Independance Day

So for the first time in my life, I didn't see the fireworks on the 4th of July! Ok, so that is not a complete truth, I was able to catch them out of my window while driving.

Pasta Salad

Deciding on what to make when attending a potluck is always challenging; I can never seem to decide what I want to make. Well, this time I decided to let the farm stand dictate my dish, based on what was fresh, local, and looked yummy.

The Farm Stand in Randolph is where I went looking for fresh food, and found beautiful rainbow chard and spinach, as well as succulent tomatoes. What ensued what a pasta salad with the wilted greens and some crumbled blue cheese.

Pasta Salad
1 pound pasta of choice
1/4 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic
1 bunch rainbow chard (or dark leafy green)
1/2 pound spinach (or dark leafy green)
3 tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup blue cheese
salt and pepper

Fill a pot full of water, bring to a boil, salt and add pasta. Cook till done.
Place a large saute pan on the stove with the olive oil in the bottom, do not turn on the heat yet. Mince the garlic and add to the pan, turning the heat onto medium. While the garlic and oil heat up, roughly chop the chard and the spinach, adding to the pan. When all the greens are in the pan, give a toss with the olive oil and garlic, adding salt and pepper to taste, putting a lid on the pan and turning off the heat. Roughly chop the tomatoes and add to the greens.
Drain the pasta and toss with the tomatoes and greens. Chop the basil and parsley; add to the pasta, toss in the blue cheese and serve.
Can be served cold, warm, or hot!

New Tattoo!!!

I finally have the mermaid tattoo I have been wanting to get for 3 years now! She is beautiful.

Mitch from Fast Lane Tattoo exceeded my expectations with this.
I drove 3 hours to get to the party, 4.5 hours to get home (taking a detour to pick up a friend) and it was well worth the time spent.
My next tattoo will hopefully be done by Patsy, the owner of Fast Lane Tattoo, and will be an Olivia Mermaid.
She will be on my left shoulder blade; hopefully she will be the jumping off point to create at least a half sleeve on my left arm as well.
I spent five years looking for the perfect mermaid for tattoo, and one I just got and the Olivia Mermaid are the two I came across. It took me close to five years to find them, and then it has taken me three years to get the first one.
I have tried many times to come up with a specific reason on why mermaids. I have been unable to express in words their meaning to me. They are one of the few things I collect that has no purpose other than to please me. (By that I mean I collect Sydenstricker Glass, but that is as useful as it is beautiful). It is between my draw to the sea and water in general and the urge to always want what I am unable to obtain, that pulls me to them I believe.
When and if I am ever able to put into words the hold mermaids have on me, I will let you know.