciate that you're still here? oh so much.

my time away from this space was busy, but in the best possible way. we have some news! over the past month, simon and i have made the move from our bustling, urban lifestyle in boston, to living on a lake in maine. we are still getting our bearings, and adjusting to the quieter lifestyle. (i am also learning how to drive slower. ahem.)

in the evenings, we sit by the water and build a fire. it's hot and still, and the bugs are a welcome reminder that we are, in fact, in a whole new place.

as with any big life transition, there is some bittersweetness. boston is where we met, fell in love and where some of our family and friends still live. but we've been dreaming about making this move for a while, and it feels like the perfect adventure at the perfect time. together, we are figuring it all out... even how to drive on bumpy dirt roads with a car that is packed to the brim with boxes.

over the next few weeks, i am excited to share more about this new place we call home, and get back into the groove of using my camera every day. 

logging on here today felt like coming home, and i am so happy to be back.

post script:  while i was away, i also spent some time thinking about why i blog… or more importantly, why i want to keep blogging. a friend of mine said it best when he said: "life only throws you a handful of magical moments. some are big and obvious like weddings, graduations, births, etc. other times, those moments are quiet, subtle, and easily missed.”  blogging reminds me to step back and pay attention. hopefully, many years from now, i can read this blog and remember with equal gusto, the little things that happened as the days went by.

(photo credit: weepy hollow) 

in the glow.

here are some pictures i've taken lately... the summer light makes photography so much fun.

we spent lots of time on the water this weekend... and i got a hundred new freckles.

if we had a stoop, i would be copying this whole scene... so sweetly messy, don't you think? :)

we savored the sunset on the dock with the dogs. heaven.

it's true what they say: the grass is greener (in maine).

simon water skied like a champ and didn't tease me (too much) for wimping out.

sometimes simon likes to draw. on this particular evening, he was designing a piece of furniture for our condo. so handy...

we also spent a fanciful and delicious evening at a new french restaurant in our neighborhood. we've decided we want to become regulars. bon appétit!

i hope you all had a wonderful (long) weekend too. 

weekend moments.

it was a rainy and cloudy weekend in the northeast, but the flowers in bloom made up for it.

i met a fellow blogger for coffee at one of my favorite cafes, and it was oh-so lovely.

this was my first time meeting lynette, but it felt like we were old friends. i love meeting blog readers.

the taste of watermelon reminds me of summer. maybe when the sun comes back, we'll devour a whole one just the two of us.

but in the meantime... what's a sunday supper without a fresh (and still warm) baguette? yum.

so tell me, how was your weekend? :) did you enjoy some sunshine?

the best time of the day.

i stumbled on this lovely poem the other day and thought you might enjoy it as well.

cool summer nights.

windows open.

lamps burning.

fruit in the bowl.

and your head on my shoulder.

these the happiest moments in the day.

next to the early morning hours,

of course. and the time

just before lunch.

and the afternoon, and

early evening hours.

but i do love

these summer nights.

even more, i think,

than those other times.

the work finished for the day.

and no one who can reach us now.

or ever.

-a poem by raymond carver

(photo credit: beca c)