Sometimes you just gotta bail... hit the road... get outta Dodge. Take a vay-cay-shun. I love my little corner of the 650, but it's good to travel and see the rest of the world from time to time. I'd been fantasizing about a trip to Puerto Rico -- especially Old San Juan -- since the … Continue reading Field Trip: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
To look at our weather forecast, you wouldn't think that summer is on its way out. Yet, as much as I hate to say it (and I do -- summer is my favorite time of year), it's true. I looked out my kitchen window this morning and noticed that my garden was no longer getting … Continue reading You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto
A dozen years ago, I spent a week in Tuscany with friends, exploring the hill towns around Siena. As far as vacations go, it remains one of my most memorable for so many reasons -- time with good friends, the beauty of the countryside, the kindness of everyone we met, not to mention a now-funny … Continue reading Eat Local: Gelataio in Palo Alto
It's mid-afternoon, and I'm craving ice cream. Not just any ice cream, mind you, but from-an-actual-ice-cream-shop ice cream. My first thought: head to Palo Alto. Why Palo Alto? Because this mid-peninsula city has more ice cream shops than any other city in the 650 (seriously, PA has about twice as many ice cream shops as … Continue reading Eat Local: Tin Pot Creamery
Ever have one of those days when you come home from work, and it's -- ugh -- too hot to cook dinner, and yet, you still want a satisfying, homemade meal? Sometimes you just gotta go with your cravings and make something on the fly! This was exactly what long-time 650 resident and avid gardener, … Continue reading 650 Cooks: Suzanne’s Tomato-Watermelon Salad
According to the calendar, summer is just about half over -- which means that there's still six weeks left to enjoy! (Officially, summer started on June 21 and ends on September 22 this year.) Sure, if the kids are heading back to school in a few weeks, or work starts getting busy again right after … Continue reading Summer Check-In: 650 Blackberry Mojito
This past weekend I held a casual, bring-the-kids, I'll-make-the-drinks, backyard summer party. After cleaning the patio furniture and stringing outdoor lights, not to mention doing the all-important work of mixing pitchers of Spicy Cucumber Margaritas and Garden-Mint Mojitos, I didn't have a ton of time to spend prepping food. (Priorities people, priorities!) Yet, I really … Continue reading Take a Dip: Cashew-Adobo Dip
Time for the monthly update on my little back yard garden! As we're coming into August, nightshades are just about ready for harvest, the sage has taken over the herb box, and I have a garden thief! First up: that garden thief. Or maybe I should say garden thieves. It all started with chewed-up chives … Continue reading Grow Local: How Does Your Garden Grow? — Part Trois
