Outdoor Concert. And Tomatoes.

On Saturday, I went to a Craft Fair/Concert sponsored by Jesus Alive Ministries (there’s actually a few more of these Jesus Fests coming up if you’re in the Long Island area).

I went because it was a gorgeous, sunny day and I happened to wake up feeling pretty good– which is rare lately as my neck has continued to bother me after the car accident.   I also went because I knew my friend Tommy-Lee was performing.  Tommy-Lee, Emily (his now-girlfriend) and I had performed together this past October in Godspell.

Emily, far left in the red dress (that she made herself!); Me, center sitting on the table; Tommy-Lee, far right

I got there about a half hour before TL went on, so Mom and I perused the craft fair.  No offense to anyone, but I didn’t buy anything.  There were some very beautiful things– mostly handmade jewelry, but nothing that really spoke to me or took my breath away.  And soon it was time for TL to sing!

Tommy-Lee at JesusFest

Now, other than in Godspell, I’ve never heard TL sing– so I’ve never actually heard his own music.  I’m now looking forward to purchasing a CD as soon as I get some available cash.  He performed a bunch of original songs as well as a couple of covers.  Definitely worth a listen!

I also realized that Crossing Jordan was performing and I remembered that Gina, who I had met at church, sang with them.  I was glad to see her again as Gina is one of the sweetest people you could want to meet and her joyful spirit is infectious.  As the band set up, I also realized that I had met the bassist, Jarett, at church also.  They played a really great set and I was so excited to get to see them as I’ve been trying to make it to one of their shows for a while, but have never seemed to be able to for one reason or another.

Crossing Jordan at JesusFest

In addition to their Facebook fan page (linked above), you can check them out here.

After several hours of good music, sun, and tasty food (veggie pasta salad with feta cheese!), we finally set home where I spent most of the night in air conditioning.

Amazing pasta salad, made by my mom! Including my yummy new friend feta cheese.

Lots of sun and heat doesn’t always sit well with me, unfortunately.  And due to nice shady trees and cool breezes, I hadn’t realized quite how hot it had been at the fair (90+ degrees)!

Back to Emily for a minute, because despite my skipping over her before, I was not just mentioning her because she is TL’s lovely girlfriend.  Instead, she’d mentioned that she’d seen pics of my awesomely tall corn online.  I mentioned that the tomato plants were getting very tall also, and were flowering, but, alas, no fruit yet.  She asked me what kind I had planted and informed me that I shouldn’t expect real tomatoes until August.  I remembered that I did note that when I’d planted them, but when I saw the flowers so soon, I’d expected things to move along faster.  She told me not to worry!  I’d get my tomatoes.

So, this weekend, as I watered and pulled out a weed here or there (it’s been too hot for anything more substantial), I gave up my daily check-for-tomatoes garden routine.

And yesterday, when my good friend molecular sheep came over, he spotted something:

I told him that I’d been concerned because a lot of my flowers looked like they were dying or drying out.  I knew the plants were getting enough water and wasn’t sure what was happening.  And then he told me something that novice-gardener-me didn’t know: that after pollination, the flowers will start to die in order to start producing fruit.  SO exciting! So now I’m rejoicing in my first little green tomatoes– and all the possibility that dead flowers may hold.

Here's a better picture.

Biggest tomato so far!

So biggest doesn't mean "big"-- but still so exciting!

So maybe there is a dual lesson here:
1) My tomato plants don’t like being watched.
2) Sometimes when something in your life looks dead, it’s a reminder that there’s something wonderful still to come.

Baking instead of baking?

Happy First Day of Summer!

I’m a sucker for a good recipe.  Really.  And I like things that don’t take a lot of work (although I have a list of multi-step and difficult technique recipes I’m dying to try).  I like things that don’t take work because it means I’ll try them sooner.  Thus why the difficult list is so long…

I came across this today, for those who think it is too hot to bake!

No-Bake Cookie recipe! (you might have to scroll down, the recipe is down the page a bit)

Now, clearly, I’d go for leaving out the (optional) nuts.  And while the recipe calls for peanut butter, I’m sure the peanut allergic (like me) can use a substitute like Sunbutter or Soynut butter.  There’s also a comment on the recipe about a similar no-bake cookie recipe that does not include peanut butter!

Now, I can’t review the recipe, because I haven’t tried it.  But I couldn’t help but think this is incredibly creative and therefore I had to share.  Do you have a great no-bake, easy, or go-to recipe (maybe for a hot summer night– or afternoon)?  I’d love to hear.

(I have a great Microwave Chocolate Cake recipe… I’ll think about sharing it 😉  I really don’t mind sharing recipes actually, so it’s more about me remembering! 🙂

Happy Summer!

Oh, readers.  If I have any left, that is, after my two week hiatus, here at the beginning of summer after just thanking you all for reading.

I’ve spent the last two weeks recuperating from my busy semester while starting to put some new habits and routines into place.  I’ll give a synopsis of what I’ve been up to, then maybe give you some less self-centered thoughts before following up with more regular and topic-related posts.  I’m back, I promise.  I’ll admit I’ve been on here once or twice in the past two weeks, mostly reading, and seemingly unable to write.  I’m hoping that feeling has past– the feeling being total exhaustion, with so much to say and no words to say it in.

The past two weeks have found me:
-writing out thank-you notes from my graduation party (and straggling birthday gifts)
-dance class: I’m auditing ballet up at school, despite the fact that I’ve recently graduated.  I’ve wanted to take ballet since I was a child (I took a year of tap somewhere around age 6).  I’m not fond of the rigidity of the style (I much prefer modern) but I think it’s good for me right now.
-organizing my room: coming home with the contents of my dorm room has left me crowded and messy, but I’m working to slowly marry the two styles I’ve created.  Which seems to be involving totally reworking my existing organization and room decor.
-seeing friends: I’ve turned down quite a few invitations over the past year (or seven…) while in school.   The past two weeks have consisted of two days worth of graduations for me, my own graduation party, a barbeque, and my first trip to The Witches’ Brew (which really makes me want to drink tea).  Sadly, I got sick with some kind of crazy stomach bug and have had to miss two parties this weekend– my friend’s graduation (master’s degree) party and my cousin’s fiancée’s bridal shower.  I was so looking forward to both of these and love these two people so much.  I am therefore hating illness right now (more than the norm with which everyone hates it).
-spending time with mom:  Gilmore Girls marathons, the OWN network and a couple of Hallmark movies have been watched.  Not only the past two weeks but some of this weekend as we have both been sick in bed.

Some of the upcoming posts I’m working on are about graduating, thoughts on women/society, and finding my place as a new graduate.

I think we need to remember- no matter what your age- that it’s important to remember yourself and not let yourself stagnate.  Find a new recipe and cook it.  Get active (lots of dance/music/yoga studios will let you have a free lesson or have a reasonable rate for a one-time drop in).  Audit a class at a local college or university.  Check out your local library: they’ll often have lots of cool (free/cheap) events and also free movie rentals!  It’s summer and many communities will have concerts, carnivals, street fairs, or farm stands (check your paper or watch your mailbox!).  Give something a try and see what fits you!

This is my goal for this summer.  In fact, all of the above.  My next two endeavors will probably be the cooking as well as gardening.  I have a little patch of dirt in front of my house and I’m thinking of tomatoes and red peppers (both of which I love).  I just read that red pepper plants really shouldn’t be planted until after Memorial Day anyway, and I just saw plants at a local supermarket the other day.  I’m planning on weeding and going back for some plants this week.

What are you doing this summer?  Why not share a post to tell me what you’re doing to spice up this season? 🙂  I’d love to hear!