Here's to Good Times, Good Food, and Good PLUs!

It's not very often I get to see my Aunt, Uncle and cousins in New Hampshire, but boy, it sure is a treat when I do. It's always like coming back to a home away from home, in a way. The best way I can describe it is like putting on your favorite old sweater after its been in a cedar chest all summer. It's nice to be able to put on something safe and familiar on a cold day.

Our first outing was filled with tall ships, Portsmouth and the beach!



The beach is beautiful...





...even if it's crowded with crazies.










A stop to the Ben and Jerry's factory is always a sweet diversion from the summer heat...



Sweet ride, man.


No secret ingredients around here...



While waiting for our tour, we enjoyed ice cream in the shade, among other things.







We waited a while for the tour, but I'd say it was worth it.


Quite a pleasant place to spend the day with the fam.


They even had a flavor graveyard!



The local farm stand is quite a little paradise!
















We went to the farmer's market, so charming! Complete with story time and honey sticks! Yum!



It's only in New Hampshire you'll see a Blue Heron on a golf course during a riveting game of mini golf, where Mom got TWO holes in one!


Colie and I reach a point during every family vacation to take silly pictures of ourselves, we even got mom in on the silliness this time!







Star gazing is a classic pastime, and the front yard is a perfect spot to lounge in an Adirondack with a blanket, of course.


I wish I could say this was the Perseid meteor shower, but, it's really just star trails.


And of course some blueberry picking was in order.


Anne Marie informed me that this was her "blueberry castle".


Mom and Colie trying to keep cool on one of the hottest days we had while we were there.


Some breathtaking views could be found on this blueberry adventure!





Sitting while picking is recommended, whenever possible, especially in that heat!


Wild and all naturale is the only way to go!


And it wouldn't be a proper trip to New Hampshie without a shummy bluberry pie!


Thanks for a memorable trip Uncle Erie Pie, Aunt Maria, the "little dudes" (that aren't so little anymore), Twizler, Sprinkle, and Jello!

I'm looking forward to....

1. Getting on a plane with my family, and making the long journey to New Hampshire.
2. Seeing those kids again after so long, and catching up again with that aunt and uncle that were almost like a third set of parents when I was growing up.
3. Going to the General Store and having some of the best subs this side of the Mississippi in the oval.
4. Waking up to everyone having coffee on the porch.
5. Going antiquing, hopefully I will find something good!
6. Listening to my parents plan their future and how they're going to move there.... Maybe.
7. Going to the beach, ah, how I love, and have missed the beach!
8. Eating some of the freshest sea food I've had in a while.
9. Going on hikes through the neighborhood.
10. Having a campfire in the back yard.
11. Seeing how many things we can cross off the chalk board.
12. Rekindling those old jokes, and forming new ones that will last forever.
13. Going to the dump!
14. Having some of the best home cooked meals made by my mom and aunt Maria... mmmm!
15. Spending time with my family, and NOT doing homework.
16. Taking pictures and documenting what will be a great, and much needed vacation.

But I have to survive finals week first.

Chickens!

My mom has this funny obsession (well, maybe more like DEEP PASSION) for chickens. They can be found numerous places around the house, bowls, calendars, towels, from huge porcelain statues as a main display in our front window, to the salt and pepper shakers on our dining room table. We even used to find our neighbors chickens hanging out in our trees, yes, in our trees. It's quite alarming to see the silhouette of such a large bird perched on a wilting tree branch for the first time. So if anyone ever asks you, "why did the chicken cross the road?" well, now you know the REAL answer. I guess they caught on to the good chicken vibes my mom has.

So, it only makes sense that we girls of the fam. (me, my mom, and sister) went to the Annual Salt Lake City Chicken Coop Tour, where you get to go around to numerous houses around the city and check out the scoop on their chicken coop. The owners are there to talk to and to give advice to anyone wanting to know, it was very interesting, not to mention fun! We saw chickens and coops of all shapes and sizes.

Don't get lost Colie!

Some lived the high life with beautiful coops, automatic doors, and with freedom to roam as they pleased.

Others had divine inspiration.

Some had their own personal body guards.

We got to see some pretty beautiful birds, and we all learned a lot. So, "why don't we have chickens yet?" I kept asking myself. Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next spring. But I'm sure that when we do get them, it will all be worth it.

Lovely Lavendy Festy!

Last weekend, I got to spend time with just me and my older sister at Mona's annual Lavender Festival!

There were so many beautiful, beautiful flowers (including some roses in colors I've never seen before!) and some great insects I spent a bit chasing around.










We got a tour of their distillery where we learned all about the essential oils extraction process, and watched a video about how they're going to change the face of medicine and therefore save the world! ('merica!)





And then, of course there was the breath-taking lavender fields!









We got pretty thirsty out there in the July heat, so we bought some AMAZING lavender ice cream, yum!


It was a great day to spend with my big sister!

Fourteen Years....

It's been fourteen years today....

Fourteen years of being a family.


Fourteen years of best friends.


Fourteen years of goofing around.


And it's days like today, a day for remembering the past, I realize some things will never change.
Like the close bond between a mom and her daughters.


And all the fun I have with my big sis.


Here's to fourteen years! Happy anniversary Mom, Mark, and Company!