rut

It's funny. Molly Wizenberg (over there at Orangette) and I are living weirdly parallel lives. She was in graduate school; I was in graduate school. She loves food; I love food. She had a baby and postpartum depression; I had a baby and postpartum depression. Aside from the fact that she's a successful blogger and has a book that's been read by more than ten people, we're nearly the same. In another life, we might even become what Anne Shirley called "bosom friends."

Then, this weekend, I logged on to see her latest post - one I had been planning on writing just as soon as life settled down. Okay, maybe not exactly the same, but I had planned to write about how we've really gotten into a rut around here with our dinner menu. I feel like we've been eating the same thing "over and over and over" each week. Yesterday, when we returned from a weekend trip to Pennsylvania, all I could think about was how much I didn't want to food shop. 

So, I got it into my head that I'd write a post, soliciting my dear readers for their tried and true standby meals - in the hopes that some of these recipes might become my tried and true standby meals (and shake up our dinnertime routine a bit!). 

I'll share one of mine if you share one of yours. Just don't make it for zucchini.

Keep sweeping, Martha

just because

some type of way

We've been in some serious denial that summer is over here on Quackenbos Street. But, now that Labor Day has come and gone, I think it's time to face the facts - even if select splash parks in D.C. are still open. 

In these waning summer days, I noticed more and more people posting on Facebook about things that they were pleased to note they had finally crossed off their "summer bucket lists." I find the whole concept of a bucket list to be perverse (who wants to actively think about their impending doom?), but I did want to post about a few places that were especially special to us this summer - places that we visited more and more as the impending first day of school loomed.

Trohv - I cannot even explain the magic that is Trohv. If you haven't been, you need to hop on the red line and head on up there. After all, where else can you find an A-Treat soda bottle carrier that you'll transform into bathroom wall art? (Yes, you read that correctly.)

Pleasant Pops - This place was one of my most favorite summertime haunts - the pop shop! (Thanks, MB, for tipping us off to it!) When you combine it with a picnic in Meridian Hill Park, nothing says summer more. 

Van Buren Playground - Yes, folks. The playground is finally open! We'd been dreaming about it all summer, and I have to say that the final product is waaaay better than what we imagined. We spent so much time there the past few weeks that I think the maintenance men thought we had set up permanent camp in the little treehouse. And, again, when combined with a picnic... aaahhh. As Baby Beeton would say, "This is the life!"

AFI Silver Theater - How did we not know this was in our backyard? Mr. Beeton and I had a date night not too long ago (only the second of the entire summer... a crime, I know). We followed it up with a drink at Sidebar. I had a "Tennis Is More Interesting When You're Drunk" in honor of the U.S. Open. It had Pimm's in it, and you know how I feel about that.

Takoma Park Farmers' Market - We loved going to market all summer. Frequently, the much anticipated La Mano coffee bar would host pop-ups, and we could shop for fresh veggies while drinking cold brewed coffee. Baby Beeton loves, loves, loves the yogurt drinks and guitar player. And, this past week, we did our best to convince our former neighbors-now-friends that they really need to move here (please, please, please! we'll watch your cats when you take trips... er... I mean vacations).

When I think of summer 2013, these are the places that I'll think of... the places that make me "drop down to my knees, thankful for life today." If you can guess who made that quote famous, I'll buy you a cold-brewed coffee.

Keep sweeping, Martha

Watched Blue Jasmine.