City Hall Snapshots
Some snapshots of and around City Hall this weekend right before a summer storm.
Heirloom Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Last month’s cover of Bon Appetit got my mouth watering, so when my local grocery store had a mini tomato festival last Saturday I picked up a few heirloom tomatoes to make my own version. I subsisted mozzarella for feta, added a splash of balsamic, and served it on a slice of toasted ciabatta. Yum, yum, yum. I also had some leftover boiled potatoes that tasted amazing as day old, cold, leftovers, so they got tossed in the mix too. This no cook dinner was so simple and perfect for a hot day. It was a bit carb heavy and protein low, but oh so good.
Wildwood and Cape May
Spent an awesome weekend in the Wildwood/Cape May area a few weeks ago. The beach and boardwalk were the perfect subjects for some Instagram fun.
Patio Installation
When I moved into my house a few years ago, I was so excited to have a small outdoor area. I would grill, sit outside and sip some wine, maybe even bring my laptop out there and create an outdoor workspace. However, except for the very occasional cook out, my backyard remained largely unused. The previous owners had put down pea gravel to create a patio space, and maybe it worked out for a while, but when I moved in I had an uneven surface and lots of weeds. Since I avoid yard work like the plague, my yard was often a weedy mess, and no place for hanging out or entertaining. However, this summer, I finally got my act together, and now have a super awesome patio. Check out the before and after pics below.
Before
This was from this spring, and is far from the worst it’s been. I put down some weed block liner previously to keep the weeds from getting out of control, and it kinda helped the situation.
During
My yard is pretty small, and the project took just two days to complete. It was so exciting seeing the progress. The guys doing the installation were pros, and you could tell that they made sure every detail was perfect. New heavy duty liner, gravel, then sand. They packed it down and leveled it numerous times before they started laying the stone. They also buried my downspout and moved my sewer vent.
After
I was so happy with the final result. A million times better than what I had before, and I can’t wait to get some flowers and maybe a potted herb garden next year.
The stone is EP Henry Village Square laid in a random pattern with a solider border. The main part of the patio is Harvest Blend, and the border is Pewter Blend. The stone came from Woodward Landscape Supply of Phoenixville, PA, and the installation was done by Sycamore Landscaping, both great companies.
Vacation Food
While at the beach, I didn’t think so much about smart food choices and definitely indulged a bit. Here’s some highlights.
Margaritas, fried green tomatoes, and Seafood Platter at the Isles. Sit out on the patio and enjoy a great view of the ocean and acoustic music too. Easy access to the beach where we walked off dinner and watched the sunset.
Giggling Mackerel Seafood Platter. Perfect laid back beach bar; just what you would want and except. Rent a boat or a kayak here too, and check out the on site shop.
Takeout from Causeway Gourmet. Super yummy sandwiches. They also had a “Cross Fit Menu” that they created with a local cross fit gym. I did not get a cross fit approved meal. Accompanied by Bud Light Lime-a-Ritas. Like a Bud Light Lime, but limier.
Jalapeno Cheddar Burger from Duffer’s. Since I started weight watchers, me and burgers have been become quite distant, but Duffer’s is where the local’s eat burgers, so I decided give it a try. So glad I did. Delicious!
Ice Cream at Ocean Isle Creamery. One day after a late lunch, we had ice cream for dinner and then beer for dessert. Perfectly acceptable vacation behavior.
