Onesies

These were taken at my sister's baby shower over the weekend in Chicago. I think onesies are so cute, perfect decorations for the shower.

Tomatoes and Cucumbers

I am really looking forward to the tomatoes that will be available at the farmer's market in August and September. There are many varieties and are all flavorful. Until then, I have been buying mini heirloom tomatoes which have been delicious. It is so hot here that it often dulls the appetite, or at least the appetite to deal with food preparation. One of my favorite summer salads is a simple mix of tomatoes and cucumbers with olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. This particular salad, seen above, is with the mini heirloom tomatoes and Persian cucumbers which are small with practically unnoticeable seeds and a thin, sweet skin.

Spring Onions

I bought these beauties at the farmer's market on Saturday. What I like about spring onions is that the greens are edible, like on a scallion, so you have more ways to add savor to a dish. Since it is already so hot here in NYC, I'm not wanting to do much cooking and all I want to eat are light, fresh dishes. This often means a variety of salads, which these spring onions would be wonderful in. After a long workout yesterday I needed a good recovery meal so I cooked some whole wheat spaghetti (it was almost too hot to boil water) and sauteed some onion bulb with kale, garlic, and just a little bit of smoked chicken sausage. I tossed it together with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, sea salt, a little bit of grated parmesan and then chopped some of the onion greens and threw them in raw to add a little coolness and crunch. It was delicious and simple. Of course, before I started dinner I had to photograph the beautiful bunch. I have incredible light through my west window for a few hours late in the day, perfect for photographing food.

Costa Rica

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Costa Rica. I've never classified myself as any type of wildlife or nature photographer, but I found Costa Rica to be very naturally inspiring. There are so many different butterflies and flowers and the colors are so beautiful I couldn't get the camera away from my eye sometimes because I was in such awe of my surroundings. Here is a small sample of some of the beauty of Costa Rican nature.

Brooklyn General with Josie

Recently, I have been doing a bit of sewing, something I've always done on a very low key level. I forget how fun it is... when I'm not tangled in threads, that is. I admit that I'm not the best sewer but I'm not terrible either. I stick to simple things like pillows, bags, hemming pants and other minor repairs. For anyone who sews, knits, crochets, or engages in anything involving fabric, yarn, or ribbon, Brooklyn General Store is a goldmine! The store itself is beautiful, stocked with vibrant colors, patterns, and textures. I took a trip there on Saturday with my friend Shannon and her daughter who happens to be my favorite little redhead whom you've seen in my blog before. This is a mini-doc of our trip. I left with a yard of gorgeous fabric which I will be using to make a couple of pillows to brighten up the bedroom.

Stack of Books

After a few months with no time for books, I am very much looking forward to a summer of reading, hopefully in the shade of a lovely tree in Prospect Park. This photo is a small sampling of what's in my queue. Next on my list is "Juliet, Naked" By Nick Hornby.

Lemon Fresh

It is a gray and dreary day here in NYC and while I thank Mother Nature for watering the urban garden I've planted on my fire escape, I am in a bit of an Eeyore mood. To cheer myself up I brewed some peppermint tea with agave syrup and lemon, then poured it over ice. It has the refreshing taste of summer and it inspired me to take this photo. It looks like it was taken on a bright day, doesn't it? Not so, but the bright colors are a reminder that brighter days are on the way!