bellevett

outdoor love

i really prefer backpacking.  if you want to know the truth.  there is something a little creepy about campsite bathrooms. 

We spent our Labor day weekend at a very remote campground.  and if you can believe this, there was only one other campsite being occupied!  jackpot!

we really wanted to have some luxuries while camping on this particular weekend, so camping it was.  and also, if you want to know the whole truth, i have a tiny obsession with UT football.  so, being in a campsite, we were able to pick up the game on the radio.  that is a not a possibility when we backpack to a backcountry location.  and so, yes, we went camping and listened to football on the radio. 

dear backpacking, soon very soon.

we ate.

we relaxed.

we hiked 6 miles.

we relaxed.

we ate.

we went with our best friends, who are having a baby in November. so the eating was at an all time high for our group.

i knitted.  so close to finishing, yet so far away.  i can see then end, but this sweater has taken a backseat to party planning.

this expression might me a result of some serious energy zapping dog shenanigans that Avett took full part in.

why cant i live where i can hike to this bald daily?  really.  i love a bald.  and so do the dogs.  especially when they get to the top and realize you have a ball.

ultimately, when i realized my hiking dress still fits, i knew it was a perfect weekend.

hello!

Even though this space has seemed a little more calm, things around here have been anything but calm. 

BUT, i will save all the details for other posts.  Since i have now cleared the first trimester with only a ripped esophagus to show for the last many months of my life, i was told, i would be feeling like a new person ANY DAY NOW.  which to this point hasn't happened.  But, i am putting that out into the universe and being happy with any single thread of energy that is recovered.  And i am setting a goal for my self to post on my blog 6 big bad times a week.  i need goals you see. 

We went to see our midwife yesterday and had an ultrasound.  i was thinking that it would be like a fuzzy speck of there's your baby and i would not be able to see it, but of course i would say, "Yes, i can see it",  but then i would go home and worry that

A. they lied and they also couldn't see anything but they didn't want to break the news to me. (i have been assured that medical personnel wouldn't lie to you for fear of a lawsuit.  and from past experience, i am reminded by Cody, they have never had a hard time telling us bad news.)

B. i was destined to be a second rate parent for not being able to see something that was allegedly inside of me.

but, thankfully it was no where near my expectations.  it was like a huge screen that you could see everything on.  and she put that little ultrasound thing down and no kidding, it was a fully formed mini human with long fingers (surely not from me) and toes and long legs that were extending out and kicking into the walls around it.  i was like "whhhhaaatttt???".  then it stretched its whole body out, did a couple of flips, and tried to put its hand in its mouth. 

so that was it.

so at any rate, i have been making about a million things at a time right now in the knitting scene. 

A. things for me

B. things for other peoples babies

C. things for our long appendages baby.

soaker's.  (and i asked a knitting guru if these really work to keep out wetness and she said: "i never made them for my kids because i didn't think they would work.  but i have since held many a dry soaker clad baby and seen many a mom swear by them, so knit on.")

i can actually knit 1 of these during a movie.  that is how fast they are to knit.  and believe me, i would know.  I am a professional movie watcher now a day.

Finished Project!

Hooray for finished projects!  this tiny cardi was occupying a set of needles that i desperately needed to finish another long overdue project.  so i finished it out of necessity.  but regardless, it is one more project down the hatch! 

i love these buttons.  I only had 3 so i was in luck. I lucked out at an estate sale and found a bunch of rad buttons.

this project was raveled here.

I improvised the design.  and next time i will remember the shaping decreases on the sides.  I forgot that i did that on the last one.  dang you notes, you have foiled me again!

food

i dont really even know how to talk about this subject right now, really and truly, as i have pretty much despised food for the last three months. 

so, to answer so many who have already openly suspected this, i guess it is now safe to say that we ARE gonna have a little baby.  We will hopefully be seeing this new work in progress at the beginning of february.

so, yes, i have a list of items to make about 2 miles long and another list of things to do another 2 miles long, and a school year to start with my montessori children! 

and all of this while hugging my toilet seat and praying to the porcelain god every morning, noon, and night. 

i have been able to make one dish morning, noon, and night that makes me feel so much better, and i think you will like it too.  Especially because you probably have everything you need.  (if you have some tomatoes from the garden.)  It is a very nice, non garlic pasta.  but still rich.

Summer Tomato Pasta

you need:

2 servings of pasta

4 tablespoons GOOD olive oil

3 large FRESH tomatoes IN SEASON

salt

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil (optional)

**a small note about olive oil** this dish really needs a delish olive oil.  i usually buy a small bottle of really good olive oil from a specialty food store such as gourmet market, williams sonoma, or fresh market.  (most of the time, i ask for it for my birthday or christmas) I ONLY use the good olive oil for this dish and for special dishes with few ingredients that would benefit from the taste of a strong olive oil.  I make the good olive oil last at least 6 months, usually longer. I have also used organic olive oil from the co-op for this recipe and it is pretty good, but i hate to say, you need a GOOD olive oil.   i also use our good olive oil when i make french bread.  it is mixed with sea salt and pepper and rosemary and used as a dipping sauce.  sometimes we eat this for dinner.  dont judge me.

**another note** this recipe was shared with me from my good good friend Amanda, who does not have a blog, or i would make her post this herself, because she needs credit for this deliciousness.

Remove the skin from your tomatoes.  Cut up your tomatoes in large chunks.

Boil water for pasta.

Heat up olive oil in a pan at medium heat.  let the oil heat up until it moves around like water.  (very hot but not smoking)  

Drop tomatoes carefully into the oil.  watching for splatters.  stir tomatoes in hot olive oil and let cook at medium heat. stirring occasionally and breaking up the tomatoes. 

chop your basil, if using, and put into the hot hot sauce. 

let the sauce cook for about 10 minutes.  it should be getting thicker, it shouldnt be runny.  but keep cooking if it is runny, and it will thicken up.  add about 2 teaspoons of salt.  

your noodles should be ready, and your sauce should be chunky but thick. 

add the noodles into the sauce, and about 1 tablespoon of the pasta water.  stir well. 

now eat!  you can also eat it at room temperature and it is still delish. 

**** unfortunately i didnt take pictures of the finished project, and my plan was to take one tonight.  but now i have decided i want something else.  so i might just leave it without a finished pic for today, and tomorrow, i will edit.  ****

good think this isnt a food blog!