I've been trying pretty hard to avoid blogging, but I couldn't resist on such a momentous occasion such as this:

I'm pretty sure I can say that it's the only being I've spent more time with in the last 4 years than my husband. And while it doesn't possess his good looks, wit, or dishwashing abilities, it can boast in its sleek appearance, and virus immunity. That's right. My little G4 IBook. And today it begins its 3rd life of sorts. We replaced the hard drive in October, and after watching its battery life deplete and the final death blow that severed its power adapter last week, it now has a shiny new battery and adapter. So it's truly a laptop again. I can work in the office, on the couch, outside on the patio for the next 5 hours and 20 minutes without reaching for the power cord. Wahoo!

Of course there are other summer accomplishments and activities that I am proud of as well. School is out and I am enjoying my make-up free, cooking, napping, and book devouring existence. A few things of note (with illustrations for you visual learners):

The first week of June brought me to Boston and other old New England haunts for the nuptials of my good friends from Bloomington, Brandon and Rachel. It was a gorgeous wedding and a good chance to see some IU friends. The trip also gave me a chance to see some other friends living in New England, though I am notoriously bad at photo documenting these visits.

The IU Girls

Jackie and I, post kayaking, enjoying the Portsmouth Chowder Festival!

Doug has done a much better job at documenting our outdoor adventures on his blog and flickr site. Most recently we had a pleasant day hike around The Loch and Mills Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. We are getting ready and excited for our upcoming trip to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Seriously, who wouldn't want to spend their 2nd wedding anniversary with a moose???

I've been an unambitious chef as of late, but am working up to greatness. I finally got some herbs and tomatoes planted this week, and this afternoon we go to pick up our first share of CSA veggies! Last year my culinary project was a dessert of the week throughout the summer which yielded some tasty results. This year my challenge will be to cook a meal each week highlighting some of the fresh, locally grown, ingredients that come to us from Grant Family Farms (or from our back patio as the case may be). I probably won't get into full swing until after our vacation. In the meantime I'll post a pic of my most recent carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (courtesy of me and my wonderful kitchenaid appliances).