This Perfectly Imperfect Life

Hello friends! Yes, I'm still here, but this Summer has been on the hectic side, medically and otherwise, so, without meaning to, TPIL has been on hiatus. (And I've been mostly off social media as well). Hopefully after this coming week, things will begin to settle down some, and then I can find my way back here again. I have finally, FINALLY started writing my book though, so that's exciting news! In the mean time, you can find me on Instagram (see the right hand column). I hope Summer has been full of blessings for you!

I originally shared the following post in 2012 (click here ) and because I'm making it today and love it so much, I wanted to share it again with you now: I originally posted this recipe in 2009 (click here for that post). I still have no precise measurements - it's all a matter of what and how much you like any one thing!  (I love cooking this way and that's why my baking doesn't always turn out so well LOL!)  Today I added chopped zukes, fresh corn from the cob and diced chicken to what's listed below.  You can also use a pre-bottled red wine vinaigrette dressing instead of the one listed below as well. Don't like the veggies I've used? Switch them for the ones you do!  Or use whatever you have on hand .  There's so much you can do with a pasta salad to make it a great, healthy meal for a hot day. A big change I've made to the original recipe is to keep the dressing separate from the pasta salad and toss it with individual bowls vs with...

New Jersey summers are infamous for many reasons like the shore and tomatoes, but unless you live here, you may not know the biggest one. To say that it is stifling outside is the understatement of the summer so far. The humidity is shocking and suffocating. Disgusting. Stunning. Oppressive. Sickening. Breath taking. And not in a good way.  I gasped loudly when I walked out into it this morning and got assaulted by air thick enough to bite it's so dense with moisture. Thank goodness for small favors and it's not hot too.  Here on the bayshore at the Portable Homestead, and up at the lake, everything is damp to the touch or sticky. Bed linens and curtains have to be washed more frequently now or they'll smell sour, like sweat. Powdery mildew (mold) will soon be sprouting up on anything that's made of real wood or leather, an unwelcome annual ritual we've learned to live with because we can't keep it from happening, no matter what we've trie...

What a fantastic Independence Day so far!  Cool, mostly cloudy, some rain most of the day. Now it's turned into the perfect Summer late afternoon! Clear, sunny, not a stitch of humidity to be had and a refreshing on-shore breeze. Did I mention the Quiet?! Quiet days here at the Portable Homestead are rare and downright lovely, and the weather has only enhanced the peacefulness of the day, so we don't mind one bit that it hasn't been not hot and sunny on this 4th of July. A lazy morning spent sleeping in, then venturing into town for breakfast just ahead of the shore crowds. More lazing around once we returned home, watching tv, watering and tidying up in the garden, even a load or two of laundry, then hot dogs on the grill with fresh tomato onion cuke salad for lunch. Reading Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal, set around Independence Day. So glad Hubbs has been able to relax today after a busy day off yesterday! He doesn't get too much relaxing ...

Happy July everyone! Things have slowed down quite a bit here in the Portable Homestead garden.  The roses have finished their first round of blooms, and they're taking their time getting to a second. But the hostas, annuals and day lillies have taken over with theirs.  Slowly and surely the 'from seed' containers are beginning to bloom: Zinnias, marigolds, tomatoes, hyacinth bean climber, nasturtiums.  And the coneflowers are starting to bloom again in the raised bed.  The aphids have been formidable foes, as always, which means daily garden walks are taking longer than usual what with hosing them off the plants or spraying them with soapy water.  I hope to troll a few garden centers during this holiday weekend!  Rugosa and hostas are at the top of my list.  How are things growing where you are?  What's at the top of your gardening wish-list at this time of year! (For the week ending 7/2/15)

I have a love - hate relationship with Summer. I want to love it, but the combo of heat and the wicked NJ humidity does a real number on me physically. Makes me ill like you would expect me to be during the Winter. (A popular misconception about Rheumatoid Disease/Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is that it's at its' worst for during the Winter - often, the warm months of the year are the hardest for many of us living with RD/RA). This past week has been particularly rough. I tend to complain about Summer as others complain about Winter! But... (There's always a "but" isn't there?) These lillies are one of my all time favorite favorite things about Summer!  Whether they're growing on purpose on someone's property or growing wild along roadsides like these across the street from us, I flipping love them! (In fact, so does my Mom). Orange is a favorite color of mine, and seeing these flowers makes my heart about burst with joy! (One of those ...

Many of you know, and for those who don't, I moderate a Southern Lit Lovers group on Goodreads , which I created back in 2008. When it comes to 'genres within a genre,' Southern literature is a favorite near and dear to this Northeastern gals heart. (Something most of you know about me already as well!) Recently we read Long Man by Amy Greene . Like her debut novel Bloodroot , Long Man is transportive and engrossing. Amy's writing once again not only ensconced me in the souls of her characters, but in the soul of the places they live. I loved it! Last week I inadvertently turned our Southern Lit Lovers author chat with Amy into an interview. As both a reader and a writer, plus being a big fan of her writing, I couldn't help myself with all the Qs! Amy graciously gave me permission to share my part of the chat here with you when I asked. I hope you all enjoy my chat with Amy as much as I have! We often talk about 'genres within a genre' (for exam...