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Making pesto. Or attempting anyway. I tried on Saturday and I think the pine nuts I used were old - something just tasted off so I'll be trying again. The basil is growing great in my raised beds and I want to master this one.
Vacationing. I spent last week on Martha's Vineyard with a special group of friends (my first time there and I loved it). We switched up our annual get together and headed to the other coast this time (vs. Oregon) and it was a true vacation. I love these people and the absolute joy they bring to my life - especially through laughter. Man I haven't laughed that much in years.
Cuddling with the kids after being apart last week. They spent the week with Chris vacationing in the San Juan islands.
Planning. A camping adventure. Layouts. Fall schedules. Work-related stuff.
Cultivating relationships. With friends, kids, Chris, family and with someone kinda special.
Savoring the beginning.
Listening. To music really loud. And checking out new-to-me music and making playlists and feeling it through my whole body.
Repeating. Finding myself saying the same things over and over again such as "please go get in your bed" and "that behavior is not okay" and "take your plate to the kitchen" and "are you calm?" and "take a deep breath." I'm in one of those places where I hear what I'm saying and wonder if it's the right thing or should I be phrasing it differently, wondering how to get across what I really want to communicate to my kids.
Pruning and puttering out in the yard. My happy place. Cutting flowers and bringing them inside. Waiting on the bigger tomatoes.
Living the length and width. That's what it's all about.
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107 comments
Someone special! GO, ALI, GO!
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Love this update Ali, I second all the comments already stated above!
I totally feel like a broken record with my daughter too these days. Drives me crazy, but I know it will pass soon, eventually it will stick or at least I keep hoping it will.
One thing to keep in mind with the pesto is that over processing it in the food processor can also change up the flavor. If you pulse it too long and if it starts to turn black you've done too much. Make sure you have enough oil in the bowl too, that helps it move more freely.
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Good to know about the processing too long - thank you!
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Ali,
You sound so happy. I am so happy for you.
About your pesto, have you tried almonds instead of pine nuts?
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Might try that next time (want to try fresh pine nuts first)
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Try toasting your pine nuts first. Makes a HUGE difference. And definitely store your pine nuts in the freezer. Actually all nuts should be stored there. Nuts are loaded with oils which can go rancid fast. Pine nuts especially get old pretty quickly. Pesto is pretty easy. Just experiment with the amounts of each ingredient till you find the balance you like. There is no right or wrong way to make it! :-)
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Will definitely store them in the freezer next time - I did roast them first but they were just too old.
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So many great things in this post - a true pleasure to read.
Love that you are "living the length and width" - so awesome.
And as for the pesto... great advice in the comments above - just tinker with it til you get the blend that you like and then run with it - pesto is a great addition to your culinary repertoire. Fresh and fabulous. yum.
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Woohoo, Ali. Here's to diving in, alright!!
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Amen sister!
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I love following your story. This post just brightened my day. Wishing you all kinds of happiness. :)
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Yay! What a happy post!
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Welcome back. I have always wanted to go to Martha's Vinyard. Can't wait to see some pictures. I love the San Juans, I'm sure your kids had a great time. Thanks for setting us up with the guest bloggers. They were great and it was very thoughtful of you.
So happy about your someone special. Sounds like things are looking "up" for you :).
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Loved your post this morning! Thank you for sharing. I had to laugh because as I was reading it, MY little Anna came up and saw the picture. She asked me, "Mom, where am I in this picture?" We laughed hard when I told her it wasn't her in the pic, and it totally blew her mind when I told her that the little girl's name in the picture is Anna also. Happy day to you, Ali!
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We love to make pesto. As far as my husband is concerned summer doesn't start until we have pesto. We grow our own basil too. Highly recommend refrigerating or freezing pine nuts between uses (we buy it from a food buying club in a 5 pound bag). We live half the year in Hawaii and often use macadamia nuts instead of the pine nuts. Just need to put them in with the garlic, as they need a longer processing time to get really smooth pesto at the end. We use about twice the normally recommended amount of basil in our pesto. Delicious!
So happy to hear about someone kinda special. You so deserve to be happy!
Aloha, Kate
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Love this post, Ali! I love your phrase "cultivating relationships" - I need to remember that instead of taking them for granted.
May I ask what new music you're listening to? I love recommendations. Thanks so much!
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Hi Sara - right now I'm listening to Mat Kearney (not really new but new to me) and I'm also just going back through all the music I already own and making new playlists - revisiting songs I used to love :).
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Very excited for you... with everything that is happening in your life right now. Hope to see photos from Martha's Vineyard. My husband and I are thinking of going there to see the fall colors in October, but are still undecided!
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It was awesome!
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Always love your posts - they make me smile! As I saw in so many of the replies above... very happy to hear you have someone kinda special! Thanks for always brightening my day!
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Welcome back! We missed you.
Love the way you labeled your photos for the post today. I call my little guy my little peanut (which in turn means I am the big peanut). Can't wait to hear more about the "someone kinda special". :)
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Love your post and I enjoy reading your blog.
I totally get the part with the kids, mine are 4 & 7 and we are trying so hard to get them to understand that they repect others and to also get across that they are very blessed to have "things" in their lives. (if I hear one more time "I wish I did not have a brother" or "I want this or that.." I think I will scream!) It can be so hard sometimes yet so wonderful!
So happy to hear about "someone kinda special".
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:D
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love your post. love love that there is someone kind of special. Life is good.
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girl, you sound so good!!!! (and lookin' mighty fine in all your pics too!) living the length and width...go ali!!!!! super happy for you xo
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As a parent of a 25 year old.my 2 cents worth: Persevere with calm words over and over. It eventually "takes" and they become responsible.
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