What Ever Will I Do?

For the first time in months - maybe a year - save one small Etsy bunny order to complete, I have no pending orders.

...I'm taking a minute to assimilate that.

So yesterday when The Mister asked me to tag along to a brief [sort of] business meeting at World of Beer (Mad Men Version 2013) ~ I had no reason not to go. Of course had I known it was a beer/sports bar (he wisely didn't tell me where the meeting was going to be), I probably could have used that as my excuse. 

So I went and drank a glass of wine and played on Facebook while he did his thing.

And the next surprise was wandering across the way to meet other friends at Jax Fish House for Happy Hour. I was told the restaurant had only been open 2 days. The appetizers were things that I absolutely shouldn't be eating right now (I've lost 5 lbs and I don't want to blow it), but they were yummy.

Calamari with mango-chile mojo & lime aioli

Grilled Fish Cakes Dynamite with sriracha mayo

And I'm making an effort to step out of my chardonnay comfort zone (aka chardonnay rut). Our cute server recommended Jax White Sangria. Sure, I'll give it a shot.

Jax White Sangria

White wine, pineapple syrup, orange vodka,

blood orange juice and fresh citrus

The sangria - quite yum.

The oysters - not a fan.

For my Denver peeps ~ both World of Beer and Jax Fish House are calling themselves a Cherry Creek location, but they are in Glendale. There is a whole new development behind the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Cherry Creek on Colorado Boulevard (and Cherry Creek South Drive). I don't recall everything that is there but there are several restaurants with more to come. 

So this morning (after a 2:30 am sudden wake-up anxiety attack ~ oh the scary things that the wee dark hours bring to one's mind) I walked into my studio and realized I didn't have an order list on my work table. Of course there's always R & D to be done; but other than a quick bunny to whip up, nothing urgent.

So I walked back out to contemplate my day over a smoothie.

I'm getting better at just winging the recipes.

Orange juice, vanilla bean yogurt,

pineapple, peach, some flax seeds and ice.

I kind of don't know what to do with myself. Until I look at my studio which strongly resembles a place where a bomb just exploded.  The Mister and I have big plans for the next week as we are going to be switching his office space and my studio space. I will be making his loft office into my studio ~ much larger and much cooler. I mean temperature-wise. Turns out my studio in the summer is the hottest room in the house - even with the AC on. So tons of work ahead moving technology and furniture and reorganizing on both our parts. It will be worth it. And keeping my mind and body busy for the  2 weeks is essential.

We are trying on an Amazon Prime membership for size. So in addition to our Hulu+ and Netflix addictions we will probably have a new one to add to the mix. Perhaps as I finish the laundry (that need to be productive never leaves), I'll sit and knit and watch some flicks. I say that but I know I will automatically flip on The West Wing because I'm hopelessly hooked again. ;-)

Wildfires and Wildlife and Wild Woman

It seems that no matter how early my day starts I sit down to write later and later. For me, that is a good sign. One that I am finally - for the first time in months - relaxing a little bit. And living my life a little more like a "normal" person rather than a work-crazed machine. Yay me. :)

Today started about 3:30 am, but it is amazing how fast the time goes. I did catch my first sunrise in awhile.

But unfortunately when I looked out my studio window (on the other side of the house) all I saw was haze.

Not so much haze as smoke from wildfires

burning north of us in Rocky Mountain National Park

It has been hot the last couple of days

Unusually hot for early in June.

And conditions were ripe for wildfires ~

extreme heat, dry vegetation and wind.

There are currently 4 wildfires burning in Colorado.

So I feel blessed that at sunrise today this was my path

But my thoughts were never far from friends to the south near one of the wildfires

And it occurred to me that we live on the edge of a wild 880 acre state park and are vulnerable. Perhaps an evacuation plan would be a good idea for us to develop.

I saw my lonely little friend again

And she saw me.

I have no idea if she is the same doe I saw the other day. But I am surprised to see a deer alone. I don't recall seeing a doe all alone before. I hope she's ok...

And it was nice to know the sentinel was at his post.

"Don't go in there."

Even after last night's delicious fish tacos from The Spicy Radish

I returned home super hungry. So it was time for some avocado eggs. The avocados were *ahem* quite ripe, so I did my best.

Yesterday I stocked up on smoothie ingredients so breakfast the rest of the week is on.

Blueberries and peaches and lemons

and oranges and bananas and pineapples - oh my.

Even cranky chicken approves.

And on a totally different note.

I used to take SPs all the time (before they were called "selfies").

Then I gained weight and I stopped liking myself.

I'm slowly working my way back.

She says popping another chocolate covered peanut.

Nuts are healthy, right?

A Smooth Monday Morning

Just your ordinary beautiful Monday morning in Colorado in June.

And my reward for my mile long walk (besides getting to enjoy all that) was to try a new smoothie recipe when I returned home.

Sunshine Breakfast Smoothie

A great combo of oranges, Granny Smith apple, pineapple, banana, a touch of yogurt, dash of Saigon cinnamon and some ice. (I didn't have flaxseeds but will next time!)

Very yum.

And it made a lot.

I do believe I am a smoothie convert.