So here’s the deal, I’m half way through summer and I am beginning to unravel.  I am feeling the pressure of making it work and beginning to think that happiness is just a state of mind, you can find it just about everywhere even in the midst of the my complete summer burn out. My days blur one into the next, I’ve forgotten what it feels like to slow down the pace on Sunday as I get ready for another week.

Monday’s are pretty much just like the day before, but with more laundry and meals to be cooked (or picked up.) I gave myself a goal this summer to cook at least 4 dinners a week, with a grill that’s not hard to do. My kitchen table has been taken over by project S.W.A.P.S. more to come on that next week.

Sausage, Cheese and Basil Lasagna (epicurious.com) I used my Vitamix blender to make the filling (I also add a dash of nutmeg), I also skipped homemade sauce and used bottled and used no-boil noodles, because who likes a runny lasagna, not me.

Tuesday is work day and guess what Super A you are going with me. She likes to make me stuff like credit cards and this mini magazine.

Little does she know I used to do the same when I went to work with my dad on the weekends.  My sister and I would gladly tag along with my dad to his office in a huge red converted barn (once part of a local attraction called Buffalo Ranch), owned by Irvine’s master planner, William Pereira.

Look dad the the silo!

yesterland.com orange county archives 

This is how I remember it in the late 70’s, you can see the silo peaking out from behind the tree.

photo: library of congress

My dad’s office was kinda like a maze. There were lots of places to hide but my favorite was the supply closet! Neatly stacked boxes of sharpies, erasers, drafting pencils and these triangular shaped rulers. They also had rub-on letters, transparency paper and  a copier the size of a Mini Cooper. I had fun making stuff  like this little jewel: The Nu Music magazine (future blogger anyone?) I was either really creative or really bored.

And because the internet was still in its infancy … there was a paper subscription page too.

Hysterical and please ‘injoy’ 

I found these tucked in with the magazines too.

January 31, 1981.

I find myself doing the same thing my dad used to do, making a stop afterwards for our sandwiches. Mine used to be shaved ham from Gelsons. My daughter loves the roasted turkey at Pain Du Monde. She is especially fond of walking the koi pond while grazing on a hunk of turkey in hand.

The next day the more of the same but with Cooks Lemon Ginger Glazed Blueberry Muffins. I figure a few muffins will buy me some work time.

Super A makes it all the way to 4 o’clock. We grab or suits and and drive to Crystal Cove Beach, home of the cutest cottages (remember Dear Fifteen year old post?) you have ever seen (and rentable) but trust me on this you have to book a year(s) ahead.  You can park in a lot across the street but it will set you back $15 unless you eat or drink at least $15 and then its free. There is a restaurant steps from the beach called the Beachcomber, where they serve Pimms o’clock in giant Mason jars (there’s your $15 bucks.)

Grab a seat on the shuttle, and don’t forget to bring $3 cash for the ride. If you are cashless or you just need to get out MOVE skip the shuttle and walk the path, you’ll see flowering native shrubs while you hear the sounds of summer including the echoing tunnel a short stretch of painted walls that run directly beneath Pacific Coast Highway, a photo opp for sure.  We went there the end of June see Week … oh wait I didn’t finish those weeks.  Well here’s the shot I have yet to share.

We walked on the beach and then decided to pretend we were on vacation by sitting down for dinner at the restaurant. The only thing she wanted was the beignets. I had the arugula salad with pears, goat cheese, grapefruit and toasted macadamia nuts, not a generous portion by any means, but the flavor was there. Being there reminded me a lot of sitting on the patio at Ray’s in Seattle with Lydon when he was about 11, we took a vacation just he and I. Remind me to share with you the recently found photos from that trip.

I’m starting to shoot more video with my big camera, every time I stumble across a clip in my archives I immediately regret not shooting more often.

I spied another big camera in an adjacent table she looked like she had the exact same set up. Its funny how we photographers have this sixth sense about gear in our proximity. At the end of the meal the woman came over and wanted to know if it was the 35mm. Quickly realizing we had the exact same gear she laughed. We talked about what we shoot and I confessed I don’t really have a niche and really no plan to get one anytime soon.  We ended up walking out together with our collective daughters, ends up she is a portrait photographer from Arizona, she asked if I wanted a few shots of Super A and I and took my camera. I awkwardly stopped down and asked A if she would oblige.

I can thank Jen enough for the offer and if you are in AZ and in need of a portrait photographer here you go –> photos by Jen (bluestich photography) her post about that afternoon on the beach,

Weekends are spent working in the yard while the rest of the family does something else. I decided to redo my entryway.

A note to people who own dogs, you may want to avoid using this type of mulch (cocoa mulch) I just read that it can be toxic to dogs if they like eating mulch that smells like chocolate. My office really does smell like chocolate.

We conserve water with pool showers. #bluronpurpose

After a long day of yardwork, I maybe made myself a strong summer concoction and then flipped the salmon off the bbq and on to the ground. More like the oh-shit-10-second-rule here.

We have been having lots of tropical weather come up from Mexico, coupled with the smoke from fires its been nothing short of spectacular.

Gearing up for Girl Scout camp here are our toasted marshmallows made from modeling clay and bobby pins. I toasted them over the stove top.

We also made Monarch Kits – complete with milkweed seeds harvested from our garden.

Tomorrow is the first day of camp and my cue to go into panic swap making mode. I’ll be back with the recap later tonight.

-g’nite and have a great week!