Sorry for the lack of photos and posts here.  Summer has gotten the best of me lately and I have been super busy traveling around, eating good food and visiting people.

So far my summer includes…

-Making milkshakes and eating lots of ice cream.

-Going to the beach with good people.

-Eating a ton of corn on the cob and in salads

-Spending a bunch of time in the car driving.

-Listening to a lot of good new music.  ( the songs in the summer always seem to stick and bring back memories later on…)

-Peaches.  Lots of peaches.

-Blueberries in everything.

-Good fireworks

-Growing your own tomatoes.

-Swimming pools in the middle of the day.

-Lots of homemade iced tea with mint from out back.

…………….

Thats my summer lately.  How about yours?

See you back here soon…

-t

I had the awesome opportunity to photograph a friends birthday this past weekend. (If you have not checked out Suzanne’s blog you should.  She is quite the artist.)

It was a pretty great birthday.  Good drinks, nutella sandwiches, vintage camper vans, candy, super cool people, an awesome house and a hundred or so balloons.  Why so many balloons you ask?  Well thirty of them had some wishes attached.  Read more about why here. Pretty cool, right?

Enjoy the pics.

Hope you all have a good week.  I have been super busy traveling around, so I am catching up on life.

-t

I had a blast in Florida.   I went with a great group of people. I laughed a lot, drank beer in the sun, ate seafood by the water, ate the best fish tacos and grouper ruben at a great beach bar, ( so good we went back the next night) and even got a little sunburned.

I thought I would share a large mix of photos today.  Honestly I didn’t take that many photos while I was down there.  (I think I was too busy having fun, maybe?)   These photos here sum up the trip pretty well, though.

Also, a big thanks to the ladies over at This Joy+Ride for featuring me.  If you haven’t seen it, go ahead and check it out.

Im off to New York tomorrow. Hope you have an awesome week.

-t

While in Florida last week we visited my grandmother, Nonie.  She is pretty awesome if I do say so myself.  Her house hasn’t changed much since I was young.  She lives in great mid-century modern home on a small lake.  High ceilings, an open floor plan, and a huge wall of sliding glass doors that run the whole back side of the house. The rooms are very eclectic with a mix of art and the loads of great furniture. I wish I had snapped some pics of the inside.  She has got a pretty green thumb too. A huge collection of succulents, unique plants and a yard full of bamboo.

Enjoy these windows and afternoon light.  They are from an old house down in Tryon, South Carolina.  The light and old windows were great.

( I can’t stop taking pictures of windows)

The beach trip was awesome.  Ill share the photos soon.

-t

Here are some snaps of a late afternoon woods walk.  I had great friends come into town this weekend.  We ate a bunch of BBQ, some killer tacos, had a bonfire and walked around in the woods.  A great Memorial Day weekend if you ask me.

But It doesn’t end there. We are all headed south tomorrow to the sunny state of Florida.  It has  been a while since I have seen the ocean and I am looking so forward to it. A week by the pool, some bocce on the beach, cold beers, a lot of fresh seafood, and good people.  Awesome, right?

So I shall leave you with these pictures and Ill see you some time later in the week.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

-t

I dont know about you, but it sure feels like summer to me.   I’ve been in the mountains lately and its been nice.  The flowers are gone and all you see are leaves.  The trees are full, the woods look over grown.  The afternoon thunderstorms roll in everyday telling me to take a nap.  I’ve got a fan in the window that I leave on all night. I ate homemade fried chicken with potato salad.  We grilled some corn and put it on a salad.  We burned a bunch of wood in the fire pit and smoked up the trees.  I had mountain trout fish tacos and washed it down with a local beer. ( too good)  I sat downtown and had drinks with friends.  I sat on the roof in the sun.  I made crumb cake for breakfast.  Im going to the beach on Monday.

Summer or what?

Hope your summer is kickin’ in wherever you are.

-t

I went down to Landrum, South Carolina yesterday to check out an old house my parents are looking at buying. Its a 4,600 sq ft craftsman style home built in the early 30′s.  It needs a ton of work, but its full of history and character.  Dark floors, wide mahogany moldings, crazy fireplaces, and windows everywhere.  You can help but love it.

The space hasnt been touch in years. The rooms are pretty much empty, except for the occasional odds and ends and pieces of furniture.   Why with old abandoned homes are there always things left behind?   The desk or dresser, the random cups and plates.  There is always a chair in a corner or a stack of books in the closet.   Why?  Why didnt they take everything?  It fascinates me.

-t

Woah. It has been the busiest two weeks ever. Tons of work, and very little time taking pictures.  But I am still here,  no worries!

I did have time to snap these pictures, though.  I think light streaks from windows are awesome. The blinds make such great patterns.  They pop up all around my house in the late afternoon and slowly change till dusk.

I will be back to posting regularly soon.  Many changes going on. (good changes) So bare with me.

In the mean time, I am so ready for this weekend–Several friends are coming to visit.

Have a great weekend.

-tim

I had a great weekend.  My parents came to visit.  We did a lot of eating outside and garage sale shopping.  New beers, grilled eggplant, a big breakfast, sitting on the back deck at night, thunderstorms, a little packing/planning and a few visiting friends.  Good times

Saturday morning we went to the herb festival at the farmers market downtown.  We picked up a bunch of new herbs (and a couple tomato plants) and planted a good bit of them out back.  It was nice to get the soil turned over and get some dirt on the hands.    Each morning and night I go out and see what has changed.  I think you have to.  Maybe its a guy thing, but I could just sit there and watch all the sprouts and leaves.  Its also a good excuse to get outside.

Hope you all had a nice weekend, too. Thanks for the awesome comments on the last post.

See you soon.

-t

Hi.

Things have been super busy lately. They should slow down soon, though.  However that hasn’t stopped me from going outside and enjoying the season.  You just have to, right?  It must be a rule.

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Some of my mid-spring things.

-Afternoons on the couch with the windows open. The sunlight is too good.  ( The pollen however…)

-Extra long walks with the dog.  It is crazy green everywhere.

-New smells inside and out.   Switched to new organic soaps, detergents and body washes around the house. Very… earthy smelling.

-Plaid shirts.

-New sandals

-The abundance of small plants and succulents around the living room. Its pretty awesome.

-Rosemary on everything. (especially with lemon and chicken on the grill)  My herb garden is starting to get good.  My rosemary and cilantro are out of control.

- The vines on my front porch. ( Also out of control)

-Grilled pizzas with good beers. ( Mozzarella & blue cheese, onions, sweet italian sausage–try it)

- Color popping up in the strangest places.

-Simply being outside.

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Hope your spring is going well, too.

-tim

Life is crazy right now. ( A good crazy)  Busy with too many projects.  So I am stopping in to leave a little photo, and to say that I am still here.

Its spring! Go outside.

-t

Do you like tuna melts?  Well I do and they are quite good.

Tuna melts have been around forever.  You always hear about them and they are always on the menu at those 24hr diners. I’ll admit, they can seem a little scary at certain places but they are a classic, so give them a try.

I made mine at home this time but put a little twist on it.

To make:

I use canned Tuna. ( in olive oil) In a bowl I add lots of dill, S&P to taste, lemon juice, chopped capers or green olives ( which ever you have) diced celery, half a spoonful of good dijon mustard (This helps fight the possible fishy flavor many don’t care for) and a good spoonful of mayo. Mix.

A lot of times tuna melts are pressed. I didn’t want to loose the fluff of the bread ( It is usually served on rye)  so I throw it under the broiler to melt the cheese.

Top with grilled onions and eat up!

Give it a try.

-t

So a few weekends back I hit up the farmers market and picked up a great loaf of bread for breakfast.  It was a whole grain wheat with walnuts, cranberries and golden raisins.  I grabbed some muscadine jelly to spread on top, too.    The loaf was quite large so I keep the bread in my freezer and slice off a thick piece each morning. I like it a bit toasted  with room temperature butter.    Mornings have been busy recently, so its a nice quick and filling fix.

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The weather has been amazing lately. We hit 91 degrees yesterday.  I have been spending too much time outside. ( even though the pollen right now is killer.) Its not too good for my productivity.  Tonight I think we are going to throw some thick pork chops on the grill, roast some potatoes and chill out on the deck.

Have a good one!

-t

I am originally from Florida.  I always thought that the beach was the best place to watch a sunset.  I mean, when you think of sunsets you think of the beach, right?  Moving to the mountains changed all that.  There is something about woods and a setting sun that gets me.  Throw in mountain range and you’re good.

Last night we had the best sunset.  I grabbed my camera and went down to this abandoned vegetable field we have near by and took pictures.  The last one is my favorite.  Seeing a bright orange ball in the woods, off in the distance, is too awesome.

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It is so warm this weekend.  We are planning on doing everything outside.  Friends, food, grilling, cold beer, bonfires- All good things.

Hope you all have a great weekend.   See you next week.

- Tim

…

I have the best bed in the world. No, really.  You may think you do, but it is only because you haven’t tried mine.  My bed is my favorite spot in the house.  ( Apparently it is my dogs, too.  Wonder why?)

My bedroom is really two places in one.  It is where I sleep, but it is also my studio.  I would say I spend about 50% of my day in my bedroom/studio. ( Im in it right now!)  All my work and creative endeavors take place here.  I have a giant desk made of butcher block that I snagged at a garage sale for 30 bucks. ( One of my greatest finds.  I almost felt bad taking it from the poor woman for so cheap…almost.  It will forever be my favorite piece of furniture.)  On my desk are endless objects during the day.  My computer, my camera, pens, pencils, piles of different types of papers, coffee, tea, water, sketchbooks of various sizes,  pocket change.  It an organized mess if that makes sense.

Above my desk and around my room are my art walls.  Everywhere I have lived has had an art wall. Its a wall of inspiration and memories.  Some of it is my art, some others. My friends will often draw images just to hang them up. ( Those are my favorite.)  There are letters, photographs, coasters, tickets, a giant styrofoam polar bear head. ( Dad got it for me when I was ten.  Its a must on the wall.)  Each piece has some memory tied to it.    Its always growing, and always changing.   Sometimes when my ceiling fan is on too high the papers will rattle on the wall.  Its a good sound.

My bedroom is small, but it works.  The light is great in the morning and even better in the afternoon.  Music is always on, and the bed is never made.

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Read more about this abstract tour and other spaces in my house here and here.

Hope you all are enjoying this little project.  I am.

Have a good one,

- Tim

Lately I have been on a taco kick ( for lunch at least).  They are quite easy to fix, there are a million combinations and you can make them in little  or no time.

Today I tried something new.  I wanted a quesadilla but I didn’t have any of the normal cheese you would include.  I did though have a ball of fresh mozzarella.  I took onions, garlic, some strips of sirloin, tons of cumin and this adobe spice I have, s&p and threw it all in the pan.  Heated through the tortillas and topped everything with lime juice, an insane amount of cilantro ( you can never have to much)  and crumbled the fresh mozzarella on top.   The fresh mozzarella turned out to be fantastic inside.    Its going down as a new favorite twist on tacos.  Try it.

Hoping to get back outside soon.  I have been super busy and it seems I only have time to photograph what I eat.  Stay tuned…

-tim

Im not quite sure what I would do without lemons, I buy them by the bag full. They are a staple in my diet and I always have them in a bowl somewhere in the house. ( usually not in the kitchen as they are quite nice to look at.)

Lately I have been using them in and on everything. No really, everything. A recent trip to the doctor put some things into perspective and I need to cut back on my sodium and caffeine. ( Two of my absolute favorite things! What will I do!?) I am a very healthy guy. I eat great, I’m not over weight, I drink plenty of water.  I just have high blood pressure and always have. They dont know why, they dont know how, but they say I gotta get it down. So in my efforts to consume less sodium I have been squeezing a little lemon juice over what ever I am eating in place of table salt. Honestly, it works great, sometimes better than salt itself. Give it shot, you’ll be surprised.

A solution for less caffeine is another story… I love me some coffee in the morning. Maybe I’ll cut back to just one cup…maybe.

In other news, the weather was awesome this past weekend. You know the weather that literally drags you outside. The kind that makes you forget you own a TV or computer. We spent all day out on the back deck, had friends over, ate a HUGE meal cooked almost entirely on the grill, and then sat with drinks until late in the evening. If only everyday was like that.

Have a good one…

-tim

My kitchen is where I spend a lot of time. Cooking is very much a part of my daily routine.  I always find time to cook.

My kitchen is not the largest, but it works.  I used to hate it. It was small, cramped, I had no counter space. ( I still dont)  It all made cooking a challenge.  But after a while everything grew to find its place and I learned to adapt.

The mornings are the best.  The kitchen faces east and everything is primarily white.  Its very bright, blinding sometimes.

Constants in my kitchen include:

My dog:  Always in the way.  Always waiting for a crumb.

Butter: Room temperature is a must.

Coffee:  Always.

Pantry:  I try to keep it stocked.  Never know what you will want to cook.

Spices:  I have far too many.  Its a little crazy.

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Happy St. Patricks Day.

See the first part of this little project here.

Gyros. They are one of my favorite things to eat for lunch, dinner, heck any time.  I have mentioned before that I love the cucumber yogurt sauce ( I could eat it on almost anything) and I think thats why I love gyros so much.

Yet, I also love dill, tomatoes, and pitas.  Then there is the steak ( or lamb), cooked up with garlic, cumin, I add lime juice, some salt and pepper. All good.

Some of my favorite foods all wrapped up.  So easy, too.

Serve with fries and a drink and lunch is complete.

( The best gyros are the ones you get in Paris.  They shave the meat right into the pita, add all the toppings and then stuff french fries right inside. Its like the best thing ever.)

Have a good one.

-t